...Information Literacy’s Influence on Scholarship, Practice, and Leadership in the Army Shasheshe Goolsby University of Phoenix Dr. Barb Information Literacy’s Influence on Scholarship, Practice, and Leadership in the Army The quality of information accessed and used for analyses and decisions has a significant influence on the quality of the resulting consequences of such decisions. In this regard, it is of critical importance to ensure that information used is of the highest quality possible, and as appropriate as possible to the situation or context of the analysis/decision-making process. However, in this information age, one of the main issues is the availability of different kinds of information that could make it difficult to look for the most suitable and reliable information possible to support such quality objective. In order to address this situation, it is necessary for one to have information literacy. It is argued that information literacy has a positive contribution on the quality of the results of scholarship, practice and leadership in the Army. One of the important issues nowadays is the availability of large amounts of information. This condition can be disadvantageous and could pose issues, especially when a significant portion of such information is not reliable and cannot be considered as scholarly (Russell, 2009). As such, the inability of Army personnel to properly seek and use appropriate scholarly and reliable information could lead to...
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...What Being a Member of the Army Profession Means to Me My membership in the United States Army profession means a daily commitment to protecting the United States Constitution, and continually ensuring myself and my comrades are trained and ready to execute that task. In order to do this, a number of factors are involved, and often they rely upon one another. The four most critical factors are adherence to an oath of office in which one swears to protect the Constitution, be willing and able body patriots to make up membership, leadership, and economic incentive. Today, the United States Army is the most powerful army in the world, and can largely attribute this status to its investment in people and their willing to commit to an oath of office. People from different social, economic, and educational backgrounds comprise the United States Army; and since the end of the Vietnam War, are all volunteers who choose to serve. The dynamics of a microcosm of society within our army bound by the common desire to serve one's country is a powerful force, and inculcates a culture of professionalism throughout all ranks within the service. Their willingness to pledge their allegiance to protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies serves as a large bridge bringing social, economic, and educational backgrounds on a more equal footing. The rewards are fruitful; membership enables one to learn a technical expertise, leadership fundamentals, and an opportunity to climb professional...
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...This essay will put into perspective what many believe are the qualities of an effective leader. But what is a leader? What is leadership? Is it the person who is loud and outspoken, or the calm and quiet professional? Are good leaders made or are they born with these qualities. The image that pops into an individual’s mind when leadership is brought up, is a strong and confident person who knows the right answer to all the question. This leader provides clear guidance, vision and handles any situation with calm and ease. Many believe that in order to be a good leader you must have three main qualities, which are: Be, Know, and Do. Leadership The US Army states that leadership is defined as “The process of influencing others to accomplish the mission by providing purpose, direction and motivation while operating to accomplish the mission and improve the organization” ("Army leadership," 2008). So as long as someone can direct someone to do something by barking out how to do it and yelling at them is sufficient to have the qualities of good leadership. Not really, being a good leader and leading people to accomplish the task is very complicated. Everyone has different backgrounds and are born and raised with different morals, norms, values and beliefs. How to lead one person to complete a certain task is not the same way you would lead another person to accomplish that same task. Leadership is certain qualities that is ever moving and changing by the minute and must be honed...
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...Military leadership theory brings forth the discovery of many ideas regarding the application of knowledge from a military background in a business environment. Much information was premised on business owners, managers and employees working collectively, how to improve communication skills, and how to define a goal and motivate others to follow it based on military leadership. The connection between these two worlds of business and military is apparent. Many of today’s companies derive their structure and leadership model from that which is applied in the army. The military typically has a main leader or a decision \ maker, who transmits orders to subordinates at lower levels. This model is almost identical to what is seen in many business organizations throughout the world (Rost, 1993). The US Army defines leadership as “The process of influencing people by providing purpose, direction, and motivation, while operating to accomplish the mission and improve the organization” (Army Leadership, 2012). However, this definition does not delve into whether leadership is innate or not. There are two main ideas – Colonel Sherman L. Kiser states that leadership is an exact science capable of being understood and practiced by anyone or General Sir Archibald P. Wavell’s which states “no amount of learning will make a man a leader unless he has the natural qualities of one” (Taylor and Rosenbach, 1984). Leadership has gone through several stages of development throughout history, which...
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...PRACTICE & PROBLEMS OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENT OF BANGLADESH ARMY INTRODUCTION 1. Human beings are the most important resources in an organization. A firm’s / organization’s success depends on the capabilities of its members. Most problems, challenges, opportunities and frustrations in an organization are people related. Human Resource Management is one of the toughest duties of a manager or leader since humans differ in terms of attitudes, values, aspirations, motivations, assumptions, psychology, and life goals. Looking at today’s competitive world, managerial level staff will require more conceptual and strategic skills. Managers have to be proactive, able to anticipate technological developments and prepare their staff for whatever technological changes that might take place. This will be a successful task only when the HRM itself is fully aware of those changes and has the means to deal with them. HR managers have a number of roles to fulfill. They are the guardians of the manpower- the key assets of the organizations. They are also counselor and protector of employees and directly responsible for their effectiveness in the organization. They need to do their jobs in keeping with the existing laws, rules and regulations of the organization, and promote harmony at the workplace. This has direct bearing in a healthier and more attractive work environment. The success or failure of HR depends also on the top management’s recognition of the importance of HRM, and...
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...Leadership By: SSG Member-Meneh, Sylvanus 88M SLC Class #003-2013 What is Leadership? Leadership is the art of influencing and directing people in such a way that will win their obedience, confidence, respect and loyal cooperation in achieving common objectives. To become an effective Leader, there are certain traits and characteristics that must be present in an individual. No one is born a Leader; certain individuals are born with Leadership traits that must be honed, cultivated, shaped and improved with practice. Leadership is a critical management skill; an essential quality in a manager, it is how you get your team motivated and willing to follow your plan. An individual can serve as a Leader or several persons might share Leadership. Leaders play a vital role in standardizing performance and influence others to perform tasks beyond expectation. Leaders plan, organize, lead and control so that “leading” and “managing” are inseparable, they are both integral parts of each other. A Leaders failure to influence and inspire others to work willingly towards set objectives and goals will lead to ineffective planning and organizing which results in poor execution of essential mission tasks. Similarly, setting direction is usually not enough, no matter how inspiring one can be, management skills are crucial. Leaders will simultaneously fill many roles interacting, motivating group members, solving...
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...The Army Values have been a mainstay in Army culture and tradition since 1775. The Army values have helped in many military careers keeping soldiers focused. The Army as a career is not always a walk in the park. Soldiers should always look to the Army Values when times get tough. Many soldiers know the Army values and do not implement them in their life and careers. To most, the Army is just another paycheck, a way to make money. Most soldiers practice the Army values at times, but few do not and little do they know that it could come back to haunt them. There are two Army Values that I think are the most important - Personal Courage and Integrity. Personal Courage is looking to the inside of your mind and body to pull through situations...
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...As stated previously, effective leadership is inclusive of providing vision, which is clearly evidenced in the actions of Lee. Critics of Robert E. Lee would even have to agree that his aggressiveness is a positive trait of a general. The lessons and skills General Lee displayed during the Battle of Antietam are still recognized today and can be beneficial for leaders of any organization during the 21st century. Similarly, there are lessons that can be learned from the mistakes of General McClellan during his time as the Commander of the Union Army. For example, General McClellan's greatly misjudged the Confederate Army’s strength in numbers; which happened to govern his military career. Because of this he is known as a timid leader that...
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...March 9, 2010 Robert E. Lee on Leadership Effective leadership involves creating direction in achieving the vision, aligning people through communication, and motivating and inspiring subordinates toward a shared vision. Direction helps in creating strategies that work toward a vision, or desirable future state. Alignment of people is achieved through communication of new directions and building a commitment to subordinating self interests in order to further the interests of the organization. The ability to motivate and inspire is what makes an exceptional leader. In H.W. Crocker’s, Robert E. Lee on Leadership, it is evident through General Robert E. Lee’s many leadership roles that he possessed the ability to motivate and inspire. Lee led as a businessman, as a warrior, and as an administrator. His actions in many circumstances throughout his life, exemplify some of the mainstream leadership theories of today. His style of leadership had a uniquely effective quality that is rarely observed. The lessons learned and qualities of leadership recognized from Lee’s experiences are beneficial for leaders of any organization today. Lee as a Businessman In the years before the War Between the States, Lee inherited the responsibility of running Arlington plantation, which was willed to his wife by her father. With the plantation, Lee inherited his father-in-law’s debts. Lee’s challenge was to run the plantation successfully enough to pay-off these debts and finance...
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...Many of the most successful people in history have had great leadership qualities that helped them reach their ideas to the world. John Wooden is one of those many people who displayed great leadership qualities. John Wooden was a basketball coach and player who had the qualities to be a part of the Basketball Hall of Fame. Wooden possessed leadership qualities such as, not craving for victory, but the process of getting there, motivational speeches before games, and losing did not matter to him as long as his players tried their best. Wooden had taken these ideas and helped his students follow his lead to help them reach their goals more efficiently. John Wooden had strong leadership skills that helped others reach their goals and improve...
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...do you agree that Trotsky’s leadership of the Red Army was responsible for the survival of the Bolshevik government? (30 marks) There were many factors that contributed to the survival of the Bolshevik Government, ranging from Trotsky’s leadership of the Red Army to the failings of the Bolsheviks’ rivals for power. This essay shows that the main reason for the Bolsheviks’ continued survival through the period was not Trotsky’s great leadership of the Red Army, but the opposition’s mistakes and failings. This will be demonstrated by analysing the key factors leading to the survival of the Bolshevik Government: Trotsky’s leadership; Lenin’s leadership; The Bolsheviks’ geographical advantage; and finally the Bolsheviks’ enemies’ misunderstandings. The first key factor that contributed to the Bolshevik Governments’ survival was Trotsky’s great leadership of the Red Army. Trotsky created the Red Army from nothing and by 1919 it contained roughly 400,000 troops rising to 5 million troops by 1921. The Red Army outnumbered all opposition and when directed effectively by Trotsky they were easily able to crush any opposition. Furthermore, all enemy attacks came at different times and so could be put down individually and therefore more easily. Another way that Trotsky showed his good leadership qualities was through his forward thinking: for example, many of the troops in the Red Army were inexperienced and so Trotsky “recruited” officers from the Tsar’s army and kept them in line by kidnapping...
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...AN ESSAY ON THE NATURE OF LEADERSHIP; AUGUSTUS CAESAR INTRODUCTION LEADERS UNLIKE MANAGERS, REQUIRE FOLLOWERS, AS FOLLOWERS ARE PIVOTAL TO THE SUCCESS AND IMPACT THAT A LEADER REQUIRES.[i] THE ABOVE OPENING QUOTE SPOKEN BY AUGUSTUS CAESAR IDENTIFIES HIS LEADERSHIP STYLE IN A NUTSHELL. UNLIKE HIS PREDECESSOR, AUGUSTUS WAS NEVER FOCUSED ON PRIDE AND DISPLAYS OR POWER. RATHER, HE WAS CONTENT WITH ACTING AS A GUIDE AND ADVISOR IN FRONT OF THE CROWDS WHILST IN REALITY HE HAD A FIRM GRIP ON THE REINS OF SOCIETY, CONTROLLING EVERYTHING BEHIND THE SCENES. AUGUSTUS WAS A CUNNING AND ADMIRABLE LEADER, WITH NUMEROUS POSITIVE LEADERSHIP ATTRIBUTES THAT JUNIOR OFFICERS COULD STUDY OR ADOPT. Augustus Caesar was shown by the leadership trait theory to possess a personality that would likely succeed in leadership. He also displayed a solid mission, excellent goal setting skills and overall strong values.[ii] Augustus Caesar also portrayed leadership attributes that a junior officer would find to be undesirable to adopt. These undesirable attributes can include Augustus Caesars’ unwillingness to attain long-term alliances and friends. Nevertheless, Augustus Caesar has proven himself to be an important and rich learning source when looking at leadership skills and techniques. Know Yourself and seek self-improvement AUGUSTUS CAESAR WAS HONOURED WITH THE NAME AUGUSTUS, WHICH MEANS “THE EXALTED”, BY THE ROMAN SENATE IN 27 B.C. THIS HONOUR WAS NOT ONLY A SHOW FOR THE NUMEROUS...
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...PROFILES IN LEADERSHIP POSITION The term leadership is most often used, without base or foundation is usually given to people of high political status or within a military structure. The term leader in the Military is a high rank or position in which it involves soldiers under such authority or supervision. Base on this power and leadership in the military are certain expectations attributed to specific positions. For example, to be a sergeant of a squad, he or she is expected or demanded to be the reference point for their Soldiers. In the same way, they’re supposed to guide them in time of peace or times of conflict and war. Being a military leader is expected to be a point where all the soldiers can get up and acquirer knowledge...
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...The army’s definition of leadership is the process of influencing people by providing purpose, direction and motivation to accomplish the mission and improve the organization. (Army Publishing Directorate, 2012) Leading is not just getting your troops from here to there; leaders must make corrections and arrive there with a better product than he left with. The old military ways are over. That one angry Sergeant yelling and making Soldiers do push-ups is no more. Yes there are some though actives required to succeed in the military but they build confident, responsible, and disciplined leaders. General of the Army Omar Bradley once remarked: “Leadership in a democratic army means firmness, not harshness; understanding, not weakness; generosity,...
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...USAWC STRATEGY RESEARCH PROJECT TEAMBUILDING: A STRATEGIC LEADER IMPERATIVE by Colonel Christopher J. Putko United States Army Doctor Craig Bullis Project Adviser This SRP is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Master of Strategic Studies Degree. The U.S. Army War College is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, (215) 662-5606. The Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The views expressed in this student academic research paper are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government. U.S. Army War College CARLISLE BARRACKS, PENNSYLVANIA 17013 Report Documentation Page Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for the collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations...
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