...CSS 105 COURSE GUIDE COURSE GUIDE CSS105 INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL SCIENCE Course Developer Dr. Derin K. Ologbenla University Of Lagos Akoka – Lagos. Dr. Derin K. Ologbenla Course Writer University Of Lagos Akoka – Lagos. Course Co-ordinator Dr. Godwin Ifidon Oyakhiromen National Open University of Nigeria Lagos. NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA ii CSS 105 COURSE GUIDE National Open University of Nigeria Headquarters 14/16 Ahmadu Bello Way Victoria Island Lagos Abuja Annex 245 Samuel Adesujo Ademulegun Street Central Business District Opposite Arewa Suites Abuja e-mail: centralinfo@nou.edu.ng URL: www.nou.edu.ng National Open University of Nigeria 2006 First Printed 2006 ISBN: 978-058-434-X All Rights Reserved Printed by Goshen Print Media Ltd For National Open University of Nigeria iii CSS 105 COURSE GUIDE Contents Introduction......................................................................... Aims................................................................................... Objectives........................................................................... Working through the Course.............................................. Course Materials................................................................ Study Units........................................................................ Textbooks and References.................................................. Assessment.......................................
Words: 55473 - Pages: 222
...cohesion (4) a flexible status structure. Stating the purpose in terms specific goals enhances productivity over and above any performance benefits achieved through individual goal setting. Behavioral norms for high performance and productivity set above organizational norms characterizes high performing work groups. Smaller groups tend to be more cohesive than large groups, and cohesion based on attraction results in effective control over members with respect to important performance norms. Successful resolution of authority issues within a group result in a well understood status structure. This contributes to group functioning. 2. Describe the five stages of Tuckman's Group Development Process. What individual and group issues are addressed in each stage? Forming Storming Norming Performing Adjourning Individual How do I What's my What do the How can I Whta's issues fit in? role here? Others expect best perform next? me to do? my role? Group Why are we Why are we Can we agree Can we do the Can we help Issues here? fighting over on roles and job properly? members ...
Words: 5127 - Pages: 21
...South Carolina Social Studies Academic Standards Mick Zais, Ph.D. State Superintendent of Education South Carolina Department of Education Columbia, South Carolina State Board Approved Document – August 18, 2011 Contents Acknowledgments.......................................................................................................................... iii Introduction .....................................................................................................................................1 Social Studies Standards Page Format .............................................................................................5 Grade-Level Standards for Social Studies Grades K–3 Kindergarten. Foundations of Social Studies: Children as Citizens ...............................................7 Grade 1. Foundations of Social Studies: Families........................................................................12 Grade 2. Foundations of Social Studies: Communities ................................................................17 Grade 3. South Carolina Studies ..................................................................................................22 Grades 4–5 Grade 4. United States Studies to 1865 ........................................................................................29 Grade 5. United States Studies: 1865 to the Present ....................................................................36 Grades 6–8 Grade 6. Early Cultures to 1600...
Words: 38033 - Pages: 153
...Define an interest group, with examples. An interest group is an organization whose members share common concerns and try to influence government policies affecting these concerns. Interest groups are also known as lobbies; lobbying is one of the ways interest groups shape legislation and bring the views of their constituents to the attention of decision-makers. A great example of an interest group would be The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) which has about 32 million members. Interest groups are organizations that seek to influence the decisions of government. According to Truman, interest groups can be defined as groups that, based on one or more shared attitudes, engage in influencing political decision-making, in order to successfully implement certain political goals or values (Truman, 1993). They usually, but not always, are formally organized. The relation between interest groups and government and society is an affirmative one, although groups may at times employ destructive methods in order to accomplish their goals. The existing social order is accepted by interest groups, and governmental power and its institutions are utilized to attain advantages, protect members and to fight political opponents (Truman, 1993). Two kinds of organizations: Institutional Interest and Membership Interest. Institutional Interest are individuals or organizations representing other organizations i.e. business firms, local governments, foundations and universities...
Words: 1926 - Pages: 8
...from them. The general environment includes the wide-ranging global, economic, technological, sociocultural, demographic, political, and legal forces that affect an organization and its task environment. Opportunities and threats resulting from changes in the general environment are often more difficult to identity and respond to than are events in the task environment. Changes in these forces can have major impacts on managers and their organization. LO6-3: Identify the main forces in the global task and general environments, and describe the challenges that each force presents to managers. Task Environments: 1) Suppliers- the individuals and organization that provide an organization with the input resources it needs to produce goods and services 2) Distributors- Organizations that help other organizations sell their goods or services to customers. 3) Customers- Individuals and groups that buy the goods and services an organization produces. 4) Competitors- Organizations that produce goods and services that are similar to a particular organization’s goods and services. General Environments: 1) Economic Forces- interest rates, inflation, unemployment, economic growth, and other factors that affect the general health and well-being of a nation or the regional economy of an organization. 2) Technological Forces- outcomes of changes in the technology managers use to design, produce, or distribute goods and services....
Words: 2642 - Pages: 11
...Q1. Briefly describe the four management functions. Managers perform certain functions while directing the activities of other people working in the organization. Henri Fayol a French industrialist proposed that all managers perform five management activities: plan, organize, command, coordinate, and control. Now they are evolved to four functions: 1. Planning Planning is a primary management function because it establishes the basis for all other things managers do as they lead, organize and control. Planning includes * defining goals * establishing strategy, and * developing plans to integrate and coordinate the required activities 2. Organizing Organizing is the management function that creates the organization’s structure. This process involves making decisions about * how specialized jobs should be, * the rules to guide employees’ behaviours, and * at what level decisions are to be made 3. Leading According to this management function it’s part of a manager’s job to direct and coordinate the work activities of people. Leading includes * motivating employees * directing the activities of others, * selecting the most effective communication channel and * resolving conflicts among members 4. Controlling This fourth and last management function involves monitoring activities * to ensure that they’re being accomplished as planned and * correcting any significant deviations Q2. Briefly list and describe...
Words: 1348 - Pages: 6
...Political analysts attempt to provide an understanding of the workings of the modern state had necessitated the employment of certain philosophies, thoughts and theories in order to simplify and clarify their assumptions about the political system and how it works. Some of these analytical tools or methods include – the Systems theory, Group theory, Political Development theory, Power theory, Frustration Aggression theory and the Elites theory among others. Given these plethora of theories in the social sciences and bearing in mind that, no meaningful research can be undertaken in the absence of a sound theoretical base, this study adopts the Systems theory in order to explain the adoption of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the United...
Words: 3330 - Pages: 14
...Economic Liberalization, the Changing Role of the State and ‘‘Wagner’s Law’’: China’s Development Experience since 1978 DAMIAN TOBIN * CeFiMS, SOAS, University of London, UK Summary. — The paper applies Wagner’s Law of increasing state activity to illustrate the changing function of the state in China as a consequence of economic liberalization. Wagner’s Law describes the association between increasing national wealth in progressive states and the rise in state activity and expenditure. This indicates that the causes of bureaucratic expansion are to be sought, not just in terms of political pressures, but the interplay between political considerations and the economic necessities, resulting from the emergence of new property rights. A simple illustrative model is developed to measure the effects of increasing national wealth and the growth of the public sector. This suggests that the patterns of economic development observed by Wagner in 19th century Europe are not unlike those observed in China today. Ó 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Key words — Asia, China, economic growth, public sector 1. INTRODUCTION The relationship between economic growth and the size of the state sector has long been a topic of interest for public policy practitioners and academics alike. Throughout history, the role of the state has been critical in determining particular economic outcomes. Research in this area has in general focused on how economic policies impact upon economic growth. Keynesian...
Words: 10633 - Pages: 43
...following: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Describe the characteristics of the digital world and the advent of the information age. Define globalization, describe how it evolved over time, and describe the key drivers of globalization. Explain what an information system is, contrasting its data, technology, people, and organizational components. Describe the dual nature of information systems in the success and failure of modern organizations. Describe how computer ethics impact the use of information systems and discuss the ethical concerns associated with information privacy and intellectual property. CHAPTER OVERVIEW This chapter helps the student understand the role of information systems as organizations move into the digital world, and how they have helped fuel globalization. The student will learn what information systems are, how they have evolved to become a vital part of modern organizations, and why this understanding is necessary to become an effective manager in the digital world. The student will also learn how globalization evolved, and what opportunities globalization presents for organizations. The importance of ethics as it relates to IS is discussed especially as it relates to information privacy, accuracy, property, and accessibility. A number of cases and illustrations are used, for example, Apple products and how they have evolved over time (such as the iPhone, Mac Air, iPod, and iPad). CHAPTER OUTLINE PREVIEW Managing in the Digital World: Apple INFORMATION SYSTEMS TODAY...
Words: 3147 - Pages: 13
...The Arab American community has experienced much change in recent American political history. With the American foreign policy in the Middle East and the recent events impacting the image of Arab americans, it has significantly suppressed their political involvement in the US. Due to the racism and anti Arab bigotry Arabs faces over the century, Arab americans feel that the American political system restricts them. There is a misconception in the Arab American community that they are exclusively excluded from the American political system. Many believe that anti-Arab racism is inhibiting their political growth and the racism is too powerful to combat. There has been a lack of understanding in the Arab community of how the political system inherently...
Words: 1703 - Pages: 7
...Despite the necessity of different states working together in order to make the modern world function, there have been many instances where one country has had almost a totalitarian power over the rest of the world. Wallerstein describes this as a hegemon, and states that these nations, specifically the United States for a period of time, “[dominated] the world economy” and were able to “get their way politically.” Colonialism definitely explains the ways in which hegemony, and the “white race’s superiority” was a prevalent issue at the time, and a great example to show this is the idea of the ‘White Man’s Burden.’ The United States, that was defined as a hegemon, colonized indigenous land and saw it as the white man’s burden to civilize the...
Words: 1996 - Pages: 8
...SSC1 - General Education Social Science Course of Study Theories and Methods What is the role of science and the scientific method in the social sciences? The purpose of the social sciences is to study systematically all aspects of the human condition and of human behavior, using a methodology borrowed from the physical sciences wherever possible. This insistence on systematic and methodical study is what distinguishes the social sciences from philosophy, art, and literature, which also comment and reflect on all facets of the human condition. In fact, insights into the nature of human behavior and the characteristics of societies have been expressed by artists, poets, and philosophers since time immemorial. How do the social sciences differ from natural and physical science? Competencies covered by this subject 113.1.1 - Social Science Theory and Methodology Scientific Method in Social Science To prepare for further study in this domain, you will want to familiarize yourself with ways in which the scientific method is applied in the social sciences. Keep in mind the crucial comparison between social and natural science. Consider the following questions: What is the scientific method? Scientific Method for Sociology An area of inquiry is a scientific discipline if its investigators use the scientific method, which is a systematic approach to researching questions and problems through objective and accurate observation, collection and analysis of data, direct experimentation...
Words: 17871 - Pages: 72
...Institutional Change and Economic Performance by Douglass C. North Cambridge University Press, 1990 1. Summary of the major arguments North begins his book by stating that “institutions are the rules of the game in a society or, more formally, are the humanly devised constraints that shape human interaction.”(3) That being said North then proposes to examine institutions, changes in them, and their impact on economic performance over time. He has divided the book into three parts. Part I is the examination of the nature of institutions and their manifestations for economic performance. From there, Part II outlines the theory of institutional change and how it explains how past behaviors influence present and future behaviors. It also explores the impact of incremental changes within institutions and its effect on the nature of path dependence. Part III is the primary objective of the North’s work. It is to understand the differential performances of various economies through time. The author is careful to make the distinction between institutions and organizations. Both are components of the structural framework that supports human interaction but they are not the same. As stated previously, institutions can be considered the rules of the game and organizations can be considered the players. The purpose of the rules is to define the way that the game is played. Organizations are groups of individuals who work toward a common goal or objective and have common interests. Political parties...
Words: 1835 - Pages: 8
...February 20, 2013 Theories of the Family Structural Functionalism -Functionalist believe that everything and everybody in society has a role (a function) that makes society to run smoothly -It is a macro theory It focuses on institutions and structures existing in the society as whole Key Terms Function: The different parts of each society contributes positively to the operation or functioning of the system as a whole Institutions: Society is a system of social structures/institutions (economic, legal, education) -Each social systems has needs which are met by the structures and they are interconnected -Individuals and groups are constrained by these structures Interdependence: The roles taken on people, and the institutions and organizations of society are all interdependent and work together to ensure the smooth operation of society as a whole -A change in any one part affects others, requiring other parts to take account of changes, modify its actions, and adapt to any changes necessary Norms and Values: Individual behaviour is governed by social norms (most consistent behaviour in society) or rules that are generally accepted and agreed upon -These norms and values are consistent with the equilibrium state of society, or normal state of affairs -There are aspects of these norms that return the society to a normal state of affairs in the case of a disturbance- for example, sanctions, punishment, social approval and social disapproval Equilibrium: These parts work...
Words: 1306 - Pages: 6
...Management and Decision Sciences Specialization: Leadership and Organizational Change KAM Assessor: Dr. Javier Fadul Javier.fadul@waldenu.edu Faculty Mentor: Dr. Javier Fadul Javier.fadul@waldenu.edu Walden University February 5, 2011 ABSTRACT Breadth This Knowledge Area Module (KAM) broadens common knowledge of societal and cultural development by looking beyond economic and conflict theories for understanding other positions regarding social advancement. The Breadth Component studies societal and cultural development in terms of evolutionary, cyclical, and fundamentalist theories and demonstrates why it is important to looking beyond the popularly accepted knowledge about social development represented by economic and conflict theory. This approach provides a more robust generalization that more adequately describes social advancement, and concludes that classical researchers did not consider leadership as a social segment to be studied, that influences societal and cultural development. Leadership understanding of societal and cultural development is critical for enabling them to lead positive social change. ABSTRACT Depth The Depth section compares modern research in societal and cultural development to the theories of classical researchers in order to further develop the findings of the classical study, and to determine if leadership consideration has been addressed in modern times. The study shows that the theories of classical researchers are sufficiently robust...
Words: 29149 - Pages: 117
