...Synopsis This essay attempts to analyze the theories and underlying models with regard of critical thinking. Firstly the essay examines different theories about critical thinking and relevant evaluations and discussions are followed. Then there are paragraphs demonstrate how critical thinking is linked to real problem thinking and why critical thinking is essential to problem solving especially the management practice. Finally a brief conclusion is drawn at the end of the essay. Diverse materials and references are utilized to cross examine the topic of critical thinking under a reasonably large contextual circumstance. As a project manager, it is of great importance to use critical thinking to understand new information, to evaluate and solve problems and to make sound decisions. Making decisions using critical thinking skills in today's world - a world with increasing number of conflicts, pressure and uncertainty is more imminent than ever before. Organizations and businesses today are confronted with multiple challenges including increasing conflicts brought by economic globalization, fast-paced developing technology and growing diversity. All of these highlight the importance of critical thinking in nowadays society. Critical thinking is the process of collecting and evaluating resources in order to make the most appropriate decision. By adopting critical thinking theory and inferred practice, decision makers such as project managers can effectively deal with these challenges...
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...LEARNING PAST TO PRESENT CHAPTER 2 TAKEAWAY QUESTIONS 1. What can be learned from classical management thinking? 2. What are the insights come from the behavioral management approaches? 3. What are the foundations of modern management thinking? CHAPTER 2 LEARNING OBJECTIVES After completing this chapter, students should be able to: • State the underlying assumption of the classical management approaches. • List the principles of Taylor’s scientific management. • List three of Fayol’s “principles” for guiding managerial action. • List the key characteristics of bureaucracy and explain why Weber considered it an ideal form of organization. • Identify possible disadvantages of bureaucracy in today’s environment. • Explain Follett’s concept of organizations as communities. • Define the Hawthorne effect. • Explain how the Hawthorne findings influenced the development of management thought. • Explain how Maslow’s hierarchy of needs operates in the workplace. • Distinguish between Theory X and Theory Y assumptions, and explain why McGregor favored Theory Y. • Explain Argyris’s criticism that traditional organizational practices are inconsistent with mature adult personalities. • Define system, subsystem, and open system. • Apply these concepts to describe the operations of an organization in your community. • Define contingency thinking, knowledge management, and a learning organization. • List characteristics of learning organizations. ...
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...physical surroundings, the community, or the universe and all it contains. Nursing is the practice of the science and art of the discipline (George, 2011). Metaparadigm pertains to the core concepts of a particular discipline. Until the 1990's there was general agreement in the literature that the metaparadigm of the discipline of nursing consisted of four major concepts: person, health, environment, and nursing (George, 2011). Concepts are thoughts believed to be true. Concepts can either be concrete or abstract in nature and can be observed or experienced through one’s reality. Concepts are the elements used to generate theories. Chinn and Kramer (2004) define a theory as “a creative and rigorous structuring of ideas that projects a tentative, purposeful, and systematic view of phenomena” (p.58). Theories are not a fact or a scientific law which produce the same results 100% percent of the time. Theories can provide possible and temporary explanations to phenomena that are ever changing as new evidence emerges. Simply stated, the theory suggests a direction in how to view facts and events (George, 2011). The degree of predictability surrounding a theory is the research that is gathered by using different techniques of scientific methodology. Chinn and Kramer (2004) state that a theory may be characterized as micro, macro, midrange, atomistic, or wholistic (p. 94). Researching a theory requires the gathering of data in either a quantitative or qualitative approach. Quantitative...
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...Theory and Practice of Organizational Learning Teresa Friskney Strayer University Theory and Practice of Organizational Learning Organizational learning explores ways to design organizations so that they carry out their function successfully, encourage people to reach their full potential, and, at the same time, help the world to be a better place. Learning organizations are organizations where people continually expand their capacity to create the results they truly desire, where new and expansive patterns of thinking are nurtured, where collective aspiration is set free, and where people are continually learning to see the whole together (Smith, 2001). However, there seems no clear definition of organizational learning except for the fact that it is learning, in one form or another. “Organizational learning is a flexible concept spanning a number of disciplines and perspectives so that it is now impossible to capture with a single definition” (Merriam, Caffarella, & Baumgartner, 2007, p. 43). For the purpose of this paper, the following information concerns only three characteristics of a successful learning organization. Discussion concerns systems thinking, shared vision, and team learning. In order to understand systems thinking, one must define it as a group of interacting, interrelated, and interdependent components that form a complex and unified whole. For example, a system can be a department in an organization. Each system has a purpose in a larger...
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...must pass the NCLEX exam to qualify for entry level practice. But a BSN is a 4 year degree while and ADN is 2 years. BSN programs put more focus on the science of nursing, integrating theories and ethical decision making. Many hospitals are employing BSNs only in order to achieve ‘Magnet status’, recognizing them for quality patient care and nursing excellence. Nurses that are educated at the BSN level vs the ADN level are better trained for the workforce due to their theory background, their focus on evidence based practice and strong critical thinking skills leading to better patient outcomes. A nurse may wonder why knowledge of theory important while caring for patients at the bedside? As a particular religion guides a person for how they should live their life, theories act as guides for nursing practice. A theory provides a nurse with a tool to help them assist with describing, explaining and predicting why they do what they do. Creasia & Friberg, describe how theories provide frameworks to help give direction and guidance for nurses in their education, research and professional practice. (2011, p. 94) BSN programs provide more emphasis on theory than ADN programs. Magnet hospitals are adopting theories as the basis for their nursing philosophies and seek BSN’s as they have the knowledge and background to understand the concepts. The Grand Canyon University’s College of Nursing Philosophy mentions how nursing theory education can teach “professionalism, ethical decision...
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...Senge's learning organization theory- THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK peter senge and the learning organization Peter Senge’s vision of a learning organization as a group of people who are continually enhancing their capabilities to create what they want to create has been deeply influential. We discuss the five disciplines he sees as central to learning organizations and some issues and questions concerning the theory and practice of learning organizations. contents: introduction · peter senge · the learning organization · systems thinking – the cornerstone of the learning organization · the core disciplines · leading the learning organization · issues and problems · conclusion · further reading and references · links Peter M. Senge (1947- ) was named a ‘Strategist of the Century’ by the Journal of Business Strategy, one of 24 men and women who have ‘had the greatest impact on the way we conduct business today’ (September/October 1999). While he has studied how firms and organizations develop adaptive capabilities for many years at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), it was Peter Senge’s 1990 book The Fifth Discipline that brought him firmly into the limelight and popularized the concept of the ‘learning organization'. Since its publication, more than a million copies have been sold and in 1997, Harvard Business Review identified it as one of the seminal management books of the past 75 years. On this page we explore Peter Senge’s vision of the learning organization. We will...
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...simple, clear, and concise books and article to very detailed, in-depth, complex, and rigorous academic studies. Although the literature is exhaustive and at times overwhelming, by organizing the literature into common core areas, a reader can efficiently and effectively learn all there is to know about the learning organization, how to create a learning organization, and maintaining a successful learning organization. By thoroughly examining the literature in these three areas, an individual or institution will be able to thoroughly understand the entire scope of learning organizations. The common core areas that the majority of learning organization literature can be categorized into are foundation/founders of the concept, turning the theory into strong foundations, and learning organization application and evaluation. Foundation/Founders of the Concept By beginning with the literature that introduced and defined the concept of what a...
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... | | | |Peter Senge’s vision of a learning organization as a group of people who are | | | | |continually enhancing their capabilities to create what they want to create has been | | | | |deeply influential. We discuss the five disciplines he sees as central to learning | | | | |organizations and some issues and questions concerning the theory and practice of | | | | |learning organizations. | | | | | | | | |contents: introduction | peter senge | the learning organization | systems thinking – the cornerstone of the | | | |learning organization | the core disciplines | leading the learning organization | issues and problems | | | | |conclusion | further reading and references | links | | | |Peter M. Senge (1947- ) was named a ‘Strategist of the Century’ by the Journal of Business Strategy, one of 24 | | | |men and women who have ‘had the greatest impact on the way we conduct...
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...Topic 1 – Overview Theories of Management Topic’s Learning Objectives Examine and evaluate theories of management Adequately outline the management process Assess ways of management Introduction Organizations’ accountability and profitability depends on how well the business is managed. This week we are going to examine the management theories, when each theory can be used and assess ways of management. Before we continue to the main analysis take a few minutes to see this video in YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ubxb9KUOQtI and then proceed to reading. 1 Main Analysis What are the Management Theories? Management theories are implemented to help increase organizational productivity and service quality. Not many managers use a singular theory or concept when implementing strategies in the workplace: They commonly use a combination of a number of theories, depending on the workplace, purpose and workforce. Classical Management As shown in the figure below there are three classical management approaches: (1) scientific management, (2) administrative principles, and (3) bureaucratic organization. Scientific Management Scientific approach was found in 1911 by Frederic W. Taylor and includes four guiding action principles. 1. Develop for every job a “science” that includes rules of motion, standardized work implements, and proper working conditions. 2. Carefully select workers with the right abilities for the job. 3. Carefully train workers...
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...crimes committed or for the women who were too old or sick to hold conventional jobs. Nightingale’s focus included infection control, documentation, patient safety, confidentiality, and evidence based practice, which seems common place today, but was very forward thinking for that period. The era of Florence Nightingale is just the beginning of the timeline of significant events and theoretical development that shaped the evolution of modern nursing and nursing science. Timeline 19th century | * 1836: Kiaserworth Deaconess Institute opens the first recorded school of nursing in Germany. * 1850: Florence Nightingale attends Kaiserworth for three months of training. * 1854: Florence Nightingale was nicknamed the ‘lady with the lamp’ by the soldiers during the Crimean war. This period is where she developed the foundation for evidence based practice. * 1860: The Nightingale school of nursing was established and incorporated theory as well as clinical experiences. She was the first nursing theorist. * 1861: Dorthea Dix is chosen as the first superintendent of the United States Army nurses. * 1874 The University of Michigan begins training nurses in the first informal nursing school, in the United States. * 1896: American Nurses Association was founded and the practice of nurse licensure began. | 20th century | * 1909: The University of Minnesota grants the first baccalaureate degree in nursing. * 1923: Yale is the first university to open an independent...
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...Supply Chain Strategy, Riordan Industries All over the world; supply chain is upgrading or adapting to new technology that encompasses companies. This paper explains the Supply Chain Management strategy to the new hires in Hangzhou, China. Supply chain management theory can help Riordan Manufacturing as to how each function in the supply chain connects to meet efficiency. By using a competitive strategy Riordan Manufacturing plans to “go green”. Riordan’s mission relating to customer fulfillment is “strive to be a solution provider for our customers and not be a part of our customer’s challenges” (Apollo Group Inc., (2005, 2006, and 2012)). As a new hire use process thinging to look for how to improve business practices within Riordan Manufacturing, and to enhance, or improve, the way tasks are done. Supply Chain Management Theory Riordan Industries supply chain management theory starts from the top and flows down to each employee working for the company. Supply chain theory has garnered recognition as an important “integration to increased value across the whole of the supply chain” (Janvier & Assey, 2012). As an employee the company values the employees input on every level. Riordan believes that in today’s global market each firm is linked in a networked supply chain. Hangzhou China is Riordan’s first offshore venture. Adapting supply chain technology and strategic planning on a global scale will test each employee’s willingness to learn new processes in supply...
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...Development of the nursing practice has e started as early as the 1850’s with Florence Nightingale. She was the founder of the first nursing theory. From her foundation over the years nursing has blossomed into a great career and practice to where nurses and patients both benefit from the advances in theories and practice. Theory is an essential part of the past, present and future of nursing. Timeline: (1860) Florence Nightingale: - Florence Nightingale was the founder of nursing theory (George, 2011). She described nursing as both an art and a science. She recommended adjusting the environment to improve the person’s health. She believed that nursing was a calling and that it is different from medicine and the goal for nursing was to place the patient in the best possible condition for nature to act. She was able to construct this theory through her experiences in the Crimean war. Theory development began with Nightingale and was revived in the 1950s. Her foundational work is what nursing theorists expanded upon that started in the 1950’s until the present time. (1952) Hildegard Paplau: Interpersonal Relations Theory -Paplau, a psychiatric nurse instructor, described the nurse-client relationship, and stated that nursing is therapeutic interpersonal process (George, 2011). The 1950’s populated theoretical conceptualization of nursing science by Columbia University Teaching College graduates (George, 2011). Paplau, Henderson, and Abdellah’s theories resulted out of this...
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...Evolution of management Through the practice of management and the continued development of commerce and wealth we are transforming our lives. In Massachusetts (USA) in the 1850s the life expectancy of a male would have been 37 years of age and a female 40: in 1929 it was 58 for a male and 61 for a female; nowadays life expectancy would be in the region 70-80 years. While appreciating the past success of ‘management’ we would also recognise that today’s accelerating pace of change is putting pressure on our organisations to be at the forefront of management thinking. If we want to maintain our standard of living our rate of change has to be comparative to the rest of the world. But our present day management thinking has evolved from a whole range of influences over an extraordinary long period of time. In his comprehensive book ‘The Evolution of Management Thought’ Daniel A Wren writes: " Within the practices of the past there are lessons of history for tomorrow in a continuous stream. We occupy but one point in this stream. The purpose .. is to present…the past as a prologue to the future." So with the aim of accelerating the development of our management practice for the future let us examine that stream of evolving management thought of the past. Our Christian past has taught that us that there was a beginning (Adam & Eve) and there will be an end (Armageddon) and in between we should hear the word of god and obey his commandments. We therefore tend to think...
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...“Dennis” Warman Leadership in the 21st Century LED 603 May 29, 2015 Instructor: Dr. Ellen Kaye I really desire to put into practice what I have learned from Leadership in the 21st Century college course. I have a deep desire for my organization to become a true learning organization. The irony to my desire is that my organization is involved in education of children kindergarten through twelfth grade. I have set up learning environments in my organization, but not based on the art and practice of learning organizations. The trainings were designed to meet an immediate need based on a lack of knowledge or experience. Currently, we have five different levels of training based on time on the job or position. Peter Senge, in an obscure little sentence in his book, says, “ To be a true teacher, you must be a learner first” (Senge, 1990. 2006, p. 332). He adds that the teacher’s passion for learning inspires their students. He further insists that managers, which I will translate to organizational leaders, must commit to be practitioners, not just “advocates” or preachers. My goal therefore is to use the theory from Peter Senge and apply it to my organization. The challenge is to take the theory and put into practice. Senge’s five key disciplines are mental models, shared vision, team learning, personal mastery, and systems thinking. Senge believes that the five disciplines converge to create new waves of experimentation and advancement, and hopefully, “learning...
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...effectiveness drawn from these paradigms. Survey of High Performance Organization A recent global study defines high performance organizations as ones where the following conditions hold: “people are valued, critical thinking is optimized, and opportunities are seized”(Annunzio, S. pg 3, 2004). The most common characteristics of high performance organizations are the following: “Flatter, horizontal structure instead of vertical hierarchy, work done by teams organized around processes; teams empowered to make decisions so management is decentralized and participative, empowered workers with high skill levels and cross-training; rewards for team performance, collaboration among teams, between labor and management, with supplier, focus on customers, quality, and continuous improvement, and flexible technologies (Kerka, S., 1995). Another study entitled “The High Performance organization: An Assessment of Virtues and Values” defines high performance organization as follows: 1. An organization designed, bottom-up, around defined processes. 2. Fluid structure, adaptive and flexible, responsive to changing customers and environment. 3. Little hierarchy due to high self -management at lower levels. 4. Highly autonomous units networked across organization boundaries web system. 5. High knowledge of performance and...
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