A Game of Thrones Chapter Sixty

Jon Are you well, Snow?† Lord Mormont asked, scowling. â€Å"Well,† his raven squawked. â€Å"Well.† â€Å"I am, my lord,† Jon lied . . . loudly, as if that could make it true. â€Å"And you?† Mormont frowned. â€Å"A dead man tried to kill me. How well could I be?† He scratched under his chin. His shaggy grey beard had been singed in the fire, and he'd hacked it off. The pale stubble of his new whiskers made him look old, disreputable, and grumpy. â€Å"You do not look well. How is your hand?† â€Å"Healing.† Jon flexed his bandaged fingers to show him. He had burned himself more badly than he knew throwing the flaming drapes, and his right hand was swathed in silk halfway to the elbow. At the time he'd felt nothing; the agony had come after. His cracked red skin oozed fluid, and fearsome blood blisters rose between his fingers, big as roaches. â€Å"The maester says I'll have scars, but otherwise the hand should be as good as it was before.† â€Å"A scarred hand is nothing. On the Wall, you'll be wearing gloves often as not.† â€Å"As you say, my lord.† It was not the thought of scars that troubled Jon; it was the rest of it. Maester Aemon had given him milk of the poppy, yet even so, the pain had been hideous. At first it had felt as if his hand were still aflame, burning day and night. Only plunging it into basins of snow and shaved ice gave any relief at all. Jon thanked the gods that no one but Ghost saw him writhing on his bed, whimpering from the pain. And when at last he did sleep, he dreamt, and that was even worse. In the dream, the corpse he fought had blue eyes, black hands, and his father's face, but he dared not tell Mormont that. â€Å"Dywen and Hake returned last night,† the Old Bear said. â€Å"They found no sign of your uncle, no more than the others did.† â€Å"I know.† Jon had dragged himself to the common hall to sup with his friends, and the failure of the rangers' search had been all the men had been talking of. â€Å"You know,† Mormont grumbled. â€Å"How is it that everyone knows everything around here?† He did not seem to expect an answer. â€Å"It would seem there were only the two of . . . of those creatures, whatever they were, I will not call them men. And thank the gods for that. Any more and . . . well, that doesn't bear thinking of. There will be more, though. I can feel it in these old bones of mine, and Maester Aemon agrees. The cold winds are rising. Summer is at an end, and a winter is coming such as this world has never seen.† Winter is coming. The Stark words had never sounded so grim or ominous to Jon as they did now. â€Å"My lord,† he asked hesitantly, â€Å"it's said there was a bird last night . . . â€Å" â€Å"There was. What of it?† â€Å"I had hoped for some word of my father.† â€Å"Father,† taunted the old raven, bobbing its head as it walked across Mormont's shoulders. â€Å"Father.† The Lord Commander reached up to pinch its beak shut, but the raven hopped up on his head, fluttered its wings, and flew across the chamber to light above a window. â€Å"Grief and noise,† Mormont grumbled. â€Å"That's all they're good for, ravens. Why I put up with that pestilential bird . . . if there was news of Lord Eddard, don't you think I would have sent for you? Bastard or no, you're still his blood. The message concerned Ser Barristan Selmy. It seems he's been removed from the Kingsguard. They gave his place to that black dog Clegane, and now Selmy's wanted for treason. The fools sent some watchmen to seize him, but he slew two of them and escaped.† Mormont snorted, leaving no doubt of his view of men who'd send gold cloaks against a knight as renowed as Barristan the Bold. â€Å"We have white shadows in the woods and unquiet dead stalking our halls, and a boy sits the Iron Throne,† he said in disgust. The raven laughed shrilly. â€Å"Boy, boy, boy, boy.† Ser Barristan had been the Old Bear's best hope, Jon remembered; if he had fallen, what chance was there that Mormont's letter would be heeded? He curled his hand into a fist. Pain shot through his burned fingers. â€Å"What of my sisters?† â€Å"The message made no mention of Lord Eddard or the girls.† He gave an irritated shrug. â€Å"Perhaps they never got my letter. Aemon sent two copies, with his best birds, but who can say? More like, Pycelle did not deign to reply. It would not be the first time, nor the last. I fear we count for less than nothing in King's Landing. They tell us what they want us to know, and that's little enough.† And you tell me what you want me to know, and that's less, Jon thought resentfully. His brother Robb had called the banners and ridden south to war, yet no word of that had been breathed to him . . . save by Samwell Tarly, who'd read the letter to Maester Aemon and whispered its contents to Jon that night in secret, all the time saying how he shouldn't. Doubtless they thought his brother's war was none of his concern. It troubled him more than he could say. Robb was marching and he was not. No matter how often Jon told himself that his place was here now, with his new brothers on the Wall, he still felt craven. â€Å"Corn,† the raven was crying. â€Å"Corn, corn.† â€Å"Oh, be quiet,† the Old Bear told it. â€Å"Snow, how soon does Maester Aemon say you'll have use of that hand back?† â€Å"Soon,† Jon replied. â€Å"Good.† On the table between them, Lord Mormont laid a large sword in a black metal scabbard banded with silver. â€Å"Here. You'll be ready for this, then.† The raven flapped down and landed on the table, strutting toward the sword, head cocked curiously. Jon hesitated. He had no inkling what this meant. â€Å"My lord?† â€Å"The fire melted the silver off the pommel and burnt the crossguard and grip. Well, dry leather and old wood, what could you expect? The blade, now . . . you'd need a fire a hundred times as hot to harm the blade.† Mormont shoved the scabbard across the rough oak planks. â€Å"I had the rest made anew. Take it.† â€Å"Take it,† echoed his raven, preening. â€Å"Take it, take it.† Awkwardly, Jon took the sword in hand. His left hand; his bandaged right was still too raw and clumsy. Carefully he pulled it from its scabbard and raised it level with his eyes. The pommel was a hunk of pale stone weighted with lead to balance the long blade. It had been carved into the likeness of a snarling wolf's head, with chips of garnet set into the eyes. The grip was virgin leather, soft and black, as yet unstained by sweat or blood. The blade itself was a good half foot longer than those Jon was used to, tapered to thrust as well as slash, with three fullers deeply incised in the metal. Where Ice was a true two-handed greatsword, this was a hand-and-a-halfer, sometimes named a â€Å"bastard sword.† Yet the wolf sword actually seemed lighter than the blades he had wielded before. When Jon turned it sideways, he could see the ripples in the dark steel where the metal had been folded back on itself again and again. â€Å"This is Valyrian steel, my lord,† he said wonderingly. His father had let him handle Ice often enough; he knew the look, the feel. â€Å"It is,† the Old Bear told him. â€Å"It was my father's sword, and his father's before him. The Mormonts have carried it for five centuries. I wielded it in my day and passed it on to my son when I took the black.† He is giving me his son's sword. Jon could scarcely believe it. The blade was exquisitely balanced. The edges glimmered faintly as they kissed the light. â€Å"Your son—† â€Å"My son brought dishonor to House Mormont, but at least he had the grace to leave the sword behind when he fled. My sister returned it to my keeping, but the very sight of it reminded me of Jorah's shame, so I put it aside and thought no more of it until we found it in the ashes of my bedchamber. The original pommel was a bear's head, silver, yet so worn its features were all but indistinguishable. For you, I thought a white wolf more apt. One of our builders is a fair stonecarver.† When Jon had been Bran's age, he had dreamed of doing great deeds, as boys always did. The details of his feats changed with every dreaming, but quite often he imagined saving his father's life. Afterward Lord Eddard would declare that Jon had proved himself a true Stark, and place Ice in his hand. Even then he had known it was only a child's folly; no bastard could ever hope to wield a father's sword. Even the memory shamed him. What kind of man stole his own brother's birthright? I have no right to this, he thought, no more than to Ice. He twitched his burned fingers, feeling a throb of pain deep under the skin. â€Å"My lord, you honor me, but—† â€Å"Spare me your but's, boy,† Lord Mormont interrupted. â€Å"I would not be sitting here were it not for you and that beast of yours. You fought bravely . . . and more to the point, you thought quickly. Fire! Yes, damn it. We ought to have known. We ought to have remembered. The Long Night has come before. Oh, eight thousand years is a good while, to be sure . . . yet if the Night's Watch does not remember, who will?† â€Å"Who will,† chimed the talkative raven. â€Å"Who will.† Truly, the gods had heard Jon's prayer that night; the fire had caught in the dead man's clothing and consumed him as if his flesh were candle wax and his bones old dry wood. Jon had only to close his eyes to see the thing staggering across the solar, crashing against the furniture and flailing at the flames. It was the face that haunted him most; surrounded by a nimbus of fire, hair blazing like straw, the dead flesh melting away and sloughing off its skull to reveal the gleam of bone beneath. Whatever demonic force moved Othor had been driven out by the flames; the twisted thing they had found in the ashes had been no more than cooked meat and charred bone. Yet in his nightmare he faced it again . . . and this time the burning corpse wore Lord Eddard's features. It was his father's skin that burst and blackened, his father's eyes that ran liquid down his cheeks like jellied tears. Jon did not understand why that should be or what it might mean, but it frightened him more than he could say. â€Å"A sword's small payment for a life,† Mormont concluded. â€Å"Take it, I'll hear no more of it, is that understood?† â€Å"Yes, my lord.† The soft leather gave beneath Jon's fingers, as if the sword were molding itself to his grip already. He knew he should be honored, and he was, and yet . . . He is not my father. The thought leapt unbidden to Jon's mind. Lord Eddard Stark is my father. I will not forget him, no matter how many swords they give me. Yet he could scarcely tell Lord Mormont that it was another man's sword he dreamt of . . . â€Å"I want no courtesies either,† Mormont said, â€Å"so thank me no thanks. Honor the steel with deeds, not words.† Jon nodded. â€Å"Does it have a name, my lord?† â€Å"It did, once. Longclaw, it was called.† â€Å"Claw,† the raven cried. â€Å"Claw.† â€Å"Longclaw is an apt name.† Jon tried a practice cut. He was clumsy and uncomfortable with his left hand, yet even so the steel seemed to flow through the air, as if it had a will of its own. â€Å"Wolves have claws, as much as bears.† The Old Bear seemed pleased by that. â€Å"I suppose they do. You'll want to wear that over the shoulder, I imagine. It's too long for the hip, at least until you've put on a few inches. And you'll need to work at your two-handed strikes as well. Ser Endrew can show you some moves, when your burns have healed.† â€Å"Ser Endrew?† Jon did not know the name. â€Å"Ser Endrew Tarth, a good man. He's on his way from the ShadowTower to assume the duties of master-at-arms. Ser Alliser Thorne left yestermorn for Eastwatch-by-the-Sea.† Jon lowered the sword. â€Å"Why?† he said, stupidly. Mormont snorted. â€Å"Because I sent him, why do you think? He's bringing the hand your Ghost tore off the end of Jafer Flowers's wrist. I have commanded him to take ship to King's Landing and lay it before this boy king. That should get young Joffrey's attention, I'd think . . . and Ser Alliser's a knight, highborn, anointed, with old friends at court, altogether harder to ignore than a glorified crow.† â€Å"Crow.† Jon thought the raven sounded faintly indignant. â€Å"As well,† the Lord Commander continued, ignoring the bird's protest, â€Å"it puts a thousand leagues twixt him and you without it seeming a rebuke.† He jabbed a finger up at Jon's face. â€Å"And don't think this means I approve of that nonsense in the common hall. Valor makes up for a fair amount of folly, but you're not a boy anymore, however many years you've seen. That's a man's sword you have there, and it will take a man to wield her. I'll expect you to act the part, henceforth.† â€Å"Yes, my lord.† Jon slid the sword back into the silver-banded scabbard. If not the blade he would have chosen, it was nonetheless a noble gift, and freeing him from Alliser Thorne's malignance was nobler still. The Old Bear scratched at his chin. â€Å"I had forgotten how much a new beard itches,† he said. â€Å"Well, no help for that. Is that hand of yours healed enough to resume your duties?† â€Å"Yes, my lord.† â€Å"Good. The night will be cold, I'll want hot spice wine. Find me a flagon of red, not too sour, and don't skimp on the spices. And tell Hobb that if he sends me boiled mutton again I'm like to boil him. That last haunch was grey. Even the bird wouldn't touch it.† He stroked the raven's head with his thumb, and the bird made a contented quorking sound. â€Å"Away with you. I've work to do.† The guards smiled at him from their niches as he wound his way down the turret stair, carrying the sword in his good hand. â€Å"Sweet steel,† one man said. â€Å"You earned that, Snow,† another told him. Jon made himself smile back at them, but his heart was not in it. He knew he should be pleased, yet he did not feel it. His hand ached, and the taste of anger was in his mouth, though he could not have said who he was angry with or why. A half dozen of his friends were lurking outside when he left the King's Tower, where Lord Commander Mormont now made his residence. They'd hung a target on the granary doors, so they could seem to be honing their skills as archers, but he knew lurkers when he saw them. No sooner did he emerge than Pyp called out, â€Å"Well, come about, let's have a look.† â€Å"At what?† Jon said. Toad sidled close. â€Å"Your rosy butt cheeks, what else?† â€Å"The sword,† Grenn stated. â€Å"We want to see the sword.† Jon raked them with an accusing look. â€Å"You knew.† Pyp grinned. â€Å"We're not all as dumb as Grenn.† â€Å"You are so,† insisted Grenn. â€Å"You're dumber.† Halder gave an apologetic shrug. â€Å"I helped Pate carve the stone for the pommel,† the builder said, â€Å"and your friend Sam bought the garnets in Mole's Town.† â€Å"We knew even before that, though,† Grenn said. â€Å"Rudge has been helping Donal Noye in the forge. He was there when the Old Bear brought him the burnt blade.† â€Å"The sword!† Matt insisted. The others took up the chant. â€Å"The sword, the sword, the sword.† Jon unsheathed Longclaw and showed it to them, turning it this way and that so they could admire it. The bastard blade glittered in the pale sunlight, dark and deadly. â€Å"Valyrian steel,† he declared solemnly, trying to sound as pleased and proud as he ought to have felt. â€Å"I heard of a man who had a razor made of Valyrian steel,† declared Toad. â€Å"He cut his head off trying to shave.† Pyp grinned. â€Å"The Night's Watch is thousands of years old,† he said, â€Å"but I'll wager Lord Snow's the first brother ever honored for burning down the Lord Commander's Tower.† The others laughed, and even Jon had to smile. The fire he'd started had not, in truth, burned down that formidable stone tower, but it had done a fair job of gutting the interior of the top two floors, where the Old Bear had his chambers. No one seemed to mind that very much, since it had also destroyed Othor's murderous corpse. The other wight, the one-handed thing that had once been a ranger named Jafer Flowers, had also been destroyed, cut near to pieces by a dozen swords . . . but not before it had slain Ser Jaremy Rykker and four other men. Ser Jaremy had finished the job of hacking its head off, yet had died all the same when the headless corpse pulled his own dagger from its sheath and buried it in his bowels. Strength and courage did not avail much against foemen who would not fall because they were already dead; even arms and armor offered small protection. That grim thought soured Jon's fragile mood. â€Å"I need to see Hobb about the Old Bear's supper,† he announced brusquely, sliding Longclaw back into its scabbard. His friends meant well, but they did not understand. It was not their fault, truly; they had not had to face Othor, they had not seen the pale glow of those dead blue eyes, had not felt the cold of those dead black fingers. Nor did they know of the fighting in the riverlands. How could they hope to comprehend? He turned away from them abruptly and strode off, sullen. Pyp called after him, but Jon paid him no mind. They had moved him back to his old cell in tumbledown Hardin's Tower after the fire, and it was there he returned. Ghost was curled up asleep beside the door, but he lifted his head at the sound of Jon's boots. The direwolf's red eyes were darker than garnets and wiser than men. Jon knelt, scratched his ear, and showed him the pommel of the sword. â€Å"Look. It's you.† Ghost sniffed at his carved stone likeness and tried a lick. Jon smiled. â€Å"You're the one deserves an honor,† he told the wolf . . . and suddenly he found himself remembering how he'd found him, that day in the late summer snow. They had been riding off with the other pups, but Jon had heard a noise and turned back, and there he was, white fur almost invisible against the drifts. He was all alone, he thought, apart from the others in the litter. He was different, so they drove him out. â€Å"Jon?† He looked up. Samwell Tarly stood rocking nervously on his heels. His cheeks were red, and he was wrapped in a heavy fur cloak that made him look ready for hibernation. â€Å"Sam.† Jon stood. â€Å"What is it? Do you want to see the sword?† If the others had known, no doubt Sam did too. The fat boy shook his head. â€Å"I was heir to my father's blade once,† he said mournfully. â€Å"Heartsbane. Lord Randyll let me hold it a few times, but it always scared me. It was Valyrian steel, beautiful but so sharp I was afraid I'd hurt one of my sisters. Dickon will have it now.† He wiped sweaty hands on his cloak. â€Å"I ah . . . Maester Aemon wants to see you.† It was not time for his bandages to be changed. Jon frowned suspiciously. â€Å"Why?† he demanded. Sam looked miserable. That was answer enough. â€Å"You told him, didn't you?† Jon said angrily. â€Å"You told him that you told me.† â€Å"I . . . he . . . Jon, I didn't want to . . . he asked . . . I mean I think he knew, he sees things no one else sees . . . â€Å" â€Å"He's blind,† Jon pointed out forcefully, disgusted. â€Å"I can find the way myself.† He left Sam standing there, openmouthed and quivering. He found Maester Aemon up in the rookery, feeding the ravens. Clydas was with him, carrying a bucket of chopped meat as they shuffled from cage to cage. â€Å"Sam said you wanted me?† The maester nodded. â€Å"I did indeed. Clydas, give Jon the bucket. Perhaps he will be kind enough to assist me.† The hunched, pink-eyed brother handed Jon the bucket and scurried down the ladder. â€Å"Toss the meat into the cages,† Aemon instructed him. â€Å"The birds will do the rest. â€Å" Jon shifted the bucket to his right hand and thrust his left down into the bloody bits. The ravens began to scream noisily and fly at the bars, beating at the metal with night-black wings. The meat had been chopped into pieces no larger than a finger joint. He filled his fist and tossed the raw red morsels into the cage, and the squawking and squabbling grew hotter. Feathers flew as two of the larger birds fought over a choice piece. Quickly Jon grabbed a second handful and threw it in after the first. â€Å"Lord Mormont's raven likes fruit and corn.† â€Å"He is a rare bird,† the maester said. â€Å"Most ravens will eat grain, but they prefer flesh. It makes them strong, and I fear they relish the taste of blood. In that they are like men . . . and like men, not all ravens are alike.† Jon had nothing to say to that. He threw meat, wondering why he'd been summoned. No doubt the old man would tell him, in his own good time. Maester Aemon was not a man to be hurried. â€Å"Doves and pigeons can also be trained to carry messages,† the maester went on, â€Å"though the raven is a stronger flyer, larger, bolder, far more clever, better able to defend itself against hawks . . . yet ravens are black, and they eat the dead, so some godly men abhor them. Baelor the Blessed tried to replace all the ravens with doves, did you know?† The maester turned his white eyes on Jon, smiling. â€Å"The Night's Watch prefers ravens.† Jon's fingers were in the bucket, blood up to the wrist. â€Å"Dywen says the wildlings call us crows,† he said uncertainty. â€Å"The crow is the raven's poor cousin. They are both beggars in black, hated and misunderstood.† Jon wished he understood what they were talking about, and why. What did he care about ravens and doves? If the old man had something to say to him, why couldn't he just say it? â€Å"Jon, did you ever wonder why the men of the Night's Watch take no wives and father no children?† Maester Aemon asked. Jon shrugged. â€Å"No.† He scattered more meat. The fingers of his left hand were slimy with blood, and his right throbbed from the weight of the bucket. â€Å"So they will not love,† the old man answered, â€Å"for love is the bane of honor, the death of duty.† That did not sound right to Jon, yet he said nothing. The maester was a hundred years old, and a high officer of the Night's Watch; it was not his place to contradict him. The old man seemed to sense his doubts. â€Å"Tell me, Jon, if the day should ever come when your lord father must needs choose between honor on the one hand and those he loves on the other, what would he do?† Jon hesitated. He wanted to say that Lord Eddard would never dishonor himself, not even for love, yet inside a small sly voice whispered, He fathered a bastard, where was the honor in that? And your mother, what of his duty to her, he will not even say her name. â€Å"He would do whatever was right,† he said . . . ringingly, to make up for his hesitation. â€Å"No matter what.† â€Å"Then Lord Eddard is a man in ten thousand. Most of us are not so strong. What is honor compared to a woman's love? What is duty against the feel of a newborn son in your arms . . . or the memory of a brother's smile? Wind and words. Wind and words. We are only human, and the gods have fashioned us for love. That is our great glory, and our great tragedy. â€Å"The men who formed the Night's Watch knew that only their courage shielded the realm from the darkness to the north. They knew they must have no pided loyalties to weaken their resolve. So they vowed they would have no wives nor children. â€Å"Yet brothers they had, and sisters. Mothers who gave them birth, fathers who gave them names. They came from a hundred quarrelsome kingdoms, and they knew times may change, but men do not. So they pledged as well that the Night's Watch would take no part in the battles of the realms it guarded. â€Å"They kept their pledge. When Aegon slew Black Harren and claimed his kingdom, Harren's brother was Lord Commander on the Wall, with ten thousand swords to hand. He did not march. In the days when the Seven Kingdoms were seven kingdoms, not a generation passed that three or four of them were not at war. The Watch took no part. When the Andals crossed the narrow sea and swept away the kingdoms of the First Men, the sons of the fallen kings held true to their vows and remained at their posts. So it has always been, for years beyond counting. Such is the price of honor. â€Å"A craven can be as brave as any man, when there is nothing to fear. And we all do our duty, when there is no cost to it. How easy it seems then, to walk the path of honor. Yet soon or late in every man's life comes a day when it is not easy, a day when he must choose.† Some of the ravens were still eating, long stringy bits of meat dangling from their beaks. The rest seemed to be watching him. Jon could feel the weight of all those tiny black eyes. â€Å"And this is my day . . . is that what you're saying?† Maester Aemon turned his head and looked at him with those dead white eyes. It was as if he were seeing right into his heart. Jon felt naked and exposed. He took the bucket in both hands and flung the rest of the slops through the bars. Strings of meat and blood flew everywhere, scattering the ravens. They took to the air, shrieking wildly. The quicker birds snatched morsels on the wing and gulped them down greedily. Jon let the empty bucket clang to the floor. The old man laid a withered, spotted hand on his shoulder. â€Å"It hurts, boy,† he said softly. â€Å"Oh, yes. Choosing . . . it has always hurt. And always will. I know.† â€Å"You don't know,† Jon said bitterly. â€Å"No one knows. Even if I am his bastard, he's still my father . . . â€Å" Maester Aemon sighed. â€Å"Have you heard nothing I've told you, Jon? Do you think you are the first?† He shook his ancient head, a gesture weary beyond words. â€Å"Three times the gods saw fit to test my vows. Once when I was a boy, once in the fullness of my manhood, and once when I had grown old. By then my strength was fled, my eyes grown dim, yet that last choice was as cruel as the first. My ravens would bring the news from the south, words darker than their wings, the ruin of my House, the death of my kin, disgrace and desolation. What could I have done, old, blind, frail? I was helpless as a suckling babe, yet still it grieved me to sit forgotten as they cut down my brother's poor grandson, and his son, and even the little children . . . â€Å" Jon was shocked to see the shine of tears in the old man's eyes. â€Å"Who are you?† he asked quietly, almost in dread. A toothless smile quivered on the ancient lips. â€Å"Only a maester of the Citadel, bound in service to Castle Black and the Night's Watch. In my order, we put aside our house names when we take our vows and don the collar.† The old man touched the maester's chain that hung loosely around his thin, fleshless neck. â€Å"My father was Maekar, the First of his Name, and my brother Aegon reigned after him in my stead. My grandfather named me for Prince Aemon the Dragonknight, who was his uncle, or his father, depending on which tale you believe. Aemon, he called me . . . â€Å" â€Å"Aemon . . . Targaryen?† Jon could scarcely believe it. â€Å"Once,† the old man said. â€Å"Once. So you see, Jon, I do know . . . and knowing, I will not tell you stay or go. You must make that choice yourself, and live with it all the rest of your days. As I have.† His voice fell to a whisper. â€Å"As I have . . . â€Å"

Maslow’s theory of needs in individualistic and collectivist cultures Malika Kassymova Essay

1. Abstract Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a motivation theory elaborated by a humanistic psychologist Abraham Maslow in 1943. Maslow’s theory consists of 5 main levels of needs that form a pyramid: Physiological, Safety, Belongingness and Love, Esteem, Self-Actualization (Janet A. Simons, 1987). Even though this theory is most commonly used in individualistic cultures, some findings suggest that it may also be applied in collectivist culture. However, the results will differ from those in individualistic cultures. In a collectivist culture, the basic need is belonging to the society; self-esteem is eliminated, and self-actualization is attained in terms of meeting societal development needs (Gambrel, P. A.& Cianci, R., 2003). Thus, contrary to the belief that the basic concept of self-actualisation applies to any human being in any culture, the current findings suggest that an individual’s needs are partially bound by culture. Implications include important impa ct on the workplace, as the concept of self-actualization shouldn’t be forced upon a collectivist culture and vice versa (Nevis, 1983). 2. Introduction 2.1 Review Most famous authors that have investigated international implications of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs include Geert Hofstede, Edwin C. Nevis. Other individualism-collectivism studies by Hampden-Turner and Trompenaars, Schwartz, Bilsky, Ivtzan and Tanaka have a direct relation to theories of motivation as well. 2.2 Purpose  The purpose of this literature review is to organise, compare and synthesize academic papers related to the Maslow’s theory of motivation and to indicate the sources of obtained data. 3. Application of Maslow’s theory in individualistic and collectivist cultures 3.1 Beginning of studies Individualism – collectivism is one of four dimensions of culture in different countries developed by Geert Hofstede. According to (Hofstede, National Cultures in Four Dimensions, 1983), in an individualistic society individuals look after themselves and immediate family members. He defines collectivism as a preference for a close social framework where family members and other in-group members look after them in exchange for loyalty; individualism, on the contrary, refers to a more self-oriented approach to socialization. 3.2 Methodology & Findings Source: www.geert-hofstede.com In a recent study (Ivtzan, 2010) the cultural validity of self-actualization is tested using the Personal Orientation Inventory (POI) questionnaire developed by (Shostrom, E.L, 1980) as a comprehensive measure of the self-actualizing characteristics originally highlighted by Maslow. The POI questionnaire was tested on 100 British participants and 100 Indian participants as these two cultures belong to 2 different cultures (Hofstede, geert-hofstede.com, 2004). In support of the hypothesis, the results showed British participants scored significantly higher than the Indian participants on 10 out of the 12 scales, meaning that Individuals from an individualistic culture are more likely to be closer to the self-actualizing ideal, as measured by these scales, than individuals from a collectivistic culture. Thus, one’s cognition and motivation are affected by the social system in which they are raised and fulfilling one’s potential is expressed differently in these cultures. Collectivistic cultures are more ‘other orientated’ with strong emphasis on approval, acceptance and adherence to social groups (Erez & Earley, 1993). In support of this, Tanaka (1978) tested individualistic and collectivistic differences in agreeable responses to various behavioural statements. For example, in response to the statement â€Å"To do something good for society†, participants from Indonesia, Pakistan and India scored the highest and those from Australia and New Zealand the lowest. However, in response to the statement â€Å"To achieve personal happiness†, the pattern of results was reversed. Similarly, Riesman et al (1953) describe that the other-directed person â€Å"hardly thinks of himself as an individual† (p.33) further suggesting that collectivists that define themselves in such an ‘other-directed’ way are less likely to be inner orientated than individualists. Therefore, prestigious companies such as Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS, 2007) that actively use Maslow’s motivational theory may fail to effectively ‘reach out’ their more collectivist employees. Source: www.geert-hofstede.com 4. Summary Hofstede (1983) and Nevis (1983) both conclude that the hierarchy of needs developed by Maslow stresses individual achievement rather than collective, since it was developed on the basis of individualistic US model. However, Hofstede (1983) and Trompenaars (1993) agree that the American way of management does not apply across all cultures, especially as those in Asia. Living to our fullest potential is a universal theme and the route towards unlocking this potential and fulfilling it might be dependent on our cultural values. Therefore, the results of using Maslow’s model will differ in individualist and collectivist cultures. Further research is needed to establish whether the fulfilment of the individual in a non-Western, collectivistic culture is idealised in a different way (Ivtzan, I., Gardner, H. E., Bernard, I., Sekhon, M., & Hart, R., 2013). 5. Implications for Managers Individualistic countries desiring to invest in collectivist countries (e.g. China) can increase their profitability through understanding of collectivist culture and vice versa. Companies where management models are based on individualism shouldn’t force their management practices upon a collectivist environment. For example, in a collectivist culture like China, Nevis (1983) suggests that Chinese business practices should be governed by being a good member of society and placing group needs before individual needs. Therefore, a team-based organizational structure should be put in place by the investing firm. The human resource management plan should also design a benefits plan that centres on the work group with a focus on housing, medical care, and education. Cultural research is important in human resource management in order to divide between individualistic and collectivistic cultures, allowing both to work efficiently and effectively, side by side, in the same organisational environment (Ivtzan, I., Gardner, H. E., Bernard, I., Sekhon, M., & Hart, R., 2013). Also, the human resource management plan should implement a comprehensive cultural training program designed to increase understanding and awareness of a collectivist culture to avoid confrontations and situations that would cause one to lose face (Gambrel, P. A.& Cianci, R., 2003).

The Challenges For Students Today - 1158 Words

Writing a research paper is one of the toughest challenges for students today. An obstacle to success is locating and navigating different databases and making sure that research sources are credible and scholarly. We are lucky, in that CSU Global Library has given its students access to several different databases, therefore, making it easier to navigate vast amounts of information. I found two different databases that will be helpful with my two areas of interest, healthcare management and clinical research. The first database is EBSCO. It is a database with a broad range of topics. It includes information on health care, corporations, business, government and includes links to public libraries as well as links to information that will be helpful for K-12 students. The second database is PubMed. Where EBSCO was a database filled with information on a broad range of topics, PubMed is streamlined and contains information on biomedical sciences. PubMed contains over 26 million citations from biomedical literature, MEDLINE, books and scientific journals. EBSCO Search Engine When starting at the CSU Global Library’s main page, EBSCO’s first search results cannot be reduced. It is a simple word or topic search, but once a general topic is entered a better defined search can begin. The database allows you to use multiple topic expanders and limiters, therefore, narrowing down the information you are searching. Students can search for full text articles or search forShow MoreRelatedThe Challenges For Students Today1161 Words   |  5 PagesWriting a research paper can be one of the toughest challenges for students today. A huge obstacle to success is locating and navigating different databases and making sure that research sources are credible and scholarly. We are lucky, in that CSU Global Library has given its students access to several different databases, making it easier to navigate vast amounts of information. I found two different databases that I feel will be helpful with my two areas of interest, healthcare management andRead MoreEssay about THE CHALLENGES COLLEGE STUDENTS FACE TODAY843 Words   |  4 PagesWhat are the challenges college students are facing today? Students are under a lot of pressure these days because of budget cuts in education, rising tuition costs, dwindling Federal Student Loans, hard to obtain private student loans, and to make matters worse, high unemployment graduate numbers. Todays college students are having to change their anticipated day of graduation, because Californias educational system has been hit with a massive budget crisis. This set back hasRead MoreChallenges and Obstacles That Teachers Face1621 Words   |  6 PagesTeacher obstacles 1. Introduction The society of today changes at a past pace and it comes to impact all aspects of life, including education. Some of the challenges which are raised at the level of education include an increasingly diversified classroom, as a result of globalization, an increasing level of technologization among educational institutions or the migration of employment opportunities from the manufacturing and agriculture sectors to the services sector, generating as such theRead MoreThe Church s Vision For Education1216 Words   |  5 Pagesmeans to economic sustenance for both the person and God’s kingdom like in the case of the prophet Daniel ( Daniel 1: 4 – 7; 17 ) . It is not how much the student knows, but what kind of person this kind of educational process produces. In genuine education, personal change (process) and personality development (product) are both essential. Today educators recognize that the goal of education is the mixing of personality within a world view, this is far from what God desire for His children. The responsibilityRead MoreWilliam Brickman and Paulo Freire800 Words   |  4 Pages William Brickman and Paulo Freire were two famous educators that brought their own ideas and contributions to the education field. They shared some similarities, differences, challenges, and an overall positive impact on education that is with us today. The contribution of Brickman and Freire Brickman’s Contribution Brickman thought it was essential to have comparative education, which is the idea that professionals in the education field be exposed to different cultures, living in a different countryRead MoreMy Strengths And Weaknesses Of A Student906 Words   |  4 PagesThe education we receive today holds the power to shape the individuals we will be in the future. Not only does our education aid our choices throughout school, but also the choices we make in our personal lives like where we choose to work and how we portray ourselves to society. Personally, I have enjoyed my educational experience. I have enjoyed learning new concepts and interacting with new people. Of course, there are obstacles along the way. However, these obstacles have given me the opportunityRead MoreThe Role Of A School Psychologist1659 Words   |  7 PagesThroughout the years, schools have had to take on much more responsibility than just making sure that students are learning the material. Schools are now facing new challenges such as violence in schools, children that may be mentally or emotionally challenged, and basically being a caretaker for hundreds of kids, 365 days out of the year. With the new challenges, comes more responsibility and accountability which means adjusting accordingly. This is where the job of a school psychologist is ofRead MoreEssay on Jesus Freaks1193 Words   |  5 Pagesnation because of the students that killed their own colleagues. Cassie Bernall was a girl that stood up for her belief in God when one of the murderers held a gun to her head. A martyr is a person that defends a principle, even though it means giving up everything that is important to that person (Webster 236). Some martyrs are put in jail for standing up for Jesus Christ or God. Most martyrs are killed because of their beliefs. Martyrs are the strange ones who challenge society with a differentRead MoreHow Technology is Changing Todays School System1556 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction It is a well-known fact that today, technology has had a significant impact on the way individuals work, play, learn and even communicate. Some of the technological advances being used widely in the modern day include but are not in any way limited to personal digital assistants, the world wide net, cell phones, digital cameras as well as computers. With that in mind, education is being seen as one of the areas that stand to benefit greatly from the use of technology. In this textRead MoreScheduling Classes, Athletic Events, and Extra Circular Activities1491 Words   |  6 Pagesin managing a department that has many activities occurring each day. These activities are physical education classes, practice schedules and locations, meeting special needs students, coordinating game schedules for each sport, and finding time to mentor those within the department. Each area presents its own challenge to synergistically work with the available facilities that are available. Therefore, to be effective in creating a physical education program and athletic department, it is imperative

Acts of Terrorism and Social Change in the United States...

On 10 September, 2001 the citizens of the United States went about their day-to-day activities without any thoughts of a terrorist attack occurring. Americans who were lulled into this mindset by the false pretenses of security and the history that America has never had a multifaceted terroristic attack occur on her soil. However, on the morning of September 11, 2001 this attitude would be ceaselessly changed and change the life of all Americans. The United States has become known as the melting pot of culture due to the diversity of citizens; consequently, this has also led terroristic events committed by individuals and factions to share their ideologies and attempt to bring about social change. This social change may influence an†¦show more content†¦In the past 20 years the United States along with the world have entered a period referred to as â€Å"New Terrorism† (Kurtulus, 2011). This new type of terrorism is generally indiscriminate, networked, based off religious ideologies, and committed by individuals and factions with little to no organizational structure (Kurtulus, 2011). The problem with the individuals who commit this new type of terrorism is that they are generally indiscriminate and do not necessarily have a selected target. The victims of these attacks are generally thrown into disarray with little to no explanation on why they occurred. International terrorism or terrorism that occurs outside the United States, but in turn affects the U.S. also has a dynamic effect on the occurrence of social change. The Heritage Foundation’s 2011 study also found an occurrence of 380 international terroristic attacks in between 2001-2009 (Muhlhausen McNeil, 2011). The 2011 study also showed that the general targets of international attacks were aimed toward business and diplomatic offices (Muhlhausen McNeil, 2011). Some of these international attacks have led to military actions known as War on Terror and encompassing Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and New Dawn. The events of September 11, 2001 sparked a wave of social change that will forever have an impact on America and her citizens. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold entered Columbine High School on April 20, 1999 withShow MoreRelatedTerrorism Has Been Used For Centuries As A Weapon Of Change1074 Words   |  5 PagesTerrorism has been used for centuries as a weapon of change. Terrorism used to force change even altered the English language, the creation of the word assassin because of the Hashhashin’s in the 11th century and the Roman’s use of decimation changing the meaning from killing one in ten to massacring all involved. Much of early terrorism was based on nationalist or ethnic groups, which had exhausted all other options while reaching for political freedom and therefore resorted to violence. The mostRead MoreTerrorism, Cia, And South America1062 Words   |  5 PagesTerrorism, CIA, and South America Terrorism. This word has caused more change in the 21st century than any other thought, policy, or idea. This change can not only be seen in the political realm, but in the academic realm as well. Since the attacks on September 11, the study and research of terrorism has grown exponentially. One area of research that is gaining popularity is whether or not the United States itself has participated in acts of terrorism as defined by the CIA. The largest of theseRead MoreThe Effects Of Terrorism On Terrorism And Terrorism944 Words   |  4 PagesEffects of Terrorism â€Å"The history of terrorism is a history of well-known and historically significant individuals, entities, and incidents associated, whether rightly or wrongly, with terrorism,† (History of Terrorism). The history of terrorism is a long bloody road. One of the bloodiest of acts of terrorism in the early years, was the reign of terror. In which, the Jacobin leader, Maximilien Robespierre, executed 40,000 people. Newspapers coined the word â€Å"Terrorism† as a way of describing RobespierreRead MoreNuclear Weapons Essay1533 Words   |  7 Pagesinternational relations. As seen in the class lecture slides, states often embark on nuclear weapons programs to counterbalance the power of other states. This is particularly true for states such as China and Iran, who are trying to balance the power of the United States. States such as China, Russia, and the United States are all powerful international influences. This is partially due to the fact that they are a part of the United Nations Security Council and own nuclear weapons. If they did notRead MoreNuclear Weapons Essay1598 Words   |  7 Pagesinternational relations. As seen in the class lecture slides, states often embark on nuclear weapons programs to counterbalance the power of other states. This is particularly true for states such as China and Iran, who are trying to balance the power of the United States. States such as China, Russia, and the United States are all powerful international influences. This is partially due to the fact that they are a part of the United Nations Security Council and own nuclear weapons. If they did notRead MoreTerrorism Is A Global Issue1462 Words   |  6 PagesTerrorism is a global issue that has been a problem for many for centuries. Many agree that there is not just one clear definition of the word. The Dictionary.com definition of terrorism is, â€Å"The use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purposes.† Thi s definition is incomplete. It doesn’t tell you that the act of terrorism is wrong or does it describe who can be affected by it. The FBI’s definition seems to be a better description. They define it as, â€Å"TerrorismRead MoreDomestic Terrorism Is America s Greatest Threat : Mass Shootings And Hate Crimes1389 Words   |  6 PagesDomestic Terrorism is America s Greatest Threat: Mass Shootings and Hate Crimes I. Introduction The United States has been in a national state of emergency fighting a war on terrorism since September 11, 2001. The intelligence communities have pursued and tracked down terrorist suspects who pose a direct threat to this country, yet one of the greatest threat to this country is the astronomical number of mass shootings and hate crimes that have occurred in this country post 9/11. The UnitedRead MoreHow The United States Should Combat Such A Horrific Form Of Warfare And Political Change1398 Words   |  6 Pages Much has been made of terrorism and political crime lately. Since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center buildings and the Pentagon most have asked questions such as: How could this happen? Why would someone do this to so many innocent people? And possibly even more importantly, how do we prevent this from happening again? The attacks on that tragic day weren’t the first in our country though they were the most devastating to date. They were devastating in accordance with casualtiesRead More The True Meaning of Terrorism Essay813 Words   |  4 PagesThe True Meaning of Terrorism Think of the word terrorism. What is the first thing that comes to mind? One might think of kidnapping, assassination, bombing, or even genocide and guerrilla warfare. Because it is such a broad and complex issue, an all-encompassing definition is hard to formulate. The United States Department of Defence defines terrorism as†¦ The calculated use of violence or the threat of violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societiesRead MoreThe Psychology of Terrorism761 Words   |  3 Pages Terrorism Psychology The assignment being completed within this report asks the author of this paper to answer several questions. The first relates to the psychological attributes of terrorists. The second question asks for historical and cultural antecedents to September 11th. The third and final one asks for mental illness and its inconclusive link with terrorism. Reasons for the inconclusiveness as well as reasons people become terrorists. Psychological Profile of a Terrorist The primary

The African HIV-AIDS Crisis - 2144 Words

AIDS is a known issue when it comes to global health, however, the region it has the most impact on is Africa. The human immunodeficiency virus, more commonly known as HIV, is a retrovirus. A retrovirus is basically a virus or group of viruses that insert into a host cell in order to replicate. HIV affects cells of the immune system, and destroys or impairs their function. As HIV progresses, the immune system weakens, which causes the person infected to become more susceptible to other illnesses. HIV at its most advanced stage is called acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, otherwise known as AIDS. It can take 10-15 years for an HIV-infected person to develop AIDS. HIV can be transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse, transfusion of contaminated blood, sharing of contaminated needles, and between a mother and her infant during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. HIV infection is usually diagnosed through blood tests detecting whether or not there are HIV antibodies. Ther e is no cure for HIV infection. However, effective antiretroviral drugs can control the virus to an extent, so people living with HIV can live healthier and more productive lives (World Health Organization). Eastern and Southern Africa only accounts for five percent of the world’s population, however it is home to half the world’s population that is living with HIV. The region has been and continues to be the center of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and accounts for 48% of the world’s new HIV infectionsShow MoreRelatedHIV and African Americans Essay1578 Words   |  7 Pagescommonly known as (HIV), which is a virus that attacks the immune system of humans by destroying the amount of CD4 cells in their bodies. Without CD4 the human body is unable to fight against diseases, which can lead to Acquired Immune deficiency syndrome known as AIDS for short. The first case of the HIV/AIDS virus in the U.S. occurred in the early 1980’s. The first spark of the virus was fo und in San Francisco with couple of homosexual Caucasian American males. Today African Americans account forRead MoreHow Hiv / Aids Impacted A Nation1559 Words   |  7 Pagesare either contracting the virus or not able to attend school, hampering their employment options in the future. A nation specific micro level example of how HIV/AIDS impacts a nation was a study that was conducted in South Africa that determined the factual negative impact on their economy. They found these conclusions due to the HIV/AIDS disease: a lower labour force, lower productivity, a cost pressure on companies, lower incomes, lower population, decreased investment potential, an increasedRead MoreStephen Lewis, A Canadian Politician And Humanitarian1311 Words   |  6 Pagesof watching Africans suffer through the AIDS pandemic, and critically examined how the neglect of global communities and their discrimination contributed to its failure to resolve. While the rest of the world seemed to be unrespon sive to an AIDS-ravaged continent, Mr. Lewis found himself passionately involved in the crisis and began to take action. Since his involvement with the United Nations in 1984, Stephen Lewis has tirelessly advocated for African citizens affected by HIV and AIDS, ensured thatRead MoreEducation, Poor Health Care Services, And Lack Of Modern Technology1626 Words   |  7 PagesLack of education, poor health care services, and lack of modern technology, are all global issues that lead to today’s health care crisis in South Africa. There are many negative images of Africa and its people that are learned by reading and listening to documentaries and following the news. Everything negative from the genocide in Rwanda to child sex trafficking, extreme poverty, high mortality rates and government corruption. Taking aside the legacy of colonialism and racial and ethnic inequalitiesRead MoreThe Main Cause Of Famine On Africa1674 Words   |  7 Pagesfamines in the past and that is still the case today in the African continent. For instance,in 2011 to mid 2012,east Africa had an extreme climate change that brought on a drought that was said to be the worst in 60 years.The region faced a prolonged dry season, and the rain that followed the dry season fell in low quantity resulting to a severe food crisis to the countries of Somalia, Djibouti, Kenya and Ethiopia. The sudden food crisis is said to have threatened the livelihoods of 12 million peopleRead MoreHiv and Aids in the Black Community1140 Words   |  5 PagesRunning head: HIV/AIDS in African Americans ​​1 HIV/AIDS in November 15, 2012  Research, Definition, and Statement of HIV/AIDS ​African-Americans are the ethnic group most affected by HIV/AIDS. Ironically african-americans represent 14% of the population of the United States , but represent 44% across the gender line. African-american men represent 70% of HIV infections among the ethnic group, however african-american women are also highly at risk of HIV infection. IndeedRead MoreThe World Since The 1980s1154 Words   |  5 Pagessince it seemed to prey primarily on homosexual men. As it was observed that blood transfusion recipients and intravenous drug users were also contracting it the name was replaced with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and its precursor Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). As the decade progressed the body count rose and the world lost such beloved celebrities as Liberace, Freddie Mercury, Robert Reed, and Rock Hudson. Rumors swirled in its wake, ranging from the bizarre to the halfway believableRead MoreThe Epidemic Of Sub Saharan Africa855 Words   |  4 Pagesplac es like Swaziland, Botswana, Lesotho poverty, crime and systematic corruption are the tinder for the fire that is the HIV epidemic in Africa. Of the 35 million people living with HIV in the world, 19 million do not know their HIV-positive status. Adolescent girls and young women account for one in four new HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa. Women are much more vulnerable to HIV, tuberculosis and hepatitis B and C than the general public. Which is supported by this excerpt from a recent AIDSTAR-OneRead More The Cause and Effect of HIV in Africa Essay examples1398 Words   |  6 PagesThe Cause and Effect of HIV in Africa The ubiquitous acronym HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is a virus that gradually weakens the immune system until the body cannot fight off common infinitesimal infections such as pneumonia, diarrhea, the â€Å"flu†, and other illnesses. All of which can be part of the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, the final stage of HIV that usually develops between 2 to 10 years after the infection. This infection is frequently transmitted through unprotectedRead MoreHiv / Aids Has Stunted The Progression Of African Economy And Education System1737 Words   |  7 PagesAccording to Feldman and Miller, HIV is a virus that breaks down the immune system of the host it possesses (Feldman xxvi). AIDS is sometimes called full blown HIV, as it is believed to be a direct effect of HIV (Feldman xxviii). AIDS is more serious and causes more casualties, and when it develops to its fuller extent, there’s nearly nowhere to go but down. HIV can be spread by, needle sharing, br east-feeding, blood transfusions, vomit to an open wound, and organ transplants. In second and third

Leadership Relevancy

Question: ExplainLeadership and its relevancy in Business Organization. Answer: Introduction Leadership in an organization is the quality by which a person would lead his or her subordinates for meeting organizational goals (Northouse, 2015). The leader has to keep sure that expectations of his/her followers are maintained during the achievement of organizations goal. Leadership involves guiding the followers with a clear vision and providing required information (Zaccaro DeChurch, 2012). The leader is responsible for coordination and formation of balance among the followers by managing conflicts among stakeholders and members. In this essay, the effect of leadership on business operations is analyzed and it is termed as entrepreneurship. Unlike management, the leadership is an attribute that cannot be learnt. The report would analyze and show that passion and innovative nature is responsible for developing effective leadership. Leadership and its relevancy in Business Organization Leadership in business organization can be termed as entrepreneurship and it requires great deal of time for utilization (Robbins Judge, 2007). They need to connect their ideas for creating context with all the operations of business operations. Leadership, emotional intelligence, charisma and authentication are not the only factors that are responsible for business operations. The personal qualities of leaders are significantly more narcissist and self-serving than the factor of true leadership (Zaccaro DeChurch, 2012). The most important quality of leaders is inspiring employees for doing their best. The leaders are said to be successful when they make their followers achieve their goals or add values to their performance. The leadership style is classified on the basis of their impact on their followers. The advantages and disadvantages of leadership operations are different for different styles. The goals and culture of the organization are determined by the respective styles o f leadership. There are five leadership styles prevalent in business operations. Laissez-Faire leadership style has followers and employees that are highly trained and experienced and they need very less supervision from their leaders (Skogstad et al., 2015). The leaders in this leadership style lack the direct supervision and there is no scope for forming regular feedback from the processes. In this leadership style the managers do not require making any effort and it may result in poor production. This lack of control would result in increasing the manufacturing cost. Autocratic leadership style allows the manager for making decisions without any considerations from its followers. It is an autocratic operation style and managers are solely responsible for all the activities in an organization (Rast III et al., 2013). The managers have complete authority and they impose their decisions on employees. The followers have to obey the decisions of their managers. This leadership style has benefited employees that have no experience. The managers would keep an eye on those weak employees for providing them guidance and leading them. Participative leadership is democratic in nature and it allows the employees to take part in all processes. The managers consider the input from the followers and employees. Even the peer members of the group take active part in group decisions (Miao et al., 2013). However, the final decision lies in hands of the managers or leaders. The participative leadership is useful for boosting the employees and raising the morale. The y feel motivated because the managers and leaders would take their ideas and concepts. The changes that happen due to decision process are accepted by the employees as they are a part of decision making process. Transactional leadership is the style of leadership style in which the managers deploy the certain tasks on teams or groups (May et al., 2014). If the team performs the task successfully, the managers reward them. Otherwise the managers punish them for any mistake or fault. The employees with managers predetermine the goals and the employees follow their leaders for accomplishing the goals. The managers are responsible for reviewing the results and training the employees when team members are not able to succeed. Transformational leadership require high level of communication for meeting the goals set by the management (Avolio Yammarino, 2013). The leaders motivate their employees and enhance the efficiency and productivity of operations. This leadership style has involved the management processes for meeting the organization goals. The leaders put pressure on larger picture for delegating the small tasks to the respective teams for accomplishing the goals.It has been acknowledged that business procedure require looking beyond earnings for determining the true market value of the organization. Intangibles like brand, strategy and development for ensuring that the business would be able for developing their future apart from earning profits (Robbins Judge, 2007). It has been seen that decisions of investments are taken by the confidence of investors and not only by leaders.The capital index are been used for understanding and realizing the market value of the leadership (Van Nguyen et al., 2016). It gives a rigorous and thorough way for evaluating leadership. The investors have started accessing for developing an insight for achieving financial and intangible results. The personal qualities of leaders and its team with the human capital have been exam ined by the leadership index. The leadership team can provide personal confidence by the investors in their business operations. The following features are helpful in understanding the role of investors and in key decision making apart from leaders.Learning and growing are constantly used for the growth of individuals role. The investors have to talk and decide about the future references for business development. The investors demonstrate their personal energy and vitality for creating their future. According to Goldman (2012), Strategic Clarity report the challenges faced by the business industries. The clear strategic point of view have been used for responding to the challenges. Predicting execution is the attribute to deliver the promises of their business operations over and over again. Leverage talent can be used for sharing credit of success (Schiemann, 2014). Situations are used for understanding the leadership style for situation. It helps in making the brand promises as p ersonal guides to the customers.Some personality traits that are useful for achieving the success of effective decision making are Cultural clarity, positivity, talent, information flow and logical working. Apart from the leadership skills these skills are also required for managing the key decision taking in an organization. According to Taylor Debrosse, (2013), Cultural clarity are used for making sure that internal culture have matched required brand promises made to its customers. Talent flow have shown the investors that their industry have potential for growth and development. The best people are recruited in an organization for developing and growing the leading ability in an organization. According to Gasca and Micchelli (2013), Positivity has been important for accounting the results for any activity in business. The managers should recognize all accountability contributions of people responsible for growth. The positive approach for developing the communication would help in key decision making process. Information flow should be adaptive for managing the operations and decision making process. Work logic is used for building a governance system that would enable responsive nature and agility in business operations.Vision of the business has been defined for motivating all the employees and making sure that the prime objective of organization could be fulfilled (Mayfield et al., 2015). Value of the business is used for making sure the importance of appreciation to positive nature and unique contribution in business operations. Seeking ideas of others for understanding their ideas and options from all employees of an organization can be termed as voice of the employees. Conclusion Leadership in an organization had been explained as a quality by which a person would lead his or her subordinates for meeting organizational goals. Leaders ensure the expectations of his/her followers are maintained during the achievement of organizations goal. In this essay, the effect of leadership as an attribute cannot be learnt but analyzed. The analysis have shown that passion and innovative nature is responsible for developing effective leadership.Leadership in business organization had been termed as entrepreneurship and it has required great deal of time for utilization. The leadership style had been classified on the basis of their impact on their followers. There are five leadership styles prevalent in business operations Laissez-Faire leadership style, Autocratic leadership style, Participative leadership, Transactional leadership, and Transformational leadership. Business procedure required looking beyond earnings for determining the true market value of the organizatio n. Intangibles like brand, strategy and development are used for ensuring that business management would be able for developing their future apart from earning profits. It had been seen that decisions of investments are taken by the confidence of investors and not only by leaders. References Avolio, B. J., Yammarino, F. J. (Eds.). (2013). Transformational and charismatic leadership: The road ahead. Emerald Group Publishing.Gasca, M., Micchelli, C. A. (Eds.). (2013). Total positivity and its applications (Vol. 359). Springer Science Business Media.Goldman, E. F. (2012). Leadership practices that encourage strategic thinking. Journal of Strategy and Management, 5(1), 25-40.May, D., Peus, C. V., Frey, D., Kerschreiter, R. (2014, January). Follower Perspectives on Transformational and Transactional Leadership. InAcademy of Management Proceedings (Vol. 2014, No. 1, p. 11795). Academy of Management.Mayfield, J., Mayfield, M., Sharbrough, W. C. (2015). Strategic Vision and Values in Top Leaders Communications Motivating Language at a Higher Level. International Journal of Business Communication, 52(1), 97-121.Miao, Q., Newman, A., Schwarz, G., Xu, L. (2013). Participative leadership and the organizational commitment of civil servants in China: the mediating effects of tru st in supervisor. British Journal of Management,24(S1), S76-S92.Northouse, P. G. (2015). Leadership: Theory and practice. Sage publications.Rast III, D. E., Hogg, M. A., Giessner, S. R. (2013). Self-uncertainty and support for autocratic leadership. Self and Identity, 12(6), 635-649.Robbins, S. Judge, T. (2007). Organizational behavior. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson/Prentice Hall.Schiemann, W. A. (2014). From talent management to talent optimization.Journal of World Business, 49(2), 281-288.Skogstad, A., Aasland, M. S., Nielsen, M. B., Hetland, J., Matthiesen, S. B., Einarsen, S. (2015). The Relative Effects of Constructive, Laissez-Faire, and Tyrannical Leadership on Subordinate Job Satisfaction. Zeitschrift fr Psychologie.Taylor, D. M., Debrosse, R. G. (2013). 10 Cultural identity clarity.Understanding the self and others: Explorations in intersubjectivity and interobjectivity, 143.Van Nguyen, P., Nguyen, P. T., Nguyen, Q. L. H. T. T., Huynh, V. D. B. (2016). Calculating Weights of Social Capital Index Using Analytic Hierarchy Process. International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, 6(3), 1189-1193.Zaccaro, S. J., DeChurch, L. A. (2012). Leadership forms and functions in multiteam systems. Multiteam systems: An organizational form for dynamic and complex environments, 253-288.

Tiny Influences free essay sample

â€Å"Please, can we have a story?† â€Å"Okay, but only one because it’s bed time.† Two heads scramble for a place on my lap as if it’s stadium seating. Their freshly-shampooed heads dampen my shirt with a unique, fruity fragrance. As I turn the book pages, I hear a crisp rustle that comforts me more than any other sound. While Kyle and Marissa are lost in the magic of the story, I am drawn back in time to when their adventure began. I remember traveling through the NICU thinking how polished, clean, and organized it was compared to the rest of the hospital. My shoes squeaked across the linoleum. The tang of antibacterial soap lingered down the hall. A steady thrum†¦thrum†¦thrum of monitors came from every direction and fluorescent lights quivered in never-ending rows. Pushing through the maze of incubators, I saw the crowd of white coats before I heard the alien cries. We will write a custom essay sample on Tiny Influences or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page When I first laid my eyes upon my brother and sister, they were tiny, red, squealing bodies in a sea of frantic doctors. Fear grasped my heart at the sight of the twins, for they appeared inhuman. Fused eyes greeted me like a newborn kitten’s. I gaped. I boggled. Their size was minute. One pound 13 ounces and one pound 15 ounces are just numbers until they are associated with living†¦breathing†¦beings. All I got was a glance, until the doctors dragged us away because we had not washed our hands. We were oblivious to the immense danger of germs in premature lives. Retreating into our hospital room, we gathered around a bed with tear-streamed faces. I felt like I’d swallowed a boulder. In need of an activity, I scrunched the worn bedspread between my palms. Since we were situated roundabout, I searched my family’s faces. No one seemed to know where to look. Each of us had the same question. â€Å"How could children so delicate possibly survive?† We said a heart-felt prayer that our new family members would make it. I knew at that moment that it was out of our hands. Over the course of three months, Kyle and Marissa kept fighting despite all the odds. To this end, morphine administration was essential just to touch their bodies. A micro-ventilator kept them alive, providing every morsel of oxygen for them. Also, the twins each underwent thoracic heart surgery in their first week of life. They suffered through numerous blood transfusions and spinal taps. Pneumonia infected their feeble bodies four times altogether. Being able to suck wasn’t instinctive. All in all, they had to be trained to do most everything I was born knowing how to do, but they succeeded and came home. When I supported their fragile heads for the first time, I experienced terrifying rapture. It was so strange to hold faces I had gazed at for months but had never been able to touch. I could not fathom that Kyle and Marissa were real. Peering into pairs of blue eyes, I thought of what they had endured to be nestled in my arms. Coming home, however, did not make them normal twins. On the contrary, they needed constant attention. Exposure to any bacteria could easily have killed them; consequently, they barely left our house for a year. Hence, our family became the hermit crabs on the block. Surgical masks became regular attire in our home, and oxygen tanks were a fundamental appliance. Neither flu shots nor friends coming over with a cold were negotiable. In short, Kyle and Marissa took up an ample portion of my life. As I finish the storybook, I examine Kyle and Marissa’s captivated faces and I realize that the twins have no memory of the experiences I cannot forget. Their lives are not about what they conquered in the past but about what they confront each day. Recently, a lady commented to me, â€Å"You are so good with those kids.† In contrast, I believe they have been â€Å"so good to me.† Caring for them has taught me more than I could ever hope to give in return.