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Experiencing OB Assignment Directions (2)
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Experiencing OB Assignment Directions
Analysis of the Policy that was changed at Work
I was two months into my marketing internship at Company X (name withheld), when our manager announced, via an internal memo, that we would all be working Saturdays for the next five weeks until the new product the company was producing was launched into the market. The Marketing Department had a lot of work to do to create an overarching image of the new product and to reach out to customers, prospects, and investors, for this new product to gain traction even before it hit the stores. This major policy change affected everyone in the department except for the Chief Marketing Officer and the managers. My fellow colleagues and I felt that this decision was lacking in fairness since we were not involved in making it. All we wanted was engagement in the decision-making process especially on matters that directly concerned us. “Studies suggest that fostering engagement in employees, has a significant impact on the corporate bottom line” (Organizational Behavior, 24). Employee engagement is a tool mainly regarded as “managing discretionary effort that is when employees have choices they are likely to act in a manner that that furthers the organization’s interests.”
Elements of Fairness Present during that Process
The elements of fairness that were present were that we were allowed to express our views and feelings (although this happened very late in the procedure), this procedure upheld ethical and moral standards, we were treated with dignity, we were treated in a polite manner, the manager refrained from improper remarks and comments, and we were able to appeal the outcomes arrived at by this procedure.
Elements of Fairness absent during that Process
The elements of fairness that were absent in this procedure were that there lacked candid communications before the application of this policy and the policy was not explained thoroughly it was simply enacted.
Elements of Fairness that are Difficult to implement as a Manager
Yes, there are elements of fairness that are difficult to implement such as allowing all subordinates to express their views and feelings during policies that need to be made quickly. Some managers may also find it difficult to criticize and discipline poor performing employees and this may result in the demotivation of good employees who may feel that their hard work is not appreciated. This need for affiliation by a manager may result in unfair behavior. Managers who are high in need for achievement may be compelled to micromanage their subordinates and be overbearing (Organizational Behavior, 174). These managers are likely to praise results and unfairly disregard tasks approached in a different manner from what they expect.
Was the outcome influenced by fairness?
Yes, the outcome was influenced by fairness. Finally, we were able to air our grievances about working on Saturdays. Those who could not attend work because of religious reasons or other responsibilities, like myself, were allowed to work overtime during weekdays to complete the work apportioned to us on Saturdays.
The relation between Fairness and Motivation
Fairness is related to employee motivation. According to equity theory, employees are motivated when they perceive reward distribution as fair, and vice versa. The perception of justice is shaped by making a comparison between their inputs and outcomes and the inputs and outcomes of a referent (Organizational Behavior, 177). Equity theory suggests that procedural and interactional types of fairness affect the motivation of an employee. Procedural justice is the degree to which fair decision-making procedures are used to arrive at a certain decision while interactional justice refers to the degree to which people are treated with respect, kindness, and dignity in interpersonal interactions.
Works Cited
BIBLIOGRAPHY Organizational Behavior. (2012). Washington: Saylor Academy.
How Colonialism Negatively Affected Human Ecology
How Colonialism Negatively Affected Human Ecology
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How Colonialism Negatively Affected Human Ecology
Introduction
Colonialism refers to a practice of domination and an exploration, settlement, conquest, and exploitation of land by European explorers that lasted 400 years. Environmental colonialism is the numerous ways through which colonial practices affected the natural habitats of indigenous people. Historian Alfred Crosby argued that colonialists were partly successful as they managed to change native ecosystem. Colonialists exposed native communities to exotic invasive species and foreign markets, inhibiting their capacity to defend themselves against both biological and economic invaders. For some native populations, recovery from the damage done proved difficult. Colonial powers made the problem worse by developing global infrastructure, which encouraged rich countries to excavate natural resources from poor countries while at the same time destabilizing sustainable native cultures. This essay delves into how colonialism negatively affected ecology, including the introduction of disease, environmental changes, increased population, global trade networks and medicines from new plants.
Introduction of New Diseases
Disease emergence is possibly the single greatest effect that European colonization had on the North American environment. Native inhabitants did not have any immunity against some of the new diseases. For instance, in all sectors where Europeans settled, Microbes caused sickness and death. Between 1616 and 1618, along the coast of the New England, disease epidemics claimed 75 percent of the lives of indigenous population (Amira, 2021). During the 1630s, half of Iroquois and Huron population that lived close to the Great Lakes succumbed to smallpox. The very old and young population seemed most susceptible and posted highest mortality rates. Losing the older generation also meant loss of traditions and knowledge. Notably, losing younger generations only made the trauma worse. Some of the natives and indigenous individuals viewed new diseases as weapons employed by hostile spiritual forces against them. At one point, these individuals went to war to perform an exorcism to get rid of the disease. In eastern Northern America, the mourning wars were made in such a way to acquire captives that would either be ritually tortured or executed or tortured to get rid of grief and anger that was caused by loss.
Environmental-related Changes
The presence of Europeans in America sparked numerous environmental changes that negatively affected natives and people. There was overhunting of beavers in the Northeast. It was caused by the desire Americans had for European weapons and growing recognition of beaver-trimmed hats across Europe. The loss of beavers brought loss of beaver ponds that functioned as habitats for fish. Additionally, the beavers’ ponds also served as a water resource for various, including moose and deers. Consequently, Europeans also brought pigs with them to America and allowed them to roam the forests alongside other wildlands. The pigs ate the foods that deers and other indigenous animals relied on. This led to food scarcity in the game which the natives also relied on as traditionally hunted food. European ideas regarding land ownership as a private agenda did not agree with the understanding of land use of the native and indigenous people. Native Americans did not subscribe to the ideology of private ownership of land. However, they saw land as a resource that should be used for the benefit of all. The European colonizers erected fences, fields, and all forms of private property demarcations. Indigenous individuals that moved according to seasons to make use of natural resources now came across areas marked as off-limit that had been claimed by colonizers.
With the exchange of plants and animals being the most obvious impact of colonialism, some of the plants that and animals that were transferred to the New World from Eurasia include citrus fruits, peas, peaches, cherries, apples, bananas, sugar, rice, wheat, and chickens, goats, sheep, pigs, and horses. Some of the food plants that made it from Africa to the Western hemisphere include okra, yams, collard greens and coffee. Similarly, the New World also sent various items to the Old World including maize, beans, potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, manioc, peanuts, avocados, guavas, cacao, and pineapples. Most notably, tobacco exchange, with its highly addictive qualities also became a lucrative market.
New Medicines Made From New Plants
Another effect of colonialism is that new medicines were made from the new plants that Europeans brought with them. The European expansion into American brought with it an unprecedented exchange of plants across the Atlantic Ocean. An example is tobacco, that has since become a valued export as the European smoking culture continued to grow. Sugars are also another product that was moved across the Atlantic into America. Explorer, Christopher Columbus ferried sugarcane from Spain to the Caribbean during his second voyage in 1493. Afterwards he brought a variety of items, including roots, seeds, herbs, and flowers. Worth noting, Europeans also started traveling to America to gain knowledge about new medicines. The technique of cataloging new plants they found in America led to the development of botany science. Some of the early botanists incorporated English naturalist Sir Hans Sloane, that had come from Jamaica in 1687 and made a record of hundreds of new plants (Whyte, 2018). Additionally, the Native people had a vast knowledge of the local plants and properties of the New World. They would have been a source of information for European botanists that sought to identify and catalogue plants that would be potentially useful. Enslaved Africans that employed the use of medicinal plants in their land adapted to the new surroundings by learning to make use of the plants of the new world. They did this by learning from indigenous inhabitants and through experimentation. Africans and Native Americans used their knowledge in their own communities effectively.
Increased Population
Population growth is another effect that came with colonialism. Although the demographic decline of the American population was extreme, the long term ecological effects of colonialism lead to a global population boom. The exchange of animals and plants that had rich nutritional value contributed significant to the enrichment of diets in many parts of the world. Between the 16th century and 19th century, the global population skyrocketed to nearly a billion from 425 million people. While population explosion is a good thing, it leads to negative effects such as hunger, conflicting views and deteriorating human welfare.
Global Trade Networks
Colonialism affected global trade networks in the sense that a link was established between previously unconnected Western and Eastern Hemispheres. This explains how humans, diseases, plants and animals spread across the world. This connectedness happened because of commercial ties and trading posts that European nations had established all over, from the Indian Ocean to America to Pacific Islands and beyond. From the 16th to the 18th centuries, Dutch, English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese formed colonies in the Atlantic basin (Moura, Scariot, Schmidt, Beatty, & Russell-Smith, 2019). It was from these colonies that global trade flourished. For example, manufactured goods entered the New World from Europe, where they were traded with gold and silver from Spanish American mines. The goods were also exchanged with staple products such as sugar and tobacco that both in high demand in Europe. Moreover, the trade also linked Europe, Africa and the Americas from selling and buying of human beings as labor slaves.
Conclusion
In closing, without a doubt, colonialism had unprecedented effect on the human ecology. The environment suffered both positively and negatively from the Americas contact with the Europeans. Environmental changes took place that impacted both people and animals. Diseases such as smallpox emerged causing death and sickness. New plants that the Europeans brought with them also helped make new medicines. Additionally, the global population also skyrocketed and global trade networks were developed. Resistance efforts should come together in the global struggle of protecting local ecologies from the negative effects of outside interference.
References
Amira, S. (2021). The slow violence of Israeli settler-colonialism and the political ecology of ethnic cleansing in the West Bank. Settler Colonial Studies, 1-21.
Moura, L. C., Scariot, A. O., Schmidt, I. B., Beatty, R., & Russell-Smith, J. (2019). The legacy of colonial fire management policies on traditional livelihoods and ecological sustainability in savannas: Impacts, consequences, new directions. Journal of environmental management, 232, 600-606.
Whyte, K. (2018). Settler colonialism, ecology, and environmental injustice. Environment and Society, 9(1), 125-144.
How Climate Crisis Will Affect Engineers
How Climate Crisis Will Affect Engineers
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Introduction
Climate change is a global issue that threatens the environment and its inhabitants. Over the past few years, rapid and unstable climate changes have been witnessed due to excess human activity such as industrialization. Individuals participate in deforestation and the destruction of fossil fuels which are the main contributors to the greenhouse gases that increase the heat trapped in the atmosphere. Consequently, the climate changes faster, the sea levels rise, leading to the widespread flooding experienced in the coastal regions and other natural disasters like hurricanes and drought. Therefore, the role of engineers in the future is crucial for a conducive and healthy environment and minimum weather fluctuations (Singh et al., 2020). Engineers are faced with the challenging task of enhancing and maintaining a sustainable environment by studying the climatic changes, developing and employing technical strategies that prevent excess global temperatures natural disasters, and combating the effects of excess gas emissions into the atmosphere. This paper will investigate how the climate crisis will affect engineers in the future.
The adverse effects of global warming have been felt in different parts of the world and continue to increase by the day. More industries have been constructed, especially in urban areas, congestions of vehicles are witnessed on the roads, not to mention the destruction of nature and wildlife to settle the growing human population (Wong &Kaufui, 2016). All these human activities need a countermeasure to maintain a healthy environment. Therefore, there is a need to embrace climate engineering in the future to stabilize climate changes and reduce the greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. Before a green light is given to climate engineering, climate experts assess the risks and costs that accompany this initiative. They also evaluate and compare these two setbacks to the global warming rates and impacts before warranting a go-ahead. There is a need to shift the human dependency on carbon-based fuels to prevent potentially fatal consequences of the destruction of the ozone layer and direct contact of humans with the harmful rays from the sun. For this reason, more engineers will be required in different areas of specialization to push forward geoengineering and prevent further damage by human activities.
The engineering fraternity is faced with the responsibility of neutralizing the impacts of global warming, eliminating the sources of greenhouse gases, and embracing green technology (Rousseau &Denise, 2007). One of the approaches in which engineers and climate experts will ease the climate crisis is the creation of colossal blooms of marine algae, also known as water blooms (Kusiak & Andrew, 2018). The rapid increase in the algae population in any aquatic system is influenced by factors like high temperatures, dead organic matter, and excess nutrients in water catchment areas. Marine algae are essential because they are a source of food, oxygen, and habitat for aquatic life. They release oxygen into the water through photosynthesis, which marine animals consume. Algae supplement approximately 50% of the oxygen used by terrestrial animals. In addition, algae are responsible for 30% of the oxygen used by these animals (Jarman & Melanie, 2007). As primary producers, algae also provide food for aquatic animals, thus giving them a wide range and enough food to feed on. Algae also indicate the levels of pollution in the water. They tend to decrease when pollution occurs as it causes an imbalance in the mineral levels which sustain them.
The colossal bloom of marine algae will help conserve aquatic life. Global warming tempers with oxygen levels in the atmosphere and creates competition among living things. The colossal bloom of marine algae will have solved the problem by reducing the competition by increasing oxygen levels. However, it should be noted that some species of algae are very harmful and can negatively impact marine life. It can bar them from shifting to water surfaces and accessing enough sunlight. Furthermore, some algae species are poisonous when ingested and can lead to the death of marine life. They also have roots that can easily trap aquatic animals especially tiny fish, and suffocate them. Therefore, geo-engineers should be very knowledgeable and careful while employing this strategy of tackling the climate crisis. They have to develop marine algae species that are friendly to marine life and at the same time produce enough food and oxygen to sustain them. The orientation of engineers in terms of their areas of specialization is likely to shift due to the climate crisis (Singh et al., 2020). Most engineers are likely to align with science, and the mechanical sector of engineering is it is more lucrative and relevant. Furthermore, more research institutions will dedicate their resources and funds to better the environment and reduce, if not the complete eradication of global warming scientifically.
The role of engineers will be pretty heavy in the future as their knowledge and expertise will prove essential in creating artificial clouds to reduce heat trapped in the atmosphere and consequently reduce weather fluctuations and dangerous long-term climate changes (Rousseau &Denise, 2007). Artificial clouds are created mainly to reflect the sunlight rays away from the earth’s surface. The redirected sunlight rays are meant to counteract the increased temperature levels triggered by the emission of harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Studies show that an average of 2% of sunlight reflected away from the arctic is enough to balance out the heat trapped in the atmosphere due to excess carbon dioxide in the environment.
Statistics show that the white surface polar ice is mainly responsible for sunlight bouncing back to space. Sea ice bounces 90% of sunlight back up, while the dark open ocean is responsible for only 6% of reflected sunlight is responsible for the reflection of sunlight. With the rapid climate change and the accelerating temperature levels, there is a decline in the arctic sea, reducing the amount of sunlight reflected away from the earth’s surface (New York, 1919). Therefore, the artificial clouds come to play and aid in sunlight reflection. Placing scatterers in the stratosphere is one way of installing artificial clouds. It is where engineers use jets to deposit tiny cloud particles in the form of Sulphur dioxide in the upper atmosphere. These small particles then reflect away the sunlight rays above which they are placed such that the sun rays do not hit the immediate surface below the cloud. However, Solar geoengineering should be employed in moderation as it can lead to cool global temperatures, slow hurricanes, crop failures, and other natural disasters (Jarman & Melanie, 2007). In addition, this technology can be weaponized by countries against their enemies during the war, a move that will have disastrous consequences for both parties.
Climate crisis will also affect the transport system adopted in the future. In the present world, the transport system is among the leading causing of environmental pollution worldwide. Most vehicles use petrol and diesel to run their engines and facilitate movement (Seifer & Marc, 1996). These fuels have components that pollute the air once they are combusted. They contribute to heat levels trapped in the atmosphere through carbon dioxide release. To counter this challenge, engineers and science experts will have to research, evaluate, and invent new ways of fueling vehicles that would otherwise favor the environment and positively impact the climate. Engineers will need to develop a transport system that conserves the environment through minimal emissions of harmful greenhouse gases to the atmosphere (Kusiak & Andrew, 2018). One of the methods would be the invention of rechargeable electric vehicles and trains. Some developed countries are way ahead of this technology. The development of such cars is capital intensive hence making them difficult to purchase by individuals. Therefore, Engineers will have to find techniques to make them effective, long-lasting, and less costly, making them easily accessible. The shift to electric cars will have moved the initiative to reduce global warming a step forward.
Furthermore, engineers will have to substitute the diesel and petrol fuels used by vehicles with synthetic fuels as they are environmentally friendly. These types of fuels do not require significant modification of vehicles hence being appropriate and efficient (Jarman & Melanie, 2007). They comprise carbon dioxide harnessed directly from the air, power stations powered by coal, plants or carbon capture and storage technology, and hydrogen. In addition, since they are carbon-neutral, they will not increase global warming as they will not emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Rapid climate change is likely to affect short-term and long-term food security in the future. Agriculture, a crucial element in food security, is bound to many challenges in the future due to the climate crisis. Due to the fluctuating temperatures and irregular precipitation patterns, food shortage is likely to be experienced, especially in developing countries because of the unstable economy. Since global warming threatens food availability and accessibility, new techniques have to be employed to avoid starvation worldwide. It is up to the engineers and science experts to invent technological solutions to provide enough food for the growing population. Large-scale energy-efficient drip irrigation in farms would be an appropriate substitution to the greenhouse because they have a minimal negative impact on the environment (Jarman & Melanie, 2007). Food hygiene and preservation are also vital when it comes to food security. Engineers will have to develop inventions that ensure food, especially highly perishable foods, is preserved over long periods and on a large scale. It acts as a short-term solution to food shortages caused by climate change as experts engineer ways of stabilizing the climate, reducing global warming, and getting agriculture back on track.
Engineers are faced with various ethical dilemmas in their line of duty. The primary concern that stands out is nuclear power (Rousseau &Denise, 2007). Despite nuclear power aiding in solving the climate change crisis, it comes with significant problems that could negatively impact the environment and its inhabitants. These problems include nuclear installation safety, high cost, radioactive waste disposal, and weaponization of nuclear power (New York, 1919). Highly enriched uranium, also used in making weapons, is used in most nuclear power plants. It poses a considerable threat to a nation as it creates war tensions among highly competitive countries. Furthermore, radioactive waste is hazardous in nature as it contains plutonium and uranium, which can be harmful when it comes into contact with human beings, animals, or plants. Nuclear plants and installations are capital intensive and are likely to drain a country of its resources. Therefore, it becomes a challenge to balance the costs and the impacts of global warming on the environment and its inhabitants. Engineers, especially in developing nations, face the dilemma of shifting to renewable energy and eliminating the greenhouse gases that are harmful to the environment (Rousseau &Denise, 2007). Renewable energy is quite expensive, and most developing countries struggle with poverty already. Shifting to renewable energy sets them back as they attempt to eradicate poverty hence not fully participating in the fight against global warming. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the developed nations to facilitate this shift as their economy is relatively stable.
Conclusion
The engineering profession is undeniably crucial when tackling the issue of climate change crisis. Engineers are at the forefront in restoring stable climatic conditions, healthy environments, and people. It is essential to acknowledge that climate change significantly affects the future of engineers. It places an arduous task in their hands and therefore should be appreciated. Engineers on their end should give their undivided attention to areas on the verge of collapsing due to global warming. They need to encourage people to adopt renewable energy embrace technology that promotes social change like bicycles and buses rather than personal cars. Engineers should also seek employment in companies with strong social and environmental policies. More students need to be encouraged to take engineering courses in school as more input is required to fight against global warming. Individuals should also take it upon themselves to conserve the environment through creating awareness among themselves, avoiding careless littering, and adopting healthy lifestyles.
References
Jarman, Melanie. Climate Change. Fernwood Pub., 2007.
Kusiak, Andrew. “Smart Manufacturing.” International Journal of Production Research, Vol. 56, No. 1-2, Taylor & Francis, 2018, Pp. 508–17, Https://Doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2017.1351644Mechanical Engineering (New York, N.Y.: 1919). The Society, 1919.
Rousseau, Denise M. “Standing Out in The Fields of Organization Science.” Journal Of Organizational Behavior, Vol. 28, No. 7, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2007, Pp. 849–57, Https://Doi.org/10.1002/Job.457.
Seifer, Marc J. Wizard: The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla. Carol Pub., 1996.
Singh, Sunil K., Et Al. “Business-To-Business E-Negotiations and Influence Tactics.” Journal Of Marketing, Vol. 84, No. 2, SAGE Publications, 2020, Pp. 47–68, Https://Doi.org/10.1177/0022242919899381Wong, Kaufui Vincent. Climate Change. Momentum Press, 2016.