Recent orders
Decision Making Analysis
Decision Making Analysis
Management Theory and Practice/MGT 230
University of Phoenix
Decision Making Analysis
When in a management position within an organization, decisions need to be made on a daily basis. The decision making process is not always an easy process, however. There are four characteristics of managerial decision making: lack of structure, uncertainty, risk, and conflict. Lack of structure exists when management is unsure of how to approach and solve a problem. Uncertainty exists when management does not have sufficient information to make a decision. Risk exists when there is a possibility of a decision being less than 100 percent successful. Finally, conflict exists when management is pressured between two opposing forces, such as individuals or groups (Bateman & Snell, 2011, p. 87-88).
References
Bateman, T., & Snell, S. (2011). Management: leading and collaborating in a competitive world (9th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Police in the Community
Police in the Community
On March 13, 1964 Kitty Genovese was murdered in Kew Garden, New York (FindingDulcinea Staff, 2010). The murder was a subject of controversy after a sensational article made the headline in the New York Times. This story led to a research on human behaviour about ways in which they respond to crime and other important information. The story written in the article indicated that Kitty was attacked twice at intervals of about ten minutes. Different people saw her being attacked the first time and none of them offered their help or even called the police. The second time, Kitty was stabbed and raped before she finally died. This case was shocking to many because 38 witnesses were interviewed, but only one of them called the police, but it was too late to save Kitty.
In this crime, apathy is brought out in different ways. During the attack that took close to thirty minutes, about 38 law abiding citizens watched the crime happen without reacting to the situation (Bostonboomer, 2009). During the first attack, one man who was watching from his bedroom window shouted “leave that girl alone” and that is when the attacker escaped giving time for Kitty to escape (FindingDulcinea Staff, 2010). The attacker Winston Mosley ran away and drove off after about ten minutes Mosley came back and Stabbed Kitty to death then raped her as he watched her die. When interviewed, a lady was asked why she did not call the police and she answered that she was simply tired and had to go back to bed.
According to Bostonboomer (2009) the possibility that Kitty was a lesbian could be a reason as to why her neighbours were not responsive to her cries for help. In 1964, declaring that he was a lesbian was viewed as a crime and one could be treated as a social misfit. This could have been the reason why all those who witnessed the crime saw it happen without responding by either calling the police or offering their help. If only the police had been called in time, then the crime would have been prevented because the attacker would not make it to the scene of the crime to finally stab Kitty to death.
The residents of Kew Gardens were neighbours to Kitty yet they did not want to be involved in the crime for fear of being victimized or being a victim of the crime. As explored by Bostonboomer (2009) most of them confessed that they did not want to get involved, most of them said they were not sure of what they saw or what they heard so they had nothing to report. The probability of a person being a victim of the crime was very low because the attacker was scared when someone shouted from his bedroom window. Therefore, though all the witnesses to the crime except Greta Schwartz were scared of being involved they knew the chances were very slim. One lady confessed that she asked her husband not to call the police because she did not want him to get involved. Since the crime occurred close to a bar that had previous rowdy activities, it could have been possible that the eye and ear witnesses assumed that it was just a fight between two drunken people. Others admitted that they witnessed the crime but due to the high level of drunken people in that area and given the time the attack occurred, they were afraid of calling the police and making a report that could possibly be unreal. It was also a possibility that the people who witnessed the crime were afraid of being attacked if they provided information to the police or went to offer their help to Kitty.
In addition, the New York Police Department demanded that when one made a call to report a crime, it was necessary for them to leave their names and any other form of information that could be used to identify them. This could have prevented many of the witnesses from calling the police. Furthermore, there was a possibility that the police could ignore the call if one called to report fighting or screaming especially in an area that had several bars (Bostonboomer, 2009).
Traditional policing is an act looking for crime. Through this way, crime is prevented by the presence of police on patrol. This method of deterring crime is not commonly used because it is not an effective way of addressing the needs of all communities. It is not possible for the police to be in areas where crimes take place and prevent their occurrence before it could occur. Community policing was introduced as an alternative where members of the community can provide information about a crime by calling the police to offer their assistance. In 1964, when the murder of Kitty Genovese took place, traditional policing was more prominent and police officers were required to patrol high crime areas to deter crime from taking place. The Area seemed like a high crime area and the presence of the police in that area would have prevented the occurrence of the crime.
Finally, the murder of Kitty Genovese that took place in Kew Gardens, New York is very controversial and due to the high number of witnesses and the article that made the headlines in the New York Times two weeks later it was impossible to know how the events of that fateful night occurred and the reasons why those who witnessed the crime did not call the police. Others lacked interest and concern while others were afraid of being victims of the crime.
Reference
Bostonboomer, A. (2009). The Case: A Fascinating Intersection of True Crime, Psychology and Media Misinformation. August 02, 2009. Retrieved from HYPERLINK “http://riverdaughter.wordpress.com/2009/08/02/a-fascinating-intersection-of-true-crime-psychology-and-media-misinformation/” http://riverdaughter.wordpress.com/2009/08/02/a-fascinating-intersection-of-true-crime-psychology-and-media-misinformation/
FindingDulcinea Staff. (2010). On this Day Kitty Genovese Killed as Neighbours Looked on. March 13, 2010. Retrieved from HYPERLINK “http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/on-this-day/March-April-08/On-this-Day–NYC-Woman-Killed-as-Neighbors-Look-On.html” http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/on-this-day/March-April-08/On-this-Day–NYC-Woman-Killed-as-Neighbors-Look-On.html
Control and Legacy in Old AgeB
Control and Legacy in Old Age
Name:
Institution:
Date:
Abstract
Old age is a challenging stage for older adults, and they experience many challenges. As they grow older, they may experience mental and physical health challenges that require them to be dependent on others for basic activities. They lose control over many areas of their lives such as their living situations, their finances, mobility and their status. Older adults also tend to worry about how they lived their life and how others will remember them. Control and legacy and critical part of old age. Caregivers, family members and advisors must be careful in how they communicate with older adults regarding control and legacy. It is imperative to maintain a positive approach to make transition into old age and preparations for the end of life much easier for old people.
Key words: Control, Legacy, old age.
As people grow into old age, many aspects of their lives begin to change. One of the most common changes is the physical state of the individual. Most older adults experience challenges with their physical wellbeing such as chronic illness and weakening of various parts of the body. Although these challenges are to be expected, they should not be taken as a sign that the older adult is unable to perform any tasks. One common stereotype is that older adults experience a mental decline alongside the physical decline of their body. Such assumptions lead to the idea that older adults need to relinquish control over important aspects of their lives such as finances, living conditions and movement. Although this is necessary in some cases, it should not be a blanket approach on how to address older adults. The aging process is a daunting stage of life, one that many older adults may not be prepared for. They need all the support they can get to manage the final stages of their lives to the best of their abilities. Legacy and control are critical concepts in old age, and communication is important in how older adults understand these ideas.
Understanding Control and Legacy
Solie (2013) explains that the struggle for legacy and control begins in the mid-sixties. Control means the power to direct and influence what happens in one’s life. As people grow into their old age, they experience a loss of control in many aspects of their lives mainly due to changes in their health and physical strength. They begin to lose control of their lives due to loss of family, identity, their home, their peers, financial independence, among others (Solie, 2013). These losses make the older adult feel helpless. When older adults relinquish control voluntarily, they experience less negative outcomes compared to being forced (Morgan & Brazda, 2013). Communication is a critical part of helping older adults decide when to give up control when it is in their best interest.
Legacy is the mark that one leaves in the world after they are gone. As older adults near the end of their lives, they become concerned with the impact they made on the world around them. They think of the meaning of their life, their last instructions, how they will be remembered and the difference they made (Solie, 2013). Legacy is a vital part of one’s life, which gains even more importance near the end of life.
Experiences of Control and Legacy
I have met and worked with several older adults and viewed their experiences through the concepts of legacy and control. One of these is an old lady at a nursing home where I volunteered. Mary was about eighty years old with chronic arthritis, and she needed help with basic activities such as movement as the disease had ravaged her joints. Despite her physical problems, she was still cognitively fit, and she would entertain her peers as well as workers with stories from her life. Her family came to visit quite often, and she would discuss important affairs with them. One day as I was cleaning her room, we were chatting and she told me how hard it was for her to leave her home. Her husband passed away eight years before, and since then her arthritis got progressively worse. Her children convinced her to come to the nursing home where she had people around all the time. She said that she still kept track of all her money, gave donations and had written a will. She had willingly relinquished control, and she was glad she made the choices she did.
Mary was trained as a teacher since her mid-twenties, and it was one of the things she was most proud of in her life. She told me that it brought her so much joy to see the little children she once taught all grown up as responsible and successful adults. Her teaching was her legacy, and she knew she had taught her students well.
Feelings on Control and Legacy
Reflecting on Mary’s story gave me a lot of insight on the importance of control and legacy in old age. Morgan & Brazda (2013) explain that loss of control can lead to negative psychosocial consequences. However, when the older adult willingly gives up control of some areas of their life, it leads to better outcomes. Mary told me that she still kept a close watch on her finances and knew where her money was going. She was happy to pay for her nursing home and give to charity. Having a supportive family allowed her to retain the feeling that she was in control without having to worry about much. I was glad that she and her family came up with ideas that resulted in positive results for all involved.
Mary’s case also showed me the importance of legacy. Most people want to leave a mark in the world, no matter how small. It brings a lot of satisfaction to know that one made a positive impact in the lives of others. I could see that Mary treasured her years as a teacher, and it made her so proud to see her students turn out well in life. She knew that she had spent her life well, raising her own children as well as her students.
Details of Older Adult
Mary is one of the most remarkable old ladies I have ever met. One of the most striking things about her was her laughter. She would randomly burst into laughter, and tell a funny story from years ago. I would describe her laughter as rolling and infectious. She had a full head of white hair, quite soft and fluffy. She wore glasses due to her failing sight, but she could still see quite well with them. Mary had to use a wheelchair as a result of arthritis, but she never complained. Her face looked quite young for her age, with a few lines on her forehead, laughter lines when she smiled and a double chin that she loved to make fun of. She had an overall slight build, but a high-pitched and strong voice that belied her size. Her granddaughter had knit her a red scarf that she wore almost all the time. She loved to visit all her friends in the home to tease them and raise their spirits, especially when someone was having a hard time. Mary’s story is an eye-opening one for me, and has taught me a lot about control and legacy in old age.
References
Morgan, L. A., & Brazda, M. A. (2013). Family support and diminished control in older adults: the role of proxy control. Journal of applied gerontology: the official journal of the Southern Gerontological Society, 32(6), 651.
Solie, D. (2013). “Unlocking the Communication Code of Seniors.” Aging Parent Insights. https://www.davidsolie.com/blog/unlocking-communication-code-seniors/