Compare the Functionalist and Marxist Views on Social...

CRITICALLY COMPARE MARXISM AND FUNCTIONALISM IN THE WAY EACH PERSPECTIVE CONCEPTUALIZES THE PHENOMENON OF SOCIAL STRATIFICATION. Social stratification refers to the presence of distinct social groups which are ranked one above the other in terms of factors such as prestige and wealth (Haralambos Holborn, 2004). Those who belong to a particular group or stratum will have some awareness of common interests and a common identity. They also share a similar lifestyle which, to some extent, will distinguish them from members of other social strata (Lenski, 1984). Social stratification involves a hierarchy of social groups and they either enjoy or suffer the unequal distribution of rewards in society as members†¦show more content†¦These provide the preconditions for the emergence of a class of producers and a class of non-producers (Haralambos Holborn, 2004). According to Marx, the relationship between the major social classes is one of mutual dependence and conflict. The wage laborers must sell their labor power in order to survive since they do not own a part of the means of production. They are therefore, dependent for their livelihood on the capitalists and the wages they offer. The capitalists are dependent on the labor power of wage laborers, since without it there would be no production. This relationship however, is one of an exploiter and exploited or oppressor and oppressed. As such, the ruling class gains at the expense of the subject class which leads to a conflict of interest between them. From a Marxist perspective, capital, which is the money used to finance the production of commodities, is privately owned by the capitalist class. Marx believes that this capital is gained from the exploitation of the working class (Haralambos Holborn, 2004). This he further argued, produced nothing as only labor was capable of producing wealth; yet still the wages paid to workers are well below the value of the goods they produce. Therefore the capitalists realize a surplus value or profit. The bourgeoisie are therefore exploiting the proletariat who are the real producers of wealth. Marx maintained that in all societies, the ruling class exploits and oppresses the subject class. According toShow MoreRelatedCompare the Functionalist and Marxist Views on Social Stratification1734 Words   |  7 PagesCRITICALLY COMPARE MARXISM AND FUNCTIONALISM IN THE WAY EACH PERSPECTIVE CONCEPTUALIZES THE PHENOMENON OF SOCIAL STRATIFICATION. Social stratification refers to the presence of distinct social groups which are ranked one above the other in terms of factors such as prestige and wealth (Haralambos Holborn, 2004). Those who belong to a particular group or stratum will have some awareness of common interests and a common identity. They also share a similarRead MoreSocial Stratification According to Marx and Weber1163 Words   |  5 PagesSocial stratification is the hierarchical arrangement of individuals into divisions of power and wealth within a society. Social stratification relates to the socio-economic concept of class, consisting of the upper class, middle class, and lower class. Each class may be further subdivided into smaller classes through the main indicator is occupation. This is the most practical and most effective means of encompassing the wide variety of economic and social elements that go to make up a person’sRead MoreCompare and Contrast Functionalist and Marxist Theories of Stratifica tion.1537 Words   |  7 PagesCompare and Contrast Functionalist and Marxist Theories of Stratification Stratification is the separation of society into layers which are distinguished by unequal rewards and life chances and many systems of stratification have been based on slavery, caste and feudalism. Slavery, being the oldest and most extreme form of stratification, involves the enslavement or ownership of others. This ownership came about as a result of conquest, trade, kidnapping, hereditary status or the repayment ofRead MoreDiscuss Marxism and Functuionalism and Compare1133 Words   |  5 PagesCompare Marxist and Functionalist Perspectives Compare and Contrast Functionalist and Marxist Perspectives Sociology is a systematic way of studying the social world. It seeks to discover the causes and affects of intercommunication and interaction that arise in social relations. The science of society was developed as a discipline in the 19th Century by Auguste Compte, a French philosopher. For him, common sense and the obvious would not suffice; he wanted to build scientific theories basedRead MoreTheories of Education2587 Words   |  11 Pages------------------------------------------------- Compare and contrast Functionalist and Marxist theories of Education in Society. The role of education in society has an important effect on society by way of transmitting cultural values and contributing to the social stratification or class system. Functionalists also referred to as consensus theorists believe education helps stability and functioning of society, whereas conflict theorists namely the Marxists see education as justifying and promotingRead MoreSociology of Education1597 Words   |  6 PagesSociology of Education This assignment will compare and contrast competing theoretical perspectives on education process. Functionalism, Marxism and interactionist theories will be included. The definition of education is that it is a process or the act of gaining or teaching general knowledge; it is an act that assists in the development of reasoning as well as judgement and generally preparing oneself or others the intellectuality for mature life. Functionalism in essence deduces each part ofRead MoreCompare and Contrast Any Two Sociological Theories and Briefly Evaluate Them.2079 Words   |  9 PagesCompare and contrast any two sociological theories and briefly evaluate them. In the following essay I am going to compare and contrast the theories of marxism and functionalism, looking at the topics of the family and education. Functionalism has a macro-structural approach to society. It looks at society as a whole and is known as a consensus perspective i.e. everyone agrees on social norms and values and people work together to maintain society. These norms and values are learned by socialRead MoreCompare and Contrast Marxist and Weberian Theories of Stratification1525 Words   |  7 PagesQ: Compare and Contrast Marxist and Weberian Theories of Stratification. The purpose of this essay is to compare, contrast and critically evaluate Marxist and Weberian theories of stratification. To do this effectively this essay must explain and consider the main features, claims and perspectives of both Karl Marx and Max Weber. O’Donnell (1992) defines social stratification as â€Å"the division of a society or group into hierarchically ordered layers. Members of each layer are considered broadly equalRead MoreSocial inequality is a necessary evil of capitalist society‚Äà ¹. Please comment with the reference of the sociology perspectives being discussed in the lecture and textbook.2012 Words   |  9 Pagesï » ¿2. Social inequality is a necessary evil of capitalist society†. Please comment with the reference of the sociology perspectives being discussed in the lecture and textbook. Social inequality exists in every society, no matter it is capitalist society or communist society. Yet, referring from three of the sociology perspectives, it proves that social inequality is a necessary evil of capitalist society. Capitalism affects the whole situation of different countries on different aspects, examplesRead MoreTraditional African Family19679 Words   |  79 Pagestime needed and the appropriate Introduction Sociological perspectives page references from Sociology Themes and Chapter 1 Social stratification Perspectives. (Clicking on the ‘handout’ button will Chapter 2 Sex and gender take you Chapter 3 directly to ethnicity and nationality The Race, the appropriate handout.) handout can Poverty be copied for the class. then to and social exclusion Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Health, medicine and the body The lesson plans are designed to be flexible. They Chapter 6 Crime

Essay about Idiot Nation - 886 Words

In â€Å"Idiot Nation,† Michael Moore discourses on the collapse of American education system and the three main reasons behind it: politicians’ ignorance, shortage of teachers, and the rise of Corporate America. Moore first points out how ignorant the President and politicians are by stating that the President cannot simply identify whether Africa is a nation or a continent. Next, Moore attributes the lack of funding in education to the fact that politicians prefer to build bomber than to improve our education system; this leads to shortage of resources, overpopulated classrooms, and decrease of books available for students. He then notes that the low salaries of teachers, which are caused by the insufficient funding of education, result in†¦show more content†¦Eisenhower’s nominee as ambassador to Ceylon,† being â€Å"unable to identify either the country’s prime minister or its capital during his Senate confirmation hearing† (130). Moore’s use of examples here not only helps elucidate his point, but also clearly supports his claim that American officials are ignorant. Thus, Moore’s strategy of using exemplification is successful both in clarifying his argument and convincing readers of his position. Throughout his excerpt, Moore also uses surprising statistics as an argumentative strategy to efficaciously deliver his message to readers and stimulate us to reflect on the point he brings out. For example, he uses some astonishing statistics to show us how people are wasting their time doing trivial things instead of learning and reading. He states that â€Å"[t]here are forty-four million Americans who cannot read and write above a fourth-grade level,† but in the meantime, a considerable number of people know sports and â€Å"can answer all thirty obscure trivia questions in less than 120 seconds† (129). Reading these surprising statistics can stimulate readers’ reactions and arouse them; readers will be surprised to find out that they are wasting so much time doing useless things and be impressed by the astounding result that they may reflect on how they use their time. As a result, Moore’s use of surprising statistics can effectively convey his messag e and stimulate readers to reflect on his point. A third strategy that Moore uses isShow MoreRelatedIdiot Nation Essay995 Words   |  4 Pagesurged to go on to college. This leads many people to believe that it will help our country reach the goal of becoming a smarter nation. However, in his essay Idiot Nation, Michael Moore argues that the exact opposite is occuring. We are becoming a nation full of idiots. Sadly, Michael Moore is correct. The majority of the people in this country are, indeed, idiots. This is due to the nation’s poor educational system and the people’s lack of gratitude and motivation. First of all, America’sRead MoreIdiot Nation : Draft 1 Essay1325 Words   |  6 PagesAndrew Romero Prof. Cathy Arellano ENGWR 300 Purple 28 September 2016 Idiot Nation: Draft 1 Across America, you d be hard pressed to find a person that doesnt agree that everyone should receive a free education. Because of this, most everyone goes to high school, or at the very least receives an equivalent education. However, after this free education is done, many high school graduates are pushed to continue their studies in colleges and universities. And while these facilities are believed toRead More`` Idiot Nation `` By Michael Moore1591 Words   |  7 Pagesthere could be a spokesperson for criticizing American politicians, the educational system, globalization, large corporations, the war in Iraq, and many other debatable issues, American author of â€Å"Idiot Nation†, Michael Moore would be the ideal candidate. In this piece, Moore argues that America is a nation built upon a clueless, illiterate society of people, a sub-par educational system, and manipulative corporations. All which are governed by brainless politicians. Moore effectively creates his argum entRead MoreThe, Idiot Nation, By Michael Moore1421 Words   |  6 Pagespublications who spread the idiocy of these politicians, and influences the American people to buy into their idiocy and elect and re-elect more idiots into power, keeping the American people ignorant and stupid. In Michael Moore’s article, â€Å"Idiot Nation,† he presents us with several high-ranking officials, throughout America’s history, who represented us as a nation despite an acute lack of knowledge for the positions there were to hold: Maxwell Gluck, ambassador to Ceylon in 1956, William Clark, deputyRead MoreIdiot Nation By John Taylor Gatto1537 Words   |  7 Pagesas technology and health care or education, but compared with other develop nations, the united states education system is still behind many country including United Kingdom, Japan, China. America’s standards of education are far lower than several other countries, because the American public education systems is less effective, students are lack of motivation to learn. According to Michael Moore, in the book Idiot Nation, and John Taylor Gatto in Against School, they argue that the education systemRead MoreSummary Of Michael Moores Idiot Nation978 Words   |  4 Pagesin his popular essay, â€Å"Idiot Nation† that comes from the book Stupid White Men and other Sorry Excuses for the State of the Nation, discourses on how our political system, lifestyles, and technology are the reason for our countrys becoming so idiotic. Nevertheless, he believes that the educational system is suffering the most. Moore accentuates how ignorant the President and politicians are by stating that the President cannot simply identify whether Africa is a nation or a continent. Moore seesRead MoreIdiot Nation, Michael Moore, Critical Essay Critique1280 Words   |  6 PagesCritical Essay In Rereading America an excerpt by Michael Moore entitled â€Å"Idiot Nation† focuses on the collapsing educational system in the United States of America. Moore brings to light his view on the failures of the educational system and the lack of financing that has been caused from the top of the food chain. Politicians as well as American corporations contribute to the decline in education according to Moore. He attempts to give the reader a clear picture of where America places theRead MoreExamination of the Education System in Idiot Nation, by Michael Moore 1351 Words   |  5 PagesIn his essay, â€Å"Idiot Nation,† Michael Moore directly conveys the horrid truth behind American education when he utters the sheer words, â€Å"the knowledge (students) acquire in school is not going to serve them throughout their lifetimes. Many of them will have four to five careers in a lifetime. It will be their ability to navigate information that will matter† (Moore 141 ). According to Moore, American education today is by no means preparing students for the real world of work. In fact, he infers thatRead MoreAnalysis Of Green Day By George W. Bush1922 Words   |  8 Pagesone of the most controversial presidents in history and prompted some of the loudest outcries from the public. The music world became very involved in this particular fight, many artists from multiple generations and genres protested Bush. American Idiot by Green Day is one of the best examples and the most well-known protest of Bush and his administration. However, despite its popularity and acclaim it did receive a lot of criticism. Going against such a powerful and influential person in societyRead MoreProblems and Aspirations of Youth as Highlighted in the Novels of Chetan Bhagat5079 Words   |  21 Pagesadapted into a movie called ‘3 Idiots’, though Bhagat has stated that he was not involved in the scriptwriting in anyway, and was involved in a controversy with the director and the producer of the movie over crediting his contribution to the script. Directed by Raj Kumar Hirani, and starring Aamir Khan, R. Madhvan, Sharman Joshi, Kareena Kapoor, and Boman Irani in pivotal roles, it was released on 25 December, 2009. About a week after the release of the movie, ‘3 Idiots’, Chetan Bhagat claimed for

Work Priorities and Professional Development †MyAssignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about the Work Priorities and Professional Development. Answer: Introduction This report will my reflection on the performance outcomes, knowledge, and skills that are required in order to manage ones own professional and performance development, and, it will mainly focus on setting and meeting the priorities and analyzing information as well as using an array of strategies for developing further competence. Managing an organization is one of the most challenging tasks. From this course, I have learnt how to manage others effectively and what I need to be efficient enough to organize myself, and my employees or teammates and emphasis their work on those tasks that are important for the business. It includes developing knowledge and skills to fill the gaps that may exist and to improve your performance in your workplace. This essay will further elaborate on various designs that are basic yet fundamental skills in personal development and self-organization. It involves- identifying role models in the workplace, measuring and maintaining personal performance, managing change, maintaining professional competence, meeting your job responsibilities, seeking feedback and identifying the development opportunities. Role models in the workplace Throughout the course, I have learnt that managers serves as role models in the workplace (Bottomley, Burgess and Fox 2014). They have a significant effect on the work culture and the patterns of behavior. Human beings are social animals and we copy many of our behavior prompts from the people who are in positions of authority. This means that as a manager, I have a great influence on my team, I am a role model and it is my behavior, which will be highly observed and copied by the other team members. I have also learnt few simple ways of being an efficient role model and they are: A good role model listens more than he speaks. A good role model guides by example (Fransen et al. 2016). He follows the rules and regulations that he has implemented on others. Furthermore, I have learnt that a good role model or leader not only presents a cheerful greeting to all his customers but also to his teammates as well. However, it is also important that he must have a few greetings that are quite different in order to demonstrate it to his valuable customers. The course has also provided me with valuable tips on role modeling which I can implement in my near future. Some of them are- Being a manager (role model), I should never judge people and I must manage every individual separately. I should give constructive feedback, not, destructive. I should always encourage the employees and the teammates and never de-motivate them by giving them negative feedback every now and then. As a good manager, I must always keep a track of the events that are designed in order to improve the employees performance and not to punish or ridicule them. With the same, I have also learnt the importance of managing potential in the staffs. Measuring and maintaining personal performance- I have learnt that there is several key performance indicators (KPIs) that are used in order to measure the performance and work progress towards achieving the goals and business objectives and it must be reviewed on a regular basis. The performance reviews may include working relationships, work performance and basic job skills. Furthermore, I have learnt that the skill of managing personal time is an essential skill for the effective people. I have learnt about the importance of prioritization. Each one of us has our own priorities and it is an important skill. I should need to make the best use of my efforts and of my team. Prioritization is mostly essential at those times when time is limited but the demands are comparatively unlimited. With good prioritization, I could bring an order to the chaos and move on towards a successful ending. Without prioritization, I shall have too many challenging demands. It will assist me allocate my time where it is the most needed. The people who make sure to use these techniques on a daily basis are the highest achievers in all the field of success. The course have taught me the various tools and strategies in order to improve my time management skills, for example, making a list and setting deadline are the primary things that are to be done. The next are concentrating on one thing at a time, delegation, making use of the opportunities and rewarding. What I learnt from the overview of the course is that the time management skills are like a pair of jeans. You have to try several pairs before finding the one that fits right. Technology used to manage, prioritize and organize work Workplaces are becoming more and more dynamic with the increase in demands (Ozcelik 2015). Hence, the businesses today are depending more on technology in order to process the information. From the course, I have gained much knowledge than I actually explain. I have learnt that there are many technological tools, which I can use to improve my performance in order to meet the organizational objectives. I must make sure that I use appropriate technology for managing my work and meet my commitments. Like, for more efficiency in my computer system, I must create directories or folders for the electronic documents and for the emails and faxes. I should also file all the electronic documents in a correct folder and put the most used directories on my desktop. Other applications like database, word processor, online services, project management, electronic diaries and mobile technology must be used correctly. This shall further improve my effectiveness and efficiency. I will use the electronic diaries or mobile technology in order to accommodate in the efficient and effective running of my business. This shall also help me keep a record of the appointments, phone calls, meetings and contacts. The main advantages that I would get from the technology are- I could search, find and edit the information easily, I could set reminders for the appointments as well, I could view the data as I need. I have also learnt about the importance of managing the project management tools. I can develop the tools for project management by the programs such as Visio and Microsoft Project. The visual diagrams are appropriate for decision-making process. During this course, I have gained the concept of Visio and Microsoft as well. I understood that the Visio produces diagrams, concept and mind maps and flow charts. Throughout the course, I have learnt that feedback is a crucial element in the professional development. It provides an opportunity to adjust the goal difficulty, illuminate expectations and gain recognition as well. Providing benchmark opportunities and targets are very important for individual to diagnose how they are doing in the workplace. Maintaining appropriate work-life balance I have learnt that effectiveness and efficiency will be improved when I tend to maintain an appropriate work and life balance. I have learnt that reducing stress will allow me to manage my energy and efficiency as well. Less stressed workforce and increased concentration increases productivity. The work-life balance policies is to be supported by the respective workplace culture that reflects the values, beliefs and the norms of the entire organization, right from the CEO to the staff members. I have also learnt about the other important factors that are equally responsible for success in the work/life balance policies. They include raising awareness the policies, proper communication about the policies to present as well as future employees and training of the managers on how to execute those policies. I have learnt that applying these policies and practices can facilitate the entire person who is responsible for taking care of their elderly parents, the person who has several study commitments, the old employees who want to palliate themselves into the retirement or those with other different personal commitments. It is very important to schedule the process of the time available to me and hence, plan on how I shall use it to achieve my goals that are identified earlier. By doing this, I would understand what I could realistically achieve with that time and minimize the stress by avoiding over-commitment to others. Hence, it will allow me to manage my commitments, while leaving me with some time to do other important things as well. Recommendation To ensure that your work goals are sufficient enough, compare them with companys plans, with your personal plans that are planned for the future and with all the responsibilities that you face. Ensure that you measure your personal performance on a daily basis. Ensure that everything you do is a step closer to achieving your goals. Be sure that you take time in every three months in order to review your goal lists. Your personal goals and your work goals must be aligned in some manner. Make sure that the goals that you have set are positive one. Make sure that your goals are written down. Make your goals small. Make your goals performance oriented and your goals realistic. Conclusion Finally, I realized that effective prioritizing and scheduling is all about getting the most important work done first. The course is fascinating and I have learned lot. I have acquired much knowledge about the various traits of an effective leader and the various tools that are required to boost the efficiency in the workplace. I also learned about how to meet job responsibilities and how I can manage and measure my performance in the workplace. I am sure that this course have provided me with ample of knowledge about the business culture and I will make an effective use of these knowledge in my near future. In fact, I have already started to implement the lessons that I have learned from the course in my professional and personal life as well. References Bottomley, K., Burgess, S. and Fox III, M., 2014. Are the behaviors of transformational leaders impacting organizations? A study of transformational leadership.International Management Review,10(1), p.5. Fransen, K., Vanbeselaere, N., De Cuyper, B., Vande Broek, G. and Boen, F., 2016. When is a leader considered as a good leader? Perceived impact on teammates confidence and social acceptance as key ingredients.Athletic Insight: Online Journal of Sport Psychology, pp.In-press. Ozcelik, G., 2015. Engagement and retention of the millennial generation in the workplace through internal branding.International Journal of Business and Management,10(3), p.99.