10 Fun Facts about Pomona College

Cant decide which of the 5 undergraduate Claremont Colleges to attend? Read these 10 fun facts about Pomona College to help you make your choice! 1. Pomona College students can take up to 50 percent of their classes at one of the neighboring Claremont Colleges. This is designed so students can have the class access of a big school while still retaining the intimacy of a small institution. 2. 64% of Pomona College students identify as students of color or international students. 3. Pomona College isn’t actually located in the city of Pomona, it’s located in nearby Claremont. 4. A popular tradition is â€Å"Ski-Beach Day† each spring, where students board a bus in the morning to ski at a local resort, and afterwards bus to a beach for the rest of the day. 5. Word is that a Star Trek writer that attended Pomona College used the Oldenborg Center as inspiration for creating the Borg. 6. Notable alumni include artist James Turrell, Gumby creator Art Clokey, and writer/actor/musician Kris Kristofferson. 7. 5 time NBA championship winning coach Gregg Popovich got his career start at Pomona, coaching at Pomona-Pitzer from 1979 to 1988. 8. The acceptance rate for Pomona College is a whopping 9.1% (as of 2016). 9. Virtually all students live for on campus for all four years in one of Pomona College’s 16 residence halls 10. Pomona College’s mascot is the Sagehen, named after the Sage Grouse which is known for its fierce loyalty to a specific area. Are you looking to apply to Pomonaor just starting to build outyour college list? Make sure to search through profiles of students accepted to see essays, stats, and advice. See how they got in, and how you can too!

death by fire Essays

death by fire Essays death by fire Essay death by fire Essay Sudan is the largest country in Africa, and is one of the poorest. It is located in the northeastern part of the continent. It is mainly made up of two regional groups: an Arab African group in the north and the Nilotes in the south. Its major ethnic groups of the north are the Kababish, a camel raising people; the Jaalin and Saiqiyya, who live along rivers ; the Nubians, who live along the orthern Nile; the Nuba of the Kordufan Plateau; and the Fur in the west. In the south there is the Dinka, Anuak, Nuer, and Shilluck. The official language of Sudan is Arabic. Its religious breakdown is 73% Islamic, 17%, Sudan is the largest country in Africa, and is one of the poorest. It is located in the language of Sudan is Arabic. Its religious breakdown is 73% Islamic, 17%,

Communicating Effectively. Public Relations campaign and effectiveness Assignment

Communicating Effectively. Public Relations campaign and effectiveness of the communication techniques - Assignment Example Creating public relations is not just informing and administering the information flow between the college and the publics. In fact, it is a communication chain that involves and engages the targeted publics in building relationships and binding closely with the organization. Developing successful communication disciplines with the publics will lead the organization to achieve its strategic goals (Bland, Theaker, Wragg, 2005, p. 243). The college also has to ensure that publicity and managing public relations is not the same thing. The event can be publicized in various ways on various mediums but public relations will target specific groups using broad strategic communication capabilities of the organization (Bowdin, Allen, O’Toole, Harris, McDonnel, 2006, p. 122). The students are the customers for the college and they play an important role. Their performance and participation affects the organization’s goals and strategies directly. The students can be reached through various ways of effective communication. The college assembly takes place every week and every student is bound to attend it. The college can announce about the celebration in the assembly where the students are gathered. This is a traditional method of communication but has proven to be effective especially in schools and colleges. The students can also be given formal invitation cards with their names on them. All the students are equally important and it is the college’s duty to ensure every student is invited. Telephone calls can be made to those students who are not present. Telephonic communication is considered an effective communication channel as it supports two way communication (Cornelissen, 2011, p. 56). Announcements would be the most effective to rea ch the students because students are aware that important announcements are made in assemblies, thus they pay attention. The large number of students can be reached quicker and the message can be conveyed face to face. The invitation cards can be given out to students in order of their roll numbers. The parents and families of the students are the beneficiaries of the services of the organization. They are important groups and must be reached for the celebration. The communication channel to be used for them can be formal letters for invitations. These can be sent through the students to their homes. This is also a traditional method of communication in colleges and schools (L’Etang, 2008, p. 75). Mostly, the parents are accessed through their children. However, nowadays many modern and easy methods of communication allow the college officials to connect directly with the parents without consuming much time. For those students’ parents who are not present, the college must post the invitation cards to their homes. This can be the suitable communication channel as the students know that according to the rules and policies of the college, they must handover the invitations to their parents. Strict actions are taken against those who don’t; hence it is believed that communicating via students is an effective way. The board of directors and investors of the organization should be reached through formal communication methods (Diggs-Brown, 2013, p. 421). The most efficient traditional way is to call for meetings. Annual meetings and emergency meetings are often called up and

DISABILITY & PHYSICAL ACTIVITY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

DISABILITY & PHYSICAL ACTIVITY - Essay Example One a person fall under the stated description, there are several laws and immunities that protect the fundamental human rights of the person. One of these rights is the right to stay healthy and participate in activities that keeps the person healthy (Antonio, 2005). Indeed one of the ways for a disabled person to keep him or herself is through sporting activities. Luckily, this consideration has been made at the world level to such an extent that the world Olympics committee recognizes the involvement of disabled people in Olympic Games through the Paralympics Games. Sadly though, there are repairable challenges that continue to face disabled people in the country as far as access to sports facilities is concerned. This report looks at the peculiar instance of challenges faced by disabled sports personalities in Islington Borough and these can be solved. Indeed the city is privileged to have a number of sports facilities that are enviable for the promotion of sports and constitutes a very good account of Islington Borough as a sports destination. Some of these sports facilities include fitness studios, swimming pools, squash centre, climbing walls and physical enhancement training gymnasiums. This not withstanding, there are basic prohibiting factors to the access and progressive use of these facilities by the disabled sports personalities in the Borough. The first of such challenges is the absence of a sell resourced volunteer sector to offer help and assistance to disabled sports men and women. By well resourced, reference is being made to volunteers who are well trained, professionally qualified to handle disabled people and who are well motivated to go about their duties. It must be established that people with disability are people who have been identified to needing great deal of support in order to excel in sports (Adams, 200 1). In the absence of such basic support, it will be very difficult for them

How can insurance be used to decrease healthcare costs and increase Essay

How can insurance be used to decrease healthcare costs and increase quality of care - Essay Example The quality of the treatment is another problem that needs consideration. Most of the uninsured and low-income groups are not in a position to get good quality healthcare. The present essay is intended to study a brief history of healthcare industry and to analyze problems and reasons for the high costs associated. The proposals that are put forward for the reformation of current state of healthcare system also would be analyzed so as to reach a conclusion on the best strategy to be adopted so as to decrease the costs of healthcare and to increase the quality of the healthcare. The health insurance plans began in United States of America during the civil war that took place during 1861 to 1865 (Murray, 2007). At that time only accidents that was caused during transport and that too through either rail or steamboat had any coverage for insurance. Since then more and more plans, which provided coverage for most of the illness were added and in the year 1847, Massachusetts Health Insurance of Boston offered the first group policy with a lot of benefits. Individual disability and illness policies were issued by 1890. Arguments or cry for modern group health insurance plan was started in United States only in 1920s and by that time it was far behind many of the European countries. But there was no political pressure for such a law. Reformers started to ask the cost of medical care instead of wages lost due to sickness mainly because the former was much higher than the latter in as early as 1920s. During this period itself the health care available to poor people in the country was quite inadequate. The first company to offer health insurance coverage for all its employees was General Motors (Murray, 2007). The depression that gulped the country in 1930's resulted in more insurance coverage for unemployed and aged people. There was no priority for healthcare insurance at that time. Blue cross, which is a non-profit organization, began to offer health insurance in a number of states during this period. In Blues every one irrespective of age or sex or their disease conditions were charged the same premium. Since the Blues were created by hospitals, potential patients were encouraged to sign up (Noah, 2007). It was in 1940's that the present practice of employer-based system of health insurance was first offered (Noah, 2007). This was in an effort to combat the wage and price controls during the Second World War. The labor unions urged for better benefits and tax-free employer sponsored health insurance. The employers had to attract their employees and so they offered whatever that was asked for. Prepaid group healthcare was started at this time. President Truman was a proponent of national health program plan in which the government would be the payer of the whole of the American society. At that time it was opposed by American Medical Association and the law or bill could

Marketing Strategies Of Insurance Sector Commerce Essay

Marketing Strategies Of Insurance Sector Commerce Essay The new detarotted pricing regime requires an altogether different underwriting model. None exists now. A new model has to be put in place with no prior experience. Underwriting, that was done by the tariff book till now, needs the application of a sharp human mind, professional expertise, keen knowledge of a particular risk, a sensitive analysis of risk factors and their evaluation, a reflection of the insurers own past claim experience in respect to similar risks accepted to predict the future loss potential of the risk assumed and a cultivated ability to build a rate model that provides a margin to the insurer. With no past experience to guide their efforts, how will the insurers now pick-up these underwriting skills, expertise and knowledge base in a short time? How can the employee mindset, that looked to tariffs for the premium rates be persuaded to look at and collect the vast data that is required to price risks to fit the perceived risk factors? What are insurers doing to make their specialized underwriters acquire these levels of skills, expertise and knowledge? It takes time to build expertise and experience but a beginning has to be made. An insurer is also forced now to redefine his identity either as a low-cost insurer and cut premium rates to stay in business or consciously build price differentiators, because he provides and delivers superior customer-perceived value. Such delivered value may not be financial, but it is highly efficient effective and convenient to an insured, due to the insurers specialized expertise, his particularized. PLACE OR DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS Distribution refers to the arrangements by which the product after manufacturing is moved till it reaches the customer. There are various intermediaries in every business like wholesalers, retailers, etc. In the service business, agents and brokers are intermediaries in the transaction. Insurance business is sold through agents as intermediaries. In India, the regulation provide that an insurance agent can represent only on life and one non-life insurer. An agent has to obtain a licence from the IRDA. Brokers also act as insurance intermediaries. But they are different from agents in the sense that they are independent businessmen either working alone or in partnership. Brokers may be found in the non-life insurance business helping customers whose insurance requirements are complex. They handle big risks and need superior financial and analytical skills. Intermediaries play a very significant role when the claim has to be settled. They have to see that the legitimate claim is duly paid without delays. The other intermediaries at the stage of the claim are: In the case of general insurance, surveyors and loss assessors, who are independent professionals, who are called upon to inspect the damages and losses claimed against. Motor accident claims tribunal to adjudicate on the quantum of compensation that should be paid to the victims of motor accidents. Lok Adalats consisting of judges, to enable expeditious summary disposal of long-pending disputes regarding claims. Review committees (in the LIC) at different levels, the top most being headed by a high court judge, to review claims which have been repudiated on grounds of misrepresentation of fraud. Other organizations like hospitals (for healthcare and medical insurances) or garages (for motor repairs) who facilitate the claims settlements. Direct Marketing Marketing of insurance products can also be done directly. The media used for direct marketing are: Direct mail. Letters sent to consumers on the basis of addresses available from sources like telephone directory, membership lists of clubs and professional associations, stock exchange brokers or registrars to companies. Telephone contacts Television programmes of relatively longer duration Advertisements and loose insertion in main line as well as professional and trade journals. Displays in conferences, services for specialized products linked to the themes of the seminars. Direct contact from the Insurers salaried staff. Stalls in exhibitions and sole exhibitions in remote areas. Call centres or Service centres Kiosks with touch technology Over the counter in big stores. In India, direct marketing is done by the LIC for its group gratuity and superannuation business. In non-life insurance business, almost the entire business from corporate bodies had been done through direct marketing. This business was solicited by the officers of the insurers and not through agents. The internet has opened up new possibilities in direct marketing. Insurance is being used for the following purposes. To provide basic information about available plans to prospects. To provide answers to frequently asked questions about insurance. To provide details of nearest location of insureds representative To provide quotations for premium and for loans To provide information to policyholders about policy status, pending requirements, etc. For premium collection To sell simple policies like personal accident, medical householders pure endowment, annuities, etc. Work Site Marketing This area needs to be tapped, as in any country one of the biggest markets is through the work site. With changes in human resources management policies and compensation packages, group products or work site products do have a definite market that cannot be ignored. Here the advantages would be: Captive customer base Potential to sell individual insurance and group insurance High trust factor High hit ratio for the intermediaries The challenges would be the cost effectiveness, product customization and efficient post-sales servicing, which would determine continued business. Technology has a key role to play in work site marketing to ensure cost benefits. Banks and financial institutions have been successfully marketing credit cards and other financial products using this channel. If not an identical model a similar approach can be used for selling insurance. Internet Through India is joining the fast growing breed of net users, using net for transactions has not yet caught up. Though a few banks provide online banking the usage is still a small fragment. The insecurity associated with transactions over the net is still an inhibiting factor. At present, most of the insurance companies have product information and/or illustrative tools on the Web. We do not see the web evolving into a means for direct selling of insurance in the current scenario. In the Indian market, where insurance is sold after considerable persuasion even after face-to-face selling, the selling over the net, which must be initiated by the client, would take some more time. While the technology capability is there, improvements in bandwidth and infrastructure are needed. Also needed are simpler products where auto-underwriting is possible. Automobile insurance, one of the segments of insurance purchased off the shelf in India, would be the ideal segment to start with. On the life side, term assurance for standard lives with simplified underwriting is a possibility. These channels by themselves will not be able to overcome the mindset of the people, but rather can only be enablers for the human channels. Invisible Insurer In this model, the insurance company or its representative is not the entity marketing the products. The insurance cover is sold by an automobile/credit card company as an add-on product leveraging the brand of the retailer. The risk is carried by the insurance company, which underwrites it. Products like creditor insurance, automobile insurance, and credit card related insurance could be distributed using this channel. This model can be adopted in all market segments for the lines of business mentioned. It is already prevalent in some areas like credit card insurance and crop insurance for agriculture loans. The new players are also attempting this model. The venture of Maruti9 into insurance by setting up two subsidiaries MIDS10 and MIBL11 to sell automobile insurance is a case in point. These firms will largely arrange insurance cover for Marutis captive base. MIDS has been registered as a corporate agent with an exclusive arrangement with Bajaj Allianz General Insurance, while MIBL has linked up with state-owned National Insurance Company Limited. What makes these arrangements attractive is the low distribution cost and captive customer base. However, repeat business or renewal business cannot be assured. In the life segment, group creditor insurance may be the most suitable product for this channel. The postal department started selling life insurance policies way back in 1884 to people working in public sector undertakings and government departments. In 1995, postal department was allowed to sell policies to the general public living in rural areas. The postal life insurance ranks second only to LIC in transacting life insurance business. Last year, business of postal department was higher than of all private life insurers put together. On an all India basis, they sold 27 lakh policies and earned a premium income of Rs. 650 crores. USP is a lower premium and higher bonus, but what is unique is that they dont have any insurance agents selling postal life insurance policies. The business is promoted by a few designated staff and is managed by a separate directorate. PROMOTION The purpose of promotion is to communicate with the market. Promotion tries to influence attitudes and receptivity to eliminate misconceptions and thus to more sales. The IRDA has issued guidelines about advertisements by insurers and the agents or brokers in newspapers, magazines, sales talks, bill boards, hoardings, panels, radio, television, websites, e-mail, portals, leaflets, literature, circulars, sales and flyers, telephone solicitation, business cards, videos, faxes or other communication with a prospect or policyholder urging him to purchase, renew, increase or modify a policy of insurance. The main requirements are: The advertisement programme has to be overseen by an officer responsible for compliance with the regulations. A copy of every advertisement should be filled with the IRDA. Advertisements should disclose the full particulars of the insurer, as well as the form number and type of coverage of the policy referred to. Display the registration/licence numbers on their websites. No third party, other than insurer or authorized intermediary can distribute information or recommended purchase of specific insurance products. Advertisements should not be unfair or misleading. Along with the advertisements, publicity is also an equally strong medium of promotion. In the case of services, the most effective form of publicity is the word of mouth. But both advertisements and publicity can create awareness and also arouse curiosity or interest. These are not powerful enough to generate desire or to provoke action. Thus public relations become important. Public relations refer to separate, planned and sustained efforts made with a view to establish and maintain mutually beneficial relationships between an organization and its prospective customers. PR tools include; all the tools of publicity, lobbying, journals/newsletters, sponsorship of sports and other activities, special drives, entertainment, lunches and dinners, etc. PEOPLE People are the most critical resource in any organization. Without people, no other resource can perform. An employee, who is dissatisfied or worried, may not apply himself fully at work. At the same of interaction with the customer, the employee is alone. The insurance service is judiciary in nature. Thus credibility or trustworthiness, in the perception of the customer, is crucial. The employee can strengthen or erode this. Critical Success Factors for Insurance Change in the Attitude of the Population. There is need for a change in the attitude of the people towards insurance. Insurance is taken just as a tool for tax-saving. But insurance can be taken as shield around their families and business for any unknown calamity and also now-a-days insurance provides good investment opportunity. Thus people have to be made aware about the risk coverage and investment part of the insurance. Open and Transparent Environment created under the IRDA. Insurance as a sector requires players who are financially strong and are willing to wait for returns. Their confidence can only be boosted only if there are open and transparent policy guidelines. This will also help the consumers feel stage that the regulatory is an active one and cares to do everything possible to keep things under control and help the insurance environment grow maturely. Well-established Distribution Network. Bancassurance is becoming more and more popular. Public sector banks like SBI, PNB, etc. have huge network because of their long existence. Therefore they can be successful. Trained Professionals. Initially only insurance agents were considered to be the best salesmen for insurance products. But now with Privatisation and Globalisation more and more professionalism is required in sales efforts. Private players have professional qualified sales force. Rationale Approach to the Investment Criteria. IRDA has guidelines for the investment pattern of the insurance companies to meet its social obligations. But the players feel this compulsion to be unjust and it affects their return on investments. The more the people insured, better the revenue, better the security and ultimately better the morale and productivity. Stringent Accounting Practice to Prevent Failures amongst the Insurers. Insurer has the hard-earned money of the masses. Failure of any of the insurer for any reason can have disastrous effects. To prevent such possibility, a stringent accounting practice is imperative. Level Playing Field for all Insurers. Government should provide unbiased environment to all the insurance players, so that everybody has equal opportunities. With coming of private players, LIC is also focusing on advertising and has become one of the biggest advertisers of its products via using wide range of products, i.e., print and electronic media, sponsoring events, road shows, etc. LIC is focusing both on mass marketing and segmentation strategy. Main focus of promotion activities is one tax benefit and returns from insurance. LIC is focusing on CRM. Challenges for Public and Private Sector Companies Public Sector Companies Private Sector Companies Identity is well established, but the perception of poor service providers is a stigma. Products are not attractive and flexible enough but expensive. To retain their creamy layer clientele who are the most likely to be wooed by the new companies Retain and attract good intermediaries. Match the aura created by the new companies in the urban market. Have to build their identity in a market where the public does not distinguish them. Remove the perception that anything that looks good as expensive. Work against the peoples mindset that they are not here for the long term. Attract intermediaries especially agents with the requisite qualifications and attributes who can market the company and the product. Run the risk of tapping an already insured market for repeat insurance instead of tapping new virgin pockets in the market. MARKETING STRATEGIES OF INSURANCE PLAYERS IN INDIA Introduction of innovative products and services focusing on targeted customer segment. Use the concept of CRM and develop relationship with customers to retain the existing customer and make new customers. Availing the products and services at low cost and with short times. Insurance players have to focus on employees by focusing on their skills and motivating them for continuous improvements in process capabilities, quality and response times. Taking the help of information technology, database and systems in an optimum manner. Punch Line of Some Players Life Insurance corporation of India ICICI Prudential ING Vyasa Birla Sun Life HDFC Standard OM Kotak Mahindra Tata AIG Max New York Bajaj Allianz AMP Sanmar Life is Beautiful. Zindegi ke sath bhi, Zindegi ke bad bhi. We cover you at every step in life. Adding life to insurance Your dreams, our commitment Making life easier for you Jeene ki Azaadi With you always Your Partner for Life We cover almost everything Creating better futures Marketing Strategies of Prominent Insurance Players Life Insurance Corporation of India : LIC is the leader in the insurance sector with around 83% market share. LIC has tied up with corporation bank and Vijaya Bank for distribution of its product. LIC has computerized and linked all 2,048 branches. LIC was the first to introduce online premium payment facilities. LIC is focusing on rural market because of its established brand name. ICICI Pru Life. ICICI Pru is the major competitor of LIC. It has the maximum market share among private players. Companies using tools like workstation marketing, corporate marketing, road shows and stall in trade fair, loading, etc. Its strategy is to achieve scale in premium income and distribution force in shortest time. Focus is more on direct selling apart from communication and building personal relations. Company is marketing at worksite and for corporate customers ha adopted a multichannel distribution model. Company is selling its products as long-term investment plans. Max New York Life (MNYL). Max New York Life is operating with 2,500 agents spread in activities in India. It is using individual agents as its primary source of distribution. It offers flexible products with many options, and riders. The company is using various methods like media advertising, event sponsorship, etc. and tools like direct marketing relationship building to generate awareness and build customer base. The company focuses on the quality of its first sales personnel, i.e., agents. MetLife. MetLife is a global leader in the financial services and it has tied up with Geojet Infolin technologies for marketing and distribution of its products in India. It has followed the strategy of phase-wise introduction of products in the market. It has Bundle method of offering products which includes investment options ranging from insurance, equities, derivatives, mutual funds and TPOs. The market segment on which MetLife is focusing is South India and JK. Tata AIG. The company is following mass marketing to cover as many as lives as possible in the initial years of its operation. It has expertise in assessing the risk covered. Bajaj-Allianz. It is giving competition to public sector general insurance companies. Its main focus is on automobile. Its advertisements are appearing in local newspapers, television and hoarding. Birla-Sun Life. It is focusing mainly on high net worth people so that higher sum assured can be taken up. SBI Standard Life Its products are simple. It is doing branch-wise segmentation. Average size of the policies is smaller. HDFC Standard Life. HDFC is the leader in housing finance in India and Standard Life is the UK market leader. The company is using direct marketing tactics to build HDFC brand and convincing the customers insurance as a protection tool. The insurance sector has gained momentum with the entry of private players. Rather than taking away the market share of existing players, the new players have actually helped expand the insurance market. Their ability to offer innovative products aggressive marketing, as well as the general uptrend in economic growth, have given a boost to the industry. In fact, more players, with public sector banks and leading industrialists jumping into the fray. We take a look at the two major segments life and general to see how the major players are faring.

Racism in Shakespeares Othello Essay -- GCSE English Literature Cours

Racism in Othello      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Samuel Taylor Coleridge's Literary Remains is just one of the essays that presents an attack on Shakespeare for his lack of realism in the 'monstrous' depiction of a marriage between a 'beautiful Venetian girl,' and a 'veritable negro,' in Othello. He sees Shakespeare's transformation of a 'barbarous negro' into a respected soldier and nobleman of stature as 'ignorant', since at the time, 'negroes were not known except as slaves.' (Appendix) The extract seems to raise two questions - how central is the taboo of miscegeny to the play, and to what extent is Othello's reputation able to counter this prejudice?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It is certainly not hard to conclude that Othello is probably Shakespeare's most controversial play. There is a clear theme of racism throughout, one which was firmly embedded in the Venetian society which rejects the marriage of Othello and Desdemona as erring, 'against all rules of nature,' [1.3.102] Nothing separates Othello from, 'the wealthy curled darlings of our nation,' [1.2.68] except skin-color - he matches or even exceeds them in reputation. At the start of the play, he appears confident that, OTHELLO: My parts, my title, and my perfect soul Shall manifest me rightly. Othello 1.2.31-2 when he is called in front of the court on charges of witchcraft, yet the malevolent Iago is able to call on Othello's deep-rooted insecurities about his race in order to play Othello and Desdemona against one another until their marriage fails. Essentially, Iago is a representative of the white race, a pre-Nazi figure who tries to inform the public of the impurity of Othello and Desdemona's marriage. He demonstrates how this miscegenation is threatening to the existing socia... ... that nothing could be made too marked for the senses of his audience, had practically sanctioned it, -- would this prove aught concerning his own intention as a poet for all ages? Can we imagine him so utterly ignorant as to make a barbarous negro plead royal birth, --at a time, too, when negroes were not known except as slaves? -- As for Iago's language to Brabantio, it implies merely that Othello was a Moor, that is, black .... No doubt Desdemona saw Othello's visage in his mind; yet, as we are constituted, and most surely as an English audience was disposed in the beginning of the seventeenth century, it would be something monstrous to conceive this beautiful Venetian girl falling in love with a veritable negro. It would argue a disproportionateness, a want of balance, in Desdemona, which Shakespeare does not appear to have in the least contemplated.'      

The Effects of Team Dynamics on Corporate Communication

Good communication skills are one of the required skills from the human being to maintain and achieve the expected outcomes of the organization or team. An effective communicator tends to work well in a team. Working as a team in any environment is more productive and the expected outcomes tend to be more of a profitable than working alone. In this report there will be the discussion on the effects of team dynamics on corporate communication. The topic will be divided into sub sections: developing positive team dynamics, effect of team dynamics on individual’s behaviour, personality types and team dynamics and also the author personality type will be discussed. The communication theories and the categories identified by Belbin will also be discussed. It is clear that people got deferent personalities and different ways of adapting the group dynamics, the personality type and team dynamics will be discussed. The types of personalities as described by MBTI will be discussed individually. What is Team Dynamics? â€Å"Team or group dynamics concern the fluid and on-going interaction between and among team members, their actions and reactions. Team dynamics relate to the interpersonal and interdependent process of work—how things get done by and through people, and how team members relate to their task and to each other†(Team Dynamics. n. d. ). It is clear that if team members have the shared vision, goals and objectives about the performance of the team, the team can reach it objectives and it can build healthy team dynamics. Developing a Positive Team Dynamics People are unique and got different beliefs, it is therefore very correct that you study your team mates very well and emphasis more on what is important for the group. Having well defined standards and reporting standard to a group leader that will lead to a healthy group dynamics. These standards can only be effective if the team members are committed to the positive interests of the team. After deciding on team rules or standards the team can easily develop the personal relations and develop trust to each other. This trust and personal relations became visible by the time we managed to delegate someone to represent the group on dance practise, we trusted the person the he won’t let us down. We also managed to learn the dance from him. And that has made us to bond more. Effect of Team Dynamics on individual’s behaviour Most people are more effect when working as a group than working alone, other people will find this as a problem. Working in a group of people of different cultures could lead to more tensed environment within the team, it is therefore very correct to learn or try to understand the do’s and the don’ts of other members culture and that will lead to profitable results as it stated that â€Å"Teams working together increase problem-solving skills and innovation, quality, and decrease turnover and absenteeism† (Teresa Armstrong, n. ). After developing positive team dynamics, the group will had the common goal of achieving the expected outcomes. This was shown on the camp when we were doing speed introduction, we managed to know each other better and had a chance to know the dos and don’ts of other peoples culture. This made us to perform well on the activities that were given and submit them on time. What is Personality? Hjelle and Ziegler (1987, p. ) explains that â€Å"personality refers to the overall impression that an individual makes to others†, at the same time Robbins (1979, p. 90) explains that â€Å"personality is the sum of ways in which an individual reacts and interact with others† Personality affects the performance of the entire group, and these authors agree on the definition of personality. The team need to study each member’s personality, hence that will create a healthy working environment. Personality Type and Team Dynamics The Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is used to understand the personality of individual, and that can be effective in developing team dynamics. MBTI shows the following characters of personalities: Extroverted/ Introverted, Sensing/Intuitive, Thinking/ Feeling, Judging / Perceiving. Extrovert/Introverted These kinds of people are either described as people who are out spoken, work well in a group (extrovert) or people who focuses on the inner world and this kind of person likes to work individually. Introverts can sometimes frustrate the Extroverts, because of the strength of the Introverts shines when they alone and they are not more in group discussions as it stated that â€Å"Extraverted types who work best by thinking out loud and considering matters in dialogue can be frustrated by Introverted types whose best work on thinking and considering is done internally and detached from active interaction† (Personality Pathways, 2009). Even though these personalities are differing in terms of preferences, they can contribute to the team positively. Hence the introverts in a group will be treated as the knowledge source or the strategist of the group while Sensing/Intuitive Since in the team people have different personalities, here there will be a discussion on how the groups or teams benefits to people with sensing and intuitive personalities. Effective communicators they first identify the problem and then propose solution(s) to the problem, so people with this kind of personality in the sense that they are more realistic, practical and got self confidence. Psychological Types ( 2008a) explains that â€Å"Intuition is an ability to deal with the information on the basis of its hidden potential and its possible existence†, it is therefore clear that this kind of personality can effectively contribute towards the group or team. Hence they are able to foresee the possible outcomes of the task and this will help the group to effectively communicate with vision of the possible solution. This kind of personality is clearly found on someone who is the go-getter and someone who is creative. Thinking/Feeling Psychological Types ( 2008b) explains that â€Å"Thinking is an ability to deal with information on the basis of its structure and its function. Feeling is an ability to deal with information on the basis of its initial energetic condition and its interactions†, people with this kind of personality (thinking) are more in the decision making side. Someone with thinking personality has the greater ability of doing things in logical manner and he ends to pay more attention on the bigger picture of the given task. People with the feeling personality type are more concerned about feelings of other individuals and they are more ethical, which makes them to be good in developing team dynamics. Team with good ethical rules they tend to be more effective and produce quality results. In any working environment there will be some times conflicts and sometimes conflicts can lead a group to informed or uninformed decisions. So people with the feeling personality don’t like conflicts and that could be their weak link, because when working as team there are high probabilities of conflicts and sometimes conflicts are healthy for the survival of the team. Judging/Perceiving Judging Personality type is essential to the success of the group, because people with this kind of personality are creative in making plans, organizing tasks to be done. By having an individual with that kind of personality and the communication channels of the group or team are clearly defined, the team is advantage of achieving its objectives in expected time. The individuals with judging personality is more like the backbone of the group or team because someone with this kind of personality doesn’t give up on the given tasks and that individual can be sometimes be called the information centre of the group, because some of the possible solutions for the group might come from that individual. The other type of personality is called Perceiving. This type of personality is referred to someone who can adapt in any situation that the group find its self in. Individuals with perceiving personality is referred to as more open minded as it stated that â€Å"Perceiving is the preference outwardly displayed. Perceiving people are flexible, and they like to keep their options open and think randomly† (My Personality. Info. n. d). If an individual is described to have the perceived type of personality, the individual need the attention of the group, because the performance of this individual depends on his/her mood. And can be costly to the team performance and the team level of communication, because if the individual is not in mood then the entire team will be affected too. Having well defined ethical behaviour in the group and well established accountability standards that will lead to mutual respect mong group member, effective communication and profitable results in the given activities. The Author’s Personality Type After conducting the online personality type test, the author of this paper was described as ESTJ where E stands for Extrovert, S – Sensing, T – Thinking and J – Judging. The results of the test were exactly the author’s personalities. Even though the test results exactly explain the personality of the author, and the author is strongly agree with the fact that these results are true and also feels that these results are not fully explaining the author of this paper. The reason the author believes that is an extrovert is because of the fact the author can easily adapt to the new group and can easily get along with people of different culture and different backgrounds. This was shown on the camp when I had to be in the cabin with people that I saw for the first time. I managed to get along with my cabin mates and I made many friends from that camp. The effective communicator is not someone who speaks loud but it’s someone who can effectively convey the message to other people without any difficulties and the massage received is clear and unambiguous. The author is also having the sensing type personality, because of the self-confidence that the author has and how realistic the author is. The online personality test also sees the author of this paper as Thinking type of personality, and the author fully agrees with the test results because of the fact that when it comes to decision making for the benefit of the team or group the author excels. Every individual got its own talent and specialization area, and the author of this paper believes that clear communication channels and clear definition of roles in the team, that will healthy working environment. The online personality test has further seen the author of this paper as someone who is having Judging type of personality, and the author strongly agrees with that outcome because of the contributions that the author contribute towards the given tasks of the group and the self discipline the author has. The ESTJ type of personality is more essential towards the success of the group, because in a group there will be different personalities such as INFP. This kind of personality reacts to group dynamics differently as ompared to ESTJ type of personality. So if the group dynamics are well developed to the benefit of the team, and all different personalities are given platform to express its opinions that will lead to effect working environment. Since team dynamics are more concerned about how the group interact, how tasks are scheduled from the start to the end and also how the decision making is made, the personality type of the author of this paper allows the author to fit in any kind of working environment. Knowing what is expected of you in a group, that’s what makes team members to work effectively and deliver what is expected of them. When the team roles are divided is done according to the expertise of an individual member of the group, hence that will enhance productivity within the group. The author of this paper has the very power full mind of looking at things in a way in which will benefit the group. References http://www.personalitypathways.com/MBTI_intro.html http://www.socionics.com/main/types.htm http://www.mypersonality.info/personality-types/judging-perceiving/

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