Theories in Sociology - Essay Example

Sociology 1101 Managerial styles of theory X, Y, and Z Managerial theories are used to help managers understand the human nature of their employees at the workplace and help them to develop the best leadership style that suits each category of workers in order to maximize output (Gitman & McDaniel 240). Theories of employee motivation assist organizations managers to develop a clear understanding of the work environment and the task assigned to each of the employee in order to deal with employees effectively. The managers should understand different approaches to motivate the employees for maximum productivity. Both McGregor’s theories X and Y and William Ouchi theory Z are useful in a work environment to assist the managers to understand their workers as well as helping the workers in the way they perceive the work environment (Ghuman 358). McGregor’s theory X asserts that people dislike work and will try to evade any form of work whenever they can (Ghuman 358). According to this theory, managers should exert some pressure on the workers so that they can compel them to work. The theory further claims that, in a working environment, managers should threaten to sack workers charge them fines or impose other forms of punishments in order to make the workers complete their tasks. The managers can motivate workers either using threats or through monetary rewards. The theory is applicable to autocratic or authoritative managers who make decisions for the employees to implement (Ghuman 361). These managers have little regard for the workers and their concern is to get the work done irrespective of how workers will react to the managerial policies. McGregor’s theory Y assumes that employees like work and creativity at their work place. The workers yearn for responsibilities and sharing in decision-making process (Gitman & McDaniel 258). According to this theory, workers are more contented in a work environment that gives them an opportunity to participate in decision making planning of the organization. In an organization that practices theory Y, the management approach promotes workers innovation; ideas and resourcefulness are present among the workers of different ranks. It creates a friendly atmosphere because decisions are made on concession of all employees. William Ouchi’s theory Z, the workers, tends to establish strong working relationship with leaders and their colleagues. Theory is a fusion of Japanese and America management styles. Theory Z management style recognizes cultural values, social institutions and family relationships as critical aspects of the management (Gitman & McDaniel 246). The workers in such an organization are highly disciplined and regard other colleagues with high esteem. The workers perform to their best as long as the management is ready to support the workers. Theory Z encourages employees to have a general understanding of the entire organization and encourages employees to be more involved in the organization (Ghuman 372). It requires workers to take longer time to learn various aspects of the organization and it results to more permanent workers. I would recommend theory Z because it creates an intimate relationship between the workers and their employees. Employees feel appreciated at their work and have more stable jobs. Since employees ideas are part of organization’s decision, they give their best to the organization and the also get the best from the organization. Works Cited Ghuman, Karminder, “Management: Concepts, Practice & Cases.” Tata McGraw-Hill Education, (2010). 358-392 Gitman, Lawrence & McDaniel, Carl. “The Future of Business: The Essentials.” USA: Cengage Learning, (2008). 240-285 2. Dysfunctions of bureaucratic organizations The implementation of bureaucracy follows set rules that never allow anyone to hijack a single step against the set rules since it promotes ted tape (Hodson & Sullivan 177). Although rules are all right for proper administration of the organization and must be followed by all and sundry, sometimes bureaucracies are filled with so much red tape that prohibit organizations against achieving their goals. For example, Mother Teresa identified an abandoned structure in Bronx that she thought could be used as a shelter for the homeless. However, she was denied the chance to use the building because the rule required the building be fitted with an elevator of which she could not afford to install. Although the building could serve her purpose, she was not allowed to bypass the rule. She gave up the idea after two years of struggle without success (Bureaucracy and Formal Organizations 175). It was the bureaucratic rule that prohibited Mother Teresa from extending her assistance to people who in desperate need of her help even though the building was not being used for any other purpose. Bureaucracy may result to goal displacement whereby the organization diverts from pursuing the original goal and start pursuing a different goal in order to strengthen its bureaucracy. Also, the organization may achieve its objectives and continue with operations for the sake of maintaining bureaucracy. An example was the “National Foundation for the March of Dimes” whose initial plan was to eradicate polio, but after development of polio vaccine the organization started pursuing “birth defects” to maintain its operations (Bureaucracy and Formal Organizations 176). Bureaucracy may result to alienation of workers in the organization. In a properly functioning organization, employees should interact with one another in a positive way that contributes improvement of organizational performance (Bureaucracy and Formal Organizations 175). However, bureaucracy limits the freedom of employee’s interaction because of the procedures they have to go through to get to each other. The decision making process does not involve all members in the organization since different individuals and departments operate independently of each other. Consequently, some workers may feel neglected especially if they do not have influence in decision making process. They feel insignificant in the organization and as if no one cares about their welfare in the organization (Hodson & Sullivan 178). This may also result to decline in performance thus causing the organization fail to achieve its objectives. Bureaucracy can result to communication breakdown within the organization. The organization has various units performing specialized tasks that collectively results to the achievement of the organization goals (Bureaucracy and Formal Organizations 176). Sometimes the respective units fail to coordinate properly and due to lack of proper communication results to failure of the organizations goals. For example, the local government was had intentions of improving the physical appearance of the buildings along particular streets of Granada in Spain. However, one unit of the government fixed the buildings that made them appear neat as expected while another unit of the same government scheduled the same buildings for demolition (Bureaucracy and Formal Organizations 177). Due to communication breakdown between different departments the government incurred huge expenses when newly repaired houses were demolished. Works Cited “Bureaucracy and Formal Organizations,” Chapter 7, (2007). 167-189. Retrieved from http://home.iitk.ac.in/~amman/soc474/Resources/bureaucracy.pdf Hodson, Randy & Sullivan, Teresa, A. “The Social Organization of Work.” USA: Cengage Learning, (2011). 177-180. 3. Strain theory Merton’s Strain theory explains why people engage in social crimes. It states that social structures can compel people to commit a crime (Hashiguchi 27). Strain may be structural or individuals. Structural refer to processes in the societal level that trickle down and influence the way individuals perceive view their needs. Strains may be individuals may be pains and frictions experienced by individuals as they look for means to gratify their desires. Merton described a classification scheme of deviant behavior to elaborate the variations between cultural goals and institutions available to achieve the goals. The classification of deviant behavior is based on person’s loyalty to cultural goals and their beliefs to achieve those goals. According to Merton, deviance may arise in five different ways. For example, Individuals may conform to the cultural goals and means available to achieve those goals. Creativity that entails acceptance of the goal but disregard the means used to achieve those goals, ritualism which accepts the procedure for attaining the goals, but disregards the means to achieve those goals, retreatism that disregards both goal and traditional approaches to achieve the goals and finally a rebellion whereby the individual disregards both goals and means to achieve them, but puts effort to replace them with new goals and approaches the attain the new goals (Hashiguchi 36). Rebellion arises when individuals accept some tradition, but break others while trying to pursue those which they have already accepted (Hashiguchi 43). Therefore, according to social strain theory, social strain can make an individual either by either declining the social goals or the means to achieve those goals. Works Cited Hashiguchi, Koichi & Yamakawa, Yuki. “Introduction to Finite Strain Theory for Continuum Elasto-Plasticity.” John Wiley & Sons (2012). 23-67. 4. Uniform Crime Report (UCR) These are official data on crimes in the United States according to the annual publications by the Federal Bureau of Investigations. The law enforcement agencies are responsible for gathering report on crime rate in the United States, and then furnish the FBI with the data for filing and reporting. National Incidence-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) refers to an incidence-based reporting system whereby agencies gather data on every incidence of crime that takes place. The data is obtained from the state, local and federal automated records system (Koehler & Brown 217). The agency prepares the crime of data to suit its needs including collection and storage of data required for administrative functions and also for reporting to the Uniform Crime Reporting program (Sennewald & Christman 517). NIBRS gather data on all incidences and arrests within the offense categories composed of forty-six crimes. There are forty-six crimes classified in twenty-two categories of offenses and recorded as Group A. All incidences and arrests made on offense category A are collected and reported in the NIBRS system. In addition, all arrests made on other eleven offenses categorized under Group B are reported in the NIBRS system (Koehler & Brown 223). Advantages of UCR It presents the data in summary form thus the data can be easily understood by agencies. The report is in manual form thus it cannot be easily tampered with during reporting or recording (Sennewald & Christman 521). Disadvantages of UCR The report of crimes is in summary and does not categorize some types of crimes hence their statistics remains unknown. In the case of multiple crimes committed by the same person UCR reports only the most serious while the rest remains unreported thus the system gives incomplete crimes data (Sennewald & Christman 526). The report is given in manual form thus it wastes time for typing into the electronic system. Advantages of NIBRS NIBRS provides a comprehensive report on various types of crimes. It gives distinction between various types of crimes including those that are not recognized by UCR such as terrorism and white collar crimes. Also, it offers statistics that can be used by law enforcing agencies to fight various types of crime in the society for the full accounting of public safety. Recording of crimes is conducted electronically hence there is no need for typing the data. Finally, NIBRS assists agencies to establish common approaches for fighting crimes in the society (Koehler & Brown 236). Disadvantages of NIBRS NIBRS gives detailed information that may create difficulties to identify and classify various crimes appropriately. It requires more time and money to carry out a comprehensive recording, reporting and interpretation of data involving various crimes (Koehler & Brown 243). Reasons for shifting to NIBRS Although both UCR and NIBRS apply similar jurisdiction for collecting and reporting data, NIBRS is better because it is detailed while UCR entails summary of the crime and procedure. UCR has only eight offenses while NIBRS has forty-six offenses (Koehler & Brown 2387). For example, UCR does not differentiate between complete and attempted offenses while NIBRS has a clear distinction of the two incidences. NIBRS recognizes and reports all crimes committed by the same person irrespective of the number of the crimes that a person has committed whereas UCR identifies only the most severe crime in case a person is involved in multiple crimes (Koehler & Brown 242) NIBRS recognizes crime against society in addition to crimes against property and person. Finally, NIBRS uses an electronic system for reporting crime unlike UCR that uses manual system. Works Cited Koehler, Steven A. & Brown, Peggy A. “Forensic Epidemiology.” United States of America: CRC Press, (2010). 217-248 Sennewald, Charles, A. & Christman, John, H. “Retail Crime, Security, and Loss Prevention: An Encyclopedic Reference.” Butterworth-Heinemann, (2011). 16-559 5. Four Justifications for Punishments Punishment is commanding imposition of repulsive on an offender. The authority for imposing punishment may be held by an individual or a group of people in formal or informal legal system (Braswell et.al 166). The punishment is administered on the offender to ensure justice to the offended and to cause pain and regret to the offender. Deterrence is discouragement of crime by the way of punishment (Braswell et.al 166). The person or persons administering punishment ensure other people are aware of the punishment as a way of discouraging the offenders and other members of society from engaging in crimes in the future for fear of facing similar punishment. Rehabilitation is a means of reforming the offender into a law abiding citizen (Braswell et.al 167). It aims at ensuring the offender does not engage in crimes, in the future because they are able to apply moral reasoning in their conducts after the punishment. Retribution is a moral retaliation aimed at causing the offender pain or suffering similar to what they caused others through during when they committed the offense (Braswell et.al 167). Retribution requires the offender to face similar conditions to what they caused other people. For example, if the offender plucked someone’s eye, they should be plucked an eye too. Retribution is considered fair by ensuring that one gets the same measure they used on others. Incapacitation is a form of punishment that involves getting rid of the offenders from the society by imprisonment or execution (Braswell et.al 167). Incapacitation or incarceration does not give the offender an opportunity to reform and the nature of pain caused has no moral justification. In conclusion, the four forms of justifications for punishments include deterrence, rehabilitation, retribution and incapacitations. They are imposed to reduce the crime rate in the society. Works Cited Braswell, Michael C., McCarthy, Belinda, R. & McCarthy, Bernard, J. “Justice, Crime, and Ethics.” USA: Elsevier, (2010). 166-167 6. Social Classification Social classification is the classification of people based on their socio-economic status (Crompton 7). Social classification depicts inequalities in the society along social, political, economic and ideological angles. Social stratification occurs due to variation in power or status creates possessed by some people over others. In the western communities, society is classified into three classes; lower, middle and upper classes. Social class depicts economic position of the person in the society based on birth and personal achievement. Personal achievement is assessed in terms of the income of an individual (Crompton 13). On the other hand, castes refer to social stratifications based on individual’s economic status, ethnic background, race and religious believes. Therefore, castes stratify the social classes in a broader manner alongside races and religions (Crompton 19). The implication of castes is that some people could belong to the same social class or race even though they belong to different castes. Both castes and classes social stratifications forms basis for social identity of different groups of people in the society. However, Castes and classes form the basis of discrimination of individuals along their ethnicity, economic status, political divide and many more (Crompton 29). Classes and castes have resulted to interactions of people based on the social status of individuals. In conclusion, social stratification is based on castes and classes. Although social classes and castes forms basis for individual’s identity, they result to discrimination along classes, religion, ethnic groups or economic status of individuals. Work Cited Crompton, Rosemary. “Class and Stratification.” USA: Polity, (2008). 7-6 7. Apple Inc. Case Study The case is about ethical issues in Apple Inc. Apple Inc. is an American based company dealing with production of high quality ipads and iphones. However, its operations takes place in china to enable the company utilizes cheap labor available in China and acquires supplies of materials at a cheaper price (Lalleberg, Work and Global Dynamics) Foxconn is the largest Chinese company dealing with assembling to ipads and iphones on behalf of Apple Inc. However, the company subjects its workers to poor working environment. The workers have to work for long hours for seven days a week. The workers are paid low basic salaries to encourage them to take more overtime in order to supplement their meager wages. The workers have no decent living houses, but instead live in crowded dormitories and some workers are exposed to harmful wastes. Foxconn uses military personnel for security who mistreats the workers and has been in constant breach of labor laws since 2007 (Lalleberg, Work and Global Dynamics). The consequences of low wages and poor working conditions have caused workers many frustrations. The consequences of workers’ frustrations include riot that occurred in 2011 following a dispute over a paycheck and resulted to arrest of eight workers by the police and the removal of trashcans from windows hence creating problem of rodents. Also, in 2010 thirteen workers attempted suicide and ten lost their lives. Consequently, the company installed nets to restrain workers who jumped through the window in an attempt to commit suicide. The issue of poor working conditions at Foxconn attracted much attention from the media people the global public attention disregarding the company’s malpractices (Lalleberg, Work and Global Dynamics). The Apple Inc. Practice depicts the American society as immoral and lacking a sense for human beings. The company uses underpaid workers in China to produce high quality ipads and iphones which they sell at high price in the global market to gain huge profits. The company should share their earning with workers thus they should increase salaries for their workers. Since they contract other companies to manufacture the products for them, Apple Inc. should not enter into a contract with a company such as Foxconn that has a poor reputation for mistreating their workers and breaking labor law. Apple Inc. should force Foxconn to pay their employees better prices and improve other working conditions or otherwise they terminate the contract with Foxconn (Lalleberg, Work and Global Dynamics). The American based Apple Inc. is extending the poverty to China by accepting to contract Foxiconn that uses cheap labor. The approach continues to impoverish the poor while Foxiconn and Apple continue making huge profits at the expense of the poor workers. This is unfair and antisocial operation. The amount of money spends in hiring military personnel to oppress the workers and to settle other legal issues should be used to improve the welfare of the workers. Apple Inc. should ensure the workers involved in the production of ipads and iphones are paid equivalent of what American workers should be paid had they been involved in the production process. Works Cited Lalleberg, Arne, L. “Work and Global Dynamics: Making Iphone and Ipads.” Read More