Definitions and Explanations That Exist on the Various Terminologies - Research Paper Example

Project Title Definition and application of some keywords in their various work environments Introduction Context of the Research By looking at the explanation of some terminologies used in the work place in various ways, we may understand their usage and application across the various fields. The terminologies whose, meaning, use and effect we seek to analyze are: virtual work, virtual team and team effectiveness. In addition to this we will also look into management, communication and organizational effectiveness as applied in various fields. The major purpose of doing this exercise is to relate them to their application in daily work environments while trying to establish how and whether they have any influence around the places they most apply.Team effectiveness, management and communication for example may have wide usage in different quarters and their interpretation and application will also vary from place to place yet they all have a relationship. In doing the research, it will be necessarily to read widely on these subjects to see what different authors say on each one of them as well as seeking information from the internet. In this case, a substantial amount of time will be dedicated to research in the library and in any other resource center that may be dimmed beneficial to this study Aim of the study The study aims at analyzing the definitions and explanations that exist on the various terminologies and how they are applied in various quarters. This will include examining whether they are used or translated in the same way across various work environments. Objectives of the Study To define the terminologies stated To establish how these terminologies are used across different environments To find out their actual application around various work environments Literature Review To get an insight of how the study is supposed to be undertaken, it would be important to understand each one of these terminologies through the various definitions that exist. Virtual Work Virtual work is a common term in almost all areas of engineering. It relates the work done through a mechanical process to the out put and the ability of the process to perform more of that very task. Caprani (2009) simplifies virtual work as the actual energy input that is applied when a mechanical task or any other task is being performed. Virtual Team Virtual teams may be looked at as a set of individuals who have formed a way through which they are able to work beyond organizational boundaries, time boundaries and even national and transnational boundaries through the enhanced telecommunication technologies. It can be looked at as an inter-connection of people who bring their energies, skills and knowledge together with an aim of achieving a bring a particular objective. These teams therefore work in different environments under different guidelines but with well laid out purposes that they all aim to achieve. Team effectiveness Just as the term goes Team Effectiveness aims at looking into the general ability of members within a team to perform their duties as expected while evaluating the challenges that they might be facing. In other words, team effectiveness focuses on the performances of the various teams that may be found within an organization. In this respect, it can be looked at as a measure of how well and to what extent teams are able to achieve their goals. In recent times, team participation in achieving organizational goals and objectives have been emphasized and achieving organizational goal through team work has become a more adopted and acceptable way of doing things. Management Management is a common term that is mostly associate with some of leadership or overseeing In relation to the work place, management is looked at from the perspective of bringing individual together with an aim of making them perform a particular task at a given time and more importantly aiming at achieving some laid out purposes. Several authors have attempted to explain the management phenomena in various ways. Butler (2006) explains that organizing. , coordinating, planning and leading are some of the most valuable management tool. Communication From one angle, communication may sound and even look as one of the simplest activities that man engages in. However communication can take various forms and even be complicated to some extent. Gillian (1999) simplifies communication to plainly mean the passage of a message from one party to the other. He further notes quite rightly that communication does take a number of forms from verbal to nonverbal. Organizational communication as well will have various aspects depending on the message, the recipient, the mode, timing and so forth. Organizational Effectiveness Plainly put this can be looked as the measure of how well or poorly an institution is performing in relation to the goals that have been set. Richard (2009) explains organizational effectiveness from the perspective of an organizations ability to set goals, plan and execute them by way of creative scheduling. Research Design. For the purposes of this study, the researcher will be required to perform a number of important undertakings that will enhance the study. First, the researcher will need to educate himself on the various terms that he intends to look into by way of finding out their actual meaning, even before looking at how they are applied in various fields. For this reason, the researcher will need to get the relevant material in terms of books, journals and any other source that may be beneficial to him. He can be able to do this from a library or any other resource center that may be beneficial to the study. The other source of information that the researcher may incorporate into the study is the internet. In many cases the internet serves as a wealthy data base for virtually all subjects and therefore it would be a good source of information for the researcher. The researcher will also need to select and get involved in an organization where all these activities may be in application, to be able to study first hand how their relevance on a day to day running of the business .The most appropriate suggestion is that the researcher establishes two to three organizations that have different organizational structures to be able to compare contrast and draw conclusions accordingly More importantly he will need to establish a technical industrial company preferably on where there are mechanical activities. This could be a motor vehicle manufacturer or an engineering plant. This will help him in understanding the technical terms like Virtual Work. The research will nonetheless need to engage comprehensively in a well structured organization that observes common practices of organizational norms. This means that the organization chosen will have well stipulated managerial posts and clear communication strategies .In addition , these organizations must have organized team work capacities to be able to outline the effectiveness of tem participation. For the purposes of that study, he will need to personally engage in the daily running of the business to be able to make observations. This could be done by scheduling a few days of the week that he may need to move around the organizations selected. Since the activities to be studied may not be taking place on all the working hours of the organization, he may need to put in a few hours for designated activities (Butler, et al 2009). For example, team work may be well studied when employees come together to deliberate on a particular issue. It is common knowledge that employees will most likely be engaged in individual work in most hours of the day but may hold meetings in between, thus the researcher will need to have details of such events in order to enhance this research. From this analysis, it is clear that he will be required to have sharp observation skills to be able to draw relevant conclusions. The researcher may also be required to conduct interviews with relevant departmental heads and team participants to gain more insight into some of these words. For instance, in order to understand the difference between virtual team and team effectiveness, the researcher may want to hear from a participant’s point of view .A department head or any other employee may help in shedding some more light. Risk Factors The researcher may be limited by a number of factors in a number of ways: It might not be easy to get organizations that would give him access to their premises just because he wants to study some terminologies His presence when employees are engaging in team work may not be taken kindly and he may therefore need to make a clear explanation. Ethical Considerations It has been established that the researcher will need to move from one organization to another din the course of the study. For this reason it will be important to be keen on developing stringent work values that are acceptable around those organizations. One of the most important is time consciousness. In most cases companies will carry out their activities within given time frames and sparing some time for a researcher to conduct his study may be seen as a huge favor. The researcher will also need to be a good follower of instructions. It is important to know when to be where especially in a place where one is not very familiar with. This will ensure that he is in good record with the organization. Data Collection and Maintaining A major activity in research work is compilation of data. The research in this study will be expected to: Record observations made in relation to the keywords that were supposed to be studied in on that day. He will need to relate the words he studied on a particular day to activities that might have taken place and that are relevant to the key word. Note the differences in usage of the key words in different organizations. Since this could make part of the report that the researcher may write at the end of the study, he may need This expected to be part of the report, it would be necessary that he notes some of the differences and similarities found in usage and application of those words in different organization Data Assessment Once data has been compiled it will be necessary for the researcher to pick the most useful and appropriate data for his study. This process will include such activities as comparing and contrasting observations made. It is at this stage that he will be required to note whether any assumptions he might have made prior to the study are confirmed. Here, the researcher will need to be thoroughly analytical in comparison and conclusion. For instance, he must clearly outline what word means to a given organization and whether it is commonly applied across the institutions. Difference, if any will also need to be highlighted out rightly. Planning and Schedule of activities. Planning for the research will basically involve scheduling for time. Below is a tabular example of how activities might be coordinated. DATE TIME ORGANISATION ACTIVITY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY By having a well outlined schedule, the researcher program will be much enhanced to know what activity to perform when Summary. One of the most essential segments of a research project is proper preparation. In this context it is always important to put a considerable amount of time in to find out what exactly is needed. This can be done in a number of ways. He will be required to gather up any material needed for the study. For this study, he will need plenty of material to record his observations in form of pens and notebooks .In addition, will be required to make reconnaissance or preliminary visits to the organizations in which he thinks he may get some information that is relevant to his study. The importance of doing this is to make prior arrangements regarding his timing, availability and how his visits, may affect the normal running of the organization. The necessary transport arrangements, if any, will also be made. Conclusion The purpose of any research work is to formulate important conclusions that will have been made from the study. The researcher will therefore dimmed not to have concluded his sty if he doesn’t up with any conclusions.They will largely be drawn along side his observations through the study period. The researcher will also be expected to draw heavily on his own reflections to compliment this observations.Basically; his reflections will be his own ides that he will have gathered in the course of the study. This means that he will express ideas such as why he thinks a particular organization has a better understanding of a particular word than the other. In addition he will be expected to explain whether from his findings there is organization or organizations that seem to apply their understanding and knowledge of a particular word more than the other.. Bibliography Butler, Gillian, Ph.D. and Hope, Tony, M.D. 1996, Managing Your Mind, Oxford University Press, New York: David G.A.O/, 1982, Virtual Work in Structural Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, New York. Richard, 2009, Measuring Organizational Performance: Towards Methodological Best Practice, Journal of Management. . Read More