America is a "I want it now" society. Food now, coffee now, give it to me now. This is how our society runs every single day. Fast food restaurants litter every street corner with cars packing the drive-thrus. Many of these restaurants practice the Taylorism of scripted talk. This scripted talk is what the corporate giants of certain fast-food chains think will produce maximum profits. But is this Taylorism the best way to run a company?
I believe that Taylorism, in certain situations, is the best way to run a company. It is easily perfected and can be taught to anyone. This aspect makes it very proficient in every business. Taylorism is also the quickest way to sell many things and make the most profits. This is important to these big businesses. Although Taylorism might take away a personal touch, it is quick, easy, and proficient. This is why it is very important to keep Taylorism in businesses where it is necessary.
Being a waiter, I had a personal experience with Taylorism. I was given certain things to say but I found this easier in dealing with customers. Having a routine made working with many customers at one time much easier.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
The United States and Her Division of Labor
Work is the one thing that all men have in common in our nation. It drives our nation's economy and dictates the life you live. Although everyone works, work varies widely from person to person. Is work divided up fairly in our country? I believe the answer to this question depends on where you stand personally in job status.
Robert Devlin is the CEO of American General Corporation. He is undoubtedly wealthy and seem very content and happy with his current occupation. He admits that the job brings with it a certain pressure but says he does not mind the pressure. He says, "no one individual can make all the decisions-nor should they." He goes on to explain that there is a division of labor and that this is prevalent in large companies for this is what makes them run efficiently. Although he gets paid heavily, it does not come without a price. When the company does poorly, he is to blame. Robert Devlin trusts that at least in his company, the division of labor is fair.
Javier Lopez is a poultry factory worker in North Carolina and looks at America's division of labor quite differently. Although Lopez is in our country illegally, he finds a steady employer. Javier is greatly dissatisfied with his work. Although he works very hard, he is paid poorly. The white worker is treated much better and upper management cares little about its workers. In Lopez's mind, the work could be divided out more fairly or management could take certain steps to benefit the employees.
Whether or not ones thinks work is divided up equally in the U.S. depends on the eye of the beholder. A man who owns a company and gets paid well for his labor probably holds the viewpoint that the work is equal down the ladder in the company. The factory worker might think the complete opposite. Although the worker may work harder and for more hours, he does make close to the CEO. Now of course this is appropriate to a certain extent because the leaders and founders of a company should make more. But they should not abuse their workers by paying them less than they deserve. I believe that large companies should take the initiative to reward good, hard work with bonuses and perks.
Robert Devlin is the CEO of American General Corporation. He is undoubtedly wealthy and seem very content and happy with his current occupation. He admits that the job brings with it a certain pressure but says he does not mind the pressure. He says, "no one individual can make all the decisions-nor should they." He goes on to explain that there is a division of labor and that this is prevalent in large companies for this is what makes them run efficiently. Although he gets paid heavily, it does not come without a price. When the company does poorly, he is to blame. Robert Devlin trusts that at least in his company, the division of labor is fair.
Javier Lopez is a poultry factory worker in North Carolina and looks at America's division of labor quite differently. Although Lopez is in our country illegally, he finds a steady employer. Javier is greatly dissatisfied with his work. Although he works very hard, he is paid poorly. The white worker is treated much better and upper management cares little about its workers. In Lopez's mind, the work could be divided out more fairly or management could take certain steps to benefit the employees.
Whether or not ones thinks work is divided up equally in the U.S. depends on the eye of the beholder. A man who owns a company and gets paid well for his labor probably holds the viewpoint that the work is equal down the ladder in the company. The factory worker might think the complete opposite. Although the worker may work harder and for more hours, he does make close to the CEO. Now of course this is appropriate to a certain extent because the leaders and founders of a company should make more. But they should not abuse their workers by paying them less than they deserve. I believe that large companies should take the initiative to reward good, hard work with bonuses and perks.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Richard Florida and His Creating of the Creative Class
Dr. Richard Florida is a man who believes in something called the creative class. The creative class, according to the doctor, is the class which drives the economy and keeps the country ahead socially and technologically. He also believes in another class, the service class. This class basically caters to the upper class and does the unimportant work. It does not take much skill to be in the service class it does to be in the creative class, according to the Dr. Florida.
Florida, in no way, fairly represented the service class. Lecturer Stuart Tannock understands the hardships of being in the service class. He insists that those in the service class do indeed gain a certain lever of expertise and understanding in their specific line of work. Although being a cashier may look simple, it is a high stress, low paying job which not everyone could do. Cashiers, fry cooks, and janitors are all jobs that we might take for granted but also jobs that we most definitely need.
Personal experience sways my agreement with Mr. Tannock. Having been a waiter, I know the stresses the job can bring. Five tables, twenty people, not everyone is cut out for it. I enjoyed my bosses. My supervisor was always very helpful and taught me as much as she could in the two day training period. The job was fun, but hard. You are on your feet constantly, the kitchen is very hot, and people don't like waiting. The main thing I learned was to keep your cool in every situation. You mess up an order, apologize and do your best to fix it. Don't dwell on mistakes and always have a smile on your face. These basic principles I learned as a waiter are principles that I can take to every job throughout my life.
Florida, in no way, fairly represented the service class. Lecturer Stuart Tannock understands the hardships of being in the service class. He insists that those in the service class do indeed gain a certain lever of expertise and understanding in their specific line of work. Although being a cashier may look simple, it is a high stress, low paying job which not everyone could do. Cashiers, fry cooks, and janitors are all jobs that we might take for granted but also jobs that we most definitely need.
Personal experience sways my agreement with Mr. Tannock. Having been a waiter, I know the stresses the job can bring. Five tables, twenty people, not everyone is cut out for it. I enjoyed my bosses. My supervisor was always very helpful and taught me as much as she could in the two day training period. The job was fun, but hard. You are on your feet constantly, the kitchen is very hot, and people don't like waiting. The main thing I learned was to keep your cool in every situation. You mess up an order, apologize and do your best to fix it. Don't dwell on mistakes and always have a smile on your face. These basic principles I learned as a waiter are principles that I can take to every job throughout my life.
Money: America's True Idol
Money is what drives our world today. Those who have money are shown a certain respect. Money is a rare thing that can turn friends into enemies and cause strife between close families. What has turned the power of money into one of the greatest strengths? Has money always controlled the masses as it does today? The answer is no it hasn't. In fact, money was not always the driving force to do work in this country. 
Economics and spiritually do not typically go together. It's a dog eat dog world and men who want to acquire wealth must sometimes step on a few toes. Spiritual matters and making money are two subjects that are very far apart in today's society. However, it has not always been this way. Work and economics greatly coincided with God and spirituality. It was once believed that how successful a man was at his work also determined whether or not he contained spiritual salvation. Work was done for the glory of God, not for monetary gain.
Economics and spiritual values walk two very separate paths today. The majority of people work for the sole purpose of making money. Moral decline has swept our nation and people.The money you make is no longer to be saved, but to be spent. Is this type of attitude good for our nation? I argue that this type of attitude is exactly what has gotten us into the economic climate in which we find ourselves trapped. People borrowing uncontrollably and spending money they do not have caused the 1929 depression along with the recession in 2008. If American's continued to practice the moral standards of their forefathers, it would be a different situation. Because many would work for the glory of God, people would be much more satisfied with their job. Greed and theft would drop rapidly and the nation's economy would not suffer do to unpaid loans and foreclosed homes. Saving should be taught instead of spending and the love of money should not consume every man, woman, and child. I believe that America would be a greater nation if economics and spiritual values were practiced much closer together.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Teaching, Greeting, Driving, and Mothering...
Gig is a unique book that lets everyday workers narrate about their everyday work lives. This particular reading took us into the lives of a Wal-Mart greeter, a UPS truck driver, a second grade teacher, and a mother. Four completely different people talk about four completely different lives.
Mr. Jim Churchman is a Wal-Mart greeter. He is sixty-six years old but very passionate about his job. He views his job as important and appreciated. Although this man is an ex-educator with a doctorate, he views with all seriousness. He looks as his occupation as a calling. His calling to make people feel safe, appreciated, and happy. He lets the readers know his love of Wal-Mart and its employees. He talks about the support his coworkers have given him since his wife was diagnosed with cancer. He goes to work everyday with a smile cause it is so much more to him than just a job.
William Rosario is truck driver for UPS. He makes opinion on UPS very clear and leaves no question to whether he views his occupation as a career or a calling. He compares UPS to the military and talks about how the lower level employees receive zero respect. He sometimes hates his job but admits he likes driving. He admits to stealing packages and being drunk on the job. Although his story is almost humorous, you have to feel sorry for the guy. He goes in every day to a career, not a calling, that he despises.
Elise Klein was a woman whose career was put on hold because of pregnancy. She didn't know that her true calling was only nine months away. Many people don't understand that being a mother is a full-time job within itself. It requires wisdom, patience, and a good attitude. Elise talks about how her career as a freelance graphic designer was cut short because of the children. She soon realized that her children would mean more that a career ever could. She views her job as raising her children as a true calling. She strives to make the kids happy and to always make the best decisions for them. Although she works very hard and tires, she looks at her job in a mostly positive attitude. Yes, it might be long and tedious, but the long term reward of seeing her children grow up outweigh the price of staying home all day long.
Katy Bracken is our final worker. She stumbled into a job that she never thought of for her, teaching. But she soon fell in love with it. Katy moved to the city to dance but took a job at a school and never quite got away from the classroom. She explains that she loves her job and it feels good even when there is a bad student. Although teaching can definitely be a career, I believe she sees her job as a calling. A calling to educate these children and try to instill in them principles that would one day make them better citizens.
Mr. Jim Churchman is a Wal-Mart greeter. He is sixty-six years old but very passionate about his job. He views his job as important and appreciated. Although this man is an ex-educator with a doctorate, he views with all seriousness. He looks as his occupation as a calling. His calling to make people feel safe, appreciated, and happy. He lets the readers know his love of Wal-Mart and its employees. He talks about the support his coworkers have given him since his wife was diagnosed with cancer. He goes to work everyday with a smile cause it is so much more to him than just a job.
William Rosario is truck driver for UPS. He makes opinion on UPS very clear and leaves no question to whether he views his occupation as a career or a calling. He compares UPS to the military and talks about how the lower level employees receive zero respect. He sometimes hates his job but admits he likes driving. He admits to stealing packages and being drunk on the job. Although his story is almost humorous, you have to feel sorry for the guy. He goes in every day to a career, not a calling, that he despises.
Elise Klein was a woman whose career was put on hold because of pregnancy. She didn't know that her true calling was only nine months away. Many people don't understand that being a mother is a full-time job within itself. It requires wisdom, patience, and a good attitude. Elise talks about how her career as a freelance graphic designer was cut short because of the children. She soon realized that her children would mean more that a career ever could. She views her job as raising her children as a true calling. She strives to make the kids happy and to always make the best decisions for them. Although she works very hard and tires, she looks at her job in a mostly positive attitude. Yes, it might be long and tedious, but the long term reward of seeing her children grow up outweigh the price of staying home all day long.
Katy Bracken is our final worker. She stumbled into a job that she never thought of for her, teaching. But she soon fell in love with it. Katy moved to the city to dance but took a job at a school and never quite got away from the classroom. She explains that she loves her job and it feels good even when there is a bad student. Although teaching can definitely be a career, I believe she sees her job as a calling. A calling to educate these children and try to instill in them principles that would one day make them better citizens.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Work:The Outlook of the Dalai Lama and bell hooks
Work. It drives the modern world in which we all live. It is one aspect of life, however, that can be viewed through two drastically different lenses. It can be loved but also hated. It can be treasured by those in search of it, and avoided by those who posses it. Today we find more and more people dissatisfied with their "work." Is there any way to change ones outlook of work from just a "career" to a "calling". The Dalai Lama and bell hooks have a few suggestions.
The Dalai Lama is one of the world's most well known leaders. He is widely known as an expert on peace and wisdom, so surely he can teach how to "love your work." Although the Dalai Lama says work can bring joy, he also stresses it can just as easily bring misery. It is vital for a person to take the necessary steps to make their outlook on work a positive one. The Dalai Lama conveys that it is important to find a purpose in work. "Now, I would think that certain professions, like social workers, teachers, health workers, would see their work as a calling," he says. He goes on to say that other professions might make it difficult to find a higher purpose. He suggests that for those jobs, the higher purpose might be to achieve excellence in the job itself. "And i think that could transform the view from a mere job or career to a calling," the Dalai Lama goes on to say. He suggests not to attempt work with a feeling of jealousy or competition. People with "boring" jobs must see their job as a means to provide comfort for their family. People with small and seemingly insignificant jobs must see their occupation as part of a larger purpose that affects people that they will never see or meet. "...through a little analysis they can realize the indirect benefits to others and be proud of what they do, and have a sense of accomplishment," says the Dalai Lama.
bell hooks, an African-American woman, always felt the cold wind of racism and sexism in the workplace but still maintains the ability to view work in a positive light. bell hooks was raised to believe in the principle of working and being proud of that work. She was taught that there was no "shame" in doing any type of job along with it "was not what you did, but how you did it." She strives that is is important to work with integrity and commitment. Just as the Dalai Lama described, bell hooks discovered that people were most happy when their work was their "calling." hooks conveys that is necessary to find a calling and have the courage to not just work for the money if one was to find true happiness in their work.
As a teenager in today's society, I have not always welcomed work with open arms. I have worked only two real jobs, both having worked for the sole purpose of receiving a paycheck every other week. My feelings on working have varied with jobs. As a waiter, I found more joy in serving and communicating with people than doing tedious and tiresome work on a landscaping crew. Unfortunately, I have never experienced the "calling" that the Dalai Lama and bell hooks describe but I am still searching.
The Dalai Lama is one of the world's most well known leaders. He is widely known as an expert on peace and wisdom, so surely he can teach how to "love your work." Although the Dalai Lama says work can bring joy, he also stresses it can just as easily bring misery. It is vital for a person to take the necessary steps to make their outlook on work a positive one. The Dalai Lama conveys that it is important to find a purpose in work. "Now, I would think that certain professions, like social workers, teachers, health workers, would see their work as a calling," he says. He goes on to say that other professions might make it difficult to find a higher purpose. He suggests that for those jobs, the higher purpose might be to achieve excellence in the job itself. "And i think that could transform the view from a mere job or career to a calling," the Dalai Lama goes on to say. He suggests not to attempt work with a feeling of jealousy or competition. People with "boring" jobs must see their job as a means to provide comfort for their family. People with small and seemingly insignificant jobs must see their occupation as part of a larger purpose that affects people that they will never see or meet. "...through a little analysis they can realize the indirect benefits to others and be proud of what they do, and have a sense of accomplishment," says the Dalai Lama.
bell hooks, an African-American woman, always felt the cold wind of racism and sexism in the workplace but still maintains the ability to view work in a positive light. bell hooks was raised to believe in the principle of working and being proud of that work. She was taught that there was no "shame" in doing any type of job along with it "was not what you did, but how you did it." She strives that is is important to work with integrity and commitment. Just as the Dalai Lama described, bell hooks discovered that people were most happy when their work was their "calling." hooks conveys that is necessary to find a calling and have the courage to not just work for the money if one was to find true happiness in their work.
As a teenager in today's society, I have not always welcomed work with open arms. I have worked only two real jobs, both having worked for the sole purpose of receiving a paycheck every other week. My feelings on working have varied with jobs. As a waiter, I found more joy in serving and communicating with people than doing tedious and tiresome work on a landscaping crew. Unfortunately, I have never experienced the "calling" that the Dalai Lama and bell hooks describe but I am still searching.
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