Management: Dealing positively with Conflict

     How can we, as a business, deal positively with conflict? The workplace has different teams, agendas, and personalities.  Conflict is inevitable.  Competitions take place, and dynamics are bound to get a little complicated.  How can issues get easily resolved without any repercussions.  A negatively solved problem will ultimately result in retaliation.  Negative, in the sense that the resolution was unnecessary.  Positive, in sense that the resolution was requested.

Forbes business

     Conflict occurs as disagreements over substantive and emotional issues. Substantive means important.  Most emotional issues are important, too.  Conflicts morph into complaints. These complaints will have to be resolved at some point.

     For example, in our society cost of living is as important as anything else. Low pay rate as opposed to another job that would offer more, is a substantive issue.  Low pay rate can be balanced with a variety of fringe benefits. Complaints will arise when the benefits disappear, though. If the two appear in conjunction with one another, there will be a deep concern for employee respect.

     These are some important issues that would have to be resolved in the workplace.  Some emotional issues would include too much bureaucracy, possibly a poor mentoring process, racism, sexual harassment, and any other issue that has emotional attachments. These are issues which have to be resolved at work. There is a wide array of conflicts that occur.

     Modern levels of conflict are functional for performance and creativity.  Too little, or too much conflict becomes dysfunctional. A modern level of conflict would be disagreements over football teams, hair colors, or even political issues. Higher-level conflict are mentioned in the employee guidlines issued by your employers. As mentioned, too little conflict means lots of idle time to play and take part in activities other than work.

     Well taught superiors and managers understand that conflict may be managed through structural approaches that involve changing people, goals, resources, or work arrangements.  People respond to interpersonal conflicts through different combinations of cooperative and assertive behaviors. These two tendencies work together. Being cooperative helps satisfy the others' needs while being assertive helps satisfy your own needs.  

MSN money

     Personal conflict management tactics include avoidance, accommodation, compromise, competition, and collaboration.

     Avoidance-
     Complete withdrawal.  Personal conflict management avoidance tactical withdrawing from a conflict requires little effort from the other party. This tactic is uncooperative and unassertive.  Management withdraws from the situation and remains neutral at all costs. By avoiding the conflict, you, as management, essentially pretend that it never happened.  The conflict doesn’t exist. Some examples of avoidance or withdrawal include pretending there is nothing wrong, stonewalling, or completely shutting down.

     Accommodation-
     Smooth out the problem.  Personal conflict management accommodation tactics are genuinely kind hearted. Management is cooperative, but unassertive. Differences are simply overlooked in order to maintain harmony. Accommodating the other party requires cooperation. You agree to accommodate the other party by acknowledging and accepting employee point of view or suggestion. This tactic might be viewed as letting the other party have its way. While this can lead to making peace and moving forward, it can also lead to the accommodator feeling resentment toward the other party.

     Compromise-
     Each party involved wins a little bit and also loses a little bit.  Compromising is a big step toward conflict resolution. Both courage and consideration are used when both parties look for common ground. You agree to negotiate larger points and let go of the smaller points; this expedites the resolution process. Occasionally, the person compromising might use passive-aggressive tactics to mislead the other party, so beware.

     Competition-
     This is authoritative command. Stand your ground and be courageous. Be cautious with being inconsiderate. Competition requires being uncooperative but assertive. By standing your ground, you are essentially competing with the other party. Management will use anything to ensure that you win the battle. The fact is, a competitive approach offers short term rewards, but in the long term effects can be detrimental to your business.  This is a win-lose competition exercised through authority.

     Collaboration-
     Complete problem solving. Management is cooperative and assertive, simultaneously. Collaboration plays a major role within conflict resolution and requires great courage and much consideration. Collaborating with the other party involves listening to their side, discussing areas of agreement, reviewing goals, and ensuring that all parties understand each other. Collaboration requires thinking creatively to resolve the problem, without concessions. Collaborators are usually admired and well-respected. Everyone wins.

     During a lose-lose conflict nobody wins and the problems were essentially unaffected as a result. In a win-lose conflict, one-party achieves its desired outcome while the other party does not. In a win-win situation there is a favorable outcome by everybody, and everybody benefits.

     Utilize your advanced skills and powerful credentials.  Successfully implement effective conflict resolution techniques. Make resources available.  Appeal to higher goals.  Change the people.  Change the environment.  Use integrating devices.  Provide training.  Also, change rewards systems. Demonstrate that you have what it takes to excel in an executive management role.

Gonbup Comics

Let's peek into Office CHCL3.
Mr. Smith is in deep thought, today.

"This keyboard is so warm.  I should test it for drool resistance.''

Bacteriophages

     "Bacteriophages are viruses that invade bacterial cells.  These phages disrupt bacterial metabolism and cause the bacterium to lyse, or destruct. Phage Therapy is the therapeutic use of lytic bacteriophages to treat pathogenic bacterial infections (http://www.phagetherapycenter.com/pii/PatientServlet?command=static_phagetherapy).

     We can compare the handy work of phages to antibiotics.  Phages kill bacteria.  This function harnesses a wide range of applications which could lead to being a better alternative to antibiotics.

     Phage therapy is also used to treat respiratory infections, such as pneumonia.

     There are different types of respiratory infections.  There are upper and lower body infections. 

     "Acute respiratory infections, ARIs, are classified as upper respiratory tract infections, URIs, or lower respiratory tract infections, LRIs. The upper respiratory tract consists of the airways from the nostrils to the vocal cords in the larynx.  This includes the paranasal sinuses and the middle ear. The lower respiratory tract covers the continuation of the airways from the trachea and bronchi to the bronchioles and the alveoli.

     Upper respiratory tract infection, URI, represents the most common acute illness evaluated in the outpatient setting. URIs range from the common cold—typically a mild, self-limited, catarrhal syndrome of the nasopharynx—to life-threatening illnesses such as epiglottitis (http://emedecine.medscape.com)."

     Phages are beneficial.  Phages do not harm the useful bacteria that live in and on the body.  They are harmless to human beings.   Phages multiply at the site of the infection until there are no more bacteria. Then, they are excreted. They're active against bacteria that have become resistant to antibiotics.

     Individual components of phages, called lysins, can also be used as antibiotic substances.  Phages can be used for combating harmful bacteria in fattening animals and food.  Numerous animal experiments demonstrate the efficacy against different infections. The first studies on humans are taking place.

      Phages multiply as long as bacteria are present.  In some cases, it only takes a few phages in an inaccessible location in the body to bring about healing. It appears that phage therapy is best suited for infected sites such as wounds, where phages can be easily applied.

     Phages could take the place of antibiotics.

Hydrogen Batteries

     Have you ever wondered why you can't get a lot of life out of your battery?

There's variety ways to maximize your battery is potential.

battery conditioning instructions-

-charge your extended battery 8-10 hours every single time you charge it

-keep your smartphone updated

-etc.

     We might not have to worry about battery maximum usage, anymore.

"Hydrogen has drawn backing from big energy companies from Royal Dutch Shell Plc to Uniper SE in addition to carmakers BMW AG and Audi AG. They’re supporting research into how the element can be used to store energy for weeks or even months beyond what lithium-ion batteries can manage."

(https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2017-09-05/better-than-a-battery-big-energy-backs-hydrogen-power-storage)

What are hydrogen fuel cells?

    Hydrogen fuel cells can be found in many different places today. The technology is still developing.  

     Most fuel cell applications have been for demonstration projects. Applications have included small handheld devices, such as cell phones and laptop computers, electric vehicles, from passenger cars to buses, and stationary power for office buildings, hospitals, and other large commercial and institutional facilities. They are particularly useful in indoor warehouses to power forklifts because they don’t emit any noxious fumes. They are also used in remote places where access to a conventional power supply is limited or impossible, such as off-grid home-sites and field weather stations. 

     As of today, fuel cells can be found in the space shuttles, and below the ocean surface in recent submarines.

     Wouldn't it be awesome if we did not have to worry about battery maximum usage?

Gonbup Comics©2017

Joke:

The interviewer:
Everything seems to be okay but I have a question about the relocation on your application. What happened?

The interviewee:
The company relocated, but they didn't tell me where.

Gonbup Comics©2017

Innate Immunity and Immune System Infection

     The immune system is our internal defense.

     There are many potentially dangerous viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens. They occur in the air, in the food, and in the water. There are also cells that abnormally develop into cancer. Our immune system has developed two types of defense against these threats. They are innate immunity and acquired immunity. 

     Let's look at innate immunity.

     Innate immunity is the kind of defense that is mediated by phagocytic (uptake) cells, antimicrobial proteins, the inflammatory response, and natural killer (eliminates tumors and viruses) cells. It is present before exposure to pathogens and is effective from the time of birth.

     The first lines of defense are the external defenses.  Intact skin and mucous membranes form physical barriers that bar the entry of microorganisms and viruses. Mucus produced by cells in these membranes, the low pH (acidic ranging from 3-5) of the skin and stomach, and degradation by lysozyme (emzyme that digests bacterial cell walls) also deter infection by pathogens.

     The second lines of defenses are the internal cellular and chemical defenses. Phagocytic cells (white blood cells) injest microbes that penetrate external innate defenses and help trigger an inflammatory response. Phagocytes attach to their prey via surface receptors that bind to certain structures found on many microorganisms, but not on normal body cells.  Complement proteins, interferons, and other antimicrobial proteins also act against invading microbes. In local inflammation, histamine and other chemicals released from injured cells promote changes in blood vessels that allow fluid, more phagocytes, and antimicrobial proteins to enter the tissues. Although heat and swelling are uncomfortable sensations, the enhanced blood flow and vessel permeability that cause them are critical to innate defense.  Natural killer cells induce the death of virus-infected cancer cells via apoptosis (programmed cell death).

     Invertebrate immune mechanisms are present, also.  Insects defend themselves by mechanisms similar in many respects to vertebrate innate defenses. The insect equivalent to blood, the hemolymph, contains circulating cells called hemocytes. Antimicrobial peptides and phenolooxidase are insect innate immune defenses.

     Defenses in vertebrates can be divided into innate and acquired immunity. If an invading pathogen reaches the body's external innate defenses, various internal innate defenses quickly come into play. The defenses provided by acquired immunity against specific pathogens develop more slowly. Some components of innate immunity also function in acquired immunity.

Internet Entrepreneurship

     Entrepreneurship is a risk-taking behavior that results in the creation of new opportunities. Traditionally, entrepreneurship results in the founding of many small businesses that offer new jobs and other benefits to local economies. The internet provides an additional array of entrepreneurial possibilities for small businesses.

     Statistics via emarketer.com:

-2016- Total Retail Sales globally, $22.049 trillion.

-6.0% increase from 2015.

-Predicted $27 trillion by 2020.

-retail ecommerce sales by 2020, will make up 14.6% of total retail spending.

-2017 retail ecommerce sales of North America will rise 15.6% $423.34 billion.

-North America, the world’s second largest regional ecommerce market, will see consistent double-digit growth through 2020.

(Emarketer.com)

     The new array of entrepreneurial possibilities for small businesses on the internet play a great role in our economy.  Small business is a vital life line in our U.S. economy.  It is important. 

     "The President has committed his days in office to improving the business climate in the U.S., including for small businesses. During his time in office so far, he has signed Executive Orders calling for the rollback of regulations he says are stifling economic and business growth. He also unveiled a tax reform plan that would drop the corporate tax rates to an average of 15 percent(National Small Business Week 2017, President Donald Trump)."

     What constitutes a small business as opposed to a regular business?

     A small business-
has fewer than 500 employees, is independently owned and operated, and does not dominate it's industry.

     It's your time to open a small business.  Most entrepreneurs open a small business for a few key reasons:

1.  Become your own boss.

2.  Control your families future.

3.  Fulfill a dream.

     There are cities primed for startups. They offer the perfect business environment based on a five-year business survival rate, length of the average work week, startups per capita, average growth of business revenues, and average growth in the number of small businesses, industry variety, and entrepreneurship index. 

     These cities, primed for small business, include access to resources such as venture investment per capita, financing accessibility, share of college-educated population, prevalence of investors, high-education assets, human capital availability, and working-age population growth.  Finance rates are great in these cities based on business costs, which include office-space affordability, labor costs, corporate taxes, and cost of living.

 The list of best cities to startup is available, businessinsider.com.

     Dream of opening a franchise, a brand new startup, a lean startup, or an internet business.

     Online franchises are great.

     A franchise-
is when one business owner sells to another the right to operate the same business in another location.

     For example , American Business Systems- franchise.  This franchise has stood 20 years as America's leader in Medical Billing.  It has unparallelled training and support.  Profits have 100k potential.  The employees can work from anywhere.  The opportunity is full-time or part-time. This franchise requires a minimum of $25,990, cash.

     Another online franchise opportunity is, Top Ten Percent.  TTP will let you collect royalties.  They're seeking candidates to become Area Representative Franchisees.  You'll receive 50% of all franchise fees and on-going monthly fees paid by the unit franchisees in your territory.  The hours are passive or on a  part-time basis.  This franchise requires a minimum of $45,000, cash.

     Startups are nice.

     A startup-
is a new temporary Venture that is trying to discover a profitable business model for future success.  

     Checkout Swipe-labs.  This startup company is the social product studio that was acquired by Uber.  Checkout Betterworks, too.  This is a marketing data startup.  Also, checkout Punchbowl, the digital invitations platform.

     Startups are awesome, but have you researched lean startups?

     Lean Startups-
use things like open source software, while staying small and striving to keep operations as simple as possible.  In essence, lean startups spend their time on iteratively building products or services to meet the needs of early customers, the customers that aren't amassed, yet.   Market risks are reduced and it is able to sidestep the need for large amounts of initial project funding.  Expensive product launches are dodged.

     Internet entrepreneurship-
is the use of the internet to pursue an entrepreneurial venture.  There are a few different models.  There is a long list of individuals, though.  You can pass on names from Zimmerman to Zuckerberg (wikipedia.com)

     Internet entrepreneurship through the advertising model-
creates a website attracted to visitors, and then advertisers pay to be displayed on it.

     "An advertising model is the strategic use of an advertising medium, with the goal of reaching a specific target audience. An advertising medium is the type of media or vehicle the advertising is placed on. Understanding the target market helps to create an effective message and helps to determine the appropriate advertising medium. In order for a model to be effective, you must clearly understand the advantages and limitations of each medium (your business.azcentral.com)."

     Internet entrepreneurship through the subscription model.
-website offering value that visitors are willing to pay to view.

     "But along with the increasing success of subscription-based businesses comes the cautionary tale of the failure to adapt. Take, for instance, the decline of movie rental giant Blockbuster. Faced with Netflix’s budding success, Blockbuster failed to recognize the changing needs of the modern consumer. By the time it rolled out its 'no late fee' campaign, the last nail had already been hammered in place. In 2010, just 10 years after the arrival of Netflix, Blockbuster was worth just $24 million with $1.1 billion in losses (entrepreneur.com)."

     Internet entrepreneurship through the intermediary model-
creates a website that collects a fee for bringing buyers and sellers together.  This isn't the most sought after route, but it still exists.

     Internet entrepreneurship through the transaction model-
creates a website to sell something that customers are willing to buy.  There is an endless list of these companies.  Every company that is buying and selling, is partaking of the sort online, too.

     Entrepreneurs create opportunities.  Provide and become part of the the wave of Internet entrepreneurship.  There is long line.  Be prepared to wait.

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