Cutting Edge: Module Assignment

Presented To: Mrs. Shyamala Shankar

From: Vipul Vyas

Cutting Edge – Module Assignment

Q1. What is Integrity? What are the different facets of Integrity?

Integrity is consistency of actions, values, methods, measures,

principles, expectations and outcome. As a holistic concept, it judges the

quality of a system in terms of its ability to achieve its own goals. A

value system's abstraction depth and range of applicable interaction may

also function as significant factors in identifying integrity due to their

congruence or lack of congruence with empirical observation. A value

system may evolve over time while retaining integrity if those who

espouse the values account for and resolve inconsistencies.

Integrity may be seen as the quality of having a sense of honesty and

truthfulness in regard to the motivations for one's actions. The term

"hypocrisy" is used in contrast to integrity for asserting that one part of a

value system demonstrably conflicts with another, and to demand that

the parties holding apparently conflicting values account for the

discrepancy or change their beliefs to improve internal consistency.

If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don’t have integrity,

nothing else matters. -- Alan K. Simpson

Integrity is “comprises the personal inner sense of wholeness deriving

from honesty and consistent uprightness of character.”

That definition comes from the etymological origins of the word

“integrity”. Integrity derives from “integer”, the Latin word for “whole”.

In other words, people who have integrity behave in ways that are

consistent with their stated beliefs and values. They act as one.

Cutting Edge – Module Assignment

Here are some other ways of understanding what this means.

1. Integrity is being seamlessly whole.

2. Integrity is being whole not fractional.

3. Integrity is taking everything – and everyone – as a whole, not

dividing things as “yours” and “mine”, home and work, my idea and

your idea, what I want and what you want.

4. Integrity is the avoidance of deception and expediency.

5. Integrity is being the same person to everyone, whoever they are.

6. Integrity is adherence to one’s convictions.

7. Integrity is maintaining values steadfastly and focusing on what you

believe is right.

8. Integrity is doing what you say you’re going to do; keeping your

promises; being a person of your word.

9. Integrity is not talking about diversity in the company’s press and

having barriers to entry for certain people; not saying you believe in

your people as your greatest asset and refusing some people

opportunities for advancement.

The bottom line when it comes to integrity is that it allows others to trust you. And without trust, you have nothing. Trust is the single most important factor in personal and professional relationships. It is the glue that holds people together. And it is the key to becoming a person of influence.At one time you could assume that others would trust you until you gave them a reason not to. But today with most people, you must prove your trustworthiness first. That’s what makes integrity so important if you want to become a person of influence. Trust comes from others only when you exemplify solid character.It has been said that you don’t really know people until you have observed them when they interact with a child, when the car has a flat tire, when the boss is away, and when they think no one will ever know. But people with integrity never have to worry about that. No matter where they are, whom they are with, or what kind of situation they find themselves in, they are consistent and live by their principles.

Cutting Edge – Module Assignment

Where Does Integrity start in business?

In an effort to build upon a foundation of integrity, the first requirement

would be to establish excellent rapport with clients. Based on many years

of study, the best and most practiced method for achieving rapport is by

way of Relationship Marketing. Just as it sounds, Relationship Marketing

is founded on the single and most critical characteristic, known as

“Integrity.” However, achieving true integrity with clients often leaves

many an entrepreneur bewildered, grasping for techniques and strategies

that guarantee their futures. But integrity is not something that can be

grasped and then simply used. Integrity in its essence must be so ingrained

within the nature of an individual, its company and the team members,

that it remains steadfast no matter what. Without question, others sense it

and find it very attractive.

The 7 Principles of Business Integrity

The following 7 Principles of Business Integrity are the basics of integrity and

a good starting off place to consider. By integrating each of these principles

within a company environment, the result will be nothing short of a major

rebirth of the enterprise.

Principle #1: Recognize that customers/clients want to do business with a

company they can trust; when trust is at the core of a company, it is easy to

recognize. Trust defined is assured reliance on the character, ability, strength,

or truth of a business.

Principle #2: For continuous improvement of a company, the leader of an

organization must be willing to open up to ideas for betterment. Ask for

opinions and feedback from both customers and team members and your

company will continue to grow.

Cutting Edge – Module Assignment

Principle #3: Regardless of the circumstances, do everything in your power to

gain the trust of past customer’s and clients, particularly if something has gone

awry. Do what you can to reclaim any lost business by honouring all

commitments and obligations.

Principle #4: Re-evaluate all print materials including small business

advertising, brochures and other business documents making sure they are

clear, precise and professional; most important make sure they do not

misrepresent or misinterpret.

Principle #5: Remain involved in community-related issues and activities

thereby demonstrating that your business is a responsible community

contributor. In other words, stay involved.

Principle #6: Take a hands-on approach in regard to accounting and record

keeping, not only as a means of gaining a better feel for the progress of your

company, but as a resource for any “questionable “ activities; gaining control

of accounting and record keeping allows you to end any dubious activities

promptly.

Principle #7: Treat others with the utmost of respect. Regardless of

differences, positions, titles, ages, or other types of distinctions, always treat

others with professional respect and courtesy.

Cutting Edge – Module Assignment

Q2. What is Conflict? What are the different ways to build adaptability?

Conflict is actual or perceived opposition of needs, values and interests.

A conflict can be internal (within oneself) or external (between two or

more individuals). Conflict as a concept can help explain many aspects

of social life such as social disagreement, conflicts of interests, and

fights between individuals, groups, or organizations. In political terms,

"conflict" can refer to wars, revolutions or other struggles, which may

involve the use of force as in the term armed conflict. Without proper

social arrangement or resolution, conflicts in social settings can result in

stress or tensions among stakeholders. When an interpersonal conflict

does occur, its effect is often broader than two individuals involved, and

can affect many associate individuals and relationships, in more or less

adverse and sometimes even humorous way.

A clash of interests, values, actions or directions often sparks a conflict.

Conflicts refer to the existence of that clash. Psychologically, a conflict

exists when the reduction of one motivating stimulus involves an

increase in another, so that a new adjustment is demanded. The word is

applicable from the instant that the clash occurs. Even when we say that

there is a potential conflict we are implying that there is already a

conflict of direction even though a clash may not yet have occurred.

Cutting Edge – Module Assignment

Types of Conflict

A conceptual conflict can escalate into a verbal exchange and/or result in

fighting.

Conflict can exist at a variety of levels of analysis:

1. community conflict

2. diplomatic conflict

3. economic conflict

4. emotional conflict

5. environmental resources conflict

6. external conflict

7. group conflict

8. ideological conflict

9. international conflict

10. interpersonal conflict

11. intersocietal conflict

12. intrastate conflict (for example: civil wars, election campaigns)

13. intrapersonal conflict (though this usually just gets delegated out to

psychology)

14. organizational conflict

15. intra-societal conflict

16. military conflict

17. religious-based conflict (for example: Center For Reduction of

Religious-Based

18. Conflict).

19. workplace conflict

20. data conflict

21. relationship conflict

22. racial conflict

Cutting Edge – Module Assignment

Conflicts in these levels may appear "nested" in conflicts residing at

larger levels of analysis. For example, conflict within a work team may

play out the dynamics of a broader conflict in the organization as a

whole. (Theorists have claimed that parties can conceptualize responses

to conflict according to a two-dimensional scheme; concern for one's

own outcomes and concern for the outcomes of the other party. This

scheme leads to the following hypotheses:

High concern for both one's own and the other party's outcomes leads to

attempts to find mutually beneficial solutions.

High concern for one's own outcomes only leads to attempts to "win"

the conflict.

High concern for the other party's outcomes only leads to allowing the

other to "win" the conflict.

No concern for either side's outcomes leads to attempts to avoid the

conflict.

The more difficult type of conflict is when values are the root cause. It is

more likely that a conflict over facts, or assumptions, will be resolved

than one over values. It is extremely difficult to "prove" that a value is

"right" or "correct". In some instances, a group will benefit from the use

of a facilitator or process consultant to help identify the specific type of

conflict. Practitioners of nonviolence have developed many practices to

solve social and political conflicts without resorting to violence or

coercion.

Conflict can arise between several characters and there can be more than

one in a story or plot line. The little plot lines usually enhance the main

conflict.

Conflict also defines as natural disagreement resulting from individuals

or groups that differ in beliefs, attitudes, values or needs. It can also

originate from past rivalries and personality differences. Other causes of

conflict include trying to negotiate before the timing is right or before

needed information is available.

Cutting Edge – Module Assignment

The following are the causes of conflict:

communication failure

personality conflict

value differences

goal differences

methodological differences

substandard performance

lack of cooperation

differences regarding authority

differences regarding responsibility

competition over resources

non-compliance with rules (LO)

Causes

Structural Factors (How the conflict is set up)

Authority Relationships (The boss and employees beneath them)

Common Resources (Sharing the same secretary)

Goal Differences (One person wants production to rise and others want

communication to rise)

Interdependence (A company as a whole can't operate w/o other

departments)

Jurisdictional Ambiguities (Who can discipline whom)

Specialization (The experts in fields)

Status inconsistencies

Need of land, water and food (whole country)

Cutting Edge – Module Assignment

Personal Factors

Communication barriers

Conflict management style

Cultural differences

Emotions

Perception

Personalities

Skills and abilities

Values and Ethics

Conflict can be very destructive in a workplace environment, and dealing

with it is not easy, it is hard to define what causes conflict as every situation

is different in every different workplace.

Communication is a big factor in workplaces, and with good

communication a workplace can work perfectly well, however when there

is a lack of communication a team will crumble, a simple misunderstanding

can lead to a bigger conflict if left unresolved.

Personal Conflict is can also be a big issue in the workplace, personality

clash in the office can be very difficult to deal with and can lead to lots of

other problems, such as your opinions and ideas being ignored and them

making you look foolish in front of your colleagues, this is a very unhealthy

environment to work in and also doesn’t make anyone involved feel very

good and can even result in people wanting to leave.

Conflict in a workplace also does only effect those who are directly

involved it also involves the team within they are working which is why it

is a good idea to get it sorted, nip it in the bud.

Cutting Edge – Module Assignment

Ways of addressing conflict:

Accommodation – surrender one's own needs and wishes to accommodate the

other party.

Avoidance – avoid or postpone conflict by ignoring it, changing the subject,

etc.

Avoidance can be useful as a temporary measure to buy time or as an expedient

means of dealing with very minor, non-recurring conflicts. In more severe

cases, conflict avoidance can involve severing a relationship or leaving a

group.

Collaboration – Work together to find a mutually beneficial solution. While

the grid views collaboration as the only win-win solution to conflict,

collaboration can also be time-intensive and inappropriate when there is not

enough trust, respect or communication among participants for collaboration to

occur.

Compromise – find a middle ground in which each party is partially satisfied.

Competition – assert one's viewpoint at the potential expense of another. It can

be useful when achieving one's objectives outweighs one's concern for the

relationship.

Cutting Edge – Module Assignment

Adaptability

Adaptability is the power, or ability, to adjust one’s self to

circumstances, to make things suitable, or to alter something in order to make it

fit for a new use. No one can live in this complex world of ours without being

faced with many changes and the need for altering plans, however well laid

those plans may be. Adaptability, then, is a highly desirable characteristic, and

one well worth our every effort to cultivate. The person who can easily and

quickly adjust to unexpected situations is equipped with one of the most

important powers possessed by human beings. It is good to have plans and

know what is to be done, and how and when, but it is, perhaps, even more

important to be able to make necessary changes on short notice that will

accomplish the desired result.

Cutting Edge – Module Assignment

Ways to build adaptability:

“Accept the Change,”

“Expand Your Options”

“Take Action”—and offers the attitudes and behaviors you need in order to

move successfully through each phase.

The final section is called “Strengthen Your Adaptability,” which is a process of

noticing what you’ve learned and recording it so you can use it again when

needed—which of course you will because adapting to life is a never- ending

process.

1. Have a positive attitude.

2. Learn to gain acceptance.

3. First impressions mean a lot.

4. Build relationships.

5. Learn to assess and modify your work skills.

6. Learn to join the culture workplace is a family with its own customs and rules.

If you want to succeed, then it's important to be accepted as a valued team

member. That means that you will have to respect and follow the family's rules

and customs. Be alert and be willing to adjust your style and habits to your new

surroundings and not expect or demand the other way around.

7. Learn to understand and play politics. Politics is sometimes seen as an ugly

word. We all believe that success should be based solely on merit. Sometimes we

can get down right indignant on that point. While merit is always important, it is

even more important when viewed within the fabric of the company. Refer to the

stated and unstated policies, protocols and procedures of the company. Watch

and learn. Who has the power? How did they come by it? What can you do to

support and respect that power? The point is to do the very best work you can

and to do it strategically for your success.

Cutting Edge – Module Assignment

8. Learn to understand your role in an organization. One of the biggest stumbling

blocks for first time employees is not understanding their role and mistakenly

spending valuable time doing someone else's work or trying to be the boss. Not

only is this usually unproductive, but nosing in on others' work can be very

frustrating for your co-workers and your boss. The best rule of thumb is to start

by truly understanding your job and being the very best at it. Once you are

exceptional, others will come to you for advice and advancement will follow.

9. Learn to understand your role with your boss. My job is to do my work the

best that I can and to support and be loyal to my boss. If I can keep my eyes

focused on that, I'm sure to succeed. Interestingly, later on in my career I had a

boss that I didn't agree with as often as I should have. But during this experience,

I learned much more about leadership and achievement than from some of my

bosses with whom I always agreed.

10. Learn to listen. This tip is a huge life lesson tip as well. It is also one of my

lifelong challenges. Sometimes it's very hard to hear criticism or complaints, but

if you can swallow your pride and really listen to what people are saying, you

can use this information and have some of the most incredible successes at work

and in life. Good listening often requires taking notes, asking clarifying

questions, and at the end repeating the message to the speaker to make sure you

not only heard -- but also understood -- the real message.

Cutting Edge – Module Assignment

Today’s organizations are characterized by changing, dynamic

environments in which the need for adaptive workers has become

increasingly important. Although adaptability is not a new concept, the

pace and types of change we are experiencing only continues to grow,

which has caused research sponsors, academic researchers, and

practitioners in organizations to become increasingly interested in

understanding and enhancing adaptability in the workplace. For example,

changing technologies and automation continue to alter the nature of work

tasks requiring employees to learn new ways to perform their jobs.

Mergers, “rightsizing,” and corporate restructuring also require

individuals to learn new skills to be competitive for different jobs. In a

global economy, many jobs require individuals to learn to operate

effectively in a variety of different countries and with individuals who

possess different values and orientations than themselves. Workers need

to be increasingly adaptable, versatile, and tolerant of uncertainty to

operate effectively in these changing and varied environments. Yet,

adaptability, flexibility, and versatility are elusive concepts that have not

been well defined in the psychological literature and are therefore difficult

to measure, predict, and train effectively.

Cutting Edge – Module Assignment

Q3. Reading Jonathan Livingston Seagull – Richard Bach.Give the summary of the Book and write what they have learnt from reading this novel.

The theme and the message from the book are about self-perfection,

self-sacrifice and individuality.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull is a book about a very independent bird, who

dared to question what was being taught and told to him by the elders. He

didn't just want to spend his days searching for food and hanging out doing

what was expected of him - he was different, and dared to dream. He spent

his days learning to fly faster and better than any other gull in the flock. He

learned from all of his searching and trying that he could do anything, if he

wanted it badly enough and just went for it, even to the point of becoming

an outcast. At one point in time, in so learning and perfecting his craft, he

crash landed and died, going onto a higher lever of his awareness, to learn

more lessons from his guide, Fletcher. He continues through the story,

becoming more and more proficient in his endeavours and in turn becomes

a teacher/guide to others, becoming a kind and loving soul along the way.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull is a bird who wants nothing more than to fly.

Raised in a group of gulls that saw flying as only a means to an end,

Jonathan challenged their way of life by believing that flying could be about

more than transportation or getting food... it could be about joy and

happiness and freedom. When told he was irresponsible for trying exceed

his expectations Jonathan replied: "Who is more responsible than a gull

who finds and follows a meaning, a higher purpose for life? For a thousand

years we have scrabbled after fish heads -- and now we have a reason to live

-- to learn, to discover, to be free!"

Cutting Edge – Module Assignment

An outcast from his flock, Jonathan took his exile with a grain of salt,

finding joy in his love for flight and his constant desperate desire to grow

and to learn. He pushes himself to the breaking point and is never satisfied

enough with his knowledge and never tires of the quest to obtain more.

Bach gives us a character that stands alone with his ideas and beliefs and is

rewarded for his patience and courage. The second half of the book shows

Jonathan learning so much that he transcends his earthly form into a higher

plane of being. Here, Jonathan is met with other gulls who like him, strive

for excellence and do not see flying as a means to an end, but simply love to

fly for the sake of loving it. This part begins to reflect a bit of the Buddhist

mindset about heaven and a universal knowledge which can seem a bit

confusing at first. Jonathan finally returns to his flock on Earth to try for

better or worse to show that there is more to life than what they are striving

for.

This is a fable about the importance of making the most of our lives, even if

our goals run contrary to the norms of our flock, tribe or neighbourhood.

Through the metaphor of flight, \ Jonathan’s story shows us that, if we

follow our dreams, we too can soar.

Amazing inspiring story of seagulls. It tells us nothing is impossible in this

world. You just have to have the desire to achieve it.

Cutting Edge – Module Assignment