Elton Mayos Human Relations School Essays

Elton Mayos Human Relations School Essays Elton Mayos Human Relations School Paper Elton Mayos Human Relations School Paper Non- financial incentives are non-financially related schemes that TK Maxx uses to supplement pay of their employees, and to keep them working for them and not other firms. TK Maxx is aware that pay is not the only factor at work in motivating their recruits, so they invest more money into the employee benefits. These include things like social interaction and praise.  These non-financial incentives can help associates of TK Maxx to achieve their higher needs not of a financial quality, including social and self esteem. Elton Mayos Human Relations School  Taylors ideas were introduced and sometimes they worked and failed. As a result, people thought there must be more to motivation than just money.  Mayo thought that workers are motivated whenever a manager takes a personal interest in them, and in the workers perspective, this admiration is perceived as a complement to them. For example in involving them in the decision making process. Social Factors  For instance, when it came to the planning of the Christmas party, the manager involved all the employees by asking them where they would like the venue to be.  Elton Mayo also thought that firms need to meet the personal satisfaction of their workers; firms need to recognise that employees have personal goals, as well as company goals they want to attain. Therefore, firms should encourage teams of employees to socialise with each other. As a result, TK Maxx organises annually Christmas parties, to enable their associates to meet personal goals such as social esteem, and enable opportunities for social interaction.  With these social factors at work, my productivity levels will be enhanced and due to a greater sense of satisfaction from the workplace. This can also bring about less boredom as the company of others can keep me happy and being involved in the firms decision making process can be rewarding. By gaining social approval from my colleagues during social interaction and a self sense of value in the firm, an associate like me can then climb up to the social esteem step of Maslows Hierarchy of Needs. However, not everyone in TK Maxx will be motivated by being included in the decisions the firm makes.  For example, when it came to planning the venue for a TK Maxx Christmas party for 2007 at a meeting, I did not want to participate because my intentions for joining the TK Maxx team was for a good pay rate and an insight into the latest fashion styles released, rather than seeking social opportunities and responsibilities This can conflict with Mayos Human Relations School concept as I refused to be involved in a TK Maxx decision making process.  Herzbergs Hygiene Factors  As well as motivation factors being at work to enhance workers productivity levels, Herzberg believed that there were hygiene factors incorporated in the mix. What differentiated these factors from motivation factors was that, hygiene factors provided the employees with things that would keep them content in the workplace thereby will become less likely to resign and the firms annual turnover rate can be reduced eventually. These included things such as safe working conditions and adequate rest breaks. Motivation factors according to Herzberg only encourage employees to work to their maximum potential for optimum productivity, such as a promotion and more responsibility i.e. for example, being involved in the firms decision making processes. They do not focus on the employee staying with the firm, but rather the employee working industriously for the firm.  The hygiene factors supplement the motivating factors, so if the hygiene factors of TK Maxx are poor like the cleanliness of the workplace, then their motivating factors like pay would not work. However, according to Taylors Scientific Management theory, employees will only be motivated by earning money, so therefore there would not be a need for hygiene factors to be present in order for employees to be motivated in the workplace. Moreover, Taylors ideas of motivation were introduced in the early twentieth century, and so this theory may not be very relevant to the motivation needs of workers in the twenty-first century. As a result, TK Maxx is a twenty-first century business and they are up to date with what factors are required to motivate their employees. So, they go by this theory by providing hygiene factors such as rest breaks, to keep employees content as well as motivated, which together help the firm to maximise their chances of retaining them and reducing their annual turnover rate.  Rest Breaks  TK Maxx offer all their associates rest breaks for durations that correspond to their shift length. For example, half an hour rest breaks for those who work between four to six hours. These rest breaks motivate me because after a few hours of industrious working, I get exhausted and so my body needs to rest and restore energy with food and drink in order to maintain the high productivity levels. However, if I was not to receive these rest breaks, my performance levels of working will deteriorate because of physiological requirements such as food and drink. Therefore I will be de-motivated and unsatisfied because of lack of opportunity to meet these needs.  Elton Mayos Relay Assembly Test Room Study  The study involved six women assembling telephone equipment. Women in separate rooms worked forty-eight hours a week, including weekends, without tea breaks in rooms identical to where they worked. The study began to introduce and take away rest periods, and also introduced changes to start and finish times as well as changing the hours worked. As a result, productivity levels became high and this may have been due to opportunity for social interaction during work and rest periods. These high levels were maintained even when these conditions were returned to normal. TK Maxx have adopted Elton Mayos concept of giving their associates rest breaks thereby increasing productivity levels.  As a result, I am motivated to maintain high standards of productivity levels in the workplace. In the workplace, I am able to interact with fellow colleagues whilst working and this had led to the development of informal social relationships. In order to maintain the opportunities for social interaction, I have been motivated to maintain the required high levels of productivity to satisfy TK Maxx so that I do not risk losing my job, thereby losing these opportunities for social interaction. For example, I can recall one shift staying an extra hour in work although I was given permission to go home at the end of my shift. However, the social atmosphere among me and my colleagues was so lively that I wanted to stay behind and help them out. As a result, I was under the influence of the Hawthorne effect, where a strong level of social interaction motivated employees for a consistent high level of productivity.  However, other associates in TK Maxx cannot all be motivated by social opportunities, so the motivation concept cannot apply to all employees of the firm. Therefore, TK Maxx has other means of motivating their employees.

Battle of Molino del Rey in the Mexican-American War

Battle of Molino del Rey in the Mexican-American War The Battle of Molino del Rey was fought September 8, 1847, during the Mexican-American War (1846-1848). Having advanced inland from Veracruz and won several victories, Major General Winfield Scotts American army approached Mexico City. Learning of Mexican forces in a mill complex known as the Molino del Rey, Scott ordered an attack to capture the facilities as intelligence suggested they were being used to cast cannon. Moving forward, troops led by  Major General William J. Worth assaulted the Molino del Rey and the nearby Casa de Mata. In the resulting fighting, both positions were captured, but American losses proved high. A somewhat Pyrrhic victory for Scott, no evidence was found that cannon were being manufactured in the facility. Background Though Major General Zachary Taylor had won a series of victories at Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, and Monterrey, President James K. Polk elected to shift the focus of American efforts from northern Mexico to a campaign against Mexico City. Though this was largely due to Polks concerns about Taylors political ambitions, it was also supported by reports that an advance against the enemy capital from the north would be exceptionally difficult. As a result, a new army was created under Major General Winfield Scott and ordered to capture the key port city of Veracruz. Landing on March 9, 1847, Scotts men moved against the city and captured it after a twenty-day siege. Building a major base at Veracruz, Scott began making preparations to advance inland before yellow fever season arrived. Moving inland, Scott routed the Mexicans, led by General Antonio Là ³pez de Santa Anna, at Cerro Gordo the following month. Driving towards Mexico City, he won battles at Contreras and Churubusco in August 1847. Nearing the gates of the city, Scott entered into a truce with Santa Anna in the hopes of ending the war. The subsequent negotiations proved futile and the truce was marred by numerous violations on the part of the Mexicans. Ending the truce in early September, Scott began making preparations for assaulting Mexico City. As this work moved forward, he received word on September 7 that a large Mexican force had occupied the Molino del Rey. The Kings Mill Located southwest of Mexico City, the Molino del Rey (Kings Mill) consisted of a series stone buildings that once had housed flour and gunpowder mills. To the northeast, through some woods, the castle of Chapultepec towered over the area while to the west stood the fortified position of Casa de Mata. Scotts intelligence reports also suggested that the Molino was being used to cast cannon from church bells sent down from the city. As the bulk of his army would not be ready to assault Mexico City for several days, Scott determined to conduct a minor action against the Molino in the meantime. For the operation, he selected Major General William J. Worths division which was located at nearby Tacubaya. Plans Aware of Scotts intentions, Santa Anna ordered five brigades, supported by artillery, to defend the Molino and Casa de Mata. These were overseen by Brigadier Generals Antonio Leon and Francisco Perez. To the west, he stationed around 4,000 cavalry under General Juan Alvarez with the hope of striking the American flank. Forming his men before dawn on September 8, Worth intended to spearhead his attack with a 500-man storming party led by Major George Wright. In the center of his line, Worth placed Colonel James Duncans battery with orders to reduce the Molino and eliminate the enemy artillery. To the right, Brigadier General John Garlands brigade, supported by Hugers Battery, had orders to block potential reinforcements from Chapultepec before striking the Molino from the east. Brigadier General Newman Clarkes brigade (temporarily led by Lieutenant Colonel James S. McIntosh) was directed to move west and assault the Casa de Mata. Armies Commanders United States Major General Winfield ScottMajor General William J. Worth3,500 men Mexico Brigadier General Antonio LeonBrigadier General Francisco Perezapprox. 14,000 men in the area The Attack Begins As the infantry moved forward, a force of 270 dragoons, led by Major Edwin V. Sumner, screened the American left flank. To aid in operation, Scott assigned Brigadier General George Cadwalladers brigade to Worth as a reserve. At 3:00 AM, Worths division began advancing guided by scouts James Mason and James Duncan. Though the Mexican position was strong, it was undermined by the fact that Santa Anna had not placed anyone in overall command of its defense. As American artillery pounded the Molino, Wrights party charged forward. Attacking under heavy fire, they succeeded in overrunning the enemy lines outside the Molino. Turning the Mexican artillery on the defenders, they soon came under heavy counterattacks as the enemy realized that the American force was small (Map). A Bloody Victory In the resulting fighting, the storming party lost eleven of fourteen officers, including Wright. With this thrust faltering, Garlands brigade swept in from the east. In bitter fighting they managed to drive off the Mexicans and secure the Molino. Haven taken this objective, Worth ordered his artillery to shift their fire to the Casa de Mata and directed McIntosh to attack. Advancing, McIntosh quickly found that the Casa was a stone fortress and not an earthen fort as originally believed. Surrounding the Mexican position, the Americans attacked and were repulsed. Briefly withdrawing, the Americans witnessed Mexican troops sortie from the Casa and kill nearby wounded soldiers. With the battle at the Casa de Mata progressing, Worth was alerted to Alvarezs presence to across a ravine to the west. Fire from Duncans guns kept the Mexican cavalry at bay and Sumners small force crossed the ravine to provide further protection. Though artillery fire was slowly reducing the Casa de Mata, Worth directed McIntosh to attack again. In the resulting assault, McIntosh was killed as was his replacement. A third brigade commander was severely wounded. Again falling back, the Americans allowed Duncans guns to do their work and the garrison abandoned the post a short time later. With the Mexican retreat, the battle ended. Aftermath Though it lasted only two hours, the Battle of Molino del Rey proved one of the bloodiest of the conflict. American casualties numbered 116 killed and 671 wounded, including several senior officers. Mexican losses totaled 269 killed as well as approximately 500 wounded and 852 captured. In the wake of the battle, no evidence was found that the Molino del Rey was being used as a cannon foundry. Though Scott ultimately gained little from the Battle of Molino del Rey, it did serve as another blow to the already low Mexican morale. Forming his army over the coming days, Scott attacked Mexico City on September 13. Winning the Battle of Chapultepec, he captured the city and effectively won the war.