Sunday, December 29, 2019

Reinforcement Role in Operant and Classical Conditioning

[pic] The Cyprus Institute of Marketing Nicosia Subject: Consumer Behaviour Lecturer: Avgi Avgousti Program: ADBA Words: 1912 Date due:14.12.2012 Name of Student: Elena Kapona Andreou Student Registration Number: CYN/136/11 The concept of reinforcement is very important in the learning of consumer preferences. Explain why and discuss this relation to the Classical and Operant Conditioning Theories. Support your answer with examples. Table of content: Page 1 - introduction Page 2 –about learning Page 3 - classical conditioning Page 4-5 – examples of classical conditioning Page 6-7 – operant conditioning Page 8- about reinforcement and its role in classical and†¦show more content†¦5†¦ But, Evans et al.(2006) states that â€Å"the frequency of occurrence of a specific behaviour is modified by the consequences of the outcome of that behaviour† (p. 62) This approach was called operant or instrumental conditioning and demonstrate that learning can be persuaded or reinforced through positive reinforcers. Solomon et al. (2002) explain that operant conditioning occurs as the individual learns through external stimulus to perform behaviours that create positive feelings and avoid those which produce negative outcomes. At this point, we have to underline the first big difference between classical conditioning and operant or instrumental conditioning. â€Å"While responses in classical conditioning are involuntary and fairly simple, those in instrumental conditioning are made deliberately to obtain a goal and may be more complex. The desired behaviour may be learned over a period of time, as intermediate actions are rewarded in a process called shaping† (Solomon et al. 2002, p. 67) As we will see in the following sections, in the learning process there are three essential factors worth to acknowledge: association, reinforcement and motivation. Association arise by connection in time and place of two events. This is one of the most simpleShow MoreRelatedReinforcement Role in Operant and Classical Conditioning2066 Words   |  9 Pagesof reinforcement is very important in the learning of consumer preferences. Explain why and discuss this relation to the Classical and Operant Conditioning Theories. Support your answer with examples. Table of content: Page 1 - introduction Page 2 –about learning Page 3 - classical conditioning Page 4-5 – examples of classical conditioning Page 6-7 – operant conditioning Page 8- about reinforcement andRead MoreA Study on Operant and Classical Conditioning1477 Words   |  6 PagesOperant and Classical Conditioning Classical conditioning best explains reflective responding that is largely controlled by stimuli preceding the response, while operant conditioning is the kind of learning influenced by stimulus events that follow the responses. (Weiten). In operant conditioning, reinforcement is defined as after the fact. Reinforcement follows a response and increases tendency to make the response. In classical conditioning, the reinforcement comes before the response is madeRead MoreClassical Conditioning And Operant Conditioning1204 Words   |  5 Pagesknown as classical conditioning and operant conditioning. These forms of learning are very practical and can be seen and used in everyday life. Classical and operant conditioning are different forms of learning which have importance in everyday life and can be found in advertising, PTSD, and even lifestyle changes. To fully understand the importance of classical and operant conditioning, it is important to first understand what they are and how they are different. Classical conditioningRead MorePhobias1174 Words   |  5 Pagesdeveloped through operant conditioning and how addictions can be developed through operant conditioning. This essay also examines the distinctions between classical and operant condition and examines â€Å"extinction† as it relates to psychological theory and how extinction is achieved in classical and operant conditioning. Phobias and Addictions Numerous psychologists believe that behaviors are learned through conditioning. These conditionings are known as operant, which is based onRead MoreLearning Experience Paper1290 Words   |  6 Pagesregards to classical conditioning, operant conditioning and cognitive- social learning theory. First of all, I would begin by describing my experience of learning to fear lizards with regards to classical conditioning. To give some context to the situation, I was raised in India where lizards, usually in large numbers, are often found on walls particularly during the summer months. I strongly believe that my fear of lizards can be explained using Pavlov s classical conditioning. Classical conditioningRead MoreThe Application Of Operant Learning909 Words   |  4 PagesJane Tien Thuy Nguyen Professor Shaun Vecera Section 18 Elementary Psychology 05 October 2014 The Application of Operant Learning Operant conditioning and classical conditioning are two completely different forms of learning. Classical conditioning, discovered by Ivan Pavlov, is associated with learning through the process in which one reacts to a neutral stimulus. This process involves matching a neutral stimulus to a stimulus (UCS) that produces an unconditioned response (UCR), or a reflex, forRead MoreSkinner Behavioral Analysis Summary972 Words   |  4 Pagesgenetics. Conditioning According to our text Skinner recognized two forms of Conditioning. One is called classical and the other is operant. In classical conditioning a response is produced in relation to a specific stimulus, so the environment acts on the organism. In operant the organism performs a behavior and the environment responds thereby reinforcing the behavior. Examples of conditioning types: Classical Conditioning – Salivating in response to the smell of food Operant Conditioning - HavingRead More The Science of Psychology Essay1078 Words   |  5 Pagestwo main theories behind learning are Classical Conditioning and Operant Conditioning. Classical conditioning was the first type of learning to be discovered and studied within the behaviorist tradition. The basic assumption of Classical conditioning is that all behavior is learnt by association. It has its roots in Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov’s famous experiment with dogs and is thus also known as †Pavlovian conditioning†. He was successful in making the dogs salivateRead MoreOperant Vs. Classical Conditioning1211 Words   |  5 PagesOperant and Classical Conditioning Tiara Gordon PS 210 Professor Rivera Introduction Operant and Classical conditioning reminds me of the famous controversy, nature vs nurture. It’s like having a pessimistic or optimistic view on learning techniques and how much of the environment or genes influence the two. These learned behaviors have been scrutinized by people alike, some have debated that everything we do from the time we wake up to the time we go to sleep is operant conditioningRead MoreBinge Drinking and How It Applies to the Ottawa Charter888 Words   |  4 PagesClassical conditioning Classical conditioning is a form of basic learning the body automatically responds to a stimulus. One stimulus takes on the properties of another. The Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936) is credited for discovering the basic principles of classical conditioning whilst he was studying digestion in dogs. He developed a technique for collecting dog’s salivary secretions. Pavlov (cited in Eysneck M.W 2009) noticed that the dogs would often start salivating before they

Saturday, December 21, 2019

Sexism, And Gender Inequality - 1938 Words

Growing up I solemnly watched TV for entertainment purposes, never really thinking about some of the reoccurring themes I was seeing. It wasn’t until these past few years, that I have started to notice some, what may seem to be subtle, but actually blatantly obvious trends in the shows I was watching. Sexism, and gender inequality is quite present in many of the shows Americans are watching today, and that is an issue that needs to be addressed. Sexism can be seen in many ways, from minor insults made by characters, to the sexism, and gender binary, to the ratio of female actor, to male. Now, I am not telling you to stop watching or start boycotting some of your favorite shows, but it is good to notice where this popular issue can be†¦show more content†¦First I want to address the idea of gender binary. Gender binary is the classification of gender into two distinct, and opposite, disconnected forms of masculine and feminine. It focuses mainly on the idea of gender roles, and sets up stereotypes specifically for what a male’s life should look like, versus what a female’s life should look like. â€Å"Women’s history is no longer solely a branch of social history. It treats, among other things, electoral politics, economics, intellectual life, and popular culture [as well]†, say the American Historical Association. The constraints set by gender binary can dictate many aspects of a person’s life ranging from expectations of dress, behavior, and careers. When I think of men, there is an association of leadership positions, strength, and masculinity. I have been set up to believe that there are certain standards that men must make, and that women cannot follow any of them. This is very limiting for women, when they are set up to believe that they cannot hold a position of power, pursue a certain career because it is too masculine, or possess certain personality traits. Gender binary has been drilled into our soci ety, and it is seen all throughout women’s life; especially in the workforce. According to Amanda D. Lots’ book, Feminist Studies and Media Culture : REDESIGNING WOMEN : Television after the Network Era, â€Å"as stories about working womenShow MoreRelatedSexism : Gender And Gender Inequality955 Words   |  4 Pages Sexism is a belief that one sex is better, superior, and valuable than the other sex. Sexism creates division in society, diminish productivity, opportunities adds negative treatment against a specific gender. According to merriam-webster dictionary Sexism is define as: unfair treatment of people because of their sex; especially : unfair treatmen of women†. Sexism is most commonly applied against females since women are consider the weaker sex. Men are perceived as the dominant gender over womenRead MoreBiology As A Scapegoat For Gender Inequality And Sexism958 Words   |  4 Pagesused as a scapegoat for gender inequality and sexism. Historically biology and evolution have both been used to excuse gender inequality, sexism, rape, and other gendered practices. For this paper, I am going to focus on three ways that biology has been used to polarize the sexes. Hormones, reproduction, and stereotypes are the topics I will be discussing. They are all topics that have all been disc ussed in the reading and discusses by sociologists who are dealing with gender. According to WebsterRead MoreGender Inequality And Sexism Are Common Social Issues Within Today s Society1856 Words   |  8 Pages Gender inequality and sexism are common social issues within today’s society. I believe for a while now, men were thought of as the stronger sex, thus they were the ones who â€Å"brought home the bacon† while the women stayed at home, taking care of the children and keeping the house neat. Within the workforce as well, I believe men were always thought to be superior; they were the ones getting more frequent promotions and higher salaries, all catering to the idea of â€Å"bringing home the bacon.† InRead MoreThe Burden Of Benevolent Sexism Essay1006 Words   |  5 Pagesdecided to conduct my research on is titled The Burden of Benevolent Sexism: How it contributes to the maintenance of gender inequalities. The article is written and researched by Manuela Barreto and Naomi Ellemers from Leiden University in the Netherlands. The article examines benevolent sexism and how it contributes to the continuation of gender inequalities. It discusses the idea how we are less likely to challenge benevolent sexism due to the fact that we do not see it as a prejudice view or asRead MoreInequality Between Men And Women1315 Words   |  6 Pages Inequality between Men and Women Trisha Stafford American Public University System Mrs. Decter Table of Contents Introduction 3 Defining â€Å"Social Problem† 3 Explaining Sociological Viewpoint 3 Chosen Social Problem Introduction 3 Thesis 3 Defining Sexism 3 Why is it a social problem? 3-4 Statistics 4 Identifying and Defining Four Concepts Related to Sexism 4-5 How is this problem being addressed? 5 Conclusion 6 References†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Read MoreSexism Is The True Hindrance For Female Careers1407 Words   |  6 Pages Even today’s society, gender inequality remains a very controversial topic. One especially debated area is whether or not sexism exists in the workplace. Some argue that sexism is a major deterrent in the careers of women, and is the main reason women are not as prominent in positions of power and thus in our society. Others believe that women choose not to pursue such positions, because of their roles as mothers. However, it is views like this that prevent women from being taken seriously as workersRead MoreThe Mainstream Media And Gender Inequality Essay1517 Words   |  7 Pagesreceived a quite a large amount of media coverage in history, throughout the years, and currently, is gender inequality. Specifically, the issue of women being stereotyped into traditional â€Å"home† roles and not being able to join the work force or, rather, being pressured not to attempt to join. This particular issue has definitely lost much of its ammunition with the breaking of traditio nal gender roles in the past few decades, the successes of women’s movements and the overall national attitudesRead MoreThe Compassionate Sexist, By Ivona Hideg And D. Lance Ferris Examined Benevolent Sexism Essay1249 Words   |  5 Pagesfirst article I reviewed from the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology titled The Compassionate Sexist? How Benevolent Sexism Promotes and Undermines Gender Equality in the Workplace by Ivona Hideg and D. Lance Ferris examined benevolent sexism in the workplace. Benevolent sexism appears to promote gender equality, but it actually undermines it by contributing to gender segregation in the workplace. It contributes to keeping women in positions in which they are underrepresented, and keeps themRead MorePerceptions of the Inferior Gender768 Words   |  3 PagesPerceptions of the Inferior Gender Gender inequality refers to unequal treatment or perceptions of individuals based on their gender. Many women who have encountered discrimination will be the victim of loss of income and loss of opportunity to their own detriment. An alternative to being the target of continuous discrimination is to speak up. I have worked in the IT field for 13 years. I have been sexually harassed, the target of countless gender role discrimination and have experienced the motherhoodRead MoreThe s Concept Of The Mythical Norm By Barbara Perry1200 Words   |  5 PagesPrivilege Iqbal Dhillon - 213516604 York University SOSC 1350- Gender and the Law Julie Dowsett Wednesday, October 22, 2014 Word Count: 1,191 Introduction: This essay will critically analyze the various forms of oppression that are set out through Audrey Lorde’s concept of the â€Å"mythical norm† as discussed by Barbara Perry. Through the â€Å"mythical norm†, it can be seen that oppressions exists through the forms of racism and sexism which are exhibited through many scholarly texts and articles

Friday, December 13, 2019

The Importance of Employee Engagement Free Essays

string(114) " a critical factor that should be considered; it is how people adapt and react to change that makes a difference\." Change is a constant in today? s modern business activity. As Harvard Business School Professor John Kotter wrote in Fujitsu? s `Fit for Change? report, â€Å"the current rate of change within businesses is faster than the rate at which organisations are improving†¦many organisations just can’t keep up with the speed of change. † (www. We will write a custom essay sample on The Importance of Employee Engagement or any similar topic only for you Order Now theinformationdaily. com, 2012). This more and more complex and competitive environment inflicts a greater pressure on the employees; given that the employees are the heart of organisations not approaching them appropriately is one of the main reasons of corporate failure (Argenti, 2009). Although there is not a lot of research done in this field as it is a relatively new concept (Saks, 2006), understanding the importance of employee engagement and implementing a well-developed internal communications plan is crucial for success, especially during change (Dolphin, 1999). The organisation should be guided by experts through all this complexity if it wants to overcome all the tension that originates from the dynamics of change and survive. THE IMPORTANCE OF EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT Many authors claim that an organisation? accomplishments, financial performance and employee outcomes may be predicted by the levels of employee engagement. However, it is surprising that even if it is a logical assumption, it appears that employee engagement is waning and that disengagement among the majority of today? s workforce is costing huge amounts of money to organisations in productivity loss (Saks, 2006). At present, workers are well educated, have greater expectations than those of past generations, and aspire to have a better understanding of the company they work for (Argenti, 2009). According to Argenti (2009), most companies? senior managers exclude lower-level employees from taking part in most decision-making. According to Dolphin (1999), employee communication is too often conducted by in-experienced and junior personnel. Therefore, it could be said that organisations do acknowledge the importance of employee engagement to some degree but are not following an appropriate and effective two-way communication strategy that will engage their staff. ORDER AND CHANGE Every organisation has a culture and identity of its own and these should be consistent, coherent, and clear. When an organisation suffers a big change, it might have the need to acquire a new identity and/or alter or even create a whole new corporate culture (Dolphin, 1999); to be able to direct this change effectively, there must be a well-defined vision. Most of the definitions of vision in this context make reference to an ideal or a future to which the organisational change should lead to (Palmer, Dunfard ; Akin, 2006). Without a firm vision and effective internal communications, the â€Å"changes introduced by managers may seem arbitrary and unneeded†¦ vision helps to motivate staff in working towards the change and engaging in what may appear to be daunting or risky actions† (For Kanter et al. , as cited in Palmer et al. , 2006, p. 245). Sutton and Khan (1986 as cited in Jimmieson et al. , 2004, p. 12) argue that when a deep change is about to happen, workers â€Å"go through a process of sense-making in which they need information to help them establish a sense of prediction and understanding of the situation†. Palmer, Dunfard and Akin (2006) insist in the importance of having their employees well informed about the situation and about what is expected from them, To the extent that the strategic intent is not complemented by clarity as to expected actions, the chances increase employees will fail to convert a change initiative into supporting action at their level of organisation. The Key point here is that the lack of supporting action is not due to overt resistance or even apathy; it is due to the lack of clear understanding of what such supportive action would â€Å"look like. (Palmer et al. , 2006, p. 149) Organisations must therefore aim to achieve a balance between order and change. For instance, they can only operate efficiently if members execute their roles consistently, perform everyday operations, and uphold ordered structures, but they also need to stay open and agile enough to react to and anticipate the fluctuating stresses of today? s changing commercial environment. (Jacobs , 2004, p. 382). Carl Weick (1979, as cited in Jacobs, 2004, p. 82) highlights in his relational perspective the role of communication when dealing with the tension that arouses between these two elements and suggests that organisations are in essence the outcome of communication collaborations. Lewin? s Three Stage Model of Change (Carnall,2007, p. 70) can be used to help the organisation better understand this process. It consists of three stages: 1. Unfreezing. It is related to cultural change. Identifying both present behaviours and required behaviours necessary to achieve the organisation? s mission and common goals and analysing the differences, with the participation of the company? s members, is the first step of â€Å"unfreezing† actual change. 2. Changing/Moving. Identifying the procedures and changes in the structure that will enable the execution of the new behaviours and the implementation and examination of accomplishments. 3. Refreezing. Instilling the new behaviours, attitudes, and values in the group. This is usually done by rewarding new behaviours, carrying out policies, implementing an effective communication, and educating members in order to support the new culture and behavioural principles; commitment to change is attained in this stage. However, as organisations and their environments are ever more uncertain and dynamic, many changes may occur at once and when one area is refreezing another might be unfreezing or moving. This has led Clark and Clegg to believe that `successful management in the future must be based on intelligence and creativity and the capacity to question and learn? â€Å"executives must learn how to combine continual change with the ability to sustain `business as usual? † (1998, as cited in Carnall, 2007, p. 78-79). An organisation is dynamic, it is persistently reinventing itself, and therefore must be monitored constantly. THE RISKS OF CHANGE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF ORGANISATIONAL SUPPORT A possible reason for failure could be that organisations simply do not dedicate enough time or attention to understand the psychology of change. Employees? xperience is a critical factor that should be considered; it is how people adapt and react to change that makes a difference. You read "The Importance of Employee Engagement" in category "Papers" Firstly, changes in an organisation are not linear by nature and thus uncertainty is the most common psychological condition that emerges as a result (Callan et al. , 2004); â€Å"much of what we refer to as resistance to change? is really ‘resistance to uncertainty’ meaning that the resistance originates from the process of dealing and handling change, not from the change itself (Carnall, 2007, p. 3). Secondly, Palmer, Dunfard and Akin (2006) argue that people? perceptions of how they believe that change will affect their personal interests will influence their readiness for it. People have a tendency to support changes that do not seem threatening to their interests and resist those that appear to be harmful. (Palmer et al. , 2006, p. 149). Managers should understand the potential risks of letting employees face changes on their own without a consistent support on behalf of the organisation. Doubt and uncertainty should be dissipated and substituted by safety, and mutual interests should be addressed to avoid feelings of threat. According to Argenti (2009) effective internal communications not only requires facilitating employees with relevant and sincere information but it should also reinforce their belief that they are significant assets to the company and that subsequently their matters are too. Listening to them and allowing their participation in conversations regarding organisational change will keep them â€Å"excited about their work, connected to the company? s vision, and in a position to further goals of the organisation† (Argenti, 2009, p. 84). An example that describes poor attention to how stakeholders react to change (whether they are predisposed to welcome it or reject it from the beginning) is Kodak? s announcement of its reduction in workforce to its staff, and of its dividend cut to its investors. They ignored the importance of setting an adequate strategy to promote a positive response prior to change and this basically resulted in resistance to change from both groups which led t he merger with Compaq Computers a failure (Palmer et al. , 2006, p. 1) REASSURING EFFECTIVENESS IN COMMUNICATION Before any action is taken, the organisation must have a sense of the present effectiveness of its internal communications. Argenti (2009) reveals that an excellent way to measure the effectiveness of its actions is by executing communication audits and systematic temperature checks to discover the employees? attitudes towards the organisation itself, their opinion about the quality of the communications they are getting, and whether the messages are being understood. Once this is done, an internal communication framework can be implemented to work on solutions to any communication deficiencies and satisfy those requests. The Strategic Employee Communication Model and Best-practice Definitions (Appendix A) can be used in a change programme as â€Å"benchmarks against which to measure a company? s employee communication strengths and weaknesses as well as a model of effective change†. According to Barrett (2004), both the model and its different elements were inspired by research done in numerous Fortune 500 companies on what actually works in employee communication. The best companies integrated many of these definitions in their practice scheme. This model links all principal factors involved in employee communication between them and to the company? s manoeuvres and strategy; it analytically breaks down communication into distinguishable and manageable portions and illustrates how interconnected and inter-reliant each portion is when employee communication is placed strategically within the organisation, a must in order to make change feasible. What moves this model from a tactical level to a strategic one is the direct connection to the firm? â€Å"strategic objectives and business planning process plus the overlay of supportive management with on-going assessment of individual and company communication. † (Barrett, 2004, p. 22). An example of a good communication in practice is what CEO Gordon Bethune did in Continental airlines. Every month, he held an open-house in his own office where employees were welcome to go and talk to him ab out any issues, suggestions, or complaints, and in numerous occasions he would go himself to meet the employees at their workplace. This platform for open, informal, and sincere discussion was his trait of leadership. He has been recognised for having significantly improved employee spirit and productivity as well as enhancing the global culture of the firm. This is illustrative of what should be done to have the organisation prepared in the eventuality of change. THE LEARNING ORGANISATION. FROM INDIVIDUALS TO A TEAM In order for the organisation to move as a whole it should behave and act as one. Organisations should provide the ground for individuals to move out of their sense of self, be flexible, and connect with and contribute to the group consciousness. Many authors emphasise the need of creating learning cultures within organisations in order to achieve success during change. â€Å"Teams, not single individuals, are the key to successful organizations of the future and†¦ individuals have to learn in the context of the team† (Appendix B). Hurst (1995, as cited in Carnall,2007, p. 65) for instance exposes that a performance organisation should evolve into a learning organisation when it faces complexity; â€Å"tightly defined tasks, control systems and rigid structures† should be replaced by â€Å"recognition, networks and teams†. His ecocycle model of eight stages points toward renewal through which the company reinvents itself, more explicitly, â€Å"in which people rethink what they seek to achieve, with whom and how, and thereby recreate the organisation†¦ it is certainly a learning process†. The complexity theory can throw some light on this perspective. As Darwin, Johnson and McAuley (2002, cited in Carnall,2007, p. 84) note, the basic idea that lies beneath the relevance of the complexity theory within the literature regarding organisational behaviour is that of a multifaceted adaptive organism described as a coherent network of agents interacting in parallel with no ? command and control framework? and who are ? adaptively intelligent? (Appendix C). This view links to the idea of ? self-organisation? (Carnall,2007, p. 84). Emery (2004, as cited in Carnall, 2007,p. 85) also presents â€Å"an analysis of open-systems theory-based action research as an enabler of learning and change†. She starts off by stating that learning is fundamental for viable change and then argues that practitioners must deal with all individuals at every level of the corporation and all practical areas must be implicated in some kind of practise that will enable them to take part in this learning process. However, she highlights that there are certain obstacles that might get in the way such as certain attitudes of the elite members, fail to use a common language throughout the organisation, and diverse framework and priority schemes. Another issue to tackle is the fact that individuals have different learning rates and they learn in different ways (Carnall, 2007). That is where the role of internal communications plays a significant role. Professional practitioners should be able to identify where communications fail and target unlike audiences with different techniques to be able to engage them appropriately. We therefore can determine that the objective of education in the long-run would be to create a â€Å"strong sense of listening and of responsiveness [that will] permeate(s) the organisation† (Macleod, p. 9) by: -Forming engaging managers that will know how to communicate cultures and values and treat their personnel with respect. As MacLeod ((Macleod, p. 79) ) states in his report, managers who engage â€Å"facilitate and empower rather than control or restrict their staff; they treat their staff with appreciation and respect and show commitment to developing, increasing and rewarding the capabilit ies of those they manage. †. -Giving employees a voice and tools to address management with their concerns. They must feel â€Å"they are listened to and see that their opinions count and make a difference†¦ [And that they are able to] speak out and challenge when appropriate† (Macleod, p. 79) CONCLUSION Employee engagement levels can predict an organisation? s accomplishments and performance as it is claimed by many authors. However, due to today? s complex environment it is more than necessary to build up a strong internal communications strategy. Employees should not be isolated from the organisation as a whole and should be informed and involved in it. The corporate culture should be coherent and the vision should be clear. If organisations fail to communicate all this properly and engage its employees into believing that change is not synonym of threat, resistance will appear. Resistance may lead to a break in the internal homeostasis and the consequences will show up as a failure when trying to move the organisation forward. REFERENCES Argenti, P. (2009) Corporate Communication. 5th ed. Singapore: Mc Graw Hill. Carnall, C. (2007) Managing Change in Organisations. 5th ed. Essex: Prentice-Hall. Dolphin, R. (1999) The Fundamentals of Corporate Communications. Butterworth-Heinemann. Jimmieson, N. t al. (2004) A Longitudinal Study of Employee Adaptation to Organizational Change: The Role of Change-Related Information and Change-Related Self-Ef? cacy. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology , 9 (1), p. 11-27. MacLeod, D. and Clarke, N. (2009) Engaging for Success: enhancing performance through employee engagement. [report] Department for Business Palmer, I. et al. (2006) Managing Organizational Change: A Multiple Perspectives Approach. s. l. : Mc Graw-Hill Saks, A. (2006) Antecedents and Consequences of Employee Engagement. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 21 (7), p. 00-619. www. theinformationdaily. com (2012) Making your organisation fit to change. [online] Available at: http://www. theinformationdaily. com/2012/12/21/making-your-organisation-fit-to-change [Accessed: 4 Mar 2013]. Jacobs, G. (2004) Corporate creative thinking. In: Oliver, S. M. ed. Handbook of corporate communications and public relations. London: Routledge, pp. 382-384. Barrett, D. J. (2004) A best-practice approach to change communication. In: Oliver, S. M. ed. Handbook of corporate communications and public relations. London: Routledge, pp. 22-24. . APPENDICES Appendix A. Figure 2. 1 Strategic employee communication model (Barrett, 2004, p. 23) *Appendix B. Senge? s five disciplines: 1. Systems thinking: everyone must learn how to view things as a whole and that one set of events has impact on others 2. Persona l mastery: ? the discipline of continually clarifying and deepening†¦ personal vision, of focusing†¦ energies, of developing patience, and of seeing reality objectively.? 3. Mental models: ? learning to unearth†¦ internal pictures of the world, to bring them to surface and hold them rigorously to scrutiny? 4. Build a share vision: leadership is the key to creating and communicating the vision†¦ the leader creates vision but is prepared to have it reshaped by others 5. Team learning: teams, not single individuals, are the key to successful organizations of the future and individuals have to learn in the context of the team (Senge, 1990, as cited in Carnall, p. 164) *Appendix C. Darwin, Johnson and McAuley (2002, Carnall, p. 84) describe a multifaceted adaptive organism: 1. It is a network of ? agents? acting in parallel, often interconnected, ways but without any ? ommand and control? framework 2. These agents are ? adaptively intelligent? ; constantly seeking and making sense of patterns, testing ideas, evolving and learning. 3. Change is achieved through learning, evolution and adaptation. 4. Control of the system is dispersed throughout the system. 5. Coherence within the system arises out of competition and cooperation among the agents as they see advantage in alliances and other arrangements for mutual support. This view links to the idea of ? self-organisation?. (Darwin et al, 2002, as cited in Carnall, p. 84) How to cite The Importance of Employee Engagement, Papers