4 homework assignment

ASSIGNMENT 1.Motivation  Collapse         
For this assignment, once again you can either use a real life example or an example from television.
Describe a situation or work environment where you have seen/experienced either good motivation or bad motivation. Explain what management or the company did right or wrong and how it could be improved or why it was already good. You can also simply make up a hypothetical situation and how you would choose to motivate (for example you could say: If I owned a small restaurant, I would motivate my employees by…. [then discuss your approach for motivation])

ASSIGNMENT 2.Part of a sociological analysis of groups includes the ways in which groups impact individuals. This includes influencing individuals to conform. There are different reasons why a person might go along with a group. For example: 
1. The person might go along with the group because they believe in what the group does.
2. The person might go along with the group because they seek a reward for conforming or they seek to avoid a punishment for not conforming. 
The following video on the Asch Experiment demonstrates both of these. If you have facebook (I can’t seem to find it not on facebook), you can also watch this comical video on group conformity. 
For this reflection journal, I want you to think about the ways in which the groups you participate (or not, note reference groups) influence your behavior. Identify the types of groups (ex: primary, secondary, in-groups, reference, etc) and specific examples of how they influence your behavior. Then, for each example, explain why you’ve gone along with the group. 
**There is no minimum number of examples needed, just be sure you are write at least 500 words. 

ASSIGNMENT 3.Who Am I? 
 
Part I: Twenty Statements Test
Write down twenty different responses to the question “Who am I?” (Ex. I am…) Don’t worry about evaluating the logic or importance of your responses- just write the answers in the order they occur to you. Give yourself five minutes to complete this work. 
Part II: Analysis
Rate each one according to the four categories listed below. Evaluate, to the best of your ability, which responses fall into the A-mode, B-mode, C-mode, and D-mode categories.
A-mode responses are the type of physical characteristics found on your driver’s license: “I am a blond”; “I am short”; “I am a Wisconsin resident.”
B-mode responses describe socially defined statuses usually associated with group membership of some sort: “I am a college student”; “I am a Catholic”; “I am an African American.”
C-mode responses describe styles of behavior or emotional states: “I am a happy person”; “I am a country music fan”; “I am a fashionable dresser.”
D-mode responses are more general than individual: “I am part of the universe”; “I am a human being.” 
Part III: Evaluation
It’s predicted that even if you yourself gave more B-mode responses, the predominant mode in your classroom is C. Those with more B-mode responses base their self-concept on group membership and institutional roles. Those with more C-mode responses see themselves as more independent and define themselves according to their individual actions and emotions rather than their connections to others. It is likely that there are a few (if any) people whose responses fall predominantly in the A or D mode. Those with more A-mode responses may feel that they have a “skin deep” self-concept, based more on their appearance to others than on their internal qualities. Those with more D-mode responses are harder to categorize and may feel uncertain about the source of their sense of self. 
The primary characteristics of the C-mode, or “impulsive,” self (Turner 1976) are the pursuit of individual satisfaction, an orientation toward the present, and a sense that the individual should not be linked to others and that group obligations inhibit individual expression. The primary characteristics of the B-mode, or “institutional,” self are a willingness to adhere to group standards and to accept group obligations as well as an orientation toward the future and a sense that the individual is linked to others. 
Zurcher and Turner worried that a society full of self-interested (and even selfish), impulsive individuals might no longer care about the common good and would only work to satisfy their own needs. What do you think are the consequences for a society overwhelmingly populated by B-mode or C-mode personality types? (Your response should be at least a paragraph long)

ASSIGNMENT 4.In Chapter 6 the theories of Weber and  Ritzer as they relate to bureaucracies are introduced and examined. While Weber thought efficiency was a critical outcome of bureaucratic rationalization, he also was critical that it leads to things like disenchantment and dehumanization. He also argued that sometimes the rules and regulations governing bureaucracies led them to be more inefficient. This Dilbert Cartoon demonstrates this concept nicely.

Ritzer expanded upon Weber’s theories, applying them to a globalizing world dominated by the principles of the fast food industry (namely McDonald’s). He too is critical of this bureaucratic rationalization contributing to disenchantment and dehumanization. Here’s a short clip to illustrate his points (and in the spirit of Halloween has somewhat of an old horror movie villain’s voice).  
For this discussion, I want you to describe the worst job you’ve had (you can also use an example from someone you know if you’d prefer that). Describe what made it so horrible (you do not need to identify the company). Then examine how the characteristics of bureaucracy contributed to making it a horrible job (be sure to refer to Weber’s ideal type on page 163 as well as the lecture video where I expand upon this). Note: you MUST be able to attribute at least some of your feelings about the job to bureaucratic structure and organization. Then watch this video on a new corporate model at Zappo’s. Discuss how Zappo’s is addressing some of the bureaucratic constraints noted by Weber and Ritzer. Laslty, discuss how can we benefit from bureaucracies without being controlled by them. 
In your response be sure to do the following: 
1. Respond fully to the ALL the questions asked.
2. Reference your textbook in your response.
3. Respond to a fellow classmate.
4. Make each post at least 150 words in length.
5. Post on at least 2 separate days.