Application of theory in the real world

As you may note I have not written much since mid way through 2007. As the title suggests ideas are great but if they can not be applied in a real world environment they are really just ideas.

I have been personally challenged as an awardee of a great course called www.Leadershipnz.co.nz.

Part of the challenge and change is recognition of my leadership style. My style has a strong emphasis on Servant leadership. (acceptance that when staff members are doing what they enjoy we all win) The dichotomy/tension is that I have employed and released from contract upwards of twenty guys in the last year 06/07. With this in mind I struggle with my conduct(Did I give them enough room to develop) and I also struggle with staff members conduct, were they interested in working with me to help develop a better community.

I have my Dad still as a labourer and another Carpenter on one contract and Myself and my apprentice doing work on a full build contract basis (more profitable). The long-term struggle is that to be profitable overall staff cost to much money. When there is inconsistency in employment staff members are an overhead that you can not afford. The problem I have is that is a social cost to the wider community.

I will document my proposal here on our I can work through this issue: Firstly I have restructured my companies so as I sell my time more effectively as a Project Manager. I price secure and direct contracts. I still own Construction(Carpentry) I would prefer this to be as in the past a pure Labour-only Carpentry team. As a project leader on the jobs I can direct some to Construction Carpentry. This fulfills in me the need for trade training staff members and providing consistant outcomes. But also means I can concentrate on creating wealth via my 27 years of building experience.

By for now I will keep you all updates on progress

Servant Leadership

Robert Greenleaf (1904-1990)

• He lived the phrase "Servant Leadership"
• AT&T for 38 years as Human resources director.
• He wrote a book in 1970 called "The servant as leader"
• He believed for us to lead we need to do it from within current structures if the current structureswill allow us the freedom to explore possible positive changes in our communities: Business associations, schools,local and central government and so forth.

My thoughts

• An individual or organisation who promotes a positive change tends to provide leadership.
• I like Robert Greenleafs explanation of servant leadership:

  "A servant leader is a servant first it begins with a natural feeling that one wants to serve, serve first. Then conscious brings one to aspire to lead. He/She is sharply different to the leader first model perhaps because of the need to assuage an unusual power drive or to acquire material possessions.For such it will be a later choice to serve after leadership is established. The leader first and the servant first a two extreme types. Between them are shadings and blends that are part of the infinite variety of nature. The difference manifests itself taken by the servant first to make sure the other peoples highest needs are taken into consideration. The best test and difficult to administer: Do those served grow as people; do they,while being served,become healthier,wiser,freer,autonomous,more likely to become servants themselves ?And, what is the least privileged in society,will they benefit or will they at least be at least not deprived"
• Often we are passive in our application of choices we are given via our work and in our communities.
• My understanding of the servant leader is that if we see the need for change or the need for positive development in a sphere where we have positive influence. We need to take to that situation with assertiveness.
• Read More at WWW.greenleaf.org

Frederick winslow Taylor (1865-1915)

• Renowned father of scientific management.
• Created time and motion studies.
• Had a passion for helping society be more efficient especially those who were under educated.
• He published a document that potrays alot of exciting theories in 1911. ( the principles of management)
• In the document he encourages Workers, Employers and Shareholders that to develop themselves financially there needs to be a decent pay for a decent days work.
• Workers were prone to be lazy.
• Employers were prone to be negligent of workers by not providing fair conditions and pay for a fair days work.
• Shareholders would invest on a per annum basis meaning companies could not invest for the long-term.
• One of the key supporters of his theories coined "Taylorism"was Henry Ford.
• Taylor made the point during the development of his theory of economics. If you do not share equitably the gains in development it will essentially cause as Adam Smith suggests:"Mental Mutilation" He believes it takes three-four years to create a team with the right attitudes.

Further thoughts about Economic Development

Adam Smith (1723-1790)

• 
  
  
  "An enquiry into the nature and causes of the wealth of nations"his book was written in 1776. He explored seriously the economic development of nations.



• 
  
  
  I believe its core theme is the promotion of "Laissez-faire"economics. The dictionaries explanation of this word is: A doctrine which favours capitalist self interest,competition and natural consumer preferences.

My response

• The motivating factor for me about Adam Smith was his theory related to the splitting up of the tasks involved in making a needle. The outcome of which allowed the needle maker (business owner) to create more needles with the same amount of staff. (therefore more profit)

• Through my eyes Eighteenth century England struggled with its economy. The choices most business' and governments created were not sustainable environmentally nor more importantly socially and economically. People by nature follow their own self interest first then they maybe would think of their wider community (If stimulated by a value system that encourages community). Adam Smith wrote how the division of labour into specailist labour groups would result in "Mental Mutilation" his hope was that the "intervention of the government would prevent this" (what if the government does not have the money neither the management skill to fix this)

• Check it out at www.free-ebooks.net/economy

Why care about our response to this situation?

We believe a lack of emphasis on this issue is like a head in the sand policy.

Current systems tend to rely on the individual to address the issue personally and re-educate and move along the employment chain to become more knowledge based in their skills.

At the heart of our organisation we desire to help clarify local communities/peoples in this development from primary wealth creation to more knowledge based change.

The Economic Development Foundation(NZ) limited ( EDF.NZ)has its emphasis on local grassroots participation.

We have been inspired by certain organisations over the years which do this well. They each bring a different aspect of change to the local communities where they are based. It is the desire of the EDF.NZ to bring these organisations into one community and provide catalyst funding to establish their good work. The outcome of this will promote Poverty reduction and greater positive choices.

I will list the desired organisations below:

1. www.practicalaction.org
2. www.greenleaf.org
3. www.sirolli.com
4. www.jak.se

Each community needs the ability and freedom to create new business's to develop wealth and create infrastructure

e.g. roading,hospitals,airports,education e.t.c.

EDF desires to partner with the above organistions to help develop localised intitiatives.

We believe the issue of Poverty is not only based around the need for great access to currency.

We believe that Poverty is caused in more due to a lack of good positive choices.

There is a strong emphasis in current pre-dominantly western democratic economic circles that to survive economically we need to reduce the emphasis on hands-on employment.(Labourers,Manufacturing,Construction etc). Governments who are lead somewhat by Academia and manipulated by big business promote this mindset. This mindset is promoted via Government led scholarships and policy.

Our opinion is that we need to choose our fights. We (I speak for the top 20 O.E.C.D countries) cannot compete with .30 c an hour for output in the primary industy sector. Our average hourly rate income in the NZ where I live is $19.30 for the primary sector workers.

Economic Development Foundation

Welcome to our "new" blog for the Economic Development Foundation.

Our mission statement is (our action that follows our thought pattern)

"To assist and to serve for greater Social and Economic outcomes"

As a company we will use this blog to clarify and gauge a response to the thought patterns and actions associated with the organisations core mission statement.

We think the internet creates a new kind of community.

We think that all our endevours should be involved in enhancing positive community involvement.

Partnering with the Web community we will only aid our core mission.