MANAGING Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words - 1

MANAGING - Essay Example In his works, Foucalt has focused on five major topics, including the following: discourse, power/knowledge, de-centered human subject, body, and micro-politics (Izac, 2014). This paper focuses on the topic of power and knowledge, and analyses how Foucault s view on power and discipline explains the managerial work and management power/roles. Among a wide range of subjects and topics covered in the Foucault’s work, there are three central concerns expressed by the author: power, knowledge, and subjectivity (Townley, 1993). Power is viewed by Foucault as a commodity, which is embodied either in a person, structure, or institution and is held or possessed for achieving individual and/or organizational purposes (Townley, 1993). As Foucault (1981:94) explained, â€Å"power is not something that is acquired, seized, or shared, something one holds on to or allows to slip away†¦rather power is relational; it becomes apparent when it is exercised† (Townley, 1993: 520). This definition gives more insight on how Foucault views power. Moreover, Foucault views power and knowledge as two inseparable and interrelated elements (Izac, 2014). He has coined a term â€Å"power-knowledge† as power and knowledge directly imply one another, whereas power produces knowledge, and knowledge produces power. In Foucault’s point of view, â€Å"knowledge is power† as knowledge provides someone with the power and capability to control, manage and change the socio-political order (Izac, 2014; Foucault, 1980). Furthermore, Foucault explains how organisations and institutions, possessing power impose discipline by defining, creating, normalizing and enforcing knowledge and truth in human society (Izac, 2014). Thus, power attained and supported through knowledge produces our reality, dictates our behaviour, and creates our beliefs about the truth (Foucault 1991, cited in Izac, 2014). In this case, knowledge presupposes and constitute power relations at the

Food industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Food industry - Essay Example The company has made great advances in the production of fast foods through their kitchen prototyping, standardizing, self-serving along with fundamental changes in their marketing demographics (Schlosser, 212). The company has been offering fast foods to various classes of customers who include teenagers and the elderly. The beef department of the company is currently being dominated by immigrants who offer cheap labor in the various branches that the company has opened up across the globe. Through the process of recruiting more cheap workers, the organization has been able to expand their activities while at the same time maximizing their profits (Mankiw, 141). In consolidating their activities, Fast food Nation has been able to acquire many other smaller companies in different countries for the purpose of expanding the scope of their activities (Schlosser, 79). For instance, the company has acquired companies that indulge in packing meat such as Kenny Dobbins along with IBP Inc. T hey have been additionally able to ensure that all the outlets deal with uniform franchises (Kroeger, Vizjak, Moriarity, 89). The Omnivore’s dilemma offers a wide variety of foodstuffs for humans that range from industrial and organic foods and the foods we scavenge for ourselves such as meat products (Pollan, 62). The company manufactures the above meals in an effort to diversify their activities while expanding their activities across national along with international boundaries. They have enjoyed economies of scale with their production costs decreasing over the years as a result of using cheaper forms of labor, the use of technology in their activities and advanced production methods (Mankiw, 132). The company acquires its raw materials from many areas, which implies that they rarely have shortages in their production. The company’s production has however faced problems as a result of animal diseases which affect their production along with the