Untitled

An exemplary leader is one who is articulate and is very able to handle themselves in any situations. This is a leadership model that is appreciated and immortalized by everyone.

Exemplary leaders display lots of good will and is often seen as one who rids and exposes vices that are there to destroy their good work. A good leader is one who dines with the enemy but through this they are able to establish the enemies attacking point and are able to disarm the enemy before any harm is done.

Leadership Model: Qualities of a Model Leader

Determination

One of the most important leadership qualities and skills is the determination and willpower to be one. If you yourself are not convinced that you can be a good leader, it is going to reflect in the way you carry yourself, in the way you go about your daily activities and also in the way in which you expect the work to get done.

Confidence

A confident leader is a leader with leadership model which should be second nature to him. A confident leader is a person who is determined to do something and simply cannot rest until he is sure that it is indeed completed. So if you lack determination, you cannot think of being a leader.

Communication

Another prime leadership quality for a project manager or any other kind of leader is communication. The very core of leadership involves handling a team of people. It is difficult to attain any kind of success with the team if there is lack of effective communication.

Leadership Model: Traits of a Model Leader

A leader needs to be in a liaison between the team and the next level (read management). You lose leadership with the management and respect of your team if you don’t communicate well with them.

Originality and Creativity

A leader is one who is passionate and determined about doing something. You have to know how to actually do the work and also how to get it done. You need to be creative in finding the best and most appealing ways to get the desired results.

A leader needs to know the most resourceful ways, in terms of cost effectiveness, consumption of available resources, and also suitable allocation of jobs and duties. You must know which method will produce concentrated results and make sure that only those ones are used. And not be afraid to get your own hands dirty if and when required.

Consistency

A good leader is one who is not scared of Small decisions, let alone important ones. You are just available once for a particular job and then you choose your line of interest. As a result, you’re not well versed with any kind of work.

A leader cannot afford to be unsure or doubtful of his decisions. And to achieve this consistency, you need to give yourself the time to gain experience, and consequently expertise. Only then will you be a good leader.

Leadership Model: Expressive Leader

Good leadership models demands that a leader needs to equip them with, expressive stability. Being a leader involves a lot of emotional stress and this can take a toll on you, physically as well as mentally.

 A leader is faced with many situations in which you may begin to question your abilities and ethics. While doing the right thing is up to you, you need to have the emotional stamina to put up with this kind of stress. And this is a strong leadership model!

Leadership abilities can be attained by experience and following the foot steps of abundant leaders in history. Leaders have certain characters and attributes that differentiate them from the others. A person who listens to the grievances of his dependents with patience, and acts rightfully, is capable of becoming a leader.

A leader with strong abilities is one who is confident enough to lay forth his views and can convince people to follow him willingly is a true leader. A good leader is persistent and noble at the same time.

Leadership Abilities: leadership Objectives

Firmness

A leader who is firm should not be confused as stubborn and aggressive. Firmness is required to present your views clearly in front of others to avoid vagueness and misunderstandings. Firmness is a necessary objective when it comes to leadership, on the flip side, you should be liberal enough to consider the expectations of your followers from you.

Optimism

Pessimism has no place in the head of a good leader. Leadership abilities and skills can be garnered when you have an optimistic approach towards everything. Pessimism breeds low self confidence and low self esteem, making you vulnerable to conflicts and disputes with your assistants and associates.

Courage

Courage is something one is either born with or acquires in the face of tremendous adversity. Whatever the case, leadership abilities deems that a leader needs to have tons of courage to stick to his beliefs and face all kinds of opposition in order to inspire the same strength of conviction among his followers.

Leadership Abilities: Strengths of Good Leadership

 A good leader is one who posses leadership abilities which give him an insight of what is to come in the future, while observing what happened in the past so as to lead in quality manner, such strengths define a quality leader. Some of those strengths consist of;

Visionary

Being a visionary is one of the most important features of a good leader. One cannot proceed unless they can foresee better things in life. You need to act wisely in the present and understand how things are going in the society and set strategies accordingly.

Courteous

Leadership is not about being adamant, inflexible and self seeking. Courtesy is one of the most important leadership ability through which respect and humility can be earned. You must appreciate your dependents when they have accomplished something and encourage them in all possible ways.

Decisive

Imbecile character, inability to take right decisions, confused attitude and dependency negate the growth process of an individual. You must be capable of taking right decisions without hesitancy, Possessing good judgmental and power.

Creative

A creative mind can stretch to any limits to introduce new schemes, policies and implement new plans for progress of a society. In this respect you must be a good team worker and should be open to suggestions from your teammates. Your creative skills will be appreciated only when you praise the work of others.

Leadership Abilities: Personality

A charismatic leader is one whose presence inspires, and motivates the rest of your staff. A leader with a good sense of humor and uses the correct wordings to pass across a message is highly regarded; Leadership abilities can be seen in a leader who uses actions to pass across a message, this is a leader with a personality to be admired!

A leader is someone who posses leadership qualifications that makes him lead people be it into a war or just any other aspect in our day to day life, A leader is one who has the ability to stand and talk to a group of angry people and by the time he is through with talking to them, they have all calmed down and ready to implement what the leader has spoken.

A leader is someone who is although not very different from the people they lead, but someone who thinks and reacts differently with the people they lead, courage and ability to think fast on the feet are some characters that make up qualities of a good leader.

Leadership Qualifications: Qualities in a Good Leader

Buoyancy and High regard

Confidence in one self goes along way in becoming a leader, leaders world over are people who are known to confidently make their stand and stick to it as they explain why they have made that stand, A leader who acknowledges that they have made a mistake and apologizes publicly also reinstates confidence in the people they lead.

By obeying themselves and what they stand for also makes the people whom they lead to obey them and follow their say, a leader is one who adheres to rules and regulations that are set to govern people. And by doing this it is easy for them to convince people to do the same.

Walk the Talk

A leader who has leadership qualifications practices what they teach, in order for a leader to instill discipline and integrity among his people he should always follow what they believe as an example to the rest.

In order to reinforce positive morals to the rest a leader should always walk the talk, if a leader speaks passionately about why people shouldn’t smoke then that leader should never ever be caught smoking.

Leadership Qualifications: Committed Leader

Leadership qualifications deem that a leader should be committed to what they aspire to bring out in the community, organization, a committed leader is a passionate leader who will most definitely bring people on board who will embrace and follow his dream. Such a leader should also be ready to;

Be All Ears

 A good leader is one who listens and understands the problems and issues of others. Whether you are able to solve them or suggest a solution, it is a great comfort for a troubled person to have someone understanding his/her problems

Stick to Commitments

Before you commit anything be sure that you’ll be able to fulfill it. If you’re unable to stick to your words, it just shows others that you cannot be relied on. It is wrong when people see their leader someone whom they cannot place their trusts in.

Leadership Qualifications: Consistency of Vision

A leader is someone who is consistent in their ideals and beliefs for others to support and follow them. If you keep postponing between different ideas and keep changing your opinions to suit the environment, then it does terrible things to the confidence of your followers.

A leader is someone who is rock solid about his beliefs and ideals and his focus should be unwavering. Only then will others have confidence in you and adopt your ideals. Leadership qualifications deem one to be confident. Confidence is the best thing and people tend to pick it up from external sources. Be the source!

The Expansion of Nairobi - Thika road involves Widening of University Way to eight lanes from six, four lane fly over across Globe Roundabout, widening of Murang’a road to six lanes, underpass at Pangani, flyover on Muthaiga roundabout and provision of footpaths. The project which is worth 330 million dollars is taking shape and is well on course to be completed in twelve months.

On the Forest road – Museum road – Museum Hill roundabout section, construction works on the Expansion of Nairobi - Thika Road involves widening of Forest road to six lanes from four lanes, widening of Museum Hill road to six lanes, provision of a forked fly-over on Limuru road and provision of footpaths to be used by pedestrians.
The Muthaiga roundabout-Kenyatta university section has been designed as a high-speed highway with limited drive-ins and drive-outs (exits). The improvements on this section of the Expansion of Nairobi - Thika Road include widening of carriageway to eight lanes- (Muthaiga – Kasarani) and six lanes (Kasarani – Kenyatta University). Provision of service roads intermittently, construction of underpasses at Kahawa and Kenyatta University, provision of interchange at GSU roundabout, flyovers at Kasarani and Githurai roundabouts, underpass at former Nakumatt Thika road site, subway at Survey of Kenya and provision of footpaths.
Kenyatta University - Thika section in the Expansion of Nairobi - Thika Road includes widening the carriageway to six lanes up to Juja and maintaining the existing provision of service roads, construction of six lane flyover at Eastern Bypass, intermittent service roads, underpass at Ruiru sports club and at Mang’u High School as well as provision of footpaths.
The widest section in the Expansion of Nairobi - Thika Road, between Muthaiga roundabout and Roysambu, just beyond the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, consists of four express lanes on either side as well as two-lane service roads on each side. Construction on the 50km highway has been going on day in day out and the three Chinese contractors, most commonly known The China WU YI, are within schedule, according to a senior engineer at the Roads ministry who is among those in charge of the Expansion of Nairobi - Thika Road.

Read more in Business Training in Kenya.

For Kenya, the Expansion of Nairobi - Thika Road, which was mainly necessitated by perennial traffic jams, has six projects within it that are being worked on simultaneously. Multiple interviews with engineers at the Ministry of Roads and the contractor in charge of the Expansion of Nairobi - Thika Road, but who are not allowed to give official statements on behalf of the project, also revealed the highway could drive “ordinary matatus” out of the road.

“It is a road that will not accommodate the chaos and traffic indiscipline exhibited by matatu operators,” said the government engineer in charge of the Expansion of Nairobi - Thika Road. Already, Kenya Engineer learnt that a plan is being worked out on how matatus on the highway routes could be phased out and allowed to form a public transport company that will use buses. Such buses will be at various stages (bus stops) at an interval of five to ten minutes.

“The owners, who will be shareholders, will be paid as per the kilometres travelled and not number of trips,” says the highly placed engineer involved in the Expansion of Nairobi - Thika Road. However, he added, this could take several months after the highway is opened.

Business Training in Kenya has more on this topic.

With the superhighway between Nairobi as the capital city of Kenya and Thika, a town at the suburbs, the economy is to get a boost. Furthermore, it will not accommodate the chaos and traffic indiscipline exhibited by matatu operators and thus improves transportation of raw materials and finished products with the Expansion of Nairobi - Thika Road.

Research Skills is a systematic attempt to obtain answers to meaningfully questions about events problems issues or phenomena it involves a critical analysis of existing conclusions or theories with regard to newly discovered facts it’s a continued search for new knowledge and understanding of the world around us.

Purposes of Research in Research Skills

The purposes of research in Research Skills are very important. One of them is to discover new knowledge it involves discovery of new facts correct interpretation and practical application. To describe a phenomena i.e. to answer queries like what? why? where? Research Skills are also important in enabling prediction and also to enable control and to regulate and manipulate phenomena. They also help in enhancing theory development.

Nature of Research in Relation to Research Skill

• Research is logical i.e. entails rational understanding of behavior it goes beyond common sense understanding
• Research is determines i.e. the cause and the effect
• It is general i.e. it deals with observing the overall patter of events it generalizes results of a study to other subjects or groups
• It is specific it specifies its methods of operations and analysis
• Research is interdisciplinary
• It is empirically verifiable i.e. it deals with facts that can be tested
• Research is open to modification i.e. theories and methods can be update in line with
• It applies the scientific methods in the study of problems

 Business Training in Kenya has more information on this topic.

Types of Research in Research Skills

The types of research in Research Skills include;

·         Qualitative research

·         Quantitative research

·         Descriptive research

·         Analytical research

·         Applied research

·         Fundamental research

·         Conceptual research

·         Empirical research

Qualitative research

This is one of the Research Skills that is applicable. This is research that aims to discover the underlying motives of human behavior e.g. why love their mothers and girls love their fathers

Quantitative research

This is based on measurement of quantity or amount applicable to phenomena that can expressed in terms of quantity

 Descriptive research

Descriptive research is another of the Research Skills. This describes the affairs as they resists here the researcher has no control over the variables

 Analytical research

Research Skills also applies in analytical research. Here the researcher uses facts and information already available and analyzes the material in order to make a critical evaluation of the material

Applied research

Aims to find a solution to a problem facing a society or an organization

 Fundamental research

Research Skills in this case is concerned with generalization and formulation of theories

Conceptual research

Related to some abstract ideals and formation of concepts its generally used by philosophers and thinkers to develop ideas

Empirical research

Empirical research in Research Skills relies on experience or observation without regard to theories and systems e.g. test tube babies

 Read more on this topic in Business Training in Kenya.

Conclusion on Research Skills

Research Skills are very important for researchers, students and the general public at large. The types of research are qualitative research, quantitative research, descriptive research, analytical research, applied research, fundamental research, conceptual research and empirical research

The Principles of Trade states that in 1776, Adam Smith in his famous book ‘The wealth of nations’ attacked the mercantilist assumption that trade is a zero-sum game. He argued that countries differ in their abilities to produce goods and service. During this time, England because of its superior manufacturing processes was the world’s most efficient textile manufacture. Due to a combination of favorable climate, good soils, and expertise the French had the world’s most efficient wine industry. England had an absolute advantage in the production of textiles and France in the production of wine.

This principle in the Principles of Trade shows that a country will have an absolute advantage in the production of a commodity in which it is more efficient than other trading countries in its production. According to Adam Smith countries should specialize in the production of goods and services in which they have an absolute advantage and exchange their surplus products, this meant that England would specialize in the production of textiles and France in the production of wine. England would get all the wine in it wanted from France by selling the textiles to France and vice versa.

The basic reasoning was that a country shouldn’t produce goods at home that can be bought at a lower cost from other countries according to smith by specializing in the production of goods in which each country has an absolute advantage; the combined output of the two countries will be higher. By engaging in trade and exchanging the surplus products, consumes in each country would consume more of the product.

The comparative advantage in trade in Principles of Trade explains that Doctor Ricardo expanded on Adam smith’s theory further by explaining what could happen if one of the trading countries had an absolute disadvantage or an absolute advantage in the production of both commodities being traded. According Adam smith’s theory of absolute advantage in Principles of Trade, the country that had an absolute disadvantage in the production of all products would stop local production of the products and import all the goods from other countries. This would create a dangerous dependence foreign goods and services.

 According to Ricardo in his explanation of Principles of Trade, even if a country has an absolute disadvantage in the production of all the products it produces, mutually advantageous trade can still take place if the country specializes in the production of those goods in which its relative disadvantage is less these are the goods products in which it has comparative advantage. This means that the country is comparatively more efficient in the production of those goods in which it has a comparative advantage.

The basic message of this theory is that potential world production is greater with unrestricted free trade than it is with restricted trade. It also implies that consumers in all nations can occur even in countries that lack absolute advantage in the production of any good. In other words, the theory of comparative advantage suggests that trade is a five sum game in which all countries that participate realize economic gains weaknesses or a disadvantage of absolute and comparative advantage theories.

Some of the assumptions that arise in the Principles of Trade are weaknesses. The weaknesses that arise on the assumptions are that;

·         The theories assume that there are only two countries and two products being traded yet in the real world there are many countries and many goods traded.

·         There are no transport costs which are unrealistic because transport costs from a significant fraction in the cost of importing goods.

·         There are no differences in prices of resources in different trading countries; similarly it assumes that exchange rates and their effects are not significant.

·         That there is free mort’s of resources in the production of one product to another within a country, to another. In reality this may not be the case.

·         There is constant return to scale i.e. the specialization in production by trading countries has no effect on the amount of resources required to produce one unit of the product. In most cases both the increasing and diminishing returns to scale occur during production this means that the amount of a resource required to produce a good might decrease or increase as nation specializes in the production of that product.

·         That each country has a fixed stock o resources required to produce a product and that free trade does not change the efficiency with which the country uses its resources. This assumption makes no allowances to ds in technology and the efficiency with which the country uses its resources.

·         That it has no effect on income distribution in the trading countries.

The Principles of Trade are very crucial for any country that wants to move up the economic ladder and become more developed. Thus Principles of Trade are very important.

Industrial Relations in Kenya refer to the regulations that occur in the relationship that exist between an employer and an employee in an organization. It is the study of how employees, employers and the government relate and make decisions which define and shape the employment relationship between employer and employees

·         Industrial Relations in Kenya ease supervision work among the employers.

·         Good relations create a good working environment among the employees.

·         Increases productivity of employees i.e. smooth the work will be done well.

·         It helps both employees and employers know what procedures to follow when there is grievances and conflict

·         Industrial Relations in Kenya enhances the welfare and safeguards the interest of both employers and employers i.e. salaries, compensation.

·         It helps in economic progress of a country.

·         It also leads to smooth collective bargaining in case of dispute solving.

·         Industrial Relations in Kenya help the government in framing and implementing labor laws.

There are six objectives of Industrial Relations in Kenya;

·         Maintaining peace and stability in the industries.

·         They ensure that interests of both parties are secured.

·         To ensure increase in productivity of organization.

·         To enhance industrial democracy-employees are involved in decision making.

·         Enhance collective bargaining.

·         Minimizes or eliminate disputes, strikes, lock outs.

Determinants of good Industrial Relations in Kenya

There are seven factors that influence Industrial Relations in Kenya;

• Economic Conditions,
• Institutional and Political Factors,
• Level of Education and Awareness of Employees,
• Management Styles of Organization,
• Nature of Business,
• Employee Condition and Welfare
• Negotiating Ability of Unions and Management

Economic Conditions

The first determinant of good Industrial Relations in Kenya is economic conditions. Fluctuations in economic conditions may influence industrial relations. During recessions there may be more conflicts as employees demand higher pay and employers are hesitant due to inability of the organization to increase their salaries. However during boom the situation is different because the organization is in position to meet the demands of the employees.

Institutional and Political Factors

This is another determinant of good Industrial Relations in Kenya which include government legislation, politics, trade unions, employer associational and other lobby groups such as human rights commissions that ensure that industrial climate is peaceful. The intervention of the groups or the lack of it influences industrial relations

Level of Education and Awareness of Employees

Level of education and awareness of employees is another determinant of good Industrial Relations in Kenya.The more educated the employees are the more they will make reasonable demands concerning their welfare, conditions of employment and involvement in decision making. It is easier for management to negotiate with more educated employees than less educated ones.

Management Styles in the Organization

Another determinant of Industrial Relations in Kenya is management styles. They may be autocratic, persuasive or convulsive. Other managers may limit industrial democracy thus refusing the participation of employer in decision making. The way management handles employees determines the relations in the organization.

Nature of Business

Nature of Business is yet another determinant of Industrial Relations in Kenya. In some organization employment are not allowed to join unions and in others the number of employees are few to make any significant contribution to union activities. Some employers also don’t join employer association. This reduces the power and strength of trade union and employer association thus affecting industrial association.

Employees’ Condition and Welfare

This is another determinant of Industrial Relations in Kenya. As a result of globalization, various changes take place in organization everyday. If these changes are not implemented well, they may lead to conflict in the organization thus influencing industrial relations.

Negotiating Ability of Unions and Management

The negotiation ability of the two parties affects prevailing relations. If they are armed with concrete facts and are persuasive in their bargaining it will ensure that industrial peace is maintained. This is the last determinant of good Industrial Relations in Kenya.

Read more in Business Training in Kenya.

Economic Conditions, Institutional and Political Factors, Level of Education and Awareness of Employees, Management Styles of Organization, Nature of Business, Employee Condition and Welfare and Negotiating Ability of Unions and Management are the determinants of good Industrial Relations in Kenya.