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Techniques for Developing Speaking Skills
and Fluency
-- Gore Vitthal
In the changing global scenario, English has become the storehouse of knowledge and
the medium of establishing communication across the world. Acquiring English language skills
is the prerequisite for every individual who intends to be a part of the changing global
scenario. As a result, the process of teaching and learning English has focused on the development
of four language skills LSRW (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing). The aim of this
paper is to explain some of the techniques for developing speaking skills and improving
language fluency. The techniques can be used in the higher education pedagogy and in the
training institutions where the focus is laid on employability skills and placements.
© 2010 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Self-Esteem Among Technical Students
During Recession: An Empirical Study
-- B Ravikanth
Is economic recession a time of decreased self-esteem among engineering students?
Many such engineering students, their teachers, and others think so and many industry
professionals recall recession period as a time of increasingly heightened psychological tension
particularly among engineering students in remote colleges of Andhra Pradesh. The purpose of this
study is to understand the self-esteem levels among engineering students during economic
recession. To answer this, the present empirical study was conducted in an established
engineering college in West Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh. The sample size includes those
students who are academically brilliant and are top 15 in the class (N = 75). The Coopersmith
Self-Esteem Inventory Adult Form (CSEI-A), a 58-item self-report questionnaire was used to
measure the level of self-esteem of all respondents. CSEI-A questionnaire was distributed to the
sample size and results of the findings were analyzed. The study examines whether there is
any difference between the self-esteem levels of IT (MCA, CSE and IT branches) and non-IT
students (EEE and ECE branches). The study also examines whether there is any relationship
between the self-esteem levels among Engineering and PG (MCA) students. The results showed
that there is no significant relationship between IT and non-IT students. Also, the results
indicated that there is no significant relationship between self-esteem levels of engineering and PG
students. The results thus cannot be generalized to the entire population of engineering colleges.
However, there is a plenty of scope for further research in finding the causes of low self-esteem and
to establish a methodology to enhance self-esteem levels of the students.
© 2010 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Body Language: Silent Communicator
at the Workplace
-- Daisy N Kurien
The role of body language in communication is pivotal and unquestionable. Body
language comprising of postures, gestures, eye contacts, facial expressions, etc., speaks more than
any content delivered verbally. In today's highly competitive environment, an employee
spends most of his time at workplace. Out of his experience, he practices self-control and keeps
check on his verbal communication. But, body language surpasses all controls and invariably
reveals the bare truth. The interpretations of body language differ and thus they may not
always necessarily convey the real feelings of an individual. Thus being more sensitive to the need
of othersemployer, colleagues, customers, etc.one must improve his/her
nonverbal communication. The implications of body language need to be understood by the employer
as well as the employees. A better understanding of right body language brings success at
workplace and contributes to the growth of the organization. It also opens more avenues of growth
at personal and professional front, for the employees of the organization. This paper aims
at understanding the role of body language and its interpretation at workplace. It is an
attempt to understand nonverbal cues of individuals employed to enhance positivity at the workplace.
© 2010 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Flow, Work Satisfaction and Psychological
Well-Being at the Workplace
-- Ronald J Burke
Two studies examined the relationship between the experience of flow at work and
indicators of satisfaction, engagement and psychological well-being. Data were collected from
211 journalists working in Norway and 224 staff nurses working in Turkish hospitals
using anonymously completed questionnaires. This emphasis on flow was consistent with
emerging trends in both psychology and organizational studies, termed positive psychology or
Positive Organizational Scholarship (POS), respectively, to focus on strengths and excellence
rather than dissatisfaction and pathology. Hierarchical regression analyses, controlling both
personal demographic and work situation characteristics, indicated that flow accounted for
significant increments in explained variance on most work outcome measures. Journalists
indicating higher levels of flow also reported more enjoyment of work, positive effect and feelings of
efficacy; nurses reporting higher levels of flow also indicated three more efficacies, vigor,
dedication, absorption and higher self-rated job performance. Levels of flow however were unrelated
to absenteeism and to most measures of psychological well-being in the journalist sample and
to psychological well-being in the nursing sample. Explanations for the association of flow
with favorable outcomes are offered along with potentially practical implications.
© 2010 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
The Dynamics of Pygmalion Effect
in Organizations
-- S C Poornima and Diwakar Chakraborty
The notion of self-fulfilling prophecy was conceptualized by Robert Merton, a professor
of sociology at Columbia University in 1957 in his work called, "Social Theory and
Social Structure". The magic was certainly involved in the ancient myth from which the idea of
a self-fulfilling prophecy takes its common name, "Pygmalion". The research is carried out
with the belief that "one of the most powerful tools for motivating or influencing performance
of others is communicating your own expectations to them". The study explores the existence
of the Pygmalion effect in the present day organizational context. The research attempts
to understand the effect in a superior subordinate work environment with the possible
contributors to the effect, and arrives at a positive change.
© 2010 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Impact of Leadership on Identifying
Right Organizational Designs for Turbulent Times
-- Christopher Mosley and Sergio Matviuk
Organizations of all sizes, types across various industries are experiencing turbulent forces
of change from the environment in the business world, both nationally and internationally.
We are in an era of global businessa `one world market'. The traditional orientation of
companies working just within national boundaries is declining worldwide. The ability of business
to respond to the newer challenges of globalization requires clarity of vision and
understanding about the behavioral role of management and organizations in this constantly changing
new world (Brake et al., 1995). It is up to the leaders and followers alike to position the
organization to compete and win in the face of increasing external global market pressures. The
expressed purpose of this paper is to add new insights and foresight to an existing body of knowledge
on the role and impact of leaders to identify and implement the right organizational design(s)
to fit the culture, strategy, people, and unique challenges facing each organization.
Equally important this paper is intended to articulate the necessary prerequisites that must be
in place to ensure that the design(s) is sustainable to achieve the desired outcomes for
the organization.
© 2010 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Training Sales Professionals: Challenges
in the 21st Century
-- Venu Gopal Rao
Organizations of today are facing a multitude of problems like increased competition,
shifting customer preferences, changing demand patterns, technological shifts, which have
combined to create a highly complex marketplace. Against such a backdrop, organizations are
facing issues with their manpower, especially the sales force. This function is going through a
difficult phasefirst in terms of understanding the new customer and secondly in estimating
their own preparedness to face the changing realities. Organizations, on their part, have tried
to close in on the divide through regular training interventions. Unfortunately, these
interventions have not kept pace with the changing realities. This paper makes an attempt to put forward
a set of recommendations that may address the concerns and help create better equipped
sales professionals suitable for the
21st century.
© 2010 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
BOOK REVIEW
Go Kiss the World:
Life Lessons for the Young Professional
-- Author : Subroto Bagchi, Reviewed by Rajnandan Patnaik
"Go Kiss the World" were the last words of Subroto
Bagchi's ailing mother to him that eventually became his
guiding principle of life. This book is an extension to the last
words of a willful mother. The author attributes the lessons
learnt from his parents, his upbringing, to the success (and
failures) in his professional life. Coming from a humble
middle-class family of Orissa and going on to become the founder of
one of the most admired Indian Software Services
company, MindTree Consulting, is a life extraordinary.
Through individual reflection over the events that took place in
his forming years, the author draws inspiring lessons for
today's professionals to energize themselves to `lead
extraordinary lives'. Go Kiss the World will be an inspiration to `young
India' and to those who come from small towns, urging them
to recognize and develop their inner strengths, thereby
helping themselves to realize their own, unique potential.
© 2010 IUP. The IUP holds the copyright for the review.
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