What is the Sociology of Knowledge

The sociology of knowledge is a subfield within the discipline of sociology in which researchers and theorists focus on knowledge and knowing as socially grounded processes, and how, therefore, knowledge is understood to be a social production. Given this understanding, knowledge and knowing are contextual, shaped by interaction between people, and fundamentally shaped by one’s social location in society, in terms of race, class, gender, sexuality, nationality, culture, religion, etc.—what sociologists refer to as â€Å"positionality,† and the ideologies that frame one’s life. Impact of Social Institutions As socially situated activities, knowledge and knowing are made possible by and shaped by the social organization of a community or society. Social institutions, like education, family, religion, media, and scientific and medical establishments, play fundamental roles in knowledge production. Institutionally produced knowledge tends to be valued more highly in society than popular knowledge, which means that hierarchies of knowledge exist wherein the knowledge and ways of knowing of some are considered more accurate and valid than others. These distinctions often have to do with discourse, or the ways of speaking and writing that are used to express one’s knowledge. For this reason, knowledge and power are considered intimately related, as there is power within the knowledge creation process, power in the hierarchy of knowledge, and especially, power in creating knowledge about others and their communities. In this context, all knowledge is political, and the processes of know ledge formation and of knowing have sweeping implications in a variety of ways. Prominent Research Areas Research topics within the sociology of knowledge include and are not limited to: The processes by which people come to know the world, and the implications of these processesThe role of the economy and consumer goods in shaping knowledge formationThe effects of type of media or mode of communication on knowledge production, dissemination, and knowingThe political, economic, social, and environmental implications of hierarchies of knowledge and knowingThe relationship between power, knowledge, and inequality and injustice (i.e., racism, sexism, homophobia, ethnocentrism, xenophobia, etc.)Formation and spread of popular knowledge that is not institutionally framedThe political power of common sense, and the connections between knowledge and social orderThe connections between knowledge and social movements for change Theoretical Influences Interest in the social function and implications of knowledge and knowing exist in the early theoretical work of Karl Marx, Max Weber, and Émile Durkheim, as well as that of many other philosophers and scholars from around the world, but the subfield began to congeal as such after Karl Mannheim, a Hungarian sociologist, published Ideology and Utopia in 1936. Mannheim systematically tore down the idea of objective academic knowledge and advanced the idea that one’s intellectual point of view is inherently connected to one’s social position. He argued that truth is something that only exists relationally, because thought occurs in a social context, and is embedded in the values and social position of the thinking subject. He wrote, â€Å"The task of the study of ideology, which tries to be free from value-judgments, is to understand the narrowness of each individual point of view and the interplay between these distinctive attitudes in the total social process.† By plainly stating these observations, Mannheim spurred a century of theorizing and research in this vein, and effectively founded the sociology of knowledge. Writing simultaneously, journalist and political activist Antonio Gramsci made very important contributions to the subfield. Of intellectuals and their role in reproducing the power and domination of the ruling class, Gramsci argued that claims of objectivity are politically loaded claims and that intellectuals, though typically considered autonomous thinkers, produced knowledge reflective of their class positions. Given that most came from or aspired to the ruling class, Gramsci viewed intellectuals as key to the maintenance of rule through ideas and common sense, and wrote, â€Å"The intellectuals are the dominant group’s ‘deputies’ exercising the subaltern functions of social hegemony and political government.† French social theorist Michel Foucault made significant contributions to the sociology of knowledge in the late twentieth century. Much of his writing focused on the role of institutions, like medicine and prison, in producing knowledge about people, especially those considered â€Å"deviant.† Foucault theorized the way institutions produce discourses that are used to create subject and object categories that place people within a social hierarchy. These categories and the hierarchies they compose emerge from and reproduce social structures of power. He asserted that to represent others through the creation of categories is a form of power. Foucault maintained that no knowledge is neutral, it is all tied to power and is thus political. In 1978, Edward Said, a Palestinian American critical theorist and postcolonial scholar, published Orientalism. This book is about the relationships between the academic institution and the power dynamics of colonialism, identity, and racism. Said used historical texts, letters, and news accounts of members of Western empires to show how they effectively created â€Å"the Orient† as a category of knowledge. He defined â€Å"Orientalism,† or the practice of studying â€Å"the Orient,† as â€Å"the corporate institution for dealing with the Orient—dealing with it by making statements about it, authorizing view of it, describing it, by teaching it, settling it, ruling over it: in short, Orientalism as a Western style for dominating, restructuring, and having authority over the Orient.† Said argued that Orientalism and the concept of â€Å"the Orient† were fundamental to the creation of a Western subject and identity, juxtaposed against the Orien tal other, that was framed as superior in intellect, ways of life, social organization, and thus, entitled to rule and resources. This work emphasized the power structures that shape and are reproduced by knowledge and is still widely taught and applicable in understanding relationships between the global East and West and North and South today. Other influential scholars in the history of the sociology of knowledge include Marcel Mauss, Max Scheler, Alfred Schà ¼tz, Edmund Husserl, Robert K. Merton, and Peter L. Berger and Thomas Luckmann (The Social Construction of Reality). Notable Contemporary Works Patricia Hill Collins, â€Å"Learning from the outsider within: the sociological significance of black feminist thought.† Social Problems, 33(6): 14-32; Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness, and the Politics of Empowerment. Routledge, 1990Chandra Mohanty, â€Å"Under western eyes: feminist scholarship and colonial discourses.† Pp. 17-42 in Feminism without borders: decolonizing theory, practicing solidarity. Duke University Press, 2003.Ann Swidler and Jorge Arditi. 1994. â€Å"The new sociology of knowledge.† Annual review of sociology, 20: 305-329.

Risk Management Techniques For Construction Projects

Construction industry is a risky and there is no other industry that requires proper application of business practices as much as construction industry. The main objective of this research is to gain understanding of risk factors faced by building projects. The study also aims to investigate the effectiveness of risk preventive and imitative methods. From this Research paper, we can find the most important risk factors are: financial failure of the contractor, Environmental risk like natural disasters, closure, defective design and delayed payments on contract. On the other hand, owner respondents concluded that the most important risk are: awarding the design to unqualified designer, defective design, occurrence of accidents, increase in material cost and inaccurate quantities. Research Paper on Risk Management Techniques for Construction Project These are the 7 types of the risks that are mainly occurs in the construction projects in the real world.1.Technical Risks: Incomplete Design, Inadequate specification, inadequate site investigation, Change in scope Construction procedures, insufficient resource availability 2. Construction Risks: Labor productivity, Labor disputes, Site condition, Equipment failures, Design changes, too high quality standard and new technology 3. Physical Risks: Damage to structure, Damage to equipment, Labor injuries, Equipment and material fire and theft 4. Organizational Risks Contractual relations, Contractor’s experience, AttitudesShow MoreRelatedRisk Management Techniques For Construction Project1280 Words   |  6 Pages Research Paper on Risk Management Techniques for Construction Project Pariekshit Guttikonda Lawrence Technological University Abstract Construction is a risky industry and there is no other industry that requires proper application of business practices much as construction industry. The main objective of this research is to gain understanding of risk factors faced by building projects. The study also aims to investigate the effectiveness of risk preventive and imitative methods. From thisRead MoreRisk Management Techniques For Construction Projects1206 Words   |  5 PagesResearch Paper on Risk Management Techniques for Construction Project These are the 7 types of the risks that are mainly occurring in construction projects in the real world in most kind of construction projects. 1. Technical Risks: Incomplete Design, Inadequate specification, inadequate site investigation, Change in scope Construction procedures, insufficient resource availability. 2. Construction Risks: Labor productivity, Labor disputes, Site condition, Equipment failures, Design changes, tooRead MoreRisks in a Home Building Project1486 Words   |  6 Pagesof Risks Associated With Estimating a Home Building Project Michael T Bell PMAN 637 Originality Score 6% A Review of Risks Associated With Estimating a Home Building Project Introduction In building and construction, there are risks associated with estimating a home building project. These risks in construction are all the same across the board regardless the construction. Therefore, a home building projects is confronted with the same risks asRead MoreImproving The Quality Of The Delivered Project By Utilizing Quality Planning Technique During The Construction Industry1685 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction: The construction industry is considered as one of the most complicated industry in the world. Different problem could be raised during the construction process starting from the bidding phase and ending with close out phase. During that time, the construction managers will be responsible to take many of the critical decisions to minimize the influence of a specific event. Quality in the construction industry occupying a high priority among other characteristics. In fact, providing theRead MoreEffectiveness Of Risk Identification And Analysis Of Construction Projects Of Mumbai City Of Multi Storeyed Building Essay929 Words   |  4 PagesAbstract – Risk is present in all projects irrespective of their size or sector. If risks are not properly analyzed and strategies are not developed to deal with them, the project is likely to lead to failures. Therefore, special strategies and processes should be established during the initial phases of the project and also monitored througho ut the project life cycle. There are different techniques of risk identification and analysis in construction projects. Applicability of various risk assessmentRead MoreA Report On The Construction Sector Essay1321 Words   |  6 PagesINTRODUCTION: The construction sector is the fifth largest sector in the New Zealand economy, employing more than 170,000 people. This makes up 7.6% of the labour force. It engendered 6.3% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2010. (New zealand sector report, 2013) There is a lot going on in the construction management space, which has been poorly addressed in New Zealand until recently. (Pieter, 2011) High level of complexity is also involved in construction projects, which exposes this sector toRead MoreObjectives: Fixing The Objective Is Like Identifying The856 Words   |  4 Pageseffectiveness of the Project Management to complete project time. 2. To find the role of project management in the success of construction companies. 3. To find the scope of project management to reduce the cost of the raw material in the ongoing building project. The study on role of project management in construction industry is to execute a project so that deliverables can meet scope requirements on budget Intro:Construction Management is not a new idea. The function of the Construction Manager is toRead MoreRisks Associated With Construction Project And Different Risk Mitigation Techniques1573 Words   |  7 PagesConstruction projects are characterized as v ery complex projects, where uncertainty comes from various sources. This paper deals with the identification of risk by different methods, types of risks associated with construction project and different risk mitigation techniques. In the construction industry, risk is often referred to as the presence of potential or actual threats or opportunities that influence the objectives of a project during construction, commissioning, or at time of use. Risk isRead MoreRisk Management For Construction Projects1095 Words   |  5 Pagesoverall aim of this study report is to let everyone know what risk management is, realize the procedure of risk management in construction project and have a deeper study on the application of risk management during construction period, therefore, a better project output and better value for both clients and constructors. There are two objectives of this study: 1. To assess the most major and common risks which cause bad effect on construction period. 2. To figure out reasonable solutions. On the basisRead MoreRefurbishment Of Broron Oil And Gas Limited Three Storey Building1675 Words   |  7 Pagesstandard office apartment for boron oil and gas limited. The scope of this project is to design and construct and appropriate office structures. Which involves different stages of work in these projects? Our task involves †¢ Planning a risk management plan †¢ Creating a risk register and a risk response plan. †¢ Identifying possible risk project and procurement strategy. †¢ Undertaking qualitative and quantitative risk analysis. †¢ Risk tracking and monitor control. CHAPTER2: BACKGROUND The overview System Risk Management Techniques For Construction Projects Research Paper on Risk Management Techniques for Construction Project These are the 7 types of the risks that are mainly occurring in construction projects in the real world in most kind of construction projects. 1. Technical Risks: Incomplete Design, Inadequate specification, inadequate site investigation, Change in scope Construction procedures, insufficient resource availability. 2. Construction Risks: Labor productivity, Labor disputes, Site condition, Equipment failures, Design changes, too high quality standard and new technology. 3. Physical Risks: Damage to structure, Damage to equipment, Labor injuries, Equipment and material fire and theft. 4. Organizational Risks Contractual relations, Contractor’s experience, Attitudes of participants, inexperienced work force and Communication. 5. Financial Risks: Increased material cost, Low market demand, Exchange rate fluctuation, Payment delays, improper estimation Taxes. 6. Socio-political Risks: Changes in laws and regulations Pollution and safety rules Bribery/Corruption Language/Cultural bar rier Law and order War and civil disorder Requirement for permits and their approval. 7. Environmental Risks: Natural Disasters, Weather Implications. The risk in the project management is managed by implementing four main steps Risk identification, Risk Assessment, Risk Response and risk control. Where as in Risk identification these are identified by various methods through brainstorming in this all the people that are involved inShow MoreRelatedRisk Management Techniques For Construction Project1280 Words   |  6 Pages Research Paper on Risk Management Techniques for Construction Project Pariekshit Guttikonda Lawrence Technological University Abstract Construction is a risky industry and there is no other industry that requires proper application of business practices much as construction industry. The main objective of this research is to gain understanding of risk factors faced by building projects. The study also aims to investigate the effectiveness of risk preventive and imitative methods. From thisRead MoreRisk Management Techniques For Construction Projects1238 Words   |  5 PagesConstruction industry is a risky and there is no other industry that requires proper application of business practices as much as construction industry. The main objective of this research is to gain understanding of risk factors faced by building projects. The study also aims to investigate the effectiveness of risk preventive and imitative methods. From this Research paper, we can find the most important risk factors are: financial failure of the contractor, Environmental risk like natural disastersRead MoreRisks in a Home Building Project1486 Words   |  6 Pagesof Risks Associated With Estimating a Home Building Project Michael T Bell PMAN 637 Originality Score 6% A Review of Risks Associated With Estimating a Home Building Project Introduction In building and construction, there are risks associated with estimating a home building project. These risks in construction are all the same across the board regardless the construction. Therefore, a home building projects is confronted with the same risks asRead MoreImproving The Quality Of The Delivered Project By Utilizing Quality Planning Technique During The Construction Industry1685 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction: The construction industry is considered as one of the most complicated industry in the world. Different problem could be raised during the construction process starting from the bidding phase and ending with close out phase. During that time, the construction managers will be responsible to take many of the critical decisions to minimize the influence of a specific event. Quality in the construction industry occupying a high priority among other characteristics. In fact, providing theRead MoreEffectiveness Of Risk Identification And Analysis Of Construction Projects Of Mumbai City Of Multi Storeyed Building Essay929 Words   |  4 PagesAbstract – Risk is present in all projects irrespective of their size or sector. If risks are not properly analyzed and strategies are not developed to deal with them, the project is likely to lead to failures. Therefore, special strategies and processes should be established during the initial phases of the project and also monitored througho ut the project life cycle. There are different techniques of risk identification and analysis in construction projects. Applicability of various risk assessmentRead MoreA Report On The Construction Sector Essay1321 Words   |  6 PagesINTRODUCTION: The construction sector is the fifth largest sector in the New Zealand economy, employing more than 170,000 people. This makes up 7.6% of the labour force. It engendered 6.3% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2010. (New zealand sector report, 2013) There is a lot going on in the construction management space, which has been poorly addressed in New Zealand until recently. (Pieter, 2011) High level of complexity is also involved in construction projects, which exposes this sector toRead MoreObjectives: Fixing The Objective Is Like Identifying The856 Words   |  4 Pageseffectiveness of the Project Management to complete project time. 2. To find the role of project management in the success of construction companies. 3. To find the scope of project management to reduce the cost of the raw material in the ongoing building project. The study on role of project management in construction industry is to execute a project so that deliverables can meet scope requirements on budget Intro:Construction Management is not a new idea. The function of the Construction Manager is toRead MoreRisks Associated With Construction Project And Different Risk Mitigation Techniques1573 Words   |  7 PagesConstruction projects are characterized as v ery complex projects, where uncertainty comes from various sources. This paper deals with the identification of risk by different methods, types of risks associated with construction project and different risk mitigation techniques. In the construction industry, risk is often referred to as the presence of potential or actual threats or opportunities that influence the objectives of a project during construction, commissioning, or at time of use. Risk isRead MoreRisk Management For Construction Projects1095 Words   |  5 Pagesoverall aim of this study report is to let everyone know what risk management is, realize the procedure of risk management in construction project and have a deeper study on the application of risk management during construction period, therefore, a better project output and better value for both clients and constructors. There are two objectives of this study: 1. To assess the most major and common risks which cause bad effect on construction period. 2. To figure out reasonable solutions. On the basisRead MoreRefurbishment Of Broron Oil And Gas Limited Three Storey Building1675 Words   |  7 Pagesstandard office apartment for boron oil and gas limited. The scope of this project is to design and construct and appropriate office structures. Which involves different stages of work in these projects? Our task involves †¢ Planning a risk management plan †¢ Creating a risk register and a risk response plan. †¢ Identifying possible risk project and procurement strategy. †¢ Undertaking qualitative and quantitative risk analysis. †¢ Risk tracking and monitor control. CHAPTER2: BACKGROUND The overview System

The Company Man Analysis Essay Free Essays

ANALYSIS 7 Essay: The Company Man The typical business man involved in corporate America works anywhere from six to ten hours per day. Phil, â€Å"the Company Man† worked six days a week sometimes until eight or nine at night, making himself a true workaholic. Using his life story before he died Goodman is able to convey her liking toward Phil but her dislike of what the business world has turned him into. We will write a custom essay sample on The Company Man Analysis Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now Not only does Goodman use a number of rhetorical devices but she also uses Phil’s past as well as the people who were once in Phil’s life to get her message across to her reader. Ellen Goodman sarcastically creates the obituary of a man who dedicated his life to his job and the company he worked for. Goodman uses anaphora, satire, diction, sentence structure, and selection of detail to complete her obituary of this â€Å"Company Man†. Emphasizing the fact that Phil worked himself to death, Goodman chose pure sarcasm to make this particular emphasis. She shows through this repeated phrases, that he must have chosen work over family quite often, working to provide for his family which resulted in the simple fact that â€Å"he worked himself to death, finally and precisely, at 3:00a. m Sunday morning. Goodman’s use of repetition leads to show her satirical writing. â€Å"On Saturdays, Phil wore a sports jacket to the office instead of a suit, because it was the weekend† shows Goodman’s use of satire in one of the many examples throughout the obituary. Toward the end of the essay, Goodman describes how the company president starts the funeral with a hint of sarcasm, â€Å"discreetly of course, with care and taste† using a tongue and cheek method to provide a subtle shift in tone. The president then begins to question who will replace Phil ending with a paradoxical sentence â€Å"‘Who’s been working the hardest? † getting down to the business of replacing Phil, providing another example of a stereotypical business approach. The vivid diction describes the sarcasm that Goodman has towards Phil. Goodman composes her paragraphs with careful rhythm and beat; she repeats â€Å"finally,† â€Å"precisely† and â€Å"perfect† three times. Phil’s constancy and lack of variation are embodied in rigid words such as â€Å"always,† â€Å"of course,† and â€Å"Type A. † Extreme diction such as â€Å"overweight,† â€Å"nervous,† and â€Å"workaholic† convey Phil as a worrywart with no fun at all in his life. These words mock Phil as a man sincerely obsessed with work that had lost track of his priorities. Goodman deepens her point when she introduces Phil’s family, using diction in relation to business to further emphasize the importance of work to Phil. To Phil’s wife Helen, â€Å"A company friend said ‘I know how much you will miss him. ’ And she answered, ‘I already have. ’† His eldest son tells the reader of how he went around the neighborhood gathering research on his father. His daughter recalls how whenever she was alone with him they had nothing to say to each other. When Phil’s youngest son reminisces on how he tried to mean enough to his father to keep him at home. Goodman informs the reader that the youngest child was Phil’s favorite. Goodman’s sentence structure of long, short, long, helps the shorter sentence stick out more to the reader. But she ends the paragraph with a sad ironic sentence, â€Å"My father and I only board here. † implying that he never really was successful. The descriptions of Phil in â€Å"The Company Man† are sardonically accusatory of the present way people live in society. Goodman makes light of how Phil is a heart attack waiting to happen, his seventy-hour workweeks and egg sandwiches. â€Å"Of course,† used thee times, translates as the acceptance that we have towards intolerable living conditions in order to fulfill the American dream. Like many Americans, Phil is constantly obsessed about his work and whether or not he will ascend to the top position. Through these details she describes the monotonous, repetitive way that society exists today. Throughout the column, images negatively portray the lifestyle that Phil lives. Superficially, all seems well because his family lives a comfortable existence. Emotionally, however, his family has missed his emotional support for years. His wife, Helen, gave up â€Å"trying to compete with his work years ago. † All of his children grew up in a so-called normal family with a father and mother. At his funeral, though, they do not have enough memories about him to say a proper eulogy. Phil himself was â€Å"overweight† and unhealthy, obsessed with work and negligent with his personal life. Goodman condemns the lifestyle that Phil leads by using negative and poignant imagery. Ellen Goodman develops an attitude of pity for Phil, and resentment for the company through rhetorical techniques by portraying that to his wife and to his children, Phil had become so consumed with his position as one of the Important People that he had all but completely removed himself from their emotional reach for the sake of his company life. Goodman’s vision of the corporate world and its influence and affect on our lives is portrayed through her diction and choice of detail in her anecdote of the reflection of the life of the A-Type, workaholic, Phil. How to cite The Company Man Analysis Essay, Essay examples

Administration for Sport and Recreation Industryâ€Free Samples

Question: How Do Work Administration for the Sport and Industry? Answer: Introduction In the following review article written by Smith Stewart and published in the year 2010, the topic relevant to the special features in sport has been critically appraised. An overview regarding the issues that comprise sports management has been provided succinctly in the article. The uniqueness of the sports discipline as a separate institution and the dichotomy in its representation because of the presence of both cultural as well as generic business enterprise has been deftly addressed as well. Dual special features connected to the tension created due to winning and profit making in addition to the transformation of the sports arena into a workplace will be further highlighted in the following sections. Special Feature The rift between winning and profit making has been argued as a unique feature that exemplifies sports management. In order to meet onto the expectations and demands of the huge fan followers and well wishers associated with the sports, the clubs and authorities seem to emphasize more on the winning of competitive matches rather than earning revenues out of conducting business calculations. Moreover speculations have been made regarding the aversion of the steady and loyal fans in complying with the commercialization efforts to derive profits from sports engagement. A tussle between performance and values attached to tradition will drive the performance if specific business strategies. However the disparities and variations occurring due to participation in diverse sporting events and leagues remain dubious. Indicators of superior performance as profit maximizing body or utility maximizing body have been found to be dependent upon the function of success. Funding has been reckoned as a vital determinant of success in both professional sport like Formula 1 and boxing as well as team sport. Thus this feature attributed to the winning streak and profit earning is indeed unique to its application. Special Feature The transformation of the sports arena into a commercial domain characterized by professional commitment through utilization of appropriate resources is another defining feature in sports. Translation of the human as well as material resources into economic equations whereby the issues of efficiency, division of labor, rational work practices and regulation are considered crucial to the emancipation of productivity along with rationalization of the adopted business strategies have been mentioned as prerequisites of effective sports management. The brand building through consideration of fan identity has been accounted responsible for maintaining the competitive market in sports. Thus a dynamic and flexible, adaptive approach has been identified as indispensable tool to make way for effective sports management. Conclusion The notion related to the commercialization of sports has been tested through various avenues and through avid applications of the business models and strategies that are normally used in the discourse meant to carry out the revamp and remodeling of the complex and heterogeneous system. Finance, marketing, planning and human resource management are the keys to achieve the desired level of success in sports management through incorporation of valid and feasible business options in addition to governmental and bureaucratic regulation to create a synergy with the traditional values and commercial outcomes (Smith Stewart, 2010). References Smith, A. C., Stewart, B. (2010). The special features of sport: A critical revisit.Sport Management Review,13(1), 1-13.