Throughout the course, you created deliverables that were incorporated into an adaptive leadership toolkit submitted in Module Seven. You will recall this toolkit should help improve the skills and behaviors of the leaders within the organization, where you are a director of leadership and learning. Another important aspect in ensuring the toolkit effectiveness is how toolkit information is communicated to stakeholders throughout the organization. This discussion assignment is designed to encourage conversation and the sharing of ideas with your peers around organizational communication strategies related to the toolkit. This discussion with your peers will relate to the work for your final project that you will submit in Module Nine.
For your initial post, refer to your module resources that deal with communication and address the following questions:
How should the adaptive leadership toolkit be communicated to the organization's leadership to help gain buy-in?
How can you ensure this communication strategy is sustainable long-term, more than two years?
Full Answer Section
However, it's crucial to acknowledge that Big Business also poses significant threats:
- Economic Inequality and Manipulation: As discussed previously, large corporations can exacerbate inequality and manipulate markets in ways that harm individuals and the broader economy.
- Undue Political Influence: The financial power of Big Business can significantly distort democratic processes and lead to policies that favor corporate interests over public good.
The Interplay:
It's also important to recognize that Big Business and Big Government can be intertwined. Powerful corporations can lobby governments for favorable regulations, and governments can create policies that benefit specific industries. This symbiotic relationship can amplify the threats posed by both.
Conclusion:
While both pose significant risks, the unique power held by governments – particularly the legitimate use of force and the potential for all-encompassing control – makes Big Government, when unchecked, a potentially more fundamental and pervasive threat to individual liberties and societal structures. This is why robust democratic institutions, the rule of law, and strong protections for individual rights are crucial to mitigating the risks associated with concentrated governmental power.
In the Kenyan context, as in any nation, vigilance against the overreach of both state and corporate power is essential to ensure a just and equitable society. Strong institutions, transparency, and active civic engagement are vital safeguards.
Sample Answer
It's a nuanced question, and the "bigger" threat can depend heavily on the specific context, the balance of power within a society, and the values being prioritized. However, considering the potential scale and scope of impact, I would argue that Big Government, when unchecked, has the potential to be a more pervasive and fundamental threat to individual liberties and societal structures.
Here's why:
- Monopoly on Legitimate Force: Governments hold a unique and fundamental power: the legitimate use of force and coercion within a defined territory. This includes the power to create and enforce laws, levy taxes, and control the military and police. When this power becomes concentrated and unchecked, the potential for suppressing dissent, infringing on rights, and controlling all aspects of life is significant and far-reaching.
- Scope of Control: While Big Business can exert considerable influence over the economy and aspects of daily life, its power is generally constrained by market forces, consumer choice, and the existence of competitors (even if those competitors are also large). Government, on the other hand, can theoretically control all aspects of society, from the economy and healthcare to education and personal freedoms.
- Lack of Exit Option: In many cases, citizens have a more limited ability to "exit" or avoid the reach of a powerful government compared to choosing not to engage with a particular big business. While one can switch brands or avoid certain corporations, leaving a country due to government oppression is often a difficult and drastic measure.
- Potential for Systemic Oppression: Unchecked governmental power can lead to systemic discrimination and oppression of certain groups within society through laws and policies. While Big Business can certainly engage in discriminatory practices, the power to codify and enforce such discrimination on a societal level rests with the government