Conflicting Viewpoints

Week 5 Discussion Critical Thinking

· Find an online article (news, magazine, journal, etc.) of interest that uses statistics to make its conclusion.

· Share a link in this thread, and answer these questions about that article:

· What is the premise and conclusion of the argument based on statistics?

· Determine whether or not the argument uses any deceptive statistics.

· Give your opinion on whether the argument has persuaded you. Explain why or not.

· Determine the primary ways in which statistics or authority are used in your current position in developing persuasive arguments and provide examples here.

Be sure to respond to at least one of your classmates’ posts below.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/drug-alcohol-and-tobacco-use-by-teens/

1. What is the premise and conclusion of the argument based on statistics?

The premise is illegal use among teens in the United States is on the decline. The conclusion is this report shows that we have made important progress in some key areas, but that we need to rejuvenate our efforts to promote prevention, treatment and recovery, to reach all aspects of our community.

2. Determine whether or not the argument uses any deceptive statistics.

No, they are no  using deceptive statistics, they surveyed 70,000 people across the United States annually. 

3. Give your opinion on whether or not the argument has persuaded you. Explain why or not.      

Yes it has persuaded me because the U.S. SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) has been doing surveys annually since 2002.

4. Determine the primary ways which statistics or authority are used in your current position in developing persuasive arguments and provide examples here.

The primary way statistics is used here is through surveys. Thousands of people were surveyed over the years. For example:

 The annual survey of 70,000 people ages 12 and older across the US revealed that between 2002 and 2013, substance abuse dependence or abuse problems among this age group also dropped from 8.9 percent to 5.2 percent. 

Week 5 Discussion Organizational Behavior

Jack Welch, GE’s former CEO, said, "We now know where productivity comes from. It comes from challenged, empowered, excited, rewarded teams of people."

· Explain how group dynamics, team characteristics, team leadership, and team management all play a vital role in company productivity.

Be sure to respond to at least one classmate's post below

Hello class. Michael Jordan once said, "talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships. As an individual, talent, skill, and individual ability will only get someone so far. When multiple talented people work together, the possibilities are endless. Because of this, companies understand that developing cohesive teams is important to efficiency, productivity, and success. All of these factors play a role in how teams function for several reasons. 

First, they determine how the team will get along and if the team will be cohesive. Depending on the characteristics of each team member, the team may have conflicts that prevent them from being productive. The effects of conflicting personalities can be managed by good leadership and open communication. Also, a team contract would be helpful in this situation. 

Leadership helps resolve conflicts; it also helps prevent conflicts from happening. Self-managed teams are more prone to set strict standards of behavior—self-managed teams expect each member to perform and help the team get to the goal. 

Another important characteristic of teams is diversity. More diverse teams are more productive and successful. This is because there are more unique perspectives analyzing problems; there are unique skill sets available to implement solutions, and there are a variety of personalities to help diffuse conflicts. ."