Structural Funcionalism, Conflict Theory, and Symbolic...

In this paper, I will discuss three different schools of thought that, while they may seem to explain the inner workings of society, by themselves they fail to satisfy completely. For each theory, I will discuss the basics and cover the main tenants of each. Then, I will discuss the ambiguities, inadequacies and irrelevance to reality based on our current understanding of modern society. Structural Functionalism In the Functionalist School of Thought, society is viewed as being a complex structure of inter-related parts, analogous to a living being, with many different organs contributing to the daily functioning and health of the entire organism. From evolving societies still going through the processes of differentiation of social†¦show more content†¦If we are to look at society as a super-organism, then we have to accept that conflict is a vital part of any organisms’ future development and evolution. Humans weren’t put on this earth perfected; through biological conflict with the environment and disease, we have evolved into what we are now. While still not perfect, evolution is still taking place. The same is true for societies. No one society was born perfect. Society has evolved from the same analogous process of trial and error, success and failure. While not all conflict is productive, it is necessary to the evolution of society. Functionalism all but ignores this aspect. Conflict Theory Where the positivist theory of Structural Functionalism focuses on the rigidity and stability of society, conflict theories focus on the chaotic, negative and unequal aspects. This perspective is constructed from the numerous hypotheses of Karl Marx, who saw society as intrinsically broken, and constantly in a state of disarray with social groups competing for a limited amount of social capitol and economic resources. According to Marx, society is constructed around two classes of people: the ruling class and the subject class. Those in the ruling class have a disproportionately large control over all resources, and use this power to subjugate the lower classes. This ensures that the ruling class never gives up power, due to the fact that the lower classes have to struggle to obtain

Media Portrayal Of The Criminal Justice System - 945 Words

Media Portraying the Criminal Justice System Different forms of media, such as television, films, books, and newspapers, have similar ways of portraying the criminal justice system. The media constructs representations of crime and justice and in doing this, it presents an often dramatized representation of the criminal justice system; and this does not just influence on the public’s lay view of crime but also for criminal justice experts (Marsh, 2014). In the media it is commonly known that they are a business, and businesses need to make a profit. Because of this, the media’s portrayal of the criminal justice system has been very negative. With the news, their main purpose is to produce what sells. So many of them would edit the information they have gathered and make a story that will sell. Also the media does not show the full process of the criminal justice as a quick process, while in fact it is not. For example, last year, Netflix released a short series c alled â€Å"Making A Murderer†. Most people claimed that they feel like they can solve a crime when they finished watching a series. While that series is very factual, it does not hit every single step of the criminal justice process. Media’s Impact on Viewer’s Perception Viewers rely on the media to inform them about what is going on in the world. Just like people, however the news industry has different biases. Which is why two different news channels will tell a different story on what is based on the sameShow MoreRelatedRacial Segregation And Popular Culture1676 Words   |  7 Pages The unreliable generalizations and disturbing portrayals of members in a racial group contribute to the justification of unequal treatment in various systems that impact people in the society negatively. Racial biases exist unconsciously in our attitudes. This leads to actions that are negatively interpreted in our cultures and diffuse in the media, which in turn, form prejudice and discrimination that structure systems to target minority groups. The two most frequent racial stereotypes in culturalRead MorePortrayal Of The Criminal Justice System1308 Words   |  6 Pagesdeter criminal activity because of their ability to depict anti-criminal behavior in an attractive manner. Overtime the media, whether it be by film, television, news etc., has provided its audience with different depictions of the criminal justice system. Some themes continue to reappear while others vanish due to unpopularity. Typically, all media outlets seek to produce the most trendy and entertaining perspective of what it intends on representing. As a result, the portrayal of the criminalRead MoreThe Inside Out Program : The Media s Portrayal Of Criminals947 Words   |  4 Pagesdelve into the prison system through the interactions and discussions between the local inmates or classified â€Å"Inside† students. When explaining the program to the average person, some would express interest and curiosity or having a class in a correctional institution; others were weary and even asked why one would decide to take a class full of â€Å"hardened† criminals. This is what I thought as well when first hearing about the course. From the media’s portrayal of criminals, bombarding news viewersRead MorePositive and Negative Publicity in a Case Trial1295 Words   |  5 PagesMedia publishes both positive and negative aspects regarding a criminal case, and with Milats’ case, the media focused highly on negative publicity. As Ruva, Geunther and Yarbrough had found that both positive and negative media realises can influence the jury in different ways, it provided an understanding into the different types of media representation surrounding a case. The different types of media representation will influence ones memory, and pre-trial publicity can cause errors in judgementRead MorePublic Perception of the Police Essay1471 Words   |  6 PagesAbstract The media portrayal of policing is filled with both positive and negative representations of police work. As a result, a complex relationship exists between media consumption and public attitudes towards the police. The purpose of this study is to test the impact that media consumption has on attitudes toward police misconduct. The research design proposed for use in this study would be the experimental design, a two-group, posttest-only, randomized experiment. Introduction TheRead MoreThe Media And The Criminal Justice System Essay1260 Words   |  6 PagesThe media plays the role as entertaining and a source of information to its viewers, however, with the current crime trends, most viewers have the perceptions that our criminal justice system is lacking in areas of proper sentencing and protecting the viewers. All this is based upon what we see in the media is the information reliable or not? I say this because of hearing about news personality lying about their experience only to booster the networks rating. When the criminal justice system hasRead MoreMulticulturalism And A Multicultural Society1012 Words   |  5 Pagesand multiculturalism is more prevalent in the justice system than anything else in society today. According to the ABA the African-America race faces an incarceration rate that is six times that of whites. As a criminal justice professional we must be aware of social issues. There are two reason why social awareness is important, the first is when a group of people is alienated from a system because of disparities, that groups distrust with the system will grow. The ABA has linked systemic racialRead MoreReal Courts vs Fictional Courts1145 Words   |  5 Pagesto the models portrayed in popular culture such as movies and television, says David R. Papke, the R. Bruce Townsend Professor of law and professor of liberal arts at IUPUI. Papke is nationally recognized as an expert on the portrayal of the legal profession in the visual media. The topic has been the focus of several of his recent projects. Less than half the population has consulted a lawyer, Papke notes, and a very small proportion has seen a live courtroom trial. Most people s perceptions of lawyersRead MoreComparing Media Images Of Criminological Research Essay1712 Words   |  7 Pagesiii. Comparing Media Images to Crimin ological Research The superhero genre is so popular and influential that many studies have been done on its depictions of the groups and the impact it has on a large part of society how it has â€Å"become a staple on film, television, and in video games† (Darowski). The genre is so influential in fact, that it dates back all the way to the Ancient Greeks, and possibly even further (Haynes). Every group in history has had their mythologies and epic tales of crimeRead MoreThe Racial Stereotyping Of Minority Groups Is A Prevalent968 Words   |  4 PagesThe racial stereotyping of minority groups is a prevalent problem within the United State’s criminal justice system. It is a regrettable issue which permeates American society. The young Black male, in particular, is often portrayed as a criminal based on incorrect assumptions regarding who perpetrates crime. There are several components contributing to the criminal stigma of Blacks. The way crime is conveyed by American culture is possib ly as important as how crime actually functions. The widespread

Critical Thinking to Culture and Organizations

Question: Discussion of "How General Electric adapts their corporate culture in Singapore". As this module is about culture, you can define culture here Critically discuss and evaluate the cultural issues of your chosen topic by using the framework dimensions. Analyse the issues, use the theoretical concepts to explain/defend your evaluation about what is happening in that issue you are discussing. Answer: Introduction General Electric Co. is an innovation and budgetary administrations organization that creates and produces items for the era, transmission, circulation, control and use of electricity.(GE a) Its items and administrations incorporate air ship motors, power era, water handling, security innovation, restorative imaging, business and purchaser financing, media content and modern items. (GE a)The organization works through eight sections: Power Water, Oil Gas, Energy Management, Aviation, Healthcare, Transportation, Home Business Solutions and GE Capital.(GE c) The Power Water fragment serves power era, modern, government and different clients worldwide with items and administrations identified with vitality creation. The Oil Gas section supplies mission discriminating gear for the worldwide oil and gas industry, utilized in applications crossing the whole esteem chain from boring and consummation through creation, condensed common gas and pipeline layering, pipeline examination, and downstream preparing in refineries and petrochemical plants. The Energy Management fragment gives incorporated electrical items and frameworks used to disperse, ensure and control vitality and supplies. It make electrical circulation and control items, lighting and force boards, switchgear and circuit breakers that are utilized to disperse and oversee control in an assortment of private, business, shopper and modern applications. The Aviation portion creates, offers and administrations plane motors, turboprop and turbo shaft motors, and related new parts for utilization in military and business air ship. Its military motors are utilized as a part of a wide mixture of flying machine including contenders, aircraft, tankers, helicopters and observation airplane and marine applications. The Healthcare fragment gives health awareness innovations, for example, therapeutic imaging and data advances, medicinal diagnostics, patient checking frameworks, ailment examination, drug revelation a nd biopharmaceutical assembling innovations. This fragment predicts and recognizes ailment prior; observing its advance and advising doctors, and helping doctors tailor treatment for patients. The Transportation section gives engineering answers for clients in different commercial enterprises, which incorporate railroad, travel, mining, oil and gas, power era and marine. It likewise gives arrangement of administration offerings intended to enhance armada productivity and diminish working costs, including repair administrations, train upgrades, modernizations, and data based administrations like remote checking and diagnostics. The Home Business Solutions puts resources into the advancement of separated items, for example, vitality effective answers for both buyers and organizations. Its items incorporate real machines and subsets of lighting items are principally steered to shopper applications, while other lighting items and computerization arrangements are administered towards bu siness and modern applications. The GE Capital fragment's administrations incorporate business credits and leases, armada administration, money related projects, home advances, charge cards, individual credits and other budgetary administrations. It gives its administrations to all sizes of organizations around the world. Models of Organizational Culture The new and versatile conduct imparted through hierarchical qualities and convictions are connected with ceremonies, myths and images to fortify the center presumptions of authoritative society (Hofstede, 1991). In connection to the above definition, Brown (1998, p 9) characterizes authoritative culture as "the example of convictions, values and educated methods for adapting to experience that have created amid the course of an association's history, and which have a tendency to be showed in its material courses of action and in the practices of its parts". This proposes that hierarchical society is explained in the association, so as to shape the path in which authoritative parts ought to act. On the other hand, this example of qualities, standards, convictions, demeanor, standards and presumptions may be unwritten or non-verbalized conduct that portrays the route in which things accomplish; to give the association its extraordinary character (Brown, 1998). Given the different meanings of hierarchical society which were examined in this segment, the embraced and significant definition for this study is expressed by Harrison (1993: 11) as the "unique star grouping of convictions, qualities, work styles, and connections that recognize one association from an alternate". As it were, authoritative society incorporates those characteristics of the association that provide for it a specific atmosphere or feel. Thus the different characteristics of an association may show through four measurements, in particular force, part, and accomplishment and help (Harrison, 1993). Harrisons Model of Organizational Culture There are distinctive spellbinding models that endeavor to diagnose authoritative culture in the field of hierarchical advancement. Harrison (1993) presents a hypothetical model with the end goal of diagnosing hierarchical society. Harrison (1993) expresses that however the model is proposed to be engaging as opposed to evaluative, there is a propensity to see it in evaluative terms. This illustrative model makes a familiarity with the way of life crevice between the current and favored societies in an association (Harrison, 1993). Moreover, this model keeps up that hierarchical society can be diagnosed in four social measurements, to be specific force situated society; part arranged society; accomplishment arranged culture; and help arranged society (Harrison, 1993). The authoritative society model displayed in figure 1 show that the four measurements of society introduction are measured inside two modes of operation, which are formalization and centralization (Harrison, 1993). Both modes of operation can be measured on a size of low or abnormal states. As indicated by Martins and Martins (2003) high formalization in an association makes consistency, efficiency and consistency. As such, a solid society can serve as a substitute for formalization. This recommends that the association's formal principles and regulations which act to manage its parts' conduct can be disguised by hierarchical parts when they acknowledge the association's culture; this happens without the requirement for composed documentation (Martins Martins, 2003). Along these lines, low formalization of guidelines and regulations could reflect a powerless authoritative society. Corporate Culture ALL associations have their own particular corporate society. Solid societies developed throughout the years can't be effortlessly changed overnight. Changes in corporate society are made when another governing body or another CEO assumes control over the reins of an organization.(TEIK, 2010) They feel more great working in the new environment if the way of life is more like that of their past organization. (TEIK, 2010) Perpetually, they force their own particular form of corporate society to the organization by exacerbating changes for better or. The conflict of societies can have destroying results on the benefit and longterm survival of the firm. Solid societies will oppose significant changes and constantly, the newcomer will need to submit to the current social mentality. (TEIK, 2010) There is no privilege or best corporate society for an association. Administration needs to choose suitable society to fit the business environment at a specific time.(TEIK, 2010) No business system can succeed without the privilege hierarchical culture set up. It is not simple to characterize corporate society. Society is a typical method for considering. Society includes the association's imparted qualities, practices, images, and suppositions.(TEIK, 2010) General Electric in Singapore GE is a propelled engineering, administrations and money organization tackling the world's hardest difficulties. (Blas, 2014) Committed to development in vitality, wellbeing, transportation and foundation, GE works in more than 100 nations and utilizes around 300,000 individuals around the world. GE follows its beginnings to Thomas A. Edison, who made Edison Electric Light Company in 1878. (Blas, 2014) In 1892, a merger of Edison General Electric Company and Thomson-Houston Electric Organization made General Electric Company. GE is the main organization recorded in the Dow Jones Mechanical Index today that was likewise included in the first record in 1896. GE's association with Singapore goes once again to 1969 when the organization opened various hardware assembling plants. (Blas, 2014)These were hence trailed by a flying machine motor upkeep, upgrade, and repair shop that administrations customers all through the Asia Pacific bowl. Today, GE utilizes in excess of 3000 individuals i n Singapore, working nearly with neighborhood accomplices on key base activities in the vitality, transportation, water and wellbeing parts using forefront, clean, proficient innovations and business financing ability. (Blas, 2014) All GE organizations: GE Energy Infrastructure, GE Technology Infrastructure, GE Capital, and GE Home furthermore Business Solutions have vicinity in Singapore, with various them having their local central command in the nation. (Blas, 2014) GE Volunteers includes GE representatives, and retirees in more than 3,500 activities over 45 nations "great individuals, doing incredible things" to enhance the groups where they live and work. (Blas, 2014) Through dynamic engagement, GE Volunteers in Singapore together with GE Volunteers everywhere throughout the world, help to have noteworthy effects in the ranges of instruction, group improvement, wellbeing, also nature by enhancing understudy accomplishment, supporting group imperativeness and supporting natura l stewardship. Bla, 2014) GE Foundation, the humanitarian association of GE, gives concedes and puts resources into activities that work to fathom a percentage of the world's most troublesome issues. As a team with our accomplices, GE helps U.s. what's more universal training, creating wellbeing universally, the earth, open arrangement, human rights, debacle alleviation and group accomplishment around the globe. (Blas, 2014) The advancement fever in developing markets is common in such essential businesses as training, social insurance, and guard. (Sheth et al, n.d) An established researcher in developed economies now perceives the capacities of researchers in developing markets. This is one motivation behind why the director of GE, Jeffrey Immelt, is putting resources into what he calls "reverse development." with a specific end goal to go up against developing multinationals from rising economies, General Electric has chosen to develop in Singapore and create items there that may be suitable for disregarded markets in America. (Sheth et al, n.d) What Sheth et al are discussing, then, is a standard transformation, from only taking worldwide items and making a couple of adjustments for neighborhood markets to really beginning with nearby advancement to make new worldwide items. In-business sector advancement additionally helps further the combination of distinctive trains, societies, and courses of action of development. (Sheth et al, n.d) This implies combination of organic and physical sciences, and in addition combination of hardware into everything to make them shrewd. It likewise means mixing worldwide ability to cooperate in virtual groups. This combination will make the verbal confrontation whether to develop in-business sector or adjust to neighborhood needs debatable. (Sheth et al, n.d) It has been practically 10 years since Jack Welch resigned as GE's executive and CEO, however the legacy and strategies for one of the greatest names in corporate America is still generally discussed, even loved. Welch, apparently a standout amongst the most conspicuous advanced administration chieftains, was instrumental in pushing the organization's line of items, including flying machine motors and therapeutic gear, to market pioneers in their individual segments. Hidden the organization's proceeded with achievement is an eternal line from Thomas Edison, creator of the light and author of GE, "I figure out what the world needs, then I continue to design it". This soul of development and mechanical capacity drove Welch to accomplish an essentially unparalleled accomplishment of developing the aggregate's benefit by about 30 times amid his rule of two decades. Contenders and fans looking to copy such a win may attract persuasion GE's standardization of an initiative improvement and individuals administration framework that likewise makes the organization a most loved chasing ground for official hunt firms. While Welch's unconventional routines were hailed to be amusement changing, not everybody was partial to his methodology. For one, the 'rank and yank' arrangement of terminating workers who were given the least reviewing in normal audits, have picked up acclaim (or rather, reputation) far and wide. Under Jeff Immelt, Welch's hand-picked successor, who assumed control in 2001, prior days September 11, a few things, in the same way as how GE oversees and grooms its representatives, have changed. Yet, others, in the same way as certain center execution parameters and qualities encapsulating the GE method for running organizations, have not. At a late Wee Kim Wee Center CEO talk held at Singapore Management University, Ed Ng, president and CEO of GE Capital South East Asia, the organization's financing unit, imparted experiences on some of these progressions, and also GE's human capital improvement society. "I'm certain huge numbers of you now would stop before you consider working for a pioneer like Jack on the grounds that he has such an intense notoriety. However under Jeff Immelt's open authority, you would consider, isn't that so? Since that is the way things are currently. We have developed," he said. The progressions, as indicated by Ng, incorporated his own administration style as well. "In a vast lattice association like GE where I have numerous stakeholders and individuals beneath me have numerous stakeholder obligations, you need to deal with the "winds" and get to your target like a sailboat. I used to be similar to a bulldozer, yet the military's charge and-control way simply brings about unnecessary losses." Ng said that GE's society has advanced to end up more open. Case in point, more youthful eras of representatives, specifically, will all the more promptly impart to their managers what they think are issues and respectability infringement inside the organization. This, thusly, has to a degree influenced the mentality at the top. "Gone are the times of pioneers who know everything. Gone likewise are the times of the pompous and threatening initiative styles." New organization pioneers are likewise more open and comprehensive. "As of late, at a representative occasion in Singapore, our Chairman, Jeff Immelt, when solicited what was one from the best lessons he had learnt from the late worldwide emergency, answered he was more arranged to say 'I don't have the foggiest idea' all the more frequently." As such, I think it is alright for pioneers to say 'I am not sure' and I admire an administrator who can come up to me and concede 'I don't have the foggiest idea'," said Ng. Taking risks Despite the fact that there have been changes in the organization's culture, sure perspectives, in the same way as the attention on estimations of trustworthiness, remains. While things like "qualities" can't be measured and don't appear on the accounting report, GE views pretty much as exceedingly. As per Ng, "on the off chance that you have an individual who conveys solid money related results yet fails to offer the qualities, the honesty, its a simple choice we evacuate that individual as effortlessly as one who has low execution and is low on qualities". On the off chance that a representative is as yet settling down into his or her employment, or as yet attempting to accomplish what Ng calls "execution force", the organization is readied to give that worker another opportunity. Toward the end, it takes more than simply hard-charging abilities and business-sharp to fit in well in today's GE, he said. "We need individuals who are sufficiently enormous to concede their slip-ups, sufficiently keen to know them, and sufficiently solid to rectify them." Be that as it may, fresh opportunities, yes, iron rice bowls, no. The worker who commits the same error twice will be given the boot. Execution and assessment stays straightforward and extreme in the GE weight cooker, after a seemingly endless amount of time. "We don't generally rebuff disappointments in light of the fact that we generally have faith in renewed opportunities. Anyway in the event that you demonstrate an absence of business keenness in that you don't snatch business opportunities, then you are just a director," he included. Acclaim for examination framework GE is known for the way it transforms authority improvement and ability administration into a science more than a workmanship. Case in point, in every single position, there must be a distinguished successor, from inside or outer sources. To hold fast to this practice, the chase on-going to reveal "ability practices" is a consistent, progressing methodology.Basic to this ability administration framework is GE's extensive prize and distinguishment program, which permits any chief to go online and perceive workers by method for money or non-money rewards. Each representative uses the Employee Management System every year to evaluate themselves as his associates and chiefs do likewise.What makes this framework to some degree unique in relation to whatever other staff evaluation frameworks is that it obliges a definite rundown of achievements and scores the representative against particular GE development qualities (the initiative potential scale), including the worker's outer centering. Conclusions Society can be characterized as the whole of the convictions, standards, procedures, organizations, and antiquities that portray human populations or the aggregate programming of the mind. Sociologists generally discuss the socialization methodology, alluding to the impact of folks, companions, instruction, and the communication with different parts of a specific culture as the premise for one's society. These impacts bring about educated examples of conduct regular to parts of a given society. As should be obvious, meanings of society shift as indicated by the center of investment, the unit of investigation, and the disciplinary methodology (brain science, humanities, humanism, topography, and so on.). This is noteworthy in that investigations of social contrasts embrace a particular definition and set of measurable criteria, which are constantly easily proven wrong. Research into society and its effect in business and administration studies is profoundly argumentative and ought not simply be taken at face quality, including the studies depicted underneath. There is a solid accord, on the other hand, that key components of society incorporate dialect, religion, values, demeanor, traditions, and standards of a gathering or society. Dialect is maybe the most imperative key to comprehension culture in general and the particular qualities, convictions, demeanor, and conclusions of a specific individual or gathering. English is generally acknowledged as the dialect of business; numerous worldwide establishments and organizations have received English as their authority dialect. For some organizations, for example, Toyota, GE, Hitachi, and IBM Japan, English-talking capacity is an essential for promotion. On the other hand, any suspicion that talking the same dialect uproots social contrasts is unsafe it regularly simply shrouds them. Also, a dependence on English by British and American chiefs, and an absence of other dialect aptitudes, can debilitate their capacity to understand and adjust to different societies. Religion, connected to both territorial qualities and dialect, additionally impacts business culture through a set of imparted center qualities. Protestants hold solid convictions about the quality of postponed satisfaction, sparing, and venture. The humanist Max Weber, writing in 1904, saw this Protestant hard working attitude as the "soul of private enterprise" amid the Industrial Revolution. Rather than spending, devouring, and appreciating l ife now, their religious convictions provoked the Protestants to look to longer-term prizes (counting those in the after-life). There are parallels with the Confucian and Shinto hard working attitudes, which likewise see otherworldly remunerates as fixing to diligent work and duty to the soil grown foods of industry. Differentiating this, a more stoic mentality among some African populaces mostly clarifies their acknowledgement of the ways things are, on the grounds that it is the "will of God". At the most general level society can allude basically to the way of life and conduct of a given gathering of individuals, so corporate society is a term used to portray how the supervisors and workers of specific organizations have a tendency to carry on. Yet the term is additionally utilized by human asset administrators and senior administration in their endeavors to proactively shape the sort of conduct (inventive, open, dynamic, and so forth.) they want to support in their associations. Advancing an unique corporate society is likewise anticipated that will enhance. References Berzon, J. (2008) Nuclear Growth Galore. Seeking Alpha. Online. 26 February 2008. Blas, j.(2014) General Electric in Singapore. General Electric. Bock, W. (2001) Assessing Jack Welch. Monday Memo. Online. 10 September 2001. Prahalad C.K. and Gary Hamel (1990) The Core Competence of the Corporation. Harvard Business Review. MayJune 1990. Byrne, J.A. (1998) How Jack Welch runs GE: A Close-up Look at How America's #1 Manager Runs GE. Online. 8 June 1998. Charan, R. (2006) Sharpening Your Business Acumen. Business+Strategy. eNews. Online. 30 March 2006. The Economist (see Economist.com) Economist.com (2009) The Jack Welch MBA. Business View. General Electric Company (see GE) GE (1995) To Our Share Owners: 1995 Annual Report. General Electric Company (see GE) GE (2000) To Our Share Owners: 2000 Annual Report. General Electric Company (see GE) GE Annual Reports (2001) Annual Reports. Online. Viewed 20 July 2009. General Electric Company (see GE) GE (2003) Letter to Stakeholders: GEs Growth Strategy. 2003 Annual Report. General Electric Company (see GE) GE (2007) Letter to Investors: Our Investors. 2007 Annual Report. Grant, Robert M. (2008) Cases to accompany Contemporary Strategy Analysis, Sixth Edition. Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Sheth et al, (n.d), Innovate or Adapt? Harvard Business Review. TEIK, (2010), Corporate Culture and Cultural Challenges, Singapore Institiute of Mnagement (SIM).

Cia Research Paper free essay sample

Account of the work of the CIA, discussing in some detail the nature of the relationship between the intelligence-gatherer and the policy-maker. Since the 1970s the CIA has provided intelligence to Congress as well as to the executive, so that it now finds itself in a remarkable position, involuntarily poised nearly equidistant between them. It has not however abused this freedom of action, probably unique among world intelligence agencies, so as to cook intelligence. CIA deputy director. Robert M. Gates, a career intelligence officer, is Deputy Director of Central Intelligence. He served on the National Security Council staff from the spring of 1974 until December 1979. Tweet Close Style: MLA APA Chicago More Sharing Services Over the years, public views of the Central Intelligence Agency and its role in American foreign policy have been shaped primarily by movies, television, novels, newspapers, books by journalists, headlines growing out of congressional inquiries, exposes by former intelligence officers, and essays by experts who either have never served in American intelligence, or have served and still not understood its role. The CIA is said to be an invisible government, yet it is the most visible, most externally scrutinized and most publicized intelligence service in the world. While the CIA sometimes is able to refute publicly allegations and criticism, usually it must remain silent. The result is a contradictory melange of images of the CIA and very little understanding of its real role in American government. Because of a general lack of understanding of the CIA’s role, a significant controversy such as the Iran-contra affair periodically brings to the surface broad questions of the proper relationship between the intelligence service and policymakers. It raises questions of whether the CIA slants or cooks its intelligence analysis to support covert actions or policy, and of the degree to which policymakers (or their staffs) selectively use—and abuse—intelligence to persuade superiors, Congress or the public. Beyond this, recent developments, such as the massive daily flow of intelligence information to Congress, have complicated the CIA’s relationships with the rest of the executive branch in ways not at all understood by most observers—including those most directly involved. These questions and issues merit scrutiny. II The CIA’s role in the foreign policy process is threefold. First, the CIA is responsible for the collection and analysis of intelligence and its distribution to policymakers—principally to the president, the National Security Council (NSC) and the Departments of State and Defense; although in recent years many other departments and agencies have become major users of intelligence as well. This is a well-known area, and I will address it only summarily About CIA The Central Intelligence Agency was created in 1947 with the signing of the National Security Act by President Harry S. Truman. The act also created a Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) to serve as head of the United States intelligence community; act as the principal adviser to the President for intelligence matters related to the national security; and serve as head of the Central Intelligence Agency. The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 amended the National Security Act to provide for a Director of National Intelligence who would assume some of the roles formerly fulfilled by the DCI, with a separate Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. The Director of the Central Intelligence Agency serves as the head of the Central Intelligence Agency and reports to the Director of National Intelligence. The CIA directors responsibilities include: †¢Collecting intelligence through human sources and by other appropriate means, except that he shall have no police, subpoena, or law enforcement powers or internal security functions; †¢Correlating and evaluating ntelligence related to the national security and providing appropriate dissemination of such intelligence; Providing overall direction for and coordination of the collection of national intelligence outside the United States through human sources by elements of the Intelligence Community authorized to undertake such collection and, in coordination with other departments, agencies, or elements of the United States Government which are authorized to undertake such collection, ensuring that the most effective use is made of resources and that appropriate account is taken of the risks to the United States and those involved in such collection; and †¢Performing such other functions and duties related to intelligence affecting the national security as the President or the Director of National Intelligence may direct. The function of the Central Intelligence Agency is to assist the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency in carrying out the responsibilities outlined above. To accomplish its mission, the CIA engages in research, development, and deployment of high-leverage technology for intelligence purposes. As a separate agency, CIA serves as an independent source of analysis on topics of concern and also works closely with the other organizations in the Intelligence Community to ensure that the intelligence consumer—whether Washington policymaker or battlefield commander—receives the best intelligence possible. As changing global realities have reordered the national security agenda, CIA has met these challenges by: †¢Creating special, multidisciplinary centers to address such high-priority issues such as nonproliferation, counterterrorism, counterintelligence, international organized crime and narcotics trafficking, environment, and arms control intelligence. †¢Forging stronger partnerships between the several intelligence collection disciplines and all-source analysis. †¢Taking an active part in Intelligence Community analytical efforts and producing all-source analysis on the full range of topics that affect national security. †¢Contributing to the effectiveness of the overall Intelligence Community by managing services of common concern in imagery nalysis and open-source collection and participating in partnerships with other intelligence agencies in the areas of research and development and technical collection. By emphasizing adaptability in its approach to intelli gence collection, the CIA can tailor its support to key intelligence consumers and help them meet their needs as they face the issues of the post-Cold War World. Posted: Dec 19, 2006 02:07 PM Last Updated: Jan 10, 2013 08:09 AM Last Reviewed: Dec 30, 2011 12:36 PM History of the CIA The United States has carried out intelligence activities since the days of George Washington, but only since World War II have they been coordinated on a government-wide basis. President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed New York lawyer and war hero, William J. Donovan, to become first the Coordinator of Information, and then, after the US entered World War II, head of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) in 1942. The OSS – the forerunner to the CIA – had a mandate to collect and analyze strategic information. After World War II, however, the OSS was abolished along with many other war agencies and its functions were transferred to the State and War Departments. It did not take long before President Truman recognized the need for a postwar, centralized intelligence organization. To make a fully functional intelligence office, Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947 establishing the CIA. The National Security Act charged the CIA with coordinating the nation’s intelligence activities and correlating, evaluating and disseminating intelligence affecting national security. On December 17, 2004, President George W. Bush signed the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act which restructured the Intelligence Community by abolishing the position of Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) and Deputy Director of Central Intelligence (DDCI) and creating the position the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (D/CIA).