Challenges in Building a Presidential Cabinet and High-Performing Administrative Team

by | Aug 7, 2024 | human resource management

 

A newly elected U.S. president has to assemble a cabinet and fill many key administrative positions. Disregarding the politics of the situation and based on this weeks readings:

What challenges do you think a new president faces in building a team?
What advice would you give a new president to help build a high performing work team?

 

 

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Sample Answer

Sample Answer

Challenges in Building a Presidential Cabinet and High-Performing Administrative Team
As a newly elected U.S. president embarks on the critical task of assembling a cabinet and filling key administrative positions, several challenges inherently arise. Each challenge requires careful consideration and strategic planning to ensure the formation of a high-performing work team capable of effectively addressing the nation’s needs.
Challenges Faced by a New President in Building a Team
1. Diverse Expertise and Experience:
– A president must balance selecting individuals with varying areas of expertise and experience. The challenge lies in ensuring that the cabinet reflects a broad range of perspectives while also maintaining a cohesive vision for governance.
2. Political Pressures:
– Navigating the political landscape is a significant challenge. The president may face pressures from party leaders, interest groups, and constituents, which can complicate decisions on appointments and create conflicts of interest.
3. Public Perception and Media Scrutiny:
– Appointments are often subjected to intense media scrutiny and public opinion. The president must be prepared for potential backlash or controversy surrounding certain appointments, which could affect public trust and credibility.
4. Team Dynamics and Chemistry:
– Building a cohesive team is essential for effective governance. The challenge lies in selecting individuals who not only have the right qualifications but also can work well together, fostering collaboration rather than rivalry.
5. Time Constraints:
– The urgency to fill key positions can lead to hasty decisions. A new president may struggle to thoroughly vet candidates, risking appointing individuals who may not align with their vision or who lack essential competencies.
6. Balancing Loyalty and Competence:
– While loyalty is crucial in politics, it is equally important to prioritize competency. Finding candidates who are both trustworthy allies and highly skilled in their respective fields can be challenging.
Advice for Building a High-Performing Work Team
1. Establish Clear Goals and Vision:
– A new president should articulate a clear vision and set specific goals for their administration. This clarity helps team members understand their roles and responsibilities, aligning their efforts towards common objectives.
2. Prioritize Diversity and Inclusion:
– Emphasizing diversity in appointments will bring varying perspectives to the table, promoting innovative problem-solving. An inclusive environment fosters collaboration and encourages open dialogue among team members.
3. Encourage Open Communication:
– Building a culture of transparency and open communication is vital. Regular meetings, feedback mechanisms, and open-door policies can facilitate discussions, allowing team members to voice concerns or ideas freely.
4. Invest in Team Building:
– Engaging in team-building activities can strengthen relationships among team members, enhance trust, and improve collaboration. This investment pays dividends in creating a more unified cabinet.
5. Implement a Rigorous Vetting Process:
– Establishing a thorough vetting process for candidates ensures that each appointment aligns with the administration’s values and goals. This process should evaluate both professional qualifications and cultural fit within the team.
6. Foster Accountability:
– Setting clear expectations for performance and accountability encourages team members to take ownership of their responsibilities. Regular performance evaluations can help track progress toward goals.
7. Be Open to Adaptation:
– The political landscape can shift rapidly, and flexibility is key. A new president should remain open to feedback and be willing to make adjustments to the team or strategies as necessary, ensuring continued effectiveness.
8. Build Trust:
– Trust is foundational for any high-performing team. The president should model integrity, reliability, and transparency, encouraging team members to do the same in their interactions with one another.
Conclusion
Building a high-performing cabinet and administrative team is one of the most critical tasks for a newly elected U.S. president. While challenges such as diverse expertise, political pressures, and time constraints can complicate this process, strategic planning and thoughtful decision-making can lead to a cohesive and effective team. By establishing clear goals, prioritizing diversity, fostering open communication, and building trust, a new president can create an environment conducive to collaboration and success in governance.

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