Rhetorical Analysis on JFK’s Inaugural Address Essay

Majority of the people know the eminent line â€Å"ask not what your country can do for you- ask what you can do for your country† (Kennedy). That is indubitably one of the most well known segments of his speech, however, there are other parts that made it memorable. He knew he was not only speaking to America, but other countries as well. His speech keeps the audience both focused on what is important and understanding of the point he is trying to make. He sought to send a message to the nation about the Cold War and his hope for peace along with his desire to inspire the nation. Throughout his speech, President John F. Kennedy uses parallelism, ellipsis, and antithesis to display to the audience that he was ready to be president and take on its challenges. Of the many rhetorical devices that President JFK used in his speech, parallelism was perhaps the most effective. The repetition of â€Å"Let both sides† amplifies his wants for unity and peace. His first use of â€Å"Let both sides† begins with talking about unity not division. As Kennedy repeats this for the second and third time, he includes how all countries should come together rather than to stand alone and take part in wars against each other. The world should succeed and prosper as one. President John F. Kennedy focuses on the idea of unity and peace throughout his speech. With those two factors, the world can undertake great things without the need for war, tension, or other harmful actions towards opposing countries. In the beginning of his speech Kennedy is willing to â€Å"pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardships, support any friend, oppose any foe†. This shows his willingness to fight for what he wants for the country: liberty, peace, unity. There are numerous forms of parallelism in JFK’s speech; however, there are few which have become infamou s and recognizable immediately. Kennedy’s speech is short and to the point, making it very effective. JFK had moral intentions and wanted to help his nation along with the rest of the world. This is clear by his use of ellipsis when he says â€Å"This much we pledge- and more† (Kennedy). By saying â€Å"and more†, President Kennedy expects the people to accomplish and partake in more than the ideas that were listed. Not listing numerous ideas made his point clear and effective. It allows his audience to think about what else can be done for the country. Kennedy makes it clear that he intends to do anything and everything in his power for peace and liberty. He is telling the audience  that what he said was not all that can be done, and that they were just examples of what should be done to reach that goal. Kennedy uses ellipsis when he mentions â€Å"a celebration of freedom- symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning- signifying renewal, as well as change† (Kennedy). By strengthening his statement on the celebration of freedom, it confirms that with this freedom comes a new beginning alongside change. President Kennedy states this in the first sentence of his speech, which fortifies the idea of freedom and what needs to be done in order to attain it. By the use of antithesis, JFK makes his speech memorable by inverting his sentences. Kennedy goes on to say that America should â€Å"never negotiate out of fear. But let us ever fear to negotiate† (Kennedy). This statement outlines the entire purpose of President Kennedy’s speech-spreading peace and assuring the success and survival of liberty. Kennedy’s most famous line â€Å"ask not what your country can do for you- ask what you can do for your country† (Kennedy) creates an idea that is still used tod ay. The idea it generates is that citizens should be giving more to the country than they expect to receive in return. It incorporates the audience into his speech, which makes the listener feel as if they can also make a great impact on the world. It shows that America is not afraid to fight for what is right and the country is not afraid of working for what the entire world should be aiming for. Most inaugural addresses are quickly forgotten, but using the correct rhetorical devices in a proper and effective way can make any speech memorable. President John F. Kennedy’s speech is a prime example of a speech that stuck with people and is still be referred to time to time. Kennedy’s speech has stuck with the country for over four decades and will continue to have a great impact on the world. Kennedy knew what to say and when to say it through his own style and grandiloquence. He uses many different rhetorical devices to achieve the main goal of his speech. That being America is not afraid to fight for what is right and let the enemies know that America is not afraid of its enemies. Pres ident Kennedy uses parallelism to emphasize the key points and make sure that his message is given clearly.

American Epidemic

In modern times, nobody who reads the newspapers or watches television can avoid the chilling fate that our country faces. School violence is a rapidly growing trend in America, and it seems to be there is nothing we can do to stop it. The offenders are from all races and social classes. They range from the high school hero to the high school dropout. It often seems the only thing they have in common is an utter disregard for their own life and the lives of others. In the following accounts, taken straight from American headlines, harrowing events fit for blockbuster fiction prove that our country is becoming victim to a new criminal: youthful rage. In generations past, the high school rebel was the boy all the girls wanted and all the boys wanted to be. He was the one in the leather jacket who went to class only to make snide remarks, drove too fast, and talked too slow. Jump forward to the end of the twentieth century, and the high school rebel is the boy who students ignore, the one who sits in the back of the classroom and never talks, wears all black and keeps to himself. He is the last student anyone would fear, but probably the most dangerous. He doesn†t want to take advantage of those who are smaller than him, but wants to seek vengeance on those who have hurt him, basically everyone. He, in fact, is sometimes a she. Of course, offenders can†t be classified into one group. Many times it is the last person you would ever imagine. That is the way it happened for Chester Jackson, a Detroit high school football star. Chester was a seventeen-year-old hero, a senior who had reached godlike status due to his work for the school football team. But if you ask his high school friends of their memories of Chester, they will not remember him running down the football field, but running down the hall, trying to save his own life. Like so many students, Chester found it amusing to tease the underclassmen. Particularly a fourteen-year-old freshman boy that was unable to defend himself when Chester and his friends pushed him in his own locker and secured the combination lock for three consecutive classes. That was the event they say made the boy snap. He brought a gun to school the next day, and even with all of his football training, Chester could not run fast enough to save his own life. He was the first student ever killed in a Michigan high school. Unfortunately, Chester†s story is not an isolated incident. School shootings are now a common occurrence. A place that used to be considered a safe haven is now turning into a death trap. Where lockers and drinking fountains used to be found there are now metal detectors and armed guards. Detroit high schools have expelled fifteen students since Chester†s murder inspired them to install metal detectors. Each of the students was carrying a loaded gun. Chester†s death also resulted in the now nation wide Barron Assessment and Counseling Center, a program designed to encourage youths to exchange their weapons for books. Marva Collins, principal of a Chicago Public School, sees the starting of these groups as bittersweet. † (These) Centers are extremely helpful, and have the right idea in mind, but how many children are going to have to die before our nation sits up and pays attention. Will mine be the next? † In 1994, children under 18 were 244% more likely to be killed by guns than they were in 1986. Gun owners of all ages state that their number one reason for owning a handgun is protection from criminals, yet they are 43 times as likely to kill a friend or family member than they are a criminal. In the 1980†³s it appeared that teen pregnancy was going to be the downfall of American society, but as Marion Wright Edelman, president of the children†s advocacy group puts it, † The crisis of children having children has been eclipsed by the greater crisis of children killing children. † Between 1979 and 1993, guns killed more than 60,000 children, a figure greater than the number of Americans killed in the Vietnam War. Also, a child in the United States is 15 times as likely to die as a result of gunfire than is a child in war-torn Northern Ireland. The statistics only succeed in proving what is becoming incredibly obvious; guns have become the clearest evidence of a growing despair among many American teenagers. As one young man puts it, † That†s just the way it is. Guns are just a part of growing up these days. You fire a gun and you can just feel the power. It†s like yeah. † Who is to blame for the newest American trend? Are parents not paying enough attention to their children? Are schools not educating students on proper anger management? These are both possibilities, but 6 out of 10 people agree: the problem lies in the media. It seems that you cannot attend a movie these days without having to prepare yourself for some degree of violence. Even â€Å"family† movies (those with a G or PG rating) are not immune to it. Television shows are nearly as bad, police dramas run nearly every night during prime time on major networks, exposing millions of young children to things they are not ready to see. The new wave of gangster rap shows young men boasting of killings and beatings, and the people of our country are proving to the corporations that offer these products one major thing; violence sells. Tommy Matola, president of a major music Corporation states â€Å"the things that (these) young men are speaking of are things that they grew up around, that millions of children are still growing up around. Society owes them for exposing a problem that may threaten our national security. † Even a typical cartoon show averages 41 acts of violence each hour, with an attempted murder every 2 minutes. Many parents want the Government to regulate what is available for children to see, but many maintain that it is not their responsibility. As Barry Lynn of the American Civil Liberties Union put it, † If you cannot persuade persons to reject what you consider to be exploitive or unhealthy, do not ask the government to impose your will on those same persons. † Lately, as youth violence has been more scrutinized by the public, many new laws have come into effect. The debate over what to do with juvenile offenders is one that will never be solved, but can be compromised to come up with a good solution. Currently, offenders who appear in juvenile court do not receive a criminal record. Therefore, when a child appears in front of a new judge, he will have no way of knowing how many times the child has convicted the same crime. The law of dismissing children from a criminal record was designed to protect them from stigma and prejudice, but more often there are negative results received not by the child, but by their victim. States have experimented with such things as punishing parents for crimes their children commit, and many have began to charge children accused of major crimes as adults. However, none of these laws have been threatening enough, as fourteen-year-old Arthur Bates has proven. Arthur spent many of his early years in mental facilities, but after it was decided that nobody could help him he was sent home to his mother. One day Arthur chose a house at random and planned on robbing it. Once he got in he realized the owner of the home, Lillian Piper, was asleep inside. Arthur proceeded to rape and kill Miss Piper, and then have a bowl of ice cream from her freezer and drive off in her Cadillac. About an hour later police, to whom he immediately confessed, stopped him. He then told them, â€Å"You can†t do anything to me. I just fourteen. † He was sentenced to seven months in reform school. To many, trying children as adults is the only fit punishment, but it has not been as helpful as its proponents had hoped. Usually, when these children are sent to adult institutions, they are sexually molested and taught new crimes. When the child leaves the institution, which many call their â€Å"crime school,† the child is now more dangerous than he ever had been. There have been many â€Å"crime camps,† instituted with juvenile offenders in mind, as well. At these camps, young offenders take part in â€Å"skills streaming† where they learn new ways to deal with real life situations. Whether any of these options really work is really in the eye of the public, and they cannot seem to agree. As Los Angeles police detective Robert Contreras puts it, â€Å"These kids are getting away with murder. They have no respect for anything and joke that in jail they†ll at least get three square meals a day. † Obviously, it is going to take more than one person to stop what is being called an American epidemic. Every parent, every child, every teacher, and every citizen is going to have to stand up and help achieve a solution. As of now, the students committing these crimes are not only literally getting away with murder but also being glamorized. Maryanne Britain, a Texas student, points out â€Å"I cannot name one of the students that was killed in Colorado, but I know the whole biography of the killers. What sense does that make? † Miss Britain has pointed out something that many of us don†t realize, in our country often times the offenders are mistaken as the victim. We lose sight of the crime at hand and try to blame the problem on society instead of the killers. We are all faced with the same graphic truth, and many of us are able to make it through life without killing anyone. Alone, we cannot accomplish much, but if we stand up to offenders as a nation, we can save the fate that we are now facing. All it will take to save the lives of our generation and many to come is everyone working together. That is when we will take our country back and truly make a difference. Perhaps teamwork can be the nations next epidemic.

Personal Values

Personal values are beliefs, missions, or philosophy that is meaningful on a personal level. They are reinforced by emotions and feelings, which turn mental perceptions into vital passions that we hope to realize in our lives. Whether we are consciously aware of them or not, every individual has a core set of personal values. Whatever our values are, when we take them to heart and implement them in our lives, great accomplishments and success happens. When we implement, commit to, and apply personal values in our lives, energy is released that attracts success, achievement, and well-being. Some of the more common personal values include; accomplishments, freedom, prosperity, success, friendship, punctuality, self-reliance, concern for others, harmony of purpose, accountability, quality of work, goodwill, reliability, goodness, cleanliness, commitment, creativity, customer satisfaction, equality, loyalty, justice, resourcefulness, family, independence, spirit, hard work, and faithfulness. People relate to personal values in a number of ways; thoughtful people continually think about those things they cherish and believe in, while the powerful are motivated and driven to implement personal values in their lives. Interestingly, not only do values energize us, but when we implement them, it energizes everything we come in contact with. Personal values drives and motivate us to move forward in life, which in turn enables progress. Whether they drive our own individual lives in a positive direction, improve the economic, social, and cultural conditions of a nation, or move society forward in a path of progress, personal values are important in our lives. We all have values that determine our decisions and guide our lives. Accomplishments in life depend not only on physical energy, but also on the psychological energy we are able to bring to our actions. Personal values also direct our psychological energies for accomplishment. The quality of the values we embrace and the intensity of our commitment to them determine the level of our accomplishment in life. Values, personal values, and core values all refer to the same thing. They are desirable qualities, standards, or principles that are the driving forces in our lives, and also influence our actions and reactions. They are inherited, and/or learned from our environment. Knowing your values helps you to follow a clear set of rules and guidelines for your actions, make good decisions, nd choices, find compatible people, places, and things that support your way of living, live with integrity, learn to identify and live from your values, and to manage stress (Ibtissem, 2010). Cultural Values Cultural values are sets of common understandings around which actions are organized, and the finding of expressions in language, whose finer distinctions are peculiar to the group. They are sets o f meanings shared by a group of people that are largely inferred among members, and are clearly relevant, and distinctive to the particular group. Cultural values are also passed on to new members. These values are systems of knowledge, standards for perceiving, believing, evaluating, and acting that serve to relate human communities to their environmental settings (Khalil, & Seleim, 2010). They are also deeper levels of basic assumptions and beliefs that are learned responses. Any social system arising from a network of shared ideologies consisting of substances – the networks of meaning associated with ideologies, norms, and values, and forms – the practices where the meanings are expressed, affirmed, and communicated to members, defines the cultural values of an organization. Culture is what naturally emerges as individuals transform themselves into social groups. A culture encompasses distinct observable forms – language, use of symbols, ceremonies, customs, methods of problem solving, use of tools, or technology, and design of work settings – that groups of people create through social interaction, and use to confront the broader social environment. Culture can be characterized as consisting of three levels; the first and most visible level is behaviors and artifacts, which consists of behavior patterns and outward manifestations of the culture. This is the privileges provided to executives, dress codes, level of technology utilized, and where it is utilized, and the physical layout of the work spaces. Artifacts and behavior also tell what a group is doing, but not the reasons why. The second level of culture is its values. The cultural values determine behaviors, but values are not directly observable, as behaviors are. There is a difference between stated values and operating values. To really understand culture, we have to get to the deepest third level, the level of assumptions and beliefs. Underlying assumptions grow out of values, until they are taken for granted and discarded. Many are unaware of, or unable to articulate their beliefs and assumptions. To understand culture, all three levels have to be understood (Vauclair, 2009). There is an additional aspect that may complicate the study of culture: the group or cultural unit which owns the culture. An organization may have many different cultures or subcultures, or even no apparent dominant culture at the organizational level. Recognizing the cultural unit is essential to identifying and understanding the culture. Organizational cultures are created, maintained, or transformed by people, and by organizational leadership (Khalil, & Seleim, 2010). Leaders at the executive level are the principle source for the re-infusion of an organization's ideology, articulation of core values, and the specification of norms. Organizational values express preferences for certain behaviors or certain outcomes, and organizational norms express behaviors accepted by others. They are the culturally acceptable ways of pursuing goals. Leaders also establish the boundaries for the formal lines of communication, and the formal interaction rules for the organization. Values and norms, once transmitted through the organization, establish the permanence of the organization's culture. Groups, societies, or cultures have values that are largely shared by their members. These values identify those objects, conditions or characteristics that members of the society consider important. Values are related to the norms of a culture, with the norms being the rules for behavior in specific situations, and the values identify what should be judged as good or evil. Members take part in a culture even if each member's personal values do not entirely agree with some of the normative values of the culture. This reflects an individual's ability to integrate and extract aspects valuable to them from the multiple of sub-cultures they belong to. If a group member expresses a value that is in serious conflict with the group's norms, the group's authority may carry out various ways of encouraging conformity or stigmatizing the non-conforming behavior of its members. Commonly held standards of what is acceptable or unacceptable, important or unimportant, right or wrong, workable or unworkable, in a community or society, is determined by cultural values. These values determine the ideas about what is good, right, fair, and just. Creating a culture based on moral excellence requires a commitment among managers to embody and develop two qualities in their leadership: virtue and wisdom. Creating an organization characterized by moral excellence is a lengthy process, because it involves changing the organizational culture (Vauclair, 2009). One of the primary responsibilities of strategic leadership is to create and maintain the organizational characteristics that reward and encourage collective efforts, with the most fundamental of these being the organizational culture. An organization's culture develops to help cope with the environment. Organizational leaders are confronted with many complex issues during their attempts to generate organizational achievement. Their success depends to a great extent on understanding organizational culture. Many of the problems that organizational leaders face are caused by their inability to analyze and evaluate organizational culture. Many leaders, when trying to implement new strategies or a strategic plan leading to a new vision, will discover that their strategies will fail if they are inconsistent with the organization's culture. Difficulties with organizational transformations arise from failures to analyze an organization's existing culture. Strategic leaders have an additional set of challenges; they have to create the means, and the opportunities to infuse their employees with new ways of looking at themselves, and their capabilities. Leaders' new ideologies and values need to be communicated effectively, internalized by employees, and then translated into productive methods of thinking, and working. Organizations consist of subgroups that have specific characteristics and a sense of identification. Within organizations, people can easily classify themselves and others into various social categories or groups based on identification with their primary work group, occupational, or professional skills, or union membership. Subgroups in organizations can and do create subcultures that comprise specific networks of meaning, and they remain associated with the ideologies and values of the organization's leadership. Organizations do not always have standardized or consistent subcultures. The social products produced by subcultures within organizations can be widely diverse, and even result in countercultures. These countercultures can have both productive and unproductive outcomes. The key to a counterculture's success is the group's ability to demonstrate how its unconventional behaviors are consonant with the core ideologies, values and norms of the dominant culture. Cultures provide members with a reliable means to interpret a highly vague environment. It is the organization’s leaderships’ responsibility to specify the features of the environment that are relevant to the organization, and then provide the supporting assumptions, and rationale for its operating strategies. Leadership should recognize that their cultural messages should specifically address cultural uncertainties associated with subculture practices within the organization, and limit their attempts to eliminate distinctions that are important to the subculture's identities. They would have a better chance of creating, or transforming an organization’s culture if they accept, and foster productive organizational subcultures, and consistently communicate how employees must perform in order for the organization to achieve its objectives. Cultural change then relies on leaders' communication techniques that cross sub cultural boundaries and carry messages about ideologies, values and norms that can be internalized by all employees. Cultural forms function as the linking mechanism by which networks of understandings develop among employees. These cultural forms act as a medium for communicating ideologies, values, and norms. They also enable leaders to transmit messages about desirable behaviors to influence thinking and ways of behaving. Cultural forms also address the emotional aspects of organizations that are commonly referred to as cohesion or camaraderie. Productive cultural change will occur if leaders correctly analyze the organization's existing culture, and evaluate it against the cultural attributes needed to achieve strategic objectives. They must first possess a clear understanding of the strategic objectives for their organization, and then identify the actions needed to reach those objectives. The next step is to conduct an analysis of the organization’s existing ideologies, values and norms. Strategic leadership needs to be transformational if it is to serve the organization, and it must operate from a foundation of high morality and ethical practices. Even though culture is deep seated, and difficult to change, leaders can influence or manage an organization's culture. It isn't easy, and it cannot be done rapidly, but leaders can have an effect on culture. An understanding of culture, and how to transform it, is a crucial skill for leaders trying to achieve strategic outcomes. Strategic leaders have the best perspective, because of their position in the organization, to see the dynamics of the culture, what should remain, and what needs transformation. This is the essence of strategic success. Values and ethics are one of the most important characteristic of an individual. They basically define who we are and what we believe. There are many factors that determine our values and ethics. Culture, religion, and many other factors affect our beliefs. Many times our values and ethics can clash with different people who hold different views and beliefs. This doesn't mean our values or ethics are wrong it just means we think differently than others. Most people have a good sense of ethics and values. Knowing between right and wrong is a good foundation to practicing good ethics and morals. Family members, Grandparents, friends, and school teachers all influence our thoughts and beliefs. Educational Values Education is not all about book learning and passing exams, it is also about developing personal values and living these values. Ethical Values To behave ethically is to behave in a manner that is consistent with what is generally considered to be right or moral. Ethical behavior is the bedrock of mutual trust. Values are what we believe to be right, individually or organizationally. Values distinguish between right and wrong, and doing what is right or wrong is what we mean by ethics. The first place to look in determining what is right or wrong is society, because almost every society makes some determination of morally correct behavior. Societies not only regulate the behavior of its members, but also define their societal core values. Experience lead societies to develop beliefs about what is of value for the common good. Societies may differ from one another in the specifics, but not in the general principles; reciprocity – one good deed deserves another, the notion of good intent – a person’s word is their bond, or the appreciation of merit in others regardless of personal feelings – give the devil his due. To determine what is generally considered to be right, look at the positive values of society and the organizations one belongs to. Societal or organizational norms are other aspects that should also be considered. Norms are the unstated rules, usually informally reached by the members of a group, which govern the behavior of the group's members. Norms often have a greater effect on what is and isn't done by the members of a group than formal rules and regulations. Norms are a important part of ethics, in that they allow and/or even encourage certain OK behaviors that are not in keeping with societal or organizational stated values. Ethics and morality are important for individuals, groups, organizations, and society. they should also be important for public officials, and for very much the same reasons. Some very important individual, group, organizational, and/or societal ethical values are; basic honesty and conformity to law; conflicts of interest; service orientation and procedural fairness; the ethics of democratic responsibility; the ethics of public policy determination; and the ethics of compromise and social integration. People behave unethically because of the complexity of the strategic issues that may cross that ethical line, difficulty in determining what the most ethical alternatives are, competition for scarce resources, power, or positions, conflicting loyalties, groupthink, is. There are several systemic factors also contribute to people behaving unethically; the competition for scarce resources, trying to gain a competitive advantage in the race for position or power, conflicting loyalties, groupthink among homogeneous groups with strong leaders, the presence of ideologues, or individuals who view their own extreme positions as right and any opposing positions as wrong, and an organization's negative response to dissent. Organizational members have only three choices when confronted with unethical behavior: Exit, the most direct response, means if you can't live with behavior that does not meet your own ethical standards, leave. Voice, means expressing discomfort with and opposition to the observed unethical behavior. Go public, to engage in ‘whistle blowing’. The final response to unethical behavior in an organization is loyalty, the alternative to exit. Instead of leaving, the individual remains and tries to change the organization from within. An organization cannot maintain high ethical standards without ways for eliminating unethical behavior. The steps to building an ethical climate, and to foster corporate ethics; (1) Determine the actions of strategic leadership and the ways they deal with ethical issues. The pattern of top leaders' behavior determines organizational values. (2) Make explicit ethics policies. (3) Increase awareness of how to apply ethical codes. (4) Training on how to deal with situations with an ethical dimension. 5) How to anticipate situations that involve ethical choices. (6) Expand the information system to focus on areas where ethics may come into play. Knowing what actually is going on in the organization is essential to understanding the ethical principles which govern behavior. The information system should also support ethical behavior, and allow the strategic leader to know when or where there are potential ethical breaches so that corrective action can be taken. There is real danger when unethical behavior goes unnoticed, or unpunished, members will assume it is excused by the organization's leadership. Encouraging leaders to pursue their own moral development is critical at higher levels because strategic leaders set the moral climate for the organization. Business ethics is the application of the disciplines, principles, and theories of ethics on the organizational level. These are the principles, and standards that guide behavior in the business environment. Ethical behavior in business is critical. When businesses are charged with infractions, and when employees of those firms come under legal investigation, there is concern raised about the moral behavior of that business. The level of mutual trust, which is the foundation of our free-market economy, is threatened. Business ethics is also concerned with the day-to-day ethical dilemmas faced by millions of workers at all levels of an organization. All people have their own sets of personal values that come from society, families, religions, and experiences. Ethical dilemmas can arise when those personal values conflict directly with the company’s practices. Organizations can manage their culture and ethical climate by trying to hire employees whose values match their own. Some firms even measure potential employees’ values during the hiring process and strive to choose individuals who fit within the ethical climate rather than those whose beliefs and values differ significantly. Family Values Some of the more common family values are; belonging, it is important that each member of a family feel that they are loved, that they belong and that they matter; flexibility, the order, schedules and structure of the family that helps to maintain a level of sanity; respect, to take feelings, thoughts, needs, and preferences in to account when making decisions; acknowledging and valuing everyone’s thoughts, feelings and contributions to the family as a whole; honesty, the foundation of any relationships that are meant to last; forgiveness, forgiving is an important choice to make (yes, choice); generosity, giving without thinking about what you will receive is an important value for anyone wanting to be a responsible, contributing ember to society; curiosity, which helps to build critical thinking skills, includes the spoken word, tone, volume, expression, eye contact, body language and effective listening; responsibility is something that is learned; and traditions, which ma kes a family unique (Arnier, & Stein, 1998). Religious Values Religion plays a vital role in our lives and in reinforcing personal values. It does not matter what our religious preferences are, personal values are formed and reinforced through religious teachings. Tolerance, honesty, truthfulness, respect for others and elders, purity are some of the values formed and reinforced through religious teachings. Organizational Values Organizations and institutions have values and ethics are that are central to its existence. Often time, there are one or more business values that are the key to a business’s success. Examples are Sear’s commitment to ‘trusting the customer’, Apple Computer's belief in ‘the value of solving the problems of society’, or the Marriott's value of ‘systemization and standardization’. Values are those things important to or valued by someone, whether they are an individual or an organization. Organizational values are important to its vision, which is based on and consistent with the organization's core values. Organizational values are more than words; they are the moral, ethical, and professional attributes of character, and what professionals judge to be right. These core values must be instilled in all organizational members. They determine our character, guide our lives, and are central to our profession. Some of the more common organizational values; loyalty, duty, honesty, selfless service, professionalism, caring, teamwork, stewardship. and integrity. When these values are shared by all organizational members, they can be very important and useful tools for making judgments, assessing probable outcomes of contemplated actions, and choosing among alternatives. Organizational values put all members on the same page with regard to what all members as a body consider important. These values are the embodiment of what an organization stands for, and should be the basis for the behavior of its members. When we implement, commit to, and apply personal values in our lives, energy is released that attracts success, achievement, and well-being. With organizations and nstitution’s employees, customers, products, services, and all the stakeholders, their energy attracts success, new opportunities, new sources of revenue and income, and other material and psychological benefits. In some organizations, any discord by its members may be rewarded by termination, or they may be expelled, or ostracized from the group. Group members quickly learn the operating values, or they don't survive for long. To the extent they differ from stated values, the organization will not only suffer from doing things less effectively, but also from the cynicism of its members, who have yet another reason for mistrusting the leadership, or doubting its wisdom. Organizational values provide the basis for judgments about what is important for the organization to succeed in its core business. There are three aspects to ethical behavior in organizations: the development of the individual as an ethical person, the effect of the organization as an ethical or unethical environment, and the actions or procedures developed by the organization to encourage ethical behavior and discourage unethical behavior. Most of an individual's ethical development occurs before entering an organization. The influence of family, church, community, and school will determine individual values. The organization is dealing with individuals whose value base has already been established. The organization also has a major impact on the behavior of its members, and can have a positive or negative influence on their values. There are three qualities individuals must possess to make ethical decisions; the ability to recognize ethical issues and to reason through the ethical consequences of decisions, the ability to look at alternative points of view, deciding what is right in a particular set of circumstances, and the ability to deal with ambiguity, uncertainty, and to make decisions on the best information available. Individual characteristics and organizational influence are very important attributes that determines ethical behaviors. The ethical standards that one observes in the organization will have a significant effect on individual behavior. The organization has the greatest impact in the standards it establishes for ethical and unethical conduct in its formal reward systems. Informal norms also have a strong influence on individuals' behavior as do the actions of the leaders of the organization. Strategic leaders must understand that their actions, more than words alone, will determine the operating values in the organization. Many people behave ethically, in spite of the apparent lack of gain. Ethical behavior is intrinsically rewarding; most people behave ethically because it's the right thing to do. People are guided by their personal value systems.

Mental health and mental illnesses Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Mental health and mental illnesses - Essay Example It is extremely difficult for us mortals to attain complete physical, mental or social wellbeing. A very common perception of health is that it is a commodity that can be "bought by investment in private health care; sold via health food stores and health centres; given by surgery and drugs and lost following accident or disease (Aggleton 1990, p.11). If the WHO definition was assailed, this concept of health as a commodity was reviled mainly because health was made dependent not on the person but on the merchandise that could be obtained from Another definition of health is that it is "the reserve of strength of energy. The meaning of strength can be extrapolated to mental strength which is the 'attitude or outlook of life which helps the individual cope with adversity". There is also a definition which says that health is the "ability to adapt to changing circumstances" (Aggleton 1990, p.11). ... There is also a definition which says that health is the "ability to adapt to changing circumstances" (Aggleton 1990, p.11). Still, another definition of health points to health as a conglomeration of a number of factors, which are foundations for achievement, "which help people to achieve their maximum personal potential" Such foundations for achievement encompass such basic things as water, food, shelter, "access to information and the skill and confidence to make sense of this" (Aggleton 1990,p.12). The traditional concept of health, meanwhile propounds that a healthy person is 'someone who exists in a state of equilibrium of mind, body and spirit" and "when this equilibrium is disturbed, then the health of the individual is impaired." ( Harari & Legge 2001,p.1). Of course, it drew brickbats from some people who cannot conceptualise health as a mere equilibrium of mind, body and spirit and finds this concept too vague and obscure. Health is better understood if we comprehend the concepts of disease and illness. Health suffers at the onset of disease. Disease and illness, contrary to the belief of many, do not come together. One may have disease without actually knowing it as in the case of an AIDS victim and knowledge comes only when pain or discomfort begins to pester one's being. This is the3 time that the sufferer realises he is ill. But his disease commenced at the moment the bacteria or virus had begun to inhabit his body, which inhabiting signaled an abnormality or pathology in a portion of

Write a report on the UK Government Green Policies and its Essay

Write a report on the UK Government Green Policies and its implications both positive and negative on enterprise based in the UK - Essay Example People all across the globe are very worried about the problems. Slicing carbon emission has been identified as one of the prime issues for increasing pollution. In the month of March in the year of 2010, Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) published a plan which is related with the climate change. This plan defines about DEFRA’s policy to reduce emission of greenhouse gas and also address the opportunities and risk associated with present climate change (DEFRA, n.d.). The government of the United Kingdom supported the Green Grid which is a non-profit making organization working in whole world for the boost of IT energy efficiency. Department of Energy (DOE) of US is grouping with Green Grid to the advance efficiency of energy in IT world (Mellor, 2007). The EU code of conduct is developed for the greener datacenters. UK Chief of Information Office Council has been summoned for reducing the footprint of carbon in government computers and also to improve the efficiency of IT in public sector by Gillian Merron, the Cabinet Minister. The UK government brings new plan in order to control the climate change. This plan sets the belief of the government that stumpy carbon transformation will be the most important drivers of growth of economy and also creation of job – in UK and globally (Pindyk, n.d.). On 31st March of 2010, DECC has opened a collaborative consultation document with Department for Business, Innovation and Skills about the stumpy carbon skills. The government has also started to tackle the problem. This is true that humans commit the wrong things for the environment like polluting lakes and rivers, discharging sulfur dioxide in the air and also releasing chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that causes ozone depletion. So, the government restrictions and intervention of taxes on the emission, prevents this kind destructive

The Nursing Care Management Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

The Nursing Care Management - Case Study Example When she is stressed, anxious, or having manifestations of manic depression despite having regular medications, extra support from a community nurse is available on the grounds of deterioration of her mental health. In this work, the care of Pat will be analyzed on the basis of the theoretical framework of nursing process where the role of learning disability nurses would be examined as far as clinical governance, ethical issues, and evidence from current research are concerned. This would also include critical analysis of emerging issues and implications on professional practice when it is delivering a care that is person-centred along or in collaboration including therapeutic interventions that are suggested by evidence from research. The planned care would then be critically analyzed and evaluated based on the principles of clinical governance and research evidence. Finally, everything should culminate into learning as far as learning disability nursing is considered. Theoretical framework to provide structure: This is the story of a young woman with learning disability, where her clinical situation has been complicated by detection and diagnosis mental health disorder such as manic depression and other medical disorder. This is a complex process due to her limited vocabulary and insights, and skill deficits. Therefore, the nursing assessment process that would lead ultimately to a care plan would need to include details of her skills and abilities, nature and pattern of behaviour in a diverse range of environments, relationships and understanding of her own emotions and of other people around her. To be able to implement these in practice, a theoretical framework is very necessary. These theoretical frameworks for practice have been derived from nursing theories.... This paper approves that medical history indicating stressors of long-term illness of complex partial seizures, mental illness of manic depression, medications against mental illness and seizures, and learning disabilities. A combination of these would lead to emotional disabilities. Conditions such as these can isolate individual who feels disconnected from others, resulting in difficulty relating in social situations. Presence of visual or hearing impairments are to be noted since presence of these in her case may lead to a situation where she may find communication barriers are increased, social interaction is affected, and interventions need to be designed to promote involvement with others in positive ways. This report makes a conclusion that the nursing care management must take care of the need to establish therapeutic relationship using positive regard for the person, active-listening and providing safe environment for self-disclosure. Client who is having difficulty interacting in social situations needs to feel comfortable and accepted before she is willing to talk about self and concerns. Client needs to learn social skills, because she has never learned the elements of interacting with others in social settings. Role-playing one-on-one is less threatening and can help individual identify with another and practice new social skills. Having client to participate in a controlled group environment, for example Pat and Jim, provides opportunities to try out different behaviours in a built-in social setting where members can make friends and provide mutual advice and comfort. Positive reinforcement for improvement in social behaviours and interactions should be provided since this enco urages continuation of desired behaviours/efforts for change.

Statistical assessment of two research reports Essay

Statistical assessment of two research reports - Essay Example A few studies have compared care recipients’ and relatives’ perceptions of care quality in nursing homes as opposed to home-based care. However, a few studies have systematically compared how different stakeholder groups perceive the quality of care offered in different types of community-based older people care settings. Specifically, little is known as to how care recipients and their relatives perceive the quality of services offered in home care as opposed to nursing homes. Such comparisons could offer concrete information regarding quality aspects in need of improvement in each respective setting. In the paper â€Å"Relationships between coping, coping resources and quality of life in patients with chronic illness: a pilot study†(Study 2)- The original purpose of the study was to determine differences between two groups of patients with chronic illness (ESRD and CHF) regarding the following study variables: coping, sense of coherence (SOC), self-efficacy and quality of life (QOL). ... There have been studies where researchers examined relationships between coping and QoL, SOC and QoL, or self-efficacy, coping and QoL. But In these studies, there was no attempt to investigate the relationships between all four variables in patients with chronic illness.This study will consider all the 4 variables at one time and find the correlation between them. 2. Data Collection Method Study 1- All the older people receiving home help services, home care or living in nursing homes in these two municipalities were considered eligible for the study. However, older people not capable of expressing their perceptions because of severe dementia did not receive the questionnaire. The questionnaires were distributed by the nursing staff who were instructed to discuss the capability of each care recipient to reply to the questionnaire with their supervisors. Thus, the only reason for not receiving the questionnaire was severe dementia.All the individuals who were registered as a primary family member to care recipients were included in the study and are referred to as care recipients’ relatives. One relative per care recipient was registered as primary family member and therefore one relative per care recipient was invited to participate in the study. Study 2- A total convenience sample of 201 patients (125 CHF and 76 ESRD) was selected from the medical records in two hospitals in Sweden. The inclusion criteria were: 45–80 years old, main diagnosis of CHF or ESRD, lived in their own homes, read and understood the Swedish language, and that they were not in the terminal stage. Questionnaires were mailed to the recipients with two reminders, which resulted in answers from 64 CHF and 41 ESRD patients within a period of 6 months. Five of the CHF

Change management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Change management - Essay Example Change management has received increasing attention especially in the nursing practice. A notable area to change is the handover system in order to improved efficiency and save both time and resources.Change is difficult for stakeholders and it takes a dedicated leadership to ensure that it happens successfully. The best model of change for this case is the Three Step Lewin’s Model. Change goes through three basic steps namely: freezing, moving and unfreezing. For change to successfully occur, the leadership should be visionary and motivate its employees towards the required direction. Principles in the practice are based on the stipulations of the NHS and other governing bodies. This paper aims to discuss change management using the Lewin’s model, improvement of the handover system in the given case as well as different types of leadership and policies affecting the practice in the UK. Transforming the bedside handover system has emerged as a means of improving neonata l care in hospitals as explained by Marshall and Coughlin (2010). The current bedside system in the hospital is bedside handover but some modifications can be made to improve efficiency. The new changes are to be based on safety of the infants, patient centred care, value added processes and team vitality. These aspects are the foundation of the change process to be used in the hospital by using the Three Step Lewin’s Model. ... Mullins (2002): Higgs and Rowland (2000) assert that leadership varies according to situations and organizations. Burdett Trust for Nursing (2006) stresses on the importance on leadership in nursing, it should be done in accordance to the set rules and regulations in the field. Royal Nursing College (2008); RCN (2003); Department of Health (2011) and Department of Health (2009) state the policies that have been made over the years to introduce change in nursing. Studies done on the bedside handover system One of the studies concerning bedside handover was conducted in Queensland hospital in 2009. This study was done on only ten patients to find out their perspective on bedside handover. The study observed the patients’ approach to the bedside handover system (Murray et al. 2011). The participants were questioned on the advantages and disadvantages. Their current role in the system and the role played by family members and other members of the medical team. The issues arising f rom this study were: most patients supported the inclusive handover system, others appreciated passive engagement and others viewed it as an opportunity to correct the information being passed. From this study, we can conclude that effective bedside handover provides patients to participate in their care. Another study was conducted in Ipswich hospital where the practice had been in place for over two years. The study was conducted in three wards in a total of thirty days, thirty four nurses were interviewed. The bedside handover had worked efficiently in the hospital. The staff members interviewed had positive feelings about the system since it was introduced. This study demonstrates on the efficiency of bedside handover and

Global Human Capital Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Global Human Capital - Essay Example Emphasis has also been put upon identifying the importance of international human resource management policies in developing such global skills. The paper is largely based on explorative and qualitative study. Within a globalized business environment, business organizations, employees and structure of operations are required to be set in an open, flexible and synthesized manner. Managers must be able to adjust and adapt themselves with diverse conditions and easily interact with individuals across different cultures. The globalized business environment can be stated to be a product of increased competition and enhanced level of interaction between firms across the globe. Such a diversified business environment facilitates exploring new market opportunities and liberalization of trade and business regulations. One of the prime advantages arising out of globalized business environment is the transmission of technology, human capital and other resources so as to make markets more and more competitive. Although managing global human capital is a huge challenge, it has facilitated distribution of talent and skill effectively. Hence modern day organizations groom managers in a manner such that they can adapt themselves with employees from different nation. Effective talent management is an essential quality global talent mangers are required to possess, in the context of multinational organizations. Much research work has been carried out in the recent decade for understanding the skills and qualities to be possessed by global managers. Most scholars such as Scullion and Collings (2010, 23) have recognized that the main skills to be possessed by global talent leaders areexpansion of scale of activities through effective talent management, establishment of suitable networks for managing talent and developing business models that can effectively exploit

Statistics assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Statistics - Assignment Example Further, the study revealed that there is a strong effect of gender on individual work status. Effect of Gender, Work Status and Age on Hours Worked per Week Individual’s ability to perform different type of work depends on many factors such as age, gender, environments conditions, etc. Furthermore, certain type of work is performed specifically by specific gender. This report will analyze effect of gender, age and work status on number of hours worked per week in job. In addition, this report will analyse whether work status differ by gender. The research questions identified are 1) Is there a difference in numbers of hours a week work in job between male and female respondents? 2) Is there a difference in numbers of hours a week work in job based on work status of respondents? 3) Is there a relationship between gender and work status of respondents? 4) Is there a relationship between numbers of hours a week work in job and age of respondents? To analyse above research questi ons, the 2006 Northern Ireland Life & Time Survey data will be used (ARK). Method Participants Participants were 1,230 respondents (40.6% male, 59.4% female) who had taken part in the 2006 Northern Ireland Life & Time Survey (NILT). ... All the data were collected via a self-completion questionnaire given to each respondent. Results Descriptive Statistics Majority (59.4%) of the respondents were female (figure 1). More than half (56.8%) of the respondents were with British nationality (figure 2). About 31.7% of the respondents were with Irish nationality. The respondents with marital status single (never married) and married were about 28.9% and 44.6%, respectively (figure 3). About one-fourth (26.5%) of the respondents were with marital status living as married, separated, divorced and widowed. About three-fourth (70.1%) of the respondents were with employee work status (figure 4). The respondents with work status supervisor or foreperson, self-employed and manager were 6.9%, 10.2% and 12.9%, respectively. Figure 1: Distribution of respondent’s gender Figure 2: Distribution of respondent’s nationality Figure 3: Distribution of respondent’s marital status Figure 4: Distribution of respondentâ₠¬â„¢s work status Table 1 shows the summary statistics for age and hours worked per week of respondents. Table 1: Summary statistics for age and hours worked per week Age Hours worked per week N 1230 551 Mean 48.75 35.32 Median 47.00 37.00 Mode 40 40 Std. Deviation 18.14 13.64 Range 76 99 Quartile 1 35.00 26.00 Quartile 3 63.00 40.00 Inter-Quartile Range 28.00 14.00 The average age of the respondents was about 48.75 years (SD = 18.14). About half of the respondent’s age was greater than 47 years. Most of the respondent’s age was 40 years. About middle-half of respondent’s age was in the range 28 years (Q1 = 35, Q3 = 63). The range of the respondent’s age was 76 years. The distribution of respondent’s age was approximately normally distributed

Time Capsule Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Time Capsule Assignment - Essay Example The Baroque time capsule, on the other hand, will contain objects of a far different type. The items in this time capsule will reflect an intellectual and an artistic time period in which classical forms were ignored or developed in important ways. The symmetry of the Renaissance, in many different fields, was supplanted by artistic endeavors characterized by a lack of symmetry, by an insertion of figurative rather than literal forms, and by a more emotional and colorful intellectual background (Wellek, 1946). Understanding the nature of the Renaissance is critical in this endeavor; it is critical because the Baroque, being a break from this intellectual tradition, cannot be understood in isolation. From a visual perspective, using art as an example, it would be wise to consider representative paintings such as The School of Athens by Raphael and the Vitruvian Man by Leonardo DaVinchi. These works are both illustrative and representative because they identify classical sources as inspirations and because they are used in such a way as to encourage future learning and development. This time period is hardly anti-learning; quite the contrary, the intellectuals simply chose to rely for political and social reasons on generally accepted classical forms and modes of inquiry. In the field of music, representative samples would include Ludwig Senfl's work, which maintained classical beats and patterns, and Johannes Lupi's work, which used repetition and imitation to distinguish his compositions rather than variations of style or structure. Representative drawings in the field of architecture, based on a revival of classical designs borrowed from classical Greek and Roman ideals, would be similar to those drawings and plans used to construct the Tempio de Visa in Rome and the Palazzo Farnese in Rome. Renaissance architecture is characterized by columns and pilasters, arches, and a very specific fitting together of pieces in a symmetrical and well-patterned way. The precision is apparent. Finally, in the fields of literature and philosophy, two representative samples would be The Divine Comedy by Dante and Utopia by Sir Thomas More. Classical sources, as with Dante, were used as foundations upon which to explore questions of religious faith, science, and philosophy more generally. In short, in all of these fields, the Renaissance is characterized by a heavy reliance upon classical sources, upon a preoccupation with symmetry and precision, and by repetitions rather than deviations. 1.2 Guidelines: Baroque Time Capsule As a preliminary matter, art provides a helpful introduction to the Baroque period; this is because art illustrates the departure from strict classical forms. Two highly representative paintings would be Adoration by Peter Paul and Aeneas Fleeing Burning Troy by Federico Barocci. Rather than employing the strict symmetry and compartmentalization of Renaissance painters such as Raphael, these paintings are characterized by overflowing colors, bodies and objects which merge rather than remaining separate, and which display a much

Relationship is an exploratory journey Essay Example for Free

Relationship is an exploratory journey Essay Janie grew up to find herself through each of her relationships. Her subdued lifestyle with her grandmother, her subdued and rather painful existence with her first husband Logan, her disillusionment after her initial enchantment with her second husband Jody, and her unfortunate killing of the husband she so loved, Tea Cake, all help her to recognize her for who she is and by the end of the novel, she is at peace with herself. This inner peace comes about by several twists and turns. She recognizes the various aspects of her own personality through her interactions in each of her relationships. She begins to understand that she might be more than a young girl whose responsibility has to be transferred from the matronly care of her grandmother to matrimonial bond to a unsympathetic husband during her first marriage. She realizes that she is more than an enchanted woman who wants be more than a socially acceptable companion to an ambitious and ruthless man during her second marriage. In her last marital relationship she begins to understand and appreciate her own need to be vivacious, lively and have good times with good company without the need to be apologetic or the need to be unaware of her partner’s shortcomings. In the death of her last husband Tea Cake at her own hand, she realizes that Life does not offer any linear solutions to the problems of relationships. Besides, she also understands that as a person she values her own individual survival is basic for her pursuit of happiness. Her confidence at having endured life’s trials and tests and having coming out not unscathed but with her individuality intact is mistaken for aloofness by her townsfolk. Finally, her revelations to her old friend Pheoby about her life finally give her a sense of fulfillment. Janie grows up in life through her relationships and that is why she has the confidence to tell her friend that â€Å"Ah been a delegate to de big’ssociation of life. Yessuh! De Grand Lodge, de big convention of livin’ is just where Ah been†(10) Janie started off in her childhood with a blind confidence that she was entitled to everything like everyone else. She did not realize she was colored till she saw herself in a photograph and could not recognize herself. When, the rest of the children and the people of the house pointed her out in the photograph, she exclaimed â€Å"Aw, aw! Ah’m colored! †(p. 13) She was taught by her nanny before she was married to Logan Killicks that â€Å"De nigger woman is de mule uh de world so fur as Ah can see. †(p. 20) Her completely subjugated relationship with Logan who was far older than her made her realize that perhaps she wanted more out of life. She wanted to feel a wanting in her heart and her body for a man, a true companion. That is what drove her into the arms of Jody, an ambitious, would-be politician. He was enchanting and had a manner that befitted his yet-to-acquire status. What she did not realize was Jody wanted her to be performing a particular role in his life. There was no fun in Jody because he always looked at life as a mission to be accomplished. She had to tell Jody that he was no fun to be with â€Å"Everybody can’t be lak you, Jody. Somebody is bound tuh want tuh laugh and play†(p. 76) She was so offended by Jodie’s denying her right to be herself, which she began to realize slowly with growing years and experience, she did not even care to be polite to a dying man. In fact Jodie’s death filled her with a sense of relief. Her realization that any relationship can come to the end of its utility and can fill a person with an unmentionable need for it to end came with Jodie’s death. \ After this growing distancing from Jody and his loftiness, which prevented Janie from living the life as a tribute to all possibility of happiness, Tea Cake entered. â€Å"Janie looked down on him and felt a self-crushing love. So her soul crawled out from its hiding place† (p. 122) Though Tea Cake gave her a brief scare by running away from her with her money, he returned to confess and begin their new life. His vivaciousness and his love for life was something that Janie had always wanted. For her the sweet pain and the all encompassing love she experienced under a pear tree were realized in her years with Tea Cake. But as all good things it also had to come to an end. The fearsome hurricane that they fled, the rabid dog that bit Tea Cake and its ill-effects on his personality and character were all revelations of the uncertainties of life. Janie had to kill Tea Cake in self defense and was acquitted in a trial consisting of all-male, all-white jury – yet another affirmation that Life had its strange ways of indicating its endless possibilities. Now, women forget all those things they dont want to remember, and remember everything they dont want to forget. The dream is the truth. Then they act and do things accordingly. †(3) The final place she comes back to is her hometown Eatonville. There, the act of sharing her life’s story with her friend fills her with a sense of completeness. Her relationship with her friend when she interacts very minimally with the townsfolk, allowing them to imagine all kinds of negative things about her, is a final revelation. The narration of the story was a necessity to herself as it was for Pheoby to know the facts. Her growth as a woman and a human being through her four major relationships in life is given a chance to be framed in perspective by her relationship with her friend –somebody with whom she shares no burden of expectation Works cited Hurston, Zora Neale and Jerry Pinkney Their eyes were watching God. Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1991

Consequences of Smoking

Consequences of Smoking For quite a long time, the utilization of tobacco has been acknowledged. Tobacco plants have been developed in the U.S. in seventeenth century and tobacco has been utilized as a part of different structures from that point forward. In 1865, an individual who is called Washington Duke in North Carolina has begun to move cigarette and exchange it for money. In 1883, a man named James Bonsack designed the machine that can roll the cigarette and production of thousand of cigarettes every day. In this way, as indicated by WHO, there are 20% of the worlds populace are utilizing tobacco. On the off chance that including the individuals who smoke inactively, that number can go up to half (A Complete Social History of Cigarettes). Smoking is destructive to wellbeing is the message which is imprinted on all tobacco items. The fact of the matter is everyone knows except very nearly of them disregards and has straightforward musings about the damage. Circumstance Every day, more than 3,200 individuals under 18 smoke their first cigarette, and roughly 2,100 young people and youthful grown-ups get to be day by day smokers. There are 9 of 10 smokers begin before the age of 18, and 98% begin smoking by age 26. 1 in 5 grown-ups and teens smoke. In 2011, an expected 19% of U.S. grown-ups were cigarette smoker. Roughly 18% of secondary school understudies smoke cigarettes. In 2011, almost 18% of secondary school young men were current cigarette clients. (Tobacco Facts and Figures, 2014). The world has around 1.3 billion individuals use cigarettes, of which the Asia-Pacific district has high rates of cigarette utilization. Asia has 3 out of 5 nations have high rates of cigarette utilization on the planet that is China, Japan and Indonesia. Cigarette utilization has had a tendency to expand, have a tendency to lessening in created nations however expanded in the creating nations. As indicated by appraisals from the review of smoking in grown-ups (from 16 years) in Vietnam (GATS 2010), the rate of smoking among men is 47.4%, in ladies is 1.4%, a sum of more than 15 million grown-ups right now smoke. Individuals on the planet start smoking cigarette on account of various reasons. They are presumably that individuals are focused on or they need to focus on their work or another smoke due to their relative and their companions. Issues Through examination shows tobacco utilization has noteworthy ramifications to the wellbeing, financial advancement, and also the quantity of other social effects. In term of wellbeing issues, cigarette utilization lessens the status of wellbeing, abbreviate lifetime, and reasons the quantity of ailments even sudden passing. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cigarette smoking results in more than 480,000 unexpected losses in the United States every year—around 1 in every 5 U.S. passings and an extra 16 million individuals endure with a genuine sickness created by smoking.(Drug realities: Cigarettes and other Tobacco items, 2014). Reason of this result is that cigarettes contain more than 7,000 chemicals, 250 of which are unsafe to both smokers and uninvolved smokers. They are Arsenic, Benzene, Vinyl chloride, Formaldehyde, Toluene. Particularly, it additionally contains Nicotine which is the addictive synthetic. (2011) The body is canny. It goes on the safeguard response when it is being harmed. At the point when smokers utilize the cigarette shockingly, they feel hurt or blazing in the throat, lungs, another get debilitated or even they hurl the initial couple of times they attempt to smoke. Results of this hurting happen dynamically. Over the long term, smoking leads people to make wellbeing issues like coronary sickness, stroke, emphysema (breakdown of lung tissue), and various sorts of development — including lung, throat, stomach, and bladder infection. People who smoke similarly have an extended risk of defilements like bronchitis and pneumonia. These sicknesses limit a singulars ability to be routinely dynamic, and they can be deadly. In the United States, smoking is accountable for around 1 out of 5 perishes. Smokers dont simply make wrinkles and yellow teeth. They similarly lose bone thickness, which fabricates their risk of osteoporosis, a condition that causes more settled people to wind up bent over and their bones to break more easily. Smokers furthermore tend to be less dynamic than nonsmokers in light of the way that smoking impacts lung power. Smoking can likewise cause readiness issues and can influence sexual wellbeing in both men and women. Young women who are on the pill or other hormone-based frameworks for hostile to origination medicine (like the patch or the ring) forms their risk of honest to goodness wellbeing issues, for instance, heart attacks, if they smoke. The consequence of smoking may give off an impression of being far away, however long term wellbeing issues arent the fundamental threat of smoking. Nicotine and substitute toxic substances in cigarettes, stogies, and channels can impact a singulars body quickly, which infers that teen smokers encounter a strong bit of a few issues. Since smoking can decrease the flood of veins, it can keep oxygen and supplements from getting to the skin — which is the reason smokers frequently appear to be pale and undesirable. Studies have furthermore joined with smoking to an extended threat of getting a kind of skin rash called psoriasis. Cigarettes leave smokers with a condition called halitosis, or persisting unpleasant breath. Studies exhibit that smokers get more colds, flu, bronchitis, and pneumonia than nonsmokers. In addition people with certain wellbeing conditions, in the same path as asthma, get the chance to be more crippled in case they smoke (and routinely on the off chance th at theyre just around people who smoke). Since young people who smoke as a way to deal with supervise weight frequently light up rather than devouring, their bodies moreover neglect to offer the supplements they need to create, make, and fight off infection suitably. (Dowshen, 2013) Arrangements Cigarette reasons fluctuated unsafe to people. Subsequently, a few answers for forestalling individuals utilization in cigarettes are important to upgrade the standard of life. Firstly, the administration ought to recommend the smoking ranges, for example, medicinal offices, schools, work environment, indoor, indoor open spots and on open transport. The disallowance of smoking (open spots, work environments and on open transport) has put forward in the International Convention- Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (composing as the FCTC) by the WHO launch, and this tradition was for more than 174 nations sanction. Concerning the opportunity of smokers, they can smoke in the zone not managed or outside where their smoking demonstrations dont imperil the wellbeing of other individuals. The non-smoking individuals have the privilege to inhale natural air unpolluted by tobacco smoke inactively. Furthermore, procurements in the wellbeing notices with pictures on the bundling of tobacco items. The wellbeing cautioning printed photographs to guarantee the privileges of shoppers are mindful of the data about of the items they utilize, the results on the wellbeing dangers and addictive properties, muscle maladies, passings from the utilization of cigarettes. The WHO ponder in 2006 demonstrated the wellbeing cautioning printed photographs will cause stay away from around 300 to 700 unexpected losses every year in decades. Contingent upon studies on the expense productivity of the Institute of wellbeing approach technique indicated over, the wellbeing cautioning printed photographs in Vietnam would have the most minimal expenses in the measures for anticipation of the hurtful impacts of cigarettes. Around the world, the quantity of nations in notice the photographs is on the ascent. There are 42 nations have done. Nonetheless, this arrangement likewise has a deterrent. A few indiv iduals dont say about this notice. Finally, expanding tobacco assessment can be viewed as the ideal decision to put weight on tobacco items. This arrangement strengths smokers to give more cash to buy drugs. At the point when a lot of cash, the medication ought to lessen the measure of tobacco devoured all the while some would consider stopping. Additionally, smokers will feel in control of the smoke. In the meantime the tobacco organizations would be influenced contrarily prompts diminished creation of tobacco. In light of viewpoints, for example, the attainability, adequacy testing, human rights, monetary, expense expand measures are viewed as most suitable for a circuitous effect on the destructive impacts of tobacco to individuals. As far as money, expanding tobacco charges are viewed as a twofold hit the target. Tobacco expenses supplement a lot of cash in the state plan while diminishing offers of tobacco organizations will keep the development of these organizations. The measure of smoking for smokers will be moved to interest in instruction and wellbeing issues of relatives lead to enhancing personal satisfaction as a rule and other supportive administrations. This likewise adds to build vocation opportunities and enhance the economy of the nation. Proof is that tobacco charge income administration of Thailand more than 3 times from around 512 million US dollars in 1992 expanded to more than $ 1.7 billion in 2010. Wellbeing insurance agencies utilize the additional measure of cash that needs spending bill cure lung tumor, prompting lessened speculation to empower the economy. As per the World Bank, the normal expense increment to the cost of cigarettes expanded by 10%, the utilization will increment from 4% to 8%. Besides, individuals who quit implies that there are more than 5 individuals are not uninvolved smokers. The wellbeing of the group is secured in a reasonable manner. Proficiency expands exponentially making awesome point of interest the answer for raise charges. Conclusion In synopsis, cigarettes are bringing on a huge number of diseases. Halting smoking at any age and at whatever point is helpful. Ceasing smoking gives your body a chance to patch the damage brought on by smoking.

Stakeholder Analysis of Wal-Mart

Stakeholder Analysis of Wal-Mart A long-range strategic planning is so important to an organization because if you fail to plan, change in your business can be tough to handle and ultimately you are planning to fail. Strategic planning is one of the only ways a top management team can plan for economic, demographic, competitive, technological, and regulatory changes that affect the way your organization operates. The firm must engage in strategic planning that clearly defines objectives and assesses both the internal and external situation to formulate strategy, implement the strategy, evaluate the progress, and make adjustments as necessary to stay on track. TASK 1.A: IDENTIFY AN ORGANIZATION OF YOUR CHOICE WHICH YOU WILL DISCUSS AS AN EXAMPLE IN THIS ASSIGNMENT AND GIVE YOUR REASONS FOR CHOOSING THIS ORGANIZATION. Wal-Mart will be taken as the organization of my choice to discuss through the various aspects of this assignment. Wal-Mart is the leader in retailing industry with fiscal revenue of $244.52 billion in 2003 making it the worlds largest corporation. Mike reports that Wal-Mart as of 2002 had 1,283,000 employees growing at 11.2%. The above data explains that strategy of Wal-Mart is extraordinary which manages and operates over 4150 retail facilities globally. The key components of Wal-Mart (The Value Chain), which offers cheap prices than its competitors includes firm infrastructure like frugal culture, no regional offices and pleasant environment to work. Managements take lots of visits and it is learnt there are no rehearsals before any meeting which is usually scheduled on every Saturday. In any organization, human resource is the key to development and Wal-Mart efficiently manages its sources. Wal-Mart terms its employees as associates. Manager compensation is linked to the profit of store operated by him, within promotions, compensation offered to associates depending on companys profits and al so offered some incentives on their performances. The workforce at Wal-Mart is not unionized as the company takes all the measures of their benefits and provides them training on related issues. Technology plays a vital role in development of the organization and Wal-Mart is well equipped with technological innovations like POS, store performance tracking, real time market research, satellite system and UPC. Wal-Mart procurement measures like hard-nosed negotiations, partnerships with some vendors, centralized buying, planning packets, etc. helps at large the cause of providing the goods and services on cheap prices. The other factors that increase the margin of profit for Wal-Mart are inbound logistics with frequent replenishment, automated DCs cross docking, pick to flight, EDI, hub and spoke system. Wal-Mart strategy of operation is innovative with big stores in small towns with monopoly in the market at low rental costs, local prices, concentric expansion, merchandising in brand name, private labels, little space for inventory, store within store, etc. In relation to marketing and sales, merchandising is tailored from locals, spent less on advertising and the prices are fixed low and it depends on the store manager to fix the latitude of pricing. All the above factors combined together form the key components of Wal-Mart which not only increase the margin of profits through bulk sales but also boost the confidence of the customers with services like point of sale information system and everyday low prices. TASK 1.B: WHO ARE THE MAJOR STAKEHOLDERS OF YOUR ORGANIZATION AND WHAT CONSIDERATIONS SHOULD BE MADE TO ENSURE THEIR (STAKEHOLDER) PARTICIPATION IN DEVELOPING MANAGEMENT STRATEGY Stakeholder Analysis of Wal-Mart In determining the public affairs strategy of Wal-Mart, there are many groups and individuals who have a stake in what Wal-Mart does. These stakeholders can be divided into two groups: the market and non-market stakeholders. The market stakeholders are those groups and individuals who have an economic stake in what the company does. The non-market stakeholders are those groups and individuals who have a non-economic stake or political stake in what course the company takes. Market Stakeholders 1. The Stockholders The first group that has an economic stake in what Wal-Mart does is its shareholders. These are the people who actually own shares of Wal-Mart and therefore are interesting in seeing a return on their investment. They hope the value of their stock will rise and they will see dividends. According to the 2001 Annual Report, last year, Wal-Mart paid out $.24 per share in dividends (Annual Report 2001, 45). 2. The Wal-Mart Executives The top executives of Wal-Mart also have an economic stake in the company just as the regular stockholders do. Many of the top executives received stock options are part of their salary. Obviously, they want their stock value to rise because a large part of their compensation comes from how well the Wal-Mart stock is doing. 3. The Employees While some of the employees may have stock in the company, many of them have an economic stake in the company just because their job is their primary source of income. They want Wal-Mart to do well because then they will keep their job and their source of income. Their financial compensation from Wal-Mart sustains them. Wal-Mart employs more than 885,000 people nationwide (Reid, 1) 4. The Communities where Wal-Mart is located Each of the communities that have a Wal-Mart located in it has a stake in how well the company is doing. Many of these communities rely on Wal-Mart not only for jobs but also for a place to purchase many of their day to day necessities are a low price. Without Wal-Mart in these communities, there would be people without jobs and families paying higher prices for the goods that they need. 5. Consumers Consumers have a stake in how well Wal-Mart is doing. According to the 2001 Annual Report, Wal-Mart is the countrys largest grocery retailer (Annual Report 2001, 7) and therefore many people rely on Wal-Mart for their groceries. 6. Non-profit Organizations Many non-profit organizations have an economic or market stake in how well Wal-Mart is doing. The Wal-Mart foundation provides many non-profit organizations with funding and if the company is not doing well, the Foundation is not going to do as well either. According the Wal-Mart Good Works Foundation, 97 percent of their funding goes to non-profit organizations in the communities where their stores are located. The Wal-Mart Good Works Foundation provides funding to programs that deal with community, education, environment and children. Therefore, if a Wal-Mart is located in a certain community, the non-profit organizations can look to the Wal-Mart foundation as a possible source of funding. (www.walmartfoundation.org) 7. Other Retailers Other retailers have a stake in how well Wal-Mart is doing and how much they are expanding. If a Wal-Mart moves into a community, changes are the other retailers in that community, especially if they are privately owned are going to lose money and may even be forced to close down. Because Wal-Mart is the largest retailer in the United States and number 1 on the Fortune 500 list, they have the ability to lower their prices and therefore can force other retailers out of business because they cannot match Wal-Marts low prices. 8. Online Retailers Like other retailers in communities where there is a Wal-Mart, online retailers also have a stake in how well Wal-Mart is doing. Wal-Mart totally revamped their website in 2000 in order to make it a more profitable part of their retail empire. Wal-Mart, unlike many other e-tailers closed down their website in September 2000 in order to revamp their site. While Wal-Marts online sales only represent a small portion of their overall sales, the website is a low cost way for Wal-Mart to deliver goods to consumer who lives in communities without Wal-Mart stores. (Business Week 11/6/00,2). 9. Gasoline Retailers In 1996, Wal-Mart made its first partnership with the gasoline industry. Today, Wal-Mart has contracts with companies such as Murphy Oil USA, Sunoco, and Tesoro Petroleum. Wal-Mart contracts with these companies and leases real estate on their lots in order for the company to offer gasoline at Wal-Mart stores. Both the oil companies who have contracts with Wal-Mart and local gas stations have a stake in this. The local gas stations often cannot compete with Wal-Mart in either price or convenience. Over the next year, the oil companies that contract with Wal-Mart plan to expand to offer cheap gasoline at more Wal-Mart locations. For example, Murphy plans to expand to 600 Wal-Mart sites by 2003 and the other gas retailers have similar plans. (Reid, 5) Non-Market Stakeholders 1. Labor Unions Labor unions have a political stake in Wal-Mart has a strict policy about not having their workers unionized. Wal-Mart takes the position that they are better able to take care of their employees and provide them with the best benefits and compensation plans. Wal-Mart does not want interference from unions. Recently, Wal-Mart was charged by the National Labor Relations Board with violating federal law by keeping employees from holding elections and joining the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. (NY Times, C2) 2. International Retail Stores One of Wal-Marts key policy issues has been to move into the international retail market and open stores in other countries. Last year, Wal-Marts International Divisions sales increased by 41 percent (Troy, 47). Currently, Wal-Mart has stores in Chine, Korea, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Canada and Mexico (Thau, 9). Wal-Mart must work closely with Public Relations firms in those countries in order to make sure there is no backlash against them moving into other countries. They must also be careful to follow the laws of each of those countries when they open new stores. Wal-Mart has been careful in moving into the international markets. They have acquired companies already well established in those countries and have made sure that 90 percent of their international products are locally sourced (Thau, 9). 3. Politicians Politicians have a non-market stake in Wal-Mart for several reasons. First of all, politicians may or may not want Wal-Mart opening in their district. On one hand, it may be good for the community. However, if it is a district with a large union presence, the politician may not want Wal-Mart is that area. Also, politicians may rely on Wal-Mart for campaign funding. Last cycle, Wal-Marts political action committee, Wal-Mart Stores Inc PAC for Responsible Government contributed $752,500 to various committees and candidates during the 2001 cycle. TASK 1.C: WHAT ARE THE KEY CRITERIA THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED WHEN REVIEWING MANAGEMENT STRATEGY OPTIONS? Key Points to make Planning Effective 1. The Success of planning depends upon the effectiveness with which the forecast has been made. If the forecast is accurate, there is every possibility that the plan will be success. 2. Flexibility must be introduced in the plan whenever necessary so that the employees can work with sustained interest and effort. The management shall not use pressure tactics and force employees to work for the sake of attaining the daily or weekly targets. 3. All the members concerned with the organization must be involved in the task of preparing the plan. The viewpoints of the employees, who are actually going to perform the tasks, must be secured and their ideas may be incorporated in the plans, if found suitable. 4. The plan should not be prepared to focus on the financial goals of the business alone. It must have something for the employees. There must be some provision in the plan to reward efficient workers. Some inducement is necessary in the plan to motivate the employees to work harder. 5. The plan must be realistic. It should take into account the capabilities of both the managers and the employees. Both shall not be required to work beyond their capacity. In other words, the plan must not expect too much out of every person. 6. The plan must be communicated effectively to all the subordinate staff. Their consent may also be obtained. The successful implementation of the plan depends on the extent to which subordinates participate willingly in the performance of the tasks. 7. A co-ordinated effort on the effort on the part of every department is required for the success of the plan. To achieve this, the departments concerned shall work with proper understanding. Additional steps that can be followed to avoid obstacles in planning. (There should be no ambiguity in the objectives that are laid out. They must be clear and achievable. Use of information should be put in place. Management Information System can be used. Managers should sport a dynamic outlook and they should have that mindset of moving towards achieving the objectives All plans designed can have some amount of flexibility built into it. All resourcing required for the plan should be done upfront leaving on surprises at the end. The importance of having a Cost-Benefit analysis cannot be ruled out. This must be done. TASK 1.D: DESCRIBE A SITUATION WITH YOUR CHOSEN ORGANIZATION WHERE A POTENTIAL STRATEGY MIGHT BE DEVELOPED TO RESOLVE AN ISSUE. PRODUCE AN APPROPRIATE STRATEGY AND INDICATE ITS RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS. A strategic goal of Wal-Mart is to expand. It has done so successfully. Looking at the facts and figures clearly shows the corporations dominance and power. Currently the corporation employs over 1.3 million employees, one million in the US alone. The company owns over 4000 stores worldwide. Over 1,200 units (stores) are in operation internationally. Domestically, Wal-Mart is the largest US retailer, employing around 1 million people. It has over 3,000 stores and outlets, and 77 distribution centers. The company serves more than 100 million customers weekly in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and several nations around the world. (www.walmart.com, Fact Sheet Wal-Mart at a Glance, 2002). Internationally, the retailer operates in Mexico, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, China, Korea, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Its expansion strategy internationally has been aggressive and powerful. The latest expansion strategy is for the company to gain entry into a nation by corporate takeover of a national retailer. Once the company is bought, Wal-Mart converts the stores into Wal-Mart stores. Three countries, all with no previous Wal-Mart stores, became part of the corporations international presence when domestic retail chains were overtaken. In 1994, Wal-Mart bought 122 Woolco stores in Canada; today there are 196 units in Canada. In 1998 Wal-Mart bought the Wertkauf store with 21 units, now there are 94 Wal-Marts in Germany. In 1999, Wal-Mart acquired the ASDA chain with 229 units in the UK. Today, the UK has 252 Wal-Mart stores. (www.walmart.com, Fact Sheet on International Operations, 2002) This particular strategy, of corporate takeover, puts the company at an advantage when it enters into a new market. In one stroke, a large competitor is eliminated, and at once, Wal-Mart has real estate and employees, and a massive presence in its targeted location. This is an effective use of the companys size and wealth, as few if any competitors are able to do this effectively. The company builds up brand familiarity, while retaining the old familiar outlets. Gradually, as the local Wal-Mart stores begin to make money, and local management assess their competition environment, the company begins to redesign the acquired stores to look like Wal-Marts, it then begins to build new and larger stores in that new market. Wal-Mart is now the largest retailer in Canada and the UK. TASK 2: DEVELOP VISION, MISSION, OBJECTIVES AND MEASURES TASK 2.A: FOR YOUR CHOSEN ORGANIZATION, LIST THE DOWN ITS ETHICAL, CULTURAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND BUSINESS OBJECTIVES. HOW ARE THESE INFLUENCED BY THE CURRENT BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC CLIMATE Visioning Creating shared understanding of future possibilities A strategic vision is usually thought to be solely future oriented. A vision provides an organization a forward looking, idealized image of itself. Moves outside the usual assumptions. Concentrates on the end goal, not the means to reach the goal. Followers gain ownership by developing the means (action plan). An alternate view from the field of organizational learning expands this to shared vision, which also includes a present component. Vision is not a destination, but an intangible structure that surrounds us and guides our daily activities. From this perspective, a shared vision is a form of self-identity. This definition of vision is a collective belief in what the organization can become. In this way it is similar to a truly desired wish for the future. The difference, however, is in how we mold ourselves to adapt to the environment without expecting to be able to change the environment itself. Yes, there is an implicit assumption about the future. However, if the vision is sufficiently broad it will suffice for providing a framework for current decisions. Granted, all decisions are made in the present. Yet, to work toward something grander than the present employs some probability of future outcomes upon which to make decisions, all other things being equal. Regarding feedback loops for control, such feedback can be employed for both corrective action and vision revision (interesting combination of words). If the feedback indicates a problem in the implementation and nothing amiss in the expected vision then the strategy and/or tactics can be altered to get back on track toward the vision. And if there is an indication that the vision is no longer realistic there is no problem with a shift in vision to a more workable vision. Normal planning cycles allow for such a step on an annual basis, which is probably too long for planning within a dynamic environment. But this gets back to the dynamics of the planning process itself. This approach to using feedback is similar to the use of a tracking ratio to serve as a warning system for a forecast that is no longer adequate to the current reality. Implications What is unique about the organizations self-concept of itself? Something that would be missed if the organization were not to fulfill this vision. What issues might arise among different stakeholders as this vision is realized? Are organizational practices aligned with the vision? Are desired actions reinforced by performance metrics? Putting an organization mission vision in place requires working at all levels of the organization. Oftentimes, the effort is only made at the top of the organization with the expectation that employee commitment will follow. Instead, limited compliance is accomplished, at best. It is recommended that a specific change program be put in place to develop a shared vision and common understanding of the groups mission. Mission The mission is the ultimate purpose for why the organization exists. Essential components of a good mission statement include: Brief and easily understood by everyone. What goods and services (beyond the basics) For Whom market segmentation (geographic, sociological, financial, ethnically) How market strategy, distribution strategy. Present and future possibilities. Why basic reason the organization exists. Distinctive competency. Driving Forces. Driving Forces Products and/or services offered Market served Technology Low-cost capability Operations capability Method of distribution sale Use of resources Profit (return on resources) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ TASK 2.B: DESCRIBE THE ROLES OF VISION AND MISSION STATEMENT OF YOUR CHOSEN ORGANIZATION The corporate mission can be stated as follows: As Wal-Mart continues to grow into new areas and new mediums, our success will always be attributed to our culture. Whether you walk into a Wal-Mart store in your hometown or one across the country while youre on vacation, you can always be assured youre getting low prices and that genuine customer service youve come to expect from us. Youll feel at home in any department of any storethats our culture. The company has three Basic Beliefs or core philosophies Sam Walton built the company on. Those beliefs are: (1) Respect for the Individual, (2) Service to Our Customers, and (3) to Strive for Excellence. Respecting the individual is a call for treating their employees well and pushing them to excel in what they do. The commitment to their customers is a goal whereby the stores respect a pricing philosophy to always sell items as low as they can while providing excellent customer service. The third belief is to strive for excellence, that is to expand the store, innovate, reach further in to new markets and to grow. (H. Lee Scott, 2002, www.walmart.com) Other beliefs include, exceeding customer expectations with aggressive hospitality such as using door greeters. The store also features patriotic display and themes in its US stores. Another goal for the company is to support efforts in the local community via charitable contributions. Wal-Mart identifies several affiliations with charities such as the United Way and the Childrens Miracle Network (www.walmartfoundation.org). The Sundown Rule is a corporate directive whereby all Wal-Mart employees, be they store associates, management, or corporate staff, must reasonably answer a customers or supplier request or question within 24 hours. The Ten Foot Rule states that store employees must greet, smile, and attend to a customer in a store when within 10 feet of them. Its a type of aggressive hospitality policy. Wal-Mart also compels its staff to engage in morning cheers where they recite company sayings. A final, yet important rule, which is a strong part of the corporate culture is Sam Waltons Pricing Philosophy which underlines the company strategy of selling items for less then their competitors, always. (www.wal-mart.com, corporate culture). TASK 2.C: INDICATE HOW IT IS POSSIBLE FOR AN ORGANIZATION TO EVALUATE THE ACHIEVEMENT OF ITS OBJECTIVES Implementing: Every company will have its own strategy but it is the operation which puts in to practice. You cannot, after all, touch a strategy; you cannot even see it ; all you can see is how the operation behaves in practice. The implication of this role for the operations function is very significant. Support: It must develop its resources to provide the capabilities which are needed to allow the organization to achieve its goals. Example: If a manufacturer of personal computers has decided to compete by being the first in the market with every available new product innovation, then its operations function needs to be capable of copying with the changes which constant innovation will bring. It must develop or purchase processes which are flexible, enough to manufacture novel parts and products. Driving: The third role of the operations part of the business is to drive strategy by giving it a long-term competitive edge. The both short term and long term success can come directly from the operations functions. An operations function which is providing both long and short term advantage is driving business strategy by being the ultimate custodian of competiveness. Effective operations management: Operation plays these roles within the organization can be judged by considering the organizational aims or aspirations function. The model traces the progression of the operations function from which it is largely negative role of stage 1 operations to it becoming the central element of competitive strategy in excellent stage 4 operations. Stage 1: internal neutrality: This is the poorest level of contribution by the operations function. The other functions regard it as holding them back from competing effectively. Even good organizations can be let down by their operations function and the resulting publicity can be damaging. Stage 2: External neutrality: The first of breaking out of stage 1 is for the operations function to begin comparing itself with similar companies or organizations in the outside market. By taking the best ideas and norms of performance from the rest of its industry, it is trying to be externally neutral. Stage 3: Inernally supportive: These operations have probably reached the first division in their market. They may not be better than their competitors on every aspect of operations performance but they are broadly up with the best. Stage 4:externally supportive: The third stage is taken to be as the limit of the operations functions contribution. TASK 3: PLAN FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRATEGY TASK 3.A: DISCUSS HOW A TIMETABLE FOR STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION CAN BE DETERMINED. INCLUDE A SAMPLE TIMETABLE, TO INCLUDE KEY MILESTONES AND THEIR TIMINGS As an example, let us take the strategic planning and implementation of a university learning programs. Following is a sample table that gives detailed timeline in achieving a specific strategic goal that have been set. [pic] TASK 3.B: HOW MIGHT THE DISSEMINATION PROCESS BE USED TO HELP AN ORGANIZATION GAIN COMMITMENT TO ITS STRATEGY AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS Ten Elements of an Effective Dissemination Plan After you have developed your dissemination policy statements, you are ready to turn your attention to more specific dissemination planning. Remember that your dissemination planning should start at the beginning of your research activities, not at the end. While some details of the dissemination effort will be suggested in your original proposal and refined as you progress through your research, your dissemination plan goals and objectives should be clarified at the beginning of your research project in consultation with your NIDRR project officer. This approach will allow you to meet your dissemination challenge in a timely manner. 1. Goals: Determine and document the goals of your dissemination effort for your proposed project. 2. Objectives: Associate each goal with one or more objectives that clarifies what you are trying to accomplish through your dissemination activities. 3. Users: Describe the scope and characteristics of the potential users that your dissemination activities are designed to reach for each of your objectives. 4. Content: Identify, at least, the basic elements of the projected content you have to disseminate to each of the potential user groups identified. 5. Source(s): Identify the primary source or sources that each potential user group is already tied into or most respects as an information source. Consider ways to partner with these sources in your dissemination efforts. 6. Medium: Describe the medium or media through which the content of your message can best be best delivered to your potential users and describe the capabilities and resources that will be required of potential users to access the content for each medium to be used. 7. Success: Describe how you will know if your dissemination activities have been successful. If data is to be gathered, describe how, when, and who will gather it. 8. Access: Describe how you will promote access to your information and how you will archive information that may be requested at a later date. Consider that most people will use your project-related information when they perceive a need for it not necessarily when you have completed your research project. 9. Availability: Identify strategies for promoting awareness of the availability of your research-based information and the availability of alternate available formats. 10. Barriers: Identify potential barriers that may interfere with the targeted users access or utilization of your information and develop actions to reduce these barriers. The dissemination and implementation of the strategic plan is a great time to actualize organizational values and improve internal processes. Once a strategic plan is established, the organization must keep a close watch on its progress or the plan and the goals will collect dust. It is usually not enough to meet a few times a year unless there are very few goals or the goals are basically to maintain the status quo. In general, it is best that those responsible plan a regular meeting schedule in order to maintain momentum and discuss issues as they arise. The processes around monitoring the implementation of the plan, disseminating the plan, developing the Action Plan, and so forth should be designed with the organizations values as guiding principles. If possible, they should also incorporate solutions to any other organizational culture issues that were discussed during the strategic planning process. If solutions were not generated, the implementation processes should at least be designed with these issues in mind, with the intention of finding solutions at a point in the near future. A good strategic plan must involve an examination of your organizations values and internal process challenges (every organization has them). Often a strategic plan will expose problems that were hidden. This is a good thing. But only if you take control of them. The Action Plan must include steps to address mismatched organizational values and culture, starting with the implementation process. TASK 3.C: DESCRIBE THE IMPORTANCE OF MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF A NEW STRATEGY. OUTLINE HOW THIS MIGHT BE ACHIEVED Many strategic plans end up collecting dust on a shelf. Monitoring and evaluating the planning activities and status of implementation of the plan is for many organizations as important as identifying strategic issues and goals. One advantage of monitoring and evaluation is to ensure that the organization is following the direction established during strategic planning phase. Note that plans are guidelines. They arent rules. Its alright to deviate from a plan. But planners should be aware of the reason for the deviations and update the plan to reflect the new direction. Responsibilities for Monitoring and Evaluation The strategic plan document should specify who is responsible for the overall implementation of the plan, and also who is responsible for achieving each goal and objective. The document should also specify who is responsible to monitor the implementation of the plan and made decisions based on the results. For example, the board might expect the chief executive to regularly report to the full board about the status of implementation, including progress toward each of the overall strategic goals. In turn, the chief executive might expect regular status reports from middle managers regarding the status toward their achieving the goals and objectives assigned to them. Key Questions While Monitoring and Evaluating Status of Implementation of the Plan 1. Are goals and objectives being achieved or not? If they are, then acknowledge, reward and communicate the progress. If not, then consider the following questions. 2. Will the goals be achieved according to the timelines specified in the plan? If not, then why? 3. Should the deadlines for completion be changed (be careful about making these changes know why efforts are behind schedule before times are changed)? 4. Do personnel have adequate res