Managing People and Organizations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Managing People and Organizations - Essay Example The organizations commit themselves to contributing to the society by performing business ethically and contributing to the development of the people and the society (Rashid and Saadiatul, 2002). The agency theory is relevant for this case as this theory states that the shareholder of the company gives authority to the agent that can take any decision regarding the company. These agents or managers manage the company and take decision according to their own conditions. Every manager has a different style of controlling people and the company, and the attitude of these managers towards managing people varies according to their way of leadership capabilities. The conflict arises when the owner of the company wants to maximize the profit of the company by performing certain activities that are not ethical, while the manager wants the organization to fulfill its social responsibility (Germanova, 2008). The issue of CSR has risen in many countries, and the public has also been involved in this issue; this is the reason that CSR has become a major issue in Malaysia. The large organizations of Malaysia have raised many questions regarding the environmental hazards, drug abuse, safety, product quality, discrimination etc. The government of Malaysia has made policies so that organizations can fulfill their corporate social responsibility. This research will examine the attitudes of the managers towards corporate social responsibility and in which way they are managing people and organizations (Rashid and Saadiatul, 2002). In 1976, Holmes was the first person in USA who researched regarding the attitude of the corporate executives towards CSR, and he wanted to know the changing opinions of the firms towards CSR in the last five years that means from 1970 to1975. The result of his research revealed that the opinions of the executives for CSR changed drastically, and these executives were very positive for their organizations to fulfill corporate social responsibility (Ras hid and Saadiatul, 2002). The managers and executives of Malaysian companies have a very positive attitude towards corporate social responsibility, and they believe that if the life of the people in which the company is working can be improved, then the long-term profitability of the organization can have a good impact. The managers also believe that if the organizations want to show positive image to the people, then it should take social responsibilities and should meet the needs and expectations of the people. The socially responsible organizations are also able to satisfy their shareholders and CSR is important for them in order to reduce the behavior that is not responsible. The managers recognize the fact that organizations are social entities, and they should compete with standards of the people. These opinions of the executives were taken from a survey conducted for Malaysian companies and the results of this survey were similar to the findings of Ford and McLaughlin in 1984 . This means that the opinions of the managers are consistent for many years, and they realize the importance of CSR for the success of their organizations (Rashid and Saadiatul, 2002). Another survey was conducted in Vietnam in 2011 in which the research was performed for managers in order to investigate their perception regarding CSR and the extent to which they

Executive Briefing Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Executive Briefing Paper - Essay Example Mentorship is not new to Burberry, although its experience is largely external, philanthropic, and along the line of corporate social responsibility. Presently, the Company is a corporate sponsor of IntoUniversity, a charity organisation dedicated to educating the youth through mentoring. Through its local learning centres, some of Burberry’s employees and managers are already dedicating time and effort as volunteers mentors and e-mentors, to Britain’s poor but deserving ‘young people [who] are inspired to learn’ (IntoUniversity, 2010). In 2011 alone, Burberry associates volunteered 5,500 hours of mentoring. For one particular Burberry associate, more than 200 young students were mentored globally in programmes ranging from three months to three years (Burberry Annual Report 2011/12, p. 64). Recent studies have highlighted the use of internal mentoring, as a technique to improve performance and enhance competitiveness. It is believed that by adopting intern al mentoring, the firm will benefit competitively. II. Proposition This paper proposes that Burberry engage in internal mentoring throughout the organisation until the highest levels, in order to enhance its competitiveness. Mentoring is seen as a tool not only for implementing social development programs external to the firm, but is also perceived as an effective instrument in pursuing the company’s strategic goal of remaining competitive. The viability of mentoring in Burberry will be discussed. III. Theoretical background Mentoring is ‘an intense and complex relationship where the mentor plays the role of peer and parent’ and functions as ‘teacher, advisor, sponsor, and friend’ (Ehrich & Hansford, 1999, p.93). Academic literature states that mentoring improves individual behaviour and performance, particularly in the training and encouragement of the young. However, the impact of mentoring on firm behaviour and outcomes has not been established, p articularly in the highest policy levels. Offstein, Shah and Gnyawali (2011) propose a model whereby the board of directors (BOD) mentors the chief executive officer (CEO), for the purpose of improving the CEO’s ability and motivation to ‘competitively engage the firm’ (p. 75). In the diagram that follows, the mentoring role of the BOD is depicted in terms of sponsorship, protection, and coaching or counselling. By providing legitimacy, a proper sense of discretion and risk-taking, and knowledge and learning, the mentoring exercise is expected to lead towards a greater firm competitiveness. Competitive behaviour is defined by their magnitude and complexity. Source: Offstein, Shah and Gnyawali, 2011, p. 80 According to the theory by Offstein, et al. (2011), competitive actions are ‘purposefully directed, specific, and observable.’ The model adheres to the principle that companies that undertake bold and complex competitive actions benefit as a result, because such actions disturb the status quo and establish new rules by which the competitive stage is reset. According to Schumpeter (1934) in his seminal study, first mover advantage (i.e., the advantage of being the first firm to undertake an innovation that defines a new competitive environment) generates abnormally high profits, until such time as other firms catch up and themselves pursue innovative actions in an effort to overcome the market leader. From the executive levels, mentoring by CEO to his division heads, and from them to the

Ethical failures that led to the economic collapse of 2008 Essay

Ethical failures that led to the economic collapse of 2008 - Essay Example This paper outlines the importance of the moral failures, which led to the global financial crisis. The role of ethic lapses is often neglected by economic analysts. It has been said, the root cause of the crisis was greed, which is defined as an excessive and selfish desire for more of something e.g. money than is needed. The list of neglected virtues also includes temperance and, specifically, the ability to prevent the desire for wealth, social recognition, which thus become barriers to proper professional conduct, and complicity, cowardice and lack of strength. There were also behaviors of arrogance, pride and hubris among finances. Also, among regulators, government and economists: all convinced that their know-how and skills were superior to others, that they had no reason to submit the guidance of others, or that they only were above the law. There have been reports of cases of lack of professional competence on the part of the directors, bad governance, senior analysts and managers in companies such as banks, hedge funds, monoclines, rating agencies, supervisory bodies and the government. Often, the role of asset valuation and analysis, and even buying and selling decisions, was given to young professionals with no or little experience in finance. The act resulted to them using sophisticated methods based on overly simple assumptions, but no one dared criticize their work because no one had better models. Their bosses/superiors did not reckon what their subordinates were doing, models they were using, and they did not exercise adequate oversight. These failures were clear mainly in risk management and analysis, leading to key personnel in virtually all major financial institutions were taking excessive risks.

Lack of parking in asu campus Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Lack of parking in asu campus - Essay Example The university receives over 2000 visitors a day. The parking space cannot accommodate all vehicles hoping to park on the campus. Students park outside the university premises in order to reduce the problem of congestion and high parking fee. They park at a distance of 15 minutes to 1hour’s walk to campus. Some of the students are now forced not to come with their vehicles to school. I propose ASU to reduce the cost of campus parking and provide additional parking. Different plans have been laid down to solve fee payment of the vehicle. Generally, the students of ASU should not be involved in paying the parking fee. The university authority has also tried to solve the problem through instituting fines on those who fail to pay the parking fee, putting up more buildings and shades for parking. I think that there is no need for raising fee payment for parking to the students of the ASU since the university should cater for their issues. Parking the vehicles outside the campus compound is not safe for parking since it is risky (Todd Web). I therefore, wish that the institution should reduce payment fees to the students than to the visitors. However, there is no need for the campus students to pay for the parking fee since they are entitled to use the campus resources simply because they pay the fee. ASU entered in to a contract with a private developer to begin constructing a hotel and a conference centre on Mill Avenue and University Drive (Arizona State University Web). This was done in order to create more space for students’ recreation and parking. Parking and Transit Services was established to curb the complex parking situation at the campus. The regulations are published and made law in all the premises of ASU for easy utilisation of the parking spaces (Yara Web). The university authority assigned the duty of providing parking areas on the campus, imposing fines and collection of

Manage diversity in the workplace Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Manage diversity in the workplace - Essay Example Maintaining a diverse base of customers so that the organization doesn’t get identified as a niche firm, offering products to only a certain set of people. The company follows a recruitment policy that includes people from several regions of the world. This policy helps the organization to address the needs of the customers belonging to the various parts of the international market. The organization puts much emphasis on the welfare of women and the under-privileged section of the society which assigns a social purpose for their functioning. The organization doesn’t support any kind of discrimination and thus considers racism, sexism, ageism etc as problems for both the organization and the society as a whole. The diversity champions of the organization range from the top level positions to the shop floor employees. A diversity committee has been formed by the company that ensures the implementation of the diversity policy in the day to day operations of the business an d also in the strategic planning of the organization. Training and development facilities are provided to the employees where they learn to cope with the people belonging to the various diversified backgrounds. The organization offers other services like flexible working hours, employee education assistance, open communication, childcare assistance and the mentor programmes. The weakness of the policy- As we can see that the organization has introduced several policies supporting the diversity within the workplace therefore it is must for them to maintain a conflict resolution system. The organization has to deal with people and it’s very common that where there are individuals coming from diverse backgrounds, there are high chances that conflicts can arise at any time. Different people with different culture and point of views could be confused, threatened or even annoyed by each other in the team, from views and background different from their own. It could create disagreem ents and disturbed political atmosphere that might slow down project advancements. The organization should create an environment of tolerance and understanding in the team. They should also encourage the employees to adopt this mindset, to challenge their belief system and to be open-minded enough to hear each of the members’ view. It will help members realize that there isn’t only one way of thinking. The managers need to accept that they can’t make everyone think and act like they do. They need to be attentive to verbal and nonverbal cues that might course tension. For example, â€Å"Pointing with one finger is considered to be rude in some cultures and Asians typically use their entire hand to point to something.† And In Western culture, eye contact means you’re attentive and honest; yet for a Hispanic, Asian, Middle Eastern, or Native American, eye contact is thought to be disrespectful or rude. Managers should be aware of this kind of things a nd get people in team to understand different cultures in order to make the team run well without struggles (Universim, 2012). Also the organization lacks proper human resource staffs that will be looking after the employee grievance system, address their personal and professional issues, focus on the employee engagement aspects, and must ensure that the concept of equal treatment of employees must not make the more talented individuals feel de-motivated. The issue that women employees are lesser in number at the

Marketing Principles subject assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Marketing Principles subject - Assignment Example r wants or needs, developing goods and services to fulfill these needs, and generating and then increasing a demand for these products and services ( Marketing Association, 2014). A market orientation is a principle in which all workers are dedicated to the continuous development of higher worth for consumers (e.g., Narver and Slater, 1990; (Deshpande, Farley and Webster Jr, 1993; Slater and Narver, 1994). A market orientation consists of three main behavioral components: customer orientation which includes the constant consideration of the desires of the objective consumers and creating consumer value by using this knowledge. Next is competitor orientation which involves the continuous consideration of the abilities and policies of the major existing and other satisfiers of the objective customers and the use of information in generating higher buyer worth. Last is interfunctional coordination which involves in the coordination of all roles in the business in consuming consumer and other market data to create bigger value for clients (Narver and Slater, 1990, Dawes, 2000). Morrison should device consumer needs in the market and produces products to match those needs by participating in wide marketing research. This will help Morrison’s in raising the production prices of goods and facilities or services. Market segmentation is the division of markets into similar sets of customers, each of them responding in a different way to communication, pricing, promotion and other elements of the marketing mix. There should be a small difference between customers in each segment when forming market segments. Thus, every division or segment can be spoke with an independently directed marketing mix. (Perner, 2014) Segmentation is the foundation for mounting targeted and real marketing plans. Moreover, investigation of market segments allows assessments about strength of marketing happenings in specific segments. A segment-orientated marketing method usually suggests a

Declining Portable Water Essay Example for Free

Declining Portable Water Essay â€Å"Water of life†. This is a famous Christianity word that reflects how important water is to our life. As we know, most drinkable water comes from the river, thus making river the main sources of potable water. However global warming is getting more and more serious nowadays causing a global rise in temperature and melt the ices at mountain’s peak. In the book ‘Pillar of Sand’ by Sandra Postel, Postel says that major Asia’s rivers like Ganges, Indus and Yellow river depends on the snowpack mountains for their flow. Despite that, the rises in temperature has causes the snow to melt faster and an increase in rainfall, drying up the river especially during dry season. Even the famous Andes, Rockies and Alps rivers is said to soon face this problem which mean there will be a worldwide water shortage should these rivers dry up. Therefore, this essay will talk about what will happen when there is a decline in potable water. Global water pollution caused by sewage and animal waste has resulted in overdose of nutrients and sediments in rivers, lakes and sea.(Tasha Eichenseher, March 2010) This causes eutrophication which is a situation where algae growth increases; resulted in lack of oxygen in the river. That eventually decreases the values of the rivers, lakes and esturaries for recreation, fishing, hunting and aesthetic enjoyment. In addition to that, health problems can occur where eutrophic condition interferes with drinking water treatment. To sum it up, water pollution caused by sewage and animal waste is the root of the decline in drinkable water as it pollutes the rivers and also the treated water. In addition to the above, polluted water is also said to be the causes of diseases. According to the World Health Organization, up to half of humanity has one of the six main diseases – diarrhea, schistosomiasis, trachoma, infestation with ascaris, guinea worm, or hookworm at any time because of poor drinking water and inadequate sanitation. This shows that lack of safe drinking water, as water are polluted, can causes various dangerous spreadable diseases w hich can endangered our life. For example, it is predicted by Amin Zakaria in his column in The Star on July 9, 2008, that in 2009, diarrhea death toll will be like four jumbo jets of children crashing every day. Therefore, it is not exaggerating to say that human waste is the ultimate weapon of mass destruction as lack of adequate sanitation in usable water for more than a third of the Earth’s population is one of the biggest scandals in the last 50 years. This lack of clean water situation is further worsen when there is a decline in clean water. According to Tan Ee-Beng on 2008 in the Environmental Health Perspectives, of a population of roughly 6.1 billion, more than 1 billion lack access to potable water. His statement is further proven when a report from UNESCO on 2009 says that China currently has less than an estimated 49 billion cubic meters of renewable water resources when in the decades before 2000, this country owns an average of about 66 billion cubic meters of renewable water resources. In conclusion, knowing that there is a decline in clean water, the best way is to combat this issue soonest possible. Government should also urges the public to save water by increasing the water bill after the usual 50 liters usage. In addition to that, government should also increase the capacity of the water reservoir in the country. For example the current Selangor water issue between Peter Chin and Selangor state Government should be resolve soonest possible so that Langat 2 can be built and provide water for people of Selangor till 2025. We as citizen should also play a part by not wasting these precious water as to lessen the need to treat the water to be use again.