Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance. Essay Example for Free

Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance. Essay In planning we set short term and long term objectives and it is relevant that we anticipate worst case scenarios. That is why planning should be strategic and scientific. Planning should be strategic because every method formulated in planning is integral and interrelated. The strategic characteristic of planning is often applied in military planning not just to produce tangible and intangible results but to establish the greatest possibility of victory. The book entitled Art of War written by Sun Tzu which contains series of formula, tactics, and strategies that has been proven through time is an example of a book which is based on planning. In this book the writer stressed out that â€Å"Planning works in a controlled environment, but in a competitive environment, competing plans collide creating situations that no one plans†. In this analysis of the book, the possibility of the occurrences of uncontrolled variables can be solved if one is able to make a strategic planning. In as much as planning perse is important, planning with strategy is more important. In strategic planning you deepen the planning methods to identify the strengths and weaknesses and the complexities of formulated plans. This process will enable planners to illustrate more alternatives, do more rigorous thinking and be ready to face more challenges. Scientific planning can be taken out of consideration because without this planning is not actually done. We call something scientific if it is â€Å"regulated by or conforming to the principles of exact science: scientific procedures†. Therefore, scientific planning is based on empirical evidences that have been gathered which resulted to verifiable data. So, results are product of tested hypothesis, accurate experimentation, and conclusive results. In doing short term plans which oftentimes have long term effects planning becomes critical. In establishing short term plans the main consideration is the period of time while having limited resources and scope. But since short term planning is more limited in terms of time the planners should be prepared for great and accurate details. Normally the length of short term plans is a week long or a year long wherein two years is the most. It still depends on how complex and extensive the goals are. Projects and activities which need short term planning include doing lesson plans in the part of teachers, planning a wedding ceremony, deciding which course a student will take, family meal planning, or small business planning. For the long term planning there could be two possible ways in doing this. First, the project or event is being planned as a continuity of short term planning. In this case, the assumption is the short term plans were successful thus a long term plan is needed for bigger results. This case often happens in television to film productions, small businesses’ expansions, and career growth and development of a person. For the long term planning a set of actions is adapted not just for today but making future as the major consideration. Though, long term planning needs a protracted time, victory is often at hand. Mao Zedong, the leader of Communist Party of China was able to lead the Chinese revolution composed of mostly peasants victoriously. His effective, scientific, and strategic planning has been admired. This made him one of the most important figures in modern world history. Planning for retirement is another perfect example of a long term plan wherein intelligent planning is a must. In fact there are many professionals who are ready to give assistance to those who want to identify their financial goals and stability in the future. Since, long term planning involves making definite decisions the plans being made still depend on different contexts which need different approaches. Educational planning and marriage planning on the other side are other two examples of contexts that require long term planning and should be handled using appropriate approaches. A classic instance of this long term planning which is familiar to general readers is the parents’ obligations in preparing for the educational needs of their children towards a better future. That is why before entering into family life a couple should be able to carefully plan the â€Å"blue print† of their life from becoming a couple to becoming future parents. So the question Why plan? can be answered practically or relying on products of successful events, knowledge and backgrounds of reliable people, and empirical evidences. The arguments and premises provided in this paper are helpful notes and materials to those who do not know how to answer how important planning is. The answers need not to perfect but they need to be analyzed intelligently by every person who thinks planning is important in making one’s existence purposive and having logical directions in life, whether it will be a short term planning or long term planning. Source Porter, M (1985). Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance. NY: New York Free Press.

The Art of Storytelling in The Odyssey Essay -- Homer, Greek Classics

The Odyssey is a classic example of great literature, read and enjoyed both under the bright lights of the classroom and the cozy warmth of the home—this idea is well-known. Yet, there exists a question as to how Homer's â€Å"story of a man never at a loss† has managed to maintain the attention of the world to this day. C.S Lewis hints at the answer in his book, The Horse and His Boy: â€Å"For in Calormen, story-telling (whether the stories are true or made up) is a thing you're taught, just as English boys and girls are taught essay-writing. The difference is that people want to hear the stories, whereas I never heard of anyone who wanted to read the essays.† Lewis is pointing out the true beauty and art of story-telling; this art form makes its audience want to endure each word. The Odyssey lives on today as a triumph of story-telling because its author is what all authors strive to be: a story-telling master. Said story-telling mastery is demonstrated in The Odyssey as it adheres to the popular imagination's demand for things such as conflict, good versus evil, romance, and adventure. Central to good story-telling and manifest throughout The Odyssey is conflict. Odysseus, whose name means trouble or struggle, fights to return home one last time. Penelope struggles to hold off her suitors and maintain her love for Odysseus with dignity. Telemachos strives to become a man, noble and true. Homer's characters face trials and temptations that make or break them, very much like real life. Numerous forms of conflict capture the audience's attention as they appear in largely true form, relatable and resonant. Tension, fear, suspense. Will he/she overcome the sin he/she is facing? Will God listen and answer his/her plea for help? Readers cann... ...nknown lands. Homer introduces the setting changes by giving details the audience can imagine. He uses vivid and common language to enable the audience to picture each situation. The adventure within The Odyssey sparks imagination that excitingly bridges human experiences in reality (feasts, death, travel, etc.) with the experiences of the characters in the book—a key aspect of good story-telling. Many characteristics of good story-telling manifest themselves within The Odyssey and point out how Homer is a master story-teller. It exists as a classic piece of literature for good reason. It's the epitome of what the popular imagination demands. Conflict, good versus evil, romance, and adventure are four of many aspects that demonstrate how The Odyssey has managed to keep the world's attention throughout the centuries. If you give it a chance, it will pull you in!

Foreign Auto Shop

Running Head: Foreign Auto Shop Final Case Paper jose terrs Submitted To: Dr. torres October 21ST, 2012 GEBB515 – ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP Abstract Many companies around the world have different styles of management. Some companies have â€Å"laid back managers† others have â€Å"drill sergeant managers† both types of managers are like and disliked. Management plays a very important role in any job field. The overall supervision and leadership shown by the management is what I think, constructs a business to a successful business.Every business needs a foundation. Once the foundation is settled, it’s just a step by step dedication with the owner and its leadership trend team. In this case analysis, Alan shows a mellow characteristic of a manger. But when things get serious, he has a â€Å"strong willed go getter manger characteristic†. The owner of the foreign auto shop has a much laid back personality informed to us by the case. Alan has a very we ll wanted leadership phase that many employees look for in a boss.Usual leadership situations in the auto repair shop consist of making sure every employee is doing the right job the right way, but without being to â€Å"on top of them† while they perform their work talent. The owner is also head supervisor of the overall shop. He has 7 employees working for his shop in which two of them (Gil & Hans) are the easiest to supervise due to the fact that they are more experienced in all subjects of the mechanical work field. Along with his other two employees (Bart & Herbie) which are dedicated in to their specific parts of the mechanical workforce.Bart works more on motorcycles, whereas Herbie is a whiz at trouble shooting engine problems. Three other employees require closer supervision by Alan because they are less skilled oriented. By going back to the abstract you will see how a â€Å"foundation† is needed to create a wonderful and successful business. Well Ala n has his overall view of what he is dedicated to, and has built a wonderful and creative team that are focused on making sure the client is always happy. Alan’s typical leadership style is considerately appropriate for his leadership situation.Alan is described to be a less â€Å"on point† supervisor amongst his employees. He knows that they are doing their job. He always makes himself available to on the floor to his employees if they are in need of any help or have specific questions. His fairness and openness have earned him the continuing respect and trust if his employees. Sometimes always being a mellow â€Å"laid back† kind of manager is not always a good thing also because many employees can take that and use it against the management.For example, seeing the manager being easy going and not too â€Å"put forward† can sometimes escalate to the actual employee not accomplishing his work goal and just taking it easy. In this case, Alan shows his dou ble side. â€Å"Things are not always greener on the other side of the fence†. There is certainly something very interesting regarding the cause and effect of running a laissez-faire organization, particularly corporations. Ultimately, when it comes to laid back management, it is not really a matter of whether to be lenient or not.Oftentimes, it is a matter of when to be indulgent, because there are certain circumstances that will cause either an advancement or failure. Laid back management is actually a good strategy. Needless to say, workers have to be entitled with certain rights and privileges. Lenient management is often the core of empowering the laborers. More often than not, empowering laborers proved to boost the overall prosperity of the corporation. Oftentimes this may come into explicit forms of idealistic gestures, such as enabling the worker to make any constructive suggestions regarding the company policies.Some companies find this method too lenient to a point of negligence, but there are those that abide by its format. An example of a popular tactic of promoting lenient management is the establishment of friendly relations with employees, although such a gesture could be taken as an extreme idealism for many traditional types of corporations. In certain ways, friendly relationship between the laborer and overseer would result to easy productivity because both parties could defer to one another and even work together to overcome certain challenges.A friendly relationship is often deemed good like-minded academic school of thought for the simple reason that respect for fellow human beings, especially in terms of their dignity, is a non-negotiable aspect of civil law. Alan’s leadership style during the flood was put out to be his â€Å"Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde† side. When he noticed that the storm was advancing rapidly towards the valley where his shop is located, Alan to be on the safe side went out to roll up the windows o f the clients cars that were in the parking lot waiting to be worked on.Then he noticed that the creek was already rising high and ran back to the shop but got soaked by the rain. His employees laughed at him for: not having enough sense to come in out of the rain. † After 15minutes of hard rain, he realized it wasn’t just a rainstorm, but an actual flood. He ran into the shop and announced in a loud voice that the creek was flooding and instructed all his employees to do certain jobs but nobody seemed to be moving.An employee walked over to Alan and told him, does he really think it’s gonna flood because it’s rained like this before and it doesn’t even reach more than an inch. Alan looks at the employee in the eyes and interrupted his employee by saying in an assertive manner, â€Å"Listen, ad listen good! You and the rest of the crew are going to do what I say, and you’re going to do it now! We can talk later about whether it was a good id ea. † By coming out and managing in this manner, Alan shows himself to no longer be a mellow â€Å"laid back† manager but be an assertive and â€Å"drill sergeant† manager.Another very concrete situation from which laid back management will truly not go as planned is when the corporate heads issue an urgent massive quota on such a short deadline. For instance, bombarding laborers with tasks in streamline payroll processing. If the management allows the workers to have a say according to their preference, nobody would be willing to work with such a given condition. The greatest error of imposing laissez-faire supervision is when it comes to the point that the laborers would feel entitled to defy a corporate order.There is a fine line between liberty and anarchy, and the latter could sometimes result from high expectations that are stifled by necessity. His effective behaviors were implemented as being an easy going manager when things are not a risk or are being d one incorrectly and a serious go getter when he sees that his business is in danger or an employee is performing incorrectly. After the flood subsided his way of management was very well performed by showing each of his employees that he is highly appreciative of each contribution each employee performed while the flood was in effect.Assertiveness is a key component to being an effective manager, and is particularly important when dealing with difficult employees who thrive on testing your boundaries. Why do employees behave badly to begin with? Because the manager who is in authority is allowing them to behave that way, â€Å"laid back† managers Some techniques that can be used to become a more assertive — and, therefore, more effective — manager: Set and communicate clear boundaries and expectations. Managers who fail to clearly define and consistently enforce boundaries are just asking for trouble from their employees. Your employees are not mind readers,â₠¬  Shepard emphasized. â€Å"You have got to clearly, clearly, clearly define what you expect and what you will not tolerate. † The good news, he pointed out, is that â€Å"the firmer you are and the more people realize you don't budge, the less they will test the boundaries. † Hold everyone accountable, even when you don't want to. â€Å"You have an obligation to your company to do the right thing; they are paying you to make the tough decisions,† stated Shepard. You also â€Å"owe it to your good employees not to let problem employees get away with things they shouldn't. Although this can be particularly hard when you're dealing with someone you like or with whom you empathize, said Shepard, â€Å"you are a manager, not Dr. Phil. Don't get involved in personal lives. † Don't stomp on your employees' rights or be disrespectful. â€Å"You don't have to be a jerk to be assertive,† he noted. A dysfunctional, authoritarian manager will be able to ge t employees to comply, but not to commit. â€Å"You want people to commit, because that's how you get your employees to give more than you ask for. † Choose your battles carefully. A smart manager knows that it's better to lose the battle, sometimes, in order to win the war,† Shepard observed. Choosing not to fight a battle you know you can't win is a sign of wisdom, not weakness. Being assertive will earn you respect, but only few know how and when to become assertive. High level executives and managers are generally very assertive. However, if they use their positions of power and authority in order to belittle, intimidate, and control those beneath them, it will cause a lot of trouble and loss of respect over the long term.Employees will begin to resent such executives and managers. Their productivity will eventually begin to fall, and if the dictatorial behavior of the executives and managers continues, it will not be long before the organization begins experiencing a high employee turnover. To avoid this problem, it is important to understand the difference between being assertive and being an autocrat. While some managers avoid dictatorial behavior in favor of being passive, this too is just as bad.The problem with passive managers is that employees often do not know what is expected of them, and they will often take the manager for granted. Employees may violate company policy while working in their department, and they will do this largely because they feel the passive manager will let them get away with it. A manager or executive who is assertive is an individual who maintains a balance between these two extremes. If you are passive or dictatorial, your behavior will have a negative impact on your career sooner or later.A manager who is assertive is an individual who can lead their employees, and they can do it without having to use a firm hand, or raise their voice. Some managers do not understand the difference between assertiveness and aggression, so they choose to be passive. But there is a critical difference between the two. An aggressive manager tends to be an individual who is quick to anger. They will usually bang their fists on the desk when an employee does something wrong, and they have no problem raising their voice or yelling at their subordinates.The aggressive manager will generally treat his employees like children. The problem with this form of behavior is that employees are not children, they are adults, and when you treat adults like children, they tend to harbor a great deal of resentment. The aggressive manager is also quick to criticize the work of his employees. If he sees something wrong with the work of his subordinate, he will be quick to point out all the negative aspects of it, as opposed to the positive aspects. In contrast, a passive manager is someone who is easy to walk over.Because he does not take things seriously, the employees will not take things seriously, and they will often d o what they want despite the company's rules and regulations. The primary reason for this is because the passive manager does not bother to enforce the rules. A passive manager will typically avoid doing anything with his employees that might cause conflict, as they do not want to disrupt the workings of their department. The ironic thing about this view is that those who try to avoid conflict the most are the individuals who are most likely to run into it.While the assertive manager is not aggressive, they make everyone understand that their rules must be followed. In conclusion, changing Alan’s way of managing and supervising shouldn’t be changed because of the way he makes himself available to his employees and thanking each employee for their contributions when the flood happened. Hi manner of managing is what makes his business what it is today. Having his clients respect and trust his provided services.References * Yukl, G. (2008). Leadership in organnizations. ( 7th ed. , pp. 259-257). Upper saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson. * Exforsys Inc. (2009, January 29). Traits of an assertive manager. Retrieved from http://www. exforsys. com/career-center/assertive/traits-of-an-assertive-manager. html * Alexander Hamilton Institute. (2012, April 23). Keep employees in check through assertive management techniques. Retrieved from http://www. businessmanagementdaily. com/19465/keep-employees-in-check-through-assertive-management-techniques * HR system: The pros and cons of laid back manpower management. (2012, October 9). Retrieved from http://hrxpayroll. com/blog/hr-system-the-pros-and-cons-of-laid-back-manpower-management/ * Shannon, E. (2004, December 12). The six different types of managers and

Literary Criticism of Kate Chopins The Story of an Hour

Literary Criticism and the Story of an Hour Literary criticism gives the reader the tools to see literature in new ways. Each type focuses on different components of the story and asks the reader to examine a given text for ques. When an analysis is performed in a given critical style, a whole new perspective of the text becomes available. Kate Chopins The Story of an Hour is an account of a marriage in the late 19th century. Mrs. Louise Mallard is identified by her marriage and she allows herself to have formed an identity based on that marital state. At a point early in the story, Mrs. Mallard is told that her husband has been killed. Instead of leading her to devastation, the thought of his death rejuvenates her. Eventually, it is revealed that Mr. Mallard is indeed alive and the discovery of this fact leaves Louise devastated and she immediately falls down dead. Her family and friends believe that the death was caused by too much happiness when she learned her husband was alive, but Chopin makes clear that this is not the case. The Story of an Hour is a rich story which lends itself well to both feminist criticism, as an example of the socially designated domination of women by men, and psychological literary criticisms, as an example of how the mind constitutes the individual self and that what a person may think to themselves can be different from what they allow to be expressed to the outside world. Feminist critics would look at this story and see it as aShow MoreRelatedKate Chopin s Literary Creativity And Women s Independence1097 Words   |  5 Pages Kate Chopin has become one of the most influential feminist writers of the century. From Chopin’s literary rejection of The Awakening, the rejection sparked a fire in Chopin’s feminist side. Chopin began writing short stories that would become society’s lead in literary creativity and women’s independence. Kate Chopin’s biography is astonishingly intriguing and the importance Chopin plays to the feminist literature genre is exceptional. Critics either rave Chopin’s work or completely destroy itRead MoreThe Unique Style Of Kate Chopin s Writing1603 Words   |  7 PagesThe unique style of Kate Chopin’s writing has influenced and paved the way for many female authors. Although not verbally, Kate Chopin aired political and social issues affecting women and challenging the validity of such restrictions through fiction. Kate Chopin, a feminist in her time, prevailed against the notion that a woman’s purpose was to only be a housewi fe and nothing more. Kate Chopin fortified the importance of women empowerment, self-expression, self-assertion, and female sexuality throughRead MoreLiterary Perspectives1379 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿English september 8, 2009 Literary Perspectives The following information was excerpted from The Bedford Introduction to Literature, 8th edition, 2079–2098 Formalist critics are primarily concerned with the language, structure, and tone of a work, otherwise known, as it’s â€Å"formal elements†. Formalists gravitate towards â€Å"intrinsic† matters in a piece of literature, in simpler terms, diction, irony, paradox, metaphor, and symbol. In a similar fashion, they emphasize larger elementsRead MoreSymbolism as Found in Kate Chopins Story of an Hour Essay1532 Words   |  7 Pagesas found in Kate Chopin’s â€Å"Story of an Hour† In Kate Chopin’s â€Å"Story of an Hour† the protagonist, Louise Mallard, is going through a life-changing event that is brought on by the news of the death of her husband, Brently Mallard. During this hour, she is told of her husband’s death, grieves for a short time, discovers that she will now be able to â€Å"live for herself† (16) and is finally able to free herself of the restrictive marriage she has been living in. The end of her last hour comes when sheRead MoreNurse2025 Words   |  9 Pagesâ€Å" Common Themes Found in Kate Chopins Short Stories Kimberley J. Dorsey Stevenson University English 152, Writing About Literature 152-OME1 Charlotte Wulf November 14, 2010 Abstract Many of Kate Chopin’s short stories share the common themes of female oppression. The females in her stories are trying to find a way to escape their oppression and have a sense freedom and individuality. TheyRead MoreThe Story of an Hour† by Kate Chopin Essay1528 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"The Story of an Hour† by Kate Chopin â€Å"The Story of an Hour† by Kate Chopin is very intriguing, not only because of the emotional change Louise Mallard goes through the hour after her husband’s tragic death but also the way Chopin uses irony in the story. During this analysis of â€Å"The Story of an Hour† we will discuss the summary, plot, setting, tone, theme, point of view, emotions of Louise Mallard and other characters involved in the story. Chopin’s story uses the feelings of a married womanRead MoreEssay about Kate Chopin Short Stories1663 Words   |  7 PagesKate Chopin was an American feminist fiction writer and a woman ahead of her time. She lived in the socially conservative nineteenth-century, but in her stories, she wrote about unconventional characters, particularly women, that caused others to question her morality. Similar to the female characters in her stories, Kate Chopin was an independent woman. She would often smoke cigarettes or walk in the streets unaccompanied; these practices were considered unusual for a nineteenth-century woman toRead MoreResearch Paper on Kate Chopin and the Feminism in Her Works2066 Words   |  9 PagesLicano 1 Maria Licano Mrs. Hummel Ap English 08 27 April 2012 Kate Chopin: Feminism in Her Works â€Å"Love and passion, marriage and independence, freedom and restraint.† These are the themes that are represented and worked with throughout Kate Chopin’s works. Kate Chopin, who was born on February 8, 1851, in St. Louis, was an American acclaimed writer of short stories and novels. She was also a poet, essayist, and a memoirist. Chopin grew up around many women; intellectual women that is. ChopinRead MoreThe Story Of An Hour By Kate Chopin1070 Words   |  5 Pagesabnormal if these actions are not accomplished by a certain age. In the short story â€Å"The Story of an Hour†, author Kate Chopin illustrates a woman’s sundry emotions upon hearing of her husband’s death. To the woman’s own surprise, she experiences feelings of relief and a newfound freedom. Having lived in the 19th century, Chopin challenged society’s perception of women at the time in this honest, liberating drama. Kate Chopin, nà ©e Katherine O’Flaherty, was born to stable and socially prominent parentsRead MoreKate Chopin s An Hour1812 Words   |  8 PagesAuthor Kate Chopin is famous for some of the most influential feminist stories and novels in the Western canon. â€Å"The Story of an Hour† is one such text. In this story, Chopin tackles many of the concerns that are essential to feminism, including the willpower and expression of a woman’s distinctive identity separate from the identity of her husband and the right of a woman to identify and experience her own interests. While there is an aspect of this story that is provocative, namely, that Mrs. Mallard