Uses and Consequences of the Self Fulfilling Prophecy Essay

Uses and Consequences of the Self Fulfilling Prophecy Abstract The Self Fulfilling Prophecy is a concept that should be quite familiar in the classroom, yet is still a mystery to many teachers today. Learning to properly use this idea will ultimately result in higher student scores directly, and on a higher level, will cause students to model the expectations of the teacher and expect much of themselves. This will set students up for highly successful autonomous learning. However, ignorance or improper use of the SFP does not stimulate learning, but may inhibit accomplishment. Teachers must strive to achieve a better understanding of this â€Å"Pygmalion Effect† to create a powerful learning environment. Uses and Consequences†¦show more content†¦Analysis of other teachers’ methods is a solid study base from which teachers can build a working knowledge for use of SFP. Combine these findings with ones own past experiences will result in a much more effective learning environment, one where the students are inspired by the teacher to learn to their maximum potential. On a higher level, this in itself is an example of Pygmalion in practice. The teacher expects more out of himself, through the students, than he is achieving at the moment. Therefore, he raises expectations for himself, and in application he will eventually become stronger for it. The idea of the Pygmalion effect has been around for many years. Even before it was named, many phrases were coined from its principles. â€Å"The first impression is the lasting impression† demonstrates just one of the many adversities of the SFP. â€Å"The way others perceive us is largely conditioned by expectations they may have in advance,† (The Pygmalion Effect). All too often, teachers make the mistake that we learn, and even consider a skill, of profiling a student and determining their characteristics, before the first words are spoken (Tauber, 1998). Race, gender, and build, are just a few factors influencing this pre-determination in the first few seconds of contact. Teachers then further this profiling system by the events of the first day. This pattern is highlyShow MoreRelatedShakespeare s Macbeth - Macbeth And His Attempt And Self Fulfilling His Prophecies1052 Words   |  5 PagesMacbeth and his Attempt and Self Fulfilling his Prophecies â€Å"All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter!†(1.3.47-49). The three witches prophecies throughout the play are major influences in helping the plot develop. As well they develop the character of Macbeth and reveal the morals he holds. This play by Shakespeare which of the three types he writes is a tragedy. These tragedies are allRead MoreAnalytic Paper. A Moment Of Silence: A Silent Period Taken1259 Words   |  6 Pagesobjective is to evoke excitement in her students for the upcoming year. She yells, â€Å"And then my babies are here. My class of 2013! Where you at?† (Glass, Ira. 2013). The whole senior sections cheers. Principal Sanders calls the seniors, her babies. She uses this term frequently throughout the podcast. This could be seen as a folkway, principals do not typically call their students their â€Å"babies†. However, the students love it. It makes them feel loved and that she is like a mother figure to them. An articleRead MoreSelf Fulfilling Prophecy By Rene Adler Essay1094 Words   |  5 PagesSelf-Fulfilling Prophecy According to Adler, a person creates her life as a projection of these limiting beliefs in a self-fulfilling prophecy. In my case, since I believed I was alone and on my own, I chose to operate in ways that affirmed my beliefs about the nature of reality. I did not believe the world would provide for me, so I asked little and expected little, which affirmed my previously held beliefs. At Wright, we challenge our limiting beliefs to break the self-fulfilling prophecy andRead MorePrejudice, Stereotyping, and Discrimination Essay1414 Words   |  6 Pagesstill create serious problems and challenges, even in today’s apparently more and more individualized and â€Å"enlightened† society. This paper will discuss prejudice, stereotypes, and discrimination in the context of social psychology; what the consequences of stereotyping and discrimination are; and strategies to improve attitudes, judgments, and behaviors. Social psychologists recognize prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination â€Å"by focusing on whether they involve feelings (affect), cognitionRead MoreWhat Is Self Fulfilling Prophecy and How Does It Affect Educational Outcome2049 Words   |  9 PagesOGUNLADE, PHIBEAN OLATUNDE REG. NO: 2012/4018 COURSE: SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION COURSE CODE: EFC 705 COURSE LECTURER: DR A.O. K. NOAH What is Self Fulfilling Prophecy and how does it affect educational outcome? INTRODUCTION Robert K. Merton (1910 – 2003) Professor of sociology invented the word self fulfilling prophecy to help make tangible and popular the idea that some pronouncement or statement positive or negative can alter peoples action to bring about fulfillment of same pronouncementRead MoreIs Oedipus Rex a Story of Tragedy or Fate? Essay1272 Words   |  6 Pages Oedipus Rex a play by Sophocles can be looked at in two ways as or as not a tragedy of fate. Author Lionel Trilling states that much ingenuity has been used to show that it is not a tragedy of fate and those critics use Poetics by Aristotle to back their claim, â€Å"the protagonist of a tragedy should be a man worthy of respect and admiration but have some discernible weakness or fault of character to which his tragic disaster may be attributed. In some important sense, that is, he is to be thoughtRead MoreJane Eyre And Oedipus Mason Essay915 Words   |  4 Pagespersons, waiting for an opportunity to sneak up and ruin plan s, inject pain and triumph over happiness. Often this malevolence hides in a familiar face as a hidden demon. This hidden demon is also often on display in literature having dramatic consequences in everyday life. In Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre Bertha Mason serves as the hidden devil character for Jane, causing the destruction of everything she desires; likewise, Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex contains a devil figure, ironically Oedipus himselfRead MoreWhat Did Durkheim Mean When He Called The Collective Conscience?1260 Words   |  6 Pagesachieving goals and means in a legitimate way, and this does not lead to crime and deviance. The second route they discuss is the ‘innovation’ route where an individual accepts the goals but rejects the means of achieving those goals. The individual will use different ways to achieve those goals and most likely will resort to a deviant or even a criminal way of reaching his goals, for example drug dealers and prostitutes. The third route is ‘ritualism’, where an individual stops trying to achieve the goalsRead MoreWho Is Responsible for the Downfall of Oedipus Fate or Free Will?1639 Words   |  7 Pagescame into my head for all my search. I have sent the son of Menoeceus, Creon, my wifes brother, to the Pythian House of Phoebus.... Sophocles is able to drive his message about the pitfalls of human arrogance through Oedipus fatal flaws and the use of metaphorical and literal blindness. Sophocles motif of blindness throughout the play seems to be a direct reference to Oedipus flaws. From the very beginning when he declares, I see- how could I fail to see... to the middle when he realizes,Read MoreBeing a Deviant for a Day Essay1718 Words   |  7 Pagespublic eye, which still evokes harsh memories that instantaneously decreased my level of any confidence I had to conduct my project. These reactions that I received can be best explain through the social cognition concept of psychology and the self-fulfilling prophecy phenomenon. Social cognition is basically making sense of ourselves and the social world, or more specifically, how people process social information through encoding storage, retrieval, and application to social situations. To understand

Labeling Genetically Modified Organisms And Food Markets

GMO’s stands for genetically modified organism, which are organisms that have had their genes altered or genetically engineered so that it can have resistance to pesticides and have rapid growth . Food markets around the United States sell products that are organic as well as genetically modified products but, as a society, we are not fully aware of that. Through reading the The Secret Life of Plants by Ferris Jabr, it lead us to think about how we are not aware of what produce we buy in our local food markets. We as a society in this democracy should have the knowledge of what we put into our body. Labeling Genetically Modified Organisms in food markets allows the consumers to know what they are eating and help them make the decision to buy the produce or not. GMOs have been around for quite some time. Farmers have been cross-breeding and modifying their crops for thousands and thousands of years. GMOs were originally made to create the best crops for farmers to farm and distribute. Elton Robinson, a editor for Delta Farm Press says that Genetically-engineered or GMO crops are safe, reduced in chemical use and contribute to the long-term profitability of farmers all over the world (Robinson). Through these words he conveys that GMOs are vital. A world without genetically engineered crops would be horrible, food costs would soar, yields would go down, input costs would rise and many farmers would have to resort to less-environmentally friendly methods of controllingShow MoreRelatedMandatory Labeling Of Genetically Modified Foods1726 Words   |  7 PagesMandatory Labeling of Genetically Modified Foods The late nineteenth century brought forth some of the most breakthrough scientific discoveries. One such breakthrough were Genetically Engineered (Modified) Organisms which were initially meant to reduce world hunger by being able to mass produce crops and also allow the produce to have a longer shelf life and be more ripe. However, the increasing methods of germinating crops and new, more compelling evidence from thorough scientific research has ledRead MoreMarketing Schemes Of Monsanto, Major U.s. Pharmaceutical Corporations And Food Manufacturing Companies1572 Words   |  7 PagesAmerican people want to know if they are consuming food or using products containing Genetically Modified Organisms, GMO, according to the consumer reports organization. GMOs are organisms whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated in a laboratory through genetic engineering, or GE, according to the non-GMO project website. (nongmo project, what is a gmo) Scientist insert, delete, or swi tch the DNA in certain organisms. Those organisms may be able to live longer, speed up the growthRead MoreGenetically Modified Products And Natural Products1510 Words   |  7 Pagescustomer. For the purposes of this paper, genetically modified organisms can be defined as â€Å"plants or animals whose cells have been inserted with a gene from an unrelated species in order to take on specific characteristics† (Lee 2014). Currently, over 70 percent of packaged food at grocery stores has been genetically modified in some way. (Proof) Where are you getting this info from? While there has been a recent movement towards the consumption of organic food products, the government has yet to establishRead MoreGenetically Modified Organisms And Its Effects On Humans Essay881 Words   |  4 PagesGMOs Genetically modified organisms also known as GMOs are used to change the DNA of animals and plants by using crossbreeding methods (GMO Facts. The NonGMO Project RSS. Web. 4 Mar. 2015.). These altered organisms are used to improve our food and are thought to be a good way to feed the rest of the world, especially undeveloped countries. But what most people don’t know is that GMOs are poorly tested, unsafe, and are found in most foods in the market. Genetically modified organisms are notRead MoreShould We Be Mandatory Labeling Mandatory?1272 Words   |  6 PagesJanuary 2015 OMG! GMO! Out of the 61 countries of the world 40% consist of the world’s population have turned to labeling GMO products. United States and Canada are one of the few who do not have labeling mandatory. Genetically modified organisms are on the rise and countries are rapidly starting to make labeling mandatory. The reason being why Hawaii should make labeling mandatory is one GMO’s unsafe past in Hawaii and around the world. Two, GMO’s does not only stand as a risk to humans butRead MoreArgument for Labeling Genetically Modified Foods928 Words   |  4 Pageslabeled on our food labels. Bacillus thuringiensis says a GMO is â€Å"when a gene from one organism is purposely moved to improve or change another organism in a laboratory, the result is a genetically modified organism (GMO)† (University of California San Diego, 1). I personally think that GMO’s should be labeled on our food. Genetically modified organisms can be crops or animals. There can be a few health benefits from this process. Theresa Phillips in â€Å"Genetically Modified Organisms† states â€Å"someRead MoreGenetically And Genetically Modified Organisms1421 Words   |  6 PagesGenetically modified organisms have been an huge issue for the world for a lot of people. Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, are organisms like plants and animals that have their genes altered so they can be more nutritious and prevent diseases. Humans have selected plants for desirable characteristics since the dawn of agriculture. At first, the only way to improve crop plants was to collect seeds from the best performing individuals for planting the next year. Once plant reproduction wasRead MoreGenetically Modified Organisms And The Food System1684 Words   |  7 Pages or â€Å"genetically modified organisms,† are plants or animals that have been genetically engineered with DNA from bacteria, vir uses or other plants and animals. These experimental combinations of genes from different species cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding. There are currently eight Genetically modified organisms available in grocery stores across America, they are cotton, alfalfa, papaya, squash, soybeans, canola, corn and sugar beets. Many believe putting genetically modifiedRead MoreGenetically Modified Foods Need to be Labeled Essay1377 Words   |  6 Pagesconsumers who purchase genetically modified foods and the companies that processes these foods through genetic modification. Consumers are demanding that all genetically modified foods are labeled so that they will have information about what ingredients are in these foods. The companies who sell genetically modified foods do not want to label them and are making claims that labeling these foods would raise food prices, hurt farmers, and cause genetically modified foods to gain the reputation ofRead MoreEthics Of Genetically Modified Organisms816 Words   |  4 PagesIn the last thirty years, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have been used for in the production of medicine and food and are widely used in scientific research and the production of other products (Junod, 2009). A GMO is any organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques, including mutation, insertion, or deletion of genes (Nelson, 2010). GMOS and GM technology have become a topic of great concern among scientists, regulators, consumers, farmers, and

Strategic Planning Free Essays

Strategic Planning MGT3880: Leadership for Organizations George Henson Strategic planning is a process of optimism by an organization. It anticipates the future of the organizational goals and strategically plans how the organization will achieve those goals. Strategic planning involves several steps in its process those steps are; (1) strategic thinking including external analysis, (2) internal analysis, (3) identifying key strategic issues, (4) developing viable strategic alternatives, and (5) choosing the best strategy using as criteria whatever the company defines as â€Å"success† (Abraham, 2012). We will write a custom essay sample on Strategic Planning or any similar topic only for you Order Now The â€Å"Opening Bell Cafe† requires a strategic plan to ensure effectiveness so that new clientele, products and profits are within reach in the near future. The â€Å"Opening Bell Cafe† is a new organization and a revised strategic plan can assist with tackling new goals and growth for the organization over the next three years. This organization is very distinct because it offers services and products that exclude them from other leading competitors. In particular, the organization is responsible for employing individuals with great customer service and providing the client with quality individuals and extraordinary services. Also, the organization capitalizes on its stellar training of culinary and customer service skills which separates it from other competitors. The organization members are required to understand the organizational policies and are the first to ensure that the employee’s and client’s needs are addressed. The managers of the organization are responsible for deciding the direction in which the department should go, what the company should produce, and hence in what industry it competes (Abraham, 2012). Understanding the organization’s competitors, identifying the customers, rather they can provide and how the company will continue to remain profitable is the management’s responsibility. In order for the strategic plan to be effective the direction of the company must be understood. The student believes that the current direction is understood but is not being implemented correctly. The company knows what they want to offer; good products and great services this will allow the organization to compete with leading competitors. The menu of this organization differs from the cafe products to catering services and menu. The organization is aware of who the customer is but is unaware of how to meet them which is a weakness of the organization. During this strategic planning process a SWOT analysis must be completed to understand the organizations strengths, weaknesses opportunities and threats of the organization. The SWOT analysis is a straightforward model that provides direction and serves as a basis for the development of marketing plans (Danca, 2012). The SWOT analysis is being conducted for the benefit of meeting certain goals, the organization has to address the strengths and weaknesses internally and the opportunities and threats externally. The â€Å"Opening Bell† has several strengths but the employee relations and effective differentiation are two of the organizations strengths. Opening Bell Cafe is a respectable employer and values its employees. They ensure that the employees feel a part of the team which increases employee relations so that everyone has a pleasant experience with Opening Bell Cafe. Effective differentiation is the second strength of the organization. Effective differentiation permits the organization to study the competition and questions if they offer the same as competitors. While studying the group has to be realistic about behaviors that will allow the organization to compete with leading brands while identifying ways to improve. These strengths allow the organization to offer well trained employees and recognize products the competitors do not offer. Exploiting the strengths give the Opening Bell the ability to market and promote ahead of the competition. Weaknesses of the organization need to be understood in order for the organization to have growth and tackle goals. One weakness of the organization is the narrow product line and poor marketing skills. Having a narrow product line limits this company from competing with other cafes’ that offer a selection of breakfast, and lunch. Poor marketing skills limited the organization from reaching millions of potential customers. Just recently the organization established a website which means the people who do not go utilize their stores or catering was unaware that the organization exists. Strategically the company can avoid these issues by planning for new menu items and developing a marketing strategy. If the company can begin to offer more products and reach potential clients the organization can increase growth, revenue and earnings. Capitalizing on opportunities can be beneficial to the organization as well. The opportunity has a specific technical definition; it is a product-market issue (Abraham, 2012). The company can address this situation by creating a new product for an existing market. Opening Bell can also, expand the market for an existing product. Creating new products and expanding on existing products can bring about new clients which can offer the organization appeal from their competitors. Such small changes can be huge when competing with leading brands such as Starbucks or Dunkin Doughnuts. Threats can be unfavorable to any company however identifying threats can help the company when strategizing. The threats for the Opening Bell consist of competitors having stronger brand names and the downturn in the economy. All consumers are currently aware of the leading brand names of Starbucks and Dunkin Doughnuts. Since Opening Bell is aware of these leading brand names they have to offer variations of products and experience. The leading brands do not offer delivery which means that local companies can phone in orders or even order online. Experts say that, â€Å"a downturn in the economy can mean that customers are spending less† (Anonymous,1990). After the threats are identified the organization can work towards increasing customer relations. After conducting the SWOT analysis the student has identified areas that are crucial toward the strategic planning process. The crucial areas are employee relations, poor marketing skills, expand the market for an existing product, and expanding on new products. If these areas are continuous strengths of the organization the organization can focus on other areas that may need restructuring. Employee relations are a part of the operational aspect of the business. Managers are required to guarantee that the organization employees know what to do and how to do it. For this aspect to remain an organizational strength it is essential that all employees know how to communicate effectively. One expert states, â€Å"In order to cope with competition, technological developments and customer demands, managers seek different solutions and tools to manage the unstable, rapidly changing, and never predictable situation which involves communicating effectively† (Johansson, 2008). This statement shows the organization that in order to continue growth in the industry the organization should continue focusing on employee relations. The organizations poor marketing skills have to be addressed in order for the strategic plan to be effective. It seems that at the present time the organization does not possess a marketing team or manager. The Opening Bell cannot dismiss what marketing the organization can do for the growth of the company. Having a marketing team who can promote the organization and improve customer relations will be valuable for the organization. The organization should put a budget together that permits marketing opportunities. This issue cannot be overlooked any longer the â€Å"Word of Mouth† marketing strategy has gotten the organization so far and now the growth is at a cessation. The organization has to utilize the tools of the internet and television to compete with the leading brands. Having a marketing team who can create promotional opportunities for customers can increase customer acquisition. The strategic plan has to improve the marketing skills of the organization. Expanding the market for an existing product can be challenging but the organization can grow from improving something that is already prevalent for other brands. Since, the organization utilizing fresh ingredients there is nothing like freshly baked cookies and homemade hot chocolate. There is already a market for these items and making them fresh to order with like a fifteen minute wait time would be fulfilling for the consumer. The hot chocolate would be a great in markets where the winters are cold and something warm is always desired One expert states that, â€Å"In fact, line extensions may be the answer to building sales and moving your company in a whole new direction† (Mischina, 2004). Being able to expand can open a whole new avenue for the organization that has not been offered by the leading competitors. Expanding on a new product for an existing market can create long-term growth for the organization. In today’s world of healthy eating offering gluten free product or even allergen free products on the daily menu can set the organization apart from leading competitors. These new products can provide a much needed solution to a giant problem that others have not offered yet. The previously mentioned areas are essential to the strategic plan of the Opening Bell because they provide an avenue on what is being done and what can be done to further advance the organization. The external analysis which entails observing, analyzing, and understanding what is changing in a company’s external environment to anticipate what the future might hold has been completed (Abraham, 2012). Secondly, the internal analysis involves knowing analyzing, and understanding everything about the company itself, especially what makes it a strong competitor or why it isn’t as strong as it could be (Abraham, 2012). Both of these steps in the strategic planning process have been completed. The key strategic issues have been identified and managers are working on resolving the issue. Annual objectives will be set also, to measure these critical challenges. To measure the success of the strategic plan the Opening Bell will utilize the metrics of revenue growth and the return of investments. These two measuring tools can allow the organization to measure the success or failures of the organization. Revenue growth is used more often when a firm’s revenue growth has been inadequate or flat, or when issues of market share and market positioning are strategically significant (Abraham, 2012,). The organization must measure the growth of revenue to warrant an effective strategic plan. Measuring revenue growth allows the leader to be aware of rather the organization is prepared monetarily for the strategic plan that has been set forward. Also, the strategic plan sets forward what the allotted monies will be used for and how. Secondly, the return of investments can measure the success of the strategic plan. A ROI is a profitability measure. When utilizing the ROI managers should be aware that ROI can measure the performance of the organization, managers and its business units. Lastly, the strategic plan should include strategic implementation because it’s the only way to boost ROI and increase your chances of success (Evans, 2012). Both of these metrics are capable of measuring the success of the strategic plan which can help any adjustments that need take place to guarantee the company is headed toward success. For an organization such as the Opening Bell Cafe a strategic plan will help to provide sustain the ups and downs of this uncertain economy. Planning strategically can ensure that the organization meets goals that they have established. All of the strategic planning process steps have been addressed and will be implemented in the near future. Effectiveness is only possible when all employees are on the same page with one another and when a directive is put into place for all to follow. Indeed, the organization is new to the industry but they have found that revising the strategic plan can lead to growth for the organization. Reference Abraham, S. 2012) Strategic Management for Organizations. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Retrieved from: https://content. ashford. edu/books Anonymous. (1990). 1990 SWOT Analysis. Retrieved from: http://som. csudh. edu/depts/cis/meyadat/ClassesPage/CIS502/casestudies/SWOT Danca , A. (2012). SWOT Analysis. Retrieved from; http://www. stfrancis. edu/content/ba/ghkickul/stuwebs/btopics/works/swot. htm Evans J, (2012). 8 Steps to Boost the ROI of Your Strategic Planning Efforts. Retr ieved from: http://www. vancarmichael. com/Management/5844/8-Steps-to-Boost-the-ROI-of-Your-Strategic-Planning-Efforts. html Johansson, Catrin (2008). Speaking of change: three communication approaches in studies of organizational change. Corporate Communications 13. 3 Retrieved from: http://search. proquest. com/docview/214190184/ Mishina,Y. (2004), Are more resources always better for growth? Resource stickiness in market and product expansion. Strat. Mgmt. Retrieved from: http://onlinelibrary. wiley. com/doi/10. 1002/smj. 424/abstract How to cite Strategic Planning, Papers Strategic Planning Free Essays â€Å"Tomorrow is built today† – Each of us knows very well that our decisions and actions or non-actions of today will shape our future tomorrow. The collective consciousness of this fact and our efforts in the direction of a better future can definitively work in order to make the future what we like to see – the future can be provoked! Mind rules not only heart and body but all the respective issues in this world. The strategies of life are created by man with his ideas and approaches. We will write a custom essay sample on Strategic Planning or any similar topic only for you Order Now â€Å"Think twice before you speak† is a familiar term in day to day life, this statement has got a deep meaning within itself, i.e., before you are about to say something think bout what you are going to speak and what would be it’s outcomes later on. It is well said that if you want to achieve something in life, dream for it and plan how to achieve that goal or objective once getting started. Things always gets complicated for a person if the tasks involved in it are not familiar to that very person who was suppose to finish it off. It’s always said that, two are better always rather then working single because two people working together makes things possible easily n quickly, thinking bout it’s outcomes in advance and the result that comes out is always systematic and best possible. Some human beings follow others footsteps and some create their own ideas and work hard effectively and efficiently for attainment of their goals and objectives. Achievements never knocks at the door after dreaming bout them. One has to work out in real to achieve such tasks. As our day routine gets started we do look for a change so that the coming day should be better in comparison to the previous one. The major aim of most of the people in today’s world is profit(monetary) and goodwill and yes definitely a long term well know never ending name in the market place just not in their country but most of the parts of the world. Future remains in hand if a task or work is performed efficiently and effectively keeping in mind all the basic operations which are supposed to be included in that known task. Life has changed a lot with real life competitions and challenges coming up day by day. Whatever step one moves should be effective and well balanced as the other could be smarter and experienced then what he/she is. Challenges not only arise within individuals but also within group of people and competitors. Each and every movement should be well planned and then only should be undertaken for its progress. For the highest level of stability one has to adopt advance skills and objectives as these only help in attainment of goals and objectives. STRATEGIC PLANNING Strategic planning is a management tool, period. As with any management tool, it is used for one purpose only: to help an organization do a better job – to focus its energy, to ensure that members of the organization are working toward the same goals, to assess and adjust the organization’s direction in response to a changing environment. In short, strategic planning is a disciplined effort to produce fundamental decisions and actions that shape and guide what an organization is, what it does, and why it does it, with a focus on the future. A word by word dissection of this definition provides the key elements that underlie the meaning and success of a strategic planning process: The process is strategic because it involves preparing the best way to respond to the circumstances of the organization’s environment, whether or not its circumstances are known in advance; nonprofits often must respond to dynamic and even hostile environments. Being strategic, then, means being clear about the organization’s objectives, being aware of the organization’s resources, and incorporating both into being consciously responsive to a dynamic environment. The process is about planning because it involves intentionally setting goals (i.e., choosing a desired future) and developing an approach to achieving those goals. The process is disciplined in that it calls for a certain order and pattern to keep it focused and productive. The process raises a sequence of questions that helps planners examine experience, test assumptions, gather and incorporate information about the present, and anticipate the environment in which the organization will be working in the future. Finally, the process is about fundamental decisions and actions because choices must be made in order to answer the sequence of questions mentioned above. The plan is ultimately no more, and no less, than a set of decisions about what to do, why to do it, and how to do it. Because it is impossible to do everything that needs to be done in this world, strategic planning implies that some organizational decisions and actions are more important than others – and that much of the strategy lies in making the tough decisions about what is most important to achieving organizational success. The strategic planning can be complex, challenging, and even messy, but it is always defined by the basic ideas outlined above – and you can always return to these basics for insight into your own strategic planning process. Strategic planning is only useful if it supports strategic thinking and leads to strategic management – the basis for an effective organization. Strategic thinking means asking, â€Å"Are we doing the right thing?† Perhaps, more precisely, it means making that assessment using three key requirements about strategic thinking: a definite purpose be in mind; an understanding of the environment, particularly of the forces that affect or impede the fulfilment of that purpose; and creativity in developing effective responses to those forces. Strategic planning has also been described as a tool – but it is not a substitute for the exercise of judgment by leadership. Ultimately, the leaders of any enterprise need to sit back and ask, and answer, â€Å"What are the most important issues to respond to?† and â€Å"How shall we respond?† Just as the hammer does not create the bookshelf, so the data analysis and decision-making tools of strategic planning do not make the organization work – they can only support the intuition, reasoning skills, and judgment that people bring to their organization. Finally, strategic planning, though described as disciplined, does not typically flow smoothly from one step to the next. It is a creative process, and the fresh insight arrived at today might very well alter the decision made yesterday. Inevitably the process moves forward and back several times before arriving at the final set of decisions. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE MIGHT BE? WHAT KIND OF FUTURE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE? Competitions and challenges in the market or in a working concern is the primary aspect .it bothers all the managers of a growing concern in way or the other. Whether, it is the product (which they deal in or going to launch in the market), price (what should be the price related with other substitutes available in the market), longevity (what would be its demands in future), uniqueness (how it would be different from the other products) and rather endless number of features. Production is concerned with costumers, their tastes, choices. Mood differs from one body to the other. Nobody have the same kind of needs or wants. Thereby products also vary in prices, weight and size. Production is always carried out keeping in mind the perfect market situation. The basic aim of every individual is to earn profit and goodwill in the market. The stability and up-to-date growth is a must concern. To achieve all the goals and objectives all the plans are well made and accordingly strategies are designed. A strategy not only helps in a unique start of work but also gives the best outcomes of the efforts made for future. It takes years to earn goodwill in the market; therefore it is a must to make plans whatever is effective for the start-up of the work. End numbers of features are taken in consideration by any of the famous well-known company or industry whoever are the known leaders in the market. Sum of the known features are: * Members: the number of people who are going to lead the environment and the owners of the business concern. Most of the business concerns have partners. They have to aim at the goals and objectives, moreover, decide what their future would be. They are the only leaders to decide the nature of their business and what would be the size and how globally it should be recognised. They look out for not just competitors but also have to follow some law and orders of the government. These owners employ experienced staff as managers to work under them and employees to work under managers known as subordinates. Owners are the decision makers. * Capital: investments or the amount to be engaged into the business is one of the important feature without which nothing could be worked out. * Product: plans are made regarding the product that has to be brought up in the market. number of issues are considered like, costumers and their choices, other resembling or same usage products that would come up or already exists in the market,. The managers have to decide, how their products would be unique and how it would be better then the rest of the companies’ products available in the market. How it would be cheaper and what goodwill would it bring to the company. Whether it has the future or not in the major aspect considered. * Market: strategies relates to market size and its globalization as well. One has to think bout customers and tends and fashions in the market. Managers have to plan out for the best market for their companies’ products and its variations. * Machinery and equipments: new methods of production are used with new techniques available so that product could be easily made with less time consumption. Therefore, experienced and well defined staff is appointed and supervisors always motivates the employees and brings in new innovative ideas regarding production. * Available resources: A strategy not only helps in effective production but also helps in usage of resources available. Less wastage results in more profit and best outcome. * Employ welfare: Board of directors gives utmost respect to their employees and take care of their employees whether they are managers or subordinates by providing them with comforts and teaching them the new innovative ideas. They also give them bonus for their effective and efficient hard work they put on for production. * Exports-Imports: strategies are designed on the matter for exports of products and markets for trade are searched in a way or the other to earn profit and goodwill. They also take care of the importers from whom they have to but the raw material and stuff for production. A strong relation could only be maintained if the company have well detailed strategies regarding their work performance. * Strengths and Weaknesses: managers or the board of directors make plans to overcome the weaknesses whatever they could be. The strategies are designed in such a way that it lasts long and have enough strength to overcome every declining effect. A long lasting performance can only be obtained if the growing concern gets hold of their weaknesses. * Web page: as internet has proved to be one of the best sources in business relationships of most business companies. Owners make it a point to design their company’s web page in such a manner that each and every product and its features along with price details are easily understandable. Strategies are made to achieve goals and targets not only through internet but also globally. Concluding with an Example: Longview Solutions and Marks Spencer Take Planning to New Heights THIS IS MARKS SPENCER Marks Spencer is one of the UK’s leading retailers of clothing, foods, homeware and financial services. Operating within approximately 12.5 million square feet of selling space, serving ten million customers a week in over 340 UK stores, Marks Spencer employs more than 67,000 people. The company also trades in wholly owned stores in the Republic of Ireland and Hong Kong, and has over 150 franchise stores in 28 countries operating through a network of partnerships. In 2002/2003, Group turnover was in excess of à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½8 billion. SITUATION With extensive operations in the United Kingdom, Marks Spencer required a financial planning, actual reporting, and reforecasting solution to be used by all stakeholders in the planning process across all business units, service areas, and stores. There was a requirement for consistent, cohesive data that could be viewed and reported upon at various levels of summarisation from individual budget holders to a consolidated Group position. BUSINESS CHALLENGE The Marks Spencer objective was to approach the planning process in a professional manner, passing accountability to individual commercial budget holders. The existing process was spreadsheet-driven and time-consuming with a heavy reliance upon the Finance Group to manipulate and consolidate the data, leaving less time for challenging and detailed analysis. SOLUTION Marks Spencer considered five critical factors in its decision process – Product, People, Policy, Principles, and Price. Marks Spencer selected Corporate Performance Management (CPM) application Khalix(r) by Longview Solutions because it best met their needs on all five key performance criteria. Khalix was able to: * Provide Marks Spencer with a single, accurate version of the financial truth through one central repository of data * Delegate ownership and accountability for budgets and plans back to the commercial budget holders * Reduce the overall time required to achieve an approved, realistic budget * Meet Marks Spencer’s need for a flexible solution that could adapt and grow with the company * Perform â€Å"what-if† analysis during budget creation, to facilitate better decision-making and minimise risk * Provide Marks Spencer with a solution that would fit with their corporate technology standards and future requirements * Achieve consistency of reporting across similar business units RESULTS With Longview Solutions’ Corporate Performance Management application, Marks Spencer is able to provide excellent service to internal customers and has achieved the following results: * Speedier and more accurate budgeting and planning process, with an overall reduction in process time. * High visibility of consistent, accurate data which is accessible to all – â€Å"One version of the financial truth† * Successful ownership for budget-setting to the appropriate level and clear visibility of ownership and accountability of planned performance at all levels of business * Ability to spend time analysing and challenging the plan, removing risk, and exploiting opportunities to achieve a realistic plan * Strong relationship between the Longview Solutions and Marks Spencer teams, which has resulted in a high level strategic partnership that is helping shape future product direction * Ease of maintenance for database changes and reporting Thus Strategic planning brings in longevity and prosperity for modern corporations. Bibliography: TEXT BOOKS: -Strategic Management Business Policy by Thomas L. Wheelen and J. David Hunger. (Ninth edition). -Strategic Management by John L Thompson. -Strategic Management-An Introduction by Ronald Rosen. -The Strategy Process-Concepts, Contexts, Cases by Henry Mintzberg and James Brian Quinn. -Strategic Management by Cardiff Business School Cardiff University. -Sir John Harvey- Jones, Past chairman ICI, 1987 WEB: -http://www.longview.com/customersuccess/MS.asp -http://www.lordofthewebs.com/portfolio/StrategicPlanning.asp How to cite Strategic Planning, Papers

Professional and Cognitive Skills

Question: Discuss about theProfessional and Cognitive Skills. Answer: Introduction Effective project management remains to be the major driving force for the success of business ventures. The Australian construction industry focuses on boosting productivity and providing a conducive working environment for the employees. Cheong and Mustaffa, (2012, p. 543) argue that with the current competitive business environment, construction companies must design strategies for establishing a firm position in the market, and this calls for undertaking various stakeholder-oriented projects. For a project's goals to get realized, there must a clear and consistent communication system amongst the stakeholders. This report is based on employees self-assessment reviews and provides an analysis of the features that a project leader should possess and the lines of communication that a firm should adopt so as to achieve the set project's objectives. Brief on Employees Self Assessment Reviews This self-assessment was completed using the Proctor and Gamble company employees self-assessment reviews against a backdrop of the fair work ombudsman having numerous years of experience in analyzing, improving, and providing effective leadership for the companies projects. Based on the employee's self-assessment reports, the company's performance was rated high, and the main reason was effective communication and leadership by the project leaders. However, the self-assessment for the year 2015 identified five strategic change objectives that should get included in the project plan and include: The value of clients work Enhancing a balanced outcome for the budgetEngaging all Staffs in Decision-Making Optimal utilization of time Diversifying the company recruitment culture beyond Australia borders The following analysis provides a clearly and well-written self-assessment program based on the objectives, achievements, and issues arising for PG and resulting from employees contacts to the perfection of project goals. Further, the assessment explains in details the solutions as well as the immediate results to the overall project performance. Functional Roles of Key Stakeholders The self-reviews revealed that projects have to meet all the stakeholder's interests because every stakeholder plays an important part in the functioning of the company. According to Cheong and Mustaffa, (2012, p. 550), key interested parties in a construction project include the project manager, project team, functional management, sponsor, and the customers. For a company to realize its set goals, there must exist a well established mutual relationship between the stakeholders and the project leader. For a clear understanding of the functional roles of the key stakeholders, the self-assessment review followed a diagrammatic representation in explaining the responsibility of every stakeholder towards the project's success. The following table shows the functions of the key stakeholders of a construction industry on enhancing the success of the project. Stakeholder Role and contribution in project management Project leader Defines the objectives, plans, controls, and leads the project Team members Contribute their knowledge and skills in performing the project's tasks to produce the desired output Sponsor Acts as a liaison between the top leadership and the project leader Customers The group whose demands drive the project and receives the final product of the construction project Functional manager provides the company with human, financial, physical, and technological resource policies in particular to the project The above tables summarize the below diagrammatic representation of the functional roles of the key stakeholders in a construction project. The above table shows how the interested parties in a construction sector work. The right-hand side lists the contributors to the success of the project, while the left-hand side group illustrates how the end users of the projects product get affected. Contributors in the project include the management, project management, team, and customers and how their influence helps in designing decisions and missions for the company's project. Lines of Communication Construction projects are complex and risky, and this requires the active participation of the concerned stakeholders which can only get facilitated through good communication policies. As per Fisher, (2011, p. 995), effective communication within the industrial environment leads to efficiency and improved productivity. There is a great need for constant consultation, adequacy of feedback, and motivation of the team members so as to achieve the project goals efficiently. A good project leader should establish effective channels of communication to establish close links amongst all the players in the construction industry. Kerzner, (2013, p. 68) argued that the best project leaders always communicate their plans to the team members promptly and recognizes contributions of all participants regarding decision-making processes. Given that construction sector is highly dynamic and fragmented, the challenges of poor communication remain greater than in other production environments. Below is a diagrammatic representation of channels of communication that a project leader should adopt to establish a healthy relationship between the stakeholders of the project. Internal Lines of Communication Formal Informal Upward - Grapevine Downward Vertical and Horizontal The upward line of communication: A good project leader should value the input of the team members since this creates mutual trust and an opportunity of acquiring feedback on the progress of the project. Downward communication: An effective project leaders should use top flow channel of communication only when issuing policies and assignments to the project team. Vertical and horizontal: further, good leaders should establish mutual interrelationships between the project participants both at the same levels and in different levels. Attributes of a Best Project Leader A project manager should have a broader picture and understanding of the organization. The best project managers consistently deliver and meet stakeholders expectations at the right time and the set budget. Franzoni and Sauermann, (2014, p. 4) observed that a good project manager is the one who understands that leadership and people's skills are significant to excellent project management. With a clear understanding of the business environment, the project manager ensures that the goals of the project go hand in hand with the overall organizations objectives. Project leadership should have the ability to call for clear communication about the objectives, roles, performance, expectations, and feedback mechanisms to all the key participants in the construction project. Hwang and Ng, (2013, p. 276) state that communication is the backbone of a project's success and that poor communication creates an environment for complaints, and this hinders success. Active managers should spend most of their time communicating with the project team. A project manager should possess effective leadership skills and have the ability to make sound decisions relating to the project track. According to Petit, (2012, p. 540), a good team leader must be able to deal with groups whose ideologies vary, this suggest that one should be adjustable under different working conditions. Further, project managers must make many decisions which clearly define the project having in mind that making a wrong decision may jeopardize the whole project. Again, best team leaders should be able to thrive under pressure by effectively building the team. A good project manager should be good at team-building since unity and harmony of the project participants creates an environment for successful implementation of the plan. Chou and Yang, (2012, p. 48) postulate that it is important for leaders to focus on the positive aspects of the team members for this negate chances of conflict within the team. The creation of a positive rapport within the team relieves pressures that may have in one way or the other affected the project's momentum. Further, a good project leader should be competent in the field of project management. Knowledge of the best practices that relates to an organization empowers a project manager to take strategic actions as and when needed. As per Franzoni and Sauermann, (2014, p. 20) for leaders to become competent in guiding a project team, they must have the ability to inspire, model, inspire, and encourage the teams towards the right direction. Capacity to handle technical tools in the construction industry helps a manager to establish effectively a work package that the participant can accomplish within the set limits. Conclusion It is mandatory for every corporate industry in the business environment to establish project management department within its operations. Effective communication plays a significant role in the success of a given project. Poor communication strategies lead to the wrong setting of the stakeholder's functions and responsibilities, and this creates confusion in the functioning of the project. Given the complex nature and diversity of projects, project leaders should, therefore, come up with well-laid policies that recognize all stakeholders participation and engagement in the implementation process. References Cheong, Y. Mustaffa, E., 2012. Analysis of factors critical to construction project success in Malaysia. Engineering, Construction, and Architectural Management, 19(5), pp. 543-556. Chou, J. Yang, J., 2012. Project management knowledge and effects on construction project outcomes: an empirical study. Project Management JOURNAL, 43(5), pp. 47-67. Fisher, E., 2011. What practitioners consider to be the skills and behaviors of an effective project manager. International Journal of Project Management, 29(8), pp. 994-1002. Franzoni, C. Sauermann, H., 2014. Crowd Science: The organization of scientific research in open, collaborative projects. Research Policy, 43(1), pp. 1-20. Hwang, B.-G. Ng, J. W., 2013. Project management knowledge and skills for green construction: Overcoming challenges. International Journal of Project Management, 2(272-284), p. 31. Kerzner, H., 2013. Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling. S.l.: John Wiley Sons. Mok, K., Shen, G. Yang, J., 2015. Stakeholders management studies in mega construction projects: a review and future directions. International Journal of Project Management, 33(2), pp. 446-457. Petit, Y., 2012. Project portfolios in dynamic environments: Organizing for uncertainty. International Journal of Project Management, 30(5), pp. 539-553.