Morals and Ethics

I wonder why people still cheat maybe while writing a term paper or a business contract knowing the fact that one day the "culprit" will be caught and shall face the consequences. Is it because it is hard to get caught or I don't care attitude is in play! Also, there is something call a "white lie" which I have dealt with in the business environment.

A good example I see and hear almost everyday is the real estate brokers who will do anything in their means to close the deal, especially in our current bear market. If asked a direct question, "aren't you afraid," "what about your morals and ethics?" A simple answer I usually receive is," I have a family to support and I have bills to pay." How can I argue with that statement? Practically it makes sense but morally or ethically the action by these brokers are wrong.

How can we forget our dear friend Mr. Bernard Madoff! Now here is a situation which deals with pure greed! Mr. Madoff knew what he was doing is wrong and knew the consequences of the end result but still he kept on manipulating the market with a beautiful investment scheme. I got tempted as well but I did not go for it as it sounded too good to be true! I have a better chance with black jack in Vegas! I am sure he will have enough time in the jail cell to think about his personal morals and ethics.

Self-Concept

"Self-reverence, self-knowledge, self-control - these three alone lead to power." Lord Alfred Tennyson

How do I view myself or my self concept is how I will experience life! If it is positive and healthy I will experience life in a positive and healthy way. If it is shaky and fragile I will find life's challenges overwhelming and at times insurmountable. Positive self concept is an important self awareness tool in my life. In today’s bad economy I find negative vibes where ever I go. People are loosing hope and they have surrounded themselves with negative energy and lack of self confidence! I find that is easy to be negative then being positive about life in general. Being in an industry of Real Estate I know how hard it is to make a buck. I have not given up! I keep positive attitude and I try to radiate the same to people I meet. I just cannot give up!

What are the different types of plans that organizations can use?

In general, the organizational plan tries to establish a platform of organization within the company, so that the latter may accomplish its mission, its strategy and its objectives. This plan should define the functions and the communication and control lines associated with the plan of action and operation of the company. Therefore, the company's mission, strategy and objectives will determine the type of structure to be adopted, as well as the processes, resources and competences required for its operation. Here are some examples of different types of plans that organizations can use:

1. Financial Plan
2. Production Plan
3. Marketing / Sales Plan
4. Personnel / Human Resources Management Plan
5. Organizational Plan

In order to run the business correctly and smoothly all the above mentioned plans are essential for any company. My company is no different. All the plans are a sub section of a Business Plan for the company. All plans intermingle with each other throughout the fiscal year. For example if the revenues are low, the marketing increases it’s efforts, the cash flow is adjusted accordingly.

What are three factors that impact the planning process? How do these factors impact the planning process?

The three factors are as follows:

Business Plan- Long and short time Company’s business plan.
Financial Planning- involves measures such as sales, targets and earning growth.
Strategic Planning- are related to the firm’s business position and may include measures such as market share and reputation.

The blend of these three factors can impact the progress of any company. Lack of strong business plan can create a chaos in the company. Employees will be confused with the goals and expectations. A lack of strong financial planning can end with the IRS audits as the sales numbers and targets will be hard to track and earning growth will be negative when variance analysis is monitored. In a competitive market environment, reputation of the company plays a vital role which will be impacted if not addressed properly!

Concerns regarding corporate ethics have grown steadily throughout the past decade. In order to remain competitive, many organizational leaders are faced with the challenge of creating an ethical environment within their organization. In today’s corporate environment a company needs code of ethics in the organization so the employees will know how to “behave” in the company and thereby creating “Behavioral Planning” an important impact in the planning process.

How can you ensure that employees are motivated without being perceived as an authoritarian?

What I cannot yell and scream at my employees?

With my own personal experience when dealing with my staff members two things has always works for me. Firstly treating my members as professionals and secondly trusting my employees. I will not hire someone if I feel the two qualities I mentioned do not exist in the potential employee. Today's management is all about team work.

I have no problems making my own copies or running around the office as a helping hand. "Action is louder then words" and I truly reflect the saying with my work not because I have to but because I want to feel like a part of the team rather then sitting on the thrown dictating my fellow citizens! My office doors are always open to my "team members." Almost every task in the company is a joint effort of dedication, motivation and team work.

I was not born with these noble thoughts but a reflection of my peers who taught me how to be a boss but not act like a boss!

Learning is still in progress!

Confidence in leadership

Confidence in leadership

As per my reading I found that, “Self-confidence is the fundamental basis from which leadership grows.”

At the end of the day, leadership is about having the confidence to make decisions. If I as a manager am afraid to make and commit to decisions, all of the communication and empowerment in the world won't make a squat of difference when I am dealing with my staff members. In order to encourage loyal and diligent followers or employees I need to have my employees respect me as a manager. Respect is a very sensitive word which I need to earn by my actions and decisions I make in the company. I need to know my work thoroughly via education and experience. I need to be a problem solver rather then a problem maker for my employees. Lastly, I need to believe in my ability and stand for my decisions with substantial back-up, a sign or an indication for a self confident leader in my opinion.

What is management? Why is management necessary? How do you think management has evolved?

What is management? Why is management necessary? How do you think management has evolved?

Management is the function that organizes the execution of today’s business.

Management is like investment. Managers have resources to invest – their own time and talent as well as human and financial resources. The goal or function of management is to get the best return on those resources by getting things done efficiently. This doesn’t entail being mechanical. With highly skilled and self-motivated knowledge workers, the manager can be very empowering. Where the workforce is less skilled or motivated, the manager may need to monitor output more closely.

The aim of management is to deliver results cost effectively in line with customer expectations and profitably, in the case of commercial organizations. It is not only leaders who can be inspiring. Inspiring leaders move us to change direction while inspiring managers motivate us to work harder.

Today’s management is all about the bottom-line in my opinion. Management in a public company runs with two mantras! First is to increase the EPS (Earning per Share) value and secondly keeping the stockholders happy. If the EPS goes south the lay off happens. If the balance sheet goes red, the board of directors of the respective company changes the management team, starting from CEO.

Team-based, Network-based, and Boundary-less organizations

What are the advantages and disadvantages of team-based, network-based, and boundary-less organizations? Give an example of a function or role in the organization that could be benefited by each of these three organizational structures.

Organizing is the process of creating an organization's structure. Structure is an organization's framework as expressed by its degree of complexity, formalization, and centralization. Organization design is the development or changing of an organization's structure.

Team Based Organization
A Team based organization is one that realizes the benefits of operating in teams. They are actually called Learning Teams. It is the notion that working through teams produces working through synergy. Synergy can be compared to 2 + 2 = 5. In other words, four individuals can accomplish more working as a team than if they were to work independently of each other.

Advantages
Although teams are not appropriate for every organization or project, they do have many advantages. These include increased flexibility, better information flow and higher quality outputs.

Disadvantages
There is a tendency amongst many organizations to distribute work to teams rather than getting it done through the older more traditional methods. Sometimes this tendency is carried too far as some organizations will form teams regardless of the situation. However there are situations where the team approach works extremely well and others where the team simply does not reach it's potential.

Network-Based Organizations

In a network organization, long-term corporate partners supply goods and services to and through a central firm. Together, a network of small companies can present the appearance of a large corporation. Indeed, at the core of such an organization may be nothing more than a single entrepreneur supported by only a few employees.

Advantages
The operating environment of organizations has changed considerably during the last three decades. Organizations face more global competition, deregulated markets, increased customer selectivity on price, quality and service, environment protection issues and rapid technological development. In response to these forces many companies are restructuring their organizations to become more flexible and dynamic.

Disadvantages
Recent technological developments, specifically the integration of information and telecommunication technologies, have made possible an entirely new set of more disaggregated, distributed, and flexible production arrangements, as well as new ways for firms to organize their internal operations and their transactional ties to external firms.

Boundary-less Organizations

An organization has external boundaries that separate it from its suppliers and customers, and internal boundaries that provide demarcation to departments. This rigidity is removed in boundary less organizations, where the goal is to develop greater flexibility and responsiveness to change and to facilitate the free exchange of information and ideas. It is made up of self-managing and cross-functional teams that are organized around core business processes.
The teams include employees from different functional areas as well as customers and suppliers.

Advantages
Boundary less organization is able to achieve greater integration and coordination.
They are able to adapt to environmental changes.

Disadvantages
However, it can be difficult to overcome political and authority boundaries.
It can be time consuming to manage the democratic process to coordinate the efforts of many stakeholders.