Formal Characteristics

SOC/120: Evolution of Formal Organizations Due: 12/11/2011 Nancy Keta The way that I will conduct my research is to first explain how formal organizations have evolved over the past century. Second, what differences were there in organizations a century ago, and compare to today’s organizations. And lastly I will also tell of the trends in today’s formal organizations in modern society. I will describe how each of the characteristics for formal organizations will need to evolve or change in Micah’s organization to be more open and flexible. And I will give an overall prediction based on my research on how organizations like Micah’s may evolve in the future. The evolution of formal organizations over the past century has changed due to the advances in technology and politics. There will always be changes in organizations as time passes and goes on; it can be influences from the outside world like consumers, or inside forces such as productivity. The outside influences are always changing due to the consumer and ever changing market is demanding a service or product every time they feel there is a need for something new, or something that they may desire. Making the companies aware of these desires and demands is a key factor in determining what needs to take place within the organization and turn them into being productive. Organizations that were here years ago did have all the advancements and technology as they do now. If you think about it most upper management handled just about everything in writing and managed tasks according to manual and procedures. Technology today has increased the speed of processing information and completed various other tasks that management had to do manually or by hand. Computers and the internet were here about 10 years ago, but not 100 years ago, but even 10 years ago many things had to be done by hand. The speed of technology has increased quickly and we are no longer waiting for the internet to connect thru dial up services; we have advancements in technology that connect us to the internet in a matter of a second. Medical equipment in today’s world uses software that will calculate birthdates and sex of fetuses, and can show us what an unborn child may look like at the time of being in the womb. There was not even a thought of this technology a century ago; people went ff old wise tales to find out what the sex of the child was. Looking at the medical coding field that has erupted in education institutions, technology is taking over the personal side of things, pretty soon there will be only machines working rather than humans. In many companies, this has already taken place; many positions that were previously filled by humans have beco me computer automated. In today’s world the advancement of technology is leading the way, getting jobs done faster and more efficient than the way they have been done when our predecessors were in the work force. From the stand point of a formal organization it is important to understand that most factors of the organization are built on traditions; some methods of doing business have been the same way for many years. Work methods are not as modern because everything stays the same and not much improvement has been made with this type of organization. Many believe that a formal organization is an old way of thinking, and these organizations are opposed to the new way of thinking which is more modern and technologically driven. Formal organizations often have a set standard or rule book in which their business is conducted and ran. Organization is key and highly important within a formal organization. When assessing the ladder of leaders within a bureaucratic organization, it is important to picture or a pyramid type order. Within the pyramid format, everyone has a supervisor that they report to and have to answer to. This pyramid is constructed with supervisors being at the top of the pyramid and employees are at the bottom. Within this pyramid each person has designated tasks, and job expectations. Generally a person can see how relationships between co-workers are minimal to maximize work ethic and cut down on fraternization of employees. Within a bureaucratic organization communication is left on an impersonal note consisting of email, telephone, or letters. It seems that â€Å"succession planning† is becoming a major trend among major corporations. Many companies are strategically planning processes and corporate policies. This is not just for the upper ranks; this is becoming a proactive management of the corporation’s entire talent pool. Leadership development, integrating with talent management, and career development programs, succession planning is going beyond the reactionary replacement of employees. Effective succession planning is making it possible for the success of a organizations talent, on demand, and as needed, right now and in the future. The biggest hindrances to organizations are time and resources. It seems that the day to day challenges of running these companies over power the organization’s ability to effectively engage in succession planning. Many other obstacles occur when management feels threatened because they are asked to train their successors; this is also in addition to being able to predict the needs of the company in the company in the future. Many places do not have the internal career development programs to help employees take over available positions in the future or have clear career pathways defined. Being able to identify internal candidates with the right skills, experience, and abilities to handle various needs is a big challenge for many organizations. Connecting the collection and retrieval of such data enabled the implementation of succession planning activities. Identifying these skills and abilities needed for various positions, and relaying this information to the workforce, organizations have the ability to proactively recruit internal talent, and employees are enabled to manage their own careers within the company. In the execution of these actions employee retention and morale seem to be higher and the company is better off and more profitable in the long hall. More organizations are beginning to realize that there is a need for the developing some type of succession planning. With the upcoming need to have new managers ready to assume positions because of massive numbers of baby boomers retiring, companies need to move and act fast. Citations: * GROOMING SUCCESSORS. Full Text Available By: Heffes, Ellen M. Financial Executive, Sep2002, Vol. 18 Issue 6, p21-24, 4p, 4 Color Photographs * MANAGEMENT BY WONDERING ALOUD. Full Text Available By: Galagan, Patricia. Training & Development Journal, Jun86, Vol. 0 Issue 6, p4, 1p * Organizing for Decision Support System Support: The End-User Services Alternative. Full Text Available By: Watson, Hugh J. ; Carr, Houston H. Journal of Management Information Systems, Summer87, Vol. 4 Issue 1, p83-95, 13p * Renewal Through Reorganization: The Value of Inconsistencies Between Formal and Informal Organization. Full Text Available By: Gulati, Ranjay; Puranam, Phanish. Organization Science, Mar/Apr2009, Vol. 20 Issue 2, p422-440, 19p, 3 Diagrams, 2 Charts, 5 Graphs

Normal Branding Theory - Promoting Brand Identity Essay

Normal Branding Theory - Promoting Brand Identity - Essay Example The behavioural mannerisms of the audiences, both primary and secondary are significant since these shape up the sale of these brands or as exclusively one can state, the marketing of the same. (Jackson, 2004) Brands have overtaken the retail units by storm. They seem to be everywhere. One brand is ‘in’ today and it might just be replaced or cannibalized by its smaller unit every other week. This means that there is a lot of diversification which is taking place and if seen from the competitive standpoint, this is something that boosts competition and gives rise to a healthy one. (Keller, 2003) But then again, there are drawbacks in such a situation. Since how many brands can remain in the awareness set of the consumer that the brand is actually hitting upon? The answer to this is not only confusing but also perplexing to state the least. (Faust, 1994) Further, Douglas (2004) has asserted the way in which brands have attained the position of icons on their own due right and place. They have outsmarted the manner in which other brands are perceived and this is a significant basis for their long-term success within the relevant markets nonetheless. The normal branding theory thus speaks of the ways through which brands are propagated across a number of different channels and whether these communicate the essence of the product in entirety or otherwise. The proliferation of brands in a tremendous amount is a tantamount to serious market activity and shuffling in of brands at a breakneck speed which is all the more pleasing for the market indicators and the business as a whole. The manner in which this proliferation has come about has brought serious and grave concerns on the minds of the people who are in charge of running the whole show but then again it is in direct proportion with the supply and demand theory which we discuss in the coming lines. (Brache, 2007) Brands offer some sort of value to a particular set of audience and it is up to the brand manager and his team that this audience is narrowed down as far as possible.  Ã‚  

Blackberry Marketing Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6000 words

Blackberry Marketing - Case Study Example As indicated in forth coming sections, over 41 million people use BlackBerry smartphones through 550 carriers and distribution partners in 175 countries around the world. This is encouraging enough to conduct the research on this organization as the results will not only offer enough insights, the experience would in all probability bring positive results for both the organization and the researcher. In order to explore the idea of gathering information, researching on previous efforts made by the organizations on similar exercise and its outcome, while we rely heavily on the website, our sources are not limited to the site alone but various reports published at regular interval in different journals. We begin with a brief paragraph introducing the different tasks being conducted to confirm the understanding of the researcher, methods adopted to make the research effective and higher objectives aimed for by the different exercises. This project has specific defined goals and milestones that are also listed in this paper. The first exercise would be an elaborate planning of the research for appropriate decision making, second exercise would be to create relevant questions to satisfy some of the objectives and information targets outlined in first exercise followed by the third exercise to collate necessary information based on the research conducted to arrive at decision and facilitate next steps 2. Task One: Research Planning for Decision Making 2.1 Introduction In this exercise, keeping the process and output in view, the research design is defined, regardless of traditional and conventional methods that were practiced earlier, as there are a few prevailing factors that inadvertently dominate the design of research we conduct. The attempt here is not just to identify the overall process appropriately but to expedite the execution and bring in better results. This paper deals with a few basic concepts definitions, along with challenges in the recent past, constraints and bottlenecks. The attempt therefore has been not just to address the research design aspect but the factors that need to be considered to ensure we have an effective design in place for Research and build information repository. While we leverage our previous learning from similar exercise, there is a clear effort to innovate to ensure optimistic results and eliminating hindrances in the different tasks we carry forward pertaining to Blackberry. The approach is primarily to evaluate a process realistically and introduce changes based on industry trends or other aspects that suit the process. In this exercise, we capture the trends in the past and also make relevant assumptions to arrive at a reasonable conclusion without much ambiguity. Organization Chosen: Blackberry 2.2 Organization

Rhetorical Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Rhetorical - Essay Example In the course of this paper I will examine the rhetoric employed by Nathan Comp in his article entitled â€Å"An End to the War on Weed?† This article suggests that recent changes indicate the status quo with regards to the criminalization of marijuana may soon be at an end. Logos is an important aspect of Comp's argument. He wants to present his argument as eminently reasonable and the alternative to it as foolish. He presents many facts about the status quo which suggest that it is not working. He argues that there is a â€Å"growing sense that America’s marijuana policy is more harmful than the plant itself . . .† However, his reasoning is a bit simplistic. If the status quo is defective, simply remove the laws creating it, he says, and everything will be solved. This argument is a bit childish. As suggested below, legalizing marijuana does not solve the crime problems relating to other drugs. He argues that voters no longer seem to care that presidents have a dmitted to using marijuana. That is an important fact, but all presidents have said it is a negative thing and none support its legalization. If voters were to elect a stoner as president that might be more definitive. The suggestion is frequently made that marijuana is safer than alcohol, but again little evidence is used to support this claim. Experts are quoted saying: â€Å"The problem is that people still have a perception of harm that’s been built up over many years . . . If marijuana were legalized tomorrow, in 10 years these perceptions would be very, very different.† This is pure supposition and not logic. The evidence is divided on this issue. Nevertheless, this effort to appeal to authority sounds convincing and is useful logos. A great example of Comp employing ethos to recommend his argument is when he speaks about the Obama administration's potential backtracking on a liberalized regime towards marijuana. Comp does not believe these actions mean much. He writes, â€Å"to paraphrase Victor Hugo, not even the strongest government in the world can stop an idea whose time has apparently come.† This is a useful quote as it appeals to idealism and faith. It suggests that the people are opposed to the government and that the people have right on their side. By quoting Hugo, Comp sounds more credible, more classical, and more authoritative. This is a good example of using rhetorical ethos to make a point. The paraphrase is slipped into the argument but helps set a persuasive tone. The ethos Comp wants to communicate through this paper is one in which those who support legalization are pragmatists and progressives, and those who oppose it are retrograde and careless. This is a moral issue for Comp. The two sides are divided between good and bad. Pathos is as much a part of Comp's argument as any other rhetorical technique. He tries to frighten the reader into believing in his view on legalizing marijuana. Describing the situation in M exico, he writes that arguments for legalization â€Å"have taken on unusual gravity over the last year, as drug-fueled violence along the Mexican side of border has excited fears that the carnage and mayhem will spill over into American cities. Testifying before a House panel in March, a top Homeland Security official warned that the cartels now represent America’s largest organized-crime threat, having infiltrated at least 230 American cities.† He presumes that these facts support the argument for legalization,

Effect Of Oil Price Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Effect Of Oil Price Change - Essay Example The demand and supply framework of oil price changes is very complex and becomes understandable when divided into two. The two segments are; the short run and long run demand and supply. The short-run responses to oil price changes refer to the immediate changes in the event of an oil price change. Players in the market do not make immediate adjustments to their costs and procedures with effect to the oil price changes in this period. In the real world situation, consumers using cars and home equipment that use oil will respond slowly to a change in the oil prices. For example, an increase in the oil prices will make these consumers reluctant to change their consumption behavior of oil and oil-related products to cut their expenditure on oil even though they are not impressed with the prevalent high prices (Krichene, 2008). In the short run, the sensitivity of demand to the oil price change is quite low. In the long run, the demand for oil changes with relation to a change in oil pri ces. The consumers respond towards a rise in oil prices in the long run by initiating actions channeled at cutting their consumption of oil. These actions are such as the using of more fuel-efficient cars and equipment to cut their expenditure on oil. The price sensitivity, in the long run, is more than in the short run since oil consumers can make changes in their consumption of oil more in the long run than in the short run. This effect makes the demand curves of oil prices to be steeper in the long run than in the short run (Prasch, 2008).

Life in Prison Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Life in Prison - Essay Example The text provided me with a comprehensive view of this subject. b. There are different strategies being used by "Anonymous N. Inmate" and the other inmates in their adjustment to the prison system. Some attempt to become more involved in prison lives in a good way, occupying themselves with programs and activities that pass the time, like reading, drawing, getting a job, educating themselves, participating in religious activities and other activities. These are used as ways to escape the difficult reality of living within the prison compound. Others choose do behave differently; engaging in the economy of illegal goods and services, prison politics, joining a gang, etc. Both methods are, in a way, forms of escapism of the reality and keeping one engaged and busy. Another adaptation to life in prison is that which involves sex in prison. While some prisoners opt to only masturbate, others begin having sex with other men, while picturing women. The dire lack of any women and the possibility to have sex with someone of your own choice leads them to doing this. This is clearly an adaptation difficult to make, but statistics show that between 12 and up to 65 percent of prisoners do this. c. The inmates need for respect, hope and safety contributes to the correctional policy to a great extent. By knowing what the prisoner needs and aspires to, the correctional system can adapt its methods of conduct, its strategies of operation, its rewards and punishments to these needs of the prisoners. For example, prisoners who exhibit a good behavior could be granted with special freedoms or privileges, something which will enhance their sense of being respected and valued. These prisoners could be commended on their good behavior, encouraging them to keep it up. In the same way, while of course keeping a humane and reasonable approach, prisoners who misbehave should be discouraged from continuing this form of conduct. d. The facility in

Issues in Hospitality Industry Essay Example for Free

Issues in Hospitality Industry Essay What are the main issues in hospitality industry? The issues were discussed at the last meeting of International Society(ISSC). Asking from the guest their shortage, they gave some problems necessary for them. Main part: Capital available, Emerging market, Technology, Travel permit residence. Capital available: Capital provides asset liquidity and enables the development of new hotels. Increasing institutional investment into the hotel sector is enhancing asset values and consequently lowering returns. Expectations of revenue and profitability growth are stimulating capital availability for new development. This environment is expected to continue as long as the hotel industry’s cyclical expansion continues. Signs of a cyclical plateau are starting to appear, and the implications of capital availability will be profound. Many factors affect the amount, timing, and availability of capital. In the US the fractured economic conditions that existed after 2001 eroded operating results and values over the ensuing few years, but this in turn set the stage for the current cyclical upturn. Modest potential for new supply, together with the industry’s high degree of operating leverage, have now made hotels highly attractive relative to other commercial asset classes. As a consequence, a large migration of institutional capital to the hotel sector was not long in coming. Investors have bid up hotel prices and bid down required yields to relatively low levels. The momentum of the hotel investment market has been enhanced by significant liquidity in the mortgage markets. Emerging market: The World Tourism Organization estimates that global tourism visitation (as measured by arrivals) has increased from 770 million in 2005 to 983 million in 2011 and is expected to continue to increase reaching 1,561 million by 2020. China alone is expected to generate 100 million outbound tourists by 2020 up from less than 15 million currently. As the number of international travelers increases, the beneficiaries (i. e. , countries and specific destinations) of international tourism will also change. In many cases, historically popular destinations may make gains in the aggregate number of visitors, but the proportion of total share is likely to decrease. A growing interest in â€Å"new† and previously less accessible destinations (such as Vietnam and China) as well as the strong growth of more traditional destinations (e. g. , Singapore) is driving this shift as well as more practical considerations such as location and modes of transportation. What is driving this rapidly expanding outflow of visitors? Among the leading reasons, travel is being seen as luxury rather a consumer staple at most income levels and as incomes in emerging markets rise, so does the demand for traveling. Regarding the increasing share of Asia it can be attributed to a large extent to the growth of China outbound travel which concentrates in Asia (in 2004, over 70% to Hong Kong / Macao and almost 20% rest of Asia) Demographics are also supporting this interest, again notably among emerging countries, where populations tend to be younger (as opposed to the western world where seniors and near seniors are the fastest growing age brackets) and the middle class is rapidly expanding. Awareness of foreign destinations through electronic images, the rapid acceptance of new telecom products and international branding/marketing has a direct appeal to this younger, more affluent demographic. The four BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) provide an interesting perspective of this demographic shift. Technology: The challenges of keeping up with the fast pace of technology is difficult and expensive. Guests can now use the Internet’s interactive reservation systems, and hospitality companies are sometimes criticized for the (alleged) large number of keyboard clicks required to make a reservation. The number of reservations made via the Internet continues to increase. Surveys in the United States show that currently 20% of all reservations are made through the Internet, and this percentage is increasing every year. With such high percentage of reservations done through the Internet, a hospitality cannot afford not being connected. If the potential guest cannot book online, a reservation will be made at the competitors web site. Guest-room Innovations Multiple telephone lines, interactive opportunities for ordering room service, and guest-room check-out are examples of amenities that guests increasingly desire, but that are very expensive to install and implement. Data Mining This technology allows marketing and sales personnel to find new ways to use guest-related data. (data mining: using technology to analyze guest and other related data to make better marketing decisions. ) Yield Management This computerized process allows managers to match guest demand with room rates (high demand means higher rates because of lessened discounts; low demand result in higher discounts. (yield management: demand forecasting systems designed to maximize revenue by holding rates high during times of high guest-room demand and by decreasing room rates during times of lower guest-room demand). Yield management is critical to maximizing a hospitality’s profitability. The concept are applied to every revenue department and across department. The yield managers job is to maximize the revenue per available room by selling rooms to the right customers, at the right price, at the right time.