Harley Davidson Essay Example for Free

Harley Davidson Essay We fulfill dreams through the experiences of motorcycling, byproviding to motorcyclists and to the general public an expanding lineof motorcycles, branded products and services in selected marketsegments †Vision Statement says: â€Å"Harley-Davidson is an action-oriented, international company, a leaderin its commitment to continuously improve [its] mutually beneficialrelationships with stakeholders (customers, suppliers, employees,shareholders, Government, and society). Harley-Davidson believes thekey to success is to balance stakeholders’ interests through theempowerment of all employees to focus on value-added activities. PROPOSED MISSION To be branded as the best motorcycle available in the world. PROPOSED VISION The best quality motorcycle, motorcycle products and financialservices will be provided world wide is the commitment of Harley-Davidson. Customer satisfaction is our motto and the Harley-Davidson customers can experiencethe taste of reality of motorcycle dreams by relaying their satisfaction on us. Harley-Davidson is dedicated to use the advanced technology to produce the most superior motorcycle in domestic and international markets. Stay competitive and continuegrowth worldwide remain profitable and survive is our philosophy. Employees of Harley-Davidson are the foundation of the company and they are the driving force behind the Harley-Davidson name. The total team effort of Harley-Davidsonemployees is devoted to fulfilling dreams of customers and we believe that there is nota motorcycle riding experience like a Harley-Davidson’s. Excellence is our pushthough our Harley-Davidson bar and shield logo that says superior quality. Honestyand customer loyalty and these morals are the heartbeat of Harley-Davidsonorganization. Harley-Davidson do our part in supporting all environmental laws in every country we do business. Determination and commitment is the place whereHarley-Davidson intends to stay EXTERNAL ANALYSIS PESTLE   Harley-Davidson is one of the most admired and recognizedcompanies in the world today. Academy of Motorcycling for those interested in learning to ride amotorcycle. â€Å"Riders-Edge† the motorcycling academy of Harley-Davidsonintroduced more than 1000 aspiring motorcyclists to the sport in2000. Average purchaser of a U. S Harley-Davidson motorcycle is amarried male in his mid-forties. Average purchasers of a U. S Harley-Davidson have a householdincome of $78,600.   Over two thirds of the sales of Harley-Davidson motorcycles areto buyers with at least one year of education beyond high school.   30% of the Harley-Davidson buyers have college degrees.   Only about 9% of Harley-Davidson U. S retail motorcycles are towomen. Confidence in economy is directly proportional to the purchasingof consumer items.   Repeat business is strong as about 42% of motorcycle purchasershave owned a Harley-Davidson previously. U. S Government and People are considering Harley-Davidson asan American icon.   Opportunities in emerging economies [India, China] but uncertainoperating situations. A new assembly facility opens in Manaus, Brazil, the firstoperations outside of the U. S, reduces taxes, make them moreaffordable to a larger group of Brazilian customers Harley-Davidson is one of the main manufacturer and user of V-ENGINE configuration. Harley-Davidson’s have a wide variety of products according toStandard, Performance, Touring custom. Harley-Davidson is facing some legal problems in Asian countries,in India there is 60% tariff and various other taxes will cause theprice of the bike to double.   Noise pollution and some emission standards of Harley-Davidsonbike is not up to the level of some countries across the globe. Five Forces ? Internal Rivalry. Four major competitors are mainly concentrated on theseheavyweight motorcycle segments: in addition to Harley-Davidson the other three are Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda all are Japanese companies. Some of the major competitors of Harley-Davidson have largerfinancial and marketing resources and are more diversified(Example: Yamaha, half of its revenue is only from motorcycles).   Polaris (American snowmobile/ATV manufacturer) producer of â€Å"Victory† motorcycles priced its motorcycles below the Harley-Davidson motorcycles.   Strategic alliance between Suzuki and Kawazaki in the areas of product development, design, engineering, and manufacturing of motorcycles, this alliance strengthened both companies’ globalmotorcycle businesses.   Honda, the main competitor of Harley-Davidson in U. S eat upsome market share of Harley-Davidson. ? Potential entrants   Entry barrier is very high is this segment, because this segmentneeds a lot of capital investment and the industry is on amaturity stage, so that there is only four main competitors. The economies of scale are low in this segment, which is thereason why there are only four major players.   There is some small scale producers, who are making thesecustom made motor cycles but the amount of their production isnot at all a threat for Harley-Davidson, and they are increasingthe interest of motorcycles among the general public. Substitute products. Harley-Davidson has a wide span of suppliers, so that if onesupplier attempted to increase the price, they can easily switchto the alternate suppliers without any problem in production.. ? Power of Customers   Consumers of Harley-Davidson motorcycles are individualcustomers, so that they can’t seriously affect Harley’s financialposition.   The numbers of dealers around the globe are also less and theyare also dependent to the individual customers, that can’t affectHarley-Davidson’s financial position. OPPORTUNITIES ? The European demand for Harley Davidson is the highest in theinternational market and represents the single largest motorcyclemarket in the world. Women and younger riders are increasing becoming interested inbikes ? The international heavy weight market is growing and is nowlarger than the U. S. heavyweight market ? Market share increasing in Europe and Asia for the last two years ? Increasing demand in US markets for bikes ? Customers value quality parts THREAT ? Harleys ongoing capacity restraints caused a shortage supply anda loss in domestic market share in recent years ? Harleys average buying age is 42 years old and increasing? The European Union’s motorcycles noise standards are morestringent than those of Environmental Protection Agencies in theU. S and increased environmental stand ? Some competitors of Harley Davidson have larger financial andmarketing resources and they are more diversified ? Environmental protection laws ? Buell division needs to continue to produce a quality motorcycleunder Harley’s brand name. EFE MATRIX Key external factorsWeightRatingWeightedscoreOPPORTUNITIES The European demand for Harley Davidson is the highestin the international market and represents the singlelargest motorcycle market in the world 0. 1540. 6 The international heavy weight market is growing and isnow larger than the U. S. heavyweight market 0. 1540. 6 Women and younger riders are increasing becominginterested in bikes 0. 130. 3 Market share increasing in Europe and Asia for the last twoyears 0. 130. 3 Increasing demand in US markets for bikes 0. 120. 2 Customers value quality parts 0. 02510. 025 THREAT Harleys ongoing capacity restraints caused a shortagesupply and a loss in domestic market share in recentyears 0. 1540. 6 Harleys average buying age is 42 years old and increasing 0. 130. 3 The European Union’s motorcycles noise standards aremore stringent than those of Environmental ProtectionAgencies in the U. S and increased environmental stand 0. 02530. 075 Some competitors of Harley Davidson have larger financialand marketing resources and they are more diversified 0. 02520. 05 Environmental protection laws 0. 02540. 1 Buell division needs to continue to produce a qualitymotorcycle under Harley’s brand name 0. 0510. 05 TOTAL 1 3. 2 CPM HARLEYHONDAYAMAHACRITICALSUCCESSFACTORSWeightRatingWeightedScoreWeightRatingWeightedScoreWeightRatingWeightedScore Advertising 0. 1540. 60. 230. 60. 1540. 6 Product Quality 0. 1540. 60. 0530. 150. 02530. 075 PriceCompetitiveness 0. 110. 10. 1530. 450. 2530. 75 Management 0. 02530. 0750. 0340. 120. 0520. 1 FinancialPosition 0. 120. 20. 1440. 560. 33531. 005 Customer Loyalty 0. 1540. 60. 0620. 120. 1520. 3 GlobalExpansion 0. 02530. 0750. 0540. 20. 0230. 06 Market Share 0. 320. 60. 3230. 960. 0220. 04 TOTAL1 2. 851 3. 161 2. 9 Inventory Turnover = Sales / Inventory of finished goods=4624/208=22. 23Fixed Assets Turnover = Sales / Fixed Assets=4624/2194=2. 10 Total Assets Turnover = Sales / Total Assets=4624/4923 =0. 93Accounts Receivables Turnover = Annual Credit Sales / Accountsreceivable=4624/1114=4. 15Average Collection Period = Accounts Receivables / (Total creditsales/365)=1114/(4624/365)=1114/12. 66=87. 99 PROFITABILITY RATIOS Gross Profit Margin = (Sales – COGS) / Sales=(4624-3070)/4624=1554/4624=0. 34Operating Profit Margin = EBIT / Sales=1149/4624=0. 25Net Profit Margin = Net Income / Sales =761/4624= 0. 16Return on Total Assets ( ROA ) = Net Income / Total Assets= 761 / 4923= 0. 15Return on Equity ( ROE ) = Net income / Total Stock holdersequity = 761 / 2958= 0. 26Earnings Per share (EPS) = Net income / Total stock holdersequity = 761 / 302= 2. 519Price Earning ratio =Market price per share/Earningper share=39. 11/2. 519=15. 526Growth ratioSales=Annual % growth in total sales=(4624-4091)*100/4091=13. 029Net income=Annual % growth in profits=(760-580)*100/580=31. 034 STRENGTHS ? Net income of 2003 was $760mn, its more than 30% ascompared to the previous year 2002. ? The standard and performance segments of Harley Davidsonmake up 70% of the European heavy weight motorcycle market ? Harley-Davidson operates in two segments: Harley-Davidsonmotorcycles related products and HDFS (Harley-DavidsonFinancial Services). ? Harley-Davidson is the only major American heavyweightmotorcycle manufacturer. ? Strong brand name. ? The HOG (Harley Owners Group), which have a 7,50,000members world wide is the industry’s largest company sponsoredmotorcycle enthusiast organization. ? Buell Riders Adventure Group (BRAG) was also formed recent ? Customization of the bikes, this is Harley-Davidson’s majorrevenue maker. ? Harley-Davidson have a good marketing division and its dividedas dealer promotions, customer events, magazine and direct-mailadvertising, and public relations. WEAKNESS ? High price ? Harley-Davidson has problems in gaining more market share insome European countries (That’s one of the main markets forHeavyweight motorcycles outside U. S). ? They didn’t yet start its sales in India, one of the biggest markets. ? Required production is not met, analyzing the future of Heavyweight motorcycle market IFE MATRIX STRATEGY RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENTATION: ? MARKET PENETRATION ? Get some more market share from the existing market, like U. S,U. K, and Japan etc through more marketing techniques likeadvertising. Harley-Davidson has a good brand name so it’s easyfor them to eat up the competitor market share if they canprovide some more customer benefit. ? Competition is high in this segment mostly in U. S so marketpenetration can be a good choice for the company. ? Expand the HOG (Harley Owners Group) to Asian countries, if thecompany can provide the customer satisfaction that they areproviding to the U. S customers to the Asian customers they canincrease the sales. ? PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT ? Younger generation and female are now coming to this segmentso expand the motor cycle segments to younger generation andfemales. ? In Europe they can increase or expand the Buell’s market shareby introducing new motorcycles. ? MARKET DEVELOPMENT.

Did Japan Benefit Economically as a result of the World Cup 2002? :: Economics

Has Japan really benefitted economically as a result of the World Cup 2002? Introduction ============ From the 31st of May until June 30th, Japan & Korea hosted the World Cup in which 32 teams competed to be crowned football champions of the world. Many thousands of people watched the matches live and hundreds of millions worldwide watched on T.V. The World Cup has been the most popular sporting event ever since the 1930s when Uruguay hosted and won the first ever World Cup. Since then the World Cup has been hosted every four year in different countries apart from during World War 2 and there have been 17 World Cups. Since the 30s football has became the world's most popular sport and with the introduction of commercial air flight, motorcars and the global T.V network it has become an important source of revenue. In 1994 the World Cup was hosted in the USA and a record 3,587,530 people watched it live. Since the 1986 World Cup held in Mexico the total attendance had begun to rise to over 2 million live viewers a World Cup. This would result in host countries gaining massive revenue from ticket sales and money received from the T.V companies broadcasting the match. The rights for broadcasting the 2002 World Cup were bought for  £622 million by Kirchmedia showing just how valuable World Cup football is. Also a study by HSBC securities in 1998 showed that countries which hosted the World Cup after 1966 saw their respective stock markets do better on average by 9%, 6 months prior to the tournament. However the study also showed that 6 months after the tournament most markets under performed by an average of 6%. In 1998 Japan was chosen to joint host the World Cup with South Korea and began a vigorous development project to upgrade and build good quality stadiums, improve public transport, build more hotels and create an excellent security force for the games. Stadiums such as the Shizuoka stadium, Sapporo dome, the Oita stadium and Niigata stadium were built just for the games and are considered some of the most modern stadiums in the world. Japan's aim from the 2002 World Cup was to attract many tourists, have a smoothly run games, encourage Japanese citizens into football and to improve its international reputation as an excellent place to host international sports events. From joint hosting the World Cup Japan achieved many economic benefits and in this essay I will explain how and why this improved Japan's economy. The Japanese economy improved because of the following effects of the World Cup during and before the event. Economic Concepts ================= Economic growth is caused by improvements in the quantity and quality

Integrated Pest Management :: essays research papers

Integrated Pest Management Integrated pest management (IPM) is a recently developed technology for pest control that is aimed at achieving the desired control while reducing the use of pesticides. To accomplish this, various combinations of chemical, biological, and physical controls are employed. In the past, pesticides were all too often applied routinely whether needed or not. With IPM, pest populations as well as beneficial parasite and predator populations are monitored to determine whether the pests actually present a serious problem that needs to be treated. If properly and extensively employed, IPM might reduce pesticide use by as much as 50 percent, while at the same time improving pest control. If this goal were achieved, the environmental problems would be minimized, and significant benefits would result for farmers and society as a whole. IPM coordinates economically and environmentally acceptable methods of pest control with judicious and minimal use of toxic pesticides. IPM programs assess local conditions, including climate, crop characteristics, the biology of the pest species, and soil quality, to determine the best method of pest control. Tactics employed include better tillage to prevent soil erosion and introduction of beneficial insects that eat harmful species. Many pests that are attached to crop residues can be eliminated by plowing them underground. Simple paper or plastic barriers placed around fruit trees deter insects, which can also be attracted to light traps and destroyed. Weeds can be controlled by spreading grass, leaf, or black plastic mulch. Weeds also may be pulled or hoed from the soil. Many biological controls are also effective. Such insect pests as the European corn borer, and the Japanese beetle, have been controlled by introducing their predators and parasites. Wasps that prey on fruit-boring insect larvae are now being commercially bred and released in California orchards. The many hundreds of species of viruses, bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and nematodes that parasitize pest insects and weeds are now being investigated as selective control agents. Another area of biological control is breeding host plants to be pest resistant, making them less prone to attack by fungi and insects. The use of sex pheromones is an effective measure for luring and trapping insects. Pheromones have been synthesized for the Mediterranean fruit fly, the melon fly, and the Oriental

Tractors in Asian Pacific Countries

* Imported Tractors: Australia, Japan, New Zealand * GDP per capita: Hong Kong, Australia, japan * Population: China, India, Indonesia * Number tractors in country: Japan, India, china * Agricultural Growth: China, South Korea, India Australia: 2/5 Japan: 3/5 New Zealand: 1/5 Hong Kong: 1/5 China:3/5 India: 3/5 Indonesia: 1/5 South Korea: 1/5 All of them. All 6 tables You need to calculate the initial score, weighting and the final score * Hard Copy 20% of total grade. * 20% attendance, 20% group project Characteristic: Big, High performance, and expensive ( very important to have some rational thinking why you would like to select it to be shipped to your specific country) * Recession started in 1947 to 2010 * Demand is lower, so they need to excess capacity and sell to the world * The target market in all Asian pacific * China and japan are the biggest industries in the world * India has the large population * Common wealth nations –Australia and New Zealand * Malaysia and I ndonesia are a pair, both tropical * China and japan are a pair New Zealand and Australia are a pair * 5 factors: opportunity, type of the demand, trade, market sustainability, political (government, recession etc. ) and economic environment. Internal and external supply. Market consideration: * Tell about the population of the ten countries. Type of the demand, the tractor use (because some don’t even use tractors), Imported tractor ( some countries never import the tractors but use their own tractors)IMPORTANT, do they portray desire? Do they have money? , agricultural growth( some countries never grow on agriculture such as Hong Kong), GDP.If they import tractor then they have a potential market. GDP, do you have money GDP per person. Consistent Growing or are they shrinking? Imported tractor is more imp than GDP, GDP is more important than agricultural growth then more important than tractor use. The least important is the population because they may not have to grow thei r own food but buy/import their foods. IMPORTED TRACTOR AND GDP MOST IMPORTANT! * 3 very important, 2 important, 1 is fairly important, . 5 less important, * Need to measure the weighted average mean *

When i grow up

Like many toddlers, I was fascinated by building blocks. They held me spellbound for hours on end and pushed me to make some imaginative, if not structurally unsafe buildings. I thus grew up with a great passion for architecture, and was very certain I would one day be an architect. But as I drifted into Secondary school, my interests changed. History, among all subjects captivated me the most. I grew very much interested in the past, and as I went from â€Å"Ancient Egypt† to â€Å"Communist Russia† I ound myself captivated by the running of the world.Current affairs became my interest and I deviated from the cartoons in the newspapers to ground-breaking articles on the front page. As years passed, however, Diplomacy as a career seemed more interesting and engaging to me†mostly due to the many sensational events that took place (the Iraq War, the Chernobyl disaster, and the like). Gone were the dreams of building a sky- scraper or discovering a lost civilization; I had a burning passion to be something ther than the usual doctor lawyer or businessman†being a diplomat would fit the bill perfectly.A career as a diplomat would be ideal for me because it involves so many great opportunities: travelling around the world; learning how other countries function; getting a chance to interact with people of different cultures. Most of all, it means I can do what I love, that is, immerse myself in the current affairs of the world, and get paid for it. Most people see a diplomat as person who simply enjoys life abroad on taxpayer's money. I completely disagree with this view.Diplomats are often involved in handling issues could mean war or peace. It is this kind of challenge that makes feel even more inclined towards thus career. I also would like to be a diplomat because it would give me the opportunity to meet world leaders who I have grown up reading books about Would you like a career that is different, active, fresh and can fulfill some of y our real reams? Being a diplomat is more than an ideal career for me, it's a Job that will help to help others.More than that, it is a chance to make the world a safer place. Imagine peace in the Middle East, an America with more humility and peace treaties that do what they set out to do†all this can be achieved through the diplomat's skill of perception, knowledge of the past and the ability to listen. Look out for my name in the future†I do hope you will come to know and respect it. when i grow up By abdulgolden When I Grow Up When I grow up I would like to be a nice and caring Pediatrician (Physician). A pediatrician is a child's physician. I chose this wonderful job because I love children and I want to help them. The one thing I like most about kids is their creativity. They generally have a really open mind and are able to come up with some very interesting solutions to things that older people, would never come up with.I loved being a small kid, I had a lot of attention from my family, did not have to stress out about anything, and most importantly I did not have to go to school. To be honest, I am still a little scared about going to the doctor. When I went once to get the flu shot I was really scared, but before I knew it, it was over. The doctor made me feel so good about myself, she made me feel strong. Then, I looked up at my dad and said this â€Å"daddy, I want to be a nice and caring pediatrician like her†.Duties/Obligation(s)A pediatrician has a lot of duties /obligations even if they are general pediatrician. He/she supervises their support staff to see that the office runs professionally and efficiently. They also need to make sure they provide care for infants, children, teenagers, and young adults. They diagnose and treat infections, injuries, genetic defects, malignancies, organic diseases, and dysfunctions.Large part of a pediatrician's job involves treating illnesses. These can be everything from everyday illnesses such as colds and strep throat, to milestone childhood diseases such as measles, mumps and chicken pox. A pediatrician examines the patient first, next orders tests if needed, and then analyzes test results, last diagnoses the illness and decides on a treatment plan.Education/Special Skills RequiredTo become a Pediatrician you first need to pass the General Education Development. Classes like biology, physics, and chemistry will prepare you for the type of coursework you will be studying in medical school. Then you graduate from a four year univ ersity (collage). Next you take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). The MCAT is a standardized multiple-choice test that is required for admission to medical school. Finally finish medical school. Most medical school programs are four years long. Once you have graduated from medical school, you will need to complete a three year pediatric training program at a hospital before you can start your own practice.Last you need to get board certified, which means you can be a pediatrician now. But there are some important qualities you must have. Like communication skills, Pediatricians need to be excellent communicators. They must be able to communicate effectively with their patients and other Healthcare support staff. They also need patience. Pediatricians may work for long periods with patients who need special attention. Children and patients with a fear of medical treatment (like me) may require more patience.But most importantly problem solving skills, they need to evaluate p atient’s symptoms and administer the appropriate treatments. They often need to do this quickly in order to save a patient’s life. Before you go into all these you need to have demanding education and training requirements.Salary ExpectationsAnother thing of why I want to be a pediatrician is because of how much salary I get. Though the average salary of a pediatrician is around $142,585 per year, that is only a range .Now 10% of pediatricians get $41.78 every hour they work, but on the other hand 25% of pediatricians get $59.18 every hour they work. What I am really happy about is that 50% of pediatricians get $74.34 every hour they work. In the future 4.2% of pediatricians will get $80.59 hourly, which means when I grow up I have chance of getting that much money.Depending on the country and place you live will change or maybe stay the same of your salary. Like if I live in Baton Rouge, LA I would earn $118.81 hourly. But if I live in San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, C A I would get $76.40. Since I am hoping to be the manger I will have to spend some of my salary on stickers toys and stuff  like that to make my patients happy and make sure they come back to me whenever they get sick or ill. Also I would need to give salary to my employments. This means, I need to work a lot of hours and be a great doctor/ manager.

Critical Analysis of the Nut Island Effect Essay

The Nut Island Effect (NIE) is a sad but true outcome of what happens when communication breakdown within an organization. The following is a critical analysis of the events that ended in a terrible catastrophe at the Nut Island treatment plant. In our analysis we will cover the following topics as well as reference supporting articles and excerpts that will support our position: 1. Key arguments in the article. 2. Sampling and analytical strategies. 3. Interpersonal relationships. 4. Implications of results and its relevance. 5. Analyzing current organizational design. . Our assessments and methods to improve strategies and managerial skills. By analyzing these topics, we will have a better grasp on becoming effective managers and leaders so we will not fall victims to the â€Å"NIE† in our organizations. Key Arguments in the Article The article The Nut Island Effect: When Good Teams Go Wrong, talks about how a management’s dream team was tainted by too much empowerment. Initially, senior management preoccupied themselves with other issues and did not take the time to look at what was going on behind the scenes. They allowed workers to ultimately make decisions on how the plant would run. In essence, senior management’s lack of interest or control over day-to-day operations set the ball in motion for total chaos. Secondly, when team members approached senior management with their concerns over faulty equipment and the need for parts and supplies, their requests were ignored and taken for granted. A resistance to senior management followed. Team members stayed out of management’s radar, even if it meant solving their own problems. They incurred out-of-pocket expenses and working long hours without reporting overtime. This behavior unified the team’s ability to digest problems and dish out solutions, even if they were not the most appropriate. At this point the workers were making their own rules. Management did not take responsibly or an interest in the tasks at hand. Meetings were not set up to educate the team on appropriate practices. Instead of offering guidance, they avoided the problem all together, allowing the team to do as they pleased. This was a major factor in the deterioration of the team’s performance. Finally, came the denial phase. The team and management did not listen to the concerns of outsiders. Instead of controlling the situation, they continued to work as they had been doing so, until a terrible event broke the deadlock. Unfortunately it was too late because the four major machines stopped working which caused unprocessed waste to wash up onto the shores of Quincy, Massachusetts. Sampling and Analytical Strategies The NIE is a true situation that can occur in companies. However, the article does not describe or inform readers on adequate sample sizes or methods used in carrying out the study. Within the article, the author mentioned talking to upper management as well as former employees when gathering detail. In addition, the author explained how he had described this syndrome to other managers and their awareness on this type of situation did exist. The upper managers in this article did a good job of keeping their heads in the sand since they allowed this terrible effect to develop over a long period of time without addressing the issue. Interpersonal Relationships Unfortunately, there was a division within the organization between management and employees. There was no hierarchy structure. We believe that due to the lack of management support, the members of the team became stressed. Their mental, physical, and emotional well-being was not preserved. This caused them to form a resistance against management and isolate themselves from the world, so to speak. Even though the workers were not out to sabotage their work; that is exactly what happened. Till this day, employees that worked at the plant believed they did the best they could with what they had to work with. Furthermore, there was no trust between management and employees. We believe that improving the health and communication of an organization is a priority. Moreover, it is important to put employee needs first as well as sharing information regularly. Companies such as Southwest Airlines and Amazon. com instill this discipline in efforts to improve the quality of their organization’s ideals. Implications of Results and it Relevance When examining the results of the NIE, there were evident signs that should have been acted upon; this might have avoided this collapse. â€Å"Managing remote teams takes much more involvement and care than any of us would have imagined, especially when the remote teams have a history of acting independently. We encounter even more challenging issues when the remote teams are inexperienced in information development because they are located offshore in emerging economies. † (Hackos, 2004) As Levy (2001) points out, â€Å"a team can easily lose sight of the big picture when it narrowly focuses on a demanding task. The task itself becomes the big picture, crowding other considerations out of the frame. † Analyzing Current Organizational Design Utilization of high performance work teams (HPWT) would have given the treatment plant a higher chance for success. The team seemed to possess characteristics of a HPWT. They were cohesive and highly dedicated to the company’s mission. However, a true HPWT should be clear on their mission, know their priorities, and act towards supporting the team’s goals. Furthermore, their goals were antiquated and did not have the support of senior management or access to outside sources to enhance their ability to set new goals, based on the latest technology. They worked well together and had good communication within the team. However, having good communication is of little use if what is being communicated is not viable. They cross-training each other, teaching new hires only what team members knew which was outdated and lacked outside training opportunities. Furthermore, HPWT are effective at identifying and resolving problems, as well as making successful group decision because they can detect and resolve conflicts. (Holmes, 2010) Truly the NIE missed the mark in this area. Even though management was unresponsive, the team should have been more persistent, instead of recoiling as they did. Implementation of a HPWT would have been effective in the organization if it would have been able to collect information before and after the application. The major emphasis would have been the involvement of senior management in both scenarios. â€Å"The task of getting organizations to function effectively is a difficult one. Understanding one individual’s behavior is a challenging problem in and of itself. A group, made up of different individuals and multiple relationships among those individuals, is even more complex. In the fact of this overwhelming complexity, organizational behavior must be managed. (Nadler, Tushman, Hackman, & Lawler, 2001) Our Assessment and Methods to Improve Strategies and Managerial Skills The NIE can subtly take root within any organization. We feel that the warning signs are the key to recognizing such occurrences and should promptly be addressed. As leaders within our respective organizations, we should work hard not to isolate anyone. Furthermore strong leaders need to fight for their team’s cause. One article has this to say about the NIE, â€Å"†¦we must keep them from becoming isolated, unable to look at their work in a larger context. We must keep our own teams and especially our remote teams from becoming exclusively focused on deadlines. Instead, they need to participate in a strategic vision that is aligned with larger corporate goals and customer needs. (Hackos, 2004) As managers, the lessons to be learned from the NIE, is blatantly simple. Managers must be aware of the activities of a team even if they do not want to micro-manage. We must understand that even though we want our team to be able to function independently, a major part of our job is to supply the right amount of supervision vs. employee empowerment. Empowering a team is not a onetime process; managers cannot assign a task and send their employees on their way. According to Bailey (1992), how we define empowerment within our projects will depend upon the specific people and context involved. In conclusion, the NIE scenario discusses how managers neglected to serve as mediators and coaches. As managers, leaders and directors the knowledge of the NIE has alerted us that it is critical to always provide direction to our teams and to listen to their needs. We need to train and prepare our employees for empowerment regardless of their background, education, or experience. Lastly, keeping leaders involved, integrating team members, and bring in outside experts is important in creating an effective environment within organizations. References http://www.innovint.com/downloads/principles-of-empowerment.php http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-mackey/creating-the-high-trust-o_b_497589.html

Does knowledge affect attitudes and perceived risks of HIV infection Essay

Does knowledge affect attitudes and perceived risks of HIV infection among young adults influencing consistent condom use - Essay Example ost of these adolescents were typical of those all over the world, having a mixture of correct and incorrect knowledge about HIV transmission and sexually transmitted infections. It was seen that more males than females accounted that they have had sex, having used condoms. They also exhibited an inconsistent use of condoms. Some of the sexual attitudes definitely conformed to machismo ideology; but there were others that provises a scope for interventions and preventions. In many cases it was seen that the stigma attached to HIV was high and it was also seen that many of the adolescents disapproved of same sex relations. Intervention is particularly vital that some intercession is sought against homosexuality-related stigma because it may result in a concentrated HIV epidemic. The surveys showed that personal religious thoughts and beliefs were not a barrier to use of condoms. The multivariate model showed that, being out of school could be significantly correlated to having had sex as well as of insufficient HIV/AIDS-related knowledge. This necessitates that HIV prevention interventions must not be limited to only school going adolescents. For a successful result what is needed is a multi-component approach to prevention. This must include community-based programmes as well as programmes in schools, the mass media and health facilities. HIV infection is a disease that is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). This virus slowly destroys the immune system and as a result, the antibodies within the body find it harder to fight off the infections. There is no cure for HIV infection, precaution being the only way of keeping away from this fatal disease. There has been a rising concern regarding HIV/AIDS infection among young adults globally. The most common way this virus is transmitted from one person to the other is through unprotected sexual intercourse. The statistics on the impact made by HIV/AIDS is overwhelming. According to the estimates made by