Mission & Vision Essay Example for Free

Mission Vision Essay The article speaks about how a mission should be written, so it will provide a clearer and well defined purpose. It’s explained the advantages and limitations of having it. It also explore whether a standalone statement or a broader model should be a better mission statement. This is followed by proposing a new definition of a mission, demonstrating how it is rooted in good practice, and presenting its benefits and limitations. Some context of practical implication discussed as well. Findings The paper initially shows the inconsistent use of the concept of mission in the expanded list approach. It then proceeds to show similar inconsistencies in three of the most respected models of guiding statements in the literature. Vision Framework (Collins and Porras (1991, 1995, 1996, and 1997) Ashridge Mission Model (Campbell and Yeung (1991)) Model of organizational vision –Liptons Model (Lipton’s (1996, 2003)) Mission Statements Approaches Check List Type: The article says that to get a well-defined mission statement, it has to have the checklist-type approach. Research shows that many times companies are only setting a single line of mission statement which does not constitute all the items in the checklist which makes it a poor mission statement. This is where suggestions are being made to the organizations to redefine the mission statement  by David and David (2003), They suggest the following comprehensive list of nine components that an effective mission statement should include: Customers (the target market) Products/services (offerings and value provided to customers) Geographic markets (where the firm seeks customers) Technology (the technology used to produce and market products) Concern for survival/growth/profits (the firm’s concern for financial soundness) Philosophy (the firm’s values, ethics, beliefs) Public image (contributions the firm makes to communities) Employees (the importance of managers and employees); Distinctive competence (how the firm is different or better than competitors). Compilation Logic: Variously referred to as statements of purpose, values statement, goals and strategies, corporate creed, corporate philosophy, and so on. (Leuthesser and Kohli (1997,). A mission statement is a clear definition of the mission and purpose of the organization, it may be referred to as the organization creed statement, statement of purpose, statement of general principles, statement of corporate intent or vision statement. † (Strong (1997, p. 269)) Strategic Intent: â€Å"Strategic intent captures the essence of winning† (Hamel and Prahalad, 1989, p. 64). An effective mission statement basically answers one question: How do we intend to win in this business? † Welch and Welch (2005, p. 14). Brief on the Model Vision Framework: In vision framework, a well-conceived vision consist of 2 major parts. Those are core ideology and envisioned future. The core ideology speaks about the purpose of the organization. It consists of explaining the character of the organization, what it stands for and why it exists. The 2 parts of core ideology are core values and core purpose. Core values are the principals of the organization and core purpose is the fundamental reason of the organization existence. The envisioned future is what the organization would like to achieve. Ahihridge model: In Ashridge model, the mission statement should consist not only the purpose but also the strategy, values and standards of behavior. The purpose in this context reflects as to who the organization is on business for. The strategy part speaks about the business logic on saying which business brings the competitive advantage while the values speak of the emotional and moral logics which eventually motivate the employees. The standards of behavior will convert the strategy and values into policies and guidelines. Liptons Model: Lipton’s model speaks of 3 components. Those are mission, strategy and culture. The mission specifies the fundamental and unique purpose of the business. The strategy is about how the mission can be achieved while obtaining the competitive advantage of the business. The culture is the part which describes the values, standards of behavior and leadership style of the organization Differences of 3 Model The â€Å"Ashridge† model emphasizes the importance of a â€Å"sense of mission† and Lipton talks about a â€Å"sense of vision. In both models can see purpose, strategy, values, and standards of behaviors. However the vision model comprises of vision and mission elaborated both other 2 models. The contents of those elements, however, are not always the same. Proposed Definition The proposed definition of mission statement should consist of 3 things. Those are, commitment to reflect authenticity of the mission, a significant value which is exciting and inspiring and a worthy cause for the members of the organization to embrace on. This new definition aims to provide benefits are individual and organization level. Two benefits can be derived and those are to create a clear focus for the employees and it helps organizations to make strategic decision in regards to resources which help the success of the business. Strength Drawback Analysis The variety of organizations’ mission statements is so wide that no single definition can possibly be exhaustive. There are authentic and fabricated mission statements, and not all existing varieties are necessarily authentic. This definition, by design, excludes all those varieties of mission statements that are not authentic, i. e.  that imply no particular choice. The proposed definition reverses the logic of compilation and synthesis in favor of a more focused approach. Evidently, a definition built on choice can never be exhaustive. Limitation Direction for future Research The paper, however, focusses mainly on content and does not thoroughly address the process of developing a mission and how this process relates to and influences the mission ’s content. This is a fruitful research opportunity. Observation Mission statement framework should include some components to measure the organizational outcomes.

Sept 11 2001 Attacks and Cover Up Essay -- essays research papers

Sept 11 2001 Attacks Throughout history there have occurred many tragic events. On Sept. 11, 2001 an unforgettable event occurred, and will be remember throughout the ages of the United States history. On the tragic day of 9/11 a day that will be unforgettable, the unthinkable happened. The terror stuck the heart of New York City, two planes crashed into the world trade center and total chaos occurred, and lives where lost, and many injured. The terror didn’t end there, other plane hit The Pentagon. Thousands of lives were lost in a single morning, people scatter for help and to be saved, and some died trying to save them. On the morning of September 11, 2001, nineteen terrorists affiliated with al-Qaeda hijacked four commercial passenger jet airliners. Each team of hijackers included a trained pilot. The hijackers crashed two of the airliners (United Airlines Flight 175 and American Airlines Flight 11) into the World Trade Center in New York City, one plane into each tower and resulting in the c ollapse of both buildings soon afterward. A nearby church and the rest of the World Trade Center complex's 7 buildings were also destroyed or damaged beyond repair. A third airliner (American Airlines Flight 77) was crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia. Passengers and members of the flight crew on the fourth aircraft (United Airlines Flight 93) attempted to retake control of their plane from the hijackers, that plane crashed into a field near the town of Shanks Ville in rural Somerset County, Pennsylvania. In addition to the 19 hijackers, 2,973 people died, another 24 are missing and presumed dead. But I think there’s more behind the story. Despite their claims of having been taken unawares and with complete surpr... ...ely following 9/11, and after he emerged from hiding, President Bush lavishly praised his accomplices in the FBI and warned off those who might dare to question or criticize the agency. Moreover, although he had grounded all commercial and private jets, he made one critical exception: The bin Laden family, with whom he and his father had personal and financial ties, were allowed to escape questioning and the U.S. and to fly back to Saudi Arabia. Both President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney also began threatening those who were suggesting that the events leading up to 9/11 should have been anticipated, and both Bush and Cheney urged Senate and House Republican leaders and Democratic Majority Leader Tom Daschle to block any investigation into the events of Sept. 11. The cover up began well before 9/11. The cover up continues to this day.

Issues and Trends

Running head: VALUE CHAIN ISSUES Issues and Trends in the Global Value Chain Darryn Urueta University of Phoenix ISCOM 383 Pamela Harris December 5, 2011 Issues and Trends in the Global Value Chain Global trends are changing on a seemingly daily basis. Global economies are weakening and some companies are discouraged by the condition of terror threats that are occurring. These threats are changing the spending behavior of the average customer. Not only is the customer not purchasing because of the economy, but businesses face the threat of shipments not being secure or not arriving in a timely manner. To lower cost, and increase benefits, the lean Six Sigma approach will benefit companies by improving strategies and tactics. Customs Trade Partnership against Terrorism will help to reduce terror threats. The goals set forth by the Customs Trade Partnership against Terrorism will have a significant, positive effect on ports across the globe. The training process will ensure the knowledge needed to protect the supply chain for all countries. Lean Six Sigma Competition for global companies is great in today’s worldwide market. With the popularity and ease of access to the internet, anyone can create an online company for the world to see. Lean Six Sigma can create an environment that can enhance the strategy of competition. According to Carreira and Trudell, â€Å"Lean Six Sigma is a combination of the best features of Six Sigma and Lean manufacturing. Six Sigma is an integrated, disciplined approach for improving processes by understanding and controlling variation, which results in an improvement in the predictability of business processes. The basic values of Lean manufacturing include high quality, low cost, short cycle times, flexibility, the continuous pursuit to eliminate waste, and customer-defined value. While the classic tools of Lean address process definition, high materials velocity, and balance, the tools of Six Sigma address data-driven variation reduction† (Lawson, 2007). Lean causes products to move through processes faster, and Six Sigma improves quality, so integrating the two complementary methodologies can yield even greater benefits than implementing them separately. Some companies find this process too complex to integrate into their system. These companies believe that the process of combining the two strategies would create confusion thereby unwillingness for employees to comply. The Lean Six Sigma approach can help any company lower its costs, improve the quality of its output, and increase its profits as it transforms into a more competitive organization. â€Å"By integrating the Lean principle of a system-wide analytical view; for example, the value stream, the total cycle of activities needed to produce a product or service, organizations can maximize the benefit from their improvement efforts. Lean Six Sigma can be viewed from both a strategic and a tactical perspective. † (Lawson, 2007). Global Trends of Lean Six Sigma In the current situation the entire world is in economically, the trend for Lean Six Sigma may be necessary for all organizations to implement. Across the globe, many countries are experiencing the effect of a global recession. According to Ghosh, â€Å"With increased availability of innovative technology and enhancements, more and more measurements are being put in place to understand, monitor and control processes. As we know what we cannot measure we cannot improve. Available data for processes will encourage predictive modeling tools under the umbrella of Lean and Six Sigma tools. This will enable organizations to become more proactive and help with prevention and improved response times. The lead time of implementation of Lean and Six Sigma projects will also be on a downward trend as a result of easier measurements with technology advancements, greater affordability and the evolution of Web 2. 0 tools to drive productivity and efficiency† (Ghosh, 2009). Customs Trade Partnership against Terrorism (C-TPAT) â€Å"The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency of the US government implemented a partnership with private companies after the events of 9/11 to help protect the supply chain. Customs-Trade Partnership against Terrorism (C-TPAT) was launched in November 2001, with just seven major importing companies. Currently over 7,400 companies in the global supply chain are enrolled in the program, including importers, customs brokers, terminal operators, carriers and foreign manufacturers. CBP’s C-STAT strategy is based on five goals† (Murray, 2011). These goals are ensure that C-TPAT partners improve the security of their supply chains pursuant to C-TPAT security criteria, provide incentives and benefits to include expedited processing of C-TPAT shipments to C-TPAT partners, internationalize the core principles of C-TPAT through cooperation and coordination with the international community, support other CBP security and facilitation initiatives, and improve administration of the C-TPAT program. The first goal signifies that profiles and information is secure. Terror threats against all ports of the globe are at an all-time high. The second goal of the Customs Trade Partnership against Terrorism enacted security assessment programs and training for all. This will ensure that all personnel are knowledgeable and are properly trained in order to detect such terrorist threats. The third goal is communication. According to Murray, â€Å"Partnering with the international trade community to help secure global supply chains and partnering with individual customs administrations will improve the coordination of mutual anti-terrorism efforts. Supporting the work of the World Customs Organization (WCO) to develop a WCO sponsored framework to secure and facilitate global trade that recognizes customs-private sector partnerships, and coordinate with international organizations to improve the security and integrity requirements of their membership† (Murray, 2011). The fourth goal will expand the Free and Secure Trade Program which will enable authorities to enhance the security of Container Security initiative while helping Homeland Security with antiterrorism programs and development. Global Trends of Customs Trade Partnership against Terrorism (C-TPAT) As international trade continues to expand, the global supply chain remains even more vulnerable to security threats. Despite efforts by importers and other supply chain participants to improve security, the danger of a terrorist attack involving the international transportation system remains high. Companies have also become aware of the vulnerability of its supply chains to an ever-increasing range of security threats and disruptions. While participation in the program has increased, and CBP continues to roll out minimum-security criteria covering new business types, a key category has yet to be incorporated into the program – third-party logistics providers (3PLs). While U. S. Customs and Border Protection has announced that security criteria covering 3PLs will be incorporated into the C-TPAT program sometime this year, it is unclear how they will develop a common definition for service providers in the o utsourced logistics sector (Anderson, 2008). The global trends of Lean Six Sigma and Customs Trade Partnership against Terrorism will be a significant part of the future of business. Combining the powers of Lean manufacturing with the essential tactics and strategies of Six Sigma will lower costs for corporations and increase competitive strategy. Forecasting methods, with Lean Six Sigma, will provide businesses the opportunity to enhance the skills they desire and be prepared. Lean Six Sigma will teach companies how to structure their operations to monitor data at the right places and times throughout the process in order to identify issues that need improvement before they become serious problems. A pro-active approach can save time, money and best of all improve customer satisfaction and product reliability. Supply chains are in danger of terror threats. Customs Trade Partnership against Terrorism is enhancing their service by combining five different goals to comply with securing the ports of entry. C-TPAT is voluntary at this time, but before long, this may change. C-TPAT will soon require mandatory participation. A major challenge of global trade is navigating customs requirements, and the complexities and processes that accompany shipping around the world among a company’s locations and with outsourcing partners. New security and compliance initiatives, trade agreements, customs regulations, duty rates, and import and export processes can make it more difficult than ever to conduct international trade. All countries and organizations should work together to create a terrorist free environment to enhance the global economy and protect the supply and value chain. References Ghosh, M. (2009). Projected Lean and Six Sigma Trends for 2010 Retrieved December 1, 2011 from http://www. processexcellencenetwork. com/deployment- management/articles/projected-lean-and-six-sigma-trends Anderson, B. (2008). Strengthening Global Supply Chain Security Retrieved December 3, 2011 from http://www. securitymagazine. om/articles/strengthening-global- supply-chain-security-1 Murray, M. (2011). Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), Retrieved December 3, 2011. Lawson, R. (2011). Combining Lean and Six Sigma. (BOOKS). Strategic Finance (2007): 21+. General OneFile. Retrieved December 4, 2011, from http://find. galegroup. com. ezproxy. apollolibrary. com/gps/infomark. do? &contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T002&prodId=IPS&docId=A176083004&source=gale&srcprod=ITOF&userGroupName=uph oenix&version=1. 0

Easy French Vocabulary Lesson On the Phone

The world of the telephone has its own special vocabulary. When making or receiving phone calls in French, you will want to know some useful phrases. This quick French lesson will help you understand and speak to anyone. By the end of the lesson, you will be able to begin a phone conversation and understand common nouns and verbs associated with making a phone call. It is a useful lesson for travelers as well as those who do business with people in French-speaking countries. A Polite Request Makes the Conversation Easier It is important to remember that people tend to speak fast in their native language. If you are on the phone with a native French speaker and you cannot catch everything that  they are saying, politely ask them to slow down:   Pouvez-vous sil vous plaà ®t parler plus lentement ? (Can you please speak slower?) You should do the same should the conversation turn to English. Common Phone Phrases Every phone call has to begin somewhere, no matter what the subject is. Whether you reach the person directly or need to go through a receptionist, these phrases will be very helpful when you make the call. In the very least, you can begin the conversation in French and switch to English if the person on the other end knows it. Hello? Allà ´ ? May I speak to ____? Pourrais-je parler à   ___ ? I'd like to speak to ____. Je voudrais parler à   ___. Who is calling? C'est de la part de qui ? or Qui est à   l'appareil ? ____ is calling. C'est de la part de ___. or C'est ___ à   l'appareil. Please hold. Ne quittez pas. I'm transferring your call. Je vous le passe. The line is busy. La ligne est occupà ©e. French Nouns Associated With Phones As you learn more French, you will find that these simple nouns are very  useful. They are all associated with phone calls and, as you can see, many are very similar to the English word. This should be an easy set of vocabulary to memorize and you can practice every time you use a phone. Telephone -  un  tà ©là ©phoneCell phone -  un  mobilePhone call -  un  coup de fil  (informal)Phone number -  un  numà ©ro de tà ©là ©phonePhone book -  un  annuaireDial tone -  la  tonalità ©Phone booth -  une  cabine tà ©là ©phoniqueCollect call -  un  appel en P.C.V.Answering machine -  un  rà ©pondeur tà ©là ©phonique   French Verbs Associated With Phone Calls You will also want to know a few common  verbs that describe the actions taking place during a phone call.   to call -  appeler  or  tà ©là ©phoner à  to dial a number -  composer un numà ©roto pick up (the phone) -  dà ©crocherto be cut off -  Ãƒ ªtre coupà ©to leave a message -  laisser un messageto hang up -  raccrocherto call back -  rappelerto ring -  sonner