Globalizing an Australian Wine Company Essay Example for Free

Globalizing an Australian Wine Company Essay The company’s strategic vision is to become the world’s first truly global wine company. As CEO and managing director of BRL Hardy Europe, Carson’s contribution and achievements had been significant with a 10 fold increase in sales volume, in a tenure spanning just seven years. He successfully turned around Hardy’s U. K. business by implementing cost cutting initiatives and ensuring strong systems, policies, and control. Millar, CEO and managing director at BRL Hardy followed a decentralized approach to management. He believed in delegation and adequately integrated culture and management style into the merged corporation. The U. K. market contributed significantly to BRL Hardy’s revenues and represented 40% of Australian wine exports. In U. K. , the fighting brands, namely, Stamps and Nottage Hill, were positioned at price points of 2. 99 and 3. 69 pounds respectively. As low price good quality wines, they accounted for 80% of the value and volume of the Hardy brand sales. As the image of these brands began to erode, Carson decided to relaunch them by relabeling and repositioning the wines. Carson insisted that sales performance in U. K. depended on efficient labeling that should not be completely dictated by the Australian management. Although management was skeptical about local control over branding, labeling, and pricing decisions, the move significantly boosted the fighting brands’ sales. As the fighting brands gradually moved up the price points, there was an opportunity for an entry level wine that could be priced lower than 4. 9 pounds. In line with the company’s vision of becoming an international wine company, Carson decided to tap non-Australian wine sources and develop a line of branded products that could utilize the company’s strong distribution channels. This strategy would provide vital scale economies, minimize harvest risk, capture rationalizing suppliers, and avoid currency-driven price variations. Carson propose d the brand D’istinto, an Italian venture with a Sicilian based winery. He wanted to develop a recognizable brand which was easy to buy and had global potential. The wine would be positioned to the average wine consumer and would help the company leverage distribution. The Australian headquarters believed that D’istinto would eat into the fighting brands’ share as they were positioned at almost similar price points. Carson’s earlier Chilean venture, Mapocho had proven troublesome and Millar was doubtful if the European unit could support another brand. While Millar recognized U. K. s strong performance and wanted to give Carson as much freedom as possible, the reality was that the Italian venture would stretch the tight human resources of the European unit and dilute focus from the overall corporate strategy. While the Italian venture was being proposed, the Australian headquarters had launched Banrock Station, an environmentally responsible product at a similar price point. Australian management believed that the brand had global po tential and had instructed areas to launch it appropriately. Miller, away from the frontline and external demands of the local customers, has to support Carson’s entrepreneurial experimentation and dynamism. However, the proposal to launch D’istinto should not be approved. It is imperative that the business strategy fit within the broader corporate strategy of the organization. Although Carson’s proposal represented strategic interests, it ran counter the corporate strategy of maximizing global efficiency. D’istinto’s launch would certainly come with financial implications and would also stretch the operating capabilities of the European unit. On the other hand, Banrock Station had already established itself in a few markets and a strong launch in Europe would only increase scale economies. D’istinto had an innovative strategy with catchy and attractive labeling and a distinct image capturing the Mediterranean lifestyle. This positioning would definitely appeal to the mature U. K. consumer and also to the U. K. retailers, who represented the majority of sales. However, there is no certainty that this strategy would prove equally successful globally. While D’istinto would provide short term results, it is important to understand the long term viability that Banrock Station offers. Global consumers are increasingly emerging into environmentally conscious populations that expect corporations to take responsibility of natural resources and the environment. Although through D’istinto, Carson aims to build a global brand, Banrock Station appears to be better positioned in a converging global market. In order to build a true global brand, Miller must establish consistency across organizational units and ensure that the vision is shared by all.

Consumer Behaviour In Hotel Industry Marketing Essay

Consumer Behaviour In Hotel Industry Marketing Essay Understanding of customers as well as customer behaviour is the key success factor in marketplace, either nationally or internationally. Consumer behaviour refers to the study of individuals, groups, or organizations and the processes they use to select, secure, use, and dispose of products, services, experiences, or ideas to satisfy needs and the impacts that these processes have on the consumer and society (Hawkins et al., 2010). Hawkins et al. (1992) defined it as a process of a study of economic, social psychology, sociology as well as cultural anthropology in order to endeavours to understand the customer purchasing and lifestyle. The basic requirement for operating a business is to build, retain and satisfying customers. Lack of understanding consumer behavior will lead to difficulty in retain and satisfying (Kim et al., 2001). For instances, a new chain hotelier need to has the capability in understanding the current as well as future behaviour of consumers. It is essential for a new chain hotelier to expect the prospective increase in customers demanding for future, food and beverage services in certain area and the number of rooms. 2.8 Consumer Behaviour in Hotel Industry Hospitality is a unique industry provides a range of substantial products as well as insubstantial services, for example accommodation, atmosphere, food and drink and spa service. Thus, consumer behaviour is predominantly complicated and significant towards hotel industry. Prominently, hotel industry is highlighted on customer experience and customer experience in great extent straight influence customers feelings, attitudes, and buying intentions. Consequently, lead to a subsequent behaviour (Whitford, 1998). Hospitality experience is particularly broad and diverse. It will be different from customer to customer for instance leisure guests behaviour is different from business. Hotel tends to develop and monitor visitor understanding to make positive relative relationship with consumers as potential guests spill major consideration on satisfaction and experience when decide on a hotel. According to Zeithamal et al (2003), customer satisfaction could give rise to guest loyalty. However, Kotler et al., (2003), Reid Bojanic (2009) argue that customer not necessarily will revisit again due to the variable of customers expectations even though when a customer is satisfied with high hotel experience quality delivered. For example, a customer is prefers to look for something new and fresh as he or she is bored of the hotel he or she used to stay. Besides, customers expectation most likely influence by pre- purchased form of hotel industry in some extent. Hence, hotel customers have valid reasons and right to select the hotel rather than the hotels competitors and revisit over and over again only if the hotelier understanding customers behaviour and providing constant satisfaction (Keller, 1993). Customer is a key player for an organization. Every successful business is customer driven. Therefore, marketing is the method to build long term relationship with customers. This is the key intention of the organization towards the customer (Kotler, 1983). In other words, profit maximisation is the fundamental objective to run a business, whilst customer is the key source of profit, thus with the purpose of achieve competitive advantage in market place, the organisation should position customer in priority place, which to great extent based on understanding customers and their behaviour. An organisation will find hard to sustain if they ignore the important of understand customer behaviour (Kim et al., 2001). Hawkings et al., (2010) defined customer behaviour as the study of organisations, individuals, or groups also the procedure they employ to dispose, secure, use and select of services, experiences, products, or ideas to satisfy requirements as well as the consequences on the cus tomer and society that result from these processes. As stated previously, customer behaviour is particularly complicate in hotel industry because of some natures of hospitality. Vitally, customers understanding are given by both intangible services and tangible products. The example of intangible services such as spa treatment or atmosphere while tangible products such as food and beverage or accommodation. The feelings, emotion and purchase intention of customers could affect the quality of consumers experience whereby can be variable also different from one to another. As a result it increase difficulties of monitoring and control (Whitford, 1998). Meanwhile, customers satisfaction may shattered by the advance payment approach of hospitality industry due to the expectation gap in their psychological value. On the whole, customer loyalty could be vitally affected by consumer satisfaction but this interrelation is not typified in hospitality industry (Zeithamal et al., 2003).That is a chance that customers may decide not to revisit al though the hotel meet their requirement and achieve satisfaction. This is due to the same products or services provide. For the reason, customers are desire for new environment and they might tire with the hotel they often stayed with (Kotler et al., 2003, Reid Bojanic, 2009). As a result, Keller (1993) claimed that customers are motivated with valid reason to faithful to some hotel, which possibly will enhance profitability for the hotel company provided that they presenting constant satisfaction by clearly understanding consumersbehaviour (Bowen Shoemaker, 1998). Profitability would accelerate approximately 100% if that is given rise of five percent consumer retention. Furthermore, the cost of obtaining new consumer is much more expensive (Reicheld and Sasser, 1990). Primary data Primary data is the first- hand experience collected from the research. Primary data has the greatest originality characteristic where hardly to be modified by human beings and has not been published yet which is including observations, interview and questionnaire (Sekaran and Bougie, 2010). Besides, primary data has it owns greater validity in which it is generally right when the secondary is unavailable or insufficient to respond the research question (Ghauri, 2005). However, it is time consuming and costly to collect primary data due to the limitation of sources for primary data. Secondary data Secondary data is the second-hand data which is collected by someone else others for some other purposes instead of the researcher including both raw data (such as, organisationsdatabases, payroll details) and published summaries (such as, journals, periodicals) (Saunders et al, 2003). The advantages of secondary data are the variety of sources and it is easy to access. The reliability and validity of secondary data are lower than primary data due to it can be easily obtained and manipulated by human beings. Having judged advantages and disadvantages of the two types of data, and according to the purpose of the study, primary data will be collected through a questionnaire to investigate customers opinion about their which can attract them come back to the hotel. In spite of many difficulties may faced when collecting primary data, it is still perceived as the most reliable and authentic source of data (Ghauri, 2005). The questionnaire is deemed most frequently used strategy in busine ss and management research as it enables the researcher to economically collect a large amount of data from a sizeable population as well as easily explain and compare. As for the question design, according to Saunders (2003), close question is usually quicker and easier to answer, as minimal writing required; hence all questions in this survey are close-ended designed. Two types of closed question are employed the questionnaire: category and rating questions. For one thing, category questions are used for the first part of the questionnaire to ask personal information including gender, age, occupation, nationality, as well as income. In the mean time, having considered the age and income relate to individual privacy, the question is only asking the age group and income range instead of specific figures. Individual information is necessary simply because these attributes will significantly affect their hotel choice and preference. Also, category questions still applied to the second part which about respondents behavior towards hotel choice and reasons, since category question are suitable for behaviour or attributes (Saunders et al., 2003). The thi rd portion is in regard to respondents opinion and suggestion towards the special reason or some advice for the Jingdu Hotel. Therefore, the Likert-style rating scale with five point are appropriate for third section, as what Saunders (2003) suggested, opinion data is most frequently collected by rating questions, especially Likert- style rating scale, in which the respondent is asked their agreement level. A ranking question will not be taken into account, as it usually takes relatively longer time to finish by asking the respondent to place thing in rank order. Additionally, a covering letter will be accompanied to explain the solo academic purpose of the survey and express gratitude for their kind corporation. Dillman (2000) suggests the covering letter could to some extent improve the respondent rate. According to Sekaran and Bougie (2010), sampling is the process of selecting a sufficient number of the right elements from the population. It is to great extent influence the effectiveness of the research. This research is concerned with the customer loyalty strategies in Jingdu Hotel, and the questionnaire aims to investigate customers preference towards the Jingdu hotel. Hence, the population would be all customers who have experienced or attempt to have an experience in this hotel. According to Saunders (2003), non- probability sampling is most practical for exploratory research when the sample size is ambiguous and unsuitable for probability sampling. In this study, in order to improve the effectiveness of the survey result, the sample size has been limited to customers who have stayed with international hotel chains, since those customers may better understand the international hotel companies than those people have no international hotel experience. At the same time, the conve nience sampling will be employed to conduct the survey, as it can quickly and easily obtain the sample (Saunders, 2003). Specifically, questionnaire will be sent to these customers who are already joining this hotel when they are checking-in or checking out to ensure the validity and reliability of the answers. 3.5 Reliability and Validity It is critical to evaluate the reliability and the validity to minimise the error when carrying out the research (Saunders et al., 2003). Since this research will collect primary date through questionnaire, factors may affect reliability and validity will be the questionnaire design, structure of the questionnaire, sampling, and the respondents. 3.5.1 Reliability According to Joppe (2000), reliability often refers to the extent of the results are stable over time, whether the procedures of collecting data, as well as the findings are consistent. Kirk and Miler (1986) identify three factors of the reliability in quantitative research, which related to: repeatability, stability, and similarity within a given period of time. Moreover, there are four threats towards reliability mentioned by Robson (2002) that: subject or participant error, subject or participant bias, observer error, as well as observer bias. 3.5.2 Validity According to Saunders et al., (2009), validity is concerned with whether the quality of the research measurement and the research results are trustworthy and scientific. Three types of validity have been defined: construct validity, content validity and criterion-related validity. Wainer and Braun(1988) assert the main validity in quantitative research is construct validity, which refers to the initial concept, notion, question or hypothesis that determines which data is to be gathered and how it is to be gathered. In this research, in order to enhance the validity, the questionnaire was tested carefully to avoid errors owing to ambiguity or misunderstanding. The researcher uses clear instructions and simple wording to ensure that the responses will be valid. At the same time, all questions are close- end type to ease respondents in order to maintain the objectiveness and validity, as according the suggestion from Foddy (1994), closed questions can be relatively easy and efficient to answer from respondents. Additionally, the length of the questionnaire has been controlled to 15 questions to ensure participants who can complete within 5 minutes and hence to avoid the low respondent rate. The covering letter accompanied with the questionnaire to explain the only academic purpose of the investigation and guarantee the confidentiality at the same time. The questionnaire has been improved by a pilot test to ensure the feasibility and avoid ambiguity.

Post-operative Psychological Adjustment to Stoma

Post-operative Psychological Adjustment to Stoma The essay is based on a patient who had surgery to have an ileostomy formed. This essay will attempt to define support and identify what the patients specific support needs may be within the context of the patients post-operative psychological adjustment to her new stoma with special focus on the issue of flatus and odour on the patients recovery. Black (2001) states that for the patient with a newly formed stoma, thoughts of talking to others, eating, working, sleeping or making love while bowel motion and flatus fill the appliance is horrific. A literature review will identify the most recommended suggestions for support of the person anxious about odour and flatus and the information will be considered within the context of the support that was given to Jane*. In accordance with the Nursing Midwifery Council Code of Professional Conduct (2008), the name and any identifying details of my patient on which this study is based will be withheld. Jane* is a 44 years old mother of three, including 16 years old Adam* who lives with her at home. Jane is in a long term relationship with Peter* and they have been planning to move in together. She is a teacher of Economics in the local secondary school. Jane was diagnosed with Ulcerative colitis about 18 years ago. Ulcerative colitis is a disease that causes inflammation of the large intestine or colon (Colitis UK, 2008). This is the last meter or so of the intestine closest to the anus. Symptoms are vary in severity from pain and discomfort, through mucous in the stools is in the most severe cases blood in the stools. It is generally diagnosed by inspection of the colon by the procedure colonoscopy by uses an endoscope. Porrett and McGrath (2005) suggest, ileostomies are formed to treat conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, diverticular disease, carcinoma of the bladder, carcinoma of the bowel, traumatic injury to the abdominal area, and inadequate blood flow to the bowel, incontinence and obstruction. An ileostomy is a surgically created abdominal opening from the terminal small intestine (ileum), made because the entire colon has been removed or must be bypassed. An ileostomy stoma is usually on the lower-right abdomen. Its output has passed through all or most of the small intestine, but none of the large intestine; consistency of this output may vary from very liquid to a semi-solid paste (Porrett and McGrath, 2005). Simmons K et al (2007) state that more than 13,000 patients have stoma surgery yearly in the United Kingdom and reports psychological and social dysfunction in patients whose surgery end with stoma. Patients undergoing stoma surgery face a number of stress related circumstances leading to threats to body integrity, alerted body image, loss of autonomy, and loss of function and control (Williams, 2005). Annells (2006), suggests that fear of rejection by friends and family as well as being ostracized by society is constant for this group of patients and that support, guidance and information can assist them in adapting to their new way of life. Patients were reported to have feelings of loneliness, low self-esteem, thoughts of suicide and depression are higher in stoma patients compared with patients without a stoma (Norton, 2004). Patients who have had ileostomies, often have a distorted body image which has a knock on impact on the patients’ physical integrity and self-concept (Black and Hyde, 2004). When I was talking to Jane, before and after surgery, one of her major anxieties was flatus and odour – common concern for those with a new established stoma is flatus and odour which can result in psychological distress, stigma and embarrassment (Annells, 2006). She was also anxious about how Peter would react to the stoma and whether he would still find her beautiful and attractive. But mostly, she was concerned that people would smell her and she was worried, that she would be unable to control her flatus and being stigmatized by Peter and people who found out that she had stoma. Coping with stigma involves a variety of strategies, and Jane was at the stage where she was deciding whether to disclose the condition and suffer further stigma or attempt to conceal the condition or aspects of the condition and pass for normal (Joachim and Acorn, 2000), but felt certain that there was no way she could conceal the odour or the involuntary flatus. Flatus and odour that cannot be co ntrolled by the individual for medical reasons affect how these individuals feel about their bodies (Black, 2001). A stoma does not have a sphincter muscle; and so persons with stomas are unable to control the elimination of faeces or flatus via the stoma (Breckman, 2005). Rozmovits and Ziebland (2004), in a compilation of narratives from new stoma patients cited many as expressing difficulties in returning to work following surgery due to the â€Å"uncontrollable and unpredictable bowel movements and foul-smelling gas†. Simmons K et al (2007) state social aspect has a major impact on patients. A background study reported a decrease in social and leisure activities, increase in marital problems and less contact with relatives and friends. Mosby (2006), defines support as â€Å"to sustain, hold up, or maintain in a desired position or condition, as in physically supporting the abdominal muscles with a binder or emotionally supporting a client under stress†. There are several definitions for support. The Cambridge Advanced, Learners Dictionary (2008), define support as â€Å"to encourage someone because you want them to succeed†, â€Å"to help someone emotionally or practically†, or â€Å"a group of people who provide emotional and practical help to someone in serious difficulty†. Gale (2001) tells us social support consist of friends, family members, co-workers who provide assistance to the individual in need. Support found from friends, family and co-workers has a beneficial effect on physical and psychological well-being. Jane has had counselling from the stoma care nurse and assessed before surgery. Janes partner, Peter was not included initially in her pre-operative period as she did not wish to have him there. Peter was aware about the operation but she had not told many of her family and friends. Myers (1996) state psychological preparation and counselling of patients in the pre-operative period is of great importance. Myers (1996) further states the stoma nurse together with the patients partners and other health professionals help to rehabilitate the patient. The nurse and healthcare professionals must look at the patient and the patients needs holistically to include all aspects: physical, emotional, mental, social and economical. Faulkner and Davies (2005) state, that there is a range of definitions of the concept of support. It implies it is the exchange of resources between at least two people, intending to enhance the well-being of the person receiving. Faulkner and Davies (2005) illustrate the four broad support mechanisms they are emotional, informational, appraisal and instrumental support. Emotional support is about improving self-esteem, encouraging the person and aiming to have a feeling of belonging, accepted, loved and needed. Informational support provides information for individuals which enables them to be involved in dealing with their problems and problem solving. It can involve suggestions of where they can acquire further advice. Instrumental support involves tangible resources to remove, or significantly reduce, the stressful situation experienced by an individual. This also may include the provision of financial aid or services. Appraisal support helps the person to evaluate the impact of their circumstance, and level the threat posed by the stressful event or availability of personal coping resources. Post-operatively, Jane required all the identified types of support in dealing with her anxiety about her flatus and odour. Sirota (2006) states that support is important at all levels of care of the stoma patient and is especially critical in the early postoperative stages following stoma surgery when patients are experiencing grief reactions to loss. Emotionally, the support had already begun with the pre-operative chats that involved not only Jane, but her partner, Peter as well. The nurse, in offering support to the patient following a stoma formation must be conscious of the fact that even though the patient is extremely self-conscious about odours related to the newly-formed stoma, odours from the stoma should never be smelled by anyone but the patient (Williams, 2005). Emotional support to Jane was provided by developing a rapport with her which helped to alleviate her anxiety and embarrassment by putting the issue of flatulence and odour into context and teaching the patient techniques that could help control the issues e.g. deodorants, diets (Williams, 2005). Informational support was given to Jane about the types of food that will reduce odours and flatulence. Information such as which foods and fluids will produce flatus and which are likely to cause odour; how to manage a noticeable bulge created by flatus and how to remove flatus from appliance without causing unnecessary embarrassment in terms of odour or spillage are crucial to developing the patients confidence in managing his/her stoma (Breckman, 2005). In addition, leaflets obtained from the Ileostomy Internal Pouch Support Group gave a list of foods that increase and decrease flatulence and faecal odour as well as hints on reducing flatus. Instrumental support for Jane took the form of the deodorants that were provided to her to deal with the odours from her stoma. Cottam and Porrett (2005) recommend that in instances where odour is a problem, such as when changing the appliance, deodorants can be used to mask faecal odours and these are available in atomizers, drops or powders that can be sprayed into the atmosphere or placed inside the appliance. Jane was given the opportunity to try different samples of different fragrances by the stoma care nurse and then advised how she could order them in the future. She was also able to examine the different costs so that she could order deodorants that suited her budgets. She also advised to use the silicon-based adhesive remover which was proven to be gentler on the skin (Cutting, 2006). The final aspect of support that was provided to Jane in alleviating her anxiety about flatus and odour was appraisal support. Any disruption to the workings of the persons body is bound to cause concern and in Western society the pressures placed on us by media and peers mean that the patient that has to live with a stoma has to live with a stigma and all the anxieties associated with this (Williams, 2005). With the informational, emotional and instrumental support that was given to Jane, the rest of support needed by her can only be identified and accessed by her. Support groups and their contact details were provided to Jane, so that she can access a group or forum, if she determined that she needed further support of more specific, or even generic, type. The success of Janes adjustment will now be dependent on her own coping strategies and her own support networks (Williams, 2005). Salter (1997) stated that the support a nurse needs to give the patient with newly formed stoma is emotional, informational and practical. Jane received all of the above during her immediate post-operative period. Price (1993) says that how Jane copes now will be affected by the opinions and attitudes of the people with whom she has close relationships. Informational and appraisal support will continue via support group and forums and emotional support will come from family and friends. In the end, Jane will increase her self-confidence and become more independent with dealing with her stoma and stoma care. But in the end, as with everyone, even those without a stoma, support of all kinds will always be needed in some degree, form or fashion.

Trascedental Challenge :: Essays Papers

For my transcendental challenge, I chose to spend twenty minutes a day outside in a park. I did nothing but observe me surroundings. I observed the children playing, and the pedestrians going about their businesses and the nature. My original thoughts on this challenge were that it was great waste of time especially due to the freezing weather. I thought I had much better things to do and greater priorities. I even believed it would be boring so I doubted whether I should have done it or not. The thought of a great reward in the end or a possible lesson or discovery about life made me choose to start my challenge. I first wondered whether walking to the park was part of the challenge. On one hand the park was about five minutes away and the round trip in itself would cover half the time of my daily challenge. The trees and people I passed could have also been a part of observing nature and I believed I could have made some observations on my walk. On the other hand I was not still in one place because I was moving and the passing cars distracted me so I was not away from technology. I decided that it would not be fair to make a decision, being so biased, and I would decide after the results of my first ten minutes. I arrived at the park on this first day and sat on the first bench available. I sat with a frowned face. My first observation twenty seconds later was how the cold wind blasting on my face reminded me of how much I already hated this challenge yet liked the class responsible for it. My first thought was to count the number of trees. I counted sixteen trees and decided to examine the biggest of them all. I worked my way up from the giant trunk, to the long branches, to the highest leaf. I saw this tree as a home to animals such as squirrels and birds. Although they were not present at the time, I could imagine them climbing and flying in. I went home twenty minutes later smiling with an internal picture of squirrels and birds living in harmony. So I had decided that the round trip should not have been included in the challenge. On day two, after reviewing my notes, I realized I was imagining animals when I should have been observing them.

A Students Comments on Habitat for Humanity Websites :: Sell Websites Buy Web Sites

A Student's Comments on Habitat for Humanity Websites While sitting in my dorm room watching a DVD, I looked around and suddenly realized how lucky I was. I lived in a decent sized room with lighting and air conditioning that I could adjust to make myself comfortable. Then I thought how even more lucky I was to be able to go home too yet a nicer living facility at my own house that I have to share with nobody but my immediate family. It made me begin to wonder how many people there are that do not possess this luxury. That is when I thought of Habitat for Humanity. The only thing that I knew about it was that they built homes for underprivileged families with inadequate shelter. I wanted to see though exactly how this specific organization made a difference in peoples lives. Hopefully my research will enlighten my readers of the living situations of many families around the world, maybe even convincing some to volunteer themselves. Habitat for Humanity is a nondenominational and nonprofit Christian organization(Habitat for Humanity International). It is involved in the manufacturing and building of houses for those in need of an adequate shelter. Habitat for Humanity was established in 1976 and since, has built more than 150,000 attainable, sturdy houses in over 89 different countries(Habitat for Humanity International). This is a very impressive statistic considering all the political and economic issues that are going on in today’s world. No matter where the home is being built across the globe there are three factors that give those in need access to an affordable home like these(Habitat for Humanity International). The website states that the first attribute of a successful and complete home is that homeowners are able to buy their new house at no profit with no interest charged on the mortgage. Secondly, it states that there are trained professionals there to supervise the volunteers and homeowners in building each home. Finally, financial support is provided to the organization by individuals, corporations, faith groups, and others. These three elements contribute equally to the success of Habitat for Humanity (Habitat for Humanity International). Habitat for Humanity has branches that are building right now in towns, cities, and countries all across the earth.

Intraorganizational Conflicts Essay

In the discourse about the assessment and management of intraorganizational conflict within an organization, Jessica Katz Jameson underscores the various facets of these conflicts. These include the sources of conflict, their characteristics, the management strategies and the desired outcomes. However, of interest here is how the author characterizes the sources of these conflicts. In this presentation, an attempt to unveil the characterization of the sources of conflict without examining the attributes and the form taken by the conflicts is an effort in futility. According to Jameson (1999), conflicts arise when interdependent parties have very unlike and incompatible mindsets and interests. Intraorganizational conflicts take different forms depending on the source Sources of Informal Conflicts. Informal conflicts take the form of informal arguments or differences in points of view and opinions between co-workers, employees and supervisors, between factions within an organization or even interdepartmental Conflicts. Informal conflicts occur mainly due to differing values, beliefs, opinions as well as perception regarding to how work should be accomplished (Jameson 1999). Shapiro and Rosen (as cited in Jameson, 1999) further categorized informal conflicts as those whose sources are relational differences and those that arise from differences in opinions as to how tasks ought to be carried out. Relational differences include personal differences between members of an organization or differences in opinion regarding to leadership style. Task conflict on the hand has to do with differences in matters regarding to authority and/or responsibilities as well as differences in perception and interpretation various issues. Others[1] have utilized words such as subjective conflicts and objective conflicts in trying to categorize various forms of conflicts. Sources of formal conflicts. Formal conflicts are of a different dimension. They are characterized by formal complaints about such issues as: Contravention of human rights within an organization or policy violations. In several instances, formal conflicts result in legal action usually by an employee against an organization. Formal conflicts occur due to issues regarding to dismissal, benefits, absentee policies, safety standards, discrimination, rules and regulations of work and promotions. Employees feel that they are not being treated fairly. Formal conflicts have been a subject of much interest in recent times due to the rising number of costly court cases between the employees and organizations. Question 2. Is it important or necessary in an organization to understand the sources of conflict within an organization, as we have an autocratic structure that can impose a resolution? Understanding the sources of conflict within an organization is important because of the following reasons: a) It can help in unearthing potential conflicts before they happen. Usually conflicts do not just happen but follow a distinct pattern that can be detected by knowledgeable persons. Early detection would allow for action that would ensure that the conflict never gets out of hand. This would result in saving the parties involved time money and misery. b) It assists the disputants, managers and third parties involved in selecting the most suitable method of resolving particular conflicts. An imposed resolution may serve an important purpose in a conflict resolution but may fail to achieve the most satisfying solution for the parties involved. There are differing concerns and interests that form the conflict resolution goals for the parties and these have to be put into consideration when seeking a resolution strategy. Some of these interests include: Cost reduction, timeliness, privacy and confidentiality, fairness, maintaining relations and establishing a precedent. These concerns may not be adequately addressed if a resolution has to come from an autocratic authority with an own interest and concern. c) Autocratic Structure of conflict resolution would be of little use in formal conflicts that are likely to result in litigation. Litigation is an undesired outcome due to the costs incurred by either party (time and money); especially depending on the way the judgment goes. Litigation has served to increase the need for dispute systems within organizations. d)Â   Understanding the sources of conflict within an organization assists in the development of effective organizational conflict management. This creates a conducive work environment and reduces work related stress. This would in turn have a positive effect on employee satisfaction and productivity. Understanding sources of conflict should thus be a goal that is pursued by all members within an organization.

Informal Leadership Essay

The employees with the largest amount of status in the informal organization usually become its informal leader. Some of the advantages of informal leadership are that the informal leader is someone within an organization or work unit who, by virtue of how he or she is perceived by his peers (or others in the organization) is seen as worthy of paying attention to, or following. The major thing that distinguishes an informal leader from a formal one is that the informal leader does not hold a position of power or formal authority over those that choose to follow him or her. The ability for an informal leader to influence or lead others rests on the ability of that person to evoke respect, confidence, and trust in others, and it is not uncommon for an informal leader to not intentionally try to lead. Informal leaders can be exceedingly valuable to organizations, and to the success of formal leaders, or, if informal leaders do not support the formal leaders and their agendas and vision, they can function as barriers in the organization. The reasons for the drawbacks in informal leadership are because informal standards: personal goals and interests of workers differ from official organizational goals, also, informal communication: changes of communication routes within an enterprise due to personal relations between coworkers. In an informal group: certain groups of coworkers have the same interests, or (for example) the same origin. The informal leaders: due to charisma and general popularity, certain members of the organization win more influence than originally intended. There are different interests and preferences of coworkers as well as different status of coworkers. Lastly, the work requirements are difficult and their conditions of work are unpleasant. On balance, I feel that informal leadership is good for the organization because it plays several useful roles for a work unit. For example, the informal leader is expected to model and explain the key norms (informal standards of behavior) of the informal group for new members. If someone fails to comply with the groups norms, the informal leader will most likely play a dominant role in applying various forms and degrees of pressure or punishment to the individual to induce the desired behavior in the future.