Planning Function of Management Essay

Planning is a crucial function of management that enables an organization to achieve its maximum potential. Halliburton is one of the largest corporations in the United States, with a workforce of over 100,000 people in over 120 countries. Their home office is located in Houston, Texas and they are one of the world’s largest providers of products and services to the oil and gas industry. This paper will discuss the issues impacting and influencing management planning within Halliburton. â€Å"Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.†Peter DruckerIt takes successful management at all levels and quality leadership to lead a business down the proverbial golden path. Planning is the primary management function, which formalizes an organization’s goals and objectives and establishes a base for the other functions of management. Halliburton Company is an oilfield services company and a provider of engineering and construction services that was founded in 1919. The company has expanded through tremendous internal growth and several acquisitions and in March, 2002, Halliburton split into two main divisions: the Energy Services Group (ESG) and Kellog Brown and Root (KBR). â€Å"ESG offers a wide range of products and services to â€Å"upstream oil and gas customers worldwide, ranging from the manufacturing of drill bits and other downhole and completion tools and pressure pumping services† (www.halliburton.com) [APA citation error (incorrect-do not use Web addresses or URL’s in citations). If the author is cited in text = Author’s name (year) â€Å"direct quote† (p. #). If the author is not cited in text = â€Å"direct quote† (author, year, p. #).] . KBR is the engineering subsidiary for Halliburton and is a global leader in construction and project management. Additionally, KBR is a leading government services contractor, which has been the focal point of many legal and ethical issues. Halliburton has received a great deal of negative publicity over the past year or so regarding it Iraq and Kuwait operations. The Pentagon and Justice Department have both launched criminal investigations due to erroneous contract cost estimates totaling $2.7 billion to serve American troops in  the middle east. Accusations have been made of overcharging for meals supplied to troops in Iraq, as well as employees accepting kickbacks from a Kuwaiti subcontractor. Pentagon auditors found that KBR overcharged the U.S. government by $27.4 million during a period of nine months in 2003. Additionally, Halliburton’s internal audit revealed employees accepted these kickbacks in exchange for providing Army supply contracts to the subcontractor (Associated Press). Limited military spending has created lucrative opportunities for privately held companies such as Halliburton to win these contracts and will continue to be at the forefront of media campaigns as long as the United States re mains in Iraq, especially when it comes to Dick Cheney. [You have addressed the issue thoroughly and supported your assertions.] Much speculation has been generated in regard to current Vice President of the United States and former Halliburton CEO Dick Cheney’s financial ties to his former company. On the September 14, 2003 edition of NBC’s Meet the Press, Vice President Cheney said, â€Å"And since I left Halliburton to become George Bush’s vice president, I’ve several all my ties with the company, gotten rid of all my financial interest. I have no financial interest in Halliburton of any kind and haven’t had, now, for over three years† (St. Louis Journalism Review). However, it came to light that Cheney received a salary of over $150,000 and maintained over 400,000 shares of unexercised stock options at the time. Cheney stated that he deferred his salary and stock options; therefore it did not constitute a violation of ethics. The Congressional Research Service found that these financial interests in Halliburton demonstrated a financial interest with his former empl oyer creating a conflict of interest. Despite the fact that Cheney broke the law of ethics, he is exempt from the enforcement of such laws and cannot be prosecuted for it (Halliburton Watch). KBR is the largest military contractor in Iraq, with more than 50,000 employees and subcontractor working there and in Kuwait and Afghanistan. These employees drive trucks, wash clothes, deliver mail, and provide additional support services for the U.S. troops. These workers are part of the Pentagon’s privatization strategy that enables the military to reduce the number of troops needed in a given location by assigning noncombat functions to civilians. Halliburton’s social responsibility is to keep these  workers safe and away from fighting, but it has proved a difficult task. Numerous complaint and lawsuits have surfaced because of Halliburton’s failure to provide safe working conditions and in the case of one man who was killed, the suit states he was â€Å"intentionally sent the convoy as an enemy ‘decoy’ in the U.S. military camouflage vehicles, to ensure the safe arrival and delivery of a second H-KBR fuel convoy† (CNNMoney.com). Hallib urton’s social responsibility remains in question with workers being placed in harms way on a regular basis. Factors influencing Halliburton’s strategic, tactical, operational, and contingency planning include political instability, rising steel prices, and environmental regulations. Halliburton operated in countries such as Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Indonesia, and Russia, which are currently experiencing unstable political and social climates. Continued conflict in these areas could have an impact on the company’s bottom line and their ability to generate substantial revenue. Steel is a major commodity that is used in the setting up of plant and processing facilities for natural gas and petroleum refining. Record breaking high prices were reached in early 2005, but have since stabilized. However, the ongoing consolidation in the steel industry could lead to higher prices causing the profit margins to suffer. Lastly, Halliburton is subject to environment and legal requirement in its worldwide operations, such as the Clean Air Act and Clean Air Interstate Rule, causing the states to reduce the allowable sulfur dioxide SO2 emissions by 70% and nitrogen oxides emissions by 60%. Environmental issues such as these could place a burden on is cash flow. [Insightful analysis]Halliburton has an exceptional global presence and they are currently playing a prominent role in rebuilding Iraq and by providing our troops with shelter, meals, and delivery of materials. Although Halliburton has come under intense scrutiny over the past several years due to its involvement with Vice-President Chaney and its legal and ethical issues, it has still managed to win military contracts due to its expertise in the oil service industry. This shows tremendous resiliency and reassures its customers and stockholders that it will continue to be a strong force in the oilfield services industry. [Your paper is well written. It is clear and concise.]References-references must match citations by author/owner. References begin with author/owner name e.g. CNN.money and Halburton are the owners of the websites. See examples in APA manual. MarketLine Business Information Center. Retrieved January 27, 2007 fromhttp://dbic.datamonitor.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/companies/company/?pid=B07921BD-F512-44F2-AE84-4DA7D8630C9D#CompanyOverviewTop 25 Censored Stories. St. Louis Journalism Review; Dec 2006/Jan 2007, Vol. 36Issue 292, P23-27, 5p. Retrieved January 26, 2007 fromhttp://web.ebscohost.com. Decision Management System. Retrieved January 28, 2007 from www.halliburton.comHalliburton Announces Full Year and Fourth Quarter Results. Retrieved January 28,2007 from http://CNNMoney.comKelly, Matt. (2003, March). Halliburton Fires Workers for Allegedly Taking Kickbacksfor Iraq Contract. Retrieved Janury 27, 2007 from www.commondreams.orgTotal points available=14Your score=13.75Areas for improvement=teal belowContent and Development = 40%_____ Key elements covered, content comprehensive/accurate, clear points supported with detail, appropriate use of vocabulary, integration of theory and practice, research adequate/timely, content and purpose clear. Very good work on this section. Organization = 30%_____ Lead is interesting and relevant, thesis is well-developed, directional statement previews major points, paragraph transitions maintain flow, body paragraphs support a specific major point, conclusion is logical/flows evenly, conclusion reviews major points. Good work-very well organized. Easy to read. Format = 10%_____ APA format, â€Å"reader friendly,† utilizes references appropriately, headings aid adaptability/not overdone, neatly presented, format requirements followed. Some small errors in APA formatting of reference page and citations. (-.25)Mechanics = 10%_____ Punctuation rules followed, contractions avoided, spelling correct, vernacular is avoided, written in same person throughout, tense remains consistent. Readability and Style-10%_____ Complete, clear, concise statements, well constructed sentences, sentence transitions present, words/concepts precise,

Problems on Staff Training and Development Essay

Understanding the phenomenon of employee training and development requires understanding of all the changes that take place as a result of learning. As the generator of new knowledge, employee training and development is placed within a broader strategic context of human resources management, i.e. global organizational management, as a planned staff education and development, both individual and group, with the goal to benefit both the organization and employees. To preserve its obtained positions and increase competitive advantage, the organization needs to be able to create new knowledge, and not only to rely solely on utilization of the existing. Thus, the continuous employee training and development has a significant role in the development of individual and organizational performance. The strategic procedure of employee training and development needs to encourage creativity, ensure inventiveness and shape the entire organizational knowledge that provides the organization with uniqueness and differentiates it from the others. Evidence collected from this research, especially from those joint venture hotels supported the rationales that underpinned Western human resource development (HRD) models that effective T&D activities in hotels required to have systematic and strategically integrated T&D structures, which was particularly true when considering hotels’ long term development. Furthermore, some â€Å"emotion†-involved elements identified in the Chinese state-owned hotels seemed to have provided valuable ingredients to be added into the existing Western HRD models, which could help to increase their robustness in a cross-culture context and also to improve their effectiveness in the hotel industry. It was found that positive learning attitudes and energetic learning leaders had the power to turn passive training activities into active â€Å"learning from heart†. It is, therefore, proposed that to build up an effective training and development architecture in the Chinese hotel industry, both systematic training and development structure (as widely addressed in Western human resource development literature) and consistent emotional inputs (e.g. devoted learning managers; turning trust-based personal relationships into learning drives, etc.) are necessary. More empirical studies are needed to further test these ideas. In general, employees who feel undervalued or unwanted are likely to leave. This is an especially important issue in China, where employees are possibly among the least satisfied in the world. While the number of dissatisfied employees is significantly greater in the Chinese state-owned enterprises, employee dissatisfaction in MNCs is a big issue as well. Of all the factors which lead to dissatisfaction among Chinese employees, of course, compensation and benefits packages always play an overarching role. In the Work China survey, Watson Wyatt asked respondents who said they might leave in the next several years to list the top three reasons for their planned departure. The results were consistent with popular perceptions: better pay was the number one reason employees wanted to leave their company, followed by better career opportunities, and training and development. Sources: 1. Ã…  uÃ… ¡njar, Ã…  , G, Zimanji, V, MenadÃ… ¾ment ljudskih resursa, Ekonomski fakultet, Subotica, 2006 2. Wang, Yu, Leeds Metropolitan University, September 2005 3. Gross, Ames & Lepage, Shawna Lepage, Employee Retention: Building an Effective Strategy to Retain Your Chinese Employees, April 2001, Corporate Relocation News 4. Leininger, Jim, The Key to Retention: Committed Employees, China Business Review, Jan/Feb2004, Vol. 31 Issue 1, p16-39

Judaism and Final Project Essay

What religion would you like to consider for your final project? Describe the place of worship you will visit. I I plan on studying Judaism for my final project. I might visit a synagogue if I find one nearby/ I What do you already know about this topic? * Judaism’s sacred documents are called Haftra ; Torah. * I know some of their major holidays like Passover and Hanukkah for example, and I also know the significance of the Sabbath or Saturday services. * I know the Ten Commandments Judaism religion goes by. * They believe that every person was created in the image of God. * Judaism is a monotheistic faith meaning they believe in only one god. I What resource will you use to find a place of worship for this religion? I I will use the internet along with a local newspaper. I What are some sources you could use to gain more knowledge about this religion? I Different online sites and library resources. I What type of materials do you expect to review for this project? I Articles and Interviews. I How will you gain access to the materials you need? I The internet, the public library, the temple I visit, and a religious bookstore so I can purchase a copy of Torah. I What difficulties do you anticipate in conducting an interview with someone of this faith? I I don’t anticipate any major difficulties coming up but I do recognize the fact that it may be awkward feeling to discuss faith with a person that I don’t share the same faith with. I Create a list of 10 questions you would like to ask during the interview

Final Exam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 12

Final Exam - Essay Example Tyrants consolidate powers that they use in ruling the masses to accept what they impose. One of the characters that prove that Pericles was not a tyrant is his approach of doing things. For instance, he was able to use the majority of the people in the assembly to pass resolutions that restricted Areopagus when his main political challenger was away in Sparta. The resolutions were not meant to benefit him but were for the good of the citizens. He managed to pass legislation that gave people powers and created institutions where citizens would have the rights of voting and to contest for political positions (History World 12). Therefore, he managed to overcome tyrant’s characters by widening the democratic space for citizens. Secondly, Pericles was a changed leader once he took over leadership. He was willing to give back to the people hence attracted more citizens who came to his support. This is also evidenced when King of Sparta, Archidamus, asked Thucydides whether he was a better fighter than Pericles. He answered that Pericles was better because he can convince the audience that he has won in cases where he is defeated. He was also above reproach by citizens since he was clean from corruption (History World 15). The character he displays does not portray one who is a tyrant, but an individual who consults with others in doing things. In other instances, Thucydides had admired the leadership style of Pericles where he acknowledges that Athen was in the name of democracy with first citizens governing it. Through this comment, he acknowledges the charismatic leadership style which Pericles showed where he was able to convince and manipulate. Similarly, there is no accusation labeled against Pericles, but instead his opponent focuses on his integrity (History World 16). Lastly, Pericles was not carried away by people; instead, he provided guidance to the people. He acted as a public charismatic figure and as an advocate on the advisors proposals.

How the World might change in the next 25 years Assignment

How the World might change in the next 25 years - Assignment Example Deforestation is increasing the global warming problem and is diminishing the capacity of earth to generate oxygen through its plants. The purpose of this paper is to discuss and predict how advances in the management of natural resources are going to change the reality of humanity by the year 2037. The two social problems correlated to natural resources that are going to be emphasized in this discussion are food and air. The changes that are going to occur will come from exploitation of existing technologies and the creation of new innovations. There are a lot of people suffering from hunger today. Approximately 13% of the world’s population suffers from hunger which represents about 925 million people (http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/Learn/world%20hunger%20facts%202002.htm). A lot of experts believe that the world’s current agricultural capacity has the ability to feed everyone on the planet, but hunger is still occurring. One of the problems with the spread of hunger is that certain regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa do not have the arable land and the basic infrastructure such as water and electricity to create food. In the future this constraint will be eliminated as new technologies will enable the planet to turn salt water into drinkable water. About 20 % of the world land is covered by the five major oceans (http://www.gdrc.org/oceans/world-oceans.htm). The second innovation that will revolutionized agriculture worldwide is the creation on synthetic terrain. This new form of land can be transported anywhere and by used to regenerate the soil in places that lack arable land such as Haiti. A second major problem that is going to be resolved is the elimination of deforestation. This will occur prior to 2037 due to the fact that the paper wood milling industry will seize to exist. The world will not longer accept humanity cutting down trees to create books, magazines, or any form of wood pulp paper. Luckily this transition

Comparison of Ellis Island and Angels Island Essay

Comparison of Ellis Island and Angels Island - Essay Example Similarly, for an immigrant, it becomes difficult to adjust to the new surroundings, new customs and a new habitat altogether. Although both the parties mutually adjust and co-exist in the future, the initial phase would always be remembered.History of Ellis Island and Angel Island needs to be understood bearing this in mind. Both these points were recognized as entry points to America. Ellis Island is located in the upper bay just off New Jersey coast, within the shadow of a statue of Liberty. Today approximately 40% of America’s population can trace their origins back to Ellis Island and that is because the island has a history of processing twelve million immigration applications. Ellis Island got its name after its owners Samuel Ellis and was also known as Oyster Island earlier. Federal Government after procuring the island from Samuel Ellis primarily for the defense purpose. The immigration was processed at Castle Garden in New York which was later shifted to Ellis Island . The initial influx was of northern and western Europeans and much later southern and eastern Europeans also made their way to America through Ellis Island. Europe was mainly becoming stifling in terms of religion and socio-economic constraints. To escape from these conditions people migrated to a new land altogether. The quarantine ships examined the passengers while they were still in the waters and identified and separated people who were having contagious disease, disorders and were the potential threat to society. The passengers were then preceded to the island where rest of the formalities was carried out. Although it acquired a reputation of â€Å"island of tears† the usual proceedings did not take more than a few short hours to start a new life in America.

Importance of Inspirational Leaders, Well-Organised Human Resource Research Paper

Importance of Inspirational Leaders, Well-Organised Human Resource Serves in a Company - Research Paper Example Corporate culture is the ultimate power to greatness and only companies with a strong and cohesive culture succeed, such as Apple, Google, Hewlett - Packard (HP) among others. According to Alice Branch (2003), Corporate culture can be sliced and diced and be understood: the easier it is for culture to be signed, the healthier the culture and consequently, the stronger the company’s business performance. A good example of this principle is McDonald’s. Corporate culture involves the main aims of an organization, the strategies that will be employed in meeting those aims and the way the stakeholders should behave while striving to achieve those aims. It takes the effort of the top management to maintain its culture; this is by interacting a lot and communicating effectively, especially to employees of what is expected of them (Auxillium West, 2008). Corporate behavior is affected by effective leadership. The culture can be either weak or strong. Weak is where the employees fail to identify with the values of the organization hence need to be pushed to carry out tasks from the organization’s point of view. While the converse is true for strong cultures as people tend to think as a group on the direction to be taken during decision making. Various methods have been employed in grouping cultural change. The David Francis innovation model insists that an appropriate culture must be adopted, developed and maintained over time. Th e culture of an organization must not only be supportive but also demanding. He further emphasized that for a culture to be right, the workforce must be given selective empowerment, high enrolment in the innovation and creativity process and deliberate encouragement for involvement in innovation.