Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Odyssey Response Paper - 1240 Words

True wisdom is an understanding or insight into human nature, and knowing how we should act based on our nature. The Odyssey is a story that has many examples of true wisdom in it. The story does this by following the progression of Odysseus, a Greek war hero, growing in wisdom over the course of his journey. Odysseus undergoes many hardships and struggles, and through these he grows in wisdom. At the end of his journey Odysseus has many problems at his home, where he hasn’t been in twenty years, and there he uses his wisdom to solve these problems correctly. Homer’s first line in the Odyssey introduces Odysseus as a man who is never at a loss. â€Å"This is the story of a man, one who was never at a loss† (p. 1). This line is ironic because throughout the story Odysseus is in fact at a loss. The reason this is the case is because Odysseus, who is a very clever man, lacks wisdom. This is evident through the many poor decisions he made, showing that he hadnâ€℠¢t truly understood human nature, until he learned from the mistakes of him and his friends. â€Å"Next they wanted to make haste and drive the kids and lambs out of the pens and get under sail. But I would not listen-indeed it would have been much better if I had† (p. 110). Here, Odysseus is too rash and he makes a bad decision which results in death, but he learns from it and recognizes the danger of pride on fallen human nature. However he was a very cunning man, which is shown in many of his travels, by his ability he is able toShow MoreRelatedThe Odyssey Response Paper1880 Words   |  8 PagesTrue wisdom, according to the Odyssey, is having the ability to reflect on your experiences and tradition, and then doing what ought to be done in similar situations based on the virtues you learned and gained through these insights. The Odyssey portrays a man’s journey toward and growth in true wisdom through his better knowledge of human nature. He undergoes many differen t trials on his journey back to his home and family, and it is during these trials that Odysseus has insights into human natureRead MoreThe Odyssey By Robert Fagles926 Words   |  4 Pagesof the Odyssey delineates a journey as both a transformative and life-changing experience that does not necessitate physical travel. Such characters as Odysseus, Telemachus, Penelope, and Athena have undergone physical, imaginative, spiritual, and emotional travel, which has had a telling influence on their lives. The journeys have played a critical role in shaping, transforming, and developing the characters. This paper will detail the journeys undertaken by various characters in the Odyssey. OdysseusRead MoreThe Flight Of The Nez Perce And The Cheyenne Odyssey1496 Words   |  6 Pages The flight of the Nez Perce and the Cheyenne Odyssey/Exodus were two equally important parts of American Indian history. Nez Perce and the Northern Cheyenne shared a similar passion of wanting to be left alone in their lands but yet were forced off of them. Where they shared similarity they also had some differences in the specifics of their stories. This short paper will delve into the Nez Perce of the Far West and the Northern Cheyennes of the Great Plains and their truly admirable storiesRead MoreSocial Structure in Homers Odyssey1116 Words   |  5 PagesTalia Regan 05.29.13 Social Structure in Homer s Odyssey Homer s epic, The Odyssey , is a lengthy poem that recounts the Trojan war hero, Odysseus arduous and protracted journey home to Ithaca. In it, Homer accentuates the somewhat feudal nature of his world, a societal structure that far more resembles his own than that which actually existed in Mycenaean Greece, less to supplement the story, but rather to serve as the primary focus. Despite the feudal qualities of the world thatRead MoreEssay Burrhus Frederic Skinner1132 Words   |  5 Pagesway a person behaves and a human’s own behavior brings consequences that change his or her actions (B. F. Skinner). Dr. B.F. Skinner forged the theory of Behaviorism, â€Å"a school of psychology that rejects the unobservable and focuses on patterns of responses to external rewards and stimuli† (Skinner, B. F.). Burrhus Frederic Skinner was born March 20, 1904, and raised in Susquehana, Pennsylvania, where his father worked as a lawyer and his mother was a strong and intelligent housewife (Boeree). Skinner’sRead MoreFoils for Odysseus1448 Words   |  6 PagesCLAS 342 Paper Assignment #2 Character Foils for Odysseus The Odyssey is the epic that has been read time and time again, by varying ages, digging its way into our hearts, becoming an instant classic. Odysseus and the adventures of his homecoming create a much different tale than Homer’s other work, the Iliad, provided. The epic is not about bloodthirsty men trying to get their hands on kleos anymore; it is about the homecoming of a man who uses his wits, not his weapon. In the Odyssey, the charactersRead MoreOf Mice and Men2671 Words   |  11 Pagesreading Of Mice and Men, we will pause to make some observations. These observations are intended to improve your ability to see and interpret key ideas and events in the story. Write your responses to these questions on a separate sheet of paper as you read. It’s fine to type your responses if you prefer. Responses to each question should be thorough, not just a few words or single sentence. 1. Generate a list of five words that describe Lenny. After making the list, choose the one word you thinkRead MoreEssay on Jason vs Odysseus937 Words   |  4 Pagesantiquity, Jason and Odysseus have much in common and just as much not. It has been said that The Voyage of the Argo, written centuries past The Odyssey, is an imitation or some form of plagiarism of the primary epic poem of ancient Greece. I like the other train of thought; it is more an acknowledgement or tip of the hat, so to speak, specifically to The Odyssey. Both tales center on a hero and a fantastic voyage. Jason was less the virtuous demi-God we see in Odysseus. At first glance, he appeared anRead MoreThe Odyssey By Homer1337 Words   |  6 PagesTaylor Michael CLAS342 Paper #2 November 28, 2014 The Odyssey is a work by Homer, written to take place ten years after the fall of Troy. In the Iliad Odysseus was not a crucial character, but this particular text follows him around and details his experience after the war. To give some background, He has yet to return to Ithaca in the beginning of the text, away from his wife now for the duration of the battles as well as these ten years following. While he was gone, his palace was overthrown byRead MoreEssay on Role of Penelope in Homers Odyssey788 Words   |  4 PagesThe Role of Penelope in Homers Odyssey The character of Penelope in Homers Odyssey has served as an archetype of femininity proper. Her physical attributes, while comely by even the most demanding standards, are veiled. Her intellectual attributes are veiled too. She seems more often than not to wear a veil of tears (for her man) or a veil of silence (for her own wishes), or ineptitude (in her dealings with her son). She is certainly no Helen. She is not flaunting or whore-ish. She is not

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Case Study Metro Run A Heavy Bus System Essay - 1528 Words

Steve Kaffen stated that he is a resident of D.C. living in the Dupont Circle area. He stated that Metro has a credibility problem. The outreach from the Board and the GM are extremely important to addressing this issue. To compensate for the possible change in service hours on the Metrorail, Mr. Kaffen suggest that Metro run a heavy bus system throughout major section of each jurisdiction in order to give customers ample transportation. Mr. Evans indicated that Metro has been working on such a proposal to run Metrobus everywhere there is a rail line. This will ensure that all customers are served. Mr. Kaffen also expressed an interest in employee morale. During these challenges times at Metro, employee frustration and satisfaction can impact customer service. Metro needs to demonstrate that employees are valued which will help change that culture. Mr. Evans stated that he has personally meet with staff to discuss issues, listen to concerns, provide encouragement and share that employees are appreciated. These are difficult times for everyone; however, Metro will be a better organization on the other side. Mr. Evans expressed his appreciation for the dialogue with the AAC. He stated that he is sensitive to the issues face by customers, committed to making the system better, and will remain on the job until it is done. It is important that the system has ample lighting and elevators work for all customers including those with disabilities. Mr. Evans encourageShow MoreRelatedtraffic problem Essay2258 Words   |  10 Pages40 5to 45 MMR 30 to 50 35 to 45 25 to 55 Passenger car unit (PCU) is used to measure heterogeneous traffic volume and variation. One car is converted into 1 PCU; 1 taxi into 1 PCU, 1 rickshaw into 0.8 PCU, 1 two-wheeler into 0.5 PCU and 1 bus into 3 PCU. Traffic is dense during almost the whole day with a slight off-peak period around lunch time (figure 1). Figure 1 Traffic variation (total in PCUs), MMRDA, 2008. Traffic congestion mainly occurs during peak hours, southbound inRead MoreTraffic Management N Mumbai10672 Words   |  43 PagesVehicles per km Road Length | 717 per Km | Enforcement Statistics | HEADS 2008 | No. of cases | 23,14,004 | No. of Vehicles Towed | 3,16,581 | Action against Parking Violations | 6,81,960 | compounding Charges / fine recovered | 22,95,86,770 | Action of suspension of M.D.L | | Taxi | 1495 | Auto Rickshaw | 1310 | Cases :- | Types of Vehicles | Taxi | 213258 | Auto Rickshaw | 280383 | BEST | 1187 | Heavy Vehicles | 171931 | Car | 404167 | Two Wheeler | 993798 | Total | 2064724 | (TableRead MoreSwot Analysis of Railway Transportation2166 Words   |  9 Pages1.1 Study objective * To fulfil the requirement of this module, Introduction to Land Transportation and Railways mode * The objective of this study is concerned with identifying Analysis of Railways Transport. * To gain extra knowledge on Land transportation that will help me now and in the future. 1.2 Scope The first step concerns of introducing Land transport and Railways mode. Second step is showing the Strength and Weakness Analysis of Railways then discuss in details on StrengthRead MoreRoad Transport11468 Words   |  46 Pagesthe conveyance of both people and goods. Reduction in transport costs promote specialization, extend markets and thereby enable exploitation of the economies of scale. Global competition has made the existence of efficient transport and logistic systems in delivery chain an absolute imperative. Easy accessibility, flexibility of operations, door-to-door service and reliability have earned road transport an increasingly higher share of both passenger and freight traffic vis-à  -vis other transport modesRead MoreTraffic Jam in Dhaka City4189 Words   |  17 Pagesformulation and implementation of traffic policies, rules and programmes .This Draft Final Report benefits from valuable discussion and comments received at the workshop. The methodology of this survey is explained below in brief. It is easy to see that the study extended beyond a standard opinion poll and entered the arena of investigative research in seeking some explanations to perceptions as well as behaviour. The findings are presented mainly in the form of self-explanatory tables with some introductoryRead MoreUrbanization and Environmental Degradation3651 Words   |  15 Pageslike land insecurity, worsening water quality, excessive air pollution, noise and the problems of waste disposal. This paper emphasizes on the effect of urbanization on environmental components mainly climate, biosphere, land and water resources. A case study of urbanization in India and metropolitan cities have been carried out leading to conclude on the existing causes of damage to the environment due to urbanization and preventive measures to keep a check on them. Although it is impossible to restrictRead MoreThe Debate About Terrorism Essay2667 Words   |  11 Pagesthe most threatening phenomena for citizens worldwide and a concern for many governments and international organizations. Several important debates about the effectiveness of terrorism have therefore appeared and there are a number of essays and studies that attempt to determine whether terrorism has been a successful strategy of coercion or not. Among political scientists, there are currently two opposing opinions regarding this topic. Some scholars argue that terrorism is increasing worldwide,Read MoreAbout Visakhapatnam4847 Words   |  20 Pageslargest city in the state of Andhra Pradesh and the third largest city on the east coast of India (after Chennai and Kolkata). Visakhapatnam is located 625 kilometres (388 mi) east of the state capital, Hyderabad. The city is home to severalstate-owned heavy industries and a steel plant; it is one of Indias largest seaports and has the countrys oldest shipyard. Visakhapatnam has the only natural harbour on the east coast of India. It is nestled among the hills of the Eastern Ghats and faces the Bay ofRead MoreTraining Need Analysis and Evaluation of Training Effectiveness13780 Words   |  56 Pageswherever possible. SCOPE OF STUDY : †¢ Study of the Training policy and various development programs being conducted at BHEL, Haridwar. †¢ To find out how much the employees perceive these training programs to be effective and beneficial. †¢ To find out to what degree is the Training given to these employees catering to their general as well as specific needs. WHAT BENEFITS WILL IT HAVE FOR THE ORGANIZATION? A Training Need Assessment study will help the organizationRead MoreRetread Rubber Market Analysis8087 Words   |  33 PagesRetread Materials. 2. With an estimated turnover of Rs. 2,700 Crore, the Indian tyre-retreading industry at present is a fraction of the overall tyre industry (with a turnover of about Rs. 37000 Crore) and is largely focused on commercial vehicles (heavy and light) and off-the-road Tyres (OTR) tyres. Over 50% of the Indian re-treading industry is fragmented and lies with numerous un-organised participants. Organised participation in re-treading is limited in India to a few participants like the Elgi

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Current Organizational Trends

Question: Describe how you will integrate current organizational trends into your role as a leader ? Answer: Personal leadership qualities identified in week 1 Self-confidence- I carry immense self-confidence and I perform my tasks with full assurance. I well understand that being confused can hamper my patients and also can make me weak on by job, this makes me additionally confident at work ('Nursing News', 2004) Positivity- Within my personality I carry tremendous amount of positivity and this makes me think and perceives things in a different way Communication- I am not only a good speaker but also a good listener. I lend my ears to the patients and also to seniors as well as to my co-workers which make me extra good when it comes to communication (Tappen, Weiss Whitehead, 2001) Of course there are several traits that I still need to develop my personality for attaining a better and additionally good career. They are as follows: Weak at emotional intelligence- I have a very low level of emotional intelligence and stability. Building up this trait will provide me the ability to know and understand as well as manage my emotions, and also of those people and patients who are around me all the time (Marriner-Tomey, 2009). No empathy- I must know how to know and understand other person's situation and condition. It will permit me to create the bond of trust, and will give me insight into things that others might feel or think. How personal leadership quality are practiced in nursing Nursing is a very critical element in recognizing the quality of the care within the hospital and also the nature of the patient outcomes. 24*7 nursing care also is one amongst distinctive hallmarks for inpatient care within several hospitals. Being into this field my role as a nurse will include proper clinical nursing practices and consultation plus follow-up plus patient education as well as prevention of any illness (Fagin, 2000). All this has also improved the availability of proper health-care systems and services, also reduced symptoms for chronic diseases, enhanced cost-effectiveness as well as developed customers' experiences from the health-care systems and services. In past years, the nursing profession has also been particularly concerned about the nature of transformation occurring in this care sector. Enhancing numbers of the hospitals are also restructuring their firms, staffing, as well as services. Redesign plus reengineering even have become principal basic strategi es of the 1990s for several institutions plus systems. And because redesign initiatives nowadays are being undertaken for several causes, above half of efforts are now being driven by requirement to reduce the entire operating costs, plus to have focused upon transformation of the work processes as well as redesign of the roles plus jobs. If I want to sustain longer in this field, I must try to abide by all the rules and regulation of the organization and also must try to be an employee who would give something extra to the firm. Also due to vast competition only thing that can work as a competitive advantage in this industry is the nature and attitude of service providers like doctors and nurses towards the patients. Thus, I need to develop and maintain this propaganda seriously (Davies, 2002). Examples how leadership qualities have been influenced in past There were factors that influenced the students leadership in past. There are few aspirations that have pushed me towards such style of leadership Rising expectation- The enhancing expectations of co-workers, seniors and also the patients has forced me towards carrying and maintain such leadership (Tracy, 2014). Individual responsibility and accountability for growth plus development- Being in nursing field I need to deal with health care issues daily and this tends me to attain greater responsibility and thus inspires me to follow such leadership Additionally educated co-workers- In health care sector no one illiterate and having no knowledge regarding health and safety are allowed to work and such educated surrounding tends me to follow this particular style comprising of extra skills and knowledge Competition for the talent: In nursing field people compete for immense talent as well as a vital selling point is quality of the nurses and doctors and also their attitude plus nature towards patients. Thus, I to maintain my position try to match properly the propaganda (Marquis Huston, 2009). Need to comply with industrys requirements- This sector needs all its staffs to comply with proper rules and regulations and also expects them to be perfect in every field where they work and show their skills. This enforces me to maintain a proper leadership quality so that I can give my best to the patients as well as to my work. Which leadership style the student most closely identifies The student most closely identifies Laissez-fairestyle of leadership. She gives her team members many opportunities and also sets them free to do their work in their own way. As self-confidence is the strongest part of her personality also she would further try to understand that it is very essential for any nurse's skills of leadership. She will evaluate what more is needed to approach each and every patient with full confidence and also competent attitude. Processes student will take to maintain or redefine their own leadership style The student must try to implement the changes and then maintain my leadership. For this will follow below-mentioned steps to implement the changes Identify myself as a proper leader- Being in nursing field she must tend to view her role as the deferential to the doctor's and all other practitioners. She should ensure that she properly understands plus embraces real role that leadership plays within her career (Kelly, 2008). Demonstrate confidence and have courage- Being into healthcare field she will always work with courage and without any fear. If she wants to be a good leader, she must will to undertake all types of risks. Being a nurse her leadership totally depends upon her capability to take such risks. Playing safe would never develop her into a leader in the nursing field. Communicate clearly plus consistently-Whether she will be talking to the patients, doctors or even to the family members and also to co-nurses, she should try to be totally mindful of the way in which she communicates (Kelly, 2004). Be a good listener- Though this is my strong part yet she might further try to develop and maintain the skill. She must always try first to listen and then respond straightforwardly. Processes student will take to maintain or redefine their role as a leader in the nursing profession Pay attention towards professional growth and development-she will attend some classes, courses as well as seminars that will help me go beyond things that she requires taking for maintaining my nursing license. She would also encourage all the other nurses that she supervises for growing professionally. Also she will even advocate classes that might interest the staffs Manage the time properly-The nurse will always try to prioritize my tasks and also her responsibilities shrewdly. Lead by the example- She must give her best to the job and must try to gain as much knowledge as she can. So that other nurses could take note as well as mimic my demeanor, skills plus leadership. Find the mentor for self- She would ask a co-worker whom she admires, to train and provide me some coaching both theoretical and also practical. Also she can observe other nurses who work with her and can try to learn something good from them (Giuliani Kurson, 2002). References Davies, P. (2002).Nursing. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Fagin, C. (2000).Essays on nursing leadership. New York: Springer. Giuliani, R., Kurson, K. (2002).Leadership. New York: Hyperion. Kelly, P. (2004).Essentials of nursing leadership management. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar Learning. Kelly, P. (2008).Nursing leadership management. Clifton Park, NY: Thomson Delmar Learning. Marquis, B., Huston, C. (2009).Leadership roles and management functions in nursing. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams Wilkins. Marriner-Tomey, A. (2009).Guide to nursing management and leadership. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby Elsevier. Nursing News. (2004).Nursing Leadership,17(2), 10-15. doi:10.12927/cjnl.2004.16351 Tappen, R., Weiss, S., Whitehead, D. (2001).Essentials of nursing leadership and management. Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis Co. Tracy, B. (2014).Leadership. New York: American Management Association.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Strategic Change Management KPMG Company

Executive Summary Strategic Change Management has become a strategic role of the management. Various business organizations have come to appreciate the need for change and have designed various methods and approaches of managing change. KPMG is one such organization. It has downed on the management that the market competition requires one to embrace change and ensure that it is creative in order to be in a position to manage market competition.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Strategic Change Management KPMG Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The firm has brought in all the stakeholders into one community and each given its role to play in the process of change management and implementation strategies. The model that this firm would use in implementing change is Kurt Lewin Model of unfreeze, change and then freeze. Value based organization is the approach to monitor the implementation of change. The st rategies must be implemented within appropriate time to yield good results. Introduction Change is one of the most important factors that an organization must take into consideration when drawing their strategic goals and objectives. Daft (2009, p. 37) simply says that Change is constant. This statement is intriguing yet it is the best definition of change from a philosophical point of view. Change and constant are two extremes under a normal dictionary definition. However, from an analytical perspective, change is constant. This scholar argues that change brings nothing new. It only enhances what is already in existence. McCarthy and Eastman (2010, p. 23) say, â€Å"The overarching purpose of change management is to accelerate the speed at which people move successfully through the change process so that anticipated benefits are achieved faster.† As such, change should not be viewed as a shift from what is the norm. The only issue is that it brings new methodologies of handi ng the daily activities. In his book, The Rise and Fall of Strategic Planning, Henry Mintzberg (1994), the former leader of the Strategic Management Society, reprimanded himself and others for their sightless adherence to the strategic forecast practice. His disputation rests with the exploration of the authoritative, scientific explanation to the future. He demonstrates how planning can asphyxiate obligation, constrict an organization’s dream, make change unfeasible, and lead to the politicization of an organization. His point is based on the principle that â€Å"†¦ analysis is not synthesis [and therefore], strategic planning is not strategy formulation† (p. 321). According to this scholar, many managers would agree that change is one of the defining external factors that have huge impact on the organization. The management is always faced with various factors that would demand change in the organization.Advertising Looking for case study on business econo mics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More As a starting point, Griffin (2000) classifies the word management as: â€Å"A set of activities (including planning and decision-making, organizing, leading, and controlling) directed at an organization’s resources (human, financial, physical, and informational) with the aim of achieving organizational goals in an efficient and effective manner† (p. 6). In the definition, several key concepts are used. Foremost, it is comprehended that management applies â€Å"uniformly to public, private, nonprofit, and religious organizations.† Murphy (2002) was of the view that â€Å"†¦ management is an organizational phenomenon and not exclusive to the world of profit organizations† (p. 7). KPMG is one of the leading consulting firms in the world. This American firm has grown and it currently covers several countries in North and South America, Asia, Europe and Africa. The recent entry into Africa, which is considered as the emerging markets, and some parts of Asia, was motivated by the increasing need for consulting firms as many of the businesses in these regions required guidance in a market that has increasingly gotten competitive. Change is one of the major reasons that are making firms in the corporate world seek guidance. KPMG as a firm has change as one of the factors it has to deal with in order to ensure that it remains relevant in this industry. It must be in a position to demonstrate to the corporate world that it is the master of what it teaches. Strategic change management to KPMG is not just important to demonstrate to others its prowess, but also to help it beat the market competition and increase its market share both at home and international markets. The need for strategic change management at KPMG has been fanned by the unpredictability of the market. The market is so unpredictably and change is the agent for this. Because of this, the management of KPMG has come to realize that it may not be in a position to survive in this market if it fails to adopt changes that are brought about by the environmental forces. Stakeholders of KPMG who are Involved in Change Management DeAnne, Gary, Hyde, and Tipping, (2004, p. 1) note, â€Å"Any transformation of significance will create people issues.† KPMG is an American firm that was a culmination of a merger of different consulting firms in 1987. These firms merged upon the realization of the fact that they had a common goal, which could best be achieved by coming together as a unit. Stakeholders of this firm are the agents of change.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Strategic Change Management KPMG Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Their positions in the firm would define their role in the strategic change management within this firm. In a given firm such as KPMG, there are always three categories of people when it comes to change management. The first category is the initiators of change. These individuals would come up with creative ideas of how to approach some issues within the firm that would result in change. The second group is the implementers of change. They take instruction on the change strategies as defined by the initiators. This scholar defines the last group in as â€Å"the recipients of change.† This group has no role in the initiation or implementation of change. However, they feel the effect of change, either positively or negatively depending on the prevailing circumstances. KPMG has all the three categories of people among its stakeholders. The stakeholders of this firm in the above-mentioned groups can be analyzed as followers. Initiators of Change These people are the agents of change. They come up with creative ideas that can be transformed into new strategies. Some of the initiators of change at KPMG are the following categories of office holders. The Top Management The top management of KPMG has the biggest role to play in the strategic change management. Goolnik (2006, p. 10) observes that, â€Å"a clear vision should be in place at the most senior level(s) so that staff can gain understanding of why change is important and necessary.† They are the most important individuals in the firm in as far as policy generation and implementation is concerned. They are expected to understand the prevailing market forces and determine when change may be needed in the organization. They are in a better position to understand some of the changing policies in the external business environment of this firm and initiate the same within the firm. As Wilson (1992, p. 14) notes, it is not necessary that every change that a firm implements must be original to it. A firm may borrow some changes from other firms that have successfully implemented them. The top management of this firm therefore has the role of identifyin g these new strategies and initiating their implementation within the firm. They are therefore the first initiators of change. The Human Resource Management has the greatest role to play in this regard. Modern Human Resource Management (HRM) is radically different from the human relations movement in the 1920s or from the personnel management practiced decades ago (Carell, Elbert, Hatfield, 1995, p. 12). Today HRM is used to refer to the philosophy, policies, procedures, and practices related to the management of people within an organization (French, 1998). French continues by stating that: It is now generally accepted that human resources management encompasses a dynamic, organization-wide perspective that is action oriented and based on theory and research from many disciplines and is necessarily interrelated with strategic planning. More and more it is recognized that HRM must be an integral part of the strategic planning of the top executive team of the organization (p. 5).Adve rtising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Research and Development Unit This is the most important unit when it comes to creativity and innovativeness of the firm. They have the responsibility of scanning the business environment and understanding the forces that are prevailing in the market. They then would determine which of the strategies would best suite the firm in managing market competition. They are expected to come up with creative ideas of how KPMG as a consulting firm can reach out to its customers with better services in the increasingly competitive business environment. They would advise the top management accordingly on how the firm should approach strategic change management issues. General Employees General employees of KPMG are also important agents of change. KPMG has been keen to allow all the team members, irrespective of the position they hold, to contribute to factors that affect the organization. The firm recognizes their role in the normal running of this firm and therefore appreciates the need to in corporate them on strategic management plans of the firm. They can therefore make their contribution on how they feel some issue should be addressed within the firm, which may pass as a change strategy. The shift of the office from the farm to the industrial unit floor can be appreciated in the model of Toffler’s, The Third Wave (Toffler, 1991). In The Third Wave, Toffler notes if you stride back and look at the main activities of the global societies, there are three major classes or effects in the proceedings of societies. â€Å"†¦ flexible manufacturing, niche markets, the spread of part-time work, and the degasification of the media† (Toffler, 1990) Fayol’s points that â€Å"all organizations, regardless of mission or culture, are joined to one another by the universal process that is designed to focus the energy of an organization in order to accomplish a common purpose†. The Government The government plays a very important role in strategic cha nge management of any firm within the country. According to Taborda (2011, p. 78), although the government may not be seen to be playing direct roles in the process of defining the path taken by the firm, it always has a great impact on the same. A firm like KPMG cannot operate in a vacuum. It operates within a country with a government, which has its policies of how such firms should operate. These government policies change with the changing environmental factors. When the government changes its policies and such changes have effect on KPMG, then this firm would have very little but to implement the changes as specified by the government. Customers For a long time, customers have always been on the receiving end of change. They would always wait to be presented with products, some of which were not suiting their needs. However, the current marketplace is very different. Customers are more knowledgeable and more demanding. Marketing has moved from the traditional inward out approac h to outward in. firm must therefore develop products that have the capacity to meet the changing needs of customers. Customers have therefore moved from the recipients of change to initiators of the same. Implementers of Change These individuals would affect the changes as suggested by the initiators of change. As Anderson (2011, p. 16) says, in most companies, KPMG included, the initiators of change are always part of the implementers of the same. The Management McGregor (1957) in his typical book, The Human Side of Enterprise, stated: â€Å"Management is severely hampered today in its attempts to innovate with respect to the human side of enterprise by the inadequacy of conventional organization theory (p. 245). The management plays a very important role in the implementation of change within the organization. Given their role of co-coordinating and controlling, this unit has the duty of explaining change to the employees and directing them on how these change strategies should be addressed. As such, they have the responsibility of understanding the strategies before explaining them to the employees. They are also the financiers of the policies of the organization. They have a role of ensuring that proper finance is allocated to the implementation of the strategies. General Employees Sharma (2008, p. 26) says that the employees have the greatest role to play in the implementation of change strategies. They are the implementers of the firm’s strategies. They have a duty to ensure that they understand the organizational objectives. They should therefore know how to intertwine the change strategies and the general goals and objectives of the firm. They would receive the policies from the management and implement them in a manner that would generate maximum benefits to the firm’s customers and shareholders. The Recipient of Change As explained above, these individuals are neither the initiators nor implementers of change. Recipients of change may not necessarily involve those individuals that have no role in the initiation or implementation of change. According to this scholar, both the initiators and implementers of change may also pass as the recipients of the same if they are affected by this change, which is always the case. As such, all the above stakeholders may be considered as recipients of change under different contexts. The management would be the recipient of change if the same affects the general growth of the firm either positively or negatively. The employees would be recipients if the process would result in benefit increment or change of position held in the firm. Customers would definitely be the recipients through the benefits they would receive from the changed strategies of the firm. The competitors would be recipients if the change would also force them to redefine their own strategies. The government would be the recipient if the change would result in a downward or upward adjustment of the tax they r eceive from the firm. The organization as a whole would also be considered a recipient of change. This is because the organization would be subject to change in the production levels and styles and the general new product proposition it would assume in the market. The structures would also feel the effect of change. In every organization, there are various structures that are always put in place to serve various tasks, for instance, the structures put in place at the sales unit. The structures may need to be restricted to reflect new picture of the firm. Generally, the entire system would have to be restructured. The new design would have to redefine the relationship of the stakeholders in the organization and the new roles that they would play. In the implementation process however, care should be taken to avoid chaos at all the stages. Chaos can be the most destructive factor in change management. Chaos as defined in an older dictionary is â€Å"A condition of utter disorder and confusion, as the unformed primal state of the universe† (Funk and Wagnalls, 1940, p. 208). In a more recent attempt to define the concept, Coveney and Highfield term it as â€Å"Unpredictable and apparently random behavior in dynamic systems† (1995, p. 425). In the latter definition, we can see a loosening of the fixed order of the world that was embedded in the first definition. Such scientists laid the foundation as Newton who accepted a fixed-order world as the ideal of objective knowledge (Prigogine, 1996, p.2). A tenet of the Industrial Age was that some grand design of the universe that needed to be discovered existed. However, current writers and thinkers in the area of systems thinking and Chaos Theory argue that no such fixed design exists. In fact, writers like Prigogine (1996) now define chaos as â€Å"the behavior of systems in which close trajectories separate exponentially in time† (p. 201). It is therefore the roles of everyone to understand the n eed for change, and cooperate in the process of its implementation. This would ensure smooth process of implementation. Strategies Available for Change Management Government Office for the South West (2004, p. 43) states, â€Å"It is worth recalling what we are trying to achieve.† It should be clear to the team why change is important and what the same would achieve. There are giant American companies that were brought to their feet either due to the failure to adopt changes that were needed, or implemented the same, but in a wrong way. Whichever the case, the underlying fact is that change is fixed factor in any organization whose implementation should be done in a conscious manner that would make the firm remain competitive in the market. Rogers Adopters Theory provides the best available strategies that are available for change management. The categories are as follows: Innovators This strategy requires individuals who have great desires for new ideas. It requires audacity and the willingness to pay for the consequences of the change. When implemented, the firm would implement changes as soon as they are availed in the business environment. This strategy would be the best for KPMG, but the consequences may outweigh the benefits. As such, many firms shy away from it because of the possible negative consequences. The popularity of this strategy is rated at 2.5 percent. Early adopters Early adoption theory would involve embracing change early enough to be able to reap maximally from it, but after analyzing the consequences that are involved. Early adoption is good, but as innovators, a firm may not have reference to other firms which had implemented the strategy before. As such, many firms would shy away from it for the fear of the unknown. However, given the nature of KPMG, this would be the best strategy that should be employed by this firm in the process of managing change. Early majority The early majority would adopt change before the average membe rs have, but will take precautions by keenly monitoring how the innovators and early adapters were affected by the change. Although very popular, this strategy is dangerous to an innovative company like KPMG because by the time it would be implementing the change, it might be too late to be competitive in the market. Late majority Late majority are individuals who appreciate that change is necessary, but would want to evade any negative consequences of the same. They would therefore wait for others to implement change and confirm that the consequences are positive. They prefer going through the trodden path. This strategy may not work for KPMG because this industry is very dynamic and by taking this approach, it would always be several steps behind market standards. Laggards Kratschmer (2011, p. 19) describe this category of individuals as tradition keepers. They would want to maintain status quo, and because of this, they would fight any change in the organization. This may not be considered a strategy for change management, but passes as one because it seeks to fight the same. Those who hold this strategy would always be suspicious of change and all the change agents. This is the worst of the strategies of change management. Stakeholders Role in the Implementation of Change Management Strategy Sirkin, Keenan, and Jackson (2005 p. 2) say, â€Å"Managing change is tough, but part of the problem is that there is little agreement on what factors most influence transformation initiatives.† As stated above, the best strategy would be the early adoption. Various stakeholders would have different roles in this strategy. The management has the duty to understand the concept put forth in the specific change item in order to create awareness of the same among employees. The management is also responsible for funding the entire process of the implementation of the change. The employees should be flexible enough to adjust to issues concerning change management. Th ey have the responsibility of positively responding to change and ensuring that the policies of change are well taken and are appropriately implemented. The government, though may not have direct responsibility to the firm, should ensure that the business environment is kept safe. System of Involving the Stakeholders in Planning of Strategic Change A system refers to a collection of different units or subsystems, which work as a unit to accomplish a given objective. KPMG as an organization is a system made up of different stakeholders each with different duties all aimed at ensuring the firm’s strategic goals and objectives are achieved. The diagram below shows the stakeholders in this system, as well as how they are related. As shown in the above diagram, the system involves all the members of the organization in their various capacities. In this system, change would be effected from the top management, and the lower cadre employees would be doing the implementation activit ies. The system should be well coordinated in a way that no unit will clash with the other in the process of implementation of change strategies. The management of KPMG must clearly set the overall goals and objectives of the firm. This should be made known to all members of the organization. The overall objective would be to create a positive differential change to customers. The management would therefore create a system that would act as a wheel. The management (both top and mid level management) would form systems, while the junior employees would form subsystems. In this wheel, the management should transfer a desirable rotation to the employees that would make them (the employees) rotate the customers in favor of the organization. This is demonstrated in the diagram below. All members would share the new objectives, which would redefine the mission of the firm, in the firm. As seen in the case study, the last and very important part is the implementation of the shared mission . The management should identify various teams and assign them different roles that would help accomplish the objective of the organization. The management should consider developing units within the firm, with each unit having their own specific duties. The stakeholders should fit into the units, with each unit having specified role to play in the overall policy implementation process. The management can also consider having each specific stakeholder assigned his or her own role within the firm to be achieved within a specified period. Resistance to Change In many occasions, change would meet a lot of resistance from those who want to maintain status quo. They would ensure that all efforts are directed towards derailing change. Change can be resisted in a number of ways. The first type of resistance to change may involve adoption of the laggard approach to change. Such an individual would try to cling to the traditional ways of operation as much as is possible. Another approach may involve refusal to cooperate in the process of working as a system to implement change. The management can also resist change by failing to advocate for the same to the employees. They can also resist change by failing to allocate enough finance for the same. The best way to manage any form of resistance is to make every member of the organization understand the need for, and the urgency with which change is needed. The management should ensure that all stakeholders are brought on board in the process of implementing change. They should be allowed to share their views and fears about change so that the concerned authorities may address it. Plans for Implementation of Change Management Strategies Appropriate Model for Change A number of models for change that are used by various organizations, given different scenarios exist. Some of the most popular models of change include ADKAR Model for change, Stephen Covey Seven Habits Model, Kubler Ross Stages of Change and Kurt Lewin’ s Strategy of Unfreeze-Change-Refreeze. These strategies are suitable in different scenario. They have their own advantages and disadvantages that makes each most suitable in different applications. Given the scenario of KPM, the best model would be Kurt Lewin’s three staged Model of Change Management of Unfreeze, Change, and then Freeze. Unfreeze is the first stage where the firm would need to appreciate that given the current market forces, there is need for change. As such, every member of the organization prepares psychologically for a possible change. After unfreezing, the next step is change. The members, having accepted the need for change, would embrace the same and adopt new strategies brought about by change. The freezing stage, also known as refreezing, involves establishing stability after the adoption of change. Plan for the Implementation of the Model KPMG has a healthy business environment. It must choose the best strategy that would best suit all the stakehold ers in the implementation of the above-mentioned model of change. Value Based organization would be the best strategy for this firm. The first principle in this strategy is to embrace community spirit. All the stakeholders should view themselves as members of a larger community. The community should embrace open and honest communication and there should be agreement in the values of the organization. The organizational structure should be flexible to allow for adjustments in the process of implementation. Measures for the Implementation of Change Model There are measures that should be put in place to ensure that the implementation of change model is successful. The first measure is that there should be a clear procedure of monitoring change. Baekdal, Hansen, Todbjerg and Mikkelsen (2006, p. 7) say, â€Å"All models are guidelines. You should always evaluate the relevance of each individual step vs. your situation and your project. Large projects often demands detailed analysis and documentation, while small projects can be finished with much lesser work.† The concerned individuals should know the basis of objectives and goals of the organization. With this, they should assess the effect of change against what was expected. The second measure is that the implementing parties should have a clear timeline set for the achievement of various objectives. There should be regular meetings to review the success of the organization. Another measure is that the management should set short-term manageable objectives to be achieved within a given timeline. A mechanism through which objectives would be measured should exist. This way, it would be easy for the management to determine if the implementation process is effective, or if some changes might be necessary. Above all, the stakeholders should all be made to appreciate the need for change and the potential benefits that may accrue from the same. Conclusion In a business set up, the top management is always unde r a constant challenge of planning how to manage change. Strategic change management has become one of the strategic duties of a firm. It is considered strategic because it affects the entire firm from the top management to the junior most employees, and all the departments of the firm. Change management is considered as strategic because, just like strategic goals and objectives, change should be initiated by the top management of the organization and channeled to other employees of the organization. Older members of the society, especially those that have already gotten used to a certain way of doing things may not find it easy to shed their normal ways of approaching their duties. They are used to the normal methods and fear that they may not be in a position to adapt to these changes fast enough and as such would be seen as incompetent. KPMG has the duty to implement change management strategies that would help it manage market competition. Change must involve all the stakeholde rs in the organization for success to be achieved. KPMG must incorporate all its stakeholders and assign them different roles in the process of implementing change. Kurt Lewin’s three staged Model of Change Management of Unfreeze, Change, and then Freeze is the best strategy of implementing change in this organization. With a positive attitude towards change management among the stakeholders, KPMG will always be a step ahead of competition in the market. List of References Anderson, M 2011, Bottom-Line Organization Development: Implementing and Evaluating Strategic Change for Lasting Value, Elsevier, Burlington. Baekdal, T, Hansen, K, Todbjerg L Mikkelsen, H 2006, â€Å"Handle change management projects more effectively† Change Management Handbook, Vol. 1, no. 27, pp 7-57. Coveney, P Highfield, 1995, Frontiers of Complexity: The Search for Order in a Chaotic World, Fawcett Columbine, New York. Daft, R 2009, Organization Theory and Design, Cengage Learning, New York. DeAnne, A, Gary, N, Hyde, P, Tipping, A 2004, Ten Guiding Principles Of Change Management, Booz Company, New York. Fayol, H. (1949). General and Industrial Management. London: Pitman. Goolnik, G 2006, â€Å"Effective Change Management Strategies for Embedding Online Learning within Higher Education and Enabling the Effective Continuing Professional Development of its Academic Staff†, Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education-TOJDE, Vol. 7, no. 1, pp 10-78 Government Office for the South West 2004, â€Å"Resource Efficiency and Corporate Responsibility: Managing Change, How to Manage Change in an Organization†, Envirowise and Government Office for South West, Vol. 3, no. 11, pp 10-27. Griffin, R 2002, Management, Houghton Mifflin, Massachusetts. Kratschmer, P 2011, Organizational Culture is Highly Resistant to Change: Discuss, GRIN Verlag, New York. McCarthy, C Eastman, D 2010, â€Å"Change Management Strategies for an Effective EMR Implementation,† Healthc are Information and Management Systems Society, Vol. 1, no. 39, pp 20-41. McGregor, D 1985, The Human Side of Enterprise, McGraw-Hill, New York. Mintzberg, H 1994, The Rise and Fall of Strategic Management, The Free Press, New York. Murphy, R 2000, Strategic Management vs Strategic Leadership: Untying the Gordian knot. Published Proceedings, Academy of Administrative Sciences and Business Conference, Vol. 2, no. 2, pp 89-112. Prigogine, I 1996, The End of Certainty: Time, Chaos, and the New Laws of Nature, The Free Press, New York. Sharma, R 2008, Change Management, Tata McGraw-Hill Education, New Delhi. Sirkin, H Keenan, P Jackson, A 2005, â€Å"The Hard Side of Change Management†, Harvard Business Review, Vol. 3, no. 4, pp 1-18. Taborda, L 2011, Enterprise Release Management: Agile Delivery of a Strategic Change Portfolio, Artech House, New York. Toffler, A 1991, Power shift, Bantam, New York. This case study on Strategic Change Management KPMG Company was written and submitted by user Landry Barton to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.