Executive Derailment: The “Dark Side” of Management Essay

According to Lambardo & McCauley (1988), the term derail is when a manager who has the ability and is expected to go higher in an organization is instead fired, demoted, or plateaued below the expected levels of achievement. Derailment is a metaphor for a train coming off its tracks. Shockingly, between 30-50% of high-potential managers and executives derail during their business career. There are shocking similarities between a successful individual’s career and that of one headed towards derailment, so this paper will help us have a better understanding of the derailment process, the signs that it is hitting an individual, and how it can be prevented. There are clear indicators and patterns in a person’s career that point towards this downward spiral called derailment; however, their career starts our very similar to that of a successful person. The individual is usually very bright, holds and outstanding track record, identified early as a â€Å"high potential employee,† personable, ambitious, sacrificial for the organization, has been moved up in authority, and excellent at motivating and organizing. The differences between a successful individual and one headed towards derailment will show up in areas such as track record, interpersonal style, composure, handling of mistakes, and solving problems. For instance, an individual who is intelligent but headed towards derailment may be intellectually arrogant, putting down others whose opinions and ideas may not seem as helpful. Also, they may be a committed and focused person, but they are â€Å"workaholics† and close-minded. Another characteristic is ambition, but the individual may use manipulation to reach their goals. Sometimes, when an individual seems to have so much potential for the company, it is easy to overlook their potential faults. â€Å"These derailers are often noted in advance, but frequently overlooked or forgiven because of the individual’s high potential or because their strengths were highly value.† Denton et. al. (2006). So what does the process of derailment look like in an individual’s career? First, we see an early strength in that individual’s career become a weakness. For example, someone who is driven, focused and experienced may begin to become rigid, narrow-minded and a workaholic. Secondly, often times a deficiency is overlooked during the individual’s time in lower levels of hierarchy eventually begins to become a problem. These flaws may be discovered through different factors. The individual may suddenly have a clash with someone in authority above them, or there may be a boss covering for the individual’s faults who is replaced. Usually problems arise and people are offended, causing an unwanted tension in the workplace, and giving light to the individual’s issue. Third, the individual may suddenly be exposed to extreme and unexpected challenges that they cannot handle. Finally, the success of the individual’s career and potentially a promotion may go to their head, causing an arrogant, disconnected attitude. Around 42% of executive derailment is a result of unethical or fraudulent behavior, 17% is caused by excessive aggression, 14% is caused by poor decision-making skills, 11% by error in judgment , another 11% caused by unreliable and deceptive communications, and a random 5% is caused by other miscellaneous reasons. How do these derailment situations affect the company? First of all, business goals are not met, affecting company morale and decreasing productivity. There are also many expenses put on the company, from recruitment costs, wasted salary, relocation expenses, and replacement costs, derailment not only affects the individual, but also the company. At a lower level of employment, an individual’s derailing characteristics will only affect their immediate organization of function; however, in upper leadership levels, they affect the entire organization and almost everyone involved. It is important to fix a derailment problem in an organization, before it affects the entire company in a negative way. An organization must not be willing to tolerate derailing behaviors, and the executive has to believe that this is the case presently taking place in the company. Most often, there are two options for preventing a derailing situation. First, a company can try to prevent derailment in its early stages. This involves being aware of the characteristics and causes and implementing an early warning system. This system should include feedback, coaching, developmental assignments, exposure to role models and mentors, coursework, and leadership challenges. Another key prevention method is to provide support during major changes in a company and an individual’s part in the organization. A rigorous interview and hiring process should help employers understand individuals and if they have the potential to derail. Also, a company should promote accountability throughout the entire organization in order keep people in constant communication and available to talk. Executive derailment can be seen throughout the business world, in many stories of individuals and executives in companies. Many of these individuals started out extremely successful, but soon found themselves completely self-destructing. This past spring, the chief financial officer of my hometown was arrested and found to have stolen over 53 million dollars from our city over the course of 15-20 years. The city was enraged. This woman was in total power and authority, but she had no one holding her accountable or checking in on her. It was an expensive mistake for our city. Executive derailment affects everyone in a negative way, so it is important to take the necessary steps to prevent derailment in early stages, or completely avoid it in the first place.

Approaches to Teaching Listening Skills

Approaches to Teaching Listening Skills Among the other four skills, listening is the one that has been most forgotten and neglected in second language classrooms. So teachers don’t pay much attention to this skill and teach it carelessly. In the field of language teaching and learning proficiency has tended to be viewed as the ability of speaking and writing in language in question. Listening and reading skills are in the second position. One reason for this situation might be the demanding characteristic of the listening skill. Listening has gained a new importance in language classrooms after spreading IT technology based information in society in Iran. Moreover it should be mentioned that most of the students’ class time is devoted to the listening. Despite this, we often take importance of listening for granted, and it is the most overlooked skill among other skills. In natural order of learning any language, listening stands at first rank. Without any reception one can not produce anything. Though, if a teacher wants to have fluent and productive students, he/she should pay much and necessary attention to teaching listening skill. Listening Some of the teachers believe that speaking should be actively discouraged. One of the reasons of emphasizing listening and delaying speaking is based on an opinion. Those who give importance to speaking view the language as a product and think that language is a behavior and speaking is the manifestation of this learning or happening. On the contrary, there are approaches that gave more importance to listening Nation, Newton (2009). in this approach of language learning , listening is at the center. All of the information necessary for building up the knowledge for using language comes from receptive skills: listening, and reading. When the knowledge of language in this regard is built the learner can write and speak. In other words, with out any input, the outcome or output should be nothing. Gray and Gray (1981) described the benefits of del aying speaking and concentrating on listening. These benefits include the following: † 1. The learner is not overloaded by having to focus on two or more skills at the same time-a cognitive benefit. 2. Speed of coverage -receptive knowledge grows faster than productive knowledge. 3. It is easy to move very quickly to realistic communicative listening activities. 4. L earners will not feel shy or worried about their language classes. Having to speak a foreign language, particularly when you know very little, can be a frightening experience. 5. Listening activities are well studied to independent learning through listening to readings.† Critics believe that producing a language is not sufficient for learning. In language learning substantial quantities of receptive activity should be included in the mind for future use. To speak communicatively and to convey and understand the meaning, one should have a previous language knowledge and information in his/her mind. Models of listening Traditionally listening was viewed as a passive skill through which the listener or hearer received information sent by message senders. More recently listening is viewed as an active and interpretive process by which the message is not fixed but is made or created by participants. (Newton,Nation.2009)

Present the argument from evil against the existence of god,and Essay

Present the argument from evil against the existence of god,and explain the major objections to the argument, and the major resp - Essay Example One of the primary assumptions of a supreme being is that they would embody morally just or ‘good’ qualities. With a morally just God the question then becomes why there is evil in the world. Another important consideration is that if there is a God or creator figure then he must be an extremely powerful entity. With this power then why does the God not eliminate evil in the world? In these regards, the actual structure of the argument is that: 1. If God exists, then God is supreme and moral. 2. If God is supreme, then God has the ability to do away with evil. 3. If God is supreme, then God knows where to locate evil. 4. If God is moral, then God has the desire to do away with all evil. 5. There is evil in the world. 6. If evil exists and God exists then God would have done away with evil. Therefore, God doesn't exist. Objections When considering these points, there are a number of objections that have been raised. When considering these points a number of objections hav e been raised. One of the major objections surfaces from believers in God who argue from a religious perspective. This perspective is that the existence of evil and God are not contradictory because God intends for individuals to have free will.

Negotiation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Negotiation - Essay Example Frank Hu, the partner was located in CA at the time. He is a 40-year-old IT engineer with a great background of people resources in the area. His role was to act as a bridge between the CA clients and us, located in TX. In the deal, Frank’s primary job was to organize Seminars. This covered arrangement of location, advertising and general contacts. With this limited responsibility, Frank was happy with 20% share on each closed house deal based on 3% commission of sales price, plus 50% share cost on all business expenses for Advertising and Seminars. My team leader – Lady M, chose me to play her primary role, and gave me the charge of the investing department and the authority to deal with Frank. I was quick learner, and was able to lead the negotiations with confidence in a matter of two months. My primary duties were Seminar hosting, Real Estate tour trips, sales and buying, house leasing, and also rental management between investors and tenants. It was a 24/7 job and I was able to learn a lot and survived though unlimited multi-tasking. My own share percentage with Lady M was 1/3 of sales price in each closed transaction plus 50% of any bonuses from new home builders on top of deals. It sounded great in compare with my work. Monthly volume at the time was a minimum of 6 seminars in CA, with average of 10 or more closures. Besides we got 10 -15 rental houses on the market, and the cumulative number of housing management started from 50 from when I joined the business. It was exhausting work but the compensation was worth the effort. Indeed I thought my life could not be more perfect and tougher, until the unexpected happened. One day in winter, Frank and his wife secretly flied into Dallas for a private meeting with me. On the dinner table at my home, Frank started off with remarks that Lady M, who had not been neither involved nor devoted to any efforts all this time, skimmed off

Reflections on medievil and ancient texts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Reflections on medievil and ancient texts - Essay Example managed to draw on the generosity of the twin rivers Tigris and Euphrates, enabling them to come up with proper cultivation of the fertile land as well as systematic irrigation even during times of drought. Based on these accounts, it is not so much of a surprise that Gilgamesh, a great ruler in his own way, could lead such people who ought to earn recognition for a nearly remarkable living characterized primarily by their intelligent utilization of vast water sources besides literary inclinations and fascinating inventions of unique writing form, temples, cities, and academic institutions. Through extensive studies, archeological evidences do indicate that Sumerians possessed rich culture of literary scholars who had written epics, proverbs, poetry, history, and fables from which the prominent details of Gilgamesh is claimed to have concretized into an entity with flesh and form. In the combined endeavor of both the fields of history and literature. Gilgamesh is widely known as the king of Uruk who made possible the founding of the great city wall. Standing in the tangible realms of Mesopotamia, the six-mile wall in its wide presence across civilizations makes no unsolved mystery thou gh Gilgamesh, its acknowledged creator, is assumed a demigod. Analyzing such perspective with the aid of liberal approach used in current times, I think Gilgamesh may have existed in an ordinary human form or a human character whose interesting traits were more than adequate for a priest-king. For this ground, the Sumerians could have exaggerated more in their reverence and appreciation to the extent of treating Gilgamesh as a mythically constructed figure breathed into life by oral tradition. Accounting sufficiently for the Sumerian’s great city wall, by practical knowledge, we realize the fact that even if there were highly skilled workers who built the structure in all magnificence, it may not be denied that someone with genius potentials had facilitated them in the building

Case Study Verizon and Disney Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Verizon and Disney - Case Study Example The customers are also complaining of the high ticket prices. The customers have been experiencing these issues and because of this, they are not likely to visit the park again. The internal management itself are experiencing major issues. These issues are affected and caused by the increasing external problems. First, the Walt Disney Company is experiencing a sliding attendance figures. Their revenues are decreasing. The lower hotel occupancy rates and decline in attendance add up to their problems. And lastly, Walt Disney’s capital expenditure is down. Solutions: The goal of the company is to more with less. Walt Disney Co. CIO Roger Berry, has been helping to create a cutting-edge technology strategy. This is to restore luster of aging brand and increase efficiencies and boost attendance. The company is going to introduce IT Convergence such as use of global satellites, smart sensors, wireless technology and mobile devices. Walt Disney wanted to promote a more personalized environment with IT at the core. The most visible manifestation of the strategy implemented is the 10 ? inch tall stuffed doll, the Pal Mickey. He is the virtual tour guide powered by sensors. The idea of this is to give the park goers up to the minute information to preset preferences. The company also wants to make data accessible across all lines of business. Another initiative of Walt Disney is the destination web site called the Magical Gathering. The intention is to boost new revenues and group business bookings. The company also is looking to expand digital imaging and let the visitors staying at a Disney hotel use their room television sets to review and buy photographs taken of them on rides during the day. Berry also says the resort is looking to improve Fastpass. The company wants to have a service that allows visitors to schedule ride times to avoid long lines. RESULT: The introduction of the initiatives is getting positive feedbacks from the business analysts. By introd ucing these strategies, Walt Disney is being able to cut their expenses. They are promoting more services for no increase in expenses. By having more digitalized and personalized environment, they will surely attract more visitors. If the line issues, crowd, and ticket prices are resolved, surely the customers will be more than happy to visit the place again. Reference: D’Agostino, Debra. Case Study: Walt Disney World Resorts and CRM Strategy, (2004). Web. 23 April 2011 CASE STUDY: VERIZON Problems: Two of the Fortune Companies are going to merge. However, they are having issues enhancing an ambitious enterprise CRM program. They are preparing for the enhancement of company’s customer focus and their new brand. Both GTE and Bell Atlantic had decent CRM visions. But GTE obliged to an outdated technology platform. Bell Atlantic has a different set of issues. Bell Atlantic has a surfeit of single purpose, application centric systems. The company executives themselves are hesitant of the new CRM initiatives because they think it would be too costly and not sustainable. The Vice President for the Database Marketing for Verizon, Leonard, is having a hard time introducing this new initiative because it would mean beginning from the start or ground zero. There will be a shift from a product focus to customer focus program. This means instilling a new sense of cultural urgency. Thus, he is stuck to a great dilemma: whether to go for a broke or launch a bona fide business driven CRM. And this would

Factors of production and circular flow of income Coursework - 2

Factors of production and circular flow of income - Coursework Example According to Samuelson (2010) the central concern of economics is solving three vital problems: what to produce, how to produce and for whom and the solution lies in making choices between inputs and outputs. The aim of this paper is thus to discuss the factors of production and the circular flow of income. To achieve this, the paper will be divided into various sections. The first section will be discussion on what economics is and the problems it seeks to address. It will also cover the importance of economics and brief explanation of different economies such as the market, command and mixed economy as mechanisms of allocating scarce resources. The second section will address the factors of production: land, labour, capital and enterprise. It will discuss their functions, qualities and how their productivity can be improved. The third section will discuss the circular flow of income which shows flow of inputs and outputs between firms and households or at microeconomics level. Last ly, a brief summary of the main points will be given. What is economics and why study economics? Samuelson (2010: 4) defines economics as â€Å"the study of how societies use scarce resources to produce valuable goods and services and distribute them among different individuals.† It aims at producing the highest combination of quality and quantity of goods and services thus enhancing efficiency. Efficiency according to Samuelson is achieved when no individual’s economic welfare can be improved unless someone else is made worse off (p. 5). When efficiency is achieved the welfare of the whole society is improved. Many people might think that it is not essential to study economics but it has a lot of benefits. According to Lipsey and Chrystal (2011) economics is important in helping to understand the world in which we live and to become astute participants in the economy. It helps us to understand business cycles in relation to credit, unemployment and policies put in pla ce to deal with such crises. It also helps people to understand international trade and the effects of globalisation especially in modern era where production has gone global. Government policies to promote economic growth, use of resources, full employment and price stabilisation are also the product of economic analysis. Economics takes a scientific approach to analysis of issues in the economy and also applies econometrics to economic problems. It is based on the principle of holding other things constant when analysing variables (Gitman and McDaniel, 2008). Economics is divided into two categories: micro and macroeconomics. Microeconomics deals with markets, firms and households while macroeconomics deals with the whole economy but we shall concentrate on microeconomics. Human wants are numerous or unlimited and as stated earlier, resources are scarce. As such, it is difficult to satisfy the unlimited wants thus choices have to be made that would lead to efficient allocation of resources. For example, if a firm decides to produce household items, it foregoes the opportunity or alternative of producing industrial items or any other product. The benefits the firm could have gotten by dealing with industrial items (the next best alternative) are what Samuelson (2010) calls opportunity cost. Economics is all about making choices on what to produce, how to produce and for whom given technology and scarce resources (Wessels, 2006). Whatever choice is