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Sunday, July 25, 2010

Why Didn't I Think of That?: Proof Positive That American Ingenuity is Not Dead!



OK, don't let the title of the link fool you - or scare you off - or think I've lost my marbles! This one is definitely "safe" for work - or with the kiddos around. It is proof positive why we're going to come out of this recession the way we always do - by applying good old American ingenuity (Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs...)! Have a problem - there's someone making (or having made in China) a product to meet that need!

So, here's the solution for how to sneak wine or beer into an event undetected. I guess the market is tailgaters, concert goers, bored parents at kids' ball games - a million uses!

View the two videos here - both have their moments:





And read the story from AOL Small Business below:
Why Didn't I Think of That? The Wine Rack, Already a Breast-Seller - AOL Small Business.

So, whadya think? Gonna buy 1 for football season - or 12 for Christmas presents? Are you worried about what this says about us? What will kids think?

Post your comments here on the blog - this should be interesting - and yes, you can tell stories of "this happened to a 'friend of mine'...."

David



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Top Ten Management on Goal Setting: An Overview of How to Set Your Professional and Personal Goals Today


This overview of goal setting was prepared by Holly Caston-White while a Management major with a concentration in Human Resources in the College of Business at Southeastern Louisiana University.



Introduction
Goal setting can create a strong relationship between the different levels of management and lower level employees. Placing certain goals on employees could motivate them in a way which increases production, improves customer service and promotes an overall great image of the company. Also, by setting goals in someone’s professional career it could lead them to an overall change in their personal life as well. When a goal is reach it can boost a person’s sprit and give them the reason to aim higher and ultimately reach a personal goal they never thought possible. Anytime, a goal is reach it can lead to a level of success. It is a well known fact that success always breeds a desire for more personal and professional growth and a desire to be even more successful.



The Idea in a Nutshell
The goal setting concept is about a person or company trying to reach a certain object or end result that one strives to attain or aim for. These goals do not have to be large in size but can be obtain over a period of time. It is also possible by just completing smaller achievements they will help a person or persons reach a larger goal that ultimately might not have been obtainable without the smaller goals being completed.
The first studies of goal setting were performed by Cecil Alec Mace in 1935; however, Edwin A. Locke began to examine goal setting in the mid 1960s by deriving his idea for goal-setting from Aristotle. The idea behind goal setting was to make a person more prone to work through setbacks. In other words, a person is more willing to work through a setback if there is an important attended goal at the end. Pursuing a goal can lead an individual to develop cognitive strategies and can their change behavior which ultimately leads to the completion of more goals which are set in the future. Goal setting also breeds persistence within a person who is goal orientated which for a corporation could mean a number of positive things such as drive, desire and commitment.





The Top Ten Things You Need to Know About Goal Setting

1. The apparent benefits of knowing the Organization you are employed for or knowing your aspirations can help with the first goal setting rule. You should always Review the Organizations Mission or Purpose. In other words, if you choose a company whose values you do not agree with it may be impossible for you to set larger goals for yourself and the company. In the same respect, a company mission statement or purpose may be the reason you desire the employment of that company so to understand the mission statement my help you set the proper goals to gain the employment of your dreams.

2. Resources when setting goals can be extremely important. Whether or not you are setting personal or professional goals you should use every available resource and evaluate all the information at your finger tips. This is very important in today’s society because so much information can be located with the click of a mouse. Therefore; do not forget to do the research necessary but also consider the content of that research and its importance to your goal.

3. Before you can worry about resources and there importance and even before you can review a mission statement you must decide what goals you wish to accomplish. Therefore, determine your goals individually and/or gather input from others. Sometimes it helps to determine your path if you have gathered information from the ones who are closest to you. Do not be afraid of the feedback take it in stride and learn from it.

4. After you have determined your goals. The fourth thing that is most important is to write them down. Communication is a big key in making sure that you will complete those goals and be held accountable if they are not reached. However, that does not mean that you will reach every goal you set but as mentioned earlier it will make you more prone to work through those setbacks and make you a stronger person and/or employee.

5. It is important to always review your results regarding your personal and your professional goals. You should always take time to reevaluate your progress and see what changes or adjustments should be made in order to accomplish what goals have already been set. If some adjustments should be made you made want to get some feedback from another individually to see if they have better ideas that could help you revaluate and change your process. If you do not review your process this can reduce self-efficacy and thereby harm the performance outcomes in the long run.

6. When setting a goal for yourself or an employee be positive. It is difficult to get people excited about a project or a goal which needs to be completed if you are not positive. You will get a better reception from your employee and/or yourself if things are approached in a positive light. An incentive may be the given to make the goal more fun to complete. This technique is commonly used around the world to gain an end result which is being requested by a higher power.

7. Set Priorities: When goals are being handed out to certain employee or even to you set an order to be followed. If this order is set in a way which is easier for you to follow it is more likely to be accomplished in a timely manner. All of your goals should have priorities so that you are not doubling back or having to re-do an item on your list of goals because you skip a step. This will also allow you to not feel overwhelmed by having to many goals to complete and helps keep your direction on the most important ones at hand.

8. A useful way to making goals more powerful is to use the SMART mnemonic. This mnemonic is just a short and fast way for someone to remember the way to keep their goals in check. Any other words make sure your goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound.

· S – Specific
· M – Measurable
· A – Attainable
· R – Relevant
· T – Time-bound




9. Goal setting is not just writing a few items down and hoping that you will complete them in some fashion. A part of goal setting is to be able to motivate you, an employee or even a team of co-workers. Goal setting will also help you build your self confidence, based on successful achievement of your goals or your team’s goals. I work for a company who preaches self confidence, reaching for the stars and setting goals which may seem impossible but to always dream of the impossible. They also believe you never give up and if you fall that a team mate will be there to help pick you up and get you back on track for your goals. Support of a team mate, boss or the company in which you work for is sometimes over looked but can be a key factor in goal setting. It can also mean the difference between making those dreams, goals come true in the short term and long term. for you personally and for the company in the long term. I have always believed that a happy employee will work harder for any boss and will do everything in their power to see that the goals are meet.

10. Brainstorming can also be helpful in setting your personal and professional goals. In other words, you may need to brain storm on the items in which you wish to achieve or find most important in your life. You must be organized or have some sort of map of the goals you wish to achieve in your life time. Whether those goals are more personal or professional you will not be able to complete any goals unless you do some soul searching to locate the most important ones to you. However, please make sure that you intend to complete those goals set forth by you. All goals are not easy to complete by if the intention is there they will form the basis for your goals and the fulfillment of your dreams.

The Video Lounge



My Take
The concept of goal setting is very important not only in the world of business but also in daily life. Those people who set goals and follow them in my opinion are more likely to complete those goals. They are also more likely to be successful and driven. Setting goals gives you something to strive for. A large part of goal setting is keeping a person motivated, wanting to aim for something better. Another part of goal setting that I find very positive is that it keeps you very organized and you feel like you have been able to scratch something off of your daily list whether you are at work or home.

References
1. Career Success Through Goal Setting. (n.d.). How to Make A Resume – Learn How to Do a Resume Right. Retrieved July 19, 2010, from http://www.powerful-sample-resume-formats.com/goal-setting.html
2. Robbins, S., & Coulter, M. (2009). Foundations Of Planning. Management (10 ed., pp. 143-160). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall.
3. Form, s. t. (n.d.). Success Factors Goal Management Software. Success Factors Business Execution Software. Retrieved July 19, 2010, from http://www.successfactors.com/info/en/goal-management-software/?source=Google_ppc&kw=Goal%20Setting&ad-id=1685157409&gclid=CLSM5YSx-KICFYlY2godXxGSkg
4. Theory, u. g., & setting, L. r. (n.d.). Locke’s Goal Setting Theory – Understanding SMART – Goal Setting Tools from MindTools.com. Mind Tools – Management Training, Leadership Training and Career Training – Right Here, Right Now.. Retrieved July 19, 2010, from http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_87.htm

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Contact Info:

To contact the author of “Top Ten Management on Goal Setting,” please email Holly Caston-White at W0219558@selu.edu or hollywhitemk@gmail.com.

BIOGRAPHY

David C. Wyld (dwyld.kwu@gmail.com) is the Robert Maurin Professor of Management at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana. He is a management consultant, researcher/writer, and executive educator. His blog, Wyld About Business, can be viewed at http://wyld-business.blogspot.com/. He also maintains compilations of his student’s publications regarding management concepts (http://toptenmanagement.blogspot.com/), book reviews (http://wyld-about-books.blogspot.com/), international foods (http://wyld-about-food.blogspot.com/).

AN INVITATION TO WORK WITH US, TODAY!

If you enjoyed this publication, why not make one of your own with us! Are you a college or university student from anywhere in the world who would be interested in publishing your work in an edited online journal appropriate to your topic? Such a move can help put muscle into your resume and make a great impression on potential employers and graduate schools (and needless to say – and perhaps most importantly in the age in which we live – likely be the first thing that companies/universities view about you when “Googling” you)! If so, we can help you get that first publication for free (and more if you desire)! Visit Wyld Publishing Services (http://wyldpublishingservice.yolasite.com/) for details. We can work with you to publish your quality essays, research articles/papers, reviews, etc. – and even audio and visual media and PowerPoint presentations – given our network of edited publications and relationship with publishers around the world who want to work with you and your work. Contact us today to get your work published at dwyld.kwu@gmail.com.


Read more:

Top Ten Management on Goal Setting: An Overview of How to Set Your Professional and Personal Goals Today

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Top Ten Management on Organizational Design: An Overview of Traditional and Contemporary Design Models

This overview of Organizational Design was prepared by Dustin Lane Dier while an Occupational Safety, Health & Environmental major in the College of Business at Southeastern Louisiana University.



Introduction


Designing an organizational structure is critical to managers and selecting the correct model, which fits your businesses core competencies and assets, can be a challenge. In reality, as any business evolves, chances are the organization will take on several of the below, outlined, organizational design models. Why is organizational design important? It is at the heart of how your business will function, determines how business decisions will be made, how many managers/employees a company will have and how it will conduct business. Without some form of organization design, whether traditional or contemporary, it will be difficult to focus your company and your human assets to maintain a competitive edge over the competition.



The Idea in a Nutshell

The organizational design of a company reflects its efforts to respond to changes, integrate new elements, ensure collaboration and allow for flexibility. Organizational design models have evolved over time due to several factors including technological advances, research of historical data regarding profitability of past companies and market changes. Traditional organizational design models include; simple structure, functional structure and divisional structure. Contemporary design models include; team structures, project structures and boundary less organizations. All have their distinct advantages and disadvantages which we will explore further.



The Top Ten Things You Need to Know About Organizational Design Models

1. Simple structures are typical for businesses in the early stages of development. They usually have one primary decision maker (owner/president) responsible for decisions in all functional areas. Span of control or number of employees overseen by one individual is greater than in other design models and very few rules exist.

2. Functional structures quite simply group occupational classes together. For instance, all HR professionals work together while all accountants have their own department. Operations exist in their own world while payroll acts independently of the other groups. This model encourages technical expertise and reduces duplication of activities.

3. Divisional structure is a design model that group specific business groups together. Perhaps those in the same industry (e.g. oil & gas) form one group while construction makes up another, separate business unit. This is typical in large companies that serve more than one industry and/or that have grown dramatically through merger and acquisitions.

4. Team structures assign specific work “teams” which are comprised of employees for different functional groups, to complete work tasks/projects in the manner they feel is best. Employee empowerment is the key and while freedom exist with little direct oversight, each team is completely responsible for the work of their group is assigned.

5. Project structures assemble teams of employees with specific skill sets and assets to work from project to project. The teams form and disband as work requires and this type of structure usually eliminates the bureaucracies of large organizations, specifically slow decision making processes. When one project is completed, employees move on to the next project, never returning to formal departments.

6. Boundaryless organizations have no limitations from horizontal, vertical or external boundaries. Walls are broken down and little actual structure exists between external customers, internal departments or functional groups and even vertical organizational levels of management. Work specialization is minimized thereby reducing departmentalization allowing creativity and most importantly employee empowerment.

7. Organizational designs today should support employees in doing their work flexibly but also effectively and efficient. Balancing these two items is at the heart of many touch decisions of managers in today’s organizations. The question should be which design model would best compliment your organization and be competitive by efficient work and cost savings while maintaining the best employees and talent possible, which can mean flexible work schedules.

8. Connecting employees in this new age of technology is crucial to maintain qualified resources. Gone are the days of all hours worked must be at the office and under the boss’s nose. Today, thanks to advances in the web and virtual programs, employees can be just as effective from home on the couch or in another state while visiting family.

9. Learning organizations know how to shake and roll. They are jumpers and earth shakers, experts at adapting to changes in the business environment and market fluctuations. Employees continuously evolve with advancements in technology and industry best practices continuously improving their ability to make decisions that keep the companies competitive advantage over the competition.

10. Most every company in today’s day and age are itching to go global. How does that affect organizational design? Well, greatly. While some models will work anywhere, cultural differences are at the heart of whether the organizational design you choose for your organization’s internationals locations will fail or succeed. Authority is valued differently in different areas of the world and freedom, acceptance, even colors make a difference. Did you know the color pink is unacceptable to men in China and could dramatically affect your marketing campaign? A CEO located in the United States certainly would more than likely be unaware of the offense of that color; however a project structured team, handling the business in China would have made that catch, altered the marketing strategy and perhaps saved the company thousands.



The Video Lounge



The above video clip does a great job in laying out several of the different options for organizational design. Functional, Product, Customer, Geographical and Matrix designs are all discussed in details and the speaker even gives on pro and one con per design choice.



My Take

Organizational design is still a paramount concept in business today. In fact, a company cannot exist except to be organized in one of the above mentioned ways. Selecting the right design model and recognizing when the organization has outgrown the one you choose first are critical to your success as a manager. Study them carefully and research competitors in your industry but do not be afraid to lead the way.


References

CliffsNotes.com. What is organizational design? 20 Jul 2010.

Coulter, Mary and Stephen P. Robbins. Management. 10th. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson, 2009.
http://owl.English.Purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

McNamara, Carter MBA, PhD (1995). Guidelines for Organizational Design. Retrieved from http://managementhelp.org/org_thry/design.htm

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Contact Info: To contact the author of “Top Ten Management on Organizational Design,” please email Dustin Lane Dier at Dustin.Dier@selu.edu or Dustin.Dier@yahoo.com.

BIOGRAPHY

David C. Wyld (dwyld.kwu@gmail.com) is the Robert Maurin Professor of Management at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana. He is a management consultant, researcher/writer, and executive educator. His blog, Wyld About Business, can be viewed at http://wyld-business.blogspot.com/. He also serves as the Director of the Reverse Auction Research Center (http://reverseauctionresearch.blogspot.com/), a hub of research and news in the expanding world of competitive bidding. Dr. Wyld also maintains compilations of his student’s publications regarding management concepts (http://toptenmanagement.blogspot.com/), book reviews (http://wyld-about-books.blogspot.com/) and international foods (http://wyld-about-food.blogspot.com/).

AN INVITATION TO WORK WITH US, TODAY!

If you enjoyed this publication, why not make one of your own with us! Are you a college or university student from anywhere in the world who would be interested in publishing your work in an edited online journal appropriate to your topic? Such a move can help put muscle into your resume and make a great impression on potential employers and graduate schools (and needless to say – and perhaps most importantly in the age in which we live – likely be the first thing that companies/universities view about you when “Googling” you)! If so, we can help you get that first publication for free (and more if you desire)! Visit Wyld Publishing Services (http://wyldpublishingservice.yolasite.com/) for details. We can work with you to publish your quality essays, research articles/papers, reviews, etc. – and even audio and visual media and PowerPoint presentations – given our network of edited publications and relationship with publishers around the world who want to work with you and your work. Contact us today at dwyld.kwu@gmail.com.


Read more:
Top Ten Management on Organizational Design: An Overview of Traditional and Contemporary Design Models

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Top Ten Management on Labor Unions: An Overview of Their History and Growth

Samuel Gompers in the office of the American F...Image via Wikipedia

This overview of the history and growth of labor unions was prepared by Amanda Dickson while a Business Management major in the College of Business at Southeastern Louisiana University.




Introduction


A labor union is “an organization of wage earners formed for the purpose of serving members’ interests with respect to wages and working conditions.” They have come a long way since the 18th and 19th century and continue to evolve through strict policies and new legislation.


The Idea in a Nutshell

The evolution of labor unions in America began as far back as the 1700s attributable to the dangerous and harsh conditions workers were facing. To add insult to injury, they were earning low wages and working long, grueling hours. Workers began to realize if they came together, it was easier for them to persuade their employers to answer their demands.



The Top Ten Things You Need to Know About Labor Unions


1. One of the first types of labor unions were called craft unions. These were skilled workers who specialized in a certain trade. For example, the Philadelphia shoemakers in 1792, the Boston Carpenters in 1793, and New York printers in 1794.

2. In 1827 industrial unions began to form. These were members of the same industry such as the steel industry, regardless of their individual jobs.

3. In 1886 the American Federation of Labor was formed. Samuel Gompers was the first president of the AFL. His objectives were clear and precise. Better wages, hours, and conditions were of top priority.

4. The AFL continued to grow larger in membership until the 1920s when there just were not many skilled workers left to become organized. Over three-fourths of workers in the United States that were organized, we members of the AFL.

5. The Industrial Workers of the World was formed in 1905. This organization, though its life span was brief, was the first to initiate a sit down strike and mass picketing.

6. In 1936, a group of industries not agreeing with the AFL’s structure decided to split and form the Congress of Industrial Organizations. This centered on complete industries, not individual trades, which was a good way to deal with industries involving mass production. The CIO, in a short amount of time, became as large as the AFL.

7. In the eleven years between 1933 and 1944 the modern labor movement was born. Many factors such as New Deal labor legislation, AFL and CIO competition, and World War II cause union membership to quadruple.

8. The AFL and CIO came to an agreement in 1955 and united to form one massive organization. With the exception of the National Education Association, all the major unions in the United States are affiliated with the AFL-CIO.



9. Since the 1980s labor union membership has fallen. Many factors such as the labor legislation, better employee-management relationships, and the shift from a manufacturing to a service economy.

10. One of the acts passed in the 1980s was the Plant-Closing Notification Act of 1988. This made it mandatory for employers to give employees a warning of plant closings or mass layoffs no less than sixty days in advance.


The Video Lounge

This video discusses the origin of labor unions.




My Take

I believe labor unions have made a huge impact on this country. Without them employers would have continued to determine the wages and conditions of employees, which for most was low wages and poor conditions. In today’s society I do not feel they play such a major role. I feel that they have paved the way for industries and companies to treat their employees better. Also there has legislation that regulates wages and hours so that labor unions are not needed as much. Granted there are labor unions today and they do serve their purpose.


References

Luft, Paula “Business Encyclopedia: Labor Unions” retrieved from www.answers.com/topic/labor-union



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Contact Information

To contact the author of “Top Ten Management on Labor Unions” please email Amanda Dickson and Amanda.Cook-2@selu.edu.


BIOGRAPHY

David C. Wyld (dwyld.kwu@gmail.com) is the Robert Maurin Professor of Management at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana. He is a management consultant, researcher/writer, and executive educator. His blog, Wyld About Business, can be viewed at http://wyld-business.blogspot.com/. He also maintains compilations of his student’s publications regarding management concepts (http://toptenmanagement.blogspot.com/), book reviews (http://wyld-about-books.blogspot.com/), international foods (http://wyld-about-food.blogspot.com/).

AN INVITATION TO WORK WITH US, TODAY!

If you enjoyed this publication, why not make one of your own with us! Are you a college or university student from anywhere in the world who would be interested in publishing your work in an edited online journal appropriate to your topic? Such a move can help put muscle into your resume and make a great impression on potential employers and graduate schools (and needless to say – and perhaps most importantly in the age in which we live – likely be the first thing that companies/universities view about you when “Googling” you)! If so, we can help you get that first publication for free (and more if you desire)! Visit Wyld Publishing Services (http://wyldpublishingservice.yolasite.com/) for details. We can work with you to publish your quality essays, research articles/papers, reviews, etc. – and even audio and visual media and PowerPoint presentations – given our network of edited publications and relationship with publishers around the world who want to work with you and your work. Contact us today to get your work published at dwyld.kwu@gmail.com.


Read more:
Top Ten Management on Labor Unions: an Overview of Their History and Growth

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