Army Leadership Competencies Essay

Leadership competencies are groups of related actions that the Army expects leaders to do. The three categories are leads, develops, and achieves. The Army leader serves to lead others; to develop the environment, themselves, others and the profession as a whole; and to achieve organizational goals. Core competencies are those groups of actions universal to leaders, across cohorts and throughout organizations. They provide a clear and consistent way of conveying expectations for Army leaders. Leader competencies can be developed. Leaders acquire competencies at the direct leadership level. As the leader moves to organizational and strategic level positions, the competencies provide the basis for leading through change. Leaders continuously refine and extend the ability to perform these competencies proficiently and learn to apply them to increasingly complex situations. The category of leads encompasses five competencies. The first two focus on the affiliation of the followers and the common practices for interacting with them. Leads others involves influencing Soldiers and Army Civilians in the leader’s organization. Extends influence beyond the chain of command involves influencing others when the leader does not have designated authority or while the leader’s authority is not recognized by others, such as with unified action partners. Builds trust is an important competency to establish conditions of effective influence and for creating a positive environment. Leader actions and words comprise the competencies of leads by example and communicate. Actions can speak louder than words and excellent leaders use this to serve as a role model to set the standard. Leaders communicate to convey clear understanding of what needs to be done and why. Leaders are expected to extend influence beyond the chain of command, which usually has limited formal authority. This competency widens the responsibility and sphere of influence for a leader. Such influence requires insightful, and possibly nonstandard, methods to influence others. Its limited authority stems from the audience’s possible lack of the traditions, customs, and regulations of the Army and military forces. When extending influence, Army leaders have to assess who they need to influence and determine how best to establish their authority and execute leadership functions. Often they have little time to assess the situation beforehand and need to adapt as the interaction evolves. Extending influence is a competency that includes negotiation, consensus building and conflict resolution. Extending influence largely depends on the trust established with unified action partners and often applies to stability and defense support of civil authorities operations. Leaders operate to improve or sustain high performance in their organization. They do so by focusing on the four develops competencies. Creates a positive environment inspires an organization’s climate and culture. Prepares self encourages improvement in leading and other areas of leader responsibility. Leaders develop others to assume greater responsibility or achieve higher expertise. A leader stewards the profession to maintain professional standards and effective capabilities for the future and also they are responsible for development. They must ensure that they themselves are developing as well as developing subordinates, and sustaining a positive climate while improving the organization. Leaders encourage development and set conditions while performing missions they do this by having subordinates reflect on what happened during the event, by assessing whether units performed at or well above standard and why, in addition to having a positive mindset of improvement and l earning. Every experience is developmental. There are choices to make about developing others. Leaders choose when and how to coach, counsel and mentor others. Leaders often have the freedom to place people in the best situation to maximize their talent. Then the leader provides resources the subordinate needs to succeed, makes expectations clear, and provides positive, meaningful feedback. While leaders need to develop others, they have to set a positive climate in which individuals and the unit can improve and operate. As part of their developmental responsibilities, leaders must prepare themselves and act to promote long-term stewardship of the Army. Gets results is the single achieve competency. It relates to actions to accomplish tasks and missions on time and to standard. It is a process of providing value toward mission accomplishment. Getting results is the goal of leadership. However, leaders must remain mindful that leading people and creating positive conditions enable them to operate as successful leaders. Getting results requires the right level of delegation, empowerment and trust balanced against the mission. Adaptability to conditions and adjustments based on adversarial actions are ever important elements of success. Leadership and increased proficiency in leadership can be developed. Fundamentally, leadership develops when the individual desires to improve and invests effort, when his or her superior supports development, and when the organizational climate values learning. Learning to be a leader requires knowledge of leadership, experience using this knowledge and feedback. Formal systems such as performance evaluation reports, academic evaluation reports, and 360 degree assessments offer opportunities to learn but the individual must embrace the opportunity and internalize the information. The fastest learning occurs when there are challenging and interesting opportunities to practice leadership with meaningful and honest feedback and multiple practice opportunities. These elements contribute to self-learning, developing others and setting a climate conducive to learning. Leader development involves recruiting, accessing, developing, assigning, promoting, broadening, and retaining the best leaders, while challenging them over time with greater responsibility, authority and accountability. Military leadership is unique because the armed forces grow their own leaders from the lowest to highest levels. Army leaders assume progressively broader responsibilities across direct, organizational and strategic levels of leadership. The Army entrusts leaders to develop professionally and be ready to accept greater responsibility when called upon. Reference List United States Army. (2006). Army Leadership (Field Manual 6-22)Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office United States Army. (2012). Army leadership (Army Doctrine Reference Manual 6-22)Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office United States Army. (2007). Army Leadership (Army Regulation 600-100)Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office United States Army. (2012). Leadership Development and Assessment Course HandbookJoint Base Lewis-McChord: U.S. Government Printing Office Department of Defense. (2010). Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. (Joint Publication 1-02) Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office

Mitchem Lethbridge Ltd

A Introduction Mitch Leathering Ltd. Is an individual franchise of the parent company Mitch Office Corporation, which holds a contest every third year to award the franchise with the greatest Improvement In net Income. This year the Leathering franchise has won the contest, however the Halifax franchise, who had a net income to reflect higher net income numbers.The Mitch head office has asked us to look at the financial records and interview the Leathering management to determine if an audit is required because of suspect manipulations to the statements. We also have been required to suggest some improvements to the contest rules to the Imitate head office. The Leathering franchise is currently solely owned by Lisa McGovern and had been going through a tough year in 2010. At the end of the period they made many adjustments that had negative effects on the net income in the 2010 year and positive effects towards the net income of the 2011 year.These issues and the effects they had on net income will determine if there is a need for an audit. They will also help provide insight to determine any improvements that can be applied to the rules f the contest to ensure the future winners are indeed complying with the rules. Improvements would also help curb franchises towards the purpose of the contest, which is to be continually improving net income each year. After determine Mitch Leathering Ltd.Financial statement, we comment on some issues them may address, and Issues Commissions Expense At the end of the 2010 reporting period Mitch Leathering Limited decided to pay expected commissions of January 2011 to employees in December to help offset the poor sales year they Just had in 2010. This practice is neither acceptable by GAP ironically nor is it ethical in regards to the competition. Lisa has disregarded the revenue and expense recognition criteria by recognizing the commissions' expenses in one period when the sales that those commissions belong to will not be re cognized until they occur during January 2011.The Leathering division also appears to have favorably bolstered their expectations for January to $150,000. This estimate is far too high despite the upcoming discount sale, especially considering that the December sales were $90,000. That is a $60,000 increase in expected sales when there is not even a seasonal change. If the Leathering division wanted to give the employees a bonus for having a poor sales year when they expect a better year in the next period that is acceptable, but that was not the case.Lisa and Mitch Leathering decided to recognize commission's expenses that belonged to sales that were yet to occur in 2011. This influenced net income by decreasing the expenses in 2011 while the sales remained the same and vice-versa for the previous year. This increased net income by $9120 since actual sales were only $114,000 in January and they decreased net income by the full $12,000 2010. By over exaggerating the losses in 2010 a nd the revenue in 2011 the Leathering division destroys the credibility of their financial records.The representational faithfulness of Lettering's records will also come into question now and in future contests the Mitch Corporation puts on. Show below: $77,250 Inventory Write-down The Leathering division again appears to have ignored GAP principals when they wrote down inventory at the end of the 2010 period. According to inventory write- down information, when a write-down occurs is a Judgment of management, but how you write inventory down is not.When write-downs occur inventory needs to written down to Net Realizable Value, which is what the inventory is worth in the market now as opposed to when it was purchased. However, Jeff wrote inventory down to liquidation value which is what the inventory could be sold for immediately. This value is much lower that what it should have been written down to had the inventory value decreased since its purchase. Jeff also mentions in his no tes that he was not sure that they were going to be able to sell the abnormally high level of inventory in the following months.This is a contradicting statement considering that Lisa had mentioned in her notes that she had planned the bulk sale in late 2010 and had even began advertising in December. She also estimated sales to be $1 50,000 in January which would have exceeded the inventory account before the write-down. This exaggerated write-down affected net income by decreasing the value of the inventory when the sales occurred in the following period. This would have reduced the cost of goods sold expense while sales and revenues remained unchanged by the write-down.

A Breakdown of the Hiring Method of an Organization

A Breakdown of the Hiring Method of an Organization The recruitment procedure will start after a full evaluation of the need for the post as well as strategic plans, and the budget has been finished. The recruitment policy should consider the need for fresh ideas and approaches. It should ensure a diverse workforce by planning to employ groups that are not represented adequately in the company. This will be achieved by placing job advertisements in the minority ethnic press, the women’s press and other types of publications targeting the under-represented (Armstrong, 1999). The company will add statements in the advertisement that seek to encourage under-represented groups to apply for the advertised posts. Any new or modified position will be officially assessed and graded before advertising it so as to maintain equal wages for work of equal value After completing a post evaluation, the vacant position will be advertised. All positions will first be advertised within the company. This is essential so as to maximize equality of opportunity and offer existing staff a career growth. The vacant post will afterward be advertised externally through media such as newspaper and online. Adequate details will be provided to the applicants so as they can make an informed choice. Selection Policy Internal as well as external candidates should be evaluated in a neutral way using the selection criteria set out and the only candidate who possess the required specifications should be shortlisted. All managers will be involved in shortlisting candidates to avoid any possibility of bias, but the HR Manager will be in full control. All candidates will be questioned based on the individual specification. Once the short listing process is over, it should be handed to the HR service department. The shortlisted candidate will be contacted by emails or telephone and given information about the selection procedure including any interviews. Shortlisted candidate will be given a notice five days working days before the interview to allow them to participate fully in the selection procedure. The interview process will be carried out by at least two individuals. One individual will be the Company recruiting manager. Notes should be taken during the interview to record relevant points of the process. This will be used to refer when evaluating candidates and making decisions. Notes on a candidate recorded during the selection procedure should be submitted to the HR department. These notes will be stored for at least six months after the selection procedure. Candidates who fall short of the interview will be handled courteously and sensitively. They will be notified about the selection procedure results via telephone or a written letter. A reference check will be carried out before making an offer to the applicant. Before conducting the reference check the selection panel needs to familiarize thoroughly with the details provided by the applicant such as application, resume or work experience. Recognize areas that need verification particularly work experience. Telephone calls will be made to one or more referees provided by the candidates. Since most employers are not allowed to give information without permission, the selection committee will send signed applicant release and Disclosure consent form. The question will be noted in advance; highlighting the details that need verification or explained further. Employment checks will be conducted where the successful applicant will be required to provide proof of identity The successful candidate will also provide actual certificates of qualifications The successful candidate must complete a confidential health questionnaire to prove suitability in working for cloth making company.

Affirmative Action Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Affirmative Action - Research Proposal Example Secondly, non-minorities have perceived a reverse racism when chosen over for supposedly less qualified minorities. Thirdly, some individuals from a minority background might feel as though it is condescending to imply that they need extra help in order to succeed. Whatever problems that might exist in the system, there is no arguing that racism still does exist, and that some means are needed to counter-act this inherent disparity. Affirmative action can be a positive social program, but the program is almost necessarily imperfect. It can be continued to be adjusted and tweaked, but until it is no longer needed, there will always be controversy surrounding the issue. To first address opponents of affirmative action, the main argument states that it is merely reverse discrimination. This is more or less the â€Å"two wrongs don’t make one right† argument. To discuss it in more depth, opponents say that it is a program that, while attempting to deal with issues of inequality due to discrimination, merely discriminates against one group as opposed to another: â€Å"Affirmative action is designed to end discrimination and unfair treatment of employees/students based on color, but it in effect does the opposite. Whites who work harder and/or are more qualified can be passed over strictly because they are white† (Messerli, 2008). This, in effect, while attempting to counter-act the effects of racism and discrimination, will only create more difficulties in race relations because whites who are picked over for minorities on the basis of skin color will begrudge this decision; it seems as though affirmative action as a social progra m on its own would be unable to end racism and discrimination. Another argument states that while the issues that affirmative action attempts to deal with are at the level of society in general, i.e. the damage that a racist and discriminatory society in general has done to

The Godmother of Drug Trafficking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Godmother of Drug Trafficking - Essay Example A lady employing a violent approach to her business, Griselda Blanco caused ripples in the southern region. She also went by the name; Verucca (a tough and fearless woman) among her dug related enemies (Davies 124). It is the violent nature of her business transaction that caused the intentional deaths of more than 200 people. The deaths show that Blanco was not hesitant to ward off any person who threatened her business. She did not tolerate any unwanted competition or betrayal during her reign. Those who would betray her were punished accordingly (Davis 124). At the tender age of her life, she is alleged to have kidnapped, asked for a ransom and firing a shot the kidnapped child from the well off part of her slum dwelling. At 14, she became a prostitute but later moved to the United States where her drug trafficking business kicked off. This history documents the inappropriate background that aided her ruthless and violent nature. Bob Polombo, US DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) agent said that â€Å"I just think it was inherent to Griselda Blanco. This goes back to her life, the way she was brought up. She was just a violent person† (Brown 96). Her first dwelling while in the United States was New York. She did not last long as she was eventually indicted bur fled to Miami where her business remained rooted for a long time. Among the most vivid case of her ruthlessness, the infamous bout with her rival drug dealer stands out. She commanded her gang to head to the Dadeland Mall (the busiest area in Miami) in her villainous white Econoline van to face off with the rival. (Swartz 193). The van was actually a â€Å"war wagon† because â€Å"its sides were covered by quarter-inch steel with gun-ports cut into them† (Brown 96). More so, the violent exchange of fire occurred in broad daylight. Ingram Mac-10 machine pistols and Baretta automatic handguns were widely used in this confrontation. (Swartz 193). What followed was a massacre that puzzled the Dade county coroner. He is quoted as describing it as â€Å"Swiss Cheese†. The continuation of her reign as the most fierce drug lord was facilitated by her most trusted commander tagged â€Å"Rivas†. She entrusted Rivas with heading her group of killers known as Pisteleros. (Riano-Alcala 42). Pisteleros and the subsidiary group known a s the Motorcycle assassins were the main enforcers to the smuggling work. With this group, she would organize a network of women who were mostly widows and use them in smuggling the cocaine all over the United States. She created a lingerie so that her female traffickers would ferry her drugs without being detected (Surovell 4). By protecting her business empire, she had massive success as her operations expanded greatly in the 1970s. She received large quantities of cocaine from Colombia. She was able to rake in large amounts of money (Brown 96). She eventually became one of the richest self made millionaires as well as the most powerful in Miami and its environment. The â€Å"black widow† was the name that she was branded due to her murderous instinct towards her husbands. (Smitten 2). Her sociopathic behaviors towards her husbands put in total disregard all the achievements of the pairs. Her admirers who dared to cross her path were not spared. She would either hire profes sional contract killers to execute the murders or do it herself. The most inhumane murder was that of Trujillo. Trujillo was eventually not credited by Blanco for introducing her to the dangerous world of guns, murderers, and the drugs in the Medellin Cartel (Gugliota 8). Although he taught her all the useful tricks of drug trafficking, he was a victim of her wrath over a small business dispute (Surovell 4).

Protecting the Environment & Feeding the World Essay

Protecting the Environment & Feeding the World - Essay Example Let us discuss why privatization of water or engagement of corporations is favorable for solving environmental problems. Privatization of Water: Good or Bad Before going into the discussion regarding privatization of water, let us get a better understanding of what this term actually is. As we all know, the world is facing water shortage and environmental problems these days, which have created many problems for the poor and unprivileged people. Barlow states, â€Å"The global water crisis has become a powerful symbol of the growing inequality in our world†. Access to clean and safe water is one of the major concerns for most of the poor European people these days. Wealthy people have access to clean and pure water whereas poor people can only drink contaminated water, which is available to them from wells and local rivers. Water shortage creates many problems, such as, increase in the number of diseases, decrease in the economic and industrial progress, and increase in the nu mber of early deaths. â€Å"The shortage of water helps to perpetuate poverty, disease and early death† (Segerfeldt). However, the reality is that there is no water shortage at the global level. The problem lies with the management of available clean water. â€Å"We use a mere 8 per cent of the water available for human consumption† (Segerfeldt). Bad policies and poor management of resources are the main problems regarding the issue of water shortage. Governments of all European countries are taking proper steps to solve the problem of safe water shortage for the citizens. One of the best ways to solve environmental problems is privatization of water or greater engagement of corporations in the management of water resources. â€Å"Water privatization usually refers to the control or maintenance of water systems and water resources by private entities† (Weagly). An example of water privatization is a company working with a local municipality in order to develop a nd maintain a wastewater treatment plant, which should be able to provide clean and quality drinking water to the people. There exist two different points of view regarding privatization of water resources. Experts raise their concerns based on different facts, water availability statistics, and future forecast of water resources. Water resources have been in the control of public organizations since many decades but the fact is that those public organizations have not been able to overcome the issue of availability of safe water to the people. This is the reason why governments of some developed and poor countries have planned to prioritize the water resources in order to get good results. Supporters of water privatization believe that involvement of private water management companies in managing available water can improve the quality and cleanliness of drinking water. â€Å"Private companies might also stress that they can increase efficiency, improve quality and sustain operati ons over a long period† (Weagly). I personally believe that if public organizations are unable to make good policies regarding management of water in a proper manner, then privatization of water is a best way to deal with the problem of shortage of clean water. Privatization brings many benefits to the local people, such as, availability of clean water, increase in the

Poem Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Poem - Research Paper Example And luckily comes to an end. Just like the rest of the poem, woman in this stanza also gains some relieve for her weeping (Bogan). This stanza is powerful because it salutes and congratulates the less fortunate ones. E.g., the older wife â€Å"who has been cured of feeling unwanted† and soon is at home and becomes jubilant for this (Bogan). In general, this stanza shows that human beings live in quiet desperation where there are wrenching emotions, mental patients, and bizarre behavior have come a happy ending. This is seen in the last line of this stanza where this woman is given possible chances to meet new person and home to live in. The woman discussed in this stanza can be summarized as a being and metaphorically petrified (Bogan). In conclusion, this whole poem is made of mutual bonds that are found in modernism. This bond is found in various different types of work that was produced alongside other modernism examples. I, therefore, conclude that this poem is an ironically moving