Evaluaring Strategies Essay Example for Free

Evaluaring Strategies Essay The final results of any corporation can be measured in financial terms (profit, revenue growth, etc.) The authors of the HBR article on the use of a balanced scorecard recommend that the scorecard be used supplement these traditional financial metrics with performance measurement criteria relating to the perspectives of customers, internal business processes and learning and growth (Kaplan Norton, 1996). Since it is not possible to execute what you cannot measure, the balanced scorecard is a strategic management system that helps to measure and focus a companys strategy. The scorecard was devised to complement financial measures. It enables companies to track financial results while, at the same time, monitor progress of the mechanisms that are needed future growth. The problem with traditional management systems is that there are not able to link a companys long-term strategy with its short-term actions. So while financial measures are essential on the short-term, with the scorecard approach, they do not become the sole indicators of a company’s progress.   The scorecard introduces four new management processes that provide an avenue for the linkage between long-term strategic objectives and short-term actions. These are: Translating the vision Communicating and linking Business planning and Feedback and learning Translating the vision This process helps managers translate the organizations vision statements and strategy statements into an integrated set of objectives and measures that illustrate what drives long-term success. This process is necessary because some of the generalized statements of purpose (like â€Å"best in class†, â€Å"empowered organization†) defined by top management may not mean much in an operational sense to those tactical managers and operatives who need to carry out the mission in their day-to-day activities. Communicating and linking This process allows managers communicate their strategy upwards (to their superiors) and downwards (to their reports/subordinates) link this strategy to departmental and individual objectives. Since departments are typically evaluated by their financial performance, and individual incentives are tied to short-term financial goals, this process ensures that all levels of the organization understand the long-term strategy and aligns both departmental and individual objectives with it. Business planning Business planning is that process which ensures that business and financial plans of the organization are integrated. The prevalent occurrence of change programs in today’s organization makes it difficult for managers to integrate these initiatives with the strategic goal. However, when the scorecard approach is applied towards allocating resources and setting priorities for meeting the change initiatives, such programs can be coordinated in such a way that they line up with the overall strategic goal. Feedback and learning The authors postulate that this process gives companies the capacity for strategic learning. The scorecard enables companies to modify strategies to reflect real-time learning by evaluating strategy in the light of recent performance. By translating the vision, executives can come to such consensus as to what services and products will best stimulate growth or what customer segments to place emphasis on. The specifics of this translation will help the employees realize the vision. Applying the process of communicating and linking may result in managers understanding how business re-engineering initiatives may lead to fulfilling the goal of on-time delivery to clients. Business planning processes can include the integration of the results of budget sessions with those of strategic planning sessions and ensuring that the budget supports the strategy. Feedback and learning processes give the organization the ability to produce Chris Argyll’s concept of â€Å"double-loop learning†.   The concept suggests that cause-and-effect relationships can be identified when linkages are measured based on results from in the first 3 processes (Translating the vision, Communicating and linking, Business planning). Such relationships could result in findings such as that there are correlations between employees morale and customer satisfaction. In summary, it is important to control the short-term measures of financial performance of a company as well as longer-term parameters as learning and growth, internal business processes, and customer satisfaction for proper alignment between the overall strategy of the organization with its subsequent realization. Where such introspection is actively pursued by the organization and it results in projects like business re-engineering, marketing strategies and increased customer satisfaction, all in alignment with the organizational strategy, the end-result will cause a synergy that leads to improved financial results. REFERENCE Kaplan, R. S., Norton, D. P., (1996). Using the Balanced Scorecard as a Strategic Management System. Harvard Business Review, 74(1).

American Honda Motor Corporation :: Essays Papers

American Honda Motor Corporation Honda Corporation and U.S. Markets After investigating the U.S. market and getting positive feedback, Honda exported over 50,000 CR-Vs to the U.S. in 1997. The target markets for this sporty looking new CR-V were consumers between the ages of 23 - 34, referred to sometimes as generation X. At $20, 000 however, in comparison to its competitors who offer vehicles at a cheaper cost, one might ask the question - why such a high price tag? An article on generation X from demographics.com sums the answer to this question up nicely:  § 54 percent of Gen Xer's have established a financial plan  § 88 percent want investment advice  § 46 percent already own mutual funds  § Population size of 44 million and growing The increased use of information technology in today's economy also creates an environment that facilitates better-informed decision-making. The internet, a powerful source for information is more than readily accessible. For instance, instead of watching 30-second commercials on television, generation X can tap into the net and spend as much time as they need researching products before making a purchase. As a result, generation X is better educated than previous generations and has more disposable income. They value quality more so than ever before and basically look for products that work for them. Economic forces that will impact Honda To continue selling record breaking units Honda will have to keep in touch with the needs of its changing customer base. For instance, the fastest-growing states, metropolitan areas, cities, and countries were concentrated in the South and West, according to the Census Bureau.  § The states whose population rose the fastest between 1996 and 1997 were Nevada (4.7%), Arizona (2.7%), and Georgia and Utah (both 2,1%). Meanwhile, Las Vegas, was the most rapidly growing metropolitan area from 1990 to 1996, with a 41% population increase, followed by Laredo, TX (33%), and McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX (29%).  § The story for cities was much the same. Among those with more than 100,000 people in 1996, the fastest growing from 1990 to 1996 were Henderson, NV (88%), Phoenix, San Antonio, and Houston. Each gained more than 100,000 people during this period.  § According to projections, the U.S. population in 2050 will have risen to about 394 million mostly in part due to increasing ethnic groups. Significance of these trends In 1997, an estimated 26 million persons, or nearly 1 in every 10 residents of the United States, were foreign born, the highest level since 1930.

Buddha & religions

As we come to know it, there are five major religions in our world. For centuries, these five religions, namely Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism have dominated and influenced the world and its views in life, death, heaven, and earth. Now, the writer wishes to state on this paper the different key terms, main arguments, and assumptions of one of the most revered faiths on earth. But before anything else, perhaps we should go through an overview of the history of Buddhism and its founder. The general history of Buddhism started around 566-486 B. C.The traditionally accepted founder of Buddhism is a man named Siddhartha Gautama. Around 486 B. C. , the first Buddhist Council at Rajagaha was formed. It is where the Buddhist Canon, as it still exists today was settled and preserved through oral tradition. Through the passing of centuries, different forms of Buddhism were developed and propagated throughout distant lands. One of the important highlights of the religionâ €™s history is the founding of the Dalai Lama lineage of the Tibetan Buddhism during the 15th century (â€Å"A Timeline of Buddhist History: Major Events†).Today, Buddhism continues to thrive and according to Wikipedia, most estimates put its number of followers at around 310 million (Jones 2006) In relation to the founding of Buddhism, it is a widely accepted fact that Siddhartha Gautama is the founder of Buddhism. Born in luxury, Siddhartha was the son of a king hence making him prince. At the age of 29, Gautama left his palace to view his subjects. However, what he saw was despair that depressed him so. So one night, he escaped from his palace to live the life of a mendicant.Thus started the Buddha’s long and fruitful life and the creation of the different principles and beliefs that would guide the ideology of Buddhism and influence world history (â€Å"Gautama Siddhattha Buddha†). An event that triggered Gautama’s quest for the truth is the one t hat happened when he left the palace at the age of 13. After seeing the four sights, which namely are an old man, a man with a disease, a corpse, and an ascetic, he became convinced that suffering in this world is inescapable and even all the riches of the world cannot add up to make a man truly happy and in peace (â€Å"Gautama Siddhattha Buddha†).It is also Siddhartha’s experience that meditation alone cannot ease all the anxieties in a man’s mind. After studying with two teachers on meditation, he was not satisfied so he left. He realized that the only way to detach you from all the pain and suffering in this world is through overall tranquility. Buddha is also credited as the creator of the Four Noble Truths. The first of these noble truths is the Noble Truth of Suffering. According to this truth, life is full of suffering such as pain and grief.Even in other religions, they share a common ground; that life is full of torment. According to the Second Noble T ruth, which is the Truth of the Arising of Suffering, the agony that people experience is due to the Threefold Craving. The Threefold Craving, on the other hand, is what brings beings from birth to rebirth accompanied by lust and joy. These three craving are the sensual cravings, and the cravings for existence, and wealth and power. The Third Noble Truth, according to Buddha is the Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering.According to this truth, there is a way for suffering to stop and that is by giving up the Threefold Craving. And lastly, the Fourth Noble Truth is the Truth of the Path Leading to the Cessation of Suffering. It is in this Noble truth that the Eightfold Path is presented. This path is also known as the Middle Path because this path does not commit to the two extremes of self-mortification and sensual pleasure (â€Å"Gautama Siddhattha Buddha†). The Eightfold Path, or the Middle Path, is the principle that guides the followers of Buddhism in eliminating all suffering from his life.The Eightfold Path is divided into three sections. The first section is called Sila. Sila pertains to the wholesome physical actions. Sila also stands for morality and refraining from objectionable actions of the body and speech. Included in Sila are three of the eight parts of the Eightfold Path. The first one is the Right Speech. In this right, the person should speak in a pleasant, truthful way. The second is the Right Actions wherein the person is taught to do good actions and to avoid doing things that may hurt or harm others.The last part of this section is the Right Livelihood. In this right, the follower should always choose a means of livelihood that does not harm anyone including himself straightforwardly or not. The second section of the Eightfold Path is called Samadhi. Samadhi, according to Buddhism, is the mastery over a person’s own mind. Included in this division are another three rights of the Eightfold Path. The first of these three i s the Right Effort or Exercise. This right concerns itself to the effort of the follower in improving his self.The second in this section is the Right Mindfulness or Awareness wherein the mental ability to perceive things with clear consciousness is emphasized. And the third one on Samadhi is the Right Concentration or Meditation. It is in this right that awareness of the current reality that happens on self is realized. The absence of craving or aversion is also included in being aware to the reality in one’s life And lastly, the third section of the Eightfold Path is called the Prajna. Prajna is mainly concerned with wisdom that purifies the mind.The last two rights of the Eightfold Path is included in this section. The first of the two is the Right Understanding. This right teaches that one should reality as what it really is and not just how it appears to be. The last of the rights is the Right Thoughts. In this right, an alteration in the pattern of thinking is taught. D ifferent ways of interpreting the Eightfold Path exists. Some people believe that it is a series of progressive stages. This interpretation stresses out that the mastery of the first right will lead to the beginning of the mastery of the next right and so on.Others believe that the Eightfold Path and its rights should be developed simultaneously (â€Å"The Eightfold Path†). According still to the Buddhist faith, Samsara is the cycle of birth, suffering and agony, death, and rebirth in which humans are bounded. But once a man becomes successful in grasping the Four Noble Truths and in following the Eightfold Path and eliminates all cravings from his life, it is when he experiences Bodhi. Bodhi is the awakening or enlightenment felt by Buddhas. It is also the time when greed, hate, and delusion are eradicated.In addition to this, it is also the time in which Nirvana or â€Å"highest happiness† is attained. These are only some of the basic principles held by the Buddhist faith. The teachings and beliefs of Buddhism are too many to be mentioned in this paper. However, this paper wishes to analyze some of the beliefs of the aforementioned religion. As a world-leading faith with hundreds of millions of followers, Buddhism has influenced not only the faith of multitudes but world history as well. Aside from these, Buddhism has also played a part in the development of oriental art and architecture.One of the strengths of the Buddhist religion is that their followers are not afraid to show that they are devoted to their belief. And being devoted to their belief has its own advantages. Because these followers adhere to their principles, it becomes better for them to be guided in their everyday lives and decisions. However, being too much devoted to the faith has its own disadvantages. Some people become too dependent on the principles that it starts to interfere with their normal lives.However, we cannot comment on that issue since it is their own choice a nd therefore are responsible for their own actions. In Buddhism, there are no recognized gods but there is the Buddha or enlightened beings. In the teachings of Buddhism, it is emphasized that in able to reach true happiness, one must live a simple life. This life that they would live should be one of humility and righteousness. Only then would they achieve nirvana. In parallel with other faiths, especially in Christianity, it is also stressed out that in able to attain salvation, one must live in truthfulness and simplicity.So this is why Christians, especially the Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox Church have their own monasteries where people could live in seclusion; far from all the temptations and sins of the Earth. It might be said that most religions, particularly the five leading ones, share the same principles of the need to do good to others and live in humbleness in able to attain salvation. Others believe that the foundations of Buddhism are vague and inaccurate. And sti ll others criticize them for their unique nature.But let us all remember that even though we share different faiths and beliefs, even though we are separated by cultural and spiritual diversity, some principles are still being shared. And one of those principles is to do the right thing and to never cause harm to anyone. I, as the writer, personally adhere to the belief that we should have religious tolerance. As long as our beliefs do not interfere or cause harm to anyone, then we should free to worship and believe what we desire. And above all, respect is what is needed in a society that prejudices and criticizes what they perceive as odd.In spite of everything, we are all, in the broadest sense, humans, and therefore, equal. Works Cited â€Å"Gautama Siddhattha Buddha. † 12 Sept. 2007 . Jones, Judy, and Wilson William. â€Å"Religion†, An Incomplete Education. 3rd ed.. Ballantine Books, 2006. â€Å"The Eightfold Path. † 2000. About, Inc. , A part of. 12 Sept. 2007 . â€Å"Timeline of Buddhist History: Major Events. † 12 Sept. 2007 .

Reflection On My Views Of Feminism - 860 Words

Reflection does not come naturally to me. Full time work and school makes it a challenge to stop and reflect. However, I think it’s important to do, as it reminds me how vital it can be for growth and development in all aspects of life. Reflecting on my views of feminism consciously is a first for me, however, I now realize it’s something I’ve contemplated on a subconscious level. The first article I reviewed spoke, interestingly, from a male perspective in support of feminism for his own self establishment (Greenwald, 2016). Greenwald is supportive of feminism to develop an increased awareness - that it’s ok for men to be interested in â€Å"feminine† subjects and venues without retaliation that it’s wrong or minimizes being a man (2016). The author continues that men are hiding behind the age old idea that being a true man involves being stoic and strong physically and emotionally and that they deserve to be free of this stereotype for their own growth. Greenwald alludes to the idea that men aren’t fully evolved as individuals if they hold to that foundation of what defines a man (2016). The second website I perused was from a blog of pictures of women holding up written statements of why they are against feminism (Women Against Feminism [WAF], 2015). This site was intriguing as it was the opposite of the first article I read. Here, women shared their thoughts on why they don’t support the feminist movement and it was interesting that it was masses of women speaking, not justShow MoreRelatedAn Reflection With A Confession863 Words   |  4 PagesI start this reflection with a confession. I have thought more about feminist ideology in the last week than in my entire lifetime†¦what does feminism mean to me? It is a concept that was accompanied by many negative connotations in my mind. I had no idea there were so many types of feminism†¦just the terminology is slightly overwhelming. 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