Navigating the Business Communication Environment

Navigating the Business Communication Environment Reconda Armijo How does teamwork help organizations? What communication challenges does teamwork pose? How might one prepare for these challenges in a business communication course? Team work helps organizations by bringing together people’s varying strengths and talents to solve problems and make decisions (Locker Kienzler, 2013). Teamwork also allows for input from varying perspectives based on type of job or function as well as from a different cultural perspective. For example, in my office, my strengths are on an administrative side thus I am given the administrative tasks to focus on while my co-worker who is bubbly works more in creating the inviting atmosphere we want for our customers. Teamwork can also create challenges in communicating tasks and distribution of work. It requires the ability to see one another’s strengths and utilizing them. A communication course can help prepare individuals to recognize ways to effective communicate ones strengths and place them in tasks where they can utilize those strengths and at times be able to draw one out of their own self-limiting habits. In what ways is teamwork connected to other current trends in business and administrative communication that the chapter discusses? Find examples where current trends in business and administrative communication seem to converge. Teamwork offers an opportunity to maximize employee’s strengths. This is evident in customer service especially. Team members who are strong in customer service can assist those who may not be as strong to develop those skills more easily. Teamwork is also important to assist with balancing work and family. When we work together as a team, we are able to handle situations that may arise when a coworker is out and vice versa. In my office, we are all trained to handle all situations. This allows us to continue moving forward regardless of who is out. This helps our company to continue to be productive and not have to wait for a particular person to return for a task to be completed or resolved. Conduct some internet or library research on the concept of Kaizen. How does this technique help business and other types of organizations? What communication challenges and opportunities does the technique create? Kaizen is a coaching method used to transform people into better problem solvers, thinkers, and leaders. They utilize a hands-on approach to learning. They teach you how to observe processes, identify abnormalities and root causes and apply their techniques to make practical improvements (Kaizen Institute, 2014). This could present communication challenges as you try to help employees see their faults but more importantly their potential. Employees will be sensitive to being told they are doing something wrong so caution needs to be exercised by showing them more efficient use of time and skills. This also offers the opportunity to express ways of maximizing on strengths and acknowledging those strengths. Help Caleb and the group draft the memo for Doug, Some questions to consider: How will you address its multiple audiences, which include the president, VPs, and managers? What should be the primary purpose of the memo? The secondary purpose? What type of and how much information on Kaizen should be included? All-Weather, Inc. has had the privilege of experiencing Kaizen, a method of learning to improve our current methods and maximize our resources and strengths. We will be implementing a system for reducing waste, creating measureable improvements, and developing people and enhancing our customer’s delight. You are all a part of this process. Together we can transform this company and our individual lives. Training workshops will be scheduled with two of the best experts on the subject. These workshops are designed to coach, teach, mentor and guide us on a transformation journey focused on getting results and developing people to be better†¦ better problem solvers, thinkers, and leaders. The Kaizen focus is on everybody, everyday and everywhere improvement. We look forward to seeing our company and staffs develop to be better in all aspect. Chapter Five: Planning, Composing, and Revising Find the mistakes that Tanner made in his interaction with the Japanese professors. Tanner’s mistakes included the firm handshake and using terms meant only for phone conversations, improper handling of the business cards and not offering one in return, the pat on the back of Dr. Kawabata, and the choice of his gifts and insistence in opening the gift. These all show his lack of learning the cultural differences and etiquette. Understanding these differences can make a huge difference in the relationship formed. Prepare a memo for Caleb to include information regarding the aspects of Japanese culture and etiquette. As we quickly approach the Kaizen training, it important for us to take some time to understand the Japanese business culture and etiquette. In practice, Japanese business etiquette is not so different than our own. Politeness, sensitivity and good manners are the pillars of Japanese business just as they are here. However, Japanese business etiquette is more formal, almost ritualistic in some aspects. Below are a few key aspects of Japanese business etiquette: Business cards are a must have. Accept them with both hands and say â€Å"thank you†. Treat them with respect and keep them in a proper carrying case. Business attire: Men wear a dark suit, black or navy in the winter and grey for summer months, and have well groomed short hairstyles. Additionally, facial hair and shaved heads are not allowed. Do not wear a black suite, white shirt and black tie as this is considered funeral attire. Japanese men do not easily relate to women in authority so it is recommended that women wear shorter (tied back) hair, trouser suits with seasonal colors like the men. Jewelry, short skirts and high-heeled shoes are also not accepted. Business attire is not complete without business cards. Business Meetings: it is proper to confirm the appointment 1-2 hours prior to scheduled meeting as well as 1 hour advanced notice if you will be late to give the opportunity to reschedule if necessary. Arrive 10 minutes early. Be prepared and able to present in the allotted time. Wait to be seated and take lots of notes. Personal Habits: Avoid firm handshakes. Japanese seldom shake hands and this can make them uncomfortable. Never pat a Japanese man on the back/shoulder. Never make derogatory remarks about anyone. Always smile, be pleasant, willing to learn and ask questions. Do no As you can see, things that we consider a normal part of our business day can be offensive in other cultures. We need to be mindful and respectful to our valued guest. We would expect nothing less from our business partners as well. References Kaizen Institute. (2014, January 18). Lean Consulting. Retrieved from Kaizen Institute: http://us.kaizen.com/consulting/lean-consulting.html Locker, L. O., Kienzler, D. S. (2013). Business and Administrative Communication. New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Venture Japan. (2014, January 18). Japanese Business Ettiquette. Retrieved from Venture Japan: http://www.venturejapan.com/japanese-business-etiquette.htm

4th new member discussion :: essays research papers

Brothers & Sisters we are privileged to be living in the most glorious of times, A time when all the generations of mankind come together. A time just before our Savior appears for his millennial reign. Think about that for a moment. Last General Conference in April our beloved Prophet spoke on this subject and reiterated the fact that these are perilous times. We know this to be true. Dallin H. Oaks spoke on the signs of the times & our need to prepare for his 2nd coming. He told us there are 4 matters indisputable to Latter-day Saints. 1. The Savior will return to the earth in power and great glory to reign personally during the millennium. 2 At the time of his coming there will be great destruction, a destruction of the wicked and a resurrection of the righteous. 3. No one knows the time of his coming, but , 4 the faithful are taught to study the signs and to be prepared for it. He focused primarily on the 4th with our need for spiritual preparation. He began the 4th topic with Alma 34:32 â€Å"this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God†¦.the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors† and he asked â€Å"Are we preparing?† Imagine that you are living just below a large dam. One day you notice a crack in the dam. What would you do. Would you call someone to repair the crack or see what could be done to repair it? Later you see water leaking thru this crack and you realize that the dam soon will break. Would you mention casually to your family and friends that a problem exists or is developing? Or would you urgently do everything possible to warn others to escape the danger? We should have much the same concern about sharing the saving truths of the gospel with those who have not yet heard them. We know the dam is about to break but do we see or feel the urgency D&C 88:81 â€Å"It becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor.† When we accept the gospel of Jesus Christ and are baptized into his church we accept the responsibility of sharing it with others, particularly relatives and friends. Great blessings are promised the House of Israel. Some of us may not even comprehend these

Managing Information Technology Essay

Question #1: What would be your prioritized list of IT investments? Four IT investments need to be prioritized; 1. 2. 3. 4. Ecommerce & Web sales Aligning the various systems (legacy, SAP, ERP) together. Hire relationship managers Make IT a â€Å"partner† 1. After only 3 years, KL’s Web sales have reached $156M, equalizing its in store sales, and now represent 15% of total sales. This is very encouraging and exciting. KL needs to continue to invest in Ecommerce & Web sales in order to continue this great growth. Selling via the Internet should be a priority because it’s cheaper than your ordinary brick and mortar sales points, there is less overhead expense, and this market is growing exponentially. The company should work towards gaining the most market share possible developing an industry leading website, timely and dependable delivery, and customer service. Accomplishing the above means getting all the company sharing information and data more efficiently (see point #2). 2. KL has a complex IT infrastructure with various systems in use around the world. The result is a frustrated bunch of employees upset with the fact that communication data sharing is awful. To remedy this the company needs to invest more in training to get the whole company, including the USA, to use SAP as soon as possible. 3. Assign/hire relationship managers to improve information sharing, facilitate plans, priorities, communications, and relationships, and in turn get the whole system to work together. 4. To avoid such problems in the future, KL needs to make IT a â€Å"partner† in the decision making process. In other words, the company needs to better involve IT in company strategy and tactical planning. With the IT team, the company needs to develop and define an Enterprise Operating Model and Architecture that include business strategy, current IT assessment, IT strategy and IT plans. Question #2: Would your colleagues on the executive committee agree with your selection and prioritization? The above priorities should be well received because they solve or improve many of the frustrating employees around the company. This answer will look at each division (upper management, sales & marketing, order fulfillment and distribution, and ITS) and see why the four IT priorities should be well received by the executive committee. The KL upper management is on record stating that the company has IT challenges â€Å"†¦around coordinating the various, and at times conflicting, business priorities across the enterprise. We sure could use better IT tools for this as well as ready access to timely performance data.†, CEO Joseph Campbell. In addition, COO Jens McCreary stated that the company needs to improve global supply-chain management and leverage the expertise to outpace out competitors and cut our operating costs†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Considering these quotes it’s safe to assume that the CEO and COO should be accepting of these four IT priorities because will want to see IT provide better services in order to reach their goals. The products, manufacturing and distribution divisions of the company want to see SAP standardized and compatible across the company in order to better share information. Priorities #2 and 3 should please this division. Sales & marketing hope to see inter-operating unit and communications and coordination issues to be resolved and they need real-time data. Priorities #1, 2 and 3 should encourage the sales and marketing team. The order fulfillment and distribution divisions need capabilities to forecast sales and manage our product and cash flows need to be more competitive. They want to be able to deliver in a J.I.T. basis (optimize effectiveness) and have data integration between the legacy systems, SAP, Oracle, etc. These issues should improve with priorities #2 and 3 and this making these priorities acceptable to this division. Finally, the information technology services (ITS) claim that not spending enough on IT (more spent on production and sales), and Web and ecommerce should be priority. Priorities 1 to 4 all favor the ITS team, and therefore should be well received.

Jack London An Oyster Pirate - 1204 Words

Jack London was born in 1876, and died in 1916. He was born in San Francisco, California, and was the son of Flora Wellman Chaney. When he was a child, he would sometimes living with the Prentisses. Mr. and Mrs. Prentisses were African Americans who served as London’s surrogate parents. When Jack turned 15, he sailed the San Francisco Bay as an oyster pirate. During his time on the water, London developed an alcohol problem, which would eventually become alcoholism. In 1894, London was arrested as a vagrant and spent 30 days in Erie County Penitentiary. At the age of 20, London was accepted into the University of California, but due to a lack of funds, he was only able to stay for a semester. The most important event of London’s early life was when he moved to Alaska to take part in the Klondike Gold Rush. In 1900, London had his first book published, â€Å"The Son of the Wolf,† and married Bessie Mae Maddern. They had 2 children before they divorced in 1905. He then married Charmian Kittredge soon after. After doing some traveling, he settled in Hawaii and became America’s first Pacific Rim writer. By the time London died, he was the best selling author in America, published 18 books, 198 short stories, three plays and hundreds of nonfiction books and articles. (Jack London, Wikipedia) 1 Jack London’s writings reflect the social and intellectual turbulence of the turn of the 20th century. When asked why he wrote, he simply responded it was for the money. Some basic themes thatShow MoreRelatedJack London Biography1301 Words   |  6 PagesJack London : Biography         You cant wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club (BrainyQuote). This is one of Jack Londons more well known quotes. Jack London was born as John Griffith Chaney  on January 12, 1876, in San Francisco(Jack London). His mother was Flora Wellman and his father was suspected to be astrologer William H. Chaney, who denied his paternity and abandoned Londons mother(Wilson). London was suckled, or nursed, by an ex-slave named Virginia Prentiss, whoRead MoreJack Londons To Build A Fire Essay1025 Words   |  5 Pagesthough was one who portrayed himself through dozens of short stories. His name is Jack London. Jack London is a writer who shows the conflict between Nature versus Man in his writings and supports this theme through his work, â€Å"To Build a Fire.† Jack was born on January 12, 1876 and died on November 22, 1916. He is best known for his nature novels depicting how nature can sometimes be so powerful that it overcomes man. Jack was desert ed by his father when he was eleven and was mainly raised by his motherRead MoreJack London and His Call of the Wild1150 Words   |  5 Pagesof the parts of his nature that were deeper than he, going back into the womb of Time. - Jack London, The Call of the Wild, Ch. 3 (Jack London Quotes). This quote summarizes the success of Jack London’s writing career in one simple sentence. London’s success and inspiration for his naturalist style can be accredited to the way in which he was raised, and his experiences during his lifetime. Jack London, was born John Griffith Chaney on January 12, 1876 near San Francisco, California. His motherRead More The Call Of Jack London Essay example2187 Words   |  9 Pages The Call Of Jack London nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;During a time when man had gold fever, and philosophical views plagued the minds of many, one man took these views and turned them into great outdoor adventures. John â€Å"Jack† Griffith London, a twentieth century author, wrote The Call of the Wild, other novels, and short stories that depict the philosophical views of the time and added adventure to them by using his own life experiences that carried thousandsRead More The Life of Daniel Defoe Essay1476 Words   |  6 Pagessocial ideals, because of his opposition to the church and state he was jailed and imprisoned many times. Defoes writing reflected the fast growth of the English Middle class with new business opportunities in 1600-1700. Daniel Foe was born in London sometime in 1660 to an English butcher and candle merchant James Foe. He later changed his surname to Defoe, probably to return to his old foreign family name. His father was a Dissenter, a Presbyterian protestant who was not a part of the establishedRead MoreA Analysis of Jack London Novels2925 Words   |  12 PagesA literary Analysis of Jack London three most recognized works, Sea Wolf; The Call of the Wild; and White Fang. Jack London lived a full life, even though he died at the young age of forty. In his life time he experienced many things, and I believe that these experiences were the catalyst of his novels. Jack London was an oyster pirate, a government patrolman in San Francisco Bay, a sailor and an agrarian reformer, a seal hunter in the North Pacific and a gold prospector in the frozen