Overview of the organization of Wal-Mart Essay Example for Free

Overview of the organization of Wal-Mart Essay Today, one of the most common places known to everyone (Except Paris Hilton) is Wal-Mart. Last year, Wal-Mart had revenues of $191 billion and has 1,283,000 employees, as of 2002. Wal-Mart is the largest retail store in the United States, and is larger than any other retail chain in the world. Currently Wal-Mart operates over 4,150 retail facilities globally. According to the Fortune 500 index of the wealthiest and most powerful corporations in the world, Wal-Mart holds the number one spot, ranked by its total sales. The company is ranked as the second most admired company in the world by Fortune (www.fortune.com). With all these numbers, you would think they had a long drawn out plan with goals as long as their success, but when Sam Walton created Wal-Mart in 1962, he declared that three policy goals would define his business: respect for the individual, service to customers, and striving for excellence (www.walmart.com). Three very short, but successful goals, which have been working since. As I researched goals and planning, Wal-Marts goals are not the standard goals that I found. In the textbook there is information concerning characteristics of goals. Characteristics of Well-Designed Goals: 1) Written in terms of outcomes rather than actions. 2) Measurable and quantifiable. 3) Clear as to a time frame. 4) Challenging yet attainable. 5) Written down. 6) Communicated to all necessary organizational members. Management (Page 166 Para. 1) As we redirect to Wal-Marts goals, we can see that they would not be defined as well designed. Not many of the six characteristics would fit Sam Waltons goals. 1) Respect for the individual This could not be considered for outcomes rather than actions nor is it measurable and quantifiable. It contains no time frame and I hardly consider respect as a challenge. However the goals were written and have been communicated to all employees. When it comes to the respect from Wal-Mart stores many individuals feel Sam Walton has lost his sight. I researched what others had to say about the goals. Everyone says the store really got bad after Sam died, one individual explains. http://members.aol.com/walmopboy/abuse/strl.htm (Look Before You Leap) The site contains articles customers and employees have posted about the treatment they have received at various Wal-Mart stores. 2) Service to customers Once again this fits only the last two characteristics explained. It is written and has been communicated. 3) Striving for excellence This, compared to the other two fits the characteristics best. It could be considered for outcomes rather than action, and could be considered challenging. It is not measurable and quantifiable, nor clear as to a time frame. However, it is once again written down and communicated to the employees. When I researched how well these goals were communicated to the employees, I found that they are printed on the hiring paperwork. Once the paperwork is complete the employees do not see or receive the goals. Therefore, I do not feel the goals are communicated effectively among the employees and organization. In order for the goals to be achieved, I feel the employees must be aware of Sam Waltons sight. I believe the first step to achieve these goals effectively would be to instill them within the employees. They should be explained clearly and constantly. They should also be printed, in clear sight. This would help to  remind employees and show customers their attitudes. I also feel that the goals should have a clear time frame and measurable. For example: In one year, cut complaints to less than 20 per store. There should be some way to ensure the goals are being reached. By setting time frames and a measurable form the store can see how well or terrible they are doing. Resources: 1) Wal-Mart Homepage http://www.walmart.com/ [Accessed 18 July 2004] 2) Fortune http://www.fortune.com/fortune/ [Accessed 18 July 2004] 3) Wal-Mart Horror Stories Archives http://members.aol.com/walmopboy/abuse/strl.htm [Accessed 19 July 2004] 4) Robbins, Coulter (2005) Management Eighth Edition Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Custom Publishing

Decline of Indian Southwest Essay -- Native Americans History Papers

Decline of Indian Southwest Lord Acton said, â€Å"The most certain test by which we judge whether a country is really free is the amount of security enjoyed by its minorities.† In the late 1800’s the security of the minorities in the southwest was in serious jeopardy. For the Apache’s the security was promised but rarely upheld by the American government. The minimal security the Navajo enjoyed vanished by 1846. Men like Kit Carson desired but often failed to maintain the peace and security for these Indian tribes. Kit Carson’s actions and the actions of others began the deterioration of the Indian culture in the southwest. The decline of the Indian southwest was caused by the idea of Manifest Destiny, which led to Indian confinement to reservations and the decline of Native American society. The idea of Manifest Destiny led the Americans to war with Mexico. In 1846, America gained control of what is now the Southwest. With this acquisition, America inherited years of Navajo-Mexican warfare. The Mexicans became American citizens; the Natives, being Indians, did not. Therefore, Indians were punished for attacks on Mexicans but not vice-versa (Brown 14). General Stephen Watts Kearney put it this way, addressing the Mexicans: 'The Apaches and the Navajos come down and carry off your sheep and your women whenever they please. My government will correct all this. They will keep off the Indians, protect you in persons and property " (L. Bailey 2). American officials, in an attempt to halt conflict between the Indians and the new settlers, prevent expensive wars, and open up lands to white settlers, created reservations for the Indians, crowding the Indians into areas and constricting them from finding or growing food. Wi... ...hwest might still thrive today. Bibliography Bailey, Lynn. The Long Walk. Pasedena: Socio-Technical Books, 1970. Brown, Dee. Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee. Chicago: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1970. Debo, Angie. Geronimo The Man, His Time, His Place. University of Oklahoma Press, 1976. Hurtado, Albert L, ed. Major Problems in American Indian History. Lexington, Massachusetts, D.C. Heath and Company, 1994. Quaife, Milo Milton. Kit Carson’s Autobiography. University of Nebraska Press, 1935. Simmons, Mark S. â€Å"Kit and the Indiansâ€Å" University Press of Colorado, 1996. Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago, 1868. Utley, Robert M. The Indian Frontier of the American West 1846-1890. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1984. White, David. It’s Your Misfortune and None of My Own: A New History of the American West. University of Oklahoma Press, 1991. Decline of Indian Southwest Essay -- Native Americans History Papers Decline of Indian Southwest Lord Acton said, â€Å"The most certain test by which we judge whether a country is really free is the amount of security enjoyed by its minorities.† In the late 1800’s the security of the minorities in the southwest was in serious jeopardy. For the Apache’s the security was promised but rarely upheld by the American government. The minimal security the Navajo enjoyed vanished by 1846. Men like Kit Carson desired but often failed to maintain the peace and security for these Indian tribes. Kit Carson’s actions and the actions of others began the deterioration of the Indian culture in the southwest. The decline of the Indian southwest was caused by the idea of Manifest Destiny, which led to Indian confinement to reservations and the decline of Native American society. The idea of Manifest Destiny led the Americans to war with Mexico. In 1846, America gained control of what is now the Southwest. With this acquisition, America inherited years of Navajo-Mexican warfare. The Mexicans became American citizens; the Natives, being Indians, did not. Therefore, Indians were punished for attacks on Mexicans but not vice-versa (Brown 14). General Stephen Watts Kearney put it this way, addressing the Mexicans: 'The Apaches and the Navajos come down and carry off your sheep and your women whenever they please. My government will correct all this. They will keep off the Indians, protect you in persons and property " (L. Bailey 2). American officials, in an attempt to halt conflict between the Indians and the new settlers, prevent expensive wars, and open up lands to white settlers, created reservations for the Indians, crowding the Indians into areas and constricting them from finding or growing food. Wi... ...hwest might still thrive today. Bibliography Bailey, Lynn. The Long Walk. Pasedena: Socio-Technical Books, 1970. Brown, Dee. Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee. Chicago: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1970. Debo, Angie. Geronimo The Man, His Time, His Place. University of Oklahoma Press, 1976. Hurtado, Albert L, ed. Major Problems in American Indian History. Lexington, Massachusetts, D.C. Heath and Company, 1994. Quaife, Milo Milton. Kit Carson’s Autobiography. University of Nebraska Press, 1935. Simmons, Mark S. â€Å"Kit and the Indiansâ€Å" University Press of Colorado, 1996. Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago, 1868. Utley, Robert M. The Indian Frontier of the American West 1846-1890. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1984. White, David. It’s Your Misfortune and None of My Own: A New History of the American West. University of Oklahoma Press, 1991.

Color Symbolism in Great Gatsby Essay

White: related to Jordon and Daisy, usually represents purity, ironically it represents the false purity and corruption of Daisy and Jordon. White is also related to dreams and fantasy, which ties into Gatsby and Nick because to them the girls were like fairies that seemed to float around. Daisy can be related to a white flower with a golden center because as you see in the novel she appears pure on the outside, but is corrupted by the golden money on the inside. Blue: related to Gatsby and his dream, numerous times Gatsby’s party is described as having a romantic blue aura around them. When Gatsby is with Daisy it’s a perfect blend of blue and white that blissfully make the area feel like a dream. Blue seems to represent success in this novel too because when Gatsby starts his new life with Dan Cody the first thing he buys is â€Å"a blue coat†. However, like most good things in this novel, once the party is over or Daisy leaves Gatsby; that’s when the mysterious yellow haze takes over the blue. Red: related to Gatsby and Nick, with Gatsby it symbolizes strongly the ugliness of reality and the masquerade of success. With Nick, it illustrated the dazzling world of the rich and the enchantment of material riches. However as the novel progresses red becomes grotesque and is related to violence and death. Yellow: related to money and wealth. This is the most widely used color in the novel; it’s usually used in conjunction with a demotion of something being gold to just plain yellow. A great example of this is Gatsby’s car, before it kills Myrtle it’s a â€Å"pristine cream colored car† however, after the murder it loses its luster and become a yellow car. Green: related to Daisy and encouragement of Gatsby, beckoned Gatsby to make Nick invite Daisy over so they could meet. However, Gatsby seeking the blue and green hue disregards the yellow that creeps in and ultimately leads to his tragic downfall.

The Memoir Early Bird By Rodney Rothman Essay - 1323 Words

The memoir Early Bird, written by Rodney Rothman, is an intriguing story of Rothman’s journey into a retirement home as a middle adult. His intention in visiting and observing the retirement home is to get an inside look at what retirement is like and what he has to look forward to later in life. Throughout his time spent at Century Village, Rothman experiences what it is to be retired, to live with an elderly generation, and is able to witness and record many oddities that lay in aging. His record in his memoir reveals to the public some common themes seen in the elderly generation, but it also reveals some deviations from the norm. Looking at the characters Margaret, Alan and Buddy and Abe, Jimmy, and Vance as well as the community in general, it is possible to observe some distinct characteristics that follow the expected predictions of retirement societies and other characteristics that deviate from the expected course of these communities. Margaret is the first woman of C entury Hills that Rothman comes into contact with. She happens to be the one who opens up her apartment to allow Rothman to actually come to Century Hills to visit the retirement facility. Besides having this utilitarian importance, Margaret serves to demonstrate one of the more apparent observations seen in many elderly populations across the world. This observation is that many of the human senses decrease in quality. These senses include hearing, vision, smell, taste and touch. Some of the medical