Must be original… Respond to students’ discussions. Learning Activity 1:

View Strategy and Evaluation and Control video. Identify and evaluate at least three (3) strategic risks (emphasis added) germane to the industry your previous or current organization operates that may manifest and effect its strategy.

Learning Activity 2:

The Aforementioned video outlines six (6) guidelines for proper strategy control; to wit:

1. Controls should only include the minimum amount of information,

2. Controls should only monitor meaningful activities and results,

3. Controls should be timely,

4. Mix of short-term and long-term results,

5. Controls to pin-point exceptions, and

6. Emphasize rewards for meeting or exceeding standards.

Discuss how each guideline is operationalized in your previous or current organization.

(STUDENT ONE) (LA2) 1. Controls should only include the minimum amount of information,

In my organization, there is only certain individuals that are privileged to review certain information. Information is disturbed and controlled based on security clearances.

2. Controls should only monitor meaningful activities and results,

There are certain guidelines that state what should be monitored and how extensive it should be monitored as well. These guidelines are published in our AF instructions.

3. Controls should be timely,

We have policy that states when we have to complete certain objectives. The controls ensure productivity is accomplished and sets standards across the board.

4. Mix of short-term and long-term results,

We monitor this control through our statistical analysis function. This is beneficial when identifying specific patters for strategical advantages.

5. Controls to pin-point exceptions.

In my organization, we call this Waivers. Certain exemptions are granted to qualifying members.

6. Emphasize rewards for meeting or exceeding standards.

Our rewards and recognition programs are established for those who go beyond exceeding the standard. Exceeding the standard is the established standard in my organization. Those who meet this superior directive are awarded and promoted expeditiously.

(STUDENT TWO) (LA2)1. Controls should only include the minimum amount of information.

My current organization makes sure that we are eating bite sized pieces. In our industry, it is important to start small and be strategic in regards to making decisions. For instance, the first step when working with our manufacturers and outside sales representatives are to figure out what their territory is and where they need assistance with regard to penetrating that territory. Then and only then, do we utilize our market intelligence in order to diver even deeper into their territory; agency budgets, initiatives, organization etc.

2. Controls should only monitor meaningful activities and results

We are an extension of our sales representatives that we support, so controls are monitored through call campaigns targeting whitespace territories, setting meetings, and creating opportunities that otherwise would not have occurred.

3. Controls should be timely

We measure these controls based off of industry standards. In our industry calls to meetings set are at about 1 to 3%, our company is at 8%.

4. Mix of short-term and long-term results.

The short-term goal is to penetrate every whitespace for our representatives that we support. However the long-term goal is to not only penetrate those territories, but once we have sold into them (land), we expand by selling even more of their capabilities that are included in their platform (cross sell up sell opportunities).

5. Controls to pin-point exceptions.

There are a few exceptions with the controls, such as agency need, initiative, and budget. If an agency has no need for the type of solution that we are selling than that is an exception. If an agency has a need for our solution however does not have the budget to buy the solution, that is another exception.

6. Emphasize rewards for meeting or exceeding standards.

The rewards that emphasized for meeting or exceeding standards, are obviously retaining the manufacturers business versus going to a competitor while also assisting the federal government. Secondly, we make commission on doing a good job.

(STUDENT THREE) (LA1) There are many risks that effect my past company, DM Bowman. They are a trucking company that services the east coast of the United States. One of the strategic risks that the company faces is competitive threats. There are so many trucking companies within the area and literally, on the same road as the company. With all the companies knowing that there are several within just a mile radius, it makes it difficult to recruit employees and customers alike. The threats can effective many companies and simply put them out of business. Another customer priority shifts is a risk that the company also has with purchasing. Companies have started to migrate to using companies that offer same day delivery such as UPS and FedEx. These companies have the capabilities to offer same day deliveries among other amenities within the industry. Finally, there are also some new product failures that effect the trucking industry. They have used some technology that effects the drivers from getting to one location to another. This includes GPS tracking that includes ineffective routes rather than using a map. This also includes having gas cards readily available at all locations rather than the driver having to seek out a location to gas the vehicle. While there at many additional threats that effect Bowman, these are the main risks that effect the company and some of the solutions that need to be in place to continue the success of the organization.

(STUDENT FOUR) (LA1)Technology shifts is huge a risk for the Marine Corps (Executive Finance, 2012). Technology is ever changing and it is difficult to keep Marines trained on the myriad of cyber, switching, and transmission systems. Being in communications, the Marine Corps is integrating cyber MOS (jobs) and retraining many of its communications Marines to keep up with technology changes. Cyber threats are real and this is one of the main reasons why data, switching, transmission curriculum is changing Marine Corps wide. The Marines Corps is putting a huge emphasis on cyber security.

Competition threat is another risk to the Marine Corps (Executive Finance, 2012). There are other branches that appeal to potential recruits. Locations are a huge incentive. The main forces of the Marine Corps are stationed in Okinawa, East Coast, and West Coast. Other branches offer locations throughout the globe. The Marine Corps does not get a huge portion of the defense budget therefore, reenlistment bonuses are a lot lower than other branches. This is one of the main reasons why Marines get out or switch branches.

Although Brand Erosion is not a current risk of the Marine Corps, it can pose a future risk. The Marine Corps is full of history however, similar to other branches there are Marines that erode the reputation to the Marine Corps and essentially this does have an affect on the Marine Corps Brand.

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HISTORY

1. Read my lecture notes above, the “Fall of Saigon” reading, and “The War That Will Not End” article and answer the following question. Is the U.S. responsible for what happened in South Vietnam following the 1973 peace agreement? Whether you agree or not, please support your reasoning based on what I posted, the Fall of Saigon reading, and anything else you wish to include. If using outside sources, please make sure you cite the information.

2. Read the three articles on the “Returning Vet,” “The Vietnam Veterans Memorial,” and “Vietnam Veterans of America.” What do you think of the messages in all three articles? The message seems to be that the Vietnam War was somehow different from all other U.S. wars. Based on what we’ve learned in class during the term, do you agree or disagree with this assessment? If so, why?

(STUDENT FIVE) (QUESTION 1) I entirely agree with the message that the Vietnam War was dissimilar from most or even all further U.S. wars. The Vietnam era was a rough time for both our soldiers and the citizens of the United States. Through the class work and several different readings over the last two months, the United States stood dealing with public matters, a one sided military, the never ending war in Vietnam, and the last but most important thing to me was not having the right support you needed for even being involved in a war. No matter what the United States had going on state side, they should have had their upmost support for our men over in Vietnam during the war. At a war where our men had no choice but to fight in the war, the draft was probably the worst thing that could have happened to them. That’s the best thing now is that we do t have to draft to have men to fight our war we have them volunteer. To me it just shows they actually want to be there and that they have their heart in it. World War Two was a bout alongside good and evil, with many men and women volunteering to fight the Japanese and Germans. The United States was attacked at Pearl Harbor, however never attacked by the North Vietnamese state side. There was no real sense of perseverance to stand up a military to go and battle the Vietnamese on their own soil. We had no issue being over there what so ever and the political side definitely destroyed us during the war.

The media and social gap was a key source of the problems that the veterans had to deal with when they came home after their duty of the war. The television and radio networks recounted the damaging events during the war such as the My Lai massacre which made the view of the war very bad for the citizens of the United States. Since most of the troops were drafted and not volunteered, they came home to an unfriendly culture that they had no idea what was happening when they were gone. They were considered as outsiders and were unable to hold down jobs and careers, education, and fairness. The Vietnam War was overall just a bad war to be a part of. Not only did it damage our troops during combat over in Vietnam but when they came home it made it even worse everyone looked at them as the bad guys of the United States.

(STUDENT SIX) (QUESTION 2) The Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam had a couple of basic elements. It provided for the end of fighting in Vietnam and the withdrawal of American forces. It was signed at the International Conference Center in Paris on 27 January 1973. The American soldiers could finally return to their sweet home.

When I read these articles I felt as though I had been struck by lightning. The Young American soldiers went to Vietnam and fought the communists. There was a bad reception by the public and an unstable government attitude toward the Vietnam War. After the Vietnam veterans returned they did not have any motivation to accomplish anything. The war also upset America’s economic and emphasized other problems like racism and poverty.

The war developed the people’s verbal and physical expressions. Media journalists and cameramen went to the front lines during the Vietnam War. They interacted with the soldiers day and night. Their report, pictures defined what war is helped us to understand war, what injustices are, and about the human race and culture.

The antiwar movement developed among civilians and students at beginning but toward the end the Vietnam Veterans started to participate in the movements. The antiwar movement for the returning soldiers is more about the battle to regain their original nature to regain their dignity and become human beings.