Discussion: The 7 S Model WK 3

Optional Resources

Gatti, M. (2015). Exploring the challenges of measuring intangibles: The implementation of a balanced scorecard in an Italian company. International Journal of Management Cases, 17(4), 120133. Retrieved from http://www.ijmc.org/ijmc/home.html

Pollanen, R. M., & Xi, K. K. (2015). Organizational characteristics and use of balanced scorecard measures in executive compensation. International Journal of Business & Public Administration, 12(1), 6882. Retrieved from http://www.iabpad.com/journals/international-journal-of-business-and-public-administration-2/

Singh, A. (2013). A study of role of McKinsey’s 7S framework in achieving organizational excellence. Organization Development Journal, 31(3), 3950. Retrieved from http://www.odinstitute.org

As a business leader, you would likely utilize a variety of theories, models, and applications in order to create a comprehensive approach to business strategy planning. Consider the following scenario:

You are working with a department that has decided to incorporate the 7 S Model to enact change within the organization. As a business leader, you are to evaluate this model within a proposal, including potential benefits and examples of effective implementation.

To prepare for this Discussion, review the section entitled Alignment: The 7 S Model on pages 215-220 in Dyer, Godfrey, Jensen, and Bryce (2018) and consider which components of the model might be the most beneficial in executing change within an organization. You may also want to utilize the Walden Library to identify scholarly examples of implementing the 7 S Model in professional contexts.

By Day 3
Post an evaluation of the 7 S Model as a tool for planning and executing change with an organization. Your evaluation should include the following:

A description of the value of each step within the 7 S model to implementing change with the organization, including at least one supportive example
An analysis of which one or two specific component(s) of the 7 S Model could be most helpful from a change management perspective, including at least one supportive example
An explanation for which specific component(s) of the 7 S Model could be most challenging when implementing organizational change, including at least one supportive example
Be sure to support your work with a minimum of two specific APA citations from this weeks Learning Resources and at least one additional scholarly source.

Refer to the Week 4 Discussion Rubric for specific grading elements and criteria. Your Instructor will use this rubric to assess your work.

Read a selection of your colleagues postings.

By Day 5
Respond to at least two of your colleagues postings in one or more of the following ways:

Compare your initial posting with that of your colleague, including insights on the 7 S Models use for executing change within an organization.
In what ways do you agree or disagree with your colleague on the value of the 7 S Model components, and how can this enhance or expand on your understanding of strategic planning?
Provide a suggestion for an additional alternative for using the 7 S Model to execute change to better support your colleagues posting, including a rationale for your suggestion.
Please note that, for each response, you must include a minimum of one appropriately cited scholarly reference.

Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what insights you gained as a result of reading the comments your colleagues made.

Hominin Evolution

Hominin Evolution Essay

Human evolution is a dynamic field of study with a variety of challenges. Throughout my lectures you will come across many debates that concern phylogenetics (who is related to whom), Classification, Behaviors, Selective Pressures, and the Interpretation of Traits. It seems that the more fossils we find, the more complicated our history becomes. Diversity becomes variation just as variation becomes diversity and theories on adaptations become completely abandoned or redesigned. Seeing how every researcher seems to think they are right, and we only have so many fossils, it is really difficult to teach this without contrasting some opinion and therefore injecting bias into the dialog. Regardless, I tried to stick to the facts and offer different sides of most debates.

My goal with this final assignment (and final unit) is to give you an idea of the course of human evolution. There is no way to avoid discussions of particular fossil species in such an endeavor, but these are incidental and not the primary takeaway. Their adaptations, however, are of great interest and help depict the trajectory of our lineage. Your final assignment is to use the fossil record to discuss our current understanding of human evolution. I have provided a tentative outline below. While I would like you to hit each point in your paper, you do not need to follow the outline exactly (you can mix up the progression of points). Please use your own words! I spent a long time writing out the notes for each lecture and would rather not have them written back to me. Your paper should be in the ballpark of 1500-2000 words. Its okay to go over 2000 words but not under 1500.

Adaptive vs. Phylogenetic perspectives
Complications of applying a phylogenetic outline
Adaptive radiations instead of phylogenetic trees

Hominin divergence
How we define Hominins
Bipedal morphology (what traits determine a biped and why)
First Bipeds

Plio-Pleistocene
Changing environment leads to new pressures
Environment and the Australopithecus apadtations
Early Australopithecus (fossil species)
The 2.5 million year Australopithecus divergence (robust and gracile forms and adaptive strategies)

The Genus Homo
Separating late Australopithecines and Early Homo
Why so smart? Thoughts behind brain development and encephalization increase.
The role of stone tools (including the thoughts on Australopithecine tool use)

Homo erectus and beyond
The many features of Homo erectus
Technology, endurance, and exploration (how the advanced morphology benefited the species)
Post-erectus grade hominins or, heidelbergensis (how small populations paved the way for a final split)
Neanderthals vs. sapiens (the differences in morphology and culture)
Why us?

Management Communication Journal and Improvement Plan

Compare and contrast your personal communication style and methods with the criteria that you develop during the quarter. It is expected that you identify a number of areas for improvement based on your comparison. Accordingly, develop and share your improvement plans that will help to enhance your individual communication style and methods within an organizational setting. It is important to devise highly feasible, transparent, and detailed improvement plans.

Communication
Style of delivery (Verbal and written)
    I need to work on my bluntness when speaking and writing.
    Take the time to explain instead of demand.
Listening
    Listening vs hearing
    Keeping an open mind to other opinions. 
    Do not interrupt when others are speaking
Emotional control
    When frustrated, I tend to get emotional (Self-awareness)
    Controlling verbal aggressiveness.

The connection of beauty and corruption in the book The Picture of Dorian Grey

Please view the images for all of the instructions!

Write an essay on the connection of beauty and corruption in the book the picture of dorian grey. Begin with one analytical topic sentence. The body paragraph will contain three specific examples, each enhanced with text evidence (quotation). Work your quotations directly into your sentences using        parenthetical citations (see handout for examples). With each example use effective transitions (bold them)      and sub-topic sentences that refer directly back to your topic sentence. Complete the paragraph with a clincher      statement/sentence.