Implementing Group Values in the Workplace

Group values are an important part of group cohesion and work performance. Rules, regulations, discipline and rewards only go so far in motivating people to put forward higher levels of effort. Group values acts as an underlining stream of consciousness that connects employees perceptions to particular outcomes.

In any particular situation people seek to have advantages and avoid punishments. They generally follow the rules and try and do a descent job so they can earn more pay. These rules and rewards must continually be reinforced to be effective and therefore have minimal utility in the long run.

Group values are more flexible, but the general themes apply to all members who share adherence to that group. People have a death fear of rejection and criticism. Where a rule can be thwarted, a social rule is almost always followed.

This makes group values a long-term approach to management that leads to better outcomes than rules and rewards alone. They develop organically and can take on a meaning of their own but end up motivate committed workers and lessen disciplinary issues by others.

-Allows stories to develop that have meaning to members. Stories create culture and when individuals and activities are memorialized in stories it prompts people how to think and act.

-Develop shared sense of responsibility by allowing group decisions and group disciplinary processes.

-Ensure that people understand the activities and actions of the organization in a way that helps them grow and develop.

-Encourage leadership from among the ranks to show a sense of community development and support.

Preparing for the Race-Sharp's Hospice Ragatta

August 27,2016 the Sharp's HospiceCare Ragatta will have an all day event followed by the dinner in an effort to raise money for hospice homes. For the first time, I will be in this race which means I have to get prepared and ready for one of my first serious competitive races. A few things about competitive sports that attract me.

First, there is the natural competition that comes from working in a team and trying to be the first across the finish line. This suits me as I seek to enjoy testing myself and "learning under fire". Sometimes it can be stressful but it is often beneficial to solidify knowledge.

One of the best ways to learn is actually doing things with the guidance of others. Members of the Minx Racing Team are very skilled and knowledgeable which gives me a chance to learn more from their different experiences. I spend a good portion of time listening to others.

The race also helps me give back to the community and those in need. There are people who truly suffer greatly and need help living lives that are beneficial to them and their families. Helping people have fun while raising revenue for something like HospiceCare is wonderful.

As I prepare for tomorrow I will make sure my gear is in good working order. I will want to check PFD's, clothing, shoes and any safety equipment. More importantly I want to make sure that I am prepared to meet the high demands of this race and hope to get a chance to wave to some friends on the sidelines. :)

http://www.cortezracing.com

https://give.sharp.com/regatta

Benefit Dinner
Friday, Aug. 26, 2016
6 pm
Hotel del Coronado
1500 Orange Ave.
Coronado, CA 92118


Race Day and Spectator Yacht Seating
Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016
11 am
Coronado Yacht Club/San Diego Bay
1631 Strand Way
Coronado, CA 92118

Reflection Leads to Greater Insight

Insight is a process of discovery using our intuitive senses to understand a  problem and solution in a way that wasn't possible without taking the time to reflect. Depending on how you see it one could make the argument that it is a subconscious process that connects information together to obtain a gasp of a solution in its entirety. Taking the time to reflect on life, business, and other issues leads to greater insight.

Insight can lead to new innovations and development based on fundamental human truths. Insight isn't observation, data, or methodology alone but a deep truth that springs forward from our unconscious. It is a little like walking to the grocery store, allowing your mind to go blank, and discovering fundamental motivations that can apply to all customers.

Insight doesn't come from nothing. There is a lot of work that must happen before insight occurs. While it seems like it pops out of the blue there is a lot of learning that must occur first. Scientists don't just come and make amazing discoveries without first understanding the known literature, the background, context and conversations associated.

It takes time to create insight- in some cases years. We must spend a considerable amount of time thinking and pondering a problem, researching possible solutions, and gaining a grasp of its fundamentals. Then one day a solution comes forward that is fundamental and applies to the root of a business problem, the people around us, and the customers we serve.

Pairing Sweet Moscato Wine

Moscato is a wine made with moscato grapes from Italy that give it that sweet and light bodied taste. It has made a resurgence in the past decade as a kind of candy wine.

It is very sweet with lower quality brands made of sugar soaked fruits while higher brands use less sweet and more natural mixtures.

Generally the wine is paired with sweets, fruits, and light salads. Think of chocolate cake and Moscato, strawberry's and moscato, or light salads mixed with fruits and nuts.

Some have argued you can also use it with Thai and other spicy foods. The sweetness dulls the aftertaste of spicy foods.

Although not ideal for sushi but the mix didn't seem to be right. A dull sushi and a bright wine damaged each other. Just because it is white looking doesn't mean it goes well with fish.

When your having your next birthday party or cake consider serving chilled moscato. Keep it in the ice bucket and serve quickly.

27th International Academic Conference

The International Institute of Social and Economic Sciences invites you to participate in the 27th International Academic Conference to be held on October 20-23, 2016 in Prague, Czech Republic, at the University of Economics, Prague.

Enquiries: info@iises.net
Web address:
http://iises.net/current-conferences/academic/27th-international-academic-conference-prague
Organize by: IISES

The Value of Marketing Channel Spill Over

Marketing is an essential component to business success because without marketing you don't have much of a revenue source. We sometimes erroneously assume that visitors are attracted from calculating the direct influence of each marketing channel. We don't often take into account the spillover effects of these channels together which could be much more influential than we thought.

Consider a study in the Journal of Marketing Research that shows online purchase channels often work in conversational manners and spill over influence on each other (Li & Kannan, 2014). One channel may lead to a purchase through a different channel at some later point. Simply calculating sales through each channel might not be enough without total sales.

Consider that some people see a product or service as some point in history and don't make a purchase on that day because they don't have money or time. A few weeks pass and they want to make the purchase but don't know where to look. This is where they use search engines and other channels to find the product.

If this multi-channel spill over is happening in one company it is also happening with others. In our example, the customers searching out a product they saw a few weeks ago would ultimately see similar type products while searching online that could lead to a loss of sales.

Understanding how spill over works with multiple channels helps us not evaluate channels only in isolation to determine their effectiveness. Sometimes a purchase is not made until later or the purchase is completed after multiple exposures. Evaluating channels individually and in a mix creates to points of viewing their effectiveness.

Li, H. & Kannan, P. (2014). Attributing Conversions in a Multichannel Online Marketing Environment: An Empirical Model and a Field Experiment. Journal of Marketing Research, 51 (1).

The Benefits of Lap Swimming

Lap Swimming improves your overall health by providing a unique workout that increases your cardiovasular health and muscle strength. Keeping a routine like 30 minutes 3X a week is helpful to losing weight and getting in shape.

Cardio: Keeps your blood pumping, your cardiovascular system in good health and reduces fat deposits.

Trains Your Lungs: When underwater your body adapts to use oxygen more efficiently creating benefits for your whole body.

Resistance: 12-16% more resistance when working out in the water when compared to land leading to increased muscle tone and cardiovascular benefits.

Keeping Cool: Water distributes heat and reduces the chance of overheating.

Low Impact: Almost no damage to joints and ligaments. No jumping, bumping, or repetitive impact.

Muscle Stretch and Range: As you swim different styles your muscles will stretch and create greater ranges of motion in its own form of yoga.

Reduces Stress: While exercise helps to reduce stress being in the water also dulls your senses allowing you to feel calm.

Hits all the Small Muscles: Going to the gym works all the large muscles but swimming will work all the neglected small muscles.