Implementation of Planned Objectives - Assignment Example

? Benchmarking Report Table of Contents 0 Introduction 3 2.0 Scope and Nature of the Research 3 3.0 Performance and Gaps 4 4.0 Goals and Targets 6 5.0 Recommendations 7 6.0 Conclusion 7 Reference List 8 Appendix 9 1.0 Introduction Organizations often manage their opportunities, obligations, financial risks, social and environmental risks through a process known as business sustainability (Irani, 2011). All business organizations are required to adhere to the principles of sustainable development in order to achieve environmental, economic and social sustainability (Khondker, 2004). The main objective of this research is to understand Auburn city’s strategic and sustainability objectives in comparison to Moreland and Conroe cities. In addition, it aims at identifying Auburn city’s business sustainability gaps and giving necessary recommendations for improvements. This benchmarking report outlines the methodology used to select the comparative organizations, Moreland and Conroe. Also, it provides a detailed comparison of Auburn city to both Moreland and Conroe as far as environmental, economic and social sustainability is concerned. This is followed by identification of Auburn’s business sustainability gaps and provision of action plans that are considered appropriate for the desired outcomes. The report ends in a conclusion stating the general significance of sustainable development to business organizations. 2.0 Scope and Nature of the Research The success of this research relies upon proper selection of the comparative organizations and detailed analysis of their strategic and sustainability objectives. A number of benchmarking criteria are used to achieve maximum level of comparison. These include their Cultural and Linguistic Diversities (CALD) within their operational environments (Khondker, 2004). Among the criteria are the manufacturing levels of these organizations and the methods used to develop sustainability policies in the manufacturing process. Another suitable comparative measure is the low social environment which also encompasses the development of personal and organizational knowledge and skills (Irani, 2011). Auburn, Moreland and Conroe are also worth being compared based on strategies used to maximize sustainability including waste, energy, water, training, R & D, business networking, job creation and crime reduction. These benchmarking standards are considered the most suitable for this study as they can effectively be used to analyze Auburn’s sustainability strengths and gaps (Irani, 2011). The two organizations, Moreland and Conroe prove to be the best for benchmarking against Auburn Council since they can provide the most significant initiatives to foster, implement and support business sustainability. Two matrices containing the above named benchmarking measures are used for this study as the best research tools. The first matrix is used to select the two organizations, Moreland and Conroe, on the basis of their Cultural and Linguistic Diversities (CALD), manufacturing and low social environments. This matrix helps in understanding the Auburn city’s strategic and sustainability objectives in comparison to Moreland and Conroe cities since these three organizations bear some form of similarities on the above named criteria (Khondker, 2004). The second matrix is used to classify the environmental, economic and social sustainability of the three organizations and the factors considered in this case are together with waste, energy, water, training, R & D, business networking, job creation and crime reduction. This second matrix helps in identifying Auburn city’s business sustainability gaps which are useful for giving the necessary recommendations for improvements. 3.0 Performance and Gaps Auburn is traditionally manufacturing based, culturally diverse and socially and economically disadvantaged (Payor, 2013). Critical analysis of its performance and identification of any necessary gaps relative to Moreland and Conroe helps in locating the most appropriate initiatives to implement and support sustainability development (Kilbourne, 2004). Auburn consists of more than 75% of the culturally and linguistically diverse communities, speaking in five different languages. These include Vietnamese, Chinese, Arabic, English and Turkish. In addition, the Auburn council is one of the major holders of large and home-based businesses in Australia, having more than 24,000 active ABN holders (Payor, 2013). On the other hand, this council has done little to promote social and economic environments being ranked second on SEIFA disadvantage index for Metropolitan areas. Auburn has also recorded about 8.6 % of unemployment both in Greater Sydney and Australia at large. Being a large city, Auburn has a healthy, innovative and adaptable move towards achievement of business sustainability, while at the same time taking little interest on the impact inflicted on the community at large (Kilbourne, 2004). With a population of approximately 90, 000 people, the council has to do a lot in order to manage wastes, provide energy and water to its residents. This has not been achieved fully as not all wastes are appropriately managed in the city. In addition, some sections of the population do not have electricity supply and water, both of which are very crucial factors towards realization of environmental sustainability. The city still has environmental sustainability gaps as it has to strive to ensure adequate supply of water and energy while at the same time managing the generated wastes properly (Kilbourne, 2004). In terms of economic sustainability however, a number of improvements have been made as evidenced by high levels of both retail and wholesale trade which serve to increase the rate of business networking in Auburn. Together with these, high percentages are recorded on manufacturing, transport, postal and warehousing services. Financial constraints are some of the factors that are seen to deter further economic developments in Auburn (Payor, 2013). Employment, as a factor of social sustainability, has not been properly provided by the Auburn council, hence increased levels of crime resulting from joblessness (Kilbourne, 2004). In its effort to achieve maximum environmental, economic and social sustainability, leaders of the Auburn council need to make several enforcements to be one of the most sustainable cities in the United States. This is possible through implementation of sustainability strategies used by other cities such as Moreland and Conroe which are also culturally and linguistically diverse. Both Conroe and Moreland cities are economically sustainable as they have highly trained and experienced staff who deliver quality services in the manufacturing sector. In addition, Conroe has strong business networks with Sugar Land, Houston, Sweeny, Dickinson and Magnolia (Taylor, 2013). Moreland also relates well with other businesses such as Corum in Turkey, Mansfield Victoria in Australia, Xianyang in China, among others (Mayor, 2004). Collaboration with these cities helps in boosting economic sustainability. The municipal governments of Conroe and Moreland are responsible for maintaining environmental sustainability. They achieve this by providing vital services to the city residents including water, energy and proper waste management (Taylor, 2013). To achieve maximum economic and environmental sustainability, both Moreland and Conroe have employed quite a number of workers in their business sectors and municipal council offices (Mayor, 2004). By offering job opportunities, these two cities remain on the top ranks as far as social sustainability is concerned. 4.0 Goals and Targets For Auburn Council to achieve and maintain economic, environmental and social sustainability, it has to make its management system similar to those employed by Conroe and Moreland (Irani, 2011). For instance, Auburn city’s top management should aspire to enter into business collaborations with non-threatening cities that can provide necessary and important business ideas. Again, Auburn can fully implement and foster business if it focuses on utilizing its limited finances for important activities such as acquisition of relevant information on current and future programs, both locally and internationally (Kilbourne, 2004). Auburn Council needs to build stronger bonds with industry sectors, the local council and industry associations like Moreland and Conroe. The Council’s leaders should strive to create and retain jobs so as to help reduce crime rates in the city. Consequently, it is important for Auburn city to put the needs of its members ahead of everything, and ensure continuous water and energy supply and proper waste management (Irani, 2011). 5.0 Recommendations I recommend that Auburn Council educate members of the public on the work of the police force to help reduce crime rates (Khondker, 2004). In addition, the council must ensure continuous supply of water, energy and good waste management systems so as to promote environmental efficiency (Taylor, 2013). Again, the council needs to measure and control its information inquiry and distribution process to facilitate free business interactions as this will create more jobs that will facilitate economic development (Kilbourne, 2004). By offering training opportunities to its members, Auburn Council will be able to implement and foster business process and will attract more tourists and investors to the city (Mayor, 2004). 6.0 Conclusion Implementation of planned objectives requires organizations to attend to matters of proper management. This is possible if the municipal council leaders work hard to meet their current needs while at the same time taking care of the future. For a business organization to remain sustainable and maintain its sustainability process, it has to ensure maximum levels of economic effectiveness, social equality and environmental responsibility. Reference List Irani, F. N. 2011, ‘Economic Development and Business Sustainability’, International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 1(6), pp. 216-217 Khondker, H. H. 2004, ‘Sustainability Management, Bangladesh e-Journal of Management, 1(2), pp. 1-9. Kilbourne, W. E. 2004, ‘Globalization and Development: An Expanded Macromarketing View’, Journal of Macromarketing, 24(2), pp. 122- 134. Mayor, J. A. 2004, ‘Caring Community in a Sustainable City: Moreland’, Mayor’s Speech, 6 April, p. 1-16. Payor, R. 2013, Auburn and Moreland Ranked among the Fastest-Growing Large Cities in the United States’, Management Quarterly, 2(2), pp. 142- 684. Taylor, D. 2013, ‘Management of the Conroe City’, Florida: USA. Appendix Table1: Matrix A CALD Manufacturing Low social environment Auburn Frisco X X Conroe Moreland General analysis The three cities: Auburn, Conroe and Moreland are all culturally and linguistically diverse Auburn, Conroe and Moreland are traditionally manufacturing based Auburn, Conroe and Moreland are characterized by relatively low social environments, while Frisco has high social environment. Table 2: Matrix B (Percentages below 5.0 % are considered low) Waste Energy Water Training R&D Business networking Reducing crime numbers Providing Jobs Auburn 3.6% 4.0% 3.1% 3.6% 3.4% 4.9% 3.4% 3.5% Frisco 5.8 % 4.2% 4.0% 6.2 % 6.2% 4.0% 5.0% 6.6% Conroe 5.2 % 6.3% 5.3% 7.0% 5.8% 6.75% 5.2% 5.1% Moreland 5.0% 5.1% 5.2% 5.6% 6.7% 8.0% 5.1% 4.9% General analysis Fisco, Conroe and Moreland (high), Auburn (low) Conroe and Moreland(high) Auburn and Frisco (low) Conroe and Moreland (high) Auburn and Frisco (low) Fisco, Conroe and Moreland (high) Auburn (low) Fisco, Conroe and Moreland (high) Auburn (low) Conroe and Moreland (high) Auburn and Frisco (low) Fisco, Conroe and Moreland (high) Auburn (low) Auburn and Moreland (high) Frisco and Conroe (low) Read More