Management: Out of Control
Have you ever loved someone so much you would do anything, go anywhere to be with
them? That is the answer my cousin, Angie, gave the family when she announced she was
going to Iraq to work and be with her husband. According to Schermerhorn, Management
is the process of planning, organizing, leading and controlling the use of resources to
accomplish performance goals (2005, p. 19). Im going to show how Angie did not follow
through in at least one of the four key elements needed to accomplish her goal to get to
Iraq.
In April, Angie husband Stephen decided he was going to go to Iraq to work as a contract
worker in order to help achieve their financial goals and prepare for retirement. Contract
workers are paid extremely well, but often work in harms way. Angie was understandably
upset and terrified at his announcement but was forced to accept his decision. To the
family dismay, she became determined to go as well.
Firstly, I will show what Angie did correctly while pursuing her goal. Secondly, I will
show the mistakes she made which prevented her from ultimately reaching her goal on her
first attempt. Lastly, I will show what elements of management Angie needed to complete
and how missing even a small part of an element caused her to fail in reaching her goal;
and recommend the correct steps to make her second attempt successful.
Angie began working toward her goal shortly after her husband left for Iraq. She started
