Evidence-Based Management and Its Application - Coursework Example

Evidence Based Management and Its Application

Introduction

In the Everest simulation, every member in my team had a task of their own which finally aimed at achieving the team goals which were to arrive at camp 4. Personally, my role as the environmental scientist was to arrive at camp four and spend a day on it. This was my goal as well as that of the rest who included marathoner and the team leader. For the physician he was to remain at the stage where there was health issues involved. At the end of the simulation, my score was 69% against that of the team which is 72%. The general experience is one memorable lifetime event. This paper will then assess the problems associated with the simulation about the leadership and planning and social responsibility in the organizations

Leadership and Planning

Description of the Issue

There is no profound way for a leader to achieve a certain goal if it is not through proper planning (Phipps, 2016). The leader was tasked with ensuring that every individual involved in the simulation had a purpose and a specific responsibility. Regarding this, planning was not an easy task. One had to consider several factors which included the strength and weaknesses of every individual in the team to allocate them the specific task and to set their maximum level. Another factor to consider in the simulation was the time factor which also should be realistic and manageable. This is what made us the best team that saw most number of team members arrive at camp four above all others and also the team that had the least number of injured individuals as well as health issues. The leader was also responsible for explaining to every person what is expected of them at every stage. Besides working with other members of the team, the team leader was very crucial to the achievement of the team.

Management Research Evidence

The leader had to perform several diagnostics before finalizing the plan and presenting it to the members. According to Mankin (2015), an effective plan in every organization despite the task involved should be based on a profound diagnosis of the factors involved. By factors, I consider time, resources and the individual related factors. Important to note here is that the decision involved in the whole process is the determiner of motivation to the team members (Ghoshal, 2005). The management team responsible in planning in the corporate sector has a task to ensure the employees are placed in their right place of work based on their capabilities. It is also a requirement for successful managers to spend considerable time in assessing the situation at hand to make the best decision. The effort of these individuals is also a necessity where they are expected to make deliberate efforts through practice, gathering of evidence and finally reflecting on the issue before making any judgment (Denise & Sharon, 2007).

Effective managers must possess knowledge based on substantial evidence and critical thinking to make the best decision. Managers have a challenge in motivating the employees or demotivating them based on the decisions they make (Meyer, 2004). Besides just being in the management team, these individuals are expected to be knowledgeable above others. They should be the best. The effect of this on the employees is ensuring they view them as their leaders and taking their decisions serious. Effective planners will always make decisions that will be acceptable to everyone. Another challenge regarding knowledge is science behind it. This is important in ensuring the given decisions are based on real facts by not mere theory. In the case cited by Denise and Sharon (2007), it has been found and stated that the success of IBM lies in the hands of the managers who are must embrace the workability of the given concept and overcome hurdles.

Application of the Evidence to the problem/issue

In summary to the discussion above, it is shown that our leaders should be knowledgeable, well equipped with facts and considerate regarding the issues at hand that will help the team achieve the goals of the team. In our simulation, our leader made sure that everyone had their facts right in whatever was expected of them. While doing this, the leader before setting out on the mission had printed leaflets to everyone on their roles. In addition to the roles, these individuals demonstrated their profound knowledge of the mission by including the necessary facts important in the mission. Such included the time allocation, dress code and the requirements of every step or camp. When questioned on the source of their information, the leader explained everything based on research from the previous successful climbers and the information obtained from the climbing guide.

During the mission, these characteristics were applicable in almost all camps or stages. For instance, after camp three, there were several health issues such as weakness, frostbite and mental acuity which our leader and physician handled effectively. Another application of their knowledge was the use of the oxygen canisters from camp three to four. These individuals demonstrated their skills on the subject through directing us on how to use them. Keeping warm was a key factor which according to the leader, they had advised us to carry many warmth clothes in response to that. Perhaps one of the considerations for the leaders of the team is to establish a way for ensuring every individual arrived at the last camp.

Ethics and Social Responsibility

Description of the Issue

No sooner had we left camp three than health complications begun. These included general weakness, critical health, frostbite and mental acuity. The mental acuity and frostbite were as a result of the cold climates and the reduction of oxygen. On the other hand, the issue of weakness resulted from three days of walking and climbing steep slopes. The body weakness and fatigue also resulted from the heavy luggage everyone had carried. To address this, the leader of the team led a 45 minutes discussion halfway between the camp 3 and 4 as we took a rest. After a long discussion and analyzing the facts such as the number of canisters we had, it was agreed that the team starts laying some people off. These included those who had severe cases of health issues, in particular, those who were weak and with frostbite. It was also agreed that I the environmental scientist, the marathoner and the leader were the last members to make it to the fourth camp while the physician and the photographer were allowed to go back to camp three. Regarding this, we lay off some of our luggage and took the oxygen canisters with us for the rest of the journey.

Management Research Evidence

The social responsibility and ethics of every individual are what governs the success of business (Carroll, 2014). In every organization, most cases are when individuals are expected to make decisions on various aspects. In most cases, the decisions are based on given factors which may not be suitable for everyone. It is completely pointless to keep on pushing for something yet one is unable. Sometimes it takes more than just a decision to perform such acts. This is what defines ethics. For instance, when an individual is not functional in business due to factors such as sickness, ethical leaders will ensure they step down until they recover and resume duty. Unethical individuals will assume their status and condition continue working and finally end up in more harm to themselves and the company.

Showing social responsibility is essential to the success of the organization (Ferrell, 2016). The act of social responsibilities stretches beyond the provision of aid to those in need. It is further defined by the act of taking responsibilities over others’ challenges for the interest of the bigger picture. For instance, performing two tasks in an organization because one is not present is a clear demonstration of social responsibility. The core aim of social responsibility is to ensure the damages and challenges of a given individual are reduced to a manageable level.

The process of ethical and social responsibilities follows the following procedure. The first step is the identification of the challenge after which considerations of the possible solutions are it temporary or permanent follows. The final stage is the action involved which is suitable to address the presented challenge. Through this procedure, the respective organization is able to restore its position and maintain a successful course.

Applications of Evidence to the Problem/Issue

In summary to the discussion above, ethical and social responsibilities are essential for the advantage of the given organization. About our simulation, there were several challenges that were identified and needed to be addressed since this was a competition and one of the key dimensions in a competition is the time factor. We first realized there was a reduction in our pace which was subject to the following reasons. People were tired from walking for over 30 hours in the last 72 hours. Also, the strength of carrying our bags had reduced, and since the climb ways became steeper, we were all tired but to some, they were completely worn out. Another factor realized was that of health issues. Though we were warned during the briefing before the mission, theory became practical. There was an issue of frostbite, weakness and mental acuity.

As a result, the team had a 45 minutes discussion to deliberate on the issues. Led by our leader, it was agreed that three people be allowed to continue with the mission while the rest two went back to camp three. Among the three was I the environmental scientist and two others to finalize the mission; marathoner and the team leader. Further, we were given two oxygen canisters each while those who were left behind remained with one each. This was to ensure we had an extra source of oxygen as we entered the critical stage. Also, the left behind group accepted to remain with our luggage which was also hindering our speed of movement. The ethical and social responsibilities were evident here through the acceptance to remain behind by the other group and allowing us to leave them our luggage. These individuals would have persisted to continue the course which would have lagged us behind. Besides considering the interest of the group to be the best, these individuals also achieved their goals which also contributed to our niche position.

Reflecting on the evidence

Indeed, there is no better way to explain the performance of an organization as well as my simulation than as explained by Rousseau and McCarthy in their article ‘Educating Managers From an Evidence-Based Perspective. Through this, article Evidence-based management has been defined as the means of making the managerial decisions based on facts and other available proof (Rousseau & McCarthy, 2007). These may include the mastery of the respective principles used, education, research, feedback, and reflection. Further, evidence-based management has several advantages which include high chances of success, clear definition of the tasks to be undertaken and certainty in whatever decisions made. Also, evidence-based management is essential in equipping the managers with numerous appropriate options regarding decision making and addressing of several challenges when available.

According to Rousseau and McCarthy, their article is based on two areas which include the features of the evidence-based management where they explain the six principles that govern evidence-based management. Among the principles which apply to the managers include accessing of new evidence and development of the decisions based on the evidence. The other area focuses on why they teach the evidence-based management. The reasons are found in their research norms, teaching environment and end users value. About their teachings, it is no doubt that I will employ this system at given point in my career. In fact, I have already begun doing so regarding my life decisions.

In their article, the features, and principles of a good manager about evidence-based management include focussing on the principles where science is clear, making explicit decisions, diagnosis, repeating the practice opportunities and obtaining the decision support. In the modern organizations, they are filled with innovations in various fields such as medicine and engineering. To proof to people that the given technology is feasible and good to use, one has to base their findings based on evidence (Rousseau & McCarthy, 2007). Also, organizations have to keep on researching on the various factors affecting them. It is improper to handle any situation without any evidence. Knowledge among managers is essential which ensures they are at the forefront in studying the dynamics in the market share. To address these issues, they have to keep on inventing new strategies and ways to maintain their position in the market. This is easily achievable by using evidence and education on the different issues.

Conclusion

In the modern corporate sector, managers are tasked with making several decisions regarding their companies. These decisions are crucial in maintaining their companies and should be made with care and precision. There exists no better way to achieve this other than evidence based management which according to Rousseau & McCarthy (2007) refers to making decisions based on evidence and knowledge of the particular subject. In the simulation model above regarding climbing the Everest, evidence based management has been used to understand and explain some of the corporate cultures and organizational control. Among the management dimensions discussed include planning which is the step by step approach towards a certain goal and ethical and social responsibilities which refers to understanding what to do and when to do it. These dimensions in organizations are crucial in ensuring the success of business as depicted from the simulation.

Reference

Carroll, A. and Buchholtz, A., 2014. Business and society: Ethics, sustainability, and stakeholder management. Nelson Education.

Chienwittayakun, J. and Mankin, D., 2015. Strategic Management Planning Process (SMPP) as an Organization Development Intervention (ODI) to Align Values, Goals and Objectives and Improve Employee Teamwork, Engagement and Performance: A Case Study of a Family-Owned Business in Thailand. ABAC ODI JOURNAL VISION. ACTION. OUTCOME., 2(1).

Denise M. Rousseau. & Sharon McCarthy, (2007), Educating managers from an evidence-based perspective. An Academy of Management article.

Ferrell, O.C. and Fraedrich, J., 2016. Business ethics: Ethical decision making & cases. Nelson Education.

Ghoshal, S. 2005. Bad management theories are destroying good management practices. Academy of Management Learning and Education. 4 (1): 75-91

McLean, B., & Elkind, P. 2003. The smartest guys in the room: The amazing rise and scandalous fall of Enron. New York: Penguin.

Meyer, J. P., Becker, T. E., & Vandenberghe, C. 2004. Employee commitment and motivation: A conceptual analysis and integrative model. Journal of Applied Psychology. 89: 991-1007

Phipps, D., 2016. The Psychology of Planning in Organizations: Research and Applications.