Pick A Team - Coursework Example

An Ideal Team American Red Cross (College American Red Cross American National Red Cross, commonly known as American Red Cross (ARC) is a non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. which provides ranges of services such as emergency assistance, disaster relief, and education throughout the United States. This humanitarian organization has affiliated to International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The mission of the American Red Cross is to provide “relief to victims of disaster and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies” (About Red Cross).

This organization maintains mainly three websites named as “The red Cross Website”, “The History of The Red Cross”, and “The Clara Barton National Historic Site”. The Chairman of Board of governors is responsible for the operation of ARC in United States, and US president is the honorary chairman of the Red Cross. The most attractive feature of American Red Cross is that it offers services to beneficiaries without any discrimination on the basis of nationality, sex, race, economical class, religious beliefs, or political opinions (ICRC, 1996).

The ARC is governed by volunteers and funded by community donations. In addition, income from health and safety products and blood products also add to the operating funds of the ARC. The major characteristic feature of this organization is that it is a nationwide network having more than 650 chapters and 36 blood services divisions which are fully dedicated to people in need (Community Resources Guide). ARC has millions of volunteers who are always ready to dedicate their services to disaster relief and they are the absolute assets of the organization.

ARC’s main areas of focus include community services, communication services for military members, collection and distribution of blood products, educational programs, and international relief and welfare programs. The American Red Cross is the largest blood and blood products supplier in United States; it meets the blood product requirements of more than 3000 national hospitals. The fundamental principles of ARC are humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality (About Red Cross).

The organization gives great emphasis on the unity factor, and therefore it directs that there should not be more than one Red Cross Society in a country. Moreover, the single Red Cross Society in the country must be open to all. Humanity is the most highlighted norm of the American Red Cross. ARC also deals with several international programs from time to time. For instance, African Measles Initiative and the 2005 Pakistan/South Asia Earthquakes response are important among such initiatives.

A business manager can learn a lot from the characteristics and activities of this particular team. As discussed earlier, the inter-cooperation between team members is the most significant factor that led to rapid development of the organization. Similarly, ARC volunteers are always willing to offer their services to needy people. This is an essential feature recommendable for an effective business setting. Business managers can imitate ARC’s operational coordination which helps Red Cross Society during times of disaster relief activities.

Moreover, ARC’s leadership strategies are also perfect models for a business manager. References ‘About Red Cross’. (n.d.). American Red Cross. Retrieved from http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.d229a5f06620c6052b1ecfbf43181aa0/?vgnextoid=f5195032f953e110VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD Community Resources Guide. (n.d.). American Red Cross. Retrieved from http://www.hhredcross.org/2011_SAF_Resource_Guide%5B1%5D.pdf ‘The fundamental principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent. (1996).

ICRC Publication. Retrieved from http://www.icrc.org/eng/assets/files/other/icrc_002_0513.pdf