Management: Out of Control

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). I'm 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's 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's 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 applying for every contract position in Iraq in which she was qualified for. She was able to do this through the Internet on a daily basis. Her husband was able to obtain the names of supervisors to where she could send her resume, as well as the people she could contact for possible job placement. Angie went through eight months of calling recruiters and anyone that could possibly help her get a job. She completed the first element of management by planning the steps she needed to take. Once those steps were completed she had to wait for several months before she could begin to organize her move.

In November, Angie received a phone call from a recruiter and finally was offered a job as a Material Control Specialist on the same base as her husband. The recruiter gave her information about the job and emailed her a packet with information on how to prepare to leave the country, as well as some forms to fill out. There were questions about medications, health, and education. The forms had to be correctly and thoroughly completed; absolutely nothing could be left out. A few days later, the travel department called her with her travel arrangements. She would be flying to Houston, Texas for processing and training which would take approximately ten days.

She began the next two elements of management by organizing her responsibilities at home and showing she could lead a major project. Angie spent many hours tending to every detail. She had to visit doctors to obtain her medical records, make all her financial arrangements, and make sure her house and pets were taken care of.

Angie arrived in Houston believing she was only days from reaching her goal. There was much to be done such as: physicals, briefings, meetings and paperwork. Everything