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Hello Everyone! My name is Matthew Austin and now that I have you on the line I would like to reel you in and let you know a little bit about myself. I was born and raised in a small town called Valley located in AL. I grew up listening to stories about my stepdad’s experiences in the the military and I was hooked. I decided to join the NAVY as soon as I completed high school. I had a lot of great experiences overseas going to different ports meeting a lot of different people. In 2014, I met my fiance “Nicole” in Jacksonville, FL just before I was about to embark on my last deployment. I was able to lure her in with my Southern charm and got her to think I was quite a catch! Fast forward four years later we now have a 9 month old son, our small fry,  “August”.  I currently work full time for a pest control company and with the help of the GI bill I took the bait and decided to also pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Business Finance. In my free time I like to take my pole out on the pier alongside my father in law. Good luck everyone with the course!

And just so that you know this isn’t a catfish, I have included a real photo of myself.

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Management is the act of engaging with an organization’s human talent and its resources to accomplish desired goals and objectives. In Module 1 I really enjoyed learning about management skills and careers. In this Module we also did a challenge case study about Rodney Adkins & IBM. Rodney Adkins’s 30-year IBM career demonstrates that at the supervisory or operational management level that Adkins got into after college, he had to demonstrate and use his technical skills in the area of computing. As he advanced to the middle management level, Adkins depended less on the use of technical skills and more on his human skills in directing and motivating his subordinates. Conceptual skills became important to Adkins at his current management position. Also, he was helped by mentors who pointed out to him the skills that he needed to acquire in order to move up.

Human resource management

Operations management or production management

Strategic management

Marketing management

Financial management

Information technology management (responsible for the management information systems)

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Module 2: Organizational Ethics & Corporate Governance ...

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Module 2: Organizational Ethics & Corporate Governance ...

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Organizational ethics are the principals and standards by which businesses operate, according to Reference for Business. They are best demonstrated through acts of fairness, compassion, integrity, honor and responsibility. The reason why I added this diagram was to demonstrate the different principles that make up ethics in business. I added the image of the "mind of a manager" to show what the correct thinking and ethical principles a manager should follow.We did an assignment where we had to compare and contrast different companies corporate governance. I added this image because it shows the pyramid of the shareholders and the board. The Federal Trade Commission works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices. They also provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid scams and fraud. I added this image because the federal trade commission is a major part of many businesses today and also something that we went over in this  module.

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Module 3: Management Within a Global Organization ..

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Module 3: Management Within a Global Organization ..

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The globalization of business is a reality that confronts organizations of all sizes from different nations and cultures. In this module we studied NAFTA. That is the reason I included this image. The North American Free Trade Agreement is an agreement signed by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. The agreement came into force on January 1, 1994.I added this image as it describes the four different types of multinational corporations. We also studied this in the module.
Multinational corporations are enterprises that operate in several countries worldwide. These organizations have assets and goods or services being offered in more than one country. International corporations can range from car manufacturers to food chains that exist, a result of globalization, with consumers and profit in mind. However, these transnational companies are not spared from criticisms since they also have some negative aspects. Let’s take a look at the benefits and setbacks of multinational corporations. There are many risks involved with international management. Below this picture depicts those specific risks.
This image depicts different multinational companies that we know of here in North America, that also have operations overseas as well.

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Module 4: Planning and Decision Making ...
Every business problem seems unique, but the techniques for solving business problems don’t have to be reinvented each time you face a dilemma. Adopt a methodical approach to solving all problems so that you won’t find your business in constant crisis management. Running a business means solving problems, so tackle problems with a well thought-out plan to avoid making rash decisions. In this module we learned of the steps to take for effective problem solving in business. I have added this image because it depicts a problem solving table that is used by the manufacturer, "Toyota."

A strategic plan is a document used to communicate with the organization the organizations goals, the actions needed to achieve those goals and all of the other critical elements developed during the planning exercise. We studied strategic planning in module 4 and this picture depicts the principles that  are used in the process.
Upon studying about what makes the difference between a leader and a manager. I came upon this article about leaders and managers and it was a very interesting read. It helped me better understand what it takes to be a great manager.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamarruda/2016/11/15/9-differences-between-being-a-leader-and-a-manager/#11fba1244609
This chart shows the different decision making tools that can be used. In this module we used a SWOT analysis which was a pretty fun project.

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Module 5: Organizational Structure and Processes ...

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Module 5: Organizational Structure and Processes ...

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Organizational Culture in building success is a subject that we covered in this module. Below is an image of the principles that make up business culture.How we manage difficult situations is one of the biggest contributors to the creation of organizational culture. It’s easier to build a culture when everything is going well. But strong cultures are partially built by what we do during hard times. This pyramid depicts what it takes for success within an organizational culture.Accountability in the workplace is linked to higher performance. It’s also linked to increases in commitment to work and employee morale. Taking ownership at work is about taking initiative and doing the right thing for the business. It’s about taking responsibility for results and not assuming it’s someone else’s responsibility. It’s the opposite of passing the buck. We learn about this in this module as well.
According, to McFarland, "accountability is the obligation of an individual to report formally to his superior about the work he has done to discharge the responsibility." When authority is delegated to a subordinate, the person is accountable to the superior for performance in relation to assigned duties.

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Module 6: Managing Human Resources And Communications ...

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Module 6: Managing Human Resources And Communications ...

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Performance evaluations benefit both employee and employer. It is a time to provide feedback, recognize quality performance and set expectations for future job performance. Conduct evaluations on all employees on a regular schedule, at least annually, so employees know it is a regular part of their employment.

Employers often use tests and other selection procedures to screen applicants for hire. Some of these tests are closely focused on job-related skills and abilities, but others collect personal information for various purposes and are somewhat controversial.

Communication can also be formal or informal. ... Formal communication can flow both vertically and horizontally. Informal communication, on the other hand, involves unsanctioned informal communications between organizational members and can flow in any direction. A specific type of informal communication is the grapevine.

In the business world, we have work groups and work teams. A work team has members who work interdependently on a specific, common goal to produce an end result for their business. A work group is two or more individuals who are interdependent in their accomplishments and may or may not work in the same department. Once again, the differences are subtle, but the main thread is a team works together and shares in the outcome, while a group is more independent of each other.

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leadership style is the way a person uses power to lead other people. Research has identified a variety of leadership styles based on the number of followers. The most appropriate leadership style depends on the function of the leader, the followers and the situation.
Leaders are the heart of a business. ... Leadership skills provide the direction, while management skills provide the systems that let a company grow with success. Unless you have the luxury of hiring managers and concentrating solely on leadership, you'll still be managing. But now, you must also lead.
motivation is what energizes, maintains, and controls behavior. As such, it is clear why it plays an important role in the workplace.

Many employees have different motivations for coming to work and doing a good job, and it's up to management to get the most out of all of them.

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Power and authority are separate but related concepts. A manager in an organization has authority if he or she has the right to direct the activities of others and expect them to respond with appropriate actions to attain organizational purposes. Authority most often comes from the duties and responsibilities delegated to a position holder in a bureaucratic structure. A company president can order a product design change, for instance, or a police officer has the authority to arrest an offender of the law.Data are the facts or details from which information is derived. Individual pieces of data are rarely useful alone. For data to become information, data needs to be put into context.
Operations managers play a leading role in managing both raw materials and personnel. Oversight of inventory, purchasing and supplies is central to the job. Human resources tasks include determining needs, hiring employees, overseeing assignment of employees and planning staff development.