Research an organization you would like to work for in the future. Respond to the following prompts in an essay format.Identify the organization, and describe the organization’s vision, mission, and values.Explain the purpose of strategic planning and why it is necessary.Discuss the importance of vision and leadership in the pursuit of organizational success.Compare leadership and followership.Discuss a situation when your behavior depicted that of either a charismatic, transformational, transactional, or laissez-faire leader.Discuss a situation when your behavior depicted that of one of the five follower types: alienated follower, passive follower, conformist follower, pragmatic follower, or effective follower.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Future Aspirations: Working for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
Introduction
One organization I aspire to work for in the future is the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), a global leader in environmental conservation and sustainability. WWF is dedicated to the protection of nature and the reduction of the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on Earth. Their mission resonates deeply with my personal values and aspirations to contribute positively to our planet.
Organization’s Vision, Mission, and Values
WWF’s vision is “to build a world in which people live in harmony with nature.” This vision emphasizes the interconnectedness of human and environmental health, advocating for sustainable practices that benefit both. The mission of WWF is “to conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on Earth.” This mission underscores their commitment to protecting wildlife, preserving habitats, and mitigating climate change through various conservation initiatives.
The core values of WWF include:
– Integrity: Upholding a strong moral compass in all actions.
– Respect: Valuing different perspectives and ensuring inclusivity in their conservation efforts.
– Collaboration: Working together with partners, communities, and governments to achieve shared goals.
– Courage: Taking bold actions to address environmental challenges.
These guiding principles create a robust framework for strategic planning within the organization.
The Purpose of Strategic Planning
Strategic planning is essential for organizations like WWF as it provides a roadmap for achieving long-term goals. The primary purposes of strategic planning include:
1. Direction Setting: It helps establish clear objectives and priorities, ensuring that all team members understand the organization’s goals.
2. Resource Allocation: Strategic planning allows organizations to allocate resources efficiently, focusing on initiatives that align with their mission and vision.
3. Adaptability: The process encourages flexibility and responsiveness to changing environmental conditions or emerging threats, which is critical in the rapidly evolving field of conservation.
4. Performance Measurement: It establishes benchmarks for evaluating progress, helping organizations stay on track and adjust strategies as necessary.
In essence, strategic planning is crucial for aligning efforts, maximizing impact, and ensuring organizational success.
The Importance of Vision and Leadership
Vision and leadership play vital roles in achieving organizational success. A compelling vision inspires stakeholders, fostering a sense of purpose and direction. It acts as a guiding star for decision-making and prioritization. Leadership, on the other hand, is essential for translating that vision into actionable strategies. Effective leaders cultivate a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability, motivating teams to pursue shared objectives vigorously.
Moreover, visionary leadership is particularly important in nonprofit organizations like WWF, where resource constraints often necessitate creative solutions to complex problems. Leaders who embody passion and commitment can galvanize support from diverse stakeholders, enhancing the organization’s ability to effect meaningful change.
Comparing Leadership and Followership
Leadership and followership are two sides of the same coin in organizational dynamics. While leaders set the vision and direction, followers play an equally crucial role in executing plans and achieving objectives. Effective followership involves actively supporting leaders while also providing constructive feedback and holding them accountable.
Comparison points include:
– Initiative: Leaders typically take the initiative in decision-making, while effective followers exhibit initiative by contributing ideas and solutions.
– Responsibility: Leaders are responsible for guiding the team and making strategic choices; followers are responsible for implementing those strategies effectively.
– Influence: Leaders influence followers through their vision and actions; followers can influence leaders through their engagement and feedback.
Understanding the interplay between leadership and followership is essential for fostering a collaborative organizational culture.
Personal Leadership Experience
In my recent experience as a volunteer coordinator for a local environmental initiative, I exhibited transformational leadership qualities. I motivated volunteers by sharing a compelling vision of our project’s impact on community sustainability. By encouraging open communication and fostering a sense of ownership among team members, I empowered individuals to take initiative in their roles. This experience demonstrated how effective leadership can inspire others to commit wholeheartedly to a shared cause.
Personal Followership Experience
Conversely, during my time as an intern at a marketing firm, I found myself embodying the traits of an effective follower. In team meetings, I actively listened to my supervisors’ directions and provided constructive feedback when appropriate. I took responsibility for my tasks and contributed ideas during brainstorming sessions, ensuring that my efforts aligned with the team’s objectives. This experience reinforced the importance of being an engaged follower, recognizing that my contributions were integral to the overall success of our projects.
Conclusion
Working for an organization like WWF aligns with my passion for environmental conservation and sustainability. Understanding the significance of strategic planning, vision, leadership, and followership is essential for contributing effectively to such organizations. My experiences in both leadership and followership roles have equipped me with valuable insights into the dynamics that drive organizational success. As I pursue my career aspirations, I remain committed to embodying these principles while striving to make a meaningful impact in the field of environmental conservation.
