Iggys Bread of the World Essay Example

Iggys Bread of the World Paper April 12, 2010 Iggy’s Bread of the World c/o Igor and Ludmilla Ivanovic 130 Fawcett Street Cambridge, MA 02138-1112 Dear Mr. and Mrs. Ivanovic: I am glad to have the opportunity to work with you both on concerns regarding your company. I have read the background information about that you sent me and in regards to your COO Mr. Matthew McRae, I would like to make a few observations and recommendations. First, I would like to start with a quote from Mrs. Ivanovic from the material you sent me, â€Å"It’s not just about a business where we need to make money. I want our employees to get pleasure out of what they do. I want them involved with the company. I want them to like what they do, to be excited to come in and have initiative and be proud of what they do. † I see this as the foundation of your company and I will reference this quote occasionally. Another reference would be when a venture capitalist wanted to invest in your company, expanded the company, and said, â€Å"If you grow it to a point and go public, sell it, then you will make a lot. † Both of you did not like that idea at all. Mrs. Ivanovic stated, â€Å"I would never accept selling out because it’s everything I don’t believe in and I wouldn’t want any part of it. We will write a custom essay sample on Iggys Bread of the World specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Iggys Bread of the World specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Iggys Bread of the World specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer I would never sell Iggy’s just for money. I make point of these two areas because I want to refresh your memory a little of where you have come from. When you approached Mr. McRae to come work at Iggy’s he had previously run a leasing company, which had gone public several months earlier. Therefore, McRae just did to the leasing company what you didn’t want done with Iggy’s by the venture capitalist. A leasing company is nothing like a bakery; Mr. McRae was used to dealing with companies that were in the business to make money. For Iggy’s it wasn’t all about the money as I stated above it was as Mrs. Ivanovic put it threefold: â€Å"one part is the bread and the quality of the product; two is our work†¦the employees†¦it’s a good bakery, but it is also has to be a healthy business; and three is the community, how we deal with outside customers, how we can make a difference by not treating them like a number. † From what I read Mr. McRae did not follow any of these three parts. For him it was about hiring relatives and friends, to give everyone a fancy title and about making money. I am not sure that anyone that Mr. McRae hired had the experience for the job they had been hired for and none had a background in a bakery or a food type of business. As stated in the material I received your employees are unhappy as well because â€Å"they perceive the management team as too isolated from the operations and culture that were at the heart of the company. † All indicators show that the management team and Mr. McRae did not buy into the unique culture that is Iggy’s and the vision of Mrs. Ivanovic. Finally, I will state that both parties are responsible for the disagreements that they are having. Mr. Ivanovic hired Mr. McRae on a feeling that he would be a good fit and did not set any ground rules when it came to his input into hiring people in certain leadership positions. That being said he did give Mr. McRae warning that he wanted to have input after hiring Diane Coleman for Vice President of Sales and Marketing. So it is understandable that Mr. Ivanovic would be upset when Mr. McRae hired another manager without consulting him. These are a few of my observations, but I feel they make my point when it comes to my recommendation. My recommendation would be to accept Mr. McRae’s letter of resignation and let him go. His proposal states the real reason for the way he has been acting. It is all about making money to him and not about the people or the culture of Iggy’s. His previous actions would only get worse if he was retained. Working through a mediator or consultant is no way to run a business. Let him have his opportunity to be one of the people making millions with a start-up, it just won’t be yours. Once that is accomplished you can move ahead with getting his replacement without the stress of having him around. Mr. Ivanovic’s brother Nikola can help run the business for a short time while you work on getting Mr. McRae’s replacement. Expect some if not all of Mr. McRae’s hires to leave when he leaves. Once the new person is hired he/she can decide whether to keep or let go of the people originally hired by Mr. McRae. Next, I would then sit down with your board of directors and work out exactly what type of manager is required to run the business. It should be someone from the same type of business you are running with management and operating skills. A lot has been learned by your interactions with Mr. McRae, so list the things that he did that you liked and the things you didn’t like. Come up with a vision and mission that everyone can agree to. List the important areas that you do not want to change and what areas that can be changed. Determine how much control of the business you are willing to share or give up entirely. Have specific goals in mind; think about long-term goals and strategies. Identify strengths and weakness, so you can hire someone that complements you. Evaluate personalities to get a sense of their managerial style, interview direct reports at three previous positions to get a feel for the person you are thinking of hiring will fit-in. When it is time to hire include the board of directors in the interviews and let them have a vote in the final hiring. This will help take the emotion out of the decision making process and allow everyone buy-in. Hopefully, I have addressed your concerns and that my recommendations are helpful. I will be happy to answer any questions or elaborate on any of my observations and recommendations. Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter. Sincerely, Joe Smith

Free Essays on Conflict

Throughout one’s life, one establishes many relationships. Some are built upon, and become strong and unshakable, some are broken and left to dissolve. While some are paved slowly and with love, blossoming to become something wonderful, others are blown apart : George, a co-owner of a small coffee shop has noticed that there are fewer customers coming in to his store. He is worried about his profit, and is reluctant to change anything about the store due to the cost. Max, the other owner, is more concerned with the quality... Free Essays on Conflict Free Essays on Conflict Unit 2: Cognition, Thinking, Problem Solving A.) Apply the Working Memory and Long-Term Memory of the Information-Processing model: In the case study â€Å"Endangered Species,† the teacher, Ms. Dennison, demonstrates utilizing the working memory and long-term memory while introducing new information to her fifth-grade class. She introduces the lesson with an informational video about an endangered species and begins a discussion using the students working memory of what they had just learned from the video combined with information students already have in their long-term memories. Ms. Dennison uses elaborative rehearsal, cues the students to create mental representations, and uses symbolic representation through prepositional networks, categorizing the different species and their characteristics, to effectively transfer the new information into the students’ long-term memories. B.) Apply Meaningful Learning: A good example of a teacher using meaningful learning to aid students’ understanding of new information and concepts is shown in the case study â€Å"Endangered Species.† Ms. Dennison uses visual and mental imagery to relate the size and characteristics of a manatee from images her students already know (relating manatee to a cow). She also organizes the new material for her students on a matrix in a structured, meaningful fashion. C.) Apply the way to Encode Declarative Knowledge: Ms. Dennison, of the case study â€Å"Endangered Species,† demonstrates the way to encode declarative knowledge by using the students mental image of a cow to relate to the characteristics of a manatee, a species not encountered by the students. They use their episodic memories of observing and identifying cows, comparing and contrasting physical traits to develop and comprehend concepts about the unfamiliar species. D.) Apply strategies to help students develop and refine metacognitive skills: The critical thinking activity Mr. Man... Free Essays on Conflict Throughout one’s life, one establishes many relationships. Some are built upon, and become strong and unshakable, some are broken and left to dissolve. While some are paved slowly and with love, blossoming to become something wonderful, others are blown apart : George, a co-owner of a small coffee shop has noticed that there are fewer customers coming in to his store. He is worried about his profit, and is reluctant to change anything about the store due to the cost. Max, the other owner, is more concerned with the quality...

Biography of Diego Velazquez de Cuellar, Conquistador

Biography of Diego Velazquez de Cuellar, Conquistador Diego Velazquez de Cuellar (1464-1524) was a conquistador and Spanish colonial administrator. He is not to be confused with Diego Rodriguez de Silva y Velazquez, the Spanish painter generally referred to simply as Diego Velazquez. Diego Velazquez de Cuellar arrived in the New World on Christopher Columbus Second Voyage and soon became a very important figure in the conquest of the Caribbean, taking part in the conquests of Hispaniola and Cuba. Later, he became governor of Cuba, one of the highest-ranking figures in the Spanish Caribbean. He is best known for sending Hernan Cortes on his journey of conquest to Mexico, and his subsequent battles with Cortes to retain control of the endeavor and the treasures it produced.   Fast Facts: Diego Velzquez de Cuà ©llar Known For: Spanish conquistador and governorAlso Known As: Diego VelzquezBorn: 1465 in Cuà ©llar,  Segovia,  Crown of CastileDied: c. June 12, 1524 in Santiago de Cuba,  Cuba,  New SpainSpouse: daughter of Cristà ³bal de Cuà ©llar Early Life Diego Velazquez was born to a noble family in 1464 in the town of Cuellar, in the Spanish region of Castile. It is probable that he served as a soldier in the Christian conquest of Granada, last of the Moorish Kingdoms in Spain, from 1482 to 1492. Here he would make contacts and gain experience that would serve him well in the Caribbean. In 1493, Velazquez sailed to the New World on Christopher Columbus Second Journey. There he became one of the founders of the Spanish colonial effort, as the only Europeans left in the Caribbean on Columbus First Journey had all been murdered at the La Navidad settlement. Conquest of Hispaniola and Cuba The colonists from the Second Voyage needed land and slaves, so they set about conquering and subjugating the unfortunate native population. Diego Velazquez was an active participant in the conquests first of Hispaniola, and then Cuba. In Hispaniola, he attached himself to Bartholomew Columbus, Christophers brother, which lent him a certain prestige and helped get him established. He was already a rich man when Governor Nicolas de Ovando made him an officer in the conquest of western Hispaniola. Ovando would later make Velazquez governor of the western settlements in Hispaniola. Velazquez played a key role in the Xaragua massacre in 1503 in which hundreds of unarmed Taino natives were slaughtered. With Hispaniola pacified, Velazquez led the expedition to subjugate the neighboring island of Cuba. In 1511, Velazquez took a force of more than 300 conquistadors and invaded Cuba. His chief lieutenant was an ambitious, tough conquistador named Panfilo de Narvaez. Within a couple of years, Velazquez, Narvaez, and their men had pacified the island, enslaved all of the inhabitants, and established several settlements. By 1518, Velazquez was lieutenant governor of the Spanish holdings in the Caribbean and for all intents and purposes was the most important man in Cuba. Velazquez and Cortes Hernan Cortes arrived in the New World sometime in 1504, and eventually signed on to Velazquez conquest of Cuba. After the island was pacified, Cortes settled for a time in Baracoa, the main settlement, and had some success raising cattle and panning for gold. Velazquez and Cortes had a very complicated friendship that was constantly on-and-off. Velazquez initially favored the clever Cortes, but in 1514 Cortes agreed to represent some disgruntled settlers before Velazquez, who felt Cortes was showing a lack of respect and support. In 1515, Cortes dishonored a Castilian woman who had come to the islands. When Velazquez locked him up for failing to marry her, Cortes simply escaped and carried on as he had before. Eventually, the two men settled their differences. In 1518, Velazquez decided to send an expedition to the mainland and chose Cortes as the leader. Cortes swiftly lined up men, weapons, food, and financial backers. Velazquez himself invested in the expedition. Cortes orders were specific: he was to investigate the coastline, look for the missing Juan de Grijalva expedition, make contact with any natives, and report back to Cuba. It became increasingly apparent that Cortes was arming and provisioning for an expedition of conquest, however, and Velazquez decided to replace him. Cortes got wind of Velazquez plan and prepared to set sail immediately. He sent armed men to raid the city slaughterhouse and carry off all the meat, and bribed or coerced city officials to sign off on the necessary papers. On February 18, 1519, Cortes set sail, and by the time Velazquez reached the piers, the ships were already underway. Reasoning that Cortes could not do much damage with the limited men and weapons he had, Velazquez seems to have forgotten about Cortes. Perhaps Velazquez assumed that he could punish Cortes when he inevitably returned to Cuba. Cortes had, after all, left his lands and wife behind. Velazquez had seriously underestimated Cortes capabilities and ambition, however. The Narvaez Expedition Cortes ignored his instructions and immediately set out on an audacious conquest of the mighty Mexica (Aztec) Empire. By November 1519, Cortes and his men were in Tenochtitlan after having fought their way inland and making allies with disgruntled Aztec vassal states as they did so. In July 1519, Cortes had sent a ship back to Spain with some gold but it made a stop in Cuba, and someone saw the loot. Velazquez was informed and swiftly realized that Cortes was trying to fool him once again. Velazquez mounted a massive expedition to head for the mainland and capture or kill Cortes and return command of the enterprise to himself. He placed his old lieutenant Panfilo de Narvaez in charge. In April 1520, Narvaez landed near present-day Veracruz with more than 1,000 soldiers, nearly three times the total that Cortes had. Cortes soon realized what was going on and he marched to the coast with every man he could spare to fight Narvaez. On the night of May 28, Cortes attacked Narvaez and his men, who were dug in at the native town of Cempoala. In a short but vicious battle, Cortes defeated Narvaez. It was a coup for Cortes because most of Narvaez men (fewer than 20 had died in the fighting) joined him. Velazquez had unwittingly sent Cortes what he needed most: men, supplies, and weapons.   Legal Actions Against Cortes Word of Narvaez failure soon reached a dumbfounded Velazquez. Determined not to repeat the mistake, Velazquez never again sent soldiers after Cortes, but rather began to pursue his case through the Byzantine Spanish legal system. Cortes, in turn, counter-sued. Both sides had certain legal merit. Although Cortes had clearly overstepped the bounds of the initial contract and had unceremoniously cut Velazquez out of the spoils, he had been circumspect about legal forms once he was on the mainland, communicating directly with the king. Death In 1522, a legal committee in Spain found in favor of Cortes. Cortes was ordered to pay back Velazquez his initial investment, but Velazquez missed out on his share of the spoils (which would have been vast) and was further ordered to undergo an investigation of his own activities in Cuba. Velazquez died in 1524 before the investigation could be concluded. Legacy Diego Velzquez de Cuà ©llar, like his fellow conquistadores, had a profound impact on the trajectory of Central American society and culture. In particular, his influence made Cuba a major economic center and a location from which further conquests could be made.   Sources Diaz del Castillo, Bernal. Trans., ed. J.M. Cohen. 1576. London, Penguin Books, 1963.Levy, Buddy. Conquistador: Hernan Cortes, King Montezuma and the Last Stand of the Aztecs. New York: Bantam, 2008.Thomas, Hugh. Conquest: Montezuma, Cortes and the Fall of Old Mexico. New York: Touchstone, 1993.