Systematization Infiltration No - ‘Wonder Blunder’

In my initial Blog Post, I defined systematization as “the debilitating condition resulting from bureaucratic systems of operation that tend to impede and place limitations upon an individual and/or an organization’s ability to excel beyond the constraints of scarcity and surpass their highest expectations.” I further stated that “at some point throughout one’s career journey, they will likely encounter systematization.”  The effects of systematization have found its way into the University of Hawaii through a scam that has caused them embarrassment and the loss of over half a million dollars including the cost of cover-ups and investigations. Government officials required the university to publically reveal details related to what the media has termed, the “Stevie ‘Wonder Blunder’ Concert.” 

Infiltration and collusion between university employees and others posing as the business manager for Stevland Morris is no “wonder blunder.”  No duplicitous catchy title, with overtones that could lead reads to believe that Stevie Wonder or his management team could possibly be involved in such a fiasco, should be used to headline such vile transgressions.  As pointed out in the article, university officials did not exercise due diligence in checking the background of those impersonating Mr. Morris’ agents.  It is incomprehensible that a blatant conspiracy could be trivialized as a blunder, in other words mistake.  Any university clerk, secretary, or administrator could have easily contacted anyone at any of Mr. Morris’ establishments to confirm the name of his business manager.  It should be standard practice for any business professional to corroborate an event before disbursing funds.

Mr. Morris is blessed to have astute managers such as Brett Steinberg and Rob Light, representatives of Creative Artists Agency (CAA), as gatekeepers of his business affairs.  Exactly how they became aware of the unauthorized concert was not disclosed.  However, they prevented Stevie Wonder fans from experiencing the pain of showing up for a fiasco that would have left everyone wondering how our hero could disappoint his lifelong fans. 

Principled Negotiations - Freedom from Arbitrary Systematization

Although I was unable to make timely inquiry and receive a response from Simon Cowell, the industry professional whom I would most like to interview relative to the topics detailed in the Full Sail University, Negotiating and Deal Making (NDM) course textbook, Getting to Yes…; I was able to gain valuable answers to most of my proposed questions. My first question, “Please elaborate on some of the primary ground rules that you establish in conducting negotiations and discuss how these rules assist in producing mutually beneficial agreements,” was practically addressed by Jake, host of The Voluntary Life.  In his podcast Jake references our course textbook, Getting to Yes and suggests some of the following very fundamental ground rules for conducting win-win negotiations:

1.     Write everything down.

a.     Organize a trusted system for keeping track of all correspondence pertaining to each negotiation project in one place, i.e., create folders or tags.

b.     Send an email after each discussion summarizing pertinent details of the negotiations and soliciting participatory communications and confirmation.

c.     Act as secretary to the negotiation process.

2.       Be explicit about standard terms from the onset of negotiations.

a.     When and how you expect to be paid.

b.     State how you want to conduct business succinctly.

c.     Stipulate how modifications will be handled.

3.     Limit Indemnity.

Following these primary rules will serve as pillars of freedom from subsequent confusion and disputes and will facilitate reaching agreements that result in achieving mutual pursuits of happiness between parties.

Associate Professor in the School of Communication Culture and Technology at George Town University, J P Singh, addresses my second question, “How do you effectively keep the negotiations focused on the issues rather than the positions of the people involved in the negotiations?” In The University of Oxford Podcast giving incite into JP Singh’s book, Negotiation and the Global Information Economy, Professor Singh stresses the importance of a diffusion of power and diplomacy as effective tools in adjusting positions so that mutual gains will result. Interestingly, Singh accounts for social interactions in changing positions and develops a philosophy of how and when interests are changed based on expanding social perceptions through interactions. He also focuses attention on negotiations being based on problem solving as mush as on strategy. Singh’s theories will help in my entertainment business by assisting me to remain confident and steadfast in my status relative to conducting negotiations with powerful negotiators.

The IDN Podcast with International Dispute Negotiation host Michael Mcllwrath, and mediation mogul, William Ury, Co-author of our course textbook, Getting to Yes… with William Fisher, superbly answers my third question, “Will you please give an example of a situation wherein you used objective third party criteria to reach a just agreement?” Absolutely intriguing mediation strategies by Ury provide compelling support for Mediation as an evolving attractive third party response to resolving conflicts based on fundamental ground rules that results in settlements by the “ballot rather than the bullet.” Ury identifies the basic principle of listening as one of the standard tools of negotiation necessary to the process of getting to the substantive interests of creating win-win constructive resolution and resolving negotiation impasse. The attention given by the host and Ury, to a situation wherein the larger community, those who surround the parties, became the objective third party criterion used to obtain fair resolutions is impressive.  It focused my attention on the importance of garnering community support from family communities, as well as, from online social communities while building the SunVine enterprise.

References

The Voluntary Life. Entrepreneurship Part 7: Negotiation. Retrieved March 7, 2013, from

       http://youtu.be/jWSGF7GR0FM.

University of Oxford Podcasts. Negotiation and the Global Information Economy. Retrieved

       March 6, 2013, from http://podcasts.ox.ac.uk/negotiation-and-global-information-economy-

       audio

IDN Podcast No. 101--William Ury on Negotiating Toward a Better World (Nov. 23), Retrieved  March 6, 2013, from http://www.cpradr.org/Resources/ALLCPRArticles/tabid/265/ID/736/IDN-Podcast-No-101-William-Ury-on-Negotiating-Toward-a-Better-World-Nov-23.aspx

Systematization - A Pain in the...

“A pain in the Foot” from systematization that takes one off of their path could cause one the kind of stress that may lead to illness and disease.  Choosing to eat healthy meals will not only help one to reduce stress, it can change ones attitude regarding the situation.  As pointed out by Maxwell (1993), life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we react to it.  We may not be in control of that nail in the carpet that punctured our foot, caused an infection, and required us to take valued time from our life pursuits to nurture an injury, but we are in control of our attitude regarding the predicament.

Queen’s Cuisine Very Berry Apple Banana Smoothie with added calcium and flax is just the remedy to reduce the mental stress of daily living and reestablish positive energy.  Raspberries, Strawberries and Blueberries contain valuable antioxidants, vitamin C and calcium. Stress causes the body to use more vitamin C.  By consuming a fresh fruit smoothie that is taste tantalizing and power packed with nutrients, along with a healthy Avocado and Salmon Whole Wheat Pocket Pita you will empower your brain with the natural antidote to stress and frustration caused by daily living.      

Today I will explain how to make the smoothie:

Put one half cup of strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries, one ripe banana and one Fuji or Gala apple into a blender add two tablespoons of calcium, 1 teaspoon of flax seeds and 16 ounces of organic apple juice.  You may add a teaspoon of honey or agave nectar to sweeten.  I like to wash and freeze my fruit rather than add ice, as there is more nutritional value in using frozen fruit. Blend and Enjoy the natural healing.  You will feel the nutrients begin to immediately rejuvenate.

           Next time we will discuss a simple mind calming meal that is high in protein: 

Queen's Cuisine's special Salmon and Veggie Pocket Pita. This will be a bit more detailed. Although simple enough to put together, it is one of the favored creative leftover meals created from two of Queen’s Cuisine recipes compliments of SunVine's Organic EverySeason.

                                                    

Healthy Cures for Systematization

“Tell your Heart” 

                                                         

“I Love You" each day

Queen’s Cuisine, brought to you by SunVine, says Happy 2013 with meals that say I love you…Let me tantalize your taste buds while I take your body on a mind empowering, rejuvenating excursion guaranteed to put a smile in your heart and the Sun in your Shine with meals that delight and heal. In a DailyNews.com article, Dr. Lee Ann Weintraub encourages us to consume foods that ameliorates our health and empowers us with the nutritional value that fuels our productive and creative abilities. 

The beginning of 2013 should launch our commitment to loving ourselves and following the advice of the experts to improve our quality of life. We can accomplish this by saying to our heart each day, “Thank you for beating this day. I Am so grateful for the sound of each beat that you beat and I Love You.” Then we can focus on healthy living practices that naturally improve health and provide what columnist, Weintraub call nutrient-dense and I categorically add, illness defenders.

By adding to our diets foods such as grains, nuts, herbs and spices, and beans we arm our system with nature’s medicine supplied in the properties of these “jewels” of the food chain that shield us from disease and keep our heart healthy and strong. Queen’s Cuisine has tested several SunVine products and can attest to the fact that like Leeann states, herbs and spices will enhance flavor without added calories or harmful additives, while simultaneously contributing “beneficial nutrients and antioxidants”.  SunVine’s EverySeason contains many of the herbs and spices cited in her article and by several other industry experts, including Dr. Oz. 

In our next blog Queen’s Cuisine will post a recipe and demonstration of a meal that can help you tell your heart that we at SunVine Love you and want to help you flavor up your foods with spices that add life.

Like Stevie says, "You need to Know" SunVine's Love is True