Decisions in Paradise Part I Located among the many islands in the South Pacific, Kava Island is the locale

for my new position with the Mother Earth Development Corporation (MEDC). Kava is culturally diverse among the indigenous South Pacific tribes, Asian, African, French, Spanish, and Americans who populate this significant island. English, Spanish, French, and numerous indigenous languages are spoken and various religions are observed. An interesting fact is over 50% of the population is under the age of 15 (University of Phoenix, 2012). Kavas local resources, which stimulate the islands economy, are petroleum, coffee, cocoa, spices, bananas, sugar, tourism, fishing, and natural gas. Unfortunately, Kava has a high rate of disaster threats such as tidal waves/tsunami, typhoons/hurricanes, tornadoes, flood, fires, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, HIV/AIDS, petroleum spills, and high risk for avian flu. There have also been known acts of terrorism, from within and outside Kava (University of Phoenix, 2012). With the internal and external challenges Kava encounters, organizations from the national, state, and local government have stepped in, as well as community and faith based organizations and military are lending a hand to relieve and alleviate the destabilization of the island presently. With my newfound college degree and the passion for saving the world, I have chosen to work for a corporation that works in the development of sustainable living. Chris Morales founder and Chief Executive Officer of MEDCs mission, is to provide environmental, agricultural, and sustainable development to businesses, countries, and communities. The presence MEDC will have on Kava will be to help improve the local governments efforts to

merge ecology and the economy into one system. MEDC will facilitate, creating a quality of life with sustainable changes through the use of agricultural knowledge, science, and technology while meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Alex, the director of strategic planning whom I will be assisting is experienced, demanding, and influential within the sustainable business world, but the lack of organizational skills he possesses much to be desired. My first responsibility is to write out company plan, which will discuss how MEDC can have a greater presence on Kava, the companys organizational processes, human resources, and ethics. The Plan - Organizational Processes With MEDCs opportunities and possibilities here in Kava, increasing staff on a local level can increase a greater presence within the local community. Begin a search for local candidates available to assist in expanding the office and compartmentalize the different areas of focus. By hiring on a local level, creating jobs will help stimulate the economy. Establishing relationships with the local oil companies, business owners, farmers, and tourism companies will help define the needs and will contribute to MEDCs mission to support Kavas sustainable environmental and economic future strategies. Acquiring the strengths and weaknesses within each of the different sectors will implement a plan toward immediate actions and the ability to set priorities. With half the population under the age of 15, education will be a key factor in training this young generation toward the advancement of knowledge in the areas of agriculture, environmental influences, technologies, and business management. Perusing educators to come to Kava will also be a part of the plan.

Environmental obstacles will need to be addressed. At present, the information I have obtained is that the government does not have a disaster plan or disaster awareness program in place. Preparing a large-scale plan such as this will take time and will need to be organized into manageable parts. In keeping with Alexs request to write a not-too-long (University of Phoenix, 2012. p 4.) part one of this plan, one last topic needs to be addressed. It will be necessary that MEDC ethically respect the local laws, fundamental concepts, and principles (Paul & Elder, 2006) of Kava. Our involvement in this country will be founded on universal ethical principles (Paul & Elder, 2006) and MEDC will obey the laws of the land. In writing this plan, I began with brainstorming, allowing myself to flow from thought to thought, each idea stimulating other ideas (Kirby & Goodpaster, 2007. p. 130). I used subjective influences regarding my own personal values, stakeholders priorities, corporate culture of MEDC, and my own experiences (Suutari, 2001. p. 16). In understanding the mode of the companys leadership, I applied my understanding of MEDCs business model, developed my own ideas into the company strategy, identified the key points on the importance of priorities, and set out proposed strategic actions (Suutari, 2001. p. 17). In conclusion, I have taken my first turn at bat (University of Phoenix, 2012), and look forward to the mentorship I will receive from Alex and the future success of our company Mother Earth Development Corporation here in paradise. Part II In Part I of the strategic business proposal Nik has written for Alex. Training, education, designing, and implementing a disaster preparedness program, and respecting the local laws and fundamental concepts and principles of Kava will support MEDCs greater presence on Kava.

Alex is in favor of the business proposal submitted, and is asking for Niks decisionmaking techniques to identify the solutions. Nik will begin this process by defining the problem. Defining the problem in specifics and in a precise method will help in identifying the possible sources needed, which can shorten the course of action to the solution of the problem (Kirby & Goodpaster, 2007. p. 288). Next, gathering information will need to be compiled. Identifying the components can help in achieving a comprehensive solution (Kirby & Goodpaster, 2007. p. 293). The components of any problem are the persons and objectives involved in the problem as well as the goal itself (Kirby & Goodpaster, 2007. p. 293). Once the information is gathered and identified this is a good time to start selecting solutions. There are several ways Nik can approach this, taking large goals and making them into smaller goals, assessing the pros and cons of each solution, or working the solution from the bottom-up (Kirby & Goodpaster, 2007. p. 298). Nik remembers a quote she read in school; by the authors are Kirby and Goodpaster, which said We must imagine implementing the solution, while considering the solutions effects on as many variables as possible. (Kirby & Goodpaster, 2007. p. 299). In the step of framing the possible alternatives, the more options Nik creates, the greater the possibility of discovering the best alternative or alternatives. Two ways to consider how many alternatives are right; Nik collectively can exhaust the alternatives by rationally concluding everything that matters or seeing that the alternatives are unique and different. Nik is choosing to use a Grid analysis, which will help her decide between her alternatives. A grid analysis is simply listing the options as rows in a table and finding the factors considered as columns:

Factors Weight: Risk Vulnerability Mortality Economic Loss

Cost

Time

Critical

Urgency

5 5 5

5 5 5

5 5 5

5 5 5

Nik is ready to make a decision regarding her problem statement, Planning, designing and implementing disaster preparedness program by December 31, 2012 is a priority for the people of Kava and on a global level. As noted earlier, the organization and steps for the disaster preparedness program will be set forth into manageable sections. The steps will go as follows:

         

Define disaster preparedness, the elements and dimensions Identify the hazardous risk, impacts and vulnerabilities Management, Direction and Coordination Supportive Resources Life Safety and Property Protection Emergency Coping and Restoration of Key Functions Initiation of Recovery Preparedness Measures across households, businesses and communities Research Instruments and Guidance General Principles of Preparedness

Implementation of the program will entail appointing a building coordinator for occupied buildings or households, designate evacuation assembly area for neighborhoods, encourage individuals with disabilities to identify a companion to assist them in the emergency, monitor, and report any non-structural and safety hazard. Households, businesses, and communities acquire and maintain adequate emergency supplies, and require that everyone has a

copy posted of Kavas Emergency Response Guide, continually review and update emergency action plan. Presently Kava has not encountered any disasters so Nik is evaluating the decisions impact on the Disaster Preparedness Plan by the involvement of Kavas residents, businesses, and communities. Using the definitions and various elements of critical thinking Nik learned during her first week of MGT/350, she will explain how it influenced her proposed solutions. Learning good decision making is the backbone of sound management, critical thinking is a fundamental component in making good decisions, and framing the problem steps was crucial in the decisionmaking process. The ability to recognize how the components of critical thinking can be used and how they should be applied.