Interview with Kent Larson free essay sample

Energy is a leading electric and natural gas utility. Xcel Energy is an end to end provider of electricity. Electricity is provided from generation, to high voltage transmission, to distribution, to customer’s homes and businesses. Xcel Energy provides energy-related products and services to 3. 3 million electric and 1. 8 million natural gas customers. With regulated operations in eight states; Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin, revenues are more than $9 billion annually for the employer of 12,000. A commitment to the environment is vital to the core business practices of Xcel Energy. This strong environment focus has led Xcel Energy to become the number one provider of wind power in the country (Xcel Energy, 2008). Kent Larson is the Vice President of Transmission for Xcel Energy. In the organizational structure, Kent has twelve direct reports and over 2,000 employees report up through his direct reports. From those direct reports, he has six titled Directors of different aspects of substations, transmission, and design. We will write a custom essay sample on Interview with Kent Larson or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The other six direct reports are of various rotational managers, administrative assistants, and governance. Kent directly reports to Paul Bonavia, the President of the Utilities Group, who reports to Dick Kelley, the Chairman, President, and CEO of Xcel Energy (Appendix 1). A unique management style can be derived from your past experience. Different experiences managers draw from should be used to motivate employees to encourage a high level of performance and achieve organizational goals (Jones George, 2008, p 62). Kent’s vast experience has led him to lead confidently based on his long list of positions held. Kent has held various positions throughout the company. He began his career as an electric designer, before moving into the role of an Operating Engineer in St. Paul. He then became involved in cost benefit analysis as a Traveling Engineer. From there, he became the Director of Outstate Construction, Operations, and Maintenance (ND, SD, Non-Metro MN) located in Fargo, ND. He spent time as the Director of Sales in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota Regulatory, MN State Vice President, before his current position as the Vice President of Transmission. A typical day for Larson is anything but typical. With his wide area of responsibilities, he often has a dynamic day. The majority of the time he spends at meetings and communicating via email. He has to be â€Å"On your toes and ready to go† at all times (K. T. Larson, personal communication, October 15, 2008). Another pitfall of his high level position is that he has to be careful of what he says. The majority of the meetings he attends, he has to give presentations anyone from the Public Utilities Commission, Corporate Executives, Mid-Level Managers, to Union Front Line employees. He has to carefully weigh any response he gives to a question on the off chance that his response will invoke a surety. At his level, caution needs to be taken so that comfort is not given where it should not, nor is fear spread when is should not be. Preparation is vital in planning for his meetings. Many of the meetings he attends, he is a presenter. Kent makes sure to prepare himself well ahead of time for any meetings he leads. Usually, Kent defines his time commitments as 75% true management tasks and 25% other. His definition of management tasks are anything related to his job responsibilities. It could be anything from presenting at a meeting, attending a meeting, or being the recipient of a presentation. Being a corporate level manager, he deals mostly with results and not the process to achieve them. His strong focus on having strong direct reports seem to help facilitate this. The rest of his time is spent on various tasks, but mostly travel. His roles vary depending on the day and time of year, but basically he provides the direct link to the Senior Management from the Business Unit and that link from Xcel Energy to the regulatory organizations. Strategic Planning is the largest portion of Kent’s day to day function. He also relies heavily on his technical expertise as part of this planning process. The scope of his organization’s planning is vast. Kent’s strategic planning comes from anywhere from substation design, to transmission line design, while keeping corporate values and regulatory concerns addressed. Goal setting is another important function to Kent. He needs to know what is going on (K. T. Larson, October 15, 2008). In order for goal setting to occur, a way of measurement is required. Score Cards, are his preferred method. Score cards, done correctly, can all roll up into each other. Starting with a broad base, each business unit can roll up into a higher business unit until they reach the corporate level. This process not only helps the individual business units reach their goals, but also assure that corporate goals can be attained as well. A main process for Kent’s approach to management is to hire good people. You have to have a strong team at his level. Not only do his direct reports need to have a strong sense of team work, but they must work well together. If they do not work well together, he is not afraid to replace them. His direct reports are there to meet corporate goals. If those direct reports can not work well together, he will replace them with those who will for the betterment of the company. Allocation of his time to his employees is different today than it was earlier in his management career. Today, his direct reports have corporate goals. In the past, he managed performance based groups. He still tries to allocate time though based on need. New employees will have much more of his time than those who are more experienced. He wants employees to work to their potential, but potential is not a defined limit. Some employees have a higher potential than others. His goal as a manager is find that potential and develop that into the highest possible outcome. He feels that direct feedback is the only way to manage. It is very important have the direct feedback between himself and his employees whether is it positive or negative. The ability to be able to both give and receive constructive criticism is vital to any strong manager. Xcel Energy would currently be classified as a Matrix organization. Matrix organizations are an attempt to combine the advantages of the pure functional structure and the product organizational structure. Companies, such as Xcel Energy, that are project driven companies, are ideally suited for this management structure. In a matrix organization, each project manager reports directly to the vice president and the general manager. Since each project represents a potential profit center and/or reliability enhancement, the power and authority used by the project manager come directly from the general manager. Information sharing is mandatory in such organizations, and several people may be required for the same piece of work. However, in general, the project manager has the responsibility to maintain technical excellence on the project. Each business unit is headed by a department manger whose main responsibility is to ensure that a unified technical base is maintained and that all available information can be exchanged for each project (Visitask, 2008). At Xcel Energy, many different levels of the engineering staff could be swapped out to a project manager in title alone and nothing would change. Rather than having true project managers, the engineers take on the responsibilities of most project management. This type of structure does have its benefits and weaknesses. Depending on where you sit in the organizational ladder, the centralized choices, standard outcomes, and Operational Companies being decentralized can either help or hinder the process. Conflict can arise because of no clear lines of responsibilities between the centralized company and the state jurisdictions. Beginning in 2000, Xcel Energy was managed from a central, large corporation aspect. In 2005, Public Utility Commissions required that each individual Operational Company be able to attest for its financials and prove that the money was being spent in each state. This led to having both centralized choices as well as jurisdictional decisions. Financially, the accounting is better tracked through this process and helps to build a rate case to the Public Utilities Commission. Other problems have surfaced though trying to standardize equipment. Silos have developed in all aspects of the design and construction phase, mostly dealing with standardization of equipment. For example, Texas uses the same size and type of underground conductor that North Dakota does. The climates are completely different during the winter and create many operational challenges. For being such a large company spread over such a vast territory, Kent believes this strategy is best for the company at this time. The overall benefits of being structured this way currently outweigh the negative aspects. In theory, if this changes, Kent sees it as Corporate Management’s responsibility to change to organizational structure. Once again, put the best members together to make the team work in the best possible manner. Digging deeper into the interpersonal relationship side of management, Kent believes that management must be cognizant of each work groups needs and idiosyncrasies. Xcel Energy hires all classifications of employees from engineers, lawyers, analysts, computer IT, technicians, administrative assistants, to union line workers. It is important to understand how different management theories affect the behavior and attitudes of employees. Specifically cited, union line workers are viewed as Theory X employees. It’s not that all union employees are inherently lazy, but their union rules do not reward thinking outside of the defined union work rules. Any extra or additional hard work outside of the standard union rules is not encouraged or rewarded. Managers of union employees must closely supervise these employees to ensure that daily work is completed. Company managers and union management have created a strict set of work rules as well as a well defined punishment system. In contrast, exempt employees; engineers, lawyers, analysts, are managed with the Theory Y thought process. Most managers at Xcel Energy allow the employee to take ownership for their daily work process. They allow the employees to have the resources necessary to achieve both organizational goals and individual goals (Jones George, 2008, p 66). One thing Kent has also learned that each manager brings their own individual twist to management theory. The longer he has been with Xcel Energy, the more tolerant he has become. He wants to judge the end results. He is not so concerned with whether a person fits into a certain profile, but what the outcomes that person achieves. From all accountable sources, Kent Larson is a highly regarded manager for Xcel Energy. His ability to lead his business units to accomplish goals set before them is undeniable. One thing that sets a good leader apart from an ordinary manager is the impact that that manager has on those employees once they are no longer their manager. The most rewarding feeling that Kent has had is that even though he is not someone’s direct manager, they value his opinion and ask his opinion. It is important to try to develop a relationship with subordinates to nurture this kind of relationship. In daily management, you have to embrace the fact that not all managers will manage the same. Kent feels that you should not run your organization like a dictatorship. In contrast, Dave Sparby, President and CEO, NSP-MN, micromanages his direct reports. Neither style of management is inherently wrong, but the ability to understand the difference and be able to adapt to your employees is important to becoming a successful manager. It is important to understand the human aspect of managing just as much as the financial or technical side. Without good employees working with you as well as for you, it is difficult to be a successful manager in modern day businesses.

Free Essays on Jeffrey Dahmers Victims

Introduction Jeffrey Dahmer was born in Milwaukee May 21 1960 to Joyce and Lionel Dahmer Little did his parents know at the time of his birth that there son would become one of America's most famous serial killers not only for the amount of victims which he had killed but also for dismembering them and his necrophilia tendencies. There were warning signs through his up bring but they were blown off as just child behavior. His father recalls in his book when Jeffrey was around the age of six his father had swept the bones of a dead animal out from under the porch. He said he could see the excitement on Jeffrey’s face at the sounds the bones made rattling together. It would not belong before he was patrolling the roadsides looking for fresh road kill to take home and dissect. Dahmer by the age of fourteen had begun fantasizing about killing men and having sex with them. It would not be until after Jeffrey graduated from high school. Victim 1 A Nineteen year old Steven Hicks was walking along side the road on a hot June day. He was more than happy to except a ride from what seemed to be such a nice guy. The two hit it off, according to Dahmer’s case file and returned to Dahmer’s home. Reports differ some say that the two drank beer and hung out while others claim the two drank until drunk and then had sex. (Dahmer claimed they had consensual sex) Dahmer then admitted that he became outraged when Hick’s decided to leave, he calmly hit him in the head with a dumb bell killing him. To dispose of the body he cut it up and packed it in plastic bags, which he buried in woods behind his parent’s home. That fall Jeffrey attended Ohio State University were he flunked out the first semester. By the end of 1978 he had voluntarily enlisted in the army and was stationed in Germany. He remained there for a few years until he was discharged for alcoholism. At the time of discharge he briefly lived in Florida before returning to... Free Essays on Jeffrey Dahmer's Victims Free Essays on Jeffrey Dahmer's Victims Introduction Jeffrey Dahmer was born in Milwaukee May 21 1960 to Joyce and Lionel Dahmer Little did his parents know at the time of his birth that there son would become one of America's most famous serial killers not only for the amount of victims which he had killed but also for dismembering them and his necrophilia tendencies. There were warning signs through his up bring but they were blown off as just child behavior. His father recalls in his book when Jeffrey was around the age of six his father had swept the bones of a dead animal out from under the porch. He said he could see the excitement on Jeffrey’s face at the sounds the bones made rattling together. It would not belong before he was patrolling the roadsides looking for fresh road kill to take home and dissect. Dahmer by the age of fourteen had begun fantasizing about killing men and having sex with them. It would not be until after Jeffrey graduated from high school. Victim 1 A Nineteen year old Steven Hicks was walking along side the road on a hot June day. He was more than happy to except a ride from what seemed to be such a nice guy. The two hit it off, according to Dahmer’s case file and returned to Dahmer’s home. Reports differ some say that the two drank beer and hung out while others claim the two drank until drunk and then had sex. (Dahmer claimed they had consensual sex) Dahmer then admitted that he became outraged when Hick’s decided to leave, he calmly hit him in the head with a dumb bell killing him. To dispose of the body he cut it up and packed it in plastic bags, which he buried in woods behind his parent’s home. That fall Jeffrey attended Ohio State University were he flunked out the first semester. By the end of 1978 he had voluntarily enlisted in the army and was stationed in Germany. He remained there for a few years until he was discharged for alcoholism. At the time of discharge he briefly lived in Florida before returning to...

Ismenes Monologue From Antigone

Ismene's Monologue From Antigone This dramatic female monologue is a selection from Act One of Antigone by Sophocles. About Ismene as a Character Ismene is a fascinating character. In this dramatic  monologue, she conveys grief and shame as she reflects upon her father Oedipus’ sad history. She also warns that Antigone’s fate and her own might be worse if they disobey the laws of the land. She is at once melancholy, fearful, and diplomatic. Context of the Monologue Within the Play The brothers of Ismene and Antigone battle for control of Thebes. Both perish. One brother is buried as a hero. The other brother is deemed a traitor to his people. When the corpse of Antigone’s brother is left to rot out on the battlefield, Antigone is determined to set things right, even if it means defying the laws of King Creon. Her sister Ismene is not as headstrong. She is sad for the death and dishonor of her brother. However, she does not want to risk her life by upsetting the â€Å"powers that be.† Ismenes Monologue Bethink thee, sister, of our fathers fate,Abhorred, dishonored, self-convinced of sin,Blinded, himself his executioner.Think of his mother-wife (ill sorted names)Done by a noose herself had twined to deathAnd last, our hapless brethren in one day,Both in a mutual destiny involved,Self-slaughtered, both the slayer and the slain.Bethink thee, sister, we are left alone;Shall we not perish wretchedest of all,If in defiance of the law we crossA monarchs will?- weak women, think of that,Not framed by nature to contend with men.Remember this too that the stronger rules;We must obey his orders, these or worse.Therefore I plead compulsion and entreatThe dead to pardon. I perforce obeyThe powers that be. Tis foolishness, I ween,To overstep in aught the golden mean.

Sustainable Fashion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Sustainable Fashion - Essay Example The paper "Sustainable Fashion" concerns the project of designing a cohesive collection based on a specific inspiration by using sustainable fabric. Sustainable fashion is a fashion that aims to be environmentally friendly. It is part of the larger trend of "ethical fashion,". It is not a new trend that is has been said `Sustainable Fashion is not a short-term trend, but one that could last multiple seasons. ‘Vogue, May 2007. While environmentalism used to be distinct in fashion through a percentage of sales being donated to a charitable cause, most of the fashion designers have recently adopted the idea of sustainability. They are using more environment friendly materials and methods in clothing production. Designers claim that they are trying to incorporate these sustainable practices into modern clothing, rather than producing "dusty, hippy-looking clothes." Sustainable fashion is essentially more expensive than clothing produced by conventiona methods. Regarding the Sharpen Sustainable Fashion by Gwitt A. and Rissanen T. from week 4, it is easy to relate the idea of sustainable fashion with some elements. ‘While achieving sustainability is the goal of sustainable development, the word ‘sustainability' has several meanings in the today's world and is frequently reduced by associating it with ‘environment.' Some people define sustainability as the balance between three elements: economy, environment, and social equity. However, since human are struggling with ecological balance in every aspect.

Io Vidi in Terra and Baroque Music Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Io Vidi in Terra and Baroque Music - Essay Example It was on a Friday evening and the all roads were heading to Las Vegas where revelers were raring to go all the way till daybreak. I was one of them, considering that I had an undying love for rock music, and watching my favourite artists performing live was more than a blessing to me. One of the rock star artists, that I had always wished to watch performing live was Ray Collins. For sure, I will confirm that I could not believe that I was going to party all night long and dance to my favourite rock music. The stage was all ready with state of the art equipment and colorful lights sparkling intermittently. Big speakers were strategically set in all corners of the building, sending a clear picture of the deafening sounds that revelers will be presented with. Even ahead of the start of the concert, the building was packed to capacity. Anxiety could be read in everyone’s faces as many revelers kept streaming in. As the sounds of the speakers began exploding from every corner, ev eryone went wild. The diehard fans began screaming at the top of their voices. The massive stage was reverberating with the passionate sound of the guitar as the American finest rock stars started streaming in with style and full of spirit. The mammoth crowd began moving back and forth in an unremitting wave. There was hardly any individual space as everyone pushed and shoved others around them. At this time, the audience was crowded like the sea. I was shocked to realize how people adored rock music and much more partying all night long.

Beyond Bourgeois Gentrification Essay Example for Free

Beyond Bourgeois Gentrification Essay We’ve all seen those new work-live artist loft spaces in the remodeled industrial complexes next to the new galleries, cafes and office buildings that used to be factories, low-income housing tenements or warehouses. They look chic and modern while still trying to maintain their urban appeal. However, what does gentrification mean in our post-industrial urban society and how should we address its contradictory standing? According to the PBS special Flag Wars: What is Gentrification, it is the â€Å"general term for the arrival of wealthier people in an existing urban district, a related increase in rents and property values, and changes in the districts character and culture (Grant). In this vein, we can read gentrification from two perspectives. The first would be from the point of view of the newly arrived ‘wealthier people’ who see this process as an investment in urban renewal that brings down crime rates and increases the economic cultural capital of what was once a neglected and impoverished neighborhood. On the other hand, gentrification as seen from the perspective of the original community is thought of as another form of economic and geographic discrimination and exclusion due to the increase in rent and property values as well as the overall cost of living. The issue of urban displacement results in an unbalanced benefit for the already economically advantaged. UNESCO recently published an article concerning this contradiction: â€Å"Building projects become the centre piece of the city’s economy, justified by job creation, taxes, tourism and the building of large cultural complexes† (Smith). What makes this such a divisive issue and halts community building is that much of the new investment comes from the social class that fled to the suburbs during the white-flight era of urbanization. After fleeing to the suburbs due to a discomfort of having to live so close to other racial and ethnic populations, there is now a distrust of the new inhabitants by the pre-existing urban population who are being forced out of their own neighborhoods. So we must ask ourselves how we can overcome this contradictory social movement in a way that will be mutually beneficial to all involved parties. The best way to accomplish this would be to invite community dialogue in an effort to address all sides of the issue. An interesting study put out by the Urban Institute echoes this sentiment. They emphasize the need for â€Å"strategies used by nonprofit organizations, for-profit developers, and city agencies to ensure low- to-moderate-income residents can live in revitalizing and gentrifying neighborhoods† (Levy). This is essential in order make sure that all voices can be heard so that more than just money talks. If this can be done, urban renewal can be embraced and cultural diversity can flourish in a vibrant new community based on shared principles and the exchange of different ideas. We must abandon the notion that gentrification is either positive or negative, as many people have argued in the past. Gentrification is a social process that affects us all differently depending on our own cultural context. That being the case, let us open the discussion to the public at large so that everyone has an equal say in how their community will develop. Urban transformation is a constant presence that we need to shape into a vision of the future that we would all like to live in. References Grant, Benjamin. (2003). What is Gentrification?. PBS Flag Wars. Retrieved November 30, 2008, from http://www. pbs. org/pov/pov2003/flagwars/special Levy, Diane, Comey, Jennifer, Padilla, Sandra. (2006). In the Face of Gentrification. Urban Institute. Retrieved November 30, 2008, from http://www. urban. org/publications/411294. html Smith, Neil. (2007). From Gentrification to Forced Eviction – how should economic competitiveness be reconciled with social sustainability in historical districts?. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Retrieved November 30, 2008, from http://portal. unesco. org/shs/en/ev. php

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Christopher Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus Essay

Superman, Spiderman, Iron Man, Batman; these are some examples of the modern day hero. Most call this form of a hero a Super Hero. In the early nineteenth century, the popular hero of the day was the romantic hero. Mary Shelly gives a great picture of this hero in her novel Frankenstein. She uses Victor Frankenstein, the creator of the famous â€Å"Frankenstein’s Monster† as her character which embodies the traits of a romantic hero. The model was relatively new; however, Christopher Marlowe had written a character in the early fifteenth century which embodied the same characteristics. These attributes of romanticism in the form of a hero are seen in both Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein and Christopher Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus in very much the same way. The authors use their respective hero to show the flaws in human nature and humankind’s predisposition towards sin using such things as obsession, internal battles and differing moral codes. The romantic hero is obsessed with something, and usually this something is detrimental towards themselves and or their relationship with Christ. Victor is obsessed with two things: one, the creation of his monster and, two, finding his monster after his life is destroyed by it. Victor says that â€Å"so deeply was I engrossed in my occupation† that he â€Å"did not watch the blossom or the expanding leaves† which had previously enamored him(Shelly 34). Victor was so obsessed with the creation of his monster that he did not even leave his â€Å"lair†. This obsession led to health problems, seclusion from the world and his family, and ultimately to the deaths of several people because of the monster he completed. Towards the end of the novel, we see a Victor consumed with finding and killing the beast. He swears â€Å"to purs... ...arated by about three hundred years and different types of literature; however, Shelly and Marlowe use the qualities of a romantic hero to show that human nature is flawed and that man is prone to sin. They use the â€Å"qualities† of obsession, internal battles and differing moral codes to convey their message that â€Å"Bad company corrupts good character† so to speak, the â€Å"bad company† being humans and their sinful nature, and the â€Å"good company† being seemingly harmless qualities of a hero(1 Corinthians 15:33). Humankind should take their stories as an example and learn from it, by turning to God instead of those things. Works Cited Barker, Kenneth L., ed. Holy Bible. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2010. Print. Marlowe, Christopher. Dr. Faustus. New York: Dover, 1994. Print. Shelley, Mary W. Frankenstein. New York, New York: Dover Publications, 1994. Print.