Environmental Scanning Techniques

Question Description
1.RESPONSE GUIDELINES
Read both post offer feedback on how these learners can apply the tools and techniques for scanning the environment to their current or future work settings.

1.Marx stresses the importance of scanning the environment because the leader in touch with what is going on in the organization externally and helps with internal scanning. Scanning the environment helps them keep in touch with what is going on in the organization and connect with the people of the organization. Scanning the environment, helps the leader to understand what’s going on in the organization and helps them get in front of any problems that could arise. In the external scan, it includes looking at the organization and all it’s moving parts. The external scan includes looking at trends, keeping up with technology and keeping with things that are changing that pertains to the work that the organization does. One of the tools that I choose is the interviewing and polling. Interviewing and polling can help identify what the trend is and put a pulse on what is going on and what will happen in the future. If I was the leader in an organization and I wanted to know how the people in the organization felt about the organization and the work they were doing, I would administer a survey. Before administering the survey to staff, I would let them know why I am asking them to participate in the survey and how it will help me to make better decisions for them. I would explain that it is their opportunity to be honest and truthful without the worry of retaliation. Once the results are tallied, that helps me with the external scan of the environment, and I would make changes or change nothing according to the results.Environmental Scanning Techniques

2.Environmental scanning is the acquisition and use of information about events, trends, and relationships that assist in planning the management of future courses of action of an organization (Chun, W., 1999). This process includes internal scanning of organizational strategies that produce connections with other agents, as well as external scanning of macro systems such as political, economic, and social interactions amongst the community and society as a whole(Manx, G. 2006).

Environmental scanning is important in its provision of information and ideas to opportunities, cautions, and problems that assist in the avoidance of pitfalls and expansion of perspectives and context (Manx, G., 2006). Research suggests that environmental scanning is linked with improved organizational performance (Chun, W., 1999). There are several tools and techniques used in environmental scan. One of these tools that could be useful in my current work setting is the analysis of social, technological, economic, environmental, and political factors, and values (STEEPV).

As a juvenile counselor, the STEEPV analysis can be useful in the identification of trends and issues and their interconnectedness. With the creation of diverse focus groups and the review of literature and professional trades, there can be a formulation of ideas and issues to which actions and interventions can be implemented. According to Manx, STEEPV analysis helps in the identification of forces affecting the entire community (2006). Because the community is an influential component of deviant behaviors in adolescents, it is important to expand our context to include the whole of society and learn from its influence (Manx 2006). As a leader in the helping field, using the characteristics of environmental scanning can aid in identifying community patterns, building relationships community wide, identifying various resources, and establish channels for linking those resources (Tang, T., 2016).Environmental Scanning Techniques

2.RESPONSE GUIDELINES
Read both post offer feedback on their plan of how they, as leaders, will spot trends in their current or future work with youth.

1) 2. Majorities will become minorities, creating ongoing challenges for social cohesion.

The U.S. Census Bureau projects the nation will become much more diverse by midcentury, with minorities forecast to become the majority population by 2042 (Craig, Rucker, & Richeson, 2018). Growth, both individual and corporate, will be largely multicultural in the future, and many growing markets are underserved. Understanding is only the first step, however. To be able to have an impact with diverse populations it is important to have an understanding of their needs but to have a deeper impact, you must connect with them. In trying to attract minority groups many times it means returning to more traditional methods of contact such as, personal, face-to-face relationships which are critical in establishing connection (Craig, Rucker, & Richeson, 2018) .

13. Understanding will grow that sustained poverty is expensive, debilitating, and unsettling.

Adolescent poverty is associated with increased antisocial and decreased prosocial behaviors (Machell, Disabato, & Kashdan, 2016). The number of youth living in poverty has steadily been increasing sense 2000. Approximately twenty percent of youth under the age of eighteen in the United States in 2013 lived in poverty. Youth raised in poverty are at increased risk for numerous negative outcomes, including academic difficulties and high school dropout, behavioral and emotional problems, and a greater likelihood of living in poverty as adults (Machell, Disabato, & Kashdan, 2016). These youth also exhibit a lower over-all well-being, life satisfaction, and happiness. Many adolescents who live in poverty begin to feel hopeless about their prospects when thinking about the future.

16. Greater numbers of people will seek personal meaning in their lives in response to an intense, high-tech, always-on, fast-moving society.

Current research on youth purpose focuses on purpose in life as a stable and generalized intention to accomplish something that is at once meaningful to the self and of consequence to the world beyond the self (Machell, Disabato, & Kashdan, 2016). Youth who feel they have a purpose in life helps to foster a future-oriented framework to organize and focus their goals. A central theme to purpose in life is the drive to make a difference and contribute to the world. A global sense of purpose can motivate the efforts of everyday living and give meaning to daily activities by connecting them to an overarching life goal (Machell, Disabato, & Kashdan, 2016).

In order to be able to spot trends as a leader in my current work with youth it will be important to listen to their needs really trying to hear from all cultures around me. I have worked for organizations that try and put in place plans for various populations being served and they fall short because no one stopped to listen to what the group actually needed. Connect as was mentioned above is paramount especially when working with youth without that compliance and motivation to excel will not be there. In this day and age technology has taken the place of youth developing skills to have face to face dialogue with people. Modeling this with youth would give them the skills to be able to have a greater chance of success as they go out into the world.

2) In light of the current protest, the most obvious trend that Manx has listed is “Majorities will become minorities, creating ongoing challenges for social cohesion” (pp. 48, 2006).The U.S. Census Bureau projects that racial minority groups will make up a majority of the US national population in 2042 (Craig, M. A., & Richeson, J. A. 2014). This trend alerts us not only to the demographic changes regarding race, but also to other differences such as gender, education, age, sexual preferences, and generational gaps (Crul, M. 2016). In situations where there is no longer a clear majority group, the idea of assimilation or integration becomes hollow requiring new theoretical perspectives and interventions. In addition, changes to the majority population can be seen as a threat to the racial status of the current majority group causing more negative racial attitudes and emotions. It can also be implied by this trend that there will be a conservative shift of traditional ideologies (Craig, M. A., & Richeson, J. A. 2014). It is important for a leader to notice this trend and find opportunities for discussion and encouragement of diversity.Environmental Scanning Techniques

Another trend mentioned by Manx, would be that associated with technology increasing the speed of communication and the space of advancement or decline (2006). Whereas technology is useful in providing networking opportunities and access to information, it can also negatively impact relational quality and strength (Mesch, G. S. 2012). Conflict with youth may arise from generational undermining of technological use and advanced maturation of adolescents. The ability to meet technology demands will be dependent on social background, social skills, and personality characteristics that have the potential to change the hierarchy of authority between adolescents and adults (Mesch, G. S. 2012). A leader in the helping field would need to get ahead of this trend by continuing their knowledge and use of technology and being flexible with their expectations of what’s appropriate as it relates to child maturation and autonomy.

Lastly, Manx identified that “greater numbers of people will seek personal meaning in their lives in response to an intense, high tech, always on, fast moving society” (pp. 49, 2006). Research suggest that much of the challenges adolescents face in their efforts to secure a sense of identity is in an effort to discover significance and meaning in life (Cheon, J. W., & Canda, E. R. 2010).According to Cheon, J & Canda, adolescents would more likely become interested in secular spiritual activities unrelated to authority (2010).This makes it important for leaders to increase their awareness of young peoples spirituality and its relevance to interventions.

You must proofread your paper. But do not strictly rely on your computer’s spell-checker and grammar-checker; failure to do so indicates a lack of effort on your part and you can expect your grade to suffer accordingly. Papers with numerous misspelled words and grammatical mistakes will be penalized. Read over your paper – in silence and then aloud – before handing it in and make corrections as necessary. Often it is advantageous to have a friend proofread your paper for obvious errors. Handwritten corrections are preferable to uncorrected mistakes.

Use a standard 10 to 12 point (10 to 12 characters per inch) typeface. Smaller or compressed type and papers with small margins or single-spacing are hard to read. It is better to let your essay run over the recommended number of pages than to try to compress it into fewer pages.

Likewise, large type, large margins, large indentations, triple-spacing, increased leading (space between lines), increased kerning (space between letters), and any other such attempts at “padding” to increase the length of a paper are unacceptable, wasteful of trees, and will not fool your professor.

The paper must be neatly formatted, double-spaced with a one-inch margin on the top, bottom, and sides of each page. When submitting hard copy, be sure to use white paper and print out using dark ink. If it is hard to read your essay, it will also be hard to follow your argument.

ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CLASS

Discussion Questions (DQ)

Initial responses to the DQ should address all components of the questions asked, include a minimum of one scholarly source, and be at least 250 words.
Successful responses are substantive (i.e., add something new to the discussion, engage others in the discussion, well-developed idea) and include at least one scholarly source.
One or two sentence responses, simple statements of agreement or “good post,” and responses that are off-topic will not count as substantive. Substantive responses should be at least 150 words.
I encourage you to incorporate the readings from the week (as applicable) into your responses.
Weekly Participation

Your initial responses to the mandatory DQ do not count toward participation and are graded separately.
In addition to the DQ responses, you must post at least one reply to peers (or me) on three separate days, for a total of three replies.
Participation posts do not require a scholarly source/citation (unless you cite someone else’s work).
Part of your weekly participation includes viewing the weekly announcement and attesting to watching it in the comments. These announcements are made to ensure you understand everything that is due during the week.
APA Format and Writing Quality

Familiarize yourself with APA format and practice using it correctly. It is used for most writing assignments for your degree. Visit the Writing Center in the Student Success Center, under the Resources tab in LoudCloud for APA paper templates, citation examples, tips, etc. Points will be deducted for poor use of APA format or absence of APA format (if required).
Cite all sources of information! When in doubt, cite the source. Paraphrasing also requires a citation.
I highly recommend using the APA Publication Manual, 6th edition.
Use of Direct Quotes

I discourage overutilization of direct quotes in DQs and assignments at the Masters’ level and deduct points accordingly.
As Masters’ level students, it is important that you be able to critically analyze and interpret information from journal articles and other resources. Simply restating someone else’s words does not demonstrate an understanding of the content or critical analysis of the content.
It is best to paraphrase content and cite your source.
LopesWrite Policy

For assignments that need to be submitted to LopesWrite, please be sure you have received your report and Similarity Index (SI) percentage BEFORE you do a “final submit” to me.
Once you have received your report, please review it. This report will show you grammatical, punctuation, and spelling errors that can easily be fixed. Take the extra few minutes to review instead of getting counted off for these mistakes.
Review your similarities. Did you forget to cite something? Did you not paraphrase well enough? Is your paper made up of someone else’s thoughts more than your own?
Visit the Writing Center in the Student Success Center, under the Resources tab in LoudCloud for tips on improving your paper and SI score.
Late Policy

The university’s policy on late assignments is 10% penalty PER DAY LATE. This also applies to late DQ replies.
Please communicate with me if you anticipate having to submit an assignment late. I am happy to be flexible, with advance notice. We may be able to work out an extension based on extenuating circumstances.
If you do not communicate with me before submitting an assignment late, the GCU late policy will be in effect.
I do not accept assignments that are two or more weeks late unless we have worked out an extension.
As per policy, no assignments are accepted after the last day of class. Any assignment submitted after midnight on the last day of class will not be accepted for grading.
Communication

Communication is so very important. There are multiple ways to communicate with me:
Questions to Instructor Forum: This is a great place to ask course content or assignment questions. If you have a question, there is a good chance one of your peers does as well. This is a public forum for the class.
Individual Forum: This is a private forum to ask me questions or send me messages. This will be checked at least once every 24 hours.