The Six Levers For Managing Organizational Culture

Within organizations, large and small, there exists a sense of identity among its members that separates it from other organizations. This sense of identity is known as organizational culture. All over, managers seek to influence and change this into something that can be beneficial for the organization. In his article, â€Å"The Six Levers for Managing Organizational Culture†, Professor David W. Young defines the different elements that can influence and change the culture within the organization and how the reader can use these â€Å"levers† to their advantage. While the author does present a decent explanation for changing the culture of an organization, he leaves many questions unanswered that leaves his argument incomplete. To change the†¦show more content†¦In-job standards and practices can drive motivation, authority, and influence. However, it is rewards that can serve as the primary motivation lever. The profit centers established to accomplish this must be mutually reinforcing, or frustration and undermining of the culture will occur. The next lever, the management control process, consists of four sections. The first of these is programming, which must come from strategy and be monitored to remain consistent with the firm’s objectives. The second process is budgeting, which need to fit with strategy formulation and programming. The last two of the four sections is measuring and reporting. These two sections focus on the â€Å"need for activities that measure and report both financial and nonfinancial information† . The measuring and reporting of a firm’s management control can be related to budget information and the motivation process. What a firm spends to drive motivation, and the amount of motivation that comes from it, can create contrasting cultures that needs information to why that is the result. Since this lever can be manipulated quickly, it is one that managers should focus on. The fifth lever focuses on the conflict management process. Conflict management can be either beneficial or detrimental, but for the best desired outcome, â€Å"the conflict must be managed well† . Conflict management must fit the level of theShow MoreRelatedCompany Culture. Culture. See Eyewear Is A National Chain1395 Words   |  6 PagesCompany Culture Culture SEE Eyewear is a national chain that sells fashionable eyewear, both prescription and nonprescription. The company culture starts with our artifacts. Our stores are named by number while our corporate headquarters is called Home Base. The attire for Home Base is business casual, but for our stores it is exclusively business casual black attire. Employees, called See-lebs, are required to wear our frames, even if they do not need eyeglasses. The goal is to present ourselvesRead MoreGhosns Nissan Strategy Implementation3810 Words   |  16 Pagesarchitecture framework 4 2.2 Mintzberg’s Six Basic Parts of an Organisation 5 2.3 Integrated Strategic framework of organizational design and structure 6 3. Systems 6 1. Organisational architecture framework 6 2. Simple rules 7 3.3 Simon’s four levers of control 7 Appendices: A: Mintzberg’s Six Basic Parts of the organization 16 B: Integrated Strategic framework of organizational design and structure 17 List of ReferencesRead MoreEmerging Trends of Hrm3449 Words   |  14 Pagesinfrastructure. 5. occupational health and safety:  Due to legislative presence and trade union movement, personnel management will have to be more healthy and safety conscious in future. 6. Organizational development:  in future, change will have to be initiated and managed to improve organizational effectiveness. Top management will become more actively involved in the development of human resources. 7. New work ethic:  greater forces will be on project and team forms of organization. AsRead MoreHrm and Ir1533 Words   |  7 Pagesphilosophical underpinning†. However, He determined HRM as a specific approach to employment management which aims to achieve competitive advantage through the strategic deployment of a highly committed and capable workforce, using an integrated array of culture, structural and personnel techniques, which is a comprehensive understanding of HRM. Storey (2007). Sisson (1990) sees HRM of four aspects of employment practice: an integration of HR policies with business planning; a shift in responsibility forRead MoreHuman Resource Management And Organizational Performance2125 Words   |  9 Pages1. The textbook outlines six (6) theoretical HRM models in the first chapter. These models encompass various relationships between HR activities and goals with regards to strategic human resource management (SHRM), and provide different focus and val ue in terms of firms’ business strategies. The six models are, as follows: The Fombrun, Tichy and Devanna model focuses on four HR activities (selection, appraisal, performance, and rewards), the dependent relationships of each on the other, and connectsRead MoreChange Management5965 Words   |  24 Pagesfor designing a business solution. Change management is the processes, tools and techniques for managing the people-side of change. Change management is not a process improvement method. Change management is a method for reducing and managing resistance to change when implementing process, technology or organizational change. Change management is not a stand-alone technique for improving organizational performance. It is important to note what change management is and what change management is notRead MoreCompare and Contrast Hrm and Ir1930 Words   |  8 Pageswork edited by Storey J (2007), HRM is defined as a distinctive approach to employment management which seeks to achieve competitive advantage through the strategic deployment of a highly committed and capable workforce, using an integrated array of culture, structural and personnel techniques, which is a comprehensive understanding of HRM. Definition of Industrial Relations There is little doubt that Industrial Relations has become a subject of scholarly analysis since the end of the nineteenthRead MoreEvaluation of the Strategic Management in the Global Competitive Environment.5185 Words   |  21 Pagesof the strategy but, it does not correspond to the same objective of strategic management. In more specific terms strategic management, â€Å"includes understanding the strategic position of an organisation, making strategic choices for the future and managing strategy in action†, (Johnson and Scholes, 2008). Nonetheless, we are not going to describe more this relevant section because it would take part on the second part of the report, i.e. in the comparison of the different framework defining theRead MoreManagement Control in Mncs6977 Words   |  28 PagesControl and organizational learning in MNCs: an analysis through the subsidiaries Abstract : For any large complex organization the problem of ensuring its constituent activity in accordance with overall policy and, at the same time adapt to its environment, is a central and continuing concern. Thus, the fundamental question which must be answered is ‘what control mechanism can facilitate the adaptation process in the local market?’ In multinational corporations (MNCs), the control mechanismRead MoreQualities of a Successful International Manager in China4508 Words   |  19 Pagesof the economy. With the rapid change of the world economy and the globalization trend, business men face culturally diverse situations. The cross-culture challenges facing managers today are ever changing and more dynamic and thus required vary opportunity to tackle this issue. Although there are many cultures collide in a diverse workplace, many culture norms influence a manager’s behavior and subsequent reactions (Lee. G. amp; Rowe A., 2001). Therefore, cross-national business is facing great

Crossing the Drake Passage to Antarctica Free Essays

To my surprise the book was pretty accurate on its information. While the science itself wasn’t as detail as a peer review research article, it was detailed and descriptive enough to give the reader a good mental picture as to what Antarctica looks like from the eyes of someone witnessing it. Some examples that helped paint the mental picture for reader were scientific information regarding the Drake Passage, how Bee describes the water, land, and sky of Antarctica, as well as the description she gives of species that she encounters during her trip. We will write a custom essay sample on Crossing the Drake Passage to Antarctica or any similar topic only for you Order Now The book doesn’t need to further explain any science. If it did it would just be talking the reader away from the main plot or themes of the book and instead make the book more about scientific information. Science adds to the character’s traits. For example, the book makes it clear that Bee is a gifted student, but rather than the book just stating it plainly the author shows it. For example, when Bee talks about what she has researched or found out about Antarctica it shows just how she is able to take the information and explain it very well, showing to the reader that she is gifted, but also passionate about learning. The scientific facts about Antarctica also give the reader an understanding as to how difficult the journey was for Bee and Elgin Branch. Finding their mother can be difficult, but in an environment that can be considered â€Å"no man’s land† makes it even harder. This is shown throughout Bee and Elgin’s Journey. As Bee tries to solve the mystery, but suffers form massive sea sickness, and how both needed to prepare themselves before heading out to the open. While the science did make the reader more informed and allowed the reader to clearly visualize the environment the characters were in, it did not help with the theme or lesson to the story. One important theme that is mentioned throughout the book is how if you don’t conform or do as what is considered normal in a specific environment then you are considered a â€Å"menace to society†. It is shown throughout the book that when Bernadette is doing something abnormal or something she is supposed to do and she isn’t doing it, then there tends to be a negative reaction. The character Bernadette and the detail description of Antarctica impacted me the most as I was reading the book. The way Maria Semple crafted Bernadette leads me to believe that many who read this book feel sympathy towards Bernadette. The book tells the past of Bernadette, an aspiring young architect who is known for her creation of the â€Å"20 Mile house† and her winning the MacArthur Grant. Unfortunately, her creation was destroyed, she suffered four miscarriages, and her anxiety disorder known as Agoraphobia informs the audience that she isn’t what she once was and has changed, but for the worst. The book makes it hard for people not to sympathize for her. Even if the reader has never experienced a tragedy like Bernadette has the reader is well aware that it can difficult for anyone to deal with what she has endured. As I was reading this book I felt a small amount of anger towards the destruction of her creation because she has added so much time and passion into it and for it to be destroyed by someone who doesn’t care was a factor in what changed Bernadette for the worst. I would recommend this book to my brother. The book does a good job of adding comedy at the right moments, and my brother is usually in a mood for a good laugh. The book also does well in keeping the reading hooked. The author doesn’t just plainly state this is where Bernadette went or this is how she escaped, but instead rewards the reader who kept reading the book to eventually find out when pieces of information are connected together like a puzzle. For me not knowing how Bernadette escaped or not knowing just where she went made me read the book more as I waited for the book to â€Å"spill the beans† as to how all of this unraveled. How to cite Crossing the Drake Passage to Antarctica, Papers

Component Activities in Logistics and Operations Management

Question: You are to identify the component activities for an organisation of your choice then evaluate the performance objectives used by each and critically examine and suggest ways in which the performance could be improved? Answer: Introduction Businesses are required to manage large number of functional areas across their organisation. Logistics management and operations managers are the two such important areas that have significant role in leading an organisation to higher success levels. Efficient logistics management allows for timely delivery of products and services to final consumers whereas operations management is essential in achieving operational efficiency at workplace. In achieving efficiency in this area, there are certain component activities that are required to be carried out by them. In this report, the organisation as selected for the purpose of analysing its component activities is Next Plc, and this is followed by an analysis of the performance objectives of the company against such objectives. The actual performance of Next Plc against its performance objectives will be assessed and based on the entire analysis, recommendations would be provided in achieving improved performance levels (Bakliwal, 2011 ). Component Activities at Next Plc An analysis of Next Plc indicates that it is a retailers that deal in clothing and home products with its operations across UK and worldwide. The company not only operates in UK, but it has its operations across different parts of the world. An analysis indicates that operations management and logistics management are crucial functions in respect to Next Plc. In performing these areas, there are certain major component activities that are identified in the companys performance. The designing of products and services is identified as a major component activity of operations at Next because company specialises in providing best quality products to its customers. The contribution made by human resources is also an important component activity in respect to the performance of Next Plc. This is mainly because the task of product designing and selection is carried out by the employees, and this is therefore regarded as an important component part. In respect to the networking process, Next has covered wide range of geographic areas in UK and worldwide, and in order to efficiently manage such huge network, the component part available to Next is mainly its huge network managed by its logistics partners including the suppliers and logistics companies (Next Plc CSR, 2013). These are the important component activities noted in respect to the performance of Next Plc. Performance Objectives for Component Activities There are several component activities noted in respect to the operational and logistics management performance in respect to Next Plc. In this context, there are different important objectives that are pursued by the company. As for instance, with respect to the operations management, the objective as identified for the component activity of product and designing include the designing and development of fashion wears that are the best trend in the industry and it also include meeting out the customised needs of its customers by adjusting the designing and development process. In respect to human resources, the target objective has been to make the optimum utilisation of human resources so as to achieve not only the operational efficiency, but also the development of highly efficient products based on the customer requirements. In relation to the component activity of logistics management, the target objective of Next has identified is to make sure that there is adequate compliance w ith the environmental performance being achieved, and also the timely delivery of finished products is maintained across all the stores of Next Plc in UK. These are the performance objectives noted in respect to the important component activities of Next Plc (Next Plc Annual Report, 2012). Next Performance against Performance Objectives With respect to the performance objectives as identified in relation to Next Plc above, it has been assessed that the company achieves desired level of performance in respect to its performance management area. As for instance, an analysis of Next Plc performance indicates that there is a separate team managed by the organisation in order to make sure that the changes in the external environment fashion is adequately met. The team comprises of senior level managers and they interact with the managers and subordinates in the production process so that the production process can be enhanced and adjusted as per changes in the external environment. As a result of this, the clothes and other such fashionable products as produced are in accordance to customer demands and requirements (Meredith and Shafer, 2009). In relation to the performance objective of achieving efficiency in the management of human resources, the HR manager is positively engaged in performing the recruitment of best possible employees, and higher level of emphasis is placed on the retention of existing employees at Next. Apart from this, in achieving the maximum utilisation of skills and abilities of employees, there are specific considerations being made with respect to the employee skill enhancement such as training and development provision for employees, efficient communication process being maintained across the organisation, equal employment opportunities and fair treatment to employees based on their performance. These important initiatives allow Next Plc in efficiently accomplishing its target with respect to enhancing employee performance and thereby in achieving operational efficiency (Next Plc, 2015). Apart from the performance analysis of the company in respect to the operations management, an analysis of the performance of Next in respect to logistic management is also crucial as a part of analysis. As Next Plc operates at such a larger level, it is crucial that the logistics management process should be carried out with higher level of efficiency and effectiveness so that the needs and requirements of different stores of the company are timely met. In this respect, the strategy of Next is that the company is not dependent on a single supplier, as it has established partnerships with large number of suppliers which allows in meeting out the requirements across its different stores. The company also has its warehouses across majority of the locations in UK which allows in meeting out the requirements of its different stores throughout UK (Lewis and Slack, 2003). Conclusion and Recommendations In this report, a critical assessment has been carried out with respect to the analysis of important component activities of Next Plc in relation to its operations and networking management. The analysis indicated about different important component activities that facilitate the efficient performance of the operations and networking management of the company. It is analysed that the important component activities include product designing and development, managing human resources, establishing coordination across logistics partners in achieving improved operational performance etc. In relation to these important component activities, the performance analysis of Next Plc indicated that the companys performance has been highly efficient. The specific production management team at Next Plc allows the company in updating its production process department and this in turn leads to the manufacturing of products that best represent the latest trend in the market. The analysis also indicate s that in achieving improved level of performance within its human resource management, the company pays higher attention towards specific areas of developing its human resources such as the provision for training and development, encouraging communication and many more. The analysis has also indicated that logistics management is performed efficiently at Next by way of organisation considering for partnerships with the logistics partners that allows it in achieving timely delivery of products and services across its different stores in UK. Recommendations: The important recommendations to Next in achieving further enhancement in its performance as against performance objectives are: An analysis indicated that Next is depending on the performance of its suppliers. However, this particular factor should be removed and the focus should be on meeting out its customers needs and requirements by achieving independence in this particular area (|Dlabay, Burrow and Kleindl, 2011). It is recommended that the production managers at Next should be made responsible for the enhancement of its performance and meeting out the changing needs of its customers, rather than the senior directors involving in the process (Greasley, 1999). References Bakliwal, V.K. (2011), Production and Operation Management, Pinnacle Technology, pp. 1- Dlabay, L.R., Burrow, J.L. and Kleindl, B.A.(2011), Principles of Business, Cengage Learning, pp. 228-230 Greasley, A. (1999), Operations Management in Business, Nelson Thornes, pp. 176-190. Lewis, M. and Slack, N. (2003), Operations Management: Critical Perspectives on Business and Management, Routledge, pp. 45-54. Meredith, J.R. and Shafer, S.M. (2009), Operations Management For Mbas, 3Rd Ed, John Wiley Sons, pp. 123-143. Next Plc, (2015) [Online]. Available at: https://www.nextplc.co.uk/about-next/business-overview.aspx [Accessed: 06 April 2015]. Next Plc CSR, (2013) [Online]. Available at: https://www.nextplc.co.uk/~/media/Files/N/Next-PLC/pdfs/corporate-responsibility-report/cr-2013-v2.pdf [Accessed: 06 April 2015]. Next Plc Annual Report, 2012 [Online]. Available at: https://www.nextplc.co.uk/~/media/Files/N/Next-PLC/pdfs/latest-news/2012/ar2012.pdf Accessed: 06 April 2015]

Journal Article for Speech Class free essay sample

Your vocal presentation is very important when delivering a speech. Vocal delivery includes rate, volume, and pitch. Vocal delivery helps us engage and interest the audience and it ensures that our ideas are communicated clearly. Rate of speaking is how fast or slow you speak. The rate of speaking should be in middle as speaking too fast the audience will not absorb all information and speaking too slow will lose audience attention. To control rate of speaking one should practice your speech and can also include reminders to slow down on your speaking outline. Volume is how loud or soft your voice is.While giving a speech your volume should be in middle range as loud volume is considered as overbearing or annoying and soft volume is judged as too gentle. Pitch refers to how high or low a speakers voice is. Our pitch goes up when we are discussing something exciting and it goes down when we are discussing something serious. We will write a custom essay sample on Journal Article for Speech Class or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In my opinion the article Vocal Delivery seemed very helpful. It discussed some of the key points that are very important during your presentation. The article provides some guidelines to control three main components of vocal delivery: rate, volume, and pitch. This article would be helpful to new speakers.Overall, I would encourage people to read the article and apply some techniques in their presentation. When I present, my rate of speaking is too fast. That tends to happen as I become nervous and stage fright. After reading this article, I would try to practice speaking slow when I practice and put reminders In my outline. I also tend to be very enthusiastic about my topic, which I would also control by more practice (possibly in front of critics). Lastly, I would Just stay calm and speak confidently.

A Critical Analysis Essay Outline Sample

A Critical Analysis Essay Outline SampleA critical analysis essay outline is a document created by the faculty for use in a critical analysis class. A critical analysis essay outline can be created for a class of one hundred students or one thousand students. These outlines are used to help keep all of the students on task and involved in class discussion. They can also be used for research purposes.The faculty wants to ensure that they teach their students their analytical skills through assignments and quizzes. They want to make sure that they make the grades fair and consistent throughout the semester. Through these outlines, the students will have the skills to analyze their own work and effectively critique other people's work.The key word here is consistency. This is essential in the life of a college professor. They want their students to think critically about their work and not simply accept it at face value.When students are learning, they do not take lectures at face value . They seek out information and opinions from other people. Often, this process will help them come up with a better perspective of a subject.As part of their thesis, students should write an essay about an aspect of their thesis. One way of doing this is to use the Critical Analysis Essay Outline. These are used for class projects that are meant to teach students how to think about a particular subject or any other related subjects.The Critical Analysis Essay Outline can also be used for research. These outlines will give you plenty of research material. You can use this information to get your research up to date and current.You can also use this material to write an article for publication. The structure of the essay should make it easy for you to learn how to write an article. Just keep in mind that these are for college students, so keep it interesting and relevant.

Collaboration in publication a study of collaboration rates and citation rates The WritePass Journal

Collaboration in publication a study of collaboration rates and citation rates Abstract Collaboration in publication a study of collaboration rates and citation rates . Six journal articles are a small sample, so the search was manually done on Google Scholar. The journals were picked at random in order to eliminate any form of bias in the final results.   Different aspects of the articles were recorded like the number of authors, number of citations, and the year of publication. Once the data is collected, it was then used to answer the research questions. The six journal articles are listed below as follows: (Journal A). Zhong-Zhi Bai Jun-Feng Yin 2009. Modified incomplete orthogonal factorization methods using Givens rotations. Springer- Verlag (Journal B) Lili Sun , Jian Li Lijuan Wang 2012. Electromagnetic interference shielding material from electroless copper plating on birch veneer. Springer- Verlag (Journal C) Isar Nejadgholi , Seyyed Ali Seyyedsalehi   Sylvain Chartier, 2012. A Chaotic Feature Extracting BAM and Its Application in Implementing Memory Search. Springer Science+Business Media (Journal D) Panda  · S. Saha  · M. Basu , 2009. Optimal production stopping time for perishable products with ramp-type quadratic demand dependent production and setup cost. Springer Verlag (Journal E) Kanjilal  · S. Saha 2009. Electric field distribution and simulation of avalanche formation due to the passage of heavy ions in a parallel grid avalanche counter. Pranama Journal of Physics (Journal F) Md R Islam*, S Saha, N B Manik and A N Basu 2012. Transient current study in safranine-T dye based organic photo-electrochemical cell using exponentially distributed trap assisted charge transport model. Indian Journal of Physics   Ã‚   Research Findings    Table of findings JOURNAL A B C D E F YEAR OF PUBLICATION 2009 2012 2012 2009 2009 2012 NUMBER OF AUTHORS 2 3 3 3 2 4 NUMBER OF CITATIONS 4 1 1 10 0 1       Analysis Question 1 Is there a significantly different rate of collaborative work amongst different journals? Solution   Ã‚   The findings reveal that there is no significant different rate of collaborative work amongst the six different journals. Three journals have been authored by three authors each, whereas the sixth journal has four authors. The remaining two journals have two authors each. The sample reveals most of the authors preferred working in groups of three.   Ã‚  In terms of geographical locations, the authors preferred to work with researchers from the same geographical locations. Article C all the authors are from Canada, in A and B they are all from China, in D, F and E they are all from India. Question 2. Is there a significant difference in quality of research (as measured by number of citations) set against number of collaborators?    Solution   There is a significant difference in quality of research when measured by the number of citations.   One article with two authors got 4 citations and it was published in 2009, the other one published in the same year with the same number of authors got 0 citations. The other article published in 2009 has 3 authors and higher citation rate of 10. Two of the remaining articles were both published in 2012 and both have three authors and one citation each. The last article published in the same year has 4 authors and 1 citation. Going by the findings when the number of authors is the same the articles tend to have the same number of citations but when the number of authors differs, then the number of citations also differ. The citations of 2009 were higher for the article with 3 authors by a margin of 6 citations. This implies that article D was of a higher research value than article A and E. article B C both have the same number of authors and citations but lower than both A and D. The difference between the two sets of years in terms of citations is partly because the 2012 articles are very recent and as such very little or no research has been published on the same topic after they were published. However, the trend is clear in 2009 because article D got more reviews than article A and E.   This is an indication that researchers prefer using publications with more authors compared to the ones with a single or two authors (Becerra-Fernandez Leidner, 2008, p. 47).    Question 3 Has the pattern of collaboration changed over time? Solution The sample indicates that the pattern of collaboration has changed over time. In the year 2009, two journals were authored by two authors and the other one was authored by three authors. In 2012, the situation was different as two journals were authored by three authors and the other one by 4 authors. This indicates a change in the pattern of collaboration as researchers seem to like working in groups of three and above in 2012 which is slightly different to 2009 where some preferred to work in a group of two. This can be attributed to the fact that articles with more collaboration attract more citations as is evidenced by the difference in citations between article A and D. Conclusion The research findings reveal a positive relationship between collaboration in research and citation impact.   The articles with fewer authors seem to get less citation compared to the ones with more citations.   When the articles had a different number of authors in 2009, the article with more authors got more citations. In 2012, the articles had the same number of authors and citations meaning that when the number of authors is the same then the quality of research is considered as being equal. Additionally, there is an increase in the number of authors collaborating in research from the year 2009 to 2012 implying that more authors have started to appreciate the importance of collaboration in research. References Anandarajan, M., Anandarajan, A. (2010). E-Research collaboration: Theory, techniques and challenges. Heidelberg: Springer. Arden, C. H. (2010). Sustaining synergies: Collaborative research and researching collaboration. Mt Gravatt, Qld: Post Pressed. Becerra-Fernandez, I., Leidner, D. E. (2008). Knowledge management: An evolutionary view. Armonk, N.Y: M.E. Sharpe, Inc. Bessant, J. R., Venables, T. (2008). Creating wealth from knowledge: Meeting the innovation challenge. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar. Ekins, S., Hupcey, M. A., Williams, A. J. (2011). Collaborative computational technologies for biomedical research. Hoboken, N.J: John Wiley Sons. International Conference on Knowledge Management, Chu, S., Ritter, W., Al-Hawamdeh, S., World Scientific (Firm). (2010). Managing knowledge for global and collaborative innovations. Singapore: World Scientific Pub. Co. International Workshop on Groupware, Kolfschoten, G., Herrmann, T., Lukosch, S. (2010). Collaboration and technology: 16th international conference, CRIWG 2010, Maastricht, the Netherlands, September 20-23, 2010 : proceedings. Berlin: Springer. Napoli, P. M., Aslama, M. (2011). Communications research in action: Scholar-activist collaborations for a democratic public sphere. New York: Fordham University Press. Niedergassel, B. (2011). Knowledge sharing in research collaborations: Understanding the drivers and barriers. Wiesbaden: Gabler Verlag.   Ã‚  BOOK Pardede, E. (2011). Community-built databases: Research and development. Berlin: Springer. BOOK Valentine, J. C., Hedges, L. V., Cooper, H. M., Project Muse. (2009). The handbook of research synthesis and meta-analysis. New York: Russell Sage Foundation.

Private School Teacher Recommendations

Private School Teacher Recommendations Teacher recommendations are an important part of the  private school admissions process. These assessments schools to hear from your teachers, the people who know you best in the classroom environment, in order to get a better idea of what you’re like as a student. The idea of asking a teacher to complete a recommendation may be intimidating to some, but with a little preparation, this part of the process should be a breeze. Here are some common questions, along with the information you need to prepare your recommendations:   How many teacher recommendations do I need? Most private schools will require three recommendations as part of the admission process, even if you complete one of the standard applications. Typically, one recommendation will be directed to your schools principal, head of school, or guidance counselor. The other two recommendations  are to be completed by your English and math teachers. Some schools will require additional recommendations, like science or a personal recommendation. If youre applying to a specialty school, like an art school or a sports-focused school, you may also be asked to have an art teacher or coach complete a recommendation. The admission office will have all of the details you need to ensure that you complete all the requirements.   What is a personal recommendation? A great characteristic of private school is that your experience goes beyond the classroom. From arts and athletics to living on dorm and being involved in the community, who you are as a person is just as important as who you are as a student. Teacher recommendations showcase your academic strengths and areas in need of improvement, as well as your personal learning style, while personal recommendations cover life beyond the classroom and share more information about you as an individual, a friend and a citizen. Remember that not every school requires these, so dont be concerned if its not an option when you apply.   Should my teachers complete my personal recommendations, too? Personal recommendations should be completed  by an adult who knows you well. You can ask another teacher (not the same teachers completing the academic recommendations), a coach, an advisor, or even a friend’s parent. The goal of these recommendations is to have someone who knows you on a personal level speak on your behalf. Perhaps you’re looking to play in a  private school athletics  program, have a strong passion for  art, or are regularly involved in community service activities. Personal recommendations can tell the admission committee more about these endeavors. In these cases, its a good idea to pick either a coach, art teacher, or volunteer supervisor to complete the personal recommendation. Personal recommendations can also be used to share information about areas in which you need personal growth, which isn’t a bad thing. We all have areas of our lives to improve, whether it’s your ability to get places on time, a need to not overcommit yourself to activities or the ability to keep your room clean that you need to work on, private  school  is the perfect environment in which to grow and gain a greater sense of maturity and responsibility. How do I ask my teacher or coach to complete a recommendation? Some students can get nervous when it comes to asking for a recommendation, but if you take the time to explain to your teachers why you’re  applying to private school,  your teachers will most likely be supportive of your new educational endeavor. The key is to ask nicely, make it easy for your teacher to complete the application (guide them through the process) and give your teachers plenty of advance notice and a set deadline to submit. If the school has a paper form to complete, be sure to print it out for your teacher and provide them with an addressed and stamped envelope to make it easier for them to return it to school. If the application is to be completed online, send your teachers an email with a direct link to access the recommendation form and, again, remind them of a deadline. It’s always nice to follow up with a thank-you note once they have completed the application.   What if my teacher doesnt know me well or doesnt like me? Can I ask my teacher from last year instead? The school to which you’re applying needs a recommendation from your current teacher, regardless of how well you think he or she knows you, or if you think they like you. The goal is for them to understand your mastery of the materials being taught this year, not what you learned last year or five years ago. If you have concerns, keep in mind that some schools will give you the option to submit personal recommendations, and you can ask another teacher to complete one of those. If you are still concerned, talk to the admission office at the school youre applying to in order to see what they recommend. Sometimes, they will let you submit two recommendations: one from this years teacher and one from last years teacher.   What if my teacher is late submitting the recommendation? This one is easy to answer: Don’t let this happen. As the applicant, it’s your responsibility to give your teacher plenty of notice, a friendly reminder of deadlines and to check in to see how its going and if they have completed it. Don’t pester them constantly, but definitely don’t wait until the day before the recommendation is due. When you ask your teacher to complete the recommendation, make sure they clearly know the deadline, and ask them to let you know when it’s done. If you haven’t heard from them and the deadline is approaching, about two weeks before it’s due, do another check in. Most schools today also have online portals where you can track the progress of your application, and you can see when your teachers and/or coaches have submitted their recommendations.   If your teacher recommendations are late, make sure you immediately contact the school to see if theres still time to submit. Some private schools are strict with deadlines and will not accept application materials after the deadline, while others will be more lenient, especially when it comes to teacher recommendations.   Can I read my recommendations? Most simply put, no. One reason why you have to work closely with your teachers to ensure they submit the recommendations on time is that teacher recommendations and personal recommendations are all typically confidential. That means, the teachers need to submit them themselves, and not give them to you to return. Some school even require recommendations to come from the teachers in a sealed and signed envelope or via a private online link in order to make sure the confidentiality of it is preserved. The goal is for the teacher to give a full and honest review of you as a student, including your strengths and areas in need of improvement. Schools want a true picture of your abilities and behavior, and your teachers honesty will help the admission team decide if you are a good fit for their  academic program, and in turn, if their academic program will meet your needs as a student. If teachers think youre going to read the recommendations, they might withhold important information that could help the admission committee better understand you as a scholar and a member of your community. And keep in mind that the areas in which you need to improve are things that the admission team expects to learn about you. No one has mastered every aspect of every subject, and there’s always room to improve. Should I submit more recommendations than requested? No. Plain and simple, no. Many applicants mistakenly think that stacking their applications with dozens of really strong personal recommendations and extra subject recommendations from past teachers is the best way to go. However, your admission officers don’t want to wade through dozens of pages of recommendations, especially not ones from teachers in elementary school when youre applying to high school (believe it or not, that happens!). Stick with the required recommendations from your current teachers, and if requested, choose the one or two individuals who best know you for your personal recommendations, and stop there.