SCSCAI leadership, Cause & Effect

SCSCAI Board of Directors;

Ladies & Gentlemen,

When making preparation for the upcoming Golf Ad Hoc Marketing Committee Meeting I encountered problems understanding how committees are supposed to function in Sun City and needed clarification; I requested this information from several homeowners interested in the success of the Golf Ad Hoc Marketing Committee by my memo Need Clarification dated 4/21/10, received zero results. This led me to review the works of Irving Janis “Preventing groupthink” for an explanation how committees function (below). Please review my memo Need Clarification and give me your individual comments.

I believe you all know how concerned I am about the financial situation in Sun City Summerlin, as a homeowner, and I want to contribute to the solution. Do not hesitate to call on me.

Thank you for your consideration,

Dwain A. Kramzar   Retired HomeOwner

2624 High Range Dr.

Las Vegas, NV 89134

Groupthink

Thursday, April 22, 2010

10:22 AM

Symptoms of groupthink

To make groupthink testable, Irving Janis devised eight symptoms indicative of groupthink (1977).

Illusions of invulnerability creating excessive optimism and encouraging risk taking.

1.     Rationalizing warnings that might challenge the group's assumptions.

2.     Unquestioned belief in the morality of the group, causing members to ignore the consequences of their actions.

3.     Stereotyping those who are opposed to the group as weak, evil, biased, spiteful, disfigured, impotent, or stupid.

4.     Direct pressure to conform placed on any member who questions the group, couched in terms of "disloyalty".

5.     Self censorship of ideas that deviate from the apparent group consensus.

6.     Illusions of unanimity among group members, silence is viewed as agreement.

7.     Mind guards — self-appointed members who shield the group from dissenting information.

Groupthink, resulting from the symptoms listed above, results in defective decision making. That is, consensus-driven decisions are the result of the following practices of groupthinking[5]

·        Incomplete survey of alternatives

·        Incomplete survey of objectives

·        Failure to examine risks of preferred choice

·        Failure to reevaluate previously rejected alternatives

·        Poor information search

·        Selection bias in collecting information

·        Failure to work out contingency plans.

Janis argued that groupthink was responsible for the Bay of Pigs 'fiasco' and other major examples of faulty decision-making. The UK bank Northern Rock, before its nationalisation, is thought to be a recent major example of groupthink.[5] In such real-world examples, a number of the above groupthink symptoms were displayed.

Pasted from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groupthink>

Preventing groupthink

According to Irving Janis, decision making groups are not necessarily destined to groupthink. He devised seven ways of preventing groupthink (209-15):

·        Leaders should assign each member the role of “critical evaluator”. This allows each member to freely air objections and doubts.

·        Higher-ups should not express an opinion when assigning a task to a group.

·        The organization should set up several independent groups, working on the same problem.

·        All effective alternatives should be examined.

·        Each member should discuss the group's ideas with trusted people outside of the group.

·        The group should invite outside experts into meetings. Group members should be allowed to discuss with and question the outside experts.

·        At least one group member should be assigned the role of Devil's advocate. This should be a different person for each meeting.

By following these guidelines, groupthink can be avoided. After the Bay of Pigs invasion fiasco, John F. Kennedy sought to avoid groupthink during the Cuban Missile Crisis.[6] During meetings, he invited outside experts to share their viewpoints, and allowed group members to question them carefully. He also encouraged group members to discuss possible solutions with trusted members within their separate departments, and he even divided the group up into various sub-groups, to partially break the group cohesion. JFK was deliberately absent from the meetings, so as to avoid pressing his own opinion. Ultimately, the Cuban missile crisis was resolved peacefully, thanks in part to these measures.

Pasted from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groupthink>

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SCSCAI leadership, Causes & Effects

Groupthink

Thursday, April 22, 2010

10:22 AM

Symptoms of groupthink
To make groupthink testable, Irving Janis devised eight symptoms indicative of groupthink (1977).
Illusions of invulnerability creating excessive optimism and encouraging risk taking.
1. Rationalizing warnings that might challenge the group's assumptions.
2. Unquestioned belief in the morality of the group, causing members to ignore the consequences of their actions.
3. Stereotyping those who are opposed to the group as weak, evil, biased, spiteful, disfigured, impotent, or stupid.
4. Direct pressure to conform placed on any member who questions the group, couched in terms of "disloyalty".
5. Self censorship of ideas that deviate from the apparent group consensus.
6. Illusions of unanimity among group members, silence is viewed as agreement.
7. Mind guards — self-appointed members who shield the group from dissenting information.
Groupthink, resulting from the symptoms listed above, results in defective decision making. That is, consensus-driven decisions are the result of the following practices of groupthinking[5]
8. Incomplete survey of alternatives
9. Incomplete survey of objectives
10. Failure to examine risks of preferred choice
11. Failure to reevaluate previously rejected alternatives
12. Poor information search
13. Selection bias in collecting information
14. Failure to work out contingency plans.
Janis argued that groupthink was responsible for the Bay of Pigs 'fiasco' and other major examples of faulty decision-making. The UK bank Northern Rock, before its nationalisation, is thought to be a recent major example of groupthink.[5] In such real-world examples, a number of the above groupthink symptoms were displayed.
Pasted from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groupthink>
Preventing groupthink
According to Irving Janis, decision making groups are not necessarily destined to groupthink. He devised seven ways of preventing groupthink (209-15):
8. Leaders should assign each member the role of “critical evaluator”. This allows each member to freely air objections and doubts.
9. Higher-ups should not express an opinion when assigning a task to a group.
10. The organization should set up several independent groups, working on the same problem.
11. All effective alternatives should be examined.
12. Each member should discuss the group's ideas with trusted people outside of the group.
13. The group should invite outside experts into meetings. Group members should be allowed to discuss with and question the outside experts.
14. At least one group member should be assigned the role of Devil's advocate. This should be a different person for each meeting.
By following these guidelines, groupthink can be avoided. After the Bay of Pigs invasion fiasco, John F. Kennedy sought to avoid groupthink during the Cuban Missile Crisis.[6] During meetings, he invited outside experts to share their viewpoints, and allowed group members to question them carefully. He also encouraged group members to discuss possible solutions with trusted members within their separate departments, and he even divided the group up into various sub-groups, to partially break the group cohesion. JFK was deliberately absent from the meetings, so as to avoid pressing his own opinion. Ultimately, the Cuban missile crisis was resolved peacefully, thanks in part to these measures.
Pasted from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groupthink>

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Need Clarification:

Gentlemen,

Help me out, I am having problems understanding how committees are supposed to function in Sun City. The By-Laws defines the responsibilities and members of the Golf Oversight Committee 18(Amended 01/2003). The word Oversight suggest that the intention of the By-Laws is to provide supervision and to protect the quality of the community’s golf course assets for the Association membership.

A component of the GOC the Permanent Advisory Board (paid employs) has given consistently wrong advice to the Board, now the BoD’s has charged an AD-Hoc committee to rectify the wrong direction of the PAB and to come up with a Marketing solution using the same subordinates. (I feel the tail is wagging the dog)

My question is, how can you make this point to the BoD’s without inflaming them? Got any ideas?

DAK 

Need Clarification:

8.9 Golf Oversight Committee 18(Amended 01/2003)

The Golf Oversight Committee keeps the Board of Directors advised of suggested improvement or enhancements to the golf courses and makes recommendations as to: golf operations, golf fees, golf reserve funds, outside play and other pertinent golf issues. In addition, the Committee hears suggestions and complaints from the residents in general, resident golfers and adjacent property owners. The Committee then makes recommendations for corrective action. The Committee will be comprised of a Chairperson appointed by the Board of Directors of no less than five (5) members appointed by the Chairperson. The Committee will also include a permanent advisory Board consisting of the Executive Director, the Director of Golf and the Director of Golf Course Maintenance

Note: it appears that the Golf Oversight Committees permanent advisory Board, consisting of three paid employee's, are in charge of their own evaluation.

1.     Where is the Director of Golf  listed as an employee on the Sun City organizational chart.?

2.     Who is the Director of Golf & what are his listed duties?

3.     Is the Golf Ad Hoc Committee a duplication of the Golf Oversight committee, will it create a conflict?

MKT/PRO 1st Meeting

Looking foward to the 2nd meeting of the golf Marketeing/Promotion Ad-Hoc Committe I have reviewed and organized my notes & observations. If anyone needs clarification do not hesitate to give me a call.

DAK

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MKT/PRO 1st Meeting

Wednesday, April 07, 2010

8:09 AM

		QUESTIONS NEEDED TO BE ASKED/DAK  What is a Customer worth  What would make Sun City unique  What is the Customer experience history  How  are the 13K residents being utilized			A FEW REASONS WHY BUSINESS CAN FAIL •  Failure to have a business plan.       •  Failure to communicate and implement the business plan.    •  Management team lacks the necessary leadership and business skills required.    •  Lack of understanding of the competition.    •  Refusal to change as the business environment changes.    •  Employee base does not understand their individual roles and job expectations.    •  Poor customer service.    •  Lack of understanding of the customer needs.    •  Poor quality products.    •  Lack of understanding of the real costs of the services and/or product you provide.    •  Failure to negotiate the best possible purchase price of supplies and materials.    •  Losing control of the organization due to continued operation within the Crisis  Mode.    •  Excessive overhead costs.    •  Failure to establish employee goals and objectives.    •  Rate of growth of the business is exceeding the ability of the management team to keep up with the pace. Pasted from <http://daksplace.blogspot.com/search/label/Letters%20to%20the%20Board>
	STRATEGIES REVIEWED: Goal: Two new Mkt. strategies  over six months to increase revenues by 10% over the next two years/LeVasseur/Kelly Pricing/Bob F Focus on Tourism & premium players/Bernie S Pricing Packages offered/Kelley ??/Rhoda R Mkt. Community via Web/Stan B/Allan B

Reference:

 http://daksplace.blogspot.com/search/label/Business%20Plan

NEXT MEETING:

When: Wednesday, April 28th

Time: 1:00 PM

Where: Desert Vista Committee Room

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RE: GOLF MARKETING/PROMOTION AD-HOC COMMITTEE 4/8/10

Bob, how refreshing, in the 12 years I have lived in this HOA you are the second elected director that displays the willingness to listen to the resident home-owners. FYI my background is somewhat different that most folks in our community I did not come from a corporate mentality, by that I mean my company and I was responsible to my family and various regulatory agencies only. My style of management was common sense observation and to look for the questions that need to be asked. My business discipline was guided by a monthly P&L rather that a yearly Budget, maybe this explains why I feel the need for an independent professional Business Plan and not try to invent a new wheel.

Yearly Budgets are a projection of hopeful numbers pertaining to revenues and expenses, sort of a “mark to market” approach in stating income values. Monthly P&L statements represent actual numbers needed in creating a basis for timely decision making.

Bob, as I stated in the past I did not retire to Nevada to become a politician or start a new career. Again, I want to offer you and our community my full support.

Dwain

From: BobdeDoelder@aol.com [mailto:BobdeDoelder@aol.com]
Sent: Monday, April 12, 2010 8:49 AM
To: DKramzar@embarqmail.com
Subject: Re: GOLF MARKETING/PROMOTION AD-HOC COMMITTEE 4/8/10

Dear Dwaine,  Thank you for your support.  I had always planned on seeking your opinions and suggestions and will do so when we formally begin the process of planning later in May after the Finance Committee and Board have concluded the current budget work.  Please stay tuned.  I look forward to talking one on one with you.  Bob

GOLF MARKETING/PROMOTION AD-HOC COMMITTEE 4/8/10

Mr. de Doelder,

I am glad to see you have been appointed to the Finance Committee and the Golf Ad-Hoc Committees. Bob, you have the opportunity to bring a fresh uncontaminated approach to the financial problems facing our Sun City community. As you know, I have been very vocal regarding the reluctance of the past Board of Directors and Management to produce or acknowledge a standard Business Plan. A Business Plan is the foundation with eight essential elements placed on top, one of these elements being Marketing & Sales Management, no foundation no plan!

August 17, 2009 I petitioned the Board for the implantation of a Standard Business Plan, complete with a monthly P&L w/hard close and Balance Statement that is mandatory business procedure. There has been a reluctance to produce a Business Plan by the BoD in the past, this includes the Executive Director (a nonvoting member of the Board). Due to the lack of professional guidance by the Executive Director, this has cost our Sun City Community over $6,575.00 per day for a total exceeding $12,000,000.

My reason for attending the “GOLF MARKETING/PROMOTION AD-HOC COMMITTEE” meeting was 1.) to see if the new BoD’s were to honor the campaign commitment for a Business Plan. 2.) if so, offer to contribute whatever I could to the project.

Bob, the above LINKS to my blog will fully state my positions on these matters, by the way the past BoD’s chose to ignore most of my correspondence. If I can be of any assistance to you and our community do not hesitate to call on me.

Dwain Kramzar

702.838.5049

THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!!! from a concerned citizen

"Every State has a natural right in cases not within the compact (casus non faederis) to nullify of their own authority all assumptions of power by others within their limits. Without this right, they would be under the dominion, absolute and unlimited, of whosoever might exercise this right of judgment for them."       -- Thomas Jefferson   THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!!!!! A friend sent this along to me. I can't think of a reason to disagree.   I am sending this to virtually everybody on my e-mail list and that includes conservatives, liberals, and everybody in between. Even though we disagree on a number of issues, I count all of you as friends.  My friend and neighbor wants to promote a "Congressional Reform Act of 2010".. It would contain eight provisions, all of which would probably be strongly endorsed by those who drafted the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.. I know many of you will say, "this is impossible".  Let me remind you, Congress has the lowest approval of any entity in Government, now is the time when Americans will join together to reform Congress - the entity that represents us.   We need to get a Senator to introduce this bill in the US Senate and a Representative to introduce a similar bill in the US House.  These people will become American heros Thanks, A Fellow American ***********************************     Congressional Reform Act of 2010 1. Term Limits: 12 years only, one of the possible options below. A. Two Six year Senate terms B. Six Two year House terms C. One Six year Senate term and three Two Year House terms         Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career.  The Founding Fathersenvisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.    2.  No Tenure / No Pension:      A congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.      Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career.  The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.   3.  Congress (past, present & future) participates inSocial Security:     All funds in the Congressional retirement fund moves to the Social Security system immediately.  All future funds flow into the Social Security system, Congress participates with the American people.     Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career.  The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, server your term(s), then go home and back to work.    4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan just as all Americans.     Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career.  The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.    5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise.  Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.     Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career.  The Founding Fathers envisioned  citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work..    6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.     Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career.  The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.   7. Congress must equally abide in all laws they impose on the American people.     Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career.  The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.   8. All contracts with past and present congressmen are void effective 1/1/11.       The American people did not make this contract with congressmen, congressmen made all these contracts for themselves.     Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career.  The Founding Fathers envisioned  citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work..       If you agree with the above, pass it on to all in your address list.   If not, just delete. No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.437 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2765 - Release Date: 03/23/10 07:33:00 Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. Sign up now.

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DAK