Introduction
The VSE Corporation was established in 1959 and dealt with technical services. Currently, the corporation has more than 2,700 employees who work in ensuring that the technical services are provided to its clients. The company was founded with the mission of reducing the cost and increasing the reliability in the equipment and systems of the department of defense.
The company provides consulting and system integration services, engineering services, and infrastructure support as well as information technology-based solutions. These services are provided to USA agencies and global government contractors. As part of its job, the company protects highly classified data for its clients.
Financial wise, the company performance is excellent because in the years 2008 and 2009 the company had total annual revenues of over 1 billion US dollars (Commvault, n.d). It has been named as the number one growth company by making more than 500 million dollars.
According to Commvault systems Inc (n.d) VSE Corporation depends “on leading-edge technology solutions to facilitate information access and sharing among global project teams” (1). The data is stored and made available when required by the government and other contractors.
The VSE Corporation is a diversified company that has four subsidiaries that include the “Energetics Incorporated, Integrated Concepts and Research Corporation (ICRC), G&B Solutions, Inc., and Akimeka LLC.” (VSE Corporation, 2010). The company’s strength is incorporated in the technical company and its offices all over the US for easy reach by its customers.
It is the belief of the company that solutions that are cost effective can be achieved through a combination of teamwork, technology, experience, honesty, self-governance, individual experience, integrity and use of corporate resources to enhance motivation (VSE Corporation, 2010).
The company’s mission has been expanded over the years to include the provision of innovative technologies and services that can assist its customers to prosper in energy, engineering, information technology, and environment and defense services. The company is ISO certified, publicly traded and recognized for its diversified technical services provision.
Diversity Management
The management of VSE Corporation is diversified representing all the people in the society. This ensures that work activities are run without any instances of discriminations or profiling. Because the company employees are based on talent and competence, professionalism is ensured through the selection of a talented and competent group of management that can comply with the company’s regulations and code of ethics and conduct.
As part of the VSE Corporation policy statements, supervisors who are part of the management are entrusted with the duty of ensuring that workplace is free from any acts of discrimination and sexual harassment (VSE Corporation, 2009).
For this case, diversification is promoted and maintained in the workplace, because of the companies stand on discrimination and harassment. The company employees work together as a family, and sexual or romantic involving relations are prohibited as they tend to comprise the company’s potentials and the performance of the employees.
Ethical, Social, and Legal Responsibilities
Every company has a set of ethical, social and legal responsibilities that are part of the company running. The ethical responsibilities deal with the behavior that employees are expected to showcase in line of work as part of exposing their moral responsibility. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) creates the relations of a company and the community in displaying its role to the society.
The VSE is guided by a set of ethical, social, and legal responsibilities that act as guidelines in the running of an organization. The policy statement of the VSE Corporation has the guidelines that are followed by the directors and the employees.
According to the VSE Corporation (2009), the employees and the directors of the company need to observe business ethics with highest standards and be compliant with the laws that govern the company, its regulation, as well as the requirements in the contract. If an employ or director fails to follow the set code of ethics and conduct may be a liability to the company.
It is also stated that if ambiguity arises in the interpretation of the laws, contract guidelines and regulations they are required to seek guidance from supervisor. VSE Corporation other business and code of ethics and conduct is regarding conflict of interest that may arise in line of work.
According to the VSE Corporation (2009), any form of transactions between the company and its directors, employees, agents, stockholders, officers, family members or associated affiliates must have approval from the audit committee or the company board of directors. This prevents any instances of conflict of interests that may arise.
For instance, a family member may receive or be awarded personal benefit through improper ways that may be given because of a position held. The statement policy prohibits the taking of actions, conducting business or alter statements that may create or pose potential conflicts as far as the interest of the company (VSE Corporation, 2009).
Employees are prohibited from holding any position or have an interest in other companies because they may bring conflict of interest with goals of VSE Corporation or affect the performance of the employee. Lastly, approval is required if any employe wants to buy securities from a listed company. This ensures that company compliance with compliance is realized.
According to the VSE Corporation business ethics and conducts, directors and employees have a strong stand on gratuities. The company prohibits its employees as well as the directors from offering or forcing others too makes illegal payments and bribes to promote the company interests.
Some of the actions prohibited include costly entertainment, gifts, favors, and using the company’s facilities in appropriate ways (VSE Corporation, 2009). It also stipulates that accommodation of government employee should not be suggestive of any of the stated actions. Other instances like offering lunch to government officials, employees or directors are exceptional if it is worth not more than $20.
The company holds no political interest, and for that case, contributions towards political candidates and political parties are not allowed. Competition between the company and others are done on fair and equal grounds to keep the company’s brand name and status from any issues related to conflict of interests.
Other than giving any favors, directors and employees of VSE Corporation are prohibited from accepting services, gifts or expensive entertainment as this is deemed to interfere with the running of the company. If it’s unavoidable, the employees are advised to seek guidance from the supervisor or the CEO.
Since one of the duties of the VSE Corporation is the storage of data, directors, and employees who have access to sensitive data have the obligation safeguarding and protection the data to avoid any improper disclosure of the data to interested parties. Transparency and accountability are highly observed in the VSE Corporation.
According to the code and business ethics approved on 4 August 2009 by the board of directors, VSE Corporation employees and directors are expected to comply with the controls and accounting rules. Budget proposals, budgets, and other company rules are expected to be fair and reflect transactions made.
International Business
VSE Corporation has been involved in international business through the offering of its technical services to various foreign countries. The international group in collaboration with the Global Division deals with logistics, program management, global field engineering, sale of foreign military services (Qasr, 2010).
For instance, last year the company was contracted to offer support to the Iraqi Navy (Qasr, 2010). This was part of the international business where it provided a repair of the navy ships, train its personnel on how to technically repair ships as well as maintenance of patrol ships.
General Planning and Strategic Planning
The VSE Corporation works under well planned strategic plans that have helped it grow over the decades. The executive team from the company first gives a brief of the strategic planning guidance (SPG) to the board of directors (VSE Corporation, 2009). Then after the board endorses it SPG strategic planning process begins. Under the SPG strategic initiatives are executed that ensure profitability and the growth of the company.
For example, the SPG for a period of between 2009 and 2011 have been receiving reviews from the top executives and management of VSE to ensure that the goals are adjusted, goals realized, metrics and strategies converted from mere assumptions to tangible facts.
VSE has a plan of balancing their portfolio regarding the federal services by strong growth that would enable them to serve federal civilian agency customers (VSE Corporation, 2009). As part of the strategic planning process, VSE has initiated a program of leadership development that would assist in identifying and training VSE leaders of the next generation.
Organizing Work and Synergism
The work of the organization is organized in such a way that all directors and the employees know their role in the company. Although the organization protocols are centrally placed, each employee of the company plays their role to achieve the organizational goal. The synergy is based on value for employees and teamwork that ensures that the goals and the objectives of VSE are realized in both short and long term periods.
Organization Structure and Chart
The company is headed by a board of directors, executives and managers who oversee the daily running of the organization. Employees work under supervisors who then report to the various departmental heads and then to executives. The report is then approved by the board of directors that have the final say in the organizations. The board of directors is a ten-member team that is headed by its chairman.
Through the above organizational chart, the organization has been able to achieve its goals as well as achieving its objectives.
Work Team Utilization
Employees ate the VSE Corporation work as a team for the realization of its missions and goals. The company has set objectives and goals that can only be realized through teamwork utilization. According to VSE Corporation (2005) regardless of the position or the section one works, the company believes that working together as a team, following procedures and rules, offering the best an employee can the employees wholly support the quality objectives and quality policy of VSE.
This teamwork idea has ensured that VSE Corporation has kept its customers and clients at check. The quality policy and the quality objectives are set to be applied and achieved by every employee at VSE Corporation. This is a kind of way that encourages working together as a team in realizing the two quality aspects.
Staffing
VSE employees qualified for talented and skilled employees. The company has value for its employees, and as part of this, the company can offer educational opportunities, competitive packages, exposure to new technologies, and benefits (VSE Corporation, 2010). The company employs new staffs every year who have the required qualifications. As part of the regulation, the company employee’s candidates who have a permit in working in the US.
It enjoys diversity in its staff members and holds on high-performance culture (VSE Corporation, 2009). Currently; the corporation has more than 2,700 employees who work in ensuring that the technical services are provided to its clients. Because of the demand the company has been able to employ more than 600 professionals to counter the increased demand (VSE Corporation, 2009).
Employee Training and Development
After competitive recruitment, the employees of the VSE Corporation are subjected to the adequate and quality training section. As part of the VSE program, the company has been able to establish a strategic policy that ensures that leaders are trained through training at the organization. This is part of the leadership and development program.
According to the VSE Corporation (2010), the company offers growth of its employees through the offer of educational programs and opportunities. The company also exposes its employees to renewable technologies as well as to new technologies in the market. These are part of employee training and their development skills wise.
Motivating Employees
Employees in any organization need to be motivated to increase the morale and their performance index. According to Bruce, Pepitone and Ebrary Inc (1999) their demotivators that are usually present at the organization. Some of the ways that are suggested to help employees fight de motivators include, hiring the best, give the employees confidence.
Retain the best employees and be able to give honest feedback to the employees, praise and encourage them (Bruce, Pepitone & Ebrary Inc 1999). These are in other terms some of the ways of instilling the confidence of employees in an organization. According to the VSE Corporation (2010), the employees of VSE are motivated through good packages, rewarded for high performance retained, and encouraged to work as a team.
In most cases the employees recruited at the VSE Corporation are self-motivated, highly qualified in different fields, training them and even offering educational support and growth. As part of motivation, the employees of VSE are recognized and valued by the organization and its management. This keeps them motivated all the time.
Leadership and Management
The leadership and management of VSE Corporation are centrally placed. The company has a board of directors, executives, supervisors and other leaders that help in running of the organization. The company has a leadership development program that ensures that leaders of tomorrow are trained by the objectives and goals of the organization (VSE Corporation, 2009).
The management of the company is well organized in such a way that each department has its head that is responsible for running the operations. According to McKendry (2011), the company has been able to secure operations because of its quality leadership and management team. Because of its leadership and management, the company has been able to pass the $500million dollars base over the last years making it one of the successful companies.
Managing Conflict and Stress
Conflicts and stress are bound to arise in any organization. A large organization like the VSE Corporation is likely to have conflict either arising from its employees or the outside. This may indulge stress for the employees at a particular time. To manage stress and conflict, the VSE Corporation has reduced the bureaucracy, and its employees can conduct the supervisors or compliance officers without any problems.
The employees are also involved in the management team, and interaction is allowed although sexual or romantic relationships are discouraged. This makes sure that performances are well done and instances of stress because of relations are reduced. In the quality and objective policies, the employees are encouraged to give their views and encouraged to contribute ideas that can be used to improve the company.
The employees of VSE Corporation and its directors work as a team that has the family orientation aspect. This brings togetherness among the employees and directors reducing any instances of conflicts or stress. Employees are left to feel the ownership of the company, reducing the probability of conflict. In case of conflict of interest, the company has a strong statement policy regarding this (VSE Corporation, 2009).
Managing Change
Change is expected in every organization and can be brought in by external or internal factors. Some of the external factors include economic change like recession, and internal factors may include a change in the leadership of an organization. There are always ways of dealing with either and managing them to low levels. The VSE Corporation is no exception to change that affects other organizations.
The company has a management strategy program that deals and foresees change as it happens and deals with it. According to VSE Corporation (2009) report, in the year 2009, the company was faced with a lot of challenges and change. For example, the demands of its customers increased while the budgets remained challenged.
To counter this change, the company reduced its spending, cut down its costs as well as streamlining its operation. As the changes in demand increased, the company has been able to employ more than 600 professionals to counter the change (VSE Corporation, 2009). It has also expanded and upgraded the production facilities to meet the market demand of its increased consumer base.
Controlling
In the management of its work, the VSE Corporation has divided its management team to ensure adequate running. According to VSE Corporation (2009), the company has a central mechanism that controls its operations. This means that the powers and the control of the company are centrally placed in the organization. It also uses the executive team and board of directors that control the operations of the organization.
In 2009, the company approved some of its business ethics and codes of conduct to ensure that its operations are well run without putting the company y in jeopardy. This is a kind of control mechanism that ensures that the rules and regulations of the company are well followed to ensure goal and objective realization.
Appraising and Rewarding
Employees at the VSE Corporation are highly rewarded and appraised in terms of high pay and rewards. Appraising is rewarding are meant to boost the morale of employees as well as encourage them at the workplace. According to the VSE Corporation (2010), the employees at the company are offered highly competitive salaries, educational and growth opportunities as well as benefit packages that are comprehensive.
These rewarding systems ensure that the employees work with least supervision and are not bound to leave the organization. In terms of appraisals, the employees at the VSE Corporation are highly valued by the organizations. The employees are left to make some decisions and contribute to changes that they see as good to the company. This kind of freedom and participation ensures that employees and not motivated but appreciated and appraised.
Operations Management and Plans
The operations of the VSE Corporation are run in many countries with the main headquarters being in the USA. The operations are [managed by different divisions. Some of the divisions include the infrastructure group, IT, Energy and management consulting group, the federal services and the international group (Reuters, n.d).
These groups are designed to deal with the management of operations and plan to the U.S government and other government agencies. Some of the services involved include engineering, logistics, and military sales services among others. The company management team deals with the execution of the plans as well as managing the operations.
Operations Control
The operations of the VSE corporations are centrally controlled and managed. Different operations consist of the company. For example, there is logistics, IT, engineering, consulting services, and construction management (Reuters, n.d). The operations and the contracts of the company are run by the various groups and departments within the VSE Corporation.
These groups include the Federal group that deals with management; engineering, integrated logistics support services, and technical services to government agencies and all the US military branches (Reuters, n.d). There is an international group that controls the operations in US military services as well as operations in foreign countries. The group provides the same services provided by the federal service group.
The IT, Energy, and Management consulting Group controls the operations that deal with civilian government agencies. Then there is the infrastructure group like the ICRC subsidiary that deals with operations of transportation and engineering services.
Conclusion
The VSE Corporation is a publicly traded company; ISO certified and has more than 2700 employees. The company deals with engineering, consultancy, logistics, and military logistics services. It stores and protects data of various companies and agencies. The major clients are the government military and other government agencies.
Over the years the company has been able to grow and make profits under the competitive organizational leadership and management. Employees and directors are governed by a set of ethics and laws that are strictly followed by all.
Reference List
Bruce, A., Pepitone, J. S., & Ebrary, Inc. (1999). Motivating employees. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Commvault Systems Inc. (n.d). VSE Corp, Salutes Commvalt Simpana Software for Protecting Crucial Government Project Data While Supporting SOX compliance. Web.
McKendry, T. (2011). VSE Corporation: A Contrarian Investment Opportunity. Web.
Qasr, U. (2010). VSE Awarded Contract to Support Iraqi Navy. Iraq Business news. Web.
Reuters (n.d).Profile: VSE Corp (VSEC.O). Web.
VSE Corporation (2010). About VSE. Web.
VSE Corporation (2010). Code of Business Conduct and Ethics VSE Corporation. Web.
VSE Corporation (2009). VSE 2008 Annual report and Form 10-K. VSE Corporation. Web.
VSE Corporation (2010). Careers. Web.