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The Effectiveness of Communication in Leadership

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Submitted By sanb0117
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Introduction
United Stationers Inc, known as USCO by its employees, is a leading North American wholesale distributor of business products, with 2010 net sales of 4.8 billion. The company stocks approximately 100,000 items from over 1,000 manufacturers. This includes a broad and deep selection of technology products, office products, office furniture, janitorial and break room supplies, and industrial products. United Stationers consist of over 64 distribution centers nation wide that operate within two shifts. Setting, managing performance and adhering to (KPI’s) Key Performance Indicators are all apart of the performance management agenda. Metrics and goal objectives include proposed staffing and driving affective productivity and top quality. These are formulas that make the wheels turn within the distribution environment. The foundation for performance management system is performance measurement. In order for performance measurement to be done successfully, managers must have good answers to both questions “Why?” and the “What?”
Problem Statement
Productivity has suffered as a result of involuntary terminations, ineffective strategic planning, and economic downturn. Many executives find that strategic planning is key yet very challenging because if not done properly it may act as a barrier to good decision making. The decision not to fill vacancies and instead move the employees around from other shifts had the thought behind it of getting the same or more work done with less. Unfortunately this created gaps in quality and productivity. The primary issue consists of the lack of proper staffing needs to meet daily volume goals. This was a key result of ineffective managerial planning and the lack of effectively communicating various operational issues. This in-turn escalated the use of overtime and utilizing of “Temp” assistance which also

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