Environmental Scan Paper Introduction Conducting an environmental scan of various companies will examine the internal and external

environment in an effort to determine the organizations needs and plan for those needs. Specifically when conducting workforce planning, it is important to complete an environmental scan of the company. This will ensure that the company aligns the right talent with its own organizational objectives. The environmental scan will provide clarity to the internal and external climate of the company to make sure the companys needs are aligned with the access and capabilities of the workforce (Barnat, 2005). Additionally, the environmental scan will identify any competitive advantages as well as strategies currently in existence. The scan will also aid in creating business strategies that will continue to add creative value and sustain the competitiveness of the company. Another area that will be explored will be the guidelines the organization uses to measure the effectiveness of its strategies and how effective the measurement guidelines are. Internal and External Environments Completing the environment scan aids in identifying the organizations in-house needs, assets, and values. The scan will also provide insight into the external environment (the industry) that the company operates within. Ultimately, the scan will help the company form a vision while also identifying their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) (Barnat, 2005). A SWOT analysis uses internal and external factors to create a plan for the company. The scan will need to include several factors to be considered a comprehensive environmental scan. The scan will include reviewing internal and external environments, a forecast of business trends, a description of the current workforce in place, and a future projection of workforce supply and demand (Barnat, 2005).

Company 1: Los Angeles Times The Los Angeles Times is a leading news source for southern California. The external environment for the LA Times are the local events, news trends, and networking within the industry. This external environment can also include financial, demographic, politics, lawmaking, community and cultural, competitive dynamics, and changing technology influencing the business market. Understanding how the environment has changed and continues to change allows the paper to remain competitive. The internal environment sets the standards for their vision, mission statement, and SWOT analysis. Company 2: University California Los Angeles UCLA) UCLA uses environmental scanning in their planning process already. UCLA uses a periodic system; primarily focusing on the task environment. However, this only addresses the immediate needs of information on the external environment. UCLA has to go through many levels and requirements to get started, but there is a more efficient method. A recommended method is to interview the decision makers whose views are most important regarding trends and developments that might have an effect on the university. It is important that campus decision makers participate in this process, and the decision makers have a mutual understanding of what is a priority issue is, and a understanding of the dynamics of the changing environment. Competitive Advantages and Strategies The Los Angeles Times classified section of the paper allows their customers to seek jobs, and post his or her resumes for free, unlike e-career, or monster.com where the company charges a fee. This keeps and gives The Los Angeles Times a competitive advantage. On the other hand, UCLA is communicating with other universities to see what they are doing, as far as recruiting new students, and changing with the technology times; hiring the best technologist in his or her field.

Create Value The Los Angeles Times creates value by validation. The LA Times prints what is true and honest, like this article the paper printed about grading teachers. The Los Angeles Times states they printed this story because the paper believed that the parents and the public have the right to know what is going on, and the right to the information. The LA Times relates to the community by providing relevant and accurate information rather than being an entertainment source. Meanwhile, UCLA creates value by putting their students and academic faculty first, by installing a vision, and mission statement plan, and having all faculty and administrators, and students follow it. Having instructors who have an understanding of the class or subject he or she is teaching, and treating the students as individuals, and not a number. Having the Board of Directors see University California Los Angeles as a learning institution and not a business deal adds value and creates values for all who are impacted by the university. Sustain Competitive Advantage How The Los Angeles Times sustains its advantage is because it is a well known paper. This paper covers all of the Metropolitan Area of Los Angeles. The other papers like The Evening Outlook and The Harold Examiner are almost obsolete, because of the amount of money The Los Angeles Times has, the paper is better equipped to pay top dollar for reporters and photographers. The papers pay range and pay structure is more lucrative than any other paper in Los Angeles. How University California Los Angeles sustains their competitive advantage is by trying to keep the cost of classes down, obtaining quality instructors and keeping them, have top of the line compensation package, with pay incentives along with tenure. Looking at other universities and staying two steps ahead of the others.

Measurement Guidelines and Strategic Effectiveness The Los Angeles Times on their database had put a teachers name on there saying that Mr.Ruelas was a less than teacher. This teacher killed himself, and his colleagues believed the paper was at fault. This is a measurement of guidelines that The Los Angeles Times did not follow. First off what the Times printed was wrong, this teacher was a devoted teacher to his students, and second, whoever wrote the article did not follow the guidelines set by the paper, which is to completely and effectively do research, and be truthful and honest. University California Los Angeles guidelines are separation of duties, which are authorizing, approving, certifying, disbursing, receiving or reconciling. Authorization and Approval where transactions are approved by the person delegated for approval authority. Custodial and Security Arrangements, which unauthorized access to assets and accounting records, are prevented. Review and Reconciliation, are employees who have an understanding of the University financial system to verify that the policies and procedures are being followed, and are accurate and complete. For The Los Angeles Times using their guidelines on fairness and honesty, and thorough research did pay-off, the paper did retract their statement about Mr. Ruelas. These guidelines help to keep the paper in check. Likewise, UCLA has guidelines help to keep the financial part of the University in compliance. There is a system of checks and balances, that has proven effective for the university Conclusion In conclusion, according to the research gathered this paper touched on the many different roles these two organizations have, one is the newspaper, and the other a University. Discussed was how the measure guidelines paved a way for these two organizations to operate with integrity, values, and beliefs. Also discussed were the internal and external environments, how two totally different organizations can have the same internal environment. The importance of these measure guidelines is to keep companies on track morally and financially. The internal addresses values and mission

statements along with the external addressing demographics, culture, and religion. All these values, environments, advantages, and strategies are a part of the formula for a solid and effective organization.

References Barnat, R. (2005) Strategic Management: Environmental Scanning. Retrieved from: http://www.strategy-formulation.24xls.com/en127 Grading the Teachers: Value Added Analysis (2011), Retrieved from: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/teachers UCLA Administrative Policies and Procedures (2009), Retrieved from: http://www.adminpolicies.ucla.edu/app