U.S. Army Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command

Table of Contents

Introduction3

Body4

Diversity Management4

Ethical, Social, and Legal Responsibilities5

International Business5

General Planning and Strategic Planning5

Organizing Work and Synergism6

Work Team Utilization6

Staffing7

Employee and Manager Development7

Motivating Employees; Appraising and Rewarding7

Leadership and Management8

Managing Conflict and Stress9

Managing Change10

Controlling10

Operations Control11

Conclusion11

References13

U.S. Army Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command

Introduction

Located adjacent to the US Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) headquarters building, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC) is a unique US Army command that delivers world-class, origin-to-destination distribution solutions. Although headquartered in the Midwest United States, 5 brigades, dozens of battalions and detachments and thousands of personnel across the globe support the surface movement of Department of Defense equipment and supplies 24 hours a day, 365 days a year (Bashein & Markus, 1994). Whenever and wherever Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen are deployed, SDDC is involved in planning and executing the surface delivery of their equipment and supplies. SDDC is the Department of Defense's manager for all aspects of surface movement, from planning, booking and shipping, to tracking cargo, conducting port operations anywhere in the world, and managing personal property moves for military personnel, federal employees, and their families (Barrett, 1992).

Like its TRANSCOM counterparts at the US Air Force's Air Mobility Command and the US Navy's Military Sealift Command, SDDC's primary focus is on supporting the Warfighter. The command consisted of about 3,110 active-duty and Reserve military and civilian surface transportation experts as of 2012, making it possible for Warfighters to have what they need, when they need it. SDDC accomplishes this mission by partnering with the best of US commercial shipping, port, trucking, barge and rail services delivering cargo to every corner of the globe supporting DOD contingencies, exercises, and humanitarian aid missions. Under the Defense Personal Property Program, SDDC also supported US service members and their families by overseeing the shipment of their household goods and privately owned vehicles.

Additionally, within SDDC were engineers who could determine the best way to move equipment, what the infrastructure along the route would support and, if needed, how to put that infrastructure in place. The command's Transportation Engineering Agency provided defense transportation engineering services for the entire Defense Department. The flexibility and capability of SDDC was also continually expanding. The ability of SDDC's Strategic Business Office to leverage commercial capabilities allowed the command to respond quickly with options not normally within the military tool box.

Body

Diversity Management

"Diversity Management" is a strategy to promote the perception, acknowledgement and implementation of diversity in organizations and institutions. At the University of Vienna, diversity management is based on the idea that diversity opens up alternative ways of perceiving, thinking and acting and thus enriches the life of the academic community. Human beings differ in age, social and national background, gender, sexual orientation, physical and mental ability as well as religious belief and worldview (Bandura, 1977). Diversity is a source of creativity and innovation that can provide the potential for future development and competitive advantage. Diversity and its potential is essential for the University as it satisfies the mandate of an institution ...