Life Cycle, Term Paper Example

The approach of life cycle management is a business style approach that can be used by any type of business or organization in order to improve their products, their productivity, or their overall goals and objectives within the group or organization. This method can be altered to the needs of each individual groups or organization and may be implemented as one deems fit. This article will expand on the concept of the system life cycle and examine its contents more thoroughly.

Description

As stated, this is a concept that can be used by any group or organization. It may be used to help target, analyze, and manage information in order to improve upon concepts that a company might be utilizing to meet certain objectives(Fava & Hall, 2004). It could also be used to organize current concepts to make the organization more efficient with its current practices. The overall concept of the life cycle management is to improve a group or organization and this could be an improvement with the work force, the needs of the environment, or with social and economic factors(Fava & Hall, 2004). It is important to also remember that a life cycle is utilized to help a group or organization gain value, thus making this a more desirable end product. As each stage of the life cycle is completed and implemented, the value of the overall group or organization should improve significantly.

Needs Assessment

This business approach to the management and improvement of groups and organizations, no matter what the specifics, seeks to place its aims at long term rewards rather than short term benefits. The group or organization should examine the current protocols of the company and what their focus might be, what direction they wish to move, and how long they would like to take in moving towards that direction(Remmen, Jensen, & Frydendal, 2007). This would give them a better view as to how drastic of a life cycle change they would need in order to meet the needs of their particular interests.

Some businesses are using this model for reduction of carbon footprints and some are using it specifically for the economic increases in their company’s productivity. The main characteristic of the life cycle change is that it requires a group or organization to look outside of the box and envision what is happening around them rather than focusing only on themselves(UNEP, 2009). This actually helps with keeping a competitive edge in the marketplace.

System’s Selection

The needs assessment does not provide a black or white picture of whether something should be changed or not; rather, it is up to the management to decide this based on the results of such an assessment. There are factors that will help determine whether a change would benefit the company. Likewise, there are also outside factors that will help determine whether a change would benefit the community around the group or organization(Remmen, Jensen, & Frydendal, 2007). It is vital for the company to keep everyone’s best interests in mind before making permanent decisions, especially those based on environmental prospects.

Implementation

There can be multiple ways to implement a life cycle change. There can be ecological implementations, ecological-hybrid technological implementation, and even just financial implementations(UNEP, 2009). It is up to the company to decide all of the extenuating factors and propose a cycle that will best fit its overall objectives. If the company is not one that has a large economical or environmental basis, then there is no reason to implement a life cycle change that would be based on these factors. However, if the company has a divest interest in these things, then there could very well be something gained in implementing a life cycle change that includes points from the aforementioned topics. Finding the exact focus of the company’s life cycle change is the essential part of a successful implementation(Fava & Hall, 2004).

Maintenance

As stated prior, the life cycle change is about more than short term benefits. It is about what can be gained in the long term. With the proper implementation as well as maintenance, groups and organizations will have the ability to see these quicker and notice a change in the way the company operates in a general fashion. It will be evident from an outside perspective as well(UNEP, 2009). Suppliers and stakeholders will have a great interest in this as well and it is important that they play a role in the maintenance of this cycle so they are able to give input if there are changes taking place that have a negative impact on the company.

Manager’s Role

In order to have a successful life cycle change, a manager must have the ability to work with individuals on the inside and outside of the organization. This even means, at times, on a global scale. This will help to bridge any gaps as well as stay abreast of current trends. He must also be capable of handling the most mundane tasks with ease if he is to be successful in the long term. It is only in this aspect that a manager of a life cycle change is going to properly handle restructuring of the organization(Remmen, Jensen, & Frydendal, 2007).

Conclusion

A life cycle change is often necessary to bring a company into the present time period. Goals change over the course of the years and there are going to be shifts in objectives and ways that companies wish to handle situations. A well conducted life cycle management change will be a positive impact to a struggling group or organization that is willing to alter its needs in order to contribute to the best interest of the public and move into the current era.

References

Fava, J., & Hall, J. (2004). Why take a life cycle approach. UNEP/SETAC. Retrieved from http://www.unep.fr/scp/lcinitiative/publications

Remmen, A., Jensen, A., & Frydendal, J. (2007). Life Cycle Management: A business guide to sustainability. UNEP/SETAC Publications. Retrieved from http://www.unep.fr/scp/lcinitiative/publications

UNEP. (2009). Guidelines for Social Life Cycle Assessment of Products. UNEP. Retrieved from http://lcinitiative.unep.fr