Umpqua Bank Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Umpqua Bank - Case Study Example Ray Davis, the CEO and President of the Umpqua Holdings Corporation and of Umpqua Bank, took the challenge of revitalizing the bank’s concept of banking. He instead focused on an alternative approach in banking by combining sales strategy with a service-oriented culture. He also made sure that the employees were motivated by keeping them satisfied with their jobs, and this in turn was able to ingrain the company’s ideals to the employees (Lok & Crawford, 1999). The customer and service-oriented culture of Umpqua Bank gave it an edge over the competition, and helped it rise up to its status today. Davis chose associates within and outside the organization that were also open to changes, and it helped him and the company achieve exactly what he wished for the Umpqua Bank to become, even exceeding their expectations. The internal structure of the organization was changed first, and in order to provide a service-oriented atmosphere in the banks, the frontlines were employee s that were able to attend to anything that any customer might ask, which makes the bank employees seem even more flexible and approachable for their customers. Thus the customers of the bank would only be interacting with what the CEO calls â€Å"sales people† (Freeze, n.d.). Most of the people that had jobs that do not let then interact with customers directly (e.g. tellers, accountants, etc.) were mostly sent in another facility in order for them to do their work efficiently without distractions from incoming customers. Next, trainings and seminars about customer services were provided for all the employees in order for them to imbibe the company’s culture of being customer and service-oriented. Other upgrades such as the appearance of the banks were made by designing the place to look like a warm lounging area. All visible employees can then cater to the inquiries of the depositors or bank visitors, while providing them seats, internet access, magazines and newspap ers, and even coffee while waiting (Freeze, n.d.). By making the customers feel at ease, more inquiries and bank transactions were made, and along with the eventual upgrade of the other branches as well, the new services brought in not just additional revenue but also a new image for the Umpqua Bank. Aside from giving trainings and seminars, the company also gave time for its employees to participate in activities involving business partners or other institutions in where the bank is located, such as volunteering in order to show the people of Oregon that the company cares not just to its customers but to the community as well. This was found to be a win-win solution in that aside from enriching the lives of the banks’ employees, the interaction also increased not just the number of people that wanted to do business with them or the assets that the bank was able to acquire, but also the number of financial institutions that would be willing to merge with the company (Freeze, n.d.). Thus the perception of the people in for Oregon Umpqua Bank was a bank that puts the customer first, a bank that works with local partners, and as a bank that gives back to the community. Upon inspection on how

US Policy on Immigration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

US Policy on Immigration - Essay Example In March 2003, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) - a cabinet level federal agency created under the Homeland Security Act of 2002 and tasked to coordinate and implement internal security took over immigration duties from the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Under the supervision of DHS, immigration enforcement is now under the Border and Security Directorship and immigration services under the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (National Immigration Forum, August 2003). The mandate given to Homeland Security to implement immigration policy was to enable the body to strictly enforce immigration rules with regards to the fact that Al Qaida operatives who undertook terrorist activities from 1993 until 2001 were able to enter the United States by exploiting the weaknesses in the immigration system (M. Krikorian, Spring 2004). The Department of Homeland Security is tasked to secure the borders of the country in order to prevent illegal entries of immigrants, and to this effect a record 4.5 million people have been apprehended and repatriated, out of which were 350,000 have criminal records according to the White House, at least since President George Bush took office (White House, November 28, 2005). The message being sent is that the United States "border must be open to trade and tourism and closed to criminals, drug dealers, and terrorists" (White House, November 28, 2005). ...ecretary of Homeland Security to enforce laws pertaining to security in conjunction with the issuance of visas of consulates and visas, powers that were vested before in the Secretary of State (National Immigration Forum, August 2003). Thus, the Homeland Security has personnel posted at American embassies and consulates all over the world.However, immigration policy which fell under the national security context had been countere d by parties which say that the current policy is harsh to immigrants who have traditionally bolstered the economic power and the democratic space of the United States. As a response, the Bush administration has made efforts to undertake reforms that would bolster national security concerns without undermining the rights of immigrants and making it difficult for those who are productive and law-abiding to become legal citizens of the United States. Border patrols and no-exception policy on repatriation of illegal entrants (most of those who come through Mexico) are coupled with proposals for a new Temporary Worker Program which will allow migrant worker to register for a definite period, after which they have to leave (White House, November 28, 2005). The temporary worker program has been advocated as a safer alternative than granting amnesty which the government believes would reward those who break the law.