The American Red Cross
The American Red Cross is an affiliate of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. It is an organization which provides humanitarian assistance in cases of emergencies, disasters as well as public education in the country. However, over the recent years, the organization has expanded its operations to include provision of basic facilities to the poor in addition to collection and distribution of blood among other safety measures.The mission of the American Red Cross society is to provide humanitarian services and facilities for all regardless of their race. This entails availing of health care and relief services to those who are in dire need in the most efficient and effective form. The vision is to be the organization of choice in issues regarding blood donations as well as educating the public on issues concerning their health and safety. The philosophy of the American Red Cross Society is that humanitarian efforts such as blood donations are considered a responsibility of the whole community. This calls for participation from members of the community to enhance their well being.
Among the many values of the American Red Cross are impartiality, neutrality and unity such that they are able to offer their services voluntarily to all without discrimination (American Red Cross, 2010).The American Red Cross society is governed by volunteers who are supported by donations made by well wishers in the community. It also obtains support from training of non-members on health and safety issues as well as funds from selling blood products.The volunteers add up to more than a million in addition to 30,000 employees who work at different localities of the country wide branches. The society handles issues ranging from training of non-members on health and safety issues, distribution of blood and related products and disaster response services. All these services require constant mobilization of employees and the volunteers such that all year round the organization is able to achieve recognition for its services (American Red Cross, 2010).
The design of American Red Cross and its organization structure
Organizational design designates a specific protocol to be used when reporting issues concerning the organization such that employees are answerable to leaders who are directly above them. At the American Red Cross, there are various departments handling various issues such that volunteers at each department are answerable to the head of that department. The organizational culture at American Red Cross presents equal opportunities for all employees whether they are permanent or volunteers such that when they are offering their humanitarian services, the leader of that expedition becomes the supervisor. Hence all who are working at the site report to him/her even if the position of the leader could be different from what the employees are used to at the office. Although the team may incorporate individuals from various departments, when working together at the disaster scene, the organizational culture calls for elimination of departmental boundaries so as to save lives (Ivancevich, and Konopaske, 2003).
References
American Red Cross (2010), “American Red Cross — Community Services”. Retrieved on June 12, 2010 from :http://web.archive.org/web/20070825162841/www.redcross.org/more/commserv/
Ivancevich, G. and Konopaske, D. (2003). Organizations: Behavior, Structure, Processes, 11th Edition. Boston: McGraw Hill.
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