Phase 1 Discussion Board 2
MPM332-1501A-02: Organizational Leadership
Gabriel Escaffi
January 7, 2015
Karen Johnson

My entire working career has been in either law enforcement or corrections. I am currently employed by the Department of Justice in the Federal Bureau of Prisons. One of the most important factors that contribute to being successful when working in correction or any career field is having exceptional leadership skills and structure. The truth of the matter is that most individuals can manage but it takes special qualities to be a leader. I have learned this over my years on law enforcement and corrections. The best advice I ever received from anyone came from an elderly trustee inmate. He told me when I got promoted into administration with in the Federal Bureau of Prisons that “attitude reflects leadership” and this is the truth. It took me several years to fully understand what that meant.
When I moved to Alabama two years ago I met a woman who was a juvenile law enforcement officer or JLEO for short. She works with many organizations throughout the state talking to the youth and visiting schools. I recently have become involved with the YIP organization. The YIP organization stands for Youth In Progress. This discussion board will be centered on my involvement with this organization, leadership, organizational structure, and the organizations ability to support the project.
Describe a project that you were involved with, or are familiar with, that either succeeded or failed?
The Youth in Progress program or YIP for short is a program that helps youth who may need assistance. The YIP program provides after school activities, weekend activities, reading tutoring, writing tutoring, speech tutoring, other academic tutoring, counseling, religious studies, mediation between parents and children, and other activities. The YIP program receives state funding, some federal grant support, but mostly their operating money comes from private donations from business in the town or surrounding locations.
I was recently introduced to the YIP program a month or so ago. My girlfriend, who is a JLEO, asked me to talk to the youth about decisions and consequences. I went and discussed with them about decisions and the choices that we make have consequences either they will be positive or negative. I stayed until the closing time and absolutely fell in love with this program; however, this program has so much potential if all the resources are utilized effectively and efficiently.
The operators of YIP are looking to retire in the next few months leaving the program to either shut down or someone to take over. My girlfriend and I are looking into taking over the program and making it better than ever because so many resources are not being utilized to the maximum. YIP once taken over by us will also begin to find ways to teach a trade or establish an apprenticeship with local businesses to some of the older youth that are in the program. Also, another factor that we would like to contribute is getting the youth ready for college as well as helping those who want to join the military into the correct individual’s presence.
Discuss how project leadership played a role in its success or failure.
The first thing that needs to occur before answering this question is to define what project leadership is and what it means in regards to success or failure. According to Thought Leaders, LLC: Leadership Training for the Real World (2012) states, “Leaders play a critical role in the setting the conditions for a team to successfully manage a project. As a leader, you have to draw that line and say “here’s what I am going to judge success by.” Leaders have to set that direction and set the bar. Failing to do so guarantees project failure because there’s no way to measure success.” The Youth in Progress program leaders are going on a “going with the flow” routine. The success is that it is still operational,