Saturday, November 30, 2019

Unjust People Rectification Essays - Deontological Ethics, Justice

Unjust People Rectification Robert Nozick, in his essay Rights and the Entitlement Theory, discusses the rights of individuals and just acquisition. He makes it clear that these rights and/or acquisitions cannot be taken away by anyone, either by an individual or by a collective identity such as the state. Individual people and the state have an obligation to not interfere with one's rights or just acquisitions. As long as one does not interfere with another's life and intrinsic rights then no one else shall interfere with another's life, it is a reciprocal obligation. Furthermore, the government should be involved minimally in the life of the individual. According to Nozick, the state should be "...limited to the narrow functions of protection against force, theft, fraud, enforcement of contracts, and so on..."(p. 210). Also, according to Nozick each individual has the right to choose what to do with what one has, as long as it was acquired justly. Therefore, if a freely organized group of people owned a (communal) house, assuming they acquired it justly, what would give anyone else the right to take it away and redistribute it? (And moreover, in this specific instance what other rights and/or just acquisitions are violated?) In 1993 the administration at Denison University decided to make the fraternity houses non-residential. Fraternity members that had acquired the houses justly would no longer be able to live in them. I believe the acquisition of the houses from one generation to the next was just because initially someone financed the house, and then through initiation to the fraternity, and thus through a belief in the fraternity's ideals, they "earned" residency in the house. Moreover, they paid for utilities, upkeep, and basic needs of the house. Despite this just acquisition the school, or government in this example, according to Nozick unjustly"took" back the houses. This leads to the essay A Theory of Justice, by John Rawls. In his essay Rawls discusses the principles of justice and equality in society. Rawls wants everyone to start in a specific hypothetical situation with two principles of justice, among other things. The first principle is as follows: "each person is to have an equal right to the most extensive basic liberty compatible with a similar liberty for others" (p. 551). And, the second principle is as follows: "social and economic inequalities are to be arranged so that they are both (a) reasonably expected to be to everyone's advantage, and (b) attached to positions and offices open to all" (p. 551). According to the first principle everyone has the right to basic liberties; included in these liberties is "...freedom of the person along with the right to hold (personal) property; and freedom from arbitrary arrest and seizure..." (p. 551). The dilemma arises again, how does the University account for the seizure and redistribution of an organization's private property? For Rawls, the first principle comes before the second, "[T]his ordering means that a departure from the institutions of equal liberty required by the first principle cannot be justified by, or compensated for, by greater social and economic advantages" (p. 551). Here, I believe it is evident that the University, out of benefit of better social and economic advantages, unjustifiably seized the fraternity houses. The University benefited economically because they could use the fraternity houses to accommodate students; and they benefited socially because "frats" were no longer a central theme in Denison society. According to both Rawls and Nozick the school had no right in seizing the houses. Moreover, according to Nozick the state, Denison University Administrators, is supposed to be protecting against such unjust acts. This is the most evident violation of basic rights within this example, however there is a more serious violation of basic rights that many seem to overlook. In Nozick's theory of rights and entitlement is the notion of side constraints. "Side constraints upon action reflect the underlying Kantian principle that individuals are ends and not merely means; they may not be sacrificed or used for the achieving of other ends without their consent" (p. 210). In terms of my example I believe the University was exploiting the fraternities as "ends and not merely means," because they used the fraternities for their own means without consent. While at the same time they deprived the fraternities of the means by which they had been working towards some end. Yet another aspect of Nozick's essay comes to the surface here, the notion that each person is free from any interference concerning the pursuit of one's own life (p. 209). It seems, according to the above-mentioned

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

practise and theory essays

practise and theory essays Clear concise introduction as to what your project is about, what themes you will be discussing and why they are important. How do they bare relevance to your project and how have they inspired your work and what sort of response are you hoping to receive from the onlooker? Why is colour important for you? Does it have ritual and cultural significance? Why do you use bright colours in your work? Does it work as well with pastel colours? Does it evoke memories of Pakistan; does it enhance a deeper understanding of your inherited culture? What colours make you comfortable in your visual sphere? Do you have to use particular colours with particular patterns, why is this important? Talk about repeat pattern. Is this a culturally important symbol in your work? What is the purpose of repeat? Why do you use pattern in your work? Do certain patterns have allegorical connotations Are these symbols and patterns purely aesthetic or do they have special meaning? Why is marriage such an important occasion in Asian Culture? Discuss the significance of marriage and what it means to you. Why has this theme inspired your work, what elements have you taken from the idea of marriage? How does this relate to your ideas and your practice? Why is this notion of bejewelled adornment so important in Asian Bridal wear? Is this a feature you would like to expand upon? Is this idea of encrusted jewellery embedded in clothing particularly important in your culture or is it there purely for aesthetic means? Justify why you have taken this and used it in your work. Why have you chosen to take this theme into the interior, what are you hoping to achieve by doing this? Do you follow a set of implicit assumptions when creating your designs or is there a particular methodology, which you follow, expand on this! Is space and layout important? How d ...

Friday, November 22, 2019

Austrian and Post-Keynesian theories of the competitive process

Austrian and Post-Keynesian theories of the competitive process The Austrian School is a heterodox school of economic thought that emphasizes the spontaneous organizing power of the price mechanism, which was influential in the late 19th and early 20th century (Boettke, 2008). After the 1870s, Marxism spread rapidly in the ranks of workers, and the economic theories that defended for the capitalists went bankrupt. The Austrian economics based on three core concepts: entrepreneurship, subjectivism and market process, which became popular after that. The Post-Keynesian school of thought was developed in the debate with the neoclassical synthesis. After The General Theory of Keynes was published, some different points of view on the practical problems arose in the followers of Keynes, and gradually formed two opposing schools of thought: neoclassical and the Post Keynesian School. The theoretical foundation of Post Keynesian economics is the principle of effective demand, that demand matters in the long as well as the short run, so that a competiti ve market economy has no natural or automatic tendency towards full employment (Arestis, 1996). The objective of this paper is comparing and contrasting Austrian and Post-Keynesian theories of the competitive process. The similarities and differences between these two theories will be stated orderly. Although Austrian and Post-Keynesian theories are two different schools of thought, they still have some degree of similarities. First, they both advocate uncertainty. Next, they both cannot be regarded as profit maximizers. Last, the competitive process is seen as a dynamic process by both theories. First of all, for the Austrian approach uncertainty is pervasive. One of the Austrian’s core concepts is entrepreneurship. Austrian school thinks that the community is a collection of individuals. Individual’s economic activity is a microcosm of the national economy. Through the interpretation of individual economic activities, reasoning illustrates the complexities of real ec onomic phenomena. Entrepreneur is the individual here in the real economy. They are all different in each other. Therefore entrepreneurs in particular always face fundamental uncertainty. Kirzner (1973) emphasized the uncertainty present in all human decision-making, has primarily focused on the entrepreneurial market process. For the Post-Keynesian approach firms’ pricing behaviour is determined by a ‘mark-up’ rule. This behavioural approach to pricing is partly in response to the imprecision of price setting in conditions of uncertainty. Uncertainty is the fundamental element of Keynes’ theory, and Post-Keynesian followed and developed it. In the Post-Keynesian theory of agency, agents are non-optimisers due to fundamental uncertainty. According to Fernando Ferarri Filho (2001), in a context in which time is historical, economic agents do not decide future actions on the basis of statistical series analyses or beliefs justified by experience. To the cont rary, decision-making is classified as an environment of true uncertainty. They are not the rational calculators of standard theory. This suggests some overlap with Austrian theory. Second, in Austrian’s term, entrepreneurs display purposeful pursuit of profit in the competitive process, which provides market order. It cannot be regarded as profit maximizers due to fundamental uncertainty. However profit is still therefore important in motivating agents. Neoclassical theory assume that manufacturers pursuit profit maximization, but we all know there is another voice in society requiring manufacturers to take social responsibility. Social responsibility will increase the company’s operating costs, which is not conducive to their competition in the market. So, non-profit-maximizing firms will be sustained by the loss of profits and investment capacity and continuous losses, and finally be forced out of the market. Austrian school advocates idealism and they do not believ e that firms select the behaviour of pursuit profit maximization. In post-Keynesian economics, firms are not assumed to maximize profits as well, as is clear in Lavoie (1992, p.105), â€Å"The standard critique of the neoclassical theory of the firm is that profit maximization is not possible because of the lack of pertinent knowledge due to an uncertain environment. Profit maximization is then replaced by profit satisfying. Firms are assumed to set themselves threshold levels of profits; that is, minimum levels of profits or of rates of return.† Furthermore, the firm’s overall objective is the pursuit of ‘power’. This involves attempting to control its environment. To become powerful, firms must be big; to become big, firms must grow. Growth is the subjective and profits are the means to realize this objective. However, maximizing growth does not equal to maximizing profits. Firms maximize the rate of growth, subject to various finance and expansion const raints.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Hydropower in Portugal Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Hydropower in Portugal - Assignment Example which are running while others are still under construction, are all aimed at enabling the nation to meet its objectives of energy sustainability and European Union’s goals of renewable energy. Evidently, hydropower has impacted Portugal’s social and economic sectors. Expansion of hydropower capacity is secondarily motivated by the economic and social benefits presented by this renewable energy source. First, hydropower is a cheap source of energy, which is instrumental in improving the business favorability of a nation. In addition, projects related to expansion of hydropower capacity across Portugal presents beneficial effects to the nation’s social and environmental sectors. Potential benefits of hydropower are responsible for the government’s active role in expanding the nation’s hydropower capacity. In addition, the potential benefits trigger interest from among communities in Portugal. Technically, development and expansion of hydropower is beneficial to any nation. In 2013, Portugal; a nation with approximately 10.2 million people, relies on electricity as the main source of power. Different methods are used in generating the needed electricity demands within the European nation. Theoretically, all methods of generating electricity are categorized as either renewable or non-renewable methods. Renewable sources of electricity include but not limited to, geothermal energy, solar energy, wind energy and hydropower (Smith, 2012). Contrarily, examples of non-renewable sources are fossil fuels like oil, coal and natural gas, and nuclear energy. Currently, 58.3% of electricity power in Portugal comes from renewable sources. The total percentage of all renewable sources in Portugal is derived from multiple sources whereby wind makes up 46.3%, hydropower makes up 41.6% while the rest is evenly distributed among geothermal, solar and biomass energy sources (Renewable Facts, 2011). Technically, Portugal generates 21756 MW of electricity power. 18.79% of

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Global Management Competencies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Global Management Competencies - Essay Example Beyond such person-to-person skills, global organization development and consulting skill areas such as multicultural team building, technology transfer, innovation, and change management are also covered in this paper. Generic skill areas are applied and adapted to the specific business practices of different localities. Geographical examples are drawn from Asia, Europe, Latin America, Russia, and the Middle East. The business manager of today must have diversity principles at the forefront of his thinking. The contemporary catch phrase "think globally, act locally" comes to mind as a recommendation to what the business managers and executives should have for an attitude. The Internet, rapid travel capability, satellite-based communications, and corporate expansion into the level of the transnational have all contributed to making our local realms more globally connected, shrinking our world and folding us all closer together with other people of sometimes very different culture and perspective. It is widely agreed that the critical factor for companies to succeed in global competition is effective development of global managers and executives (Pucik, 2000; Bartlett & Ghoshal, 2000; Evans, 2000; Tichy & Sherman, 2003; Gates, 2001). However, in management development literature, there seems to be a great deal of confusion about the meaning of various terms defining expatriate/international/global managers. In an effort to clarify the differences between the expatriate and the global manager, this article explores the definitions of the two concepts, and explains the differences in behaviors, competencies, and characteristics of the two types of managers. The article also identifies and compares the human resource practices necessary for an effective development of the expatriate and global managers. Building and sustaining organizational capabilities for global operations is a critical challenge for most globalizing firms (Nohria & Ghoshal, 2001). Meeting this challenge requires changes in cognitive processes through which managers frame business problems (Murtha, Lenway & Bagozzi, 2000). Global thinking places high value on sharing information, knowledge, and experience across national, functional, and business boundaries and on balancing competing country, business, and functional priorities that emerge in the globalization process. This set of attitudes is often described as global mindset. The emphasis on the mindset helps to differentiate between expatriate (international) and global managers. The definition of an expatriate/international manager is linked to the location of the assignment whereas the global manager is defined by his or her frame of mind. The term "expatriate (or international) manager" defines an executive who is able to assume a Management position fulfilling

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Statement of Purpose Essay Example for Free

Statement of Purpose Essay â€Å"The future belongs to those who believe in their dreams. †I firmly believe in this quote made by Eleanor Roosevelt. I have always dreamed of making it to the top in the field of business in general and that of finance in particular. However, to realize my dream I need to understand and appreciate the fact that I must arm myself with a professional degree from a reputed business school. This would be an important and decisive step in my journey towards success. A full-fledged program in finance would enable me to form a vision of business and of finance in the twenty-first century and the way it is going. The only career option in today’s competitive environment which creates an opportunity for an aspirant to pursue a career in the field of his choice is to acquire a management degree. Management qualification is a tool to build skills, gain knowledge and insight into modern business techniques At the same time and with equal mind, I recognize clearly the fact that what I wish to do would not be really possible without a robust theoretical framework and base. I fully acknowledge and appreciate the fact that I need to build up intellectual ability in me and arm myself with techniques of analysis, case studies and proper critical examination as well as the ability to acquire information and to get to the bottom of a matter. All that can come only from being part of a complete academic program that would test and try me out and in which I would grow and broaden. That is what I expect to happen to me as and when I become part of a Masters program at an outstanding university where I shall encounter the best minds engaged in constant discussion and ever absorbed in understanding not just the theoretical foundations of finance but also its new and emerging trends. What do I have to offer? First is the fact that I have done my graduation in business along with specialization in finance, which puts me in a somewhat unique position. I already have a theoretical framework that encompasses a fairly advanced and analytical view of society, its institutions and the transition that is part of those institutions in the world of today which is moving from an earlier concept of laissez faire capitalism and is becoming a global village where economic interests predominate and function as primary determinants of political action. The qualities that I have inculcated as a result of the academic ndeavors I have gone through are perseverance, patience, good communication skills, and flexible working procedures and at the same time highly disciplined working capability, qualities which I believe are absolutely necessary not just for success but also for mere survival in today’s fast paced and dynamic socio-economic environment. Most importantly I have the basic quality of self discipline and target oriented approach in consequence whereupon success is automatic. â€Å"All work and no play make Jack a dull boy†. I wish to add that I love driving and I love playing tennis and traveling. I also spend time reading about Finance books, about Finance management and about general management. I do that when I’m not listening to music, which too I love. I like watching lawn-tennis matches. Yes, with all that, I am setting out to learn as well as I can and as fast as I can at a reputed institute and pick up the training and skills of assessment, of decision making, of leadership and of communication which would benefit me to enter the complex world of business and to make my endeavors in that world profitable and advantageous. I must add that I am particularly interested in finance and look very much forward to getting into the course specifically related to finance. I see as well something equally important, namely, the fact that a program, when entered into fully and with a complete mind, builds up into an experience one can’t ever forget. A good world-class university with its vast pool of resources in terms of faculty, its up to date curriculum and its wide student membership is an active and dynamic world that provides an exposure as nothing else can. It is this exposure that I seek, as I know that it would enable me to get closer to my dream of working in the area of finance in the way I want to My role models are Mahatma Gandhi, Dhirubhai Ambani and Swami Vivekananda. Though the three come from different walks of life, each has inspired me in some or other way. In particular, their sense of leadership, their impeccable oratory and their communication skills as well as their infinite vision and talent mean a great deal to me. Finally, I believe that I would be able to steer my career in the right direction if I am armed with a professional (Masters) degree from a world renowned institute. I understand that just a qualification won’t be helpful without sincere and intelligent efforts. However, it will definitely go a long way in helping me achieve my goals. I have always been very serious about achieving my goals and to conclude, in the words of Swami Vivekananda: â€Å"Awake! Arise! Stop not till the goal is reached!!

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Scandals :: essays research papers

Contemporary society is always portrayed as a civilized society, in which the sense of democracy has come to woven throughout the fabric of our lives. Thanks to the mass media, the public has become more informed about what is happening in the world, from the political field such as the state and national government to the business area such as the international stock market. At the same time, people are paying more attention to the leaders. Some insist that since the major mission of the leaders is to lead the whole group to succeed in the intense competition, a leader should try every means to achieve his goal rather than care much about the ethic and morality. Those from the other camp hold a strong belief that to be an effective leader, a public official must maintain the highest ethical and moral standards. As far as I am concerned, I prefer the latter point of view. In the following discussion, I would like to present several evidences to support my standpoint. First and foremost, a public official with high ethical and moral standards will set a good example for the society as a whole which does good to the improvement of the morality of the public. From ancient times to the present world, the public leaders always serve as a focus of the ordinary that treat the words and actions of the leaders as a sign of right. So what and how the leaders say and do would produce a far-reaching effect on the public. A case in point is Gandhi, the greatest leader in Indian history. He led a simple and hard way of living all his life and never wasted even one coin, , and this encouraged all citizens of India to spare no effort to work hard for a better further of their country and no one pursued a luxury material life. This illustrates that a leader with high ethical and moral standards promote a good ethos in the society. Meanwhile, high ethical and moral standards embodied in the words and actions of a public official would help him or her to gain the trust and support of the public especially of his or her subordinates which make his or her policy to be implemented more effectively and efficiently. Take Mao Zedong, the founder of our new China for example: in the period of hardship, he advocated that all Chinese should tie up their belts and try every effort to go through this difficult time.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Internal Risk Assessment †Home Depot Essay

Former president and chief executive officer of the online auction site eBay stated, â€Å"A business leader has to keep their organization focused on the mission. That sounds easy, but it can be tremendously challenging in today’s competitive and ever-changing business environment. A leader also has to motivate potential partners to join† (Whitman, n. d. ). These wise words expressed from a wise and highly successful business leader speak soundly in relation to motivating employees and a sustaining a competitive business advantage. Along with a competitive advantage arises the need to assess the firm’s internal risk. Departmental strengths and weaknesses, strategic endurance, and financial foundation all substantiate the level of allowable tolerance for internal risks. A publicly traded global firm, The Home Depot, Incorporated leads the world in retail building supplies and home improvement goods. According to the 2009 Form 10-K reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the company maintains 2,244 retail sites â€Å"Located throughout the United States including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the territories of the U. S. Virgin Islands and Guam (â€Å"U. S. †), Canada, China and Mexico† (The Home Depot: Annual Report, 2009). The Home Depot wisely forecasts and assesses its risks while maintaining flexibility to assume increased or decreased influences affecting internal operations. According to the annual report for 2009, The Home Depot’s returns declined as compared with its 2008 earnings, as did stock prices. The company forecasted for this decline with the closure of several underperforming stores in 2008. Cutting the ties of projected threats made capital resources available to concentrate on heightening strengths and improving upon weaknesses. Company growth does not solely equate to the gain of more real property. Growth produces many internal facets through improving and enhancing capabilities to overcome weaknesses within the organization. The company’s fiscal 2009 operating strategy maintains a centralized focal point in their core retail business. In this strenuous economy, they also realize that â€Å"Success depends upon our ability to attract, train and retain highly qualified associates while also controlling our labor costs† (The Home Depot: Annual Report, 2009). Lean production with educated employees becomes essential while awaiting the economy’s upward trend. Customer loyalty and return business starts at the frontline through customer service. The operating strategy gears its strategic decisions toward raising improving capital allocation, controlling expenses to generate long-term value for its shareholders, the bottom line. To further the company’s 2009 internal strategic stability, in 2008 it opted to exercise valuable capabilities whereby counteracting short-term and long-term threats with the closure of several underperforming stores, shelving new store construction projects, and parting with business contracts loosening hindering obligations. The reevaluation of the strategic business plan provided a means to target emerging opportunities that supported the restructuring planned objectives for 2009. Success of reducing threats evidenced opportunity to position the company for future growth in projecting a strengthened economy in forthcoming years. The Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations reveals 13 store openings with a concentration toward the â€Å"Core retail business, investing in our associates and stores and improving our customer service† (The Home Depot: Annual Report, 2009). The report also ascertains that â€Å"The slowdown in the global economy and weakness in the U. S. residential construction, housing and home improvement markets negatively impacted our Net Sales for fiscal 2009† resulting in a 7. 2% declined Net Sales (The Home Depot: Annual Report, 2009). The company maintains the decrease in sales as a direct correlation to the underperforming store closures. Asserting that the weakened sales figures correlate to the competition, The Home Depot estimates a 21% market share in the United States. Reduced pricing drove an operations increase evidenced with the gross profit margin for fiscal 2009. Compared to last year, the operating income as a percent of net sales rose 1% for $4 million over 2008 figures. A substantial savings exhibited with a decline in Operating Expenses in that expenditures shrank 10. 9% from last year. Employing new merchandising tools aid the company in realizing lean production measures with its supply chain. Forecasting capabilities substantiated through â€Å"The combined efforts of our supply chain, merchandising, operations and finance teams, we reduced inventory by almost half a billion dollars in 2009, while at the same time improving our in-stock position† (Datamonitor 360, 2010). The organization’s strengths illustrate an emphasis in positive marketing, as brand awareness continues to retain The Home Depot as the largest home improvement retailer in the world, boosting its negotiating influence concerning capital financing. Competitive positioning emanates as a strength through the human resources department as the charge to maintain employee training geared toward the customer elevates as a long-term objective. The sales team continues to revolutionize efficient processes in bettering supply chain management to continue efficient production. Additional strengths, as found with its customer satisfaction measure through a store performance survey called, Voice of the Customer, is a marketing and research effort to sustain market share strengths. A new education program, Customer First, launched in 2009 afforded each employee training, by the end of that fiscal year, aimed at placing the customer first. This measure supports management’s long-term commitment toward putting the customer first and gaining feedback to achieve peak customer service. Supplying the customer with exclusive and well-known brands is also a priority to distinguish public visibility and improve traffic flow. Top manufacturers carried exclusively at the retailer include Behr Premium Plus, Husky, Ryobi, Pegasus, and Glacier Bay. The Home Depot’s chief executive officer stated in the annual report that â€Å"While our supply chain team is proceeding with the rollout of these new RDC facilities, we are also restructuring and improving other parts of our supply chain. We have closed legacy distribution centers, optimized distribution center operations and enhanced our transportation management systems, driving further supply chain efficiency in addition to the RDC rollout. Creating exclusivity and optimal vendor relations develops a stronghold on the supply chain, along with securing customer loyalty. A weakness that The Home Depot notes in their Annual Report reveals that â€Å"Sustained uncertainty regarding current economic conditions and other factors beyond our control could adversely affect demand for our products and services, our costs of doing business and our financial performance† (The Home Depot: Annual Report, 2009). The decline in new residential housing construction displays a historic low of 43. 5%, according to the census report, and as compared with 2008 data (U.  S. Census Bureau, 2009). This figure reveals strategic business planning to maintain company stability, at a minimum, although ideally growth is the target. Competition is noted as another weakness as it negatively affects pricing, causing an upset in sales figures should a competitor win over the organization’s market share. A decline in product demand and services provided to customers also decreases the company’s market share, lessening sales, company profits, and shareholder wealth. The store’s mindfulness of the competition remains at the forefront of planning. Failure to maintain attractive stores and to timely identify or effectively respond to changing consumer tastes, preferences, expectations as to service levels, spending patterns and home improvement needs could adversely affect our relationship with customers, the demand for our products and services and our market share† (The Home Depot: Annual Report, 2009). The risks associated with large companies are endless. Some of the identified risks with this company include changes or a failure with information technology systems, alterations in regulations and laws or accounting standards, and third party vendor relations. This snapshot list of risks, or weaknesses, create potential financial repercussions with the way the company conducts its business plan. Cognizance of each area should be taken into account when preparing the SWOT Analysis, along with the strategic business plan. Overlooking an item may prove a detriment in company earnings. The Home Depot continues its strategic business plan to include forecasting for internal changes and developing capabilities that positively affect profitability as evidenced in revenues, operating profit, and net profit. Recorded 2010 revenues of over $66 million, showed a decrease of 7. 2% over 2009, the operating profit was $4,803 million, for an increase of 10. 2% over the same period. The annual report indicated a net profit of $2,661 million, which was an increase of 17. 7% over the previous year (The Home Depot: Annual Report, 2009). Strategically assessing internal factors and employ its resources pertaining to the company’s strengths and weaknesses position its stronghold, enduring as the largest home improvement retailer in the world.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Creating Shared Value Essay

The following is an essay of the article â€Å"Creating Shared Value† by Michael E. Porter and Mark R. Kramer. The purpose of this article is about recreating capitalism. Companies only cared about profit maximization. This article discusses how businesses have separated themselves from social progress. The company’s focus in participation in creating shared value should be on health, nutrition and fair trade. According to Porter & Kramer (2011) â€Å"Capitalism as an unparalleled vehicle for meeting human needs, improving efficiency, creating jobs and building wealth†. Companies have been acting for themselves and not the society as a whole. Companies must reverse this and not just act on profit, but create a shared value. According to Porter & Kramer (2011) â€Å"The concept of shared value can be defined as policies and operating practices that enhance the competitiveness of a company while simultaneously advancing the economic and social conditions in the communities in which it operates.† Shared value is increasing the connection between the societal and economic progress. There are several issues this article addresses such companies growing at the expense of the community. Companies are living in the past on how to apply the shared value of creation approach. Companies are depleting natural resources, relocating overseas for cheaper labor and putting stress on the communities in which they are located. Businesses have separated business and society and must find a way to combine the two back together. Shared value is intertwining with the company’s success and the community’s success. The company has prospered at the expense of the community. Companies can create shared value by meeting the needs of the society by improving existing markets and creating markets that meet the needs of the society. Companies can also create supportive clusters where the company is located. By using shared values it will reconnect the company’s success with the improving the society (Porter & Kramer, 2011). The largest society needs that are not met in the global economy are health, housing, nutrition, help for elders, financial security and environmental damages. Companies are beginning to use shared value to reconnect them with the society. Wal-Mart reduced their packaging and rerouted their trucks which in turn lowered carbon emissions and saved Wal-Mart $200 million in costs. Coca-Cola and Dow Chemical have reduced their water consumption, which has resulted in less water and decrease our natural resources. Companies have cut wages, reduced benefits and moved their companies overseas for lower wage costs. These cuts result in lower productivity. Johnson & Johnson helped employees stop smoking and started other health wellness programs, which in turn has saved the company $250 million in health care costs. Reference: Porter, M. E., & Kramer, M. R. (2011). Creating shared value. Harvard Business Review, 89(1/2), 62–77. McConnell, C.R., Brue, S.L., & Flynn, S. M. (2012). Economics (19th ed.) New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Women Can Be Murderers Too Professor Ramos Blog

Women Can Be Murderers Too Gliezel Fernando English 102 August 3, 2019 Murderers Can Be Women Too Aileen’s full name is Aileen Carol Wuornos, originally Aileen Pittman, was born on February 29, 1956 un Rochester, Michigan. Aileen later died on October 9,2002 at Starke, Florida. Aileen’s upbringing was not the best. She was later executed by lethal injection sooner than her actual execution date because she was not connected to reality. Her famous last words were â€Å"Id just like to say Im sailing with the rock, and Ill be back like Independence Day with Jesus June 6. Like the movie, big mother ship and all.† She was abandoned by her mother at a young age, she lost her grandmother and her father. She later became a serial killer with at least murdering seven people between 1989-1990. Her case drew national attention to issues such as the relationship between gender and violence and the legal treatment of acts of self-defense by women (Jenkins). Aileen’s reasoning of killing might be due to her troubled childhood and how she was treated by males. Aileen Wuornos is the most terrifying female serial killer in all history. Aileen Wuornos had a rough childhood, her father was a sex offender who hung himself while he was in prison when she was just thirteen years old, and her mother already abandoned her. Her mother left her with her paternal grandparents. Not even a year passed after her father passed, her grandmother died from liver failure, and that is when the physical and sexual abuse started from her grandfather. When Aileen was fifteen years old, she had to drop out of school because she had to give birth to her grandfather’s baby at a home for unwed mothers. After having the baby, she and her grandfather had a fight and she was left with her child to live in the woods outside Troy, Michigan. After putting her son up for adoption, that is when her prostitution and thieving began. When Aileen moved to Florida, she met a wealthy yachtsman, Lewis Fell, they married in 1976, but later divorced because of Aileen’s destructive behavior. After becoming involved with numerous crimes, Wuornos met twenty-four-year-old Tyria Moore in Daytona, Florida, and they began a romantic relationship. Tyria and Aileen met at a biker bar named Zodiac in June 1986. Tyria was never involved in the crimes that Aileen committed, but she knew that Aileen killed more than one man in their relationship, because Aileen would come home with a different car and belongings that were not hers. Ty and Aileen lived in cheap motels and trailers, they even lived in the woods. Ty did not like that Aileen was working as a highway prostitute, she tried her best to keep Aileen from doing that line of work, but she never gave up. Though Tyria tried not to get involved, a witness saw her and Aileen in a car accident where they found Aileen’s bloody handprint on the car. The handprint match ed to a thumbprint on Daytona pawn shop card that they used for items that belonged to her first victim, Richard Mallory. Wuronos’ victims were all middle-aged white men who were motorist. Aileen murdered seven men and left their bodies on the highway to be discovered by the authorities. She would later tell the police that she killed them in an act of self-defense. Aileen would rob all her victims before she shot them and then stole their cars as well. Her very first victim was Richard Mallory, a fifty-one-year-old shop owner who picked her up for sexual intercourse for pay. Richard Mallory was a convicted sex offender. He was later found by a Volusia County deputy several miles from his abandoned car with multiple shots in the chest. David Spears, her second victim was a forty-three-year-old construction worker who was shot six times in the torso. Charles Cardskaddon, forty, was found in Pasco County with nine shots in the stomach and chest. Troy Burress, fifty-year-old salesmen, was found when he was almost decomposed, and a medical examiner determine that the cause of his death was two shots to the torso. Charles â€Å"Dick† Humphreys was a retire Air Force major, police chief and a Florida child-abuse investigator was found dead with multiple gunshots to his head and torso. Peter Siems was a sixty-five year old whose body was never recovered, but witnesses say two women near his car, but it was never confirmed if she actually murdered Peter Siems. Her last victim, Walter Antonio, his body was found nearly nude at a remote part of Dixie County. Antonio was shot four times in the back and in his head. Her upbringing might be the reason why she started murdering men. Aileen Wuornos reason for killing might be to due to the face she was not raised properly. She and her brother, Keith, were abandoned by her mother, Diane. Diane left her two kids with her parents, their grandma and grandpa. Unfortunately, their grandmother passed away from liver failure. She and her brother were left with their grandfather, who was horribly abusive with Aileen (Lukas). All the abuse and neglect were just part of the start of her rampage. After meeting Richard Mallory, the convicted sex offender, was probably the last straw that began her killing rampage. The story of Aileen Wuornos has impacted several movie inspirations. Aileen made her own autobiography. Monster theory 2: The Monster Always Escapes fits because of the documentaries that people made of her. Especially when her famous last words were â€Å"Id just like to say Im sailing with the rock, and Ill be back like Independence Day with Jesus June 6.† She believed that she will be incarnated and come back for more which is terrifying. Her story was also made into a British documentary, down to every little detail. Nick Broomfield created two documentaries, Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer (1993) and Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer (2003). One of the famous movies that was inspired by Aileen’s life was the 2003 film â€Å"Monster†. Although it does not fully tell the whole story, because Tyria wanted to keep her identity hidden, it still tells us about Aileen’s life as a prostitute becoming a murderer. Work Cited Lu, Alicia. â€Å"Aileen Wuornos Was Terrifying, But Fascinating.† Bustle, Bustle, 12 June 2019, bustle.com/articles/126181-8-surprising-facts-about-notorious-serial-killer-aileen-wuornos-that-will-haunt-your-dreams. Stockton, Richard. â€Å"How Aileen Wuornos Became Historys Most Terrifying Female Serial Killer.† All Thats Interesting, All Thats Interesting, 15 Mar. 2019, allthatsinteresting.com/aileen-wuornos â€Å"The Case of Aileen Wuornos The Facts: Capital Punishment in Context.† The Case of Aileen Wuornos The Facts | Capital Punishment in Context, capitalpunishmentincontext.org/cases/wuornos.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Key Issues in the Development E-Business Strategies Relating To the Essay

Key Issues in the Development E-Business Strategies Relating To the Education Sector in UK - Essay Example The researcher states that an internal audit and competitor analysis would help evaluate the stand that Conde Nast has taken. This can be through SWOT analysis and Porter’s Five Forces Analysis. SWOT analysis reveals the internal strengths and weakness which helps the organization evaluate the opportunities that the market presents. It also makes the organization cognizant of its weaknesses which can help it revise its strategy. Enjoys excellent reputation and authority of the brand which puts them in a strong position to teach and inspire the fashion and decorating talent of the future. The college principal designate is the editor of Easy Living and has been the deputy editor of Vogue for five years. The editor-turned teacher would be a valuable connection for the students as they would receive practical knowledge of the industry. Because of their links with the fashion world, they would be able to offer unique insights into the industry. The group creates and develops lifes tyle and business brands online. They have a stronghold in the fashion industry. They also have online and e-commerce experience because of their base unit – publishing. Conde Nast has no prior experience in the field of education. A major lifestyle and publishing house getting into education is something that may not be very attractive to the prospective students/fashion designers. The editor, named as the Principal, has no teaching experience. They may have problems securing internships for their students because of lack of educational background and especially in the field of fashion. They have yet to find a director with experience in the field to run the school. They have been losing revenue in their publishing as there has been a shift from traditional advertising to digital advertising. They need to have collaboration with a University of repute to be able to award degrees. They intend to offer a ten-week intensive course as well as a one-year fashion foundation course . By using the editors as teachers the Group also ensures they get the designs they want to feature in their magazine.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

The Allocation Problem session long project 4 (walmart) accounting Essay

The Allocation Problem session long project 4 (walmart) accounting - Essay Example The company allocates its administrative expenses to all the divisions and these common costs are used in this analysis. From the annual report of Wal-Mart, the incomes from various divisions are gathered. The administrative expenses are then allocated to each division. The allocation depends on a number of factors including the scale of operations in the division, number of stores operating in the division and the revenue generated (Wal-Mart Financial Review). The incomes from various divisions are presented below: The above report indicates that the Wal-Mart U S has the highest profit margin standing at 7.5 % ($ 19522 million / $ 258,229 million). However the International division has a low profit margin at 5 %. These performances are based on the incomes generated after taking the common costs into account. In order to identify the actual performance of the various divisions, the report is recast without taking the common costs into consideration. The recast report above without the unallocated common costs (administrative expenses, in this case) reveals that the International division contributes significantly towards the total income and towards covering the common costs. It is a known fact that the administrative expenses are hard to predict and are very unstable in large organizations. Hence the above report without the administrative expenses can be used to predict or estimate future performance of the divisions. Thus the common costs (in this case, the advertising expenses) are analyzed for Wal-Mart. The recast report with the unallocated costs reveals a number of facts about the profitability, thus giving a clear picture of the performance of the various divisions. This information without the allocated common costs can be useful in analyzing the contribution of the division to the company as a