“Under the United Nations Charter, the main function of the Security Council is to maintain international peace and security in accordance with the principles and purposes of the United Nations.”

The UN ensures there is no conflict between nations, it ensures that basic human rights are met around the world. It develops friendly relations amongst different nations and works to achieve international cooperation. In short the UN makes sure there is peace.

Social entrepreneurship and programs like Arc Initiative are important because they build on UN’s work. New innovative ideas that flourish in programs like these help people succeed at higher level. In terms of Maslow, these programs help people’s esteem and maybe even help them self self actualize. On top of this, programs like the Arc Initiative teaches the participating students extensive knowledge and business skills.

For example, Salem Kassahun, owner of Salem’s Ethiopia, wanted to expand the business without moving to a factory-based manufacturing system. Salem wanted to stick to the reason the business was started up i.e. to support the local community. After participating in the Arc program and working with Sauder interns, she left with a solution. The solution was that she should expand her existing room by reinvesting some of the profits. She trained 15 more women for her business and production has already improved and backlog in supply has already been reduced to half.

Works Cited:

“Charter, United Nations, Chapter I, Purposes and Principles.” UN News Center. UN, n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2014. <http://www.un.org/en/documents/charter/chapter1.shtml>.

Kroeker, Jeff. “Can Fair Trade Boutique Expand without Alienating Customers?” The Globe and Mail. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2014. <http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/small-business/sb-growth/day-to-day/can-fair-trade-boutique-expand-without-alienating-customers/article4405520/>.

“Sauder School of Business.” The Arc Initiative. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2014. <http://www.sauder.ubc.ca/Global_Reach/ARC_Initiative>.

“IN 1948, a radio repairman named Leo Fender took a piece of ash, bolted on a length of maple and attached an electronic transducer.” 

Fender was started up in 1946 and was a company first of its kind. Before this Gibson (founded in 1902) had been making guitars for professionals. Mid 1900’s was where guitar music was really taking off and people wanted to get their hands on this instrument. Fender was really the first company to come out with guitars that average people could buy. There was something about the tone that appealed to people, the design was curvy, cool, and innovative in a way that people appreciated. Many legends including Jimi Hendrix and The Beatles.

As explained in the paper, “Positioning,” as popularized by Jack and Trout, Fender was the first on its ladder and it was at the top. Soon Fender wanted to expand and reach the lower income demographic with intermediate and beginner guitarists. Fender adopted the “single-position strategy.” Fender split up into three different brands.

1. Fender America (Professional quality guitars hand crafted in America)

2. Fender Mexico (Intermediate quality guitars mass produced in Mexico)

3. Squire Fender (Beginner quality guitars mass produced in China)

This strategy allowed for Fender to expand as a company without loosing the reputation or clientele it had developed over the years.

Works Cited:

Morrissey, Janet. “A Guitar Maker Aims to Stay Plugged In.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 29 Sept. 2012. Web. 11 Nov. 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/30/business/fender-aims-to-stay-plugged-in-amid-changing-music-trends.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0>.

http://blogs.ubc.ca/elainelangton/2014/10/05/the-crtcs-ex-stream-commands-for-netflixs-streamed-content/

2014 Market Share (Home Movie Streaming)

As can be seen from the chart above, Netflix’s market share has risen past its competitors. The question raised in Elaine’s blog is whether this big of a company should be regulated in Canada in terms of the content they provide. Elaine puts forward the opinion that Netflix should absolutely not be regulated because of three reasons.

1. Netflix operates on a direct business model approach which enables Netflix to put forward only the movies customers want to watch. If they are required to put forward certain movies, the business model falls apart thus resulting in inefficiency.

2. Netflix has no offices in Canada since they are an internet based company.

I would agree with Elaine’s first point that Netflix’s current business model enables them to have long lasting customers thus making Netflix a sustainable business. It allows traffic onto their site since people are given the movies they want to watch.

As to Elanie’s second point, CRTC doesn’t agree. It says “we’ve simply asked for equal treatment.” CRTC wants all corporations in Canada to operate with similar standards i.e. regulations. Ultimately it boils down to the law books since Netflix is currently in the grew region of whether it should be considered a company that broadcasts in Canada. I agree with Elanie’s point and think that Netflix’s content should not be regulated. A business’s only purpose is to make profit and do it by serving its customer’s needs. I understand that Canada wants to preserve its culture but it should not enforce content regulation on international companies. Regulation makes the company inefficient.

Taylor Swift’s ’1989′ becomes the first platinum album of the year

January 9, 2001. This will always be an important date in the music industry. This was the date where iTunes was launched and it turned the supply chain of recorded music upside down. In terms of operations, there was virtually no inventory, there were no transportation or packaging costs, just a small percentage of the earnings went to iTunes. Traditionally online purchases were hard for the consumer to make since customers had to go to a website on a browser, they entered their banking information every time, and then figured out a way to transfer purchases to the software they used to listen to music on your computer or your mp3 player. After iTunes, all the consumer had to do was hit one button and every purchase would show up in one software and would sync up with apple’s iPod. Going out and buying physical CDs just didn’t make any sense anymore.

Laura mentions, in her blog, that Taylor Swift’s new physical album shares the point of difference of exclusivity. I would argue that it isn’t just Taylor Swift’s new album that has resulted in this point of difference. Through the past two years, various socio economic factors have contributed. People’s values have started to change. At the start of this movement, consumers of the older demographic started to buy physical copies because they associated buying physical copies with their youth. Nowadays, this has trickled down to the younger dynamic.

People want to have a physical copy of their favourite artists because it brings them closer to the music. Taylor Swift’s new album has done an excellent job of recognizing this trend and has taken it one step further by providing incentives like exclusive merchandize in the CDs itself resulting in record breaking sales.

“C Hydro wants to construct and operate a dam and 1,100-megawatt hydroelectric generating station on the Peace River in northeastern British Columbia.” 

The site C clean energy is an $8 billion project on the peace river in the north east BC. This plant could power 450,000 houses each year with clean and cost effective energy. The only problem is its impact on the First Nation population in the area. This project would flood 83 kilometres of the peace river thus taking wildlife and farmland away from the first nations. They would not be able to fish, hunt or use the area for ceremonial purposes. The chiefs explain how they would support smaller projects but for now, they don’t see a need for a project of this proportion. Logan, a chief said ““It’s our church, it’s our store, it’s our school. We have elders’ gatherings there annually.” 

Referring to the “Business Model Environment,” the revenue attractiveness is extremely high. According to the report published by the company itself, this project will contribute $3.2 billion to the provincial GDP. The issue falling industry forces is stakeholders. The First National people in this case are major stakeholders of this project. They have inhabited this land and have developed a connection to it. Giving it up would mean everything to them. “The deep connection to the Land is vital to First Nations. The relationship between the People and the Land is an integral component of First Nations governance. The authority and identity of the Nations come from and are tied to the Land.”