Toms “One for One”

Shared value has become one of the most effective ways for companies to expand their customer base, improve reputation, and increase sales. Toms has capitalized on this by creating their “One for One” initiative which donates a pair of Toms shoes for every pair that is purchased. In theory it sounds like a great solution, but in practice may just hinder more than it helps.

Almost everyone has heard the proverb “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime”.  By donating shoes to less developed countries in Africa, Toms is metaphorically offering them a fish. In doing so they are providing a temporary solution rather than a permanent fix. Cheryl Davenport discusses this concept in the simplest terms, “Create a solution, not a band-aid”. Davenport is essentially implying that Toms is taking the easy way out, one that increases profits and brand reputation but does not provide long term relief for these countries. There are many alternative solutions that Toms could take that would offer a more permanent impact by stimulating their economy. For instance, Toms could create more factories and stores in these countries that would increase infrastructures and create jobs that would increase citizens’ income. In doing so they would be stimulating the local economies rather than taking business away from the residents of these countries.

In order to have a lasting social impact, the goal of a company has to be about making a difference and not just improving their reputation. Although it appears as though Toms has good intentions, they’ll need to revise their strategy if they want to really improve the lives of less fortunate populations.

Sources:

http://www.fastcoexist.com/1679628/the-broken-buy-one-give-one-model-three-ways-to-save-toms-shoes

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamespoulos/2012/04/11/toms-shoes-a-doomed-vanity-project/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kate-otto/toms-shoes-controversy-a-_b_1420366.html

http://www.ecouterre.com/is-tomss-one-for-one-business-model-doomed-to-fail/

Workplace gender discrimination!

In a society that is constantly pushing for complete equality among the population, workplace discrimination is one of the first issues that needs to go. Although it is illegal to intentionally discriminate against someone based on their sex, race, or religion, there is still an inherent unconscious bias that exists in most countries. An article in The Economist discusses the advantages and disadvantages to anonymizing job applications to ensure that there is no bias in hiring an employee.

Although the idea seems great in theory, it is not quite as effective as one might think. A lot of information on a resume can potentially give away things like sex and nationality without indirectly stating them. In fact, this article states that an experiment done in France was not particularly successful because of the information that suggested certain information about the candidates. The article states that anonymizing applications may be a start, but is only a small step towards ending hiring bias, and I’d have to agree. While in principle it seems as though this would eliminate the potential for many subconscious biases, there are still many remaining factors that need to be considered. I spent a lot of time trying to come up with an alternate way to avoid bias, but was unable to come up with anything concrete. The reality is that we can anonymize everything, but at some point we need to change our mindset altogether if we want to see the end of this phenomenon.

Sources:

http://www.economist.com/news/business/21677214-anonymising-job-applications-eliminate-discrimination-not-easy-no-names-no-bias

Seth Godin, a popular internet blogger and author of 18 books, recently posted about a diagram called Idea Progression. Although this concept isn’t something we’ve discussed in class before, I think it’s very interesting and relevant to what we study in Comm. 101. For those that aren’t familiar with the diagram, I’ve attached a copy below.

The Idea Progression Diagram illustrates what Godin refers to as how idea adoption works. It describes the process required for an idea to go from being just an idea to being a universal concept. The process starts when an idea is in the “fringe” stage – when it is just a thought that a few people are interested in, known as the “risk seekers”. At this point the idea is seen as foreign and not generally accepted, so the people working on the idea are attempting to make the idea more popular.  It gradually becomes more and more accepted until eventually it reaches the “always” stage, when it becomes a concept that is seen as normal and believed to have always existed.

I find this concept interesting because of how relevant I think it is to our daily lives. There have been so many inventions and fads that have shown up over the past decade that start out small but eventually become a thing of the mass. An invention like Facebook, that originally was not seen as very significant has since blown up and acquired millions of users. The key to success is to try and determine which ideas will flourish and which are destined to fail.

Sources:

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2015/09/how-idea-adoption-works-the-idea-progression.html

Teen Fashion Brand Believes One Size Fits Small

Bianca Acland’s blog post One Size Fits Most, Ethical or Not? offers readers insight into the (un)ethical practices of Brandy Melville. The company, which first arrived in the United States in 2009, has since skyrocketed and become one of the most popular brands for teenage girls. But there’s one thing holding them back from taking over the market completely, their policy: One Size Fits Most.

There are essentially two main reasons Brandy Melville creates all their clothing in one size. The first reason is simply that it’s cheaper. Companies save a significant amount of money when they are only making clothes in one size, rather than up to 10. But the other reason, which is a subject of extreme controversy these days, is the superiority complex that comes with the ability to wear Brandy Melville clothing. Their jeans are made to fit someone with a 25-inch waist, and yet the average 16-year-old girl in the U.S. has a 31-inch waist. While Bianca discusses the competitive advantage to other stores this strategy offers, I’m more concerned with the impact this has on young women. By creating clothes that not everyone can wear they are capitalizing on the insecurities of girls and essentially encouraging them to slim down. Justina Sharp, a 17-year-old fashion blogger, explains this concept very clearly when she states “It’s an exclusivity thing: Congratulations, you fit in the clothes! Join the club”. Brandy Melville has now become one of the many companies to take advantage of a young girl’s mind by planting images of what a girl should be.

Sources:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/14/brandy-melville_n_5978626.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lani-renaldo/brandy-melville-clothes_b_4994923.html

http://abentpieceofwire.blogspot.ca

Essena O’Neill: The Instagram Star Who Quit Social Media

One of the biggest stories to hit the news this week is Essena O’Neill, a famous model and internet star, quitting social media. This may seem like an irrelevant topic of discussion, but O’Neill shares her views on the subject in depth and offers ideas that lead to extreme controversy. On one hand, readers are saying that she’s brave and inspirational to have the courage to go against society’s mainstream views. On the other hand, this announcement has generated an unbelievable amount of attention to her, coincidence or not?

O’Neill has always shared her views on veganism and animal cruelty through her many forms of communication with her followers: Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, and others. In fact, her views, combined with her beauty, have given her almost a million followers on various social media platforms. She has the power to really impact people with her messages, which she seems to now realize that she can do for the better. But this sudden change of heart makes us wonder, is her message genuine, or did she just find a way to completely take over the internet? If it’s the latter, I applaud her PR staff because she just became one of the most talked about celebrities in the world.

In a society that continues to become more and more obsessed with social media and appearance, I’m impressed with anyone who has the courage to stand up against these fake concepts that have taken over our lives. I sincerely hope that Essena O’Neill uses this newfound fame for good, and doesn’t reappear on Instagram next week with twice as many followers than she originally had.

Sources:

Opinions on Essena O’Neill split after some allege social media protest is a hoax

http://www.letsbegamechangers.com

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3302605/Essena-O-Neill-slammed-fellow-YouTubers-Nina-Randa-Nelson-say-quitting-Instagram-HOAX.html?ito=social-facebook

http://www.manrepeller.com/minor_cogitations/essena-oneill-quit-social-media.html

The Google car and Indian roads

The benefits of creating self-driving cars have been a hot topic of discussion lately. Danielle’s blog discusses what the advantages of these cars are, and where google is currently at in their production. Although I agree with Danielle that in principle, a self-driving car facilitates driving in an enormous way and could potentially redefine the transportation industry, I don’t necessarily believe that this car is an invention with no downsides.

In my opinion, there are two significant disadvantages to creating these cars. The first major issue is taking away jobs from all of the people who currently work in the transportation industry. This includes not only cab drivers, but also people who work in the production of cars and other forms of transportation. Google currently owns a patent for their driverless car, therefore they have a monopoly over the market. Unfortunately, this means that if they continue to grow they may take business away from all other car companies.

Another main issue with these cars is the technology being used. Not only is it extremely expensive, making it unattainable for many in the middle and lower classes, there is also potential for the technology to backfire. Having no control over a car who’s technology could fail at any moment is not only scary but incredibly dangerous. The advanced technology also allows the car to track and remember where you’ve been going, causing extreme privacy issues for many.

While I see many issues with self-driving cars, some of the benefits are undeniable. Not only do they offer a safe and convenient form of transportation to those unable to drive, they are less dangerous and more environmentally friendly than most cars these days. If Google can resolve these issues then they may just be able to successfully make driverless cars the way of the future.

Sources:

http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Mocking-Bird/the-google-car-and-indian-roads/

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/technology/unbelievable-benefits-and-drawbacks-the-self-driving-car.html

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-16197664

https://www.google.com/selfdrivingcar/

Playboy Magazine [Germany] (December 1994)

Playboy, the most iconic pornography magazine that has existed since 1953, has shocked the population by removing full nudity from its magazines. Scott Flounders, the CEO of Playboy, states that the significant decrease in demand for their magazines is likely due to the exponential growth of online pornography. In an era that is becoming more and more digitalized, Playboy is attempting to differentiate itself rather than lose its place in the market altogether.

Over the past few years, Playboy has seen a massive drop in sales and overall revenue. To remain competitive in the market, they’ve used a strategy discusses in Harvard’s Transient Advantage Curve. Playboy waited a long time to reorganize their company, and in doing so missed the prime window of opportunity to reconfigure their value proposition. By reconstructing their company they may be able to regain the monopoly they once had on the market.

Unfortunately, changing their strategy does not guarantee a successful transition. It will be very difficult to remodel the company without losing many long term clients. This could, however, be beneficial as they move away from an older generation and connect with a younger one. There has been a lot of talk about Playboy since they released this news, so it’s likely that by releasing this new kind of magazine their sales will increase as people are excited to see how they’ve progressed. The tricky part is going to be keeping people interested, and not inevitably becoming a thing of the past.

Sources:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2015/10/13/playboy-magazine-nude-pictures-internet-porn/73856022/

http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/playboy-nude-pictorials-1.3268027

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/18/playboy-nude-photos-bunny-gender-feminism

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34511999

https://hbr.org/2013/06/transient-advantage

As a Regulation Violator Is Indicted For 29 Deaths, Republicans Plan a Deregulation Frenzy

After the Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster, an explosion in West Virginia that left almost 30 miners dead, authorities finally began to assess the safety of Massey Energy’s Mines. Upon investigation they discovered that not only were the mines run incredibly dangerously, but that the managers were fully conscious of it and insisted that the employees disregard the unsafe conditions that they were working in. Donald Blankenship, the CEO of Massey Energy, is now facing criminal charges for violating safety standards and impeding inspections of their mines.

This scandal begs the question, at what point is production valued more than human life? The shock with which this incident was received leads us to believe that the majority of people understand the severity of this type of issue and would not partake in similar behaviour. There are, however, still some who are more concerned with making a profit than the safety of their employees. This calls into question the ethics of all managers at this mine, and makes us wonder how they can be okay with taking advantage of their workers. Safety standards in mines are becoming more and more strict, which is certainly shown when examining the number of mine related deaths over the past 100 years. According to the United States Department of labour, there were 16 miners that passed away in the United States in 2014. Looking back 50 years, there were 242, which shows us that we have significantly advanced. This leads us to believe that it is not the safety standards that are in place, but the corrupt managers that choose to ignore them. While I’d like to believe the Massey Energy scandal was an isolated incident, these types of mines exist all around the world and I believe it is time that we take a more serious approach to stopping them so that we can reduce the number of scandals that lead to completely preventable deaths.

Sources:

http://www.businessinsider.com/massey-ceo-to-stand-trial-2015-10?pundits_only=0&get_all_comments=1&no_reply_filter=1#comment-561115886da811c601f91146

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Big_Branch_Mine_disaster

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-11-13/ex-massey-energy-ceo-blankenship-indicted-over-disaster

http://www.mining.com/former-massey-coal-executive-sentenced-to-three-years-in-prison-for-endangering-miners-lives-76340/

http://www.politicususa.com/2014/11/20/regulation-violator-indicted-29-deaths-republicans-plan-deregulation-frenzy.html

How much money are countries spending on the Syrian refugee crisis?

Accepting Syrian refugees has become a growing topic of controversy around the world. Many feel that not accepting them would be cruel due to the massive death toll we’ve seen over the past year. On the other hand, some individuals are more concerned about the potential negative economic impacts their acceptance may have. While I am strongly in favour of accepting these refugees, I believe it is important to consider the possible negative side effects this could have on those supportive countries so we can prevent them.

Lebanon is one of the countries that has accepted the most Syrian Refugees. According to the International Labour Association, although there have been some positive aspects to accepting these refugees, it has also taken a major toll on its economy. One of the most serious repercussions has been the growing competition for jobs in Lebanon, particularly because Syrians are generally willing to work for lesser pay and subpar working conditions as they are desperate for jobs. This is, however, somewhat beneficial to Lebanese business owners in that they are saving money on employment. On the other hand, Syrians are opening their own businesses and selling goods for much cheaper than their Lebanese counterparts, taking customers away from them and creating a growing tension between the two populations. There are many theories on how to fix these problems, mainly suggesting the need to create more local jobs, help educate the population, and implement new policies to help prevent Syrians from being exploited, although it is uncertain whether they will work. As I stated before, I am strongly for allowing these refugees to come to our country. I feel that with such a large country full of a variety of cultures, values, and a very strong economy, by implementing new laws and regulations Canada would be able to create a favourable environment for these refugees.

Sources:

http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/—arabstates/—ro-beirut/documents/genericdocument/wcms_240130.pdf

https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/humanitarian-crisis-impact-syrian-refugees-lebanon

http://carnegieendowment.org/2013/06/25/syrian-refugees-in-lebanon-impact-and-recommendations/gb0z

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/future-development/posts/2015/09/16-economic-impact-refugees-cali

http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2015/09/money-countries-spending-syrian-refugee-crisis/

   Equality in the Boardroom

More and more people in today’s society have become advocates for gender equality, and the movement is rapidly spreading around the world. Although most of society has progressed immensely, there is still an extreme gender gap in the business world that isn’t being acknowledged. The Conference Board of Canada informs us that in Canada, the average difference between a man and woman’s income is 19%. In addition, men in the United States hold 83% of the executive committee positions, while women hold just 17%. This inequality is not only present in North America, but can be seen around the globe. I believe it’s important to not only examine the statistics, but also to consider why we aren’t moving forward. The Guardian looked into these questions, and found that one of the biggest factors is that plenty of companies are resisting the change because many simply don’t in fact see the benefit of pushing for gender equality.

In my opinion there are many advantages to hiring women; studies show that they are generally more detail-oriented, better at working in teams, and many women intend to stay in their community for a long time, making them a reliable employee. However, the combination of the difficulty of receiving a high level position as a woman, as well as the income gap, means that working in the business world is simply not a favourable environment for women. Various different groups like The 30 Percent Club have taken on the initiative of not only raising awareness but also making sure that changes are happening. Unfortunately, we can’t rely solely on these groups to change the situation; it needs to be a global initiative. It’s time to change the way corporate executives see female employees and help them realize that hiring women can be a competitive advantage, and not just a quota they’re being forced to meet.

Sources:

http://www.conferenceboard.ca/hcp/details/society/gender-income-gap.aspx

http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/women-leadership-companies-equality-jobs

http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/rc-cr/bc-cb/index-en.html

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/video/video-just-2-percent-of-tsx-listed-firms-have-set-targets-for-female-representation/article26570751/

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/top-stories/content/20131015TST22325/html/Equality-in-the-boardroom