Monthly Archives: October 2014

Recently, I had the opportunity to be involved in a conference called Chasing Sustainability as part of the executive team of the CUS Sustainability. The closing presentation by Michael Green, tied the essential elements of what the sustainability conference was looking for and hence, I would like to focus on an external blog about Michael Green by Kate Torgovnick May for this blogpost.

Michael Green aims to change the social norms for how skyscrapers should be built. Rather than relying on the current technology of using steel and concrete for skyscrapers, Green proposes the use of wood. The building of skyscrapers accounts for ‘47% of CO2 emissions’. However, wood stores carbon dioxide. The current market trend is to be sustainable, and Michael Green realises this. Therefore, his business has a competitive edge over other architecture firms through his sustainable innovation within the architecture industry. This aligns with the concept of triple bottom line, which focuses on sustainable development for the people, planet and profit. As a result, his business has value-added that his competitors are not offering to their customers, which is the key to success.

Furthermore, not only is Michael Green an innovative entrepreneur, he also displays positive corporate social responsibility to his stakeholders. His business is partnered with ‘1% For The Planet’, whereby 1% of the revenue made is donated to help conserve and protect the planet. He mentioned at the conference that when running his business, it was never about the money. Instead, one of his goals is to show his son that he can change the world.

“It’s not enough to tell someone that they can change the world. Be the one to change the world.” – Michael Green (Chasing Sustainability Conference 2014)

Website source:

http://blog.ted.com/2013/02/27/skyscrapers-of-wood-michael-green-at-ted2013/

I would like to expand further on Vicky’s blogpost regarding the success of Netflix from this article.

Netflix is an online streaming media with over 10 million subscribers. As Vicky mentioned within her blogpost, Netflix has not expanded their service to Asia. However, an important question to consider is, should they try to enter the market in Asia? When a business enters a new market, all aspects must be considered. This can be done through a SWOT analysis. While there is an opportunity for Netflix to enter the Asian market, there is also the threat that it may not be successful. This would be mainly due to a significant number of online platforms available online in Asia that provides free streaming of shows and movies that could be found on Netflix. Hence, this is a difficult market for Netflix to enter although it is desirable because of the large population, which would lead to a greater total revenue for Netflix.

Moreover, Netflix is the market leader within the online streaming media industry. While Vicky compares Netflix with Blockbuster, I believe it is more appropriate to compare Netflix with Hulu or Amazon. This is because Blockbuster is a movie-rental store while Hulu and Amazon are in the same online streaming media industry as Netflix. Therefore, Blockbuster and Netflix have different channels as Blockbuster has a physical store while Netflix is only an online platform. As Netflix is considered to be the pioneer within the streaming media industry, this makes them the market leader according to Al Ries and Jack Trout. Also, Netflix has the largest market share compared to its competitors at 57.5%. Although it is unknown as to how long the success of Netflix will continue, it can be said with certainty that the current market trend of online streaming works in favour with Netflix’s business.

Website and image source

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/the-games-over-hands-off-my-netflix/article20884087/

http://blogs-images.forbes.com/merrillbarr/files/2014/04/netflix-logo.png

Tsilhqot’in announced that it will have a Tribal Park, which will affect the proposal of a New Prosperity mine by Taseko Mines Ltd. as it lies within the declared territory of the Tribal Park.

The current external macro-environment of Taseko is rather dismal in terms of political and social factors according to the PEST analysis. It’s gold-copper mine project has been rejected by the federal government twice and restricted because of the Tribal Park. Furthermore, Tsilhqot’in is a local stakeholder and Taseko’s project does not appeal to the environmentally conscious people of Tsilhqot’in, it would damage fish habitats. While Tesco’s focuses on the economical benefits (e.g. more profits), Tsilhqot’in strives to be more environmentally-friendly and sustainable.

Taseko would need to obtain proper consent from Tsilhqot’in for it to proceed with their project. Therefore, Tsilhqot’in has a great influence on Taseko’s decision-making. Taseko should integrate environmentally sustainable actions (e.g. recycle water, use renewable energy source of electricity) within their future operations with their project to align their interest more closely to that of Tsilhqot’in. However, it is highly unlikely that Tsilhqot’in would allow Taseko to have a mining site in their Tribal Park because of the significant difference in interest of both parties.

Website and image source:

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/metro/Unilateral+park+declared+Tsilhqot+includes+Prosperity+mine/10192766/story.html

http://www.quickmba.com/strategy/pest/

http://www.miningfacts.org/Environment/How-can-mining-become-more-environmentally-sustainable/

Al Ries and Jack Trout’s ‘positioning’ concept delivers key points on the external features of becoming a business leader within a particular market. “The look of leader”, an article in The Economist, on the other hand, provides insight on the internal features of being a leader within business.

According to research done by Malcolm Gladwell, ‘30% of CEOs of Fortune 500 companies are 6 feet 2 inches or taller’. Furthermore, studies show that ‘voice quality’ is imperative for positive listener evaluation. Research conducted by University of California, San Diego and Duke University revealed that CEOs with the ‘deepest voices earned $187,000 a year more than the average’. Hence, candidates for executive positions are still likely to be selected based on superficial aspects such as height and voice quality. Despite the vast changes in the human society, why do top positions within businesses still conform to stereotypes?

Thus, this highlights that there may be a relatively fixed mindset upon the characteristics for a strong candidate for the higher positions within a business. Although external factors of improving the ‘positioning’ of a business is rather objective and factual, internal factors of ‘positioning’ within a business is rather subjective. However, whether this is an extreme issue for businesses and a factor that sets them back is still unclear.

Article and image source:

http://www.economist.com/news/business/21620197-getting-top-much-do-how-you-look-what-you-achieve-look-leader