It’s interesting to see that TOMS shoes is indeed an entrepreneurial company that expanded internationally. Not only so, I realized that this is also a social entrepreneurial company. I remember we learned in class that a social entrepreneurial firm is a firm that is being corporate social responsible and positively impact the society. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is when a firm has a positive impact on employees, environment,consumers etc. When a firm has good CSR, employees will have something to be proud of. Good CSR could lead to greater motivation in working productivity and efficiently. To learn more about Tom’s check out Elaine’s post. I suggest we all do the same a buy a pair of TOMS shoe. Why? Cause its innovative, trendy and it makes yyou feel good about yourself. Which, by the way, was TOM’s mission statement. 

The Terry fox run is an annual non-competitive charity event held in numerous regions around the world. It is a traditional memorial for a Canadian cancer activist Terry Fox and his marathon of hope to raise money for cancer research. Major corporations offered Terry sponsorships, but he turned them all down. He didn’t want this to “distract him” from his goals.  He had no advertisements on any race related materials (such as t-shirts, banners, etc).

Terry Fox simply wants to raise the awareness for cancer research. He ran 146 marathons on consecutive days with one leg WITH a huge tumor in his lungs, raised money for cancer.

Charities only source of income is donations. It is a non-competitive industry because its main goal is not earning revenue.

In comparison there is another icon, Lance Armstrong, a social entrepreneur who seeks To read and compare the difference between Lance and Terry click on the link.

The joint venture Siemen and Nokia has decided to cut almost a quarter of its workforce to increase the profit in a stagnating market for network gear. There will be over 17,000 unemployed jobs by the end of 2013. Currently they are operating with 74,000 employees but after the cut 23% of employees will be terminated out of jobs. The chief executive said that this cut of cost will “trim operating expenses by 1.35 billion.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/24/technology/nokia-siemens-to-cut-23-percent-of-work-force.html?_r=1&ref=business

Reasons for cutting back on employees are because the company is currently operating at a loss. In order for them to get back onto their feet, they had to reduce cost somehow. Although it was, “regrettable [it was a] necessary action that was made, “in a fair and responsible way.” This will definitely create future grudges against employees and companies. The workforce could result in protesting and suing. Perhaps even employee unions will be created to prevent unfair unemployment. This joint venture company should be careful of future implications.

Facebook Inc is currently losing customers that continue using their social network. This is due to the increasing amount of unacceptable pop-up. There are“ inundation of violent images and hardcore pornography into some newsfeeds”.  This will cause are large number of participants to quit using Facebook due to the vulgarity.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-15/facebook-risks-losing-users-as-porn-violence-jam-newsfeeds.html

Facebook is currently trying to limit this disaster that was caused by a spam attack that took the advantage of browser vulnerability. The company’s current top objective is to protect people who use Facebook from spam. In the past, people were tricked into sharing their private contents.

If the situation is evaluated, what is seen is that the number of participants in Facebook gradually decreases due to the privacy issue. This outburst of spam will create fear and unreliability among the customers. Participants now may be vulnerable to the idea of switching to a more reliable social network that could provide the same thing. Facebook is now vulnerable, all that is needed is another company, such as Google, to step up and take over.

Walmart and Facebook have formed a partnership agreement! World’s largest retailer and worlds largest social network has decided to join forces. Wal-mart launched a page on Facebook for their consumers to follow up on new updates about the store. Wal-mart is investing their earnings in e-commerce and social networking to try to compete effectively with online rivals such as amazon.com.

Wal-mart is a large retailer store meaning that it is quite difficult for customers to find what they need. Before investing in Facebook, consumers will need to find employees to help them find their goods. But now, consumers will know before hand where the good is before reaching the actual store.

Shoppers will also be able to access maps and locations of their local wal-mart department stores. Alert notification will also be sent to wal-mart fans. Through e-com, the connection between wal-mart and local customers will be relatively closer.

Advantage of Facebook corp. is that they will receive more views and hence earn an increasing number of customer loyalties. Advantage of Wal-mart is the closure of the relationship between customer and corporation. (efficiency and productivity increased)

http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/10/11/idINIndia-59818420111011

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/google-has-its-pluses/2011/10/26/gIQAWgJJTM_story.html?wprss=rss_style

Google has finally decided to advance and expand their service. Other than a search engine, they now have launched the idea of a “Facebook Killer”. Google Plus basically a program where people can video chat online, IM individual or groups, instant upload of photos etc.

It is difficult for Google to suddenly decide to enter a whole new market because there is already the existence of Facebook. Facebook has been established for a while and they already have brand imagining, which basically means that they have customer loyalty established. For Facebook consumers to switch brand, Google Plus must have some differentiation or some corporate advantage over some aspects.

A minor disaster that withheld in the company Google was an employee that wasn’t completely in the agreement of the idea. Engineer, Steve Yegge, accidentally broadcasted his post in public of how he thought that Google plus was, “Pathetic afterthought.”

Will Google plus ever be able to bounce back up? What will ever happen to Googles reputation?

Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple has recently passed away. He was 56 when he was announced dead.

Steve Jobs will become a legend because he was able to influence the whole world. He changed the world by creating innovative technology that made the world it was today. Efficiency, productivity and education was taught and learned through a variety of ways because of this man. Without him, competition of bringing the world to a whole new level would have never existed. If, Steve Jobs had not created the Iphone, Ipad, Nano the world would not have advanced so quickly. Phone companies such as Samsung, Nokia and other great corporations all mourned for his passing because he was such a great success and influence to this world.

http://www.delconewsnetwork.com/articles/2011/10/08/news_of_delaware_country/news/doc4e8d14a920e71743911258.txt

This will definitely cause a setback for the company Apple because he was the icon for Apple. Now that he is gone, consumers will begin to change corporations, market shares will begin to drop giving a chance for other corporations to catch up. Hopefully, the Company will be able to continue and resume what Jobs have left.  

Recently there had been a collapse in the black berry operating system. This will greatly influence the corporate image of their brand. Consumers may now see the company Black Berry as unreliable and hence brand switch.

“So I have no email, Twitter or BBM on my BlackBerry”(Amanda a twitter user)

What can be said is that consumers are outraged by this ridiculous break down because instead of what they paid for they have nothing more than a black block in their hands. “I may as well cut one of my arms off too”

In result for their failure, there was a drop in profits hence they were unable to meet their sales target. This will result in a setback for their corporation. Other companies may seize this opportunity to lure consumers.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/blackberry/8818094/BlackBerry-services-collapse.html

Bribery happens all around the world and is a serious issue concerning business ethics. Accountants are hired by firms to inspect financial profiles for their clients. However, the clients themselves may bribe (or be blackmailed by) the accountants to overlook a couple of figures. The related business ethics come into question to whether or not you should take the bribe. Of course the obvious answer is no, but, if you knew that absolutely no one were to find out you accepted the bribe. Would you do it?

http://news.nwn.in/2011/07/09/cbi-arrests-a-commissioner-of-income-tax-and-a-chartered-accountant-in-a-bribery-case/

Summary: In Mumbai, the Central Bureau of Investigation arrested a Commissioner of Income Tax and a Chartered Accountant for accepting a bribe. The commissioner of Income Taxes harassed and refused to clear the firm’s files. The commissioner directed the firm to pay the Charted Accountant. Both were arrested during a transaction.\