Monthly Archives: November 2014

Social enterprise and programs like the Arc are essential in improving society. Social entrepreneurship, accomplishes the impossible; it creates profitable businesses while supporting global issues. This win-win situation is perhaps one of the most economic and stable techniques that help people around the world. The Arc also helps to solve issues but has an approach that differs from general donation. The Arc, educates people in impoverished countries marketing, finance, operations and other skills that allow them to create a profitable business. These skills are more valuable than donations as they give people a lasting method to support themselves and their family.

The United Nation is a huge global organization that assists numerous different issues. However, even if it was fully funded social enterprise and the Arc are still greatly needed. A fully funded United Nations would be able to expand and create more programs helping additional issues in additional areas of society, yet the UN would still be unable to reach every issue. The truth is that there are much too many problems for one sole organization to solve; there must be support form the global community. Social enterprises and programs like the Arc allow businesses to become involved in these problems in a variety of ways. These enterprises and programs often create innovative, long lasting solutions that may not occur in such a large and widespread organization like the UN. Even if the UN was fully funded programs like the Arc and social enterprise are essential to improve society.

Last week I learnt about open-plan; a system where all employee, including CEOs, work at cubicles together in an open space. Upon learning about this system I came across an article discussing open-plan offices appearing in an unlikely industry, book publishing. Publishing companies are beginning to make the switch in order to minimize costs. The companies immediately recognized that the model’s advantages still apply to the publishing industry; it creates positive energy, decreases resentment among co-workers, and increases productivity. Others, however, argue that the model does not have the privacy and quiet required for publishers and editors.

I believe that open-plan is extremely beneficial in any company as it encourages innovation and communication amongst employees. The system also allows CEO’s to create personal relationships with employees and, thus, become more approachable. With this model employees are more freely able to express concerns that can also be addressed faster. I do, however, understand that book publishing companies require quiet and privacy, as well as space to display their work in order to impress future clients. Hatchette Book Group has solved both of these concerns in an effective manner. They have created quiet spaces that can be used for private phone calls or for silent work, as well as special conference rooms where editors can display their books for meetings with agents and authors. This innovative system has created positive working environments and eliminated the isolation of management. I believe that the open-plan model has more advantages than disadvantages, therefore should be used in every office, regardless of the industry.

Upon reading both Shannon Bell and Charmaine Ho’s blog I learnt that McDonald’s was struggling to compete with arising competition. In Shannon and Charmaine’s blog they discussed the advantages of altering the company’s menu to offer healthier options. After doing some research, I came across an article that discussed other choices that McDonald’s has to improve their revenue and profits. McDonald’s could simplify their menu, which would decrease prep time and thus increase their margins. Along with cutting costs, McDonald’s could expand its customized ordering options and include geographically specific items. Customers are drawn to the ability to customize orders, especially with McDonalds’ new quick and efficient ordering tablets. The regionally based menu items would also help increase margins and may motivate customers to try different locations. Furthermore, both these changes would help the company create points of difference that would increase customer’s incentive to buy their products.

Ultimately, I believe that these suggestions will be more successful than changing the company to become healthier. With numerous campaigns and documentaries that demonstrate how unhealthy the food currently is, the company’s image “in the gutter.” It is very difficult to change the customer’s perception of a company, therefore even if McDonald’s were to adjust its menu, they would most like still not be chosen as a healthy option. McDonald’s has been successful as a fast food chain. The company should continue doing what it is good at and find innovative methods to further increase margins and customer incentive.