E-cigarettes are an interesting substitute that not only rivals products such as Nicorette or other nicotine-filled chewing gums, but also rival the traditional cigarette.  It is a very efficient substitute as e-cigarettes are less harmful in that they do not contain tobacco and they are cost-efficient, as you only have to buy the one e-cigarette as opposed to continuously purchasing packs of the traditional cigarette.

(http://www.vapeatron.com/e-cigarette-models-update-kanger-e-cigs-added-186/)

Clarence Lam’s blog post “Technological Advances: Electronic Cigarette” caught my attention because I thought that the e-cigarette was such a brilliantly designed product.  It is a safer replacement for the average cigarette and it can also be used as a stepping-stone towards quitting smoking.  I thought that Clarence’s point about cigarettes becoming obsolete with the introduction of the advanced e-cigarette, was very probable.  With such a strong competitor in the market, cigarette companies definitely have a compelling threat to deal with.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCiNHv67Pa0

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCiNHv67Pa0)

Another reason this post caught my eye is because my aunt actually has her own e-cigarette.  She has been a dedicated chain smoker for many years and realizing that the result of smoking multiple packs per day may not be so pleasant, she decided to attempt to quit by using an e-cigarette instead.  Although this choice is not completely the outcome that I was hoping for, at least she is no longer smoking cigarettes that would potentially be more hazardous for her health.  I thank the e-cigarette for pushing my aunt a step towards the right direction!

Sources:

http://digitaljournal.com/article/362055

https://blogs.ubc.ca/clarencelam/2013/10/08/technological-advances/

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/dcde108e-47d3-11e3-b1c4-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2kyMoeY64

Sleep is a luxury that people who work don’t always have…or do they?  Employees are busy trying to work enough so that they can pay bills, feed their families, and buy the goods and services that they want and need.  Work becomes the main priority so that they can achieve these objectives, so sleep sometimes gets put in the back burner as something that can be done later when there is “more time.”  This leads to tired employees that may not be able to function as well as they would if they had otherwise gotten more rest.  I happened upon the blog post by Liz Strauss called “Should You Allow Your Employees to Nap While on the Job?” and I thought that it was especially interesting because as a university student, getting enough sleep is also quite rare.  In the post Liz talks about how sleep deprivation cost US businesses $63 billion in lost productivity every year.  This is an enormous amount of money lost just because of a problem that can be so easily solved.  I thought that it was interesting how some companies are recognizing the colossal problem that is sleep deprivation in their employees, so they graciously allow them nap-time or designated nap rooms.

Employers realize that by allowing their employees to nap, they are promoting their worker’s well-being which ultimately leads to the company’s well-being because of enhanced performances and less sick days.

(http://thedementiaqueen.com/2012/12/get-some-sleep/)

Jawa, a software developer based in Scottsdale, Arizona, installed two nap rooms in their workplace.  The theme of one of the nap rooms is zen, having feng shui décor and earthy tones, while the other room is beach-themed with a unique sleeping pod.  By offering their employees space and time for rest, they are promoting their belief that their employees’ health and well-being are important to them.  This organizational culture that they have built caters to their employees needs and guarantees that their workers are happy and healthy.

Sleep does not have to be a fantasy anymore for those hardworking employees.  They no longer need to constantly wonder: What is sleep?  Sleep is available for them to take advantage of thanks to their wonderful employers.  Now only if UBC had some of these nap rooms…

(http://www.returnofkings.com/10565/10-surprising-facts-about-sleep)

Sources:

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/sleep/articles/2010/11/15/why-power-naps-at-work-are-catching-on

http://www.successful-blog.com/1/should-you-allow-your-employees-to-nap-while-on-the-job/

http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_northeast_valley/scottsdale/scottsdale-company-promotes-work-time-naps

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_36/b4193084949626.htm

(http://www.chnook.org/partner/the-arc-initiative/)

During the course of my high school career, I developed a passion for volunteering and helping out in my community.  I loved knowing that I helped make a difference, even in the smallest possible ways.  It has always been a dream of mine to go on humanitarian trips and experience what life is really like in the developing world.  Although this goal was definitely on my bucket list, I never imagined that I could combine my passion for volunteering with my passion for business, until I was introduced to the Arc initiative.

The Arc initiative is an opportunity for Sauder students to go to developing countries and provide aid in local communities by teaching aspiring entrepreneurs about business skills.  Using knowledge that the students learn in class, they help these entrepreneurs build upon their own business tool kits and in turn these entrepreneurs act as catalysts that improve their own communities’ economic well-being. I was so inspired by the stories that I heard and by the whole program itself.  The story of Tesfaye Mekonnen from Ethiopia was one that especially resonated with me.  Tesfaye creates paper, cards, and folders using banana plants.  It was so inspiring how even though his eco-paper factory is small and his methods of making the paper were simple and without modern technology he was still determined enough to accept the challenges of large orders, such as that of the Sauder folders.  His genuinely kind heart, and determination and drive to advance in his business venture makes him a great role model.  Overall I think that the Arc initiative is a fantastic channel for students to apply skills and concepts that they learned in class, while also helping other people achieve their goals and dreams.  It is definitely an opportunity that I want to be involved with in my future.

Sources:

https://startanevolution.ubc.ca/projects/the-arc-initiative/

https://connect.ubc.ca/bbcswebdav/pid-1691811-dt-content-rid-6151623_1/courses/SIS.UBC.COMM.101.105.2013W1.17408/Class%2021%20Arc%20Stories%202013.pdf

http://www.sauder.ubc.ca/Global_Reach/ARC_Initiative

http://www.sauder.ubc.ca/News/2012/Sauders_Arc_Initiative_mentors_entrepreneurs_in_Ethiopia

(http://www.ideatoappster.com/why-no-one-cares-that-you-can-save-snapchat-photos/)

Rejecting the powerful social media company, Facebook, is unheard of…unless you’re Snapchat.  I recently read Jennifer Zhen’s blog, “Snapchat on Facebook’s Wishlist,” and I strongly agreed with her opinions on the topic, and was therefore inspired to publish my own reasons for why I also believe that Snapchat should remain a separate entity.  Snapchat refused Facebook’s offer worth billions of dollars because the company feels as if in the future, they could be worth even more than the billions offered.  Their major backer, Benchmark Capital, was especially happy about this decision because of their previous disappoint with their investment in Instagram, who decided to sell to Facebook for a mere one billion last year.  Benchmark believes that SnapChat can survive as a stand-alone company and therefore should maintain its independence.

SnapChat started in 2011 by Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy, and is a service that lets users send videos and pictures that disappear after a certain length of viewing time.  This service looks to have a bright future as it offers a new, fun way for people to communicate with each other.  Spiegel and Murphy are entrepreneurs that have created a “vitamin” product that adds enjoyment to consumer’s lives (as opposed to alleviating a need as “painkillers” would).  They have also discovered an innovative way for users to maintain privacy in their communication, by allowing the pictures and videos to disappear.  Rejecting Facebook was a big, intelligent step towards establishing their autonomy in the social communication market.  David (Snapchat) seemingly showed Goliath (Facebook) who’s boss… yet again!

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2frdBhxdIk)

Sources:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/14/technology/rejecting-billions-snapchat-expects-a-better-offer.html?_r=1&

http://www.businessinsider.com/snapchat-early-and-first-employees-2013-11

http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/snapchat-rejects-facebook-s-3b-buyout-offer-report-1.2426180

https://blogs.ubc.ca/jenniferzhen/

West-Jet, an airline more commonly known for its trans-America flights, is on track to land some flights in Ireland.  The airline is planning to add four hour and fifteen minute-connecting flights to Dublin from Ottawa, Halifax, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg and other cities in the airline’s network.  The non-stop flights will begin next June and will run on a seasonal basis from June to October.  Their measured venture into trans-Atlantic flights allows them to step-outside of their niche and explore possibilities for longer flights, especially endeavors into the European air space.

“ [This] is an opportunity for us to gain a better understanding of what it’s like to operate in Europe,” said WestJet spokesperson Robert Palmer.

(http://smartcanucks.ca/westjet-save-25-off-econo-fare-category-flights/)

Airline companies run the risk of bankruptcy if they become too ambitious and attempt to provide long-haul flights through the purchase of bigger planes, as we learned in Class 5, so West-Jet’s subtle and strategic approach to ease into these European flights is clever.  The key to their previous success lay in their ability to specialize in trans-America flights but by slowly expanding their niche they allow themselves to test their ability to gain profit from these new trans-Atlantic flights.  If this venture fails, the risk is not as great compared to if they hastily jumped into broadening their flight plans.  In the future, if all goes well, providing direct flights from Canada to Europe would definitely bring in more customers as it allows passengers to access Europe without having to go through major cities such as Toronto.

Sources:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/westjet-to-go-transatlantic-with-flights-to-dublin-1.2427850

http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/docview/864615241