Machiavellian …………………… 29/50  (4 points above average)

Self-Monitor ……………………… 53/65 (High self-monitors are defined as those with scores of 53 or higher.)

EI ………………………………………. 92/100 (A score below 70 indicates very low EI)

Narcissism ………………………………… 11/40 (Average is 15.5)

My Machiavellian score might deem me to be a schemer, but I have not partaken in any kind of official coup just yet. Apparently I am a high self-monitor and emotionally intelligent; perhaps these traits are appropriate for group work. Allegedly, I am not a narcissist, with a low score of 11 out of 40 (4 and a half points below average). I am willing to work with all kinds of people, and I’m honestly not really bothered about who I’m thrown in with.

http://s3.amazonaws.com/nikeinc/assets/8008/NikeInnovationSummit_HJones-02_21FEB12_original.jpg?1329854693

Our society has started to support any business in an endeavor to reduce their environmental impact. People love to feel that they are making a positive difference in the world with each purchase of an environmentally-friendly product, and businesses aren’t exactly upset about making profits from such an effort. Porter, of HBS, claims that “a shared value approach reconnects company success with social progress”. Nike has quite recently made an honest attempt to create shared value in the market for performance wear.

Through the outstanding advancement of their manufacturing technology, Nike have managed to incorporate the usage of recycled plastic bottles into the production of their new lightweight shoe, Flyknit. “Discarded plastic bottles are melted down”, as their website says, in an attempt to “serv[e] the needs of the athlete and the planet at the same time”.

In his blog post, “Successes and Failures of Creating Shared Value”, Tyler Nylander acclaims a recently-released advertisement created by Nike that supports weight loss with the slogan ‘Find Your Greatness’. The company is constantly searching for new ways to support social and environmental causes in alignment with the needs of the business.

The ultimate environmental impact of Nike’s effort is mentioned by Matthew Wheeland in his blog post, “How Nike’s Green Design Recycled 82 Million Plastic Bottles”. Wheeland mentions that each soccer jersey designed by Nike for the South Africa games took “eight plastic bottles out of landfills”.

https://kedelltd.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/recycled-plastic-bottles.jpg

Nike has the capability to expand their utilization of this technology across its entire product line, decorating everything from running shoes to jerseys with recycled material. Perhaps the most significant effect of this initiative, however, will be the response of competitors in the market. If consumers start choosing plastic-bottle-infused products, businesses refusing to hop on the train will be left behind. By taking this step forward, Nike are encouraging others to follow in the reconceiving of the market.

When millions of products in a market are purchased every year, it only takes a slight adjustment of the manufacturing process to reshape the environmental impact of an entire industry. The pursuit of creating shared value could redefine business as we know it, and completely alter society’s relationship with large companies like Nike.

Word Count: 365

References: https://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2011/02/09/how-nikes-green-design-saved-82m-plastic-bottles

https://blogs.ubc.ca/tnylander/

https://hbr.org/2011/01/the-big-idea-creating-shared-value

http://news.nike.com/news/nike-better-world

http://img.webmd.com/dtmcms/live/webmd/consumer_assets/site_images/articles/health_tools/medical_marijuana_slideshow/getty_rm_photo_of_medical_marijuana_plant.jpg

Many believe that the sparks were first cast as a result of prohibition in the 1920’s; an alternative had to be found for the bygone beauty of liquor. As a drug, however, marijuana attracted relatively minimal legal scrutiny for several decades, until the introduction of the Controlled Substances Act in 1970. Ever since the declaration of the ‘war on drugs’ by Nixon, marijuana has been deemed to be an illegal substance by almost every nation worldwide. Yet in recent years, legalization of cannabis has been considered and even enacted by certain states in the US and a few exceptional countries.

As seen in states like Washington and Colorado, a power shift occurs once marijuana is legalized. The cultivation of the plant becomes the government’s responsibility. Despite this, not all revenues in the business are collected by the government.

In his 2015 campaign, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau guaranteed to “legalize, regulate, and restrict access to marijuana” in Canada. In apprehension of the legal reconstruction, Canada’s most powerful pharmacy chain, Shopper’s Drug Mart, “formally applied to be a distributor of medical marijuana”.

Shopper’s claim that there is ethical merit in their intentions, what with the social benefit of unquestionably improved access and safety for Canadians resulting from pharmaceutical distribution. At the end of the day, however, this is a strategic business decision. Once Ottawa announces the legalization of recreational use, there will be a colossal amount of money involved in this market. If Shopper’s can establish themselves in the medical marijuana business before the flood gates are opened, they will be perfectly positioned to monopolize.

Rexall, another pharmacy chain, currently stands as Shopper’s biggest rival. Unlike Shopper’s, Rexall are far more hesitant to enter the market. It would seem that they are troubled by the uncertainty of what the legal environment will be one year from now. A PEST analysis must be conducted for an environment that doesn’t exist yet – such fickleness is a worry for Rexall.

Justin Ng discusses the change in “the next PEST analysis” for any producers of Cuban rum and cigars following Obama’s decision to declare a détente with Cuba. When a political situation changes, any decent business must respond accordingly and adjust to a new setting. To gamble, to predict what an environment will exist as in the future and to act prematurely? That is the nature of a truly outstanding business.

Monitoring the progression of Canadian legislation surrounding the use of marijuana is one tactic. It is a safe approach. However, for pharmacy chains across the country that wait until marijuana is entirely legalized and approved for recreational use, it might be just too late to dive in once Shopper’s has a place in the pool.

Word Count: 450

References:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/shoppers-drug-mart-medical-marijuana-1.3820131

https://www.liberal.ca/realchange/marijuana/

https://blogs.ubc.ca/justinng/2016/10/15/happy-hour-special-rum-and-cigar/

https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjFocfLhOHPAhUL-GMKHflhAb8QjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.themarketingsage.com%2Fthe-death-of-coke-life%2F&psig=AFQjCNE7J1CMwmZI0vCWHvdhEWhB59E2QQ&ust=1476766106599035

For over a century, Coca Cola has been a significant part of our society. Some might call it nothing more than soda, but this business has done so much more than provide the people with various soft drinks over the years. They put the red in Santa’s clothes, and “Coke” is the second most understood word on the planet. Coca Cola’s flagship product has brought customers back for more, mouths drooling, time and time again since 1886.

For an eternity, it was as if nothing could stop their signature cola from flowing. As each day passes, however, scientists toil away in labs in an effort to reduce unhealthy elements of the drink’s recipe without altering the famed flavour. Their endeavor is ultimately necessary because of the growing change in society’s demands.

In recent years, all kinds of healthy products and alternatives have seen massive success in the food and beverage industry. Ever since consumers began their gravitation towards nutritious choices, Coca Cola have scrambled to provide, developing drinks like Diet Coke and Coke Zero. Boasting their successful elimination of calories, sugar, and caffeine, and thorough market research has allowed Coca Cola to survive through this shift.

For the launch of Coca Cola’s latest product, “Coke Life”. Canada is about to be swamped by a flood of advertising showing flourishes of green. The beverage is marketed as a natural soda made with real sugar and stevia extract, “sweetened with natural sources”. Harsh criticism and low sales have followed its release in several other countries including Argentina, for many see this as a stretch. Indeed, there is a limit to how healthy Coca Cola can make their beverage appear. It doesn’t matter how much research is conducted in the labs, the business is restricted by their promise to maintain flavour. If society’s interest in health continues to advance at the same rate, Coca Cola might be in trouble.

The cutting of calories, sugar, and caffeine from their drinks is impressive, but Coca Cola will never truly be healthy. Replace the handle and the brush, and you a have a different broom. Perhaps Coca Cola will have to modify beyond recognition to stay afloat. Today, sales are still high for the business as a whole. Yet the release of Coke Life is just another reminder of Coca Cola’s ongoing struggle. How far can Coca Cola bend for society’s needs before they break? Our first vision of who we now perceive to be Santa Claus, a figure idolized by billions over the years, held a Coca Cola bottle, full sugar, full calories. Is it possible that the signature drink that brought this impossibly influential company into existence might vanish into oblivion?

WC: 447

References:

http://www.lexiophiles.com/english/the-most-recognized-word-in-the-world

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/marketing/coca-cola-launching-new-natural-cola-in-canada/article32015327/

http://www.businessinsider.com/facts-about-coca-cola-2015-9/#coca-cola-claims-its-name-is-the-second-most-understood-word-in-the-world-behind-ok-10

https://www.cnet.com/news/snapchat-spectacles-glasses-camera-snap-inc-evan-spiegel/

Almost exactly 5 years ago in the month of September, three ambitious Stanford students released Snapchat, at the time existing as nothing more than a simple idea for a photo sharing and messaging platform. Today, over 150 million people use the world-famous application every day. However, despite the shockingly widespread usage of the mobile app, Snapchat has struggled to turn over significant profits proportionate to its colossal growth over the past few years. Perhaps in response to this suffering, Snapchat has recently rebranded itself as Snap Inc., along with the exciting release of their first product, Snap Spectacles. Wearable technology, in the form of vibrantly-coloured sunglasses featuring a built-in camera could become the next must-have accessory for youngsters worldwide.

In an attempt to forecast the success of this product, many have recalled the embarrassing flop experienced by Google after their release of Google Glass in 2012. Elements of their failure included the ‘dorky look’ of the product, the social context Google Glass was used in, and a crashing wave of public criticism received with regard to privacy concerns. Before long, users of the Star Trek-esque headset were unfortunately identified as ‘Glassholes’.

Although Google’s venture serves as a precedent, Di Placido of Forbes suggests that “where Google failed, and where Snap may succeed, is in how the public perceives the product.” Indeed, Snapchat has been received by the people with open arms, and the way in which the application is used has helped individuals to gradually become more comfortable with being filmed in public. Every picture and video taken on Snapchat vanishes after no more than twenty-four hours, and sometimes as quickly as just ten seconds. As a result of this unique feature, places previously known to be foreign territory for a camera’s lens, social situations that were formerly considered to be inappropriate for video capture, are now being displayed on Snapchat. Where passing strangers once frowned at creepy Glassholes, they might smile for the camera once seeing the signature yellow mark on the rim of Spectacles.

Perhaps the most important decision to highlight in Snap’s strategy is their design. Instead of trying for subtlety, Spectacles are vibrantly colourful, enormous, and “impossible not to notice”. Anyone daring to use this technology is certainly making no secret of it, and that is precisely Snap’s goal – to make this concept socially acceptable. Yet a cluster of teenage hipsters can’t be the only ones excited; retailing at $129.99, it will need to be regarded as a significant enhancement of the Snapchat experience that millions enjoy every day. With such a colossal user base, if Snap Inc. can turn a slightly bizarre, fresh idea into a social norm, the world is about to change.

Word Count: 449

Citation: http://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2016/09/24/snaps-spectacles-may-succeed-where-google-failed/#2f42b67e8dd8

http://www.digitaltrends.com/music/why-apples-iphone-7-may-kill-the-headphone-jack/

For all of its seductive luster and elegance, the soon-to-be-released iPhone 7 possesses one key feature that is bound to arouse a certain level of outrage. The designers of the new device have decided to remove the audio port. Consequently, purchasers of the 7 will have to use innovative headphones that, unlike their modest predecessors, lack a male jack, meaning they do not plug into anything. Those who are making an effort to foresee the ramifications of this change are anticipating the obsolescence of the standard ear buds that millions of people own today. Apple plans to take a substantial step forwards, rewriting the rules of how the average consumer listens to their music, and the headphones of today will become redundant. Creative brilliance, and our world will become a cemetery. The discarding of millions of pairs of headphones is no compliment to Mother Nature. Yet I cannot place the blame on Apple alone. Instead of antagonizing the corporation as so many have done before, consider who will send the headphones to their graves. Who is the real executioner? Who will choose to give up their money, to seize the sparkling, new product in their hands?

One could attack the company’s ethical principles with ease, rain fire on their pathetic attempt to practice Corporate Social Responsibility. After all, Apple’s CSR in this instance could be disparaged on two fronts, where their greed for maximizing profits is excessive, and the environmental impact resulting from their decision is also harmful. CSR relates to moralistic values; it is now demanded of corporations to take on the role of the environmental activist, or the charitable benefactor. However, these contributions are often tactical investments. The value of a corporation gifting money to charities is in the improvement of their brand image. Once the public is made aware of these generous contributions, the money flows back in. Apple could dedicate a portion of their profits to any socially responsible cause, but as a business it will never exist primarily to support environmental protection or world poverty.

Antagonizing Apple in this case is common, yet the truth of the issue is seldom sought for. Jonathan Sterne writes in an article for The Globe and Mail titled, ‘Your new iPhone will soon be trash, and that’s the point’, stating that Apple is committed to “planned obsolescence”. Apple did not make the decision to remove the headphone jack on the new iPhone 7 because they enjoy negatively affecting the environment. No, maximizing their profit was the sole purpose. Making money is their priority. Their decisions are only guided by their expectations of the consumers. Henceforth, unless the consumers change their priorities, unless the individuals realize their own social responsibility, nothing will change.

Word Count: 450

Citation: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-commentary/a-tempest-in-a-headphone-jack/article31767127/