Month: November 2014

https://blogs.ubc.ca/ysetsawat/2014/10/04/the-trump-card/

Responding to this person’s blog, I find the blog very well written and an interesting topic. I do agree that the former CEO of Blackberry lacked a mission but I believe that this came from their huge success. Originally, Blackberry was as it is now: a company that built cellphones for people who wrote many emails and needed constant communication (what he/she refers to as the “business realm”).  I believe they were hamstrung by the success they had in the teenager/young adult market. They lost focus of what they were really there for and were victims of the instability of young people’s minds, meaning they want one thing one second and another the next. Unfortunately for Blackberry, loads of users then went on to the “next big thing” (Apple or Samsung), and left it behind.  This time around, Blackberry should, as the person who wrote the blog said, focus on a more narrow market in which they will be able to survive and thrive.

https://blogs.ubc.ca/isabellabonato/2014/09/29/the-debate-over-unpaid-internships/

Responding to this person’s blog, I can say that it is true that companies exploit interns because I have been one, although not for long. It is right that students who get these internships are sometimes in debt because of their huge student loan so I agree that companies should start to pay their interns. However since there is such a high demand for job experience, it is unlikely that companies that start this trend but rather the government should state that interns have the right to earn some sort of payment depending on the hours that they worked. Another part of her blog post mentioned how it is usually people with family connections that get these internships but that is just life in general, there’s no way to change that. What I found in my internship was that I was a part of the organization but not a crucial one, more like a temporary asset. My job lessened the burden of others but if I were not there it would have still been accomplished.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/editorials/ottawas-too-heavy-hand-on-corporate-crime/article21542670/

The article talks about how the current Canadian Government has far too strict rules that prohibit certain companies from getting their contracts. The author of the article is completely against it and believes that if companies do wrong they should be treated like civilians and be given different, appropriate punishment and not just one punishment for all no matter how serious the felony. I believe it is the right approach for the government to be re-elected, as they do not want to links to corporate crime, but in the end it is going to harm Canada’s business environment.    Just because one person committed a crime does not mean that their subordinate’s jobs be put at risk, it is not the right course of action. I do think there should be fines and a reformatory procedure should take place within the criminal corporation but not cut all ties with the government. Hopefully the next government will alter this law.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/1717/editorial/2014/11/11/6038821/why-real-sociedad-moyes-looking-to-rebuild-his-reputation?ICID=HP_HN_5

This might not be a business article per say but it is interesting to me as it is about a person’s brand image. In the footballing world your name is everything, there is no veil to hide behind; if the manager performs poorly, he is solely to blame and his reputation shatters. David Moyes was an above average manager when he was coaching Everton; he was an average manager when coaching Manchester United, but that was what killed his reputation. What his customer (Manchester United) expected was huge success and a high quality of performance, needless to say they were disappointed.

This Monday, David Moyes took on the job of the Real Sociedad manager in Spain. I believe it is the right course of action for him, because he is looking to rebuild his brand image. Moyes has gone to the right customer segment, an above-average team but not one of the best, and from there on he can grow and become a premier brand, one that offers high quality for a high price.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/pizza-hut-revamp-adds-global-flavours-to-menu-1.2831667

This article talks about how Pizza Hut wants to make a comeback by adding different flavours, from different cultures, to their Pizza repertoire. They do this to adapt to the ever-changing customer preferences which are now more inclined, as the article states, to having their own choice of what to put on their food and not be restricted by a restaurant’s limits on what they can order.

I think that it’s a good choice that they’re making as a restaurant because in places like Canada and the United States there are just so many cultures that it’s hard to satisfy customer preferences when each one of them has significantly different taste. While it is good that they are adding low calorie products to their menu, I would think that it is not really their market. People do not go to Pizza Hut to buy low calorie products, they go there because it is fast and inexpensive compared to other restaurants. It could end up being a huge cost for them because might not end up breaking even.