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I first thought 299 is just an abundant class, with the first public speaking half left me no valuable lessons. I did not improve much leaving the class. So I did not have much expectations for the second half. Nor had I thought I needed a perfect and professional looking resume and cover letter. But I left the second half of 299, with stronger skills and some actual enjoyment.
The part I liked most about the course is the TA team, where we are divided into much smaller groups, in which I found to be a much better and more personal learning environment. Personally I always feel overwhelming in big classrooms, the classes seem to be too strange and hard to focus, maybe because the prof will never know what I’m doing. But I enjoy smaller size, and 299 indeed provided me that personal coaching. It encouraged me more to talk and say my opinions than in bigger classes where it is a bit frightening for me to speak up. And I like my TA (really, not just saying this because you’re reading this Lauren LOL). Walking out of the class, I feel more confident about my resume and it seems like my chances for the jobs I apply will be better from now on. I realized the presentation is something that matters a lot as well, probably as much as the actual materials.
I would not mind to have such relaxing class for every year I will be in Sauder, one credit each year learning more and more about Business Communication. It would be a bit arrogant to say that I realized that there is so much I did not know, but it was indeed true if I don’t give much attention to things as they deserve to be looked at.
It was not just the course materials I took from 299, it was so much more. As I sometimes told my friends they should have offered it as just workshops, but all the personal factors added in the course made me change my mind. I’m glad I was in it.

Hey mom, I’m feeling much better now. I doubt if there ever is anyone that can understand me better than you do. Anyone that cares and tries to convince me to see myself as who I am like you do. Yes, I’m trying to live my life now. For once I try to forget the good times in the past, or they just look good to me now compared to what I have here. You were right. I never enjoyed any moment of my life without thinking what it could have been and what it can be in the future. I forget, my life is made out of moments NOW more than anytime in the universe. I know that before, but it takes you to remind and make me see it for myself what I should do and feel to change my pessimism. It seems like I can never realize things until you point it out to me.

For you I appreciate who I am, what I do and how I feel. For you I realize what matters, what does not. For you I have become a much better person. It doesn’t matter how crusade this may be, I know that it does not take an interesting stranger to introduce something new in my life.

Because it only the way you view your life that actually matters. Everything is relative and all feelings are states of mind, there is no real happiness or sadness, they are all creations of our mind. Now I know that, and I know that you are always there for me, despite how terrible and mundane of a person I am, with your support and words, I think there is nothing in this world can bring me down.

But there is one thing, no, one day that I might break down, the day you might leave me. I cried so much just because of the thought of it. But it is totally the matter of the future, and you told me you won’t have your life if you don’t live the NOW. I miss you, the times we were together, the times we will be together. But for now, I am here without you, and I still have to make it worth living and remembering for the future time. Emotions are just state of mind, and it lies in my hand whether I want to be happy or not. You indeed possess the biggest chunk in my heart, I miss you. And I decide that I will be happy from this very moment and beyond.

In “The business of innovation” Steven Johnson emphasized how an open innovation space could nurture new ideas and expand them in grandiose scale. He states that creativity and innovation were mainly born by collaboration rather than isolation, that

“The lone genius is the exception rather than the rule.”

His suggestion of the positive of an open and collaborative environment on nurturing creativity contradicts with the traditional closed rooms of corporate Research & Development. And an open space is exactly the kind of workplace Google provides its employees with, aiding them in capturing the sparks of ideas within themselves.

Google’s well-known 20% policy, where employees are required to spend 20% of their working time to pursue projects of their own interests, highlights Google’s approach to foster innovation within its corporation.  Being one of the leadings in this innovative industry, Google does not consider innovations as exceptions but rather as part of its organizational culture. I think this is truly a crucial and necessary approach Google has well addressed.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soYKFWqVVzg&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

Marissa Mayer after a research on all products released determined that 50% of all product releases were generated as the output of the 20% independent project time.

Being innovative defines and sets Google distinct from many of its competitors.

Source: http://www.think-differently.org/2007/08/google-on-innovation.html

GM rejoices over a net profit of $2bn (£1.2bn) in the three months to 30 September, which beats its rival Ford, compared to a loss a year earlier. With a positive report of three consecutive months of profitable gains, GM aims to maintain its growth and to renovate its product with higher quality and more fuel-efficient. GM seems to identify the critical points it needs to focus more to make a rebound after being filed for bankruptcy protection a year and a half ago. GM plans to raise capital expenditures to improve its automobiles’ quality, and urges further increase in the future, attempting to instill more positive image to consumers.

GM also looks into Indian market by participating in designing cheap car models, however not necessarily competing directing with TATA’s Nano. In order to make a successful rebound as well as maintain that position, GM emphasizes its aim on costs reduction, improve quality and fuel-efficient level; not to forget the importance of re-evaluate the corporate culture. GM is also working on its public relation with customers, government officials, workers and dealers, ect. GM might have a long way to go, but I think they are putting their attention on right focuses.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11725357

In 2009, Tata’s $2000 Nano, the world’s cheapest car, officially set the new revolution for the carmakers in the low-priced cars market. This posed a great challenge to all other brands, forced them to innovate ways to introduce equally or more competitive products to stay in the game.

Tata is comfortable resting on tremendous rise in profit from all over the world. Tata saw its sales jump 84%
at the end of 2009 relative to same period in 2008. The Indian carmaker was also fast to catch the eco-trend, announcing its plan to produce hybrid versions of its Nano– seems like nothing could stop the Tata storm. But its competitors are not resting to watch Tata’s happy invasion of the market, French carmaker Renault declared a war in car production costs with Tata in Indian market, which is predicted to be triple in 10 years.

The firm would not confirm the price, but says it will be for the entry level market and “priced competitively”.

Renault also said that its car model would be fuel-efficient, emphasizing on all the market trends that customers’ interests lay. Cheers cheaper hybrid, fuel-efficient cars soon coming to consumers!

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8352991.stm

Watching the disappointing slow economic recovery, the FED decided to fire another stimulus package of $600 Billion to purchase the government bonds in the next eight months. By doing this, the FED hopes to drives own the interest rate that will probably encourage more investments and consumptions during this financial crisis. But is this a wise move or just another selfish act of the States?

The interest rate is already nearly zero, and the earlier stimulus shot did show some positive result, even though its speed is rather disappointing. And the Fed believes that it cannot sit back and watch but must engage in another movement in order to strengthen the slow growth it is having at the moment. Despite Ben Bernanke’s risky but hopeful bet on this package to improve the economic condition, the Fed receives several criticismson this decision. By pumping money into the economy, the US likely to depreciate its currency against many countries that heavily rely on exports, creating inflation and bubble asset-price, ect. Personally I think this movement is only based on the States’ interest of recovering its own inadequate rate of growth, regarding the consequences it might bring to the world economy as a whole. And the result is not even guaranteed!

Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703506904575592471354774194.html?mod=WSJ_article_MoreIn_US

Toyota’s reputation for building high-quality cars and trucks has been badly hurt regarding to the high volume of complaints that its accelerator pedals contained a defect. As a result, sales are declining compared to the same period last year. Although being criticized of having a late response, Toyota showed great attempt in carrying out the fixing plan, in order to

“to appease regulators and show customers that it is aggressively addressing concerns about its vehicles”.

According to the Toyota’s SWOT analysis, this revealed Toyota’s cars building’s weakness, also directly exposed the company to other competitors in the industry. This is a crucial time for immediate actions since Toyota’s most well known strength, which differentiates the brand from most American brands, is losing its image in consumers’ eyes. Toyota is aware of Tata’s Nano entering the market with intense competition in pricing, which used to be one of Toyota’s strengths as well; thus building trust of the consumers in the brand as first priority. So it seems, Toyota is doing well, positive results are shown in the article.

Any wrong turn would result in fatal end, but hopefully, even though waited for a while before taking actions, Toyota’s insistent effort would be paid off.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/05/business/05toyota.html?ref=business

Antipsychotic drugs for decades were used only for serious mental diseases, but nowadays they are the most profitable pharmaceuticals,

“generating annual revenue of about $14.6 billion and surpassing sales of even blockbusters like heart-protective statins”.

Many antipsychotic drugs are not testified as harmless to its users, but their advertisements intensely claim so.

However, how these antipsychotic drugs have become so popular is not a secret; and the cunning tactics of marketing these products are revealed now and then

“according to previously confidential industry documents that have been produced in a variety of court cases”.

The whole article reveal several ways these companies managed to create image for these drugs while minimizing any side effects the drugs might have.

“Slides for one new antipsychotic drug contended that it had no neurological side effects. “They made it all up,” Dr. Kruszewski said. “It was never true.”

This demonstrates serious violation of ethics in business. Still, the problem cannot be easily eliminated, since if these pharmaceutical companies suffer too much impact, the patients will be directly harmed by the lack of other medicines. But at least, lawsuits have entered to raise awareness, to tell those companies that there are consequences of their fraud.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/03/business/03psych.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=business

The US stock markets showed significantly good signs during September, indicated the best quarterly performance of the year.

“Friday’s gains come after the Dow surged 7.7% last month, its best September performance since 1939, and rallied 10.4% in the third quarter”

With all the positive growths shown in the last month, investors should gain some more confidence in the market. However, this is not the case.

“Investors are hesitant to put more money into the market at the start of October due to skepticism that the strength seen in September can continue without a pullback.”

Even though the market is doing very well, this does not seem to convince the investors that this dramatic growth will last long without another dip. The numbers do not have much weight on investing decisions; however, what does is investors’ speculation of the near-future performance of the economics and this does not seem to be very positive. Even though last September has been noted as the fourteenth consecutive month of growth, investors looked closely at “certain data points triggered alarm about the economy’s health.” The stock market after all does not reflect much the present growth of the economics, but rather the future speculation of growth. But at the moment investments do not have a direct relationship with these speculations but rather with the confidence in the market. At certain point, we hope that “The economic numbers are going to start to matter again.” and hopefully investors will start to pour the money into the market.

Source: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-stocks-rise-on-hopes-for-global-growth-2010-10-01