http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/investing/shares/11003612/Lloyds-moves-step-closer-to-dividend-payment.html

After a 27 billion pound bail out from the British government in 2009, due to bad loans from HBOS and a weak economy in 2008, Lloyds Bank are finally back on their feet and are preparing to pay their dividend to their investors again. In doing so they are willing to cut off 9,000 jobs (10% of workforce) and shut down branches in order to adjust customer’s online banking habits. The number of layoff is so large it could be compared to the 2008 economic crisis, where Lloyds Bank was forced to cut down workers.

There are both advantages and disadvantages in the act of cutting down jobs for the investment of £1 billion on digital technology.

Pros:

1. Customer awareness/relationship: Lloyds bank is aware of customers preferred banking habits (online banking), and is establishing a method to meet their customer’s needs.
2. Value proposition: Save time and trouble of physically going to the bank, such as, not having to wait in lengthy line ups.

Cons:

1. Bad reputation for causing thousands of unemployment
2. Poor sustainability and shared values: Effects not only the social environment by causing unemployment, but dismissing and altering their employee’s living condition and current lifestyle

Personally, I do not think it is a wise idea to cut off 9,000 jobs, just to improve the bank’s efficiency, as it can also question Lloyds Bank’s loyalty and ethics for sacrificing so many employees. Yet, of course, it can be argued that due to the competitive nature in the business, it is essential for differentiation.

Read article here:

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-29798532

Works Cited

Ahmed, Kamal. “Lloyds Bank Confirms 9,000 Job Losses and Branch Closures.” BBC News. BBC News, 28 Oct. 2014. Web. <http://www.bbc.com/news/business-29798532>.

Once again, the First Nation’s lifestyle and community are being threatened again and a dispute has risen between the First Nations’ and the proposal of Site C hydroelectric dam.

BC Hydro Site C dam drawing http://warriorpublications.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/bc-hydro-site-c-dam-drawing.jpg

First Nations are becoming more involved with economic development due to the growing environmental disruption. For example, the proposal of Site C hydroelectric dam will cause valley flooding which would damage First Nations’ privileges to fish and hunt.

In order for BC Hydro to benefit their stakeholders, by bringing forth their proposal they must make a settlement or a negotiation. Similar to past agreements, where compensations and benefits were offered to close in the gap between two different views, this will be no different.

To promote partnership with the First Nations, we must understand the position First Nations’ are in now (demographically young and underemployed). BC Hydro should provide job opportunities for First Nations to work on dams, annual infrastructure maintenance and annual community engagement to discuss about the additional impact of the BC Hydro project. This is to ensure First Nations could maintain and continue their traditional practices with fewer disturbances as possible.

Read article here:

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/First+Nation+chiefs+stage+Site+showdown/10215965/story.html

Works Cited:

“Aboriginal Consultation and Engagement.” Clean Energy Project. BC Hydro, 1 Feb. 2013. Web. <http://www.bchydro.com/content/dam/BCHydro/customer-portal/documents/projects/site-c/info-sheet-aboriginal-engagement.pdf>.

“Aboriginal Peoples in Canada: First Nations People, Métis and Inuit.” Statistic Canada. Statistic Canada, 1 Jan. 2011. Web. <http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/as-sa/99-011-x/99-011-x2011001-eng.cfm#a6>.

Hunter, Justine, and Ian Bailey. “No Clear Yes or No on B.C.’s Mega-dam Site C Project.” The Globe and Mail. The Globe and Mail, 8 May 2014. Web. <http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/site-c-recommendation/article18565850/>.

O’Neil, Peter. “First Nation Chiefs to Stage Site C Showdown.” The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver Sun, 18 Sept. 2014. Web. <http://www.vancouversun.com/news/First Nation chiefs stage Site showdown/10215965/story.html>.

ISIS Pharmaceuticals Inc. headquarter http://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.2037012!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_620/image.jpg

What does ISIS stand for? Is it the Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc., the Isis Bridal and Formal, or the Islamic militant group that the United States is fighting with in Iraq and Syria? If it is the latter one, this could be a lot of problem for businesses with the same acronym, as they already have their name damaged.

Ries and Trout have explained that using acronym to represent the company’s brand name is extremely dangerous, due to the fact that smaller companies will lose their identity. This proves true to these smaller businesses, and as a result, many companies are changing their name to avoid misconceptions. All but, Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc, where they refuse to give up on a name they developed for 25 years.

Although, it would be ashamed to abandon a name that they worked so hard and long for, I would rather start new than have a brand image that is so scarred and misrepresented.

ISIS Militant group in Iraq http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/06/isis_photographs_det.php

Even if Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. is confident that they can overcome this challenge, the name ISIS is already a taboo. Not only do they have to convince their customers that they are not associated with the militant group in Iraq, but they have to convince their customers that they are an honest company. There are just too much risk and cost if Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. continues to keep the name.

After all, brand image is extremely important, as we have discussed in class. It is what distinguish themselves from their competitors and what imprint their names into a consumer’s mind. Like Ries and Trout explained, “it is quite difficult to change a consumer’s impression once it is formed” since there are so many alternatives and so much information that are constantly put upon consumers.

Read article here:

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Businesses+with+name+Isis+battle+image+cast+Islamic+militant/10259609/story.html

Works Cited:

Murphy, Tom. “There’s No Terror Here, Isis Proprietor Declares.” The Vancouver Sun. The Associated Press, 3 Oct. 2014. Web. <http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Businesses with name Isis battle image cast Islamic militant/10259609/story.html>.

Ries, Al., and Jack Trout. Positioning the Battle for Your Mind. 20th Anniversary ed. New York, N.W.: McGraw-Hill, 2000. Print.

Roggio, Bill. “ISIS Photographs Detail Execution of Iraqi Soldiers.” The Long War Journal. Public Multimedia Inc., 15 June 2014. Web. <http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/06/isis_photographs_det.php>.