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http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2010/10/07/f-environment-green-thanksgiving.html

The article, “Green Thanksgiving gains grown,” suggests that the public interest for organic food has increased dramatically, especially during Thanksgiving. More and more people are becoming conscious about the environment; therefore, they are willing to pay more for sustainable food. The organic food industry needs to capitalize on this new perspective on organic foods, allowing the market to grow dramatically. During Thanksgiving, the demand for sustainable turkey is elastic because people are still in the transition to organic foods. Furthermore, if the price of sustainable turkey is too high, people will purchase ordinary turkeys. Yet, the organic foods industry should not really worry because the views on organic food have greatly improved over the years. People want to know where their food comes from. As a result, Aubin Farms have initiated a business tactic that allows potential customers to experience the farm life, allowing them to acknowledge that their food is sustainable. Thus, this tactic will lead to the success of their business strategy- increase in demand for organic food.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hErvV5YEHkE

My analysis on the documentary of Monsanto – “The World According to Monsanto” – determines that this business makes rational and profitable decisions yet it is ethically wrong. From a business point of view, Monsanto genetically alter seeds to only produce crops once in their life-time which forces the farmers to purchase these seeds again. Therefore, Monsanto can have a continuous source of customers who rely on their seeds for growing crops. With these innovative methods of agriculture, Monsanto is able to decrease the variable cost that will also increase the contribution margin. From an ethical viewpoint, Monsanto is a callous and unscrupulous company that takes advantage from unwitting farmers. In my opinion, it is morally unethical to alter what is naturally made. In addition, it is scientifically proven in the documentary that crops made from Monsanto are highly correlated to causing cancer. Blinded by greed, Monsanto ignores the physical harm that they contribute not only to nature but also people. These genetically altered seeds are able to infect and destroy other seeds that have not been altered. Monsanto is truly an ingenious agricultural business but the way that the company approaches its goals is despicable and sordid.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/if-universities-were-in-business-theyd-be-out-of-business/article1740246/

My analysis on the article, “If universities were in business, they’d be out of business” by Gwyn Morgan, reveals interesting topics that challenge university’s methods of teaching. The idea that professors show up only occasionally, sending harried, low-paid graduate students to teach so they can concentrate on their personal research astounds my belief1 . Perplexed by the thought that some professors care more about their research than teaching their students worries me. Comparing a university to a business alludes to the sense that universities can not survive as a business. The goal is to instill knowledge and confidence in students but the article explains that some professors do not properly prepare students for the business world. Therefore, universities do not achieve their goals. My analysis on the article also reinforces the idea that lectures, which contain over 300 students, are utterly useless. If students are sent into the workforce with the knowledge of how to make SWOT analysis or fishbone analysis is a waste of time if the students do not understand them. Without proper teachings from professors and graduate students, this may be a reality for many students who enter the workforce.

1 =If Universities Were in Business, They’d be out of Business – The Globe and Mail.” Home – The Globe and Mail. Web. 04 Oct. 2010. .

http://www.financialpost.com/news/Starbucks+raise+prices+some+drinks/3567821/story.html#ixzz10NzdAjoZ

My analysis on the article, “Starbucks to raise prices on some drinks,” suggests that Starbucks Corp wants to maintain their contribution margin by increasing the price due to the inflation of coffee beans. Furthermore, coffee beans are variable costs that will affect the contribution margin. In order for Starbucks to continue to make a profit, they must increase the price of their drinks or else they will be generating less income. This move from Starbucks Corp is risky but necessary because customers will dislike the price increase; therefore, the demand for drinks will decrease. Yet, if the company maintains the same prices the inflation of coffee beans will also decrease the contribution margin. As a result, Starbucks Corp is relying on their brand and customer loyalty, hoping that customers will continue to purchase their drinks from Starbucks. Since all companies yearn to make a profit and not just to achieve the break-even price, Starbucks Corp believes that increasing the selling price will be more profitable rather than increasing the volume sold when decreasing the price. In conclusion, my analysis determines that Starbucks Corp made the most lucrative and sensible decision to maintain profit and to compete with other coffee companies.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/currencies/japan-intervenes-in-currency-market-to-weaken-yen/article1707860/#article

My analysis on the article, “Japan intervenes in currency market to weaken yen,” conveys the message that the term “weakening” may not have such a negative impression. By weakening the yen, Japan remains competitive against other countries, generating more clients for companies such as Honda Motor Co. and Panasonic Corp. In my opinion, this rational decision from the finance minister of Japan was definitely contributed by the need of survival to benefit their economy, allowing them to remain as one of the top manufacturing countries. Ironically, therefore by weakening the yen, Japan has strengthened their economy, allowing them to continue to compete against other countries. If the Japanese did not lower the yen, their economy would have slowly deteriorated, causing them to forfeit lucrative business deals that would have boosted their market. Furthermore, other countries such as South Korea and Taiwan would have benefited from the soaring Japanese yen because countries like Canada or the U.S. would shift their business to cheaper means from South Korea and Taiwan. Judging from the SWOT, Japan’s decision to weaken the yen has strengthened their competitiveness, opened new opportunities with other plentiful countries, and lessened the threat from eager competitors.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/women-sue-goldman-claim-discrimination/article1708372/

My analysis on the article, “Women Sue Goldman, Claim Discrimination,” suggests that women still have desires to obtain what men have. Trying to fight for equality for women in the workforce, three women – who worked for Goldman Sachs Group Inc. – decided to sue the company, claiming that they did not receive the same amount of income or promotion opportunities. In my opinion, this is not a necessity that women need to survive but a passionate desire to be equal to men. Furthermore, the women claim that Goldman Sachs “intentionally implemented” company-wide policies to promote and support men rather than women. In my perspective, this is not the first time women tried to break down the wall of discrimination in the workplace, demonstrating their indefatigable efforts to succeed. Similar to the article “Detroit is still stuck in the 1950s,” women – even after countless years – still face discrimination in companies. After many years, GM and businesses still follow the past norms: inefficient fuel cells and male priority. Even though women have achieved their goals in the past, they continue to fight for more rights, suggesting that businesses still follow an “outdated corporate culture” that do not support women as they do for men.

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