RE: In China, To Get Rich Is Not So Glorious – Ching-To Li

China was not what it is now 20 years ago. After opening its market to the world in the past decade, China has rapidly grown into one the the largest economies in the world. The increase of billionaires have also contributed to the positive economic returns but unfortunately, corruption remain as one of the largest issues in this country.

After spending my summer in Shanghai and Beijing working for my aunts’ business, I have realized the vast difference in work ethics compared to that of the western world. In China, employees worked longer hours and kept on a very tight schedule. Most business decisions made by CEOs or high-ranking officials were conducted “informally” and usually outside of the business environment (e.g in bars, restaurants etc). This made illegal transactions and bribery easier between corporations. Instead of looking at the bigger picture and seeing what is best for the company, personal goals get in the way and people start to lose their values and beliefs.

Ching-To’s Blog: https://blogs.ubc.ca/chingtoli/2012/11/18/in-china-to-get-rich-is-not-so-glorious/

Having stumbled across Ryan Ho’s blog, I read an interesting post regarding the “Supply Chain Management” of Zara.

As Zara’s number one fan, I am relatively fascinated by the way the company manages its supply chain.

According the the guest speaker, Zara implements a business model that revolves around a short supply chain management. In this case, instead of manufacturing and shipping their products from China, they decided to keep their production and manufacturing back in Europe. One reason behind this is because Zara wants to keep up their brand image/quality, and also be able to adjust quickly to the changing fashion trends. One example was when Madonna wore a certain outfit to her concert in Europe; Zara was able to produce, manufacture and ship out a splitting image of that outfit in approximately 4 days. This shows how quickly they must be when trying to adjust to changing global trends. If their manufacturing happened in China, shipping these new products and distributing them to different stores would take a lot longer.

From their prices, Zara is considered to be a relatively higher end store. According to Ryan, prices of Zara clothing in North America and Asia are similarly if not, the same. On the other hand, Zara is much cheaper back in Europe due to lower costs since production and manufacturing happens at home.

Ryan’s blog: https://blogs.ubc.ca/rcyh/2012/11/15/zaras-fast-fashion-business-model/

After reading about Christina Kwan’s blog post regarding “Sustainability,” I decided to give my two cents perspective on this topic.

Having being raised in Toronto (14 years to be exact), I have never learned much about sustainability. Not saying that we as a city is not sustainable, but just the fact that you do not see a lot of it around the city up until recent years. Upon arriving in Vancouver for school, I realized an immediate difference between the two cities. There were A LOT more trees, the air felt cleaner, and everything was more sustainable looking. I have noticed that the walls of the Vancouver International Airport were made out of green walls. And the fact that there were hundreds of recycling bins around the area. Not to mention, the hybrid taxis that we took to get to our hotel.

While visiting the UBC campus, I was informed that many of the buildings were self sustaining and eco-friendly. Many classrooms contained lights that would flick off when there weren’t any people around, and were designed in special ways so that it would save more on energy.

Having realized how important sustainability was, I feel that Toronto should learn more from Vancouver and its methods for being a sustainable city. (Also the Maple Leafs should learn a thing or two from the Canucks…no lie…we kind of suck).

Christina’s Blog: https://blogs.ubc.ca/christinakwann/2012/11/13/sustainability/

The 2012 Presidential Election sparked many controversies and debates, and it has surely kept us on the edge of our seats. I for one, was not watching the elections religiously since I did not want to fail my upcoming midterm. Not wanting to look like an outcast, I kept myself updated with the polls through: Twitter. Not CNN, not Huffington Post, not CBC, but Twitter.

The presidential election was the most talkedabout event on Facebook and Twitter, with over users 71.1 million users on Facebook mentioning topics that related to elections day. More popular than the 2012 Superbowl (in which “Super Bowl scored a 8.62 on the Talk Meter, while the San Francisco Giants winning the World Series tracked at a 6.1”), this years’ election managed to score a 9.27 on Facebook’s Talk Meter. “Bird Bird” appeared to the be phrase that was the most popular during the campaigning and “Binders Full of Women” came closely in at second place. Not only was Facebook and Twitter being hit with Obamafever, Instagram saw a 2.1 increase in their daily photo uploads on the day of the election.

“People from around the United States tagged more than 100,000 photos with #IVoted, and 150,000 photos with #election2012, allowing folks to share their own— and tune into others’ — election night experience in real-time,”

Articles:

http://mashable.com/2012/11/08/election-day-facebook/

http://mashable.com/2012/11/08/instagram-election-obama/

http://mashable.com/2012/11/07/obama-viral-posts/

Some of the most valuable companies in the world include ones such as: Exxon Mobil, Microsoft, and IBM. In the last few years, one company seemed to find itself on the top of the list – that company happens to be Apple.

Previously, Microsoft was number one, but its stocks have been unstable these past few years. On the other hand, Apple was able to provide itself a “market cap of

over $620 billion dollars.” Apple shares now cost over $600 per stock and with the current Iphone 5 and Ipad Mini hitting the market, its shares are bound increase even more.

“Given the company’s unbelievable innovation over the last few years, and the subsequent mountains of cash that it has earned as a result, the likely catalyst for the stock to eventually peak and decline will be Apple’s inability to continue to innovate at its current pace.” In the meantime, Apple is showing no sign of falling back compared to other tech companies such as Motorola, Samsung, Google HTC, and Microsoft, placing them a good position against its competitors.

Article: http://www.forbes.com/sites/benzingainsights/2012/08/21/apple-now-most-valuable-company-in-history/

This class was certainly one that left a deep impression on me.

Growing up, my parents have raised me on the philosophy of “giving back to society.” Now as a Sauder student, not only do I want to carry out positive acts for the greater good, but to also profit off of this endeavour. This my friend, is what we call “Social Entrepreneurs.”

At first glance, social enterprises may seem like a non-profit organization. According to the Stanford article, but sets social enterprises apart from non-profit organizations is the fact that social entrepreneurs will profit in both social and economical goods.

There are many reasons behind the creation of a social enterprise but the main reason to it is the fact that people want to benefit and improve the life of others. They see a vision or an interest and transforms that into something beneficial for society.

“Most people have to see to believe, but I think that Social Entrepreneurs believe and then they see”

Article: http://www.ssireview.org/articles/entry/social_entrepreneurship_the_case_for_definition/

In Alex’s blog post, he talks about the recovery of RIM after the devastating stock plumage back in the summer of 2011. With the new Iphone 5, Samsung Galaxy, and Androids storming the market, is RIM’s new phone really in a good position?

For now, my opinion is no. Though investors see huge potential in the company’s new product, the Blackberry 10 is not a “comeback” product, but rather a chance of survival for RIM. Through these past months, the company was helplessly trying to fend for itself in the market against its strong competitors.  It lost a huge amount of users, all whom have switched to Apple, Motorola, HTC or Samsung.

On the contrary, if RIM is able to emphasize their point of difference through their new Blackberry 10, then it may be able to lock their core consumers, and win back its old “crackberry” users. According to Alex’s post and the MacLean’s article, Blackberry will be introducing a full keyboard, and touchscreen that allows user to switch back and forth between running apps.

“Will the Blackberry 10 be able to save RIM?” As for now, nothings certain except the fact that RIM should really focus on its marketing approaches and bring back its game as a main competitor in the market.

Alex Gatson’s Blog: https://blogs.ubc.ca/alexandergoston/2012/10/02/crackberry-users-are-out-of-rehab/

MacLean’s Article: http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/10/09/dont-call-it-a-comeback/

Blackberry Info: http://ca.blackberry.com/

This blog responds back to Jasmine’s article as well as a recent piece of news I have read.

A little Background about Facebook:

Facebook is the largest social networking platform with over a billion users using it actively each month. On May 18^th, 2012, Facebook became a public entity and released its value on the stock market with an initial public offering of $38. Despite the hype, Facebook’s stock value failed to meet the predicted outcome and only increased $1 over its initial offering.

Now next to Facebook is Twitter, the second largest social media-networking site with over 100 million active users each month. Over the past year, Twitter’s user login rate has increased up by 82% and the projected growth by the end of this year is 126 million users.

It reaches a certain point to which Twitter will need to make the company public and the last thing they want is an IPO misstep similar to that of Facebook.

The key to Twitter’s IPO success is valuing the company at a price that is not too high and not too low. The overhype of Facebook’s value resulted in a lower IPO value and vice-versa like LinkedIn, who underestimated it’s company value, resulted in a lower IPO as well.

According to the Bloomsberg article, Twitter’s value was around $8 billion last year. As of now, Twitter is not rushing things and hopes to gather a stronger user base internationally.

Blog reply from Jasmine Chan : https://blogs.ubc.ca/jasminekychan/2012/10/01/facebook-faceplant/

Bloomsberg Article/Blog: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-10-09/avoiding-facebook-fate-is-twitter-cfo-goal-on-way-to-ipo#p2

Twitter Facts: http://www.jeffbullas.com/2011/09/21/11-new-twitter-facts-figures-and-growth-statistics-plus-infographic/

The People’s Republic of China is the world’s second largest economy based on GDP. Throughout the century, economic reforms have radically changed and shaped the structure of the Chinese economy. With an annual growth rate averaging over 7%, it is also the world’s fastest growing economy. China acts as one of the most important international markets, and contributes greatly as the world’s largest exporter.

With such distinguishable assets, one would think that China would be ready for a full free-trade agreement, but former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney thinks of the contrary.

A broad trade agreement may take up to twelve years until both countries can conclude to an agreement that will satisfy both sides.  As of now, the Canadian government only wants to conclude some of the current bilateral /multilateral negotiations and is not seeking a new agreement.

Mulroney believes that one of China’s largest issues is the protection of intellectual property rights and the acknowledgement of the law. Instead on focusing on one big trade agreement, it makes more sense for both countries to target certain areas of investments and “reduce trade barriers in specific sectors.”

On the other hand, the trade agreement can bring in more foreign investments, which will benefit Canada’s economy (e.g more jobs for the labor market).

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/free-trade-with-china-still-a-decade-away-mulroney-says/article4587718/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb690UctUV0

http://www.economist.com/blogs/freeexchange/2012/01/chinas-labour-force

Leanne Li COMM101 104

R. Edward Freeman states that if a business is not a “good citizen in the community” and routinely ignores “local customs, laws and quality of life,” then that business will eventually decline. One example of a company that defies these morals is Monsanto. A multinational biotechnology and agriculture development based corporation, Monsanto is one of the largest producers of herbicide and genetically modified foods. It also reigns as one of the most irresponsible and environmentally damaging companies in the world. The company’s most famous products are also known to be the most hazardous including; Agent Orange, anti-freeze, genetically modified seeds, PCBs, and harmful pesticides.

In 2011, Monsanto was thrown into the spotlight when the U.S Environmental Protection Agency discovered that one of the company’s factories was contaminating water supplies with toxic chemicals. Unfortunately, this is not the first time Monsanto has done something like this. Monsanto is responsible for creating over 50 Superfund sites over the past 50 years, with one of the worst being in Anniston, Alabama. They routinely disposed toxic waste into the West Anniston Creek while manufacturing PCBs (an extremely harmful coolant) at the same time (now banned). Over the years, they continued dumping millions of chemicals into open-pit landfills, then proceeded to cover up the issue by changing documents and test results. This breaks the first principle in ethical decision making – health and safety. Monsanto knew exactly how harmful these chemicals were, but continued to keep it under the covers. Clearly, this company does not give two cents about people’s wellbeing and life. They use obstructive strategies when trying to solve issues, and repeatedly makes the same mistakes over and over again.

A company or organization’s success may be widely based upon their public image. For a business to succeed, they must not only consider their stockholders when making decisions, but also the shareholders – entities that will affect the company such as; employees, the community, society, customers etc. Companies like Monsanto, that uses defensive and even obstructive strategies will eventually find themselves with lower profits, a tarnished image, and heavy prosecution.

R. Edward Freeman Stakeholder Theory Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIRUaLcvPe8

Recent Monsanto Chemical Dumping Case: http://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanielparishflannery/2011/09/03/monsantos-pesticide-problems-raise-awareness-for-corporate-environmental-responsibility/

Anniston, Alabama PCB Case: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&contentId=A46648-2001Dec31