As is well known, Blackberry has been on the decline for the last couple of years. The reasons for which are not certain, but there is strong emphasis on their inability to keep up with the innovation of it’s competition. However, just as the IPhone 6 was being released, Blackberry chose to fight back. As it released it’s newest phone, the Passport, it’s steady decline in revenue stopped.

Blackberry’s decision to implement a new strategy may have been their saving grace. Taking on a low cost focus strategy, as apposed to trying to out-innovate it’s competition seem’s to be working. At the same time their design is differentiating them from their competition. Blackberry is the last smartphone with a keyboard, which may seem worthless, but there is certainly a niche market for that alone. With blackberry’s ability to bounce back at this crucial time, it’s important for them to continue to strategize, and re-strategize. The market is constantly changing, and Blackberry, after failing to do so in the past, must stay one step ahead.

This article describes this generation is obsessed with telling people how passionate they are. In the very competitive business world, being passionate might not make the cut. When employers are hiring they hear dozens or more people talk about how passionate they are about the subject at hand. What people don’t realize is when a job meet’s your passions, that’s a benefit to you, not the employer. The employer simply wants the very best person for the job, not someone who is “willing to learn”, or that can “bring more passion than anyone else to the job.”

It’s important for people looking for a job to show how their passions can help others, not benefit themselves. If a person’s passion will benefit the company, and not vice-versa, there may be a serious advantage for them. When looking for a job, people should think about ways they can help their employer, this is what will land you the job; thinking about how the job will benefit oneself will do the opposite.

In Paul Lam’s last blog he questioned the ethics of Apple when it comes to Foxconn, the company that makes their products. Violations of the legal work hours, child labour, and human rights have all been at the forefront of this scandal. I found it very interesting that Apple has finally been called out for such crimes; but more than anything that so many other companies still get away with it. Child labour, human right’s violations and overall unethical behaviour lie within an uncountable number of companies that somehow manage not to get caught. The only way for many companies to optimize profit is to use these unethical, inhumane practices; and many still believe that money is more important than ethics.

Companies such Nike have been accused of this, but with varying laws in different countries and being limited by jurisdiction, it is very hard to prosecute. There is no saying how many companies use unethical business decisions to reduce costs, but I’m sure the number would be staggering. I believe it’s time for governments to intervene and crack down on this issue, and put an end to the exploitation of those who are less fortunate.

This article it describes how business men, and organizations, have been suffering from a subconscious lowering of their morale standards. While competing for profit, people’s vision of what is right or wrong becomes blurred, blinded by so many distractions, mostly money.

So many people, no matter what the rulebook says, will find loopholes to break ethical codes. I believe the best answer for solving the problem of unethical practice is simply better people. Although it is seemingly simple, that is not easy to do; even the best people slowly lose ethical standards when immersed in this cycle of greed. The only way to fix this is by putting strong, ethical role models in positions of power and authority. If the ‘top of the food chain’ is ethical, the rest of the organization has no choice but to follow. An organization with ethical leaders would have a tough time shifting their standards, and breaking business ethics would not be seen as a reasonable option. This is a tough cycle to break considering the ethical way is not always the most profitable way, but if ethical leaders can find their way to the top of such organizations, there is hope for change.