One of the leading technological pioneer, Hewlett-Packard, has made the decision to split into two companies, separating the PC and printer business from its cooperate hard drive and services operation. Hewlett-Packard has a long operating histories and they are looking for a way to maintain that statute while become more nimble to keep up with the fast and competitive technology companies. However, in recent years, hp has been defeated in many ways by the dominating apple and microsoft, no matter it is the research and development or the marketing campaign, apple and microsoft always hold the comparative advantage against Hewlett-Packard. The demand for hp PC dropped drastically within 10 years. Many people questioned, why doesn’t the company just sell the less profitable PC and printer sector, and focus on the computer servers. I don’t agree on the decision to solve sells decline problem by splitting into two. The company really need to focus on developing a strong market segment and but overshadowed by other dominant PC companies, and it is their last attempt to save their fortune. The company’s declining sells really concerned Meg Whitman, the CEO of hp, and she has launched a restructuring plan to layoff thousand of employee and eliminate other costs and try to deviate into the a more rewarding and specialized cloud software. If hp wants to stay in the market of pc they will have to develop something new and appealing to the public.

http://fortune.com/2014/10/05/hewlett-packard-to-split-into-two-companies/

http://online.wsj.com/articles/hewlett-packard-plans-to-break-in-two-1412530028

The Saskatchewan’s new carbon-capture facility

Canada is well known for its sustainable environment and its largely undeveloped natural resources. In the prairies especially, the Tar-Sand or other energy project has become the center of controversy; energy companies have to make a difficult choice between efficient, profitable means of operations or sustainable yet uneconomic use of natural resource.

In October 2nd 2014, Saskatchewan has taken initiative to create a large coal-fired power plants that can retrofit more than 1 million tons of carbon dioxide per year, which in comparison, the whole power plants can absorb as much carbon dioxide as almost 40 million trees. Maria van der Hoeven, from the international energy agency, asserts that the power plant is “historic milestone on the path to a low-carbon future,” and the technology can create environmentally sustainable resources. However, we should not discount the fact that the whole power plants require more than 1.4 billion canadian dollars, and electricity will rise drastically by 80% in order to cover the expense.  Even though the power plants can effectively decrease carbon dioxide emission and generates green energy, the power plants is funded on taxpayer’s money and should be used in an economical way and really create positive externalities within the community. The power plants is a very expensive investment, and my analysis shows that the power plants is costing too much and creating little public utility despite the effort to create a sustainable environment. The government of Saskatchewan need to find new ways to decrease greenhouse gas emission, and the simple yet best alternative would be to raise awareness in the public and encourage a more sustainable lifestyles.

http://www.economist.com/news/business-and-finance/21622238-although-saskatchewans-new-carbon-capture-facility-start-technology-still