http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/dell-profit-more-than-doubles/article1805002/ Dell has been an innovative company started by an entrepreneur who understood the demands and needs of the market. They have been successful in the computer market to offer personalized computers and in November, their profits have been doubled. Most of that was due to the demand for companies to replace aging technology, and since each different company needs specialized functions, Dell was the one company who could provide that for them. However, at the same time, Dell has been able to keep costs of production from rising too fast. This has allowed their brand to be widely known, and is a strategy they have used to present their point of difference. They have also been smart, like most businesses to prey on consumers during holiday season, however, unlike other suppliers, they are able to offer unique products. With more and more companies and products emerging out with a growingly competitive market, it is essential for companies to differentiate themselves. As a consumer, I find myself having differentiation and visibility as an important factor when I make my purchases. These are important concepts to grasp as a business.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/bell-mobility-offering-faster-data-speeds/article1804311/

Bell has launched a new service in which they are offering a new wireless data stick that runs at a speed doubling the normal. This has been released in Toronto on Nov 23^rd, and is set at only $10 above the normal network fee, and Bell will be the first in the telecom industry to do this. Bell has had a history of distinguishing itself from competitors in the market, and being first on many occasions to position itself into the minds of the consumers. Take for example when it aligned itself with the Olympics, as the exclusive telecommunications sponsor.

This time with this additional point of difference, Bell will once again imprint itself to consumers, as there is a growing demand for better and faster technology, especially with the emergence smartphones and transportable HD tablets. Personally, I have never really paid much attention to Bell, however, with the case studies done in class, and readings from the newspaper and advertisements, I see the strive of Bell to differentiate itself from others.

An interesting section of The Globe and Mail raises an issue with the ignorance of our food supply. The food that we eat comes from all over the world, and most of us don’t even know where it comes from. We are uninformed about who and where our food is produced and if it is inspected. The government only inspects 1% of the food imported. May that have a relationship as to why Canadians suffer 11 million food borne illnesses in a year? This is an ethical question that must be asked. If the government traced the origins of the food, and had more inspection and standards imposed on the imported foods, then much sadness could be avoided. According to the selection in the newspaper, the US Food and Drug Administration “found that traceability adds as little as 1%to the cost of a food product”. As a consumer, I take the standpoint that the meager amount of 1% additional cost can be sacrificed, and that inspections should be more heavily imposed. With the world being attacked by more and more disasters, either financial, natural etc…, a simple act on the government’s part could make a difference in protecting its citizens. This is an ethical question with a simple answer.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/investors-buy-into-gms-return/article1804021/

I never really quite understood how investments work, how people could put so much money into a risky venture that may or may not return a reward for you, at even worse, let you lose it all. As GM returns itself into the automobile market in the United States, hundreds of fund managers bought a chunk of the GM Co. shares. Many of them believed that this will be a start to rebuilding the decreasing sales of US automobile companies. However, there were also people who were uncertain about the security of investing into GM. They say that that risk is too expensive, and they would not invest into this.

The returns of an investment are always risky, as they are not known ahead of time: they are just random variables. In this case, with the competitive market in the automobile industry, especially with Asian competitors such as Toyota and Honda, it seems like a very risky investment, although, they seems to be a growing renewed confidence in the United States automaker.

This article from The Globe and Mail is quite interesting as it got me thinking: I know that countries around the world are all in debt, but for what reasons are they borrowing huge amounts of money? The article it states “governments have borrowed money due to the recession and financial difficulties in the recent years.” They help pay for bailouts, social programs to help those that are affected by this crisis, such as those unemployed.

The financial support that the government provides is similar to a reward system. They help those that have troubles by giving them a way out, however, in some situations, because of their support; unemployment rate for example, has gone up. Incentives to work have decreased. People rely more heavily on the help, especially financially, from the government. The government’s good intentions of helping the country regain its balance might be the reason why they have not recovered. It seems like they are pushing too hard on that financial factor, when instead, maybe they should think of other strategies to help the people. This unbalance results in this system that is sometimes considered dysfunctional, alike to the Balancing Act that we discussed in class.