It is no surprise that scamming numbers have risen since the Internet was introduced to the world. Cyberspace has since then become the simplest mean of scamming, where many unfortunate victims essentially have their money stolen right out of their pockets. Paul Carr of Pando Blogs focuses on the scamming that occurs particularly in the tech industry. He explains, on a more general note, that the main reason for increased scamming over time is simply due the rise of egotism in the business world. Other contributing factors include the fact that due to the prevalence of scamming today, more companies are willing to commit the fraudulent act in order to squeeze out a little extra revenue out of customers.

Obviously there is no questioning the ethics behind scamming, it is wrong, no matter what the context. I completely agree with Carr in his analysis of increased scamming in the tech industry. The rise in scamming symbolizes corruption and reflects on the ethics of the business world as a whole. I also believe that it is foreshadowing the future of business. A change needs to happen in order to prevent future scamming, protect potential future victims of scams, and most importantly, preserve business ethics. Whether this change will happen soon enough, or on a large enough scale to be effective, nobody can be sure. We can only hope that honourable business ethics can conquer scamming, self-seeking stakeholders, in order for justice to prevail.

References: https://pando.com/2015/11/17/something-scammy-way-comes/

Processed meats have always been viewed as unhealthy. The debate regarding how unhealthy it actually is left the answer in a very grey area, until recently. As David Lee explains on his blog, “a recent report from the World Health Organization has classified processed and red meats as carcinogens.” The reason it has been deemed “carcinogenic to humans” is due to the fact that it has been linked to causing cancer in those who consume the processed meat; it has been placed in the same group as tobacco. This is very bad news for restaurants that use processed beef and red meat, and especially for those people who have consumed large quantities of the delicious carcinogens.

So people shouldn’t eat processed beef. Seems simple enough. Unfortunately, not even the natural beef industry can be trusted. An outbreak of E Coli linked to beef in North America has been reported, widely known to have caused Chipotle to shut down 43 locations in its chain temporarily. This was as a result of multiple cases of E Coli poisoning being linked to the meat Chipotle was serving. As agreed to by both David Lee and Jamie Boyle, people will most likely continue to buy processed beef and red meat, despite the health implications made by the WHO. Although the retail of the processed meat has not been altered or restricted, the foundation has been set to cease its production in the future.

References: https://blogs.ubc.ca/dlee/, http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/cancer-meat-red-processed-iarc-1.3293541, https://www.rt.com/usa/320573-chipotle-food-poisoning-e-coli/

For those who are unaware, Ashley Madison is a website on the Internet famously known for openly encouraging the immoral act of having an affair. The website matches users, who then proceed to carrying out the affair if they please. Although more people are having affairs now than ever before, the act is still incredibly unethical and should not be pursued. Nonetheless, Ashley Madison has taken the increased popularity of the act and made a business out of it.

Yes, that’s right, you read it correctly. Guaranteed Affairs! No matter what you look like!

From a personal perspective, seeing a sign like this would be quite appalling. This is Ashley Madison’s slogan: “Life is short. Have an affair.” Why should a company with this kind of value proposition be allowed to operate? So much pain can be inflicted as a result of affairs; it can ruin relationships and tear apart families. Although it is not illegal, it is extremely inhumane and unprincipled, and should definitely be publicly boycotted or opposed in some way.

In July, earlier this year, a group of hackers managed to hack into Ashley Madison’s website and leaked many names of customers of the company, causing a wave of controversy of ethics. Although hacking into a company’s website to retrieve information is illegal, some people believe it was done with good intentions of revealing the truth to victims of the affairs. Tanner Davies elaborates on the ethics regarding the hacking of Ashley Madison in his blog post, questioning whether the hacking and releasing of this information was illegal. Since there are so many angles that a situation can be viewed from, Tanner believes that it may have been for the greater good of society. I personally agree with Tanner, especially after learning about business ethics in COMM 101. The hackers created a Robin Hood-like scenario, where they stole (information) from the the immoral people having affairs (the rich) and revealed it to the public (the poor).

References: https://blogs.ubc.ca/tannerdavies/, http://www.thestar.com/news/privacy-blog/2015/11/ashley-madison-customers-complain-of-blackmail-after-hack.html

Most recently in the world of self-driving cars, Google has begun testing its prototype cars in Texas after having trouble being able to do so in California due to issues with regulation. Moreover, Tesla has automatically updated its ‘Model S’ cars, introducing an “autopilot” system that aims to increase safety on the road. Tesla explains the concept on its website:

“Tesla Autopilot relieves drivers of the most tedious and potentially dangerous aspects of road travel. We’re building Autopilot to give you more confidence behind the wheel, increase your safety on the road, and make highway driving more enjoyable… Tesla Autopilot functions like the systems that airplane pilots use when conditions are clear.”

A concern regarding Tesla’s autopilot development is that the cars were automatically updated remotely overnight, in the same way an iPhone is updated. Not enough is known about this to be sure about the reliability of the update, however no malfunctions or issues with the autopilot update have been reported. At the end of the day, if safety is in the value propositions of companies manufacturing autonomous vehicles, they must provide it.

An idealist point of view will show optimism towards safer roads and a feasible solution to impaired driving, while a realist perspective will question the reliability of autonomous cars to prevent accidents. A grand total of 11 car accidents have involved google cars, however the records claim that the accidents were not at the fault of the google cars. All of the accidents occurred with conventional vehicles. Although the statistics gathered by Brandon Schoettle and Michael Sivak of the Transportation Research Institute at the University of Michigan show higher crash and injury rates in autonomous vehicle prototypes over conventional vehicles, the injuries sustained in the crashes were minor. Furthermore, the self-driving google car is still being developed and having its creases ironed out in order to become a reliable, consistent, safety-guaranteeing vehicle.

References: Google Self-Driving Cars Hope for Faster Lane to Approval in Texas, Self-Driving Cars More Prone to Accidents, But It’s Not Their Fault, Your Autopilot has Arrived

Jeff McMahon of Forbes Magazine believes that in the coming future, the technology renewable energy paired with battery storage on a mass scale will make power plants obsolete. He is not the only one who believes so; his opinion is backed by Elon Musk of Tesla Motors and Jim Robo of NextEra Energy, both of whom predict that within the next decade the need for power plants can be overtaken by the “holy grail,” as Robo calls it. Robo spoke to an analyst at a recent conference, predicting that America after 2020 will probably “just be building energy storage instead [of power plants].” If this is what the future holds for the energy industry, a revolution is just over the horizon.

The strongest point of difference that comes along with storing energy from a renewable energy source is a world-changing social benefit: energy will finally  become a clean industry, as it has been envisioned for decades. Thanks to social entrepreneurs who look to preserve the environment of the Earth, this day is imminent. The main reason it will take so long to implement is converting areas of the world (most likely beginning in America) from the power plant based energy system being used now into a mass storage of energy sourced from renewable energy. Global warming is a pressing threat to international security, therefore this is a huge social entrepreneurship opportunity for all stakeholders involved. The only thing standing in the way of this breakthrough in the energy industry is the regulation process. Once sorted out, a new era of energy could be upon us.

References: “Solar + Storage May Be Energy’s Holy Grail, But Will Regulators Aid The Quest?”

Both Toms and Sole Rebels are socially entrepreneurial organization. Toms is a company that runs on a one-for-one business model; it donates a pair of shoes to people in need across 5 continents. On the other hand there is Sole Rebels, which provides opportunity for people in Ethiopia, to work and make a living by crafting shoes out of natural resources. While these are both initiatives are working for exceptional causes that should be supported, the focus strategy of Sole Rebels should ultimately result in a positive change in an entire community in Ethiopia, and potentially its economy, all while producing with natural “vegan” materials. However, a one-for-one business model is not ineffective. This does not go to say – in any shape or form – that what Toms is doing is not worthy of recognition.

I agree with and support the ‘one-for-one’ business model because if executed properly, impacts multiple communities in a positive way. Toms not only benefits the economy in which its company is based (like any other successful business), it also benefits and improves the conditions of the everyday lives of individuals in need around the world. The most important part of a one-for-one business model is of course the ethics behind the idea. It is imperative to question WHY a company is decided to involve itself in this way, and what a company’s intentions are; otherwise, a company can simply begin an initiative that seems socially responsible at first, but in reality it could be the company looking to further its own brand reputation and increase its profits by adding to its value proposition. However, despite the fact that the intent behind a one-for-one business model can be for the wrong reasons, it still fulfils the initiative of giving back to make the world a better place.

References: TOMS, Sole Rebels