Ryan Crosschild

I read a blog on the “Ethical and Legal Aspects of Workplace Social Media” and I was very intrigued, as this was something I had encountered with my previous summer job. The blog was written by Chris MacDonald after he observed a panel discussion on the topic. Chris goes on to explain the difficulty organizations have when it comes to social media usage in the workplace.

Social media is a great tool to connect with customers, yet it can also reduce productivity in the workplace and open up all kinds of ethical discussions like whether or not the company can gain access to potential profiles in order to engage in screening. The panel goes on to say that the number one solution is to provide guidelines for employees to follow when it comes to social media. I personally disagree with this.

I believe that the risk of allowing this is too high. Social media is a great tool and should only be used by the company through company profiles rather than several individual accounts. This guarantees there will be no encounters with ethical decisions nor will the company lose its employees productivity in the workplace.

After reading Fidele Armstrong’s blog on branding strategy I realized how marketing has become one of the most interesting topics for me to explore in this course. The psychology involved with it is amazing. It is hard for the average person to fathom the connection between products like Pampers, Oral-B, Crest, Duracell, head and shoulders, and Mr. Clean. The one thing that connects all of these products is that they are brands belonging to Procter & Gamble.
As demonstrated by Procter and Gamble this form of strategy complies completely with consumer behavior. Winning over the minds of consumers is the best thing a business can have. The moment this happens the risk of future business ventures seems less risky. This blog made me think not only about the psychology but also about continuity.

This kind of a strategy is one of the most genius ways of ensuring the continuity of a business. Expanding a business should not be held back from the fear of entering into new product lines. Diversifying can be chaotic but rewarding as a future investment by also diversifying risk.

https://blogs.ubc.ca/fidelearmstrong/2012/09/20/a-look-at-branding-strategies/

I read Peter Nieuwenburg’s blog on “cutting the red tape for small business” and I have the same position on reducing government regulations on small business. The barriers to entry for small businesses are hard to overcome, yet they hold great potential for economic growth and innovation startup if obtainable.

The overall goal of economic growth can be achieved through investments made into areas of vast potential that have not yet been developed. I believe that investing into Canada’s fastest growing population would be the place to look. Aboriginal people of Canada account for a massive untapped source of potential wealth.

It is hard to start up a new business especially for a population that has limited access to capital and limited access to resources, but through investments there are also unique advantages for the start up of Aboriginal businesses. Tax exemptions could be used as an advantage for many businesses. A perfect example is the Park Royal Shopping Mall in North Vancouver.

Overall, starting up a business seems to be getting harder with the toxic economic conditions, but reducing some barriers and investing into untapped areas of wealth seems to be one way of improving economic conditions.

The world is always positioned with one primary resource at a time, whether that resource is the slave market, the gold market, or the oil and gas market. There is no disagreement about the importance for oil in the world economy. But just as the world changes so does its primary desired resource.

According to the International Energy Agency the United States will become the world’s largest oil producing country by the end of the decade. This poses a major threat to the Canadian economy. The oil industry in Canada needs to diversify to markets in Asia as fast as possible in order to remain relevant and maintain the economic health of the country. Canada exports the majority of its oil to the United States; the moment the United States becomes self-sufficient marks the day at which the Canadian oil industry dies.

At the same time the world is moving into greener sources of energy. With the revenue generated by the oil sands, money needs to be invested into expanding other areas of economic development rather than focusing heavily on one resource. Home based energy companies and government need to expand the oil industry and simultaneously invest into tomorrow’s market.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/energy-and-resources/north-america-to-be-net-exporter-of-oil-by-2030-iea-predicts/article5188639/

Many people are excited with the launch of a Canadian division of Target. This new entry into the market however is bad news for already established companies like Sears and Canadian Tire, according to Barclays Capital.

The invasion of American companies into the Canadian market has overwhelmed many local brands and has forced many businesses to concede.

There is a reason why Canadian businesses are falling to foreign takeovers; the number one reason is management.
A clear strategy was put in place for Target, they innovate, their product lines appeal to consumer wants, and store locations are precise and strategic. Numerous Canadian retail companies have not risen to the challenge of changing gears and differentiating themselves. Many companies trying to compete are now at a stalemate with managerial decisions, as they would be required to completely transform their business to keep up with the market.

Target presents a differentiation strategy. If it is anything similar to its American counterpart Target offers quality products at lower prices, which explains why there is always a huge influx of Canadian consumers during the holiday season. Upkeep and constant transformation are required for any business to remain relevant in the market.

http://business.financialpost.com/2012/10/01/target-to-steal-sales-from-sears-canadian-tire-barclays/

As many of us are aware of the toxic conditions in today’s economy and even the majority if not all social affairs, it is harder to solve any predicament with speedy results.

Relying on government or a small network of people to innovate and remedy the issues in society has become the world’s understood equilibrium for many years. This form of dependency has established an attitude in which individuals wait for a response rather than seek one out. However, within the last few years the increasing number of individuals entering the field of social change has rapidly contested this equilibrium.

Many individuals who have initiated this have become successful in outperforming traditional organizations or developing more efficient systems.

“…dozens of creative efforts in education, health care, vocational training, prison reform, and foster care…many of which have been initiated by citizens.”

It has become increasingly imperative for individuals to become more active in their communities. Relying on other sources like government or big business to solve even the smallest problems sets out a process of long overhaul. This creative destruction is necessary to replace the status quo, and individuals who are successful may end up leading the way in policy making.

The Canadian entertainment industry faces a huge obstacle with trying to hold on to viewers. Chief executive officer of Quebecor Inc. has warned the industry that in order to stay relevant to viewers branching out to foreign platforms and across markets is needed.

The recent changes in the distribution of TV have been the main culprit to TV networks. Web-based providers are taking over the global scene of TV, with the release of TV-channels of Youtube more people are turning to these alternatives.

These changes are huge threats to the entertainment industry; threatening jobs and Canadian content in the media. It’s hard to capture people’s interest with content that does not appeal to viewers. Brand positioning for Canadian content needs to be reviewed if the industry is to remain relevant; if people are turning away from television programs it signifies something about the quality. Businesses need to be cautious with the huge transformations in technology, globalization is becoming more intrinsic into societies day-to-day business. Consumer behavior is at the helm of determining the future of Canadian TV networks. Why should anyone care about preserving Canadian TV? This is a necessary question to be answered.

http://business.financialpost.com/2012/10/08/canadian-tv-content-must-reach-beyond-borders-peladeau/

The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation from northern Alberta has challenged Royal Dutch Shell over a constitutional infringement. The company has proposed the expansion of its already established Jackpine oil sands mine, the First Nations band has claimed that a violation has occurred because the band was not consulted before approval was giving to proceed. Consultation would be in the form of a federal/provincial panel consulting the community; however, with regards to ethics and good business, I believe that Shell had an obligation to consult the band head on, rather than rely on the federal/provincial panel. It only makes sense to consult stakeholders directly. When a business does this it demonstrates something more than just a business plan, it signifies trust, which is ultimately the largest component in making any business decision effective for future generations. This kind of a business deal would be affecting many people for many generations to come, consulting stakeholders head on is necessary to establish a good working relationship and to reduce further tension. In my opinion direct communication is needed to ensure the best possible outcomes.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/first-nations-band-files-treaty-rights-challenge-against-shell/article4580799/

The Alberta economy has long been ruled by the oil and gas sector, but those industries that are not centered on oil and gas are struggling. The focus on one sector has placed many challenges for other industries. Political concentration and big-spending on workers has made it difficult for other industries to act as alternative sources for jobs. People are leaving in the pursuit for better paying jobs. Many obstacles arise from this; companies are now being forced to distinguish themselves in terms of benefits with points of difference. The oil and gas sector offers well paying jobs because that’s where the money is at, but other industries now need to stay competitive. Government has a role to play in this situation. A reduction in taxes and priority for local companies needs to take precedence in order to ensure a competitive, diverse, and healthy economy. It’s essential to ensure a diverse economy, and this is where government coincides with business. The fuel for a strong economy comes from the innovation from businesses but government needs to act as a guide by making sure other industries are represented.

http://business.financialpost.com/2012/10/05/albertas-have-nots-struggle-to-grow-in-oil-sectors-shadow/

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