Month: November 2012

As the world of business evolves many of us have forgotten the significance of environmental sustainability.

An article reads, according to the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) the world must “cut the rate of carbon emissions dramatically by 2050 to stop global temperatures from rising more than two degrees Celsius”. This means countries must begin to create strategies that can efficiently help reduce carbon emissions. The article further states, in order to achieve this goal “global carbon intensity needs to be cut by an average of 5.1 percent a year from now to 2050”. Currently there hasn’t been a significant improvement in the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by the different countries. Reduction in carbon emission is necessary in order to maintain future emission reductions. However, because of the slow start, even if the target is achieved there will still be a far greater reduction in the future (Chestney).

According to Climate Smart “an average small business in BC reducing emissions can save $400 for every tonne of emissions they cut from their operations”. This highlights that Businesses in British Columbia can create economic growth and environmental efficiency by implementing carbon management strategies that would help cut costs at the same time avoid unnecessary carbon emissions.

 Works Cited

 Chestney, Nina. “Unprecedented World Carbon Emissions Cuts Needed by 2050: PwC.” Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 04 Nov. 2012. Web. 18 Nov. 2012. <http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/05/us-carbon-pwc-idUSBRE8A400420121105>.

“Small Business Climate Action Creates Bottom Line and Community Benefits.” Climate Smart. Climate Smart Business Inc., 8 Nov. 2012. Web. 18 Nov. 2012. <https://climatesmartbusiness.com/2012/11/08/small-business-climate-action-creates-bottom-line-and-community-benefits/>.

Picture Reference:

 “The Ecommerce Authority.” The Ecommerce Authority. Volusion, 2012. Web. 18 Nov. 2012. <http://onlinebusiness.volusion.com/articles/the-future-of-green/>. 

HIV/AIDS Mural in Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania

The class on social enterprise recalled memories of high school. I remembered a trip to the Investours where I had the opportunity to explore the idea of microfinance and social enterprise for the very first time. Since then I had developed a great sense of interest towards this concept.

Investours is a non-profit organization in Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania, that aims to fuel entrepreneurs through tourism. These tours allow one to understand life in such poor communities as well as help in investing to develop lives of these entrepreneurs. Fortunately, I had a chance to take one of the tours in which I truly had the experience to see how people worked so hard to make a living for themselves and their families. This made me even more determined to help those less fortunate than me.

Hence, this inspired me to start up a project in school where I recruited seven motivated individuals to paint a mural on a popular road. Through this mural I aimed to change the idea that people with HIV/AIDS were different. Having been exposed to the lives of children with AIDS, I was passionate about raising awareness for this cause. This was a way for me to express my interests through my passion for visual arts.

Works Cited

“Welcome to Investours!” Welcome to Investours! N.p., 2012. Web. 18 Nov. 2012. <http://www.investours.org/>.

Technology is massively evolving over time. It is surprising to see how we humans have so quickly accepted this change and how we greatly depend on technology.

As stated in Dayah Johal’s post “Excess Inventions”, technology is advancing rapidly as different companies create new innovative products and services to build a competitive advantage over their rivals. Excess to such products, services and information make life easier. An example is to be seen in an article that outlines a group of researchers from the University of Oxford that made use of mobile phone technology to automatically send text messages to local water officers and engineers when the water pumps broke down in small towns and villages. This allows many communities in rural parts of Africa to have access to drinking water.

However, technological change can serve as a disadvantage. A recent article by MailOnline talks of a 15-year-old girl named Joyce Winsie Hau, stabbed to death by a 15-year-boy, who was hired by her best friend and boyfriend because Joyce was posting her sexual escapades on Facebook. This clearly shows to what extent technology influences lives of people. This therefore concludes that we must use technology critically and efficiently rather then just relying on it.

Works Cited

Nguyen, Katie. “TechnoTalk – Can Mobile Technology Make Sources of Clean Water More Reliable?” Can Mobile Technology Make Sources of Clean Water More Reliable? Thomson Reuters Foundation, June 2012. Web. 18 Nov. 2012. <http://www.trust.org/alertnet/blogs/technotalk/can-mobile-technology-make-sources-of-clean-water-more-reliable/>.

Ward, Alex. “Teen Assassin Stabs Girl to Death for £16 over Facebook Row… but Only Faces a Year in Jail Due to His Age.” Mail Online. Associated Newspapers Ltd, 24 Aug. 2012. Web. 18 Nov. 2012. <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2193113/Teen-assassin-stabs-girl-death-16-Facebook-row–faces-year-jail-age.html>.

Picture Reference:

“Hot Chocolate and Books.” Hot Chocolate and Books. WordPress.com, 27 Nov. 2011. Web. 18 Nov. 2012. <http://hotchocolateandbooks.wordpress.com/2011/11/27/technology-taking-over-the-world-thats-a-good-thing-or-is-it/>.

“Uchumi” means economics in Kiswahili, (which is Swahili for non-Kiswahili speakers). Al-karim Lalani named his blog “The Uchumist” which is a hybrid word that stands for “The Economist”. Al-karim Lalani is a student at the University of Stanford, born in Kisumu, Kenya and raised in Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania.

Al-karim calls his blogs, “my diary as an East African Economist” in which he publishes what he “believes are interesting thoughts and occurrences all through the paradigm of economics”. I enjoy following his blogs because we come from a very similar background as Al-karim is my cousin. This helps me relate myself to his writing. I also admire his creative and unique idea of connecting life with economics in his blogs. This makes me think of how everything in life actually rotates around concepts of economics.

“In Search of meaning: The Finite Game of Life” is one of my favorite blog posts in which Al-karim arises the question:

   If life is really a finite game, then is the objective of the game to have the most “successful” life?

In this post Al-karim connects concepts of economics, human behavior and religious views to support his arguments of how one can perceive success in this game of life. He concludes by quoting: “the optimum solution then becomes to produce as much of this ‘positive energy’ or whatever else will remain after us whether that be knowledge, art, experience for others. Such a life sounds more noble than the former”.

Picture Reference:

“Africa’s Global Intellectual Capital |.” Africas Global Intellectual Capital RSS. N.p., 2012. Web. 15 Nov. 2012. <http://agic.co/>.

What is Zara’s secret to fast fashion trend?

Keynote speaker Mahesh Nagarajan made me extremely curious to learn more about the concept of supply chain. I was particularly interested to research further about Zara’s supply chain operations because I personally admire Zara’s style of clothing and the different choices it offers to consumers such as myself.

As stated by the title “Zara’s Secret to Fast Fashion” is a quick, fast and efficient supply chain system. “”Fast fashion” system depends on a constant exchange of information throughout every part of Zara’s supply chain” (Zara’s). This allows Zara to produce new products with the latest styles and designs each week. Being able introduce new products in small quantities leads to having low inventory, which makes the whole system more efficient. This serves as an advantage to Zara over other fashion stores such as H&M.

But, why can’t other retail fashion stores carry out a similar supply chain operation?

This is because communication of information in such a rapid pace is not easy. As quotes by Mahesh “forecasting supply is extremely difficult”.

However, Zara takes a lead by controlling its supply through a well-organized communication system, its investment in technology as well as a strong operation management system. This ultimately helps Zara adapt quickly to new trends with minimum costs allowing its customers to have more choice thus demand more.

Works Cited

 Tiplady, Rachel. “Zara’s Taking the Lead in Fast-Fashion.” BloombergBusinessWeek Global Economics. Bloomberg, 4 Apr. 2006. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. <http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2006-04-04/zara-taking-the-lead-in-fast-fashionbusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice>.

 “Zara’s Secret for Fast Fashion – HBS Working Knowledge.” Zara’s Secret for Fast Fashion – HBS Working Knowledge. Harvard Business Review, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. <http://hbswk.hbs.edu/archive/4652.html>.

Picture Reference:

 “Zara Is Coming To The V&A Waterfront | 2oceansvibe.com.” Zara Is Coming To The V&A Waterfront | 2oceansvibe.com. 2oceanvibe NEWS, 9 Mar. 2012. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. <http://www.2oceansvibe.com/2012/03/09/zara-is-coming-to-the-va-waterfront/>.

Class of November, 8^th 2012 was one of my favorite lectures in COM101 as it gave me the oppotunity to explore the idea of entrepreneurship, which deeply interested me. Before this lecture, I defined entrepreneurship as starting up a small business with a small idea in mind. However, this class redefined the meaning of what it truly meant to be an entrepreneur. An entrepreneur is one who “organizes a business venture” but who is also willing to accept the risks associated with the ideas. The questions that arise are: what strives one to accept risks? What causes one to be determined? How can one be sure of success in his/her idea? The answer is very simple, its ambition! Ambition motivates one to believe in their ideas and to possibly make them reality.

The two key speakers that visited the class were very inspirational as they brought insights to the concept of entrepreneurship. I was extremely driven by Jenice Cheam talks because I admired how she used her business skills to establish an idea that related to awareness of sustainable environment. Her company “energyaware” has a vision to “connect people to resource conservation”. I was trilled by the idea of making people aware of energy usage through an user-friendly monitoring device.

As stated in Michelle Lee’s blog post to establish a new company is costly and even harder is to convince investors to invest in new ideas. This leads to limited liability of success for such entrepreneurs. However, entrepreneurs such as Jenice Cheam seek to innovate by believing in themselves and their ideas in hope that hard work will pay off.

 Works Cited

 “A Definition of Entrepreneurship and the Entrepreneur.” A Definition of Entrepreneurship and the Entrepreneur. QuickMBA.com, 2010. Web. 8 Nov. 2012. <http://www.quickmba.com/entre/definition/>.

“Energy Aware PowerTab – Energy Aware Technology In-home Displays « Energy Aware.” Energy Aware PowerTab – Energy Aware Technology In-home Displays « Energy Aware. Energy Aware Technology Inc., 2012. Web. 8th Nov. 2012. <http://www.energy-aware.com/>.

“The Founder’s Dilemma.” Harvard Business Review. Harvard Business Publishing, Feb. 2008. Web. 8 Nov. 2012. <http://hbr.org/2008/02/the-founders-dilemma/ar/1>.

 Picture Reference:

“Energy Aware PowerTab – Energy Aware Technology In-home Displays « Energy Aware.” Energy Aware PowerTab – Energy Aware Technology In-home Displays « Energy Aware. Energy Aware Technology Inc., 2012. Web. 8th Nov. 2012. <http://www.energy-aware.com/>.