Author Archives: Stephanie Shum

Second Languages?

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On Tuesday’s lecture, we briefly touched on the topic of knowing multiple languages. So is it a necessity? No. Is it useful? Most definitely. Especially in the business field, in which there is a lot of international communication, it is definitely an advantage to know another, if not a few other languages. Although much communication is often virtual or online, and yes, it’s easy to access instant translators and online dictionaries, it is much more convenient and simple to at the very least, know the very basics of another language.

As well, companies thrive on having an employee that they trust to send overseas, because they can speak and communicate in the foreign language. Languages are definitely intangible assets, and “brands” you as an employee that much higher.

Think of how much easier it is on yourself as well. Though having a translator by your side may seem like a perk, there is nothing fascinating about having the most simple phrases like “where is the bathroom?” or “where can I find something to eat?” being translated for you.

Besides, knowing multiple languages minimizes the chances of having anything “lost in translation“.

How Businesses Make Money

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Last class, we looked at three companies: Sightline Tours, Big Bus, and Grey Line and tried to recognize the most profitable one. The winner? Big Bus. Though its tour bus is a school bus, and not a leather seated coach charter bus, the company has less to maintain, and less expenses to pay. Yet, we often overlook these “small” companies, and selling them short because of their appearance compared to the big dogs, but what we forget is to “never judge a book by its cover”.

I have a few friends going down to Vegas for the weekend, and I thought about the 3 or 4 star hotels and the profits they make compared to the 5 starred Bellagio and Wynn. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m sure the two make lots of money from the higher room prices and high class facilities, but think of all the extra costs they face. Not only do they have to purchase the flat screen TVs, but the cost of maintaining all of them? Having to maintain a 5 star hotel is definitely harder, and much more costly to do, than a 3 star; and that’s how the 3 stars pull in more profits.

But then again, most of the 3 stars are owned by the bigger hotels … so maybe that’s the bigger picture.

Businesses don’t lose when consumers get new items to choose

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The success of Zara lies behind its awareness of the large profit margin that is created when many consumer choices are offered. More importantly, Zara uses an approach that many competitors do not.

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/fashion-beauty/images/2008-05/pile-donated-clothing-large.jpg

Each night, store managers of Zara take the time to

“scan through and collect the mountains of unsold items customers tried on without buying,”

in hopes of finding patterns to the items that have not sparked interests in their customers.

On the other hand, many stores make the mistake of rushing to replenish their floor with the items that have not left the fitting room, without realizing that they are constantly pushing out inventory that consumers have shown no interest of buying. Zara stays ahead of the game by finding the unwanted items, and pushing out new items to customers, and offering them new choices of things they might like. I work in retail myself, and I get sick of having to prep the same items over and over because they never make it out of the store. I can only imagine the disappointment that consumers face when they return to a store only to find the same items on the shelves that they have already rejected.

Facebook “Creeping” Okay for Employers?

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Last lecture, someone brought up the ongoing debate of “is it ethical for employers to look at a potential employee’s Facebook page before interviewing/hiring him/her?”

During the class, I was quite persistent on thinking “No, it is not ethical! Just because we want to work for a company does not give them the right to look at our personal lives!” However, on the drive home after class, Vancouver’s wonderful rainfall gave me the opportunity to sit in my car in heavy traffic, listening to some music, and wishing that cars had voice-activated internet (safety first! no devices!) so that I could go on Facebook to see what my friends were up to. And then, it dawned on me. Facebook creeping.

Now, I am in no way trying to offend anyone by using the word “creeping”; it’s simply a Facebook/online lingo that defines going to the profiles of others and looking through their page-whether it be their photos, or who they have been talking to. So then I sat there, still stuck in traffic, thinking, “if we as users, often use Facebook to creep, then why can’t employers?” As unethical as it sounds for someone sitting in an office, about to type out a report, but then going on Facebook to look at an applicant, what makes sitting in class or at home, about to write out a blog or homework assignment, and going to creep on a friend’s friend that we may have met at a party last night any different?

In reality, there is not much difference. In fact, the only main difference I can think of is that the better dressed person is getting paid to do it. Other than that, they are just using an online website/community for what it is developed for, and that is, sharing what you want to share, with others in the community. I think that we are so used to websites like Facebook, and Twitter that it is almost instinct to update whenever we can, about whatever we can; without thinking of the consequences. You are who you are, and Facebook will not hide that. What it does hide (or we simply just tend to forget) is that Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, etc. are all online communities, in which others will be able to see who you are. So be smart about it. Untag yourself from nine if not ten of those ten drunken pictures, and most importantly, do not update your Facebook on how good that party was last night, or how fun your outing was if you have called in sick to work that day due to “stomach pains” – especially if you have anyone from your job on your Facebook.

So my final two cents?

If you can creep, I can creep, and more importantly, so can a CEO.

Money over ethics? Cheap cadmium over the cost of priceless lives?

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I stumbled upon an article, which was quite flabbergasting. The article reveals that many children jewelery have been dosed with high levels of cadmium-a white metal known to cause cancer. The world’s biggest public corporation, Walmart, has begun to pull any suspicious jewelry. A spokesperson has called this whole ordeal “troubling”. To many this news is shocking, who in their right mind would harm the lives of young children? How is this ethical or socially responsible?

Money, as you may have predicted, is of course the answer. Money tends to surpass the importance of ethics or social responsibility. The Chinese producers have turned away from the use of lead, and down the equally dangerous path of cadmium. The advancement of batteries have led to the decrease in cadmium, but the Chinese manufacturers have in turn, over dosed their products with cadmium. Subsequently, children around the world are being exposed to the 7th most hazardous substance to the environment. That is, seventh on a list of 257 high priority substances. I would not want cadmium to be lucky number seven.

Many countries look to China for cheap production, and cheap products. However, it is evident that along with reduced costs, their ethics and social responsibly have washed away as well. With that being said, what is being done to stop this unethical behaviour? Are we all guilty of having played a part in fueling this fire? Is it too late to put out the flame?