Natalie Tang's Blog

In Response to Dorfram Mirgharavi’s blog “Money, Power, Or Recognition?” I would go for power.  I agree with his first statement that “there is little that cannot be achieve with power.”  Unlike him, I would not change my mind.

Why?

Let’s examine the options.

1. Money.  I believe it is of little value since it cannot buy power or recognition.  Already, it has been undermined by the other two options.  Furthermore, I believe having money but not having deserved it is of little value.

2. Recognition, on the other hand, is very tempting.  It implies status and hints that you are someone worth knowing and remembering.  However, the main problem I have with recognition is that it is so passive.  What can you achieve with recognition?  It is merely a status, static and therefore of little value.

3. Power!  Unlike the other two, it signifies control.  It implies the ability to influence others and to change the world for the better.  If wanted, it can be used to get money and recognition.  Although my decision may be slightly affected by my knowledge that the best managers are motivated by power.

I’d also like to ask Mirgharavi, how powerful is the motivation of happiness?

Ryanair is profiting from higher revenues, reporting a 23% rise in second quarter profits and 10% rise in annual results.

Ryanair’s gains are all in spite of its controversial implementations, increased cost from rising fuel prices, and the economic downturn in Europe.  This raises the question on whether abiding to business ethics is really as important a supplement to earning profits as the media portrays.

Ryanair is infamous for violating consumer rights with its actions – “Stand-Up Seats,” charges on toilet usage, and recently implemented Cash Passport. The Cash Passport is a pre-paid card that passengers need to book tickets.  It is extremely inconvenient and fees are charged for signing up for a new card, withdrawing cash from a bank counter or ATM, all non-Ryanair transactions, and not using the card for six months.

Yes Ryanair’s actions are once again controversial.  However they are also smart.  Take its Cash Passport as an example. It effectively encourages consumer loyalty.  Once purchased, consumers have the incentive to keep buying Ryanair services to avoid additional fees.

Ryanair’s soar in profits suggests that consumer rights may not be too important if a company combines low cost with smart decision making and strategies.

New twists to the webcam are currently underway.  Soon, webcams will be able to interpret your emotions by tracking changes in your facial features – eye movements, lip curvature, eyebrow angle, etc.  For example, a smile would indicate happiness while rapid eye movement may show engagement.

Businesses may find this innovative addition attractive. Why?  With this device, businesses will be able to better understand their target customers (you).  By knowing what stimuli causes certain human responses, businesses can evoke the desired emotions from their consumers.

What better way to understand consumers than in their natural habitats?  Installation of facial monitoring webcams into consumer’s laptops will allow fast and accurate collection of data.  Advertising firms can detect which online ads captured your attention – if you stared at an ad longer than others.  Then, they can effectively discard unsuccessful advertising strategies and reduce enormous costs.

However, naturally there are some ethical concerns that arise.  Privacy is one, and this article suggests that offering benefits such as discounts or subscriptions might entice people to give consent for the webcam.  Personally, I wouldn’t want “Big Brother” monitoring and interpreting my facial expressions.

In my previous blog, I revealed Apple’s forefront in the tablet market and that Apple’s rivals have a long shot to reach Apple’s standards.

However, this may just about change.

Two months after revealing Steve Jobs’ resignation as CEO, Apple once again stuns the public with news of its founder’s death.  New CEO Tim Cook moves on to replace Steve Jobs.  However, will Apple survive without its core?

Steve Jobs’ isn’t just the founder, he is Apple’s iconic leader.  While Apple is known in the consumer’s minds for its innovative products, Steve Jobs was the mind behind. In a way, He is Apple.

Comparing Tim Cook with Steve Jobs, many believe Apple’s gap with rivals could narrow.  Especially at a time when many phone companies like Sony and Samsung are firing away alternative tablets to the Ipad, Apple’s lifeline may just be its loyal customers if Apple under Tim Cook cannot match the standards of Apple under Steve Jobs.

Nevertheless for now, Apple still has the advantage of its leader position in the market. Steve Jobs’ brilliant marketing strategy in the “I” products for internet and individual have effectively personalized the electronic experience.  What now?  Only time can tell.

Sneezing in class, a seemingly minor nuisance, has become important enough to make it onto the CNN News Videos.  When I first came upon the video “Teacher Stands Up to Sneezes”, I was reminded me of the class discussion we had on Ryanair’s toilet charges and Jennifer’s blog on its “stand-up seats”.  Both targeted human needs.  Just as Ryanair received much criticism for placing profit over consumer comfort, the teacher’s strong stance against sneezes landed him on the RidicuList.  Clearly, it is never wise to mess with people’s “rights” and “needs.”

However, his stance may not be that ridiculous.  Delving deeper, I realized that he deducted marks off students who said “God Bless You” after someone sneezed not off those that had sneezed.  Why?  The opportunity cost of “God Bless You” is high because the time interrupted could have contributed to a more cohesive lecture, more productive class discussion, and simply a better learning environment.  This concept applies to disruptions of any kind, not only sneezing.

So next time, be aware of how your actions – arriving late, chatting, and even coughing *ahem* – may be at a high opportunity cost to others.

Once again, I am caught in an uncomfortable dilemma between speaking and listening.  I feel a brilliant idea buzzing in my head, but I’ll let others speak first.

Speaking is undoubtedly important in business.  Yet I was surprised to learn that even Whitney Johnson, one of three founders of Rose Park Advisors, is reluctant to “to talk shop.”  Her blog “Keep Listening, But Start Talking” provides three suggestions to help women start talking.

1. Invert the listen/talk radio
   We retain 85% more of what we learn when we actively participate than when we passively listen.
   
2. Talk shop with other women
   Speak with other women first to become confident enough to share our opinions in any situation.
3. Require women to talk the walk
   A common problem is that men have started talking before meetings have begun, establishing themselves as contributors and women as listeners.

I agree with her suggestions as I can relate to the problems she identifies – women tend to be better listeners, men usually talk before meetings, and women hardly ever talk shop in daily conversations.

As success depends on both speaking and listening and since talking helps me retain more, I will try to contribute more.

These few years, consumers are being treated with many tasty options of tablets – there’s the  iOS 5, Android Honeycomb, Ipad 2, Galaxy Tab 10.1, and now Sony’s Tablet S.  What does Tablet S have to offer to entice customers?

The incoming Tablet S‘s unique wedge shape differs from other tablets’ flat, thin design.  This slight incline makes it lighter as it shifts most of the weight closer to the palm.  It also offers new features that allow users to play PlayStation games and stream media from tablets to TVs or home entertainment systems.

With these additions, Tablet S may prove a threat to other Androids as Samsung battles some legal issues but it hardly proves a threat to Apple’s Ipad.

Melissa Chau, research manager for mobile devices at IDC Asia Pacific, sums it up well, “[they have] to find a compelling reason why I would choose Android over the iPad.”  Apple has effectively positioned itself as the leader of tablets and its rivals will have to come up with better strategies than simple mimicry of its products.  Or else, they will remain “unoriginal alternatives to the Ipad.”

Corporate social responsibilities have always been an important issue.  Yet it has perhaps never been so universally discussed as after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico occurred in April 2010.  The oil spill greatly polluted the environment and damaged many companies around the region.

What was this all caused by?

BP’s failure to fulfill its social responsibilities.  The final report, published just recently, accused BP of failing “to ensure all risks associated with operations on the Deepwater Horizon were as low as reasonably practicable.”

Visiting BP’s webpage, it appears that BP has taken a positioning as a sustainable company.  However, critics claim they are just empty words.  BP doesn’t have a convincing background.  Even before the BP oil spill, it had been fined for major pollution incidents like the Prudhoe Bay oil spill.

Regardless whether its environmental stance is authentic or not, BP’s reputation is still tainted by its Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.  It may take time for BP to come clean in the public eye.