Business ethics Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Business ethics - Dissertation Example The relationship between business ethics and the law has in the recent past become a controversial issue necessitating the need for further research in this area.This is since empirical evidence illustrate that when businesses aim at garnering a competitive edge,they are predisposed to performing practices that are contrary to the business ethics. Is it therefore viable to believe that businesses that have been able to maintain a competitive edge act unethically? Consequently, can businesses that have upheld their ethics be referred to as being anti-competitive? It is in the wake of these research questions that this essay will illustrate the influence that business ethics has on the performance of an organization and the relationship between business ethics and law1. Research Questions: 1. Is there any relationship between business ethics and the law? 2. Does competition influence the business ethics of an organization and how is this related to law? 3. Is social responsibility rela ted to the business ethics of an organization and the law? 4. What is the way forward to enhancing the synergy between business ethics and law? Prior to answering the research questions delineated above, it is important to understand what ethic means and why business ethics is important in law. Ethics is a moral principle that determines the conduct of behavior of various professionals as pertains to how they conduct their business and in the decisions they make. As pertains to the utilitarian theory of justice, professionals need to make decisions that are aimed at meeting the greater good of the society and not out of their inner selfish motive. This therefore means that there is need for businesses to uphold their ethics as pertains to how they conduct business. Business being aimed at prevailing above the competitors and making profit, there is need for business men to adhere to ethical principles but still remain competitive. How then is business ethic related to law?2 The law is a combination of rules and regulations that govern a group of people and violation of the law leads to criminal offence. The law is made from sanctions and principles that have been developed by people and more often than not, the law depicts the public opinion of people as pertains to various issues. With reference to business ethics, the law is sought when a business acts in an unethical manner that harms another organization or harms the general public of the organization. The law acts as leverage in disputes resulting from claims that one business did not act ethically and violated the moral principle required in business. Having understood what business ethics entails and the relationship it has with the law, it is important to evaluate how business ethics can be violated as businesses conduct their business and the implications of these violations with reference to the law.3 Models of public policy have been developed in an attempt to illustrate business ethics and what it encompasses: moral manager and the moral market. With reference to the moral manager model, it is upon the managers to engage in morally upright decisions as pertains to the decisions they make and the influence of these decisions to the performance of the organization. This therefore means that the goal of business ethics entails training managers so as to develop morally upright behaviors that re translated to decisions made and the influence they have on the performance of the organization. An organization therefore needs to institutionalize a design that monitors the performance of individuals involved in the business. Moreover, markets also serve as a concern as pertains to business ethics and the law. The forces prevalent in the market influence the performance ethics of individuals in an attempt to counter these forces or to adapt the organization to these forces.4 As businesses attempt to advance in comparison to their competitors, more often than n

Walt Disney`s Management of Diversity and its Challenges Essay

Walt Disney`s Management of Diversity and its Challenges - Essay Example Associated with several international film companies, the company diversified to open the Disneyland Theme Park in California in 1955. The second Theme Park, with resorts, opened in Florida in 1971. Disney’s other key theme parks include the EPCOT Centre opened in 1982 and Animal Kingdom in 1998 in Florida; as well as Tokyo Disneyland in 1983; and Disney Paris in 1992 (Clarke and Chen, 2012). Thus, â€Å"today, Walt Disney’s Parks and Resorts operates or licenses 11 theme parks on three continents† (Clarke and Chen, 2012, p.322) including North America, Asia and Europe, and a twelfth is proposed for Shanghai in China. Merchandising in park attractions was introduced in 1987, and the company offered time-share ownerships in the park resorts from 1991. Walt Disney World further diversified its business into Education in 1996, and fitness, Sports Training and Events in 1997, besides filming, recording, network, broadcasting, cruising, and other projects. The Walt Di sney Company’s entry into the international market in Europe and Asia required its use of types of diversity management in operating their products in new cultural environments. Its French subsidiary, the Euro Disney SCA (societe en commandite par actions) formed a limited partnership with the host country. Walt Disney Company’s multinational business operations necessitates the company’s management of a diversity of people from different cultural backgrounds in its workforce (Clarke and Chen, 2012). Thesis Statement: The purpose of this paper is to investigate Walt Disney’s management of diversity and related challenges in the organisation. Walt Disney Company’s Diversity Management According to Clarke and Chen (2012), diversity takes into account the differences between individuals. Diversity management requires an adaptation of executive skills and styles for successful outcomes in managing a diverse workforce. Effective diversity management â⠂¬Å"reduces resistance to working with members of another ethnic, racial, or cultural group† (Clarke and Chen, 2012, p.340); it also lowers the risk of miscommunication, and promotes unity among the members of the global multinational giant. Thus, the Walt Disney company is required to be knowledgeable about the behaviour, beliefs and habits of the different cultures of the host countries. At the same time, the culture of the parent company also plays a vital part in diversity management. Although some researchers such as Gerhart and Fang (2005) have opposed the emphasis on national culture and the overlooking of organisational differences in diversity management, multinational companies’ country of origin is acknowledged as an important element, in most research undertaken in this domain, as reiterated by Harzing and Sorge (2003). The broad basis for the conceptual framework for diversification examines key factors such as cultural differences, institutional difference s, organisational differences and their mutual dynamics (Schuler et al, 2002). One of the critical challenges facing multinational companies is balancing the need for global integration and local adaptation. The national origin of MNCs is found to have a crucial impact on this

Colbert and Civics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Colbert and Civics - Essay Example The presence of defined citizens makes it easier to give status to others. In a world of stability, Citizenship can seem a natural element of creation. Change disturbs stability could bring chaos and revolution. Thus, in order to confirm the longed-for stability of world after the years of war, with a manufactured veneer of science, other races were sacrificed. There was pressure to establish order in the disciplines from media, as well as in politics. In catering for the needs of elites, there were casualties. Enlightenment philosophers defined the limits for citizenship and understood its importance in the society. The Encyclopaedists explored the nature of work, and appreciated the importance of skill. As on the past and present issues surrounding Citizenship, we encounter a number of challenges, and key unifying concepts, such as self-determination. Under slavery, individuals are denied control over their own life and work, together with denial of participation in decisions about their own futures. It is not just a matter of making sense of the historical past, but of acting in the context of the present workplace. Print, electronic and television-broadcasting media has worked in constructing clarity on duties and practices, building a bottom up network based national institutional structure to address key issues of Citizenship and work organization. The objectives are to increase individual autonomy and self-determination; and facilitate team working, networking and coalition building; resulting in healthier work, improved work life balance and a more equitable distribution of power and resources. On this basis, self-determination is a unifying theme at individual, group and political levels. The issues are international. Citizenship dates from antiquity, continuing in various forms to the present day. In Ancient Greece, as in the newly independent United States of America, the rhetoric of democracy

Difference Between Monopoly Pricing and Competitive Pricing Essay Example for Free

Difference Between Monopoly Pricing and Competitive Pricing Essay Congress is discussing the possibility of removing patent protection for life saving drugs in order to reduce the cost of the Medicare and Medicaid systems. Discuss both the short-run and long-run implications for the economic situation of the drug industry. Include in your answer the impact on prices, new development, etc. of drugs. Include appropriate graphs showing the difference between monopoly pricing and competitive pricing. The drug industry currently takes on both monopolistic and competitive market structures. When a drug company develops a new drug, there are patent laws that allow the company to have a monopoly on selling the drug. In the short-run, the company is able to charge the monopoly price (above marginal cost) and maximize profit by producing the quantity where marginal revenue equals marginal cost. Once the patent runs out, other drug companies have an incentive to enter the market causing it to become more competitive. These new companies produce generic versions of the drug and charge a price below the monopolist’s price. As more and more competitors enter the price is driven down to marginal cost. If congress were to remove patent protection on life-savings drugs, drug company’s profits for life saving drugs would decrease. More companies would be able to begin producing the drugs without waiting for the patent period to end therefore, the original drug maker would not be able to charge the monopoly price for very long because competitors could quickly engineer generic versions. The original producer would no longer be a price maker and instead need to follow profit maximization rules of a competitive market by producing the quantity where marginal revenue equals marginal cost and charge a price equal to marginal marginal revenue. Since the original drug maker will not be able to benefit from monopoly pricing during the patent period, there will be less incentive for them to create lifesaving drugs. A part of the benefit of higher profits during the monopoly period is the ability to recoup some of the research, develop, and testing costs of producing these drugs that the generic makers do not incur. Consumers on the other hand would benefit from competition in the market which prevents a single drug maker from dictating the market price of these newly developed lifesaving drugs.

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In globalization, there are many certain forms of activism to tackle certain issues. Whether it’s using a form of activism to accomplish something as small as receiving someone’s stolen cell phone, protesting and standing up for African American freedom rights or taking down an authoritarian regime, it all takes some sort of activism to promote, establish, and accomplish change. Some forms of activism are far more affective than others. In terms of political and social change, strong-tied high-risk activism is far more affective than weak-tied social-media activism (Gladwell, 2010). To be effective in accomplishing political and social change, people need to have some sort of personal interconnectedness to a movement (Gladwell, 2010, p. 44). In the recitation reading of Gladwell’s story, personal connections and relations gave courage to four African American students to demand and raise awareness for freedom and equality rights and to start the Freedom Summer Sit-In movement with success (Gladwell, 2010, p. 45). To properly tackle political and social change, you also need some sort of organization and strong hierarchal power to stand behind your movement. A good example of this in Gladwells story is when he uses Al Qaeda as an example. According to Gladwell (2010), â€Å"Al Qaeda was most dangerous when it was a unified hierarchy. Now that it has dissipated into a network, it has proved far less effective† (p. 48). Having a hierarchal power behind your movement also puts a face on a movement and reminds you what you are standing up for. Social media activism lacks the basic components of what is needed to make real political and social movements such as individual’s not being directly involved or affected. â€Å"Social networks are effect... ... freedom and openness and inequalities compared globally to the rest of the world. They are now pushing for change, equality, freedom, and striving for the same privileges and rights that most successful developed and developing countries have already established. Some forms of activism are better than others at tackling certain issues. High-risk activism opposed to social-media activism, is far more effective and well suited in successfully accomplishing high-scale and high-risk global equality issues. Demanding race equality, taking down and building authoritarian regimes, demanding for constitutional revisions, and raising awareness have greater chances of success if approached in a high-risk activism approach. Social-media is more of an awareness approach, but once awareness is raised, then it takes a higher and riskier activism to see the whole thing through.

Beowulf: A Comparison between Hrothgar and Beowulf Essay

Throughout history, kings have been the primary figure in kingdoms and territories. People looked to these authoritative figures for many different things ranging from religion to leadership and guidance. The heroic epic Beowulf takes the concept of kingship and elaborates on it through the roles of two very different characters: King Hrothgar and Beowulf. In doing so, it reveals the differing values instilled within each man. Very early on in Beowulf, it is evident that the German and Scandinavian world that exists at this time is both hostile and unpredictable. The constant upheaval between the differing cultures force the people of these villages to look to a higher power for a sense of well-being. King Hrothgar of Heorot embodies the necessary characteristics of a leader at the beginning of the tale: strength, bravery, and leadership. The introduction of Grendel, however, eliminates any sense of stability in the King of the Danes. Instead of standing up to fight Grendel, Hrothgar cowardly retreats and allows the monster to terrorize and pillage his kingdom for many years. As a result of this, the people lose their sense of trust and security. It is at this point that they place their belief in pagan rituals, turning their backs on God. Beowulf, the hero of this epic, demonstrates what a hero truly represents. He first and foremost places his trust in God rather than in other humans or pagan rituals. His strength, bravery, and self-sacrifice shine through his underlying persistent optimism. This drive stems from Beowulf’s ultimate goal of being remembered after he is long gone and time has passed. As he tells Hrothgar, â€Å"We must all expect and end to life in this world; let him who can win fame before death, because that is a dead man’s best memorial.† When Beowulf hears of the turmoil Grendel is causing in Heorot, he immediately responds to the call, against his father’s wishes. He determines that he will fight the creature without any weapon or armor. This confidence only demonstrates his faith in God and fate. He believes that if something happens, it will happen, and there is no way of preventing the inevitable.  Beowulf’s fight with Grendel represents the beginning of his journey as a hero. Grendel is the most evil foe for Beowulf, because he is a direct descendant of Cain. Beowulf’s character through this difficult first task establishes a foundation for him to build on with each increasingly arduous task. After having defeated Grendel, Heorot once again returns to a peaceful and serene place. The halls within the Danish kingdom grow joyous and jovial. All of this jollity quickly dissipates, however, when Grendel’s mother begins murdering and ravaging the town in a fit of rage over her son’s death. This is the second struggle that Beowulf is faced with. In this particular situation, he is forced to travel into a hostile environment down into the mother’s lair. This second act of heroism shows how Beowulf goes one step further in securing his place as a genuine hero. When he defeats the mother with a sword that he did not come equipped with, it becomes very clear that divine intervention makes up a large part of his success. Once Grendel’s mother is defeated, peace is once again restored in the Danish kingdom. Fifty long years pass before any other major act of heroism occurs in Beowulf’s life. During this time, he becomes King of the Geats, and establishes himself as a great ruler. When a dragon interrupts the tranquility of the kingdom, Beowulf truly secures his place as a legend. Unlike King Hrothgar, Beowulf does not shy away from danger, and aggressively pursues the dragon. This is by far the most difficult task Beowulf faces and he soon realizes it. Not only is the beast more powerful and dangerous than its predecessors, Beowulf is now an old man and does not possess the strength and energy that so freely flowed through him as a younger man. The twelve â€Å"companions† that accompany Beowulf on this quest desert him in the face of danger, except for Wiglaf, the only true and loyal servant. These cowards can be looked at in much the same light as King Hrothgar. They act brave and mighty, but when confronted with real danger and risk, coward away. All of these factors combine to ultimately defeat Beowulf. He defeats the dragon, but dies in doing so. Even as he dies, Beowulf exudes his humbleness and faithfulness to God and the people he watched over. â€Å"I speak with words of thankfulness to God the king of glory, our eternal Lord, for all the wealth that I see here, and because I was permitted to win it for my people before my death.† Countless times in history, people are faced with tough decisions that unknowingly affect an entire society. It is how these people respond to these situations that truly reveal their character. Attempting to hide or run away does not solve the problem, much to the dismay of people like King Hrothgar. If anything can be learned from this, I think it is that when we are faced with these decisions in life, we must trust in what we firmly believe in and fully put our reputation or life on the line. In doing so, we too have the ability to become heroes in our own right, whether it be a controversial choice or just something very simple. By focusing on the same principles as Beowulf did, we can affect the society around us as well.

Articles on the Environmental Issues Essay

The earth is in dire need of solutions to combat environmental problems. We have two great weapons that could fight environmental enemies. These are technological innovations and humans’ personal capacity and discipline. Which among these would be more effective and efficient when it comes to the battle of saving the only known living planet in the universe? It has been said that technological advances were largely responsible for the continuous destruction of nature, and so these are also the very things that can provide solutions for its restoration. One technological development being considered and being anticipated is the use of electronic paper. This would make a real paper made from tress a thing of the past. With an electronic paper, people can read newspapers, magazines, and books in the same sheet of paper. The possibility of water-powered and solar-powered cars is increasing. This would not only let people save on gas, and thus save money. It can also save the environment by reducing pollution caused by modern cars that use gas to operate. Solar energy is not only possible with cars. In fact, there are already a number of households and offices that enjoy the benefits of sun’s energy, which does not only produce heat, but also electricity. These are only a few of the top ten emerging environmental technologies from Live Science. All of these sounds good, but this kind of technology may not be practical because of production cost. Another problem would be the distribution and availability of a particular technology to people around the world. Solar-powered cars may not be used in places that do not have enough sunlight. There may be people who could not afford technological advancements such as electronic papers, and solar power collectors, because of their cost. Nevertheless, even if we are not scientists who can invent technologies aiming to save the environment, and/or we do not have the purchasing power to avail some of them, we can still opt for technology-free means of solving environmental issues. All we have to do is to take responsibility, and use our ingenuity to breathe life again to Mother Nature. One good example is to start planting trees, flowers, and other plants. These reduce carbon dioxide, which is a component of greenhouse gases, because they naturally need this gas for their food production. We could also use what nature provides. Use biodegradable products. Use paper bags, than plastic ones. Choose clothes, bed sheets and towels made of cotton. We could also choose those made from hemp. The good thing about this plant is that it can be recycled many times. Even if we do not have solar cells and solar thermal collectors, we can still enjoy solar power by using its light during the day. Besides these means, we also need to be responsible and disciplined in using and maximizing natural resources. Good examples would be conservation of water, electricity and other forms of energy. These technology-free means are hard work, and to achieve long-term and good results, these have to become established habits. Changing our ways is difficult, and takes much time. It seems that to alter technology is much faster and easier compared to changing flaws in a person’s character that has affected not only himself, but everything around him. Advancement in technology, and human ingenuity and discipline has their own advantages and disadvantages when it comes to environmental concerns. However, when they are combined, we can produce maximum results. We do not need to depend on technology solely for solutions regarding environmental issues. Since this is everybody’s responsibility, every one should also participate and be responsible in taking care of nature. It is not what you choose to do that counts. The most important thing is you choose to take a step away from apathy and do something to achieve results. Global Warning on Global Warming: Action Needed Now No matter how scientists and environmentalists do to warn people about the dangers brought about by global warming, people could not seem to care enough. Even terms used in this environmental concern do not sound alarming at all. Have you handed a reading material to someone with the title: GLOBAL WARMING AND GREENHOUSE GASES? Have you noticed their reaction? They would probably ask, â€Å"What is global warming, and what is wrong with a mere increase in temperature? † They may also add, â€Å"By the way, greenhouse gases, is it not good for plants? † Apparently, people do not seem to be bothered about global warming as much as they are worried about global financial crisis. Global warming is indeed a change in temperature caused by greenhouse gases, which have heat-trapping capacity. As long as it reach normal temperature, this is good. In fact, without global warming and greenhouse gases it would be too cold on earth that life would be impossible. However, the increase uses of cars and increase number of factories have contributed greatly to too much greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Thus, the earth’s temperature increased evidently, enough to melt the ice sheets in the Arctic. This would cause increased sea level, thus low lands would disappear to the sea. Also, heat waves would be frequent. These are just some of the dangers of global warming. Some scientists think that there is not much time to solve the problem. Immediate action could mean the difference between life and death. Here are a few ways on how people can move into action: Be interested. Have a commitment to make matters of the environment your own. Although money makes the world go round, there would no place money would be used for if we neglect what the earth needs. Be informed. No matter how global warming and greenhouse gases sound, they can be dangerous to the only planet we live in. Get information to right places. Do not assume what they are be just referring to their names. Read books, newspapers and other sources about the environment and what you can do to help. Be updated. We are so engrossed by what happens to other people –celebrities, public figures, etc. Thus, we are updated by everything that happens to them. In the same way, we have to be totally concern about the everyday changes in our environment. We have to be updated in terms of information, and in terms of ways on how we can be useful on solving this worldwide problem. If we are interested, we begin to gather information. As we gather information, we have to be updated. After all, we live in a fast-paced world. This is how one is moved to action. If a person is interested, well-informed and updated, he begins to take action. Action speaks louder than words, and this is what our dying nature needs. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, â€Å"When a man says to me, â€Å"I have the intensest love of nature,† at once I know that he has none. † Moreover, David Orr asserted, â€Å"When we heal the earth, we heal ourselves. † This is true because the earth is our only habitat, the only planet that can sustain life. If we leave it alone in its ailments, it is as if we leave ourselves to die in illness. We cannot give this responsibility to other living creatures. Our existence lies on our planet, and our planet’s existence lies in us. Global warming should really be a global warning. Now that we can still act to resolve the matter, everyone must do what he could to heed the call, because actions are needed now.