Meeting the Challenge of Sustainable Business Essay

Meeting the Challenge of Sustainable Business - Essay Example tly, the paper recommends that the NIOC would respond through prioritized strategies: increased environmental preservation programs, building technological capabilities, expanding programs for socioeconomic concerns, monitoring Iran’s geopolitical status as well as adjusting operations to cope in a stringent legal environment. This approach would ensure sustainability by minimizing unfavourable uncertainties. The global business environment is very dynamic and present trends that could lead to the failure of the business. Analysis of the recent trends could give insight on future trends in the business environment and enable planners develop long-term sustainable strategies for their company. This is important to ensure the businesses do not experience undesired difficulties that may lead to failure or decreased profits. The current business scenario for the oil industry could provide rich information on the anticipated scenario in the long future and enable oil firms such as the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) develop effective sustainable strategies. The present oil business environment experience changes in geopolitical, technological, socioeconomic, legal and environmental factors useful in developing sustainable response strategies for a firm. Current trends include increased environmental concerns due to pollution of oil products and practices of cutting costs to increase compe titiveness. There are global politics on Iran’s oil supplies associated with involvement in the manufacture of nuclear weapons as well as support for terrorism. This paper will discuss about the present oil business scenario for NIOC to project the scenario in 2055 and develop sustainable response strategies for the company’s future scenario. The global oil industry experience huge concerns over the negative impacts of oil on the environment. Oil is the main source of pollution through emissions of carbon dioxide gas, which the main contributing factor in global warming

Current issue in global business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Current issue in global business - Essay Example In 2008, one of the most severe financial crises since the Great Depression struck. Banks had been lending money recklessly for several years and this led to a serious asset bubble. To make things worse, many of the people who borrowed money were completely unable to pay off their debts as they became due. Banks and businesses collapsed. Millions of people were laid off. Credit dried up, making it very hard to borrow money and allow companies to begin the rebuilding process. Throughout these problems, corporate taxes remained high in most developed countries. In Canada, they were reduced somewhat, with an eye towards encouraging business opportunities (Vieira). Elsewhere, however, they remain high and continue to limit the amount of jobs that can be created and the economic re-bound that is desperately required to restore western economies to a level comparable to pre-2008. This is an issue for everyone who cares about global stability and economic growth. The backbone of our economi es are our corporations, be they small family-owned businesses are huge multi-national companies. We need to work hard to create environments in which they can thrive and hire employees. There are those who would wish to raise corporate tax rates and effectively stifle growth. ... They wish to see Ireland's advantage wiped out completely. Ireland has been forced to accept a massive bailout from the EU and so far has managed to keep its tax rate, a point of national pride, but only after great duress was brought to bear on its government by countries such as France, which have a high corporate tax rate and don't like Ireland's competitive tax advantage (EU Business). When countries squabble like this, it is businesses that lose out. This kind of instability is anathema to good business. They have a very difficult time planning long-term when they are not sure what the tax rate will be a few years down the line. Stability is key in these kinds of situations. Some say that lowering corporate tax rates is the wrong policy. It involves giving extra cash to those who need it less. They suggest it makes more sense to give money to education programs and needy families. But they miss the point. Lowering corporate taxes jump-starts business. It allows companies to hire more people. Businesses form the cornerstone of the economy. We should not punish them with high taxes. Of all countries in the world, it is most surprising to learn that the United States has one of the highest tax rates in the world. Despite the fact that it is often seen as a champion of business, it makes life very difficult for them. Even Republicans see fit to attack business when they talk about putatively lowering taxes. A recent article discusses the opinion of Eric Cantor, the majority Republican leader in the House: As a first step toward that wider overhaul, Mr. Cantor said he supports allowing U.S. multinational corporations to bring nearly $1.2 trillion in profits derived from foreign operations onshore at a temporary lower tax rate, in a bid to

Canadas benefits of globalisation

Canadas benefits of globalisation Throughout many years the issue of Globalization has been around and has only been uprising to a broader term. Globalization has impacted everyone from Europe too North America, everyone around the Globe. However, even though the term globalization in modern times is distinct from what it may have been years ago, it has still been around. One country in particular that has been coming more into familiarity with globalization is Canada and many Canadians have debated whether globalization is good or bad for the country. By definition globalization is the growth to a global or worldwide scale. Globalization describes an ongoing process by which regional economies, societies and cultural have become integrated through a globe spanning network of communication and trade. The term also refers equally to political, social, cultural, and environmental interdependence. Within the political aspect, globalization means that the governments are increasingly implicated in events that occur well beyond their own borders. When looking at the cultural aspect, globalization can mean the connection between us and learning other cultures by traveling and learning other languages. The Term globalization has many meaning to it but this is because it is a very important factor that has and will continue to affects us all. Globalization affecting everyone around the globe, and Canada is no exception. Communication technology is only improving in our time and will continue to do so in Canada especially. More Canadians are getting use to the new forms of keeping in touch with each other. Lastly, over the past 20 years Canada has been benefited from globalization politically, economically and culturally through the infinite opportunities and new life style we have been adapting to. Globalization by definition refers to the process of increased interconnectedness among countries around the world, which is noticeable mainly through the areas of economics, politics and culture. It is affecting everyone around the globe, and Canada is no exception. Canadians, have been up to date with the latest technology, news updates and are also showing new movies that have been produced and filmed in other countries, in our theatres. When studying and trying to break down globalization it is important to know that there are a variety of aspects to it. The many spheres consist of Globalization and workplace, politic, social, culture and environment. Globalization and Workplace means that many Canadians work for companies with operations in a number of countries around the world. Politics globalization means that governments are increasingly impacted in events that occur well beyond their own boarders. Next we have the Social sphere. The social sphere of globalization means that friendships and family ties extend around the world and that our neighbors come from half a dozen different countries, speak different languages, and worship different religions. An example of this is when Canadians shop they are typically more than likely purchasing things that have been imported from other different countries around the world. The culture sphere is yet another form of globalization. Here it means that some Hollywood movies are as popular in Europe as they are in Los Angeles. The culture sphere also refers to more communication and contact with each other and our cultures, through doing activities such as; vacationing and travelling, reading magazines and books from around the world which also may be in different languages. A modern example of this is when people use Facebook. Facebook allows us to keep in touch with each other from around the globe. Lastly, is the environment sphere. We are increasingly aware that how we use natural resources-air, water, land, mi nerals, trees, and fish in one corner of the world has significant implications for the rest of the planet. For example a quick spread of a disease such as HIV or AIDS, can affect us quickly in any part of the world. (Skinner, 278-280). As the years go by communication technology has played a vast role in globalization. As described previously globalization is the interconnection between people, countries, around the world. Communication Technology does that exactly, it keeps Canadians and others around the world interconnected through the lasted technology inventions/developments. According to the article Globalization provides a better life for all globalization is a beneficial process that has been in our lives through any years. Mainly because of the positive and long term benefit it provides. This includes prosperity, security and enrichment. It transformed North America from an agrarian to an industrial society and is the primary reason why Canadians enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the world. (Graham, 1-2) This is exactly the form of how Canadians keep in touch with one another and others around the world in modern times. Web sites such as; Facebook, MySpace, Hotmail and so on, are all a much r eliable way for Canadians to socialize with friends and as well as find out the latest news about events occurring within the country and outside. An example of how interconnect Canadians have become through the years is the fact that one in four of them having Facebook. Nearly 8 million Canadians more than one in four have a Facebook profile page. (Sorensen, 1). This is according to a study done by Toronto-based Solutions Research Group. This shows just how Canadians are becoming more and more reliable yet interconnected by the new communication technology, through Facebook a global socializing website. This makes Canadians between the most connected in the global socializing site in the world. In addition, since there are countless new technologies in the communication field, Canadians are discovering that it is much easier to communicate faster and more efficiently. Some individuals are finding ways to put into practice new communication technologies in a fraction of their lives. For example, students at school are using devices such as scanners, web cameras, and various networks to increase their own interest and skills. In the business and working field society is using devices such as the Internet, e-mail and fax machines to become more productive. Meanwhile the individuals who are at home are using communication technology devices such as television with satellites and cell phones, in an exaggerated way to be entertained. Globalization has also affected Canada politically, economically, and culturally. Canada has been considered to be a much stable democracy; it has been ranked the third most self-governing nation in its democracy index. However because Canada is such a democratic country it is important for the government to use the means of communication to help run the nation whenever there are any issues or in terms of immigration and imports from other countries. Canada has also been known to help out other countries that need help in times of need. An example of this is when the earthquake of January 2010 hit Haiti. The Canadian government sent out thousands of Canadian soldiers and funds to help out Haiti, showing just how politics do play a role in globalization as well. Globalization in the economical aspect is the understanding of a worldwide general market, based on the freedom of exchange of goods and resources. The interconnectedness of these markets, however, meant that an economic subside in one area could impact other areas. With globalization, companies can produce goods and services in the lowest cost location. This may cause jobs to be moved to locations that have the lowest wages, least worker protection and lowest health benefits. For manufacturing activities this may cause production to move to areas with the least pollution regulations or worker safety regulations. One Canadian article states the following; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦only those countries that have opened their economies to international trade, capital flows and competitions have experienced economic progress. (Graham, 1). It is beneficial to the Canadian economy, as well as the world economy, because it is allowing Canadian corporations to spread business around the world, in othe r countries for cheap and at the same time it allows closure for Canadian made products. Finally, within the cultural aspect of globalization it is evident that here is where mainly everyone can connect with each other not only through communication technology but through the different types of culture. An obvious example of this is when individuals take place when we travel to different countries on vacations and when we practice different cultures in our nation, or learn and speak different languages from other countries and cultures. Furthermore, once again globalization refers equally to political, economical, social, cultural, and environmental interdependence. It is affecting everyone around the globe, and Canada is no exception. Contact with one another through the new communication technology is only improving in our time and will continue to do so, especially in a country that has high luxury standards like Canada. More Canadians are getting use to the new forms of keeping in touch with each other. Lastly, over the past 20 years Canada has been benefited from globalization politically, economically and culturally through the infinite opportunities and new life style we have been adapting to.

Essay --

Communication and Professional Practice Niamh Hubble T00157631 1st year Social Care Introduction: The purpose of this paper is to explore why non-verbal communication is an important tool for professional practice. Some of the aspects of non-verbal communication are facial expression, eye contact, posture, orientation, proximity, touch, fine movement, gross movement, dress, setting and direct work (Egan 2002). [The Skilled Helper/ People Skills] In my opinion non-verbal communication is a very important tool when working with clients. For example, in a professional setting a client could be telling you they are fine and they aren’t afraid yet they could be shaking or looking around nervously. The non-verbal prompts that clients give out subconsciously or consciously give us, as professional workers clues to how the person is really feeling even if what they say using verbal communication isn’t the same as the non-verbal prompts. Thompson (2009) says that in addition to the words we speak, we give very powerful messages through non-verbal communication and our body l anguage ...

Rationalistic Distaste for Opera Essay

1. Italianate Opera did not conquer every European center without resistance, especially in countries (like France and England) with strong traditions of spoken drama. What exactly does St.-Evremond (p. 201-3) object to about opera, and why? Exactly what parts of a drama does he say should NOT be set to music, and why? People observe the justness if the cincirds; and amidst all the varieties that unite to make the sweetness of the harmony, nothing escapes us. The music is nothing else to our ears but a confused sound that suffers nothing to be distinguished. Beginning of the drama should not be set to music. 2. What do all 3 documents in MWW 54 have to say about machines? Why are they a topic of discussion? The machine has something that is surprising. Machines may satisfy the curiosity of ingenious men, who love mathematical inventions, but they will hardly please persons of good judgment in the theatre. The ancients made on use of machines, but when there was a necessity of bringing in some God. MWW 62: The Conventions of Opera Seria 1. What is the setting of this little story, and how did Goldoni come to be there? Goldoni had just been admitted to the bar in his native Venice, but, finding on clients, he spent his time composing a drama oer musica entitled Amalasunta. Soon he found himself so deeply in debt that he had to flee Venice. 2. How is he treated by the various members of the gathering? They all offered to lend me their support ; but they suggested that before exposing the Drama to the judgment of the impresarios, it would be well to expose it to that of my friends. 3. What exactly were the criticisms of his libretto, and what do these reveal about the reigning conventions of opera seria? His work is simple, Dramma per musica in itself an imperfect composition, has been subjected by custom to certain rules. Those of Aristotle, Horace, and all who have trated of Poetics, but necessary if it is to serve the Music, the Actors, and the Composers. 4. What forces of the opera seria world shaped these conventions? The work Goldoni made, it lead a new style of music. MWW 63: Opera Audiences in 18thc. Italy (Naples, 1765) 1. What did Neapolitans go to the opera to see and do, primarily? See King;s Theatre, where the serious Opera is performed, and of two smaller theatres, called Teatro Nuovo, and the Teatro dei Fiorentini. He also see the dirty kingd of a play house, where they perform a comedy every night. 2. What did the writer admire most about this experience? What elicited his criticism? He never seen more than two or three boxes so occupied, in the same night. The impresario, or manager, is bound to very bad terms, so that his profits are inconsiderable, and sometimes his is a loser.

1950’s Nostalgia

1950s Nostalgia Real and Imagined Stephanie Coontz is a professor of Family History at the Evergreen State College in Olympia Washington. She is a nationally recognized expert on the family and an award winning writer. In her 1997 book â€Å"The Way We Really Are: Coming to Terms with America’s Changing Families†, Stephanie Coontz wrote an essay entitled â€Å"What We Really Miss about the 1950s†. In Stephanie Coontz’s â€Å"What We Really Miss about the 1950s†, she argues that we as a country collectively remember the 1950s with a nostalgic tone, but we are not remembering this era in its entirety, nor are we completely accurate.She explains that the family and economic life that we remember and long for does not represent the whole truth of that era by any means. Coontz keeps a semi-formal tone throughout this essay. She begins by acknowledging the nostalgia that America feels toward the 1950s era. She continues by reminding us that there are also things that we do not miss about that time period in America. She elaborates on several points that we do specifically miss about the 1950s, such as the nuclear focus of family life and the profound wage increases.Coontz talks about how in the 1950s, employers and the government did a lot to help families prosper, including offering housing and employment assistance, as well as offering the GI Bill to armed services veterans who wanted to go back to school. Booming economic prosperity and the downturn in the economy that occurred in the 1970s, these were, she states, the real reasons behind the end of the 1950s family experiment.People sometimes reminisce on the past with nostalgia, remembering the â€Å"Good Old Days† and how values and ethics have seemed to disappear. In the 1950’s, like in no other decade, people became homeowners; prosperity was plentiful and bad times were thought to be something of the past. Capitalism was working and it was working well, to hav e a better life than one’s parents was only matter of willingness. Clearly it is evident why â€Å"Americans chose the 1950’s than any other single decade as the best time for children to grow up. † (Coontz, 32).In the essay â€Å"What We really Miss About the 1950’s† Stephanie Coontz has made several observations that â€Å"The Golden Age† was not brought by a thriving free-market competition but by large government spending to provide jobs and benefits to millions of Americans that which resembled a socialistic nation. Coontz implies that Americans miss high taxes and large government spending, because of the prosperity they brought. â€Å"40 percent of young men were eligible for veteran’s benefits, and these benefits were far more extensive than those available to Vietnam-era vets. (Coontz, 42). Apart from these benefits people began to have high paying jobs, many provided by government programs. The government also made it easie r for Americans to finance a house by â€Å"creating two new national institutions to facilitate home loans, allowed veterans to put down payments as low as a dollar on a house, and offered tax breaks to people who bought homes†(Coontz,42,43). WWII brought the highest level of taxation the United States has ever experienced; â€Å"top earning Americans paid 87 percent of their income while corporate taxes were 52 percent† (Coontz, 42). hese rates were kept well thru the 1950’s. Coontz argues that this extra revenue made it possible for many veterans to go to college almost tuition-free, doubling the percentage of college students from prewar levels. Throughout the 20th Century, families have radically changed. After WWI, a large transitional phase began and all the women that worked to support the war effort now had their jobs stripped from them. During the 1950's, there was a lifestyle in America that was essentially set in stone from birth. Television portraye d an image that women were to stay to home with the children.Shows such as, Leave it to Beaver, and Father Knows Best displayed a stereotypical way of life and structure in a family. â€Å"The sitcoms were simultaneously advertisements, etiquette manuals, and how-to lessons for a new way of organizing marriage and child rising† (Coontz, 39). Although television shows of the 1950's were not true reality, it seemed to be a good model at the time. Family life in the 50's era differs greatly from today's family unit. Children of that generation didn't have many choices when they were growing up. They typically followed the â€Å"blueprint† presented to them by their family and societal norms.Boys and girls went to school together throughout their youth, and upon completion, they would typically follow in their families’ footsteps. They were mainly interested in marriage. Starting a â€Å"functional† family was considered successful. An idle family to them was not only getting along, but focused also on appearance. Like the show Leave it to Beaver where the mother is â€Å"decked out in earrings and a pearl necklace. † (Soto, 29). The children and father also had to look prim and proper with their hair neatly combed and their clothes ironed.Women would stay at home caring for the children and household duties, while men would go to work and insure the family’s financial stability. The father would have full demeanor of the family and women were not expected to work outside. The issue that the â€Å"perfect† family is present in an important part of the advertisement, represent the idea that the people still want to live in that way, because the reality as Gary Soto show us is very different and difficult, and in the other hand as Coontz explain the ideal of this perfect family represented in the 50s generate more nostalgic and desire of any other idea if family lived in other decade.The perfect family is different of the real family in that the perfect family live in a scenario in which are no major problems with a very structured routine as Gary Soto explain, living a life which is not affected by external variables, and the real family in the other hand has different nuances in which are observed everyday problems and where it has be to solved, besides being a participant in a number of variables that affect daily living.There is a trend to idealize the past as Coontz says, being idealized the decade of the 50s by the presence of this perfect family, however, this perfect family hide problems as serious as sexism, racism and intolerance among others, being exposed that the existence of the perfect family is nothing more than a myth. At present, the perfect family is idealized because it offers a utopian alternative in which people can live better, although there is evidence that even in the best case in the pursuit of the perfect family are presented important collateral effects in other topi cs.The publicity that is currently being developed provides recurring images of the perfect family, showing that the idealization of the perfect family and the aspirational sense that it represents remains as a constant in the advertising in time as an effort to associate products with the perfect family because it is an important driver of purchase. Stephanie Coontz mention a show called Leave it to Beaver. They watched them to see how families were suppose to live – and also to get a little reassurance that they were headed in the right direction† (Coontz 39). This image led to the most common dream myths about America that, most people seem to be in agreements is that everyone can achieve the dream, everyone has equal playing field to obtain the dream, and the American dream is obtainable no matter what race the person is. This is not the case once here; many people soon find this out in their race for happiness.

Descartes Argument from Illusion Essay Example

Descartes Argument from Illusion Essay Example Descartes Argument from Illusion Paper Descartes Argument from Illusion Paper He raises arguments pertaining the unreliability of his senses, meaning he can on lay trust what has never deceived and, therefore, must raise even the slightest doubt in every as etc of his mind and his perception of outside world. Regardless of what actually exists, Descartes knows his mind thinks and therefore his mind must exist. In Descartes first meditation, he argues what can be called into doubt, could potentially be nonexistent for his senses has deceived him multiple times before. He expel anis how our whole thought on the realities Of outside world may be an illusion, and may al I be a continuous dream. He introduces this doubt of an awoken consciousness because our DRP names may sometimes feel so real that one can not decipher the difference between a dream and re lit. He argues that our senses in our dream may feel so genuine that it juxtaposes the authentic dream and reality and raise uncertainties in what actually exists. I can empathic with this argue meet because I have been in a dream where it felt like a reality, but the idea that I am dreaming rig HTH now is bizarre. He does admit objects which appear to us in sleep are, as it were, painted rep reservations which are not imaginary, but existent through our past knowledge through senses. I agree with this idea because one can not imagine a completely original idea without inferring on memory. For example a Centaur is an idea of a man that is half man, half horse but the did a originally derived from a horse and a man. Descartes knows he can not doubt simple universal parts like annuity,size. He may raise doubts against Physics or Astronomy, but can not doubt Arithmetic and Geometry, an example being a square will always have four sis des. Descartes then concludes that an omnipotent God must exist, and if we supposed there was no god, then there is even a greater likelihood of being deceived, since our imperfect sense s was not created by an omnipotent and perfect God. I agree with Descartes contemplation on t he existence of an al loving God because our world is imperfect and chaotic. If God was perfect, and if we were created by his divine supremacy, why does this corruption and socially corrosion eve anarchy exist? But since Descartes believes a benevolent God exists, he concludes that God would not deceive him constantly. Although this leads to his demon theory but I do not agree with that at all. Although Descartes methodology of rational doubt may sound preposterous, he does have solid reasons behind his doubts. Nonetheless , with the second meditation, Descartes is puzzled and disregard everything that he can raise even the slightest doubt upon. He states that the only certain thing remaining is that there is no certainty. Descartes doubting everything as falls e in the physical world would imply even he is nonexistent; therefore he concludes to even have e these doubts, he must exist. Descartes suggests the Cogitator Argument, which practically devil ops the universal philosophical quote l think, therefore, am. Thus explaining, everything has t o exist since it exists in my mind. Descartes believes he only exists as long as he is thinking, and that the thinking mind is for certain, therefore, thought above all else is inseparable FRR mom being.