Is it still possible to run a business nowadays using the philanthropic principles of the Cadbury Brothers which were so popular during the 19th century Essay Example

Is it still possible to run a business nowadays using the philanthropic principles of the Cadbury Brothers which were so popular during the 19th century? Essay Cadbury’s is one of the most recognizable brands in the world of sweet products. Its flagship chocolate varieties have become synonymous with consumable cocoa products. And to maintain such sweeping monopoly and brand loyalty over more than a hundred years is a great achievement. What is also remarkable is the fact that Cadbury’s had always conducted business in a socially responsible manner. It is one those exceptional enterprises which did not operate purely on the basis of profit motive. Cadbury’s had had an impressive track record of employee welfare schemes and other philanthropic activities. But, unfortunately, such a philosophy is seldom seen in the business world today, where greed overcomes any humanitarian impulse. This essay will argue that the corporate culture and business philosophy followed in Cadbury’s during the 19th century is impossible to apply in the present times. When John Cadbury started the corporation back in late 19th century, he had a vision that was consistent with the principles outlined in Quakerism. Quakers believed that a commitment to communal welfare is essential for attaining divine grace. As a result Quakers were proactive philanthropists, including John Cadbury. He implemented a huge housing project on a scale of 120 acres of land so as to provide all his employees decent dwelling conditions. Even his sons George and Richard Cadbury espoused the spirit of Quakerism in their managerial decisions. For those early generations of Cadbury managers, profits were not everything. But today, it is impossible to think of corporate leaders to belong in the same league as John Cadbury and his sons. (Bacon, 1997) What we have today is vapid sloganeering to project an outward philanthropy, which is in essence a garbed push for profits. Jargons such as â€Å"cause-related marketing†, â€Å"social marketing†, â€Å"altruis tic marketing† and â€Å"public purpose marketing† and â€Å"corporate do-gooding† arc just some of the unhelpful terms being thrown around these days. They are not true philanthropy as was carried out by John Cadbury and his sons. Even Cadbury’s former marketing director John Taylor admitted his concerns in 1992. By then, Cadbury’s had cut its charity roster to two: World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Save the Children. The long-term approach, rather than the immediate impact on the bottom line that others claim for Corporate Do-Gooding, was Taylor’s concern then. (Dwek, 1992) What Taylor observed two decades back has proved prophetic today, with the Cadbury’s sovereign brand being swept away in an aggressive takeover bid. We will write a custom essay sample on Is it still possible to run a business nowadays using the philanthropic principles of the Cadbury Brothers which were so popular during the 19th century? specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Is it still possible to run a business nowadays using the philanthropic principles of the Cadbury Brothers which were so popular during the 19th century? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Is it still possible to run a business nowadays using the philanthropic principles of the Cadbury Brothers which were so popular during the 19th century? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The top management of companies like Cadbury’s believed in industrial democracy and worker engagement in key management decisions. Of the handful of companies that experimented with industrial democracy, Cadbury’s was outstandingly successful. These companies also had strong ideologies and a strong sense of social responsibility, which actually helped their profitability. Not only was Cadbury’s exemplary in this respect, but its arch rival in the chocolate industry Rowntree as well. In these two companies, worker participation was directly linked to company’s participation in social programs. There was a circular process through which quality products were created by happy and well-paid workers as well as healthy financial performance for the company. (Dwek, 1992) Public health and Christian principles were therefore among â€Å"the ‘push’ factors that transformed chocolate from an expensive luxury into an increasingly common commodity. Many of the chocolate makers that started up in Britain in the nineteenth century were owned and managed by Quaker families. The philosophy and moral outlook of these founder entrepreneurs pervaded the industry for decades.† (Witzel, 2009) In conclusion, in today’s world of cut-throat competition under the spell of a prolonged economic recession, philanthropy is the least of concerns for corporate leaders. Corporate philanthropy has become a hallow term which stands for yet another marketing ploy. It is fair to claim that there is an element of perversion in this tactic, which even Cadbury’s succumbed under competitive pressure. Cadbury’s Strollerton initiative that was unveiled a few years ago is seemingly altruistic and socially conscious, but , in truth, the initiative’s warm glow of charity-giving is nothing but â€Å"the white heat of extra sales and market share is something which Cadbury has shown to be one of the shrewdest marketing ploys around.† (Witzel, 2009) This kind of ‘caring corporatism’ is taking off in a big way. It is a sad development, indeed, that the noble philanthropic tradition of Cadbury’s has given way to bolstering the bottom line. Bibliography Bacon, M. H. (1997). Let This Life Speak: The Legacy of Henry Joel Cadbury. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. Dwek, R. (1992, July 23). Doing Well by Giving Generously. Marketing, 16+. Witzel, M. (2009, Summer). Democracy, Community and Chocolate: The Management Philosophy of the Cadburys and the Rowntrees, 19th Century Commercial Rivals, Resulted in Happy and Well-Paid Workers and Strong, Profitable and Creative Companies. European Business Forum, (14), 72+.

Freakonomics †A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything †Book Review

Freakonomics – A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything – Book Review Free Online Research Papers Freakonomics : A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything Book Review By now we have all heard an interview or two on NPR with journalist Stephen J. Dubner and economist Stephen D. Levitt. Or perhaps a friend talking at work or school about this fascinating book: Freakonomics : A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything. I was given this book before a weekend trip and I stormed through the 200 pages twice. Once on the plane trip there and again 2 days later on the trip home. It was one of those books that I wanted to talk about with all my friends. As a student I have taken macro and micro economics but the concept of incentives never hit home until I read this book. The idea that economics is a holistic study of humans and an organizations choices was hard to understand. However, in this book the authors explore some interesting questions that are a far cry from the typical corporate scandal article. For example, there are chapters that discuss: How is the Ku Klux Klan like a group of real estate agents? What makes a perfect parent? If drug dealers make so much money, why do they still live with their moms? I recommend this book for anyone who is curious about how the world works. I imagine for an economist there is nothing in this book that is shocking. However, for the average person they will find it full of delight. Perhaps because economics makes so much sense for the first time or perhaps because they feel better about their decision to not become a drug dealer. I give it 4 out of 5 stars and anxiously wait for Dubner and Levitt’s next book Super Freakonomics. Research Papers on Freakonomics - A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything - Book ReviewBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows EssayMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenTrailblazing by Eric AndersonThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationMind TravelPETSTEL analysis of IndiaStandardized TestingThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug Use

Group Decision Making Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Group Decision Making - Essay Example There are studies which support the concept that groups influence work behavior. A group is composed of individuals working together towards common goals by interacting with one another and utilizing appropriate resources. They need a certain period of time for common interests to be discussed, explained and internalized so that stability and efficiency would ensue. From the cohesiveness that a group develops, certain level of performance is achieved. It is therefore the objective of this paper to proffer issues pertinent to group decision making by focusing on experiences with group decision making in a professional setting. One successful and one unsuccessful experience would be identified. Likewise, the reasons for the group’s good or poor performance, drawing from concepts in the course readings would be identified and discussed, accordingly. A group is composed of individuals working together towards common goals by interacting with one another and utilizing some resources. They need a certain period of time for common interests to be discussed, explained and internalized so that stability and efficiency would ensue. According to Martires & Fule (2000, 109), â€Å"many specific roles can be categorized according to the actual behaviors of the group members. Group-building roles lead the group toward positive member interaction and interpersonal behavior†. Different studies present varying models of a typical decision-making process depending on their perspectives. Some models follow eight steps, others five. For purposes of making intuitive choices, one structurally follows six steps in decision making. The six steps of this natural, intuitive decision-making process, according to Ethics Resource Center (2009) are: â€Å"Step 1: Define the problem; Step 2: Identify available alternative solutions to the problem; Step 3: Evaluate the identified alternatives; Step 4: Make the

Teledentistry Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Teledentistry - Thesis Example ves unique techniques such as self-directing online study, streaming media, webcast and real-time video conferencing, which are utilized to deliver dental education, either live or on demand. These techniques have changed dental and dental hygiene education in many ways, for example; the technology in teledentistry involves a two-way communication video and audio communication-making training visual and efficient. This paper has also discussed the challenges faced by teledentistry especially those that are technologically related. Relevant information was gathered through primary and secondary methods of data collection. The primary data sought was from telemedicine and teledentistry related books and scholarly journals as well as formal websites. Moreover, the information gathered from primary data is reflected in the literature review section. Secondary data was collected through random sampling, where students below the age of twelve were selected and both dental care and hygiene from direct observation and observation from a distance was carried out. The main aim of the observation was to compare the results between direct observation and observation at a distance after which a conclusion was drawn. Having compared the results, the figures and samples were comprehensively discussed and this brought the paper to further recommendation in case of a future research. Finally, conclusions were drawn from the findings and, the future of teledentistry was mentioned. The purpose of the examination procedure was done as a procedure to control infection among the ten randomly chosen children of below 12 years. The examination covered hard and soft tissue problems such as missing teeth, caries, and inflammations among others. For the observed dental illnesses, the patients would be referred to orthodontics, periodontics, endodontic and, surgery. The children were directly diagnosed, and diagnosis using electronic telediagnosis after which result were compared. However,

Language Use and Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Language Use and Culture - Essay Example Informal language on the other hand is used in situations that are more relaxed and often involve people that we are very familiar with. Formal language is mostly used in writing, whereas informal language is used in speech. There are times, however, when informal language is used in writing. Such situations involve writing letters, emails and text messages to friends or family members. Informal Use of spoken language can also be formal. For instance, when a lecturer is giving lectures to students mostly the language is formal. For instance, a statement like ‘We went to Barcelona for the weekend. We have a lot of things to tell you’, is a formal statement. When said informally the statement would be ‘Went to Barcelona for the weekend. Lots to tell you. In his speech, John McWhorter says that people have stopped giving speeches formally and have now changed gradually to give informal speeches. He says that the kind of speech given in an old movie where one clears his throat before giving the speech I and go, â€Å" Ahem, ladies and gentlemen,† is a thing of the past. He continues to say that even the way we write has gradually changed from formal to informal. John says that people, especially young people write as if they are talking not giving about capital letters or punctuation especially when texting. John refers to texting as fingered speech because it is basically a form of speech in writing. Informal language sometimes involves use of slang. Slang may be described as a subset of a language used by a particular group of people. Slang usually consists of words and phrases which are not in the English dictionary. These words and phrases could be distortions of already existing English words or entirely new creations. Slang is used by almost all groups of people in society who have common interests or situations. The group of people that uses slang

The Communication Style In Middle East Cultural Studies Essay

The Communication Style In Middle East Cultural Studies Essay In this chapter, an analysis of the communication style of Middle Eastern countries will be provided, with particular focus on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Before analysing our focus countries, it is interesting to provide an overview of the communication style in the Middle East compared to that in the West. Only after understanding the main differences between these two regions, can inner differences be explained. Western ventures as well as expat foreign workers that start working in the Middle East face many challenges due to the differences in their communication style. The nature of business communication style is the result of the combination of different factors, such as cultural, political, socio-economical and historical characteristics of a country. Some of the main cultural factors will be therefore analysed in the section. First of all, Middle East countries are very high context, meaning that people from this region take into consideration all the different aspects of a certain event in order to get the true understanding of it. Hidden meanings can be found by analysing the situation as a whole. This term was coined by Edward Hall (1976) and positioned in contrast to low-context countries, such as USA, in which the meaning of words can be taken directly from the message, without the necessity to analyse the whole context. As can be seen later in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia section, the high context characteristic can also be associated to the characteristic of the Arabic language as an associative language. This statement by Hall (1976, p. 98) effectively gives an effective understand of the meaning of high context When talking about something that they have on their minds, a high context individual will expect his interlocutor to know whats bothering him, so that he doesnt have to be specific. The re sult is that he will talk around and around the point, in effect putting all the pieces in place except the crucial one. Placing it properly this keystone is the role of his interlocutor. Secondly, Middle Eastern people tend to invest a huge amount of their time establishing personal relationships and getting to better know their negotiating parties before actually initiating the work (Badawy, 1980). Because of this, doing business in the Middle East usually takes longer than in other countries. Personal contacts are considered more important than procedures and standard processes for businesses. For example, creative sales techniques and media advertising are not as effective in these countries as in Western ones. Instead, business in the Middle East relies more on the cultivation of individual customers and on government officials (Badawy, 1980). Another characteristic that distinguishes Middle Eastern management communication style from that of the West is related to the perception of time and space. Middle Eastern countries have a primarily polychronic work style, they usually engage in multiple activities and goals at the same time. In the Middle East, time is an open-ended concept. It is a mixture of past, present and future. The word bukra (literally tomorrow) that is often used in this region refers to the fact that what cannot be done today will be done tomorrow and the word inshallah (literally God willing) underlines that God is in control of time (Martin and Chaney, 2006). Therefore, time is considered to be a flexible concept, being late at meetings and not respecting strictly deadlines is usually not seen as offensive behaviour. Moreover, being late could also be a tactic used by Middle Eastern managers to demonstrate their superiority and power over their subordinates (Martin and Chaney, 2006). As far as space is concerned, business conversations in Middle Eastern countries usually occur simultaneously among different people and in the same office, similar to a round table discussion (Badawy, 1980). Having described some of the main features that characterise the communication style of the Middle East, this paper will now focus on the two considered countries, UAE and Saudi Arabia. The aim of the two subsections is to provide an analysis of the two countries in respect to some factors that either distinguish the Emirati or Saudi communication style from the general concept of business communication style in the Middle East or that underline differences between the two regions. United Arab Emirates The UAE is a very particular Middle Eastern country as we have seen in the previous sections. As far as the communication style is involved, studies have shown sound insights. On one hand, the high percentage of expatriate workers and western organisations have been influencing the communication behaviour of Emiratis. Many UAE companies have adapted their norms and communication style to match the Western ones (Willemyns et al., 2011). This has been a progressive process, driven by the fact that today more and more expatriates work in the UAE and that Emiratis employed in large companies can usually speak fluent English. On the other hand, specific patterns of communication style can be found within UAE companies. Our main reference will be the study performed by Willemyns et al. (2011) and described in their research paper Communication and Social Identity Dynamics in UAE Organizations. The study was conducted among 192 Emiratis (34 women) who worked in different companies in Dubai and were asked to complete a survey about their interaction with Western expatriate colleagues . However, before proceeding with the analysis of the findings, a short overview of the theoretical underpinnings behind them will be provided. More specifically, the social identity theory has been considered. This theory proposes that ones self-concept is compromised of a personal identity (based on idiosyncratic characteristics such as bodily attributes, abilities and psychological traits) and of social identities, based on groups memberships (Willemyns et al., 2011). A certain person would thus see themselves as part of a group (ingroup) and would compare their ingroup to an outsider group (outgroup), composed of people that are not part of the ingroup (Williams and Giles, 1996). This theory can therefore be used to understand and explain how the Emiratis interact with their foreign colleagues, whether they relate to them as part of the ingroup or the outgroup. The study has shown three main communication patterns. The first category relates to Interpersonal Control, which refers to the interpersonal control adopted in the interaction of Emirati nationals with their foreign colleagues. This study has stressed the importance of the ingroup dimension to many Emirati employees. In fact, a high percentage of them feel that they are perceived by their co-workers as belonging to the same group, on an equitable level. Furthermore, Emiratis try to understand the single individual when they interact with their co-workers rather than classifying them as part of a stereotypical cultural outgroup. Examples of this perception are related to non-work and friendship role relationship, similar values and interpersonal similarities. In a broader sense of the individualization process just described, Condon and Yousef (1975) have highlighted the difference between individualism, which indicates independence from the group, and individuality, which relates to the freedom of an individual to act, individuality ref ers to the persons freedom to act differently within the limits set by the social structure (Condon and Yousef,1975). Thus, in this specific case, the study refers more to individuality than to individualism of Emiratis. This sense of individuality can also be traced in the Quran where an individual (a prophet) would go against his group in order to proclaim his faith and belief in God. Therefore, for Arab people and in this specific case, for Emiratis, individual dignity and honour are extremely important. (Ayish, 2003). Therefore, if on one hand the belonging to ingroup is an essential part for Emiratis, on the other hand, the individual as a unique person is highly respected. This fact shows that it is probably too simplistic considering Emiratis as a collectivistic culture (Zaharna, 2009). The second category analysed is discourse management, which refers to the ability of a person in creating written and oral texts. In the specific case, we consider discourse management in relation to conversations held at work between Emiratis and their Western counterparts. As far as discourse management is concerned, the ingroup and outgroup sides seem to be balanced. More specifically, if on one hand, some Emiratis perceive high cultural difference with their colleagues, for example they feel their ideas are not listened to nor understood, on the other hand, some other Emiratis express an open, transparent and efficient communication process. Significant examples of this aspect are related to the willingness or unwillingness of colleagues to listen and communicate or to participate in small talk and self-disclosure. Small talks are defined by DeVito (2001) as short conversations typically used to break the ice between people. They are also defined pathic communication, term that w as coined by the anthropologist Malinowsky (1923) and refers to short discussions of low information content that are used to build and maintain relationships, to saving face issues. Finally, a balance can also be found in the last category, face issues. Emiratis value face-to-face communication as an important feature. Face-to-face communication could lead to both positive effects, for example a foreign colleague expressing explicit praise, congratulations and encouragement and negative consequences, for instance by embarrassing in public an Emirati, through criticism and negative feedback and by asking inappropriate questions such as questions related to wives and or sisters. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia In this section, an analysis of some interesting factors that shape the business communication style in Saudi Arabia will be provided. First of all, the environment highly influences the communication style of Arab countries. In particular, Ali (1990) underlines how Arab people are subjected to behave in different ways depending on the characteristics of the environment in which they are and have relationship with. More specifically, in an authoritarian environment, an Arab tends to be conservative, dependent on authorities and on higher status people and refrains from debate and discussions (Ali and Hayward, 1993). In Saudi Arabia, the communication style is more indirect and conservative compared to the communication style of other Mideastern such as the Emiratis due to their stricter environment. Moreover, Saudis show a higher avoidance of public conflict and criticism, preferring personal to impersonal procedures to resolve conflict and one-to-one business communication (Ali, 1995). Saudi Arabia is the place of birth both of Islam and Arabic. As Arabic is the language of the Quran, the spread of Islam to non-Arabic countries, such as part of South Asia, Europe and North Africa, has also implied the diffusion of Arabic language in them (Hitti, 1970; Hourani, 1992; Chejne, 1965). However, even though all countries in the Middle East have a common heritage in the Arabic language, not all of them have employed Arabic as official first language. Arabic is therefore one of the most important factors that influence the communication style in Saudi Arabia. According to Kabasakal and Bodur (2002), the Arabic language has a very strong influence on the identity of an Arabic person as well as on their communication style. Arabic manages to develop a feeling of identity among Arab people that also has crucial consequences on the communication style. In particular, the Arabic language is very associative, different examples of association can be found within the Arabic language and in the Quran (Zaharna, 2009). Therefore, in order to get the true understanding of a text written in Arabic, the ability to read Arabic is not sufficient; it is instead necessary to understand the different associations among words within a certain context. Likewise, Saudis use an indirect business communication style, where single words will not probably be of significant meaning. According to Katz (2006), a simple word like yes might mean possibly and i t will be very rare that a Saudi would answer with a direct no. Instead, Saudis value beautiful, elegant rhetoric over concise and accurate communication. Eloquent people are considered to be more worthy of trust and respect and so they will often use extremely descriptive, emotive and even poetic language to communicate their point indirectly. This can often make it difficult for Westerners to decipher the intended message. Furthermore, body language and eye contact is very important in the Middle East, however in Saudi Arabia it is more restricted and controlled. The final aspect that will be analysed in this section refers to the interaction of Saudis with the foreign corporations and colleagues. Unlike UAE, as seen in section 1.2 where Emiratis have shown a more open, transparent and positive behaviour, Saudi Arabia is a much more conservative and closed society that also regulates the way Saudis work with expatriates (Mackey, 1987). Having a local intermediary can therefore be extremely important for a foreigner to initiate a business relationship with local people. The intermediary will help providing the contacts and leveraging on existing relationships. (Katz, 2006). In fact, as described previously, personal relationships are crucial in Middle East and in this particular case, in Saudi Arabia.

John Steinbecks Novel, In Dubious Battle Essay -- John Steinbeck In D

John Steinbeck's Novel, In Dubious Battle We are lucky to have many talented writers who have successfully taught US history through their outstanding pieces of literature. One writer of this kind is John Steinbeck in the novel In Dubious Battle. It takes place in the 1930’s when Franklin Deleanor Roosevelt was President. The story is set in a small, rural, part of California, which is known as the Torgas Valley. The novel occurred before World War II at the late part of the Great Depression. The US was still recovering from the downfall from most of the American Industries that fell during the Great Depression. Due to the Industrial Revolution, there were no longer any large industries to support the overflowing amount of workers. The farms were the only place that needed a large work force. Therefore many of the workers had to move to the rural areas to support their needs and to survive. The farm owners were now able to cut the wages significantly, knowing that the workers would not quit and they would get all the work done.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The main character in In Dubious Battle is Jim Nolan. Throughout the novel his life constantly changes. No day is typical in his life. At first he was a normal working man in the urban parts of California. However, he was not satisfied with his job and wanted to have a completely different life. He then decided to join the Reds, or Radicals, which was a Party that wanted to start strikes and protest against the low wages given to all the w...