LEADERSHIP AND CONVERGENCE

How does followers should react when they do not agree with their manager’s directions?

Leadership represents the power or ability a manager or person has in order to guide a group of followers or members of his/her crew or department. In the moment we are analyzing and understanding what leadership means, we should be aware of the huge difference that exist between being a leader and being a manager.

When we are working in a certain company, we are supposed to be guided by a boss, or manager, and in the majority of the cases, he/she is going to be responsible for giving us the direction and parameters as its employees.  When in a situation like this, that happens quite often in all the business around the world, the followers or employees don´t agree with the manager’s directions, something can be done in order to control the situation the best way possible.

Leadership. Retrieved on February 28, 2011 from: http://culturewav.es/system/images/513042/original/leadership.jpg?1281281390

As employees, the situation should be managed based on respect, because in my opinion you can express all what we feel and think in a respectful and polite way, regardless if is agreeing or disagreeing; and after facing you manager in an adequate manner, exposing all your reasons and concerns, your opinion and point of view, the outcome should be positive for both, because at least all the facts are exposed.

Ways to React. Retrieved on February 28, 2011 from:                               http://kevinmartineau.ca/wp-content/uploads/5-ways-people-react-to-change.jpg

ETHICAL BEHAVIOR AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

1.       What does the statement “all capitalism is crony capitalism” is referring to? Do you agree with this statement or not? Give an example.

The statement “all capitalism is crony capitalism” is referring to the fact that shows that sometimes the success of a company relies on the state or government and not to the free market, all the benefits that are born with this relation, and the way in which these benefits can influence on the market.

In my opinion, I truly agree with this statement because this is how things really work in this globalized world.  The governments in order to achieve their objectives and what they want, thru history have created a strong relationship among them and the entrepreneurs and industrial scenario, because is a relationship that carry benefits for everyone, it’s a win/win situation; it’s a situation that can be seen every day in every country.

2.       What is a Banana Republic? Why the author is comparing India with a Banana Republic?

“Banana Republic” means a country that is highly dependent on the agricultural sector and also highly corrupted, what allows the poor get poorer and the rich richer. The author compares India with a banana republic, because he realizes that if the country continues being the way it is nowadays, that much cronyism, it would end up being much more unstable that what it is actually.

3.       Why is it problematic that in the business world “The Media” becomes a corporation?

Media is extremely powerful, and if it continues advancing through becoming a corporation, the result would be a much more powerful entity; that can highly damage or benefit some one or another; depending the side it takes: attacking/destroying or helping/benefiting.

4.       In this situation, what behaviors are considered unethical for corporations, journalist and the state?

-Corruption: “relations” between high officials, politicians and commanders, and the important corporations in the country.

-Journalist: being able to do what it’s needed in order to achieve their objective; regardless if is something not correct; the news and information they present or discover regardless their consequences.

-State: having preferences with certain corporations/organizations, set objectives that can benefit just a little portion of the country meanwhile the others are suffering.

5. What can The Media, Corporations and the States do in order to behave ethically and in the benefit of the people and not their own interest. Give at least 5 good ideas.  

-The State should act, think and work for the common welfare, for the community needs.

-The Media should be aware of the consequences, and also being able to realize how much good they can do for the community.

-The State should pursue corruption with all its efforts

-Corporations should work harder for their social responsibility and the community they affect, in order to help them develop as much as possible and promote their welfare.

-Media should assume as much as possible and regular a neutral approach over the news and situations they informed about.

THE CORPORATION

Corporations. Retrieved on February 2011 from: http://media.photobucket.com/image/corporations/Pearl00Girl/Corporations.jpg

How can we ensure corporations are held accountable for their actions “ethically” and “legally”?

We as citizens of the world, in this globalize earth, can ensure corporations are held accountable for their ethical and legal actions through previews education, in order to create conscience and patters of appropriate behavior; also with the help of the governments around the world, in order to be much more harder and aware of corporate actions, because in my opinion their flexibility allows these giant to do what they want, regardless the effect the community and society is going to suffer.

Should individuals (directors, employees, shareholders) bear any responsibility for the actions of a corporation? If so, to what degree?

A corporation can be defined as an organization that works or functions under a common purpose: gain large and sustainable profits or as a large group of individuals that work together under a common objective: make more and more money. In the United States, the corporations started as an association of people named by the state in order to do or accomplish a certain task, that represents public trust, but with time and industrialization, this whole idea stated changing and becomes a public person, but at the end a LEGAL PERSON able to buy, sell and demand, just a member of society, with all men right and all this statement can include.

When we start to analyze the responsibility in general context of the corporations, we realize there are millions of opinions and points of view addressing this certain issue. In the documental The Corporation, we are able to see and identify a lot of cases that can be used as a guide to conclude or formulate our opinion about who´s supposed to be responsible for the corporation actions.

In my opinion, the CEO´s or the general managers, the ones uncharged of tacking the important decisions, are responsible for the consequences that the company actions can produce or create, regardless if they are good or bad for the environment and society, because they are the ones that put on track and gave life to that Legal Person that the corporation is.  In other words, the higher the position in the company, the higher the level of responsibility you have on its actions, regardless if they are good or bad.

What are the benefits of the corporate form? Could an alternative model offer these as well?

In order to identify the different benefits that the corporate form can bring, we should be aware that this form bring with it nice and not so nice effects or outcomes. A positive benefit is that when you are in a bigger and important group, you are not alone, what gives you power in order to act and decide according to your own interest, you gain profits, so you are wealthy, and these benefits involve the different effects that you with your decisions may cause on the community or society you are in, as for example development, growth, advance technologies and opportunities, but also environmental damage, for example in a negative way.

Search for a foreign multinational corporation that has operations in Colombia. Research if they are run under Colombian rules or regulations or if they have special regulations?

UNILEVER is a multinational corporation that has worldwide presence covering almost 400 brands in 14 different categories. According to their official web site, they are ruled by the Code of Business Principles which describes the operational standards that everyone that works for Unilever must (follow) wherever they are in the world. This Code also supports the company approach with the governments and the corporate responsibility.

Unilever. Retreived on February 2001 from: http://tantocuento.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/unilever.jpg

Should economic efficiency (Main argument for privatization) be the primary concern for commons and public services? Are there other criteria to determine who should own or operate them?

According to the moment we are living right know in terms of interdependence and globalization, in my opinion the economic efficiency can be consider as the primary concern for common and public services, because consumers and customers everywhere are wanting the lowest price possible, buy with the best quality; but at the same time, education, health, growth, environment, societies welfare and development can also be as important and determinants to be taken into account.

The corporation. Retrieved on February 2011 from: http://www.eviltwinbooking.org/events.cfm?view=FILMs&artist_id=1

MORE INFO ABOUT THE CORPORATION: (Big Picture Media Corporation, 2003-2001)

MOTIVATION

Is economic retribution enough to motivate employees?

Motivation can be defined as the mix of internal and external elements that shows the energy and desire people has in order to improve something or to continue committed to their job, position, role or just with something special and important in their lives.

When we in our company are facing a motivation process towards an employee we should be aware that the economic factor isn´t the only one that matters and that can make a difference. For example, we can see a situation in which the employee isn´t motivated because he feels that he isn´t being treated in the correct way, because he doesn´t like his job or tasks, because he has personal problems, just to mention some. So in these cases, the economic retribution won’t make a notorious difference on the worker encouraging process.

Motivation. Retrieved on February 2011 from: http://timomarquez.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/motivation.gif?w=297&h=301

The annual parties, a bonus when there is a great development or result in the company, the employees’ recognition programs, among other can work for the situation in which the money isn´t the responsible for the lack of motivation.

Regardless what Smith and Taylor said in their theories human beings aren´t only interested on money, and as a result of these statement we are able to totally conclude that the economic retribution isn’t enough to motivate employees.

ATTITUDES AND VALUES

Is it possible to change employee’s attitudes at work?

When we analyze attitudes and values we are able to see the relationship that exists among these concepts and the corporative environment. At the same time we can realize the mayor part or the enormous influence that these elements can have in the workers development of its task.

When in the company we are facing an “attitude” situation there is something that can be done by the managers in order to change what is going on, and achieve a better development of the work and the company in general. So through different strategies we can persuade and motivate the employee to correct his or her conduct/attitude.

With elements such as expertise, persuasive speaking from interesting people, attractiveness strategies, reasons, and feelings, just to mention some, we as managers are able to start a process aimed to change our worker attitude or behavior towards the organization or a special task.

By making a change on our worker attitude we are making something important for the company, because as managers or coworkers we aren´t only responsible for the given tasks, we are responsible for the well development of the business; because if the company is OK we´ll be OK and keep our job safe.

Attitudes at work. Retrieved on February 05, 2011 from :                                                                                   http://www.positivelypresent.com/2010/08/6-benefits-of-having-a-positive-attitude-at-work.html

I LIKED..........

http://apieceofpaperbesidethebed.blogspot.com/

When l found out this blog, l saw interesting pictures, writings and much more stuff  that allowed me to see myself, or part of me, reflected on it. In the first place, because of fashion, my passion, and then all the different elements such as design, pictures, illustration and more that were important tools on the blog.

It’s a space that shows trends in terms of fashion, real people and information in general that can be interesting or useful for someone like me that is interested on big fashion universe, and all what it covers, serving as a source of inspiration.

My favorite part is the daily quote, what shows me that is actualized continuously.

A piece of paper beside the bed. Retrieved on January 24 2011, form: http://apieceofpaperbesidethebed.blogspot.com/

http://www.idilvice.blogspot.com

On this blog I found interesting information of fashion and NYC, my favorite city in the entire world, so that’s way it drags my attention because it covers my favorite place and my life passion. It is written by a Swedish fashion designer that is living the American dream on the big city, and trough her experiences and daily living, she reflects the trends, the events and in general what is happening in this two “places”.

The pictures, the design of the blog, the colors, and the way she writes in general make you feel connected and interested on catching on what’s new and her latest updates.

http://joshidaniel.com/

When I found this blog I was impressed by the images or pictures I saw on it, they were almost able to speak by transmitting a strong message. The colors, the use of light, the faces of the people or the places are pictured in their best moment. It’s a place that allows you to meet the Indian culture, specially their people, and their tradition in general, and some other moments of the life of its author Joshi Daniel that he considers as special or important.