Walmart Unethical Behavior

Ciara Vensel Principles of Management Individual Research Project Part VI 2/15/13 Wal-Mart, is one of the biggest well know companies in the United States and in the world since 1962 when founder Sam Walton created Wal-Mart. It has been the place where a lot of people usually do their shopping for the low prices and variety of products. This is why it is so controversial Wal-Mart continues to grow even with the accusations of unethical business practices.Wal-Mart has been accused of sexual discrimination and unfair pay for employees, and destruction of small towns, excessive amounts of corporate power through the government and how Wal-Mart is turning into a monopoly. With all of these allegations, Wal-Mart is still one of the leading discount retailers in the country, and as a corporate office, they still stand tall and state that they follow fair ethical values. Walton was an entrepreneur with a vision that started his own company and made into the leader of discount retailing like it is today.Walton borrowed some money from his father-in-law and opened a variety store after serving as an Army captain in World War II. A chain of drugstores followed, Walton went into business with his brother and by 1960 the Walton’s' had 15 stores that were taking in $1. 4 million a year. However, Walton soon saw a new competitor arise, which was the discount store. The Walton brothers opened their first Wal-Mart in 1962 in Rogers, Arkansas. Specializing in name brands at low prices, the chain of Wal-Mart stores sprang across rural America.Walton's management style was popular with employees and helped to spur growth. As the years past, the chain of stores grew sporadically. The sales grew to $26 billion by 1989. (Store Wars, www. pbs. org) However, as sales grew ethical standards lowered throughout the company. Wal-Mart’s poor labor practice consists of avoiding non-unionizing of all employees, low wages, expensive benefit packages, and sexual discrimination. T hey insist on keeping full time employees to minimum to avoid handing out benefit packages and yet they are making employees work full time hours.There is dozens of wage and hour suits against Wal-Mart accusing the company and its managers of various illegal practices. Those included forcing employees to work unpaid off the clock, erasing hours from time cards, and preventing workers from taking lunch and other breaks that were promised by the company or guaranteed by the state laws. In 2008 Wal-Mart announced that they have agreed to pay between $352 million and $640 million to settle 63 wage and hour lawsuits filed against the retailer in 42 different states.The lawsuits accused the company of cheating hourly workers by forcing them to work through breaks and not paying them for overtime. (Wal-Mart to Settle Suits over Pay, NYTimes. com. ) Full-time employees are eligible for benefits, but the health insurance package is so expensive employees pay 35 percent which is almost double the national average. (Store Wars, pbs. org) Wal-Mart is also the leading employer of diversity and different cultures in the United States and the majority of this is men.More than 125,000 African Americans and more than 74,000 Latinos work at Wal-Mart nationwide. Two Latinos sit on the board of directors along with two women out of 15 board members. Only one woman serves as an executive officer of the company. Almost 2,000 women in 48 states claim that Wal-Mart discriminated against them for pay and promotions. The filings state women who say Wal-Mart systematically favors men for raises and promotions. (Wal-Mart Sex Discrimination Claims Filed by 2,000 Women, huffingtonpost. om) Wal-Mart’s  London Kentucky Distribution Center denied jobs to female applicants  from 1998 through February 2005. During  that time, Wal-Mart regularly hired male entry level  applicants for the warehouse positions, but excluded female applicants who were  equally or better qualified. W al-Mart regularly used gender stereotypes in filling entry-level order filler  positions. Hiring officials told  applicants that order filling positions were not suitable for women, and that  they hired mainly 18 to 25 year old males for order filling positions.Excluding women from employment or  excluding them from certain positions because of gender violates Title VII of  the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Wal-Mart ended paying $11. 7 million in back wages and compensatory damages to settle the sex discrimination lawsuit. (Wal-Mart to Pay More Than $11. 7 Million to Settle EEOC Sex Discrimination Suit, 2013) The amounts of unethical business practices that are evolving throughout the years regarding Wal-Mart really does amaze me; how a business can be so disrespectful to their employees and still be the leading retailer in the world, and have millions of consumers.Wal-Mart’s employees for the first time in Wal-Mart history went on strike in the fall of 2012. Wal-Mart w orkers across the country  coordinated  a Black Friday walkout in an effort to build awareness about the retailer’s low wages and poor working conditions. (CNN Host, Calls Out Wal-Mart Executive over Poverty Level Wages, 2013) â€Å"Wal-Mart employs more people than any other company in the United States outside of the Federal government, yet the majority of its employees with children live below the poverty line. †(Store Wars, www. bs. org) There was an interview conducted on CNN by host Carol Costello with Wal-Mart’s Vice President of Communications David Tovar regarding the Black Friday walkout, when Tovar is confronted about these labor practices he is unsure of his answers. Currently in the United States, the poverty level is $15000 for a yearly income and a Wal-Mart employee is making an average of $15350, Costello is arguing this level of income with Tovar because he claims that they provide more support for their employees then the average retailer.S he states, â€Å"Is it Wal-Mart’s responsibility to make sure that its employees can support a strong middle-class lifestyle? † Tovar’s response is, â€Å"We’re working hard every day to provide more opportunities for associates. † (CNN Confronts Walmart Spokesperson Over Retailer's Low Wages, Poor Working Conditions | ThinkProgress, 2013) Costello abruptly argues, â€Å"But if a lot of them are making $15,000 a year, you can’t live a strong middle-class lifestyle on that! (CNN Confronts Walmart Spokesperson Over Retailer's Low Wages, Poor Working Conditions | ThinkProgress, 2013) Tovar also tries to justify the average wage of a Wal-Mart employee by not giving a straight answer and showing how to help their employees by stating, â€Å"Our average rate is about $12. 40 an hour for a full time associate. We also offer comprehensive benefit packages as low as $17 a pay period, which is very affordable and we also pay quarterly bonuses, which is something that not a lot of retailers do. In addition, we know that they appreciate that. They also get a 10 percent discount card.So you have to factor in all of those things when you’re looking for how we’re helping associates. † (CNN Confronts Walmart Spokesperson Over Retailer's Low Wages, Poor Working Conditions | ThinkProgress, 2013) In reality, he is just working his way around stating the obvious that employees are getting paid low wages for today’s economy. Wal-Mart CEO Michael Duke has an average income of  $18. 1 million; it would take more than 700 employees salaries to match his total compensation package. Not only does Wal-Mart treat employees unfairly, but also it is unethical to the communities it develops in.It is certainly true that Wal-Mart has a tendency to crush competitors. The more successful Wal-Mart is, the more there will be bankruptcies of smaller businesses. According to the National Bureau of Economic research it’s been proven that Wal-Mart has adverse effects on small town stores. They did a study on Wal-Mart store in Arkansas; the employment results indicated that a Wal-Mart store opening reduces small town retail employment by about 150 workers, meaning that each Wal-Mart worker replaces approximately 1. 4 small town workers.This represents a 2. 7 percent reduction in average retail employment. The payroll results indicate that Wal-Mart store openings lead to declines in small town retail earnings of about $1. 4 million. (The Effects of Wal-Mart on Local Labor Markets, 2013) I myself come from a small town with a population of less than a 1000 people; we are mainly a tourist town because we are located right next to Mille Lacs Lake, which means we are only seasonally making a profit. Whenever it is fishing season in our area is where we have the most profitable seasons.Coming from a small town, I know that it is very hard to keep small businesses going; Wal-Mart thrives on making new estab lishments in these types of areas. This is very profitable for Wal-Mart but not for the community’s small businesses this causes these family businesses that have been around for years to come to a screeching halt, because it is more convenient to get everything at Wal-Mart for a low price then go to each individual small business for different items. Without these small businesses, small towns like mine gradually disappear. How Wal-Mart is destroying America (and the world) and what you can do about it, Quinn, B) With that said Wal-Mart has taken over some many rural areas and they pay their employees at such low wages that Wal-Mart is increase in corporate power through the government and are becoming a monopoly. A monopoly is a situation in which a single company owns all or nearly all of the market for a given type of product or service. Everywhere you go you see more and more Wal-Mart’s even if there in cities that is 10 minutes apart from each other.Especially wi th most Wal-Mart’s, now being super Wal-Mart’s there profit is immensely growing to outrageous amounts. (Corporate Power, Wal-Mart and the Undermining of the Democratic Process Dollars ; Sense, http://dollarsandsense. org) With all the controversy surrounding Wal-Mart the corporate office still claims that they are an ethical company that favors their employees. There website has a statement of ethics stating all of their policies are for the employees. They state to be a non-discriminative work place and that they offer fair wages.This is obviously something that is corrupt within their company because there would not be that many lawsuits and complaints about Wal-Mart’s business practices if they abided by their statement of ethics. They also claim that Wal-Mart builds small communities by offering more employment in the rural areas. The website states, â€Å"It’s our mission to create opportunities so people can live better. We consider it our respons ibility to make a positive impact in the communities we serve.Whether it is through the grants we provide to the thousands of organizations that share our mission or through the inspiring volunteer efforts of Wal-Mart associates, we are passionate about helping people live better. One community at a time. † (Wal-Mart Corporate – Our Story, http://corporate. walmart. com/ourstory/) Companies like this that survive these major ethical issues are the ones that can spot the issues and correct them before they become a problem. In the case of Wal-Mart, it failed to acknowledge these potential problems and they are probably going to pay for it in the end.Wal-Mart’s unethical business practices have hurt its company’s reputation. Although millions of people still shop at Wal-Mart knowing the rising allegations still many consumers have stopped shopping at Wal-Mart. This includes my mother who is very against shopping at Wal-Mart and will avoid if it is at all pos sible. If Wal-Mart wants to survive they will have to try harder to improve their image; not only at the corporate level but also within in each individual establishment level.They need to show that they care about ethics by treating employees fairly, and the communities that are allowing Wal-Mart to establish their stores. As a result, it will attract good employees and consumers and keep this business thriving to its full potential. A company this large should admit its faults to overcome any obstacles to obtain success. Bibliography Peled, M. (n. d. ). PBS Store-Wars: The Story. PBS: Public Broadcasting Service, Retrieved January 18th 2013, from http://www. pbs. org/itvs/storewars/story. html Greenhouse, S. 2008, December 23) Wal-Mart to Settle Suits over Pay – NYtimes. com, the New York Times, Breaking News, World News ; Multimedia, Retrieved January 18th 2013, from http://www. nytimes. com/2008/12/24/business/24walmart. html? _r=0 Wal-Mart Corporate – Our Story. ( n. d. ). Wal-Mart Corporate – We save people money so they can live better. Retrieved January 18, 2013, from http://corporate. walmart. com/ourstory/ Harrison, J. A. (n. d. ). Corporate Power, Wal-Mart and the Undermining of the Democratic Process Dollars ; Sense.Dollars and Sense: Real World Economics. Retrieved January 18, 2013, from http://dollarsandsense. org/archives/2011/0211harrison. html Quinn, B. (2000). How Wal-Mart is destroying America (and the world) and what you can do about it (Rev. ; updated. ed. ). Berkeley, Calif. : Ten Speed Press. CNN Confronts Walmart Spokesperson Over Retailer's Low Wages, Poor Working Conditions | ThinkProgress, 2013, http://thinkprogress. org/economy/2012/11/20/1221081/cnn-confronts-wal-mart-spokesperson-over-retailers-low-salaries-poor-working-conditions/Wal-Mart Sex Discrimination Claims Filed by 2,000 Women, 2013, http://www. huffingtonpost. com/2012/06/06/walmart-sex-discrimination-women-_n_1575859. html Wal-Mart To Pay More Than $ 11. 7 Million To Settle EEOC Sex Discrimination Suit. (n. d. ). EEOC Home Page. Retrieved February 15, 2013, from http://www. eeoc. gov/eeoc/newsroom/release/3-1-10. cfm The Effects of Wal-Mart on Local Labor Markets. (n. d. ). The National Bureau of Economic Research. Retrieved February 15, 2013, from http://www. nber. org/papers/w11782

Taxation in the United Kingdom

Criteria of differentiate employment and self-employment Laid down some factors and tests by the courts, over the years, which are relevant may be useful to determine the nature of a contract. Right of Control The engaged has a right to control the employee but it is not necessarily must be used in practice. This kind of control usually used by engaged to control when and/or were the employee perform his/her services, how it is perform, and what tasks has to be performed but in some kind of work (where employee is an expert) this control will not be important.Under the self- employment the person who perform the work is usually free to choose when and where to do so. Financial Risk The main distinction in financial risk between employee and self-employment person is that the second one is ready to risk own money by buying a materials needed to perform the work, and also paying for overheads and bearing the running costs. The employed person not bear any expenses related to the conduc t of economic activity. If any of additional cost in case of job overruns will be required the self-employed person must bear them on win risk.Equipment In this situation self-employed person might have to buy assets and equipment to perform particular job which has to be done. The employee is getting everything under the contract. Work performance and correction Also the engaged will be expected from the employee certain hours of work performed daily or weekly, and at the engaged premises, but it is possible to make an agreement between them to work flexible hour at the places accepted by both sides.If any correction will be required for the work done, self-employed person has to make that correction with no additional payment ND in own time, but employed person is still able to make that correction within the work time. Holidays and sickness The employee has a right to go for a holiday or take a sickness with no threat that that time won't be paid (paid leave), the same situation for self-employed means that these days will be unpaid. Exclusivity That means the employee is hired by one only employer, and he/she is an integral part of the business.In self employment the person has usually more than one client and the person is not integral part of client business. 3. Concussions According to above tests and factors, which were applied to the case study, inclusions arises that Kathy should be treated by HOME as an employee rather than self employed. UK income TAX In I. J tax system we can define certain kind taxes into groups: direct taxes and indirect taxes. A. Direct taxes are charged on income, profits and we can to enumerate most important: income tax, capital gains tax, inheritance and corporation tax. B. Indirect taxes, e. G.VAT are charged Of spending and it is added to the price of the product or service bought. 1 Taxable person Individuals who are resident in the UK for a tax year are generally charged to income tax on all their income for the year. T here are two exceptions to this general rule: A. Some forms of income are exempt from income tax B. UK residents whose home is not permanently in the UK to the extent that the income is remitted to the ASK. 4. Tax year Tax year for individuals also might be referred to as fiscal years or years of assessments and it runs from 6 April to the following 5 April.Any changes to the tax system are usually take a n effect from the start of next tax year. They are proposed in the annual Budget speech. 5. Self assessment Self assessment effects those who get sent a tax return or request a tax turn and particular it applies to the following groups of people: self employed, business partners, company directors, employee or pensioner with complied tax affairs, trustees. Individual's liability for a tax year must be assessed if there is not possible to collect full liability for a tax year deducted at source or PAYEE system.In this situation that person at first must complete ‘self assessme nt tax return'. Taxpayer has to complete tax return and the amount of tax due and may be calculated by him/her and then check by HOME, or this calculation might be made by HOME if taxpayer prefer to do so. Self assessment tax return has a 6 pages basic document and might be added supplementary pages if needed for purposes of tax payer. There is a available shorter tax return documents which have got 4 pages and it contains simpler tax affairs.There is also a possibility to file tax return electronically by the HOME website. Tax return filling and summation dates are as follows: A. For paper returns – 31 October following the end of the tax year B. For electronically returns – 31 January following the end of the tax year It has to complete in full and taxpayer cannot omit any figures. 6. Payment dates First payment on accounts (POP) must be made by 31 January of the tax year. Second payment On accounts has to be made by 31 July next following tax year and final balancin g payment or refund is made by 31 January.This is also first payment on accounts of the following tax year. 7. Procedures involved in application of surcharges, interests and penalties PENALTIES – TAX RETURN A. Penalties for late submission of tax return depends from length of being late and they are as follows: 1 day late El 00 and applies even when the tax own has been pair or there is no tax to pay 3 months late or each of the following day is E 10, up to 90 days Max IEEE 6 months late whichever will be higher IEEE or 5% of the amount due 12 months late whichever will be higher DEED or 5% of the amount due.When it is serious case the tax payer might rise up to 100% of amount due instead If any of documents submitted to HOME by a taxpayer leads to understatement of the amount tax due and it is because of careless or deliberate then single penalty applies. This is expressed as a percentage of potential lost revenue as follows: A. 100% if inaccuracy is ‘concealed and de liberate' B. 70% in case that inaccuracy was ‘deliberate but not concealed ‘ C. In all other cases the percentage is 30%, also 30% if person liable to notify HOME Of under-assessment has failed to do so.

Democracy Aims of the Ninth Amendment

â€Å"We the People of the United States†¦ do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. † Within those opening words, the framers of the U. S. Constitution made clear their intentions for democracy in America and their disregard for previous despotic institutions. No longer viewing the individual†s highest duty to be obedience to the state, our founding fathers displayed a firm commitment to bolstering the significance and dignity of the individual. This new found faith in the ability of the populace to govern itself is known as democracy. Democracy itself is an ideal that was developed by the ancient Greeks around 500 B. C. Inherent in all of the freedoms of democracy are certain â€Å"inalienable rights† that are guaranteed to every citizen who resides under that democracy. Following the Constitutional Convention, Federalists, who supported the ratification of the Constitution, obtained the support by promising that an enumeration of the rights of all citizens that would be added as an amendment to the Constitution after it had been ratified, to Anti-Federalists who opposed ratification due to the lack of enumerated rights. In order to outline and expound upon those rights, the Constitution was amended almost immediately following its ratification in 1788. The Bill of Rights, as the first ten amendments have come to be known, was put into effect on the fifteenth day of December, 1791, and is a formal declaration given by the government to define the fundamental liberties of its citizens and thus limit its own power. The first eight amendments contain the essential rights of every citizen, as well as certain procedural precautions instituted to insure the protection of those rights. The enth amendment guarantees the limitation of federal control to those and only those powers granted it in the Constitution. Inherent in the ninth amendment is the vitality of democracy in the United States. The ninth amendment reads: â€Å"The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. † Amendment nine, while protecting citizens from the infringement of the government on the unenumerated rights of the individual using rights enumerated in the Bill of Rights, also levels any implied hierarchy of rights making no single right of any greater importance than another. The preservation of democracy in America is vitally dependent upon the ninth amendment as illustrated by its inherent ideologies that made it an amendment, its modern judicial implications in relation to the topics of the day, as well as its ability to reinforce those attributes that keep a democracy operating. Once the Constitution had been put into effect and representatives had been sent to Congress, it was time for the amendments that had been promised, to be sent before Congress. The leader in the proposition of amendments to the new Congress was James Madison, the â€Å"Father of the Constitution. † Madison†s chief intention in proposing his amendments to the Constitution was to prevent â€Å"†¦ the abridgment of the freedom of the people by [the] gradual and silent encroachments of those in power. † Madison originally proposed fifteen amendments that were to enumerate all of the inalienable rights of United States citizens. Of those fifteen, twelve were accepted by Congress to be sent to the states for approval under the process outlined in the Fifth Article of the Constitution. What would become the ninth amendment was seen even then as innocuous, but Madison was able to support its importance asking, â€Å"If an enumeration be made of all our rights, will it not be implied that everything omitted is given to the general government? † Democracy, as a free-state, relies inevitably on the protection of the freedoms of the individual; because all of the freedoms that an individual has a right to cannot simply be listed, it is vitally important that those rights which are not spelled out in the body of law that protects the individual continue to be protected from usurpation by the government. Through inference this amendment implies in its own wording that the rights that are listed in the Bill of Rights are so important that they needed to be spelled out, but there are other natural rights belonging to United States citizens that were equally important, but too numerous to mention. These â€Å"natural rights† include the right to choose your own mate, the right to reproductive choice, the right to determine the manner of your child†s education, and even covers rights to personal privacy. Certainly no man would argue the personal, as well as democratic significance of these rights. Thus, Madison, foreseeing the possibilities of the rise of the federal government to the already massive position of power that it now occupies kept it from denying Americans all of those rights that even they take for granted, because they cannot be found specifically enumerated in The judicial implications behind the ninth amendment are innumerable, mainly due to the fact that on a regular basis the government does its best to work its way into the private lives of individuals and instruct them on how to better their conduct in the ace of social morality. One pressing issue facing the people of the United States today is that of doctor-assisted suicide. To date, it has been ruled that suicide is in essence self-murder and accordingly, if murder is illegal so must all forms of it be illegal as well, self and otherwise. However, in light of the unenumerated rights guaranteed to citizens by the ninth amendment, this â€Å"right to die† inherently belongs to the individual as it does ot infringe upon the rights of others. Another modern political debate is that of the legality of homosexuality. Seeing as how, regardless of their sexual orientation, homosexuals are citizens of the United States of America, they also have the right to decide for themselves the person with whom they engage in sexual relations. Sexuality is, therefore, one more of the unenumerated rights bestowed upon the people under the â€Å"innocuous† amendment. Wisely effected for this use, the ninth amendment was cited in the case of Roe v. Wade in the determination of a woman†s right to have an abortion. This right, while not enumerated in the Constitution is still a right of the people under the ninth amendment. The ninth amendment, while famously misunderstood and misinterpreted by Judge Robert Bork in his 1987 confirmation hearing, has only recently been utilized as a tool in the fight for the preservation of the individual citizen†s democratic rights. Bork demonstrated his ineptitude and his inability to be a Supreme Court Justice by stating that he could not logically view the ninth amendment from the mindset of the Constitution†s framers. The ability of a Supreme Court Justice to trust his own insinuations into the minds of our founding fathers is what allows them to make a clear, responsible and accurate assertion about the ramifications of the wording of the Constitution. Unenumerated rights are, by definition, rights that are not specifically listed and are, therefore, more or less unknown. If it was possible to enumerate all of the rights that are delegated to the people under the ninth amendment then it would have been done and the innocuity innate in its creation would be forever erased. As those rights remain constantly emerging and on the verge of emerging the Supreme Court will have to continue to expand its interpretation and better use the ninth amendment for the protection of the intrinsic rights of the American citizen. Democracy itself is reliant upon several things to keep it working: citizen participation, voluntary action and education. The ninth amendment strengthens the wide-spread participation of the citizenry by entrusting them with rights that are God-given, rights that are so innately human that they need not be itemized in the body of law that was created to itemize the inborn rights of all citizens. Any and every individual has the right to run for public office. Each individual is also capable of supporting which ever political party he feels best represents his own personal opinions. He also retains the right to keep those personal opinions to himself if he so chooses. Another characteristic of democracy is its faith and dependence upon education. Although widespread participation is a significantly substantial aspect of democracy, it alone does not ensure the proper maintenance of good government. An active populace is nothing if it is not an educated populace. Education is not an institution that can be left to sort itself out, either. Whether an individual should choose to attend public or private schools, continue to a college or university, or perhaps be taught directly by his parents at home is a right that remains his under the ninth amendment. Without the freedoms and rights that are built-into the educational systems of America by the ninth amendment, the ability of the nation to take action, keep informed, vote intelligently and produce leaders worthy of public trust and responsibility would be drastically diminished. The lack of force inbred in all democracies requires a distinct amount of voluntary action to replace it. The right of the citizen to participate or not to participate in the everyday workings of the democracy in which he lives is always his. The ninth amendment can in that manner work against itself, but thanks to the safeguard of education it can be assumed a majority of the individuals inhabiting a democracy are there of their own free will and there because they wish to cooperate with and for the established system and not against it. The successful operation of American democracy, as well as that of any other democracy, is dependent upon the rights granted to the people of the United States by the ninth amendment. In The Federalist, â€Å"Number 47,† James Madison said that, â€Å"The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny. † Madison proposed the Bill of Rights in order to avoid allowances for the federal government to secure a position of tyranny as well as to promote the permanent establishment of democracy. Amendment nine of the Bill of Rights is the amendment that best exemplifies the preservation of that new state of democracy in America by withholding from the national government all those rights that went unenumerated in the Bill of Rights, but which continue to be retained by the people. The right to personal privacy, the right to a choice of educational institutions, the right to receive an abortion, the right to choose your own sexual orientation, the right to follow the political party of your choosing and even the right to die are all bestowed upon the citizenry by the ninth amendment. Democracy, as an institution of sentiment, law and government, could not survive without the guarantee of the ninth amendment that the people shall retain those rights which were given them with birth and which will neither be denied nor disparaged. The increasing clarity of the ninth amendment will continue to provide boundless possibilities for the people of the United States to not only continue in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, but also to inhibit federal interference with that goal.

CASE - 1 Routine and Goodwill Emails Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

CASE - 1 Routine and Goodwill Emails - Essay Example It has come to our attention that most of us get distracted from the constant internet activities such as relentless email alerts, mail overloads and constant messages. Most of these actions divert attention of staff from the authentic work schedule to other minimal yet unproductive outcomes. Clearly, these disruptions not only allure you from your work, but more so impinge on your length of concentration, thereby causing unnecessary duress. In addition, such interruptions without a doubt infuriate and thus affect innovation and pleasure that you would otherwise derive from your work. This in turn negatively reflects in your yield. This predicament is taking a toll on most companies and we would like to curb its effects before we face extinction. We will therefore adopt an interruption management policy. Firstly, you are asked to configure your email applications. Adoption of systems such as outlook help sort out the mails. You can also study those who send you mails and know their t raits so as to make better judgment. Moreover, turn off any possible avenues for sound or visual alerts whenever in the office. Additionally, we have come up with specific times for checking and responding to necessary emails. This will be done after every two hours at least. However, the imperative mails must be responded to right away. In addition to this, there is need for face to face communications whenever one needs the output of a colleague within the organization. It helps you unwind and improves concentration. Additionally, through this, you will build a good rapport with your colleagues and save time as well. You can also do phone calls instead of writing emails. Furthermore, avoid as much as you can, replying to all, any message that comes in. This is because; it would interrupt those who are not directly concerned with the message in question. Restrain yourself too from replying virtually any email. Furthermore, you are to employ the automated messages system to shift at tention of your distracters. Also, renew your contacts automatically. The management would therefore like to get acknowledgement for the receipt of this document by you through email. We highly value you and anticipate a smooth transition. In case of any comments on the new policy, contact the human resource manager. Kind regards, Operations Manager Investigations by an Information Technology research company named Basex (2009) shows that basically any human being who uses the internet misses approximately two hours of their work time daily, to distractions caused by junk emails. Bigger companies lose as much as one billion dollars annually due to less productivity from members of staff instigated by overwork from emails (Ross, 2009). According to Rescue Time, a time management company (2010), an individual employee exploits instantaneous messaging seventy seven times on average every day. Definitely, it is clear that this eats into the company’s time (Jones, 2011). This is b ecause, once the effortful control of the brain is distorted, one would voluntarily desire to check the new messages as they come in. This is according to Porter (2010), who attributes this to the rise of technology obsession. The art of thinking requires concentration. Therefore, according to researchers at the University of Michigan (2010), multitasking can never be adopted for simply any activity. Reason being, 40% of the productivity would be negatively affected. It takes approximately fifteen minutes to recover from a

Reaction Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Reaction Paper - Essay Example is logical to consider finding a resolution to determine a single common level with which to learn functionality in the genres of speech, heterogeneity in itself is still an indispensable characteristic. At one aspect, it feels essential to address the complexity of utterances in the light of stabilizing the sphere of communication with particulars that are intended to eliminate the growing abstract heterogeneous property in speech genres. However, looking through the occurrences that shape language on a regular basis according to diverse human experiences, we must realize being in a general situation of nature in which the typical impact of human activities that come in variety proceeds to bear consequences of heterogeneity upon language. Thus, how one form of utterance evolves a new one cannot be held back from its irreversible course since interactions with the use of language have gradually adapted to new unique factors that naturally designate heterogeneous influence and a sense of ambiguity in speech. Instead of being confined with utterances of specific types, I suppose that we may perceive overall speech genres just as we do for the field of literary genres where similarities and differences among literary works build the key to analyzing themes and concepts. If we insist on seeking to be justified in resolving speech genres by attempting to set principles that serve relief from homogeneity and merely acknowledge speech genres under a well specified body of knowledge, we are likely to defy flexible learning and keep ourselves from the alternative possibilities of growth in speech

Marketing Communication Manager for Local Chain of Fast-food Assignment

Marketing Communication Manager for Local Chain of Fast-food - Assignment Example The market, contribution, and limitation of competitors are central to competitor analysis (Sekhar 2010 p.67). And it is a systematic review of competitor’s activities for gaining competitive advantage (Harris 2009 p.24). KFC remains the most important challenge for the Burger Hut. KFC has spread across the world and has largely been able to open various branches and franchises in almost all countries, including in the mainland China. Furthermore, it has been observed that the KFC has largely been to retain its current market share in China. And its current market share and market position have largely been supported by various factors. KFC has a strong brand image. Brand and quality are two words that are mostly used interchangeably. And when this is applied to KFC, it can be easily extracted that they collectively represent KFC’s image in the minds of its customer. It is relevant to highlight that it is the prime contribution of KFC brand image that has enabled the company to retain its market share in China and in other countries where it is currently operating. It would not be incorrect to say that effective marketing strategy has also played its role in making the KFC brand image more competitive and unique as well. The KFC has adopted different marketing strategy in which it gives more importance to all those methods which enable the company to penetrate the different markets. For example, in some countries, the KFC has opened up its branches and in other countries; it has issued the franchise ownership to the local investors.

Violence In Christianity And Islam Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Violence In Christianity And Islam - Thesis Example To a certain extent, one might point out that the religions which emerged on the latter stages of history often provided people with the tools to manage their aggression and refrain from violence. That is why one might suggest that the two notions, namely religion, and violence, are closely connected. Furthermore, the way they interact with each other is able to shed light on the peculiarities of the human nature. That is why it may be particularly significant to carefully examine an, compared how two different religions deal with violence in people. This paper will show that Christianity and Islam condemn violence, but have several provisions which are condition by history that justify it under specific and very concrete circumstances. While considering the moral framework of Christianity, one might think that there is no room for violence in it. Nevertheless, there are certain elements in this teaching which can prove quite the opposite. One of the most notable passages is taken from the Gospel of Matthew: "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword" (Matthew 10:34). As one can clearly see, these words clearly indicate that there is a part of teaching of Christ that is not peaceful. However, just like many parts of this book, the passage should be interpreted properly. Of course, it does not mean that a good Christian should follow the example of Christ and live with a sword in hand. The latter is a metaphor which urges people to direct their violence at their sins and fight them without fear (Sullender 16). However, there are some parts of the Christian doctrine that deal with real, not figurative violence.

A Study of Relationship Marketing on Customer Satisfaction Research Paper

A Study of Relationship Marketing on Customer Satisfaction - Research Paper Example Approach The study has been conducted on the basis of secondary resources. The research works of different authors have been analysed for performing present a research work on this topic. The paper compiles many research works already undertaken in this area (references given below). Results Such a study has provided us a detailed explanation on the impact of relationship management in maintaining customer satisfaction. The various strategies that have been adopted by the organizations are found to be highly significant for running the organisation successfully. Outcomes obtained through researches show that the application of the concept of relationship marketing in the organization helps in maintaining a healthy customer relation. The company will be enjoying a better position and be more confident with the fact that old customers have been retained. Satisfaction and Trust are the two main pillars of the organizations. Researchers have always emphasized upon the fact that building up strong customer relationships as well as its sustenance plays a key role in the company’s growth and prosperity. Thus it can be said that that the stress laid on customer satisfaction under relationship management forms an essential ingredient for marketing a product. Conclusion The aim of the firms should be to lure consumers by adopting a particular kind of behaviour or attitude. This will encourage an ongoing reciprocal interaction between the customer and the product, service or business concerned parties. This method of building relation has been highlighted throughout the paper in the process of buying and selling. Discussion Marketing has acquired a new dimension through such a revolutionary concept of relationship marketing. It has given much importance to the fact of maintaining good relation with the customers and providing them products according to their preference. In this process the procedure of firms and its strategies of increasing sales by satisfying customers came under the limelight. Effective strategies would surely assure a better stand to the firm in front of stakeholders. A Study of Relationship Marketing on Customer Satisfaction Introduction Marketing is one of the key function and aggregation of processes in an organization aimed at creating and delivering values to the customers. It creates effective relationships with the customer besides successful communication on the behalf of the organization. This proves beneficial to the firms and stakeholders (Tuli & Bharadwaj, p.184). The paper illustrates how the concept of sharing with customers as a part of marketing strategy maximises customer satisfaction. A successful marketing strategy and appropriate management of relationships ensures that customers are retained. For that it is important to focus on the concept of personalization in marketing that will drive the commitment value to the customer(Ashley, Noble, Donthu and Lemon, 2011, p.754).Commitment is termed as a natural ingredient in businesses for manufacturing a product as well as for a service rendered(Liu, Guo and Lee, 2011, pp.71-72). Firms may take into account consumers’ complains as well as suggestions and work towards them as part of their commitment towards customers. The basic rule for m arketing a product is to provide the customers with the products and services best in the industry. This needs to be followed from the beginning to the end.

Advances in accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Advances in accounting - Essay Example The assumption in cost transparency in the supply chain is that firms have visibility of the products that are supposed to be offered to them for business. In the modern dispensation, information concerning products is not easily retrievable. Firms in most instances follow the supply chains even to the fourth tiers just seeking information about the products. Some organizations use agents in order to find the most appropriate information before committing to the costs (Koster & Delfmann 2007, p. 31). In most instances the firms fail to get the relevant products that are required to the extent that the costs are not easily verifiable. The fundamental flaws that are experienced due to information deficiency cannot ensure transparency as appropriate. Companies may not have the appropriate information based on the complexity of the product or the technology used. To this extent, transparency in cost supply chain may not be realized. Sharing information is a fundamental issue in supply chains. Information does not stop with demand and supply, but involves sharing sensitive and crucial details concerning the costs. Sharing of information does not guarantee that the details given are forever in safe custody. Leaking of information is an inherent phenomenon that cannot be wished away. The information that is sensitive within the framework of open-book accounting settlement is not a guarantee that the sensitive data shared among the partners are based on cooperation or trust. The mutual behavior and trust of supply-chain partners is not a factor that can be relied on for safe custody of information on products and to this extent, cost transparency in the supply chain is a fallacy. The business environment is characterized by competitiveness to the extent that trust and cooperation may not be a factor to consider when it comes relationships between buyers and suppliers (Koster & Delfmann 2007, p. 32). Cost

Notes for exam question Essay Example for Free

Notes for exam question Essay Chapter 1: social scientist have argued that issues of inequality, poverty and social exclusion cut across both social welfare and crime control domains, and noted that while some responses to these issues may become the focus of social welfare policies, others may become the focus of crime control interventions. Social justice then is neither the exclusive terrain of social welfare nor of crime control. The boundaries between these two domains tend to be mobile and porous. This idea was introduced by arguing that the neat distinction between the goals of social welfare (well being) and the goals of crime control (maintaining social order) break down on closer inspection. Chapter 1 section 4: crime control measures impact adversely on social welfare and produce justice struggles. State withdrawal from the direct provision of welfare services is accompanied by greater attention to antisocial behaviour of younger and poorer groups in society. Social welfare is oriented towards the creation and maintenance of social well-being through the provision of various social supports combating social inequalities by promoting redistribution and social inclusion and countering various social harms such as poverty and discrimination. The domain of crime control is more oriented towards the creation and maintenance of social stability, social order and security by addressing behaviours and activities of those who are perceived to threaten these in some way. Crime control and social welfare policies, there are many examples of entanglement between them. For example, countering antisocial behaviour may be defined as a social welfare matter in that it protects the welfare and well being of some against the disruptions caused by others. This example also raises wider social welfare questions, I.e how can societies support young people and others so that they do not conduct themselves in ways that are viewed as antisocial? The relationship between social welfare and crime control is dynamic meaning it is likely to change over time, and it is contested. Another example of how social welfare and crime control is entangled: protecting children from abuse- a role taken on by both police and social workers, acting in partnership but with rather blurred boundaries between the welfare and crime control functions. The entanglements between welfare and crime control take many different forms. Welfare states in its traditional form is considered by many commentators across the political spectrum to be in need of reform. Social scientists focus on creating social inclusion rather than on providing welfare Ideas about an underclass of marginalised individuals often black Afro caribbean or Hispanic have informed policies on crime preventions and crime control in countries such as the USA. Many studies are handing over more responsibility for tackling crime and antisocial behaviour to local communities, who in turn address crime prevention through a mix of welfare and control strategies. As environmental issues become more important in ensuring security and well-being, so attention is turning to new kinds of harm harms perpetrated not by those traditionally defined as problem populations, often on the margins of society but by the rich and powerful who perpetuate environmental and other kinds of crime. Many struggles for social justice, produced laws that have to be enforced through the institutions of criminal justice. On the other hand, some criminal justice measures including many of those now associated with anti terrorist measures are viewed as producing harms such as internment or the loss of rights for certain population groups. Chapter 1 section 36: dissent and protest against social injustice may be the subject or criminalising responses. The darling study for the Joseph row tree foundation shows an increasing inequality of wealth in the uk in the late 20th century when income inequalities grew rapidly. It also shows a greater degree of spatial segregation of wealth and poverty, with local areas increasingly dominated by wealthy or poor residents and a decline in social mixing. Poverty concentrates attention on one segment of society: those living below a certain level of income, or below a certain level of resources. Many studies of poverty tend to focus attention on poor people rather than the wider social structures which generate and reproduce poverty. In the process, then, such studies divert attention from the relationship between wealth and poverty, and the ways in which richer and more powerful groups manage to increase their wealth and hold on to it at the expense of poorer and less powerful groups. Much social investigation into poverty has in practice involved looking at the poorest people to see what was wrong with them, and is based on the assumption that there must be something about them that makes them different from us. In the 19th century, investigators went like intrepid explorers into the neighbourhoods where the poor lived in order to examine their habits, their ways of life, their culture and most frequently their character. The poor were associated with a range of social dangers from illness, through crime and vice, to the threat of socialism. This emphasis on statistical investigation has had a profound influence on the subsequent development of social research in the uk and how we come to know about and understand the social world. But the investigation and observation of the character and habits of the poor has also had enduring consequences, reflecting a persistent belief that the cause of poverty could be discovered there. 19th century investigations into moral failings of the poor merged into20th century concerns with their dysfunctional family life or their culture of poverty. The idea of a culture of poverty had mutated into a culture of dependency. All of these terms expressed the idea that poor people had habits, attitudes and ways of life that has passed poverty on across generations. Chapter 2 section 2: welfare states are involved in the maintenance of social order and stability by naturalising and normalising social inequalities Chapter 2 sections 2,34: welfare states prescribe certain ideas of behaviour. These may stigmatise certain categories of people in booths study, the poor; and in the 21st century, those who are not gainfully employed or who do not comply with norms of active citizenship. Welfare states also police adherence to norms of good conduct and may punish those who deviate from them. Punishments may range from measures such as the withdrawal of benefits and services to actual criminalisation. Chapter 3 section 3: care whether provided informally or through welfare states can involve the abuse, neglect and exploitation of vulnerable people. Some abuses are subject to criminal prosecution. Chapter 3 section 4: treaties, conventions, laws and workers rights are often ineffective in regulating safety and ensuring freedom from harm in the workplace. Trade unions have attempted to limit workplace harms by pursuing rights and legal safeguards, but there power has been weakened. In attempt to avoid legislative action, some companies are now developing voluntary codes of conduct based on the idea of social responsibility. Chapter 4 section 2: problem populations, in problem places such as the black population of new Orleans tend to be stigmatised, viewed as a source of harm, crime and social disorder Chapter 4 section 3: some of the case studies show how welfare policies that sought to solve housing problems in the past have had damaging consequences, leading to punitive and criminalising policies in the present. Chapter 5 section 2: global slums are sites of concerns about crime and disorder. They are also sites of emerging understanding about how slums can be a source of progress and development through self help Chapter 5 section 4: transnational institutions concerns with regulating environmental crimes are contrasted with restorative self regulatory and participatory models of development.

A Fundamental Extension In Morality Philosophy Essay

A Fundamental Extension In Morality Philosophy Essay In this essay I will try to explain and analyse the effects of the tragedy of the commons when dealing with a global ecological crisis. Moreover it will be observed how the tragedy of the commons prevents us from solutions to solve ecological problems which affect the world as a whole. I will try to put a focus on the economical problem of the tragedy and the solutions which have been proposed yet. The last decades have made it clear that our planet is on the verge of an epochal shift, different organisations dealing with ecological problems raised the alarm concerning the short- AND long-run future. It is well summarized by Al Gore: Unfortunately, in the intervening years, time has not stood still for the global environment. The pace of destruction has worsened and the urgent need for a response has grown more acute. ()The relationship between human civilization and the Earth has been utterly transformed by a combination of factors, including the population explosion, the technological revolution.() the worlds leading scientists, have offered increasingly dire warnings.2 Some wise, man already acknowledged this long before the status quo of ecological crisis in the modern world: () the white man does not understand our ways. ()he is a stranger who comes in the night and takes from the land whatever he needs. (), and when he has conquered it, he moves on. () His appetite will devour the earth and leave behind only a desert.3 Indeed the lifestyle of many societies is not sustainable, and has not been so even in ancient times. We just need to think of the fact that the roman empire 2000 years ago, during its thriving period was responsible for the destruction of the biggest forests in Europe. deforestation did not cause the Roman collapse, but that one could make a case as to being a part of it. 4   If we think of how small we are compared to the enormous, massive number of individuals in society, we could feel that we are insignificant members of a huge machine, which is moved by its self-enforcing and self-imposed rules. We feel insignificant and weak. (This kind of view is known in philosophy as Holism the idea that systems, in this case ecological and demographical systems, can only be explained as a whole and not a collection of parts. Moreover Holism states that society determines individuals and not the other way round) On the other hand we feel that it is not only our personal fault but also of the others who waste, abuse, exploit and prefer comfort to responsible and conscientious use of natural resources.(This will be explained better in the paragraph dedicated to the Tragedy of the commons) Garret Hardin 1968 Al Gore 2006 Chief Seattle,1854 Joseph A. Tainter, 2006 The Tragedy of the commons The tragedy of the commons was first described in an article by the ecologist Garrett Hardin published in 1968 in the Science journal. Hardin arrived to this dilemma starting his article from the concern of nuclear arms race between United states and the Soviet union during the years of cold war. His conclusion was that since our world is finite no technical solution is possible. What he means by technical solution is best defined by Hardin himself: A technical solution may be defined as one that requires a change only in the techniques of the natural sciences, demanding little or nothing in the way of change in human values or ideas of morality.5 Hardin only started from this concern to define a no technical solution problem , a category of dilemmas which cannot be solved in a technical way. The reason is that we live in a finite world and even technological innovations cannot solve the problem of exponentially growing population, that is why we have to assume a finite world. The tragedy of the commons is one type of this dilemmas as will be explained. Concretely the tragedy of the commons is the situation which emerges in social systems, which leads to over exploitation of common resources and therefore their destruction. As common resources affected by the problem we usually find things like non polluted water, air or environment in general; forests; but also clean streets, roads without traffic, fisheries resource, etcà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ At the base of these resources is the fact that they all belong to the public good (or perfect public good for certain authors) category as defined by economic theory: A public  good  (or  service) may be consumed without reducing the  amount  available for others, and cannot be withheld from those who do not  pay  for it. Public  goods   include (), national defense, parks, and other things for the use and  benefit  of all. No  market  exists for such goods().6 As defined above these goods have basically two characteristics : Non- rivalry in consumption and non-excludability of potential users. They are basically opposed to the private goods which have the opposite characteristics; for instance food is a typical private good: there is rivalry in consumption as if one person eats it, it cannot be eaten by someone else. Certainly they are also excludable a as is evidently clear. We can summarise the types of goods in the following table: 7 We wont focus on Common goods and Low congestion goods (also known as club goods) since they are more technical and not of the concern of this paper. Hardin 1968   businessdictionary.com livingeconomics.org As stated in the introduction of this text, environment it a typical public good and people have an ambiguous feeling concerning protection of the environment as conscious behaviour. Regarding this last point we can observe a certain psychological process occurring in an agentsA mind and logic. Agents is the economic definition of individual. They are purposeful agents who interact in space and time and whose micro-level interactions create emergent patterns. (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) 8 The agent has two distinct feelings. The first one is a sense of injustice which can be summarized in the sentence Why should I care while anyone does not, and moreover enjoys the benefits of taking advantage of nature. The second reasoning going on in an agents mind is more rational. Furthermore if the person thinks of his utilityB he will end up noticing that if he chooses to protect the environment and act consciously he will not get the benefit (utility) of his actions (for instance a less polluted air) because anyway other agents will abuse the environment increasing their own utility. B. In  economics, the level satisfaction the person derives from a good or service. Utility is inherently subjective and thus difficult to measure(). Historically, it has been thought that one can  quantify  the utility of each unit, but some  economists  disagree with this. 9 Hardin makes the example of a pasture in the land to which everybody has access to. Given a group of many herdsmen anyone willing to increase his own utility and therefore revenues, it appears clear that one is better off having many animals than a few. If we imagine a rational herdsman taking decision whether to add an additional animal to his herd, he has two effects from the decision, one is a positive and the other a negative in regard to his utility. The positive is the fact that he will have all the proceeds from an additional animal. We can therefore imagine an incensement of utility equal to +1. The negative one is that the pasture is exploited more and more and will yield less. But since the herdsman is not the only owner but there are many, this negative effect will be shared with the others, it is therefore only a fraction of -1. 10 Since they are rational it is reasonable to add an additional animal but as all do so, the pasture gets ruined. Indeed this is due to the fact that the revenue is individualistic, the loss on the other hand is shared by all. Additionally each one is only applying his individual rationality which is different from collective one. Each man is locked into a system that compels him to increase his herd without limit-in a world that is limited. Ruin is the destination toward which all men rush10 At this point one could argue that after some years the herdsmen understand that abusing the pasture by over exploiting it leads to a worse outcome for all since it gets infertile and no one can profit from it anymore. But even if they do understand the mechanism of the dilemma it is very difficult to enforce means of controlling the others: pastures are huge and there are many animals, so how to distinguish one from another? If it would be conceivable to create such a control in the herdsmen case it would be even worse and unthinkable for cases like pollution. How to control every person who is dirtying the streets? Agreement to prevent polluting action is almost impossible, violators are difficult to catch because the agents are many and the damage produced by each action is relatively small and hidden. What is even worse is that violations are hard to identify not only because the group is big, but also fluid (lots of agents are in the place for a very short period of time) New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics, 2008 Farlex Financial Dictionary. 2012 Farlex, Inc. Hardin 1968 Conclusions As we have seen the tragedy of the common is the biggest deal preventing us to deal with a global ecological crisis. We know that the problem of each person will be asking what would change if they act in a conscious way, but the conclusion will only be that the environment gets ruined anyway and the individual will be worse off than when acting selfish. This is not only true for single people but also for entire nations. The latter concept is also known in international law as Transboundary damage: Transboundary damage can arise from a wide range of activities which are carried out in one country but in ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡ict adverse effects in the territory of another. Traditionally, however, transboundary damage as a term of art normally refers to border-crossing damage via land, water, or air in dyadic State relations11, 12, 13 It is the idea that industrial or economic activity conducted by one country for its own sake creates damage for others. The technical definition is That large-scale industrial, agricultural, and technical activities conducted in the territory of one country can cause detrimental effects in the territory of another country or to areas of the global commons.11,12,13 The problem is still that: Everyone is waiting for everyone else to act first, the result being that no one acts at all.14, 15 Economic theory deals with this kind of problem as a market failure. As we said in the previous paragraph, public goods lead to market failures because a certain part of the cost of the action is not paid by the agent. For instance the cost of a polluted environment is not paid by the polluting industries. These agents are known in economic theory as free riders: Party  that enjoys a  benefit  accruing from a collective effort, but  contributes  little or nothing to the effort.16 General solution to the problem is to tax the agent who is creating the social cost so that he has to pay the price for the damage he is creating. This kind of taxation is known as Pigouvian tax, from the name of his inventor: Arthur Cecil Pigou What is different in our case is that we deal with a global ecological crisis so there is no global financial institution which could enforce taxation on national states. A particular solution which is interesting in our case is the one of emission trading. This refers to a system of tradable permit which can be bought on a market. Each permit gives the right to pollute a certain quantity, the outcome of the trading is unexpected: An industry whichs cost of reducing pollution is high might buy the permits, on the other hand an industry with low reduction cost for emission might reduce its emissions and sells its permits to others. The more efficient in reducing emissions are rewarded. This system is not only a theoretical one but was actually applied for the Kyoto protocol of 1997 about CO2 emissions. Still as stated above and previous to our times by Garret Hardin these are mostly technical solutions and will only delay the moment in which resources will not suffice especially with a growing population. Therefore a different approach is necessary, a shift in the way we act but fundamentally in what we believe to be the goal of our lives and therefore societies. Certainly one answer to the problem would be the one of the Ecologist view of the world. Green parties have been asking for reduction of emission and preservation of environment since the late sixties. The basic foundation of their claims is that human society as a whole should reduce its consumption and live a life which is sustainable. () the more fundamental response is to try to reduce or avoid those human activities that are seen as endangering sustainable development.17 We should demand ourselves if we really need all the material good provided by society and if this really makes us happier. Market economy states that the price is the value a consumer gives to a certain good. If he is willing to pay one hundred dollars for a good or service this means he values it exactly one hundred dollars of utility. But the question is does our happiness really depend on this? Because in the end, at the deepest layer it is just about it Happiness. It has been questioned if the relation with nature is only one sided or if it might be that our life depends from what nature gives to us : Weve heard copious accounts of our impact-as humans, as a society-on the natural world. But this is not a one-sided relationship. Lost in these dire and scolding accounts has been the impact on us and our well-being.18 This is Lambins view in his book ecology of happiness. Further he arrives to the conclusion that You sense it while walking on a sandy beach, or in a wild, woody forest, or when you catch sight of wildlife, or even while gardening in your backyard. Could it be that the natural environment is an essential part of our happiness?18 The answer is a positive one, we were born as natural beings but the development of modern society pushed us extremely far away from our original situation. We should really think if the direction our society is going will bring to a better life for all? Hanqin, Xue 2003 Crawford, James 2003 Bell, John 2003 G. Smith 2002 J. Connelly 2002 The Business dictionary Szarka, Joseph Eric Lambin 2012