ethics

Another Credit Crunch

Collin Lawson — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:05:46 -0500

Retailers who had been bracing for weak sales this holiday season were pleasantly surprised on Black Friday, as retail sales rose 3 percent to $10.6 billion nationally according to MarketWatch.

In the midst of the current recession and credit crunch, financial markets and lending institutions are pinching their pennies, but retailers have been slashing prices and offering strong incentives to lure consumers into their stores. So far it’s been working, but one has to wonder where the money is coming from.

Carey Business School Leadership Ethics Discussion Group

Big 3 Bailout?

Collin Lawson — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 13:39:32 -0500

This Saturday as world leaders from the G20 meet in Washington, the topic du jour is stabilizing the world economy.

Leaders from the United States, France, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, and Turkey have come to DC with their own ideas and agendas for fixing the current crisis that we're in.

Carey Business School Leadership Ethics Discussion Group

The Island of Misfit Toys

Collin Lawson — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:18:54 -0500

Carey Business School Leadership Ethics Discussion Group

CUSTOMER SERVICE: DIFFERENTIATOR OR NUISSANCE?

Arnold Beekes — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 05:42:57 -0500

Last week my car had to have maintenance. I went to a general service provider, so not a brand dealer. They are located close to where I live, the pricing is excellent and the quality is very good.But the best reason to be their customer is the service they provide.

INNOVATION: WHERE TO START?

Arnold Beekes — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 04:52:56 -0400

The current state of the economy is ideal for making a fresh start. There is so much changing inside and outside of the organization that you need to formulate an adequate response. It was SusanJeffers who said: “if you do what you did, you get what you got”. This is true ate the personal level as well as at the organizational level.

Will Obama be the Ethics President?

Shel Horowitz — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:39:10 -0400

One of the really astounding things about this election is that no matter how hard they dug, neither the Clinton campaign nor the McCain campaign could come up with any meaningful "dirt" on Obama.

Social Responsibility

RETAIL AND SERVICE

Arnold Beekes — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 07:56:29 -0400

Last week I had two quite distinct experiences with the customer service offered in retail stores.

SAVING COSTS OR INCREASING ROI

Arnold Beekes — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 04:59:52 -0400

The financial crisis is taking all the headlines. Not only in the news, but also ‘the men in the street’ is talking about it. This is quite understandable; given the impact it has on every individual. Whether you lost your job, lost your money or are worried about the safety of your savings.

BOTTOM UP CHANGE

Arnold Beekes — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 09:36:33 -0400

All the news media are having a very busy time. The election for the next world leader, the credit crunch and at a distance the climate crunch. There is so much happening and it is very unclear what the outcome will be.This creates uncertainty with in companies, customers and the general public. Will I keep my job? What is happening to my savings? Will my bank survive? For how long will this last? Is it wise to invest now?Banks, which exist today, might be gone tomorrow or be tuned into ownership by the government.It is impossible for leaders to have all the answers.

OUTGREENING THE STATUS QUO

Arnold Beekes — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 06:18:07 -0400

I just finished reading the new book from Thomas Friedman, Hot, Flat and Crowded. It is a real eye opener and not for those with a weak heart. After the credit crunch, he says we are very close to the climate crunch.

He makes it clear that the green revolution we need will be the biggest innovation project in history. It will change everything, from what you put into your car to what you see on your electric bill.

Wall Street Wreckage

Allan Holender — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 18:12:31 -0400

Zentrepreneurism

Allan Holender — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 18:04:58 -0400

"The fusion of one's personal vision with one's professional mission, grounded in activism and a holistic philosophy will hallmark the next hundred years." While an entreprneur creates a business- a zentrepreneur creates a business and a life!

THE KEY IS TRUST

Arnold Beekes — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 04:35:17 -0400

WHO CARES ABOUT THE CUSTOMER?

Arnold Beekes — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 04:53:44 -0400

Last week my friend from New York arrived in Amsterdam. The checking out lasted longer than other flights who arrived earlier. So I called her and asked what the problem was. It appeared that 2 containers of luggage were missing. Not just a couple of suitcases, but 2 whole containers! How is that possible? How can those be missed?

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?

Arnold Beekes — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 03:41:04 -0400

I did ask that question to several specialized groups in innovation. The common denominator in the answers is that innovation is the responsibility of a team. No single person should hold that responsibility. But this is the phase when there is already an idea or an issue to be solved. People agree that all the relevant functions need to be involved.Okay, but what happens if the idea is implemented. What happens then to the team? Will it be dissolved or …?

LEVERAGE THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

Arnold Beekes — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 03:43:05 -0400

There is a lot been written about the importance of the experience economy. That what really counts is the customers’experience.

When we are talking about the customer, who is really the customer in a service environment?

BEST PRACTICE OR BEST BEHAVIOUR?

Arnold Beekes — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 04:51:11 -0400

In what major aspect is service innovation different from product innovation? The idea-phase is practically the same for both. Without people proposing new ideas, not much is going to happen. This is also the phase in which some tools are used to structure the process and to increase the creativity.

WORKING IS UNHEALTHY

Arnold Beekes — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 05:28:36 -0400

Recent research by Kelly Services in 33 countries indicates that 29 percent of the employees perceive their work as unhealthy. One in eight (13 percent) employees report being sick, while they actually are not. Employees report problems with sleeping and stress due to the lack of recognition at work.

Carey Business School Leadership Ethics Discussion Group

Edward Simpson — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:01:18 -0400

MBA Leadership Ethics Proseminar

The Leadership Ethics Proseminar is an introduction to the moral leadership challenges of business in a complex global society of competing values and claims. As an introductory course it is does not go into great depth or breadth, but it does provide a starting point for ongoing inquiry throughout your academic and professional career. More importantly, the Proseminar fosters skills in collaborative peer dialogue, discernment, and discovery enabling students to build ethical communities of practice.

Service Innovation

Arnold Beekes — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 05:38:22 -0400

There is a need for a broad perspective on service innovation. Service innovation will not be successful nor sustainable when you work on it in isolation. This is the case when only a small group of people is involved and when there is a focus on innovation only.

Fast Talk: Clean, Healthy Food

Fast Company staff — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 20:01:10 -0400

How seven execs are making the food supply cleaner, greener, and healthier.

“We are effectively a hydration company, so it’s a business risk for us if water is not readily available. Right now, 84% of the water we use to produce our products is fully treated and returned the environment, safe for aquatic life. Our goal is to get to 100% by 2010.”

The Leadership Diamond Discussion

Jim Elliott — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 13:30:43 -0400

Noted philosopher, author, and lecturer, Dr. Peter Koestenbaum, has devoted his life to helping business and government leaders understand how to use the lessons learned from the great philosophers of the ages to guide and shape decisions and actions in today's complex world. This Blog is a place where all people interested in leadership, and /or Dr. Koestenbaum's teachings can come together to converse, learn, and grow in their understanding of concepts of leadership.

Bio and Interests: Kate Andrews

Kate Andrews — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:37:25 -0400

Kate Andrews is a communication designer, writer and researcher. Her areas of expertise and curiosity include creative intelligence, visual communication, social innovation, social change, design ethics, education, philosophy, journalism and critical review.

Why Steve Jobs is Apple's Most Important Product

Brendan Collins — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:15:56 -0400

Apple sent the business world buzzing late last week by announcing that CEO and tech icon Steve Jobs had recently gone under the knife, apparently to treat whatever was causing his drastic weight loss. His gaunt appearance at an investors’ conference last month sent waves of hushed rumors throughout the tech world, with Apple-philes concerned about Jobs’ health. What was behind the weight loss? Another bout with cancer? A “common bug,” as an Apple rep so calmingly put it?

Leadership Lessons from... WALL•E

Michael Waddell — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:09:33 -0400