LEADERSHIP

http://www.hirelabs.com/blog/tag/leadership/

“The ear of the leader must ring with the voices of the people.” Woodrow Wilson

Leadership is a process where the leader influences the followers in order to accomplish a common task. Alan Keith of Genentech states that, "Leadership is ultimately about creating a way for people to contribute to making something extraordinary happen."

CROSS-CULTURAL LEADERS

When working with different cultures there are many things to do as a leader to motivate and involve people into a goal. One of the most important things is to identify that you are dealing with groups of people from diverse cultures that has many differences in nature. Leaders must understand the essence of each culture quickly, that´s because the culture influence a lot in the performance of employees and to shape the culture they should know how to start and what are the key actions or behave to gradually shape.

Another fact that influences in the cross-cultural leadership is the communication, cultures differ in the way their communicate for example Germans and Americans are willing to say things directly taking into account what they are saying but not the way they say it. That person used to confront people and always tries not to leave anything to the interpretation. But in the other hand, there are the British, Indian and Arab who prefer the indirect communication and avoid confrontation. Not analyzing this situation would create problems not only in developing the task but also in the emotion and motivation of people.

References

Jonsen, B. B. (october de 2008). Recuperado el 06 de 03 de 2011, de IMD: http://www.imd.org/research/challenges/TC082-08.cfm

kwintessensial ltda. (s.f.). Recuperado el 06 de 03 de 2011, de kwintessensial: http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/cultural-services/articles/leadership-across-cultures.html

ETHICAL BEHAVIOUR AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

http://www.stthomas.edu/bmag/2008/Fall/MeasureEthics.html

    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 is refer to the most common way of corruption that exists in both developing and developed countries, “all capitalism is crony capitalism” means that in India the entrepreneurs that has the best relationships with the government, are those who more benefits gets from it. The benefits range from economics to “do or not to do and say or not to say”. I think that the statement is totally true because nowadays the economic and financial sector have much power over governments because of the consequences that they decisions could cause (ex: speculative capital).

To not to go so far we have a recent and local example, is about what happened in Bogota with the Nule group. Because of their relationship with Samuel and Ivan Moreno and their economic power; in the past 5 years they signed a large number of million-dollar contracts. Now it is bringing the legal consequences but it could easily stay unpunished.

2.   What is a banana republic? Why the author is comparing India with a banana republic?

A banana republic is a country where the crony capitalism is the daily bread and positions and jobs are given not because of the profile of the candidate but favoritism or favors debt. Sainath compares India with a banana republic because this is has been a practice carried out by more than 20 years, creating an unbalance power that would became harmful for the Indian economy.

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

When a media becomes a corporation the problem appears when the information they are transmitting is manipulated and most of the cases is not truth. But why it is important if they are lying? Simple question, that’s because of the influence that media has over the receptor; Ads can tell us since what to buy to what to do with your life.

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

The corporation, controlling the media and acting just to be more profitable.

The journalist, manipulating the information

The state, benefiting their cronies

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.  

·         Journalist should be responsible for what they are made for: informing people with the truth.

·         The state would act as a real manager by obligating corporations to act in benefit of the people none of themselves.

·         Create regulations that punish the  unfair competition and disclosure of untrue information

·         Corporation must stop thinking about their earnings and be aware of the people and somehow generate development.

·         Corporation could create campaigns not only to reach the market but also to make people aware of the importance of being objective when addressing the information.

References:

The Hindu (2010) The Republic on a banana peel. P. Sainath. Opinion. December 3, 2010. Retrieved from: http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/article927895.ece?homepage=true

THE CORPORATION

http://www.nodo50.org/tortuga/Documental-The-Corporation

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

As we all know and saw in the documentary there are many damages that a multinational company could cause to the consumers, environment, wildlife and flora but must of the people in the head of the CEO´s does not care a lot about the consequences of the decisions they made but changing this situation is not an easy task. First of all, it is important for people inside the powerful companies, to think not only with the dollar sign on their head but also with the thought that there are many people outside that will be beneficiated or injured by the decisions they choose. Also, I think that governments should take firmer position in front of the companies and/or products that they are entering to the country.

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

The answer is yes, directors and shareholder, mainly, must take the responsibility of their actions, that’s because they are directly who makes the decisions that are affecting the externals (consumers, environment, etc…). the degree should be proportional to the consequences but not just with money but also with additional things that from then on, leads them to do things right.

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

When a MNC is entering a new country, provides jobs that could increase the incomes for the nationals, also offers to the consumer different products or brands in the moment of buying. Also MNC trains people to performance their job in a proper way so they are transmitting knowledge and education. Finally but not least important, the multinational corporation is legal person that is empowered to make things almost at the same level of a natural person that´s one of the reasons this form is preferable to the others.

4.      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?

AVON, is an American multinational company that was founded in 1886, with a rapidly growth since 1999. Actually they operate in over 160 countries with earnings above $9.9 billion dollars. AVON has a policy of applying to their branches around the world the national laws (local law) and in Colombia is not different.

5.      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.

      The most important factor for publics’ services is the quality of the service and trying that everyone in the society can access those services that could be classified as basic needs. Also is essential the economic efficiency to reduce costs, to guarantee the proper management of the resources and to provide the service. But bypassing above the common good and that´s what should be controlled and regulated.

Another criteria to determine who should those companies operates is mainly related to the satisfaction of the consumer and the distribution of the intangible good.