Ethics - McGraw-Hill Introduction to Business

The FCC’s Big Net Neutrality Decision

March 1, 2015

Over the last few years, net neutrality has appeared as a subject of debate everywhere from Internet forums to the highest levels of government. As of February 26, 2015 however, the Federal Communications Commission may have ended the discussion once and for all. On that day, the FCC voted to classify Internet providers as public utilities, thus preventing them from extending better service to websites who pay more money. The decision was a victory for the Internet’s many net neutrality Continue reading →

Ethics, FCC, Innovation, Net Neutrality, Product Distribution, Regulation

Bonus Chapter A: Business Law, Bonus Chapter B: Technology and New Media, Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility

The Growing Importance of Hacker Insurance

February 26, 2015

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The recent hacks of Sony and Home Depot show just how much damage data breaches can do to big businesses. But a company doesn’t have to be multinational in order to attract the eyes of hackers. In fact, experts estimate that 44 percent of small businesses have been the victims of cyber attacks. According to the National Small Business Administration, each breach costs companies an average of $8,700 in damages.

“Cybercrime is in the news all the time, but there’s Continue reading →

Crime, Ethics, Innovation, Insurance, Mobile, Security, Small Business

Bonus Chapter B: Technology and New Media, Bonus Chapter C: Managing Risk, Chapter 15: Distribution, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 6: Entrepreneurship

China Cracks Down on Knockoffs

February 7, 2015

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As the world’s manufacturing superpower, China is home to thousands of factories producing millions of items each day. Keeping track of all that industrial output is far from easy, though. With little oversight to monitor them, some Chinese factories make knock-off or simply poor quality products, and then sell them to retailers as if they were up to standard.

While pirated items are mainly a headache for the company that gets ripped off, products made cheaply or without regard for Continue reading →

China, Ethics, Global, Knockoff products, Manufacturing, Product Development, Product Distribution, Regulation

Bonus Chapter A: Business Law, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution, Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management

A Texas Plumber’s Terrible Truck Luck

January 23, 2015

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Jeff Oberholtzer, a plumber from Texas City, TX, thought he had seen the last of his old pickup truck when he sold it in October 2013. Unfortunately for him, the Ford F-250 he offloaded popped up more than a year later in a place he never would have expected. In mid-December 2014, a terrorist Twitter account from Syria posted a picture of two extremists firing a homemade anti-aircraft gun from the bed of a truck. While the picture normally would Continue reading →

Branding, Ethics, Global, Marketing, Middle East, Product Distribution

Bonus Chapter B: Technology and New Media, Chapter 16: Place and Promotion, Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility

California’s Far-Reaching Chicken Legislation

January 19, 2015

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At the beginning of 2015 a new California law went into effect requiring chicken farmers to provide more living space for their hens. As of January 1, every egg sold in the state must have been laid by a bird with at least 116 square inches of room in its coop, an increase of 73 percent from the industry standard. Although the legislation is mandatory only for egg producers in California, chicken farmers across the country are quickly adapting to Continue reading →

California, Chicken, Ethics, Food, Product Distribution, Regulation

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 20: Money and Financial Institutions, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility

Medical Histories Turned into Marketing Data

December 16, 2014

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Americans have a tendency to over share information through social media, which can lead to some off-putting online revelations. However, there’s one group of people out there who doesn’t mind reading a detailed status update about your cold symptoms: advertisers. In today’s increasingly personalized marketing landscape, companies are desperate for data about their customers. Along with standard stats like age and income, consumers’ medical histories have now become tools for target marketing.

While data miners can’t legally access confidential medical Continue reading →

Data Mining, Ethics, Health, Marketing

Bonus Chapter B: Technology and New Media, Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility

Home Depot’s Massive Security Slip Up

December 2, 2014

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With companies both large and small becoming increasingly dependent on technology, it’s important for these firms to make sure that their information is secure. But businesses need to do more than simply install anti-hacking software and hope their defenses hold. For instance, earlier this year Home Depot faced two small security breaches before getting hit with a company-wide hack that made national news. Following the minor incidents, security contractors urged executives to implement a few unused features in the anti-hacking Continue reading →

Ethics, Home Depot, Innovation, Management, Security

Bonus Chapter B: Technology and New Media, Chapter 10: Motivation, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management, Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility

[VIDEO] How Does Wall Street Influence the Economy?

December 1, 2014

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Another entry in the We the Economy series, this video delves deep into Wall Street and its role as a financial hub both in the past and the present.

Questions:

What influence does Wall Street have on the U.S. economy?

What major problem does Wall Street suffer from since the financial crisis?

From We the Economy

Economics, Ethics, Finance, Regulation

Videos

[VIDEO] Supply Chain Reaction

November 15, 2014

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This video reveals some of the unpleasant origins behind the world’s most common products and highlights the importance of understanding supply chains.

Questions:

Have big companies improved work standards in their supply chains?

Should consumers be involved in making sure supply chains are managed humanely?

From We the Economy

Distribution, Ethics, Global, Product Development, Supply chains

Videos

Capturing Value: Innovation’s Vital Second Step

November 13, 2014

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When it comes to innovation in business, creating a viable and valuable product is just the first step. After all, the arrival of the portable MP3 player made many companies stand up and take notice of this revolutionary device. One of those firms was Apple, who soon came to dominate the market with the iPod. Although the signature MP3 player was released later than its competitors, the product’s dependability and stylish design quickly allowed it to capture the bulk Continue reading →

Corporate Social Responsibility, Ethics, Innovation, Lifestraw, Product Development, Value

Bonus Chapter B: Technology and New Media, Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution, Chapter 16: Place and Promotion, Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 4: Ethics and Social Responsibility