...Integrity Yiyang Zheng BUSA 552 Dr. Kerlin May 7th, 2015 INTRODUCTION This paper will review the ethical business practices of Duke Energy in the light of the recent Coal-Ash spill. It will review ethical principles, business considerations, stakeholder impact, and the company’s internal policies related to preventing environmental damage. The thesis of this research essay is that Duke Energy did not only suffer financial loss due to being made to pay a fine for environmental damage, but also the company’s actions negatively affected its reputation and share price. Therefore, companies should carry out ethical practices and risk assessments to best serve the needs of all stakeholders. BACKGROUND INFORMATION In February, 2014, Duke Energy released a high amount of coal ash into the Dan River, Rockingham County, N.C., which violates the Clean Water Act (CWA) (1972). The CWA is a waste-water and pollution reduction programs, setting guidelines and regulatory standards for different industries (EPA). Specifically, The CWA of 1972, amended in 2002, states that “it is the national policy that the discharge of toxic pollutants in toxic amounts be prohibited” (Clean Water Act, SEC. 101.3). Duke Energy was found guilty on nine misdemeanor violations (Smith) and was ordered to pay compensation. As a result, Duke Energy’s leadership agreed to pay $102.2 million for the damages caused, and the CEO confirmed that the company took responsibility for its actions...
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...Industries Group INC and Duke Energy Corporation. A CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) report is essentially a business model formed to aid an organization's mission, as well as a guide to what the company represents for its consumers. The attributes that I believe are most important when evaluating the effectiveness in a CSR report are: a mission statement, organization, and visual aids. I believe a mission statement is an important attribute, because it states the company’s long-term purpose. In addition, organization is an important attribute, because it creates consistency and clarity within the report, so that it is easy to follow. Visual aids are an important attribute, because it graphically...
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...Going Green with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Course Description: This course defines green buildings, explains the mission of the US Green Building Council and the requirements of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. Schneider Electric solutions for meeting the LEED requirements will also be explained. Course Outline: Learning Objectives At the completion of this course, you will be able to: • Define the characteristics of Green Buildings • Explain the mission of the US Green Building Council • Identify the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system • Describe Schneider Electric products and services which satisfy LEED requirements Agenda • Introduction • Impacts of US Buildings on the Environment • Advantages of building green • Review the Mission of the US Green Building Council • Discuss the LEED rating system • Discuss Schneider Electric products and services that satisfy LEED requirements • Introduce Case Studies • Summary Course Content or Material 1) Introduction a) Green Building b) Design of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) c) Who makes up the LEED team d) LEED reach e) Point of the LEED point based system f) Why is there a demand 2) Impacts of US Buildings on the Environment a) Impacts of US buildings on resources b) US Energy Consumption c) US Electricity Consumption 3) Advantages of Building Green a) Demand for Green Building ...
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...Running head: PRACTICE OF HUMAN SERVICES ACROSS DIFFERENT CULTURES AND POPULATIONS Practice of Human Services across Different Cultures and Populations Walden University Practice of Human Services across Different Cultures and Populations In today’s society, demographics and cultural factors has caused organizations to facilitate change. The changing of new organizational patterns are definitely needed due to the increase in the American cultural patterns, (Carter, 2000). “Typically organizational literature dealt with how diversity, rather than cultural patterns, may influence corporate culture. Although organization scholars have paid attention to issues concerning diversity, less attention has been paid to examining the influence of dominant American patterns upon organization,” (Carter, 2000). Upon my completion at Walden University, I hope to become a Child and Family Counselor. As human service professionals, it is important that you are competent and aware of your client’s culture. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, “Child welfare workers can improve their practice with children, youth, and families by increasing their knowledge and appreciation of different cultures,” (US Dept. of Health and Human Services, 2013). An organizations knowledge on an individual’s culture and climate can help to influence social structure. As defined, “organizational culture refers to the shared norms, beliefs, and behavioral expectations that drive behavior and...
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...This article is published in a peer-reviewed section of the Utrecht Law Review Four Case Studies on Corporate Social Responsibility: Do Conflicts Affect a Company’s Corporate Social Responsibility Policy? Cristina A. Cedillo Torres, Mercedes Garcia-French, Rosemarie Hordijk, Kim Nguyen, Lana Olup* 1. Introduction 1.1. Background and objectives This article will discuss the different Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) issues that emerged within four multinationals (Apple, Canon, Coca-Cola and Walmart). There is no clear definition of CSR. In Corporate Social Responsibility, Legal and semi-legal frameworks supporting CSR Lambooy gives an r o verview of several definitions of CSR.1 The European Commission defines CSR as ‘the esponsibility of enterprises for their impacts on society’.2 This is the definition which is the most suitable for the c ontext of the article’s research question. As this article will focus on companies from the US and Japan, the authors also provide an overview of the focus on CSR from the US and Japanese perspective. In the US there is no governmental regulation regarding CSR or business best practices. Instead, according to findings from Bennett American, companies have a marked tendency to use codes of conduct.3 The American CSR perspective could be described as following a principles-based approach, with codes of conduct that prescribe values and principles which company members as a whole should aspire to follow. ...
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...This article is published in a peer-reviewed section of the Utrecht Law Review Four Case Studies on Corporate Social Responsibility: Do Conflicts Affect a Company’s Corporate Social Responsibility Policy? Cristina A. Cedillo Torres, Mercedes Garcia-French, Rosemarie Hordijk, Kim Nguyen, Lana Olup* 1. Introduction 1.1. Background and objectives This article will discuss the different Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) issues that emerged within four multinationals (Apple, Canon, Coca-Cola and Walmart). There is no clear definition of CSR. In Corporate Social Responsibility, Legal and semi-legal frameworks supporting CSR Lambooy gives an r o verview of several definitions of CSR.1 The European Commission defines CSR as ‘the esponsibility of enterprises for their impacts on society’.2 This is the definition which is the most suitable for the c ontext of the article’s research question. As this article will focus on companies from the US and Japan, the authors also provide an overview of the focus on CSR from the US and Japanese perspective. In the US there is no governmental regulation regarding CSR or business best practices. Instead, according to findings from Bennett American, companies have a marked tendency to use codes of conduct.3 The American CSR perspective could be described as following a principles-based approach, with codes of conduct that prescribe values and principles which company members as a whole should aspire to follow. ...
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...What's the Buzz on Smart Grids? CASE STUDY h e existing elec trici ty infrastructure in the Un ited States is outda te d and in efficient. Energy com pa nies provide power to con su mers, but the grid pro vides no infor m ation abo ut ho w th e con sumers are usin g th at energy, makin g it difficult to develop m ore efficie nt approache s to distribution . Also, the current elec tric ity grid offers few ways to h andle power provided by alte rnative energy sources, wh ich are critical com po nents of mo st efforts to go "gre en ." Enter th e smart grid. A smart grid deliv ers electric ity fro m supplie rs to cons umers using digital technology to save ene rgy, reduce costs, and increase reliability and trans parency. The smart grid enables in formation to flow ba ck and forth b etwe en electric power providers and individual households to allow both cons umers an d energy com pa nies to make more intelligent decision s regarding ene rgy cons um ption an d production. Information from smart grids would show utilities when to raise prices when demand is high and lower th em when demand lessens. Smart grids would also h elp cons u mers program h igh-use electrica l applia nces lik e h eating and air condition ing systems to reduce cons um ption du ring times of peak u sage. If implemented nati onwide, proponents beli eve, sm art grids would lead to a 5 to 15 percent decrease in energy cons um ption . Electricity grids are sized to m eet th e m aximum electricity n eed...
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...M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 0 2 Volume 20 Number 2 SPANNING THE GLOBE Duke Leads the Way in International Law Teaching and Scholarship inside plus Duke admits smaller, exceptionally well-qualified class Duke’s Global Capital Markets Center to launch new Directors’ Education Institute from the dean Dear Alumni and Friends, It is not possible, these days, for a top law school to be anything other than an international one. At Duke Law, we no longer think of “international” as a separate category. Virtually everything we do has some international dimension, whether it concerns international treaties and protocols, commercial transactions across national borders, international child custody disputes, criminal behavior that violates international human rights law, international sports competitions, global environmental regulation, international terrorism, or any number of other topics. And, of course, there is little that we do at Duke that does not involve scholars and students from other countries, who are entirely integrated with U.S. scholars and students. Students enrolled in our joint JD/LLM program in international and comparative law receive an in-depth education in both the public and private aspects of international and comparative law, enriched by the ubiquitous presence of foreign students; likewise, the foreign lawyers who enroll in our one-year LLM program in American law enroll in the same courses, attend the same conferences...
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...M A G A Z I N E FA L L 2 0 0 2 Volume 20 Number 2 SPANNING THE GLOBE Duke Leads the Way in International Law Teaching and Scholarship inside plus Duke admits smaller, exceptionally well-qualified class Duke’s Global Capital Markets Center to launch new Directors’ Education Institute from the dean Dear Alumni and Friends, It is not possible, these days, for a top law school to be anything other than an international one. At Duke Law, we no longer think of “international” as a separate category. Virtually everything we do has some international dimension, whether it concerns international treaties and protocols, commercial transactions across national borders, international child custody disputes, criminal behavior that violates international human rights law, international sports competitions, global environmental regulation, international terrorism, or any number of other topics. And, of course, there is little that we do at Duke that does not involve scholars and students from other countries, who are entirely integrated with U.S. scholars and students. Students enrolled in our joint JD/LLM program in international and comparative law receive an in-depth education in both the public and private aspects of international and comparative law, enriched by the ubiquitous presence of foreign students; likewise, the foreign lawyers who enroll in our one-year LLM program in American law enroll in the same courses, attend the same conferences...
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...Wal-Mart Case Study Introduction Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is the largest retailer in the world and also the world’s largest private employee. One can walk into almost any Wal-Mart Supercenter and get a haircut, buy groceries, cash a check, get an exam with prescription glasses or contact lenses, fill medical prescriptions, or even have your car’s oil changed and tires rotated. Wal-Mart is able to provide all these services to consumers around the globe while offering more choices or varieties, while almost always offering better prices than there competitors. Since Wal-Mart is the world’s largest private employees, they are probably the most scrutinized company in the world. This is probably because of the high amount of part-time employees, or the public’s negative perception that they “squeeze their suppliers”, or because they are “killers of mom and pop stores”. This paper will attempt to discuss threats and challenges that Wal-Mart faces while also discussing the different strategies and initiatives that the Wal-Mart management team used to meet those challenges and neutralize threats. History Wal-Mart was founded by Sam Walton and the first Wal-Mart store opened in 1962 in Rogers, Arkansas. Less than ten years later, Wal-Mart had 38 stores operating with 1,500 employees and sales of $44.2 million. It began trading stock as a publicly held company on October 1, 1970, and was soon listed on the New York Stock Exchange (Wikipedia, 2012). Wal-Mart now has stores all over the...
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...Wal-Mart Case Study Elijah Anthony, Jr MNGT 5650 Feb. 11, 2012 Introduction Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is the largest retailer in the world and also the world’s largest private employee. One can walk into almost any Wal-Mart Supercenter and get a haircut, buy groceries, cash a check, get an exam with prescription glasses or contact lenses, fill medical prescriptions, or even have your car’s oil changed and tires rotated. Wal-Mart is able to provide all these services to consumers around the globe while offering more choices or varieties, while almost always offering better prices than there competitors. Since Wal-Mart is the world’s largest private employees, they are probably the most scrutinized company in the world. This is probably because of the high amount of part-time employees, or the public’s negative perception that they “squeeze their suppliers”, or because they are “killers of mom and pop stores”. This paper will attempt to discuss threats and challenges that Wal-Mart faces while also discussing the different strategies and initiatives that the Wal-Mart management team used to meet those challenges and neutralize threats. History Wal-Mart was founded by Sam Walton and the first Wal-Mart store opened in 1962 in Rogers, Arkansas. Less than ten years later, Wal-Mart had 38 stores operating with 1,500 employees and sales of $44.2 million. It began trading stock as a publicly held company on October 1, 1970, and was soon...
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...10 Chapter 2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE Introduction Presented in chapter 2 is a synthesis of research that supports the evaluation of the attendance policy and attendance program of Newport News Public Schools. Included in the chapter is a historical overview of attendance, the importance of attendance, overview of Newport News Public Schools, student theoretical absenteeism, framework, causes of or predictors of descriptions related attendance policies/ programs, and a review of perceptions and attitudes about attendance policies/programs as indicated by literature review. Historical Overview Early homesteading laws allowed the settlers free land on which to build schools. Schooling was perceived as the key to success for individuals and to the excellence of society (Mitchell, 1993). Free and compulsory education came to England and Wales following the Elementary Education Acts of 11 1870 and 1876, although not always on a full time basis. Education Act of 1918 finally abolished half time The schooling, and made elementary education entirely free and compulsory fourteenth until the end of the term in after most the parts child's of the birthday. Nevertheless, United States the problem of illegal absence dates from 1876 (Galloway, 1985). In the 1850s urban schools suffered from an extremely high turnover of students. Many students were needed at home to do many of the chores, especially if they lived on a farm. Other students worked outside of the home...
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...levels doesn’t help the numbers at all. On the contrary we are aggravating the situation. Currently, an imminent issue is narrowing in on companies like ours. Employees sit in front of their laptops throughout the day, eat burgers and fries at a fast food restaurant for lunch and dinner, go back home and sleep. An exercise-bereft lifestyle like this surely hurts their health, but does it hurt our company? The answer is yes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the total tab for U.S. spending on obesity-related medical care is estimated at $117 billion, a figure that has doubled over a decade. The cost of medical care for an obese person is approximately $620 more than that of the average person. A study conducted by Duke University showed that overweight workers were more susceptible than normal workers to having claims involving injuries. Companies that employ overweight workers are jeopardized with the possibility of incurring increased insurance costs. Health care cost, which was around 12% of the budget in 2004, has increased to more than 18% of the budget today (Jitendra, Courtney, Kathryn, Mithilesh, & Bharat, 2011). An overweight workforce will hinder our company’s operations; investing a small amount on a weight loss program that covers dietary habits as well as a daily fitness routine will yield returns in the form of cost reductions in the...
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...CASE STUDY #1 “What’s the Buzz on Smart Grids?” Reyes, Mhara Fhe P. Llano, Jeffrey D. Gabriel, Dianne Nicole G. Mendoza, Nevi D. Lipalam, John Bryan G. GROUP 3 SUMMARY: The United States is outdated and inefficient in terms of their electricity infrastructure. The grid provides no information about how the customers are using that energy, making it difficult to develop more efficient approaches to distribution. Smart grid enables information to flow back and forth between electric power providers and individual households to allow both consumers and energy companies to make more intelligent decisions regarding energy consumptions, and that’s why smart grid reduce costs, save energy and increase reliability. Information from smart grids would show utilities when to raise prices when demand is high or lower when demand lessens. If the Smart grid is implemented nationwide 5 to 15 percent in energy consumption will decrease. Smart grids is their ability to detect sources of power outages more quickly and precisely at the individual household level. In order to manage the smart grid it requires technology like network and switches for power management, sensors and monitoring devices to track the usage of energy and their distribution trends also systems linked to programmable appliances to run them when energy is least costly.SmartGridCity in Boulder, Colorado are attracting attention because of power flowing from a small number of power plants, the smart grid will...
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...Clicking Clean: How Companies are Creating the Green Internet April2014 greenpeace.org For more information contact: enquiries@greenpeace.org Lead Author: Gary Cook, Greenpeace Co-Authors: Tom Dowdall, Greenpeace David Pomerantz, Greenpeace Yifei Wang, Greenpeace Editor: David Pomerantz, Greenpeace Creative Direction & Design by: Arc Communications Published in April 2014 by Greenpeace Inc. 702 H Street, NW Suite 300 Washington, D.C. 20001 United States greenpeace.org 2 Contents Executive Summary 5 Company Scorecard 7 Cloud Source 9 Global Energy Snapshot 13 The Cloud’s Next Stop: China 17 The Road Map to a Green Internet 19 Your Online World: Green IRL, or #dirty? 25 Green Internet Leaders and Best Practices 29 Where the Cloud Touches the Ground -- Map: Global Data Center Hot Spots -- Map: US Data Center Hot Spots -- US Regional Profiles 35 36 38 40 Appendix 1: Methodology 42 Appendix 2: Company Scores Explained 44 Appendix 3: Company Data Center Facilities and Estimates of Power Demand 64 Notes 78 03 4 © Frank van Biemen / EvoSwitch / Greenpeace Greenpeace USA Clicking Clean: How Companies are Creating the Green Internet Executive Summary Executive Summary For the estimated 2.5 billion people around the world who are connected to the internet, it is impossible to imagine life without...
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