...To Drill or Not to Drill Kaiulani Kuehnel ETH/316 Ethics and Social Responsibility October 22, 2015 Imran Anwar To Drill or Not to Drill In 2004, the Bush administration expressed the need to expedite the set-up of drilling rigs on a crucial part of land to many wildlife species to drill for natural gas. This area of land is a corridor for wildlife migration of many species, a big trout population in the Colorado River, and home to the dwindling population of Sage Grouse. The government wants to drill on this land because of the natural gas that is lying hundreds of feet below the ground, enough oil to supply the nation for one year (Nightline, 2004). The implications of such a project has the potential to throw the ecosystem into a downward spiral. There are already thousands of drilling rigs, numbering 5,200 in an area crossing five states. The government wants to expand this number to about 10,000. What are the ethical issues of such a project? Encroaching industrial civilization poses a migratory issue for the wildlife. Roads will be built that the animals have to cross, fences made of barbed wire are springing up everywhere, drilling run-off is polluting the rivers, streams, and lakes that harbor a big trout population. The barbed wire fences alone causes much grief for the animals. The wildlife has to choose to jump over the or crawl under the fence. Either way can cause great bodily harm to the animal and in some cases death, if the animal gets snagged...
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...define performance in a project. They are used to track and manage progress toward achieving specific project goals. Performance measurements help determine how decision-making processes of a project led to its success or failure, understanding these can help organizations make future improvements. It is a project manager's responsibility to measure performance based on the triple constraints of time, budget, and quality of a project. There are many performance measurements a project manager can use based on the type of project at hand, this paper compares and contrasts the following measurements - * Earned Value * Customer Satisfaction * Requirements Performance Earned Value Earned Value measures work performed in terms of schedule and budget of a project. It helps identify schedule and budget mishaps in all areas of a project. "Earned Value is an approach where you monitor the project plan, actual work, and work-completed value to see if a project is on track. Earned Value shows how much of the budget and time should have been spent, with regard to the amount of work done so far" (Haughey, 2013). It measures current performance in a project, which helps project managers determine what the future performance will be. Using earned value, project managers can determine how much work is completed vs., how much was expected to be completed at a certain point in a project. Based on the earned value, project managers can make changes to the way the project is progressing in terms...
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...ETH/316 Week 3 Assignment: Organizational Issues ETH/316 16 December 2013 Instructor: Dr. Tim The short film that was viewed was The Entrepreneurial Spirit: Birds barbershop. A little back-story on the film, the co-founders of the company; Jason Rapaport and Michael Portman each started out in other businesses and thought they needed to make a change in their own lives because of the jobs they held. They both felt like they needed to take the business out of their newly formed business. They wanted to bring back the small town barbershop to their hometown of Austin, Texas. The issues in the film that are the most important are; keeping the small business small while trying to expand in the process. Both Jason and Michael wanted to keep the relaxed atmosphere in their business while trying to expand at the same time. The hardest problem was to become a corporation without becoming a corporation. They like the small town feel of the business and wanted to keep this feeling to make the creative employees feeling empowered to be creative and in touch with their clients. Jason and Michael have opened five (5) shops in five (5) years. They had reached the goal of running a business but not getting to big to become the suite and tie affair they had left behind. The roles of the external social pressures in this story are the small town mentality and the feeling of relaxation when receiving a hair cut in their business. They paly music that one employee wants...
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...The Responsibility Project Amanda Pardo ETH/316 May 14, 2014 Clarence Morris The Responsibility Project In 2008 Liberty Mutual created a program called the Responsibility Project. Liberty Mutual is an insurance company that provides insurance for homes, automobile, and life insurance. This program was created to help discuss and create awareness about responsibility, safety, and ethical matters in the community and on a global scale. Some of the current articles are making teen drivers safer, and cultural insensitivity. Liberty mutual feels that it is a part of every person’s responsibility to make society and the world better. The topics that are discussed by the project are important because the issues affect multiple people and by being discussed could change things in society for the better. One of the topics that is being discussed is the a poll that way taken by the Associated Press and the German Research Institute GFK. The poll showed the Americans are becoming more distrustful of each other. This distrust can cause corruption in companies. In today’s society, only one third of Americans believe that most people cannot be trusted. This affects companies and employees as well as customers. External pressures have a large affect on businesses. Business ethics include running a business that abides by the laws but it also includes being a good citizen and contributing to the community. Ethics also involves how a business treats its customers. External...
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...The Responsibility Project Daphne Kennedy ETH/316 May 22, 2012 Dr Steve Wyre The Responsibility Project The film called Avalon is an inspiring one. The link to the film is: http://responsibility-project.libertymutual.com/films/the-entrepreneurial-spirit-avalon#fbid=NsvA-zAC7Jw. Two women endeavored to start a new small business in the city of Detroit. The business is baking bread. They show how brave they are and that healing a city can happen. They demonstrate how to use ethical principles to address organizational issues. The issues in the film involve the city of Detroit. This city experienced a huge downfall with the crash of the economy. According to Huffington Post the Detroit News reports that Detroit has an enormous unemployment rate nearly 50% because of layoffs of the major auto manufacturers (Huffington Post, 2011). The women who started Avalon saw the need to heal the city and create jobs. The organizational ethics portrayed in this film are amazing. As stated in the film by one of the founders who have three bottom lines. “One is the responsibility to the earth, one the responsibility to the employees and the other is the responsibility to the community” (Liberty Mutual The Responsibility Project, 2012). The external pressure of the later is major. The social pressure influencing this business decision is the community needed them to start this business. Their decision to start a business was a big risk, especially starting a business they...
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...Coca-Cola Organization Jessica Costin June 23, 2014 Sidney Leite ETH/316 A Cultural Issue That Affects Coca-Cola’s Interactions Outside the United States Introduction Recently poor work conditions and children in the labor force are some of the common issues done by organizations at the local and international level for a very long time now. Coca-Cola has tried to rid its company of all the child labor that has been going on for a while now. The United States has tried to free its country of all the child labor, but as for the other third world countries it’s harder for it to be stopped. The reason why is due to the living conditions and all the poverty that still exists within them. Coca-Cola’s Cultural Issue “Even though, Coca-Cola’s human rights statement, workplace rights policy and supplier guiding principles prohibit the use of child labor. There is no child labor in Coca-Cola’s Company-owned operations, they are aware that child labor still persists on the farms that grow cane for their sugar suppliers, which is driven by poverty and local social norms” ("Coca-Cola Journey", (2014). Coca-Cola has been participating in funding a project called the Little Red Schoolhouse Project it has helped over 51,000 children in the Philippines. Coca-Cola chose to build the schools where the most child labor consisted of at the time. This project has greatly benefitted the Philippines. Ethical and Social Responsibility Issues The ethical issues within the Coca-Cola organization...
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...The Responsibility Project ETH/316 September 8, 2011 Michael Smith The responsibility project is focus on doing the right thing. This doesn’t matter on a person’s ethnicity; the goal of this project is geared towards making a difference in the lives of others. The film “Our World” from the website was based on R&B singer John Legend and how he has taken his success and his name to provide a better education for youth. Bringing a quality education to each child is very important. John Legend speaks on the importance of education as well as how each child should receive the equivalent amount of education. John Legend also includes, we as parents should not blame the system for not working. Taking time out and looking at our community needs will provide our kids with programs and resources that will ensure kids are receiving the proper education. John Legend was successful not by chance, but with meeting the right people as well as having an education. External social pressures are no more than peer pressure, but more suffered and caused by society to encourage and conform attitude changes in values and behavior for the good of society. Social pressure can change a brilliant and charming idea into a hopeless and dry one. However, the influences external social pressures have on organizational ethics can influence corporations to consider actions and behavior they may not otherwise take into account. For example, kids living in a low-income environment...
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...Week Three Organizational Issues ETH/316 - Ethics and Social Responsibility January 22, 2013 Responsibility Project Video Link: http://responsibility-project.libertymutual.com/films/rp-roundtable-college-sports * Organizational Issues The world of collegiate sports is as comprehensive a subject as can be discussed. The issues that come with the overall organization of collegiate sports and the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) are far greater than what should be deemed acceptable. In an Internet video, Responsibility Project (2011) states that the “model” of collegiate sports is broken, that there is a debate on whether college sports builds character or retracts from character, and that we have reached a cross-roads with today’s college athletes. The issues discussed in the video are of great importance because they deal with the education and upbringing of thousands of our nation’s youth and because the “organization” of college sports is a multi-billion dollar industry which is accompanied by many flaws. These matters include the fact that college athletes receiving full scholarships are demanded to allow so much time and effort towards their athletic programs that it comes at the expense of them receiving an education. Another issue discussed in the film, this actually from a former athlete himself, says “the athlete is so far removed from the academic experience of the institution…they don’t interact with the normal student body, they...
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...The Responsibility Project ETH/316 The Responsibility Project As a foodie and lover of bread I really got to this short five minute and 46-second video and thoroughly enjoyed it. The clip Avalon is definitely inspiring. The issues in the video clip involve the city of Detroit, but it is happening everywhere in towns and cities across the United States. The issues in this video are important because in order for the United States of America to bounce back we need people like these around that took the initiative to find a way to help out and improve their surroundings. Stuff like this is happening across the United States not just in Detroit. It gives people hope of ways to improve their lives. This was all started by the aspirations of two women embarked on an endeavored to start a new small business in the city of Detroit. Their business is baking breads for their community, but it has reached by word of mouth within the city limits not just their neighborhood. These ladies showed how daring they are and that healing a city can happen when mindsets are put ahead of personal gain. They demonstrated how to use ethical principles to address the organizational issues. The organizational ethics depicted in this short clip are astounding. The city of Detroit experienced a huge downfall that started decades before the crash of the economy in the late 2000s. When the auto companies started shuttering plants and moving jobs overseas for profit and cheaper labor fewer jobs meant...
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...The Responsibility Project The Responsibility Project 9/17/2012 ETH/316 The Responsibility Project The issues in this film are important because it shows how a typical shift may seem like everything goes wrong, and nothing could possibly make things worse. There are days when the typical worker wishes they did not get out of bed. Occurrences happen and people want to run off the job and give up, but people should not give up. Accidents happen, and when they do, people should evaluate what is happening at work. There are ways and options to fix broken lights, and equipment utilized on the job. At times it looks like there is no solution, but there are always options one may not view as available to them. The best option for an employee to choose is to not panic. The job looks dark at times, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel, or in this case, a light in the top of the lighthouse. The film teaches how equipment failures occur, but if people ban together and help each other the job will go smoothly and the organization of the company improves. The roles of external social pressures have a high amount of influence in organizational ethics. The news media, social networks, and word of mouth of customers affect the organizations publicity and reputation immensely. The employees of a company should always remember to help each other when they are able, and an extra hand makes light work. Social pressures influence organizations and companies to maintain...
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...Organizational Ethics Alejandra Ontiveros ETH/316 July 21,2014 Claudio Morales As a foodie and lover of bread I really got to this short five minute and 46-second video and thoroughly enjoyed it. The clip Avalon is definitely inspiring. The issues in the video clip involve the city of Detroit, but it is happening everywhere in towns and cities across the United States. The issues in this video are important because in order for the United States of America to bounce back we need people like these around that took the initiative to find a way to help out and improve their surroundings. Stuff like this is happening across the United States not just in Detroit. It gives people hope of ways to improve their lives. This was all started by the aspirations of two women embarked on an endeavored to start a new small business in the city of Detroit. Their business is baking breads for their community, but it has reached by word of mouth within the city limits not just their neighborhood. These ladies showed how daring they are and that healing a city can happen when mindsets are put ahead of personal gain. They demonstrated how to use ethical principles to address the organizational issues. The organizational ethics depicted in this short clip are astounding. The city of Detroit experienced a huge downfall that started decades before the crash of the economy in the late 2000s. When the auto companies started shuttering plants and moving jobs overseas for profit and cheaper...
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...The Responsibility Project: No Phone Zone Day ETH/316 The Responsibility Project: No Phone Zone Day As members of a community it is our responsibility to watch out for our fellow residents. When it comes to cell phone usage while driving I think that it is obvious it should not be done. It is socially irresponsible and absolutely unethical to talk, text or play on a cell phone while driving, as the video showed us. But unfortunately still everyday another person is killed by someone using a cell phone. According to the No Phone Zone video an estimated 812,000 people use mobile devices while driving, one out of three teen drivers admit to texting while driving, 5,870 people were killed and 515,000 people were injured because of distracted drivers (2010). This growing ethical issue has compelled people to take a stand on April 30, 2010 to form an awareness day called No Phone Zone Day (No Phone Zone Day, 2010). The role of external social pressures in influencing organizational ethics Organizational ethics get external pressure from all places, and they can be positive and negative. Some types of positive roles are awareness and education. Some negative roles are peer pressure and promotion pressures. If you show people that there are consequences for the actions that they take, then they are more aware. Peer pressure is a double edges sword; it can either be positive or negative. If one person is doing something bad and nothing is happening to them the others...
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...The Responsibility Project Sharon Lewis ETH/316 May 21, 2012 Michael Mc Neal The Responsibility Project The issues in the film are important because ethical principles are what shape and define the values of any organization. The Responsibility Project is what Liberty Mutual has addressed to put together a program that helps those in need in the communities around them and to better themselves as well. This is one company that has gone above and beyond to help those within their community. The need and desire to improve and to make a better life for their children is what Greyston Bakery has in mind. They are a for-profit business that has a bottom line that they go by: “We don’t hire people to make brownies; we make brownies in order to hire people” (Greyston Bakery, 2011). They hire those people that might be considered “hard to employ”. They are part of a foundation that helps individuals get back on their feet and get their lives together as a way to succeed. This bakery is just one of the Foundation’s enterprises in which its program is capable of reaching 2,200 community members annually. The Greyston Bakery was founded in 1982 by a Zen Buddhist meditation group that was led by Bernard Tetsugen Glassman. Glassman who was a former aerospace engineer had an entrepreneurial spirit and a bold vision. He borrowed $300,000 and opened the small bakery in the Bronx. His original goal had been to produce quality, locally made products that would give...
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...The Responsibility Project ETH/316 May 26, 2014 I’ve chosen a short film from The Responsibility Project to write my essay. The film I watched and felt connected to was titled The Entrepreneurial Spirit: Franklin barbecue. (2012) I chose this film because their passion for chasing the pipe dream is exactly what living out the American Dream is all about. Franklin barbecue is located in Austin Texas and run by a middle aged couple named Aaron and Stacy Franklin. Their passion for barbecue underlines some key ethical organizational challenges. People are always expecting perfection and today’s generation is impatient for perfection and desires instant gratification. Barbecue is a good representative of something subjective to each of us. The barbecue flavor I might think is good might not be as good to you and your taste buds. Not to mention, barbecue by nature is very inconsistent. Aaron grew up around barbecue as his parent’s had run a small barbecue restaurant. His passion was arguably instilled at a young age and would become his dream. As he aged, he hosted backyard barbecues where he discovered that his friends looked forward to his smoked meats. Many of those friends even encouraged Aaron to consider opening a restaurant. Together, they keep their doors open until they are sold out of their product. This means that they sacrifice time they could be investing on something else. They’ve learned that barbecue is a monstrosity of its own. Environment sustainability is...
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...The Responsibility Project 1 RUNNING HEAD: The Responsibility Project The Responsibility Project ETH 316 January 27, 2014 Professor Mary Sortino The Responsibility Project 2 The Responsibility Project A short film was chosen to view on the Responsibility Project website. The film chosen was named Greyston Bakery. The film highlights some very important issues concerning business and their place within their community. The film explores how external social pressures influenced the organizational ethics of the bakery and its management. These issues have proven relevant to both personal and organizational decision making. The film also presents the viewer with information regarding the relationship between ethics and the law as they pertain to business operation. The short film is about Greyston Bakery which is famous for the brownies it makes and sells. Despite the success of the brownie Greyston CEO Julius Walls Jr wants people to be aware of what is happening behind the scenes at his company. He views the profits of his company as the means to supporting a mission. Walls Jr classifies Greyton as a social enterprise in which there are two bottom lines, one for profits and one for a social mission. The film presents the external social pressure of giving back to the community. Greyston Bakery focuses one of its social efforts on providing employment to people within its own community using an open hiring process. Open hiring allows an opportunity for employment to anyone...
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