Robert Reich’s “Supercapitalism” Chapter 2 Analysis

Robert Reich’s â€Å"Supercapitalism† Chapter 2 Analysis Richard (Ben) Dowden Analysis of a chapter from Robert Reich’s â€Å"Supercapitalism† Outline of Reich, chapter 2 Argument outline of Reich, chapter 2 Overall argument Since the 1970’s competition between corporations grew as technology developed, American companies began to pursue profit to remain competitive resulting in supercapitalism triumphing over democratic capitalism. Reasons Globalisation, new production processes and deregulation increased competition giving consumers and investors more choices. Increase in investor culture drove companies to compete for shareholders (i.e. highest possible profits) regardless of their social responsibility. The decline in union membership as a result of pursuits in profit has led to the decline of power workers have over their employers, the corporations. Evidence for reason 1 In Section 2 (pp. 56-60), Reich describes how technology developed for use in the Cold War had influence over American business. He asserts the technology had three indirect outgrowths: globalisation, new production processes and deregulation (p.60). He argues that each of these outgrowths increased business competition giving concrete evidence for each in the following sections. Section 3 (pp. 60-63) argues that globalisation has reduced the cost of overseas trade creating opportunities for global supply chains. Reich states that the Vietnam War resulted in the growth of commercial, global logistics. Reich gives concrete evidence of how seven new containership companies entered the market in the year following the war and how industry grew at a high rate thereafter (p.61). Moreover, Reich argues this created the concept of global supply chains. Reich notes the great increase in American imports from American owned overseas factories between 1969 and 1983 (p.62). He then gives examples describing large companies’ global supply chains (p.62). Section 4 (pp.64-65) argues new production processes trumped the economies of scale used by the oligopolies resulting in a marketplace growing in complexity. Reich gives examples of how new production processes allows specialisation. He explains how standardised steel gave way to specialised galvanised steels designed for a niche market (p.64). Furthermore, a huge brand like Coca-Cola faced a variety of specialised drinks taking away Coca-Cola’s market share (p.65). In section 5 (pp.65-70) Reich argues that as businesses innovated, new profitable, yet restricted opportunities were discovered within regulated markets, companies lobbied for deregulation, driving competition. Reich states that in some cases, deregulation put companies out of business since they lost the cross-subsidies from other previously regulated, profitable companies. He gives evidence of the Bell System’s segmented telecommunication companies based in the country becoming unviable, opening business opportunities to smaller, extremely competitive companies (p. 68). Furthermore, trucking and airline deregulation led to added competition, particularly in freight (p.69). Evidence for reason 2 At the end of section 5 (pp.65-70) Reich quotes Edward E. Furash stating that due to the change in psyche in American’s management of wealth, the American financial system will shift towards competing for investors (p.70). Reich describes the financial deregulation of banking giving new opportunities to investors among others he gave evidence of stock broker, Merrill Lynch setting up mutual funds (p.67). Reich seems to contribute the increase in investment choice and effectiveness because of deregulation to savers becoming investors. Reich backs the claim with statistics at the start of section 6 (pp.70-75) citing the increase in percentage of households owning stock (pp.70-71). Reich goes on to say this also coincided with the bull market of 1980-2000 (p.71). His overall argument here is that companies had to compete for investors which meant maximising returns. Reich gives evidence of how profit margins rose from the beginning of the 1980 to 2000 at a high rate of change (pp.72-73). He also gives evidence of how the number of companies that ran at lower profit margins that were subjected to hostile takeovers increased by a factor of 11 from the 1970’s to the 80’s (pp.73-74). In Section 7 (pp.75-80), Reich begins by quoting the former CEO of Coca-Cola stating companies have the sole responsibility of generating returns for their investors (p.75). He continues to point out a CEO’s job security is increasingly attributed to the company’s stock price recommendation. 50% of CEOs’ company’s stock was downgraded in investment recommendation were fired in the following six months (p.76). Reich uses evidence of how 60% of senior executives in the Fortune 500 companies had been at their firm for fewer than six years (p.76). His argument is that CEO’s no longer have room to worry about the social consequences of their organisation. He uses the example of Malden Mills, a family-owned textiles company which ran at a loss manufacturing in New England. Their CEO did not want to close the factory since the local economy had high dependencies on it – he was eventually sacked by the company’s creditors (p.79). Evidence for reason 3 Section 8 (pp.80-86) focusses on the decline in union membership starting from the 1970’s. He cites evidence from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics of how union membership rapidly declined beginning in the 1970’s (p.80). He explains this is a consequence of employers contesting unions, giving concrete evidence of this through the decrease of uncontested union elections (p.80). Reich also gives evidence of how the rate of illegal dismissals of union members rose through the 1970’s and into the 90’s (p.81). Reich’s explanation for corporations’ behaviour was related to cutting the costs of the payroll to remain competitive as consumers and investors looked for the cheapest deal. Reich gives concrete evidence of how the nonunionised sector of the American economy grew at a greater rate than the unionised sector (pp.82-83). This increase in opposition arising from nonunionised companies forced unionised corporations fight the unions to remain competitive. Reich uses evidence from a range of industries to describe this citing: the air travel industry (p.83), the ‘Big Three’ American car manufacturers (pp.83-85) and the construction industry (p.85). Reich goes on to explain how the public services sector was never unionised, consequently suffering low wages. Reich uses the evidence of how members of the public services industry went on strike responding to their wages being cut as anti-union Wal-Mart entered their industry (p.86). Reflection: How the chapter intersects with my life The chapter reaffirmed my own opinion that wealth distribution in developed nations, particularly America’s, is unequal. It shows that while deregulation may improve its GDP per capita, it doesn’t guarantee a higher quality of life. In fact, in more regulated economies like in Scandinavia, quality of life indicators are higher since wealth distribution is far more equal (Wilkinson Pickett, 2009). The chapter is interesting, considering the debate surrounding the deregulation of tertiary education in Australia. It does give universities ability to form an identity, which is a way of saying it encourages elitism. After all, a university’s ‘prestige’ is generally attributed to how well-endowed it is. But is it just the first step to university privatisation? Will universities eventually just pursue profit like companies? List of references Reich, R., 2008. Supercapitalism. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. Wilkinson, R. and Pickett, K., 2010. The spirit level. London: Penguin Books.

Course note. Organizational behavior Essay

ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR To distinguish and compare the various concepts and models of organizational behavior in a manner that-will help day-to-day conceptual, human, and communication skills of the students. To develop skills in diagnosing situations by encouraging them to participate actively in cases, topics, illustrations, and incidents that serve to provide operational meaning to the abstract concepts and models of organizational behavior. To assess and evaluate why certain events and behavioral processes occur in organizations and how, as managers, they can best affect the behavior of subordinates as well as other managers. COURSE DESCRIPTION This course utilizes the contingency approach to understanding organizational behavior. This approach seeks to understand the interrelations among the various parts of the organization. Each department, work group, or manager can be analyzed separately or as a unit related to other departments, work groups, or managers. The contingency approach requires that managers diagnose each situation confronting them, and then apply, as needed, the concepts and approaches presented in the course. These concepts and approaches will help the students to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to understand what is happening in an organization and what can be done about it. 1 ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR Week TOPIC Introduction to Organizational Behavior: ï‚ · What is organizational behavior? ï‚ · Organizational behavior and management. ï‚ · Challenges for organizational behavior and management. Course Outcomes CO1 Delivery Mode Lecture Discussion Assessment Tools ï‚ · Quiz ï‚ · Test Rubrics Na Na INDIVIDUAL PROCESSES Personality and Perception ï‚ · The nature of personality. ï‚ · Model of personality. ï‚ · Personality traits. ï‚ · The nature of perception. ï‚ · Perception process ï‚ · Attribution theory. Learning and Motivation ï‚ · The nature of learning. ï‚ · Learning theories. ï‚ · The nature of work motivation. ï‚ · Motivation theories ï‚ · ï‚ · CO2 Lecture Discussion ï‚ · Quiz ï‚ · Test ï‚ · Case Study Analysis Na Na √ CO2 Lecture Discussion ï‚ · Quiz ï‚ · Test Na Na ï‚ · Case Study Analysis √ Quiz 1 Mini Case 2 ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR GROUP PROCESSES Work Groups and Teams ï‚ · The nature of work groups and teams. ï‚ · Formation and development of groups. ï‚ · Effective Work Groups and Teams. CO3 Lecture Discussion ORGANIZATIONAL PROCESSES Leadership ï‚ · Introduction to leadership. ï‚ · Leadership theories. CO3 Communication ï‚ · What is communication? ï‚ · The functions of communication. ï‚ · The communication process. Lecture Discussion ï‚ · Quiz ï‚ · Test ï‚ · Case Study Analysis ï‚ · Quiz ï‚ · Test ï‚ · Case Study Analysis ï‚ · Quiz ï‚ · Test ï‚ · Case Study Analysis Na Na √ Na Na √ Na Na √ ï‚ · Quiz II ï‚ · Mini Case Decision Making ï‚ · What is decision making? ï‚ · Types of decision making. ï‚ · The decision making process. ï‚ · Group decision making. CO3 Lecture ï‚ · Test Discussion ï‚ · Case Study Presentation Analysis ï‚ · Group Presentation Na √ √ 3 ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR ï‚ · Test 1 (2hours) INTERGROUP RELATIONS IN THE ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT Organizational Culture ï‚ · The concept of organizational culture. ï‚ · Determinants of organizational culture. ï‚ · Managing organizational culture. ï‚ · ï‚ · CO3 ï‚ · Test ï‚ · Case Study Analysis ï‚ · Project Paper Na Lecture ï‚ · Quiz Discussion ï‚ · Test Presentation ï‚ · Case Study Analysis ï‚ · Group Presentation Na Na √ ï‚ · Quiz ï‚ · Test ï‚ · Case Study Analysis ï‚ · Group Presentation Na Na √ Lecture Discussion √ √ Quiz III Mini Case Power, Politics, and conflict ï‚ · The nature of power and politics. ï‚ · Sources of power. ï‚ · What is organizational conflict. ï‚ · Model of organizational conflict. ï‚ · Conflict management techniques. Organizational Change ï‚ · What is organizational change? ï‚ · Organizational change theory. ï‚ · Forces for and resistance to organizational change. ï‚ · Managing change CO3 √ √ 4 ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR Social Responsibility and Managerial Ethics ï‚ · What is social responsibility? ï‚ · Views of social responsibility. ï‚ · Arguments for and against social responsibility. ï‚ · What is managerial ethics. ï‚ · Factors that affect employee ethics. ï‚ · Ethics in international context. ï‚ · Improving ethical behavior. Lecture Discussion ï‚ · Test ï‚ · Case Study Analysis ï‚ · Project Paper Na √ √ Test 2 (2 hours) Group / Team Project Presentation Submission of Group /Team Project: (Latest Deadline – A week after the final class/lecture) 5 ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR TEACHING METHODOLOGY Lectures/Case Study Analysis/Discussions/Active Learning/Presentations/Projects ASSESSMENT 1. Test 2. Individual Assignments 3. Group Project 4. Final Assessment 10% 30% 30% 30% ———–100% ———— Total REFERENCES Main Reference: 1. Schermerhorn, J. R., Hunt, J. G., and Osborn, R. N. (2008). Organizational Behavior. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Supplementary References: 1. Asma Abdullah (2004). Going Glokal. Kuala Management (MIM). Lumpur: Malaysian Institute of 2. George, J. M. and Jones, R. J. (2008). Organizational Behavior (5th. Edition). New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc. 3. Gibson, J., Ivancevich, J., Donnelly Jr. J., and Konoposke, R. (2005). Organizations: Behavior, structures, processes. Boston: Irwin McGraw-hill. 4. Nelson, D. L. and Quick, J. C. (2006). Organizational Behavior: Foundations, Realities, and Challenges (12th. edition). Ohio: South-Western College Publishing. Journals ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · Journal of Organizational Behavior, Academy of Management Journal, Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of Occupational Psychology, Journal of Applied Psychology 6 ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR Journals 1. Harvard Business Review 2. Fortune Magazine 3. The Edge 4. Malaysian Business Review 5. World Executive Digest 6. The Economist 7. Other related journals 7 View as multi-pages

Integrated Social Telemarketing

The emphasis on consumer which involves thorough research and coherent evaluation is the thrust of social telemarketing. The foundation of social telemarketing process would be research and evaluation per se. Social telemarketing emerged in the 1970’s as a specialized field of study in marketing. Gerald Zaltman and Philip Kotler were the proponents of social telemarketing. they realized that similar marketing strategies which are used to sell products to consumers can be used in â€Å"selling† ideas and behaviors as well.Kotler suggested that social telemarketing as â€Å"differing from other areas of marketing only with respect to the objectives of the marketer and his organization. † It seeks to influence social behaviors which will benefit its target market and its apparent society as a whole. However, such direct marketing method requires significant funding in order to push through with operations (Weinreich, 2006). Direct Product Marketing Direct product ma rketing pertains to the generation of particular product or service which the consumer wants or needs.In order to produce a product for a consumer, a marketer generates a marketing mix to determine the feasibility of a product in its market and to address the needs of its target market as well. Introducing a new product to the general public refers to the product market. The consumer market is the people you are trying to entice in order to buy the product. A product market is subjective in nature. For instance, you can’t lure a 60 year old in buying the new model of the X-box video game console. Likewise, you can’t sell a hair grower shampoo to a toddler ( Wheelright & Clark, 1992). Email and Voicemail MarketingDue to the fast-paced and sporadic technology, direct marketing has spawned a method called Voicemail Marketing, in which utilizes business voicemail systems and personal voice mailboxes. Such direct marketing method is considered cost effective compared to the costly expenses brought about by Social Telemarketing. Voicemail Marketing simply makes good with an enticing human voice in order to reach out to clients. However, such method has its loopholes due to the proliferation of â€Å"voicespam†, which urged a number of jurisdictions to promulgate laws regarding consumer violations concernig voicemail marketing.

Liberalism’s Impact on the American Revolution - 1193 Words

Following the French and Indian war, a great debt rested on the shoulders of Great Britain. In order to help alleviate this debt, the British Parliament imposed taxes on the colonies. This not only enraged the colonists at the time, but it also showed them the King was power-hungry. The colonists soon became aware of the fact that they were not being accurately represented. From then on, the people within the colonies knew that independence from Great Britain was necessary in order to thrive as a nation. The liberalism philosophy had the greatest impact on America’s decision to gain freedom from the mother country because it convinced individuals that the people should be able to pursue their own self-interests. Similarly, it made the†¦show more content†¦Even though Paine described the financial positives of independence for America, he also used liberalism to describe the negatives of succumbing to Great Britain. In order to describe how relationships would be impac ted, Thomas Paine stressed that submitting to Great Britain would â€Å"involve this continent in European wars and quarrels, and set us at variance with nations, who would otherwise seek our friendship.† (Paine, 163). Essentially, by using this language, Thomas Paine knew that if Britain were to become involved in a conflict that it would trickle down and decimate the American economy. In order to strengthen his assertion, Paine insisted that â€Å"whenever a war breaks out between England and any foreign power, the trade of America goes to ruin because of her connection with Britain.† Therefore, if America allowed Great Britain to continue to rule, their relationships with other nations would be interrupted. This outcome would have not only devastated America’s image and reputation, but it would have also jeopardized our chances for financial security in the future. After the pamphlet Common Sense was published, Thomas Jefferson continued using ideologies from liberalism while writing the Declaration of Independence. Within the declaration, Jefferson argued that the King â€Å"endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose of obstructingShow MoreRelatedBook Critique of2736 Words   |  11 PagesConclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 9 Bibliography†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 10 Introduction Alister McGrath, from the very beginning of this book, plainly states what the dangerous idea is all about. â€Å"The dangerous new idea, firmly embodied at the heart of the Protestant Revolution, was that all Christians have the right to interpret the Bible for themselves.† However, this dangerous new idea brought about developments which no one could have predicted. It caused chaos, controversies, debates and, in general, a situationRead MoreThe Rise and Fall of Ideologies in Fukuyama ´s The End of History2534 Words   |  11 Pagesthat black poverty is not a product of liberalism but is a result of slavery and racism. Therefore, communism’s case against liberalism has weakened at the rise of equality and legal and societal structures in the West. To further demonstrate liberalism’s strength against communism, Fukuyama discusses the spread of the ideology in Asia. Asia, originally a fascist/communist entity has become more and more liberal as time goes on. Japan, South Korea, and Burma have all begun adopting economic formsRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 Pagesand Paul Buhle, eds., The New Left Revisited David M. Scobey, Empire City: The Making and Meaning of the New York City Landscape Gerda Lerner, Fireweed: A Political Autobiography Allida M. Black, ed., Modern American Queer History Eric Sandweiss, St. Louis: The Evolution of an American Urban Landscape Sam Wineburg, Historical Thinking and Other Unnatural Acts: Charting the Future of Teaching the Past Sharon Hartman Strom, Political Woman: Florence Luscomb and the Legacy of Radical Reform