The importance of corporate responsibility communication, strategies Research Paper

The importance of corporate responsibility communication, strategies for communication - Research Paper Example Introduction Over the years, corporate responsibility (CR) has gained increasing attention from practitioners and scholars alike. The programs intended to demonstrate corporate responsibility have led to significant findings, such as the belief that commitment towards CR activities and communication can improve the perceptions of various stakeholders. Thus, lack of social responsibility may lead to the weakening of stakeholder relationships. CR efforts that are characterized by global themes as well as execution tactics have emerged in the marketplace. Communication of CR in Europe and non-Western countries has reportedly becoming similar to activities in the United States with which reporting and communication are frequently articulated. This suggests that CR efforts, which proactively plan and implement programs that integrate social value with business activities and address problems perceived as part of an organization’s social responsibility, have considerably improved. T herefore, the current trends and evidence highly support the communication of CR activities and programs. Corporate Responsibility: An Overview Primarily, the social responsibility of organizations is to produce goods and services that are socially desirable (Becker-Olsen, Taylor, Hill, and Yalcinkaya. 2010). Furthermore, these companies have the social responsibility of adhering to ethical and legal standards that are viewed by the society as appropriate. This has been presented through a more comprehensive definition that described corporate citizenship as the extent to which firms take on the legal, ethical, economic, and discretionary responsibilities that their stakeholders oblige them to assume. One of the most noteworthy aspects of CR’s definition is the relevance attached to discretionary responsibilities that express the desire of the society to see companies become actively involved in the development and betterment of communities and perform beyond the expected sta ndards. Through previous studies, a number of CR practices have been identified that were categorized as moral or ethical practices, discretionary practices, and relational practices. Diversity, community support, employee support, involvement with the environment, and product manufacturing were considered. Fair treatment of employees, taking into consideration the rights of employees from foreign countries, fair competition with others, responsible actions toward the environment, and exemplifying of truth are all considered as moral or ethical practices in relation to corporate responsibility. Meanwhile, under discretionary practices, a number of procedures have been identified as well, such as the contribution of resources to increase social awareness regarding current issues, support for issues on family and children, support for public health programs, and contribution of cultural programs for the community. Finally, relational practices involve the attempts for establishing lon g-term relationships with consumers as well as the willingness to consider the views and constructive criticisms of stakeholders regarding business practices (Shum and Yam, 2010). The business benefits of corporate responsibility have been comprehensively examined and results have indicated that CR can generate moral capital among workers

Organizational Culture in Multinational Corporations Research Paper

Organizational Culture in Multinational Corporations - Research Paper Example The culture in general and broad-spectrum comprises of assumptions, beliefs, values, norms, customs, artifacts, and several other components, likewise organization also have its norms, values, principles, and policies that makeup characteristics of the organization. In the view of many experts and theorists, culture can come under illustration and distinguish itself on three levels (Schneider, 1988). Behavior and artifacts are considered the most obvious and manifest level as it encompasses the behavioral structure of the populace of a particular culture. Values or the principles are the subsequent levels that motivate, inspire, and figure out the actions of the people. Assumptions, hypothesis, values, and attitude are the distant and rooted level and considered the most vital and imperative level to apprehend (Schneider, 1988). In order to understand the effective functioning of the organization, it is pivotal to identify with the culture first as it is a complete experience of the happenings and circumstances that encircles the entire population of the world (Alvesson, 2002).  Ã‚   Although organizational culture has come under analysis and study from a wide variety of aspects, yet it does not have a solitary and distinct definition as it is complicated and tricky to articulate in a noticeable or apparent manner. Some schools of thought even refer the organizational culture as a system where the key in elements are the response and opinion from various characteristics such as the general population, laws, and ethical, moral and competition principals. The beliefs, hypothesis, ethics, and customs based on factors such as time, money, people etc. amalgamate as a process that produces the output in the form of the consequences including the organizational behaviors, strategies, policies, products, brand image and many more (Brenton &  Driskill, 2010). For the last few decades, organizational culture has gained substantial recognition, and outstretched and broad acknowledgment amongst the employees of the organization as it has been a pivotal source for identifyi ng and becoming aware with the behaviors and attitudes of the human systems. Organizational culture is the combined recipe of principles and attitudes that make up the inimitable and distinctive shared surroundings and atmosphere for the enterprise (Brenton &  Driskill, 2010). In other words, organizational culture is the merger of values, beliefs, experiences, assumptions, documented and unrecorded rules and regulations, policies and viewpoints of the organizational members that contributes in the company’s brand image, internal working environment, communions and dealing with the external sources, and upcoming prospects and opportunities since the time the enterprise initiated until the current date (Alvesson, 2002).  

Health of the Population of Ohio: An Analysis

Health of the Population of Ohio: An Analysis Health of an Ohio Population The health of a particular population and the main concerns each is faced with is an important first step in correcting or helping a community. Populations of a community consist of infants, children, young adults, adults, senior citizens whether healthy or disabled in some way. This poses a challenge alone, but then add mixed ethnicities with different ideals and it poses a bigger challenge yet. Each person, or group of persons, in a community has a various degree of risk for different conditions as well based on different behaviors, ethnicities and such. Conveying the general idea to promote health and explaining the initiatives that are created and providing support to the community at the same time is a must. Let us look at Stark County in the state of Ohio to gain a better understanding of the population break down, health concerns facing children in the county, and what is being done to combat them. Stark County, Ohio Population Breakdown Stark County, Ohio has an overall population of 375, 432 persons and is broken down into many smaller towns and villages that consist of various age groups and ethnicities (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010). Majority of the population is female with 51.5% and males making up the other 48.5% (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010). The population breakdown by age and percentage is shown in the table below. (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010) Health Concerns Facing Children of Stark County, Ohio Children make up a large portion of Stark County’s population, after adults aged 18-64, with a total of 103,618 children all together. Two major health concerns facing children today in Stark County, and the United States as well, are childhood obesity and mental health wellness. These concerns were identified in 2012 as part of the Stark County Community Health Improvement Plan as priority number one and three. Childhood Obesity Research into the Community Health Improvement Plan for Stark County (2012) revealed that, â€Å"34.1% of Stark County third graders were either overweight or obese in 2009-2010† according to the CDC. Obesity is measured using the body mass index scale which is done utilizing a weight to height ratio with a measurement over 30 kg per meter squared being considered obese (Russell-Mayhew, McVey, Bardick, Ireland, 2012). This only represents a small number of children, which for the category, has a high percentage. Obesity can lead to other health concerns and issues such as diabetes, heart problems, joint problems, depression, etc. and is associated with nearly $60 million a year in health care costs and lost productivity (NACS, 2013). Initiatives put into place to help combat childhood obesity in the county include wellness seminars at schools, promote physical activity and nutrition programs, and increase funding to Stark County schools to help create more programs and awaren ess (Stark County Health Department, 2012). The state of Ohio itself, which is ranked 12th for childhood obesity, also has launched an early childhood obesity prevention grant that will fund high-need communities and build upon other programs in communities as well (NACS, 2013). Mental Health Wellness The second area of health concern facing children is mental health wellness. According to Athena Health (2014), the rate of children being diagnosed with mental health conditions is continuing to rise with a recent increase of twenty-three percent with ADHD, anxiety and depression being the leading mental health diagnoses. The Ohio Youth Survey utilized in making the Community Health Improvement Plan (2012) indicated that 26.6% of students were sad or hopeless more often than not during the day for a period of two weeks in a row and as a result they stopped participating in activities they previously enjoyed and became withdrawn. Increasing awareness of mental health wellness promotion and substance abuse programs and their usage by implementing seminars, creating education programs and activities, performing screenings and making resources available are all part of the initiatives in place by the Stark County Health Department to combat this health concern facing children and others . Health Screening Tool for Risks Childhood Obesity and Mental Health Wellness both have initiatives created that use screening tools to help identify risks and how to prevent the health concern from occurring as one part of the solution. The following is an example of a health risk assessment taken and the information that may be provided to help decrease likelihood of getting a disease. A series of questions is asked about behaviors, demographics, health and such which is then compiled into a result that determines the risk into seven categories for this particular assessment relating to stroke risk: very much below average risk, much below average risk, below average risks, average risk, above average risk, much above average risk, and very much above average risks. The assessment explains what put the person taken the assessment at a much below average risk for a stroke such as not smoking, healthy blood pressure, exercising and not consuming alcohol in abundance. (Convergence Health, 2014) Following that section, there is a recommendation section. The recommendations for a much below average risk person regarding stroke is to continue healthy behaviors, maintain a lower weight, avoid passive smoke increase fruit and vegetable intake, and incorporate fish into diet on a weekly basis (Convergence Health, 2014). The recommendation section points out areas that may already be known but helps to reinforce what is necessary for better health and increase chances of avoiding future illnesses. This information is useful when creating a personal plan to becoming a better, healthier person to achieve any long term goals while reminding one to take care of their body and what we ingest directly affects one’s health and to be a positive role model for future generations. Conclusion Understanding a population and what the associated health risks are for that particular group helps create an effective improvement plan to successfully increase their health. Issues facing children such as childhood obesity and mental health wellness not only impact today, but the future as well. Teaching children how to be healthy now will help them to be more productive, healthy adults and help curb the same issue for their children as they are the role models being seen. States, counties and townships must ban together to help create and continue programs that are aimed to offer support and resources to create healthier communities. In the words of Gandhi, â€Å"It is health that is real wealth, not pieces of gold and silver† (Brainy Quote, 2014, p.1). References Athena Health. (2014). Rising mental health issues facing our children, in five charts.  Retrieved from http://www.theatlantic.com Brainy Quote. (2014). Health Quotes-Gandhi. Retrieved  http://www.brainyquote.com Convergence Health. (2014). Stroke Risk Assessment. Retrieved from  http://christianhospital.privatehealthnews.com NACS Online. (2013, June). Ohio launches new childhood obesity initiative. Retrieved from  http://www.nacsonline.com Russell-Mayhew, S., McVey, G., Bardick, A., and Ireland, A. (2012). Mental Health, Wellness,  and Childhood Obesity. Journal of Obesity (2012). Doi: 10.1155/2012/281801   Stark County Health Department. (2012). Stark County Community Health Improvement Plan.  Retrieved from www.starkhealth.org U.S. Census Bureau. (2010). 2010 Demographic Profile Data-Stark County. Retrieved from  http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/

Solutions to the Foreclosure Crisis in Cleveland Essay -- Economics

Cleveland, Ohio faces a vacant property crisis. Steady abandonment of vacant properties, both residential and commercial, has diminished stability, property values, and public safety in the city of Cleveland and its neighboring suburbs. This multi-faceted problem of mortgage loan delinquency and bank walk-aways in Cleveland has generated an extensive legal discussion concerning pressing public policy matters. The foreclosure crisis in Cleveland has imposed significant financial burdens upon taxpayers and area residents who have been forced to shoulder burdens that are rightfully the responsibility of borrowers, mortgage lenders and others that are direct parties to the mortgage transaction. Indeed, â€Å"the failure of borrowers and lenders to pay the full social costs of nonprime lending also leads to perverse market effects, as less-than-scrupulous lending organizations overextend credit to highly foreclosure-prone borrowers.† Economic conditions and predatory lending in Cleveland have hindered the city from being able to effectively respond to the crisis. However, Cleveland has been successful in its property acquisition tools for revitalization, namely its city land bank. The use of the city land bank has been a key element in the successful efforts of community development corporations (CDCs), but as economic conditions and challenges have plagued the Cleveland housing market, this tool is no longer as effective in generating a sufficient pipeline of properties for redevelopment. Recognizing that reinvigorating the city’s land bank was a key measure to pursue in light of economic changes, the Cleveland Housing Renewal Project (CHRP), a non-profit organization subsidiary of Neighborhood Progress Incorporated (NPI), filed an ac... ..., and if and when foreclosure does occur, the banks, not the municipalities, should be held accountable for property-code violations on those homes. To promote economic development and to assist low-income communities in the midst of this housing crisis, laws must be strengthened to make it harder for banks to flip homes to out-of-state LLCs like Interstate Investment. In terms of litigation, housing courts should consider the order by Judge Pianka when deciding who should bear the burden of paying foreclosed and distressed residential properties. Cleveland is a location where real estate development is needed to overcome the crisis of foreclosure. The remedies will not be quick, but holding lenders accountable for their properties and developing legislation to discourage conveyances to foreign LLCs are some important ways to turn abandonment into opportunity.

Imperialism Dbq Ap European History Essay

Between the period from 1880 to 1914, European powers went after overseas empires in Africa. The governments and political leaders of the European powers believed that this colonization of the African empires was necessary to maintain their global influence. A second group of people supposed that African colonization was the result of the greedy Capitalists who only cared for new resources and markets. The third group of people claimed it to be their job to enlighten and educate the uncivilized people of Africa. Although the political leaders of European powers encouraged colonization of African empires to advance their nation’s global influence, others argued that it was only for the profiteering of the Capitalists who sought new resources and markets from Africa and those who benefited from colonization argued that these actions were necessary in order to civilize the African people. European heads of states or Political leaders promoted the Colonization of Africa to encourage greater influence of the European nation around the world. In his speech to the House of Commons in February of 1876, Benjamin Disraeli, British Prime Minister, argued that the purchase of the Suez Canal would indeed strengthen the empire (Document 2). Disraeli would obviously encourage colonization in order to increase his term in order to increase his political influence. Prince Leopold, heir to the throne of Belgium and future king, also said that the acquisition of African colonies would be â€Å"the opportunity to prove to the world that Belgians also are an imperial people capable of dominating and enlightening others† (Document 1). This shows the pressure of less powerful European powers, such as Belgium, to acquire colonies to advance their global influence. Leopold held these views because the more strong European powers had colonized. In 1903, French Diplomat Eugene-Melchoir de Vogue repeated this belief in, The Master of the Sea, when he wrote â€Å"What used to be a European balance of power is now a world balance of power†¦ and any country that does not wish to become less important must obtain as much relatively as our rivals are doing† (Document 10). Archibald Philip Primrose, Lord Rosebery, wrote, in his letter to the London Times, that colonies are essential to the nations survival. â€Å"Health of mind and body exalt a nation in the competition of the universe† (Document 8). These political leaders believed that colonization was  necessary to keep the nation’s global influence. African colonization obviously offered new wealth sources, such as markets and resources, to the European nations; however, many people doubted the ethicality of the act. In his speech in 1888, Joseph Chamberlain, British industrialist, politician and reformer, clearly argues that colonization is incredibly necessary to the British nation. He believes that the British Isles could not last for a single day without the natural markets for trade provided by the African colonies (Document 4). However, since he is an industrialist, Chamberlains goal is to increase his own wealth along with his countries, therefore, this argument could be distorted. Cecil Rhodes, British imperialist, easily revealed his thoughts on Imperialism when he said â€Å"Philanthropy is good, but philanthropy at 5 percent is even better† in a speech at the chartering of the British South Africa Company in 1889 (Document 5). William Clark disagreed with imperialist in a Progressive Review in 1879. His opinion was that the financers who hope to gain profit use Jameson, a â€Å"British military officer who led an unsuccessful raid into Boer controlled territory in Southern Africa,† as a tool (Document 7). Similarly, the Resolution of the German Social Democratic Party Congress argued that â€Å"World and colonial policy is pursued for the purpose of capitalist exploitation and for displaying military force†¦ [I]t corresponds first and foremost to the greedy desire of the bourgeoisie for new opportunities† (Document 9). This party rejected their greedy desire. A third group of people believed that Imperialism gave the opportunity to civilize the barbaric people from the African colonies. Rudyard Kipling’s â€Å"The White Man’s Burden† expresses their duty to do so. Prince Leopold, heir to the throne of Belgium and future king said â€Å"let us see where there are unoccupied lands†¦ where are to be found peoples to civilize, to lead to progress in every sense† (Document 1). Martial Henri Merlin, governor general of French Equatorial Africa announced that â€Å"We [France] went there by virtue of the right of a civilized, fully developed race to occupy territories which have been left fallow by backward peoples who are plunged into barbarism† (Document 11). Therefore, the Age of Imperialism made the European nations consider the advantages and disadvantages of African colonization. Political leaders of European powers encouraged the colonization of Africa to increase their nation’s global influence. Others argued that it was only for the profiteering of the Capitalists who wanted new resources and markets from African colonies. Lastly, those who benefited from the colonization of Africa argued that these actions were necessary to civilize the barbaric African people as expressed in Rudyard Kipling’s â€Å"The White Man’s Burden.†

Absolutism and Democracy

What would happen if you got two different governments going head to head, fighting to see who is better? What if those two governments were Democracy and Absolutism? In the Seventeenth and Eighteenth centuries, they were both used, and one was more effective; But which one? In this time period, Absolutism was the best form of government, because it was effective and worked for the people. In an Absolutism government, or a Monarchy, it was believed the Kings worked with God, and He bestowed them with the power to be King.In Document Two, King James said, â€Å"Kings are not only God’s lieutenants upon earth†¦ But even by God himself they are called gods†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This is because the people believed Kings have powers similar to God’s. Kings can create and destroy; Can judge, but are not judged; Give life or send death. The people honestly believed because of this, they worked together with God. Their teamwork with God is why Kings were accepted by the people, a nd why Absolutism was accepted as well. Related article: Political Parties Are Pillars of DemocracyKings used fear to gain control over the people, which is why they didn’t fight against it. Machiavelli wrote in The Prince that a prince needs to be feared by the people; Not loved and well liked. He would be incapable of being able to hold power over the people. If there wasn’t a King, then there would be no control in the government. People would be deciding everything for themselves, and it would end in disaster.The King/ Prince kept them in line, and the people didn’t revolt. â€Å"The head alone has the right to deliberate and decide, and the functions of all the other members consist only in carrying out the commands given to them†¦Ã¢â‚¬  King Louis XIV said that the King is the only person able to give the right orders, and make the right decisions. Everyone else was there to follow through on what he said. The interest of the state must come before the individual.The King was the only pers on capable of making sure the right decisions were made, and that the other members carried out the commands. So as you can see, Absolutism would win against Democracy in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth centuries. It was more efficient, and worked well for them. The Kings had the power, and everyone was content with how things were set up. The people felt like this was how it ought to be, and it was. That is why Absolutism is the best form of government in this time period.