Winding down

Well, here we are in week 12 of my Business 183 class. This long (well, not really that long) journey is almost done.  Throughout this course, I have had the opportunity to learn from many wonderful people through articles and through video lectures.  One of the biggest reoccurring themes that keeps standing out to me is integrity.  Another, we must take risks if we are wanting to excel in our lives.  We must decide that what can come is more important that what happens if we fail.

This week we watched a video listening to Sheryl Sandberg (http://ecorner.stanford.edu/videos/2238/Make-It-Personal-and-Make-It-Work).  In it, I really enjoyed how she grew in her career and how dreams can be successful if they are scalable.  She also emphasized that we must be willing to take risks to realize this success.  We must look at the world differently and how we can change it.

I know that if I can continue to live and work with integrity, focus, dream, and take risks, I will be able to realize great things and help change the world, and so can you.

We were also asked at the end of our post to answer the questions below.

• Based on what you read in the first two pages (pages 3 and 4), why are virtue and integrity so vital to an economy?

As we have seen in companies like Enron or in other large scandals, dishonesty and greed not only affect those in that company but the market as a whole.  If trust from the consumers is not there, markets will struggle.

• According to Charles Handy, what is the “real justification” for the existence of businesses?

    Charles Handy talks about how most people look at profits or shareholders as the reasons for businesses to exist, but the real justification as he puts it is to make more money so the business can do something more or better.  I think that is true.  We must have a goal in mind above money, yet pursuing money will help us fulfill that goal and is very necessary. 

• What are two solutions proposed by Handy that you agree with? Why?

    Two of the solutions I like are first, profit sharing and second, the organization of community.  Profit sharing allows dividends and profits to be shared with not only shareholders but also those in the company who are contributing directly through their work and skills.  I think this promotes incentive to work hard and makes workers care if the company is profitable beyond just keeping the doors open. The second is achieved in Europe by having things like longer annual vacations, leave for fathers when their babies are born, etc.  I also think that this would help the workforce not get burned out, stay more loyal, and help up production and creativity.