Nike Debate Essay Example

Nike Debate Essay Case:   Nike:   The Sweatshop Debate 1. Should Nike be held responsible for working conditions in foreign factories that it does not own, but where subcontractors make products for Nike? Yes, Nike is not only responsible but also accountable for the working conditions of foreign countries that it does not own. Nike should realize that it is a Global Organization and working globally does not only mean that taking advantage of low cost destination but also taking responsibility of the contractors/employees working in other countries. For example: Pepsi was recently in the news for allegations of having pesticides in the cold drink in India. Pepsi ensured that it has same standard of water purification across the world and not just meeting standards in the Indian Market. Similarly, Pepsi should realize that while they are getting cheap labor in low-cost destinations but at the same time they need to be socially responsible to ensure that the workers get minimum wages and work in conditions that are acceptable in respective countries. 2. What labor standards regarding safety, working conditions, overtime, and the like should Nike hold foreign factories to: those prevailing in that country, or those prevailing in the United States? There need to be combination of standards for Nike. If Nike follows only the standards (wage rates) prevailing in Unites States, it might not be able to enjoy the cost advantages that they are realizing by off shoring manufacturing of shoes. However, if Nike adopts the standards prevailing in the country of manufacturing then it is not able to comply with some of the Human Rights related issues that global organizations should comply with. We will write a custom essay sample on Nike Debate specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Nike Debate specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Nike Debate specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Hence, it is very important that Nike designs a combination of standards that ensures that workers get at least the minimum wages in the respective country but the working conditions should be acceptable enough for workers to work and the minimum age limit of workers should also be enforced strictly. 3. An income of $2. 28 a day, the base pay of Nike Factory workers in Indonesia, is double the daily income of about half the working population. Half of all adults in Indonesia are farmers, who receive less than $1 a day. Given this, is it correct to criticize Nike for the low pay rates of its subcontractors in Indonesia? The daily wage rate in different countries is fixed by the labor laws in that country. The daily wage rate also differs by the skill of workers, type of city the worker lives/works in and the prices of essential commodities in the city/state. Hence, the daily wage of workers in factories manufacturing Nike shoes may be higher than farmers in the same city/state. If Nike’s contractors are not abiding the minimum wages for the type of skill and working conditions in which these workers work in, then Nike need to be criticized. If Nike’s contractors abide by the minimum wages set by a class of workers depending upon their skill and working conditions, then Nike cannot be criticized and comparing wages of one set of workers with another set of workers like farmers may not be correct. 4. Could Nike have handled the negative publicity over sweatshops better? What might it have done differently, not just from a public relations perspective, but also from a policy perspective? Nike could have handled the negative publicity over sweatshops better from a policy perspective. Nike could have enforced norms for all the contractors, who are manufacturing either shoes or apparels for Nike across countries, to abide by the local rules and also created some new norms that would apply to all the factories that manufacture Nike’s products. Nike should have published the names of all the contractors across countries abiding by the local working conditions and wages. They should have also requested the local labor inspectors in different countries to do an audit of their factories on a regular basis to ensure that contractors comply with the local laws in their respective countries. 5. Do you think Nike needs to make any changes to its current policy? If so what? Should Nike make changes even if they hinder the ability of the company to compete? Nike needs to ensure that all the contractors comply with the wages and local working conditions in respective countries. Nike can do this either by appointing a labor inspector in each of the factories for all the contractors and asking them to report the details of all the workers working in their respective factories and this report need to be reviewed by legal experts at the country level and worldwide level to ensure that all the laws are in compliance by contractors of Nike. Any non-compliance should be considered seriously and serious actions should be taken against all such contractors, which might result in termination of contracts with such factories. In fact, Nike should go ahead and open schools for children of workers working in their factories across different countries to take care of the developments of its workers across the globe. Nike should make such changes even if this means termination of contracts with non-compliance factories or more expenses for development of workers in factories. This is because all organizations in today’s world affect the society and hence they need to be sensitive towards the conditions of the employees and the society. Thus, Nike should engage in Cause Related Marketing (CRM) by ensuring that working conditions are made better in all the factories and also ensuring that developments of workers happen so that they are not devoid of good working conditions, food and respectable wages. 6. Is the WRC right to argue that the FLA is a tool of industry? WRC has claimed that FLA is tool of the industry as they found certain evidence, which were not being followed in Nike’s factories. It may be possible but WRC should provide some time to FLA to ensure that all the factories of Nike are compliant with the local labor laws in respective countries. WRC should audit some of the factories which FLA has declared as compliant with local labor laws to ensure that it is not a tool of the industry. The change management across all the factories of Nike for ensuring compliance will take some time and hence WRC need to ensure that FLA does its job of creating compliance in a foolproof manner. 7. If sweatshops are a global problem, what might be a global solution to this problem? Sweatshops are a global problem as organizations have started working in a global environment. The Organizations need to be sensitive to the laws of different countries and also accountable toward the workers / employees / contractors of low cost destinations to ensure that they work in better working conditions and abide by the rules and regulations of countries in which they operate in. b. Next summarize the strategic and operational challenges facing global managers illustrated in your selected case. Also comment on recent global developments affecting the company in this case. Strategic Challenges †¢ Identifying low cost destinations for ensuring cost efficiencies †¢ Ensuring synergy of product specifications across different manufacturing locations †¢ Ensuring consistent quality across manufacturing locations Operational Challenges †¢ Ensuring consistent wages across different manufacturing locations across countries †¢ Ensuring similar working conditions across different manufacturing locations across countries †¢ Ensuring development of employees across regions

Free Essays on Prayer In School

Prayer in Public Schools? With the state that the nation is currently in, prayer in today’s schools has once again become a controversial topic. Many believe that schools exist to educate. While children in public schools remain a captive audience, some perceive prayer to be coercive and invasive. While religion is considered private and schools public some argue that it is not appropriate that the two should mix. Some would also argue that prayer and religion are a necessary part of human life, which often helps fulfill the â€Å"total† human experience. Is it detrimental to strip these parts of life from the schools? I pose the question, â€Å"How can prayer be harmful?† I agree that mandating a special time for prayer may offend some. Does it have to be designated as prayer time? Does prayer have to be specific to any one religion? Or would it just be better if schools adopted a â€Å"quiet time† at the beginning of each day? Each student could decide if they choose to use that time for prayer. This was a suggestion made by Secretary of State Colin Powell. His opinion is that a moment of silence would allow students with different religious beliefs to participate. Some would pray, while others would reflect on the upcoming day. A moment of silence could contribute to acceptance of diversity within the student body. It goes without saying that public schools are responsible for the academic education of its students. I do believe the moral and spiritual education of the students must be addressed as well. I understand that public schools cannot promote religion, because of the division of church and state. However, many students have taken this issue into their own hands. Contrary to the belief of what many would like to think, prayer is widely practiced in many U.S. public schools. Students have been known to pray at athletic events, in school busses, at the flagpole and during student religious clubs. In 1962,... Free Essays on Prayer In School Free Essays on Prayer In School Prayer in Public Schools? With the state that the nation is currently in, prayer in today’s schools has once again become a controversial topic. Many believe that schools exist to educate. While children in public schools remain a captive audience, some perceive prayer to be coercive and invasive. While religion is considered private and schools public some argue that it is not appropriate that the two should mix. Some would also argue that prayer and religion are a necessary part of human life, which often helps fulfill the â€Å"total† human experience. Is it detrimental to strip these parts of life from the schools? I pose the question, â€Å"How can prayer be harmful?† I agree that mandating a special time for prayer may offend some. Does it have to be designated as prayer time? Does prayer have to be specific to any one religion? Or would it just be better if schools adopted a â€Å"quiet time† at the beginning of each day? Each student could decide if they choose to use that time for prayer. This was a suggestion made by Secretary of State Colin Powell. His opinion is that a moment of silence would allow students with different religious beliefs to participate. Some would pray, while others would reflect on the upcoming day. A moment of silence could contribute to acceptance of diversity within the student body. It goes without saying that public schools are responsible for the academic education of its students. I do believe the moral and spiritual education of the students must be addressed as well. I understand that public schools cannot promote religion, because of the division of church and state. However, many students have taken this issue into their own hands. Contrary to the belief of what many would like to think, prayer is widely practiced in many U.S. public schools. Students have been known to pray at athletic events, in school busses, at the flagpole and during student religious clubs. In 1962,...

Composite Materials in Aerospace

Composite Materials in Aerospace Weight is everything when it comes to heavier-than-air machines, and designers have striven continuously to improve lift to weight ratios since man first took to the air. Composite materials have played a major part in weight reduction, and today there are three main types in use: carbon fiber-, glass-, and aramid- reinforced epoxy.; there are others, such as boron-reinforced (itself a composite formed on a tungsten core). Since 1987, the use of composites in aerospace has doubled every five years, and new composites regularly appear. Uses Composites are versatile, used for both structural applications and components, in all aircraft and spacecraft, from hot air balloon gondolas and gliders to passenger airliners, fighter planes, and the Space Shuttle. Applications range from complete airplanes such as the Beech Starship to wing assemblies, helicopter rotor blades, propellers, seats, and instrument enclosures. The types have different mechanical properties and are used in different areas of aircraft construction. Carbon fiber, for example, has unique fatigue  behavior  and is brittle, as Rolls-Royce discovered in the 1960s when the innovative RB211 jet engine with carbon fiber compressor blades failed catastrophically due to bird strikes. Whereas an aluminum wing has a known metal fatigue lifetime, carbon fiber is much less predictable (but dramatically improving every day), but boron works well (such as in the wing of the Advanced Tactical Fighter). Aramid fibers (Kevlar is a well-known proprietary brand owned by DuPont) are widely used in honeycomb sheet form to construct very stiff, very light bulkhead, fuel tanks, and floors. They are also used in leading- and trailing-edge wing components. In an experimental program, Boeing successfully used 1,500 composite parts to replace 11,000 metal components in a helicopter. The use of composite-based components in place of metal as part of maintenance cycles is growing rapidly in commercial and leisure aviation. Overall, carbon fiber is the most widely used composite fiber in aerospace applications. Advantages We have already touched on a few, such as weight saving, but here is a full list: Weight reduction - savings in the range of 20%-50% are often quoted.It is easy to assemble complex components using automated layup machinery and rotational molding processes.Monocoque (single-shell) molded structures deliver higher strength at a much lower weight.Mechanical properties can be tailored by lay-up design, with tapering thicknesses of reinforcing cloth and cloth orientation.Thermal stability of composites means they dont expand/contract excessively with a change in temperature (for example a 90 °F runway to -67 °F at 35,000 feet in a matter of minutes).High impact resistance - Kevlar (aramid) armor shields planes, too - for example, reducing accidental damage to the engine pylons which carry engine controls and fuel lines.High damage tolerance improves accident survivability.Galvanic - electrical - corrosion problems which would occur when two dissimilar metals are in contact (particularly in humid marine environments) are avoided. (Here non-conductive fiberglass pla ys a role.) Combination fatigue/corrosion problems are virtually eliminated. Future Outlook With ever-increasing fuel costs and environmental lobbying, commercial flying is under sustained pressure to improve performance, and weight reduction is a key factor in the equation. Beyond the day-to-day operating costs, the aircraft maintenance programs can be simplified by component count reduction and corrosion reduction. The competitive nature of the aircraft construction business ensures that any opportunity to reduce operating costs is explored and exploited wherever possible. Competition exists in the military too, with continuous pressure to increase payload and range, flight performance characteristics, and survivability, not only of airplanes but of missiles, too. Composite technology continues to advance, and the advent of new types such as basalt and carbon nanotube forms is certain to accelerate and extend composite usage. When it comes to aerospace, composite materials are here to stay.

Civil Litigation Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Civil Litigation - Case Study Example How come the two teachers were negligent, and where were they when this started happening. What is the parent's viewpoint on the entire episode The viewpoint and thoughts of Trevor's parents Trevor's reaction to the episode, Shane's reaction Shane's statement of the incident. The expression of calamity is termed with the situation which involves an occurrence that merely took place haphazardly, by probability, or else because of the fact that somebody was not careful. The dictum that damage had been done unintentionally together with a false notion that nothing was done in terms of action to avoid the occurrence. Nearly all the injuries, in these cases are projected as being unnecessary. For instance, if a kid surges off the monkey bars and as a consequence gets a broken arm or a broken leg, he/she may perhaps have done so as the blocks were too remote not together for a youthful individual his/her age moreover the school did not confine the treatment. He/she might not have broken an arm or a broken leg if he/she had fallen on an adequate, impact gripping surface as an alternative of blacktop (Nakpodia, 2007). A tort within law specifies to a national disaster in addition to the word tort is a Norman French word concerning a mistaken event. It is a transgression for which an offended individual can bring the proceedings in court to recover damages against those who committed them. This is for the reason that nearly all of the cases ensuing from school actions fit in to the group of civil events. During a paper obtainable within the substitute Law Journal, Barbara (1996) dealt with an only some inferences of the United Kingdom's Children Act. The experts requested how the innermost standard primary the legislation, that of protection the assurance of the family, may perhaps be met with the limited resources available to the pertinent local establishment within the period of privatization as well as financial rationalism. A lot of aspects of care as well as protection in relative to the associations are hereditarily challenging within the tort incident for the reason that they are so set as ide reliant. They as a result fall tainted of the uncertain dissimilarity guiding principle and operational pronouncements formulated in quite a lot of chief cases. This has been a major theme within negligence law. There is a number of testified incidents within the school arrangement that the amounts to gross negligence on the part of the teachers and/or school heads. A most important feature is who fails to make available for an enough concord for the administration of the school's measures, e.g. morning assemblage, closing, supplementary activities furthermore so forth, may perhaps be held responsible for tort of carelessness if tragedy occurs(Orr, 1995). This case typified need of high job care on the fraction of the principal, in that way risking the children's right to the fortification of livelihood as well as chattels. A serious appraisal of the anthology of activities which children tend to engage themselves beneath the sponsorship of the

Innovation in Topp Tiles Plc Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Innovation in Topp Tiles Plc - Case Study Example The innovative strategies adopted by Topp Tiles includes evolving appropriate marketing strategies, establishing excellent ,customer support and enhancing the online business operations. The study undertaken have given the wider perspective on the impact of the innovation that would help the organisations maintain the leadership in the market. The observations made from this study have helped to evolve a framework of practices that organisations could adopt to make them the most acceptable by the clients and also successful in business operations. Top tiles are the most favoured brands in the floor tile segment across UK and other major European countries. Since opening of the first specialist tile centre in Manchester in the year 1963, Topp tiles were offering its customers high quality products. The reasons for its success during all through these years was due to the competitive strategy it had adopted by recruiting, training and retaining highly competitive staff who are knowledgeable, friendly to customers and also highly committed to the profession. The business strategy too is beyond the revenue and enhanced sales volume. They take extra care to see that their customers are able to complete the particular task for which the Topp tiles products were purchased. A DVD which explains "How to do it" clearly shows the commitment to the customer by explaining the process the customers must undergo to get the maximum benefit from the purchased products. Its these policies that have helped the Topp tiles to become the Britain's largest tile and wood flooring specialist with over 250 stores over U.K. and adding atleast 20 stores every year (Topp Tiles, n.d.). 1.2 Financial performance of Topp Tiles :Year 2008 (Topp Tiles,2008) * Total revenue increased by 0.1 % to 208.1 million. * Group gross margin is 61.8 % * Operating profit of 34.6 million and profit before tax reported as27.7million. * Basic earning per share 11.16 p. 1.3 Future Challenges Till the end of the year 2008 the business was going well for the Topp tiles Plc. Having opened 10 new stores across different places in UK and trading from the centres being raised to over 300, the revenues reported have shown a marginal increase than that of the previous year (Topp Tiles, n.d.). Inspite of the prevalence of highly turbulent weather and reduced consumer spending, the company was able to wither the problems and maintain the required business by appropriately strategizing its marketing plan. The additional spending it had made on a national level TV advertisement campaign coupled with the inflationary trends have resulted in the increased gross expenditure of 43 percent of the total revenue,

Case Brief: McCulloch v. Maryland :: essays research papers

McCulloch v Maryland 4 Wheat. (17 U.S.) 316 (1819) Issue   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  May Congress charter a bank even though it is not an expressly granted power? Holding   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Yes, Congress may charter a bank as an implied power under the â€Å"necessary and proper† clause. Rationale   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Constitution was created to correct the weaknesses of the Articles. The word â€Å"expressly† particularly caused major problems and therefore was omitted from the Constitution, because if everything in the Constitution had to be expressly stated it would weaken the power of the Federal government. The 10th Amendment specifically does not have the word â€Å"expressly† in it and it states that â€Å"The powers not delegated to the United States†¦ nor prohibited to the states, are reserved to the states respectively or to the people. In 1791 the bank was approved and then it collapsed. It was then reestablished in 1813 and was very successful.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Article I section 8 among the enumerated powers of Congress there is no mention of the word â€Å"bank† or â€Å"corporation.† The Constitution, however, does not specifically prohibit Congress from establishing a bank. The Marshall court found that the creation of a national bank would affect the welfare of the nation; therefor, the Constitutionality of creating the bank was legitimate.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The power comes from the â€Å"necessary and proper† clause, which is listed under the powers of Congress not its limits in Article I section 9. Justice Marshall shows how the word â€Å"necessary† may have different meanings depending on the context of the sentence and by the intention of the person using the word. In Article I section 10 the phrase â€Å"absolutely necessary† is applied with stronger meaning regarding imposts on imports or exports, and is different than the word â€Å"necessary† used alone in this case which was intended to mean indispensable by the framers of the Constitution. The bank is helpful to several delegated powers like commerce and military and also other necessary tools such as the ability to collect taxes and barrow money, so therefore the incorporation of a bank is inherently constitutional.

Secretary Maria and the OSI Network Model

Secretary Maria and the OSI Network Model Mr. Boss meets Maria on the 7th floor of the main building headquarters. He gives Maria a secret message that must get to the US Embassy across town. Maria proceeds to the 6th floor where the message is translated into an intermediary language, encrypted and miniaturized. Maria then takes the elevator to the 5th floor where she checks the message to be sure it is all there and puts some checkpoints in the message so her counterpart at the US Embassy can be sure she got the whole message.On the 4th floor the message is analyzes to see if it can be combined with some other small messages that need to go to the US Embassy, also if the message was very large, it might be broken into several smaller packages so other secretaries can take it and have it reassembled on the other end. The 3rd floor personnel check the address on the message, determine who the addressee is and advise Maria of the fastest route to the Embassy. On the 2nd floor the mess age is put into a special courier pouch (packet). It contains the message, sender and destination ID, and warns the recipient if other pieces are coming.Maria then proceeds to the 1st floor where Mr. Boss has leased a limo for the trip. Maria departs for the US Embassy with the secret packet in hand. On the other end at the US Embassy the process is reversed. Maria proceeds from floor to floor where the message is decoded. The US Ambassador is very grateful, saying â€Å"Maria, please tell Mr. Boss I’ll be glad to meet him for dinner tonight†. Of course there are many ways this could be displayed but as long as the steps outlined are maintained in this order the OSI layers are explained very clearly.