Environmental Management Case Study of AkzoNobel

Environmental Management Case Study of AkzoNobel Abstract In modern business, sustainability has become of great importance when determining a companys strategy.   AkzoNobel, a company that produces chemicals, paint, paper and pulp, is well aware of this evolution and has built its business model around it. This case study aimed to analyze and review AkzoNobels environmental- and sustainability performance by exploring the companys webpage as well as other critical resources. The management of the company was analyzed, along with the tools, methods and metrics that are used to reach set objectives. Furthermore, the environmental- and sustainability policy was related to the ISO14001 requirements. It was determined that, although AkzoNobel puts in significant effort to include environmental aspects in its long term goals, it is clear that their sustainability agenda is a tool for boosting their reputation to outcompete their competitors. Table of Content Abstract 2 Table of Content 3 Introduction 4 Environmental Management 4 Executive body 5 Driving forces 5 Objectives/Comparison with Sweden 5 Environmental Policy 7 Sustainable systems 7 Tools, methods metrics 8 Eco-premium products 8 Environmental Assessment Tools 9 Safety 9 Product stewardship 9 Managing scarce resources 9 ISO14001 and AkzoNobel 9 Suppliers sustainability 11 Supplier visit 11 Vendor compliance letter 12 Key supplier management program 12 Sustainability focus areas 12 Climate change AKZO Nobel 12 Position 12 Achievements 13 The Future 13 Discussion 14 Conclusion 15 References 16 Introduction AkzoNobel is the largest global paint and coating manufacturer in the world and a leading producer of specialty chemicals, pulp and paper. It is a company of about 57,000 employees that are situated in more than 80 countries. The companys slogan is Tomorrows answer today. In other words, their strategy is to produce products that are far more advanced compared to their competition. With todays concern about environmental issues, this competitive edge comes with producing products that are deemed sustainable. Therefore, the forefront of AkzoNobels agenda, it can be said that sustainability is the key word in AkzoNobels business. The aim of this report is to review the environmental and sustainability management performance of AkzoNobel. The objectives of this report are to: Give a short description of AkzoNobels activities and to investigate their executive body; Analyze the driving forces behind the environmental management performance of the company; Define the most significant environmental aspects of AkzoNobel and relate them to Swedens Environmental Objectives; Critically analyze the environmental/sustainability policy; Identify and analyze the different environmental and sustainability management tools, methods and metrics; Provide AkzoNobels position on global warming; Describe AkzoNobels supplier and vendor policy; Examine their business strategy in relation to business opportunity; Judge their actual sustainability performance; and Comment on outside criticism of the company. Environmental Management When a company sets its goals towards sustainability, it is often necessary to completely rework the way in which the company is managed. In order to successfully improve negative social and environmental impacts, it is essential for the company to integrate these factors into every day decision making (Epstein, 2008). AkzoNobels management team has claimed to have done this by the appointing a management team that has sustainability at its utmost priority. Executive body AkzoNobel has established an executive committee (ExCo) which is composed of five members of the board of management and four leaders with functional expertise. This arrangement allows business and function to be taken equally into account while managing the company. The functions that are now representing the ExCo are: HR Organizational Development, Research, Development Innovation, Legal  and Supply Chain/Sourcing. The ExCO shares powers and responsibility for managing the company under the chairmanship of the CEO, Hans Wijer. (AkzoNobel, 2011c) AkzoNobel also has a special Sustainable Development Group. This team is composed of 13 individuals with background studies ranging from chemistry to economics and from environmental sciences to policy and management. (AkzoNobel, 2011g) Driving forces In 2008, AkzoNobel put in place a strategy with a sustainable agenda. Their specific sustainability objectives were to: Remain in the top three in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes; Reduce the total reportable rate of injuries to 2.0 per million working hours by 2015; and Deliver a step change in people development, in part through substantially improving the diversity in the company. (AkzoNobel, 2011e) The first point connects the companys business side and its environmental objectives together. Investors are increasingly focusing on investing in companies that set industry-wide best practices with regard to sustainability. Sustainability has become attractive to investors because it aims to increase long-term shareholder value. Sustainability leaders are increasingly expected to show superior performance and favorable risk/return profile (Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes, 2011). Consequently, a company with a sustainable agenda is considered a good investment. AkzoNobel is well aware of this as can be seen in their business principles when they state: We need to make sustainable profits if our business is to thrive (AkzoNobel, Business Principles, 2011a). The companys sustainable agenda also mentioned that they aim to reduce the reportable rate of injuries. AkzoNobel is a company that works with substances and chemicals that have high environmental and health risks. Companies fear having a reputation for a high number of injured employees or for causing environmental damage. Because AkzoNobel handles these types of substances it is consequently under the microscope. In order to avoid pressure from environmental advocacy groups such as Greenpeace or to avoid bad media, it is of strong interest to account for environmental aspects as well as the safety and health of its employees. Objectives/Comparison with Sweden According to the companys website, AkzoNobel set its targets on the following objectives towards sustainability: Improving safety performance; Increasing turnover from eco-premium products  which are both eco-efficient and attract a premium; Developing sustainable water management   at all sites; Reducing carbon emissions from cradle to gate; Adherence to and training in the companies Code of Conduct ; Strengthening the diversity of the companys workforce; and Implementing leading people development programs (AkzoNobel, 2011b). From these targets it is clear that AkzoNobel considers a well trained and ambitious workforce an important step towards sustainability. It can also be seen that there is an emphasis on the responsibility of the workforce. It is important for the company that its personnel are aware of the sustainable targets and that the employees take part in reaching them. In comparison, Swedens Environmental Objectives are the following: Reduced Climate Impact Clean Air Natural Acidification Only A Non-Toxic Environment A Protective Ozone Layer A Safe Radiation Environment Zero Eutrophication Flourishing Lakes and Streams Good-Quality Groundwater A Balanced Marine Environment, Flourishing Coastal Areas and Archipelagos Thriving Wetlands Sustainable Forests A Varied Agricultural Landscape A Magnificent Mountain Landscape A Good Built Environment A Rich Diversity of Plant and Animal Life (Government offices of Sweden, 2011) The management of AkzoNobel is in line with most of Swedens environmental objectives. They are aware of the need to reduce carbon emissions and employ sustainable water management. Furthermore, the production of eco-efficient products is a step towards a non-toxic environment. Eka Chemical is AkzoNobels daughter company that specializes in specialty chemicals, pulp and paper. Their goal is to have pulp and paper products that are made from sustainably sourced fibers (i.e. sustainable forestry), while using energy from renewable sources and discharge only of water that is cleaned after production (AkzoNobel, 2011d). Taking into concern its environmental aspects, AkzoNobel has a clear aim towards one of Swedens Environmental Objectives, which is A Good Built Environment. Environmental Policy Within a company, the principles of environmental policy are the foundation for implementing a sustainable system. Usually full support at the top management level is needed to make such a system work and to gain the attention of all employees inside the organization (ISO 14001,2010). The term Environmental Policy can be defined as: any [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] action deliberately taken [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] to manage human activities with a view to prevent, reduce, or mitigate harmful effects on nature and natural resources, and ensuring that man-made changes to the environment do not have harmful effects on humans. (Fairbridge Technologies, 2009). As mentioned previously, AkzoNobel really takes care of its reputation for being a sustainable company. This, again, is mentioned in their Vendor Policy. The slogan Tomorrows Answer today shows that this topic is omnipresent and AkzoNobel not only explains that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦sustainability is at the heart of everything we do but also that they have integrated sustainability into every area of their business. (AkzoNobel, 2011a) Sustainable systems Sustainable systems are considered ones that take into account not only environmental aspects but also social and economic ones. The main goal of an Environmental Management System is to improve all three aspects simultaneously without losing performance in one. AkzoNobel uses a sustainability framework which is part of the managing our values ideal. Former key points such as integrity, governance and compliance are now being replaced with new topics such as value creation through process excellence, innovation and talent development. More specifically, AkzoNobels sustainability framework focuses on three concepts: Improve: continue to comply with environmental and social regulations to ensure a license to operate. This point is considered to be the core element of how AkzoNobel, as a company, operates. Manage: include sustainability in all aspects of the value chain. Invent: integrate sustainable value propositions to develop a long-term strategic value. (AkzoNobel, 2009) Tools, methods metrics The global strategy of AkzoNobel is to integrate sustainability in all aspects of the value chain, to decrease their carbon footprint and to make profits from these standardized systems. It starts in the early stage of market research across sales and ends in cooperation with stakeholders. Furthermore, AkzoNobel highlights the essential aspect of long-term opportunities for their business which should be reached by these tools, methods and metrics. In the following theres a detailed list of the sustainability actions in the company. Eco-premium products AkzoNobel analyzes all of their products by quantitative or qualitative measurements every time they bring a new product on the market. In order to be deemed an eco-premium product, the product must score significantly better than a currently available product in at least one of the following categories: Toxicity Energy Efficiency Use of Natural Resources and Raw Materials Emissions Waste Land use and risk (AkzoNobel, 2009) Environmental Assessment Tools As mentioned previously, AkzoNobel quantitatively and qualitatively measures the sustainability of all products before they are considered suitable for sales. In order to conduct these assessments, the company implements the use environmental assessment tools such as life cycle analysis, environmental impacts analysis, carbon footprint analysis, eco footprint analysis and eco efficiency assessment. Environmental tools, such as the ones mentioned, are essential for turning data into environmental business strategies. Data for each of the tools is gathered from in house personnel, measurements, authorities, etc. and the conclusions from each report are used for negotiations, reducing costs, meeting permit requirements, improving efficiency, meeting customer demand and setting sustainability targets. (AkzoNobel, 2010b) Safety The establishment of a behavior-based safety program and a new Safety Leadership Program for head management is an efficient method of improving the injury rate for employees and contractors. This figure is also influenced by the integration of standards for process safety and occupational health and the, so called, Health, Safety, Environment and Security (HSES) audit process. The aim is to share good practice all over the company with corporate HSES audits to analyze progress. (AkzoNobel, 2009) Product stewardship To guarantee that AkzoNobel fulfills all legal and ethical requirements for their products (according to REACH, GHS etc.), a Global Product Stewardship and Regulatory Affairs Council has been established. Their tasks are to integrate good practice from the company into a product stewardship framework and to ensure that supplies, training and audits are optimized step by step. (AkzoNobel, 2009) Managing scarce resources AkzoNobel puts in a significant amount of effort in reducing the carbon footprint of their products and creating more value for the customer at the same time. Sourcing managers have been installed to identify focus areas for improvement and develop a carbon management plan in a dialogue with suppliers. In the future, AkzoNobel wants to learn more about customer applications to become more efficient in their environmental management. (AkzoNobel, 2009) ISO14001 and AkzoNobel The ISO 14000 family of environmental management standards can be used to implement a successful environmental management system. Specifically, ISO 14001 can be considered the most important framework for organizations around the world to reach their environmental goals and keep an effective environmental system running. The cyclical process of plan, do, act and check are similar to the ISO 9000 family (Quality Management) but focused on environmental issues. Nevertheless, it is possible to combine the two because it is voluntary for companies to implement these systems. Therefore, every organization regardless of size or sector has the ability to implement ISO 14001. Two different companies can run two completely different environmental management systems but both according to the framework in ISO 14001. The basic principle which distinguishes ISO 14001 from all other strategies is the Concept of Continual Improvement Process (CIP). This concept ensures that products are continually being monitored and improved to adhere to environmental and safety regulations. (Envirocip, 2011; Environmental Management System, 2011; ISO, 2009) ISO 14001 consists of four basic points (figure 1). They are similar to traditional generalized strategic planning and are following: Plan Do Check Act (ISO, 2009) Figure 1: ISO 14001(Jonsson, L. 2011) An explanation of each step and its connection with AkzoNobels business policy is as follows. Plan: Environmental management system implementation In the first step of the PDCA-cycle, environmental goals are defined and strategic processes are created to reach them. Ideally those targets are measurable so it also gives a framework for a control system. AkzoNobel installed sourcing managers to take care of their carbon management plan and to find new focus areas for improvement and development together with suppliers. (AkzoNobel 2009; ISO, 2009; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2008) Do: Conduct life cycle assessment and manage environmental aspects During this step, the company begins the life cycle assessment process and determines how to manage environmental aspects. This step requires that documentation be taken throughout the entire assessment, control systems are run, employees are educated and emergency plans are established. One example of how AkzoNobel deals with this step in the ISO 14001 process is the implementation of the EUs REACH-Project in 2007. This program involved changing the requirements and rules for suppliers which how AkzoNobel educated their contractors to manage environmental aspects differently. (AkzoNobel ,2007a) Check: Conduct audits and evaluate environmental performance The check step in the ISO 14001 involves screening, measuring and controlling all processes and products controlled by internal audits etc. AkzoNobel is very proud of its Eco-Premium Products. They give this label to new products after positive analyses of their carbon footprint. (AkzoNobel 2009; ISO, 2009; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2008). Act: Communicate and use environmental declarations and claims During this stage, companies determine whether their goals and targets within their Environmental Management System were fulfilled. In AkzoNobel, a Product Stewardship System controls and improves all activities from cradle until gate. An effective way to follow this step of the ISO-framework is to check the current situation, and go back and find a better solution in a continuous process. (AkzoNobel 2009; ISO, 2009; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2008) Suppliers sustainability As mentioned previously, AkzoNobel claims to have implemented sustainability into every area of their business. As per this initiative, part of their long-term strategic goal is to build relationships and work with partners that help the company increase its sustainability. Currently, AkzoNobel requires suppliers of raw materials to adhere to certain restrictions with regards to social and environmental standards. This is laid out by the AkzoNobel Vendor Policy- a document that formulates the conditions that suppliers are legally bound to. The conditions that vendors must comply to have been broken down into four categories: supplier visits, vendor compliance letter, key management program, and sustainability focus areas. (AkzoNobel, 2011h) Supplier visit AkzoNobel regularly conducts support visits with their vendors. The purposes of these visits are to not only ensure that AkzoNobels restrictions are being met but also to provide sustainability counseling. AkzoNobels personnel give suggestions and act as environmental consultants to their suppliers. Continual regular visits ensure that the suppliers have implemented the sustainability measures and have maintained their new strategies. This process is laid out in the Vendor Relationship Management Framework. (AkzoNobel, 2011h; AkzoNobel, 2011j) Vendor compliance letter As part of the legal obligation for vendors to adhere to AkzoNobels business principles, vendors are required to sign the Vendor Compliance Letter. This document contains AkzoNobels core values as well as a framework for labor, environmental, safety, and business relations guidelines. (AkzoNobel, 2011i) Key supplier management program This program aims to work with suppliers to increase and improve Eco-premium solutions for their customers. Regular meetings are conducted where suppliers and AkzoNobel agree upon new products that will continue success not only in economic terms, but also environmental sustainability terms. (AkzoNobel, 2011h) Sustainability focus areas AkzoNobel has developed sustainability focus areas (SFA) in order to source products and services that give the company the opportunity to significantly reduce their ecological footprint. These areas include: Logistics Travel Waste Management Packaging Carbon Management Renewable Raw Materials IT Lease Cars (AkzoNobel, 2011h) Climate change AKZO Nobel Position AkzoNobels position on climate change is laid out in the document AkzoNobels Position Statement. This document states that AkzoNobel recognizes climate change as a man-made global issue of great importance and, therefore, it is necessary to mitigate CO2 emissions. In an effort to reduce their carbon footprint, AkzoNobel monitors, measures and studies all CO2 emissions related to industrial or production activities. Yearly, this data is compiled into reports that are in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and provide an analysis of direct, indirect, and total CO2 emissions. From these reports, reduction goals and mitigation objectives are developed that the company aims to achieve by the following year. The 2015 target is to reduce carbon emissions by 10% (based on 2009 emissions) per ton of product and the 2020 target is to reduce carbon emissions by 20-25% (based on 2009 emissions). (AkzoNobel, 2008) Achievements AkzoNobel has been recognized as the global leader in sustainability in the chemicals industry. From 2006 to 2007 AkzoNobel has managed to decrease their carbon dioxide emissions from 5.2 (Million T c) to 3.3 (Million T c). From 2007 to 2008, AkzoNobel decreased their carbon dioxide emissions 1 percent per ton of production. Because AkzoNobel aims to significantly reduce their ecological footprint, they have set up a strategy to help reduce carbon-intensive processes and improve energy efficiency. Thus far, they have achieved the following: 73% of worldwide power consumption is based on zero and low carbon sources 37% of electricity in the production process is based on hydropower Considered in the top ten percent for energy efficiency in manufacturing salt-chlorine-PVC loop- on our their most energy intensive processes Use low carbon energy sources to produce their other two most energy intensive chemicals- sodium chlorate and hydrogen peroxide Trying to replace fossil fuels with renewable resources such as wood chips Assessed the eco-efficiency/carbon footprint of key products Developed several carbon efficient solutions for our customers Include energy efficiency and carbon footprint criteria in their investment decisions (AkzoNobel, 2008) Additionally, Scandinavias pulp and paper industry and Hollands base chemical production are AkzoNobels most energy intensive production plants. These two industries combined are responsible for 82% of AkzoNobels total energy use and 73% of their CO2 emissions. Recently, the pulp and paper chemicals production plant shifted 58% of its energy to hydropower. Also, the base chemicals plants were retrofitted with highly energy efficient, gas fired cogeneration units that produce steam and power. (AkzoNobel, 2007b) The Future AkzoNobel has made plans to invest in creating a system that produces steam from waste and biofuels. AkzoNobel also supports implementing a cap and trade system that encourages plants to become sustainable while punishing the unsustainable ones. Their position states that they support the development and implementation of the most energy efficient technologies worldwide. For the future, AkzoNobel is revising their 2008 Carbon Strategy to build new sustainability goals. This strategy will include plans to reduce carbon emissions in the area of manufacturing. (AkzoNobel, 2007b) Discussion After reviewing AkzoNobels business strategy, it is clear that AkzoNobel looks at high environmental/sustainability performance as a business opportunity. The company specifically aims to produce products that are economically as well as environmentally rewarding. Currently, sustainability and climate change issues are at the forefront of the global agenda. If AkzoNobel chose to disregard these issues and continued with business as usual their reputation would lack the high integrity which has been a key element to their success. Because this company has managed to significantly reduce their ecological footprint, they have received several awards, media attention, and PR. This attention does not go unrecognized as consumers are attracted to companies that hold such a high esteem. Additionally, it is well known amongst the general population that chemical production as well as pulp and paper production are two notoriously environmentally harmful industries. As the general population b ecomes increasingly involved and aware of environmental issues, AkzoNobels business and purchasing decisions begin to reflect it. It is, thus, in AkzoNobels best interest to address the companys sustainability and remain at the forefront of the global sustainability arena. If AkzoNobel chose to disregard sustainability issues it would, in the long-term, cause AkzoNobel to not be able to compete with its competitors in the market. This is in line with AkzoNobels philosophy of environmental stewardship and their understanding of customer demand as can be seen by the following AkzoNobel quotation: [Sustainable innovation process] SIP is driven by the need for better product performance but its always connected to sustainability and environmental performance. We cant bring a product to market that is less environmentally friendly than its predecessor and expect it to succeed. Equally, a new eco-product will only do well if it also offers real competitive advantage. (AkzoNobel, 2010a) Regardless of the companys attempt to address environmental/sustainability issues, AkzoNobel is nonetheless environmentally harmful. Producing chemicals, paint, paper, and pulp products is never done without an ecological price. However, AkzoNobel has made a significant effort to increase the companys environmental sustainability as much as possible. This has been done by developing strategies, goals, and plans through rigorous sustainability planning and the success of the activities have been monitored via environmental testing. Because reductions in VOCs, CO2, SO2, and NOx emissions have been proven, the business activities of the company are in correlation to the environmental planning. As mentioned, companies in modern business are aware of the importance of being green. Unfortunately some of them fail to act green even though they present themselves as such. Greenpeace has set up a campaign to stop this so called Greenwashing and ask companies to: Clean up your act, NOT your image (Greenpeace, 2011). While surfing AkzoNobels webpage, it was clear that AkzoNobel was extremely proud of all its positive achievements but hardly mentioned when it didnt succeed or have a bad performance. However did SOMO (Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations) make a report in 2009 about AkzoNobel to provide additional information that AkzoNobel itself might not have reported, focusing on the 2008 annual report. In this report it was stated that in 2008 the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) of the University of Massachusetts had ranked AkzoNobel in the 85th place on the Toxic 100 Index. This index indicates the top 100 air polluters in the U.S. on the basis of tota l human health hazards resulting from air toxics emissions at their facilities. (Knottnerus, 2009). It was also noted that in 2008, AkzoNobel had not fulfilled requirements about the usage and purchase of renewable energy. Knuttnerus mentioned more cases that were not environmentally friendly, though many were old, some even stationed back in the 1980s. Sustainability first became a fundamental principle in AkzoNobels business in 2004. The company had a quick success and already in 2008 it was in 2nd place on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes. (Knottnerus, 2009). The company has succeeded a lot in a short time and its understandable that some things cant happen over a night. From our point of view AkzoNobel could think about taking part in the Chemical Leasing program coordinated by UNIDO to mitigate their environmental pollution. The idea of ChL is to establish a service-oriented business model and to guide customers away from buying and using too much chemicals for the purpose of the environment. The producer mainly sells the functions performed by the chemical and functional units are the main basis for payment. (UNIDO, 2010) Conclusion After analysis of AkzoNobels environmental/sustainability management performance, it is clear that the company has a strong sustainable agenda that is supported by all levels of management- an essential aspect for successful implementation of business strategies. To execute this plan, AkzoNobel established an Executive Committee and a special Sustainable Development group that focuses on these matters. The main driving force for the development of this strategy is to increase long-term share holder value. The company monitors and develops both their internal production as well suppliers through the use of several sustainability tools. It was determined that AkzoNobel uses this sustainability strategy as a business opportunity as well as a means of boosting their public image. Since it was difficult to find figures or statistics that showed negative environmental performance, it is unclear whether the company adheres to Greenpeaces campaign slogan Clean up your act, NOT your image. Ei ther way, it is important that modern day companies are transparent and do not forget to report their bad performance. Transparency and honesty in business is the best way to be trusted and to avoid being classified as a Greenwashing company.

Napster Case Study

Napster & MP3: Redefining The Music Industry Introduction Napster was the first, very innovative music technology application that allowed users to download MP3 from the internet and other peers for free, or at a cost. Napster strongly adapted the word sharing and put it their own terms to avoid any copyright infringement but it ended badly on their part. This disruptive technology was leading the market and had over 60 million users by 2001. Although very similar technologies were soon after developed, Napster was still on top and lead the market.Many users knew exactly what they wanted but getting it seemed to be the difficult part once Napster and the RIAA went into a legal battle. More commonly, the industry has been shaped from Napster and the base product that has been derived. Napster may have been a failure to the industry but it shaped the industry for the future from 2001 until present and for years to come. 1. What is Napster’s business model? Being as though Napste r was the first to market with their music search engine for MP3 files, they successfully managed to set up an online community where users could download these files.Napster had its market segments and was targeting the college and high school demographic, as described in the case study. The main objective was to give users the opportunity to listen to the songs before they wanted to go ahead and purchase them. During the dot. com boom, when Napster was created, it seemed as though the developers only wanted to create the program to attract a client base to increase the value of the company mainly to sell it off to a larger, more valuable company. Once the main database of Napster was created, they started off by seemingly trying to create a membership based business model.They had a free membership to start as a trial run, basic membership for relatively inexpensive that would cost between $2. 95 and $4. 95 per month. This basic membership would have a limit on file transfers. The y also had a premium membership that would cost between $5. 95 and $9. 95 with an unlimited amount of file transfers. Most of these file transfers came from peer-to-peer which was part of the interesting aspect of Napster. Users could upload files from their computer to their Napster desktop and another user could download straight from their computer.Certain users had a better rating than others and so forth. It seems as though their business model was working until the music industry became aware of what was really going on. 2. How have Napster and MP3 changed the music industry? Napster and MP3 were the start to the online music industry databases during the dot. com boom. This was the beginning of the greatest innovations yet to come. Not only did this lead to what we now use as iTunes but it went through multiple transformations with different music download programs and revamped the way artists were selling their music.CDs were most common before Napster and now, the percentag e of CDs compared to online purchases are completely reversed. Many people don’t even own CD players unless they are on their computers and iPod or iPhones are the new use of music play. Without Napster, none of this would even be possible because the whole concept of having the MP3 on a database where you can see each song and download right from the Internet. Now, you have to purchase each song or album and the artists get credit for their work.Back when Napster was the source with MP3, there were possible ways around the memberships and for a very light fee, you could get music for almost nothing where the artists were not getting the compensation that they deserved and worked for. The music industry is completed revamped since Napster and thanks to Napster and MP3, we now have the convenience to purchase a song or album right at the touch of our fingertips or click of a button as opposed to going to a store and buying a CD. 3. Who are the winners and the losers in the ind ustry transformation?Explain why in detail. Within the industry transformation, there are many different aspects to be considered when discussing the winners and the losers. In terms of the artists and musicians, I believe that although they started out as losers, in the end, they ended up winning because for already discovered, well-known singers, they are getting the royalties they are owed and for new, up and coming artists, they are getting their name out there in a much less expensive way than before and still making some sort of money to support their dream.The agents and label companies will become winners as well through the transformations. The larger companies will most likely lose some strength and then gain back once they begin to find new artists and those artists begin to take off. The risk/reward of the digital market here will yield much more reward and their financial strength from the start will help them be a winner here. I feel the biggest loser in throughout the entire industry transformation is the packaging and CD production industry. Because CDs are no longer at an all time high, they will no longer be needed.There is very little need for this and it has almost become a niche market, barely used for music anymore, unless someone is burning their own music onto a CD. Albums being created and sold solely onto a CD has decreased substantially and within the next few years could become something in the past. This is the biggest loser by far through the music industry transformation. Although customers might think they are losing because now they have to pay for songs, they are winners because the quality of the music is better as well as the people creating.The level of effort matters to the customers when creating their next masterpiece of an album and if they weren’t getting the compensation they feel they deserve, it would be hard to justify a very complete, well written album. Customers are winners during the industry transformat ion. As for the biggest winner, I believe digital retail has won in this category. Apple and Microsoft have both done an amazing job with allowing iTunes to properly run on both of their software where it is so extremely easy to access any song, album, artists, video, TV show, movie, you name that a person could possible think of.To have a song on there takes a very small amount of work for Apple and it is one of the most genius programs to every be invented by one of the most powerful companies we will ever come across. At this time, if you were to watch a TV reality singing show, for example, X-factor, and you see a live performance you really enjoy, you can literally go on iTunes the very next day and purchase that specific person singing that very song. The digital retail market is only growing and technology has done something so amazing by growing the concept of Napster into something that can yield such amazing results.This is by far the biggest winner of the music industry t ransformation. 4. From the perspective of the stakeholder who stands to lose, is there anything you can do to change this? From the perspective of the stakeholders in Napster, it seems that they would all end up losing and there really is not much to be done to change this. Even though the concept of Napster really did drive the entire music and social media industry to a new place, it was a highly illegal application where many people lost a ton of money.Because of the money put into this application, stakeholders will end up being the losers when they lose their investment when they expected a return. 5. How will the industry change over the next 5-year period? As difficult as it is to say how the industry will change within the next 5 year period, I believe there will be many more drastic changes between now and then. Technology is rapidly growing and altering while new products are being brought into the market.I believe that iTunes will be around for some time but as they conti nue to update and make it better, faster and stronger, it will only take up more of the market share. As of right now, they have a tool called â€Å"genius† where it searches through the music you already have and suggests new music for you to buy. This tool is extremely helpful and can create thousands of new playlists and songs for a person to listen to. New artists, groups, reality TV shows, YouTube sensations and small town discoveries are being made every single day.The next pop star could be in the local coffee shop one day and on your TV screen the next. The industry is so quickly growing that it is almost impossible to keep up with technology and talent wise. 6. As viewed from the perspective of the record companies, retailers, artists, and Napster, what strategy would you pursue, and how? If I were viewing this situation from the perspective of the record companies, retailers, artists and Napster, I would pursue the strategy of Phase 2.In this day and age, many peopl e try and keep up with the technology that they are given. Napster was first to market with their idea and what they were given but many people were not happy. In Phase 2, it gives Napster the option to still let people play the music that they had already had on their original Napster, but from there forth, purchase the rest of the music and pay where the price is due. Napster was a disruptive technology that absolutely lacked refinement and had some major performance problems whether those were the slow search or the filters.However, this application was proven to be somewhat practical once it was perfected through the years. Apple used Napster’s disruptive technology and built their sustaining technology from the concept and played out the revenue aspect of Phase 2. That being said, I would stick with Phase 2 and continue to grow the industry based of of each song and price because even though many customers would initially complain, this would eventually turn into the nor m, like it has, and will drive the music industry to become a much more organized and beneficial industry.

Stereotypes as a Propaganda Tool Essay - 1240 Words

Stereotypes as a Propaganda Tool Stereotypes as a Propaganda Tool As Americans go through a post-traumatic process after the September tragedies, most people are trying to analyze the entire situation to find out who is wrong and who is right. While media, politicians, and military leaders endlessly speak about the Taliban, Bin-Laden, Arabs, and Islam, we are making our conclusions based on what we hear. What an average American might assume by watching television and reading newspapers is that Islamic fundamentalism is some kind of mental illness and every Arabic-looking man is a threat to society. Unintentionally, we are about to make the same mistake by discriminating against people as we did with the Germans during World War II†¦show more content†¦Then, he said, â€Å"We are all just one big family on this flight. So, I want you to get know your neighbors. Ask them their names and their country of origin. Then, you folks just let me know if any of you are worried about the person sitting next to you.† I was dumbfounded! What a way to perpetuate the racial stereotypes and prejudice that grew in the wake of the September 11 attacks. I’ve heard of pilots refusing to take an Arab-American passenger, or passengers getting off the flight with Arab-Americans on board, but I had hoped that kind of discrimination was waning. Such behavior is inappropriate in America. Guess I was wrong. (F.05) We are scared and such inexcusable behavior is just our instincts of anger and fear. We think that it is acceptable to violate someone’s civil rights if it would make us, Americans, feel safer. Every political leader in the country says we are not in a war against Islam, but after the September attacks, there were over 400 hate crimes against Muslims or Muslim-Americans, including nine deaths, 90 physical assaults, and 85 incidents of vandalism. Cases include firebombings of Islamic centers and mosques in Chicago, Cleveland and Seattle (Poe A.10). Many Americans have acquired the stereotype of Muslim people as a symbol of danger. â€Å"The stereotyping of Middle-Eastern-looking people has been known since the Crusades in the Middle Ages,† said Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic RelationsShow MoreRelatedEssay on The Functions of Stereotypes in Propaganda1220 Words   |  5 PagesThe Functions of Stereotypes in Propaganda A leader with no followers is a guy taking a walk. Good leaders whether it be opinion or political, rarely if ever walk by themselves. The information theydisseminate more often than not leaves them with a hoard of followers that conform to their ideas or cause. The circulated information is known as propaganda. The Webster dictionary defines propaganda as, ideas, facts, or allegations spread deliberately to further ones cause or to damage an opposingRead More Propaganda and Stereotyping Essay1382 Words   |  6 PagesPropaganda and Stereotyping Propaganda: a word that is commonly underestimated in its power. Confused with advertisement, people tend to take the disasters caused by propaganda lightly. One such disaster is the stereotype – a felicity confused with the truth. In this research paper, a closer attention will be given to the propaganda generation of stereotypes about a specific age group; how easily and believable stereotypes are carried by propaganda tactics on youth will be presented. ThroughoutRead MoreEssay on Media Propaganda and Stereotypes1645 Words   |  7 PagesOur society consists of consumers that buy into stereotypes and the propaganda that is being fed by the government and the media. Stereotypes steer individuals perceptions of a group of people in a certain way, usually negative, and generalize that opinion to all members of the group. Aware of the influence stereotypes have on peoples views, governments use stereotypes already imbedded in society as a propaganda tactic to persuade peoples thoughts, opinions and beliefs in order to benefit theirRead MoreEssay on Propaganda, Stereotypes, and the War on Drugs1371 Words   |  6 PagesPropaganda, Stereotypes, and the War on Drugs The West has constantly been fighting the use of illegal drugs for decades by Propaganda. Propaganda ‘is a form of manipulative communication designed to elicit some predetermined response’ (Inge, 1981, 322). Governments have been using many propagandistic methods to reduce the consumption of illegal drugs such as marginalization or creating stereotypes. By creating a certain stereotype for the drug users and dealers, governments believe that peopleRead MoreEssay about Extreme Political Polarization1041 Words   |  5 Pagesis not the only tactic that has been used to polarize politics in government today. Propaganda is also one of the more widely used tools by todays politicians. Propaganda can take many forms, and often uses every type of media to perpetuate stereotypes, fear mongering, and slant the story, often making the task of finding the truth increasingly difficult. Traditionally used in magazines and print media, propaganda often took the forms of humorous ca rtoons, with symbolic illustrations and memorableRead More Propaganda and Its Effect on America Essay1698 Words   |  7 PagesPropaganda and Its Effect on America Thesis: Propaganda was a tool that leaders used to get people involved in wars of the past. Propaganda, a term that only reminds people of corruption and manipulation. Others, it reminds of advertising and raising American spirit. Well, they are both right. [â€Å"Propaganda† Pg. 1, sec.1]   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Propaganda is a specific type of message presentation aimed at serving an agenda. At its root, propaganda is to propagate (spread around) a certain position orRead More Birth Of A Nation: Art Or Propaganda Essay examples803 Words   |  4 Pages Birth of A Nation: Art or Propaganda nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Mankind, engaging in war, driven by whatever instincts guide him, seeks to keep the defeats and victories of battle in his memory and on his conscience. To accomplish this men have used paint and canvas, ink and paper, or instrument and song in their effort to communicate the tragedy and glory of war. Never, before the career of D.W. Griffith had anyone attempted to bring the subject to film. The result of his efforts, weaknessesRead MoreGovernmental Actions Based On Ideologies During The 1930s And 1950s1697 Words   |  7 PagesMiles at the University of Missouri, the government uses propaganda to persuade the people into believing what they believe in. It creates a biased interpretation from the government so that the citizens remain loyal to their own country’s beliefs, changing their perception toward a certain race. This is important in World War II, that even the Americans â€Å"[dehumanize] the Japanese and instilling fear in the minds of Americans, WWII propaganda [prompts] cultural and racial hatred that [leads] to massiveRead MoreReaching Across the Parting Lines: How Technology Breaks Down Cultural Borders1443 Words   |  6 Pagescontext were Lea 2 often easily misconstrued. When the only images presented of different races were the stereotype created by one person, it was very easy to create a border between the known and the unknown. One example is American soldiers and the graffiti drawn on their bunks of Japanese soldiers during World War II, which further drove a wedge between Western and Eastern culture. The stereotype carried itself over into the states in the form of Japanese internment camps, and it was not uncommonRead More Stereotyping of Arab Muslims in the New York Times for the Past Forty Years3589 Words   |  15 Pagesmedia theorists say that only under extreme conditions will the negative stereotypes reflect the publics opinions of the portrayed minority group. The parallel theory between propaganda and stereotyping by the mass media is examined. Theorists including Thomson, (1977) Myers, (1992), related to mass media effects strongly agree claiming that repetitive and non-contradictive images in the media ar e an effective form of propaganda. The research samples are random article reviews of the New York Times

Psychological Analysis On Ava s Communication Skills

At the end of 8 years of age heading into 9 years of age, I received a psychological analysis on Ava. Based on these results, I think I did well in the areas that involved Ava’s communication skills, language skills, as well as her memory skills. I believe this to be true because Ava’s scores have proven to be average or above average in these particular areas. Ava’s psychological analysis was performed by a highly trained psychologist. Ava took the verbal portion of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. To explain these tests a little further, a score of 7 is one standard deviation above the mean, 10 is the mean, and 13 is one standard deviation above the mean. In information and comprehension Ava scored a 9. Both of these scores are almost the mean score. Ava also scored an 8 in vocabulary and similarities. Then her scores in math concepts, math application problems, and math computation tests were in the average range. Lastly, Ava’s scores on te sts of visual spatial ability (spatial rotation, copying of designs, etc.) were above average. When Ava was younger I took advantage of her natural born talent to read and write by giving her books to read. I would make each book increasingly more challenging for her vocabulary. I would also encourage her to improve her writing by practicing every day. The results in her report reflect this choice benefitted Ava because she is above average in â€Å"†¦word reading, reading fluency, phonological awareness, and spelling†Show MoreRelatedImaginative Play9679 Words   |  39 Pagessocialize, becoming less impulsive, and improving your judgment. But can’t children do all this in adult activities in which they learn how to deal with the world? What is it about the nature of child’s play that facilitates the development of those psychological abilities noted above? Engage kids in productive activities, and they should learn about the world and how to deal with the world. Can’t they develop â€Å"private talk† while learning to ï ¬ x a car, pl ant a garden, add 2 and 2, or sell a washing machineRead More_x000C_Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis355457 Words   |  1422 Pagesto Statistics and Data Analysis This page intentionally left blank Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis Third Edition Roxy Peck California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Chris Olsen George Washington High School, Cedar Rapids, IA Jay Devore California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Australia †¢ Brazil †¢ Canada †¢ Mexico †¢ Singapore †¢ Spain †¢ United Kingdom †¢ United States Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis, Third Edition Roxy Peck