Abstract This paper argues that innovation in corporateAmerica is essential. The author points out obstacles to innovation. The paper suggests ways to innovate.
From the Paper "Innovation is the cornerstone of opportunity for corporations. With technological advances and a global economy companies must be more innovative and flexible than ever if they are to thrive. Fear of change within the corporate culture is the greatest obstacle to innovation and growth in corporations. Change is never easy or painless, but companies that do not innovate stagnate. Companies that stagnate become tempting targets for current and potential competitors and eventually fail. A company that avoids stagnation is playing to win. Playing to win requires trust and ..."
Abstract This paper examines stress in corporateAmerica, with an exclusive focus on men and how stress plays a role in heart attacks, hypertension, diabetes, strokes, and related health problems.
Abstract The image of organizational ethics and the trust in corporateAmerica suffered severely from the showers of Wall Street scandals, countless breaches of confidence and numerous example of abuse of power. The paper shows that among other factors, organizational ethics decline is often attributed to corporate greed, work pressure and stress, and lack of effective internal and external regulation. However, experts suggest that in times of distress and tough economic conditions it is more important than ever to remain faithful to personal and organizational moral principles. The paper analyzes the reasons that led to the corporate confidence crisis and looks at solutions to the existing problems. The study provides useful information concerning organizational ethics policies, analyzes various problems associated with moral behavior and decision making in the modern workplace and discusses several ways to improve and promote workplace ethics. The report examines the effects of the Sarbanes-Oxley Law, analyzes organizational internal processes aimed to build value-based corporate culture and discusses the benefits and challenges of formal educational training to advance ethical behavior in business. The paper includes tables and an outline.
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Introduction
Corporate Scandals
The Concept of Workplace Ethics
Results of the Study
Organizational Ethics Policies
Reasons Behind Workplace Ethics Decline
Restoring Workplace Ethics and Trust
- Through Government Regulation: SOX
- Through Internal Mechanisms
- Through University Education
Summary
Appendix
Works Cited
From the Paper "Perhaps that is the reason why many people believe that companies' ethical guidelines and codes of conduct are no more than a charade, used to show off in front of clients, business partners and competitors. After all, to be perceived as an ethical organization is one way to maintain a reputation for high standards. In addition, ethical behavior has a tendency to relieve public concern about social and environmental responsibilities, as well as to ease the pressure for government regulation. On top of that, according to Amy Zipkin (2000), the author of "Management: Getting Religion on Corporate Ethics," "taking a strong ethical stand helps shield senior officers from legal troubles.""
Abstract This paper examines two scholarly writings - : Neil Fligstein, (1987) "The Intro-organizational Power Struggle" and Gerald F. Davis, Kristina A. Diekmann, and Catherine H. Tinsley. 1994. ?The Decline and Fall of the Conglomerate Firm in the 1980s". These articles are compared for their theories on the changes occurring in corporateAmerica and which factors are responsible for these changes. It examines how these changes might have predicted the economic crisis of today.
From the Paper "In Fligstein (1987) the history of corporate structure in America is addressed. During the early portion of the century, it was possible for the right person to be promoted from manufacturing into management. In the middle decades of the century, control of large firms fell on sales and marketing personnel. However, in the past 25 years, we have seen another shift, finance people now control large corporations. These changes were brought about by changes in organizational structure, anti-trust laws, and an increase in mergers since the end of World War II (Fligstein, 1987)."
This paper addresses the glass ceiling in corporateAmerica in the 21st century. It discusses communication issues, the roots of gender bias, male/female thought patterns, and offers two success stories from the tech economy.
2,400 words (approx. 9.6 pages), 5 sources, 2002, $ 89.95
Abstract This paper addresses the glass ceiling in corporateAmerica in the 21st century. It discusses communication issues, the roots of gender bias, male/female thought patterns, and offers two success stories from the tech economy: CEOs Carly Fiorina (Hewlett-Packard) and Donna Dubinsky (Handspring).
Tags: BUSINESS / MANAGEMENT, LEADERSHIP, HUMAN RESOURCES, breaking glass ceiling
Abstract This paper describes three basic angles of the media's impact on adolescent self-perception. The paper illustrates the media's most positive portrayal of teenagers and its more customary negative angle. It provides real world examples of the state of adolescence in America. The paper explores how and why corporateAmerica and the media affect the nation's children.
Table of Contents
I. Fear is in the TV: Media images of an adolescent world
II. Truth is in the Streets: The rest of the story
III. Autopsy Reports in the Profit Margins: What does CorporateAmerica have to gain?
a. Media Stock in Violence
b. Drug Companies and the New Marketplace
c. Get Tough on Crime (it's easy on the approval ratings)
d. Selling Popularity
IV. I Don?t Want to Be Part of Your World: Self-definition and other underage options
a. Media Complications and Youth Reactions
b. Self-Definition and Viable Options
V. Summary
VI. Sources Used
From the Paper "I began work on this paper with every intention of sticking to traditional subjects. I planned to discuss media portrayal of women and beauty, the formation of high school "cool" through marketing and media pressure, and the legalities of advertising to teenagers. Along the way I expected to discuss such random issues as cartoon characters and smoking campaigns. However, once I actually started my research, an entirely different topic kept popping up over and over again: the negative media portrayal of teenagers and the wholesale selling of violence and mind-altering drugs.
"Multiple school shootings have passed in recent memory. Daily news reports continue to be filled with stories of adolescent murderers and children in adult prisons. The question then presented itself to my mind, how does all this negative media coverage affect the way teens view themselves, and the way in which they interact with the world? Are teens today really more violent, and if so, is that the fault of the entertainment media or some other cause? What is it like to be part of a subculture that takes the brunt of these media scandals? Is it all hype, and does the hype worsen the problem?
Increasingly my other research seemed to pale in comparison to these questions. One day when I was at the library, a boy walked by wearing a Marilyn Manson T-shirt that piqued my interest and made up my mind as to how I should approach this paper. It read: "Is adult entertainment killing our children, or is killing children entertaining our adults?" I set myself the task of answering that question, and further exploring how media messages on violence and group conformity might change the self-perception and self-identification of adolescents, with a focus on the events at Columbine.
There are three basic angles that I felt needed to be explored. First, I attempted to explain the media's most positive portrayal of teenagers and its more customary, negative angle. Then I contrasted these stereotypes with a few real-world truths about the state of adolescence in America. Finally, I tried to explore how and just as importantly, why, corporate America and the general media have affected our children."
Abstract The purpose of this report is to educate upper-level management and line managers on the importance of employee morale. It first discusses what morale is and its significance in the corporate structure. Then it addresses who is affected by low morale and how. It also explains the high costs related to low employee morale, the critical role managers play in morale, signs of deteriorating employee morale, and techniques for improving morale. In the concluding pages, a proposal is presented on how upper-level management within corporateAmerica can help improve morale. Some of the solutions include transformational training for managers, employee empowerment, improved ties between reward and performance, and improvements on basic employee practices, all of which can be implemented using a 7-step morale-boosting program described in the recommendations section of this paper.
Outline
Overview: Report
Introduction: Employee Morale Problem
Background: CorporateAmerica's Morale Problem
What is Morale?
Significance of Employee Morale
Deteriorating Employee Morale
Case Studies
Recommendations: Ideas for Improving Employee Morale
Techniques for Improving Morale
Action Plan
Tying it All Together
Conclusion
From the Paper "A great way to help upper-level management discover employee problems is through an employee satisfaction survey. A well-orchestrated employee survey can lead to high return rates and help uncover hidden many workplace problems. However in order to receive helpful information from these surveys they must: (1) establish clear goals and objectives, (2) ask the right questions the right way, (3) collect data the right way at the right time, and (4) ensure confidentiality. The most important thing is that management must take clear follow-up actions. After reviewing and collecting the data have a group meeting informing the employees on the findings of the survey, how management intents to go about addressing the issues, ask for feedback, and implement the necessary changes."
Abstract The paper asserts that the desire for wealth seems to have replaced the common practice of ethics and morality in corporateAmerica. The paper explores the Tyco, Enron and WorldCom scandals where the companies' financial executives were guilty of fraud and theft of millions from their companies. The paper discusses the need for more ethical business practices as well as for the fiduciary duty to be present in any corporate setting, establishing a standard of honesty and trust between two parties. The paper concludes that while there are several measures being enforced to curb the amount of unethical corporate behavior, the problems remains real and significant.
From the Paper "The last ten years in American business have seen record breaking profits, making the term "millionaire" seem almost blase. The top CEOs of the country's most lucrative companies earn huge stock options, company investments, perks, in addition to their hefty paychecks. It is not hard to see why the nation has become slaves to greed; this desire for wealth seems to have since replaced the common practice of ethics and morality in corporate America. Three case studies: Tyco, Enron and WorldCom will prove these matters true."
Abstract This paper reviews the recent events in corporateAmerica which have created a hype about fraudulent activities in businesses. The paper offers recent examples of such activity including the Enron scandal, America's biggest corporate collapse. The paper includes a background on the developments in legislature and politics put in place to curb the rising levels of unethical practice. The writer concludes that while to date, unethical business has been passed over, today there are means in place for ensuring businesses are accountable to the American public.
From the Paper "The boom of the 90's has changed the business environment in ways that will require a reshaping of corporate leadership. Financial scandals and out-of-hand executive compensation demonstrate not only a lapse of ethics and unprecedented greed, but also a disdain for the rule of law. Thus, the most pressing leadership issue for today is how to ensure that corporate officers behave in an ethical manner. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act is a legislative effort designed to promote ethics by holding executives accountable for financial reports."
Abstract This paper examines the various parties to whom corporations are responsible. This issue is multi-faceted, encompassing not only to whom corporations owe their allegiance, but also the extent of their obligations. Corporate responsibility is considered in terms of an evolutionary process. Some of the liabilities conflict with one another, whereas others may depend on an individual corporate culture. Also discussed is the role of the CEO and their potential liability in the corporation and its actions.
From the Paper "In the face of all the scandals plaguing modern corporations, it is ironic to consider the origins of the corporation. Corporations were formed for two primary reasons; limiting responsibility and growing profits. The first purpose of a corporation is independent of corporate size; even small business owners can incorporate their businesses into limited liability corporations (LLCs), which function as individual entities and protect the personal assets of the corporation's owners from financial attack in the face of corporate liability. For example, a person running an in-home pet-sitting business may choose to incorporate the business. By incorporating, the business itself is treated as an entity. Therefore, even if the owner of the business himself brings about a circumstance that makes the corporation liable, such as leaving open a gate and allowing a client's prize-winning pet to escape, the corporation can only be held liable to the limits of its corporate assets, rather than the assets of the individual owner. Ideally, this situation would allow someone to do business in an arena where it might otherwise be too financially risky to do so. However, the liability limiting functions of a corporation can also work to protect the unethical businessperson. By shifting corporate assets to the individual, in the guise of an over-inflated personal salary, an unscrupulous businessperson can do business in a way that leaves its clients vulnerable to wrongdoing. "
Abstract The face of the American corporation has changed forever. There are more women and minorities in leadership roles in large corporations and small businesses than ever before, and the trend cannot but continue. This paper examines the serious and deleterious discrimination that minorities and women still face in corporate environments and how these problems are defined by a certain schizophrenic attitude towards their roles. On one hand, companies are pushing to hire more minorities and women in management positions to fit their corporate cultures into a more diversified image, and on the other hand, minorities and women continue to face glass ceilings on advancement, hiring and compensation.
From the Paper "The first step in attracting quality minorities and women into a company's management tiers is a quality recruiting program. The program's focus should be not just on affirmative action quota numbers but on the quality and the enthusiasm and involvement of the managers sought. Julie Bennett paints the picture of the choices a quality minority management candidate has:
"When David Matthews, 37, decided not to follow his employer to another part of the country, he became a highly marketable job candidate. He's an Ivy League-educated African-American with solid experience in a Fortune 500 company. By late last year he was weighing three job offers. Unlike mainstream executives who compare offers on the basis of salary and work environment, Mr. Matthews had another factor to consider: which of the three companies had the most serious commitment to diversity."
Abstract This paper discusses the rise of corporate crime in the United States. The paper presents several examples of different types of corporate crimes, claiming that the most common type of corporate crime, excluding cybercrimes, is insider trading. The paper cites the incarceration of Martha Stewart as an example of this. Other examples examined in the paper are WorldCom, Enron and Tyco.
From the Paper "Corporate crimes have taken center stage in our thoughts, imaginations and most importantly on the front pages of our newspapers. Of course, with the recent incarceration of Martha Stewart, we've come face to face with the very public persona of corporate crime, but much of the history is behind the scenes rather than on our television screens daily. According to the Encyclopedia of White Collar and Corporate Crime, by Lawrence Salinger, corporate crime has been around as long as there have been corporations. Salinger actually profiles the early corporate crime perpetrators as criminaloids: "The criminaloids encounter feeble opposition and since their practices are often more lucrative than the typical criminal act, they distance their more scrupulous rivals in business and politics and reap an uncommon worldly prosperity."
Abstract The paper relates that "Why Do People Hate America?" is about how not to lead, and on the other hand, how to be a believable, respected and humble leader. The paper provides examples of the book's frequent Biblical references and then overviews the corporate leaders who are shown as symbols of courage, humility and innovative vitality. The paper sums up that this book is full of examples of courage, fairness, justice, innovation and open-mindedness.
From the Paper "The title of the book, Why Do People Hate America? (by Merryl Wyn Davies and Ziauddin Sardar) may be a bit misleading. While the authors certainly do cover issues and images relating to the reasons the U.S. has fallen out of favor in many foreign countries - including many American citizens as well - and is indeed hated by millions of people, the book is also about leadership. It's about how not to lead, and on the other hand, how to be a believable, respected and humble leader. It's also about the fact that Americans need to fully restore the democracy that has been tainted by corporate interests that are creeping into the executive and legislative branches through lobbying, manipulation and political appointments - and doing that will require a kind of leadership that today is in short supply."
Discusses how the Enron scandal and similar events have made consumers more weary of corporations. Discusses ways law enforcement plans to deal with this change.
Abstract This paper presents a detailed examination of the use of criminal prosecution for the purpose of cleaning up corporateAmerica. The writer uses several examples of criminal prosecution in large corporations to provide evidence of the trend. The writer also discusses the federal government's stance on corporate crime.
From the Paper "The Enron scandal made news around the world and shocked many who used to believe that corporate heads could be trusted. While the Enron scandal was sensational it was not the first instance of corporate crime nor was it the last. For many years corporate crime has been considered a lesser offense than other crimes. It has been tagged white collar crime for several generations and the prisons which hold the rarely prosecuted offenders are more like country clubs than prisons. In more recent years, given the magnitude and far reaching affects of scandals like Enron the American public has demanded accountability, not only on the part of those who commit the crime but from those who make the decision whether or not to prosecute those involved. Given the current economic climate in the nation concern has grown regarding corporate crime. If Americans are going to see a reduction in crime at the corporate level, it will have to support criminal prosecution as the most common weapon against it."
Abstract This paper addresses first=order and second-order effects of shareholder vs. stakeholder values, as well as when and why there are conflicts that arise and ways to resolve these serious situations. The concepts addressed in the paper focus on timely and classical ideas of corporateAmerica and, to some extent, the new international conglomerates in our now highly global and extremely competitive world-based economy.
Shareholder Value Approach
Shareholder Trust
Define Shareholder Value Added
Historical Development of the Shareholder Value Approach
Goals and Requirements for Shareholders
Shareholder Value Added and Investment Decisions and Corporate Policies
External Help
Evaluate the Corporate Requirements
Shareholder Value Management
Define Stakeholder Value
What Is Economic Value Added
Cash Value Added
From the Paper "It makes sense for our modern world to have a foundation of a market-based economy because there are inherent conditions in the competitive market system that efficiently helps to meet the needs of consumers. These are not modern inventions or recent revelations. Adam Smith held concepts based on an invisible hand, which was suggested as early as 1776 in the classic work An Enquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. These insights still hold true."
