Green Washing and Its Effects on Consumer Perspectives Essay Example for Free

Green Washing and Its Effects on Consumer Perspectives Essay The term green washing denotes the use of false or misleading information concerning green marketing by companies to compel consumers to buy their products on the perception that the company is environmentally friendly. It involves the misleading use of green marketing to endorse a false perception that the company products or policies are environmentally friendly. Green washing has been growing in the recent years mainly due to the increasing demand for green products. Due to increasing concerns about global warming, consumers are increasingly demanding for economically responsible products (Hart, 1997). Companies that seek to survive have no option but to either provide these products or to fake them. Another reason why green washing is growing is due to the fact that the sales of green oriented products have increased. A study carried out in the United States showed that in 2007, 328 products labelled â€Å"environmentally friendly† were launched by major manufacturers. This was a significant increase as in 2002 only 5 products were labelled the same (Bansal Roth, 2000). The rise of green products in the market has forced companies to undertake green washing in order to compete effectively. Another reason why green washing is growing is that the communication of environmental messages is still not controlled by any industrial wide standards. Companies are free to disseminate information about their environmental policies without any restrictions hence they can provide misleading information at will. The final reason why green washing is common is that government action and regulation is still pending. An analysis by HSBC on passed and pending economic stimulus packages of 15 countries reported that over US $3 trillion is intended to stimulate economies for the next ten years (Bazzillier Vauday, 2009). A large percentage of this money will support environmental objectives. This situation has resulted in the increase of lobbying which in turn has resulted in a situation whereby companies have to hunt tactical opportunities that do not conform to their messages on environmental friendliness. Ways of Carrying out Green Washing There are several techniques of green washing employed by companies. Although only a few literatures exist on the subject, the basis of identifying these techniques is that proposed by the TerraChoice Environmental Group. The group did research on the manners with which companies mislead consumers about their environmental friendliness and came up with six ways which they dubbed â€Å"the six sins of green washing. † The first sin is â€Å"the sinof hidden trade off†. This involves the attempt by companies to promote a product as green by using only one environmental attribute or an intolerable narrow set of attributes disregarding other more important environmental issues. Although the claims are not false, they portray a â€Å"greener† picture of the product which cannot be supported by a full environmental analysis. The second sin is â€Å"the sin of no proof. † This involves all information disseminated by a company about environmental friendliness but cannot be validated by easily accessible supporting information. According to a study by Bazillier and Vauday (2009), communication of full CSR activities by companies to customers is impossible. As a result, two types of information communicated to consumers exist, hard and soft information. Hard information is that which can be verified by customers but tends to be costly while soft information is that which is readily available to consumers but cannot be verified.

Political philosophy Essay Example for Free

Political philosophy Essay John Locke, an English philosopher, used the idea of natural laws to make vital contributions to society. He worked his way up through Westminster School and Oxford and enrolled in the Church of England. He was interested in science and became one of the best practitioners of his time. With Locke’s connections, he met men of England but was also suspected for being disloyal. He went to Holland and returned in 1688, after the revolution. Locke made an influence on political philosophy including modern liberalism. Two Treatises of Government was his most powerful writing where he claims to tell the story of politics. But he did not present that he was the author until near his death. In his writing, Locke explains the difference between political power and paternal power. He wanted people to be comfortable with independent political thought, or in other words take the road less traveled. Also, Locke believed that first you must understand that politics come from the state of nature and natural law in order to understand political power. Locke’s natural law says that individuals take care of others. Locke wanted to create a better government that would consider all people, not a government with kings and nobles. He believed that there should be no one to enforce laws and that neither good nor evil existed in nature. Locke also believed that the people of nature are created equal and have rights to all things. Because of this, a constant state of war exists. Locke wanted people to act more responsible and morally and face their consequences if there were any. His influence on organizational behavior and theory impacted the founders of the United States’ principles. Locke was a creator of the idea of the separation of powers. He also influenced the modern educational theory. His theories are strong when it comes to prosperity, scarcity, money, and property. He claims the government must protect and individual’s private business and property. He believed that if there was a general increase in wealth it would lead to the increase for common good. Locke’s liberalism influenced the United States of America with the Declaration of Independence. He will always be known as the Father of Liberalism. He distrusted government power and proved a statement. He believed that an individual’s right is more important than just a king democracy. He left a legacy of theories for religion, economics, human understanding, and politics. Works Cited Griffith, F, Mark.. â€Å"John Locke’s Major Works. † International Journal of Organization Theory and behavior. 01 July. 2003: 227 elibrary. Web. 16. Feb. 2012.

Strategy Management For European Tour Operators Tourism Essay

Strategy Management For European Tour Operators Tourism Essay The tourism industry of Europe is dynamic and the growth in this sector is accelerating at a fast pace. In recent times, the tourism industry has gained huge amount of momentum as it is greatly influenced by the changing dynamics of the society; it has become a networked society in which everyone is linked together by various technological mediums (Tourismlink, 2012). With the rise of the industrial society, the concept of tourism has changed into a mass leisure activity. The globalisation and post modernisation are the two crucial factors that have generated a fragmented, assorted and individualised field of tourism demand and supply. In Europe, the tourism industry is undergoing consolidation in which the number of players is decreasing as a result of both mergers and acquisitions (ECORYS, 2009). The primary factors that have supported the forming of an integrated and strengthened tour operator are increased globalisation, new and cheaper modes of transportation and severe usage of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). As the tourism industry is becoming competitive on international level, it has become vital for the tour operators to take account of the factors that can impact their business operations. PESTEL Analysis of Tourism Industry In order to assess the external environment faced by the tour operators in Europe, PESTEL analysis is an effective tool for ensuring that crucial aspects are appropriately handled. This analysis allows the players to remain alert about the external environment characteristics that can impact their business strategies and ultimately operations. The PESTEL analysis of tourism industry for European tour operators is as follows: Political Since the 9/11 event, the airline industry had to bear high costs as the government has refused to tolerate the security cost. As the costs cannot be tolerated by the airline companies, they have transferred the complete cost to the consumers. The immigration laws have been made strict so that the corrupt elements cannot gain entrance in the country (Butler, 2011). There are many countries that are willing to join the European Union (EU) which can impact the political environment significantly. Euro is a strong currency worldwide that allows easy conversion of the currency. Similarly, the parliament of EU has asked the airlines to pay taxes on the aviation fuel so that they can support the EU carbon emission trading scheme (Furmanov, Balaeva Predvoditeleva, 2011). Economics The tourism industry is affected by the recession. Most of the airline companies are relaying on very low margin of profit and both big and small players are being affected by such depressing situations worldwide. Once the recession will get over, only then the bigger players will be able to exploit the opportunities and even gain new opportunities (Richards, 2011). The recession has impacted the exchange rate as there is a lot of fluctuations in it. It has been reported by Richards (2011) that Euro is still depreciating and the euro rate has been reported to depreciate by 20% of the dollar. Socio-cultural The living standards of people are improving and life expectancy rate is also extending at a fast pace which shows that older people will travel more to have a good time. It is expected that the percentage of aging population that will travel in Europe will be about 60%. The travel patterns of people are changing as they want a diverse range of options in selecting the travelling destinations; the consumers are expecting a wide variety of choices as they want to travel different places and make their travelling plans on their own (ECORYS, 2009). It is also projected that the number of short holidays will grow by about 47% in EU and European tourists have modified their behaviours as they prefer to travel abroad rather than domestic places. Technological As a result of technological advances, the work of tour operators has become automated. Most of the people are using Internet to make online reservations and avail the services of online travel agencies. Almost all the tour operators are making use of both traditional and online platforms for reaching customers and it has helped them in curtailing down the cost of these operators (Furmanov, Balaeva Predvoditeleva, 2011). Environmental Since people have become too much environmentally concerned, the UK government stopped the plan for a third runway at Heathrow as a result of increase in pollution. The government has even imposed the green tax for offsetting the carbon emissions effect. Some health factors like SARS and Swine flu impacted the travellers destination choice (Tourismlink, 2011). Legal In order to keep a strict control on the tour operators, the government has imposed stricter rules and regulations. The competition policy of EU keeps an eye on the companies to ensure that they dont club together to give unfavourable packages to the customers (Richards, 2011). Porters Five Forces Model According to Tourismlink (2011), the analysis of the EU tourism industry according to the Porters Five Forces Model reveals the following aspects: Threat of new entrants The new entrants cannot easily enter the tourism industry as there is high cost associated with initial investment cost as it requires huge amount of capital. The existing companies have strong brand loyalty so the customers will not easily switch to any other company. Competition among rivals Within the market, there is very less intense competition as there are only limited big players. Although there are various indirect competitors in the industry but the top players in EU are still Thomas Cook and TUI Travel PLC. Bargaining power of suppliers In the case of tourism industry, the bargaining power of suppliers is moderate as there are various options airlines, hotels and travel agents. Since the customers are willing to do online booking, the airlines and hotels are reaching them by their own online platforms. Bargaining power of buyers The bargaining power of buyers is low as there is very less difference between the products that are offered by the travel agencies. As the customers are able to make online booking, even it will not impact their bargaining power. Threat of substitutes It is a known fact that people will never leave their leisure activities especially the travelling option as it provides them the chance of going away from home. Other alternatives are available for people such as in-home activities, domestic trips to town, playing video games but they can never replace the travelling option. It means that there will be low threat of substitutes. Industry Life Cycle The concept of Tourism Area Life Cycle was coined by Butler (2011) who stated that the tour operators have to analyse the industry to ensure that they introduce the new products and services in accordance to the demands of the customers. The factors that are considered by the players are the prices offered to the customers, packages designing according to the destination places, changing demands of the customers, tourist attractions to be presented to visitors and availability of various facilities. Currently, EUs tourism industry is in the consolidation stage as there are only few competitors and people are spending limited amount of money on foreign travels. Source: Butler (2011) Conclusion The effect of recession is slowly wearing off and EU tourism industry is expected to grow further by offering various attractive packages to the customers. hence, the tour operators have to ensure that they present the best travel packages to the customers that will allow them to reap the opportunity of having a marvellous travelling experience in the region.

Managing and Delegation :: essays research papers

Being Controller of Finance for XYZ Corporation has enormous responsibilities when it comes to management. Can delegation using the proper techniques in management help the controller in planning, organizing, leading, and controlling the Finance Department at XYZ? â€Å"Delegation is a process by which a project manager examines the various responsibilities and tasks at hand, and rather than assuming and completing those tasks and responsibilities on his/her own, that manager decides to assign the work to others† (Right Track Associates, 2000). The controller of Finance at XYZ Corp., lets call him Joe; serves many purposes to the companies overall corporate outlook. However, the responsibility can be overwhelming at times for him. Office managers perform many administrative duties. They compile data about their department and present it to top managers. They write progress reports. They make sure that office equipment runs properly. When it is needed, they request new equipment. In addition, office managers keep records, order supplies, and help plan budgets (Minnesota Department of Education, 2004). THE DILEMA Joe has a problem with delegation and does not seem to incorporate all four functions of management into his management techniques. It is clear that he has too many duties to perform and is having trouble being able to plan, organize, lead, and control. These four functions should be the main aspect of his job. Delegation takes the ability to analyze and plan, and in order to be successful at this, Joe must be able to have self-confidence in what he does. The problem is, is that he does not have the awareness to understand the functions of team dynamics in his department and does not trust others to work on projects he so desperately tries to finish himself. Joe is a very hard worker and overwhelms himself with projects. On average, he spends about twelve hours a day at the office. He comes in at 8 a.m. and does not go home until eight or 9 p.m. He does not hand out work accordingly, and does not hold department meetings as much as he should. Team meetings would help him delegate and plan projects, and divide the work and hand. Another problem Joe has is he does not recognize his employees and their potentials to complete projects correctly. One of the reasons he does not recognize employees is because he does not go around and view the work that they complete. Lower-management usually views the work and he never gets the chance to foresee any of it.

HIV and AIDS: Public Safety vs. Civil Liberties Essay -- Sexually Tra

When a nation is faced with a deadly epidemic does the country have the right to suspend individual’s rights in order to better protect the welfare of the community? This debate has emerged across the U.S.; many have implemented quarantines with regards to h1n1 virus and other contagious, potentially deadly diseases. This includes but is not limited to isolating individuals infected, closing schools, and shutting down public transportation systems. Others are considering enacting new and controversial rules. â€Å"Since the outbreak of the new flu strain, Massachusetts legislators have sought to pass a law that would allow officials to detain or quarantine someone even when there is uncertainty over the person's exposure to contagious disease. Other states have adopted similar laws in recent years† (Efarti 1). These laws can give states the right to contain persons, violating individual rights for the betterment of society. With the government having the ability to quarantine patients infected with potentially harmful diseases on questions the rights the individual has. Can the country detain HIV victims so that the disease will be eliminated? Should the county detain these infected persons for the safety of the community? This issue is constantly debated; by presenting community safety and personal rights in America one can better understand societal nature. Living with HIV is a constant battle, with the disease, self, others, and government. If one contrasts HIV there are legal ramifications one must abide too. Each state is different, this paper will explain the laws of, ‘Wisconsin’ and any legal obligations a person with HIV/AIDS must follow. Once getting an HIV test whether one gets a confidential or anonymous test, know that... ...p://www.hsolc.org/policies/childcare/communicable-disease-protocol>. 2) Efarti, Amir. "Public Safety v. Civil Liberties: Health Crisis Leads to New Case." TheWallStreetJournal.com. 7 May 2009. Web. 15 Feb. 2011. . 3) Gallant, Joel E. 100 Questions & Answers about HIV and AIDS. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett, 2009. Print. 4) "PHILA.GOV | Welcome to the City of Philadelphia." Internet Archive: Wayback Machine. Web. 01 Nov. 2011. . 5) "STD Lawsuits  « Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), Herpes, HIV Lawsuit." Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), Herpes, HIV Lawsuit. Web. 01 Nov. 2011. . 6) Wisconsin State Law., art. 252, sec. 1-400. Print.

Mongols and Europe :: essays research papers

Change Over Time Essay: Mongols and Europe Over the years there have been many great nomadic groups, such as the Vikings and the Kievan, but no nomadic group has been more successful than the Mongols. The Mongols have had many lasting influences on Russia, China, and even Europe. The Mongols have left a mark on the European trading systems in technologies as well as in their trading systems trade routes. One thing that stayed the same throughout Europe was their many religion. Although the Mongols set their primary trading system along the Silk Road, the Mongols also set out trade in Europe. The Mongols had a passport like system used mainly in China, because of the long distant trade through regions many languages were encountered, thus the paisa or passport comes in play. The paisa is said to have an inscription which is said to be the permission from the ruler to travel through the region. The paisa or passport was brought by the Mongols to Europe, and then adopted by the European. Many nomadic tribes were uneducated and illiterate, much like the Mongols, because the Mongols were so uneducated this made it harder for them to navigate along the oversea trade routes of Europe. The Mongols were a nomadic group known for their skills of horse riding and their ability and skill to shoot a crossbow over amazing distances. Since the Mongols were so great by horse back, the trade in Europe went from to the majority of people trading by land. But because of the none stop traveling of nomadic groups, this lead to no set or given religion for the Mongols, this helped the different religions of Europe stay constant.

Horizontal Analyses Essay

Ratio, Vertical, and Horizontal Analyses Regina Stewart XACC/280 February 3, 2012 Jose Rodriguez Ratio, Vertical, and Horizontal Analyses A detailed examination of the tools used in financial analysis, in addition to their various functions, is provided within this paper. The current ratio and calculations on the questions are provided herein. A variety of tools are used to assess the importance of financial data. Frequently used tools of financial statement analysis consist of horizontal analysis, vertical analysis and ratio analysis. These techniques assist in the evaluation of financial statements providing information regarding the financial condition of a business. Evaluating the data of financial statements over a period of time, is considered horizontal analysis and is primarily used in intracompany comparisons with the purpose of determining an increase or decrease over a period of time. Vertical analysis expresses individual items in the financial statement in the percentage format of the base amount and is used in comparisons of both intracompany and intercompany. Vertical analysis reflects the comparative size of each category in the balance sheet along with the percentage change in the individual asset, liability, and stockholders’ equity items. Ratio analysis articulates the relationship between selected items of financial statement data and is used in all three comparison types. Ratios can be used to evaluate liquidity, profitability, and solvency in addition to providing evidences to underlying conditions that may not be obvious. Current ratio computation for Pepsico Current ratio evaluates a company’s liquidity and the ability to repay short-term debt and is calculated by dividing current assets by current liabilities. Pepsico current ratio for 2005 Current ratio=Current assetsCurrent liabilitiesCurrent ratio=104549406=1. 1 Pepsico current ratio for 2004 Current ratio=Current assetsCurrent liabilitiesCurrent ratio=86396752=1. 3 Analysis Depending on who is analyzing the Pepsico current ratio determines whether the analysis is favorable.