The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Consumer Behaviour in the Malaysian Cosmetic Industry - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 9 Words: 2552 Downloads: 2 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Science Essay Type Analytical essay Did you like this example? Introduction This introductory chapter provides a comprehensive background to the study of the research topic follow up by applying scientific methods. In depth, this chapter includes research background, problem statement, research objectives, research questions, hypotheses of the study, significance of the study, and chapter layout. This research is aim to examine the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on consumer behaviour in Malaysian cosmetic industry. Specifically, we examine the relationship between 4 independent variables, economic responsibility, legal responsibility, ethical responsibility, philanthropic responsibility and the dependent variable, consumer behaviour. Research background The use of corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives to influence consumers and differentiate product offerings has become quite common. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become a main topic in recent years, especially within the cosmetics industry. The consumers are becoming more concerned with CSR and the demand for socially responsible brands is increasing. On the other hand, cosmetics brands are implementing more and more CSR activities. The consumers are getting more conscious of the company involved in corporate social responsibility (CSR) through better education and the increased influence of the media. Howard Bowen (as cited in Matthias S. Fifka, 2009) mentioned that entrepreneurs have a responsibility to consider social objectives, aims, expectation and values when they make decisions. But, the definitions of CSR have a larger term of responsibility today. The CSR today is define as a concept, and which is the basis for companies to integrate social and ec onomical needs in their corporate activities and the interrelation with the stakeholders is very popular. Most of the companies had already understand that their socially responsible behaviour have a direct impact on the consumer buying behaviour. Consumers find CSR an important issue in the cosmetics industry and would hope to see more socially responsible cosmetics brands. They would like to be informed more about what the cosmetics brands are actually doing in terms of social responsibility. Consumer would also like to know on how the CSR activities of the cosmetics brands are truly meant to improve the society and the environment, not just to use as a marketing tool. When it comes to buying cosmetics brands; quality, price and ingredients are considered to be the main purchase factors by consumers. However, it can be stated that even though CSR is not considered to be a purchase factor, it does have a significant impact on the purchase decisions. In cosmetic industry, when it comes to purchasing cosmetics products, the product quality is the main reason that affects the consumer behaviour. Functional attributes like breathable, water-resistance, easy to wash are other factors are use to decide the quality of the product. For instance, some consumers use cosmetics for work and some for leisure and sports, as they need a lot of movement, while durability is an important consideration in purchasing cosmetics. The performance of the merchandise also effect customer psyche since a merchandise having huge sales would make the customer think that the quality of the product must be good to generate such sales (Hamza S.K., 2011). Under product quality were included aspects like good quality of products presented by the brand, match between product-consumer skin type, availability of a wide range of products under the same brand name and contents of harmful chemicals in the products (Chitralekhah H.D., 2009). The majority of the consumers are searching for produc ts that are fragrance free and allergy tested, and that do not contain unhealthy chemical additives. The cosmetic industry has received a lot of criticisms on immoral and irresponsible business activities such as using of animals for product test, chemical pollution, unethical sourcing and unsustainable ingredients. Companies of the cosmetic industry have understood the importance of CSR and have started working on the prevention and minimization of the negative impacts by their business practices. Previous studies on consumersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ attitudes on CSR and CSRà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s impact on consumer behavior and buying decisions are quite general. We found that many researchers explore that CSR have impact on consumer behaviour in the cosmetic industry. So, we see this as an opportunity and have the idea to overcome the problem (Zhao.G, 2012). Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Consumer Behaviour in the Malaysian Cosmetic Industry" essay for you Create order Problem statement Consumers view cosmetic companies as profit maximizing companies rather than socially responsible companies that emphasizes on putting corporate social responsibility into practice to make the world a better place to live (McNeal, n.d.). There is a controversy issue that cosmetic companies use animal testing in the process of producing cosmetic products (Mohamed, 2010). In this day and age, consumers start to concern about the animal rights (Mohamed, 2010). Consumers have raised issues such as the humanness of Cosmetics Company for intentionally poisoning animals in order to test the cosmetic products that they produce where the ethicalness of cosmetics companies has been questioned (McNeal, n.d.). Consumers are not willing to buy cosmetic products marketed by cosmetics companies that have a bad reputation in terms of animal testing (McNeal, n.d.; Mohamed, 2010). Besides animal rights, there is also an issue regarding the cosmetic industryà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s packaging which c auses negative impact on the environment (Danley, March 2012). The cosmetic industry has been known in using large amounts of materials in its packaging, resulting in an increase usage of landfill space required for its waste disposal (Danley, March 2012). Moreover, a substantial amount of energy input is needed in manufacturing, production and transportation of those packaging materials leading to a large amount of natural resources and energy consumption, as well as resulting in the emission of greenhouse gases and harmful pollutants into the atmosphere which may causes global warming (Danley, March 2012). According to Mohamed (2010), consumers are not willing to spend money on cosmetic products produced by Cosmetics Company which have undergone unfriendly production process. In the present day, consumers have become more environmentally concerned as well as being more selective and accountable in their choices (Mohamed, 2010). They care about how, where and why the cosmetic pr oducts are produced (Mohamed, 2010). In addition, consumers have shown a high interest in cosmetic products which are made from natural ingredients such as botanical extracts, oils and minerals (Mohamed, 2010). When consumers are more aware of the CSR of the cosmetics companies, their purchase decision will look different. The decision statement here is in what ways cosmetic companies can improve consumer buying behavior towards cosmetic products. This research was done on Malaysian cosmetic industry as there was no or little research done previously by other researchers regarding this particular field. In order to fill the research gap, we have used a series of research methodology such as data processing, data analysis and other methods to conduct the test to determine whether there is any impact of the four levels (pyramid) of CSR on consumer buying behavior in Malaysian Cosmetics Industry. Research Objective General Objectives The objective of this research is to investigate the impact of the Four Levels of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) on Consumer Behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetic Industry. Specific Objectives To investigate the impact of Economic Responsibility on Consumer Behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetic Industry. To investigate the impact of Legal Responsibility on Consumer Behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetic Industry. To investigate the impact of Ethical Responsibility on Consumer Behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetic Industry. To investigate the impact of Philanthropic Responsibility on Consumer Behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetic Industry. To investigate the impact of the Four Levels of Corporate Social Responsibility on Consumer Behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetic Industry. Research Questions How Economic Responsibility impact Consumer Behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetic Industry? How Legal Responsibility impact Consumer Behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetic Industry? How Ethical Responsibility impact Consumer Behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetic Industry? How Philanthropic Responsibility impact Consumer Behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetic Industry? How Four Levels of Corporate Social Responsibility impact Consumer Behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetic Industry? Hypothesis of the Study (for quantitative research) H1: There is significant impact of Economic Responsibility on Consumer Behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetic Industry. H2: There is significant impact of Legal Responsibility on Consumer Behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetic Industry. H3: There is significant impact of Ethical Responsibility on Consumer Behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetic Industry. H4: There is significant impact of Philanthropic Responsibility on Consumer Behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetic Industry. H5: There is significant impact of the Four Levels of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) on Consumer Behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetic Industry. Significance of the Study There is an increasing demand on a healthier and better lifestyle among Malaysian consumer. As these population continues to grow, consumer are more concerned in the product that they buy or consume and how the product are produced as well as delivered from the warehouse to the end consumer. Thus, it causes an increase in demand of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) among Malaysian consumers in various industries. Similarly in Malaysian Cosmetic Industry, consumers are gaining awareness on how manufacturers are producing goods (cosmetics) through various means. An increasing demand and à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“wants to knowà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  behaviour among consumers in cosmetic industry has leads to a more careful behaviour among producers in producing goods to handling the goods. On the other hand, growing social media that reveals unethical behaviour of organizations has also helps in consumersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ awareness towards unethical behaviour conducted by an organization. No wadays, many consumers are against animal testing and poor wastage management. They are also eager to know how a corporation performs social obligations such as giving back to the society. Generally, this research is conducted to identify how consumers react to the firm CSR which results in their purchase decisions. This research also aims to identify the impact of the four levels (economic, legal, ethical, philanthropic) of CSR in consumer behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetic industry and the positive impact of CSR that results in consumersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ positive behaviour such as higher purchasing power and loyalty as well as increasing corporate social image. Firstly, this study will acknowledge Malaysian Cosmetic Industry corporations about the importance of performing CSR activities as it is proved that there is a positive relationship between CSR activities on consumer behaviour in this study. Through this study, managers in the Malaysian Cosmetic Industry should be acknowle dged that the level of CSR will affect consumer behaviour in their purchase decision of the products (cosmetics). Therefore, managers will be able to communicate with consumers regarding the CSR activities performed by the firm as well as identify how likely consumers will buy their products (cosmetics) if the firm actively participates in CSR activities which will in return boost both corporate image and sales. Secondly, this study also contributes to academicians as they will be able to understand the dynamics and role of the four levels of CSR on consumer behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetics industry. Besides, academicians or researchers will also be able to further the research subject in the near future through the contributions and findings of this study. Thirdly, this study will also contribute to policy makers or regulators of the Malaysian Cosmetic Industry such as the Drug Control Authority (DCA) which is established under the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulation 19 84 (CDCR) and managed by the National Pharmaceutical Control Bureau (NPCB) where their main function is to ensure safe, efficacious and quality of pharmaceuticals that are marketed in Malaysia (Malaysia: Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulation 1984, 2011). Through the result of this study, regulators may encourage firms in the cosmetic industry to disclose their Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) as well as CSR activities as it is proved that there is a positive impact of the four levels of CSR on consumer behaviour in Malaysian Cosmetics Industry. Chapter Layout Chapter one of this research project is about the overview of the study which comprises the introduction, research background, problem statement, research objectives which are divided into general objective and specific objectives, research questions, hypotheses of the study, significance of the study, chapter layout and conclusion. Firstly, we have to understand the Malaysian Cosmetics Industry as a whole and then stating the problems faced by the industry which leads to the research objectives and research questions and developing the hypothesis. The hypothesis is then being tested by empirical evidence. Generally, research objectives are used to state the main goal to be achieved through the study whereby research questions are questions to be solved through the investigation of the study in the Malaysian Cosmetic Industry. Hypotheses are used to test against the results to determine whether it is true or false. The significance of the study generally is used to explain the impo rtance and the contributions of the study. Chapter two, the literature review, consists of the introduction, review of the literature, review of relevant theoretical models, proposed theoretical or conceptual framework, hypotheses development and conclusion. In this chapter, the dependent variables and independent variables are developed. The discussion regarding the relationship between the independent and dependent variables based on the evidence from past researches such as journal articles are required as it serves as the foundation for the hypothesis development. Hypothesis development is developing statements which will be tested against empirical evidence and to prove whether it is true or false. Chapter three, the research methodology comprises sections like introduction, research design, data collection methods, sampling design, research instrument, constructs measurement (scale and operational definitions), data processing, data analysis and conclusion. In this chapt er, the method used in this research is explained. Firstly, the qualitative or quantitative information are specified for the research and explained why such methods are used. Next, the methods used to collect data (primary data or secondary data) are also stated. In the sampling design section, the target population, sampling frame and location, sampling elements, sampling technique, and sample size are also stated. Then, the instrument to be used to obtain data and reasons using it are stated and the measurement (operational definitions and primary scale of measurement) which is used in the questionnaires are constructed. Data processing is a description how a set of data are processed from the respondents. Lastly, the data analysis tools (computer programs or software used to analyze the data) are also stated and justified. Chapter four, the research results comprises sections like the introduction, descriptive analysis which are separated into subsections like respondent demo graphic profile and central tendencies measurement of constructs, scale measurement, inferential analyses and conclusion. In this chapter, the result of this study will be derived from SAS Enterprise Guide software. Besides, all information of descriptive analyses is computed in the form of tables and a brief explanation of all relevant tests and results are also included. Chapter five, the discussion and conclusion comprises of sections like the introduction, summary of statistical analyses, discussion of major findings, implications of the study, limitations of the study, recommendation for future research and conclusion. In this chapter, a discussion regarding the result obtained will be conducted. Besides, recommendations, implications and conclusion of the study are also included at the end of the chapter. Conclusion In conclusion, this study aims to investigate the impact of the four levels (pyramid) of CSR on consumer behavior in Malaysian cosmetic industry. In the beginning of the research, we had provided the brief background or history of Malaysian cosmetic industry. In this chapter, the problem statement, general and specific objectives of the study based on scientific method for the research are provided. Besides, several hypotheses were formed to examine the relationship between the independent variables and dependent variables. This chapter also includes the significance of the study and the chapter layout. Next, Chapter 2 will further elaborate or study the variables formulated in Chapter 1.

Dan Buettner s Chapter On Singapore - 1190 Words

Dan Buettner’s chapter on Singapore was very interesting, especially when comparing it to our American way of life. At first glance the idea of living in a country with very strict laws, such as public canings for what we would call a minor offense, was mind blowing to me. How could this be one of the happiest places in the world? Upon further study my mind was changed to some degree, in fact I could see myself visiting there some day, but only have studing on the most current laws. I think the United States would be better off if we as a nation thought more about how our individual actions affected those around us. If you were to visit Singapore, it is highly advised that you first take time and review both their customs and strict laws. This country is not like any other country you have been to before. From the time you arrive at Changi International Airport, this difference is very apparent. You will see go through customs and or immigration, normal and typical when arriv ing to a new country, but that is where the similarities end. You will see numerous signs warning you of the public laws, that you are expected to obey without question. â€Å"No photography, smoking, or gum chewing is allowed† (Buettner, 2011, p. 75). Think for a minute how odd this might be. You have just arrived as a visitor and you cannot chew gum and you are not allowed to take photographs!? After some further research I have found that this law of gum chewing has been modified to some degree.

Ge Healthcare India Free Essays

string(128) " hospitals in the country side is a potential problem, but as industrialization spreads, the number of hospitals will increase\." akManagement 3040 Understanding the International Environment of Firms GE Healthcare in India: An Ultrasound Strategy? Introduction GE Healthcare India, a joint venture between General Electric and the Indian multinational Wipro Ltd. , was the market leader in the ultrasound machine market with sales growth of 10% for the previous fiscal year in 2007. The enormous market potential and General Electric’s successful low-cost operations fitted well with the aggressive sales strategy that the corporation had established. We will write a custom essay sample on Ge Healthcare India or any similar topic only for you Order Now Solely on a business point of view, GE Healthcare India had tremendous growth potentials in the still developing market, but the social side of ultrasound machines was threatening to kill the future of the industry. Initial Conditions General Electric entered India in the 1980s and â€Å"early investments by GE in India gave their technology and business-service sectors crucial credibility and cash when other companies still viewed the country as a risky backwater. Many even credit then GE CEO Jack Welch with fueling the economic boom that would come to India in the 1990s. GE Healthcare joint-ventured with Wipro Corporation, India’s third largest software provider, and their activities included the design and manufacture of ultrasound scanners and cardiology products; sales and service of medical imaging and information technology products; parts and services logistics; software services and technology solutions; training-in-partnership programs; and design, sourcing, and man ufacture of diagnostic imaging systems. As a venture in India with $100 million in revenues, GE Healthcare was the country’s largest medical systems sales and service provider, outpacing its competitors which included Toshiba, Siemens, Philips, and Mindray International Medical. The company began manufacturing and selling ultrasound machines in India in the 1990s, and took advantage of Wipro’s robust and extensive distribution and service networks to deliver its product to approximately 80% of its customers. The company’s diagnostic equipment sales in India had risen to $250 million by 2006. Ultrasound technology was the most profitable market for GE Healthcare and was used in early detection of fetal defects or complications during childbirth; diagnosis of gallbladder disease or obstructions; evaluation of blood flow in blood vessels; identifying abnormal structures or functions in the heart; detecting kidney stones and measuring the blood flow through the kidney; detecting prostate cancer early; and increasingly, ultrasound was used in emergency room diagnoses. GE Healthcare had helped introduce ultrasound technology into the rural areas of India where only 20% of India’s hospitals are located although 70% of the population resides there. GE was also making significant inroads into providing affordable and quality health care technology to Indian patients. Having ultrasound available in rural areas had cut costs tremendously for patients as well as fear, as the diagnostic tests were performed in the comfort of their own villages. Many more people were getting medical attention they needed. A major social issue was the use of ultrasound machines as tools in prenatal gender determination and the resulting abortions of female fetuses. The 2001 Indian census revealed that there were only 927 girls to every 1000 boys, compared to 962 girls to 1000 boys twenty years earlier. A December 2006 UNICEF report stated that 7 000 fewer girls than expected were born daily in India. A study by the British medical journal â€Å"Lancet† indicated â€Å"that prenatal sex determination and selective abortion probably accounted for nearly all the deficit in the number of girls born as second or third children after previous female births. If such trends continued, many social scientists predicted social upheaval, even war. In India many families preferred sons to daughters for a variety of reasons, including cultural taboos. Boys continued the family name and bloodline, earned money, looked after the family, and took care of parents in their old age, while girls were just a burden that was to be deployed to another family when the child became of age. In Hindu tradition, a son was supposed to light his parents’ funeral pyre so literally almost from creation to cremation, women are discriminated against. Even before the development of modern technology, baby girls were often the victims of infanticide: left to die or killed shortly after birth by gruesome means. Infanticide decreased with the introduction of ultrasound machines as aborting female fetuses became commonplace. There were no Hindu restrictions on abortion, and only minimal legal constraint. The Indian government has tried to pass many laws restricting sex selection. The Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques Act in 1996 banned the use of technology, such as ultrasounds and sonograms for the purpose of sex-selective abortion. With the ineffectiveness of the Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, the government started a â€Å"Respect for Girls† campaign through which mothers with daughters received twice as much money as the mothers of boys. Some districts provided girls from poor families a place to live, free schooling and supplies. Currently, GE Healthcare has a number of cases against it and is fighting in court to clear its name. The company was accused of selling ultrasound machines to â€Å"quacks,† as it offered cheap credit that made the machines affordable to most doctors. The company faced legal issues, intense government restrictions, pushback from activities for what they considered its aggressive sales tactics, and a myriad of business problems. The company had taken steps to minimize illegal use of the machines. It had educated its salespeople about the government restrictions, required affidavits from its customers stating that they would not use the machines to predetermine a fetus’ sex, and conducted frequent audits to ensure that its clients were in compliance. In 2004, the first year that GE Healthcare took these steps, the company admitted that its sales had shrunk by 10%, particularly in the low-end Indian market but sales had rebounded by 2006. Analysis India is a fast developing country, with a large population, where healthcare needs are growing at a rapid rate. Continued development of the country’s infrastructure allows for companies to reach the large market of 70% of the population that lives in the rural areas. Low frequency of hospitals in the country side is a potential problem, but as industrialization spreads, the number of hospitals will increase. You read "Ge Healthcare India" in category "Essay examples" Sales in the ultrasound industry for GE Healthcare were up by 10% and a projected 20% for the following year looked more than achievable. GE’s joint-venture with Wipro Corporation puts the company as a forerunner in the ultrasound market as it takes advantage of Wipro’s robust and extensive distribution and service networks. The $77 million ultrasound industry is set to grow further and GE Healthcare is in pole position to lead the pack. The social unrest against ultrasound machines due to the rising abortion rates of female fetuses threatens to slow down the industry. The high rate use of the machine to check the gender of fetuses undermines the other very helpful uses that the ultrasounds provide. Government regulations against ultrasounds and the â€Å"Respect for Girls† campaign provide tough road blocks for all major players. GE Healthcare is at a cross road where it has to choose between revenue and social responsibility. Or be able to distinguish itself from the misuse of ultrasound machines and prove that this is a government, not an industry problem. A decision over whether the production of ultrasound machines in such an environment fits with GE’s mission and values is vital to be made. Would GE’s strong position lead it to a sudden and fast fall or would it help lead the company out of this mess? Such a peculiar situation seems to have major road blocks at all directions. Options The success of GE Healthcare in the ultrasound industry and its recent increase in revenue provide a strong case for the company to continue implementing its aggressive sales strategy. The company is leader in industry revenue and sales and has access to a well developed distribution network, unlike its competitors. The advantage gained in the past decade is hard to be given up. A continuation of the current strategy has a few benefits. First and foremost, the company headquarters will be pleased that their target goal is being pursued and, possibly, achieved. This will increase the interest in India and provide larger investments that could help expand the business exponentially. Having the funds to utilize the enormous future potential of the industry would expand the gap between GE Healthcare and its competitors and establish it as the undisputed number one in the ultrasound Indian market. If a rise of 10% occurred during economic times that were becoming more and more difficult in the Western world, than India’s importance to the company headquarters could become enormous. While the company might sustain a decrease in revenue elsewhere in the world, in India it can rely on a steady growth that could help stabilize the global impact of the recession. Cheap labor costs, and potential increase in sales due to the opening of more and more hospitals, can even help GE Healthcare surpass that 20% target growth rate. Another major positive that would result from this strategy is that it will help India with its social problems. Every society has its flaws and banning something that is very helpful because of the actions of some people seems wrong. Ultrasounds are used for many more things other than scanning for the gender of a fetus. Major medical uses include diagnosis of gallbladder disease or obstructions; evaluation of blood flow in blood vessels; identifying abnormal structures or functions in the heart; detecting kidney stones and measuring the blood flow through the kidney; detecting prostate cancer early; and increasingly, ultrasound was used in emergency room iagnoses. All of these procedures may help relieve pain and save many lives, especially in the rural areas of the country. With an increased pressure by the popularity of ultrasound machines, the government would be forced to finally start implementing its laws and decrease substantially the illegal use of the machines. A company should not be held responsible for illegal uses of its otherwise very beneficial product, and the Indian governmen t should understand that and deal with the matter appropriately. On the other hand, a negative social and governmental response could damage GE Healthcare’s strong industry positions. The higher you are, the further you fall, and as the company is an industry leader, it could suffer the most significant losses when compared to its competitors. Social pressure to stop the use of ultrasound machines could spread and turn into anger against the companies producing the machines. When children’s lives are at stake, nothing is more important, even in the Indian society where there is a clear negativity against girl babies. It often happens that social problems of a society are transferred onto innocent businessmen and kill off a large money-making industrial sector. Another option that the company could take is to stop giving out cheap credit to customers that can’t afford to buy the machine in one installment. Such an option could turn out to be a double-edged knife, but it could help the company gain some much needed ground with the government. A decrease in sales might follow, but the brand GE will be preserved and disassociated from the baby girl problem that India has faced for centuries. The biggest advantage of taking such a route would be to ease off the social pressure from local scientists that GE Healthcare receives. The company is currently accused of exploiting the demand for boy children and such negative publicity hurts the corporation’s image in the grand scheme. Customers that tend to use credit to buy ultrasound machines are usually those that practice medicine by themselves and not in a hospital and are more prone to doing illegal practices. Currently India has very few hospitals in the rural areas which leaves many people with limited health care. But as the country continues its rapid development, more and more hospitals will open which would bring a whole new market to the industry. The new hospitals would want good publicity and would not want to be associated with companies that sell their products to â€Å"quacks. † Although in the short run sales will suffer, in the long run such a strategy seems to bring more benefits than harm. A much needed good publicity will not only help the company repair its image, but it could also help with the judicial problems that GE Healthcare is currently under. A decrease in sales to people that can’t afford an ultrasound system would most likely reduce the illegal practices of ultrasound machines in the rural areas and ease off the pressure a little bit that the industry faces. Sometimes it is more beneficial to suffer a temporary setback and preserve what you have, than to keep pushing and lose everything. A completely different approach available to GE Healthcare is the discontinuation of ultrasound machines. Although this is the company’s best selling product, a stoppage of sales would completely erase the social pressure and prompt the company to focus on its other products. Losing ground in one place could sometimes pave a path for expansion in other areas. Obviously, the most important advantage of discounting the sale of ultrasound machines would be that many more girl fetuses will be saved and the company would be doing the right moral thing. At the end of the day, saving lives is the greatest thing tanyone could do, and not many options to do so can be bypassed. Such a move would most likely help terminate all court cases that the company faces and free it to exploit other marketing options. It is very hard to pay attention to other industries when one casts such a large shadow over them. That is exactly what ultrasound machines seem to be doing due to their high demand and wide use. The biggest disadvantage would undoubtedly be the enormous loss of sales and the loss of ground to industry competitors that could affect other medical sectors as well. Not to be overlooked is the enormous market growth that lies ahead of this large country’s future. Business is run to make money, and such opportunities don’t present themselves very often. GE Healthcare’s joint-venture with Wipar could also suffer as the local company would see no benefit to continue business with a company that crumbles under social pressure. It will most likely break off and look to pair up with a different industry player, leaving GE without Wipar’s distribution network. Recommendations What should the company do to meet its goals, remain socially responsible, and get over its court cases and media bombardment? It is very difficult to make a decision when so many factors are in place and so much lies on the line. Are money or the unborn babies more important? Would a retreat ease off the killings of girl fetuses? And would other companies follow suit and drop off or ride the storm and reap the benefits from the distant brighter future? Usually, at the end of the storm, there is a golden sky. The brave prevail and the weak crumble and don’t ever regroup. GE Healthcare is currently in a very strong position in a growing industry that will bring enormous profits for the company in the future. It is not selling anything dangerous, but rather a product that saves lives everywhere around the world. GE Healthcare has helped India with its sudden economic rise in the 1980s and 1990s, and there is no reason for it to run away when it is in such a profitable decision. The recent 10% revenue increase rate shows that the industry is very healthy with a lot of potential. A very large part of the Indian population is currently not provided for medically, which is an enormous potential market. The current tough economic times around the world would slow down sales elsewhere, but not in a country that is developing in such a fast rate, especially medically. GE Healthcare is more than able to meet its goals and continue improving and innovating and gain even more ground in the ultrasound industry. The biggest and only real issue that the whole industry faces is the significantly lower numbers of girls being born when compared to boys. Many social scientists blame the ultrasound machines for this and tend to overlook the cruel and gruesome ways that families have found to put to death already born babies. The problem is not current, but rather centuries old, long before GE decided to enter the Indian market. Most importantly, this is a social and governmental problem. GE Healthcare is not a government entity to be expected to be socially responsible for everything, although it is trying its best to do so. Campaigns like â€Å"Respect for Girls† that are aimed at increasing social awareness of a rising problem are exactly what the government and not GE Healthcare should do. If the company decides to pull away of the industry, there is no guarantee that its current competitors would do the same. In fact, it is far more likely that they take advantage of the new potential customers and make GE’s pull out pointless. But even if the whole industry gets banned, which is highly unlikely, the Indian families will sadly find ways to continue their centuries old traditions and seek baby boys instead of girls. One thing that the company should do to ease off the media pressure and meet its image of being socially responsible is to raise its credit interests and force cheap doctors to stop buying for illegal purposes. The affidavits that the company makes all customers sign shows that the company is aware of the social problem and is helping out in any way it can. It can also emphasize on the other important uses of ultrasound machines and make people aware of the enormous health benefits that the machine provides. GE Healthcare has done a lot for India, being one of the first foreign businesses to enter and invest in the country. It has paved the way for other companies to enter the country in many different industries and India should be grateful to GE for helping it jump-start its development and not blame it on social issues that have existed for a long time. At the end of the day, the company entered India to make money. It is doing so by providing the country with a product that can decrease the mortality rate and increase the average lifespan of people if used correctly. It is also morally responsible by keeping track of its machines and trying to sell them only to qualified customers. An increase in the credit rate for those that need it to buy the machines could decrease media pressure and prove that GE Healthcare is doing whatever it can to remain socially responsible and keep a positive brand image. How to cite Ge Healthcare India, Essay examples

Social Media in a Crisis Situation

Question: Discuss about the Critical Analysis of Use of Social Media in a Critical Situation. Answer: Introduction In the growing complexities and advancements of the business communication, the use of social media will be effective for a business organization to improve the way of communication at the time of emergencies or crisis situations. The social media communication tools enhance the collectivity, clarity, connectedness, completeness, and collaboration of the business communication for managing the complexities of the communication in the critical situations. This essay will provide a detailed understanding of the critical analysis of the use of social media in the crisis situations (Belford, 2014). This will describe the topic of the use of social media in crisis by analyzing the use of the social media as a best communication means in crisis, the involvement of social media in the business plan, and the way of using the social media in influencing the communication in both positive and negative ways in the critical situations. This will analyze my role, responsibility, and creative thin king to handle the complex situation to communicate with the boss regarding the man enters my premises with a weapon in the absence of my boss. Social Media as an Effective Communication Medium in Crisis or Emergency The use of the social media networking sites or tools (Facebook, e-mails, Yahoo, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Blogs) will develop a broad understanding of the conceptual, strategic, and practical implications of the communication and relevance of communication at the time of emergencies or crisis situations within the workplace in the organization. The social media involves social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, WhatsApp) and blogs, Bookmarking sites (delicious.com, reditt.com, and dig.com), Collaborative projects (e.g. Wikipeadia), Content communities (e.g. You Tube and Flickr), and special reviews (e.g. Google Places or Adwords). The use of social media will assist in content sharing and communication through the social networks and blogs, tag and share content through the bookmarking sites, collaborative projects through the user generated content (e.g. Wikipedia), sharing contents, such as photos or images, and videos through the content communities, such as YouTube, Flickr, and sharing personalized formation and providing recommendations by using the social reviews (Benedict, 2014). At the crisis moments, the social media provides four functions including information dissemination, disaster or emergency planning, collaborative problem-solving and decision-making and information gathering or accessing. The information is mapped onto three phases of crisis or emergency management including preparedness, response, and recovery to describe how the social media tools may be used to enhance the effectiveness of the crisis communications. The social media is an effective communication way to interact with anyone because the mostly people are connected and spends their most of the time regularly on the social media, such as Facebook, whatsApp, and twitter to communicate with family members, friends/colleagues, relatives, and office staff members (Benedict, 2014). The communication through the social media may be in form of emails, intranets, blogs, videos, displays, newsletters, and other various forms of communication to communicate about the crisis situations or critical events. Crisis or emergency management is a critical organizational function that will include the contingent planning and dynamic incident response to the crisis situations by using the online discussion platforms, news aggregators for disseminating, acquiring, and analyzing information more comprehensively and efficiently. The social media sites have the strong ability to prevent crisis from spiraling out of control to aggravate the unfolding crisis situation (Chan, 2016). For example, the UK riot in 2011 was a case of the influence of social media questioning the small protest against the apparent police brutality in Tottenham that could spark vandalism and riots. The social media played a role of catalyst as the rioters and onlookers used social media networking sites to organize and communicate the numerous new reports. During the crisis, the social media tools could be used as effective means of communication because the social media is the most critical channel at the time of emergencies or crisis for creating the real-time and rapid communication in such contingent conditions. The social media will be an effective communication medium that will assist me in taking the rapid and urgent decisions at the time of crisis or emergencies. This will assist me in sharing information with my boss and subordinates for the regular updates of the current situations, freedom of decision-making, and getting online information for handling the complex situation of crisis (Chawala, 2016). The social media communication will have a degree of control on my decision-making and action in the crisis by making the shared decision after communicating with my boss through the social media chatting. This social media will provide me a platform to connect with the organizational members as well as outsider people by using the multiple forms of social media channels. This will assist me to understand the feelings, emotions, perceptions, and values of others and to make ethical judgment for the organizational welfare and growth. It will assist in resolving the organizational conflicts and inter-organizational problems by encouraging more communication among the staff members within the organization. The social media will assist me to take the real-time and accurate decisions at the time of emergencies or contingent situations for responding rapidly to the situation by reducing the communication appreciation (Dijck, 2013). By using the social media forms, I will discuss the critical situation with my boss about the man entering with weapon or gun and causing for huge terror at the organization that may disturb the functioning of the operations and activities in the organization. The organizational staff members are feared with this sudden attack by an outsider man. I am also shocked from this sudden unfavorable criminal moment. In such contingent, situation, the use of social media will be an effective communication medium to get the real-time assistance by communicating this situation with my boss and to get the suggestion or advice on how to handle this critical situation and provide me an appropriate solution so that I could arrive at right decision in this crisis situation. By using the social media networking sites, such as WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram or video calling, I will be able to get the immediate response from my boss in such critical situation. I will be able to send the digital post or video of the current scenario of this crisis with my boss. I may also tweet about the current situation on the twitter that will assist me in getting the quick response from my boss with a recommendation solution on handling such situation by using the experien ces of my boss (Dutta, 2013). I may also use WhatsApp video calling to create the two-way dialogue with my boss in order to represent the actual scenario of the current situation at the organization so that my boss could be introduce with the actual condition and will give appropriate guidance to me for taking immediate decision and action on the unfavorable activity or sudden attack from the man with a gun. Social Media as a business communication plan According to me, the social media should be considered in the business communication plan that will improve the communication among the organizational members to share the latest business updates, information, and data related to the relevant industry. By using the social media tools, it will be easy for the senior management to communicate the organizational vision, mission, goals, objectives, values, and strategies with the organizational members. The social media sites will also be effective to give information of the changes in the product quality, the schedule of company meetings, seminars, events, and timing of shifting, training and development programs to the employees (Guffey and Loewy, 2014). The social media will be an effective medium of communicating with the customers about the branded products and services and collecting their feedbacks on the existing products and service quality so that further changes could be made in the product development and manufacturing operat ions in order to produce the high quality and value-added products. The social media will provide a fast and effective communication medium to communicate the business plan with the team members. The social media networking sites will provide the latest and relevant data of the changing customers needs, preferences, and expectations for serving them effectively by making changes in the products and services as per their feedbacks. The social media sites provide an opportunity for engaging and interacting with the people in the emergencies or crises by disseminating the information to them and accessing information from them in the form of messages, text, videos, images, digital posts, newsfeeds, or other forms or ways of communication for sharing the information with them (Lach, 2016). The social media will provide the timely and regular updates on the current industry trends and fluctuating environment conditions related to the industry. For example, the MNCs, like Burberry, Tesco, Nestle, and Coca Cola use social media an effective promotional tool to promote the products and services of their brands through the digital marketing posts and conveying the promotional message to the targeted audiences in order to create the high brand awareness and customer loyalty toward the branded products of the company (Lovink, 2016). Ways to respond the crisis by using social media to influence communication in both positive and negative way During emergency events or crisis situations, such as terrorism attacks, earthquake or hurricane, storms or floods and sudden incidents or unfavorable happenings, the individuals are exposed to share the real-time and large amount of information with the people with whom he/she is likely to interact. The Facebook, Twitter, blogs, Youtube, LinkedIn, Netlong, and Google+ may be useful to handle the crisis situations in order to take quick and right decisions. Twitter and Facebook are mostly used by the companies to tweet for communicating with the customers regarding the product quality, service delivery, and pricing of the products (Richards and StudioD, 2015). For example, Southwest Flight 345 that landed nose first at LaGuardia is an example of the use of social media in the crisis situation that helped in getting quick response, holding open communication, and maintaining good faith with its customers. Southwest used the social media in the form of Facebook and Twitter for getting the immediate response from the customer with the statements and information. The social media create benefits to the businesses by promoting the companys products through the digital communication campaign or communicating the promotional message with the targeted audiences to attract the customers toward the branded products and services by creating the high brand awareness and loyalty in the mindsets of the customers. The social media will create the crisis communications in the positive way by ensuring the speed, interaction, engagement, and authenticity, control of message, visibility, transparency, boundaries, crisis facilitation and triggers (White, 2016). The social media in the crisis will assist to get immediate response, active listening to the targeted audiences or desired people, building two-way dialogue, being accountable, reacting to the situation, being open, honest, transparent, and credible, being compassionate and authentic, and creating video communication by using the video technologies. Despite of numerous benefits of using social media, the exploitation of social media via information technologies may create several issues, such as informational ethics, individual liberties, public safety, and consequence of misuse. Sometimes, the use of social media may result into the negative publicity by creating the negative image of the brand into the public or targeted audiences because some people are not likely to give more preferences to the social media advertisements. The use of social media may cause for the weak or ineffective communication with the targeted customers (Schwarz, Seeger, and Auer, 2016). The social media communication may also cause for the poor decision-making because the immediate decisions can also create complexities rather than handling the crisis situations because the rapid communication and quick decisions could be against the welfare of the businesses. The social media marketing could lead to weak sales performance because of the negative responses from the customers toward the companys products and services. The involvement of social media in the business plan as a promotional tool and communication medium may also involve the risks and uncertainties (Simon, Goldberg, and Adini, 2015). The information shared through the social media communication may also be exposed to the general public that will lose the confidence of the people. Sometimes, the confidential or secret information could be open in public before the audiences. The social media may create the negative impact on the brand image through spreading of misinformation. Conclusion From the above discussions on the essay, it can be stated that the online communication through the use of social media is faster than the traditional forms of communication. The video communication technologies also create video communication by using the social media tool, whats-app video calling. 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