The Decision in Paradise - Report Example

Decision in Paradise, Part III As part of case studying ARS Corp, a decision making process was initiated to find and tap the business opportunities in the island of Kava. At the end of that decision making process, the decision to open Business School was taken. As it seems to provide various benefits and advantages to ARS Corp and also other stakeholders, the decision to go for a Business school got strengthened. Benefits in the sense, one of the main missions of ARS Corp is to carry out business activities that fulfill its Corporate social responsibility (CSR), at the same being financially viable and profitable. As the Business School in Kava can surely cover ARS Corp’s CSR and also has the Kava’s market is optimal for a Business School with good number of target customers, it can surely go ahead with its plan. In addition, there is good support from the Kava Government as well as its people for the establishment of the Business School because it fulfills their key necessity in relation to education. Although, these favorable points can push the ARS Corp to initiate the establishment, starting with the flow of needed funds from its headquarters, there are some key factors which need to be analyzed. These key factors could impact the establishment process, and so to positively and beneficially manage those impacts, apt resources has to be considered and implemented. Even then, there could be ethical issues, which need to be managed aptly for the success of the Business School. Factors affecting decision implementation and the proposed solution The factors that may affect ARS Corp’s decision to go for a business school can be seen in both its internal environment and also its external environment. Both these factors could impact or even negatively affect the decision of ARS Corp to go for a Business School. When one focuses on the external environment, the main factor is the continuing problems with natural disasters in Kava. Kava is located precariously in the Pacific Ocean and is facing most of the natural disasters known to man. That is, Pacific Ocean countries or islands will always face heightened natural disasters because of its problematic geographical location, with major tectonic plates passing through and with many hurricanes and tornadoes arising and passing through that region. Island nations in the Pacific Ocean experience natural disasters associated with typhoons, and because of their proximity to the Pacific Oceans "Ring of Fire" – (the term refers to the Pacific region where high numbers of earthquakes as well as volcanic eruptions occur). (Przyborski and Platnick, 2008). On the same lines, in Kava, many natural and even man-made disasters happen quite often and that includes Tornadoes, Floods, Earthquakes, Volcanic eruptions, Fires, etc. These natural disasters could very well destroy ARS Corp’s Business School if it crosses the location of the school, or if the epicenter of impact is near to the school. “That’s why the mess all around here. Some disaster hit this place. Right?” (Case Scenario). Although, ARS Corp could try building its Business School, incorporating various inbuilt protections, based on structural techniques and other technologies, skeptics still point out it cannot be foolproof. If this skepticism spreads to ARS Corp hierarchy both in the Kava as well as in the headquarters, then there will be big question mark over the project. Resources and actions required The decision to build the Business School can be carried forward with confidence as there are quite few resources to counter the natural disasters. One of the first steps to counter natural disasters is finding a somewhat safe or even strategic location inside Kava, where there will be minimum impact of natural disasters. Although, Kava is fully exposed to natural disasters, there may be some locations, even deep inside the Island, where the impact of the natural disasters could be toned down. The first duty of ARS Corp is to search and corner in on such a location, even while taking into account other factors like transportation and communication facilities in that location, student’s accessibility to that location, etc. After finding such a location, the construction can be started incorporating optimum pieces of technology and civil engineering or construction techniques, which can strengthen the construction, so much, that it can withstand all the natural disasters. Hazard mitigation can be achieved through building construction practices that make individual structures less vulnerable to natural hazards, and that includes construction practices like “elevating structures out of flood plains, designing structures to respond more effectively to lateral stresses, and providing window shutters to protect against wind pressure and debris impacts.” (Lindell and Prater, 2003). Thus, if all these construction activities are carried out, the constructed building for the School can work effectively, without any fear or doubt. With such confidence about the School’s infrastructure, ARS Corp can go ahead with the project. In addition to this, ARS Corp can also go for an Insurance cover for the School building, if the insurance companies allow for it. That is, this insurance cover will protect the ARS Corp financially when indeed a deadly natural disaster strikes. That is, after the partial or even complete destruction of the infrastructure, money from the Insurance cover can be used to start reconstruction, thereby preventing further investments and other future losses. Ethical implications Even if ARS Corp by incorporating all the safety and optimal features builds the Business School and starts the enrollment process, there could be some ethical issues. Ethics is a key component of any business in any sector, and so all the businesses including ARS Corp should incorporate ethics in every aspect of the functioning. Otherwise, there will major repercussion for the organization, when some unethical issues or problems comes into the open. Companies that do not incorporate or practice proper ethics procedures could face severe damages to their reputation, criminal/legal action and regulatory penalties, resulting in loss of customers, reduced share price, etc. (Advice on management). In Kava, ethical issues will arise mainly due to the high prevalence of AIDS among the target audience of youth and also because of terrorist leanings among the Kava’s youths. The youths of the Kava are the main target segment for ARS Corp’s Business School, as it offers higher education. However, with sizable youths getting involved in terrorism and having AIDS, target segment gets reduced even further. Even then, the youths with these two issues of terrorist connection and HIV infection could try to enroll themselves, and their treatment by the business school and the fellow students could give rise to ethical implications. That is, ARS Corp’s management may have concerns that if youths with terrorist links and AIDS infection are enrolled, they could carry out those terrorist activities within the premises, destroying the infrastructure and in the case of AIDS could infect among fellow students. So, when ARS Corp tries to block the recruitment of students having this background, it could give rise to ethical implications because a youth cannot be viewed as a terrorist, unless he/she is proved by the authorities. On the same lines, youths with AIDS cannot be unethically viewed as individuals, who will cause further infection among the Business School Youths. Thus, blocking student’s want for education, based on unclear assumptions and fears could cause ethical problems, which need to be managed aptly by ARS Crop without negatively impacting any of the stakeholder. Timeline Reference: “Famous advice on Ethics” (n. d). Advice on management. Retrieved from: http://www.adviceonmanagement.com/advice_ethics.html Lindell, M. K and Prater, C. S. (2003). “Assessing Community Impacts of Natural Disasters.” Natural Hazards Review, 4 (4): 176-185. Przyborski, P and Platnick, S. E. (2008). Visible Earth. Retrieved from: http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/view_rec.php?id=1522 Read More