Annie Leonards YouTube Presentation The Story of Stuff - Coursework Example

Reflective Journal Entry One Annie Leonard’s YouTube presentation The Story of Stuff is a simple and succinct yet powerful summarisation of sustainability and the corporate social responsibility imperative for businesses. On watching the presentation, I found myself reflecting particularly on the issue of obsolence- particularly planned obsolence- and whether I had unwittingly fallen prey or contributed to unsustainable and consumption driven consumerism. While I have been familiar with the interconnectedness between corporate social responsibility and sustainability as argued by Hart (2007), Leonard’s presentation illuminated a perspective of sustainability that I have ignored or been less aware to- the contribution of the individual through their personal consumption choices. While Mirvis (2002) demonstrates how Shell has been turned into a corporate pariah, the epitome of corporate social irresponsibility and essentially an ecological monster, I have found that such readings are often silent on the role of the individual consumer, particularly the informed consumer (such as I happen to be) in preaching sustainability. Why the persistence with a top-down approach instead of a bottom-up approach? Perhaps, the authors may fear, by discouraging consumerism or by evoking such critical self appraisal, you may not need to buy the book they are trying to sell you! I have often been aware to the fact that consumption behaviour at the micro and individual level has a profound effect on environmental sustainability. For instance, initiatives at the university such as a policy of encouraging the switching off of all inactive computers, ensuring taps are turned off and switching lights off when they are not in use may all have a significant impact on the long term environmental footprint. Even seemingly benign initiatives such as setting up printers to print both sides of the paper can have far reaching effects on the demand for natural resources and the ecological impact associated with this demand. Prior to this topic, I had viewed such sustainability initiatives and policies as cost cutting measures which primarily targeted the profitability of such institutions. Anderson (2005) tries to convince readers that corporate social responsibility is a practical demonstration that profitability can be reconciled with ethics which has often been the contentious issue in sustainable development. The implication of the argument is that win-win situations for businesses and societies are possible. This is attributed to the fact that such consumption decisions have the potential of reducing the demand for energy and resources and slow down the environmental degradation associated with production and consumption of energy. While the argument seems sound and valid, I find contradictions in the attempt to reduce the environmental footprints when the university is constantly making efforts to update their stocks of the latest computers and electronic devices. While reducing their environmental and carbon footprint on the one hand, they are contributing to environmental degradation through unsustainable exploitation of coltan in the Democratic Republic of Congo. At the individual level, I have become more aware and inquisitive of the consumption decisions I make and their impact on the environment. The Story of Stuff presents very compelling evidence, although not factually verified, for making personal consumption choices that are sensitive to their cumulative environmental effect. I found the cartoon animation of “the trashing of the planet”, as Leonard referred to environmental degradation, very amusing yet dramatically compelling in demonstrating the end result of my own consumption decisions such as upgrading to my current laptop in pursuit of increased memory. While the benefits from buying a new model are at best marginal, the ripple effect of such decisions may imply the continued “trashing” of the Democratic Republic of Congo in pursuit of coltan. After the insight I have had from this particular topic, I feel compelled to undertake due diligence of some of the brands I purchase by closer examination of their activities and their impact on the environment. However, as Hart (2007) argues, it may entail more than changes in consumer decision making but also consumer behaviours such as switching off music players and other electronic devices, most notably cell phones while not in use. In essence, I believe it would be more satisfactory to make personal consumption decisions based on some sort ecological audit. At the institution level, the environmental footprint of the university can be also significantly reduced by encouraging the use of stairs in buildings where possible to reduce the demand on electricity through lifts. Entry 2 In the course of completing the second half of the career work book, I must admit that this was an eye- opening experience. I rarely spend time, reflecting on my work targets, however when I started completing my career workbook, I took advantage of this opportunity to carefully reflect and develop my work targets. As I look back on this experience, I realise that I have grown considerably when it comes to planning and prioritising. This experience has helped me to know what I want, where I am headed and what I can do in order to achieve the work targets that I have set. One of the key lessons that I learnt during this experience, is that when setting work targets it is essential to set targets that are specific, measurable, attainable, rational and time bound. Offcourse, I had been exposed to this knowledge before however, I have never taken the time to fully understand and reflect on what it means to set SMART targets. Through this experience I learnt that, when developing a work target it is important to be very specific particularly with regards to which area of work you want to improve. I learnt that being specific when setting work targets can help one to focus and as a result, this may bring about positive results. Prior to this activity, my work target were very general. For instance, one of my key work targets involved developing skills that will help to me to enhance my performance in my area of practise. I had not identified the specific skills that I wanted to develop and which area of my professional practise that these skills can help to enhance performance. However, as I was reflecting on how to develop efficient work targets, I realised that it is very important to set targets that are very specific. Secondly, when completing my career work book, I realised that there was need to set targets that were measurable or targets that can be evaluated. The essence of developing or identifying a target is to be able to evaluate or account in future whether the identified goal has been achieved. It is therefore essential to develop targets that can be measured. In the course of this activity, I reflected on the causes of work-related stress. I remembered that one of the key causes of work-related stress is extremely high or unrealistic expectation. When a person sets extremely high or unrealistic goals, they may feel pressured to perform and in case they fail to perform according to the standards that they have set, they are bound to get stressed or feel demoralised or pressured. This could in turn result to poor performance. Drawing onto this knowledge, helped me to realise that it is important to set attainable and rational work targets. I learnt that when developing work targets it is important to have a realistic outlook. Lastly, in the course of completing my career work book, I learnt that, when developing a work target it is important to have time limits for the set targets. After completing this activity, I was challenged to develop my work targets. I felt the need to develop my own work targets as this will help me plan and prioritise on important aspects of my career. I was able to identify three ideal work targets. My first target is to develop effective communication skills as this will help to improve work-related and customer relations. My second target is to develop efficient business networks with employers, suppliers and customers. My third target is to develop a work-life balance, in order to avoid stress, burnout and poor performance. Basically, completing my career workbook has been an enriching experience. This is because, in the course of this activity I am challenged to engaged in in-depth personal reflection. Rarely do I find a platform whereby I can reflect on my work targets however this career workbook, has helped me to reflect on important aspects of a career. In addition, to this it has provided an opportunity to learn through reflection. After completing this section of my career, I have become aware of my work targets. Entry Three Platts’ article has reinforced the confidence I have in my abilities to work as a professional in the global marketplace. What I find most appealing about Platt’s point of view in developing competence and trust is that he emphasizes on the value of time and the process of internalization. This is reassuring particularly to me since I have long held the view that in developing professional competence, I should be given the autonomy to evaluate situations and rely on internal reflection to guide decision making rather than to-the-letter adherence to rules and regulations. However, a closer reading of Provis’ (2004) article shakes some of that confidence and highlights the possibility of situations which may compound what seem to be simple and clear cut decisions. The first reading of the article was a bit confusing; as I was not sure what conclusion to make- is the use of guanxi in the global workplace ethically acceptable or is it justifiable as culturally relative? Provis’ article on guanxi raises the possibility of being confronted by ethical dilemmas in the professional global workplace. As Platts (2003) indicates, achieving competence at an expert level entails internalisation and intuitive grasp of situations based on deep understanding. As indicated earlier, this may be a source of confidence for more dynamic people such as me who believe in achieving professional proficiency not by following the letter of rules but by acting in the spirit of the rules. The ethical issues may arise when I come into contact with localised cultures or practices such as guanxi. Provis, in my opinion, does not offer a verdict, an indictment or vindication of guanxi but instead focuses on the various cultural interpretations of the practice. Several elements of guanxi, as indicated, can be interpreted as synonymous with corruption and unethical practice. However, at the same time, having respect for guanxi relationships is depicted as part of the process of achieving competence and gaining trust in the global workplace. Therefore, it is expected that at some point in the global workplace, I should (as a professional) expect situations where the demarcation between ethical values such as honesty and transparency and “doing as the Romans do” is not very clear. This would require a very delicate balancing between internalized values and conceptions of ethics and the respect or accommodation of practices which are culturally sensitive but which can also be easily misperceived as corrupt or backward. From the previous topic in class, I have been influenced to believe that ethics are universal values. This is in the sense that corporate malpractice or irresponsibility is equally damaging regardless of the context in which it takes place. From my Australian cultural background, business is progressive and practice is considered professional and ethical when it is able to embody values such as impartiality, fairness, objectivity and self enforcement of obligation. I find myself agreeing with Provis (2004) when he characterizes practices such as nepotism as ethically problematic. Therefore, in the global workplace, coming into contact with people who uphold the values and importance of cultural specific practice such as guanxi may force one to operate outside of their comfort zone. I am aware that guanxi is just one in long list of examples in the global workplace that may require delicate balancing and compromise and above all, deep reflection in evaluating ethical situations. However, I can take comfort from Platts who shows that learning is like eating, I will just have to digest it. Bibliography Anderson, DR 2005, 'Reputation boycott/sustainability risks', in Corporate Survival: The Critical Importance of Sustainability Risk Management, iUniverse, Inc, New York. Hart, SL 2007, Capitalism at the crossroads: Aligning business, earth and humanity, Wharton School Publishing, New Jersey. Mirvis, PH 2000, 'Transformation at Shell: Commerce and citizenship', Business and Society Review, vol. 105, no. 1, pp. 63-84. Platts, J 2003, Developing Competence and Trust: Maintaining the Heart of a Profession, Professional Ethics, vol.11, no. 1, pp 3-18. Provis, C 2003, Guanxi, Relationship and Ethics, Australian Journal of Professional and Applied Ethics, vol 6, no. 1, pp 47- 56. Read More