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Thursday, December 2, 2010

Project 1: Bell’s Mission Statements

Bell’s Mission Statements  --Posted by Huilian lin (000473915)
A company’s mission is at the second level of the company’s hierarchy of goals. According to Gregory Dess (2009), a mission statement indicates what an organization wants to do, what to accomplish, and how to achieve its vision. “This includes providing specific avenues that will direct the organization’s efforts and identifying key partners, markets, and services that will make it happen.”
An effective mission statement should demonstrate nine essential characteristics which are customers, products or services, geographic markets, technology, concern for survival, growth, and profitability, philosophy, public image, employees, and distinctive competence. Bell Canada’s mission statements will be examined by these nine components in the following part.
The following is the original mission statements of Bell Canada:
“Delight. Yes, delight. Simply put, that’s our mission: To delight you with the products, services and customer support that we provide to you every day.
It’s more than just talk. It comes with a commitment. Here it is: 
  • We will bring you outstanding products and services that can help you in your daily life; 
  • We will strive to provide you with the products and services that you want; 
  • We will remember that technology can be fun, and excite you with creative and useful new product innovations; 
  • We will strive to ensure that pricing information is presented clearly;
  • We will be helpful and courteous in your dealings with us;
  • We will strive to be accessible to you through the medium of your choice, whether it be online, in-store or by phone. ”(Bell Canada, 2010)

Project 1: Bell Canada--Vision

Posted by Huilian Lin (000473915)

Bell’s Vision Statement

An organization’s Hierarchy of Goals contains: departmental objectives and goals, strategic objectives, mission, and organizational vision.

A company’s vision is at the starting point for articulating a company’s hierarchy of goals. It is a broad and overall picture of what the organization wants to be. The vision statement usually concentrates on the future and states what the company stands for, what it believes in and why it exists. An organization’s vision states what the core spirit of the company is for its sustainable operation, and serves to point the direction of where the organization wishes to go. (Dess, 2009)
Bell Canada’s vision statement is “To contribute to the well-being of society by enabling responsible economic growth, connecting communities and safeguarding the environment.” (Bell Canada, 2010)
Bell has built the Guiding Principles for its sustainability in which it concentrates on develop leading-edge telecommunications services, deliver strong and sustained economic performance, maintain solid governance principles and manage business with transparency and integrity, and identify the opportunity to create benefits for society and company.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Sustainability

Posted by Huilian Lin (000473915)

Shaw Sustainability- Shaw reduces, reuses, and recycles – Similar to the other two companies they saved more than 760 000 sheets of a paper a year by providing e-billing to their customers, they have recycled 928 tonnes of waste which includes paper plastic and items in warehouse including metal and wood. They also reuse and resell 70 percent of their electronic items like modems, digital PVR and receivers’ with a partnership. Shaw has also participated in Earth Hour by shutting off their non-essential building lights and signs which reduced their gas emission by 250 lbs
TELUS Sustainability – TELUS has various Environmental recognition and awards for sustainability, they have awards in Global 100 Most Sustainable Companies in the World, TELUS has been working to reduce paper consumption since year 2001. Some highlights of the paper initiative have been reduced paper consumption in 2009 by 15 million sheets of paper, planted 128000 trees and recycled over 2.6 million kilograms of paper in 2009. They also have a handset recycling program. With TELUS real estate they have spent around a million dollars in the last years to improve the energy efficiency of their network buildings. TELUS has also purchased Renewable Energy Certificates in Alberta.
Apple. Apple has worked on every year to reduce their total carbon footprint, also with manufacturing they have been lowering there total greenhouse gas emissions. They find new ways to transport their products which also reduced greenhouse gas emissions such as smaller packaging. When Apple products come to an end in the products life they recycle everything they can.

Rogers Sustainability- Rogers have completed a carbon footprint assessment and identified opportunities they can reduce the footprint, having annual employment engagement survey, providing compensation for employees. Similar to TELUS, Rogers also is trying to reduce their paper consumption. Other highlights are recycling cell phones, awards in a winning workplace.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

SWOT Analysis for Bell Canada

Bell's SWOT Analysis from Company-C
Carolina Dasilva (510077)
Hui Lian Lin (473915)
Qian Yu (512110)
Thao Tran (485521)
Ya Ting Chang (488338)

SWOT analysis is an effective strategic planning tool for the development of a marketing plan. The internal aspects can be classified as strength (S) and weakness (W), while the external factors include opportunities (O) and threat (T). A SWOT analysis can help an organization accomplish its business goal by building on its strengths, correcting its weaknesses, capitalizing on any opportunities and avoiding potential threats. Bell’s strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats are listed in order below.       
Strengths
• Strong Brand Image
• Variety of Products and Services
• Price Competition


Weaknesses
• Serving Quality on the First-line Customer Service
• Commitment customers to the company:
• Customer Service procedure


Opportunities
• Low Penetration Rate Allows for Continued Growth
• Strategic Alliances with Telus
• Constant Technological Upgrades


Threats
• Strong Competition
• Hacking Risks
• Regulating by CRTC

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Are we addicted to technology? (Huilian Lin)

Post by Huilian Lin (473915)

Teens and Technology, Are They Addicted?

Is it a luxury or necessity?


The article from my researched website called “Humpage”.

Nowadays, technologies become more and more indispensability for people. They are using every corner of lives. It can be class, can be MySpace and Facebook,even when they are driving. This article is talking about one of the technologies: internet.


Teens, they don’t need to hand out with friend because they can talk with them behind the “screen”. Teens, are absolutely no stimulation to the outside world because their worlds are “digital." This article also is talking about the parents of teens are worries about their kids spending too much time on technologies. “Technology is as much of a problem as alcohol or drugs”.


As parents, they are responsibility to make sure what and how dangers of internet when their children got to. The parents should tell them with internet doesn’t mean it can be impact their lives. Predators are always looking for vulnerable kids, it does not matter what age.


In my opinion, I think that as teens, they need to approach the nature life and to feel the world. Do always hiding behind the screen, stay-in. As parents, they should give the limits time to the kids if they are using of computer and cell phones, and to be more active communicate with them about what they did from internet to keep be safe. “Do not let the technology take over teen’s life; it should be a luxury not a necessity.”

Post by Huilian Lin (473915)

Are we addicted to technology? (Huilian Lin)

Top 10 Signs of Cell Phone Addiction

The article “Top 10 Signs of Cell Phone Addiction” by Nick Mokey, appeared in Digital Trends. The article points out the top 10 signs of cell phone addiction on people. The points of views made by Nick are summarized below.
Although cell phones were created to make modern life more convenient, they are actually beginning to interfere in the people’s lives that sometimes people just don’t know when to turn their cell phones off. And it can be hard to pinpoint problematic cell phone use. There are 10 signs that show people’s addiction to cell phones.
1.       Spending more on accessories than on cell phones.
2.       Having 30 various applications installed in the cell phones, and use them all.
3.       Having alarms telling the users when to do everything through every step of the day.
4.       Reading latest news about cell phones on phones.
5.       Cutting back on necessities to afford monthly cell phone bill.
6.       A full battery charge lasts the day.
7.       Feeling like last a friend when broking the cell phones.
8.       Only talking about the phone when meeting people with the same phone.
9.       Feeling a panic when lost the cell phones.
10.   Using the cell phone in the bathroom.
Post by Huilian Lin (473915)

Are we addicted to technology? (Ya Ting Chang)

Social Media Addiction Can Ruin Your Health
Article posted by Ya Ting Chang (488338)


The article "Social Media Addiction Can Ruin Your Health" by Jonathan Benson appeared in Natural News on September 28, 2010. The article asserts that social media addiction like constantly using Facebook or Twitter can damage students’ healthiness and social relationship. The arguments made by Jonathan are summarized below.


In the first part, the author explains that nowadays many people are easily addicted to social media like Facebook. The behaviour of continually sticking in front of computer monitors for checking their friends, relatives, and co-worker’s Facebook status may cause some problems of health and personal social relationships. For example, stress, anxiety, sleeplessness, and interpersonal communication.

Then, the author describes a research by experts to examine the influences of social media addiction. The result shows that the degree of students’ addiction to social media is just like the drug addiction because they have similar symptoms.

Next, the author gives the examples to prove the drawbacks of students’ addiction on social media. Some students cannot stop playing Facebook after class and some keep checking updating things on their phones. They are indulged in it for 21 hours a day, so they only have a few hours for sleep. In addition, they don’t have real time on face-to face interaction with their friends and families. That makes the problem of their interpersonal relationships.

Finally, after the experiment made by researchers, some students start to realize the problems they have got and try to make changes in their bad habits on playing Facebook.

In the end, the author emphasises that students need to be notified and taught that they should use social media properly and pay attention on what and how they do on it, or it can ruin their lives.

Are We Addicted to Technology? (Ya Ting Chang)

Are We Addicted to Technology?
Posted by Ya Ting Chang (488338).
Article from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/731563/are_we_addicted_to_technology.html

The article “Are We Addicted to Technology?” by Jessica Nicole Johnson appeared in “Associated Content” on April 24, 2008. In this article, Jessica points out that technology is a new addiction to many people now and is affecting their lives in bad sides. The arguments made by Jessica are summarized below.

In the first part, the author explains that some technologies are becoming important things to many people’s daily usages. However, people are getting more and more dependent on those technologies. Then, the author assumes that it becomes a problem.

Next, the author describes that many specialists now start to doubt whether technology is a new addiction to people. She presents some ways to evaluate people’s extent of addiction on technology:
·How long are used on a cell phone plan?
·How many times are emails, Face book, or MySpace checked every day?
·How can people live without any technology used?

To prove the question, she uses a survey from CNN. The result is that 77% people couldn’t live without technology, and only 23% said that they don’t need technology.

Finally, the author demonstrates this problem affected on both of children and adults. (1) Children being addicted to technology may lose their growing live and social skills. (2) To adults, they should notice when the usage of technology is influencing their work performance and interpersonal relationship.

As a conclusion, the author hints that people need to know technology shouldn’t substitute human’s original social development. It is neither safe nor healthy when people indulge in the dependency on any devices of technology.

Posted by Ya Ting Chang (488338)

Opinions on Addiction to Technology (Ya Ting Chang)

I think students are addicted to the social media like Facebook, Twitter, MSN, MySpace, and so on. It gradually becomes a more and more serious problem in the whole world.

Firstly, it hurts students’ health because they spend too much time on social media, especially on Facebook. There are many defects:
(1) It damages their eyes health.
(2) They don’t have enough sleep.
(3) They will get neck and shoulders pain easily.

Secondly, many teenagers and students just don’t have enough maturity to realize the seriousness troubles that they have made on internet. For example, some improper words or pictures shouldn’t be posted. Sometimes, it would influence a youth’s life just because of unsuitable comments or opinions.

Moreover, by playing with social media, students get fewer chances of real communication with other people. It decreases young people’s ability on social personal relationships. It also reduces their time spending on other good activities or sports.

By the degree of addiction on social media, I think students have less power as consumers. They are at a weak side because they don’t have the consciousness and judgements on using social media properly and suitably.

Posted by Ya Ting Chang (488338)

Opinions on Addiction to Technology (Ya Ting Chang)

To survive in a modern society, it seems necessary for people to have some technologies as their own possessions, such as cell phones, laptops, PDAs, and so on. Without those electronic devices, many people may not have enough competitive advantages competing with other people or business. At some points, technology brings advantages of convenience, entertainment, and communication.

However, if people overuse or spend too much time and money on technologies, it would certainly turn those advantages into disadvantages. When people are addicted on technology, it may damage their health, life, and social relationships. Therefore, the key point is to make good usage of technologies and manage time well on them.

In conclusion, I think most people are addicted to technology because people just rely on the benefits of technology. According to Porter’s five forces theory, I think this situation gives consumers less power as “buyers”. On one hand, people need to have technologies to increase their competitiveness in business and social life; on the other hand, people cannot live without the fun that technologies bring to them. When consumers’ demands on technology increase, it just decreases their power as “buyers”.

Posted by Ya Ting Chang (488338)

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Are We Addicted to Technology? (Erin Qian Yu)

To begin with the discussion, I want to start with this article called “Technology addicts” written by Dale Allen Pfeiffer.

In this article, Dale wrote about his own story that how different three generation are because of the development of technology. He watches cartoons all the time when he was little, while his father and grandfather didn’t know what a television was when they were little. He thinks that people were more living in the moment back at the time. People without technology “fulfilled not only in what they did, but in what they shared with others”. And his generation is seeking for comfort and convenience, the world right now is more artificial.

In this “artificial” world, the author tried as much as possible to interact directly with the environment. He thinks that the car and the walkman that came out in the late 1970s will cut off the people who are using them from the environment.

In Dale’s opinion, over the past century, people are only receiving all the technology the manufactory provide us without even thinking what we really want. For example, people need to have the TV on even if they are not watching it because they want to feel like they are interacting with something. It is a kind of brainwashing the new technology world gave us.

Dale says that internet gave us the opportunity to communicate with the world outside, but we are still not actually leaving our chairs to do the effort.

Comfort and convenience are the words the author describe 90% of our technology. People become very dependent about what technology can bring them. However, technology makes people forget how to do things themselves. In this society, it is very easy for people to lose their ability to survive without the technology.

Studies show that nearly 50% to 90% of the bee hives failed between September 2006 and March 2007. I was surprised to know that cell phone towers might be the reason of collapses. But even this won’t even make people think about part with their cell phone.

Dale indicated that people are so into technology right now, it is doubtful that they are going to change even if their lives are threatened by it. That’s how powerful the technology is for our generation.

In my opinion, Dale is like all of us. He knows that the technology is harmful in some way somehow. But it doesn’t change the truth that he is a technology addict too. It is very mind refreshing that how deeply we are addicted to the artificial world. Dale is quite right about the reason why we are addicted---comfort and convenience. It reminds me of the strategies of some technology companies. One of Apple’s strategies is to make the high-end technology easy to use, even for a child of 5. Can we say that the technology companies know the human being’s weakness of dependence of comfort and convenience, so that they are just developing technology to match our demand? But if we think that way, it is going to be very threatening if we follow their lead. They are for sure going to develop some new technology to make us feel more comfortable, and if we always follow up, we will loss more capabilities of doing something by ourselves. I don’t want to think this way, but is there going to be one day that the technology is so developed when we don’t have to do anything by ourselves?

Posted by Erin Qian Yu---512110

Are We Addicted to Technology? (Erin Qian Yu)

In Jessica’s article “Are We Addicted to Technology”, she points out that nowadays most people own cell phone, IPod or laptop. Many people’s life is based on these technology gadgets. We are supposed to master the technology and not let it master us. However, we are abusing its power. Based on CNN’s poll recently, more than 70% agree they could not live without either their cell phones, PDA or IPods. This is a huge number, and proves people are heavily relying on technology and if it disappeared tomorrow we’d be more than a little disoriented.

She also mentions teenagers, which is Generation Y are addicted to technology. Texting is taking over actual conversation among teenagers. Additionally, she states that spending hours on computer surfing the web is not necessary considered as Internet addicted. It’s just a new way to get information. By the end of the article, she summarizes for our decade we have been exposed to more technology and innovations than society had ever seen before, which means technology is indeed part of our life, but it shouldn’t take place of the need of the real social development and human touch.

I think whether we are addicted to technology is just like anything out there, which is that there are many degrees and it’s not a simple black and white issue. There is a grey zone.

For one extreme is that I’ve seen people that practically will get a panic attack without their phone/PDA with them or can’t get off the smart phone for 10 seconds while dealing with the waitress or cashier. On the other hand we have people who intentionally avoid mobiles/internet just because they think it doesn’t worth to spend time and money on it. The latter apparently don’t like the rapid technology revolution.

To be honestly, most of us are in the middle, which is the grey zone. We use smart phones for emails; watching 52” plasma tvs; using super thin notebooks and somehow we didn’t even realized how much the technology has changed our daily life. Just think about all those old days: burn mix cds, taking out dics from Sony discman and staring at the heavy and clumsy CRT monitors.

I personally agree with Jessica that technology has made us worse at the thing that it supposed to promote: communication. We are just too busy to play around with the gadgets that missing out all the good time hanging out with close friends and families. Abusing technology apparently will not make use better as human beings. Overall, we are supposed to let technology serve us and not let it master us.


Posted by: Erin Qian Yu---512110

Are We Addicted to Technology? (Carolina Cej)

In the following article from Forbes, http://www.forbes.com/2008/06/15/cellphone-addict-iphone-tech-wireless08-cx_wt0616addict.html the concept of cell phone addiction is further explored.

The article claims that 51% of us would have a very difficult time giving up our cell phones; a higher percentage than internet access or television.

The article notes that while mobile devices were originally intended as a convenience to be used only when absolutely necessary they have now become more like mini-computers which allow us (require us?) to be in constant access to our workplaces. It creates a sense of being in the office 24/7 as it is now impossible to say that we can't access our e-mail or other data that once was only available at work. Has this improved our quality of life, or made it worse? The article quotes some heavy cell-phone uses who all agree that although they are more efficient they don't believe that their quality of life has increased. The article notes that cell phone use is on a steady increase with almost 84% of the U.S. population having a cell phone while there are over 3 billion people world-wide with mobile service, indicating that cell phone usage and addition is only going to increase.


How does the fact that consumers seem to be addicted to cell-phones affect our buying power? According to Porter's Five Forces, Buyer Power is affected by many factors including the number of buyers versus the number of suppliers, fragmentation of buyers and the switching costs associated between different suppliers. Due to the fact that cell-phone purchases are for the most part individuals, some large companies may choose to equip all of their workers with the same brand of cell phone, but by-and-large most consumers purchase cell phones for themselves the buyers market can be said to be fragmented.

This results in less power for the individual buyers. As far as switching between different suppliers, the costs associated with this have decreased in recent years as the competitive market for cell phones generally allows people to switch from one type of cell phone to another without incurring major costs. Learning the different features of other cell phones can be difficult, so this can have the affect of lessening buyer power as people may be reluctant to try a different supplier due to the problem of learning new features. Finally, if we can conclude that people are addicted to cell phones, the buyer is in a weaker position as they essentially have to purchase a cell phone from someone. Although there are many different supplies, this "forced" demand allows the suppliers to control the market as they know that people need to purchase cell phones.

Posted by Carolina Cej (510077)

Are We Addicted to Technology? (Carolina Cej)

Are we addicted to cell phones?

The following article http://www.helium.com/items/590342-the-facts-about-cell-phone-addiction discusses the subject of addiction.

In the article addiction is defined as "the action is a recurring compulsion by an individual to engage in some specific activity". By this definition, are we addicted to cell phones? The article points out some similarities between cell phone addiction and other more typical addictions such as drugs or alcohol. Some common characteristics include physical and psychological dependence. These symptoms manifest themselves with some of the following behaviors:

1.People feel uncomfortable without their cellphones
2.Cellphones become a need, not a want
3.An insatiable need to talk
4.Stress caused by cell phone bills
5.Interpersonal problems
6.High levels of insecurity
7.Health risks due to exposure to electricalmagnetic waves or use of cellphones while driving.
8.People who are severally addicted may experience hallucinations, i.e. thinking that their cell phones are ringing when they are not

I think we can recognize some of these behaviors in ourselves and in people we know. Certainly, by this definition we can say that some people have become addicted to cell phones.

Posted by Carolina Cej (510077)

Monday, November 22, 2010

Are We Addicted to Technology? (Thao Tran)

Statistics and Cell Phones
http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/statistics-and-cell-phones-538109.html

This article has shown some significant number of cell phones usage:

73% of peole talk on cell phone while driving.

In light traffic, drivers who have cell phones spent 31% more time behind other slower car. It was about 16% in medium traffic and 12% in heavier traffic.

There was about 67% children had cell phones in the U.S. In Japan, this rate was 80% for high school students and 25% for junior high students. In Hungary, this rate is 75% for all kids.

Another study showed that kids did not make friends with others who did not have cell phones in Japan.

These numbers have proved that cell phones more and more important roles in our lives. It could be either a good or a bad thing. According to Porter's Five Forces, we, the consumers, have less power because it is not easy for us now to switch to another product and we do not have a significant influece on the products and price.

Prepared by Thao Tran (485521)

Are We Addicted to Technology? (Thao Tran)

Top 10 Signs of Cell Phone Addiction
http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/top-10-signs-of-cell-phone-addiction/

The article brings up the top 10 signs of cell phone addiction to which any of us can be addicted. These ten signs are ranked from 1 to 10 and listed in an increasing level of addiction order.

10. The amount of money spent money on upgrading or on convenient accessories is more than that they have paid for the phone themselves.

9. The number of applications that are installed to the phone. If someone has about 30 different applications which are all useful to the user, they are addicted to phone.

8. All appointments, meetings are set into the phone to remind the owners what and when to do things for the day.

7. How people get deep into understanding and updating the information about their phone right by their phone.

6. People start to give up some of their living necessities or standards to cell phones.

5. How often people charge their phones. The more often they charge the more addicted they get.

4. People feel like they “lost friends” when they lost, broke or damaged their phones.

3. It becomes the number one topic when people have the same concerns about the same phones meet together.

2. People feel totally lost when they find out that their phones have gone.

1. People are so addicted to phones that they cannot leave for even one moment and finally “use in the washroom”.

You can find this article either funny or interesting, but it actually alarm people who have any of the signs listed above. It has been going too far to the very first purposes of cell phone. I personally have a cell phone for emergency purpose because I drive. And I usually shop for the very standard package which includes unlimited incoming calls and free outgoing calls after six on weekend. Finally, I would like to say that I really appreciate people who have made huge changes in technology so that we can have more convenient life. However, I would rather spend my spare time on gardening or reading than stick myself to the things that has annoyed me with it ring tone.
Posted by Thao Tran (485521)

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Bell's Strategic Imperatives


Bell Canada has done and kept the best to pursuing five clear strategic imperatives:
1) Improve customer Service
2) Accelerate wireless
3) Leverage wire line momentum
4) Invest in broadband networks and services
5) Achieve a competitive cost structure.

These strategic imperatives are rooted in efficiently and cost effectively delivering consistent, reliable, high-quality communications services to customers, proactively managing legacy revenue erosion and profitably expanding our customer base.
Posted by Hui Lian Lin (473915)

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Bell Canada to raise funds for upgrade

The owner of Bell Canada is expected to sell its stake in newspaper and TV businesses in order to fund network upgrades.

A specific example of Bell’s business strategy can be found in the news that is about the raise of R&D development funds for technological upgrade announced by the owner of Bell. According to the news from Global Telecoms Business, in order to increase the competitive advantages of the technology development, Bell indicated that they are “looking to sell venture-capital investments and assets in order to fund an overhaul of its 3G network, and also allocate part of the money to revamp its fibre network. The deal is expected to help raise about $150 million.”

Friday, October 8, 2010

Canadian Telecommunication Industry

According to CRTC Report, the Canadian telecommunication industry has continued revenue growth in the past ten years. However, it has seen intense rivalry in the recent years. The major players in this industry within Canada are: Bell, Rogers, and Telus.
From CRTC's research, the following table illustrates the wireless TSPs’ (Telecommunication Service Priority) revenue market share. The data shows that in the year of 2009, Rogers contains 39% of market share of wireless, while Bell Canada and TCC (Telus Communications Company) contain 28% respectively. Rogers is the biggest competitor and the main threat of business for Bell Canada.

     
      Read more Information from: 
      
      Posted by Hui Lian Lin (473915)


Canadian Penetration Rates of Wire-Line and Wireless Subscribers

The CRTC report (2010) indicates the Canadian penetration rates of wire-line and wireless subscribers from 2002 to 2009 as the table below. In the year of 2008, the penetration rate of wire-line and wireless subscribers is 91.1% and 74.3%. That means there are around 25.7% of Canadian households do not have any wireless devices or plans.  The Canadian’s low penetration rate of wireless implies the feasibility for continued growth in the telecommunication industry. 

And the truth is that Canadian telecommunication industry has experienced continued growth since the inception. According to the CRTC Report (2010), from 2008 to 2009, Canadian communications service revenues increased from $54.3 billion to $55.4 billion, which is by 2.1% growing. In addition, there is 8% growth of numbers of mobile phone subscribers, while there is 6% increase of amounts of residential subscribers to high-speed internet services. Therefore, with the optimistic environmental conditions, there involves a big opportunity of undeveloped markets for telecommunication industry within Canada, and demand is expected to remain strong for the foreseeable future.
Posted by Ya Ting Chang (488338)