Please let me know what you guys think.
Thanks
ESSAY QUESTION:
The following appeared in a corporate memorandum of a beverage manufacturer:
“Our promotional price reductions on energy drinks have been highly successful, as we have seen a dramatic increase in unit sales. Further, surveys of our consumers indicate that this promotion was favorably received by the majority of our customers. Therefore, to improve our company’s profitability and enhance its perception in the eyes of consumers, similar price reductions should be offered on all drinks produced by our firm.”
Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. Point out flaws in the argument's logic and analyze the argument's underlying assumptions. In addition, evaluate how supporting evidence is used and what evidence might counter the argument's conclusion. You may also discuss what additional evidence could be used to strengthen the argument or what changes would make the argument more logically sound.
RESPONSE:
The memorandum states that price reduction on all drinks produced by the firm will be as profitable and favorably received by the consumers as the price reduction on the energy drink has been. This assumption is poorly reasoned.
Firstly, the price reduction may not favor the companies reputation. The consumers may see the price reduction as 'cheap' as many consumers may relate price to quality. This may mean lower sales and thus lower profitability. This could ruin the perception in the eyes of the consumers.
Secondly, can the company sustain this price reduction? And for how long? If the company decides to increase the price later down the track, the sales would reduce. Therefore this reasoning does not hold good for a longterm profitable future.
Lastly, 'One size does not fit all'. The consumers of energy drinks are not the overall consumers for all the drinks produced by the firm. Therefore it is unreasonable to think that the reduction would be favored by the consumers in the way it has been with the energy drink consumers.
The beverage manufacturer should invest more on research and find out more about he targeted consumers for each drink and come up with an individual marketing and sales strategy for each product. This way the manufacturer will not lay all its eggs in one basket and can therefor be more in control of its future profitability.
The current statement is therefore not well reasoned and researched and the manufacturer should invest in good quality research if it wants to enhance its perception in the eyes of the consumer and thereby increase its long term profitability.
ESSAY QUESTION:
"Employees should expect no privacy while on the job, even when engaging in personal communication via telephone or e-mail. Employers are paying for their employees' time and have a reasonable expectation that this time is spent solely on work-related activities."
Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the position stated above. Support your views with reasons and examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.
RESPONSE:
The argument that employees should expect no privacy while on the job, even when engaging in personal communication via telephone or email is a controversial one. Privacy is a very sensitive subject. Each one of us want our privacy to be respected. This want has even led to the creation of the Privacy Act.
However, when at work, an employee is getting paid to work. Therefore, every minute of the paid time should be expected to be spent on work related activities.
Most employers know that employees do use work email or phone for their personal use. Some employers track on such activities as they may help identify the hard working employees to the rest. i.e. the employers may use any such information for productivity measurements.
Phone and email service cost the employers and therefore they should be allowed to keep a track of their costs. This does not really mean invading privacy however if a employee is using work phone and email to apply for jobs elsewhere, it is in best interest for the employer to know.
Employees may argue that such an invasion in their privacy may de motivate them from work. However, employers are only trying to motivate employees by firstly providing for such services and keeping a track on any misuse of the inventory provided.
Employees generally agree that watch pornographic sites at work is not accepted. An employer can only keep track on suck unaccepted acts by tracking the overall facility provided. Therefore the 'watch' by an employer on its employees on their personal activity is to make sure that they are not involved in any illegal and disrespectful activities.
An employee should therefore use its work time for work purposes and if necessary should only use work resources for personal use if he/she is ok with the employers knowing about it. This way, the employee will not feel invaded and the employer will not feel the burden of misuse of resources.
..neways, my advice, try and be lil more crisp/focussed towards one side + Adding some real life examples(names/companies) would help the cause (in every essay question)
