Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Is Abortion Morally Right - 943 Words

Abortion is a major topic of debate in today s society. Politics, doctors, and many others discuss this topic regularly. Is abortion morally right? Should it be allowed? Abortion is the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy, most often performed during the first 28 weeks of pregnancy. There is generally two major sides on this topic; for or against. There has been a lot of research done on both views looking at the sociological effects. Throughout history abortion has been a controversial topic. In the early 1800s women healers and doctors would perform abortions regularly. Abortions were done using knitting needles, coat hangers, dangerous solutions such as lye, or ingesting strong drugs. In 1973 The supreme court case Roe V. Wade determined that the constitution protected the right for women to get abortions without political interference. In 1803, Britain first passed anti-abortion laws. In 1880 almost all abortions in the United States were illegal except for ones in which it would save the mother s life. During the 19th century abortion was viewed as a sin. This was a period in which humanitarian reform was trending. In the 1890s there was an estimated two-million abortions a year, compared to todays half a million. There are two essential components to every social problem; the objective condition and the subjective concern. An objective condition is a condition of society that can be measured or experienced. A subjective concern is the concernShow MoreRelatedIs Abortion Morally Right or Wrong907 Words   |  4 PagesIs Abortion Morally Right or Wrong Kirstyn Fletcher PHI 103 Informal Logic Anthony Biduck October 26, 2011 What About it is Considered Moral or Unmoral? This subject is probably one of the top five most controversial subjects in the world today. Is it immoral to kill an unborn child? Do we have the right to choose what grows in our bodies before it becomes a citizen in America? Will God punish you for killing a person? So many questions go into this type of situation of what’s morally rightRead MoreIs Abortion Morally Right Or Wrong?1833 Words   |  8 Pagesdefines abortion as â€Å"a medical procedure used to end a pregnancy and cause the death of the fetus.† Although that statement seems clear cut, there is a lot of controversy over whether or not abortion is a morally permissible thing to do. Those who refute abortion claim that it is the a violation of a fetus’ right to life. However, the opposite view is that forcing a woman to have a baby is a violation of the right to her own body. The question ultimately comes down to more than whose right is moreRead MoreA Defense Of Abortion By Judith Thomson1678 Word s   |  7 PagesWhat takes precedence; an unborn fetus’ life or its mother’s right to her body? Anti-abortionist argue that the life of an unborn fetus has priority, and thus abortion is morally impermissible as it violates the fetus’ right to life. In her article â€Å"A Defense of Abortion†, Judith Thomson argues that abortion is morally permissible under the certain conditions where the rights of the fetus fail to surpass a mother’s right of choice. For the sake of her argument, Thomson allows the assumption thatRead MoreAbortion : The Morality Of Abortion1442 Words   |  6 Pagesthe morality of abortion, or the ending of a pregnancy without physically giving birth to an infant. Often times abortions are categorized into either spontaneous, a natural miscarriage; induced or intentional, which is premeditated and for any reason; or therapeutic, which albeit intentional, its sole purpose is to save the mother’s life. It seems however th at moral conflicts on issue mainly arise when discussing induced abortions. In general, people universally agree it is morally wrong to kill anRead MoreThe Abortion Debate Over The Rights And Wrongs Of Intentionally Termination A Pregnancy Before Normal Childbirth1458 Words   |  6 PagesThe abortion debate deals with the rights and wrongs of intentionally termination a pregnancy before normal childbirth, killing the fetus in the process. Abortion is a very painful topic for women and men who find themselves facing the moral dilemma of whether or not to terminate a pregnancy. It s one of the most polarizing moral issues - most people are on one side or the other, very few are undecided. Everyone agrees that adult human beings have the right to life. Some people would say that theRead MoreMarquis vs. Warren in the Case Against Abortion1298 Words   |  6 Pagesdetermining if abortion is morally permissible, or wrong including; sentience of the fetus, the fetuses right to life, the difference between adult human beings and fetuses, the autonomy of the pregnant woman, and the legality of abortion. Don Marquis argues that abortion is always morally wrong, excluding cases in which the woman is threatened by pregnancy, or abortion after rape, because fetuses have a valuable future. Mary Anne Warren contends that late term abortions are morally permissible becauseRead MoreAbortion : An Argument For A Pregnancy Before Normal Childbirth1153 Words   |  5 PagesTerm Paper: Abortion Generally, abortion means the intentionally termination a pregnancy before normal childbirth. Now, the topic abortion is worldwide endless intentionally termination a pregnancy before normal childbirth. The debate mainly focuses on the rights and wrongs of the result of abortion which kills the fetus. It s one of the most opposing moral issues. Most people are on the side whether totally agree or totally disagree, negligible people are the middle liner. Pro-abortion groups, whoRead MorePractical Ethics, By Peter Singer, The Modern Bioethical Philosopher1469 Words   |  6 Pagesweighted. According to Singer, a being’s interest should be weighted on the basis of the properties of the being and never on the basis of its affiliation to some abstract group (Peter n.p). The book studies a wide array of ethical issues including abortion, sex, race, ability, infanticide, political violence, the moral status of animals, obligation to assist others, overseas aid, species, embryo experimentation, and euthanasia (Review of Practical Ethics n.p). In assessing the lives which are pleasurableRead MoreEssay about Using Utilitarianism to Address Abortion1286 Words   |  6 Pagesdefining act utilitarianism and rule utilitarianism, use both standpoints from a rule utilitarian and an act utilitarian to decipher their responses to abortion, and investigate both claims to come to a conclusion if or if not utilitarianism is adequate enough arg ument to address abortion. First the definition of utilitarianism is, â€Å"An act is morally right if and only if it does more to improve overall happiness than any available alternative† (Farley). Overall happiness can also be used interchangeablyRead More`` A Defense Of Abortion `` By Judith Jarvis Essay1552 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction: Is it immoral to have an abortion? Abortion is the process of stopping a pregnancy through the removal or killing of the fetus. Dan Marquis is adamant that abortion is wrong and that the fetus is a full human being that deserves to live while, Judith Jarvis Thomson would say that should the mother decide to terminate her pregnancy it is her body and her right. However, what if there was a third side to this already complicated issue? I argue that abortion itself is amoral and that circumstances

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Human Rights Abuse on the U.S.-Mexican Border Essay

Human Rights Abuse on the U.S.-Mexican Border Between 1993-97 there was a 72% increase in funds provided to the Immigration and Naturalization Services. The INS has a mobile uniformed division responsible for policing the US-Mexican border called Border Patrol. With such a dramatic increase in just four years it is obvious that the border area is a pressing concern to the US government. The Border Patrol conducts inspections of travelers, regulates permanent and temporary immigration into the United States and maintains control of the US borders, which amount to 8,000 miles. They also identify and remove persons who have no lawful immigration status in the United States. The border patrol works hand-in-hand with the INS to ensure†¦show more content†¦There was more travel for laborers who resided in Mexican territory yet worked daily in the US. With the excessive passing over the border comes more illegal immigration. Tremendous pressure is put on the Border Patrol to prevent the illegal immigrants from successfu lly coming to the United States. The Human Development Report states the definition of human rights, as the rights possessed by all persons, by virtue of their common humanity, to live a life of freedom and dignity. They give all people moral claims in the behavior of individuals and the design of social arrangements and are universal, inalienable and indivisible. Human rights express our deepest commitments to ensuring that all persons are secure in their enjoyment of the goods and freedoms that are necessary for dignified living. Human rights belong to all people, and all people have equal status with respect to these rights (UNDP 2000). With human rights is the right to freedom. -Freedom from discrimination in any form under any circumstance -Freedom from fear, such as threats to personal security, torture, arbitrary arrest, and other violent acts -Freedom from injustice and violations of the law and the freedom of thought and speech and to participate in decision-making and form associations These are individual freedoms that are granted to every human being. They are not arguable and are not outranked in power.Show MoreRelatedReasons Behind The War On Drugs1365 Words   |  6 Pagesreasons behind the war on drugs between the Mexican government and the drug cartels in Mexico and examine the impact of this conflict on Mexico and on US National Security. Drug Trafficking or any other illegal activity related to drug Cartels and gangs pose an imminent threat to the Mexican governance because of the corruption and the violence they generate. Illegal drugs affect not only Mexico but also the U.S in terms of trafficking and consumption. The Mexican government has always taken many initiativesRead MoreMexican Border Problems Essay825 Words   |  4 PagesMexican Border Problems The U.S.-Mexico border region is one of the most dynamic in the world. It extends more than 3,100 kilometers (2,000 miles) from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean, and 100 kilometers (62.5 miles) on each side of the international border and is marked by high concrete fences in the west and a broad shallow river in the east when it reaches Texas. The region includes large deserts, numerous mountain ranges, rivers, wetlandsRead MoreThe United Statesstrategy For Combating Drug Trafficking Across Their Shared Border1521 Words   |  7 Pagestrafficking across their shared border. The State Department’s current position on the situation is to to support continued cooperation with Mexico and collaborate on strategies to increase security and create policy measures that strengthen the rule of law. The State Department divides the United States’ strategy for combatting drug trafficking into four strategies: targeting cartels and their operations, aiding the Mexican government in their efforts, improving border security to efficiently facilitateRead MoreIllegal Immigration and Equal Rights Essay example1627 Words   |  7 PagesIllegal Immigration and Equal Rights Should immigrants receive the same tolerances that other minority groups have received in the past decades? Should their struggle for equal rights over- shadow the fact that immigration laws are ignored? Pro Amnesty and Anti-Immigration groups have different opinions about these issues The immigration laws that exist in the U.S are not the problem, the problem exist with the people who refuse to enforce them because they contrast the immigrant’s struggles withRead MoreBracero Movement1324 Words   |  6 Pagescountless Mexicans into the U.S.. They were known as Braceros, which were Mexican laborers that were allowed into the United States for a limited period of time as a seasonal agricultural worker. The Bracero movement was well related to the California Gold Rush because numerous Mexicans headed North across the American border because they thought they would gain mass fortunes in the United States. Even though the Bracero Movement caused countless problems, it also led t o many successful human rights actsRead MoreIllegal Immigration Should Not Invest Or Enforce On Current Method Of Border Security Essay1579 Words   |  7 Pagesbooming in an unprecedented rate in the U.S. since the late 1990s. To absolve this matter, border security has been enforced throughout the entire country with the objective to reduce the entry of illegal immigrants across the border, wherein such acts to do so has been initiated such as the mass deportation of illegal immigrants, increasing security in national border and screening. This whole initiative has reduced the number of immigrants living in the U.S. However, current findings have provenRead MoreBorders Are One Of The Most Pervasive Topics In Contemporary1720 Words   |  7 PagesBorders are one of the most pervasive topics in contemporary politics, and whether people are aware of it or not, borderlands history has greatly influenced the perceptions and attitudes that are held towards borders today. Rhetoric toda y is focused on keeping immigrants out, winning the war on drugs, and bringing the United States back to its original glory (which in fact, was not glorious, but rather put white men on a pedestal). Borderlands history reminds us that immigrants are going to crossRead MoreThe North American Free Trade Agreement1237 Words   |  5 Pagesand to turn the United States, Mexico and Canada into the world’s second largest trading bloc after the European Union. Many people from Mexico believed that the trade agreement would undercut Mexican farmers with cheap U.S. food imports and worsen the inequality between the two countries. A struggling Mexican economy received an initial boost from foreign investment related to NAFTA. But the economic crisis was caused in part by the political instability that Mexico has been known for, a drop in foreignRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Crossing The Wire 1366 Words   |  6 PagesHispanics, mostly Mexicans, are not being treated equally because of their different culture and lifestyle and people need to treat them fairly and enforce laws against discrimination. In the book, Crossing the Wire, Hobbs displays what a Mexican has to go through when they are crossing the border to the United States for a good cause. Hispanics have been discriminated ever since the Mexicans gained independence in 1821 from Spain. In recent years African Americans have been receiving the most attentionRead MoreThe Connection Between Western Capitalism And Mexican Femicide1614 Words   |  7 PagesGlobalized Violence: The Connection Between Western Capitalism and Mexican Femicide Globalization: a process of interaction between the social, economic and political systems of different nations, a process powered by international trade and investment. Some assert that globalization encourages the spread of more â€Å"enlightened and egalitarian† Western values and international tolerance, while others believe that this phenomenon harms more than it helps and fosters an uncontrolled and abusive economic

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Ethics and Engineering Essay Example For Students

Ethics and Engineering Essay A professional engineer, doctor, lawyer, or teacher should have a well-rounded education, which teaches the technical expertise of the field, but alsoinstructs the whole human being about the pleasures and responsibilities ofbeing a contributing member of society.The most important part of any career is training. If you want tobecome anything from a cook to an astronaut, it is important that you know howto do your job. Education is key to be able to do a job. But, for certainprofessionals, such as engineers, doctors, doing the job right may include a lotmore than what they were taught, or could be taught, in any school. Theseprofessions must also learn how to be responsible to the public. People in suchjobs must be instructed on the responsibilities of being a contributing memberof society. Most professionals feel their duty is to serve their client, or to dotheir job to the best of their ability. Unfortunately, this is not good enough. When a persons profession or the product of their work will involve the public,that person should also be responsible to the public. The only concern of anengineer cannot be to make a bridge as sound as possible in a certain budget. If the people are to be crossing over this bridge, an engineer must alsoconsider if it is possible to truly make this bridge safe within the allottedbudget. He must not think purely of the technical aspects of the bridge making,but of the human side. Statements like Is it safe? should be replaced by Isthe bridge safe enough? Whenever ones work involves the public, one must beconcerned for the publics health and safety. Professionals today must make judgement calls that were never requiredof them before. They must decide whether what is good for science andtechnology is good for humanity. There must be a certain responsibility to anexpert for what they have created. As an example, look at Albert Einsteinsresearch in nuclear physics. After realising that a nuclear weapon was possible,he was going to stop research. However, considering the result of his actionshe continued and created an item that killed thousands of people. He came tothis decision after deciding that if the United States did not develop thisweapon first, then Germany would, probably killing hundreds of thousands more. This was a moral dilemma that no one should face, but professionals do faceother moral dilemmas every day. Should a lawyer defend a guilty man for tentimes the normal fee? Or should an accountant alter some numbers to make it morefavourable for the company that his brother owns? These are all tough questions,and are difficult decisions for one to make, but they must be addressed. To bea contributing member of society dictates that one should do this, but onesmorals or ones finances dictate something else entirely. Nothing can beentirely correct for either side in these matters. Rather, it is a balance gamewhere the professional himself must decide how they are going to tip the scales. The ability to communicate with others is fast becoming a requirement inevery job. Professionals such as lawyers and accountants have to deal withpeople every day. But increasingly other specialists, such as engineers orscientists, must deal with unions, management, citizens, and special interestgroups. Being able to recognise and address the issues of all of these groupswhile still doing the best job possible takes some very skilful judgement calls. It is a delicate balance and takes practice. Increasingly now, people arerequired to do this without any formal training and little experience in suchmatters. To be fair to society, maybe one should lean towards the unions orthe municipalitys side of an issue. To keep ones job and to keep unnecessarycosts down low, one should take the companys side. So what side should onereally take? No one can be sure, but the decision will be left up to theprofessional, and so they must be given guidance on how to face these issues. Aprofessional must be trained in skills outside their trade. .u33b3ec928d357f38140b1e5953249ca5 , .u33b3ec928d357f38140b1e5953249ca5 .postImageUrl , .u33b3ec928d357f38140b1e5953249ca5 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u33b3ec928d357f38140b1e5953249ca5 , .u33b3ec928d357f38140b1e5953249ca5:hover , .u33b3ec928d357f38140b1e5953249ca5:visited , .u33b3ec928d357f38140b1e5953249ca5:active { border:0!important; } .u33b3ec928d357f38140b1e5953249ca5 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u33b3ec928d357f38140b1e5953249ca5 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u33b3ec928d357f38140b1e5953249ca5:active , .u33b3ec928d357f38140b1e5953249ca5:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u33b3ec928d357f38140b1e5953249ca5 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u33b3ec928d357f38140b1e5953249ca5 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u33b3ec928d357f38140b1e5953249ca5 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u33b3ec928d357f38140b1e5953249ca5 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u33b3ec928d357f38140b1e5953249ca5:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u33b3ec928d357f38140b1e5953249ca5 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u33b3ec928d357f38140b1e5953249ca5 .u33b3ec928d357f38140b1e5953249ca5-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u33b3ec928d357f38140b1e5953249ca5:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Atomic Bomb EssayKnowledge and responsibility are two things that should go hand and hand inprofessionals decisions. Public health and safety concerns, moral decisions,and the ability to communicate are all required of a contributing member ofsociety. Better training is required to prepare future professionals for thesesituations. Category: English

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Red Star China Case free essay sample

Unicord PLC Group A Florida Atlantic University Professor: Dr. Hemant Merchant Emerging Markets MAN-6728 February 15, 2010 Problem/Decision Dr. Juanjai Ajanant, a special advisor to Unicord PLC’s board, has been tasked with deciding the best strategy to take Unicord out of receivership. Unicord, as a relatively young company, was a leading tuna processor and one of the â€Å"shining stars† of Thailand. As a top tuna exporter, the company had shown year over year growth since its inception in 1978. It appears that their challenges began soon after the purchase of Bumble Bee in 1991. In four short years, Unicord quickly spiraled downward and seemingly out of control. By 1995, the founder and CEO, Dumri, was challenged by surging debt, plummeting share value, significant losses, creditors demanding repayment and falling per capita consumption; faced with these failures, Dumri committed suicide. Without a CEO and VP of Finance providing direction, Dr. Ajanant must determine the causes for the rapid demise of such a promising company and identify what information he needs to decide if a turn-around strategy is possible. We will write a custom essay sample on Red Star China Case or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Fundamental Causes The two primary reasons for Unicord’s demise were the acquisition of Bumble Bee along with its deal structure and the dolphin controversy. A secondary cause was related to their senior leadership. Although, leadership can be an ambiguous cause, there were some senior level decisions and management style that accelerated the downfall. Without the acquisition of Bumble Bee, Unicord could have been a healthier and stronger company today. From a strategic perspective, the acquisition made sense given Unicord’s growth stage and the state of Thailand’s government and economy. The problem began with the purchase price and the structuring of the debt. Unicord was permitted to purchase a company twice its size because Chase Manhattan and Sutro banks were responding to Thailand’s economic momentum. All parties were hedging their bets that the conditions were perfect for continued growth to cover the debt even though the American tuna industry was based upon high volume and low profitability. Thailand demonstrated its willingness to embrace free market ideals, the baht was gaining value and Thailand’s inflation was decreasing. The Thai government wanted global investment and had recently relaxed financial restrictions and deregulated their financial sector. With Thailand’s Board of Investment’s approval, the deal was structured in US dollars. By the middle of 1994, the baht was loosing its strength, forcing creditors to demand a restructure because the debt was quickly becoming un-serviceable. In 1995, Bangkok Bank required repayment of its $113 million by year end. Prior to the Bumble Bee acquisition, Unicord, as a supplier, was sheltered from the tuna-dolphin controversy and boycotts that had existed for years. At the height of the controversy, in 1990, Bumble Bee admitted to lying to and deceiving the public by labeling its cans as â€Å"dolphin safe† when their processes were still six months away from actually delivering truly dolphin free tuna. The damage to the brand and the industry resulted in reduced profit margins and a dramatic decline in US consumption, thereby increasing the US rivalry. Bad decisions by Unicord’s senior leadership magnified the problems. To recover from Bumble Bee’s dolphin controversy, Dumri, aggressively cut prices to increase market share. When Unicord’s market share increased, he invested additional money to increase Thai production. Dumri was short sighted in realizing that he was potentially gaining ground in a shrinking market where actual per capita consumption continued to fall. In 1992, Bumble Bee lost $40 million most likely from pricing its products lower than its production cost. By 1993, the debt surged to $200 million. In July, when financial leadership was most needed, Unicord’s VP of Finance Vichet Bunthuwong resigned and the position remained un-filled, leaving the company without direction. Bumble Bee had almost 100 years of deep tradition and relationships, yet Unicord did not address the cultural differences between the companies. For instance, the senior management team of Bumble Bee often ignored Dumri’s contradicting hierarchal style of management. When Dumri wanted to close the Puerto Rican operations, his directive was ignored. One of the strategic reasons for buying Bumble Bee was to leverage their US distribution network. There was no indication that the integration was successful at creating distribution synergies and reducing costs. These types of production â€Å"misses† would just continue to diminish the bottom line. Analysis Unicord’s demise can be attributed to three primary causes; the acquisition of Bumble Bee Tuna, purse-seine fishing techniques, and actions and reactions by senior leadership. The rationale to purchase Bumble Bee was obvious at the time to Unicord; to become an â€Å"American† company and lessen the current trade regulations between the U. S and Thailand, to help the company diversify and stabilize its supply of raw materials, find ready buyers for its line of white meat products, push products into the American market, and have gained efficiencies from Bumble Bee’s Puerto Rican manufacturing plant. All combined, the acquisition would allow Unicord to become the world’s largest tuna canner. Unicord founder and CEO Dumri Konuntakiet built his company on three primary convictions; Thailand was central to prime tuna fishing, the Thai Board of Investment offered many incentives to the fishing industry, and low wage demands from Thai workers. However, Unicord’s desire to become a global power took the company away from its convictions on which it was built. Acquiring Bumble Bee was the answer for Unicord to become that power. BBBumble Bee was the third largest American producer of tuna at the time of Unicord’s acquisition. The largest American producer, H. J. Heinz’s Star Kist initially offered to purchase the company but the sale was disallowed as it was determined the purchase would hinder free competition of the American companies. This opened the door for Unicord to purchase Bumble Bee, which was twice the size of Unicord. The purchase also occurred at a time Thailand desired to become an emerging market leader in the global economy. The purchase was approved by the Bank of Thailand and landed President Dumri as one of the countries prominent businessmen. But, were there indications that the Bumble Bee acquisition would not be the best move for Unicord? The American tuna industry was in transition mode; profits were decreasing and existing canneries were moving operations away from the continental U. S. Bumble Bee’s reaction to the dolphin controversy was to reduce prices to increase market share. In the short run, it worked. Market share in the U. S. increased from 17% in 1989 to 25. 7% in 1992. Production in Thailand increased to spur on the increased market share. However, what was overlooked was the consumption of tuna was falling at a faster rate than Bumble Bee’s market share was increasing. The company was losing money, as was Bumble Bee’s primary competitors Chicken of the Sea and Star Kist. Despite its financial troubles and losing $40 million money in 1992, Unicord announced it would list Bumble Bee on the NYSE. Company losses surged to $200 million in 1993. By now, the public, creditors, and business analysts lost confidence in Unicord. There were no public relations, pricing methods failed, and the bottom line was sinking fast. Dumri Konumtakiet’s hierarchical management style was not accepted by Bumble Bee leadership. There was no sense of control of the company. Bangkok Bank was also demanding Unicord repay its $113 million debt by the end of 1995 due to the ongoing fall of its share price. Unicord was not structured in a manner to survive turbulent times. Ownership changed three times over a two year period and there was no direction from top level management. After Konumtakiet’s death in 1995, Unicord went into receivership. Alternatives Unicord, facing a need to revive itself, has a few alternatives. The basic choice the company must make is if it should attempt to retain Bumble Bee or to try to sell it. If the company chooses to retain Bumble Bee, issues such as management culture would need to be addressed. Under the leadership of Dumri, all decisions had to be approved by him. This level of control had met with resistance from Bumble Bee executives who believed that the company could behave independently due to its familiarity with the competitions and culture of the American market. This was further compounded with three ownership shifts at Bumble Bee over three years. Under this alternative, Unicord might attempt to stabilize this relationship, and allow Bumble Bee to function with autonomy. This could lead to the company reviving itself by allowing Bumble Bee management to make decisions based on their knowledge and experience. However, due to Bumble Bee’s deception in regards to its â€Å"dolphin-safe† policy, the company had lost some of its own credibility. As such, the company, regardless of management decisions, has already lost market share. In direct opposition with this first option for Unicord decision makers is another alternative where Unicord could try to force Bumble Bee to follow Dumri’s directives, which is to shut down its Puerto Rican operations and send the profits over to the parent company. This action might give Unicord the weight to pay their debts. However, this option might meet with the same previous non-compliance from Bumble Bee management, which would not aid Unicord’s situation. Or this action could lead to un-forecasted consequences, leaving Unicord without a profit and without the Puerto Rican operations. An additional alternative would be for Bumble Bee to turn away from the United States, which has had a decline in tuna consumption and views the company in a negative light. Attention could be focused on the European market. The disadvantages of this alternative, though, is that Unicord’s original rationale for the acquisition of Bumble Bee is rendered useless, as the company would still be obliged to follow European trade regulations and tariffs. Another viable option for Unicord would be to sell Bumble Bee. Prior to its own acquisition of the company, Pillsbury had many bidders for Bumble Bee, including Star Krist, one of its largest competitors. As such, Unicord could attempt to sell Bumble Bee to one of its competitors and attempt to leverage its own heavy debt situation. This would also be an advantageous situation for the purchasing company as it would enhance its own market share. Of course, this would result in a loss of that market share for Unicord. Unicord could also try to sell Bumble Bee to one of its competitors in Thailand, ThaiUnion Manufacturing Company or Ta Kong Food Industries, who may be interested in acquiring the company for the same reasons that Unicord has made the acquisition. However, with decline in tuna consumption in the United States and Unicord’s history with Bumble Bee, the Thai companies might be not interested in pursuing the same model. A further option for Unicord would be for the company to reassess its financial position, and try to restructure its debt. This plan could be difficult, however, due to the high debt burden carried by Unicord. A final dire action would be for the company to seek and file for protection under Thai bankruptcy laws, and attempt to liquidate. This option would entail essentially giving up on the company. Recommendations It is clear that for the large part Unicord’s demise can be attributed to the acquisition of Bumble Bee and the fall out flowing from that decision. If Dr. Juanjai wants to resuscitate Unicord the first step he needs to take is to sell Bumble Bee. Unicord’s management also needs to be re-structured and the company should develop a smart marketing campaign to re-introduce Unicord to the world. The first step in reviving Unicord is to sell Bumble Bee. Granted the environment for selling may not be the best, but Dr. Juanjai needs to get Bumble Bee off his hands if he has any hope of revitalizing Unicord. Realistically, the chances of getting what they paid for Bumble Bee is slim, so Unicord will need to decide what they are willing to take for Bumble Bee and actively seek out potential buyers. Konuntakiet, as the CEO and founder of apparently made all the major decisions for Unicord. When Konuntakiet committed suicide he left his company in disarray. Prior to his death the VP of finance and friend resigned and that position remained unfilled. The fact that such a major position in the company was not filled shows serious managerial issues. Clearly Unicord’s management system needs to be restructured. Perhaps without Konuntakiet this restructuring will be accomplished far easier and less painful. Unicord’s main line of business is still the canning and processing of tuna fish. The company markets tuna fish under its own name and under other brands worldwide. Marketing Unicord as an ethical and environmentally friendly company in Europe and Asia can only enhance its image. Even in Thailand there is probably a loss of confidence in the company. Consequently, though the company is financially strapped a smart marketing campaign is essential in turning the company around.