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Analyze political, social, ethical and legal differences and their impact on management decision making

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Antitrust laws were essentially created to stop businesses that got too large from blocking competition and abusing their power. Mergers and monopolies can limit the choices offered to consumers because smaller businesses are not usually able to compete. Although free and open competition ensures lower prices and new and better products, it has the potential to significantly limit market diversity.

Look at the 2 examples below of how mergers and acquisitions have affected the way in which companies do business.
Read each of the 2 examples below. Decide which one you would like to use for your project and answer the following questions.

- Identify the two firms with similar problems from different countries
- Conduct a comparative analysis of the firms
- Analyze political, social, ethical and legal differences and their impact on management decision making
- Provide substantive conclusion and recommendations

Example 1
Federal antitrust enforcers are investigating whether a multinational pharmaceutical company has attempted to minimize the impact of generic competition to one of its most profitable prescription drugs. This anti-depressant drug is the company's best seller, with sales last year of $2.11 billion, representing a 22% increase from the year before.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is conducting an investigation to determine whether the company has engaged in activities to prevent generic alternatives to the prescription drug from entering the market. Specifically, the FTC is challenging a practice among brand-name and generic-drug manufacturers to agree to delay the introduction of the lower priced generic drugs to the market.

Answer the following questions:
- Why would the drug maker want to stymie generic competition? Explain.
- What types of legal barriers to market entry exist?
- What are the possible ethical dilemmas present in this example?

Example 2
The boards of 2 major telecommunications companies recently agreed to a $16 billion-dollar merger that would create the world's largest telecommunications company in the world. Although some agree that the synergy between these companies could be dynamic, others feel consumers could ultimately pay the price for the merger depending on which company becomes dominant in the various service areas.

Answer the following questions:
- Why do you think consumer advocates have expressed concern over such merger possibilities?
- Other than pricing, what are some pitfalls that consumers might have to deal with when 2 major companies merge?
- What are the possible ethical dilemmas present in this example?

PART B

Many organizations have established policies to remedy discrimination when hiring women and minorities. Discuss whether you feel that affirmative action programs, reverse discrimination, and criteria of comparable worth are appropriate forms of remedy. Using the textbook, course materials, and Web resources, research affirmative action, reverse discrimination, and comparable worth and answer the following questions:
- Do you feel that these concepts are appropriate forms of remedy in the workplace? Explain.
- What else do you think could be done to eliminate discrimination in the workplace?

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This solution discussed political, social, ethical and legal differences and their impact on management and decision making. 2093 words with many references.

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- Identify the two firms with similar problems from different countries

Two firms are worth noting that have similar problems in different countries. They are from the United States and South Korea. They are between Qualcomm and Samsung/LG Electronics. They sell electronics to customers worldwide. This can include phones, calculators and much more in regards to what a person needs in order to live a productive life within their chosen field or with their studies in high school or college. Currently, phones are used the most, especially with inserting chips in them as well. Technology is constantly changing which causes them to stay up to date with what is going on around them when competing with others around them. This is not an easy task because they have make sure that laws are followed precisely.

IFLR. (2011). South korean antitrust regulations. Retrived on January 23, 2011, http://www.iflr.com/Article/2025689/South-Korea-Korean-antitrust-regulations.html.

- Conduct a comparative analysis of the firms

Qualcomm is worth noting first since they are the ones who began this dispute in 2009. This particular company does the following. They are committed to the environment by means of self-generated power, such as wind power. The organization also uses recycling, water reclamation as well as reducing sources. Qualcomm is quite creative with their technology by means of using chip sets, smartphones, 3-D, seek to find ways to keep wireless devices healthy, customers can make payments through the internet, fire thorn and mobile computing platforms are available for everyone. The list can go on for a quite awhile, but they a combination of products and services to meet the needs of others in the community and world they serve on a regular basis.

Qualcomm. (2011). Qualcomm: Who we are. Retrieved on January 23, 2011, http://www.qualcomm.com/who_we_are/index.html.

In regards to Samsung, this is worth noting as well. This company has been around for more than 70 years in the electronics industry. They have the dedication to come up with innovative technologies to meet the needs of those around them. Samsung has high ethical values and a philosophy that no one can resist. Five values are important in their organization, such as people, excellence, change, integrity and co-prosperity. A code of conduct is also in place to make sure that professionalism is the center of their business practices for all consumers and employees to see and have an excellent experience with whatever their needs may be at the time. Each country is different in how they conduct their practices, but this can make all the difference in which one a person decides to buy their products from daily.

Samsung. (2011). Values and philosophies. Retrieved on January 23, 2011, http://www.samsung.com/us/aboutsamsung/corporateprofile/valuesphilosophy.html.

Reuters. (July 23, 2009). UPDATE 2-S.Korea fines Qualcomm $208 mln in anti-trust case. Retrieved on January 23, 2011, http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSSEO19318620090723.

- Analyze political, social, ethical and legal differences and their impact on management decision making

The United States and South Korea are similar and different in a number of ways in which they do politics, social, ethical and ...

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