carpe annum

“Traditional Anglo-American notions of the firm and corporate governance have served quite well in lubricating economies and building societies’ wealth and prosperity. However, as the nature of business seems to be changing to increasingly value the contribution of human assets, there is room for labour in firm governance. This phenomenon along with globalization should encourage countries and firms to be different, to look for distinctive ways to govern themselves inline with their circumstances and environment rather than converging on a best model. The proposals outlined in this essay highlight a few of the convincing mechanisms for including suppliers of labour in the control systems of the firms for which they work.”

The past 15 years have witnessed the rise of shareholder primacy arguably to the detriment to other stakeholders in the firm. What is the theoretical basis for such a phenomenon and are there alternative theoretical frameworks which can create a more balanced structure from the persective of fairness? Here is a recent essay I wrote about corporate governance regarding whether there can be a more optimal role for employees in controlling the companies they work for.  It also includes a summary of the basic theories of corporate governance in general.  Enjoy!

Link (pdf): Inherit the Firm

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Since returning to London on January 2nd, I have been plunged into essay mode. It is like torture. This is me about every waking moment when not at school, eating, or sleeping. Pushing ahead….

Essays:

1) Organizational culture as competitive advantage in China: Rupert Murdoch and Communist Party see eye-to-eye. DONE AND SUBMITTED!!!! YEAH!

2) Three obstacles to the efficient operation of the China’s stock market. DONE AND SUBMITTED!!!! YEAH!

3) Research Proposal: “Developing eco-efficiency benchmarks for Shimano Corporation ” DONE AND SUBMITTED!!!! YEAH!

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Today marked the last lecture of the best course at SOAS: “Topics in the Chinese Economy.” Each week we look at specific and especially relevant issues: demographics, food, energy, living standards, environment, etc…Often times throughout the year, this class alone was the light, the truth, the hope.

Three cheers to Professor Bob Ash, one of the most dedicated, professional, and passionate academics you will ever come across. Always up to date, coherent, and endlessly interesting; it is no question in his students’ minds why he is one of the preminent scholars in his field.

I will miss his lectures, and his Bobisms. A Bobism is what I imagine British gentlemen sprinkled into their conversation back when British Gentleman still existed.

My favo(u)rite Bobism would have to be:

“…that is a totally different kettle of fish.”

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Ho ho ho,

So we (guys in our department) went out to Chinatown and thanks to the organization by good old Clive, had a great time.

Though we have been together since September, as it tends to happen, different cliques naturally sort of develop. It isn’t the exclusive high school concept of clique, but reather a natural separation of people that cluster together, largely according to background and language. For example, the Chinese students comprise about a third of our department and they just tend to huddle together socially. This party was great in the respect that some of those barriers came down (with a sip or two of beer of course).

Good food, good company, what else do we need?

Click on the photo to take a look at the people in our department during one of our lectures, and then the party after that.

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