Benefits of green businesses by Sylvia Yap Xi Hua

Benefits of green businesses by Sylvia Yap Xi Hua

2019

There has been little considerations towards the environment from around the globe. Starting a green business, also known as a sustainable business which is an enterprise that helps to spread awareness and make a difference of helping to minimalize the negative impact on the environment.  This kind of business adopts the principles, policies and practises to improve the quality of life for their employees, customers, communities and the planet.  Green businesses have several advantages.

The first advantage of a green business is raising public awareness of the environmental conditions. As mention before, a green business minimalizes the negative impact on the earth, They do it by selling healthy and eco-friendly products or services to their customers, or they do community service that help people to live a healthier lifestyle and improve the environmental conditions. A green business can also share information on their websites about themselves, their motives and activities that help to spread the word of being committed to saving the environment.

People who have been influenced, will be able to realize the error of their ways that has caused harm to the environment and themselves. They will be able to choose between businesses that are aligned with value and those that are not (cultivatingcapital.com, nd; rapidfinance.com, nd).

The second advantage of a green business is that it can meet the customers’ expectations. Due to polluted environmental conditions, people try to centre their lifestyles on more sustainable resources. The customers want to do their part by exchanging their money with business they can trust in making a difference to improve the environmental conditions. This expectation usually comes from people who are eco-conscious consumers. Consumers pay more for the green business’s brand that they believe can improve health, eco-life and other social values (ThriveHive.com, 2017; Joseph, 2019).

The third advantage is that a green business can create a greener workplace environment for the management and their employees. One of a business’s steppingstones is their employees, so it is significant that employee morale should be practised. In a green business, it is encouraged to improve the workplace environment by using green technology, recycled paper options, green cleaning materials, paperless processes or even organic food options. This shows that they not only care for their customer, themselves and the planet, but also their employees and the rest of the community involved.

Next, a green business has healthy, eco-friendly and efficient products that save more money and reduces waste. This is because, sustainable products are more long-lasting than non-green products and some can save more natural resources for the community and earth while also reducing the amount of waste being thrown away as the product last much longer than non-green versions. For example, light bulbs like CFLs and LEDs decrease the amount of electricity used, which also means it lowers the price for the electricity bills as well. This not only helps customers and the business itself to responsibly use energy, but also save money in the budget of daily, monthly or yearly prices (ThriveHive.com, 2017).

In conclusion, a green business has several advantages. Like other types of businesses, it takes time, effort and money to start and manage it, if done well it will pay off. They must stay true to their values and not make false claims of their products and services which may result in upsetting the consumers if they do not follow. While in their workplace environment, they must be careful when making a decision to go paperless, as mentioned before, it can lead to data risk. Those who want to start a green business should be prepared to sacrifice a huge sum of money, because a green business can be extremely expensive than other kinds of businesses

References Page (APA style)

Cultivating Capital.com. (nd). Top 10 best benefits of green business certification, https://www.cultivatingcapital.com/benefits-green-business-certification/

Joseph, C. (2019). The disadvantages of going green for a corporation. https://smallbusiness.chron.com/disadvantages-going-green-corporation-3318.html

Rapid Finance.com. (nd), The pros and cons of going green https://www.rapidfinance.com/blog/the-pros-and-cons-of-going-green/

ThriceHive.com. (2017). Benefits of going green for business owners. https://thrivehive.com/benefits-of-going-green-for-business-owners/

Advantages of Social Responsibility in Business By Amos Chung Rong Xian

Advantages of Social Responsibility in Business

By Amos Chung Rong Xian

November 18, 2019

The main goal of a business is to provide value to their customers and make profits at the same time. However, many companies nowadays also integrate social responsibility into their businesses. The purpose of social responsibility in business is to give back to the community and make positive impacts on society. Besides social contributions, businesses also benefit from adopting social responsibility. There are several advantages to social responsibility in business.

First, companies can generate publicity through social responsibility. Social responsibility provides companies the opportunity to share their positive stories online and through mainstream media which can then generate organic publicity and word of mouth marketing. This allows them to spend less on expensive advertising campaigns (van der Lingen, nd). Companies can send out a press release or invite media coverage of their genuine social activities. Contributing actively in communities often helps companies to attract media attention (Kokemuller, 2017). Business is usually not a popular topic for others, however, company events that involve society or the environment can be much more interesting for the public to engage (Mardistas, 2017).

Second, businesses can create product differentiation with social responsibility. Product differentiation allows businesses to have a different selling point over their rivals (“How CSR Can Help Your Business,” nd). Socially responsible behaviors or charitable giving helps businesses to differentiate their brands from competitors. Companies could be known as the industry provider that supports social causes (Kokemuller, 2017). Engaging in social investment can help companies to build a good reputation which allows them to gain a competitive edge. Other companies also prefer suppliers with responsible practices because this can reflect on how their customers perceive them (“Corporate Social Responsibility,” nd).

Third, social responsibility can increase the customer loyalty of a business. A strong record of social responsibility can improve the attitude of customers towards the company. Customers are more likely to buy products or services from the company that they like and trust (van der Lingen, nd). Companies that embrace socially responsible policies can attract and retain more customers, which is important to the long-term success of any company. Many customers are more willing to pay a higher price for services or products when they recognize that part of the profits will be channeled towards nearby social causes. Companies will also increase their foot traffic when they enhance the local community (Murphy, 2019).

Fourth, social responsibility can achieve cost savings for businesses. Companies can minimize their negative impact on the environment by adopting socially responsible practices that allow them to lower their cost of operation (“What Are the Benefits of Adopting CSR?”, 2017). They can reduce resource use, waste, and emissions to help the environment and save money at the same time (“Corporate Social Responsibility,” nd). Reducing the use of energy and fuel allows companies to lower their bills (“How CSR Can Help Your Business,” nd).  Companies can also further reduce costs by implementing energy-saving programs and spending less on traditional advertising (van der Lingen, nd).

Fifth, socially responsible companies can attract quality employees. Social responsibility is a crucial component for a company to become an ideal employer for top candidates (“What Are the Benefits of Adopting CSR?”, 2018). Companies that focus on social responsibility can attract candidates who share the company’s mission instead of just focusing on the financial benefits (Lando, 2019). Many talented employees are keen on making a difference in the world in addition to simply receiving salaries (Murphy, 2019). A good social responsibility framework can help a company to become more attractive to potential future employees who are looking for a meaningful career (Muir, 2015).

Sixth, social responsibility can also help companies to retain employees. Companies that adopt social responsibility can create a more positive working environment (“What Are the Benefits of Adopting CSR?”, 2018). Many employees preferred to stay with a company that has a healthy sustainability plan. Companies with the ability to retain their employees can save the financial cost and human capital required to hire, onboard, train, and terminate employees. There is a huge reduction in employee turnover when employees are engaged in the social responsibility programs of their companies (Lando, 2019).

Seventh, social responsibility can help businesses to improve their employee engagement. Employees like to work for a company that promotes good cause because they can be proud of their company and their work. Stronger employee engagement allows companies to form better relationships with their employees (Mardistas, 2017). Companies have to enlist the support and involvement of their employees to be successful in their social responsibility initiatives. They must keep their employees update on their social responsibility strategies (Simmons, 2018). Many employees would like to know how their companies are engaging in social responsibility and how they can be involved too. The driving force of job performance and satisfaction is a sense of purpose. Employees that are engaged in their workplace will gain a sense of purpose in their work. They will provide a higher quality of work for their companies and a better quality of product or service to the customers (Lando, 2019).

Eighth, social responsibility provides opportunities for personal and professional development. Companies can encourage employees to learn new skills outside their work by getting their employees involved in socially responsible activities. These skills can then be applied in the workplace to increase productivity and creativity. Employees can enrich their own perspectives when they have the chance to learn new things and contribute to causes that they feel passionate about. Companies can encourage personal development for their employees by supporting socially responsible activities (Muir, 2015).

In conclusion, businesses should have responsibility for society and not just their shareholders. Social responsibility is now seen as an investment, part of corporate strategic management and a source of creativity rather than an extra cost. Many companies have successfully integrated their social responsibility programs and acquired both economic and social benefits. Therefore, every business owner should start adopting social responsibility in their business. However, there are still challenges remains for companies to start adopting social responsibility. Thorough planning and careful execution are required to ensure success in corporate social responsibility (Essays, 2018).

Reference List

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). (nd) Nibusinessinfo.co.uk. https://www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/business-benefits-corporate-social-responsibility

Essays, UK. (2018). Corporate Social Responsibility Advantages. Ukessays.com. https://www.ukessays.com/essays/management/corporate-social-responsibility-a-superior-competitive-advantage-management-essay.php?vref=1

How CSR Can Help Your Business. (nd). Workspace.co.uk. https://www.workspace.co.uk/community/homework/growth-and-strategy/how-csr-can-help-your-business

Kokemuller, N. (2017). The Advantages of Business Social Responsibility. Bizfluent.com. https://bizfluent.com/info-7757292-benefits-corporate-social-responsibility-company.html

Lando, M. (2019). The 5 Benefits Of Increasing Your Corporate Social Responsibility. Real-leaders.com. https://real-leaders.com/the-5-benefits-of-increasing-your-corporate-social-responsibility/

Mardistas. (2017). Importance of Corporate Social Responsibility for Companies. Mardistas.com. https://www.mardistas.com/importance-of-corporate-social-responsibility-for-companies/

Muir, S. (2015). Top 5 Benefits of Corporate Social Responsibility. Cubegroup.com. http://cubegroup.com.au/top-5-benefits-of-corporate-social-responsibility/

Murphy, C. B. (2019). Why Social Responsibility is Important to Businesses. Investopedia.com. https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/041015/why-social-responsibility-important-business.asp

Simmons, D. (2018). Advantages of Corporate Social Responsibility: How a Blood Drive can Inspire Employees. Imatrix.com. https://imatrix.com/blog/corporate-social-responsibility/

van der Lingen, S. (nd). What is Corporate Social Responsibility? Csrinpractice.com. http://www.csrinpractice.com/what-is-csr/

What Are the Benefits of Adopting CSR? (2018). Rg-group.co.uk. https://rg-group.co.uk/what-are-the-benefits-of-adopting-csr/

Impact of social media by Darren Phang (November 2019)

Impact of social media by Darren Phang

November 2019

In a world where technologies and machinery are currently skyrocketing to be more advanced and complex, the use of social media has been increasing rapidly these past few years due to the utilization of mobile phones. Social media sites like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter have become so popular and have captured not dozens but millions of people across the world. It is slowly but surely becoming a priority in everyone’s lives as the benefits outshine their workloads.  This paper discusses the impact of social media upon our society.

According to Ahmad (2019), social media is most known for its ability to connect with anyone around the world regardless of their distances from each other. The beauty of connectivity is that people are able to express their opinions and beliefs despite of their skin colour or religion. People’s thoughts and theories are able to be spoken out and be heard of due to the overwhelming replies and shares the media holds. Social media can help reach larger audiences as there are millions of users on every social media platforms. This not only brings awareness to everyone in a short period of time, but also saves the cost of communication unlike the ancient era where newspaper was still the common use.

Other than that, social media provides us information and facts that may help us in the near future. It is so vast and accessible that everyone is able to know the latest and shocking events that are happening around the world within seconds of just clicking. The help of social media has tremendously revolutionized the way in sharing information. News coverage on television and print medias these days are mostly corrupted and biased because they rarely states the truth, which leaves people questioning on what happens behind closed doors. Therefore, people tend to look up on the internet for the true details by doing some research as they seem more believable and accurate. It is undoubtedly insane how fast the media is able to obtain information on a certain event that happened just minutes ago (Ahmad, 2019).

Gawkroger (2019) stated that building a brand on social media is also commonly regarded as a good marketing technique for a business. Almost every social platform allows people to post original content and promote products which strengthen the structure of their brand recognition. This technique not only builds brand loyalty among their audience or consumers, it also provides better customer service and gains honest reviews or feedback regarding the state on how well their business is doing so far. They can reach out to customers who are having issues and address them accordingly through direct messages which can encourage customers to further consumption of their product in a positive manner.

          

Nonetheless, social media also have its downsides. Social media can be used by the likes of people who crave the urge to bring other people down online as it does not acquire face-to-face interaction. The media platform is so huge that anyone is able to create a fake account without being traced to start wrecking havoc on the internet. People can send death threats, rumors and disturbing messages to an opposing person, otherwise known as cyber bullying. Cyber bullying is another form of harassment that mostly teenagers would commonly do as they presume it is nothing but a plain joke. This can happen anytime of the day as it is not physical interaction but by the utilization of digital phones. If there is no actions taken from further harassment, they will seek to commit suicide as they feel like their self-being is worthless or pointless (Blake, nd).

In conclusion, social media can be used as a dangerous tool and has no doubt changed the society’s perspective to be more permissive. It can leave malicious effects or provide a smoother lifestyle for people. Although there are mixed responses on whether social media has been a huge part of our lives, but we can’t deny that it has been a huge lifesaver to us when it comes to communication or transport. The presence of social media can be bittersweet among the society as it can used for the goodness or for the worse. People should start seeing social media as a virtual world where communication is an ease and information exists in all different forum sites. It is no doubt that social media will continue to capture many more individuals in the future as it is a diverse element.

References

Ahmad, B. (2019).  Advantages and disadvantages of social media for society. Techmaish.com. Available at: https://www.techmaish.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-social-media-for-society/ [Accessed 10 Nov. 2019].

Blake, M. (nd). Social networking. https://socialnetworking.lovetoknow.com/ [Accessed 9 Nov. 2019].

Gawkroger, P. (2019).  Advantages of social media. https://medium.com/@clinguen/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-social-media-47cd957b73d5

Advantages of social media by Shu Yee Wong (APA style)

Advantages of social media by Shu Yee Wong 

November 2019

Social media are web-based platforms that allow people to interact with each other. It is often use to describe as websites and apps like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and others. Nowadays, most of the young adults use it as a source of entertainment. It enables users to connect with each other and create a community. It is more about building relationships than simply announcing or posting and not engaging with others. Slowly, social media is changing the way one communicates.  This paper discusses the four advantages of social media.

The first advantage is social media can be served as an educational tool. People are able to showcase their talents on a global level, such as, competing in an online drawing contest or sharing their writing skills through social media. Social media allows them to exchange ideas and learning experience with one another to improve their skills by looking at references or appreciation and critique given by other social media users. They can also use social media to interact with professors from across the country to seek for more knowledge (Gawkroger, 2019).

According to Gawkroger (2019), social media is a great platform to get updated with new information. They can get updated about the latest incidents happening around the world in just a short time. With the help of social media, they can get the true facts and information just by doing some research or connecting to a broader base of opinions and world view through global connections. It provides all the information about politics, trends, lifestyle, music industry, film industry, gaming industry or anything else for that matter. Unlike the television and print media these days that are biased and do not convey the true message to the public.

Mentor (2019) stated that social media has the advantage of connectivity. Social media allows everyone to meet new friends or find their ideal partners from around the world, despite of their country and religion, for example Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and social applications. Also, people uses social media to stay connected with their close friends and families without having the trouble to write a letter and mail it to their house. Staying connected with our friends and families will keep us happier and mentally healthy.

Last but not least, social media is also a great platform for business marketing. According to Mentor (2019), Social media is not just an activity; it is an investment of valuable time and resources. With the help of social media, companies can promote their business to a larger area to reach more audience. This makes the business more profitable and less expensive as can publicize their product to a targeted audience in a lesser budget. Social media is a platform for the future of advertising and social media marketing, as it improves business reputation and client base with the minimal use of advertising.

At the same time, social media is also considered as one of the most dangerous elements that we have in our lives. Wrong use can lead to bad conclusion. The most common disadvantage of social media is cyberbully. There are many cases of children and teen adults who have suffered as the victims of cyberbullying which caused them a lot of harm. People can write nasty things behind the screen and act like there is nothing. They share false information of the victim on the internet and made fun of them, making them embarrass to the public (Rosli, 2018).

In conclusion, social media is a blessing to humanity if used appropriately and also a weapon of mass destruction if misrepresented. There are millions of users around the world that use social media on day to day basis. And social networking is a topic that divides opinion, some people think that it is an amazing tool but some may worried about the impact it has on people’s lives. No matter what, everyone should keep their software updated, double check information before believing it and keep their privacy settings updated too. People should learn to use the internet in the correct way. After all, when you’re using it correctly, it improves your life.

References

Mentor, M. (2019). Social media marketing and social media marketing landscape. https://millmentor.com/social-media-not-media-key-listen-engage-build-relationships/ 

Gawkroger, P. (2019).  Advantages of social media. https://medium.com/@clinguen/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-social-media

Rosli, J. (2018). Malaysia sixth-worst in global cyber-bullying ladder, survey shows | Malay Mail. Malaymail.com. https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2018/10/27/malaysia-sixth-worst-in-global-cyber-bullying-ladder/ 

Note:

References must be in alphabetical order.

GREAT Explorer/Elaine Kong

GREAT Explorer:  Increasing rural youths’ awareness on sustainability

By Fung Lan Yong

Youths undoubtedly play an important role in the socioeconomic development of Sabah, particularly in the rural areas.  However, greater efforts are needed to generate awareness among rural youths concerning the importance of sustainable development since it is vital for the socioeconomic and environmental viability of their community.  Overall, the thrust of youth development in Sabah is to equip youths with the necessary attitudes, knowledge and skills that will enable them to contribute to the socioeconomic development of the state.  Moreover, youths today need to recognize their critical responsibility and contribution toward national development and unity.

Nevertheless, programs for rural youths in Sabah have been affected by several factors, including isolation and the lack of infrastructure, program continuity and funding.  These problems can be partially overcome with the assistance of youth-serving organizations and trainers who promote rewarding growth and development experiences.   It is therefore important to support and strengthen the role of youth-serving organizations that strive to reach underserved and marginalized youths in Sabah.  To know more about the role of youth-serving organizations, the writer interviewed Dr ELAINE KONG, Consultant TLC Enrichment who designed the G.R.E.A.T Explorer programme.  The tagline of TLC is ‘Transforming Lives and Communities.’

“The current generation of youths may feel like they are set adrift to search for a path through life once they leave school. To reach personal success, they need to know what to do next, where to progress towards and most important, which destination are they moving towards,” began Kong.

According to her, GREAT Explorer aims to spread the awareness that to be successful, it is critical for youths to set goals, devise a plan and know where and how to get access to resources. “The program is highly interactive and various group interactive methods will be used. Most tasks will be carried out in pairs or groups.  Further, immediate analysis and feedback will be provided.  Above all, GREAT Explorer draws on youths’ own perceptions and experience to ensure participation and relevance.  Finally, participants prepare a personal action plan to document their understanding,” she explained.

“GREAT Explorer has five objectives.  Participants are to learn to plan to achieve the highest personal standard of success in life, to understand the importance of responsibilities and a positive attitude, to learn and reflect on expectations from others and self and to gain insight of why teamwork is critical to personal success,” said Kong.

“First, goal setting enables participants to conceptualize the importance of setting smart goals, possess a personal vision and mission to attain career and life goals and implement goals and targets to achieve.  Second, GREAT Explorer strives to help participants realize the significance of responsibilities and the three most important areas of responsibilities are related to self, family and community, which also extends to their living environment.  To fulfill their responsibilities, participants must demonstrate personality, experience, attitude, knowledge and skills (PEAKS),” she added.

“Third, participants have expectations to fulfil in relation to self, family and community. Fourth, they must understand the elements of attitude, demonstrate awareness of the impact and benefits of positive attitudes and adopt the proper techniques for self-motivation.  Finally, participants must know how team work can contribute to personal success and apply tips to enhance team spirit and foster a productive work environment,” Kong elaborated.

Youth training at Kg. Timug

On June 3, Kong brought GREAT Explorer to Kg. Timug, a remote village in Kudat that is predominantly Rungus.  She spent time instilling the five objectives of GREAT Explorer in 20 Rungus youths through games and activities.  Kong also had a short session with several village leaders, explaining to them the importance and principles of sustainability in rural development.   “Sustainable development emphasizes the importance of meeting human development goals while sustaining the natural systems that provide the natural resources. It ensures that humans can continue to use the natural resources without undermining the integrity and stability of the natural systems.  In short, it encourages continuous socioeconomic development while conserving the natural environment for future generations,” concluded Kong.

Elaine Kong holds a DBA in Leisure and Tourism from EU Business School and is also the Director of Professional Programmes Development at Pine Academy.

About the author

Fung Lan Yong holds a PhD in Special Education (Gifted and Talented Education) from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.  She teaches Academic English and Mass Communication at Jesselton College Sabah, which has received 4-star MyQuest ratings in various courses.

Photos

Elaine Kong (standing, left first) with participants of GREAT Explorer at Kg. Timug

Bringing the objectives of GREAT Explorer to the youths of Kg. Timug

Successful entrepreneurs (APA style) posted by Fung Lan Yong

Successful entrepreneurs (APA style) posted by Fung Lan Yong

Characteristics of successful entrepreneurs by Ashley Voo (March 13, 2017)

Entrepreneurship is like an engine which must work well to grow in the economy. There are no shortcuts to success, so successful entrepreneurs go through thick and thin to try to sell their goods and offer their services to make their business grow.  They have several traits and roles.

First, successful entrepreneurs are positive in the way they think and are very decisive. With a positive attitude they are able to overcome difficulties. They might experience obstacles but their determination ensures future business success (Holmes, 2015).  Moreover, they have a decisive mind; this enables them to grasp the crucial opportunities that could lead them towards success. They usually make quick decisions and rarely procrastinate that help pave their way to success (Agrawal, nd).

Second, they have strong self-discipline and a strong desire to reach their goals. They always aim attention on their work and try to eliminate unnecessary distractions. They strive to keep on track of their day-to-day work and organized their tasks to complete them in time. Successful businessperson are disciplined enough to face challenges every day to fulfil their objectives (Adams, 2010).   Additionally, successful entrepreneurs possess the drive to succeed. They value their accomplishments and get financial rewards by achieving difficult goals in their trade (Holmes, 2015).

Third, successful entrepreneurs exhibit motivation and creativity. They stay motivated whenever they face difficulties or obstacles in their business. They motivate their employees to face risks to earn profits. They always think about ways to expand their business and increase their market share.  Further, they are creative; hence they can recognize and pursue various opportunities. Further, they can influence, convince and inspire others. For example, they can influence people to deal with their ideas and widen their market by persuading new customers. Additionally, they have natural integrity and charisma; for instance, they envision being creative and innovative to interfere changes and improvements (Agrawal, nd).

  

Fourth, successful entrepreneurs do not depend on reliable colleagues or staff. They usually start off by themselves as soloprenuers and overcome barriers themselves. They build their business by working on solo first and then they hire supportive staff later on. They are mentally prepared to face difficulties at the beginning (Agrawal, nd).

Fifth, successful entrepreneurs volunteer to take planned risks and are highly dependable. They are risk takers; hence, they are always ready to encounter unexpected events. They are willing to provide their time and money on unknown things; however, they record the information, resources and plans. Additionally, they possess the ability to be multitasks and identify risks that are worth their luxury time and money (Seth, 2016).

Sixth, successful entrepreneurs maintain a positive relationship between with their employees; hence, they always keep their promises concerning what they plan to do and will do it promptly. They are dependable because they major in managing challenging tasks. They also have the skill to make appropriate decisions so that their business runs efficiently (Holmes, 2015).

Seventh, successful entrepreneurs enjoy being around people and they possess adequate communication skills. They are able to continuously interact with a variety of people including customers, competitors and manufacturers. Interaction with others increases their popularity and the potential in them. As they enjoy being around with people, they can experience different characteristics of people.  Besides that, great conversation ability enables them to interpret the body language of others, particularly customers. Further, successful entrepreneurs can accurately exchange information in the corporation by using a variety of methods, for instance, online conferencing, emailing, Facebooking and Twittering (Holmes, 2015).  

Finally, they are not afraid of making mistakes and facing failure is not a big deal to them. They understand that failure is a component of business and they take mistakes and failures as a learning experience.  Mistakes and failure enable them to combine better and stronger. (McFadden, 2015).

END

References (APA style)

Adams, J. (2010).  Ten qualities of a successful entrepreneur.  Under30ceo.com. http://10-qualities-of-a-successful-entrepreneur/

Agrawal, R. (nd). Nine characteristics of successful entrepreneurs.  Monster.com. https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/entrepreneur-traits.

Holmes, T. (2015). Ten characteristics of a highly successful entrepreneur. Home Training Peaks, http://home.trainingpeaks.com. characteristics-of-a-highly-successful-entrepreneur.

McFadden, K. (2015). Ten qualities of highly successful entrepreneurs. Smartbusinesstrends.com. http://10-qualities-of-highly-successful-entrepreneurs/

Seth, S. (2016). Ten characteristics of successful entrepreneurs.  Investopedia.com.

http://personal-finance/101014/10-characteristics-successful-entrepreneurs.asp

Essay using APA style by Fung Lan Yong

Reeducation and rehabilitation are more effective than lengthy jail terms

By Fung Lan Yong

Jesselton College Sabah (September 2015)

fungyong58@gmail.com

For centuries, jail terms have been employed in the criminal justice system whereby the convicted will be restricted from any freedom or access to almost everything, while performing mostly blue-collared work for their basic necessities.  In recent years, there has been a drastic increase in crime rates with myriad penitentiaries being built around the world.  However, the mushrooming of penitentiaries does not necessarily help reduce crimes in most societies.  As such, the effectiveness of jail terms in reducing crime rates is highly debatable.  Although lengthy jail terms commonly serve as a form of punishment to the convicted, it is less effective than reeducation and rehabilitation because they burden the government financially, affect the convicted mentally, and provide limited training to the convicted

Lengthy jail terms are less effective than reeducation and rehabilitation centers because they involve the upkeep of convicts that often increases government expenditure.  Due to the increase of inmates, more and more new penitentiaries are needed.  Moreover, maintaining them can be relatively more expensive than rehabilitation centers.  Security guards and technical devices are required to keep penitentiaries safe and secure.  Besides, medical and health care are provided to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.  Undoubtedly, valuable funding and resources are also allocated for the safekeeping of inmates, including food, wages, and various facilities.  Imprisonment therefore entails an enormous budget for the government.  The Pew Centre reported that more than $49 billion was spent on probations in 2010 in the USA compared to $11 billion twenty years ago (Elder, 2011).  Furthermore, incarceration is not effective in meeting many specific objectives, signifying that the gains are low. If the government just sends every convict to jail, it will be exceedingly costly; when they get out, they will repeat the same crimes.  Indeed, many inmates have committed crimes while serving a jail term due to overcrowding.  Research shows that community service schemes in the early nineties costed only about one third of that of keeping a person in a penitentiary.  Thus, reeducation and rehabilitation using community service programs are preferred to jail terms since they are more practical and cost-effective.

Besides incurring high government expenditure, lengthy jail terms have an adverse impact on the behavior of the inmates.  Initially, jail terms were intended to impose punishment and rectify the inmates of their mistakes.  Nevertheless, failure to do so has caused prisons to breed more dangerous criminals.  Inmates may become even more violent after being detained for a long period (Cook, 2000).  Besides that, they are deeply isolated from society, causing their social skills to diminish gradually.   Since inmates tend to have more criminal contact in jail, many will be influenced by negative behavior of others.  On top of that, thy lack positive role models to emulate socially and culturally acceptable behavior.  Whenever fighting or any serious crimes occur in the penitentiary area, inmates are commonly punished and even abused by wardens or administrators.  Eventually, many of these inmates may deteriorate, using extreme violence as the only solution for all kinds of problems.  Additionally, the customs and perspectives in a penitentiary are drastically different from the outside world; it is a place characterized by tension day and night (Fairshake, 2010).  A long period of incarceration often alters inmates’ perceptions towards life.  After being released, they will experience great difficulties in assimilating themselves in the community, leading them to return to crime to eke a living.  Instead of modifying inmates’ behavior, incarceration perpetuates criminal behavior.  Therefore, there is a critical need for reeducation and rehabilitation using community service programs rather than making the inmates worse by placing them in a destructive environment.  Programs specially implemented to inculcate socially responsible behavior are effective in helping inmates to readjust to society and get jobs.  After all, such programs strive to encourage inmates to face challenges in a constructive manner rather than resorting to violence.

Rehabilitation and reeducation centers are a much better option compared to jail terms because they strive to provide effective training to help inmates develop socially and culturally appropriate behaviors needed to lead an independent and productive life.  Research shows that many inmates come from socially or economically disadvantaged backgrounds characterized unemployment, family disintegration, and poverty (Peters & Bekman, 2011). Community service programs are highly effective in changing the behavior and mindset of inmates, allowing them to successfully assimilate into society later.  Furthermore, about seventy-five percent of inmates were involved in drug abuse (Koppel & Fields, 2011).  For them, substance-abuse recovery programs, vocational skills training, social care, general education via rehabilitation are much more appropriate than a jail term.   Besides that, re-education enhances their basic living skills by fostering their artistic interests and hobbies. Inmates can also contribute to public services, which encourage them to make a change on their behavior and attitudes simultaneously.  Rehabilitation and reeducation centers reinforce positive qualities that are vital for inmates to reintegrate into the society, allowing them to develop a new outlook to their lives as well.  In brief, re-education and rehabilitation centers provide a positive environment for inmates, encouraging them to acquire practical skills and knowledge for a better future.  They are crucial to reducing crime rates by acting as an incentive for inmates not only to give up on crimes, but also to look forward to becoming productive members of society eventually.

On the other hand, opponents believe that lengthy jail terms are useful to deter people from committing crimes as well as to ensure the public safety.  They contend that dangerous people, such as murderers, arsonists, or rapists should be kept away from society in order to prevent further crimes as well as to mete out justice. However, the undesirable consequences of lengthy jail terms cannot be underestimated.  As a result of serving out a long jail term, many inmates will have a hard time looking for jobs upon release, experiencing endless rejection and condemnation by others.  Criminals are human beings too; incarceration may lead them to lose their humanity instead of modifying their behavior (Johnson, 2011).  About ninety percent of all inmates are eventually released in the United States, but the fundamental skills that they have acquired in the penitentiary are not sufficient to help them face the real world.  Somehow more than half of them would be back in prison within three years.  Further, sixty-seven and a half percent of them have been arrested for a new crime, unrelated to their prior conviction (U.S Department of Justice, 1996).  This shows that incarceration does not actually help to rehabilitate inmates; instead it further criminalizes them, leading them to be more aggressive and causing the crime rates to rise dramatically. On the whole, convicted criminals deserve education and community service programs despite their personal circumstances.  This discourages them from seeking revenge or engaging in other kinds of criminal behavior that would land tem in jail again.  Hence, rehabilitation and reeducation serve as better alternatives in addressing the issue of safety in society.

In conclusion, inmates should be reeducated and rehabilitated using community service programs instead of being punished with lengthy jail terms.  Generally, reeducation and rehabilitation are more viable as they are more affordable, prevent criminals from becoming more violent, and enable inmates to acquire beneficial skills and knowledge.  Hence, it is believe crucial for the government to implement more community programs in order to help inmates readjust to society.  Such ventures are effective in reducing crimes as well as maintaining peace in the community.  A penal policy that puts more emphasis on reducing reoffending and reforming criminals and turning them away from a life of crime will mean fewer crimes, fewer victims, and safer communities (BBC, 2010).

References

BBC. (2010).  Prison sentencing reforms to break crime cycle. BBC News. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics.

Cook, J. R. (2000).  Asphalt justice: a critique of the criminal justice system in America. Greenwood Press, Ebrary, USA.

Elder, G. L. (2011).  Lawmakers work on reducing inmate population. Total Criminal Defense. http://www.totalcriminaldefense.com/news/articles/unusual/1-in-99-prison.aspx.

Fairshake.  (2010). Culture shock! http://www.fairshake.net/culture_shock.html .

Johnson, M. (2011).  Long prison sentences fail not just offenders, but society too. The Guardian. http://guardian.co.uk/society/2011/may/18/long-prison-sentences-fail-offenders-society.

Koppel, N., & Fields, G. (2011). States rethink drug laws. Daw Jones Company. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704728004576176514208186374.html.

Peters, R. H. & Bekman, N, M. (2007).  Public health behind bars: from prisons to communities. Springer Science & Business Media.

Note:  The reference list must be on a separate page and in alphabetical order.