b.Select two of the “Innovation Stories”, for this type, and expand on the brief profile that was provided in the text. (300 words minimum).

I. Company Codes of ConductIntroduction

A company code of conduct refers to a collection of rules, regulations and protocols designed to inform employees, management, stakeholders, and consumers of company processes concerning its core values. In developing a company's code of conduct, the management designs regulations regarding its environment and concerning existing moral and constitutional laws. Conventional codes of conduct must comply with jurisdictional laws that apply to its industry and govern the company's area. However, laws vary from one jurisdiction to another. Despite the commonality of purpose around company codes of conduct, there have to be variations that imprint a uniqueness around each code of conduct developed to serve a particular company. As one of the world's largest energy companies, INEOS has a strong code of conduct with ethical and constitutional compliance provisions. However, its code is largely different from Texas Elite Movers, a moving company that serves local Texans, and the paper's position seeks to establish the reasons for the differences in the contents of the two codes of conduct.  

INEOS Codes of Conduct

The company prides itself as an industry leader in the energy industry and acknowledges its massive physical reach and the challenges in implementing moral-oriented decisions and operations. However, its mission and vision statement requires spirited attempts towards continuous organizational improvement without compromising the quality of the environments in which their operations are common. In its attempt to achieve said goals, INEOS seeks to regulate employee and stakeholder interactions to direct operations towards environmental sustainability and legal compliance through its codes of conduct. The INEOS Code of Conduct is a comprehensive document with eight sections that define the company policy regarding certain activities. The conduct covers health and safety, competition and sanctions, governance as well as government and communities. The purpose of the code's existence lies in encouraging employees to take responsibility for their actions and outlines company position on controversial issues of relevance based on ethical conduct. The presence of a code violation section in the code is intentional and provides for penalizing company stakeholders that violate its codes of conduct (Gaur, & Mathar, 2020).

Textile Elite Moving Codes of Conduct

Textile Elite Moving is a movers' company located in Dripping Springs, Texas, with a statewide reach and currently ranked as one of the best moving services in the state. As a commercial company, TEM has to contend with local, state and federal laws that govern transportation and movement. Such laws have to be reflected in the company code of conduct developed by the company's top brass. Additionally, the company's core values and mission and vision statements have to be echoed in the codes. Chief among the regulations contained in the company code of conduct, employee relationships with clients take precedence with explicit instructions on demeanour, conversation and clarity of expression (Helen, 2020). Concerning the organization's goal of providing convenience to its consumers, its employees must engage in a complete service provision process. Its codes also mandate the use of environmentally-friendly products and mechanisms and refrain from public endangerment.  

Comparison of the Codes of Conduct Contents

Each company analyzed herein develops a code of conduct to enhance organizational sustainability and provide a moral campus for its employees. The similarities shared in both companies' codes of conduct range from a desire to protect their employees through their various health and safety clauses and the drive to increase consumer experience. Also, both companies have compliance with existing laws as part of their codes of conduct, and that is where their similarities end. As for differences, INEOS's focus in designing its code is large since its operation spans several countries, unlike TEM, whose business is limited to the state of Texas. Also, the INEOS code's concerns deal with environmental concerns due to its involvement with natural resources, a situation that's much different from TEM's, which has dealings only with transport regulators. The INEOS code's comprehensive nature stems from its sheer size and diversity of operations, a factor missing in regards to Texas Elite Moving.

The reasons for the differences observed in the companies' codes of conduct are defined by their locations, interests, values and goals, and operational protocols. For instance, INEOS is subject to international laws and British law that regulate its operations. It also has to adhere to UNEP and EPA laws due to its dealings with natural resources. On the other hand, TEM is limited to Texan law and the constitution of the United States. Since compliance with legal law constitutes a significant contributor to the development of a company's code of ethics, both companies' contents have to be different. Company interests also play a significant role in defining their codes of conduct. For some firms, employee development and nature are a priority, while for others, achieving larger market shares is all that matters. The former company is likely to have clauses on employee nature, training and exit as part of their codes of conduct while the latter would extensively focus on consumer-interaction. 

1. Brazil's Political and Economic Situation

Introduction

Along with India and South Africa, Brazil constitutes the G20 or an elite group of countries whose economic growth rates earn them the distinction of 'developing countries'. Following more than two decades of continuous and consistent growth, the South American country finds itself in unfamiliar waters, economic depreciation. Previously fancied as a destination of economic investment due to the unprecedented growth patterns, its economic growth has battered over the last one year. The reasons for its economic downturn, according to experts, lie in the change of political leadership as well as the novel coronavirus. Through various embargos and measures imposed by the country's health ministry, its service-based economy barely survived the corona pandemic. However, controversial decisions and tensions due to the political environment also played an important role. The ascendance of Jair Bolsonaro to power in 2019 has been marked with political tension due to his unpredictable nature. Even before the outbreak of the virus, Brazil had started showing signs of an imminent economic downturn. 

Prevailing Socio-Economic and Political Situation

President Jair Bolsonaro is an extreme right-wing individual whose ideas are so radical that his party has abandoned his various issues. The president, who recently succeeded in reforming the country's social security after much tension, intends to pursue other mind-wracking reforms that are likely to trigger political tensions in a country whose political temperatures have risen considerably over the last one year. The conflict between the president who sees the solution of Brazilian problems related to a central economic base is set to escalate. There are plans to sell public assets with policymakers to grant official independence to the central bank and reform tax processes in the country. The emergence of coronavirus has significantly compromised the economy further directly and indirectly. Redirected investment into health and emergency from the government's coffers undermines the various subsidiary funds for startups and SMEs (Moraes, et al., 2020).

Consequently, the company's vast labour force remains vulnerable to job loss and retrenchment, reducing the purchasing power of the country's populace. Finally, widespread death and disease occasioned by corona-related complications affect the country's active labour force. With such economic disruptions to the country, it is unsurprising that the South American giant is experiencing an economic meltdown.

Investment Risks Based on the Econ-political Situation

Political decisions that affect the Brazilian economy remains in the hands of a conservative president who has the determination to implement his policies with little regard for the cost. The president's conservative approach to the policy regarding national resources creates a certain amount of unease among investors, shrinking the prospects of Foreign Direct Investments into the country. Any individual interested in Brazilian investment does so with the understanding that a fluctuating fiscal policy subject to various protests by Brazilians stand in the way of their investment. Additionally, such foreign investor needs to appreciate the current economic situation and the brave risk that the economy may not rise again. Though, investors may look at the prevailing events of Brazil in a different light given its economic history. Some would be optimistic of a rebirth of the dying economy, and they'd be right to think so since the country's resource base is stable enough to catapult its economy into greatness again if accorded appropriate leadership (da Silva, et al., 2018).

References

da Silva, R. B., Klotzle, M. C., Pinto, A. C. F., & da Motta, L. F. J. (2018). R&D investment and risk in Brazil. Global Finance Journal, 35, 106-114.

Gaur, M., & Mathar, D. (2020). Business Transformation Challenges & Solution Approach in SAP ECC & SAP S4HANA System Landscape Optimization for Divestiture Driven Carve Out. International Journal of Computer Engineering and Technology, 11(3).

Helen, I. N. (2020). BUSINESS ETHICS AS A TOOL FOR ORGANISATIONAL GROWTH. Villanova Journal of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities, 2(1).

Moraes, C. L. D., Marques, E. S., Ribeiro, A. P., & Souza, E. R. D. (2020). Contributions to address violence against older adults during the Covid-19 pandemic in Brazil. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, 25, 4177-4184.