Essay on Riordan Manufacturing Week 6 Problem Solution

Running head: PROBLEM SOLUTION: RIORDAN MANUFACTURING Problem Solution: Riordan Manufacturing Elayne Limon, Bill Loski, Fatima Al-Mohannadi, Allison Pawloski, Daniel L. Knight II University of Phoenix MMPBL\530 April 23, 2012 Kathryn Adair Problem Solution: Riordan Manufacturing In today’s work place employee satisfaction is just as important as it has ever been in history. With employer cutbacks, job eliminations, pay reductions, and business closings employee satisfaction must be at the forefront of employer’s plans to be successful. In the case of Riordan Manufacturing the company has a problem it cannot ignore, employee motivation. Riordan Manufacturing is a global plastics producer that employees 550 people and earns an†¦show more content†¦Therefore, Riordan shall communicate carefully forthcoming changes in details to stakeholder. Main stakeholders for Riordan are the Chief Executive, investors, employees, and customers. The interests, rights, and values for each group vary. Michael Riordan is the president and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Riordan Manufacturing. He is the founder and the primary shareholder with 80% of the company’s stock. Michael is concerned about the company performance that drives the share value of his investment. He believes company’s management treating employees well but employees are no longer as loyal as they used to be. As CEO, Michael has the rights and ability to drive decision-making to maximize the company’s potential. This concern toward the company’s value may be seen as an ethical dilemma. The second stakeholders are investors and Riordan’s shareholders. Investors assume that leadership team will have actions for the best interest of all involved parties and maintain a successful running company. The main interest for stakeholders is a fair return on their investment. Therefore, Riordans leadership team must put down plans to implement growth strategies and see a Return On Investment (ROI). The impact of slow and poor performance may direct investors to withdrawShow MoreRelatedProduction Plan for Riordan Manufacturing1451 Words   |  6 PagesProduction Plan for Riordan Manufacturingr University of Phoenix OPS/GM 571: International Operations Management September 14, 2010 Production Plan for Riordan Manufacturing Riorden Manufacturing Incorporated is a global plastic manufacturing company that employs 550 people with annual earnings of $46 million. Riorden has several plants in different parts of the country and overseas with a corporate headquarters in San Jose California. TheRead MoreRiordan Manufacturing Hrms Integration Project1743 Words   |  7 PagesRiordan Manufacturing HRMS Integration Project Narrative Internationally renowned as the industry leader in the field of plastic injection molding, with innovative designs, attention to detail, extreme precision, and comprehensive quality control, Riordan Manufacturing s current human resource management system (HRMS) and methodologies are surprisingly antiquated and disparate with low-tech strands. Hugh McCauley, Riordan s Chief Operating Officer, has approved Service Request RM004 to analyzeRead MoreProblem Solution: Riordan Manufacturing Essays1853 Words   |  8 PagesProblem Solution: Riordan Manufacturing Riordan Manufacturing is a global plastics producer employing about 550 employees. The manufacturer has experienced a decrease in sales and a increase in employee turnover in the last few months. The paper will examine solutions to retain the customers and gain new ones as well as brainstorm viable solutions to combat employee retention. Communication will be key to the outcome of both problems. Situation Analysis Issue and Opportunity Identification Read MoreAn Mrp Solution for Riordan Manufacturing5037 Words   |  21 PagesAn MRP Solution for Riordan Manufacturing Table of Contents Executive Summary †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 3 Scope †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 4 Project Feasibility †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 6 Current Operating State †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 6 Requirements †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 10 Future Operating State †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 12 System Components †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 14 System Architecture †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Read MoreReview of Riordan Manufacturing Business Systems3156 Words   |  13 PagesTeam B Review of Riordan Manufacturing Business Systems Greg Guntz, Jerad Kays, Armando Figueroa, Lanone Mayfield, Rich Roberts, Bill White University of Phoenix BSA/310 Business Systems Mission/Description Riordan Manufacturing is an industry leader in the field of plastic injection molding that has earned them international acclaim. 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Define Problem (11 days) The business case and proposed solution are examined to verify that they are appropriately defined, as well as address the organizational requirements and needs. Perform feasibility study (6 days) A feasibility study will be performed by the project team. A Schedule, Economic, Technical, and Operational assessment report will be producedRead MoreFive Year Strategic Plan for Move2991 Words   |  12 PagesStrategic Plan for Move ï ¿ ½ PAGE ï ¿ ½1ï ¿ ½ Five Year Strategic Plan for Move CIS Strategic Management CMGT/578 March 20, 2006 Strategic Plan for Move Riordan Manufacturing, Inc. has been able to make way into the global business arena with a strong footing. Riordan has established operating plants in San Jose, CA, Albany, GA, Pontiac, MI, and Hangzhou, China. In addition, the quantity of plastic fan parts manufactured in the Hangzhou plant has increased, adding significant shipping costs. 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Bullying and Its Effects on Individual’s Education Free Essays

The purpose of the research in this work is to answer the question, â€Å"Does bullying effect an individual’s education? First bullying will be defined in the perimeter of the educational environment. The author of this work takes the stance that bullying does most positively affect an individual in terms of their quality of education and in fact does continue to affect the individual who receives and even the one who perpetrates the bullying behavior. Inclusive in the research will be the stated ‘signs’ of bullying behavior taking place, preventative measures that are stated to be effective, types of bullying behavior, and common myths surrounding those who are bullies. We will write a custom essay sample on Bullying and Its Effects on Individual’s Education or any similar topic only for you Order Now Some important facts about violence in schools are stated to be that first, that 1/3 of all injury death that occurs in the United States are due to intentional school violence. Interestingly, as violence has risen quite sharply in society it has also rise in schools and in areas surrounding and related to school. During the school years from September 1992 through May 2000 the National School Safety Center in their Report on School Associated Violence† (Education World, nd) Unhealthy relationships in the family and school personnel’s’ exposure to ‘violent television, films as well as games containing some of the elements that seem to contribute to violence in-school behavior. Bullying can take place both directly and indirectly. Bullying is defined as the repeated exposure to negative actions on the part of a student or even on the part of a group of students toward another individual. Stated as being inclusive in this behavior are the factors of aggressive behavior, intentional harm doing, it is done on a repetitious basis and occurs in a relationship on an interpersonal level â€Å"characterized by an imbalance of power.† (Colorado.edu Website, nd) The definition proposed by Tattum and Tattum (1992) states that â€Å"Bullying is the willful, conscious desire to hurt another and put him/her under stress? Therefore, the individual that desires to hurt another individual is a bully. But, those who are not in actuality bullies are those that think better of committing such actions. Bullying may be physical or it may occur on a psychological level. It is suggested by Olweus that an â€Å"imbalance of power† exists when bullying occurs and in fact contributes to the occurrence. As stated bullying behavior may be ‘direct’ bullying or ‘indirect’ bullying. Direct bullying is an open attack on the individual. Inclusive are physical attacks such as hitting, kicking, pushing, and choking. Attacking someone verbally or through harassment such as calling of names, threatening behavior, taunting behavior, teasing in a cruel and malicious manner, spreading rumors and slandering are all inclusive. Indirect bullying is often difficult to detect much more so than direct bullying. Indirect bullying is characterized by social isolation and social exclusion on an intentional basis, making faces and obscene gestures as well as manipulation of friendships and relationships. III. Common Myths Surrounding Bullying Myth 1: Insecurity and low self-esteem is suffered by bullies and they in turn pick on others towards the end of making themselves feel more secure. Fact: Self-esteem among bullies are average to above-average however they do have temperaments that are aggressive as well as a ‘lack of empathy and poor parenting.’ (Starr, 2000) Myth 2: Bullies are looking for attention however; ignoring the bully will stop the behavior. Fact: control is what the bully seeks and they tend to cease their bullying when ignored however if adults do not address the issue of bullying the bully generally is propelled toward another level of bullying. Myth 3: Boys will act like boys. However bullies general remain bullies and eventually get involved in a life of crime. Fact: Of all those finishing middle school that are bullies sixty percent will have committed at least one crime by the age of 24. Fact: Outgrowing bullying does not actually occur but it is redirected by the individual doing the bullying. 60 percent of bullies will have committed a crime by the age of 24. Myth 5: Standing up for themselves is something that needs to be learned by victims of bullies. Fact: Bullies generally pick those who are younger or weaker to bully and those who don’t have the skills on a social level for the development of friendships that are important and are unable to effectively deal with social situations on their own. Fact: Victims are generally chosen to be bullied due to their being â€Å"sensitive, anxious, and not likely or unable to retaliate, not due to differences on a physical level. (Starr, 2000) Myth 6: The environment in large classrooms and large schools are conducive to bullying. Fact: There has been no established link between the size of the educational facility and instances of bullying. In fact there is some research that contains findings that there is less and not more bullying in larger schools. Myth 7: The largest part of bullying occurs somewhere other than school grounds. Fact: Most bullying occurs on school grounds. Myth 8: Only a small number of students are affected by bullying. Fact: In the U.S. 25% of students are victims of bullying and 20% are bullies. It has been estimated by the National Association of School Psychologists that 160,000 children don’t attend school each and every day to avoid being bullied. Myth 9: If bullying is a problem in the classroom the teacher is aware of it. Fact: Reports by the victims of bullying instances are done only reluctantly out of fear of being retaliated against, due to embarrassment and because most bullies tend to justify their behavior. Myth 10: Sticks and stones will break your bones but names will never hurt you is an adage that should be followed by victims of bullying. Fact: Problems that affect students for life are low self-esteem and depression as well as suicide and mental health issues. IV. Preventative Measures in Counteracting Bullying in School Four basic principles for prevention of bullying and victim problems are stated as follows: â€Å"Awareness and warm, positive involvement of adults inclusive of teachers, principals, school counselors, and parents.† (Safe Schools Fact Sheet, Colorado.edu) Set and stick to firm limits as to what behavior is unacceptable firmly stating that bullying is not allowed or acceptable in the school. Consistent application of â€Å"non-hostile, nonphysical negative consequences for rule violation and unacceptable behavior; and â€Å"Encourage adults to act as authorities and position role models in students’ academic learning and social relationships in school.† (Safe Schools Fact Sheet, Colorado.edu) The Results and Outcomes of Bullying Behavior and Victims It is clearly without question that the victims of bullies have lifelong problems and issues that result from being bullied. Stated long-term effects on victims are that depression exists as well as low self-esteem. Clinical implications are stated to be a â€Å"risk factor for poor psychological health† (Rigby, 2003). The risk is stated to be greater if the â€Å"bullying is severe and prolonged and if the victim lacks adequate social support.† (Rigby, 2003) Further stated by Rigby (2003) is that â€Å"Various strategies or treatments may be considered to reduce the changes of a child’ further involvement in bullying that may worsen the condition. These include assisting victimized children to develop self-protective assertiveness skills and working therapeutically with bullying children to establish a greater awareness of the consequence of their antisocial behavior.† Other findings are that victims of bullying behavior have higher rates of absenteeism than those who do not experience bullying at school. Long-term adjustment is also affected by being bullied at school as well as the victim of bullies developing an aversion to the environment of school. (Rigby, 2003) In Factsheet Number 18 entitled, â€Å"The Emotional Cost of Bullying† it is stated that bullying can affect the physical and mental health of a child in a serious way. Children who are bullied â€Å"lack confidence, feel bad about themselves, have few friends and spend playtime alone. They may find it hard to face going to school and difficult to concentrate on their work. They may complain of various physical symptoms as a result of their upset. They may worry and try to avoid going to school. Others become very anxious, find it hard to sleep and may feel depressed, or even suicidal. These problems can carry on long after the bullying has stopped.† (Factsheet #18, Mental Health Growing Up)A large-scale study conducted in England and Wales found that children who suffer from being bullied are more likely to wet the bed and to not sleep well along with feeling irritable, nervous, and panicky after being bullied. Recurring memories of the incidences were stated by 32% of victims in the study and 29% of the victims found concentrating hard for them to do Interestingly the bullies also have long-term effects as well. Stated is that students who bully are also likely to engage in antisocial and delinquent behaviors such as vandalism, shoplifting, drug use, and truancy. This is particularly true of boys that bully. Bullies are also more likely (4 times more likely) to be convicted of crimes by the age of 24. Finally physical bullying is considered to be a risk factor on a moderate level for serious violence acts between the ages of 15 to age 25. How to cite Bullying and Its Effects on Individual’s Education, Papers

Grandpa Essay Example For Students

Grandpa Essay GrandpaIn a stark room with the lights turned out, I sit alone thinking. In all of my years I have always had stability. There have been no drastic changes in my life. There was the endless time when my mother had breast cancer, but somehow I knew she would pull through, so it did not really phase me. Now I am encountering a situation that is sure to change my life forever. The one person who never questioned my intentions, always knew my thoughts, and always knew the right words to offer is going to leave me because of a terminal illness. As I wonder how I will ever survive without my grandpa in my life, I place my head in my hands and cry as memories and stories begin to flood my mind. The first memory I come across is swinging with Grandpa on a hill overlooking a beautiful lake at sunset. Grandpa has his coffee in his right hand while I am snuggled up close to his left side. I recall using times such as this to have heart-to-heart talks with the sole person who understood my every thought. He talked to me as if everything I had to say was of great importance, regardless of the topic. As I reflect more on this memory I realize my grandpa is a lot like the coffee he always had in his hand. The coffee provided him with warmth and comfort. In the same way, Grandpa was my source of warmth and comfort. He was always there for me in little ways. The days when Dad forgot me at volleyball practice he was there to take me home. He was there to take me shopping when I desperately needed a new outfit. He did not like to shop, but he went for me. Small things such as these gave me comfort. I knew Grandpa would always be there to help me if I was in a jam. This stability I felt was one of the most comforting thing in my life. My thoughts travel deeper into the subject I am contemplating and I realize there is yet another similarity between my grandfather and the coffee he loved so much. Many coffee drinkers are addicted to coffee like I am addicted to my grandpa. They feel insecure and incomplete without their daily dose of coffee.Like the habitual coffee drinker I am going to have a horrible time withdrawing myself from that ever-constant source of love and stability in my life. I know that it will not be easy, but it will have to be done in time. My mind begins to wander as I try to recall other memories of my grandfather. The image of Grandpa and Grandmas house on a snowy evening materializes in my mind. My sister and father are there with me, and we are eating with my grandparents. The smells of Grandmas cooking are so real that I feel as if I am really there. We sit around the table laughing and telling of our days. Grandpa interjects his off-the-wall jokes into the conversation, which keeps us from dwelling on our lives. My sister, Cheryl, once commented to me that Grandpa has this ability to make me laugh at the stupidest things. After dinner my sister and I venture into the living room and beg Grandpa to tell us a story. His stories were always the best. Sometimes they were fun and exciting, and other times they taught us about the history of our town or family. My crying subsides as I discern Grandpas motives in telling his stories. He wanted us to carry on his legacy to future generations so everyone might know what life is like through the eyes of a loving optimist. The scene of the living roo m fades and I am met with yet another memory of my grandpa. .u809911aac7f85881a1f95a1b2af310f9 , .u809911aac7f85881a1f95a1b2af310f9 .postImageUrl , .u809911aac7f85881a1f95a1b2af310f9 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u809911aac7f85881a1f95a1b2af310f9 , .u809911aac7f85881a1f95a1b2af310f9:hover , .u809911aac7f85881a1f95a1b2af310f9:visited , .u809911aac7f85881a1f95a1b2af310f9:active { border:0!important; } .u809911aac7f85881a1f95a1b2af310f9 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u809911aac7f85881a1f95a1b2af310f9 { 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; } .u809911aac7f85881a1f95a1b2af310f9:active , .u809911aac7f85881a1f95a1b2af310f9:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u809911aac7f85881a1f95a1b2af310f9 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u809911aac7f85881a1f95a1b2af310f9 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u809911aac7f85881a1f95a1b2af310f9 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u809911aac7f85881a1f95a1b2af310f9 .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; } .u809911aac7f85881a1f95a1b2af310f9:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u809911aac7f85881a1f95a1b2af310f9 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u809911aac7f85881a1f95a1b2af310f9 .u809911aac7f85881a1f95a1b2af310f9-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u809911aac7f85881a1f95a1b2af310f9:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The passage by Igor Stravinsky EssayIt is the last volleyball game of my sophomore year. Grandpa has come wearing a tie because he is going to represent my parents who are unable to attend. The announcers voice booms sophomore, Carol Russell. Escorted by Grandpa Earl Russell. As we walk out in front of the crowd I glance at him and see him beaming because he is escorting his little girl, of whom he is so proud. I am almost begin to laugh aloud when I make the connection that no matter what I did my grandpa would always love me. I would always be number-one in his eyes. Upon realizing the depth of Grandpas love for me I have a new sense of self-confidence. Yet another memor y fades into the depths of my mind. The memories come and go, and I learn a lesson with the passing of each one. Perhaps the most valuable message conveyed by my Grandpa came in a letter to my cousin. In it he wroteSometimes life can be painful, others rewarding. Too bad we cant bypass the painful times. It seems to me when we have problems we need to remember the prayer that goes something like this: Oh Lord, give me the strength to accept the things I cannot change, the wisdom to change what can be changed, and the foresight to know the difference. It also helps to know you have people who love you to help you through the tough times. Always remember that I love you. The life-long lessons such as this that my grandpa not only taught me but lived himself are treasures I can carry throughout my life. I am still sitting in the same stark room with the lights out, but somehow it seems brighter. I think now about how lucky I have been to have a Grandpa who has taught me so much. I know what it is like to be loved unconditionally because of the love of this magnificent man. Knowing that there are people in this world who will never have the privilege of having a Grandpa Earl, I bow my head and pray that everyone would be as loved as I have been.

Veils Essay Example

Veils Essay When someone mentions the wordVeil many people think of Bridal veils.But there are other types of veils around; Islamic veils, Spanish mantillas and historical headwear. The tradition of women wearing veils dates back centuries and it crosses many cultures.In Islamic cultures where women have been subordinate to men, the veil may be worn even today to shield womens faces. Veils were popular in European fashions back in Gothic times, around 1400, and before.Women covered their hair with veils for church or to show they were married.Fifteenth century fashion included peaked hats for women with veils attached at the peak. A Wimple is a headdress worn by women over the head and around the neck, cheeks, and chin. From the late 12th until the beginning of the 14th century, it was worn extensively throughout medieval Europe, and it survived until recently as a head covering for women in religious orders.The wimple originally was adopted as a chin veil by Western women after the crusaders b rought back from the Near East such fashions as the veil of the Muslim woman. The wimple, usually made of fine white linen or silk, framed the face and covered the neck and sometimes part of the bosom. Purdah, Hindi Parda (screen, or veil), a practice that was inaugurated by Muslims and later adopted by various Hindus, especially in India, and that involves the seclusion of women from public observation by means of concealing clothing (including the veil) and by the use of high-walled enclosures, screens, and curtains within the home.The practice of purdah is said to have originated in the Persian culture and to be acquired by the Muslims during the Arab conquest of what is now Iraq in the 7th century Ad.Muslim domination of northern India in turn influenced the practice of Hinduism, and purdah became usual among the Hindu upper classes of northern India. During the British hegemony in India, pur

Martial Tells the Story of Gladiators Priscus and Verus

Martial Tells the Story of Gladiators Priscus and Verus In 2003, BBC produced a television docudrama (Colosseum: Romes Arena of Death aka Colosseum: A Gladiators Story) about Roman gladiators that The Naked Olympics writer Tony Perrottet reviewed, in Television/DVD: Everyone Loves a Bloodbath. The review seems fair. Here is an excerpt: The early phases of the show are squarely embedded in the time-honored tradition of gladiator movies, so much so that there is an inevitable sense of dà ©j vu. (Is that Kirk Douglas slaving away in the quarries? Doesnt that gladiator look a bit like Russell Crowe?) The rustic prisoners first glimpses of imperial Rome, the initial matches in the gladiatorial schoolall are part of the tried-and-true formula. Even the music seems familiar.Still, this new foray into the genre quickly distinguishes itself from its forebears. That final sentence bears repeating. I would recommend watching this hour-long show if it ever comes back to television. The climax of the show is a dramatization of a known Roman fight between gladiators Priscus and Verus. When they fought each other it was the highlight of the games for the opening ceremonies of the Flavian Amphitheater, the sporting arena we usually refer to as the Roman Colosseum. The Gladiator Poem of Marcus Valerius  Martialis   We know of these capable gladiators from a poem by the witty Latin epigrammatist Marcus Valerius Martialis aka Martial, who is usually referred to as coming from Spain. It is the only detailed such as it is description of such a fight that has survived. Youll find the poem and an English translation below, but first, there are some terms to know. ColosseumThe first term is the Flavian amphitheater or Colosseum which was opened in 80, a year after the first of the Flavian emperors, Vespasian, the one who had built most of it, had died. It does not appear in the poem but was the events venue.RudisThe second term is rudis, which was a wooden sword given to a gladiator to show that he was freed and released from service. He might then start his own gladiatorial training school.The FingerThe finger refers to a type of end to the game. A fight could be to the death, but it could also be until one of the combatants asked for mercy, by raising a finger. In this famous fight, the gladiators raised their fingers together.ParmaThe Latin refers to a parma which was a round shield. While it was used by Roman soldiers, it was also used by the Thraex or Thracian style gladiators.CaesarCaesar refers to the second Flavian emperor, Titus. Martial XXIX English Latin While Priscus drew out, and Verus drew out thecontest, and the prowess of both stood long inbalance, oft was discharge for the men claimed withmighty shouts; but Caesar himself obeyed his ownlaw: that law was, when the prize was set up, tofight until the finger was raised; what was lawful hedid, oft giving dishes and gifts therein. Yet was anend found of that balanced strife: they fought wellmatched, matched well they together yielded. Toeach Caesar sent the wooden sword, and rewards toeach: this prize dexterous valour won. Under noprince but thee, Caesar, has this chanced: whiletwo fought, each was victor. Cum traheret Priscus, traheret certamina Verus, esset et aequalis Mars utriusque diu,missio saepe uiris magno clamore petita est; sed Caesar legi paruit ipse suae; -lex erat, ad digitum posita concurrere parma: - 5 quod licuit, lances donaque saepe dedit.Inuentus tamen est finis discriminis aequi: pugnauere pares, subcubuere pares.Misit utrique rudes et palmas Caesar utrique: hoc pretium uirtus ingeniosa tulit. 10Contigit hoc nullo nisi te sub principe, Caesar: cum duo pugnarent, uictor uterque fuit. Martial; Ker, Walter C. A London : Heinemann; New York: Putnam

Why You Should Get a PhD in Chemistry

Why You Should Get a PhD in Chemistry If you are interested in a chemistry or another science career, there are multiple reasons why you should consider pursuing your doctorate or Ph.D., rather than stopping at a masters degree or a bachelors degree. More Money Lets start with a compelling reason for higher education money. There is no guarantee that having a terminal degree will earn the big bucks (dont get into science for money), but there are several states and companies that compute salaries based on education. The education can count for several years of experience. In some situations, a Ph.D. has access to a pay scale not offered to persons without the terminal degree, no matter how much experience he or she has. More Career Options In the US, you cant teach college-level courses without at least 18 graduate hours in the same field of study. However, Ph.D.s technically can teach college courses in any field. In academia, a Masters degree may provide a glass ceiling for advancement, especially to management positions. The terminal degree offers more research options, including some lab management positions not available otherwise, as well as post-doctoral positions. Prestige In addition to getting the Doctor in front of your name, having a Ph.D. commands a certain level of respect, particularly in scientific and academic circles. There are individuals who feel a Ph.D. is pretentious, but with work experience too, even these folk usually concede a Ph.D. is an expert in his or her field. More Affordable Education If you are seeking a Masters degree, you will probably have to pay for it. On the other hand, teaching and research assistantships and tuition reimbursement usually are available for doctoral candidates. It would cost a school or research facility considerably more money to pay outright for such skilled labor. Dont feel you have to get a Masters degree before pursuing a Doctorate. Different schools have different requirements, but a Bachelors degree is usually sufficient to get admitted into a Ph.D. program. Its Easier To Start Your Own Company You dont need a terminal degree to start a business, but credibility comes with that Ph.D., giving you a leg up gaining investors and creditors. Lab equipment isnt cheap, so dont expect people to invest in you unless they believe you know what youre doing! Reasons To Not Get a Ph.D. in Chemistry While there are good reasons to pursue a doctoral degree, its not for everyone. Here are reasons not to get a Ph.D. or at least to delay it. Long Term Low Income You probably didnt finish your bachelors and masters degree with a lot of excess cash. It might be in your best interest to give your finances a break and start working. You Need a Break Dont go into a Ph.D. program if you already feel burnt out, since it will take a lot out of you. If you dont have energy and a good attitude when you start, you probably wont see it through to the end or you may get your degree but not enjoy chemistry anymore.

Management of Production and Operations Term Paper

Management of Production and Operations - Term Paper Example The paper explores the main quality assurance practices and their relevance in contemporary manufacturing facilities. Controversies over using popular quality assurance systems are discussed. Keywords: production, manufacturing, operations, quality assurance, ISO. Management of Production and Operations Quality assurance remains one of the most popular topics in production and operations management research. Sophisticated standards of quality and increased complexity of manufacturing operations render scientific approach to quality assurance valid and justified. Much has been written and said about the best and most desired practices in quality assurance. Yet, despite recent advancements in quality assurance systems, their benefits are at best controversial. It is widely acknowledged that the use of ISO systems by manufacturing enterprises adds weight to their corporate image and reputation. Such production organizations are believed to provide better quality of products and services , than their industry competitors. Unfortunately, the use of ISO quality assurance systems in production and operations does not ensure their functionality in particular organizational environments; as a result, firms must pay particular attention to how broadly accepted quality assurance practices affect their production operations and whether they meet customer expectations in terms of the quality of the ultimate product. Quality Assurance: Why, When, and How? How to define quality assurance is a complex question. However, it would be fair to assume that quality assurance in production and operations will be mostly the same as in other fields of management. According to the EU guidelines, quality assurance is â€Å"a wide-ranging concept which covers all matters which individually or collectively influence the quality of a product† (McCormick, 2002, p.27). Simply put, quality assurance is essentially about ensuring that the product meets the basic standards of quality. Qual ity assurance in production and operations is an efficient management tool that enhances the quality of organizational decisions (McCormick, 2002). In contractual situations, quality assurance systems give customers â€Å"a feeling of confidence in the quality of the ultimate product† (McCormick, 2002). Quality assurance is impossible without the availability of the entire complex system of quality assurance operations, which describe all steps to be taken to achieve the desired quality standards (McCormick, 2002). More often than not, manufacturing organizations run their own departments of quality assurance and control. However, even then, quality assurance is the process that involves all organizational members and not the only unit of QA professionals. All members of the manufacturing organization can affect the quality of the ultimate product; as a result, the organization in its entirety is responsible for the quality of its operations, leading to the development of a s uperior quality product (McCormick, 2002). It should be noted, that the history of quality assurance dates back to the beginning of the 20th century. At that time, rapid industrialization and expansion of industrial enterprises required the development of new, more sophisticated quality procedures. At that time, quality of products was defined as their fitness for purpose (Chitale & Gupta, 2007). Most quality assurance procedures were limited to quality control at the beginning and the end of the manufactur

Nutrition and fitness (answer the questions) Essay - 1

Nutrition and fitness (answer the questions) - Essay Example Unlike in dynamic exercise, which is performed under a range of motions, isometric exercise is done in static positions. Isometric exercise is more suitable to people who are immobilized and can be performed unsupervised while on the other hand dynamic exercises are more vigorous and one may require supervision as they pose a greater risk. A lot of energy is consumed because of the many motions involved in dynamic exercises. As the rate of breathing is gradually increased, more oxygen is consumed. Blood pressure varies significantly during the day as the body is exposed to different exercise. An isometric exercise leads to increased heart rate, systolic and diastolic, therefore, not advised to persons suffering from hypertension. A physical unit of work is estimated differently in both dynamic and isometric exercises. The duration of time under which a muscle is exposed to tension is used to measure the intensity of isometric exercise, in dynamic exercises the distance the mass is moved plays a significant role. Dynamic exercises also involve strength training which has great impacts in muscle building viability of connective tissues and the general wellbeing of the body. Isometric exercise on the other had does very little in muscle training but helps maintain the muscles. Physiologically a person who undertakes dynamic exercises regularly has the lowest risk to heart attack as the body burns large amounts of cholesterol during the exercise. During the dynamic exercises for instance jogging, the body’s rate of metabolism increases above normal and this leads to sweating and panting due to increased heart rates.The constriction of the blood vessels and arteries is the main reason of increased blood pressure during both the isometric and dynamic exercises. The cardiovascular system responds in a complicated manner to dynamic exercises. It adjusts appropriately to keep the brain and the rest of the body parts supplied with blood. The ways in which

The Iraq War Essay Example for Free

The Iraq War Essay Since the beginning of the war analysts have been trying to estimate the cost of the war versus the benefits that have been realized as a result of the war. Some of the benefits of the war are; refusal to go to war and containment of Saddam would be more destructive; a more stable middle east; a probable drop in world oil prices if the oil markets stabilize after the war. Opportunity Cost Exceed the War On the other side, the war has created problems and loss of opportunity cost. A closer look at things on the ground reveals that the opportunity costs of the war exceeds the benefits. The cost of the war is estimated to range from $44 billion to almost $2trillion though that is very variable depending on the length of time and intensity. At the current rate it costs $400,000 to retain a soldier in Iraq. Every single dollar spent on the war is a diversion of investment money, scholarships for our students in universities, coverage for all uninsured children etc. More hostility have been directed to the US by countries that supported Saddam and Americans making the world have lost faith in the Bush administration since there were no weapons of mass destruction found in Iraq and mind you this was the main reason of going to war. The war has not only affected the US but the whole world at large either economically or socially. World oil prices have shot up from $25 a barrel before the war to $100 now. What this has done is that the US and other countries that do not have oil are transferring their foreign exchange from other suitable destinations to the oil rich countries like Venezuela and Saudi Arabia. As such we have seen the US dollar decline in value world wide. From this argument we see that the opportunity costs exceed the benefits of the war.

biblical themes in shakespeares the tempest Essay -- essays research p

Biblical Themes in Shakespeare’s The Tempest   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Shakespeare is one of the most prolific and admired writers who ever lived. He certainly knew his craft and was familiar with all of the literature available at the time. One of the greatest books ever written was of course the bible. Written over the course of more than a thousand years it is a miracle in itself that the book exists. Shakespeare knew his bible, and his work often incorporated and examined biblical themes. Shakespeare’s last completed work was The Tempest, and it is as complex and deeply moving as any of his works. Readers of the play respond on a much deeper level than the literal. In and of itself it is actually a very simple tale, it is the characters who are representative of so many differing and stimulating aspects of the human condition that make the work so evocative and interesting.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Prospero is the picture of a man in two different aspects. On one hand, he is made in the image of God and given dominion and control over the world created in The Tempest. On the other hand he represents a fallen man who is in exile from his home. Both of these types can be found in the book of Genesis. God himself is in control of his world, and able to manipulate the world in order to stand back and see how the players will react. God and Prospero are both willing to accomplish their goals through imperfect means. When Jacob steals Esau’s inheritance right, the younger son triumphs over the older son by dishonest means. In the end it accomplishes God’s goal, so it is allowed to happen. Just as Joseph’s mistreatment by his brothers and his imprisonment because of Potiphar’s wife cause him great anguish, but move him closer to accomplishing God’s plan. Prospero is a scholar who has spent years in his books perfecting his magical powers. Clearly the last twelve years has been spent developing the power to both punish and forgive his enemies. Prospero controls even the inner workings of Caliban’s body. He is able to punish Caliban physically with his power, in order to completely control him and accomplish his means. Prospers also completely controls Ariel.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  According to Steven Marx, both the Bible and the Tempest share the form of creation myth. Marx suggests that Genesis’s God and The Tempest’s Prospero share the roles... ...parallel and reflective storylines. Shakespeare had to have been among the most voracious and intelligent readers ever to have opened a book. Aspects of many of the most scholarly works available in his day can be found in his works. Throughout my research for this paper, several sources mentioned a series of pamphlets concerning the survival of some mariners in the Bermuda Islands after a tempest in 1609. Until then the Bermudas were popularly thought to be inhabited by demons and fairies. Many believe that the idea of survival on a lush, remote and magical island first influenced his conception of The Tempest. That storm certainly turned into a blessing for all of us who so greatly enjoy and appreciate Shakespeare’s works. 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Marx, Steven. Shakespeare and the Bible. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Feuer, Lois. â€Å"Happy Families: Repentance and Restoration in â€Å"The Tempest† and the Joseph Narrative.† Philological Quarterly 76 (1997): 3-6.00 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Feuer, Lois. â€Å"Happy Families: Repentance and Restoration in â€Å"The Tempest† and the Joseph Narrative.† Philological Quarterly 76 (1997): 22-26.

Little Miss Sunshine Family Assessment Essay

Introduction Family can be a source of support, comfort, optimism, love and happiness, but family can also be a cause of depression, betrayal, hurt and pain. Family is not always determined by the having the same DNA running through one’s veins but it is the bond that people can have with one another. Family can consist of friends, co-workers, classmates, a community or a group of other people. Some family members can be the worst enemies because they have the most ammunition of secrets to bring a relative down. Being able to trust a person, depend on them, and be carefree is a person that can be valued as being a part of a family. In the movie Little Miss Sunshine, their dysfunctional family is loving, supportive, optimistic as well as motivating. The movie is filled with dark humor about a modern middle-class family that is about to encounter financial catastrophe but in the midst of their struggles they still find the beauty in life. In the opening of the movie Richard, the father is giving a motivational speech about winning, he states â€Å"There are two types of people in this world, winners and losers†. Richard is a protagonist motivational speaker that is obsessed with winning. He is so consumed with achieving that he ridicules his family for not being perfect throughout the film. Sheryl is the mother who is an optimist, she is always giving words of encouragement even when Richard is trying to bring his family down and she is all about honest. Frank is the brother of Sheryl whom at the beginning attempts to commit suicide due to a broken heart and losing his standing as America’s pre-eminent Proust Scholar. Dwayne is the son of Richard and Sheryl and is committed to being in the air force. He is so committed that he takes a vow of silence until he gets into the air force, but then finds out he is colored blind and breaks his silence. Olive is another protagonist character in the film, she is t he daughter of Frank and Sheryl and has dreams of  becoming a beauty queen. Grandpa is Olive’s beauty queen pageant coach and is a late in life convert to heroine and porn, he eventually dies from a drug overdose. Main themes within the film are irony, issues of struggling to be perfect with the trials and set backs as a middle class family as well as exposing beauty pageants for little girls in America. Irony is a main theme in the movie because the roles each character plays contradicts who they are trying to be. Richard is all about motivating others to win and pushing his â€Å"9 steps to Success† however ironically he is unsuccessful in his motivational speeches. In the opening scenes Richard is giving his â€Å"9 Steps to Success† lecture to a class of no more than 4 or 5 students and his steps to success are denied because no one knows who he is. Olive’s character also shows irony because she is an overweight, unfashionable 7 year old that is competing in glamor beauty pageants. Grandpa is in late adulthood but is acting as though he is in the stages of early adulthood by doing drugs instead of watching out for his health to prolong his life. Dwayne is showed to be working out and lifting at the beginning of the movie like as if he is a pro-athlete but is very slender and pale. Throughout the film the irony within each character and the masks they wore cha nged for the better. Issues of struggling in the film for this middle class family shows how they are on the verge of a financial catastrophe. Richard was so invested in his contract for his steps to success and depended on that source of income only to find out his contract was cancelled. The Hoover’s van breaks down multiple times and has many issues, such as the horn constantly honking. The family also did not have the money to go to California but made the trip anyway to chase Olive’s dream that would may come true. Even after the pageant financial burdens await them with the transportation of grandpa’s corpse and the costs for a funeral. With all the struggles this family endures the characters ways of thinking changed into optimistic views of life. Little Miss Sunshine was the beauty pageant that Olive was competing in and when the family arrived they realized that the Olive did not contain the  glamor and elegance of the other contestants. This film displayed the process in which the little girls had to go through to fulfil the image of a beauty pageant queen. In the middle of the film Olive orders ice cream for breakfast and Richard lectures her about her way of eating and that beauty pageant winners do not eat ice cream so that way they can look thin and win. During the pageant Olive shows her talent of dancing and the judges are offended, the crowd is disgusted and the host of the pageant attempts to get her off stage all because she does not fulfill the image of what society says a beauty pageant contestant should look like. But after Olive’s performance Richard then compliments her for doing such a great job and that her grandpa would have been proud of her. Richard realizes that his daughter is who she is and is proud to know that she tries her best in all she does and enjoys herself. Assessing the family one can determine that they have yet to achieve homeostasis. The family system as a whole shows that they are unable to maintain a stable constant state of balance financially however they are able to achieve this with their family structure. An example of the strong structure in this family system is having dinner with everyone present at the table, even Dwayne though he holds his vow of silence. Boundaries within the family system are set by Richard and most of the time it is him against everyone else. Subsystems include the brother Frank, the children Olive and Dwayne and grandpa. Each member has a role to play where Sheryl’s role is the most important because she is matriarch of the family, she is what holds the family together with her optimism and encouragement. There is a strong relationship between Olive and Dwayne, when Dwayne breaks down after finding out he is color blind Olive is there to comfort him same with Dwayne being there for Olive when she is getting ridiculed onstage at the Little Miss Sunshine pageant. The parents however seem to be on the brink of a divorce due to the constant arguments, if financial burdens get any tougher it may break their marriage. The family is experience negative entropy, each member is growing and developing. Frank who was at first suicidal is giving Dwayne advice about life. Richard is realizing that life is not all about winning but seeing the beauty in loving his family for who they are and what they do. When questioning the family, concerns would be whether or not Frank is still at risk of suicide? Has Frank identified the immediate problem that is causing excessive stress? He is suffering from a broken heart and due to that he is losing everything else around him because the man before is overshadowing his family, his goals, and his future. Has Frank identified any strengths that he still has? This question is asked because he is depressed about losing his job and as well as his standing as America’s pre-eminent Proud Scholar. Frank does show some signs of depression, he has a made a previous attempt, and he has no spouse. According to the SAD PERSONS scale Frank as a client may be considered for hospitalization though he has an amazing support system with his family.(344).

Major Organizational institutions Essay

The major international organizations were all formed under one consensus developed by various countries. Each organization was created to fit a specific purpose, but they all follow a unique passion towards socio-economic stability on a global front, better governance, financial transparency, and respect for human rights (Karns, 2004). The organizations discussed in this paper are as follows: 1. International Monetary Fund 2. World Trade Organization 3. United Nations 4. Interpol 5. European Union The International Monetary Fund was created in 1944 with the sole objective of stabilizing exchange rates and the international monetary system. It consists of approximately 185 member countries. The structural hierarchy is topped by a managing director who is selected by executive directors representing various countries. The World Trade Organization was created in 1995 with the objective of liberalization international trade with checks and balances. Consisting of 153 members that constitute 95% of the total world trade, it is governed by a Ministerial Conference, which meets every two years and also appoints the head, the Director General. The WTO is further divided into the General council which deals with day to day affairs and policy decisions. The United Nations was first accepted by the world community through ratification in 1945. Comprising of 6 units ; The General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Secretariat and the International Court of Justice, the UN’s main aim is to facilitate co-operation in the fields of international justice, international law, international security, global economic development, the reduction of poverty and in the end, sustaining world peace. Interpol was created to develop international police co-operation between various countries. The organization is headed by a Secretary General and is governed by the Interpol General Assembly. Its underlying principle relies on the fact that Interpol facilitates information between member countries regarding drug trafficking, organized crime, weapon smuggling and so forth. Interpol cannot get political and thus remains a neutral organization. Its constitution forbids it to act between issues overlapping two member states regarding military, political or religious issues. The European Union constitutes 3 organizations. These include; European Economic Community, European Coal and Steel Community, and the European Atomic Energy Community. The European Union is composed of various states from Europe, thus making it a regional yet international organization. The European Union acts as one country with one currency (with the exception of United Kingdom) and a single trade policy (McCormick, 2005). In terms of economic development, the united nations development program deals entirely with facilitating resources to poorer countries and helping them develop on the agenda that the current first world nations used. The UNDP provides economic assistance, a variety of policy adjustments and macroeconomic stability programs to impoverished nations requiring aid. The International monetary fund further helps poor countries recover from fiscal debt that Governments accumulate. This helps Governments mitigate their financial and economic needs on a short term immediate basis. Countries suffering from bankruptcy often avail the IMF last fund sponsor program which allows them to borrow from the IMF. The IMF then acts as the lender to the country in need, state bank. The World Trade Organization was one of the first international organizations to spread the globalization bubble. Its view was to see the whole world as one single market and thus eliminate all barriers to trade. The reason being value of competition, low production costs and specialization in country specific production processes to increase quality of goods produced for everyone. The World Trade Organization promotes free and unrestricted trade by doing away with protectionist policies. This means that the WTO and its member countries trade freely with each other without quotas and restrictions. However, unfortunately that has not always been the case in the world market, as many developing countries seek to protect their infant industries. However, with time, the WTO has introduced a set of new policies which force member countries to be receptive to foreign competition in the hope of creating a more effective and efficient way of production that benefits all of mankind. The WTO functions under the ideology of capitalism hoping that with increased open trade, wealth will be created which will trickle down to the masses (Bossche, 2008). Terrorism, war crimes and international order has become a major issue in the rapidly changing world scenario. With continuous major war being fought in various parts of the world during the past 9 years, various new global organizations have come about to ensure the stability of peace. The United Nations, since 1945 has played an active role in these scenarios through one of its organs; the United Nations Security Council. Representing 5 major powers, Russia, United States, China, France and United Kingdom, the UN Security Council tackles global terrorism through sanctions and banning groups forcing member nations to act upon the rebel groups creating problems. Sanctions are slapped against nations abusing their force or subduing other nations in their thirst for power. To ensure neutrality and consensus, all 5 members on the council have the right to veto any resolution passed in the Security Council. This task is further augmented by Interpol which provides co-ordination between the different police forces of the member states. Interpol often issues international warrants for terrorist wanted by different states residing in other states. This allows for a more coordinated effort towards sustaining international order and keeping track of problems facing different nations such as arms smuggling, drug smuggling and human trafficking (Dana, 2000). The United Nations also has an International Court of Justice where various ousted political leaders are tried fairly for the crimes they committed against humanity, their people and other sovereign states. This court of justice ensures that war crimes do not go unpunished and are globally recognized by all member states (Roberts, 1994). One of the main organizations that undertake in capital investment is the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. The OECD brings together various governments in order to provide sustainable development plans that various countries can use to break free from their economic turmoil. It also ensures the steady and sustainable flow of Human Capital Investment throughout the world. Raising living standards, maintaining financial stability and assisting other world economies through contributing in terms of intellect and physical economic strength is also part of the OECD mission. The future prospects for International Organizations are quite diverse when we observe the trends various organizations have seen over the past few years. With the dramatically changed global environment and thought process, a lot of organizations built on previous assumptions require change if they are to have any future prospects at all. The sudden shift to environmental change and the necessity to preserve our planet has put the focus of many governments, NGO’s and the majority of the population on Earth to shift their attention towards organizations that currently cater to this mind set. Environment change is being view increasingly as a step towards destruction man takes every day. When we talk about governance by such organizations, the prospects look constructive. Most people are turning towards such organizations because it caters to their â€Å"living green† ideology. This ideology is now engulfing our everyday life in the form of new foreign policies, industrial growth and development, and everyday management affairs ranging from the construction of roads to the syllabi of educational institutes. Day by day, companies adopt eco-friendly governance policies because that is what the people want and respect (Karns, 2004). Secondly, we have seen the failure of the United Nations once again. The International Court of Justice at max provides advice, the Security Council is tainted with bias behavior from certain states towards their allies and the resolutions tabled are often rejected on the basis of the veto vote. It is, without a doubt, an emerging thought, that governance by such organizations that police some and free others do not work. Thus, to think that such organizations can bring about global governance is mistaken. People have lost faith in such organizations and more people are doing so day by day. Finally, international monetary institutions and development support agencies are being shunned by developing countries to an alarming success. The false paradigm theory has broken away the countries that were once colonized. They now feel that imperial colonialism has now over-ridden their way of life and these international bodies promote it. Also, the fact that the policies and governance techniques these organizations offer are barely equip to deal with the problems threatening the developing nations of today. They might be well intended but fail to address the ailments of development countries. IMF policies and World Bank regulations are seen more as restrictions rather than good governance techniques to bring economies out of debt. Thus, their policies are often ignored. To presume that good governance can be bought through such international organizations only highlights the weak prospects that such organizations have in global governance when it comes to economic stability. References: Bossche, P. V. D. (2008). The Law and Policy of the World Trade Organization. Cambridge University Press. Dana, D. (2000). Conflict Resolution. McGraw-Hill. Diehl, P. (2005). The Politics of Global Governance: International Organizations in an Interdependent World. Lynne Rienner Publishers Karns, M. P. (2004). International Organizations: The Politics and Processes of Global Governance. Lynne Rienner Publishers McCormick, J. (2005). Understanding the European Union: A Concise Introduction. Palgrave Macmillan. Roberts, A. (1994). United Nations Divided World: the UN’s Roles in International Relations. Oxford University Press.

Cross Cultural Business Negotiations Essays

Cross Cultural Business Negotiations Essays Cross Cultural Business Negotiations Paper Cross Cultural Business Negotiations Paper Business negotiation Is a lengthy, difficult process In Itself, and becomes extremely Intricate when cultural aspects are Involved. However, cross cultural business negotiation is an unavoidable part of international business today, so learning more about the process is an important undertaking. When two negotiating parties from different cultural backgrounds attempt to communicate, the potential for disagreement and misunderstanding is great. The Chinese are generally recognized to have a tough negotiating style. People from other cultural backgrounds, especially from the West, often find the behavior of Chinese negotiators strange and unintelligible. This Is why much attention has been given to studying the Chinese negotiation style. So far, most research on the topic has focused on successful negotiations and very little has been done to examine the barriers to negotiation. Literature Review This literature review seeks to highlight specific Chinese cultural traits that characterize Chinese negotiation behavior and to Identify possible barriers to negotiating with the Chinese. It begins with a brief outline of negotiations and stagnation theories followed by an examination of cross cultural dimensions. Three important Chinese cultural traits: Confucianism, face and Guiana are then discussed in detail to complement the universal dimensions. Negotiation and the Negotiation Process Negotiation has been a topic of research for several decades and, as a result, many defenseless are available. Grammar understands negotiation as a process of two or more parties combining their conflicting points of view into a single decision of mutual interest. Ferreira defines negotiation as a process between propel who share mom common interests, people who stand to benefit from bringing the process to a successful conclusion. The difference between these two definitions exemplifies the development of negotiation studies : Grammar emphasis that negotiation Is mainly used to resolve conflicts, while Ferreira believes negotiation Is an approach to better cooperation. At the present, although no definition of negotiation is universal, most authors hold the view that any negotiation involves two or more parties who have both common and conflicting interest, and who interacts with one another for the purpose of reaching a mutually beneficial agreement. The negotiation process is also divided differently by individual theorists. McCall and Harrington use three-stage model which Involves pre negotiation, fee to face Interaction and post negotiation. Graham and Sans Develop a four step negotiation process: Non task sounding: negotiating parties get to know each other. Task related exchange of information: parties subjective needs and preferences open to discussion. Persuasion: parties attempt to influence the other sides needs and preferences by using persuasive tactics. Concessions and agreement: parties accomplish an agreement which often is the summation of a series of concessions. The above process is referred in the negotiations. Behavior Theory Behavior theory focuses on human behaviors during negotiation. Rene, Mamba and Jug note that behavior theory attempts to analyses the negotiation processes in which negotiators influence each others expectations, perceptions, assessments, and decisions during the search for an outcome, thereby affecting the outcome. They also note three approaches to the study of behavior. The psychological approach focuses on analyzing negotiators personalities, perceptions, expectations and their persuasive techniques. The learning approach views negotiation as a earning process in which each party is largely dependent on its experience of the results of past actions by the two parties. Last, but not least, the dual responsiveness model shows that a negotiators response is a function of his own previous pattern of making concessions as well as the opponents concession rate. The physiological approach can be relevant to our analysis since we focus on examining behaviors of people from different cultures. Cross Cultural Negotiation Chaney and Martin define cross cultural negotiation as discussions of common and conflicting interests between persons of different cultural backgrounds who work to each an agreement of mutual benefits. Cross cultural negotiation is more challenging than mono cultural negotiation. In a cross cultural environment, the negotiation process increases in complexity with the need to consider the factors of different languages and cultures, which are not relevant in a mono cultural environment. Ferreira states that when negotiating within our own culture, it is possible to operate effectively at the intuitive and unconscious level. However, when we leave our familiar cultural context and enter into international negotiations, the scene changes dramatically. There are no longer shared values, interests, goals, ethnically principles, or cultural assumptions between negotiating parties. Different values, attitudes, interests, behaviors, and languages may produce different negotiation styles, which, if not managed well, can lead to misunderstanding and disagreement and can even break up business relationships. Confucianism Confucianism emphasis the responsibilities of individuals toward one another within five important human relationships; those between ruler and subject, husband and wife, father and son, brother and brother, and friend and friend. Confucianism also advocates a social order that values duty, loyalty, honor, filial piety, respect for age seniority, and sincerity. Confucianism has implications for negotiating with the Chinese. According to Fang, Confucianism is more concerned with righteousness and humanenesss than profit. This explains why Chinese negotiators do not rush into formal contract discussions, but take considerable time to build up trust with their negotiation partners. From the perspective of Western business people, an initial meeting with China individuals is seldom a successful one, as the Chinese tend to heir partners. In addition, because Confucianism holds that business is governed by a moralistic notion of sincerity and trust more than by a legalistic concept of contract, Chinese business sis largely build on trust rather than law. Chinese negotiate deals with their partners most effectively when sufficient trust has been established between the parties. A verbal agreement with Chinese business people is as effective as a written contract. Finally, Confucianism advocates the relative importance of knowing others and the relative unimportance of beige known. This is the reason why Chinese negotiators are so attentive to discern the interests and personalities of their negotiation partners and defensive about freely disseminating information about themselves. Face Face is described as a projected social image in a diverse range of communicative situations. More specifically, face implies status and prestige and is a mark of personal dignity. The Chinese are invariably characterized by Western business people as being tough negotiators. The factor of face can be important reason for this tendency. Here, two Chinese faced related terms can be crucial for understanding Chinese negotiation: giving face and losing face. Giving face during negotiations can be understood as showing respect to negotiators on the other side of the table and recognizing the status and moral reputation of the negotiators in society. It is important for Western business people to protect their Chinese counterparts face, but it is perhaps even more important to give face to the,. Losing faces takes place when one negotiator denounces the status and reputation of another. In negotiations, a Chinese negotiator will lose face if someone is critical of him in front of others. Treating Chinese negotiators as a Junior in rank when their official status is an organization is higher can also cause them to lose face, therefore, Brahms believes that it is important to give your Chinese counterpart face at the negotiation table without losing it yourself. Guiana Guiana,the Chinese term for relationship, is one of the most important Chinese cultural traits. It is also translated as personal contacts or personal connections. The concept of Guiana is not unique to China, but it is closely related to the five relations of Confucianism as part of the socio cultural tradition in China. The Chinese give considerable effort to developing Guiana, which is usually established among people who share a commonality of certain identities, for example, schoolmates, fellow villagers or old friends. Recommendations for Successful Negotiation with Chinese Negotiations are the talks that take place before a contract, deal or covenant is reached. Negotiations represent the process by which two or more parties are able to meet mutually agreement. The process may or monotony incorporate mechanisms for building trust so that two parties can work together for the benefit for both. Negotiation is called tan pan in Chinese and literally means to Judge and discuss years to perfect. Others believe that successful negotiations can stem from natural talent that is inherent to the makeup of some personalities. The Chinese concept of negotiation rests on creating a framework for long term cooperation and problem solving. The American negotiation concept is to create a onetime agreement between two parties (Lee, Yang, Graham,2006) Preparing Americans need to take more time than usual in preparing for negotiations (Needed, 2010). Americans should also try to gain as much knowledge about the partners tuition, intent and capabilities. As mentioned above, they need to study the fundamental differences in culture and expectations before negotiating (Ford, Layout, Vital, French,1996) It is customary that the foreigners shows his hand or proposal first when visiting the Chinese (Pee, 1992). Letters of intent are necessary to open the doors to more fruitful negotiations. These letters have no binding ability according to the Chinese. After the letters of intent, the negotiation start with the general principles and then move to the details. In high context culture such as Chinas, Americans should be careful not to rush the transition from general to specific. Context of the deal Knowing the context of the deal is very important. A westerner who has a lot of knowledge about local government involvement in local business is very credible. It is also very helpful if the westerner knows the regulations and policies that pertain to the industry that it is doing business with in China (Needed,2010) Your negotiating partner You should do a background check and know whom are you doing business with in China (Ghana,2008). In addition, the Chinese government owns or directs all state owned enterprises. That makes it critical that you nonoccurrence peoples Republic policy plan and priorities (Needed, 2010). American firms need to pay close attention to the direction the Chinese communist party is taking in regards to social and economic development. They should verify credibility by looking at past dealings in the Chinese company has made with other companies. Know yourself Knowing the big picture of your own company and how the deals will affect your company will help you look mode credible to the Chinese (Needed, 2010). Being aware of how government regulations in your own country may influence your company is ere important to the Chinese. This is because the Chinese are used to having government involved in all parts of business in their country (Ghana,2008) Strengths and Weakness of each company Be ready to show how each side will benefit from the deal in both social and economic value. Show the weaknesses in the local context of the proposal deal. It is worth nothing that businesses which have gone through internal and external analysis have a much better advantage when it comes to closing the deal (Needed, 2010) Operational Readiness The American company needs to be aligned to work with Chinese Style negotiations. The negotiation terms need to be cohesive and disciplined (Needed,2010). They must never disagree with each other openly, or in off the record talks that take place away from the main meeting. There should be one designated speaker, and if anyone else talks they should read from a script so that it shows company consensus. Saying too questions, rather than processing what they may consider useless information. Having a cultural interpreter can help give insights to non verbal communications and body language that is not familiar. The company should also have its own interpreter in addition to any official interpreter that has been assigned. Never ending negotiations Negotiations in china are never final (Ghana,2008). The Chinese use negotiations as a watt to build relationship over long extended periods of time. The signing of a contract in China signifies the beginning of a long term relationship with the Chinese. The Chinese believe that any written piece of paper. A contact starts a long run commitment and they assume that it will be revisited every now and then (Ghana, 2008) Places The Chinese like to conduct business negotiations in their offices and this is often the venue that is chosen by both parties. However, to start negotiations, take the Chinese out of to expensive restaurant, and later send them expensive gifts (Chaos,2000). After the restaurant and gifts, some preambles and proposals should be sent in the pre negotiations stage. All of these steps are required when building the trust that is needed in the Chinese style negotiations. Reputation The Chinese are advocates of sincerity (Lee et al. , 2006). They believe that all communication should be kind and well intentioned with lots of complements. Saying no directly is very taboo in the Chinese culture and almost of the time the subtle no hat the Chinese give is only recognizable by a Chinese cultural interpreter. The Chinese will give concessions sometimes Just to avoid any embarrassment and save their reputation or face (Lee et al. 2006). Communication Americans need to make sure that communications between the parties are understood and clear. Miscommunication in negotiations cause distrust, emotional turmoil and poor outcomes (Chaos,2000). The nonverbal and personal relations are far more important than any signed contact because Chinese contract law allows contracts to be in written, oral or other forms. Due to Chinese companies being owned by a state, negotiations may take longer than expected and instant answers may not be available. The government may have to review contracts several times before they allow the business to sign then or make any formal agreements. Americans contract law is very stringent while Chinas is more flexible. Contracts depend more on the relationships than the writing of the contract. The Chinese also like to keep their options open and they will be abandon a deal if a sweeter one opens up. It is critical to have a predetermined method for resolving any disputes hat arise. This is usually done through the use of clauses at the end of contract. The clauses satisfy the Chinese need to practice Confucian aversion to law and may involve arbitration (Ghana, 2008). A number of barriers in this business meeting led to a failure in collaboration. Identifying these communication barriers can also be relevant to diplomacy since meetings and negotiations are essential for international relations. We therefore make the following recommendations for both business and diplomacy in order to help overcome these barriers. Make an effort to learn Chinese culture and behavior. Be parent during the non task sounding process. Chinese usually need time to build trust and create Guiana with their counterparts before deciding to move ahead with the negotiation. Make sure that trust has been successfully built into the task related exchange of information process, because Chinese individuals will provide adequate and useful information only to people they trust. This will eventually make the persuasion process easier. Remember that entry to the concessions and agreement process is not the sign of a successful negotiation. Developing good Guiana with Chinese negotiators and respecting Chinese cultural traits is the basis for moving forward in this process. Successful Negotiations Negotiations are usually more successful when the two parties involved are cooperative with each other (Chaos, 2000). Using the cooperative Confusion tactics instead of the warrior like Sun Thus stratagems will have better results. When problem solving strategies are used by both firms there is a higher chance of success. It helps if the western company can show that they have government support, this is shows that they are stable, reliable and credible. Talking to your counterpart instead of threatening legal action always result in a better solution given the Confucian aversion to law. Also keeping things as local as possible should pacify the Chinese wariness of foreigners which has great weight in their culture. You should maintain the same team that you start with A successor will not inherit your Guiana, or friends. The Chinese do not do business with your company they do business with you. Always add a cushion to your price. The Chinese are accustomed to haggling over every purchase and expect everyone else to be the same way, especially if you are sitting their country. Be careful too high of a price could insult your Chinese counterpart, so pad your price wisely and in a culturally appropriate manner. If you can, you should help your counterparts around any bureaucratic obstacles that mat get in their way. Inviting the Chinese to go aboard to your country can add tremendously to your success. Failures Failures can come from a variety of unexpected sources. The most reason for failure is that the Chinese firm lacks the funds to go through with a deal (Fan,2006). Sometimes the cultural interpreter may not realize that the Chinese firm was insincere in their offer. If the tone of the negotiations becomes one of fluctuation and lack of cooperation, then the failure is almost certain. Showing anger, raising your voice or changing your tone could be seen as uncooperative behavior. Also if you send a low ranking employee, the Chinese will consider you impolite, be insulted and doubt your sincerity. They will send a matching low ranking employee of their own just to match you, but he will not be allowed to negotiate with you. The Chinese have regional areas Just like the United States and there are very different cultures, radiations, and sometimes languages in these regions. Not acknowledging these regions can cause you to have limited success in one area and a complete failure to Conclusion Culture can have a large impact on the success of international business and negotiations between companies doing business across borders, in particular. The chasm between Chinese culture, business and negotiating practices and that of Americans is vast. The cultures differ in the basic philosophies and deep level assumption, as well as strategies and operational styles. When the two culture engage, the opportunities of major misunderstanding are rife. If westerns follow their typical manner of doing business and the Chinese followed theirs, there would likely be few deals and two cultures would clash terribly. An understanding of cultural influences and a willingness to bridge and accommodate differences is therefore central to successful business partnerships. This paper explored barriers in negotiating with Chinese business representatives and analyses authentic business meetings across cultures using theoretical framework based on negotiation behavior, discourse analysis and intercultural dimensions. Confucianism, face and Unix were so incorporated in the framework. Specific barriers relating to different cultural values were identified in each of the process of negotiation. The analysis showed that the major barrier was related to the first process of non task sounding and a series of recommendations were made based on this paper. Since it is a mutual responsibility for both negotiation parties to understand the cultural realities of their negotiation partners, it is worthwhile for Western diplomats and business people to disseminate their cultural values to their Chinese counterparts as well.

Allegations of children rights and human rights violations by British American Tobacco

Allegations of children rights and human rights violations by British American Tobacco British American Tobacco has set their goals to be the leading company in the industry, knowing that, they have to be able to select and apply the best business strategies. But being one of the leading tobacco firms in the UK, British American Tobacco is known to purchase tobacco from Indonesia, where they can not guarantee that the tobacco is not made from child labor. Although that every tobacco firms in the world have the responsibility to monitor and investigate on how their tobacco is harvested in their farms, they still can not control on the actual process applied in the farming. According to independent.co.uk, Human Rights Watch have conducted research in 2014 and 2015 ini tobacco farming in Indonesia where they interviewed more than 100 children under 18 who work there. These children are risking their health and wellness working harvesting tobacco by hand, said the Human Rights Watch. Many of these children have in fact suffered from nausea and vomitting due to being around tobacco so much. Children are known to work through long hours in these farms, without even wearing any protective garments while handling these tobacco. These surely sound terrible, especially when it is the company’s responsibilities to make sure that no child under the age of 18 work in direct with tobacco. British American Tobacco is one of the multinational companies that have committed to the International Labour Organisations (ILO) right conventions. These companies in the conventions have agreed that the minimum age for children to work is 15 years old, whereas the minimum age for the hazardous work is 18 years old. Yet they still can not guarantee, because they claim to cannot be â€Å"everywhere at once†. British American Tobacco mentioned that their subsidiary, Bentoel, takes the child labour issue very seriously. â€Å"We do not employ children in any of our operations worldwide and make it clear to all of our contracted farmers and suppliers that exploitative child labour will not be tolerated. In Indonesia, however, children often participate in agriculture to help their families, and to learn farming methods and skills from their elders† BAT said. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) also knows that working while the children are in school can be a norma l part of growing up in poor communities, because of the rural environment they are in. British American Tobacco is said to be working with the Eliminating Child Labour in Tobacco growing foundation (ECLT) to tackle extreme child labour in these areas in Indonesia. Not only in Indonesia, British American Tobacco has also vowed back in 2016 to investigate some of its farms located in Bangladesh after Swedwatch, a Swedish campaign group uncovered the truth that the farms use could workers to grow and process tobacco, carrying loads, cutting the stems, and cure the tobacco. These children are reportedly being pulled out of school to work in the farm for as long as 16 hours a day. These working activities surely grows out the risk of health for these children, because they are very much exposed to tobacco plants, the dust, and the smoke. Group Head of Corporate Affairs at British American Tobacco, Simon Cleverly has told that the company has in fact investigated the report’s findings but found no evidence of children rights and human rights violations. He also claime d the British American Tobacco were consistent with the findings of these studies held by themselves to look into tobacco growing and farming process and found that the company has a positive impact on the socio-economic area in Bangladesh. Up until now, British American Tobacco is still very much sure that they have not done anything wrong in the process of harvesting their tobacco in these countries, and that they believe that they have mutual benefits with the countries they have been working with for years.

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Corporate Social Responsibility Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Corporate Social Responsibility Report - Essay Example The effectiveness of the classical model of self-regulation is of particular concern in this paper. The Classical Model of corporate responsibility argues that general interests of society can be met by different organizations, each of which plays a distinct role in the system (Okpara, & Idowu, 2013). The basic role of corporate bodies should, therefore, revolve around economic issues rather than social development. Rahim and Alam (2014) noted that the primary objective of the business entity should be to make the highest amount of profit, which practically propels executives to act in the best interest of their company shareholders, provided their actions are within the law. The basis of this concept is methodological individualism (Crane, & Matten, 2010). The belief implies that the entity is the most important asset in the system. Habisch (2005) noted that such parties pursue ways in which they can best meet their own interests and act logically to increase self-satisfaction. The classical theory requires that if a corporate body â€Å"X† has $10, 000 and it is badly in need of raw materials that would cost half the money to make a product for a period of one month, it would exchange $5,000 for the material. This implies that there are no grounds for the company to spend the entire money on the raw materials when half of the amount would meet the current demand. Such strategy makes the company and its shareholders happy, considering that they would easily access the remainder of the money and benefit from the profits made through the reasoned expenditure. According to Blowfield and Murray (2014), the invisible hand of parties working together in an environment where each party stands to gain mutually satisfying exchanges creates the platform for the most sustainable economic system. As such, the classical theory requires that a corporate body that is keen on fulfilling its utilitarian institutional obligations to society

Carlsberg International Strategy And Prospective Partners Commerce Essay

Carlsberg International Strategy And Prospective Partners Commerce Essay Beer is one of the worlds most consumed alcoholic drinks. Nelson (2005) stated that it is the most popular drink after water and tea. There are lots of brewing companies though emphasis will be made on Carlsberg in this instance. The Carlsberg Group is the worlds fourth largest brewery group. The Group is distinguished by a high degree of variety of brands, markets and cultures. Its activities are centred on markets where the Group has the strength and the right products to secure a leading position. Due to the variation of the markets, the contribution to growth, earnings and development within the Group differs, both at present and in the longer-term projections (Carlsberg, 2012). In countries where Carlsberg has no breweries, the Group sells its products through exports and licensing agreements. It aims to establish and develop strong market positions for their international premium brands through dynamic partnerships with licensing, export and duty-free partners around the world. The Carlsberg beer portfolio includes more than 500 brands. They differ significantly in volume, price, target audience and geographic penetration. (Carlsberg, 2012). Carlsberg International Strategy and Prospective Partners The company operates using an international strategy which implies that it takes the beer first produced for its domestic market and sells them internationally with only low local customization. This highlights that the beer it sells meets a worldwide need and at such do not face substantial competitors which implies that it is not confronted with pressures to cut down its cost structure. It tends to centralize the beer development functions such as research and development in its home country and establish manufacturing and marketing functions in each country it operates. Carlsberg chose an international strategy for the following reasons: To increase sales and profit growth by entering new markets and also selling in existing markets (Hill, 2009). This is achieved because it exports its products to destinations like South America where it has no breweries and in some cases through licensing agreements like it did with Charrington and Tetley in Britain by giving them right to brew and bottle Carlsberg beer and in return get a royalty fee. It also formed joint ventures with Scottish Newcastle and a brewery in Honk Kong which it now fully owns. The Group also formed mergers with Danish rival, Ruborg and Orkla of Norway which it later owned fully. From the case study, it is very obvious that they go into these markets at a slow but cautious pace by using the services of the partners and this is to avoid information costs and risk and some other uncertainties such as trade barriers associated with foreign involvement. It also gets to learn about the foreign market in cases where it formed joint ventures and mergers and la ter take full control of the company. Another reason is to protect Carlsbergs home market share because operating in foreign countries takes away business from its competitors by offering customers other choices and it lets the competitors know that they would face the same response if they attack the home market (Rugman Collinson, 2009). Furthermore, it is a tactics that Carlsberg could use to diversify themselves against the risk and uncertainties of the domestic business cycle (Rugman Collinson, 2009). This implies that by operating in other countries it can often reduce the negative consequences of economic swing such as recession in its home country. Despite Carlsberg seemingly predatory instinct for 100% control and ownership, prospective partners engage with Carlsberg because of the following reasons: They will benefit from its intangible properties (Hill, 2009), like in the case of licensing where the licensee has the right to Carlsbergs intellectual properties such as patents, processes and trademarks. This also applies to joint ventures as the partner gets to know about its processes as well. They would be able to offer their clients a wider range of products and services (Mcpheat, 2010). For example in licensing where Carlsberg gives them rights to its intellectual properties, the partners tend to take advantage of more market opportunities (newly identified demand) as they will not only sell their own products but also that of Carlsberg, which means that their customers have variety of products to choose from. They might also have an opportunity to get endorsed into Carlsbergs advertisements (Mcpheat, 2010). That is Carlsberg might support their products in its advertisement in cases where it forms a merger or joint venture with partners. They share fixed costs and financial risks with Carlsberg which implies that they can succeed in dealing with failure to meet a certain standard or lack of resources (such as land, labour or capital). An example of an instance where this occurs is in joint ventures. Cooperating with Carlsberg creates room for pooling ideas and generates more creative solutions to problems (National Association of Conservation Districts, 1994). This is applicable when partners form joint ventures and mergers with Carlsberg. Thus, customers will be happier as their problems would be solved at a faster thereby improving customer service experience (Mcpheat, 2010). Potential acquisitions targets and strategic responses to acquisition bids According to the case study, Carlsberg has a global share by volume of 7.5% making it the fourth largest brewing corporation after AB Inbev and its market capitalization was over 80 billion Danish Kroner (Dkk). Its sales in 2009 were 59.4 billion (Dkk) on which it achieved 15.8% operating profit margin. This makes it a potential future acquisition target for other brewing groups such as AB Inbev for the following reasons: The larger brewing group would want to increase their companys portion of sales within the market in order to increase pricing power (Campbell et al., 2003). If a company doesnt have much pricing power then an increase in their prices would lessen the demand for their products (Investopedia US, 2012). Carlsberg has knowledge and marketing expertise about the local markets in which it owns breweries and so other brewing groups would want to acquire it as entry mode to these markets. Besides it would be a quicker way for them to make their presence known in these markets. Carlsberg is a valuable brand and as such is a target for other bigger groups as they would want gain its intellectual property such as patents, trademarks, production processes, databases that are difficult to re-create, and research development laboratories with a history of successful product development (Bragg, 2012). Its being the fourth largest brewing corporation in the world makes it is a major competitor in the brewing industry and in order to reduce competition a brewing group such as AB Inbev may want to purchase it. Furthermore, it is difficult to get costumers to change brands because customers are fiercely loyal to local brands and the only way of tapping into these markets is by purchasing the brewery (Rugman Collinson, 2009). For example in countries where Carlsberg markets its products that the larger groups havent entered yet, they could tap into these markets by purchasing the brewery since the customers are familiar to Carlsbergs products. The larger brewing group will want to gain preferential access to Carlsbergs sales and distribution channels. By acquiring it, they can use it to distribute its own products. Some of examples of sales channels they would benefit from are telemarketing or a well-trained-in house sales staff (Bragg, 2012). However, there are some barriers that a brewing group such as AB Inbev might face if they sought to acquire Carlsberg this could be: Clash of culture between both groups in terms of high management turnover which may possibly be as a result of Carlsbergs employees not liking the acquiring groups way of doing things and may decide to leave the company. This can materially harm the performance of the brewery because management talent and expertise will be lost and as such Carlsberg might reject an attempt to be bought (Hill, 2009). Integrating with other companies is difficult as a result of differences in management philosophy and company culture. This tends to slow down the integration of operations. National culture differences could even worsen these problems (Hill, 2009). For example language barriers between Carlsberg (owned by a Danish speaking company) and AB Inbev (a Dutch speaking company) may make Carlsberg decide to reject a bid. Also, Carlsberg is a big company as well and might reject an attempt to be bought because it doesnt want to lose its identity. They could go as far as responding to any acquisition bids by purchasing other breweries as a form of defence. Due to its having good market shares purchasing other breweries will make its shares bigger that it cannot be bought within the brewery industry without anti-trust (this refers to specific laws protecting trade and commerce from unfair business practices (Merriam-Webster, 2012)) thereby making it difficult for companies like AB Inbev to acquire it (Bragg, 2012). Global brand portfolio management and consolidation A global strategy that sustains 500 brands cannot possibly be right because this strategy focuses on increasing profitability and profit growth by reaping the costs reductions that come from economies of scale and learning effects in other to have a low-cost strategy on a global scale. This implies that this type of strategy suits where there are strong pressures for cost reductions and demand for local responsiveness are low. Carlsberg has 500 brands and they customize their product a bit to meet local conditions and this customization involves shorter production runs and the duplication of functions, which tends to raise costs. They wont reap the benefits of economies of scale as there wont be reduction in the unit cost achieved by producing different product in large quantities. Also, they wont be able to save costs that come from learning by doing in terms of producing the same brand over and over again i.e. their labour productivity may not increase over time as it is not easy f or individuals to learn most efficient of performing tasks when a large volume of different products is involved. Hence, production cost will increase due to a decline in labour productivity and management efficiency, which might decrease the firms profitability (Hill, 2009). Carlsberg should rationalise its facilities and focus on far fewer brands because it would be much easier to control and manage fewer brands and also implementing a global strategy would be easier compared to when it has 500 brands. By doing this they would be able to benefit from a bit from economies of scale and learning effects. Furthermore, the cost of advertising so many brands is relatively expensive. The customization of the brands would even make it more expensive if they have different advertisements for different brands in different countries. So they might want to consider focusing on fewer brands because the fewer the brands the lesser the price of advertising. Individual Reflection and Self-Analysis Expectations: I had always wanted to learn more about the world of business and management and as such my expectations for this module prior to beginning was to gain knowledge about business and management in an international context as the key to a successful business is how well the business is managed. This expectation has been met because I have gained the preliminary knowledge on how firms or organisations carry out their operations internationally for example the strategies on how firms enter a foreign market. It has also given me an introductory knowledge on how to identify a good business opportunity, have good plan of action to run and also manage a firm successfully. Challenges: I had some challenges during the module and this was because I studied Electrical/Electronic Engineering in my first degree and knew almost nothing about business. Having to do case studies wasnt something I had done in my previous degree and so I struggled with how to critically analyse and answer the questions that usually follow suit. I wouldnt say I have completely overcome this challenge as there are still some cases where Im still not able to comprehend a case but I know reading ahead of the lectures and paying attention during lectures has helped me to a certain extent. Preparation for Masters: I feel prepared to begin a Masters level programme and this module helped me prepare for it. This is because, I have learnt the basics of international business and management and also how to do extensive researches and structure a report, and my referencing skills have improved as well.