Education Reform in Japan essays

Training Reform in Japan articles The Need for Reform in Japanese Education One of the most discussed issues in present day Japan is training change. Japan is widely acclaimed for its requesting instruction prerequisites and high scholastic measures. Because of modernization after World War II, the Japanese rolled out significant improvements to their training framework: secondary schools and colleges were assembled, innovative examination was energized, and obligatory instruction was carefully upheld. Be that as it may, these advances have included some major disadvantages. The Japanese school plan is long and monotonous; schools run for fourteen hours every day, six days per week, 250 days per year. Further more, understudies go to juku, or pack schools, to get ready for jukenjigoku, or Examination Hell; manage every day ijime, harassing; and face an unfavorable measure of weight from their folks, instructors and companions to fit in with exacting cultural principles and norms. Japans instruction framework needs change that tends to these issues, and facil itates the colossal measure of pressure that understudies face regularly. The most significant motivation to change Japanese instruction is the pressure it puts on understudies. Instructors invest a dominant part of their energy busy with scholastics, which allows for showing fundamental human qualities or giving alternatives to outlet understudies pressure. Ijime, Japanese harassing, is one of the results of the exceptional condition at Japanese schools. Survivors of ijime face water torment, day by day beatings, and alarming dangers. The tormenting mirrors the outrageous scholarly rivalry and the way that Japanese instructors invest more energy showing careless realities than human qualities. Nakasone, a political innovator in Japan, censures the instructors for the ascent in moral misconduct among youth. He calls attention to that because of the push to scholastically stay in front of the western world, instructors are neglecting to impart the customary Japanese standards of regard and control (Schoppa 1). Others point to ... <!

An Analysis of two businesses :: Business and Management Studies

An Analysis of 2 organizations Level 2 Assignment 1 Being an association is fit to Mount Pleasant Post Office for some reasons. These are concerned particularly with: 1) The size of the business being little 2) The obligation of the proprietors 3) The way that the benefits of the business are shared out A portion of the reasons why it is generally appropriate for Mount Pleasant Post Office to be an association are concerned the favorable circumstances it gets from being an association. These are the favorable circumstances this association business gets: 1) When this business originally fired up, it didn't require the assistance of specialists or bookkeepers. This was on the grounds that it was at that point simple to set up. 2) Also there is nobody who will think about how well the business is doing. Along these lines, everything can be kept hidden. 3) Unlike Sole Proprietorships, increasingly capital can be raised. This is since there are more individuals/proprietors to assemble cash. There are too resting accomplices who don’t really maintain the business on a step by step premise, however they do give cash when it is essentially required. 4) Another bit of leeway is that not normal for sole Proprietorship organizations, this business has boundless specialization. This implies the employments can be shared out among the proprietors. Certain individuals who are acceptable at certain things wouldn’t need to waste time with different occupations. Different reasons why it is generally appropriate for Mount Pleasant Post Office to be an association are worried about the impediments it would get from sorting out itself in an alternate manner. These are the impediments Mount Pleasant Post Office would look by being a sole ownership: 1) The business would have had restricted specialization which implies that the proprietor would have needed to do everything to prop the business up. 2) If the proprietor became sick, at that point he would need to close the total business for quite a while. Additionally if the proprietor needs to have a break and go on a vacation then he would need to close the business for quite a while. 3) If the proprietor is despondent about maintaining the business and needs to stop, at that point the business additionally closes. These are the inconveniences Mount Pleasant Post Office would look by being a constrained organization: 1) the general population would need to be advised about how the business is passing by creating reports. These reports are exorbitant to deliver even

The Right List of Essay Topics For High School

The Right List of Essay Topics For High SchoolWhen you are preparing for your senior year in high school, the first thing you have to do is prepare yourself for what is to come when it comes to the list of essay topics for high school. It is also important that you will be able to come up with a good topic that will be useful for you.It would not be so bad if you will be provided a list of topic that will provide you with a chance to show that you have a great knowledge about the subject matter. However, there are times when students are only provided a list of subjects that they have to be familiar with.Such students who are just asked to prepare for one topic are often disappointed to find out that there is hardly anything that can be done about the matter. Even though they were not informed on what should be their topic, they are expected to write an essay about something that they already know. The end result will be a mediocre or poor essay.However, if you are asked to prepare a list of topic for you, you will have to ensure that you will know what you are talking about and how you can deal with the subject matter. Do not worry as you can surely prepare for your topic of choice.Since you know what you are talking about, you can surely come up with a great topic for your subject matter. You can decide to just be yourself and focus on developing your character. You can also go the other way and focus on researching to be sure that what you are going to write will be informative and interesting enough to give it a great ranking among your classmates.Most students love writing because it is fun to write. Moreover, it is one way for them to express themselves. If you are provided with a list of topic, you should be careful to prepare a great topic that can be done in an effective manner.You have to realize that this is something that you are going to have to face in the real world. You cannot expect for students to write the same as you if you do not expect the m to be well prepared.When you have a strong grasp of the subject matter, you will have a greater advantage over others. With this, it is better for you to prepare a list of essay topics for high school that can be successful.

Economic Growth Inventions, Development, and Tycoons

The rapid economic development following the Civil War laid the groundwork for the modern U.S. industrial economy. An explosion of new discoveries and inventions took place, causing such profound changes that some termed the results a second industrial revolution. Oil was discovered in western Pennsylvania. The typewriter was developed. Refrigeration railroad cars came into use. The telephone, phonograph, and electric light were invented. And by the dawn of the 20th century, cars were replacing carriages and people were flying in airplanes. Parallel to these achievements was the development of the nations industrial infrastructure. Coal was found in abundance in the Appalachian Mountains from Pennsylvania south to Kentucky. Large iron mines opened in the Lake Superior region of the upper Midwest. Mills thrived in places where these two important raw materials could be brought together to produce steel. Large copper and silver mines opened, followed by lead mines and cement factories. As industry grew larger, it developed mass-production methods. Frederick W. Taylor pioneered the field of scientific management in the late 19th century, carefully plotting the functions of various workers and then devising new, more efficient ways for them to do their jobs. (True mass production was the inspiration of Henry Ford, who in 1913 adopted the moving assembly line, with each worker doing one simple task in the production of automobiles. In what turned out to be a farsighted action, Ford offered a very generous wage -- $5 a day -- to his workers, enabling many of them to buy the automobiles they made, helping the industry to expand.) The Gilded Age of the second half of the 19th century was the epoch of tycoons. Many Americans came to idealize these businessmen who amassed vast financial empires. Often their success lay in seeing the long-range potential for a new service or product, as John D. Rockefeller did with oil. They were fierce competitors, single-minded in their pursuit of financial success and power. Other giants in addition to Rockefeller and Ford included Jay Gould, who made his money in railroads; J. Pierpont Morgan, banking; and Andrew Carnegie, steel. Some tycoons were honest according to business standards of their day; others, however, used force, bribery, and guile to achieve their wealth and power. For better or worse, business interests acquired significant influence over government. Morgan, perhaps the most flamboyant of the entrepreneurs, operated on a grand scale in both his private and business life. He and his companions gambled, sailed yachts, gave lavish parties, built palatial homes, and bought European art treasures. In contrast, men such as Rockefeller and Ford exhibited puritanical qualities. They retained small-town values and lifestyles. As church-goers, they felt a sense of responsibility to others. They believed that personal virtues could bring success; theirs was the gospel of work and thrift. Later their heirs would establish the largest philanthropic foundations in America. While upper-class European intellectuals generally looked on commerce with disdain, most Americans -- living in a society with a more fluid class structure -- enthusiastically embraced the idea of moneymaking. They enjoyed the risk and excitement of business enterprise, as well as the higher living standards and potential rewards of power and acclaim that business success brought. --- Next Article: American Economic Growth in the 20th Century This article is adapted from the book Outline of the U.S. Economy by Conte and Carr and has been adapted with permission from the U.S. Department of State.

Financial Statements Are Prepared Primarily For Decision Making Finance Essay - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 3 Words: 802 Downloads: 3 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Finance Essay Type Narrative essay Did you like this example? Financial statements are prepared primarily for decision-making. The information provided in the financial statements is of immense use in making decision through analysis and interpretation of financial statements. Financial analysis is a process of synthesis and summarization of financial operative date with a view to getting into an insight into the operative activities of business enterprises. It is the process of identifying the financial strength and weakness of firm by properly establishing relationship between the items of balance sheet and profit and loss account. Ratio Analysis: Ratio is an expression of the quantitative relationship that exists between the two numbers. In simple language, ratio is one number expressed in terms of another and can be worked out by dividing one number in to the other. It shoes an arithmetical relationship between two figures. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Financial Statements Are Prepared Primarily For Decision Making Finance Essay" essay for you Create order The ratio may also be expresses in the form of percentage, which can be obtained by multiplying the quotient by 100.for example Net Profit Ratio=30%, return on capital=12%etc. Significance of Ratios Analysis: The ratio analysis is one of the most powerful tools of the financial analysis. The ratios are easy to calculate. Ratio analysis makes for easy understanding of financial statements. With the use of ratio analysis one can measure the financial condition of a firm and can point out whether the condition is strong, good, questionable or poor. Ratios act as an index of the efficiency of the firm. Two or more accounting groups is called financial ratio. Its helps to summarise a more mass of financial data into concise and make accurate interpretation and conclusion the performance and status of the firm The most important and commonly adopted classification of ratios is on the basis of the purpose or function, which the ratios are expected to perform; such ratios are called Functional Ratios. Below are the ratios we are using for the given assignment Profitability Gross Profit Ratio (%) ÂÂ   2008 2009 2010 Gross profit Ratios( % ) 20 16.67 14.94 By looking at the above figures for 2008, 2009 and 2010. Year 2008 has a good percentage of profit when comparing to 2009 and 2010. Operating Profit Ratio (%) ÂÂ   2008 2009 2010 Operating profit Ratios (%) 80 83 85 This ratio establishes the relationship between the cost of sales and sales revenue. The above ratios indicate the continuous increment in operating expenses. In 2008 operating expenses are 80% and in 2010 it goes up to 85%. As the high operating ratio would leave a small margin to cover or meet financial expenses. Net Profit Ratio (%) ÂÂ   2008 2009 2010 Net Profit Ratios (%) 10 8.7 7.7 As the above figures indicates that year 2008 has a good ratio of 10% and a decrease in 2009 and 2010. Return on capital employed (%) ÂÂ   2008 2009 2010 Return on Capital employed Ratios. 0.50 0.52 0.56 The profitability of the firm can be analysed from the point of view of the total funds employed in the firm. The higher the ratio return on capital employed the more efficient has been the use of capital employed. One can see that the return on capital in the year 2010 is much higher than in the year of 20082009. Liquidity: Current Ratios ÂÂ   2008 2009 2010 Current Ratios. 3.75 2.99 3.27 The current ratio is a measure of the firms short-term solvency. It indicates the availability of current assets in pounds for every one pounds for current liability. The above statement shows in the year 2009 and 2010 has doing much better in this ratio. Quick Ratios ÂÂ   2008 2009 2010 Quick Ratios. 3.31 2.55 2.67 Quick ratio is considered to be the better test of liquidity than Current ratios. In 2008 we holds a very good stock compares to 2009 and in again in 2010 we are holding a very good stock. Asset Utilisation and Efficiency: Total Asset Turnover Ratio ÂÂ   2008 2009 2010 Total Asset Turnover Ratios. 4.05 4.45 4.08 A lower ratio in 2008 indicates the utilization under of assets. 2009 indicates the over trading compare to 2010. Fixed Asset Turnover Ratio ÂÂ   2008 2009 2010 Fixed Asset Turnover Ratios. 13.60 20.51 26.07 As the above figure indicates idle capacity in 2008 while over trading in 2009 and 2010 to investment in Fixed assets. Current Asset turnover Ratio ÂÂ   2008 2009 2010 Current Asset Turnover Ratios. 5.76 5.68 4.84 This ratio indicates the extent to which the investment in current assets contributed towards sales. The figures indicates that 2008 and 2009 excessive invested in current assets while in 2010 it is low ratio capacity. Working capital turnover Ratio ÂÂ   2008 2009 2010 Working Capital Turnover Ratios. 7.86 8.53 6.97 In 2009 we has a very good utilisation of working capital comparing to 2008 and 2010 retained with low utilisation of working capital. Inventory turnover Ratio ÂÂ   2008 2009 2010 Inventory turnover Ratios. 77.49 42.38 29.87 The Stock turnover ratio shows how many times over the business has sold the value of its stocks during the year. By looking at the figures mentioned in the above table, we can conclude that turn over rate has fallen down from 77.49 to 29.87 Fixed assets to Net worth Ratio ÂÂ   2008 2009 2010 Fixed Asset to Net worth Ratios. 0.89 0.79 0.72 This ratio indicates the percentage contributed by owner to the value of fixed assets. a ratio at least 1:1 is considered desirable on other hand, lower ratio suggest an undue burden on debt on the enterprises that tends to increase the internal rates at which an enterprise can borrow. 14 12

Personality Profile Lamont Thomas - 1246 Words

Mike Sutherland 12/5/2014 Personality Profile Lamont Thomas: The Running Man Lamont Thomas had only been running for a couple of weeks when people started calling him â€Å"The Running Man†. He runs every day logging 84 miles a week, which is a lot, but when considering dedicated daily runners this is nothing exceptional. When he runs, Lamont attracts a lot of attention. His friends joke this because â€Å"He’s running so fast it looks like he stole something.† But it isn’t Lamont’s speed that sets him apart from the other runners around town. Rather it’s his truly inspirational spirit, positive attitude for life, and taking on any challenges it might throw at you. A positive mental outlook on life is what keeps Lamont going every day. A trait†¦show more content†¦When he was ten, he had metal rods put in his legs and spent the next year and a half in a body cast. Eventually Lamont could go back to school but relied on a walker and as if being constrained to a walker wasn’t bad enough, he faced adversity in the form of being bullied by his fellow classmates. â€Å"They called me names like ‘legs’ or ‘cripple’. All these names got me so mad that I said something to them and it must have offended them really bad to the point they took my walker and pushed me down the stairs.† It was at this time Lamont decided it was time for the walker to go, but the doctors didn’t agree with him. â€Å"The doctors I went to told me I would never walk again and I would have the brain mentality of a third grader for the rest of my life. They told me all this stuff that isn’t true.† It was in this moment Lamont had made up his mind. He said â€Å"I didn’t care what the doctors had to say anymore. These legs weren’t going to get any better if I kept walking with this walker. You don’t think I can walk, well let’s see. You can get mad and pout and be upset. Sitting in your room curled in a little ball and be that person the doctors said you were going to be or you can be so much greater, to the point where what they have to say doesn’t matter. It doesn’t even collide with what you want or what you’re becoming. Instead of me becoming this mad angry upset person doing nothing about it, show them.† In recounting his childhood Lamont’s motivational pull in lifeShow MoreRelatedManagement Course: Mba−10 General Management215330 Words   |  862 Pagesresources. Authority gives managers the right to direct and control their subordinates’ behavior to achieve organizational goals. In a bureaucratic system of administration, obedience is owed to a manager, not because of any personal qualities— such as personality, wealth, or social status—but because the manager occupies a position that is associated with a certain level of authority and responsibility.19 Principle 2: In a bureaucracy, people should occupy positions because of their performance, not because

The Importance Of Bismarck To German Unification free essay sample

Essay, Research Paper When Otto von Bismarck was recalled from Paris to go Minister-President of Prussia in 1862, German patriotism was already more than 40 old ages old. First apparent in the resistance to Napoleon # 180 ; s business of the German provinces, national feeling grew into a motion after 1815. This feeling was encouraged by a growing of involvement in German literature and music and by increased economic cooperation between the north German provinces. By1848 it was strong plenty to do the creative activity of a united Germany one of the chief demands of the revolutionists. Otto von Bismarck was a Prussian nationalist who inherited the traditions of love of male monarch, ground forces and state from his household. Bismarck believed that Germany should be united under Prussian leading and that Austria should hold nil to make with Germany. Bismarck was chosen as Chancellor of the Exchequer by the Prussian male monarch as he had a proven record as a royalist and had small clip for broad and inor dinate parliamentary thoughts. Bismarck helped his long term program to unify Germany and to be the swayer by acquiring in a strong place with the male monarch. The male monarch owned Bismarck a # 8216 ; favour # 180 ; as Bismarck had solved the male monarch # 180 ; s constitutional crisis. Bismarck played a important portion in the fusion of Germany as he helped to put up the Northern German Confederation after get the better ofing Austria in the second of three wars. The first war was a spot # 8216 ; weird # 180 ; as Bismarck # 180 ; s end was to acquire Austria out of Germany but it was the start of a long program, he teamed up with Austria and together they rapidly defeated the Danish. The dukedoms of Holstein were to be controlled by Austria and the dukedoms of Schleswig were to be controlled by Prussia. This was to be a major determination to allow Austria command Holstein. Bismarck overcame the barrier that was the menace of Austria. Bismarck was really cagey in the manner that he provoked war with A ustria he complained that Austria was non running Holstein decently. The German alliance backed Austria so Bismarck had what he wanted an alibi to assail the little German provinces which he rapidly defeated Prussia with. He held off Italy, which Bismarck planned, defeated Austria. In the pact were the footings that Austria was to take no farther portion in German personal businesss which Bismarck needed in his fusion programs step towards another major measure towards the formation of the northern German alliance in the pact. Germany was non unified, yet, as the southern provinces were still separate. Bismarck # 180 ; s` most timeserving point was when he provoked a war with France he done this by erectile dysfunction iting a telegram from the King to the French. He edited it so that it sounded as if the king insulted the French. This made the French declare war on Prussia just as Bismarck had wanted. The southern states declared their support for the Prussians. The Prussians won the war and made the treaty harsh on the French as it was a hard fought war and he wanted to weaken them. Bismarck then pressured the southern German states into unification by saying that if any Kings or Dukes opposed it then they would be overthrown. The last thing he had to do was persuade the King William, he done this by getting King Ludwig of Bavaria to offer Bismarck the throne and he in turn allowed King William to remain King of Prussia. However Bismarck was not solely responsible for the unification of Germany. Nationalism in Germany with cultural and nationalising was the reason for the creation of the Zollverein, which was in many people?s views a major factor in the unification of Germany. The Zollverein al lowed trade between the 39 German states by lowering the tax, which was set by the country very high. This brought the German states closer and with more unity. Prussia had increased its military power by increasing its army and when the northern German confederation was created. The Prussians had an army fit to face any European force. This lead to a unity between the northern German states. Since Prussia was in control of the northern German confederation then they were in a greater military position to unite Germany. Prussia also had a great economic development. Their money was getting greater and greater by the Zollverien, which made Prussia a very wealthy trading country. It also made all of the other countries tag on to Prussia, as they also wanted to be wealthy The proclamation of the German Empire in 1871 was the climax of a long process, to which several factors contributed. The growth of nationalism brought about the demand for a united country. Prussian economic developm ent, aided by the Zollverien, allowed the build up of its military power and strengthened its influence, at least among the northern states. Together, these developments made possible unification under Prussian leadership, but they did not make it certain. What made Bismarck?s contribution decisive was his ability to exploit this potential for unity and to overcome the barriers, which still lay in the path of unification, especially the opposition of France and Austria. His diplomatic skills in isolating his enemies and his willingness to seize opportunities turned the possibility of unification into reality.

Away Essays - Coral Reefs, Coral, Away, Free Essays, Term Papers

Away Essays - Coral Reefs, Coral, Away, Free Essays, Term Papers Away KRISTY HEWITT 11B AWAY ANALYTICAL ESSAY Throughout Away many characters go through changes, Gwen changes from a nagging housewife into a sympathetic and more balanced individual. Roy goes from being very insecure about life to knowing how to deal with his problems and live life as it comes. Coral, is also very insecure about life after the death of her son, she is longing for attention and doesnt know how to be around people. By the end of the play she is at least trying to be social and be around people. At the beginning of the play Gwen is a nagging housewife. She is always right, well she thinks she is anyway. She changes into a more sympathetic and balanced individual. Vic has showed her to put love, not possessions and status, first. She was obsessed with orderliness and comfort because of her deprived childhood. This has ruined her relationships with her husband and Daughter. Towards the end of the play Gwen hears of Toms illness (Leukemia) this turns her towards more humane and fitting values. Gwen at the Beginning: Act 2 Scene 2 Well do you think theyll pack themselves? Do you think holidays happen on their own? to Gwen at the end: Act 4 Scene 1 What do you think of me? You must hate me? Why do you still bother? Roy goes from being in complete denial as he lost his son in the Vietnam War to being a little more caring and understanding toward others. He doesnt talk to his wife Coral very much except to patronize her and give her lectures about snapping out of it his insensitivity extends Coral Grief period beyond what it need be. He threatens her with Electro-compulsive therapy (a physical horror to follow her mental one.) This forces Coral into total isolation and to run away. By the end of the play Roy is seeking for forgiveness, as well as love and reconciliation from Coral. (When he kisses her hands.) Roy at the Beginning: Act1 Scene 3 I thought I told you to stay in the car! to Roy at the end: Act 3 Scene 3 Coral? Sweetheart? Come back to the party. Coral was deep in grief at the beginning of the play, her worldview was distorted by the pain she can not escape. Her husband Roy is of little help, so she turned to others in hope of their willingness to help. The substitute son Rick and to some extent Tom. The play The stranger on the shore helps express her predicament and the taking of belief in life that she has found. In the end she is finally reunited with Roy and this changes her life. She begins to over her grief and live life as it comes. Coral at the start: Act 2 Scene 3 I dont ignore anyone. To Coral at the end: Act 3 Scene 3 I like to talk. Everyone goes through changes thoughout their lives some are noticeable and some are not so noticeable. Some changes are drastic and some are only minor. You can never know when someone will change it just happens. We all change at different stages of our lives.

International Business Environment Essay Example

International Business Environment Essay Example International Business Environment Paper International Business Environment Paper Code: PGBM04 Credits: 15 Level: Masters FBL, Business School Board: Postgraduate Business Studies Learning Hours: 150 of which 30 CONTACT hours Rationale 1. The international business environment is multi-dimensional, including economic, political, socio-cultural and technological influences. While each can be viewed in specific national settings, increasingly they have become interrelated through processes of globalisation. In particular, the role of transnational corporations has been a key to the deepening interrelationships across national borders. Yet, globalisation has not led to convergence. Considerable diversity between nations and regions continues to shape the business environment globally. For the international manager, an understanding of global forces, as well as more local/regional differences is crucial to strategy formulation in a rapidly changing environment. Learning Outcomes On completion of the module participants will be able to: Knowledge: 1. Critically review and apply concepts, terminology theoretical models associated with international business policies and strategies. 2. Demonstrate understanding of the political, socio-cultural, economic and technological factors that have been found to influence variations in international organisational business structures and management styles 3. Critically assess the relationship between national and organisational cultures 4. Relate conceptual theory of ‘internationalisation’, innovation and competitive advantage to different industries and locations Skills: 1. Demonstrate in a (small group), ability to apply relevant behavioural concepts to real-world scenarios/organisations, and participate in/lead discussion on related dilemmas or issues. . As an individual apply relevant theoretical concepts to real-world business (environment) dilemmas or issues, producing a diagnosis and suggesting possible outcomes. CONTENTS SYNOPSIS: This module examines aspects of the key concept of strategic management within an international business context. It begins by introducing and understanding of corporate strate gy as it relates trans- national corporations as players in an increasing global environment. The impact of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and actions of global players as they seek to identify competitive advantage is considered. As the role cultural differences play in determining the success/failure of a company within the global context activity, the applied research results of Hofstede are explored. Growth of the global marketplace has been accompanied by national and international regulations governing the openness of trade. Thus trade agreements, e. g. under the banner of WTO, are examined as well as the issues which link this to the â€Å"hyperglobalisation† thesis. A distinction is made between those companies operating in market, state and transitional economies. The impact of the growth of technology in general and communication technology in particular are explored. The role played by the international financial environment in influencing international business is also reviewed. AMPLIFIED CONTENT Introduction: Concepts of Business Organisation; Strategy; Marketing Orientation; Corporate Governance Globalisation and FDI: Globalisation-different perspectives; Internationalisation v. Globalisation; Dunning’s OLI paradigm and applications to impact on MNE and FDI activity. Porter’s Competitive advantage model (see also below) Culture: Definitions. Importance of Impact of Cultural Differences on Business; Research by G. Hofstede/ F. Trompenaars’ dimensions of National Culture. Application, importance of understanding concept of Guanxi, for international partners to Chinese businesses. Political Environment: National International forces + also to linked to International ‘Political’ Institutions –WTO, G20, BRIC, Trade Blocs e. g. EU, ASEAN, APEC, NAFTA etc. Social Environment: Demography: Consequences of Ageing Populations for Business and Society in industrialised societies; versus growing populations in developing countries. Re-location of employment in globalised world. E. g. Call Centre customer convenience across time zones, or pressurised workforce? World Trade and the International Competitive Environment: Key trade theories, e. g. Comparative Advantage, Limitations of Vernon’s Model. First Mover Advantage, Porter’s Competitive Advantage. Role of WTO and its principles; related controversial issues. E. g. Prospects for closure of Doha round. Evolving regional groupings, EU, ASEAN, APEC The Technology Environment Introduction to importance of R D; use/role of Patents; technology transfer; impact of e-technologies Internet/e-commerce International Financial Environment Foreign exchange principles; impact of globalisation of financial markets. Comparison of ‘financial’ shocks Asian financial crisis 1997-8; the Credit Crunch 2008–2010; ‘sub-prime’ market to Lehman Bros. AIG. Partial re-nationalisation of Commercial Banks, trading internationally from US GB. TEACHING LEARNING METHODS Teaching learning will take place through a series of core lectures and programmed learning activities undertaken in seminar workshops. Students will have a learning opportunity to participate as team members by presenting findings from case studies through short presentations with interactive questions and answers and class discussion to broaden the teaching and learning experience. This will provide formative feedback in advance broadly related summative assessment. Directed reading will be specified; with students being actively encouraged to pursue a variety of other learning resources; journal articles, internet sources as well the recommended core text. Lecture: One hour x 10 Seminar /workshop: Two hours X 10 Directed Study: 70 hours Research: 50 hours TOTAL: 150 hours ASSESSMENT METHODS Formative Group/syndicate discussions, virtual learning, class debates and small group presentations will act as the formative assessment throughout the module. Formative feedback will regularly be given through plenary discussion of class activities. Summative Assessment: The module is assessed by an individual written assignment the end of the module worth 100% of the overall grade Students are required to attain at least 40% in order to pass the module. CORE READING: Morrison J. (2009), International Business: Challenges in a Changing World, Palgrave MacMillan. [An excellent comprehensive and challenging text with links to Marketing, HR Finance, and Operations Management. ] used selectively – key relevant themes as per Lecture/Seminar coverage OR Morrison, J. (2006), The International Business Environment, (2nd edition). Palgrave MacMillan. Supporting Reading Hamilton, L. Webster, P. (2009) The International Business Environment, Oxford University Press, Oxford. (mostly aimed at Undergraduates but good knowledge base for PG courses) The World in 2010, The Economist, London, 2009 More general texts cover the wider area of International Business for example: Hill, Charles W. L. , (2009) International Business: Competing in the Global Market, 7th ed. , Mc Graw Hill, New York Daniels, J, Radebaugh, L. Sullivan, D, (2009) International Business, (12th ed. ), Pearson Wall S. , Minocha S. , and Rees B. (2010) International Business, 3rd ed. ,FT Prentice Hall And for a more specialist area: Brummer A. ,(2009), The Crunch: How Greed and Incompetence Sparked the Credit Crisis, RH Business Books, London. Internet Sources: The Core Text indicates Webalert boxes, and other internet sources to consult in relation to each topic. Some sources will be suggested/ hyperlinked in lecture notes, and considered in seminars. The library has access to Online sources for which you will need to register for an Athens password. Both the Economist www. economist. com and the Financial Times www. ft. com can be accessed this way. Programmes using this Module as a Core: MBA, MA International Management, MBS. Module Leader: Bob Woodfield, Pod 203, E-mail: bob. [emailprotected] ac. uk Fax 0191 515 2308 Teaching Team: James Riddle, E-mail: jim. [emailprotected] ac. uk Ms. A. Nwankwo E-mail: TBA OUTLINE OF THE SEMINAR/WORKSHOP SESSIONS WEEK 1 Lecture 1: Introduction – International Business Environment (IBE) Please note: Slides of all lectures are made available on SUNSPACE Seminar 1 – Introduction to the Module; the guide explained, including teaching, learning and assessment, and how seminar workshops will be organised. Contextual DVD + discussion questions Reading: Morrison, J (2006) International Business Environment, Ch1. or Morrison (2009) International Business, Ch. 1 WEEK 2 Lecture 2: Globalisation and Methods of Internationalizing Operations Seminar 2 Review Understanding of lecture 1; Remaining answers from DVD; Results of student research – see also case below Reading: Morrison, J (2006) International Business Environment, Ch1. or Morrison (2009) International Business, Ch. Parts of Ch. 1 Case Study: Group Presentation: Look at Procter Gamble’s website, in relation to above reading. What can you find about the way they have restructured in recent years? What have been the objectives in doing so? What corporate governance structure has P G adopted to deliver their brands to different countries? WEEK 3 Lecture 3: Foreign Direct Investment: key theories; trends patterns. Impact of MNE’s globalisation on society Seminars 2 3 themes: Globalization and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Internationalisation, its motives and theoretical approaches are introduced, with focus on transnational corporations (TNCs). Dunning’s OLI paradigm is outlined. Introductory example of impact of Globalization in other areas culture; society; technology; financial markets. Seminar 3 Reading: Morrison, J (2006) International Business Environment, Ch5. Or Morrison (2009) parts of Ch 2. Group Case Study1: PepsiCo’s path to internationalization. Morrison (2009)p. 20. Group Case study 2: Nokia keeps competitors at bay Morrison (2009) pp. 50- 51 WEEK 4 Lecture 4: The Economic Environment How do we compare national economies; what are the policy measures open to governments? The role of government, and the extent of its involvement in business activities, clearly influences international business in a country. Macro-economic indicators enable corporations to assess the international market attractiveness of doing business with a particular country. How do companies try to fit into different economic systems? Seminar 4: Foreign Direct Investment: key theories; trends patterns. Impact of MNE’s globalisation on society Reading: Morrison, J (2006) International Business Environment, Ch5. Or Morrison (2009) parts of Ch 2. Group Case Study 1: ‘Made in India’ comes of age. Country Focus Morrison (2009) pp 61-63 Group Case Study 2: IBM and LENOVO: A tale of globalization Morrison (2009) p. 73 –74 WEEK 5 Lecture 5 The Cultural Environment It is widely accepted that the more individualistic cultures of Northern European countries were at the forefront of industrialization and capitalist development. What is the role of differing national cultures and identities in economic development? How have companies had to adapt in order to be successful in areas of the world with different cultural outlooks? Seminar 5: Economic Environment Reading: Morrison, J (2006) International Business Environment, Ch3 and 4. or Morrison (2009) Ch 3. Group Case Study: Wal-Mart’s great leap forward Morrison (2009) pp. 113 – 115. Group Debate: Assess the Macroeconomic policy options open to Governments’ attempting to recover from the recession. Week 6 Lecture 6: The Political Environment as a Risk Factor for Business Investment Seminar 6 The Cultural Environment: its impact on economic development and business operations Reading: Morrison, J (2006) Ch 6 or Morrison, J. (2009) parts of Chapter 4 . Group Case Study 1: 4. 2 DIY goes Global, Morrison J. (2009)pp 152 – 153. Case Study 2: Testing Times for Citigroup in S. Korea, Morrison J. (2009) p. 140. WEEK 7 Lecture 7 International Political Institutional Environment:WTO, Trade Blocs Regional trade agreements, including customs unions, common market and deepening economic and political integration from Europe (EU), the Americas (Nafta) and Asia (ASEAN) and (APEC), and Africa will be considered. The growing importance of the World Trade Organization (WTO),will be reviewed along with the role of multilateral trade agreements generally. Reading: Morrison, J (2006), Ch3 4. Group case study:Call Centre Jobs Migrate to India(see notes below) WEEK 8 Lecture 8 World Trade and International Competition Seminar 8 International Trade and Regional Integration Patterns of global trade are considered and key theories and policies are outlined, including the theory of comparative advantage and newer trade theories such as Porter’s theory of competitive advantage. The emphasis is the application of these within the context of trading framework of International Political Institutions WEEK 9 Lecture 9 The Technological Environment An applied approach to modern concepts of technology innovation will be taken. The use of patents globally will be introduced, with a discussion of the issues from the point of view of industrialised and developing economies. Methods of technology transfer will be considered. Seminar 9 – The Technological Environment WEEK 10 Lecture 10 International Financial Environment See lecture notes related DVD BBC2 series â€Å"The Love of Money† or â€Å"The City Uncovered† Questions relating to above DVD + Seminar time will be devoted to providing advice and further discuss on end assessment choices in preparation for submission. International Business Environment PGBM04 Summative Assessment Guidelines Assessment for this module takes the form of an individual assignment. This will provide some guidelines about what to expect and what is expected from you. Further information will be provided in seminars and on Sunspace for this module. FORMAT The assignment will be a paper consisting of eight discussion type questions. You are required to choose ONE and write an essay style answer of about 3000 words. WHAT THE ASSESSMENT WILL BE BASED ON You are expected to use a variety of source in your answer. These may include textbooks, journal articles,internet sources and newspaper articles (for example) the Financial Times. You will be expected to carry out research on each chosen question, gathering and selecting relevant information for inclusion in your answer. It is important that each answer puts forward your individual analysis on the issues raised using your sources as evidence and examples. The answers you write will indicate the development of your thoughts and critical evaluation of the topics, which have taken place throughout the semester. As part of the induction and/or later you will be briefed by the Subject Librarian for Business on how to register with the Library Information Services, in order to access resources and acquiring an ATHENS password. Virtual Learning available via Sunspace – has help on the use of Harvard Referencing, and other study skills advice is available on the Module website. In addition a list of useful links at the end of this guide is included. Details of the Assignment Issue date: Week beginning 6th December 2010 Details of the Submission date: Wednesday 19th January 2011, by 2pm Prospect Building Further question specific advice information will be given on Assessment via Sunspace and in Lectures/Seminars. A set of sample questions is provided for general guidance. Seminar/Workshop Programme Please note the seminar programme is a crucial element in supporting your learning and understanding by providing the opportunity to apply, discuss and present key issues. Normally you will be allocated to a group for your presentations. You are expected to work within a group/team and organize your presentation accordingly. Each group will be given approximately 20 minutes to present their case. A group will be allocated a leader to ensure better organization and smooth presentation. You are not given a mark, but presentations are a key part of the formative assessment process. It is a prerequisite for the submission of the assignment. ALL STUDENTS ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO PREPARE FOR PRESENTATIONS/SEMINARS BY READING THE RELEVANT CHAPTERS OF KEY TEXTS BEFORE EACH SEMINAR SESSION Seminar Week 1 View BBC 2 The Love of Money: Part 3 Back from the Brink. BBC Revealing how close the world came to the brink of economic ruin Autumn 2008. Key players, incl. ex-UK PM Gordon Brown US Secretary Tim Geithner, reveal the ups downs of then as they fought behind the scenes. Few people realise how close society came to a truly catastrophic breakdown. Consider questions:- Who is the Governor of the Bank of England? Briefly wha t role does he/his senior team) perform in relation to UK Government economic policy? What were the key reasons for the financial crisis â€Å"the credit crunch? † Why was its impact felt around the world? What part did events at Lehman Brothers play? What does the acronym BRIC stand for when listing powerful emerging world economies. Name the President of 2 of these countries? Which post is held by Geir Haarde? What was the financial situation in his country in Autumn 2008? Which job was held by French politician Christine Legarde? [What was her role? Whose response was she co-ordinating? ] How where Sir Fred Goodwin’s company involved? On Wed 8th October 2008 how much UK taxpayer’s money was committed to â€Å"The Historic Re-Capitalisation Bank Rescue Plan†? Which 2 banks in particular were the major beneficiaries? (Near the end of the programme) who said†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. f we had not had a British announcement we would be in a very much worse pla ce today. † What organisation does he work for? Who says at the end of the programme †¦Ã¢â‚¬ this is one in a long series of financial crises. People who think the world has changed have not read history? † Student’s opinions/discussion. Week 2 Finish off week 1 questions; review understanding of Lecture 1 For Seminar 2 ALL students to briefly consider their own countries/ companies experiences. What where key causes of â€Å"The S. E Asian financial crisis 1997†; â€Å"the Dot. Com boom†. What do they have in common? Case Study: Procter and Gamble Week 3. Case 1: Nokia Case 2: Pepsico Week 4 CASE: IBM LENOVO: A Tale of Globalization IBM stunned the world in 2004 by announcing that it had sold its personal computer (PC) business to Lenovo, a Chinese company, at the time little known outside China. The takeover even attracted the attention of the US Congress, whose Committee on Foreign Investment in the US was needed to clear the deal, as a takeover by a Chinese company in the technology sector could raise questions of national security. For both companies, the takeover represented a dramatic change of strategy. IBM’s reputation was built on its hardware expertise, and it was now selling off its entire PC business. Lenovo was an entrepreneurial Chinese PC producer, which had built up a market share of 30% in China, but had little presence elsewhere. It paid $1. 75 billion for IBM’s PC business, making this the largest ever overseas acquisition by a Chinese company. Overnight, Lenovo became a global company. IBM, as its name, International Business Machines, reflects, has traditionally viewed its core business as hardware, but changes in direction over the years have led it more into software and services provision. Its mainframe computer business, which had been successful in the 1970s and 80s, waned in the 90s, as PCs surged in popularity. In the 1980s, the company built up a PC business, but one with little of its own technology: it used processors from Intel, software from Microsoft and outsourced manufacturing. In this very competitive market, it was failing to make profits, as Dell and Hewlett-Packard steamed ahead. The logical move was to sell the PC business, in order to concentrate on higher value activities, mainly for business customers. Its hardware division has focused on the top-end server market, adding features and adapting technology from its mainframe computers. The resurgence of its mainframe computers, newly engineered and designed to run Linux open-source software, is also proving successful. In services, IBM aims to capture swathes of the outsourcing sector, offering all types of BPO, including logistics support, call centres, human resources and more. This sector, however, has become crowded, as smaller flexible companies with lower costs, such as Wipro from India, compete for work. IBM’s management now see the company’s strategy as moving towards large BPO projects, its ‘business process transformation services’. The company will need to change its culture from a product and software orientation to one of service provision, which will require greater flexibility and more of a solutions approach than its traditional hardware business. Reflecting its new outsourcing orientation, the company has reorganized and shed 13,000 jobs, mainly in Europe, moving departments to lower cost locations: human resources to Hungary and payroll functions to Romania. IBM has retained strong ties with its former PC business, through an equity stake and licensing agreements for its patents and designs. It owns 19% of Lenovo’s shares, and it allowed Lenovo to use the IBM brand name on its products for five years. One of IBM’s greatest successes had been the ThinkPad notebook computer, with its iconic black casing, which continues to be sold by the new owners under the Lenovo brand. Lenovo is increasing the range of products offered under the ThinkPad brand, to cater for small and medium-sized businesses. For Lenovo, the IBM brand was a step towards building its own global brand. It can point to Samsung in South Korea, an Asian company which has gained a reputation for innovative products backed by a strong brand. However, Lenovo dropped the IBM brand name two years ahead of schedule due to customers’ acceptance and recognition of the Lenovo and Think trademark. Lenovo’s strength has been in producing computers for the Chinese market. Founded only in 1984, the company’s success can be mainly attributed to its entrepreneurial founder and now chairman, Yang Yuanqing, who, as part of the deal, had to step down as CEO, to make way for the new CEO, who was the former head of IBM’s PC division. The new head of human resources has also come over from IBM. Lenovo has ambitions to challenge Dell and Hewlett-Packard, particularly on price and products designed for emerging markets. It can put to good use its experience in designing low-cost machines for the Chinese market. Its expertise in procuring low cost components will give it an advantage, especially important as procurement costs account for 70–80% of total revenues in this sector. It can use its new economies of scale to further lower procurement costs. It also aims to target small business users in developed economies, which had never been a priority for IBM. Can Lenovo’s performance match its global ambitions? In the first two years after the takeover, it introduced its own branded products outside China, and increased its revenues fourfold. It now has significant sales outside China. However, the huge organizational and logistical changes have taken their toll, net profits in 2005 falling to just $22 million, a fifth of the previous year’s. Doubts revolve mainly around the fact that a relatively young company with no experience outside its domestic market has acquired a global company three times its size. There are the cultural differences between the acquired business, a rather bureaucratic division of a large American MNE, and the new entrepreneurial Chinese owners, whose management team before the takeover had an average age of 28. The chief financial officer says: ‘It’s not a difference between Chinese and Americans, but really between an entrepreneur company and a well-established multinational company’ (Dickie, 30 September 2005). For Lenovo, complexities of supply chains, products and technology have been difficult to manage, especially as the new headquarters in New York and the Chinese workforce are 12 time zones apart. For other Chinese companies eyeing international expansion, the success of Lenovo would be an example to follow. Lenovo’s failure would send a strong signal that, despite energy and ambition, they might not yet have the management skills to take on leading MNEs in established markets. By 2007, the company had made progress towards restructuring the business, and felt confident to launch new products aimed at the global consumer PC market, taking on rivals Dell, Hewlett-Packard and Acer (of Taiwan). New IdeaPad notebooks will be launched in the US, France, China, India, Russia and other markets. Dickie (2005) ‘Lenovo targets small business’, FT www. lenovo. com www. ibm. com/investor Read the case study web check the sites above. What changes in strategy have taken place at IBM, both before and after the sale of the PC business? What aspects of globalization are highlighted in the case study? Consider the acquisition of IBM’s PC business by Lenovo in terms of owner-specific advantages. Briefly comment on Lenovo’s prospects in competition with established rivals Seminar 5 Case1 Wal-Mart’s great leap forward Wal–Mart is the world’s largest retailer, but this American retailing giant is finding life at the top hard at home, and even harder abroad. In 1962, Sam Walton, Wal-Mart’s founder, devised a business model which seemed to guarantee continued growth; employ lowly paid staff to sell low-cost, mass- market products predominantly aimed at America’s low-income groups. By the end of the 1990s the model was starting to look tarnished, as the consumers became more diverse and demanding and employee relations started to deteriorate. The supermarket sector, once the domain of national chains has now gone global. In the UK, Tesco forges ahead both at home and abroad, its sales growing faster abroad than at home. Wal–Mart by contrast has concentrated on the US, but with sales growth at home slowing, it started to look abroad. Wal-Mart has looked to changes in strategy and organization to boost sales at home, as well as compete in global markets. Currently the US accounts for 80% of its profits, but it hopes to increase global profits from the current 20 % to 30%. Initially a food retailer only, non-food ranges, such as clothing and appliances, were added in 1988. Its worldwide sourcing, benefiting from economies of scale, has brought in low-cost textiles and appliances, particularly from China. Wal-Mart executives have been concerned that higher profit is needed in the US to offset higher costs. Wal-Mart is the largest private employer in the US, employing 1. 4 million people. Working for such a large organization, low wage workers might expect to be unionized. However the company refuses to recognize the grocery worker’s trade union. Since the late 1990s, Wal-Mart has sought to expand internationally. Its purchase of ASDA in the UK in 1999 has been its most successful acquisition. It also entered the difficult supermarket environment in Germany, where the ‘hard’ discounters, such as Aldi and Lidl have grown to 40% of the market. While Wal- Mart’s global logistics should have guaranteed economies of scale to enable it to compete, the 85 stores struggled to make profits, losing out to the established discounters. It also encountered problems with Germany’s strong trade unions. Wal-Mart sold these shops to the Metro chain in 2006. Wal-Mart has now moved on to China, where it competes against a number of other Western hypermarket players such as Tesco and Carrefour. Here, Wal-Mart is trying to establish its business model, and to appeal to increasing numbers of wage-earning consumers. It is also hoping to offer them its own credit card. The bank backing the scheme is substantially owned by state entities and non tradable shares as is common in China. In a further move, Wal–Mart, known for its anti-union stance in the US, has allowed trade unions to set up branches in its Chinese outlets, and has allowed the Chinese Communist Party to set up a branch in one. While this may sound unusual, given its past practices, the partnership between the Chinese Communist Party and Wal –Mart has a logic; the company seeks profits in the world’s largest and fastest growing market, while China’s leaders wish to keep an eye on this powerful investor. This latest chapter in Wal-Mart’s localization strategy promises to be interesting; from the point of view of its chances of success in China, and in the reaction of Wal-Mart’s shareholders. [adapted from Morrison, J. (2009) International Business, Palgrave p. 113-115] Questions: 1. The experience of Wal-Mart’s international expansion to date has been one of mixed fortunes. Consider its recent experience for a country of your choice. 2. What are its prospects for success in China? (Limit this to knowledge of its involvement in your local area). 3. Is Wal-Mart’s business philosophy typical of 21st century expansion in its sector? What are the positive and negative aspects of it business model? Week 5: Case 2: Class Debate Whole group to search out from informed financial/economics sources, from perspective of own country’s Macroeconomic policy. Case for continuing government Fiscal Stimulus; Case against. Managing ‘down’ the size of a country’s Budget deficit. From a International perspective look for example at last G20 meeting, Canada end of June 2010. Suggested background articles from an INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT: U, V or W for recovery. Economist 392, no. 8645 (August 22, 2009): 10-11. Business Source Elite, EBSCOhost Or 2 views from compilation of articles Financial Times FT Online from Library: The Austerity Debate Deficit Cutting v. Fiscal Stimulus Monday July 19th 23rd July 2010 Seminar Week 6: Review and discuss Hofstede/Trompenaars analysis Do you agree with their analysis? If their conclusions are correct how may it affect the way companies work together. Case study 1: Group presenting Morrison (2009) Case 4. 2 pp152- 153 DIY goes Global. What aspects of the cultural environment in China are relevant to the DIY sector? How successful has B Q been in adapting to the tastes and needs of local consumers in China? What is the nature of the competitive environment in the sector B Q have entered? www. kingfisher. co. uk; B Q’S Chinese website is www. nq. com. cn. What can we tell about the cultural differences (as non Chinese speakers)? Home Depot’s website is www. homedepot. com What challenges await Home Depot in its Chinese market entry Compare B Q and Home Depot in terms of their approaches to internationalization. Case 2: Testing Times for Citigroup in S. Korea What difficulties has Citigroup faced in building market share in S. Korea? What issues within the 2 organisations have held up the integration process. In your view what mistakes has Citigroup made in integrating the 2 organizations? What recommendations would you give to Citigroup for any future acquisition in Asia? www. citigroup. com WEEK 7 Call Centre Jobs Migrate to India Call centres were once heralded as the providers of much-needed jobs in areas where the decline in manufacturing industry had left economic stagnation and high unemployment. Areas such as the northeast of England and Wales attracted call centres, largely in banking and financial services, where the need was for efficiency in handling large number of fairly routine queries from customers. An element of their attraction for business was the low-cost environment which they offered, and for employees, job and training opportunities. However, the reality turned out to be less rosy than expectations had suggested, and the quest for cost savings had led to a migration of some of these jobs to low-cost locations, particularly in India. Call centre work acquired a reputation as a repetitive and without prospects of career development in the UK, which has been slow to shift. Low pay, poor working conditions and limited career prospects have led to high staff turnover and employees seeing this type of work as casual or temporary. A number of high-profile companies, including HSBC, Aviva (Insurance) and BT, have shifted call centre jobs to India. HSBC, the worlds second largest bank, cut 4000 UK jobs in 2003, relocating the work to India, Malaysia and China, in one of the largest transfers of British jobs to overseas locations. Its chief executive said: as one of the worlds largest financial services companies, HSBC has a responsibility to all its stakeholders to remain efficient and competitive (Croft, 17 October 2003). A succinct illustration of the widely held conviction that call centre migration is a seamless process is found in the words of the HSBC CEO, who lauded the virtues of the Indian workers, at the moment when his company embarked upon its first wave of offshoring† [Taylor Bain (2005)] For HSBCs UK employees, the companys advertising slogan, the worlds local bank, had a particularly hollow sound. Announcing the shift of two call centres to India, BTs management highlighted the dilemma. On the one hand, the need to seek the low-cost locations, but also sensitivity to the employment implications for current UK employees (Singh, 10 March 2003). BT had outsourced jobs to service companies in the UK, reflecting a trend of outsourcing which has developed in the industry. Under an outsourcing contract, a specialist call centre company agrees to provide call centre services for an organization such as BT. In the UK, (NORTH EAST REGION especially) Garland Call Centres was one of these companies. In May 2010 it went into administration â€Å"unable to support trading after the termination of key contracts. Nick Reed, director and joint administrator at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, said: Garlands Call Centres has experienced very challenging trading conditions and more recently received notice from a number of key clients of their intention to move their customer service work to other centres, many in low wage countries including Asia and Africa. As recently as 2007/2008 , turnover was ? 50m, and company employee number had grown to around 3,000. By 2009 it had lost much of its work for its large broadband and mobile operator clients. By 2010, it said it was left with contracted work for only 1,500 employees. Customers phoning a helpline with a query regarding a gas provider, mobile phone provider or bank will probably have no idea they are speaking to a Garland employee rather than directly to the provider. For Garland, the attraction of Hartlepool was a pool of potential workers, many with a university education, with the added advantage that, because of high regional unemployment, they are willing to work for as little as ? 13,000–? 15,000 a year. A third of Garlands employees have university degrees. By comparison, call centre jobs in India are mostly held by graduates, but the starting salary of the Indian graduate is ? 000+per year. Here, specialist call centre companies are growing rapidly, fuelled by large numbers of graduates who speak English. These are considered desirable jobs, with relatively good conditions by local standards, but rates of staff retention are low, with annual turnover running at 40 50 per cent. Indian workers have found it difficult to adjust to the night shifts which are required of them, to deal with customers in time zones the other side of the globe. Then there are the pressures of the job, combined with the language and cultural adjustment needed to deal with customers in the US and Europe. They, like counterparts elsewhere, are unlikely to see their careers in call centres. According to Taylor and Bain (2005) it can be concluded that migration of call centre work will not be seamless. †The cost reduction logic drives companies to offshore voice services, but they are then confronted with a series of problems deriving from the customer oriented logic. † â€Å"Even allowing for the simplified, standardized nature of the bulk of Indian call-handling, it appears the cultural and linguistic differences are not readily overcome. Consequently the call centre with its distinctive labour process may in the long run be offshored less readily than other non-customer facing, back office activities The future of call centre workers, wherever they are, will depend largely on the extent to which automated technology is able to take over many routine tasks, through voice recognition, email and the internet. Deskilling leading to automation is a familiar occupational pattern which has affected manufacturing industries and is likely to be repeated in the call centre industry. [adapted and updated from Morrison (2006) p229-230; Taylor P. nd Bain P (2005) â€Å"India calling to the far away towns: the call centre labour processes and globalization†, Work Employment and Society, Vol. 19 No. 2, pp. 261-282. BBC News May 2010 http://news. bbc. co. uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/tees/8687770. stm] Case Questions 1. In what ways can it be said that globalization is affecting the call centre industry? 2. HSBCs chief executiv e referred to the interests of stake holders what did he mean? 3. Successful call centres exist in Sunderland and elsewhere in the NE of England (given you experience of a relevant company visit), why are they still viable? i. e. What do Taylor Bain mean in the last paragraph above? ] Seminar Week 8: WTO website. View and discuss from WTO website A choice from: Videos such as: Prospects for 2010 (March 2010 with WTO Chief Economist) 2min 32s; WTO at Fifteen (7m 39s); To the Heart of the WTO, viewed through the viewpoint of interests of 2 countries (Brazil and Norway) (22m 27s) Routes of Trade (9m) very introductory [At the most advanced which presumes at lot of reading and understanding: WTO FORUM Debate Regional Trade Agreements Multilateral Trade Bhagwati Hufbauer, 2007 (13m3s)] Plus Case: Piecemeal Liberalization of World Trade in Textiles and Clothing. Seminar Week 9 Case Study Technology: Does R D expenditure deliver better company performance and competitive advantage? Review evidence of part of Morrison (2009) Ch 12. Access:  ¦ UK Dept of Trade and Industry now known as UK Department of Business Innovation and Skills www. innovation. gov. uk/rd_scoreboard/ What is measured by the R D scoreboard? How is this measured? What about relative performance of research intensive companies? What can we deduce by way of international comparisons? Consider also the evidence by consultants Booz Allen: boozallen. com/publications/article/981406 (Oct 2005) Seminar Week 10 Seminar devoted to advice and guidance on assessment choices in preparation for submission of end assignments. Useful links: University Policy on Plagiarism https://docushare. sunderland. ac. uk/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-2994/AQH-F6-12+Policy+Statement+on+Plagiarism. pdf University Policy on Extenuating Circumstances https://docushare. sunderland. ac. uk/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-2995/AQH-F6-13+Procedures+for+Extenuating+Circumstances. pdf Link to the University’s Academic Regulations https://docushare. sunderland. ac. uk/docushare/dsweb/View/Collection-2780 University Policies on Complaints, Appeals and Student Discipline https://docushare. sunderland. ac. uk/docushare/dsweb/View/Collection-2784 Generic Assessment Criteria – Postgraduate – related to the assessment criteria of the module} | |Grade |Relevance | | |76-85% |The work examined is outstanding and demonstrates comprehensive knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to the Level of the qualification. There is also excellent evidence showing that all the | | | |learning outcomes and responsibilities appropriate to that level are fully satisfied. At this level it is expected that the work will be outstanding in the majority of the categories cited above or by | | | |demonstrating particularly compelling evaluation and elegance of argument, interpretation or discourse. | | | |The work examined is excellent and is evidence of comprehensive knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to the Level of the qualification. There is also excellent evidence showing that all the | | |70 – 75% |learning outcomes and responsibilities appropriate to that level are satisfied At this level it is expected that the work will be excellent in the majority of the categories cited above or by | | | |demonstrating particularly compelling evaluation and elegance of argument, interpretation or discourse. | | |Directly relevant to the requirements of the assessment | | |60 – 69% | | | |30 – 34% |The work examined provides insufficient evidence of the knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to the Level of the qualification. The evidence provided shows that some of the learning outcomes| | | |and responsibilities appropriate to that Level are satisfied. The work will be weak in some of the indicators. | | |15-29% |The work examined is unacceptable and provides little evidence of the knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to the Level of the qualification. The evidence shows that few of the learning | | | |outcomes and responsibilities appropriate to that Level are satisfied. The work will be weak in several of the indicators. | | |0-14% |The work examined is unacceptable and provides almost no evidence of the knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to the Level of the qualification. The evidence fails to show that any of the | | | |learning outcomes and responsibilities appropriate to that Level are satisfied. The work will be weak in the majority or all of the indicators. | Reading: Morrison, J. 2006): Chapter 10 or Morrison, J. (2009) part of Chapter 6. Case Study for ALL: WTO debate:â€Å"The current WTO principles and agreed framework of trade policies have a positive influence on multilateral free trade. † Group case: Piecemeal Liberalization of World Trade in Textiles and Clothing. Case study 6. 2. (Morrison 2009) pp. 233 -235. Reading: Morrison, J (2006), Ch 11 or Morrison (2009) parts of Chapter 12. Group Case Study: Access the Innovation references below

Evolution Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Evolution - Lab Report Example The major tool used in this biological experiment was a specially programmed computer application (automated) that enables adjustment of variables from default figures and when run, accurate results on the changes that has occurred in the biological structures of living organisms were shown. These results are therefore used to justify the hypothesis. In the first experiment, when the independent variable (precipitation) is adjusted to higher levels, the birds evolve smaller beaks. This is because when precipitation is high then the seeds become softer and the birds slowly adjust to the changes of nature until the fully adapt. On the other hand when precipitation is low, the seeds become harder and the need for additional force to crack the seeds arise and based similar principle; the birds evolve stronger and larger beaks over time (Sober, 2008). This adjustment may not favor some birds as the adaptation and evolution process is gradual and therefore may lead to death of individuals that are unable to adjust effectively to the changes of nature. Natural selection can influence variation of a trait in a population in three major forms namely; diversifying, directional and stabilizing forms (Sober, 2008). In the second experiment, it is clearly evident that changes in the environmental conditions favors the individuals with specific phenotypes. When important parameters that influence natural selection such as precipitation is manipulated (adjusted to 50cm/year and 0cm/year on Wallace Island and Darwin Island respectively), it is noted with great significance that only a few individuals are able to survive and continue reproducing in an environment with low precipitation. This is because of the variation in biological and environmental factors that are very significant for natural selection. Therefore for a period of 300 years, these changes will influence the evolution of Finch beaks and in turn affect their population. This fact can be justified by the graphs

Compare the differences between China and America on using of media Essay

Compare the differences between China and America on using of media entertainment and media effect on individual - Essay Example To this end, the paper will critique the fundamental elements and aspects of culture and provide a review of how they define dominant trends and patterns in the society. The paper will undertake a comparative analysis and review of culture and how it shapes entertainment in two countries - China and the United States of America. To this end, there will be a critical review of various aspects of culture and the media in these two countries. Fundamentally, the media captures contemporary issues and matters in a given society and community (Cowans, 2000). This is because the media often focuses on addressing dominant matters and situations as and when they unfold in the time in question. Thus, culture is central and important in defining what the mainstream mindset and expectations of the people is and what unconventional conflicts and issues come up to form an appropriate storyline for the media. "Culture provides a kaleidoscope within which human emotions are defined" (Rohn, 2009: p232). This implies that culture defines what is to be done in every stage in the human life from birth, puberty, adulthood, old age to death (Rohn, 2009). As such, the definitions of happiness and sadness is dictated by what the dominant culture values and identifies to be important. Typically, the media presents issues and matters that challenges the status quo and this is often a situation that is uncommon or unusual. This is because members of the society and audiences around the world will prefer to view issues and matters that do not really seem to be conventional or in line with the dominant practices and views of the society. Culture has a strong linkage to the media and the media has two main issues that converge to create this connection: dominant conflicts in the culture and new technology (Marsh, 2012). Marsh argues that in the normal sense, audiences to the media often seek to view things that are not in sync with the dominant

Advertising Campaigns in Banking Using Images of Famous People Essay Example for Free

Advertising Campaigns in Banking Using Images of Famous People Essay Today, banking services look very similar to each other. While comparing various products, a customer has often no idea which one is the best for him and he does not even know how they differ from each other. In order to understand the difference between them, it requires a thorough analysis, for which a potential buyer does not have enough time. In most cases, the choice of customers is based on irrational considerations. By observing recent advertisements in banking sector, I came to conclusion that most of them are becoming less informative and more focused on creating a positive image of the bank and its product. This creates an impression that the product or service is essential to the customer and its possession or use of service means that the buyer belongs to a group of the wise or better ones who are well chosen. Further observations has shown that it is becoming increasingly popular to use celebrities in advertisements of well-known banks, as public has sympathy, respect and trust towards those people. These advertisements include actors, successful athletes and popular personalities from the media world. The common feature of these various industry representatives is their universal recognition. Therefore, the subject of this work is to look at how banks are creating a positive image though their advertising campaigns by using celebrities. The goal of my work is to present the role of the brand, the essence of advertising, as well as to demonstrate the specific marketing activities with the use of recognition of famous people. The first part provides information on the purpose of advertising, its functions and types. The second part shows how branding is done with the help of famous people in Russia. Lastly, I will conclude the research by evaluating advertising activities in banking sector and their effectiveness. Advertising Advertising is usually presented as a message that aims to increase demand and thus sales of a certain product. However, this definition is incomplete and should be supplemented by two important elements. The first one concerns the creation of advertising in order to reduce demand. An example could be an anti-smoking or anti-alcohol campaign. The second element is to present advertising as a combination of information and persuasion, prompting the customer to buy the product with better selectiveness. Since advertising is a broad concept, it is understood in many ways. Philip Kotler says that advertising is a measure of information and propaganda, designed to increase the level of knowledge of brand, product and company of its customers or potential customers. However, Belch Belch write that advertising is any form of communication about a product, organisation, ideas or services originating from a distinct source, facing the environment. The most common purpose of advertising is to create customer awareness of the existence of a company, product or brand. The customer should spontaneously recall the advertised name, and at the same time be encouraged to re-purchase. Another objective is to maintain positive beliefs about the image and to create the best possible relationship with the client. These objectives could not be achieved only by using advertisements, as an integrated marketing plan is required for those purposes. Another function is related to the issuing of competitive messages in response to competitors advertising messages. The main objective is to increase the attractiveness of their products. Another way is to weaken the position of the competition by presenting their products from a weaker side. There are also two major function of advertisements. Consumer advertising targeted at specific customers. A significant number of advertisements on television, radio or newspaper is consumer-based. A characteristic feature of these ads is that it is financed by the manufacturer or dealer who sells the product. Advertising to the companies also known as industrial, commercial and so-called business advertising. The vast majority of advertisements related to consumer is located in all types of media. Business advertising presents in specialised publications or professional journals. The objectives and functions of advertising divide them into two more elements: Advertisement is designed in order to stimulate demand for the product, such as American cigarettes, fruit from Morocco, Polish chocolate. It is used in one of two situations. The first is part is when a product is getting launched. It is called pioneer advertising. The creation of such advertising is associated with the implementation of the following three objectives: 1) To introducing a new product to market.  2) To affect selected markets, simplification of the contractors carrying out the tasks. 3) To inform the pioneer. The second element is connected to advertising to maintain the demand. Such advertising is used throughout the product life cycle and seeks to maintain or stimulate demand. It is also important to mention, that the selective demand advertising is different from the main demand advertising which is designed to stimulate demand for individual brands. It is a competitive advertising that appears in the second product life cycle, when there are already competitive products on the market. The company is trying to gain an advantage through the promotion, so that customers remember those product. This is usually done by highlighting the advantages and unique advantages of the product over a competitor. Another form of selective demand advertising is comparative advertising. Creating brand by using the image of famous people A company that wants to effectively advertise its brand, should not reserve funds for advertising campaigns. Power of the media is unbelievably huge these days. Media is considered as a fourth power in terms of influence on public. Regarding the banking sector in Russia, it is becoming increasingly popular to use images of famous people in advertisements. It comes to media operations, whose primary objective is to create the brand advertising, where the actor or another person from the world of politics, business, etc. represents the business and associated with the product. Mechanics of this advertising method is simple: This famous person uses the services of the bank N. So its a good bank and you can trust it. This advertising method has several advantages: 1) The fame of celebrity and his character is applied to the brand. 2) If a customer feels confident towards the celebrity, this confidence will be applied to a brand. Increased brand loyalty among fans of celebrities. 3) The client is more prepared to use products and services and has positive attitude towards the brand reduces attention to the price. An example of a effective application of such a strategy is the brand image advertising campaign of VTB 24, which began back in 2008. The campaign was built on attracting celebrities to advertise the bank as a reliable, stable institution that can be trusted. Those celebrities where: a coach Tatiana Tarasova, actresses Ingeborg Dapkunayte and CHulpan Hamatova, composer Igor Sharp, etc. Shall I call a few celebrities this is the safest option, because you can work on different audiences at the same time believes the managing director of BBDO Branding Olga Konovalova. However, some experts pointed out that a participation of an actor Konstantin Khabenksy was not entirely successful the campaign . Usually his characters have unpredictable personality: they do not represent the stability that people are willing to see in the bank. Overall, Young Rubicam advertising agency believes that this strategy seems to be justified. This campaign helped to create an image of VTB 24 as one of the most stable and popular among celebrities banks. Moreover, the brand recognition of this bank increased from 34 to 45%. But not all advertising campaigns became successful. At the first glance I thought I was imagining things that was the reaction of most passers-by when they first saw the billboards of the bank Trust with an image of Bruce Willis. For the first time on the territory of the former Soviet Union such a global megastar was participating in the Russian advertising campaign. Vice-President of Trust Communications Dmitry Chukseev binds him choice of Bruce Willis with the results of studies that have shown that he is an absolute leader in the aggregate index of perception of the target audience. The use of celebrities in advertising has serious drawbacks, such as: 1) The risk choosing a wrong celebrity. Money down the drain if a celebrity is not popular among target consumers. 2) The risk of damaging the brand image in the case of a celebrity scandal. The risk of damaging the brand image in the case if celebrity is advertising some other brands. According to sociological research, advertising by using celebrities will be less in demand over time. In 2010, the American edition of Ad Age found that the modern public wants to get as much information in advertising as possible and it is this, rather than the popularity of the characters which is taken into account when banks are thinking of the next marketing move. A study of Ace Metrix found that advertising of financial services with celebrities does not generate high consumer confidence, besides celebrities distract the consumers’ attention on a product. Conclusion Advertising is created to promote the product. It is designed to convince customers to accept the product and purchase it. A form of advertisement should represent advantages of products and services promoted and show the benefits of the product to the customers. Advertising should involve means and methods that will effectively allow the transfer of your content to consumer. Today, advertising has almost the status of art. The advertising message is often intended not only to promote the product, but also to shock the customer and cause him to experience the product emotionally. Effectively formulated advertising message not only encourages the recipient to purchase a product, but also allows to encode in his mind, which in tern affects consumer’s preferences. The aim of this study was to show how the banks influence the decisions of customers through the use in advertising of the services of trusted and widely accepted celebrities. People pay attention to such features as sympathy and trust in the star. This confirms that the banks branding through advertising campaigns by using images of famous people has a positive affect on the overall brand awareness. Nowadays, due to the continuous changes in the market, the importance of quality and quantity of information is significantly increased. Information overload makes todays buyer is no longer in a position to observe and analyse the changes. A more developed market, more products and forms of distribution, increased competition between companies means that the role of information significantly increases. Celebrities are no longer needed to raise confidence in the banks. Therefore, banking sector needs to change the trend in the commonly used types of advertisements, which will be characterised by greater efficiency than those involving identifiable persons. Therefore, creating brand by using the image of famous people is no longer perspective. However, this is still a matter of debate.

Law of Nature - Wordsworth Essay -- William Wordsworth

Nature is freedom, it knows no boundaries. Bronislaw Malinowski wrote, "Freedom is a symbol which stands for a sublime and powerful ideal.† The state of nature is a term in political philosophy that describes a circumstance prior to the state and society's establishment. John Locke, whose work influenced the American Declaration of Independence, believes that the state of nature is the state where are individuals are completely equal, natural law regulates, and every human being has the executive power of the natural law. Nature is the very essence of freedom, and freedom is the essence of singularity. An Infinite and Unbound Singularity would require infinite and unbound degrees of freedom. Each individual mind represents an infinite degree of freedom separated by Nothing but its own Perspective. Just as there is Nothing that separates one spatial dimension from the other but the perspective view. The height, weight, and depth of our spatial dimensions are interchangeable, and are only defined by our current point of view. Rotate them by 90 or 180 degrees in any direction and one be...

Apache Corporation Essay

Apache Corporation was formed in 1954, based on the idea of becoming significant and prosperous in the oil industry. The company took $250,000 of investor capital, paired it with fierce determination and now Apache Corporation is considered one of the top independent oil and gas exploration and production companies in the world (â€Å"Apachecorp.com†, 2012). Apache Corporation operates in both domestic and international markets exploring for, developing, and producing natural gas, crude oil, and natural gas liquids (â€Å"Apachecorp.com†, 2012). On December 31, 2011, the Company had production in the United States, Canada, Egypt, and Australia. Offshore production exists in the United Kingdom, the North Sea, and Argentina. Looking into the future Apache plans to continue to explore other countries for new discoveries and development opportunities (â€Å"Apachecorp.com†, 2012). Environment The success of any business depends on the ability to adapt to the environment it operates in. As part of the oil and gas industry Apache Corporation operates in a global business environment known for its competitiveness. The company has shown growth in production thirty one of the last thirty three years and throughout those years change has been a constant companion. Wide swings in oil prices have become commonplace in the world today, the price of a barrel of oil changes almost daily. Operating in other countries means that political unrest and changes in government policies must be addressed, as well as oil industry regulations that are constantly evolving. Apache Corporation has withstood the changes in business environment for 57 years and remains committed to successfully embracing the changes yet to come. Technology Over the last 10 years the most significant technological advance for the industry has been the coupling of horizontal drilling with hydraulic fracturing techniques. This new method allows the development of resources that are trapped in shale and other areas that have been nearly impossible to mine in the past. Apache Corporation now applies this technology worldwide (â€Å"Apachecorp.com†, 2012). This method is also used by nearly all other companies in the industry including the comparison companies Devon and Anadarko. Financial Health According to the 2011 Apache Corporation Annual Report the company showed a profit for the year and the debt ratio is 0.22. One top competitor Anadarko Petroleum located in San Antonio Texas has a debt ratio of .65 and showed a loss for the 2011 year (â€Å"Hoovers†, 2012). A second top competitor Devon Energy located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma had a better year in 2011, this company did show a profit and their debt ratio is 0.48 (â€Å"Hoovers†, 2012). Within the gas and oil industry the overall financial status of Apache Corporation is sound. Working in a high risk industry the production risks are balanced by both geographic diversification and a mix of high and low risk properties in the portfolio (â€Å"Hoovers†, 2012). With approximately 3 billion barrels of oil equivalent in reserve Apache Corporation is positioned to maintain their current momentum. The natural gas product is sold most often at current market prices while the crude oil is marketed directly to integrated marketers and refineries. Contract terms are generally 30 days with automatic renewal until canceler at current market prices which change almost daily (â€Å"Apachecorp.com†, 2012). Apache Corporation has been exploring for and producing oil and gas products for over 50 years. The company has been successful and appears to be a sound investment. In this analysis we have reviewed the business environment, financial health and use of technology for Apache Corporation for the purpose of deciding whether or not to invest in the company. References http://www.apachecorp.com/Resources/Upload/file/investors/Apache_AR_2011.pdf Hoovers. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.hoovers.com/company/Apache_Corporation/rfrtif-1-1njea3.html Hoovers. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.hoovers.com/company/Devon_Energy_Corporation/rrxkxi-1-1njea5.html

Corporate Social Responsibility of Orang Switzerland...

This paper gives a research study on the corporate social responsibility in which Orang Switzerland mobile company applies its terms according to CSR. OCH implements the CSR on the behalf of stakeholders .OCH defines the CSR in the context of ethical, legal, commercial and public interest. CSR is dependent upon three pillars according to the company requirement, performance indicators, CSR projects and business principles. Business principles are categorized in three parts , first one is major category of principal then sub category of principal then region of focus. Under these three categories company will take the opinion of stakeholders, work with honesty, provide the protected work place, provide better goods and services, encourage the relation with employs and also achieve its goals. Also the company will support the country by funding in critical condition and for education. All the three pillars will be analyzed in the paper, first one is the principles second one is perfo rmance indicators and the last is CSR projects. CSR research has spent many years to promote company benefits in the regard of social responsibilities, so the CSR strategy consideration gained much importance in a firm working . Although CSR categories the responsibilities of a company but in real world it is not good due to three reasons, first the CSR categories are not differentiable, second CSR can be used as a moral substitute to hide the other