Marxism Essays - Economic Ideologies, Marxist Theory, Socialism

Marxism Marx as Modern Marx's theoretical work is the understanding of the nature of human beings and how they have constructed their historical world. Marx is considered a modernist because his views and theories fit the meaning of Modernity, which are human freedom and the right to free choice. To Marx, Capitalism is a barrier to the notion of human freedom and choice. Five aspects of his political theory which are modern is how he views human nature, effects of Capitalism on human natures with emphasis on significance of labor, class struggles within Capitalism, the demise of Capitalism and the need for the transition to Communism. Marx belief of human nature is that it changes over time; it is historical and dynamic. In understanding human nature, it is important to understand what part labor plays in human nature. ?To be Human is to labor,? (88) therefore Marx believes that Humans work in the world with other Humans in exchange with nature to get what they desire. Thus since human nature is dynamic so are humans' wants and desires. In order to achieve one's wants and desires one must labor with others around them and with nature. Since labor is the activity of a group, the ever-changing world created through the labor of those groups also creates the humans themselves and directly affects them. Through labor, humanity creates and is responsible for the world that they live in. Marx suggests that Capitalism leads to the centralization and concentration of living spaces of where people lives, means of production, monopolies and the distribution of more power to the bourgeoisie. The success of Capitalism is directly connected to capital and wage labor. Capitalism's goal is to increase profits called accumulation; profits then reinvested else where to make more capital. ? . . . like the buying and selling of an object in the capitalist market, but in this case the exchange is money for the ability of labor, what Marx calls labor power.? (xxv) Capitalism flourishes by extracting surplus value, or profit, from the commodities produced by the working class. Without capitals and profits there are obviously no wages and a place to do any type of labor power; and without wage labor capital can not increase itself. Both are dependent on each other for the flourishing of Capitalism. Capitalism is a form of life that does not do justice to human abilities and capacitie s; it is a division from basic powers to humans and the exploitations of human workers. Workers are forced to sell their labor power to capitalists and capitalists have no choice but are forced to exploit labor to gain capital; therefore the laborers are commodities themselves in the capitalist market. As the result of Capitalism, labor has been under admonition and oppression. Instead of picturing the world as it is, Capitalism pictures the world in a distorted view. A view that leads to the alienation of the true is meaning of human nature. The view that places the products of laborers more important than the laborers themselves; thus the laborers are objectified. Laborers then do not realize that they are the ones who are in control of product that they produce. ?Alienated labor hence turns the species-existence of man, and also nature as his mental species capacity, into an existence alien to him, into the means of his individual existence.? (64) The distorted view leads to the miscognition of self of the working class who are cut off from their essential powers. They fail to realize that the world is of their own making and that they have the ability to create and recreate the world in which that they live in. Marx's theory of privileging of economic matters places an emphasis on class struggles that are related to the forces of production as well as the relations of productions. Economics is the production of the exchange of goods and services through labor arrangements. In every society there is a way to distribute goods and services called a mode of production. The mode of production is the combination of the forces of productions; like raw materials, technology or labor forces; and the relations of productions or the relationship among human beings related to

Essay on Federalist papers No10 and 51

Essay on Federalist papers No10 and 51 Essay on Federalist papers No10 and 51 Essay on Federalist papers No10 and 51Federalist papers No10 and 51 are among the most significant Federalist papers contributing to justification of the introduction of the US Constitution and unification of the nation. These Federalist papers focused on the prevention of factions and division of power through the system of check and balances. These principles laid the foundation to the US Constitution and political system which persist now.Federalist Paper No 10 focuses on the problem of factions and the prevention of this problem. To put it more precisely, the author, James Madison, argues that the large union is more effective in preventing small interest groups of taking power and establishing their regime that stands for interests of those groups. James Madison argues that factions comprise an integral part of a democratic state. Moreover, he believes that the American Revolution struggled for liberty of American people, while â€Å"liberty to factions is what air is to fireâ €  (Madison, 12). This is why he argues that the simple ban of factions through the elimination of liberty is inadmissible. On the other hand, he believes that large factions in small states can take the power and neglect interest of minorities. Therefore, they will violate rights of people and neglect their interest, while rights of all people are equal. Hence, Madison insists that the large union can control large factions that leads him to the conclusion that small states will be unable to control factions, but the union of American states is the only way to set control over factions and prevent interest groups from taking the absolute power.Federalist paper No 51 focuses on the separation of powers and, more specifically, upon means by which the separation of powers may be achieved. James Madison, the author of Federalist paper No 51, stands on the ground of the necessity of the separation of power to maintain democracy and liberty in the American nation. He suggests a system of check and balances, which prevent one branch of power from taking control over others. In fact, in his Federalist paper No 51, he suggests separating legislative, judicial and executive branches of powers, which can check and balance each other. This concept of the separation of powers was grounded on James Madison’s idea that â€Å"ambition must be made to counteract ambition† (Madison, 17). The principle of the separation of powers laid the foundation to the US political system existing now and was legally implemented in the US Constitution.In fact, I agree with Federalist paper No 10 and 51, although believe that the risk of factions taking power always persist, regardless of the size of the state, but I believe it is true that in smaller states there is a higher risk of factions taking the full power, while the conflict of interest of different factions in a large state creates better conditions for the control over factions. As for the separation of power, I b elieve this is the milestone of a truly democratic state because the proposed system of check and balances is an effective tool to prevent certain groups or branches of power from taking the full control over the entire nation.Thus, Federalist papers No 10 and 51 are major political works which contributed to the creation of the US Constitution and shaping key principles of the US political system.

How to Demagnetize a Magnet

How to Demagnetize a Magnet A magnet forms when the magnetic dipoles in a material orient in the same general direction. Iron and manganese are two elements that can be made into magnets by aligning the magnetic dipoles in the metal, otherwise these metals are not inherently magnetic. Other types of magnets exist, such as neodymium iron boron (NdFeB), samarium cobalt (SmCo), ceramic (ferrite) magnets, and aluminum nickel cobalt (AlNiCo) magnets. These materials are called permanent magnets, but there are ways to demagnetize them. Basically, its a matter of randomizing the orientation of the magnetic dipole. Heres what you do: Key Takeaways: Demagnetization Demagnetization randomizes the orientation of magnetic dipoles.Demagnetization processes include heating past the Curie point, applying a strong magnetic field, applying alternating current, or hammering the metal.Demagnetization occurs naturally over time. The speed of the process depends on the material, the temperature, and other factors.While demagnetization may occur by accident, it is often performed intentionally when metal parts become magnetized or in order to destroy magnetic-encoded data. Demagnetize a Magnet by Heating or Hammering If you heat a magnet past the temperature called the Curie point, the energy will free the magnetic dipoles from their ordered orientation. The long-range order is destroyed and the material will have little to no magnetization. The temperature required to achieve the effect is a physical property of the particular material. You can get the same effect by repeatedly hammering a magnet, applying pressure, or dropping it on a hard surface. The physical disruption and vibration shake the order out of the material, demagnetizing it. Self Demagnetization Over time, most magnets naturally lose strength as long range ordering is reduced. Some magnets dont last very long, while natural demagnetization is an extremely slow process for others. If you store a bunch of magnets together or randomly rub magnets against each other, each will affect the other, changing the orientation of the magnetic dipoles and lessening the net magnetic field strength. A strong magnet can be used to demagnetize a weaker that has a lower coercive field. Apply AC Current One way to make a magnet is by applying an electrical field (electromagnet), so it makes sense you can use alternating current to remove magnetism, too. To do this, you pass AC current through a solenoid. Start with a higher current and slowly reduce it until its zero. Alternating current rapidly switches directions, changing the orientation of the electromagnetic field. The magnetic dipoles try to orient according to the field, but since its changing, they end up randomized. The core of the material may retain a slight magnetic field due to hysteresis. Note you cant use DC current to achieve the same effect because this type of current only flows in one direction. Applying DC might not increase the strength of a magnet like you might expect, because its unlikely youll run the current through the material in the exact same direction as the orientation of the magnetic dipoles. You will change the orientation of some of the dipoles, but probably not all of them, unless you apply a strong enough current. A Magnetizer Demagnetizer tool is a device you can purchase which applies a strong enough field to change or neutralize a magnetic field. The tool is useful for magnetizing or demagnetizing iron and steel tools, which tend to retain their state unless disturbed. Why You Would Want to Demagnetize a Magnet You may be wondering why youd want to ruin a perfectly good magnet. The answer is that sometimes magnetization is undesirable. For example, if you have a magnetic tape drive or other data storage device and wish to dispose of it, you dont want just anyone to be able to access the data. Demagnetization is one way to remove the data and improve security. There are many situations in which metallic objects become magnetic and cause problems. In some cases, the problem is that the metal now attracts other metals to it, while in other cases, the magnetic field itself presents issues. Examples of materials that are commonly demagnetized include flatware, engine components, tools (although some are intentionally magnetized, like screwdriver bits), metal parts following machining or welding, and metal molds.

Foreign Currency Debt at Vodafone Group plc Case Study

Foreign Currency Debt at Vodafone Group plc - Case Study Example 2-3; Lustgarten, 2006, p. F-22). The aim of management is to give investors the highest possible return on their investment (Jensen and Meckling, 1976). A common strategy is to bring up the stock price if the company, like Vodafone, is listed. Since stock price is based on net present value of all future cash flows of the company, and cash flow depends on profits, the price goes up if profits go up. Profits go up if turnover increases or expenses go down, or both. The stock price reflects the value of the company, so an increase in the price results in the growth of the stock's value to its shareholders. This is known as shareholder value. The growth in shareholder value and the increase in the stock price depend on the growth of profits, which in turn depends on how well the management raises turnover or controls costs. Since Vodafone does business all over the world, it earns and spends money in different currencies. This exposes it to several risks that can bring down revenues or bring up expenses: political, ma rket, interest, or currency risks. Each risk can affect the firm's finances. Political risk can lead to changing firm ownership and loss of investment and value, as when government takes over the firm. Market risk can collapse the stock price and shareholder value when investors lose confidence in the stock market. Interest risk can raise expenses if interest rates on the firm's debts go up; financial income can also decrease if interest rates go down. Currency risk can raise (or bring down) expenses or sales if exchange rates change: if the home currency (sterling) weakens relative to the host (or foreign) currency (dollar), dollar loans would be more expensive and increase expenses in sterling. Of these four types of risk, the last two - interest and currency risks - can be minimised by using foreign currency debt (Allayannis et al., 2001; Keloharju et al., 2001). How does this happen If a firm is well-managed, its assets produce a stream cash flow that goes to shareholders if the firm is financed entirely by common stock. But if it issues debt securities, which is borrowing money from lenders, the firm would divide the cash flows between holders of debt and the stockholders or holders of equity securities. The firm's mix of securities is known as its capital structure. Since the most important task of managers is to maximise the firm's market value, is there a combination of debt and equity securities that would

Opportunity and Inequality in the United States Term Paper

Opportunity and Inequality in the United States - Term Paper Example The very human being used these factors to be markers of superiority or inferiority. Based on these stereotypes, avenues were instituted to propagate and enable these stereotypes. As such, the best schools belonged to a given race or sex, the best jobs began to be occupied by a specific social class or race or sex, specific social places got reserved for specific people etc. In effect, inequality had been instituted by such practices. Those propagating the inequality and the victims of the inequality believed in the practice, with the former group feeling elated as the latter embraced great resentment against the former. The practice continued for centuries until the very human beings that had started it started to see the evil in the practice and as such started to fight it. They are fighting to abolish classification is society along economic, racial, gender and ethnic grounds (Gilbert, 2002). Policies have since been put in place to equalize people, movements have voiced their res entments against he practice and the results The practice has receded to "under the carpet". If you though inequality is dead, you have to think again. This paper seeks to highlight the practice of inequality in the United States by looking at the equal opportunities in the same land. The paper will start by looking at the equal opportunities in the US before it finally highlights the forms of inequalities witnessed in the US. Factors Fuelling Inequality in the US As mentioned in the introduction, a number of factors have been in use to propagate the practice of inequality in the US. These factors have often been both physical and the supposed genetic attributes. Both have hitherto been used to assign all the statuses in the society which would atheism been assigned on equal terms. Race is one such factor. Racial inequality has been and still is rampant in the US. The worst of it is the manifestation in which a white individual is 90% not likely to be a suspect in a crime scene as opposed to a black individual or anyone form the Middle East who will almost be 100% criminal suspects. Ethnicity, besides gender has been the strongest instigator of inequality. Aboriginal or not, foreigner or citizen etc just demonstrates the use of ethnic inequality which is seen in the allocations of resources, positions and status in the society. Gender is yet another factor in which hitherto women have been relegated until recently when they moved their asserti veness to an all time high level. Women fought so hard to assert their position in the society and as they did this they were labeled feminists. In as much as there could be feminists, the underlying factor is that there is inequality at whatever level conceivable in the society. Other factors include wholeness of body and mind in which the physically and/or mentally challenged individuals have unequal allocation of resources, position or even statuses. Generally, inequality is never a facade nor is it a mirage; it is a reality and the US citizens are consciously or otherwise basking in this very reality of inequality

Stem Cell in the Philippines Essay Example for Free

Stem Cell in the Philippines Essay As time goes by, there seems to be a gradual influence of modern sensibility on the way humans perceive the concept of health. In fact, nowadays, there seems to be a blurring of the line between health and wellness. Because of this, it is inevitable that in a modern society, people are now being more conscious with their body and their health is now being a worrisome for them. Thus, science, especially the field of medicine and health sciences, has permeated popular culture in a sense that people have already treated health as a â€Å"religion†. A perfect example of this phenomenon is the rising popularity of stem cell technology because it has already become a transnational activity and issue. Because of this technology’s transnational influence, governments around the world have been very supportive of it. And now, this transnational activity has entered the Philippine healthcare and medical discourse, and issues in its funding are arising. Although stem cell technology is a relatively new and promising technology which will help address health concerns in the country, the federal funding of this technology will only be a burden for the government for it is not a necessity, has questionable benefits, and is impractical and not practicable. This paper, then, seeks to determine the origin of how the concept of stem cell entered the Philippine health and medical discourse as well as issues regarding the federal funding of stem cell research and technology in the country. Furthermore, the writer wants to state that although this paper is arguing that the government should not fund stem cell research in the country, this paper is not trying to argue on the necessity, beneficiality, practicality, and practicability of stem cell research and technology in general, or should it be implemented in the country without federal funding. Also, although some issues of bioethics are going to be tackled in this paper, the writer does not intend to side on certain beliefs of some culture or religion. The discussion on the ethical issues affiliated with the federal funding of stem cell research and technology are entirely made on a social, political, and economic basis. But before the paper begins on enlisting the arguments against the federal funding of stem cell research and technology in the country, it will first provide a background of how it came to the Philippine context. Starting now from what was stated in the introduction, that modern sensibility has gradually influenced people’s perception of the concept of health, it is important to note that with modern technology it has provided an avenue for medical research to continuously uncover new facts and principles that build upon existing knowledge to modify the way we think about biological processes (Trounson xix). In relation to this, throughout the age of medical research, it can be inferred that the reason why there is a continuous activity regarding medical research is because there is a growing interest among scientists in the discovery of new and revolutionary methods of treating certain illnesses that are difficult to be treated in the present like cancer, diabetes, and other degenerative illnesses. It is true that after the nineteenth century, it was thought that â€Å"germs† are the main causes of death among Americans in terms of health-related deaths. But with the birth of the twentieth century and the booming twenties, there has been a paradigm shift in trying to find out the causes of health-related casualties. It was believed then that as generations come, people will be more conscious to degenerative illnesses than that of infectious diseases. Since then, there have been many studies that try to give cure to these degenerative illnesses like cancer, diabetes, etc. And yes, there have been successful discoveries, and there are some failures or â€Å"still ongoing† studies like the attempt to find the cure for diabetes. These then, can be the rationale behind the endless string of studies in the field of medicine and health sciences. However, it is also without doubt that the reason why scientists are so interested with medical research is that, in a social context, the field of medicine and health sciences tries to give pertinent solutions to the people’s needs, wants, and interests in having a healthy lifestyle, being safe from diseases, and in having a beautiful and healthy body. It is intriguing, though, to know that medical research is also being influenced by the interest of the people, of the mass to be more specific. From this, we can then assume that health has been popularized already. In fact, after the first half of the twentieth century, in the final phase of the popularization of health, masses of Americans took a special interest in health as shown in their willingness on spending dramatically increased amounts of money for their health, not only on medical care but gymnasium and similar group memberships and paraphernalia as well to be able to have a healthy lifestyle, thereby blurring the line between health and wellness (Burnham 67). It is then without doubt, according to Trounson that â€Å"in the history of science, certain discoveries have indeed transformed our thinking and created opportunities for major advancement, and so it is with the discovery of stem cell technology†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (xix). Indeed, if there is to be an example of how the field of health and medicinal sciences became popularized, it is the rise of the stem cell. It was November of the year 1998 that stem cell came to the scene of health in popular culture. There were separate announcements in this time by two groups of medical researchers, lead by James A. Thomson of the University of Wisconsin and John Gearhart of the John Hopkins University School of Medicine, about the isolation of the human stem cell. That’s why recently there has been an increased interest among professionals and the public for the stem cell technology other than any fields in biology. But why is there such an interest in stem cell? The ability of the stem cell to provide an in-depth understanding of the biology of the cell and its promising abilities in the field of medicine are the reasons why stem cell is what getting the imagination of the scientists. They are interested in the stem cell because of its property of self-renewal (the ability to produce cells identical to the mother cell) and the ability to make differentiated cells (daughter cells that have limited and focused potential) (Melton and Cowen xxiii). It is a relatively new and promising technology that can lead to the cure for diabetes and more advanced treatment of cancer and other degenerative illnesses. Furthermore, there is a possibility that through regenerative medicine that makes use of stem cell, cancer and heart disease can now be cured. But what makes stem cell technology a buzz among the public is because it has been a hit in the field of cosmetology for stem cell technology can prevent body aging. Also, through the popularization of the stem cell, there have been certain hypotheses that stem cell technology can prolong someone’s life span compares to the average human life span. Because of the popularization of stem cell, it is without doubt that it will become a global issue. Its impact has made transnational influence already. It is because presently, science is a transnational activity – the work and research of scientists have no national boundary (Savulescu and Saunders c3). However, the regulation of science is still being placed under national jurisdiction. It is often that there are different laws and ethical standards in each country, and of course, transnational studies in science are being affected. This implies that there are â€Å"some fundamental cultural, social, [political], and economic forces that drives controversy and conflict, not only in the United States, but in Europe and elsewhere† (Green 265). Due to this, there have been suggestions from different groups from the scientific community specializing in stem cell research and technology that there should be a regulation of stem cell research in different countries because of the potential of this technology especially if the administrations will give importance for the politics of public health (Savulescu and Saunders c3). Later on, because of this transnational influence, there has been a steadfast support from governments all over the world for stem cell technology and in the effort of making stem cell research and technology a transnational activity, also due to the transnational collaboration of scientists from different countries to impart among themselves knowledge about stem cell technology. One of these countries is the United States which pioneered research in this field, where modern medical techniques were developed using this technology. In fact, stem cell research has a long history already in the US. There have been debates regarding the ethical issues associated with stem cell technology, specifically the use of human embryonic stem cells, and issues regarding the federal funding of stem cell research and technology. Only last 2009, US President Barack Obama approved the bill amending the federal funding of stem cell research and technology in the US. It is also important to note that other countries in Asia and other third world countries have been influenced by this transnational activity. In 2004, three private stem cell banks were established in South Africa. Even though, these banks were private, the government has shown interest and support for these private research entities and stem cell research as well because of the Human Tissue Act that allows the use of human embryos that are not more than 14 days old in their research projects. Last March 2012, a group of scientists from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in South Africa was able to produce pluripotent stem cells – a feat and a first from a third world country. Meanwhile in Asia, legislation was passed in China that allows the stem cell research and India, another third world county in Asia, has now launched programs using stem cell technology. Singapore is now known as Asia’s Stem Cell Center, where more than forty groups of researchers are to be found, some of it are funded by the government. The Philippines is no exception. A third world country from South East Asia, the country has proved that we are not to be left behind in terms of medical development. Stem cell technology was introduced to the Philippines as a technology used in the medical field of cosmetology. A few examples of the usage of this technology in this field are the alteration or surgery of certain body parts like the nose or breasts and the age-defying medications that fight off skin or body aging. However, discoveries that are exchanged through transnational studies brought to the Philippines some breakthroughs in the use of stem cell technology. That’s why some groups of specialists from the country has already joined the transnational activity that is collaborative stem cell research and used the discoveries in stem cell research in other medical fields other than cosmetology. The group of specialists from the National Kidney and Transplant Institute pioneered the use of stem cell in transplantation in 1990. From then on, the institution has strived to raise the standards of stem cell technology through providing modern facilities and continuous research in the field especially in its usage in Dendritic Cell Vaccine Therapy in collaboration with the Lung Center of the Philippines. Another spearheading group in the field of stem cell technology in the country is the group from The Medical City where they used their discoveries to be the pioneers in the medical technique of personalized molecular medicine in the country through their Regenerative Medicine Program that is lead by Dr. Joyce Bernal. Other groups that have explored stem cell technology in the country are the groups from St. Luke’s Medical Center, Eye Institution, and the Makati Medical Center. Notice that all of the institutions mentioned are private institutions. It is with no doubt that the government might have an interest in a public stem cell center. The interest was then materialized on September 13, 2011 when House Bill No. 5287 or the Stem Cell Center of the Philippines Act of 2010 was passed to the congress. The house bill, introduced by Rep. Carmelo Lazatin, states that a government-run stem cell center has to be established in the country that will be the premier center for research and technology applications of stem cell which will be, in essence, funded by the government. However, we need not to follow the United States in federally funding stem cell research and technology in the country. That although stem cell technology will help address health concerns in the country, the federal funding of the technology will only be a burden fir the government for it is not a necessity, has questionable benefits, and is impractical and not practicable. Firstly, the federal funding of stem cell research is not a necessity. The government has more pressing concerns that should be prioritized first in the health care system. Instead of building new facilities for a single stem cell center, why not improve the infrastructures of public health institutions? We need more public hospitals, especially in the provinces and rural areas where access to medical assistance is scarce, that are also well-equipped with modern advances in medicine and have competitive health workers. This way, we’re already hitting two birds with one stone. Not only that the government is providing more health facilities for the people, but it is also providing jobs for practitioners in medicine like doctors, nurses, midwives, and etc. as well. Through this, the government is making a small step towards lessening underemployment in the country and the number of health professionals that have to work abroad. Also, the government has to address issues regarding the PhilHealth system. According to the Philippine Health System Review, although estimates of PhilHealth coverage of the population vary, there are legitimate concerns that the amount of financial protection provided by the county’s largest insurance program is actually small, at least relative to its infrastructure and available resources (Romualdez et al. 36-39). In addition to this, the government has to financially support instead research in the advanced treatment of epidemic diseases that are more rampant in the country especially among the poor. Secondly, the federal funding of stem cell technology has questionable benefits. The fact the government will fund stem cell research will do ensure that stem cell treatment may be open to the public at a lower price. However, stem cell treatment is not the same for anyone, thus, there will be different processes such that because stem cell treatment must be a personalized treatment, but this will require a lot of costs because specialists will then have to prepare different treatments for different patients. Even so, that the treatment may be open to the public at a lower price might affect the quality of the treatment because (1) price tag may limit potential scope of stem cell treatment, particularly if treatments are individually customized, which may be necessary and (2) such limitations might lead to further problems and will have to require financial support again. Furthermore, Evert and Zavarzadeh argue that: â€Å"†¦[B]ut public funding is itself the immediate form of surplus labor in conducting stem cell research†¦Those who use the excuse of the usefulness of stem cell research for curing illnesses argue that public funding (the social surplus) but privatize its cost of new research (funding it through people’s taxes) but privatize its profits. The new procedures/medicines that will be developed will then be patented by these companies and sold at a high profit back to the people who have provided the funding (through their taxes) for these discoveries.† (116) Indeed, since the government will have to fund a costly research, there will be no choice left than to spend a considerable part of the taxes collected from the public for stem cell research which then raises the question: Who are the actual beneficiaries of federal funding of stem cell research then? Thirdly, the federal funding of stem cell technology is impractical and not practicable because the facilities and technology required in making sure that an advance science like stem cell technology meets high standards are definitely going to be of high maintenance and expensive value. According to a press release of the Department of Health last September 4, 2012 in its website, DOH Secretary Enrique T. Ona announces the proposed 2013 budget of the department. He announces that there is an increase for this year’s healthcare budget. Furthermore, he emphasizes that the budget is allotted in line with the administration’s effort to alleviate poverty, thus the imperative implementation of the Kalusugan Pangkalahatan by the department. He further broke down the components of the budget. He emphasized that 69% of the budget will be used for priority projects, and that the budget will ensure the enrolment of indigenous families under the healthcare system. Moreover, part of the budget is to address concerns regarding the improvement of current medical facilities and work force from the barangay up to the regional level especially in rural areas. Concerns regarding immunization and infectious diseases will be addressed by the budget as well. Ona ends the press release by stating that the budget will help the nation achieve its Millennium Development Goals, and further suggests that to further bolster the sustainability of the budget, the Senate has to pass into legislation the tobacco and alcohol excise tax reform bill and the reproductive health (RH) bill. Ona emphasized in the press release that 69%, a big part of the budget, will be used to address priority projects, activities, and programs in support of KP of the DOH. The following programs are as follows: Subsidy for Health Insurance Premium payment of indigent families to the National Health Insurance Program, Health Facilities Enhancement Program, Implementation of the Doctors to the Barrios and Rural Health Practice Program, Family Health including Responsible Parenting, Expanded Program on Immunization, National Pharmaceutical Policy Development including provision of drugs and medicines, medical and dental supplies to make affordable quality drugs available, Tuberculosis Control, the elimination of diseases as public health threats such as malaria, schistosomiasis, leprosy and filariasis, other infectious diseases and emerging diseases including HIV/AIDS, dengue, food and water-borne disease, and Rabies Control Program. Notice that the programs that are to be prioritized by the majority of the budget are the timely concerns in the health sector in the country. The researcher argues that the remaining percentage of the budget will be unable to financially support the implementation of the Stem Cell Act, and that to include the proposal to the priority programs will be impractical for the research itself is quite inconclusive and will be not practicable for it is an expensive technology. Furthermore Ona said at the press release that, â€Å"It is imperative for us to support the proposed DOH 2013 budget in order to build on the health gains of 2010-2012 and continue the direct, immediate, and substantial health benefits for our people, especially the poor.† Thus, the current proposed budget for the Department of Health is already spot-on on addressing the priorities of the government for the health sector. Without a doubt, stem cell technology is a high maintenance and expensive technology, thus efforts on trying to keep up with certain standards will significantly diminish the budget. However, as Ona said that â€Å"it is an imperative†¦to support the proposed DOH 2013 budget,† with the remaining percentage of the budget in support of other projects, federal funding of stem cell technology seems not practicable. Moreover, stem cell technology has yet inconclusive results that doesn’t address the more pressing concerns in the context of the Philippine health setting – that is, it cannot cure epidemic diseases like malaria, dengue, and typhoid fever which are more rampant in the country. Further on, there are a few select professionals that specializes in stem cell technology, thus the government still need to provide training for certain health professionals so that they can specialize in stem cell technology and treatment for the proposed public stem cell center which, in essence, is an additional expenditure. In the end, the conditions and standards set by stem cell research and technology do not fit in the context of the Philippine health setting. Besides, with the rising protest against stem cell technology because of it not being in tune with the established norms and ethical standards in the country, it will be better off that the government should not fund it because the country is still amidst debates between the implementation of certain bills that go against the foundations of moral standards in the country. Works Cited Burnham, John C. How Superstition Won and Science Lost: Popularizing Science and Health in the United States. New Brunswick: Rutgers, the State Univeristy, 1987. Print. Department of Health, Republic of the Philippines. DOH 2013 Budget Promises Better Health for All Filipinos. Department of Health. Department of Health, Republic of the Philippines, 4 Sept. 2012. Web. 28 July 2013. . Ebert, Teresa L. and Mas’ud Zavarzadeh. Class in Culture. Boulder: Paradigm Publishers, 2008. Print. Green, Ronald M. â€Å"Embryo as Epiphenomenon: Some Cultural, Social, and Economic Forces Driving the Stem Cell Debate.† Global Bioethics: Issues of Conscience for the Twenty-First Century. Ed. Ronald M. Green, Aine Donovan, and Steven A. Jauss. New York: Oxford University Press Inc., 2008. 265. Print Melton, Douglas and Chad Cowen. â€Å"Stemness: Definitions, Criteria, and Standards†. Essentials of Stem Cell Biology. By Robert Lanza, et al. 2nd ed. Toronto: Elsevier Inc., 2009. xxiii. Print. Republic of the Philippines. Cong. House. Rep. Carmelo Lazatin. An Act Establishing Stem Cell Center of the Philippines and Strengthening Research on Stem Cell Technology. 15th Cong., 2nd Sess. HR 5287. Quezon City: Philippine Congress, 2011. Print. Romualdez, Alberto G., Jr., et al. â€Å"The Philippines Health System Review.† Health Systems in Transition 1.2 (2011). 36-39. Print. Savulescu, Julian and Rhodri Saunders. â€Å"The Hinxton Group Considers Transnational Stem Cell Research.† Hastings Center Report 36.1 (2006). c3. Print. Trounson, Alan. â€Å"Why Stem Cell Research.† Essentials of Stem Cell Biology. By Robert Lanza, et al. 2nd ed. Toronto: Elsevier Inc., 2009. xix. Print.

Hamlet: A Man of Many Qualities :: Shakespeare Hamlet Essays

Hamlet: A Man of Many Qualities Hamlet is a man of many different qualities and he reveals only certain qualities to certain people. Hamlet draws his audience, the reader, into noticing the different qualities that he has. His qualities are shown through his conversations with other characters as well as through his soliloquies. These words of wisdom and revealance help to distinguish how Hamlet feels about each other character that he encounters. The phrases and speeches that Hamlet addresses are both poetic and piercing. So when Hamlet is speaking, he is constantly revealing his qualities which range from love, to respect, to hate. Hamlet's most powerful qualities seem to be revealed through his conversation with the people that he cares about, namely his family and friends. The queen, Gertrude, is hamlet's mother and she is probably the living being that he cares about the most. Unfortunately, one of Hamlet's qualities, which is revealed in conversation with his mother, is a negative one and that is anger. His quality is displayed through Hamlet's soliloquy in Act 1, Scene 2, Lines 131Â © 161. Hamlet is angry at his mother for marrying a new husband, his uncle, Claudius, so quickly after his father's death. This anger shines through in such phrases such as "Frailty, thy name is woman!"(Act 1,Sc 2, L148) and "Like Niobe, all tears."(Act 1, Sc 2, L151). At the end of his soliloquy, Hamlet switches qualities from one of anger to one of fear. This is evident when Hamlet states, "With such dexterity to incestuous sheets!", and "It is not, nor it cannot come to good", and finally "But break my heart, for I must hold my tongue"(Act 1, Sc 2 L157Â © 161). Hamlet expresses his fear for his mother's hasty marriage. Hamlet realizes that his mother marrying his uncle can have no good result. Respect is another quality that Hamlet displays in conversation with his mother. This occurs when his mother asks him to remain at home rather than return to school(Act 1, Sc 2, L120Â ©121), which he agrees to do. This shows that although he disagrees with his mother and her marriage, after such little mourning for her husband, Hamlet Sr.'s, death, he still respects his mother and will do what she asks. Later in the act, Hamlet encounters another character who goes by the name of Horatio. Horatio is a good friend, as stated in Act 1, Sc 2, L163, and the first quality which Hamlet reveals is his respect for Horatio. In line 176 of Act 1, Sc 2, Hamlet states "I know you are no truant.

The Geert Hofstede Cultural Dimension Business Essay Essay

This chapter is divided into two sections. The first section defines culture, its importance in international business and the various cultural dimensions for working globally. The next section describes the culture of India and U.K. and reviews the impact of culture on the working of Hilton Hotel Group in both the countries. Finally, it ends with a brief summary. CULTURE Hofstede (2003) defines culture as â€Å"the collective programming of mind that distinguishes the members of one human group from another.† It is evident that people from diverse environment can misunderstand each other. When two people interact in an organization, culture characterizes their behavior and attitude towards others. When a company plans to start a business in abroad, employees with good communication skills and with the ability to adapt into new environment are chosen to travel and interact with people of various cultures and nationalities. (Mead, 1992) This table shows the division of world’s population according to Region, Language and Religion which are the major aspects of determining ones culture. Taylor (1870) defines culture as â€Å"that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, customs, and other capabilities acquired by man as a member of society†. Culture plays a very important role in business. All civilizations have its own cultural elements like language, religion, values, attitude, customs, education, aesthetics and social institutions. (Czinkota, 2007) Culture passes from one generation to the other, however it can vary from one group to the other. Every society has its own point of view and opinion about various situations; however, it acts as a barrier to communication. (Daniels, Lee and Sullivan, 2004) CULTURAL DIMENSIONS Geert Hofstede, a much known professor carried out the study of impact of culture on individuals at a workplace. It took him six years to complete this study as it consists of interviews of more than 100,000 employees from 70 countries. According to Hofstede 2004, â€Å"the UK has 35 points in power distance, 89 in individualism, 66in masculinity, 35 in uncertainty avoidance and 25 in long term orientation†. Power Distance – According to Hofstede, 2004, â€Å"Inequality exists in every culture; however the extent to which less  powerful members of the society agree to the inequality differs from one culture to the other. Power distance is related to the different solutions to the basic problem of human inequality† High power creates less communication amongst the bosses and employees whereas when the power is low, employees communicate more with their superiors for the decision making purposes. Individualism vs. collectivism- Individualism is defines as the cap ability of a human being to only take care of himself or his family where as collectivism describes a group of people who look after each and every member of that group. (Hofstede, 2004) These two dimensions describe the individualist or collectivist culture of a human being. Masculinity vs. Femininity – The third dimension is one of the most dominating factors of a culture. Countries where men are considered to be more strong and tough and women are considered to be more delicate and soft follow masculine culture where as countries where men and women are considered equal in terms of strength and tenderness follow feminine culture. (Hofstede, 2004) Uncertainty Avoidance – It is the level to which an individual can accept sudden changes and situations. Companies which have the tendency to admit unpredicted circumstances and dislike uncertainty have high uncertainty avoidance score culture whereas countries which take things as they come and are prepared for any change at any point of time have low uncertainty avoidance score culture. (Hofstede, 2004) Long term vs. short term orientation – The fifth dimension known as the Long term vs. short term orientation was discovered quite later by Hofstede with the help of a survey intended by Chinese scholars. According to Hofstede (2004), â€Å"long-term orientation means focusing to the future whereas short term orientation is focusing on the present and past. In long term oriented societies, pragmatism, perseverance is valued more; in short term oriented societies, respect for tradition and return favours is valued more†. HOME CULTURE VERSUS FOREIGN CULTURE Tayeb (1998) says that the decision to become involved in international business depends, among others, on the size of the company’s domestic market, its production capacity and capability, and the financial and other resources that the foreign market requires. In that way, firms can be placed on an internationalisation scale ranging from domestic single nation to  totally globalise. The extent to which national culture becomes relevant to a firm can be shown in the following table. The company’ own home country culture is of high relevance, though the managers and other employees may not be aware of its influence. The relevance of other people’s culture becomes greater for a firm as it spreads its activities and products past its national boundaries to reach foreigners with different value systems and tastes (Tayeb 1998). IMPORTANCE OF CULTURE IN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS Understanding culture and its impact on international business is very important for the firm and its employees. Organizations differ not only on the basis of international culture but national culture as well. According to Ball et al. (1996), doing business with another culture is not an easy task and to be successful, every foreign company should be aware and follow some rules that make their business activity more compatible. They state that there are six rules of thumb for doing business in another culture. Even if these can be important when doing business in the home country, they become more crucial when going abroad. Johansson (2000) states that it should be kept in mind that even if adaptation to the foreign culture is good when it comes to future negotiations and co-operations, there is a limit for how far a manager should go to try to accommodate this foreign culture. Mistrust from the other part can be created if for example a manager is trying to adapt to the foreign cul ture and is doing this superficial and with lack of deeper meaning. This can lead to misinterpretation and seen as matter of insincerity. When a company begins to work outside its national country, it encounters various environmental and cultural changes which is not the case in own country. If one does not understand these cultural differences, then he might to face barriers in the success of the organization globally. (Lane et al, 2001). More international operations lead to more interaction and communication with people and companies working in different culture. Therefore, in order to operate productively, it is a basic need to understand or have knowledge of different cultural attributes and contrast. (Adler 1983). Ferner and Quintanilla (1998), state that â€Å"companies need to operate as one organisation which face global environment although they are consisted of different subunits which carry the characteristics of the local environment  they operate in and the companies also bring the cultural elements of the home countries which they o riginated in† Since the study of national and international cultures has become of the most acknowledged topic, therefore, it is important to learn culture, its importance and impacts in international business. IMPACT OF CULTURE ON INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS According to the article on Cultural impact on international Business, 2011, Culture influences international business in many ways. When culture and business interrelate with each other, it directs to the growth of fascinating circumstances or situation. When diverse cultures come together at an ordinary point with business as the podium, the spar is bound to happen. But most significantly, such circumstances assist us in becoming accustomed to demanding situations. Various societies or nations around the globe pursue different gestures and manners. The technique to see a difficulty might vary from country to country in the world. The global business culture, altogether, is an assembly of a variety of industry tradition, cultural power and the consideration development followed in different countries. Below are discussed the impacts of culture on an international business on the basis of body language, communication, time etc. Body Language Every country follows a different culture, which can be clearly found or seen in the behaviour and body language of its people. In order to work internationally, accepting the facts about underneath gesture or motion becomes essential. There is likelihood that people can get the wrong impression about the actions of different cultures. Thus, it calls for an accomplished planner to handle tricky state of affairs for the duration of conference. (Moran et al,2011) Communication Communication is another aspect of culture that affects the international business. Different countries have different ways of communication. The words and vocabulary used by a few people might sound unkind to others. The pronunciation of some words could have a different impact on the cultural ways of communicating in the commercial sector. This can also act as an obstacle in the progression of business communication. (Moran et al, 2011) Time The first thing that comes to mind when we talk about time in business in Punctuality. Britishers and Germans are very punctual and follow a time-bound schedule. The various ‘time-cultures’ could be one of the major factors for creating differences amongst people from miscellaneous ethnicity. Multinational Companies follow a schedule for meetings while doing a business and the way in which meetings are handles could also be the cause of having different point of views. (Moran et al, 2011) â€Å"It is necessary for corporate houses to understand the social conditions of different countries, to successfully tap the respective markets. Being sensitive to the values and beliefs of different cultures of the world is necessary†. (Leung 2005) The marketing executives sent abroad to operate business out of the country go through various problems and difficulties in trading with the commercial tradition and customs of that country. To target the international market and customers is not an easy task. It requires qualified experts who are trained and talented to deliver the best of their capability to the clients. CULTURE OF INDIA India is a vast country which houses diverse cultures, ethnic groups and races. The immense population of more than a billion people has resulted from invasions, relocations and inter-marriages that took place over the centuries. According to an article published in the Inter science Management Review (2012), the various customs and traditions followed by people reflects in the business mores of India. With the advent of technology, the companies have now started to venture out into international markets. It has thus helped the human resources and the organizations to get exposed to diverse working environments across nations. India has greatly benefited by this turn of events as the gap in the work culture of India and other nations has thus decreased to some extent. INDIAN WORK CULTURE First and foremost, the Indian etiquette calls for Namaste being a fundamental mode of greeting or saying goodbye. Recently though, education has brought about a reform in this practice as men and women now prefer to shake hands. Due to their politeness and respect towards their guests,  Indian people have trouble saying no. This aspect of their nature may act as a hurdle in sealing of contracts or doing negotiations. Paramount respect, courtesy and generosity is showered upon guests in India. It is a utopia for the international travellers. (Rai and Neelankavil, 2009) Rai and Neelankavil, 2009 also state that one of the major drawbacks of the Indian work culture is that there is no management of time. Indians don’t score too well in terms of punctuality; long delays in meetings, cancellation or rescheduling of the same are a common sight. This has found its roots in the basic mindset of people and the Indian culture. Another major failing of the Indian work system is the general slack of work in the Government offices which leads to delays in meting out results, excess of the red tape baggage that leads people not to have confidence in the system. Therefore, any transactions in India call for a huge amount of patience to be able to meet with the results. The article published in Inter Science Management Review, 2012 also states that Despite other shortcomings, Indians fare well in matters of the English language. The adeptness of the average middle class over the language is laudable. There is absolutely no hitch in sending and receiving of official letters, emails or faxes. The office environment in India is usually very formal and there are no personal relationship between the bosses and the subordinates. The decision making in almost all of the private companies is from top to bottom, which may take a long time for the decision to be made and implemented. This accounts for the general lack of management inside the working sector. Most of the Indians carry their work pressure home. They put in extra hours at work hence losing the work-life balance. This creates more pressure on them as the workplace demands are entirely different from that of the family. All this is done in an effort to earn monetary benefits and climb higher on the ladder of hierarchy of the workplace. Indians generally don’t make good mentors, they are soft critics and don’t stand up against something wrong as much as they should. This is thought to be because of the process of appraisal, the appraiser demands positive feedback despite the gaping holes in management and work. The lack of dexterity of the appraiser is usually the main reason behind lack of the much needed critical review. Indians have a hard time coping with changes of any sort, be it changes in management or work timings. A lot of time and energy is required for Indians to bring the change to practice. IMPACT OF  CULTURE ON HILTON HOTEL, INDIA One such new path is the concern with national culture. Whereas traditional IB research has been concerned with economic/legal issues and organizational forms and structures, the importance of national culture – broadly defined as values, beliefs, norms, and behavioural patterns of a national group – has become increasingly important in the last two decades, largely as a result of the classic work of Hofstede (1980). National culture has been shown to impact on major business activities, from capital structure to group performance Gibson (2002). Cross-cultural experimental literature examining the influence of individual characteristics has evolved, yielding greater sophistication and specification to our understanding of culture’s influence. Much early cross-cultural work tested only for the main effects of culture – often using national culture as a proxy variable for a given cultural orientation. That work, exploring the influence of the presence (a main effect) of a given cultural orientation, laid the groundwork for more complex experiments to follow, which test how differences in the levels (a moderating influence) of a cultural orientation (even a primed, temporary one) influence behaviours or perceptions. The research of Gelfand et al. (2002) examined both the main effects and the moderating effects of individual characteristics on the Hilton Hotel in India. Using national culture as proxy for cultural orientation, their results support robust findings of self-serving biases in individualist cultures (Thompson and Lowenstein, 1992), where ‘the self is served by enhancing one’s positive attributes to stand out and be better than others’, but find relatively less bias in a collectivistic culture, in which ‘the self is served by focusing on one’s weaknesses to blend in and maintain interdependence with others’. However, they also measured individual self-construal, and demonstrate that independent self-construal are higher in India and are positively related to self-serving biases. Thus, not only is a main effect of culture on the working of Hilton Hotel in India, but the examination of individual self-construal helps to explain why such an effect exists. Research of this type is especially valuable given that much of the theory underlying business research has been developed and tested exclusively in Western contexts. Diversity: Most organizations in the India, particularly large  ones, strive for consistency, standardization, and agreement, largely from the misleading assumption that the elimination of divergence/diversity automatically results in efficiency and success. This traditional view of organizational structure assumes that contradictions are to be first prioritized, and then eliminated, so that everything will run smoothly. We have all known managers and executives who need their subordinates to agree with their decisions, tell them they are doing a terrific job, and avoid challenging their authority. While this may be organizationally neat and psychologically comforting, it is stifling, stagnating, and, over the long haul, counterproductive. Experimental research focusing on the moderating influence of individual characteristics contributes to this literature because it directly tests whether these processes, biases, and behaviours are indeed universal phenomena, or whether they are specific to Western populations. As Oyserman et al. (2002b) point out in their Meta-analysis of research on collectivism/individualism, cultural priming is one of the most promising areas of cross-cultural research. The theoretical underpinnings of priming stem from social cognition research, which shows that accessible knowledge influences behaviour, and that temporarily accessible and chronically salient knowledge produce equivalent effects in the laboratory. Thus, priming techniques ‘create an experimental analogue of chronic differences between cultural groups by temporarily focusing participants’ attention on different cultural content or values’. (Hong et al., 2000) Examples of this research would be the study mentioned in an earlier section, as well as which primed participants with cues that were or were not congruent with their cultural orientation (e.g., using pronouns such as ‘I’ and ‘me’ for an independence priming or ‘we’ and ‘our’ for an interdependent priming) and examined the influence on factors such as cognitive speed and accuracy, memory, and attitudes. Results across all the experiments indicate the existence of a chronic cultural orientation, and one that is more malleable in the face of a primed orientation. CULTURE OF U.K There are about 3.7 million businesses in the U.K which includes 75% of jobs in service industry like hotels, restaurants, travelling, shopping, computers and finance. This sector consists of more than 20 million  employees and 22 percent of British workers work more than 48 hours a week. (Pryce, 2007) According to the Central Intelligence Agency (2007), the United Kingdom is one of the most developed countries in the world and being a leader in trade as well as the leader as the financial centre. It is seen as one of the largest five economies in Europe, with banking, insurance and other business services being an integral part of it. As the United Kingdom is a part of the EU, most of the institutions and policies are in accordance with the regulations laid out by the EU. As the UK has a monarchical constitution, the government rarely gets involved in the matters of economy, its main concern is with improving public services like education and health (The Economist, 2007). A large number of international and global enterprises find home in the United Kingdom (Ferner and Varul, 2000). Due to diverse work environments provided by these global enterprises, the British companies get to experience the work culture provided by the international markets and manage it efficiently. An argument provided by Ferner and Varul (2000) states that the British enterprises have a niche above other companies in terms of development of customer friendly policies and structures. Also, these enterprises play an integral role in globalization of industries, thus placing UK in the top realm to play the role of international operations armed with international companies. Hence, the UK could be expected to be the place with the most number of globalized companies with leading role of international operations. KEY CONCEPT AND VALUES OF BRITISH CULTURE According to an article on International Business Negotiations 2005, United Kingdom consists of a blend of four cultural and ethnic backgrounds named as England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Such a multicultural country persists to bring together its rich culture and modern attitude. The understanding of the basic principled business standards of the United Kingdom is very important for any company that wishes to operate business in such an inherited and reputable country. Indirectness – The most important aspect of British culture is its way of approach and communication. In the U.K, people are known well for their graciousness and good manners like courtesy, politeness and civility. While undertaking business in the UK, it is seen that straight questions obtain indistinct answers and the exchange  of dialogues takes place in detail. In order to understand what one really means to say, it is necessary to take note of the nature of voice and facial expressions. (Whi ttaker, 2009) ‘Stiff upper lip’ – â€Å"The term ‘stiff upper lip’ is often used to describe the traditionally British portrayal of reserve and restraint when faced with difficult situations†. All business meetings and deals are done with entire regulations and customs. Any positive or negative form of emotion should be neglected in the british work environment. (Whittaker, 2009) Humour – A vital element in all aspects of British life and culture is the renowned British sense of humour. The importance of humour in all situations, including business contexts, cannot be overestimated. Humour is frequently used as a defence mechanism, often in the form of self depreciation or irony. It can be highly implicit and in this sense is related to the British indirect communication style. (Whittaker, 2009) The United Kingdom is renowned for its colourful history and strong sense of tradition that has been shaped by a colonial empire, both civil and European war and a constitutional monarchy. The fourth largest trading nation, the UK is fast becoming Europe’s leading business centre. Supported by a long-established system of government and economic stability, the UK is a n attractive base for overseas business, offering skills in areas such as research, development and technology. However, in order to operate successfully in the UK business environment, there are a number of important issues to take into consideration both before and during your time there. (Kenna and Lacy, 1995) IMPACT OF CULTURE ON HILTON HOTEL, U.K. There are quite a few Hilton Hotels in the U.K. The most important cultural factors that affect the business of Hilton Hotel in U.K. are as follows: – PRICING Price plays a key role in creating customer value and building customer relationship, as well is one of the four elements of the marketing mix and an indicator that affects buyer choice. Many companies today compete with each other with different prices in both the domestic and the international market. Price is the only element in the marketing mix that produces revenue; all other elements represent cost (Kotler et al. 2007). Pricing is one of the most complicated decision areas encountered by Hilton Hotel, U.K.  Market prices at the customer level are much more difficult to control in international markets than in domestic market. The pricing of the Hilton Hotels in the U.K. in general is more complex and critical than those located in India. According to Chee et al. (1998), the price is critical because it affects the firm’s ability to stay in the market. The price is also complex, because of the diversity of markets, with their different environment such as, political, l egal, social, technological, consumer characteristics, etc. Thereby, price is an issue that can affect the international business and the company’s co-operations in the foreign country NEGOTIATIONS According to Tayeb (1998) language is one of the major issues when it comes to negotiations with trade partners from other cultures. Although it is not always indispensable to know the partner’s language, several studies shows that a link exists between successful company performance in winning new business in foreign markets, and the ability of the company to conduct its business in the language of the customer. Tayeb (1998) also states that there are some aspects of culture that manifest themselves in a negotiation situation. Foreign partners not only speak languages other than one’s own, but also have a tendency, for cultural reasons, to think in different ways and have different priorities in the way in which they do business. For example, some people prefer to do their business meetings with foreigners in a formal way, and would be offended to be addressed by their first name; some might believe that the use of an informal style and first name would signal to the p artners that they are trusted. Two partners from these different cultural backgrounds could easily misunderstand each other if they negotiate without a previous knowledge of one another’s assumptions and values. SUMMARY In today’s time of globalisation, international business is getting bigger and escalating for both multinational as well as local companies. Due to this, cross cultural matter have gained a lot of importance. In this literature review, the main focus has been to discuss culture, its importance and impact on Hilton Group of Hotel in India and U.K. This chapter has been presented to help the reader understand the basic  theoretical concepts which helps in the findings of the case study and answering the research question. This part of the thesis helped us in understanding the relationship between culture and international business. Development in the fields of technology and communication etc, companies from various cultures have started working together, thus making culture an important subject of discussion in International Business. This chapter discussed the Hofstede’s five cultural dimensions named Individualism, Power distance, Uncertainty, Masculinity and Long-Te rm orientation. It also explains the working culture of India and U.K and the impact of culture on the business of Hilton Hotel, India and Hilton Hotel, U.K. In international business negotiations, it is important to learn about the counterparts‟ culture and thus ameliorate the problems that can arise in the course of the negotiations. From this study, we can see that there are marked differences in the Indian and British negotiation styles which stem from cultural differences among the two countries. Knowledge of these differences will enable negotiators understand the negotiation behaviour of their counterparts with a view to making negotiations proceed with more ease. However, it is also important not to allow cultural stereotypes to determine the relationships with the potential business partners. This is because individuals may have their own distinct culture which does not always mirror the country’s perceived culture.

Leadership Skills Essay

Introduction Leaders have difficult getting relevant feedback, especially when operating in powerful positions in an organization. Often times leaders need feedback more than others do. If leaders do not receive feedback, they will not learn from their leadership experiences. Creating opportunities to get feedback is critical especially with regard to feedback from individuals working for them (Curphy, Ginnett, & Hughes, 2009). When it comes to open door policy leaders should not think they have open request for feedback. The oversight frequently made by leaders is assuming that other recognize them open to discussing things just because they are open to discussing things (Curphy, Ginnett, & Hughes, 2009). Leadership skills can be look at as competencies that has learned and developed for an effective leadership. From the basis of people skills, a leader skill approach is as an extension to leadership traits, given that traits focuses on the character risks of a leader and to large extent (Curphy , Ginnett, & Hughes, 2009). Leader’s obligations are not determined on observations of what leaders do, but on what goals they anticipated to achieve. Researchers have focused on the personality, physical traits, and behaviors of the leader. Some have studied the relationships between leaders and followers. Others have studied how aspects of the situation affect the ways leaders act. Latter viewpoint suggest there is no such thing as leadership; there have been arguments that organizational successes and failures frequently get falsely attributed to the leader, nevertheless, situation seem to have a much better impact on how the organization functions than does any individual, as well as the leader (Curphy, Ginnett, & Hughes, 2009). The purpose of this paper is to explain how leadership skills are necessary for an individual to be an effective leader. In addition, discuss how these leadership skills will lead to technical competence by a leader. Evaluate the skills against my own skills. Develop a plan detailing how I will acquire and or strengthen these skills as I progress in my future. Leadership Curphy, Ginnett, & Hughes defined leadership as â€Å"the process of influencing an organized group toward accomplishing its goals† (2009, p. 6). Curphy, Ginnett, & Hughes say a way to understand the complexities of leadership is to see some other ways leadership is define: †¢Directing and coordinating the work of group members †¢An interpersonal relation in which others comply because they want to, not because they have to. †¢The process of influencing an organized group toward accomplishing its goals. Some definitions hold opposing views in numerous ways, and have resulted in various researches explore very different aspects of leadership. Researchers who define leadership as influencing an organized group toward accomplishing its goals would examine how Parrado managed to convince the group to stage and support the final expedition Curphy, Ginnett, & Hughes (2009, p.4-5). Concepts of Leadership Process leadership is carry out by applying leader’s knowledge and skills. However, leader traits can influence others actions. This is call trait leadership, leaders were believe to born rather than made (Jago, 1982). Three Leadership Skills To be a sufficient leader countless qualities and skills are need. Nevertheless, there are nine essential traits or abilities reveal leaders from followers and they include someone who has influential, prioritized, integrative, a creator positive change, a problem solver, able to maintain good attitude, able to work with people, a visioning person, and be self-disciplined. I will only talk about three of the nine (Gupta, 2009). First, influence is important because in order to obtain followers you have to have the influence ability. Effective leaders have to understand what type of leader they are. According to the writer, there are five levels of leadership. Level one uses their title or position to lead. This level is the slightest effective because people follow you because they have to. Level two gets people to work for them that are not required to do so (Gupta, 2009). This level is lead by interrelationships in which each person or thing depends on or is affected by the others and at this level people will follow because they want to. Level three makes results and transform take place. At this level, individuals follow you based on what you have done for the organization. Level four empowers and motivates others as well  as themselves. At this level, individuals follow leaders based on what you have done for them. Level five is where leaders have proven themselves a true leader over the years. At this level, individuals follow because of who you are and what you represent. When influencing others its good to know where you stand in leadership the higher up the ladder you go, the longer it takes to go to the next level (Gupta, 2009). Second, integrity is an important trait in order to run a business leader to be complete and unified and employees should on the same page. Integrity is who leaders are and who leaders are determines what they do. When leaders can be depend on by others, with confidence and trust they will have in their vision, and this allows them to influence their lives. Integrity secret is growing and moving. Leaders need to exhibit: honesty, fulfillment, vision, and inspiration to get them to believe and trust in the decisions they make for the business (Gupta, 2009). Third, problem solving is important in a leader because problems are on going. Leaders’ responsibility is to correct the problem as effectively as possible. Perspective is something leaders have to change however, not their problem. Leaders need to understand they cannot choose their problem but their attitude towards solving the can be change. Leaders need to recognize a problem before it gets bigger and keep an eye out for signs of any up coming ordeal and fix it. For a problem to be, fix a leader need to define the problem. After the leader recognize the problem the best possible out come should be lastly, form principles and polices to prevent the problem form requiring (Gupta, 2009). As I progress in my future, I would strengthen these skills with the Hogan and Warrenfelz domain model watch allows me to see connections between seemingly different organizational competency models and make predictions about how easy or complex it will be to change a mixture of leadership behaviors and skills. The Hogan and Warrenfelz model will also point out what behaviors I will need to exhibit in order to build my team as well as get results through others Curphy, Ginnett, & Hughes (2009, p. 273-274). In closing, leadership qualities include several of the diverse skills and the qualities. Leadership skills are necessary for any interested individuals to succeed. Leadership skills take time, energy and commitment. Leaders become the best leader they can become, all the traits and skills need to be practice and applied to ones life. Leaders are needed without there dreams of a better  world and drive to succeed. Being influential, a problem solver and integrative will bring out the leader within a person allow them to become successful, and allow them to touch others lives. Reference Gupta, A. (2009, March 2). Leadership Skills [Part2 Leadership Skills Assignment]. Retrieved July 18, 2011, from http://www.practical-management.com Hughes, R.L. & Ginnett, R.C. & Curphy, G.J. (2009). Leadership: Enhancing the lessons of experience (6th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Irwin. Jago, A. G. (1982). Leadership: Perspectives in Theory and Research. Management Science, 28(3), 315-336. Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. Z. (1987). The Leadership Challenge. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Authoritative Leadership Style

Authoritative Leadership Style Leadership is the process through which an individual gathers and earns support of others through social enlistment so that they can work together to achieve set goals and objectives. An organization can adopt different forms of leadership styles depending on its needs and requirements.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Authoritative Leadership Style specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More To have a clear understanding of my leadership style, I used several online assessment tools. The assessment tool provided by OSP (2008) revealed by leadership style to be authoritative. According to this tool, my leadership style was characterized by giving tight direction to my subordinates, encouraging communication to flow in one direction and exercising minimal delegations. However, the assessment tool provided by Galford and Maruca (2012) clearly explained my leadership style. The results that were arrived at after the assessment stat ed that I was an ambassador, an advocate, a people’s mover and a creative builder. These descriptions are in line with the supporting leadership style; I usually implement in all the activities and projects that I lead. According to this leadership style, a leader is friendly to the team members and employees of lower levels. He/she offers support to his subordinates and provides minimal directions in a working environment. This in turn makes the employees to feel comfortable at a work hence perform their roles and duties to the best of their abilities to achieve the goals and objectives of the project as well as their own personal goals and objectives. Additionally, this form of leadership style encourages teamwork and provides the best environment for starts to flourish in their respective careers.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Communication Communicatio n is an essential aspect in the running and management of an organization. Therefore, the HR department needs to ensure that efficient communication mechanisms have been put in place to ensure that precise information flows at all levels of management (Khan, 2011). To determine my style of communication, I used a number of online assessment tools. The assessment tool provided by Russo (2012) revealed my communication style to be assertive but its description of vague. On the other hand, the assessment tool provided by CEDA (2012) clearly explained my communication style. Although the tool revealed my communication style to be assertive, it also stated that am an individual who stands up for my rights and the rights of my subordinates, respect all my team members and treasure the respect that they give me. From all this, the tool concluded that I possessed relater communication skills. Team Management For an organization to achieve its goals and objectives, it needs to understand and take advantage of the strengths of its employees. Additionally, an organization also needs to work and improve on the weaknesses of its workforce. Thus, it is essential for the management of an organization to understand the personality of every team member. The Myers Briggs Type Indicator is an effective personality assessment tool that can be used to gauge the personality, strengths, and weaknesses of team members within an organization (MBTI, n.d.). This assessment tool has sixteen indicators that are used to gauge the personality of an individual. For the management to determine the strengths and weaknesses of an individual, it can use the results. Furthermore, the results can be used to enhance the team spirit of an organization hence making it easier to achieve the goals and objectives of the project. On the other hand, the temperament method can be used to assess the personality of team members. This method focuses on specific characteristics of an individual such as the act ions of an individual, styles of communication, the talent that they posses and their values (Keirsey.com, n.d.).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Authoritative Leadership Style specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More From the analysis of these traits, the personality of an individual can be interpreted as idealistic, rational, artisan or guardian. This however depends on the impacts that an individual has on the project and the specific role that he/she plays and his/her strengths and weaknesses. References CEDA (2012).  Communication Styles.  Retrieved from cedanet.com/meta/communication_styles.htm Galford, R. and Maruca, F. (2012).  Your Leadership Legacy.  Retrieved from yourleadershiplegacy.com/assessment/assessment.php Keirsey.com (n.d.).  Overview of the Four Temperments.  Retrieved from keirsey.com/4temps/overview_temperaments.asp Khan, A. (2011).  Informal Communication Styles Benefit Mcdonald’ s and Ford: The Way  Ahead In an Era Of Social Networking.  Retrieved from emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?articleid=1958608 MBTI (n.d.).  MBTI Basics.  Retrieved from myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/ OSP (2008).  Leadership Style Self Assessment.  Retrieved from performancesolutions.nc.gov/developmentinitiatives/CareerDevelopment/Assessments/docs/LeadershipStyle.pdfAdvertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Russo, E. (2012).  Whats My Communication Style. Retrieved from hrdqstore.com/Whats-My-Communication-Style-Assessment.html

The Roots of Colorism, or Skin Tone Discrimination

The Roots of Colorism, or Skin Tone Discrimination How does  colorism  play out in America? An old children’s rhyme captures the definition of colorism and its inner workings: â€Å"If you’re black, stay back;If you’re brown, stick around;If you’re yellow, you’re mellow;If you’re white, you’re all right.† Colorism refers to discrimination based on skin color. Colorism disadvantages dark-skinned people  while privileging those with lighter skin. Research has linked colorism to smaller incomes, lower marriage rates, longer prison terms, and fewer job prospects for darker-skinned people. Colorism has existed for centuries, in and out of black America. Its a persistent form of discrimination that should be fought with the same urgency as racism. Origins In the United States, colorism has roots in slavery, because slave owners typically gave preferential treatment to slaves with fairer complexions. While dark-skinned slaves toiled outdoors in the fields, their light-skinned counterparts usually worked indoors at far less  grueling domestic tasks.   Slave owners were partial to light-skinned slaves because they often were family members. Slave owners frequently forced slave women into sexual intercourse, and light-skinned offspring were the telltale signs of these sexual assaults. While slave owners didnt officially recognize their mixed-race children, they gave them privileges that dark-skinned slaves didnt enjoy. Accordingly, light skin came to be viewed as an asset in the slave community. Outside the United States, colorism may be more related to class than to white supremacy. Although  European colonialism has undoubtedly left its mark worldwide, colorism is said to predate contact with Europeans in Asian countries. There, the idea that white skin is superior to dark skin may derive from ruling classes typically having lighter complexions than peasant classes. While peasants became tanned as they labored outdoors, the privileged had lighter complexions because they didn’t. Thus, dark skin became associated with  lower classes and light skin with the elite. Today, the premium on light skin in Asia is likely tangled up with this history, along with cultural influences of the Western world. Enduring Legacy Colorism didn’t disappear after slavery ended in the U.S.  In black America, those with light skin received employment opportunities off-limits to darker-skinned blacks. This is why upper-class families in black society were largely light-skinned. Soon, light skin and privilege were linked in the black community. Upper-crust blacks routinely administered the brown paper bag test to determine if fellow blacks were light enough to include in social circles. â€Å"The paper bag would be held against your skin. And if you were darker than the paper bag, you weren’t admitted,† explained Marita Golden, author of Don’t Play in the Sun: One Woman’s Journey Through the Color Complex. Colorism didn’t just involve blacks discriminating against other blacks. Job advertisements from the mid-20th century reveal that African-Americans with light skin clearly believed their coloring would make them better job candidates. Writer Brent Staples discovered this while searching newspaper archives  near the Pennsylvania town where he grew up.  In the 1940s, he noticed, black job seekers often identified themselves as light-skinned: â€Å"Cooks, chauffeurs, and waitresses sometimes listed light colored as the primary qualification- ahead of experience, references, and the other important data. They did it to improve their chances and to reassure white employers who†¦found dark skin unpleasant or believed that their customers would.† Why Colorism Matters Colorism yields real-world advantages for individuals with light skin. For example, light-skinned Latinos make $5,000 more on average than dark-skinned Latinos, according to Shankar Vedantam, author of The Hidden Brain: How Our Unconscious Minds Elect Presidents, Control Markets, Wage Wars and Save Our Lives.  A  Villanova University study of more than 12,000 African-American women imprisoned in North Carolina found that lighter-skinned black women received shorter sentences than their darker-skinned counterparts. Research by Stanford psychologist Jennifer Eberhardt found that darker-skinned black defendants were twice as likely as lighter-skinned black defendants to get the death penalty for crimes involving white victims. Colorism also plays out in the romantic realm. Because fair skin is associated with beauty and status, light-skinned black women are more likely to be married than darker-skinned black women. â€Å"We find that the light-skin shade as measured by survey interviewers is associated with about a 15 percent greater probability of marriage for young black women,† said researchers who conducted a study called â€Å"Shedding ‘Light’ on Marriage.† Light skin is so coveted that whitening creams continue to be best-sellers in the U.S., Asia, and other nations. Mexican-American women in Arizona, California, and Texas have reportedly suffered mercury poisoning after using whitening creams to bleach their skin. In India, popular skin-bleaching lines target both women and men with dark skin. That skin-bleaching cosmetics persist after decades signals the enduring legacy of colorism. Sources Golden, Marita. Don’t Play in the Sun: One Woman’s Journey Through the Color Complex. Anchor, 2005.Staples, Brent. As Racism Wanes, Colorism Persists. The New York Times.Vedantam, Shankar. Shades of Prejudice. The New York Times.

Apply 3 critical Perspectives to the company decision in the 1980s to Essay

Apply 3 critical Perspectives to the company decision in the 1980s to launch reformulated Coca Cola and suggest where a different approach to the loss of sales might have produced a different outcome - Essay Example Critical analysis of the essay with different aspects discussed in the perspectives section and conclusion of the essay is covering all the points of the essay. Coke was invented by Dr. Ruben Pemberton back in 1886 .Coke was a huge success over the 1980’s and a new invention achieved a very good response. There was a marketing war between two companies name Pepsi and Coke with same product nature. These two companies in a race of making their brand more popular were trying to gain and maintain their market share, on one hand Pepsi company was trying to defeat its rival coke which is far ahead from it when it comes to market share or brand power, because coke was the first company to introduce the soft drink contains flavor of coca leafs and cocoa bean so it created and maintained its product positioning successfully but when Pepsi cola came it created competition in the market and was getting closer to it through different marketing campaigns which tested the brand power of coke in the market and after intense distribution of coke when consumers had a choice they start buying Pepsi. Now Pepsi was gaining market share by target market ing and was becoming popular in the targeted market. Coke had to do something otherwise would have left behind so they thought of new product development to gain the share in doing so they failed but may be they brought they brand loyalty from their customer and unwillingly somehow succeeded in countering Pepsi and maintained their premium image of brand. Coca Cola slowly lost market shares and this was an alarming situation for the Coca Cola company and they had to something to in order to save the company’s reputation. Management of Coca cola started to look for solution or alternative way through which they could save image of the brand so re-launching of Coca Cola and by 1984 researchers came up with a new formula for Coca Cola and they