Counseling theory

Rational-emotive therapy stresses the ability of the clients to think on their own and change by making good judgments and taking action. Rational-emotive therapists believed that the problems of the clients are rooted in childhood and in their belief system, which was formed during childhood. The counseling involves method solving and dealing with emotional problems. The counselor assist the client eliminates self-defeating outlooks and perceive life in a rational manner. According to Patrick PK.(2007) rational emotive therapist believed that cognition, and emotion are not incongruent human aspects but are basically, integrated and holistic. In fact, this aspect is marching with other cognitive-behavioral aspects. Some of the strengths of rational-emotive and its application is its simplicity. Rational-emotive takes into consideration development levels as significant when dealing with patients, moreover, rational-emotive therapy have absence of moral perspectives. Rational-emotive therapy is important for counseling profession.Its effectiveness, short-term aspect and low cost are the reasons for its attractiveness. The reality therapist assist the client controls the world around them and satisfy their individual’s needs. The therapists believe that the client can change their life for the better. The therapy looks at the what and the why actions of the clients. Emotional problem is a result of client’s perception and feelings. Reality therapy is thus based on the aspect that client accept the past and begin to behave in a responsible manner. Reality teaches the client a better ways of living and become more effective in satisfying their needs.2. Existential – humanistic tradition Existential therapy is based on freedom of choice in changing one’s life. The therapists believe that the individuals are responsible in shaping their own life and a need for self- awareness. The therapy focuses at the present and at the future life of an individual. The therapists help the client recognize their freedom and perceive their possibilities of their future. They assist the client recognize their responsiveness of the future events. The therapy is well suited to assist the client make good choices affecting their lives.The theory is based on the following core aspects: contact, open participation of each other and mutual influence; genuineness, to be reliable, harmonious, human and transparent; unconditional positive regard, accepting individual’s being despite of his or her behavior; and empathy; understanding the moment experience of an individual. Other basic aspects of human conditions in existentialist approach include capacity for self-awareness, the freedom and responsibility tension, the identity creation and the establishment of effective relationships and the recognizing distress as living conditions.The existentialists uphold that person ability for self-consciousness provides them freedom possibilities as well as recognizing that they are finite and have limited time. Thus individuals are free to choose the available alternatives in living and have an effective responsibility to shape their personal destinies. The result of our choice is based on the way we live and hence individuals should be responsible in directing their lives. The existential therapy focuses at helping clients to reflect on life, identify alternatives and chose the best alternatives.The therapists aimed at making people become aware of how to acknowledge situations and take control so as to shape their lives by looking for options that can create a meaningful life. 3. Logotherapy and gestalt therapy The main aspects of the logotheraphy are based on its need to consider person in their irreducible wholeness, as subjects endowed with values and presenting existential thematic that cannot be dealt with by purely psychological means. Logotherapy therapy begins with the soul and has a true intuitive consciousness and an invariable internationality towards individual’s values.Hence, during therapy, themes that are relating to the meaning of life are placed at the heart of counseling intervention and human behavior guided to search for meaning and existential truth in all of its diverse manifestations. Therapist therefore contrasts various human forms of irresponsibility and led the clients towards the recognition of various possibilities and freedoms inherent in their choices. The therapy provides specific forms of intervention, which include self-transcendence and self-detachment.Everyone experiences moments in life may be considered normal and not really require any attention. However, individual may cope with this experience by forcing the circumstances but only to become knotted in a mesh. To overcome the situation, this therapy used the dereflection method, based on the intentionality concept. Gestalt therapy conversely incorporates the body and mind aspects, by emphasizing consci ousness and integration. Incorporation of behavior, feelings and perception is main aspect in the Gestalt therapy.Patients are perceived as being able to recognize how the impacts of the previous life could change their life. The therapist assist the client realizes their personal responsibilities, avoiding problems; experience thins in a constructive manner and in a present awareness. The therapy lead the client have awareness of every moment in their life experience and challenge the client to accept to take care of themselves instead of others doing for them. 4. Multicultural therapyMulticultural therapy is counseling that involves clients from differing racial, ethnic, and cultural groups and, thus, multicultural clients refer to clients from minority populations. It is significant to include cultural aspects when dealing with multicultural clients. Incorporating cultural variables in the therapeutic process requires one to be literate in ethnic and cultural information. Eliciti ng cultural information from clients allows the counselor to work with many diverse clients without having to become experts on particular ethnic groups.Hence, counselors must recognize the necessity of ethnic knowledge and cultural information elicited in conversations with clients. Multicultural therapist share common aspects, which include exploring client’s worldview, considering the role of acculturation, and taking additional roles. Exploring clients' worldviews is a fundamental part of multicultural therapy. Therapists must find out the similarity and differences of the client’s value system from the country of origin as well as system in the destination country.Exploration enables counselors to get information concerning how the clients view themselves after being exposed to new cultures. Acculturation is a vital aspect in exploring cultural issues. It is adjustment in which individuals from other culture are subjected to when entering a new culture. Therapist must look at the adaptative strategy that clients are deducing during therapy to assess accurately their level of acculturation. The clients should be encouraged to adjust the old rules for the actual consideration of the current situations.Lastly, when dealing with clients of minority cultures, the counselors are encouraged to take on additional rules. These include changing the idea of counseling as visualized and institutionalized in this county and enfold further styles of intervention. Such addition includes consulting help agencies and elucidating process and laws unusual to the client (Patrick, 2007). Reference: Patrick PK. (2007). Internet counseling: trend, application & ethical issues. In: Patrick PK (ed). Contemporary Issues in therapy. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Drawbacks Podcasting

Podcasts and webcasts are easy ways to present and distribute information to listeners all around the globe. However there are several drawbacks to this form of media. The drawbacks can be divided into two sections. The first section can be directed towards the process of recording and producing the webcasts. In order to record a webcast you must have: recording equipment, a quiet room, and time. The second section is focused on the persons listening to the webcast. The webcast is strictly auditory and must be accessed on some media device.This can become a problem because some listeners need more than just audio they need other forms of material to help them retain the information. Also because webcasts must be viewed through a mp3 player or computer this can cause a distraction because of the temptation of using the device for something else. Recording and producing is the most difficult area of any webcast. To record a quality webcast that listeners will enjoy and respond to the p roducer must execute the following three steps: the correct recording equipment, a quiet recording area, and an abundance of time to prepare for recording.The equipment required is very important because it will greatly increase the effectiveness of the webcast. The equipment needed is a microphone, recording software, host website and high-speed internet connection. Without purchasing all of the necessary components it will be impossible to record a quality webcast. The next drawback is the necessity of silence when recording. This can be a setback because any exterior noise in the webcast can cause listeners to become distracted and not retain the information being given.The need for a quiet proper recording area could cause additional investments to be made to reserve a recording studio or alternate recording site. The last drawback to webcasting is the amount of time needed to write a script for the topic chosen. It can take several weeks of preparation to research the topic and begin to process the information to write it into script form. The information given must be presented well to the audience so that it will be easy to follow along and process the information clearly. The drawbacks of the second section are mostly focused on the persons listening to the webcasts.The webcast is only broadcasted in audio form and requires the use of an mp3 player or computer. The limitations of webcasting can affect the listeners ability to comprehend and retain the information given. Not everyone can effectively listen and learn from strictly an auditory source of information. Certain people learn more effectively through hands on activities or visually or from reading the material. Because of this webcasting may not be the best medium for sending important information for others to comprehend.Also a webcast must listened to on either an mp3 player or a computer. These devices can become a distraction to some users. These electronic devices may tempt the listener to go off task and begin listening or viewing other material. This would cause the webcast to not fully be comprehended and some valuable information to be unheard. All in all webcasting is the future of efficient business practices but it is not yet perfected. With the correct managing of these drawbacks given, businesses could begin to cut costs and use time more efficiently.

Prejudice in the Movie

This poignant and gripping film illustrates the reality of racial discrimination and bigotry among the contemporary society.   The diverse characters of people from different racial groups like Caucasians, African-Americans, Asians, Hispanics or Latinos are shown in this movie in the city of Los Angeles.It vividly displays so much prejudice, anger and fear of getting discriminated due to several reasons with the comeuppance of certain intense situations to the point where the one who is being inflicted retaliates back which sometimes could result to violence.Prejudice can be in the form of racism or sexism, manifested verbally, unconsciously or deliberately.   These people say what comes to their minds without the filters of propriety and compassion to others.   This class aided me to understand that people typecast or stereotype a person or group due to some irrational preconceived dislike.Based psychologically and socially, we may have experienced a traumatic or upsetting sit uation which made us form a bias against an individual. Economic background is also a basis of prejudice, disliking one belonging to the rich or the poor. Furthermore, raised in different cultures, it is inevitable that one dislikes another person’s behavior since it is different from what one is used to or has been raised in.Crash has expressively and effectively communicated to the viewers how people manifest prejudice to each other.   It displayed how one character can become the offender at one time and a victim in another discrimination situation.   This just shows how each one of us has a prejudice over someone or something.   Movies like Crash, try to impart the harsh realities to provide us the awareness and awaken us to elicit improvement in whatever we fall short of in a personal level as well as in the community.   It forces us to face what is happening so that someday we may have a world free of prejudice.REFERENCECheadle, D., Haggis, P., Moresco, R., Schu lman, C., & Yari, B. (Producers), Haggis, P.  (Director). (2005). Crash [Motion Picture]. United States: Lions Gate Films

Element of Literature Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Element of Literature - Essay Example These mothers are somehow estranged with their daughters and disappointed by how they have grown up. Secondly, unbeknown to these mothers, they play a significant role in their children’s becoming. It shows clearly in the manner they care for and love their daughters, which, though done in good faith, have caused them to behave differently instead. Dee, Emily and the girl in the poem may have just been products of the way their mothers have treated them. Mama, the narrator in â€Å"Everyday Use,† is particularly troubled over her eldest daughter’s behavior. Comparing her two daughters, she finds her traditional ways and principles as part of the rift between her and Dee, who is more flashy, modern, materialistic and confident. Mama â€Å"often †¦ fought off the temptation to shake her† (Walker, 1973, p. 745). Her other daughter Maggie is homely, biddable, compassionate and â€Å"used to never winning anything, or having anything reserved for her† (Walker, 1973, p. 745). Yet as a woman making ends meet for both daughters, even so far as doing strenuous manly activities, Maggie’s everyday presence matters more to her than Dee’s capable but absent self. In fact, between the two, only Dee has gone to college while Maggie stays home. Indeed, there is a measure of estrangement between Mama and Dee. This particular passage speaks of how much Mama is estranged from her eldest daughter: Sometimes I dream a dream in which Dee and I are suddenly brought together on a TV program of this sort †¦ Then we are on the stage and Dee is embracing me with tears in her eyes. She pins on my dress a large orchid, even though she has told me once that she thinks orchids are tacky flowers. (Walker, 1973, pp. 743-744) Certain passages in the short story also prove how although she has an affection for the elder Dee, she is disappointed in her ways and her views in life. When Mama refuses to give Dee the quilts, she looks at her â€Å"with hatred,† saying, "You just

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 270

Assignment Example Various parts of the world have different cultural practices and food preferences, the MacDonald in its establishment in each country, has paid attention to the cultural believes and the taste of the different countries. For instance in India, the country took into consideration the fact that the Hindu culture does not advocate beef consumption (Keegan, 2014). To curb the issue, the company provided a similar product but without beef in it – maharaja chicken-.The Company strategically places itself in abuse place that can attract more customers. For instance in India New Delhi initial branch, the company places itself in a busy street that saw soaring queue in the evenings hence drawing large revenue to the company. Moreover, for acceptability in the local areas, the company purchases over 90 percent of its raw materials from the locals (Keegan, 2014). As much as MacDonald’s might want to standardize its products in its entire chains world over, it has to pay attention to the local culture and preferences. To the MacDonald and its acceptability world over, the company has resulted to developing a similar product but using different ingredients that are acceptable in the local market. It is evidently displayed in

Existential themes in the movie V for Vendetta Essay

Existential themes in the movie V for Vendetta - Essay Example Specifically, we will explore the existential concept of the Individual versus the Herd from the perspective of Hermann Hesse. From this facet of philosophy, we will relate examine and relate the existential concept of the Individual versus the Herd and the stand of V against Norsefire. Existential Concept of the Herd A story would never be complete without the plot, setting, and the characters or subjects. In the same way, a literary work would not be sufficient if it does not include the different parts of a plot. Normally, a plot would have the following parts: the exposition, which is the beginning of the story. Second would be the rising action wherein the acts leading to the climax is developed. Within this part, the conflict of the story and dilemmas that result to the climax are introduced. The climax, which is normally the highest point of the story since the effect of the conflict, would now reach the tipping point. After which, the events happening after the climax shall b e the content of the falling action. Lastly, a conflict resolution would end the plot, and the story altogether. It is to be noted though that each part of the plot does not need to happen in a chronological and sequential manner. What is necessary is that all the parts are essentially present. One can never do away with the conflict. Without a conflict, there seems to be no reason to tell a story. The conflict then is the reason why there is a story in the first place. As with every literary work, there exists a conflict, and around that struggle is where the story would basically revolve. There are various kinds of existential theories in literature; however, this paper calls for the discussion of only one kind. The author of this paper chose to extensively provide an analysis of the film V for Vendetta, in relation to the existential literary theme Individual vs. The Herd. This literary theme is also more commonly known as man versus society. The famous existentialist philosopher Jean Jacques-Rosseau wrote in his masterpiece The Social Contract, â€Å"Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains.† The herd or the society, in this case, is the persona that keeps man in chains. For the society, the ideology, beliefs and practices of the majority are considered as the common good, hence, it must be followed. In this kind of environment, the voice of the individual should stand in conformity to the community. The stand of the individual who dares to be different does not stand a chance against the influence of the commanding majority. In the film V for Vendetta, the government aims to attain a perfect Fascist Unity. In this kind of society, if you do not conform, then you shall be considered as an outcast, unwelcome, and even tortured for being different. To be or not to be part of the herd would be the ultimate decision that could spell a remarkable difference in an individual’s life. The Concept of Fascist Unity in V for Vendetta â€Å"Stre ngth through unity, unity through faith!† Perhaps the strongest message, what would make it the

Credit Risk Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Credit Risk - Research Paper Example The following part of this paper will make one aware of the concept of credit risk in detail. Credit risk-background The last few decades witnessed the collapse of some major banks as a result of borrowers’ credit repayment failure. Hence, many of the world’s largest banks and other financial institutions have developed comprehensive systems in order to deal with credit risk arising from different aspects of their businesses. The main objectives of such systems involve the identification, quantification, aggregation, and management of credit risk exposures. In modern days, those systems constitute a major part of risk management and performance measurement. Circumstances of credit risk Credit risk issues mainly include lost principal and interest, diminishing cash flow, and rise in collection costs. The credit risk arises in a number of situations and some of them are described below. A business or consumer fails to pay the amount due on a mortgage loan, credit card, or other loan. A business or consumer makes no payment due on a trade invoice. A business fails to pay a worker’s earned wages when due. A government bond issuer does not pay the amount due on a coupon or principal payment. An insolvent insurance company does not make a payment due on a policy obligation. A government sanctions bankruptcy permission to an insolvent business. Types of credit risk The credit risk is mainly of three types including default risk, credit spread risk, and downgrade risk. Default risk: When companies or individuals are unable to make payment due on their debt obligations, it is called default risk. Lenders and investors are vulnerable to default risk in all forms of credit extensions. In order to mitigate the issues associated with the default risk, lenders often charge return rates that equals the debtor’s level of default risk. Credit spread risk: According to Fabozzi, when an issuer’s obligation performs inefficiently relative to othe r bonds as a result of an increase in the credit spread, it is called credit spread risk (638). When the credit spread increases, it leads to a proportional decline in the market price of the bond issue. Downgrade risk: as Fabozzi points out, an unexpected downgrading of an issue results in an increase in the credit spread and it subsequently leads to a decline in the price of the issue (638). Such a risk is known as downgrade risk; it is very closely related to credit spread risk. Assessment of credit risk Nowadays, a variety of improved sources and sophisticated programs are applied to evaluate and manage credit risk. Some companies have established separate credit risk departments to examine the financial potency of their customers and sanction (or not) credit accordingly. Such departments conduct in house programs to effectively deal with the avoidance, reduction, and transfer of credit risk. Standard & Poor’s, Fitch Ratings, and Dun and Bradstreet are some of the example s of organizations providing credit risk management services for a fixed fee. Majority lenders use their own models to determine and class existing as well as potential customers on the basis of risk and thereby to apply most suitable strategies. In case of products like unsecured personal loans and mortgages, lenders usually charge relatively higher price for higher risk clients in order to secure the transaction to some extent. In

Discussion Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 4

Discussion - Article Example This is evident in the passage as it is confirmed by this statement â€Å"thus, intersubjectivity emerges as part of a larger problem (141).† It is a reality that subject reacts with other subjects without mediation of material elements such as body or sense media. This concept is implicit in the notion of ‘intersubjectivity’. Recognition that the person uses the materials of culture and is impacted by other people does nothing to impose on the reality that such a notion is essentially individualist (Williams, 1992). Hegel does not believe that every person has to involve in a life and death fight for recognition. This is evident as gave a suggested a different concept in substitute of a ‘formation of consciousness’, he proposed an individual level and a communal social-cultural world-chronological level.’ This can be analyzed as an attempt to prevent people from seeking recognition to much. The concept of consciousness is brought in the passage, however, not as self-consciousness but people living in self-sufficient communities. Undeniably, consciousness remains a prerequisite for recognitive self-consciousness. Hegel regards material culture as products of contemplation, and never spent bothered to understand the interrelationship between materials. While he discarded the labor procedure as a pattern of the dialectic he did not discard apprehension with the creation and use of material civilization, but changed it into a logical stature. Thus, when the promoters of ‘intersubjectivity’ expunge the usage of artifacts from unrestrained action, they ignore Spirit itself. Williams asserts that Hegel changed subjectivity to intersubjectivity. However, ‘intersubjectivity’ is incomprehensible and incoherent with core fundamentals of Hegel’s perception of subjectivity (Williams, 1992). It is accurate to conclude that recognition is an extremely un-Hegelian concept since it assumes the nonexistence of effective mediating media and artifacts. It

Girl Scouts Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Girl Scouts - Coursework Example The biggest obstacle was realignment of the council but Cloninger’s did it strategically. This created short term wins such as cost reduction. Cloninger’s together built on the change which was later embraced in a corporate culture. (Kotters 8-Step Change Model, 2012) d) Mckinsey (company, 2001) designs a model of mission, strategies and team work. Then he ensures human resource is developed from all cadres forming a good organizational structure embraced by corporate culture which is the case brought forward by Cloninger in Girl Scout. e) The resistance brought by decentralization of the organization by some council influenced Cloninger’s approach of team work. The ‘musty uncool’ image also affected Cloninger’s approach of free flexible participation for all age level of between 15-17 girls. f) Through identification of strengths of the organization such as volunteering. Also through strengthening weaknesses. Cloninger’s also identified opportunities which they worked on within the given time line. Threatening issues such as decentralized governance were realigned and team work through corporate culture adopted. g) The first obstacle was the realignment of the council which she knew would be faced by rejection and disparities by local council. The there is the low membership recruitment. The other problem was the resistance by some council who were opposed to centralized control and finally by people joining and leaving the organization so that there is no continuity. The condition for success included working together as a team and within the allocated timeline by reducing costs in the organization. It is similar in that there was realignment of the council trying to satisfy the needs of everyone. There was also combination of task force by bringing all stakeholders aboard and finally looking for income contribution methods through donors and volunteers. Mckinsey addresses culture but model in chapter seven does not highlight on

Procter and Gamble Europe Essay Example for Free

Procter and Gamble Europe Essay I. Introduction Since the end of World War II, business organizations in the United States are becoming closer together with businesses in the European region. There are several reasons of this business behavior. First is the geographical location. Geographically speaking, Europe is the next logical step for foreign expansion after the North American continent has been fully explored. Second is the cultural and technological situation in Europe. Reports indicated that some nations in Europe has became more Americanized in technology and more importantly, culture (Hilger, 2006). Procter and Gamble, one of the most acknowledged companies in the United States have also had a significant presence in the European market today, particularly in Germany. In this paper, we will discuss Procter and Gamble’s decision to expand their business into the European continent and how the decision relates to Procter and Gamble’s corporate strategy. II. P G Corporate Culture In the company’s annual report and reports from external observers, there are actually various traits in Procter and Gamble’s operations that define their uniqueness in the global market. However, some of those corporate cultures are more in line with the European expansion strategy, compare to the others. Some of them are:  · Diversity In the company’s official website, it is mentioned that people at Procter and Gamble are united by the commonality and of corporate values and goals. Diversity is considered as the uniqueness of each of them that will help fulfilling corporate goals. The company has a human resource system that is designed to ensure that everything works for everyone and as the company became more diverse, the company encourage collaboration even more and stresses the importance of fully utilize individualities of people at Procter and Gamble. This culture should work well to support Procter and Gamble’s decisions to perform international expansion.  · Innovation The group also relies heavily on its capability to innovate and create new things from merely ideas. The group applies about a dozen core technologies to amplify this particular competitive advantage. Furthermore, the group has connected its internal innovation capability to vast external network of scientists, technology problem solvers and corporate inventors. Procter and Gamble treat innovation as a process that can be refined continuously to produce more robust and reliable results. This particular capability to inn ovate has also been a contributive factor to Procter and Gamble’s decision to expand abroad. By tapping into this capability, the company can adapt to local environments and create new and innovative products.  · Market Leadership Spokesperson of the company has once said in the middle of a launching campaign that Procter and Gamble put forth many competitive advantages like consumer oriented strategy and innovation, but most importantly, the company also stresses heavily on market leadership. In its annual report, it is repeatedly stated that the company is designed to win in various aspects of the global business competition. The company spends huge percentages of their earnings each financial period on marketing campaigns because they believe in being a winner in every market they get themselves into. Analysts believed that this value also makes it more appealing for Procter and Gamble to expand their business into Europe, especially after the war was over and created a more positive atmosphere for international expansions.  · Focus on Growth Procter and Gamble also stated in its annual report that the company as a whole, is designed for growth. In other words, corporate management is always looking for growth opportunity whether internally or externally. Thus, a chance to develop business into a new market will obviously be perceived as another way to secure growth. III. Strategy by PG III.1.  Ã‚   Human Resource Management Investments Despite the cultures of the company that supported corporate expansion into Europe, the group must still adapt to the changes between American business culture and European. One of the greatest changes in Procter and Gamble is within the human resource department. As the company entered the new market, management has formed a project team to compare between the current employee services and the expectations of Procter and Gamble. In the case of Europe expansion, Procter and Gamble has also developed a strategic alliance with IBM and transferred this value into corporate competitive advantage.   Procter and Gamble also uses their HR account managers to organized how the business is performed within the company. Across the whole Europe, management have organized the HR business accounts to mirror the way the business is organized, and the HR account manager is responsible for ensuring that the team delivers business results in a way that generates growth. Overall, Procter and Gamble has made huge investments in its Europe HP structure, but the new model has now become a significant source of operational and strategic competitive advantages within the continent (Mandiese, 2006). III.2.  Ã‚   Communication strategy changes Along with the European expansion, Procter and Gamble has also invested heavily in changing its information technology. One of the changes Procter and Gamble has made is shifting from media planning to communication planning. This was as much as an industry effort as it is an internal initiative. Procter and Gamble might not be the only company embracing the consumer-centric approach to the media, but Procter and Gamble did it in quite a high-profile fashion that the marketing world surrounding the company must pay attention to the new philosophy. The company maintained a consistent focus on media creativity and also pushed to develop a broadband video upfront marketplace. IV. The Vizir Launch (no data) V. Change Management Model The change management model that can be suggested to Procter and Gamble is the three step change model. This change model basically contains three steps, which are: unfreezing, moving and re-freezing. These steps however, can be modified according to the extent of change that must be performed. For small projects, companies generally go for the light model. The Medium-Sized Model on the other hand is created for the majority of project. For complicated projects, people generally use the Complex Model. When the element of time is crucial, then the suitable modification is the quick model. The last variation is the one designed for a slow type of change, which is the Day-by-day model (Baekdal, 2006). For Procter and Gamble on the other hand, which contains various products for various customer segment, the Complex model is the most suitable. In the Complex model, the unfreezing step contains phases like: analyzing the problem to understand what is really going on and the reason of it, and then understanding the cost and benefits of a change. Afterwards, the company should explain the situation to members of the company and listen to their comments. The next phase includes invalidating the present rules and policies and defines new visions, new goals and finally generate a plan. The move step in the Complex model includes explaining the logics of the new vision, mission and goals and getting everyone on board. Afterwards, the team should listen to everyone’s comment, evaluate the plan and adjust the plan based on the feedbacks. In the re-freezing step, management should define new rules and policies and define the new way of living for the company. This step includes constantly renewing the energy and evaluating the results (Baekdal, 2006).

BMW: Marketing Process Analysis

BMW: Marketing Process Analysis Marketing is a social and managerial process by which individuals and groups obtain they need and want through creation and exchanging products and values with others (Kotler et al. 2005). This definition incorporates both societal and organisation involvement in the realisation of the needs and wants of consumers through delivering products that is evaluated in terms of value created for the creator as well as the consumer rather than just offering a product. According to Groucutt (2005), marketing is all about symbols, brands, and choosing of products and services which are focused and related to the customer. This definition indicates the symbolic meaning of products as socio-economic symbols to alter the ego state of the target consumer. Marketing is a process for defining markets, assessing quantitatively the need of the consumer segments within the markets, allocating value propositions to cater to the needs, conveying the value propositions within the responsible zones of the organisations in relation to the output, communicating with respect to the delivery of the value propositions, and finally monitoring the delivery of the values (McDonald 2007). This definition point out the very calculated movement from the organizations part in utilising its resources to suitably target the right markets through properly defining the market and thereby providing the right product attached with the right value. The feedback from the related market is also a part of the marketing process to ensure the commercial viability also. BMW- Marketing process (LO 1.1) : Marketing process lays down the pathway to fulfill the unfilled needs of the customers by introducing products and services in the market to satisfy growing needs of the customers. The marketing process of BMW is modeled in sequence of steps which includes situational analysis, defining marketing strategy and appropriate marketing mix which promotes products sale (Kotler 2006). One of the key advantages of marketing process of BMW lies in the fact that its marketing approach is based on the situational analysis which catches the attention of the target audience, who are the segment A of the society (BMW 2010). Situational analysis as part of marketing planning process of BMW serves as a powerful tool to capture Australian luxury market by satisfying the changing consumer trends in the market. The advantages from the elements of marketing process are discussed in the following paragraphs. the benefits and costs of a marketing orientation (LO 1.2) : Cost Benefit 1. The two recently launched models X3 and X5 of BMW are a result of the market research conducted to serve the target audience. The cost spent on the research and development activities was enormous. Besides cost, lot of time was spent to conduct analysis on the target market and to find out the requirement of the customers. These Sport car models are the result of the in-depth market research to satisfy the customer demands. 2. The cost incurred on the marketing activities including the promotion, press conference, press release to target the audience was skyrocketing high. 1. Increased customer satisfaction as many people were craving for these new models of BMW. 2. The increase in sales and profits helped the company to attain competitive advantage in the age of growing competition. Micro and Macro Factors affecting Decision Making SOWT (LO 2.1) : The success of BMW lies in the STP strategy which is based on segmentation, target audience and positioning strategy to capture the targeted population (www.bmw.co.au). By means of segmentation, BMW identifies specific buying characteristics of the target audience. BMW segments the society on the basis of geography, demography, socioeconomic and behavior characteristics of the society (Drummond and Ensor 2001). Geographically, European countries and North America serve as the main markets for BMW automobiles as these areas are most industrialized nations and the local residents are financially well off to buy high priced cars due to the increased per capita income. In respect to demographics, the men and women both aged 30-50 years are the main users of M3 and M5 models. Behaviorally, these audiences have a clear image about the company and its products. They believe in superiority, performance and excellence before making a purchase. BMW has excelled in its performance as its produc ts are high in quality and also technologically superior. BMW has been able to create a good brand image in the minds of the people by means of innovative advertising campaigns. BMW due to its strategic positioning is known for age old tradition of quality. BMW M series is among one of those luxury cars which can be recognized by the crowd at a distance due to its successful marketing strategy based on positioning, targeting and segmentation. SWOT Analysis Strengths: BMW Automobiles is consistent in delivery quality projects. The firm comprises of robust workforce for effective product delivery. The firm makes use of latest technology, owns world class equipment and all the modern facilities in the designing and development of car models. Weakness: BMW is a global leader but still faces some shortcomings which are its incapability to work on small scale projects. BMW is known for its large seated cars and its inability to target the smaller segment is the only weakness. Opportunity: BMW automobile is rapidly expanding in different parts of the world. BMW makes use of latest technology to develop best of cars and operate effectively in international markets. Threat: The survey shows that the target market for BMW car model is looking for more value in the product which serves as a serious threat to the company. Marketing Mix and Marketing Process-4ps (LO 2.2) : While considering marketing process, marketing mix of BMW cannot be kept in isolation. The marketing mix forms an important part of the decision making process. The first P is the product which provides customer with the description about the product and how it meets the customer requirement. Example BMW X3, BMW X5 models, offered by BMW go through product life cycle which determines the age and maturity of the product in the market. The products developed ensure constant income and the company also develops replacement products on consistent basis for a fair settlement. The prices of BMW cars varies depending upon model customer has asked for like sports car which are priced high, the engine size also determines the price of the product and many more. The pricing for BMW X3 is competition oriented and same for similar brands as the market is large and creating large profits is not as important as it will be for a small car. The place and location for BMW cars follows a distribution chain network comprising of manufacturer, dealer and consumer. The organization is in tie ups with the superior dealers across the world and they are further responsible to offer the product to the customers across the globe at strategic locations. To promote the BMW models X3 and X5, a broad range of advertising campaigns including print and television media are used for product launch, color supplements etc. the slogans used for BMW are smart choice, the ultimate driving machine designed for peace of mind have been used to create competitive edge in the market, change the perception of people, mould their behavior towards car consumption and differentiate their products from competitors. Target Strategy ( LO 2.3 ) BMW follows a differentiated strategy catering to people with specific segmentation (David 2006). An example, BMW M series is a super sports vehicle and refers to specific target audience. BMW made changes in its car models when introduced in India as compared to its American version. There was higher ground clearance so as to make the cars compatible to Indian road surface, high resistance to dust in Indian market, horns located on the steering and not lever were some of the changes introduced to make it suitable for Indian market. Buyer Behavior and Marketing Activities ( LO 2.4 ) Consumer buying behavior is a blend of mental and emotional process and involves elements from sociology and psychology which affects consumer behavior while making purchase. In case of exclusive products like BMW M series the consumer purchase behavior is triggered by psychological factors, status symbol which influences customers attitude and behavior to make a purchase. Product Positioning ( LO 2.5 ) BMW M series, X3 and X5 are synonymous with performance and advanced technology used in driving. Drivers can now connect sports vehicle to the roads with high performance. The sport seats provide supportive front, back and thigh comfort. There are powerful headrests for drivers comfort with leather steering wheel with the horn placed at the lever comes to the ease of the driver. The motronic engine is powerful on all road surfaces and provides smooth drive in all season (www.bmw.co.au). Sustainable Catchment Management: Principles and Practice Sustainable Catchment Management: Principles and Practice What is meant by the world water crisis? Critically assess the contribution of River Basin Management in addressing this crisis The worlds freshwater is commonly discussed in the literature as being a finite resource under increasing pressure from the greater demands being placed upon it globally (Postel 2000, Hamdey et al 2003, Oki and Kanae 2006, UNEP 2007). It has consequently become a highly contentious resource, and in recent years the focus of much debate on how best to manage it; with the latest favoured paradigm (particularly in developed countries) being that of holistic sustainability achieved using the best practice of basin-wide management (Biswas 2004, Watson et al 2007). Such an approach is particularly emphasised in key policies such as Agenda 21 and the Water Framework Directive, with the latter enforcing the creation of River Basin Management Plans by law for all EU member states. This paper will discuss whether there really is a world water crisis, and if so to what extent river basin management (RBM) can help to address this using case examples such as the Murray-Darling basin to discuss t his in context. According to the research of Oki and Kanae (2006 pp1068) the global consumption of renewable freshwater resources is well below its Malthusian limits, with only 10% of the maximum available blue water and 30% of green water being presently used. However, because its distribution both in quantity and quality for purpose is spatially and temporally uneven as shown in figure 1 water stresses exist through a demand and supply imbalance. Gleick 1998, Hamdey et al 2003, and UNEP 2007 amongst others cite figures such as already 80 countries with 40% of the world population suffer serious water shortages (Hamdey et al 2003 pp3) and more than a billion people in the developing world lack access to safe drinking water (Gleick 1998 pp487), which suggests that water stress is a major issue (as reflected in the Millennium Development Goals); and with population growth/demographics (figure 2), economic, standard of living, and climatic factors set to change, such stresses are expected to worsen on the whole through increasing the imbalance. This is especially true for developing countries since an estimated 90% of the 3 billion people expected to add to the global population by 2050 are expected to reside in such countries with many of which already experiencing high water stress (UN 2007 cited UNESCO 2009). At what point down the line an actual absolute crisis at a nation scale is reached is still yet to occur; although given the social and economic value attached to water, and its three-dimensional effect upon food supply, ecosystem health, and standard of living for example, it may already indicate a crisis is underway (Newson et al 1999 cited Newson 2000). This is especially true if freshwater access is considered as a basic human right (Gleick 1998). Assuming this, RBM is often discussed in the literature as being a viable management option to address the crisis, since its approach is holistic and all-encompassing. Its current favour comes from the fact that unlike the traditional response to water shortages assessed through developing more supplies often via unsustainable sources and hard engineering practices such as damming rivers (Hamdey et al 2003) it tries to achieve long term sustainability through encompassing land-use planning, environmental management, and agricultural policy into the management of all surface and subsurface water within a catchment. This theoretically allows for all of the direct and indirect natural and anthropogenic demands placed upon the resource to be addressed and met under a best-practice regime to achieve an optimal relevant management outcome. A classic example of where such a policy has been successful is in the Murray-Darling basin, southeast Australia. The RBM regime here is a highly evolved form of institutional arrangements first started in 1917, and consequently modified, to meet the desired outcomes and changing pressures on the 1 million Km2 five jurisdictional state catchment. At its heart the scheme seeks to promote and coordinate effective management planning for equitable, efficient and sustainable use of water, land and other resources (Pigram 1999 pp108), which it achieves through a hydraulic approach using top-down policy making and bottom-up implementation, coordinated through the central Murray-Darling Commission (Shar et al 2005). In doing this it allows for all of the key stakeholders within each state to meet and discuss how best to manage the water resources to maximise the resultant biophysical, economic and social interests not only within each state (and its respective water share), but for the whol e catchment. Theoretically this coordinates the upstream-downstream interests and encourages more productive/efficient use of water through improved technology such as crop per drop (Postel 2000), which in turn allows all of the water demands to be attained equitably. And, combined with the top-down governance system setting standards which need to be reached by every state regarding water quality and quality, ecological requirements and permitted degradation levels through land use policies, it ensures that management is not static and behind the changing catchment pressures upon the water resource. This is not to say however the system is perfect since its effectiveness depends on the cooperation of each state government, and as of yet no true full sustainability has been achieved (Pigram 1999). However, with regards to the world water crisis it is clear to see that in this instance, along with many others, RBM is having a positive impact. This is because it is encouraging through laws and other means the more efficient and equitable use of water (Postel 2000), whilst regarding the whole basin and its long term demands and pressures such as climate change. In doing so it may lessen the effect of future crises/pressures through being proactive. Similar RBM regimes also exist under other political systems such as throughout the whole of the European Union (due to Water Framework Directive legislation) and South Africa (since 1998). In the latter Gregersen et al (2007) states that although the regime is working it is not yet sustainable, since such management systems take several years to develop and offer no ready made solutions. Therefore at its national level it is not fully able to address the water crisis, although it seemingly is on the way to try to do so through using a management system which looks to achieving this from the outset. It must be said however that most of the successful RBM regimes are in developed formalised society countries where the fundamental water stresses are often far lower in the first instance (see figure 1). Such systems cannot be directly transferred between political institutions easily due to the context in which the regime was fundamentally formed to meet within the founding country regarding the hydraulic and climatic conditions, demographics, socio-economic conditions and the structure of the water sector (Barrow 1998, Hunt 1999, Shar et al 2005). For example Hu (1999), Malanu et al (1999) (cited Shar et al 2005) and Hunt (1999) each found that the Murray-Darling RBM system could not be successfully transferred to the Chinese, Vietnamese and Solomon Island contexts because of such issues; with Shar et al (2005 pp46) arguing that transferring RBM regimes between developed and developing countries is particularly problematic since the problems developing country find critical have e ither remained unresolved or irrelevant in developed country river basins such as ground water exploitation. Thus in regard to the world water crisis it provides little use in this sense, especially since the greatest stresses/crises are expected to occur here. Hunt (1999) therefore argues that the contextual fit between policy development and application is key to managing the water resource successfully. In setting the correct framework to set play and play in provides an effective environment to address the water crisis in, whether through RBM or not. In some cases I would also argue that to address the current water crisis RBM can only be used as part of the solution, due to the interconnectivity of the water resource with standard of living (relating back to the Millennium Development Goals) and economic development. If full RBM sustainability is strived for under the current conditions, inclusive of the environmental requirement, it may only serve to worsen the current crisis such as in Jordan which withdraws some of its supply unsustainably from non-renewable aquifers (Macoun and El Naser 1999). The same is true for other basins globally such as in the Colorado, Tennessee and Yangtze river basins, since in order to meet their past a nd current demands, supply had to be increased through building dams for instance. This could be seen in some cases as being unsustainable due to the impact it has on the basin, and even though the two former river basins are now managed under RBM regimes (Newson 2009) they are operating under modified conditions. RBM still has value however in promoting more efficient water use (Postel 2000) and sustainable ethical management, so should not be completely ignored in management. The contextual fit of countries as a whole is important in determining the best approach to address the world water crisis. RBM may also fail in addressing the world water crisis too if it fails to be effective itself in the first instance. For instance since RBM seeks to achieve equitable sustainability (Barrow 1998), unequal power sharing may result in such a failure. To exemplify this if a dam was allowed to hold back more water for power generation it would put increasing pressure on the quantity of flow for the ecological needs and irrigative agriculture uses amongst others. Similarly if a factory was allowed higher pollution levels then the changes in the water quality could draw a system closer experiencing a water crisis (assuming it was already highly stressed). This is especially true if a non-integrated RBM regime is used, since the different interests of each RBM stakeholder groups, such as land owners, farmers, developers and conservationists would prioritise their needs over others. This consequently may be ineffective due to the differing overall outcomes, needing some coordination and comp romising to a certain degree to be effective in terms of long-term holistic management. A similar failing may occur within international river basins also if a common-goal transboundary management agreement cannot be established in practice even if it is agreed upon politically. This is the case today between Israel and Palestine despite the fact of the road to recovery (common goal) plan. Israel in 2003 abstracted 95% of the water from the diverted Lower Jordan to meet its own abstraction needs and left Palestine with only 5%. Consequently Palestine is in a water crisis since it cannot meet its own water needs (Frederiksen 2003). To be effective therefore in the first instance RBM plans need to be authoritative, equitable, coordinated and true to RBMs initial purpose. Only then can it help in addressing the world water crisis. In conclusion therefore it can be successfully argued that RBM is a worthwhile management option to pursue in relation to addressing the world water crisis. Where such regimes are well established and operational, such as in the Murray-Darling catchment, its sustainability approach to management allows for all of the demands and threats/pressures to the freshwater resource (such as excessive nutrient runoff from poorly managed land) to be identified and dealt with equitably and accordingly within the basins long-term carrying capacity. But, given the contextual fit of each country with regards to its current resource base, water pressures, and demands/needs, it may mean that in the grand scheme of things RBM may not be the most suitable management option to address the crisis with on its own. Interestingly RBM is according to Shar et al 2005 harder to implement in developing countries due to its developed background, but it is such countries where the water stresses are already at hi gh stress levels and expected to worsen from most through the predicted population growth and climate change pressures (UNESCO 2009). Only time will tell how useful and politically favoured RBM is in addressing the crisis, and whether it is continued to be used alone or alongside other water management concepts cuch as international virtual water sharing.

Proof Is Simply Beyond The Capacity Essay -- essays research papers f

Certain individuals who commit crimes do so at their own free will, and many have no qualms as to the consequences of their actions. To some, it matters not the possibility that if they are caught, there is the chance they may be executed. Sometimes the crimes committed by certain persons are done so in a manner that would bewilder any other human being. My personal belief is that there is no need for capital punishment in our society. Advocates say that capital punishment is needed in order to deter future criminals, but this is not entirely the case. Research has shown that capital punishment, as a deterrent, has no positive or negative effect. An influential student of the deterrence question, Thorsten Sellin, conducted a study that would attempt to determine the effect of capital punishment on future crime. He studied the homicide rates in contiguous states, some with and some without the death penalty, on the assumption that these states were as alike as possible in character of population, social and economic conditions, etc. His conclusion was that the death penalty had no effect on the murder rate (Sellin, 63). This is not to say that the study performed by Sellin was perfect, for it did contain flaws. In his attempt, he looked for correlations between the homicide rate and the legal status of the death penalty, rather than the number of executions actually carried out in the states where it was legal punishment. As it may be true that contiguous states are similar in certain respects, their differences may be quite apparent. Sellin looked for characteristics evident in all of the states he compared, but these same factors may not be part of the real reason that leads to homicide. He had no way of knowing if these states were equal in all other respects, such as apprehending and convicting those who commit murder. There is simply no absolute in controlling all factors. The issue of deterrence has been the basis on which advocates or abolitionists have grounded their arguments. It would be safe to assume that both sides have varying definitions for the term â€Å"deterrence† and the manner in which they utilize that definition to their advantage. Gertrude Ezorsky offers a dichotomous definition of deterrence that is useful in deciphering the meanings behind the arguments. Ezorsky makes a distinction between the effects of a threat of a punishment and ... ...ways that allow proponents or opponents to advance their own views. What also hinders the advance of this debate is that fact that the installation and implementation of capital punishment is inconsistent, for it is abolished, then brought back again. Many factors are taken into account in determining whether capital punishment is effective, but I am in complete agreement with Peter Passell when he says, â€Å"proof is simply beyond the capacity of empirical social science† (Passell, 79). Bibliography Berns, Walter, For Capital Punishment: Crime and the Morality of the Death Penalty. New York: Basic Books, Inc., 1979. Cederblom, Jerry, â€Å"The Retributive Liability Theory of Punishment,† Public Affairs Quarterly 9, 4 (1995), 305-15. Ezorsky, Gertrude, Philosophical Perspectives on Punishment. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1972. Passell, Peter, â€Å"The Deterrent Effect of the Death Penalty: A Statistical Test,† Stanford Law Review 28 (Nov. 1975), 79-80. Sellin, Thorsten, The Death Penalty. Philadelphia: American Law Institute, 1959. Van Den Haag, Ernest, â€Å"On Deterrence and the Death Penalty,† The Journal of Criminal Law Criminology, and Police Science 60, 2 (June 1969), 141-47.

Essay --

Before 2003 there were six million people living peacefully and all of the sudden there were three million people displaced, 400,000 people dead, and one despot. This sudden change was due to the Darfur government killing the citizens of Darfur. It began in 2003 when two peacekeeping rebel groups challenged the Darfur government, accusing it of neglect. The government responded by killing and raping as many people they could making it a national genocide. A Genocide is the action of deliberately killing a group of people, specifically one certain ethnic group or religion. Darfur's government and the Janjaweed army have been devastating lives of the Darfurian people by destroying their homes and killing many Darfurians since the beginning of 2003. The Genocide has been said to have officially started on February 26, 2003 when a rebel group called DLF publically claimed that they had attacked Golo, Western Darfur. Even before the genocide had began there were several attacks on the Darfur government by rebel groups. For example, on February 25, 2002 the rebels attacked an army garrison on a mountain. This all started in Sudan, which is the largest country in Africa, located south of Egypt. Darfur is one of the eighteen states in Sudan is about the size of Texas. Darfur is broken up into five smaller states, which are West Darfur, Central Darfur, East Darfur, South Darfur, and North Darfur. Darfur is bordered by Chad, Libya, and Central African Republic. The Darfurians have not only been troubled by the government, but also by the lack of food and water. The rough and desert like terrain makes it hard to grow crops. The region is also very drought prone making it hard to grow crops too. The state of Darfur has about six mi ... ...e in that one shooting 136 men was killed. This incident happened in Garisla, an area south of Zingei, in Wadi Saleh. Darfur's government and the Janjaweed army have been devastating lives of the Darfurian people by destroying their homes and killing many Darfurians since the beginning of 2003. Darfur’s genocide has impacted the world greatly by warning people what could happen with a corrupt government. The current issue has put fear in everyone’s lives by making them think about every decision that the government is making. I believe that the current situation in Darfur is unfair for the people. Instead of living life, they are trying to survive. A newspaper has said that the â€Å"United Nations officials have characterized the situation as ‘the greatest humanitarian catastrophe ever.’† Everyday the Darfurians wake up thinking â€Å"will I see the sun rise tomorrow?†

Essay example --

Jahanpanah – literally, ‘Refuge of the World’ –is often known as the fourth city of Delhi. The walls of Jahanpanah were constructed by Muhammad Tughlak in 1328 A.D. It is believed that the sultan (a megalomaniac) desired to unify the scattered urban settlements in the area : the old city of Lal Kot, the military cantonment of Siri, and the citadel of Tughlaqabad into one city by enclosing them within a single walled area. After building a part of it, he gave up the rest due to the huge expenses needed for construction. Jahanpanah was created by linking the older cities of Siri and Lal Kot by a set of two extensive walled sections with a total of thirteen gates. The western wall had six gates while the eastern had seven. But only the name of Maidan Gate on the west, near an old idgah, survives. Sher Shah removed the walls of this city. Historians believe that the fortified city was for the residence of the sultan and his royal household so must have contained the citadel with the sultan’s palace complex and the main mosque for the use of the royal family and others. The majority of city’s population lived within the walls of Lal Kot. It is also possible that large parts of Jahanpanah continued to be rural or forested during and long after Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s reign. Today, the fortifications have survived in small sections, mostly parts of the wall that connected Siri to Lal Kot from the south. Due to the expansion of urban India, Jahanpanah has been engulfed by modern residential neighbourhoods while large parts of the walls were demolished to lay modern infrastructure like roads. Other than the parts of the original wall, very little survives of what can be dated to Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s reign with certainty. Khirki... ...s. Below ground is a three feet wide cell and is almost filled up with soil. It is declared to be Kabir-ud-din Aulia’s abode below by day and above by night. The group of buildings includes ruins of several wall mosques, grave platforms, and gateways. On the roof, a low octagonal drum carries a conical dome. It is said that the dome was originally surmounted with a gold finial which was stolen at some point. The roof level is edged by carved sandstone battlement decorations. a tall pointed entrance arch with lotus bud fringe design contains a carved corbelled gateway surrounded by a band of white marble. Above the gateway is another arch, within which is set a red sandstone jali (screen with ornamental patterns). Similar patterns exist on the north and south except that the gateway is blocked by a jali of red sandstone. The solid western wall contains the mihrab.

Research Questions, Objectives and Hypothesis

Research objectives are the goals of the research study. Research objectives specify the reason researchers are conducting research. For example, researchers may want to better understand the difference in pain scale results among subjects with a diagnosis of moderate traumatic brain injury. In this case the research objective would cause researchers to take steps to conduct scientific analysis to determine the variations in pain experienced between a group of individuals without a diagnosis of TBI and a group of individuals with TBI.The research objective is to determine if there is a difference in perceived pain levels among patients with a diagnosis of moderate traumatic brain injury as compared with individuals without a diagnosis of moderate traumatic brain injury. The objective is the reason researchers are conducting the research. Farrugia et al. cites Hayes in saying when formulating a research objective it is essential to know â€Å"where the boundary between current knowle dge and ignorance lies. † (Farrugia 2010).Understanding the missing component among previously conducted research and current observations is a key component when formulating a research objective. Research questions are the questions asked in order to achieve the objective. According to Farrugia et al. , an effective research question should â€Å"specify the population of interest, be of interest to the scientific community and potentially to the public, have clinical relevance and further current knowledge in the field† and be compliant with current ethical standards (Farrugia et al. 2010).The study authors further suggest using the FINER criteria in order to develop an effective initial research question. This delineates the research question into several component parts to analyze in detail the efficacy of the research question and if, among all the available or visible possible questions, the question chosen is the most effective research question to guide the stud y. For example, according to Jackson, a research question may state â€Å"do science majors score higher on intelligence tests then students in the general population† (Jackson 2011).This question guides the course of the research study and guides researchers in setting up the study effectively and accurately. It is important, throughout the course of research, to ensure that additional questions do not cloud the initial research question (Farrugia et al. 2010). This requires a focus on the original research question and the ability of researchers to set aside additional questions that may arise for later research studies.A research hypothesis or alternative hypothesis is the hypothesis which researchers â€Å"want to support that predicts a significant difference exists between the two groups being compared† (Jackson 2011). For further description, Farrugia et al. describes the research hypothesis a hypothesis developed â€Å"from the research question and then the m ain elements of the study — sampling strategy, intervention (if applicable), comparison and outcome variables — are summarized in a form that establishes the basis for testing, statistical and ultimately clinical significance† (Farrugia et al.2010).The research hypothesis differs from the null hypothesis and sets the course of the study, the study details and types of measures used during the study. Jackson provides an example of a research hypothesis being derived from an initial research objective when a researcher wants to illustrate that children who attend educationally-based after school programs have higher IQ scores compared to children who do not attend educationally-based after school programs.The alternative hypothesis in this case would be that the researcher wants to prove that children who attend educationally-based after school programs have higher IQ scores. In order to accomplish this, because of the nature of proving and disproving facts and the impossibility of proving the truth of the hypothesis through statistics, the researcher would have to construct a null hypothesis â€Å"the hypothesis predicting that no differences exists between the groups being compares† (Jackson 2011).In this case the null hypotheses would perhaps say that children who attend academically-based after school programs have the same IQ scores as children who do not attend such programs. This would then allow the researcher to attempt to disprove the null hypothesis using inferential statistics to reject the null hypothesis, which in turn would mean the research or alternative hypothesis, is potentially supported by the data gathered by the researcher. Another important consideration is weather the hypothesis will be one-tailed or two-tailed.A one-tailed hypothesis is an hypothesis â€Å"in which the researcher predicts the direction of the expected difference between the groups† (Jackson 2011). A two-tailed hypothesis is â€Å"an al ternative hypothesis in which the researcher predicts that the groups being compared differ but does not predict the direction of the difference. † Whether one-tailed or two tailed (Jackson 2011) the hypothesis gives credence to the research and provides the schema on which researchers build their research study. Research Questions, Objectives and Hypothesis Research objectives are the goals of the research study. Research objectives specify the reason researchers are conducting research. For example, researchers may want to better understand the difference in pain scale results among subjects with a diagnosis of moderate traumatic brain injury. In this case the research objective would cause researchers to take steps to conduct scientific analysis to determine the variations in pain experienced between a group of individuals without a diagnosis of TBI and a group of individuals with TBI.The research objective is to determine if there is a difference in perceived pain levels among patients with a diagnosis of moderate traumatic brain injury as compared with individuals without a diagnosis of moderate traumatic brain injury. The objective is the reason researchers are conducting the research. Farrugia et al. cites Hayes in saying when formulating a research objective it is essential to know â€Å"where the boundary between current knowle dge and ignorance lies. † (Farrugia 2010).Understanding the missing component among previously conducted research and current observations is a key component when formulating a research objective. Research questions are the questions asked in order to achieve the objective. According to Farrugia et al. , an effective research question should â€Å"specify the population of interest, be of interest to the scientific community and potentially to the public, have clinical relevance and further current knowledge in the field† and be compliant with current ethical standards (Farrugia et al. 2010).The study authors further suggest using the FINER criteria in order to develop an effective initial research question. This delineates the research question into several component parts to analyze in detail the efficacy of the research question and if, among all the available or visible possible questions, the question chosen is the most effective research question to guide the stud y. For example, according to Jackson, a research question may state â€Å"do science majors score higher on intelligence tests then students in the general population† (Jackson 2011).This question guides the course of the research study and guides researchers in setting up the study effectively and accurately. It is important, throughout the course of research, to ensure that additional questions do not cloud the initial research question (Farrugia et al. 2010). This requires a focus on the original research question and the ability of researchers to set aside additional questions that may arise for later research studies.A research hypothesis or alternative hypothesis is the hypothesis which researchers â€Å"want to support that predicts a significant difference exists between the two groups being compared† (Jackson 2011). For further description, Farrugia et al. describes the research hypothesis a hypothesis developed â€Å"from the research question and then the m ain elements of the study — sampling strategy, intervention (if applicable), comparison and outcome variables — are summarized in a form that establishes the basis for testing, statistical and ultimately clinical significance† (Farrugia et al.  2010).The research hypothesis differs from the null hypothesis and sets the course of the study, the study details and types of measures used during the study. Jackson provides an example of a research hypothesis being derived from an initial research objective when a researcher wants to illustrate that children who attend educationally-based after school programs have higher IQ scores compared to children who do not attend educationally-based after school programs.The alternative hypothesis in this case would be that the researcher wants to prove that children who attend educationally-based after school programs have higher IQ scores. In order to accomplish this, because of the nature of proving and disproving facts and the impossibility of proving the truth of the hypothesis through statistics, the researcher would have to construct a null hypothesis â€Å"the hypothesis predicting that no differences exists between the groups being compares† (Jackson 2011).In this case the null hypotheses would perhaps say that children who attend academically-based after school programs have the same IQ scores as children who do not attend such programs. This would then allow the researcher to attempt to disprove the null hypothesis using inferential statistics to reject the null hypothesis, which in turn would mean the research or alternative hypothesis, is potentially supported by the data gathered by the researcher. Another important consideration is weather the hypothesis will be one-tailed or two-tailed.A one-tailed hypothesis is an hypothesis â€Å"in which the researcher predicts the direction of the expected difference between the groups† (Jackson 2011). A two-tailed hypothesis is â€Å"a n alternative hypothesis in which the researcher predicts that the groups being compared differ but does not predict the direction of the difference. † Whether one-tailed or two tailed (Jackson 2011) the hypothesis gives credence to the research and provides the schema on which researchers build their research study.

Philippines Airlines Case Essay

Philippines airlines started its history on March 15, 1941 on a small twin-engine Beech Model 18 flying 212 of pure skies from Manila to Baguio with a full load of five passengers. Upon the outbreak of the pacific war, PAL’s two aircraft were pressed into service with the US army Air Corps. Post-war operations began on February 14, 1946 with five ex-military Douglas DC-35. In July, the airline chartered DC-4s to carry American service men home to Oakland, making PAL the first airline to cross the Pacific. Regular DC-4s service to San Francisco began in December 1946. In May 1947, PAL opened a route to Europe. By 1952, the international route network covered two-thirds of the wold, and the government became the majority stockholder. At present, PAL uses the most advance technology in the local airline industry. Technical centers were constructed to perform ground handling for other airlines and contract work for the states and Philippine Military services. Computerized reservations systems link most PAL sales outlets: 103 in the Philippines and 56 worldwide. The PAL Data Center at the Manila Domestic Airport is the core of the most extensive computer system in the Philippines today. A massive refleeting program was introduced to be able to cope with the standards of the industry. Indeed, this program paved the way for the problems they are facing right now. Closure Philippine Airlines (PAL) is facing its worst crisis. Foremost in the company’s mind is how can it possibly overcome problems created by the economic turmoil that has been bagging the Asian region since July 1997- a situation few quarters were able to predict. What do they do in times of decreasing demand for air travel, poor revenues, increasing operational cost, and when credit to cover financial obligations is almost non-existent? The main reason why PAL suffered financial problems was because of the massive refleeting modernization program, which was funded through loans made from local and international creditors. It has reached a point where it can no longer keep up with its obligations. Then, the labor unrest come into force because of the need to downsize manpower as a solution to its financial problems. The pilots rejected a scheme to retire 200 colleagues using a provision in their CBA which would not give them enough monetary benefit that will compensate their year of service with the company. The  ground employees protested the manner by which the management implemented a retrenchment program on their ranks as a result of the 22-day pilots strike. The downsizing was a bitter pill to swallow. Chain of Events Prior to the Closure June 1998 The 620 PAL pilots went on strike paralyzing PAL’s operations. 1,800 ground employees were retrenched. July 1998 Philippine Air Lines Employee Association (PALEA) went on strike to demand the reinstatement of the retrenched members who they claimed were dismissed by violating their CBA provisions. September 1998 Lucio Tan gave out a proposal to PALEA officers, the acceptance of which will ensure the survical of PAL. PALEA officers accepted the proposal. Members of PALEA rejected the proposal and demanded a retraction from the officers. Officers retracted on a condition that a referendum is held on the proposals. Referendum under the sponsorship of DOLE was held. â€Å"NO† votes prevailed. Closure becomes reality. Management side (Interview) The closure was done because the company is on the brink of bankruptcy. It was due to the unforeseen economic crisis. There is no problem with the management and labor. The management then gave a proposal to avoid the closure of the company. Labor side (source from Newspapers) They are afraid that the management can easily fire them without the CBA. They are also worried about the recognition of the labor union even if the CBA is suspended. Another referendum was made and the â€Å"YES† votes prevailed which means that they agreed to the proposal of Mr. Lucio Tan maybe because of limited options they have. REACTION (Written by a PAL employee) The upheavals in PAL can best described as â€Å"Bad Luck†. After 57 years in existence, who would have say that management expertise is lacking, maybe inappropriate to the call of the times but never lacking. The labor unions have enjoyed the rights since day one of their foundation but again due to the call of the times, they have just ask for more. Each one has its own reasons for being so the collapse of the enterprise come to fore and closure was inevitable. The Yes or No vote. Both are evil but we chose the lesser evil- Why Yes? 1. Yes means reopening of the airline, a must for national interest as well as individual worker’s interest. The industry is vital to national trade and tourism. Its absence could slow down the Philippine economy further. While it’s true that there maybe other airlines, PAL has the edge in facilities, human resources, and worldwide recognition. 2. The suspension of CBA can still be questioned in court for its legality and can be pursued by the union. 3. There are labor laws to protect the workers. Effects of the Closure in the Economy The economy then was in recession so the people did not consider air travel. Many PAL workers went home jobless. GNP drops because of low productivity. Business opportunities were cancelled or delayed due to lack of Air Transportation. Re-opening Pal opened its door when all the problems were partially solved. Owner Lucio Tan infused capital to the wingless airline, which was not enough for its continued survival. Selling of some assets were considered to pay creditors. It lessened flight destinations to be able to lower operation cost. A possible management turnover might happen for the survival. Rehabilitation Plan The plan was mainly to infuse capital to PAL airlines. Possible investors were invited for the infusion of the capital. Selling percentage of ownership were also considered. Foreign investors such as Cathay Pacific, Northwest were thinking of possible investment to the said airline. A $150 million capital infusion was planned but the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) did not approve it last December 1998. Selling of shares  worth $11.916 million in abacus international, one of the biggest international computer reservation systems in the world was considered to raise cash for operations. A new rehabilitation plan worth $200 million is set to be submitted on March 15, 1999 for the approval by the SEC.

Pride and Prejudice

These people are general dreadful to talk to and are not enjoyed by many. While these horrid people symbolize all that is bad and prideful within the book, Jane Bennet symbolizes all that is good and lovely. Her caring, accepting, humble attitude towards everything, along with her immaculate beauty, makes her a very desirable woman to be around.While er incredibly positive outlook on life gives many positive qualities, it also hinders her in multiple ways as well. Jane's forgiving nature benefits her throughout the book by allowing her to come to peace with scarred relationships that might have been lost, had she decided to be cold and unforgiving. On the other hand, it also opens her up to being taken advantage of by people. This was the case after her fallout with Caroline Bingley, the sister of her husband. When Jane first becomes acquainted with Mr.Bingley, his friend, Mr. Darcy, also becomes interested in Elizabeth Bennet, Jane's younger sister. Because Caroline had interest in Mr. Darcy, this made her very upset and caused her to ultimately convince her brother to move back home, away from the Bennet sisters. This crushes Jane, because the move is so sudden, and she ultimately blames herself. Although Caroline succeeds in her efforts of separating the lovers, it is short lived. Mr. Bingley ends up returning to propose, adding Jane to the Bingley family permanently.Jane's forgiving nature finally comes in handy when she decides that it s time to forgive Caroline. In doing this, she is mending a broken bond throughout the Bingley family, and brightening the future for her and her husband. The negative effects of this, however, are that she did not stand up for herself when it was due, and could lead to being taken advantage of again by Miss Bingley in future situations. While many characters throughout Pride and Prejudice are conceited and selfish, Jane is humble and giving, despite being the most beautiful and kind Bennet sister.Elizabeth says, † Com pliments always take you by surprise, and me never. (16) Elizabeth says this to Jane after Bingleys party because Jane cannot believe that Bingley could possibly be taking a liking to her. It is this exact trait that attracts Bingley to her, because many other beautiful women are the exact opposite of humble. He adores her beautiful soul, which matches her beautiful face. Had she not been so humble, Mr. Bingley would not have found her any different than the countless pretty faces that he had seen throughout his life.A large concern of many of Jane's close friends and relatives are the thought the he could be taken advantage of because she sees the world unrealistically, believing that everyone is as good and pure on the inside as she is. It is said by her father, mfour tempers are by no means unlike. You are each of you so complying, that nothing will ever be resolved on; so easy, that every servant will cheat you; and so discovering her engagement to Mr. Bingley. His main concern is that neither she nor her husband will be able recognize when they are being taken for granted, due to the fact that Jane and Mr.Bingley share a very similar personality. They are both too unrealistic in their expectations of the amount of good in people. Elizabeth Bennet, Jane's younger sister, often praises Jane for her good-natured spirit. She often questions how pure ofa person could have ever been created. She states about Jane, â€Å"What a stroke this was for poor Jane! Who would have willingly gone through the world without believing that so much wickedness existed in the whole race of mankind†¦ † (217) While she often praises her sister's innocent outlook on life, she is also concerned for her well being.She is afraid that she will not Judge people for what they truly are, and will end up being brought down by them because of it. She loves her sister dearly and longs to protect her from all those who try to bring her down. Because of this, she often tries to e xplain to Jane that you cannot always defend the actions of others. Elizabeth says, â€Å"This will not do, you never will be able to make both of them good for anything. Take your choice, but you must be satisfied with only one. † (217) She says this after Jane has been told the truth of the tension between Mr.Darcy and Whickham. Jane attempts to believe that both men are defendable in their actions and neither was wrong, but Elizabeth explains to her that one of them has to have been wrong. This is hard for Jane to understand, because she tries to go through life trying to believe that everyone has only done a wrong thing for some right reason. In order to succeed in life, though, she must eventually accept that she needs to defend her own goodness. Not everyone is as pure as she is on the inside. Jane Bennet is an extraordinary kind of person.It is not often, even in reality, that someone can have such self-control and faith in others as to go through life believing that e veryone is filled with kindness and good will for others. While this is a rare and incredible trait, it is also negative, for it can make a person naive and allow them to be taken advantage of. Jane's life is filled with more positive effects than negative effects, but she will eventually need to learn to be a little selfish. If she continues to live her life in such a way, the negative effects will begin to out weigh the positive ones. Pride and Prejudice Pride and Prejudice is a story about how other cultural institutions (like marriage) can transcend economics. It’s a novel that illustrates the power of love and how it can rise above class distinctions and social norms. â€Å"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife† (9). This first sentence of Pride and Prejudice introduces the idea that economics and social status affects cultural institutions such as marriage. The boundaries of love is restricted by the social and economic differences amongst the characters in the novel. The situation between Mr. Bingley and Jane Bennet is a prime example of the power of love in the novel. The two have contrasting background in which one is an aristocrat while the other is but a mere bourgeoisie. Such difference in monetary wealth and social class is highlighted throughout the novel. Miss Bingley is a character that supports the separation of classes. Her sarcastic letter towards Jane explaining Bingley’s, Darcy’s and her departure from Hertfordshire is a revelation of how love is hindered by socioeconomic boundaries. In her letter, Miss Bingley states â€Å"he [Mr. Bingley] will be in no hurry to leave [London]† (109). She is insinuating to Jane that Bingley is by no means attracted to anything in Hertfordshire. Miss Bingley’s letter also contains disparaging remarks about Jane’s inferiority. She states that â€Å"Many of my acquaintances are already there [London] for the winter; I wish that I could hear that you†¦had any intentions of making one in the crowd, but of that I despair (109). † These words says that Miss Bingley does not believe that Jane can afford to travel to London; she is putting off the idea before Jane can even think of going to London. However, even with the efforts of Miss Bingley in trying to prevent the marriage of Jane and Mr. Bingley, love in the end conquers all and the two are united. The two main characters in Pride and Prejudice plays a vital role to the â€Å"love transcending economics and social norms† motif. On one side stands the highly prideful, aristocrat Mr. Darcy, and on the other is the rebellious bourgeoisie Elizabeth Bennet. Two very contrasting figures who happen to fall for one another. However, their love is also hindered by money and class distinctions. Darcy first proposal to Elizabeth reveals his love goes beyond any socioeconomic boundaries he is tied down to. â€Å"In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed (170). † This statement highlights the strength of Darcy’s feelings towards Elizabeth. The word â€Å"repressed† alludes to the difference in social class between him and Elizabeth. Society in Pride and Prejudice would consider the rich marrying the rich a social norm and anything less is a disgrace to aristocracy. Evident of this is Lady Catherine’s confrontation of Elizabeth. â€Å"Because honor, decorum, prudence, nay interest forbid it†¦Your alliance will be a disgrace†¦(298)† Lady Catherine’s words of inclinations show how important boundaries are for the aristocrats in the novel. However, her words have an opposite effect and instead of building a gap between Elizabeth and Darcy, Lady Catherine pushes Elizabeth closer to Darcy. The union between Elizabeth and Darcy shows the surpassing of class distinctions. Pride and Prejudice is truly a literary wonder in which readers are shown that money and fame is not everything; that true love can rise above social norms and economic differences. Even today, with interracial couples and same sex marriages, love is a force to be reckoned with. Pride and Prejudice Pride and Prejudice is a story about how other cultural institutions (like marriage) can transcend economics. It’s a novel that illustrates the power of love and how it can rise above class distinctions and social norms. â€Å"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife† (9). This first sentence of Pride and Prejudice introduces the idea that economics and social status affects cultural institutions such as marriage. The boundaries of love is restricted by the social and economic differences amongst the characters in the novel. The situation between Mr. Bingley and Jane Bennet is a prime example of the power of love in the novel. The two have contrasting background in which one is an aristocrat while the other is but a mere bourgeoisie. Such difference in monetary wealth and social class is highlighted throughout the novel. Miss Bingley is a character that supports the separation of classes. Her sarcastic letter towards Jane explaining Bingley’s, Darcy’s and her departure from Hertfordshire is a revelation of how love is hindered by socioeconomic boundaries. In her letter, Miss Bingley states â€Å"he [Mr. Bingley] will be in no hurry to leave [London]† (109). She is insinuating to Jane that Bingley is by no means attracted to anything in Hertfordshire. Miss Bingley’s letter also contains disparaging remarks about Jane’s inferiority. She states that â€Å"Many of my acquaintances are already there [London] for the winter; I wish that I could hear that you†¦had any intentions of making one in the crowd, but of that I despair (109). † These words says that Miss Bingley does not believe that Jane can afford to travel to London; she is putting off the idea before Jane can even think of going to London. However, even with the efforts of Miss Bingley in trying to prevent the marriage of Jane and Mr. Bingley, love in the end conquers all and the two are united. The two main characters in Pride and Prejudice plays a vital role to the â€Å"love transcending economics and social norms† motif. On one side stands the highly prideful, aristocrat Mr. Darcy, and on the other is the rebellious bourgeoisie Elizabeth Bennet. Two very contrasting figures who happen to fall for one another. However, their love is also hindered by money and class distinctions. Darcy first proposal to Elizabeth reveals his love goes beyond any socioeconomic boundaries he is tied down to. â€Å"In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed (170). † This statement highlights the strength of Darcy’s feelings towards Elizabeth. The word â€Å"repressed† alludes to the difference in social class between him and Elizabeth. Society in Pride and Prejudice would consider the rich marrying the rich a social norm and anything less is a disgrace to aristocracy. Evident of this is Lady Catherine’s confrontation of Elizabeth. â€Å"Because honor, decorum, prudence, nay interest forbid it†¦Your alliance will be a disgrace†¦(298)† Lady Catherine’s words of inclinations show how important boundaries are for the aristocrats in the novel. However, her words have an opposite effect and instead of building a gap between Elizabeth and Darcy, Lady Catherine pushes Elizabeth closer to Darcy. The union between Elizabeth and Darcy shows the surpassing of class distinctions. Pride and Prejudice is truly a literary wonder in which readers are shown that money and fame is not everything; that true love can rise above social norms and economic differences. Even today, with interracial couples and same sex marriages, love is a force to be reckoned with.

How Globalization Can Affect International Business Essay

In today’s ever globalizing economy, global managers must utilize specific skills in order to navigate and overcome the cross-cultural situations which affect international business practices. Dependant upon the situation, both native and expatriate managers can be qualified to handle these cross-cultural challenges. There are a plethora of cultural differences that can have an affect on how business is done internationally. These differences can be any number of actions that we take for granted when interacting in one’s own culture. Every culture has deep structures built upon religious, social and ethical values which will influence the way in which another will reason and react as well as how they will listen or what they will expect from us (Burnam 1998). An example of a cultural difference that could affect international business is the misinterpretation of hand gestures. In the United States the â€Å"thumbs up† hand gesture is a common sign relaying a positive meaning usually meant to convey the message â€Å"good† or â€Å"OK†. This is different than in the Arab culture where the same hand signal is the equivalent to one of our more negative hand gestures here in the United States. Therefore using this signal with someone from an Arab culture would most certainly not produce the desired positive effect but rather a negative one. One skill a manager could develop to combat the ignorance of another culture with whom he is doing business with is to immerse himself into that culture and learn their customs through observation and interaction, becoming aware of how to adapt to the situation. This developed ability to observe and adapt would no doubt aid a manager in future cross-culture settings. This type of adaptation is evident in Cassandra Hayes’ article â€Å"The Intrigue of International Assignments†. One of Hayes’ subjects in the article, J. Eric Wright, describes how by immersing himself into the South African culture, he was able to learn through observation one of the local customs concerning respect for elders, which was detrimental to his success while there (Hayes 1996). This communication hurdle is better suited for a native manager as they already possess the knowledge of the local customs, traditions and social norms. They would be better equipped to handle challenges in which  proper and appropriate communication are paramount to an organizations success. Another example of a cross-cultural conflict is the overstepping of boundaries involving another culture’s code of etiquette. The social interactions we take for granted in our own culture may be considered rude or out of line in another culture. Hayes’ article also touches upon a situation relevant to this. Another of Hayes’ subjects, Belinda Miller, received a shocking reaction from an employee after giving advice. Miller was transplanted in China and received a first class education in cross-cultural differences and how they could affect working with someone from another culture. After greatly upsetting her employee by offering criticism in a direct manner, Miller learned that this situation was very different than dealing with an American employee and that advice or criticism must be subtly given in this culture. Having awareness and being culturally sensitive are extremely pertinent to an overseas assignment (Hayes 1996). Again in this situation it seems that a native manager would be much more prepared and able in preventing cross-cultural conflicts such as this, the reason being that they are already engrained into the culture and possess a working knowledge of social and professional do’s and don’ts. One more example of how a cross-cultural difference can affect how an organization’s success internationally is the improper translation of language. In an example cited in the Touro University International’s College of Business Administration MGT 501 CD-ROM mistranslation is demonstrated. The Intercultural Communication page states that, â€Å"One American airline operating in Brazil advertised that it had plush â€Å"rendezvous lounges† on its jets, unaware that in Portuguese (the language of Brazil) â€Å"rendezvous† implies a special room for having sex.† (Intercultural Communication). It is Obvious to see the fundamental lapse in meaning, which could be interpreted quite inappropriately. Skills that a good manager could develop in an attempt to prevent these type of mistake is to develop good habits of researching another culture and its language translation as well as always possessing the awareness of the message being conveyed. Proficiency in another foreign language would be an important  critical skill a global manager could add to their improvement. Yet again this looks to be another cross-cultural situation in which the native manager is favored as a result of his already being fully aware of the cultures norms and language. The native manager would possess the knowledge to identify the misinterpretation before it was too late. Cross-cultural differences can affect doing business internationally in a number of ways. Through misunderstanding, misinterpretation and being unaware, cross-cultural differences can affect organizations business across borders by causing a deal not to be finished, accomplishing an agreement without establishing a long-term relationship and by causing an escalation in tension or confrontation while negotiating. It is evident that in today’s world, globalization demands cultural awareness and the ability to adapt in the international business world. This can be perfectly summed up in a saying used by Josephine Song in her article â€Å"Transcending Borders†. It says, â€Å"If you are going to do business with people who are in different parts of the world, you had better understand and speak their language†. A better understanding of these cultural differences can be reached with the aid of the Hofstede Model. The Hofstede Model helps to explain some of the discrepancies inherent when comparing respective culture values to one another. Four of these variables are masculinity/femininity, tolerance or avoidance of uncertainty, power distance and individualism versus collectivism (Louis). Masculinity and femininity deal with the values of achievement, material possessions or wealth and aggression as opposed to relationships, compassion and quality of life. Tolerance or avoidance of uncertainty is the extent to which people must have certainty in order to feel secure. The less tolerance a culture has for uncertainty the more likely they are to have and maintain a rigid structure of rules establishing a code of conduct. Power distance is the level of acceptance that a culture has for its social, economic and political separation and power distribution. Individualism versus collectivism is exactly what it sounds like, the extent to which a culture is concerned with individual achievements or collective success (Beebe, Beebe and Redmond 1996). Through the juxtaposition of these different degrees of values in international  business, inefficiency is created which must be bridged by cultural awareness and adaptation in order to achieve success. There are many specific skills that global managers could utilize in order to address these differences. Cultural awareness training could be the most relevant and most helpful aid to global managers in overcoming cultural divides through the development of pertinent skills. A program like this could help global managers train for specific scenarios and common pitfalls met in cross-cultural situations (Burnam 1998). Foreign language proficiency is definitely a skill that would greatly benefit global managers, allowing them to better communicate with their counterparts and help to avoid awkward misinterpretations or misunderstandings that could make or break a business relationship. A high tolerance for the unknown and curiosity to learn is detrimental to a global manager’s growth as a professional in the international business community as they will no doubt encounter many new customs and situations. This will enable a global manager to use patience to understand and adapt to his surroundings. This can be associated with the extremely important skills of being generally aware and having keen observation. A global manager could avoid awkward or potentially relationship ending situations solely by picking up on them beforehand. Perhaps the most important skills for a global manager to possess are the abilities to be both flexible and adaptive. As the global manager is continually introduced to new experiences they will be able to overcome cross-cultural differences in order to cement a new relationship or deal. Although in the three specific examples of cross-cultural differences cited above native managers were favored, it is probably more important than ever that organizations send expatriate managers out across borders to gain experience and knowledge. This is truly the most effective way to secure the globalization of an organization. Expatriated managers can return to train other members of the organization. This in turn will allow an organization to utilize loyal employees who most likely bear greater allegiance to them rather than a native homeland (Burnam 1998). The organization would also have a manager with a better knowledge and understanding of the organization embedded in the culture. An organization that could train the majority of  its managerial workforce to become more aware and sensitive toward other cultures would be heavily prepared for the continual evolvement of globalization as well increasing its effectiveness in the global market. Both native and expatriate managers are well equipped to handle an organization’s international business. Whether native or expatriate managers are more qualified or better equipped depends on the situation and an organization’s goal. By utilizing specific skills which pertain to enhancing cultural awareness and communication barriers, today’s global managers can better prepare themselves to meet the challenges of the many cross-cultural situations in our ever globalizing economy. References: 1. Beebe, S. A., Beebe, S. J., & Redmond, M. V. (1996). Interpersonal Communication: Relating to Others. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon. 345-365. 2. Burnam, E. â€Å"Managing Cultural Diversity in a Global World†. Workinfo.com, 1998. http://www.workinfo.com/free/downloads/299.htm3. Hayes, C. (1996) â€Å"The Intrigue of International Assignments†. Black Enterprise, (26)10, 98