Cross cultural management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Cross cultural management - Essay Example Limited cultural training barred most interactions. Though, participating parties rated this handy experiment as a major embodiment of their education. Introduction Virtual teams are turning into a standard element of worldwide business affiliations. The globalization of affiliations and technological advancements ensue into driving this virtual team notion that may continue to augment and develop into the predictable future. Virtual groups vary from face groups. One key difference is that they are thoroughly geographically placed, a fact that forces individuals to aim at overcoming time, affiliation boundaries and time (Ahuja, Galletta, and Carley, 2003). Moreover, communication is continually identified as the key to fruitful virtual teams. Therefore, communication and its several elements are a prime focus of this study. Virtual workgroups can typically be acknowledged by their traits. Virtual teams are a functional team that is inter-reliant in work management, having displayed e quality in responsibility for upshots and universally managing relations across affiliation boundaries. ... Additionally, virtual teams provide the opportunity to form culturally, assorted solutions; enhances creativity and a strong sense of unity among the involved team players. This can also encourage a firm acceptance of new notions, offering a competitive merit for international affiliations. Other merits are cost savings related to lodging and travel, time separation which makes the project to be active and access to most of the influential people in the affiliation joining deliberations at a pantry cost (Furnham, 2000). The demerits of virtual teams are that they often lean to utilise a more time-consuming deliberation process. When misunderstandings and poor communication occur, conflicts may arise among working teams. The time and geographical distance zones between team members may make a resolution of these constraints harder (Zakaria, Amelinckx and Wilemon, 2004). Cultural constraints of notably diverse nations may aggravate the drawbacks. Communication and trust One of the most pertinent keys to affluence with regard to communication is complete trust among teams and their members. Team associates ought to feel liberated to assert their viewpoints with no fear of critics. This constraint can be more complicated if team affiliates have hardly met each other or know pantry regarding their workmates (Warkentin et al, 2002). The swift trust phenomenon postulates that team players import anticipations of trust from common settings. In virtual teams, there is overtly meagre time to reserve and develop any mode of individual relationships. Workforces are constantly selected for virtual teams based on a sundry knowhow set, with pantry or no considerable attention given to a past record of working closely together (Oertig,

Use of the scanning electron microscopy in the food industry Research Paper

Use of the scanning electron microscopy in the food industry - Research Paper Example The capabilities of SEM in foreign body identification make the process quite valuable to the food industry. The food industry operates in a spectrum that requires utmost cleanliness and absence of contamination. In essence, the discovery, as well as identification of foreign bodies in food compounds, is a vital activity, which contributes to overall food safety and the assurance of food quality (Smith, 1993). The incident of foreign bodies in food compounds and products can produce a number of dire consequences, which range from process down-time, to consumer complaints that negate an organization’s reputation, to expensive product recalls or litigation. This paper will examine the use of scanning electron microscopy in the food industry discussing its effectiveness in detecting and identifying foreign bodies in food compounds and products. Background In the US, the FDA keeps a close eye on product recalls and categorizes the severity of risks posed by food contaminants. For example, foreign body contamination such as through metal particles or glass fragments, warrants a Class II product recall, which refers to a situation where exposure or ingestion of violative products could cause temporary or medically reversible negative health implications (Vierk, Falci, Wolyniak & Klontz, 2002). Notably, product recalls within the food industry are not infrequent events. ... Recalls related to allergen threats represent at least 36% of all recalled food products. In other countries such as the UK, nearly half of prosecutions related to food faults have been linked to contamination with foreign matter. In the UK, between 1988 and 1994, foreign matter contamination accounted for the largest grounds for defect prosecutions (Graves, Smith & Batchelor, 1998). These instances are viable indicators of the seriousness of food contamination in the food industry. Particulate contamination of food in the industry can occur from various sources. Prior to food purchase, this could include processing issues, for instance, wear particles form conveyors or breakages in the processing plants. Packaging materials, as well as interactions during the storage process, are also noteworthy sources of contamination. Notably, contamination of food products can also occur through parts of the food product, for instance, bone chips found in meat products. According to Lewis (1993) despite quality assurance measures established by food manufacturing and retail stakeholders, contamination can take place subsequent to product purchase within consumers’ homes. Deliberate contamination also occurs for purposes of sabotage or nuisance. Therefore, the detection of foreign bodies in food substances is a critical part of quality assurance and deterring adverse health occurrences in consumers. This detection relies on a variety of established techniques, which include among others X-rays, metal detection and ultrasound (H?ggstrom & Luukkala, 2001). Despite the mode of detection, whenever foreign matter is found in food, two principal questions

Wilson v First County Trust Ltd (No 2) [2004] 1 AC 816 Essay

Wilson v First County Trust Ltd (No 2) [2004] 1 AC 816 - Essay Example 8). Cane (2011, p. 15) explains that as a legal maxim, the rule of law implies that decisions made by the government should be based on the existing legal principles; it insists that law should govern the society. The proponents of the rule of law argue that it is the foundation of society’s order and freedom since it treats all citizens as equals and therefore none is above the law, not even the rulers. In broader terms, the rule of law implies that the state should subject its citizenry to the laws that were publicly promulgated, no one within a given state should be above the law, and legislative function and the adjudicative functions of the state should be separate from each other. These terms are essential in ensuring that the rule of law is adhered to, fundamental rights of the citizenry are protected, and the powers of the government are limited. Pollard, Parpworth and Hughes (2007, p. 11) argue that contemporary constitutional democracy could be impossible in the abse nce of the rule of law. However, in some cases democracy and the rule of law are not in harmony. It is against the background of the rule of law that this discussion will focus on it and its main features with specific reference to Wilson v First County Trust Ltd (No 2) [2004] 1 AC 816. An English Law Commentary on this case will attempt to bring the concept of rule of law and its main features into focus with the aim of enhancing understanding of the concept. Since the time the phrase â€Å"rule of law† was coined, there has been divergence of understandings with people giving varying explanations of what the phrase really is and what it fundamentally implies. Ranjan (2011, p. 22) notes that there are two divergent views regarding the phrase, majorly. The first one is that it goes beyond legal framework and includes substantive rights that are derived from, or based on the rule of law. The second view is that the rule of law does not focus on how just the law is but rather d efines certain procedural characteristics that an existing legal framework should have so as to comply with the rule of law (Ranjan, 2011, p. 23). The divergence of understandings notwithstanding, there are key aspects of the rule of law that are agreed upon by the majority of people and entities; it is agreeable that rule of law is a governance principle in which all entities, persons, and institutions, whether private or public are accountable to publicly promulgated laws which are in conformity with international human rights standards, independently adjudicated, and enforced equally. In addition, it is agreeable that under the rule of law everyone is equal before the law, there is separation of powers, there is legal certainty, supremacy of law principles are adhered to, there is participation in decision- making, legal and procedural transparency principle is adhered to (Cane, 2011, p. 16). The aspects of the rule of law described above are in general terms and only give the ge neral features of the concept. So, what are the main features of the rule of law? As has been noted, people have different interpretations about the concept of rule of law (Ranjan, 2011, p. 29). However, this does not mean that the fundamental features of the concept has been lost; actually, these different interpretations are derived from the main features of the concept. In modern times, the concept of the rule of law and its features was propounded by a British Philosopher and Jurist, Albert Dicey, and that is why it is not uncommon to find rule of law

Discrimination of women in wisconson Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discrimination of women in wisconson - Essay Example This is the case in Wisconsin, where equal pay law was repealed. Women were the most affected by the move. Amid this, wage discrimination can be used to for the purpose of employee rewarding. Performing employees in the workplace can be awarded higher pay for their efforts, over and above the set discriminatory wage rate. On the other hand, wage discrimination against women can result in mixed impacts in the society and in the economy in general. To the employers, wage discrimination against women or any other group could provide a favorable ground for the exploitation of workers. For employees, this type of discrimination threatens their social welfare and economic security (Grana 183). Finally, the society can plunge into an affirmative action crisis if the situation fails to be harmonized for the interests of all parties involved. Women and children, especially low and middle income earners, are likely to be the most affected due to the social and economic uncertainties that wage discrimination

Ethical Dilemma In Marketing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Ethical Dilemma In Marketing - Assignment Example This is a case of flaws in parts of its cars as it appears in After Ratings Drop, Ford Reworks Touch Screens Published: March 5, 2012 (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/06/business/after-ratings-drop-ford-reworks-touch-screens.html?_r=0) in The New York Times.This is an issue of ethical dilemma in marketing. Ford Motor Company has been a global firm that manufactures cars and has equally faced significant challenges including stiff competition. The most critical aspect of the problem it experiences involved realized flaws in some parts of its models. The company added touch-screen control systems to some of its most popular models as a way of meeting the demand of the customers. They also did this to gain the competitive advantage over other firms. However, with time, the customers noted significant inefficiencies with the system which was bound to affect the image of the company. Considering a number of resources Ford had invested in marketing and the intensity of surety and guarantee they gave clients. This put them in a dilemma to recall the cars or leave the customers to survive and make changes in the yet to be released ones. The customers felt disappointed and inconvenienced by the response of the system. This forced Ford motor company to decide between the two difficult alternative decisions. If they are to recall, they will incur huge losses and lose the confidence of the consumers. By leaving the customers in the dark will equally make it fairly difficult to boost the image of the firm.

Organizational change in the face of profitability drop in McDonalds Essay

Organizational change in the face of profitability drop in McDonalds Corporation - Essay Example It is evidently clear from the discussion that it is undisputable fact that change is inevitable and one of the most fundamental processes of any organization. Presently, than ever before, organizations face rapid change. Globalization and increased expectations of customers and employees, competition, technological advancements, and need to boost profitability is what have made change to be inevitable in organizations. Besides, more concern by stakeholders of organizations has prompted the management to adopt change strategies in order to convince the stakeholders that they are capable of achieving the organizational objectives. However, various studies have shown that despite the fact that change is inevitable and most companies management are planning and implementing change, the process of managing change is proving a great challenge. According to Isern and Pung, leaders rarely achieve their objectives when they have embarked on a major effort of change in their respective organi zations. They note that there are factors that distinguish successful and unsuccessful efforts to change. They argue that a true transformation within an organization is characterized by integration of different change types (commercial, operational, and organizational), sustained effort that last for longer periods, and high ambitions. Isern and Pung further note that numerous surveys have shown that have difficulty achieving intended results. According to a 2006 online survey by McKinsey Quarterly only 38 percent of the executives across the globe who responded reported to have had a complete success on the transformations they instituted in their organizations. A tenth of those who responded acknowledged that their organizational transformation efforts were completely unsuccessful (Isern and Pung, 2007, p.1). It is in the light of this that this discussion will critically evaluate using appropriate models, theories and practical interventions how a manager can successfully manage a ‘radical change’ within a complex organization. The evaluation will focus on radical change in regard to aspects such as a sharp drop or slide in profitability. The discussion will assess organizational change in the face of profitability drop in McDonald’s Corporation. Change Model Managing radical change within an organization may not be an easy task as various surveys have shown. Radical change may be prompted by various circumstances such as enticing new customers, fighting competition, and sharp drop in profitability. Since managing change needs to be done appropriately in order to be successful, it is important that certain model or models be adopted. In this case, and in particular reference to managing change in the face of drop of McDonald’s profitability, Kotter’s 8- Step Change Model will be used. Kotter (1996, p. 26) states the first step in managing change is through creation of urgency. Change will be of help to the company if the c ompany really wants it; therefore, there is need for development of sense of urgency. Burnes (2009, p.103) agrees with Kotter’s proposition of creation of urgency around a need by arguing that it is essential in motivating employees in the organization to get things moving. According to Kotter, creation of urgency entails the following; examining opportunities that can and should be exploited, identifying potential threats and developing scenarios of possible future happenings, giving of convincing and dynamic reasons so that people can talk and think about them, and requesting support of stakeholders, industry players, and customers so as to strengthen the argument about change. McDonald’

Casino gambling in Hong Kong Essay Example for Free

Casino gambling in Hong Kong Essay Recently, there is a storm of controversy over the latest scheme regarding the legalization of casino gambling. Advocates of the proposal reckon that such policy is a hope for the unemployed whereas contenders fear the growth of gambling business will have negative influence to our next generation’s values. Before we have our decision made, let us make an in-depth analysis into both advantages and disadvantages of the issue. As presumed, the rise of gambling industry is bound to produce job opportunities. To maintain the operation of a casino, it requires any amount of human resources such as a manager to take care of the administration, a security guard to ensure the situation of casino is under control. Most importantly, casinos provide the jobless with a wide variety of low-skilled work. Unlike college graduates, it is not that easy for lowly-educated job seekers to find a permanent job in such a knowledgeable society. Those who lack education is always the majority of unemployment and thus, if these people receive a stable job from the development of casino, a drop of the unemployment rate is about to emerge. As a result, the quality of life within the unemployed is likely to have improvement. Secondly, with more and more casinos set up in Hong Kong, our tourist industry will be benefited either. People regardless of their age, are fond of diverse lucky games, ranging from poker games to Mark Six and that’s why local people or travelers from the globe would respond to our gambling industry if created. Just like Macau, we can all see how Macau’s economy benefits from the well-developed gambling industry. Furthermore, there are not many cities constructed with casino, therefore if Hong Kong has this rare entertainment, we will stay ahead of our neighboring cities and the competitive edge will be preserved. After analyzing the possible good of the proposal, we should now move on to the opposite side discussing the hazard. Having been nagged about the harm of gambling, we are all clear of what excessive gambling could basically lead to. Just as some official advertisements claimed, once people begin to gamble, there is a big chance that they would get addicted unconsciously. As teenagers at such impressionable age are believed not self-disciplined enough, it is most feared compulsive gambling would be severest among vulnerable youngsters. In fact, not only will teens be involved, but also adults who tend to bet on their luck. As soon as casinos are readily available, people will treat gambling as a daily hobby and participate in gambling every now and then. What matters most is that such addiction of gamble could lead to an increase of crime rate. If gamblers had exhausted all their assets to gamble, they would probably resort to crimes like robbery, blackmail so as to gain more money to pay debts and pursue in gambling again. With these problems’ occurrence, the status quo of Hong Kong will be adversely affected. In addition to the impulse on the stability of Hong Kong, the competitiveness will deteriorate as well. Given that obsession of gambling can turns people into corruptible gamblers, the labor force of Hong Kong will be weakening due to a numerous of new gamblers used to have decent pursuit instead of gambling all the day. Consequently, with these lazybones draining our resources everyday and doing nothing to make contribution to our society, Hong Kong will no longer be a prosperous city. After reviewing both sides of views towards the issue, which one do you find more convincing? Personally, I reckon that the idea to legalize casino gambling should be abandoned. Even though it may contributes to our economy, it is as insensible to implement the suggestion as to promote gambling and put our prosperity at risk. In other words, it’s not worthwhile to trade our citizens’ mind for financial reward. Besides, there is no emergency to rush our economy development and that’s why, it’s not necessary to allow such hazardous business to get into our city. Hence, the proposal should not be approved, at least not for now.