Women In Corporate America :: essays research papers

The once male dominated, corporate, "white collar" America has seen a phenomenal influx of women within the last thirty years. Although a female lawyer, physician, or CEO is no longer considered a rarity in our times, women still face quite a deal of oppression in comparison to their male counterparts. In retrospect, some professions have always been controlled by women, and men have not made a noticeable advance in these fields. In 1970, finding a female lawyer to represent you would be a difficult task, since less than five percent of the profession were women. Today, that number has risen to almost thirty percent. The percentage of female doctors has almost tripled in the course of thirty years. African Americans have not made such a conspicuous progression within the last fifty years, while women have made a tremendous impact on the corporate world. One may wonder, how did women make these extraordinary advances? For the most part, it is due to the education they receiv e. At the present time young girls are encouraged to enroll in classes dealing with math and science, rather than home economics and typing. As pointed out by Nanette Asimov, in her essay "Fewer Teen Girls Enrolling in Technology Classes", school officials are advocating the necessity of advanced placement, and honor classes for teenage girls, in both the arts and sciences. This support and reassurance than carries over onto college, and finds a permanent fixture in a woman’s life. While women are continuing their success in once exclusively male oriented professions, they are still lacking the respect and equality from their peers, coworkers, and society. The average male lawyer, and doctor make twenty-five percent more money than their female equivalent. Women have always lived with the reputation of being intellectually inferior to, and physically submissive to men. This medieval, ignorant notion is far fetched from the truth. In 1999, high school men and women p osted similar SAT scores, being separated by a only a few points. In addition to posting similar scores on the SAT, the average males score was a mere two-tenths of a point higher than an average females score on the ACT. Even though a woman maybe as qualified as a male for a certain occupation , women receive unwanted harassment, and are under strict scrutiny. A good illustration of this would be the women represented in "Two Women Cadets Leave the Citadel.

Evaluating The Breeze As Educational Tool In E-Learning

In the best-seller books, Rich Dad Poor Dad, Robert T. Kiyosaki and his co-author Susan L. Lechter highlights the needs for growing assets instead of liabilities. In other words, they suggest that we, anyone who wants to be rich, should not spend our money in any way that is no relation with assets creation. In this manner, they regard knowledge, obtained through formal or non-formal education, as the most important element of success in today’s fast changing world.Regarding the idea, we witness that educators continue finding the right proportion of syllabus that fit the needs of current and future workplaces.This is essential to meet current workplace demands that require employees that are knowledgeable, capable of handling and distribute information, and have expertise in technology (Goldstein, 2003). The situation highlights that employees need to be skillful in operating high technology equipments and also other tools that help them to communicate effectively with their colleagues. Concerning the issue, this paper will discuss about the evaluation of Macromedia Breeze as education tools in E-Learning. 2. Aims and Objectives a.This paper intends to discuss about the importance of using of technology as education tools b. By employing non-participant observation method, collecting data and analyzing qualitative information from a wide range of sources including journals, books, magazines and online materials, this paper aims at discussing the benefits of using Macromedia Breeze as education tools that support the implementation of e-learning. c. In addition, the paper also intends to describe about factors that encourage technology integration for education systems3. Problem Statement Education becomes key success factors that help a person to master the required knowledge in order to enable him performing their jobs effectively. The education itself can be learned when he is at school or during his duty in a company through several internal or exter nal training sessions. Concerning the education system and the use of technology, therefore the research statement or question is â€Å"Does Macromedia Breeze provide greater benefits for people in carrying out rapid e-learning (REL) in a company? †I choose this research question since it might be completely different from others that may focus only on general use of technology in a company. Therefore, instead of elaborating partial discussion on the issue, I decide to discuss the comprehensive discussion on branding in order to favor readers in understanding the technical benefits that Macromedia Breeze offers to users in performing rapid e-learning (REL) method. For this reason, in the literature review, I employ several sources ranging from academic journals, magazines, online news and books that relate to the use of technology as education tools.4. Literature Review Information Technology as Educational Tools The above condition strengthens the importance of current educa tion system to understand the needs of current and future workplaces in order to customize their syllabus so that they meet the needs of employers. Moreover, the authors also stress the importance of workforces to master information and communication technologies so that they can employ appropriate and hence effective methods in completing any tasks.We must remember that our society has experienced many changes. People or firms who succeed are those who can meet the demands required by each workplace. Once we were in agricultural society then moved into industrial society through industrial revolution in 19th century and now we live in information society marked by the advancement in telecommunications and computer technology that enable the transfer of information at the speed of light.Concerning the situation, Carly Fiorina, former CEO of HP, says only people and firms having pile of information can take benefits of the future market. Therefore, Fiorina implies the urge of becomin g learning organization in which information exchange exists in a company and the benefits of using information technology can be encouraged in the education institutions. Given the importance of information processing in the commerce, it is not surprising that business of any types was among the earliest adopters of automated information processing technology.For this reason, they need labor that have expertise in using and operating computers in commerce or trade so that they can handle sophisticated tasks like storing and retrieving large amounts of information and at making calculations and designs at highest accuracy. Historically, the convergence of digital technologies including television, telephony, and computers has stimulated the reach of the innovations of the Internet that grew from inter-university computer networks in United States.Under such circumstance, it is common to hope that current education systems should address in their syllabus about current and future emp loyment needs. Macromedia Breeze and E-Learning The use of technology especially software has influenced the way employees performing their jobs. There are many applications or software that sold in the market with various variant or version. For example, in word processing tool, customers are already accustomed to using famous application such as Microsoft Word, Word Perfect, and Open Office (for open source platform).Meanwhile, for creating slides for presentations, they are used to using Microsoft PowerPoint. In addition to the famous Microsoft PowerPoint, currently, there are many other software applications that show the powerful of presentation especially ones that support the electronic learning or e-learning. Historically, the emerging rapid e-learning has become a hot issue in workplace since it provides many benefits for employees. The situation encourages 85% of Fortune 500 companies to adopt e-learning immediately.Moreover, 80% of the respondents in the survey reveal tha t the adoption of rapid e-learning concept can give the significant contribution to their companies (Archibald, 2005). The key benefits of using Macromedia Breeze is it reduces the costs for traditional e-learning solutions that usually costs customers about US$10,000 and $50,000 per hour. According to Philip Kotler (2000), the marketing mix consisting of four important factors; they are Product, Promotion, Price and Place is a crucial aspect of forming a marketing program.In addition, by using rapid e-learning method, customers enable to have training material that has critical development timelines and alters or content updated frequently, to name a few (Archibald, 2005). Currently, in the market, there are many tools that help customers to perform rapid e-learning (REL) schemes; they include Lersus, Articulate, SNAP! Studio, Webex, and mindflash. Macromedia Breeze, Content Point, and Macromedia Breeze. Technically, Macromedia Breeze uses PowerPoint as its main development tool.Ho wever, Macromedia Breeze adds several features including the easiness of adding an audio track to the training material. Other features of Macromedia Breeze are the capability of conducting assessment and tracking tools and they are AICC- and SCORM-compliant (Archibald, 2005). Encouraging Technology Integration at Education Systems Considering the importance of technology integration at education systems, some scholars reveal three factors that characterize the tendencies to integrate technology within education systems as following:a) First, the society realized the importance of introducing computers and other technology in formal education (schools). The trend of considering computers and their allied components as a necessity in school programs is considerable stronger, starting from the 1980’s (Milton, 2005). b) Second, there is a strong rationale within the education institution to replace the traditional programs with modern technology education. A National survey by C hinies, Oaks and Boutique (2002) indicated that school based technological literacy was one of the greatest factors that empowered any advancing economy in the world.c) Third, there is a strong support from teachers and school administrators, who became loyal contributors of efforts in designing technology programs and supporting the use of computers in all aspects of schooling (Hache, 1996) 5. Methodological and Ethical Issues The paper will employ qualitative approach, which is a research that is carried out through observations. The benefit of employing qualitative approach is it enables a researcher to investigate in little more detail on the individual perceptions of a phenomenon. However, since the research deals with the personal, therefore, such an investigation is limited in its scope.Moreover, observation becomes an important technique for collecting data concerning what occurs in a real-life situation. This method also helps us to reach an understanding about the percepti ons of those who are being studied, in that situation. To be specific, we employ non-participant observation method especially by analyzing qualitative information from journals, books, magazines and many more. The most interesting part of conducting observation is it provides researchers with an understanding about the perceptions about things or people we observe.However, since observation deals with someone’s perception, we plan to avoid preconceptions since it would provide this research with some bias. In order to comprehensive explanation, this paper will describe the use of information technology especially software applications for education purposes. In this situation, I will employ various sources including websites that discuss the use of software applications for education purposes. 6. Time Schedule In preparing the research proposal, below is the detail schedule of finalization for my research.

Nursing and Mrs. Newman

Mrs. Newman has been experiencing hoarseness and a change in her voice, but she did not seek medical help until she began to have difficulty swallowing. After being seen by her healthcare provider, she is scheduled for outpatient surgery for a direct laryngoscope to obtain a culture and take a biopsy. Mrs. Newman arrives at the outpatient surgical department at 6:30 am and is escorted to her room. The admitting nurse begins her assessment; 1. Which question is most important for the nurse to ask Mrs. Newman? A) Have you had anything to eat or drink since midnight?B) Are you taking any medications? C) Have you smoked any cigarettes in the last 24 hours? D) When was the last time you drank any alcohol? The admission nurse completes the admission assessment and starts an IV. Mrs. Newman is taken to the operating room for the biopsy. Sifter the procedure, Mrs. Newman is admitted into the PACU. 2. Which intervention will the PACU nurse implant first? A) Check the healthcare providerâ€⠄¢s prescriptions B) Monitors Mrs. Newman’s pulse OX C) Contain Mrs. Newman’s vital signs D) Assess Mrs. Newman’s gag reflex After 2 days Mrs.Newman calls the oncologist and reluctantly agrees to a total laryngectomy. Mrs. Newman comes to the oncology office to meet with the oncology nurse specializations to discuss the preoperative and postoperative care. Mrs. Newman tells them that she is very scared about having this surgery. She says that she has no questions about the medical aspects of the procedure, but states she is concerned about how her life will change. She tells the nurse she realizes she need to have the surgery but is ambivalent and doesn’t know is she will be able to go through with it after all. . Which nursing intervention is most helpful to mars Newman? A) Refer mars Newman to a psychologist to discuss her fears about having this surgery B) Give Mrs. Newman literature provided by the American cancer society C) Ask Mrs. Newman if she wou ld like to talk to someone who has had this surgery D) Tell Mrs. Newman iota is OK to be scared and hold her hands Mrs. Newman is concerned about singing in the country and western club and asks the ONS â€Å"how long do you think it will be before I can sing with my band again† 4. How should the ONS RESPOND?A) Request that the oncologist visit with Mrs. Newman and explain the procedure to her again B) Explain that her vocal cords will be removed, and that she will not be able to sing C) Reassure her that she will be able to sing with the band, but her voice may be different D) Ask Mrs. Newman if she understands what a total laryngectomy is The ONS has given verbal and written information to Mrs Newman answered any questions and is completing the physical assessment 5. Which question is important for the nurse to ask Mrs. Newman?A) When did you first notice any hoarseness in your voice? B) How long did you say have you been singing w/the band? C) How much alcohol do u drink a week? D) What foods are difficult for you to wallow? Mrs. Newman reports that she drinks occasionally, mainly on the weekends with friends. The nurse is more concerned that Ms Newman smokes one pack of cigarettes a day. She discusses this issue with mars Newman, who says â€Å"Don’t worry about my smoking. I will never smoke another cigarette again† 6. How should the nurse respond to help Mrs.Newman in her attempt to stop smoking? A) I know it will be hard and I am very proud of u B) You will kit be able to smoke after urn surgery C) anyone else in urn household smoke D) What steps is u going to take to stop smoking? Mrs. Newman discusses the surgery with her family and a woman from a laryngectomy support group. Mrs. Newman decides to go ahead and he a total larygectomy. 7. A referral to which member of the indiciplinary team will be most important for mars Newman prior to surgery: A) Case mangerB) Social worker C) Physical therapist D) Speech therapist The speech the rapist discusses with mars Newman alternative tech inquest for restoring her speech after surgery. Selection of the best techniques varies from person to person depending on their age and personal preferences. Esophageal speech is popular among laryngectomies because it costs less and can provide a more normal sounding voice than some of the other options. 8. Which statement describes esophageal speech?A) Generator held to the neck creates vibrations those form words when the client speaks B) Swallowed air used to create around and words in a controlled belch C) Vibration and sound are used to form words by occluding a valve over the stoma D) A handheld device delivers tone via a plastic tube that is inserted into the mouth After discussing her options with a speech therapist mars Newman demonstrates her ability to use esophageal speech she comments† I used to hear my son and his friends rack like this. Won’t he be surprised? Two days later, mars Newman is admitted to t he hospital accompanied by her husband and her two grown children.She is in the preoperative holding area. 9. Which interventions will the nurse implement? A) ask mars Newman if she has any concerns about the upcoming surgery B) Notify the surgeon that mars Newman has been admitted to the hospital C) Reassure mars Newman that her family can stay with her until surgery D) Retrained if mars Newman has any problems hearing or writing Mrs. Newman shares with the nurse that she is scared that no one will help her if she needs help and that she will not be able to talk anymore. 10. Which intervention should the nurse implement? A) Assure Mrs.Newman that someone will be with her at all times B) Provide a bell that she can ring as another means of communication C) Show her how to work the nurses call light and have her perform a return demonstration D) Tell her that whiles her fears are justified; she should not try to worry. Following a seven –hour surgery mars Newman was first plac ed in the PACU, before being transferred to the intensive care unit. 11. Which nursing intervention should the ICU nurse implement? A) Discourage coughing for the first 24 hrs B) Notify the healthcare provider during roundsC) Determine when mars Newman received her last antibiotic D) Assist mars Newman to gargle w/warm salty water The nurse is completing the shift assessment and notes that Mrs. Newman has white and dark brown patchy areas on her tongue and oral mucosa. 12. Which action should the nurse implement? A) Document this finding and take no action B) Notify the health care provider during rounds C) Determine when Mrs. Newman received her last antibiotic D) Assist Mrs. Newman to gargle with warm water, salty water Because of the cancer mars Newman is at risk for potential complications, such as neck would fistula and carotid arty blowout 13.When anticipating these possible complications, the nurse should place which equipment at miss newness bedside? A) Several packages of s terile 4Ãâ€"4 gauze B) Two non sterile hemostats C) A syringe filled w/calcium glaciate D) The intensive care unit crash cart While assessing mars Newman, the nurse notices that Mrs. Newman’s blood pressure is 92/60 and her pulse is 112. Mrs. Newman reports feeling very tired. 14 What action should the nurse implement first? A) Check mars Newman’s pervious vital signs B) Suction mars Newman tracheotomy C) Administer oxygen via nasal cannula D) Slip a gloved hand under the client’s neckThe nurse also calls the nurses’ station and requests a CBC stat 15 which laboratory result consistent w/blood loss through hemorrhaging A) A hematocrit 40 % B) Erythrocyte sedimentation rate 8 mm/hr C) Red blood cell count 5. 2 million/mm^3 D) Hemoglobin 11. 3g/dl. Mrs. Newman’s gag reflex has returned and she is preparing to eat her first meal. 16 which action should the nurse implement A) Place cold packs around the clients neck prior to eating B) Remind her to pl ace the food on the front of the tongue and flex her head backward to swallow C) Ensure the client has a variety of thin liquids to drink D) Provide Mrs.Newman with soft foods when eating for the first time after surgery 17. What action should the nurse take regarding Mrs. Newman’s concern? A) Explain to the client that this is normal following this type of surgery B) He the client smell a variety of aromas to ensure that the client cannot smell C) Reassure he client that these senses will return after post-operative edema subsides D) Notify the healthcare provider about these findings when making rounds Mrs.Newman has a tracheotomy that has an inner canola. The nurse is performing routine tracheotomy care 18 Which action should the nurse implement first? A) wash the flange of the outer cannula with normal saline B) Pour hydrogen peroxide and normal saline into separate containers C) Cleanse the inner cannula using a small pipe brush D) Remove the tracheotomy dressing with cl ean disposable gloves What should the nurse do before inserting the inner canola? A) Tap or shake inner cannula to remove excess moistureB) Dry the outside of the inner cannula with non sterile gauze C) Remove the outer cannula, reinsert the inner cannula, then place back into stoma D) Clean it w/hydrogen peroxide An unlicensed assistive personnel UAP is assisting the surgical floor nurse w/morning care for mars Newman 20. Which task should the nurse delegate to the UAP? A) Empty the Foley and record the output B) Clean Mrs. Newman’s bathroom C) Change the intravenous bag on the pump D) Perform the routine tracheotomy careThe charge nurse notices that the primary nurse caring for mars Newman is cutting 4Ãâ€"4 gauze to use as a tracheotomy dressing 21. What action should the charge nurse implant? A) Praise the primary nurse for using a cost saving technique B) Instruct the primary nurse not to cut gauze for the tracheotomy dressing C) Take no action since Mrs. Newman is the p rimary nurse’s responsibility D) Determine why commercially prepared dressings aren’t being used The night nurse is preparing to administer the 12:00 midnight dose of gentamicin, an intravenous amino glycoside antibiotic that was started when Mrs.Newman was in the PACU. The nurse notices the empty IV antibiotic bag that was administered during the day shift is labeled ampicilllin. The nurse checks the medication administration record and realizes client does not have a prescription for ampicillin. 22. Which action should the night nurse implement? A) Notify the pharmacist about the medication error B) Complete a medication error report c) Call the day nurse to determine what occurred D) Asses Mrs. Newman’s white blood cell count WBC The next time the nurse enters Mrs. Newman room Mrs.Newman writes on the communication inboard is there something wrong? I heard someone in the hall say something about me receiving the wrong medication? 23. How should the nurse resp ond? A) Please don’t worry about anything. I am sorry you overheard that conversation B) No Mrs. Newman you did not receive the wrong medication C) C) You are concerned that you might have received the wrong medication D) you were supposed to receive gentamcin but you received ampicillin 24. Which intervention should the nurse provide to Mrs. Newman?A) Insert a suction tube into the stoma while applying suction, the remove while twisting the tube B) Take a deep breath, occlude the tracheotomy with urn finger cough and remove your finger C) Insert a small amount of sterile normal saline into the stoma and cough in a normal manner D) Take a deep broth in through the nose, cough and expel the secretions through the tracheostomy The nurse is discussing activities of daily living with Mrs. Newman. Which instruction should the nurse include? A) Caution Mrs. Newman to take only tub baths B) Encourage Mrs.Newman to use aerosol deodorants C) Advise Mrs. Newman not to wear any types of perfumes D) Explain the need to wear a plastic bib when showing 26. Which intervention has highest priority to discharge? A) encourage the client to wear attractive coverings over stoma B) Ensure that Mrs. Newman carries a special identification card C) Stress the importance of returning to as normal a lifestyle as possible D) Discuss the importance of attending support group meetings Mrs. Newman is being discharged home today after five days in the hospital.Mr. Newman stops the nurse in the hallway and says that he is really scared about taking his wife home 27 what is the best response by the nurse? A) Have you discussed your fears w/ur wife B) It sounds like you can’t take care of her C) I know this must be very scary but u and ur wife are strong D) Let’s sit down and discuss what u are worried about Mr. Newman hesitantly shares with the nurse that he is afraid to touch his wife How should the nurse respond? A) Would u like to talk to your wife’s doctor, I c an call him for u?B) You can touch ur wife all u want, u will not hurt her C) You are worried about touching ur wife but she needs ur support right now D) Tell me more about what you mean by touching ur wife A home healthcare nurse has been assigned to care for Mrs. Newman and is making the initial visit. After completing the admission assessment the home healthcare nurse develops a nursing care plan for Mrs. Newman 29 of the nursing diagnosis included in Mrs. Newman’s careplan, which one has the highest priority? A) Deficient of knowledge B) Anticipatory grievingC) Ineffective airway clearance D) Impaired verbal communication Then home healthcare nurse is discussing the plan of care with Mrs. Newman and her husband, she instructs them to keep the rooms humidified at all times. Mr. Newman asks why this is important. 30. Which explanation should the nurse provide? A) It will decrease the amt of foreign material that enters the stoma B) Humidified air decreases the need for ora l fluids C) Humidified air will keep mucous membranes and secretions moist D) The lower airway responsible for humidification was removed during surgery

International Business – Midterm Review

AFM 333 Midterm Review Module 1: – Fall of Berlin Wall 1989 – Two Trends altering global market: globalization of markets and technological advances – Globalization: interconnectedness of national economies, growing interdependence of buyers, producers and suppliers in different countries G6 economies: US, UK, Japan, Germany, France, Italy – Account for half of global consumption with only 1/10 of population –B6 economies: China, India, Russia, Brazil, Mexico, South Korea – China is the biggest market for phones, TVs, and cars in 2007 – China and India have more middle class households than all of the households in the United States – Growth in B6 more than 3x the growth in G6 economies 62 Multinationals in Fortune Global 500 20 of these multinationals are in China 12 from South Korea 6 from India 5 from Mexico and 5 from Russia B6 have three times the labour force of G6 countries 33 million university-educated young professiona ls in developing world compared to 14 million in the developed world 00 000 IT Engineers in India vs. 50 K in US In the decade to 2020, the working-age population of emerging economies is expected to increase by more than 500 million, compared with an increase of only 3. 7 million in developed economies. Drivers of Market Globalization – 1. Reduction of trade and investment barriers – 2. Market Liberalization: move to market based economies + adopt free trade in China + Soviet Union etc. – 3. Industrialization + Modernization + developing economies creating higher value adding products – 4.Integration of World Financial Markets: international banks, globalization of finance – 5. Advances in Technology: reduces cost and time, improves coordination and communication, facilitates development, helps share information/marketing, virtual space removes distance Dimensions of Market Globalization – integration/interdependence of global economies â⠂¬â€œ increase regional economic integration bloc – growth of global investment – convergence of buyer lifestyles/preferences – globalization of production activities Social Concequences – loss of national soverignity offshoring/outsourcing jobs – effects on the poor, the natural environment and national culture Firm-level consequences – new business opportunities – new risks and rivalries – more demanding buyers (less bargaining power to supplier) – international value chains Phases of Globalization 1. 1830-1880: Introduction of railway and ocean transport (trains and ships) + phone and telegraph invented 2. 1900-1930: increased steel and electricity production + Western Europe most industrialized country so established first multinational subs through colonization (Nestle, Shell, BP) 3. 948-1970: Form general agreement on tariff and trade + high demand for consumer products and input goods to rebuild after the war 4. 1 980- now: radical advances in IT, communication, manufacturing, consultation, and privatization. Caused by: †¢Commercialization of the personal computer. †¢Arrival of the Internet and the web browser. †¢Advances in communication and manufacturing technologies. †¢Collapse of the Soviet Union and ensuing market liberalization in central and Eastern Europe. †¢Substantial industrialization and modernization efforts of the East Asian economies including China.GDP growth rates highest in developing economies who emphasize global integration Information travels faster now than ever before (ships/carraiges, steamships/cars, motor vehicles/aircraft, internet (speed of light)). Firm Level Consequences of Globalization – international value chain – demanding buyers – increased rivalry and competition – increased opportunity for business – Management must change focus – Must partner and outsource better – look for product ivity and operational efficiency gains – find and measure key global strategic assets of org. International Business trade and investment activities of firms across borders Globalization – economic integration and growing interdependency worldwide Theories of Trade – mercantilism – national prosperity = positive balance of trade (trade surplus) – absolute advantage principle – produce only products for which your country/region has an absolute advantage – comparative advantage principle – both countries produce even if one has absolute advantage in all products, relative efficiency matters, specialize in what you produce best and trade for the rest you can use scarce resources more efficientlyNational Comparative Advantages – China low cost labour – India – IT workers in Bangalore – Ireland – service economy – Dubai – knowledge based economy Comparative Advantage = superior featu res with unique benefits in global market either naturally endowed or put in place through national policy – NATIONAL Competitive Advantage = distinctive competencies of a firm from cost, size, innovation that are difficult for competitors to replicate – FIRM Factor Proportions/Endowments Theory = produce and export products that use abundant factors of production and import goods that use scarce resourcesLimitations of Early Trade Theories – they don’t account for cost of international transportation – tariffs and import restrictions distort trade flows – economies of scale bring about additional efficiencies – low cost capital now available on global markets How do Nations Enhance Competitive Advantage – governments can proactively implement policies to subsidize and stimulate the economy outside of natural endowments – create national economic advantage through: innovation stimulus, target industries for development, provide incentives and low cost capitalNational Industrial Policy – economic development plan by public sector to nurture and support promising industries through: tax incentives, monetary/fiscal policy, rigorous educational systems, investment in national infrastructure, strong legal and regulatory systems – Example Ireland: fiscal, monetary and tax consolidation, partnership of gov with unions, emphasis on high value add industry like pharma, biotech and IT, membership in EU, investment in education – improved GDP, Unemployment and National Debt 3x by 2003 from 1987 Porter’s Diamond Model: Firm Strategy, Structure and Rivalry – strong competitors in country serves as national competitive advantage – clusters ? Factor Conditions – labour, natural resources, capital, technology, knowledge and entrepreneurship ? Demand Conditions – strengths and sophistication of consumer demand ? Related and Supporting Industries – avail ability of clusters and complementary firms in the value chain Industrial Clusters: – concentration of suppliers and supporting firms in the same regional area – ex. silicon valley, Switzerland pharma, fashion in italy/paris, IT in Bangalore – export platform for the nationClassical Theories – International Product Cycle Theory: introduction, growth and maturity of each product and its associated manufacturing – INTRO: inventor country enjoys a monopoly in manufacturing and exports – GROWTH: other countries enter the global market place with more standard manufacturing – MATURITY: original innovator becomes net importer of product – Now – hard for innovator to maintain a lead because there is a short product life cycle – New Trade Theory: economies of scale important for international performance in some industries.Ex. high fixed costs = high volume sales to breakeven Reasons to Invest Abroad: – market seek ing – efficiency/cost seeking – resource seeking – knowledge seeking Why Internationalize? 1. opp for growth through diversification of market 2. higher profit margins 3. new P&S ideas and business methods 4. serve customers who have relocated abroad (increase/maintain market) 5. closer to supply sources, use global sourcing advantages, flexibility in sourcing products 6. access to lower cost/better value factors of production 7. evelop economies of scale in sourcing, production, marketing, economies of scale 8. confront international competitors 9. invest in relationship with a foreign partner Nature of International Business – value adding activities can be done internationally (source, manufacture, market) – cross border trade not limited to raw materials, include capital, tech, knowledge, products, services etc. – Internationalize through: Export, FDI, Licence, Franchise and JV FDI – longterm acquisition of productive assets like capital, tech, labour P&E etc – large commitment used to manufacture products in low labour cost countries MNE – big company with lots of resources, subs and affiliates in many countries (US, Japan, Germany, France, Britain) SME – small to medium size enterprise, 500 or fewer employees Born Global Firm – young company that initiates business on the global market Risks in International Business: 1. Commercial Risk – weak partnerships, bad timing of entry, high competition, poor execution of strategy, operational problems 2.Currency Risk – tax, inflation, asset valuation, transfer pricing, currency exposure 3. Country Risk – protectionism/gov intervention, bureaucracy, lack of legal safeguards/poor leagal system, social/political unrest 4. Cross-Cultural Risk – cultural differences, negotiation, different decision making styles, different ethical practices MNE Avenues for Involvement: ? Import/Export ? Licencing/Franchising ? Joi ng Venture ? FDI – get progressively more risky, higher investment, higher potential benefit, higher commitmentIntermediaries Include: – Distributor – extension of firm, takes goods under their name to sell – Manufacturer Rep – under contract of exporter to rep and sell merch – Retailer – bypass wholesaler/distributer and sell to retailer to sell to customers – IKEA, WALMART – Trading Company – based in home country, high volume, low margin resellers. – Export Management Company – US, export agent who secures contracts to export goods – usually specialize in industries and areas – Agent – works on commission Licensor – Focal firm grants the right to the foreign partner to use certain intellectual property in exchange for royalties – Franchisor – grant right to use a business system for fees and royalties – ICV – share cost and risk fo new ventur e with another company – JV – create a jointly owned new entitiy with foreign partners – Project Based Venture – collaboration with a timeline without creating a new entity, common with R&D intensive ventures Facilitator – provide services for cross border transactions: Bank, Lawyers, Freight, Consultants, ad agency, custom brokers, insurance companies, tax accountants,Turnkey Contractor: Provide engineering, design, and architectural services in the construction of airports, hospitals, oil refineries, and other types of infrastructure. †¢These projects are typically awarded on the basis of open bidding by the sponsor. †¢Examples- European Channel Tunnel, the Three Gorges Dam in China, Delhi Metro Rail Ltd. and the Hong Kong Airport. †¢Build-own-transfer venture- an increasingly popular type of turnkey contract in the developing economies where contractors acquire an ownership in the facility for a period of time until it is turned o ver to the client.MODULE 3 [pic] Advanced economies are post-industrial countries characterized by high per capita income, highly competitive industries, and well-developed commercial infrastructure. †¢Examples- world’s richest countries and include Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the United States, and Western European countries. Developing economies are low-income countries characterized by limited industrialization and stagnant economies. †¢Examples- low-income countries, with limited industrialization and stagnant economies- e. g. Bangladesh, Nicaragua and Zaire.Emerging market economies are a subset of former developing economies that have achieved substantial industrialization, modernization, improved living standards and remarkable economic growth. †¢Examples- some 27 countries in East and South Asia, Latin America, Middle East and Eastern Europe- including Brazil, Russia, India, China (so called BRIC countries). [pic] Advanced Economies – 2 – 4% growth rates – mature industrial development – moved from manufacturing to service based economies – typically democratic political systems and capital economic systems – host worlds biggest MNEs – Emerging Economies – 7 – 10% growth rates 40% of world GDP – 30% of exports – 20% of FDI – low cost labour and capital, knowledgeable workers, gov support – fastest growth rate – attractive: growing middle class, manufacturing bases, sourcing destinations – market potential: percapita income, size of middle class, GNI, use adjusted GDP for PPP – middle class has some economic independence and discretionary income Hong Kong, Isreal, Saudi Arabia The EMPI combines factors that provide firms with a realistic measure of export market potential: †¢Market Size: the country’s population, especially urban population †¢Market Growth Rate: the country’s real GDP gr owth rate Market Intensity: private consumption and GNI represent discretionary expenditures of citizens †¢Market Consumption Capacity: The percentage share of income held by the country’s middle class †¢Commercial Infrastructure: characteristics such as number of mobile phone subscribers, density of telephone lines, number of PCs, density of paved roads, and population per retail outlet †¢Economic Freedom: the degree of government intervention †¢Market Receptivity: the particular country’s inclination to trade with the exporter’s country as estimated by the volume of imports †¢Country Risk: the degree of political riskChallenges of doing business with Ems – political stability – hard to forecast in uncertain conditions – beauraucracy/lack of transparency – weak IP rights – availability of good partners – presence of family conglomerates †¢Regional economic integration, refers to the growing economic interdependence that results when countries within a geographic region form an alliance aimed at reducing barriers to trade and investment. †¢40% of world trade today is under some bloc preferential trade agreement. Premise- mutual advantages for cooperating nations within a common geography, history, culture, language, economics, and/or politics †¢Free trade that results from economic integration helps nations attain higher living standards by encouraging specialization, lower prices, greater choices, increased productivity, and more efficient use of resources. 1. Market access. Tariffs and most non-tariff barriers have been eliminated for trade in products and services, and rules of origin favor manufacturing that uses parts and other inputs produced in the EU. . Common market. The EU removed barriers to the cross-national movement of production factors—labor, capital, and technology. 3. Trade rules. The member countries have largely eliminated customs p rocedures and regulations, which streamlines transportation and logistics within Europe. 4. Standards harmonization. The EU is harmonizing technical standards, regulations, and enforcement procedures that relate to products, services, and commercial activities. 5. Common fiscal, monetary, taxation, and social welfare policies in the long run.The euro (common currency since 2002): †¢Simplified the process of cross-border trade and enhanced Europe’s international competitiveness. †¢Eliminated exchange rate risk in much of the bloc and forced member countries to improve their fiscal and monetary policies. †¢Unified consumers and businesses to think of Europe as a single market †¢Forced national governments to relinquish monetary power to the European Central Bank, in Luxembourg, which oversees EU monetary functions. †¢NAFTA passage (1994) was facilitated by the maquiladora program – U. S. firms locate manufacturing facilities just south of the U. S. order and access low-cost labor without having to pay significant tariffs. NAFTA has: †¢Eliminated tariffs and most nontariff barriers for products/services. †¢Initiated bidding for government contracts by member country firms †¢Established trade rules and uniform customs procedures. †¢Prohibited standards/technical regulations to be used as trade barriers. †¢Instituted rules for investment and intellectual property rights. †¢Provided for dispute settlement for investment, unfair pricing, labor issues, and the environment. †¢Trade among the members has more than tripled and now exceeds $1 trillion per year. In the early 1980s, Mexico’s tariffs averaged 100% and gradually disappeared under NAFTA. †¢Member countries now trade more with each other than with former trading partners outside the NAFTA zone. †¢Both Canada and Mexico now have some 80% of their trade with, and 60% of their FDI stocks in the United States. †¢Mexican exports to the U. S. grew from $50 billion to over $160 billion per year. †¢Access to Canada and the U. S. helped launch numerous Mexican firms in industries such as electronics, automobiles, textiles, medical products, and services. †¢Annual U. S. nd Canadian investment in Mexico rose from $4 billion in 1993 to nearly $20 billion by 2006. †¢Mexico’s per capita income rose to about $11,000 in 2007, making Mexico the wealthiest country in Latin America. †¢By increasing Mexico’s attractiveness as a manufacturing location, firms like Gap Inc. and Liz Claiborne moved their factories from Asia to Mexico during the 1990s. †¢IBM shifted much of its production of computer parts from Singapore to Mexico. ASEAN – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia APEC – Asia Pacific Economic Coop – Australia, Canada, Chile, US, China, Japan, Mexico CER – Aussie and New Zealand – removed 80% of tarriffsWhy Nations Expand? 1. Ex pand market size  §Regional integration greatly increases the scale of the marketplace for firms inside the economic bloc.  §Example- Belgium has a population of just 10 million; the EU gives Belgian firms easier access to a total market of roughly 490 million. 2. Achieve scale economies and enhanced productivity  §Expansion of market size within an economic bloc gives member country firms the opportunity to gain economies of scale in production and marketing.  §Internationalization inside the bloc helps firms learn to compete more effectively outside the bloc as well. Labor and other inputs are allocated more efficiently among the member countries- leading to lower prices for consumers. 3. Attract direct investment from outside the bloc  §Compared to investing in stand-alone countries, foreign firms prefer to invest in countries that are part of an economic bloc as they receive preferential treatment for exports to other member countries.  §Examples- General Mills, Sams ung, and Tata- have invested heavily in the EU to take advantage of Europe's economic integration.  §By establishing operations in a single EU country, these firms gain free trade access to the entire EU market. 4.Acquire stronger defensive and political posture  §Provide member countries with a stronger defensive posture relative to other nations and world regions- this was one of the motives for the initial creation of the European Community (precursor to the EU). †¢The value chain can be thought of as the complete business system of the focal firm. It comprises all of the activities that the focal firm performs. †¢The focal firm may retain core activities such as production and marketing, and outsource distribution and customer service responsibilities to foreign-market based distributors, thus the global reconfiguration of the value chain. Dell makes a variety of products, each with its own value chain. The total supply chain for a notebook computer, including mult iple tiers of suppliers, involves about 400 companies, primarily in Asia, but also in Europe and the Americas. †¢On a typical day, Dell processes orders for 150,000 computers, which are distributed to customers around the world, with non-U. S. sales accounting for 40 percent. †¢Shipping is handled via air transport, e. g. from the Dell Malaysia factory to the U. S. Dell charters a China Airlines 747 hat flies to Nashville, Tennessee six days a week, with each jet carries 25,000 Dell notebooks that weigh a total of 110,000 kilograms, or 242,500 pounds. †¢One of the hallmarks of Dell’s value chain is collaboration. CEO Michael Dell and his team constantly work with their suppliers to make process improvements in Dell’s value chain. [pic] Automotive Industry †¢Manufacturing of the Chevrolet Malibu illustrates national and geographic diversity of suppliers that provide content for an automobile, a truly global value chain. †¢Suppliers are headquart ered in Germany, Japan, France, Korea, and United Kingdom, and the U.S. , and the components they sell to General Motors are manufactured in typically low-cost countries and then shipped to the General Motors plant in Fairfax, Kansas. †¢The German automaker BMW employs 70,000 factory personnel at 23 sites in 13 countries to manufacture its vehicles. †¢Workers at the Munich plant build the BMW 3 Series and supply engines and key body components to other BMW factories abroad. †¢In the U. S. , BMW has a plant in South Carolina, which makes over 500 vehicles daily for the world market. †¢In Northeast China, BMW makes cars in a joint venture with Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Ltd. In India, BMW has a manufacturing presence to serve the needs of the rapidly growing South Asia market. †¢BMW must configure sourcing at the best locations worldwide, in order to minimize costs (e. g. , by producing in China), access skilled personnel (by producing in Germany), r emain close to key markets (by producing in China, India and the U. S. ). †¢Global sourcing is the procurement of products or services from suppliers or company-owned subsidiaries located abroad for consumption in the home country or a third country. Technological advances, including instant Internet connectivity and broadband availability TECHNOLOGY †¢Declining communication and transportation costs †¢Widespread access to vast information including growing connectivity between suppliers and the customers that they serve; and SUPPLY CHAIN †¢Entrepreneurship and rapid economic transformation in emerging markets. GLOBALIZATION †¢Managers must decide between internalization and externalization — whether each value-adding activity should be conducted in-house or by an independent supplier. This is known as the ‘make or buy’ decision: â€Å"Should we make a product or conduct a particular value-chain activity ourselves, or should we source it from an outside contractor? † †¢Firms usually internalize those value-chain activities they consider a part of their core competence, or which involve the use of proprietary knowledge and trade secrets that they want to control. †¢Configuration of value-adding activity: The pattern or geographic arrangement of locations where the firm carries out value-chain activities. Instead of concentrating value-adding activities in the home country, many firms configure these activities across the world to save money, reduce delivery time, access factors of production, and extract maximal advantages relative to competitors. †¢This helps explain the migration of traditional industries from Europe, Japan, and the U. S. to emerging markets in Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. [pic] †¢Outsourcing refers to the procurement of selected value-adding activities, including production of intermediate goods or finished products, from independent suppliers. This practice of externalizing a particular value-adding activity to outside contractors is known as outsourcing. †¢Firms outsource because they generally are not superior at performing all primary and support activities. Most value-adding activities — from manufacturing to marketing to after-sales service — are candidates for outsourcing. †¢Business Process Outsourcing (BPO). The outsourcing of business functions to independent suppliers such as accounting, payroll, and human resource functions, IT services, customer service, and technical support. BPO includes:  §Back-office activities, which includes internal, upstream business functions such as payroll and billing, and  §Front-office activities, which includes downstream, customer-related services such as marketing or technical support. †¢Offshoring is a natural extension of global sourcing. It refers to the relocation of a business process or entire manufacturing facility to a foreign country. †¢MNEs are particularly active in shifting production facilities or business processes to foreign countries to enhance their competitive advantages. Offshoring is especially common in the service sector, including banking, software code writing, legal services, and customer-service activities. †¢E. g. , large legal hubs have emerged in India that provide services such as drafting contracts and patent applications, conducting research and negotiations, as well as performing paralegal work on behalf of Western clients. With lawyers in N. America and Europe costing $300 an hour or more, Indian firms can cut legal bills by 75 percent. Best Jobs for Offshoring: Large-scale manufacturing industries whose primary competitive advantage is efficiency and low cost; †¢Industries such as automobiles that have uniform customer needs and highly standardized processes in production and other value-chain activities; †¢Service industries that are highly labor intensive, e. g. , call centers and legal transcription; †¢Information-based industries whose functions and activities can be easily transmitted via the Internet, e. g. , accounting, billing, and payroll; and †¢Industries such as software preparation whose outputs are easy to codify and transmit over the Internet or by telephone, e. g. routine technical support and customer service activities. [pic] †¢Cost efficiency is the traditional rationale for sourcing abroad. The firm takes advantage of ‘labor arbitrage’ – the large wage gap between advanced economies and emerging markets. †¢One study found that firms expect to save an average of more than 40% off baseline costs as a result of offshoring. These savings tend to occur particularly in R&D, product design activities, and back-office operations such as accounting and data processing. Benefits of Outsourcing: †¢Faster corporate growth. †¢Access to qualified personnel abroad. †¢Improved productivity and service. Business process redesign. †¢Increased speed to market. †¢Access to new markets. †¢Technological flexibility. Improved agility by shedding unnecessary overhead. Disadvantages to Outsourcing: †¢Vulnerability to exchange rate fluctuations †¢Partner selection, qualification, and monitoring costs †¢Increased complexity of managing a worldwide network of production locations and partners †¢Complexity of managing global supply chain †¢Limited influence over the manufacturing processes of the supplier †¢Potential vulnerability to opportunistic behavior or actions in bad faith by suppliers †¢Constrained ability to safeguard intellectual assetsRisks in Global Sourcing: 1. Less-than-expected cost savings. Conflicts and misunderstandings arise because of differences in the national and organizational cultures between the focal firm and foreign supplier. Such factors give rise to cost-savings that are less than originally anticipated. 2. Environ mental factors. Numerous environmental challenges confront focal firms including: exchange rate fluctuations, labor strikes, adverse macro-economic events, high tariffs and other trade barriers, and high energy and transportation costs. 3. Weak legal environment.Many popular locations for global outsourcing have weak laws and enforcement regarding intellectual property, which can lead to erosion of key strategic assets. 4. Risk of creating competitors. As the focal firm shares its intellectual property and business-process knowledge with foreign suppliers, it also runs the risk of creating future rivals (e. g. , Schwinn). 5. Inadequate or low-skilled workers. Some foreign suppliers may be staffed by employees who lack appropriate knowledge about the tasks with which they are charged. Other suppliers suffer rapid turnover of skilled employees. 6. Over-reliance on suppliers.Unreliable suppliers may put earlier work aside when they gain a more important client. Suppliers occasionally e ncounter financial difficulties or are acquired by other firms with different priorities and procedures. Over-reliance can shift control of key activities too much in favor of the supplier. 7. Erosion of morale and commitment among home-country employees. Global sourcing can create a situation in which employees are caught in the middle between their employer and their employer’s clients. At the extreme, workers find themselves in a psychological limbo, unclear about who their employer really is.

The Origin Of Christianity Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Origin Of Christianity - Research Paper Example Davidmann bases the origin of Christianity on what Jesus really taught, whose standpoints are the social laws as they appear in the Torah. Early Christians followed those laws for they protected people from exploitation, subjugation, and enslavement. He observes that this is what Jesus taught. However, he points out that Paul changed what Jesus originally taught and this is what finally Christianity’s official doctrine became. The knowledge was transmuted through scrolls from the biblical archaeology and what was written there constitute the events of the very first time. Davidmann further points that the Pauline ideologies were first resisted and for Christianity to thrive, the later gospel writers had to alter the records in favor of Paul. Using what he calls â€Å"the law of the excluded middle,† Jackson asserts that either Christianity is of divine origin or it is of human origin and not both. Because Christianity claims to be of a sacred design, he focuses on a number of factors that argue for the sacred origin of the religious system initiated by Jesus Christ. Christianity had a remarkable point of beginning. There are no traces of its foundations in Assyria, Babylon, Egypt, Greece or even Rome. Towards the spring of A.D. 30, Christianity was nowhere. Christianity was a momentous religious force – not only in the Mediterranean world but also in inaccessible corners of the Roman Empire. Apparently, there is no exact place from where it came, yet gradually, it was everywhere. Nobody knows how that happened. It aroused the resentment of many Jews for the first forty years of its survival until the Jewish economy fell to the hands of the tyrannical Romans in A.D. 70 (Jackson, 1997).

The Work-Family Interface Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 12

The Work-Family Interface - Essay Example He lived in the rural areas and therefore followed his parents who were farmers too. He married at the age of seventy and began working on his father’s farm before he obtained his own. He would later inherit his father’s farm at the age of twenty-seven a feature that led to the expansion of his business. My grandfather explains that he knew he would inherit his father’s property some day and did not, therefore, struggle to develop a business empire of his own. However, once he took over the management of the business he ensured it grew by diversifying the crops and animals in the farm (Sweet 32). He employed more farmers and even built some small-scale processing plants to ensure that his product had the best quality in the region. He had numerous friends and a large family of six children my father being his last-born. He ensured his children received education thereby enabling them to diversify their career aspirations. I was born nearly seventy years later and in a different setting. I live with my parents in New York where I study and have all my friends. This implies that my life and experiences are different from those of my grandfather. The features of our societies differ thereby influencing our aspirations. I enjoy technology and business. I spend most of my time experimenting and studying new technologies especially information technologies. I enjoy computer programing and has therefore created numerous programs including games and database management programs. Besides technology, I love soccer. I have numerous friends with whom we meet often to watch soccer besides engaging in other part-time activities. I aspire to study and advance my interests in information technology. Furthermore, I aspire to set up a business that deals in the manufacture and sale of computer accessories and programs. Technology is a fundamental aspect of society. The internet among other  other information and communication technologies has revolutionized the world thereby succeeding in creating a global village. This implies that contemporary commercial organizations have reliable ways of expanding their reach in the market and therefore higher prospects of becoming profitable.  

Comprehensive Emergency Plan for Ashford University Essay

Comprehensive Emergency Plan for Ashford University - Essay Example This report is aimed at developing a comprehensive emergency plan in preparation for natural disasters at Ashford University’s main campus, including incidences of flooding, tornadoes and heavy storms (Continuity of Government & Continuity of Operations, 2003). Each crisis or emergency requires a different type of response. For instance, if there is a bomb threat, it may be necessary to shelter people in place, whereas evacuating the building will be appropriate for other situations like a tornado warning (U.S. Department of Homeland Security). This will ensure that the campus is prepared for the event of a disaster, and analyze the potential responses to the occurrence of such an event. The purpose of this emergency plan is the management of major emergencies and crises in the advent of such occurrences, so as to ensure that major crises and emergencies are handled in an organized way. This emergency action plan is aimed at protecting the Ashford University employees from serious injury, loss of property or life in the event of an actual or potential major disaster. Such situations may include the event of a fire, a bomb threat, earthquake, tornado or a hazardous chemical spill. This emergency action plan will describe the initial routes of action for protection of students and employees and those responsible for the implementation of those actions within the university. This plan is an all-risk emergency plan for addressing disaster and crisis management, and will integrate the various departments of the university and other resources in a coordinated response effort to manage or reduce any loss of life and property through the provision periodic emergency respons e capability tests. It is also necessary to ensure the effective utilization of resources and the minimization of any disruptions in school activities and of programs. It is a fact that preparation for emergencies will ensure a higher margin of safety if a crisis or