The organization that you work Essay Example for Free

The organization that you work Essay The organization that you work for is interested in expanding their business overseas. You have been asked to gather some preliminary information to help management decide on whether to pursue this idea further. Search the Cybrary or other online resource and find an article describing an experience of either: (1) a US company or division that conducts business in a foreign country; or (2) a company or division based in another country which has started doing business in the United States. Perform searches on joint venture, licensing, or strategic alliance. Based on your research submit a three page document to the managers of the organization which answers the following set of questions: 1. Was the companys experience positive, negative, or mixed? Justify your answer. 2. What legal or political barriers did the company have to overcome? What cultural or business differences did the company encounter? What problems did these differences create for the company? What did the company do to overcome the obstacles? Did the company handle cultural and business differences effectively? Why or why not? 3. Companies involved in international trade have to watch the exchange rates for the euro, Japanese yen, Brazil real, Russian ruble, and US dollar. If you were a U. S. exporter, how might a stronger dollar affect demand for your products? How might a weaker dollar affect demand? (Note: One Internet source for foreign exchange rates is www. x-rates. com/ ). Doing business in another r country can be extremely tricky. Numerous problems result from a failure to adapt packaging for other cultures. For instance, white symbolizes death in Japan, and much of Asia, green represents danger or disease in Malaysia. Some product names travel poorly. For instance, the gasoline company Esso found out that its name means stalled car in Japan. Proper market research may reduce or eliminate most international business blunders. Market researchers can uncover needs for product adaptations, potential name problems, promotional requirements, and useful market strategies. Food research may even uncover potential translation problems. As you can see, doing business in other cultures can be risky if youre unprepared. However, awareness of differences, consultation with local people, and concern for host-country feelings can reduce problems and save money. In dealing with international business you should know about licensing, strategic alliance, and joint venture. Licensing is an agreement to produce and market another companys product in exchange for a royalty or fee. Strategic alliance is a long-term partnership between two or more companies to jointly develop, produce, or sell products in the global marketplace. Joint venture is a special type of strategic alliance in which two or more firms join together to create a new business entity that is legally separate and distinct from its parents. More and more companies are experiencing the excitement of conducting business in the global marketplace. Although selling goods and services in foreign markets can generate increased sales, produce operational efficiencies, expose companies to new technologies, and provide greater consumer choices, venturing abroad also exposes companies to many new challenges. Each country has unique ways of doing business which must be learned: Laws, customs, consumers preferences, ethical standards, labor skill, and political and economic stability vary from country to country, and all have the potential to affect a firms international prospects. Volatile currencies and international trade relationships can indeed make global expansion a risky proposition. Companies must recognize and respect differences in social values, ideas of status, decision-making habits, and attitudes toward time, use of space, body language, manners, and ethical standards. Otherwise, such differences can lead to misunderstanding in international business relationships, particularly if language differences also exist. The best way to prepare yourself to do business with people from another culture is to study that culture in advance. Learn everything you can about the cultures history, religious, politics, and customs-especially its business customs. Who makes decisions? How negotiations are usually conducted? Is gift giving expected? What is the proper attire for a business meeting? In addition to the suggestion that you learn about the culture, seasoned international business people offer the following tips for improving intercultural communications: Be alert to the other persons customs. Expect the other person to have values, beliefs, expectations and mannerisms different from yours, Deal with the individual. Dont stereotype the other person or react with preconceived ideas. Regard the person as an individual first, not as a representative of another culture. Clarify your intent and meaning. The other persons body language may not mean what you think, and the person may read unintentional meanings into your message. Clarify your true intent by repetition and examples. Ask questioned and listen carefully. Adapt your style to the other persons. If the other person appears to be direct and straightforward, follow suit. If not, adjust your behavior to match. Show respect. Learn how respect is communicated I various cultures-through gestures, eye contact, and so on.

Indigenous Bilingual Education Programs in Australia Essay -- Austral

Introduction Despite Australia’s ever-growing multiculturalism, it has been found that ‘monolingualism is extraordinarily common in Australia throughout the general population and all occupational levels (Bostock, 1973).’ With such an array of cultures present, one would assume that Australian education systems would have endless bilingual programs in place. However, this is not the case. Despite the successes of bilingual education on a global scale, little effort has been made to preserve any Australian languages, meaning that language death has become an everyday factor that Indigenous individuals have to deal with (Wurm, 1991). This paper discusses the concept of bilingual education and its faults in the transition from theory to practice, the political and social reception of bilingual education and the bilingual education programs which have been resurrected internationally and nationally. In examining these areas, hopefully some clarity will be gained as to why bilingua l education programs of Australian languages have been so unsuccessful. Bilingual Education as a Theoretical Concept. ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬ Bilingual education - in theory - is a concept that would enrich learning, especially under a constructivist teaching method, as well as students, parents and teacher’s lives (Rossi, 1999). In encouraging children to learn under a self-directed method, the enriching nature of ‘learning-to-learn’ allows youths to further the positives of constructivism even further (Rossi, 1999). Consequently, not only do they become independent, confident students, but have bilingual language competence, rather than just language performance. Harris (1978) states that language performance ‘is merely a speaker’s production of the words, sounds and phr... ...iarity with English. Consequently, this displays yet another positive of bilingual education in the family unit, reinforcing that the positives are restricted only to an educational means but stay with them as they continue to grow in society (Jaggs, 1975). International Bilingual Programs Internationally, bilingual programs have proven to be a success in enriching students academic and social lives and their quality of life overall. The bilingual program closest to Australia on a global scale is that of Maori-English bilingual education in New Zealand. Although the Maori language was evidently stronger and had a fair chance of threatening the assimilationist movement of English, the main driving force behind their fight to preserve their language was to fulfil the ‘psychological needs central to the well-being of Maori individuals and groups (Durie, 1997).’

Costco Wholesale in 2012 Essay

Analysis and Evaluation Since the inception of Costco in 1983, one of its drawbacks is, they have 4,000 selections of merchandise compared to their competitors. In addition, customers can only purchase merchandises in bulk. Consumers who shop at Costco do not have the choice to pick up one single item, for instance a can of soup. Although Costco prices are low and the consumers get more for their money, more consumers are wasting food because they no longer have the big families. Costco needs to look at the demographics and re-evaluate their business model, as this could be detrimental to the company. In today’s society, more families are getting divorce and are becoming single parents. The big families are almost none existent; therefore, most consumers do not need to purchase in bulk. Many consumers want to have choices when it comes to the amount of food they purchase. One may say there are other shopping establishments a consumer may visit to get exactly what they want; however, that is beside the point. Giving consumers the choice to purchase individual merchandise will not only bring in more business but also an increase in cash flow, which will also increase profits for Costco. On the other hand, Costco competitors such as Wal-Mart stocked up 40,000 to 150, 000 items for shoppers to choose from and Sam’s Club have over 16,000 items. Sam’s Club have the treasure-hunt items but tend to be less upscale and carry lower price tags than those of Costco. Both Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club give shoppers more choices than Costco even though Costco offers a cheaper price on their merchandise. Costco spends very little in advertisements and they totally rely on their name and word of mouth by their customers. Compared to Sam’s Club they spent about $50 million annually advertising and direct mail promotions. Furthermore, Costco does not have a Public Relation department, which is not good business practice, even though they have been around for years and they are doing well financially. However, there are many opportunities for one of its competitor to come in take away their market share. Costco does not attract people who are below the poverty line; they cater to the business consumer and urbanites that have an annual income of $100,000; therefore, people who are impoverish cannot afford the membership fees and bulk purchase. In addition, Costco membership fee is more expensive compared to Sam’s Club. Recommendation Costco needs to improve the variety of choices by giving the consumer more than 4,000 items to choose from while their competitors are actually giving customers what they want. Costco needs to take into consideration the economy; people have lost their jobs and the recession, as customers are looking for cheaper prices and ways to saving money. Furthermore, if Costco does not come up with new and innovative strategies to entice low income and single household family to their establishment they are giving their competitors the upper hand. Costco should also focus on the advertisement because number of its rivals is already doing intense advertisement. In today’s global and technological world, many businesses are being aggressive and are taking advantage of investing heavily on the marketing. Costco cannot continue to use the concept of sitting back and waiting for their customers to spread the word by mouth. Costco needs to move in the direction of the 21st century by being more proactive by utilizing technology and a PR department for marketing purposes. It is true that company like Costco are doing good in economic downturn but competitors like Sam’s club is outperforming Costco in pricing which could be biggest threats to the Costco even though Costco keeps relatively branded and qualitative product than that of Sam’s Club The Five Forces Model of Competition Substitutes Strong threat Good substitutes everywhere Price not significantly higher Comparable product features More variety of features Low switching cost Potential new entrants Low threat Small pool entry candidates High barriers to entry Expanding market Attractive profits Buyers Weak bargaining power Some switching cost Large membership base Costco has the best value Suppliers Weak bargaining power Many suppliers Low switching cost Many substitutes exist Large quantities are needed Competing sellers Fierce Competition Costco is on top Quality is slightly better Buyer demand is growing Buyers switching cost is low SWOT Strength| Weakness| Low product and services†¢ Strong brand†¢ Excellent merchandise†¢ Exceptional employees†¢ 54 million members†¢ Economics of scale†¢ Efficiency| James Sinegal is 79†¢ Maintain high wages†¢ 42% higher than Sam’s Club†¢ Comparatively less attractive store layout for luxury items†¢Ã‚  Declining or inconsistent profit margins†¢ Primary focus on business customers rather than individual customers| Opportunities| Threat| Recession- Easier to find bargain luxury-items- Increased popularity of Costco†¢ Expanding foreign markets- Europe- China – India †¢ Positive image in terms of employees pay and social responsibility†¢ Increasing brand awareness| Fierce competition†¢Costco cannot attract people who are below poverty line due to its membership fees and bulk purchase†¢High competition from Sam’s Club and BJ†¢Political problems in other countries| References Thomspson, A. A., Peteraf, M. A., Gamble, J. E., & Strickland III, A. (2012). Crafting & Executing Strategy (19th ed.). New York, New York: McGraw-Hill/Irvin.

Analysis Of Beyonce And # Blacklivesmatter, By Anna...

Beyoncà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s visual album Lemonade gives a more personal view of her upbringing and how it influences the person she is today. One song in particular, â€Å"Formation,† explains how she was raised and how hard she worked to earn everything she owns. As a black woman, Beyoncà © worked especially hard to overcome prejudice to become the iconic artist she is today. Beyoncà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s intention behind â€Å"Formation† is to empower all black people, but especially black women. Malcolm X’s speech â€Å"Who Taught You to Hate Yourself† delves into the racism that African Americans have always faced in America. In this speech, he questions why African Americans feel the need to separate themselves from their own race. In her article, â€Å"Beyoncà © and #BlackLivesMatter,†Anna†¦show more content†¦Malcolm X delivered his speech at the funeral service of Ronald Stokes in Los Angeles, who was killed by the LAPD. Stokes was one of seven peo ple killed by the police during this particular incident. Police brutality has undoubtedly been occurring for quite some time now, but was once again in spotlight around the time of the release of Lemonade. â€Å"Formation† includes shots of â€Å"a young black boy dancing, then opening his arms outstretched in front of white riot police† (Leszkiewicz par. 9). The policemen â€Å"pause before raising their own hands† (Leszkiewicz par. 9) and the camera pans out to reveal the side of a building with the words â€Å"stop shooting us† spray painted on it. Here, Beyonce is continuing to shed light on police brutality against blacks while demanding that it ends. The majority of the â€Å"Formation† video is a compilation of Beyoncà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s basic beginnings in New Orleans. She shows the damage done after Katrina and shows the graffiti on worn down buildings. These images are meant to convey the message to young black women that they may have simple beginnings, but any and all of their aspirations are in fact achievable. She shows several events and locations that are important to her childhood, including shots of her church and Mardi Gras parades. The display of the simplicity of her former home, a small house, drowning in the flood, juxtaposed with her current home, a massive