Views on the U.S. Constitution Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Views on the U.S. Constitution - Research Paper Example The first three points out distinct rights and responsibilities of the three branches of the national government, the legislative branch, the executive branch. The fourth is about the states and their rights as well. In all the provisions covered by the four major parts, it is clear that these are still very general. This may be considered as a sign that the government itself, led by the Founding Fathers, was still wanting in experience. However, as an outline of governance, it can be said that the US Constitution had already provided the bases of what kind of society and country would be built in the succeeding years. It is clear that it's being less detailed had become an advantage. This provided the succeeding governments and policymakers the opportunity to introduce amendments to the Constitution itself and to create laws that would further add substance to it. Aside from the role of legislation in improving the Constitution, the judicial branch also contributed to making it more applicable to current realities. This is done through judicial reviews, wherein the Supreme Court interprets the Constitution and applies it in order to judge certain cases. If no such judicial reviews or legislation were done, the US Constitution would certainly be inadequate and as a document that was created immediately after the country was founded, it would have lost its relevance already. The major strengths of the US Constitution may not be found in its original version or the one ratified in 1787. Instead, it can be found in the succeeding amendments made, particularly the Bill of Rights. It is in the Bill of Rights that every citizen in the country is granted is assured of his rights as a both as a human being and as an American. The Bill of Rights is essentially what makes the Constitution and the country not just democratic in words but also in practice. The original version that was ratified in the early years of the nation was basically meant to establish a governmenta l organization so that the business of ruling a country could immediately begin. It was only correct that such concern was immediately addressed more than anything else at that time. However, once the government is in place, it was urgent that the rights of the citizens be immediately enshrined in the Constitution. In fact, â€Å"the great strengths of the US Constitution lie in the civil and political freedoms it accords citizens† (Blau & Moncada18). The original US Constitution definitely had many flaws and weaknesses. One glaring weakness was that there was no Bill of Rights at all. Again, this may be explained by the fact that the framers of the Constitution were more concerned with the organization of the government, which was only natural considering that the country had just been established and a sovereign state had to take over. This weakness, however, was promptly taken care of with the First Amendment and the rest of the Bill of Rights. The US Constitution still ha s a weakness though. It is clear that the states have been granted with too many rights that it would seem that the federal government would not be able to perform its responsibilities the well (Kommers & Finn 39). The federal government has to refer to the will of the states whose perspectives may be based more on what they individually see as distinct governing bodies instead of being a part of one nation.  Ã‚  

Kfcs Explosive Growth in China Essay Example for Free

Kfcs Explosive Growth in China Essay Kentucky fried Chicken (KFC) has achieved another milestone in delivery. The explosive growth in Asian region most particularly in their current trends in China that KFC fried chicken, burger and fries is gaining its way to superstardom. In China, Yum! Brands is opening a KFC store every day. But this is not the KFC you know in America. A recent case study written by professor David Bell and Agribusiness Program director Mary Shelman reveals how the chicken giant adapted its famous fast-food formula for the local market. Key concepts include: In China, KFCs strategy was to be part of the local community, not be seen as a foreign presence. (Su, 2011) China division chairman and CEO Sam Su combined the best ideas from the US fast-food model and adapted them to serve the needs of the Chinese consumer. Only a small number of menu items would be familiar to Western visitors—the Chinese KFC offerings include fried dough sticks, egg tarts, and foods tailored to the tastes of specific regions within the country. To counter concerns about fast food and obesity, Su offered a healthier menu and supports exercise and youth events. The traditional strategy is the involvement of their culture has largely influence the family ties to consider their food. According to Bell (2011) one key issue the case examines is how to implement the rollout of a fast-food chain involving so many stores across such a vast—and regionally different—country.† (Stravish, 2011) When their customers walked into their restaurant they see Chinese customer service. Chinese food and Chinese employees welcome customers and that’s why it becomes easy for them to initiate interaction. Sus strategy was that KFC would not be seen as a foreign presence but as part of the local community â€Å"There is no room for ego,† (Su, 2011) China doesnt have the same culture of individualism that is present in the United States. (Su, 2011) Along with being smart, driven and great entrepreneur, Su hired the right people. For Su, this meant employees who read and spoke the language, who understood the restaurant business and Chinese consumer, and also experience on doing business in the Western way. Trained labor is a very valuable asset even in a land of 1.3 billion-plus people. (Stravish, 2011) The large conflicting crowd should have one idea about the taste and preference as much as possible they have outperformed the number one fast food chain, which is McDonald. Sam Su also consider diversification of food items so that they can cater to a wider customer range especially those  people who are healthy conscious about their body, they offer fat free food and vegetables menu to their customers that attract and re-invent even more heterogeneous customer demand. The wide variety of choices can help the customers to make healthy options and balance diet, their strategy also involve presenting their choices. They have also practice sponsorship and promotion about healthy living in 2010 that has become another successful endeavor on their part that various exercises has been promoted inside the stores and customers are free to join, they have gathered at least 260,000 customer participants in 438 key cities. Their promotion has been very successful that makes their store even more popular. (Starvish, 2011) KFC and China has become a Yum Republic. It is certain that globalization not only helps KFC profits, but it’s international, which benefits China and the consumers. Additionally some of their popular food sisters company includes Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Long John Silver and AW All American Food. I believe globalization happens to be great for the country and the overall market economy because it promotes prosperity to participating countries. All that we need to do is educate people on multiculturalism and diversity within the work place, as well as the sensitivity of culture within participating countries. Opportunity costs, trade terms, balance trades, comparative advantages, changes in consumption and production, and how much cheaper it is to purchase than to produce are some benefits to globalization. The greater interdependence that globalization is causing means an increasingly freer flow of goods, services, money, people, and idea across national borders. (WildWild, 6th ed, pg 6) Su has done a great job on hiring employees that know the language, understand the business and Chinese customers, and also having experience on doing business the Western way. Because of technological changes, continuous development and research, the market economy remains to be dynamic. Reference: Starvish. (2011). KFCs Explosive Growth in China. HBS Cases. Retrieved from http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/6704.html WildWild. International business: the challenges of globalization/ John J. Wild, Kenneth L. Wild- 6th ed.

Importance of the Connecticut Compromise (Great Compromise) in the Crea

Importance of the Connecticut Compromise (Great Compromise) in the Creation of the American Constitution After America was recognized as an independent country from England, the new republic went through almost twenty years worth of trial and error to find a government that would satisfy the needs of the citizens, the states, and the central national government. The most memorable, and influential, action of this time would have to be the Connecticut Compromise, proposed Roger Sherman, following the proposal of the Large and Small State plans at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. This Compromise directly affected the amount of representation from each state, and created the government system we are familiar with today. In Tindall and Shi’s â€Å"America,† the reader is denied the opportunity to have a complete understanding of both the Virginia Plan (representing the large states) and the New Jersey plan (representing the small states.) In order for the people of today to comprehend their government, a detailed historical account of how our government came to be is an important factor. Given a brief explanation, the reader is only vaguely introduced to the concepts that there were disagreements in how our country should be run in the beginning. More emphasis is given to the outcomes and effects of the Connecticut Compromise than why the Compromise was needed in the first place. The Virginia Plan, introduced by James Madison, suggested for the need of representation based upon a states population, including a states African American slavery population. Thus, it was deemed the Large State plan, since it obviously favored states with heavy population. Tindall and Shi explore this, but leave many questions unansw... ...ponses to questions from "everything from heavy-handed threats and poker-faced bluffs to heartfelt pleas for accommodation, from candid avowals of interest to abstract appeals for justice" (Rakove). The Tindell and Shi obviously felt the need to leave this out of the textbook because the main issue hanging over the delegates head was the issue of slavery. The new government was tested by its own strengths and weaknesses before a Constitution was ever written at the Convention. The young country could have been torn apart over issues such as representation and slavery during the summer of 1787 in the city limits of Philadelphia. Instead, the delegates were able to work together to form a government that would appeal to the people of our past, and the people of our future. For over 225 years, this has worked, with only few minor details needing rearranging.

Human learning and survival Essay

There is a common belief that the ability to learn is what makes human survival possible. I believe that survival is not based solely on learning. Human survival especially in times of vast environmental change is the result of a combination of learning, logic, reasoning and subsequent application of knowledge. The thing that sets humankind apart from other living things is intellect, which according to the dictionary is the ability to learn and reason. Learning is simply the ability of animals (humans included) to acquire and retain new information. Whenever we try to learn a new dance step, learn a new language or simply remember the names of people we meet, we in fact use our learning faculties. So do animals when they figure out that scrounging around in garbage cans can reward them with food. Darwinian theory proposes the idea of evolution wherein living things adjust biologically, mentally and physiologically to environmental conditions and demands. When the concept of â€Å"survival of the fittest† and natural selection is discussed, it pertains to animals that are not just physically fit but mentally as well (Arrizza). In fact most biologists and anthropologists support this thinking by citing the example of how humans have always depended on their wits in order to survive. More often than not, it is the more dull-witted ones who perish even before they have given birth to offspring, which probably is a good thing for succeeding generations (Thorndike, 1931, p. 184). It was stunningly simple. Nature does what animal breeders do, but gradually, and over longer periods of time. In a species, those individuals who are best adapted in their hereditary endowment will succeed, and survive, better than their fellows. That is the â€Å"struggle for existence. † Those successful individuals will leave more offspring, and this will move the mode, the central tendency of the species, in their direction. Following generations will continue to undergo selection for still better adaptation: running, swimming, seeing, hiding, chewing, or all together. (Howells, 1993, p. 6) Supposing this theory was correct however, it would imply that the â€Å"weak† or learning challenged humans would have been weeded out a long time ago. The thing is that in today’s times, learning challenged humans still exist and even thrive. There are some quarters that may opine that intelligence and the development of skill are products of mental evolution. Evolution refers to progress to something more functional, advanced and suited to the current environment (â€Å"Human Evolution†). The fashioning and use of primitive tools are just a few hallmarks of how human intelligence has evolved and applied â€Å"learning† into something that helped their survival. For all practical purposes, learning is often seen as an attempt to create a memory or store information that lasts as it is invariably linked with memory. Dr. Eric R. Kandle, vice chairman of the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives sums it as: â€Å"Learning is how you acquire new information about the world, and memory is how you store that information over time† (â€Å"What is learning†) Simply put, it is just the accumulation of facts and information. At this point it is important to point out the difference between learning and memory. Kandle points out that not all learning can get stored into long term memory. Such is the case of things a person learned in school. Unless these lessons are used in day to day life, many will have trouble remembering them some years after. Kandle adds that â€Å"There is no memory without learning, but there is learning without memory. † (â€Å"What is learning†) True learning cannot exist without memory but Thorndike (1911) scorns the idea that human learning is the same as real human intellect. He states that learning alone does not include the more complex processes of reasoning or inference. No real thought is given to the relationship and causality of things, neither is there an appreciation of the progress the application of learning is causing. He further posits that learning is based solely on factors that are present in the environment. It is human intellect that makes it possible for humans to think and develop further learning â€Å"outside the box’ or beyond what are present in his environment. Rychlak (1994) supports this contention with his own theory of â€Å"Logic Learning. † Rychlak believes that learning is an inherent quality in both humans and animals alike. Humans however possess the power and capability of logic that enables them to make sense and assign purpose and function to information that is learned. (p. 35) Learning is not limited to humans. Every living organism has the capability to â€Å"learn. † It has been proven that animals including dogs, cats and even bees have information and skill acquiring capabilities. While most animal characteristics are arguably innate or instinctive like a newborn baby or puppy’s nipple searching and sucking reflex, many later skills are learned. What sets people apart is rather not limited to the capacity to learn and store information but rather in the processing of this information afterwards and figuring out what to do with it. Animal learning is mostly based on impulses and instinct. There are three different ways by which organisms learn: â€Å"by trial and error, by observation and imitation, and by instruction. † (Campbell, 1998, p. 39) Trial and error is by far the most common method of learning among living organisms. An example of this is when a mouse tries to figure its way out of a puzzle by trying out first one path, then another until it hits upon the correct path to follow. Observation and imitation is illustrated by how the young of animals and humans alike acquire learning by watching and imitating the actions of their parents. This is most commonly the basis of the development of behavioral patterns and actions. Finally, and what is arguably the method unique to humans is the method of instruction through language. Why is it unique? Instruction needs conscious thought and full intention of teaching. What is more is that instruction is a big factor in the propagation of a culture yet the topics and methods of instruction are also largely dependent on culture (p. 40). Language is also another important and distinctive part of both human culture, instruction and in effect, human learning (Alland, 1973, p. 209). Using language in instruction speeds up the learning process thereby allowing for more potential information to be learned and assimilated. Instructions and responses are direct and accurate. In the same way, a shared language serves both as a unifying element of culture and â€Å"shared experience† between individuals. Learning and Adaptation Enough mention has been made of adaptation with regard to human survival†¦what is adaptation? Adaptation is lexically defined as an adjustment to conditions present within an environment or a reaction to a persistent and present stimulus. It allows an organism to â€Å"adapt† or change components or behaviors within itself to match the demands of its environment. Survival is an organism’s ability to exist and propagate in relation to its surroundings and environments. Is learning the key to adaptation and in effect human survival? No. But it is one of the fundamental and major contributors to it. Like most living organisms, humans have physical limitations that are challenged by natural elements and processes such as climate, hunger and other environmental conditions. Unlike other animals however, humans are relatively less sensitive and attuned to environmental changes (Piantadosi, 2003, p. 1). It is at this point that the human ability to learn, reason and compare their living conditions and determine problems that may exist and threaten their survival. Like people in modern days, primitive men had their environment with its own accompanying problems. If modern people today are challenged by more high tech issues like traffic, work, and finances, our primitive ancestors had to figure out ways of keeping warm in the winter and putting food on the table (or rock). There were challenges in how to hunt and capture prey effectively as well as make sure that they do not become prey to carnivorous predators of their time. From plain materials and tools fashioned with flint and animal bone, primitive humans graduated to working with copper which was more malleable yet as tough as stone, and then to the much stronger bronze which was formed by melting copper with tin and finally, iron (Hartman, 1996). Supporters of learning as the keystone of survival wold point this out as a way by which learning improved human existence. But basing on definitions alone, learning meant that they simply realized that stone is not so easy to work with, copper is malleable but pretty weak, and bronze and iron are harder metals. It is logic and reasoning that made it possible for them to realize that 1. ) there are problems with the materials they are using, 2. ) they need to find a better solution to their requirements, hence the search and formulation of copper and bronze. Without logic and reasoning people then would have simply stopped at knowing. One may look at this the same way as the differentiation between science and technology. Science is that wide and impressive body of knowledge which will remain meaningless unless applied and utilized in technology.

Hawaii’s Annexation to the US

History is rife with instances of nations wielding power over independent states as a means to gain socio-political or economic ends. In the case of the US, numerous factors buoyed its resolve to acquire territories during the 1890s. Foremost of these is that resource-rich countries showed promise of fueling an industrial America. On the other hand, there was the influence of naval strategists. They succeeded in expounding the overall view to American political leaders that there are vast benefits in acquiring territories and ports of strategic naval importance. Under the guise of Manifest Destiny, which rationalized dominant nations’ imperialist expansion in the mid- to late 1800s, the US proceeded to aggressively expand and take control of nations, among them Hawaii. Hawaii’s Annexation to the US The annexation of Hawaii to the United States was preceded by a sequence of events that finally led to that crucial turning point in history. Still reeling from the ruins and desolation of the Civil War, America had rapidly marshalled efforts to promote its interests and embark on an overt colonization of countries that offered it distinct advantages. Before it plunged head-on into an aggressive territorial expansion, it kept a wary eye both on foreign territories that were ideal for its commercial interests, as well as on dominant European powers that were also expanding beyond their borders and establishing colonies. Political and business leaders put forth the idea that â€Å"the rapid industrial development of the United States required the acquisition of foreign territories to gain easier access to vital raw materials† (Tindall and Shi, 2006, p. 59). The desire for new markets to be exploited economically eventually turned to coveting nations and creating an American empire, at all expense. William H. Seward, the United States Secretary of State from 1861 to1869, believed that â€Å"the United States first had to remove all foreign interests from the northern Pacific coast and gain access to that region’s valuable ports† (Tindall & Shi, 2006, p. 862) if it intends to successfully conquer Asian markets. A strategic imperialistic ploy adopted to indirectly take control over the economic life of a nation was to enter into trade agreements with them. Many years after the signing of a friendship treaty, came the sealing of the 1875 reciprocal trade agreement between Hawaii and the US, â€Å"under which Hawaiian sugar would enter the United States duty-free and Hawaii promised that none of its territory would be leased or granted to a third power† (Tindall & Shi, 2006, p. 86 3). This precipitated the next events that would lead to Hawaii’s annexation. Decades earlier, economic treaties had been offered to Hawaii by Great Britain and France, but the US had asserted itself to uphold its interests in Hawaii. The latter had actually â€Å"signed trade and peace treaties with the United States, England and other foreign nations, each recognizing Hawaii's independence† (Sforza, 1996, para. 5) and this is why on hindsight, it sees the broken agreement with the US as some sort of betrayal. In retrospect, back in 1820, American missionaries from Boston in 1820 stayed in Hawaii and soon turned out to be powerful sugar planters and politicians who served as advisers to the reigning monarchy (Sforza, 1996, para. 5). Queen Liliuokalani sought to shift power back to the monarchy, but the rapid succession of events eventually led to political turmoil â€Å"engineered mainly by the American planters hoping to take advantage of the subsidy for sugar grown in the United States† (Tindall ; Shi, 2006, p. 64). The imprisoned Queen Liliuokalani had issued a statement that pointed to the role of American diplomat, John L. Stevens in the conspiracy to overthrow the Kingdom of Hawaii. Amidst the commotion, a committee representative of the group that seized power from Hawaii’s reigning Queen Liliuokalani had shown up in the US seat of government in Washington with a treaty calling for Hawaii’s annexation to the US. President Grover Cleveland opposed the treaty and had attempted to restore the queen to power while seeking to provide amnesty to the coup instigators (Tindall ; Shi, 2006, p. 864). In December 1893, he expressed, â€Å"By an act of war, committed with the participation of a diplomatic representative of the United States and without authority of Congress, the government of a feeble but friendly and confiding people has been overthrown† (Sforza, 1996, para. 13). Party politics and other issues, however, eased Cleveland out of office. As fate and US maneuvering would have it, Hawaii was eventually annexed to the US in 1898 â€Å"at the urging of President William McKinley† (â€Å"Annexation of Hawaii,† n. d. , para. 3). The island state became a territory in 1900. Statehood was deferred â€Å"until a bipartisan compromise linked Hawaii's status to Alaska, and both became states in 1959† (â€Å"Annexation of Hawaii,† n. d. , para. 3). References Sforza, Terry (1996). Hawaii’s annexation a story of betrayal.   Retrieved September 20, 2008, from http://www.hawaii-nation.org/betrayal.html Tindall, G., & Shi, D. (2006). America – a narrative history (7th ed.). New York: W.W. Norton & Co.

75 Vocabulary Words for Talking About Sports in Italian

75 Vocabulary Words for Talking About Sports in Italian When you think about sports in Italy, the first one that comes to mind is probably the infamous calcio, or soccer. And if you have spent any length of time obsessing about Italian culture or in Ital (or both)  team names like Juventus and Gli Azzurri will come to mind. But beyond calcio, there are many popular sports played in Italy, and if you want to be able to talk about the sports that you practice (or practiced in those golden years of yours), here are 75 phrases to throw around in your Italian conversations. 75 Vocabulary Words for Talking About Sports in Italian L’atletica - Athletics Athletics is a more generic field that covers things like: La corsa - RunningLa corsa campestre - Cross-countryIl footing - JoggingLa marcia - Foot raceIl salto in alto - High jumpIl salto in lungo - Long jump Faccio corso campestre. - I run cross-country. Facco la marcia perchà © à ¨ meno dannoso per il corpo rispetto alla corsa. - I do foot races because it’s less harmful for the body compared to running. Il baseball - Baseball While baseball isn’t hugely popular in Italy, it is presentwith roots dating back to World War IIand there are leagues and a championship called Lo Scudetto. Here are five vocabulary words you might find interesting: Il fuoricampo - HomerunIl guanto - MittIl lanciatore - PitcherLa mazza - BatLa prima/seconda/terza base - First/second/third base L’hai visto!? Ho battuto un fuoricampo! - Did you see it? I hit a homerun! Quando avevo 9 anni, facevo il lanciatore. - When I was 9 years old, I was the pitcher. For more vocabulary words and phrases related to baseball, check out this article. Il ciclismo  - Cycling The Giro d’Italia (also simply called Il Giro) happens every summer and is ranked as one of the top three cycling events in Europe. Here are five vocabulary words you might find interesting: La bicicletta (la bici) - Bicycle (bike)Il ciclismo su pista - Track cyclingIl ciclismo su strada - Road cyclingIl mountain biking - Mountain bikingLa sella - Bike seatLa borraccia - Water bottle Voglio iniziare a fare ciclismo, ma non riesco a trovare la bici giusta! - I want to start cycling, but I can’t find the right bike! Preferisci le mountain bike, le BMX, oppure il ciclismo su strada? - Do you prefer mountain biking, BMX, or road cycling? Il calcio - Soccer Even if you’re not a big sports fan, attending a calcio game in Italy is a cultural must, so when you do that, here are a handful of words that may be useful to you. I calciatori - Soccer playersI tifosi - FansLa partita - MatchIl portiere - GoalieL’arbitro - refereeLa curva - Part of the stadium where the ultra (hooligans) fans prefer to buy ticketsSegnare un gol - To score a goal Il calcio à ¨ lo sport piu praticato e pià ¹ seguito in tutta Italia. - Calcio is the most practiced and followed sport in all of Italy. Il numero di calciatori variano di squadra in squadra, ma sicuramente sono pià ¹ di undici. - The number of players vary from team to team, but there are definitely more than eleven.   You may also hear about a game called calcio storico, or historical football, that dates back to the 16th century. For more information related to il calcio, check out this article. La ginnastica - Gymnastics While the term â€Å"la ginnastica† can be translated to the English understanding of â€Å"gymnastics†, in Italian, it can also be thought of basic exercise and can often be substituted with â€Å"fare sport - to do a sport† or â€Å"andare in palestra - going to the gym.† Here are five vocabulary words you might find interesting: La ginnastica aerobica - Aerobic gymnasticsL’elasticit - FlexibilityLa ginnastica ritmica - Rhythmic gymnasticsLa ginnastica artistica - Artistic gymnasticsLa ginnastica acrobatica - Acrobatic gymnastics Faccio ginnastica, ma non dimagrisco! - I’m exercising, but I’m not losing weight! Hai visto la ginnastica delle Olimpiadi ieri? Gabby Douglas era fantastica!  - Did you see the gymnastics section of the Olympics yesterday? Gabby Douglas was amazing! Il nuoto  - Swimming Here are 5 key vocabulary words: Il costume da bagno - Swimming suitGli occhialini - Swim GogglesLa piscina - PoolNuotare a farfalla - Butterfly stroke swimNuotare a stile libero - Freestyle swim Lo sci - Skiing There are beautiful areas in Italy from the Italian Dolomites in the north to Mount Etna in the south. Here are 5 key vocabulary words: Le bacchette - RodsLa discesa - DescentLa neve - SnowLa pista - TrackGli sci - Skis Vai sulle Dolomiti quest’anno? Io, sà ¬, infatti ho comprato un nuovo paio di sci. - Are you go to the Dolomites this year? I’m going, in fact, I bought a new pair of skis. Mi piace sciare, ma a dire il vero, preferisco fare snowboarding. - I like to ski, but to tell the truth, I prefer to snowboard. Other Sports La danza - DanceIl motociclismo - MotorcyclingLa pallacanestro - BasketballLa pallavolo - VolleyballLa pesca sportiva - Recreational fishingIl tennis - TennisL’equitazione - Horse riding

An Investigation Into the Density of Mock Blood Essay Example

An Investigation Into the Density of Mock Blood Essay Example An Investigation Into the Density of Mock Blood Essay An Investigation Into the Density of Mock Blood Essay Essay Topic: There Will Be Blood INTRODUCTION The aim of this investigation is to find out the relative densities of three different mock blood samples representing three different people. Sample A represents blood taken from a normal, healthy adult male who lives at sea level. Sample B represents blood taken from the same male after he has undergone six months of regular aerobic exercise. Sample C represents blood taken from the same male after he has spent three months undergoing aerobic training at altitude. PREDICTION I predict that the density of sample A and B will be fairly similar with not a lot of difference between them. However, there will be a difference between samples A and B compared to sample C. APPARATUS * 100cm3 sample A * 100cm3 sample B * 100cm3 sample C * 24.96g copper (II) sulphate * 1dm3 distilled water * three 1cm3 plastic syringes fitted with long needles * three 100cm3 measuring cylinders * stopwatch or clock METHOD 1. Fill three measuring cylinders with a 0.1mol/dm3 copper (II) sulphate solution, to a depth of approximately 5cm above the 100cm3 level. The copper (II) sulphate solution should be made up by dissolving 24.96g of copper (II) sulphate into 1dm3 of water. NB this must be done accurately. 2. Introduce some blood into one of the syringes, fitted with a long needle. 3. Place the tip of the needle just above the surface of the copper (II) sulphate solution. Gently press the plunger on the syringe to release a small drop of the blood into the copper (II) sulphate solution. 4. Record the time taken for the drop to fall between the 100cm3 and 10cm3 marks. 5. Repeat the procedure to obtain TEN readings. 6. Carry out this procedure for the two other blood samples. 7. Record results in a suitable format. RESULTS SAMPLE READINGS (time taken to fall in seconds) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 A 11.78 11.54 12.22 12.25 11.87 11.04 11.90 11.22 12.13 11.62 B 12.41 13.19 12.75 12.07 12.53 13.81 12.22 12.50 12.53 13.03 C 8.59 9.34 8.97 8.35 8.88 8.44 8.62 9.02 8.56 8.94 Averages: A = 11.75secs B = 12.70secs C = 8.77secs To help me make a comparison between the samples I worked out values of t for the difference between A and B, then the difference between A and C. Then I used the students t Distribution to see what percentage of my values lie outside the range -t to +t . (These calculations are on the separate sheets provided). CONCLUSION I believe my results prove that my prediction is correct. Samples A and B are relatively similar, if you compare the means, for example, the mean for sample A is 11.75 seconds and the mean for sample B is 12.70 seconds. These are fairly similar. Especially when in comparison to sample C, for which the mean was 8.77 seconds. These results show that the blood in sample C is denser than the blood in samples A and B. This is due to the structure of the blood in each sample. An investigation into the density of mock blood Essay Example An investigation into the density of mock blood Essay An investigation into the density of mock blood Essay Essay Topic: There Will Be Blood An investigation into the density of mock bloodSample A blood taken from a normal healthy adult male who lives at sea level.Sample B blood taken from the same male after six months of aerobic exercise.Sample C blood taken from the same male after training for three months at altitude.ResultsTime taken for a drop of the sample to fall through 100cm3 of Copper (II) Sulphate Solution.Sample A(Seconds)Sample B(Seconds)Sample C(Seconds)11.512.010.011.513.08.014.512.010.014.012.07.512.013.510.012.514.011.014.016.07.012.512.08.516.514.59.512.011.57.5Mean 13.10Mean 13.05Mean 8.5Now I am going to carry out some statistics on my results to find if they occurred by chance or not. I am going to use the t-test because I need to compare two sets of results that I collected.T-test tablesSample Axx-x(x-x)211.51.602.5611.51.602.5614.51.401.9614.00.900.8112.01.101.2112.50.600.3614.00.900.8112.50.600.3616.53.4011.5612.01.101.21x = 13.10? = 23.4Sample Bxx-x(x-x)212.01.051.1013.00.050.3012.01.051.1012 .01.051.1013.50.450.2014.01.051.1016.02.958.7012.01.051.1014.51.452.1011.51.452.10x = 13.05? = 18.63Sample Cxx-x(x-x)210.01.101.218.00.903.6110.01.101.217.51.401.9610.01.101.2111.02.104.417.01.903.618.50.401.969.50.600.367.51.401.96x = 8.5? = 21.52T-testsSample A compared to Sample BDegrees of Freedom = 18Variance (S2) = S2A= 2.60S2B= 2.07Sample A compared with Sample CDegrees of Freedom = 18Variance (S2) = S2A= 2.60S2B= 2.40Analysis of t-testSample A compared to Sample BThe P value for this t-test was P 0.1 (P was greater than 0.1). The value means that there is not much difference between the times taken for sample A and sample B. It also means that is a greater than 0.1 chance that it occurred by chance. This makes sense as my research showed me that aerobic exercise only affects the heart and muscles not the density of the blood.Sample A compared with Sample CThe P value for this t-test however is very different. The value was P0.001, this means there is a difference and that th is out come was not reached by chance. If you did this test again the same result would occur 99.9% of the time. Training at altitude can change the density of the blood. The kidney keeps a constant check on the oxygen in the blood as part of homeostasis and when they are low because you are at altitude a hormone is released. This hormone tells the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells. The more red blood cells in your blood the more dense it is and this showed up in our tests.EvaluationI believe that the experiment was accurate enough for the results needed to do our coursework.There were however some anomalous results, in the test for sample A there was a result of 16.5, which is a full, two and a half seconds slower than the other results. Also in the test of sample B there is a 16 second result that is also much larger than the others.There were quite a few sources of error in the experiment. Each time the experiment was repeated the droplet changed size. The timing of the experiment was also hard to judge even at eye level, this did have adverse effects on the results as we cant know if the results are correct. After about 5 repeats of the experiment the Copper (II) Sulphate solution became full of floating blobs of mock blood, this meant that the last 5 tests of each sample could be affected by them. The recording of the time taken for the sample to fall through the Copper (II) Sulphate solution was not at all accurate. It was fine for our needs but relied heavily on our reaction to seeing the droplet pass the start and finish marks. We used a stopwatch operated by us at eye level with the measuring cylinder. The size of the drop could not be measured either which meant we had variations in that too. The size of the drop would affect the surface area and therefore friction acting upon it; this would slow down the droplet. The shape that was usually a doughnut shape could also change. These are all reasons for my results to be anomalous.To counter s ome of these problems we could use other equipment or methods. We could use a light gate that works by detecting a break in a beam of light caused by a blob of mock blood falling through the solution. This would greatly improve the accuracy of the results, as would having two people to record and time the results.The main sources of error in the experiment were mainly human error in the fact that the person carrying out the experiment controlled the drop size and timing. Most of the time there werent any problems with our techniques but errors were still made.

Julia Donaldsons The Gruffalo Picture Book Review

Julia Donaldson's 'The Gruffalo' Picture Book Review Its not surprising that The Gruffalo, first published in 1999, continues to be a popular read aloud. The author, Julia Donaldson, has written a good story with such strong rhythm and rhyme that it just begs to be read aloud. The illustrations by Axel Scheffler are filled with bold color, detail and appealing characters. Summary The Gruffalo is the story of a clever mouse, three large animals that want to eat him and an imaginary monster, a Gruffalo, who turns out to be only too real. Whats a mouse to do when on a walk in the deep dark wood, he is confronted first by a fox, then by an owl and, finally, by a snake, all of whom seem to be intent on inviting him for a meal, with the mouse as the main dish? The mouse tells each of them that he is on his way to a feast with a Gruffalo. The mouses description of the fierce Gruffalo  who would want to eat them scares the fox, the owl, and the snake away. Each time he scares one of the animals away, the mouse says, Doesnt he know? Theres no such thing as a Gruffalo! Imagine the mouses surprise when the monster of his imagination appears right before him in the woods and says, Youll taste good on a slice of bread! The clever mouse comes up with a strategy to convince the Gruffalo that he (the mouse) is the scariest creature in this deep dark wood. How the mouse fools the Gruffalo after fooling the fox, the owl and the snake makes a very satisfying story. A Good Book to Read Aloud Besides the rhythm and the rhyme, some of the other things that make The Gruffalo a good book for reading aloud to young children are the repetitions which encourage children to chime in. Also, the story arc, with the first half of the story about the mouse fooling the fox, then the owl, then the snake with tales of the imaginary Gruffalo and the second half of the story when the mouse misleads the real Gruffalo with the unsuspecting help of the snake, the owl, and the fox. Kids also like the fact that the 1-2-3 order of the mouses meeting the fox, the owl, and the snake becomes a 3-2-1 order as the mouse walks back to the edge of the woods, followed by the Gruffalo. The Author Julia Donaldson grew up in London and attended Bristol University where she studied Drama and French. Before writing childrens books, she was a teacher, a songwriter,  and a street theater performer. In June 2011, Julia Donaldson  was named the 2011-2013 Waterstones Childrens Laureate in the UK. According to the 6/7/11 announcement, The role of the Childrens Laureate is awarded once every two years to an eminent writer or illustrator of childrens books to celebrate outstanding achievement in their field. Donaldson has written more than 120 books and plays for kids and teens. The Gruffalo, one of Julia Donaldsons first childrens books, is also one of her most popular childrens picture books. Others include  Room on the Broom, Stick Man, The Snail and the Whale and What the Ladybird Heard. The Illustrator Axel Scheffler was born in Germany and attended the University of Hamburg but left there to move to England where he studied illustration and earned a degree at the Bath Academy of Art. Axel Scheffler has illustrated some Julia Donaldsons books in addition to The Gruffalo. They include  Room on the Broom, The Snail and the Whale, Stick Man and Zog. Book and Animation Awards Among the awards the creators of The Gruffalo picture book have been honored with are the 1999 Smarties Gold Medal Award for picture books and the 2000 Blue Peter Award for The Best Book to Read Aloud. The animated version of The Gruffalo, which is available on DVD, was nominated for both an Oscar and a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) award  and won the audience award at the Canadian Film Centres Worldwide Short Film Festival. Delight Your Child With a Story Sack If your child loves The Gruffalo, youll want to create a story sack for of crafts and related items. These can include other books by Julia Donaldson about the Gruffalo; mouse, owl, snake and fox crafts; a monster craft and more. Review and Recommendation The story of the clever mouse and the Gruffalo is one that children ages 3 to 6 love hearing again and again. The rhythm and rhyme of Julia Donaldsons story, along with the strong story arc, make The Gruffalo an excellent read aloud. Children quickly learn to help the reader tell the story, and that adds to the fun for all. The dramatic illustrations by Axel Scheffler, with their bold colors and appealing characters, from the little mouse to the colossal Gruffalo, add significantly to the books appeal. (Dial Books for Young Readers, A Division of Penguin Putnam Inc., 1999. ISBN: 9780803731097) Sources: Childrens Laureate siteJulia Donaldson siteChildrens Book Illustration: Axel Scheffler, The Hollywood Reporter

AirJet Best Parts Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

AirJet Best Parts - Coursework Example The interest payments would be lower with National First. Hence, the loan should be taken from them. 3. The interest payment that AirJet Best Parts Inc. has to make is: Yes, I agree with the decision as the effective annual interest rate is lower than National First. The interest payment till the end of the term would be lower in comparison to the deal offered by National First. Task 2: Evaluating Competitor’s Stock 1. Rate of return is calculated for Raytheon Boeing and dividend stated is annualized. Price of Raytheon Boeing’s share is $65.38 and Dividend annualized is $1.68 which is given out quarterly as $0.42/share. 2. g=1% r=7.7% D=$1.5 3. Common stock will have a higher price than preferred stock because preferred stock pays a fixed dividend and tend to fluctuate in price far less than common shares. This means that preferred stock is comparatively less risky than common share therefore; the return offered on it will automatically be lower as compared to common sh ares. Common stock on the other hand, is entitled to high variance in price which means that it carries higher risk than preferred shares. Therefore, a common stock holder will demand a higher return to accept the given risk in the stock. Another reason of higher price for a common stock is the dividend growth. We know that the price of a share is the sum of all future cash flows associated with the stock. Therefore, if the company has high dividend growth then ultimately the cash flows of that stock will augment with each year and the sum of cash flows would inevitably increase. This would eventually lead to higher prices as compared to fixed dividend yielding preferred stock. 4. Price of a share is the sum of all future cash flows discounted to present value. Therefore, if there is any anticipated increase in the future cash flow then a subsequent effect in the price of the stock is expected. Therefore, if AirJet Best Parts, Inc. announces that dividends at the end of the year wil l increase then the price of the stock will also increase. Required rate of return is the return, expressed as a percentage, which an investor demands on an investment to take up the risk associated with the stock. It has a negative co-relation to the price of the stock. If the required rate of return for an investor increases then he would not be willing to pay the same price for the stock with the given dividend that he paid earlier. He would want the price to come down with other things held constant. Therefore, if the required rate of return for an investor of AirJet Best Parts Inc. increases then the price of the stock would have to decrease. Dividends are the future cash flows of the stock and there discounted values are accumulated to get the maximum price an investor should pay for the stock. If the dividend increases than the price of the stock will subsequently increase as well. Vice versa, if the dividends decrease then the price of the stock will also reduce. Task 3: Bon d Evaluation 1. If the coupon rate is changed to 7.06% semiannual then the bond will sell at par. 2. Coupon rate is the rate at which your interest value is calculated which an investor will receive on the bond. This will differ from yield to maturity because YTM is the return; an investor gets to purchase a bond at the current prevailing price which usually differs from the price it was issued at. 3. Bond prices involve returns for various risks which include interest rate

Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Essay

Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki - Essay Example As commonly perceived, atomic bombs were intended as a deterrent to the German threat, but ended up as an offensive weapon of mass destruction against Japan in order to force an unconditional surrender and to end WWII (Zuberi 623).This paper explores the horrors of bombings and whether it was justifiable to use atomic bomb against Japan during WWII. The morning of August 6, 1945, U.S. Air Force B-29 bomber dropped bomb on Hiroshima, the primary target, at 8:15 A.M. Aircrafts pilot, Colonel Paul Tibbets, named it after his mother, Enola Gay (Langley 8-10). United States of America dropped two atomic bombs on Japanese cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, within a short time span to three days. The bombings killed more than 115,000 people (possibly 250,000) and injured 100,000(Bernstein 135). Later, thousands died because of injuries and radiation exposure. The bomb was called Little Boy that exploded about 2,000 feet above the city. Within fraction of a second, the bomb produced enormous fireball and temperature underneath that fireball reached 5,400 0F (2,982 0C). The flash of heat caused instant death of those who where in half a mile. Their skin was parched to carbon and their internal organs boiled away. Flying birds turned into ashes in midair. Even the heat caused severe burns on exposed skin of the people who were at a distance of 2 miles from the centre of the blast. At the same time, blinding flash of light worked like a giant camera. This light was three thousand times more powerful than sunlight which bleached the surface of the whole city. People who looked directly at the flash suffered from permanent damage to their eyes. After extreme heat and light, Hiroshima experienced the shockwaves caused by the explosion. From the centre, these shockwaves shot outward at a speed of 2 miles per second (Langley 12-15). This was the first atomic bomb used in combat. The consequences led Japanese government to announce unconditional

Business Ethics and Social Responsibility and Its Impact on Efficiency Research Paper

Business Ethics and Social Responsibility and Its Impact on Efficiency - Research Paper Example As a consultant for this firm, the report made by the ABC consultations will also discusses the basic features that are the most prominent for the organizations, the social responsibility,and how these actually shape the overall strategic planning to eventually achievevalue creation as well as increased profit. The SR is a solid framework to discover and discuss relationships that reside in the business-society, which can be achieved by examining the corporations and their social impact (Carroll, 1991; Wood, 1991).There have been many researches that have encouraged open attitude directly related to the efforts that can generate a new way of thinking for the corporations as well as thebusinessesthat compete in the global society. The first part of thereporthighlights an introduction of the topicthatspecifies the subject as well as the basic purpose of the report. Then stated, are the research findings from the investigation, along with the analysis of the gathered information to fina lly end with recommendations. The paper therefore examines the features and tactics required by the XYZ Company on how these can be mixed in the practices of the organizations. The report will also highlight how business ethics helps in developing the social capital,as well as the practices that help the organizations sustain in the competitive environment of the global environments. The report ends with the eight basic characteristicsneeded to attain efficiency that is the responsibility of the owners as well as the managers of the XYZ organization. Introduction A good business that is involved in social responsibility and ethical business practices knows how to achieve a winning business of the new century. The practices of these businesses not only work towards providing value to the owners but also add value to the society as a whole. These businesses therefore not only condemn the unethical practices, but also aim to adopt those kinds of behaviors that that provides a positive impact on the stakeholders (The European Commission, Employment and Social Affairs Directorate; Clarson). As a consultant I will therefore identify the ethical practices thatthe XYZ Company must possess in order to examine the affects that ethical business and social responsibility have on the organization and its processes.  

Right attitude in a medical office setting Essay

Right attitude in a medical office setting - Essay Example 93), it must be a decision or a choice that will have to be made. One can therefore choose to have positive or negative and like in any work setting, the positive attitude must be the preferred choice to contribute to the business of providing care to the patients. A positive attitude of employees can help a lot in the recovery of patients. Since attitude affects and influences other’s behavior, a responsible medical employee must behave positively to influence people in office including the patients and other co-workers. A medical assistant for example will be able to transmit positive attitude towards the patient if he or she accepts the patient as a unique individual who with rights of treatment with dignity and compassion in a non-judgmental manner (Southard, 2008). The employee needs demonstrate empathy, interest and concern by telling patient or letting the latter feel that he or she is important to the employee (Southard, 2008). Such a caring attitude exerts a positive influence on the sick person’s attitude, behavior and response. The same could help in promoting the fast recovery of the patient. An employee’s good personal appearance can help the patients to perceive a positive attitude of the person and how the medical office values them. Every employee must also have a positive image to the patient. This can be done by showing good health and good grooming present.

Solving the Israel-Palestine Conflict Dissertation

Solving the Israel-Palestine Conflict - Dissertation Example Muslims back the Palestinian people, while the Western –Christian countries back the Zionist country. Both the movements have demanded full legitimacy in the Holy land based on divine promises and historical rights that have been derived from the Bible. According to Maoz (2013), Israeli does not consider Palestine a legitimate nation with any link to Ertza Israel, but considers them as part of the greater Arab region. The paper in National Charter of 1964 as Maoz illustrates explains that Palestine is the homeland of Palestinians and are connected to the Zionist state through historical, material, and religious ties. The Jews according to this paper have no legitimate right over the land. A few Palestinian nationalists such as the Nashibis portrayed close ties with the Jewish state, and even had proposed a harmonious Jewish-Arab cooperation and coexistence in the Holy land. However, they were named traitors and assassinated by fellow Palestinians (Maoz, 2013). Similarly, the I srael Council for Israel -Palestine Peace (ICIPP), an Israel group had accepted and acknowledged the need to have a Palestinian state along the West bank in the late 1980s and early 1990s. However, similar conservative ideologies from the Zionist state thwarted such efforts (Maoz, 2013). ... Narratives according to Daoudi and Barrakat have the potential to indicate and perpetuate conflict, but can also lead to a harmonious understanding, leading to a permanent solution to the conflict. The problem in the two narrates is that both the Palestinians and the Israelites have much respect to the static narratives passed to them over generations; critiquing such narratives on their ancestry and rights especially to the Holy land is a taboo. However, as Daoudi and Barakat (2013) observe, the respect in which such narratives are held makes it impossible to question about; â€Å"what is not being narrated.† For example, though the Palestinians and Israelites have narratives that portray Jerusalem as their Holy city, no narrative pauses the question of â€Å"what is his tradition,† â€Å"his narrative,† â€Å"his culture,† and other questions that could make it possible for the other side to think over and above self-narrative, to the meaning and implica tion of the other party’s narrative (Daoudi and Barakat, 2013). The collective memory linked to such narratives on Jewish and Palestinian rights regarding the Holy land becomes an obstacle to coexistence and reconciliation; each party believe their own narrative without taking time to look beyond such narratives. Therefore, the strong conservative ideologies behind ancestry of the two different nations are the impediments towards finding a lasting solution to conflict in the West Bank and Gaza. Gorny (201090 explored the issue of understanding the â€Å"other† in formulating a solution to the current conflict between Palestinians and the Zionist state, and concluded that limitations in understanding the â€Å"other† and the strong religious conservative ideologies from the Palestinians

The first paper will be an individual evaluation of the importance of Essay

The first paper will be an individual evaluation of the importance of being a learned person in a 21st century socioeconomic soc - Essay Example The words is normally used for individuals holding bachelors, masters and PhD degrees but have varied knowledge in other important subject matters of society. This is differed from an educated person who depicts characteristics like having a college or high school diploma. The educated person displays civilized behaviors representing his or her stay at school. The educated individual understands the moral civic and social responsibilities. In simple terms, they hold some unique capabilities that uneducated individuals do not have. Society usually consists of both of these individuals and the uneducated people. This essay therefore, seeks to explain the role of critical thinking and being a learned person in the society. It focusses this on commerce in a society with modern technology. Critical thinking is an integral characteristic of a learned person. Being a leaned individual in a society comes with numerous responsibilities. Learned individuals are regarded as the light of the soc iety and their opinion counts in every issue affecting society. These include opinions on technology, politics, philosophy and commerce. The definition of critical thinking is the intellectual practice of conceptualizing, scrutinizing and applying skills as a framework to action and belief. It includes analyzing the sources of information too. In its unique form, it bases on conventional values that govern subject matter divisions. This definition is important since society includes different fields and subject matter that are of contention. This as a character of learned individuals improves society’s understanding of these contentious issues. Critical thinking is totally different from being augmentative. It also does not mean the character of criticizing fellow individuals in society. In a modern society, critical thinking abilities are used in revealing bad reasoning and fallacies. The economy in a society is a main issue that requires critical thinking to enhance. Critic al thinking plays the important part in constructive task forming and cooperative reasoning. Through these characteristics, the commerce in the society grows. Commerce is a section of any business that concerns itself with exchange of goods and services (Dyer 5). This entails all the direct and indirect activities that facilitate the exchange. In a modern society, commerce gets enhancements from over the edge technology. The development of technology cannot be attributed to any other thing that learned individuals. Through critical thing, the learned individuals develop new ways of making business more efficient and faster. They develop new accounting methods, business development strategies and future research. Learned individuals in the field of computer science have such technological tasks in the society. Critical thinking helps the society to strengthen existing arguments on commerce, acquire knowledge and improve theories. This is achievable through initiation of learned perso ns in the field of business and commerce. The society employs critical thinking to improve work practices and progress social organizations. The society consists of populations with wants. These include secondary and basic wants, which are never ending. Social welfares are promoted in the society through commerce. This is to the sense that the innumerable wants of people in the society are met. For this wants to be met critical thinking is

Solving the Israel-Palestine Conflict Dissertation

Solving the Israel-Palestine Conflict - Dissertation Example Muslims back the Palestinian people, while the Western –Christian countries back the Zionist country. Both the movements have demanded full legitimacy in the Holy land based on divine promises and historical rights that have been derived from the Bible. According to Maoz (2013), Israeli does not consider Palestine a legitimate nation with any link to Ertza Israel, but considers them as part of the greater Arab region. The paper in National Charter of 1964 as Maoz illustrates explains that Palestine is the homeland of Palestinians and are connected to the Zionist state through historical, material, and religious ties. The Jews according to this paper have no legitimate right over the land. A few Palestinian nationalists such as the Nashibis portrayed close ties with the Jewish state, and even had proposed a harmonious Jewish-Arab cooperation and coexistence in the Holy land. However, they were named traitors and assassinated by fellow Palestinians (Maoz, 2013). Similarly, the I srael Council for Israel -Palestine Peace (ICIPP), an Israel group had accepted and acknowledged the need to have a Palestinian state along the West bank in the late 1980s and early 1990s. However, similar conservative ideologies from the Zionist state thwarted such efforts (Maoz, 2013). ... Narratives according to Daoudi and Barrakat have the potential to indicate and perpetuate conflict, but can also lead to a harmonious understanding, leading to a permanent solution to the conflict. The problem in the two narrates is that both the Palestinians and the Israelites have much respect to the static narratives passed to them over generations; critiquing such narratives on their ancestry and rights especially to the Holy land is a taboo. However, as Daoudi and Barakat (2013) observe, the respect in which such narratives are held makes it impossible to question about; â€Å"what is not being narrated.† For example, though the Palestinians and Israelites have narratives that portray Jerusalem as their Holy city, no narrative pauses the question of â€Å"what is his tradition,† â€Å"his narrative,† â€Å"his culture,† and other questions that could make it possible for the other side to think over and above self-narrative, to the meaning and implica tion of the other party’s narrative (Daoudi and Barakat, 2013). The collective memory linked to such narratives on Jewish and Palestinian rights regarding the Holy land becomes an obstacle to coexistence and reconciliation; each party believe their own narrative without taking time to look beyond such narratives. Therefore, the strong conservative ideologies behind ancestry of the two different nations are the impediments towards finding a lasting solution to conflict in the West Bank and Gaza. Gorny (201090 explored the issue of understanding the â€Å"other† in formulating a solution to the current conflict between Palestinians and the Zionist state, and concluded that limitations in understanding the â€Å"other† and the strong religious conservative ideologies from the Palestinians

One Preaching Journal Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

One Preaching Journal - Lab Report Example There is also a fellowship time offered after the service with coffee and cookies available for all. The community of which the congregation is a part is a small city of 50,000 people. The city is surrounded by a rural agricultural area. A large food processing company has a manufacturing plant in this city and is its major employer. There is also a small hospital to serve basic health care needs. The community also has its own newspaper and a local radio station. There is a public library and one post office located in the center of town. There are also small bus and train stations servicing the city. The public school system has four elementary schools, two junior high and two high schools. There is one Catholic school with grades kindergarten through 8; and there is also a Christian school with grades kindergarten through 8 which several Christian congregations in the community help to support. A large city of 300,000 is a little over an hour’s drive from this community. The church building of this congregation is located in the middle of an older residential neighborhood just six city blocks from the center of town. The downtown of this community is suffering an economic decline as large and popular discount stores and shopping centers have built close to a major highway that runs just outside of town, drawing business to that area and forcing the closure of several downtown businesses. The community is suffering a significant amount of unemployment at this time as the result of the current economic crisis. This congregation is predominately white working middle class people. About half of those in the congregation who work, work in agriculturally related occupations either in the food processing plant, on the farms directly, or in businesses related to the agricultural industry. About 10% are unemployed due to layoffs and cutbacks. About 30% work in stores, banks

Mcdonalds Around the World Essay Example for Free

Mcdonalds Around the World Essay Ray Kroc opened the first McDonald’s restaurant in 1955 in the United States. He offered a limited menu of high quality; moderately priced food served fast spotless surroundings. McDonald’s QSCV (quality, service, cleanliness, and value) was a hit. The chain expanded into every state in the nation. By 1983 it had more than 6,000 restaurants in the United States, and by 1995 it had more than 18,000 restaurants in 89 countries. In 1995 alone, the company built 2,400 restaurants, and by 2001 it had more than 29,000 restaurants in 121 countries. In 1967, McDonald’s opened its first restaurant outside the United States- in Canada. Since then, its international growth accelerated. In 1995, the â€Å"Big Six† countries that provided about 80 percent of the international operating income were Canada, Japan, Germany, Australia, France, and Britain. Yet fast food has barely touched many cultures. The opportunities for expanding the market are great, as 99 percent of the world populations are not yet McDonald’s customers. For example, in China, with a population of 1. 2 billion people, there were only 62 McDonald’s restaurants in 1995. McDonald’s vision is to be the major player in food services around the world. In Europe, McDonald’s maintains a small percentage of restaurant sales but commands a large share of the fast-food market. It took the company 14 years of planning before it opened a restaurant in Moscow in 1990. But the planning paid off. After the opening, people were standing in line for up to two hours for a hamburger. It has been said that McDonald’s restaurant in Moscow attracts more visitors (on average 27,000 daily) than Lenin’s mausoleum (about 9,000 people), which used to be the place to see. The Beijing opening in 1992 attracted some 40,000 people to the largest (28,000 square foot) McDonald’s restaurant in China at a location where some 800,000 pedestrians pass by every day. Food is prepared in accordance with local laws. For example, the menus in Arab countries comply with Islamic food preparation laws. In 1995, McDonald’s opened its first kosher restaurant in Jerusalem, where it does not serve dairy products. The taste for fast food, American style, is growing more rapidly abroad than at home. McDonald’s international sales have been increasing by a large percentage every year. Every day, more than 33 million people eat at McDonald’s around the world, with 18 million of them in the United States. Prices vary considerably around the world, ranging from $ 3. 81 in Switzerland to $ 0. 78 in Argentina for the Big Mac, which costs in the United States $ 2. 49. The Economist magazine even devised a Big Mac index to estimate whether a currency is over-or undervalued. For example, the $1. 27 Chinese Mac translates into an implied purchasing power parity of $ 4. 22. The inference is that the Chinese currency is undervalued. Here are other price comparisons for the $ 2. 49 U. S Big Mac: Chile $ 2. 16, Euro area $ 2. 37, Hong Kong $ 1. 40, Japan $ 2. 01, Mexico $ 2. 37, Peru $ 2. 48, Singapore $ 1. 81 and Thailand $ 1. 27. McDonald’s traditional menu has been surprisingly successful. People with diverse dining habits have adopted burgers and fries wholeheartedly. Before McDonald’s introduced the Japanese to French fries, potatoes were used in Japan only to make starch. The Germans thought hamburgers were people from the city of Hamburg. Now McDonald’s also serves chicken, sausage, and salads. Another item, a very different product, is pizza. In Norway, McDonald’s serves grilled salmon sandwich, in the Philippines pasta sauce with frankfurter bits, and in Uruguay hamburger with a poached egg. Any new venture is risky and can be either a very profitable addition or a costly experiment. Despite the global operations, McDonald’s stays in close contact with its customers, who want good taste, fast and friendly service, clean surroundings, and quality. To attain quality, so called quality assurance centers are located in the United States, Europe, and Asia. In addition, training plays an important part in customer service. Besides day-today coaching, Hamburger Universities in the United States, Germany, Britain, Japan, and Australia teach the necessary skills in 22 languages with the aim of providing 100 percent customer satisfaction. It is interesting that McDonald’s was one of the first restaurants in Europe to welcome families with children. Not only are children welcomed, but in many restaurants they are also entertained with crayons and paper, a play land, and the clown Ronald McDonald, who can speak 20 languages. With generally aging populations, McDonald’s takes aim at the adult market. With heavy advertising (it has been said that McDonald’s will spend $200 million to promote the new burger), the company introduced Arch Deluxe on a potato-flower bun with lettuce, onions, ketchup, tomato slices, American cheese, grainy mustard, and Mayonnaise. Although McDonald’s considers the over 50 adult burger a great success, a survey conducted five weeks after its introduction showed mixed results. McDonald’s golden arches promise the same basic menu and QSCV in every restaurant. Its products, handling and cooking procedures, and kitchen layouts are standardized and strictly controlled. McDonald’s revoked the first French franchise because the franchise failed to meet its standards for fast service and cleanliness, even though their restaurants were highly profitable. This may have delayed its expansion in France. McDonald’s restaurants are run by local managers and crews. Owners and managers attend the Hamburger University near Chicago or in other places around the world to learn how to operate a McDonald’s restaurants and maintain QSCV. The main campus library and modern electronic classrooms (which include simultaneous translation systems) are the envy of many universities. When McDonald’s opened in Moscow, a one-page advertisement resulted in 30,000 inquiries about the jobs; 4,000 people were interviewed and some 300 were hired. The pay is about 50 percent higher than the average Soviet salary. McDonald’s ensures consistent products by controlling every stage of the distribution. Regional distribution centers purchase products and distribute them to individual restaurants. The centers will buy from local suppliers if the suppliers can meet detailed specifications. McDonald’s has had to make some concessions to available products. For example, it is difficult to introduce the Idaho potato in Europe because of special soil requirements. McDonald’s uses essentially the same competitive strategy in every country: be first in a market and establish its brand as rapidly as possible by advertising very heavily. New restaurants are opened with a bang. So many people attended the opening of one Tokyo restaurant that the police closed the street to vehicles. The strategy has helped McDonald’s develop a strong market share in the fast-food market, even though its U. S competitors and new local competitors quickly enter the market. McDonald’s advertising campaigns are based on local themes and reflect the different environments. In Japan, where burgers are a snack, McDonald’s competes against confectioneries and new â€Å"fast sushi† restaurants. Many of the charitable causes McDonald’s supports abroad have been recommended by its local restaurants. McDonald’s business structures take a variety of forms, with 66 percent of the restaurants being franchises. The development licenses are similar to franchising, but they do not require McDonald’s investment. Joint ventures are undertaken when understanding of the local environment is critically important. The McDonald’s Corporation operates about 21 percent of the restaurants. McDonald’s has been willing to relinquish the most control to its Far Eastern operations, where many restaurants are joint ventures with local entrepreneurs, who own 50 percent or more of the restaurant. European and South American restaurants are generally company-operated or franchised (although there are many affiliates, or joint ventures, in France). Like the U. S franchises, restaurants abroad are allowed to experiment with their menus. In Japan, hamburgers are smaller because they are considered a snack. The Quarter Pounder does not make much sense to people on a metric system, so it is called a Double Burger. Some German restaurants serve beer; some French restaurants serve wine. Some Far Eastern McDonald’s restaurants offer oriental noodles. In Canada, the menu includes cheese, vegetables, pepperoni, and deluxe pizza. However, these new items must not disrupt the existing operation. Despite its success, McDonald’s faces tough competitors, such as Burger King, Wendy’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), and now also Pizza Hut. Moreover, fast food in reheatable containers is now also sold in supermarkets, delicatessens, convenience stores, and even gas stations. McDonald’s has done very well, with a great percentage of profits coming now from International operations. For example, McDonald’s dominates the Japanese market with 1,860 outlets (half the Japanese market) in 1996 compared to only 43 Burger King Restaurants. However, the British food conglomerate Grand Metropolitan PLC, which owns Burger King, haw an aggressive strategy for Asia. Although McDonald’s has been in a very favorable competitive position, since 2001 the customer satisfaction level has been below that of its competitors Wendy’s and Burger King. In China, KFC is more popular than McDonald’s. Some observers suggest that McDonald’s has expanded too fast and that Burger King and Wendy’s have tastiest meals. It is Mr. Jack Greenberg’s (McDonald’s top manager) task to change things around.

Origin Of Cross Cultural Communication English Language Essay

Origin Of Cross Cultural Communication English Language Essay If I have to go and work in Japan, I will have to change and adapt myself to the culture of Japan. But in the course of this adaptation process, I will face many problems, the most important of them being a communication problem. Such communication problems caused by a difference in cultures i.e. mine and Japans, are known as problems in cross cultural communication. Meaning of Cross Cultural Communication Cross cultural communication can be defined as a study of how people belonging to different cultural backgrounds communicate with each other, in ways that are both similar and different. It can also be defined as a study of how people endeavour to communicate across different cultures. Cross cultural communication is also sometimes referred to as inter cultural communication. Origin of cross cultural communication In earlier times, all countries used to just strive for self sufficiency. There was no concept of trading between countries and even if there was some trading, it was done by the traders at an individual level. But advancements in economic growth and technological developments led to breaking down of cultural barriers as businesses looked for ways to expand and started seeking new markets. And it was this need for expansion that gave birth to globalisation. Globalisation refers to integrating our countrys economy with the world economy. In layman terms, globalisation means combining the markets of the different countries and making the world one huge market. Thus, people of different countries have access to products from all over the world. Globalisation was very beneficial for companies also as it gave them new markets to sell their products. Companies opened their branches in other countries. However, with the process of globalisation leading to an increase in global trade, it was impossible to avoid the meeting, conflict and blending of the different cultures. In any organisation, irrespective of what it does (construction, public relations, transportation, production and distribution of beverages, etc.), communication is the most essential ingredient for the survival of the business. People from different cultures found it difficult to communicate not only because of the language barriers but also because of the difference in their cultural styles. e.g. in independent cultures like Western Europe, USA and Canada, an independent figure of self is dominant. People think of themselves as being independent and distinct from others as well as from the environment. However, in interdependent cultures like Southern Europe, Asian and Latin American countries, an interdependent figure of self is dominant. People are more dependent on each other and the environment. There is a greater emphasis on the inter relatedness of the self to others and to the environment. The self is meaningful primarily in the context of social relationships, duties and roles. In some ways, cultural difference is a bigger challenge than the language barrier. Culture can be defined as a way of life of a group of people, their values, beliefs, behaviours, the symbols that they accept unconsciously and that are passed along from one generation to the next. Culture provides people with a way of thinking, it tells them how to see, hear and interpret different words. Thus, even though two people may be speaking the same language, the words used in it may have different meanings for them both. With the cultural differences making their presence felt and the need for translators rising, the chances of the occurrence of miscommunication also increase. Thus, the need to understand these cultural difference has become even greater. Only after crossing these cultural bridges can we hope to achieve effective communication. Hence, there is a need to study cross cultural communication. Need for Cross Cultural Communication Communication is a necessity anywhere and everywhere. The need for cross cultural communication is increasing every day. Given below are some reasons as to why cross cultural communication is so important nowadays Exchange of ideas Communication, as we all know, is the process of exchange of ideas and information between two or more people. Cross cultural communication just adds culture to communication. People from different cultures need a way to communicate their ideas, feelings, etc. to each other. Cross cultural communication provides a means for effective communication between people belonging to different cultures. The Same words with different meanings As mentioned above, two people might be speaking the same language but the meaning of the words might be different to both of them. e.g. in English, the word Mansion means a big house or a castle but in Japanese mansion means an apartment or a condominium. Also, Claim in English means to state something but in Japanese, it means to complain. So, when a Japanese says that he wants to make a claim, it does not mean he wants to make a statement but that he wants to make a complaint about something. Thus, an understanding of the different cultures is necessary to achieve effective cross cultural communication. Avoid Miscommunication It is imperative to learn the correct meanings of the different words and to understand the different cultures so as to avoid miscommunication of any kind. Miscommunication can cause many problems and conflicts between two communicating parties. e.g. In English, gift means present but in German, gift means Poison. So, if we say that we are giving a gift to a German, he might get very offended thinking that we are giving him poison. So, for effective communication, it is necessary to have an understanding of the languages of the different cultures. Make people feel valued When we show people that we know and understand their cultures, they are immediately impressed and feel valued. They understand that we have made an effort to understand their culture. This encourages them to try and return the favour by trying to understand our culture. e.g. In India, people greet each other by folding their hands and saying Namaste, a Hindi word which people use to greet the soul of the other person. On the other hand, the Japanese greet each other by bowing to each other as a sign of giving respect to others. Another example of diversity in cultures is that of the Navajo people. They live in Latin America. To them, touching someone else without their permission means we are insulting the person. Thus, they do not like to shake hands when greeting other people but instead just fold their hands and greet others. But in countries like UK and USA, shaking hands is considered to be totally normal and is done to greet everyone. Interdisciplinary Orientation of Cross Cultural Communication The main aim of cross cultural communication is to bring together relatively unrelated areas like cultural anthropology and established areas of communication. Its core function is to establish an understanding of how people from different cultures can communicate effectively with each other. It also tries to give some guidelines, by following which people can achieve effectiveness in cross cultural communication. Cross cultural communication, like many other scholarly fields, is composed of parts of various other fields. Some of these fields are psychology, business communication, study of different cultures, sociology and anthropology. The field of cross cultural communication has also moved toward the treatment of relations belonging to different ethnicities and the study of strategies used by co-cultural populations to communicate with each other i.e. communication strategies that are used to communicate with the mainstream populations. The study of languages other than our native language not only helps us understand what we have in common with each other as human beings but also assists us in understanding the diversity (and the reasons for it) which underlies not only the languages that we use, but also the means of organizing and constructing knowledge. Also it shows us the many, different realities in which we all live and interact with each other. This understanding has profound implications on the development of a critical awareness of our social relationships. Understanding these social relationships and the way other cultures work lays the groundwork of successful business efforts in this age of globalisation. Language socialization can be defined as the investigation of how language both creates and hypothecates anew, social relations in the context of culture. It is imperative that the speaker understands the grammar of the language that he is speaking, as well as how elements of the language situated in a socially acceptable manner in order to achieve competence in communication. Human experience derives relevance from the culture in which it is obtained, so elements of language also derive their relevance from culture. An individual must make a careful consideration of the semantics and the evaluation of sign language so as to compare the various cross-cultural standards of communication. However, there are several potential problems that are faced by people while participating in language socialization. Sometimes people can indulge in over-generalization i.e. label cultures with subjective and stereotypical characterizations. Another primary concern with making a record of alternative cultural norms is that no social actor uses language in the exact way as has been recorded (as per the normative characterizations). Cross cultural communication provides a methodology for studying how an individual uses language and other semantic activity to use and create new models of conduct and how this varies from the already recorded / documented cultural norms. Aspects of Cross Cultural Communication The aspects o cross cultural communication educate us about the various parameters that may be perceived differently by people belonging to different cultures. By keeping these parameters in mind, the chances of miscommunication can be minimised. These parameters are as follows :- Context Context is the most important dimension of culture. It is also very difficult to define. It was Edward T. Hall, an anthropologist, who first put forth the ideology of context in culture. He defined context as the stimuli or environment or the ambience surrounding it. Depending on how much a culture relies on these three (stimuli, environment, ambience surrounding it), he divided this context into two main groups :- Low Context Cultures High Context Cultures Low Context Cultures These assume that the individuals must be given a lot of background information as they know very little about what is told or being told to them. High Context Cultures These assume that the individual has to be given very little background information as he already possesses adequate knowledge about the subject. Non Verbal, Oral and Written The major factor behind improvement of cross cultural communication is paying more attention to specific areas of communication so as to enhance the effectiveness of the same. These specific areas have been broken down into three sub categories Non-Verbal Contact Oral Contact Written Contact Non-Verbal Contact This includes eye contact, facial expressions, use of space, etc Communication through body movement is known as Kinesics. The two most prominent ways of communication through Kinesics are facial expressions and eye contact. Facial expressions are a language unto themselves and are universal to all cultures. Our facial expressions can tell other people whether we are happy, sad, confused, etc. Irrespective of the culture, the facial expressions of a person for expressing these emotions, essentially remains the same. Eye contact, on the other hand, plays a key role in setting the tone between two individuals. Its meaning differs greatly in different cultures. In Western Europe and USA, eye contact conveys honesty and interest in what the other person is saying. People who avoid eye contact while speaking are thought to be lying, withholding information or lacking in self confidence. However, in Africa, Middle East and Asian counties, maintaining eye contact is interpreted as being disrespectful and / or challenging ones authority. People who only briefly make eye contact are thought to be courteous and respectful. Non verbal communication is also composed of our gestures. These gestures can be divided into five sub categories :- Emblems Illustrators Regulators Affect Displays Adaptors Emblems These refer to sign language (such as the Thumbs Up sign which is one of the most recognized symbols for all is good). Illustrators These mimic what we speak (e.g. showing how much time is left by holding up a particular number of fingers) and are sometimes used in place of verbal speech. Emblems and illustrators are the easiest ways of non verbal communication. Regulators These provide a way of conveying meaning through gestures (e.g. raising up ones hand indicates that one has some doubt(s) about what has just been said). These are more complicated than emblems and illustrators since the same regulator can have different meanings in different cultures (e.g. making a circle with ones hand in UK means OK but in Japan, this gesture is used as a symbol for money, in France, it conveys the notion of worthlessness and in Brazil, it is taken as an insult. http://www.1000ventures.com/design_elements/selfmade/ccd_example_ok-gesture.gif Affect Displays These reveal emotions such as happiness (a smile) or sadness (crying, lips trembling), etc. Adaptors These are more subtle e.g. yawning when we are bored or clenching our fists when we are angry. Adapters and affect displays are the two modes of non verbal communication over which the individual has very little control. The last non verbal type of communication is proxemics. It involves communicating by making use of the space around us. Hall identified three kinds of space :- Feature Fixed Space Semi Fixed Feature Space Informal Space Feature Fixed Space It deals with how various cultures make use of their space on a large scale e.g. by making buildings, parks, etc. Semi Fixed Feature Space It deals with how people belonging to different cultures arrange the space inside said buildings, e.g. the placement of plants, chairs, desks, etc. Informal Space It is the space that is most important to us e.g. how close people sit to one another, office space, etc. A production line worker has to make an appointment to visit his supervisor, however, the supervisor can come and meet the production line workers as and when he wishes. Oral Communication It is easier to learn than non verbal communication. The only problem in oral communication is Para Language i.e. how something is said. Even though words should convey the same meaning to everybody, the rate, volume and emphasis placed on them can completely change their meaning. e.g. In the sentence, I would like to help you, by placing emphasis on the words I, Like, Help and You one at a time while saying the same phrase conveys a different meaning of this same phrase all four times. Written Communication It is usually easier to adapt, learn and deal with in the business world (as compared to non verbal communication) because of the simple fact that each language is unique in itself. e.g. hair and hare are pronounced in the same way but written in a different way and also have very different meanings. Another example can be of the word minute in the sentence The button was so minute that it was a minute before I found it. Thus, written communication also must be done with great care lest we convey the wrong meaning to the recipient of the message. CHALLENGES OF CROSS CULTURAL COMMUNICATION International businesses are, nowadays, facing new obstacles in their internal communication structures because of major reforms brought about in the internal communication structure through acquisitions, mergers, internationalization, downsizing, etc. Lack of investment in teaching language socialisation and cross cultural communication training often leads to deficiency in the internal cohesion of the company. Some of the by products of poor cross cultural communication are poor working relations, poor retention of staff, loss of customers, internal power struggles, low productivity, lack of co operation and loss of competitive edge by the company. Cross cultural communications consultants work with international companies to minimise in order to maximise cross cultural awareness and the consequences thereof among the employees. Given below are some hurdles to cross cultural communication 1) Lack of Communication Even though lack of communication seems to be a very obvious problem in miscommunication, it also continues to be a major reason behind poor cross cultural communication. Lack of communication with staff refers not only to lack of spoken dialogue but also to access to information. e.g. Some ways of withholding information from the staff are not informing the staff about actions and decisions that will affect their roles, not giving feedback (positive or negative), failure to properly communicate to the staff what is expected of them, etc. This eventually results in alienating the staff base which feels divided from its superiors and the management. If managers are too selective about the information that they provide to the staff, the staff starts feeling suspicious and jealous. This in turn, leads to internal strife rather than the cohesion that the managers were striving for. A management which foes not interact physically with its staff shows that it is not interested in its staff and that it does not trust or respect the staff. In the West, it has been observed that usually there is only downward communication. The staff reports to the managers and the managers report to senior managers and so on. Ideally, communication should br both ways (upward as well as downward). The seniors should take feedback from their subordinates. In the absence of such a system, the subordinates start feeling indifferent, estranged and sometimes even belligerent. Lack of communication is unhealthy, irrespective of what form or situation it may occur in. Managers and companies must have awareness of why, what, to whom and how they are communicating. 2) Language Language can be an obstacle to communication in two ways a) Use of inappropriate language Language carries with it imperceptible messages and meanings transmitted through stress, tone and vocabulary. The wrong use of words and / or emotions hidden behind phrases can send messages that affect the attitude, confidence and self-perception of the staff. Use of critical language gives rise to low self confidence of the staff (at the individual and group level) and poor interpersonal relationships whereas supportive tones and language have the opposite effect. Body language of the speaker and the listener must also be appropriate. Body language can be said to be composed of facial expressions, eye contact, gestures, etc.Facial expressions are a language unto themselves and are universal to all cultures. Our facial expressions can tell other people whether we are happy, sad, confused, etc. Irrespective of the culture, the facial expressions of a person for expressing these emotions, essentially remains the same. Eye contact, on the other hand, plays a key role in setting the tone between two individuals. Its meaning differs greatly in different cultures. In Western Europe and USA, eye contact conveys honesty and interest in what the other person is saying. People who avoid eye contact while speaking are thought to be lying, withholding information or lacking in self confidence. However, in Africa, Middle East and Asian counties, maintaining eye contact is interpreted as being disrespectful and / or challenging ones authority. People who only briefly make eye contact are thought to be courteous and respectful. b) Foreign Languages These days, companies may have indigenous speakers of over 50 different languages all under one roof.   It is important, in such cases to establish one common language for the entire office, whether it be French, r Spanish or English. It is not necessary that this common language must be some language that is common to everyone; it can be the language of the country in which the company is operating or the language spoken and understood by the majority of the employees. In the absence of such a language, everyone will keep speaking but no one will understand anything, leading to chaos in the company. Once the common language is established, all the employees should only converse in this language. This avoids exclusion of staff who cannot understand other languages. The company should also ensure that all its employees are able to converse in the common language. Language tuition should be regarded as a necessity, not a luxury. Culture International businesses equipped with a highly diverse workforce in terms of cultural background and nationality face challenges due to the differences in business practices, ethics, belief system, values, expectations, behaviour and etiquette. Consider the following conversation A soda marketer was glumly sitting at the bar. His friend approaches and asks, Why so serious? He replies, I created this left to right comic strip for a campaign. It showed a famished man crawling across the desert who finds a bottle of soda, chugs it down, and walks away with a cheerful smile. Sales tanked after it ran in the Middle East. Why? Everyone read it from right to left! Now, normally this would make a very good joke. But this is an excellent example of how culture can affect communication. Had the soda marketer been aware that people in the Middle East read from right to left, he could have planned the advertisement accordingly and his business would not have suffered. Cross cultural differences can have a negative impact on a business in a number of ways, whether it may be on team cohesion or on the productivity of the staff. In such multicultural companies, objective help may be needed through a cross cultural consultant who will be able to show individuals and teams how to manage communication and work together in a more productive and cohesive manner. 4) Company Culture Company culture refers to the internal culture of a firm in terms of how it is managed. e.g. Does it view its different departments i.e. Administration, Human Resources, Sales, Production, Accounts, etc. as open systems or closed systems? A closed system is one in which there is a total lack of synergy between the sales and the production department due to the absence of communication lines and structure between them both. A consequence of such compartmentalization is that managers of the various departments have a tendency to become territorial. This is eventually harmful for the organization as its objectives can only be achieved if these departments work together as one unit rather than start functioning as separate, individual units. Thus, it is vital that team building, team spirit and team work are encouraged so as to create open systems. Such measures are particularly valid in mergers and joint ventures wherein co operation between two or more companies requires their total commitment to an open system. Understandably most companies are mainly focused on the strategic and financial side of company operations. International businesses are now realising that many of their business problems have their roots in man management and communication. Stereotyping . It refers to putting someone or something in a certain category based on our own and / others experiences and opinions. Stereotyping has a negative impact on communication. It inhibits communication as it alters our perception and results in us making pre-selected interpretations thus hindering an objective understanding of the communication by us. Perception of information Another challenge of cross cultural communication is how the communication is perceived. In this case, attention is mainly given to body language. Different cultures have different ways of interpreting body language. e.g. in the Chinese culture, waving at a person is intended to indicate to that person to come where you are unlike in the western culture where it is used as a gesture to say goodbye. Such a small gesture can result in miscommunication due to the cross cultural differences. Thus, such gestures should be carefully observed and learned by the speaker as well as the listener. Behavioural Constraints Each culture has its own set of laws on proper behaviour that affect both verbal and non verbal communication. Such behavioural constraints include making eye contact. Where, in some cultures (Asian, African, etc.), it is interpreted as a lack of respect especially when addressing the elderly, in others (like that of USA, UK) it shows that the person is honest and has confidence in himself. Other behavioural constraints include how close one stands to another person while talking to him / her, the tonal variation, etc. All these differences in behavioural constraints make cross cultural communication difficult and ineffective. GUIDELINES FOR EFFECTIVE CROSS CULTURAL COMMUNICATION Strategies to make cross- cultural communication effective are given below :- 1) Flexibility Flexibility in character is an important strategy to make cross cultural communication effective. An individual has to deal with different people belonging to many different cultures. One should not be rigid and stick to ones normal character, way of speech, etc. The individual has to change according to the culture he is working in so as to make the communication more effective. One should be flexible while communicating, i.e. people should change their way of speech and behaviour according to the character of other party and make the other party join in on the conversation so as to facilitate a smooth flow of the same. This will also help in creating a cool and friendly atmosphere between communicating parties. If an individual is flexible, he can change / adapt according to the situation. 2) Honesty This is very much needed in cross cultural communication. Being honest will make the communication better and successful. If one person is honest and the other person is not, the communication will not proceed in a smooth manner. Honest communication also strengthens the relationship between the communicating parties, especially if they belong to different cultures. While participating in cross cultural communication, both parties should be honest in what they are saying, otherwise they will not get the desired result. An honest communication can result in a perfect deal for both the parties involved in the communication. If an important business matter is being discussed, honesty shown by both parties will go a long way in making some important and successful decisions and deals. 3) Listening Listening skills are an important part of cross cultural communication. A person who has low concentration and poor listening skills will be unable to achieve effectiveness in cross cultural communication. Cross cultural communication involves dealing with people belonging to different cultures wherein importance is given only to the communication process without engaging in any other activities. An individual should be calm and quiet while listening to what the other person is saying so as to facilitate a smooth communication process. 4) Mutual Respect Respecting each other is an important strategy of making make cross cultural communication effective. Respect should be given in all talks and forms in cross cultural communication. Both parties should give equal respect, in all their talks and opinions, to each other. In case of someone having a different opinion, the individual should respect the other persons opinion even though it might not agree with his own opinion. An individual should not be rigid about his opinions and should keep an open mind and give equal opportunity to the other party also to give their opinions on the subject and if an agreement is reached, a decision can be made, thus making the communication effective between the parties belonging to different cultures. 5) Understanding each other While communicating with people belonging to different cultures, understanding each other is an important skill to make cross cultural communication effective. Asking questions helps in getting a better idea and understand what the other person is saying.. A better understanding of the situation, the other party, their opinions and suggestions will give more confidence in tackling the problem and finding its solution. Both communicating parties should have skills in recognizing complexity of the talks and decisions. This will help in a better settlement of the matter and that too, without any conflicts. 6) Building Self Awareness and Confidence Both parties should be self aware for making cross cultural communication a success. Self awareness can only be developed by dealing with people belonging to different cultures and backgrounds. People should think twice before making any statement or decision. Self-awareness can be developed by asking others questions about oneself and getting the answers to the same. This helps us in getting a better idea about ourselves. Self-awareness also increases confidence in making cross cultural communication effective and successful. 7) Avoid Stereotyping Stereotyping inhibits communication. Individual should keep an open mind while communicating with other people. He should not entertain any pre conceived notions about the other party as these will cloud his judgement and decisions and lead to conflicts. Keeping an open mind will help the individual to think objectively and make accurate decisions.