International Business Culture and Global Business

For an international business person, business traveller or expatriate, doing business in a foreign country poses some interesting cross cultural challenges. Getting to grips with a country's business culture, protocol and etiquette is important in maximising your potential and getting the best out of your visit. Greece is a High contect culture. In order to categorize it, we must first know what the difference between low and high context culture means.High vs. Low Context Cultures suggests the categorisation of cultures into high context versus low context cultures in order to understand their basic differences in communicationstyle and cultural issues. Communication style refers to ways of expressing oneself, to communication patterns that are understood to be ‘typical’. Cultural issues mean certain societal factors, such as the country’s status, history, religion and traditions. Cultural issues also include Hofstede’s individualism vs. collectivism dime nsion. Social nuances are important parts to consider when doing business in greece.To say ‘no' in Greece use an upward nod of the head. For ‘yes' tilt the head to either side. However, note that many Greeks now also use the European/North American gestures too so it can be confusing! The â€Å"OK† sign (circled thumb and forefinger) may be considered obscene. Never raise an open palm at face level as this is an insult. If you see a Greek make a puff of breath through the lips, they are warding off the ‘evil eye'. This is usually done after receiving a compliment. Try and avoid discussions involving sensitive issues such as with Turkey, the Cyprus issue, or the politics of the former-Yugoslavia.They are task-oriented, highly organised and prefer doing one thing at a time. They stick to facts and fi gures that they have obtained from reliable sources. They prefer straightforward, direct discussion, and they talk and listen in equal proportions. So it is impor tant to stand by your product with pride and transparancy in order to gain the trust of the consumers their, and also their business. The Greeks can be fairly laidback and as such meetings can be arranged at short notice. It is best to do so over the phone and to confirm in writing (fax or email).The handshake is the most common form of greeting in the business environment. Among friends or close acquaintances you may also see an embrace or kiss. Wait for the other party to initiate the move to this level if it ever comes. One other country I would relate to Greece is Iceland because there are rural lands, and busy cities as well. Iceland is also facing financial challenges as Greece is due to the EURO currency and has been severly hit by the european recession as well. The corrupt politics and regulations of the country's assets has led to some hard times inboth countries.However, there are still many opportunities to in doing business abroad to such countries, considereing the min imum wages are increasingly lower than that of America and there is a large percentage of educated individuals seeking employment in these hard times. Another factor is untapped resounrces, such as oil and precious metals of the earth. Lastly, I would say whenever doing business in any country we must remember to that we are guest, and work with ethics in mind and proper investment so that there may be a positive effect on the country's citizens view of international business ventures.

Bachelor Thesis on Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 7000 words

Bachelor Thesis on Marketing - Essay Example When network marketing is introduced the it makes the customer to remember the ad, billboard or any other visual display he viewed regarding that product. Then it makes double impact on him as the situation contains both the effects of mouth publicity(by network marketing volunteers) and the impact of the visual advertisement. This gives a higher probability in making the customer buy that product. It is an important idea or a combination, whatever we may think, which is worth enough to contemplate and to do research about it on any background like that of a major in graduation of Post Graduation. It is innovative and important because it involves both technology and strategy while executing the idea. The approaching and methodology itself makes it to stand apart from the other ideas and strategies. This method involves the skill in applying technology in visual display and strategy in improving network for marketing. History of our planet proves that adapting to change is the only way to survive. Those who do not or cannot adapt, become extinct. This is true of plants, animals (including human beings) and even brands. Brands that do not change disappear from the marketplaceand the consumer's mind. In the recent years the pace of change has increased manifold and consequently the time available to adapt to changes has shrunk considerably. The problem with many of us is that we think of future as faraway. The future is here. It's not some event that will take place five, 10 or 20 years from now. It is something that is as close as tomorrow. The pace of change in the recent years has shortened the distance between yesterday, today and tomorrow. In preparing brands to survive into the future, it might help to look to the past and see how brands have evolved. The first real "brands" began to emerge at around the same time as marketing began emerging as a serious business management discipline way bac k in the late 19th and early 20th century. By the mid-1900s, marketing had already established itself as a central business function and the four Ps became the tactical tools of marketers. Over the next 30-40 years, marketing as a strategic business function has evolved constantly to adapt to continuous and discontinuous market changes. Concepts such as segmentation, differentiation and competitive advantage emerged and proved extremely useful to marketers in successfully introducing and establishing brands. But things have been seem to be changed from the last decade. Technology and product breakthroughs, discovery of newer markets (when the older ones are stagnated), rising incomes, and telecom and media revolution have necessitated newer and innovative marketing approaches, because the time to react to competition is shorter than ever before and there is little scope for blunders. The present day consumers are unforgiving and punish brands that do not live up to their promise by shifting their loyalties to other brands unlike yesteryears' customers. No wonder so many brands of past have just disappeared from the shelves. Most of the brands which enjoyed uninterrupted reputation in the past market were now seen rare and nowhere close to their

Argument about smoking in malls Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Argument about smoking in malls - Assignment Example The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 47 million people in the United States aged above 18 years smoke, and as a matter of fact, over half of this population will suffer disabilities or die (Berton, 2006). Smoking should be banned in malls, as the consequences suffered from smoking and secondary smoking are far too grave. Effects of secondary smoking to non-smokers in Malls Secondary smoking is a condition in which non-smokers inhale smoke from smokers’ act of smoking in public places. Research shows that over 4000 compounds are contained in second hand smoke from smokers of which 200 are poisonous. This is a dangerous trend as the smokers not only put there health in danger but also jeopardize the health of the individuals in the mall. Should the banning of smoking be implemented in malls, many lives would have been rescued from the impending danger that these secondary smoke pose to the general public that use the mall, including children of all ages that s eek various services from the many amenities that are hosted in a mall (Patrick, 2008). A demerit will however be to the businesses in the malls that sell cigarettes. The banning will probably mean that malls will be a no smoking zone, quickly diminishing the market that would be available for the cigarettes that many business premises carry out in these malls. This will also translate to a lot of losses that the government gets from hefty revenues that governments get from the sale of cigarettes. Probable steps in reducing the population that smokes A large fraction of the population worldwide is known to smoke. It is reported that a third of the entire male population worldwide smokes. A lesser statistic is however documented for female smokers though it is steadily rising. By banning smoking or introducing stringent measures about smoking in malls, a large population is bound to eventually lose the habit. This would be a big step to most countries as the number of diseases that a re related to smoking cases is so alarming. It is also established that smoking kills one out of 10 that die globally. There is no doubt at all that reducing the numbers via such an action would prevent numerous deaths and fatal ailments that smokers usually undergo but won’t just stop due to the addiction suffered (Joelle, 2002). The reduction of smokers will however cause a big blow to the manufacturing industries, the government for its revenue and advertising houses that all make huge profits from activities related to smoking or cigarettes in general. There is also a danger of withdrawal symptoms that will be exhibited by most ex-smokers, a condition that always cause irritability and the reduction of concentration, factors that may really affects ones daily activities. Reduced Influence on underage Children and Teenagers Even though it is recorded that a majority of teenagers get into smoking as a result of peer pressure from fellow peers, a large percentage can be infl uenced into the habit just by public exposure in places like malls and public parks. It becomes worse when they see an influential figure publicly smoking in a mall; something that will make them conclude that the habit is cool. Apart from just the influence, teenagers and children are also prone to health hazards that might be impacted by secondary smoking. Should smoking be banned or limited in malls, many kids are bound to escape forced introduction into

Theater Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Theater - Article Example Alas!  There emerges an energetic, fresh and composed man dressed up in black overall, pair of trousers, and socks. His black Spanish cape sits firm and symbolic on his head. His hands clutched around his crotch as he walks majestically to center stage, staring at the ground a little worried. Behind him follows a nonchalant woman dressed up in a grey dress. The man takes a turn and stands on some pulpit looking at the sky in awe. The woman scales up the single staircase and sits comfortably on the traditional chair. Another man in white, gray official and tie emerges at the entrance, gently scrubs as he gazes at the entrance board. He then walks to center stage, stands there shortly. He turns to a second woman behind him. They approach each other with intense passion, almost kissing†¦, but then the woman withdraws and runs to the back of the stage as a group of elegantly dressed female dancers storm the stage. They go round the man and take positions on stage, start dancing ma rvelously after signal from the lady queen who sits on the staircase as the woman on the traditional chair comes up. The dance surges in intricate patterns. One dancer woes the official man to join the dance but he is adamant. Finally, the female dancers win him over. They sit down and watch as the man starts to dance alone impressively on

FOUNDATIONS FOR RESEARCH 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

FOUNDATIONS FOR RESEARCH 2 - Essay Example (2009), reducing anxiety in adults though the relaxation-breathing techniques has been used severally and proved through clinical trials as being effective in the production of good asthma outcomes. It is true that all research works aims at bridging a certain gap in information in less researched areas. In this case, more evidence will prove the importance of using such interventions in asthmatic children. The article was properly titled while the contents are in line with the title. This is proved by performing a search on the article using the key words like relaxation, breathing, asthma, trial, controlled etc. The research report abstract has enough information and readers can determine if the research has enough evidence to qualify it as being relevant. It is an overview which is visible since it is concise and brief and has all key findings articulated by the researcher. The abstract captures all key elements of the research work. In brief, the research abstract gives the resea rchers objectives which include evaluation of the effectiveness of combined self-management and relaxation breathing training for children with moderate-to-severe asthma compared to self-management-only training (Li-Chi Chiang et al. 2009), the research background, the methodology, the design, the sample and the results. A good abstract has to contain all the above as it summarizes the researchers assertions in a nutshell and makes it easier for many to understand the research work without flipping each page as Alasuutari, P. et al. (2008) puts it. An important part included here is the background part. This is key in any research work as it gives the information gap which forms a justification for the research. The authors start by first explaining Self-management programs, there use, when they have been used and their successes. Further, it gives perceptions towards their use and gives an indication that if used on children, then successes can be realized. At the end of the abstra ct, the researchers gives a summary of the findings from the analyzed data concluding that a combination of self-management and relaxation-breathing training can reduce anxiety, thus improving asthmatic children’s health. These results can serve as an evidence base for psychological nursing practice with asthmatic children (Li-Chi Chiang et al. 2009). In addition, the authors further gives the addition knowledge contributed to by the paper and the gap it attempts to fill, its relevance and its application and integration into the existing knowledge base. In the research study report, the independent variable were combined self-management and relaxation-breathing training for children and self-management-only training while the dependent variable was severity of asthma and are specified in the report abstract. In the study report, the researchers report that data on anxiety levels, self-perceived health status, asthma signs/symptoms, peak expiratory flow rate, and medication u se was collected. Here the independent variables are anxiety levels, self-perceived health status, peak expiratory flow rate, and medication use while the dependent variable is asthma signs/symptoms. Other important considerations made on the data included interaction effects among the two groups and research timelines. The impact of interactions at times is enormous such that its omission leads to un-biased results. It is always important to tell in

Evaluating the new deal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Evaluating the new deal - Essay Example The recovery programs sort to strengthen the economy and the reform programs aimed at preventing future depressions. Kennedy just like many economists suggests that the new deal did target to saving capitalist system. It is evident that the first new deal was not that different from Hoover’s purpose and philosophy effort to end the depression. This is because both Hoover and Roosevelt sort support from the business community. However, Roosevelt’s administration approached their suggestions with importance and a greater willingness by exerting the full powers of the federal governments on the programs (Kennedy, 1999). The new deal targeted three goals relief, recovery, and reform. There were relief measures such as laws that set up programs that created jobs for thousands of young men. These jobs included tree-planting exercises, fire fighting services, and building dams to control floods. There was also a law that required the federal government to give money to states for helping the needy. The national industry recovery act was implemented to aid in economy recovery let us consider the National recovery administration supported by this law, which brought businesses, government and workers together. This program although it was not successful in regulating competition among businesses and preventing workers from organising unions, it changed business relationships. The laws that aimed at aiding economic recovery also supported programs such as the Tennessee valley authority that encouraged the government to spend heavily on large building projects like building public buildings, highways, and dams this created employment for Americans. The agricultural adjustments act was passed in 1933 the act targeted to increase prices of agricultural products to help farmers by reducing the production of farm produce (Kennedy, 1999). The new deal did manage to improve the circumstances for some Americans. The new deal managed to drop the unemployment figure. In order to achieve the goals set for the new deal the social security act of 1935 helped by supporting the provision of pensions for retired Americans. The law ensured that Americans who lost their jobs could access help from the federal government as stated in the unemployment insurance clause. The disabled and the needy also received government assistance. Although it is evident that not all Americans benefited from this law, but it did improve the lives of Americans in some way (Kennedy, 1999). Kennedy looks at the second new deal, which adopted an economic policy similar to a Keynesian model. The second new deal set up mass consumption based economy by motivating the masses capacity to consume. Economists argue that the second new deal targeted to restore the economy from bottom up. This deal is not as radical as the first deal this is because the second deal improved on a number of policies introduced in the first deal. According to Kennedy in the second new deal, the governme nt spent funds in trying to turn non-consumers to consumers. The federal government continued to initiate projects that would create jobs for family breadwinners. This plan supported many families and increased consumer demand. The social security act of 1935 set up a federally guaranteed pension system, which became a safety net for retired workers this helped to increase consumer demand. There was also an improvement of the National labour relations act of 1935 where the law attempted to prevent the

I.G. “International Grocer” Essay Example for Free

I.G. â€Å"International Grocer† Essay 1. Values and principles a. Respect; at I.G. we treat all of our employees with courtesy as human beings first and foremost, at the same time; we stand strongly against any actions of exploitation and taking advantage of others. We welcome, acknowledge and respect other opinion. We deal with our difference with open mindedness. b. Honesty; at I.G. We expect all employees to be honest about their work and how they feel about the management. While honesty is a difficult value to be accomplished by all employees, here at I. G. we encourage honesty by rewarding good honest actions and feed backs that lead to company improvement, and by setting a high level of forgiving threshold when mistakes are made and admitted. c. Tolerance; at I.G. is a tolerant work environment. Our employees are made of men and women of all ages and different back ground and cultures; we don’t tolerate any prejudice and biases towards any employees in any way shape or form. d. Caring; at I.G. we care about each employee and ask that you do the same to the company! We expect all employees to show compassionate and practice forgiveness when possible. 2. Accountability: a. Responsibility for own actions; every individual is responsible for their own actions whether they are positive or negative. Positive actions are recognized and acknowledged by management for rewards, and negative actions can lead to disciplinary actions. b. Appropriate use of information; the use of information on a need to know basis, information should only be conveyed to the appropriate employees. Company’s plans, pricing, pay scale, etc. are not to be disclosed without proper approvals. c. Avoiding conflict of interest; keeping the Company’s interest should every employee’s priority. 3. Standard of conduct and practice a. Complying with Job description; every employee is hired with a set of skills that should allow them to perform their jobs, and expected to comply with the task that is been assign to them. b. Commitment and loyalty;  employees are expected to be satisfied with their workload and resources at their disposal to do their jobs and fell proud of what they do. The Goal at I.G. is to make all employee feel a sense of ownership at the company. c. Proper technology use; Data is an important part of our everyday operations. The use of computers hardware, internet services, and emails should be used exclusively for work purposes. 4. Disciplinary actions a. Dealing with complains; proper investigation will be conducted to handle complaints. Every complaint will be handled very seriously by our HR, no matter how small and insignificant it might seem at that time. We have a zero tolerance for any sort of harassment, work violence, and any misconduct. We encourage support employees to step up and file a complaint when they feel uncomfortable in their surroundings to avoid bigger problems and to find workable resolutions in a timely manner. b. Penalties for violations; Employees will be written up for wrong doing for two times, Third time could lead to suspension or termination of job. Crimes (identified by local law enforcement) will be turned over to the police to handle. B. Training Program: 1.Training will be held quarterly y to insure that all employees are up to date with Ethical training. Training will be based on a simulated scenario from different departments. Training will include but limited to I.G’s standard and procedures guide. 2.Training will be Web based an interactive; this will include short quizzes to ensure that the information is understood and comprehended. There also will be suggestion box to listen to other alliterative training delivery methods. Employees who attend all 4 ethic trainings in the year, and pass the quizzes will get an appreciation bonus. 3.Training will take 2 hours; it will be in the conference room with maximum attendance of 10 employees at a time. Employees will be given an opportunity to block their preferred time to attend one of 5 conferences during the week. 4.Training will be presented by professional third party company, I.G. Managers will be trained and certified to help conduct all trainings. C. Explaining the process for the following: 1. Monitoring Employee Misconduct: a. All Misconducts will be immediately recorded in the employee record. I.G. will utilize all of its resources to educate all employees with the company policies. HR will write up, reprimand, and/or terminate base on the level of misconduct and the findings. b. I.G. will continually monitor any harassment actions, internet misuse and theft during work hours and breaks. c. Company resource such as video surveillance, internet logs, and review of anonymous complaints will be used to monitor misconduct. 2. Auditing employee Misconduct: a. Auditing will include a full review of recorded phone conversations, call logs, internet records and employee records of pervious misconduct. Auditing will take in consideration the possibility of being misunderstood before taking a corrective action. b. Audits will be conducted in infrequent patterns; they will be announced the day of the audits. c. Management will assign a combination of HR and Department Managers to conduct audits. 3. Reporting Misconduct I.G. has an open door policy to bring issues to the HR office without the fear for recourse; HR will handle all misconduct complaints with confidentiality. Also employees can write a letter with anonymous Complaint and drop it in the suggestion box.