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How Hybrids Beat Out the Electric Vehicle in the US Automarket Car companies like Toyota and Honda are finally starting to warm up to the idea of marketing more fuel-efficient vehicles, introducing models like the Toyota Prius, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid, and the Honda Civic Hybrid, the three top-selling hybrid vehicles on the market for 20061. While these more fuel-efficient cars do increase the MPG rating to averages of 47mpg, 25mpg, and 46mpg2, one has to wonder why car companies are still turning out vehicle models that are dependent on gasoline at all. In the mid-1990's GM introduced the EV1 in response to the California Air Resources Board (CARB)'s 'zero-emissions' standards, a vehicle that got 55-75 miles per charge (mpc) with lead-acid batteries and 75-150 mpc with the Generation 2 Ovonic nickel-metal hydride batteries3 without zero emissions at the vehicle level whatsoever. So why have car companies forsaken the electric vehicle in favor of the low-emission (but still emitting) hybrid? Car companies like Toyota and Daimler-Chrysle r have partnerships with oil companies like ExxonMobil to improve fuel-economy standards for future vehicles, but none of them involve the development of an all-electric vehicle. Simply, the Bush Administration, backed by oil companies and car manufacturers, can not profit from the mass-production of electric vehicles. Instead, hybrid vehicles that still consume oil and emit greenhouse gases, are this century's compromise between environmentalists and Bush's Big Oil. General Motors has a history of partnering with oil companies to increase profits, starting with the Great American Streetcar scandal in the early 20th century. National City Lines, a holding company of Genera... ...ons. ExxonMobil, February 2006. www.exxonmobil.com 7 Shell Hydrogen: About Shell Hydrogen http://www.shell.com/home/Framework?siteId=hydrogen-en&FC2=/hydrogen-en/html/iwgen/leftnavs/zzz_lhn2_0_0.html&FC3=/hydrogen-en/html/iwgen/about_shell/who_we_are_1208.html 8 Flomenhoft, Gary: ESCI 420 In-class lecture, 2/7 9 Energy Task Force - Wikipedia.com 10 Taxpayers for a Common Sense Whitepaper Website: Vehicles that Qualify for the SUV Tax Break. http://www.taxpayer.net/TCS/whitepapers/SUVtaxbreak.htm 11 Toyota Website: Vehicles: RAV-4 EV http://www.toyota.com/html/shop/vehicles/ravev/rav4ev_0_home/index.html 12 Tesla Motors website - www.teslamotors.com 13 "Who Killed the Electric Car?" Documentary: Sony Pictures Classics, 2006. 14 Toyota Website: Vehicles: RAV-4 EV http://www.toyota.com/html/shop/vehicles/ravev/rav4ev_0_home/index.html

Case 6: the Financial Detective

Case 6 : The Financial Detective Financial data is the most crucial information in describing any sort of business, but this information is also useful in differentiating between different types of businesses. In any specific industry, many key players are present, yet their strategies and implementations of business vary greatly. Two firms may achieve the same earned profit, yet go about securing this profit in radically different ways . A close analysis of financial data for each business can be used to understand and explain these different strategies employed by a given company and how that strategy affects the financial performance of each company. This case calls for the examination of two different companies within the same field and, through analysis of selected financial information, determining which set of data belongs to which company based on the different characteristics and strategies employed by each company. The results of this analysis are as follows. Health Products The two companies listed here manufacture and market health care products. The first is the world’s largest prescription-pharmaceutical company containing a broad pipeline of ethical pharmaceuticals backed by significant research and development, which has recently divested many of its non-related business holdings and is considered the partner of choice in terms of licensing agreements. The second company is a diversified health-products company that manufactures and mass markets a broad line of pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter drugs, health and beauty products and medical devices. Brand development and management is key to this company. Company A is the more diversified company, while Company B is the world’s largest pharmaceutical company. A major signifier here is the intangible assets owned by Company B, 46. 1 vs. 22. 2, which would explain the patents and licensing deals mentioned in the company description, as well as the robust research and development budget. Another major clue here is in the inventory turnover. Company A, well-diversified with a mass-market strategy, turns over their inventory 3. 8 times vs. .93 of company B, which is to be expected of a mass-market company intent of volume sales to consumers. Beer Two brewers of beer are described here, the first being a national brewer of mass-market consumer beers sold under a variety of brand names who also owns a number of beer-related businesses and several major theme parks. The second is a smaller brewery with smaller production volume and higher prices that outsources most of its brewing activity. The firm is also mentioned to be financially conservative and has recently undergone major cost-saving initiatives. Company C is the national brewer while company D is the small market brewery. A major key here is understanding that company D is described as financially conservative, which helps explain the large amount of cash and short-term investments (55. 6) that they keep on hand, while also holding no long-term debt. A large, national company like C would be expected to carry some debt in order to finance such large operations. Also, as C operates an extensive network of breweries and distributorships, while also owning beer-related businesses and theme parks, it would follow that their net fixed assets would be quite large (54. 7) compared to the relatively smaller D (16). Computers The two companies described here sell computers and related equipment. One company focuses exclusively on mail-order sales of built-to-order PCs and devices and is an assembler of PC components manufactured by suppliers. The other company sells a highly differentiable line of computers and accessories and has recently begun to recover from a dramatic decline in its market share. The firm has an aggressive retail strategy intended to drive traffic through its stores and expand its installed base of customers. Company E is the online retailer, while Company F is the retailer. As E is an assembler of parts supplied by a manufacturer, their manufacturing is essentially outsourced, which accounts for the higher cost of goods sold (81) as well as the higher amount of accounts payable, as they consume more supplies in order to assemble their products. As well, since company F is a bricks & mortar retailer as opposed to an online vendor, F has had to adopt and aggressive retail strategy that requires advertising their products and stores and employees in which to sell their products, which accounts for the relatively higher SGA expense (23. 1). Books and Music Of the two companies profiled here, the first focuses its sales based on a vast retail-store presence. This company is the leader of traditional book retailing, and also maintains an online presence and owns a publishing imprint. The other company sells books and music solely through its web site. Media is the majority of their sales, but they also sell electronics and other merchandise, and the company has only recently become profitable due to an aggressive strategy of acquiring related online businesses. Company G is the online retailer while company H is the traditional seller. G reaches customers solely through the internet, and besides various warehouses used for shipping it would have no need to keep large fixed assets, which explains why their net fixed assets (7. 6) are significantly lower than the traditional seller (24. 4), who requires the retail outlets needed to reach their customers. Along these lines, as H is a traditional seller of goods, their inventories (38. 6) are bound to be much higher, as their retail outlets need to remain stocked rather than ordering as needed like G would. This explains G’s higher cost of goods sold due to not needing to buy in bulk. Paper The companies listed here are both paper manufacturers. The first company is the world’s largest maker of paper and paper products, who also owns timberland, numerous paper-related facilities and a paper-distribution network. The company has spent the last few years closing inefficient mills, implementing cost-containment initiatives and selling nonessential assets. The other firm is a small producer of specialty papers as well as towel and tissue products. Most of the company’s products are marketed under branded labels and the company purchases the wood fiber used in the paper making process. Company I is the larger firm while company J is the smaller firm. The first clue to this conclusion is the amount of long-term debt company I is carrying (41. 3) compared to company J (18. 3). As we know that the larger firm has spent the last few years reorganizing and attempting to cut costs, it would make sense that these initiatives were taken because of high company debt. Along this line, I’s total debt/total assets is much higher (42. 8), which would also help to explain the cost-containment initiatives needed. Also, I’s cost of goods sold (75. 3) is lower than J’s (82. 9), most likely due to their ownership of supply companies and J’s decision to buy theor wood fiber on the open market. Hardware and Tools These two companies manufacture and sell hardware and tools. The first company is a global manufactur er and marketer of power tools and power-tool accessories that sells primarily to retailers and distributors with the branded products intended to reach the average consumer. The other company manufactures and markets high-quality tools for professional users, offering a broad range of products sold through its own technical representatives and mobile franchise dealers. The company also provides financing for franchisees and customers’ large purchases. Company K is the global manufacturer while company L is the professional tool manufacturer. The first major hint here is the SGA expense for each company. Company L’s expense (38. 9) is significantly higher because of their use of technical representatives and mobile franchises that they themselves provide financing for. As well, company L’s gross profit (48. ) is significantly higher, most likely due to the higher prices they are able to charge due to the precision and quality of their professional-minded tools. Retailing These two companies are both large discount retailers. The first firm carries a wide variety of nationally advertised general merchandise and is known for low prices and its volume-orientated strategy. Most of its stores are leased near the company’s network of distribution centers and the company plans to expand. The second company is a rapidly growing chain of upscale discount stores that attempts to match other retailers’ prices and offers deep discounts. The company has partnerships with many leading designers and offers credit to qualified customers. Company M is the general merchandiser while company N is the upscale discount store. As mentioned in the description, company N is known for providing credit to boost sales, and thus this extended credit appears in their receivables (17), as opposed to M (1. 4). Also, company N’s gross profit and profit margins are higher, as their strategy isn’t based on volume sales (make smaller profit but sell way more) like company M is. Newspapers The companies listed here both own newspapers. The first is a diversified media company that generates most of its revenues through newspapers sold throughout the country and around the world. The company has large central controls and competes fiercely for subscribers and advertising revenues. The company also recently built a large office building for its headquarters. The second company owns a number of small community newspapers throughout the south and mid-west. The firm essentially holds a portfolio of small local monopolies and has a significant amount of goodwill on its balance sheet. The company’s success is hinged on decentralized decision making and administration. Company O is the Midwestern Company, while Company P is the well-diversified company. The description mentions how company P is forced to fiercely compete, which would surely raise their SGA expense (39. 7) as compared to company O (23). This is also true considering company O’s emphasis on decentralized management and administration, which affects the SGA expense. Also, P recently built and owns a large office building, which would add to their net fixed assets (34. 6) compared to company O’s (14. 1).

The Prophet Muhammad Was A Great Woman - 850 Words

Zainab bint Muhammad was a great woman. She was the eldest daughter of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and Khadija (rah). She was born 599AD. Her story begins in Makkah when one day her cousin, Abu al-As ibn al-Rabi, ask her head in marriage. The prophet asked Zaynab if she wanted to marry him, and she blushed out of bashfulness and smiled. They had two children named Ali (died during childhood) and Umma. One day when, Abu al-As ibn al-Rabi returned to Makkah from a trip, Zainab announced that her father had become the prophet of Islam and that she and most her family had be come Muslims. The quraysh told Abu al-As ibn al-Rabi to divorce Zainab and that they would bring him a better woman. He refused and stayed with Zainab, but he refused to†¦show more content†¦During the immigration Zainab got permission from her father to stay with her husband in Makkah. That’s when tragedy struck. Since Zainab’s husband was not Muslim, he was going to fight in the battle of Bad r against the Muslims. That meant that he would have to fight her father. She was very scared. She feared for her husband and her father. She prayed saying â€Å"O Allah, I fear one day the sun may rise and my children become orphans or I lose my father†. So the battle started, and ended in victory for the Muslims. In the end the Muslims won and Abu al-As ibn al-Rabi was captured. When this news reached Makkah, Zainab was over come with relief and thanked Allah that her father was all right and that the Muslims had won. There was a problem though. Her husband was captured. She did not have much so she gave her necklace as a payment. When the prophet was checking the payments and releasing captives, he saw Zainab’s necklace. He began to sob because it was Khadija’s necklace and he had loved her dearly. He released Abu al-As ibn al-Rabi for the time being and told him to give the necklace to Zainab and tell her to never give it away. Then the prophet created a rul e. A Muslim woman cannot be married to a disbeliver. Therefore, when Abu al-As ibn al-Rabi came back to Makkah he told Zainab that she had to go and stay with her father in Madina and leave him. She asked him for millionth time if he would become Muslim and stay with

The Characters in The Canterbury Tales Essay - 4000 Words

The Purpose of the Characters in The Canterbury Tales The characters introduced in the General Prologue of The Canterbury Tales each represent a stereotype of a kind of person that Chaucer would have been familiar with in 14th Century England. Each character is unique, yet embodies many physical and behavioral traits that would have been common for someone in their profession. In preparing the reader for the tales, Chaucer first sets the mood by providing an overall idea of the type of character who is telling the tale, then allows that character to introduce themselves through a personal prologue and finally, the pilgrim tells their tale. Through providing the reader with insight about the physical and personal traits of†¦show more content†¦Despite this unflattering introduction, however, the Miller cannot be considered a loathsome person because his purpose is to provide comic relief. The Millers appearance after the more solemn Knight creates a contrast in mood and provides the reader with a more relaxed feeling going into the remainder of the tales. The Miller is described as a less than attractive man. His portrait is made in the following way: He was short-sholdred, brood, a thikke knarre, - His berd as any sowe or fox was reed, And therto brood, as though it were a spade Upon the cop right of his nose he hade A werte, and thereon stood a toft of heres Reed as the brustles of a sowes eres; Hise nosethirles blake were and wyde. (The General Prologue, 551-559) These physical descriptions were believed by the physiognomists to denote variously a shameless, talkative, lecherous, and quarrelsome character (Riverside Chaucer, 820: PMLA 35, 1920, 189-209). Like his appearance, his personality is also depicted as being very loud and disturbing. He is depicted in the way that a young boy would be, only with the strength of a large adult. The Miller acts out and rams his head against doors, which is a common trait of a two year old, however, he is so big that it is said that: Ther was no dore that heShow MoreRelatedCanterbury Tales Character Analysis1334 Words   |  6 PagesThe Canterbury Tales is a written work, by Geoffrey Chaucer, that is a representation of the society he lived in. His work portrays the feudal system during the medieval times and how each level of livelihood was a character, whose personalities reflect how Chaucer and his culture view them. During his time, his society regarded the Christian Church as corrupt and manipulative, with a few clergy who are honest and genuine in their exertion. Therefore, the ecclesiastical persona has the dispositionsRead MoreCanterbury Tales Character Analysis981 Words   |  4 PagesUpon first reading of the Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, the reoccurring theme of social status is not blatantly obvious. Upon further reading, however, it becomes apparent that it in fact plays large role in most of the aspects of the tales. In both the Wife of Bath’s Tale and the Nun’s Priest Tale, social status plays a role in the plot, characters, and themes in order to more effectively portray the messages Chaucer is trying to get across. The underlying theme addressing social statusRead MoreCanterbury Tales Character Analysis1988 Words   |  8 Pages The Canterbury Tales, by Geoffrey Chaucer, is a collection of tales and prologues of stories told by many characters whilst on a pilgrimage to the city of Canterbury. From religious figures such as nuns, monks and pardoners; to doctors, cooks and millers, this pilgrimage embarked on by many interesting people with stories that range from inspiring to gruesome. A few of the most predominant stories include those of the Prioress, the Summoner, the Wife of Bath, the Miller, and the Reeve. In theseRead MoreCanterbury Tales Character Analysis1272 Words   |  6 PagesThe Canterbury Tales, penned by Geoffrey Chaucer gives its audiences insight on the corruption that exists to this day in humanity. As you read through the chapters Chaucer reveals the dark sides to supposedly respectable people such as the Summoner, along with people he favors like the Knight, the Wife of B ath, and women in general. His comical descriptions and stories that coincide with each character express his thoughts on real people in his society. My perception of the Summoner’s tale moralRead MoreCanterbury Tales Character Analysis997 Words   |  4 Pageslanguage of the common people (Morrison). The Wife’s knowledge of the three languages grants her access to the forms of power that patriarchy denies to women, establishing her character as an authoritative female through the authentication of English as a literary language. 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These questions are answered by the differentRead MoreThe Canterbury Tales Character Sketch956 Words   |  4 PagesAuthor Geoffrey Chaucer describes in-depth several characters who intend to embark on a religio us pilgrimage in his piece The Canterbury Tales. One of the prominently featured characters is the Friar. The Friar is certainly one of the most unorthodox characters in the piece who is the antithesis of the character qualities expected of a friar. Chaucer’s description and implications reveal that the Friar is an adulterous, cold-hearted individual with a disingenuous personality that is rooted in hisRead MoreThe Complex Character of the Merchant in The Canterbury Tales1388 Words   |  6 PagesSometimes a character is not fully revealed right away in order to surprise and convey a specific purpose later on. Chaucer demonstrates this idea in The Canterbury Tales, specifically with the Merchant character. In the General Prologue, Chaucer portrays the Merchant as a respectable character; however, he hints aspects of the Merchants personality that question this respectable image. The Merchant’s entire personality is later revealed in his Prologue and Tale, as it is mad e evident of his cynicalRead More Canterbury Tales Essay: The Character of the Prioress795 Words   |  4 Pages The Character of the Prioress in The Canterbury Talesnbsp;nbsp; nbsp;In The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer writes a prologue in which characters are given at face value.nbsp; Then, he writes tales that are spoken by these characters.nbsp; Perhaps Chaucer is commenting that people should not judge others by their outward appearance because the differences in the outward character of Chaucer’s travelers are often greatly different than the personality that is shown through their tales. nbsp;TheRead MoreCharacter Satire in Chaucers Canterbury Tales2302 Words   |  10 PagesSatire of the Knight in Prologue and Knights Tale Satire. Satire is a biting literary tool, one that Geoffery Chaucer used liberally when he wrote his Canterbury Tales. Websters New World Dictionary says that satire is the use of ridicule, sarcasm, etc. to attack vices, follies, etc. Using that definition, I think that all of the pilgrims in the Canterbury Tales are satirized to some extent; some of the satirizations are more subtle than others. The Knight is one of the pilgrims

Drug Free is the Way to Be - 1053 Words

There are employees who use or abuse drugs, legal or not, that cause interference within the workplace. According to the Human Resource Manager Eileen Esquer, from Isagenix International, when the use of drugs start to disrupt an employee’s job, they generate expensive health costs and loss of productivity for businesses. A controversial issue in the business industry is with employment drug testing. Companies that organize drug testing will provide safe working conditions. Although, employers who do not conduct drug tests, will continuously worry about the risks their company might face with potential drug using employees. Considerations of these tests need to be enforced by businesses. In the contrary, corporations may feel as if they are taking away rights from their workers. A company wants hard workers that boost their revenue in the long run, not drug abusing employees that will slow down productivity. Drug tests should be implemented and allowed when necessary to preven t poor work habits. Drug testing needs to be sanctioned within the workplace, so employers can dictate a safe and efficient environment. Illegal drug use by United States workers has juristically declined over the past two and a half decades, due to drug testing. The Drug-Free Workplace Act, established in 1988, is an incentive that has raised awareness of illegal drugs affecting the workplace. Which directed companies to an improvement of proper training, monitoring, and drug testing. This has led toShow MoreRelatedBenefits Of A Gluten Free Diet809 Words   |  4 Pagesgluten-free diet is just one of them. This diet, originally a way to treat the immune disease Celiac disease, has become one of the most popular (and controversial) diets on the market. Trying to eat a gluten-free diet in drug rehabilitation is a noble goal, but it can be tricky. However, if you have Celiac disease, you obviously are going to have to learn how to live without gluten during rehabilitation. But if you re simply interested in experiencing the many benefits of a gluten-free diet, youRead MoreDrug-Free Workplace997 Words   |  4 PagesPresident Reagan signed the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 on November 18, 1988. The intent of the bill was to establish the foundation of a drug-free workplace in the areas that the federal government could affect outside the federal government; i.e., the workplaces of federal grantees and contractors. The Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 does not mention drug testing at all. However, many companies have made drug testing a requirement. The Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 has 7 compliance requirementsRead MoreDrug Free Society833 Words   |  4 PagesDrug Free Society Introduction The topic of a drug free society and whether such can ever exist causes many reactions. Some may even ask why this is an important conversation? To begin this discussion it is worthwhile to look historically at why it has become such an issue in the United States. In 1971, President Nixon called for a War on Drugs recruiting the assistance of the Federal Government and in particular the Drug Enforcement Agency [DEA] (Vulliamy, 2011). As part of this measure, NixonRead MoreDrug Abuse On The Workplace Essay1704 Words   |  7 PagesDrug Abuse in the Workplace: The human resource topic I chose to write my research paper on is â€Å"Drug Abuse in the Workplace†. Drug abuse in the workplace is something very common that many of us will encounter at some point. Alcohol and drug abuse has a major effect on employee absence and lost productively that leaves a negative working environment. It is important a company addresses the right guidelines to keep a drug free workplace. Establishing a clear and fair substanceRead MoreDrug Addiction1473 Words   |  6 PagesIs drug addiction is a disease, not a choice? Or it is a choice and not a disease? Drug Addiction has become a serious issue in society today, with an increase in controversy leading towards the topic of whether drug addiction is a disease or a choice. Addiction and disease are two different things and understanding them is very important when it comes to drugs and how it affects the mind and body. Several people tend to jump the gun and think that drug addiction is a disease , when in fact it isRead MoreDrug Abuse And Its Effect On Society Essay1167 Words   |  5 PagesProfessor Course Date Introduction A drug is a chemical substance applied into treating, diagnosing and preventing one from disease infections or a substance that is used by a person to enhance his or her physical and mental state in the perceived effect. Drugs used for different purposes and their effect depend on which cause for usage. 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Ross Ulbricht created the Silk Road to make a safer environment for those who choose the freedom to use drugs, â€Å"A frictionless marketplace where everyone had freedom as long as it didn’t impinge on someone else’s freedom. †(1) Keeping up with other countries the government could have profited from Silk Road because being Free is the LibertarianRead MoreEssay Drugs: Tolerance and Withdrawal1254 Words   |  6 PagesDrugs cause an indescribable high, causing the imprisoned individual to be set free from their reality; however, that’s not only what drugs cause. About 200 million people around the world are drug users causing 250,000 deaths each year. Dependency on a drug then leads to a tolerance to the drug, and before the user knows it, they are addicted. Drugs are like a black hole that vacuums the user into a state of addiction which makes it even more difficult to escape and quit. 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The main issue between these writers is whether drug testing invades an individual’s privacy and in what circumstances should drug testing be permissible. I will first review both Desjardins and Cranford’s views on the

Chloe’s Story Free Essays

Which serous membrane in Chloe’s abdomen most likely contains the greatest adipose tissue? The peritoneum is the largest serous membrane of the body which contains the greater omentum, the largest peritoneal fold. The greater omentum normally contains a considerable amount of adipose tissue. The adipose tissue content can greatly expand with weight gain, giving rise to a characteristic â€Å"beer belly† seen in some individuals. We will write a custom essay sample on Chloe’s Story or any similar topic only for you Order Now B. What involuntary muscle process initiated by deglutition of water may cause Chloe pain? Swallowing is the involuntary contraction of pharyngeal muscles which sets peristalsis begins with coordinated contractions and relaxation of muscles in the esophagus and into the stomach, where she just had surgery. C. Why might reduction of the size of Chloe’s stomach reduce her acid reflux? The stomach empties quicker, due to the bypass of the duodenum where the most, if not all the churning takes place with digestive enzymes that could force the sphincter to emit the reflux. D. How will protein digestion be affected by Chloe’s surgery? The proteins would be flushed out of the body quicker than usual with the high vulnerability of malabsorption. Normally, pepsin begins the enzymatic digestion of the ingested proteins; they linger in the stomach longer than most of the ingested food with the end result of gastric protein digestion is a chyme of mostly polypeptides and some free amino acids to be absorbed in to the body. Pancreatic Protease digests protein in the basic environment of the small intestine. E. Which pancreatic enzymes would Chloe need to breakdown the fats in her nutritional drink? Lipase works with bile excreted from the liver breaking down fat molecules. F. Why might Chloe be at risk for gallstones (crystallized cholesterol which can block the flow of bile from the gallbladder)? A change in diet, no longer consuming high fatty and high cholesterol laden foods. Rapid weight loss. The gall bladder aid in the digestion and absorption of fats in the duodenum which is no longer being used. G. Would absorption of nutrients be substantially altered in the small intestine following Chloe’s gastric bypass surgery? Why or why not? Yes, absorption is greatly affected following the gastric bypass surgery. The time the food stays in the body is severely limited, along with the additional malabsorption of important vitamins and nutrients will change. H. Why is vitamin B12 deficiency a serious concern? Vitamin B12 deficiency impairs the body’s ability to make blood, accelerates blood cell destruction, and damages the nervous system resulting in possible irreversibility. I. With which complications should Chloe be concerned following the surgery? Not to overeat; ingesting too much food could overly stretch damaging the reduced stomach. J. Why is monitoring nutrition so important to Chloe now? The digestion has been permanently altered; digestion and absorption of nutrients have been compromised. Vitamin supplements must be taken to aid with the body maintaining homeostasis. K. Chloe went on a liquid diet immediately following her surgery. Based on what you have learned about nutrition in this chapter, which substances would you include in a liquid diet? My diet would include essential vitamins and minerals including all four food groups. There are many amino acids that cannot replicate other than the body produces them. How to cite Chloe’s Story, Papers

Importance Of Culture In Business Samples †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Importance Of Culture In Business. Answer: Introduction What is culture? Culture, in simple words, can be defined as the difference of thoughts, beliefs, religion, ethnicity, language, cuisines, etc. that exists between individuals and groups. The behavior of a person in a social setup is an attribute of his or her cultural values or the culture to which he or she belongs. Importance of culture in business The spread of globalization has brought some drastic changes in the business world. Companies from all over the world are now trying to expand their operations in new markets that can offer them an increased potential and are also establishing cross border connections with other business organizations. In cross border communications, culture plays an important role as people belonging to different countries have different cultural backgrounds and their behavior can be a factor of their cultural values. While communicating with people from different cultural backgrounds, it is important to have knowledge about their culture because what is normal in a persons culture, it might be offensive to the other person. As a result, the spread of globalization has brought around a need to attain cultural knowledge while planning to communicate across borders. Cross cultural management cultural differences between Australia and Japan Japan is a country that is located in East Asia and has an estimated population of 126,740,000. The country has a GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of $5.420 Trillion as of 2017 and is the third largest economy in the world. On the other hand, Australia is a country that is located on Oceania and has an estimated population of 24,676,900. The country had a GDP of $1.189 Trillion in 2016 and is considered to be a wealthy country. The two countries carry out a lot of business with each other as their policies and status compliments each other. During 2015-16, Japan was Australias third largest partner in terms of trade as Japan is the second largest export market for Australia. Australia too imports goods from Japans, such a passenger vehicles, refined petroleum, goods vehicles and gold (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade , 2017). Hofstedes cultural dimensions Named after the proposer of the theory Geert Hofstede the Hofstedes cultural dimension theory is a work that aims at getting a better understanding of cross cultural communication. In his theory, he used certain cultural dimensions to study the effect of culture on the behavior of a society (Hofstede, 2011). These cultural dimensions are power distance, individualism, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance, long-term orientation and indulgence. A comparison of Japans and Australias culture on the basis of Hofstedes cultural dimension is given below: Power distance Australia scores 36 on this dimension while Japan has a score of 54 on the power distance index. This implies that the Japanese are more concerned about their position in the organizational hierarchy as compared to the Australians (Hofstede-Insights, n.d.). Individualism Australia scores 90 on the individualism index whereas Japan has a score of 46. This implies that in the Japanese society, people like to be a part of a collective society. On the other hand, the Australian culture scores very high on individualism and has a very loosely knit society (Frost, 2013). The Australians look after themselves and the employees are expected to be self-reliant. Masculinity Australia scores 61 on the masculinity index while Japan has a very high score of 95 in this index. According to the Australian culture, achievements and success are an important part of life and most of the hiring or promotion decisions are based on them. On the other hand, Japan is one of the most masculine societies in the world. The competition between individuals is severe in the Japanese culture and they compete with one another in all walks of life. Uncertainty avoidance Australia scores 51 on the uncertainty avoidance index while Japan has a high score of 92. Japan, with a score of 92, is one of the most uncertainty avoiding countries in the world. Japan has been subjected to a number of natural and man-made disasters in the past and this very fact has forced the country to become peculiar about each and everything that they do (Advantagepartnershipexecutivesearch, n.d.). As a result, they avoid uncertainties as much as they can. On the other hand, Australia scores an intermediate score of 51 on this scale. Long-term orientation Australia has a score of 21 on the long-term orientation index while Japan has a score of 88. Japan is a society that believes in basing its decisions on long-term goals and objectives rather than aiming for short-term goals or objectives. On the other hand, Australia has a normative culture and have a greater need for quick results. Indulgence Australia is considered to be an indulgent country with a score of 71 while Japan scores 42 when it comes to indulgence. The Australians have a higher willingness to realize their impulses and desires and like to indulge in fun loving activities (Radford, et al., 1993). On the other hand, Japan with a score of 42 has a culture where the people show a restrain towards their impulses and desires. Cultural and communication challenges between Australia and Japan As discussed above, Australia and Japan conduct a lot of business with each other despite a large difference between their cultural values. The cultural differences between the two countries can be clearly observed by comparing them using Hofstedes cultural dimensions. Therefore, it is important for business organizations, belonging to both the countries, to have a complete knowledge about each others cultural values so that they can communicate with each other without misunderstandings or unintentionally offending each other. Some important things, with respect to culture, that an Australian must keep in mind while doing business with a Japanese entity are discussed below: First of all, one of the major cultural issue that an Australian is likely going to face, while getting into business with a Japanese, is related with the language differences. Japanese speak English better on phone than in person. A Japanese employee would try to avoid communicating in English during face-to-face conversation because of his or fear to make a blunder and lose reputation (Lay, 2006). As a result, an Australian must keep it in mind that there will be a linguistic difference between the two of them. Secondly, for an Australian to build effective relations with his Japanese counterpart, it is important for him to act with integrity, demonstrate exceptional listening skills and show verbal expressiveness as these are some of the traits that can easily impress a Japanese person. Furthermore, the Japanese society prefers face-to-face communication over other modes of communication. Japanese have a tendency to perceive written material, visual aids, graphs, pictures, etc. as offensive and unfriendly. On the other hand, the Australians have a tendency to adopt tones during communication and use written or graphical material for communicating their idea in a better way. Thus, an Australian can offend a Japanese if he or she is unaware about this cultural difference. Thirdly, when in Japan, the Japanese have a tendency to make offers for things and utilities that they think are important and might be required by their guest. On the other hand, a guest demanding something from the Japanese can offend a Japanese person as they do not consider it to be polite. Therefore, an Australian dealing with a Japanese must not demand anything from him or her, until they offer it themselves. Fourthly, it is evident from the Hofstedes cultural dimension model, Japan is a country that believes that power is highly distributed in the society and believes in a system of hierarchy. In Japan, the performance of the employees is evaluated by their seniors and it is not considered to be wise to leave the office before the superiors leave. On the other hand, Australians do not believe much in power distribution and attach a great importance to work-life balance. For Australians, leaving before their superior will not be a big deal. Furthermore, age is considered to be a definition of a persons seniority in the Japanese culture. For an Australian, it is important to treat Japanese elders differently than the way in which he or she would deal with the younger ones (Martinuzzi, n.d.). Therefore, Australians should keep that in mind that they have to respect the power or the position that a Japanese holds in his organization hierarchy while communication or dealing with him. Fifthly, Japan is a country that tends to avoid uncertainties as much as they can. Before taking a firm decision, they are more likely to analyze even the minutest details of the deal. On the other hand, the Australians have a higher tendency to avoid uncertainties. Therefore, an Australian carrying out business with his or her Japanese counterpart must be patient while negotiating with them as they can take time to finalize their decision. Sixthly, Japanese preferences during communication can greatly vary as compared to that of an Australian. In Japanese, it is a common saying that hear one, understand ten (Kopp, 2012). Japanese believe that during a conversation, if 10% of the information is expressed verbally then the remaining 90% of the conversation is communicated through non-verbal communication and should be understood by the other party. On the other hand, Australians are very particular about the information that they share in their conversation and might demand more details from their Japanese counterparts. Seventhly, privacy is very important in Japanese culture. The Japanese like to maintain their privacy and are reserved in nature. Therefore, for an Australian, who wants to do business with a Japanese, it is very important to avoid getting into personal details in the beginning phase of establishing a relation because the Japanese are such private people that they can even get their names removed from another persons phonebook if they want. Eighthly, the Japanese culture is a high context culture i.e. they place more value to the information that is shared through non-verbal cues, such as body language, eye contact, behavior, etc. whereas the Australian culture is a low context culture i.e. they place more value to information shared through written documents, contracts, etc. Therefore, an Australian must keep it in mind that his non-verbal cues are being perceived by his Japanese counterpart and an unintentional move might end up offending the Japanese person. Lastly, meetings for the Japanese are not what the Australians might think it is. In Australian culture, a maximum of two to three people can be sent for a meeting if themanagement feels that they have acquired all the information that they should (Friedman, 2014). For Japanese, a meeting is an opportunity to collect information and they can send as many as 20 people for a meeting. Thus, the Australians should consider this fact and keep it in mind. Recommendations/Conclusion There are a significant number of differences between Australia and Japan, which can make business dealing difficult between an Australian and a Japanese. An Australian who wants to establish effective business relations with a Japanese should definitely study the Japanese culture in detail and learn their preferences, communication patterns, mannerism, etc. before starting to build a relation because relations really matter in the Japanese culture and it can become difficult for an Australian to establish effective relations if he or she is not aware about the Japanese culture. References Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade , 2017. Japan country brief. [Online] Available at: https://dfat.gov.au/geo/japan/pages/japan-country-brief.aspx[Accessed 10 October 2017]. Hofstede-Insights, n.d. COUNTRY COMPARISON. [Online] Available at: https://www.hofstede-insights.com/country-comparison/australia,japan/[Accessed 9 October 2017]. Frost, A., 2013. Japanese Culture and Hofstedes Five Dimensions. [Online] Available at: https://restaurantkyoto.dk/blog/en/japanese-culture/[Accessed 10 October 2017].management Advantagepartnershipexecutivesearch, n.d. Cultural Differences between Australia and Japan. [Online] Available at: https://www.advantagepartnershipexecutivesearch.net/26871c9c-9d3e-4437-939c d8cc9626829f.html[Accessed 10 October 2017]. Radford, M. H., Mann, L., Ohta, Y. Nakane, Y., 1993. Differences between Australian and Japanese Students in Decisional Self-Esteem, Decisional Stress, and Coping Styles. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology , 1 September. Hofstede, G., 2011. Dimensionalizing Cultures: The Hofstede Model in Context. Online Readings in Psychology and Culture, 2(1). Lay, G. C. C., 2006. The Influences of Culture on Differences in Australian and Japanese Communicative Behavior and Work Styles, s.l.: s.n. Kopp, R., 2012. Articles of Interest. [Online] Available at: https://www.japanintercultural.com/en/news/default.aspx?newsid=204[Accessed 10 October 2017]. Martinuzzi, B., n.d. DOING BUSINESS IN JAPAN: 10 ETIQUETTE RULES YOU SHOULD KNOW. [Online] Available at: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/openforum/articles/doing-business-in-japan-10-etiquette-rules-you-should-know/ [Accessed 10 October 2017]. Friedman, S., 2014. 6 Things You Need To Know About Doing Business In Japan. [Online] Available at: https://www.businessinsider.com/6-things-to-know-about-business-in-japan-2014-6?IR=T[Accessed 10 October 2017].