Thursday, October 31, 2019

Managing and training a global workforce Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Managing and training a global workforce - Essay Example Due to the importance of training companies have to device ways to become more effective at training a global workforce. The managing of employees internationally requires the use of sound management techniques. The business structure of a company affects the way employees are managed. Centralized and decentralized management systems function very differently. In a centralized management system all decisions are made at the top level, while in a decentralized system employees are also involved in the decision making (Blurit). Getting employees involved is a great way to instill confidence in the workers and to establish good labor relations. There are different factors that affect a company’s abilities to manage a global workforce. Four of those factors are cultural differences, language, currency differences, and regulatory variations (Gordon). The cultural differences among workforces affect a company’s ability to manage its workforce. Japanese culture is very male or iented. It would not be a good strategy for an American company to put an American woman in charge of a Japanese factory. In the United States women have equal employment opportunity, but there still exist a glass ceiling for women to get into managerial positions. During the next five years there will be more women at the top managerial positions of companies. ... Regulatory variations affect the way a company manages a global staff. The normal work week in France is 35 hours, while in the United States the normal work week is 40 hours (Itodt). The training of employees in global settings is extremely important. Due to the distance barriers companies that have headquarters in the United States or Europe have to adapt their strategies to train its staff located across the 200 countries in the world. A technique that can help multinational corporations implement training sessions faster and in a more efficient manner is the use of online training tools. An online training can be created customized to the needs of the global staff. Language barriers can be eliminated by creating the training in the native language of the population. One of the advantages of online training is the flexibility of implementation. Companies can choose to give the online lessons during working hours or to allow the employees to take the training sessions on their own time. Employees can assess the company’s intranet online to take the training. In order to be fair and to motivate employees to take the training session seriously companies can pay financial incentives upon successful completion of an online training taken at home. Due to issues associated with cultural factors another option companies can utilize to train its global workforce is to hire domestic consulting companies from the foreign location. For example a US company would hire a HR consulting specialist in China to train the employees from its Chinese operation. The use of this strategy can achieve better results because these firms have special insight into the cultural factors that motivate the employees from

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Differences Between Capitalism and Socialism Assignment

Differences Between Capitalism and Socialism - Assignment Example Remarkable progress was achieved in the fields of infrastructure development and industrialization and the capitalist maximized their profits, but the state of affairs of the labor class of the society remained the same. As the standard of living of the elite class and the capitalists increased with the increased productivity, the disparity and discrepancy between different social classes went on to increase and the lower classes started to protest about their miserable status of living. This led to the development of another socioeconomic ideology which was later called socialism. Socialist thinkers such as Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels declared that state is responsible for safeguarding the basic rights of each and every individual of the society and the ultimate objective of the states should be to provide better services all the classes of the society, irrespective of their financial status (Balcerowicz, 1995). Capitalism Capitalism is a system of economics in which the producti on and the distribution is the ownership of individuals or corporations and the development is proportional to the accumulation and the reinvestment of the profits generated in a free market economy. In simple words the person or the group of persons who have invested its capital, and thus put their money on risk, are entitled to enjoy absolute authority over production and distribution and also the profits generated through the investment of capital. The industrial revolution compelled a considerable number of people living in rural areas to move to the cities in order to enjoy the advantages of industrial revolution. This led to the concept of buying the services of people in return of wages and thus a working class was created in the society, but in contrast to the aspirations of the common people, the working class could not improve their working conditions because they were considered as a means of maximizing profit by the capitalists and were exploited bitterly (Davis & Scase, 1987). The pioneers of capitalism advocate increase in productivity as the greatest advantage of this economic system which results in the economic growth of the society and thus the living standard of each and every individual is improved because resources are utilized to their fullest. Moreover the competition in a free market economy improves the quality of the product which is being produced. However, in the early days with the absence of labor laws and human rights protection agencies capitalism resulted in the exploitation of the labor class by the elite and the promises of better living conditions and improved quality could not be realized. The desire of the capitalists to maximize profits makes the economy money-oriented which promotes a materialistic approach of running the economy. This approach made capitalism very unpopular among the lower classes of the society in the 19th and 20th centuries and thus the new systems of economics like socialism and communism were adopte d as new social ideologies. During the later part of the 20th century, labor laws were formulated and made strong and human rights charters were adopted which greatly improved the state of affairs of the working class in capitalism. The development of these laws and some other laws related to trade and free market economy has helped capitalism to emerge as the strongest and the most-practiced system of economy and a new

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Presentation of War in Literature | The Man He Killed and Dulce Er Decorum Est

Presentation of War in Literature | The Man He Killed and Dulce Er Decorum Est The Man He Killed by Thomas Hardy (1840-1928), and Dulce et Decorum est, by Wilfred Owen explore the theme of war, they both take similar views on life during and after the treacherous times that war created, and its lasting effects. However, the poets choose to display these feelings through their poetry in different ways. In Hardys poem, the poet adopts the person of a war veteran in the Boer war. The poem is about his actions in this war and their lasting effects. In Dulce Decorum est, the poet prefers to take a step back, he is not as directly involved as Hardy, yet he continues to get his message across very effectively by describing the horrors he witnessed. Though the poems were written in different wars the messages they portray are very similar as the poems do not divulge into the actual wars they were based on, but, instead on the inner dynamics of war on a whole. Wilfred Owen is known as being one of the most famous poets of the First World War. He wrote Dulce et Decorum Est while he served as a soldier in the appalling conditions of the trenches. Dulce et Decorum Est gives a distressing account of the futility of war, generated from his own personal experiences. It was composed during the summer of 1917 when Owen wrote a series of poems about the war. The preface to this collection was My subject is War, and the pity of War. This shows Owens view to war and his purpose for writing the poems was to show the disgusting horror that war created to an ill-informed and uneducated audience back at home in England. Though the war made Owen famous it ultimately led to his demise a year later. The Man He Killed by Thomas Hardy was written to express Hardys beliefs. Hardy felt that war was inhuman, he despised the heartlessness atrocity between men. The poem is specifically addressed to the Boer War, which Hardy was passionately against. The poem may seem very simple at first but in fact it is a very skilful one, it is hampered with irony and Hardy makes interesting use of colloquialism (writing in a conversational style). Hardy titled the poem The Man He Killed, in the third person. However, the poem is narrated in the first person. The person in the poem, the he in the title and I in the poem, is clearly a soldier of the Boer war attempting to explain and perhaps clarify the reasons to kill another man in battle. The short lines, simple rhyme scheme, and colloquial language make the poem almost like pleasant nursery rhyme as it is so simple and easy to read, however, this is an ironic contrast to its less than pleasant subject. In Dulce et decorum est, Owen is showing how the press and public at home were comforting themselves in the belief that all the young men dying in the war were dying noble, heroic deaths. Owen on the other hand, shows how the reality was quite different; the young men were dieing horrible and obscene deaths in the trenches. I believe that Owen wanted to open the eyes of the reader to what was really going on in the war to illustrate how vile and inhumane war really is. The first line sets the tone for the rest of the poem Bent double, like old beggars under sacks. He uses the simile like old beggars to show how the average soldier was not being treated nobly or with respect but like someone the lowest class (a beggar). It also shows how the young, vibrant boys who signed up had the life taken out of them by the war and were becoming old well before it was their time. This put the reader in the right frame of mind about the war, it casts out any false pretences they had about the war and opens their eyes to the inhumane truth war created. He uses bitter imagery like coughing like hags and But limped on, blood shod. All went lame; all blind; Drunk with fatigue to show how these apparent youthful and strong men had been broken by the war and become prematurely old and weakened. Owen takes pity on these tired and weary soldiers as he describes them in the most unglamorous, inglorious manner. Similarly, in The Man He Killed, Hardy also banishes a common misconception about war, that killing a man was a dignified and noble thing to do. In the first stanza Hardy establishes that things could have been different in more favourable circumstances between him and his foe: Had he and I but met they could have had a drink together By some old ancient inn. However, in the second stanza, Hardy shows the true circumstances in which they did meet, which is in stark contrast to the first stanza. Ranged as infantry Hardy once again reemphasises the point that the men are not natural foes but have been ranged, which means that they have been set against each other by someone elses decision. The phrase as he at me indicates they are both in similar situations. This tells the reader how your foe may have been your friend in indifferent circumstances but because someone higher has said they are your enemy means you must kill them, in essence you must banish your own moral and personal view s on the person you are about to kill because someone has told you, falsely, it is your duty to kill them. Like Owen, Hardy takes pity on the soldiers, as it is not their fault, as he shows it is kill or be killed in war. In The Man He Killed, Hardy also exhibits the dark side of man, especially his capacity for violence and cruelty. He does this in the last stanza where concludes with a repetition of the contrast between his treatment of the man he killed and how he might have shared hospitality with him in other circumstances, Youd treat, if met where any bar is, or even been ready to extend charity to him Or help to half a crown. Before this he says that war is quaint and curious, as if to say war was is bit of a harmless puzzle. This may give the impression that war is undamaging and acceptable, but as the reader now knows from the events described in the poem and the knowledge he already has of war, make it clear that Hardy applies this phrase quaint and curious with great irony, knowing full well that this statement is far from the truth. It forces the reader, through Hardys irony, to divulge deeper into the ethics behind war and the brutality and inhumanity it creates, and to consider how human s are often victims of sheer circumstance and fate, which has lead them to take another persons life. Hardy has very cleverly through colloquial language and simple statements, made the reader think as though they have made a judgment of whether war is right or wrong on their own, when really Hardy has inconspicuously made that decision for them. Furthermore, Owen also shows how war has changed man into a killing beast. He concentrates on the use of mustard gas, a new devastating weapon used in the First World war. If inhaled without the protection of a mask, the gas quickly burns away the lining of the respiratory system. Owen shows this as he compares the soldier who has breathed in the toxic fumes with a man consumed in fire or lime. When you have breathed in the fumes, it is of often compared with drowning, as mustard gas effectively drowns people in the blood from their own lung tissues. Owen then skilfully uses a metaphor to tie into the drowning theme as he says As under a green sea, I saw him drowning. This was because Mustard gas had a green colour, he calls it a sea to show how it was impossible to get away from. Owen continues this aquatic theme as he views this floundring man as if through an underwater mask, Dim through the misty panes. This gives the impression that Owen was unable to fully access the situation through his gas mask, there is also a helplessness felt by Owen as there is nothing he can do, which adds to the surreal and nightmarish atmosphere of the poem, in all my dreams, before my helpless sight. This dream then becomes a harsh reality as the guttering, choking soldier plunges at the helpless speaker, seeking help, in an effort to escape his inevitable death, Owen uses triple emphasis to engrave this astringent image in the readers head. Owen can do nothing for the man; there is still a feeling of responsibility and guilt. This vivid imagery creates a bleak image in the readers mind, Owen is trying to make them question whether the suffering and torture created by war is really worth it. His despair at war and the loss of morals it results in are shown in phrase sores on innocent tongues, as Owen realizes that this soldier, though he is fighting in a war, is innocent and there was no reason for him to die in this way. Owen then uses alliteration to further emphasize the inh umanities man does to man by describing the soldiers slow death, he repeats initial consonant sounds in closely related words wagon, watch, white, writhing. Owen then continues to use bitter imagery combined with similes such as, Like a devils sick of sin to describe the soldiers dying face. This exceptionally dramatic imagery creates a lasting and distressing impression on the reader, as Owen reveals the true horrors that go on during times of war. In The Man He Killed, Hardy illustrates that the reason for killing a man because they are your foe is not good enough. This is shown in the third stanza. The colloquial style Hardy uses enables him to repeat the word because, when he is trying to justify the reason for killing the man, implying hesitation, and therefore doubt as he doesnt know why he killed him. He uses repetition of my foe and the of course this also shows that there is an element of doubt as the speaker tries to convince himself of his justification for the killing. Hardy has already made it clear that the men fighting each other because of an artificial hostility created by others. He adds at the end of the stanza Thats clear enough which is obviously ironic, as the reason for killing is far from clear to the reader because of the reasons above. The last word of the stanza although ultimately destroys the whole entire believability of the reason he has just given. I believe the main point of this poem is to show that there is never a good enough reason to kill another man. Hardy shows this through illustrating how these men would have been friends if they had met under different circumstances yet because someone has said they were there enemy this was a good enough reason to take the other persons life, thus showing how war is a pointless and frivolous act. On the other hand, in Dulce et Decorum est, Owen in not against the reasons why soldiers are killing each other but the fact that these young, innocent and possibly naive men were signing up based on the belief that it is sweet and fitting to die for your country (which is Dulce et decorum est the title of the poem in Latin). At the end of the last stanza, Owen sums up the poem. Owen speaks directly to reader calling the reader my friend, this draws the reader into the poem. He says you would not tell with such high zest, to say directly to the reader that if they had witnessed the horror that he had witnessed then the readers attitude towards the war would change. Therefore, the reader would not repeat patriotic slogans to make people sign up, To children ardent for some desperate glory. The title of the poem Dulce et decorum est is used with a certain sense of irony as the poem is all about how it is not sweet and fitting to die for your country. However, Owen abandons this irony a nd just says The old Lie, showing how more soldiers will die in the circumstances of the fallen soldier in this poem, if the reader continues to spread that lie to young men who have been blinded by this sense of patriotic duty to their country. The final line brings about the full chilling effect of the poem Pro patria mori: to die for ones country. Owen shows how people are signing up to the war on lies like Dulce et decorum est, however, this is far from the truth as nobody deserves to suffer the fate of the fallen soldier in the poem for their country. Within Dulce et Decorum Est the poet utilises a variety of powerful poetic devices in order to depict death in war as a brutal and horrifying experience. It is through the use of this simile that the poet arouses the sympathy of the responder as they witness the grotesque nature of such a death. In Dulce et Decorum est Owen masterfully uses a variety of potent poetic devices to depict the horrifying nature of death in a war to stimulate a response from the reader. He uses metaphors and similes to provoke sympathy for the people who were dying in the war, as the reader witnesses the grotesque death of the soldier who died in the poem. By doing this Owen portrays his message in a very bold and tasteful way. In The Man He Killed Hardy uses a colloquial style of writing combined with an ABAB rhyme scheme, this makes the poem very easy to read and long lasting. Hardy uses slang to get the reader involved in the poem, this allows Hardy to make a strong point in highlighting the irony behind how war can turn friend into foe simply by association and sway the reader against war. Both poems are against war and the reasons and ethics behind them. Though Hardy uses a more direct approach to get his point across, both poems successfully complete the objective that the poets had for them , which was to open the readers eyes to the true reality of war.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Re-engineering the Corporation by Michael Hammer and James Champy Essay

Re-engineering the Corporation by Michael Hammer and James Champy Michael Hammer and James Champy became the uncontested "experts" to the corporate world for their blueprint of re-engineering. Why? What magical formula did these two individuals profess would make America great again? This essay will take a critical look at Hammer and Champy's book, Re-engineering the Corporation. Does this book have merit? Is it based on sound principles? It does not matter whether you agree or not, it only matters that you consider all the viewpoints.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  "Moreover, image becomes all-important in competition, not only through name-brand recognition but also because of various associations of 'respectability,' 'quality,' 'prestige,' 'reliability,' and 'innovation.' Competition in the image-building trade becomes a vital aspect of inter-firm competition. †¦" (David Harvey, The Condition of Postmodernity: 1989 page 288) What image did Hammer and Champy paint with their book? Let's begin with the title, "Reengineering the Corporation A Manifesto for Business Revolution". It is my contention that they [Hammer and Champy] wrote this book to profit on their knowledge and as such used a title that would embrace both the employer [Reengineering the Corporation] and the worker [A Manifesto for Business Revolution]. While both the employer and worker are concerned with the never-ending battle of "power and control" in the workplace, the employer also strives for greater profits [private company] or in a public sector are na, providing services more efficiently. The worker on the other hand is concerned with compensation [wages and benefits], job security, health and safety and advancement within the organization.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  However it is not only the title that is attractive to the Employer. The book cover has been designed to legitimize Hammer and Champy. Who would not want to read a book that was a "National Bestseller" printed by "HarperBusiness Essentials"? Furthermore, Peter Drucker [respected in the business world] has provided positive reinforcement that this is "An important book that describes the principles behind a new [my emphasis] and systematic [my emphasis] approach to structuring [my emphasis] and managing [my emphasis] work." (Hammer /Champy: 2001) As well, the back cover not only provides the necessary kudos for Hammer and Champy, it also hints to the unspeakable ... ...roach suggests that what is necessary is to reinterpret the current status and to accept that the subordinates are already powerful, rather than attempt to reverse what already exists."(IDRL 317: Book of Readings 2005 pg. 56) It would be narrow-minded to state that Hammer and Champy only became the "gurus" for reengineering because of image, however, their approach to the new work organization is neither new nor the only model to choose from. New technology has opened the floodgates for a more flexible and diverse workforce. Globalization has become the driving force behind the need for corporations to reengineer. Hammer and Champy did not have a magical formula but they were the first individuals to put common sense to paper. It is something to think about when considering reengineering. References: Reengineering the Organization, Study Guide, IDRL 317, 2005, Athabasca University Grint, Keith Reengineering History: Social Resonances and Business Process Reengineering, IDRL 317 Book of Readings 2005 Athabasca University Hammer M., Champy J. Reengineering the Corporation, HarperBusiness Essentials, 2001 Harvey D., The Condition of Postmodernity, Blackwell, 1989

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Competitive advantages

Competitive Advantages Competitive advantage exist when an organization acquires or develops a combination of attributes that allows it to outstrip Its rivals. These properties can Include access to natural resources, such as Inexpensive power or high grade ores, or skilled personnel human resources and admission to highly developed. Competitive advantage can occur using new technologies such as robotics and information technology can provide, whether increase the percentage of the merchandise itself, as an advantage to the fashioning of the product, or as a competitive aid in the equines process.Tests is the market leader in the grocery retail market. Tests have reached this status by base on their competitive advantage to compete on grounds of pricing and distribution schemes. Tests also sustains and maintain its competitive advantage through product portfolio expansion and strategic competitive pricing to get and hold its status. The best reasons for the great competitive advantag e of Tests can be found from the way it reacted to the increase of the internet.The patient and dynamic approach enabled them to build and construct a sound long-term volts of hat the Internet meant for the core client of the company and to what kinds of actions that would take from the Tests. As a consequence of the early launch, when the expectations towards the Internet based commercial enterprises began to develop, Tests already been evolving the online help for a twosome of years. Tests is a purely online grocery retailer Scads 10 year Journey has been a noteworthy good story, as it has been able to exist in the very competitive online grocery market.It stays to be determined whether the Coda way with only warehouses becomes the sustainable or the good way to operate in the online grocery market. But, Tests and its competitions are well matched to make a motion to that model should the enough demand pick up. After that happens, they are well equipped by using the stores for bot h the rapidly growing click & collect and home delivery. Teaches foresight and clarity around the selected vision has rendered It almost 50% market share In a swiftly growing the market.Carefully emerging competitors or evaluate established In the crestless Industry to Identify their strong suits. Look at their weaknesses and opportunities creates for a new society to make a footing in the securities industry by addressing those gaps. It also evaluate companies that have create a leadership spot in other market places for lessons and ideas on how competitive advantages can effectively be built up. Review what is known about the competitive landscape to understand reason in the outside environment that may be a source by the competitive advantage.Then, the name of the competitive advantages for these companies have developed as well as the business strategies they have put into place for capitalize on them. With the continuous innovation and improvement companies are capable to suppl y customized products to Increase the number of clients. At the same time, clients are getting the benefit of the competitive marketplace environment, The exertion to provide best possible services to customers enables a company to make It In the rolled competition. At the same times, that company reaches an edge over its contenders and can glean the benefits (I. . The current business environment the companies with maximum number of customers and market share will have a competitive edge over others. For this company are striving to offer the best retailing services and ease the process of shopping. Competitive advantages that companies receive from online ordering services include: . Increased market share: more and more customers find it easy to buy online. A user friendly web site and app will attract more people. 2. Companies can get the â€Å"economies of scale† advantage.By this way companies are capable to provide discounted prices on products with attractive promotio n schemes. 3. Client Database: One of the best advantages that supermarkets can get from online ordering services is to maintain a customer database. This database keeps the track of customers' purchases, their picks and shopping trends. Companies using market intelligence can apply this data in several ways in order to provide best revises to their clients. Analysis Existing Competitor And Global Strategies Tests introduced the latest superstore concept in Britain.After a few years from the appearance superstore became very famous for its full range of products at competitive cost. After that, Tests introduced its first gas station, which had the lowest price for petrol but was adjacent to Tests superstore. Tests overtook from Ginsburg and became a I-J largest supermarket. Entering foreign markets in the beginning half of the ass were built primarily by buying existing stores or Joining the domestic retail leader. In year 1997 expansion in Asia market began from acquiring 13 shops from the CAP Group in Thailand and formed Tests Lotus.In 1999 market was reached by Joining with Samsung entrance to the South Korea. After that, loyalty card was introduced by Tests, branded ‘Club card', in year 1995. This card was given discount to customer but what is more important is this card gave an opportunity or chance to keep a hand on a pulse of customers need and to collect all data for future planning. New goals were set for expansion of the foreign market and developing of a non-food products. Every little helps† is the main advertising slogan appeared from Deco's.This advertisements in print and on television mainly include of product shots or an appropriate image against a white ground, and also include a price or appropriate text, for example â€Å"Tests Value†. On video, voiceless are provided by recognizable actors and sponsors, such as James Newsiest, Jane. Next, Deco's famous loyalty card. Club card still can be identified as the most successf ul strategy that makes for a huge role in financial profitability upkeep for Tests. Brand Tests can increase and hold its customer base because of its fixed tendency to attics client demands, customizing service to maintain lower prices.Masses tend to fill more of their needs in one topographic point and in shorter time, it indicates a requirement for large chains to extend their services into new markets as banking, Fairly traded products as tea, deep brown and cocoa are viable, and such merchandise is nowadays widely available on the majority of big chains. In 2005 Tests had the biggest range of fair-trade products in the I-J, it was represented by 91 fair-trade product line. However, distinguishing with the overall context of the 0,000 product lines it looks rather tiny (0. 2%) achievement by supporting third-world countries.In addition, there are prove that supermarkets exploiting customer goods will by overcharging for fair trade merchandise. â€Å"The supermarkets know that p eople do not work for the most inexpensive product when buying fair trade because they believe the surplus money is helping someone in the training world. † John McCabe. In international expansion Tests took to attention difference in preferences between different countries. It also very big attention was devoted to customers' needs usually t was implement in the product line. For example in the Czech Republic, Tests most focus on providing Czech products in retail stores.But in China, the locals opted to buy live fish, meat and other famous products such as instant noodles, unlike in European nations. Similarly in Thailand, the customers spent a vast balance of their salary or income for fresh foods. To adapt to the shopping habits of the Thai customers, Tests build a new market hall with is an area contiguous to the main store, where in 14 local vendors sold a range of meat, fresh fruits, veggies and other local food. This arena was planned to supply the Thai customers with traditional and local ambiance.On 1997, Tests announced the purchase of the retail branch of Associated British Foods, which consisted of the Crazy Prices chains in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, as well as associated businesses for IEEE Meg. This acquisition made it both a major presence in the bigger presence in Northern Ireland than Sunburst's and a Republic of Ireland. Deco's non-food marked faced a biggest competition level in KGB from such giants like Marks&Spenser and USDA. In the beginning of the entrance to the Hungarian market main competition was presented by little family-run stores, which served immediate needs to customers.The strategy against it was introduced more than 1000 its own label products at 20% cheaper price compare with branded ones. Deco's international expansion strategy in Asia was primarily represented as Joint ventures with the domestic partner firms like Charger Backhand in Thailand and Samsung Group in South Korea due to sensitivity of domestic market for foreigners and a bit more complicated than the rest of the others. In these mergers local personnel have an assured quantitative domination in low and middle management posts. It also formulates not big acquisitions an important part of its expansion strategy.In 2005, Tests announced that it was selling its operations in Taiwan in Careful and purchasing Carouser's stores in the Slovakia and Czech Republic. This both companies said that they were concentrate on their efforts in rural areas where they experienced good market positions. In 2007 Tests decided to run its online operations head office in Switzerland because of tax reasons. This can allows it to sell CDC, DVD's and electronic games through its website. This chance or opportunity was decide by the government in June 2008.Tests has done a devotion to corporate social obligation, by contributing about 1. 87% of its pre-tax earnings to schools scheme†, offer the computers in return for hospitals and schools getting vouchers from people who shopping at Tests. Until year 2004, Meme of equipment belonged to these establishments. The schema has been also implemented in Poland. â€Å"BIT – Tests Computers for Schools† started during the 2005/2006 association football season the company now sponsors the Tests Cup. The cup now runs a boy's competition at Under 13 year old and two girl's cups at Under 14 year old and Under 16 year old.Over 40,000 boys alone Joining the 2007/2008 competitions. Tests was accused by the I-J Office of Fair Trading (OFT) for being a part of a price cartel among the top five I-J supermarkets such as Safely, Morrison, Tests, USDA, and Kingsbury. The investigation started in 2007 and in the same year USDA, Kingsbury and Safely adjudged them mistake of working against consumer or customer interest by covering of 5000 farmers support in recovering after the foot-and-mouth disease. On the other hand, Tests were maintain after deny any activity in th is cartel.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Globalization and World Trade Organization Essay

Often perceived as the strongest instrument of globalization and supporter of economic liberalism, the other facet of the World Trade Organization brings its existence as an adamant global regime. For the concerned reason, Debi Barker and Jerry Mander have called WTO as a form of ‘Invisible Government’ in one of their publications for the International Forum on Globalization (IFG). China and Globalization: Behind China’s ready reaction to globalization with full potential of leading the global economy, thinkers consider an aspiration to supplant the existing super power of the world. But for China, globalization is a double edged sword since it brings forth both the threats and favours for world’s fastest growing economy. According to Peter Drysdale, it is because of China’s access to the global market that it has reached the first rank among the developing countries of Asia. Exposure to foreign market free of trade barriers has provided with a number of opportunities to enhance the business circle of Chinese companies. In a matter of two decades starting from 1978 to 1997, China doubled its status in terms of its capital gains by elevating to the tenth position from the twentieth rank in the world’s economy. This fact suggests that China’s excel in the international trade does not completely depend on its entrance in the WTO. In fact the country had embarked its way towards economic pre-eminence long before joining WTO. This means that China’s success though boomed by WTO had its very beginning with the economic globalization. Attitudes of Chinese towards Globalization: Just like any other existing phenomenon in the scene of human existence, globalization cannot be confined in a single frame of thought and any rigid point of view merely makes it a matter of perception rather than rationality. With both the negative and positive impacts of globalization for China standing clear, there are three types of attitudes existing among people regarding the relentless process of globalization. According to Charles Andrews, there people advocate and favour one of the three stands namely, Pro-globalization, Anti-globalization and Reformist Approach. 1: Pro-Globalization: The first group of people hold a positive view of globalization for China by measuring the country’s success in terms of strengthening economic position in the global market and increasing cognizance of the world about China. Lin Yifu, a professor of economics at the University of Beijing, is among such people who vision no challenge of globalization to China. Pro-globalists involve a group of liberal minded people who condones the risks of globalization in favour the opportunities it has provided. 2: Anti-Globalization: Contrary to pro-globalization, Anti-globalization rejects every bright angle of increasing globalization. It is because integration is a two way process. When China permeates foreign countries, these countries are equally permitted to invade China’s domestic market. As many fruits and cereals are cheaper in the global market as compared to that of China’s, when the exporters of these goods invade China they leave the country men (whose livelihood depends on the agriculture) at the edge of starvation Apart from such risks, the anti-globalists also take an account of translational terrorism by cross-border criminal activities and the proliferation of weapons. Certain events of recent past also favour such allegations against globalization. It s because of the cross border criminal activities and stalking that events like 9/11 trampled one of the most lucrative economic centres of the world. Anti-globalists belong to various walks of life with their opposition to globalization in terms of their field. For instance, many linguists across the globe talk about linguistic genocide and the overwhelming role of English as a lingua franca which is causing the death of many regional languages. In short, for the group of people who are propelled to anti-globalization, ‘globalization is nothing but a trap. Jumping into this trap would crush the whole domestic industry, agriculture, and service sectors. ’ 3: Reformist Approach: The reformists hold a balanced point of view towards globalization. With an over all positive attitude towards globalization, they believe that while the advantages of globalization are long term, the short term threats of globalization for China cannot be ignored. For them, at one hand globalization means increased financial gains, growth of domestic industry by competition with foreign companies and aggrandizing compatibility of China with the global community. At the other hand, they also bring under consideration the issues like growing unemployment as a result of declining industries facing foreign competitions and by widening the gap between classes by further lowering down the farmers and other such people to a still lower status. The threat to the farmer’s livelihood is clear in China that has over-emphasized the manufacture of non-agricultural products in the wake of the last few years. Consequently, innumerable farmers of China were left with their decline resulting from unemployment. China and World Trade Organization: â€Å"The progressive integration of China into the world trading system- spurred by its membership of WTO in 2001- has provided China with secure, open and predictable export markets. † According to the economists, behind the rapid rise of China in the global economy lies one key factor: the entrance of China in the World Trade Organization. The economic and financial analysts of global market base this opinion on the foundation that the major boom of China occurred after 2001 (the time when China joined WTO). In the words of David Dollar, the World Bank country director for China, â€Å"Since China joined the WTO, its exports have grown at an average rate of 29 percent per year. † It was in December 2001 that China (the sixth largest economy with a population of 1. 3 billion at that time) joined the World Trade Organization. Previously China had remained one of the twenty three contracting countries of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Impacts of WTO membership on China’s Economy: After its membership of WTO, China’s trade rate increased rapidly from 44% to 72% in 2006. It was after a foresight into the future that China compromised on a number of WTO policies in order to enter into the WTO. These were the conditions that apparently conflicted with China’s economy. According to Gregory C. Chow of Princeton University, three most salient conditions for China included: 1. Declining the tariff rates on the import of goods from foreign countries. 2. Being conducive in the practice of free trade by letting the foreign companies sell their products directly in the domestic market of China. 3. Establishment of improved telecommunication and finance industry for the sake of increased competition. Contrary to the analysts’ expectations, both China’s macro economy and micro economy did not suffer a set back after its entrance into the WTO since the net results proved to be favourable thereby compensating the scanty amount of losses. With a rapid growth of China’s exports, its increasing imports do not appear to be a threat for the country’s economy. Impacts of WTO membership on China: China’s acceptance to become the member of the World Trade Organization was not merely a matter of flourishing its economy but a reason for a series of the country’s aims. According to Wayne M. Morrison, China saw a potential of playing a major role in trade laws of WTO and indirectly practice an economic hegemony. In the contemporary world with flourishing business and finance, the economic stability is often seen as a measuring stick to mark the countries’ over all power. So, China’s increasing economic strength does not only suggest its financial stability but its potential to become the super power in future. Morrison also believes that another major goal of China behind the membership is to maintain the status of Most Favored Nation and permanent normal trade relations. Even if the World Trade Organization holds a stringent policy for equal treatment of all nations, the bigger nations with their dominating presence somehow benefit as compared to the under developed countries. Previously, these privileges were dominantly celebrated by the U. S. Impact of WTO membership on China Banking Industry: It is the overwhelming effect of WTO membership that it has left not a single institution of the country untouched. With almost seven years of WTO membership and business people facing free trade, China’s financial sector is now open to foreign banks. This has exposed the customers to a number of innovative and improved management mechanisms and services. In the words of Wang Zhaoxing of the China Banking Regulatory Commission, â€Å"The introduction of competition and strategic investors will be conducive to improving innovation, management and profitability of domestic banks. † With considerable involvement of foreign banks into China, China’s leading banks including the Bank of China, China Construction Bank and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China have emerged as trusted names in the international banking. Although appearing as a threat for smaller banks, such a scenario is highly favourable for a Chinese customer because in either way, they would get better services.