Relation between business and culture free essay sample

To know before you go is an essential but often overlooked skill in the world of business. Competing in todays global economy means the successful business person must understand the relationship between culture and international business. Brush up on international etiquette, tips and customs. The advent and emerging popularity of the Internet changed the way we conduct business. It all but eliminated the geographic limitations of handling business affairs and negotiating trade. Now a corporation in Wyoming can conduct transactions with a company in Shanghai in real time. An automotive plant in Maine can order parts from Japan with the click of a mouse. Despite these advances, some things in the world of business have not changed. To be competitive in business and successful in professional dealings, companies have to understand how another countrys culture affects the way we do business with them. Brief definition of business: Business is an economic activity, which is related with continuous and regular production and distribution of goods and services for satisfying human wants. We will write a custom essay sample on Relation between business and culture or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page All of us need food, clothing and shelter. We also have many other household requirements to be satisfied in our daily lives. We met these requirements from the shopkeeper. The shopkeeper gets from wholesaler. The wholesaler gets from manufacturers. The shopkeeper, the wholesaler, the manufacturer are doing business and therefore they are called as Businessman. Brief defnition of culture: Culture describes the cumulative influences on a group of people or society–their collective knowledge, characteristics and learned behaviours. This knowledge is passed on from generation to generation and accounts for the different cultures that we can see around the world, for example Western culture, Eastern culture, Middle Eastern culture, African and Latin culture. Each of these cultures is defined by the values, traditions, social habits and behaviours, language, belief systems, concepts of the universe, dress, food, music and arts that they encompass. Culture determines what is acceptable or unacceptable, important or unimportant, right or wrong, workable or unworkable. It encompasses all learned and shared, explicit or tacit, assumptions, beliefs, knowledge, norms, and values, as well as attitudes, behavior, dress, and language. What is Business Culture? Companies that have to compete with others in the marketplace set themselves apart by their ability to interact on a personal level with their clients and vendors. Companies that conduct business internationally should take precautions not to offend their potential clients. They must understand that the slightest breach in etiquette can destroy years of positive relations. ex: It is John’s first trip overseas to meet a potential client in China for his company, ToysInc. Upon arrival he greets the first man he sees with a loud, boisterous hello and a firm hug. After being formally introduced, he calls his potential client by his first name, and shoves the business card he was given carelessly into his pocket. Later in the day he joins his new team for a business lunch where he arrives five minutes late. There John takes the initiative to begin eating, using a fork, and takes the last of the food on the table. During the meal he is loud, and makes an attempt to tell a joke when there is silence at the table. John’s outgoing, friendly personality makes him a great employee of Toys Inc. in the United States; however, his behavior with the Chinese clients could cost Toys Inc. their business. Communication and business practices vary greatly from country to country. It is important for business men and women to study the way business is conducted in other countries as there are very different norms for behavior across borders. This not only includes the way meetings and negotiations are run, but how greetings are done, whether gifts are appropriate, what types of verbal and non-verbal communication are used, as well as cultural attitudes. It is also imperative to learn how to behave in a social setting, because in many countries a personal relationship precedes that of a business relationship. Thomas Jaffee once said that first impressions- looking good and having a friendly greeting for someone- will go a long way. In business, this is much harder than it sounds because looking good and being friendly must be catered specifically to each culture. On a first encounter, eye contact, distance, introduction styles, dress, gifts, and language are all things that should be studied before a meeting takes place. In this research, two countries will be explored in details China and the United States of America. Appropriate Business Behavior in China Of these two countries, business culture in China is the most reserved, and is perhaps most unlike that of the United States. First and foremost, a contact should always be established before representatives of a business are sent to China. Trips to China are best if scheduled between the months of April to June, and September through October, when they will not conflict with any Chinese holidays (Morrison, Conaway, and Borden, 1994). On arrival, the business person should not touch people because touching makes the Chinese uncomfortable, especially if it is the first meeting. Inappropriate touching would include patting on the back or squeezing the arm. In China a light handshake is accepted, but the Chinese business associate should initiate the action. Bowing is common and is done with the palms together while facing each other. Holding eye contact is a sign of disrespect and should be done cautiously, especially in a social setting. When entering a room full of potential business partners, greeting the most senior person first is important, as is using appropriate titles. Sometimes the last name is said first in Chinese culture, and individuals will expect to be addressed formally until they say otherwise. Also, if greeted with applause, return the gesture. Chinese often show little to no emotion. Generally joking is not accepted because they may not interpret humor in the same way as others. Exchanging business cards is something of great importance in China. Business cards should be printed in both English and Chinese and in plain lettering. Cards should be accepted using both hands, read, and placed somewhere safe. It is inappropriate to write on another’s card in front of the person who gave it. Business dress in China is conservative and formal. Women should wear a high neckline, and should avoid high heels if they make them taller than their host. Gift giving should be done only after a relationship has developed, and should be modest . It is important to consider carefully what is given. Researching potential cultural superstitions and hidden meanings is a very good idea. For example, a clock, anything given in a group of four, and white flowers all symbolize death. If a gift seems appropriate for a particular business situation, a nice pen or cognac is a good choice. A gift received should not be opened immediately; it is polite to open it at a later time. Business Behavior in the United States In the United States, the first impression is key to a successful business relationship. Americans like direct eye contact and a firm handshake from a client or partner. They often perceive a weak handshake as a sign of weakness in all aspects of life. When being introduced, American business people typically give a full name but insist that they are called by their first name. citizens of the United States are the most casual in both addressing one another and in dress. When meeting in a purely social environment, the foreign business person should expect to come dressed casually, rather than in proper business attire . Americans tend to be very friendly and will go out of their way to say hello or wave from afar. Like the other cultures, business cards are given frequently but are not treated with the same amount of respect as other countries. They are usually presented after the first meeting with the other party rather than the beginning . In the United States, gift giving is not practiced very often and is discouraged by law, but it is still done in some settings. In two situations gifts are appropriate: if attending a function at the person’s home or after a deal is closed . The Impact of Cultural Differences Styles of communication, both verbal and nonverbal, are different in many cultures. Words and phrases can be interpreted differently, as can gestures. Something as simple as a nod can be interpreted in two completely different ways in two countries. Seating arrangements and the distance between two people are also something that varies form culture to culture. It is important to be sensitive to the place business is being conducted. Also important for the traveling business person, is to observe things like speaking volume, posture, touching, typical conversation, and how something is written. Business Negotiation and Acceptable Practices in China Negotiating business in China is very different from American practices. It is good practice to send the same representative to do business in China every time. This builds the strong, solid relationship that the Chinese prefer. While in a meeting, the Chinese will be very vague in their propositions so that those propositions may be adjusted in the future if needed. It would not be unusual to ask the same question in many different ways in order to test a potential partner for consistency, although this practice tries the patience of the other negotiating party . Losing face is an important issue in Chinese culture, so that confrontation and direct questioning should be avoided at all costs. It is considered rude to question authority, speak loudly, or to give a negative answer. In a negotiation only a leader should be singled out; it is important not to single out others. It is easy to spot the leader because he or she will be the only person speaking, and the one to make the final decisions. As the Chinese behave in a modest manner, a business partner, client, or employee should act accordingly. As an example, if one is selling something, it is preferable to solicit the opinions of others on the sale item, in addition to those of the seller. This will be appreciated much more . People of the Chinese culture are very reserved and hard working, and it is vital that visiting business people remain modest and polite while conducting business there. Business Practices in the United States When arriving for a scheduled meeting in the United States, the business person should be sure to be punctual or even a few minutes early. If a guest arrives late, Americans perceive them as being rude or highly disorganized. An action plan or agenda with a clear cut schedule is provided at almost all formal business meetings, and contracts are written out ahead of time. That way time is not wasted in the drafting of new contracts and previously contracts may be easily modified. In negotiating, American business people are more likely to be very open and direct, and normally do not enjoy haggling. The United States produces the fastest negotiators in the world. Although they are competitive, Americans value flexibility and spontaneity, and these characteristics play key roles when trying to close out a deal. Often Americans will accept subpar deals towards the end of a negotiation, due simply to an impatient desire to complete the transaction . Americans tend not to be comfortable with silence and will make every effort to maintain constant communication. Interruptions are not always welcomed either; in presentations all questions and comments should be held to the end of a gathering unless otherwise specified . In less formal business settings, Americans are more relaxed and place great emphasis on personal achievement. Fairness and the ability for a person to move up and down the business ladder are highly valued; however, businesses in the United States also value teamwork. Unlike many other countries, business in the United States is based on personal power rather than class, status or seniority. Hiring family or friends solely based on favoritism is completely unethical in the United States . Americans are not as reserved about their personal opinions and express themselves freely in the work environment, including giving input on important decisions. Managers tend to delegate many of their responsibilities, and it is not uncommon to see lower ranked employees questioning superiors. Decisions are made on all levels . Americans think big and are constantly planning for and anticipating the future. A job description is appreciated when interviewing because clear cut roles are preferred in a business environment. Once at a job, all employees are expected to be immediately loyal. Changing jobs is very common. A person does not usually stay at one job his or her entire career. Americans are risk takers; they are likely to take chances to achieve goals. In this environment, money equals power and status . Conclusion Every country has a different way of communicating and a unique way of doing business. Chinese tend to be reserved and patient and do not like to be pressured during negotiations and its relationships are developed before business takes place. For the United States of America,The emphasis is on deal making in it. Americans do not feel it is necessary to form a personal relationship before entering into a business contract with someone. A fast-paced, scheduled plan is the way negotiations are conducted, and for the most part, individuals in the United States do not like to haggle. This research has illustrated the importance of knowledge of other cultures as the key to reducing risk of failure in business relationships. Revisiting John’s trip to China from earlier, it is now easy to identify exactly what he did wrong. His company is also to fault for not making sure he was prepared to meet with Chinese clients before he was sent. Today, globalization is the norm, and it is important that people go to different  countries prepared to do business and behave in a socially acceptable manner. This includes having a sense of communication styles, being aware of body language, learning meeting and negotiation skills, dressing appropriately, giving proper greetings, and learning how social events are conducted. It is best to be sensitive to other cultures and always treat people with respect. Goethe once said, â₠¬Å"There is nothing more frightful than ignorance in action. † This applies to international business and business people should be aware that informed actions will be appreciated by all.

Cultural Assimilation essays

Cultural Assimilation essays Each year federal quotas permit a percentage of immigrants to migrate to the United States. The land of freedom and justice has opened its doors to those who seek new options and better opportunities. This is seen more in Miami-Dade County than in most American cities. Miami is developing and emerging into a dynamic and multicultural metropolis rather rapidly. The issue at hand is what occurs once residency is obtained in Miami-Dade County. As new immigrants increasingly concentrate in native-born minority neighborhoods, interaction among different ethnic groups becomes both more frequent and more important (Stepick). The rise of immigrant population affects education, sub cultural associations, and different native-born mindsets in which stereotypes for future generations are established. By age fifteen, substantial numbers of immigrant and native-born youth are at risk of reaching adulthood unable to adequately meet the requirements of the workplace, the commitments of relationships in families and with friends, and the responsibilities of participation in a democratic society...These youth are among the estimated seven million young people - one in four adolescents - who are extraordinarily vulnerable to school failure and multiple high-risk behaviors (Stepick). A very important factor of academic achievement is determined by students educational orientation, the students perception that education is or is not a path to success. Unfortunately, many native-born and immigrant school children underachieve, drop out, and fail to pursue higher education. Previous research has concentrated on why native minority students tend to adopt an adversarial academic orientation, while immigrant students incline toward a positive academic orientation (Stepick). As immigrants co ncentrate in native minority neighborhoods, interaction among different ethnic groups becomes more frequent and i...

Definition and Examples of the Colloquial Style

Definition and Examples of the Colloquial Style The term colloquial refers to a style of writing that conveys the effect of informal spoken language as distinct from formal or literary English. As a noun, the term is a  colloquialism. A colloquial style is commonly used, for example, in  informal  emails  and  text messages. You wouldnt use it where you need to sound professional, serious, or knowledgeable, such as in presentations, meetings, business letters and memos, and academic papers. As a literary device, it would be used in fiction and theater, especially in dialogue and internal narration of characters. Its more likely to be in lyrics as well. Colloquial writing is a conversational style, but its not writing exactly how you talk, either, Robert Saba said.  To do that would be bad writing - wordy, repetitive, disorganized.  A conversational style is  a default style, a  drafting  style, or point of departure that can serve as a consistent foundation for your writing. It is the style of a painter doing sketches for a painting, not the painting itself. Conversational writing as a style, then, is still more refined, composed, and precise than talking because of the ability to self-edit and polish the words. On using the conversational style in essays, critic Joseph Epstein wrote, While there is no firmly set, single style for the  essayist, styles varying with each particular essayist, the best general description of essayistic style was written in 1827 by  William Hazlitt  in his essay  Familiar Style.  To write a genuine familiar or truly English style, Hazlitt wrote, is to write as any one would speak in common conversation who had a thorough command and  choice of words, or who could discourse with ease, force, and perspicuity, setting aside all pedantic and  oratorical  flourishes. The style of the essayist is that of an extremely intelligent, highly commonsensical person talking, without stammer and with impressive  coherence, to himself or herself and to anyone else who cares to eavesdrop. This self-reflexivity, this notion of talking to oneself, has always seemed to me to mark the essay off from the lecture. The lecturer is always teaching; so, too, frequently is the critic. If the essayist does so, it is usually only indirectly. One should not go too informal in writing, either. According to Tracy Kidder and Richard Todd, Breeziness has become for many the literary mode of first resort, a ready-to-wear means to seeming fresh and authentic. The style is catchy, and catching, like any other fashion. Writers should be cautious with this or any other stylized jauntiness - especially young writers, to whom the  tone  tends to come easily. The colloquial writer seeks intimacy, but the discerning reader, resisting that friendly hand on the shoulder, that winning grin, is apt to back away. Mark Twains Style In fiction, Mark Twains skill with dialogue and ability to capture and portray dialect in his works are highly lauded and make his style and voice distinct.  Lionel Trilling  described it: Out of his knowledge of the actual speech of America Mark Twain forged a classic prose...[Twain] is the master of the style that escapes the fixity of the printed page, that sounds in our ears with the immediacy of the heard voice, the very voice of unpretentious truth. See this example from  Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, 1884: We catched fish and talked, and we took a swim now and then to keep off sleepiness. It was kind of solemn, drifting down the big, still river, laying on our backs looking up at the stars, and we didnt ever feel like talking loud, and it warnt often that we laughed - only a little kind of a low chuckle. We had mighty good weather as a general thing, and nothing ever happened to us at all - that night, nor the next, nor the next. George Orwells Style George Orwells goal in writing was to be clear and direct and to reach as many people as possible, ordinary folks, so his was not a formal or stilted style. Richard H. Rovere explains it this way: There is not much to do with [George] Orwells novels except read them. Nor is there much to be said about his style. It was colloquial in diction and sinewy in construction; it aimed at clarity and unobtrusiveness and achieved both. Orwells opening line of the novel 1984 starts simply yet jarringly, It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. (1949) Sources Composing to Communicate. Cengage, 2017Good Prose: The Art of Nonfiction. Random House, 2013 Introduction. The Best American Essays 1993. Ticknor Fields, 1993The Liberal Imagination, Lionel Trilling, 1950Introduction to The Orwell Reader, 1961

Writing a report about 4 presentations and discuss them each Coursework

Writing a report about 4 presentations and discuss them each presentation 2 pages - Coursework Example n time we may become addicted to the internet and this presentation allowed us to judge our usage of internet and whether we need to take steps to curtail our growing addiction. This topic is very important and should be taken up by every class. In terms of the presentation, I very acutely felt that at this level, groups should not be reading material from their notes or slides. They should come well-prepared. Even though the group was well dressed and presentable, they did not focus on delivering a strong presentation. The group was not very professional in my opinion and one member was too quiet. The final speaker did not seem well-rehearsed. Since the final speaker was not very convincing, at the conclusion, the presentation seemed to fall apart. Since the last part remains in the minds of the viewers the most, the presentation became weak due to this. The beginning and end should always be strong to retain interest of the viewers. The good point of the presentation was the fact that the group was able to properly define the scope of their topic. In this way, they were able to exclude irrelevant information which made the presentation crisp and easy to understand. This also made the conclusion clearer and easier to grasp. However, the presentation lacked a little due to the fact that it was not very interest grabbing. If the group had included case studies in the presentation, the topic would have become more interesting and the students would have taken the concept home. They could have taken people from their own surroundings and researched on them. A profile of these addicts could have been developed which would have made the presentation more appealing to us- the viewers. Apart from that, the research depended on scholarly research which made the research more credible. Additionally, the content was up-to-date and taken from 2011 studies which was another good point. This aspect of the research made it convincing and created a professional look of the

Art of Negotiation - effective negotiation skills Assignment

Art of Negotiation - effective negotiation skills - Assignment Example require managers that can negotiate with businesses located in overseas regions as managers will have to bargain an effective and profitable deal for their own business if they want to operate overseas (Katz, 2011). Another issue that is taking place due to globalization is that the level of competition between organizations has increased. Organizations do not only complete in their host nations, they even have to compete in global regions. Due to this it has become essential for organizations to obtain resources while paying the lowest cost. In order to obtain resources and services at low cost managers need to have good negotiation skills (Benoliel, 2011). Good negotiation skills have even become very important for managers in order to deal with people from different backgrounds. A manager cannot use the same negotiation skills while dealing with people and business from different parts of the world. Therefore, a manager needs to have diverse negotiation skills in order to understa nd the likes and dislikes of people around the world and negotiate with

Interest Rates Affects on the Is-Lm Model Essay Example for Free

Interest Rates Affects on the Is-Lm Model Essay Assignment 4 5. According to the IS-LM model, what happens to the interest rate, income, consumption and invest under the following circumstances. a. The central bank increases money supply. An increase in the money supple shifts the LM curve downward. The equilibrium moves from point A to point B. Income rises from Y1 to Y2 and the interest rate falls from r1 to r2. Therefore this increase in money supply causes a decrease in interest rate, an increase in income, an increase in consumption and an increase in investment. LM Income, output, Y b. Government increases government purchases An increase in government purchases result in a shift in the IS curve to the right. The equilibrium moves from point A to point B. Income rises from Y1 to Y2 and interest rate rises from r1 to r2. This increase in government purchases therefore causes interest rate to rise and income also rises. Consumption will also increase but the increase in government purchases will cause investment to decrease. interest rate, r LM IS2 IS1 Income, output, Y c. The government increases taxes. An increase in taxes shifts the IS curve to the left. The equilibrium moves from point A to point B. Income falls from Y1 to Y2 and the interest rate from r ¬1 to r 2. Therefore increase in taxes will bring about a decrease in interest rate, cause income to also decrease which will decrease consumption also but will result in an increase in investment. interest rate, r LM IS1 IS2 Income, output, Y d. The government increase government purchases and taxes equally 6. Consider the following economy of Hicksonia. a. The consumption function is given by C= 200 + 0. 75 (Y T) The investment function is I= 200-25r Government purchases and taxes are both 100.

Romeo and Juliet: Joseph A. Bryant’s Considerations :: Romeo and Juliet Essays

William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet has always been a very popular play. Joseph A. Bryant states this in his introduction, but there was never really contention. Most likely written in 1595, we learn from Bryant that this is thought to be one of Shakespeare’s more mature works that shows the pinnacle of his creativity (xxviii-xxx). Because of this creativity, audiences love Romeo and Juliet. However, Bryant also tells us that "[a]mong professional scholars the play has sparked less enthusiasm" (xxiii). For even though the play possesses an "ingenuity of the language" and has a particular "brilliance of the characterizations" (xxiii) , Bryant informs us that critics are upset by the importance Shakespeare places on pathos, and therefore feel that the play lacks real ethics. Bryant also concerns his introduction on the aesthetics of Romeo and Juliet with special consideration on the structure, the language, and the characters of the play, as well as how good of an exa mple of a tragedy the play is. Many readers may feel that Romeo and Juliet relies too much on pathos; that it’s just a tear-jerking love story. However, Bryant’s answer to those who think that the play lacks real ethics is that they are looking at it from a modern standpoint. The play really needs to be looked at from the point of view of the Elizabethan audience of 1595. Bryant tells us that "[t]hey knew by training what to think of impetuous young lovers who deceived their parents and sought advice from friars" (xxiv). Elizabethan audiences also knew that suicide was a sin (xxiv). This was common sense knowledge, and if looked at through the conventions of society at this time then, as Bryant states, the play "must have had automatically an abundance of ethical import" (xxiv). Bryant also commends Shakespeare for not attacking these commonly held ethical conventions, even though today’s readers can clearly see that Shakespeare thought nothing wrong with the relationship and did not even hold Romeo and Juliet entirely responsible for the consequences (xxiv). But some modern readers, Bryant tells us, are also uncomfortable with the numerous references to fate and destiny, and assume "that Shakespeare meant the play to be deterministic" (xxiv). Bryant tells us that Shakespeare does promise "in the Prologue to show the ‘misadventured piteous overthrows’ of a ‘pair of star-crossed lovers’" and then lets his characters continue to refer to destiny for the rest of the play (xxv).

Doctrine of adequacy and sufficiency Essay

This essay critically explores the doctrines of consideration and sufficiency within the context of contract law, with references to the matter of Thomas v Thomas from 1842. In assigning significance to these matters, it is noted that Sir John Patteson, a judge in 1830 who was appointed to the Court of King’s Bench, (later the Privy Council) was knighted shortly after making the landmark decision regarding the doctrine of consideration in the case of Thomas. The ratio decidendi in Thomas, was ‘[c]onsideration must be of value and involve benefit or detriment’ postulating further that ‘although consideration must be sufficient, it need not be adequate. ’ CONSIDERATION Eleanor Thomas sued the executors of her husband’s estate where the court ruled the agreement entered into, was neither nominal nor a voluntary gift, but sufficient in consideration. Consideration is the intention to create legal relations through a bargaining process affording a mutual exchange of a promise for a promise. In Beaton v McDivitt, it is evident that if a transfer was a gift, the essential component of bargaining would be absent. Consideration must be quid pro quo and result in a transfer between the promisor and the promisee, and result in the creation of a relationship of cause and effect. Only the parties involved can enforce the agreement. Consideration may also be a promise to refrain from doing something as Lush J in Currie v Misa states, ‘a valuable consideration, in the sense of the law, may consist in some right, interest, profit, or benefit accruing to the one party, or some forbearance, detriment, loss or responsibility, given, suffered, or undertaken by the other. ’ Consideration can involve the forbearing to sue even if the case is unfounded. Past consideration may be valid where it was preceded by a request, however services that would not have been performed but for the implied promise of payment amounts to good consideration. WHEN CONSIDERATION IS NOT CONSIDERATION Consideration may be invalid as in Jones v Padavatton where under the doctrine of presumption, arrangements between family are not binding. Salmon LJ in Jones, in the dissenting obiter dictum, determined that the original agreement created an intention to create legal relations due to the financial consequences of the promise involved, however held there was no binding contract suggesting there was insufficient evidence to rebut the presumption against domestic arrangements. Consideration must be furnished at the time of agreement. Consideration is not valid where a promise to make payment has occurred after the act has been performed. Bargains and conditional gifts for a person who performs an act is not good consideration, nor is a promise to perform an existing duty, or an existing public duty, except where performance goes beyond required expectations. Illegality in consideration is not enforceable giving rise to the expression ‘ex dolo malo non oritur actio’ meaning ‘[n]o court will lend its aid to a man who founds his cause of action upon an immoral or an illegal act. ’ Illusory consideration, where one party’s obligations are amorphous, is not binding. Limitations and exceptions can apply to consideration however, where additional risks are undertaken. DOCTRINE OF SUFFICIENCY As in Thomas, common law substantially rests on the precept that consideration must be of value to be sufficient, even if it is nominal, without any quantitative economic postulation. Some may suggest such fiscally nominal or token consideration while sufficient, is commercially inadequate in the eyes of a reasonable person, and is itself, illusory. It may be suggested the court has extended itself to invent consideration, where equity may uphold promises not supported by good consideration, through the provision of promissory estoppel. It is incumbent on the parties only to determine the subjective and adequate worth of a promise. Patteson J articulates in Thomas, ‘although consideration must be sufficient, it need not be adequate. ’ CONCLUSION Blackburn J statement of objective interpretation suggests the objective test must always apply in assessing how a reasonable person would view the situation. It can be concluded that consideration is a matter of essential promissory exchange, while adequacy and value, are the fiscal or functionary exclusive domain of the parties involved. Word count 691

Friedrich Froebel’s Ideas On the Role of Play In the Early Years Education Essay

Play is probably the very first thing that comes to our minds when we start thinking about our childhood. Certainly it’s hard to talk about early years without referring to play, as it is a part of children’s natural behaviour, embedded in their spontaneous day-to-day life. The fact that the play is enjoyable is generally agreed, but the value of play in school, however, has been in the centre of much debate in the past (and it seems like that debate is still going on today). The roots of contemporary understanding of the role of play in early childhood education extend clearly to Friedrich Froebel, a German educator, who organized and systematized the methods of early childhood in accordance with the idea of â€Å"the spontaneous, self-sustaining nature of children† (E. Evans, 1971, p. 43). Froebel believed that every child had within him all he was to be at birth, and that the proper educational environment was to encourage the child to grow and develop in the most favourable manner. â€Å"Young children are to be regarded and tended essentially like plants. Like these, if they were given the right conditions, they would grow and unfold and flower, by their own law, each according to its individual capacity and destiny. † (E. Lawrence, 1969, p. 195) In his study of child-nature one of the most marked characteristics, which attracted Froebel’s attention, was the child’s inborn desire for activity, which reveals itself in play. According to Froebel, â€Å"play is the freest active manifestation of the child’s inner self which springs from the need of that inner living consciousness to realize itself outwardly. † (H. Bowen, 1907, p. 116) Froebel made a significant contribution to early childhood education by seeing play as a process in which children bring to realization their inner nature. He recognized that children began to learn as soon as they began to interact with the world, and he reasoned that since the interaction was mostly in the form of play, the way to educate a child was through play, â€Å"as a means of awakening and developing the active and presentative side of his nature; wherefore none, not even the simplest gifts from a child, should ever be suffered to be neglected. † (F. Froebel, 1901, p. 77) Froebel’s continuous studies of the function of play in a child’s life came to fruition in the concept of the Kindergarten ? a place where children â€Å"instruct and educate themselves† and where they develop and integrate all their abilities through play. Froebel believed that play provided the means for a child’s intellectual, social, emotional and physical development. Games were not just idle time wasting, but the most important steps in the child’s development, and they were to be watched by teachers as clues to how the child is developing. â€Å"It is through play that the child learns the use of his limbs, of all his bodily organs, and with this use gains health and strength. Through play he comes to know the external world, the physical qualities of the objects which surround him, their motions, action, and reaction upon each other, and the relation of these phenomena to himself, ? a knowledge that forms the basis of that which will be his permanent stock for life. † (H. Bowen, 1907, p. 101) However, Froebel didn’t think that the play of young children should be unprompted at all times. For him the skill of adults was in knowing how and when to intervene, how to support and extend children’s play to help them â€Å"to grasp and to try out their learning in concrete ways. † (T. Bruce, 1997, p. 23) To stimulate learning through well-directed play Froebel designed a series of instructional materials, which he called â€Å"gifts† and â€Å"occupations†.

War or no war essays

War or no war essays December 7, 1941 was the opening battle of the Second World War for the United States of America. But Pearl Harbor also marked the closing of one historical period and the opening of another. America finally ended its self-imposed isolation from world affairs on that day, and for the next 50 years was to be deeply involved in the global struggle against fascism and then against communism. W.G. Hyland explains that the massacre at Pearl Harbor put an end to American isolationism and began the era of international awareness. Until this point the United States did not want to involve itself in World War II which had been going on in Europe. Americans had many different views toward the war, which resulted in the inactivity of Americans until the massacre at Pearl Harbor. The U.S. was forced to engage in World War II at this time because innocent Americans had been killed and they could no longer set back and let disastrous actions take place. The U.S. was very hesitant to join in worldwide destruction because of past problems and present issues. After 1918 came a feeling, amounting almost to a national neurosis, that the United States had been tricked into the First World War. The sentiment was carefully nourished by a revisionist campaign. The country retreated into isolation lasting throughout the era of the Long Armistice from 1918 to 1939. During the years form 1929 to 1941 the U.S. was suffering from the Great Depression. Americans were worried about surviving the depression rather than helping foreign countries with their problems. The economy was in a severe decline; harsh living conditions and economic shortages were punishing the public. First and foremost Americans wanted to rise out of the depression and live in peace and prosperity. European conflicts did not register in the minds of Americans and therefore isolationism was the prevalent view of the American public. The Europea...

Business munciation for Non-Verbal

As the workplace b es a more plex place with myriad of inter-relationships and   work being assigned mostly in teams rather than to individuals, the significance of munication is perhaps more significant than ever (Fielding, 2006). However, when we consider munication, the focus tends to be too much on the verbal aspects which are where all the training is majorly focused on. In the process, a major aspect of munication which constitutes of non-verbal munication is ignored. However, it is noteworthy that majority (i.e. about 80%) of the munication that a person engages in is through non –verbal munication. Here essentially no words are spoken but essentially through the use of gestures, symbols and body language pivotal munication is facilitated (Bonaccio et. al., 2016). The objective of the given essay is to highlight the significance of non-verbal munication or cues and how potentially this mode of munication is more critical than the verbal aspect of munication in the wor kplace context. As highlighted above, a large majority of the munication an individual typically indulges is in the form of non-verbal munication facilitated primarily through the use of body language. Further, in the workplace, the non-verbal munication is given more importance than the verbal munication. This is primarily because while the verbal munication is controlled by the conscious mind, the non-verbal munication is highly more spontaneously and at times the gestures an individual engages in, even he/she may not be aware of the same but it municates vital information to the other party (Means, 2009). Hence, it is a mon practice at workplace when there is lack of consistency between the verbal and non-verbal aspects of munication; it is the latter which is accorded more weightage. This is primarily because the verbal munication is often driven by diplomacy and other factors and thus is paratively much easier to manipulate in parison with the non-verbal munication which as mentioned before ten ds to take place spontaneously and hence less prone to conscious manipulation.   As a result, in various situations, individuals tend to be driven more by the non-verbal munication rather than the verbal munication (Lunenburg, 2010). Consider for example, an HR manager is taking an interview for a potential recruit. It is a mon practice on the part of the candidates to claim that they have all the requisite qualities and to endorse themselves. However, there are subtle non-verbal clues which the interviewers tend to grasp which indicates that the claim made by the candidate may not be entirely true and provides avenues for further probing so as to recruit the right candidate for the available vacancy. This interaction between the verbal and non-verbal modes of munication is frequent at the workplace and plays a critical role in the manner in which the messages are interpreted at the workplace. Usually, the message municated through verbal munication need requisite support of non-verbal munication in order to make sense to the receiver and hence ensure that munication is effective (Mcintosh and Luecke, 2008). Further, as a supervisor or manager, it is imperative to pay attention to the non-verbal munication which more often than not is more vital than the verbal munication. One of the situations that non-verbal munication is of particular importance is contradiction (Fielding, 2006). For instance, the manager floats a new proposal based on which, certain employees every week would be required to e on weekends to the office. When the supervisor asks for the suggestion from the employees, it is possible that due to the higher authority that he/she represents, the employees may be resultant to voice their dissent and thus may agree to it. But the manner in which this agreement is municated coupled with various other cues such as the body language after the proposal has been floated around would provide key indicators as to whether there is actual consent or not (Guffey and Loewy, 2009). Usually, this is imperative as taking initiatives would typically involve costs and resource allocation an d hence it is imperative that the same should have backing of the underlying subjects for whose benefit it is being done. This could be true for various training initiatives that may be taken for the employees which do not yield much improvement in performance since from the beginning there might have been lack of enthusiasm but still for fear of repercussions, no concern would have been raised by any employee (Bonaccio et. al., 2016). Additionally, non-verbal munication plays a critical role in reinforcement which is critical when a given individual is presenting a new proposal to a client. Through non-verbal munication, the extent of conviction that the person concerned presenting the idea has can be indicated which goes a long way in convincing the client (Lunenburg, 2010). If on one hand, there is a sales pitch for a product, service or business idea but an inconsistent body language shows reluctance or doubts with regards to critical aspects of the underlying good, then it is highly likely that sale would not happen as reinforcement was missing from the end of the presenter. Non-verbal munication also plays a vital role in ascertaining the level of understanding the employees or team members are experiencing without actually disturbing the group (Mcintosh and Luecke, 2008). For instance, imagine a situation where the project manager is briefing the team members about a particular new project whereby the team m embers can be nodding indicate to the project manager that they are actually able to understand what is being said by the project manager and in the process there is no interruption for the project manager. This is also applicable in case of various presentations that may be made to senior management or clients where the concerned individual may look for subtle non-verbal clues to ascertain if he/she is one the right track or not and whether the intended audience is able to resonate with the viewpoints captured by the speaker (Fielding, 2006). Besides, non-verbal munication goes a long way in the expression of subtle emotions which are considered vital at the business place. This is particularly significant in dealing with the concerns and grievances of the employees (Bonaccio et. al., 2016).. As a result, non-verbal munication is highly critical for the role of a human resource manager. Irrespective of the final solution to the problem, it is essential that the HR manager must show sensitivity towards the employee and make attempts to understand the perspective of the employees. The sensitivity on part of the HR is usually indicated through the non verbal munication which would employ gestures during listening which essentially are meant to pacify the employee so that he/she can vent out the frustration (Means, 2009). Unlike personal relations, where emotions are expressed by a greater use of verbal munication, professional relationships are characterized by expressions of emotions more at the level of non-verbal municati on.   This makes the non-verbal munication even more vital for the workplace for it essentially b es a humane place where gestures by individuals are considered critical for the overall munication (Lunenburg, 2010). This empathy which is municated through non-verbal munication is the lynchpin of service businesses whose success rests on the same. The employees intend to provide a superior service experience to the customers through the use of various friendly gestures such as greeting customers,   having a smile while talking or otherwise also, voluntarily extending help to clients which help as key differentiators of service between rival firms. A service firm without the requisite non-verbal munication would be destined to fail as the requisite warmth would never been able to municate to the client (Fielding, 2006). This is b ing more apparent with the advent of online shopping and services where customers tend to miss the personal touch and the non-verbal munication which the concerned person at the store would display through various gestures. Additionally, the lack of non-verbal munication tends to prove a hurdle in virtual teams where the munication is through verbal messages but are fou nd to be less effective and results is greater issues of coordination since non-verbal munication provides appropriate context to the verbal munication by either reinforcement or contradiction (Guffey and Loewy, 2008). Based on the above discussion, it is apparent that non-verbal munication plays a larger role than verbal munication at the workplace. One of the reasons that is responsible for the same is the fact that verbal munication is more open to manipulation unlike non-verbal munication which is more intuitive and spontaneous and hence more representative of the true feedback of the listener. Concentrating on non-verbal munication is pivotal for the managers so as to understand the reactions of their team members about various proposals which otherwise may not be represented in verbal munication. This also plays a crucial role for the HR manger who effectively relies on the same to placate the employees and thereby enhance the overall employee satisfaction. Also, with regards to clients or customers, non-verbal munication can be the key differentiator especially in the service business. Thus, it would be fair to establish while non-verbal munication can exist in isolation, it is typically not possible for the verbal munication to exist and make sense in the absence of non-verbal munication which is apparent in the case of virtual teams and the underlying issues faced. Bonaccio, S., Reilly, J., Sullivan, S. and Chiocchio, F. (2016)Nonverbal Behaviour and munication in the Workplace: A review and an Agenda for Research, Journal of Management, 42(6) pp.14-17. Fielding, M. (2006) Effective munication in organisations. 4th edn.Claremont: Juta and pany Ltd. Guffey, E. M. and Loewy, D. (2014) Business munication: Process and Product. 8th edn.Boston:Cengage Learning. Lunenburg, C.F.(2010) Lounder Than Words: The Hidden Power of Nonverbal munication in the Workplace. International Journal of Scholarly Academic Intellectual Diversity, 12(1), pp. 3-5. Mcintosh, P. and Luecke, A. R. (2008) Interpersonal munication Skills in the Workplace.2nd edn.New York: AM Div American Mgmt Assn. Means, T. (2009) Business munication.2nd edn.Boston: Cengage Learning.

A critical response to the Marketing Myopia Assignment

A critical response to the Marketing Myopia - Assignment Example Additionally, the article presents marketing strategies that can help business management overcome competition and other external forces, which threaten a business. Therefore, this discussion seeks to critically analyze the strengths and weakness of this article, with a focus to understanding the plausibility of the ideas it present. The strength of this article is identifiable in addressing the causative factors for business success or failure. The article clarifies on the misconception held by many people that external forces are the major causes of a business failure. However, according to the article, the reason behind the success or failure of any business is not due to environmental factors such as market saturation, threatened growth or competition. The success or failure of any business or organization is solely determined by the management (Levitt, 2004). The reason the failure of any business has to be attributed to the management because; when the business of an industry d eclines, it is not because the industry was not best suited to serve the people. The industry declines because the management is not able to protect its business from their competitors, who eventually take their customers away from them (Levitt, 2004). If the management can apply strategies for protecting their customer base, their business in any industry will continue thriving. This is one of the strengths of this article, since it emphasizes on the role of prudent management in ensuring the success of a business. Secondly, the article presents another credible argument that serves as another of its strength. Broader focus is the key to success of any business or industry (Levitt, 2004). The article observes that businesses fail because they perceive their investment narrowly, considering competitors to be only those offering similar products and services. This makes the management of the business forget to focus on the whole industry and how it can affect their business. For exam ple, people operating in the railway business will only focus their competitors as those other companies or individuals who own trains, forgetting that they are not in the narrow railroad business, but operating in the transport industry (Levitt, 2004). Therefore, the elaboration given by the article is credible because, in focusing narrowly at the business, the owners of a business are only concerned about the product or service they offer, at the expense of focusing on the customer (Levitt, 2004). Thus, for the success of any business, a wider focus on customer needs is important than focusing on the suitability of the products and services which a business offers. Businesses will succeed more if they focus on understanding and meeting customer needs. Therefore, a business should focus on the overall needs of the customer in the industry it is operating, rather than focusing narrowly on direct competitors. This is because, customer needs can be met by the indirect competitors, who take away the customers served by a business, and meet their needs in a different manner (Levitt, 2004). According to this article, the strength and success of any business lies in its internal innovation. If a business can tailor its innovativeness towards meeting customer needs at the expense of improving the efficiency of its products, the business is sure to succeed (Levitt, 2004). For example, a business operating in the petroleum industry should focus on the needs of the customers in the whole of the energy industry. This would mean that the business works towards meeting the needs of the