Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Cultural Differences Between Thailand And The United...

The world consists of over 150 countries with different cultural values and practices (Gelfand, Nishii, Raver, 2006). Due to globalization, some countries have positively or negatively influenced the cultural diversity of other countries, while others have maintained their cultural purity despite the high rate of globalization. Therefore, some countries have experienced cultural convergence, while others have experienced cultural divergence. Cultural divergence is where the cultures of two or more countries tend to have many values that are incomparable and dissimilar, while cultural convergence is where two or more countries tend to have cultural values that closely relate to each other (Browaeys Price, 2011). For instance, in this regard, many developed countries have had a profound cultural influence on the less developed countries. The study of cultural divergence and convergence by using models such as cultural metaphors is important in management practices. These studies prov ide significant information in making strategic decisions of marketing or investing in a particular country. This paper seeks to compare and contrast the cultural differences between Thailand and the United States of America (U.S). It will achieve its aim using cultural metaphors and indigenous models to analyze the divergence of cultural values in both countries. It will also discuss the relevance of such cultural divergences to the management practices in both countries. Contextual comparisonShow MoreRelatedSexuality Is A Social Identity That Goes Beyond The Objectivity1636 Words   |  7 Pagesnation. Thailand, China, and India demonstrate how cultural power structures are developed or influenced in part by the collective sexualities and sexual practices of women and the roles they play within their communities, and subsequently their nations as a whole. Although the gender binary is not exclusive to the United States, there are clear components of the American gender system which have crossed transnational boundaries into Thailand. Lesbianism which is not exclusive to the United States asRead MoreEffect of Culture in International Business Essay1492 Words   |  6 Pagesreligious. So the foreigner who wants to operate the business at the overseas market have to understand the culture at the local market to become successful. In this report also compare between the similarities of culture between two countries such as Thailand-Malaysia and different in culture between China and United States. DEFINITIONS The term ‘Culture’ can be can be defined in more than 160 ways. According to (Terpstra and David 1985) they proposed the meaning of culture in internationalRead MoreWhy Hmong Families Left Laos1323 Words   |  5 PagesHmong families, like the Lees in the novel â€Å"The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down† have been immigrating to the United States since the end of the Vietnam War. The majority of the Hmong living in the U.S. are now located in specific cities and regions of California, Minnesota, and Wisconsin (Lee and Green 2010). The Lee family moved to the Merced, California in 1980 and has had to adapt to life in a new host country (Fadiman 1997). Acculturation is used to describe how the culture of immigrantsRead MoreHmong Culture : Influences On A European American Society1488 Words   |  6 PagesHmong primarily lived in Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand. They had a great impact in helping western forces during the Vietnam War, and wars in Laos in efforts to end Communism. The article continues and describes how many tried to escape from Laos; those that survived settled in refugee camps that had terrible living conditions. (Tatman, 2004). Although the Hmong are diffused around the world, their distinct cultural traditions and customs create a strong cultural identity. After discussing of the traditionsRead MoreAnnotated Bibliography of Articles about the American Culture861 Words   |  3 Pagestraditions, and attitudes from the perspectives of outsiders. DeVita and Armstrong emphasize that it is hard for a social scientist to fully understand the uniqueness and strangeness of ones culture. Growing up within the culture means accepting ones cultural assumptions for granted. Being closed to the perspectives only outsiders might have, those who grow up in American culture fail to ask the kind of questions that may reveal more about America. And this is where, DeVita and Armstrong argue, the essayRead MoreSigp Grant Proposal — Joel Alvarez-Rinconeà ±o. 1.Taking950 Words   |  4 Pagesimproved my adaptability in differing cultural and social environments. Given this experience, I have been inspired to continue traveling and exploring the world during college. Currently, I am on the track to declaring a major in sociology, a minor in English, and obtaining an integrated marketing communications certificate. Teaching English in Thailand will aid in my sociological studies since I will gain firsthand insight to the intricate relationship between culture, institutions, and society.Read MoreNegotiation Report Med Lee1070 Words   |  5 Pagesin general, did you learn about negotiation from the exercise? What surprised you? What would you do differently if you had a chance to do the exercise again? The MedLee: In Pursuit of a joint venture negotiation exercise refers to a joint venture between a US Company and a Family Thai Business Company. I had the role of Pat Armstrong (Med Device Representative: Director of International Strategic Market Research) the issues I had to negotiate were: decision making/control, staffing, profit distributionRead MoreAnalyzing Starbucks And Its Level Of Success Around The World956 Words   |  4 Pagesare possible cultural, political, and economic difficulties that lie ahead. To analyze Starbucks and its level of success around the world, I’ll be using Gramsci’s categories of base, structure, and super structure. For base, I will discuss how economics comes into play in China; for structure, I will explain the political barriers Starbucks faced integrating into the Indian market; and lastly, super structure will be examined by the struggle in Italy regarding cultural differences and StarbucksRead MoreTo most of us, globalizationà ¢â‚¬â€as a political, economic, social, and technological force—appears all1700 Words   |  7 Pagesterms—global citizens. This convergence is controversial, even offensive, to some who consider globalization a threat to their identity and way of life. It is not surprising; therefore, that globalization has evoked counter forces aimed at preserving differences and deepening a sense of local identity. Yet, at the same time, we increasingly take advantage of what a global economy has to offer—we drive BMWs and Toyotas, work with an Apple or IBM notebook, communicate with a Nokia phone or BlackBerry, wearRead MoreThe World s Most Visited City Of 2016 Essay2152 Words   |  9 PagesBangkok, Thailand is the world’s most visited city of 2016 (CNBC, September 2016). Bangkok is projected to have 21.47 million international visitors in 2016. What makes this Southeast Asian country such a popular destination among travelers? Could it be the ancient ruins of the country? Could it be the delicious and savory food we have all known to love? Or the friendliness of the people for which the country is nicknamed the â€Å"Land of Smiles.† No matter the reasons why people visit Thailand, the

Monday, December 16, 2019

The First Knight Free Essays

In medieval times people lived by the medieval code of chivalry which is usually associated with ideals of knightly virtues, honor and courtly love. In a knights code of chivalry a knight was expected to have strength and skills to fight but also was expected to be kind. In the rules of courtly love it describes the pure romance of love but also the love for another man’s wife. We will write a custom essay sample on The First Knight or any similar topic only for you Order Now In the movie the first knight, Lancelot displays the ideals of medieval chivalry and courtly love in admirable ways but also in ways that caused pure chaos. In the film, Lancelot illustrates the knight’s code of chivalry even before he became a knight. In the code of chivalry, one of the rules is to protect the weak and defenseless. Lancelot shows this again and again by protecting Guinevere. The first time he shows this is when Guinevere’s carriage was attacked by prince Malagants followers and her carriage was being taken away he saved her and brought her back safely. Another time is when he goes to save her from Malagants cave when she was abducted by his people from the castle in the middle of the night. Although he protects her all the time his reason to do so is very abstruse because he doesn’t do it to protect the queen but because they both have a clandestine love for each other which later on leads to a calamity. Courtly love is very well illustrated in Lancelot’s love for Guinevere in the film the first knight. In the rules of courtly love it points out that a true lover is continually and without interruption obsessed by the image of his beloved and that in sight of his beloved, the heart of the lover begins to palpitate. In the first knight, Lancelot admits to Guinevere more than once that he cherishes her so much that he can’t balk the thought of her out of his head. Another part of the movie where he displays courtly love is when the people are playing the gauntlet and he sees her you can see that he is mesmerized by her sight and that his heart is palpitating. Even though Lancelot was in love with King Arthur’s wife (Queen Guinevere) behind his back he still displayed even more chivalry when King Arthur noticed he would make an adept knight and made him a knight of the round table. When Lancelot joined this camaraderie he vowed to protect every one of his brothers no matter what. In the knights code of chivalry it points out that you have to guard the honor of his fellow knights and to protect them. When Lancelot saw that his brothers (Knights of the Round Table) needed help during a battle, he would go and protect them from the enemy. Although I accede with many of the rules of courtly love the times have changed and today its hard to find someone who still follows the rules as well as Lancelot followed them for the love he had for Queen Guinevere. In spite of the fact that he is loving a married woman Lancelot stuck to many of the rules of chivalry and courtly love. How to cite The First Knight, Papers

Sunday, December 8, 2019

GE and the Pros and Cons of Ethical Code free essay sample

What do we mean when we say business ethics? In this paper we discuss the business ethics and the pros and cons of implementation and compliance. Looking at one of the most successful companies in the world, we have found that a â€Å"Code of Ethics† has multiple roles when considering the ramifications of following or not following those codes. General Electric is looked upon as one of the largest corporate governing companies in the world and that by implementing a good code of ethics, and following them, can play a vital role in the success of GE. Whether in the US or conducting business abroad we look at the way a corporate code of ethics can affect each sector in its own ways. Considering the implication of corporate ethics, it is important to see the pros and cons of one company and learn from, not only the good, bad the unethical practices and avoid making the same mistakes. We will write a custom essay sample on GE and the Pros and Cons of Ethical Code or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page GE and the Pros and Cons of Ethical Code Beliefs, morals, virtue, and ethics; what is it that drives us in the way we run our personnel and professional lives? Where do this measure in the way we run a business? In this paper we will discuss the ways these traits influence our direction in which one company has looked at different ethical issues and some examples of how to implement such a code. We are going to dive into some of General Electric’s ethical decision making and the pros and cons of those decisions, but also in business in general as well. When I asked a group of colleagues from different levels of my company, I saw that there were many different opinions on how to handle certain situations and you will see this throughout the selected cases of GE. Using a written code of ethics in business can help companies develop a positive perception with consumers. The ability to educate consumers on how the company chooses to operate can go a long way in creating customer goodwill. Companies, like GE, can often improve their employees performance through a written code of ethics. This allows the company to set a specific set of ethical standards for employees to follow when working in the company. I want to make sure that we understand a few of these definitions so we will talk  about a general code of ethics in business today. It is also important that it is understood that perception of ethics comes in many different opinions. It’s up to you, the individual, and their personal convictions in the decision making process when concerning their imparticular company’s ethical code. First, I would like to define what Ethics is. Ethics can be defined as the rules of conduct recognized in respect to a particular class of human actions or a particular group, culture, etc. Simply put, they are a system of moral principles. Secondly, Business Ethics should be defined as a form of applied ethics or professional ethics that examines ethical principles and moral or ethical problems that arise in a business environment. It applies to all aspects of business conduct and is relevant to the conduct of individuals and entire organizations. Research has, however, shown that for an ethics code to be effective, it must be used as part of a comprehensive corporate ethics program that includes infrastructure such as the ethics office, ethics reward and sanctioning, and periodical business ethics training for staff. Implementing the code as part of a comprehensive ethics program ensures that the code becomes real in the eyes of employees. It also ensures that it is not a once-off event that remains a written expression destined for staff office drawers without it ever shaping their behavior. Implementing the code as part of the comprehensive ethics program will also ensure that it is not accompanied by a belief that once the code has been crafted and distributed to staff, staff will simply join hands to practice ethical business behavior. The crafting process of the ethics code should involve employees so that there is a total buy-in and for the employee to be willing to abide by it. The tone and the style in which the code is written and communicated should be such that it will easily understand with employees’ expectations. The code should be written in simple and plain language. Management should understand that a code does not provide the answer to every difficult situation in the organization neither should it be viewed as a substitute for individual judgment. The code should be acknowledged for what it is simply a guide to ethical decision-making in situations of ethical dilemmas and complex ethical decision-making. The ethics code should contribute towards the creation of an ethical culture that encourages meaningful and thoughtful inquiry about complex ethical issues in the workplace, which should ultimately bolster organizational performance. Finally, how do we implement ethics in our business and what are the pros and cons of doing so. Even though we think having a code of ethics in our company is a positive business practice, there are pros and cons of implementation. Of course we all want to run our companies in a moral ethical manner so here are some of the pros of implementing such a program. Using a written code of ethics in business can help companies develop a positive perception with consumers. The ability to educate consumers on how the company chooses to operate can go a long way in creating customer goodwill. Companies can often improve their employees performance through their written code of ethics. This allows the company to set a specific set of ethical standards for employees to follow when working in the company. There are cons for such implementation of written ethical codes. A written code of ethics can increase a companys operating costs. Business owners and managers will need to spend time educating employees and promoting the code through educational seminars and other training methods. Decreases in revenue may occur when a company operates under a written code of ethics. The company will need to avoid business opportunities that violate the companys code of ethics, regardless of the sales potential. As we discuss the â€Å"code of ethics† I want to look at one of the most successful companies in the world. General Electric can provide many cases of ethics, ethical issues, and the pros and cons of these case studies. I have looked into many cases involving GE and certain situations concerning their code of ethics and we will look at the pros and cons of each case. Let us look at how GE began. â€Å"In 1890, Edison started a company to bring together his various businesses all under one roof, and called it the Edison General Electric Company. Two years later Edison merged with his primary competitor, the Thomas-Houston Company, and they called the new company the General Electric Company. The move was largely a bid to combine their various patents, to allow for more profitability on both of their parts, as it allowed them to freely use the many smaller inventions each inventor had created in their larger projects. Over the years, General Electric continued to grow and produce different products for a wide range of applications. Many of Edison’s early inventions formed the backbone of various General Electric lines through the 19th century, the 20th century, and down to the present day. Electric lighting, Power transmission, medical equipment, and transportation were all areas in which Edison held patents and had formed small companies, and are all areas in which General Electric today has large holdings. General Electric continued to innovate in a huge range of fields, and opened divisions specializing in everything from plastics to airplanes to electric fans. At the beginning of the 20th century General Electric had the first voice radio broadcast in the world, the first electric toaster, and began work on vacuum tubes that would herald the dawn of the electronic age. In the 1910s and 1920s General Electric continued to innovate, setting a new altitude record with an airplane, making the refrigerator a common household word, and building the world’s largest electrical facility on the Panama Canal. Through the Great Depression, General Electric continued to innovate in other ways, introducing a Consumer Finance system to allow consumers to buy appliances for the home even in hard times. In the era of World War II, General Electric assisted with the war effort, innovating in radar technology, and creating the first jet engine. From the 1950s through to the new millennium, General Electric continued to grow, tapping into emerging markets and investing massive resources in pushing the bounds of technologies across every sector. To this day they remain one of the largest investors in invention in the world, and use their massive size and power to shape policy across the globe. †(McGuigan, 2013) After looking at the history of how GE began we can see that having a standing code of ethics is essential in the success of a large company. Looking in the early 90s, GE was one of the largest companies in the world and has met its challenges concerning ethics and moral business practices. â€Å"There are few companies in the U. S. as successful as General Electric, the maker of everything from Thomas Edisons illuminating light bulb to the engines on the Presidents jet. GE is the fifth-largest industrial company the U. S. Revenues in 1993 from its 12 business groups exceeded $60 billion, up 6% over 1992, of which the company will have paid the tax collector $2 billion. Unfortunately for GE, there are also few companies in the U. S.  with as checkered an ethical record. In addition to 72 Superfund environmental cleanup sites in which it is named a potentially responsible party (total cost to GE to date: $500 million), GE has paid fines or settlement fees in 16 cases of abuse, fraud and waste in government contracting since 1990. This year alone, GE is facing a highly publicized trading scandal at its Kidder, Peabody subsidiary and a Justice Department investigation for alleged contract violation at its aircraft engine unit, and will go to trial in October to face accusations of price fixing and antitrust violations in the industrial diamond market. Looking at these examples questionable ethical decision, what is the reason for the vast array of penalties. GE is a company made up of many different subsidiaries. If GE decides to become the parent company isn’t it up to them to do their due diligent and make sure those companies follow the same code of ethics? I believe when a company acquires, or starts a joint venture, there must be clear guidance of the parent companies code of ethics. Sometime maybe the parent company can learn from the practices of the one they are going into business with. One of the pros of going into business or acquiring a new company for GE is the new ideas brought to the table. As for the other company, it provides global presence and some corporate governance. Looking at it from the other side, there are times being associated with a company that has poor ethical practices can harm the over success of the two joint companies. As in the case above we can see that it goes both ways as far as the parent company and the subsidiary