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Cross Cultural Challenges for Business Practices
Cross Cultural Challenges for Business Practices
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Introduction
The effective application of cross-cultural teams leads to the provision of innovative thinking and experience to an organization competitive position. However, the differences associated with culture can lead to the interference of successful achievement of plans in today’s multicultural global business society. To achieve the developments set, managers should ensure that they be culturally sensitive, and promote motivation and creativity by using flexible leadership, as a way of helping alienate from cultural misunderstanding (Harris, Moran, & Moran, 2004). This essay is determined to explain various multicultural differences experienced in various countries and ways to avoid them.
Thereby are theories, which are applied to avoid multicultural differences. These theories contemplate relations between motivational orientation, people, definition of others and self, risk orientation, attitude towards the environment, and attitude towards time. Managers today in the vast and extensive multicultural global business society face cultural differences, which can interfere with the conclusion of various developments. There are various dimensions that show the main problem that any society must cope up with, but for which the resolutions differ. Some of these dimensions include relations between different people. This entails individualism and collectivism. The other aspect is motivational orientation, where societies choose the various ways they will cope with the uncertainty of living (Minkov, & Hofstede, 2011).
A. Discuss three major cross-cultural differences that would need to be taken into consideration if your company were to expand into this market based on your selected country.
There are various challenges or cultural differences experienced by those wishing to expand in other countries. These challenges have serious implication to the expansion of a business. One country where such differences are includes China. China is one of the countries that are booming. This is a story that many of those eyeing china will claim. Indeed, china is placed as the second biggest world economy, with an annual economic growth amounting to 10 % over the past three decades. This is an aspect that makes those willing to expand their businesses salivate on how to expand in this market. Due to the various cross-cultural differences, managers need to have a clear and concise idea of these differences and how to face them (Harris, Moran, & Moran, 2004).
There are various cultural differences that those people wanting to expand in china will have to face. These may include red tape. In china, many bureaucratic and administrative tasks that are modified in the west may be time consuming. Everything from account opening, company registration, and product approval can amount to a month. A strong law rule and a consistent regulations application mean that such processes are easier to achieve and this is a convenient aspect for the company. In addition, many actions in the west that are handled electronically require a lot of paperwork that needs to be stamped by hands after filling them. The time needed for the completion of these tasks requires may amount to be unexpectedly lengthy. Those employing their staffs to act as sales and marketing staffs in china are faced with more administrative tasks thus their efforts bear no fruits. In China, administrative teams should be put in place to ensure that the company is successful. This gives the staffs a chance to concisely look unto marketing and sales matters (Minkov, & Hofstede, 2011).
The other difference that those willing to expand in China will have to face is communications. This amounts to one of the main challenges that are faced by foreign companies in china. In spite of some of Chinese people having an understanding in Chinese and English, it is very difficult to find a Chinese who concisely understands the subtleties of this language and holds a strong understanding of English and Chinese to help steer delicate business discussions (Harris, Moran, & Moran, 2004).
The other difference that is common is human resources. For as long time, companies related to western companies rate china as the biggest challenge in doing business as a result of their human resource. Western employees are said to delegate responsibility and possesses flexible authority lines, Chinese workers are used to a more ranked structures where each person possesses a role that is clearly defined. Such differences may lead to pressures between western managers accustomed to employees who undertake their own initiative, and the Chinese staffs taught to follow instructions (Minkov, & Hofstede, 2011)..
B. Compare U.S. business practices to practices in your proposed country for each of the following: 1. Product
China is one of the countries that are booming. This is a story that many of those eyeing china will claim. Indeed, china is placed as the second biggest world economy, with an annual economic growth amounting to 10 % over the past three decades. This is an aspect that makes those willing to expand their businesses salivate on how to expand in this market. This is, however, an aspect that has not yielded a good relationship between US and china. There are various business practices that make it different for US and china to cope. The aspect of products in the marketing mix is an aspect that is not quite regarded by Chinese companies as compared to US. US regards their products to be very unique, thus Chinese companies use the aspect of taking into consideration one aspect of the marketing plan mix. This is an aspect deemed to an engineer job in china (Harris, Moran, & Moran, 2004).
2. Price
Regarding price, US companies tend to have a considerate aspect of meeting with their advisers with a motive of having the same price, and which will not affect their product and customers. This is also an aspect that is also the same in china despite the fact that they tend to use one aspect of the marketing mix. The implementation of price is regarded a sales force job in china (Minkov, & Hofstede, 2011).3. Promotion
The aspect of promotion is the aspect that Chinese organizations clearly put in mind. This is the piece of marketing mix that they put into consideration. This is an aspect that is well implemented by Chinese organizations as they say it helps in a business success. Promotion in US is highly put into consideration and a team is setup to ensure they look unto this issue (Minkov, & Hofstede, 2011).
4. Place
Just like product and price, the issue of place is an aspect that is not highly regarded by Chinese organizations. This is an aspect that is said to be the senior management job. This is an aspect that is widely regarded by US companies as they have to clearly identify the correct place for the product they want to deliver (Harris, Moran, & Moran, 2004).
C. Discuss two distinct ethical issues that you will need to understand and respect as your business expands into your selected country.
There are various ethical issues that those willing to expand their business in china. With the aspect of china being a superpower, western countries need to realize that they have to put up with the various ethical issues associated with china. Western experts should not state that they understand china well as there are ethical issues they need to understand. They include understanding different cultures values, you are ought to find out a common point. The other ethical issue is that reliability and honesty is very necessary in china. This is an aspect that the Chinese people adore. Respect is also another ethical issue that Chinese people need to understand, thus western experts should put this into mind. These are among the vast issues that western experts need to clearly understand as they wish to expand to china (Harris, Moran, & Moran, 2004).
Conclusion
The clear understanding of multicultural differences is very good when it comes to business expansion overseas. The effective application of cross-cultural teams leads to the provision of innovative thinking and experience to an organization competitive position. However, the differences associated with culture can lead to the interference of successful achievement of plans in today’s multicultural global business society. Managers should realize that they understand the country of choice well so that the cultural differences can be surpassed by their projects plan.
References
Harris, P. R., Moran, R. T., & Moran, S. V. (2004). Managing cultural differences. Amsterdam: Elsevier/Butterworth-Heinemann.
Minkov, M., & Hofstede, G. H. (2011). Cultural differences in a globalizing world. Bingley, UK: Emerald.
Was Oskar Schindler considered an opportunist or a true hero
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Was Oskar Schindler considered an opportunist or a true hero?
The focus of this paper is to provide an analysis of the life of Oskar Schindler. The paper forms the basis of its argument through the analysis of Stevens Spielberg’s world renowned Schindler’s list. The movie is thus used to argue on whether Oskar Schindler is an opportunist or a hero. The paper gives evidence of Schindler’s heroic character that overpowered his past actions. The paper finally provides a concluding paragraph that summarises the contents of the analysis.
A hero is a person who places his or her individual needs aside so as to focus on the greater good of society. Very few people get the privilege of being called a hero due to the selfless nature of the act. Most heroes have a certain characteristic that makes them identify with qualities desired by the community. Oskar Schindler has on many occasions been referred to as a hero due to his role during the holocaust. This notion has however been dismissed by some who argue about his past and his relation to the Nazi party. Oskar Schindler’s life is thus one of a kind making his character one of a kind. Many movies have been dedicated to the Jewish holocaust. This is due to the number of lives that that were lost as a result of the massacre. One of the monumental movies that made a significant impact is that of Schindler’s list. The movie displays the character of Oskar Schindler and his shift from predator to hero (Crowe, p. 92).
Born into a considerably wealthy family, Oskar Schindler was the son of an influential figure in his country. This acted as an advantage to him in that he had the privilege that most children at his time would dream of. The sudden death of his father changed the dynamics of his life in that he lost the fortune that was accorded to him at an early age. Schindler was thus tasked with the responsibility of catering for his family so as to maintain his lifestyle. One of the choices he had was to join the prestigious Nazi party which was a one party state (Keneally and Taylory, p. 178).
All the qualities mentioned so far do not display the qualities of a future hero. The life of Oskar Schindler showcases the different characteristics that on individual can encompass. During his time in the Nazi party, Schindler was loyal to his leader and most of his efforts were dedicated to all things Nazi. During this time, the Nazi were a strong party that had control of the entire region. One of the principles of the Nazis was to wipe out the entire Jewish race so as to maintain the purity of the society. These racist ideologies were the motivating factor for the murder and persecution of the Jewish community in the country at the time (Spielberg, p. 185).
Schindler used his position in the party to venture into different businesses making him a successful and influential member of society. This was ideal for his relations to the ruling party making him one of Hitler’s allies. His position in society gave him privileges that most men would dream of. One of the factors that he took full advantage of was his good looks and money. Schindler was known for his love for women and extravagant lifestyle. This earned him a reputation as a womaniser and conman. Most of his friends were associated with the Nazi party making him a key figure in the country (Spielberg, p. 215).
Schindler used his business prowess to take over a factory that death with enamelware. This factory was located in a Jewish community making more significant in the society. Most of his labourers were Jewish who worked for a minimum wage due to the economic situation in the country. The low income was an example of the exploitation the Jews experienced at the hands of the German community. This however was not in vain in that his exposure to the Jewish society displayed the living standards that they were accorded. The people in this area were prone to attack from the Nazi government. This was not appealing to Schindler in that he realised a side of the government that he had not experienced. Most of the activities involved the slaying of young Jews who were the future of their community. This was meant to eliminate the able bodied so as to weaken the community. The activities went on for a considerable amount of time until the persecution reached its peak. This saw the beginning of the holocaust which is termed as one of the most evil acts in the modern world. The lifestyle of the Jews in Poland brought out the empathetic side of the businessman making him review his stance on his political allegiance.
Schindler had slowly been converted into a crusader for the Jews. This was not ideal for his position making him vulnerable to the Nazis. He therefore had to be tactical in his approach so that he could achieve success. One of the ways he could do this was by beating his fellow Nazis at their own game. He used the same qualities that he had used to rise to high ranks in the government. These consisted of bribing the Nazi authorities, spying on the government so as to save the lives of the Jews in his area (Keneally and Taylory, p. 138).
A hero possesses qualities that are modest in the eyes of the society. The qualities that Schindler portrayed are not reflective of the ordinary hero. Despite this he managed to outwit the strategic Nazis making him a hero in his own right. The Nazi soldiers were an extremely powerful lot in the continent. Most of their soldiers were situated in all parts of the country so as to monitor the activities of the Jews and their supporters. Schindler’s decision to take on the government was thus not only risky for the Jews but could mean the end of his comfortable lives. Despite the disadvantages that came as a result of his support for the Jews, Schindler chose to follow his heart as opposed to his privileged lifestyle. This displayed the amount of torture that the Jews were accustomed (Crowe, p. 290).
Schindler used his position to find out the plans that the government had for the Jews who worked in the area of the factory. This was a strategic area for the government due to the presence of thousands of Jew residents and workers. One of the plans of the Nazis was to use the gas chambers to explode the concentrated Jewish population. Schindler managed to secure information before hand giving his an advantage over the government. This made him outsmart Hitler’s men saving the lives of over 1200 Jews dubbed as the Schindler Jews. It is essential to note that his Schindler’s actions saw the depletion of his savings making denying him the power and influence he had initially. This however did not make him lose heart due to his determination to save the lives of the Jews. The movie brings out the different character Schindler thus displaying the contradictory nature of his qualities. This unique situation make the movie a must watch in that it brings out the different type of hero not known to society (Keneally and Taylory, p. 209).
In conclusion, Oskar Schindler lived a controversial lifestyle for the most part of his life. Most of his previous activities left allot to be desired with making him a villain as opposed to a hero. His realisation of the conditions of the Jews changed the dynamics of his life making him sympathetic to their plea. Schindler used the most absurd methods to save the lives of 1200 Jews located next to his factory. This earned him a new position as a hero in the eye of the enemies of his people. Oskar Schindler rose from a manipulative womaniser and profit driven businessman to a humanitarian. His actions triggered argument on the true definition of a hero making his character the subject of discussion to date. This disputes the perception of his opportunistic nature that is part and parcel of his character. Schindler can thus be described as a brave hero who defied the odds to save the lives of a people who had lost all form of hope.
Works Cited
Crowe, David. Oskar Schindler: The Untold Account of His Life, Wartime Activities, and the True Story Behind the List. New York: BasicBooks, 2004. Print.
Keneally, Thomas, and Nancy Taylor. Schindler’s List. Harlow: Pearson Education, 2008. Print.
Spielberg, Steven, Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes, Caroline Goodall, Jonathan Sagalle, Embeth Davidtz, John Williams, Thomas Keneally, and David James. Schindler’s List. Universal City, CA: Universal Studios, 2004.
University of Chicago
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University of Chicago
Question One
I am currently as student in the Shoreline community college taking Business as my major. Shoreline Community College has played a significant part in my educational life. It has provided me with the principle learning factors in terms of the course I intend to pursue. Shoreline has improved my perspective of business as my course. I therefore cannot complain about the services the school has offered to me up to this point in my life. Despite this, I intend to take my studies to the next level through a recognized university. The University of Chicago provides that opportunity in that it offers the programs that will enhance my career. One of the ways the University of Chicago satisfies my desire for my future education is their quality of education. The school places emphasis on high performance and discipline making it ideal for shaping me to a responsible businessperson. Another factor that sets the school apart from the rest is their principle on the observance of extracurricular activities. These principles not only focus on the educational aspect of the learning. It also ensures that students graduate from school when they are all round making them more marketable in the employment world.
Question Two
As mentioned earlier, the Shoreline University has catered for my educational needs from the time I transferred from Indonesia. This has been ideal for my growth in the new country due to the slower pace of learning. The school has managed to bridge the gap between my previous education skills and my current situation. I have chosen to leave the school so that I can enroll in a more established school in terms of business studies. The transfer is thus one of the steps that I am taking to achieve my overall objective of running my parents company back in Indonesia.
Question five
As a student in college, writing is an essential skill to my performance in school. Writing is a skill that comes naturally or acquired through practice. It does not matter whether it is a natural talent or skill. What matters is the amount of passion the writer has when writing on a particular issue. Good writing is reflective of the way one views a particular notion or argument. The way a person expresses themselves is reflective of their upbringing, values and cultural norms. My writing skills places emphasis on topics that are personal to me and the values I relay. My transfer to the University of Chicago is indented to improve my chances of receiving better opportunities in the future. My main objective is to complete a bachelor’s degree in business so that I can contribute to the growth and sustainability of my country. Apart from my love for business, I also take pride in the Arts. A degree in Art will broaden my prospects and make me a viable candidate in any company that I attempt to join. The reason I made this choice is that most of my reasoning arises from my quality as a social critic.
Society is a significant part of my life in that most of my activities are geared towards the improvement of the community. I come from a country that has experienced a considerable amount of social economic issues over the years. Most of these issues arise from the lack of proper governance. All countries are at one time involves cases of unfair treatment by people in high positions. This creates a gap between the rich and the poor with the poor making a large percentage of the population. It is difficult to change the dynamics of most of the governments due to the inability to speak out. One of the ways that an individual can however influence the rest of the population positively is through writing. Speaking on the social ills that communities experience is critical to the eradication of inequality. Equal treatment and distribution of opportunities is ideal for the proper sustainability of any society. Being a social critic has been dubbed as a radical stance by some governments making people shy away from speaking out. If people fail to air their grievances, they run the risk of being stripped off their rights and privileges.
Criticizing the behavior of authoritative figures and companies can be done in a more decent way. People now have a chance to use technology so as to communicate with their peers and counterparts. This can be done using the blogs, social networks or traditional methods such as books. One of the factors to observe when carrying out these activities is the respect of all parties involved. Most countries have a long way to in terms of achieving a fair society. One of the ways that this can be enhanced is through the acquiring of an education. My choice to join the University of Chicago is not only business oriented. It is one of the steps I have taken to empower myself so that I can empower people around me. This will as a result improve the living conditions of not only my family but the environment as a whole