Business Environment Essay Example for Free

Business Environment Essay In a highly competitive and ultra-dynamic business environment in order for Morden business to remain competitive and thrive, it is no longer good enough to compete and serve at a local scale, more and more business have seen the need and benefit of expanding their business on a global scale. Expanding the business internationally will allow a broader market which in turn will help the organisation stay competitive even gain a competitive edge, it will also result in increased profit margins and stakeholders larger return on investments. When expanding internationally there are several key issues that will need to be addressed such as the organisational context, the staffing context, recruitment and selection, international compensation and performance management and continued management and re-entry. The organisational context Whinch-it board of directors though lacking the necessary skills to expand globally have expressed interest in expanding to the Asian region to tape into the markets need for boats and boating equipment. When planning an overseas expansion they are several issues that should be considered, these include the change of size and structure of the organisation, the flow and volume of information, control mechanisms, and the host countries demands-Dowling et.al 2008. As the business expands it gets bigger in terms of size and therefore structure of the organisation has to change in order to accommodate the change in size. According to Lihua (2009) two key structural features of the organisation will change which are the hierarchal levels and the number of subunits. Due to more employees being needed they will need to be managers to manage the subunits therefore an increase in the levels of hierarchy in the organisation. Departments such as the export department structure will also be the i nitial stages to be affected and also attended to by manufacturing companies such as Winch-it. Whinch-it will require a foreign agent or a distributor who will have knowledge of the local market, in addition to a foreign agent an export manager is also needed to control the domestic based home office, this new positions will affect the structure and size of Winch-it. With an increasing size of the organisation and a longer hierarchical system the volume of information and control mechanism becomes harder to monitor. According to Arace et.al 1974 communication plays a vital role in the organisation’s control and coordination process and the organisational hierarchy plays a part in the work related communication flows, the more levels of hierarchy means the longer and delay the information might get to certain subunits and the relevancy and urgency of that information might have diminished by the time it gets to its final destination, Arace et.al 1974 also states the need of networking in the organisation as that will strengthen the communication links between individuals in the organisation. There are various organisational structures that Winch-it can adopt for its international expansion, the most effective one I recommend is the matrix structure. By adopting this structure Whinch-it is basically integrating its operations across more than one dimension Dowling et.al (2008). The advantages to this structural form are no issue is neglected as conflicts of interest are brought out in the open and priority is placed upon any problem that may arise in the organisation. Due to Whinch-it having multiple objectives in their plan to internationalize their business such as not just selling their products in the Asian regions but also moving some of the production overseas the matrix structure is an excellent choice as it fits the strategy of simultaneous pursuits and multiple business dimensions which in will also be given equal priority Dowling et.al (2008). According to Qiu et.al (2012) a number of multinational companies use the matrix system to implement high levels of dual strategies such as foreign product diversification and area diversification; this shows the matrix system fits the situation. This matrix structure is highly effective but is also expensive and will require careful implementation and management from the top management. The staffing context Whinch-it can pursue one of several approaches to international staffing, with each having its advantages and disadvantages. These staffing methods include ethnocentric staffing method which the strategic decisions are made at the headquarters and the foreign subsidiaries have limited autonomy. If Whinch-it feels there are no qualified personals in the host country then ethnocentric approach will prove to be the best one. Having a parent company national will also maintain the communication, coordination and control links to corporate headquarters. Disadvantages of this staffing model include reduced productivity and high turnover as a result of limited promotional opportunities to the host country nationals. Another staffing method that can be used is polycentric, this models allows each subsidiary to be managed by a host country national with some decision making autonomy, this will eliminate some of the problems that ethnocentric have while also eliminating adjustment periods, lan guage barriers and it gives continuity of management of foreign subsidiaries Dowling et.al 2008. Polycentric however has its disadvantages such as language barriers with parent company national and the loyalty to the PCN might be lower that the loyalty to the HCN’s nationality. Geocentric method of staffing takes no account of the nationality of the individuals but their ability to perform the task at hand, the advantages of this according to Dowling et.al (2008) is that it enables a development of an international team that will be ready for deployment throughout the global organisation, one of its disadvantages is the host government wanting a bigger percentage of the employees from the host country and it is very expansive due to increased training and relocation cost. Choosing the correct staffing model for Whinch-it, various factors such as the uncertainty of the foreign market and the rules and laws differing greatly from rules and regulation from the PCN and also the technology advancement being different according to Isidor et.al (2011) technology intensity will increase the likelihood of an ethnocentric staffing method, although this will be beneficial I recommend Winch-it to employ the Geocentric staffing model. This model although expensive will allow the organisation to have the best people for the job who are trained by the organisation and will allow for an easier communication and control throughout all the subsidiaries and the PCN headquarters. According to Gowan (2004) recruitment success results from the organisation understanding of relationship among person-job fit, person-organization fit and cultural differences and recruits accordingly. This will help the organisation in employing high potential employees. Recruitment and selection The goal of organisations is to employ people at the positions that there will be able to do their jobs effectively and efficiently, this aspect is extremely important to the organisation as the employees recruited and selected by the organisation will be vital the success of the organisation. Issues that will arise in the international selection and recruiting are the fact that the national government would want the locals to be hired as opposed to foreigners. The fact that they will be cultural difference in the host country the selection of employees will need to be able to adapt to the host country culture and develop the appropriate behaviours as according to host country. Winch-it should consider the factors the inability of expatriate to adjust to foreign culture as this is the main reason for expatriate fail, this may have resulted because of family concerns as the employee will be separated from family or the family will having difficulties adjusting to the foreign land which can put a lot of emotional strain on the expatriate and therefore may also affect their job. The length of the assignment will also prove to be a problem as the expatriate may require longer time to adjust before being effective but due to the lack of time they may be needed to be effective as soon as possible with no sufficient adjustment time. According to Dowling et.al 2008 the companies can offer the expatriate family friendly policies that will assist the families too in the adjustment and adapting to the foreign land. International compensation and performance management Pay is the most important factor as it as the biggest motivator when it comes to employees performing their task effectively and efficiently. A study taken by Chen et.al 2012 showed that groups that where offered a pay increase worked more cohesive and effective that the group that where offered just the base pay. When going international the parent company nationals will need to be compensated for the perceived risk they will be going by going to a foreign land therefor the expatriates should receive benefits that will offer them the incentive to go to their appointed positions and perform at a high level and avoid expatriate failure. Reference list Lihua, W 2009, Ownership, size, and the formal structure of organizations: evidence from US public and private firms, 1992-2002, Industrial Corporate Change, 18, 4, pp. 595-636, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 30 April 2013 arace, R, Pacanowsky, M 1974, Organizational Communication Role, Hierarchical Level, and Relative Status, Academy Of Management Proceedings (00650668), p. 62, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 30 April 2013. Qiu, J, Donaldson, L 2012, Stopford and Wells were Right! MNC Matrix Structures do fit a High-High Strategy, Management International Review (MIR), 52, 5, pp. 671-689, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 30 April 2013 Isidor, R, Schwens, C, Kabst, R 2011, Human resource management and early internationalization: is there a leap-frogging in international staffing?, International Journal Of Human Resource Management, 22, 10, pp. 2167-2184, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 30 April 2013 Gowan, MA 2004, Development of the Recruitment Value Proposition for Geocentric Staffing, Thunderbird International Business Review, 46, 6, pp. 687-708, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 30 April 2013. Sparrow, PR 2007, Globalization of HR at function level: four UK-based case studies of the international recruitment and selection process, International Journal Of Human Resource Management, 18, 5, pp. 845-867, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 30 April 2013. Chen, C, Williamson, M, Zhou, F 2012, Reward System Design and Group Creativity: An Experimental Investigation, Accounting Review, 87, 6, pp. 1885-1911, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 30 April 2013 Dowling, J Marion Festing, D 2008 â€Å"International human resource management†

Dracula- Bram Stoker :: English Literature

Dracula- Bram Stoker In my opinion, this is one of the greatest horror books that have ever been written. It is excellent. The book begins with Jonathon Harker- one of the main characters, writing in his journal. From this we see that he is on his way to Transylvania, 'one of the wildest and least known portions of Europe' where he is visiting one of the clients of the accountants firm that he works for in his castle, Castle Dracula. From Budapest, he travels to Bistritz where he stays in the Golden Krone Hotel. The next day he is to travel to the Borgo pass by coach where Draculas carriage will meet him. There are early signs that all is not right: He has queer dreams whilst staying in Budapest, people are very wary of telling him anything of the count or his castle, when he asked the hotel owners what they knew of the Count 'both he and his wife crossed themselves and, saying that they knew nothing at all, refused to speak any further', people try to warn him off going to the castle, the landlady wouldn't let him leave the hotel until she had placed a cross around his neck, even the people on the coach he is taking to meet the counts carriage begin talking of evil things; Satan, vampires, hell. But this is soon forgotten as he journeys, he is absorbed in the beautiful landscape, oblivious to everything else. As they near the Borgo pass he finds that the other people on the coach's behaviour becomes more and more erratic as if they are nervous and frightened, for him as well as themselves. When they arrive to the pass, there is no-one there and they try to persuade him to leave with them but the Counts horseman arrives with the carriage . His appearance is very disturbing. He has eyes 'which seemed red in the lamplight' and red lips with 'sharp looking teeth. He interrogates the coach driver who seems to be very scared of him. There is also something very strange in his behaviour but we cant put our finger on it. Jonathan boards the carriage and begins the final lap of his journey towards the castle. The way in which the journey is described builds up a sense of apprehension, as if this is the beginning of an undescribable horror. The closer to the castle Jonathan gets, the worse it is. He sees a blue flame which the driver runs off into the darkness to inspect. While he is away the wolves of the forest form a ring around him but when the driver comes back, he

Chorographic Fusion between Contemporary Dance and Indigenous Movement in Bangarra Dance Theatre Essay

Chorographic Fusion between Contemporary Dance and Indigenous Movement in Bangarra Dance Theatre Stephen Page has been the Artistic director of Bangarra Dance Theatre since 1991. During this time he has choreographed many works, including his two major pieces Ochres and Fish. Ochres was first performed in Sydney in 1995 playing an essential part in traditional life and it explored the significance of ochres. Fish is also about the earth and the power of the elements, Fish focused on the waters of the earth and the wealth of life. Bangarra gets its inspiration from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditions and deals with the contemporary issues the Indigenous population face. Ochres is a work with four parts to it, Yellow, Black, Red and White,(colours representing Aboriginal culture and heritage) with each section representing the following: Yellow showing the female spirit, Black displaying the male energy, Red being about contemporary social issues and White takes inspiration from what has come and using it to create a new world. Using the ochres is a traditional ritual done before dancing on the earth, it welcomes the story to the earth and this is done at the start of Ochres. Djakapurra Munyarryun is Bangarras cultural consultant and is featured in Ochres to display the traditional paint up and preparation of cleansing the earth. This traditional element in Indigenous dance and is much more detailed than what is performed in Ochres. In the section Yellow, Page has used choreographic fusion between contemporary dance and indigenous movement. The dancers are imitating animal movement which is taken from traditional Indigenous dance. However most of the movement in Yellow is presented in an abstract contemporary way. Black starts with Munyarryun wiping the ochre across his forehead, this is a traditional element that is repeated in Black. The stick dance in Black is about men competing for hunting grounds and has a traditional meaning. Most of Ochres has traditional meanings that are displayed though contemporary dance. The fusion between the contemporary dance and the indigenous movement is clear in Black with a lot of animal imitation. Fish also has four sections to it, Fish, Swamp, Traps and Reef. They are all about the waters of the earth and the mysteries they contain. Both traditional movement and contemporary dance is shown in Fish and each section displays this in its own way. The contemporary expression of traditional parts of Indigenous culture in Fish is shown when the men are hunting for fish in the section  Traps. They have spears and are demonstrating how they traditionally caught fish. The choreographic intent of the hunting movement achieved the message of their traditional ways but told a whole story through the abstract contemporary outlook. Fish has many traditional elements that are expressed through contemporary dance; this includes things such as movement, music and costumes. The Music in Fish changes from their traditional music with instruments like the didgeridoo into a more techno and modern upbeat sound. Throughout Ochres the music has a combination of the traditional and contemporary music. Indigenous chanting in both pieces displays the relevance of the Indigenous culture in Ochres and Fish. The costumes in Fish look like creatures of the ocean, they have a scaly effect but are kept simple. Jeans are also used in Fish as costumes other than the traditional body paint that is still shown in other sections. In Ochres there is a section that has the woman dancing topless, this is done in low light and is very traditional and acceptable in this form of dancing. Page has also incorporated costumes that are very modern in contemporary dance in Ochres, in the section Red a lot of the items of clothing are beautiful and modern but still contain that Indigenous feel. Bangarra Dance Theatre is important to Australia because it has so much history behind every single dance that Page creates. It celebrates the communities and cultures of the indigenous people in a unique way. It’s living traditions go back at least 40,000 years with the Indigenous people of Australia and reflects the lives of Indigenous people today. Contemporary dance embraces traditional stories that admire the histories and identity of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. The culture, values and traditions of Indigenous Australians inspires movement in Bangarra Dance Theatre. This company tells a story about the history of the indigenous people to Australia to the world. It is important that the Indigenous culture is never forgotten and Bangarras artistically creative works make sure that they aren’t. Ochres and Fish have many parts that are traditional to Indigenous culture with animal imitation, the paint up and preparation with ochre and the representation of what the earth means to their culture. Bangarra Dance Theatre is important to Australia and to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Stephen Page has created many works with a fusion of contemporary dance and traditional movement. This is important because it’s apart of Australian heritage and our history. Bangarras distinctive choreography portrays stories and highlights important traditions through contemporary dance.

Educating Students With Children With Disabilities

Mainstreaming in Education â€Å"We must understand that inclusion is first and foremost a philosophy. It is a mindset and a belief that everyone has value and something to contribute. It is a willingness to see the ability in everyone and match skill with challenge. It is an understanding that what our programs really provide at their heart is the opportunity to build relationships, learn who we are, and develop skills†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Friedman, 2014) Mainstreaming, one of the most controversial topics in the education field, is a term that expresses the thought of regular classroom teachers being expected to work with children with disabilities such as dyslexia, physically challenged, hyperactive or emotionally troubled. Another definition of mainstreaming is placing special-needs children in the â€Å"least restrictive environment†. The idea of mainstreaming is to help the students with disabilities feel more connected to other students, but in reality it can challenge the t eachers that does not have the training and support to help benefit the students needs (Sacks, 2001). This not only affects the teachers and students, but the parents believing their child should be included. Choosing mainstreaming at my topic benefits with my desire and passion to teach special needs children. The reason behind mainstreaming may be to benefit both the students with special needs and other students, but why is this thought to be an issue rather than a benefit? In 1975, the Education for All HandicappedShow MoreRelatedEducating Students With Children With Disabilities1204 Words   |  5 Pagesclassroom can help keep the students stay engaged, and learn in a fun way. Research has shown that iPads have increased kids testing scores dramatically. They help the school save money by not having to pay for books, paper, calculators, etc. Now that iPads hold all those materials needed. It gets the teachers engaged with how the students are learning, and doing class activities to get everyone more involved. Also, iPads have been a great benefit for children with disabilities. They have created appsRead MoreMainstreaming Of Children With Disabilities1286 Words   |  6 PagesMainstreaming of Children with Disabilities One of the most important factors in a well, social functioning child with a disability is education. Proper education will offer a child the opportunity to be successful on a higher level than a child without an education. When a child enters the school system they are entering in an environment that is unfamiliar and challenging. Children with physical disabilities and lack of full cognitive reasoning, sense their differences around other children. AccordingRead MoreEducating Special Needs Students: I.E. Autism and Other Severe Disabilities1480 Words   |  6 PagesEducating Special Needs Students: I.e. Autism and other Severe Disabilities Timothy E. Jackson SPE -226 Educating the Exceptional Learner February 23, 2011 Professor Rebekah McCarthy This essay is entitled Educating Special Needs Students, the author will discuss and several important issues, which will be the following; the defining of Mental Retardation a term the author despises, Autism, Severe Disabilities and Multiple Disabilities, also their causes, and the impact of these disabilitiesRead MoreHistory of Special Education1539 Words   |  7 Pages526 ABSTRACT Individuals with disabilities have the same passion, drive, determination and ambitions of traditional students. Students living with disabilities are just as capable of learning and retaining information just like traditional students in the classroom. 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One of the most challenging tasks that a teacher today may have to preform is effectivelyRead MoreEffective Methods For Accommodating Students With Disabilities Essay1479 Words   |  6 PagesResearch Question: What are effective methods for accommodating students’ with disabilities in inclusive settings in elementary schools? Preface The right to equal education should be in reach of all students’ regardless of their educational needs and backgrounds. The barriers that students’ with disabilities face are evident in today’s public school education. We as educators sometimes ignore the capabilities of some of our disabled students’ and impede them from achieving their fullest potential. InclusiveRead MoreSpecial Education: a Look at the History1279 Words   |  6 Pagesour current special education system. We will take a journey from the start of public education and its exclusion of special needs students to the current push for inclusion of all students learning within a general education classroom. The author will also share some of the pros and cons of current educational legislation with regard to Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and how it will effect special education in the future. The past and presentRead MoreEssay about Special Needs Education999 Words   |  4 PagesOne of the most controversial issues facing educators today is the topic of educating students with disabilities, specifically through the concept of inclusion. Inclusion is defined as having every student be a part of the classroom all working together no matter if the child has a learning disability or not (Farmer) (Inclusion: Where We’ve Been.., 2005, para. 5). The mentally retarded population has both a low IQ and the inability to perform everyday functions. Activities such as eating, dressingRead MorePeople with Disabilities1124 Words   |  5 PagesFrom the beginning of human history to the 1700s, people with disabilities were often treated badly or even killed for being different. Typically shunned by early societies, (Special Education, 2014) people with disabilities were pushed aside, abandoned as babies, or even tortured for being different (Raymond, 2012). Stigma associa ted with difference and superstition often convinced people that cognitive or physical differences were the work of demons and that these people needed to be executedRead MoreThe Importance Of A Special Needs Student849 Words   |  4 PagesImagine walking into a classroom the students are working in groups while off to the side one of the teachers is holding down a screaming student who is thrashing around trying to bite and scratch the teacher and themselves. How would a person react to this? This is not an uncommon occurrence when dealing with children who have special needs. This teacher was trained to understand the method used when working with a child who will unintentionally cause harm to themselves or others. A parent needs