Leadership in a Multicultural Organization - 4096 Words

Leadership in a Multicultural Organization Introduction With the passage of time traveling industry has emerged as one of the most profitable and lucrative industries globally. This can further be demonstrated from the fact that traveling industries today are just not localized to providing their customers with tourism related facilities but along with this they also ensure that their customers make use of all possible facilities and leisure resources through which their clients can enjoy the most memorable trip ever. In addition to this it is also important to mention that the recent economic slump developed serious repercussions upon the development of the travel industry. It was estimated that in the year 2008 international travel†¦show more content†¦Additionally, Ethics should be reflected from the behavior of the managers. Ethical behavior is of critical importance to supervisors and managers of the organizations. Ethics reflect both human resources and economic issues. A manager with good ethics and good behavior with the people working under him is always appreciated by the employees. The managers whose good morals are reflected with their behavior are in a position to convince the team members to accept the decision of the manager easily. â€Å"If leaders want their people to do the right thing most of the time, they have to role model the right thing all the time.† (Clinton, 2008) Multicultural Organizations The company, having a diverse workforce, is bound to have its impact on the effectiveness of the organization as well as on the career growth of an individual. One of the most important advantages of having a multicultural or diverse workforce is to attract the best available talent towards the organization. Such organization, which does not show any prejudice in recruiting, retaining and promoting the employees from diverse cultural and racial backgrounds easily gain competitive advantage and become able to sustain highest caliber of human resources (Adler, 1991). Different studies have proved that organizations having diverse workforce and multicultural environmentShow MoreRelatedMajor Leadership Patients Faced by Global Leaders in Leading Todays Multicultural Organizations2119 Words   |  8 PagesBased on Terrell and Rosenbusch (2013), todays world is one of extreme chaos and continuous change. It has become borderless, multicultural and a quickly developing hybrid of cultures, where a rapidly growing number of businesses operate as if the whole world were a single entity. This has created new realities for organizations because they must manage diverse cross-cultural workers, customers, suppliers, investors as well as competitors increasingly (Javidan et al, 2006). The challenge of globalizationRead MoreLeadership Styles Developed By Sogeti With The Team Park Implementation866 Words   |  4 PagesThe previous discussions focused on the leadership styles utilized by Sogeti with the Team Park implementation. The purpose of the platform was to foster collaboration and sharing of ideas across a global network. The program was intentionally designed to be fluid without a formal internal leadership structure other than having community owners to assure proper manners and maintain order within the community. However, there are two very important leadership concepts to be considered under this newRead MoreAdvantages And Disadvantages Of A Team Vs Teamthink1261 Words   |  6 Pagestake a look at appropriate leadership styles that would be most effective for managing a group or a team, also taking into consideration multicultural teams. Finally, we will point out some of the advantages and disadvantages of having groups or teams. 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Successful leadersRead MoreThe Leadership Model : Inclusive Leadership And Organizational Culture Among A Diverse Global Group Of Employees1065 Words   |  5 PagesEthic al Leadership Models Research has shown inclusive leadership is based on leadership that is ethical and all-encompassing driven by the leaders desire to honestly connect to subordinates. Ethical leaders such as Authentic, Servant, and Strategic understand the importance of all subordinates regardless of race, creed, color or national origin play an equally important role in the strategic organizational plan. Such traits allow leaders to effectively engage with subordinates of a wide varietyRead MoreCharacteristics of a Global Business Leader1098 Words   |  5 PagesRunning head: RESEARCH PAPER Research Paper Leadership in Global and Multicultural Organizations Research Paper This paper will examine and contrast the essential characteristics of a global business leader as well as evaluate the characteristics and practices that may assist multinational organizations retain their workforce and boost their morale and team spirit. This paper will also examine views regarding the characteristics and practices necessary for global leaders to successfullyRead MoreRao (2015) Acknowledge That Leaders Need To Accept The1212 Words   |  5 PagesThis article provides an overview of the traits of inclusive leadership. Next, the paper analyzes leadership skills required to create an inclusive organizational culture. The essay transition to exploring leadership characteristics that influence an organizational culture. Last, the article discusses the best method inclusive leaders can apply when working with multicultural groups in a global environment. Traits of Inclusive Leadership A Deloitte article (2016) highlighted six traits of an inclusiveRead MoreInclusive Leadership : Forming A Global Team1114 Words   |  5 PagesInclusive Leadership: Forming a Global Team Cornelius Cash Grand Canyon University LDR804-Leading across Cultures September 21, 2016 t: Ethical Leadership Models Research has shown inclusive leadership is based on leadership that is ethical and all-encompassing driven by the leaders desire to honestly connect to subordinates. Ethical leaders understand all subordinates regardless of race, creed, color or national origin play an equally important role in the strategic organizational planRead MoreThe Effect Of Assan Motor Company Under The Leadership Of Mr. Hunt Stevenson1442 Words   |  6 PagesInternational organizational behavior is very important in every organization for one primary reason. Many businesses operate under the influence of organizational behavior. For this discussion, we will analyze different aspects of Assan Motor Company under the leadership of Mr. Hunt Stevenson. Therefore, the paper will cover all topics starting with question one to question nine defining what is contained in the video and supplemental readings provided. 1. In order to develop a new business in JapanRead MoreHow Spiritual Leadership Behaviors Support Cultural Intelligence1449 Words   |  6 PagesHow Spiritual Leadership Behaviors Support Cultural Intelligence Spiritual leadership theory has increased in research over the past few decades. Spiritual leadership may be defined as drawing on intrinsically motivating values and behaviors to give one a sense of calling and membership (Nicolae, Ion, Nicolae, 2013). Spiritual leaders evoke a deeper sense of purpose for themselves and their followers. The workforce within companies is increasingly becoming culturally diverse. Within the United

Effect Of Hydraulic On Hydro Power Stations - 1089 Words

Abstract Water hammer or hydraulic transient is an unsteady flow phenomenon which is commonly found in closed conduits of hydropower station, water transmission networks, and liquid pipeline systems. Acute transients events in a hydraulic system often result from accidents and mishaps. Significant disturbances may occur in a hydro power station and causes a rapid change in the flow rate of the system during some operational conditions such as load rejection, load acceptances, and instant load rejection. This would, in turn, generates fluid transients in the hydraulic conveyance system, namely the penstocks, resulting in unacceptably low or high pressures in the penstocks depending on the triggering mechanism of the transients. Eventually, if not protected properly, the penstock may burst or collapse and human loss in some cases. The present paper reviews the available literature summarizing the effect of hydraulic transients on hydro power stations. Also an attempt has been made to analyze th e effect of diameter, materials of the penstock on water hammer. The reviewed literature has shown that with the increase in diameter the effect of water hammer would reduce to as extent. It was also observed that with the change in material used in the fabrication of the penstock, the effect of water hammer change remarkably. Keywords: water hammer, transient flow, penstock, materials, closed conduit, diameter 1 Introduction Hydro power becomes increasingly famous as anShow MoreRelatedAlternative Energy Sources1852 Words   |  7 Pagesare wind, solar, hydro and nuclear. But there is currently another source of energy that is heavily debated to see whether the pros outweigh the cons. This energy source is natural gas. The main reason for the heavy debate of natural gas is not because of the energy source, but rather the mining process of the energy source through the process of hydraulic fracturing. In this report the following topics will be discussed to get a better understanding of natural gas and the hydraulic fracturing processRead MoreLiterature Review : The Small Hydropower ( Shp )2208 Words   |  9 Pages CHAPTER 1 LITERATURE REVIEW 1.1 SMALL HYDROPOWER (SHP) AAAAAAA 1. Powers et al (1985) did an assessment study on the fishway development and design. Method of water control and the degree and type of water control were formed the basis to classify fish passes. Swimming speed of the fishes was related to their lengths for designing the fish passes. Energy required by the fishes upstream was determinedRead MoreIs Sayano Shushenskaya a Power Station Plant2234 Words   |  9 PagesRusHydro is established as part of Russia’s privatization movement in December 2004, even though the Russian government owns most of its shares (about 60%). RusHydro still possess 55 hydro plants, is the leading power company in Russia by installed capacity estimated (25.4 GW) and the second-largest hydroelectric power company in the world. The energy generated by SSH, about 23.5 TWh annually, was about one-quarter of that produced by RusHydro’s resources for the Unified Energy Systems of Russia andRead MoreReducing Global Warming Essay1522 Words   |  7 Pagesspace, it is retained long enough to warm the atmosphere. This is the greenhouse effect, and the gases causing it are greenhouse gases. Without global warming, the earth’s average temperature would be much lower; resulting in a drop of 33 degrees from its current 15 degrees to -18 degrees, an ice planet. However, excessive amounts of greenhouse gases could increase the greenhouse effect, causing an up rise in global temperatures as well as changes in precipitation Read MoreChesapeake Energy Is The Second Largest Producer Of Natural Gas2324 Words   |  10 Pagesmaintenance process of horizontal drilling and vertical hydraulic drilling. High capital costs, knowledge, equipment are needed to get in the industry. Price also affects the barriers of entry because the industry showed high barriers of entry in late 90’s when competitors were discouraged to extract natural gas due to price fluctuations. Buying power is neither high nor low for a company like Chesapeake. In the industry there is no significant buy power between competition but strategies to implementRead MoreWindmill1781 Words   |  8 PagesTable of contents Executive summary 2 Problem 2 Purpose 2 Scope 2 Introduction 3 Advantages of wind power 4 Environmental effects 5 Emissions 5 Ecological footprint 5 Conclusion 7 Recommendation 7 Executive summary The report provides an analysis of the nonmarket issues of the wind power market and provides information relating to wind power projects in Canada. The report aims to help communities balance local concerns with wider environmental needs, thereby allowing the benefits ofRead MoreEssay about The Problems with Fracking 2005 Words   |  9 Pages As the water flows out of the sink, one can strike a match and light the liquid on fire. Showering in these chemicals is out of the question. Fresh water has become a comfort, rather than a given. Could planet Earth survive this existence? If hydraulic fracturing, otherwise known as fracking, were deemed legal, this question may be put to the test. Fracking is a process in which chemicals, sand and water are used in â€Å"high volumes†¦ to fracture gas-bearing layers of rock† (Dolesh 2). As the rockRead MoreEssay Hydro-Politics Along the Jordan River5715 Words   |  23 PagesHydro-Politics Along the Jordan River One of the most important yet under-appreciated conflicts in the Middle East is over water resources along the Jordan River. As population and demand for water in the riparian states of Israel, Jordan, Palestine, and Syria have sky-rocketed, water scarcity in the desert region has reached crisis proportions. In response, leaders on all sides have entered into a dialogue, known as hydro-politics, that has been characterized by an unyielding attitude ofRead MoreWave And Tidal Energy : A New Viable Potential Form Of Alternative Energy2213 Words   |  9 Pagestype uses the rise and fall of the ocean swells that generate electricity through floats, buoys, or pitching devices to drive hydraulic pumps. The second type uses the rise and fall of water that is within a cylindrical shaft to generate electricity through an air driven turbine. These are also known as oscillating water column devices. The third type of device generates power using hydropower turbines when the device concentrates waves and drives them into an elevated reservoir. There are also severalRead MoreHydraulic Fracking Essay15746 Words   |  63 PagesHydraulic Fracturing (â€Å"Fracking†) LAS 432 – Technology, Society, and Culture Team B Michael Griffin Mark Hartwick Alena Hutson Kansas Gentry Kevin Gracia Professor Douglas McCoy 8/24/12 Contents Thesis†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Page 3 Abstract†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.Page 3 Hydraulic Fracturing Description†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.Page 4 History of Fracking.....................†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..Page 5 Cultural Context†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Page

Ultimate Fighting Case Study Free Essays

Ultimate Fighting Championship (Case 2) The following is an environmental analysis on the mixed martial arts (MMA) fighting competion, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). The parent company, Zuffa, LLC, since the UFC’s purchase, has been trying to legitimize UFC as a sanctioned sport and develop its international growth. The UFC has grown exceedingly in popularity since its founding in 1997. We will write a custom essay sample on Ultimate Fighting Case Study or any similar topic only for you Order Now The first section of this report will cover an overview of trends in the segments of the general environment that are external to the company: political/legal, socio-cultural and global, economical, technological, and demographics. The second section will discuss how Under the UFC fits the aspects of Porters Five Forces. The final section will show the competitive and internal analysis along with success strategies. Political/Legal Segment Mixed Martial Arts has been around since the very first Olympics in Athens, Greece. Over time its popularity grew and more people became interested in this sport. The UFC was the first MMA organization that tried to popularize this sport. The original founders of this organization choose marketing techniques that made many people to question the ethics of the sport. There were no time limits, no weight classes, no mandatory safety equipment, and very few rules. As a result, MMA was banned from the majority of U. S. states and the founders decided to sell the organization. The buyers and second owners of the UFC wanted to legitimize MMA as a sport. To do this, they asked states to regulate MMA and needed the government to create regulations and specific rules that fighters follow. Unified Rules and Other Important Regulations of Mixed Martial Arts were created. As of January 2011, MMA was regulated in almost every U. S. tate with the exception of Connecticut, Vermont, and New York. Socio-Cultural and Global Segment The socio-cultural aspect for the industry has to do with society’s attitude toward watching physical violence for entertainment. MMA has a very loyal fan base. The UFC has done much to turn its image around and further increase viewership. They made Dana White, a former amateur boxer, trainer, and creator of the sports marketin g agency, Dana White Enterprises, the face of the organization and part of the UFC brand. White’s popularity and status benefited the UFC’s image. MMA has increased its international presence with events in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Germany to name a few. The MMA has also established television deals to bring the matches to various locations around the world. MMA competitions can now be viewed in Europe, Asia, Australia, South America, North America, and the Middle East. Economical Segment Economic factors can have both a positive and negative effect on the MMA industry. Because Mixed Martial Arts is a luxury and not a necessity, economic growth and recessions is one thing to consider. Economic growth brings more consumer spending and consumers will be willing to spend more on tickets or PPV events. Economic recessions bring the exact opposite as consumers are willing to spend less on things that they do not need. Another thing to consider is the elasticity of demand. Since MMA events are not a necessity, consumers will not be willing to pay more when prices rise unless they are dedicated fans. Technological Segment The MMA industry depends heavily on technology for success. Television is the primary outlet for this industry. Live events are transmitted on PPV (pay-per-view) so fans who cannot physically be there can still watch it on television. Reality television shows like The Ultimate Fighter and the UFC Countdown are broadcast on Spike TV so fans can get to know the fighters outside of the Octagon. This industry also releases video games so fans can portray their favorite fighters. The UFC launched a video game called â€Å"UFC Undisputed† in 2009 and 2010 to promote upcoming PPV events. MMA organizations and fighters now have Twitter and Facebook accounts allowing fans to follow and be kept up to date on current news. Various amounts of MMA smart phone applications are also available in app stores. Demographic Segment The MMA industry looks to attract both males and females of any age and any ethnicity. The reasoning behind this is that everybody has a natural instinct of fighting; it is in our DNA and whether we choose to do it or not, we will always have that urge to fight. Although it is intended for everybody, men, typically between the ages of 18-34, are the main viewers and participators of MMA fights. The reasoning behind this is that males at a younger age are more risk-tolerant than males at older ages. There are very low percentages of female MMA viewers, however the females that do watch and participate in MMA are in the same age gap of 18-34. Organizations such as the UFC and Strikeforce mainly target this specific demographic as it is proven that males between those ages are the main fans. Porter Five Forces Supplier Power (Low) The supplier power for the MMA industry is low. The main supplier within this industry is the fighters themselves. Fighters have generally low power in this industry. The main reasons for this are the lack of competition in this industry and the abundance of fighters willing to participate. Within this industry there is one dominant player and that is the UFC. This give this organization power over fighters willing to join this industry and fighters that are already in the industry. Most of the top fighters in this industry are signed to long term contracts further limiting their power. Since there are many fighters willing to join this industry the organization can take the time to pick and choose who they want. Barriers to Entry (High) The barriers to entry are surprisingly high. The main components these organizations need are fighters, a place to fight, and people who take interest in these fights. What makes this barrier to entry high though is that the main organization in this industry is already well established. Competing against this organization is quite difficult and companies who have tried have failed. In this type of industry there is really only room for one organization such as similar professional leagues like the MLB and NBA. A new organization can very well get their name out there, but staying in the competition is hard. In order for a new organization to stay in business within this industry, the organization would have to bring something new and unique to the industry. Barriers to entry for fighters are considered high as well. Within this industry, well known fighters are already established and have contracts with existing organizations. New fighters interested to join this industry will have to go above and beyond to prove that they can compete with the top fighters. Competitive Rivalry (Degree of Rivalry) (Low) The competitive rivalry for the MMA industry is low. With the only major player in MMA being UFC it appears to have a monopoly on the industry. It has bought out most of its major competition such as Strikeforce, a kickboxing organization that stared in 1988, World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC), a MMA organization founded in 2001 focusing on smaller weight classes, and Pride Fighting Championships (Pride FC), a Japanese organization founded in 1997. Threat of Substitutes (High) The threat of substitutes for the MMA industry is high. The MMA industry is a focus of the sports industry, thus there are many alternatives. Hockey, football, baseball, basketball, and soccer can all be substitutes for MMA. In particular, hockey and football are aggressive sports that sometimes break out into violence. Since MMA is also entertainment based consumers can substitute it with movies, concerts, and video games. Buyer Power (Low-Moderate) The buyer power for the MMA industry is low to moderate. Consumers have low power in the MMA industry. In this industry, consumers typically buy tickets or pay a PPV fee to watch a live match. Buyers do not have options when purchasing tickets because tickets are usually sold at a fixed price and are typically sold from one venue. An option for a consumer could be a scalper, but scalpers usually sell the tickets at a higher cost than the original cost making buyer power even lower. In addition, MMA events are only shown live once. Consumers do not have the option to come back and watch it live later. Other MMA events will occur throughout the year, but that particular event will never be able to be seen live again. However, buyers can gain power if an organization decides to raise prices. MMA events are not a necessity so if prices rise, average consumers are less willing to pay more for tickets or PPV events. Competitor Analysis The UFC’s major competitors were PRIDE Fighting Championships (Pride FC), World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC), and Strikeforce. All three mentioned were all acquired by the UFC or Zuffa, LLC. As of late, the UFC does not have major competition in this industry. The UFC is clearly a monopolized organization and with this brings almost no competitors. Internal Analysis The UFC has had great success in the US and other foreign markets, such as Australia, and has a large fan base. With the success in Australia, Fertitta, the CEO of the UFC, has contemplated pursuing other international locales. To be successful the UFC has to find support for this type of combat based entertainment in other areas of the world. It also leads to the question, would different cultures be willing to accept the sport or would there simply be too much of a cultural gap between various audiences? Strategies of Success The UFC has already seen success internationally in many countries such as the UK, Australia, and Germany, just to name a few. The UFC should start expanding into other international areas. To do this the organization must look at the success of other sports. With China, an established relationship is usually needed before any deals can be made. With the rise of the middle class and desire for Western luxuries though, the UFC has found an opening into the market. In India MMA has grown from a budding interest into a rich tradition of martial arts and hand-to-hand combat. In South Korea martial arts has been popular for more than 2,000 years and it is cited as one of the most recognizable cultural aspects of the country. With the UFC gaining popularity in these unique countries, it is apparent that the UFC can and should expand into other culturally diverse countries but with some patience. Alternative Strategies The UFC could also just choose to stay in countries where they already have a large fan base. Since it already has a large fan base in countries like Australia, it is easier for the UFC to grow a larger fan base in these areas. The organization also need not worry about government regulations or forging new relationships with these governments because they are already established. How to cite Ultimate Fighting Case Study, Free Case study samples

Recruiting - Interviewing - Selecting and Orienting

Question: Discuss about the Recruiting, Interviewing, Selecting and Orienting. Answer: Introduction: The Sheraton Gateway Hotel in Torontos Pearson International Airport is one of the most reputable hotels in Canada and the North American circuit, according to reviews conducted by the Trip advisor website (2017). The hotel is the only full-service hotel located inside the Pearson International Airport. It boasts of amenities such as a climate controlled walkway to the airport's main terminal, a 24-hour fitness center, and a heated swimming pool. The hotel also boasts of a popular restaurant that serves international dishes, and an organizational strategy that looks to maximize the hotels location value in gaining more market share. Being located so close to a busy international airport is an important part of Sheraton's strength, especially since it is the only such hotel in the vicinity of the airport. This gives it a huge advantage in attracting travelers (Sheraton, 2017). Sheraton Gateway Hotel is also associated with the Sheraton Gateway Hotel, Los Angeles. It is commonly referred to as the Sheraton inside Canada, and by its full name for those not conversant with it. In completing this research, the group spoke with Goretti Moreno, who works as a meeting and event manager at the hotel. In this role, she manages events and meetings contracts generated by the sales department. She also reviews sales contracts and maintains relationships with new as well as existing clients. For the purposes of this discussion, the hotel will invariably be referred to as Sheraton, hotel, company, organization and firm (Sheraton, 2017). We decided to research this company due to its reputation, and its relevance to the subjects we wanted to study. The hotel currently employs around 500 employees. They are spread across several departments including food and beverage, front office, housekeeping, maintenance, kitchen, sales and marketing, event organization and outside catering, and finance. The biggest number of employees is concentrated in food and beverage and kitchen departments, as well as housekeeping. While the hotel has not received any awards on account of its human resource practices, it has received the Project ICARIUS Supplier Gold Medal from the Global Business Travel Association. The award is given to institutions which excel in the provision of meeting and conferencing services, as well as hospitality. The award also matches the event and meeting managers assertion, that the hotel is heavily focused on quality, above all else. It believes that quality will help it retain a significant market share, necessary as it moves into the future (Sheraton, 2017). Sheraton's organization culture is geared towards innovation and quality of service. The award won by the company is a testament to an organization focused on delivering the best quality service in the region. As Moreno (the event and meeting manager) explained, the companys culture is aligned to cultivate and maintain strong relationships with its clients. The hotel has a modest following on Facebook, with the figure currently at around 1000. The page mainly has comments about past clients, who are very impressed with the level of quality of service they enjoyed during their visit. Employees stay at the hotel because of several reasons. The pay is competitive compared to other hotels, and there are opportunities for growth. Additionally, employees at the hotel are deeply involved in planning their work, meaning that they own their tasks and processes. Sheraton does HR planning. HR planning refers to the set of processes that ensure staffing is not only sufficient and qualified, but that it is competent enough to achieve the organization's goals, and enable fulfillment of the organisation's strategic objectives. The results of this exercise are improved competency and employee motivation. In forecasting how the organization will plan its human capital in a specific timeframe in the future, the organization uses both qualitative and quantitative techniques. The oft-used qualitative technique is the Delphi technique, accompanied by expert opinions. Also used is Markov analysis (Naff al, 2001). The Delphi technique is used to forecast staff needs, with the use of expert opinion. The opinion is gathered from all perspectives of the hotels environment, including economic realities, competition, availability of the desired human resources, and projected profitability of the business. The Delphi technique is a seven step process that is aimed at formulating recommendations and then implementing them. The planning starts with the choosing of facilitators, followed by the identification of relevant experts. The experts will be both from within and outside the organization. The problem is then defined. In this case, the problem may be a shortage of employees, and the resulting dilemma on how the vacant positions will be filled (Naff al, 2001). What follows are three rounds of questions. In this phase, the problem is broken down into several parts for easier analysis. Then, a further analysis probability judgments, for instance, are carried out, after which a set of predictions is formulated. These predictions are further analyzed, and on the basis of the recommendations, planning is implemented. Using Markov analysis follows a different channel. Here, the organization looks at the supply and demand of labor, literacy rate of the country, population growth, and other demographics, economic development and technological development, as well as wage level and growth. Using these variables, the organization comes up with a solution of how the future circumstances of the HR function will be (Belhaj, 2013). The objectives of the HR planning exercise is to come up with a sustainable model that takes into consideration current and future HR and business needs, as well as the prevailing environmental conditions. These are closely aligned with the organizational goals of high quality, and competitiveness in terms of attracting both clients and the best human capital. The organization realizes that to continue offering the quality of service that it currently does, an effective HR strategy is necessary, hence the need for planning (Naff al, 2001). Job Analysis, Design, description, and postings Job descriptions refer to the official cluster of tasks that an employee is obligated to perform in an organization. The job description process at Sheraton is a multi departmental affair since many roles affect more than one department. The human resource department takes the lead in this, offering guidance and referring others to best practice in the industry. The respective departments will thereafter detail the tasks they expect the incumbent to perform. This description is discussed with other departmental managers who are relevant to the specific role, after which they come up with a compromise. The human resource department is thereafter responsible for aligning the job description to the organization's overall aims and strategic direction (Mangaleswaran Kirushanthan, 2015). Job analysis at the Sheraton is conducted periodically, after five years. The analysis is done to determine each jobs main duties, and how the duties are important to the job. This is done via a highly empirical process of data collection and thereafter considering the relevance of each task to the job. The job analysis exercise is an organization wide affair and requires an external consultant to perform. The most used model is the Pearson Chong Path model, which look at job satisfaction, among other important elements needed to perform a job satisfactorily. The exercise has so far succeeded in aligning the organization's jobs with the market, as well as helping the job description process in alignment with organizational strategy (Bernard, 2000). According to Moreno, the organization practices job evaluation. This is especially the case with employees who are not new to the organization, that is, less than 2 years old and are in the lower cadres. The employees are rotated periodically between a select group of departments, which are closely aligned with their general job description. For instance, those employees who are in the housekeeping department may also be posted to the front office and concierge roles, so that they can better understand how the hotel works. Those in sales may also be posted to event organizing, and in the process understand the whole process that is relevant to their specific roles. While employees are rotated at the organization to raise their skills and experience level, they also bring in new skills to their new tasks, in the process enriching those employees as well. According to DuBrin (2011), job rotation succeeds in ensuring that employees are truly competent in their roles and that they are be tter positioned to appreciate the organization's overall strategic direction. Recruitment, Selection and interviewing In order to come up with the best recruitment processes, the hotel has come up with a method of anonymous recruitment whereby the irrelevant details about the candidate are not presented. These details include gender, name, race, religion, among others. Candidates are appraised solely on the basis of their qualifications. To further improve the recruitment process, the hotel has implemented a policy of effectively selling their qualities to the best candidates. The hotel tries to get the best people; it faces strong opposition from the market. To address this, the Sheraton has tried to develop the skills of its recruiters in presenting their offer to potential highly qualified candidates. Recruiting processes are generally forward looking. This means that the recruiters are not guided by history and past trends, but by the future needs of the organization, as well as the strategic direction(Arthur, 2012). In advertising for vacant positions, the hotel uses its website, as well as popular job search websites that are well regarded by professionals. By doing this, the organization maintains its reputation, while also opening up its organization to as many candidates as possible. The organisation that does this is able to get the best employees to fill its positions while improving its reputation as a highly regarded employer(Ullah, 2010). The company looks for a set of skills in its employees, as it tries to thrive in an increasingly challenging atmosphere. The basic requirement is the technical aptitude to work satisfactorily in the assigned role. Besides this, however, the organization has put measures in place to ensure that only employees with innovation skills are hired. Additionally, employees must be ready and able to work in an environment which promotes diversity. The hotel has a culture of constantly learning, as exemplified by its job rotation policy. New employees must, therefore, be ready to learn on the job, and constantly improve their skills (Ullah, 2010). The employee value proposition for Sheraton does not currently exist. This is a major anomaly since the EVP would be crucial in showing employees what they stand to gain should they join the organisation. The ideal EVP for the organization would be employee based. In other words, the EVP must be based on not what the organization feels is important, but on what is most likely to appeal to the employees. Secondly, the EVP must be able to present real and tangible benefits. Merely promising some benefits may not work for the organization, since the EVP may fail to convince the employees to join the organization. The EVP should have a description of what exactly is expected from the employees. This will prevent any ambiguities and confusion from arising in future (Collett, 2014). Orientation, Training, and Development New employees are still nervous about their new jobs. The first task of the organization is to put them at ease. The orientation process is essentially a first impression opportunity for the employer, and how they treat the employee will in future be used by the employees in judging their work environment. The orientation exercise should include a factual and honest presentation of the organization and task. The session should not be rushed, so that the employee may assume their new duties. Instead, the exercise should be well spaced out to give the employee enough time to internalize the information. The orientation exercise should not be all information about the organization and the job. Too much information may not be taken well by the employee. A better use of this time will be by giving the employee a chance to know their colleagues and build a social network that they can rely on for further orientation. These qualities are included in the orientation process conducted at the Sheraton (Peterson, Morrison, Nilsen, 2000). After the orientation process, employees are taken through quality training. This training helps them detect and correct any quality issues in their work, and enables them to point out any deficiencies in quality. At the same time, all employees undergo training to get them up to speed with the various technological tools they will be using in their jobs. These tasks include front office software for the front office staff, as well as kitchen equipment for the kitchen staff (Peterson, Morrison, Nilsen, 2000). While the company's training modules have not been recognised publicly, their training modules are nonetheless very dear to the organization, as Moreno intimated to us. Using these modules, it has been possible to improve orientation, performance, and reduce employee turnover. The training modules have also succeeded in enabling the best employees quickly adjust to their new roles. This has boosted confidence, teamwork, and generally enabled the organization edge ever closer to its organisational strategy goals (Peterson, Morrison, Nilsen, 2000). The organization needs to be keener on its EVP and use it more effectively. While the hotel has been able to consistently get the best candidates to work for it, this may change in the future. Hotels with more financial muscle and better packages may attempt to not only lure valued employees, but they may become the preferred destination for the best employees. To help stop this, the EVP is critical. The process of getting and retaining the best is not just dependent on the EVP. The recruitment process is very important as well. Recruiters should be able to communicate the strengths of the organization clearly, to enable them to get the best employees. While the orientation process has been able to get the required results, this might not be the best results they organization can get. In addition to what the organization is doing, there should be a mentorship programme for new employees. The mentorship programme will enable employees learn their roles faster. It will also enable employees to build social networks in the organization while gaining valuable experience in their positions. Lastly, the organization should be able to involve its employees more in the job analysis exercise. They should have a say in how the external consultant analyses their roles, to help the consultant get a better perspective of the jobs in question. References Arthur, D. (2012). Recruiting, Interviewing, Selecting Orienting New Employees. New York: Amacom. Belhaj, R. (2013). A Markov Model for Human Resources Supply Forecast Dividing the HR System into Subgroups. Journal of Service Science and Managment , 2013 (6), 211-217. Bernard, H. (2000). Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. London: Sage Publications. Collett, A. (2014). Home Insights Blogs Conversations Global Practices Four Key Steps to a Great Employee Value Proposition. Retrieved 04 01, 2017, from edelman.com: https://www.edelman.com/post/four-key-steps-great-employee-value-proposition/ DuBrin, A. (2011). Essentials of Management. Mason: Cengage Learning. Mangaleswaran, T., Kirushanthan, K. (2015). Job Description and Jopb Specification: A study of Selected Organizations in Sri Lanka. International Journal of Information Technology and Business Management , 41 (1), 30-36. Naff, K., al, e. (2001). Personnel Management in Government: Fifth Edition, Politics and Process. New York: Marcel Dekker. Peterson, C., Morrison, E., Nilsen, S. (2000). Multiple Employment and Training Programs:. Washington D. C. : GAO. Sheraton. (2017). Home Page. Retrieved 04 01, 2017, from www.sheratongatewaytorontoairport.com: https://www.sheratongatewaytorontoairport.com/ Ullah, M. (2010). A Systematic Approach of Conducting Employee Selection Interview. International Journal of Business and Management , 5 (6), 106-112.

Indian Trade Liberalization Essays - Indian Independence Movement

Indian Trade Liberalization The Liberalization of India According to Eichenberg in his lecture on February 2, 2000, liberal international relations theory suggests that the key to peace is through the promotion of free trade and the institution of democratic principles. In late 1991, with the transfer of the Indian Parliament into the hands of political and economic reformers, despite much opposition, India began its quest towards liberalization. The reform implemented freer trade in the largest democracy in the world. Facets of the Reformed Policy Since Indias independence from British control in 1947 until Rao took office, Indian foreign policy can be characterized as fairly isolationist. During the Cold War period India retained a policy of nonalignment. It was uncommitted to either the West or the East and stuck to swadeshi ideology adopted. Swadeshi simply means India first, and is an extremely nationalistic ideology that advocates self-sufficiency. Just under a decade ago, Indian foreign policy has taking significant strides towards liberalization. Since Prime Minister Narasimha Rao assumed his position as the head of this state in economic shambles, India has undergone significant reform in its domestic and foreign economic policy. Raos administration implemented major changes in banking, interest rates, and the ability to fully convert rupees (Indias currency) in trade transactions. But most importantly, towards the end of 1991, Rao opened Indias doors to foreign investment. The reforms in 1991 were simply necessary. As Clive Crook reported in The Economist at the time, the new government attempted to restructure the ever-proliferating bureaucracy and the license raj. This reshaping dismantled the barriers for foreigners to enter into the Indian markets. Such barriers included series of permits and licenses granted only by members of the Indian Parliament or high-ranking bureaucrats. These complicated and inefficient policies turned away potential foreign investors and, therefore, hurt the Indian economy. As part of the reform plan, Rao implemented revolutionary changes. According to the Asian Survey by Nalini Kant Jha, Rao limited the equity participation to 40% and removed the provision for the necessity of local control of industry. India also turned into favoring export-led growth; therefore, it removed restrictions on foreign trade and significantly reduced customs duties and tariffs on imports. Advancement Towards Liberalism Ever since the legitimacy of its government, India has remained the largest democracy in the international environment. It is a democracy with numerous political parties and strong coalition governments. As a result of the policy reforms in 1991, India has moved into a new era, an era of liberalization. Firstly, Indias democracy is much different than the government of any other third world nation in existence today. Much of public policy is actually influenced by the public. Political parties and public activists play a major role in the creation and sustenance of governmental political and economic policies. According to Amartya Sen in his work entitled, India: Economic Development and Social Opportunity, The democratic framework of the Indian polity permits this exercise (of public influence) in ways that are not open in many other developing economies. As a result, the major political actors in Indias international relations have been and remain the constituents of the democratic state. Secondly, Indias new economic policy of freer trade is leading the country to better relations with western nations, such as the United States. The Indo-U.S. relations prior to this new liberal era have been quite sour. This tension existed due to the nonalignment policy of India during the Cold War Era and the swadeshi temperament of the Indian Parliament during that time. When Rao took office in 1991, he sought to mend the relationship through liberal ideology. His plan was to increase trade between the worlds two largest democracies and, as a result, turn the existing tension into mutually beneficial alliance. In 1994, Prime Minister Rao and Finance Minister Manmohan Singh (architect of the economic reform), visited Washington DC. This strategic visit attempted to relieve tension between the two states. During their stay in the United States, Rao and Singh met with many American businesspeople and made agreements to increase approved U.S. investment in India from $2 billion to between $20 and $25 billion in the following few years. During the 1990s, there has been a continual increase of foreign investment in India by many nations. As a

7 Common Body Language Mistakes People Make During Interviews

7 Common Body Language Mistakes People Make During Interviews You may talk a big game, but you might be surprised to know that talking makes up a small part of human communication. Some people are great listeners, but by nature, we receive more information from our eyes than from our ears. When it comes to job interviews, even with the perfect outfit, amazing credentials, and a fantastic introduction, if your body language is poor, you’re damaging your chances of landing the job! Here are seven body language mistakes to avoid.1. SlouchingIt doesn’t matter how comfortable the chair is- sinking into it will  give a bad impression. Sit and stand upright, and hold your shoulders back. If you look too relaxed, your interviewer may get the impression that you aren’t taking the interview seriously, and in turn, won’t take the job seriously.2. Getting fidgetyFidgeting is a nervous habit for many of us. Interviews are very trying on your nerves, especially if you’re particularly excited about the prospective job. Ref rain from fidgeting- no jittery, nervous hands or bouncing legs. Keep yourself calm.3. Forgetting to make eye contactEye contact and trustworthiness go hand in hand. When establishing a connection with your interviewer, you should make eye contact. On the other hand, staring into someone’s eyes without taking a break can read as creepy and make your interviewer uncomfortable, so just make eye contact for a few seconds here and there while you’re speaking.4. Nodding excessivelyYou may want to seem agreeable, but constantly nodding while someone is speaking can actually give them the impression you’re merely waiting for them to finish talking because you have something to say. If your interviewer feels like you’re rushing them through, they’ll get the impression you don’t care about the current conversation. Listen attentively without moving around. Just focus on the information being relayed to you.5. Crossing your armsIf the chair youâ€℠¢re sitting in doesn’t have armrest, it can be difficult to figure out where to put your arms. Crossing them may translate as hostile, as you’re metaphorically closing yourself off from the situation. Fold your hands and place them in your lap, or better yet, carry a notepad and a pen so you can jot down important things. Give your hands something to do that isn’t distracting.6. Not showing  expressionWhen someone’s meeting you for the first time, they may not be familiar with your subtleties. A  quick wit and  clever jokes are usually appreciated in most social settings, but it’s important that the person you’re talking to knows how to interpret your humor. Your facial expressions need to match your desired intention- this means smiling, raising your eyebrows, or making other emotive gestures that match your  dialogue.7. Breaking the bubble of personal spaceThere are certain formalities that involve people being close, such as hands hakes, or even high fives, depending on the culture of the company you’re interviewing for. What’s important is that physical closeness is limited only to these occasions. Never lean over the desk or stand too close to your interviewer. You might think you’re coming across as friendly, but you could be making someone  uncomfortable.When you’re running through your example interview questions and preparing your answers, try delivering them in front of a mirror as you watch your body language. If you want to hit home with your delivery, you need to present yourself as the complete package.Kelly Smith is an experienced writer and tutor working at Career FAQs. She’s keen on new motivational tools and productivity hacks. She’s also interested in the new media.

Strategic Management of HR Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Strategic Management of HR - Essay Example This paper will present a short report on this company from theoretical perspectives on SHRM while focusing on external factors based on information available in the company’s website and other literature sources before identifying some key challenges and proposing recommendations to tackle those challenges along with concluding opinions. 2. The Walt Disney Company: As per their website, the Walt Disney Company and its subsidiaries group is a world leading international family entertainment and media enterprise with five business segments: media networks, parks and resorts, studio entertainment, consumer products and interactive media. Disney’s vision statement is ‘To make people happy’ (Plenert 2002; 77), and this they wish to accomplish through their mission, which states, ‘To be one of the world's leading producers and providers of entertainment and information. Using our portfolio of brands to differentiate our content, services and consumer produ cts, we seek to develop the most creative, innovative and profitable entertainment experiences and related products in the world,’ (Erling, 23). ... hile strategic management models strive to address company’s internal and external factors, the external factors stand out even before starting a business and also throughout the life cycle of the business. 3.1 Life cycle model: Considering the life cycle model, put forth by Sisson and Storey (2000 cited Marchington & Wilkinson, 2005), Disney can be categorized in the maturity phase after its rapid growth into locations worldwide during last decade; its standardized policies and procedures have been translated to suit the local needs and obligations. Although Disney continues to acquire and grow, its growth strategies seem to be in saturated markets, considering the evolution of advanced technology and systems, favourable economic conditions and regulations, which in turn are only sufficient to sustain its business. The recent acquisition of Lucasfilm and all of its franchisees, which has not only added greater value to Disney’s brand but also increased its share value in the US market (Cieply, 2012) also indicates that the company still continues to grow and expand while maintaining its standardized policies. The life-cycle perspective shows Disney fluctuating between growth and maturity phases. Resistance to change, adaptability of old strategies to new conditions and employee motivation and commitment are common issues that need to be addressed. 3.2 Harvard model: Gaining an understanding of the external factors is crucial for strategic decisions that can eventually spell the success, or performance of the organisation. The Harvard strategic management model, proposed by Beer and his associates (1984, cited Marchington & Wilkinson, 2005) identifies two critical factors that influence management, namely, situational and stakeholders’ interests, with the former

Value Stream Mapping and Interviews with Michigan Steel Company Term Paper

Value Stream Mapping and Interviews with Michigan Steel Company - Term Paper Example The production lead time is also reduced by analyzing the primary data obtained from observing actual processes in the company’s factory. Further, this paper discusses the methods employed in the analysis and drawing of Michigan Steel Company’s value stream map. These methods are vital in the calculation of the cycle time, changeover time and uptime. The number of shifts for each worker and EPE (every part every) is also calculated. The target number of pieces is also recommended. Finally, the paper concludes by giving the results of the entire project and further discusses them giving recommendation where necessary. The value stream technique is mostly used in the design and analysis of information and material flow that will bring a product or service to the final customer or consumer. Furthermore, the technique also aims at using minimal resources whilst maximizing production. In the analysis of this one is required to draw a current state map that illustrates the whole value stream mapping technique employed. This paper shall embark on discussing the current state map for the Michigan Steel Company and evaluate is value mapping technique. In order to successfully analyze the technique at Michigan Steel Company, the entire chain of steel production is broken down into discrete levels of production and information flow. The step by step flow from production is evaluated and the lead and processing time taken to complete the production is also determined. The route taken by the product until it reaches the State Street Assembly (customer) is also illustrated in the Michigan Steel Company’s current state map situation. This paper shall then discuss this process’s methods, results and efficiency. The biggest problem met by Michigan Steel Company was the relevant optimal lead time for the entire production process. This necessitated the team to set up objectives that are oriented towards goal  achievement.  

Iran and United States relations from 1945- to present day Essay

Iran and United States relations from 1945- to present day - Essay Example Due to alleged revenue domination by the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, the Iranian Parliament had generally settled to nationalize its holding of the British Empire’s leading company. The U.S. and Britain, through a now-admitted clandestine operation of the CIA called Ajax Operation, assisted organize objections to defeat Moussadeq and return the Shah to Iran. Later than his return from brief banish, Irans hatchling efforts at democracy rapidly descended into autocracy as the Shah took apart the constitutional curbs on his office and started to rule as an absolute ruler. In 1979 Iranians rebelled and the Shah was expelled for a second time. Then, Ayatollah Khomeni became new person in charge, and shortly began issuing nasty oratory against the United States, telling the country as the "Great Satan" and a "nation of unbelievers." The American supervision under President Jimmy Carter decline to bestow the Shah any further assistance and put across no curiosity to return him to command. A significant humiliation for Carter came about when the Shah, as of that time enduring from cancer, appealed for an entry into the U.S. for remedial. Carter unwillingly agreed, but the move only underpinned Iranian concepts that the previous ruler was an American dummy. Business relations between Iran and the U.S. are constrained by U.S. endorses and comprise chiefly of Iranian demand of food and medical stuffs and U.S. demands of food and carpets. The U.S. Government bans most ‘buy and sell’ with Iran. After the 1979 convulsion of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, the U.S. coagulated about $12 billion in Iranian assets, encompassing bank deposits, bullion and other possessions. According to United States spokespersons, most of those possessions were unfrozen in 1981in connection with the deal for the return of U.S. cap tives taken in the embassy convulsion. In September 2005, the State Department of U.S. declined to issue visas for parliamentary speaker of Iran and a team of senior

Social Media As A Tool For Protest

Social Media As A Tool For Protest The revolution in social media has made it easier for likeminded people to gather and voice their opinion on a particular subject of common interest, the revolution has accelerated the rate at which relationships develop, information is communicated and influence is transmitted. Social media is like community places in past: a place where aggravated people can get together to discuss and raise protests. Facebook has played a large role in this revolution since it has taught users a new way to create groups, spread information all over the globe and voice their opinion unanimously. Social media has had a profound effect on society, commoners now has a chance of having their voice heard, there is a sense of hope, as every issue has the ability to be widespread, empowering citizens of all nations with the power of being heard. A recent example is the rape crime currently committed in India, the news and protests have spread throughout the globe from India to the United States and people are signing petitions on Facebook condemning this act and asking for a death penalty for the abusers. In this case governments face increasing pressure because of the power of the crowd, and due to the Arab spring, the power of the crowd should not be underestimated. In recent proceedings like the Tunisian uprising, the Egyptian protests and, the most common, the student protests, social media has acted as tool to get people altogether and carry out the protests and uprising. It is important to note that social media in its entirety should not be blamed for the uprising as it is merely a tool to disseminate information quickly and on a broader level. There are many other elements to consider when carrying out a protest for revolutionary change such as funding, organisation and proper leadership. The key to creating a proper protest movement is to motivate and convince people about a certain cause, and to inspire them to leave the comfort of their own homes and face the chaos and gravity of the streets, to be prepared to face the police and other irregularities of the open street. Social Medias role in this revolutionary period is allowing the revolutionists to broadcast information at a cheaper cost, participants do not have to attend regular meetings, workshops or rallies. So in order to make a social media led revolution into reality it is necessary for it to be translated into street action. But in some countries the government directly controls the media profoundly; social media are one of the reliable sources of news for citizens. They are somehow the voice of the natives. Bloggers take over the position of journalists and correspondents to bring the news that would otherwise be suppressed and masked by the government. Hence this shows that social media is not directly responsible for revolution, in Egypt when the government blocked internet access, the revolutionaries distributed information through handing out pamphlets with their tactics and they used fax and telephone lines for communication, something which was done in Iran in 2009. In fact social media are not accountable for the protests; they may be a tool to organize them. The channel for the Tunisian uprising was the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi. This event set off people to protest against the said Tunisian government. The social media coverage of this event made the protests spread and helped to organize protests on a broad scale eventually. Only 21% of the Egyptian population use internet and only 33.4% of the Tunisians. (Internet World Stats, 2012) these figures are unlikely to launch an entire national movement, but are enough to get it initiated. Though the government shut down all that from the internet but the protests still kept on growing and made up to The March of many Millions. Social media is not only used for physical protests, but are being used for digital protests. One can join even a Face book group to express his support, opinion and comment if he cannot make it to the physical protest. In this regard Twitter is also used, when there is a live protest happening. The use of said social media will definitely expand in future years and perhaps 2013 will be the year of the social protests. Influence and power of media global contestation Social media alone does not work for revolutions alone; they are the tools that allow revolutionary groups to groom well. It lowers the overall cost of participation, recruitment, training and organization. And inherent weaknesses, strengths along with their effectiveness depends how influentially leaders use them, how it is easily accessible to the general category of people. The Iranian green revolution in 2009 was upraised mostly by the western media through YouTube and twitter that follows later Moldovas revolution 2009 that is twitter revolution. Revolution always required an organization, mass appeal and funding. Sometimes they appear vulnerable to the governments counter protest strategies. To motivate individuals up to that required standard that is required, joining the chaos of the streets, mention their protest, and record their point of views instead of sitting at their houses. Social media presently has become important tool for social networking and most importantly the content sharing among the community. The content is generated from the websites that are up to date and remains largely untapped. Social media demonstrate how social media content can be used to predict real-world outcomes in this age of fast communication. Particular, we can use the chatter from public sharing sites like Twitter to forecast the upcoming situations. The tweets extracted from Twitter may be further utilized to improve the forecasting power of social media. The information spread like fire in the forest and the community is driven by the social media. SOCIAL MEDIA AS A TOOL FOR POLITICAL PROTEST: The participation of social media in political protests could be anticipated since the birth of social media. It plays a vital role in awareness and revolutionary impacts around this global village. But we can say a boost influence was made after the introduction of Facebook In 2003, Youtube In 2005 And Twitter In 2006 and such type of other social networking sites. An Article posted in (TheAge,2012) is an example of a social networking site used in a political protest in which it is written that Facebook was used to rally the protesters who gathered in Sydneys CBD to demonstrate against an anti-Islam film but the rally was hijacked by extremists, says Muslim community. In the same article Ms Abdel-Fattah said Facebook updates from friends at the protest depicted a demonstration that had started peacefully until a minority of extremists hijacked it. However one of the famous protest made in 2011 in Egypt covered quite a role of social media, (taken from an article by Anne Alexander on 9th February 2011 in BBC NEWS) The events of 28 January are particularly important, because they contain crucial clues to understanding the broader relationship between the media both new and old and the mass movement for change which has developed in Egypt over the past few weeks. The Social media is creating very difficult for the some authoritarian leaders to maintain an authoritarian rule. Media is making it difficult even for tough autocracies such as Iran and Myanmar. Firstly, the fact that an internet and mobile phone blockade failed shows clearly that this movement is not based on the web. In fact, the movement which erupted on 25 January has brought together many groups who have taken to the streets over the past 10 years. They are varied socially and politically, ranging from workers to bloggers and democracy campaigners, to senior judges, to members of the Muslim Brotherhood and Coptic Christians. This is the first time they have all demonstrated together, and the first time they have been joined by millions of their fellow citizens. But it is important to understand that this movement builds on a legacy of protest by many different activist networks, most of which are not primarily organized online. Secondly, it is clear that the protesters use a range of different media to communicate with each other and to get their message across. I was in Tahrir Square on Sunday: everywhere you look there are mobile phones, hand-written placards, messages picked out in stones and plastic tea cups, graffiti, newspapers and leaflets, not to mention al-Jazeeras TV cameras which broadcast hours of live footage from the square every day. When one channel of communication is blocked, people try another. Every mass movement needs spaces where political alternatives can be debated and organization can take place. In the 1940s, the last time that Egypt saw mass protests on a similar scale, radical bookshops, underground newspapers and illegal trade union meetings played this role. For the current generation some of these spaces have been online. I asked Ahmed, a socialist activist in Tahrir Square, what role he thought the internet was playing in mobilizing protest. Online organizing is very important because activists have been able to discuss and take decisions without having to organize a meeting which could be broken up by the police, he said. We can also witness social media as warfare in the Gaza Battle, as NBC News brings in our knowledge that Israeli and Hamas military forces tired to fight the conflicts in GAZA by using social media. But the Israeli Defense Forces broadcasting of the details of its attacks against Gaza via Twitter, YouTube, and its own blog (IDFblog.com) is more organized and pointed-and its viral qualities have made it perfect fodder for protesters. Soon after the IDFs first tweet of an attack last Wednesday, protesters across the globe took to the streets to rally against the bloodshed and show their support for Gaza-and for Israel as well posted by Cara Maresca (MSNBC, 2012) SOCIAL MEDIA AND ACTIVISM: Activism can be defined as the vigorous or revolutionary actions, protests, demonstrations etc taken in order to implement or achieve goals. However social media is one of the main orbit around which activism revolves. Its main influence could be seen majorly in youth. Many NGOs and other organizations lay down platforms for activists. An example of rising activism through social media can be given from the article Global activist network involving Asia: global continuation an evolution in Japan written by Takuro Higuchi (inter-Asia cultural studies, volume 13, number 3, 14th June 2012) Since Seattle 1999, plenty of summit protests around WTO, G8/20, IMF, WB, COP, and so on happened in each of the different summit sites in the last decade. Such incidents were amazingly accepted because of their mass actions and widespread networks of activists sustaining a series of mass actions. As some researchers argue, those of generating networks are based on horizontality and autonomy, and they have already prefigured a powerful model for (re)organizing society. However, on the other hand, some researchers also argue the major shortcomings. In theory, the Global Activist Network has been constructed since Seattle, although in practice there has still been a serious spatial gap between the Western part of the world and the other side of the world. Actually, the global activist network has excluded Asia. However, in 2008, the G8 summit was held in Japan. This paper, thus, aims to show that the global activist network since Seattle, which was limited to Europe and North America, has expanded to involve Asia through the 2008 G8 summit in Japan. The 2000 G8 in Japan was right after the Seattle in 1999, yet, due to its single-issue and national character of the movements, globally expanding networks didnt reach Japan. However, movements around the 2003 anti-Iraq war brought in the autonomous character of the alter-globalization movement and referred to the legacy of autonomous activisms. During the 2008 G8, some autonomous activists in Japan took over the diversity of tactics and networks of activists inherited since PGA, DAN and Dissent!' Another great definition of social network relating activism can be read under the heading of GLOBAL ACTIVISM NETWORK: When scholars and activists conceptualize social movements, increasingly, they emphasize the role of networks in activist organizations and coalitions. There is accumulating evidence that activist issue campaigns are strengthened and broadened by their network-based organizational strategies. These networks are often transnational or global in their reach thanks, in large part, to the enabling qualities of the Internet. The following links present papers and websites that provide resources for better understanding the strategies, strengths and limitations of activist networks. (Govcom, 2012) features work by Richard Rogers and his colleagues at the University of Amsterdam. Using social network analysis methods, these researchers explore innovative techniques for measuring networks and tracing their dynamics over time. They are able to create remarkable sociograms or maps of activist networks. Richard Rogers has also developed typologies for hyperlinks and networks. Bennet (1998) Globalization has changed societies and the ways in which people think about and communicate politics. This paper explores properties of global activist communication and examines their implications for political organization and change according to (Global Activists Network, 2011) However social media turned out to be very helpful for the disable activists as well. Written by Patric Butler while there are fears that traditional methods of disability activism are on the wane, a new campaigning spirit is been forged using the social media revolution he also wrote Galvanized by the governments draconian welfare reform agenda, the new activism arguably is helping to renew a disability movement thought by some to have lost its way in recent years. The staggering Twitter-driven success of the We Are Spartacus campaign in January announced the emergence of this new wave. This carefully planned viral campaign steered by a tiny band of activists almost single-handedly put the previously arcane issue of cuts in disability on the public agenda Awareness of social media and activism is also given to the young generation, as they are the upcoming leaders of tomorrow, events and programs are organized for their knowledge an example of such act is an event organized in Glasgow by the name KIDS, SOCIAL MEDIA AND ACTIVISM on September 24th 2012. However, a book GLOBAL ACTIVISM, GLOBAL MEDIA written by Wilma de Jong, Martin Shaw, Neil Stammers ties up much of the activism related with social media. INTERNET EMPOWERMENT: Though social media is actually web based media and it refers to accessible online technologies where people share, publish, comment, and communicate etc across the global village. Starting from the local communities, we see a great internet empowerment around Social media has the capacity to alter traditional power dynamics. Consumers can influence the buying decisions of others by sharing their experiences of purchasing products or services online. Major industries find themselves disrupted by file sharing and citizen journalism, while governments have been challenged by citizens mobilized with the help of Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. The Young Foundation wanted to test whether social media could empower local, geographical communities. So we set to work with several community groups in Huddersfield, Kings Lynn and north Kensington. Across these areas we supported residents who wanted to use social media to develop relationships between neighbors, increase awareness of local news and events, and ultimately encourage more people to get involved in community action says Mandeep Hothi in a community action blog. Walking towards the professional approach the Blow Fish Agency tells us much about the social internet media empowerment Both social media marketing and advanced web communication are important approaches to business that are rapidly expanding. One significant trend, appearing with greater frequency, is the necessity for not only brand value, but extreme brand transparency. It is clear that various diverse companies are investing more in social media and web optimization and less in print media and the like. Consumers, in the last decade, have begun spending increasing time on the Internet and less time reading magazines and listening to public radio. The old trends in advertising are quickly becoming obsolete and in order to stay abreast and maintain market share, businesses are taking great measures to keep up with consumers and are gravitating towards web-based marketing. Although the mastery of social media tools does not, by any means, guarantee market domination or any concrete increase in profits, it does allow businesses to stay competitive in an ever-changing marketplace. Blowfish is well awar e of the weight that web communication carries with it and strives, on a daily basis, to optimize that communication of its clients. The internet empowerment and its anticipations can be understood from the book Network Empowerment edited by Oliver B Popov. This book is based on workshops on network technologies, internet services, control, security, access efficiency etc. However, events for future internet or social media empowerment awareness are carried out by variety of organizations around the globe. One of the active organizations in Glasgow is a good example for arranging such events. Making Waves Social Media, Empowerment and Wellbeing is an example of an event organized in Glasgow. Can social media approaches help empower communities to be more engaged in shaping their own health and wellbeing? Can they contribute to the creation of richer forms of dialogue between health-related agencies and service users? What partners, skills and resources can help? What pitfalls should be avoided? What kinds of approaches to dialogue, sharing news and telling stories are most productive? These were the few main motives of this event. Amsterdam privacy conference 2012 is another example of such event under the heading of USER EMPOWERMENT IN A SOCIAL MEDIA CULTURE where ideas were presented and exchanged regarding people under the influence of internet empowerment and the presence common culture of social media around the globe. Computer revolution has a strong bonding between media and internet; however social media and internet are blended in the same category. Furthermore increase in empowerments could be anticipated through the past, present and future web technologies advancement. Defying Social Media Social Media does have its drawbacks, with the low cost of communication, there is also the cost of low operational security, and messages on Facebook are accessible by almost everyone. Social media is being used as an intelligence collecting tool, and users have become more cautious in giving out more personal information. Therefore the reliability of the information and the information disseminator is questionable, increasing the risks of getting involved into something which is illegal and falling into the wrong hands. Prior to gaining access to a country, Social Networking sites need to get approval of the governments of the locality, and getting approval usually involves giving the government unlimited access to the data of the users registered in their own country. This in turn increases the risks of the people participating in the revolutionary movement, because if this revolutionary movement fails, then the government has full access to the data of those who were involved and who planned this movement, this information can land them in jail and cause a lot of trouble for them and their families. This is one of the tradeoffs these revolutionaries must think about before deciding to use Social Media as their tool to broadcast their purpose. Conclusion In fact, the protests only grew bigger more and more as websites or social media were shut down and the Internet was turned off as in Egypt. If the right situation exists than a historic revolution can occur. Just because an Internet-based group exists does not make it popular or a threat. There are several Face book groups, many YouTube videos and hundreds of Twitter posts about everything, but that can never make them popular only if the concentration of the community is more towards the basic urges and needs. Due to problems like inflation, food shortages, corruption , population must be motivated to mobilize and protest with good zeal and zest. The popularity of the social media, one of many consequence of the Internet, may actually be separated from International media observation. In real time we can now easily watch protest developments and most modern situations. Western perceptions about the said issue are often easily persuaded by English-speaking, media-savvy. This is now further exaggerated in Authoritarian countries of modern age. Western media is now having the same challenge and have no choice but to turn the social media like Twitter and YouTube on to report on the crisis of the present, thus ultimately increasing the apparent importance of social communal media. In the Middle East, where the Internet diffusion is below 35% if any movement or protest grows large enough to effect the change it will join through the word of mouth, not through the social networking. This is not an insuperable challenge, as shown in china, but even in this case there is Increasing anxiety about the capability of Internet users to escape controls and spread illegal and forbidden information. Social media can represent only one contrivance among many for an resistance group to employ. Protest Movements are hardly ever successful if started from somebodys basement in a virtual arena. Their leaders should behave, just like leaders of any other organization and should organize and gather people and convince them to leave their homes and join a movement which may jeopardize their lives and also the lives of their families Any revolutionary group cannot rely only on its most tech-savvy significant leaders to commence a successful protest or revolution, this is in fact a fraction of the overall policy, and it cannot be the sole strategy to launch a movement . The real story of social media working for the betterment and developing the nations is one of entity Empowerment. Social media connects deprived nations to the whole world and provides the power to figure the Internet in such a way that it become significant to their peoples lives, the command to organize in scale, and the influence to speak. Social media can be used positively, to make others hear of social injustices that occur and are un heard of in the convention media channels. Social media has given hope to a number of people and has helped spread the word of many oppressed people, hence when used positively social media can have a revolutionary impact on the users lives. These are the feature that makes social media an implausible tool that may be embraced by everyone with an eye towards significant development.

World Literature Essay -- English Literature

World Literature Essay â€Å"The Jane Austen novel ‘Pride and Prejudice’ is basically concerned with the education of a young heroine† The statement â€Å"The Jane Austen novel ‘Pride and Prejudice’ is basically concerned with the education of a young heroine† raises many questions. The term education in this context means a journey of ones self rather than a formal schooling education. From the beginning pages of the book the idea of Elizabeth being the heroine is established. Since there are other themes of the novel, themes of love, reputation and class, it can be questioned as to whether the novel is centred on the education of Elizabeth. Darcy is also a major character to the plot of the novel and contains the same faults as Elizabeth so the book could be centred on his journey as well as hers. However, Elizabeth’s education in overcoming her obstacles is a very long one compared to that of Darcy’s In the first three pages of the novel the character of Elizabeth is depicted as a very intellectual character by her father. ‘ â€Å"..they are all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has something more of a quickness than her sisters.† ’[1] It is clear that Austen introduces and forms such an impression of Elizabeth early in the novel in order to promptly get the reader into the plot and communicate the heroine of the novel. No other character commands the same interest as Elizabeth. Even though Elizabeth is depicted as the heroine, she possesses faults which are very set. The character’s biggest issues lie with pride and prejudice, each one in the way of her conquering the other. Whether the novel is basically concerned with the education with Elizabeth can be questioned as there are other major... ...enguin Books, London 1996. * Williams.M, Jane Austen: Six Novels and Their Methods. Macmillan, London 1986 * Lambert. J, A Text Response Guide to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Wizard Books, Ballarat 1993 * Curtis.T, Get Smart Study Guide: Pride and Prejudice. Science Press, Australia 1999 * Handley.G, Brodies Notes on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, London 1990. --------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, Penguin Books, London 1996. pp 7 [2]Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, Penguin Books, London 1996. pp 36 [3] ibid.,pp33 [4] ibid.,pp57 [5] ibid.,pp309 [6] Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, Penguin Books, London 1996. pp21 [7] Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, Penguin Books, London 1996. pp 89 [8] ibid.,pp94 [9] ibid., pp 202 [10] ibid., pp 295