Student feelings on school vio Essay Example For Students

Student feelings on school vio Essay Statement of PurposeThe purpose of this questionnaire is to measure the extent to which school staff and students agree with statements that sufficient measures to prevent school violence exist. Furthermore, it will reveal staff and student classifications in the areas of gender, whether the subject is a staff member or student, and the grade level if the subject is a student. Description of PopulationThis pilot survey was conducted by gathering responses from staff members and students at Flintville Junior High School in Flintville, Tennessee. Selecting every 10th name from a list of approximately 350 students created a random sample of 10% of the student body. If the 10th student was not available, the next name on the list was chosen. Almost all of the student questionnaires were used. Only one was not completed. In addition to the 10% sample of students, the entire teaching staff of the school was also asked to participate in the survey. Less than 70% of the staff returned completed questionnaires (17 out of 28). These were used and combined with the student results . We will write a custom essay on Student feelings on school vio specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Description of the QuestionnaireThe questionnaire was devised by creating three subtopics: security personnel, security equipment / methods, and feelings of security at different times of day in different locations. Subjects were asked to respond to five questions in each subtopic. The questions in the questionnaire were presented in the Likert-type question format:Example: I feel very secure with the presence of faculty members monitoring the halls between classes. 000 00SAAUD SDSubjects were instructed that SA = strongly agree, A = agree, U = undecided, D= disagree, and SD = strongly disagree. Subjects were asked to place an X in the box that most closely described the degree to which they agreed with the statement. Procedures for Scoring the QuestionnaireA numerical value was assigned to each answer. SA=5, A=4, U=3, D=2, and SD=1. Since each of the three subtopics consisted of five questions, there were a total of 15 questions on the questionnaire. Therefore, the total point value of each questionnaire was somewhere within the range of 15- 75 points. Checking ItemsMost of the questions in each subtopic were designed to have internal consistency. That is, they were stated in such a way as to yield similar responses from the respondent. However, for each subtopic, one statement was made to deliberately yield a different response. These items were used as checking items in each of the subtopics to insure that the respondents were paying close attention to their responses. For example, the following questions illustrate how four out of five statements are stated in such a way as to yield similar responses from the respondent. The fifth statement is made to deliberately yield a different response:1. Ice cream tastes very sweet. 000 00SAAUD SD2. Candy is very sweet. 000 00SAAUD SD3. Apple pie is very sweet. 000 00SAAUD SD4. Grape jelly is very sweet. 000 00SAAUD SD5. Lemons are very sweet. 000 00SAAUD SDIf a respondent was responding to statements 1-4 by using A (agree), and then responded to statement 5 with D (disagree), one could assume that the respondent was paying very close attention to the responses being made. However, if the response to statement 5 was also A(agree), it would be obvious that the respondent was not being careful with each response. For statistical purposes, if it is determined that the subject responded in such a way as to indicate consistency with the rest of his or her responses, the point value of the checking item would be inverted to show accurate representation, (i.e., SA would be changed to SD, A would be changed to D, U would remain the same, etc.). Items 13, 14, and 15 on this questionnaire were checking items and point values were inverted accordingly. .u774fdcc56564fc3f85d51360aea67cb9 , .u774fdcc56564fc3f85d51360aea67cb9 .postImageUrl , .u774fdcc56564fc3f85d51360aea67cb9 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u774fdcc56564fc3f85d51360aea67cb9 , .u774fdcc56564fc3f85d51360aea67cb9:hover , .u774fdcc56564fc3f85d51360aea67cb9:visited , .u774fdcc56564fc3f85d51360aea67cb9:active { border:0!important; } .u774fdcc56564fc3f85d51360aea67cb9 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u774fdcc56564fc3f85d51360aea67cb9 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u774fdcc56564fc3f85d51360aea67cb9:active , .u774fdcc56564fc3f85d51360aea67cb9:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u774fdcc56564fc3f85d51360aea67cb9 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u774fdcc56564fc3f85d51360aea67cb9 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u774fdcc56564fc3f85d51360aea67cb9 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u774fdcc56564fc3f85d51360aea67cb9 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u774fdcc56564fc3f85d51360aea67cb9:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u774fdcc56564fc3f85d51360aea67cb9 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u774fdcc56564fc3f85d51360aea67cb9 .u774fdcc56564fc3f85d51360aea67cb9-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u774fdcc56564fc3f85d51360aea67cb9:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Online and Research Journalism EssayNotes of Special Interest Concerning Data FeedbackOf the 36 students that given questionnaires one students questionnaire was omitted due

The Thirteenth Tale Book Club Discussion Questions

'The Thirteenth Tale' Book Club Discussion Questions The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield is a rich story about secrets, ghosts, winter, books and family. These book club discussion questions on The Thirteenth Tale will help you explore Setterfields masterfully created story. Spoiler Warning: These book club discussion questions reveal important details about The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. Finish the book before reading on. Books play an important role in The Thirteenth Tale. Discuss Margaret and Miss Winters relationships to books and stories. Could you relate to them? What is your relationship to books? Do you agree with Miss Winter that stories can reveal truth better than simply stating it?The two houses in The Thirteenth TaleAngelfield and Miss Winters estateare prominent in the story. How do the houses reflect the characters who live in them? What do you think they represent?Why do you think Margaret obeyed Miss Winters summons?Miss Winter asks Margaret if she would like to hear a ghost story. Who are the ghosts in the story? In what ways are different characters haunted (Margaret, Miss Winter, Aurelius)?Why do you think Margarets sisters death affected her so profoundly? Why do you think she was able to move beyond it at the end of the novel?After Mrs. Dunne and John Digence die, Miss Winter says the girl in the mist emerges. Did you believe that Adeline had matured? If not, did you suspect the t rue identity of the character? When did you first suspect Miss Winters true identity? Were you surprised? Looking back, what clues did she give you?Do you think Adeline or Emmeline was saved from the fire?What is the significance of Jane Eyre to the story?Do you think it is harder to keep a secret or confess the complete truth?Were you satisfied with the way the story ended for various charactersAurelius, Hester, Margaret?Rate The Thirteenth Tale on a scale of 1 to 5.

Evidence based descision making masters level Essay

Evidence based descision making masters level - Essay Example The Medline, Embase, Chinahl, British nursing index and the Cochrane controlled trials register databases were searched. Two randomized controlled trials containing raw data were selected for use in the review. Both were underpowered, therefore the data were used to create a meta-analysis. The meta-analysis indicated that sacral neurostimulation is an efficient means of treating refractory urinary incontinence. The study concluded that sacral neuromodulation is an effective and safe treatment for refractory urge incontinence with long lasting effects. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of sacral nerve stimulation for the treatment of refractory urinary urge incontinence and review the current knowledge as well as identify knowledge gaps on the effectiveness of the treatment. The review will focus on research studies that either prove or dispel the effectiveness of the treatment in those with refractory urge incontinence. The review will also elaborate on the discussion based on the critical analysis of the literature and will seek to establish the validity and reliability of the findings from the reviewed studies. The study will culminate in recommendations that could advise and inform nursing practice on novel and innovative clinical approaches in dealing with patients with refractory urge incontinence. Research-based or best practice-based solutions will be highlighted as constant reminders for nursing practitioners and other health professionals dealing with urge incontinence. Involuntary release of urine, which may be caused by physiologic, pharmacologic, pathologic, or psychological factors, is known as urinary incontinence (Ogundele, 2006). The International Continence Society (ICS) defines urinary incontinence "as a condition of involuntary urine loss that is objectively demonstrable and is a social or hygienic problem" (Ogundele, 2006). The lifetime prevalence of UI in all ages has been estimated to be about 6.6% in males and

In a study in this unit, you found an organizational improvement Term Paper

In a study in this unit, you found an organizational improvement model, process, or tool for addressing health care laws or poli - Term Paper Example The nurse supervisor studies surveys and other quantitative and qualitative data as a basis for implementing significant changes to improve the health care facilities’ current service quality. Currently, the changes in the present organization’s health care policies are to slow. This is understandable because some persons deter the unfavorable effects of change. On the other hand, some health care subordinates feel disgruntled with the disparity between current health care policies and the real situation in a typical patient – nurse relationship. The current policies are too outmoded or too general. The policies are made without regular consultation from the most affected persons – the nurse subordinates. The current health care policies are implemented without conducting an in-depth survey of the real situation within the wards and other departments of the health care facilities. Paul Bate (2007) reiterated the nurse supervisor should not focus on gatheri ng of data as an end. On the other hand, the nurse supervisor must implement a timely gathering of relevant data to update and enhance the health care facilities’ present patient-based policies.

Tx gov Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Tx gov - Essay Example The death penalty has been utilized for a large number of years because of the physiological trepidation it exacts on the individuals who witness and find out about capital punishment. The utilization of this form of punishment has served to lessen rates of crime and adjust the brains of future criminals to dissuade them against carrying out terrible wrongdoings like murder, injustice, terrorism, espionage and kidnappings. Backers say it discourages wrongdoing while abolitionists say it is illegal (Siegel 121). The most noticeably awful repulsiveness of the criminal justice framework is the execution of an innocent individual. Over a long period of time, proof has demonstrated an unsatisfactorily high risk of sentencing innocent individuals in a criminal justice framework that is so defective. A few late executions have demonstrated that deadly injection which is rampantly used for executions can frequently be agonizing and inclined to failure that ends up torturing the executed individual. Lately, as pharmaceutical makers have withdrawn consent to utilize their medications in executions, states have much of the time neglected to acquire safe options and been compelled to cover their executions under shrouds of mystery. The outcome has been an absence of responsibility for state governments in connection to mess up executions (Sorensen and Pilgrim 12). A method for defending capital punishment is that is seen as a technique which can be made into an exhibition for the general public. This thus builds up the manner of thinking that those found guilty are no longer wanted to be part of human society and thus must be dealt with in a way that is esteemed proper. According to Chenwi (59), the human rights as natives of the United States apply to the upright and good individuals and the bad individuals in equal measure. Many people argue that death penalty makes the families of the murdered

Charlottes Web, by E. B. White | Summary and Analysis

Charlottes Web, by E. B. White | Summary and Analysis Relationships in Charlottes Web I chose to read Charlottes Web because it has always been one of my favorite stories. I instantly knew this would be the perfect story to write about human and animal interrelationships. There are many different relationships between the people and the animals throughout this book. Along with those relationships, there are also various interrelationships between the animals as well. I loved reading this book again, and found it the perfect book for this type of essay. The story begins with a litter of pigs being born at the Arables farm. There were a total of eleven pigs, including the runt. Normally, Mr. Arable kills the runt because it usually dies anyway. However, Fern, the Arable daughter, became very upset when she heard her Papa was going to kill the baby pig. She begged and pleaded with him until he finally gave in and told her that he would not kill the runt if she took care of it. Fern was so ecstatic to have her very own baby pig. She named her new pig Wilbur. Wilbur loved Fern, and would follow her wherever she went. After Wilbur was two weeks old, he had to live outside in a little wooden box under the apple tree. Fern would go outside everyday to feed, walk, and play with Wilbur. They both really loved each others company. Unfortunately, when Wilbur was five weeks old, Fern had to sell him to her Uncle Homer Zuckerman. The Zuckermans farm was close to Ferns house, so she could go and visit Wilbur whenever she pleased. The farm had horses, cows, geese, chickens, sheep, dogs, cats, and now Wilbur. Wilbur became very bored on the farm; he no longer got to go on walks or swims with Fern. He was always stuck in his little pig pen. One sunny day, Wilbur was just walking around his pen talking to himself about how bored he was, when a goose overheard. The goose told Wilbur that there was a board loose on his pen and he could get out and do whatever he wanted. Since Wilbur was so bored he decided that he would like to leave the pen and see whats out there. While walking around the farm with complete freedom, Mrs. Zuckerman saw him. She yelled out to her husband and Lurvy, the hired man to go and catch him. News like this spread fast throughout the farm. All the animals were talking about Wilburs freedom. Then Mr. Zuckerman, Lurvy, and the dog surrounded Wilbur. All the animals started yelling for Wilbur to run away. However, the sweet smell of slope soon came over Wilburs nose, and he was quickly lured back into his pen. There is a lot of human and animal interrelationship in these first three paragraphs. Mr. Arable doesnt really care about the pigs, he just uses them to make money. He doesnt see them as actual living things that have feelings just like him. However, his daughter Fern makes a real connection with Wilbur. She saves his life, and takes care of him just as she would her own child. They become each others best friend. If Ferns is not at school, she is with Wilbur. They do everything, and go everywhere with each other. They become true companions. Fern also develops a relationship with the rest of the animals on the farm. They all get to know her, and start to trust her. They allow her to sit in their pens and watch Wilbur. In the next three chapters, many things happen at the Zuckerman farm. Wilbur becomes very, very lonely. He had planned his whole day out. He planned when he would eat, when he would sleep, and when it would just sit there doing absolutely nothing. Unfortunately, when he awoke all his plans went out the window due to the rain. So he then asked the goose to play with him, but she was sitting on her eggs. Next he asked a sheep to play with him but the sheep said no and called him less than nothing. Not even Templeton the rat would take time out of his day to play with poor Wilbur. Wilbur then became extremely depressed, and started to weep. Right before Wilbur was about to go to bed he heard a little voice that said, Do you want a friend, Wilbur? Ill be a friend to you (White 31). Hearing this excited Wilbur, but he was confused because he couldnt see where this little friendly voice was coming from. The voice then told Wilbur to go to sleep, and that they will meet in the morning. Wilbur did as he was told, and in the morning he discovered his new friend was a spider named Charlotte A. Cavatica. At first, Wilbur was disgusted by his new friend Charlotte. She showed him how she caught her food in her web, and sucked out their blood. Wilbur didnt know what to think about her because he really wanted a friend, but he thought that what she did was very cruel. In these three chapters there werent any human and animal interrelationships because there werent any humans mentioned. However, there were a lot of animal relationships between Wilbur and the other animals. The goose doesnt even give Wilbur the time of day, and just sort of sees him as a distraction. The sheep say they consider pigs less than nothing, which is odd to me because what do the sheep do that make them that great? Hearing this just devastates poor Wilbur, as it would anyone. Wilbur then turns to Templeton who has no interest in Wilbur, just Wilburs food. After hearing that no one cares about him Wilbur becomes very depressed. He feels that he doesnt have any friends on the farm, which makes him sad because he was so used to having a friend all the time when he lived with Fern. Then Charlotte comes into the picture, but Wilbur isnt so sure if he really wants to be her friend because she is so bloodthirsty. In the next couple of chapters Wilbur gets extremely stressed. One of the sheep tells him that the Zuckermans are just fattening him up to kill him at Christmas time. Naturally, Wilbur freaks out and starts running around saying Save me, I dont want to die!(50). Charlotte overheard the conversation between the sheep and Wilbur, and told Wilbur to calm down. Charlotte said that she would come up with a plan to save Wilbur. The next morning Fern tells her family all about the animals at the barn. She tells her parents exactly what the animals were saying, which implies that she can understand animal talk. Her mom gets very concerned, and says she is going to call Ferns doctor. Ferns dad just blows off the whole conversation like it wasnt a big deal. Later the next afternoon, Wilbur starts admiring Charlottes Web. He tells Charlotte that he thinks he could build a web just like hers if he wanted to do so. Charlotte knows that this is impossible and tells Wilbur to try. So Wilbur then climbs to the top of the manure pile, and jumps off hoping a string will come out of his butt and catch him. Naturally, this does not happen, and Wilbur lands flat on his face in the ground. His next brilliant idea is to tie a string that Templeton gave him to his tail, and then try the same thing again. Just like the first attempt, this one failed too. Wilbur finally gives up, and everyone including Fern laughs at him. Charlotte then cheers him up, and tells him to just lie down and relax. After a while of silence, Wilbur asks Charlotte how she plans on saving him from being Christmas dinner. Charlotte says she has not thoroughly thought of the plan yet, but she will think of one that will work. Wilbur is still very curious of how this is going to w ork, and keeps asking Charlotte many questions. Finally, Charlotte tells him not to worry, and just to do as hes told. She then tells him to eat well, stay healthy, and to get a lot of rest. Wilbur does as he is told, and falls asleep. In these last three paragraphs, the first human and animal interrelationship is between the Zuckermans and Wilbur. The Zuckermans just see Wilbur as a Christmas dinner. The reason they feed him and take care of him is not because they actually care about him; it is because they want a nice, big Christmas dinner. To me, this is so sad. I dont know how people could raise a pig and then just kill it and eat it! I know this is what happens in real life, and it is how everyone gets their bacon and ham, but it is just so sad to me. The other human and animal interrelationship is between Fern and all the animals on the farm. Fern can understand the animals when they talk to one another. She knows what all of them are saying, but I dont think the animals know she has this special gift. Ferns mom just thinks she is going crazy, but Ferns dad just blows it off like its nothing. I think this is probably one of the most important human and animal interrelationships throughout the story. During the next three chapters many events take place. First, Charlotte figures out a way that she can trick the Zuckermans into not killing Wilbur. However, she knows she has to work fast because there isnt a lot of time. That day, Fern and Avery come down to the Zuckermans house for some blueberry pie. Avery brings a frog with him, which causes a disaster in the Zuckermans house. After the frog incident the two of them decide to go swing on the rope in the Zuckermans barn. After they got tired of swinging they went and picked some raspberries. While doing this, Avery found a little candy box to put his frog in. Fern then wants to go and visit Wilbur, so they both walk over to the pig pen. Avery discovers Charlotte and her web. He then tries to knock Charlotte out of her web and kill her. Luckily, Avery tripped and happened to break Templetons rotten egg. The nauseating smell lures Avery and Fern away from the pig pen, and Charlotte. The next day was very foggy, which made it easier to see Charlottes web. When everyone awoke they discovered that Charlotte had written the words some pig, in her web. The Zuckermans were so startled by this message, and started believe they truly had an amazing pig. Mr. Zuckerman then went and told a fellow priest, who of coarse told the whole town. By the next day people were lined up in front of Wilburs pen to see him, as well as Charlottes web. With all this excitement, Charlotte knew her plan to save Wilburs life was working. But she knew that in order to keep Wilbur alive she would need to do more, and change the words. So Charlotte then called a group meeting where they decided the new word would be terrific. However, Charlotte wanted more words as well, so she then convinced Templeton to go to the dumpster and collect magazine clips with more words on them that would continue impressing the people. The first human and animal interrelationship demonstrated in these chapters was between Avery and Charlotte. Avery saw Charlotte and her web and automatically wanted to swat her down and kill her. Even though Charlotte wasnt bothering Avery one bit, his natural instincts were to just kill her. This shows that not all human and animal interrelationships are good, or fair in this case. Another human and animal interrelationship shown in these chapters was between all the people and their reactions to Charlotte, Wilbur, and Charlottes web. The people were so astonished by the sight of the writing in Charlottes web. They could not believe that a spider could spin the letters so clearly in her web. The words some pig, completely changed everyones views of Wilbur. Before, he was just an ordinary pig that one day would be made into dinner, but now he is so good looking and perfect in their eyes. Its really interesting how the animals can change the views of the people so easily. During the next three chapters many events occur. After the words some pig, started to get old, Charlotte decided to reconstruct her web, and write in the word terrific. Once again, everyone came down to the Zuckermans farm to see the new web. Wilbur loved all of the attention, and started to believe that he was a terrific pig. Mr. Zuckerman also loved all of this attention. He started giving Wilbur all sorts of special treatment, and decided that he will enter him in the Country Fair. Templeton searched through the dumpster to look for new words that Charlotte could carve into her web. His first couple trips werent very successful; however he finally found the perfect word, radiant. Wilbur loved the new word, and started doing flips and turns to prove that he was a radiant pig. After a long day of flipping, Wilbur lay down, and asked Charlotte to tell him some stories. She went on telling him about her cousin who actually caught a fish in her web, and how another one of her cousins was a balloonist. The next day Fern told her mom all the stories about Charlottes cousins. Her mom began to worry about Fern, and how she thinks she can understand animals. Her mom decided to go see Dr. Dorian to talk about Ferns strange behaviors. Dr. Dorian didnt see anything wrong in what Fern was doing, and he actually found it quite enchanting. Mrs. Arable then goes on to ask if he has heard about the words written in Charlottes web. He says he has heard about them, and that it is a miracle that a spider could spin a web in the first place. So the fact that Charlotte could write something in it does not surprise him. Mrs. Arable then felt relieved after Dr. Dorian told her that he thinks Fern is perfectly fine. Wilbur started thinking about the County Fair, and what was going to happen to him. He asked Charlotte if she was going to come with him but she said she wouldnt be able to. Charlotte needs to stay at the farm and lay her eggs during that time. Wilbur pleads and pleads with her until she finally says she will try her best to be there. However, she knew she wasnt going to be able to help Wilbur much longer because she needs to start building her sac for the eggs. There are quite a few human and animal interrelationships during these couple of chapters. The first one is between Mr. Zuckerman and Wilbur. Mr. Zuckerman now sees Wilbur as something more than food. Wilbur has a chance to win the County Fair, and become useful to Mr. Zuckerman. In reality, Wilbur is still the same old pig, but because of Charlottes words in the web, Wilbur all of a sudden becomes a prized possession, as well as a very important asset to Mr. Zuckermans farm. Wilbur loves all the attention the people give him, as well. He now sees himself as terrific and radiant, instead of just a normal old pig. So here, both Wilbur and Mr. Zuckerman help each other out. Another human and animal interrelationship that is shown in this chapter is through Dr. Dorian. Dr. Dorian explains to Ferns mother that it is perfectly fine that Fern spends all of her time at the Zuckerman barn. He goes on to tell her that animals are very amazing creatures, especially spiders. Dr. Dorian says tha t he is not surprised by the miracle that Charlotte could spin letter in her web, because he thinks its an even greater miracle that a spider can spin a web in the first place. To me this shows that Dr. Dorian really respects animals, and all the amazing things they can do. During the next three chapters they take Wilbur to the County Fair. Mrs. Zuckerman wanted Wilbur to look extra clean, so she bathed him in buttermilk. The buttermilk worked very well, making Wilbur white as can be. After Wilbur was all clean, everyone went and changed into their best clothes to go to the fair in. When they were all done they met at Wilburs pen to help load him in his crate. When Mr. Arable saw Wilbur, he made a remark that the Zuckermans will get some extra good ham and bacon from him when they kill him in the winter. When Wilbur heard this he immediately passed out. Fern ran over to him with tears in her eyes, and Lurvy ran over with a bucket of cold water to splash on him. When Wilbur regained consciousness, they all helped load him into the car, and took off to the fair. Wilbur felt a lot better now that Charlotte and Templeton were coming with him as well. When they arrived at the fair many people gathered around to see Wilbur. Charlotte soon became worried because she noticed that the pig next to Wilbur was much bigger than Wilbur. However, when Charlotte went down to meet the large pig she was not impressed with his personality. His name was Uncle, and according to Charlotte he is too familiar, too noisy, and cracks weak jokes. This made Wilbur feel a little better because he knew that he could win over the crowd with his radiant personality. The next night Charlotte set Templeton out to find a new word for her web. She told him to make it a good word because it will be the last one she will ever create. Templeton found the word humble written on a piece of newspaper and brought it back to Charlotte. He said humble describes Wilbur perfectly because it means two things: not proud and near the ground. Charlotte agreed that it was a good word for the web, and quickly got to work. Later that night when the web was complete, Wilbur could not see Charlotte. She told him that she was in a different corner creating a masterpiece. Wilbur wanted to know what this masterpiece was, but Charlotte told him to get some rest and she will show him in the morning. In these few chapters there werent very many interrelationships between the humans and the animals. The time that there was any interaction between the two was when they were all at the Zuckermans farm talking about Wilbur. Mr. Arable made a remark about killing Wilbur, which shows that he has not changed his views on Wilbur from the beginning of the story. He is a farmer who sees pigs as food and nothing else. Fern on the other hand sees Wilbur as a companion, and would never do anything to hurt him. She shows her affection for Wilbur by running over to him and holding him when he passed out. They have a very close bond just like anyone would have with someone or something they loved. During the last chapters of the book many events occur. The first event was that Charlotte laid an egg sac with five hundred and fourteen eggs in it. Wilbur becomes ecstatic that Charlotte is going to become a mom, and that he will have a whole lot of new friends. However, Charlotte has horrible news for Wilbur. She tells him that she has become very ill. But she doesnt want to focus on the negative, so she changes the subject and points out how beautiful her web looks with the new word in it. It was the best web out of all the ones she had created before. But then of course, Templeton returns from a night of ravishing around the fair grounds with some unfortunate news. Templeton tells Charlotte and Wilbur that he noticed that Uncle, the pig next door has a blue ribbon placed on his pen. He then went on to tell Wilbur that this meant that Wilbur will soon be forgotten by everyone, and eventually end up as the Zuckermans Christmas dinner. This hit Wilbur really hard, but he tried to stay strong and listen to Charlotte. Charlotte told him not to worry, and everything will be fine. Within a couple of minutes the whole gang returned to see Wilbur. Fern pointed out the new web, and everyone stood admiring it with astonishment. Then Mrs. Zuckerman began to cry because Avery pointed out that Uncle had already won first prized. Everyone became very upset, except for Mr. Zuckerman. Mr. Zuckerman took control and told everyone to help him bathe Wilbur, and make him look his best. Everyone did as they were told. Suddenly, there was an announcement over the loud speakers that Wilbur had won a special prize, and everyone was to report to the judges booth. Excite ment rushed through the whole fair as everyone raced over to the booth. Once everyone was there, the announcer presented Mr. Zuckerman a prize of $25, and a bronze medal for Wilbur. Wilbur had won this award because he and the words in the web had brought many spectators to the fair from all around. Everyone cheered, and Wilbur felt so proud. Then as things wound down, the Zuckermans took Wilbur back to his pen before loading up the car. Wilbur noticed that Charlotte was a lot quieter than normal. Charlotte then told Wilbur that she would not be returning to the farm with him because she would only live for one more day. This news hit Wilbur hard, and began to weep. He did not know what he would do without Charlotte, his best friend. Then Wilbur came up with an idea to bring Charlottes egg sac back to the barn with him so Charlotte would at least know her children would be safe. So Wilbur called over Templeton to run up and get the sac. However, Templeton would not do it unless Wilbur agreed to give Templeton first pick of his food from that day forward. Wilbur instantly agreed. As Wilbur was being loaded back into his crate, he had Charlottes egg sac safe in his mouth. He could not talk, so he looked up and gave Charlotte a wink. Charlotte knew that he was saying goodbye and quietly said goodbye back. The next day Charlotte died alone. Wilbur, Templeton, and her eggs were all back at the barn with the other animals. They all made it through the cold winter, and patiently awaited the little spiders arrivals. Then one warm morning they finally hatched. They all said hi to Wilbur, but then made little balloons with their strings from their butts, and flew away. Wilbur began to cry because they were all leaving him and he thought he would be all alone again. Then he heard three little voices coming from the corners of the doorway. Wilbur looked up and saw that three of Charlottes daughters decided to stay, their names where Joy, Aranea, and Nellie. They became Wilburs close friends because now that Fern was growing up she didnt stop by to visit as often. As the years went on Wilbur became friends with Charlottes daughters, granddaughters and even great granddaughters. However, none of them could ever take the place of Charlotte in Wilburs heart. In these chapters the Zuckermans and the Arables all fall in love with Wilbur and his achievement. Wilbur essentially becomes their hero, and the highlight of their lives. However, Fern who was Wilburs best friend, didnt even want to stay to see Wilbur win his prize. She was to busy running around after a boy on the ferris wheel. This shows that the human and animal interrelationship changes a lot throughout the story. In the beginning of the story all Fern cared about is Wilbur and his health. Her parents, along with the Zuckermans didnt care about Wilbur; they just saw him as a good Christmas dinner. However, as the story develops, the tables turn, and it seems that Fern out grows Wilbur in a sense. Fern still loves Wilbur, and always will, but she has found other loves in her life now as well. Whereas the Zuckermans find a whole new love in Wilbur, and now see him as their pet. I thought the interrelationships in the last few chapters were very interesting. However, the true relat ionship in the last chapters was between Charlotte and Wilbur. Charlotte succeeds in saving Wilburs life, and in return Wilbur protects Charlottes eggs for her. They both would do anything for one another, whether it meant giving up their own lives or just always being there for the other. Charlottes Web was a great book to read for this essay. Not only did it show human and animal interrelationships, but it also showed animal relationships as well. It demonstrated the many ways people perceive and value certain animals, along with how their views can change. Fern saves Wilburs life and develops a very close connection with him. They become best friends, and would do everything together. However, no one else saw Wilbur in the way that Fern did. They saw Wilbur as a pig that would be used for food. Poor Wilbur then got sent away to the Zuckermans farm where their intentions were to kill him come summertime. There was no interrelationship between them and Wilbur. Eventually, Wilbur develops a close relationship with the animals on the farm, especially Charlotte. As time goes on, Charlotte and Wilbur become extremely close, and Charlotte also saves Wilburs life. The Zuckermans and Arables also start to develop a close relationship with Wilbur when he becomes famous. They end up seeing Wilbur as their pet, as well as part of the family. However, it took words in a web for them to realize how great of a pig Wilbur actually was.

Joan Of Arc :: Free Essays

Joan of Arc Joan was born to a peasant family in Domremy (now Domremy-la-Pucelle). When she was 13 years old, she believed she heard celestial voices. As they continued, sometimes accompanied by visions, she became convinced that they belonged to St. Michael and to the early martyrs St. Catherine of Alexandria and St. Margaret. Early in 1429, during the Hundred Years War, when the English were about to capture Orleans, the â€Å"voices† told her to help the Dauphin, later Charles Vll, king of France. Charles, because of both internal conflict and the English claim to the throne of France, had not yet been crowned king. Joan succeeds in convincing him that she had a divine mission to save France. A board of theologians approved her claims, and she was given troops to command. Dressed in armor and carrying a white banner that represented God blessing the French royal emblem, the fleur-de-lis, she led the French to a victory over the English. Joan was soon given the place of honor beside the king. Joan had united the French behind Charles and had put an end to English dreams of conquering over France; Charles opposed any further campaigns against the English. Therefore, it was without royal support that Joan conducted (1430) a military operation against the English at Compiegne, near Paris. Bourguignon soldiers, who sold her to their English allies, captured her. The English then turned her over to an ecclesiastical court at Rouen to be tried for heresy and sorcery. After 14 months of examination, she was accused of wrongdoing in wearing masculine dress and of heresy for believing she was directly responsible to god rather than to the Roman Catholic Church. The court condemned her to death, but she confessed to her errors, and the sentence was changed to life imprisonment. Since she resumed masculine dress after returning to jail, she was condemned again-this time by a secular court-and on May 30, 1431; Joan was burned at the stake in the Old Market Square at Rouen as a relaps ed misbeliever.

Partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Essay

The modern republics of Poland and Lithuania had been once been a single, strong nation known as the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. This commonwealth was established in 1569. Although there were other states in the commonwealth, none of them was as powerful as Poland. The nation was on the brink of success when the rest of Europe was ravaging in the famous thirty years war between 1618 and 1648. The Commonwealth noblemen had no desire to get involved in these wars and they were able defend the country against external attacks from the Germans, Russians and the Ottoman Turks (TLK). However, the commonwealth’s supremacy and stability did not last for long and there already were clear signs of decline by the mid 17th century. The main cause of the decline was wars that were fought within and outside the commonwealth. Thus, the weakened state could not hold itself together after these wars which ultimately led to its partition. The decline of Poland was basically evincible in the legislative body – Sejm. The divergent systems of the parliament grew ineffective and inefficient at a time when the deputies went verbal asserting â€Å"Liberum Veto† which gave them excessive power over national resolutions. The country’s population had decreased by big proportions as a result of wars. This made it practically impossible for the nation to succeed in its wars against other nations, though they were able to defeat the Ottomans at Vienna. This was the last success realized by the commonwealth military (Davies 24). The Szlachta (noblemen) also diminished in their ability to influence others and consequentially depreciated in military vigor. In a myriad of situations they became impotent and viewed â€Å"veto† as the only remaining legislative symbol within the commonwealth (25). The Decline of the Commonwealth In 1648, the warlike Cossacks, with the support of Russia, upstaged a rebellion against Poland. Thus the Russians began to influence the affairs of the country. Later in 1655, the Commonwealth was involved in another war with Sweden, provoked by the policies of Commonwealth kings from the Swedish royal House of Vasa. The Swedes installed Stanislaw Leszczynski as king. However, they were defeated by the Russians in 1709 and this resulted in the reinstatement of Augustus on the throne (TLK). Augustus was at conflict with parliament and this lead to a civil war in 1717. The Russians responded by reducing the powers of the Sejm, who by now were at the centre of running Poland, came to the rescue of Augustus. This resulted in Poland being forced to cut down the size of her standing army. When Augustus died in 1733, Leszyski returned to the throne. This move was met with resistance from the Russians who forced him out and made Fredrick Augustus, a son to Augustus, king instead. Another blow to the commonwealth was the Saxon rule that lasted for sixty years. It drove the nation to the edges of lawlessness, devastating it even more. A powerful alliance between Russia, Prussia and Australia ensured that Poland’s legal system and maintain ace of order was paralyzed. The three nations formed the â€Å"Alliance of the Three Black Eagles† owing to the fact that all the three had eagles, black in color, on their coat-of-arms (Kjaergard 121). The Partitioning of the Commonwealth By the 18th century, the Commonwealth could not handle the many internal problems that were plaguing it and this made the fragile nation more vulnerable to external influences. The political system was in shambles and this soon culminated to the schism of the commonwealth. The country was partitioned in three stages by the neighboring Russian, Prussian, and Austrian powers (TLK) . The first partition was in 1772, when the Commonwealth lost 733, 000 square kilometers of land together with about four million people. Russia took most of the land while a majority of the population went to Austria. The Sejm ratified the partition agreement despite much resistance from the state’s deputies. After the first partition, there was a period of relative stability that saw to the development of a better education sector in the country. There was a rise in the number of professionals in various fields. The king initialized a healing programme, which was executed by the â€Å"Great Sejm†. The Four Year or Great Sejm came up with a new constitution (Domar 56). â€Å"Liberum Veto† was abolished under the newly formed constitution, changing how the country was governed. people were guaranteed personal freedom and more liberty was enhanced. England, France and the United States hailed the newly formed constitution. On the other hand, this step was viewed as a threat by the rulers of Austria and Russia. This led to a wide instigation of large numbers of magnate under the leadership of Branicki Ksawery, Potocki Szczesny and Rzewuski Seweryn. This was a betrayal of the commonwealth hence leading to the formation of the Targowica Confedaration in disrespect to the declarations of the newly formed constitution (Kjaergard 122) The second partition was as a result of Russian invation. The troops from Russia decided to cross the borders and immediately war broke out. Joseph Poniatowski who was the King’s nephew together with Kosciuszko Tadeusz, a supporter of the American Independence War, erected a vehement resistance although all confidence was crushed after the Prussians joined the fighting. Many people, who would otherwise have been citizens, ran away to other countries. In 1793, Prussia and Russia were obliged to sign the Second Partition Treaty. This led to about About This led to holding in of more than half of the entire nation with a population of about four million people. Later, there was a meeting at Grodno composed mainly of the Sejm which deliberated on the legal processd to make legal the process of partitioning of the country. After the partitioning, there was widespread discontent within the general population (Kostrowicka 34). The final partition in 1795 was the most devastating. A lot of Poles were evicted from their country. The King was seized and taken to prison in St. Petersburg. Other people were sent to the harsh cold deserts of Siberia and thousands more fled to other lands. Conclusion Although Poland’s history is one full of turmoil, a lot can be learnt from it. It is clear that good governance policies should be in place for a country to run smoothly. The heads of state should at the fore front providing the much needed leadership to citizens of their countries. If the Polish constitution had had good policies, and if the leaders were competent enough, then maybe the history of the Poles would be much different and better than it is.

Victor: English Language and White Community

Victor's Last Wish Victor’s Last Wish â€Å"Victor’s Last Wish† is a realistic fiction by Kris Jitab who describes in depth the pain and hardship endured by the main character, Vickramadas Gopal who was an Indian immigrant to Malaysia. Vickramadas was known as Victor throughout the short story. He made great efforts to transform himself to be like whites who he thought were the best. â€Å"Anything and everything related to the whites was beautiful to Vickramadas. † The author has painted a dramatic picture of sufferings and challenges of Victor in his course to attain a new identity – an Englishman.But, his efforts did not help him to be recognised by the white men as a part of them. He was rejected by Miss Cunningham and insulted by Miss da Gama because his skin was dark in colour. He also thought that his failure to be promoted to Junior Accountant was due to his dark skin. Thus, Victor was so desperate to have his skin colour changed. He was ver y disappointed for not getting what he had striven so hard to achieve. As a result, he lost his hope and direction in his life. Consequently, he indulged in heavy smoking, drinking, gambling. At last, he became a thief to steal in order to pay his debt.In one stealing, he was caught red-handed together with his accomplices. He tried to escape but unfortunately, in his escape, he fell into a tank of formic acid where his skin was turned white all over by the acid. His wish to change his skin into white was therefore realised but ironically he had lost his life. In this paper, two concepts of post colonial theory will be involved in the discussion of several issues and concerns raised by the author. The two concepts are mimicry and othering. Mimicry is best annotated through the main character, Vickramadas in the short story.He aspired to be an Englishman. He imitated the dress, manners and language of the whites. The othering is expressed through some characters, Miss da Gama and Mis s Cunningham, who assumed that they were superior to Vickramadas who had different skin colour from them. In the short story, Kris Jitab raised a colonial ideology that white men are the best and superior through Victor. Victor who obtained his tertiary education in King George College was greatly influenced by the English. He believed that the white men were gentlemen. In the very beginning of the short story, Victor paid his full respect to Mr.Riley who was a white man. â€Å"He felt a little self-conscious-which is understandable, for he was inside the office of a white man,† indicated that Victor had a sense of inferiority in him towards the white men. When Mr. Riley pronounced his name â€Å"Vickramadas Gopal† in a way that it did not sound like Indian anymore, Vickramadas said it was very correctly pronounced. â€Å"Vickramadas beamed. He loved the way Mr. Riley pronounced his name. † He had no will to tell Mr. Riley the correct way to pronounce his name. Everything Mr. Riley did was great and correct to Victor because he was a white man.He told himself that there was no reason to doubt the white men. In firm thought that the white men were the best, Victor set out with the aims to be like the white and emulate them. The first thing he decided to do to make him similar to a white man was changing his Indian name into an English name. Name is the most basic element that can represent or symbolise one’s culture and tradition. But, Victor had ignored the importance of his name to claim himself as an Indian. He was willing to sacrifice his name in order to fit into the white community. Beside his name, he was willing to abandon his religion.He was an educated person but the educated mind of his could not help him to think rationally. He wanted to be converted to Christianity because he thought being a Christian would make him the same as the whites. He was actually using the religion as a stepping-stone to his goal. However, Victo r failed to realise that the white men would never accept him as a part of them for his skin was dark in colour. In the short story, English was viewed as an important language to success. When Malaya was colonised by the English, English language was used as medium of instruction in Education and Politic.Victor could sense a need to master the English language as he was working for the white. In order to bring about his aim to emulate the white man, Victor concluded that all he needed to pay attention to was his speech. He attempted to improve his English speaking. He eliminated his Indian ways of speaking, which were shaking head and rolling his tongue while speaking, to speak like a white man. Victor viewed English as a powerful tool for him to advance in his career. If he could speak English fluently, he would gain confidence and deserved to be respected by the others.Moreover, he knew that not all of the Englishmen spoke good English. Thus, if he could master the language, he c ould prove that he was actually better than the white man. He could also be a gentleman like the white man. Besides the language, Victor also followed the ways the white men dress and dine. He was now a chameleon that had transformed his outward appearance to adapt himself to the white man’s lifestyle and culture. He was in an illusion that he was a white man when he spoke, dressed and dined like a white man. He refused to admit that he was an Indian anymore. I’m a Christian† is Victor’s answer to the question, â€Å"what are you? † which was asked by his acquaintance. He even behaved like a white man and started to correct others who were not behaving like him. For instance, when his friends did not eat their soup properly like gentlemen, he volunteered to give advices to them on how to eat the soup. â€Å"First of all, you shouldn’t slurp† and next â€Å"You hold your bowl by the edge facing you, and as you spoon your soup move your spoon away from you. † Author also indicates that pursuing one’s dream blindly will cause one to lose himself or herself gradually.Victor who was too possessed with his quest to attain a new identity lost himself as the story progresses. The rejection of the white man towards Victor to be part of them forced him to wander and seek companionship among the tappers as well as others outside the estate. He had tried so hard to improve his English and behave like a white man but now he had to go down to the tappers’ level, speak their kind of language and indulge in the type of activities that they preferred. He was repeating the action that he did to adapt himself to the white community.He was confused and led a strange dual-role life. His mind was in turmoil. He did not know where he was heading towards. Initially, Victor was a happy person. He thanked all his Hindu Gods for helping him to get the job. But he changed when he failed twice to be promoted to Junior Ac countant. He lost all his will to strive anymore. He even cursed the Almighty for failing him to achieve his ultimate goal-marrying Miss Cunningham. All his unfulfilled desires caused him to lose his own personality. At the end of the short story, Victor totally changed.He indulged in smoking, drinking, gambling and even stealing from his own company. Victor used to believe that â€Å"the white men are gentlemen† in the beginning of the short story. This perspective of his changed. His respect towards the white men also deteriorated when he received unfair treatment from them. Mr. Hemming had promised to promote Victor to Junior Accountant after Mr. George left the post. But, this promise had made to be broken when Mr. Gross came to replace Mr. George as the Junior Accountant. After this incident, Victor stopped to admire the white men.He started to not dress like a white man anymore. He even talked harshly to Mr. Hemming who asked about his new mode of dressing. â€Å"What happened to all your white clothes? † â€Å"I shoved them all up my arsehole. † Victor no longer treated Mr. Hemming, a white man, as a gentleman. He had lost his desire to be an Englishman as he abandoned their dress and manners of speech. From the main character, Victor, the author tried to tell the readers that humans have limited ability. There is something which is out of our control. For an example, we are unable to change other people’s perspective on us.Though Victor had tried his very best to speak, dress and behave like a white man, the white men’s perspective on him remained unchanged. They still saw Victor as an inferior whose skin was dark in colour. Miss Cunnigham could not accept Victor’s proposal for he had dark colour skin. Victor was so frustrated when Miss da Gama insulted him as a stinking â€Å"black ape†. His anger caused him to slap Miss da Gama. Consequently, he was beaten up by the white men. No white man or any Euras ian club members was willing to stand at the same side as Victor.All the white men formed a judgement that Victor was wrong. Victor was perceived as an inferior who had no right to fight back. This caused Victor to feel so helpless. He understood that he would never be accepted as a part of white men despite his great effort. He had sacrificed most of his time and money in order to get the membership of the Eurasian Club. But, the membership had been revoked due to a single deed, which was fighting back after he was insulted badly. Lastly, minority groups of any community will suffer from indiscernible oppression.In the short story, Victor felt that he had been oppressed. He had not been upgraded for ages although he performed pretty well in his job. When he entered the company- Hancock Doherty Plantation, Mr. Hemming told him that the company rewarded capable staff and virtually the sky was the limit. But Victor discovered that it was not true. Two raw white men instead of Victor, who was more experienced, were promoted to Junior Accountant before him caused him to be subjected to unfairness. â€Å"The sky’s the limit† was now a lie to him. In his opinion, his dark skin was the limitation in his career advancement.In â€Å"Victor’s Last Wish†, the main character, Victor had put in his full effort to transform himself to be like the whites who he perceived as superiors. He imitated the whites’ language, dress and manners. Unfortunately, his efforts to transform himself were not recognised by the white men. He was still perceived as a dark skin Indian who was inferior to the white men. Victor was so disappointed for not getting what he had striven so hard to achieve. He had abandoned his culture and religion to adapt himself to the white community but he received nothing in return.He was oppressed and discriminated by the white men due to his dark skin. Finally, Victor lost himself and indulged in sins as well as crimes. At th e end of the story, Victor’s wish to have his skin colour changed was realised when he fell into a tank of formic acid. But, ironically he had lost his life. The sense of inferiority in Victor had urged him to transform himself to be like his superiors. Unfortunately, he lost himself and his own identity in the process of transforming. It is not worth to sacrifice our own self and identity to achieve something that will never belongs to us.

International Business Environment Essay Example

International Business Environment Essay Example International Business Environment Paper International Business Environment Paper Code: PGBM04 Credits: 15 Level: Masters FBL, Business School Board: Postgraduate Business Studies Learning Hours: 150 of which 30 CONTACT hours Rationale 1. The international business environment is multi-dimensional, including economic, political, socio-cultural and technological influences. While each can be viewed in specific national settings, increasingly they have become interrelated through processes of globalisation. In particular, the role of transnational corporations has been a key to the deepening interrelationships across national borders. Yet, globalisation has not led to convergence. Considerable diversity between nations and regions continues to shape the business environment globally. For the international manager, an understanding of global forces, as well as more local/regional differences is crucial to strategy formulation in a rapidly changing environment. Learning Outcomes On completion of the module participants will be able to: Knowledge: 1. Critically review and apply concepts, terminology theoretical models associated with international business policies and strategies. 2. Demonstrate understanding of the political, socio-cultural, economic and technological factors that have been found to influence variations in international organisational business structures and management styles 3. Critically assess the relationship between national and organisational cultures 4. Relate conceptual theory of ‘internationalisation’, innovation and competitive advantage to different industries and locations Skills: 1. Demonstrate in a (small group), ability to apply relevant behavioural concepts to real-world scenarios/organisations, and participate in/lead discussion on related dilemmas or issues. . As an individual apply relevant theoretical concepts to real-world business (environment) dilemmas or issues, producing a diagnosis and suggesting possible outcomes. CONTENTS SYNOPSIS: This module examines aspects of the key concept of strategic management within an international business context. It begins by introducing and understanding of corporate strate gy as it relates trans- national corporations as players in an increasing global environment. The impact of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and actions of global players as they seek to identify competitive advantage is considered. As the role cultural differences play in determining the success/failure of a company within the global context activity, the applied research results of Hofstede are explored. Growth of the global marketplace has been accompanied by national and international regulations governing the openness of trade. Thus trade agreements, e. g. under the banner of WTO, are examined as well as the issues which link this to the â€Å"hyperglobalisation† thesis. A distinction is made between those companies operating in market, state and transitional economies. The impact of the growth of technology in general and communication technology in particular are explored. The role played by the international financial environment in influencing international business is also reviewed. AMPLIFIED CONTENT Introduction: Concepts of Business Organisation; Strategy; Marketing Orientation; Corporate Governance Globalisation and FDI: Globalisation-different perspectives; Internationalisation v. Globalisation; Dunning’s OLI paradigm and applications to impact on MNE and FDI activity. Porter’s Competitive advantage model (see also below) Culture: Definitions. Importance of Impact of Cultural Differences on Business; Research by G. Hofstede/ F. Trompenaars’ dimensions of National Culture. Application, importance of understanding concept of Guanxi, for international partners to Chinese businesses. Political Environment: National International forces + also to linked to International ‘Political’ Institutions –WTO, G20, BRIC, Trade Blocs e. g. EU, ASEAN, APEC, NAFTA etc. Social Environment: Demography: Consequences of Ageing Populations for Business and Society in industrialised societies; versus growing populations in developing countries. Re-location of employment in globalised world. E. g. Call Centre customer convenience across time zones, or pressurised workforce? World Trade and the International Competitive Environment: Key trade theories, e. g. Comparative Advantage, Limitations of Vernon’s Model. First Mover Advantage, Porter’s Competitive Advantage. Role of WTO and its principles; related controversial issues. E. g. Prospects for closure of Doha round. Evolving regional groupings, EU, ASEAN, APEC The Technology Environment Introduction to importance of R D; use/role of Patents; technology transfer; impact of e-technologies Internet/e-commerce International Financial Environment Foreign exchange principles; impact of globalisation of financial markets. Comparison of ‘financial’ shocks Asian financial crisis 1997-8; the Credit Crunch 2008–2010; ‘sub-prime’ market to Lehman Bros. AIG. Partial re-nationalisation of Commercial Banks, trading internationally from US GB. TEACHING LEARNING METHODS Teaching learning will take place through a series of core lectures and programmed learning activities undertaken in seminar workshops. Students will have a learning opportunity to participate as team members by presenting findings from case studies through short presentations with interactive questions and answers and class discussion to broaden the teaching and learning experience. This will provide formative feedback in advance broadly related summative assessment. Directed reading will be specified; with students being actively encouraged to pursue a variety of other learning resources; journal articles, internet sources as well the recommended core text. Lecture: One hour x 10 Seminar /workshop: Two hours X 10 Directed Study: 70 hours Research: 50 hours TOTAL: 150 hours ASSESSMENT METHODS Formative Group/syndicate discussions, virtual learning, class debates and small group presentations will act as the formative assessment throughout the module. Formative feedback will regularly be given through plenary discussion of class activities. Summative Assessment: The module is assessed by an individual written assignment the end of the module worth 100% of the overall grade Students are required to attain at least 40% in order to pass the module. CORE READING: Morrison J. (2009), International Business: Challenges in a Changing World, Palgrave MacMillan. [An excellent comprehensive and challenging text with links to Marketing, HR Finance, and Operations Management. ] used selectively – key relevant themes as per Lecture/Seminar coverage OR Morrison, J. (2006), The International Business Environment, (2nd edition). Palgrave MacMillan. Supporting Reading Hamilton, L. Webster, P. (2009) The International Business Environment, Oxford University Press, Oxford. (mostly aimed at Undergraduates but good knowledge base for PG courses) The World in 2010, The Economist, London, 2009 More general texts cover the wider area of International Business for example: Hill, Charles W. L. , (2009) International Business: Competing in the Global Market, 7th ed. , Mc Graw Hill, New York Daniels, J, Radebaugh, L. Sullivan, D, (2009) International Business, (12th ed. ), Pearson Wall S. , Minocha S. , and Rees B. (2010) International Business, 3rd ed. ,FT Prentice Hall And for a more specialist area: Brummer A. ,(2009), The Crunch: How Greed and Incompetence Sparked the Credit Crisis, RH Business Books, London. Internet Sources: The Core Text indicates Webalert boxes, and other internet sources to consult in relation to each topic. Some sources will be suggested/ hyperlinked in lecture notes, and considered in seminars. The library has access to Online sources for which you will need to register for an Athens password. Both the Economist www. economist. com and the Financial Times www. ft. com can be accessed this way. Programmes using this Module as a Core: MBA, MA International Management, MBS. Module Leader: Bob Woodfield, Pod 203, E-mail: bob. [emailprotected] ac. uk Fax 0191 515 2308 Teaching Team: James Riddle, E-mail: jim. [emailprotected] ac. uk Ms. A. Nwankwo E-mail: TBA OUTLINE OF THE SEMINAR/WORKSHOP SESSIONS WEEK 1 Lecture 1: Introduction – International Business Environment (IBE) Please note: Slides of all lectures are made available on SUNSPACE Seminar 1 – Introduction to the Module; the guide explained, including teaching, learning and assessment, and how seminar workshops will be organised. Contextual DVD + discussion questions Reading: Morrison, J (2006) International Business Environment, Ch1. or Morrison (2009) International Business, Ch. 1 WEEK 2 Lecture 2: Globalisation and Methods of Internationalizing Operations Seminar 2 Review Understanding of lecture 1; Remaining answers from DVD; Results of student research – see also case below Reading: Morrison, J (2006) International Business Environment, Ch1. or Morrison (2009) International Business, Ch. Parts of Ch. 1 Case Study: Group Presentation: Look at Procter Gamble’s website, in relation to above reading. What can you find about the way they have restructured in recent years? What have been the objectives in doing so? What corporate governance structure has P G adopted to deliver their brands to different countries? WEEK 3 Lecture 3: Foreign Direct Investment: key theories; trends patterns. Impact of MNE’s globalisation on society Seminars 2 3 themes: Globalization and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Internationalisation, its motives and theoretical approaches are introduced, with focus on transnational corporations (TNCs). Dunning’s OLI paradigm is outlined. Introductory example of impact of Globalization in other areas culture; society; technology; financial markets. Seminar 3 Reading: Morrison, J (2006) International Business Environment, Ch5. Or Morrison (2009) parts of Ch 2. Group Case Study1: PepsiCo’s path to internationalization. Morrison (2009)p. 20. Group Case study 2: Nokia keeps competitors at bay Morrison (2009) pp. 50- 51 WEEK 4 Lecture 4: The Economic Environment How do we compare national economies; what are the policy measures open to governments? The role of government, and the extent of its involvement in business activities, clearly influences international business in a country. Macro-economic indicators enable corporations to assess the international market attractiveness of doing business with a particular country. How do companies try to fit into different economic systems? Seminar 4: Foreign Direct Investment: key theories; trends patterns. Impact of MNE’s globalisation on society Reading: Morrison, J (2006) International Business Environment, Ch5. Or Morrison (2009) parts of Ch 2. Group Case Study 1: ‘Made in India’ comes of age. Country Focus Morrison (2009) pp 61-63 Group Case Study 2: IBM and LENOVO: A tale of globalization Morrison (2009) p. 73 –74 WEEK 5 Lecture 5 The Cultural Environment It is widely accepted that the more individualistic cultures of Northern European countries were at the forefront of industrialization and capitalist development. What is the role of differing national cultures and identities in economic development? How have companies had to adapt in order to be successful in areas of the world with different cultural outlooks? Seminar 5: Economic Environment Reading: Morrison, J (2006) International Business Environment, Ch3 and 4. or Morrison (2009) Ch 3. Group Case Study: Wal-Mart’s great leap forward Morrison (2009) pp. 113 – 115. Group Debate: Assess the Macroeconomic policy options open to Governments’ attempting to recover from the recession. Week 6 Lecture 6: The Political Environment as a Risk Factor for Business Investment Seminar 6 The Cultural Environment: its impact on economic development and business operations Reading: Morrison, J (2006) Ch 6 or Morrison, J. (2009) parts of Chapter 4 . Group Case Study 1: 4. 2 DIY goes Global, Morrison J. (2009)pp 152 – 153. Case Study 2: Testing Times for Citigroup in S. Korea, Morrison J. (2009) p. 140. WEEK 7 Lecture 7 International Political Institutional Environment:WTO, Trade Blocs Regional trade agreements, including customs unions, common market and deepening economic and political integration from Europe (EU), the Americas (Nafta) and Asia (ASEAN) and (APEC), and Africa will be considered. The growing importance of the World Trade Organization (WTO),will be reviewed along with the role of multilateral trade agreements generally. Reading: Morrison, J (2006), Ch3 4. Group case study:Call Centre Jobs Migrate to India(see notes below) WEEK 8 Lecture 8 World Trade and International Competition Seminar 8 International Trade and Regional Integration Patterns of global trade are considered and key theories and policies are outlined, including the theory of comparative advantage and newer trade theories such as Porter’s theory of competitive advantage. The emphasis is the application of these within the context of trading framework of International Political Institutions WEEK 9 Lecture 9 The Technological Environment An applied approach to modern concepts of technology innovation will be taken. The use of patents globally will be introduced, with a discussion of the issues from the point of view of industrialised and developing economies. Methods of technology transfer will be considered. Seminar 9 – The Technological Environment WEEK 10 Lecture 10 International Financial Environment See lecture notes related DVD BBC2 series â€Å"The Love of Money† or â€Å"The City Uncovered† Questions relating to above DVD + Seminar time will be devoted to providing advice and further discuss on end assessment choices in preparation for submission. International Business Environment PGBM04 Summative Assessment Guidelines Assessment for this module takes the form of an individual assignment. This will provide some guidelines about what to expect and what is expected from you. Further information will be provided in seminars and on Sunspace for this module. FORMAT The assignment will be a paper consisting of eight discussion type questions. You are required to choose ONE and write an essay style answer of about 3000 words. WHAT THE ASSESSMENT WILL BE BASED ON You are expected to use a variety of source in your answer. These may include textbooks, journal articles,internet sources and newspaper articles (for example) the Financial Times. You will be expected to carry out research on each chosen question, gathering and selecting relevant information for inclusion in your answer. It is important that each answer puts forward your individual analysis on the issues raised using your sources as evidence and examples. The answers you write will indicate the development of your thoughts and critical evaluation of the topics, which have taken place throughout the semester. As part of the induction and/or later you will be briefed by the Subject Librarian for Business on how to register with the Library Information Services, in order to access resources and acquiring an ATHENS password. Virtual Learning available via Sunspace – has help on the use of Harvard Referencing, and other study skills advice is available on the Module website. In addition a list of useful links at the end of this guide is included. Details of the Assignment Issue date: Week beginning 6th December 2010 Details of the Submission date: Wednesday 19th January 2011, by 2pm Prospect Building Further question specific advice information will be given on Assessment via Sunspace and in Lectures/Seminars. A set of sample questions is provided for general guidance. Seminar/Workshop Programme Please note the seminar programme is a crucial element in supporting your learning and understanding by providing the opportunity to apply, discuss and present key issues. Normally you will be allocated to a group for your presentations. You are expected to work within a group/team and organize your presentation accordingly. Each group will be given approximately 20 minutes to present their case. A group will be allocated a leader to ensure better organization and smooth presentation. You are not given a mark, but presentations are a key part of the formative assessment process. It is a prerequisite for the submission of the assignment. ALL STUDENTS ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO PREPARE FOR PRESENTATIONS/SEMINARS BY READING THE RELEVANT CHAPTERS OF KEY TEXTS BEFORE EACH SEMINAR SESSION Seminar Week 1 View BBC 2 The Love of Money: Part 3 Back from the Brink. BBC Revealing how close the world came to the brink of economic ruin Autumn 2008. Key players, incl. ex-UK PM Gordon Brown US Secretary Tim Geithner, reveal the ups downs of then as they fought behind the scenes. Few people realise how close society came to a truly catastrophic breakdown. Consider questions:- Who is the Governor of the Bank of England? Briefly wha t role does he/his senior team) perform in relation to UK Government economic policy? What were the key reasons for the financial crisis â€Å"the credit crunch? † Why was its impact felt around the world? What part did events at Lehman Brothers play? What does the acronym BRIC stand for when listing powerful emerging world economies. Name the President of 2 of these countries? Which post is held by Geir Haarde? What was the financial situation in his country in Autumn 2008? Which job was held by French politician Christine Legarde? [What was her role? Whose response was she co-ordinating? ] How where Sir Fred Goodwin’s company involved? On Wed 8th October 2008 how much UK taxpayer’s money was committed to â€Å"The Historic Re-Capitalisation Bank Rescue Plan†? Which 2 banks in particular were the major beneficiaries? (Near the end of the programme) who said†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. f we had not had a British announcement we would be in a very much worse pla ce today. † What organisation does he work for? Who says at the end of the programme †¦Ã¢â‚¬ this is one in a long series of financial crises. People who think the world has changed have not read history? † Student’s opinions/discussion. Week 2 Finish off week 1 questions; review understanding of Lecture 1 For Seminar 2 ALL students to briefly consider their own countries/ companies experiences. What where key causes of â€Å"The S. E Asian financial crisis 1997†; â€Å"the Dot. Com boom†. What do they have in common? Case Study: Procter and Gamble Week 3. Case 1: Nokia Case 2: Pepsico Week 4 CASE: IBM LENOVO: A Tale of Globalization IBM stunned the world in 2004 by announcing that it had sold its personal computer (PC) business to Lenovo, a Chinese company, at the time little known outside China. The takeover even attracted the attention of the US Congress, whose Committee on Foreign Investment in the US was needed to clear the deal, as a takeover by a Chinese company in the technology sector could raise questions of national security. For both companies, the takeover represented a dramatic change of strategy. IBM’s reputation was built on its hardware expertise, and it was now selling off its entire PC business. Lenovo was an entrepreneurial Chinese PC producer, which had built up a market share of 30% in China, but had little presence elsewhere. It paid $1. 75 billion for IBM’s PC business, making this the largest ever overseas acquisition by a Chinese company. Overnight, Lenovo became a global company. IBM, as its name, International Business Machines, reflects, has traditionally viewed its core business as hardware, but changes in direction over the years have led it more into software and services provision. Its mainframe computer business, which had been successful in the 1970s and 80s, waned in the 90s, as PCs surged in popularity. In the 1980s, the company built up a PC business, but one with little of its own technology: it used processors from Intel, software from Microsoft and outsourced manufacturing. In this very competitive market, it was failing to make profits, as Dell and Hewlett-Packard steamed ahead. The logical move was to sell the PC business, in order to concentrate on higher value activities, mainly for business customers. Its hardware division has focused on the top-end server market, adding features and adapting technology from its mainframe computers. The resurgence of its mainframe computers, newly engineered and designed to run Linux open-source software, is also proving successful. In services, IBM aims to capture swathes of the outsourcing sector, offering all types of BPO, including logistics support, call centres, human resources and more. This sector, however, has become crowded, as smaller flexible companies with lower costs, such as Wipro from India, compete for work. IBM’s management now see the company’s strategy as moving towards large BPO projects, its ‘business process transformation services’. The company will need to change its culture from a product and software orientation to one of service provision, which will require greater flexibility and more of a solutions approach than its traditional hardware business. Reflecting its new outsourcing orientation, the company has reorganized and shed 13,000 jobs, mainly in Europe, moving departments to lower cost locations: human resources to Hungary and payroll functions to Romania. IBM has retained strong ties with its former PC business, through an equity stake and licensing agreements for its patents and designs. It owns 19% of Lenovo’s shares, and it allowed Lenovo to use the IBM brand name on its products for five years. One of IBM’s greatest successes had been the ThinkPad notebook computer, with its iconic black casing, which continues to be sold by the new owners under the Lenovo brand. Lenovo is increasing the range of products offered under the ThinkPad brand, to cater for small and medium-sized businesses. For Lenovo, the IBM brand was a step towards building its own global brand. It can point to Samsung in South Korea, an Asian company which has gained a reputation for innovative products backed by a strong brand. However, Lenovo dropped the IBM brand name two years ahead of schedule due to customers’ acceptance and recognition of the Lenovo and Think trademark. Lenovo’s strength has been in producing computers for the Chinese market. Founded only in 1984, the company’s success can be mainly attributed to its entrepreneurial founder and now chairman, Yang Yuanqing, who, as part of the deal, had to step down as CEO, to make way for the new CEO, who was the former head of IBM’s PC division. The new head of human resources has also come over from IBM. Lenovo has ambitions to challenge Dell and Hewlett-Packard, particularly on price and products designed for emerging markets. It can put to good use its experience in designing low-cost machines for the Chinese market. Its expertise in procuring low cost components will give it an advantage, especially important as procurement costs account for 70–80% of total revenues in this sector. It can use its new economies of scale to further lower procurement costs. It also aims to target small business users in developed economies, which had never been a priority for IBM. Can Lenovo’s performance match its global ambitions? In the first two years after the takeover, it introduced its own branded products outside China, and increased its revenues fourfold. It now has significant sales outside China. However, the huge organizational and logistical changes have taken their toll, net profits in 2005 falling to just $22 million, a fifth of the previous year’s. Doubts revolve mainly around the fact that a relatively young company with no experience outside its domestic market has acquired a global company three times its size. There are the cultural differences between the acquired business, a rather bureaucratic division of a large American MNE, and the new entrepreneurial Chinese owners, whose management team before the takeover had an average age of 28. The chief financial officer says: ‘It’s not a difference between Chinese and Americans, but really between an entrepreneur company and a well-established multinational company’ (Dickie, 30 September 2005). For Lenovo, complexities of supply chains, products and technology have been difficult to manage, especially as the new headquarters in New York and the Chinese workforce are 12 time zones apart. For other Chinese companies eyeing international expansion, the success of Lenovo would be an example to follow. Lenovo’s failure would send a strong signal that, despite energy and ambition, they might not yet have the management skills to take on leading MNEs in established markets. By 2007, the company had made progress towards restructuring the business, and felt confident to launch new products aimed at the global consumer PC market, taking on rivals Dell, Hewlett-Packard and Acer (of Taiwan). New IdeaPad notebooks will be launched in the US, France, China, India, Russia and other markets. Dickie (2005) ‘Lenovo targets small business’, FT www. lenovo. com www. ibm. com/investor Read the case study web check the sites above. What changes in strategy have taken place at IBM, both before and after the sale of the PC business? What aspects of globalization are highlighted in the case study? Consider the acquisition of IBM’s PC business by Lenovo in terms of owner-specific advantages. Briefly comment on Lenovo’s prospects in competition with established rivals Seminar 5 Case1 Wal-Mart’s great leap forward Wal–Mart is the world’s largest retailer, but this American retailing giant is finding life at the top hard at home, and even harder abroad. In 1962, Sam Walton, Wal-Mart’s founder, devised a business model which seemed to guarantee continued growth; employ lowly paid staff to sell low-cost, mass- market products predominantly aimed at America’s low-income groups. By the end of the 1990s the model was starting to look tarnished, as the consumers became more diverse and demanding and employee relations started to deteriorate. The supermarket sector, once the domain of national chains has now gone global. In the UK, Tesco forges ahead both at home and abroad, its sales growing faster abroad than at home. Wal–Mart by contrast has concentrated on the US, but with sales growth at home slowing, it started to look abroad. Wal-Mart has looked to changes in strategy and organization to boost sales at home, as well as compete in global markets. Currently the US accounts for 80% of its profits, but it hopes to increase global profits from the current 20 % to 30%. Initially a food retailer only, non-food ranges, such as clothing and appliances, were added in 1988. Its worldwide sourcing, benefiting from economies of scale, has brought in low-cost textiles and appliances, particularly from China. Wal-Mart executives have been concerned that higher profit is needed in the US to offset higher costs. Wal-Mart is the largest private employer in the US, employing 1. 4 million people. Working for such a large organization, low wage workers might expect to be unionized. However the company refuses to recognize the grocery worker’s trade union. Since the late 1990s, Wal-Mart has sought to expand internationally. Its purchase of ASDA in the UK in 1999 has been its most successful acquisition. It also entered the difficult supermarket environment in Germany, where the ‘hard’ discounters, such as Aldi and Lidl have grown to 40% of the market. While Wal- Mart’s global logistics should have guaranteed economies of scale to enable it to compete, the 85 stores struggled to make profits, losing out to the established discounters. It also encountered problems with Germany’s strong trade unions. Wal-Mart sold these shops to the Metro chain in 2006. Wal-Mart has now moved on to China, where it competes against a number of other Western hypermarket players such as Tesco and Carrefour. Here, Wal-Mart is trying to establish its business model, and to appeal to increasing numbers of wage-earning consumers. It is also hoping to offer them its own credit card. The bank backing the scheme is substantially owned by state entities and non tradable shares as is common in China. In a further move, Wal–Mart, known for its anti-union stance in the US, has allowed trade unions to set up branches in its Chinese outlets, and has allowed the Chinese Communist Party to set up a branch in one. While this may sound unusual, given its past practices, the partnership between the Chinese Communist Party and Wal –Mart has a logic; the company seeks profits in the world’s largest and fastest growing market, while China’s leaders wish to keep an eye on this powerful investor. This latest chapter in Wal-Mart’s localization strategy promises to be interesting; from the point of view of its chances of success in China, and in the reaction of Wal-Mart’s shareholders. [adapted from Morrison, J. (2009) International Business, Palgrave p. 113-115] Questions: 1. The experience of Wal-Mart’s international expansion to date has been one of mixed fortunes. Consider its recent experience for a country of your choice. 2. What are its prospects for success in China? (Limit this to knowledge of its involvement in your local area). 3. Is Wal-Mart’s business philosophy typical of 21st century expansion in its sector? What are the positive and negative aspects of it business model? Week 5: Case 2: Class Debate Whole group to search out from informed financial/economics sources, from perspective of own country’s Macroeconomic policy. Case for continuing government Fiscal Stimulus; Case against. Managing ‘down’ the size of a country’s Budget deficit. From a International perspective look for example at last G20 meeting, Canada end of June 2010. Suggested background articles from an INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT: U, V or W for recovery. Economist 392, no. 8645 (August 22, 2009): 10-11. Business Source Elite, EBSCOhost Or 2 views from compilation of articles Financial Times FT Online from Library: The Austerity Debate Deficit Cutting v. Fiscal Stimulus Monday July 19th 23rd July 2010 Seminar Week 6: Review and discuss Hofstede/Trompenaars analysis Do you agree with their analysis? If their conclusions are correct how may it affect the way companies work together. Case study 1: Group presenting Morrison (2009) Case 4. 2 pp152- 153 DIY goes Global. What aspects of the cultural environment in China are relevant to the DIY sector? How successful has B Q been in adapting to the tastes and needs of local consumers in China? What is the nature of the competitive environment in the sector B Q have entered? www. kingfisher. co. uk; B Q’S Chinese website is www. nq. com. cn. What can we tell about the cultural differences (as non Chinese speakers)? Home Depot’s website is www. homedepot. com What challenges await Home Depot in its Chinese market entry Compare B Q and Home Depot in terms of their approaches to internationalization. Case 2: Testing Times for Citigroup in S. Korea What difficulties has Citigroup faced in building market share in S. Korea? What issues within the 2 organisations have held up the integration process. In your view what mistakes has Citigroup made in integrating the 2 organizations? What recommendations would you give to Citigroup for any future acquisition in Asia? www. citigroup. com WEEK 7 Call Centre Jobs Migrate to India Call centres were once heralded as the providers of much-needed jobs in areas where the decline in manufacturing industry had left economic stagnation and high unemployment. Areas such as the northeast of England and Wales attracted call centres, largely in banking and financial services, where the need was for efficiency in handling large number of fairly routine queries from customers. An element of their attraction for business was the low-cost environment which they offered, and for employees, job and training opportunities. However, the reality turned out to be less rosy than expectations had suggested, and the quest for cost savings had led to a migration of some of these jobs to low-cost locations, particularly in India. Call centre work acquired a reputation as a repetitive and without prospects of career development in the UK, which has been slow to shift. Low pay, poor working conditions and limited career prospects have led to high staff turnover and employees seeing this type of work as casual or temporary. A number of high-profile companies, including HSBC, Aviva (Insurance) and BT, have shifted call centre jobs to India. HSBC, the worlds second largest bank, cut 4000 UK jobs in 2003, relocating the work to India, Malaysia and China, in one of the largest transfers of British jobs to overseas locations. Its chief executive said: as one of the worlds largest financial services companies, HSBC has a responsibility to all its stakeholders to remain efficient and competitive (Croft, 17 October 2003). A succinct illustration of the widely held conviction that call centre migration is a seamless process is found in the words of the HSBC CEO, who lauded the virtues of the Indian workers, at the moment when his company embarked upon its first wave of offshoring† [Taylor Bain (2005)] For HSBCs UK employees, the companys advertising slogan, the worlds local bank, had a particularly hollow sound. Announcing the shift of two call centres to India, BTs management highlighted the dilemma. On the one hand, the need to seek the low-cost locations, but also sensitivity to the employment implications for current UK employees (Singh, 10 March 2003). BT had outsourced jobs to service companies in the UK, reflecting a trend of outsourcing which has developed in the industry. Under an outsourcing contract, a specialist call centre company agrees to provide call centre services for an organization such as BT. In the UK, (NORTH EAST REGION especially) Garland Call Centres was one of these companies. In May 2010 it went into administration â€Å"unable to support trading after the termination of key contracts. Nick Reed, director and joint administrator at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, said: Garlands Call Centres has experienced very challenging trading conditions and more recently received notice from a number of key clients of their intention to move their customer service work to other centres, many in low wage countries including Asia and Africa. As recently as 2007/2008 , turnover was ? 50m, and company employee number had grown to around 3,000. By 2009 it had lost much of its work for its large broadband and mobile operator clients. By 2010, it said it was left with contracted work for only 1,500 employees. Customers phoning a helpline with a query regarding a gas provider, mobile phone provider or bank will probably have no idea they are speaking to a Garland employee rather than directly to the provider. For Garland, the attraction of Hartlepool was a pool of potential workers, many with a university education, with the added advantage that, because of high regional unemployment, they are willing to work for as little as ? 13,000–? 15,000 a year. A third of Garlands employees have university degrees. By comparison, call centre jobs in India are mostly held by graduates, but the starting salary of the Indian graduate is ? 000+per year. Here, specialist call centre companies are growing rapidly, fuelled by large numbers of graduates who speak English. These are considered desirable jobs, with relatively good conditions by local standards, but rates of staff retention are low, with annual turnover running at 40 50 per cent. Indian workers have found it difficult to adjust to the night shifts which are required of them, to deal with customers in time zones the other side of the globe. Then there are the pressures of the job, combined with the language and cultural adjustment needed to deal with customers in the US and Europe. They, like counterparts elsewhere, are unlikely to see their careers in call centres. According to Taylor and Bain (2005) it can be concluded that migration of call centre work will not be seamless. †The cost reduction logic drives companies to offshore voice services, but they are then confronted with a series of problems deriving from the customer oriented logic. † â€Å"Even allowing for the simplified, standardized nature of the bulk of Indian call-handling, it appears the cultural and linguistic differences are not readily overcome. Consequently the call centre with its distinctive labour process may in the long run be offshored less readily than other non-customer facing, back office activities The future of call centre workers, wherever they are, will depend largely on the extent to which automated technology is able to take over many routine tasks, through voice recognition, email and the internet. Deskilling leading to automation is a familiar occupational pattern which has affected manufacturing industries and is likely to be repeated in the call centre industry. [adapted and updated from Morrison (2006) p229-230; Taylor P. nd Bain P (2005) â€Å"India calling to the far away towns: the call centre labour processes and globalization†, Work Employment and Society, Vol. 19 No. 2, pp. 261-282. BBC News May 2010 http://news. bbc. co. uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/tees/8687770. stm] Case Questions 1. In what ways can it be said that globalization is affecting the call centre industry? 2. HSBCs chief executiv e referred to the interests of stake holders what did he mean? 3. Successful call centres exist in Sunderland and elsewhere in the NE of England (given you experience of a relevant company visit), why are they still viable? i. e. What do Taylor Bain mean in the last paragraph above? ] Seminar Week 8: WTO website. View and discuss from WTO website A choice from: Videos such as: Prospects for 2010 (March 2010 with WTO Chief Economist) 2min 32s; WTO at Fifteen (7m 39s); To the Heart of the WTO, viewed through the viewpoint of interests of 2 countries (Brazil and Norway) (22m 27s) Routes of Trade (9m) very introductory [At the most advanced which presumes at lot of reading and understanding: WTO FORUM Debate Regional Trade Agreements Multilateral Trade Bhagwati Hufbauer, 2007 (13m3s)] Plus Case: Piecemeal Liberalization of World Trade in Textiles and Clothing. Seminar Week 9 Case Study Technology: Does R D expenditure deliver better company performance and competitive advantage? Review evidence of part of Morrison (2009) Ch 12. Access:  ¦ UK Dept of Trade and Industry now known as UK Department of Business Innovation and Skills www. innovation. gov. uk/rd_scoreboard/ What is measured by the R D scoreboard? How is this measured? What about relative performance of research intensive companies? What can we deduce by way of international comparisons? Consider also the evidence by consultants Booz Allen: boozallen. com/publications/article/981406 (Oct 2005) Seminar Week 10 Seminar devoted to advice and guidance on assessment choices in preparation for submission of end assignments. Useful links: University Policy on Plagiarism https://docushare. sunderland. ac. uk/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-2994/AQH-F6-12+Policy+Statement+on+Plagiarism. pdf University Policy on Extenuating Circumstances https://docushare. sunderland. ac. uk/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-2995/AQH-F6-13+Procedures+for+Extenuating+Circumstances. pdf Link to the University’s Academic Regulations https://docushare. sunderland. ac. uk/docushare/dsweb/View/Collection-2780 University Policies on Complaints, Appeals and Student Discipline https://docushare. sunderland. ac. uk/docushare/dsweb/View/Collection-2784 Generic Assessment Criteria – Postgraduate – related to the assessment criteria of the module} | |Grade |Relevance | | |76-85% |The work examined is outstanding and demonstrates comprehensive knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to the Level of the qualification. There is also excellent evidence showing that all the | | | |learning outcomes and responsibilities appropriate to that level are fully satisfied. At this level it is expected that the work will be outstanding in the majority of the categories cited above or by | | | |demonstrating particularly compelling evaluation and elegance of argument, interpretation or discourse. | | | |The work examined is excellent and is evidence of comprehensive knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to the Level of the qualification. There is also excellent evidence showing that all the | | |70 – 75% |learning outcomes and responsibilities appropriate to that level are satisfied At this level it is expected that the work will be excellent in the majority of the categories cited above or by | | | |demonstrating particularly compelling evaluation and elegance of argument, interpretation or discourse. | | |Directly relevant to the requirements of the assessment | | |60 – 69% | | | |30 – 34% |The work examined provides insufficient evidence of the knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to the Level of the qualification. The evidence provided shows that some of the learning outcomes| | | |and responsibilities appropriate to that Level are satisfied. The work will be weak in some of the indicators. | | |15-29% |The work examined is unacceptable and provides little evidence of the knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to the Level of the qualification. The evidence shows that few of the learning | | | |outcomes and responsibilities appropriate to that Level are satisfied. The work will be weak in several of the indicators. | | |0-14% |The work examined is unacceptable and provides almost no evidence of the knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to the Level of the qualification. The evidence fails to show that any of the | | | |learning outcomes and responsibilities appropriate to that Level are satisfied. The work will be weak in the majority or all of the indicators. | Reading: Morrison, J. 2006): Chapter 10 or Morrison, J. (2009) part of Chapter 6. Case Study for ALL: WTO debate:â€Å"The current WTO principles and agreed framework of trade policies have a positive influence on multilateral free trade. † Group case: Piecemeal Liberalization of World Trade in Textiles and Clothing. Case study 6. 2. (Morrison 2009) pp. 233 -235. Reading: Morrison, J (2006), Ch 11 or Morrison (2009) parts of Chapter 12. Group Case Study: Access the Innovation references below