Pain Medication Essays - Kidney Cancer, Renal Cell Carcinoma

What is Kidney Cancer? Fundamentals of Pathophysiology Professor Michael Huwe By: Debora Collard INTRODUCTION Kidney Cancer is when malignant cells form is the tissue of the kidneys. Our kidneys perform many life-sustaining roles. They keep our blood clean of wastes and excess fluid, maintain our balance of salt and minerals, regulate our blood pressure, produce renin, erythropoietin, and vitamin D for good bone health. If cancer forms in our kidneys it can also spread to other parts of our body. It is very important that we be aware of any changes in our kidneys so that we may catch this at an early stage. In this paper I hope to explain the different types of kidney cancer, understanding the risk factors, how to diagnose kidney cancer and how it is staged, treatment options and survival rates and prognosis for the disease. My father had a kidney removed with kidney cancer when I was young and I wanted to learn if I might also be at risk and if so what I need to do. TYPES OF KIDNEY CANCER Renal Cell Carcinoma Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common type of Kidney cancer. Malignant cells begin to develop in the lining of tubules in the kidneys, which them becomes a tumor. Like all tumors it will begin small and after a period of time it will become large, but is usually only one single mass. There have been cases where the kidney contains more than one tumor and both kidneys contain a mass. There are five subtypes of renal cell carcinoma ?Clear cell which is about 80% of RCC is where the epithelial tumors cells are pale or transparent when you look at them under a microscope. ?Papillary RCC have a distinct growth pattern of finger-like projections throughout the tumor. Some clear cell RCC can have this similar pattern, but cannot be diagnosed as papillary RCC because of other technical criteria. ?Chromophobe RCC is like clear cell, but the tumor cells have transparent cytoplasm, and have larger cells, making them look unique under a microscope. ?Collecting Duct Carcinoma (CDC) is very rare and is only about 1% of kidney cancers. It is a very fast growing cancer that develops in the distal collecting tubules, and it does not respond well to systemic therapy. ? Unclassified RCC is very rare and is not easily classified. It is a type of cancer that does not fit into any of the above listed types. Other Cancerous Kidney Tumors There are three types of other cancerous tumors; Transitional cell carcinoma, Wilms tumor and Renal sarcoma. ?Transitional cell carcinoma is known as urothelial cancer or renal pelvis. This type of cancer does not start in the kidney, but begins in the renal pelvis. It is usually caused by smoking or being exposed to certain chemical in the workplace. ?Wilm?s Tumor only happens in children and are classified as favorable (usually can be cured) and unfavorable (harder to cure). ?Renal Sarcoma is a rare type of cancers that develops in the blood vessels or connective tissue of the kidney and is also known as soft tissue cancer. These account for less than 1% of cancers. UNDERSTANDING KIDNEY CANCER RISK FACTORS Lifestyle Having a healthy lifestyle will decrease your change of getting kidney cancer. If you smoke you are increasing your chance of kidney cancer because smoking makes your arteries harden and narrows your blood vessels. This decreases the amount of blood that flows to your kidneys and keeps them from working as well. Smoking can also cause you to have high blood pressure, and this only makes it worse. If you have diabetes and you smoke you are doubling your chance of kidney cancer, because these cause you to have kidney problems even sooner. Environmental There are many thing in our environment that are not good for our body such as; Asbestos, Benzene and solvents, Cadmium (used in making batteries, plastic and other industrial items) and herbicides. Health Factors Obesity is a cause of Kidney Cancer, because it can cause you to have high blood pressure and diabetes. If you have a family history of Kidney Cancer you should be very careful and have regular checkups. Other Factors A person?s age, gender, diet and if you

Fainting Fangirls Essays

Fainting Fangirls Essays Fainting Fangirls Paper Fainting Fangirls Paper Fainting Fingernails Imagine youre an obsessed teenage fan. Now imagine your favorite band member, your idol. You look up to them, talk like them, act like them, you even try to dress like them. You know every single thing about their life except where they get their clothes, until you walk into your local Hot Topic and stumble across an ad with said band member on it. Excited to see what the ad is about, you rush over to it. In big, bold letters are the words Get in Our Pants. Your eyes go wide as you realize that you could finally dress the same as your hero. You look back at the ad and admire that beautiful soul frozen in motion as they perform. At that moment you know your dream of getting in their pants has finally come true. With these thoughts in mind it makes it clear that Hot Topics ad for skinny Jeans entitled Get in Our Pants is directed towards teenage fans. Illustrated with band members accompanied by such a title gives you a clear view of the intended audience. The band members chosen for the ads are from todays most popular punk, metal, and rock bands. The fan base has a rather broad range however it is mostly focused around teens. : The whole Get in Our Pants slogan is creative. Most people view this as Just a clever pun, but to a fanning this is what theyve been writing all of their fan- fiction about. The idea that they could actually have sex with the people they Idealize. This play on words actually pulls them In. In a guy fans point of view It could be a way to pick up a girl that likes the same kind of music as you. To most this is Just an ad for really tight pants, but to them this Is so much more than that. You know that this ad Is not for young children because of the sexual undertone of the slogan. A child more than likely would also not recognize the person Jumping around on a stage. That being said you could say the same thing for an older audience. The folks who still think that Bloodied and Kiss are still the big shots In the rock music Industry today would Just shake their head and ask why the fellow holding the microphone Is wearing girls pants and when hes going to get a haircut. Hot Topics merchandise however Is made for a certain audience as well. They reach out to teens and young adults, ages ranging from 13-25 to people of a certain style, people with a love for dark and rebellious things. A store for those who are usually outcasts. This ad helps both draw In and excite the exact crowd that the company Is looking for. All of these reasons and examples proves that this ad Is great for reaching the audience that Hot Topic prefers, band obsessed fans and music loving young adults with a rebellious side. Word count: 515 By Electorates fiction about. The idea that they could actually have sex with the people they idealize. This play on words actually pulls them in. In a guy fans point of view it could be a ad for really tight pants, but to them this is so much more than that. You know that this ad is not for young children because of the sexual undertone of audience. The folks who still think that Bloodied and Kiss are still the big shots in the rock music industry today would Just shake their head and ask why the fellow holding the microphone is wearing girls pants and when hes going to get a haircut. Hot Topics merchandise however is made for a certain audience as well. They usually outcasts. This ad helps both draw in and excite the exact crowd that the company is looking for. All of these reasons and examples proves that this ad is great

Internal and External Accountabilities for Organizational Governance Research Paper

Internal and External Accountabilities for Organizational Governance - Research Paper Example Internal accountability in the not-for-profit organizations refers to the internal stakeholders such as employees, managers, directors etc, their quality of work and the coordination between them which leads to the welfare of the public or any other organization whom they are responsible to benefit. Profit is not their motto, their main aim is to provide services to others, therefore, the needs of others and their fulfilment by the staff and the financial resources of an organization are all a part of the internal accountability of a not-for-profit organization. Internal accountability in a for-profit organization similar to the internal accountability of a not-for-profit organization refers to the internal stakeholders such as employees, directors, managers, shareholders etc and the coordination between them. But, the difference between both of them is that, the internal accountability of a for-profit organization deals with the profits and loss made by the company, Such organizatio ns don’t work for the profit of others, instead they work for their own profit, therefore, they are basically concerned how well the internal stakeholders work in order to make more and more money for the organization. External accountability of a not-for-profit organization is concerned with all the external factors that affect a not-for-profit organization. Charities, donations, sponsors etc are some of the external stakeholders of not-for-profit organizations. External accountability of a for-profit organization includes external stakeholders such as customers, clients etc which affect or make up either profit or loss for a for-profit organization.

Role of Managers Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Role of Managers - Assignment Example In this organization, the planning role of managers involves the logical reasoning, through setting of targets and the relevant procedures to be followed to achieve these goals. Through this process, the managers plan into the unpredictable future, by foreseeing possible problems and giving distinctive blueprints on the actions necessary to avoid catastrophic events. At Wells Fargo, the management uses planning to counter the industry competition. It is critical to have an organized unit in order to fulfill the plans of the organization. The Wells Fargo management is tasked with aligning all the company’s resources to the major corporate strategy of the company. In many organizations, the corporate strategy fails to align with the organizational strategy, hence causing a myriad of problems due to misplaced priorities (Canals, 2011). However, the Wells Fargo management uses the organizational function to establish and maintain the relationships between the executive board and the human resource at the company. Through this duty, the managers are able to assign the technological and human resources to suit the corporate benchmarks of the company. In addition to organizing, the managers of Wells Fargo Company perform the staffing function as well. The human resource managers within the company play a critical role in the recruitment, selection, training, and development of talents within the organization. In the radical world of globalization, many companies struggle with retaining experienced employees within the company. Through establishing a reliable system to oversee the staffing process, the company accomplishes its plans in line with the available human resources. Given the competition levels that companies face in the business environment, it is important to give a clear insight on the direction that an organization must follow amidst the challenges it encounters (Mertzanis, 2013). Therefore, the directive role

Causes and Effects on the High Cost of Health Care Essay

Causes and Effects on the High Cost of Health Care - Essay Example The death rates are falling. There are less barbaric wars and more peace in the world at large. People are now living longer. There are many reasons for this the first being that most people are more mindful of health and wholesome living and are therefore, spending a larger share of income on health care. People are now turning towards healthful products that low fat, zero calories, no sugar added etc. An average individual now takes out more time for exercising, walking and other sports. Many people have reduced smoking after learning about the risks associated with it In developed countries medical insurance takes care of much of health care expenses. However, critics argue that there is an ever-growing number of people (especially Americans) who are overweight or even obese, which may breed physical disorders and afflictions and finally acquire medical attention. Therefore demands in growing at a faster pace than supply of medical services. These and many more reasons have increased life expectancy overall. When people live longer, they put a greater burden on health care services. Apart from this high population growth rates also contribute as a load on such services. Therefore, governments and private health care providers are left with no option but to increase their fees, costs of drugs and other health related expenses. Moreover, a lot of investment is being made in this sector. ... EFFECTS Perhaps the biggest effect of expensive health care services is that many people will use home made remedies for diseases and avoid going to doctors who would prescribe expensive drugs and ask for costly medical tests to be performed first. In years to come this might show as an increase in death rates. In third world countries (including many African states) there is high infant mortality. Many of the countries with the lowest life expectancies, namely Swaziland, Botswana, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, South Africa, Central African Republic, Namibia, and Guinea-Bissau, are suffering from very high rates of HIV/AIDS infection, with adult prevalence rates ranging from 10 to 38 percent. The residents of poor countries will continue to suffer. As a result, corruption will increase. Existing health care practitioners may not wish to offer their services to anyone who does not pay the prescribed amount. Less qualified individuals with little or no experience might get more patients as their fees would be less. This will lead to an extremely inefficient health care system, with more people falling sick. CONCLUSION For the thousands of years of humankind's existence, lifespans were short and rough. It is only within the last hundred years that life expectancy at birth has risen substantially. The world's average life expectancy at birth was 45years in 1950 which rose to 61 years by 1980 and currently it is 67years. This shows that as people are living longer, the demand for health care is rising. This demand is by far exceeding the supply in many countries of the world, making health care too expensive for most people. High costs of health care will affect

What western companies face when entering China

What western companies face when entering China This thesis will focus on the business environment for MNCs planning to invest their businesses in China. Today, China has a huge market for foreign investment and low labour work force.it has its own unique culture differs from the western countries. The culture shock and the different market characteristics are the key difficulties for foreign businesses, also not an easy business environment to penetrate. China business environment has helped so many MNCs in the past and present to achieve their profit. It also analyse the barrier of entering mode and how difficult it is to get the right Chinese partner to negotiate with. Having the money its not the problem getting fully connected and a good relationship with the government is significant. Another dynamic code for western companies its guanxi, well connected Chinese person although what happens in China now is that the highest guanxi merits the business. China is amazing, the beauty of Shanghai has made several multinational companies to flock into the Chinese market through beverages, furnitures, pharmaceuticals, logistics also contributing in their economy growth through wholly foreign owned enterprise WFOEs and EJVs equity joint venture. However, formal rules need to be backed by informal rules to be inefficient in terms of overcoming any informal limitations of human interaction. Informal rules need to be such that the costs of enforcement, measurement, supervision and monitoring can decrease. The difference between the marketplace China and the west is that both, formal and informal rules are well developed in the west, while they are severely underdeveloped in China. IKEA is a successful case to open the China market recent years. The main goal is to acquire the information in order to provide the overseas retailers with a good entering and starting point for creating an effective business plan and operating successfully in the Chinese furniture market. Another successful case in the Chinese market is Coca-Cola who entered the business market as a joint venture but now have five major bottling plants in five different cities in China, two of them are owned by joint ventures why the others are WFOEs wholly foreign owned enterprise Introduction In an era where consumers are more demanding, critical and possess higher purchasing power, firms increasingly discover that where service was previously a mere factor employed in support of the main organizational functions, the quality of, and efficiency in delivering, service, have now joined the fundamental business pillars of technological advancement and product novelty as principal determinants of success. Nowadays, many businesses in service-oriented industries in China, including MNCs furniture, beverage chains, rely on Chinese culture as a distinctive cutting edge in gaining and maintaining business. Hampden-Turner, (1990) suggests that culture is fast becoming a vital business tool in the encouragement of high performance in China. Where multinational organizations attempt to replicate these values in another national setting, problems may arise. Mead (1994) suggests that such organizations may have to modify these home country systems, structures and values to comply with local norms. China was an emerging market where the main challenge for MNCs was simply getting started, choosing the right joint venture Chinese partner and securing government permission to enter the market, the right city to sell in, and even the right target customer segments in those cities. However, few companies had large, complex operations in this market. Today, over more than 450 of the fortune 500 foreign companies are in China, and they are all facing home-grown competition from Chinese companies is rapidly growing. The Chinese market more profitable, more complex, and also potentially riskier than ever. As Chinas economy grows and open further, the opportunity it presents to MNCs is changing. Now, western companies can actually go after the Chinese domestic market, and its worth going after, the improvements in Chinas infrastructure, workforce, and regulatory environment are making it possible for companies to lower their cost to reap new competitive advantages. Lieberthal.K,and Liebe rthal,G. During the decline in demand brought on by the Asia financial crisis in 1997,then China made massive infrastructure investments, including a huge expansion of the highway, telecom, rail, and water management systems. All these investments have improved connections among what used to be largely separate domestic markets. However, the regulatory environment is also moving in the right direction, also getting more transparent. As China implements its WTO commitments, many opportunities are opening up to foreign firms, which are increasingly in the same position on an equal footing with home-grown companies. Also, with the structural changes established by the National Peoples Congress in March 2003, indicate additional progress in shifting the role of government from the planning and administration of a socialist economy to the regulation of market economy. In 1990, China led the world in the production of only televisions and cotton textiles, by 2002 they added refrigerators, motorbikes, cameras, DVD players, desktop PCs, bicycles, cigarette lighters and cellular phones. China, in sum is rapidly becoming the manufacturing center of Asia. In this thesis I will examine what multinationals need to know before entering China for business, in the next ten years, multinationals should be the biggest winners in China. For, western companies to reap the benefits, a multinational must properly nest its effort into its overall business, show one face to China at the national level and tailor local strategies, be wary of EJV and mitigate risk, and in particular the theft of intellectual property. One important reason for this trend, in FDIs and foreign companies is no doubt globalisation. The phenomenon has given individuals the awareness of opportunities outside their region or territory. In that case it can be seen as an incentive for foreign investors looking to gain global market share. Which off cause globalisation has made the world not only globalised but very competitive. Also, as these foreign investors are expanding they have to be cautious on issues such as culture, negotiation, risk and most importantly the politica l environment. All these issues we be examined in the rest of the dissertation. The research method used is based on case studies. Which are real life examples, showing the success of one firm to the failure of another. At the end one discovers that culture has its own trait into the Chinese working society, based on established theories. Means of Entering China: When entering China, western companies have 3 investment vehicles that can be used, Equity Joint Venture (EJV), Wholly Foreign Own Enterprise WFOE, and foreign-invested companies limited by shares (FICLS). Traditionally and in the past foreigner and western companies enter through EJV using a well connect Chinese partner or middle man, this trend is still stand although in some sectors. Today china is changing, more and more opportunities are created and more challenges face western companies. More western companies are entering and have begun to explore the chines market through WFOE as the best alternative. Although EJV and WFOE are similar in terms of corporate liability and taxation and operate within the same foreign exchange rules. One of the reasons for changing tend would be the time. It takes more time to establish an EJV than a WFEO. WFOE are faster to set up and easier to manage. They allow managers to expand operations more rapidly and meet only minimal resistance from au thorities. Harvard Business Review 2004. Another reason would be the limitation and underperformance of EJVs. Western companies investors are finding greater managerial control and flexibility which makes an excellent start for the competitive market in China. Some analyst describes the new emergency of WFOE as dramatic in china. Access to Chinese markets through a Joint venture is more limited than many foreign investors have hoped, and much more limited than most Chinese partners can deliver.   By 2002, WFOEs comprised nearly 65% of the approved projects and by value 69% of the deals.  Ã‚  Its expected that WFOEs will grow even more in number and value once more of  Chinas industrial sectors become open wholly-owned ventures that are currently restricted to JVs. Some advantages of WFOE is that it gives greater protection of intellectual property rights, know-how and technology since no partner required and therefore more control of IP. It also helps with greater efficiency in its operations like mentioned above, including management and future development. In addition the ability of converting RMB profits to US dollars or other foreign currency for remittance to their parent company outside China. U.s household products company had entered china through an EJV in 1990 with Shanghai Jahwas corporation. Jahwa was Chinas largest cosmetic manufacture. The two companies had conflicting interest and the result was devastating. First the US Company intended to capitalise on the Chinese base company for distribution, brand equity, guanxi in other to push its own production line. On the other hand Jahwa Home Base Company was looking to the foreign company to upgrade the companys technology and increase its competitive capabilities both locally and abroad. Having direct direction, aims and objects except for sales, the joint venture went into halt for 3 years. Following that was a we drawer from Jahwas selling all it shares. This action left the American base company seeking a new local partner to save its investments and to save face. Such actions and the Chinese culture make it extremely stressful and risk taking for western companies to undertake in an EJV. In contrast to Jahwas and the U S base company, the experience of Johnson and Johnson a western pharmaceutical company that entered china as part of an EJV is slightly different and optimistic .The company entered China as an EJV, Although this had been successful, but a change in strategy came in 1992. The company decided to launch new products in oral care, baby and feminine hygiene but as WFOE, looking for more control over sourcing and marketing. This result was achieved, ever since the introduction of the new venture, revenues have increased 40 % to 50 %. Following, that was the decision from the company to continue its business operations as WFOE unless they were given a great and major offer from a Chinese partner. In respect of the different cases, it is important that western companies enter china through the right way, either EJV or WFOE demanding on the offer and the possibility of gaining market share. Although this is exaggerating for western companies to enter and gain market share due to the level of local competition, but having the right partner and long term sight might bring the puzzle together. Despite the criticism of EJV and the thought of been left to hang out dry there are also Chinese in the market looking for westerners to join or buy part of an EJV. This on its own is increasly happening. Short Term and Long term Results This is important for new investor or foreign companies planning to enter china. One would have to look at the long future not the short term. There are uncertainties about political stability and the market economy. What could go wrong? Could it affect the companies aims or objectives. In the case of china, the future some is bright, a rising star, with a demanding population there might always be a market and most especially consumers. Most western companies might not want to enter the Chinese market on the short term basis because of uncertainties, however in most cases it is impossible to do. They end up finding themselves in the market for the long term. Several multinationals are approaching China as a long- term strategic market, and they are investing large sums of money to help build sustainable long-term positions. In the short term, the result might not be as expected, and it is unlikely to make profit gain market share. Companies would have stages to under go, from introd ucing the brand, acquiring consumers to keep sales stable. Many western companies look to the case of Coca Cola as an early entrant in the Chinese markets and back the arguments that one must be around a long time in other to achieve best results. The case of coca cola When Coca Cola entered china in the early 1980s, it wasnt well received by the consumers. The market was saturate with different soft drinks, most being lightly colour or orange flavour. In that case Coca Cola changed strategy and began to invest in sprite and Fanta. While doing this Coca Cola never lost sight of pushing its brand forward. It continued to invest in branding the product coke. By the early 1990s consumers began to accept the soft drink that the sales of other began to decline. Sales of Coke to Sprit volume ratio was four to three. In contrast, Pepsi- Cola has been less successful with 7-Up, the Pepsi to 7-Up ratio is four to one. Coca-Colas long- term success has been also involved taking as much control as possible of its joint ventures. When the company first entered china it was force to merger as a joint venture. It formed an EJV with China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Import-Export Corporation (COFCO). However in 1988 when regulations changed and where more relaxed, the company moved quickly to buy shares from its partners, having full managerial control of firm. It was complete, coke decided to invite 2 new partners when establish a new joint venture. The partners were Citic China International Trust and Investment Corporation, Swire Pacific, and Kerry Group. Citi is a state owned companied founded by Deng xipong, this relationship between the two partners could if not used as a basis for developing guanxi or influence , related to the process of doing business in China. Though the case of Coca Cola was succefully and showed how the long run paid off the company today the company has gained enormous share in the Asian region with China being the third just after Philippines (see chart below) so did other early entrant like Volkswagen report to be successful over the long peiod of time, growing at double digits per year. However, some other western firms have found it different. But Peugeot entered the Chinese market at the same time as Volkswagen, and it has lost tens of millions of dollars each year since 1995. This brings us to the argument of why are short-term results so important? Turbulent market such as Chinas, sustainable long-term positions are necessarily built on a series of successful short-term moves. Short-term results can help build brand recognition, attract local talent, and secure support from the parent company, which can create a virtuous cycle. Source: http://fliiby.com/file/328720/m6qct0zqis.html. By contrast, a vicious cycle is established when a multinational company sees no positive short-term results. Rather than revise the companys strategy, managers typically justify underperformance with the argument that China is a long term market. However, the hard truth is this, when no positive short-term results are seen, critical mass is not achieved, so the overhead cannot be spread over a reasonable volume. Therefore, the operations lose credibility back at the home office. As a rule, the China business is then scaled back in order to reduce short-term losses. What MNCs have to put in mind is that, in general, market share falls and the Chinese operations are second guessed; How far should we go, How hard should we push, When will we see results and How attainable are the long-term targets .Drawing upon these dynamics, players that want to be around over the long run had better be making the right moves today or they we be sitting on the side-lines before tomorrows game even be gins. It doesnt mean that MNCs have to get every thing right? No. Everyone makes mistakes. Moreover, multinationals must learn from their mistakes and learn fast. Long term success is best achieved through measurable short-term results. Guanxi Guanxi can be roughly described as a type of social capital that is developed between two persons via a process of reciprocal exchange (Gregory Osland 993). Has become a familiar term among those involved with Chinese society its creating personal connection, networking and a valuable asset for any one thinking of investing or doing business in China. Access to Chinese markets can be hindered by what is thought to be the great door-opener guanxi. Therefore, guanxi has long been touted as an invaluable asset to western investors. This concept is different to that of the west. Westerners put a premium on the networking, information, and institutions, the Chinese place a premium on individuals social capital within their grow up friends, relatives, and close associates. Although today some argue that the role of guanxi is fading, as some Chinese business practice the western style of business. According to Hexter and Woetzel 2007, more and more western companies are finding out that the scope of their Chinese partners guanxi is limited, which may take them in directions that are difficult to control or may not be strategically suitable. In addition, some companies are finding that guanxi may not be cost effective. This doesnt underestimate the force of having guanxi, it remains an important social force. More often than not, the person with the best guanxi wins. Although the key to using guanxi as a way of establishing reputation is to focus on developing and maintaining a network of high-quality contacts while maintaining the focus on the discrete relationships that constitute the network. Organizations can establish themselves as reputable in China by having a multitude of organizational participants engage in guanxi -based business practices. However, guanxi remains a product of individuals and becomes an organizational asset only to the extent that individuals are willing to use their guanxi in order to achieve organizational objectives. Maintaining guanxi Maintaining guanxi in china is essential and important. It is also important even critical to note that the entire process is embedded in discrete relationships. One must continually invest in their guanxi networks In order to maintain the network and relationship. A survey conducted by the Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption (Anonymous, 1993) found that Hong Kong business persons spent 3 5 per cent of their total operating budgets to cultivate guanxi in China. Yan (1996) found that in the north China village of Xjajia, households spent between 10 and 20 per cent of their disposable incomes on nurturing guanxi relationships. Indeed, the cost of maintaining a guanxi network can be quite expensive (Park and Luo, 2001; Yu, 2002 ; Fan, 2002b). However, the penalties for not continuing to invest in the relationships can be rather substantial. According to Tung and Worm (2001), Most European firms appear to have a basic grasp of guanxi. However, these same firms do not appear to recognize the importance of continued investment in the guanxi relationship. Most of the firms surveyed by Tung and Worm showed a reluctance to engage in substantial social activities outside the normal work environment. Consequently, the depth of relationships developed was substantially hampered (a limitation on the quality of relationships established). At the extreme, a failure to focus on the long-term relationship can be perceived as an expectation of immediate pay-out, which can be interpreted as an attempt at bribery. Such a perception can have a devastating impact on reputation. Succeed with Guanxi Having guanxi is only for starts, succeeding with it will yield the owner the benefits Davies  et al. (1995) highlighted a number of benefits to be derived from guan xi: It can serve as an information gathering mechanism; It can act as a means of securing access to important resources; It smooths the process of gaining privileges such as government licences etc.; It is often used to enhance company reputation; It can contribute to the building and enhancement of competitive advantage; and It can serve to open doors where once they were firmly shut. While trying to succeed with guanxi. It is important to note that guanxi remains the product of the individual. It would not only be inappropriate to describe an organization as having good guanxi but difficult in the true sense to achieve .the only way organizations can have the concept as an assets is through its employees. In most cases these who are amongst senior/ high ranked employees, especially in western companies. But the dilemma is that guanxi becomes an organizational asset if the individuals one have it, two maintain it (and that would require at an escalating manner) and thirdly are knowledgeable on how to succeed on it in order to achieve organizational objectives. An organization with the greater number of individuals possessing guanxi has greater possibilities of getting deals done if not faster. It also gives the company greater reputation causing a multiplier effect. In that case organizations should endeavour to promote and support the development of this concept within its employees. Incentives like rewards or bonuses can be given to individuals using guanxi to promote the companies core objective. In that way employees would be enthusiastic about the approach especially westerns who come with a different way of doing business. Negotiation They have different basic cultural values and ways of thinking when it comes to negotiation. The westerners are known to prefer quick meeting and getting deals done fast. The chines on the other hand are known for their long courting process and as some would say Friendship first then business. When it comes to doing business any way, the art of negotiation is important, if ignored could lead to the end of the deal before even getting to start. Westerns approach negotiations with an informal attitude while the chines are formal. What ever the case maybe, communicating in the same direction is needed. However some argue that there are a lot of communication break down that exist between western and Chinese businesses. One of the causes is the failure of westerners to understand the broader context of the culture and values in China. However problem that too often leaves western negotiators confused and whirling. (Harvard Business review pg.32) Western and Chinese approaches often appear incompatibility. Westerner see Chinese negotiators as inefficient, indirect, and even dishonest, while the Chinese see western negotiators as aggressive, impersonal, and excitable. Such perception has deep cultural origins. Yet those who know how to navigate these differences can develop thriving, mutually profitable, and satisfying business relationships. The Chinese cultural threads are shown through the way of negotiation. Cultural threads are like agrarianism, morality, and wariness of strangers. Most western business people often find these elements mysterious and confusing but ignoring them at any time during the negotiation process and the deal can easily fall apart. Culture and Business Hexter and Woetzel 2007 The culture and government of any country could have a significant effect on businesses and China is no exception. Today in China western companies find that the government is quite different. Past of the reason would be that in the last 25years, China has passed more than one thousand laws and regulations related to commerce and distribution, limitation of foreign businesses have been relaxed . Allowing private and foreign enterprise to join and merger with local Chinese businesses or even as wholly owned foreign enterprises in most industries. This approach is most welcomed from MNCs as a choice of entering as mention above. Government also has established the necessary legal codes for mergers and acquisitions (MA) of both state and private assets. In China the role central and provincial governments in the business sphere have become more defined, and decisions more open and transparent. The central government, for instance, today tends to exert more contro l over businesses earmarked for national development, such as high technology and aviation, less control over businesses such as consumer goods or food processing, where provincial and local governments with their growing economic clout compete to offer substantial investment to woo business opportunities. These remarkable developments mean that today western companies in China will find a clear, well-trodden path for almost every activity they may want to pursue. Foreign investment law is much better developed Nevertheless, western companies need to focus on their relationship with the government to achieve success has changed. However, in some ways this appears to be a dilemma. On the other hand, transactions occur, and the government is involved in every one all foreign invested business needs government approval and therefore government relationships must be maintained. The ability of a company to make future deals with the government rests on how well it executes the deals it has already made, including the service it delivers to customers and its ability to hit financial performance targets and thus return expected tax revenue to the government. Therefore, China has been more critical, then for western companies to work with central and local government on day to day basis to identify new opportunities. With more western firms in the field, and much greater competition among foreign -based and domestic companies on the ground in every sector, government has almost no choice but to ado pt more routine processes to manage access. The average CEO will find it much more difficult to see the minister in Beijing nowadays. Conclusion In conclusion doing business in China involves many challenges but also provides many rewards. Challenges include cultural misunderstandings, consumer diversity, and the vast size of the country. However, China is a unique business environment The world is expanding and China in its own way has received in an influx of international companies. Western company in their own way have influence the Chinese way of business, its national culture and identity remain steadfast. Their culture is embedded in the way they do business and management style. But its uniqueness and characteristics is what westerner companies face as a major challenge till today. Multinationals organizations seeking investment opportunities find this an enormous task of researching into the Chinese corporate culture. Now many western companies have recognised the need to under the corporate and local culture than persist in China. ( Pang, 1998) In previous years possessing qualities like guanxi was highly valuable but today with the changing atmosphere having high influence would be more beneficial. Finally if western companies aim to be successful in China they must radically improve the way they execute in the country. High performance is difficult in a country with high competition therefore western companies must increase they scope, maintain high/ quality productivity. They should adapt global managerial practices to the realities of Chinese context (Harvard business review 2004, p 171) not forgetting to embed also the Chinese rules and elements. Companies could always tumble in how they execute tactic and approach in china. The wrong tactics or bad execution of good strategy has terrible consequences. But good tactics and execution on the level that western companies would accept of their operating managers in competitive developed market is exceptional in China, even harder to define. Until now many multinational did not need to focus as relentlessly as executing to world class stands in their china operations as they did in other market. Western companies would urgently need to improve performance is nearly every aspect of their operation in china, if they are going to be profitable in the short or long run and indeed if they are to survive in china. In addition other relevant elements would be securing government permission to enter the market, picking the right joint venture partner and then selling existing brands at premium prices in the right cities to right customers. Time and time have shown that those who make smarter choices about joint venture partners like coca cola, brands cities and distribution networks tends to fair better than rivals. Moreover the reforms in the government and plans to use the WTO entry requirements to force the domestic reforms. many believe will make Chinese firms competitive internationally in the coming decades. So in a remarkably wide range of sectors, western companies must now think seriously about their ways in China and those of their current and potential competitors that are likely to affect their wider future global opportunities To be sure, China will remain an exceptionally challenging environment. It is a country with inadequate legal protections, rampant intellectual property right violations, massive government interference, and severe price competition from state subsidies firms. However Beijing desire to expand the service and private sector, combined with its willingness to allow foreign firms to compete nearly across the board, means that the china market is ever changing and now becoming a real opportunity just as the purchasing power of Chinese consumers is beginning to increase. Western companies should try to try this into their advantage just like Ikea has done in china. Entering the Chinese market in 1998 as an EJV, with a low pricing strategy and today has captured 49 % of the furniture market in china. Although as they say patience is a virtue, Ikea had waited for 10 years before its success came in the Chinese market. In the near future China is likely to remain the worlds fastest growing major economy therefore western companies should turn the situation into their advantage and gain global market share while the sun shines.

Wing Luke Asian Museum Web Site :: essays research papers

Wing Luke Asian Museum Website The Wing Luke Asian Museum is a multicultural museum housing art, film, and other records of the Northwest Asian Pacific culture. The Museum states that it is dedicated to "the collection, preservation, and display of Asian Pacific American culture, history and art.". The Museum was founded 1967, in honor of the first Asian pacific American to be elected to the Seattle council (in 1962). Wing Luke was killed in a plane crash just 3 years later, and the community rallied together to establish the Wing Luke Museum. The museum is run mainly on community support and independent donation, which it has done since its establishment. The exhibits and programs The Wing Luke puts on are made by a collaboration of museum professionals and dedicated community members. This community support is really what drives the Wing Luke museum and makes it special. The website of the Wing Luke Asian Museum [ http://www.wingluke.org ] uses a very simple and straightforward layout to help it's visitors find the information they need. The website also comes through with a lots of information about the museum, and it's community. Adding to all this is an online version of the Wing Luke Asian Museum's monthly newsletter, which is packed with tons of news and information about upcoming exhibits and projects being put on by the Wing Luke. The Online newsletter is archived regularly, and even though it is a newsletter for members, they let anyone download and read up on current happenings. The Wing Luke website also contains many external links to a wide array of Topics, including information on local art and history resources, and resources for Asian Pacific Americans, Japanese Americans, Korean Americans, Chinese Americans, and Filipino Americans as well. The web page also links to many other Seattle area museums, which is a nice addition. Other Museums dealing with Asian Pacific American issues are also linked to, rounding out the resource set. The Wing Luke web page uses a simple text on background layout, providing quick download times, and fast refresh rates. However, though serving to give the web page accessibility to a vast majority of web surfers, the web page has a very dated look to it, which really takes away from the overall professionalism of the website. The color scheme is generally black on white, with red hyperlinks. This clean look provides maximum text legibility, while not distracting the reader.

Raffles Hotel Marketing Communications

Assignment #4 Observation Report A: Describe one on-the-job problem of issue encountered and how it was resolved. I first encountered this problem two weeks into my internship with Raffles Hotel Marketing Communications. After my orientation week, it was finally time for me to take on projects on my own and start communicating with some of the clients and media the department would follow up from time to time. One of the projects that I was tasked was to prepare the Arabic version of Raffles Hotel’s fact sheet for the Saudi Arabia sales trip that the Director of Sales and Marketing will be doing at the end of the week.This request came in as a last minute project as there were several delays in the process of translation and positioning of the facts and information. In what limited time I had, it does seem that I would not be able to complete to the fact sheet in time due to the constant delays from the Translation Company and external help that took quite some time to get bac k to me. Time wasn’t on my side and I knew I cannot afford to mess up this project. That was when I decided to adopt one of the many values that Raffles Hotel believes in – taking ownership of guest requests.Instead of sitting around waiting for things to happen and emails to be replied, I decided that it was time for me to take action and get what needs to be done, done. The issue was eventually resolved after I made personal trips around the hotel, asking for help from colleagues from various departments that have knowledge in the Arabic language. I managed to prepare the Arabic fact sheet of Raffles Hotel in time for the Saudi Arabia sales trip and have shown my managers that I am someone they can trust to get things done on time and to the best of my abilities.

Beginning Level Curriculum for ESL Classes

Beginning Level Curriculum for ESL Classes This curriculum summary is designed for false beginners. False beginners are typically learners who have had a few years training at some point in time and are now returning to start learning English again for a variety of reasons, such as for work, travel, or as a hobby. Most of these learners are familiar with English and can move pretty quickly to more advanced language learning concepts. This curriculum summary is written for a course of approximately 60 hours of instruction and takes students from the verb To be through present, past, and future forms, as well as other basic structures such as the comparative and superlative forms, the use of some and any, have got, etc. This course is geared towards adult learners who need English for work and, as such, concentrates on vocabulary and forms that are useful for the working world. Each group of eight lessons is followed by a planned review lesson which allows students a chance to review what they have learned. This syllabus can be adapted to fit students needs and is presented as a basis on which to build an elementary level ESL EFL English course. Listening Skills Beginning English learners often find listening skills the most challenging. Its a good idea to follow some of these tips when working on listening skills: To begin with, try to use only one voice for listening comprehension activities. A variety of accents can be added later.Exercises should begin with short form understanding such as spelling, numbers, understanding word form differences, etc.  Gap fill exercises work well for the next step in listening comprehension. Begin with sentence level understanding and move on to paragraph length listening selections.  Once students understand the basics, begin work on understanding gist by providing longer conversations with a focus on understanding the main idea. Teaching Grammar Teaching grammar is a big part of effectively teaching beginners. While full immersion is ideal, the reality is that students expect to learn grammar. Rote grammar learning is very effective in this environment.   At this level, rote activities can help learners understand intuitively. Dont worry too much about grammar explanations.  To help focus on sound rather than rules, repetitive activities can help establish a strong base.Take it in small bites. Pare things down to their essentials once you begin to teach. For example, if you were introducing the present simple dont begin with an example that includes an adverb of frequency such as He usually has lunch at work.  For tenses, stress the importance of time expressions tied to tense. Continually ask students to first identify the time expression or context before making a decision on tense usage.  Correct only those mistakes made in a current objective. In other words, if a student misuses in rather than at but the focus is on the past simple, dont make a point of correcting the mistake in preposition use. Speaking Skills Encourage students to make mistakes, many, many mistakes. Adult learners are often concerned about making too many mistakes and can be hesitant. Do your best to relieve them of this fear!Focus on function for beginning level activities. Set a goal such as ordering food in a restaurant. Help students learn how to functionally succeed in each situation.Switch groups up often. Some students tend to dominate conversations. Nip this in the bud, and change group composition up early and often.   Writing Skills Follow the language: begin with letters, create words, build words into sentences and let those sentences blossom into paragraphs.  Prohibit certain words when writing! Unfortunately, students often fall into the bad habit of using the same words over and over (go, drive, eat, work, come to school, etc.) Brainstorm word lists together as a class and then challenge students to only use certain words or phrases  in their writing.Use symbols to correct. Get students used to the idea that youll use symbols to help them edit their writing. The onus is on the students to correct their own writing.

Early Civilizations of the Non essays

Early Civilizations of the Non essays Civilization: A civilization has advanced and complex structures of the four components that define a culture being social, economic, political, and creative threads. A civilization has a natural environmental advantage; a civilization has nothing to do with the people in the group. A civilization has an environmental advantage leading to surplus and experimentation. The three aspects f these theories are environmental advantages, surplus, and experiments leading to new discoveries. A civilization is a complex culture, which is a small minority of 15 out of every hundred of groups that have roamed the earth. Smith's theory of civilization is the "Lucky bastards who stumble upon environmental advantages who can then take risks." A group of people who have evolved complex, political, economic, social, and intellectual activities because they enjoy the benefits of an unusual advantage in an environment. An enviernmental advantage is what causes a civilization to be complex. Because they have an environmental advantage they will soon have a surplus. Which provides them with the opportunity to take risks and experiment providing them with knowledge. Hallmarks of an actual civilization are a surplus, literacy, and sedimentary. A surplus is goods, which is material possessions food, clothes, weapons, and raw materials, Labor being specialization in production of some kind? Also time leading to intellectual breakthroughs. Types of environmental advantages are rich land, and cross roads of trade. Egypt - An environmental advantage allows a culture to advance to a civilization. Groups that live in an area that have an environmental advantage will obtain a surplus. A surplus is when you have an extra amount of time, goods, and labor. Having these will allow the Egyptians to engage in risk taking experiments, which lead them to progress and change. The Egyptians environmental advantage was the Nile River. In March, and Apr...

Equity Market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Equity Market - Essay Example The most popular method for stock valuation is the 'Discounted Cash Flow' technique that takes into account the estimated stock price, dividend rates, and the growth rates together with the discount rate or expected return. It is based on the efficient market hypothesis that says that the listed stock price is close to the estimated fair value of the stock. The model takes into account dividend growth rate and price growth rate to arrive at the expected future price of a stock security. The practical adjustments that might be required include a better estimation of the stock price through market based valuation of the stock. In addition, market behaviour of the stock must also be considered to arrive at its fair price. In an efficient equity market, though there is lesser probability of a mis-priced stock and hence lesser probability of generating abnormal rates of returns; however, a financial analyst's job does not only have to deal with generating higher margins on stock. A financial analyst is required to consider the market trend and make a decision of purchasing or selling a specific stock and taking a particular position in the market. This would determine the level of profitability that the company can generate. In addition, he/ she would be responsible to diversify risks in investing into a

The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe Essay

The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe - Essay Example Poe draws this classical connection between the family and the land early on, saying bluntly that the House of Usher is "an appellation which seemed to include, in the mind of the peasantry who used it, both the family and the family mansion" (Poe 45). The future of the House is revealed in the observation that the family "had put forth, at no period, any enduring branch" (Poe 45). It is not a prolific family tree, and neither Roderick nor the Lady Madeleine exhibit the sanguinity to make them fit stewards of the property or likely to bear any descendents. The House of Usher, we are to understand, is dying. Their lands exhibit an atmosphere of death, the family is vulnerable to illness, both physical and mental, and they just don't seem like the kind of people with the inclination to procreate. The very idea of children feels sacrilegious in this somber atmosphere. The bleak surroundings are apparent before any observations are made on the family. The story opens with a long paragraph describing precisely how desolate and disconcerting the landscape is. The house is located in "a singularly dreary tract of country" (Poe 43), the first adjective used to describe it is "melancholy" (Poe 43), and the narrator's first emotional response to its sight is, "a sense of insufferable doom" (Poe 43).