Problems associated with cultural differences faced by the German GAM Company in South Africa

Competent human staffs are essential in effective management of the human resource, which is a crucial aspect in a firm. Human resource management becomes more essential in managing cross-cultural barriers that are common in multinational corporations, which has ventures in foreign markets.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Problems associated with cultural differences faced by the German GAM Company in South Africa specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Failure for multinational corporations in manage cross-cultural challenges effectively may result to reduced performances or collapsing of foreign ventures. Thus, multinational companies should recruit highly competent human resource staffs to incorporate effective human resource strategies that will enhance cross-cultural communications (Bucher Bucher, 2009). The Germany managers and South African associates differ in their views because of their different cultures. Fo r instance, the Germans managers are formal in the manner in which they interact with the South African associates. Their greetings are always formal and they emphasis on titles and rarely use personal names when addressing each other. In job environment, Germans show great differences to various people in various job authorities. Germans communications are formal and establishing and maintaining strong relationships in businesses, as well as in the workplace is rare. Germans often experience problems in relating with fellow workers because of the tendency of their communications being direct to the point that seems blunt. As an alternative of using straight negotiations, Germans opt for written communications. For Germans decisional making is hierarchical with the passing of decisions left to the executives. Once the executives pass decisions, the implementation is as per the decision made with no alterations. On the other hand, South African people do not emphasize on formality in business or workplace communications. Unlike the Germans, South African people stress on the importance of building business and workplace relationships, which they highly value for networking purposes, where they use the offices to establish cordial working relationships. South African people avoid direct and blunt communications. South African people are very careful with their communications. They prefer using analogies and metaphors, in passing important points rather than giving direct points. They prefer face-to-face communications rather than written communications, which they regard as being impersonal. Therefore, the cultural difference that is present between the Germans and South African people is the one to blame for the indifferences they are facing that is affecting performances in GAM plant in South Africa adversely (Muhs, 2001).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The GAM’s model that entails learning on the job is not a suitable strategy in managing cultural diversity and particularly in sensitive international markets, where cultural diversity is sensitive such as in South Africa. The GAM reintroduced its operation in South African following the termination of apartheid in the country. Therefore, the Germans GAM personnel required prior knowledge about the South African culture before the deploying process. However, because of GAM strategy of learning on the job, instead of learning from formal training programs, they lacked appropriate skills to address the cultural differences that exist between the Germans managers and South African associates, which hindered proper performance greatly. The poor performance witnessed at GAM plant in South Africa was avoidable through offering the Germans personnel formal training program of South African culture before deployment. This could have ensured good performance instantly after startin g the operations. Multinational corporations that adopt a global human resource management strategy rather than a local strategy for ventures outside their home base face many challenges. They experience many challenges because people in different regions have diverse cultural orientations that influence how they relate to each other, as well as to foreigners. Because of the different cultural differences that exist across the world, it is very difficult for a multinational corporation to establish a universal strategy that is applicable to manage all its operations across all the regions it has ventured.Thus, those corporations that do so are likely to fail. People in various regions possess differing cultures that influence how they interact. They greatly differ in their communications, as well as the values they possess. Therefore, companies should have local strategies to manage local ventures to have great level of success for foreign ventures. Adopting local strategies to mana ge local ventures is important in managing cross-cultural communication barriers that are prevalent for foreign ventures as the one witnessed by the GAM Company is South Africa. Dr. Kriek’s approach and actions was a very appropriate move in identifying the underlying problem at GAM plant in South Africa. The strategy was a very professional approach that entailed visiting the area and collecting important data from both parties to identify the root cause for the poor performance of GAM operation in South Africa.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Problems associated with cultural differences faced by the German GAM Company in South Africa specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The initial information given by the management indicated that the associates employees recruited from South Africa were lazy and unmotivated and required a motivational talk to arouse their drive. However, the study conducted showed that t he problem for poor performance was not the associates being lazy and unmotivated, but there was a cultural misunderstanding between the Germans managers and the South African associates, which contributed to the poor performance. Therefore, Dr. Kriek’s approach and actions was an appropriate approach and concern that identified the root cause of the problem at GAM plant in South Africa (Diller, 2010). The proposal by Dr. Kriek’s for the cultural awareness and sensitivity workshop for management at GAM plant in South Africa is an essential strategy in resolving the underlying problem. The Germans managers at the plant require training on the best manner of interacting with the South African associates to avoid misunderstanding that is hindering proper performance. The Germans tendency to act formal in how they interact, as well as communicate with the South African associates is to blame for the existing confusion between the groups. The South African people adore work relationships and are cautious in their communications to avoid sounding rude. However, the Germans are official and are direct and to the point in their communications, which the South Africans misinterpret as rudeness. Thus, Dr Kriek cultural and sensitivity workshop the Germans managers will be imperative in managing the situation. Dr Kriek will create awareness and sensitive the Germans about the differing cultural orientations and advise them accordingly on how to interact effectively with the South Africa associates to ensure harmony in the workplace. The shortcoming of the process is that it will consume time meant for production, as concerned people will dedicate some time to get appropriate trainings. However, the training will be important for the mangers, as they will be in a better position to understand and handle the South African associates in future endeavors accordingly to facilitate high performance. In conclusion: effective human resource management is imperative for multinational firms. Failure to have competent human resource management results to reduced performance and sometime collapsing of foreign investments because of cross-cultural barriers that hinder effective communications.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Nonetheless, managers should get proper trainings before deployment in foreign countries to equip them with necessary skills to manage cross-cultural barriers to enhance performance. Firms should avoid deploying personnel without creating enough awareness and sensitize them about possible cultural barriers they are likely to face to increase the success of these ventures. This will avoid wastage of resources through unnecessary conflicts as the one witnessed between GAM managers from Germany and South African working as associates. Reference List Bucher,R. Bucher, P. (2009). Diversity Consciousness: Opening our Minds to People,  Culture and Opportunities. New York: Prentice Hall. Diller, J. (2010). Cultural Diversity: A prime for Human Service. New York: Prentice Hall. Muhs, K. (2001). Cultural Differences between South Africa and Germany. Retrieved from https://www.grin.com/document/106216 This essay on Problems associated with cultural differences faced by the German GAM Company in South Africa was written and submitted by user Jillian Farmer to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

A Look at My Community essays

A Look at My Community essays The word 'population' is defined as a group of people who live in a particular town, area, or country. For example the population of the United States is around three hundred and fourteen million people. A community, however, "is a unified body of people with common interests living in a particular area" (Epidemiology Foundations). The community I live in is North Buffalo on Norwalk Ave. The people that live here are hardworking people, whom for the most part treat each other nicely and with respect. After doing a 10 block search of my neighborhood and growing up here for 21 years, I discovered some very interesting facts. The ten block radius that I defined includes my street Norwalk Ave, Tacoma Ave, Saranac Ave, Hertel Ave, Linden Ave, Colvin Blvd, and few other streets. In my community there is a somewhat diverse population, we have African Americans, Latinos, and a few Irish people. But for the most part my community is pre dominantly white Italian-Americans. There is a good mix of families and older residents, all though from what I have seen I do believe there are a bit more families. I think it has a lot to do with the weather in Buffalo, most senior citizens don't like living in cold weather climates. In my community there a good number of medical services. There is Sisters Hospital located on Main Street, which are about five blocks from Hertel Ave and the closest to my house. There is also Millard Fillmore Hospital on Maple Rd. in Williamsville, Women and Children's Hospital on Bryant St, and a plethora of other medical institutions that are a maybe a ten to fifteen minute drive from my house. There is also Delaware Pediatrics which is located on Delaware Ave, a ten minute walk from Norwalk Ave., they specialize in children, I should know I was patient there for eighteen years. There are two fire departments located in very close distance to my house. The first one is at 860 Hertel Ave and has been around since 2005....

About John Stuart Mill, a Male Feminist and Philosopher

About John Stuart Mill, a Male Feminist and Philosopher John Stuart Mill (1806 to 1873) is best known for his writings on liberty, ethics, human rights and economics. The utilitarian ethicist Jeremy Bentham was an influence in his youth. Mill, an atheist, was godfather to Bertrand Russell. A friend was Richard Pankhurst, the husband of suffrage activist Emmeline Pankhurst. John Stuart Mill and Harriet Taylor had 21 years of an unmarried, intimate friendship. After her husband died, they married in 1851. That same year, she published an essay, The Enfranchisement of Women, advocating for women being able to vote. It was barely three years after American women had called for womens suffrage at the Womans Rights Convention at Seneca Falls, New York. The Mills claimed that a transcript of a speech by Lucy Stone from the 1850 Womens Rights Convention was their inspiration. Harriet Taylor Mill died in 1858. Harriets daughter served as his assistant in subsequent years. John Stuart Mill published On Liberty shortly before Harriet died, and many believe that Harriet had more than a small influence on that work. The Subjection of Women Mill wrote The Subjection of Women in 1861, though it was not published until 1869. In this, he argues for education of women and for perfect equality for them. He credited Harriet Taylor Mill with co-authoring the essay, but few at the time or later took it seriously. Even today, many feminists accept his word on this, while many non-feminist historians and authors do not. The opening paragraph of this essay makes his position quite clear: The object of this Essay is to explain as clearly as I am able grounds of an opinion which I have held from the very earliest period when I had formed any opinions at all on social political matters, and which, instead of being weakened or modified, has been constantly growing stronger by the progress reflection and the experience of life. That the principle which regulates the existing social relations between the two sexes - the legal subordination of one sex to the other - is wrong itself, and now one of the chief hindrances to human improvement; and that it ought to be replaced by a principle of perfect equality, admitting no power or privilege on the one side, nor disability on the other. Parliament From 1865 to 1868, Mill served as a Member of Parliament. In 1866, he became the first M.P. ever to call for women being given the vote, introducing a bill written by his friend Richard Pankhurst. Mill continued to advocate for womens vote along with other reforms including additional suffrage extensions. He served as president of the Society for Womens Suffrage, founded in 1867. Extending Suffrage to Women In 1861, Mill had published Considerations on Representative Government, advocating for for a universal but graduated suffrage. This was the basis for many of his efforts in Parliament. Here is an excerpt from chapter VIII, Of the Extension of the Suffrage, where he discusses womens voting rights: In the preceding argument for universal but graduated suffrage, I have taken no account of difference of sex. I consider it to be as entirely irrelevant to political rights as difference in height or in the color of the hair. All human beings have the same interest in good government; the welfare of all is alike affected by it, and they have equal need of a voice in it to secure their share of its benefits. If there be any difference, women require it more than men, since, being physically weaker, they are more dependent on law and society for protection. Mankind have long since abandoned the only premises which will support the conclusion that women ought not to have votes. No one now holds that women should be in personal servitude; that they should have no thought, wish, or occupation but to be the domestic drudges of husbands, fathers, or brothers. It is allowed to unmarried, and wants but little of being conceded to married women to hold property, and have pecuniary and business interests in the same manner as men. It is considered suitable and proper that women should think, and write, and be teachers. As soon as these things are admitted, the political disqualification has no principle to rest on. The whole mode of thought of the modern world is, with increasing emphasis, pronouncing against the claim of society to decide for individuals what they are and are not fit for, and what they shall and shall not be allowed to attempt. If the principles of modern politics and political economy are good for any thing, it is for proving that these points can only be rightly judged of by the individuals themselves; and that, under complete freedom of choice, wherever there are real diversities of aptitude, the greater number will apply themselves to the things for which they are on the average fittest, and the exceptional course will only be taken by the exceptions. Either the whole tendency of modern social improvements has been wrong, or it ought to be carried ou t to the total abolition of all exclusions and disabilities which close any honest employment to a human being. But it is not even necessary to maintain so much in order to prove that women should have the suffrage. Were it as right as it is wrong that they should be a subordinate class, confined to domestic occupations and subject to domestic authority, they would not the less require the protection of the suffrage to secure them from the abuse of that authority. Men, as well as women, do not need political rights in order that they may govern, but in order that they may not be misgoverned. The majority of the male sex are, and will be all their lives, nothing else than laborers in corn-fields or manufactories; but this does not render the suffrage less desirable for them, nor their claim to it less irresistible, when not likely to make a bad use of it. Nobody pretends to think that woman would make a bad use of the suffrage. The worst that is said is that they would vote as mere dependents, the bidding of their male relations. If it be so, so let it be. If they think for themselves, great go od will be done; and if they do not, no harm. It is a benefit to human beings to take off their fetters, even if they do not desire to walk. It would already be a great improvement in the moral position of women to be no longer declared by law incapable of an opinion, and not entitled to a preference, respecting the most important concerns of humanity. There would be some benefit to them individually in having something to bestow which their male relatives can not exact, and are yet desirous to have. It would also be no small matter that the husband would necessarily discuss the matter with his wife, and that the vote would not be his exclusive affair, but a joint concern. People do not sufficiently consider how markedly the fact that she is able to have some action on the outward world independently of him, raises her dignity and value in a vulgar mans eyes, and makes her the object of a respect which no personal qualities would ever obtain for one whose social existence he can ent irely appropriate. The vote itself, too, would be improved in quality. The man would often be obliged to find honest reasons for his vote, such as might induce a more upright and impartial character to serve with him under the same banner. The wifes influence would often keep him true to his own sincere opinion. Often, indeed, it would be used, not on the side of public principle, but of the personal interest or worldly vanity of the family. But, wherever this would be the tendency of the wifes influence, it is exerted to the full already in that bad direction, and with the more certainty, since under the present law and custom she is generally too utter a stranger to politics in any sense in which they involve principle to be able to realize to herself that there is a point of honor in them; and most people have as little sympathy in the point of honor of others, when their own is not placed in the same thing, as they have in the religious feelings of those whose religion differs f rom theirs. Give the woman a vote, and she comes under the operation of the political point of honor. She learns to look on politics as a thing on which she is allowed to have an opinion, and in which, if one has an opinion, it ought to be acted upon; she acquires a sense of personal accountability in the matter, and will no longer feel, as she does at present, that whatever amount of bad influence she may exercise, if the man can but be persuaded, all is right, and his responsibility covers all. It is only by being herself encouraged to form an opinion, and obtain an intelligent comprehension of the reasons which ought to prevail with the conscience against the temptations of personal or family interest, that she can ever cease to act as a disturbing force on the political conscience of the man. Her indirect agency can only be prevented from being politically mischievous by being exchanged for direct. I have supposed the right of suffrage to depend, as in a good state of things it would, on personal conditions. Where it depends, as in this and most other countries, on conditions of property, the contradiction is even more flagrant. There something more than ordinarily irrational in the fact that when a woman can give all the guarantees required from a male elector, independent circumstances, the position of a householder and head of a family, payment of taxes, or whatever may be the conditions imposed, the very principle and system of a representation based on property is set aside, and an exceptionally personal disqualification is created for the mere purpose of excluding her. When it is added that in the country where this is done a woman now reigns, and that the most glorious ruler whom that country ever had was a woman, the picture of unreason and scarcely disguised injustice is complete. Let us hope that as the work proceeds of pulling down, one after another, the remains of the mouldering fabric of monopoly and tyranny, this one will not be the last to disappear; that the opinion of Bentham, of Mr. Samuel Bailey, of Mr. Hare, and many other of the most powerful political thinkers of this age and country (not to speak of others), will make its way to all minds not rendered obdurate by selfishness or inveterate prejudice; and that, before the lapse another generation, the accident of sex, no more than the accident of skin, will be deemed a sufficient justification for depriving its possessor of the equal protection and just privileges of a citizen. (Chapter VIII Of the Extension of the Suffrage from Considerations of Representative Government, by John Stuart Mill, 1861.)

Ethics Case Study Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Ethics Case Study - Term Paper Example According to Statement of Ethical Professional Practice issued by the Institute of Management Accountants’ (IMA), all members of the accounting profession have the responsibility to mitigate conflicts of interest and communicate regularly with associates in the field to nullify apparent conflicts of interest (Longstaff, 2010). The scenario presents an ethical issue. There is a conflict of interest between the right things the accountant should do against what the CEO wants him to do. Ethical dilemma sets in as the accountant has a hard time discerning and refraining from engaging in conducts that prejudice conducting his duties with the best of interest of all. If I were in the position of the accountant in the case study, I would strive to detach myself from any activities that may discredit the profession of accountancy. Even though my personal interests of retaining my job and paying mortgage are factors that would influence continuity of the company, I would not doctor fiscal records of the company to get a bank loan. I would advise the company CEO to look for more ethical ways to restore financial performance of the

Niagara-Mohawk - Art Deco Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Niagara-Mohawk - Art Deco - Essay Example This essay discusses that there are various distinctive characteristics that differentiate this building from the rest. First, the building is constructed with a central tower that protrudes upwards compared to the rest of the building, giving it the characteristic Mohawk structure. The other distinguishing characteristic of this building is the figurative winged sculpture, which is embedded on one face of the building and installed with decorated lighting systems, which allows the sculptor to beam the lights and give a very attractive glow of mixed-color electric lighting1. The building is 112 feet tall and comprises of 7 floors, with its outward surface completed with an element of fine dà ©cor, which makes the building stand very attractive even from the outside2. From the essay it is clear that the building is installed with an electric system that gives it an outward flood light glory especially at night, with the stainless steel material that is used to construct the building adding to the glow of the building electric lighting, due to its shiny appearance. The building comprises of a set of gray stones and bricks, with an additional matching aluminum and black glass, which combines to give this building one of the finest dà ©cor1. The statue/winged sculptor has fashioned in a manner that it is the region where the electric lights emanate and then spread to form a winged lighting system. The combination of aluminum and stainless steel, as well as gray stones and bricks, allows the building to gleam in day light.... The combination of aluminum and stainless steel, as well as grey stones and bricks allows the building to gleam in day light, while glittering at night when the material combination is added the lighting element 2. The building is installed with extensive interior lighting, which allows people to notice it from very far, while also possessing powerful floodlight illumination at night, the characteristic of a powerful source of lighting. Compared to other art decor buildings such as The Fisher Building, The Niagara-Mohawk building stands out, since it is constructed using stainless steel, aluminum, black glass and grey stones and bricks, while The Fisher Building is a skyscraper that is constructed using limestone, granite, and several types of marble1. In terms of height, The Fisher Building is 30-stories, compared to The Niagara-Mohawk building, which has only 7-storries and is 112 feet tall2. Nevertheless, both buildings are embedded with sculptors, with The Niagara-Mohawk having a winged statue that is supplied with lighting systems that seems to emanate the light from the base of the wings and spread it upwards to the rest of the wing surface. The lighting systems for both art decor buildings are different, with The Niagara-Mohawk having an extensive interior and exterior lighting system, characteristic of a lighting source2. The motifs on The Niagara-Mohawk building relate to represent an electric company, since it is characterized by gleaming during the day and glittering at night, owing to the combination of the extensive interior and exterior lighting system, with the materials used for construction, which include stainless steel, aluminum, black glass

History of Life Through Time Essay Example for Free

History of Life Through Time Essay 1. The website http://tolweb. org/Life_on_Earth/1 shows the basic phylogeny of the three main lineages of life forms. They are â€Å"Archaea,† â€Å"Eubacteria,† and â€Å"Eukaryotes. † It also shows â€Å"Viruses† outside of the tree, with a question mark indicating that its place in the tree is undetermined, if it belongs in the tree at all. 2. This site attempts to show the two alternative phylogenies of the major lineages of life forms. The â€Å"archaea tree† distinguishes two variations of archaea, and shows that archaea are more closely related to eukaryotes than to eubacteria. In the â€Å"eocyte tree,† archaea are not specified at all, but eukaryotes are shown as most closely related to crenarchaeota-eocytes, which was a derivation of archaea in the previous tree. 3. Viruses are not listed in these two phylogenies because they are not proven to be actual life forms. Where archaea, eubacteria and eukaryotes are classified as â€Å"life forms† due to their ability to transfer genes, viruses have not been determined to be living. They are therefore not included on these two phylogenetic trees. At the other website, http://www. ucmp. berkeley. edu/alllife/eukaryotasy. html, a detailed phylogeny of the Eukaryotes is provided. From this it is evident that Fungi are more closely related to Animalia than to Plantae. 5. Both sites show that the major life classifications are â€Å"Bacteria,† â€Å"Eukaryotes,† and â€Å"Archaea. † The â€Å"Tree of Life† site shows the alternatives to how closely the lineages are related, giving two examples of how the three domains may be nested within each other instead of being derived equally. The University of California site breaks down the systematics of each domain separately and more specifically, leaving the three domains as separate entities entirely. Works Cited History of Life Through Time. 2009. University of California Museum of Paleontology. 3 June 2009 http://www. ucmp. berkeley. edu/exhibits/historyoflife. php. Tree of Life Web Project. 1997. Life on Earth. Version 01 January 1997 (temporary). 3 June 2009 http://tolweb. org/Life_on_Earth/1/1997. 01. 01 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb. org/.

Prose as Poetry in The English Patient :: English Patient Essays

Prose as Poetry in The English Patient "Never again will a single story be told as though it is only one." John Berger. The English Patient consists of the stories of its four characters told either by themselves or by Ondaatje. Two stories, the accounts of Kip's military service and the many-layered secrets of the patient, are developed while Hana's and Caravaggio's stories are less involved. However, none of these stories could stand alone. The clash of cultures and changing relationships between the characters provide the texture for the novel. They create a complex web in which everyone becomes entangled. Ondaatje uses an extremely complex structure and poetic language to further the interweaving of the characters' lives. According to one critic, "The author's four stories are not a story that gathers momentum from start to finish. They are the widening and fading circles on a pond into which history has plunged like a cast stone." (Eder 203). "The overall structure of the book is circular and allusive, advancing, rounding back on itself, coming to endings that are not necessarily resolutions, and which may be connected to other starting points." (Draper 204). The novel begins en medias reis with the burned English patient already installed in an upper room of the villa. It is near the end of the war. The other doctors and nurses have left leaving only the patient and his nurse. He can only give short, vague descriptions of exploring the Liberian desert. When Kip and Caravaggio enter Ondaatje interlaces flashbacks to give the reader glimpses of their pasts. The novel has third person, but often characters revert to the first person to tell their own story. The least is learned about Hana's past. Most of what is known about her childhood in Toronto is given by Caravaggio. As the novel progresses the English patient's flashbacks become longer, more detailed and coherent. The farther into the novel the farther into the past he recalls. Ondaatje moves toward the denouement obliquely, avoiding standard conventions of plot and narrative voice. The English patient's story is the oldest narrative material, the center around which the rest of the book builds. His story lies at the center of the book, just as the patient himself lies at the center of the villa. " The dialog is pften not substantial enough to carry the deep emotions of the characters, so Ondaatje often relies on intierior monologue.