Confucian dynamism Essays

Confucian dynamism Essays Confucian dynamism Paper Confucian dynamism Paper In my essay I will hope to discover the true essence of Guanxi. What it means. Where it came from and how crucial it really is when conducting business in China. My aim is to bring together the views and opinions of a cross section of people and interpret them into my own understanding. After analysing the topic in question I will go on to conclude, The significance of Guanxi. With foreign trade in China totalling US$509. 77 billion in 2001, and with investments from over 180 countries ( REUVID, J) differences in culture, business practice and perceptions will become evident. One subject so wide spread and intriguing that it is becoming the subject of study is Guanxi. Guanxi has two common translations they are connections and relationships (wikipedia 2007 [online]) It may be seen that Guanxi is a set of personal connections with other people by which their position or knowledge can be utilised to each other advantage. This informal favour will be reciprocated by the debtor at a future date. The two parties need not be of the same social status and repayment of the favour is returned over a period of time. Where incurring a debt in English business practise is seen as unhealthy and will result in quick trade offs to balance the books, Chinese see quick reciprocation as an unwillingness to become involved with the other party, as balancing the debt end the relationship'(BURNS 1998) Some believe Guanxi is a deep rooted fact of Chinese culture, Douglas Guthrie (1998) in his journal Declining significance of Guanxi in Chinas economic transition argues that Guanxi as an institutionally defined system i. e. a system that depends on the institutional structure of society rather than on culture that is changing in stride with the institutional changes of the reform era. The typical English interpretation of Guanxi is networking. This however does not reflect the implications that Guanxi embodies. Hammond and Lowell (2002[online]) suggest you could compare the recently published Western Social Network theory to Guanxi in three main ways. Information and sustainability: Both imply that information is essential to sustain a social system. Order and chaos: Both Guanxi and SNT characterize randomness and order as essential, though Guanxi favours certainty and trust over chaos : Change and emergence Relationships are characterized by constancy or change. Change in information flow creates change in social order. Both Guanxi and SNT offer a theory of change coupled with an ethic of sustainability where order is created by trust as a local, relative phenomena. In order to understand Guanxi you have to look at the environment in which it was conceived. China was for three decades a communist country. During the chaos of the Cultural Revolution adults and their children faced being sent to the countryside or had the constant threat of denunciation. Individuals relied on the exchange of gifts and favours among personal connections to find ways to deal with these social crises. (GUTHERIE 1998) He suggests that Guanxi and gift giving have evolved together and work along side each other. The term business as we know it today did not exist. People worked for the state meeting quotas and in return their immediate needs were accommodated by their work unit. Having good relationships with people was also a way of gaining things that were not made available to you. While a market economy emphasises marketing, financial and operational savvy, the planned economy places more importance of government relationships and Guanxi. (GULAIT and LEE 2004) Under Mao Zedong Guanxi thrived as a way of allocating investment in the absence of a market. Geoffrey Murry suggests it stems back further during periods of strong rule, imperial powers reached into the furthest corners of the Chinese empire. The exercise of this power was arbirary and brutal; the mandarin was both prosecutor and judge. A separate judiciary was never established, and hence the ordinary person never looked to the law to settle his grievances. He suggests that this tradition of looking around the law for the solution has carried on. If obligations of a person take over civic duty in order to satisfy Guanxi then is this not corruption? If one were to focus directly on Guanxi being reminisant with corruption then one would miss the positive implications Guanxi evokes. In order to educate a foreigner on Guanxi you have to look at the context in which it is used. Guanxi is not generally used to describe relationships within a family or with friends. Anthropologists and theorists alike will try and depict differences in social interaction between countries. Research by Hofstede (1988 ) into organisational culture in the international arena shows that Chinese peoples short term orientations are that of protecting face, respect for tradition and reciprocal greeting and favours. He classifies theses as Confucian dynamism. Further observations have been made to try and distinguish Chinese culture characterists. How the Chinese view time. That they do not hurry decisions negotiations take longer then in the West.

Passion vs. Reason Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Passion vs. Reason - Essay Example The stories of these characters, unique they may be, actually revolve into common themes: the issue of passion and reason, the complexities of public life and responsibilities vs. the reality of their personal realm, and as well as the role of the gods in man’s destiny. Are humans’ passions uncontrollable, whatever its cost to others may be? Does the passion of humans reign supreme over reason at the end of the day? While Phaedra may be the queen of the kingdom, having responsibilities over their realm and is supposed to be guided by reason, actually holds a secret desire for her stepson (Lawall et al., 2003). Hyppolytus the prince may have the life that any man would want, the riches, power and authority, but is actually finding a hard time to be with the person he loves (Lawall et al., 2003). Oenone the old nurse is supposed to have the moral standpoint to care for the royal household, but she acts as a key to unleash Phaedra’s desire (Lawall et al., 2003). The seus the king is supposed to be just and righteous, as expected of a ruler, but is overcome by his emotions and imposes on his son a severe punishment for a crime that his son has not committed (Lawall et al., 2003). ... ackground of Phaedra as a queen: the expected actions of her, and as well as the different ways that she explores in order to show society that she acts the way that a queen must act. This would be analyzed in comparison to her hidden desires: her unforgiving and intense passion for the love of her stepson, up to the point that her acts would lead to serious consequences not just for the royal household, but for the kingdom as a whole. From this analysis, at the end of the paper, the researcher would give a conclusion answering the question of passion vs. reason, on whether the passion of humans reign supreme over reason, regardless of the costs to other may be. At the first act of the play, it can be seen that Phaedra at public acts like what is expected of a queen: the responsibility of administering the kingdom while the king is away, as well as showing an example of moral and civil uprightness (Lawall et al., 2003). However, behind this public facade lies a very dark secret: Phae dra’s intense and overpowering passion on her stepson, Hyppolytus (Lawall et al., 2003). In fact, this passion is against all of the prevailing moral standards if society: the King is still believed to be alive, making this love illegitimate and totally unacceptable (Lawall et al., 2003). However, the nurse Oenone eventually acquires knowledge of the dark secret of Phaedra, wherein Phaedra actually requests that she would want to die rather than face the shame of the public knowing her illegitimate desire for her stepson (Lawall et al., 2003). In this case, the contradiction between the public persona and the private life of Phaedra can clearly be seen: she does not give up her illegitimate love for her stepson Hyppolytus, but would not compromise her stature as a queen and is desperate

Economics 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Economics 2 - Essay Example The stark contrasts in these unemployment figures reveal causative features in these two diverse European economies. The UK has a rich tradition of work culture resulting in high economic activities and thereby yielding low unemployment figures. The activities comprising employment turnover in UK is generally well coordinated ensuring better chances of employment for the unemployed while moving from one job to another in short period of time within the financial year. The job market is upbeat with healthy prospects for part time and contract employments. The availability of employment, however, does not per se serve as criteria for better quality economy. The parameters for economic excellence extend beyond the precincts of the employment factor. Advancing technologies, changing business practices, communication and information systems, globalization, etc. require adequate qualified and trained manpower. The lack of adequate education and training among significant number of job seekers in UK to meet the growing demands of the industries is the mitigating factor in UK's economy. This factor is problematic for employers on the lookout for candidates possessing the right educational qualification and skills. Nonetheless, organizations such as Learning and Skills Councils (LSCs) have taken up the responsibility of providing ways and means for continually educating young adults over 16 years of age and also providing them with job-specific training. One of the major causes for unemployment in the UK can be attributed to the insufficient availability of prospective candidates possessing the right educational qualifications and skills. Other reasons may comprise job seekers' lack of motivation or disproportionate expectations. Still, other factors may relate to the job market situation of the day necessitating lay off, etc. Also, changing or leaving jobs for better prospects could leave some people without employment for some time. Advancing technologies is another reason for unemployment. Technologies and communication systems are changing the way we work the world over. Job competition in such situation causes employers to seek out hard working, efficient candidates for various posts leaving less efficient or motivated individuals jobless. (Tim Miller) Unemployment in Italy The unemployment scenario in Italy is spread unevenly along the lines of region, gender and age. Unemployment among the female workforce is approximately 14.4%. It is 8% for the male working population. Given the fact that Italy espouses conservative social values, many female young adults choose to stay home if safe and secure jobs are not available. Unemployment among

Leadership interview business paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Leadership interview business paper - Essay Example He carried along on the same lines, often doing two jobs in a day to support his family and education. Davis graduated with a degree in electronics engineering and went ahead to do his MBA. Throughout his education, he was always working part-time to take care of his siblings and mother. Right now, he has his own small company which is growing at an enormous pace and is already perceived to become more successful. With such great experience and personality aspects, I found him an ideal candidate for this interview. The questions I asked him were: His answers to my questions were all very brief, yet highly powerful. All of his answers were supported from practical knowledge and exposure and had no text-book touch to them. According to him, a leader is somebody who is standing in front of his people and controlling and directing them. A leader cannot be a person who sits in isolation in a corner. He needs to be there among people all the time. This is highly essential in gaining popularity and trust with his people. Having been a leader of a successful organization since 8 years, he considers this to be the major difference between leaders and managers. I learnt that leadership traits do not occur in a person by birth but are developed, since childhood, with the help of the environment around. If, at a very young age, a person is thrown up with difficult obstacles and told to cross them, this develops leadership skills in him. Moreover, when a person assumes responsibility of something, be it a house, younger siblings or a company, he automatically assumes the role of a leader. He believes training and education cannot make a successful leader, but can only polish the existing leadership skills in a person. An important point I learnt was that a leader needs to be loved by his people. The love can only come when the people trust him, respect him and are fond of him. A strict

Accident Analysis Essay Example for Free

Accident Analysis Essay In January 25, 1990, Avianca Flight 52, a Boeing 707 left Bogota, Colombia for New York. After more than an hour of delay, the plane ran out of fuel and crashed in the town of Cove Neck, Long Island, New York, killing 73 people, including 9 crew members and 65 of the 149 passengers, and injuring the rest. Analysis of this accident would show how human error, faulty systems and bad weather conditions caused this accident. The flight crew did not officially declare that they were running out of fuel until it was already too late. The accident could have been avoided if the flight crew has clearly stated that they were really in trouble. Language barrier could have played a part since the crew only asked for â€Å"priority† which in Spanish could mean that they were in trouble. The crew should have notified their fuel load to Air Traffic Control when they were put on hold for the first time. This simple information could have made the difference. ATC could have suggested earlier an alternate airport had they known this information. Instead, the pilots literally went around in circles waiting for further instructions. By the time the flight was cleared for landing, it only had enough fuel for one last approach. When the plane was on its final approach, it encountered wind shear, a change of wind direction over short distances. ATC only informed the flight crew of wind shear at 1500 feet. The crew had to abort their approach because they would fall short of the runway. The flight was doomed after that incident. Even if they were redirected to an alternate airport prior to the approach, they would not have enough fuel to make it to Boston. The question now is why the flight crew didn’t consult their flight dispatch about possible alternate airports which are not as busy as the John F. Kennedy International. The answer maybe the breaking of the sterile cockpit rule below 10,000 feet. The sterile cockpit rule below 10,000 feet states that pilots should not talk about things that are not necessary during crucial stages of the flight, which is usually below 10,000 feet. The pilots mind may have wandered off due to the long delay the Air Traffic Control has given them. In a sense, Air Traffic Control failed to prioritize air traffic in JFK international. Though Avianca flight 52 did not declare its fuel load problems earlier, it did say that it wanted priority. In like mentioned earlier, due to language barrier, â€Å"priority† may have been already a distress call. Air Traffic Control confirmed this request but what kind of priority is a seventy seven minute delay? Obviously, the failure of the flight crew and Air Traffic Control to communicate properly resulted to this horrible accident. This accident could have been avoided if the airline had their own operational control dispatch system that could have assisted them when Air Traffic Control has apparently ignored them. A standardized terminology in fuel related problems also contributed to the plane’s crash. If there was only a universal term to describe what the flight was actually experiencing, the language barrier between Air Traffic Control and the pilots would have been irrelevant. To sum up, the plane crash was a result of contributing factors, communication problems, probable mental lapse of the pilots, lack of proper terminology, and unfavorable winds. This accident proves that constant communication is important in air travel and a high level of concentration is required for the job. Pilots should be trained extensively before giving them their licences, including language training that ensures pilots can converse well in English. In this aspect, a standard language for aeronautical terms should be established. Though the wind shear caused further delay, the plane could have made another attempt if only it had not been idle for more than hour.

Not Just Another Sorority Chick :: Greek Life College Sororities Fraternities Essays

Not Just Another Sorority Chick Randall Bass writes in his book Border Texts: "A culture is a network of beliefs, customs, practices, behaviors, and values. A community is a network of human relationships. The two together-culture and community-go a long way toward defining how and when we feel a sense of belonging and connection to our surroundings." (Bass 111). Essentially, these two concepts can go hand in hand. An individual can belong to a community that has its own culture and therefore, feel that they belong. This definition clearly describes the community that I belong to, which happens to be a sorority. Greek organizations, which include sororities and fraternities, are organizations in which members can discriminate (not by race but rather by personality) in the process of selecting new members. A sorority is a Greek organization that unites college women under a unique culture rooted in the virtue of sisterhood. Its members are obviously female, at least 18 years of age and college students. There are two types of sororities: typically white sororities and black sororities. Typically white sororities usually have white members, but they accept women of all different races. Black sororities traditionally have black members, but I am unsure if they would ever accept a woman from a different race. The same goes for fraternities, which is the other half of Greek organizations. There are typically white fraternities and black fraternities with the same guidelines. All four of these different organizations make up the concept of Greek life. They are all similar but they each have their own ideas and rituals that set them apart and make them unique and individual. Regardless of what they chose to do in their own chapter, all Greek organizations on campus at Oakland University must abide by the following three rules: no hazing, no underage drinking, and all members must maintain a 2.0 GPA to remain in good standing. These rules will hopefully crush any stereotypes that people have about Greek organizations, like we only party and drink, we haze our new members before offering membership, or that we are all unintelligent. If any of these rules are broken, then the organization could be fined, put on probation, or even removed all together. Aside from these basic guidelines, there is one other thing that is important to Greek life: the value of loyalty. A member's first loyalty belongs to the chapter that they are a member of, but loyalty also exte nds to all other chapters as well.

Behavior Modification Project

I don’t remember exactly when I took to smoking or how the habit had developed in me. However I remember well that my pattern of smoking has been fairly consistent, at least for the last couple of years, smoking about six cigarettes a day. There are of course days when I have smoked a couple of cigarettes more or less too. Most of my friends don’t smoke and they don’t like smoking in their presence, although they wouldn’t object it on the face. I am aware of the risks of smoking, its association with cancer and strokes, and had long decided to abandon it.I had convinced myself that I need to give up smoking. However I didn’t have a plan or deadline for it; not that I was ignorant of this fact. I knew that to get rid of any habit, one should have a concrete plan and an anticipated schedule. In my mind, I believed I would soon be implementing one for myself. Unfortunately I did nothing in an effort to quit smoking, only compensating it with a feeling that I have a strong untested will power and can easily quit whenever I wanted. It never struck me that the quitting should start now.It so happened, that I had an opportunity last month to attend a seminar on ‘Modern lifestyle trends and its impact on health’. Here the speaker emphasized that habits like smoking, alcoholism, drugs, sexual attitudes can only be reversed when it is within a reversible range. He said it was his personal opinion that chronic addicts cannot come out of it, no matter what the de-addiction programs he or she goes through. He then went on to give scary facts that awaited the pursuers of these habits. This was when I got really scared, and decided to call it a day.I knew I was not a chronic smoker although I thanked God; he didn’t define a chronic smoker. I realized and accepted the fact that I had not made even the slightest attempt, to give up smoking. I took a resolution that quitting efforts would start right here and right now. I wa s careful enough not to fall back on Behavior Modification Project 3 my will power and put it through an acid test, by deciding to quit immediately. I began to plan a way of achieving a no smoking state in a gradual way. I was happy that although my efforts to quit smoking had been late, it was being done cautiously.Had I taken an unplanned and arbitrary decision, like stopping instantly; and if it had rebounded, there were chances that I would probably never get out of it. For the first week, I had decided that I would smoke no more than six cigarettes a day, so as to average about six or lesser number per day. For the second week, I had planned a reduction of two cigarettes a day, so as to average about four or less per day. Then the most important third week, where I further reduced the number of cigarettes to just two per day. Then the hopefully successful fourth week, where I would be a non-smoker.Although I was confident, I was apprehensive of the possibility of achieving thes e goals. I recollected the times when I didn’t have a cigarette and desperately needed one, and to the extent I went, to get one. As my goal to quit smoking is to be achieved only in stages, I thought it necessary to reward myself whenever I reach the goal, for the week. This would not only be an encouragement for me, but also an acknowledgement of meeting target for that week. I decided to treat myself to a half hour, either in a flight simulator or with friends.This was my roadmap to quit smoking, planned in detail. The first week wasn’t difficult as it was almost like any before; the only difference being that it should not exceed six any day. However, I considered this week as a crucial one because this was the first week I was ever under smoking conditions. I smoked only about five for most days of this week. The second week was more difficult, as I could smoke only four or less. Here too I tried to restrict to the least possible and I smoked less than the target. I smoked only about three per day for most days, touching four only twice that week.I allowed and enjoyed the treat I promised myself, after each week. Then came the ultimate third week Behavior Modification Project 4 where I had to be more resistive to temptations; just two cigarettes a day. It was indeed difficult but I was determined, and knew it was worth it. On the third day of the third week, I had a feeling that things might become extremely difficult, and even impossible in the fourth week. Third week looked achievable, but I feared the fourth ultimate week, where I had to be without cigarettes.I realized, I needed any possible help to keep me off cigarettes. I joined a meditation class by the mid of the third week. By the time fourth week started, I felt I could comfortably keep off cigarettes for the week. I didn’t feel the urge to smoke one that entire week. In fact, I would say, the fourth week was the most comfortable and a confident one as I felt that smoking w as no longer a problem with me. When I went for my treat that weekend, I sensed the feel of being a non-smoker, for the first time. Behavior Modification Project Working out is something I really enjoy doing, but I almost always find some excuse as to why I cannot exercise more than going to Zumba twice a week. It’s not that I don’t care about losing weight or staying in shape; it’s just that the outcome of working out is too small to control my behavior. The contingency for working out is ineffective. Ineffective contingencies fail to control our behavior because the outcomes are either too small (though of cumulative significance) or too improbable.I have a given level of health, I work out twice a week for 60 minutes, and then I have an infinitesimally greater level of health. Although my level of health increasing is small and cumulative, I know neither my body image nor my weight will change by working out one time. I know getting my butt to the gym several times per week will reduce my body fat, but there are several competing contingencies that prevent me from doing so. For example, E. R. is one of my favorite T. V . shows that I love to watch if I have some spare time in my day, I would much rather watch Dr.Carter put in a chest tube to save a little girl’s life than sweat through two tank tops at the gym. If I go to the gym I will lose the opportunity to watch E. R. My performance objective is to workout at least five days a week for at least 40 minutes. The type of exercise does not matter; it can include cardio, aerobics classes, toning exercises, or any combination. I did not specify exact days I had to work out, just that I have to work out five of seven days a week. For my intervention I implemented an avoidance of loss contingency.An avoidance of loss contingency is the response contingent prevention of the removal of a reinforcer resulting in an increased frequency of the response. Each time that I missed any of the five days or working out for 40 minutes I have to pay my classmate and workout buddy Michelle $3. By working out for 40 minutes I would avoid the loss of a reinforc er (money). By setting up a performance contract I know exactly what is expected of me. I am completely aware of the behavioral contingency: the occasion for the response, the response, and the outcome for that response.Since Michelle and I go to the same gym, she holds me accountable and checks with me daily if she does not see me at the gym. I report to Michelle each day before boot camp at 3:00pm. My weeks run Monday-Sunday, and I pay out for each instance of a missed workout Monday before class. Having to give Michelle money that I would have otherwise spent at the vending machine during the class break is very aversive. I keep track of my performance of working out on a week at a glance graph, which I present to my boot camp classmates every Friday.The graph has different shapers of data points indicating the type of exercise I did. For example, I use circles for cardio, stars for weight training, and hearts if I did both cardio and toning. My benefits measure is my body fat pe rcentage. I did not choose to use weight loss as a benefit measure because as I do more toning exercises, muscle is gained so my weight may not fluctuate a whole lot. Body fat is what I really want to focus on because I could care less how much I weigh if my body looks tight and toned!So far the performance management intervention has been overall pretty successful. I am making time to workout many more times per week than I have in a long time. My performance manager Michelle really motivates me to stay on top of my game, and since we go the same gym, our workout buddy system works really well. I began the intervention on June 11, 2008 and I am currently still implementing. My body fat percentage decrease quite a bit at first, then increased slightly (due to poor eating habits).So far I have only paid out $6, which is much less than I ever thought I would have paid out at this point. I made a goal with my performance manager to hit my goal for the rest of boot camp. If I hit my goa l for the remaining 3 weeks at 100% Michelle and I are treating ourselves to pedicures! I have hit my goal of five days a week several times, and only had a few weeks when I did not reach five workouts per week. The first week of the intervention I started on Wednesday, so I missed a couple days to workout. Also, in week 5 I had a migraine so I excused myself from working out.I am currently in the middle of week 9 and so far have worked out three times. The only thing I would revise about this intervention is the diet aspect. I did increase my exercising; however, my results were not phenomenal. I think I need to put some performance management contingencies on healthy eating as well as exercise. I feel great working out more, but I am still eating Twinkies and Taco Bell! This really prevents me form losing optimum body fat! Through behavior analysis (the study of the principles of behavior)