Sunday, May 24, 2020

Sexual Harassment And The Civil Rights Act - 869 Words

Sexual harassment is a form of gender discrimination and therefore it is a violation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Sexual harassment perpetuates inequality preventing students from equal access to education. Colleges are obliged by the Federal Government to implement the programs that prevent sexual harassment and educate students. Sexual harassment on campus can take various forms and come not only from student but also from the professors. When a professor promises a certain grade in exchange for sexual favors from a student, it is a form of sexual harassment which called quid pro quo (311). It also can take place in a form of hostile environment â€Å"when unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature is so severe, persistent or pervasive that it†¦show more content†¦In the past women were locked by the patriarchal system within certain roles, for example housewife, which made them dependent and subservient to men. Many people continue see the position of female as subordinate to male. Symbolic interactionism highlights that people do not merely learn the roles that society has set out for them; rather they construct their roles as they interact. In the process they greatly rely on symbols, for example words, gestures, clothes, to reach a shared understanding of their interaction. Symbolic interactionism also suggests that men use sexual abuse as a way reaffirm their masculinity or even exercise their power over one another. It is important to mention that the object of harassment is not necessarily women. Gay students are often the object of provocation. Sexual harassment can be viewed as an instrument by using which the most masculine men position themselves on the top and put the less masculine gender on the bottom. Sexual prowess became a measure of power, status, and control. Hyper masculinity is particularly cultivated in male dominated environments like fraternities and athletic teams. Although sexual abuse is sometimes normalized by the idea that m en are naturally sexually aggressive and cannot resists sexual impulses, Judith Lorber views gender as a product of socialization. People â€Å"do gender† every day. Lorber argues that gender system today maintains structured gender inequality to produce a subordinate

Monday, May 18, 2020

The Wife Of Bath s Prologue And Tale - 990 Words

The Wife of Bath s Prologue and Tale is about female empowerment it shows strong protagonists. I believe Geoffrey Chaucer used The Wife of Bath’s Tale to advocate for feminism. Chaucer used a strong female character to expose female stereotypes. It was an oppressive time for women in male-dominated society. During the Middle Ages, Chaucer wrote from a woman’s point of view something that was not normal at that time. He set his feminist ideals through the characters of the Wife of Bath and the old woman. He used subtle methods like humor to show his ideals. During Chaucer’s time nobody was used to the idea of women being equal to men, this idea did not exist. Chaucer expressed his ideas in the Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale by being one of the first to understand and acknowledge a women’s struggle in society, through this tale he shows the difference between men and women and their positions of power. In the Wife of Bath’s Tale, feminism is showed by the knight recognizing and listening to his wife. Chaucer is a feminist for his time because he used humor to mask his unpopular ideas he used these characters to voice his opinions. One definition of feminist is that â€Å"feminists are united by the idea that women‘s position in society is unequal to that of men, and that society is structured in such a way as to benefit men to the political, social, and economic detriment of women.† Even though the concept of feminism did not exist in the Middle Ages, Chaucer had started toShow MoreRelatedThe Wife Of Bath s Prologue And Tale1338 Words   |  6 PagesChaucer penned one of the great stories on the plight of being a woman as retold in The Canterbury Tales. â€Å"The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale† points out the fallacy of medieval churches view on women being the lesser gender. â€Å"The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale† follows a woman, the Wife of Bath, who tries to defend the experiences she has had in her life against the judgements of men. The Wife revealed the prejudice against women at the time by saying, â€Å"it is an impossibility that any scholarRead MoreTh e Wife Of Bath s Prologue And Tale2067 Words   |  9 Pagesâ€Å"The Wife of Bath’s Prologue† and â€Å"The Wife of Bath’s Tale† by Geoffrey Chaucer functions as a way to both satirize and represent female equality. In particular, The Wife of Bath challenges the stereotypes of what may appear to be â€Å"normal† treatment of women during this time period (TheBestNotes.com). She identifies the distinctions between â€Å"traditional† gender roles and relates them to passages from the bible, which are then taken out of context. These passages are meant to justify The Wife of Bath’sRead MoreThe Wife Of Bath s Tale Prologue And Story878 Words   |  4 Pagesit back later. In the Wife of Bath’s Tale Prologue and story, this idea called into question. During both of these stories, the idea of give and take is a major topic. Largely because the ones that are getting, are giving up essential control over their lives. In a world where divorce seems to be at an all time high, these tales attempt to shed light on what it would take to create a happy marriage or relationship. During the prologue of The Wife of Bath’s Tale, the wife discusses her thoughtsRead MoreThe Wife Of Bath s Prologue And Tale1697 Words   |  7 PagesSawyer Guest English 470 04 April 2016 Empowering Women, or Degrading Them? Exploring Anti-Feminism in The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale. So often, scholars tend to put a large focus on feminism seen throughout Geoffrey Chaucer’s â€Å"The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale†, but they may not be seeing the larger picture of it all. There are definitely characteristics of the Wife that make her a strong female personality in the story, but is it fair for us to say that she embodies the characteristicsRead MoreThe Wife Of Bath s Prologue And Tale Essay1722 Words   |  7 Pagestheir male counterparts. However, The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale, a poem written by Geoffrey Chaucer, redefine those ideals set upon women. The poem is broken up into two parts one is the prologue which includes a woman who talks about the rules set by the church and society on women. As well as how society looks upon women who live her life style. She counters these teaching by her knowledge of the bible by introducing biblical men who had more than one wife. It is later revealed that her soleRead MoreThe Wife Of B ath s Prologue And Tale2098 Words   |  9 PagesAfter reading ‘The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale’ I can see clear indications and agree that Chaucer was an anti-feminist’ by studying in depth both the prologue and tale I am going to show how Chaucer conforms to a patriarchal perspective in which he believes women are inferior to men making them the weak and unstable sex, who are neither socially, politically or economically equal to a man. In Chaucer’s `The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale’, Chaucer opens the book with the strong opening sentenceRead MoreChaucer s The Wife Of Bath s Prologue And Tale1358 Words   |  6 PagesThe Tactics Chaucer Uses in â€Å"The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale: To Point Out the Faults in His Society After reading Chaucer’s work: â€Å"The Wife of Bath’s Tale†, and having been exposed to different interpretations of it, it is now to my knowledge that there have been many critical works that suggests opinions and thoughts about how to interpret both the tale and prologue. There have also been questions asked─one being, â€Å"so, did we actually figure out what women really want†, and the answer toRead MoreThe Wife Of Bath s Prologue1134 Words   |  5 PagesThe Wife of Bath uses bible verses in â€Å"The Wife of Bath’s Prologue.† Further, she employs the verses as an outline of her life to find reason in God to justify her actions. Nevertheless, the purpose of the verses differs within each stanza of the poem. The Wife of Bath is a sexually promiscuous, lustful, and manipulative woman. She marries men one after the other as they get older and die. In order to combat and overthrow the speculation and criticism being thrust upon her by societal norms becauseRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem The Wife Of Bath Essay873 Words   |  4 PagesAnalytical Essay on the â€Å"Wife of Bath.† Question One Description of the Wife of Bath in terms of her progressive feminism, rhetoric style, and her prolog tale. Comparison of her as a women attitude towards general medieval attitude towards women. â€Å"Wife of Bath† Tale provides insight and understanding of the women change and their view mainly in matters of family, marriage, authority and marital affairs. The Prolog is double the size of her Tale, a lot of information about marriage group is givenRead More Chaucers Canterbury Tales Essay - Women in The Wife of Bath1433 Words   |  6 PagesWomen in Chaucers The Wife of Bath Chaucers The Wife of Baths Prologue and Tale is a medieval legend that paints a portrait of strong women finding love and themselves in the direst of situations. It is presented to the modern day reader as an early tale of feminism showcasing the ways a female character gains power within a repressive, patriarchal society. Underneath the simplistic plot of female empowerment lies an underbelly of anti-feminism. Sometimes this is presented blatantly

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Bulfinchs Version of the Story of Apollo and Daphne

The slime with which the earth was covered by the waters of the flood produced an excessive fertility, which called forth every variety of production, both bad and good. Among the rest, Python, an enormous serpent, crept forth, the terror of the people, and lurked in the caves of Mount Parnassus. Apollo slew him with his arrows - weapons which he had not before used against any but feeble animals, hares, wild goats, and such game. In commemoration of this illustrious conquest he instituted the Pythian games, in which the victor in feats of strength, swiftness of foot, or in the chariot race was crowned with a wreath of beech leaves; for the laurel was not yet adopted by Apollo as his own tree. The famous statue of Apollo called the Belvedere represents the god after this victory over the serpent Python. To this Byron alludes in his Childe Harold, iv. 161: ...The lord of the unerring bow,The god of life, and poetry, and light,The Sun, in human limbs arrayed, and browAll radiant from his triumph in the fight.The shaft has just been shot; the arrow brightWith an immortals vengeance; in his eyeAnd nostril, beautiful disdain, and mightAnd majesty flash their full lightnings by,Developing in that one glance the Deity. Apollo and Daphne Daphne was​ Apollos first love. It was not brought about by accident, but by the malice of Cupid. Apollo saw the boy playing with his bow and arrows; and being himself elated with his recent victory over Python, he said to him, What have you to do with warlike weapons, saucy boy? Leave them for hands worthy of them, Behold the conquest I have won by means of them over the vast serpent who stretched his poisonous body over acres of the plain! Be content with your torch, child, and kindle up your flames, as you call them, where you will, but presume not to meddle with my weapons. Venuss boy heard these words, and rejoined, Your arrows may strike all things else, Apollo, but mine shall strike you. So saying, he took his stand on a rock of Parnassus, and drew from his quiver two arrows of different workmanship, one to excite love, the other to repel it. The former was of gold and sharp pointed, the latter blunt and tipped with lead. With the leaden shaft he struck the nymph Daphne , the daughter of the river god Peneus, and with the golden one Apollo, through the heart. Forthwith the god was seized with love for the maiden, and she abhorred the thought of loving. Her delight was in woodland sports and in the spoils of the chase. lovers sought her, but she spurned them all, ranging the woods, and taking no thought of Cupid nor of Hymen. Her father often said to her, Daughter, you owe me a son-in-law; you owe me grandchildren. She, hating the thought of marriage as a crime, with her beautiful face tinged all over with blushes, threw her arms around her fathers neck, and said, Dearest father, grant me this favour, that I may always remain unmarried, like Diana. He consented, but at the same time said, Your own face will forbid it. Apollo loved her, and longed to obtain her; and he who gives oracles to all the world was not wise enough to look into his own fortunes. He saw her hair flung loose over her shoulders, and said, If so charming, in disorder, what would it be if arranged? He saw her eyes bright as stars; he saw her lips, and was not satisfied with only seeing them. He admired her hands and arms, naked to the shoulder, and whatever was hidden from view he imagined more beautiful still. He followed her; she fled, swifter than the wind, and delayed not a moment at his entreaties. Stay, said he, daughter of Peneus; I am not a foe. Do not fly me as a lamb flies the wolf, or a dove the hawk. It is for love I pursue you. You make me miserable, for fear you should fall and hurt yourself on these stones, and I should be the cause. Pray run slower, and I will follow slower. I am no clown, no rude peasant. Jupiter is my father, and I am lord of Delphos and Tenedos, and know all things, present and future. I am th e god of song and the lyre. My arrows fly true to the mark; but, alas! an arrow more fatal than mine has pierced my heart! I am the god of medicine, and know the virtues of all healing plants. Alas! I suffer a malady that no balm. can cure! The nymph continued her flight, and left his plea half uttered. And even as she fled she charmed him. The wind blew her garments, and her unbound hair streamed loose behind her. The god grew impatient to find his wooings thrown away, and, sped by Cupid, gained upon her in the race. It was like a hound pursuing a hare, with open jaws ready to seize, while the feebler animal darts forward, slipping from the very grasp. So flew the god and the virgin- he on the wings of love, and she on those of fear. The pursuer is the more rapid, however, and gains upon her, and his panting breath blows upon her hair. Her strength begins to fail, and, ready to sink, she calls upon her father, the river god: Help me, Peneus! open the earth to enclose me, or change my form, which has brought me into this danger! Scarcely had she spoken, when a stiffness seized all her limbs; her bosom began to be enclosed in a tender bark; her hair became leaves; her arms became branches; her foot stuck fast in the grou nd, as a root; her face became a tree-top, retaining nothing of its former self but its beauty, Apollo stood amazed. He touched the stem, and felt the flesh tremble under the new bark. He embraced the branches, and lavished kisses on the wood. The branches shrank from his lips. Since you cannot be my wife, said he, you shall assuredly be my tree. I will wear you for my crown; I will decorate with you my harp and my quiver; and when the great Roman conquerors lead up the triumphal pomp to the Capitol, you shall be woven into wreaths for their brows. And, as eternal youth is mine, you also shall be always green, and your leaf know no decay. The nymph, now changed into a Laurel tree, bowed its head in grateful acknowledgment. That Apollo should be the god both of music and poetry will not appear strange, but that medicine should also be assigned to his province, may. The poet Armstrong, himself a physician, thus accounts for it: Music exalts each joy, allays each grief,Expels diseases, softens every pain;And hence the wise of ancient days adoredOne power of physic, melody, and song. The story of Apollo and Daphne is of ten alluded to by the poets. Waller applies it to the case of one whose amatory verses, though they did not soften the heart of his mistress, yet won for the poet wide-spread fame: Yet what he sung in his immortal strain,Though unsuccessful, was not sung in vain.All but the nymph that should redress his wrong,Attend his passion and approve his song.Like Phoebus thus, acquiring unsought praise,He caught at love and filled his arms with bays. The following stanza from Shelleys Adonais alludes to Byrons early quarrel with the reviewers: The herded wolves, bold only to pursue;The obscene ravens, clamorous oer the dead;The vultures, to the conquerors banner true,Who feed where Desolation first has fed,And whose wings rain contagion: how they fled,When like Apollo, from his golden bow,The Pythian of the age one arrow spedAnd smiled! The spoilers tempt no second blow;They fawn on the proud feet that spurn them as they go. More Stories From Greek Mythology by Thomas Bulfinch Dragons TeethMinotaurPomegranate SeedsPyramus and Thisbe

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Essay Morality and Immorality in Othello - 1255 Words

Morality and Immorality in Othello William Shakespeare’s tragic drama Othello presents to the audience a picture of many different shades of morality and immorality. It is the purpose of this essay to elaborate in detail on this thesis. Roderigo’s opening lines to Iago in Act 1 Scene 1 take us to the very root of the problem: Tush! never tell me; I take it much unkindly That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse As if the strings were thine, shouldst know of this. (1.1) In other words, the wealthy playboy has been paying off the ancient for the soldier’s intercession with Desdemona on behalf of Roderigo. This payoff has been in progress before the play begins, and it continues†¦show more content†¦Later, Desdemona suspects that his influence is the reason why Cassio is awarded the governorship of Cyprus and Othello is recalled home. Even in the first two scenes it is apparent that Iago’s lust for money has set in motion a series of events that are snowballing into something more and more tragic. Alongside this chain of events triggered by the avarice of Iago is another chain of events springing from innocence and morality. They center around the characters of Desdemona and Othello: She leaves her selfish father to share her love with the ideal man. He calmly rebuts the accusations, some prejudicial in nature, against his conduct toward Desdemona. She defends the Moor’s moral integrity and her own in front of the council; he does likewise. She unselfishly agrees to live with another family while her husband is busied in the war with the Turks; he concurs in this sacrifice. While waiting with Emilia and Iago at Cyprus, she heroically calls the ancient a â€Å"slanderer† and comes to the aid of his wife, who has been repeatedly downtrodden and hit upon by Iago. When the general’s ship arrives safely into the Cyprus port, he immediately greets his wife before anyone else, â€Å"O my fair warrior!† and â€Å"O my souls joy!† When Governor Montan o asks Cassio if the Moor is wived he responds with: â€Å"Most fortunately: he hath achieved a maidShow MoreRelated Good and Bad in Othello Essay1555 Words   |  7 PagesGood and Bad in Othello  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   A huge battle between good and evil is waged the William Shakespeare’s drama Othello. In this essay let us study the many facets of these two dimensions as presented through the words and actions of the characters.    Can the protagonist, who has committed a double killing in the last scene, be saved? In William Shakespeare: The Tragedies, Paul A. Jorgensen discusses the theology of the final scene:    It is better not to look too anxiously intoRead MoreOthello, By William Shakespeare918 Words   |  4 Pagesalways scheme their way into getting what they want by any means necessary. In Shakespeare’s play, Othello, Iago is a prime example of this. In fact, he is one of the greatest villains Shakespeare has ever created. Some even believe that he is the source of immorality like in other work Shakespeare has done. According to Sholokhov and Tolstoy, author Helen Muchnic states that the Vice of the morality plays who evolved into Shakepheare’s Iago. He also states that â€Å"If Iago, like Falstaff, may be consideredRead MoreGreed Is Good By Neel Burton1053 Words   |  5 Pagesbecause they will go to great lengths to ensure that their desires are achieved. Furthermore, in Othello, Iago expresses, Till I am even d with him, wife for wife, / Or failing so, yet that I put the Moor / At least into a jealousy so strong / That judgment cannot cure (Oth.2.1.299-302). Due to Iago’s belief that Othello has slept with Iago’s wife, Emilia, Iago develops an intense jealousy of Othello. As a consequence of Othello’s supposed infidelity, Iago plans to destroy Othello’s marriage withRead MoreIago As A Great Orator Essay1895 Words   |  8 Pagesand what bars a person from that title. Quintilian might have a hard time labelling Iago based on his outlines for an orator in his â€Å"Institutes of Oratory†. Shakespeare clearly wrote Iago with the intention of embodying vice, anger, and revenge in â€Å"Othello†. However, Iago’s eloquence and rhetorical prowess may be at odds with Quintilian’s manual. Iago proves himself an orator through his ability to speak on any occasion, with success, and bases his rhetoric on imagination and subtlety. On the otherRead More Balance and Tragedy in Shakespeares Othello Essay2006 Words   |  9 Pagesindividuals and prevented them from acting in an honest manner. In Othel lo, Shakespeare created the character of Emilia to perfectly represent the struggles women faced with fitting into their roles in society. The few female characters in the play were all shown in very different lights in order to demonstrate the varying types of women that could be seen in a normal society during that time. In William Shakespeare’s work Othello, Emilia’s imbalance of logic and emotion, a result of the pressuresRead MoreThe Roles Of The Human System Of Emotions1234 Words   |  5 Pagesmovements throughout history. The closure of London theatres in 1642 marked the end of English renaissance theatre. However, following the coronation of King Charles II in 1660, the anti-theatrical ban was lifted and the repressive power of Puritan morality lessened tenfold, but this power shift and start of a new era in government did not affect the presence of the religious criticism that encircled theatre. The reopening of theatres created a frenzy amongst writers li ke John Dryden and William CongreveRead MoreEssay on The Character of Iago from Othello4183 Words   |  17 PagesThe Character of Iago from Othello The character of Iago is crucial for the play, and its essence has often been presented as ‘the evil taking a human form.’ What is important to any attempt to understand this play is the mechanism that makes the action moving forward. If this is ‘the force of evil’, represented in the character of Iago, this gives him the most relevant role, the power to forward the entire course of the play in certain direction. A number of fortunate circumstances helps his

Business Explore Free Essays

The rise of integrated reporting and increased investor focus on extra-financial factors are part of a new global attitude toward business. One example of this trend is provided by research from Ceres, an advocacy organization for sustainability leadership, into the evolution of sustainability practice in companies (Ceres, 2014; Ceres Ramani, 2015). To understand what makes some companies more useful when it comes to delivering sustainability performance without sacrificing mission, Ceres focused its studies on how boards and directors provide oversight for sustainability. We will write a custom essay sample on Business Explore or any similar topic only for you Order Now Their research discovered that by making both executives and governing boards formally accountable for sustainability performance, organizations can face the increasing pressure to deliver on sustainability and maintain social mission. Governance practices can provide a framework for building mission into the DNA of organizations. To take this inquiry further, more research is needed to capture current learning across sectors and to identify mission-supportive governance practice as it evolves. Sharing this information with budding social entrepreneurs, MBA students and investors, to increase their understanding of governance as a solution to mission challenges, could help develop more sophisticated attitudes toward the role of governance across the sector. Additionally, more research into Mission monitoring that makes use of metrics and enables governing boards and managers to evaluate mission alongside financial performance and deliver oversight and accountability in both areas is needed. Investor engagement is another area where more research could be beneficial. As the sector continues to expand into the mainstream, new investors will be joining the boards of growing social entrepreneurships and exerting their influence. More work on how the leaders of these organizations can create proactive strategies to identify investors who align with the mission and negotiate favorable terms for mission preservation would be welcome. More research into how investor behavior, and the impact that has on mission preservation, could yield clues as to why so many businesses find mission pushed to the margins as they grow. There is also room for developing practical resources to help social entrepreneurships establish effective investor engagement and communication strategies. As the sector matures, finding the right people remains challenging for organizations in the hectic scaling stage. More extensive use of skills matrices—and matrices developed especially for mission-driven businesses—could help. A specialist referral service, online skills bank or recruiting agency could be established to connect organizations with appropriate candidates. How to cite Business Explore, Papers

Cross Cultural Business Communication

Question: Discuss about the Cross Cultural Business Communication. Answer: Introduction Thanks to the improvement of technology which has facilitated the globalization of the corporations. However, this has opened the businesses into diverse cultures forcing them to adapt to cross-cultural business communication (Reynolds Valentine, 2011). It is non-disputable that the modern workplaces are rapidly growing big as the business environment widens to comprise different cultures in different geographical regions (Peterson, 2004). Adapting to this type of communication enables the international managers to understand how employees of diverse cultures perceive their environment, how they speak and how they communicate (Hofstede Hofstede, 2005). Therefore, it is the responsibility of every global business to understand business communication diversities of the host country if it is anticipating for success. This report aims to analyze the cross-cultural communication exhibited by the Indians. The report evaluates the critical aspects surrounding cross-cultural business commu nication in India. India Background Information Indian is commonly known as the host of Himalayas Mountains and sacred river Ganges. The immigration and invasion of India by of foreigners greatly influenced the country's economy and culture. Through the initiation of economic reforms Indian economy has continued to strengthen and expand geographically. The continued economic growth has attracted a lot Direct Foreign Investment inflows from countries such as China, America, and Australia. Additionally, the Indian milestone in education has resulted in the provision of experienced technicians, engineers, and scientists making the country an attractive hub for foreign business. Cross-Cultural Business Communication in India Effective business communication is the key to business success. Similarly, understating the Indians traditions and culture in communication forms the foundation of business success which is aiming to enter the Indian markets and industries. For example, in the event of business meetings India has got very different culture from other countries such as China and the United States. This is supported by Moore (2011) who argue that time is irrelevant for the average Indians whereby they dont consider the hour when an event will happen provided at long last it will happen. This makes India a polychromic culture country whereby people change priorities depending on their importance. This creates problems which are not intentional event though they are frustrating and makes things difficult for the international managers. However, these challenges will be easily eliminated if the manager can understand the methods and techniques of managing the team culture effectively. Critical Business Communication Cultures in India Communication style is one of the fundamental aspect that any international manager operating in India should be aware of. According to Maclachlan (2010), Indians prefers to have a broad picture of whom they are communicating with. That is, they prefer highly context communication which has been passed indirectly. In India emotional and body language communications are commonly used when someone's directly avoiding to say no. Now, analyzing the above statement it clearly illustrates that it may cause a huge challenge for a foreigner to overcome cross-cultural communication diversity if he or she is used to lowing context and more direct communication. Another important aspect to consider in Indian Communication is the level of English among the country citizens. The findings indicate the majority of the Indian graduates and the ones residing in the urban centers are well endowed with the high level of English(Patro, 2013). This puts it clear that English is the business language in India. However, understanding of the Indian English language is very challenging. Apart from the deep Indian accent which makes it difficult for the international experts to figure out what they are saying they also use different expressions and vocabulary. According to Maclachlan (2010) the majority of the foreigners are aware of these aspects and thus expect communication with the Indians to be the simple one. However, this has not been the case as many international companies have found it difficult to interpret the Indian English. As a result, many foreigners confuse the Indian English as a result of inappropriate education and language skills. This demands the international managers to be aware of the Indian English to help at minimizing the loss of time and misunderstandings. According to Kawar (2012), effective business communication is not only rooted in spoken words but also how people interact with one another in the workplace. The Indian business culture is majorly based on trust and relationship rather than how someone is geared towards the achievement of the specific business goals. Therefore, effective communication in work will be determined by the established relationship between the manager and the employees of the lower radar. Some of the working relationships that the manager should be aware of include, the boss should create a paternalistic role while at the same time exercising a managerial role(Communicaid Group Limited, 2014). Alternatively, the relationship between the manager and the company employees should be similar to that of the close relatives. As a foreigner manager, the understanding of this unique business culture will help in reducing delays which might hamper the operations of the business. Finally, the report addresses some of the business communication etiquettes that are highly valued and thus ingrained as part of business communication in India. First, the academic achievement titles such as Doctor or Professor are highly encouraged and in the case where they are not applicable it is appropriate to use titles such as Mr. Mrs. or Miss. Secondly, Indian men rarely shake hands with women and thus a man should wait for a female business associate to initiate the greeting. Third, being aggressive in the business negotiations can be termed as disrespect. Fourth, shaking the head from side to side is a reflection that you understand or you agree with the speaker. Fifth, in the case of the group meeting it is a sign of respect to greet the oldest members first. Sixth, Feet are perceived as unclean and thus someone is not allowed to point his or her feet at a person. Seventh, when greeting a business colleague the individual should hold his hands together below his chin, bow and then say Namaste.' However, in contemporary Indian culture shaking hands is also considered appropriate(Commisceo Global, 2012). Conclusion Understanding the cross-cultural business communication in India is only the first step of entering the countys markets and industries. Therefore, international corporations must have a deep understanding of the Indian cultural diversity to be able to cope with them effectively. This can be eased by learning the Indian cultures through India culture awareness program. This will help the international organizations develop a competent intercultural personnel. In return, the company will enjoy huge competitive advantage compared to other foreign companies. References Commisceo Global. (2012, October 3). Indian Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette. Retrieved from Commisceo Global Consultancy Ltd: https://www.commisceo-global.com/country-guides/india-guide Communicaid Group Limited. (2014, December 8). Indian Culture Key concepts and values. Retrieved from Communicaid Group Limited: https://www.communicaid.com/country/india/ Hofstede, G., Hofstede, G. J. (2005).Cultures and organizations. London: McGraw-Hill. Kawar, T. I. (2012). Cross-cultural Differences in Management. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 3(6), 105-111. Maclachlan, m. (2010, March 2010). Challenges of Doing Business in India. Retrieved from https://www.communicaid.com: https://www.communicaid.com/cross-cultural-training/blog/challenges-of-doing-business-in-india/ Moore, B. (2011, December 25). Cross Cultural Communication: Challenges of Managing Time across Cultures. Retrieved from https://indiathink.com: https://indiathink.com/ Patro, P. (2013, December 30). Cross Cultural Communication in Indian Context. Retrieved from https://www.slideshare.net/prasant26/mc-be-sec-b-group-7 Peterson, B. (2004). Cultural intelligence: A guide to working with people from other cultures. Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press. Reynolds, S., Valentine, D. (2011). Guide to Cross-cultural Communication. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

Monday, May 4, 2020

Strategic and Environmental Analysis for McDonalds Corporation

Question: Discuss about theStrategic and Environmental Analysis for McDonalds Corporation. Answer: Introduction McDonalds Corporation founded in 1940 is recognised to operate several franchises restaurants chain in United States, Latin America, Asia/Pacific and Middle East. The main operation of the company is seen to be headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois. The primary products of the company have been identified with Hamburgers, chicken, milkshakes, French fries and coffee. The various ranges of other products offered by the company have been seen with beverages, soft drinks, food products and coffee. As per the recent records published on December 31, 2016, it has been seen to be operating in 31,230 franchised restaurants (Corporate.mcdonalds.com, 2017). The main purpose of the report has aimed to analyse on the present strategy followed at McDonalds. Some of the main form of the strategies has been identified with Business-Level Strategies, Corporate-Level Strategies, Networks, Partnerships and Alliances. The study will further identify the Global Strategies with various types of the Multinational Corporations. The study will be further able to interpret the firms current strategy and the most significant factors affecting the firms performance, and your understanding of strategy. The latter part of the report will be further able to identify the drawbacks of the present strategy and recommend alternative strategic initiatives which the firms should pursue. The study will be also able to provide the various types of the measures which will be used to monitor the strategies in the organisation. Current Strategy Followed by the McDonalds The various levels of the strategy adopted by the company have been identified in terms of the corporate strategy, business strategy, marketing strategy and financial strategy. Corporate Strategy Expansion strategy The expansion strategy adopted by the company has been seen to be mainly evident in form of the expansion initiatives in the developing economies such as Asian countries. The Golden Arches have been seen to be consisting of a high potential for income. The expansion strategy has been already seen to be successful in regions such as Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing, India, and UAE. In addition to this there have been several other markets in the Asian region which has been seen to be offering the commitment of high sales along with market share and opportunities for profit for the fast food centre to setup the operations there (Rooney, 2014). Franchising The expansion strategy adopted by the company has been seen to be used as worldwide strategic measures. The company has been able to replicate the business model not only in U.S. but also internationally. At present more than 80% of the restaurants in the company have been able to maintain their operations via franchises (Anaf et al., 2017). Adaptation Strategy The existence of the different rules in the International regions, the company is not able to follow standard practices. This particular instance can be seen in Russia due to the various types of the local regulations. The standard adaptation process has been further seen to be based on the meeting the legal and cultural demands. The McCenter located in Russia was mainly used for purchase of the raw materials for McDonald's meals, which now got entered into the section of vegetables, milk, buns, vegetables and soft drinks products which are seen to be purchased from the wholesalers (Pagani, 2013). Business Strategy Value for Money McDonalds primary target has been mainly seen with the price sensitive customers with the use of value for money meals which are mainly seen to be identified with Buffalo Ranch McChicken and the Jalapeo McDouble. During the initiation, the main target of the company was based on the items with higher value, however in the recent times, it has shifted its product to lower priced products (Mithas, 2013). Customer Service McDonalds has always maintained the reputation by providing higher quality of the food services to the customers with clean surroundings. Although, the increasing demand has been evident with complexity in the food menu and the same has been evident with longer duration of preparation along with the time for preparing the items in the food menu. The speed of the service has been seen with the crucial aspects of the time required. Due to these identified issues McDonald's has been able to realize that former reputation for serving the quality fast food at the earliest will involve the elimination of the specific menu items and a greater emphasis on the traditional items such as French Fries, Quarter Pounders, Big Macs, Fish products and chicken (Verbeke, 2013). Brand Marketing The brand marketing has been seen to adversely affect the increasing health concerns for the consumers all around the globe. The main product of the company has been considered as junk food and it is seen to be unfit for everyday consumption. McDonalds has been seen aim for increasing trust among the customers in terms of the food quality and the brand of the products as healthy option of food. In order to do so the company has been seen to offer salads, fruit juices, iced teas along with this some of the some of the other options has been seen with the products with low in calories and carbohydrates (Kane et al., 2015). Financial Strategy The financial strategy maintained by the company has been seen with the focus on the leaner organisational objectives and key process for the business. For the purpose of focusing on the growth initiatives and creation of more customer value, the company has been seen with the plan of refranchising of the restaurants. In 2015, the company took the initiative to refranchise plan based on 50% more return in compare to the previous three year. In the same year the capital expenditure has been forecasted as $ 2 Billion. This has been seen to be lower by $ 1 decrease from the previous year (Quek Ling, 2013). Marketing Strategy On January 2015, the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of U.S. has been taking new initiatives to meet the demands of the customer. McDonalds has been shifting the Billions served strategy to Billons heard strategy. The Billions Heard strategy has been further seen to adhere to the meet the changes in the products. It has been further seen that these demands are to be addressed based on the new offerings and having policy for the improved food practices (Butler, 2013). The negative perception of the company has been identified with blogs and various types of the educational videos to inform about the various types of the business. Some of the new marketing policies of the company have been seen in terms of creating a platform for creating new taste among the consumers. The main form of marketing strategy adopted by the company has been observed in terms for giving the option to the customers on making a new order from the scratch without need to refer to the menu list. In addition to this, the customers of the restaurants have been seen to be having an open conversation of where the food is coming from. The main marketing motto of the company has been identified with informing the customers about the new product enhancements (Forbes.com, 2014). Evaluation and Suitability of the present Strategy The evaluation of the present strategy of the company has been able to state on the worst decline in the sale. The various types of the new restaurants have been seen with more attractiveness among the modern consumers. The company has been able to come up with an effective solution for the customizing price sensitive options along products which can be seen to be healthier. The company has been seen to be finding a way to restore the trust which has been based on the quality of the various items offered (MarketLine, 2016). The adaptation strategy followed by the company in corporate strategy section has been seen to be suffering from several challenges which are associated to the maintenance of the uniformity in quality and the expenses from the Russian outlets. This has been particularly seen to be affecting the quality of the profit procured and total amount of the market share to the cost of the food (Nandini, 2014). Menu Standardization The suitability of the business has been further identified with the customization based across countries operations and simplifying the menu. In addition to this, the company has been seen to add several products to the products which has been able to be prepared quickly. Moreover, in order to suit with the needs of the customer, the company has introduced several products such as Big Macs, Quarter Pounders, McFish, McChicken, French Fries, sugar-free drink options, juices, and breakfasts (Crawford et al., 2015). Digital Marketing In order to adapt with the present needs, McDonalds has been seen to emphasize on the strategy for digital marketing. Based on the various types of the interpretations it has been discerned that the strategy for the digital marketing, which shows young people visiting the store. The drop off in the sales and the market shares is seen among the families which has been identified as the main problem with the company (Ghezzi, 2013). Breakfast Menu Items Based on the various strategies adopted by the company some of the new additions have been identified in terms of the making new additions in the breakfast items. Some of the different types the other products of the company have been further seen to be based on the coffee, pastries and milkshakes. This particular strategy has been successful among the brand and the demand for the demand for the breakfast items. Some of the benefits of the present strategic measures adopted by the company has led to the aforementioned benefits: It has been discerned that after the strategic measures franchising is seen to require lesser amount of capital than the growth methods. The various measures for the franchising have been able to permit for the growth with the capital invested by the franchise owners (Raju et al., 2015). The present initiatives taken by the company has been able to present opportunity along with the unique concept for the business. Franchising has been able to allow for the multiple units which can be opened simultaneously. The company has been able to increase the recognition of the name which has been seen to be based on the newer strategies (Gerhardt et al., 2014) The present strategies have been able to source the new revenues streams. Some of the main form of the revenue stream has been identified with franchise fees, rebates from the suppliers, reduction in the training fees, more service options to the franchises and providing marketing and advertising in the regional and the national media based on the franchise network (Hazen Lewis, 2014). Recommendation The various types of the recommendations of the company have been seen to be based on the consideration of demand in the specific items which has been identified with the compatibility with the regional competitors. The company should be more proactive with the popularity of the Golden Arches' breakfasts. By the adoption of the process company will be able to increase the sales and the profits. Some of the main recommendations have been identified with the various types of the options for simplifying the menu of the company. The present strategies have been identified with the customization process which will be able to address the different types of the requirement based on the regional preference of the customers. In order to do this, the company needs to set the strategies to understand the present taste and preference of the individuals in a particular region. It has been further discerned that the present strategies needs to implement various types of the product development str ategy. This will be able to support the different types of the products based on the supporting various types of the intensive growth strategies along with the various types of the differentiation strategy. The company has been strategic objective seen to be having the main scope which has been able to address the various demands of the customer. As the company has been able to draw more revenues from all the international locations except for Middle East locations, it needs to put an augmented focus on the Middle Eastern Countries. Conclusion The analysis of the present strategy followed by McDonalds has been already seen to be successful in regions such as Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing, India, and UAE. In addition to this there have been several other markets in the Asian region which has been seen to be offering the commitment of high sales along with market share and opportunities for profit for the fast food centre to setup the operations there.The expansion strategy adopted by the company has been seen to be used as worldwide strategic measures. The company has been able to replicate the business model not only in U.S. but also internationally. At present more than 80% of the restaurants in the company have been able to maintain their operations via franchises. McDonalds primary target has been mainly seen with the price sensitive customers with the use of value for money meals which are mainly seen to be identified with Buffalo Ranch McChicken and the Jalapeo McDouble. McDonalds has always maintained the reputation by provi ding higher quality of the food services to the customers with clean surroundings. Although, the increasing demand has been evident with complexity in the food menu and the same has been evident with longer duration of preparation along with the time for preparing the items in the food menu. The evaluation of the present strategy of the company has been able to state on the worst decline in the sale. The various types of the new restaurants have been seen with more attractiveness among the modern consumers. The company has been able to come up with an effective solution for the customizing price sensitive options along products which can be seen to be healthier. The company has been seen to be finding a way to restore the trust which has been based on the quality of the various items offered.The company should be more proactive with the popularity of the Golden Arches' breakfasts. By the adoption of the process company will be able to increase the sales and the profits. Some of the main recommendations have been identified with the various types of the options for simplifying the menu of the company. References Anaf, J., Baum, F. E., Fisher, M., Harris, E., Friel, S. (2017). Assessing the health impact of transnational corporations: a case study on McDonalds Australia. Globalization and Health, 13(1), 7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-016-0230-4 Butler, S. (2013). McDonalds burgers free of horsemeat due to close ties with farmers, firm says. The Guardian. 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