Ethics in the Business of Personal Investing Essay

Ethics in the Business of Personal Investing - Essay Example This paper is a critical analysis of business ethics in personal investment. The portfolio of personal investment is a series safe investment that provides returns progressively to the clients. The collection answers several questions on investment capabilities of an individual. What are the aspirations and needs of the customer? What are the financial targets and objectives required to fulfill the expectations? Finally, what is the investment strategies required in the realization of the objectives? After the creation of the portfolio, the subsequent phase rivets to seeking out the financial opportunities that have the latent for higher proceeds (Wang & Steinberg, 2010). The investment opportunities also involve an evaluation of the amount of risk about the profits. Certain options such as bond issues, stocks in companies that have a proven record of accomplished stability are also exceptional for proceeds. The thirst for returns may cause an investor to accept higher risk; the possibility of fleshing out the venture portfolio with volatile investments is thus great. The collection will include options such as buying of shares in unproven businesses, investing in new technologies that have better prospects or the involvement of fast-paced trading commodities commonly in currency trading (Hoffman, 1996). A necessity for the participation in such volatile options the investor has to have the ability to pay in the event the business does no run as projected. The development of a personal investment strategy involves careful articulation of certain niceties. First, an individual ought to acquire financial advice from a proficient financial expert. This is significant in attaining equilibrium between the necessities of today and investment for the future. An investment in a diversity of industries in a portfolio reduces the impact of specific industry risk (Wang & Steinberg, 2010). However, being overly

Business Environment Essay Example for Free

Business Environment Essay In the light of the fundamental gross and incremental changes that are constantly occurring in the external and internal business environment of organizations, leaders need to realize their organization can only survive if they recognize, anticipate, plan and implement adequate strategies to accommodate the changes in a timely manner (Toyne Nigh, 1999). Currently the organizations are facing many challenges that include global market competition, mergers, managerial restructuring, and acquisition and break up of the companies, media scrutiny, and increased business regulation, desire of employees to participate in decision making process and declining business ethics. Such increasingly and unpredictable changes in the business environment requires that the leaders in business organizations are properly and constantly aligned with the new business realities (Jain Tandan, 2006). The changes in the business organization can become a treat to the business and therefore it requires the leaders to anticipate these changes before they become real. In addition leaders also require redefining the ethical framework in order to come up with a proper in organizations in the global business setting (Toyne Nigh, 1999). If the leaders do not introduce adequate change in ethical and timely manner then the organization are likely to face difficult time and significantly reduces the chances of long time survival of the business (Gholipour, 2007). Organizational behavior Change in business environment indicates any act that makes it to be different. The factors that contribute to changes in the business environment include technology people, competition and processing of information and communication. Some of the changes in the business organization may occur suddenly without conscious efforts of leaders. Changes that occur without the efforts of the people are unplanned changes (Jain Tandan, 2006). On the other hand planned changes may be initiated by the leaders in the organization in order to achieve some objectives ands goals. Both planned and unplanned changes are met with resistance. The resistance can be covert i. e. implicit or overt/explicit. Classification of resistance to change can be classified to organization resistance or individual resistance (Toyne Nigh, 1999). Individual resistance to changes in the business environment can occur since the individuals perceive it to be a threat to their economic conditions, security and habit. On the other hand organization resistance to changes may occur because of group inertia, structural inertia, control of resources, expertise, fear of loosing power etc (Gholipour, 2007). To overcome these resistances to changes, the leaders can educate employees, go for negotiation, co-optation, coercion, manipulation and ensure that workers are involved in decision making process. For example the management can use Lewin’s three step model to manage the planned changes (Jain Tandan, 2006). Lewin’s three step approaches suggest that business organizations can develop permanent changes in the behaviors of the employees by making them unlearn the old working procedures and behaviors (Gholipour, 2007). On the other hand modern organizations place emphases on innovation and how they can learn to cope with the changes in business environment in order to stay ahead of competition (Toyne Nigh, 1999). Sources of innovations may include acquisition of new knowledge that leads to changes of perception and awareness, change of market and industrial structures, demographic changes etc. usiness organizations require to be committed in innovation and change and also change their cultures and structure in order to facilitate continuous learning of the employees. Conclusion The main purpose of change in a constantly changing business environment is to learn to adapt to those changes very quickly and also develop planned strategies to deal with the changes. Organizations need to introduce their own changes considering their size, goals and circumstances (Toyne Nigh, 1999).

Prosthetics :: essays research papers

Introduction Prosthetics is the branch of surgery dealing with mechanical devices used to reproduce the form and function of missing body parts. Prosthetics is the replacement of faulty or amputated body parts with artificial body parts. Artificial limbs have been in use since at least 300 BC. In AD 1509 German knight, GÃ ¶tz von Berlichingen, called GÃ ¶tz of the Iron Hand, wore an artificial hand with jointed fingers. Early in the 19th century a German prosthesist built a hand with fingers that could be flexed or extended and that could hold light objects, such as a pen or a hat. Before World War I (1914-1918), wood was considered the best substance for making artificial legs, but later an aluminum alloy called Duraluminum, and more recently fiber materials, have made artificial limbs both lightweight and strong. In recent years, the manufacture of prosthetic devices has developed into a science. Artificial limbs with functioning joints can simulate natural motion. Hip joint prostheses can pr ovide virtually normal mobility for people with damaged hip joints. History Artificial limbs, in one form or other, have been in use from ancient times. In 1885, a specimen was discovered in a tomb at Capua, Italy, along with other relics dating from 300BC. The celebrated artificial hand built in 1509 for the German knight Gotz von Berlichingen, who was called Gotz of the Iron Hand, weighed about 1.4 kg (3 lb.) and had articulated fingers so constructed as to be able to grasp a sword or lance. The hand is in the NÃ ¼rnberg Museum and is still in working order. Early in the 19th century a German prosthesist built a hand with fingers that could be flexed or extended without assistance and yet could still close to hold light objects, such as a pen, a handkerchief, or a hat. In 1851, a French prosthesist invented an artificial arm fitted with a wooden hand and attached to a leather socket that fitted the stump firmly. The fingers were half-closed, the thumb pivoted on a pin and could press firmly against the fingertips by a concealed, strong rubber band; the gr asp of the thumb could be operated by a mechanism attached to the opposite shoulder. The same inventor devised a leg that reproduced a natural gait and lengthened the stride. Technology Before World War I, wood was universally considered the best substance for making artificial legs. Prosthetic devices made of leather reinforced with metal bands tended to lose their shape and were therefore unsatisfactory.

Creating a Robot to Guard Property with Lego Mindstorm :: Robotics

The Protectobot Abstract My final project is to build a robot that will use non-violent techniques to keep animals out of yards. Using the Lego Mindstorm Kit I was able to complete this project. When certain animals walk by my robot, it throws gears towards the animal to scare it away. It can tell the difference between good animals and bad, and does not harm them in any way. Background For many years people have been trying to find non-violent ways to keep animals out of their yards and away from family pets. Various attempts have included motion detecting sprinklers, electric fences, fake smells, and ultrasonic sound bursts. These devices work in some cases but not in all. Motion sprinklers spray short bursts of water when they detect animals. Some animals however, like to get wet so the motion sprinklers will not necessarily work on all. Ultrasonic sound burst devices detect when an animal is near and sends out a two second ultrasonic sound burst. These bursts can be heard by animals but not by humans so they may have a hard time figuring out when the batteries run out or when it is broken. Electric fences can sometimes hurt animals, including pets that are allowed to be in our backyards. Fake smells of the animal’s enemy can also help scare the animal away. There are often unwanted animals in my family’s backyard. They eat our fruit from our trees, and tear up our grass. We have been trying to find more effective ways to keep them out for a long time. For my final project, I decided to make a robot that will detect when an animal walks by it. When it detects an animal, it will throw small objects at whatever it is that moved. I have not yet decided what it is that my robot will throw. It has to be harder than a sponge, but cannot be so hard that it will hurt something. As a warning to humans, it will make a beep noise before it throws the object. Procedures I built many small parts to put together to make my functioning robot. It is made up of the launching pad, gear/motor station, the RCX platform, and the head. I first built the launching platform. It is made up of black beams ranging in size from one to sixteen. They are put together in rows with reinforcements on the opposite sides running in the other direction. They came together to form a triangular shape with two gears at the end. I then attached gears and a motor to the platform so that the motor is able

Compare and Contrast WWI & WWII Essay

There are a lot of similarities and differences between the two world wars. A main factor, however, is that the events in the first world war basically caused most of the events to happen in the second world war. The two wars are very closely tied together and have a big relationship with each other.First off, some of the differences from the first world war to the second. If we compare the costs of the two world wars, the difference is outstanding. It is estimated that the First World War cost 380 billion dollars, while the Second World War cost 42,000 billion dollars.(militaryhistory.com) That right there shows us how much bigger the Second World War was over the first. The ways people fought in the First World War had very little in common with the way they fought in the Second World War. World War I started the trend that there was no difference between the citizens of a nation and the military. World War II finishes off this trend by bombing and killing any member of a nation, including the normal citizen . Life did not matter as much in the Second World War. Trench warfare was dominant in the First World War, but bombings and sudden aerial attacks, with highly mobile armies took dominance in the Second World War . The Second World War was not greeted with the same frame of mind like the First World War was. This war had men and women remembering the horrors of the first. It had them entering the Second World War with determination and a better appreciation of the devastation that war could bring .There were also some similarities to both world wars. Both wars were started by threats to the balance of power, and both were conflicts between entire nations and people, not the governments . Both wars started with a general war in Europe and escalated to a worldwide situation. Eastern Europe also went under transformations after both World Wars . Both World Wars included the falling of major empires. The First World War saw the fall of the Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, and Russian empires. The Second World War saw the end of the British, French, and Dutch empires. The collapse of these empires caused similar results after both World Wars, they started conflicts among ethnic peoples with many different religions.(Historychannel.com) The major cause for the First World War was  the assassination of the Austrian archduke. This is what started all the bloodshed and battles for the first war. Nobody really saw the First World War coming, and after it was over Woodrow Wilson said it was the â€Å"war to end all wars† . So many people had died in the First World War and Wilson wanted to get something good out of it, so he tried to approve the Treaty of Versailles even though he was very ill. All the countries ended up accepting this treaty, except for the United States. This treaty was never passed and kept getting shot down until Wilson finally died in 1924 . Many people agree that nothing in World War I was worth all the slaughter. The darkness of the First World War shaped the next 20 years for the Second World War. Many events from the First World War are directly related to the Second World War. Many people agree that Adolf Hitler could not have done what he did without the First World War occurring. The cause of the Second World War was related to the failure of the peace terms from the First World War. These peace terms created as many problems as they may have solved . Another point was made that Lenin’s plans for international revolution in the aftermath of World War I, which were not fulfilled, would be fulfilled in the course of World War II .(Discoverychannel.com) At the end of the First World War, Britain, France, and Italy establish their indirect and direct rule throughout the remaining Ottoman lands except for the territory of the Turkish Republic. At the same time, the retreat of Western colonialism was happening and accelerated dramatically in the aftermath of World War II. The collapse of the Soviet Union brought more independence to Muslim societies (Historychannel.com). According to Franklin Roosevelt, the Second World War would â€Å"end the system of unilateral action, the exclusive alliances, the balances of power, and all the other expedients that have been tried for centuries – and have always failed.† We will have a â€Å"universal organization† of â€Å"peace-loving Nations† and the beginning of a â€Å"permanent structure of peace†.(Historychannel.com) Instead World War II produced a truly global Cold War. World War I generated fascism, communism, and the reversal of a century-old trend toward democracy. The conclusion of the First World War happened because Wilson came up with the Fourteen Points, which was the  best-known peace proposal for all the countries. The Treaty of Versailles was the final conclusion to this war. Wilson, Lloyd George, and Clemenceau finalized it . The conclusion of the Second World War was quite deadlier. The United States ended this war by dropping two atom bombs on Japan’s infamous cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki . The peace settlement was started by Stalin, Churchill, and Roosevelt after Japan gave its unconditional acceptance of Allied demands. Many people agree that absolutely nothing good came out of the First World War, which I believe is true. The only thing that came out of the First World War was the setting up for the Second World War. One very good thing came out of the Second World War, and that was the United Nations and the Security Council. For once the world had a united body that they could turn to. This has seemed to be working well since we have not had any major wars since World War II. I do feel though that the United States will do whatever it wants even if the United Nations and rest of the Security Council disagree with them. A good example of this is the recent military action on Iraq. Basically, the entire UN Council is somewhat against this, yet the United States feels it’s there right to move in. I still believe though that the United Nations was a very good thing that came from World War II. There is one thing we do have to consider though. Was the bloodshed and killing of World War I and World War II worth the forming of the United Nations? Some people think these World Wars had to happen as advancement in society. But that is a whole different story.

Internationalization and Cultural Implications for Joint Ventures in Saudi Arabia

Internationalization and Cultural Implications for Joint Ventures in Saudi Arabia Introduction Brief Overview of the Topic In this literature review, it is necessary to consider the connection between internationalization and cultural implications for joint ventures in Saudi Arabia. This question is especially urgent nowadays due to the process of integration and cross-cultural communication.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Internationalization and Cultural Implications for Joint Ventures in Saudi Arabia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Due to the fact that the prevalent form of international business in Saudi Arabia is joint ventures, it is really significant for companies in Saudi Arabia, particular for the industrialization process because it provides immediate access to modern technologies and offers wider opportunities for the development and advancement of human resources (Mababaya, 2003a, p. 157). The increased interest in business operations in Saudi Arabia can be explained by the emerging opportunity for foreign investors to participate in the Kingdom’s industrial ventures. But what is more important is that international business relations are enhanced by Saudi’s impressive track records, respect for traditions and history, and international law (Mababaya, 2003a, p. 157). Hence, Saudi Arabia is considered to be an ideal place for creating joint ventures in cooperation with foreign investors due to many reasons, apart from the presence of abundant hydrocarbon resources. Importance of Literature Review for the Proposal Despite the fact that the country’s culture is homogeneous to some extent, Saudi people, particularly the representatives of young generations, have experience in cooperating with business partners from other cultures. Before the oil was discovered, Saudi Arabia has low rates of production and the core business operations were focused on trading (Katz, 2007). The commercial culture, therefore, assist them in becoming shrew d bargainers. Hence, due to the process of globalization and internationalization, cultural environment of Saudi Arabia has become really significant for other cultures. World market, therefore, is now more concerned with internationalization and cultural influence of the Middle East. In this research proposal, it is necessary to examine the core cultural implications for joint ventures in Saudi Arabia. The literature review presented below will prove that integration of cultural issues into the international business is very important, both for Saudi Arabia and for the foreign investors.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Literature Review Cultural Features of Saudi Arabia and Importance of Culture for International Cooperation In order to understand the process of globalization and cultural concerns related to it, it is necessary to study the peculiarities of Saudi cultures and traditions, particularly people’s strict adherence to them. Indeed, the mentality and history of the Saudi community should be taken in the deepest consideration. The importance of culture for the Saudi people and business world is proved by the researches presented below. Hence, Moran et al. (2007) has identified that â€Å"Arabs are people of great emotions and sentimentality – and sometimes of excess and extremes. They hold in high regard friendship, loyalty, and justice, and, when events and behavior go against that sense of justice, they will likely to be morally outrages and indignant† (p. 339). All those features play a significant in building successful business relations, but still one should not adhere to the presented stereotypes to a full extent. Walker et al. (2003) also agree with the assumption that cultural aspects should be carefully treated when it comes to the Middle East world. The researchers believe that the process of Westernization is rigidly confronted in Saudi Arabia, but this relates to Western culture only. In other words, Saudi culture reflects the ideas of accepting Western technology without impregnating Western culture and ideology. In particular, the Arabs â€Å"are opposed to Western cultural influences, seeing them as corrupting and debasing and potentially undermining their religious, ethnic and tribal heritage† (Walker, 2003, p. 96). This opposition proves that the importance of culture can only be conceived on the rise of the globalization process. The studies performed by Oxford Business Group (2008) have revealed that all issues connected with cooperation and trading in Saudi Arabia is closely related to Islam. It implies that all business transactions and joint ventures are initially based on conservative approaches to building relations. Hence, older generations of the Arab world adheres to strict social codes and discourages the participation of women in managing and c oncluding business agreements. At the same time, the research has also revealed that younger generations have different views on cultural issues. Like Walker et al. (2003) and Moran et al. (2007), Mead and Andrews (2009) have attached importance to culture and religion in international cooperation with Saudi Arabia with the emergence of joint ventures. In particular, extreme conservatism of Saudi community still opposes to Westernization due to rigid loyalty to traditions and moral codes. In this regard, the management and human resource management system is not subjected to cultural democratization and socialization (Meat and Andrews, 2005, p. 74). Shoult (2006) has also conducted research on joint ventures and importance of Saudi culture for establishing successful cooperation. In particular, the author notes that â€Å"if its performance has failed quickly to reach the Saudi partners’ expectations, it may even find itself treated as a distressed department of their own es tablishment† (Shoult, 2006, p.169). The knowledge of the Arab mentality and psychology is paramount for foreign partners to organize successful joint ventures.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Internationalization and Cultural Implications for Joint Ventures in Saudi Arabia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More One way or another, it is essential to have an enthusiastic and creative Saudi partner who is willing to cooperate. Arising from this fact, Mababaya (2003b) has found that the failure of leading British company to establish successful relations lies in their feeble attempt to understand cultural specifics of the Middle East world. Ignoring cultural context, the companies failed to cope with emerging problems. Other researchers (Onkvisit and Shaw, 2008; Broways and Price, 2008) also agree with the idea that a cross-cultural factor should be a priority to the Western partners if they plan to organize a joint venture in Saudi Arabia. In particular, they should know the specifics of working hours and holiday differences. The author also examines the secrets of successful communication where a foreign partner should spend a considerable amount of time before proceeding with business issues. Onkvisit and Shaw (2008) state that trust is the basis of all business operations and a necessary condition for all joint ventures. In general, the above-presented studies reveal several important facts about the Middle East world and Saudi Arabia in particular. First of all, the Arab people attach much attention to friendship and justice and have a great respect to older generations. Due to the fact that these people are of great sentimentality, they value a respectful and punctual attitude to them. In business operations, they greatly oppose to the Westernization process and participation of women. Finally, they give credit to Islam and believe that trust is the basis of a successful cooperatio n. All these factors should be carefully tackled if foreign partners want to establish favorable relations with the Arab people. Influence of Internationalization on Joint Ventures in Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia is known as the main world producer of oil and, therefore, it plays a huge role in oil market (Cordesman, 2003, p. 473). Supplying about 95 % of oil, Saudi Aramco provides strong strategic privilege to the country as well as international flexibility and acceptance among other world producers (Cordesman, 2003, p. 473). The process of internalization that has penetrated to the country has given rise to the country’s cultural recognition and compromise on the part of leading world producers. Judging from the above-presented facts, it should be assumed that the process of internalization has increased the importance of the Arab culture and has introduced the Middle East on the world arena. On the one hand, it granted brilliant opportunities for the country’s develop ment. On the other hand, the country has faced serious multicultural and international issues that are hard to overcome.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The process of globalization has greatly contributed to the advancement of economy in Saudi Arabia. Import and export activities carried out by family business houses haves changed their course to global business operations. As a result the world has recognized such international enterprises as SABIC, Kingdom Holding, and ARAMCO (Ali, 2008, p. 227). In addition, the membership the WTO has also enables the country to advance their health care systems and improve the diary industry. According to Ali (2008), â€Å"globalization is more than business involvement and that the latter should not be divorced from its political and environmental concerns† (p. 227). Ramady (2010) underlines the direct dependence of cultural concerns from globalization. With regard with this, the formation of an appropriate business and cultural environment is crucial for the Arab world to meet the challenges of Westernization. In his studies, the author insists on the idea that the major outcome of glo balization is increasing concerns with preserving culture and religion and protecting them from outer invasion. Therefore, although the process of internationalization providers wider opportunities for the economic development but creates challenges for traditions, ethnicity, religions, and moral codes. Aulakh and Schetchter (2000) have also provided evidence for ideological and cultural influence of globalization on Saudi Arabia and other countries with promising perspectives. The authors provide arguments concerning the role of the countries involved in the process of globalization pertained to economic and cultural areas. Analyzing the studies presented by Ramady (2010) and Aulakh and Schetchter (2000), the process of globalization is also greatly influenced by the Middle East world whose traditions and customs are considered by other world agents structuring the stages of internationalization. This point of view is also supported by Fox et al. (2006) who underline a huge role of the Middle East in forming the process of internalization. Shifts in Culture Being the Result of Business Cooperation between the Western World and Saudi Arabia A great number of studies have been devoted to multinational business operations all over the world, but few of them are connected with Saudi Arabia. Both foreign visitors and investors of Saudi joint ventures, and the Arabians should find a compromise in cooperating and building favorable business relations at the international level. But the main task of this literature review is to analyze what how international culture influences the creation of joint industries in Saudi Arabia with regard to the Arab culture, religion, and firmly established traditions. In studies presented by Moran et al. (2007), the researchers examine the cultural effects that the process of Westernization has on Saudi managers, which make them less paternalistic (p. 339). The scholars have also underscored that the increasing tendency in creating t raining programs in Saudi Arabia being the result of its cooperation with the United States. The rapid integration of the Arab world to the international arena has led to rapid shifts in the Arab culture in terms of business operations and management. In particular, the country has faced a rigorous competition and increasing standards that resulted in some changes. Rao (2001) in his studies of the globalization process emphasizes that lack of understanding of cross cultural relations and diversity can result in a serious failure to interact with the trading partners. The same concerns the Middle East world whose specific culture should be adjusted to the international culture and, vice versa, Western world should be more sensitive to Saudi managers and businessmen whose language involves both verbal and non-verbal communication (Rao, 2001, p. 154). Studies by Adekola and Sergi (2007) also contribute to understanding cross-cultural relations between Saudi Arabia and other cultures. I n particular, they investigate what the opportunities that the international business has created for the Arab worlds, how Western countries treat the Arab culture, and why cultural implications are tangible for the Arab community. The rise of globalization has influenced many industrial areas of Saudi Arabia, particularly its dairy production. After the country has jointed the World Trade Organization, it has received access to free trade and many other benefits such as reduced tariffs, and the rise of joint venture organization with other foreign partners. Fenn (1994) has conducted an independent research where the scholar has defined the specifics of carrying out business in Saudi Arabia. While discussing the peculiarities of Saudi culture and its influence on the international business, Fenn (1994) introduces some recommendations for foreign investors to follow before penetrating to the Arab world. Studying the findings carefully, it is possible to admit that the Saudi managers have certain cultural rules which make women’s intervention problematic. This factor plays a huge role in business relations, specifically in the international world where both men and women have equal opportunities for self-realization. Like Fenn, Mead (2005) insists on the fact that the process of internationalization implies â€Å"the free movement of political, economic, and cultural resources between countries, each society influencing and being influenced by every other society† (p.72). The problem is that Western values still dominate on the world arena of business and commerce. This particularly concerns the United States that propagandize their cultural and politics, which is often perceived as an assault of other cultures and economies. Kangari and Lucas (1997) have also admitted the fact that the discovery of oil in Saudi Arabia has imposed a cultural change on the Arab world. The Kingdom has been forced to adapt to abrupt shifts in culture to advance Saudi industries and economies. According to the scholars, â€Å"rapid progress in the material sense has resulted in a sort of cultural backlash, and old traditions have been strengthened† (Kangari and Lucas, 1997, p. 42). With regard to those dramatic changes, they consider it necessary to work our important strategies for dealing with cultural shifts for the Middle East world to adjust to a new cultural background. One of the best strategies proposed is avoiding conflicts and preserving neutrality in business world. A thorough consideration of cultural effects on joint ventures in Saudi Arabia leads to an assumption that Western and Eastern worlds have rigid differences in conducting business. Nevertheless, a compromise should be reached to succeed in advancing international business. Conclusion Although the culture of Saudi Arabia is homogeneous, the country’s population, particularly the younger generations, are experienced enough in cooperating with foreign business pa rtners. Before the discovery of oil in Saudi Arabia, it has insignificant rates of production and the main focus was made on commercial operations. However, this trading culture has played a decisive role in establishing relations with other countries and leading producers. With regard to this the process of globalization has considerably influenced the cultural environment of Saudi Arabia is carefully considered by other world agents. What is more important is that the Middle East world has faced with cross-cultural challenges as well. In this literature review, we have found that much research has been made on studying the peculiarities of the Arab cultures and how it affects the global communities. However, little concern has been revealed concerning how the Saudi people deal with those challenges and who they adjust to the process of Westernization. In addition, the literature has also disclosed the problem of inability of foreign partners to conceive the specifics of business r elations with Saudi Arabia, including their cultural values, religion issues, and important customs. Arising from the above-presented considerations, a golden medium should be found between economic development, cultural aspects, and internalization to build successful joint ventures in Saudi Arabia. Reference List Adekola, A. amd Sergi, B. (2007). Global business management: a cross-cultural perspective. US: Ashgate Publishing. Ltd. Ali, A. (2008). Business and management environment in Saudi Arabia: challenges and opportunities for multinational corporations. US: Taylor Francis. Aulakh, P. S., and Schetchter, M. G. (2000). Rethinking globalization(s): from corporate transnationalism to local interventions. US: Palgrave Macmillan. Browaeys, M.-J., and Price R. (2008). Understanding Cross-cultural management. US: Pearson Education. Cordesman, A. H. (2003) Saudi Arabia enters the 21st century. US: Greenwood Publishing Group. Fenn, D. (1994, January). Saudi Arabia: Veiled Opportuniti es. U. S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration. 16(1) Fox, J. W., Mourtada-Sabbah, and al-Mutawa, M. (2006). Globalization and the Gulf. US: Taylor Francis. Kangari, R. and Lucas, C. L. (1997). Managing international operations: a guide for engineers, architects, and construction managers. US: Publications. Katz, L. (2007). Negotiating International Business. US: Booksurge Publishing Mababaya, M. P. (2003a). The Role of Multinational Companies in the Middle East: The Case of Saudi Arabia. US: Universal-Publishers. Mababaya, M. P. (2003b). International Business in a Strange Cultural Environment. US: Universal-Publishers. Mead, R. (2005). International management: cross cultural dimensions. US: Willey-Blackwell. Mead, R., and Andrews, T. G. (2009). International Management. US: John Wiley and Sons. Moran, R. T., Harris, P. R., Moran, S. V. (2007). Managing cultural differences global leadership strategies for the 21st century. US: Butterworth-Heinemann. Onkvisi t, S. and Shaw, J. J. (2008). International Marketing: Strategy and Theory. US: Taylor Francis. Oxford Business Group (2008). The Report: Saudi Arabia: 2008. UK: Oxford Business Group. Ramady, M. A. (2010). The Saudi Arabian Economy: Policies, Achievements, and Challenges. US: Springer. Rao, C. P. (2001). Globalization and its managerial implications. US: Greenwood Publishing Group. Shoult, A. (2006). Doing business with Saudi Arabia. US: GMB Publishing Ltd. Walker, D. M., Walker, T. D. and Schmitz, J. T. (2003). Doing business internationally: the guide to cross-cultural success. US: McGraw-Hill Professional.

Impact of The Invisible Man essays

Impact of The Invisible Man essays The constraints described in "The Invisible Man" imply we live in a country that is divided by race, ethnicity, religion and class (prejudices towards differences). A person's life is then heavily shaped around these perimeters. Some in the minority unfortunately try to deny these barriers to entry of the American elite by ignoring warnings and repressing past and present disparities and replacing them with hope. This behavior is brought forth by the natural defiance of a human to not be made believe that he is inferior, and from the confusion between the meanings of the laws of desegregation and social integration. The story of the Invisible Man describes the hardship and reality this path leads an African American, and in reality to many Minority-Americans. The first thing our reading points out is how divided Americans are and the reasons. The most basic fact is that the majority of American citizens are white of European ancestry. As in any other country, the majority rules. In this country the majority also enjoys the contributions of their minority (from slaves to modern sweat shops, to the front lines of war, music, sports, etc). To keep receiving these benefits laws are set that enable for such activities to occur. Americans will bend over backwards when some economic or political interest is made relevant to them (WTO's real intentions for example). However, it is taboo for a white person to assimilate into a minority culture making minorities non-American. Since 1607 whites have been melting together and have homogenized the American way of life. The laws for the American way of life place the Northern Europeans on the top with all other whites under them, then all other minorities and last the black man. This can be seen throughout all of our business and political establishments. Minorities are still urged to give it their best, but their best in never respected. Even when blacks or other minorities...

Free Essays on My Life With the Wave

Can a Man really be Happy With a Wave? In the short story, â€Å"My Life With the Wave,† the narrator of the story, which is also the main character, goes through a sequence of emotional transitions, all for the love of a wave. Three major traits of the narrator, are that he is a determined loving person, he likes to please others, and he is also a very passionate person, which turns into anger and indifference. After everything the narrator did for the wave, she still did not fully appreciate all his attentions; thus making him realize that letting her into his life was a major mistake. The narrator was captivated by the wave, since she first grabbed his arm out of nowhere, and he demonstrates he is a determined and loving person, when he knew he would have to go through major trouble by taking the wave to the city. Although at first he tried any unthinkable way to convince her that she could not go with him, she was firm in her decision to go, and he didn’t have the heart to leave her behind. The narrator knew there were risks involved in wanting to take her to the city, he demonstrates this when he says â€Å"It’s true the rules say nothing in respect to the transport of waves on the railroad, but this very reserve was an indication of the severity with which our act would be judgedâ€Å" (Paz, Octavio 263). The narrators determination causes him to go to jail for over a year, and when he returns to his house, the wave has been there all that time waiting for his return. Another important trait that the narrator possesses is that he likes to please and make people happy, but at the same time he is a very jealous person. When the wave began complaining that she was lonely, he made every attempt to cheer her up. The narrator even filled the house with all types of shells, conches and even small sailboats. This was not much help, since the wave would shipwreck the sailboats in time of frustration and desperation. It was as if the na... Free Essays on My Life With the Wave Free Essays on My Life With the Wave Can a Man really be Happy With a Wave? In the short story, â€Å"My Life With the Wave,† the narrator of the story, which is also the main character, goes through a sequence of emotional transitions, all for the love of a wave. Three major traits of the narrator, are that he is a determined loving person, he likes to please others, and he is also a very passionate person, which turns into anger and indifference. After everything the narrator did for the wave, she still did not fully appreciate all his attentions; thus making him realize that letting her into his life was a major mistake. The narrator was captivated by the wave, since she first grabbed his arm out of nowhere, and he demonstrates he is a determined and loving person, when he knew he would have to go through major trouble by taking the wave to the city. Although at first he tried any unthinkable way to convince her that she could not go with him, she was firm in her decision to go, and he didn’t have the heart to leave her behind. The narrator knew there were risks involved in wanting to take her to the city, he demonstrates this when he says â€Å"It’s true the rules say nothing in respect to the transport of waves on the railroad, but this very reserve was an indication of the severity with which our act would be judgedâ€Å" (Paz, Octavio 263). The narrators determination causes him to go to jail for over a year, and when he returns to his house, the wave has been there all that time waiting for his return. Another important trait that the narrator possesses is that he likes to please and make people happy, but at the same time he is a very jealous person. When the wave began complaining that she was lonely, he made every attempt to cheer her up. The narrator even filled the house with all types of shells, conches and even small sailboats. This was not much help, since the wave would shipwreck the sailboats in time of frustration and desperation. It was as if the na...

Write a report outlining a promotion Strategy for SENZ based on the Case Study

Write a report outlining a promotion Strategy for SENZ based on the information outlined in the - Case Study Example Therefore to increase the market share of the SENZ in the market scene, strategies ought to be laid to ensure that business continues to grow and attract more customers. SENZ company had planned to bring a great revolution in the market seen by coming up with the new design of umbrellas that are going to be efficient in diverse climates. Those working in the design and marketing sectors of SENZ believed that the product would be easy to explain to the public and hence would perform better. They based their claim on the current condition of umbrellas; most umbrellas tend to turn inside out during heavy winds. So, the company relied mainly on this uniqueness and design factor as a major pull for increasing market share (MCLEISH, 2010). The retail price for the high-end umbrellas was around$12 accounting for about 25% of the market share. According the initial studies on the consumer test, it was noted that many consumers considered the durability, brand, the ease of use and color of umbrellas. The operating margins or these umbrellas were about 40-60% of the retail price and around 40% distribution sale for the distributors. SENZ Company decided to venture into the high-end umbrella segment of the market aiming to retail it product at a price of about $ 50 (VAT included) for the original SENZ and about $40 for the mini umbrellas. Theses relatively high price were aimed at positioning the SENZ umbrellas as unique and high-quality products. They were also intended to cover up the production costs which would much higher than the standard umbrellas attributed to the umbrella design. The target for all this was to enable the company to penetrate the market and work with the top brands by taking the advantage of its fi rst mover advantage. The founders also wanted to have more capital that they would invest in the research to continue advancing the company products to the required standards to

The Impact of Slavery on British Colonialism. (The Atlantic slave Term Paper

The Impact of Slavery on British Colonialism. (The Atlantic slave trade) - Term Paper Example The treatment the slaves received during this time in history cannot be compared to any other type of annihilation on human beings and culture. The New world consisted of north, central and south America. The Atlantic slave trade began as a trade between the Old World and the New World in the Americas began to increase. As technology on European ships, became greater and gave ships a better ability to travel through the rough waters of the Atlantic Ocean. A process of triangular trade started to occur. The first portion of the triangle would be from transporting the goods from Europe to Africa in order to purchase slaves2. The second would be the trade of slaves from Africa to the Americas. The third portion of the triangle would be the final goods being exported from the Americas to Europe. This triangle of trade is the system that was used throughout the bulk of the Atlantic slave trade era. Europeans believed the use of slaves would help fix their labor shortage problem3. They ove rworked the natives of the New World, and many would die from being run into the ground or from diseases. The Europeans labor supply in the New World was dwindling and so their solution to their immediate problem was to import labor from Africa in order to expand their production and wealth. The Atlantic slave trade became a vital part in the Industrial Revolution. Portugal was the first European country to participate in slave trading. Other European countries that were participating in slave trading were England, France, Spain and the Netherlands as well as the United States from across the Atlantic Ocean4. These nations would purchase slaves from African community leaders, and they would pick them up from outposts that were created for the purpose of the slave trade on the western coast of Africa where the slaves were taken from the central and Western parts of the continent. They would then be boarded onto ships like cargo and were transferred to the Americas cheaply and quickly . The slaves then became the legal property of the proprietor and could be sold at the market; much like material goods or services5. It has been estimated that the number of slaves brought across the Atlantic Ocean amounts to 12 million individuals with about a million individuals dying during cargo ship transportation. The highest number of immigrants from the Old World into the New World, actual numbers of slaves procured from slave traders has accounted to be much higher. The racism we see today towards individuals of African descent stemmed from the slavery they were subjected to6. Human beings would be on equals otherwise, as are all born as such. Walter Rodney’s perspective on racism states that "Above all, it was the institution of slavery in the Americas which ultimately conditioned racial attitudes, even when their more immediate derivation was the literature on Africa or contacts within Europe itself. It has been well attested that New World slave - plantation soci ety was the laboratory of modern racism. The owners contempt for and fear of the black slaves was expressed in religious, scientific and philosophical terms, which became the stock attitudes of European and even Africans in subsequent generations7. Although before and after the slave trade era there had been contributions to the racist philosophy, the historical experience of blacks being enslaved by the whites for four centuries established the tie between racist and color prejudice, and created individual racists, as well as

Comparative analysis of Marketing Communications strategies and mix Essay - 2

Comparative analysis of Marketing Communications strategies and mix for the fashion market in the UK - Essay Example In the 21st century organization in the apparel business face a new reality due to the start of the convergence age which creates new challenges for companies regarding their marketing and communication mix of products or services. This report studies the apparel & fashion industry in Europe by analyzing three firms: Zara, French Connection and H&M. The report is divided into four major segments: research methods, market overview, analysis & discussion, and recommendations & conclusion. The study of the effects of marketing channels in the apparel industry in the United Kingdom utilizes secondary obtain from a variety of sources. The information used in this report was collected from sources such as academic databases, corporate websites, annual reports, journal articles, textbooks and other online sources. Secondary research is the utilization of information that already exists such as a journal article which was crated by another author (Asiamarketresearch, 2007). In the analysis and discussion session of the report it recommends various solutions for the companies targeted in the report on how primary research can be utilized by the company decision makers in order obtain certain data to improve their operations. One particular research technique that the writer of this paper planned to implement, but was not able to perform the primary research due to time constraints was a customer questionnaire. The idea was to spend three hours with a team of four people wit hin a hundred feet distance of a location of each of the three stores studied (Fcuk, H&M and Zara) to collect data from the customer’s of these stores using a short anonymous questionnaire. The questionnaire would include 10 questions and the minimum collection necessary to achieve a representative sample was 25 questionnaires. Appendix A illustrates an example of a questionnaire that could be utilized to collect data from customers regarding marketing

Hyundai Motor Companys global performance with regards to fulfilling Essay

Hyundai Motor Companys global performance with regards to fulfilling its corporate social responsibility - Essay Example To illustrate, Hyundai Motor’s Chinese subsidiary won the ‘2011 Most Responsible Corporate Citizen’ award for the firm’s efforts in various social welfare fields. The Hyundai greatly supports the Chinese government in poverty reduction, traffic safety, sand prevention and control, and several other areas4. It is estimated that the company’s investments in the field of environmental sustainability in China would reach nearly 4.1 trillion and those investments may account for clean diesel vehicles, electric vehicles, and Blue Drive development plan5. In India, the Hyundai Motor India Foundation (HMIF) has made investments worth more than 20 million rupees in different social welfare programs6. The organization has begun its â€Å"Go Green† village based project in Tamil Nadu (an Indian State) in 2011 with intent to improve living standards of the region’s villages7. Considering the Hyundai’s contributions to the State, the company has been given the ‘Corporate Social Responsibility Award’ and ‘Best Commercial and Industrial Institution’ award by the Tamil Nadu State government8. According to Biwalkar, the Brand Trust Report study conducted in India in 2011, Hyundai was selected as the country’s 43rd most trusted brand9. Hyundai’s corporate responsibility programs benefit Chinese and Indian societies. To illustrate, these economies are still at developing phase and therefore they struggle to meet increasing infrastructure facilities and other living condition requirements arising out of a high level population growth. Evidently, the emerging economies greatly support Hyundai’s business and arrange improved operational facilities for the... This essay discusses that modern society is highly concerned about environmental sustainability more than ever before. Consumers today tend to discourage businesses which are likely to cause toxic emissions or other forms of pollution. While analyzing the industrial world, it seems that majority of the organizations raises some sorts of challenges to ecological balance. For a multinational corporation like Hyundai Motor Company, the world’s fourth largest automobile manufacturer, the potential for environmental damage is higher. Since combustion of fossil fuels constitutes a huge portion of greenhouse gas emissions, modern consumers are increasingly switching their demand to eco-friendly vehicles. The most noticeable achievement of Hyundai is that the company could markedly reduce CO2 emissions on the strength of technological innovations. According to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 2011 Trends Report, Hyundai Motor America was ranked as the top automobile manufacturer in terms of fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions. Through its quality innovations, Hyundai developed green cars that are capable of reducing CO2 emissions and thereby promoting environmental sustainability. Reports indicate that such innovations assisted Hyundai to lower the CO2 emission volumes of its new models including i10, i20, and i30 blue to the range of 100g/km. Although the company has been successful in designing and executing social welfare programs as compared to other automobile manufactures, it still contributes to environmental and other social issues.

Transition of Art to Photography in Terms of Realism Essay

Transition of Art to Photography in Terms of Realism - Essay Example Presently, such a world seems unimaginable thanks to photography: it comes with visual souvenirs; pictures of common and prominent people; advertising pictures that create a desire within the public while, at the same time educating them concerning all products the modern consumer culture is capable of offering; medical, diagnostic devices; incredible perceptions of exotic places, together with the outer space; world news pictures; and most significant, pictures of the events, as well as intimate moments of personal life (Keil 19). The photography technology is partly chemical and partly optical, dating back in 1839. Shortly after its instantaneous discovery by William Henry Fox Talbot of England, together with Louis Jacques Mande Daguerre of France, photography get used in documenting foreign places of interest like India, the American West and the Holy Land. Apart from that, it got applied in portraits along with photographs of kings, statesman, as well as theater or even literary personalities. However, during the 19th century, cameras were in most cases in the hands of either professionals or entrepreneurs who were self-educated thereby trying photography as a trade. Photography does not require professional licensing or even guild membership; therefore, in the mainstream, anyone has the capability of buying the equipment, obtaining the directions, and proceeding. This directness of the medium makes photographic practice liberated from the traditions, which had grown up throughout painting or a variety of printmaking arts (Keil 32). With the introduction of precoated dry plates in 1878, the tiresome and cluttered coating of glass plates inside the darkroom or even dark tent, for those photographers out in the field got eliminated, and with the availability of precoated photographic papers, printing of photographs turned out to be much easier, while, at the same time, more predictable. As a result, photography could be exercised by hobbyists or amateurs, mor e so by lovers of the medium since the majority of the people, who had the leisure for an advanced hobby such as this one, were not only educated, but also sophisticated, and desired to come up with photographs resembling Art (Keil 47). In the past, film cameras filters got used in the modification of both the spectral content i.e. color, intensity of light, while, at the same time, generating outcomes like soft focus. However, digital cameras tend to operate differently when it comes to color; there is a possibility of performing color modification in camera with ease by setting white balance. Therefore, for film warming, as well as cooling filters, or those filters capable of converting fluorescent light unto daylight where necessary, digital has the ability of achieving the same effects through internal operation of the digital data. There as a number of filters needed for digital including a polarizing filter, special effect filter, a UV filter, filters for infrared effects, a n eutral density filter plus a given graduated neutral density filter. It is impossible to digitally simulate the results of a

Mecbeth play design Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Mecbeth play design - Essay Example Macbeth has numerous characters all of who play specific roles that enhance the success of the play. The coordination of the characters contributed to the central message in the play. This relies on numerous features key among which is the characters’ costumes. Written in the late 1500s the costumes must help place the play in the particular society. Setting is vital in enhancing the message in the play since it validates the claims of the author. Specific themes are appropriate in particular settings. Among themes Shakespeare addresses in the play is witchcraft. The subject remains underexplored in the contemporary society in which scientific inventions continue to make life easier. Placing the play in the early English society thus validates the theme since witchcraft and magic was rampant at the time. Costumes therefore play the integral role of placing the action in the play in specific society. The characters must dress specific costumes that portray the prevailing styles at the time. The costumes of the characters readily place the play to a specific time in history a feature that validates the author’s claims. The characters dress unique clothes that do not only portray their varied roles in the play but also uniformly place them in a specific period in the history of the country, a key feature that validates the plot of the play (Garber 41). The unique attire places the play in the early Scottish culture. Additionally, costumes helps identity the characters. Each of the numerous characters in the play dress differently and in accordance to their roles. The first scene for example opens up with two witches meeting Macbeth. The costumes readily distinguish the witches from Macbeth and the trend continues in all the succeeding scenes in the play. Costumes also help set the various characters apart thereby

Hyundai Motor Companys global performance with regards to fulfilling Essay

Hyundai Motor Companys global performance with regards to fulfilling its corporate social responsibility - Essay Example To illustrate, Hyundai Motor’s Chinese subsidiary won the ‘2011 Most Responsible Corporate Citizen’ award for the firm’s efforts in various social welfare fields. The Hyundai greatly supports the Chinese government in poverty reduction, traffic safety, sand prevention and control, and several other areas4. It is estimated that the company’s investments in the field of environmental sustainability in China would reach nearly 4.1 trillion and those investments may account for clean diesel vehicles, electric vehicles, and Blue Drive development plan5. In India, the Hyundai Motor India Foundation (HMIF) has made investments worth more than 20 million rupees in different social welfare programs6. The organization has begun its â€Å"Go Green† village based project in Tamil Nadu (an Indian State) in 2011 with intent to improve living standards of the region’s villages7. Considering the Hyundai’s contributions to the State, the company has been given the ‘Corporate Social Responsibility Award’ and ‘Best Commercial and Industrial Institution’ award by the Tamil Nadu State government8. According to Biwalkar, the Brand Trust Report study conducted in India in 2011, Hyundai was selected as the country’s 43rd most trusted brand9. Hyundai’s corporate responsibility programs benefit Chinese and Indian societies. To illustrate, these economies are still at developing phase and therefore they struggle to meet increasing infrastructure facilities and other living condition requirements arising out of a high level population growth. Evidently, the emerging economies greatly support Hyundai’s business and arrange improved operational facilities for the... This essay discusses that modern society is highly concerned about environmental sustainability more than ever before. Consumers today tend to discourage businesses which are likely to cause toxic emissions or other forms of pollution. While analyzing the industrial world, it seems that majority of the organizations raises some sorts of challenges to ecological balance. For a multinational corporation like Hyundai Motor Company, the world’s fourth largest automobile manufacturer, the potential for environmental damage is higher. Since combustion of fossil fuels constitutes a huge portion of greenhouse gas emissions, modern consumers are increasingly switching their demand to eco-friendly vehicles. The most noticeable achievement of Hyundai is that the company could markedly reduce CO2 emissions on the strength of technological innovations. According to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 2011 Trends Report, Hyundai Motor America was ranked as the top automobile manufacturer in terms of fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions. Through its quality innovations, Hyundai developed green cars that are capable of reducing CO2 emissions and thereby promoting environmental sustainability. Reports indicate that such innovations assisted Hyundai to lower the CO2 emission volumes of its new models including i10, i20, and i30 blue to the range of 100g/km. Although the company has been successful in designing and executing social welfare programs as compared to other automobile manufactures, it still contributes to environmental and other social issues.

Mecbeth play design Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Mecbeth play design - Essay Example Macbeth has numerous characters all of who play specific roles that enhance the success of the play. The coordination of the characters contributed to the central message in the play. This relies on numerous features key among which is the characters’ costumes. Written in the late 1500s the costumes must help place the play in the particular society. Setting is vital in enhancing the message in the play since it validates the claims of the author. Specific themes are appropriate in particular settings. Among themes Shakespeare addresses in the play is witchcraft. The subject remains underexplored in the contemporary society in which scientific inventions continue to make life easier. Placing the play in the early English society thus validates the theme since witchcraft and magic was rampant at the time. Costumes therefore play the integral role of placing the action in the play in specific society. The characters must dress specific costumes that portray the prevailing styles at the time. The costumes of the characters readily place the play to a specific time in history a feature that validates the author’s claims. The characters dress unique clothes that do not only portray their varied roles in the play but also uniformly place them in a specific period in the history of the country, a key feature that validates the plot of the play (Garber 41). The unique attire places the play in the early Scottish culture. Additionally, costumes helps identity the characters. Each of the numerous characters in the play dress differently and in accordance to their roles. The first scene for example opens up with two witches meeting Macbeth. The costumes readily distinguish the witches from Macbeth and the trend continues in all the succeeding scenes in the play. Costumes also help set the various characters apart thereby

ExxonMobil Case Essay Example for Free

ExxonMobil Case Essay 1. Provide a brief description of the industry. â€Å" ExxonMobil has evolved over the last 125 years from a regional marketer of kerosene in the U.S. to the world’s largest publicly traded international oil and gas company.† Providing energy helps stabilize economies and improve living standards worldwide. Today, ExxonMobil operates in most of the world’s countries and is best known by familiar brand names: Exxon, Esso and Mobil. ExxonMobil creates products that compel modern transportation, power cities, lubricate industries and provide petrochemical building blocks that contribute many consumer goods. ExxonMobil is an extremely large industry providing 9.2 million jobs, and 5.3% of the U.S. employment. The labor income is $533.5 billion, and 6.0% of U.S. labor income. ExxonMobil operates in 77 countries worldwide, and employs 82,100 employees (Exxon Mobil Corporations, 2003-2012). 2. Outline a recruiting and selection strategy for your selected MNE that could be used to effectively meet organizational requirements for operating in multiple countries. The HRM staffing selection by ExxonMobil appears to be geocentric. A strategy that is valuable for the success of the organization because it enables the development of a global perspective. In addition, this tactic has generated an internal pool of labor. The organization has many successful years of working with governments and partners to deliver on their pledge of performance. ExxonMobil focuses on integrating local knowledge and experience of its partners with global capabilities to deliver outstanding results and benefits. ExxonMobil has a proven record of job creation, outstanding training and career development for national staff, support for local industry and community investment. ExxonMobil brings the advantage of established business management and support systems and experienced support staff to all i ts partnerships. The company is organized along functional lines, with each global company specializing in a particular sector of the oil, gas, and chemical businesses. The organizational structure is designed to encourage the employment of people with diverse skills quickly and effectively worldwide. In the selection of an expatriate, IHRM should consider cross-cultural suitability, family requirements, technical ability, and language to be primary factors. ExxonMobil takes pride in being an equal employment opportunity. Multinationals must resolve any issues of equal employment in all its locations. The various laws must be considered, and therefore ExxonMobil has established â€Å"The Standards of Business Conduct†. â€Å"It is the policy of Exxon Mobil Corporation to provide equal employment opportunity in conformance with all applicable laws and regulations to individuals who are qualified to perform job requirements regardless of their race, color, sex, religion, national origin, citize nship status, age, genetic information, physical or mental disability, veteran or other legally protected status. The corporation administers its personnel policies, programs, and practices in nondiscriminatory manner in all aspects of the employment relationship, including recruitment, hiring, work assignment, promotion, transfer, termination, wage and salary administration, and selection for training. Managers and supervisors are responsible for implementing and administering this policy, for maintaining a work environment free from unlawful discrimination, and for promptly identifying and resolving any problem area regarding equal employment opportunity.† In addition the company incorporates other special policies that include: develop and support educational programs, and policies that facilitate employment of minorities and women. Arrangements that help meet the needs of the diverse work force and balance work and family obligations. The company encourages training and development efforts, practices, and programs that support diversity in the work force that represent minorities and women. A work force is promoted free of sexual, racial, and other harassment. Accommodations for the disabled and the management responsibility in all matters are emphasized at every level or the organization. It appears ExxonMobil has adopted a formal open typology. This process would promote the continued success of the organization with: clearly defined criteria and measures, training, open advertising for vacancies, and panel discussions (Exxon Mobil Corporations, 2003-2012). 3. Outline a training and development strategy for your selected MNE that could be used to effectively meet organizational requirements for operating in multiple countries. In order for an established organization like ExxonMobil to train and develop a qualified staff, HR management must play a critical role. Special universities should be development for Exx onMobil like McDonald’s and Motorola with in-house training facilities. This allows for the important training and development. ExxonMobil already focuses on cultural awareness and technical ability. As HRM this training would be intensified. International teams would be developed in an effort to encourage innovation and transfer knowledge. In addition, teams may breakdown functional and national boundaries, enhance communication, develop a global perspective, and develop shared values (Peter J. Dowling, 2010). 4.Outline a compensation strategy for your selected MNE that could be used to effectively meet organizational requirements for operating in multiple countries. IHRM should recognize the correlation of compensation and performance. IHRM must ensure that the compensation policy is consistent with the overall company’s policies. Compensation must also be competitive and provide excellent incentives. IHRM compensation strategy would include: above average salaries, competitive benefits, opportunity for financial advancement, opportunity for career advancement, provide assistance for any adjustment issues such as: housing, family, education, daycare, and repatriation. The Balance Sheet approach would compensate expatriates. This approach helps the employee maintain the living standards they are accustomed to, in addition, to providing the associate with a financial inducement. The balance sheet approach allows for personal goods (food, personal care, clothing, furniture, transportation, and health care), housing, income taxes, and reserves (which include savings, benefit payments, contributions to pensions, education expenses, investments, etc. Balance sheet approach offers several advantages that include: equity facilitates re-entry, and it is easy to communicate (Peter J. Dowling, 2010) .

Virtual Reality And Its Impact On Society Information Technology Essay

Virtual Reality And Its Impact On Society Information Technology Essay Technology has transformed peoples perception of the world by either creating new environments for them to traverse, or by providing them passage to corners of the earth they will never otherwise visit in their entire lifetimes. Virtual reality, briefly defined as an environment that is computer-simulated, has transcended social and geographical barriers ever since its applications have been increasingly used by everyday people. Whereas before it was limited only to labyrinth and high-cost applications availed of by expert users, virtual reality has now broadened its breadth to encompass the general public which optimizes the Internet to configure, share and create virtual communities benefitting society in the areas of education, law enforcement, medicine and industries. Defining Virtual Reality Virtual reality is an environment which is computer-simulated, and the simulation could be that of an imaginary world, or a real one (Gajera, n.d.). Virtual reality environments are mainly three-dimensional visual experiences that are displayed either on a screener through special or stereoscopic displays, and enhanced by sensory information such as sounds that emanate from headphones or speakers (Gajera, n.d., p. 3). There are modern applications that provide force feedback or tactile information, which are generally used for gaming and medical applications. To experience this, multi-modal devices such as the omni directional treadmill, the Polhemus boom arm, or a wired glove is used, as in Figure 1 at Appendix Page (Gajera, n.d.). Michael R. Heim, in his book entitled, The Metaphysics of Virtual Reality, has named seven applications of virtual reality: network communication, full-body immersion, telepresence, immersion, artificiality, interaction and simulation (Gajera, n.d.). In light of these, a virtual environment may be defined as a digital space in which a users activities are monitored, and his or her surroundings rendered, or digitally composed and displayed to the senses, in accordance with those activities (Fox, Arena and Bailenson, 2009, p. 95). According to Jesse Fox, Dylan Arena, and Jeremy N. Bailenson, the critical element of the most fascinating virtual reality experiences is the hindering real, sensory impressions; a users senses are engaged in the virtual world, with the body consigned to a reality engine, as in Figure 1 at Appendix Page (Fox, Arena and Bailenson, 2009, p. 95). Technically, the virtual reality system uses both software and hardware which allow developers to produce virtual reality systems (Riva, 2009). The hardware elements receive inputs coming from devices that are manipulated by the user, and sends multi-sensory output to generate an imagery of a virtual world (Riva, 2009, p. 337). Meanwhile, the software element of a virtual reality system does not really create the virtual world. Rather, there is a separate software which projects the virtual world through the use of the virtual reality software system (Riva, 2009, p. 337). Hence, a virtual reality system is made up of a graphic rendering system, a database construction and virtual object modeling software (337), and the input and output tools (Riva, 2009). The Impact of Virtual Reality on Society Virtual Reality has taken the world by storm, and is now tagged as the next dominant technological development. In the same way as the Internet, virtual reality was created for a specific purpose but modern technology has made it more versatile. At first, virtual reality was conceptualized as a new medium of entertainment; but as time passed, it has found more useful uses from providing online education, to applications in the medical field and giving hope to people with terminal diseases. Currently, virtual reality is used in (i) businesses, specifically in the presentation of graphs and charts, (ii) industries like the automotive industrys manufacturing arm, (iii) military for simulations and training, (iv) medical field for treatments of various ailments and disorders, and (v) education, specifically in laboratories, online education and virtual museums (Fortune City, 2010). It is foreseen that in the future, virtual reality will further enhance training at medical schools, comme rcial airlines, the Air Force, and will even be utilized by clothing manufacturers in the form of virtual reality shopping (Fortune City, 2010). Education Educators and scientists have joined forces all throughout the U.S. to establish virtual reality education to students and teachers alike, through the use of head-mounted displays (HMD), Immersawalls, ImmersaDesks and Cave Automated Virtual Environments (CAVEs), see Figure 3 at Appendix Page (Rusch, Sherman and Thakkar, 2002, p. 205). CAVE has a standard size of 10 x 10 x 10 space and has a floor, ceiling and three walls. Students utilizing this system don stereographic glasses which intensify images, and use a CAVE wand to assist that user as, i.e., molecule, or pedestrian, or fish, in navigating the virtual environment (Rusch, Sherman and Thakkar, 2002, p. 205). This is just a birds eye view of the role that virtual reality will play in education. Despite the fact that there are a good number of educational applications of virtual reality being availed of in the U.S. these days, the development of virtual reality has not yet achieved its maximum potential in the classroom (Rusch, Sherman and Thakkar, 2002, p. 205). The field of Career Technical Education has begun to benefit from virtual reality. Students can explore operating rooms, submarines, a prototype car, airplane cockpits, biotech laboratories, crime scenes and agricultural farms without having to travel, through the use of virtual reality (Ausburn and Ausburn, 2008). Again, through the use of CAVEs and HMDs, students are provided with three-dimensional simulations to give them a sense of being there' (Ausburn and Ausburn, 2008, p. 43). A good number of careers necessitate learning that will allow individuals to safely carry out their tasks amid dangerous circumstances. Because virtual reality is supremely realistic, it enables the student to benefit from active involvement with accurate and intricate visual scenes (Ausburn and Ausburn, 2008). Hence, training programs utilize virtual reality for railway and mining operations, dangerous driving scenarios, handling of hazardous materials, nuclear energy, marine exploration, space and aviation exploration, emergency medical operations, firefighting, military and law enforcement (Ausburn and Ausburn, 2008). The aim of these training programs is to teach students how to efficiently and effectively respond under high-cost, high-risk and complex circumstances, without damaging equipment and endangering personnel while still at training. Educational programs for courses like spray painting, bio-technology, aircraft maintenance, crime scene investigation and forensics, (44) engineering, dentistry, surgical technology and welding also benefit from virtual technology. Because the technology is still fairly new, CAVEs are expensive to avail of. Moreover, it is also expensive to implement and sustain, because of the specialized skills that are needed to set it up and maintain it. Nevertheless, as technology continues to evolve, there is much promise for virtual reality systems that may be used through laptops or desktops, utilizing special software that are based on JAVA, Flash and QuickTime technologies (Ausburn and Ausburn, 2008). Figure 4 illustrates how virtual reality may be accessed from a web system (Ottoson and Holmdahl, 2007). Because of the benefits offered by virtual reality technologies, there is a high degree of enthusiasm surrounding it in the world of the academe. Figure 5 summarizes the benefits of virtual reality in education. Law Enforcement Taking its cue from the September 11 terrorist attacks, the U.S. has been innovating on taking protective measures preserve the security of its citizenry. One effective way of doing this is through the use virtual reality for training and intelligence gathering purposes. The U.S. intelligence community has been using virtual reality to simulate actual battlefields in the future, utilizing cyber weapons for initiating attacks against terrorists and other potential adversaries (Wilson, 2008, p. 4). Military use of virtual technology is efficient and effective in training personnel manage better under potentially risky scenarios. Participants utilize avatars in virtual environments that simulate, i.e., a checkpoint in Iraq, or a New York subway tunnel subjected to terroristic chemical attacks (Wilson, 2008). The downside is that a study conducted in 2007 showed that American firms are not ready to take the lead in embracing Web 2.0 technology which is the foundation of virtual technology in the years to come. The leaders in this area are (i) India, with plans of escalating their virtual reality investments by 80%, (ii) Asia-Pacific companies, by 69%, (iii) European companies, by 65%, (iv) Chinese companies, by 64%, (v) North American companies, by 64%, and (v) Latin American companies, by 62% (Wilson, 2008, p. 4). Number one in the list, India, has been showing a strong economic presence in the global markets. Figure 6 indicates its industry production forecast until 2012 (Economist Intelligence Unit, 2010). The implication here is whether the U.S. can protect its citizens if its virtual reality servers and communication systems were operated by another country very much possible, by an enemy nation. Under wraps in the virtual reality program of the military is Sentient Worldwide Simulation, which will depict mass casualty events, that not only need military action but medical interventions as well. Hence, this program includes virtual reality hospital rooms that emulate military and civilian facilities, populated by avatars representing victims, casualties, nurses, the National Coast Guard and other first responders. Other training simulation modules are Urban Resolve, for urban war fighting in Baghdad in the year 2015, with over two million simulated objects (Wilson, 2008, p. 5). In addition to this, Noble Resolve is being developed, which is a training exercise covering homeland security scenarios in the event of a terroristic attack (Wilson, 2008, p. 5). Meanwhile, police unites utilize virtual reality programs such as the Meggitt Training System which teaches basic firearms skills and responses in both shoot/dont shoot decision making (Griffith, 2009). The Los Angeles Police Department uses the IES Milo System; the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority Police Department uses the Advanced Interactive Systems; and, the Phelps County Sheriffs Department uses the IVR-300. Most of these systems permit multiple students in the virtual environment (Griffith, 2009). Medicine Techniques in virtual reality are increasingly being utilized in medical education, treatment and diagnosis (Yellowlees, 2009). Early adoptions of virtual reality in the field of medicine pertained to representation of intricate data emanating from Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) (Yellowlees, 2009). Recently, virtual reality has been applied to virtual colonoscopy in which information from contrast enhanced abdominal CT scan is utilized to present a fly-through of the colon which is then used for screening for colon cancer (Yellowlees, 2009). Phobias and post-traumatic stress disorders are also being treated now using virtual reality, Figures 7 and 8 illustrate virtual environments for the treatment of agoraphobia (Cà ¡rdenas, Munoz, Gonzà ¡lez, and Uribarren, 2006). In particular, training for medical students are enhanced by the use of a virtual psychosis environment, wherein they have the opportunity to experience visual and auditory hallucinations of schizophrenic patients (Yellowlees, 2009). As mentioned earlier, indispensable training may be provided by virtual reality for mass casualty, as well as for disaster response and medical emergencies. Although it has been found out that the use of standardized patients for training such as these were more effective because of the realism element, virtual reality simulations were more cost-effective, it was also advantageous in the sense that the simulations may be repeated unlimitedly, so that skills may be practiced and mastered (Yellowlees, 2009). Virtual reality has been used in other areas of medicine like in chemotherapy distraction intervention, providing leisure time opportunities for people with intellectual and physical disabilities, brain damage rehabilitation for stroke victims, smoking cessation, physical therapy, autism, mental retardation and other relevant areas. Business Marketing efforts for businesses have been greatly enhanced by virtual reality. Business owners can now advertise their products over various multi-media, and depict a 360-degree image of products that they are manufacturing, marketing and selling. Websites have been high-tech critical missions for Top 500 companies, triggering a competition on virtual reality advertising (Kassaye, 2006). Figure 9 depicts a chart tracing these new breed of competitors and how they fare through their communication objectives (Kassaye, 2006). Meanwhile, virtual reality is also useful for the manufacturing process, because layout planning for assembly systems and machines require more data than the basis geometry (Okulicz, 2004). Moreover, 3D CAD Systems are not effective for plotting out production processes, and virtual reality has no restrictions as the two aforementioned processes (Okulicz,2004). In addition to this, virtual reality provides semi-immersive and/or interactive immersive visualization that is essential for the visual estimation of each manufacturing process (Okulicz, 2004). With some slight overlap with the aforementioned field of Education, virtual reality platforms are valuable in training and education for businesses. For instance, developing, testing and operating sophisticated machinery and fixing it under tight tire pressure when it malfunctions are some skills that employees in the industries have to master (Blumel, Termath and Haase, 2009). Companies benefit from investing in learning platforms like the Fraunhoffer IFF Learning Platform which utilizes virtual reality in customizing training modules to suit its end users levels of knowledge through configuration (Blumel, Termath and Haase, 2009). Virtual Reality in the field of business encompasses a much broader scope, and development in this area is anticipated to be quick and impressive. Conclusion People have benefited from virtual reality in more ways than one, attesting to the fact that the it has positively impacted society in general. Education has been enhanced by virtual reality, and students have been provided a new dimension of learning that prepares them for their chosen careers more efficiently. Meanwhile, security measures being adopted by the government have been highlighted with modern technology, especially virtual reality. Police and military forces can now be trained for highly-dangerous scenarios, without actually exposing them to great risks. On the other hand, the medical field has furthered its growth due to the advent of virtual reality. Of the advantages of virtual reality, this is one of the most significant because of its potential in asisting scientists discover life-saving technologies and techniques. Lastly, business enterprises also benefit from virtual technology, to enable organizations to compete more in international markets. Virtual reality has a long way to go, and more benefits are anticipated for humankind. IRTUAL REALITY 8 Appendix Page Figure 1 Virtual Reality (Images from Google) VIRTUAL REALITY 9 Figure 2 Virtual Environment (Gajera, n.d.) VIRTUAL REALITY 10 Figure 3 Virtual Reality in Education (Rusch, Sherman Thakkar, 2002) Figure 4 Virtual Reality and the Web System (Ottoson and Holmdahl, 2007) VIRTUAL REALITY 11 Figure 5 Benefits of Virtual Reality in Education (Blumel and Hasse, 2009) VIRTUAL REALITY 12 Figure 6 Industry Performance History and Forecast, India (Economic Intelligence Unit, 2010) Forecast summary (% unless otherwise indicated) 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Real GDP growth 8.8 8.6 8.8 8.7 8.6 8.6 Industrial production growth 10.9 8.4 9 8 7.9 7.9 Unemployment rate (av) 10.8 10.6 10.6 10.4 10.1 9.7 Consumer price inflation (av) 11.7 6.5 5.2 5.2 5.9 5.6 Consumer price inflation (end-period) 7.4 5.8 5.2 5.5 5.7 5.5 Short-term interbank rate 12.4 13.4 13.5 13.2 13.2 13.2 Govt balance (% of GDP) -5.5 -5.3 -5 -4.3 -4.1 -3.5 Exports of goods fob (US$ bn) 208.3 231.6 257.9 291.4 328.9 371.3 Imports of goods fob (US$ bn) -334.9 -373.7 -429.2 -498.6 -578.9 -677.4 Current-account balance (US$ bn) -32.5 -36.8 -42.7 -50.5 -51.1 -55.2 Current-account balance (% of GDP) -2.1 -2.1 -2.1 -2.1 -1.8 -1.7 Total foreign debt (year-end; US$ bn) 237.9 256.9 280.4 308.5 337.9 367.4 Exchange rate Rs:US$ (av) 46.14 46.53 45.43 44.1 43.1 42 Exchange rate Rs:US$ (end-period) 46.34 45.98 44.77 43.6 42.55 41.45 Exchange rate Rs: ¥100 (av) 49.24 52.73 51.77 50.84 50.12 48.84 Exchange rate Rs:à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ (av) 64.28 60.12 54.06 50.72 49.13 47.88 (c) Economist Intelligence Unit 2010 VIRTUAL REALITY 13 Figure 7 Virtual Environment No. 1 for Agoraphobia (Cà ¡rdenas, et al., 2006) Figure 8 virtual environment number 2 for agoraphobia VIRTUAL REALITY 14 Figure 9 New Breed of Competitors Using Virtual Reality (Kassaye, 2006). VIRTUAL REALITY 15

I Will be an Asian Newscaster :: Autobiography Essay, Personal Narrative

â€Å"This is Sandy Le, reporting from Channel 7 News.† In five years, I see myself as a newscaster broadcasting to my local Bay Area. I will be following in the footsteps of a well-known Vietnamese news anchor named Thuy Vu. She has helped open a door for other Vietnamese people to expand their career options in American society. As a newscaster, I will expand my knowledge of different cultures and take advantage of the many opportunities to learn about what lies outside my own community. Her inspiration will help me excel in this, my chosen career. Thuy Vu came from Vietnam. Traveling thousands of miles by boat, she escaped Vietnam with her family when Saigon fell to the communists toward the end of the Vietnam War. In America, she gained a general education and then went to UC Berkeley where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Rhetoric. She started her journalism career in public radio at KQED-FM in San Francisco, and then moved to National Public Radio. Eventually, she worked at several Bay Area news stations as a reporter. In August 2000, she joined ABC7 and became a co-anchor on Sunday Morning News at 7am and 9am. She also generously donates her time to community groups, often emceeing fundraisers, giving keynote speeches, or judging competitions. Over the years, she has received numerous awards from her hard work in radio and journalism, and was honored Best Reporter in the Bay Area by American Women in Radio and Television. She also won two national awards from the Asian American Journalists Association, one for a multi-part series on post-war life in her homeland of Vietnam. These were just a few awards among many that she has accumulated or have been nominated for. When I wanted to be a reporter, I noticed only a few Vietnamese working in the media. Eventually, I will want to contribute to the number of Vietnamese faces in the media with my own presence. I’ve always wanted to be a reporter who travels around discovering interesting stories about the community and bringing them to others’ attention. I find media communication is one of the best resources for expressing news and current events. I Will be an Asian Newscaster :: Autobiography Essay, Personal Narrative â€Å"This is Sandy Le, reporting from Channel 7 News.† In five years, I see myself as a newscaster broadcasting to my local Bay Area. I will be following in the footsteps of a well-known Vietnamese news anchor named Thuy Vu. She has helped open a door for other Vietnamese people to expand their career options in American society. As a newscaster, I will expand my knowledge of different cultures and take advantage of the many opportunities to learn about what lies outside my own community. Her inspiration will help me excel in this, my chosen career. Thuy Vu came from Vietnam. Traveling thousands of miles by boat, she escaped Vietnam with her family when Saigon fell to the communists toward the end of the Vietnam War. In America, she gained a general education and then went to UC Berkeley where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Rhetoric. She started her journalism career in public radio at KQED-FM in San Francisco, and then moved to National Public Radio. Eventually, she worked at several Bay Area news stations as a reporter. In August 2000, she joined ABC7 and became a co-anchor on Sunday Morning News at 7am and 9am. She also generously donates her time to community groups, often emceeing fundraisers, giving keynote speeches, or judging competitions. Over the years, she has received numerous awards from her hard work in radio and journalism, and was honored Best Reporter in the Bay Area by American Women in Radio and Television. She also won two national awards from the Asian American Journalists Association, one for a multi-part series on post-war life in her homeland of Vietnam. These were just a few awards among many that she has accumulated or have been nominated for. When I wanted to be a reporter, I noticed only a few Vietnamese working in the media. Eventually, I will want to contribute to the number of Vietnamese faces in the media with my own presence. I’ve always wanted to be a reporter who travels around discovering interesting stories about the community and bringing them to others’ attention. I find media communication is one of the best resources for expressing news and current events.

Daphne DuMaurier Essay -- Authors

â€Å"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again† is one of the most capturing opening phrases of the famous novel â€Å"Rebecca† written by Daphne Du’ Maurier and published in 1938. After the first two paragraphs the story’s unnamed narrator reminisces about her past, but the narrator's name is never revealed. She is referred to as "my dear", Mrs. de Winter, â€Å"my wife", etc., but her first and last name are never given by the author. This opening line gave form to the entire story â€Å"Rebecca† and for over sixty years audiences around the world have praised Daphne Du’Maurier’s novels for their spellbinding mix of suspense, romance, mystery, and horror. Very similar to writers like the Bronte sisters Daphne Du’maurier’s works stand out as a superb example of melodramatic writing. Daphne Du’Maurier was born on May 13th, 1907 in London, England. The middle of three daughters, Du’Maurier was born into a prominent artistic and literary household. She was the granddaughter of famed caricaturist George du Maurier, and the daughter of actor-manager George du Maurier and actress Muriel Beaumont. With her early introduction to literary and artistic accomplishments it is no surprise that Du’Maurier was fascinated by imaginary worlds and wrote her first short story to be published in a magazine, which led to a literary contract, when she was only in her teens. Daphne Du’Maurier’s father, Gerald Du’Maurier, was an English actor and manager, who married Muriel Beaumont in 1902 and proceeded to have three daughters. Daphne’s sisters Angela and Jeanne Du’Maurier were both writers, but not nearly so well known or accomplished as their sister. In 1931, Du’Maurier wrote her first full length novel, â€Å"The Loving Spirit†. After writing this novel when sh... ..., author, or artist, but above all as an intellectual individual with passion and talent in writing who changed literary history with each one of her works.  Works Cited GradeSaver. "Biography of Daphne Du Maurier | List of Works, Study Guides & Essays". GradeSaver, 13 May 2012 Web. 13 May 2012. Du Maurier, Daphne. Frenchman's Creek . Garden City, New York: Nelson Doubleday Inc., 1941. Print. Du Maurier, Daphne - Richard Kelly (essay date 1987). Short Story Criticism. Ed. Drew Kalasky. Vol. 18. Gale Cengage, 1995. eNotes.com. 14 May, 2012 Auerbach, Nina. Daphne Du Maurier, Haunted Heiress . University of Pennsylvania Press, 2002. Print. Leng, Flavia. Daphne du Maurier: A Daughter's Memoir. Mainstream Publishing, 1999. Print. 

Vacationing Under the Big Sky

In an obscure land lies Lone Mountain Peak. It soars into the Montana sky at 11,166 feet, and towers over the tiny community of Big Sky. This remote area is home to the Big Sky Ski Resort that was built in the 1970’s by the late news broadcaster Chet Huntley. It also houses the newly built Moonlight Basin Resort. The small town of Big Sky has grown to be one of Montana’s most sought out year-round playground for recreationists. During the summer months, Big Sky is a golfer’s paradise, a fly fisher’s sanctuary and a whitewater rafter’s dream. As the temperature drops and winter emerges, strap on a set of snow skis and tear up the softest powder on one of 220 ski trails. Of course if Lone Mountain is too difficult of an undertaking, then hop on a snowmobile and take a nice and peaceful trip through the scenic trails of the Gallatin National Forest. Gallatin National Forest spans across 1. 8 million acres of land and includes six mountain ranges. As anyone can see, whether travelers are looking for a summer or winter destination, Big Sky Montana offers many fun-filled activities to meet everyone’s needs. In the beginning Big Sky was not the hotspot it is today. The U. S. obtained the territory that is now the State of Montana with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. During this time the territory was home to twelve Indian tribes, the Blackfeet, the Crow, and the Sioux just to name a few. The Indians called this territory â€Å"the first best place† and to them the land was very sacred. In the late 1890s, homesteaders began to settle in this area which prompted the U. S. and the Tribal Nations to construct a treaty creating what we know today as Indian reservations. In 1902, Augustus Franklin Crail, a small time rancher set up his homestead in what is now called Big Sky’s Meadow. After this, Big Sky was known as home to a small group of ranchers. In 1973, retired NBC newscaster Chet Huntley opened Big Sky Resort, and finally saw his dream come to life. Unfortunately, Huntley died of lung cancer in 1974 and never got to see its full potential. After his death, Boyne USA Resorts purchased the ski mountain and soon after Big Sky began to develop into what it is today. In 1995, Big Sky Resort built the Lone Peak Tram, escalating Big Sky’s vertical drop to 4,180 feet. In 2003, Moonlight Basin Resort opened its doors on the North side of Lone Peak. This resort was built to cater to adults seeking a rejuvenating getaway. In 2006, the two resorts partnered up to offer the Lone Peak Ticket, creating the biggest skiing area in America which is a total of, 5,512 acres. Today, Big Sky’s year-round population only adds up to about 2,200 residents. The ski mountain attracts 400 more seasonal residents in the winter, plus thousands of travelers from all over the world. As a result of the partnership and one of the largest ski areas around, the slopes are seldom crowded and Big Sky maintains its genuine small-town vibe. As the summer months approach and Big Sky thaws out the land comes to life. The summer season starts in June and ends in September. This is the best time to see the state’s historical, cultural and sightseeing attractions. Yellowstone National Park is a great choice for a passionate photographer looking for the next amazing shot. The park is swarming with an array of wildlife and astonishing natural features such as geysers and hot springs. In addition to sightseeing Big Sky offers many activities for the outdoor enthusiast. First go horseback riding in the fresh air through the Gallatin Valley. And then, jump on a mountain bike and navigate down one of many treacherous trails at Moonlight Basin. Next, take a chair lift ride through the tree tops to one of the three zip lines sure to thrill the adrenaline junky. Finally, take a swing at one of the three challenging golf courses designed by professional golfers. As far as Big Sky fishing the possibilities are endless. Madison and Gallatin Rivers sustain populations of Cutthroat, Rainbow, Brown and Brook trout as well as native Montana White Fish and Arctic Grayling. The Gallatin River also presents the most challenging rapids for the eager kayaker or whitewater rafter. When the snow falls, Big Sky flourishes. Skiers and snowboarders flock to Big Sky to shred up the largest area of ski terrain in North America. Skiing and snowboarding are Big Sky’s most popular winter activity. Altogether, Big Sky Resort and Moonlight Basin offer 5,512 acres, 220 ski runs, and 4,350 vertical feet, of accessible ski terrain. The twenty-six lifts are capable of moving 35,000 people per hour, but usually only carry about 2,500 riders per day. As a result there is no such thing as long waits in line at the lifts. For the kids at heart, Big Sky recently added an area to zip down a 500-foot run on a sled-like inner tube. In addition, explore hundreds of miles of trails in Big Sky and nearby areas via a snowmobile. There is a 120-mile trail designated just for this between Bozeman and West Yellowstone called the Big Sky Snowmobile Trail. On this ride you will see incredible snow covered mountain vistas and a wide variety of wildlife. Another popular form of transportation is a horse-drawn sleigh. Whether it is a romantic dinner for two or a relaxing outing with the whole family, the enchantment of a horse-drawn sleigh ride is sure to be an unforgettable one. Journey through and discover Yellowstone National Park by way of a snowmobile, snow coach, ski, or snowshoe. Most of the wildlife and geothermal sites are still active in Yellowstone during the winter months. However, tourists are few and far between. The parks wide variety of wildlife roams freely through the winter wonderland. Another site to be seen is when boiling water from one of the many hot springs breaks through the frozen surface hissing steam into the cold winter air. Winter in Yellowstone is spectacular, making it a surprisingly picturesque time to visit. Over the past forty years, Big Sky Montana has grown from a small ski town into a frequently sought out vacation destination. With the endless list of both summer and winter activities who could deny the fact that Big Sky is an awesome place to visit? In short, Big Sky Montana started out as one man’s dream and has flourished into one of the most desirable vacation destinations. Work Cited All Trips: Big Sky Montana. All Trips, 1995/2012. Web. 28 Aug. 2012 This website is a tell all guide for prospective vacationers looking to explore Big Sky Montana. It describes in depth the area’s geographical statistics such as maps, elevation, and general location. It also lists recreational activities for the spring, summer and winter months like: hiking, fishing, skiing, snowmobiling, horseback riding, and sightseeing in Yellowstone National Park. It describes lodging at Big Sky Resort, and Moonlight Basin Resort, and also mentions the local entertainment and dining options. The site has many links to other related websites that would also be helpful in exploring the area. This website is a very reliable and helpful resource for writing my essay. It gave me the information I needed to accurately describe what Big Sky Montana has to offer to vacationers. Big Sky Montana. org. N. p. , n. d. Web. 28 Aug. 2012 This website is a guide to exploring the remote area of Big Sky Montana. It provides you with all the necessary information pertinent to the area like he terrain, including the details of the mountains surrounding the area. It lists and gives a brief description of all the activities, lodging, local entertainment, and current events. The main page also has a link to look for vacancy at all the local resorts and hotels. It is a one stop place to answer all your questions about vacationing in Big Sky Montana. This website is a very reliable and helpful resource for writing my essay. It gave me the information I needed for my essay to accurately describe what the small town of Big Sky Montana has to offer to its vacationers. Juneau, Denise. â€Å"Indian Education for All: Montana Indians – Their History and Location. † Montana Office of Public Instruction, April 2009. Web. 5 Oct 2012 This eighty-three page pamphlet was published as an educational tool by the State of Montana’s Public Instruction Office for use in Montana’s public schools. It discusses in length the history, culture and traditions of each of the twelve Montana Indian tribes. It explains the changes that have occurred since the treaty between the U. S. and Tribal Nations which formed the Indian reservations that are still there today. Lastly it lists chronologically each major event that impacted the Indian tribes. This list starts in 1972 with Montana legislature adopting a new article stating that the State recognizes the unique cultural heritage of the American Indian, and committing to its educational goals to the preservation of their cultural heritage. This article supplied the facts on needed for my essay about the history of the territory which is now the State of Montana. Moonlight Basin Resort. N. p. ,n. d. Web. 4 Oct 2012