Monday, September 30, 2019

How To Create Edits

DATA†, when the edit is loaded onto the machine, he edit will appear With the title â€Å"Liverwurst†. The second method involves using Symphony which allows you convert a Stephanie simile (. Sir file) into the DATA format generated by Kinsman's online Step Editor. Stephanie is generally seen as having a better user interface and testing environment for creating edit data than Kinsman's online editor. Symphony also allows you to convert songs that the Sonoma Step Editor does not support, including older songs from past mixes and DIR XX songs. First, you must download the latest version of Symphony at http://sites. Goose. Mom/site/dairymaid/Symphony. Zip . Extract the files into a folder on your computer. Launch the program. You may receive an error that an Internet connection is needed to use Symphony. Symphony works by simulating the Sonoma Step Editor by sending the website the step data needed to generate an edit file, but it will replace the appropriate music id so t hat the file generated works for the song you choose. Because of the is, an internet connection is needed. The first step is to find the simile of the song you want to convert. Typically, Stephanie songs are found in If electroplatesSongs or Files(ex.)StephanieSongs (for Vista/7).Select the . SMS file and the title of the song will be displayed in the textbook below it. Below this is a list of songs from the master id list that might possibly represent the song you chose. Sometimes the title of your . SMS file may not match what is found in the master id list. Try editing the title of the song so that the list of songs eventually shows you the song you are converting. An example is when you edit â€Å"Healing Vision(Angelic Mix)†, the master id list has it titled â€Å"Healing Vision -Angelic Mix-â€Å". Modifying the textbook to â€Å"Healing Vision† will show several songs with the name, including â€Å"HealingVision -Angelic Mix-â€Å". Select that song as the o ne you are converting. Once you have selected the song, select the style of play you are converting (single, double or couple). The difficulty below it indicates which chart from the . SMS file you are converting over. This might be a â€Å"Challenge† chart or â€Å"Edit† chart. If there are multiple Edit charts in your . SMS file, only the first one can be read. On the right Of Symphony's screen are options for the edit data produced. The region is for the region your playing in (North America or Europe). The Difficulty indicates what the chart will show up as in DIR X/XX.Remember, some songs in XX will play a Chinese version if the Challenge chart is selected, so if your edit indicates it is a Challenge chart and the song has a Chinese version, the Chinese version will play for your edit. The rating is the number of â€Å"feet† the song is rated. The comments are generic comments you can give your edit that show up in the game. The edits name is the name of yo ur edit (limited to 8 characters). Finally, the Measure offset is used for cases where your . SMS file's first beat isn't on the same measure as the official data's first beat. An example is the song Red Zone.In the official data, the first beat is found on the 5th measure, but in the . Sir file found on genius-I-banisher's website, the first beat starts on the 6th measure. Because of this, the offset must be set to -1 , which indicates the first beat will be moved backwards one measure. For songs in which a known offset is needed, Symphony will have the offset already programmed in. As more songs are discovered to need an offset, Symphony will be updated to reflect what those offsets are. When you have set all of your options, click â€Å"Generate . DATA†. After several seconds, a Save File Dialog should display, allowing you to save your enervated .DATA file to your computer. After you have generated all of your edits, you must combine the edits into a â€Å"zip† fil e. Windows has a built in Zip program, but other alternatives are zip and Winner. You can include up to 30 edits in one zip file. Once you have done this, you must visit Kinsman's library manager at http://direct. Contamination. Com/address/library_manager/ index. PH. Here you will select what region you are in and select the zip file you just created and click â€Å"Save†. A file will be returned to you titled DIR EDIT U. DATA. The . DATA generated this time MUST be named or (for Europe).This file must be saved to a folder â€Å"DIR_EDIT' at the root level of your USB drive. Once this is done, you may use the thumb drive to play your edits on a DIR X or XX machine! Troubleshooting put the -SMS files onto my thumb drive and the game didn't recognize them. DIR X/XX does not recognize the . SMS format, this is why the program Symphony is needed. Symphony converts the . SMS format to a format readable by DIR X/ put the -DATA files in DIR EDIT and the game did not recognize them . This is because the game does not recognized individual . DATA file. The game requires that all edits are compiled into a single .DATA file called for Europe). This is what the Library Manager found on Kinsman's website (see above) is used for. 3. My edit seems off, how do I sync it? Edits do not contain any syncing data, only step placement and note types. If the step data seems to be a measure or more early or late, use the Measure offset feature to adjust the data so that it lines up with the game's music. If the song's official data is off sync, your edit data will be off sync as well. 4. My edit has blank measures, what gives? Edit data only supports 4th, 8th, 1 oh and 12th notes. This, 32nd and this are not supported.Also, because of the limited format, 12th notes can only exist inside a single quarter note range. Any quarter note section that contains this and any other note (ethos, this, etc) will be blank. 5. What about hands? The game supports hands if they are part of a freeze, but hands as a set of notes pressed on the same beat are not supported by the game. 6. Some of my freezes are being combined into a long freeze, what gives? If freeze arrows of the same direction are only separated by a 16th note, the game will combine these into a single freeze arrow. This is a bug that's present in edit mode in all DIR versions.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Professionalism in the Army Essay

Professionals in the United States Army stand apart from others engaged in particular careers in the civilian world. While many vocations contain some of the characteristics of professional, a lot of careers do not include all of the elements necessary to distinguish themselves as being as close to a professional as a United States soldier. Professionalism grows depending on the time and service they have in the Army. A professional has specialized knowledge and skill which can only be acquired through prolonged education and experience. Such skill and experience form the basis of objective standards of professional competence that separate the practicing professional from their peers and measure the competence of such professional. This professional knowledge must also be intellectual in nature. The second characteristic of professionalism is responsibility. General responsibility creates the moral responsibility of soldiers and helps us understand the set of values which guide us. In addition, however, soldiers must also possess the values of other human beings and question service to a society which does not respect these values. These values include justice, common courtesy, human dignity and humbleness. A government which does not respect these values is illegitimate and cannot be said to serve the society it directs. In the case of United States Army soldiers, the values of the United States must be examined in the context of the military profession. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution provide clear statements of these values and Ethics. Ethics are standards by which one should act based on values. Values are core beliefs such as duty, honor, and integrity that motivate attitudes and actions. Not all values are ethical values (integrity is; happiness is not). Ethical values relate to what is right and wrong and thus take precedence over nonethical values when making ethical decisions. Honesty. Being truthful, straightforward, and candid are aspects of honesty. Truthfulness is required. Deceptions are usually easily uncovered. Lies erode credibility and undermine public confidence. Untruths told for seemingly altruistic reasons (to prevent hurt feelings, to promote good will, etc.) are nonetheless resented by the recipients. Straightforwardness adds frankness to truthfulness and is usually necessary to promote public confidence and to ensure effective, efficient conduct of operations. Truths presented in such a way as to lead recipients to confusion, misinterpretation, or inaccurate conclusions are not productive. Such indirect deceptions can promote ill-will and erode openness, especially when there is an expectation of frankness. Candor is the forthright offering of unrequested information. It is necessary according to the gravity of the situation and the nature of the relationships. Candor is required when a reasonable person would feel betrayed if the information were withheld. In some circumstances, silence is dishonest; yet in other circumstances, disclosing information would be wrong and perhaps unlawful. Integrity. Being faithful to one’s convictions is part of integrity. Following principles, acting with honor, maintaining independent judgment, and performing duties with impartiality help to maintain integrity and avoid conflicts of interest and hypocrisy. Loyalty. Fidelity, faithfulness, allegiance, and devotion are all synonyms for loyalty. Loyalty is the bond that holds the nation and the Federal Government together and the balm against dissension and conflict. It is not blind obedience or unquestioning acceptance of the status quo. Loyalty requires careful balancing among various interests, values, and institutions in the interest of harmony and cohesion. Accountability. Soldiers are required to accept responsibility for their decisions and the resulting consequences. This includes avoiding even the appearance of impropriety. Accountability promotes careful, well-thought-out decisionmaking and limits thoughtless action. Fairness. Open-mindedness and impartiality are important aspects of fairness. Soldiers must be committed to justice in the performance of their official duties. Decisions must not be arbitrary, capricious, or biased. Individuals must be treated equally and with tolerance. Caring. Compassion is an essential element of good government. Courtesy and kindness, both to those we serve and to those we work with, help to ensure individuals are not treated solely as a means to an end. Caring for others is the counterbalance against the temptation to pursue the mission at any cost. Respect. To treat people with dignity, to honor privacy, and to allow self-determination are critical in a government of diverse people. Lack of respect leads to a breakdown of loyalty and honesty within a government and brings chaos to the international community. Promisekeeping. No government can function for long if its commitments are not kept. Soldiers are obligated to keep their promises in order to promote trust and cooperation. Because of the importance of promisekeeping, leaders must only make commitments within their authority. Professionalism is a subject that is near and dear to my heart. Professionalism is important for all of us who are part of the military institution in both active and Reserve components. It is important for all of us who love and respect the Army. We live in a time of change for the Army, and, as in all institutions during times of change and change in leadership, we need to emphasize leadership and return to the core values that are the foundation of our system. With the example of carelessness and other lapses in our leadership in the Army, it is important for us to go back and reexamine ourselves. It is vital for everyone who wears the Army uniform, to have consideration for others(superiors, peers and subourdinates) and for Army values. We must constantly remind ourselves of that. We all know what Army values are-the timeless values of loyalty, duty, respect, honor, selfless service, integrity, and personal courage-pronounced as leadership. Those are the values that have carried us as an institution over the years and have kept us professional at all times. Rarely does anyone talk about the next step or higher plain. I will give my perception of what I define as professionalism. In reading a number of quotes about the military calling, the one I like best is that of John F. Kennedy speaking to the graduating class of the Naval Academy in Annapolis, â€Å"What you have chosen to do for your country is the greatest contribution a man can make.† While professionalism is the basis of military service, it consists of many parts. One part is overcoming challenges. There will be many challenges over the next decades. In order to be successful, this nation needs soldiers with a level of skills, talents, drive and professionalism that we have not really experienced before, except in wartime. We must attain that degree of professionalism in the peacetime environment. Our leaders must be creative, innovative and exploit any opportunity to ensure the effective contribution of the Army to our military strategy and to national security. Professionalism was always leadership. The message is all to clear. The Army is not a place where anyone can afford to drift along. We need to study leadership in our duties and professional education. The practice of leadership must be constant. Clearly, the scope of professionalism has changed. The idea that we can be professionals at another time, and not be professionals all the time, has changed also. Today, professionalism is a shared approach. Reservists must be as professional as the active components that they support and the actives they sometimes replace. We must avoid the shortcuts in our units that create our own problems, for example, when we try to promote specialists to sergeants without a thorough grasp on whether or not they’re ready to be a leader, or abuse their power against good soldiers, or turn our heads and choose quantity over quality. Without the attention to professionalism, we lose the edge we have. Professionalism is mentoring, passing on the example and the values of professionalism. As leaders we all have a responsibility to pass on the torch and to mentor our subordinates. For the good of all our soldiers, my challenge to all of us is to monitor and encourage professionalism and inject that Army professionalism into the joint arena. Professionalism is being ready. If I may quote a line in the soldier’s creed, â€Å"I stand ready to deploy, engage and destory the enemies of the united states of america in close combat..† Our relevance to the mission of the modern Army is measured in what we can provide and accomplish today and not what we can provide at some time in the future to meet some vague threat. Integral to the concept of professionalism is a common vision to provide trained and ready soldiers and units to America’s Army. That vision rests on the pillars of readiness, recruiting, retention, resources and community relations. Professionalism also calls for physical and mental readiness. The missions that our government calls on us to perform today demand no less than physical and mental preparedness. That is why we have a physicaly training test every six months. We are above the standard. Professionalism is also taking care of one’s own. We recruit soldiers: retain families. We need to make soldiers feel that they are a part of something very important and that they have a sense of camaraderie which comes from the confidence that they belong to an organization that is well run and which is doing  meaningful and interesting things. Meeting the challenge of developing esprit de corps in soldiers and addressing the needs of the military families are fundamental to passing professionalism on to our soldiers. Finally, professionalism means supporting the profession. You do that by supporting the organizations and associations that support the profession. If there is one message I would like to have you carry from this essay, it is that there is no greater supporter of professionalism than I. I do not need to remind you that the new leadership of the Army are all team players and we are here today to play the ballgame. We are here until the game is over. I invite you to join me in the coming years to increase the professionalism of our force. A professional learns every aspect of the job. An amateur skips the learning process whenever possible. A professional carefully discovers what is needed and wanted. An amateur assumes what others need and want. A professional looks, speaks and dresses like a professional. An amateur is sloppy in appearance and speech. A professional keeps his or her work area clean and orderly. An amateur has a messy, confused or dirty work area. A professional is focused and clear-headed. An amateur is confused and distracted. A professional does not let mistakes slide by. An amateur ignores or hides mistakes. A professional jumps into difficult assignments. An amateur tries to get out of difficult work. A professional completes projects as soon as possible. An amateur is surrounded by unfinished work piled on top of unfinished work. A professional remains level-headed and optimistic. An amateur gets upset and assumes the worst. A professional handles money and accounts very carefully. An amateur is sloppy with money or accounts. A professional faces up to other people’s upsets and problems. An amateur avoids others’ problems. A professional uses higher emotional tones: Enthusiasm, cheerfulness, interest, contentment. An amateur uses lower emotional tones: anger, hostility, resentment, fear, victim. A professional persists until the objective is achieved. An amateur gives up at the first opportunity. A professional produces more than expected. An amateur produces just enough to get by. A professional produces a high-quality product or service. An amateur produces a medium-to-low quality product or service. A professional has a promising future. An amateur has an uncertain future.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Public Institution for Social Security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Public Institution for Social Security - Essay Example Kuwait started a pension scheme in1955, which was within the background of civil employment and retirement bylaws in the public sector. The initial independent decree for pensions was issued in a Decree No. (3) In 1960, and it was effected from 1 April 1960. This law covered all government employees, the civil servants as well as the military. The law was immediately followed by the enactment of an independent law for pensions and securities for the military, which is in agreement with law no. (27) Of 1961. However, the law was enforced on 9/9/1961.The first complete and integrated law for social security was established on 1 October 1976, which was in accordance with the Amiri Law Decree No. (61) Of 1976. (The Public Institution For Social Security 2-8). The current social security law in Kuwait provides security cover to all active citizens in the community notwithstanding their occupation. Additionally, the law offers security cover for employees employed by third parties in any sector. The law also covers the members of Municipal Council, National Assembly, mayors, as well as apprentices for work sponsors and the self-employed individuals inclusive of merchants, and free-lancers such as engineers, physicians, attorneys, salespersons, as well as Kuwaiti citizens working outside the country. In addition, the social security scheme provides security cover for individuals practicing in other professions that are legitimately licensed by proficient authorities. (The Public Institution For Social Security 9-14). Kuwait social security law is mainly financed by contributions paid by three parties who include the insured persons, the employers, and the State Public Treasury. The information systems department in the institution has a substantial part in accelerating the development of PIFSS. Essentially, the systems department covers all the technical requirements for all the departments in the  institution.   Year after year, the systems department achieves several requests, investigations, as well as projects (The Public Institution For Social Security 6-12).

Friday, September 27, 2019

The economic and accounting concepts of Income Essay

The economic and accounting concepts of Income - Essay Example It is impossible to arrive at the accounting income without going through accounting equation. i.e. adding up what the accounting records say belongs to the business and deducting what they say the business owes. This gives us the accounting income which essentially shows what an individual or a business is worth according to those accounting records. The accounting income therefore takes into account the fact that that no business will be set up to start trading in the absence of recourses which in most cases are supplied by the owner of the business. Usually, it is not only then owner of the business supplying resources, but other people s well other than the owner. The amounts owing to these other people for their assets in the business is called liabilities Accounting income , therefore can be called the owner 's equity or net worth, since it comprises of the funds invested in the business by the owner plus any profits retained for use in the business less any share of profit paid out of the business to the owner. The following is an illustration of a balance sheet. Balance sheet as at ________________________________________________________________________ Fixed assets CapitalFree hold premises xx Furniture and fittings xx Long Term, Liabilities xx Motor Vans xx Loan for 5 Years xx Current Assets Trading Debtors xx Trading stock xx Cash at Bank xx Short term Liabilities Trading Debtors xxShort term Loans xx Institution of all kinds prepare income statements even governments of Government bodies

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Bus 234 San Asign3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Bus 234 San Asign3 - Essay Example A concept map is a type of graphical organizer that gives the scholars the knowledge to organize and present their subject of study. It helps in brainstorming and generation of new ideas among the students. Students are also in a position to integrate new ideas with old ideas by use of the concept map. It also assists in communication of information through ideas. Concept maps also help students gain knowledge of any topic and evaluate the new information. According to Hudgins (78), instructional design is a systematic approach that is used to develop education systems and training programs in a more effective and reliable manner. Instructional designs are categorized in to three:- Organizational - these involve minor and major levels (macro and micro) that enhance subsequent arrangement of the lessons. Delivery strategies are more concerned with the decisions that may impact on the process of information transmission. The third strategy is referred to as management, which involves the decisions that help the student’s inn their interaction with learning activities in order to gain knowledge and skills. The third phase – management, is more important, since it give a chance for the learners to gain new skills and

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Religion and Secularism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Religion and Secularism - Essay Example In one sense Secularism is understood as the case of absence of religion and in other sense as treating all religions equally. Thus, it is difficult enough to define secularism according to a single ideal and social, political and cultural conditions define the secularism in a particular context and area. The afore-mentioned aspect points out the origins of secularism from religion. As one of the concepts in understanding secularism is to oppose the religion in at least until some extent, the concept developed from religious context. Though the secularism has origins in religion, it is a political and social movement and retains a philosophical aspect. In many contexts, the philosophy is to oppose religion and this resulted in different type of applications of it in different situations. However, in any type of understanding the secularism a common opposition to supernatural and faith in god will exist. The concept of secularism and secularization differ as the secularization questio ns the role of religion in society and argues for sphere of knowledge. Thus in the course of questioning the religion, secularization opposes the presence of religious authorities and opposes their public authority. As a result, it catches criticism from the opponents of secularism or religious minded people. One of the important opposition is regarding favoring of explicitly basis for politics at the cost of another religion, which generally happens in developing countries like India, Pakistan and Gulf countries.

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Ancient Egyptian architecture had a number of well known generic Essay

Ancient Egyptian architecture had a number of well known generic building types (pyramids, Mortuary temples and so on). Select o - Essay Example The word ‘pyramid’ was adopted from the Greek word of ‘pyramis’ that stands for ‘wheat cake’ (Ancientegypt.co.uk). The word pyramis was used by the Greeks to refer to the ancient buildings in Egypt because they resembled the Egyptian wheat cakes with pointed tops. The later dynasties of the Old Kingdom were flourishing in terms of economy and stability and thus the Kings held a notable position in that era. They were seen as divine majesties and were thought to be gods’ servants on earth who facilitated the people. As a result heavy reverence was attached to the kings and all measures were taken to secure the king’s majesty even after his death. Since it was believed that a part of the king’s soul remained with the body to help him rule the dead ones, the body was turned into a mummy to preserve it and all possible equipments were buried along with him that were thought to facilitate the king. These equipments involved vesse ls, cutlery, furniture and even food items. Thus the pyramids built for these dead kings became the focus of the world’s attention and were included into the ancient Seven Wonders of the World. Early History The history of pyramids dates back to the very early time of the Dynastic Era, when tombs with flat roofs were carved out of rocks for the kings, then known as ‘mastabas’. These mastabas were short rectangular constructions with two paired offering niches and exterior open air chapels marked by crude brick walls (Reisner, 1934). These structures marked the birth of pyramids. The procedure involved building a mastaba on top of another but smaller in size of the one below it. This resulted in a hierarchy of mastabas, ending up in a triangular like structure now known as pyramid. Contrary to mastabas, this structure was completely made out of stone and had a similar chamber for burial as in a mastaba. The first pyramid of this style was built at Saqqara and was known as the Step Pyramid (Thinkquest.org, 1992). It was built by the architect Imhotep to preserve the body of the King Djoser, who ruled Egypt during the third dynasty. The memorial was 62 feet tall, with six steppes terraces made out of stone and had a number of shrines and courtyards around it. Today, it is the oldest discovered architectural monument on earth and is now referred to as the Great Step Pyramid. The stepped pyramid style continued for several years until the first attempt at the smooth-sided pyramid was did at Dahshur by the Pharaoh Snefuru (Dunn and Winston, 1950). The pyramid was 300 feet high and was coated with limestone on the outside. Unfortunately, the sides of this pyramid turned too steep about halfway towards the top, resulting in an uneven structure. This resulted in a failed attempt at building a smooth-sided pyramid; however the change was a turning point. Archeologist wonder if the material was running low that caused the labors to complete the pyrami d in this shape. A second attempt was made again by Pharaoh Snefuru to build a smooth-sided pyramid. This time the construction turned out more flat and even and, thus, ‘The Red Pyramid’ was born. The Red Pyramid is 345 feet high and has an angle of 43 degrees (Sacred-Destinations, 2005). It contains three chambers

Monday, September 23, 2019

Surface modification to control stem cell differentiation in vitro Essay

Surface modification to control stem cell differentiation in vitro - Essay Example The stem cells within a developing embryo can differentiate into all sorts of specialized cells (known as pluripotent cells), while they can also sustain the normal turnover of revitalizing organs, such as skin, blood, or intestinal tissues (Keller, 1995). (National Institute of Health, 2001) It is getting more and more apparent that stem cells are extensively sensitive to their surroundings and react to prompts rendered by, hardness in two (2D) and three-dimensional (3D), chemistry, topography and culture. Surface modification involves changing the surface of an object by bringing chemical, biological or physical characteristics distinct from those detected originally on the surface of that object. In biomaterials, the surface modification performs a substantial role in ascertaining the consequence of the interactions of biological-materials. The surface of a material can be customized by using a particular modification in the surface of material to improve adhesion, cell interactio ns and biocompatibility. Accordingly surface modification is critical in the designing and development of new medical devices and biomaterials. The principle for the surface modification within the biomaterials is thus to continue the fundamental physical characteristics of a biomaterial while changing only the outmost surface to regulate the bio-interaction. In case such kind of surface modification is appropriately accomplished the functionality and mechanical properties of the device will remain unaffected, however, the bio-response associated to the device-tissue boundary will be modulated or improved. These surface modifications can be accomplished by utilizing mechanical, physiochemical or biological methods (Ratner, 2004). Objectives Stem cells are amazing cells, having both the abilities of differentiation to adult somatic cells and self-renewal in-vitro and in vivo. They possess various characteristics and advantages that can be coupled with the surface modification techniq ues to revolutionise healthcare applications and drug development. Stem cells provide a consistent and limitless furnish of physiologically applicable cells from formalized pathogen-free origins for practical applications like drug discovery, replacement therapies, toxicology studies and disease modelling (Roy, 2010). (National Institute of Health, 2001) Controlling Stem Cell Differentiation and Lineage Commitment The eventual purpose of bioengineering of stem cells is to become able to recognize and perhaps control the lineage commitment and differentiation of stem cells in vitro. Once this objective is attained, a huge number of therapeutic applications can be visualized. For instance one such application could be the production of different kinds of neurons in order to treat the injuries of spinal cord, Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease. Similarly the development of the muscle cells of heart for patients who have suffered heart attacks can also be imagined. Moreover, the production of pancreatic cells relevant in the secretion of insulin-secreting can also be considered to treat those suffering from Diabetes (Type I), along with the production of stem cells of hair follicle to treat some specific kinds of baldness. Complete Organ Generation These bioengineering techniques could also

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Is the Onslaught making us Crazy Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Is the Onslaught making us Crazy - Assignment Example The most important information provided is that the Internet becomes the foundation for a type of mental insanity by building dependencies, stress reactions to virtual stimuli, and can even create obsessive behaviors. The author uses the example of an individual who rose to fame with upload of a popular viral video and subsequently developed a psychotic condition when, previous to this notoriety, was a healthy and well-adjusted individual. This is because being exposed to disparate social criticism, esteem, an overload of information led to obsessive behaviors and even madness. The author’s strength of argument is found when describing how the Internet can become an addictive object. The desire to be part of the information age, such as social media, creates unhealthy attachment and dependency which actually rewires a healthy brain to adopt unhealthy behaviors. The example of an infant child being neglected while its parents nurtured a virtual baby illustrates this lack of mental adjustment and ability to rationalize decision-making as it pertains to the Internet. The weakness is that this phenomenon seems only to be relevant to those under the age of 50, a group that might, perhaps, have less need for digital information and digital socialization. This demographic being less influenced might illustrate that these negative mental behaviors can be controlled with more careful and wise self-insight.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

International marketing management Essay Example for Free

International marketing management Essay ‘Self- Reference Criterion’ 1. Define problem or goals in terms of home-country cultural traits, habits and norms 2. Define problem or goals in terms of foreign cultural traits, habits and norms 3. Isolate the SRC influence in the problem and examine it carefully to see how complicates the problem 4. Redefine the problem without the SRC influence and solve for the foreign market Self-reference criterion (SRC) as an unconscious reference to ones own cultural values, experiences and knowledge as a basis for decisions. The SRC impedes the ability to assess a foreign market in its true light. For example, Americans may perceive more traditional societies to be backward and unmotivated because they fail to adopt new technologies or social customs, seeking instead to preserve traditional values. In the 1960s, a supposedly well read American psychology professor referred to India’s culture of sick because, despite severe food shortages, the Hindu religion did not allow the eating of cows. The psychologist expressed disgust that the cows were allowed to roam free in villages, although it turns out that they provided valuable functions by offering milk and fertilizing fields. Ethnocentrism is the tendency to view one’s culture to be superior to others. The important thing here is to consider how these biases may come in the way in dealing with members of other cultures. Self-reference criterion importance to a marketing firm planning to enter international markets for the first time. Importance of Self-reference criterion as a topic of research Self-reference is a topic whose theoretical foundations have so far primarily been studied in the context of logic, the philosophy of language, systems theory, and post-modern culture. In computer science it has been a topic in the context of the recursively of Turing machines. In semiotics, there have been only few studies which have dealt explicitly with this topic, although marginal reflections on self reference can occasionally be found in the context of the theory of reference. Levels and degrees of self-reference criterion: Examples from advertising Just as signs may self-referentially refer to the world of signs, the media may refer to the world of the media in a self-referential manner. Citations, intertextuality, intermediality, met textual references, repetitions, recursions, and references to the communicative situation are some of the symptoms of self-reference in the media. Various degrees of self-reference must be distinguished, from the sign that refers to nothing but itself to the sign that refers only partially to itself and partially still to something else. Furthermore, self reference occurs at different levels of the message in which it occurs. Beginning with the smallest elements of the message, the first three levels of self-reference are derived from Peirce’s trichotomy of the interpret ant: 34 rheumatic (equivalent to the unit of a word), dicentic (equivalent to a proposition), and argumentative self-reference. In extension of this Peircean triad, textual, intertextual, intermedial and communicative self-reference will be distinguished. Communicative self-reference criterion Communicative self-reference pertains to pragmatics, the situation of text production and reception. The roles of the readers or the spectators and the enunciative roles of the authors, the producers, the actors or the players become the topic of the message. Instead of presenting or representing ideas or events in the world beyond the message, the text deals with its own communicative context, its communicative function, and its presuppositions. The text has thus its own pragmatic dimension as its topic. For example, the audience of a film is reminded of the fact that it is participating in the film while sitting in the film theatre. 38 Peter Greeanway’s actors that step out of their role as actors and mingle with the audience, or Alfred Hitchcock, who steps out of the role of a film producer to become an actor are further examples of communicative self-reference. B) International marketer must have knowledge of sub cultural groups Introduction Culture is concerned with social behaviour and attitudes, and this paper aims to highlight its significance for entry into foreign markets. Culture has been defined as â€Å"the integrated sum total of learned behaviour traits that are manifest and shared by members of a society†. Cultural factors have been itemized in the existing literature, but clearly among the most important are: customer beliefs and attitudes; morality, ethics and religion; social and consumption values; language and literature; social systems and social behaviour (especially the family); historical background; arts and aesthetics. Two authoritative studies have identified concepts of culture both as barriers to entry and as dynamic movers (Herkovits, 1970, Clutterbuck 1980). Furthermore, insufficient research attention has focused on defining more conceptual approaches to the internationalization of retailing and there is an even greater paucity of research into strategies for retailer entry modes; this is the main justification for this paper. In researching their approach to overseas markets, retailers must consider that culture can have an impact on their merchandising and promotion. The culture in which a person lives affects his/her consumption patterns and also the meaning that is attached to specific products. When promoting merchandise in a new culture, it is easier initially to appeal to existing culture requirements or expectations than to try to change them. Merchandising and promotion must be sensitive to the basic values of the country and the differences in patterns of consumption. Case Example (1) Entry into the Swiss Market In Switzerland, foreign dishwasher manufacturers and retailers expected the same rapid sales they had first obtained in other West European markets; but sales in Switzerland were so slow that research had to be done to find out why (this research should, of course, should have been done before, not after, market entry). The research showed that the Swiss housewife had a different set of values to, for example, her French and English counterparts; she was very conscious of her role as strict and hardworking, and her responsibility for the health of her family. To the Swiss housewife dishwashers simply made life easy, and this conflicted with her Calvinistic work ethic. As a result of this research, dishwasher manufacturers had to change their advertising – promoting, instead of ease-and convenience, hygiene-and-health. They did this by emphasizing that because dishwashers used temperatures higher than hand hot the process was more hygienic than washing up by hand. Thereafter retailers had no problem selling automatic dishwashers in Switzerland. Source: Author Cultures across countries High context culture – the meaning of individual behaviour and speech changes depending on the situation – nonverbal messages are full of important meaning (Read between the lines) – e. g. Saudi Arabia and Japan, written contracts are not always enforceable as new people move into executive positions (Chile, Mexico) Low context culture – intentions are expressed verbally – the situation does not change the meaning of words – e. g. India, China, Australia, New Zealand Cultural Assessment International retailers need to communicate meaning through the transmission of messages to people of different cultures if they are to succeed in the promotion of their products to enter foreign markets. Misunderstandings caused by cultural differences can seriously damage the image of a firm or product; therefore, in order to ensure the message transmitted is received in its correct form, the retailer needs to be completely aware of the implications of all the elements of the message in the foreign culture. Failure on behalf of the retailer to adapt to the intricacies of national customs and develop a rapport will lead to inadequate market entry strategies. Accurate communications are so vital that any risk of cultural misunderstanding needs to be eliminated. Firms must identify key management positions and insist that they are held, whenever possible, by someone of the same culture. Many firms make the mistake of putting nationals from the parent companies in charge of key positions within their foreign subsidiaries, often on the basis that fluency in the language is sufficient. In attempting to understand the most significant elements of the foreign culture, companies have to be vigilant and ensure a balance is maintained. There is no one method to adopt in the evaluation of other cultures for retailing purposes as the nature of the goods being offered should govern the method of assessment. The retailer must be sufficiently perceptive and guard against the over-exaggeration of the differences or the similarities between the foreign culture and its own. For example, in analyzing the United States market, a UK retailer may overemphasize a perceived common culture stemming from the common language and close political and economic relations. A common language cannot indefinitely set the seal on a common culture when the geographical, political and economic determinants of the culture are no longer the same throughout its area. The withdrawal of Marks and Spencer from the Canadian market in 1999 is a case in point; their precept was that the aforementioned â€Å"perceived† cultural affinity would facilitate acceptance of the St Michael brand name; in short the common language or heritage does not guarantee a common culture. A further complication in determining the important facets of a country’s culture is the existence of more than one culture or sub-culture within many nations world-wide. Table 1 lists a few states with cultural differences based along linguistic groupings and the problems these present to the international retailer. A cultural assessment will reveal a modal pattern, but a truly useful evaluation will also expose considerable variations within a group or a subset group. In fact, for some cultural characteristics, there may be a wider range within a given society than between societies. For example, young professional 25-30 year olds in Spain, France and Italy may have more in common, in terms of values, tastes and aspirations, than with their non-professional compatriots of the same age group. A cultural evaluation can be either static or dynamic. A static assessment serves only to identify the differences in variables between cultures, whereas a dynamic appraisal seeks to indicate which variables will change in the future, in what order and with what speed. For the international retailer, the identification of which changes would be readily accepted or rejected can mean the difference between success or failure. The analysis of a culture to ascertain the peculiarities of the population can be extremely expensive, time-consuming and unwieldy. Therefore, having conducted a rapid survey of key cultural elements of a nation, the international retailer with limited resources may choose to carry out a Partial Cultural Assessment which focuses on key elements fundamental to the success of its operations in any country. Table 2 shows several cultural factors, which could frustrate the progress of the operations in the event of a retailer failing to obtain accurate data from the assessment of the foreign markets; if a single element is incorrectly assessed, the effectiveness of the strategies will be diminished.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Treasure Found in Land Law Problem Question

Treasure Found in Land Law Problem Question Craig In regards to the items found by Craig, assuming they are not classified as treasure using the Treasure Act 1996, it can be suggested that Craig does not have the right of ownership of the items and must return them to Sarah and Tony. This is because he has found them during the course of his employment. Craig has worked at the Manor Farm for many years which is owned by Sarah and Tony. This suggests that he is an employee of Sarah and Tony. The rule is that if items are found during the course of employment, they belong to the employer, as seen in South Staffordshire Water Company v Sharman, where because the employees found the rings during the course of their employment, (they were employed to clean the pool and the rings were found whilst they did so) they belonged to the landowner[1]. Donaldson LJ reinforces this rule in Parker v British Airways Board where he states that an employee who finds an item during the course of his employment finds that item on behalf of his employer[ 2]. What this shows is that unless there is a term in the contract of employment which allows the employee to keep items found during the course of their employment, or the employee finds the items outside the course of their employment, the items belong to the employer. Applying this rule to Craig, he found the items whilst ploughing one of the larger fields of Manor Farm. Although Craigs job description is not stated, one can assume that he found the items during the course of his employment. If ploughing is not stated in his job description, then Craig can keep the items as he would be working outside the course of his employment, Also, if it is stipulated in the terms of Craigs contract that he can keep items found during employment, then he can keep the items. If this is not the case, the items will belong to Sarah and Tony as employers and landowners. The reason why the items cannot be said to belong to the true owner is because the law assumes that items found in land belong to the owner of the land, whereas items found on land belong to the true owner. Here, the items were found in land as Craig discovered them whilst ploughing. This is seen in Waverley Borough Council v Fletcher, where Auld LJ stated that when it comes to items in the ground, the original owner is unlikely to be found, thus the law looks for a substitute owner, which is the owner of the land where the item is found[3]. Treasure: If the items found by Craig are considered treasure under the 1996 Treasure Act, Craig alongside Sarah and Tony may receive compensation. However, this is at the discretion of the Secretary of State[4]. To determine whether the items found by Craig can be considered as treasure, one must look to the criteria set out in the Treasure Act 1996. In regards to the coins, it can be argued that they can be considered as treasure. This is because Craig found numerous coins. This could mean that there are at least two coins or ten or more coins[5]. If the coins fall into the former, they will need to have precious metal on them[6] (gold or silver[7]). If they do not, they can still be classified as treasure if they fall under the latter. As they appear to be very old, they could be at least 300 years old[8]. If this is not the case, then the coins cannot be classified as treasure. If it is the case, then Craig could be able to be reimbursed at the Secretary of States discretion for finding th e coins. Although the cup found by Craig is decorated with intricate pattern, suggesting that it is very old and valuable, it is ambiguous as to what metal the cup is made of. If it is made of precious metal[9], then it can be classified as treasure. However, if not, then it is not treasure. Yet, because the cup was found in the same find as the coins[10], it can be classified as treasure.   The same can be said for the pottery vase which prima facie can be said to not fall under the definition of treasure as it does not have any precious metal on it[11]. Nevertheless, as it was found in the same find as the coins and cup, it can be considered as treasure. Assuming all these items are classified as treasure, the onus is on Craig to contact the Coroner within 14 days to notify him of the items found, otherwise he will be fined[12]. The reason why it is Craigs responsibility and not Sarah and Tony is because Craig decided to put the items in his bag and take it to his cottage. He did not inform Sarah and Tony about the items. Donald In regards to the diamond ring found by Donald, it is unclear whether he has the right to keep the ring or not. Although Donald is a guest at the farm, it is not clear whether the area where he found the diamond ring was a public or private area as guests are not usually allowed access to the working areas of the farm. Applying the principle in Bridges v Hawkesworth where it was stated that the parcel which contained notes were found in the public part of the shop and as such the notes were never in the custody of the shopkeeper[13], if Donald found the ring in a private area, he will not be entitled to keep the diamond ring, and must hand it over to Sarah and Tony as it can be said that they have custody of it. However, if the diamond ring was found in an area which Donald had access to, it can be argued that he has a right to the diamond ring due to the rule of finders keepers established in Armory v Delamirie where it was held that though the plaintiff did not have an absolute right of ownership by finding the jewel, he was entitled to keep the jewel unless the true owner claimed it[14]. Similarly, it can be argued that Donald has the right to keep the diamond ring unless the true owner can be found. Using Donaldson LJ rules on the rights and obligations of a finder in Parker v British Airways Board, Donald is under an obligation to take all necessary measures to find the true owner of the[15] diamond ring. As he has not done so (he decides to keep it and give it to his girlfriend), it can be said that he does not have rights to the diamond ring. Also, using Parker v British Airways Board, it can be stated that Sarah and Tony may have a right of ownership to the diamond ring. They would h ave to show that they manifested an intention to exercise control over the area the diamond ring was found[16]. Yet, this principle is quite ambiguous. How does one manifest an intention to exercise control of an area? A test to suggest an intention to exercise control was not formulated in Parker v British Airways Board. Perhaps one can use the factor Donaldson LJ used in this case, which is that British Airways should have had a policy on lost and found items which was available to the public[17]. Similarly, it can be stated that perhaps Sarah and Tony must showcase that they have a policy on lost and found objects which is available to the public to prove that they had manifested an intention to exercise control over the area the diamond ring was found. Nonetheless, as stated by Bray, Donaldson LJ concept of control is harsh as it leaves some doubt in the law as to what exactly a landowner must do to manifest an intention to control the land[18]. This would mean that if Sarah and Tony do not have a policy that is available to the public, Donald can keep the diamond ring provided he has tried to find the true owner. Assuming the diamond ring was found in an area which Donald can access, there is a problem posed as it is ambiguous as to if the diamond ring was found in or on land. This is because it was buried in some long grass. As stated by Stevens, the law is unclear in this area[19]. The distinction is important to make as it will determine who has the better right of ownership to the diamond ring. If the diamond ring can be said to be found on land, then Donald is entitled to the diamond ring if he has tried to find the true owner. If it was found in land, then Sarah and Tony will be entitled to the diamond ring as it is assumed that things found in land belong to the owner of the land. Another reason why Sarah and Tony may be entitled to the diamond ring if it was found in land is because Donalds status would have changed to that of a trespasser as he had to reach into the ground to pick up the diamond ring- he has gone beyond his authorisation as a guest. However, it can be argued using th e reasoning of Auld LJ in Waverley Borough Council v Fletcher that Donald is not a trespasser and that the diamond ring was found on land. This is because picking up the diamond ring might not have interfered with the land or damaged it[20]. Yet, it can be argued that because the diamond ring was buried in some long grass, damage might have been done as perhaps Donald would have had to pull the grass from the roots to retrieve it. If it is the latter, Donald is a trespasser and has exceeded his licence on the land. If it is the former, Donald can keep the ring, provided he has tried to find the true owner. Treasure: The diamond ring is not treasure as it does not fit the definitions given in the Treasure Act 1996. The age of the ring is not told, it is not made of precious metal (gold or silver), neither was it found alongside any item that can be defined as treasure[21]. Thus, the diamond ring cannot be classified as treasure. Eric In regards to the  £50 note found by Eric, it can be argued that Eric has a right of ownership to the money (provided he tries to find the true owner). As Eric was in the garden on the day that it was opened to the public, it can be said that he found the money in the public part of the farm. This can be seen in Bridges v Hawkesworth where it was stated that the notes were dropped in the public part of the shop and as such they were never in the custody of the shopkeeper[22]. Likewise, it can be said that Sarah and Tony were never in custody of the  £50 note as it was found in a public part. Also, one can argue that the  £50 note could go unnoticed until someone saw it. However, using Parker v British Airways Board, it can be said that Sarah and Tony may have a right of ownership to the  £50 note. They would have to show that they manifested an intention to exercise control over the area the  £50 was found. This could be done by them showcasing that they have a policy on lo st and found items which is available to the public. If they do not have such a policy, Eric can keep the  £50 note, provided he tries to find the true owner. Conclusion Craig does not have a right to ownership of the items which he found as they were found during the course of his employment. It can be said that these items are treasure so he would have to notify the coroner of his finds. Donald, depending on whether he has access to the area the diamond ring was found may have a right of ownership, but he must try to find the true owner of the diamond ring. Eric is entitled to keep the  £50 note, provided Sarah and Tony have not manifested an intention to exercise control of the area he found it on. [1] [1896] 2 QB 44 [2] [1982] QB 1004, 1017 [3] 1996] QB 334, 344 [4] Treasure Act 1996, s 10(3) [5] ibid s1(1)(a)(ii) and (iii) [6] ibid s1(1)(a)(ii) [7] ibid s3(3) [8] ibid (n 5) [9] Treasure (n 4) s1(1)(a)(i) [10] ibid s1(1)(d)(i) [11] Treasure (n 9) [12] ibid s8(1) and (3)(a)-(c) [13] (1851) 21 LJQB 75 [14] (1722) 1 Str 505 KB, [1] (Pratt CJ) [15] ibid (n 2) 10 [16] ibid [17] ibid (n 2) 1019 (Donaldson LJ) [18] Judith Bray, The law on treasure from a land lawyers perspective [2013] Conv 265, 267 [19] John Stevens, Finders weepers- landowners keepers'[1996] Conv 216, 219 [20] ibid (n 3) [21] Treasure (n 4) s1 [22] ibid(n 13)

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Domestic Violence Amd Women :: Violence Against Women Essays

Domestic violence is a terrible problem that we all must face, not only the people who are victims. We need to stop this before the problem develops into anything bigger than it already is. The battered woman, it has been said, lives in a world of terror and her home is her prison (Berger, 1990, pg. 35). For many hundreds of years people weren't worried about domestic violence. In fact, a popular family journal, the Journal of Marriage and Family, did not include a single article on domestic from 1932 to 1969 (Berger, 1990, pg. 27). Suddenly, more women came out and told of the abuse they had once suffered. Researchers report that 1.8-2.9 million women are battered yearly. Not only do the victims suffer physical pain, but they also have to deal with emotional and psychological pain. The victim may have to face reoccurring nightmares, and may never want to trust another man. Much too frequently, the victim blames themselves. The typical response of an abused/battered woman is, "I provoked him . . . I was being a bad wife, mother, and housekeeper," (Peled, 1995, pg. 141). The very sad part about the violence, beside the physical and emotional stress, is that most likely they know the offender or abuser. So, why, why would a person who is loved, want to abuse their spouse or girlfriend? One of the key responses . . . Jealousy. The husband may become very suspicious, afraid of losing his wife. The abuser sees his wife or girlfriend as a possession. The only way, they think, to relieve this built up anger is aggression. To improve their self-esteem, they abuse the victim physically, emotionally, and sometimes, sexually. Another key factor in wife abuse is alcohol. When the man is stressed, he turns to alcohol to relieve it. Little does he know, that the alcohol makes him more irritable. "He started really drinking excessively and that is when the abuse started. He had been drinking . . . I sat down to read the paper and he wanted his supper . . . he kicked the cat to the ceiling . . . he started slapping my face with both hands," (Berger, 1990, pg. 42). Research shows that men who abuse their wives, often saw their own mother abused. Do to witnessing this, the children of battered families usually grow up to have low self-esteem and believe that hitting is right.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Marks Spenser in Turkey :: Marketing Strategy

Marks Spenser in Turkey For years, M&S’ marketing strategy was simple: produce high quality products under a famous brand name at affordable prices, and advertise the products in classical ways. However, in recent years this strategy collapsed and the company started to lose its competitiveness. M&S had to find solution to this problem to survive in both domestic and overseas marketing environment. It is known that franchising is one of the most important factors of future development of any company. Consequently it is essential for M&S to have a reliable franchisee as Fiba Holding to become successful in such a big marketing area as Turkey. First of all, franchising allows the company to achieve success in Turkey with minimal economic and political risks. Since opening of own outlet in Turkey requires an agreement with the government and careful research on local market conditions, it is to the advantage of M&S to have a local partner working under company’s brand name. And about 700 outlets in 34 countries is the best show of efficiency of franchising. In Turkey, the Fiba Holding is planning to increase the number of M&S outlets by the end of the 2002. The profit made in recent years encouraged the Fiba Holdng to expand as a M&S franchisee. In addition, a â€Å"M&S credit card† financial service is occured to be very attractive for their potential customers. Another factor making M&S brand name so popular are the cut prices and many types of promotions done by the company periodically. Since M&S has concentrated on middle class customers, the cut price and promotion strategy plays a significant role in increasing the local demand. Furthermore, M&S company tries to behave in such a way that inflation of Turkish currency has a very tiny effect on the prices changing.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Essay --

Carla Molina December 19th, 2013 Period.8 Judicial Review Research ‘ Case One: â€Å"Georgia .vs. Randolph† Summary This case is about Scott Randolph, who’s home was searched without a warrant. Due to this â€Å"corrupted† search, police ended up finding cocaine in his home. As a matter of fact both Randolph and his wife Janet Randolph were present during the search, it’s stated that Randolph’s wife gave permission to search the house. However Randolph denied to give that consistent, but police believed that the wife’s permission was all they needed. After the encounter with the drugs, Randolph was arrested for drug possession. This case was taken to trail and both the appellate court and Georgie Supreme court believed that the search of Randolph's home was unconstitutional. Key Details & Ideas Majority Opinion: Said by Justice David Souter â€Å" In the majority opinion, compared the reasonableness of such a search to a more casual interaction.† He believes that the co-occupants consent is not valid because their was the refusal of an other occupant. Beside on the Fourth Amendment it states that â€Å" a valid warrantless entry and search of a premises when the police obtain the voluntary consent of an occupant who shares, or is reasonably believed to share, common authority over the property, and no present co-tenant objects.† Dissenting Opinion Said by Justice Scalia â€Å" It is an act of responsible citi... .... Madison was applied to this decision because the actions committed were unconstitutional. According to the Supreme Court the 8th Amendment was broken because the District Court of Appeal was giving a cruel and unusual punishment to Graham. The 8th amendment claus does not allow a juvenile offender to be sentenced to life in jail without a parole for a non-homicidal crime. Therefore Terrance could not fall through with this punishment. Opinion In my opinion, I actually agree with the court decision because yes although he did committed a crime, to be sentenced for life at young age is pretty harsh. I do agree that he should pay for his consequences but not to that extreme. They should honestly come up with a plan that suits his crime. Plus he has the right of the 8th Amendment, to not condone a cruel punishment if it does not suit the crime in which he committed.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Developing Professional Practice Essay

1. Briefly explain how the CIPD HR Profession Map defines the HR profession, including the professional areas, the bands and the behaviours. The HR profession Map captures what successful and effective HR people do and deliver across every aspect and specialism of the profession, and sets out the required activities, behaviour and knowledge. It covers 10 professional areas and 8 behaviours, set out in 4 bands of competence. The Map covers every level of the HR profession: Band 1 being the start of your HR career through to Band 4 for the most senior leaders. The bands set out what you need to do and what you need to know for each area of the HR profession. As per the CIPD Website, the bands cover the following areas: Band 1: Supports colleagues with administration and processes. Effectively manages information and date and is customer orientated. Band 2: Advises on and/or manages HR related issues relating to an individual or at team. Has a clear understanding of the evaluation process and the solutions available. Band 3: Leads a professional area acting as a consultant or partner, addresses key HR challenges at an organisational level for the medium and long term. Band 4: Leads and manages a professional area(s) and/or the organisation. Responsible for developing and delivering organisational and HR strategy. The two professional areas, Insight, Strategy and Solutions and Leading HR sit at the heart of the profession and are applicable to all HR professionals, regardless of role, location or stage of their HR career. There are 8 behaviours that identify in detail how professionals need to carry out their activities and make a contribution to organisational success. The behaviours are: †¢ Curious †¢ Decisive thinker †¢ Skilled influencer †¢ Personally credible †¢ Collaborative †¢ Driven to deliver †¢ Courage to challenge †¢ Role Model CIPD website refers to the HR Map as: â€Å"This is a powerful and simple to use personal development tool for professionals operating at all levels in HR. Not only is it free for members to use, we’ve also carefully designed it to ensure that many of the suggested actions to help professionals progress are low-cost or no-cost – which will be particularly welcome at a time when the recession is ensuring resources for development are tight. Professionals can use the tool to develop in their roles and pursue their career plans. We hope the insights it delivers will quickly become a firm fixture in the performance and development reviews of HR professionals in organisations of all shapes and sizes and across all sectors.† (Stephanie Bird, April 2010). 2. Evaluate how the two core professional areas, the bands and any two selected behaviours uphold the concept of ‘HR Professionalism’, giving two examples from the knowledge and activities at band 2. The two professional areas Insight, Strategy and Solutions and Leading HR sit at the heart profession and are applicable to all HR professionals. They underpin the direction of the profession as an applied business discipline with a people and organisation discipline and describe how great HR professionals work for HR’s purpose. HR can only deliver it’s purpose of sustainable organisation performance if it works from a deep business, contextual and organisational understanding to develop actionable insight. This allows us to creative prioritised and situational strategies that make the most difference and build a compelling case for change. It includes: †¢ Building a picture †¢ Developing actionable insight †¢ Delivering situational HR solutions that stick †¢ Building capacity and capability †¢ Working with agility The successful HR professional provides active, insight led leadership. Owning, shaping and driving themselves, others and activity within the organisation. They develop across three main areas of leadership – personal leadership, leading others and leading issues. It includes: †¢ Personal leadership †¢ Leading others †¢ HR function design and service delivery †¢ HR recourse planning and delivery †¢ Delivering value and performance in HR teams †¢ Managing HR budgets and finances This being based as the heart of the profession, there are 8 main behaviours expected, including; †¢ Role Model – Consistently leads by example. Acts with integrity, impartiality and independence, balancing personal, organisation and legal parameters. †¢ Skilled Influencer – Demonstrates the ability to influence to gain the necessary support from drivers stakeholders in pursuit of organisational value. The CIPD (2005a) has stated that: All personnel and development specialists must be thinking performers. That is, their central task is to be knowledgeable and competent in their various fields and to be able to move beyond compliance to provide a critique of organisational policies and procedures and to advise on how organizations should develop in the future. HR professionals have to think carefully about what they are doing in the context of their organization and within the framework of recognised body of knowledge. They have to perform effectively in the sense of delivering advise, guidance and services that will help the organisation to achieve its goals. Legge (1995) made a similar point when she referred to HRM as a process of ‘thinking pragmatism’. Harrison (2007) commented that the ‘thinking performer’ philosophy focuses on the ways in which HR fields of activity should link to produce a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts, on strategic awareness and on evidence based practice. The CIPD ‘The Thinking Performer Concept’ (2007) believes: â€Å"The non thinking performer will privately regard many of the things her or she is required to do as absurd, indefensible, inefficient, even immoral or corrupt, but will say nothing †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ the non thinking performer is a ‘ lifetime liability’ to the organisation.† Looking at the requirements in Band 2 of the HR Map, and taking into consideration the behaviours within this, you need to build strong relationships with your customers. Managers need to feel comfortable approaching your for advise, and confident that you will be able to lead and advise them on the appropriate approach to take. You need to be skilled in influencing the manager to the correct way of thinking, to handle the situation in the correct manner, but also be flexible in your approach and listen to their ideas/requirements. And together, agree on the best action and way forward. The need for HR theory, Ulrich (1997a): To make practices more than isolates acts managers and HR professionals must master the theory behind HR work; they need to be able to explain conceptually how and why HR practices lead to their outcomes. Regardless of the preferred theory, managers and HR professionals should extract from it a higher level of reasoning for their day to day work and thus better explain why their work accomplishes goals. 3. Explain, with related examples, why HR professionals need to be able to manage themselves, manage groups or teams, manage upwards and manage across the organisation. HR professionals provide insight led leadership. They need to own and shape themselves as well as others within the organisation. They need to personally lead themselves, as well as teams and upwards within the organisation. The definition of management as stated by Michael Armstrong is ‘Management is defined as deciding what to do and then getting it done through the effective use of recourses’. The main processes of management are planning, organizing, motivating and controlling. HRMagazine say: HR must turn outside business trends and stakeholders expectations into internal actions, and should focus on both business results and human capital improvement. HR professionals should target both individual ability and organisation capabilities. HR is not an isolated activity, but sustainable and integrated solutions. An effective HR professional melds individual abilities into an effective and strong organisation by helping to define and build its organisation capabilities. Organisation is not a structure or process, it is a distinct set of capabilities. HR professionals can help line managers create meaning, so that the capability of the organisation reflects the deeper values of the employees. HR professionals are credible activists because they build their personal trust through business acumen. Credibility comes when HR professionals do what they promise, build personal relationships of trust and can be relied on. In order to be an effective HR professional, it is important that they are able to manage themselves in order to show their teams and organisation that they can be trusted. They can then go on to manage their teams effectively, through to managing across the organisation. HR professionals make change happen at institutional , initiative and individual levels. 1. Undertake a self-assessment against the specification of HR professional practice capabilities, such as the CIPD Associate Membership criteria, to identify professional development needs. See appendix 1 for SWOT analysis. 2. Evaluate and select at least three development options to meet your needs , explaining the advantages and disadvantages of each, and their fit with your preferred learning style and career aspirations. Continued Professional Development (CPD) is a necessity in the HR environment. The profession is a very high pace with changes to the law and best practise. CPD makes sure your knowledge is up to date and fresh. New ideas and developments are happening all the time and being dedicated to CPD ensures you are professional and consistent. 20 years ago CPD was not widely spoken of, or used in the HR environment. Until recently the profession has not recognised the need to adhere to the requirements of other professional bodies (medical, law etc) as HR was seen as a job anyone could do, but the recent introduction of the HR standards and HR Map means all HR professionals need to continue with CPD to reflect the professionalism of their career. In recent years the concept of ‘a job for life’ has subsided and now employees in all professions need to continue to prove their worth and stay valuable to the organisation. Keeping up to date with CPD means you are actively trying to develop yourself and have an interest in developing yourself to benefit the organisation and profession. I have undertaken a SWOT analysis (Appendix 1) on my current developmental needs. I have also used the HR map to find out where my weaknesses lie as an HR professional. I found this exercise an interesting and useful tool for working out my developmental needs. I have included a Career Development Plan (Appendix 2), this shows my current development needs and I will be referring to them below. My first, and most important need, is an update on HR Law. This is needs so I can give better advice to managers and have the confidence to act on my own beliefs. My second is updating my knowledge on how to deal with Absence Management, a high level of absenteeism can be extremely costly to an organisation and I would like to develop my knowledge so I can help the absent employee and also help the organisation’s statistics and costs in turn. My third developmental need is Reward Strategies. I find the topic fresh and a lot of organisations are not fully using the strategies. I would like to enhance my knowledge and research best practise to see what recommendations I can make for the organisation I am employed by. I intend to satisfy these needs by taking advantage of courses offered by the CIPD, in house training and by attending the Intermediate Certificate in HR Management at Bridgwater College. It is also important for me to use other tools for learning, for example journals, on line resources and many of the books available at local libraries. To satisfy the needs for enhancing my knowledge of HR Law I will be attending the unit on the subject at Bridgwater College and I also regularly attend HR Breakfast’s at FootAnstey Solicitors. They cover a wide range of topics, including sessions on Employment Law. Absence Management will be researched by looking at the media available, for example previous research and best practise. I will also look to attend relevant CIPD courses being held in the South West area. Reward strategies are reasonably new and important when it comes to employee satisfaction and retention. Researching the subject will enable me to make use of best practise and o ffer recommendations.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

The Inclusion of students with disabilities and special needs

Meanss pupils with disablements and particular demands integrate in mainstream categories. Australian instruction is one of the first to follow full inclusion. 1. â€Å" Inclusion in an educational context describes the premiss that every kid should be a valued member of the school civilization and community, and hence should non be subjected to marginalisation, disaffection, humiliation, badgering, rejection or exclusion † ( Pearce, Forlin, 2005 ) , 2. And harmonizing to Ainscow the thought of inclusion for particular demands instruction stemmed from the belief that instruction is a basic human right, and the foundation for a more merely society ( Ainscow, Kaplan, 2005 ) . 3. A kid with a disablement or particular demands is basically a kid and should be afforded the same entitlements of other kids ( Smith, 2006 ) . That is why Law shapers and â€Å" Educational governments internationally have taken the position that inclusion stems from the societal and moral duty to educa te all pupils † ( Forbes, 2007 ) , besides Forbes confirms that Australia instruction is taking on the full inclusion.aˆÂ ¦Poses a challengeaˆÂ ¦First this thought poses a great challenge to use in world, and of all time since the issue came to light research workers and professionals have ever argued about the pros and cons of traveling kids with physical, mental, behavioral, or rational disablements and/or damages to mainstream scenes where the instructors may non hold the accomplishments and trainig, nor be equipped, nor have the capablenesss to cover with the peculiar demands that these Student demand. And so far some professionals have argued that this move will be in no 1 ‘s best involvement, and some has gone every bit far as naming it a â€Å" black bequest † ( Warnock, 2005 ) . Second some professionals province that particular schools are schools which are seamster made for pupils with disablement and particular demands, but still like every ot her school its chief end is to learn the course of study in full, and this would anyhow fixing pupils for inclusion in the broader society ( Forbes, 2007 ) . Third some authors argue that inclusion is indicating to a â€Å" topographic point non a procedure † ( Forbes, 2007 ) and that â€Å" school is where everyone ( pupil ) belongs † . This is a full inclusion position and this is what Australian took on board. The 3rd point shows some intimations about the variables that posse the challenges in put to deathing the theoretical account of inclusion ( equals, instructors, rules, the school community in general ) . Because in this position they are the 1s at the full forepart of inclusion.aˆÂ ¦to instructors and principalsaˆÂ ¦Providing for those pupils with particular demands besides became an issue back in 1992 when jurisprudence shapers introduced the 1992 Australian Disability Discrimination Act, which by jurisprudence allowed parents to inscribe their kid s in mainstream categories. This is the act that started inclusion and demanded instructors and the remainder of the school community to hike their professional development in the part of particular demands demands in order to take action in response and suit the demands of particular demands scholars. The pattern of inclusion has produced a demand for expertness within the regular instruction imperium for specializer cognition that is presently non being met. Demand is puting unrealistic demands on instructors with small or no cognition of the specific demands of these pupils harmonizing to Forbes ( 2007 ) . To neturise the state of affairs chance for instructors to farther train in inclusive patterns ( Loreman et al, 2005 ) , and preparation should be based around fiting instructors with the accomplishments and necessary tools to be able to accommodate their lessons to the demands of their pupils ( Opertti, Belalcazar, 2008 ) . Consequences from the preparation could be improved d ramatically when there is cooperation with other instructors, principals and educational support staff. This cooperation is of import and deemed indispensable in developing inclusive patterns ( Loreman et al, 2005 ) . Inclusion sustainability, the forward motion, and the success depend a tremendous trade on the first point of contact which is the instructor, and more exactly, the instructors attitudes towards inclusion ( Forlin et al, 2008 ) , because they are the 1 who will be passing the bulk of their clip with the particular needs pupils, unlike principals, particular pedagogues and parents. â€Å" aˆÂ ¦the best policies for suiting pupils with particular demands in regular schoolrooms will neglect if instructors have negative attitudes towards inclusion. † ( Sikes et al, 2007 ) . The first portion in altering the attitude is altering one ‘s lesson program, so that the lesson can suit for both particular demands and non particular needs pupils. Keeping in head, when seting the lesson program, to maintain that the consequence of a particular needs pupil ‘s disablement or larning trouble is minimum. This has to be done thoughtfully, considerately, and must non disrupt or c ompromise the acquisition of the other pupils in the category by decelerating down excessively much ( Smyth-King, 2005 ) . Having said that, secondly if a instructor is cognizant of the different types of larning trouble and damages, and have a brief or in detail cognition of different disablements, this cognition coupled with supplying instructors with possibility for farther readying in inclusive patterns they would believed the â€Å" capable † had prepared them adequately for learning pupils ‘ or had the instructional background that would help them to provide for pupils with a particular demand ( Spandagou. I, Evans. D, and Little.C, 2008 ) which would positively increase instructor ‘s attitude toward inclusion. This is the 2nd ground why the preparation should be based around fiting instructors with the accomplishments and necessary tools to be able to accommodate their lessons ( Opertti, Belalcazar, 2008 ) . The jurisprudence shapers have their just portion of issues and deduction when it comes to inclusions. For illustration, each Australian State and Territory has their ain legal powers and readings of the Federal Law regulating particular demands instruction ( Forbes, 2007 ) . Commonwealth statute law and policy such as the NSW Disability Policy Framework 1998, the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, and the Disability Standards in Education 2005 present the basis and construction for particular needs pupils to be included in mainstream schools, yet, under the Australian Constitution, the provinces have the duty for pull stringsing and using plans suited to smooth the advancement of inclusion, and do the resources gettable to make so. To run into the duties of inclusion, schools of the hereafter will necessitate instructors with equal preparation in disablements and particular demands at an undergraduate degree ( Forbes, 2007 ) .aˆÂ ¦Overcome the misconceptions of general instruc tion pupils.Harmonizing to Loreman et Al ( 2005 ) , the really nature of a secondary school is debatable and in direct hit class with many of the foundations required for a school to be inclusive. The first deduction when put to deathing the ideal inclusion are the other pupils, already there are issues that are come uping today ( peer force per unit area, intimidation, force, and other adolescent issues ) in the intelligence. And there are other issues which Pearce and Forlin ( 2005 ) explains absolutely, he states that secondary schools can be disenabling in themselves, non merely for pupils with disablements, but for anyone who does n't suit neatly into the system such as pupils from low socio-economic, racial and cultural backgrounds in scenes where such pupils are the minority. So this is what the instructors and principals already have to cover with, they do non necessitate to cover with the excess incidents that will most likely occur due to miss of cognition and understandin g that their equals could hold towards the particular needs pupils. This type of behaviour will do the adolescents non to interact with others which they view as non equal, Pearce and Forlin ( 2005 ) . To work out this job there is one solution and that is what research workers have suggested so far, pupils with milder disablements are more successfully in the inclusion procedure. Again Pearce and Forlin ( 2005 ) states that, pupils with physical and centripetal disablements are by and large more likely to be mainstreamed than those with rational, multiple, behavioral or emotional disablements ( Pearce, Forlin, 2005 ) . If a ground has to be given Flem and Keller ( 2000 ) confirmed one and that when a particular needs pupil enters a mainstream environment, one of the most of import issues that will originate is their relationships with other pupils. This means pupils with physical and centripetal disablements can get the better of the issues of relationships better than those with rational, multiple, behavioral or emotional disablements. Negative equal attitude is another issue that needs to be addressed, since pupils, particularly in secondary schools, can be peculiarly average or hurtful to other pupils that are regarded as different for any ground. Vignes et Al ( 2008 ) , province that negative equal attitudes are by and large considered to be one of the greatest barriers to full societal inclusion of particular needs pupils in general instruction schoolrooms. Evidence shows that societal credence is the most hard challenge for a particular needs pupil to get the better of in a general instruction school ( McDougall et al, 2004 ) . To counter such negativeness, direct and structured societal contact between pupils with particular demands and general instruction pupils is a manner to advancing positive attitudes. Many pupils behave negatively out of ignorance, so extinguishing barriers and leting pupils to understand the nature of disability/impairment eliminates their fright of the unknown which may do them flog o ut or handle others severely. It besides allows general instruction pupils to experience empathy with other people, and helps to learn them about credence. Teaching pupils empathy and leting them to see the disablement of others first manus allows pupils to further a more caring attitude to other people ( Klotz, 2004 ) .Fixing pupils with particular demandsThere was a batch of research that was done on the consequence of pupils with particular demands ‘ category mate but non the pupils with particular demands themselves, but it is good known that pupils with particular demands need a spot more attending and providing from all parties ( friends, household, instructors, school community, and outdoors community every bit good ) .But Joe Clark has that particular instruction policies and patterns will be debated for a long clip, if non everlastingly, because every pupil learns different and every instructor teaches different. In order for there to be one reply we would all hold to be the same, which will likely ne'er go on. In other wards these pupils will most likely need more attending or even wholly different manner of learning them so that results can be accomplished. Inclusion remains a really ambitious doctrine in schools. The inclusion of particular needs pupils may pull attending to inadequacy in instruction but construct the tract for solutions that may give an advantage to all pupils in the instruction system. This could be through flexible course of study, appraisal and structural alteration. And the frost for inclusion is the joint coaction of instructors, pupils, parents, the wider community and general/special pedagogues, all promote and aid ease inclusion, non merely as an theoretical account, but in pattern. Pearce and Forlin ( 2005 ) argue that ‘the presence of young person with disablements in secondary schoolrooms represents a gift to school restructuring ‘ . I believe merely that, covering with pupils with particular demands will hold a positive impact on the community around them which will to a great extent better outcomes, this can be seen in the category with instructors seting a batch more decadent, decision makers being a spot more indulgent, pupils a bit more helpful and understanding. By and large people want to give that excess assisting manus. Inclusion in instruction has come a long manner, but there are problematic issues which is halting it from making place, but research workers and instructors likewise can see inclusion coming place and can savor some of its sweet fruits.

Csr in Foxconn Essay

More and more companies are investing in China, to share the incredible profit generate from the 1.4 trillion people. One of the US based company, which it’s going to invest 35% of its stake, to a fast growing China private-owned timber flooring company. Like most local Chinese company, CSR is not implementing in that company as well as no management working on it. Generally speaking, CSR (Corporate Social Responsibilities) is a form of corporate self-regulation integrates into business model, in which a company monitors and ensures its active compliance with the spirit of law, ethical standard and international norms. Although this timber company has high growth in the market and generate good profit, it may easily pose a risk to investor if they are not pay attention to social and environmental issues. Below summaries would like to analyst the potential impacts may arise from different parties such as employees, consumers, environment, and communities and how they may be aff ected by the decision. First of all, it’s no doubt that employee are the basic component of an industry. By taking measures from the Social Accountabilities 8000 (SA8000), they should consider if the company has employed child labor. Child labor is very popular in China and other developing countries like Guatemala especially industry like involving agricultural and manufacturing that need high working force. It may violate the law and damage the company brand easily. Other than legal extend, an interesting figure showed that (www.DoWellDoGood.net), â€Å"83% of the employee will leave the job if their employer used child labor.† Obvious, child labor nowadays give more harm than good, instead, providing wellness program for employee and their families create certain shared value that they will love more the company in both mentally and physically. Moreover, it’s also important that the firm should provide adequate safety working environment as well as organize enough safety training. It will certainly reduce the number of accidents occurs. In the early 80s, China had launched Social Security Fund, all companies must follow closely and provide all kinds of insurances to employees in order not to obstruct from the law and political issue. In addition, the company should encourage workers to form union and those who involve won’t be discriminated. Because employee more involve in the discussion regarding payroll, community welfare and company development will surely increase their loyalty at all. The investor has to review all the working hours, salary standard and penalty and make sure it’s fair to everyone. Secondly, the investor should concern to the consumers’ feedback in which the company has to create customer’s satisfaction to their products. However, in this competitive world, many companies like to exaggerated the usage and beauty of their products to attract more customers by means of media as a communication platform. For this reason, the investor should review all these products advertisement that might cause harmful effect to the product brand name. Reputation of the timber flooring company takes years to come to the top five in China can be ruined in hours. One accident always cause in flooring industries may be the level of formaldehyde is so high that cause toxic to human. Heath problems always cause fatal to death of company. One of big scandal happened recently nearly killed AJISEN – one of the ramen restaurant in which â€Å"has been accused of making their broths using soup concentrate and cheap flavoring powders, known for a guarantee that all their soups come from a broth of pork bones simmered to perfection.†(Patrick Keefe) Stock price of AJISEN drops from HK$17.82 to HK$9.32 (51.7%) within 2 weeks just right after the scandal and never climb back up until now. Indeed, customer are all likely the same, they only purchase goods they fell confidence by faith as choices are not the only one. Above example shows a warning signal that in case the company has listed in the stock market in the future. They have to take care much more than now on the CSR issues as media can spread out news within one day. Thirdly, the company should put more efforts not to interfere the environment. Recently, Chinese government has set up many laws to preserve environmental friendly after enter the WTO, ISO14000 standard is basic management standard that has to follow. Due to their factories including plantation, chemical working for production and raw material importation, there are a lot of chances may encounter to environmental dispute. As an investor, other than make sure correct documentations and license for environmental issue, they also have to study all the process in terms of energy use and logistics. Considering the firm has 50% of timber source globally and 10% of their customers are overseas, excess packaging of products and greenhouse gases are not just costly to the environment but also costly to the business. â€Å"By reducing it’s packaging and cutting 100 million miles from the delivery routes of it’s trucks, Wal-Mart lowered carbon emissions and saved $200 million in cost†. (Harvard Business Review). Above example shows typical how mutual benefits if we re-arrange business decision and enhance regulation reforms even just simple as logistic. Besides, China has a lot of tax reduction and funding approaches to achieve government supports by encouraging people to protect the nature. Furthermore, the investor should also pay attention to their suppliers. Not only to check if the imported products are fulfill the regulations but also review the availability and the ease of transportation as 50% outsourcing of the company is not a small figure to ignore. Above all, CSR is not a short term objective, the investor should set up a CSR team in the company for promoting and working for long term prospective. It’s clearly that CSR is helping to build up the company brand far more easily than performing marketing and sales on timber flooring only. According to Harvard Business Review, â€Å"Not all profit is equal. Profit involving a social purpose represent a higher form of capitalism, one that creates a positive cycle of company and community prosperity†, it’s no doubt that customer will purchase more if the timber flooring shows â€Å"green† and if the company anticipate more social welfare activities. To conclude, the investor should immerse CSR into each employee and the community in order to enhance share value to form a mutually beneficial society.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Many MNEs may want to start operations in some foreign country Essay

Establishment mode means that the MNE starts its operations from scratch in the foreign country usually through a wholly owned subsidiary where as in entry mode; this can be accomplished by a subsidiary or through partnership with a local party which involves shared ownership. In this study the authors examine the effect of same variables on both these choices available to a company. They do it through a series of hypotheses. The first hypothesis measures the positive effect of greater institutional advancement on the choice that the company makes. Institutional advancement is defined in the study as pertaining to changes in formal institutions over a period of time. It is argued that regulatory forces are likely to be a big influence on a decision that an MNE makes with regard to its establishment or entry choice. Regulatory forces or rather Regulative forces as described in the study are not limited to laws and regulations only but also include political and other social factors. The authors conclude that institutional advancement has a positive effect on the choice to establish a subsidiary with shared ownership. The second hypothesis postulated by the authors’ measures the moderating effect of institutional advancement on the tendency of a technologically intense firm to either go for establishment mode or entry mode. It is argued that firms which are technology intense should go for establishment mode because their competitive advantages are embedded in their labor force skills and organizational practices so it is more efficient for them to start from scratch. They should hire and train the local labor force. Furthermore in case of a joint venture or share ownership of the subsidiary, protecting the intellectual rights can be an issue. Protection of such rights is dependent on the judicial system. In transition economics where the judiciary is corrupt and intellectual property rights are not respected, an MNE would be reluctant to transfer its technology. Therefore authors conclude that firm with advanced proprietary technology are likely to prefer establishment mode but level of institutional advancement has a positive moderating effect on such a firm going for entry mode. The third hypothesis measures the moderating effect of institutional advancement on a multidomestic MNE to either go for establishment of entry mode. Multidomestic firms are defined as those which pursue multidomestic strategy and want to establish a sustainable local market presence. For such MNEs acquiring a local company is a more attractive option because such acquisition can provide them with local brands, market knowledge, distribution channels and network relationships with the host country’s other businesses and government. How the restructuring and realignment of the acquired entity can be very challenging. The firms in the host country are likely to be following a different paradigm. But on the other hand if an MNE goes for shared ownership or entry mode, it can accomplish more without facing these difficulties. It is argues that a multidomestic MNE requires lesser control on the subsidiary. If this is so then subsidiaries in the host country can have considerable freedom and operate on their own fully leveraging their local expertise.Hence it is concluded institutional advancement has a positive moderating effect on a multidomestic MNE to go for entry mode. Finally the authors have used an international survey to gather the data to support their findings. The survey consists of a questionnaire with 33 open and close ended questions. Furthermore the MNE’s latest establishment mode choice or entry mode choice has been taken as the dependent variable. Critique This study is no doubt a valuable asset for managers and students alike in studying the behavior of MNEs in making their choices when it comes to Foreign Direct Investment but nevertheless it has a few shortcomings and weaknesses. But the biggest shortcoming of this study is the scope. The authors have primarily taken a sample of European MNEs. And the so called economies in transition are basically east European countries which were once under the iron curtain. Firstly we need to consider the fact that Europeans MNEs may be very different from Japanese or American MNEs and so forth. The establishment or entry mode choice for Japanese firms may be dependent on or moderated by variables other than the ones discussed here. Similarly an MNE whether European or Japanese may decide to invest in some country in Central Asia or North Africa or even South Asia. The market conditions in these countries are very different from those of the transition economies discussed by the authors. This means that the findings in this study are not universally applicable. Nevertheless it is a valuable addition to our knowledge regarding MNE behavior in making Foreign Direct Investment decisions. But for any researcher trying to consult this study, it is very important to keep the above mentioned limitations in mind.