ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Institutional environment explains how interaction between institution and organization shapes economic activity, and consequently managerial strategies and performance. It is well established that the availability of information is one of the determinant of efficiency of resource allocation growth and decisions in any economy. Economic reform has brought about an accelerated urbanization in Brazil since 1980, as it has been manifested in population growth in many cities and in a growing number of cities. In Brazil, investment decisions from private sector are usually influenced by private sector perception of the economy (Coeurderoy & Murray 2008). Brazil as a country has moved from a nation with great promise to a nation where many investment opportunities are available. A more stable currency and political system, coupled with vast mineral and natural resources wealth have made the country a ‘must’ for all organizations with truly international or global ambitions to invest in the country (Makino, Isobe, & Chan 2004). With a population of about 194 million people, Brazil is the 5 th largest market in the world after India, China, Indonesia and the U.S. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) report, the report indicates that the country is a leading one when you compare it with other South American nations in terms of technological and infrastructure development. When you combine these facts with stable political and economic landscape, you see the reason why Brazil attracts a higher percentage of world’s FDI year by year (Makino, Isobe, & Chan 2004). But when you compare Brazil to Hong Kong, starting or doing business in Brazil can be very difficult (Lumpkin & Dess, 2001). The main cause is the bureaucratic hurdles that are found in almost all government agencies and the accompanying barrier of business regulations. In fact, Brazilians are known as “biting around the bush” (Chandler & Hanks 1993) around the world. Instead, before they do business they would like to know an individual first. As compared to Hong Kong, Brazil financial is extremely expensive and individual competition is very tough. Therefore, businesses should have their special relations to find better financial loans or get their own financing. The Brazil justice system is also very slow and to some extent it is corrupt but in the last 10 years it has been slowly improving (Chandler & Hanks 1993). Every manager needs to know the hierarchical business set up that is found in Brazil. “Decision-making in Brazil’s organizational culture is often reserved for senior managers” (Publishing, 2009). Therefore, a manager should take his/her time to build a working relationship with his/her junior staff. In addition, for a foreigner manager it is difficult, so it is important for non-Brazilian to have a third-party introduction when doing business (Publishing, 2009). A foreign manager needs to realize the importance of each employee’s distinct duties or roles in the company (Morrison 1994). Most Brazilians believe that a supervisor
Introduction Business management is a very dynamic activity that continues to change with time. This change has been attributed to many factors such as the evident transformation in the mode of operation for businesses. In China, this change has been driven by the need for businesses to survive in the changing environment. Otherwise, they are forced to close down due to business environmental factors. The present-day world has transformed into a global village due to information technology explosion that has eased communication between different parts of the world. Expanding across the globe provides greater challenges to businesses due to an almost total paradigm shift in the way they would be required to conduct their trade for survival. This matter has been evident in countries that have entrenched cultural practices that inform their ways of life. These countries are mostly found in Asia, with China being the best example. Consideration of cultural practices should be part of the structures that businesses especially from Europe and America should consider when venturing into the Asian market. The Asian and western cultures have a significant contrast. In the case of ECL, this challenge had to be overcome when ECL ventured into the Chinese market. The works of Engleberg, Project Management Institute, and Thompson come in handy in this paper while discussing the subject of establishing ECL culture in China. Problem Identification Electronic Communications Limited is a company that had existed in the United States of America since 1928. It had existed on proven management styles and practices that had become a standard for the company and its operations. The application of standardized practices that are sanctioned by the headquarters of the company in the United States can be described as part of the success story of the company because it ensured smooth operation of the company and all its branches around the world. A difference in operation procedures and practices makes it expensive for many companies to operate profitably and smoothly because different countries use different rules. In the case of the ECL, the company faced a human resource problem with regards to cultural factors that inform the interaction of staff at different levels of the organization. This therefore made it difficult for the company to smoothly make decisions affecting the Chinese venture because the decision-making process in China was different from that in the United States of America. Situation Analysis Problem 1 – Communication Skills at Team Level Communication is a fundamental tool that can either make or break the organization. Communication influences decision making because it determines when a decision should be made, thus making it an essential bit in that process. When addressing the issue of group communication, En
The schoolboy rookie The first case is described in the “Organizational Behavior Case: The Schoolboy Rookie”. In this very case there is a vivid description of the schoolboy who wanted to work in summer, for this purpose he has taken a job in the factory. The supervisor assigned him to a small group of workers that loaded and unloaded boxcars with materials or finished goods. The schoolboy’s name is Kent. So Kent wanted to do his job and was surprised when saw that other members of their team were just talking or standing around, while he did all the job. When Kent asked his colleagues to explain him this situation, they paid little attention to his complaints, but they excluded him from all the activities. The older worker told Kent that after many years of work in this factory he would become the same person as they are. Thus Kent was not acting within the boundaries of the group; he was breaking the rules, and was trying to establish his own ones. The supervisor here was a kind of treat (a way of punishment). The major informal role of Kent was the role of a young boy who is eager to work and does not want to be punished. Kent was not accepted by the group because he tried to act outside the boundaries of the situation. Making a nice place to work The next situation describes the improvements of the working places in order to increase the productivity of the staff. Traditional ways of organization of the working activity are changed to achieve better results from the point of view of productivity. Some companies like Inhale Therapeutic Systems introduce rather specific innovations: every person including the president of the company sit in large cubicles with four other people; this practice helps to limit the amount of time spent on gossiping and reduce the need to write memos and use e-mail, because everyone to whom the message or memo can be addressed sit in the same room. Another is West Bend Mutual Insurance Company where special equipment was purchased; it allows those in certain workstations to adjust the temperature, fresh air, and noise levels. According to the results of research conducted by scientists from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, these measures increased productivity by three per cent. But Sun Microsystems made an even more radical step: as the employees are out in the field with clients or working from home, the management considered reducing the office space, thus the company can save money on cleaning or heating the office. Thus the technological progress can lead to the absence of necessity of being at office from nine to five; moreover further improvements in the sphe
Title of the article: Fischer, R. (2009). Where is culture in cross cultural research? An outline of a multilevel research process for measuring culture as a shared meaning system. International Journal of Cross Cultural Management, 9(1), 25-49. Summary of the article The article entails a comprehensive analysis on how firms’ management teams can measure culture in order to be effective in their cross cultural management practices. The author has achieved this by incorporating various multilevel approaches ( Fischer, 2009). The author has also outlined the various meaning of the word culture. One of the dimensions that the author has focused on relates to the shared value system. Moreover, the author has outlined a research framework that HR managers c
Neural Stem Cells The nervous system is comprised of specialized type of cells called Neural Stem Cells (NSCs). These cells undergo differentiation and proliferation resulting to a mass of undifferentiated cells. This progeny then undergoes differentiation into the many cells of the nervous system. From neural stem cells, cell of central nervous system such as astrocytes, neurons, ependymal cells and oligodendrocytes are formed. Developmental versatility of plasticity of neural stem cells is important in formation of these different neural cells. A NSC can either be embryonic stem cell of adult stem cell. Embryonic stem cells are fully versatile and can form any cell type. On the other hand, adult stem cells have no versatility to form any cell type but replace multipotent cells when they wear out or die. In this regard, embryonic stem cells can either be totipotent, pluripotent or multipotent. Totipotent stem cells are the most potent cells and can therefore give rise to any type of body cell. Pluripotent stem cells can give rise to body tissues but lack full potency to give rise to any cell type. Multipotent stem cells are the least plastic cells and can only form certain cell types. Neural cell division (neurogenesis) is an important process in brain development but it needs to be regulated during adulthood development. The best understood neural cell differentiation pathways are sparked by growth factors. Certain set of growth factors are optimal for development of certain stages of neural stem cells. For instance, fibroblast growth factors (FGF) are selective for development of early neural stem cells. This means that in absence of FGF, there occurs a significant reduction in the number stem cell divisions. For the purposes of studies, multipotent stem cells can be isolated from brain tissue or embryonic stem cells. This can be achieved through co-culture of embryonic stem cells in stroma or conditioned medium. These cells can then be preserved for use in studies together with other cell type-models. These cells and models have enhanced the understanding of the processes involved during brain development. Stem cell isolation from embryonic cells in central nervous system and in periphery nervous system is achieved through direct means. A neural puncture is usually made and the cells cultured in medium. Apart from stem cell isolation from brain, other regions (hippocampus and ventricular zone) can be used during isolation of adult stem cell. Viral Vectors in Gene Therapy Gene therapy refers to a medical application of genetics where genetic transformations are utilized in therapeutic functions. This field has objectively transformed medical fields especially
Introduction For a long time, man has been found to be the major agent contributing to extinction of various species of animals and plants. Some of the plants have been found to have medicinal value leading to man exploiting almost all of them. Continued use of these plants coupled with poor environmental conditions has led to the extinction of these plants. The act of hunting by man has also contributed to the extinction of birds and some species of mammals. There are various beliefs among different people regarding some species of animals that have led to man hunting these animals. One of the extinct species of bird is the dodo bird. For many years there has been no trace for the bird. Its extinction has made it hard for scholars to classify the bird when it comes to taxonomy of birds. The dodo extinction reminds people that every in this world is precious. The disappearance of one species has an adverse effect to mankind and nature. Morphology of the dodo bird There has been an attempt to compare the bird and the solitaire morphologically. However, from research conducted by Andrew Kitchener of the Royal Museum of Scotland, it is now clear that the two birds were different morphologically. As most of the paintings showed, it has been discovered that dodo bird was not very fat as it is represented in this paintings. Dodo was a flightless bird that lived in island found in Mauritius (BirdLife International para. 2). The bird is related to the family of pigeons and doves three feet tall and weighing approximately twenty kilograms. The bird fed on fruits and built its nest on the ground. The bird had grayish feathers, a twenty three centimeters beak with a hooked point. Dodo had fat yellow legs, very small wings and bunch of curly feathers at the tail. The weight of the bird could not allow it to fly. Scientist argues that the image of dodo bird representing it as a fat bird was obtained from those dodo’s that been captured, overfed and reared at homes (Staub para. 4). Reason that made dodo bird extinct Despite dodo living in areas with no predators, the bird still faced extinction. There are various reasons attributed to the bird’s extinction. Most of these reasons were associated with human activities. After living under no threats in the islands for many years, dodo bird had developed no defense techniques. This coupled with its inability to fly made it vulnerable not only to human beings but also to various animals that man came with to the island. Man hunted the animal for food and sports. As it laid its eggs on the ground, it was possible for dogs and cats to get these eggs. This made it hard for it to multiply. The birds were not afraid of man (Hume para. 1). This made it easy for man to catch them. The impacts that the pigs had on the birds population is believed to be severe than that of hunting. As they scavenged, they trampled on the bird’s eggs as well as killing their young ones left on the nests. Continued deforestation led to their hiding places being exposed. This made it possible for dogs and cats
Coffee among the chief produce traded on the global market. Germany and the United States are the major buyers. The trading in coffee and its products are regulated by various bodies. The principal legal entity in Germany that control the channels and pricing in coffee is the government. It decides the income duty on the product. There is no import duty on green coffee while the roasted coffee is charged 2 euros per kilo. The Federal preserve committee is another group charged with the management of the government money. The national central bank is a significant economic player. It determines the interest rates of the financial institutions in Germany (Horst, 2004). Fiscal administration is another prime financial player. Antitrust agency is another body which is concerned with the control of coffee prices in Germany. It checks the companies and individuals who fix their own prices. It imposes high charges as a penalty to the offender like it did to Melitta and Tchibo. This keeps the level of price of coffee. The federal state monitors the hiking in coffee prices. A lobby group called German national cartel office comprising of four largest coffee roasters in Germany. They play a key role in shifting the prices because of the monopoly they enjoy. The international treaties like the double taxation agreement with the United States government play a decisive role in monitoring the market. It penalizes tax evaders during their trade in coffee. Some investors may hesitate because of the stern measures (Korner M. 2002). The political wing
Issues Despite the fact that the tidal wave of environmental concern, which started in 1990s, seems to have died down in 2010s, the recent introduction of the sustainability principle into not only management of various natural environments, but also the field of business and economics, has provided the premises for an innovation approach in the company operation. The latter presupposes that environmental sustainability should be integrated into the company’s principles in order to facilitate improvement in the organisational performance rates. In their article “Clarke: Transformation for Environmental Sustainability,” Laszlo, McCabe, Aheam and Ghatde address the specified concept, outlining the key problems that a 21 st -century entrepreneurship traditionally has and identifying the methods, which the sustainability principle will allow for integrating into the corporate strategy in general and the strategy of Clarke’s company in particular. Among the key issues faced by the latter, such problems as the problems with the transition to the triple-bottom line, the need to establish the business as a safe and harmless company and a change in the business model (Laszlo et al. 22–25) must be mentioned. Alternative Solutions According to what Laszlo et al. suggest, in order to meet the new requirements listed by EPA and, therefore, produce the goods that contain the so-called “green chemicals” (Laszlo et al. 22), it will be necessary to resort to the sustainability principle, which, in its turn, presupposes a range of rapid and impressive changes in the company’s organisation structure, performance and Analysis of Solutions The authors of the article provide several methods of addressing the lack of sustainability within the company. To be more accurate, they suggest that the company should switch to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly approach (Laszlo et al. 23). Table 1: Pros and Cons Solution                               Argument in favour                                                                                                                                                                        Argument against                                                                                                                                                       Introduction of a new brand (Natular)    * Toxicity rates of the new product were considerably lower than those of the predecessors;                                                                                               * Unreasonable princes may have thrown the target audience off;
The Concept of Wisdom in the Modern Nursing Literature Literature Review A review of modern nursing literature has demonstrated that the notion of wisdom does not appear to be a major one in the profession. Most academic articles from various spheres of nursing that have the words “wisdom” or “wise” in their titles primarily use the words to refer to extensive knowledge and mastery of professional skills and competencies; therefore, what many authors mean by wise nursing is generally good nursing, i.e. something that demonstrates high quality, without specificity on what exactly is good about it. The purpose of the research, however, was to identify the use of the word “wisdom” as something designating a particular concept, which is why authors and articles were addressed that used the concept of wisdom meaningfully and pursued explaining what it meant for a nursing care provider to be wise. One of the prominent scholars in this area is Susan A. Matney, a specialist in health care informatics and a nurse with more than 30 years of experience. She authored several works on the concept of wisdom in nursing, and her recent study conducted in collaboration with her colleagues was dedicated to summarizing the results of many scholarly findings (including her findings) on the notion of wise nursing and comparing systematic understandings of the concept to wisdom models from other disciplines, including philosophy and psychology. Matney, Avant, and Staggers
Abstract Firms have tried to motivate their customers by using good brand names. The article discusses different strategies that are critical in the running of business establishments. Each strategy has pros and cons. This paper aims at reconciling factors between manufacturers and retailers by investigating the causes of conflicts. Summary The article examines conflicts between retailers and manufacturer, where the former appears to be winning and tries to propose strategies for reconciliation. It explores the root of a conflict, which it claims is in the fact that retailers have a much more flexible business models than suppliers, which allows them more autonomy. The writers propose that the relationship could be rebuilt if both work harder towards sharing information and resources. For example, consumer data, which can be easily collected by retailers, should be shared with manufacturers who may be in a better position to act on them to achieve improved business outcomes. Another model suggested is the private label strategy, whereby a manufacturer brands items for specific retailers. On the other hand, the working capital model can be applied in a situation where suppliers take into account the rate at which retailers pay them, and come up with approaches that they can use to assist them without jeopardising their financial positions. Analysis It is evident that forward integration, backward integration and horizontal integration strategies, which are related to the contents of chapter six (6), have been highlighted in the journal article. The authors of the article mentioned forward integration when firms are interested in controlling their direct channels of product distribution. I think that the scholars’ use of the strategy is good in this context. The article has used the example of Costco to illustrate the application of the approach. The firm uses it to achieve faster selling cycles. Backward integration is exemplified by business situations that encompass the purchase of suppliers. The strategy is useful because it helps firms improve efficiency and cost savings. For example, in the article, it is evident that Loblaw utilises backward integration. Horizontal integration is an approach that is used by companies to create and acquire production units that are competitive. In the article, it is clear Wal-Mart utilises the strategy to a market monopoly due to product variations about price points and qualities. In my opinion, the article was good because it was clear enough to provide readers with many examples and facts in the modern business world. The example of Tesco is a demonstration of how effective information sharing can be beneficial to a company since it helps align retailers with the needs of their clients. However, in as much as