Chapter 3 Assessment

Chapter 3 Assessment Presentation

Communication Across Cultures

Communication Across Cultures Presentation

Socially Responsible Business

1. Based off the video watched in class Monday, compare and contrast the system in the United States that allows more freedom of choice with regards to employment compared to the environment that exists in Hong Kong, Taiwan and China.

Discuss the role family, education, wages, hours, and working conditions play while comparing to the US.

In the United States, people looking for jobs have a lot more freedom of choice when choosing a place to work at, a lot more than that which exists in Hong Kong, Taiwan and China. In the United States, there are federal laws that companies have to follow in regards to laws relating to working conditions. Companies are required to give all employees certain rights in the workplace that companies in Hong Kong, Taiwan and China are not required to. This results in terrible working conditions for people in those countries since there are no standards. So people in the United States have the freedom of knowing that wherever they choose to work they will be treated with dignity and given many rights that those in Hong Kong, Taiwan and China do not get.

There are many factors that play a factor when choosing a workplace, some of which include family, education, wages, hours, and working conditions. In the United States, the education of a person is related to the type of job a person gets because if you are very highly educated, then you will probably get a better job than someone who is uneducated. People also consider the hours they will be working, what they will be getting paid and what the conditions of the workplace will be like. For the most part, other than wages and hours which greatly vary from job to job, the conditions of the workplace in the United States are usually relatively good because there are laws in the US that make it so places need to have good conditions. But there are no federal laws regulating good conditions in the work places in countries like Hong Kong, Taiwan and China so the working conditions there are bad and so are the wages because they usually do not get paid minimum wage. They work long hours for not a lot of money in terrible conditions, all because most of them are not educated but they still need a job because they need money to provide for their families.

2. Explain the correlation between worker happiness and productivity. Use two specific examples in your explanation.

There is a significant correlation between worker happiness and productivity. If workers are working in good and humane conditions, then they will be happier and will be more willing to put in the effort necessary to make more products. For example, if workers are given an ample amount of breaks throughout the day to eat, then they will be happy because they will be nourished and they will have energy from the food so they will work harder and the create more products. Also, for another example, if workers only have to work 8 hours a day then they will be very happy because then they will be able to go to sleep earlier and get the sleep they need to function and so the next day they will be happy and well-rested so they will be very productive.

3. Find a company that operates globally and does it successfully and humanely! Give the name of the company and the reason you chose this company. Include a reference of where you found your information.

TOMS is a company that operates globally and does it successfully and humanely. I chose this company because I knew it and I like and use their products, shoes, and I like their whole mission. TOMS has a mission that every time a pair of their shoes is bought, they donate a pair of shoes to a child in need who does not have any shoes, they also sell sunglasses and other merchandise. TOMS provide shoes, sight, water, safe birth and bully prevention services to people in need.

International Business Blunders

International Business Blunders Presentation

Business Etiquette in Other Countries

1. What is a Handshake?

Japan:

• Meet
• Bow
• Don't make eye contact
• Back straight and hands by side
• Longer bow = more respect
• Depart
• Bow again when you leave
• Accept a gift
•  Gifts may be presented during a meeting. Not mandatory for you or your host, but it always makes for a nice gesture. 
• When receiving a gift, make sure that you show your appreciation and thank everyone who was involved in its presentation. 
• If the gift is wrapped you should wait until you leave to open it.
• Share business cards
• business cards are a "must have"
• given out at every meeting
• Don't put someone's card in your pocket in front of them after receiving it

Germany: http://businessculture.org/western-europe/business-culture-in-germany/meeting-etiquette-in-germany/

• Meet
• Firm but quick handshake
• Say "hello"
• Be polite and hospitable --> Small talk is generally not used
• Depart
• Handshake
• Accept a gift
• Say thank you when gift is received
• Send a thank you note after the meeting
• Share business cards
• Exchange business cards

Poland: http://businessculture.org/eastern-europe/poland/business-etiquette/

• Meet
• Firm handshake
• Direct eye contact
• Polish men sometimes kiss a woman on the hand to show respect
• Punctuality
• Punctuality is expected and taken very seriously.
• People in higher positions might arrive late to a meeting, in order to demonstrate their status and importance within the company hierarchy.
• Accept a Gift
• It's expected that gifts will be given at the initial business meeting and upon the conclusion of any business arrangement, such as when a contract is signed.
• Gifts are usually opened immediately and shouldn't be too expensive.
• Eye Contact
• Always maintain eye contact while speaking, otherwise is disrespectful

Sweden: http://businessculture.org/northern-europe/sweden/meeting-etiquette/

• Meet
• handshakes are the accepted form of greeting and make eye contact
• handshakes are brief and firm between men, but lighter between a man and woman
• Depart
• firm handshake and direct eye contact
• Accept a Gift
• in business dealings, gifts are rarely given at the beginning of a relationship
• however, it is appropriate when you are closing your transaction
• Share Business Cards
• business cards are usually exchanged when meeting for the first time

Theme Park Assignment

Theme Park Assignment

TWN

TWN

Countries researched for theme parks and currency and exchange rate:

1. Hong Kong

- 1 Hong Kong Dollar = 0.13 US Dollar

- 1 ticket = HK $539= USD $69.48

2. Germany

- 1 Euro = 1.12 US Dollar

- 1 ticket = €44.50 = $49.67

3. Denmark

- 1 Danish Krone = 0.15 US Dollar

- 1 ticket = 110 DKK = $16.50

Natural Disasters from Other Blogs

Blog 1: 

• Haiti Earthquak
• Amanda Amerault
• January 12, 2010
• The local effects were devastating to the people of Haiti. An estimated three million people were affected by the quake. Death toll ranges from 100,000 to about 160,000. The earthquake created between $7.8 billion to $8.5 billion in damage.
• The infrastructure was also greatly impacted by the disaster. The government of Haiti estimated that 30,000 commercial buildings had collapsed or were severely damaged. It also destroyed 294,383 homes and houses. 60% of the city's government buildings, and 80% of its schools were destroyed or damaged. 

Blog 2:

• Sumatra - Andaman Earthquake and Tsunamis
• Santi Martin
• December 26, 2004
• The tsunamis and earthquakes immediately caused $15 billion in damage. Many local businesses lost a lot of commerce and products and had to shut down and did not have enough money to reopen. The disaster also caused a lack of goods available for domestic product. The tsunamis destroyed everything, crops, machinery, and all fields and farms. 
• It completely destroyed coastal communities with waves up to 100 feet high during the tsunamis. Many local businesses lost their work spaces. Many of the companies and businesses were forced to shut down because the damage was to great.

Chapter 2 Research: Economics and Decision Making

1. References

• https://www.thebalance.com/japan-s-2011-earthquake-tsunami-and-nuclear-disaster-3305662
• https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2013/03/11/earthquake-tsunami-meltdown-the-triple-disasters-impact-on-japan-impact-on-the-world/
• http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/BE745EFA9975E121C1257859006C44C9-Full_Report.pdf

2. Economic effects on:

• local economy
• It destroyed a lot of buildings and cost about $360 billion in economic damage. Also, it destroyed the nuclear industry in Japan. After the disaster, Japan had to close many of its nuclear reactors which decreased the Japan electricity generation by about 40 percent. The disaster also raised to the nation's government debt which raised prices for most goods. 
• local businesses specifically
• Since many buildings were destroyed, a lot of people physically lost their businesses which were wiped out by the disaster. Since many communities had to relocate and so many buildings were destroyed, Japan lost many of their supply networks which was bad news for local businesses as well as many consumers.
• infrastructure
• A lot of infastructure was destroyed, approximately 138,000 buildings which in return cost a lot of money to rebuild to what they used to be.
• scarcity of resources
• There was a limited supply of fuel in the aftermath of the disaster. Other nations and relief agencies helped Japan immensely in the immediate time after the disaster. Some supplied Japan with fuel, and the United States deployed over 17,000 Military people with 100 aircraft carriers and 14 ships to use in relief aid for transportation, because since the country was in such physical poor shape, these U.S. vessels assisted in transportation needs.
• effects beyond the local disaster area
• The disaster in Japan affected the global economy as well as the domestic economy of Japan. As a result of the disaster, many airports and important trading ports were shut down for some time until the country was in better shape. This affected the global supply chain because Japan exports many products used around the world including electrical parts for iPads as well as many car parts that had to be relocated to other countries including Nissan.
• where they are now after the disaster brief description of the event including date and location
• Earthquake and tsunami off the Pacific coast of Tōhoku in Japan. Occurred on Friday, March 11, 2011. It was a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and 100-foot high tsunami along Japan's northeastern shoreline. As many as 28,000 people died or went missing, and approximately 465,000 were displaced. The earthquake and tsunami damaged a local power plant so there were radioactive leaks to make matter worse for the people of Japan. They are still working to rebuild themselves and their society.
• 2 images depicting the effect of the disaster

International Athletes in Professional Sports

There are thousands of athletes in the world today, ranging from all types of sports and coming from areas all over the world. Some of these world-renown athletes come from their home countries to the United States, and others stay in their own country to compete but are still known around the world for their status as sports stars. One athlete who has come to play in the United States is Ichiro Suzuki. Ichiro was born in Japan and come over to the United States to play baseball. He now plays for the Miami Marlins in the national baseball league. Some international atheltes that have competed for their home country include Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, Lionel Messi of Argentina, and Neymar of Brazil, all of these men listed are all soccer players. Lastly, Usain Bolt is a Jamaican sprinter, also known as the fastest human ever timed. 

When doing research to find out who some of the best international athletes are, I found it interesting how some of the best soccer players are international. Sure there are great soccer players who come from the United States, but some of the most famous in the world come from foreign soil. I also find it interesting how a lot of athletes from other countries choose to stay and compete in their home countries rather than come to the United States and play. I think that marketing wise it is good to publicize international athletes rather than athletes just from the United States. It intrigues people into learning more about that athlete, other members on the team, and even the country itself. I think that international athletes are crucial in professional sports both when they play for the United States and when they play for their own home countries.