Culture Comparison between China and Japan

Introduction Culture can be described as the way in which a certain group of people lives. Kroeber and Kluckhohn describe culture as being a pattern of feeling, adaptation, and belief that are practiced by a certain group of individuals and the common mindset they possess (p. 2).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Culture Comparison between China and Japan specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This mindset influences the perception and general outlook of the group of people. Culture also influences the attitude that these groups of people have towards other people and other notions. Culture differs amongst groups of people even though they may occupy similar or close geographical locations. For instance, China and Japan are different in terms of culture. This is despite the fact that they both are in Asia, and they may have very many similarities. Most people can be forgiven for confusing various aspects of these two cul tures because they have so many similarities on face value. Individuals in these cultural groups are characterized with the same physical appearance of a short stature, dark hair, and oriental almond eyes. Their clothing also bears close resemblance and their martial arts skills are popular worldwide. However, a closer look reveals that there are differences between these two cultures. This work will closely evaluate these two cultures with the aim of comparing and contrasting the several aspects of their cultures to bring out the unique nature of each. The work also evaluates different aspects of these two cultures and brings out the comparisons and contradictions between them that may influence business and sociological aspects of an organization. History The aspect of history has to do with the origin of a certain people. China and Japan, apart from the being close to one another in a geographical sense; they have a very interesting and unique history. China is said to have been the origin of Japan.Advertising Looking for essay on cultural studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More China has a culture that has been heavily borrowed by Korea, Japan, Tibet, and Mongolia (Morton Lewis, p. 21). In Japan, it can be proved by the fact that the name Japan is written in the Chinese Kanji and not the Japanese Katakana or Hiragana. This is a very interesting fact, which arouses the curiosity of many individuals, and there is a theory that might support this critical fact. China comprises of one big tribe and four small ones, which is depicted by the large star that is surrounded by four small ones on the Japanese flag. History has it that the king of China in 2000 BC, whose name was Shin, united the scattered tribes and became very powerful. He had power and fame that spread far and wide, and only one thing was lacking, immortality. Therefore, he assigned a close right man to search the world for medicine that w ould ensure he lived forever. The right man gathered a group of people and set off to an unknown shore. This was after knowing too well that getting such herb was a difficult task. He settled there and named the land Japan, which is in Chinese Kanji. After all, it was the only language he knew (Morton Lewis, p. 65). Historical similarities between China and Japan The historical aspect has to do with language, geographical, governance, and the external environment of the two cultures through history. China and Japan share a lot of similarities in the historical aspect, but there are glaring differences between them too. The language used in Japan is closely associated with symbols from the language used in China. The Japanese scripts, Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji are all imported from China. This means that China existed before Japan and that Japan finds most of its culture by modifying that of China. China was the first to develop a written language, which Japan adapted to form its own. The two cultures are closely related to one another geographically. The near physical semblance of people from both cultures suggests a common origin. China and Japan both have the same system of governance. The Chinese’ imperial court was the system of governance that was also adapted by Japan.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Culture Comparison between China and Japan specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In history, both Japan and China faced the same invaders who were the Mongolian invaders. Therefore, the two cultures had to fight back these invaders using martial arts. This was another common historical feature of the two cultures. Historical Differences between the Two Cultures Geographically, Japan was cut away from the rest of the world. It existed as an island isolated from the rest of the world. China was not isolated and was quickly populated by both the indigenous Chinese race and a few other races. Ironically, Japan had significant western presence which greatly influenced its culture and modernization process. The Japanese might have adapted the Chinese governance system, but they did not adapt the weight and power of the emperor. For the Chinese, the authority was vested in the empire. On the other hand, in Japan, the empire was just a formality. The one who held the power was a military ruler known as the Shogun. Even though China greatly influenced the martial arts in both cultures, the styles that the two cultures use are totally different. China uses Kung-fu and Wushu while Japan uses Bushido, Judo and Jujusu. China prides in its Shaolin Monks while Japan has the Samurai. Sociological Sociology has to do with the way individuals interact with each other in a given setting. This has to do with the way people express themselves, their cuisine, their leisure activities, the dressing, among others. Just like in the historical aspect, Japan has borrowed heavily from t he Chinese culture in the sociological aspect too. Social similarities between Japan and China Both Japanese and Chinese cultures are known to be highly contextual, compared to the western cultures (Li Putterill, p. 149). This means that their communication skills are characterized by very little explicit message since most of what they need to say is vested within the context. Morton and Lewis observe that the art of culinary is highly valued in China, which is also the case in Japan (p. 69). Both of these cultures have cuisines that are exclusive to their cultures and that are popular around the world.Advertising Looking for essay on cultural studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The traditional dressing of these two cultures is similar. Japan is popular for the Kimono, which is worn even today by women and children during special occasions. Strangely, Kimono, which is another name for Wafuku, means dress in Chinese and closely resembles the Chi-Pao dress which was worn by Chinese women in the 1940s and 1950s. China and Japan are known for the prowess in sculpting. They use the same material to sculpt the images. These materials are wood, stone and pottery. Other materials are bronze and metals, though these are rarely used. The finishing of these sculptures by the two cultures is done using materials like gild, bright and paints, and lacquer. Therefore, it is very difficult to tell a sculpture from china and Japan apart. Social Differences between China and Japan Even though the social ways of china and Japan appear to be so similar, there exist small differences between the two cultures socially. It would take a very keen eye to notice some of these differ ences. Even though Asian countries are known to be precise and to the point when conversing, Japanese are known to hold more high- context conversations than the Chinese. Japanese are more self-restrained and talk very little (Li Putterill, p.151). However, the Chinese are open to the conversation when compared to the Japanese. China and Japan are known for their culinary skills and expertise. Even though Japan has borrowed a lot from the Chinese culture, the cuisine is one area that is unique to each culture. China’s cuisine is summarized in a Chinese proverb that says: â€Å"a sweet taste in the south, a preference for salt in the north, a sour or vinegar taste in the east, and a hot, pungent taste in the west† (Morton Lewis, p. 9). Chinese cuisine is made up of dishes like Sushi, Sashimi, among others. The Japanese cuisine includes Kaiseki, Yakimono, among others. The western countries are known to have largely adopted the Chinese â€Å"hot, pungent taste in the west†. A good implication that these two cultures have different cuisines is the fact that Japanese restaurants and Chinese restaurants worldwide serve totally different foods. The difference in traditional dressing is also noted between the two countries. This is because in Japan, the Kimono is still very much alive. In this case, it is still worn by women and children during certain occasions. On the other hand, in China, the Chi-Pao was only worn during the period between 1940 and 1950. Even though China and Japan use the same material in sculpting, and the finishing one too, Japanese traditionally majored in sculptures of Buddha, while the Chinese sculpted virtually anything. The sports in both cultures differ. Apart from martial arts that also differed, with china going by Kung fu and Japan by Judo, modern sports also differ between the two cultures. As for Japan, due to its early interaction with the western countries and the influence it got during that time, tends to m ajor on modern sports like soccer and baseball. These are sports that are associated with the west. However, China is closely associated with badminton and eastern ping pong, sports that are in a way closer home. This goes to show the extent of the western influence on Japan. Business The aspect of business has to do with economic state of a country and its main business activity. The two countries are major economies in the world. China had been a dormant economy until the late 80s when it began to make economic strides and has been growing ever since, with an annual economic growth of 10%. Japan started growing economically a little bit earlier than China due to westernization and its cooperation with western countries. China is the second, leading economy in the world, while Japan is the third. On the other hand, the United States is regarded as the world’s leading economy. Economic Similarities between China and Japan The high-context communication method employed by the Chinese and Japanese cultures is very suitable for practical business. It brings out a similarity between the Chinese and Japanese and how they conduct business. It is considered as a contribution to the quick rise of the two economies in the world economy ladder. Both economies of china and Japan were influenced by westernization which contributed to their growth. Japan started its collaboration with the western countries in the 16th century. China also had contact with the west at the time but was not highly influenced as Japan. Both economies depend largely on agriculture and industry as their main source of export commodities. The agricultural products found in both countries are rice, sorghum, wheat, and cotton. Both of china and Japan trade with each other. China imports mineral fuels, organic chemicals, metal ores and some industrial equipment from Japan while Japan imports mostly foodstuffs from china due to its lack of land for cultivation. The large percentage of foodstuff s like rice that Japan consumes comes from china. Economical Differences between China and Japan The geography of the two countries creates a major difference between the types of business that these two economic giants conduct. Japan is an island surrounded by water while china is characterized by endless tracts of land. The water around Japan provides an opportunity that china does not have- fishery which contributes to a large percentage of Japan’s revenue. Zaidan also observes that the introduction of cotton made a great difference in Japan as it also forms a large part of its exports (p.51). Japan is also well known for its precious metals due to its location near water. On the other hand, China is one of its biggest importers of these precious metals. Another economic difference between the two is the times of economic expansions. Japan, even though it was an isolated island, made a lot of contact with the west towards the close of the 19th century (Zaidan, p. 62). This move contributed majorly to the speedy modernization of Japan. China, at the time, lacked any interest in the western culture. Therefore, the country only began making economic strides after the millennium. Religion Religion is another critical factor of culture that cannot be overlooked. Every culture is characterized by its beliefs and values. Religion is the belief in the existence of a supernatural entity that controls and has power over life and nature. This forms a critical aspect of human life. Similarities between Chinese and Japanese religious beliefs The Chinese and Japanese believed in the existence of many gods prior to the onset of Buddhism. Once Buddhism saturated Asia, both cultures majored on Buddhism. However, it is worth to note that polytheism is still existent in the two countries. Differences between the religious beliefs of China and Japan These two cultures might have shared a religion, but they had different deities. China is known to have traditional china religions while Japan majors on Shinto. Therefore, there is a major difference between these two cultures in terms of religion. How culture influences the business and sociology in China and Japan The culture of China and Japan sure has an impact on their business and sociology, especially when interacting with other cultures. Their high context communication is a very good quality in managerial positions as it makes workers more keen and efficient. This should explain the success and efficiency of Chinese or Japanese based organizations. The cuisine of these two cultures is certainly a cause of curiosity and influence in world cuisines. This is because they are adapted globally. The traditional wear too is a great source of cultural expression that is unique to the two cultures. It can be acknowledged that the Japanese, even though they are notorious for the high-context expression, are accommodative to other cultures than the Chinese. This is evident by their initial interaction w ith the west in the 19th century while the Chinese were still reluctant to do the same. This may have an impact in a work setting on the interactions between members of an organization. Conclusion The many similarities shared by the Chinese and Japanese cultures that leave most of the world unable to tell them apart are many. This can be explained by the fact that Japan was once part of china that broke away and sought its own independent ways. Even so, the basic of the two cultures are similar, and the differences they have are also solid. Japan is a state on its own running its own government and business, as China is. The cultural similarities and differences between them are what ignite and kindle curiosity and interest about the two cultures. Another reason of interest could be the fact that these cultural aspects influence the way business is conducted and how these cultures interact with other cultures in common places like the work place, as seen above. Works Cited Kroeber, Alfred Louis and Clyde Kluckhohn. Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions. Millwood, N.Y: Kraus Reprint Co, 1978. Print. Li, Xinjian, and Martin Putterill. â€Å"Strategy Implications of Business Culture Differences between Japan and China.† Business Strategy Series 8.2 (2007): 148-54. Morton, Scott W. and Charlton M. Lewis. China: Its History and Culture. 4th ed. New York; London: McGraw-Hill, 2005. Print. Zaidan, Kokusai Keizai KoÌ„ryuÌ„. Japan Spotlight: Economy, Culture History. Tokyo, Japan: Japan Economic Foundation, 2004. Print. This essay on Culture Comparison between China and Japan was written and submitted by user Juan S. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

The 14 College Interview Questions You Must Prepare For

The 14 College Interview Questions You Must Prepare For SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The college interview process can be nerve-racking. This interview gives the college you're applying to another opportunity to evaluate you and help determine whether or not to offer you admission. However, your college interviews won't be nearly as scary if you know what to expect. In this article, I give you the 14 college interview questions you absolutely must prepare for. I explain why you're being asked these questions and how to provide greatanswers. Furthermore, I offer advice onhow to prepare for your interviews so that when the time comes, you'll be ready to ace them. A Short Introduction to College Interviews A college interview provides a college with an opportunity to give you more information about the school and answer any questions. In addition, the interview gives the college a chanceto learn more about you, your interests, and how you’ll be able to contribute to the school. Very few colleges require interviews, although a fair number offer optional or recommended ones. These are typically highly selective or small private colleges, such asColumbia, Occidental, and Bates.Most large public universities don’t even offer interviews because there are simply too many applicants. Check a college’s website or contact its admissions office to determine whether interviews are offered and how to schedule one.Interviews can be on-campus, usually with an admissions representative, or off-campus near where you live, usually with an alumnus of the college. If you have the option of getting interviewed, do it.It’s to your benefit to take advantage of an opportunity to interview because it shows the school that you’re genuinely interested in attending. And demonstrating interest can greatly help your chances of admission. Finally, the interview gives the school another chance to get to know you outside of what’s in your application. Try not to stress about the interview too much, though. As long as you’re polite, attentive, and prepared, it should only help your chances of getting accepted. The interview will also give you an opportunity to learn more about the school,and help you decidewhether or not it might be a good fit for you. souvenirsofcanada/Flickr Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. The 14 Most Common College Interview Questions The questions I’m listing and explaining were either referenced inmultiple admissions websites andinterview advice guides, or are general enough that you’ll be able to answer a number of similarquestions by preparing for them. Below, I provide you with eachquestion. I then explain why colleges are asking it, what they're looking for in a response, and how you can prepare for the question ahead of time. Question 1: Tell Me About Yourself This isn’t even actually a question, but it’s something you might be asked to do in an interview. Because it’s so general, you might have trouble figuring out where to begin. Why they're asking this: Colleges are asking you to do this because they really do want to know more about you. That's one of the primary purposes of the interview, after all! What they're looking for:You need to paint a unique portrait of who you are to separate yourself from other applicants. Avoidclichà ©sor descriptions that would be too common. For example, don’t just say you’re hardworking- explain what has driven you to become as diligent as you are and why you feel it is important. How to prepare:Rehearse answering this question. Try talking about your passions, hobbies, and interests. You can discuss what inspires you or what your friends like about you. Be specific. Again, you want to make yourself memorable. Question 2:Why Are You Interested In This College? Why they're asking this:This is an important question and one you should definitely prepare for, since colleges want to see that you’re taking the application process seriously and have a legitimate interest in attending the school. What they're looking for:Talk about your interest in a major or academic program, the cultural values of the school, or extracurricular activities that drew you to the college. Again, be thorough and specific.Don’t talk about prestige or rankings, and don't say you just want to go there because it’s close to home; none of this shows genuine interest in this specific college! How to prepare:To answer this question well, you'll need toconduct extensive college research before the interview.You should be able to cite specifics when answering this question. Follow the same advice as if you were writing the answer to this question for your application essay. Bart Everson/Flickr Question 3:Why Do You Want to Major in _____? If you've indicated that you want to major in a certain subject, you might be asked why you’re interested in that particular field. Why they're asking this:Colleges are interested in your academic goals and want to see that you’re academically inclined. What they're looking for:Talk about why a certain subject inspires you or why you're passionate about it. Don’t say that you’re pursuing a certain major to make a lot of money or have job security.That doesn’t demonstrate genuine academic interest; it just makes you seem shallow. How to prepare: Think deeply about why you want to pursue a specific major.Why do you find it fascinating? What experiences provoked your interest in the subject? How will the major enable you to reach your future professional goals? Question 4: What Are YourAcademic Strengths? Why they're asking this:In an effort to get to know you as a student, colleges are interested in getting your perspective on where you excel academically. What they're looking for:Don’t make this answer too short. Don’t just say, "I’m good at science." When discussing your academic strengths, explain how you’ve capitalized on your strengths.If you’re an excellent writer, for example, how have you used your writing skills to excel in school? How do you plan on continuing to use your strengths? How to prepare:Make sure you know your academic strengths. You should be able to explain how you recognized your strengths, how you're currently using them, and how you plan to use them in the future. Question 5:What Are Your Academic Weaknesses? How Have You Addressed Them? Whythey're asking this:Colleges want to admit good students, but they’re aware everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Colleges want to see that you have the persistence and work ethic to succeed despite your challenges. What they're looking for: Schools want students who can demonstrate theirability to confront and overcome challenges.Try revealing strategies or specific approaches you’ve taken to improve your academic weaknesses. You could also tell a specific story about how you managed to do well in a subject that was especially difficult for you. How to prepare: Be aware of your academic weaknesses and how you've addressed them. It's not good to say that you don't have any weaknesses. That's not very believable, and you'll come off as arrogant. Question 6:What Do You Plan to Contribute to This School? Why they're asking this:Colleges want to admit students who will make positive contributions to campus and academic life. Essentially, they’re looking for students who will make the school better. What they're looking for: In short, specifics.Don’t limit your answer to vaguepositive traits. Don’t just say you’ll contribute a good work ethic and a regard for others.Is there specific research you wish to pursue? Do you want to have a leadership position in an extracurricular activity? Are there specific community service projects you want to do?How will your presence on campus and in the classroom make a difference? How to prepare: Know the specific contributions you want to make to the school. Identify your college goals as well as the activities you want to pursue while you're in college. Question 7:What Do You Expect to Be Doing 10 Years From Now? Why they're asking this: Just to set the record straight, you don’t need to have your entire future figured out. Colleges understand that you probably won’t have everything decided and your plans are likely to change. What they do want isstudents with direction. What they're looking for: Collegeswant students who are motivated to achieve their goals.The bad, general answer is to only say you expect to have a fulfilling career and be making a positive impact on the world.What are some specific activities you’d like to do? How do you plan on impacting the world?You don’t have to limit your plans to professional goals. Do you want to take your mom on a vacation? Or have weekly gatherings with your best friends from high school? How to prepare: You can write down some detailed notes answering this question.Paint a picture of the life you want to have in 10 years. That picture should reveal your uniqueness. Question 8:What Would You Change About Your High School? Why they're asking this:With this question, colleges are looking for your ability to identify problems and get a better understanding of what you’re looking for in a school. By learning what you’d change, they get a chance to learn more about what matters to you. What they're looking for: Colleges want a thoughtful response. Be specific and respectful. Don’t say, "I’d get better teachers." Say that you’d allocate more resources to the music department so that more students can have the opportunity to learn how to play new instruments. Discuss how learning an instrument helped you, and describe the current state of the music department.Try to make it clear that you want to improve your school to benefit the personal and academic growth of allof its students. How to prepare: Think about the strengths and weaknesses of your high school. What are some specific problems it has? What are the consequences of those problems? What steps would you take to make improvements? Shouldn't other kids have the opportunity to rock out like this? (Joe Lewis/Flickr) Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. Question 9:Whom Do You Most Admire? Why they're asking this:From this question, colleges can get a sense of your values.If the person you most admire is Justin Bieber, for example, colleges might wonder about your priorities. What they're looking for:Don’t limit your answer just to naming the person. Why do you admire that person?For instance, many people say that the person they most admire is a parent. But what specifically has that parent done that you admire so much? In short, don’t forget the details. How to prepare: Think deeply about your response to this question. If the person you admire is somebody you know, practice by giving your answer to that person. You'll know you've answered the question well if you're rewarded with a hug or even a few tears from your audience. Question 10:What Is Your Favorite Book? Why they're asking this:This question is designed to help schools learn more about your interests. Colleges also probably want to make surethat you actually read books. What they're looking for:Don't limityour answer to the name of abook; think about why you like the book so much. How did it inspire you? Did a particular character resonate with you? Did you learn something from this book that influenced your opinions or behavior? Did this book help shape your perspective or values? How to prepare:Really think about books you've read that you connected with and why. I've also seen similar questions asking about a news article you recently read, so try to stay up to date with the news, too! Question 11:Why Do You Want to Go to College? Why they're asking this:For this question, schools are trying to understand why you’re motivated to pursue higher education. What they're looking for: Collegeswant to see you have clear goals you’re trying to accomplish by attending college.Obviously, they don’t want to hear that you want to go to college because your parents are making you or so you can attend wild parties. In your answer, emphasize how college will allow you to pursue your passions, aid in your personal development, and enable you to fulfill your future goals.Be specific. What are your passions and goals? How will college give you an opportunity to pursue these passions? What college activities will increase your awareness and facilitate your intellectual and emotional growth? How to prepare:For ideas, check out the pros in my article aboutif you should go to college. Steven Depolo/Flickr Question 12:What Do You Like to Do for Fun? Why they're asking this:This question is designed to get a better sense of your general interests and overall personality. What they're looking for:Your answer doesn’t only have to include activities that are academic. After all, you probably wouldn’t be believed if you said all you do for fun is read science textbooks and do math problems. If some of what you do for fun is intellectual, though, explain why you find these activities fun. Finally,try to avoid general answers such as "hang out with friends." How to prepare:You shouldn't have to prepare much for this question since I assume you already know what you like to do for fun. However, spend some time thinking about why you enjoy these activities. Question 13:What Is an Obstacle You've Faced and How Did You Get Through It? Why they're asking this:Colleges want to know if you've faced (and overcome) any significant challenges in your life. They also want to see that you’re persistent and willing to work hard in order to overcome these obstacles. What they're looking for:It’s fine if you haven’t had some awful, incredibly difficult obstacle in your life. Think of a time when you faced a problem that challenged you, and you put ina lot of effort to solve it.Your obstacle could be related to your home life, school, or an extracurricular activity. In your response, explain how the obstacle challenged you and emphasize what exactly you did to overcome it. How to prepare: Think of a significant challenge you've had in your life and how you dealt with it. What did you learn from the problem? How did you solve it? Did it change or influence the way you address similar problems? Question 14:What Makes You Unique? Why they're asking this:This question is essentially what all the other questions above are meant to determine. It's another general question that's often difficult to answer. We are all unique, but it can be hard to put into words exactly what separates you from other people. What they're looking for: Schools ask this question because theywant to get to know you better. You can discuss a trait or multiple traits you possess. Give examples and stories that demonstrate these qualities.Do you have any uncommon interests or goals? Is your background very unique? How to prepare:I recommend doing some serious brainstorming to address this question. Write out specific attributes and anecdotes you can share that demonstrate your uniqueness. When do you feel most comfortable? What makes you the proudest? What makes you special? How to Prepare for College InterviewQuestions For each of these questions, I recommend jotting down some notes so that you can remember key points or details.Don’t try to completely write out your answers and memorize them. The way you speak in an interview is supposed to appear conversational and not rehearsed. Also, if you try to memorize your answers and forget your script during the interview, you’ll end up looking confused and unsure of yourself. Practice your responses by having somebody ask you these questions and then answering them as if you were actually in the interview.Remember that you want to be as specific and detailed as possible.Learn to separate yourself from all the other applicants being interviewed. For some of these questions, it'll be helpful to review your personal statement.Your personal statement likely has some details or stories you can incorporate intosome of your answers. How Do You Answer Questions You Didn't Prepare For? Undoubtedly, the questions abovearen’t the only possible interview questions. Regardless of how much you prepare, you’ll almost definitely be asked a question you weren’t expecting. There’s no need to be too nervous, though. Just try to give honest, detailed answers. As long as you’re thoughtful and professional, you shouldn't worry too much about surprise questions. Also, you might be able to incorporate some details from the other questions you prepared for in your responses.For example, for any question related to academics, you could probably include details from your response to the question, "What are your academic strengths?" If you want to get more comfortable with the interview process, have a friend or parent ask you questions about yourself, and respond as if you were in the interview. This is an excellent way to prepare you for the real deal and will give you more confidence. What's Next? Still feeling nervous? Check out our guide tothe best tools to help you prepare for your interview, so you can feel confident going in. College interviews also giveyouthe opportunity to ask questions. Make sure you ask the right questions during your interview. If your goal is to get into one of the most selective colleges, check out our popular post on how to get into Harvard and the Ivy League. As you navigate the college selection process, it's important to knowhow to choose a college. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Analyse the critical HR actions multinational corporations should take Essay

Analyse the critical HR actions multinational corporations should take to facilitate expatriate adjustmen - Essay Example Whenever a company grows from national to multinational (MNC) to global it has to face new challenges such as organizational culture, workforce diversity, expatriates etc. These issues are unavoidable, inevitable in fact they need to be welcomed and handled properly and effectively for the overall growth and benefit of the company. This paper aims at exploring who exactly are expatriates? Are they really unavoidable and irreplaceable with the local talent? What difficulties expatriates face in acclimatizing and proving their worth? What are the chances of success? How enticing and lucrative it is to take expatriate assignment? Do the benefits outweigh the difficulties? Do only expatriates need adjustment or their fellow local colleagues as well? Why many multinational companies opt for Expatriates instead of hiring new staff in the foreign country? What steps the HR department can take in order to help facilitate the expats adjustment to the new culture, country and way of life. What is the role and responsibilities of HR in making this adjustment as quick efficient and effective as possible? It also includes a study of expatriate cycle which typically includes selection, assignment and repatriation, remuneration and evaluation of their success and failure. Expatriates why are they needed? Whenever a company decides to operate in foreign lands some very obvious differences arise between domestic HRM and International HRM. One very important aspect of international HRM is moving staff across national boundaries with international assignments in various roles to firm’s foreign operations. Such foreign employees are called expatriates. An expatriate can be defined as a individual residing and working momentarily in a country other than their resident nation, employees who have been shifted out of their home base into some other area of firm’s foreign operations. There are three categories of employees in international firms: Host country nationals (H CNs) Parent country nationals (PCNs) Third country nationals (TCNs) PCNs are always expatriates and TCNs are also expatriates but HCNs can become expatriates if they are transferred into parent company operations outside their home country. 1(Peter J 2008) International Assignment creates expatriates HCNs HCNs National border PCNs PCNs TCNs National border The need for expatriates is not questionable for most of the MNE’s . Expatriate have the required technical skill, knowledge and expertise to supervise, assist and monitor local operations. Most of the negativity associated with expatriates is because of the high cost involved. Still most of the MNE’s believe in the cadre of high performance expatriates and are in search of people who are ready for an international business career. What they need to do is to motivate these people to perform well and while capitalizing on their skills improve their outlook and prepare them for their foreign assignment. 2(Daniels, 2007 ) Foreign assignments can be beneficial both for the person and the company. For the individual the following benefits can be seen. 3(K. Aswathappa, 2008) Increased experience of working with different cultures, personnel and work / life styles, this will make the employee more marketable and will improve his outlook. The expatriate is most likely to benefit from tax reductions. Most organizations offer their employees an expat package which

Divorce and Child's Welfare Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 8000 words

Divorce and Child's Welfare - Essay Example Of particular interest would be the academic performance of children of divorce in terms of gender difference and age. With the aide of social and developmental theories, the different arguments can be examined. The research aims to find to evidence that divorce affects children negatively using attachment theory, role theory and systems theory as an investigative framework. The results of the investigation are expected to yield relevant information that can form the conceptual theoretical foundation of alternative social work interventions to alleviate the circumstance of affected children. The sanctity of Matrimony is subject to various pressures of modern living. Some couples commenced in wedded bliss only to find later in the marriage of their inability to cope with various encumbrances that come with the package. The consequences of separation already have a profound effect on couples. What more on children that comes as the product of that union Divorce, according to Guttmann (1993), was a symptom of social disease (p.2). The public's opinion is divided. Some would advocate that divorce has positive outcomes while others would argue that the prevalence of divorce only mitigates social decay. Conflicting values ensue between cultures that accept divorce as a necessity and cultures that consider divorce as erosion of moral codes. Societies that consider divorce as an acceptable solution to disagreeing couples provided laws that would oversee the implementation of the divorce conditions. However, despite the presence of these laws, many fathers saddled with the financial burden of providing for the dissolved union has produced several negative outcomes. The inability to provide financial support to the family has left his children in need of economic assistance. The loss of one parent has placed more pressures on the family. The single-parent without the benefit of the financial assistance from the estranged spouse is forced to resort to other means to support the children. Aside from the loss of economic support as a consequence of divorce, the loss of a parent that should have been part of the basic social unit has placed undue pressures on the children of the union. In recent years, some experts noted a decline in the effects of union dissolution on children. Amato (2001) attributed the decline to the more accommodating society on the occurrence of divorce and the stigma associated with marital dissolution is reduced. In addition, external intervention programs were more effective and accessible in recent years (Brown, Young & Allen 2003). The stigma of divorce has worn off. Majority has accepted divorce as a consequence of inevitable circumstances. Children should not be in a household where conflicts between parents are an everyday occurrence. It will benefit the children more if they are removed from such an environment. The two parents should agree on how

Technological Innovation Impact on Accounting Field Essay Example for Free

Technological Innovation Impact on Accounting Field Essay Technology innovation is the process through which new (or improved) technologies are developed and brought into widespread use. Innovation can be composed of research, development, demonstration, and deployment. Although it is known clearly that innovation is not a linear process there are various interconnections and feedback loops between these stages, and often even the stages themselves cannot be significantly disaggregated. I don’t think if the phenomenon of technological innovation can become a stumbling block in prosperity of management accounting since through innovation management accounting discipline and career have been significantly improved. These areas are as follows The Information Revolution: in early years it was cost fully to collect, analyses and store accounting information. This was because of inadequacy of infrastructures which were importantly needed for this purpose. Today information technology makes possible sophisticated database accounting systems that are both powerful and flexible in terms of the accounting information that they can collect, organize and report. Even today, however, the cost of designing, implementing, and running cost accounting systems is a substantial obstacle in many organizations; a fact probably underrepresented in business schools. Proliferation of Product Lines: This is not much matters if a company makes only one product, since many cost accounting issues can be resolved. When companies significantly expanded their product lines to gain market share and increase profits, the difficulty and importance of obtaining accurate cost information on individual products increased. Back then companies were allocating costs among products in a manner that led to poor production and marketing decisions. A management accounting tool called activity-based costing was developed to help correct this problem, by improving the accuracy with which costs are allocated among products. Globalization of the Economy: Globalization has several implications for management accounting. First, globalization has resulted in a more competitive environment, which encourages the implementation of accounting systems that provide the most accurate, relevant, and timely information possible. Second, the growth of multinational corporations has increased the importance of transfer pricing. A transfer price is the amount one division of a company charges another division for an intermediate product. Transfer pricing plays a role in taxation, international trade negotiations, and production and marketing decisions within decentralized firms. Finally, globalization has increased the pace of change within the management accounting profession. Many recent innovations in management accounting, as well as in the fields of strategy and operations management, originated in Japan. Direct competition between Japanese and U. S. companies has led many U. S. companies to adopt these Japanese management practices. Innovative Management Practices: In addition to the four economic and technological trends described above, the following three innovations in the fields of strategy and operations management have influenced management accounting systems and practices over the past several decades. Total quality management (TQM): Quality programs go by several names, including TQM, zero defect programs, and six sigma programs. The focus on quality has had a significant impact on many organizations in all sectors of the economy, beginning with the automobile industry and some other industries in the manufacturing sector of the economy about forty years ago. Sophisticated quality programs are found today in many areas of government, education and other not-for-profit organizations as well as in for-profit businesses. The impetus for TQM programs is the assessment that the cost of defects is greater than the cost of implementing the TQM program. Advocates of TQM claim that some costs of defects have been underestimated historically, particularly the loss of customer goodwill and future sales when a defective unit is sold. Some advocates of quality programs believe that the most cost-effective approach to quality is to eliminate all defects at the point at which they occur. If successful, these â€Å"zero defect† programs would not only result in higher levels of customer satisfaction, but would also eliminate costs associated with more conventional quality control procedures, such as inspection costs that occur at the end of the production line, the cost of reworking units identified as defective, and costs associated with processing customer returns. The focus is on preventive controls to prevent the defect from occurring in the first place, as opposed to detective controls to identify and correct the defect after it has occurred. Just-in-time (JIT): During the last two decades of the 20th century, many companies implemented just-in-time programs designed to minimize the amount of inventory on hand. These companies identified significant benefits from reducing all types of inventories—raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods—to the lowest possible levels. These benefits consist principally of reduced inventory holding costs (such as financing and warehousing costs), reduced losses due to inventory obsolescence, and more effective quality control The relationship between JIT and TQM is important. Many defects in raw materials or the production process can be ignored indefinitely if high-quality materials can be substituted for defective materials, and if additional first-quality units can be produced to replace defective units. In a non-JIT environment, defective materials and half-finished units might be set aside in a corner of the factory. However, under a JIT program, if raw materials received at the factory are defective, there might be no first-quality materials on hand to substitute for the defective materials. In extreme cases, the production line might be shut down until first-quality materials are received. Hence, a JIT program can focus attention on quality control in ways not generally possible in a non-JIT environment. The challenge in a JIT environment is to avoid stock-outs. To meet this challenge, some companies have found ways to decrease production lead times. Shorter production schedules result in less work-in-process inventory, and also allows companies to maintain lower levels of finished goods inventory while still maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction. Early in the 21st century, acts of terrorism (such as the destruction of the World Trade Center in New York City) and natural disasters (such as Hurricane Katrina) prompted some companies to rethink the practice of maintaining extremely low levels of inventories. These companies are concerned that future incidents could result in the disruption of inventory pipelines, particularly for imported materials. Consequently, the advantage of maintaining safety stocks of inventory is receiving renewed interest.

Exposing the Falseness of Truth in On the Nature of the Universe Essay

Exposing the Falseness of Truth in On the Nature of the Universe  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚      Truth is in the eye of the beholder. Or is it? Questions regarding the nature of truth have always been central to not only philosophers, but all men (and women, of course) who possess any desire for knowledge. For while truth itself is an elusive concept, it is also the underlying theme of all science -- which is the basis of knowledge -- and so the seeker of learning must first discover his own truth about the world; without a strong belief, the slippery nature of truth will only serve to confuse and mislead the student of life. A person who is lacking a basic understanding of truth can never fully grasp the fine distinction between appearance and reality, yet the ability to separate the two is essential to anyone interested in knowledge at a higher level, where appearances lead only to dead ends. Or do they? And who says appearance is not reality? At the heart of this matter is the conflict between truth as an absolute and the truth of the senses; while this may seem like a trivia l matter (truth is true, isn't it?), it is anything but. If there does indeed exist an absolute truth, as the Socratics claim, then all attempts to understand the universe are futile, since human senses can never adequately grasp a truth that is so far above everyday experience. On the other hand, the Epicurean view of truth is much more encouraging; after all, this explanation of truth as being of the senses offers the hope that individuals have the ability to create, and therefore understand, their own universe. The Epicureans, by advocating truth of the senses, basically claim that whatever appears to be something, really is, whereas followers of Socrates would disc... ...y that this debate over its relativity can ever be satisfactorily settled. Nevertheless, both philosophies have valid arguments, and each also has its merits from the common man's point of view; while Plato's truth appeals to the seekers of knowledge and idealists who dream of a perfect world, Lucretius' definition of truth brings comfort to those who need to believe that what they can see and feel is a reliable representation of reality. Both of these explanations could be valid, yet the question remains, and will continue to haunt philosophers as long as man continues to philosophize: what is truth, and if someone accidentally stumbles on its actual nature, how will he recognize it when all he has learned is the art of doubt? Bibliography   Lucretius. On the Nature of the Universe. Tr. R. E. Latham. Introduction by John Godwin. Penguin Books, London: 1994.

Organizational Structure Presentation Communication Methods Essay

As the manager of Lakeview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, we are now going to propose a new addition to our facility, we would like to propose a new addition of long term care services as well as the short term care services that we are providing know on the inpatient and outpatient basis. The future of the growth of this company, deeply on this new addition to our facility. We will be in need of new experienced workers for areas like therapy, doctors, nurses and counselors that will work with the patients and their families. Communication, will have to be our number one factor to finding the right persons for the jobs, and the growth within the community as well. Our communication should be easy to understand and accurate. Effective communication is important and we should all be on the same page. Leadership should involve good communication, and they should be walking around talking to employees, this way you will see what their skills are in this field and will improve the gro wth internally and externally. Effective internal communication should start with having good listening skills, questioning skills as well as feedback. Sharing information with the staff is a good effective communication.   When it comes to internal relationship in the health care setting, the most important person is the patient the one who has the needs that we need to make sure they get. The main reason behind this is because acquisition integration has led to more rigorous examination of support services. There is also a higher expectation of customer service that we will experience as consumers. The external relationships that must be considered in the creation of this long term care are: state, local and the federal  government. Each of these have their own regulations that we need to know and follow. You should also be aware of the consumer advocacy program as well, to make sure that the consumer is getting the best care possible. We also need to make sure that the proper training and hiring is done as well, with all this being said this is my proposal of the new addition to the facility.