Role of Multinationals on Productivity of Firms Essay

Role of Multinationals on Productivity of Firms - Essay Example A benchmark model to contrast income from local and multinational corporations is an insight to the contribution of multinational corporations on technology spillovers that benefit local firms. However, results from the case study's contribution of multinationals on growth of firms are quite confusing with both positive and negative contributions. Pertinent questions on the issue of technological advancements attributed to multinationals perturb the numerous stakeholders in this field. Uncertainties lie on whether the technology can be used effectively, competition and the market success of the new technology (Kafouros, 2008). There is evidence of recent appraisal for multinationals with hostilities based on factors such as globalization (Gorg and Greenway, 2004). The caveat of bipartite connection of multinationals and positive effects is always present. Some authors state that these are just effects from subsidiary factors such as inflation tax, currency stability and difficulties by most communities to embrace change (Reinert, Tajan & Glass, 2008). Technology transfer and multinationals Theoretically, the fact that competitive edge given by technological superiority not only improves a firm’s productivity, but also its general economic performance is widely accepted. Kafouros (2008) looks at technology transfer to encompass techniques involving the use of better machinery. This definition is quite constrictive and does not give better insight to the varied advantages of multinationals in technology transfer. A more knowledgeable and pedagogical approach interfaces this concept with innovative organizational, technological, managerial as well as more efficient production processes. More striking, is its recent contribution to globalization and an increase in demand for better produce by consumers. Technology in this context can be looked at in the essence of a form of embodiment. It can be looked at as general information, specific information, practic e and hardware. General information involves conceptual know how on a method of operation or system. For example; learning how to operate machinery. Specific information is just as the title explains; it involves details on the whole process of a technology. For instance, information on what a software is made of, how it operates, in what instances it is used and for what purpose. Procedures are codified instructions in the operations of a certain technology. Lastly, hardware involves information in physical form for example a piece of equipment originating from the source of technology. These technology transfers are usually obtained from spill over channels (Gorg & Greenway, 2004). Imitation, competition, exports and skills acquisition from multinationals are said to be ways of improving productivity. Imitation was successfully used in most Asian countries and Latin America in the manufacturing industry (Aitken & Harrison, 1999, 618). This is more of the transfer of knowledge and should not be confused with replication (Gorg & Greenway, 2004). As noted by Freeman and Shaw (2009), the complexity of a process in conjunction with duration of exposure, greatly determine imitation. Research done by Freeman and Shaw (2009) shows that the presence of multinationals in Japan was an insight to the country’s initial engagement in exportation. The sentiments are shared by other scholars such as Grog & Greenway (2004) who state

Phase 3 Discussion Board Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Phase 3 Discussion Board - Assignment Example The situation becomes more challenging when it involves the introduction of a new product in an already existing marketing with various previously existing competition. This will require the consideration of particular product features in order to introduce a product strategically thereby winning a substantial marketing share (Parente, 2005). Among the issues to discuss in the lunch meeting will include the marketing mix, a tool used by marketers to evaluate the profitability of the product or service. Promotion is an essential element in the marketing mix. It refers to the increase of product awareness among a target market thereby increasing the chances of the product purchase. The basic tool used by marketers in promoting a product is its name. In this case, the product has no name thereby requiring the marketers to determine an effective name that will help acquire a substantial market for the product. The name must have a sense of originality and exhibit the features of the product. Several other brands have operated in the market before, an original name must is not a simulation of the name of the other products. Such may result in legal tussles with the owners of the already existing products. The name must have an ease of pronunciation and have an attribute that links the products to the target market. Products that target children should have a rhythmic name that the children can pronounce and commemorate easily. The originality in the name will help distinguish the product from the rest and earn the product recognition from the mention of the name. After the determination of an appropriate name, branding becomes the second most important marketing role. Branding offers the marketers with a platform to advertise the product cheaply without incurring additional media costs. Branding refers to the labels that the marketers place on the packaging material on any product. A product looks pale and boring without a branded label on the packaging material,

Cultural Practices that Affect Health Essay Example for Free

Cultural Practices that Affect Health Essay The Community Health Nurse (CHN), an individual who works outside of the hospital setting and typically with a specific community to provide basic health care systems (All Nursing Schools, 2009) can be perceived as the bridge to address the gap between western medicine and cultural traditions. In cases when cultural practices cause physical harm and health risks, the CHN can be the tool to provide information and educate individuals to inform them of the tangible health risks and often permanent damages caused by such practices. What is also important to acknowledge is that there is an imminent health risk that needs to be addressed. According to Megan Costello (2004), in an article about female circumcision, sometimes making a practice illegal does not serve as a good enough deterrent. Costello (2004) explains that what people need is more information to understand the health risks and the unwarranted, in terms of perceived health benefit, practice. In North African countries, an average of 94 percent of women are subjected to female circumcision (Brigham and Women’s Hospital, 2008). In the United States there are an estimated 228,000 girls and women at risk of female circumcision (Brigham and Women’s Hospital, 2008). The CHN through community agencies or organizations can work to create care systems that will facilitate the dissemination of information. The CHN can effect policy change that will bring health care to the disadvantage populations or minority groups, such as refugees, who may have little understanding of western health care systems. Essentially, to address the gap between large health care institution and individual members of small communities, the CHN has the task of developing a system that will inform members of these groups of the serious harm caused by their practices. Similarly, the CHN through the same system can protect the young adults often subjected to these traditional practices. In the case of female circumcision, Bien Aime of Equality Now (quoted in Costello, 2004) says, â€Å"†¦ people need education. We need people on the ground who have access to girls and young women at risk, to help them understand that not only is this procedure against the law, but also that there are harmful effects. † As more and more cultures and ethnic backgrounds are assimilated through migration activities there is a need to provide health care that is culturally competent. The CHN becomes integral in the task of providing adequate care to all individuals with equity regardless of cultural or ethnic backgrounds through a sensitive approach. In cases where the cultural practice causes permanent injuries and prolonged negative complications to health the CHN can contribute to changing these practices. References All Nursing Schools. (2009). Become a Community Health Nurse. All Nursing Schools. Retrieved March 7, 2009, from http://www. allnursingschools. com/faqs/community-health-nurse. php Brigham and Women’s Hospital. (2008). African Women’s Health Center. Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Retrieved March 7, 2009 from http://www. brighamandwomens. org/africanwomenscenter/FGCprevalence. aspx and http://www. brighamandwomens. org/africanwomenscenter/education. aspx? subID=submenu4 Costello, A. (2004, February 19). Two in U. S. Accused of Genital Mutilation. Women’s E News. Retrieved March 7, 2009 from http://www. womensenews. org/article. cfm/dyn/aid/1718

Impact of Potato Production

Impact of Potato Production Qingxin Fu The Columbian Exchange: Potato The discovery of the Americas brought a large exchange of people, diseases and crops. Corn, peppers, tomatoes, cassava, cocoa, rubber and tobacco were some of the crops introduced to the Old World. Coffee, oranges, bananas and sugar cane were introduced to the Americas. One of the most important crops brought to the Old World was the potato. Potatoes, as a substitute for wheat or rice, provided peasants a new source of calories. Potato was originated South America and then introduced to the Old World; the crop also raised political, economic and social consequences, such as late blight, Irish Famine, and sudden population increase in China, from its production. Domesticated potatoes were once all belong to one botanical species, Solanum tuberosum; it included thousands of varieties that had diversity in size, shape, color and other characteristics. The potato was first domesticated in the South America Andes, then the Puritans who took Mayflower arrived the land and the First Nations taught them about potatoes. Then the sailors went back to Europe and people started to plant potatoes in Spain, England, France, and many other countries in Europe. Later, potatoes were spread into Africa by the colonists. The crop was once believe to be poisonous by the local farmers who refused to plant them. However, the colonists persuaded the farmers and introduced potatoes as a low-price and high-production crop in substitute of wheat and rice. After potatoes were widely spread through Europe and Africa, they were introduced into East Asia. Following its introduction into China at the end of Ming Dynasty, potatoes became one of the most popular crops in the country. Ironically, despite of the distance of South America and North America, North America is the last region in the world which planted potatoes and established them as a type of crop. Potatoes were widely spread out as a crop throughout the world and planted in every country. They took a great portion of crop production in every country every year, even nowadays. As potatoes spread out and planted a vast amount of them in most countries, they also brought political consequences with them. Late blight was a type of disease that came from growing potatoes. It was caused by the fungus-like pathogen, Phytophthora infestans. It could infect and destroy the leaves, stems, fruits, and tubers of potato plants. Irish Famine, was caused by Late blight which killed tons of potatoes. However, British also played an important role in Irish Famine. As John Mitchel said at the time, â€Å"The Almighty, indeed, sent the potato blight, but the English created the famine.† In 1845, Ireland over-depended on the potatoes as their main source of crops; however, late blight killed all production of potatoes and caused famine. At that time, Britain’s rule over Ireland had been brutal and unfair because of deeply racist attitudes toward Ireland. From Cromwell’s massacres to the Penal Laws to the â€Å"Plantations† that pushed Irish off their homeland. The political consequences of those attitudes were absolutely merciless and cruel. British refused to provide any source of crops and even blocked international disaster relief from other countries to prevent Irish getting potatoes or other types of crops due to political issues. Although the government of Sir Robert Peel bought a quantity of American corn and sold them in Ireland, but it wasn’t even close to enough. Then after Peel lost power, free market could not provide food and more Irish died to the famine. Charles Trevelyan, the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, shut down the food depots in Ireland that had been selling Peel’s corn and rejected another ship of corn that had been already headed for Ireland. He explained that he planned to prevent the Irish from becoming â€Å"habitually dependent† on the British government and also believed that Irish famine was God’s judgment to teach Irish people a lesson. More and more Irish peasants died due to the Famine and disease arose among them. Because of British mismanagement, and perhaps intent, in 1840, Ireland’s population was at 8.5 million, with England and Wales at 15.9 million. Ireland’s population continued to fall until 1970s. Nowadays, Ireland is approxi mately at 6 million, and England and Wales at 52 million. Potatoes also brought economic consequences to people; Irish Famine in the middle of the 19th century was the best illustrated example where Irish people depended on the potato for their primary source of calories. For millions of farmers, the only crop they planted was the potato since the only tool necessary for farming potatoes was a sharp stick, and those people could not afford any more than that. These Irish farmers lost all their cultivars and made zero profit from their expenses, because of potato late blight. Then a great famine exploded among Irish. The economy was ruined and a million died of starvation; about two million immigrated, usually to the US or Canada. Potato blight was a very serious economic threat in the potato and tomato production systems across the world. It was extremely hard to measure losses due to this plant disease because there were other factors present as well. Although in some areas, only local experts who speculate from field tests or visited farmers fields could estimate crop loss caused by potato late blight. While this approach was not accurate and imperfect, it could over-exaggerating or missed a portion of losses. However, it was often the only method available for some parts of the areas. In some circumstances, economic losses due the potato late blight could be analyzed systematically. For one event of late blight occurring in the Columbia basin of Washington in the US, the average of fungicide required per field varied from 5.1 to 12.3 depending on the plant species. Total per acre of field required expenses ranged from $100 to $230 dollars and the total cost of dealing with late blight was estimated to have arrived at $30 million dollars threshold. In a national evaluation, the economic impact of potato late blight in all areas of the United States was estimated to be about $210 million. A mean production loss of 15% was estimated by the international Potato Center which made a global estimation of late blight losses in developing countries. This meant that a total production loss in developing countries to be approximately $2.75 billion dollars. One of the important ways of viewing the economic effects of potato late blight was by looking the fungicide usage, which is usually easier and liable way to measure than crop loss. Approximately $77 million are spent on fungicides per season throughout the US. From these facts, potato production costs more than just equipment, seeds, and. Fungicide was one of the most important and necessary item for farmers to plant potatoes and each season expenses on farming increased as profit fell because of potato late blight. Farmers might spend way more money on how to prevent late blight than they would expected. Ironically, potatoes were meant to be cheap and easy to plant, but potato blight made the production rate to suffer and caused countries which heavily relied on potato as their main source of crop to suffer economic losses and cause Famine with a very high chance. Another example of social consequences about potato production was Chinese population growth after the middle period of the Qianlong reign (1735 – 1796). During that time, population increased dramatically and an urgent need to increase grain yields had become a big problem and it led to a rapid spread of potato production throughout China since it could be well fit to local environment. As the population continuously growing, society became a very unfamiliar place for Chinese people. The role of the individual was nearly invisible based on a very high population. This could led people to disconnect from their society. Despite of all the political and economic consequences caused by late blight, potato production also raised social consequences. They were best presented in the Irish Famine in the middle of the 19th century. Larger scale potato production continuously provided surpluses that supported an increase of population in both agricultural and industrial regions. Potatoes were planted widely because they could survive in most climates, altitudes, and soils and could be more highly prolific than grains in both good and bad years. Agricultural workers across Europe continuously raised potatoes production on small pieces of lands to gain food that was cheaper than wheat. Grains and potatoes, together with the flesh and other products of a few farm animals, provided an economically feasible and nutritionally adequate diet. Estimations were made that agricultural land assigned to plant potatoes provided three times the food nutrient value of land planted with wheat, so that more peasants could be maintained on a given quantity of farms. Even after farmers were fed and the stock replaced, more excess was left for the owner of the land. The most obvious disadvantage of the potato was that stocks could not be saved or carried over a year because the tubers would rot. By contrast, people were likely to plant potatoes over wheat due to these reasons which caused them to over-rely on potato production. When potato blight happened, a high demand on food could not be satisfied with wheat and other cultivars; thus, a famine occurred. Potatoes provided cheap provisions for growing industrial populations. Low-priced food supplies enabled industrialists to keep wages low. In all areas, there had been resistance of adopting potatoes for more than three centuries. Because the tuber had been variously seen as poisonous and unacceptable food source; some thought that it was forage for animals like pigs, others as famine food for refugees, but those preconception gradually disappeared as potatoes become one of the most popular and affordable crop. At the same time, the increasing dependence on potatoes in Ireland draw out the devastating predictions of famine for the potatoes that were already proving to be defenseless against multiple plant diseases. Irish peasants who depended on potatoes put themselves at a high risk because the potatoes could not be stored for more than a year, neither transported easily into regions which exploded famine. Because of those areas with such populations, they were also lack of political power and economically dependent on another country; Irish were helpless during the great famine. For all these reasons, although Ireland experienced a horrible blight that destroyed all potato crops; it could be seen that the Irish famine was more likely to be an artificial disaster that could have been prevented or saved by a good timed British emergency relief and millions of Irish lives would be saved. In conclusion, a large portion of people, diseases and crops were exchanged through the findings of the Americas. Crops, such as tobacco, rubber, cocoa, cassava, tomatoes, potatoes, corns, and peppers, were introduced into the Old Word; while coffee, oranges, banana and sugar cane were introduced into the Americas. Potato was one of the most important crops in the World that was introduced into the Old world. As a substitute for wheat, potatoes provided billions of people food to survive worldwide. However, diseases also rose among potato plants and destroyed millions of plants and caused famine which killed millions of people. The origin of potatoes was first found to be domesticated by South America Andes and learned by Europeans, and then it was spread into Africa, Asian and at last North America. Potatoes also caused political, social and economic issues from its production, such as late blight, the Great Famine, and increase in Chinese population; these issues had brought some s erious consequences that even lasted until modern days.

The Rotunda of the 1873 Vienna International Exhibition :: Architecture History

The Rotunda of the 1873 Vienna International Exhibition Austria hosted a world's fair in 1873, as it aimed to present itself as a world leader and the equal of England and France. The structure that served as the focal point and ideological locus for the Vienna Exhibition was its striking Rotunda, a feat of engineering and design, which is pictured during the fair's opening ceremonies on May 1, 1873. On that day, the streets of the Ringstrasse were wet with a cold drizzle. More than twenty thousand Viennese citizens came out to see the festivities, yet the area around the Rotunda, Leopoldstadt and Praterstern, did not seem even half full. Emperor Francis Joseph appeared at noon, signaling the beginning of the ceremonies. The program was unusually brief; it concluded in less than thirty minutes and lacked any type of formal speech. However, the one characteristic that immortalized that day was the music. The strains of the Imperial Opera's orchestra and the voices of two Viennese Glee Clubs united in performing Handel's March, the waltzes of Strauss, and the Austrian national hymn. While the music emerged as a high point of the initial celebrations, the atmosphere in Vienna during the fair seemed rather half-hearted. For the past several years, the nation had been enjoying a period of economic growth and domestic prosperity. However, just a fortnight after these opening ceremonies, the Austrian stock market underwent a severe crash, wreaking havoc on the domestic economy. This frustrated the efforts of the Austrians to convey a strong impression to the international community. Ironically, it also seemed that while other countries experienced success in selling their national products to the fair visitors, the Austrian displays lay untouched. For these reasons, the atmosphere in Vienna during the fair was not as jubilant as had been seen at other exhibitions. However, the crash occurred after the Rotunda was built, so the budget for the construction of the Rotunda strikes one as fairly impressive. In July 1871, the original amount allocated for its building was 6,000,000 florins. However, in September of 1872, an additional 6,000,000 florins was added. The website image is an 8 X 11 inch black and white engraving that appeared in the periodical Kunst und Kunstgeverbe auf der Werner Weltasstelling. One can note the presence of a small crowd, in their finest attire inside the building. It seems logical that this picture was sketched by an artist who had been present during the ceremony.

The Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka Essay -- Metamorphosis Kafka Essays

"The Metamorphosis" By Franz Kafka Throughout literary history, certain authors are so unique and fresh in their approach to the written word that they come to embody a genre. Franz Kafka is one such author; â€Å"Die Verwandlung† or â€Å"The Metamorphosis† is one of his works that helped coin the term â€Å"Kafkaesque.† Through this novella, Kafka addresses the timeless theme of people exploit-ing others as a means to an end. He demonstrates this point through showing that a family’s unhealthy dependence on the main character results in that character’s dependence on the family.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Kafka’s unorthodox beginning of â€Å"The Metamorphosis† reads as what would seem to be a climactic moment: â€Å"As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect.† The reader is henceforth bound to the story in search of the reason for and meaning of this hideous metamorphosis. Shortly thereafter, the reader may also notice that although Gregor is quite aware of his condition, given these bizarre circumstances he is not at all in the state of panic one might expect. On the contrary, the insect is frustrated that it cannot get out of bed to go to work! As Gregor tries to rouse himself from bed in his â€Å"present condition,† his observation that â€Å"he himself wasn't feeling particularly fresh and active† is macabre in its passive acknowledgment of the absurdity of his state (p. 855). This sets the tone for the remainder of the first chapter of the story. Grego r, a person typically not a hindered by â€Å"small aches and pains,† (p. 857) clings to his rational nature as he struggles with the slow-in-coming realization that he is more than â€Å"temporarily incapacitated† (p. 863).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first chapter ends shortly after Gregor reveals his new form. The sight of the insect elicited an expected reaction; its mother understandably retreated aghast and in shock. Correspondingly, the chief clerk that had been sent by Gregor’s employer, scrambled in flight as he â€Å"had quite slipped from his mind† (p. 864). Gregor’s father was â€Å"relatively calm† (p. 865) until the chief clerk had completed a hastened retreat. Gregor’s father, spurred into action by this flight, consequently repelled the insect aggressively and injuriously back into the bedroom from which it had come.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The second chapter illustrates a family and a human-insect trying to adju... ... a perfectly normal thing to do.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Kafka uses a unique method of metaphor. He does not say, â€Å"Gregor is like a bug.† He does not say Gregor is bug in a traditional metaphor; rather he says Gregor is a bug – literally. The effect is dramatic, as the reader, by virtue of the absurdity of the literalness of situation, is swept-up in trying to stay footed in reality. The effect of this technique is that the reader continues throughout the story to ask the question: why? It is in this pursuit of ‘why’ that the reader sees Kafka’s message: Don’t treat people simply as a means, or life will have a way of turning it back on yourself. Through the transformation of Gregor, and the transformation of the family’s life, Kafka wants the reader to observe that despite Gregor’s metamorphosis into something very un-human, he remains the model of humanity when compared to his family. Not only did the family leech from Gregor, society itself seemed to call up on Gregor not as a person, but to serve as a tool to satisfy their needs. Once transformed, Gregor no longer served well in this capacity. Rather, he became the one in need, and he quickly became more of a burden than he was worth to them.

Pepperoni Pizza Essay

My favorite food is pepperoni pizza. I believe my father’s pepperoni pizza is the best and most delicious pizza in the whole wide world. I love everything about my dad’s pizza but what I love the most is the smell, the exquisite taste and the fact that it is an affordable meal. Just by looking at the slice of pizza on my plate makes me hungry. The dazzling cheese dripping down the crust and the red spicy pepperoni dancing on the top of the melted cheese drives me crazy. The smell is priceless; the crisp baked crust with warm melting mozzarella cheese and sweet rich ripe tomato sauce makes my nose want to inhale the whole pizza. When I take the first bite of the luscious pizza I feel a party of flavors celebrating in my mouth. I also enjoy eating peperoni pizza because it is such a practical and affordable meal. It is not expensive to buy a pizza from Pizza Hut, or to even cook one at home. It is a really easy to put an entire meal together with a pizza. I have three choices when it comes to getting a pizza; I can order one, I can go to Pizza Hut and eat there, or my best personal favorite option, I can ask my father to bake one. His pizzas are the picture perfect scene that literally invites you to take a bite. The flavor that never fails, and the touch of love my father adds to my plate, make his pizza my favorite thing to eat in the whole wide world.