National Business Systems Variations

National Business Systems Variations In this essay I will explore how Porters diamond model explains the variations in national business systems and comparative economic performance and to what extent other ideas and approaches will be required. Porter introduced the diamond model of national competitive advantage (1990) to explain why a number of countries are more competitive than others and why a number of businesses within the countries are more competitive. The model proposes that the national home base of an industry plays an important role in achieving an advantage on a universal scale. This home base contributes the essential factors that will support the organisations in building advantages in global competition. Japans automobile industry and US semiconductor industry have both been linked to Porters diamond model in creating unique business systems and gaining competitive advantage over other industries. Porter (1990) identified four determinants in attaining a national competitive advantage he concludes that a combination of the four determinates within a nation has an enormous influence on the competitive strength of the firms located there. Porter (1990) argues that competitive industries take the form of specialised clusters of home based firms. Clusters are correlated through vertical relations such as buyers integrating with suppliers or through horizontal relations through customers, technology, skills, distribution channels etc (Chen et al 2008). These specialised clusters will enable a nation to create business systems which will lead to competitive advantage and economic success. Factor condition is the nations position on factors of production that is necessary to compete in a given industry, for example skilled labour or infrastructure. These national factors often provide initial advantages for the nation. Each nation possesses particular factor conditions that are more favourable. For example, Japans large pool of engineers is reflected by the number of engineering graduates. These engineering graduates have been essential to Japans success in variety of manufacturing industries. Porter (1990) points out that these factors dont have to be nature made or inherited. Home demand conditions can influence the creating of specific factor conditions which can affect the direction of the innovation and advancement of product development. Porter argues (1990) that home demand rests upon three major characteristics. First the mixture of customers needs and wants. Second the demanding buyers in the home base will pressure companies into meeting high standards. For example Japanese consumers value space-saving gave the nation a lead in compact products and Americas long distances have led to competitive strength in very large truck engines. Third, an industry will have an advantage in market segments which are more important at home than elsewhere. In each of these instances, it is not the size of the home market that is important, but the extent to which it encourages firms to innovate. A large home market which meets all three conditions will be highly supportive of international competitiveness (Davies and Ellis 2000). A related and supporting industry is when one globally successful manufacturing company can create advantages in other similar manufacturing companies. A nation industries will be better able to compete internationally if there are clusters of industries in the home base economy which are linked to each other through vertical or horizontal relationships amongst suppliers, customers and distribution channels. For example Germany has a cluster in chemicals and USA in the semi-conductor industry. Dyer (1994) found in his research that the Japanese network relationships with their suppliers can enable the company to send their workers to assist customers with the work, position the factory near the customers or even invest in physical assets that are customised. This will therefore allow the Japaneses auto businesses to keep up with the inventory and transportation costs low enabling them to improve the product development. For example Toyota was able to benefit from their production net works as they created assembly factories that are geographically close with their suppliers. The firm structure, strategy, and rivalry are the conditions governing how businesses are shaped, managed and deal with domestic rivalry in a nation. The cultural factors are important for each nation. For example each country will have different cultural traits in which the business is structured. This will create benefits for each nation and industry. In Japan the automobile industry rivalry is strong, has seven major companies: Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Suzuki, Mazda, and Subaru which all fight for the market share. These seven businesses compete intensely in the home nation, and within other nations and markets. Strong domestic competition demands all these businesses to have superior technologies, products, and management practices to compete and survive, for example there is high number of engineers in management that emphasis on improving manufacturing processes. The US has only two main businesses in automobile industry which are Ford and General Motors. The US manuf actures have stated that the quality of the automobiles of Japanese cars is better than the US cars. Toyota and other automakers in Japan were able to grab 25% of the US auto market industry while the US home producers for the cars were unable to compete with the Japanese price and on the quality of the product (Buffa 1984). In addition to the four conditions, Porter (1990) points out two important components which are the role of chance which are important as it allows nations to shift their competitive position and alter the conditions of the diamond model. Chance events have different impacts on nations for example the oil shock helped to upgrade Japanese industry (Porter 1990). The role of the government is an important influence on modern international competition. The governments can put forward the policies a nation should follow to create advantages, enabling the industries in a nation to develop a strong competitive position globally. For example the government policy for Japan and US has created success for these nations. According to Porter (1990) governments can progress the advantages by ensuring there is high potential of product performance, ethical standards, or encouraging reasonability and negotiation between the suppliers and buyers on a domestic level. For example the US governments g ave large support in semiconductor industry in focusing on specific products that meet consumer demand for example the missile system in the US national security. Nations can use Porters (1990) diamond model to identify which businesses systems they can build to generate a competitive advantage and compete with others nations globally. The Japanese have considerable advantages in Porters diamond factors. The semiconductor manufacturing and software services are key industries that have contributed greatly to US growth and productivity in the 1970s. Okimoto, Sugana and Weinstein (1984) research found that the US businesses were able to obtain competitive advantage in key industries such as steel, automobiles and consumer electronics. These businesses had the ability to set the standards of each industry, create new technology and control shares of the world market. The markets and industries that Japan have chosen or created a competitive advantage are the autos, steel, motorcycles, cameras and small appliances. The success of Japanese automobile industry is due to the close relationships with their suppliers. For example both Toyota and Nissan are able to work closely with their supply production network to produce high quality cars; this gives the Japanese manufacturers an advantage over the US automakers (Dyer 1994). Research found on Numakura (2004) article has shown that the Japanese automobile companies have greater higher profit margins than the American companies. This is because the Japanese production systems such as Just in time (JIT) and Kaizen have enabled the industry to increase their productivity and cost reduction. Compared to US, rather than having a close relationship, the businesses are more likely to influence their supplier by a number of strategic polices (Buffa 1987). In the 1970s the Japanese had labour cost advantages, strong networks of suppliers, very demanding consumers which enabled them to gain competitive advantage over other nations. However Porter (1990) underplays the role of history, late development theory, globalisation, culture and managerial enterprise in determining the competitive advantage. As a result of defining the problem incompletely, he offers an incomplete solution (O Shaughnessy 1997). This shows other approaches are required to explain various business systems and comparative economic performance in nations. Gerschenkron (1962) theory on late industrialisation could be another approach to Porters theory to explain the economic performance of a nation. The theory shows how Japan as a nation was able to go through a period of rapid growth during 1951-1990 that helped them to compete globally. Japans economy boosted after the US declined as in the 1970s the Japanese companies was able to replace the US leaders in key industries. The production and operation management enabled the Japanese industries to become a competitive nation. This was done through their production systems and manufacturing products at a low cost. The Japanese companies were able to do this by offering the consumers good quality products at cheap prices. Table 1 (Capdevielle Alvarez 1981) shows a comparative evidence of how US companies productivity averaged at 2.7% in 1960 and decreased at -0.3% at 1980. While at the same time Japan averaged a productivity increase of 9.4%, Germany and France productivity also increased at 5.6% and 5.4% (Buffa 1987). The reasons for US decreasing in their productivity growth in industries and their capability to compete globally are due to many reasons. One factor could be the difference of the work ethics values between US and Japan or Germany showing us how culture can also have an effect on the nations competitive advantage on various business systems. Bosch and Prooijen (1992) have paid attention to the role of national culture and impact it has on Porters diamond. Porter agrees in that national culture is an important determinant in the competitive advantage of nations, but does not include national culture in his descriptive framework of the diamond. National culture has an important impact o n relations between related and supporting industries (Bosch and Prooijen 1992) therefore to an extent Porters theory doesnt account how culture is another explanation for the variations in national business systems and comparative economic performance for a nation. For example, Hofstede (1980) found Japan compared to Western and Northern Europe, is a very strong uncertainty avoider. Hofstede (1980) argues that the variations in values between cultures will require the difference organisational responses. The economic environment of a nation can be determined by the cultural values. Gerschenkron (1962) theory also states that history is important in measuring economic success and performance for a nation. Porter (1990) neglects the role of historical cause in his diamond model. In the case of Germany and Japan for example, there is probably a direct connection between past militarism and the present industrial domination. Militarism has contributed to industrial excellence by creating a tradition of discipline in the labour force for both of these nations. Germanys and Japans competitiveness owes a great deal to its amoral military past (O Shaughnessy 1997). Particular historical events can be unique to a country which can determine its character (Saunders et al 1986). The occurrence of invasion and revolution is a shared experience amongst many successful nations in history. O Shaughnessy (1997) argues that there are limitations to Porters (1990) methods. For example the diamond conditions emerged from examining the history of 100 industries, but to do this tho roughly histories would have to be written in the form that would allow such analysis. The detail would require the company histories. Neither the references nor the acknowledgements suggest any such documented histories of 100 industries. The four histories quoted from Porters are just sketches that illustrate rather than test the theory (O Shaughnessy 1997). Chandler (1992) also agrees that the history is important for any organisation and industry. He argues that significant analysis of a business or nation today must be based on the understanding of its past. Reich (1991) agrees on the concept that Porter theory on national competitiveness (1990) to an extent doesnt account for various business systems and comparative economic performance. He argues that economic success or performance is due to national purpose rather than national competitiveness. Nation competitiveness depends on globalisation and the skills, training and knowledge commanded by its workforce, the key to success is the people of the nation. Reich argues that national industries dont exist in any meaningful sense, as it is global corporate networks rather than national industries that now dominate economic activity. Resources are placed in those nations offering the best production and marketing advantages. For example Reich (1991) points that US decline in productivity is due to the changes of the world competition structure as by 1980s more than 70% of the products consumed in US had to be competed with similar goods that were produced abroad with standardised producti on systems. Chandler (1977) stated that a globalised firm can allow other nations to learn and benefit from the same sources of their national competitive advantage. For example in the 1960s, America and other western countries were amazed by the rapid speed of Japans growth and how it was able to manage its economy to become a successful competitor in the globe. America and other European nations started to learn from Japanese management structure and operation. However Porter (1990) makes a strong case of the importance of the home country in todays global economy. Porter argues that by providing a favourable environment for the successful organisations, home countries can play a vital role in wealth creation in the context of international competition. Chandler (1992) looks at a different perspective to explain the economic performance in nations and the development of business systems. His theory argues that large managerial enterprise had a significant contribution on national competitive advantage through exploitation of economies of scale and scope. Chandler states that in order for large managerial enterprises to gain and keep competitive advantages, top managers must commit to the three-pronged investment. This is because these large enterprises have a large market to sell their products to. These large enterprises can create a competitive advantage by producing more at a lower cost with the same outputs. The cost per product is decreased due to mass production and the diversification of the production line. Chandler (1992) explains how the US lost their competitive advantage to the Japanese companies in the semiconductor industry. Chandler (1992) states that many of the US companies in the semiconductor industry such as Inte l and Silicon Valley failed to make long term investments in production, distribution and management that was important for them to become the first movers in the industry. Chandler (1992) therefore explains how the Japanese companies were able to make the investment that was required from them to become a first mover in the semiconductor industry. This enabled the Japanese companies to develop their organisation ability to quickly demolish the American competitive advantage. Overall Porters model (1990) of national competitive advantage to an extent does account for the variations in national business systems and comparative economic performance across different nations and industries. However the model doesnt consider and explain how culture, history, late industrialisation and globalisation can have an impact on the economic success of a nation and the variations of business systems.

Man Needs the Environment

The environment is the place wherein man lives; it is his dwelling place. Man and the environment has a significant connection which entails that man cannot be detached from it, because his awareness and knowledge about things are both gained from his experiences that take place within his surroundings. Consequently, man tries to settle himself in his environment, both social and physical approaches, in order live life effectively and productively. Man and the social environment. A quality that distinguishes man from other animals is his social nature.Man cannot be compared with other animals because he is placed above and dwells in a habitat where a social interaction is a prerequisite and basic function. â€Å"No man is an island; no man can stand alone. † – This saying implies that man is intrinsically a social being. He cannot detach himself from others and all other creatures in the world; he is intended to be a being-that-exists-with-others-in-the-world. Man has h is respective social roles: being-through-others, being-with-others, and being-for-others. These social roles would help an individual establish his social identity.Man is a being-through-others. From man’s conception and birth, he is dependent on other people. He cannot grow up, work, and live neither as efficiently nor effectively, except through others. His life and death will only have meaning when considered in reference to others like him. Also, man is considered as a being-with-others. Despite the efforts to live independently, man cannot and should not live in total isolation rather he should deal and mingle with the people around him. His togetherness towards other creatures characterizes human nature.And in dealing with other individuals, he builds up inter-human relationships. As a result of the social bonds from these relationships, man’s major social needs: attention, affection, and acceptance are being fulfilled. Moreover, with the inter-human relationshi ps he has and the exposure to his environment, his awareness is increased. He will become more conscious and observant of the events and people around him – issues, situations, problems, and conditions. The â€Å"hows† and â€Å"whys† of human actions and interactions will be learned resulting to growth of man’s knowledge.On the contrary, considering that a man who is gifted and is isolated from others since birth; man who doesn’t involve and have social relations ever since, impossibility of man’s survival arouses. In other words, man cannot be said to be a real man only with his biological birth but only when he forms social collective and lives in social relations, will he be able to exist and develop as a man. Man’s personality is moulded and developed within his social environment, through mingling with the people in his surroundings.Through interacting with others, man develops his potentials. Indeed, the social environment itse lf and one’s exposure to it is vital in one’s life which conveys that man needs it. Man and the physical environment. The physical environment is composed of the natural resources. And from these resources, one’s necessities as a living organism, which includes man, can be acquired. As a living organism, man is in need of water, air, and also of the presence of other living creatures. Man needs air. It is in every living organism’s nature to breathe.Breathing is vital in one’s life. It commonly serves as the basis that an individual has life and is alive. Man needs air to breathe in order to survive. The absence of air in man’s life would suggest and imply that man would eventually die. Also, man needs water. Water is one of the major needs for the survival of every living organism. Water plays an important role in man’s life, and it is involved in man’s daily living. It is used for drinking, for cooking, for hygienic purposes, for tidying things and also for watering the plants.In addition, man needs the presence of other living creatures. The existence of every living organism has an important role in the environment which brings a large impact to the other living creatures in the world. Scientifically speaking, living creatures are said to have and participate in the so called as the Food Web and Food Chain. In these particular concepts, the presence of producers and consumers are considered; plants as producers and animals, which include man, are consumers. With such, man’s survival is dependent on the existence of other living creatures in the environment.And it can be justified through man’s reliance to the gas, oxygen, which can be acquired from the plants, and to man’s practice of considering plants and others animals as his source of food. The presence of every living organism helps maintain the balance of the ecosystem. From the physical environment, man acquires his basic n ecessities. Indeed, man needs the physical environment for his survival. Man needs both the social environment and physical environment. From these environments, man obtains his needs. And from the satisfaction of his needs, man derives a sense of completeness and in the process, his survival is ensured.

Irish

Irish BY nckyb23 Irish Influencing America Ways The Irish traditions influence many things in American that we Americans really barely even realize The annual celebration of Saint Patrick's Day is a generally known as a sign of the Irish existence in America. One of the largest celebrations of the Irish holiday takes place in New York, where the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade draws anywhere to two million people. The second-largest celebration is held in Boston at the South Boston Parade. It's one the nation's oldest dating back to 1737. On day like St.Patrick's Day Irish music is played everywhere the same Irish song that date back o the 1700s Irish traditional music in the United States has its own history, both in recording culture and by live performances. Emigrants from Ireland brought their instruments and traditions to the United States since the earliest days of European colonization of the New World. The learning and playing of Irish music by first and second generation Iri sh-Americans helped the spread of Irish music. And then yet another is the widespread interest in the music.In the 1890s, Irish music entered a â€Å"golden age† centered on the lively scene in New York City. Though the golden age nded by the Great Depression, the 1950s saw a highpoint of Irish music, added by the foundation of the City Center Ballroom in New York where Irish gatherings are held. In the Depression and World War, Irish traditional music in New York was belittled by showband culture. Performers like Jack Coen, Paddy O'Brien, Larry Redican, and Paddy Reynolds kept the tradition alive in the United States, and were teachers of the music to Irish Americans.Many of the great Irish American performers like Andy McGann, Brian Conway, Joannie Madden, Jerry O'Sullivan, Liz Carroll and Billy McComiskey would achieve many accomplishments in the traditional usic usually associated with native Irish. Later Irish emigration to New York and beyond by James Keane, Mick Molone y, Paddy Keenan, and others through the 1960s, 1970s and 80s, ensured the music performed in America stayed The Irish music was such a big influence that it had people making collections like Francis O'Neill.He was a Chicago police chief who collected the single largest collection of Irish traditional music ever published. He was a flautist and piper who was part of a vibrant Irish community in Chicago at the time, one that included some forty thousand people, ncluding musicians from â€Å"all thirty-two counties of Ireland†, according to Nicholas Carolan, who referred to O'Neill as â€Å"the greatest individual influence on the evolution of Irish traditional dance music in the twentieth century† connected to Ireland.The Irish population didn't only Just influence Americans to like there music they also had their influence in other positions in society. The Boston Celtics is a prime example of this. Many Irish immigrants came to Boston, New York, and Philadelphia ports on ships from Ireland. By the time the Boston Celtics basketball team started, Boston had a large Irish ethnic population. Celtic is another name for Irish, and these names are used often. Today Boston has the largest Irish population of any American city.The person who chose the name had an Irish friend named McHugh and decided to name the team Celtics. The Irish are known for green, and the Celtics uniforms are green. You can't say Irish in American without pub behind it A pub is very important to the Irish people. It's where they could sit back, relax, enjoy a few good stories, and share a goodtime with others. American-Irish people have made Pubs very popular simply for the aspect of the alcohol and traditional sing alongs. The two aspects have attracted more than Just Irish people.Folks of all ethnicities go to Irish pubs for a drink and have a good time. As you can see Irish Americans have been in America changing culture for many years and for those many year contributed to U. S. culture in a wide variety of fields: I only explained a few that really interest myself the most but they have influenced many other Aspects of Untied States culture like the fine and performing arts, film, literature, politics, and religion. Irish people have done a great deal of influencing American culture.

Romeo and Juliet Romeos Monologues

Many lovers of literature would crown Romeo of house Montague the prince of romance. Others believe that hes a hormone-ravaged, short-sighted twirp who kills himself four days after meeting a pretty girl. A fellow teacher is currently directing Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet, and his main goal is to take the play to schools around Southern California to illustrate not a classic love story, but a tale of irrational and deadly decision making. Of course, if we only watched perfectly sensible characters, the theater would no longer have tragedies! So, perhaps we can all agree, Romeo is fatally impetuous. However, the question remains: Is Romeo in love? Or is it just infatuation? Looking at some of Romeos most significant monologues might help you make up your mind about his character. Romeo Misses Rosaline In this Act One monologue, Romeo laments his failures in love. He has been spurned by Rosaline, and now acts as though his heart will never mend. (Of course, in just a few scenes he will meet Juliet and change his opinion!) Alas, that love, whose view is muffled still,Should, without eyes, see pathways to his will!Where shall we dine? O me! What fray was here?Yet tell me not, for I have heard it all.Heres much to do with hate, but more with love.Why, then, O brawling love! O loving hate!O any thing, of nothing first create!O heavy lightness! serious vanity!Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms!Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire,sick health!Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is!This love feel I, that feel no love in this.Dost thou not laugh? (Note: Romeo and Benvolio exchange a few lines and the monologue continues.) Why, such is loves transgression.Griefs of mine own lie heavy in my breast,Which thou wilt propagate, to have it prestWith more of thine: this love that thou hast shownDoth add more grief to too much of mine own.Love is a smoke raised with the fume of sighs;Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers eyes;Being vexd a sea nourishd with lovers tears:What is it else? a madness most discreet,A choking gall and a preserving sweet. Love at First Sight? When Romeo and his buddies crash the Capulet party, he spies upon the beautiful young Juliet. He is instantly smitten. Heres what he has to say while he gazes from afar. What lady is that, which dothenrich the handOf yonder knight?O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!It seems she hangs upon the cheek of nightLike a rich jewel in an Ethiopes ear;Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear!So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows,As yonder lady oer her fellows shows.The measure done, Ill watch her place of stand,And, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand.Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight!For I neer saw true beauty till this night. Beneath the Balcony And then we have the most famous speech in Romeo and Juliet. Here, Romeo sneaks onto the Capulet estate and gazes up at the beautiful girl on the balcony. But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,Who is already sick and pale with grief,That thou her maid art far more fair than she:Be not her maid, since she is envious;Her vestal livery is but sick and greenAnd none but fools do wear it; cast it off.It is my lady, O, it is my love!O, that she knew she were!She speaks yet she says nothing: what of that?Her eye discourses; I will answer it.I am too bold, tis not to me she speaks:Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven,Having some business, do entreat her eyesTo twinkle in their spheres till they return.What if her eyes were there, they in her head?The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars,As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heavenWould through the airy region stream so brightThat birds would sing and think it were not night.See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand!O, that I were a glove upon that hand,That I might touch that cheek!