The communications media used in the educational system The WritePass Journal

The communications media used in the educational system 1. Executive Summary The communications media used in the educational system 1. Executive Summary2. Introduction  3. Communication3.1. One way communication and two way communication. 3.2. Verbal and non verbal 4. The means of communication in the educational system5. E-learning5.1. Blended-Learning5.2. Distance courses5.2.1 E-learning synchronous and asynchronous 5.2.1.1Synchronous5.2.1.2. Asynchronous5.3. Advantages and disadvantages of e-learning compared to traditional methods 5.3.1. Advantages5.3.1.1. Reducing the Impact on EnvironmentThere is no need of traveling; resulting in diminution of pollution reduces the use of papers thereby contributing to the environment 5.3.1.2. Quality education affordable5.3.1.3. Convenience and flexibility for the student 5.3.2. DisadvantagesAccording Remenyi (2005), the three major disadvantages related to the E-learning is the lack of interaction between student and teacher, the lack of interaction between students and the need for basic computer skills. 5.3.2.1. Lack of interaction between student and teacher 5.3.2.2. Lack of interaction between students5.3.2.3. Need for basic computer skills6. ConclusionRelated 1. Executive Summary This report examines the means of communication at universities. A brief definition of communication will be given initially, followed by a description of the means of communication currently used in universities. The report then focuses on e-learning, examining the method and the blended distance course. Within the distance course will examine the synchronous and asynchronous method. So those will be presented this vantage and disadvantage of e-learning compared to the traditional teaching method, being concluded that the e-learning is essential to the educational system and recommended the implementation of distance education at University of Westminster 2. Introduction The communications media used in the educational system has been suffering major changes in recent times. The traditional method has been complemented or even replaced many times by the current method where e-learning has been outstanding. E-learning can bring great benefits to the educational system, complementing or being another option for those who do not have the opportunity to attend the traditional method. The aim of this report is to examine the communication system used on the educational system is special on higher education, focusing on the e-learning method. Firstly, it will talk about the means of communication, secondly the traditional teaching method, third on the e-learning and finally will present the advantages and disadvantages of e-learning compared to traditional teaching methods.   3. Communication The definition of Communication is given by Collins English Dictionary (2009) as the exchange of information, ideas or feeling.† Communication can be classified and divided in different ways. According to Gallegher (2010), communication can be one-way or two way communication; verbal and non verbal, and also says that the communication can be inter or intra communication. 3.1. One way communication and two way communication. One way communication occurs when there is no feedback or interaction during the communication. Two way communication occurs when the recipient asks clarification and interacts with the sender 3.2. Verbal and non verbal The verbal communication occurs when there is the use of words and can be written or spoken. Examples of written communication are: newspapers, posters, advertisements, books, while some examples of spoken communication are: speeches, discussions, lectures and presentations. Non-verbal communication uses other means that is not through writing or speaking, such as facial expression and body language. 4. The means of communication in the educational system The means of communication used in the educational system has been through major transformations following the technological advancement. According to An evaluation of students, the traditional method of teaching in the UK and in most of the world is characterized by one-way transmission from the lecture to the student, which refers to the teacher-center model of teaching, where information is transmitted to the students through the knowledge of the teacher, without much questioning by the student. However, this method has been changed, and the aim of the educational system has been supporting the activities of students rather than simply convey information.   According to Gibbs (1995:1) student-centered method, encourages â€Å"learner activity rather than passivity; students experience on the course, outside the institution-and prior to the course, process and competence, rather than the content where key decisions about learning are made by the student through negotiation with the teacher . The growth of this new method of teaching has as a major factor, the implementation of e-learning by higher education institutions. 5. E-learning According to Clarke (2004), E-learning is a general term that covers different methods which have in common the use of Information and Technology of communication, and may be as a complement to a traditional course as well as an online course where teachers and students do not meet. The term e-learning is the result of a combination occurring between the educations with the help of technology. The e-learning added new meaning to apprenticeship and blew up the possibilities in disseminating of knowledge and information to students and, at a fast pace, opened up new horizons for the distribution and sharing of knowledge, making it also a form of democratization of knowledge for the layers of the population with access to new technologies, giving them the knowledge available, anytime and anywhere. With the development of web technology, the processes of interaction in real time became a reality, allowing to the student to have contact with knowledge, with the teacher and other students, through the media technological 5.1. Blended-Learning This is a new method that has been growing in popularity, which is based on e-learning as a complement to studies in the classroom. Clarke (2004:120), defines blended learning as the integration of e-learning approaches with more traditional methods†. As an example of this method we can mention the Blackboard used by universities. 5.2. Distance courses The training and continual updating of knowledge and skills of human resources are now a crucial element to achieve an effective and efficient performance. The application of information technology and communication to the area of training led to the creation of a new mode of apprenticeship: the distance course. According to Mealy and Loller (2000), Distance Education (DE) occurs when education is provided without the student and the institution being on the same physical location.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   With the distance course the student starts to having time to learn at their own pace, with the assistance of a tutor, without losing the ability to interact with other course participants. 5.2.1 E-learning synchronous and asynchronous 5.2.1.1Synchronous There are two distinct ways of teaching through distance learning: Synchronous and Asynchronous. Synchronous is when teacher / tutor and student / trainees are in lesson to the same time. Can be cited as an example of resources synchronous phone, chat, video conferencing and web conferencing. Through web conferencing, the teacher ministers the classes and students can hear the contents transmitted by the teacher. Thus, students may also ask questions and discussions. This is the model that most closely resembles the traditional teaching. The concept of classroom is extended to distance learning through the use of technology.† Mealy   and Loller (2000:20) 5.2.1.2. Asynchronous In asynchronous e-learning, teacher and students are not in class to the same time. According to Mealy and Loller (2000), the main feature of this method is that the student can participate in the study schedule that suits you. The teacher also is not limited to a specific schedule and can answer questions or participate in discussions at different times of the student. The big difference in asynchronous e-learning is that time is elastic giving greater flexibility to the students in their learning, research and study. 5.3. Advantages and disadvantages of e-learning compared to traditional methods 5.3.1. Advantages According to Remenyi (2005), the three main benefits of e-learning are: Reducing the impact on the environment, quality education affordable and Convenience and flexibility for the student 5.3.1.1. Reducing the Impact on Environment There is no need of traveling; resulting in diminution of pollution reduces the use of papers thereby contributing to the environment 5.3.1.2. Quality education affordable Through e-learning, great teachers can share their knowledge without physical barriers, political, or economic, thus reducing the cost of education making it more affordable, The student can study at a respected university, out of state or even country, e-learning takes the social and physical barriers by giving everyone the same level 5.3.1.3. Convenience and flexibility for the student The materials are more accessible, depending on the method, can be available 24 hours 7 days a week, with no need for change in lifestyle. The student has the opportunity to create a personalized pace. 5.3.2. Disadvantages According Remenyi (2005), the three major disadvantages related to the E-learning is the lack of interaction between student and teacher, the lack of interaction between students and the need for basic computer skills. 5.3.2.1. Lack of interaction between student and teacher The tutor has a higher difficulty in judging the level of acceptance, understanding and retention, since it is not possible an immediate response from the student. There is a need for a higher level of motivation and higher autonomy of learning than classroom training 5.3.2.2. Lack of interaction between students Depending on the method used e-learning, such as the course distance, because there is no participation in the classroom, there is no socialization among students, which can lead to negative outcomes such as lack of ability to work as a team. 5.3.2.3. Need for basic computer skills Need some experience in using computers and Internet usage, also some appetite for the use of technology 6. Conclusion With the increasingly widespread use of new information technologies and communication, it becomes essential the adoption of these in the teaching and apprenticeship. The process that performs this learning environment is called e-learning. In eLearning, flees to the traditional model of teaching, the learning process is student centered, which can build its self-education course, interacting with the available content according to their learning needs in a way flexible, how, when and wherever you want, being the teacher / trainer the catalyst developing this process. In eLearning, the papers the teacher / trainer and school / university are not being replaced. What changes is its function, no longer educational agents, to be partners in apprenticeship. Therefore personal contact is not unappreciated, but become more interesting.

Organisation's entry into a foreign market - internationalisation Essay

Organisation's entry into a foreign market - internationalisation process - Essay Example As these factors could be influenced by local cultural, political, social and economic issues, they have to be studied in an in-depth manner before entering the foreign market, and that will be focus of this report. Introduction Organizations wanting to achieve optimal success will always want to expand their geographical and financial ‘boundaries’, thus going on the path of internationalization. That is, organizations could think of entering newer or foreign markets after achieving sizable success in their domestic markets or due to strong competition or saturation in their domestic market or importantly after seeing feasible and good opportunities in foreign market or markets particularly due globalization facilitated opportunities, etc. Thus, internationalisation is kind of becoming a happening concept used by many organizations to expand their reach globally. â€Å"As the global economy expands, as more products and services compete on a global basis and as more and more firms operate outside their countries of origin, the impact on various business functions becomes more pronounced† (Briscoe and Schuler 2004). Whatever be the motivations or objectives for the organizations to enter foreign markets, it is of crucial importance for that organization to study that foreign market in a deep and extensive manner. According to Hill (2009), if a firm wants to expand its business to overseas markets, it must evaluate the potential of country and the country specific factors. Recruitment process After the organizations make its entry, to start their operations there organizations will have to send their own employees who are working in their home operations, then will initiate the recruitment process to recruit the local qualified employees and could also bring in employees from other Third countries. This factor of recruitment is in line with the theoretical concept of recruiting the three types of employees, Parent Country nationals (PCNs) who are brought from home operations, Host country nationals (HCNs) who are local employees and finally Third Country nationals (TCNs) (Scullion & Collings 2006). Among these three groups of employees, organizations has to focus maximally on the HCNs. Entering organizations are duty bound to recruit high number of HCNs because they have to give something to the population that host their organization and also for practical purposes including low cost labour, logistical reasons, etc. Thus, when qualified at the same time low cost labour is available, entering organizations can achieve two objectives in one stroke. Peng and Meyer (2011) discusses about this recruitment process by stating how it involves â€Å"identification of suitable local employees, convincing them to apply for a job, and selecting the most suitable candidates for each job.† Management of recruited employees After recruitment process, organizations have to consider the factor of aptly managing culturally differe nt employees. That is, as each country will have certain distinct cultural traditions, and as the local employees would have imbued those traditions, it could be visible during their functioning, thereby necessitating apt management. Like the above mentioned recruitment process, during organization functioning, it would be better for the organization to prepare and promote local employees to managerial positions. This is line with the theoretical concept that the organizations operating in foreign soils should follow polycentric

Risk Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 7500 words

Risk Assessment - Essay Example The participants involved in the risk assessment include:  Jack Philips, Hewlett-Packard chief IT officer who reviewed the safety of the entire report after completion.Patrick Michaels, Hewlett Packard senior IT technician that uses the information risk management to ensure that the operation of the company runs smoothly and providing additional information on what needs to be improved within the firm (Loughman et al., 2011 p 45).  James Williams, Hewlett Packard systems administrator who provided information on how secure the system was for use online. The information was obtained through the completion of questionnaires.  John Wallace, Hewlett Packard Data administrator provided information on the same through the completion of various reports after having done assessments and questionnaires.  Mike Johnson, Hewlett Packard computer security officer, gave information on the security system through doing reports and filling questionnaires.  Control objectives needed to secu re an organization.  This step will help in identifying the risks associated with the information system installed at Hewlett Packard. This will be effective in analyzing the various vulnerabilities that the systems may be exposed to. The systems may also be exposed to a number of threats within the company, for instance, environmental factors and various human factors (Calow 2009 p 12).  The process that was used to identify involved:  Ã‚  a) Identification of the susceptibility of the organization’s information system

Tension in the 1920s Essay Example for Free

Tension in the 1920s Essay During the 1920’s, the United States saw many large changes made in the country, the largest of which, the ratification of the 18th Amendment and the start of prohibition, was the greatest source of tension during that time period. The 18th Amendment which made the production, transport, and sale of alcohol illegal, upset many people, but was actually never enforced that strictly. Many people could still drink very easily and alcohol was never hard to find. Although many people think it was a terrible mistake and the government was taking away a simple way for adults to get together and have fun, the government gave them a good amount of time to prepare. As stated in an article by Mark Moore of the New York Times, â€Å"The amendment prohibited the commercial manufacture and distribution of alcoholic beverages; it did not prohibit use, nor production for ones own consumption. Moreover, the provisions did not take effect until a year after passage -plenty of time for people to stockpile supplies†. People could still produce alcohol for themselves which most already did and talks of prohibition had been going on for years with much support. The citizens of the United States should have taken that time to gather the alcohol they wanted and obtain the supplies needed to produce it. Once again, even though one could not sell alcohol or produce it, it was extremely easy to access, there were extremely large amounts of speakeasies in cities, people could go to Canada or Mexico, or just take a boat three miles out into the ocean where the government had no power. Although prohibition did not have much of an effect on the consumption of alcohol, the crime rates rose quite quickly and many saw organized crime begin in the country. Many gangs arose in large cities, but in only in Chicago could you find the most powerful gangster, Al Capone. He made millions off of the illegal consumption of alcohol, and although it caused a lot of chaos and disruption, he was giving the people what they wanted. As said by Capone himself, All I do is to supply a public demand †¦ somebody had to throw some liquor on that thirst. Why not me? †. The citizens of the United States yearned for alcohol and Capone gave them what they wanted, but they all suffered the consequences. With gangsters being as powerful as they were at the time, they could influence almost anyone, especially in law enforcement, the court system, and politics. The rate of homicides per 100,000 population was extremely large and the highest it had ever been. During the war, it was around six to seven, during prohibition it was around seven to ten. Although that may seem like a small number, more people were dying because of the want for alcohol. The 18th Amendment and beginning of prohibition dramatically altered the country in ways good and bad, which made it the greatest source of tension during the 1920’s.

An Innocent Man Wronged in Oleanna Essay -- David Mamet

Sometimes there are events in our lives that we cannot control. These events occur, more or less, due to our own actions. Sometimes, however, we must come to terms with our inability to handle certain situations and also to reach our goals. These events are facts of life everyone: some people can't run as fast, or lift as much, or write as well. It is during these times that we must focus on what we can do well, and try to direct our goals around those features that make us good at something. In David Mamet's Oleanna, John loses his job and his house due to Carol's ignorance, lack of self-confidence, and overall inability to come to terms with her own short-comings as a student. This play epitomizes an act of complete degradation based solely on one individual's failure to accept that she just might not be good at school--or at least John's class.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In an attempt to help a young student named Carol, a professor named John loses his house and his job. All of the blame rests on Carol's shoulders, for it was she that allowed her delusions of grandeur and success (being without the necessary skills to attain them) to ruin the life of man who has dedicated his life to helping students do just that. Carol's ignorance plays a big role in this tragedy. From the very beginning of this play, it is apparent that Carol does not understand the information given in class, but it is her unwillingness to even try that makes her at fault. "People who came here. To know something they didn't know†¦To be helped†¦So someone would help them (12)." Carol is begging John to understand that she is stupid. She doesn't want help in the sense that someone might want help writing a paper. She wants it hand fed to her, and education is a process that involves the teacher pointing the way, not carrying someone to the end. Carol' s misconceptions of how college is supposed to work can only be result of not having been exposed to the realities of higher education, but I believe that she just doesn't have the skills she needs to succeed. "Nobody tells me anything. And I sit there†¦in the corner. In the back (14)." This is an example of the total lack of motivation that Carol has to learn. Her ignorance leads her to believe that a college education is supposed to hand fed. She just sits there, in the back, without an attempt to even try to learn on her own. We all need help form time to tim... ...hool. They have lived their lives fearing that the system of education has decided that they are failures. This group has only one goal, and that is to succeed. Their success, however, has a price. Those people who stand in the way re their enemies. John's fate was a result of Carol finding this group, and allowing them to use her as a pawn in their own sick, twisted agenda. All the members of this group suffer from the same illness that ails Carol: ignorance, lack of self-confidence, and an ability to cope with their own shortcomings as students.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Carol represents a group of people that are the destruction of the higher education system. Their complete disregard for societal structure cost a good teacher his job and his home. It seems that today, when we are unable to get what we want by earning it, we have to destroy and tear down the barriers in our way. This is exactly what Carol does, and the manner in which she executes her plan would leave most students to wonder: why even try? Works Cited Mamet, David. Oleanna: A Play in Two Acts. The Best Plays of 1992-1993. Eds. Otis L. Guernsey, Jr. and Jeffrey Sweet. New York: Limelight, 1993. 150-164

Vestas in Russia

Vestas in Russia Introduction For my exam project in International Business Environment I have chosen to write about the Danish cooperate Vestas Wind Systems A/S (referred to as Vestas throughout the paper). Vestas is the world’s largest producer of wind turbines and in addition to this it is also the leading company when it comes to green technology regarding wind energy . Vestas not only serves the Danish domestic market, but the company is also present on several foreign markets in other parts of Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and North and South America. With over 22. 00 employees spread over 35 countries Vestas is categorized as being a multinational cooperation. As for the market of entry I have chosen The Russian Federation (referred to as Russia throughout the paper). Vestas has not yet entered the Russian market so my exam project will be a hypothetical one. One could question why a global actor like Vestas not already has entered a market with so big opportunities a s Russia, but along with visions for great profit comes the reality of great risks and challenges as well. Russia is a vast market for windmills taking the size of the country and the climate debate into perspective.The country is the fourth largest consumer of electricity in the world , but lack of technology hinder Russia to produce it in a climate friendly way. The relevance of a successor to the Kyoto Protocol is at its highest and Russia has expressed great will to find sustainable solutions for its large electricity consumption. Companies capable of exploiting such market are in position for massive gains. This is however easier said than done. Denmark and Russia differ on several aspects of their countries’ structures and Danish companies planning on doing business in Russia hence carefully have to consider these differences.In this paper I will first describe and motivate the entry strategy of Vestas by using John Dunning’s OLI-framework . In this context I wil l argue why more advanced forms of FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) are appropriate for Vestas when entering Russia. Furthermore I will analyze the differences between Vestas’ home market conditions in Denmark, and the conditions of the target market, Russia, regarding adjustments in the marketing mix. To illuminate this section I will use E. Jerome McCarthy’s principle of the four P’s .Lastly I will summarize the above mentioned and discuss the best internationalization strategy for Vestas. Vestas’ competitiveness In order to describe and motivate the entry strategy of Vestas I will outline the advantages based on John H. Dunning’s OLI-framework. Although Vestas already has expanded into many different countries with regards to different culture, political systems and business systems it is not always suitable to use the same entry strategy although the firm is the same in every case. O – Ownership advantage: Vestas’ competitive advan tageThe O in Dunning’s OLI-framework of specific advantages deals with the Ownership advantage. To expand into new markets Vestas has to be in possession of something that gives the company an advantage compared to its competitors. Vestas has a clear ownership advantage first and foremost in form of its technology and know-how. Denmark has exploited wind energy since 1850s with the purpose of making agriculture more efficient. In the beginning of the 1970s the oil crisis influenced Denmark as well, and to avoid another economic breakdown the Danish government searched for an alternative energy industry.Vestas had already done R&D (Research and development) and tried out the construction of windmills since 1971. However they first entered the market in 1979 with a licensed windmill. In the development of the required technology, subsidy from the government and research on RISO (The National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy) has had a vast significance for Vestas, enabling it to play the leading role it does today. Besides the support from the government, Denmark has a highly skilled labor force, which of course also adds to Vests’ ownership advantage.Nevertheless as Lars Andersen (Managing Director of Vestas’ Sales) mentions, it is not only the technology and the skilled employees that give Vestas an ownership advantage: â€Å"However, it also has to do with our ability to deliver on time, the fact that things work from day one, and, in particular, the fact that we fulfill customers’ expectations for a good, reliable return on their investment. In other words, we are not simply selling a wind turbine†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Vestas does not only manufacture and sell the wind turbines, it also provides installation and subsequent after-sales-service, which not many Russian competitors can match.Vestas is, in addition to the above mentioned, a multinational company with more than 30 years of experience and is therefore in a greater position tha n later emerged firms. Vestas is on top of this a world-known and respected brand with focus on quality and is represented in 35 countries spread out all over the world. The company has the largest market share, 24,8% , of the global market, which again places Vestas in a favorable situation when it comes to taking advantage of for instance the experience curve. L – Location advantageThe L in Dunning’s OLI-framework deals with the location advantage. Saying there should be an advantage for Vestas for doing business in Russia as a location for export or more advanced forms of FDI. Russia is geographically an enormous country (covers over 17 million square miles) and includes areas with a very low population density. These areas have great potential for windmill parks and the coastal areas of the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, the vast steppes and the mountains are the areas of highest potential.On the other hand it would also be favorable to place the wind energy system in regions where there is an existing power infrastructure and major industrial consumers. Areas, which fulfill these requirements, are the steppes along the Volga River, the northern Caucasus Mountains and various locations in Siberia including the Chukotka Peninsula in the Magadan region . Chukotka Peninsula is especially to prefer, because of its already existing hydropower stations, which could be used to compensate for the possible intermittent wind power.Another location advantage for Vestas is the fact that the Russian population is the fourth largest consumer of electricity in the world. Hence there is a demand for Vestas’ products and in particular when taking the Russian will to reduce greenhouse emission into consideration. Russia is willing to play an active role regarding the improvement of the global heating problem. The country has already reached its commitment stated in the Kyoto-protocol, but the Russian president Dmitri Medvedev declares that Russia â€Å"wou ld try to reduce greenhouse emissions by 25% by 2020. † The quotation signals a will from the government o find more sustainable solutions for production in Russia, and because Vestas does â€Å"business to business† and â€Å"business to government† commerce, it is of great importance with prospect for government interest and support. In this setting it is worth mentioning that The Ministry of The Russian Federation has published â€Å"The 2020 Energy Strategy†, which describes how to reach the new goal by prioritizing, among other things, ecological energy security through energy policy. In addition to the above-mentioned advantages of Russia as a location for Vestas’ expansion come the possibilities of reducing the overall production costs.As it is with most emerging markets, like Russia, wages are lower than in more developed markets like Denmark. Hence by moving production to Russia Vestas would be able to compete on both quality and price, alt hough their main focus most likely would be on quality . The location advantage is even greater when taking into consideration that there are no real national or international competitive competitors settled in the market yet, hence there is a possibility of a first mover advantage for Vestas as well.Notable is nevertheless also the risk for a first-mover disadvantage in terms of costs and risks when preparing the market for the ‘new’ product. I – Internationalization advantage If Vestas expanded into Russia it would strengthen its position of being â€Å"No. 1 in Modern Energy†, which was Vestas’ slogan before the recent switch to: †Wind. It means the world to us†. Furthermore if Vestas gained the first mover advantage it would give the company control over one of the worlds biggest markets. The internationalization advantage is gained in form of a proper entry mode.The chosen entry mode is of great advantage if it is selected in accord ance to Vestas’ now described ownership advantage and Russia’s location advantages. Vestas’ main ownership advantage is their know-how and technology while the location advantage of Russia primarily are the huge market possibilities and the government’s positive attitude towards renewable energy sources. What remains is, which type of entry mode that exploits both Vestas’ ownership advantage and Russia’s location advantage?Would licensing or exporting be the best-suited entry mode or should Vestas take greater risks and do more advanced FDI? Vestas wants to keep their know-how, but by pursuing a licensing entry mode, spillovers will occur. Vestas would have little control over production, giving possibilities for competitors to emerge and quickly become as efficient as Vestas. Exporting is neither a favorable entry for Vestas. The transportation costs are extremely high, when it comes to the final products. Each piece of the windmill weights approximately 250 tons and thus not suited for export.Other obstacles for the export as an entry mode are the protectionist policies and Russian trade barriers as for instance high tariffs. Vestas would have to pay up to 20% tariff + an additional charge (Value Added Tax) of another 18%, making a total of 38% for exporting its products into Russia. Russia ranks 162 out of 183 countries on the list of ease to do cross border trading with. To compare, Denmark ranks 6 which means that the products produced expensively in Denmark becomes more expensive by being exported to Russia.This situation will of course change if Russia gets its membership in the WTO, but this is not yet achieved. To sum up Vestas needs to move in with plants in Russia and with more advanced FDI to protect its know-how asset and to stay competitive. There are two options for this being either a joint venture or a wholly owned subsidiary. The most obvious solution would be the wholly owned subsidiary, where Vestas could protect its know-how by owning 100 % of the stocks. On the other hand there is a time perspective to consider as well.Siemens, one of Vestas German competitors, have recently announced plans on moving into the Russian market on a large scale . Setting up a wholly owned subsidiary as a green field venture takes a lot of time and the alternative of an acquisition is not an option since Vestas has core values and does not want to take over existing operating routines and enterprise culture. Another aspect, which is important to these considerations, is the fact that corruption and bureaucracy, which makes connections and personal relations very important for success, mark Russian business.Setting up a joint venture with a local firm solves this problem for Vestas, since Vestas would benefit from the partner’s country specific knowledge of culture, language, political systems, business systems and local connections. A joint venture is at the same time a less risky (capital vise) and less time-demanding entry mode, than a wholly owned entry mode, which Vestas needs to take into considerations in order to prevent falling behind Siemens. The major disadvantage of choosing a joint venture is of course the risk of spillover, eading to future competitors. On the other hand it is possible to construct the joint venture to minimize this risk. Vestas needs to engage in a joint venture where it owns the majority of the cooperation and thus is able to remain control. One might argue that it would be difficult to find a company, which would accept to own minority of the joint venture, but taken the undeveloped market into consideration, it should not be a huge problem. There are only a few local firms in the windmill industry in Russia.All of these would most likely be interested in boosting their profit (value creation) and it is not an unattractive offer to join the world leading windmill cooperate in a first mover attempt with prospect of a significant future market share in the Russian market. The joint venture and expansion of Vestas would also have to be on a large scale to be able to capture demand, establish a strong brand name and realize economies of scale. This would no matter what be an ideal opportunity for any local producer in Russia, although they would have to accept Vestas owning the majority of the joint venture.Differences and adjustments There are several aspects where the Russian market conditions differ from the Danish market conditions. These are necessary to look at in order to outline the needed adjustments for Vestas’ marketing mix. Differences in market conditions When comparing Russia and Denmark regarding the ease to do business in, it is very clear that there is a vast gap between the two. According to a survey by The World Bank, Denmark ranks 6 whereas Russia ranks 120 out of 183 countries (1 being the easiest country to do business in).I could therefore point at several diverging market conditions, b ut because of limitations of this paper I have chosen to focus on the following four: Infrastructure, climate, GDP per capita and the level of corruption. One might argue that ‘climate’ is not of great importance when speaking of market conditions, but in my opinion it is a very significance factor in this case concerning the marketing mix, which I will elaborate on in the following section. Infrastructure is important for Vestas when it comes to distribution of the company’s products.When looking at infrastructure in Russia and Denmark the most noteworthy factor is distances and terrain. Russia is the largest country in the world covering 11 time zones and it does not entail deep analysis to conclude that it requires great coordinated logistic to create a well functional infrastructure. This has for several of reasons not yet succeeded for Russia and the country’s infrastructure is hence very fragmented. An uneven terrain with low population density and n ature impediments as rivers and mountains has hindered buildings of proper roads and connections, which have a great influence on Vestas’ ease of doing business.Because of the enormous extent of Russia, the climate varies a lot from the coasts to the mid-country and from the west (Europe side) to the east (Asian side). The temperature fluctuates between the extremes of -65  °C in the winters and +40 °C in the summers. The wind is an important factor to look at in this case as well, because Russia possesses areas with all degrees (categorized as: Low, medium and high) of wind power. The climate differences is thus of great importance regarding Vestas’ product differentiation. Moving focus to the more economic orientated difference in market conditions is the GDP per capita (PPP).Russia’s GDP per capita is low compared to Denmark’s. According to the ranking done by International Monetary Fond, Russia ranks 51 in contrast to Denmark’s ranking as 1 7th . This means that Russian consumers, including the government and large enterprises, have less purchasing power compared to the Danish consumers. Little purchasing power could be an obstacle for Vestas. If consumers don’t have much money to spend, they would most likely not have the mental surplus to think of the environmental dimension by burning fossil fuels.If generating electricity the cheapest and easiest means exploiting fossil fuels, this is what they will do. However higher purchasing power (higher GDP per capita) results in the means to be able to prioritize such things as future global environment. Looking at the energy produced in Russia, over 60% of the electricity generated is based on gas- and coal power whereas less than 1% of the electricity generated is based on renewable energy production . In contrast stands Denmark, where wind power alone in 2008 generated 18,9% of the Danish electricity demand .The growth in GDP per capita in Russia was before the eco nomic crisis, around 7-8% . This is promising for Vestas as a continuous high growth in GDP per capita means a more developed economy, higher purchasing power and therefore increased interest in products like the ones Vestas offers. The fourth difference I have chosen to outline is the high level of corruption in Russia. Russia ranks number 146, whereas Denmark ranks number 2 (1 being the less corrupt) in the Corruption Perceptions Index (2009) made by Transparency International.Vestas has no power to end corruption by itself, so instead it should focus on how to deal with it in business situations. Adjustments in marketing mix: The four P’s I will use E. Jerome McCarthy’s principle of the four P’s: Place, Product, Price and Promotion to analyze the needed adjustments for Vestas’ marketing mix. The four differences (infrastructure, climate, energy production and level of corruption) described in the previous section are all differences that affect these a djustments. The †p† concerning the place (distribution) deals with how to get the product to the consumer.It would be obvious to discuss adjustments to retail concentration, channel length, channel exclusivity and channel quality, but selling Vestas’ products is not like selling jeans or other regular consumer goods. There is no distribution channel, or at least it is very short, because Vestas sells directly to the customer, being government or large enterprises. However the undeveloped infrastructure, as outlined as a big difference between the Danish market conditions and the Russian market conditions, is of great importance for Vestas’ delivery to its customers.Vestas’ products require stable roads (due to heavy weight and size) and connections to the best set-up areas. The infrastructure is best around Moscow and St. Petersburg, due to big business, but this is not necessarily the best location for Vestas’ production. As mentioned before the best set-up areas are the vast steppes along the Volga River, the Caucasus Mountains and locations in Siberia. In Denmark Vestas can easily get around to all parts of the country, but Russia’s huge distances and the uneven terrain in many areas do acquire adjustments.Vestas carefully have to reconsider where to place the facilities of production to minimize transportation costs, and not to forget, maximize availability. This might require compromises in form of set-ups in optimal and less optimal wind areas. To do this Vestas has to deliver wind turbines that also are able to exploit the low winds and Vestas thus has to adjust its products to the Russian climate conditions. Other adjustments are necessary for the turbines to manage the before mentioned freezing winters with temperatures down to -65  °C and the hot summers with temperatures up to +40 °C.The turbines should be able to function all year round to be attractive to customers. Vestas has to differentiate the turbines to match these standards compared to the standards in Denmark, where weather conditions don’t differ as much. In other words, Vestas’ product differentiation is necessary to encounter pressure for local responsiveness and thus reach its customers. The customer segment that Vestas tries to reach is a narrow segment consisting of the government and maybe a few other large enterprises, which would be interested in promoting a green profile.The government and the large businesses would, as most customers, be concerned about price. To match Russia’s rank regarding the low GDP per capita, Vestas would have to make an adjustment in form of lower prices. Price is however not the main focus for Vestas . Quality and safety is their top priority, but of course they would be able to take advantage of the lower labor costs in Russia and thus lower the overall production costs. Vestas could however use strategic pricing in form of experience curve pricing to gain ma rket share and relations to the large customers before competitors emerge.This could be rewarding because of the promising growth in Russia’s GDP per capita, which presents better future market conditions for Vestas’ products. Vestas should at the same time stress that setting up windmills is an investment that might require lots of capital as a starting point, but in the long-term perspective it would be worth it. Today Russia is self-sufficient in terms of energy . However the supply of fossil fuels is diminishing and the demand for it is increasing. Investing in wind power would be a possible way for Russia to stay self-sufficient in the future.Left remains the question of how to communicate all this to Vestas’ customers? When choosing a promotion strategy Vestas has to adjust its approach to the above described high level of corruption. One way of doing this is by having the right connections; knowing the right people. As previous mentioned I would suggest V estas to pursue an entry mode of a joint venture and thereby gain the advantage of local relationships, which could help Vestas to get around the bureaucracy. On the other hand it is of paramount importance that Vestas ‘stay clean’.If Vestas in any way gets associated with any form for corruption, it will have tremendous consequences not only for the domestic market, but also for the global market that Vestas operates in. In accordance to the entry mode I would suggest Vestas to practice a push strategy. It would be a waste of resources to communicate through mass media to vast private consumer segments, to which Vestas’ products have no interest. Vestas’ communication should be directly orientated at the small customer segment, previous outlined.Personal selling, exploiting the local partner’s ability to speak the local language, perhaps supported by additional informative products to be handed out and an enlightening webpage is the best way for Ve stas to reach its potential customers. Vestas’ internationalization strategy In the last part of this paper I will sum up and describe the best internationalization strategy for Vestas when entering the Russian market. Throughout the paper I have concluded that now is a good time for Vestas to enter the Russian market, because of prospects for government interest and support and no real competitors settled in the market yet.Hence Vestas has an opportunity for a first-mover advantage, but only if they enter the market on a large scale. Entering on a large scale is associated with greater risks and costs, but taken the growth in GDP per capita and the decreasing amount of fossil fuels into considerations, it is most likely that Vestas in the long-term perspective will secure massive gains from having established the contacts and its own brand in an early phase.I have already argued that I find a joint venture the most appropriate form of entry mode for Vestas. Forming a joint v enture with the right partner, a partner that has agreed to Vestas’ way of doing business e. g. no corruption, is the best way to remain in control, but still benefit from local knowledge, which is of great value because of the different market conditions compared to Denmark. Due to these different market conditions, Vestas also has to adjust its marketing mix.The most important adjustments would be: Reconsideration of production locations concerning infrastructure impediments, product differentiation and the use of a push communication strategy with help from the chosen partner’s local advantages. There is no doubt about the difficulties a global actor faces. A company like Vestas carefully needs to consider every aspect of a business opportunity to prepare for an expansion into a new market.Vestas operates all over the world where it has to respond to pressures for local responsiveness and pressures for cost reductions. There is a pressure for local responsiveness in Russia due to the geography and the political system. The question is, if this pressure is low or high? I would categorize it as being in between. The pressure is not low since the expansion requires considerable adjustments in the marketing mix, but the pressure is on the other hand neither as high as pressure for local responsiveness for e. g. lothes or cars. Concerning the pressure for cost reduction it is necessary to take a look at Vestas competitors in the Russian market. At the time being, there are not many, but as mentioned before Siemens is planning on moving in. In addition to this, many Asian competitors have emerged in China as well and might constitute future competition. I would therefore say that pressure for cost reduction in Russia at the time being is low, but in the near future this pressure will definitely increase due to the above explained.Vestas could enter with a location strategy or an international strategy, in accordance to the low pressure for local res ponsiveness, but if the company wants to prepare itself to face upcoming aggressive competitors it might be strategic wise to enter with a transnational strategy already at this point. Pursuing such strategy will as well benefit the information flow between Vestas subsidiaries and between the subsidiaries and the home country, which is necessary for sharing one of Vestas’ core competences: know-how.If Vestas not only is able to take advantage of the outlined possibilities but at the same time adjust and respond to the described impediments, it has great opportunities to grasp large profits and at the same time remain competitive in perspective of the Russian market as well as the global market. References The paper is based on classes in International Business Environment plus the beneath listed Book: Hill Charles WL, International Business: Competing in the Global Marketplace, 8th edition

Rape and Sexual Violence Essay - 963 Words

Rape and Sexual Violence Rape and sexual violence is a very serious problem that affects millions of people each year. Rape is someone taking advantage of another person sexually. Sexual assault can be verbal, physical, visual, or anything that forces a person to join in unwanted sexual contact or attention. (Sexual Assault.) Rape is one of the most underreported crimes. In 2002, only thirty-nine percent of rapes and sexual assaults were reported to law officials. (Sexual Violence: Fact Sheet.) Victims sometimes do not report that they have raped because of shame or feeling that it was their fault. It is never the victims fault. Victim blaming is holding the victim of a crime to be in a whole or in partly responsible for what had†¦show more content†¦Women may also flirt with men but if later the women are victimized, that does no mean the rape was their fault because they were flirting. Just because the victim does not fight back does not mean they are giving their consent. It most likely is becaus e it might be the best way they can protect themselves from further injury. Consent is when a person says its permissible to have sex. They do not object to it so it is not considered rape. (Myths and Facts about Sexual Violence.) Some reasons that perpetrators rape or sexually abuse people is alcohol and drug use, sexual fantasies, hostility towards women, witnesses family violence as a child, or has a childhood history of sexual abuse. Perpetrators of sexual violence are at a high risk of committing the crime again. Most perpetrators of sexual violence are men. One hundred percent of rapes, ninety-two percent of assaults, and ninety-seven percent of stalking acts were by men. (Sexual Violence: Fact Sheet.) In a number of criminal cases, men convicted of rape were found to have given Rohypnol to their victims. (Carson-Dewitt.) Rohypnol is a drug that is used medically; however, it has become a widely abused drug in many countries including the United States. (Carson-Dewitt.) Rohypnol is known as the date rape drug and can be slipped into a victims drink unnoticed. (Carson-Dewitt.) When used properly, this drug is not dangerous, but illegal use can cause manyShow MoreRelatedThe Rape Of Sexual Violence1642 Words   |  7 Pageswith me again,† â€Å"It’s not a rape if it happens after drinking or taking drugs†: these quotes about rape are few to the numerous myths that circulate society today. 1 out of every 6 American women has been sexually assaulted, yet this statistic is only from victims who come forward (Victims of Sexual Violence: Statistics†). The problem in America today is the â€Å"Rape Culture† in which we live. A Rape Culture is defined as a â€Å"rape prevalent society in which sexual violence is normalized and excused throughRead MoreRape- An Unwanted Sexual Violence1179 Words   |  5 PagesRape – An Unwanted Sexual Violence Sexual violence, especially rape, is a major emerging health related issue in the United States of America. According to the NISVS survey conducted by the CDC – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 20 percent of the women and 1.5 percent of the men (in the U.S.) have been involved in rape cases at some times in the past, while about 50 percent of the women and 20 percent of the men have been victims of sexual violence (other than rape) at some pointRead MoreRape And Sexual Violence And Assault And Its Survivors Essay1192 Words   |  5 Pagesfrom the literature review with focus on rape and sexual violence/assault and its survivors. Extensive literature search was conducted on relevant concepts that include the definition of rape, sexual violence and assault, consequences of rape and sexual violence/assault, provision of health services. The search looked at developed and developing countries as well as war stricken settings. Therefore, the aim was to understand the burden of rape and sexual violence, its consequences and provision of healthRead MoreAnalysis of Women’s Rights: Rape and Sexual Violence Essay1013 Words   |  5 Pagesobsolete in the era of never changing gendered hierarchy, where heartless militia have severed the line of innocence and consciousness for women worldwide; using them as scapegoats for their infantry. The victimization of these is rampant; the abuse and violence against their minds and bodies does not prove a victor of state but rather a violation of human life. Women own the right to their voice, to their ideas, and most importantly to their bodies; the detriment of such on behalf of patriarchal socialRead MoreIntroduction In this paper, I argue that while sexual violence is arguably the monopoly of men, it1000 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction In this paper, I argue that while sexual violence is arguably the monopoly of men, it is culturally cultivated rather than biologically determined. Consistent with the concept of Hegemonic Masculinity which theorises male domination of other males and subordination of females (Connell, 2005), I assert that rape is particularly rampant in societies where sexual violence is an effective means of attaining this status quo. Thus when rape is institutionalised in the context of war whereRead MoreGender Based Violence Against Women1238 Words   |  5 PagesGENDER BASED VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN: A CLOSER LOOK AT INDIA’S RAPE PROBLEM Background When the sex of a girl or a woman drives the infliction of violence towards them, it is regarded as a form of gender based violence (Heise et al., 2002). Violence against women, regardless of the form, can occur in various stages of the woman’s life (Murthy and Smith, 2010), and refers not only to physical and sexual acts of violence, but also encompasses verbal abuse, emotional torture, economic deprivation, andRead MoreSexual Violence And Sex Violence960 Words   |  4 Pagesare happening in today world about sexual violence and see how relates to me. This paper will allow me to have a better understand how society views sexual violence and what is being done about it. Though, there are many laws and regulations, having an understanding of how a victim is viewed in a justice system and how our culture has influenced sexual violence. Central Research Questions/Problems In this research paper, I will be looking about how sexual violence is portrayed through the lenses ofRead MoreThe Hidden Victims of Wartime Rape by Lara Stemple1094 Words   |  4 Pagesreports of male rape in Congo has been made clear that wartime sexual violence is not limited to women and girls. As of now, the United Nation has the situation at hand and they overlook sexual assault of men and boy. Lara Stemple wants us to see the reason while sexual violence against men occasionally make the news. Sexual violence is ‘any violence, whether physical and/or mental, carried out through sexual means or by targeting sexuality’ (Lewis, 2009). An example is the sexual abuse and humiliationRead MoreSexual Assault On College Campuses1381 Words   |  6 Pages Sexual assault has been a huge issue for many years on college campuses and universities nation wide. As society has evolved, thoughts on sexual assault have also evolved, becoming more focused on the details of victim treatment than ever before. The topic of sexual assault is debatable and sparks many opinions on weather sexual assault on college campuses is becoming more frequent, or if there is just heightened awareness. Sexual assault can happen to anybody no matter the gender, race, religionRead MoreAn Anonymous Rape Survivor s Story1721 Words   |  7 Pages â€Å"It wasn’t rape you were being such a tease.† â€Å"NO I said. I covered my vagina with both of my hands and I said NO! I was with a close male friend and I thought I was safe. I thought I was safe when I went out drinking with said friend and I thought I was safe when we went to my place to â€Å"hangout.† This is an anonymous rape survivor’s story. These common occurrences affect a fair portion of the population in Missoula, in comparison to the national average, and something should be done. There is also