Is Leadership Culturally Bound Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Is Leadership Culturally Bound - Essay Example Consequently, the association between cultural factors and leadership is of such a complex nature that not only does it extend to the understandings of organizational culture but it is also vividly observable in a country’s national culture. As MNEs continue to dominate international markets and the world continues to evolve into a global village the question which arises as a consequence of these changes asks whether leadership is culturally bound? As indicated by the wealth of literature that is available on the subject, it can be stated that the phenomenon of leadership in indeed bounded by culture. Not only is this observation evidenced in prior research but it can also be noted by an assessment of real world examples. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to advocate the presence of cultural implications with regards to the phenomenon of leadership, in doing so the research employs the findings of prior researches and cases from the world of organizational management. Furthe rmore, the research paper also explores counterarguments in relation to the topic under consideration in order to present a thorough, comprehensive and well-informed argument. According to House et al. (2002) the objectives behind the initiation of the GLOBE (Global Leadership and Organizational Behavior Effectiveness) program comprised of several aspects that are related to leadership and its cultural implications. The outcome of the program suggested that national culture can be examined on the basis of nine dimensions which essentially describe the characteristics of a country and its people. After conducting extensive large-scale surveys over a range of industries, the second stage of the GLOBE research program revealed that it is possible to compare and contrast the dimensions of culture with the attributes of leadership that can be deemed appropriate in the context of a particular culture. For example, in his analysis of the GLOBE framework Robbins (2001) notes that there exis ts a stark difference between the leadership preferences and expectations of individuals which is largely in accordance with and attributable to their culture. Robbins (2001) asserts that a humane approach and collectivism are defining features of Indian culture which are greatly respected and appreciated amongst the masses despite of the recent emergence of urbanites that prefer individualism. Therefore, an Indian employee’s notion of an effective leader is best reflected in heroic and charismatic leadership which also shows concern for the well-being of subordinates while, taking initiatives for employee development. On the other hand, employees belonging to France tend to associate the notion of leadership with that of a bureaucratic setup due to which their perception of a leader is of an individual who does not abide by a humane approach when managing the affairs of the organization’s employees and leading them towards the achievement of organizational objectives (Robbins 2001). The practical application of this understanding is that within the context of Indian culture, a leader would be able to achieve desired and ideal results by the adoption of consideration as

IT managment Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

IT managment - Case Study Example Consumer goods for such markets are transportation, construction, packaging, electricity, machinery, engineering and other equipments. The company does not fall under the category of â€Å"product/ service differentiator†, â€Å"responsible solution provider† or â€Å"new capability enabler.† At Alcan, the current organizing model is decentralized. Every business group competes independently having its own strategic IT plan, infrastructure choices, IT application and services, and each group has its own IT organization, which pursues its objectives which are based on group’s need and orientation (Hoving & van Bon, 2008). The group’s activities are diversified and over the years, the culture of autonomy has been reinforced by mergers and acquisitions. The expense on IT is between $275 to $300 million (Dube, Bernier and Roy, 2009), which includes the cost of consulting, the cost of fragmented systems, infrastructure and resources. The IT costs are documented at several levels- at the local level and within the same business group. As the IT human resource does not report to the same IT unit, the results come in a wide range of methods, and certain operating expenses are not recorded as IT expenses. No overall architecture existed in the company for IT applications. The supply strategies were used for project delivery, application management and there was no consolidated overview for the needs and requests as the competencies of groups were not aligned with the current projects. Moreover, there was no option but to opt for outside expertise. The IT management architecture was highly complex, diversified and fragmented. There were over 1000 information systems and more than 400 handled financial data. The information system was made up of 60 resources distributed in 5 different cities. The first was SAP oriented, which focused on the needs of former Pechiney, and there were

Sustainable policy for Disneyland Hong Kong Essay

Sustainable policy for Disneyland Hong Kong - Essay Example The whole case comprised of the A and B sections pertaining corporate as well as government decision-making.1. The Walt Disney Corporation aims at establishing a lasting, sustainable constructive environment legacy for Hong Kong, Disney, and future generations. By achieving all this then Walt Disney Corporation will be committed to minimizing the overall impact that would have affected environment and at the same time encouraging as well as activating environmentally responsible way of life for cast members, guest, employees, entuerprenue and private individuals. Notably, Disney aims make sure that water is conserved, energy and ecosystems. This will play a fundamental role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, minimizing of water and inspire the general public consciousness in support of all effects directly towards environmental sustainability. Disney seeks to understand as it identifies itself with the measures that impact directly or indirectly with the operations as it develops innovative lasting and realistic solutions for countering those impacts. The company also complies with all re gulatory regulations pertaining environment. Finally, the company is fully committed to periodical communications concerning its progress in implementing required policies as well as attaining the set targets. Here are Disneys environmental policies explained. The company has a systematic process aimed at involving the mult-stakeholder; they will be analyzing and evaluating any possible environmental implications that may arise to proposed policies, plans as well as programmes which will be helpful in strategic formulation and planning decision-making. Disney will have to incorporate evaluation of the most important environmental implications that has the possibility of determining the actual scope of the whole environmental report together with its preparations including public participation through

Is there a connection between human freedom and modern physics Essay - 1

Is there a connection between human freedom and modern physics - Essay Example Every man has a natural right to pursue happiness but the human thought process is very tricky. This is Maya, and Maya incites the human mind to dance to its tune. Through its thoughts the human mind can create individual and societies but these very thoughts bring it to a state of confusion. Thinking cannot control the forces of nature, says Wilhelm (Ch1, p45). Thoughts like to drown itself in the assumption that it has control over the senses and nature. Ideas are intelligent perceptions but they too can take different forms. An individual has to assume responsibility to express ideas and this may eventually lead to a new reality. This demonstrates the power in human thoughts, and this very power of ideas, reality and thoughts have led to discoveries in science. Ideas have the power to make us believe in the reality or turn the ideas into reality. It also has the power to create chaos. Human beings are always struggling for freedom – freedom not from other human beings but from their own thoughts. Freedom is not external to the self. Freedom lies in one’s own thinking process, in one’s own perception. It is freedom from one’s own confusion. This is precisely what Lord Krishna in Bhagwad Gita has conveyed. Human beings are forever fighting with their own inner selves – sometimes the divine mind reigns Supreme only to be overpowered by the demonic thoughts. Freedom is to evolve from this Maya and und erstand the Reality. It is freedom from the inner conflict and not a fight between two individuals that has been portrayed. Arjuna’s thoughts and ideas formed a chain and distorted the Reality; he was far away from the Truth. Today human beings view freedom as a right without responsibility. Standards of behavior are determined through the use of statistical curves. Money and success is the yardstick of freedom. Money is linked to spirituality. Spiritualism is a profession and those

An overview of Under Armor and how they are challenging nike in sports Essay

An overview of Under Armor and how they are challenging nike in sports apparel - Essay Example The company’s wide range of products is being used by many reputed consumers and other people of the world as well. Apart from all these, there also exist numerous competitors of Under Armour in the world. Among them, Nike is one of the major competitors of the company as both of them operate their business in the world of sports brand (Thomas Reuters, 2014). To analyse the competition between these two huge brands, this study will consist of the overview about Under Armour and the ways they are competing with its competitors. A complete study of the background of the company along with its vision, business culture and expansion strategies will be taken into due consideration. This information will help to understand the competitive advantage of the company in the local as well as the global market. Since 1996, Under Armour has been running its business successfully in the field of sports shoes and other required accessories for sports. In the present scenario, the company is operating its business in major parts of the world such as North America, the Middle East, Latin America, Europe and Asia. The idea of business of sports brand came from a simple idea developed by the 23 year old former captain of the University of Maryland i.e. Kevin Plank’s special team. During playing days of Kevin Plank, he hated to wear the sweat soaked cotton T-shirt again and again, especially in the hot warmers days. In order to get rid of this problem, he set out an idea of manufacturing such T-shirt, which can be suitable for the players to wear even in the hotter days. Plank named the company of sports brand as Under Armour. For the first time in the world of sports, a new design of T-shirt named as #0037 came into existence. This t-shirt was designed in such a manner that it comprised of moisture soaking fibres, which help the players to keep them cool and dry even in the hotter conditions. At the initial stages of the development of such

Immigration The Guest Worker Program Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Immigration The Guest Worker Program - Essay Example Yet there are jobs within certain sectors that are not very attractive to many, but immigrants will take what they can get. In other words, they will do the jobs that many won't do. The United State's guest worker program has modeled itself largely after the European guest worker program. The European system has failed in many different areas. The European program began hiring workers within their guest worker program after World War II and these guest workers never returned home, therefore they became permanent. This scenario seems to be the expectation of President Bush's guest worker program in the United States. The research that has been conducted on the European system has more or less been ignored and will result in a large pool of immigrants with very few legal rights that would make our current problems grow (Unknown). The failures in the French guest worker program resulted in the Parisian riots in 2005. These riots were the results of young people who were the "leftovers" of the French guest worker program and their neighborhoods consistent of poverty and large numbers of the unemployed. They needed to be pushed into the French mainstream rather than be placed upon the backburner and ignored (Unknown). Where the United States used to be considered the place where dreams were made. It was said that any man could achieve anything as long as he could work for it, but the guest worker program could or could not make this possible. Men used to be able to work for everything they had whether they were born in the United States or not and this is what immigrants are hoping for (Unknown). This makes the guest worker program a very important debate. Again, where the United States has always been viewed as the land where dreams come true, immigrants want to have that chance just like many immigrants before them did. They want to improve their lives, but the guest worker program could result in these immigrants breaking laws in order to try and achieve more freedoms and illegally stay here. One significant problem is that currently, there are employers within the United States who take advantage of illegal immigrants by paying them low wages. They are feeding off of the fact that the illegal immigrant wants to be within the United States that bad. Many of these illegal immigrants fear that they are going to be deported when asked to verify documentation. Instead of raids being held in which the immigrant must produce documentation that they are in the United States legally, Bush states that better border patrol needs to be implemented to keep them from entering the United States to begin with (USCIS). This is one issue that President Bush is hoping the guest worker program will eliminate. Yet, unless border security is significantly amped up, certain rules within the guest worker program will backfire. The guest worker would be required to register and pay a possible fee. This fee would depend on whether or not the immigrant currently resides within the country or is living outside of the country. They will then be given a temporary worker card. There are other aspects such as Bush working closely with the foreign governments to make sure incentives existed for the foreign worker to make them return to their home country. Bush also proposes that the credit

To the Betrayed Inhabitants of the City and Colony of New York By Essay

To the Betrayed Inhabitants of the City and Colony of New York By Alexander McDougall - Essay Example McDougall wrote that the people of New York were being tyrannized by evil forces and factions working overtime to see that their vested interests were fulfilled rather than ensuring that the country was insulated from disasters. The message clearly breathed the spirit of reconstruction rather than retribution, and was easily more constructive than destructive. McDougall's message was not only powerful, but as any historian can make out, it was a wakeup call, a call to liberty and freedom, and not a baleful message addressed to the masses, giving them false hope and instigating wanton and unnecessary violence. In his message to the people of New York, McDougall wanted to warn them to beware of "the minions of tyranny and despotism." These words written at the very outset of his message, we can very well appreciate his deepest interest in his fellowmen - the people of New York to whom he had addressed his message. In the message, McDougall praised the efforts of all his fellow merchants, who like himself, had solely sidestepped their personal egos and ambitions in favor of public welfare. The initial bearing of his message is more about the efforts taken by the Massachusetts and South Carolina assemblies towards collecting and dispatching money for the troops: which is an act he felt extremely unreasonable from the very beginning. McDougall's message communicated the words: Our granting money to the troops, is implicitly acknowledging the authority that enacted the revenue acts, and their being obligatory on us, as these acts were enacted for the express purpose of taking money out of our pockets without our consent; and to provide for the defending and support of government in America; which revenue we say by our grant of money, is not sufficient for the purpose aforesaid; therefore we supply the deficiency. These words clearly specify the reason why McDougall felt that the money sent to the troops by the two assemblies testify the fact that colonies still were oppressed by corrupt sources in the assembly, and that they had to break free as soon as they could. The entire message was revolutionary in its truest sense but must not be confused with instigating anti-British and revolutionary feelings among the people. That was the entire beauty of McDougall's broadside message. Upon a close analysis, we will find that his call was to rally the people, make them realize their rights, and look up to the English "friends of liberty," as he addressed them, and to help them stand on their own feet. He also wrote that the sorry state of the New Yorkers could be attributed only to the oppressive and corrupt elements present in the assembly and he fervently pleaded with his countrymen to assert themselves the way they should have. Even as we read the text we can clearly observe McDougall's fantastic expression. Using that persuasive tone, McDougall had touched the most sensitive of topics, and yet made it look as if he was teaching to inspire, and not plotting to revolt. In this context, we can observe the manner in which he wrote about