Political Media s Influence On The Media - 1840 Words

Political economy media theory identifies a socially critical approach that focuses primarily on the relationship between the economic structure and political force in media industries and the ideological content of the media outputs. China has a very special situation of the political interference which are much serious than other kinds of countries. In western capitalist countries, the media is defined as a separate news outlet with legally press freedom approval by the government and formal institution that are independent from the state. Thus one of the most obvious characters of the western media is press libertarian. (Reference)However, in China, under the control by the Chinese Communist Party, the media organs are the first and†¦show more content†¦They argue that the Party utilizes the press staid mouthpiece role to consolidate political rule. For instance, Zhao Yuezhi( Zhao, 2000:3-26) argues that the Party is aiming to enhance political control through conglomerat ion and rationalization of market to the press. China’s Party Press is being transformed into what He Zhou calls ‘Party Publicity Inc.’ whose chief mission is to promote the Party’s achievements, image and legitimacy by means of softer, more friendly and responsive message delivered to its recipients. (He, 2000:48) While other researchers like Chan (Chan, J.M., 1993:1-19) argues that commercialization is leading the media away from an exclusive dedication to Party ideology. Not only the commercial and industrial nature of media and culture undertakings acknowledged and endorsed, specific commercialization targets and industrial growth goals were set by state media administrations. (Guo, 2006) Chinese government tries to keep validity of market without exerting political control on its traditional press content. (Zi,2003a). Just as Herman and Chomsky (1988:1-35) in the book ‘ manufacturing the consent’ argue that the ‘raw material of news’ passes through a series of five filter constraints, ‘leaving only the cleaned residue fit to print’. These filter elements continuously interact with and reinforce one another’ and have multilevel effects on media performance. Chinese media commercialization leads to a tendency assembling to capitalist countries,

E Commerce Engaging With Physical Stores - 813 Words

And there are more examples of e-commerce engaging with physical stores. Such as, a few months ago, Amazon opened the first physical store in the US. At the same time, Google has opened its Google shop, online furniture retailer Made.com has been opening showrooms to display their products. This has proved the online web and the physical stores are actually beneficial to each other. †¢ Methodology This research paper will involve the use of qualitative approach as the main research methodology. This is a common case study method, which provides a clear vision on related implication of the research topic to researcher (Kondracki Wellman, 2002). Besides, the data in this method depends on human experience and this will be more persuasive and powerful than only data gathered via quantitative research. The reason to apply qualitative case study tool in this study due to its flexibility of use and also its ability, which allows the researcher to express their ideas and thoughts in the within context of the research (Maxwell. 2005). The study involves both primary and secondary research in order to have a clear vision on the research question. Secondary data will be collected from Tesco Inc. such as the sales, the number of visiting customers in different period. And the primary data will be conducted in two ways, on-site visit and online questionnaire. The methodology being used in this study has also bring up a lot of challenges. First, as the paper is studying on aShow MoreRelatedThe Pros And Disadvantages Of E-Commerce1286 Words   |  6 Pagespossible forgone costs of attempting to find items at a single store when anyone can browse the world-wide web with millions of options right at their fingertips? 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Human Resource Management Human Resources Workforce

Question: Discuss about the Human Resource Management for Human Resources Workforce. Answer: Introduction Hackman and Oldham have claimed that the characteristics of the job provided to the employees can have a great impact on their performances, motivation, job satisfaction and job commitment. For the success of organisational goals and objectives, it is necessary that the human resources of the organisation are effective and are managed properly, which is not an easy task. Organisations are trying their best to optimise the performance of the employees and are searching for new ways that would help them in achieving it. In this assignment, we will discuss whether the claim made by Hackman and Oldham stands true for the human resource management in the modern day world and decide if improving the characteristics of the work can improve the performance of the employees. Human Resource Management Human resource management is an approach that helps business organisations in managing their human resources/workforce using various concepts, such as compensation management, benefits, performance management, training and development, etc. (Inc.com, 2016) In the modern day business world, it has become very easy for managers to replicate technology and business operations to achieve market competencies. In such a situation, business organisations are now solely relying upon their human resources for achieving market competencies. As a result, business organisations are now investing millions of dollars in training and developing their human resources and providing them with work conditions that would help in optimising their performances and improving the overall results for the company. Hackman and Oldham were two experts who gave the famous theory of Job Characteristics, which is commonly known as JCT. The basic crux of the theory was that the job itself or the tasks which are given to the employees are a key component that can help in governing the job conditions for the employees. In this assignment, we will examine the argument made by Hackman and Oldham and test if the argument is actually valid in the modern day world (Tutor2u. net, 2016). Relation Between Job/Tasks And Employee Performance The modern day business world has reached a level where the competition is between national and multinational companies. Multinational companies have a competitive advantage over national companies and national companies are too trying to enter the global market to balance the scales. To achieve such competencies, it is important to have a competitive pool of talent that can perform well and help in the achievement of companys objectives. The workforce or the human resource will perform well when the work conditions are adequate and motivational enough to make them work harder. Human resource managers, over the period of time, have realized that the best way to improve the work conditions for the employees is by making the job more interesting and challenging. Job enrichment is a concept that has come up in the past few years. The concept aims at providing new and challenging work to the employees so that they do not feel bored and can perform better in their jobs. Let us now talk ab out some benefits of providing a challenging work environment to the workforce: Learning new skills a number of behaviour experts have proved that the employees are always excited when they are given an opportunity to acquire new skills and techniques. By providing the employees with some new tasks that can challenge their skills and knowledge, the management is able to motivate them to work harder. The employees themselves feel motivated because it brings them an opportunity of learning new skills, which would further help them in developing their career paths and while they are being considered for promotions. Therefore, the employees perceive benefits when the management offers them new, exciting and challenging work, which is different from their day to day routine (Bizcommunity.com, 2016). Reduced boredom boredom kills the possibility of high performance in business organisations. Employees usually feel bored when the management provides them with same kind of work over and over again. By repeating the same work again and again, they lose their interest in it and desire a change in their routine or the tasks that are assigned to them. Therefore, if the management is able to provide the workforce with challenging tasks and jobs, it can reduce their boredom and would be able to motivate them to do something by moving out of their comfort zones (Smallbusiness.chron.com, 2016). Receive recognition recognition has been regarded as one of the most important need for the people who work in business organisations. Even in the Need Hierarchy Theory given by Maslow, recognition at the workplace is included as one need which can motivate the employees to work harder (Study.com, 2016). Providing the workforce with challenging tasks allows the management to test skills, knowledge, strengths and weaknesses of the employees. The employees who are able to perform well and are able to stand up to the expectations of the company are able to gain recognition in the workplace and increase their chances of promotion or performance appraisal. Employee motivation employees value it when the senior management of the company trusts them with competitive and challenging tasks regularly. They feel that they are an important part of the organisation and their efforts will contribute towards the success of the organisation. With an increase in the responsibilities, the employees become motivated and they try to perform better. Consequently, they become more committed towards their jobs and the organisation on the whole (YourArticleLibrary.com: The Next Generation Library, 2015). Sense of accomplishments it takes a lot of effort on the part of the management to improve the work conditions for the employees and provide them with such work that would help in optimising their performance. When the company works hard to improve the work conditions of the employees, the employees to get a sense of belongingness and they tend to work harder to meet the expectations of the company. When the employees work harder they end up achieving more, which instils a sense of achievement in their minds. Benefits for the employers the concept of job enrichment is not just beneficial for the employees but also has a number of benefits for the employers too. When the employers provide challenging and exciting tasks to the employees, they are able to test their skills and knowledge related to the job. If the employees are able to provide creative solutions for the tasks assigned to them, they can be considered for promotions in the future as they have the calibre to be promoted to higher job profiles. On the other hand, if the employees are not able to perform the challenges that are given to them, the management can assess the areas where the employees lack skills and techniques. On the basis of the lacking skills and techniques, which the management identifies in the employees, the management can plan training and development programs so that its workforce can become more competitive (Reddy, 2016). Helps in creating a professional approach the concept of job enrichment provides challenging tasks to the workforce by introducing regular changes in their routines so that they can be moved out of their comfort zones. Such changes make the workplace more interesting and help in setting up a more professional approach in the organisation. Reduced absenteeism it has been noticed that the concept of job enrichment can actually help in bringing down the absenteeism rates in business organisations. By following the concept of job enrichment, the management is able to improve the quality of work for the employees. The employees have to perform better in order to stand up to the expectations of the company and also have to act more responsibly. Once the employees find that they are responsible for a lot of work, which the organisation has trusted them with, they become more professional towards their work and tend to avoid taking unnecessary leave. As a result, the rates of absenteeism are reduced if the employers can provide a challenging work environment to the workforce. Reduced labour turnover rates it has been observed that the business organisations that do not work towards making the workplace more exciting and challenging for the workforce often have experienced higher turnover rates as compared to those companies that regularly try to make the work situations challenging for the employees and bring them out of their comfort zones. The basic reason behind this fact is that when the management provides the same work to the workforce again and again, it restricts its capacity to think out of the box and reduces their chances of career development as they are stuck in the same jobs for their lifetime. They do not experience any growth opportunities and feel bored due to same work being given to them again and again. As a result, such employees sow a greater tendency to quit the organisation and shift to organisations that provide them challenging work and new growth opportunities. On the other hand, an organisation that provides its workforce with a lot of challenging and exciting work, which helps the employees in coming out of their comfort zones and trying something new and is able to keep them motivated. Such organisations increase the prospects of future promotions of their employees and also bring about a development in their skills and knowledge. Such employees experience higher job satisfaction as they feel advancement in their career paths and as a result, they show lower tendency to quit the organisation (Study.com, 2016). Conclusion From the facts discussed above, it can be clearly understood that the type of work can actually have a great deal of impact on the performance of the workforce working in the organisation. The employees who are provided with challenging and exciting work from the management experience less boredom and are eager to prove their calibre by performing well in the organisation. The work that an organisation offers to its employees also show the level of trust which the organisation places in them. Thus, employees working with such organisations show higher job satisfaction, job commitment, motivational and performance levels. On the other hand, the organisations that provide boring and monotonous work to its employees deprives them from the opportunity of gaining recognition in the workplace by proving their calibre, skills and techniques. It prevents them from making advancement in their career paths as monotonous work provides them with no growth opportunities. It can be clearly concluded that the management of a business organisation can optimise the performance level of its workforce only when it can provide them with challenging and exciting work conditions. Thus the claim made by Hackman and Oldham, which says that the characteristics of the job or the task provided to the employees can help in improving their performance, stands out to be true for the modern day human resources. References Hackman and Oldhams Job Characteristics Model | Business | tutor2u. (2016). Tutor2u.net. Retrieved 10 August 2016, from https://www.tutor2u.net/business/reference/hackman-oldhams-job-characteristics-model Hackman and Oldham job characteristics model | Employee motivation theories | YourCoach Gent. (2016). Yourcoach.be. Retrieved 10 August 2016, from https://www.yourcoach.be/en/employee-motivation-theories/hackman-oldham-job-characteristics-model.php Hackman, J., Pearce, J., and Wolfe, J. (1978). Effects of changes in job characteristics on work attitudes and behaviors: A naturally occurring quasi-experiment. Organizational Behavior And Human Performance, 21(3), 289-304. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0030-5073(78)90055-7 Hosie, P., Sevastos, P., and Cooper, C. (2006). Happy-performing managers. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar. Human Resource Management. (2016). Inc.com. Retrieved 10 August 2016, from https://www.inc.com/encyclopedia/human-resource-management.html Job Enrichment: Definition, Advantages, Disadvantages Examples | Study.com. (2016). Study.com. Retrieved 18 August 2016, from https://study.com/academy/lesson/job-enrichment-definition-advantages-disadvantages-examples.html Job Enrichment: Meaning, Characteristics, Advantages and Limitations. (2015). YourArticleLibrary.com: The Next Generation Library. Retrieved 10 August 2016, from https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/hrm/jobs/job-enrichment-meaning-characteristics-advantages-and-limitations/53318/ Oldham, G., Hackman, J., and Pearce, J. (1976). Conditions under which employees respond positively to enriched work. Journal Of Applied Psychology, 61(4), 395-403. https://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.61.4.395 Reddy, K. (2016). Top 15 Advantages and Disadvantages of Job Enrichment - WiseStep. WiseStep. Retrieved 10 August 2016, from https://content.wisestep.com/top-advantages-disadvantages-job-enrichment/ The Advantages and Disadvantages of Job Enrichment. (2016). Smallbusiness.chron.com. Retrieved 10 August 2016, from https://smallbusiness.chron.com/advantages-disadvantages-job-enrichment-11960.html The importance of a challenging work environment. (2016). Bizcommunity.com. Retrieved 10 August 2016, from https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/410/423/76259.html The Needs Theory: Motivating Employees with Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs - Video and Lesson Transcript | Study.com. (2016). Study.com. Retrieved 10 August 2016, from https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-needs-theory-motivating-employees-with-maslows-hierarchy-of-needs.html

Marriott at Myanmar free essay sample

This report is prepared to be the first document evaluating Myanmar’s attractiveness for consideration of establishing Marriott Hotels and Resorts in this country. The best location for the hotel is chosen to be the city called Yangon since it offers a wide variety of activities for travelers with different interests. Yangon Marriott Hotels and Resorts will be attracted to upscale visitors who wish to stay in a luxury, five-star hotel with exceptional service quality, while enjoying the beauty of the country. The target groups of customers are not limited only to local high income Burmese, but also foreign visitors who come on a business or vacation purposes in Myanmar. Myanmar is a resource-rich country with a lot of unseen and attractive destinations. If developed properly, the country has a high potential for growth in the tourism industry in the future. However, due to the high level of risks of its cultural, economical and political systems, this country is considered not attractive enough to operate the luxury brand hospitality business under Marriott name. Strained relationship with the U. S government and the European Union also makes it more difficult for an international brand like Marriott to establish a new business in this country. II. Overview Summary Information A. Key information regarding demographics of the target country The Union of Myanmar, previously called Burma, occupies the largest geographical area in the mainland Southeast Asia. From North to South, three parallel chains of mountain ranges divide the country into three river systems and create various topographic regions. It shares national borders with several countries: China on the north, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, and India on the northwest, with the Bay of Bengal to the southwest. The country achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1948. The population of Myanmar, approximately 54 million people, is highly diverse. There are eight major ethnic groups, which can be subdivided into 135 ethnic minorities. The official language is Burmese; however, several native languages are also spoken. English is usually spoken, particularly by the educated urban elites, and is the secondary language learnt in government schools. Eighty percent of Burmese population is Buddhist, prevalent in Theravada sect. The military government has officially relocated the capital of the country from Yangon to Naypyidaw in March 2006. III. Business History A. History of the company Marriott International, Inc. is a leading worldwide operator and franchisor of a range of value and luxury hotels and related lodging facilities. Nowadays, Marriott International has about 3,150 lodging properties located in the United States and 67 other countries and territories. Its operations are grouped into five business segments, which are full-service lodging, select service lodging, extended-stay lodging, timeshare, and synthetic fuel. Marriott International was formed in 1993 when Marriott Corporation split into two companies: Marriott International and Host Marriott Corporation. The company is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland. B. Products/services offered and their unique advantage in the target markets The Marriott has become one of the world’s leading hospitality business operators from its excellent quality, service, and value. Throughout the Asia-Pacific region, its brand name has continuously led the company to the consistent growth in Marriott properties in many countries such as China, Japan, Singapore, and Thailand. Each Marriott hotel differentiates itself with exceptional amenities, individualized attention to guests, and careful reflection of local surroundings. As the business expands worldwide, Marriott brand gains a high level of brand loyalty from its guests. This large customer base will help facilitate the business when the brand enters to new-oversea markets. IV. Business Activity A. Industry structure, competition in the country and current economy of the target country Even though the number of travelers visiting Myanmar is very low, tourism is considered the country’s major source for foreign exchange. Burmese government has been trying to promote their tourism industry to outsiders. They launched the campaign of ‘Visit Myanmar Year’ in 1996. After that, according to the Statistics from Ministry of Hotels Tourism, the number of tourist arrivals has been increased. However, this increasing number could not retain on a continuous basis due to the country’s uncertainty and instability in many areas that made people feel uncomfortable visiting Myanmar. Myanmar’s economy is currently mixed and primarily based on agricultural activities, including livestock, fisheries, and forestry. This sector accounts for 50 percent of the country’s overall GDP. The country also possesses several kinds of valuable natural resources, including intensely fertile soil, offshore oil, and gas deposit. It is also the world’s largest exporter of teak and precious stones such as jade, pearls, rubies, and sapphires. Since late 1988, Myanmar moved toward more market-oriented economy. It changed its centrally planned economy to be more liberalized, both in domestic and international trade. The role of private sector was promoted, and foreign direct investment was welcomed. Despite such efforts, Myanmar is still considered the poorest country among the Southeast Asian nations. Although tourist industry has a high potential for growth in the future, it still remains underdeveloped. This is because mismanagement from the military government’s control, ineffective and inefficient policies, poor infrastructures, together with the country’s bad international image have drawn the whole country to the state of underdevelopment. Moreover, since the late 1990s, Myanmar’s economy has worsened due to economic sanctions from many countries such as the European Union, Canada, and the U. S. Foreign investments usually come from China, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand. V. Market Research A. Market conditions in target country 1. Existing demand There are several reasons why Myanmar should be a good place in consideration for new investment opportunity. The country has vast and virtually untapped natural resources. To this day, Myanmar remains one of the most mysterious and undiscovered destinations in the world. The country seems appealing to many tourists around the world due to its unseen attractions with regard to cultures, history, and natural beauty. There has been an increasing demand from outside the country, especially from those travelers who wish to discover this resource-rich country. Myanmar is viewed as a good destination for people who want to have an exotic adventure, beach vacation, and mountain experience. In addition, advocates supporting Burmese tourist claim that it is the only method to help Burmese poor citizen to have a better standard of living and avoid isolating the country from the rest of the world. Another important issue needed to be pointed out is the message from the leader of Myanmar’s opposition National League of Democracy. Aung San Suu Kyi has in the past asked foreign tourists not to visit the country, as this helps increase the military junta’s power. This is one of the reasons why some people do not want to visit the country. 2. Competition After the Burmese government opened the country to promote several industries, tourism started to develop in Myanmar. Nowadays, there are approximately 500 hotels and guesthouses throughout the country. In Yangon alone, there are only six luxury hotels and approximately 20 moderate and economy hotels. Among those luxury hotels, none of them is operated under the recognized global hotel-chain companies. Most of the hotels are run by local Burmese people or businessmen from neighboring countries such as China, Singapore and Thailand. Therefore, competition in Myanmar’s tourism industry has not reached the intense level yet. VI. Potential Difficulties or Restriction A. Entry requirement The Government of Myanmar posts some restrictions on foreign investors wishing to do business in the country. In order to establish and operate under contractual agreement or partnership, foreign entity must submit all proposals to the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) and get approved under the Foreign Investment Law (FIL). Foreign investors can set up their business either in the form of a wholly-owned subsidiary or a joint venture with any partners: an individual, private company, a cooperative society or a state-owned enterprise. In all joint ventures, the minimum equity required from the foreign party is 35 percent. Moreover, the minimum amount of capital requirement to be eligible under the Foreign Investment Law is set to be US $500,000 for an industry, but US$300,000 for a service organization. Tourism industry is one of many sectors allowed under the Foreign Investment Law. Rather than the initial investment requirement, Myanmar also has commercial tax of ten percent levied on service of operation of hotels. B. Intellectual property issues Intellectual property is one important issue that prevents many oversea businesses from entering to Myanmar. The country has a negative outlook on its control with regard to this matter. Myanmar is considered having poor, maybe poorest, intellectual property right laws by the outside world. Marriott brand could be jeopardized since Myanmar’s legislation alone may not be able to protect the ownership of the company’s trademark. In the past, there was an evident showing that some local businesses were registered by using the existing international trademarks or trade name, and that prevented the original owners to register their own names and run the business in this country. VII. Cultural Issues A. Religion and its role in the society Since most Burmese people are Buddhist of Theravada stream, Buddhism has greatly influenced the standards of etiquette in the country. Their core religious belief is karma, the concept that good fathers good and bad fathers bad. This core belief has reflected in almost every aspect in everyday life; however, it does not play a significant role in doing business in this country. With basic knowledge of Burmese culture and custom, foreigners would find it easy to live with the local people. B. Special cultural issues For employer and employee relationship, Burmese employees are hardworking and loyal to their bosses. In return, an employer is expected to give help when in times of need. Such help can be the advice given for personal problems or loan granted in a financial crisis. As in all Asian countries, Myanmar respect people older than them. Therefore, in order to avoid friction in workplace, subordinates should be working under an older supervisor. Friendship, trust, and honesty are valued in a business relationship. Favors received, such as introducing a potential client or supplying a reference, must be repaid at a future time. For the first time in a business meeting, details of the project may not be discussed. Instead, the meeting may be spent evaluating each other’s personality and business strengths and weaknesses. In general, Myanmar business people find it easier to deal with Asians than Westerners. C. Business cultural issues In recent years, both China and India have attempted to strengthen ties with the Burmese government for economic benefits. This situation indicates that relationship with the military government could help smooth out the process or get the deals more easily. Personal relationship is considered one of the key components that could determine the success of the business. Foreign business will be more likely to succeed if the foreign entity can tie with a local partner, ultimately the Burmese government. According to Asian Journal of Political Science, â€Å"all post-colonial Myanmar governments and the business community benefited from their clientelistic networks. Without the help of government officials, many business firms would have gone under quickly; at the same time, without the assistance of business people, it would have been hard for most post-colonial Myanmar governments to keep themselves in power. It is very clear that government-business relations cannot simply be reduced to a zero-sum game. Certain interactions between the military government and the business community were mutually empowering†. Corruption is systemic at all levels of the Government and society. From Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, â€Å"It is considered by economists and businesspersons to be one of the most serious barriers to investment and doing business in the country. A Byzantine and capricious regulatory environment fostered corruption. † VIII. Service Operation A. Location of service facilities The best location that Marriott Hotels and Resorts could be is in the city called Yangon. Yangon, previously known as Rangoon, is one of the most popular areas for foreign visitors and is considered the gateway to Myanmar. It is the largest and former capital of the country. Even though the city is no longer the capital, Yangon continues to be the most important commercial center of Myanmar. This relatively simple city is attractive in its own particular way. Yangon has earned the name ‘the Garden City of the East’ since it is green and cool with lush of tropical trees, shady parks, and beautiful lakes. The city offers a wide variety of activities for visitors such as diving, cultures, and ecotourism. Therefore, this city has a potential to attract a lot of travelers with different interests. B. Service modification necessary to adapt to local environment Since one of Marriott’s strength lies in its careful reflection of local surroundings, Marriott Hotels and Resorts built in Yangon should hold the same principle. Yangon Marriott Hotels and Resorts should combine the city’s natural beauty of its history, culture and scenery while offering the unique luxury standards. Destination hotels and resorts type might be an appropriate alternative for Marriott in Yangon. The destination resort should be located in the Yangon area with noteworthy natural features, plus an urban setting. IX. Personnel Strategies A. Employment restriction Myanmar has active labor force of about 20 million. They are fairly trained manpower and skilled labor with relatively low cost comparing to other neighboring countries. There is only 23 percent of the overall population working in the service industry; however, these Burmese people are considered hospitable due to the fact that they are generally honest and kind. However, due to the country’s poor infrastructure, Burmese people are not provided with good education. Their skills might not be good enough to fit in Marriott’s high standards of hospitality service. Therefore, it seems necessary for Marriott to provide training sessions to improve their hospitality skills. B. Expatriate issues Since Marriott ties the brand image with its superb service quality, it is vital that Yangon Marriott Hotels and Resorts are equipped with talented management team. Marriott International Inc. might need to import managers from oversea to run the Myanmar operations in order to ensure that Marriott’s core business practice is followed everywhere. This issue brings about big challenge since it will not be easy to find the talented people who will be willing to work in a country with high uncertainty and instability in many aspects on a voluntary basis. Marriott International Inc. might need to provide them with high enough incentives to encourage them to accept this assignment. Nevertheless, under the Foreign Investment Law, Myanmar allows the employment of foreign experts and technicians. Required manpower can be recruited through Township Labor Offices. X. Risks A. Government stability The most important risk exposed in Myanmar deals with its political issue. For the past 40 years, Myanmar has been ruled by the military government or junta, in which the power is centered. The State Peace and Development Council, or SPDC, maintains strict authoritarian rule over the people of Myanmar. The country has a reputation abroad for brutally crushing political dissent, as in the case of house arrests of Aung San Suu Kyi. According to the information from the articles Foreign relations of Burma and Military of Burma, â€Å"Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy won a landslide victory in the countrys election of 1990; however, the military which has controlled Myanmar (Burma) for decades refused to transition the country to civilian democratic rule. For her part, Aung San Suu Kyi has spent most of the last decade under house arrest for her political efforts. In 1991, Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize while still under house arrest. † This case brings about the global awareness and concern on the country’s political abuse and human right violation. B. Legal risk The country also completely lacks of regulatory and legal transparency. â€Å"All existing regulations, including those covering foreign investments, are subject to change with no advance or written notice at the whim of the regime’s ruling general. Myanmar does not accept International Court of Justice. C. Economic risk Myanmar’s economy suffers from serious macroeconomic imbalance. The country’s money currency is called Kyat, which is not stable at all. Volatility happens on a weekly basis. The Kyat is not convertible. This severe situation includes rising inflation, fiscal deficits, and multiple official exchange rates that overvalue the Burmese Kyat. A major banking crisis in 2003 also contributed a large negative impact on the overall disrupted economy. XI. Potential Benefits A. Market potential As already mentioned, Myanmar is one of resourceful countries that have high potential for future growth in tourism industry. The country offers all traditional delights of Asia in one country. If developed properly, the country’s tourism can become one of the world’s famous tourist destinations. Seeing this opportunity, Marriott brand can expand globally throughout the Asian Pacific region. Now Marriott brand has its hotel chains in Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam in this Asia Pacific region. B. Incentive from local government Myanmar’s Foreign Investment Law provides a lot of incentives to foreign investors in the form of tariff and taxes. The business will be granted a tax exemption for three consecutive years beginning the first year of operation. The country also provides the relief from income tax on profit reinvested within one year. Myanmar guarantees that the business permitted under FIL will be protected from being nationalized during the granted period. C. Relationship to the United States However, according to Bureau of Democracy Human Right and Labor, â€Å"the US and Burmese relation has been worsened after the 1988 military coup and violent suppression of pro-democracy demonstration. Subsequent repression, including the brutal crackdown on peaceful protestors in September 2007, further strained the relationship. † â€Å"In addition, since May 1997, the U. S. Government has prohibited new investment by U. S. persons or entities. A number of U. S. companies exited the Burma market even prior to the imposition of sanctions due to a worsening business climate and mounting criticism from human rights groups, consumers, and shareholders. The United States has also imposed countermeasures on Burma due to its inadequate measures to eliminate money laundering. † As a result of the above fact, it seems inappropriate for Marriott to enter Myanmar at this moment. Since Marriott is a U. S. based company, the company could run into a big conflict with the U. S. government, which could have a seriously negative impact on its hotel operations around the world.

Signs, Symbols and Portents Essay Example

Signs, Symbols and Portents Essay Signs and symbols can be seen in all kinds of literature. Simply put, they are a concrete representation of an abstract concept. What they represent is not always obvious: they can have one or several meanings, and their meaning can change throughout the story. Sometimes, they are used by the author to foreshadow an event. Interpreting signs and symbols can be a challenge for a reader, but it is a rewarding one: it makes for a more profound and interesting reading. In this essay, I will discuss the role of signs and symbols in the work of Nathaniel Hawthorne and Herman Melville. Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter was first published in 1850. It is set in Boston, in the 17th century. It is the story of a woman, Hester Prynne, who has been punished by society because of her adultery. She has been forced to wear a scarlet A on her chest as a reminder of the sin she has committed. This scarlet letter, a written sign, is the novels main subject: it is also its main symbol. Charles Feidelson writes: The symbolistic method is inherent in the subject, just as the subject of symbolism is inherent in the method (Feidelson 1953: 13). Hawthorne also uses the main characters as symbols, pointing out the ways in which the scarlet letter affects them. Hester Prynne is condemned to wear the scarlet letter for the rest of her life because she has given birth to a child, Pearl, who is not her husbands. The fact that she has been punished in such a way tells us much about Puritan society: people were generally very pious and prude, and adultery was considered to be a great sin (Durst Johnson 1995). Hester could easily have fled from Boston and thrown away her scarlet letter, but she chooses to stay put and serve her punishment. The red A represents her sin, but it also symbolises the features of human nature that are not socially acceptable in Puritan America, such as passion (Feidelson 1953, Durst Johnson 1995). By continuing to wear it, even when she is told that she is allowed to take it off, she is making a statement. She is showing that she does not intend to change, and that she believes that the society around her should change, instead. She makes no excuses for her behaviour and devotes herself to humanitarian work. We will write a custom essay sample on Signs, Symbols and Portents specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Signs, Symbols and Portents specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Signs, Symbols and Portents specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Eventually, people see her under a different light: the red A that they used to associate with something devilish acquires a much more positive meaning. Hester is now seen as an Angel, or as Able. Soon after her condemnation, Hester embroiders the scarlet letter with golden thread. Doing so could mean two things: either she is mocking her punishment, or she could be trying to embellish the truth. She does not want to accept her passionate nature. This is very Puritanistic of her: the 19th century was the Age of the Euphemism (Durst Johnson 1995: ix) in America. People did not die, they passed away; a man was not drunk, he was unwell. Though Hester appears to accept her punishment, it can sometimes becomes a hard cross to bear. Hester herself is a symbol: she represents human nature. She is passionate, not infallible, and acknowledges it. At the same time, the way she has been raised has shaped her personality. It sometimes keeps her from fully embracing the aspects of her character that society finds objectionable. Nevertheless, her punishment has made her stronger, and more understanding of humanity. Her charitable work is a proof of this. Hester is a survivor. Dimmesdale, Pearls father, is a young minister in the community. The red A on Hesters chest could stand for Arthur, his first name. He also has a scarlet letter on his heart, a psychosomatic mark (Feidelson 1953: 11), but refuses to acknowledge it. He is a pious man who believes that there should be no room in his life for passion, but his scarlet letter is a permanent reminder that he cannot escape this trait of his personality. The letter tortures him, and he constantly seeks to punish himself. His health deteriorates throughout the novel. He refuses to acknowledge Pearl as his daughter until the very end, and when he does, he proclaims himself to be the one sinner of the world (Hawthorne 2002). He dies minutes after having shown his scarlet letter to the world. Dimmesdale is a symbol of Puritan society and its unwillingness to accept all aspects of human nature. Pearl, Hester and Dimmesdales daughter, has a symbolic role until the very end of the novel. She is an uncontrollable and mischievous child, and she is described as an demon offspring by the narrator. Comparisons between Pearl and the scarlet letter are numerous and obvious. Feidelson writes: Pearl, as Hawthorne reiterates at tiresome length, is the scarlet letter both physically and mentally (1953: 11). Pearl is obsessed with her mothers scarlet letter. In Chapter XV, she makes a green A out of eelgrass and puts it on her own chest. To Pearl, the letter is natural, and does not represent anything evil. She seeks the truth about it, and is constantly asking her mother questions, something that makes Hester uncomfortable. She is also the hardest truth-sayer in the novel (Durst Johnson 1995: 6), and knows the truth about Dimmesdale instinctively. Until he confesses to being her father, she calls him Mr. Black and refuses to kiss him. Throughout the novel, there is an intense connection between Pearl and truth. This indicates that the scarlet letter, which is symbolised by Pearl, represents the whole truth about human nature. Hawthorne writes: Be true! Be true! Be true! Show freely to the world, if not your worst, yet some trait whereby the worst may be inferred! (Hawthorne 2002: 269). By using the scarlet letter and his characters as symbols, Hawthorne is urging people to acknowledge every aspect of their own humanity (Durst Johnson 1995). Moby-Dick was published in 1851. Its author, Herman Melville, dedicated the novel to Nathaniel Hawthorne, who he admired greatly. In his tale of a whaling expedition gone wrong, Melville makes extensive use of signs and symbols. Ishmael, a member of the ships crew and the storys narrator, is a visionary (Feidelson 1953). He transforms the physical world into a symbolic world for the reader. The symbols used in Moby-Dick are most often more complex and ambiguous than the ones used in The Scarlet Letter. One of the major symbols in Moby-Dick is the whaling ship, the Pequod. It has been painted black, and is decorated with bones and teeth that have dissected out of dead whales. In addition to this, it has been named after an extinct Native American tribe. Though Ishmael seems to be very satisfied with the Pequod, the way he describes it makes it sound spooky. The Pequods appearance symbolises death, and its name makes the reader realise that the ship is doomed to sink. Ishmael says of the ship that it is a cannibal of a craft (Melville 1998: 61): much of the components of the ship are taken from whale parts, and it is a ship whose main purpose is killing whales. He is pointing out how men use nature for their own ends, and have no moral qualms about using a whale to kill another whale. The crew of the Pequod is made up of a variety of people from all over the world. Ishmael notes that most of the crew is made up of men who were born outside of America, but that the officer positions are generally occupied by Americans. He says: the native American liberally provides the brain, the rest of the world generously supplying the muscles (Melville 1998: 106). Melville could be commenting on social class differences between Whites and Blacks in the United States, or even on slavery. Though Ishmael seems to believe that the rest of the world is generously providing the muscles, it is probably fair to speculate that many of them would rather be given the chance to use their brains. Moby-Dick was published just ten years before the American Civil War broke out, and racial issues were extremely relevant. In spite of all this, the members of the crew seem to be getting along, and work well as a team. This could represent the American melting pot: people from every corner of the world having come to build a country and pulling together to make it happen. Melville had great hopes for American democracy, and this is one of the reasons why he wrote Moby-Dick (Selby 1998). Ahab, the ships captain, embodies an extreme version of a classic American type: the monomaniac, who has only one interest and devotes all his energy to it (Brodhead 1986). He dedicates his ship and his whole crew to his own personal mission: killing the great white whale, Moby Dick. He does not care whether lives are lost in the process, and he rules his ship like a tyrannical dictator would. D. H. Lawrence said of the sinking of the Pequod that it was the sinking of the white American soul (Selby 1998). By making Ahabs plan fail, Melville is showing the public what can happen when a monomaniac type such as Ahab goes too far. Moby Dick is central in Melvilles novel. It is a white whale of an extraordinary size: it is the most solid of physical things and the most meaningful of symbols (Feidelson 1953: 184). Moby Dick means something different to every character in the novel. To Starbuck, the first mate, it is just another whale, though a very dangerous one. He is irritated at the vendetta Ahab has against it, and wishes that the crew could work on its true mission, which is to hunt whales for their oil. Ishmael is fascinated by the whale, and terrified by its whiteness, as white is the visible absence of color, and at the same time the concrete of all colors (Melville 1998: 175). Ishmael does not know whether the whale is just a meaningless big fish colorless or a mystical being full of complex meanings, at once good and evil. To the rest of the crew, tales about the white whale are a diversion from their dangerous jobs, and a way to confront their own fears. Finally, to Ahab, it is the ultimate symbol of evil in this world. Moby Dick is the reason why he has lost a leg, and he is determined to seek revenge. D. H. Lawrence has suggested that the white whale could be some kind of a phallic symbol (Selby 1998). The whale has such strength and power that Ahabs desire to kill the whale could be a quest for acquiring absolute potency (Brodhead 1986). Ahab never succeeds in killing Moby Dick: instead, it is Moby Dick that sinks the ship. It is the revenge of nature over men, who keep trying to destroy it. After discussing the role of symbols and signs in The Scarlet Letter and Moby-Dick, I must agree with Nick Selby, who writes that symbolism, and the loose romanticism upon which it depends, is the key expressive tool of the American Renaissance' (1998: 55). There is more symbolism in these two literary works than in any other works I have studied this year. The symbols are rich in meaning and are given great importance. Spending time to interpret them is essential to a proper understanding of the text.

Essay Topics on the Cold War

Essay Topics on the Cold WarIf you are interested in writing your college essay, you may be looking for some essay topics on the Cold War. This is a topic that has become very popular in college writing and is usually taught as a unit with a special class on it.You can choose to write a separate essay on the Cold War or you can decide to combine your essay topics on the Cold War into your total essay. However, either way will have its advantages and disadvantages. And before you decide which way to go, make sure you know all the facts of the Cold War, including the ending.So, what are some of the great essay topics on the Cold War? This was actually a very interesting era, filled with politics, men, and lots of battles. But the most interesting thing about the Cold War was the fact that America finally found a way to deal with these many internal problems. The end of the Cold War brought back lots of happy memories and began an era of hope.One of the problems in this period was the f ear of nuclear war between Russia and the United States. The people in the United States were also afraid of Soviet tanks invading the country, but this never happened. There was also a problem between the United States and Cuba, but not as much in the larger scale because the United States was also fighting Communism at home.The history of the Cold War is very interesting, but more so when you look at how each side tried to deal with the internal problems and political issues. But at the same time, both sides faced a great threat of losing their independence. The United States would have to rely on the Soviet Union as a huge military force.So while you might think that essay topics on the Cold War are boring and too serious, theyare actually quite interesting. They are actually a mix of great history and great ideas that could help you win that essay contest. They make you think about the problems that came along with the Cold War and how to solve them.If you are interested in writ ing a paper on the Cold War, this is a great idea for a topic. You can also use it as a unit, if you want and make your classmates sit through it.The best essay topics on the Cold War are actually from historians and psychologists. It is interesting to know what really happened and why this era felt so different. Even though the Cold War ended, there is still an opportunity to create a paper that is so fun and interesting.

Visual Arts Research Paper Example

Visual Arts Research Paper Example Visual Arts Paper Visual Arts Paper â€Å"Artist often refer or reference that which was gone before† Discuss the statement using the Renaissance artists and their interest in Classical and Hellenistic Greek concepts. The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned the period roughly from the 14th to the 17th century. â€Å"Renaissance† means â€Å"re-birth† and refers to the re-birth of classical styles of learning. Also the Renaissance period considered education particularly in the arts, like philosophy, architecture and the visual arts – in general ways of viewing the world as it truly was rather than as â€Å"The Church† dictated. The Renaissance in Europe, the humanist aesthetic and the high technical standards of Greek art continued to inspire many generations of European artists. Looking further into the 19th century, the Classical traditions derived from the Classical and Hellenistic Greek periods have continued to dominate the art of the western world. The Classical period saw changes in the style and functions of sculpture. The poses become more naturalistic and the technical skill of these Greek sculptors increased. They were able to depict the human form in a variety of poses which were life like and real. From about 500 BC, the statues began to depict real people. E. g. the statues of Harmodius and Aristogeiton   displayed in Athens to mark the overthrow of the  tyranny  were said to be the first public monuments to actual people. The difficultly in creating an aesthetically real person and technical challenge stimulated much in the way of sculptural innovation during the Classical and Hellenistic Greek periods of history. Unfortunately, for us today, these works survive only in fragments, The Most famous examples surviving today are The  Parthenon Marbles†, half of which are in the  British Museum in England. In the Classical period there were many different sculptors who produced many lives like realistic works. Some of these artists or artisans include: Phidias which oversaw the design and building of the Parthenon. Praxiteles, another great Classical sculptor made the female nude respectable for the first time. This was in the later part of the Classical period in the mid-4th century BC. But the greatest works of the Classical period are considered to be the statue of Zeus at Olympia and the statue of Athena at the Parthenos. The whole point of the Renaissance is that Europeans particularly the Italians to begin with, were looking to the Classical and Hellenistic Greek teachings and giving re-birth to their explorations. Renaissance artisans were looking back to a time of great knowledge, innovation and development. They reinvestigated the human form and true human proportion. Michelangelo produced a 5m tall â€Å"David† from a solid block of white marble. His work based on the biblical David from the Goliath story is truly amazing because of its considerable consideration of the audience perspective, its accurate proportion from this vantage point and the life like stance. David† was actually based on the Classical sculptures that depicted the Greek Adonis or beautiful male athlete of the original Olympic Games. The transition from the Classical to the Hellenistic periods occurred during the 4th century BC. Following the conquests of Alexander the Great, Here Greek art became more diverse and influenced by other cultures of people who were drawn into the Greek orbit. And in the view of some art historia ns, it also declined in quality and originality. Many of the sculptures previously considered as Classical masterpieces turned out to be of the later Hellenistic age. The technical ability of the Hellenistic sculptor was clearly in evidence in such major works as the â€Å"Winged victory of Samothrace† and the â€Å"Pergamon Altar†. During this period, sculpture became more and more naturalistic. Common people, women, children, animals and domestic scenes became acceptable subjects for sculpture, which was commissioned by wealthy families for the adornment of their homes and gardens. These sculptors no longer felt obliged to depict people as ideals of beauty or physical perfection. Hellenistic sculpture was also marked by an increase in scale, which culminated in the â€Å"Colossus of Rhodes† which was made during the late 3rd Century BC. People of the Renaissance were exploratory and innovative. To explore and invent the Renaissance people looked back to the knowledge, ideas and skills of the Classical Greeks and Hellenistic periods. Of course, the Renaissance developed into its own style because it was an interpretation of classical learning more than anything. Renaissance artists, writers and learners looked back to the Greeks for information and inspiration. Many artworks of the time feature Greek deities and so on, even though people stopped believing in the long before. An example of this could be Botticelli’s Venus. Here although to us the scene is mythical Venus is again perfectly proportioned like Michelongelo’s â€Å"David†. Venus also has the same contrapposto stance which was originally developed during the Classical Greek period. This method of posing the subject gave the subject life because it illustrated a three dimensional idea which meant the subject looked like they were alive and moving through real space. As has been illustrated Renaissance artists were definitely influenced by â€Å"that which had gone before†. They used â€Å"the Golden Mean† rules for human proportion, they used imagery from Greek legends and they revisited the contrapposto stance to give their subjects life. It is impossible for any artist of any period not to be influenced by that which has gone before because society is always looking back to improve the future. An artist’s practice cannot avoid being influenced by â€Å"that which has gone before†. Rather than a period with definitive beginnings and endings and consistent content in between, the Renaissance can be seen as a movement of practices and ideas to which specific groups and identifiable persons variously responded in different times and places. They are influenced genuinely by the classical and Hellenistic part of Greek art. Shown through the artist of the renaissance, example Michelangelo which produced a 5m David. This would be in this network of diverse, sometimes converging, sometimes conflicting cultures that the Renaissance changed our imagination and our view of how we see our world for all time.