...How Culture Affects Work Practices in Latin America Some global executives would be surprised to learn that many employees in Mexico like to do their jobs in the presence of such religious images as the Virgin of Guadalupe. Their religious devotion in one example of how local culture affects the styles and practices of work in Latin America. Anabella Dávila, professor of management theory and business history at the graduate business school (ITESM) in Monterrey (Mexico), and Marta M. Elvira, academic director of Lexington College in Chicago, have published a book on this phenomenon, entitled “Managing Human Resources in Latin America.” In the chapter titled “Culture and Human Resource Management in Latin America”, the two scholars identify the cultural values that determine Human Resources in the region. They show how these factors can determine the success and failure of a business organization. The Company Is Like a Family The authors define the Latin American business model as a hybrid of globalization and the region’s historic traditions. With the exception of Argentina and Costa Rica, those traditions are characterized by large social gaps and a widespread collectivism that has various manifestations. Dávila and Elvira explain that social differences are manifested locally through benevolent, paternalistic leadership. “The senior executive has the personal obligation to protect subordinates, and even take care of the personal needs of workers and their families.” Generally...
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...Latin America has under go a great deal of human intervention over the years, especially on a global scale. Ethnographers can document environmental issues like ecotourism through the different ways the local environment and cultural adaption interacts with this new expanding social phenomenon. Ethnographers such as Blaser, Hecht, Apffel Marglin and Pearson can provide a new perspective on understanding the different concepts between human intervention and “nature” and the effect human intervention does to local environments and communities through their interactions with the global world. For many rural and indigenous communities, ecotourism has become a doorway to the global economy. Anthropologist can study these indigenous communities...
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...the People’s Republic of China’s Influence in the Americas: Potential Consequences facing the United States, Brazil &Venezuela Abstract This research seeks to examine the strategic implications facing the United States of America’s due to its benign interest in the Caribbean and Latin America (Americas) given the People’s Republic of China (China) increasing economic interest in the region. It is intended to first define the current security environment of the Americas and the relations between Brazil and Venezuela with that of the United States of America (United States) and China. Thereafter, China’s economic and domestic agenda in the Americas will be examined with hypotheses of the emerging global power potential growth success, challenges or possible collapse in her foreign policy. The likely consequences facing Brazil, Venezuela and the United States will also be examined. The assessment will be done across a continuum of China’s realized economic growth, development of hostile relations due to competition for scarce energy sources or possible collapse due to the country’s internal problems. Finally, the research seeks to encourage proactive thinking by the United States on China’s increasing political and military influence in the region and its possible underlying agenda of becoming the next global super power or hegemony. Introduction A general perception persists in the Caribbean and Latin America that the United States is disinterested in the...
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...now spending. — Mike Bowlin, CEO, ARCO, 1999 en to 5 to 1. Once the ratio hits 1 to1, oil may be technically extractable but it will be of no use as an energy source. The occurrence of the Oil Peak or Huber’s Peak would call for strong international cooperation to rapidly increase output while curbing demand and investing in alternative energy sources. But what if someone has an alternative plan? SCENARIO A: ALL COME TOGETHER The Middle East finds a path to stability; the Americas actively engage in development of energy resources, as the region holds 12% of the world’s energy reserves. The Americas come together under a development-based approach to Energy Security which reduces the rate of consumption of oil in the United States while creating up- and down-stream job opportunities for the lower income echelons in the countries where significant oil and gas reservoirs are located. Pricing policies entice development of alternative sources. Over a period of 20 years, the energy structure of the Americas becomes the most diversified in the world. Innovation tied to alternative sources of energy boosts development rates in the hemisphere. Democracies become gradually more stable, as the development approach touches the daily lives of the many who now have a stake in stability and growth. Ethanol, compressed natural gas, hydroelectric power, nuclear and solar energy, reduce oil consumption and the speed of the oil depletion curve. The world economy finds some bumpy roads but rebounds...
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...adopted communism and examine its success and failures and the reason behind both. You must also examine the role Marxism plays in Communist ideology. Communism is an economic and social system in which all, or nearly all, property and resources are collectively owned by a classless society and not by individual citizens. It’s an ideology theory of government where all wealth is shared equally so there is no class system, that is, no poor class and no wealthy class. Everything is shared and everyone is equal, whether you’re a doctor or a factory worker. In such a communist society, the wealth and resources were to be regulated according to the needs, abilities and contribution of the people. Differences between manual and intellectual labour and between rural and urban life were to disappear, opening up the way for unlimited development of human potential. Based on the 1848 publication ‘Communist Manifesto’ by two German political philosophers, Karl Max and his close associate Friedrich Engels, it envisaged common ownership of all land and wealth and the withering away of the power of the state. Max and Engels believed that capitalism (private ownership of all property) should be diminished and that uneven distribution of wealth and resources should be diminished as well. This belief was thought to create a utopian society. This belief of a capitalist free society and rather communistic is called Marxism. Marxism is the theory behind communism, while communism is the practical...
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...Case Analysis - Taran Swan at Nickelodeon Latin America (A) Organizational Leadership and Decision Making – RMGT110 Taran Swan at Nickelodeon Latin America Introduction This case study has at its center, Taran Swan, who served as launch director and general manager of Nickelodeon Latin America. She was involved with the launch from its inception. She was enthusiastic in the pursuit of her goals and at the beginning when the Nickelodeon Latin America was taking shape, she was relentless in achieving what her managers believed was impossible. Despite her dogged determination, she proved to be very open to new ideas and suggestions. Her enthusiasm and savvy were infectious. She was a good listener and held people accountable for their actions. Her only agenda was ensuring the channel’s success and maintaining the Nickelodeon brand and integrity. She successfully created an environment conducive for people to discuss, question and rationally lay out their ideas and views. Her transformational leadership style shines through, as she rarely applies her authority and at the same time, by adjusting small pieces of the organization that she has created, the company leaps forward. In such a hostile and unfamiliar environment, some leaders would follow a more totalitarian approach but she chose a different path. She allowed freedom of ideas and views. They overcame the competition by thinking big – as she puts it herself to “make a splash”...
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...Diana Frias LACS 271 Professor Almendros March 23,2014 The chagas disease The spread of the chagas disease is most common in places of greater poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean. The chagas disease is a parasitic disease named after the Brazilian physician Carlos Chagas who discovered it in 1909. It is spread to animals and people through a bite of an infected insect named triatomine bugs or “kissing bugs” that carry the parasite known as Trypanosoma cruzi (Boston College). The triatomine insect feeds on the blood a mammal infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, ingesting the parasite. The insect then becomes infected and now moves on to bite a human transferring the parasite. As the insect bites, it releases its feces near the site of the bite wound allowing the parasite to enter the victim. The parasite then invades the first cells it comes in contact with. They use the victim cells to multiply then releasing itself into the victim bloodstream where they will then continue to multiple and spread into different areas in the body. There are many other ways in which the disease can be spread. For example, infections occur from mother to baby, through contaminated blood transfusions, organ transplant from an infected donor and rarely though contaminated food or drinks (FAQs). Symptoms do not show immediately after being bitten by the triatomine bug. It takes from five days to two weeks for slight symptoms to show. Some symptoms are mild fever with body ache and swelling...
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...NOVEMBER, 2013 INTRODUCTION This paper aims to describe and analyze the main theoretical currents of communication in Latin America from two main aspects: first, the current state of research and production on the subject exists in some Latin American countries and on the other, the sense that scores from the beginning of the last decade, the curriculum reform in schools of communication in Latin America and, consequently, in the definition of the subject matter of the communication. Since the nineties, academic and research application of the theory of communication in Latin America has experienced a renewal, healthy and necessary overcoming change. This change starts mainly from overcoming the tendency to ascribe the declining communication studies to a single discipline and go creating a growing awareness of their status and disciplinary forms revolutionize approaches to the analysis and production, dissemination and reception the message. These changes, in fact, the main underlying theoretical and communication research in Latin America current. ANTONIO PASQUALI Arnaldo Antonio Pasquali Greco, born in Rovato, Italy; on June 20, 1929, is a Venezuelan social communicator. He is considered one of the introducers of thought in Latin America Communication underlying theoretical sources of the Frankfurt School. To Pasquali, humans develop the ability to communicate in the highest degree, as a means of interaction, discovery of the presence of the "other...
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...Although Latin America has faced many social, political, and economic issues within the last three centuries, inequality remains one of the most important, historical, and omnipresent aspects of the region’s culture. As Europeans took over Latin America during the time of colonization, they implemented many elitist social structures that have held strong and are evident today (Harris). Income inequality is the most visible and greatest disparity that the region faces; yet inequality between gender, ethnicities, and education remain strong and significant problems with a necessity for improvement. Inequality of wealth and disparity of power and influence are Latin American’s greatest curses and are at the root of many of the developmental, social, criminal, and political problems that continue to plague the region (De Ferranti). Since inequality has pervaded into every feature of Latin American society, it is important to measure inequality accurately in order to obstruct the causes of the discrimination and prevent new ones from beginning. The Gini Coefficient is an effective way that people indicate the inequality of a country by measuring a frequency distribution of income or wealth. Using the "Gini Index" of inequality in the distribution of income and consumption, the researchers found that Latin America and the Caribbean, from the 1970s through the 1990s, measured nearly 10 points more unequal than Asia, 17.5 points more unequal than the 30 countries in the Organization...
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...collectors formed bird collections reveal s a rich story of international scientific relations and power structure throughout the 19th and 20th century. Reconstructing the story of Colombian birds allows the author to build a history that not only analyzes the early and complex scientific relations between the United States and Colombia, but also takes into account the importance of North America's growing influence over Latin America as well as Colombia's changing economic, cultural and social history to understand different perception of the natural world in both countries. For a North American, the study of birds brought forth a natural world where US imperialist intentions over Latin America were entirely legitimized. For Colombian naturalists, the study of birds offered another way to promote relations with the United States and incorporated Colombia into the international arena of science. At the same time, a toucan in 1940 had a different meaning to a North American, who in the midst of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Good Neighbor policy, approached Latin America as an important economic and political ally, than to a Colombian rooted in the context in which nationalism had a very strong current. In other words, a study of the changing meaning of Colombian birds allows us to understand the many ways in which imperialism, nationalism, and...
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...Foreign 99 Chapter III Direct investment by China in Latin America and the Caribbean A. Introduction Since 2008, China has become one of the world’s largest sources of direct investment. These flows first reached significant levels in Latin America in 2010, when it is estimated they surpassed US$ 15 billion. Chinese companies have in fact burst on the scene in the region so recently that several of the biggest projects were still being finalized in early 2011, or had only just been put into operation. Most investments have been made in natural resource extraction, but over the medium term this is expected to diversify into other sectors such as manufacturing and infrastructure construction. Paradoxically, there is a lack of data on this extremely important phenomenon, which poses a constant problem for policymakers and analysts studying Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI). Appraisals of the possible opportunities and challenges presented by this increased investment flow therefore tend to lack supporting empirical evidence. The aim of this chapter is to make some progress on this issue, at least as far as investment in the region is concerned. A variety of sources have been consulted, including investment announcements in the media and interviews with Chinese company managers and Latin American and Caribbean government authorities. Despite the evident limitations of this kind of material in terms of data quality and reliability, this course of action does provide...
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...5.2. Limitations for emerging into the French market Emerging into the French market is a difficult task because of their established heritage brands, their high standards on quality, and the extensive offer. Also, there are political and economic factors that may pose a barrier to the entrance of the Latin American products. 5.2.1. Political Limitations The political environment is composed of an interacting set of laws, government agencies and pressure groups that influence and limit the activities of both, organizations and individuals in society. The existence of laws and regulations meet at least three purposes: promoting competition and protecting companies from each other; ensuring fair markets for goods and services and protecting...
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... －——Banco Santander bank Prepared by: Yang Zhan (Alice) Prepared on: 10th September 2015 Summary Background Spain has the largest financial group in Latin America, one of the world's third-largest bank and fourth largest bank profits, as well as international development of the world's most successful bank, which is Spain's Banco Santander. Santander founded in 1857. By the end of 2013, total assets reached 1.1156 trillion euros, net profit of 4.37 billion euros the year. Santander's network around the world, mainly in continental Europe, Latin America and the United Kingdom three major markets. Its business scope relatively broad international business, retail business, the company's business, SME business, asset management, private banking, university finance business, consumer credit. Santander international development started late, but come from behind. In the 1990s, through the implementation of its expansion strategy of large-scale overseas acquisitions, fast emerging as a major international bank. Santander international development a lot of success factors, including the use of special geographical advantages, with European countries and Latin America as a starting point and focus, seize the favorable opportunity to carry out mergers and acquisitions and cooperation, and to enter the local market is a critical step. Manage and operate Santander bank the most importance step is make good...
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...subsequent chapters. For example, we discuss developments in globalization and its growing nationalist backlash— in particular resulting from the global financial crisis. We discuss the effects on global business of the rapidly growing economies of China and India and other emerging economies such as those in Africa, and the expansion of the EU; the globalization of human capital; and the esca- lating effects of Information Technology and the global spread of e-business. We follow these trends and their effects on the role of the international manager throughout the book. For exam- ple, in Chapter 6 we focus further on strategies for emerging markets, while also dealing with changing strategies to respond to economic decline around the world and an increasing level of nationalism in some industries; we have a section on “Using E-Business for Global Expansion” as well as discussing “born global” companies. In Chapter 7, we added a section on strategies for SMEs and a new section on “Value Creation in Alliances.” We have condensed some research material in Chapter 3, while adding a new cultural profile on Latin America and expanded the one on Germany. In Chapter 2 we lead into another contemporary...
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...The West’s Affect on the World Every nation is always in contention with one another. For every civilization that triumphs, others must suffer. For a majority of human history the strongest nations were comprised into a group known as the West. The west is home to the ideologies of democracy, capitalism, and consumerism. The idea of democracy has been forced upon many nations in the world by the Western states. Democracy however has been shown to be a very easily manipulated system. Capitalism has shown the need for expansion and exploitation over Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The west has always been in contention with other nations, along with contending with each other. Competition between western nations has led to a technological race and an arms race, which is now more apparent than ever in the United States. With military might came the need to take over other nations and thus the ideas of imperialism, and nation aristocracy. Africa, Latin America, and Asia has suffered and continues to suffer a great deal because of the triumph of the west through exploitation, expansion, and wealth, all major goals of capitalism and imperialism. The West has retarded the development in all facets for many countries in Africa, Latin America, and Asia and thus led to the suffering of the world. One of the oldest ideologies from the west to the world is democracy. Democracy comes from the Greek words “demo” meaning people and “kratia” meaning rule, therefore rule of...
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