...been a tough learning experience. Initially many global retailers focused their developing market expansion aspirations on China, which gained acceptance into the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001. As the decade unfolded, retailers were drawn to the potential of Southeast Asia, the BRIC nations (Brazil, Russia, India and China) and Eastern European markets like the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Rumania, Slovakia and Slovenia following their joining the European Union (EU) in 2004. But over the 10 years of retail growth tracked by our research, five nations have consistently ranked in the Top 10: China, India, Russia, Vietnam and Chile. Almost everyone understands China’s size and therefore its market potential. More difficult is establishing its true market value, particularly when it comes to the emerging middle class and burgeoning urban population. As many retailers have learned the hard way, the Chinese consumer is unique, and effectively selling to them demands striking exactly the right balance between assortment, pricing and service models. While China slipped a bit to sixth place in the 2011 study, it remains too...
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... Cohabitation Before Marriage Love between man and woman is the precious one of human that people must spend a lot of time and effort to seek. However, there is a perceptive difference of love between Western culture and Eastern culture. Westerners find out freedom and satisfaction in love and marriage is a great importance of their life, therefore they often cohabitate to learn about their partners carefully to get a better marriage in the future. “More than two-thirds of married couples in the US say that they lived together before getting married” (Jayson, 2005, Cohabitation is Replacing Dating, para. 2). In opposite, the feudal reflection, which affects Easterners culture and makes contrary between cohabitation and culture. Therefore, cohabitation is not common in Eastern countries. Nowadays, society is more and more developing and modern. In pace with that trend, cohabitation lifestyle of Western has entered and influenced on the Eastern thought, so cohabitation becomes more acceptable in Eastern. Especially in Vietnam, the rate of which Vietnamese adults want to cohabit is high in both male and female. According to the survey of Nhu Lan, the journalist of Vnexpress, there is 70.29% of male and 61.1% of female want to cohabit. In Vietnam, people often misunderstand about the meaning of cohabitation. They perceive cohabitation as a trial marriage and this word trial makes them view it in negative way. According to the dictionary by Collins, “Cohabitation is the state...
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...30 January 2012 Asian Dragons Vs European Dragons Whether you live in Vietnam, China, Japan, Scotland, USA or anywhere in the world, you have probably heard of the dragons-the animal of imagination of human. A dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits, that feature in the myths of many cultures. There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European dragon, derived from European folk traditions and ultimately related to Greek and Middle Eastern mythologies, and the Asian dragon, with counterparts in Japan, Korea and other East Asian countries. Since I was a kid, dragons have always been a mystery and an attraction for me .I have spent a lot of time to study about them and found out that there are three general differences between the dragon from the east and the west which are appearance, symbolism and what they mean to society . First of all, the easily identifiable difference between an Asian dragon and a European one is the appearance. Asian dragons resemble large snakes. They look like a combination of many animals such as snakes and eagles, and had no wings. For Chinese, each one of its four short legs had five toes while a Japanese dragon has three and a Korean one has four. Even though depicted without wings the Asian dragon is believed to fly. They are often in red and gold. Unlike the Asian, the European typically depicted their dragons as a huge fire-breathing scaly and horned dinosaur-like creature with bat-type wings...
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...reasons for studying American History would be subjects such as labor laws and social security. We as a society want to live better lives and improve the quality of our lives and so by looking at the past we can make changes in the future to benefit our future generations. In my view without studying history there would be no progressive future. I think many people have a negative view on studying history because they can’t seem to find a connection to how history relates or affects their lives. I believe that anyone can find something interesting to study in history. It’s just a matter of finding a way for them to connect with a subject on a personal or professional level. Maybe someone does not like American history but they might enjoy studying their own family history. Through that they might find that an ancestor had an important impact on American history. Another way a person might find studying history relevant in their life is through work. If the person is passionate about the work they do, studying the history of that profession in order to perform better in the future...
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...IKEA Case Study IKEA Case Study The founder of IKEA, Ingvar Kamprad, established the IKEA brand in Sweden when he was only 17 years old. It was 1943, and the IKEA brand started its enterprise journey by selling items such as seeds from Kamprad’s family’s farm and Christmas magazines. By 1948, the IKEA furniture line came to life. Kamprad’s concept was “good furniture could be priced so that the man with that flat wallet would make a place for it in his spending and could afford it” (Hill, 2013). Today, IKEA is one of the world’s largest furniture retailers. This essay will discuss the legal, cultural, and ethical challenges that confront IKEA; determine the various roles that the host governments played in IKEA’s business operation; and will summarize the strategic and operational challenges facing global managers illustrated in IKEA: “Furniture Retailer to the World.” Legal, Cultural, and Ethical Challenges IKEA faced obstacles with a culture of disjointed, established Swedish furniture retailers that sold an expensive line of furniture that was to be passed down in families as heirlooms. IKEA’s self-assembly, less expensive furniture concept led to ethical and legal implications for them. Kamprad was able to undercut prices of the established retail outlets by cutting retailers out of his process (Hill, 2013). Because Kamprad cut the retailers out, they countered by coercing furniture manufacturers to not make sales to IKEA...
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...perspective Feminist perspective 3. Muslim in Cham tribe in Vietnam…...……………………………. 4. Mahayana Buddhism...……………………………………………... Buddhism Mahayana Buddhism in Korea and Vietnam Differences in Mahayana Buddhism of Korea and Vietnam Trend towards Buddhism in Western countries 5. References………….......……………………………………………. 1. Introduction A religion is an organized collection of beliefs, cultural systems, and world views that relate humanity to an order of existence. According to some estimates, there are roughly 4,200 religions in the world. The five largest religious groups by world population, estimated to account for 5 billion people, are Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism. There are some functions of religion. Firstly, it gives explanation for things that we do not understand such as seasons and supernatural things. So many religions have narratives, symbols, and sacred histories that are intended to explain the meaning of life and/or to explain the origin of life or the Universe. Secondly, it provides sense of morality and ethics. It sets the guideline for people to behave in right ways. Lastly, it supports people to have power to overcome. Religion often courage people and give strengths. That is why people seek religion when they are depressed. 2. Sociological perspectives on religion Functionalist perspective First, religion gives meaning and purpose to life. Second, religion reinforces social unity and stability. This was one...
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...Contents 1. Understand the concept Fast Food Restaurants 1 1.1 Define Fast Food Restaurants 1 1.2 Enumerate and discuss various Fast Food Restaurants available in Danang. Discuss how the government supports these restaurant chains. 2 2. Be able to use the concepts of Fast Food Restaurants 4 2.1 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of Fast Food Restaurants 4 Advantages 4 Disavantages 5 2.2 Propose different ways to improve Fast Food Restaurants to be healthier and safer to customers’ health 7 Bibliography 8 1. Understand the concept Fast Food Restaurants 1.1 Define Fast Food Restaurants * A fast food restaurant is understood as a quick service restaurant within the industry. It is common in the world and even in Vietnam. It is a specific type of restaurant is characterized by its fast foods and by minimal table service. The food at the restaurant is supplied from limited menu .The food is served quickly in a short time. Besides the Food can be pre-ordered at restaurant. * Fast food restaurant are often chains. Fast food restaurants are often developed from numerous locations operation under the same upper management. Some of the fast food restaurant in Vietnam's most successful. Such as Lotteria, KFC, Buger king and so on. In it, lotteria (South Korea) is considered the "big brother" with more than 200 stores, followed by KFC (USA) has opened 140 stores and No. 3 is Jollibee (Philippines) with over 30 stores. * Quick-service restaurants offer...
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...as. However, microcultures consist of how we identify ourselves within the global mainstream culture. There are multitudes of ways to participate in a microculture. It could be along ethnic, religious lines, or even lifestyle. All these factors come into play with regards to the different aspects of microcultures. This paper will delve into all three types of microcultures; it will look at Vietnamese, Jewish, and Vegan cultures and compare them to mainstream Canadian culture. The subsequent comparative analysis aims at finding differences in an attempt to better understand and communicate more effectively, by clarifying the common misunderstandings that arise when communicating with different microcultures, whether in business or everyday life. Vietnamese Background/History/Evolution Representing one of the largest non-European sub-cultures in Canada, the Vietnamese community ranks 5th in terms of size and comprises just over 150,000 individuals. Concentrated in metropolitan areas, close to 60% of the population resides in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver or Calgary (Statistics Canada see Appendix B). Despite currently being a sizable group, this sub-culture was virtually non-existent prior to the Vietnamese war that took place between 1964 and 1975. It wasn't until the conflict arose that thousands of Vietnamese were uprooted, creating one of the largest refugee communities in North America (Immigration encyclopedia). Consequently, the greater majority of the community are foreign...
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...http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/1967/feb/23/a-special-supplement-the-responsibility-of-intelle/ the responsibility of intellectuals A Special Supplement: The Responsibility of Intellectuals Noam Chomsky FEBRUARY 23, 1967 ISSUE TWENTY-YEARS AGO, Dwight Macdonald published a series of articles in Politicson the responsibility of peoples and, specifically, the responsibility of intellectuals. I read them as an undergraduate, in the years just after the war, and had occasion to read them again a few months ago. They seem to me to have lost none of their power or persuasiveness. Macdonald is concerned with the question of war guilt. He asks the question: To what extent were the German or Japanese people responsible for the atrocities committed by their governments? And, quite properly, he turns the question back to us: To what extent are the British or American people responsible for the vicious terror bombings of civilians, perfected as a technique of warfare by the Western democracies and reaching their culmination in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, surely among the most unspeakable crimes in history. To an undergraduate in 1945-46—to anyone whose political and moral consciousness had been formed by the horrors of the 1930s, by the war in Ethiopia, the Russian purge, the “China Incident,” the Spanish Civil War, the Nazi atrocities, the Western reaction to these events and, in part, complicity in them—these questions had particular significance and poignancy. With respect to...
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...© Academy of Management Executive. 1995 Vol. 9 No.1 AN ACADEMY CLASSIC On the folly of rewarding A, while hoping for B Steven Kerr Executive Overview This article, updated for AME, needs no introduction.1 Even today, the original article is still widely reprinted. Now part of the lexicon, it truly qualifies as an Academy of Management Classic for almost twenty years, its title has reminded executives and scholars alike-it's the reward system. stupid!" We hope you enjoy the update! Editor Whether dealing with monkeys, rats, or human beings, it is hardly controversial to state that most organisms seek information concerning what activities are rewarded, and then seek to do (or at least pretend to do) those things, often to the virtual exclusion of activities not rewarded. The extent to which this occurs of course will depend on the perceived attractiveness of the rewards offered, but neither operant nor expectancy theorists would quarrel with the essence of this notion. Nevertheless, numerous examples exist of reward systems that are fouled up in that the types of behavior rewarded are those which the rewarder is trying to discourage, while the behavior desired is not being rewarded at all. Fouled Up Systems In Politics Official goals are “purposely vague and general and do not indicate. . . the host of decisions that must be made among alternative ways of achieving official goals and the priority of multiple goals. . . ”2 They usually may be relied on to offend absolutely...
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...The Grand Strategy of the United States by R.D. Hooker, Jr. INSS Strategic Monograph Institute for National Strategic Studies National Defense University The Grand Strategy of the United States R.D. Hooker, Jr. INSS Strategic Monograph National Defense University Press Washington, D.C. October 2014 Opinions, conclusions, and recommendations expressed or implied within are solely those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Defense Department or any other agency of the Federal Government. Cleared for public release; distribution unlimited. Portions of this work may be quoted or reprinted without permission, provided that a standard source credit line is included. NDU Press would appreciate a courtesy copy of reprints or reviews. Cover: President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden meet with members of the National Security Council in the Situation Room of the White House hours before his national address, September 10, 2014 (The White House/Pete Souza) First printing, October 2014 Contents The Roots of American Grand Strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 A Century Like No Other. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 The Ends of Grand Strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 The Means of Grand Strategy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...
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...situation. We conclude by stressing the importance of institutional innovation as a necessary component of an effective reform platform. A short essay on Vietnamese higher education and science by a prominent Vietnamese scientist is included as reference in an appendix. This memorandum is informed by Harvard’s experience building and operating the Fulbright Economics Teaching Program, a center of public policy teaching and research located in Ho Chi Minh City.1 At present the Ash Institute is a partner in a research project lead by The New School that is studying the institutional barriers to higher education reform in Vietnam. II. Dimensions of the Crisis It is difficult to overstate the seriousness of the challenges confronting Vietnam in higher education. We believe without urgent and fundamental reform to the higher education system, Vietnam will fail to achieve its enormous potential.2 The economic development of East and Southeast Asia reveals the close relationship between development and higher education. Although each of the most prosperous countries in the region—South Korea, Taiwan, the city states, and more recently China—have followed unique development paths, their single-minded pursuit of excellence...
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...Supplemental In-Depth Integrative Case Nokia Targets the Base of the Pyramid One of the most widely used clichés in the world of business is the so-called 80/20 rule. In the realm of sales, the rule is sometimes interpreted as “80 percent of our sales come from 20 percent of our customers.”1 One recent business theory that has challenged this rule is the so called BOP or Bottom of the Pyramid perspective, developed and popularized by C.K. Prahalad.2 It refers to the around 4 billion people at the bottom of the economic pyramid with a purchasing power of US$2,000 per year or less. Prahalad and colleagues have proposed that these low-income consumers represent great potential but require a unique mix of pricing, promotion, low cost delivery, and effective communication in order to successfully reach.3 The key to selling to BOP consumers is that an MNC strategy be affordable, accessible, and socially driven. Nokia is one company that is taking this perspective seriously. Business interest in BOP markets is rising. Multinational companies have been leaders in this trend, especially in food and consumer products. And large national companies have also taken a leadership role, proving to be among the most innovative in meeting the needs of BOP consumers and producers, especially in such sectors as housing, agriculture, consumer goods, and financial services. And small start-ups and social entrepreneurs focusing on BOP markets are rapidly growing in number. But perhaps the strongest...
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...Supplemental In-Depth Integrative Case Nokia Targets the Base of the Pyramid One of the most widely used clichés in the world of business is the so-called 80/20 rule. In the realm of sales, the rule is sometimes interpreted as “80 percent of our sales come from 20 percent of our customers.”1 One recent business theory that has challenged this rule is the so called BOP or Bottom of the Pyramid perspective, developed and popularized by C.K. Prahalad.2 It refers to the around 4 billion people at the bottom of the economic pyramid with a purchasing power of US$2,000 per year or less. Prahalad and colleagues have proposed that these low-income consumers represent great potential but require a unique mix of pricing, promotion, low cost delivery, and effective communication in order to successfully reach.3 The key to selling to BOP consumers is that an MNC strategy be affordable, accessible, and socially driven. Nokia is one company that is taking this perspective seriously. Business interest in BOP markets is rising. Multinational companies have been leaders in this trend, especially in food and consumer products. And large national companies have also taken a leadership role, proving to be among the most innovative in meeting the needs of BOP consumers and producers, especially in such sectors as housing, agriculture, consumer goods, and financial services. And small start-ups and social entrepreneurs focusing on BOP markets are rapidly growing in number. But perhaps the strongest...
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...those preferring Arabian Gulf. Although this debate will not be further explored in this paper – it was decided to use the term “Persian Gulf” as it is most commonly used – this paper will delve deeper into the transition from British to American hegemony in the Persian Gulf and review how various aspects of this are described and interpreted in the literature. This paper will deal with this transition between the years of 1945, the end of the Second World War, and 1971, the year that the British completed their military withdrawal from the Persian Gulf. Even though the Americans were interested in the area before the WWII, the year 1945 was chosen as a starting point because the war had severely altered the power equilibrium between the great powers the United States of America and Britain were considered as at that time. During the Cold War, which started in 1946 the importance of the region was on the rise, both because of the oil and because of the containment policy against the Russians. The relevance of the region was on the rise for America in particular because the power of Britain was waning in the post-war era. Britain, faced with economic hardship, imperial fatigue, and events of humiliation such as the Suez Crisis of 1956-57, was entering the dawn of its empire, something that was slowly sinking in with both London and Washington. The process of the replacement of the British by the American hegemony was not always equally obvious, but it was a slow but steady intensification...
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