The Function of the HR Manager at Manchester1 Essay

The Function of the HR Manager at Manchester1 - Essay Example The functions of HRM discussed in the paper include HR planning, recruitment and selection, contracts, employee relations, grievance and discipline, and volunteer management. Since Manchester1 arranges small comedy events, the main clients of the company would be from the media. The company needs to start booking the local acts that can be featured (Drew). The company might have to build relationships with the booking agencies with the growth of the business to attract better comedians so that the workload can be reduced. Manchester1 recruits in two fundamental ways; online advertisement and with the help of the employment agencies. The company has its own personal website where it advertises the vacancies in the â€Å"jobs at Manchester1† section. In addition to that, understanding the power and usability of the social networking websites for the purpose of advertisement, the company advertises vacancies on Facebook. Facebook is being increasingly used by companies for advertising all over the world and â€Å"social ads† are considered as advertising’s future (Pickering). The company also has its personal profile on Facebook where it shares the information regarding the vacancies. HRM at Manchester1 also lists the criteria of eligibility for the interested candidates in each of these mediums to ensure that only the possibly qualifying people send their CVs and the HRM has a lesser load of applications to deal with. In addition, HRM at Manchester1 also render the services of the e mployment agencies especially when they have to recruit the employees on an immediate basis. Candidates for interview are short-listed after a thorough review of their individualistic talents, achievements, and competences, and the short-listed candidates are called upon for a structured interview. The selected candidates are recommended to the top management which after a second interview, selects the employees. At Manchester1, the selected employees are first offered a place at the company temporarily during which, no written contract is made between the employee and the company.  

Marketing cases Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Marketing cases - Essay Example The main macro-economic factors that influenced the Target’s performance during that period were the economic and social conditions that existed among the consumers. Due to the economic recession in 2008, there was a high unemployment level and an increased inflation, which had a direct connection with the sales outcome of the company. Along with this, the purchasing power of the consumers began to deteriorate due to the decline in the income of the sizable households. With the company’s products being viewed as expensive ones, it further impacted Target’s revenues. However, Walmart showed a far better growth due to its cheaper prices strategy hindering the Target’s upscale products. The Target’s â€Å"pay less† strategy was a risky one as it has to sustain its high-quality. That is, even while coping up with the changing economic conditions and its consumers’ attitude, it needs to focus on quality. However, it has successfully managed to overcome through the recession crisis and have switched towards a hopeful direction with this new strategy. Despite the high unemployment and increased inflation, Target takes an optimistic view in improving its sales through its new launches such as mini-grocery stores and up-and-up. By focusing on its ‘pay less’ part, Target has certainly pursued a best strategy by retaining the quality of its products even while emphasizing on the discount part. Expanding the advertising campaigns before focusing towards lower prices should have been the alternate strategy for Target during their decline in sales and revenue. As the company was keen on offering one stop shopping with lowered prices and improving the store’s infrastructure, it did not have enough time to analyze the consumers’ tendency towards their products, thereby missed formulating effective advertising strategies. Once they found the

Difference Between Self Esteem and Self Confidence Essay Example for Free

Difference Between Self Esteem and Self Confidence Essay * Difference between self esteem and self confidence Self confidence and self confidence are linked but they are not the same thing. Your self esteem is how much you like yourself, how you see yourself. What we see when we look in the mirror. Self esteem is somewhat passive and isnt something others can observer in you. While, if we look at, self confidence. It is something more active, and describes our abilities and willingness to interact with the world around us. By comparison, we can see how self confidently somebody (or even a group such as a ports team) is acting. Self esteem is the idea about yourself. It is how much you value yourself and how important you think you are. It is the acceptance, respect, trust and belief in you. Self confidence means that you believe in your own abilities. Self confidence is related to self assurance, you are proud of your own abilities. You are positive, take risks and set goals and reachable standards. With self-confidence you have the certainty that you can do it . Self esteem is valuing oneself unconditionally, if you are alive you can have full self- esteem. Go on, you have permission. Self-esteem is valuing yourself as a human being. You are alive, you have the powers of thought, emotion, speech ; movement. You can do things! When you think about the amazing freedom of being alive and being able to think, feel, speak and behave as you want, this is awe inspiring. No matter what you do or who you are you can esteem yourself. Self-confidence is having the confidence that you can do this or that thing. It is about your skills and performance and is conditional. If you are competent at a certain skill, you can be confident that you can do that. Confidence is conditional upon you being good at the said skill. If you are not good at it, there is no use being confident. If you are confident that you can skydive buy youVe never done it before and know nothing about it, that is recipe for disaster. Your confidence will improve naturally as your competence increases. There is another element that you can be confident in that can help you improve your confidence at any skill.

Effect of Social Media on Relationship Satisfaction

Effect of Social Media on Relationship Satisfaction Implications of Social Media to Relationship Satisfaction and Conflict Resolution Skills Introduction Social media is a group of internet based applications which build on the technological and ideological foundations of Web 2.0. They allow exchange and creation of content generated by various users. Currently, the major sites that provide ample networking include Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Tumblr. In addition to these, there exists multiple end-user new sites that support only two way participant interaction and communication. The most recent is WhatsApp. This allows for a more personalized interaction. Usage for social media is measured through frequency of logins, postage, updates and interactions. The traditional relationship model has been altered by the success of the new media forms which include social media websites and text messaging (Coyne et al., 2011). According to Coyne, social media affects the communication in a romantic relationship thus influencing satisfaction. It also identified that how family members and friends relate is also influenced. The article reviews the literature available in relation to how social media can either minimize or improve the satisfaction in a relationship. In addition, it realizes that through social media, other interpersonal skills may either be lost or developed. One of the key social interpersonal skill is conflict handling which relies heavily on communication. The article sheds focus on it as well. Discussion The younger generation and the modern culture has witnessed communication being turned into a social dialogue by social media. According to Qualman, (2009), social media is rated as the number use of the Internet which is an always growing percentage. The connectivity throughout the globe has thus been growing. Therefore there are people who meet through the internet. Dependency on social media has thus been growing. Looking at why so many individuals are growing the admiration for social media, the impact it has on users and society is critical. The literature reviewed seems to be focusing on how addiction to social media relate with interpersonal relationships. Social Media Use Uses and Gratifications Theory was used to study social media use (Sheldon, 2008). In this study, Sheldon aimed at discovering reasons as to why students had grown in addiction to Facebook use. Frequent checks on Facebook accounts had grown to be routine behaviour. The reasons for always being online were entertainment and diversion, to keep informed, good feelings, peer identity, sounds and sights, communication, coolness and career (Charney Greenberg, 2001). The above thus highlights why social media becomes a variable in the satisfaction of a relationship. Media and Relationships Both mobile and web-based technologies have presented newer forms of media which now allows the users to be more interactive considering the content. Such technologies have created an interactive platform in which communities and individuals share, modify and create user generated content (Kietzmenn et. al, 2011). User generated content has grown over the years to the present state in which the aspects now associated with social media are identity being the most important, presence, reputation, relationships, groups, conversations and sharing. One’s identity in the internet is revealed by the extent of disclosure (Kietzmenn et. al, 2011). Although technology can be critical in beginning relationships, it may be the key contributor in the ending of a relationship. According to Brown (2011), social media creates virtual and natural distance thus it allows for individuals to conduct unpleasant interpersonal skills. This demonstrates the negative effects of social media in a relationship. The presence of an individual is not key in a breakup process as social media could be employed as the mediator. In virtual communications, there are options for social network sites, e-mail, text messaging, cell phones, even webcams and blogs. Each of these mediums has a key role in the maintenance, initiation and relationship termination (Coyne et. al, 2011). Most couples turn to a given kind of communication and maintain certain media forms. Text messaging is a common form because it is accessible while other aspects such as Facebook demonstrate affection. Messaging is first thus an immediate way in which partners can demonstrate immediate affection. Ideally it is difficult to predict how social media will affect interpersonal relationships in future, however, researchers have focused to identify the effects that have been recorded so far. At this point, the researchers have shifted focus to cyber-optimists and cyber-pessimists. The latter is of the view that Internet has a negative effect on social life while cyber-optimists maintain the effect could be positive (Pollet et. al, 2011). The researchers identify some relationships are dependent on social media. Internet Dependency Looking at the average use in American homes of technology, Kelly (2011) believes that technological revolution time has been attained. People now access what they desire within the blink of an eye. Internet dependency is about how individuals have made internet to become a priority in most of their day to day activities. The growing nature of the media and the internet further elaborates the need on analysing relationship dependency. Interpersonal Relationship Satisfaction Interpersonal relationships’ interactions can be conducted nonverbally, verbally and currently, computer-mediated communication and social media allows for the interaction to be virtual. Usefulness of communication is determined by interpersonal relationship satisfaction. The content of the communication and future interactions are also key (Anderson Emmers-Sommer, 2006). According to many psychologists, satisfaction in a close relationship means that there is adequate communication in addition to comfort during the interaction at hand. Communication satisfaction results to closeness, immediacy with increased disclosure to the relational partner. Satisfaction in a given relationship refers to the notch to which an individual is not only satisfied but also content with her or his relationship. When the degree is high, the relationship may turn out to be lengthy and successful. Determinants of a relationship satisfaction include trust, intimacy, similarity, commitment, attribution confidence and communication satisfaction (Anderson Emmers-Sommer, 2006). The higher the rate of this predictors, the higher the satisfaction rates. Internet is easily and often accessed thus it has changed how we conduct our communication thereby influencing the present quality of romantic relationships. In a relationship, satisfaction sprouts from a positive level of contentment, needs, wants and expectations being met by a partner as well as having a mutually beneficial position in the relationship. Face-to-face interactions improve relationship satisfaction with nonverbal communication being a key area (Emmers-Sommer, 2004). According to Anderson Emmers-Sommer (2006), there is direct relationship between relationship satisfaction and partner communication. They added that face-to-face communication are key in the maintain ace of relationship satisfaction. Social Media and Relationship Satisfaction Individuals in online relationships do not have the ability to physically see each other. As a result therefore, there is great need that communication satisfaction is attained. The online platform is thus a base for which the relationship could grow, be maintained and satisfaction of each other. Communication lengths and terminology are existing examples of familiarity that exists between online interactions and face-to-face communication. In the current world, Twitter, Facebook and text messaging are part of the relationship life cycle in which many partnerships for men in the range of 18-24 spend a lot of time in social media. Implications of Social Media on Relationships Most of the young adults currently use social media multiple times a day for relationship purposes and communication. Social media is appealing in that it has content that is user-generated and dynamic as well. Social media accessibility gives user the authority to remain connected with people and they can thus contact each other frequently. Studies have found out that relationship satisfaction depends mainly on communication which could imply that the medium for communication does not necessarily matter. Individuals aged 18-24 are fond of both Facebook and Twitter. Understanding intentions and motivations in the mediums is one of the key factors that would advise on whether an individual has priority for relationships. The two provide critical information as well as communication and this becomes an integral psychological need for which people grow, survive and learn. The concern hereby should be how dependency on social media is influencing the modern medium for communication. Face -to-face communication has received neglect as individuals are adopting text messaging as the priority medium. It is a utilization of modern technology in the increase and improvement of communication for interpersonal relationships. Understanding such implications is essential for relationships improvement and social media communication. With more frequent use of social media in modern life, individuals can still find a way of maintaining an interpersonal relationship that is satisfying through these or other mediums. As a result therefore, communication in social media should improve quality relationship and not cause negative effects. Social Networking and Conflict Resolution The social media platform allows interaction for people who know each other as well as individuals who have absolutely no clue about each other. Most internet users have ended up co-constructing their own environment. In this environment, each participant has a social role to play. According to Greenfield and Yan (2006), any individual who might be affected by the social media environment especially for being a participant creates a new environment and they thus have a dual core in controlling technological side-effects thus large scale implications. Communication has an integral role to play in personal relationships. In essence, relationships can be assessed by communication skills. Therefore, communication impairment hinders successful relational development especially for the young adults. There are impacts on various sets of life areas such as socialization, employment, school performance and family relationships. In addition, the mere fact that the young adults may fail to resolve conflicts may end up jeopardizing safety which could then result to chronic acts of violence that include fighting, verbal threats, pushing, punching and grabbing (Woody, 2001). The development of interpersonal skill in handling conflicts may be impacted by the excessive use of modern technology. Conflict Resolution and Communication Skills The most important use of the Internet for adolescents is communication (Greenfield Yan, 2006). Responses to hypothetical conflict situations in the social media industry is similar to the responses in real life. The decline observed in the face-to-face interaction would imply that there is decreased potential in handling of real-life conflicts. To support thus, Mishna (2009) found that in his research, adolescents recorded high cases of conflicts with parents in addition to communication levels that were still low with their parents. In addition, the research indicated that the adolescents who frequently used online communication and were in significant trouble or were frightened failed to reach out and have face-to-face communication with their parents. At this point, it is key to note that such adolescents miss out on a psychological development in which they should receive education on handling conflicts from parents. For social media, just like face to face communication, a rel ationship may turn to be volatile and unpredictable. In adopting the social exchange theory, psychologists indicate that the principle of maximizing benefits while minimizing costs is prominent in social behaviour. This is applicable in conflict resolution. One must give to receive. For maximum satisfaction, the degree of expected rewards has to be greater than the degree of expected costs expended during interaction. For the social exchange theory, Ripa and Carrasco (2007) maintain that the six major rewards are both intangible and tangible. They include information, services, goods, status, money and love. The social exchange theory is influenced by the role of psychological, social, political, economic and historical factors. Technologically therefore, exchanges between individuals should capture a mutual cost-benefit structure (Drussell, 2012). The energy and time that one spends in texting, comments’ posting and Facebook updates directly perceives rewards of responses and likes. The sense of power can be endured in social media especially with high number of followers, friends, likes, comments and shares. While that may exist, the opposite may occur for which an individual has minimal of the above. It would thus mean that fear and rejection grows in them. In addition, the objects relations theory is applicable for this scenario. Psychologists differentiate this theory from the rest on the basis that it pays attention on how needs are not met or are met in a relationship. This contrasts the idea of impulses and drives. In this theory, external needs should be met by other people. The external needs are inclusive of being valued and viewed as individual by others, being accepted for both negative and positive qualities and being given protection, love and care (Ripa Carrasco, 2007). Internet-based communication and texting facilitate a relationship world that is virtual. It allows users to internalize other people’s mental representations. With the abs ence of face-to-face communication, the participants rely on constructions to incorporate meaning and imagination to such relationships. As a result therefore, users’ internal worlds may be vastly different from the facts that they present in the social networking environment. The conflict resolution process is complicated and communication as the reality facts may be hidden in the interactions. According to Drussell, (2012), texting and Facebook have failed at improving the ability in resolving conflicts. In the study, it was identified that despite the fact there were many individuals who adopted social media and used it frequently, in most cases they did not turn to it when solving conflicts. The study deduced the fact that most young adults deemed it wise to solve conflicts on a face-to-face communication. However, there were concerns in which case social media users did not personally know each other and had a considerable distance between them. For such cases, when conflict arose, it was probably never revisited. Such a relationship would be difficult to mend through social media and a large population would prefer to abandon it entirely. Conclusion The basis for conflict resolution and relationship satisfaction lies on communication. Social networking seems to facilitate communication at various levels. Social network users vary along continuum which is inclusive of negative, neutral and positive attitudes. Regardless of the attitude, the literature review indicates that communications may be misinterpreted during these kinds of communication. That is one of the weakness that social networking has in comparison to face-to-face communication. The communication aspect that is strengthened by social media makes friendship even stronger. The major worry for many individuals is that social media and networking seems to be causing a deterioration of persons’ ability to talk with each other. The face-to-face talk is the one suffering in the face of prominent social media dependency. Social media can be a source of conflict in the relationships, the best approach in handling such a conflict should be face-to-face communication a nd interaction. Going by the literature reviewed, social media users do not feel unsatisfied in interpersonal relationships that they engage in. The observation is that, social media improves satisfaction in a relationship as it brings about the issue of frequent interactions. Long distance relationships benefit from this interaction though further psychological based research should be done in relation to it. Technology will keep on evolving for which case social media prominence will still persist. Further research on the impacts of social media prominence is essential to understand how society will be impacted. References Anderson, T., Emmers-Sommer, T. (2006). Predictors of relationship satisfaction in online romantic relationships. Communication Studies, 57(2), 153-172. doi:10.1080/10510970600666834 Brown, A. (2011). Relationships, community, and identity in the new virtual society. Futurist, 45(2), 29-34. Charney, T., Greenberg, B. (2001). Uses and gratifications of the Internet. In C. Lin D. Atkin (Eds.), Communication, technology and society: New media adoption and uses and gratifications (pp. 383-406). Cresskill, NJ: Hampton. Coyne, S., Stockdale, L., Busby, D., Iverson, B., Grant, D. (2011). I luv u :)!: A descriptive study of the media use of individuals in romantic relationships. Family Relations, 60(2), 150-162. Drussell, J. (2012). Social Networking and Interpersonal Communication and Conflict Resolution Skills among College Freshmen. Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers. Paper 21. http://sophia.stkate.edu/msw_papers/21 Emmers-Sommer, T. M. (2004). The effects of communication quality and quantity indicators on intimacy and relationship satisfaction. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 24, 399-411. Greenfiled, P. Yan, Z. (2006). Children, adolescents, and the internet: A new field of inquiry in developmental psychology. Developmental Psychology, 42 (3). 391-394. Kelly, K. (2011). Understanding technological evolution and diversity. Futurist, 45(2), 44-48. Kietzmann, J. H., Hermkens, K., McCarthy, I. P., Silvestre, B. S. (2011). Social media? Get serious! Understanding the functional building blocks of social media. Business Horizons, 54(SPECIAL ISSUE: SOCIAL MEDIA), 241-251. Mishna, F., McLuckie, A., Saint, M. (2009). Real-world dangers in an online reality: A qualitative study examining online relationships and cyber abuse. Social Work Research, 33 (2). 107-118. Pollet, T. V., Roberts, S. B., Dunbar, R. M. (2011). Use of social network sites and instant messaging does not lead to increased offline social network size, or to emotionally closer relationships with offline network members. Cyberpsychology, Behavior Social Networking, 14(4), 253-258. Qualman, E. (2009, August 11). Statistics show social media is bigger than you think. Retrieved from http://www.socialnomics.net/2009/08/11/statistics-show-social-media-is-biggerthan-you-think/ Sheldon, P. (2008). Student favorite: Facebook and motives for its use. Southwestern Mass Communication Journal, 23(2), 39-53.

Demise of the Great Democracy Essays -- Education

Demise of the Great Democracy From the Declaration of Independence, where America’s forefathers had bounties on their lives; to the fight for integration in 1960- America strives to create equal opportunities within its boundaries. â€Å"Land of the Free† and â€Å"Land of Opportunity,† rightfully earned names America hold. Keeping the opportunities rolling, the G.I. Bill allowed war veterans to attend college at an affordable rate, giving every person a chance to attain their full potential, no matter their situation. Unfortunately, an educational gap still continued to stabilize, sending America into the hands of literate voters and a questionable future. The current solution to this gap, called the No Child Left Behind Act, (NCLB), insists that schools use standardized tests to show improvement in students each year. These tests attempt to stitch-up the educational gap but fails overall because it pushes the best and the brightest students down to an average level of a nation ranked numbe r forty-two in literacy in the world, (Mundi Index). While the No Child Left Behind Act delivers more accountability on education systems, and has a great intention of improving students to a proficient level, it also causes a detrimental, disadvantageous, and stunting growth of our democratic nation. Revised as The No Child left Behind Act, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, presented in President Lyndon B. Johnson’s â€Å"War on Poverty,† aimed to reduce the nation’s high poverty rate during 1965, (US Government). Closing the achievement gaps between the economical classes of America’s by providing equal opportunity provided the Elementary and Secondary Education Act’s (ESEA) goal. President Johnson only authorized this act until 1970,... ...p://www.nagc.org/index2.aspx?id=548>. "No Child Left Behind Act." New York Times. 9 2 2012: n. page. Web. 13 Mar. 2012. . Phelps, Richard P. Defending Standardized Testing. Introduction. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers, 2005. Pollard, Jonathan. StandardizedTesting.net. 2002. January 2012 . US Government. U.S. Department of Education. 6 12 2010. January 2012 . US Legal. USlegal.com. n.d. February 2012 . White, Deborah. "Pros & Cons of the No Child Left Behind Act." US Liberal Politics . New York Times Company, n.d. Web. 14 Mar 2012. . Demise of the Great Democracy Essays -- Education Demise of the Great Democracy From the Declaration of Independence, where America’s forefathers had bounties on their lives; to the fight for integration in 1960- America strives to create equal opportunities within its boundaries. â€Å"Land of the Free† and â€Å"Land of Opportunity,† rightfully earned names America hold. Keeping the opportunities rolling, the G.I. Bill allowed war veterans to attend college at an affordable rate, giving every person a chance to attain their full potential, no matter their situation. Unfortunately, an educational gap still continued to stabilize, sending America into the hands of literate voters and a questionable future. The current solution to this gap, called the No Child Left Behind Act, (NCLB), insists that schools use standardized tests to show improvement in students each year. These tests attempt to stitch-up the educational gap but fails overall because it pushes the best and the brightest students down to an average level of a nation ranked numbe r forty-two in literacy in the world, (Mundi Index). While the No Child Left Behind Act delivers more accountability on education systems, and has a great intention of improving students to a proficient level, it also causes a detrimental, disadvantageous, and stunting growth of our democratic nation. Revised as The No Child left Behind Act, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, presented in President Lyndon B. Johnson’s â€Å"War on Poverty,† aimed to reduce the nation’s high poverty rate during 1965, (US Government). Closing the achievement gaps between the economical classes of America’s by providing equal opportunity provided the Elementary and Secondary Education Act’s (ESEA) goal. President Johnson only authorized this act until 1970,... ...p://www.nagc.org/index2.aspx?id=548>. "No Child Left Behind Act." New York Times. 9 2 2012: n. page. Web. 13 Mar. 2012. . Phelps, Richard P. Defending Standardized Testing. Introduction. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers, 2005. Pollard, Jonathan. StandardizedTesting.net. 2002. January 2012 . US Government. U.S. Department of Education. 6 12 2010. January 2012 . US Legal. USlegal.com. n.d. February 2012 . White, Deborah. "Pros & Cons of the No Child Left Behind Act." US Liberal Politics . New York Times Company, n.d. Web. 14 Mar 2012. .

The Underdogs by Mariano Azuela Essay -- Book Reviews Mexican Revoluti

Author Mariano Azuela's novel of the Mexican revolution, The Underdogs, conveys a fictional representation of the revolution and the effects it had on the Mexican men and women who lived during that time. The revolutionary rebels were composed of different men grouped together to form small militias against the Federalists, in turn sending them on journeys to various towns, for long periods of time. Intense fighting claimed the lives of many, leaving women and children behind to fend for themselves. Towns were devastated forcing their entire populations to seek refuge elsewhere. The revolution destroyed families across Mexico, leaving mothers grieving for their abducted daughters, wives for their absent husbands, and soldiers for their murdered friends. The novel's accurate depiction also establishes some of the reasons why many joined the revolution, revealing that often, those who joined were escaping their lives to fight for an unknown cause. The Underdogs' protagonist, Demetrio Macias, joins the fight against the Federalists after his house is burned and his dog is shot, as a result of a quarrel he had with Don Monico, the boss of his town, Moyahua (48). Macias "spit on his beard because he wouldn't mind his own business...Then just because [he] did that [Don Monico] had the whole...Federal Government against [him]" (Azuela 50). Many rebels, like Macias, joined the revolution in search for a better life, free from persecution by local caciques. The rebels were unhappy with the way government officials treated the poor, by stealing their pigs, chicken and corn, burning their homes and carrying off with their women (Azuela 17). Others were running away from the law, for crimes they had committed. In The Underdogs, one of Ma... ...a significant event for the men and women of Mexico, comprising a large portion of their lives. Many joined the fight in search for a better life, others wanted revenge, and some were running from the law. Together they formed disorganized and unfocused militias where many lost their lives. During the revolution hundreds were forced to leave their homes and belongings in search for a safer place. Families were torn and separated for years at a time, and women were left to support their houses and children. Eventually, the rebels begun to act like the Federalists, by looting, drinking, and at times killing their own men over money related brawls. The men became accustomed to the violent lifestyle, and although they did not know why, they continued to fight without an end in sight. Works Cited Azuela, Mariano. The Underdogs. Trans. E. Munguia, Jr. New York: 1996.

Hofstede Comparison of Germany and China Essay

Hofstede’s five dimensions are a useful tool to give someone an insight of different cultures. These elements give a country’s behaviour tendencies rather than an exact prescription. There are weaknesses to Hofstede’s Five Dimension theory as it may too easily encourage stereotyping. Even in countries as small as the UK, not all citizens are alike – e.g. it is argued that the culture in the North of England is quite different to the South. Hofstede has also been criticized for being too simplistic; however Hofstede’s theory does give us a general base to work from. 74 countries are listed on Hofstede’s website from which information can be drawn to make comparisons not only between countries but against the world average to give a broader picture. The following graph gives a comparison between Germany and China. It also allows for assessment against the Asian average and World average and our own British culture as benchmarks. Hofstede Comparison: UK, Germany, China Asian Average and World Average Comparison of Germany and China Power Distance Index          Germany 35 LOW             China 80 HIGH Individualism                               Germany 67 HIGH            China 66 LOW Masculinity                                     Germany 66 HIGH            China 66 HIGH Uncertainty Avoidance       Germany 65 HIGH            China 30 LOW Long Term Orientation      Germany 31LOW                  China 118 HIGH Power Distance Index – PDI Power Distance measures equality of power in society and how much people are willing to allow or give in to superiority. Countries with high scores tend to operate with power being given to the top few, with little room for lower rank intervention. Low scoring countries either spread power through delegation or encourage input from more levels of society. Germany 35         China 80         World Average 55 LOW POWER DISTANCE CULTURES HIGH POWER DISTANCE CULTURES Democratic management Autocratic management Management and subordinates treat one another as equals. Mutual respect is given. Managers expect subordinates to obey them. Subordinates automatic respect with expecting it to be earned. Power is de-centralised Power is centralised Subordinates expect to offer their ideas and take initiative Managers take the initiative and subordinates obey given instructions. Subordinates expect to be consulted Subordinates expect to be told what to do. Status is disapproved Status and privileges for managers is expected and respected Social interactions are informal Social interactions are formal Narrow range of salaries Wider range of salaries Despite a large difference in PDI scores, Germany and China share some similarities with how workers accept authority and power. The above table shows typical examples of low power distance cultures however, Germany does not necessarily follow these traits despite having a low PDI score. Germans like order and regulations and in a both business and society people tend to know what is allowed and what is forbidden. Power Distance is a low 35 in Germany. It is the same as in the UK yet significantly below the World average of 55. This score suggests German society, work and families treat people with equality, encouraging collaboration and a fair cultural environment. German managers and employees are often close, (reflected in the medium to low power distance (PD) in German culture) because they believe that they are working together to create a good product. Germany has  a democratic political system and is de-centralised. Business organisations tend to have flat structures with relatively small numbers of supervisors, however it also is known to be departmentalised and centralised (Dereksy, 2011). In business, Germans are known to be assertive, though not aggressive. Decisions are centralised although on occasion consensus is sometimes sought if the situation warrants it. Employees do not question the authority of their managers and are very loyal to their companies. Before most business deals are done, there has been considerable detailed analysis before commitment. Once a project or deal is committed to, staff have high trust in the order and China has a high ranking of 80 than both Germany and the World Average which means that the power distance remains high in business and in society in general. This means that people are less willing to challenge authority which is likely due to old communism beliefs which still have a strong influence on people’s behaviour. China continues to receive cri ticism for not taking human rights seriously. When doing business in China one must be aware of this large hierarchy gap. It is often hard to move up on their corporate ladder compared to other cultures. PDI Suggestions for manager coming from Germany to China In China, greetings are always done in age order, so ensure the eldest in the room is greeted first. Status is very important in China so do not call someone by their Christian name until they invite you to do so. Instead, always address them by using their full title, eg Dr or Professor. Ensure your business cards have your full qualifications on. If any large announcements to general staff are needed, request a senior member of management do it. Do not expect senior management to accept your ideas. Whilst they most likely will have no intention of accepting any ideas you may offer, they may politely say they will consider them to save â€Å"face†. â€Å"Let us think about it† is the Chinese way of saying â€Å"no† Use power to exercise authority Tell subordinates what to do – do not expect them to work it out themselves. Individualism Individualism refers to how independent people are. Countries with high scores indicate people are self- motivated, more self-reliant and self-concerned whereas countries with lower scores suggest citizens conform to society’s norms and consider group needs as more important than their own. Germany 67China 20World Average 43 Germany scored 67 points on individualism, the tendency of people to look after themselves and their immediate family only. That score is 56% higher than the world average score for individualism. Therefore, Germany has a highly individualistic society. In such cultures individuality, independence, and self-determination are valued. Trompenaar agrees that Germans place high priority on looking after themselves and their immediate family. At work, however, Germans jointly assume responsibilities and achieve goals in groups. Negotiating decisions is often referred to committees. Hofstede found that wealthier countries tended to have higher scores in Individualism (Hodgetts et al, 2006) however, given that China is now the second largest economy in the World and their IND score is only 20 Hofstede’s theory can be disputed. The Chinese rank lower than any other Asian country in the Individualism (IDV) ranking, at 20 compared to an average of 25. This may be attributed, in part, to the high level of emphasis on a Collectivist society by the Communist rule, as compared to one of Individualism. Confucianism also plays a large part as Chinese place value on long term satisfaction than short-term greed. Harmony is achieved by giving â€Å"face† to others and avoiding losing your own â€Å"face.† In collectivist cultures such as China, people work together in groups and often put the needs of that group ahead of their own personal wants. They embrace shared responsibility. Chinese business habits tend to stay with the same partners or suppliers to keep loyalty and not deteriorate relationships. So when doing business with others it is a good idea to select a good strong partnership that has potential to last a long time. It is looked down upon if you frequently change business partners. IDV Suggestions for manager coming from Germany to China Focus on how change is good for the group (appeal to the common interest). Allow the group to formulate and ask questions. Allow the group to consult with each other and spend time working out their responses, questions, and concerns Aim to build lasting relationships Try working through an individual or an organization who introduces you formally–Chinese like to work with people they know Avoid asking pointed questions Do not expect decisions made at meetings as meetings are merely forums for exchange of information Allow time in meetings for team members to consent and consult Standing out from the crowd can be viewed as very negative and result in personal difficulties, therefore try to blend in with the group and put their needs first. Masculinity Masculinity looks at how people react to one another. Countries with high masculine scores tend to have a society which respects stereotypical male behaviour: hedonistic, materialistic, dominant, aggressive and competitive, viewing feminine behaviour as weak. Countries with low masculinity scores tend to have strong welfare support and more equality between the sexes. Germany   66          China 66         World Average 50 Germany scored 66 points on masculinity, a cultural characteristic in which success, money and material possessions form the dominant values in society. That score is 32% higher than the world average score for masculinity yet equal to that of the UK and China. According to Hofstede’s model, Germans place greater importance on earnings, recognition, advancement and challenge. Germany is a male-dominated society; few married women work outside the home However, this is slowly changing in the younger generations of Germany. Women are becoming more accepted in higher positions. Officially, women in China have the same rights as men in the workplace and the party has promoted this sense of equality over the past thirty years or so. However, traditional Confucian thinking does not sit easily with this notion of gender equality and it is somewhat ironic that the liberalisation policies of the last decade might have reversed many of the advances made by women in Chinese society under the previous hard-line regimes. In China, the strong preference of boys is due to the traditional values. Men hold most of the responsibility and power positions although there is a high level of  consensus between genders in China. However, the responsibility for finding childcare still tends to fall with women which may be a contributor to the low numbers of women in senior management positions. The value placed on work is similar in Germany and China, according to Hofstede, yet both countries have few women in senior management. MAS Suggestions for manager coming from Germany to China Foreign businesswomen will be treated with great respect and courtesy. They may find that, within a delegation, the Chinese defer to male colleagues regardless of the actual seniority of the western party – the Chinese assumption being that the male will naturally be the decision-maker. Therefore a German woman manager must anticipate this and not be offended by this reaction so she â€Å"saves face† Gradually over time, this apparent sexism will fade if she takes the time and gentle grace to build relationships slowly. Uncertainty Avoidance Index Uncertainty avoidance, as the name suggests, focuses on how and by whom risk is managed. Countries with low levels of uncertainty indicate strong governmental control to maintain as much stability and order as possible for risk elimination. Countries with lower scores tend to allow individuals to manage their own risks, which provide environments with more innovation. Germany 65       China 30       World average 64 Germany scored 65 points on Hofstede’s uncertainty avoidance index. That score is only 1% above the world average score for uncertainty avoidance. Thanks to their need for security, Germans insist on written rules and detailed codes of conduct. Germans are not keen on uncertainty, by planning everything carefully they try to avoid the uncertainty. In Germany there is a society that relies on rules, laws and regulations. Germany wants to reduce its risks to the minimum and proceed with changes step by step. China presents a high degree of acceptance of uncertainty, which is a characteristic of a society that does not try to take control of the future, and that is not afraid of unforeseen situations. Contrary to Germany, Chinese society does not feel such an urge to establish strict rules to  overcome uncertainty or ambiguity. It is also characteristic of a society that is more tolerant towards opinions, behaviours that are different from its own, and changes. And it is a more meditative society which does not feel the need of controlling its environment. UAI Suggestions for manager coming from Germany to China Present a bottom line and an objective, then build your case around questions Expect frequent rescheduling of meetings. It is a good idea to set up appointments a few weeks in advance and reconfirm 1-2 days before the scheduled meeting Long-term Orientation Long-term Orientation concerns how cultures view time and perseverance, whether business and relationships are nurtured over a period of time or if more emphasis is placed on short-term reward. Long-Term Orientation is the fifth dimension of Hofstede which was added after the original four to try to distinguish the difference in thinking between the East and West. From the original IBM studies, this difference was something that could not be deduced. Therefore, Hofstede created a Chinese value survey which was distributed across 23 countries Germany 31       China 118      World Average 45 . Short-term Orientation Long-term Orientation Immediate gratification required Deferred gratification Traditions are sacred and upheld Traditions adapt to change Consumption values are taught Frugality and perseverance is taught Spend Save or invest Quick profits Building a lasting business income Analytical thinking Synthetic thinking Germany is typical of Westernised cultures with regards to having short-term orientation. Germany is renowned for its appreciation of efficiency. People from cultures where managers are expected to develop a closer, more intimate ambience can see the German manager-subordinate relationship as distant and cold. Germans put truth and directness before diplomacy, believing that the fact is the important issue and that personal emotions should not deflect the truth from being spoken. This directness can be interpreted by certain cultures such as China, as rude. China slow and steady wins the race for business deals. Building strong, reliable, lasting relationships is key for the Chinese. A certain amount of trust must be gained before any decision is met. It may take three to four times the length of time to finish the business deal compared to your cultural standards. So if you do not come to a fast agreement, don’t be discouraged, make the client feel comfortable and show your p atience. The Chinese never like to rush into things. Geert Hofstede analysis for China has Long-term Orientation (LTO) the highest-ranking factor of all countries. China has such a high LTO score, it is even 30% higher than the Asian average score which is already nearly twice the World average. This shows how much emphasis China places on this dimension, indicating a society’s time perspective and an attitude of persevering; that is, overcoming obstacles with time, if not with will and strength. This means that perseverance and economy are the basic values in China, these values being taught by Confucianism, which is widely established in China. Also, Chinese culture is neutral, contrary to the French culture which is affective. Which means that in China feelings are not readily expressed and physical contact avoided, while in France like in all other Mediterranean cultures the behaviour is expressive and gestured, and people like to express their feelings and physical contact. Chines e culture is marked by respect and loyalty, which makes them reliable partners. They favour the interest of the group and in particular are extremely perseverant and formidable business people. LTO Suggestions for manager coming from Germany to China This is arguably the area requiring the most attention from a German manager. Meetings are about building relationships and exchanging information – it is rare for a decision to be made within the meeting. Therefore a German manager must not show impatience. Use less direct language Hold back on the truth, to help others save â€Å"face† Build relationships slowly. Try â€Å"gift giving†, as a thank you is often not considered enough, and at worst rude. Allow the group to consult with each other and spend time working out their responses, questions, and concerns Bing., J.,W., 2011. Hofstede’s consequences: The impact of his work on consulting and business practices, An Executive Summary. ITAP International Inc . Available from: http://www.itapintl.com/facultyandresources/articlelibrarymain/hofstedes-consequences-the-impact-of-his-work-on-consulting-and-business-practices.html [Accessed 17 March 2011]. Burke, R., J., Cultural Values and Women’s Work and Career Experiences. Deresky, H., 2011. International Management Managing Across Borders and Cultures. 7th ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall Hodgetts, R., M., and Luthans, F., and Doh, J. P., 2006. International Management. 6th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill WorldBusinessCulture.com, 2011. For both China and Germanyhttp://www.worldbusinessculture.com/Women-in-Business-in-China.html