Compare and contrast the management schools of Global Convergence and Essay

Compare and contrast the management schools of Global Convergence and Global Divergence - Essay Example â€Å"International management involves a number of issues not present when the activities of the firm are confined to one country†, - Armstrong says (2006, p.100). These issues comprise the variety of international organisational models, the problems of managing in different cultures and environments, the extent to which management policy and practice should vary in different countries, and the approaches used to manage these practices and processes. International management policies are considered taking into account there should be convergence or divergence in the management practice adopted in overseas companies. As Rowley and Benson (2000) assert: â€Å"Globalisation and international trade and finance may place substantial pressure on companies to force them to standardise practices and polices. †¦ [However], local customs, institutions, and labour forces do provide serious constraints on the degree of convergence and may lead to increasing levels of divergence (p. 2). In this paper we will compare and contrast the management schools of Global Convergence and Global Divergence so that to make a conclusion as to which school offers the most convincing explanation of the likely challenges faced by managers in international organisations in the future. In order to follow the Convergence versus Divergence debate it is necessary to understand a role of cultural diversity, which is a key issue in international business management. Armstrong (2006) emphasises that â€Å"managers in each country operate within a national institutional context and share a set of cultural assumptions. Neither institutions nor cultures change quickly and rarely in ways that are the same as other countries. †¦It follows that managers in one country behave in a way that is noticeably different from managers in other countries† (p102). Hofstede (1980) identifies five dimensions of culture, which has been adapted by Bento and Ferreira (1992) to

The Fundamental Role Of Concrete In Roman Architecture History Essay

The Fundamental Role Of Concrete In Roman Architecture History Essay The development of concrete in Roman style architecture was of great use in producing many world famous, monumental buildings that are representative of the Roman era. Not only did concrete provide a unique scheme in the production of Roman architecture, it was also a convenient and functional tool when other raw materials were unattainable. In this essay, I will discuss the development of concrete, concretes properties, surfacing techniques, concretes ease of use and labour requirements, and the construction of the famous Pantheon as a prominent example of the immense benefits of concrete to the Romans. Concrete was not invented by the Romans, but simply an adaptation of different mortar usages in earlier construction. MacDonald describes a mortar as, materials of mixed composition in a semi-fluid state at the time of construction. Because Romans didnt possess marble quarries like the Greeks, mortar became the practical alternative. Volcanic rock was the most common building material located in the Italian region, and was therefore, the most basic tool to create mortar, which would develop into useful concrete. As early as the 4th and 3rd centuries B.C., the observation of limestone walls with rock debris between each stone was made in Pompey. From this point onward, Roman concrete and mortar use became more and more prominent and by the late 3rd century B.C., Romans had improved the recipe of mortar to include lime and clay. When combined with different types of filling elements, also known as aggregates, as well as different types of facings, Roman mortars were able to create stro ng and dense walls. By the 1st century, the use of concrete is said to have been perfected by the Romans. In order for concrete to become a useful building technology, the properties of concrete must be carefully examined. The Romans used concrete for a wide variety of purposes. Concrete has been used in Roman buildings as strong base foundations, as well as in the highest vaults. In order to give structure and substance to mortar, aggregates, or stones of different sizes mixed into the mortar, were used. Not only did aggregates give mortar structure and substance by increasing the mortars mass, but they also helped to strengthen the building material. Aggregates were an essential part of concrete construction because they work together with mortar to defy crushing that can be caused by immense weights. This is clearly important when concrete was used as a foundation. Different types of stone were used to produce aggregates dependent upon the use of the concrete. For strong solid base foundations, heavier rock materials were used. In these types of foundation, aggregate was often times two thirds of the volume of the entire fabric. For lighter concrete forms, including high vaulting, lighter rock materials (such as pumice) were used. Debris from destroyed structures was also a common form of aggregate, including buildings and sculptures. Concrete is an indefinite, nearly fluid substance from the time that it is mixed to the time that it is set. Composed of lime, clay and aggregate, dry concrete is mixed with water, and this compound (opus caementicum) will harden into a solid mass. With this property in mind, Roman concrete construction was relatively simple. Generally wooden frames were set to pour the concrete mixture into and allow it to harden. Therefore, to produce this type of Roman architecture, both a mortar substance and a frame were necessary. Until Augustan times, the concrete used by Romans was a simple lime mortar. When limestone is burned, quicklime is produced. This quicklime is then slaked to produce calcium hydroxide, which is then mixed with sand. Once evaporated, calcium carbonate crystals are formed. These crystals are the fundamental bonding element of this basic concrete. Mixing more sand with the crystals increases the mortars strength because the crystals bind to coarse surfaces. A great benefit of concrete use was fireproofing buildings. By the late 2nd century B.C., a new kind of mortar came into existence that not only aided in fire proofing the structural design, but also in waterproofing it. Romans came across a type of volcanic ash near the city of Pozzuoli, Italy, which they used to create fine cement that reacts in a different manner than the simple lime mortar. This type of mortar is called pozzolana, and is also known as hydraulic cement. Pozzolana is composed of silicates and aluminates. When combined with lime, pozzolana forms a hydrated silicate of calcium. Comparatively, this combination of chemicals does not need to lose water through an evaporative process; it actually retains water into its structure. In doing so, pozzolana mortars can set in damp areas. This new found type of concrete was of great importance in waterproofing buildings. It helped to prevent decay and corrosion to buildings, allowing them to survive longer. Pozzolana is one of the most standard features of concrete in central Italy. To further aid the waterproofing of concrete, different types of stone facings were developed. Facings were originally used to protect the surfaces of concrete. Typically, facings of stone and other material were set into wet concrete to create a strong casing when the concrete dried. Facings are of valuable importance in dating buildings, and there are several different types that evolved over the centuries. During the late 2nd Century B.C., Opus Incertum, or concrete faced with small irregular shaped stones, was commonly seen. Concrete faced with small four sided stones in a definite pattern, called Opus Reticulatum, is dated shortly after 100 B.C. Opus Testaceum, concrete faced with brick, was found throughout the early empire until the 4th century B.C. Opus Mixtum is concrete facing characterized by a combination of brick and stone in a decorative pattern, and dated from the same period as the former. Principally, concrete facings were both practical and decorative, used for prot ection as well as ornamentation. For the Romans, using concrete in constructing buildings was just as convenient as it was practical. In terms of labour, the majority of workers necessary to complete any type of Roman structure did not need to be skilled or educated. Generally, the only highly skilled workers that were involved in the projects included the architect, the master masons and master carpenters. The tasks of mixing, carrying, hauling and pouring concrete were performed by rather unskilled labourers. This same demographic also fit into the category of creating forms into which the concrete would be poured. The timetables of such workers were scheduled around the drying of the concrete. It was certainly possible for Roman architecture to be built of stone, but this type of work would require labourers to dress the stones to exact dimensions, a more challenging task than that of concrete use. Because of this fact, the ease of using concrete made it a more prevalent type of building technology. Designed by Roman Emperor Hadrian, The Pantheon is a prime example of concrete use by the early Romans. Hadrian was known for advancement in the vaulted style, and The Pantheon exemplifies this style with its impressive concrete work. Work on The Pantheon began sometime between July of 118 A.D. and July of 119 A.D., and was completed between the years of 125 and 128 A.D. During the period of construction, concrete was used vastly. The Pantheon is built on a foundation of concrete, nearly 90 percent of the intermediate block and rotunda is made of concrete, and roughly 5,000 metric tons of concrete make up The Pantheons dome. As in many concrete buildings, The Pantheons construction was completed in levels, where different strengths of aggregate were used in each plane. The Pantheon is said to have five different layers of concrete with five separate types of aggregate. Naturally, the lowest level contains the densest and most cohesive aggregate. As the levels of concrete ascend, a lighter form of aggregate is used than the previous layer. The dome of The Pantheon is made of the lightest aggregate in the entire structure, pumice. The Pantheons major features were methodically configured. Carpenters were required to construct castings used to pour concrete for foundations. The rotunda walls were created by pouring a dense concrete and aggregate mixture into short, wide trenches. Once dried, more concrete was set atop the original trench in layers, until the dome terrace was reached. At this point, the dome had to be poured. The dome is one of the greatest features of The Pantheon. Again, the concrete that was used to create the dome was poured on to a wooden form built in a half sphere shape. The dome form was held in place with wooden struts and timber to allow a light aggregate concrete mixture to dry atop it. Castings of coffers, or sunken panels, were attached to the wooden form to create the domes intricate detail. As the dome was being poured, circular brick dams in the form of step-ring buttraces formed the domes exterior. Step upon step, concrete was poured until it reached the more nearly horizontal region of the dome, where tacky concrete was used. At the top most point, vertically set horizontal tiles finished the dome. As one of the greatest achievements of concrete work, The Pantheon represents the fundamental function of concrete in Roman Architecture. It is obvious that concrete played an essential role in the construction of Roman buildings. The development and adaptation of concrete in the Roman world was the most practical means of construction. Not only was concrete an available source of building material, constructing with concrete was also an uncomplicated and efficient technique. Fire and water proofing of Roman buildings were just a few of the practical functions that concrete provided. Concretes properties allowed for Roman architecture to survive throughout the centuries; because such a useful material was discovered and widely utilized, we are still able to view and study some of the worlds most brilliant structures.

Issues in Teaching the English Language Essay -- English Writing Teach

Struggle as I may, I cannot avoid James Berlin’s statement: â€Å"To teach writing is to argue for a version of reality† (234). If I’m going to be successful in any academic field, in any language, there are certain conventions that I must follow, but what I say and how I think is inexorably linked to the available resources of any particular convention. For my part, I just can’t escape the confines of the English language. I see this most poignantly when I try to teach a Chinese writer how to cite sources or when I attempt to read a text in translation. To teach writing is to argue for a version of reality, and the best way of knowing and communicating it. . . . All composition teachers are ineluctably operating in this realm, whether or not they consciously choose to do so. (Berlin, 234) The language in which we think, speak and write effects the meanings we are able to construct; it molds our versions of reality. One of the more famous instances of this dynamic at work can be observed in translating Sophocles’ Antigone. There is a word in the first and second lines of the Second Stasimon, popularly referred to as â€Å"The Ode to Man,† which brings this issue to the foreground. The word is deinoj [1] (deinos). It is conventionally translated as â€Å"wondrous.† Its meaning, however, is far more complex than â€Å"wondrous.† If any one word in the English language comes closest to approximating its meaning in the given context, the word is awesome. In Greek, its meaning runs the gamut of terrible, fearful, awful, danger, implying force or power for good or ill, mighty, wondrous, marvelous, strange, passed into that of able, clever, skilful [2]. It is utterly impossible to translate this Greek idea into English without somehow tempe... ...uns on the French word differer, which means both "to differ" and "to defer." The result is differance, which is a misspelling of 'difference.' Since words are only signifiers and have no inherent meaning, there is a distance between the signifier and the signified. The meaning is deferred. And since words are identified by what they are not, their meaning is defined by difference. Hence, differance. When spoken in French, differance sounds no different than difference, a clever subtlety that, again, is lost in the translation. Derrida is no doubt aware that the two words sound the same, a fact which exhibits a weakness in spoken language† (http:65.107.211.207/theory/maslin/Difference_750.htm). Please note that the author didn’t define this term in his paper because the author has taken a decidedly anti-academic-jargon stance in so far as he can never actually stand. Issues in Teaching the English Language Essay -- English Writing Teach Struggle as I may, I cannot avoid James Berlin’s statement: â€Å"To teach writing is to argue for a version of reality† (234). If I’m going to be successful in any academic field, in any language, there are certain conventions that I must follow, but what I say and how I think is inexorably linked to the available resources of any particular convention. For my part, I just can’t escape the confines of the English language. I see this most poignantly when I try to teach a Chinese writer how to cite sources or when I attempt to read a text in translation. To teach writing is to argue for a version of reality, and the best way of knowing and communicating it. . . . All composition teachers are ineluctably operating in this realm, whether or not they consciously choose to do so. (Berlin, 234) The language in which we think, speak and write effects the meanings we are able to construct; it molds our versions of reality. One of the more famous instances of this dynamic at work can be observed in translating Sophocles’ Antigone. There is a word in the first and second lines of the Second Stasimon, popularly referred to as â€Å"The Ode to Man,† which brings this issue to the foreground. The word is deinoj [1] (deinos). It is conventionally translated as â€Å"wondrous.† Its meaning, however, is far more complex than â€Å"wondrous.† If any one word in the English language comes closest to approximating its meaning in the given context, the word is awesome. In Greek, its meaning runs the gamut of terrible, fearful, awful, danger, implying force or power for good or ill, mighty, wondrous, marvelous, strange, passed into that of able, clever, skilful [2]. It is utterly impossible to translate this Greek idea into English without somehow tempe... ...uns on the French word differer, which means both "to differ" and "to defer." The result is differance, which is a misspelling of 'difference.' Since words are only signifiers and have no inherent meaning, there is a distance between the signifier and the signified. The meaning is deferred. And since words are identified by what they are not, their meaning is defined by difference. Hence, differance. When spoken in French, differance sounds no different than difference, a clever subtlety that, again, is lost in the translation. Derrida is no doubt aware that the two words sound the same, a fact which exhibits a weakness in spoken language† (http:65.107.211.207/theory/maslin/Difference_750.htm). Please note that the author didn’t define this term in his paper because the author has taken a decidedly anti-academic-jargon stance in so far as he can never actually stand.

Obama Victory Speech 2008

In Obama’s speech, he uses many inclusive pronouns such as ‘we’ and ‘our’. This shows that they are all the same; by doing this it creates a sense of unity among the audience. This is effective because it gets the audience on his side; if he used exclusive pronouns such as ‘you’, it would make the audience feel less united. He also says ‘America can change’, by doing this he personifies and metonymies ‘America’. This is effective as it makes the people think about what he means by ‘America’ in that context, he could have easily said the ‘people of America’ but that would be very dull.We also see here again that he uses ‘America’ in a united sense. This all links in with the semantic field of the speech, of ‘the American Dream’, which is all based on peace and unity among the people of America. Another technique Obama uses are exophoric references and anecdotes, such as â€Å"She’s a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voices heard in this election except for one thing – Ann Nixon cooper is 106 years old. †This is effective in the speech as help explain the point Obama makes to the audience. It is also something the audience can relate to .He also waits until right at the end to say â€Å"Ann Nixon cooper is 106 years old,† this turns a sentence about someone ordinary into someone extraordinary. Apart from the general references he makes, there are also very famous ones, such as ‘A man touched down on the moon’ and ‘a preacher told a people ‘We shall overcome. ’† He uses these exophoric references effectively, to remind the audience about the situations they have overcome, which inspires them. Also, when he makes these references, he doesn’t clearly state the event but vaguely describes it.He does this to make the audience think about what h e is saying, but at the same time not to undermine them by being too clear. In the reference ‘A man touched down on the moon’, he uses the word ‘man’ which is much more inclusive than a person’s name, and it makes the audience feel united in that event and as if they were a part of it. Furthermore, when he gives the quotation of ‘we shall overcome’, everyone immediately recognises that famous quote, and relates to MLK. Obama also picks this quote out in particular, as it is about overcoming which is the main topic of his speech and in the way it is said, it sounds like a statement.This is effective as it reinforces and adds credibility to what he says, which means the audience are more likely to accept it. During the speech, Obama’s tone and body language varies. For example, when he is giving an anecdote, he talks in a calm manner with long sentences, few pauses and no hand gestures, ‘At a time when women’s voices we re silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up†¦ ’ Then when he starts to make a point his tempo rises and he uses sentences with many pauses with also strong hand gestures, ‘That while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt†¦ This is effective as it shows emphasis on the points that are very important and makes them easier to remember; also it shows a contrast between the main points of the speech and the anecdotes. In the Obama’s speech he uses few religious references, such as ‘Thank you, God bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America. ’ He says this because he himself is religious, but also America is a strongly Christian country and he targets those in audience who are religious. This effective as it gives impression that God is on their side and motivates people.Also the way Obama says that at the end of the speech is similar to how a priest would end his speech in a Ch urch, which again gives it a very holy and religious feeling. During the speech Obama shows advances in many things, such as technology. He shows this by saying â€Å"no cars on the road or planes in the sky† and â€Å"she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote,† by saying this he contrasts the past with the present, and it makes the audience think how far they have came, in terms of technology in a short space of time.Another advance he shows us is in equality, by saying â€Å"when someone like her couldn’t vote for two reasons – because she was a woman and because of the colour of her skin,† he reminds the audience of the time when it use to happen. This effective because it shows change, by contrasting the past with present, and he shows this change to show the American people that if they did it then why can’t they do it again, which motivates them. Also when he says â€Å"couldn’t vote for two reasons – †¦ there is a slight pause, he does this as the audience know what’s coming next which makes them think. Throughout the speech, Obama’s main buzz phrase has been â€Å"Yes We can. † This phrase is good as it is only three letters long and is repeated through the speech several times, making it easy to remember. He uses these when making a point, such as â€Å"America can change. Yes we can† and â€Å"nation conquers fear itself with a New deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can,† this motivates the people and gets them on his side.Also Obama uses this phrases right at the end of point or paragraph, so the audience know its coming and after it’s said they can repeated the phrase, this is why he leaves a short pause after each point for the audience to react . This is effective as it makes the audience think and concentrate on the speech. The word â€Å"yes† in the phrase as adverb shows the agreement between him and the people. The word â€Å"we† as a first person plural pronoun denotes as collective force or unity and the word â€Å"can† as a modal auxiliary verb suggests the ability or possibility of someone doing something.

Marketing Mix AB Bank Limited

Compensation System of an industrial enterprise in Bangladesh: A case study of AB Bank Limited. 1. Historical Background of AB Bank AB Bank Limited, the first private sector bank under joint venture with Dubai Bank Limited. UAE incorporated in Bangladesh on 31st December 1981 & started its operation with effect from April 12, 1982.Dubai Bank Limited (name subsequently changed to Union Bank of the Middle east Limited) decided to off-load their investment in AB Bank Limited with a view to concentrate their activities in the UAE in early part of 1987 & in teams of Articles 23 A & 23B of the Articles of association of the company & with the necessary approval of the relevant authorities, the shares held by them in the Bank were sold & transferred to Group â€Å"A† Shareholders, i. e.Bangladesh Sponsor Shareholders. As of December 31, 2006; the authorized capital & the equity (paid up capital & reserve) of the bank are BDT 2000 million & BDT 2582. 76 million respectively. The spons or-shareholder holds 50% of the share capital; the General Public Shareholders hold 49. 43% & the rest 0. 57% shares are held by the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. However, on individual sponsor shareholder of more then 10% of its total shares.Since beginning, the bank acquired confidence & trust of the public & business houses by rendering high quality services in different areas of banking operations, professional competence & employment of state of art technology. During the last 27 years, AB Bank Limited has opened 73 Branches in different Business centers of the country, one foreign Branch in Mumbai, India, two Representatives Officer in London & Yangon, Myanmar respectively & also established a wholly owned subsidiary finance. Company in Hong Kong in the name of AB Bank International Finance Limited.To facilitate cross border trade & payment related services, the Bank has correspondent relationship with over 220 international banks of repute across 58 count ries of world. 1. 2 Corporate Slogan Of AB Bank Ltd. : First Of Many Firsts 1. 3Vision: â€Å"To be the trendsetter for innovative banking with excellence & perfection† 1. 4 Mission: â€Å"To be the best performing bank in the country† 1. 5 Change Of Name: Arab Bangladesh Bank Limited changed its name to AB Bank Limited(ABBL) with effect from 14 November 2007 vide Bangladesh Bank BRPD circular letter no. 10 dated 22 November 2007. Prior to that shareholders of the bank approved the change of name in the Extra-Ordinary General Meeting held on 4 September 2007. 1. 6 Birth Of the Logo The coat of arms of the new logo is inspired by traditional â€Å"Shital pati † or â€Å"Sleeping mat†. The knit and the pattern of interlace in the new logo that echoes the intricate weave of Shital pati symbolizes bonding. This bonding reflects the new spirit of AB Bank. 1. 7 Product and Service of AB Bank The product and services of AB Bank are exposing the table Product |Se rvices | |Retail Banking |Locker Service | |Corporate Banking |Internet Banking | |SME Banking |SMS Banking | |Deposits Rate |New Cheque Book | |Money Transfer |Lost ChequeBook | |Islami Banking |Lost Credit/Debit Card | |AB Securities Limited |Fund Transfer | |Cards |Account Opening | |SME Banking |Address Change | |Loan Syndication |Signature Change | |NRB Banking |Account Closing | |Project Finance | | 1. 8 Organ Gram Of AB Bank Limited 1. 9 Corporate Information at a Glance Name Of the Bank:AB Bank Of Bangladesh Limited Status:Public Limited Company Date Of Incorporation:31 december 1981 Inauguration of the Jubilee Road Branch: 26th July , 1994. Head Office, BCIC Bhaban, 30-31, Dilkusha Commercial Area, Dhaka Registration No: C281461 (1992)/95 Chairman: Mr. M. Wahidul Haque Vice chairman: Salim AhmedPresident & Managing Director: Fazlur Rahman Authorized Capital: TK. 800 Million Director:11 Number Of Employees:3342 1. 10 Salary Structure of AB Bank Bangladesh Limited The salary structure of AB Bank mention to the stage of employee. Now describe the compensation of AB Bank bangladesh limited: Basic Pay: Basic pay is the root compensation which paid to the employee in depends on job responsibilities. House Allowance: AB Bank provides 40 to 50 percent house allowance and it depends on the level of employees position. Medical Allowance: AB Bank provide medical allowance for every employees. Lunch: AB Bank Provide the Lunch for employees 20 to 35 minute.Education: AB Bank provide education for employees childrens who are bright result in school collage and University. Training Hours: AB Bank are houner training hours. Utility Allowance: AB Bank are provide the utility allowance for an employees. pay for time not at work of AB Bank Sick Lecve: when an employee fall in sick for that reason an employee does not work that time AB Bank are granted the leave without panishment. Holidays: holidays are included his salary for that reason an employee get 100% salary. Ca sual Leave: An employee can take a casual leave 8 days in a year but not hampered in his salary. Emergency Leave: AB Bank are pay the salary when anybody die in employees family.Earn Leave: When an employees performance is very well that time bank authority are given reword by the leave that time AB Bank are paid the full salary. Other Leave: The AB Bank are declear different kinds of leave that time pay the full salary. Maternity Leave: it only for pregnent women are take a leave that time moth off with pay. Non Financial compensation of AB Bank: non financial compensation means incentives that are provided to employees by AB Bank in the form of indirect pay. ———————– Chairman Vice Chairman Board of Director Managing Director & President SEVP SEVP SEVP SEVP EVP EVP EVP EVP SVP SVP SVP SVP VP VP VP VP SAVP SAVP SAVP SAVP AVP AVP AVP AVP SPO SPO SPO SPO PO PO PO PO SO SO SO SO OFFICER OFFICER OFFICER OFFICER