Saturday, August 31, 2019

Life in Ireland & Typhoid Fever Essay

During the 1930s in Ireland, the majority of the people lived in the countryside. There were several late marriages and high birth-rates in the rural areas of Ireland at this time. Numerous people from Ireland were immigrating to England because of overcrowding and poor economic conditions. Ireland was also fighting an economic war with Britain at this time. Some popular forms of entertainment in Ireland were cinema, cross-road dancing, and sports. 2.There are several similarities to the poem about the highwayman and the story of Patricia and Frankie. In â€Å"The Highwayman† Bess, the landlord’s daughter was not allowed to talk to the highway man because of her father. This is similar to â€Å"Typhoid Fever† because Frank and Patricia were not allowed to talk to each other because the nuns and nurses wouldn’t allow it because of their diseases. Another similarity is that Bess dies in â€Å"The Highwayman† and Patricia dies in â€Å"Typhoid Fever†. It also seemed as if Frank was falling in love with Patricia, like how the thief had fallen in love with Bess. In â€Å"Typhoid Fever† Frank stated, â€Å"I’d love to do that myself, come by moonlight for Patricia in the next room not giving a hoot though hell should bar the way.† My inference of this line was that Frank felt that his relationship with Patricia was similar to the thief’s relationship with Bess. 3.Frank McCourt was able to re-create the voice of a 10-year-old boy in â€Å"Typhoid Fever† because the events described in â€Å"Typhoid Fever† were of his own. â€Å"Typhoid Fever† came from a memoir Frank had written, which was called Angela’s Ashes. A memoir is a biography or an account of historical events, especially one written from personal knowledge. I also think Frank McCourt was able to re-create the voice of a 10-year-old boy because of how he had the main character act and talk. For example, when Patricia asks how old he is and appears disappointed when he says ten, Frank says, â€Å"But I’ll be eleven in August, next month.† Usually children want to be perceived as older. So when you ask a child how old they are, they usually are very exact, saying the year and month. Another example form the story is how Frank reacts when Patricia mimics the nun. In the story it says, â€Å"Then Patricia whispers, Give thanks, Francis, give thanks, and say your rosary,  Francis and I laugh so hard a nurse runs in to see if I’m all right.† If an adult had heard Patricia mimic the nun they would be able to control their laughter enough so that the nurse would not have heard anything.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Illegality and Various Consequences Essay

ILLEGALITY A contact to be legally binding it should be legal. The contracts which are against the law or the public policy are consider as illegal contracts. Courts do not enforce illegal contracts and treated as void contracts. There are four major criteria to decide the illegality of a contract. Contracts declared illegal by statute law. Statute law consists of both statutes and ordinance which had been legislated by the parliament of the country. Every contact should adhere to the statutes prepared by the parliament. If an element of a contract exceeded any statue that contract becomes illegal. A contract does not need to be a criminal offence in order to be decided as an illegal contract. For an example if there is a minimum price placed for a certain product by a statute such as â€Å"consumer protection act† and when a contract that goes beyond the price element fixed by the statute, then it becomes illegal thus court can void such a contract. Contracts that go against common law. In Sri Lanka, the Roman-Dutch law is considered as the common law. It is important to note that Roman-Dutch law only acts as a residuary law which contents only five present of the contract law. In respect of the three civil marriage laws, that is andyan marriage law Muslim marriage law and thesawalame law the Roman-Dutch law acts as a residuary law. That means regarding a particular issue, if three local laws are silent, Roman-Dutch law comes to enact as a residuary law. And some of the property always belongs to the government. Which means no can claim, own or destroy? Some recourse, for an example costs, forest and rivers always remain with state. Therefore if two parties get together and carried out a contract to cut-down trees in a forest, it becomes illegal since such a contract goes beyond the common law. Contracts void for being against the public policy. Sometime there may be situations where contracts may not break any laws but still they may become declared illegal due to the fact that such contracts violate the acceptable public policy. Therefore courts do not permit to form contracts which go against the public policy. However the term public policy is merely a legal term and does not indicate that it is related to existing government policies. In addition courts have prepared a list of contracts which are deemed to be opposed to public policy : a) Agreement for stifling precision and for outing Jury diction of courts are unlawful not enforceable. ) Agreement in fraud of insolvency law is illegal. d) Agreement for using improper influence of any kind with Judge or officer of justice is void. e) Agreement in restraint of the marriage of any person other then a minor is void. f) Agreement to procure marriage for reward is void. g) Agreement to pay money to parent or guardian in consideration of giving his daughter in marriage I void. Similarly, a promise by the bride’s Parent to pay money to the bridegroom or his parent I illegal. h) Traffic by ay of ale in public office and Appointment or title for monetary consideration I illegal. ) Agreement tending to create monopoly are void. j) Agreements in restraint of trade are void, partial restraint I allowed in sale of Goodwill. k) Contract unduly retrain individual liberty are enforceable. [http:// www. reportbd. com/articles/42/1 Noid-Contract/Page1 . html ] Contracts that go against the morality. Morality is the quality of being in accord with standards of right or good conduct or a system of ideas that fall into those same categories. [http:// www. allaboutphilosophy. org/definition-of-morality-faq. htm ]. Morality is depending on the culture, religion and other traditions in a country. It can be varies from country to country due to this reason. Morality is much broader than the statutory law. And when a contract is made it should adhere within the accepted morality and should not go against it. Courts can void such contracts that go against the morality. For an example when there is a relationship between an unmarried woman and a married person and if the particular woman decided to break their relationship, that particular person cannot take any legal actions against that woman ever since the promise of marriage contract between them is against the orality and thereby courts may declare it as an illegal contract which is voidable. Consequences of illegality. Enturpi Cauza If one is engaged in illegal activity, one cannot sue another for damages that arose out of that illegal activity. [http://www. duhaime. org/LegalDictionary/E/ Exturpicausanonorituractio. spx ]. In other words this means that if the contract is illegal such contracts are considered as void thus no legal consequences arise under this. This is because of the fact that courts do not enforce illegal contracts and even cannot be accepted for hearing at the court. Inpari Delicto Legal principle that if two parties in a dispute are equally at fault then the party in posse ssion of the contested property gets to retain it (courts will not interfere with breach of a contract, or which fails to take appropriate action (or takes inappropriate action) to limit or recoup a loss, may not claim damages. http:// www. businessdictionary. com/definition/in-pari-delicto- doctrine. html#ixzzOyxs2Napo]. Courts may accept some illegal cases under this rule. If the plaintiff is equally guilty as the defendant, the courts may hear the case and may provide remedies to the defendant. This is due to the fact that Inpari Delicto eemed that if the both parties are equally responsible for the illegality, then the defendant is in a stronger position whereas courts do not support the plaintiff to recover anything from the defendant. However there are some exceptions to the Inpari Delicto rule where the court may favors the plaintiff : 01). Where the guilt of the parties is not equal. When there is a possibility to prove that the guilt of the plaintiff is less than the guilt of the defendant, courts sometime may provide the remedies for the plaintiff. This could be happen if the plaintiff is able to prove that there is a mistake in the facts ade by the defendant at the time of making the contract. In such a scenario court may order the plaintiff to recover any money paid or should receive despite the fact that contract is illegal in nature. 2). Where the illegal activity substantially unperformed. This occurs when the illegal purpose of the contract is not carried out because one of the parties to the contract repents in time and prevents the illegal act to be executed any further. In such a case, the party who stopped the act to be carried out will be able to recover anything which he has paid to the other party . However this could be chievable only if it takes place when it would still have been possible to perform the contract. If the illegal purpose could not be realize for some reason that is out side the control of the plaintiff, he will not be able to recover the payment from the other party. 03). Unjust enrichment. The law only permits the persons to be rich in Just and acceptable ways. Law does not endure unjust enrichments. Therefore if the plaintiff is able to prove that the defendant has become rich in unjust ways due to the conduct of this contract, court may order the defendant to return the property that has acquired.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Brave New World Diction Essay

† In chapter 3 of Aldous Huxley’s novel Brave New World, many things are revealed about hot the society in this novel functions. It shows more about the work that the people do and how the society functions. Huxley uses repetition and descriptive diction to provide a deeper look into the society that is shown in this passage. In one paragraph, one specific word helps to clarify the meaning of the repetition of the word â€Å"whisk†. While talking about history, the Controller states that â€Å"History is bunk† to the students. In context, bunk is taken to mean nonsense, or unimportant. It serves the authors purpose by revealing more about the society in this passage. History is irrelevant to the alphas. The word â€Å"bunk† further helps to explain the diction in the next paragraph of this passage. The word â€Å"whisk† is repeated twelve times in one paragraph. It is used to describe how easily history is wiped away and forgotten. It even shows that music and feelings such as passion are gone. The repetition of the word â€Å"whisk† is fundamental in illustrating how insignificant the past is to this society. The authors use of descriptive diction gives further insight about this society. The author uses words and phrases such as â€Å"tactual†, â€Å"Embryo Store†, and â€Å"Psychology Bureau† among many others. This is significant because it illustrates how technologically advanced the society in this passage is. This passage reveals that society has completely disregarded history and advanced in the scientific field. The author uses the word â€Å"forbidden† to describe poetry books and religious books such as the Bible. This further develops the society as a society where feelings evoked by poetry and religious faith are frowned upon. As this passage demonstrates, history and literature have been removed from this society. History and literature are subjects that connect people, and tie them together, but without them, this passage shows that this society is very advanced in the field of science. This society is clearly appalled by life led by their ancestors. They have effectively gotten rid of history, and any feeling that helps them make lasting connections to other people. Through the use of descriptive diction, the authors purpose of providing insight into this society is fully accomplished. The diction in this passage illustrates how dynamic the society in this novel is. This society revolves around science, and wants nothing to do with the past. This passage provides very important insight into how this society functions, and the structure of the society. The author successfully achieves his purpose through the use of repetition and expressive diction. Brave New World Diction Essay † In chapter 3 of Aldous Huxley’s novel Brave New World, many things are revealed about hot the society in this novel functions. It shows more about the work that the people do and how the society functions. Huxley uses repetition and descriptive diction to provide a deeper look into the society that is shown in this passage. In one paragraph, one specific word helps to clarify the meaning of the repetition of the word â€Å"whisk†. While talking about history, the Controller states that â€Å"History is bunk† to the students. In context, bunk is taken to mean nonsense, or unimportant. It serves the authors purpose by revealing more about the society in this passage. History is irrelevant to the alphas. The word â€Å"bunk† further helps to explain the diction in the next paragraph of this passage. The word â€Å"whisk† is repeated twelve times in one paragraph. It is used to describe how easily history is wiped away and forgotten. It even shows that music and feelings such as passion are gone. The repetition of the word â€Å"whisk† is fundamental in illustrating how insignificant the past is to this society. The authors use of descriptive diction gives further insight about this society. The author uses words and phrases such as â€Å"tactual†, â€Å"Embryo Store†, and â€Å"Psychology Bureau† among many others. This is significant because it illustrates how technologically advanced the society in this passage is. This passage reveals that society has completely disregarded history and advanced in the scientific field. The author uses the word â€Å"forbidden† to describe poetry books and religious books such as the Bible. This further develops the society as a society where feelings evoked by poetry and religious faith are frowned upon. As this passage demonstrates, history and literature have been removed from this society. History and literature are subjects that connect people, and tie them together, but without them, this passage shows that this society is very advanced in the field of science. This society is clearly appalled by life led by their ancestors. They have effectively gotten rid of history, and any feeling that helps them make lasting connections to other people. Through the use of descriptive diction, the authors purpose of providing insight into this society is fully accomplished. The diction in this passage illustrates how dynamic the society in this novel is. This society revolves around science, and wants nothing to do with the past. This passage provides very important insight into how this society functions, and the structure of the society. The author successfully achieves his purpose through the use of repetition and expressive diction.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

W1CapA organizations business strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

W1CapA organizations business strategy - Essay Example 1). The current discourse aims to present a description and evaluation of an organization’s business strategy. As such, to comply with this objective, the business strategy of DHL for 2015 was explicitly noted as involving â€Å"three core objectives: we want to be the provider of choice for customers, an attractive investment for shareholders and the employer of choice for our staff. These goals are all closely related: satisfied employees lead to satisfied customers, on whose loyalty the economic success of the company rests† (DHL, 2015, p. 1). This business strategy was reportedly formulated in 2009. As such, the strategy would be described in greater depth and would be evaluated in terms of the ability of the organization to achieve the identified goals. According to Lipsett (2003), â€Å"the strategic management process consists of three stages: strategy formulation, strategy implementation, and strategy evaluation† (p. 15). Under strategy formulation, the definition of the mission and vision statement of the organization is explicitly communicated. DHL’s mission and vision statements are as follows: As such, one of the effective indicators of the organization’s effectiveness in achieving its explicitly defined goals is through evaluation of its financial results, market share, and share price information. The following financial summary highlights the significant changes that DHL has achieved from 2009 to 2015 in â‚ ¬M: In retrospect, using selected financial indicators, it is evident that DHL has significantly exhibited robust professional growth from 2009, when the business strategy has been formulated. Through effective implementation of effectively designed organizational strategies, the identified goals are deemed to be successfully achieved. However, one strongly believes that the evaluation of DHL’s business strategy should also be undertaken in

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Managing Information Technology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 7

Managing Information Technology - Essay Example IS steering committee also makes sure that the outcomes of the IS project do not affect the company or any of its departments in the negative way. This calls for the need for the advisory board to have a deep insight into the requirements and objectives of the information system. The advisory board must be able to predict and detect the outcomes and plan how to deal with them. Thus, the main purpose is to monitor the changes that the project or its outcomes are going to inflict upon the company as a whole. The committee also works to promote fair dealing among all the departments and the stakeholders so that every one of them has a right to give invoice in the decisions. This requires right kind of leadership and strategic planning. Another role is to promote healthy communication among all the involved parties to bring positive changes to the business on a collaborative platform, such changes that should affect the stakeholders positively, which is the main purpose of the committee. References Brown, C.V., DeHayes, D.W., Hoffer, J.A., & Perkins, W.C. (2008). Managing Information Technology. USA: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Monday, August 26, 2019

Coca-Colas New Vending Machine Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Coca-Colas New Vending Machine - Case Study Example I would recommend Coca-Cola to follow "price discrimination" strategy in such cases as: (1) different customer groups (lower prices for students and higher prices for business organizations); and (2) when a customer buys high quantities of a product. Pricing is a sensitive and complex decision area affecting sales, costs, and profits for both industrial and consumer goods. For consumers, price reductions and increases have symbolic meanings. A customer may associate a price reduction with a reduction in quality, the anticipation of new models, or even lower prices or poor market acceptance. Higher prices may indicate better quality, a good image, and good value (Das Narayandas 2000). Price discrimination is effective tool when it is applied to each individual consumer. For instance, if a buyer is willing to pay more for a product and receive exceptional quality, he/she should pay more. The second situation when Coca-Cola can follow price discrimination is when a customer buys products in large quantities. For instance, price reductions can be proposed to repeat customers and loyal customers. The third case when "price discrimination" is justified is when the company serves different customer groups.

Sunday, August 25, 2019

To study the relation between satisfying and dissatisfying factors Thesis Proposal

To study the relation between satisfying and dissatisfying factors affecting workers productivity - Thesis Proposal Example Productivity of workers can not be enhanced unless the workers feel satisfied and committed to their work. Theory to focus on: Herzberg presented a unique theory about motivation in which he said that factors that cause dissatisfaction among workers in their workplace are not opposite to the factors that inculcate satisfaction in them. Herzberg drew the relationship between job satisfiers and dissatisfiers stating, â€Å"†¦job satisfiers deal with the factors involved in doing the job, whereas the job dissatisfiers deal with the factors which define the job context† (Herzberg, 1959 cited in Chapman, 2010). That essentially means that if the employers take measures to reduce the dissatisfaction among workers, they may effectively preclude all the factors causing dissatisfaction among workers. However, that does not mean that such an attempt of the employers would generate satisfaction among workers so that they would improve their performance. There is dire need to study t he relationship between the potential satisfying and dissatisfying factors so that measures taken by employers can be made effective in drawing the desired results by simultaneously addressing both satisfaction and dissatisfaction. Hypothesis: There is an inverse relationship between job satisfiers and dissatisfiers. If measures are taken to improve the workers’ satisfaction in their work, their dissatisfaction also declines.

Differentiate descriptive, historical, correlational, and experimental Essay

Differentiate descriptive, historical, correlational, and experimental research methods. Provide clear definitions of each. Use examples that point out the fact - Essay Example This approach is designed to assemble quantitative data that answers questions regarding a population status and hypotheses testing. Descriptive research usually uses interviews, surveys, and natural observation to gain numerical data, which can be processed over a short-run or longitudinal period of time. Once the "technique for describing, organizing, and summarizing numerical data" is consummated, the numerical data is statistically analyzed using "mean, mode, median, variance, standard deviation, range, percentage, frequency and rank" (Quarterman et al pp 230, 2005). An organization wants to numerically define types of purchases for a selected demographic. One technique is to create a survey questionnaire that reflects specific and non-biased qualitative questions with numerical responses. Once the questionnaire is distributed and received back, the numerical data is analyzed using the descriptive statistics Quarterman describes. This is a cross-sectional method because it only deals with one instance, however if the organization wishes to follow participants through a time line, the research is considered longitudinal. The benefit of descriptive research method is that it generates a numerical value to answer a qualitative question. This can be used to test hypothesis, to find averages, and to create a measurement that can be analyzed to describe a state of being for a population. The cons of descriptive research are sample and measurement errors where a samples responses are incorrectly delivered, construed, answered or analyzed. In the above example if the organization incorrectly sends the questionnaire to the wrong demographic, the responses would be seriously negligent of the description they are trying to analyze, and the responses would be virtually useless. This method analyzes past information and the resolutions or irresolution associated with an event that has already occurred by

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Classical Theorists Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Classical Theorists - Essay Example Wilson did not believe in the principle of equality, implying that claims to superior wisdom cannot validate law or rule and that legalize government is based on the people’s consent. Wilson acknowledges that that expertise and skill is the title to govern or administer. Despite this, Wilson suggests that under certain circumstances and at certain times, certain systems in America will work. Wilson trusted in the expertise as the best way to administer which is coupled with a reflective of republican view of self-government (Cook, 2007). Democracy has enlightened many people of the stubborn, ignorant, foolish, and selfish to people who emanate from distinct nationalities. Despite this, Wilson believed that there was still hope in that his aim was to champion for bureaucracy from wise and intelligent people, generate from them, and open for the people a bureau of economical, knowledgeable, and skilled administration. Wilson’s views on administration and politics were har d to sell to the American people because they preferred and believed in democracy. Wilson believes that administration must be perceptive to public view. When assessing the dichotomy of politics and administration, Wilson argues that the establishment of a public office must be viewed as a public trust (Cook, 2007). Wilson’s views on an effective administration were based on the idea that trained and skilled servants would teach the people by enhancing public belief/views and thereby even governing them. Therefore, according to Wilson, the bureaucracy would educate and enlighten voters. This implies that Wilson was more concerned about civil service, which he believed was self-sufficient and cultured to act aggressively, and in relate with the popular vote by ways of constant public advice and elections in order to attain arbitrariness of class struggle (Cook, 2007). Wilson’s approach to politics and administration was not ideal because it failed

Friday, August 23, 2019

Asylum Rights in International Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Asylum Rights in International Law - Essay Example The right of asylum, otherwise known as political asylum, relates to an individual rejected by their own country being protected by another sovereign authority. The institution of asylum dates from the same time with the start of civilization. It is an international concept that still has not received apt considerations in terms of the inalienable rights in the international human rights charter. There exist setbacks in terms of interpretation where many states argue that they cannot put their sovereignty to test due to the international human rights stipulations. Asylum develops from persecution and many different forms of persecution can lead to application of asylum. There are specific persecutions that lead to an individual gaining the refugee status. Persecution on the basis of gender practices has been common in the recent years. This has advanced the claims for asylum among many people across the world. Persecution ranges on different factors which can include gender, religion and social status. An additional note is that the meaning of persecution may also comprise discrimination of persons opposing colonialism. Many states have incorporated their immigrant requirements and asylum allowance into the same legal structure. The decision of a granting a persecuted individual or a refugee asylum depends on the state. This paper seeks to analyze the status of asylum within international human rights law. ... The rights to asylum therefore, are well spelt out and cannot be enjoyed at the expense of a country’s security and derogation of the international law. It is apt to discuss the description and status of refugees who are different form asylum seekers. On the contrary, human rights work brings about challenges for asylum supporters. This field of international human rights has witness intense reforms since the mid twentieth century. This was the time when the principle normative frame for refugees was recognized. The gender based approach on understanding the fundamental rights has changed what counts as rights violation. This is on a scope that the violations are not only viewed as private or stately induced but political violations. Clearly this informs the description of asylum as political based (Gibney, 2005 p74). International human rights subject has thus transformed to incorporate issues linked to gender-based public issues, sexuality and sexual orientation. Internation al human rights are viewed on grounds of development, globalization and health. Home displacement has emerges as a key area of concern, shifting the dominance of a country’s sovereignty as a rationalization for non-involvement. These progress challenges asylum advocates to modernize the initial notions in refugee protection. This should be done while keeping grip of the old internationalist system in a situation where exilic defense of asylum seekers is in challenges. In international law, all contracting states to the United Nations should give sympathetic consideration to individuals who are unable to get travel documents from their countries. Under article 31, all these

Thursday, August 22, 2019

The stories of mystery and suspense you have read present improbable events Essay Example for Free

The stories of mystery and suspense you have read present improbable events Essay The stories of mystery and suspense you have read present improbable events. How have the writers of these stories engaged and sustained your interest? Which of the two stories did you find more successful? Refer closely to the text and offer quotation to support your ideas. The stories themselves are not scary to a modern audience but to the audience at the period that the stories were written the stories would have been horrific. Although a modern audience would still be scared of these concepts for example fear of the unknown or the fear of a random logical murderer. I am to contrast these short stories The tell tale heart by Edgar Allen Poe and The sea raiders by HG Wells. Poes Tell tale heart opens with the exclamation of a mad man, which adds to the mystery and suspense, as we dont know whether or not to believe the mad mans logic and also the protagonist uses repetition of language such as will you say I am mad? Attempting to convince the reader that he is not insane but actually he confirms that he is insane by exclaiming lines like the afore mentioned. This use of language puts doubt about the characters sanity into the readers mind. He also adds suspense to the story as he involves the reader and the reader becomes a voyeuristic accomplice. This adds to the suspense as the reader feels like a key element in the murder and they get a view into the murderers mind. The reader has doubts about the protagonists motives due to the fact that he is mad. This story is a first person narrative story and the theme is believable because of the authors passionate expression of the story. The setting in this story is in a dark house and mainly in just one room. This gives a claustrophobic sense to the story and dramatically increases the suspense and mystery as it is amplified on a far greater extent than need be to create a mysterious presence and so it draws the readers attention onto the story a lot more. This also gives an almost tangible effect on the man and his room. The theme of the play is based mainly on just two characters the old man and the mad man so it gives a predator prey relationship as the mad man is going to kill the old man. This also narrows the focus and keeps the readers attention fully on the characters involved and also portrays a sense of suspense. This also can be affiliated with the fact that the writer uses the reader as a voyeuristic accomplice. The death of the old man or the mad mans plan shows no logic whatsoever and is focused onto one character, this greatly adds to the suspense as it once again draws the reader into the story and creates a sense mystery as the mad man kills the old man due to his eye being covered by a crust and the fact that he fluctuated from the beating of his heart to the eye shows more illogical thinking. The writer uses many linguistic tricks to sustain the readers interest, for example he uses the repetition of sanity to show that the character is insane How then, am I mad? He also uses the repetition of words and phrases to show that the characters line of thought is irrational and full of pandemonium. He always includes the reader as it creates more suspense as the reader feels like an accomplice. He uses a mixture of short, sharp sentences for sudden actions and makes use of long sentences with commas, ands, and hyphens to create suspense and show that the character is confused. Poe also makes use of conjunction to hold the readers attention and to build up the atmosphere And then The use of this is kept to a minimum, as Poe doesnt want to wear out its effect! The second story is written in a scientific style and because it is done like that it draws the reader to the conclusions that everything in it is factual. This also makes the story more realistic and the fact that the author doesnt attempt to force conclusions onto the reader unlike in the previous story where the narrator attempts to convince the reader that he isnt mad. To make this story factual the writer has used names of people and dates to create a more scientific theme to the story. He does this from the start found earlier in 1896 by Mr Jennings. This makes it more plausible. The scene is set to a totally opposite scope to that in Poes story. The setting is in the sea, which is an expansive, vague place that is too large to document. The effect is the same though as the sea is so wide it has a lot that is unknown and there is a fear of the unknown, this only adds to the mystery and suspense that this story creates. Unlike Poes story Wells creates a bigger selection of characters and because there is a bigger scope of characters especially when the story is one that has a random murderer and all the characters in the story are possible victims. This adds to the fear factor, as the characters dont know who is next. The story shows that the octopus is a random killer but it is a logical one, which makes it, even more of a scary thought, as a killer with intelligence is worse than one that is stupid. The theme to this story is the opposite of that of Poes but it still carries the same underlying effects. It is controlled, calm, logical and scientific so the reader is more inclined to believe it and therefore be shocked as it is both unknown to the common man and to science. The author uses conditional words and phrases to add to the mystery for example it seems or it might be The author also refuses to have the characters jump to conclusions and these emphases the scientific nature of the prose; it makes it more like a calculated scientific report and hence makes it more believable for the readers. I believe that Edgar Allen Poe is more successful purely for the reason that I found that his story drew my attention a lot more and kept my interest focused on the story at hand although both authors use many different techniques to grasp and sustain the readers interest.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Purposes Of Different Types Of Organisation Economics Essay

Purposes Of Different Types Of Organisation Economics Essay The sole trader is a business owned by one person who is self-employed and why may, in some cases, employ other people on a full or part time basis. Normally using personal funds to start business, the sole trader decides on the type of goods or services to be produced, where the business is to be located, what capital is required, what staff(if any) to employ, what the target market should be. In Britain about eighty per cent of all business is sole traders. The reason for this predominance is the relative ease with which an individual can establish a business this type. Examples include: builders, small shops, independent agents. Partnership is when two or more individuals establish a business which they own. The partners have unlimited personal liability both jointly and severally.   The liability of limited partners is limited to their investment in the partnership. Under the law, partnerships are limited to 20 or less partners. Partnership companies usually have written contracts between partners, but thats not necessary. This states the type of partnership it is, how much capital each party has contributed, and how profits and losses will be shared. The typical examples of partnerships are doctors, dentists and solicitors.  They can benefit from shared expertise, but like the sole trader, have unlimited liability. Limited companies are companies which are registered at Companies House- www.companieshouse.gov.uk. It is a legal entity or legal person with its own legal rights and obligations, separate and distinct from those of its members. All property, which is registered on company, belongs to company and is not treated as belonging to the companys shareholders and directors. The benefit of limited company is that is offers limited liability to its members. The company as a separate legal entity is liable for its debts and the members and directors are not personally liable unless they have acted wrongly in some way. There are two types of limited companies as public limited companies (PLCs) and private limited companies (Limited, LTD). The vast majority of trading companies are private companies limited by shares. Many private companies are very small. There is no minimum capital required for private company and its commonly less than 100 £. A private company may not offer shares to the public. For example it can be any shop, pub, construction company etc. PLC is company which  is appropriate for larger businesses where shares are intended to be available to the general public. A public company must have a minimum share capital of  £50,000, of which at least one-quarter plus any share premium must be paid up before the company can obtain its trading certificate from Companies House and start trading. This is the only type of company which may raise capital by offering shares to the public. For example its some supermarket chain, delivery company or airlines company. Consumer co-operative societies are organisations owned by consumers which aim is fulfilling needs and aspirations of their members. They operate in market system independently from the state as mutual aid, oriented to service rather than make a profit.  Consumers cooperatives often take the form of retail outlets owned and operated by their consumers, such as  food cooperatives, health care, insurance,  housing,  utilities  and personal finance. Workers co-operatives are organisations in which ownership and control of the assets are in the hands of the people who working in it. They have the objective of creating and maintaining sustainable jobs and generating wealth, to improve the quality of life of the worker-members, dignify human work, allow workers democratic self-management and promote community and local development. The main principles of the organisations are democracy, open membership, social responsibility, mutual co-operation and trust, help to differentiate co-operative from other forms of business organisations. Public corporations are legal entities created by government to undertake commercial activities behalf of an owner government. In the public sector the state owns assets in various forms, which it uses to provide a range of goods and services felt to be of benefit to its citizens. These state corporations an important part of the public sector of the economy and they are very significant to national output, employment and investment. These public corporations are hospitals, municipal water companies, rail services etc. Describe the extent to which an organisation meets the objectives of different. The main organisational objective of for-profit organisation is to make more profit. Aims and objectives establish where the business would like to be in the future, helping to control their plans, motivate staff and give everyone sense of direction. Any decision made within the organisation should be in line with their aims and objectives. The objectives are influence by various stakeholders, as well as the nature of the business. Different stakeholder groups will have different objectives to satisfy their interests. Objectives can be: corporate which affect the whole business, departmental objectives that are for a certain area of business and individual objectives are used in performance appraisal for employees. Employees- wage levels; working conditions; job security; personal development Managers- job security; status; personal power; organisational profitability; growth of the organisation Shareholders- market value of investment; dividends; security of investment; liquidity of investment Creditors- security of loan; interest of loan; liquidity of investment Suppliers- security of contract; regular payment; growth of organisation; market development Society- safe products; environmental sensitivity; equal opportunities; avoidance of discrimination Explain the responsibilities of an organisation and strategies employed to meet them. Every company, business, department has a duty and remit to provide a service. An organisation must operate within the boundaries of the law. Reputation and trust are everything, and a consumer cant have trust or faith in your ability to deliver if you cant prove and guarantee youre legitimacy. An organisation must also have strict financial control. Recruitment is vitally important. Organisations need reliable workers who have enthusiasm, but also intelligence; workers that are able to be creative but also to take advice and critique from management. Also organisations are responsible for health and safety of their employees. They need to provide safe working environment and equipment. Explain how economic systems attempt to allocate resources effectively. There are three kinds of economic system which are basically adopted by the different countries. They are: free market, centrally planned, mixed market. Free market economic system: The intervention of government is kept at a minimum level or neglected in free market system and all the economics resources comes under the private sectors as well market. Price mechanism will determine how much of goods or services will be supplied according to the market demands. Most decisions are based on market mechanism. The supply, demand and ability play the vital role in market decision making. As per looking at the free market system it raises the various unsolved questions like who will produce the goods and services and infrastructures for the country to meet the needs of every public. For example UK. Centrally planned economy system: Centrally planned economic system refers that government allocates the economic resources; government makes all the planning regarding the economical activities. Private sectors are kept far away in involvement of any economical accumulation. These kinds of economics were found in the Asian, central Europe, Eastern Europe and Latin American nations but now these are found in Cuba, Iraq, Iran, North Korea etc. In these systems basically unemployment problems will not be faced since government plan all the economical activities and resources will be allocated based needs of its people and different industries inputs. Mixed economy system: This system is a mixture of all other systems. The system where both capitalism and socialism economic system are included it is known as mixed economic system. Mixed economic system splits the available economic resources available in the country to both private sectors and government. Private sectors are encouraged to get involved and participate in utilizing the resources which helps to gain economic profit for whole nation. Countries like USA, UK, Russia and China to countries like Cambodia, Peru and Vietnam has adopted this economic system. When one fails to meets the public desire other can get it and helps to maintain the economic balance not only in the particular country but also the whole nation. Assess the impact of fiscal and monetary policy on business organisations and their activities. Fiscal policy decisions have a widespread effect on the everyday decisions and behaviour of individual households and businesses. Basically fiscal policy means how government taxes us and how it spends the money. Increased taxation makes the price of goods and services more expensive, reducing demand for them and reducing employment. Lower taxes mean more disposable income for consumers and more cash for businesses to invest in jobs and equipment. Stimulus-spending programs, which are short term in nature and often involve infrastructure projects, can also help drive business demand by creating short term jobs. Increasing income or consumption taxes usually mean less disposable income, which, over time, can decelerate business activity. Monetary policy impact changes in short term interest rates influence long term interest rates, such as mortgage rates. Low interest rates mean lower interest expense for businesses and higher disposable income for consumers. This combination means higher business profits. Lower mortgage rates may spur more home buying activity, which is usually good for the construction industry. Lower rates also mean more refinancing of existing mortgages, which may also enable consumers to consider other purchases. High interest rates can have the opposite impact for businesses: higher interest expenses, lower sales and lower profits. Interest-rate changes can affect stock prices, which can impact consumer spending. Evaluate the impact of competition policy and other regulatory mechanisms on the activities of a selected organisation. Apple Inc. Apple Inc was founded on April 1, 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne in U.S. California. They had produced and selling computers. Company was growing up very quick, because they were kind of pioneers in that industry. Apple Computer was predominantly a manufacturer of personal computers. Apple core product lines are: Macintosh computer line, iPod music player, iPhone and iPad. The company now is also known for its iOS product range that began with iPhone, iPod and iPad. They also have iTunes- online music store. Now Apple is the largest technology company in the world its stock market value is $500 billion. Revenue of 2011 was $127.8 billion in sales. Recently, European Commission accused Apple Inc. of violating European Competition rules in music industry. Apple Inc. uses iTunes to sell particular songs. iTunes services prevent its users in one Member State of the European Union to buy songs from another iTunes webpage, which is located in another Member State. E.g. if consumer lives in the Czech Republic and he wants to buy the particular song from Slovakian iTunes webpage, he is not allowed to do so. That means that the price of the song shall be charged according to the place where the consumer lives (cost of songs varies between the Member States). European Commission sent to the Apple Inc. so called statement of objections which accused the Apple Inc. of unfair agreements with record labels of containing territorial sales restrictions, which violates European Union competition rules. The Apple Inc. tried to defend itself that this policy was as the outcome of the demands of the music record industry. Moreover the music which is bought from iTunes obligate to use only the Apple iPod music player, because other portable music players, does not support songs bought from iTunes. iPod users in the United Kingdom have to pay more cash for the song if they want to buy it from the iTunes online store in the United Kingdom than other users in the Continental Europe. European Commission was investigating this issue and threatened Apple Inc. with the fine of GBP 330.000.000. Explain how market structures determine the pricing and output decisions of businesses. Market structure is number of firms producing identical product homogenous. Monopolistic competition where there is a large number of firms, each having a small proportion of the market share and slightly differentiated products. They take the prices of other competitors as given and ignore the impact of its own prices of other firms. The number of firms and output determines supply and demand. For example: Coke and Pepsi; toothpaste; shaving foams like Gillette and Dove. Oligopoly is when a small number of firms control the market. Then usually prices of products or services are high. Industries which are examples of oligopolies include: Steel industry, aluminium, film, television, cell phone, gas, electricity. Duopoly is a special case of an oligopoly where two companies compete in a market. Monopsony when there is one buyer faces with many sellers. Oligopsony, a market where many sellers can be present but meet only a few buyers. Monopoly, where there is only one provider of a product or service. For example it was Microsoft Company in U.S. Natural monopoly is when firm is a natural monopoly if it is able to serve the entire market demand at a lower cost than any combination of two or more smaller, more specialized firms. Perfect competition a theoretical market structure that features no barriers to entry, an unlimited number of producers and consumers, and a perfectly elastic demand curve. Illustrate the way in which market forces shape organisational responses using a range of examples. Supply and demand are the forces that make market economies work. They determine the quantity of each good produced and the price at which it is sold. A market is a group of buyers and sellers of a particular good or service. The buyers as a group determine the demand for the product, and the sellers as a group determine the supply of the product. For example, if oil prices rises then price of delivery services rise and the price of the goods as well. When summer is end and tourist season is finished then prices of hotel rooms goes down. If grape harvest is bad one year then prices of wine will be higher in next year. Judge how the business and cultural environments shape the behaviour of a selected company. Apple Inc. The approach they working with and the secret of success, is based on simple, creative design and ease of using technology on daily bases. The success of Apple is embedded in Steve Jobs strength-based approach to company strategy. The pillars of Steve Jobs strategy are built upon a core of capabilities, the seizing of opportunities, and an organizational culture that enables the attainment of Apples goals. Steve Jobs was one of the companys master minds who had absolutely genial ideas, and he realized those ideas to change people lives. Before iPhone was released and smart phones come to our lives, the mobile phones became more complicated and difficult to use them. When the Apple released iPhone, it changes mobile phone market for ever. It was sensation, because it was absolutely different and completely new technology with touch screen and without many buttons as usually. Now the iPhone is part of many people lives and also fashion. iPhone becoming more popular in the world and the Apple now is 3rd larger mobile phone company in the world. Discuss the significance of international trade to UK business organisations. Some of the key commodities in which the UK trades are manufactured goods, beverages, fuels and chemicals. According to a World Trade Organization (WTO) report published in 2008, the UK has retained its position as the worlds largest commercial services exporter. Moreover, with the UK recording a profit of $263 billion in the commercial services sector, the country continues to be the worlds second largest provider of these services. UK trade consists of the movement of goods and services within the European Union, of which it is a member, and to non-EU countries. International trade in the UK is assisted by UK Trade Investment (UKTI). This government organization focuses on enhancing the competitiveness of UK companies through overseas trade and investments. It also aims at continuing to attract high-quality foreign direct investment (FDI). In order to attract foreign businesses and foreign investment, the British government has adopted a variety of programs. For instance, the Parliament allows local and regional governments to establish enterprise zones. In these zones, companies receive exemptions from property taxes and reimbursement for costs involved in the construction of new factories or business locations. There are also programs that provide incentives for companies to locate in economically depressed urban areas that are known as Assisted Areas. In 1998, the total value of these programs was US$315 million. There are 7 free trade zones in the United Kingdom (Birmingham, Humberside, Liverpool, Prestwick, Sheerness, Southampton, and Tilbury). These zones allow goods to be stored for shipment without tariffs or import duties. Analyse the impact of global factors on UK business organizations. International trade and the UK economy: UK businesses will see international trade growth accelerate from 2014 as the global economy ends a period of growth contraction, according to HSBC. There are fundamental changes taking place in world trade, UK exports to China and to India grew by 21% and 37% respectively in 2011 and HSBC estimates that it processed around one third of these by value. Market opportunities: Evaluating markets and future trends can be a major challenge for any business. New market opportunities spring from a range of possible sources and vary in their size, importance, and risk. New demographic or vertical industry segments New geographic regions Alternate offerings of service models, supplies, and other annuities World Trade Organisation (WTO) is the only international agency overseeing the rules of international trade. It polices free trade agreements, settles trade disputes between governments and organises trade negotiations. 4.3 Evaluate the impact of policies of the European Union on UK business organisations. The United Kingdom is a member of the European Union but isnt part of the single currency, the Euro. Free trade The EU is a trade bloc which means there are no quotas or tariffs for companies exporting goods and services within the EU. European legislation is meant to make it easier for UK businesses to trade across the EUs 27 states. The internal market the single market means UK citizens are free to move, live, study and trade anywhere within the EU.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Strategic Role Of Information Systems Information Technology Essay

Strategic Role Of Information Systems Information Technology Essay The CIMB Bank Cloud Computing Strategic Direction Paper describes the whole of MSF Sales Force policy position on cloud computing. The strategy will states that the MSF Sales Division can choose a cloud-based service if it show clearly and deliberately value for money, fitness for purpose and are adequately secure; provides guidance for MSF Sales Force on what cloud computing is; and some of the issues and benefits of cloud computing that MSF Sales Force need to be aware of. Our investigation focused on three areas such as IT infrastructure and related problems, business processes and Environmental issues. Result of our analysis has lead to several recommendations. The paper recognises that the public cloud is still undergoing a gradual change, particularly in areas such as security and privacy. These issues need to be adequately resolved before critical MSF Sales Division can be transitioned to the cloud. As a result, the paper outlines three streams of work: Stream One provides the sales division with guidance and documentation. Stream Two encourages sales division to adopt public cloud services for public facing unclassified government services and to undertake proof of concept studies to fully understand the risks of the cloud environment. Stream Three encourages a strategic approach to cloud. This work is dependent upon greater clarity around projects commissioned under the Data Centre Strategy. 1. INTRODUCTION CIMB Group is the leading Asean Universal banking franchise, offering full range of financial products and services covering consumer banking, corporate and investment banking, Islamic banking, assets management, wealth management, insurance and Takaful and private banking. However, we are writing report based on one of CIMB Bank sales division known as Mobile Sales Force. Mobile Sales Force or more known as MSF is the largest sales channel in CIMB Bank. Comprising more than 2,000 staffs, promoting and distributing CIMB Bank key products such as mortgage loan for private and corporate, personal loan for government sector and credit cards. MSF was established backed in 2006 with the vision to be the best-in-class sales organization with a passion for exceeding expectation. Prior approval and consent from MSF head of department had been obtained in conducting research. CIMB GROUP PROFILE CIMB Group is ASEANs leading universal banking franchise. We offer a full range of financial products and services covering consumer banking, corporate and investment banking, Islamic banking, asset management, wealth management, insurance and takaful, and private banking. With over 37,000 employees, CIMB Group reaches 81% of the ASEAN population, representing 89% of the regions gross domestic product. Our retail network of over 1,000 branches is the widest in the region. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, CIMB Groups main markets are Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Cambodia. Our presence in 13 countries covers ASEAN and major global financial centres, as well as countries in which our customers have significant business and investment dealings. In addition, we extend our reach and range of products and services through strategic partnerships. Our partners include the Principal Financial Group, Aviva plc, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Standard Bank plc, Daishin Securities and the Kanoo Group, among others. CIMB GROUP As the leading ASEAN universal banking franchise, CIMB Group offers a full range of financial products and services covering consumer banking, corporate and investment banking, Islamic banking, asset management, wealth management, insurance and takaful, and private banking. We operate our businesses on a dual banking leverage model, giving customers a choice of both conventional and Islamic financial solutions. Our main markets in which we offer full universal banking facilities are Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand. We also have a presence in other countries where our customers have significant business and investment dealings. CIMB BANK Our Consumer Banking business offers a full range of conventional and Islamic financial products and services to meet the borrowing and financing, wealth management and transaction needs of our individual customers and businesses. Our spectrum of banking services include credit cards, mortgages, auto loans and financing, commercial banking services for Small Medium Enterprises and mid-sized corporate customers, insurance and takaful, investment and wealth management services. We have an extensive retail network across the region in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and Cambodia that serves over 11 million customers The rest of this report is as follows : Section 2 : IT Infrastructure and Ecosystem. Explained the IT infrastructure and Ecosystem of the organisation. Section 3 : Cloud computing and its business benefits. Provided cloud computing and its benefits and costs. Section 4 : Recommendation of cloud computing adoption/adaption. Recommended a suitable cloud that MSF could adopt. Section 5: Conclusions. Summarises the key points from the analysis and provided recommendation 2. IT INFRASTRUCTURE AND ECOSYSTEM CIMB IT infrastructure today consist of seven major components that must be coordinated to provide the division with a coherent IT infrastructure and the major vendors within each category INTERNET PLATFORMS Microsoft, Unix, Java DATA MANAGEMENT STORAGE IBM, DB2, Oracle, SQL Server, Sybase COMPUTER HARDWAREPLATFORMS Dell, HP IT INFRASTRUCTURE CONSULTANT SYSTEM INTEGRATOR IBM, EDS, Accenture ECOSYSTEM OPERATING SYSTEM PLATFORMS Microsoft Window NETWORKING TELECOM-MUNICATION Microsoft Window Server, Linux ENTERPRISE SOFTWARE PLATFORMS Oracle, Microsoft CIMB CORPORATE NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE: Issues and Challenges Securing Information System MSF are faced with challenges of data and information security. We need to have users security procedures guidelines. At the moment, there is no such policy guidelines. As MSF is a firm providing financial services, MSF must comply with the Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999, better known as the Gramm-Leach Billey Act (Laudon, KC Laudon, JP 2010, pg 337) Malicious Software Malware (Laudon, KC Laudon, JP 2010, pg 328) will be another hurdle for implementation of cloud computing as there is no IT department within MSF. All IT issues and problems will have to be refer to CIMB Group IT. This will cause time, delaying as the problem cannot be solve in-house and need to wait for IT department action. MSF will have no control as to when CIMB Group IT will react to the reported problem. Absent of Transaction Processing Systems MSF did not have TPS a systems that keep track of the elementary activities of the organisation such as sales for all products such as personal and enterprise mortgages, personal loans and credit cards, customers information like age, annual income, employee, and credit decisions like common rejection reason and best customer profile. (Laudon, KC Laudon, JP 2010, pg 75) Decision Support Systems (DCS) Executive Support Systems (ESS) Due to absent of TPS no proper management information systems (MIS) to enable DCS ESS DCS is useful in providing support non-routine decision making for middle management and ESS for senior management (Laudon, KC Laudon, JP 2010, pg 78 81) Data management Systems (DBMS) As MSF have multiple products, all data given will be in different formats and all users will have their own preferred format of reporting thus creating double work when each product user need to extract and reformat the data into meaningful information. (Laudon, KC Laudon, JP 2010, pg 240) Establishing an information policy Although there are numerous CIMB Banking Acts like, Banking Financial Institute Act1989 (BAFIA) section 97 secrecy, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) GP7 confidentiality, CIMB Group Code of Ethics governing the information policy, there is still a need for drafting information policy for MSF sales division. More specific guidelines, rules and penalties in controlling MSF information policy for sharing, disseminating, acquiring, standardising, classifying and inventorying information systems are needed. (Laudon, KC Laudon, JP 2010, pg 259) 3. CLOUD COMPUTING AND ITS BUSINESS BENEFITS AND COSTS Cloud computing represent a sea of change in the way the computing performed by corporations as business computing shifts out of private data centers into `the cloud (Carr, 2008). For a huge company and having a complex proprietary systems supporting unique business process, we are mostly likely to have a hybrid computing model where firms will use their own infrastructure for the essential core activities and adopt a cloud computing for a less critical systems. 3.1 Benefits of Cloud Computing Reduced cost Cloud technology is paid incrementally, saving organizations money. The organization is able to plan the needed expenses more wisely. By cloud computing the cost is proportion to the requirement. Increased Storage Organizations can store more data than on private computer systems. Highly Automated No longer do IT personnel need to worry about keeping software up date and backup. Cloud computing will automatically do the update and backup the system giving the organization more time to do business than fixing the problems on its own. Flexibility Cloud computing offers much more flexibility than past computing methods. More Mobility Employees can access information wherever they are, rather than having to remain at their desks from morning till evening which is tiring and sometimes a boring job. The cloud made the business go mobile. Allows IT to Shift Focus No longer having to worry about constant server updates and other computing issues, organizations will be free to concentrate on innovation and research and development. This help business and product growth in the long run. 3.2 Cost of Cloud Computing Today, many large firms are burden with redundant, incompatible hardware and software because departments and divisions have been allowed to order and purchase their own technology. This make the cost of owning technology assets are relatively high. The cloud concept is paying what you use and no minimum fee required. The users are paying either on a monthly subscription fees or per transaction basis which are composed of the following mandatory components:. Management Interface at $6.25 per month Platform creation cost Application template Release Low usage (one time fee) Average Usage (one time fee) Frequent Usage (one time fee) SAP ERP 6.0 Eh P4 $29 $179 $679 SAP Enterprise Portal 7.0 Eh P1 $19 $169 $669 SAP Solution Manager 7.0 Eh P1 $49 $199 $699 SAP Business Intelligence 7.0 (BI Cont 7.05) $39 $189 $689 SAP Ides CRM 7.0 $39 $189 $689 Computing infrastructure cost This cost will only be charged when you operate your platform. Operational support and the used computing infrastructure as cpu, memory, a static network address and network traffic are included. Configuration Set CPU Memory Low Usage (per hour) Average Usage (per hour) Frequent Usage (per hour) 1-5 users 4 core 8 GB $1.99 $1.68 $1.49 6-10 users 4 core 12 GB $2.68 $2.37 $2.18 11-15 users 4 core 16 GB $3.37 $3.06 $2.87 16-25 users 8 core 18 Gb $3.98 $3.67 $3.48 4. RECOMMENDATIONS OF CLOUD COMPUTING (briefly described cloud computing recommendations) 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 5. CONCLUSIONS The following summarises the findings and recommendations as outlined below. 5.1 Summary of key findings The Study leads to the conclusion that cloud computing has the potential to transform IT, not necessarily through its impact on an agencys core business systems, but through commoditizing routine services such as e-mail, web servers, and data storage. Cloud computing can also easily deliver services that are common across government, such as accounting, procurement, and collaboration tools. If CIOs can increase their reliance on commodity computing, they will then have more time and resources to focus on the strategic management of ITand provide leadership and value for their agencies. We hope that this timely and informative report will be useful to profes ­sionals and executives across government who are seeking innovative approaches in order to leverage the new technology of cloud computing in their effort to reform and improve ITprograms and the delivery of services to both government itself and to citizens. 5.2 Recommendations 5.3. Limitation of Studies LIST OF REFERENCES Department of Finance and Deregulation 2011,  Cloud computing strategic direction paper: opportunities and applicability for use by the Australian Government  , viewed 5 April 2011, . Mell P Grance T 2011, The NIST definition of cloud computing (draft) , viewed 19 March 2011, . Wyld, DC 2009, Moving to the cloud: an introduction to cloud computing in government , viewed 19 March 2011, . Laudon, KC Laudon, JP 2010, Management information systems: managing the digital firm, 11th edition. Cirrus cloud computing : Price list, viewed on 30 April 2011 APPENDICES Appendix 1: Journal Appendix 2: Cost and Benefits Appendix 3: Cloud Computing Benefits Appendix 4: Problems With Data Centre Power Consumption Appendix 5 : Power Consumption For Each Computer Appendix 1: Journal (390 words) Thomas 24 March, 2011 Thursday: Conducted informal interview (9:30am) with Sim, Customer Service Engineer. Obtained basic information of MSF IT infratructure Thomas 03 April, 2011 Sunday: Visited report writing presentation by Adrian Stagg Lindy Kimmins (11:00pm) Thomas 03 April, 2011 Sunday: Seek permission from MSF Head (10:30pm), Mr. Daniel Cheong on selecting MSF Department for assignment 4 Thomas 04 April, Monday: Approval obtained by Mr. Daniel Cheong at 12:06am Thomas Janet 04 April, 2011 Monday: Both of us arranged to communicate through phone and email as we are from different parts of the country after office hours at 7.30pm. We discussed briefly on which of the organization intended to work on to our assignment report. In the end, after much discussion we decided to select either one of our company which we are currently employed for our assignment report after which we have discussed with our relevant IT department in our next meeting. Thomas Janet 04 April, 2011 Monday: We communicate again at 8.30pm. After much exchange informations of our survey on our IT department, we decided to select company, CIMB Bank Bhd as the organization to work on for our assignment report due to the good support from his company IT personnel. Next we discussed about the plan on how to complete our assignment through allocation of jobs. As we have selected my company to work on for our assignment report, Thomas 05 April, 2011 Tuesday: I log into CIMB Group website www.cimb.com/index.php?tpt=cimb_group and started my introduction part of my report (11:00am) Janet 06th April, 2011 Wednesday: I visited a few website : www.finance.gov.au/e-government/strategy-and-governance/cloud-computing.htm,    www.isaca.org/Knowledge-Center/Research/Documents/Cloud-Computing-28Oct09-Research.pdf  and www.startupbizhub.com/business-benefits-of-cloud-computing.htm which give me some information on opportunities of adoption by the Australia Government Thomas 08 April, 2011 Saturday: Sent email (8:30pm) to MSF Head personal assistance, requesting for MSF organisation chart, MSF IT infrastructure Eco system Janet 11 April, 2011 Monday: Visited the Australia Department of Finance and Deregulation 2011 again and started to complete the Executive Summary for our assignment. Thomas 16 April, 2011 Saturday: Visited USQ study desk for assignment 4 resources (9:00pm) http://usqstudydesk.usq.edu.au/mod/resource/view.php?inpopup=trueid=391393 Visited Wikipedia for pseudonym http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudonym (9:20pm) Reading assignment 4 mock up report (10:00pm) Reading CIMB Group Rules for Business Conduct (11:00pm) Janet 25 April, 2011 Monday: Compute the company IT Infrastructure Ecosystem diagram provided by Loudon Loudon 11e (page 203) and visited http://www.intek.net/a/images/netdesign.gif for fictitious diagram on corporate network infrastructure Janet 30 April, 2011 Saturday: Compute the cloud computing benefits and it cost Thomas 09 May, 2011 Monday: Checking and resizing fonts size for assignment paper (12:00pm) Browse CIMB Group website http://www.cimb.com/index.php?ch=g2_aupg=g2_au_leadercat=bodtpt=cimb_group for CIMB Group CEO profile. Browese USQ website http://usqstudydesk.usq.edu.au/mod/resource/view.php?inpopup=trueid=409613 for plagiarism check Appendix 2 : Cost and Benefits: Appendix 3 Organisation Chart of CSD Sales Channel Appendix 4 : Organisation Chart of Mobile Sales Force

Monday, August 19, 2019

Chipset Summary Report :: Essays Papers

Chipset Summary Report Dear Manager Please find attached our submission for your Invitation for offer for a motherboard to meet the specifications supplied. This report supplies details of all required specifications. Please do not hesitate to contact my office if you should have any questions regarding this offer. Executive Summary "Your Name Here" Computers is proposing to deliver a comprehensive solution to the Ajax Computer Company both to address your immediate needs as well as to provide a platform for future development. As one of the world’s leading providers of computer hardware and networking equipment, "Your Name Here" Computers is focused on providing the Ajax Computer Company with a solution focused on delivering:  High quality products which translates into low cost of ownership over the entire life of the equipment – this saves you money  A state of the art solution helping you to keep your network on the air – this provides you with the ability to deliver the best to your staff  A scalable solution with no need to make major equipment replacements when you need more features or capacity – this saves you money  A high performance solution – this minimises your staff waiting around for â€Å"the computer† The MS-5184 motherboard proposed by "Your Name Here" Computers is based on a product that has been shipping for a substantial period of time and has many reference sites both in Australia and globally. "Your Name Here" Computers are prepared to conduct a proof of concept with you on short notice to demonstrate our MS-5184 motherboard solution. We appreciate that Ajax Computer Company has limited exposure to "Your Name Here" Computer technologies. In order to address this issue and demonstrate to you the friendly and professional approach of "Your Name Here" Computers we have provided the following reference material as per your request: Year 2000 Compliance Dear Customer: For all "Your Name Here" Computer products with a Year 2000 readiness status of "YES" and operating at the stated minimum software level specified on the "Your Name Here" Computer.com web site; "Your Name Here" Computers provides the following Year 2000 Warranty. ""Your Name Here" Computer Corporation" warrants that "Your Name Here" Computer Products (hereinafter 'Products') that are date sensitive which have been sold or licensed to Customer will continue performing properly with regard to such date data on and after January 1, 2000, provided that all other products used by customer in connection or combination with the "Your Name Here" Computer Products, including hardware, software, and firmware, accurately exchange date data with the "Your Name Here" Computer Products.

Comparing Masque of the Red Death and Hop Frog Essay -- comparison com

Masque of the Red Death and Hop Frog The manner in which Poe addresses the topic of class differences and the struggle for power with his fictional characters resounds of his own struggles in his personal life. However, unlike in Hop Frog and the Masque of the Red Death, he was never himself able to emerge wholly victorious over his adversaries, including the publishing industry. In addition, Poe’s characters appear to hint that while wealth may be the source of power for many, the correct use of information itself is the surest path to the acquisition of power. In the story by his name, Hop-Frog is not only physically dwarfed by the King but is dwarfed in terms of bodily capabilities, wealth, social standing, and even in numbers as he and Trippetta are but two against the King and his 7 ministers. However, Hop-Frog emerges victorious, as his mental capabilities are seemingly far greater than the Kings. The King is described as having â€Å"an especial admiration for breadth in a jest, and would often put up with length, for the sake of it† (Poe, 502). It becomes apparent that the King is not a smart man and his jester is indeed quite the opposite. The fact that Hop-Frog knows of the King’s weaknesses and tailors a perfect plan for vengeance to fit the occasion of the masque ball is a testament to his creativity and most useful utilization of information. In the Purloined Letter, the useful utilization of information, which is by keeping such information hostage, again allows for great power in government. In these two stories we are given the message that information is most valuable and leads to power. In reality, Poe also made good use of information in order to gain a wider subscriptio... ... to power may have been Poe’s ideals in Hop-Frog and The Purloined Letter, but the reality of the situation was that monetary wealth was the single most useful means of gaining power, at least in the publishing industry. The Masque of the Red Death was a poignant social commentary on this uneven field of play and Poe’s point of view concerning the wealthy capitalists. Nonetheless, the possibility of altering the rules on the field of play lay not in the hands of the mentally acute and those who possessed information, but completely with those who possessed capital. Works Cited    Kennedy, Gerald J. A Historical Guide to Edgar Allan Poe. Oxford: Oxford University Press 2001    Poe, Edgar Allan. The Collected Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe. New York: The Modern Library 1992    Poe, Edgar Allan. The Unknown Poe. San Francisco: City Light Books 1980

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Symbolism in “The Story of an Hour” Essay -- Literary Analysis, Kate C

The symbols and imagery used by Kate Chopin's in â€Å"The Story of an Hour† give the reader a sense of Mrs. Mallard’s new life appearing before her through her view of an â€Å"open window† (para. 4). Louise Mallard experiences what most individuals long for throughout their lives; freedom and happiness. By spending an hour in a â€Å"comfortable, roomy armchair† (para.4) in front of an open window, she undergoes a transformation that makes her understand the importance of her freedom. The author's use of Spring time imagery also creates a sense of renewal that captures the author's idea that Mrs. Mallard was set free after the news of her husband's death. Right from the moment Louise Mallard hears of her husband's death, Kate Chopin dives into a her vivid use of imagery. â€Å"When the storm of grief has spent itself† introduces a weather oriented theme (para.3). This imagery depicts a violent and dark setting that denotes death and grief. Her reaction to her husband's death ideally what society would expect. Her acute reaction instantly shows that she is an emotional, demonstrative woman. Even tho...

Saturday, August 17, 2019

I can only dream for so long, before they become nightmares

It was not like her to hide herself away, today she seemed more tortured, frightened. She was a ghost to herself, unable to surround herself with the illusions that conjured her putrid smile. In the corner she forever laid, like a silhouette of dreams protected, yet captured by the ambience of life itself. The intelligence of her once intrigued mind fell short with the constant shivers of things that once were. Do I seem myself; do I seem happy to others? Does my prolonged absence from the world affect the way people see me? I can't always be so positive, life has taught me that much. But I've tried for so long to see the good; to see the light that's suppose to forever shine upon me, yet it's so far beyond my reach, however much I try, my jealous being stops me entirely, tying me down, chaining me to the withering of existence that is me. I can only dream for so long, before they become nightmares. Nightmares I can't escape! Within her mind was always the agitated concept of doubt, yet however she placed it, she could not seem to dictate what effect it would have on her. Unwilling to except the hand of others, she struggled with the journey of living and the tragedy of knowing. To be someone that people noticed, was a dream she could only imagine through the echoing walls that held her from the person she aimed to be, yet as the darkness of the walls and the lights of the windows framed her vicious circle, she could only question the memories. Her mother was a kind, genuine creature, who always showed her that there was more to life, then just co-existing. But she could never see the beauty which her mother would talk about. Her father had left at an early age, leaving only a hole of bitterness and resentment in her unprotected heart that would always question her ability to live. She never thought of him as someone that loved her, but as someone who could not handle the concept of having a child. To think is to feel, and that's not a journey worth taking. Can searching for an answer too graphic to understand be a conflict, and can you reach for something surreal and pray that it's not an abstract illusion? If finding out the meaning of what once was, forces out the beauty from which it came, can I be judge of what I feel is right? So my father left me when I was young, and my mother blames herself for his disappearance, yet I feel compelled to still find him and ask those questions that haunted me for the last few years. So I play a game in my mind, a game that allows me to dictate the outcome, and that provides me with the acceptance of his cowardly soul. If I look through him, can I see what ambition he had? Can I tell his story through my eyes? Yet I've grown out of caring about his particular emotions, or the way his smile is. Time was never on her side, but it was a factor that she become used to. A timeless presence of doubt was always abundant, it clawed and ripped apart the person she once knew, choking and crushing the things that seemed awake in her. Her father was her source of doubt. Like a demon, holding her to him, getting tighter as she grew older, but She would always think about him and the day he left, but never for too long, there was a voice inside of her that protected her from the bellowing and shame of his once gentle voice that always seemed to settle her as she slept. The controllable aspects of her mind always vanished when she left her corner. She was obligated to stay there never to move, never to feel the way others did. Her mother thought she was doomed to a life on her own, a life that could only bring pain and destruction. Nothing was foreseeable in her darkened future, the lines were scratch out, living a complex life so full of confusion and sorrow. As the night settled in and the luminous light was but a figment of what once was, she dwelled in the opportunity of delusions and fiction. And as she swayed from side to side, holding her legs ever so tightly, the images of her youth seemed to pour out of her like a twisted play acted out by the misapprehension of others. To seem as normal as possible was always her goal, finding the fault in the memory of others and not herself, but that was a game too complicated for her to play out. The night was colder than usual more putrid, more harmful, its shivering wind was almost alive, playing with the restless and fearful. She could not move, she could not breathe, her reactions were slow, almost as if something was holding her down, and taking away the very essence that is her. I can't move, I can't feel, is it my time. The air is so cold, I can't seem to warm myself up. If I move I know I'll become insane, the melody of deformed creatures, is move vivid than usual. I am a ghost to myself, a plague which I've grown accustomed to. Can I play out the things that seem to be awake? an I change the meaning of words that I don't know and rehearse them till they become the knowledge that changes my situation? My mother has tried for so long to recreate the image I have made for myself. The image that I am now has scared her. She never looks at me the same anymore, her looks are more disgusted, more tortured and they seem to be on fire. I can feel her slipping away from me. The night is the only time I don't feel safe, I don't feel like me, it's cruel and mindless, possessing a nature of a different kind. If I run, how far will I reach before it swallows me, taking away all that I am, in the night I am a monster, a nightmare that would bring tears to all that saw me. In her mind she was the very reason of all the suffering and pain to others around her, she could only escape the nightmare if the sun was up, for its rays of purity and truth were the only reason she had not become the thing that seemed to corrupt her. She was the meaning which you could not find, the lonely hero that was only visible through the sun. It seemed that nothing would be able to release her from herself. A soul forever doomed.

Friday, August 16, 2019

Conflict Can Have Tragic Consequences for Everyone.

Conflict can have tragic consequences for everyone as the women portrayed in Bereford’s film, Paradise Road, react in a catastrophic manner in the events that lead on as the film progresses. The characters in the film are based on actual people: nurses or wives of major officials and civilians. These women are caught up in the global conflict of World War II and those who manage to survive are, despite any positive outcomes, are dreadfully damaged by their encounter with conflict both physically and emotionally.These moments of great unrest are captured in the film that innocent people are too often becoming caught up in and suffer from the effects of great struggle that are not of their own making. The viewers are powerfully positioned to recognise with the three main protagonists, Adrienne, Margaret and Susan, as they come to a conditions with the cruel and frequently tragic circumstances of their situation. In the film’s opening scene, we observe a sight of the prote cted and usual lives led by women who were fairly unimportant to the conflict of war.Now, plunged into a terrifyingly brutal and unknown world, they come across the tragic consequences of the conflict. On the voyage to the camp, Beresford highlights the ordinary qualities of the women as they move violently to retain their meagre property or endeavour to help each other endure the long walk. Afraid, starving and exhausted, the women are herded like cattle. On their appearance in Sumatra they see the disengaged head of a following prisoner displayed on a pole in the public square.The tragedies that occurred in the prisoners turn out to be a part of their daily lives, as many gave in to the belongings of untreated sickness. The scene with the two children creating simple wooden coffins for dead babies evidently highlights the tragedy of the conflict in the lives of normal people, and suggests that no reason can justify the dreadful consequences of violent conflict. Children are a figu re of innocence in the film. The innocent suffers the most in situations of tremendous conflict.The camp cemetery, with its rows upon rows of white crosses, is exposed as the camera pans across the penal complex compound throughout a performance of the vocal orchestra, enlightening the large numbers of prisoners who died all through the course of their imprisonment. The film also shows how intense conflict situations positions everyday people beneath a strange pressure, provoking and exacerbating conflicts on a private level, both between and within individuals.Stressed, sorrowing and deprived, a number of the women in Paradise Road find themselves positioned in a ethically and politically compromised condition when confronted with the option as to whether to remain at the Japanese ‘officers’ club’, providing sex in return for food and comfort, or to return to the camp. Those who choose to be recognise by the bribe of the officers who are not only prostituting th emselves but are also consorting with the enemy.Likewise, Adrienne was positioned in a compromising situation when she was asked if the orchestra will carry out a Japanese song for Colonel Hirota. She refuses, risking cruel punishment. At the same time, she makes a diverse option, to that of the women of the officers’ club, Beresford emphasises that war, and the struggle for survival, places harshly and unusual stress on individuals, which is able to cause them to act in ways they would not normally behave; as Sister Wilhelmina intelligently acknowledges, it is not fair to judge the events of others in a period of severe disagreement.In conclusion, conflict has the potential to allow an individual the ability to face challenges in order to overcome them and finally to grow as a person. The range of conflicts that acts as a basis towards venous responses ranging from the extreme life changing circumstances to those that are minor, but yet a significant ambition to change. Refe reeing to the film ‘Paradise Road’ we have seen many faces that have been challenged trough out their lives. However the women are able to follow their presence with the determination, courage and peace.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Best Buy Case Study Write Up Essay

1. How does Best Buy define customer centricity? The idea behind customer centricity was to be the customer’s smart friend and give a full solution. The sales people stand by the customers and try to find what they really need and what they want. The opposite of this would be product centricity. At this time the electronics were getting easier to use, their interaction required specific knowledge that only a fraction of the client base possessed. In this situation, the used to be advantage of best buy disappeared, and the company tested the first version of customer-centricity by setting up 12 laboratory stores and then rolling out tested concepts in 32 pilot stores. The test were successful very successful. Best buy changed its segments from products such as MP3, TV, or PC to customers like Barry. All these make customers more convenient to shop in the store. Compared to the other stores, Best Buy did not focus on brands but usage. The sales person never asked what do you want to buy, but rather ask what you want to do. In launching customer centricity, Anderson used an autocratic set of power tools and expected swift support from his top team to execute his vision. 2. Is Customer-Centricity the same as customer services? No, the customer-Centricity is not the same as customer service. The difference is that they can contour their sales and service pitch to each individual after they know which category that they fall into. They know from past company stastistics and knowledge about the different types and what their shopping style is like. Customer service is about trying to sell your existing products. The case states also that customer service may be in response to its competitors, and not its customers. Customer centricity mainly focuses on research of customers buying power, purchase preference and customer behavior. It is based on the research that Best Buy has gathered over time. From here, the company can redesign its products, and develop a new marketing strategy and give more suitable service. 3. How does it relate to Consumer behavior? Chapter 10 touches upon things that could be related to consumer behavior. In store decision making talks about spontaneous shopping which is unplanned buying and impulse buying. Point of purchase stimuli is product display or demonstration that draws attention. The salesperson also can create exchange process. This involves commercial friendships. This is basically what customer centricity is about, forming commercial friendships. Chapter 10 also talks post purchase satisfaction which is the overall feeling about a product after someone has purchased it. Chapter 13 discusses income and social class and this is directly correlated to the customer centricity model. The model puts people in different classes. They were Jill, Barry, angles and devils. Chapter 13 goes into detail and talks about how people can be put in classes based on income, education, age, religion, gender, just like Best Buy put these four people into classes to segment them. Best Buy, in essence, used consumer behavior to classify these people. 4. Finally, do you agree with this new strategy for Best Buy? What is its impact on the financial performance? We think that it was a good idea for Best Buy to implement this. It has worked financially and it seemed to have made the company more profitable. From looking at the financials from 2002 to 2004, it appears as though the strategy seems to be working. Best Buy remains at the top of the list for Consumer electronics companies in the United States. Its revenue was 49.7 billion dollars in 2010, which is 18% of North American market share. In the last 5 years, it keeps 25% of gross profit growth. It seemed like it was known that Wal Mart would catch Best Buy as the number one store at that time, but I think this was because of different reasons, like its building of so many new stores and supply chain capability.

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

A Resource-Based View of International Human Resources: Toward a Framework of Integrative and Creative Capabilities

Center for Advanced Human Resource Studies (CAHRS) CAHRS Working Paper Series Cornell University ILR School Year 2005 A Resource-Based View Of International Human Resources: Toward A Framework of Integrative and Creative Capabilities Shad S. Morris Cornell University Scott A. Snell Cornell University Patrick M. Wright Cornell University This paper is posted at [email  protected] http://digitalcommons. ilr. cornell. edu/cahrswp/284 CAHRS at Cornell University 187 Ives Hall Ithaca, NY 14853-3901 USA Tel. 607 255-9358 www. ilr. cornell. edu/CAHRS WORKING PAPER SERIES A Resource-Based View of International Human Resources: Toward a Framework of Integrative and Creative Capabilities Shad S. Morris Scott A. Snell Patrick M. Wright Working Paper 05 – 16 International Human Resources CAHRS WP05-16 A Resource-Based View Of International Human Resources: Toward A Framework of Integrative and Creative Capabilities Shad S. Morris Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations 393 Ives Hall Ithaca, NY 14853 (607) 255-7622 [email  protected] edu Scott A. Snell Cornell University Center for Advanced Human Resource Studies (CAHRS) 393 Ives Hall Ithaca, NY 14853 (607) 255-4112 scott. [email  protected] edu Patrick M. Wright Cornell University Center for Advanced Human Resource Studies (CAHRS) 393 Ives Hall Ithaca, NY 14853 (607) 255-3429 [email  protected] edu http://www. ilr. cornell. edu/cahrs This paper has not undergone formal review or approval of the faculty of the ILR School. It is intended to make results of Center research av ailable to others interested in preliminary form to encourage discussion and suggestions. Most (if not all) of the CAHRS Working Papers are available for reading at the Catherwood Library. For information on what’s available link to the Cornell Library Catalog: http://catalog. library. cornell. edu if you wish. Page 2 International Human Resources Abstract CAHRS WP05-16 Drawing on organizational learning and MNC perspectives, we extend the resourcebased view to address how international human resource management provides sustainable competitive advantage. We develop a framework that emphasizes and extends traditional assumptions of the resource-based view by identifying the learning capabilities necessary for a complex and changing global environment. These capabilities address how MNCs might both create new HR practices in response to local environments and integrate existing HR practices from other parts of the firm (affiliates, regional headquarters, and global headquarters). In an effort to understand the nature of such capabilities, we discuss aspects of human capital, social capital, and organizational capital that might be linked to their development. Page 3 International Human Resources Introduction CAHRS WP05-16 Few will argue against the importance of international human resource management (IHRM) in today’s multinational corporation (MNC). A wide range of issues—that varies from global sourcing and off-shoring to regional trade agreements and labor standards to strategic alliances and innovation—all point to the vital nature of IHRM in today’s global economy. In fact, some observers have suggested that how firms manage their work forces is among the strongest predictors of successful versus unsuccessful MNCs (cf. , Bartlett & Ghoshal, 1989; Doz & Prahalad, 1986; Hedlund, 1986). Researchers have adopted a number of different theoretical approaches for studying IHRM. Not surprisingly, the resource-based view (RBV) of the firm has emerged as perhaps the predominant perspective (Wright, Dunford, and Snell, 2002). RBV is particularly attractive to IHRM researchers in that it focuses directly on the potential value of a firm’s internal asset stocks for conceiving and executing various strategies. This perspective departs from traditional I/O economic models of competitive advantage that focus on the structure of markets as the primary determinant of firm performance (Barney, 1991; Wernerfelt, 1984). Also in contrast with I/O economic models, the RBV is based on the assumption that resources are (1) distributed heterogeneously across firms and (2) remain imperfectly mobile over time. Because these asset stocks are unequal, there is the potential for comparative advantage. And when the resources are immobile, that advantage may be difficult to appropriate or imitate, thereby conferring a sustainable advantage In the context of MNCs, the premises of resource heterogeneity and immobility have particular relevance. While the RBV typically focuses on resource heterogeneity across firms, MNCs are unique in that they possess heterogeneity within their asset stocks as well. Because they operate in multiple environments, MNCs are likely to possess variations in both their people and practices that reflect local requirements, laws, and cultures. This variation is a potential source of advantage at a local level, and can provide a global advantage to the MNC as a whole if the knowledge, skills, and capabilities can be leveraged appropriately. Page 4 International Human Resources CAHRS WP05-16 However, while heterogeneous resources are potentially immobile across firms, they may also be immobile within firms (MNCs). Given that scholars have consistently noted the difficulties of integrating people and practices within MNCs (e. g. , Szulanski, 1996; McWilliams, Van Fleet, & Wright, 2001), the challenge of integration remains one of the more perplexing organizational and strategic issues. It is therefore somewhat surprising that IHRM researchers have not addressed this issue more directly. The purpose of this chapter is to summarize the literature on RBV and IHRM by addressing the ways in which resource heterogeneity and immobility provide potential advantages to MNCs. However, we also hope to extend the RBV in this context by addressing some of the primary challenges of—and capabilities needed to—create resources and integrate them across business units within the MNC. In this sense, we draw upon the knowledge-based view of the firm (KBV) and organizational learning perspectives to look at how practices are created and integrated on a global scale (Grant, 1996; Teece, Pisano, & Shuen, 1997). To organize this discussion, we break the chapter down into three parts: First, we review how the RBV has been applied to IHRM issues to date and discuss the underlying assumptions of this research. Second, we extend the RBV logic to more appropriately deal with issues of practice integration and creation within a globally dynamic environment by turning focus to aspects of learning capabilities. Finally, we discuss the implications for future research and where this extended view of RBV might improve research on a firm’s human resources. IHM, People, Practices, And Competitive Advantage Discussions of IHRM within the RBV framework focus on both the workforce (i. e. , the people) as well as the HR function (i. e. , the structures, policies and practices) (e. g. , Evans, Pucik, & Basoux, 2002; Fey & Bjorkman, 2001; MacDuffie, 1995; Schuler, Dowling, & De Cieri, 1993). To have a sustainable competitive advantage a firm must first possess people with different and better skills and knowledge than its competitors or it must possess HR practices that allow for differentiation from competitors. Second, these practices or skills and abilities should not be easy for competitors to duplicate or imitate (Wright, Dunford, & Snell, 2001). Page 5 International Human Resources Managing Global Workforces CAHRS WP05-16 Building on the assumptions of heterogeneity and immobility, scholars systematically stress the strategic contributions of people’s knowledge and skills to the performance of firms and sustained competitive advantage (Boxall, 1996). In fact, Barney (1991) developed a model to show how specific assets can be strategically identified to lead to sustainable competitive advantage. Building on this model, McWilliams, Van Fleet, and Wright (2001) argue that human resources, defined as the entire pool of employees, present a unique source of advantage in comparison to domestic labor pools in terms of value, rarity, inimitability, and nonsubstitutability (VRIN). Given the VRIN framework, McWilliams et al. (2001) argued that firms can benefit from a global workforce in two ways: (1) capitalizing on the global labor pools, and (2) exploiting the cultural synergies of a diverse workforce. First, global (heterogeneous) labor pools potentially provide superior human capital. This is because firms can draw from different labor pools to match the different needs of the firm (Bartlett & Ghoshal, 1989). For example, some labor pools may have workers who, on average, have higher cognitive ability or have had greater access to education and training. An MNC could potentially draw from the highest quality labor pools for those functions that require high cognitive ability and education and training (McWilliams et al. , 2001). Second, the use of heterogeneous labor pools potentially increases the quality of global business decision making. When an MNC draws from its multiple labor pools it has the potential to a build diverse and flexible cadre of managers that are better able to bring different perspectives to a decision than a management group based solely from the parent country (Ricks, 1993). That diversity also enables management to be flexible in applying their skills throughout the different parts of the firm. Wright and Snell (1998) discussed theses advantages in terms of resource flexibility and coordination flexibility. While McWilliams et al. (2001) highlighted the benefits of human resource heterogeneity and immobility; they also point out the difficulty in transferring and integrating these resources Page 6 International Human Resources CAHRS WP05-16 within the MNC. Drawing on Szulanski’s (1996) concept of stickiness, they note that the exchanges are made more difficult by â€Å"the lack of absorptive capacity of the recipient, causal ambiguity, and an arduous relationship between the source and the recipient† (Szulanski, 1996: 36). Yet, little research exists discussing how internal stickiness can be overcome in order to maximize the benefits of a global workforce while overcoming the challenges of integration and coordination. Managing Global HR Functions Placing people as the source of sustainable competitive advantage moves us to the dilemma of how best to manage their knowledge, skills, and abilities. Within the RBV literature, issues of resource heterogeneity and immobility underlie the inevitable tension between local responsiveness and global integration in MNCs (cf. Bae & Lawler, 2000; Brewster, 1999; Fey & Bjorkman, 2001; Sparrow, Schuler & Jackson, 1994). Local responsiveness and the value derived from customization implies variation—i. e. , heterogeneity—within the MNC. Global efficiency, on the other hand, requires integration across business units. However, given the assumption of resource immobility, this integration is not always easy to achieve. Schuler et al. (1993) captured the e ssence of these tradeoffs by highlighting the relationships between internal operations and interunit linkages. From the standpoint of internal operations, each overseas affiliate must operate as effectively as possible relative to the competitive strategy of the MNC. This means that these affiliates can offer advantages to the MNC by recognizing and developing HR practices that are appropriate for their local markets, employment laws, cultural traditions, and the like. While internal operations at the local level are important, the MNC must also establish interunit linkages to gain efficiencies of scale and scope across several different countries. This suggests that while overseas affiliates can generate advantages locally, there are also substantial advantages that can be gained globally through integrated HR practices. Each is important, but each carries with it a different set of organizational requirements. These requirements point directly to issues relevant for HRM. Page 7 International Human Resources CAHRS WP05-16 Extending these ideas, Taylor, Beechler, and Napier (1996) describe how MNCs might develop a more integrative approach to HRM. The objective of this strategy is to share best practices from all parts of the firm (not just corporate) to create a worldwide system. While there are allowances for local differentiation, the focus is on substantial global integration. Differentiation provides both the potential for local response and customization, as well as the variety of ideas and practices needed for innovation at the global level. However, integration through coordination, communication, and learning is not always easily achieved in this context. Ironically, the very characteristics that provide resource-based advantage at the local level actually complicate integration at the global level. The ability of firms to gain efficiencies of scope and scale at a global level is made more difficult by resource heterogeneity, and this challenge is exacerbated by resource immobility. The challenge then for the transnational firm is to identify how firms can preserve variety (and local customization) while simultaneously establishing a foundation for integration and efficiency. As mentioned by McWilliams et al. (2001) very few scholars have addressed the â€Å"stickiness† issue involved in balancing the global and local tension. Taylor et al. 1996) allude to such integration difficulties when they note: â€Å"The reason firms move toward an exportive rather than an integrative SIHRM orientation†¦is that the mechanism to identify and transfer the best HRM practices in their overseas affiliates are not in place. Such mechanisms as having regional or global meetings of affiliate HR directors, transferring HRM materials (e. g. , performance appraisal forms to affiliates) or posting of the HR director of the affiliates to the HQs of the firm were not developed†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (p. 972). These same capability issues are raised by McWilliams et al. 2001) when they discuss the major causes of internal stickiness being lack of absorptive capacity, causal ambiguity, and arduous relationships between the source and recipient. In both examples, barriers to global practice integration are raised and discussed, but not resolved. This issue is addressed more fully below. Page 8 International Human Resources IHM And Capabilities CAHRS WP05-16 Given the importance—and difficulty—of integrating human resources at a global level, while preserving the uniqueness and heterogeneity at the local level, it seems reasonable to discuss these issues in the context of competitive capabilities. Based on the knowledge based view (KBV) of firms, that emphasizes the need to acquire and integrate knowledge, we suggest two such capabilities (see Figure 1). First, knowledge integration capability refers to a firm’s ability to transfer and coordinate human resources across affiliates in a way that utilizes economies of scale and scope while allowing and promoting responsiveness to the local environment. Second, knowledge creation capability refers to a firms’ ability to create new and potentially innovative practices at the local level. Figure 1 IHRM: People, Practices, and Capabilities Focus Theories RBV: Focus on individual resources of knowledge, skills, and abilities RBV and Competencies: Focus on combined resources of HR practices Strategic Question Workforce: What are the knowledge, skills, and abilities that are heterogeneous and immobile? HR Practices and Systems: What are the HR practices and systems that are heterogeneous and immobile? Learning Capabilities: How can HR practices and systems be created and integrated to preserve heterogeneity and immobility? Sources McWilliams, Van Fleet, & Wright, 2001 People Practices Taylor, Beechler, & Napier, 1996 KBV and Organizational Capabilities: Capabilities Focus on learning processes and capabilities Chadwick & Cappelli, 1999 Knowledge Integration Capability Ironically, while learning capability is one of the key dimensions of the Bartlett and Ghoshal (1989) framework of transnational organizations, most IHRM researchers have made only passing mention of how firms share and integrate best practice within the MNC. Snell, Youndt, and Wright (1996) argued that, particularly in dynamic environments, organizational learning may be the only way to ensure that resources sustain their value and uniqueness over Page 9 International Human Resources CAHRS WP05-16 time. In essence, the capability to integrate HR practices better than competitors may be a key source of sustainable competitive advantage (cf. , Kogut & Zander, 1992). In the sections below, we frame the key factors underlying knowledge integration capability in terms of organizational capital, social capital, and human capital. Organizational Capital. Youndt, Subramaniam, and Snell (2004) define organizational capital as the institutionalized knowledge and codified experiences residing within an organization. Artifacts of organizational capital include an organization’s reliance on manuals and databases to preserve knowledge, along with the establishment of structures, processes, and routines that encourage repeated use of this knowledge (Hansen, Hohria, & Tierney, 1999). As an integration mechanism, organizational capital allows the firm to preserve knowledge as incoming employees replace those leaving. An example of such an artifact might be a â€Å"lessons learned† database to ensure that lessons learned by one group can be made accessible for all groups. Based on MNC research, in order to improve the integration of knowledge within an MNC relative to the speed of its diffusion or imitation by competitors, firms invest in ways to make knowledge explicit by encoding its use and replicating it in rules and documentation (Kogut & Zander, 1993). Other forms of organizational capital are likely to represent detailed, company-wide routines on how new HR practices should be integrated by all affiliates. These routines may detail how practices should be shared to reduce the variance and time it takes to implement each new approach, and thereby, improve the overall efficiency of knowledge integration (March, 1991). Similarly, organizations typically implement information systems to provide affiliates with a common platform for HR processes and practices (Snell, Stueber & Lepak, 2002). These systems, processes, and routines ensure that: (1) practices are implemented routinely through established data collection procedures and (2) practices are rapidly disseminated throughout the entire MNC with minimal costs (Daft & Weick, 1984). In terms of integration capability, then, organizational capital provides a basis for sharing and Page 10 International Human Resources CAHRS WP05-16 institutionalizing knowledge across affiliates. However, it may work against efforts to preserve heterogeneity at the sub-unit level. Social Capital. Social capital—defined as the knowledge embedded within social networks—also plays a potentially valuable role in the integration capability of MNCs (Nahapiet & Ghoshal, 1998). For example, Szulanski (1995) found that one of the biggest obstacles to transfer knowledge in MNCs is the poor relationship between sources and recipients of information. Along this line, Ghoshal and Bartlett (1989) empirically showed that knowledge sharing and integration could not occur without the existence of strong social connections. The importance of social capital for integration capability is found in research by Kostova and Roth (2002), who concluded that successful practice adoption is largely dependent upon relationships based on trust and shared identity. Trust provides the motive to interact with others, while shared identity provides an overlapping understanding of what is important to share. Both of these elements of social capital would seem vital for integration capability. And importantly, neither of them would de facto require the loss of local autonomy. Human Capital. While organizational and social capital are both potentially important resources underlying a firm’s integration capability, Teece (1977) argued that one of the principle obstacles to transfer and integration is lack of prior experience and knowledge (i. e. , human capital). Research by Szulanski (1996) and Tsai (2002), for example, has shown that knowledge sharing and integration is facilitated when respective parties have the absorptive capacity or prior experience to understand related ideas (Szulansk, 1996; Tsai, 2002). In the context of MNCs, Haas (2004) showed that groups with large amounts of international experience are more likely to integrate knowledge from other parts of the organization than those that do not. Similarly, Gregersen and Black (1992) found that not only is international experience important for integration, but when it is coupled with experience in corporate headquarters affiliates are more likely to maintain allegiance to the overall goals of the firm. These international and corporate skills and knowledge are often gained through transfers and rotational assignments that enable the HR function to develop a more complex Page 11 International Human Resources CAHRS WP05-16 and global orientation. This provides them with the ability to more systematically manage the integration process (Kedia & Bhagat, 1988). Such forms of human capital can also correct any tendency of HR subunits to assume that the situation in the host country is unique; thus avoiding the not-invented-here syndrome. The upshot of this discussion s is that a firm’s integration capability likely depends on a combination of human, social, and organizational capital. Social and organizational capital are alternative—and potentially complementary—resources for knowledge and practice sharing. Human capital, in turn, is important for absorbing or acquiring that knowledge. As firms develop the capability to integrate existing practices they potentially can achieve economies of scale and scope through HRM. And when these integrative mechanisms preserve resource heterogeneity at a local level, it may lead to a more rapid response to a global environment and greater potential for competitive advantage. Figure 2 Capabilities: Creative and Integrative Focus Market Assumption Value Proposition Sources Integrative Capabilities Stable Market: Resources must be combined and integrated to maintain an advantage Combining resources in ways that others cannot copy creates benefits arising from scarcity Taylor, Beechler, & Napier, 1996; McWilliams, Van Fleet, & Wright, 2001 Creative Capabilities Dynamic Market: Resources must be reconfigured and created to maintain an advantage Developing new resources that competitors don’t yet have creates benefits arising from innovation Chadwick & Cappelli, 1999; Snell, Youndt, and Wright; 1996 Page 12 International Human Resources Knowledge Creation Capability CAHRS WP05-16 In the context of organizational learning and the KBV, it is important to distinguish knowledge integration capability from knowledge creation capability. Just because a firm is able to integrate practices across affiliates does not mean that it will be able to create new practices as well (See Figure 2). Creation capabilities allow the MNC to develop new practices that lead to resource heterogeneity in the first place. While few HRM researchers have mentioned the importance of integration mechanisms, fewer still have discussed the importance of creation mechanisms that renew a firm’s stock of HR practices. This is despite the fact that as firms continually integrate practices, it is imperative that new practices are created and developed that allows for innovation and continuous improvement in a changing environment. Therefore, in global environments characterized by rapid change and increasing competition, static concepts of heterogeneity may no longer be sufficient to explain (and sustain) a competitive advantage. An ongoing debate in strategy is whether any static view of resources can really explain a competitive advantage that is sustainable over time (Lippman & Rumelt, 1982). For example, Grant (1996) argues that idiosyncratic advantages naturally erode over time. This debate is especially relevant in the global environment where what might create a competitive advantage at one point in time or in one location, may not at another point in time or location. Hence, it is vital that MNCs develop the capability to create and renew HR practices in order to maintain a competitive advantage. Ghoshal & Bartlett (1988) stated that MNCs â€Å"create† new products, practices, or systems locally, using specific mechanisms to respond to local circumstances. Creating local HR practices lies at the heart of an MNC’s capability to be responsive to the unique and changing opportunities of different environments. Below, we discuss how human capital, social capital, and organizational capital might influence the knowledge creation capability of new HR practices. (See Figure 3 for an overview of mechanisms that influence knowledge integration and creation capabilities). Page 13 International Human Resources CAHRS WP05-16 Figure 3 Capabilities: Human Capital, Social Capital, Organizational Capital Human Capital Social Capital Organizational Capital Creative Capability †¢In-depth local experience †¢International experience outside of corporate †¢Broad internal network range †¢Broad external network range †¢Local Market Relationships †¢Localized routines †¢Creative processes and systems †¢Norms of informality †¢Overarching principles or guidelines Increasing Influence on Creative Capability Integrative Capability Increasing Influence on Integrative Capability †¢Absorptive capacity †¢International and corporate experience †¢Internal Social connections †¢Shared perceptions and identity †¢Internal Trust †¢Company-wide rules and routines †¢Corporate culture of sharing †¢Interactive technologies †¢Data collection system Human Capital. The knowledge and experience—i. e. , human capital—of the people within the HR function is a key factor in new HR practice creation—whether of new practice ideas, or of improvements in the practices (Lepak & Snell, 1999). For example, HR functions possessing large amounts of local knowledge and experience should be able to effectively create practices on their own in response to the various, changing environments. This localized experience helps them to understand the needs of local clients and suppliers, which allows them to develop practices that are unique to each region or country, and hence, heterogeneous across the firm. Page 14 International Human Resources CAHRS WP05-16 International experiences are also important for creating new HR practices. For example, because international experience is often highly valued in MNCs (e. g. , Mendenhall & Stahl, 2000), people with international skills and knowledge are more likely to be seen by others as being confident and willing to share divergent opinions and advocate for their own position (Stasser, Stewart, & Wittenbaum, 1995). Moreover, Gregersen & Black (1992) showed that people with strong experience in many international settings and limited experience in corporate are more likely to make changes based on local demands rather than pressures from central parts of the firm. This is most likely due to the people’s array of international experiences that have detached them from an allegiance with the company as a whole. Social Capital. Specific aspects of social capital have been argued to play a role in knowledge creation. For example, while Hansen (2002) argued that social networks provide an important conduit for the sharing of knowledge, he also argued that such networks play a role in knowledge creation because they inform network members about the existence, location, and significance of new knowledge. Burt (1982) found that networks comprising a broader range of contacts will have a more heterogeneous base of information and knowledge to draw from. While such wide networks may not always facilitate a deep flow of knowledge, they offer different reference points for HR members to make comparisons and explore new ideas. A firm’s ability to find new opportunities is likely to be a function of multiple local contacts. HR affiliates often have critical links with local vendors and, perhaps, competing HR groups that allow them to pursue local opportunities (Bartlett & Ghoshal, 1989; Hedlund, 1986). Birkinshaw (1997) refers to these as relationships within the ‘local market’. Within the local market an affiliate is likely to be embedded in different types of relationships (Ghoshal & Bartlett, 1990; Ghoshal & Nohria, 1989). McEvily and Zaheer (1999) argue that because each part of the MNC maintains different local patterns of network linkages, they are exposed to new knowledge, ideas, and opportunities. Organizational Capital. In many cases, organizational capital may actually hinder knowledge creation capability. The formalized processes, systems, structures, etc. ave a Page 15 International Human Resources CAHRS WP05-16 tendency to reinforce existing routines and obviate against variation and change that engender creativity. However, in some instances, organizational capital may facilitate flexibility in the course of actions that allow a firm to attend to environmental cues. This is especially true when employees are encouraged to take action that supersede compan y-wide, standardized routines in favor of localized response that allows knowledge assimilation from the local environment (Daft & Weick, 1984). For example, parts of the firm may develop creative processes and systems to identify problems, develop hypotheses, communicate ideas to others, and contradict what would normally be expected (Torrence, 1988). Grant (1996) argued that such creative routines and processes offer an efficient framework for people to create new, situation-specific practices by utilizing local perspectives in developing practices for the firm. Though potentially problematic for the integrative capability, localized routines and creative processes help affiliates relate better with local vendors, clients, and competitors by providing a set of expectations and processes that encourage HR groups to turn to the surrounding environment. For example, an HR affiliate may have developed a simple manual or informal norm of what to do when developing a new practice. Such a routine is likely to leave many gaps in exact steps to follow, but provide an overview or value to help the HR group be innovative. This simple routine allows the local HR group to assimilate knowledge more quickly from its employees and develop practices to meet their needs. In summary, these aspects of human capital, social capital, and organizational capital help us identify how the knowledge integration and creation capabilities might occur within an MNC. Some of these forms of capital are more useful depending upon the capability it is supporting, and ironically, some of these mechanisms that influence integration might actually hinder knowledge creation and vice versa. For example, firms heavy in local knowledge and experiences and weak in international experiences might have a negative affect on a firm’s ability to integrate practices across the various parts of the firm. Such strong human capital is likely to promote the not-invented-here syndrome through the affiliate’s strong belief and experience base dealing exclusively with the local environment. Similarly, rigid forms of Page 16 International Human Resources CAHRS WP05-16 organizational capital, in terms of standardized routines and shared electronic databases, might deter the various parts of HR to develop and create practices on their own. This could largely stem from the fact that so much structure and support for integration is in place that HR groups fail to find time to bring about new practices or adapt existing practices to the local environment. Implications For Research And Theory The unique complexities and challenges faced by today’s global firms present different implications for the RBV and its application to strategic IHRM. For example, because a large amount of the international management literature focuses on variances in cultural, geographical, and institutional pressures; the implications for applying the RBV become more complex. As MNCs struggle to create and integrate their practices across borders, they are faced with unique challenges that either push for global efficiency or local responsiveness. These challenges open the discussion for ways to actually manage both the creation and integration of knowledge on a global scale. This means that the questions typically asked by strategic IHRM scholars (e. g. , HR practices and performance) should be augmented with questions of how HR practices are created and integrated in ways that lead toward resource heterogeneity and immobility. To create a sustainable competitive advantage firms must not only be able to respond to their local environments or standardize their practices across the firm. They must be able to balance a tension of practice heterogeneity through local practice creation and immobility of those practices through their integration across the firm. One theoretical implication of this discussion calls for a greater understanding of the rents found through the creation and integration of HR practices. As Chadwick and Dabu (2004) explain, a marriage of rent concepts with theories of the firm (i. e. RBV) is essential to describing firm’s competitive advantages and particularly in understanding how actors within firms can take conscious steps to toward a sustainable competitive advantage. The current strategic IHRM literature strongly alludes to the importance of integration and being able to Page 17 International Human Resources CAHRS WP05-16 organize heterogeneous resources in a way that is diff icult for competitors to imitate. The assumption here is that heterogeneity and immobility of resources creates greater performance or rents arising from scarcity—Ricardian rents (cf. , Carpenter, Sanders, Gregersen, 2001). In essence, Ricardian rents can be rooted in the cross-border integration of various HR practices. The integration of such practices not only assures that some of them will be unique to the firm, but that they will be difficult for others to imitate—making them scarce in the market. The advantages that come from constant creation of HR practices operates under a different principle than traditional resources leading to Ricardian rents. Rather than rents arising from scarcity, the creation capability perspective emphasizes rents arising from market discontinuities—Schumpeterian rents (cf. Carpenter et al. , 2001). Schumpeterian rents derive from a firm’s ability to exploit or leverage resources to address changing environments (Teece et al. , 1997; Amit & Schoemaker, 1993). Based on Schumpeterian rents, a focus on the continuous creation of resources can enable a firm to achieve competitive advantage on a sustainable basis by developing new practices that lead to practice heterogeneity across a complex and ambiguous global network. Hence, as mentioned by Lado and Wilson (1994) and Teece et al. 1997), turning to these dynamic capabilities as an extended approach to the RBV offers a closer understanding of the actual sources of competitive advantage in a changing global environment. While we discuss the main mechanisms driving knowledge creation and integration (Grant, 1996), aspects of integration tend to focus on a broad array of learning processes, including knowledge sharing, transfer, codification, adoption, and/or institutionalization. Further research should look at how different aspects of the integration process might be influenced by specific human, social, and organizational capital mechanisms. For example, Hansen and Haas (2001) showed that many firms have little difficulty in sharing knowledge across various units of the firm, but that the actual application or institutionalization of this knowledge is a completely different matter. While other scholars such as Kogut and Zander (1992) and Schulz (2001) have theoretically separated integration to include transfer and integration (or combination), very Page 18 International Human Resources CAHRS WP05-16 little practical research has been done on what factors might influence the transfer and what factors might influence the integration of knowledge. Clearly, there must be differences since research such as Hansen and Haas’ (2001) notice the disparity in knowledge that is shared and knowledge that is actually applied. Also, while the ideas presented in this chapter are rooted in theory, empirical research is needed to determine the impact of human, social,, and organizational capital on knowledge creation and integration capabilities. While theory suggests that aspects of all three of these factors will influence both capabilities, it is most probable that aspects of human capital will more strongly influence the creative capability. This is largely due to the fact that people and their knowledge and skills are what allows the different HR affiliates the ability to develop local practices on their own, without interference or supervision from regional or corporate headquarters. Similarly, social and organizational capital should have their strongest influences on the integrative capability. This is due, in part, to the conduits and repositories created from aspects of social capital and organizational capital, respectively. In fact, as we mentioned earlier, some aspects of organizational capital might have a negative effect on the firm’s ability to create new practices (knowledge), while some aspects of human capital may have a negative effect on the firm’s ability to integrate those practices across affiliates. Conclusion The purpose of this chapter has been to summarize the literature on RBV and IHRM in multinational firms by addressing the ways in which resource heterogeneity and immobility provide potential advantages to MNCs. However, we have also attempted to extend the RBV in this context by addressing some of the primary challenges of—and capabilities needed to— integrate resources across business units within the MNC. The solution frequently used by firms has been to standardize HR practices and policies at a global level, but this solves the integration problem while destroying the advantages of local Page 19 International Human Resources CAHRS WP05-16 variety. The challenge as we see it is identifying how firms can preserve variety (and local customization) while simultaneously establishing a foundation for integration and efficiency. The ability for HR managers to balance this tension lies in the development of capabilities to create and integrate practices across the global HR function. We extended traditional views of RBV to include aspects of practice integration and creation. Such capabilities allow firms to constantly renew their HR practices in a way that allows them to respond to multiple external pressures while being coordinated and integrated to ensure that these practices drive the firm’s sustainable competitive advantage. Page 20 International Human Resources References CAHRS WP05-16 Amit, R. , & Schoemaker, P. J. H. 993. Strategic assets and organizational rent. Strategic Management Journal, 14: 33-46. Bae, J. , & Lawler, J. J. 2000. Organizational and HRM strategies in Korea: Impact on firm performance in an emerging economy. Academy of Management Journal, 43: 502-517. Barney, J. B. 1991. Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management, 17: 99-120. Barney, J. 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