To what extent has globalisation changed the nature of work Essay

To what extent has globalisation changed the nature of work - Essay Example Globalisation refers to spread as well as connectedness of communication, technologies, and production across the world. This spread has encompassed the interplay of cultural and economic activities. Some people argue that globalisation entails the efforts of World Bank and international Monetary Fund to create a global market, which will ensure the free flow of goods and services.  Because of globalisation, the interdependence and connectivity of the world’s businesses and markets has become a reality. In the last two decades, globalisation has witnessed a dramatic alteration, with advances in technology making it possible for people conduct international business, communicate, and travel. Some scholars argue that the principal driving forces of globalisation in the recent past include the rise of the internet, as well as the massive advancements in telecommunications. This has seen the alternation and numerous changes in the nature of work (Morgan 2001, p. 33). This essay supports the argument that globalisation has indeed brought many changes in the nature of work. In the first part of the essay, the impact of globalisation on the nature of work at the macro level and the broad context will be analyzed. In the second part, the essay will discuss how globalisation has affected the nature of work through communication and transport. Thirdly, the essay will look into the impacts of globalisation on the nature of work in terms of employment, trade unions, as well as traditional industries. Further, the essay will focus on the impacts of globalisation on human resources, working conditions in developing countries, and the impacts on human work. The impact of globalisation on the Macro level One of the changes brought about by globalisation in the nature of work includes the impact of globalisation at the macro level. In the global context, the intensification of social relations across the world has linked distant localities. As a result, the local event s borrow much from the events taking place worldwide. At the macro level, the arena of work has witnessed numerous changes as a result of globalisation. Globalisation has interlinked the world economy; this has had impacts on the mobility of labour and capital. With globalisation, it has become possible to move capital from one place to another. Likewise, globalisation has affected the mobility of labour across the world. This has led to the emergence of new jobs in places where they never existed. In addition, the movement of capital has led to the introduction of new industries, which have changed the work done in such places (Morgan 2001, p. 35). Another change of globalisation on the nature of work is that it has led to changes in the global exchanges, especially in the arena of financial exchanges and world trade. This has resulted to the acceleration in the liberalisation and deregulation of trade, which has been aided by transfers of capital and currency exchange. Internation al trade has opened up the market to market forces; this has seen the reduction in tariffs, control of exports and imports, as well as other means of protection. Consequently, this has affected the nature of work done by the people across the world. States have also weakened their regulations, leading to an increase in market competition. As a result, traders have had the opportunity to change the nature of work since they can deal in goods, which their countries do not produce (Morgan 2001, p. 36). Globalisation has also altered the nature of work with the rise in the number of multinational corporations acting worldwide. With little reference to national boundaries, multinational corporations have organized themselves. As such, they have designed

International Expansion of Burger King into France Case Study

International Expansion of Burger King into France - Case Study Example Among the different factors identified by this model, we have singled out three that have a particular impact on the success of Burger King. Further PESTLE information is available in Appendix 1. 1. The most critical is the socio-cultural factor. France is a country with a long culinary tradition. French people who consume fast food show preferences guided by considerations of health and nutritional variety (Steele). French ex-employees of foreign fast-food chains have identified such preferences and successfully set up their own fast-food restaurants better aligned to French tastes (Rosenberg). Burger King will therefore need to adapt its cultural approach by extending the menu range beyond the basic burger-soda combination to produce meals to appeal both to the customer who is interested in novelty and fashion and to the one who seeks reassurance from tried and trusted classics. In general, culture occupies an important place in French life and extends beyond eating habits. Literature, art, lifestyle, values and traditions are all watched over and influenced by various French institutions as well as the government. As a nation, France seeks to develop and export its culture: "promoting cultural influence has been national policy for centuries" (Morrison). As such, a certain cultural protectionism exists in the French domestic market. For this reason, standardisation of Burger King operations extended to France must also be tempered by intelligent adaptation to the cultural norms that are deeply rooted in the market (Briscoe). 2. The legal environment and a number of governmental components are also specific to France. While to some degree harmonised with European policy, laws are still largely based on the Napoleonic Code, which has certain significant differences to anglo-saxon law. The french government has also recently begun a national awareness campaign for fitness and healthy eating, typified by its promotional web site (www.mangerbouger.fr). While this has no legal weight, it is an indication of the french government's wish to influence eating habits and therefore food market offerings. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity to Burger King. For example, if the company can adapt its promotional material correctly, Burger King meals can be positioned as the "healthy fast-food alternative" (Rosenberg). 3. Economic factors including exchange rates and inflation will also be important considerations. Exchange rates are based on the euro, which is currently strong against the US dollar. Revenue flowing back to the parent company from Burger King in France will therefore be enhanced, but operating expenses will be higher as well. France has one of the highest numbers of public holidays in Europe and almost double the amount of paid vacation for a salaried employee compared to the US. The french working week was redefined some years ago by the government as 37 hours per week. Where possible, the response of companies in France was to become more efficient in their working practices. However for restaurants such as those of Burger King, the repercussion is on higher staffing expenses. Adaptation of restaurant operating procedures may be required. Competitors of Burger King such as McDonald's (Briscoe) and

Study of chemical vapor deposition CVD grown transparent conducting Dissertation

Study of chemical vapor deposition CVD grown transparent conducting oxides (TCO) - Dissertation Example The results show that samples AGC-U and TEC 8 are both fit for use as semiconductor materials though the electrical conductivity of TEC 8 is better than that for AGC-U. Moreover when it comes to samples 198-219 the electrical properties (such as sheet resistance, mobility, resistivity and carrier concentration) tend to change as the doping levels are varied. The best electrical properties can be attributed to Sample 200 (with a doping level of 0.6 M) as it has the highest conductivity. It was also found out that fluorine doped samples had higher resistivity and that the mean transmission and mean reflection change as the doping levels of fluorine are changed. The mean transmission varies between 46.95% and 63.21% while the mean reflection varies between 2.21% and 4.25%. Sample 198 had the highest transmission while Sample 213 had the lowest transmission and reflection. It was also found out that the peak position did not vary as the levels of fluorine doping were changed. However the intensity (Lin count) tends to change as fluorine doping levels are changed. Sample 213 (0 M) had the lowest intensities while Sample 198 (0.4 M) had the highest peak.

Analysis of the poem The Jabberwocky Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Analysis of the poem The Jabberwocky - Essay Example A closer look at the first two sentences reveals that the words are not orderly organized making readers to question their originality as they are far strange from the ordinary world. Going down to line six, the poet is making an allusion of an enemy whose identity is known by using illusion as a style â€Å"other than equipped with rather nasty jaws and claws†. In line six of the poem, the poet goes further to give an explanation of the features of the monsters he is alluding about giving the audience a clue that whatever he is describing is not from this ordinary world. Secondly, the poet uses sound and word play to give more meaning to his poem. An example is that in line one, the poet uses a word like portmante ua which is derived from two words which contributes in giving the word force and meaning when being read by the audience. In line twenty three, the poet uses sound play to show the expression of joy. An example is the use of frabjous instead of fabulous. The conflict arising from the poem is that between good and evil. This is presented by the hero and the jabberwork who is considered the evil in the poem. An analysis into the two themes shows that conflict only arises when the two, hero and jabberwork meets. Therefore, the poem brings out the element of an ordinary man standing against a beast which is not known to this world. Surprisingly, the conflict manifest itself as the hero, human being is forced to fight with something which lacks sense in the world as it is an imaginary creature created in the mind of the poet. The theme of violence is also present in the poem because towards its climax. In the second stanza, its sets up the theme as the protagonist of the poem prepare to face the unknown beast into the wild. This when interpreted simply means that the protagonist was going to start a conflict between him and beast. Moreover, we notice that the hero at the end manages to

Nephew deployment to IRAQ Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Nephew deployment to IRAQ - Essay Example Charlie is a bright, talented and very obedient young man. I have raised him from the time he didn’t know how to clean his own mess until he became the man he is today. I have taught him to be patient and calculate his steps and actions to avoid making mistakes that he cannot later undo. These virtues are the ones that have made him the person he is today in the military. His devotion to his work is what I believe has made his superiors decide to deploy him to Iraq to join his fellow servicemen to serve this country. I therefore have no doubt in my mind and am sure most of the family members will agree to this that Charlie will not let anyone down. He will continue upholding his values and do the country proud. When you go out there Charlie, remember the other servicemen are your brothers and sisters. Take good care of them and always be the peacemaker and uniting factor. Obey your superiors as they know what is best for you. Above all, remember to pray to the almighty for protection and strength to move on despite everything that may be facing you out there in the foreign land. Never make any hasty decisions that may compromise your safety or that of your colleagues. We will be with you in spirit and prayers and may God grant you the necessary protection and wisdom. Take good care of yourself son, we are proud of you and we will miss you terribly. God bless you my dear

The Lives and Religions of Jesus and Muhammad Essay Example for Free

The Lives and Religions of Jesus and Muhammad Essay As the figureheads of two major world religions, the lives and teachings of Jesus and Muhammad are consistently examined and debated. The lives of these two men are strikingly different, and perhaps this is reflected in the different ways in which they are considered and worshipped. Jesus promoted peace and goodwill to all men, was destined for his role as a spiritual leader at the moment of conception, and is worshipped as a divine entity. In contrast, Muhammad was a powerful political and military leader as well as a religious one, and is not worshipped as a divine entity, but simply as a prophet, or messenger of God. The Life and Death of Jesus Christ Jesus is thought to have been born in Bethlehem, in or close to 4 BC (Bockmuehl, 13), and to have been raised in Nazareth by parents Mary and Joseph. Joseph was a carpenter by trade, as was Jesus himself. Jesus was a devout Jew (Bockmuehl, 15), but it is thought that his interpretation of the Torah was significantly different from what was generally accepted. The Gospels frequently describe incidents in which Jesus debated scripture and was critical of certain Jewish sects, most notably the Pharisees. In the absence of other historical sources, the Gospels are the main source of information about the life of Jesus. Little is known about the events that occurred between Jesus’ birth and his emergence as the leader of a religious movement. At an unknown point in his life, Jesus became a follower and friend of a prophet named John the Baptist (Bockmuehl, 22). After the arrest of John the Baptist, Jesus began preaching. He taught that the kingdom of God was imminent and that repentance of sins and acceptance of the Gospel was necessary to â€Å"acquire treasure in heaven† (Mark 10:21). It is thought that Jesus’ ministry lasted approximately three years. According to the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus traveled throughout Galileee, teaching in synagogues and open fields alike, healing the sick, and â€Å"proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom† (Matthew 4:23). Jesus used parables extensively, presumably because they made his messages of faith and forgiveness easier to understand. The events culminating in Jesus’ crucifixion occurred in Jerusalem (Bockmuehl, 36). According to the Gospels, he caused a disturbance in a temple by overturning tables belonging to moneychangers and preventing the passage of people who used the temple as a sort of shortcut through the city. Ultimately, he was executed because his teachings and actions made him a threat to the stability of established religion and power structures (Bockmuehl, 96). Jesus’ death is perhaps more important than his life, in terms of the impact it has had on the popularity and acceptance of his religious teachings. If Jesus had not died a martyr, Christianity would not exist as we know it today. Even more important than his manner of death, however, are the Gospel reports which state that three days after his death, his tomb was empty, and that he was subsequently seen alive by the disciples (Bockmuehl, 102). Regardless of whether or not Jesus was actually resurrected, belief in the resurrection is the defining principle of the Christian faith, and is the basis for the enormous impact of Christianity on the Western world. Jesus’ resurrection increases the significance of his death and validates the messages of his ministry (Bockmuehl, 101). The Life and Death of Muhammad Unlike Jesus, who, having been conceived immaculately was destined for greatness, Muhammad was a middle aged man before he received his calling (Cook, 14). Muhammad was born in or around 570 AD, and did not â€Å"receive his mission† (Cook, 14) for over forty years. This occurred on Mount Hira, near Mecca. It is said that as Muhammad lay asleep, the angel Gabriel came to him in a dream and revealed to him the first of a series of scriptures which eventually became the Koran. Muhammad subsequently spend ten to fifteen years in Mecca (Cook, 16), where he not only made many converts, but was also visited repeatedly by Gabriel, who introduced him to Abraham, Moses, and Jesus and allowed him to visit heaven. At this time, Paganism was the predominant religion in Mecca, and while Muhammad was mocked by some, he and his new religion were mostly tolerated. However, Muhammad began to criticize Pagan gods, and hostility was the eventual result, as city rules feared that the turbulence caused by religious division might limit trade between Mecca and other cities. A number of Muhammad’s followers fled to Ethiopia to escape persecution (Cook, 18). Muhammad himself eventually found protection in the form of tribesmen located in the northern city of Medina, who apparently saw Muhammad’s religion as a means of uniting their city, which was then fraught with internal political division (Cook, 19). Muhammad’s move to Medina took place in 622 AD, and is called the hijra. The year in which this occurred became known as the first year of the Muslim era. Once settled in Medina, Muhammad succeeding in uniting the warring Arab factions by enveloping both under the Muslim umbrella (Cook 21). With bloodshed between Muslims forbidden, the feud was effectively halted. With internal peace assured, Muhammad turned his attentions to external enemies, the chief of these being his home town, Mecca. He achieved a number of military successes, including the invasion and capture of Mecca (Cook, 22). His religious message spread as his conquests continued, and many Arab tribes submitted to his political and religious authority. Muhammad continued to receive visits from Gabriel, and many of the rituals which define Islam originated in this way (Cook, 23). Unlike Jesus, Muhammad died peacefully, of an unknown illness (Cook, 24), and was survived by nine wives as well as four daughters. Military operations continued in the name of Islam after his death. Muhammad had apparently planned to send an exploratory expedition to Palestine (Cook, 22), but died before this could be carried out. However, within a generation after his death, the Middle East had been conquered by the Muslims. Historical Worship of Jesus and Muhammad Jesus was an object of worship within a generation after his death (Bockmuehl, 220). Christ was invoked in prayer and hymn as early as the first century AD. However, it was not until the fourth century that Christianity was widely accepted (Bockmuehl, 223). At this point religious iconography began to appear in public displays, and purpose-built Christian churches were erected as the Christian faith became more organized and hierarchical. The importance of Christianity steadily increased until the end of the Middle Ages, at which point Christianity was the center of all aspects of life. Art, literature, music, and architecture were created to glorify Christ and depict Biblical events. Also at this time, religious art began to explore the human side of Jesus (Bockmuehl, 225), portraying his mental and physical anguish in realistic crucifixion scenes. It was not until the Italian Renaissance and Humanistic philosophy of the fifteenth century that secular art and literature began to appear. The self-exploration prompted by the Renaissance eventually gave rise to schisms within the previously unified Christian church. In the modern world, Jesus is increasingly viewed as just one of many prophets, including Moses, Muhammad, and Buddha (Bockmuehl, 237). Worship of Jesus in the twenty-first century is perhaps more personal than it once was, with less emphasis on organized religion and more emphasis on a personal relationship with Christ. This is perhaps necessary in a world which is increasingly secular, where there are many different religious denominations which identify as Christian, and where Christianity is no longer an entity which dominates every aspect of both public and private life. Unlike Jesus, who is worshipped as a divine entity, Muhammad is worshipped as a prophet or messenger of God, rather than a divine being (Cook, 83). Muhammad was not only a religious leader, but a political and military leader as well. The monotheistic faith that Muhammad created gave Islamic Arab nations the political stability that enabled them to become one of the world’s major civilizations (Cook, 86). Within two hundred years of Muhammad’s death, the Islamic religions had spread far beyond the borders of Arabian countries (Cook, 87). In the modern world, the faith is no longer spread via conquest of other countries, despite the efforts of extremist sects such as Al-Qaeda. As with Christianity, the basic tenets of Muslim faith remain unchanged, however the modern world has indeed influenced Muslim practices (Rippin, 127). Similar to the way in which the increasing separation of religion and state influenced Christianity, this division, together with the existence of the Muslim faith in countries which are not predominantly Muslim, has made the religion more of a personal choice and less of a political or national way of life. Just as with Christianity, numerous Muslim sects exist in the world. However, for devout Muslims, the rituals and practices of the faith remain virtually unchanged in comparison to what they were during ancient times. Conclusion The lives and deaths of Jesus and Mohammad have been just as influential in their respective religions as their teachings, if not more so. Both managed to unite innumerable people under one religion in different ways, which are reflected in their teachings and the events of their lives. Both were the figureheads of monotheistic religions, but had very different teachings. Jesus’ main message was the importance of love of both God and of fellow man, while Muhammad promoted unity within the Muslim community but used war as a means of spreading the Islamic faith to new lands. References Bockmuehl, Markus. (2001) The Cambridge companion to Jesus. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. Cook, Michael. (1996) Muhammad. Oxford: Oxford University. Rippin, Andrew. (1990) Muslims: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices. London: Routledge.

Global Warming Essay Example for Free

Global Warming Essay Within the next fifty years the US may experience shifting and changing length of the seasons, changes in vegetation including habitat and diversity, changes in precipitation intensity and distribution, a rise in sea-level, an increase in storm intensity and an increase in erosion events. Shifting seasons The principle sources for this idea were: Global Warming in the Temperate Zone, Geography Chapter 2, IPCC Fourth Assessment Report: Summary for Policy Makers, Alaska Survey (Us Global Change Research Program) Why? As global warming effects advance, colder seasons become milder and of shorter duration. â€Å"Climate †¦ refers to the annual pattern of atmospheric conditions in a place (Lew 2004). â€Å" Since the seas change temperature more slowly than land, an increase in temperature of the sea would maintain warmer patterns for longer periods of time Impact on Physical Geography â€Å"Throughout the temperate zone, changes are being recorded in where and when plants bloom and thrive. (Global Warming in Temperate Zone 2007)† Another effect is that as the temperature rises, the altitudinal zonation normally present (Lew 2004) becomes attenuated. In some areas, the top zones are disappearing, the temperature variations no longer dip far enough to maintain snow caps, glaciers or other physical attributes wildlife depend upon (. Global Warming in Temperate Zone 2007). Impact on Human Geography Changes in seasonality have not yet had much affect upon the lower United States human geography. Change in seasonality has had profound impact upon populations in Alaska and Canada. â€Å"[The Inuit’s] winter hunting and fishing is limited severely by loss of ice (Global Warming in the Arctic 2007). † Seasonal use of Ice roads, loss of sea-ice and lengthening summers all will have a profound impact on trade and national defense ( Climate Change: â€Å"Alaska† 2000). According to the IPCC report there is little that can be done to immediately reverse this trend as temperatures will continue to increase on inertia of the GHGs already in the atmosphere (Alley 2007) . Changing vegetation and Ecology The principle sources for this idea were: Global Warming in the Temperate Zone, Geography Chapter 2, IPCC Fourth Assessment Report: Summary for Policy Makers, Alaska Survey (Us Global Change Research Program) Why? The changes in seasonality and accompanying changes in temperature constitute changes in climate (Lew 2004). Plant organisms and their distributions are usually sensitive to climate changes. Impact on Physical Geography â€Å"Climate has a direct impact on the biogeographic distribution of the natural vegetation in a region (Lew 2004). † Observed changes in altitudinal zonation are expected to accelerate if temperatures continue to rise rapidly (Global Warming: Temperate Zone 2007). Impact on Human Geography This effect is not likely to have an immediate impact on humans, though there may be some benefit from a longer growing season and perhaps a larger farmable area. Changes in Precipitation The principle sources for this idea were: Geography Chapter 2, IPCC Fourth Assessment Report: Summary for Policy Makers, Regional Overview (Us Global Change Research Program) Why? Warmer air can carry more moisture. As temperature rises it increases the vapor pressure of water and causes increased evaporation. When precipitation occurs it is likely to be more intense, dumping more water in less time than would normally be the case. Impact on Physical Geography â€Å"Precipitation is very likely to continue to increase on average, especially in middle and high latitudes†¦ in the form of heavy downpours. (US Global Change, â€Å"Water overview† 2000). â€Å" Combined with seasonality, this means that some areas will become wetter and stay wetter longer than normal. Impact on Human Geography The resulting conditions may yield increased productivity, pest populations and disease. Introduce competition for water as the distribution and rates of precipitation change (US Global Change, â€Å"Water overview† 2000). Changes will very likely exaggerate conflicts in regions where fresh water is reduced by increasing evaporation and changes in precipitation (US Global Change, â€Å"Water overview† 2000). Sea Level changes The principle sources for this idea were: Geography Chapter 2, IPCC report, and Global Warming in The Artic, Rising Sea Levels Why? Sea level changes are occurring from increasing mean temperatures. The types of sea level rise include volume increases due to thermal expansion, increasing output from rivers due to increased precipitation, and increased outflow from melting glacier and icecap reserves. Impact on Physical Geography Loss of shoreline from movement of sea, submergence of low lying islands loss of wetlands and delta areas due to increased salinity in mixed water environment. Impact on Human Geography Should ice cap melting experience a surge it is possible for a rapid increase in sea-levels of 4-20 feet to occur over a short time. A rise of that size would inundate the cities forcing many to migrate away and shutting down important commercial centers, possibly permanently. Damage could by mitigated by building dikes, tidal dams and changes to building codes requiring use of higher situated building sites, most of these protective measures are not permanent solutions. Storm intensity increases The principle sources for this idea were: Geography Chapter 2, IPCC Fourth Assessment Report: Summary for Policy Makers, Regional Overview (Us Global Change Research Program) Why? This is related to the causes for increased precipitation, the oceans get warmer, which makes more evaporative pressure. Storms, such as hurricanes forming over water will gather more flow more quickly than they would ordinarily. The storms develop higher winds (larger volume of air is ready to enter convection) and increases in precipitation (more warm moist air, carrying more moisture than normal). Impact on Physical Geography Storms such as Hurricanes can have a profound impact on the coastal environment. Physically destroying plants, contributing to landslides, and flooding, stronger storms can change the landscape quickly. Impact on Human Geography The Katrina disaster provided some idea of the impact of super-storms. A city was virtually destroyed. These storms will prompt more frequent short term migrations to avoid them. Direct prevention is not probable, but sensible preparation and pre-planned evacuation can go far to mitigate impact upon populations. Still long term migrations are bound to occur due to stresses on the job market, infrastructure, and availability of resources. Erosion Events The principle sources for this idea were: Global Warming in the Temperate Zone, Geography Chapter 2, IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, Rising Sea Levels Why? Increased precipitation, higher tides, and stronger storm events translate to greater land-erosion events through mudslide, landslide, torrential run-off, and storm-surge. Impact on Physical Geography Combined, these effects will decrease the available coastal area, sweep away or bury some areas. River deltas may expand but existing habitat will be washed away as the river retreats inland with the sea following. Impact on Human Geography Perhaps the most immediate of the effects of global warming, the changes in weather patterns have already forced changes in the Carolinas, and in Galveston, and Brazoria. Stronger currents, higher tides have encroached on property and subsidence has forced many homes to be abandoned. This may become more widespread and more coastal settlements will have to move. Some rebuilding and storm wall can be built, but the problems are long term and may not have permanent solutions beyond migration References: Alley, Richard et al. (2007). IPCC WGI Fourth Assessment Report: Summary for Policy Makers. Retrieved February 2, 2007 from Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Website: http://ipcc-wg1. ucar. edu/wg1/docs/WG1AR4_SPM_PlenaryApproved. pdf