International business and communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

International business and communication - Essay Example This paper is a study of national cultures with particular reference to the work habits and practices that exist in Germany and Spain. It will specifically look at the Martinez Construction & Konstruction Drezehn case study in the process and analyze how differences in national culture had resulted in the particular situation that came about there. The term national culture denotes the shared values, beliefs and practices that are common to the people belonging to a particular country or region. Often a subject in anthropological and social studies, many definitions and view points about culture and national culture have evolved through the ages. â€Å"The term culture has various meanings, all derived from Latin meaning â€Å"which is cultivation of the soil.† (Jais, 27). Due to increasing diversity in the workplace, the concept of national culture has now become a part of business studies as well. A review of literature on the subject leads almost universally to the studies done by Professor Geert Hofstede on his studies on national identity in the workplace. Before going into detail on the cultural dimensions as conceived by Hofstede and other theorists, it would be pertinent to look at the factors responsible for the evolving of a work culture. â€Å"Culture is a metaphor which can be used to explore the identity of a business. It is about how others see the business, but also how the individuals who work there understand it. Culture offers us a powerful insight into the business and what it is like to work within it.† (An Introduction to Business Cultures). It should be noted that these factors are apart from those that have influenced individual culture through family and social interactions. The influence of leadership and vision that exists within a particular organization will be a dominant factor that helps a particular culture to evolve. The company tradition (depends on how long the

Challenging Homeostatic Interpersonal Process Essay

Challenging Homeostatic Interpersonal Process - Essay Example Another key issue is the increasing economic challenges in today's society. According to Shulman (1996) there should be realization that economic pressures have highlighted the need for individual and support groups to provide emotional and psychological support for those that are most challenged. Coupled with globalization, people are not only having to deal with the social changes but also have to deal with the accelerated pace of these developments. Gitterman and Shulman (2005) that this issue had served to highlight competencies and deficiencies of sectors in the society that calls for a review of previous standards and approaches for social services. This opinion was also given by Blank (2002) and has prompted him to call for the evaluation of perspectives in welfare and social care not only as a service but also with regard to the factors that drive needs. The reaction has been not just in health and social service reforms but also in the involvement of the community. In the UK, in an effort to improve channels of services, the government has established community based programs to deliver or provide for social services (Lalor et al, 2005). ... As the demand for social services increase, so will the cost of providing and accessing social services increase: a development that has limited access to social and health services particularly in less affluent communities and further aggravates disparities in socio-economics levels. Thus, service partnerships and collaborating between the sectors of education, social and health services have increased in significance. The efforts also are an indication of greater awareness in the community regarding the urgency of social issues particularly those that affect children and the marginalized. The School Social Work and Attendance Department The School Social Work and Attendance Department in the Broward County School is a local effort that is committed to positively impacting student achievement by addressing and removing barriers to learning (SSWAD, 2007a). The programs include the assignment of social workers to each school, abuse and truancy interventions, counseling, health education, psychological services and programs for exceptional students. SSWAD wants to accomplish its objectives by ensuring that all students have access to the wide array of services provided the department assigns a school social worker assigned to every school. The initiative echoes Broward County School's campaign of "transforming education one student at a time" (Broward County Public Schools [BCPS], 2007) The school social worker intervenes as part of the schools' Collaborative Problem-Solving Team, the Crisis Team, and additionally, provides training and teachers' consultation regarding child abuse, homelessness, teenage pregnancy, mental health concerns, dependency, and