The Increasing Collaboration in U.S. Military Essay

The Increasing Collaboration in U.S. Military - Essay Example The challenges that they encounters in their quest to transform and adapt to more collaborative strategies are discussed. Areas that the military has attained success during its collaborative endeavors have been mentioned. Further, a clear description of collaboration is presented, including those involved with the military, the objectives of military in collaborating and the present status as well as the success measures. Introduction In military warfare, the world is increasingly embracing collective and collaborative efforts in accomplishing the military activities and practices effectively. Collaborative efforts are practiced in military command relations, joint operations, strengthening personnel and equipment, training and tactics as well as in fostering cultural relations. Collaboration develops best in environments where relationships are mutual and well nurtured (Bushe, 2010). In military operations and practices, collaboration with other stakeholders is perceived as problem atic because the military forces are compelled to certain demands with the collaborative partners. The collaboration partners may be perceived with element of suspicion, leading to reluctance in sharing information on matters of national security out of fear. Consequently, collaborative work in military is more pervasive and complex. The United States military forces are working toward increased collaborative methods because of their understanding of how to improve collaborative work. Growing U.S. Military Collaboration Description of Collaboration Collaboration is the practice and concept of bringing appropriate individuals jointly in productive ways with proper information to establish genuine goals and strategies for tackling the common issues of the collaborative organizations or communities. This practice or concept is practiced because it helps to deal successfully with complex organizational or community issues. Collaboration strategies can be used as a means of building soci al capital, sustaining a democratic society and transforming the civic culture of communities or regions besides being used to address public concerns. Collaboration requires that the shared issues be addressed through engagement, dialogue, inclusion and power sharing. Mutual learning is a basic concept in collaborative working. The collaborating partners mutually benefit from the relationship to realize common goals and objectives through sharing responsibilities, accountability as well as authority for achieving the set results. Collaboration involves sharing of information and knowledge by the partners, and cooperation and coordination to help achieve the objectives (Chrislip, 2002). Involved Parties Multiple stakeholders are usually involved in collaborative work with the U.S. military personnel, depending on the desired goals and objectives to be accomplished. The U.S. military collaborates with civilian interagency, such as civilians from U.S. Department of State and U.S. Agen cy for International Development (USAID) among other organizations. The civilian interagency helps the U.S. military personnel in counterinsurgency operations and activities. The interagency for example, helped the U.S. military through collaboration in operations in Afghanistan and Iraq to facilitate reconstruction and development of the nations and advising the military on how to reach out to the indigenous communities (Green, 2012). U.S. military col

American Airlines Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

American Airlines - Assignment Example This can lead to unethical activities when the senior management and organization can gain significant rewards because of the short-term concentration on stock price (Machan, 2007). The senior management may tolerate organizational conflict of interest, abusing a number of rules of fair conduct or normal decency, gaming the rules of the society, and turning to cronyism as a means of making the most of their self-interest. Senior management troubled with the stock price of the company also concentrates on performance events that are short-term, often earnings. As a result, the senior management holds a commonly emphasizing fascination with short-term performance of stock prices. The senior management can engage in unethical behavior because profits are presumed as the most extensively conventional metric. Senior managers who have the capacity to consistently and correctly forecast the stock prices can gain tremendous profits. This prediction may make the senior management use unfounde d profit assessment. They may view the logical model of analysis as theoretically adequate but sensibly not connected from the anticipated earnings. The senior management may refer to the activities of market players to make a case out of their short-term focus on stock price (Machan, 2007). Encouraged by the view that stakeholders look at the current stock prices to determine value, they may repurchase shares even when they may be overvalued or fairly valued. Question 2 The conduct of American Airline controlling its finances by postponing the maintenance of its aircrafts may be unethical to both the stakeholders and clients. Shareholders are perceived as a unit that endures a kind of danger as a result of investing some kind of capital, financial or human based shares in a company. On the other hand, clients are presumed to be a group that endures some form of risk during their travels. When stakeholders and clients suppose that finances are being manipulated, a company consequent ly decreases worth on the stock market. The credit rating of the company will go down making the issued bonds to decrease in worth (Capozzi, 2001). Consequently, this will have a negative impact on the wealth of bondholders. American Airlines has had recurring issues with regard to maintenance of its aircrafts. The expenditure connected with operating these aircrafts has a negative impact on both stakeholders and clients. American Airlines has an ethical obligation to both stakeholders and clients to ensure that its aircrafts are well maintained. The airline also has an obligation to give correct details on the states of their aircrafts to both stakeholders and clients. When American Airlines postpones the maintenance of its aircrafts thereby influencing earnings, it means the company is not giving the true picture about its financial situation. In addition, the behavior is unethical towards the clients because aircrafts may pose risks that the clients are not aware of. The company also canceled a number of flights due to postponing aircraft maintenance in 2008. The company

Sonalika Traktor Essay Example for Free

Sonalika Traktor Essay Established in 1969, Sonalika group from the very beginninghastried to understand customer need so that they get better value for their money, hard earned.Sonalika has stateof manufacturing, spread in acres, located at Hoshiarpur and tax free zone at AMBin Himachal Pradesh.Sonalika is the one of the top 3 tractor manufacturing companies in India, other products include of,Multi utility vehicles, engines and various farm equipments. Today the group stands tall with anapproximate turnover of 3200 Core INR. An average growth of 30% makes it one of the fastestgrowing corporate in India. Its is also one of the few debt free companies.Group has strength of about 2000 employee technocrats. History reveals that innovation is the keyto continued progress and when applied to technology that touches human life, it can unfold a wholenew economic phenomenon that has the power to change the world.With unique initiatives like the Thought leadership Forum, Leadership Forum, sonalika have beenable to create a unique platform for learning through success stories of industry leaders. â€Å"No, doubt that the sonalika products has created a niche for themselves not only in India but also in foreign market. To maintain quality have any defect even at micro level is been takencare of and rectified. The technology for which they use, is of the high quality and world-class quality standards.† The industry has gradually transformed itself into a world-class player involved in building state-of-the-art products, solutions and technologies. As an industry, they are very conscious of responsibilityto society.Sonalika Foundation intends to become a catalyst, encouraging our members to do more, capturingbest practices for quality and harnessing a greater range of resources, from the industry and beyond,to make a major impact on the development.It has been their vision to cater to the needful agriculture and auto industry with quality productsthrough untiring dedication and activities. As they step in to their fifth decade of existence, it continueto lead the development.Tractor and car plants work in 2 to 3 shifts depending upon volume of work for maximum production.It Continue to march ahead on road to success and glory driven by the force of initiative  anddetermination to have a leading position in the tractor industry in the days to come . They haveventured in to automobi le sector also with the launching of Rhino – MUV- to write another successstory. PROJECT HEADING The Study of tractors in and around Ghaziabad specially their buying practices,specific needs, model / hp / make preferences and opinion about Sonalika tractorfor this particular segment / their specific need . INTRODUCTION OF TRACTOR INDUSTRY International Tractors Limited was incorporate on October 17, 1995 for the manufacture of Tractors and has since then built a distinct position for itself in the Tractor industry. ITL ismanufacturing various Tractors of Sonalika brand between 30 H.P to 90 H.P, and CLASS brandbetween 70 hp to 90hp. The tractors manufactured by company have secured a reputation of performance, quality and reliability in the market because of their maximum pulling power, minimumfuel consumption and low emission. All this makes ITL one of the top three tractor selling companiesin India. These tractors are also exported to various countries including South Africa, Australia,Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Canada, Bangladesh, Algeria, Zambia, Senegal, Ghana etcITL has entered into strategic alliance with YANMAR of Japan for joint manufacturing tractors inIndia. ITL has a marketing arrangement with TATA International for development of selected South American and African market. The company’s marketing efforts are promoted by dealer network of 600, and 450 subdealers. Such a networking has enabled the company to grow like a well-knit familywhose roots lie in its customers, who have providing constant feedback and support to allow thecompany to turn their dreams into products. â€Å"Our Manufacturing Process, Quality Control systems and Research Developmentfacilities are ISO-2000 certified,  by the joint Accreditation system Of Australia and NewZealand. We are the first Tractor manufacturing company in the country to beaccredited with ISO-14001. It bears testimony to fact that company is having world-classRD facilities, maintaining controls and systems of international Standard and Environment norms.† They are also manufacturing tractors, meeting norms of Smoke Mass Emission, Tested andcertified by ARAI, Pune. United States Environmental Norms Agency, Washington DC has alsocertified our Engines. These certifications enabled SONALIKA Tractors to enter into world Market.All the Models of Tractors and Combines Harvesters manufactured by us are tested approved bycentral Farm Machinery and Tractors Training Testing Institute, Bundi (MP) India, (theGovernment of India Institute authorized for issuing test reports). WELCOME TO KEY SURVEY AND STUDY A.  WHAT IS TRACTOR A  tractor  is a vehicle specifically designed to deliver a high tractive effort (or torque) at slow speeds,for the purposes of hauling a trailer or machinery used in agriculture or construction. Mostcommonly, the term is used to describe the distinctive farm vehicle: agricultural implements may betowed behind or mounted on the tractor, and the tractor may also provide a source of power if theimplement is mechanised.The word tractor was taken from Latin, being the agent noun of trahere to pull. The first recordeduse of the word meaning an engine or vehicle for pulling wagons or ploughs occurred in 1901,displacing the earlier term traction engine (1859).Tractors are used extensively in mowing and land-clearing applications. In fact, the commonsuburban riding mower is basically a scaled-down tractor. Theyre also used in construction,landscaping, livestock operations, and industrial settings. B.  BASIC OF CHOOSING A TRACTOR Getting the right tractor is important: its an expensive purchase and one that you can easily last 10,20, or 30 years or more. This Buyer Zone Tractors Buyers Guide will help you through the process,answering questions such as: How much horsepower do you need? What features are most important? Which attachments are the most useful? How can you choose the right dealer? How much you can expect to pay?Start choosing a tractor by determining if one is actually right piece for you. There are three mainpoints to consider when choosing which type of equipment is right for you: FLEXIBILITY Skid steer loaders and tractors are designed to power many kinds of attachments,while excavators and loader/backhoes are dedicated to the specific tasks of digging and loading. As aresult, the specialized machines are more efficient at their specific jobs, but the generalists are usefulin more ways. SURFACE IMPACT Skid steers and excavator tracks can wreak havoc on grass or loose surfaces.In contrast, even fairly substantial tractors equipped with the right tires can work on these types of surfaces without doing noticeable damage. OVERAGE AREA Since they can move at faster speeds, tractors are more appropriate than skidsteers for work that involves covering a lot of ground: mowing or plowing large fields. Hydrostatic transmissions are the best choice if the primary operators of the tractor arent familiarwith using manual transmissions. However, theyre more expensive, and they reduce the availablehorsepower slightly when compared to manual transmissions.If your operators are comfortable with using a clutch, you can save some money and get a little morepower out of your tractor by choosing a manual transmission. SAFETY (ROPS) All new tractors are required to come with rollover protection structures (ROPS) that greatly improvesafety. When used in conjunction with a seatbelt, ROPS prevent the tractor from crushing theoperator in a rollover accident.Another safety feature to look for is an operator presence switch. These systems can detect theoperators weight in the drivers seat –  and if theres no one in the seat, they automatically shut off theengine.Most tractors will have basic lights and flashers for road operation, but you should check localregulations for any rules about driving tractors on public roads to see if there are more specificrequirements. TIRES Your application will also determine what type of tires you should choose. Tractors can use manytypes of pneumatic tires: agricultural tires for working in loose dirt; industrial tires for heavy mowingand loader work, or turf tires that reduce damage when mowing finished lawns. Your dealer shouldshow you several types of tires that appropriate for your use. F.  TRACTOR ATTACHMENTS While the tractor itself provides the power to get your job done, the attachments are what actually dothe work. As one dealer told us, a tractor without attachments is basically a slow ride to the mailbox.Buying the right  attachments for the job you need to do is an essential part of a tractor purchase. Themost common type of application is moving materials around, and for that job, a front-end loader isa great choice. A simple scoop on two arms, a loader can be used for carrying dirt, rocks, mulch, orother loose materials; for leveling and landscaping work; and for carrying heavy items. Unlike mostattachments, this popular tool connects to the front of the tractor, instead of the back, meaning it canbe left on while using the back end for other attachments.Some popular attachments: Box blades  are used to scrape or push earth, for grading, leveling, or bulldozing applications. Mowers  come in many types: rough cut and brush mowers for cutting through heavy growthand finish mowers for more detailed work.  In agricultural use,  tillers,  plows, and  disk harrows  are excellent tools for preparing fields. If snow is an issue in your location, front-end  plows  and  blowers  turn your tractor into asnow-removal machine. Backhoes provide serious digging power  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ   but at a high cost: theyre among the mostexpensive attachments you can buy. Not all tractors can support backhoes,either. Other attachments include  landscape rakes,  spreaders,  forks,  grapples, and  hay bailers. CONNECTING TRACTORS ATTACHMENTS Most attachments connect using a three-point hitch at the back of the tractor. This lets them use thepower take-off unit (PTO) as a power source. Almost all tractors use a standard 540 RPM PTO andthree-point hitch, which means attachments are generally interchangeable between different tractors.Verify that the horsepower rating of your PTO is enough to run the attachments you plan on using.1000 and 2000 RPM PTOs are also available, but unless you need a specialized attachment that onlyworks at those speeds, theyre not important. Some tractors have a PTO located in the middle of thetractor, beneath the operator. This can be helpful for precise mowing, but its not very common. G. CHOOSING A TRACTOR DEALER Buying a tractor involves more than just choosing the right model and the  right attachments: you haveto choose a tractor dealer you can work with for the long term. Like any piece of heavy equipment,your tractor will wear and eventually break, making your relationship with the dealer important.Having warranty coverage on your tractor isnt worth much if the dealership cant do the work youneed. Ask potential tractor dealers about their service policies: What kind of parts inventory do you keep on hand? How many technicians do you have? What is their training and experience like? Do you do on-site service if my tractor needs repairs? What about scheduled maintenance? Do you have guaranteed response times? Do you provide loaners if my tractor needs to be taken in for service? Will you pick my tractorup if it needs to go in for extensive work? You should visit the dealer’s facility. Simply seeing the parts warehouse and service areas can give you a good sense of their capabilities. REGULAR MAINTAINENCE Relatively simple tasks like changing the oil, replacing filters, and lubricating joints are an essentialpart of extending your tractors lifespan, and many tractor owners choose to take care of routinemaintenance on their own. But in addition to repairing breakdowns, your dealer should also help withthis type of preventative maintenance.They should provide you with a detailed maintenance manual, and walk you through the basicmaintenance procedures if necessary. They can also be your source for the parts and supplies youneed to keep the tractor running smoothly. Handling this routine maintenance isnt difficult, but it does require that you stick to a schedule.Because regularly scheduled maintenance is so important, it can make sense to purchase amaintenance contract. For a small yearly fee, the dealer will make sure all required maintenance isdone right and on time, either at your location or theirs. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS Many tractor manufactures have been around for decades. While newer or lesser-known brands maybe cheaper, choosing a brand with longevity helps unsure that youll be able to find parts when youneed them.Better dealers will let you take a tractor for a demo at your own site. This is a great way to evaluatedifferent models: youll be able to get a feel for how well each performs in your specific applications.Youll also be able to directly evaluate subjective issues like visibility and ease of use. Lastly, don’t underestimate your personal reactions. Choose a dealer you feel is honest with yo u andeasy to work with: those impressions are often good indicators of how the dealer will treat you in thelong run. If the dealer aggressively starts selling you on a tractor without trying to determine yourneeds, you may want to keep moving. Quality dealers want to put you in the right tractor, knowingthat if youre satisfied with your purchase, youll eventually come back. softening of commodity prices preparing the ground for the industry to earn higher profitabilitymargins. The pickup in volumes also lowered the overhead expenses for the tractor manufacturers,boosting their profitability. While the OEMs did not lower the listed sales price of tractors, the benefitof lower steel prices was passed on to the end customers via discounts. This is an accepted practice inthe industry; given that once prices are lowered it is difficult to raise them subsequently. However,during H2 2009-10, the tractor majors increased the prices with the reversal of commodity prices andthe discounts have also come down INDUSTRY TREND BY REGION The biggest markets for the tractor industry include States like Uttar Pradesh (UP), Andhra Pradesh(AP), Madhya Pradesh (MP), Rajasthan, and  Maharashtra, which together accounted for around 50%of the total tractor sales in India during 2009-10. The tractor industry witnessed a strong y-o-y growthof 28.3% during 2009-10, with most of the States reporting positive growth during the year. The  northern region  remains the largest tractor market in India with sales of around 1,67,000 unitsas of 2009-10. This region reported a growth rate of 35.7% in volume sales in 2009-10 over theprevious fiscal, with the key contributors including UP, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. The northernregion benefited from higher MSPs (for crops), limited availability of labour (forcing highermechanisation), and increasing non-agricultural use of tractors. Additionally, increased infrastructuredevelopment activities (especially highways) led to appreciation in land values and use of tractors fornon- agricultural purposes. In some cases, farmers also received compensation for the Government’s acquisition of select land patches (adjoining highways), which increased the availability of cash withthem. Feedback from industry players  suggests cash purchases (including purchases using KisanCredit Card) in some northern States increased to 35-40% of the total tractor volumes in 2009-10 from 10-15% in the past.Tractor volumes in UP grew by 42.7% during 2009-10, with H2, 2009-10 reporting particularlystrong growth (around 51% y-o-y) mainly on the back of high sugarcane prices for the kharif  cropand improved irrigation facilities. In the case of Punjab, tractor volumes remained strong for the fifthstraight year in 2009-10 (y-o-y growth of 42%). In Rajasthan however, growth in tractor volumes wasrelatively subdued in 2009-10 (around 24% y-o-y) as compared with the figure for the northernregion as a whole. Tractor sales in Rajasthan were especially low in H2, 2009-10 versus H1, 2009-10,due to lower kharif output on account of deficient rains and inadequate financing availability.In the eastern region, tractor volumes continued to report strong growth in 2009-10, albeit on a smallbase, and went up by 53.8% over 2008-09, being driven mainly by the higher MSPs announced forpaddy. Within the region however, many financiers remained reluctant to finance tractor purchases insome States like Bihar. Nevertheless, in Bihar, tractor volumes grew 66% over 2008-09 to around29,000 units in 2009-10, thereby accounting for over 50% of the total sales in the eastern region. TheBihar market, where tractor penetration had been lo w historically, has shown sustained growth overthe last few years and become one of the important markets for the tractor industry. Overall, in theeastern region, growth in tractor volumes is expected to moderate, going forward, as the benefit of alow base get diluted gradually.The western region  reported sales of around 92,000 tractor units during 2009-10 —   a growth rate of 35.7% over the previous fiscal  Ã¢â‚¬â€   benefiting particularly from the strong performance thatMaharashtra, Gujarat and MP posted during H2, 2009-10 (55% y-o-y growth over H2, 2008-09). Thefactors contributing to the strong growth in the region during H2, 2009-10 included a benign baseeffect, higher crop prices (of sugarcane and cotton in Maharashtra, and of cereals and soyabean inMP), and greater availability of retail finance.The performance of the southern region  in terms of tractor sales was relatively modest during 2009-10, with the growth rate being around 11.9% over the previous fiscal. While most States in the regionreported healthy growth, AP, which is the largest tractor market in the south, de-grew by 10.4% in2009-10. The AP market has been undergoing a volume correction since 2007-08, with the precedingfour to five years having witnessed a large and sustained volume growth; this factor apart, the de-growth of 2009-10 was also aided by irregular monsoons. The other big market in the southernregion, Karnataka, reported growth of 74% in tractor volumes in 2009-10 mainly on the strength of higher MSPs for rice; however, volume growth is expected to modera te in 2010-11 because of thebase effect. In Tamil Nadu, tractor sales were flat during H1, 2009-10, but the performance improvedin H2, 2009-10 mainly because of improved retail  financing by the PSBs. INDUSTRY TRENDS BY TRACTOR HORSE POWER(HP SEGMENT) The Indian tractor market has traditionally been a medium HP market, with 31-40 HP tractorsaccounting for around 47% of the total industry volumes. In 2008-09, the 31-40 HP category hadreported sales of 157,602 tractor units, which was about the same as the previous year’s figure but  lower than the 2006-07 statistic by 7%. In 2009-10 however, this category reported a strong revival,with the volume growing by 22%2 over 2008-09; the revival was led by UP, Karnataka and MadhyaPradesh.The other major segment in the Indian tractor market is the 41-50 HP range, which accounts foraround 23% of the total industry volumes. This segment grew by around 10% during 2009-10,thereby underperforming the growth in overall tractor volumes (around 19%) that year. The mainreason for this underperformance was the low growth that the southern region, the biggest market forthis segment, reported in 2009-10. The 51 HP segment of the Indian tractor market alsounderperformed the industry growth rate in 2009-10 mainly because of the de-growth in the exportswhich is a key demand area for these high HP tractors. SOME LONG TERM DEMAND DRIVERS (TRACTOR INDUSTRY) Low penetration of tractors in Indian agriculture: Indian agriculture is characterised by low farmmechanisation, fragmented land holdings, and high dependence on monsoon rains (in the absence of adequate irrigation facilities). Tractor penetration in India is low at around 13 tractors per 1,000hectares as against the global average of 19 and the US average of 29. While this does indicate therelative backwardness of Indian agriculture, it also points to the significant scope that exists forraising tractor penetration, which bodes well for tractor demand over the long term. Government support for the agricultural sector: Although agriculture contributes just around 20%  to India’s GDP, it provides employment to a large rural population, which is why the sector remains a strong focus area for the Government. The tractor industry benefits significantly from theGovernmental focus on agriculture, with measures such as nil excise duty on tractors (even the exciseduty on tractor parts has been lowered from 16% to 8%) and inclusion of tractor financing underpriority sector lending (by PSBs) serving as long-term demand drivers. Financing of tractor purchaseis of great significance for the industry, it being a key demand facilitator. Export of tractors: Indian tractor manufacturers have been increasingly targeting the internationalmarkets over the last few years. The industry exported a total of around 37,900 tractors during 2009-10, with the USA, Africa, South America, and some Asian countries being the top destinations. Theindustry leader, Mahindra and Mahindra (MM), has acquired Yancheng Tractors, the fourth largesttractor manufacturer in China (in terms of FY2008 volumes), to improve its presence in the country.In the developed markets, Indian tractors have a relatively marginal presence, with sales being largelyrestricted to the hobby farming segment.

Strength And Weakness Of Drug Facts Economics Essay

Strength And Weakness Of Drug Facts Economics Essay In OTC drugs, there is variation in labeling OTC drugs. Those OTC drugs which are exported to foreign countries are labeled in perfect manner, but that is in revise in Indian market. In India, OTC drugs are distributed in pitiable manner and it exhibits the lack of regulations in labeling. It is required to improve the labeling of OTC drugs. For achieving high-quality labeling, the following information should be included in the labeling requirements of OTC drugs. 1. The purpose of the drug 2. Detailed warning messages 3. Inactive ingredients 4. Dosage instructions 5. Users Contact data, equipped to get information for their queries The Drug and Cosmetic Act was executed in 1945. At that time, the literacy rate, which depicts the literacy (who can be read and write) percentage of a population over the age 15, was very low. The prerequisites of labeling were depended on general public education and circumstances. After that, there was a great improvement in both literary rate and the usage of OTC drugs. Stated by the surveys, India is currently in 11th position in the global OTC market, and it is believed to be in the 9th position in following five years. All these represents the need of modification which is required in the Drug and Cosmetic Act established in 1945, in order to improve the level of OTC drug labeling. History of OTC labels The manufacture, distribution, sale and import of drugs and cosmetics in India are regulated by the following legislations: The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 (DCA) and its subordinate legislation Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 (DCR) Drug (Prices Control) Order, 1995 Drugs (Magic Remedies) Objectionable Advertisement Act, 1954 Pharmacy Act, 1948 The above-mentioned legislations are regulated by the Central Government (Ministry of Health Family Welfare) and are enforced through Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the State Government. Even though, OTC drugs do not have separate labeling requirements in India, all drug products should have a minimal information present on the label of the innermost container of any drug and on every other layer in which the container is packed , as per rule 96 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 (DCR), except homeopathic medicines. The following are the minimum labeling requirements: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Name of the drug: Proper (generic) name, immediately followed by Trade (brand) name à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Net content of drug in the container à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Content of active ingredients/single dose or dosage unit à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Name, address and license number of the manufacturer à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Distinctive Batch number or Lot number for the product à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Manufacturing and Expiry date à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Maximum Retail Price (inclusive of all taxes) In India, Peoples habit of taking drugs differs from place to place. Around30%-45% of people prefer pharmacist and self treatment for their illness like cough, cold, pain, fever, injuries and digestive disorders. India is famous for Ayurveda and some other long-established systems of medicine. The aim of the evaluation conducted by Rama Krishna Chaitanya Aluri from Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, based on nearly 200 OTC drug labels, is to check the suitability of information on the labels for successful self-treatment by consumers. Recent changes in drug facts Recently, the FDA conducted extensive research on how consumers use OTC drug product labels, while comparing to the drug facts labels on advanced countries. The clarity of the labels was one major problem, especially for older Americans, who purchase almost 30% of the OTC drugs, sold in The United States. To determine the best way to order this information on OTC drug labels, a recent research has been conducted. Vigilante and Wogalter (1997) pragmatically decided an ordering of OTC label components based on users beliefs about what was (?) Strength and weakness of Drug Facts Having over-the-counter medication will save you time from visiting the doctor every time you have a little sniffle or an ache or pain. There are many safe drugs which can take care of most of your everyday illnesses like the following: colds coughs aches and pains upset stomach diarrhea allergies   These types of drugs are not the drugs themselves its the people! A lot of horribly unobservant people do not take the time to read directions in order to know how to take the medicine properly. There are many cases where people use over- the-counter medicines erroneously and poison themselves. Review in India History of drug regulations Drug regulation organizations in existence today, like Drug Laws, Drug Regulatory Agencies, Drug Evaluation Boards, QC Laboratories, Drug Information Centers, etc., have developed over time. Such developments began centuries ago in some countries, and in others, they are comparatively recent, some of them having started only in the 1990s. The restrictions under the Drugs (Price Control) Order, 1995 are not directly related to the question of categorization of the drugs as OTC drugs or otherwise. But still, they are required to be considered, as restriction on pricing may influence the decision to launch a drug as OTC drug. It is mandatory to obtain price approval from the Central Government, if the drug is classified as scheduled formulation under the Drug (Prices Control) Order, 1995. Also, Central Government can fix a maximum price at which every manufacturer is required to sell his product. For Example, Aspirin and vitamin preparations are deliberated as OTC products for the purpose of marketing. However, under Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995, they are considered as scheduled formulations and are subject to price restrictions, unless these formulations are manufactured at SSI units. Difference between pharmacy in India and US OTC in pharmaceutical industry dialect stands for over-the-counter (mainly with reference to drugs). The purchase/sale of drugs across the counter without prescriptions is denoted by this. In fact, in India, every pharmaceutical product market is OTC. People can orally ask for any product and buy it across the counter. In US, there are prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs. The prescription drugs are strictly sold only on showing the prescription (Rx). Once the products are dispensed as per Rx, a seal is administered, to indicate that the Rx has been filled. If the patient goes in for refill of the Rx, the pharmacist does it only if it is legally permissible. In such cases, a seal or stamp is put on the Rx again, to indicate that the Rx has been filled once again. But in India, such procedures are not strictly followed. Hence, in a way, the Indian retail pharmaceutical market is OTC or rather it is better to be called  OTX  (combination of  OTC and Rx). Strength and weakness of OTC drugs in Indian and US In India, with the counter medication, there is no need to visit doctor every time for a little sniffle or pain or an ache, so drug facts are good. Several safe drugs are available which cures normal illnesses such as aches, colds, pains and coughs, allergies, and diarrhea and stomach upset. These types of drugs are the people but not the drugs themselves. People are terribly unperceptive and dont even care to read the directions mentioned on the drugs before consuming. Several cases happened when people took the counter medicines improperly and resulted in poisoning. Methodology Following methods are considered To know in depth of a particular aspect case study method helps the researchers; in many cases it selects specific location with very small portion as subject. Real time example is considered with limited number of conditions and events for case study investigation. According to Yin 1984, 23 case study definition a formula based calculations comparing with real world using many sources of evidence, relationships in between them are not accurately explained. Investigation of some case study is done by using longitudinal structures of single event which helps to observe sequence of data, events, reports and results from a long time, for example child language development investigation. According to Zaidah, 2003 Firstly useful data is deeply investigated according to situation based upon particular activity. Case study is very effective example knowing the interesting subject for authentic use. Students an opinion has to be focused during leisure hours the average number of particular subject is taken into the count. This kind of example values slightly deviates when n number of variable are consider. The examination of data is conducted within its context and also within its situation wherein the activity takes place. A case study would always be interested when subject makes it as an authentic text. In order to investigate, the researcher must be able in observing subject environment such as reading in class room or else reading in leisure time. According to zaidah 2003 it mostly focuses on limited number of variables. Results and Discussion The research literature consists of few studies in relations concerning medications that can be bought without any kind of medical prescription also named or over the counter as cold/flu medications etc. in spite of the fact that they are widely used and also represents if it is been misused. As proposed by Ferguson, Dodds, and Flannigan, 1994 one such area in which they are been misused that which involves not only overdosing but also interaction with any other substance. For instance: some case studies have documented individuals who seek to relieve depression symptoms by inducing a state of euphoria with multi-symptom cold syrup which contains chlorphenhydramine, dextromethorphan, and phenylpropanolamine. These substances may induce behavioral and emotional reactions, especially in prone individuals, leading to potentially serious health risks and consequences (Mendez, 1992). The Dangerous substance interactions have received some attention in the psychiatric disorders area. A questionnaire administered to 139 patients diagnosed with either depression or social phobia revealed that 40% of them used OTC cold/flu remedies which had negative interactions with their prescribed medications (Sweet et al., 1995). Another study examined the rate of consumption of TV advertised OTC medications by 471 college students. The results showed that, in addition to frequently using one or more such medications they did so without talking to their physicians about it or specifically determining the conditions under which they were taking such medications. These findings led the authors to emphasize the need to further study the effects of the media on the use of potentially risky OTC medications (Burak and Damico, 2000) The Indian OTC pharmaceuticals market generated total revenues of $2.5 billion in 2006,this representing a compound annual growth rate of 8.3%for the five year period spanning 2002- 2006. In comparison ,the US and Chinese OTC pharmaceuticals markets grew with CAGRs of 4.3% and 7% over the same period ,to reach respective values of $21.2billion and $11.9billion in 2006. Traditional medicines proved the most lucrative for the Indian OTC pharmaceuticals market in 2006, generating total revenues of $679.3 million. In comparison, sales of cough and cold preparations generated revenues of $492.6 million in 2006. Category %Share Traditional Medicine 27 Cough and cold preparations 19.80 Vitamins and Minerals 11.60 Medicinal skin plants 2.60 Others 26.03 Indian OTC pharmaceuticals market Share: % share, by value, 2004** Company %share Pfizer Inc 5.10 Sanofi Aventis 5.10 Johnson Johnson 2.0 Other 85.10 Inorder to obtain a better way of getting work done and make companies focus on packaging a better pharmacist approach through a better training sessions. By having, better access through labellng and packaging of OTC drugs through government and other pharma companies ensuring a better management of ailments through OTC medication. By developing a better approach of companies launching a better way of public education campaign fulfilling needs of OTC drugs and educating them to empower better way of medication. With all leading pharma companies launching their public education campaigns to fill the knowledge gap in proper selection and use of OTC drugs, it can be a classic case of PPP where the ultimate winner will be the consumer Suggestions and improvements in OTC labeling in US Based on Institute of Medicine IOM, 2008 medication label standardization U.S pharmacopeia health literacy launched container label prescription for consumers advice. Gerald McEvoy and Schwartzberg were the chairmans of American Society of Health System Pharmacists. According to them labels should contain the following principle: 1. Easy, understandable prescription and directions for consumers use. 2. Worldwide medicines should contain prescription label based upon exported countrys standards and basic exporters are clinicians, health literacy experts, academic researchers, government health agency representatives and pharmists. According to IOM, 2008 every year millions of drugs are misused, even after mentioning source of information and safety precautions clearly on the label. Sometimes written and oral consultations information may or may not present on the panel, in case of Rx container label should strictly contain doctors prescription for consumers safety. As per U.S. Pharmacopeia Health Literacy Instruction Container Labeling Advisory Panel recommend the following: Recommendations Arrange the label prescription in such a way that it always stays as a centre in comforting the users. The direction of a drug is given neatly and orderly in making the customer easily understand the prescription and to make use of them in a safe and also effective use. usefull information is given on the label of drug and they are as follows: Useful directions are present at the top of the panel. Medication details are present at bottom. Most important precautions like dosage. Administrative instructions are placed with specific style. The proposed labeling consists of various components and they study these components by making use of certain facts of drug. And labeling format is as follows: 1. Label to include: the Active ingredient all along with its strength: Results: All the 100 labels are examined and mentioned in the active ingredients along with their potency/strength. 2. Label to include: Therapeutic category/purpose: Its 55% of labels are disclosed in therapeutic category. 3. Label to include: Uses /indications for which medicine can be utilized: Even though a significant percentage (75%) mentioned the indications intended for the medicine, 25% of the labels failed to do so. 4. Label to include: Warnings related to common unpleasant effects, drug interactions, contraindications, precautions, over dosage, when it is appropriate to seek medical advice and also in special conditions like pregnancy breast-feeding. This also includes cautions in keeping them away from children. Results: 90% of the labels failed to enumerate the adverse effects of the medicine. 86% did not state what is to be done in case of overdose 92% gave no Information regarding usage in pregnancy and Breastfeeding 87% of the labels did not mention of the possible drug interactions, contraindications and precautions. 73% labels did not even advise to seek medical guidance. Only 36% labels mentioned that the medicine is required to be kept out of the reach of children. 5. Label to include: Directions including how much to be take n, dosage interval, and maximum dose allowed per day and the dose for children: Almost half of the medicines (46%) did not mention the amount to be used, while 34% did not mention the dosing interval. 85% of the medicines did not state the maximum dose allowed. Out of the 15% which did state the maximum dose, 20% were ambiguous with the details. It was also observed that 70% of the medicines failed to specify the dose for children. Only 1 label included Instructions for use in Devanagiri script. 6. Label to include: The products inactive ingredients help the consumers in avoiding ingredients that may cause an allergic reaction. None of the labels included the inactive ingredients. 7. Label to include: Storage conditions. Even though a large percentage (88%) of the labels provided the storage conditions, 64% of them were imprecise and difficult to understand. Nearly 85% of the labels were found without a specific temperature. Furthermore, storage conditions were often mentioned using terms which the common man are not familiar with. The exact temperature was rarely mentioned. Besides, we also assessed the label for 2 more criteria : 1. Label to include: Legibility to find out whether the label is easily readable, read with difficulty or with the aid of a magnifying glass. 40% of the medicine labels were clearly read only with the aid of a magnifying glass as the font size was too small. 22% of drug labels were read with difficulty leaving just around 38% which could be read easily. This suggests that 62% of the labels are read with much effort. 1. Label to include: Additional information through patient package inserts, information on secondary packages (wherever applicable): Patient package inserts are useful for providing additional information to the patient. Out of the 100 medicines examined, only 3 included a patient package insert. Many a times, secondary packagings of medicines are also given to the patient as additional protection for their medicines or as attractive packs. These secondary packages can also be used to convey valuable information to the patient. In 56% of the cases, a secondary package was found to be available to the patient, yet only 36% of them gave more information on its label than the primary package. Conclusion The OTC drug offering is incomplete with out empowering public on its rational use through Well planed strategic marketing initiative revolving around the aliment, the knowledge to diagnose and manage the same. In this empowerment process which can be considered as CSR, the objective should be prevention and holistic awareness creation leading to health and wellbeing than just offering the minimum needed information to use ones products. Thus by educating public (consumer) on how to manage common ailments and finally how to prevent them, the pharma companies can achieve its real goal of health for all and improve the quality of peoples life In India, OTC products are marketed and advertised liberally, with a view of educating the maximum number of consumers, and promoting treatment of minor ailments at home using OTC products as first line of defense. It can be anticipated that, more Rx to OTC switch will increase number of drugs in OTC category in near future. Hence it may be valuable to conduct more research on group of Consumers, who consume OTC Products freely and either switch from the existing brand or continue to earlier brand. A study on marketing of OTC products, used by post office and postman, can also be a studied as a channel of marketing of OTC drugs at national area. Since, the Customer and Consumer are being the same in the OTC drug marketing, companies must instantly address the information needs more effectively and uninterruptedly. Once the awareness level is enhanced, the acceptability of OTC drugs will improve. The knowledge about allopathic OTC drugs has to be disseminated by manufacturing companies, in order to ensure drastic reduction in the high information asymmetry existing now-a-days, especially when the knowledge of the traditional medicine is rooted in the culture. Bibliography Ajith, P., (2007). OTC Drug Marketing -. Global Trends and Indian Experiences. etal, C.P.B.., 1998. Patients Attitude to over the counter drugs possible professional response to self Medications. Oxford University Press, volume- 15, pp.44-50. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 21 CFR Part 201, e.a., 1999. Over-the-Counter Human Drugs; Labeling Requirements. Federal Register. . Sleath B, R.R.C.W.G.L.C.T., 2001. Physician-patient communication about over-the-counter medications.. Social Sciences Medicine.. Tracy Portner, M.C.S., 1994. College students perceptions of OTC Information. characteristics Journal, 8, p.142 to 161. Wilcox CM, C.B.T.G., 2005. Patterns of use and public perception of over-the-counter pain relievers. Focus on nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs..

The Effect of Racism in Schools on Education Essays -- Papers

The Effect of Racism in Schools on Education I recent years there have been considerable interest in the educational performance of ethnic minorities. A number of studies have been carried on this issue, a common example is the government - sponsored Swann Committee report Education for all. This report carries out research on different aspect on educational performance, and one aspect that stands out form all is, racism in school. Although the precise findings of studies have varied, most have found that, overall, ethnic minorities (blacks, Asians and other nationalities) tend to do less well than other members in the population. The Swann report found important differences between ethnic minorities' children and white children. From a survey of five LEAs it was found that Asian children did almost as well as whites or 'others'. Asians were slightly less likely than 'others' to get five or more graded results in GCSE exam or any other sort of important examination qualifications. Although the Swann report did stress the importance of the Asian community doing quite well, a certain type of Asian community known as the Bangladeshi did particularly bad, was this, the result of racism or the result of ignorance. The Swann report found out that the average performance of West Indians was considerably worse than that of whites. A shocking five percent of West Indians passed an A Level and only one percent went off to university. All though not is all shocking a large percent of ethnic minorities between the age of 16 and 19 were in full time education. This can be backed up by Jones (sociologist) suggestion. Jones suggested that th... ...wn in subservient social roles such as servants. Coard claims that the people whose lives are studied and acclaimed are white. Black culture, music and art are all conspicuous by their absence from the curriculum, (IV) The attitudes to race conveyed in the classroom are reinforced by the pupils outside it. In playground arguments white children may retaliate by describing West Indians as 'black bastards'. Research has shown that teachers expect black children to fail and this produces a self fulfilling prophecy in which they live up to the expectation they have been labeled with. Not only are black children played in lower sets, they themselves believe that they are certain to fail. Research shows that a majority of West Indian children are portrayed by their teachers as underachievers with disciplinary problems.

Eating Disorders in Online Communities :: Communication Computers Papers

The Internet has an infinite amount of resources to occupy its users, and certainly two of the most frequently used applications are that of the chat room and message boards. Chat rooms perfectly exemplify the concept of an online community, where real-time communication happens between users everywhere in the world. Whereas message boards allow for the posting of journals and stories that can later be responded to by others that connect to that website. These virtual interfaces provide the backdrop for a whole new dimension of social interaction. The people who populate this particular form of online community, of course, deserve extensive examination. Many individuals, for instance, seek to communicate their problems and self-destructive tendencies. Significant niches of these people specifically correspond about eating disorders. The motivations and purposes for which they devote their time and energies certainly provide for an interesting case study. When examining the many dementias of chat rooms and message boards, it becomes imperative to consider the individuals who most frequently take advantage of these platforms to discuss eating disorders. These people, obviously, feel the need to communicate on some level with others. What they wish to communicate about, however, literally covers every dementia of the disorder. The wide and limitless variety of chat rooms and message boards on this subject caters to a vast span of related topics; individuals who have eating disorders, are seeking out information, and wish to help others all have a distinct space for discussion. The eating disorder chat participants come into contact with various worldviews and lifestyles that are typical of a diverse web community. Although I know that a countless number of people take advantage of this communication form everyday, it still remains a question as to why eating disorder victims choose to participate. The eating disorder victims who frequent chat rooms and message boards must do so for a massive span of reasons. Logically, I would assume that these people choose this method of communication because they prefer it instead of other alternatives. Perhaps they dislike talking with people about their problem face-to-face. After all, it cannot be ignored that the nature of chat rooms and message boards eliminates the physical connectedness requirement of communication. It is probable that embarrassment, shame, and countless other emotions play significant roles in the victim's decision.

Hong Kong vs Uk Business Norms Essay

This paper will introduce the audience to the historical background of Hong Kong; business dos and don’ts comparing Hong Kong to the UK; financial, economic, political and social climate of Hong Kong. The aim is to provide fundamental data to assist a professional when conducting business in Hong Kong effectively but also respectfully. Hong Kong Background Hong Kong can be found on China’s south coast region bordered by the Pearl River Delta and the South China Sea. Geographically, Hong Kong has a total area of 1,104 square kilometres which include 262 outlying islands (GovHK, 2012). The population is over 7 million, with the majority speaking Cantonese though English is still widely used. Hong Kong was acquired by the British Empire from the Qing Dynasty during the first opium war from 1839-1842 (Kan, 2010). After 150 years of British colonial rule, in 1997 China resumed sovereignty over Hong Kong (U.S. Department of State, 2012). Hong Kong is under Chinese rule and the Chinese government is responsible for Hong Kong’s security and foreign relations. Hong Kong, however, is recognized as Special Administration Region of the People’s Republic of China. This ensures that Hong Kong’s customs territory and economic entity are separate from the rest of China. This allows Hong Kong to enter into international agre ements on its own behalf in commercial and economic matters (U.S. Department of State, 2012). Government/ Politics The government of Hong Kong is noted to be economically liberal. Hong Kong is an autonomous special administrative region of the People’s Republic of China. The current government executed under Hong Kong’s basic law is secured in this autonomy for 50 years (GovHK, 2012). The governmental structure is directed by a chief executive and an executive council, accompanied with a two-tier system of a representative government and an independent judiciary. Economic & Financial Climate Based on rule of law, limited government, regulator efficiency, and open markets ranked by the Heritage foundation with a score of 89.3, Hong Kong is ranked as the freest global economy in 2012 and has successively kept this title for the past 19 years (Heritage Foundation, 2012). Hong Kong â€Å"is a Freeport with no barriers to trade; has simple procedures for starting enterprises, free entry of foreign capital and repatriation of earnings, and transparency; and operates under the rule of law (Heritage Foundation, 2012).† Hong Kong switched from an industrialized manufacturing economy to a service based economy in the 1980s (economywatch.com). Hong Kong’s free market economy is built on the harbour, investments and trade (Sociology for Change, 2007). Hong Kong is dependent on international trade and finance. 92.3% to the GDP in 2009 which was contributed from the service sector (economywatch.com). The major industries in Hong Kong are textile/garment, banking/financial services and tourism. Hong Kong is the third largest distributer of garments in the world. In 2008 Hong Kong exported $40 billion US dollars’ worth of textiles and garments which is 11% of the territory’s total exports (economywatch.com). In the financial sector, Hong Kong has the world’s 10th largest security exchange, with a market cap of $2.7 trillion (GovHK, 2012). At the end of 2012 there were 1,533 companies listed as trading on the Hong Kong stock exchange (SEHK). In 2009, 2010 and 2011 Hong Kong was listed as the highest ranking market for IPO’s (GovHK, 2012). Looking at Hong Kong’s banking industry at the end of 2012, there were 154 licensed banks, 20 restricted licence banks and 25 deposit-taking companies. These banks come from 34 countries and include 69 out of the 100 world’s largest banks (GovHK, 2012). Conducting Business Hong Kong vs. United Kingdom Introduction This section will inform the reader on both Hong Kong and the United Kingdom’s etiquette and protocol relating to business practices. I will concentrate on how business meetings are conducted, how business decisions are made and how negotiations are conducted in the business realm while integrating Hofstede’s cultural theory. I will conclude with possible challenges and pitfalls that should be considered if the â€Å"dos and don’ts† fall short or turn out to be limited. Hong Kong Pre-departure Info Working Practices Prior to flying over on a business trip to Hong Kong, it is suggested that one ought to understand the common business practices. Confucianism is entrenched within Chinese philosophy and plays a strong influence on the importance of social relations that Hong Kong’s people are known for. So when we look at â€Å"the degree of interdependence a society maintains among its members,† which defines the Individualism dimension, it’s not shocking to see Hong Kong as a collectivist culture, where people tend to think of the groups interests rather than their own personal objectives. In Hong Kong a large number of businesses are family owned and it’s normal for family members to work for the same companies (cummunicaid.com). Hong Kong’s daily business hours are from 9am to 5pm with a lunch break from 12noon to 2pm (communicaid.com). When scheduling a business trip to Hong Kong you should avoid the holidays. Vacations are usually scheduled around the weeks surrounding Christmas, Easter and the Chinese New Year; most business are typically closed during these periods (cummunicaid.com). After you plan your business trip in accordance to that criterion, it’s best to schedule appointments in accordance to their customs, noting that punctuality is important and that tardiness could be considered disrespectful. Taking that further, reputation also known as â€Å"concept of face† explained as the adherence to proper honourable ethical and social norms of a society in all situations and times is also something the Hong Kong society considers highly during business practices (cummunicaid.com).When making appointments they should be scheduled in advance to your arrival and in some cases one to two months’ notice is a courteous (cummunicaid.com). Organizational Hierarchy in Hong Kong Companies Hong Kong is a high power distance culture and we can point out that hierarchy is ingrained in the business culture. In Hong Kong, companies clearly define the line of authority with the distance between superiors and subordinates which are constantly maintained (cummunicaid.com). Men still dominate the workforce although in the recent years women are becoming more active. Some say this is because of the Western influence of equality (cummunicaid.com). In Hong Kong it’s imperative to maintain harmony and avoid conflict in a group atmosphere. In the public atmosphere of Hong Kong, the people always keep calm, show no emotion and refrain from criticising out in the open. This compliments Hong Kong’s slightly male dominated society. Hong Kong is a success oriented and driven society, where it is not uncommon for people to spend many hours at work. Conducting Business Standard business attire for men would be dark colored suits and for women dark colored suits with trousers or skirts (cummunicaid.com). When greetings take place, it’s traditional to both give a Chinese bow and a Western handshake. Keep in mind that you address them with their title and last name, if you’re in a group setting the most senior person should be greeted first (cummunicaid.com). Hong Kong people are keen on building relationships, so small talk should be expected and if you are offered an invitation to a social event you should never reject that opportunity (cummunicaid.com). Moving forward to the exchanging of business cards, one is expected to exchange business cards with two hands and accepting it also with two hands. It’s courtesy to examine the card for a few moments reading it to familiarize yourself with the name and the title, before placing the card in your pocket (cummunicaid.com). When negotiations take place one must expect for the deals to move at a slow pace and must avoid losing composure for this will damage ones reputation also known as â€Å"losing face† (kan, 2000). It’s not uncommon for an astrologer or a feng shui practitioner to determine a singing date if a contract is on the table (kan, 2000). Fred Kan also highlights that if a colleague sucks air through their teeth while you’re speaking, this signifies they are unhappy and its best to try and reiterate or adjust your position. After the business deal has been presented the decision usually arrives from a group consensus, but leaving the top of the company having the last to say (cummunicaid.com). Table Etiquette In Hong Kong it’s common for business transactions to take place or end up at the dinner table. If invited to dinner expect alcohol to be present. If your host decides to make a toast it’s customary for you to follow up with your own toast which should consist of good health and prosperity (cummunicaid.com). Meals are often served family-style and you are encouraged to try everything, but don’t take the last piece as this can be seen as selfish gesture. United Kingdom Pre-departure Info Working Practices Distinguished for its constitutional monarchy, rich history of the colonial empire and deeply ingrained traditions, the British Empire now known as the United Kingdom is a culturally and ethnically diverse nation that is made up of four countries. Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England comprise the United Kingdom. The UK is a member of the European Union and currently is ranked fourth in trading within Europe. British culture is known for its indirectness, â€Å"stiff upper lip† and dry humour. It’s a common communication style in the UK that direct questions are often answered with indirect answers filled with ambiguous subtleties which forces one to pay close attention to tone of voice and facial expression to fully understand the response given (communicaid.com). Displays of emotion, positive or negative should be avoided in public space. The term â€Å"stiff upper lip† describes the British portrayal of reserve and restraint when faced with difficult s ituations (communicaid.com). Humour a key component to the culture of the British life style and is commonly used as a defence mechanism (communicaid.com). Organizational Hierarchy in British Companies In the work environment, the British are known to be formal. In the past, the British preferred to work with colleagues and companies they knew of, however the younger generation of business professionals do not require any form of relationship in order to begin business. Networking and building strategic relationships are the fundamental to long-term success in the UK. Superiority is respected, although colleagues gravitate to people at their own level to work with directly. This hierarchy can be notated as â€Å"flat† where the principal divide is between managers and other ranks (communicaid.com). The board of directors are the key decision making group and managers are understood to be the coaches creating a supportive working environment (communicaid.com). Conducting Business In the professional atmosphere men should be dressed in a dark colored suit and women should wear either a business suit or a conservative dress (communicaid.com). Upon the initial meeting it is common to shake hands with everyone upon arrival and maintain steady eye contact during the greeting. I must highlight that one should wait until given permission to move onto a first name basis. Under special circumstances if you’re in the presence of someone who have been knighted then they are to be called â€Å"Sir† followed by their first and surnames (communicaid.com). Also during the initial greeting it’s common for professionals to exchange business cards and may be placed into the pocket after having just a moment’s glance. There are no rituals when exchanging business cards in the UK. When a meeting is conducted, depending of the level and status of the people attending, it will dictate how the meeting will commence. A free flow meeting usually occurs when everyone is at the same level, if there is a senior ranking person in the room, then they will do most of the speaking. Meetings are usually formal with a set agenda identifying the purpose. In British culture it is suggested that, when presenting to a group, one must make sure to be prepared with facts; relying on facts is more stable than emotions (communicaid.com). After concluding the meeting it is customary to send a printed summary containing the next steps which are to be taken in a letter to the attendees. The British are known to follow established rules and practices which make the decision process a slow systematic one (communicaid.com). When dealing with the British in business negotiations patience will be required. Communication will also be one area to focus on. The British communicate in a controlled fashion and only rarely raise their voices to make a point (kats, 2008). The level of directness depends on the strength of the relationship, education and status. Vague statements that may be difficult to understand are common when communicating with the British. Lothar Kats explains it best when identifying the â€Å"British are masters of understatement and often use subtle irony† Contrast: Hong Kong vs. UK After reviewing both Hong Kong and UK there are a few similarities and a few differences. In Hong Kong traditional values of respect to hierarchy, the exchange of business cards and developing a personal relationship are cornerstones within their society. Whereas in the United Kingdom building personal relationships was once a tendency that no longer exists; the younger generations move forward and start the business process. When dealing with the British in business one must pay close attention to the conversation. The tone, eye contact, and understated response can commonly lead to a misunderstanding if one is not paying close attention. It is therefore best to not underestimate the importance of humour in the British business environment (communicaid.com). The hierarchy in Hong Kong is clearly defined with ample distinction between subordinates and superiors. Contrastingly, the UK is known for a â€Å"flat† structure where most business is usually dealt with by colleagues of the same level. Taking a glance into the integration of women in the work place we see the UK with comparable numbers men to women while in Hong Kong the introduction to women in the work place is a recent occurrence. Comparing the two nations in regards to how a professional is to book a business appointment we see in Hong Kong it’s common to make an appointment one to two months in advance unlike the United Kingdom its common for just giving several days’ notice. In conclusion, we can see that it is vital for one to do background research on the business norms prior to jumping on a plane to conduct business internationally. Cultural Intelligence Elisabeth Plum defines cultural intelligence as the ability to act in an appropriate way in multicultural situations coupled with the ability to have an open mind which admits new information and is curious about diversity. Cross-national work is an example of cultural intelligence, and when an organization needs to join forces and partner with other businesses in other countries to keep business efficient it important to prevent conflicts. As discussed earlier in this paper it’s important to understand the culture that you’re doing business with. In order to have successful negotiations in the international market place the smallest misunderstanding could have a negative outcome. Looking to Hong Kong, if a professional arrives dressed in white or in blue colors to a meeting and speaks out of turn that could essentially dissolve any hope of a business deal, as the Hong Kong society associates white and blue with mourning and speaking out of turn shows disrespect for the power structure.