General American Democracy and foreign policy Essay

General American Democracy and foreign policy - Essay Example It is submitted that such an argument ignores the complex socio-political backdrop of the US demographic, which has been instrumental in shaping the American constitutional conventions and in turn the American concept of democracy (DeRossa, p.23). For example, if we firstly consider the historical context, it is evident that the interrelationship between the interests of various ethnonational groups and continuous conflict has been instrumental in developing the American institutional framework for democracy. A prime example is the Civil War and the Bleeding Kansas Backdrop (Rawley 1980). For example, James Rawley’s â€Å"Race and Politics: Bleeding Kansas and the Coming of the Civil War† (1980) provides a detailed analysis of the controversies surrounding the repeal of the Missouri compromise and implementation of the Kansas/Nebraska Act 1854. Rawley raises the question as to whether the unsettled Kansas Territory, which was divided between pro-slavery proponents and abolitionists, resulted in irreconcilable factions which in turn creating conditions that only civil war could resolve. In considering the Bleeding Kansas backdrop, Rawley argues that the majority of literature focuses on the slavery debate and ins titution of slavery, without a detailed consideration of race and racial prejudice. In utilising the race debate, Rawley seeks to highlight what he posits as the overriding motivation for the Civil War being the white man’s supremacy struggle as opposed to a fight for emancipation and civil liberties for African Americans. As such, Rawley posits that the central issue in Bleeding Kansas was not the institution of slavery itself but rather race and whether the country could tolerate the expansion of the African American, whether slave or free. If we firstly consider the historical backdrop, Rawley provides an overview of the implementation of the Kansas /Nebraska Act 1854 and highlights the fact that the 1854 legislation organised the

Cat People (Jacques Tourneur, 1942) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Cat People (Jacques Tourneur, 1942) - Essay Example The generic setting focuses on the historical discussion of cat people. Irena fears that sexual arousal will turn her into a leopard. Irena’s fears are confirmed when she turns into a leopard after her psychologist, Dr. Louis Judd, kisses her. The setting includes the usual wrong movie scene diagnosis by psychologists. The setting includes generic sad endings (death of Irena). The atmosphere or mood of the play is generic fear. Irena fears that she may turn into a leopard after being sexually aroused. Her rival, Alice Moore, fears that Irena will kill her in a fit of jealousy. Oliver fears Irena may kill both Oliver and Alice because they had betrayed Irena’s trust. One scene shows Alice running fast as she tries to escape someone or something following close behind. Another scene shows Alice shouting for help as she hears a leopard roar during one of her swimming activities (Manchel, 1990). In terms of generic cinematography, the camera is perfectly located. Perfect location ensures the black and white picture comes out very vividly and continuously throughout the year. The characters perfectly move from one scene to another in effortless manner. The cameras continually zoom in to show the facial expressions of the actors and actresses. The entire film is done in black and white colour (Manchel, 1990). Further, the lighting is magnificently done. The lighting enhances the story. The lighting vividly shows the facial expressions of the actors and actresses. The people have a better view of the surrounding movie scenes. The lighting increases the fear theme of the movie (Manchel, 1990). The color of the film is shown to have only generic two colors. One color is black. The other color is white. The two colors reduce the beauty of the film. Films with different colours are more pleasing to the eyes compared to black and white movies. The black and white film does not show the vibrant colours of the

Cross culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Cross culture - Essay Example begin with, modern theories of management such as Transformational Leadership and Leader Member Exchange (LMX) identify and emphasize the relevance of cultural knowledge for successful management. These Transformational/Charismatic leadership theories that take into account aspects of local culture â€Å"offer the promise of extraordinary individual and organizational outcomes. Leaders motivate followers to perform beyond expected levels by activating higher order needs, fostering a climate of trust, and inducing them to transcend their self-interest for the organizations sake. Numerous investigations point to the robustness of the effects of such leadership on individual and organizational outcomes such as job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and performance† (Briscoe & Schuler, 2004) Further, the scope and applicability of Human Resource Management practices in a country whose culture is alien to the top management has transpired into a considerable debate across academia and industry. The issue is especially relevant to trans-national corporations when their operations are expanded to new locales as a result of neo-liberal economic outcomes. Performance Management is a strategic management process, which is purported to achieve the company’s bottom-line, â€Å"enables the MNC to continuously evaluate and improve individual, subsidiary unit, and corporate performance against clearly defined, preset objectives that are directly linked to company strategy† (Lindholm, 1999). Since this subject is not rigorously researched yet, the effects of culturally sensitive Performance Management on job satisfaction among staff in subsidiary facilities, which is comprised of foreign nationals and where cultural sensibilities may be very different from that of the offices at home country. On top of that, the inadequate research in this area is indicative of the scarcity of research regarding the attitudes of host-country staff, especially the blue collar workers

Ethics and Social Responsibilities of Business Essay Example for Free

Ethics and Social Responsibilities of Business Essay The emergence of management as a distinct and identifiable activity in the modern era has had an important impact on the society with which it developed (Massie 1995). Till the early days of the twentieth century, organizations were predominantly concerned with their respective profit-maximizing activities. However, this singular intention of profit maximization of business farms was protested by the social activists during the later half of the 20th century. They pointed out that, since the organizations drive their business from the society, the former must possess some obligations towards the interests and welfare of the later. The concept of business ethics and corporate responsibility gained immense importance after the publication of Bowen’s Social Responsibilities of Businessman in the year 1953. Bowen opines that business corporations should have certain responsibilities towards the society in which it operates. Often business ethics and its social responsibilities are regarded as their â€Å"science of conduct† (McNamara).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ethics is the study of morality and standards of conducts (Fred and Richard, 480). The term ‘ethics’ is, in generally, used to refer to the rules and principles that define right and wrong conduct. The study of ethics is of immense importance in international management because ethical behavior in a particular country may be considered as an unethical practice in other countries. Ethical behavior of business has become an important aspect in today’s corporate environment. Even in the United States, trading scandals, bribes etc. have gained considerable media exposures and have aroused public concern regarding ethical practices in international business management. Corporate business ethics is primarily concerned with honesty, truth and justice and should consider several aspects like the expectations of society, fair competition, public relations, consumer autonomy, social responsibilities, adherence to the rules in the operating country, and so on. An organization should be always responsible in creating an environment that fosters ethical decision-making. Corporate social responsibility is seriously considering the impact of the company’s actions on society. In the views of Andrews, social responsibility means the intelligent and objective concern for the welfare of society that restrains individuals and corporate behavior from ultimately destructive activities, no matter how immediately profitable and signifies the positive contribution to human betterment. Social responsibility contends that the business organizations are responsible to all the interest groups with which it interacts. All the interests groups such as employees, customers, suppliers, government and society should be given importance equal to that of the shareholders of the respective companies. Thus, ethical and social responsibilities signifies that the management should pay attention to the welfare of the workers, consumers’ needs and safety, the interests and rights of creditors, government’s rules, regulations and policies, and the obligations of the organization towards society as a whole. Thus, in other words, â€Å"Corporate social responsibility indicates the management’s commitment towards upholding the interests of direct stakeholders and to behave in an economically and environmentally responsible manner† (Davis and Robert, 1975). Ethical and Social Responsibility of Corporate Organizations Corporate organizations which are concerned about business ethics and corporate social responsibility need to identify various interest groups which may influence the functioning of a firm and which, in turn, may be affected by the firm’s decisions. In fact, business enterprises are primarily responsible for the well being of six major interest groups which are discussed hereunder one by one: Protecting Shareholders’ Interests The most important responsibility of business organizations is to protect the interests of its shareholders. The shareholders provide the core resource – the capital – that enables an organization to operate and grow. They expect the management to use the capital judiciously and operate the business in an efficient way that would ensure a healthy return on their investment, both through dividends and through increase in stock value. Shareholders should be provided with adequate and timely information about the functioning of the organization. Protecting Employees’ Interests Employees are the biggest assets of the organizations. In the early days, managers regarded employees merely as one of the factors of production and denied them the right to obtain an equal distribution of income. But, with the passage of time, the situation has changed in a considerable way. Now, it is absolutely mandatory for the management to protect its employees’ interests. Government laws and regulations have now define the responsibilities of the employer – ensuring equal employment rights for men and women, offering timely pensions and other retirement benefits, and providing and maintaining a secure and healthy working environment. To protect the interests of employees, management must Treat the employees as the basic pillars of the organization. Develop administrative processes that promote cooperation between employers and employees. Foster a harmonious work atmosphere by adopting a progressive labor policy. This includes allowing the participation of workers in management, creating a sense of involvement, and improving the working conditions and living standards of workers. Provide fair wages (not merely the one determined by the market forces of demand and supply) and other financial benefits to workers to keep them motivated. Fair selection, training and promotion based on quality and merit – without any discrimination on the grounds of sex, race, religion, physical appearance and so on. Protecting Customers’ Interests In the recent times, great attention is delivered to the customers. In the age of cut-throat competition, business firms have rightly begun to realize the importance of maintaining a healthy relationship with the consumers. The growth and development of consumerism has compelled the organizations to become more aware of their duties and responsibilities towards the customers. â€Å"The most successful businesses put the customer first, instead of the investors† (Mackey). Business firms should fulfill their obligations to their customers by Charging reasonable prices for their products. Ensuring the provision of standardized and quality goods and services. Ensuring the easy availability of goods and services, so that customers do not have to spend too much time and energy in procuring them. Abstaining from unethical practices like hoarding, profiteering or creating artificial scarcity, misleading advertisement and so on. Refraining from deceiving customers by making false or misleading claims. Protecting Creditors and Suppliers’ Interests All the inputs productions are provided by the creditors and suppliers in the form of raw materials and capital. Hence, the management must take proper care in fulfilling its obligations towards the former. This can be done by: Creating a long-term and healthy business relationship with them. Making prompt payments to creditors and suppliers. Providing them with accurate, relevant and needed information. Protecting Society’s Interest Organizations function within a social system and draw their resources from this system. Therefore, they have certain obligations towards society. The management of business organizations can fulfill their obligations toward society by preserving and enhancing the well-being of the members of society. Management can do so in the following ways: Using its technical expertise to solve local problems. Setting socially desirable standards of living and avoiding unnecessary and wasteful expenditure. Playing an important role in civic affairs. Helping the society in events of national calamity, famine, war, and so on. Providing basic amenities, healthcare and education facilities, thus creating better living conditions. Establishing development programmers for the benefit of economically weaker sections of  the society. Protecting Governments’ Interests In any country, the Government provides the basic requirements for the survival and growth of business organizations. Most of the rules and policies which the government imposes are mainly in the favor of the businesses. Hence, the business, in turn, must have certain obligations to the business: Be law-abiding – respect the rules, procedures and policies of the government Pay all taxes and other dues fully, timely and honestly. Not bribe government employees and officials to obtain favors for the company. Not try to use political influence in its favor for own interests. Advantages and Disadvantages of Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility In the modern era, the expectations of the consumers and the society have immensely changed and, resultantly, modern corporations have become much aware of their ethical and social responsiveness. However, opinions vary from scholars to scholars as to whether business should possess much, at least any, ethical and social responsibilities. Disadvantages The motive of any business is to maximize its profit. However, much ethical values and social responsibilities may act against this objective. Any investment (or loss) incurred by the business as a result of good social or ethical behavior are adjusted by increasing the selling of its products. Hence, â€Å"the motive would be socially less desirable than in the days before when business were concerned with social responsibilities† (Friedman 1970). Business derives immense power through its social involvements and ethical behavior. This power is generally derived from the government or through other political means. This increment in power can lead to corruption and even conflicts with customers, governments and the society as a whole in the subsequent times. Generally, business people lack the required skills to deal with the problems outside the organization. Social responsibility can be an excess burden of duty to them. Advantages Social involvements and strong ethical behavior boost up the image of the business corporations in the eye of the customers. Being socially responsive, business can increase the number of its loyal customers. A favorable public image helps the business to attract more employees, customers and investors. By being socially responsible, business organizations can easily avoid the attention of regulatory agencies and earn government’s trust; resulting in increasing flexibility and independence in their mode of operations. Businesses can increase conservation of natural resources by being socially responsible. For example, Items that were considered as waste before (like empty soft drink cans and plastic bottles) can be recycled and profitably used again. Society and business are equally benefited if a symbiotic relationship exists between the two. Instead of allowing high rate of unemployment leading to social crisis (which may ruin business operations in subsequent periods), businesses can rather be the source of employment in the economy for qualified and eligible people. Conclusion It is beyond any iota of doubt that every civil citizen must possess some moral or ethical values and responsibilities for the society in which he lives. Business organizations, considered as ‘artificial people’, therefore, should have the same values incorporated in it. Obviously, there are certain principles which is directed against this conclusion, but it is a cardinal truth that business corporations must â€Å"behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as of the local community and society at large† (Holme and Watts). References Bowen, H.R. (1953), Social Responsibilities of the Businessman, Harper Row, New York, NY Corporate Social Responsibility: Evolution of a Definitional Construct: Carroll Business Society.1999, pp. 268-295 Davis, K. and Robert, L. B. Business and Society, Environment and Responsibility, Revised   Edition, Tata McGraw Hill Book Company Inc. New York, 1975 Friedman, M. The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase its Profit, New York   Times Magazine, 13 September, 1970 Kuhn, J.W. Issues and Analysis, Values in a Business Society, Harcourt Brace Jonanovich, New York, 1968 Holme, L and Watts, R. The World Business Council for Sustainable Development,Making   Good Business Sense† http://www.mallenbaker.net/csr/CSRfiles/definition.html Joseph, L. M. Ethical and Environmental Foundations, Essentials of Management, Fourth Edition, Thirteenth Indian Reprint, Prentice-Hall of India, New Delhi, 1995 Mackey, J. (adapted from) Rethinking the Social Responsibilities of Business, October 2005   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.reason.com/news/show/32239.html McNamara, C. Complete Guide to Ethics Management: An Ethics Toolkit for Managers http://www.managementhelp.org/ethics/ethxgde.htm Richard, M.H. and Fred, L. Ethics and Social Responsibilities, International Management, Third Edition, McGraw Hill International Editions, 1997 Stehi, S.P, Dimensions of Corporate Social Performance, An analytical Framework,   California Management Review, Vol. 17, No. 3, 1975, p. 58 64 The International Seminar on Social Responsibilities of Business: (as quoted by Mukharji, P.B. Social Responsibilities of Business, p. 9

We Need Hate Crime Legislation Essay -- racism, prejudice

Hate crime is one of the biggest issues many people face today. Whether or not they should be legislated against has been highly debated and continues to be a hot topic. This essay will explain the ideas and opinions of several authors including Charley Reese, Michael Lieberman, Helen Dodge, Gregory S. Parks, Shayne E. Jones and Samuel Francis. It will also elaborate on the topic of why hate crimes should be legislated against, with supporting information. The phrase â€Å"hate crime† is generally referred to as a criminal act against a person, a group, or property because of one’s race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation (Civil Rights- Hate Crimes- Overview). A person who experiences a hate crime may be threatened, harassed, physically harmed, or even killed. In order to ensure protection, laws have been established by society against those who commit hate crimes. There is a lot of debate among the general public about laws that should not punish people more harshly based on the motivation of their crime; instead, a criminal should only be punished for the crime committed. However, the motive behind a crime is often more significant than the crime itself. For example, if a black family moves into an area where the majority of the people are white and a group of white teenagers vandalize the property, they would be charged with vandalism. However, if after vandalizing the property they spray paint the word â⠂¬Å"nigger† on the garage door, they would most likely be found guilty of some sort of racial hate crime involving vandalism. While both of these actions are considered crimes, the motive behind the racial crime should be taken into consideration when the punishment is issued. One might say that the motive was ... ...on | Education Book Publishing | Academic Textbooks. Web. . â€Å"Hate Crime† Laws Change the Law (Francis 141 & 142) Keyes, Jere. "Hate Crime Legislation: An Essay | Blind Prophecy." Blind Prophecy | Jere Keys Online. 11 Feb. 2009. Web. 26 Apr. 2011. . "About Hate Crimes." Homepage. Web. 26 Apr. 2011. . "State Hate Crimes Laws." Human Rights Campaign. 1 June 2009. Web. 26 Apr. 2011. "List of Hate Crime Laws." Homepage. Web. 26 Apr. 2011. . "Declaration of Independence." National Archives and Records Administration. Web. 26 Apr. 2011. .

Analysis of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury Essay -- Literature Fahrenh

Analysis of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury Imagine living in a world where you are not in control of your own thoughts. Imagine living in a world in which all the great thinkers of the past have been blurred from existence. Imagine living in a world where life no longer involves beauty, but instead a controlled system that the government is capable of manipulating. In Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, such a world is brought to the awareness of the reader through a description of the impacts of censorship and forced conformity on people living in a futuristic society. In this society, all works of literature have become a symbol of unnecessary controversy and are outlawed. Individuality and thought is outlawed. The human mind is outlawed. All that is left is a senseless society, unaware of their path to self-destruction, knowing only what the government wants them to know. By telling a tale of a world parallel to our own, Bradbury warns us of a future we are on a path to -- a future of mind manipulation, misused technology, ignorance, and hatred. He challenges the reader to remain open-minded by promoting individualism, the appreciation of literature, the defiance of censorship and conformity, and most importantly, change. Bradbury's inspiration to convey the themes involved in the novel resulted mainly from the social situation of the time. First of all, the novel was written shortly after World War II and increasing numbers of authors began writing about serious topics. Also, the invention of the atom bomb had aroused the Cold War and the use of technology as a form of destruction (Touponce 124). Seeing technology as a potential threat to the well-being of mankind, Bradbury uses Fahrenheit 451 to state his distrust for it in the novel, which explains why the devices are depicted as "chilling, impersonal gadgets of mechanized anti-culture,'; (Mogen 141). Also, as the television was becoming the main form of communication in the 50's, Bradbury believed that it was "reducing society to very mediocre tastes'; (Touponce 125). As a defense against the degradation of literature (as well as peoples' minds), Bradbury intended to teach us of the importance of books by showing us the misery involved in a w orld that lacks them. Another social consequence leading to the writing of Fahrenheit 451 was that, at the time, the country was going through what was ... ...is one must "crash'; some time. In Bradbury's society, all communication to the disturbing outside world had been cut off in order to keep the citizens from worrying. Yet, the society had been living in blind happiness, oblivious to the war raging outside their "world'; and the bomb that finally destroyed them. The horrific society that Bradbury had depicted had been intended to be parallel to our own in order to provide us with a warning. He is warning us of the consequences of censorship and conformity. He is warning us of a future of ignorance. He is warning us of a path we may take if we are not careful. He incites us to remain open-minded and to take on our own quests for self-improvement through knowledge. He teaches us to value books in order to gain that knowledge. He pushes us to fight the censorship that suppresses great minds and hides this knowledge, of which without, we may never know the problems of our culture. Our future depends entirely upon the truth and intelle ctual freedom, and if we do not rise from the ashes of our present like the Phoenix, we may fall victim to self-destruction and ultimately put an end to ourselves, much like Bradbury's fictional society.

Research the German Car Industry †BMW Essay

Within this dossier I am going to research the German Car Industry, firstly I am going to give a little background history to Germany, then Berlin where the person will be based to work for BMW. Then finally I will tell the person about BMW, their history and his/hers role within the company. I have decided to use a 50/50 approach to this dossier by this I mean 50% will be on the country i.e. Germany and Berlin and 50% will be on the company. I have chosen this because I feel, and will explain throughout this piece of work that it is very important to know the ways and the customs of a country as well as the industry in which you are going to work. I will try through this piece of work to help the person ‘settle’ in quicker and be comfortable of his/her surroundings. If someone feels happy in his/her surroundings then this should spread into his/hers work life and by focusing more on the country I feel this could happen quicker than usual. About Germany Population: 82,057,000 Size: 357,021 kmà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ Adjacent countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland Highest point: Zugspitze (2,962 m) – 31% of the country is covered with forests Coastal line: 2,389 km Life expectancy: 77 years (Men – 73 years; Women – 80 years) System of government: The Federal Republic of Germany is a democracy with a liberal free-market economy, freedom of religion and freedom of the press. Germany is a member of the European Union (EU). Capital: Berlin (3.47 million inhabitants) 16 States in the Federal Republic: Baden-Wà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½rttemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia Railway system: 43,966 km Freeways and roads: 633,000 km Bicycle tracks: 40,000 km Federal and national waterways: 10,000 km Sea water routes: 23,000 kmà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ Time zone: In Germany, clocks are set to Central European time. From the end of March to the end of October (summertime) they are put forward one hour. (Source: German tourist office) Economy Overview: After the fall of the Berlin Wall, progress towards economic integration between eastern and western Germany is clearly visible, yet the eastern region almost certainly will remain dependent on subsidies funded by western Germany until many years to come. The staggering $390 billion in western German assistance that the eastern states have received since 1990 – 40 times the amount in real terms of US Marshall Fund aid sent to West Germany after World War II – is just beginning to have an impact on the eastern German standard of living, which plummeted after unification. Assistance to the east continues to run at roughly $100 billion annually. Although the growth rate in the east was much greater than in the west, it will take 10-15 years for the eastern states to match western Germany’s living standards. The economic recovery in the east is led by the construction industries which account for one-third of industrial output, with growth increasingly supported by the service sectors and light manufacturing industries. Eastern Germany’s economy is changing from one anchored on manufacturing to a more service-oriented economy. Western Germany, with three times the per capita output of the eastern states, has an advanced market economy and is a world leader in exports. The strong recovery in 1994 from recession began in the export sector and spread to the investment and consumption sectors in response to falling interest rates. Western Germany has a highly urbanized and skilled population that enjoys excellent living standards, abundant leisure time, and comprehensive social welfare benefits. It is relatively poor in natural resources, coal being the most important mineral. Western Germany’s world-class companies manufacture technologically advanced goods. The region’s economy is mature: services and manufacturing account for the dominant share of economic activities, and raw materials and semi manufactured goods constitute a large portion of imports. Read more: Swot Analysis of BMW Current Issues in Germany Currently, Germany is facing post reunification economic problems caused by a number of factors including the flow of refugees into Germany, the flow of East Germans leaving to West Germany, and the poor economic conditions left in East Germany by the Communists. In the East, the unemployment rate remains at about 18%, despite efforts to lower it. Within the political arena Germany remain to be one of the fieriest opponents to the war on Iraq and diplomatic relations between themselves and the USA and Britain and have hit a low point, but given time and talking these issues will be resolved. Germany has changed a lot since the end of the Second World War. This is a country that lay in ruins, the majority of its infrastructure was destroyed, millions of its citizens were killed and its economy was in tatters. However nowadays nearly 60 years after the war Germany brought itself back into world economics. Germany remains to be one of the main players in global economics, its many industries i.e. the car industry have lifted it from the depths of recession to become a strong economy. About Berlin Located in the north-east of Germany and with a population of 3.5million, one third is covered by woodland, parks and waterways. Despite efforts to become a city of the future, Berlin has also made every effort to preserve its history. Berlin is home to the largest construction project Europe has seen since World War II, the city is redefining itself. The construction of the Berlin Wall on Aug 13, 1961 set the seal on the city’s division and separated its people. The city celebrated on Nov 9, 1989 when the Berlin Wall was torn down. After the reunification in 1990 Berlin became residence of the Federal Government, which held its first plenary session in the redesigned Reichstag on Apr 19, 1999. The Reichstag with its new glass dome became an attraction for both Berliners and tourists from all over the world. The new millennium was celebrated with a magnificent party at the Brandenburg Tor. A lot has changed in Berlin since then. And Berlin will keep changing. Museums Berlin’s museums present art works of international appreciation. More than 170 museums invite to see collections of the world culture such as the Pergamonaltar or the bust of Nofretete, painting works from Giotto and Breughel over Caspar David Friedrich and Picasso to contemporary artists. Spectacular new buildings like the Filmmuseum or the Jewish Museum and the reopening of great museums like the Old National Gallery enhance the fascinating range of Berlin’s museums. Nightlife Night owls with stamina can also give their undivided attention to the interesting range of pubs around Savignyplatz in Charlottenburg. The area consists of a great number of restaurants and bars where everyone can meet the stars of television or Berlin’s culture and political scene. Here is the melting pot that combines symbolically the former west and the new centre to a harmonic construction. Especially the younger crowd is attracted to the Pariser Straà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½e. At this location you will find taverns, bars, American diners, Mexican restaurants and very modern and stylish discos. During the summer life concentrates on the street in form of many chairs and tables that invite us to rest. In the middle of this street the well-maintained Ludwigkirchplatz with its rich areas of green providing a relaxing shadow is located. For someone who is going to live in a strange country it is important if they make themselves aware of certain customs within that country or a certain part of the country i.e. Tipping in a restaurant the bill you receive at a hotel, restaurant, cafe or bar often includes a service charge already. A tip is an indication of your satisfaction – 5% is average, whereas 10% indicates exceptional service. Tip taxi drivers about 5%, and porters and others who assist you with baggage one Euro per item. Berlin is one of the liveliest capitals in the world; it has huge volumes of history attached to it German Car Industry Germany is the birthplace of the automobile – in 1887 Karl Benz designed a couch fitted with an internal combustion engine, and the modern car was born. In 1901 Germany was already producing 900 cars a year; today the total is as high as 10 million. The industry employs about 1.26 million people, and over half of all the cars produced in Germany are exported. Today Daimler-Chrysler, the result of the merger between Daimler-Benz, Germany’s largest manufacturers of cars, and the American Chrysler Corporation, is the third largest car manufacturer in the world. The names of the car companies tell interesting, often personal stories. For example, when August Horch designed his first car, another car manufacturer operated under Horch’s name, so he was forced to find a new name for his company. He selected the Latinised version of the German word Horch, listen, and came up with Audi. Mercedes was originally the name of an early Daimler sports car – it was named after a client’s daughter. The car industry has remained one of the pillars of the German economy. Currently about 1.26 million people are employed in the car industry. In 1998 5.73 million cars were produced and 3.27 million of these were exported. Daimler-Benz is the largest of the three major players, Volkswagen being the second and BMW the third. The car industry is, however, facing the biggest changes since the introduction of mass production. With ever changing markets and fluctuating economies mass production in the old sense may be on its way out. Cars that are not sold quickly turn into huge losses for their company. This may be avoided by introducing more flexible production systems. The idea is to produce cars according to customer’s wishes and, more importantly, when they want to buy them. This idea is based on BTO (built-to-order) systems. In Germany about 60% of cars are built according to orders placed directly or indirectly with the factory. The next step, mass customisation, would suit both customer and manufacturer. The problem is to develop a production system that can adapt quickly to a changing demand and supply at a lower cost. Together with American and Japanese car makers Volkswagen is involved in the so-called â€Å"3DayCar† project which tries to apply the mass customisation model initiated by the computer manufacturer DELL to the car industry. Considering the size of German car manufacturers like Volkswagen and Daimler-Benz, these new production methods may mean major changes on a huge scale. Another change is the increasing size of car manufacturers. The five leading corporations worldwide are General Motors, Ford, DaimlerChrysler, Toyota and Volkswagen. The worldwide overproduction of cars and fluctuating markets has meant that all five have been involved in a number of acquisitions and mergers in order to consolidate their position as global players. DaimlerChrysler is now said to be interested in Mitsubishi Motors and Volkswagen in BMW. German Car Exports to Ireland In the year 2000 about 25% of all new cars bought in Ireland were of a German brand. (55.160 vehicles). The largest number of imports, 37 700 cars, were by Volkswagen. BMW BMW, which stands for Bayerische Motoren-Werke, started off as a manufacturer of aircraft engines. After the First World War the production of these engines was forbidden by the Peace Treaty of Versailles. BMW therefore began to manufacture motor cycles. Later on BMW bought a company which was licensed to produce a car called Dixi. The cars sold very well despite the economic downturn of the late 1920s and when the licence expired BMW started designing their own models. The company began building six cylinder cars and sporting models. With every new model BMW introduced went a sporting model since taking part and winning races was the best publicity a car manufacturer could get. During the war the company received large orders to build aircraft engines. Because of its contribution to the arms industry of the 1930s and 40s the BMW plants were banned from production for three years after the Second World War. Two of the company’s plants, in Berlin and Eisenach, were in the Russian sector and later were nationalised by the East German government. The factory in Munich remained, but since it had only produced motor cycles car production did not start until 1951. For a while the company tried to both mass-produce as well as develop prestigious models which put it under considerable financial strain. In 1959 BMW nearly went bankrupt but managed to keep going. Between 1955 and 1962 the company produced Isetta cars under licence. This led BMW to work with Italian designers which proved to be very successful for the company. A major reorganisation of the company took place in the early Sixties under the auspices of major shareholder Herbert Quandt. The success of these changes allowed BMW to built bigger cars and offer a more comprehensive range in the following years. In today’s competitive markets the quality of the marketing and advertising of a product is just as important as the quality of the product itself. An example of this is the latest advertising campaign by BMW in the US. Instead of TV and cinema ads BMW financed five short films which can be viewed on the internet. The films are made by internationally renowned directors and are part of a series called The Hire. All films feature a chauffeur and his car, a BMW. Guy Ritchie’s film, the first of the series, stars Madonna and was an immediate success. Since the start of the US campaign three months ago (May 2001) six million people have viewed the films and BMW is now considering a similar project in Germany. Surveys showed that most potential customers are far more likely to surf the internet than to look at TV or magazine ads. The campaign, which is typical for so-called Image-Advertising, indicates that the perception of a car is nowadays as important as the actual product, if not more so. (www.goethe.de) BMW Group worldwide mission statement is: â€Å"To be the most successful premium manufacturer in the industry.† What is BMW (GB) Ltd’s turnover? 1996 à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½1,239,000 1997 à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½1,400,000 1998 à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½1,478,000 1999 à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½1,580,000 2000 à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½1,511,000 2001 à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½1,966,000 2002 à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½2,350,000 (Source: www.bmw.com) BMW (Bavarian Motor Works) began life as a manufacturer of aircraft engines during World War I when it built a reputation of reliability and excellence. In 1923, BMW built its first motorcycle and in 1928, its first motorcar – a version of the Austin Seven built under licence. Production Range. With a workforce of approximately 2,700 employees, the Berlin Plant builds up to 400 motorcycles of the R, K and F Series a day. Also manufacturing camshafts, brake discs and track control arms for BMW’s various car models, the Berlin Plant is an important supplier for other locations within the BMW production network. Human resource policy The human factor is the No. 1 criterion in determining a company’s relative success. Accordingly, we see our associates not as a cost factor, but instead as an essential performance factor. This is especially true because any human resources policy that is not oriented towards the associate will always lead to negative cost effects in the long run, thus proving uneconomical. As a future-oriented company, we seek to pursue an exemplary, creative and associate-oriented human resources policy, making significant contributions to business success through our human resources activities. The human resources policy of the BMW Group is an integral feature of our overall corporate policy in both strategic and operative decisions. What are the BMW Group brands? BMW The BMW brand stands for one thing: sheer driving pleasure. Sporting and dynamic performance combined with superb design and exclusive quality MINI The MINI brand wins hearts and turns heads. MINI is part of a lifestyle that is cosmopolitan and confident, ready for everything. Rolls-Royce Uncompromising concentration on quality is a matter of course. The Rolls-Royce fascinates through unique solutions in detail BMW Ltd applies selection processes for both internal and external applicants which ensure the appointment of the highest quality staff. Special selection events are designed to give applicants every opportunity to demonstrate their skills and abilities in a variety of relevant activities and to learn as much as they can about the organisation and the role they are applying for. BMW Ltd actively encourages its employees in the development of their careers Generally, vacancies will be advertised internally and wherever possible a current member of staff will be recruited into a position. Only if an internal appointment is not possible will BMW consider external recruitment. BMW Ltd operates an equal opportunity policy BMW Ltd offers all employees (Head Office and Dealer Network) the practical support, advice and training opportunities to encourage personal development, aligned to the achievement of corporate objectives. The BMW Centre for Development team helps employees to select and undergo the most appropriate training programme for their needs. Requirement is assessed annually during the appraisal process Managers are expected to interact regularly with their team and this process is formalised through â€Å"Portfolio† where managers and employees review performance together every November covering the following areas: * Review of performance against agreed objectives * Establishing objectives for the forthcoming 12 months * Identification of individual training and development needs Planning actions to build on strengths address weaknesses and plan career development. BMW offer an extensive induction programme which includes one or two days where the person is allowed to talk to fellow workmates on an informal basis. New workers are put into groups and set a task i.e. finding certain places within the factory. They are also assigned a mentor for 12 months this is so if they have any problems they can go to this person and hopefully they can sort it out, usually the new worker doesn’t use the mentor for 12 months it’s normally for the first month or so. BMW Ltd applies selection processes for both internal and external applicants which ensure the appointment of the highest quality staff. Special selection events are designed to give applicants every opportunity to demonstrate their skills and abilities in a variety of relevant activities and to learn as much as they can about the organisation and the role they are applying for. BMW Ltd actively encourages its employees in the development of their careers BMW Ltd offers all employees (Head Office and Dealer Network) the practical support, advice and training opportunities to encourage personal development, aligned to the achievement of corporate objectives. The BMW Centre for Development team helps employees to select and undergo the most appropriate training programme for their needs. Requirement is assessed annually during the appraisal process. Courses available to staff include: Management Sales After sales Technical Dealer Service Managers are expected to interact regularly with their team and this process is formalised through â€Å"Portfolio† where managers and employees review performance together every November covering the following areas: Today BMW has various production plants in Germany, Austria, South Africa and the USA as well as sales offices in Asia and Mexico. Apart from cars and motor cycles the group is involved in the production of aircraft engines. Cars, however, account for nearly 75% of the company’s sales. Company’s operations also include software (softlab GmbH). Due to recent changes in the car industry there has been speculation about a possible merger between BMW and another car manufacturer, but the Quandt family who owns about half of the BMW shares has downplayed such speculation. In the beginning of 1994 BMW bought 80% of the shares in the Rover Group. The company later on sold Land Rover to Ford and Rover Cars to Phoenix Consortium. BMW is known for its production of passenger and Formula 1 cars as well as motor cycles. In the year 2000, BMW sold 830 000 cars, 74 000 motor cycles and employed 93 000 people. BMW are and will continue to be one of the largest car manufactures in the world, producing top of the range vehicles for years to come and being a credit to Germany is what BMW is all about. Bibliography www.goethe.de excellent site provides very good history on the car industry within germany and also that of bmw www.btm.de Another very good website, very helpful, will post out brochures to you about germany and getting around Berlin. Would be very good to a person who has never visited germany www.germanytouristoffice.de A good site offering details on accomdation within Germany, although does lack in the fact that it could be more helpful with regards to providing maps etc of germany www.guardian.co.uk Provides good history articles on various car manufacteurs in germany www.geographic.org Provides excellent maps first of Germany then of Berlin, its different regions etc. www.aboutgermany.org Good website providing information on different festivals that happen in Berlin, also features tips on how to live to in Germany Dossier German Car Industry