The key factors influence the success of an international strategic Essay

The key factors influence the success of an international strategic alliance - Essay Example Unlike other kinds of associations such as mergers and acquisitions, company hierarchy frequently times allows for evaluation after entering into such deals. More often, when strategic alliance performance does not constitute monetary gains but merely other benefits, this proves hard to quantify as success it is based upon intangible criterion rather than stable financial growth procedures. Alliance goals and objectives from case studies often fluctuate considerably from the originally penned down deals and as such more difficult to define. These shortcomings are merely challenges and if handled effectively they will result in the success of an alliance; however, the four key factors are primal to success of any alliance. Introduction Rakowski and Patz (2009, p.5) defines Strategic alliance as a cooperative arrangement between two or more companies to achieve a shared goals, so that each reimbursements from the powers of the other, and gains reasonable lead. Most literature identifie s two categories of strategic alliances; those that are equity based and the non-equity based. Those that are based on equity include minority stock investments, joint ventures, to the furthest end majority investments. However, the non-equity based alliances are purely based on contractual agreements that spell out the relationships between the parties. In these arrangements the different parties to such agreements do not lose their independence and their autonomy with the regards to operations, however, the alliance do have an impact on their operations (Singh and Delios 2012, p.196). The emergence of strategic alliances has been seen as a reaction to globalization Vaidya (2006, p.256) insist that it is one of the most significant impacts of globalisation in the last 3 and a half decade coupled with the integration of markets and the increasing uncertainty and complexity in the business environment. Strategic alliances entail sharing of techniques and knowledge between parties inv olved plus schemes that involve the decrease of risks and expenses in areas such as relationships with suppliers and the development of new products and technologies. Strategic alliance has often been discussed within the realms of a joint venture, as it at times involves rivals, however more often it has a shorter lifespan than the former. Strategic partnership is a closely related concept, this paper explores the key factors influencing the success of international strategic alliances, through a two case study analysis. It is often stated that to understand the key reasons of the success, then it is imperative to grasp the rationale behind strategic alliances. The paper unearths that success depends on the levels of trust, communication, commitment and collaboration deciphering between the parties. For these factors above to flow seamlessly, the parties to the strategic alliance must have a fit with respect to alliance goals and objectives (Cullen and Parboteeah2013, p.315) its me chanics of operation and the performance evaluation criteria. Ogbor (2009, p.372) asserts that any company willing to enter into alliance with another party must look out for compatible goals; and complimentary capabilities. Globalization and Strategic Alliance With the proliferation of globalization and incorporation of markets into an international market,

The Rights of Animals Essay Example for Free

The Rights of Animals Essay When we say that all human beings, referring to both men and women, whatever their race or sex may be are created equal, what is it that we are actually proclaiming? Peter Singer, writer of â€Å"All Animals are Equal† aims to advocate to us as readers to make the mental switch in respect to our attitudes toward a species other than our own. And by this I am referring to animals. R.G Frey takes on a very different position that he expresses in â€Å"Moral Standing, the Value of Lives, and Specieism. † Although there is nothing in his work that has ever suggested that animals don’t count, he disagrees with Singer, in a way, because he does not believe that animals possess moral standing. But first, I would like to discuss Singer’s essay merely due to the fact that there may be a case for a new liberation movement. Singer â€Å"urges that we extend to other species the basic principle of equality that most of us recognize should be extended to all members of our own species (pg. 171).† Many may note or make the connection that the idea of â€Å"the rights of animals† is somewhat of a parody to the case for women’s rights. But some may argue that the case for equality between men and women cannot validly be extended to non-human animals because, for an example, and realistically speaking, women now have the right to vote because they are just as capable of making that decision like men are, whereas animals on the other hand are incapable of understanding the significance of voting so they cannot have that right. Which then brings me back to, what exactly are we declaring when we say all human beings are equal? Because as we know it, we must face the fact that humans come in different shapes and sizes. We each have different moral capacities, different intellectual abilities, different amounts of feeling and sensitivity to others, different abilities to communicate, and different capacities to experience pleasure and pain- all of which are examples Singer discusses. And as a result, if the demand for equality were merely based on the actual equality of human beings, we would have to stop demanding it. â€Å"It would be an unjustifiable demand. (pg. 173)† states Singer. It is unjustifiable to discriminate on the basis of age, sex, or gender because neither of those are a guide to a person’s ability. Singer proposes another important reason as to why we ought not to base our opposition on any kind of factual equality because, â€Å"we can have no guarantee that these abilities an d capacities really are distributed evenly, without regard to race or sex, among human beings (pg. 173).† The most important thing we must consider is that equality is a moral ideal, not a simple assertion of fact. â€Å"The principle of the equality of human beings is not a description of an alleged actual equality among humans: it is a prescription of how we should treat animals (pg. 174).† I strongly agree with Singer here; animals have the capacity to experience pain and suffering just as humans do. Therefore the interests of every being that is being affected by an action should be taken into account and given the same weight as the interests of any other beings, such as animals. At this point, Singer expresses animal testing as what should be a major concern in our society. Singer states that it is simple discrimination. He uses an orphaned human infant for comparison, by suggesting that if the experimenter is not prepared to use this human over his readiness to use a nonhuman being, it is simply a form of discrimination. As far as we can tell, an animal is just as sensitive to pain and any human infant. â€Å"Experimenting on animals, and eating their flesh, are perhaps the two major forms of specieism in our society (pg. 176).† Animals have emotions and desires that allow them to live a good life whether we think so or not. And to that respect, the distinction between humans and animals will be a continuum in which we will move gradually. Frey, on the other hand, has a very different standing on this issue compared to Singer. Frey focuses his essay on the comparative value of human and animal life, taking the notion of autonomy to be central to this issue since autonomy is the source of a huge part of the value of one’s life. ‘Thus, I [Singer] am a restricted vivisectionist, not because I think animals are outside the moral community but because of views I hold about the value of their lives (pg. 193).† The three propositions Frey mentions in his essay are that animal life has some value, not all animal life has the same value, and lastly, human life is more valuable than animal life. Frey calls this claim of the comparative value between human and animal life the unequal value thesis. The unequal value thesis expresses why the value of humans is of more importance than the value of animals. What is missing is the potentiality for enrichment, because lives of less richness have less value. Autonomy plays a vast part of the human case, because by exercising our autonomy one can mold their life to fit the conception our society portrays of what is perceived to be living â€Å"the good life.† â€Å"Thus, by exercising our autonomy and trying to live out some conception of how we want to live, we make possible further, important dimensions of value to our lives (pg. 196).† Although Frey does mention that not all members of the moral community have lives of equal value. In fact, some human lives fall drastically below the quality of normal human life, which would conclude that in some cases a perfectly healthy animal can have a higher quality of life than that of some human, such as ones with mental disabilities for example. But Frey addresses to his readers that the way in which we defend this thesis is a vitally important affair. To discuss the issue of using animals in scientific research as Singer did, he remains a vivisectionist because of the benefits medical and scientific research can present. And it is the unequal value thesis that justifies the use of animals in medical and scientific research. Frey believes that the unequal value thesis is in fact defensible. In conclusion, Frey stresses again that the argument of his essay is not to present animals of having no value, but rather about whether they have lives of equal value to normal human life. Overall, both writers express that animals for in fact have some value to their lives, whether we believe it to be of equal value to humans or of less value is based purely on our moral principles. Works Cited: Lafollette, Hugh, ed. Ethics in Practice. Malden: Blackwell Publishing, 2007. Print Frey, R.G. â€Å"Moral Standing, the Value of Lives, and Speciesism.† Lafollette 192-204. Singer, Peter. â€Å"All Animals Are Equal.† Lafollette 171-180.

Monster Mergers :: Argumentative Persuasive Essays

Monster Mergers About three decades ago, school boards in the state of Pennsylvania decided that bigger was better. These short-sighted members looked at school districts merging throughout the country and deduced they should join the parade. How could they be so naive not to see the damage and havoc that would be left in the wake of these giant jointures. Wyoming Valley West, Nanticoke Area, Hanover Area, Coughlin, and even the parochial Bishop Hoban, are responsible for killing a magnificent community spirit as well as extinguishing all chances of fervent rivalries. The consolidation of small town schools has deprived once proud individuals of a sense of community, tradition and memories. School boards have to be more sensitive to the needs of their constituents. A change in the board members or the school board system itself is necessary. Careful planning, unlike the school boards' decisions, is essential in changing an archaic system. A Task Force of School Governance commissioned by the Twentieth Century Firms, concluded, "The hallmark of American education for over 150 years has been the local school board, and nothing would be gained by shifting to a totally new system," (25). A revamping of decision making is needed to prevent the disasters of the 60's and 70's. Kirst states, "Rethinking and revamping the role of the school board are necessary in this altered policy context," (38). The school board points an accusing finger at the state government. Dwight W. Allen supports the stand by contending that the state makes the major decisions such as how many days of school in a year and who could attend regardless of how the towns feel about the issue (44). Our loca l school boards should care how we feel. They should be our champions. Instead, they buckle to state and federal educational fads. School boards actions affect not just the students, but each and every member of the community. "Since 80 percent of the taxpayers in some suburban areas and more than 50 percent of the taxpayers in most communities do not have children in school, it is essential to keep the community informed and involved in the schools" (Becthol 327). This type of communication should have been in place before school boards smashed small schools into an academic collage. School activities such as theatrical dramas, uplifting musicals, and nail bitting sporting events, once a staple for the community, are now absent.

English Composition Essay

There are mixed reviews on online studying. During my research for articles on this subject, I found that more people are choosing online education instead of being in the traditional classroom setting. This appears to be a trend that in the eyes of some people will gain ground on classroom learning. Earning a college degree online will benefit mainly people with full time jobs. As Jessica Groach-Santina views it, â€Å"This form of education, will allow you to learn on your own schedule, put the skills you need directly into practice on the job and give you the valuable technical knowledge that employers are seeking†. Steve Lohr wrote in one of his many articles, â€Å"online education is providing learning experiences that are more tailored to individual students than is possible in the classroom. † The Department of Education performed a study last year and found students that did some or all of their courses online ranked higher in test performance than average classroom students. Steve Lohr wrote in his article, Online Education Beats the Classroom that â€Å"over the next few years, online education will expand sharply as evidence mounts of its value†. Philip R. Regier, the Dean of Arizona State University, also feels within the next three to five years the online studies will triple. Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, also feels more people will be taking classes online. In one of Steve Lohr’s most recent articles titled â€Å"Second Thoughts on Online Education† he back- tracked on some of the earlier statements he made, â€Å"A rush to online education may come at more of a cost than educators may suspect. † After more research concerning online education was conducted by the National Science Foundation and the Education Department, one study showed Hispanics and males did notably worse online. David Figlio, an economist at Northwestern University believes, the reason for the poor grades by these groups, was that males were more than likely waiting until the last minute to do their assignments. They were also putting off viewing lectures and cramming their studies before a test. Another issue could be that English is a second language for some Hispanic men. I understand there are positives and negatives with almost everything one sets out to accomplish. The key to success is, no matter what you set out to achieve, it will take hard work. This is my first time taking courses online and I know it will be as challenging as sitting in a classroom. However, it’s more convenient than going to a class at a certain time and I also get to work at my own pace, to a certain extent. Work Cited MLA: Groach-Santina Jessica. â€Å"The Value Of An Online Degree. † 10 September 2010. 29 September 2010 http://www. online-education. net/articles/general/securing-a-better-future. html MLA: Lohr Steven. â€Å"Study Finds That Online Education Beats The Classroom†. 19 August 2009. 29 September 2010 http://www. bits. blogs. nytimes. com/2009/08/19/study-finds-that-online-education-beats-the-class†¦ MLA: Lohr Steven. â€Å"Second Thoughts On Online Education†. 8 September 2010. 29 September 2010 http://www. bits. blogs. nytimes. com/2010/09/08/second-thoughts-on-online-education/? scp+1&sq

Pregnancy and Briefly Informs Jessica Essay

Jessica is a 30-year-old immigrant from Mexico City. She and her husband Marco have been in the U.S. for the last 3 years and have finally earned enough money to move out of their Aunt Maria’s home and into an apartment of their own. They are both hard workers. Jessica works 50 hours a week at a local restaurant, and Marco has been contracting side jobs in construction. Six months before their move to an apartment, Jessica finds out she is pregnant. Four months later, Jessica and Marco arrive at the county hospital, a large, public, nonteaching hospital. A preliminary ultrasound indicates a possible abnormality with the fetus. Further scans are conducted and it is determined that the fetus has a rare condition in which it has not developed any arms, and will not likely develop them. There is also a 25% chance that the fetus may have Down syndrome. Dr. Wilson, the primary attending physician is seeing Jessica for the first time, since she and Marco did not receive earlier prenatal care over concerns about finances. Marco insists that Dr. Wilson refrain from telling Jessica the scan results, assuring him that he will tell his wife himself when she is emotionally ready for the news. While Marco and Dr. Wilson are talking in another room, Aunt Maria walks into the room with a distressed look on her face. She can tell that something is wrong and inquires of Dr. Wilson. After hearing of the diagnosis, she walks out of the room wailing loudly and praying out loud. Marco and Dr. Wilson continue their discussion, and Dr. Wilson insists that he has an obligation to Jessica as his patient and that she has a right to know the diagnosis of the fetus. He furthermore is intent on discussing all relevant factors and options regarding the next step, including abortion. Marco insists on taking some time to think of how to break the news to Jessica, but Dr. Wilson, frustrated with the direction of the conversation, informs the husband that such a choice is not his to make. Dr. Wilson proceeds back across the hall, where he walks in on Aunt Maria awkwardly praying with Jessica and phoning the priest. At that point, Dr. Wilson gently but briefly informs Jessica of the diagnosis, and lays out the option for abortion as a responsible medical alternative, given the quality of life such a child would have. Jessica looks at him and struggles to hold back her tears.

Psychology-case studies essays

Psychology-case studies essays Yes, the skills and experience that come with age dont count for much because that is not what a company is looking for anymore. A company is looking for potential and street smarts instead of experience and wisdom. Age stereotypes in this article are that a forty-eight year old worker cannot do as much as a twenty-eight year old worker. It is not the case. Just because a twenty-eight year old worker will work 70 hours a week, doesnt mean the older worker cant do the same thing in a smaller amount of time due to his experience. People do not think that Debbie Brown is capable of doing what the future requires, so she most likely will not be able to because of a lack of support. Debbie and Toms causes of layoff are seen as internal factors, a low ability to keep up with a changing work environment, and also psychological factors expectancy of future success is very small, self-esteem is sure to fall, pride suffers, and shame comes into play. No I dont agree with the rational of employers and companies. If that is the way it is going to be in the future where are these 40 year olds going to go? There is nowhere. They cant be hired, there are no decent jobs for them to get, and they have families, bills, and responsibilities. If I were to give advice to some one who was in their 20s I would say to keep going to school, find a trade, or a skill that no one can take away from you. If I were giving advice to someone in their 40s I would tell them to hold on loosely but dont let go. ...

Clausal Structure in English essay part 2

Clausal Structure in English essay part 2 Clausal Structure in English essay part 2 Clausal Structure in English essay part 2Clausal Structure in English essay part  1Adverbial clausesAdverbial clauses are clauses introduced by a subordinating conjunction, which explains the adverbial meaning of the clause. Conjunctions used in adverbial clause are as follows: when/before/after/while (time); because/since (reason); if/unless/lest (condition), etc. For exampleWhen your work day is over, you may go home.I cannot send you emails because I prefer using Skype.Unless you work hard, you will succeed in your life.At the same time, there are minor types of adverbial clause, which are inf. and -ing clauses:Inf. clause: I went to the bus stop to take the bus back home. (Clause introduced by to + infinitive).-ing clause: Jack lost his wallet while fighting. (Clause introduced by present participle).Types of adverbial clauses:Adverbial clauses may be time clauses, which use time-related conjunctions, such as when, whenever, before, after, since, while, as, until, once, as soon as. These clauses are used with regard to a specific period of time or to an event that occurs in the specific moment. For example, She started her career when she was a student. In addition, adverbial clauses are used in the following cases: before +-ing after +subject+verb For example: Before buying this car, make sure it is new. Tom left the house before Jane had realized what was going on.Conditional clauses involve the use of conjunctions, which indicate to the presence of certain condition or conditions, including the following conjunctions: if, unless, whether, provided/-ing (that)†¦, as/so long as, in case. Conditional clauses are used to describe a possible situation and its effects. For example: If they practice sport, they will be in the excellent physical shape.Adjectival clausesOne of the most widely-spread types of adjectival clauses is the relative clause, introduced by such relative pronouns as who, whom, whose, that, or which. For example:Here is the ma (whom) I saw last night, when the murder occurred.This is the car (which) I am using to get to my work.The movie (that) I most enjoy is American Beauty.At the same time, there are two types of adjectival clause which occur very seldom, which are -ing and -ed clauses.-ing clause: The train now standing at platform two is the 2.30 p.m. to New York.-ed clause: He is the pop star pursued by paparazzi.At this point, it is worth mentioning the fact that past participles do not all end in –ed. This is why other verb forms are used in such clauses. For example: The movie watched by the audience or the exam taken by the students.Furthermore, the transition from coordination to subordination may occur in adjectival clauses. Using adjectival clause it is possible to combine these two sentences:The national speed limit was repealed.Road accidents have increased sharply.One possible way to coordinate these two sentences is as followsThe national speed limit was repealed and road accidents have increased sharply. Coordination with the help of the conjunction ‘and’ allows connecting the two main clauses. On the other hand, such coordination does not clearly identify the relationship between the ideas in those clauses. Therefore, if it is necessary to clarify the relationship between the two ideas in the given example, it is necessary to change the first main clause into an adverb clause, for example:Since the national speed limit was repealed, road accidents have increased sharply.The adverbial clause indicates to the time relationship between two ideas of the sentence. By changing the first word in the adverb clause, which is called a subordinating conjunction, it is possible to establish a different relationship, for instance, the relationship of cause: Because the national speed limit was repealed, road accidents have increased sharply. However, it is worth mentioning the fact that an adverb clause, like an adjective clause, contains its own subject and pred icate, but it must be subordinated to a main clause to make sense.Furthermore, purpose clauses are clauses that use conjunctions or (finales) = subject. As a rule, the following conjunctions are used to convey the purpose: in order to, so as to (in order not to , so as not to) // subject: so that + can/will, so that + could/would, for fear that. These clauses are used to indicate the purpose of an action. For example: The police introduced automatic profile processing to identify suspects faster. They had to pass exams successfully so that they could continue their education at the University. The doctor explained the nature of my illness in medical terms so that I wouldn’t understand fully.Another type of adjectival clauses is reason clauses (causales), which use conjunctions that convey the reason of the action or event described in the sentence. The most widely-used reason conjunctions are as follows: because, since, as, (because of + (adj)noun,   due to/owing to+ (ad j)noun). These clauses are used to indicate the reason for something. I couldnt feel anger against him because I liked him too much. Because of the heavy traffic in cities, more people have started taking the train.In addition, there are comparison clauses (comparativas), which use comparative conjunctions, such as: as, than, the + comparative. Comparison clauses are used to compare two or more people, things or facts, for example: I cannot drive a truck as well as I can drive a car. Leila plays tennis better than her sister.Also it is worth mentioning the fact that there are result clauses (consecutivas), which use conjunctions that indicate to the result of the action or event: †¦, so (that)†¦ (Result clauses associated with degree: so + adj/adv + that (tan†¦que†¦) so much + noun(U) + that (tanto/a†¦que†¦) so many + noun(C) + that(tantos/asque†¦) such (a/an/-) + adj+ noun + that. Result clauses are used to indicate the result of something. For ex ample: I had some extra job to do, so that I had no time to call you back. The doctor explained the nature of my illness in medical terms, so that I didn’t understand fully.Furthermore, concessive clauses are another type of adjectival clauses which use concessive conjunctions, such as: although, though, even though, even if, while, whereas(mientras que†¦),   + noun despite + -ing, in spite of the fact that+subj+vb, (however + adj/adv + clause). Concessive clauses are used to communicate the idea of concession, when two statements, one of which contrasts with the other or makes it seem surprising. For example: I learned hard although I did not have money to continue my education. Although he is a good player, he has no stamina to keep on playing as he used to. In spite of / Despite his age, he kept on working in the construction.Another type of adjectival clauses is place clauses, which use conjunctions indicating to the specific place of action or event described in t he sentence. For example, the following are the most widely-spread place conjunctions: where, wherever. These clauses are used to talk about the location or position of something. For example: John believed he can succeed in the new city where he moved to last summer. Wherever she goes, she will always take her ‘lucky’ ring.Furthermore, there are also clauses of manner, which use conjunctions that reflect the manner, in which the action or event is carried out, for example: as, as if, the way, like. Clauses of manner are used to describe someones behavior or the way something is done. For example: I have never had a chance to do the things the way I wanted to do them. Jane did the job as no one has ever expected from her.In such a way, the diverse types of clauses identified by experts involved in the study reveal the clear trend to the close correlation between the main clause and finite or non-finite clause. However, the main clause is independent and may stand alone, while the finite or non-finite clause is coordinated or dependent on the main clause. At the same time, the researchers have proved that the relationships between the main and finite/non-finite clause depends on their function and purpose of the utterance.ConclusionThus, the analysis of the clausal structure in English reveals the fact that the diversity of clauses in English is mainly the result of the different purposes of utterances and the different relationship between the main and finite/non-finite clause. At the same time, the study has revealed the fact that the complex clausal structure depends on several factors, among which the function of the close, the purpose of the utterance and intention of the person making the utterance are key factors that determine the clausal structure.