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THE IMPACT OF CULTURE ON INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
Doing business on the international plane presents many challenges because of a variety of factors which differ from one market to the other. These differences are basically informed by the environment of the host country, which is often times different from that at home. One of the environmental factors that present such a challenge is culture. Culture can be defined as complex construct that embodies a people's knowledge, morals, art, beliefs, customs, laws and other capabilities gathered by a community over time (Clifton, 2004). The culture of the host country strongly impacts on the performance of a firm that engages in international business. Notable aspects of culture central to the conduct of international business include the social structure, religion, language and education. G4S, a company that has established itself in international business has had its fair share of challenges in this area.
Social structure has to do with how society is socially organized. It could be looked at from the individual-group dimension, or from the social stratification dimension. Some societies consider an individual the pillar of social organization (Emerson, 2007). This is the scenario G4S encountered when it entered the American and most Western markets. The challenge here was how to instill a sense of teamwork among employees. It was an uphill task for managers who had been socialized to believe in the superiority of teamwork, as individuals compete against each other for results. On the Japanese market however, the firm found that emphasis was on group, rather than individual performance. Though this is said to be the driving force behind the company's success in Japan, it is vilified for imbedding creativity, and is touted as a stumbling block to dynamism. This, indeed, is a challenge the firm has had to deal with.
Read also Promoting human development
Social stratification has to do with placing members of society in certain classes. There are those in the lower, middle and upper classes. Many times, this is borne out of one's family background, income or occupation. Those from the lower class only hope to move from that class to the upper one through a process called social mobility, which is in most cases done through education and job opportunities. When opportunities for mobility are suffocated, there is likely to be conflict between the classes; and in the job situation, between management and employees. Some societies have room for social mobility, while others do not. A country like Britain has less social mobility (Hill & Jain, 2008, p. 66, 67). As a result, there is always simmering tension between management and workers, which the firm has had to deal with from time to time. When industrial disputes become frequent, the firm finds doing business in the country quite expensive. Such a problem is not common in America, where social mobility is easy.
G4S operates in countries with various religious persuasions, which have an effect on its operations. In predominantly Christian (protestant) countries such as Britain, America and most of Africa, the spirit of entrepreneurship has helped expand the company's operations and profitability. Protestantism advocates for hard work and creation of wealth for God's glory, but abstinence from worldly pleasures. Since the resources earned from working cannot be spend on leisurely pursuits, the only other option is to reinvest it in expanding the business (Hill & Jain, 2008, p. 70). The Christian ethic, which is a cultural issue, is supportive of the entrepreneurial (capitalist) mindset. Doing business in Islamic countries such as Saudi Arabia is rather tricky. In the first place, the Islamic culture frowns upon charging interest on loan. Doing business in such an environment has been very expensive. The fact that adherents of Islam do not work on Fridays goes against the practice in other countries, and managers found it difficult making adjustments. The Islamic culture also favors market based systems and when they suspect one is making exorbitant profits, however justified, the establishment begins putting sanctions in the company's ways. This has hindered the company from making maximum profits from its investment, which is the hallmark of the capitalist culture from where the company originates. There have also been problems of negative perception of the company because of the historical West-Islamic conflict, making the firm's operations difficult. When tensions between the two sides run high, sometimes the company's property is destroyed, or its products and services shunned by customers. This reduces the company's profitability. Operations in China where Confucianism advocates for individual connections rather than the rule of law have also been problematic. Business ethics have not been adhered to, making the firm lose out on opportunities for lack of connections, referred to as Guanxi (Goodrich, 2005). G4S once lost case where a company that had breached a contract was left unpunished because one the company's top executives was a son to a leading politician. Though this would appear to be unethical in most Western countries, it is perfectly normal in China, as the company later came to learn. For the sake of survival, G4S has now been forced to recruit well-connected local executives, and to enter partnerships with local company's belonging to senior government officials. This is normal in order in China.
Read also International Trade Structure
Most of the countries in which G4S operates have diverse linguistic backgrounds. This has posed major problems, especially in Saudi Arabia, where most people speak Arabic. Expatriate managers without the knowledge of Arabic have found it very hard to communicate when marketing the company's products and services. This has forced them to attend Arabic classes so as to make them perform better. Most African countries with a multiplicity of languages also pose problems of multiple cultures, which call for extensive training on the part of managers for these regions.
Formal education determines the quality of skill, values, norms and the general socialization of individuals. G4S has had problems operating in countries such as Somalia and Rwanda in Africa, which have no proper system of formal education. In most cases, the firm has had to rely on expatriates to fill top management positions.
Clifton, J. (2004). Culture and International Business. New York: Blackwell Publishers Ltd.
Emerson, N. (2007). The Social Dimension of International Business. Beverly Hill: Sage Books.
Goodrich, A. (2005). The Dynamics of Global Business. Chicago: Gift Book Publishers.
Hill, C. W and Jain, A. K. (2008). International Business: Competing in the Global Marketplace. New Delhi. Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Limited.


When grey windows and doors look as good as this, how could they not make an impressive first impression?
It is vital that the entranceway to your home wows visitors from the moment they sight eyes on it. There's no doubt this entranceway will have the necessary effect as these grey coloured windows and doors create a fashionable arrangement that make the house almost look brand new. Starting with the door, it has the prettiest door panelling imaginable and has been furnished with various contemporary hardware solutions, including the very pleasing chrome handles on the inside and outside. The door perhaps wouldn't look quite as stylish if the similarly coloured windows weren't there too.
Attention has also been paid to the back of the house where some brand new grey (of course) UPVC French doors have been fitted to make the patio more accessible. These French doors offer a very expansive double opening to almost transform the inside of the house and garden into one giant living area. The bathroom has been given a transformation of its own with the addition of a new window. Privacy in the bathroom is assured as frosted glazing has been inserted into the window frame and a turn of the handle will open it outwards whenever the room could do with a little extra air.


Download *Application Forms, Guidance Notes and *Stable Booking form (*when available).
All horses must be fit enough to take part in the inspection and be sufficiently prepared. They should not be over or underweight and should be well-handled. Feet should be carefully trimmed and shoes should be in good condition. Tack must fit the horse. Handlers should bring lungeing equipment and tendon boots with them. They should be neatly attired. A hard hat, stout shoes or boots and gloves are strongly recommended.
Many people choose to arrive on the evening prior to the inspection. A stable will be booked for you unless you tell us that you do not need one.
There will be a small team on site setting up the jumping lane until about 7 p.m., together with the stable manager. If you wish to check your horse in with the administration team when you arrive, please see Heather Chaplin, Sue Benson or Carol Rudd.
Read the 'Guidance Notes' thoroughly.
Bernard Leckie Symonds, the late husband of our retired President and enthusiastic supporter of the Irish Draught, always took a keen interest in colts and stallions. When Bernard passed away in 2007, he left a generous bequest in the form of the B.L.S. Stallion Awards (GB). The B.L.S. Award (GB) comprises £200, a rosette and a card.
• be owned by members who are permanently domiciled in Great Britain.
The award will usually be made on the day, in the indoor arena, after the conclusion of the inspections.


Europe: The Ones Who Do Wrong Are Always Stronger Than The Ones Who Do Right. More Poison Please.
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The Confusion Of Roadkill, Mighty Mouse And Who Is In My Dungeon Or Who Will Survive My Neighbor's Dog's (W)Rath?
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This is new territory for me. I don't mean this as a boast, because I hate it: I've always looked younger than I am. When I fell pregnant with Jellybean it was a legitimate concern of mine that people would look at me and think I was a teenage mother. (It turned out I was right to be worried. I had a few raised eyebrows when I started waddling around with my massive bump.) It's always been a touchy problem for me - people tended not to take me seriously, which immensely frustrated me. I always got ID'd for drinks. Once I even got asked for ID whilst trying to buy spray glue. I was twenty-three and had been married for two years at the time.
Notice how all that was in past tense? It suddenly dawned on me the other day that I couldn't remember the last time I got ID'd for anything. At all.
I've got lines around my eyes and my mouth.
I don't know how to feel about this. Happy? Worried? But in the spirit of honesty, I'll tell you I had a half an hour moment of overwhelming doom about it.
Chris, very gently, told me that yes, I do look older than when we first met, but given that we first met a long time ago, that's not an unexpected thing. He also, in a tactic that all husbands should use, suggested that I look better as I get older. (Good job Chris). And, in turn, that brought me round from thinking 'Oh no, my life is flying by and I can't stop it' to 'Hey, I get to grow older with this one person, which is great'.
'Really? That feels like ages ago to me.' Chris paused.
It's actually kind of good.
By pure coincidence my contribution to #ablogginggoodtime this week "fake or real" is also about aging and wrinkles, although I think your husband did a better job than mine! Aging is fine!
I'm going to be 32 tomorrow and I swear I am in total denial!!


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Q: Odoo 8 - Can't get the content of an object using self.env I'm trying to run a function that's in another model from the one I'm positioned at, the function works but it does not get the info from the object I want to access. I'm sure I'm missing something that I am not seeing but my search online have not helped me so far. Below is a portion of the code.
@api.multi
def calcular(self):
    i = self.env['prueba.productos'].calcular_total(self.id)
    a = 0
    if a == 0:
        raise except_orm('Valor de i', i)
return True

What calcular_total does is calculate the total of the price of an item. Or that's what I plan it to, right now all it should do is take the price of the item and just add it 5 and it should return that value. But it only returns 5 and whenever I access the integer variable directly and return it through the except_orm just to see what is in it it returns false, which I don't understand why.
If more info is needed I'll provide it as soon as I can. Thanks in advance!

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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News sights for Tony Howell
Tony Howell has resigned as Executive Chef of Margaret River Hospitality Group. After two years as an equity partner in the group, Howell will be stepping away from business ownership.
Howell said: "It's been a terrific ride and I've learned so much from the team as well as about myself and I'm really grateful for the experience. At this stage in my life and with my young family, my priorities have shifted. It's been more than a business partnership, we've become great friends and we've ended the business relationship on the very best of terms – I'd like to thank the team for the past two years and look forward watching their success in the future. I have little doubt that it'll be anything but great. I still have a passion for working behind the stoves and I love the buzz of a busy service and the challenge of a big function – I'm excited about my next chapter!"
Howell will continue to work with the group at special events and functions. He also plans to spend time with his family while he oversees the build of their new home. Howell said he would keep his work options open at this stage.
After a successful season as one of the presenters of Fresh TV, Howell hasn't ruled out further media work.
For more information about Fresh TV visit www.fresttv.net.au
5.30pm Saturdays on Seven Perth and GWN7 in WA
Nationally on 7Two (check local guides for details).

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Commentary WND News CenterCOVID SCAMS
What if media reported that the 'vaccine' is not a vaccine?
Exclusive: Joel S. Hirschhorn looks at CDC's definition change, mandates, natural immunity
By Joel S. Hirschhorn
Published November 16, 2021 at 7:22pm
The Centers for Disease Control, or CDC, once was a federal agency that nearly everyone respected. That no longer is the case. Now there are many reasons why the CDC should be widely disrespected. With over 10,000 Americans dying weekly from COVID-19, the CDC is not protecting public health. Its latest debacle is how it changed the definition of "vaccine."
Just imagine this: The entire push for COVID "vaccines" was based on a lie – they did not meet the official CDC definition of a vaccine. Through deception, the government could coerce the entire population to get the shot. Calling them "vaccines" was the biggest lie from Anthony Fauci and the key to drug companies making many billions of dollars.
Why would the government's key public health agency change the definition of what a vaccine is in the midst of a pandemic? And after millions of Americans have taken the shot? Now millions more are being beaten into taking it for the first time and others to get booster shots.
Here is the key point. It became widely recognized by medical experts and informed citizens that COVID vaccines clearly did not fit the official CDC vaccine definition. CDC thought the answer was not to fix what was deficient with the vaccines or stop their use by most people, as so many medical experts advised. The agency's response was to change the vaccine definition to fit the so-called vaccines.
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This was done so that vaccine mandates could keep getting pushed by the government. Of course, the COVID "vaccines" should be referred to as gene therapy products, even more accurate than calling them experimental vaccines. As WND reported, A Bayer executive recently acknowledged that fact.
To see how corrupt this CDC action was, it is necessary to examine the details of the vaccine definition debacle.
Prior to Sept. 1, 2021, here is how the CDC defined vaccine:
A product that stimulates a person's immune system to produce immunity to a specific disease, protecting the person from that disease. Vaccines are usually administered through needle injections, but can also be administered by mouth or sprayed into the nose.
This definition had been used for years, and it makes sense. No expert or sensible citizen would find fault with it. But did it honestly apply to the COVID vaccines?
Weeks ago, this definition is what the CDC concocted:
A preparation that is used to stimulate the body's immune response against diseases. Vaccines are usually administered through needle injections, but some can be administered by mouth or sprayed into the nose.
Here is what CDC also said:
"Immunity: Protection from an infectious disease. If you are immune to a disease, you can be exposed to it without becoming infected."
Think about that last sentence: You can be exposed to COVID "without being infected"; but we know that is not true for fully vaccinated people who still get infected.
This is the key language in the original definition:
"stimulates a person's immune system to produce immunity to a specific disease, protecting the person from that disease."
How rational to invoke the purpose of a vaccine to stimulate an immune system to produce immunity to a specific disease that protects the recipient from that disease. Exactly what everyone for years thought was the correct way to think about a vaccine. People want permanent protection from the COVID infection disease.
But now the CDC has taken out the language referring to getting immunity for a specific disease and getting protection from that disease.
Now, COVID vaccines do not have to directly produce immunity. No, now they only have to stimulate the body's immune system.
You don't get immunity because COVID vaccines do not directly produce immunity. They do not directly kill the COVID virus. Vaccinated people can still have high viral loads and also transmit the virus to others. While some individuals may get some health benefits from COVID shots, they do not necessarily protect the entire population. This is why mandates to get everyone the shots really do not make sense from a public health perspective.
Apparently, the only logical way to understand what the CDC has done is to accept the truth belatedly seen by the agency that COVID vaccines do not, in fact, produce effective immunity for COVID-19 infection and do not provide effective protection, once vaccinated, from that infection.
Much of the public surely does not yet know what CDC has acknowledged. Odds are that everyone who depends on mainstream media for good information about the pandemic has not been informed about what the CDC has done and its implications.
The new vaccine definition, if publicly known, would reduce public confidence in current COVID vaccines. You don't have to be a medical expert to see how the new definition has been created to accommodate COVID shots.
In fact, these definition changes reflect what is now known about the limitations of the COVID vaccines.
Fully vaccinated people can still get COVID-19, referred to as breakthrough infections that, contrary to what the government says, can be very serious, often requiring hospitalization and sometimes causing death, as was the case for Colin Powell. Such serious effects have been well discussed by Gunter Kampf. Other times, breakthrough infections greatly disrupt lives, as recently described by Alexis Madrigal, a strong proponent of COVID shots.
Moreover, the COVID vaccines are now widely known from considerable clinical evidence to lose their effectiveness typically in about six months. And even worse, they provide little protection against variants like the delta variant – same disease but from a different virus in terms of its complex genetic makeup. So, befitting the new CDC definition, the COVID shots really do not have long-lasting effective immunity to the specific COVID infection caused by all variants.
Elsewhere on the CDC website is a glossary of many terms; here is what is especially relevant to the debate about COVID vaccines:
"Attenuated vaccine: A vaccine in which a live microbe is weakened (attenuated) through chemical or physical processes in order to produce an immune response without causing the severe effects of the disease. Attenuated vaccines currently licensed in the United States include measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, rotavirus, yellow fever, smallpox, and some formulations of influenza, and typhoid vaccines."
Most people would read this and find that it fits with what they think of as vaccines that have been routinely taken by most people, especially children. Clearly, COVID vaccines do not fit this definition. But seeing this established view of vaccines helps explain why so many people resist and reject the COVID shots. They are so fundamentally different than long-accepted and used vaccines.
One of the biggest pandemic scandals is that the government refuses to give full credit to natural immunity people get from once being infected by the COVID virus. It should be officially recognized as equivalent to "vaccine" immunity.
The following CDC glossary definition is especially relevant:
"Active immunity: The production of antibodies against a specific disease by the immune system. Active immunity can be acquired in two ways, either by contracting the disease or through vaccination. Active immunity is usually permanent, meaning an individual is protected from the disease for the duration of their lives."
This CDC definition of active immunity recognizes that you can get it by contracting the disease versus through vaccination. In other words, it recognizes what today is commonly called natural immunity achieved by being infected by the COVID virus. Further, such immunity is likely permanent and better than vaccine immunity, as recent clinical studies substantiate. But it also infers that active immunity obtained through vaccination is also permanent, which clearly is not the case for COVID shots, as evidenced by breakthrough infections.
Also note that it has recently been revealed that CDC has not been able to provide any proof of at least one instance of an unvaccinated, naturally immune individual transmitting the COVID-19 virus to another individual.
And a new study found that almost 60% of the people with antibodies had no idea they had even had COVID at all. But they, too, would have natural immunity. This is quite consistent with the reality that most people suffer no significant health impacts from being infected with the COVID virus, regardless of all the fear mongering by Fauci and others.
To sum up, a close look at what CDC has done lately reinforces the thinking of millions of people who have reservations and concerns about getting COVID genetic therapy shots that pose myriad adverse impacts and sometimes death.
There is a rational, science basis for thinking that the limited benefits of those shots do not adequately offset their risks. This is true for the vast majority of healthy people, especially children, who have extremely low risk from COVID infection for serious illness, hospitalization or death.
Mandates that do not recognize natural immunity are merely a sham tactic to make money for drug companies.
How interesting it would be, in the context of informed consent, if people were shown the original and new CDC vaccine definitions as a means to stimulate productive discussion with medical providers of COVID shots.
Joel S. Hirschhorn
Dr. Joel S. Hirschhorn, as a full professor at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, directed a medical research program between the colleges of engineering and medicine. At the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment and the National Governors Association, he directed major health-related studies. He has testified at over 50 U.S. Senate and House hearings and authored hundreds of articles in journals and on websites, plus op-ed articles in major newspapers. He has been an executive volunteer at a major hospital for more than 10 years. His newest book is "PandemicBlunder."
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