...International economic integration is a defining characteristic of the Irish economy. Globalisation is perceived as both an opportunity and a threat (if Ireland is uncompetitive, its domestic industries will decline in the face of cheaper imports of goods and services). Globalisation impacts the labour market through increased completive pressures from abroad and migration. International trade in goods and services has contributed massively to higher standards of living. The mechanism by which this is achieved is specialisation. Domestic industries now compete against foreign firms at home and abroad. Uncompetitive firms will be eliminated by more efficient rivals, which mean higher unemployment in uncompetitive countries. For a small, open economy like Ireland, the solution to unemployment caused by competition from abroad is to capture large economies of scale. This can be achieved by focusing on becoming the world leader and largest producer in a small, specialized segment of an established industry. For instance, supplying specialized inputs for the car manufacturing industry or parts of a computer processor. Another cause of unemployment is immigration. The impact of immigration on the labour market critically depends on the skills of migrants, the skills of existing workers and on the extent to which migrants have skills that are substitutes or complements to those of existing workers. Generally migrants whose skills are substitutes will cause higher unemployment through lower...
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...The international division of labour refers to the breaking up of the production process in different locations around the world. It can involve a firm setting up offshore branches or divisions in different countries, outsourcing tasks to businesses in other countries, or outsourcing employment to individuals in other countries using technology. Firms have a range of options available to them globally: choosing to produce in a rich country versus a poor country, an urban area versus a non-urban area, outsourcing different functions to different locations, using technology to outsource functions without relocation. Advantages of Global division of labour - Access to a much larger labour force for firms - More competitive labour market drives down labour costs, eg. Wages and working conditions such as sick leave – this leads to falling average costs, increased profits, rising income, employment and economic growth - Increased employment opportunities for employees in developing countries - Increased wages for employees in developing countries - Potential for employees to organise globally to share information and to improve wages and working conditions | Disadvantages of global division of labour - Loss of jobs for employees in the home country - ‘race to the bottom’ of wages due to international competition for employees in import-competing industries -Exploitation of employees in developing countries, leading to poor working conditions, job insecurity,...
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...Reflective Essay: Labour and migration According to O’Brien and Williams (2013), the concept of division of labour has long been practiced since before the 1800s. Nevertheless, division of labour may vary according to different variables like region, ethnicity and even gender. However, despite the existence and growth of massive inequalities around the world, people still seek to increase living standards and influence the division of labour in their organizations. Hence, the more advanced a society, the greater the division of labour. In my opinion, Malaysia faces the challenges of labour as a developing country. The two major issues is the gendered or racial and ethnic division of labour. This situation can be observed in the administration of the Malaysian government where a woman as a leader is not unheard of, but definitely scarce. The same case applies to a non-Malay government servant who are only minorities in a Malay dominated administration. The racial division is used to justify legal status and economic exploitation of these groups of workers (Persaud, 2001). Even since the pre-independent days, the Malays were focused mainly on agricultural activities, while the Chinese dominated Malaysian commerce. The Indians however were divided into two groups, the professional role or the plantation industry depending on their educational background. As a result, people tend to migrate to explore their options and opportunities. Migration is an urban phenomenon...
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...Introduction to the Global Economy The Global Economy Globalisation – Refers to the integration between different countries and economies and the increased impact of international influences on all aspects of life and economic activity * No longer are economies dominated by local influences but rather through global influences from another countries and economies due to the impact of globalisation. * The aggregate value of all goods and services produced worldwide each year in the global economy is known as gross world economy * The Great depression in the 1930’s and the world wars are examples of international influences on economies in the twentieth century. This also caused trade barriers to arise * The major indicators of integration between economies include: * International trade in goods and services * International trade flows * International investment flows and transnational corporations * Technology, transport and communication * The movement of workers between countries Globalisation * Barriers have been put up to try and protect businesses * Benefits to removing barriers * Barriers have been removed but there are still some barriers that exist * Some say the EU is closing off itself to other countries * Benefits to globalisation: * Trading – we might not have products that are only overseas * Cheaper labour is overseas * Investment overseas and investment into Australia * Financial flows of...
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...lines and have made expansion decisions appropriately. Our recommendation is that they continue with their current location strategy as it meets their operation goals and allows them to access the highest number of market segments and is the best strategy to grow the business. In assessing new locations for strategies we recommend the company determine which of their product lines or revenue streams have the highest consumer demand and are the most profitable. Once it is decided which line to expand they need to identify potential locations and decide if they wish to build or use an existing building. They need to then do a comprehensive evaluation of the locations taking into account; access to raw materials, access to non-unionized labour, access to Government incentive packages, proximity to customers and competitors in...
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...systems should be taken into consideration. Cocoa bean prices had declined, between 1996 and 2000, the price control by the global market but farmers had no control. Farmers turned to slavery to try to cut labour cost for their survival in this situation by the low prices. Slavery on farms is illegal in the Ivory Coast but the law is rarely enforced. But the government from their country has their own situation, a shortage of enforcement officers, the willingness of local officials etc. The case information we found it by some website: http://www.foodispower.org/slavery_chocolate.php http://vision.ucsd.edu/~kbranson/stopchocolateslavery/index.html And we also got some useful information from the book in page 64-67. Division of labour and schedule including presentation preparation: We followed the question below the case from the book to division of labour. Each question was answered by one or two group member, the number decides by question. Presentation follows the report, which part of report you did, then which part of presentation you do. Initial findings: After read the case and discussed, in our view, the situation made by the basic reason of our consumer, like us who buy chocolate from these company. The most of consumers did not know about this situation, they just know something good about chocolate and did not know something bad. Affect global market through our consumer, and made a good plan to solve the situation. Media’s power is great....
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...International Business - Assessment One Research Report Executive Summary This report examines the global company Nike and how it progressed from a small American based company to one of the largest sporting footwear and apparel brands in the world. The entry mode into global business chosen by Nike of contract manufacturing has allowed the company to benefit on two particular fronts. Nike outsourced the manufacturing element of the business initially to China and later expanded to over 750 factories mostly across South East Asia to capitalise on the abundance of low cost labour available to manufacture its products. Contracting out the manufacturing function also allowed the company to focus all of its energy and resources on developing innovative products and then marketing these products across the world. A core value of the Nike organisation is innovation which is embedded in its strategic direction. It developed a culture where no idea is a bad one and innovation is highly valued. This relates both to product development and marketing opportunities. Having this strong focus on innovation has allowed the company to continue to be a world leader in the creation and production of sporting good without the need or desire to diversify into different business streams. Nike has also displayed innovation throughout other business decisions to ensure it tackles environmental issues head on. This attitude took the potentially damaging situation of Nikes association with sweatshops...
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...Nike Case Questions 1. In the United States, what is Nike’s: a) Brand image, and b) sources of brand equity? a) In the United States, Nike’s brand image is built on being a high-performance, innovative and aggressive brand. The company associates the brand with top athletes through sponsorships. Since inception, Nike has placed performance as a top priority for the brand. Through designing high performance shoes and apparel, as well as sponsoring high-profile athletes and teams the brand has developed a reputation as being high-quality. Nike’s high tech products have allowed the brand to be perceived as innovative in the minds of consumers. Nike is continually introducing new products to the sports market as a way to improve performance. Through high performance and innovation, Nike has been branded as arrogant as the company has a high regard for the spirit of competition and portraying a rebellious spirit. b) Source of Brand Equity Description Logo Nike’s logo is a check mark. It is commonly referred to as the “swoosh.” As of 2000, 97 percent of American citizens recognize the brand logo. Nike has been seen as aggressive in the overabundance use of the “swoosh” with the symbol being placed on shoes, jerseys, hats, billboards and soccer balls across the globe. This ubiquity has been criticized as diluted the “swoosh”. Advertising Advertising has allowed Nike to portray its rebellious spirit and “nasty boy” image. However, this approach in advertisement has...
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...beneficial to society. The essay will consist of the introduction, conclusion and three sections. Section one will define the main terms. Section two will explore the advantages of globalisation and section three considers the criticisms of globalisation. The main thrust is presented, as globalisation is good for society even though it does have some significant and dire consequences. This section looks to explore what globalisation is and define the main terms within the question. Globalisation is an abstract and complex idea; therefore it is difficult to have one general definition of the term. For some people globalisation refers to Americanization whereas to others it refers to integration of the world’s economies into one central global economy. (Pavcnik N. , 2011)The Oxford Dictionary defines it as ‘the process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale.’ (Dictionary, 2012)There are however various factors, which are influenced by globalisation and each of these would provide different definitions of globalisation. These factors are political, economic, social, cultural and technological factors all of which help establish links between nations. (Webster, 2009)Furthermore it is also difficult to categorise the globe as one general society. Each society differs from one another, for example a society in Manhattan would face different effects of globalisation compared to a village in Uganda. Therefore...
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...Topic 2: Emile Durkheim Many company and corporate advertisements celebrate the values of community, such as this one from Starbucks (NYT Magazine 12/17/07, p. 83). It states: Community: “People you share space with, some that you know and some that you don’t. Your lives have a common thread, a tie that binds, whether it’s where you live or beliefs you have or the fact that you give when they need. Yes, it can be as simple as that.” Discuss how this Starbucks advertisement captures the different meanings of community associated with Durkheim’s concepts of mechanical solidarity and organic solidarity. Find additional examples that illustrate the value of community as both a local and a global phenomenon. Solidarity refers to the integration amongst groups of people and neighbors within society due to social ties that may arise from common responsibilities and interests. Social bonds are created between people from these communal ties which revolves around the principles of shared morals, values, kinship and association. According to Durkheim without the smooth correspondence of morality and social organization to form a properly functioning society through social cohesion and adaption social ties will be nonexistent hence creating anomie. This essay will be covering both mechanical solidarity and organic solidarity, showing the differences and overlapping factors in relation to the Starbucks advertisement. Following Durkheim's concept of mechanical solidarity and organic...
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...Families and Households There is a large debate amongst many Sociologists in relation to gender divisions of labour within families and households. Factionalists such as Murdock accomplished that family is so beneficial to society that it is unavoidable and global. This view is not shared by all sociologists. Feminists would dispute what functionalist’s state. Most feminists believe family exploits and discourages women. Parsons, a functionalist argues that there is a strong detachment of work between husbands and wives based on biological changes. He claimed that these detachments are favourable to men, women, children and wider society. Parsons believes women have the sensitive role designed towards homemaking and childcare. Men hold the instrumental role designed towards work and being the breadwinner. The New Right supports Parsons, they believe that the division of gender is normal and beneficial to family and furnishes the children to integrate to modern society. However many sociologists such as Young and Willmott claim that men are now sharing domestic roles and more wives are now becoming breadwinners as well. Feminist’s sociologists disagree with Parsons they claim that this only benefits men and the division of labour is not natural. Willmott and Young conducted a study in the 1950’s with a group of working class extended families which confirmed that conjugal roles have become more segregated. However in the 1970’s they conducted another study of...
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...considered to be a women issue by the countries of the Eastern block. Development, on the other hand, was a recent issue put forward mainly by the newly independent “Third World” nations as a key to improving women’s lives. During the Decade, the important but previously invisible role of women in the social and economic development of the poorer countries was highlighted. The declaration of the International Decade for Women (1975-85) signified the new visibility of Women in Development (WID) in international forums. During the past few years, the term "women in development" has become common currency both inside and outside academic settings. But while "women in development" or "WID", is understood to mean the integration of women into global processes of economic, political and social growth and change, there often is confusion about the meaning of two more recent acronyms, "WAD" and "GAD". This topic will begin with an examination of meanings and assumptions embedded in...
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...foreign labour markets becoming more competitive, and even favourable in some sectors. It should be noted that domestic examples of outsourcing do not shift the labour market because within the country itself, there are no structural changes. As a result, this paper will focus on outlining the various off-shoring and outsourcing implications and effects on international labour markets. Outsourcing vs. Off-shoring Companies have been able to implement off-shoring and outsourcing because of the phenomenon of lower transportation costs and instant communication across barriers of the world. Outsourcing and off-shoring are often grouped together and defined similarly, however they can be understood and interpreted in many ways. Outsourcing is a division of labour by contracting foreign third-parties abroad. In comparison, off-shoring is a more extreme form of outsourcing. It instead relocates key production sectors abroad, but not core innovative activities. Companies will often setup their own facilities which results in a decrease in foreign unemployment. Specific examples related to off-shoring and outsourcing will be discussed throughout the paper. In a wider spectrum, firms use off-shoring and outsourcing to remain competitive with the ongoing globalization that is present. Both countries involved are able to raise their nation’s GDP by shifting labour output and wages to more affective markets. Wages and labour The graph in Appendix 1.1 on labour markets...
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...orking conditions and health hazards, inadequate facility for education and training etc. to working child. They have also studied the child labour in different occupations in Bombay City. 3.4 Child Labour in India – by Jinesh Chandra Kulshreshtha– Ashish Publishing House New Delhi – 1978 Dr. Kulshreshtha in his studies has conducted an extensive review of literature regarding child labour. Dr. Kulshreshtha found in his study that poverty has been the major factor for the prevalent of child labour practices in India who are occasionally misused by privileged class, it employers and contractors to hire them at very low wages and with no better working condition. 3.5 Child Labour in India – by Lakshmidhar Mishra – Oxford University Press –...
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...technology and laws and regulations did not impact Sonoco’s business to the extent it did, in 1990s. It was more complacent and lost edge in technology and innovation. It failed to utilize information technology to its advantage. Sonoco experienced new organizational environmental changes such as integration of the markets, disappearing of geographical barriers and condensing of time to delivery. It now must adapt to new global marketplace in order to maintain a successful business. One can say that Sonoco was operating in an organizational environment which was gradually changing from static and simple (low uncertainty) to a more dynamic and complex (high uncertainty) organizational environment. It was a shift from ERA 1 to ERA 3 organizational design. Before Cindy Hardley joined the organization, Sonoco’s organizational structure resembled more of a multidivisional structure as division HR managers reported directly to the general managers of self contained divisions, and corporate HR was responsible for overseeing the activities of the managers heading each divisions. It was more of a decentralized siloed structured and processes and services provided differ from one business to another. This kind of structure has its own strength and weaknesses which are discussed below: Strength: i. Promoting a family-friendly and team oriented culture. Sonoco fits perfectly into the HR frame, which have a family oriented culture, where employees are empowered and their needs are taken care...
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