Korean Society At A Glance Essay

South Korea is located in the northeastern region of the Asian continent and occupies the southern region of the Korean Peninsula. It was established in 1948 after the splitting of Korea between the United States and the former USSR (U. S. Department of State, 2008). After the formal split of Korea, 4 million people from North Korea transferred to South Korea. This sudden increase in population was partly compensated within the next 40 years by migration from South Korea to Japan and the United States. However, many of those who emigrated eventually returned to South Korea (U. S. Department of State, 2008). South Korea possesses one of the most ethnically homogenous cultures in the world. Except for a small Chinese population, almost the entire Korean population has a common culture and language (U. S. Department of State, 2008). Half of South Korea’s population actively practices their religion. Christianity and Buddhism dominate the religion of South Korea. Only 3% consider themselves as Confucians and the remaining 1% practices the traditional religion of Shamanism and Chondogyo (U. S. Department of State, 2008). Imperialism in South Korea Imperialism had a major impact in the development of 20th century Korea. With some assistance from the US and Great Britain, Japan conquered Korea in 1910, which ended the latter’s existence as an independent state. Aiming to establish its own Empire, Japan modified Korean economy in order to manufacture its own agricultural products. Korean peasants were forced to leave their lands and by 1930s and 1940s, majority of Koreans were working in the mining or manufacturing sector of Manchuria, Japan, and Korea (Hart-Landsberg, 1989). Elite Korean nationalist movements staged the March 1st Independence Movement against the colonizers but to no avail as their attempt resulted to a violent suppression by the Japanese. The leaders of the uprising had no choice but to either leave the country or embrace Japanese rule (Hart-Landsberg, 1989). Ethnic Groups In South Korea South Korea is considered as one of the world’s most ethically homogenous nations. Koreans descended from the Neolithic people who migrated to the Korean Peninsula from the northeastern portion of mainland Asia (Peterson, n. d). Consisting the biggest minority group in South Korea are people with Chinese descendants. Local residents include an increasing number of foreign nationals, including migrant workers from South and southeast Asia, entrepreneurs, diplomats, and other professionals from various parts of the world (Peterson, n. d).

The Four basic Factors of McDonaldization

In today's' complicated and ever changing society, we often try to achieve a sense of stability and familiarity around us. One way our culture has tried to make life a little easier is by implementing a function now know as â€Å"McDonaldization†. McDonaldization is defined as â€Å"the process by which the principles of the fast food restaurant are coming to dominate more and more sectors of American society as well as the rest of the world. † (1) The success of McDonalds, and of McDonaldization as a whole, is due to four basic factors–efficiency, calculability, predictability, and control. One of the first functions of McDonaldization is efficiency. Efficiency means choosing the optimum means to an given end. In our society, people like to have things go as quickly and as smoothly as possible, but they do not want to find out the fastest way themselves. Instead, people like to have a system that has already been used and that they know works. Efficiency has its advantages for both consumers, who get what they want quickly and with little effort, and for workers, who can perform their tasks in a simple manner. The fast food industry is very streamlined, because hamburgers are the simplest ood there is to make. Other foods also do not need a lot of ingredients, and they are simple to make and to eat. Most of the food is also prepared so one can eat it with their hands, thereby reducing the need for utensils. In the process of McDonaldization, consumers are forced to do a good deal of work as well. They have to stand on line, carry their own food, and throw out the garbage. This is not as efficient for the consumer, but it saves time for the workers. Education, health care, and the work place are all becoming McDonaldalized in order to become more efficient. Efficiency in McDonaldization has streamlined many processes, simplified goods and services, and forces the consumer to do work as well. Another factor of McDonaldization is calculability. This tends to put more of an emphasis on quantity rather than quality, but it allows the consumer to get a lot of food quickly. When things are easily counted, it facilitates the process by making it more predictable by using the same amount of materials. Part of McDonalds is an emphasis on size. Everything is â€Å"super sized,† or have names that make food items seem larger than they actually are. Calculability, however, also leads to the quality of the food being neglected. Because people feel as if they are getting a lot of food for their money, they are not as worried about how good it tastes. Food is always weighed and measured precisely, which is another part of calculability. All burgers weigh the same amount, there are the same number of fries in each container, and the new drink machines dispense the same amount to each cup. This same theory is seen in our education system. Students are herded through, and no one really pays much attention to what or how they are earning, just that they receive high grades so they can get into a good college. Health care has also seen the impact of these, because now patients are mainly treated just to squeeze some money out of them, and doctors seemingly don't truly care about their patients anymore. Calculability basically reduces the quality of goods, but improves the The third function of McDonaldization is predictability. In our society, people usually want to know exactly what to expect from a given situation. Predictability gives the consumer a break from having to make difficult decisions, and the worker can perform heir task with little effort. The needs of everyone become easily anticipated. One of the first places predictability became common was with motel chains. Before motels became franchised, guests didn't know exactly what they would be getting, for the good or the bad. But then hotels such as Holiday Inn and Howard Johnson's started, and guests knew exactly what they were going to get when they stayed there. This new practice was copied in the food industry, namely by McDonalds. First, they started with a large and noticeable sign, that could be easily recognized. People from around the world now know he McDonalds symbol is a giant yellow â€Å"M†. Something else that is predictable is the way employees are forced to interact with customers. Employees have a set script that they must follow, and this gives them some control over their customers. Their work is also done in the same manner, for example, the hamburgers all must be cooked the exact same way for the same amount of time. They also must dress and act in a certain way. Customers themselves behave predictably in fast food restaurants, as they get their food, carry it to their table, eat, clean their trash, and leave. Now everyone knows this is the ay one must act in a fast food restaurant. The food itself is predictable as well, and there are not many choices in fast food restaurants. It is basically the same from food chain to food chain. Predictability is also found in other institutions, such as in education. Professors usually stand in the front of the class, near a blackboard while they lecture. Most colleges offer the same type of classes, and even testing is similar, if multiple choice tests are used. Health care as well is based on a series of rules, regulations and controls that restrict the physicians and keep their behavior controlled. Malls, home cooking, housing, and vacations are all getting very predictable as well. Predictability is achieved in a number of ways, mainly by the replication of settings, the use of scripts and a routine way of acting, as well as a routine product. The final dimension of McDonaldization is increased control. Recently, new technologies have been developed in order to control the actions of the people. Robots and computers are both easier to deal with and to manage than people. Organizations hope to gain control over people by using and developing new and more effective technologies. One people are controlled, their behavior is easily manageable and machinelike, and when that happens, people can then be replaced by robots. Fast food restaurants do not have cooks, because that would mean they were forced to rely on one person. Instead, their is a simple process that anyone can be trained to do, and following certain steps leads to the same product. McDonalds already as a number of new technologies which reduces the need for actual people to work. There is a soft drink dispenser that shuts itself off automatically, a french fry machine that can cook the fries tself, and a cash register with the prices preset. Robots have a number of advantages over people, because they cost less, increase efficiency, need fewer workers, and they are never absent. Customers are controlled by the management as well. People know exactly what they must do in a drive through window, and also what to do inside the restaurant. Management discourages people from staying in the restaurant for very long, so that there is more room for other customers. The food is designed to be eaten quickly, and with little mess. In most food industries, technologies where humans basic role is only to plan nd maintain the system is becoming dominant, and replacing the processes where people must be skilled in order to work. Education is McDonaldized as well, because professors must follow a set curriculum, and class periods must conform to a certain length. Health care is controlled by various rules and bureaucracies, which are designed to control both the patient and the doctors. Advertising is used now at a more personal level, and tries to control the minds of the people into thinking a certain way. The main objective of control is the reduce the uncertainties of a business, and technology tries to control work related rocesses, as well as the finished product. McDonaldization is found all around us, even at Hofstra University. One aspect of university life which has become greatly McDonaldized is the registration process. At Hofstra, students must choose their own classes from a given list, and then meet with their advisor to approve it. They then have to take their registration card to Memorial Hall, where they take a number, and wait for their turn to be called. Only then can your For the first factor of McDonaldization, efficiency, the registration process is definitely not up to par. When students first get to Memorial, they are forced to take a number, like at a deli counter. They then must wait. And wait. And wait, just for their number to be called. Students are forced to wait for sometimes as long as three or four hours to make a schedule. Although it is better than a random free for all, with everyone scrambling around at the same time, there is still much that can be done to improve it. At some parts of the day, there are as few as three windows open, with more than one hundred students waiting. This process can hardly be called efficient, when some other niversities have phone or electronic registration, which can be completed in a few Calculability is also seen during the registration process. The main idea is to try to complete as many schedules in the shortest amount of time. However, this causes students to not receive any individualized attention, and they are forced to make their schedules on their own with little guidance. This is because the main interest is on quantity, rather than the quality of the schedules. In fact, the school prefers to have the lack of guidance, because it causes students to take unnecessary credits, and they then ust spend more time in school, while paying even more money. This system is fairly predictable, although not in a good way. During registration time, students know that they will have to spend many hours just waiting in line with nothing to do. They also can predict there will not be any seats left, that half of the windows will be closed by lunch time, and that it will always be about a million degrees in the waiting area. Students also are used to the gray schedule booklets, as well as the yellow registration cards. Seeing either of those items leads the students to think about xactly what they must go through, in order to register successfully. The final element, control, is seen as well. Students are being controlled by a tiny little slip of paper they hold in their hand, which has a simple number on it. That number signifies their place on line, but it was generated by a computer, which keeps track of how many people are waiting. Students also rely on the kiosk system, which shows which classes are still open, and which have been closed out. These factors help keep registration as a controlled process. McDonaldization is becoming more and more prevalent in today's changing world. However, it allows us to expect certain things, helps us to manage our time better, and make life in general a little bit simpler. It also, however, cuts down on the individuals of our society, and forces them to conform to a set standard, which is considered the norm. Some places are able to use McDonaldization effectively, while others are still struggling to implement it in a way which makes it work. It is a complicated process, which requires a good deal of thinking and brainstorming to manage successfully. All in all, McDonaldization has both positive and negative impacts on our world.

The impcat of the drug culture on the Rock music industry of the 70's Research Paper

The impcat of the drug culture on the Rock music industry of the 70's - Research Paper Example se of the Soviet Union which effectively brought the Cold War to an end, creating a suitable condition for the society to thrive and prosper politically, economically and socio-culturally. Therefore, the drug culture emerged as a means of assuring stable and healthy living, through fighting diseases and illnesses that were commonly associated with the previous war periods, to give people more freedom to enjoy life (). Thus, many drugs were invented to play different roles, with some targeted at preventing and curing diseases, while others were meant to keep people alert, help people sleep, to lessen their worry and anxiety and alleviate pain (). Therefore, the availability of all sorts of drugs created a wave of optimism in the 1970s society, effectively impacting on the rest of the socio-cultural aspects of the society such as the lifestyles and the music development. This way, songs were written and sang about a variety of drugs, especially those drugs that provoked societal resist ance such as the hard drugs including cocaine, heroin and marijuana (). These drugs were being resisted by the society owing to their addictive and negative health implications on individuals’ mental and psychological health, yet they were perceived to offer the rest of the drug benefits such as keeping people alert making them feel high and good about themselves, as well as reducing sensitivity and increasing creativity. The influence of such drugs made artists feel inspired, while also removing the inhibitions that would disrupt performance such as tiredness, thus helping to keep the party moving (). Therefore, the influence of the drug culture was the formation of the creation of soundtracks of roll and roll to promote a revolution of celebrating drugs, and the consequent stability, peace and the joy of love and sex that came with the drug culture, in a society that was defined by obsession with wars (). In this respect therefore, the drug culture helped o promote the rock and roll

Art history Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 6

Art history - Essay Example In order to compare the difference in sculpture and painting, the references have been taken from Zollner (1998) and Sandri (1997). Zollner discusses the Three Graces from a contextual point of view making the Three Graces as a pious symbol of expectation in the form of painting while Sandri stresses a critical stance on the subject of the Three Graces merely defining them as a subject of art which is in the form of sculpture. The author Zollner has appointed a descriptive way of discussing the painting of Three Graces. The medium of the painting is oil canvas that beholds the three ladies wearing their respective attires. These attires, however, been avoided in sculpture. Along with the discussion of the painting in the address of Zollner, he also provides significance of theme of the Three Graces. The colour of the three ladies is blended in the painting because of the possibility of using variety of strokes by the painter. This is far different in the case of sculpture as it is made up of white marble (ZÃ ¶llner). On the other hand, the author Sandri has critically discussed the Three Graces depiction into sculpture. In the following image, it can easily be noted that the true essence for which the three ladies were named as chastity, joy and love is missing from the sculpture. The clarity of bodily shape is missing and so the expression of chastity. However, it can be well asserted that it is not an easy to task for an artist to create a sculpture that gives enhancement to each feature. On comparison, it comes quiet easier to note that painting as well as sculptor makes use of support that each girl takes by putting hands on each other’s shoulder. This is one common aspect other than the front and back nude carving of the bodies of the Three Graces. The factor of using adjunct lines and outlines in the painting is quite evident. This is lesser in the case of sculpture because it provides a three dimensional experience to the art

Mergers And Acquisitions Within The Aviation Sector Dissertation

Mergers And Acquisitions Within The Aviation Sector - Dissertation Example Using a case study approach, the study recruited human participants with direct managerial experience at Air France-KLM and found that human capital advantages were the primary advantages achieved by this merged firm. Followed in order of priority were revenue growth, improved customer loyalties, the ability to utilize price discrimination strategies and superior competitive power. The findings uncovered no detriments of the merger and concluded that Air France-KLM sought the proper strategic direction when deciding to merge both companies. A merger encompasses the blending of two different companies that operate under a single umbrella identity. Merged organizations perform trade of their business operations under a singular name and share both profits and potential losses that originate from the newly merged business. It has been recognized that the aviation sector is one of the most fundamental supports of businesses throughout the world (Bell 2010) Approximately half of all global businesses utilize the aviation industry for travel and for transport services. As a result, companies in this sector put much time and effort into perfecting their business operations by consolidating advantages through processes such as acquisitions and mergers. In most industries, the majority of mergers fail. Porter (1987) offers that most mergers and acquisitions lead to failure as a result of poor performance and inability to establish strategies that productively sustain the new business model formed by the blending of two companies. However, many corporate Board members and top-level executives seek mergers as a means to improve their business. Mergers are expected to produce synergies and provide greater financial benefits since the consolidation of two different businesses will theoretically improve business efficiencies and enhance competitiveness in an  established competitive market.

Change and Continuity in Contemporary Business Essay

Change and Continuity in Contemporary Business - Essay Example Denmark has flat organisational structure and informal work culture that facilitate in creating a comfortable working environment. The people of Denmark are straightforward in nature and wish for morality and honesty. The cost of living is quite high in Denmark due to its high salary structure. Furthermore, Danish managers generally have good understanding about satisfying the employees’ requirements. These are major internal aspects which influence on the business of Denmark. The external influences on businesses in Denmark include its strong regulatory system, good economic condition and stable political state. The tax structure in Denmark is comparatively high as the government of Denmark spends considerable money on social welfare activities. Globalisation has also influenced Denmark in numerous aspects. Globalisation is an unavoidable phenomenon which has both positive as well as negative influence on Denmark. On one side, globalisation has generated new prospects for con temporary business, but it also brings in challenges for organisations with respect to requirement of skilled workforce and capability for coping up with the competitors. However, Denmark is quite capable to manage the challenges of globalisation and take advantages of it. The influence of globalisation has been found on employment market, administrative policies, educational system, trade policies and business decision making. Denmark has effectively responded to globalisation’s impact. Due to globalisation, Denmark has reformed the monetary strategies. It has also reorganised the administration by reducing number of states and developing new regulations. Denmark’s entrepreneurship policies are also affected by globalisation with constant focus on entrepreneurial teaching and education. In order to maintain its position in the international economy, Denmark has close relationship with numerous international organisations. The immigration policies of Denmark have also changed considerably with increased focus on Danish language. The government has developed many new educational strategies in order to increase the competitiveness of people. Nevertheless, Denmark requires constant reformation of policies and strategies to get complete benefits from globalisation and tackle every challenge effectively. The government needs to ensure education for every Danish citizen. There is need for upgrading the educational curriculum. Furthermore, the government of Denmark must spend more on research and development functions to preserve the competitiveness of organisations. Strong regulations and effective policies are significant for Denmark to maintain its position in the world as a wealthy nation and retain the desirability of foreign companies. Table of Contents Executive Summary 2 Introduction 5 Literature Review 5 Critical Analysis 11 Conclusion and Recommendations 21 References 23 Bibliography 29 Introduction The report has been developed for analysing the contemporary business in Denmark. The aim of this report is to generate understanding about various internal as well as external factors of Denmark which can influence the business. The report includes position of Denmark in the world economy and influence of globalisation on its policies and decision making. Furthermore, the report also focuses on the effectiveness of Denmark in

Judaism and the Jews in New York Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Judaism and the Jews in New York - Term Paper Example American Jews are American citizens having Jewish faith and Jewish ethnicity and whose origin also is from other countries. A wide range of Jewish cultural traditions and a full spectrum of Jewish religious observance are apparent in the Jewish community of America. The Jews of America live overwhelmingly in the suburbs of the largest American cities. The American Jews by every measure constitute to be one of the highest socio economic groups of the United states and they share almost all the characteristics of the upper middle class urban Americans. Depending on demographic studies and religious definitions, the United States is home to the world’s second largest Jewish community. This paper in particular intends to describe Jews in New York and their religion ‘Judaism’. Who is a Jew? The Jews represent a group of people having some unique characteristics rather than a distinct race or ethnic group. Although the Jews originally came from the Middle East, many a n umber of races and people have joined together in Jewish communities over the centuries, especially after Jews were forced out of Palestine in the second century A.D. In America, they engaged in marriages with Christians and formed a mixed community. It is evidently, a common Jewish heritage that passed down from generation to generation that binds the group together. And for the Jews in New York also, the binding element is their religion. Although most often, Judaism is used as a term referring to the Jewish religion, sometimes it is used to refer to all Jews. In other words, one does not have to be religious to be Jewish. In general, one is Jewish if one is born of a Jewish mother or converted to Judaism. Unlike Christians, they are still waiting for the arrival of a Savior who would integrate all the Jews who have been scattered and gone astray. Advent of Jews to America There is no unanimous opinion among the historians as to when the first Jews came to America. Although many b elieve that Jews reached America in the ancient period either when they were attacked by aliens or when they faced persecution from the Christians, no solid evidences are available to prove this argument. As Adler and Huhner point out, still it is believed that the first Jews came to North America in 1654 and settled in the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam which was later renamed as New York. Most of those who came were refugees from Recife, a Dutch colony in Brazil. It was when the Portuguese attacked the colony the Jews left Recife and headed to Holland. But as they ran out of money they were forced to settle at the Dutch colony of North America (Adler and Huhner). The newly came people were granted permission to inhabit in the American soil and to practice their religion and customs and this marked the beginning of a new community and religion in the land of America. The migrant Jews assimilated into the culture of Native Americans in all aspects of life. In other words, they had to imbibe the basic characteristics of the American community as forming distinctiveness was not possible challenging the customs of the natives. All together, the modern Jewish culture in America embodies an international culture of secular communities of Jewish people and the indigenous practices of the natives. Jews continued migrating to America on realizing it was a secure place for them. During the middle decades of the 19th century, there were considerable