Cross-Cultural Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Cross-Cultural Management - Assignment Example Mr. Keat also urged those who are interested in art and crafts and those who can write to engage the government for grants to fund their projects aimed at promoting the Chinese culture. He pointed out that art is one of the major avenues of promoting a culture (Zengkun, 2013). The Singaporean Chinese Teachers’ Union president, Madam Lian Hwee Eng, implored the stakeholders to lower the restrictions barring a huge number of students from pursuing Higher Chinese studies. She opined that it is chiefly through education that people can be able to fully understand their own culture and that of others and that teachers play a central role and should be lauded for their efforts (Zengkun, 2013). Looking back at the event, I cannot help but get puzzled by the sentiments of the leaders addressing that forum advocating for the promotion of a single culture without a show of neutrality. Singapore is a multi-cultured country which is in transition to develop a single national identity like the majority of other countries (Lee, 2010). This is largely due to the fact that most of the people occupying it are not the natives. The majority of the population had their ancestors immigrate to Singapore from elsewhere in the world. According toYoursingapore.com (2014), the Malays are the natives yet they comprise only 13.3% of the population. Typically, the Singaporean population is comprised of 74.2% Chinese, 13.3% Malays, 9.2% Indians and the rest 3.3% is made up of Eurasians (Lee, 2010). This cultural diversity is further compounded by the presence of many expatriates in the country, most of whom are workers. It is alleged that 42% of the current population is made up of expatriates ( Tamney, 1996). Given this complex cultural mix, in my opinion, it is only fair that nature be allowed to take its course. It is not right to promote one culture at the expense of others especially if the culture is a dominant one. Of

Comparing Two Similar Businesses Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Comparing Two Similar Businesses - Assignment Example With the passage of time, it grows from just a book store to a super store that offers its customers a relaxing and comfortable environment to linger, and also provides ubiquitous espresso bars. The Borders Group expanded internationally beginning with a store in Singapore 1997, and then eventually expanded to more than 40 stores in Europe, Asia and Australia/New Zealand (About.com, 2011). With the advent of information era, things changes globally; it’s the era of internet. Many new companies emerge on the face of internet, offering products at competitive prices; present a threat to brick and mortar store. So borders recognize the need of the hour that they could not survive by just being a brick-mortar company, hence they created their online presence in 1998 (Reuters, 2011). Amazon.com is an American based e-commerce company that was pioneer in online business. The company is based in Seattle, Washington and was founded by Jeff Bezo in 1994 (web hosting report.com, 2011). The primary focus of the company is to become a leader in online bookstore and to achieve this goal, the company offers a very different experience from a regular bookstore; it allows book writers to write book reviews about their books, which greatly adds to Amazon success. And now it became the largest internet sellers of media in the world today, and has expanded its selections to include clothing, beauty products, house wares, and thousands of other items. Borders however were late in embracing e-commerce as they entered the cyber world in four years after Amazon.com; by just offering online website. It was not a success for the company as market was monopolized by the Amazon, who had been serving customers for four years and had established a trustworthy place in the consumer’s mind. Borders had been lacking skills that were required to do internet marketing i.e. it announced a deal with Amazon.com Inc to re-launch its e-commerce site. In 2008, Borders finally establishe d its own e-bookstore, and made partnership with  Kobobooks.com  to facilitate its eBooks sales. To retain its customer it further offers free Wi-Fi almost in all its stores and start providing self-publish facility to its customers (About.com, 2011). Key success factor in internet marketing and sales is attractive and user friendly interface; which amazon.com initially lack i.e. amazon start was shaky. But by injection of more capital; it offers a better looking website and hosting capabilities. Being pioneer and new entrant in the online book selling industry, Amazon demonstrated innovation, impressive management and creativity to get it registered in online business. Its company’s core business strategy to make online experience easy and user friendly and for this very purpose they introduces a very secure credit card processing system and 1-click ordering system; which proved helpful in achieving its mission. To acknowledge Amazon efforts in innovating a unique online ordering system;  the U.S. Patent Office awarded its 1 click technology Patent No. 5,960,411 on September 28, 1999 (Amazon.com, 2011). Amazon management also made some useful decisions like changing its location to avoid additional sales tax; changed headquarters that made it close to largest books wholesalers. Another unique feature that Amazon offers to its customer includes the use of personalization tool that allowed it to offer unique storefront for every individual customer, according to their needs. Amazon,