Thursday, November 28, 2019

Customer Relationship In Carlton Hotel Saudi Arabia

Introduction Any company relies on its customers to generate revenue. It is therefore very important to establish a strong working relationship with them. In the hotel industry for example, the management deals directly with the client and any unresolved dispute between the two can lead to the hotel incurring major losses.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Customer Relationship In Carlton Hotel Saudi Arabia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is therefore important for the management to implement a customer relationship management strategy to maintain a good relationship with its customers. The strategy is important to offer satisfactory services that lead to increased sales in the hotel (Wenderoth 23). A new hotel being established should put up a workable strategy that will help it capture the customers from other competing hotels. Case Study: Carlton Hotel Saudi Arabia Carlton Hotel is strategically located in the heart of the capital city in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain. Being a new entrant into the competitive market of Saudi Arabia, Carlton has adopted unique features that make it more outstanding from its competitors. The location is ideal for customers to access it at any time. Carlton offers a unique model of comfort that is only experienced in a first class hotel. The rooms have been built strategically to enable the guest have the most impressive views of the city. The interior and exterior design of the hotel reflects the culture of the people of Saudi Arabia mixed with a touch of international art. However, despite the beautiful aspect of the hotel and its ideal location, the management has implemented a customer relationship strategies that have made the services offered at the hotel exceptional. This has made the hotel to be one of the leading hotels in Saudi Arabia with the competitors unable to keep up with its pace. The Service Marketing Used By Carlton Hotel The service marketing adopted by Carlton Hotel to maintain its customers is unique hence making the venture successful. For a business to successfully market its services, there are things that it should consider. These factors are known as the 3 P’s that comprise the marketing mix of a service (Hoffman and Bateson 43). The first factor that should be considered is the people to deliver the services. Carlton Hotel has employed the best workforce to deal with the customers. All the employees from the different departments in the hotel possess the required training to enable them deliver their services appropriately. This is an important aspect to consider as most of judgments by a customer are based on the services received from the staff. Carlton’s management ensures that the staff members are friendly and any dispute between a member of the staff and a customer is resolved amicably. The other factor is the process involved to get that service.Advertising Looking for report on busines s economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Carlton has made it their policy to make the process of dealing with customers simple and efficient (Rabinowitz and Rex 54). There is a department that deals with any problems that arises at any time hence fostering customer loyalty. The physical evidence is the other marketing mix that has enabled Carlton Hotel to stay ahead in the competitive market. The hotel as earlier said is clean, well designed and strategically located. (Zeithami, Bitner and Gremier 33). Application Of Customer Relationship Management Besides offering fantastic services to its client, Carlton Hotel have established a working relationship model with the customers to ensure that they enjoy the services offered at the hotel. The model adopted by Carlton Hotel has been divided into three parts. The operational part ensures that the services have been advertised to the public to make them aware of its existence (Pepp ers and Rogers 12). The sales and marketing team has been well trained to encompass all the character traits of an excellent customer service. They handle any complaints or questions from clients and ensure that the client preferences and habits are recorded. This ensures that the favorable service is always available to the customer at any given time. The hotel has also installed a state of art customer relationship management software that deals directly with the clients. The software enables information of the customers calling the hotel to be stored hence making it easy for the management to serve their clients without confusion. This is one aspect that keeps on attracting clients to Carlton Hotel. The co-operational part ensures that the management stays in constant contact with the customers. They have managed to do this by sending grateful messages to their guests through emails and to notify them of any changes at the hotels. The clients therefore feel emotionally attached t o the hotel hence become regulars (Nagdeman 12). Conclusion Carlton Hotel has achieved its vision of being among the leading hotel in Saudi Arabia. This is due to its ability of evaluating and implementing the required service marketing in the industry. This has seen the hotel expand rapidly to cater for its increasing clientele over the few months that it has been in operation. Being situated in a Muslim region, it has managed to balance itself so as to meet the needs of clients from different religious backgrounds. It is therefore very important for any hotel management to critically evaluate and understand all the service marketing issues before implementing them. This is essential for the management to keep a good working relationship with the customer at all times. This not only increases the hotel’s revenue but also helps it maintain the required standard to place it ahead of its competitors. Works Cited Hoffman, Douglas and Bateson, John. Service Marketing: Concepts, S trategies,   Cases. USA: South-Western Cengage Learning, 2008. Print.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Customer Relationship In Carlton Hotel Saudi Arabia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Nagdeman, Jay. The professional’s guide to financial services marketing: Bite-sized  Insights for creating Effective Approaches. New Jersey: John Wiley Sons, 2009. Print. Peppers, Don and Rogers, Martha. Managing Customer Relationships: a strategic  framework. New York: John Wiley Sons Inc, 2010. Print. Rabinowitz, Eric and Rex, Karin. Nurturing Customer Relationships. New York: Compendium Publishing, 2006. Print. Wenderoth, Martin. Particulars in the Marketing Mix for Service Operations. Germany: Grin Verlag, 2007. Print. Zeithami, Valerie, Bitner, Mary and Gremier, Dwayne. Services Marketing. 5th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Irwin, 2008. Print. This report on Customer Relationship In Carlton Hotel Saudi Arabia was written and submitted by user SteveRogers to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Cold War overview essays

Cold War overview essays The Cold War is not just one single war taking place in one area, but a large conflict between the United States and its allies and the Soviet Union (USSR) and its allies. In this report, I am going to tell you about the happenings of the Cold War between the period of time of 1945 to 1957. The things that were happening around the time that the Cold War began were very important to the U.S. First of all, Hitler had been in power for a while now but his reign was now coming to an end. By July 1944, the German military was desperate to stop loosing all of their forces to the Americans. The tried assaionations on Hitler to end the war and leave with what they had left. Hitler escaped a bomb explosion and had only a few small injuries. He then had most of the people who did it executed, and used them as an example not to betray him. He then insisted that all the Germans that still remained should fight to the death. Shortly thereafter in April 1945, Hitler accused Nazi generals of trying to negotiate with their enemies, and had most of them arrested. Barely 10 days later, Hitler married his mistress, Eva Braun, on April 29th, 1945. The very next day on Hitlers honeymoon, he and his wife committed suicide together, and ordered that their bodies be burned. Hitlers legacy is the memory of the most dreadful tyranny of modern times.1 At this time the Americans were at war with the Japanese and desperately needed a way to put an end to the war. So they put together a project named the Manhattan Project to produce some sort of super weapon to destroy the Japanese, or Japs which is what the army called them. The Manhattan project had been around for a while when the war was just starting. A physicist in Germany at the time named Albert Einstein, had discovered that the fission of Uranium can produce an explosive amount of energy. He warned the President at the time, which was preside...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Early Western Civilization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Early Western Civilization - Essay Example popularly known as, Charles the great, was a King of a Germanic tribe in current-day Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and western Germany. He embarked on a charge to unite all Germanic peoples into a single kingdom and convert all his subjects to Christianity. Because he was a shrewd military strategist, he spent a majority of his reign engrossed in warfare so as to accomplish his goals. As a result of this role, he catapulted the Carolingian Renaissance, a cultural as well as intellectual revival in Europe. This Renaissance served as a platform for the rise of civilization in Europe. His unification of most parts of Europe changed the political inclinations of the time. Charlemagne also played a critical role in the economy of Europe by abolishing the monetary system based on gold that was a rare commodity. The new system based on silver that was adopted after that made trading and commerce easier. The Holy Rome Empire was at the forefront of the civilization in Europe. Through the empire’s solid grounding on Christianity to drive its course, myriad social services were provided to Europeans. These services included schooling and medical care, which are essential to the development of society. As the empire spread its holding to the rest of Europe, so did civilization. Another key participant towards the civilization of Europe was Germany. Germany had innovative ideas for economic growth, coupled with their eye for engineering. The Germans developed essential tools and equipment that promoted agriculture, and hence civilization. England, as a country had an enormous bearing on the civilization of Europe. Due to her stability in terms of politics, England was able to develop adequate tools to aid the amelioration of her economy. The ideas that were hatched in England moved to other parts of Europe, hence promoting civilization. The Byzantine Empire, headquartered in Constantinople, was one of the key drivers for European civilization. Over its

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

The marketing mix Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The marketing mix - Assignment Example Even when marketing a product that has high demand, it is advisable for marketers to observe what competitors are doing because competitors always seek to increase their market share. In addition, it is vital to focus on the immense amount of data surrounding the product so as to formulate well-informed marketing strategies and to plan for the future effectively. Today’s consumers have good market knowledge, and hence marketers cannot meet customer satisfaction unless they identify the actual needs of consumers. Finally, production managers must deliver superior quality products as consumers have wide range of choice today. Major principles of product include core product, product lifecycle, and branding. Under the core product principle, a uniform core product is designed that is capable of integrating a number of standard attachments, parts, or components. The integration of these attachments to the core product benefits companies to meet the preferences of local consumers in country. It is relevant to note that the value of the core product is higher when compared to the total value of the finished product. Hence, it is clear that the core product constitutes a notable proportion of the total value of the finished product. In addition, this product approach may assist firms to take advantages of economies of scale and thereby cut down production costs. The product lifecycle principle posits that there are four major steps in the development of a product, including introduction, growth, maturity, and decline (Zimmerman & Blythe, 2013, p.173). The introduction stage is characterised with start-up sales growth, and generally firms spend more on production and marketing than what they receive in sales revenues. Sales significantly increase in the growth stage and firms begin to enjoy a positive return on their investment. In the maturity stage, the longest period of the product

Monday, November 18, 2019

Entrepenurship-6.What factors affect the development and Essay

Entrepenurship-6.What factors affect the development and implementation of effective strategies in small businesses(SME) - Essay Example The survival of SMEs within the modern market is a challenging task: the increase of competition globally has led SMEs to change their strategies in order to meet the demands of the market. Despite the fact that SMEs operate locally (i.e. only within a specific country, with exception in case of online activity) they should continuously review their strategic choices in order to ensure the effectiveness of their plans in terms of the market’s demands and the customer preferences. Current paper refers to the factors that can affect the development and the implementation of effective strategies in SMEs. There is no reference to specific country; rather a series of data and findings related with SMEs that operate around the world will be employed in this study. Potential suggestions will be also made under the terms that the strategic restructuring of a small firm is feasible under the conditions of its market and its financial strength to respond to the demands of the relevant e ffort. As already noticed above small businesses have a limited number of employees – that could be depended on the relevant governmental regulations (in the example mentioned above, the New Zealand, the number of employees of SMEs cannot be higher than 5). In this context, entrepreneurship in SMEs has to be appropriately customized in order to meet the demands of the market but also to respond to the needs of the firm. In SMEs their owner is usually actively involved in all operational activities; he’s not just a supervisor of the employees (although this option would be also available). In accordance with the above, entrepreneurship in SMEs should focus on the design and the development of the appropriate strategies that would support the increase of the firm’s productivity towards the stabilization of the firm’s position in the market. If the above target is achieved, the

Friday, November 15, 2019

Global Cosmopolitan Homogenization And Hetrogenization Cultural Studies Essay

Global Cosmopolitan Homogenization And Hetrogenization Cultural Studies Essay The rhetoric of shrinking spaces and the rise of mass consumer culture are the often cited characteristics of the globalization. The outcome of which is a global cosmopolitan world that is deeply interconnected, interdependent and where speed of flows (goods, services, people, capital etc) have increased thanks to the technological and scientific innovation in the era of globalization. Before making such a statement, definitional clarification becomes a must between globalization and globalism. Taking Keohane and Nye (2000) definition, globalisation is a condition of increase whereas globalism is a condition that could both increase or decrease. Globalism is a state of the world involving networks of interdependence at multicontinental distances (ibid: 105). It is a state of world that involves networks of connection and muticontinental distances for such connection to be considered global. Globalization thus refers to the increase of globalism. The increasing flows have taken place at all level economic, environmental as well as socio cultural. Major arguments surrounding globalization has been concerning whether it is a new or an old phenomena or just old wine in a new bottle; or concerning the homogenization, heterogenization, hybridization of the world due to the increased influence and interaction of global processes at all levels. The following paper reviews the major discussion surrounding the latter argument of creation global cosmopolitan culture or whether such flows have created heterogenization and at what levels. Social globalization discussed here is in context to culture. The major thrust of the paper will be the impact of globalization on local cultures and its consequences. What is Culture? Culture has been defined by anthropologists as shared customs and artefacts that bring about a sense of togetherness. Ethnologists describe culture as transmission of intellectual, emotional and behavioural features through learning and interaction. Sociologists emphasis on identity based on habits and thoughts that is required for membership. (Scruton, Roger, 2007:1). Despite definitional confusions one can safely say that culture produces an identity for individuals that are constructed by their language, history, religion and environment. As a result of which internal and external boundaries are created that in way assign distinctiveness to a culture. Religion is an important aspect of culture when one speaks of cultural authenticity (Murden, Simon, 2008:420) it usually refers to religious totems and religious heads who preach them. Speaking in the globalization context, culture in its various forms has become an important agent of globalization process. According to Arjun Appudarai there have been five kinds of flows (in Beynon, John and Dunkerley, David (2000), Globalization the Reader) Ethnoscapes: referring to the movement of people whether (migrants, refugees, exiles, tourists, workers). Technoscapes: increased and faster movement of messages across the globe. This has resulted in a complex relationship between money, political possibilities and availability of both high and low skilled labour. Financescapes: this mainly refers to the flow of capital across borders on a massive scale carried out in split seconds. With such an increase the vulnerability of economies to volatile capital also increases. Mediascapes: The inescapable influence of media through images and narratives. It can have both positive and negative impact. It could be highly informative and progressive providing a medium for the subaltern voices. But at the same time it could be used to promote fundamentalist ideas by fanatics, construct and mould choices and preferences of consumers by the Multinational corporations. Ideoscapes: this mainly refers to flow of ideas and ideologies. Notions of citizenship, democracy, freedom, representation; welfare, human rights, equality of opportunity, Privacy of persons and property, sovereignty and patriotism, individual and collective responsibility, the value of rationality and the rational mind. Waters introduces another dimension that is sacrispaces that refers mainly to the flow of religious ideas and associated values. The cultural traffic is both ways north to south and a vice a versa. However the content of traffic varies. The flow of traffic from north to south has been in gigantic proportions mainly comprising of corporate traffic. Trade liberalisation has facilitated cross border trade, consumptions abroad, commercial presence and presence of natural persons (Hodge.J, 2001: 221). The flow from South to north is more diffused carried mostly by migration. The north to south flow is much more dense and wide; in the case from south to north it is more diffused and gets acclimatised easily. This two way flow carry symbols of globalization which carry with them whole bunch of socio cultural premises. Culture as a carrier of globalization has become an important arena of contestation for national, religious and ethnic identity. Although reactions to contemporary globalization are seen in developed world like Japan, Europe where modern values prevail, however in Muslim countries that are characterised to be traditional and radical harbour different values of identity and society. In such a scenario Lieber and Weisberg (2002) point out to intense reactions redirected at external targets through forms of transference and scape goating. The major debate of the impact of globalization on culture seems to be between those who consider globalization as enriching and aiding a cultural community in development on one hand and the pessimist view that considers it as an evil that corrupts so called authentic culture. Samuel Huntington in his writings on the Clash of civilizations states that with the end of the cold war and its contest of ideologies and as a result of disruptions brought by modernization, urbanization and mass communication, the fundamental source of international conflict will not be primarily ideological but cultural.(pp ibid: 3). Cultural resistance to globalization has been mainly in context to rational and scientific notions western modernity. Two types of impacts come into view economic impact of modernity. The most commonly referred is the consumer culture spread by the MNC through media and entertainment industry. The second impact mainly refers to the western values of reasoning, secularism, religious tolerance, democracy, liberty, rule of law, gender equality, human rights etc. Thus there is resistance to such western ideas that challenge religious unscientific traditions that many communities consider as important identity marker of culture. The Islamic revival of 1970s, Hindu revivalist RSS, VHP that challenge secular foundation of India. In China the rise of Falun Gong movement inspired by Chinese guru in U.S.A post relaxation of communist totalitarianism. In Russia and Eastern Europe, the revival of orthodox and other christen sects. Murden.Simon: 420. Destabilizing Effect: Modernity = Westernization? Octavio Paz outlines that socioeconomic modernity is the fate of all cultures in that they are integrated at a structural level in the orders of the nation-state system and the global capitalist market but this integration which is structural fait accompli, not a cultural option- alters the terms of culture irrevocably, since it entails a one way agents journey from tradition to modernity. Cultures are condemned to modernity not simply by the structural process of economic development but by the process of self development. The enlightenment project has not resulted in emancipation as seen in the alienation, anomie, and iron cage of instrumental reason. (Tomlinson, John 1991:142). Such a critique of modernity could appear as a critique of homogenization or equating modernity to capitalist society. Tomlinson rightly argues the importance of capitalism in making of modern societies but it is a certain inflection of modernity and not vice versa. He calls for a critical approach that pro bes the embeddedness of modernitys discontent in a political economic system which simultaneously offers attraction over traditional societies. Amratya Sen refutes the very argument that considers liberalism and reasoning as exclusively western .According to him such ideas did exist in the past in non western worlds. The usage of the term western may create anti western sentiments in some societies which are seen in the way of glorifying Asian values and Islamic ideals. For him part of the reason lies in the anticolonial sentiments and the alienation faced that have lingered on for generations. He underlies the humiliation faced in the form of racialism, slave trade, physical abuse that harboured such antiwest sentiments. This gives rise to a colonized mind where there is both admiration and resentment of west. However where the latter dominates it gives rise to: needless hostility to many global ideas under the mistaken impression of western ideas, distorted the intellectual and scientific history if the world, the support it has given to rise of fundamentalism and terrorism. (Sen.A 2006:84-89). Alvin Edgall points defines culture as values, attitudes, beliefs, mindsets, central tendencies, worldwide views and orientations that are prevalent in a given society. Giving emphasis on the importance of culture as guide to institutions, as underlying principle of economic activity and as social capital, he cites Tu Wie Ming who discusses alternative forms of modernities owing to its success to Asian values. This suggests that imported institutions and ideas are filtered and modified by culture of the native place. Thus questioning the idea of equating modernization and westernization. It becomes important to emphasis here that different communities may identify culture differently and the importance they give to different aspects of cultures as well. In parts of Middle east, South Asia and Africa have resentment against west is due to their problems with modernity of the west that impinges on their identity. In East Asia and Latin America it is cultural alienation generated by pro liferation of American culture that creates a sense of unease. But often it concerns the intellectual elites than general public. (Wieser and Lieberg, 2002) Mendes and Soares (1996) while discussing cultural pluralism, identity in globalization highlight the inappropriateness of communal emphasis as a reactive to globalization, it was also a way of establishing a sense of identity within the globalization arena. From the above arguments it is clear that none refute the claim of central importance of culture and its fluidity to reshape by both internal as well as external factors. Cultural Homogenization Globalization of culture entails two opposite views, it could either be progressive or it could erode local cultures and threatens its existence. When one talks in terms of globalization of culture it mainly refers to the spread of consumer culture fed through technologies and global media houses to the public. David Held (2003) points out to pop music, television, cinema and tourism as principal agents of globalization. A major addition to this category would be the cyber space where blogging has helped create a sphere of public reasoning and discursion. Benyon and Dunkerley point two way dynamism between the global and local, the global impacting the local and vice versa. Riesar and Davis invented the term globalize that was tantamount to universalization. This has further reinstated neoliberals and hyperglobalists. This has given rise to what is called cultural convergence characterised by global markets, mass media and cyber space that have created homogenised world. The creation of Bretton woods institutions and the United nations have further provided impetus to this project that seek to promote global governance with convergence of ethical and moral principles. Another major shift has been the change in the role of the state with increasing role of capital forces that have given rise to consumerism. The optimist argument of such homogenization talk interms of cosmopolitan global culture. Held argues that there is nothing new about globalization but the current stream of globalization has given rise to a highly networked and organised links in the form of global economy where markets rule the roost but at the same time new regulatory forms of governance have also come into place. In consequence has given rise to a host of global problems concerning issues on environment, economy to sovereignty that has reshaped global politics that today is not only anchored in traditional geopolitical concerns of power, security and trade but larger social and ecological questions(ibid: 467). The rising cosmopolitanism of belonging to a single order. In a world where nationalistic feelings are subsiding while cultural identity is emphasized it is important to accommodate four principles of cosmopolitanism Individual egalitarianism or individualistic moral egalitarianism where all human beings belong to a single realm where each individual is to be treated equally. The principle of reciprocal recognition that seeks tolerance from all individuals belonging to that single ethical realm. The principle of consent that calls an uncoerced political process where free interaction of individuals is possible. Principle of inclusiveness and subsidiarity which calls for giving voice to those who are more affected by public decision making. Although he does recognise the pessimism against globalization but he also seems to firmly believe in a cosmopolitan accommodative world based on the above mentioned principles. The common overlapping issues over divergent interests help create cosmopolitan governance and social justice. J.AScholte (1996) discusses an intercultural community that transcends the debate between communitarianism and cosmopolitanism. That is based on seven Rs Relaxation, Recognition, Respect, reciprocity, restraint and resistance. All this reveals a very optimist an accommodative view about global cosmopolitanism. The pessimistic view of homogenisation stresses on the devouring of local cultures in the wake of global consumerism; and that authenticity resides today only in museums and theatres. Domination of homogenised culture through transnational forces will be the reality. The coca-lization and Americanisation are terms that describe broadly the homogenizing effects of capitalist consumerism. Another major criticism against consumerism is the attack on authentic culturethrough creation of false consciousness among people. A notable example in this regard is the commodification of culture through tourism where the local is packaged to suit the taste and preferences of western elites. This in a way thwarts indigenous culture. Global Impact on the Local: Rise of Consumer Culture the sum of the processes by which a society is brought into the modern world system and how its dominating system is attracted, pressured and forced and sometimes bribed into shaping social institutions to correspond to or even promote, the values, structures of the dominating centre of the system. (Tomlinson, John 1996: 103) The irony that globalization creates is quite astounding where water may not be able for far off distances in rural India but Coke, Pepsi and packaged food would be readily available at tiny shops. The rise of consumer culture is often linked to spread of capitalism establishing cultural imperialism. This gets further elaborated into, first culture in service of capitalism and secondly cultural critique of capitalism producing a globalised consumer culture by commodifying action and experience. Baudillard argues that the media is not a means of communication as there is no feedback per say. He discusses medias potential in creating a hyper real world such that it absorbs the real within it. It is not true there is no response after the media reception but the nature of output is quite debatable. The problematic area actually lies in construction and moulding of preferences by the media through its various channels. Media monopoly in this context can be quite dangerous as only six media houses control almost 20-30% of what is globally televised. eg News Corp, Time Warner, Disney, Burtelsmann, Viacom and Vivendi Universal most of which are based in OECD countries. As a result of which there is a limited band of choices and choices are imposed. There is no doubt regarding the extent of media influence but it must also be noted that when alternative viewpoints are not allowed a voice media very often becomes a device for such voices to be heard. Tomlinson in his arguments of cultural imperialism argues that there needs to be a distinction made between creating conditions for spread of capitalism and viewing it as a socio economic system (as a product of capitalist spread). This reductionist critique suffers from economic explanation rather than explaining cultural experiences. Secondly it falsely assumes that people are ideologically manipuable and capitalism relies on ideological manipulation of people. Furthering the critical theory argument suggests consumerism to be treated as a part of a wider structural context of capitalist modernity. Structural differentiation referring to the separation of domestic and work sphere. This inturn creates structurally imposed needs (ibid: 132). These needs may not be real needs but imposed on them by the conditions in which they live. They also create clash of interest between differentiated roles and interest. In such conditions recognition of autonomous individual needs and desires be comes difficult. Moreover the depth and extent of impact of consumer capitalism of the west is questionable. Howes also argues that treating human beings as passive recipients is highly problematic. Although there is no denial that local cultures are subject to western influences, however this westerness may be modified to suit their own needs. The use of term globalization as westernization and universalization have become redundant (Scholte.J, 2000) and that globalization should be understood more interms of deterritorialization or rise of supraterritorial linkages that are continuously influencing social space. This does not imply an end to territoriality, however there is move from three dimensional geography (latitude, longitude and altitude to four dimensional spaces to include globality that increasingly changes the map of social relations. (ibid). This brings us to the argument of heterogenization and hybridization. Heterogenization and Hybridisation Cultural globalization must be understood as faster movement of both tangible and intangible in a deeply interconnected and interdependent world. Although one cannot deny the increasing presence and spread of homogenizing symbols, there has been also resurgence in protecting and maintaining distinctiveness on one hand at the same time cross cultural interaction has resulted in what is commonly used as hybridisation of cultures and reproduction of new cultures. Tomlinson argues that the mere presence of western commodities does not imply that the local cultures and national cultural identities will be eroded. Instead there might be a reassertion of such forces. Indeed there is no contention on the global presence of such consumerist cultural symbols (that are considered as agents of homogenization) but these symbols are being increasingly being modified to suit the native needs.Peter Jackson argues that globalization is a site of contestation than an established fact. By drawing examples from China and South Africa, he emphasizes that producers are more and more modifying their products to suit native taste and preferences. In China post the Open Door Policy of 1970s Cadbury had to adopt Chinese way of doing business and products were given local names with decreased quantities of sugar and increased quantities of cocoa content. In the presence of Indianized version of Pizza-paneer salsa and chiken tikka as well as introduction of Chilli an d Garlic sauce to Mc Donald. All these examples are evidence of resilience of local cultures to the transnational products. From the above it is clear that it is not only the global but local that impacts. It can be said that the local coexists with the global resulting in hybridisation or heterogeneous voices of dissent. In a way globalization has encouraged reassertion of indigenous identities and what is also called new social movements. Eg global tourism has intensified Hawaiian sensibilities, global deforestation has triggered indigenous activism in Amazonia, the activation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) resulted in armed rebellion in Mexicos Chiapas State (Scholte,Jan Aart 1996 :578). In India the increasing social unrest against development induced displacements triggered by the proliferation of Multinational projects in the tribal belts. Expanding supraterritoriality has also been linked to increasing secessionist movements in the form of ethnic revivals by communities who were previously under a larger nation state. Eg the case of former Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia. This reveals that such collective identities are becoming more and more conscious of their distinction. Reactions of ethnic identities against globalization world mainly spread of global capitalism, biased global governance agendas and on global environmental issues has also emerged. Apart from this detteritorialization has also resulted in assertion of identities that may not be connected to a particular place and a common issue that cuts across borders binds them. For example women movements, movements against racism, gays and lesbian movements, against human rights atrocities. Scholte gives an excellent classification of supraterritorial identities based on race, gender, class and youth. There has been loosening of nationalist identity as a product of modern territorial states on one hand and rise of supraterritorial nationalism. Globalization and the technological diffusion accompanied have resulted in strengthening ties between dispersed immigrants. The nationality principle may be reasserted on a global platform through use of media, efforts are being made to revitalize native la nguages etc. At a more individual level Scholte talks about fragmentation of the self and the production of multiple identities and often get lost in a multiple categorizations of gender, class, race, orientation, religion etc that have become even more sharper. Kinvall (2004) borrowing from Anthony Giddensattempts to give psychological explanations to the phenomena of supraterritorial nationalism or voices of decent in an alien nation. Ontological security referring to persons fundamental sense of safety in the world and includes a basic trust of other people and existential anxiety that is Protection against future threat and dangers which allows individuals to sustain hope and courage in the face of whatever debilitating circumstances she or he might later confront.(ibid: 746). In this sense migration is viewed as a sense of psychological process where the migrant may feel insecure and feel a sense of homelessness. Social constructivist theories emphasize on the linguistic and na rrative construction of identity which has been criticised by Kinvall as being unable to explain meaning of fluid identities. There is also mention of the thick signifier approach that probes how individuals define themselves in relation to others according to their structural axis of power(ibid) thus there in advent of heightened ontological insecurity people seek a stable identity. This can be seen in the increased efforts to create a home like environment in a place that one may not belong natively. Eg establishment of religious places of worship where the community gathering can take place and recreate rituals of home country in foreign land by celebrating of cultural festivals. Self categorization and other social identity theories attempt to explain own groups in relation to others as well as understanding self at different levels (individual, intergroup and inter species). Despite limitations a common thread running through all these theories is an attempt to explain how people form associations, try to replicate their native conditions to feel a sense of belongingness in an environment of heightened insecurity. In such conditions nationalism and religion become influential in offering save havens against such insecurities. Both national and religious identity make claims to a monolithic and abstract identity that is, one stable identity that answers to the need of securitized subjectivity Kinvall There needs to be a distinction made between religion as a cultural experience and religion as a fundamentalist expression. It is the latter form that reveals the uglier side of cultural preservation where violence becomes a defence mechanism. What we appear to be witnessing is a deprivation of religion, global desecularization of the world with an increase in anti-secular movements and discourses disenchanted with the project of modernity and insistence on the political potential and public role religious beliefs and practices.(Karner and Alridge, 2004). Revival of protestant Christianity in Latin America and parts of Sub Saharan Africa. There have been studies conducted to show that participation in religious fundamentalism and spread of religion is quite substantial among downtrodden and unemployed youth. Fundamentalist edge of religion is further sharpened when politics enters. Eg the Islamic revolution in Iran, rise of hindutva in Indian politics. The homogenising effect of cons umerism is proved wrong by the reaffirmation of religion based identities where religion becomes a potent weapon that threatens to deststabilize tolerance. The global chaos theorist argues the same stating that convergence of values and imposition that are unwelcomed that results might take the form of violence. (Dutceac, Anamaria, 2004: 3) Leiser and Weidberg talk about culture as an arena of contestation within three overlapping popular, folk and high culture. Popular culture dominated by the so called American music, movies, fashion, music. Folk culture being destroyed to suit the foreign needs and preferences and high culture (culture associated with elites) with expression found in museums, international festivals, internet etc. (ibid: 283). Each of these become sights of contestations between different cultures. This cultural backlash varies from place to place. In developed societies reactions to Americanisation is seen more interms of policy responses. Eg France, Italy and Spain have tried to control the amount of American imports in films by imposition of tariffs. China and North Korea on western images and goods. The reaction is worse in Muslim countries where backlash takes violent forms intrusion of western influences and crisis of traditional societies in the wake of socio-ecomic changes. The terrorist atta cks are examples in this regard. The west inturn defends itself by blaming inherent trouble within such societies. It has become too useful a smokescreen for Muslim nations many deficits? Their corruption, their incompetence, their oppression of their citizens, their economic, scientific and cultural stagnation. America-hating has become a badge of identity, making it possible a chest beating, flag burning rhetoric of word and deed that makes men feel good. It contains a strong streak of hypocrisy, hating most what it desires most, and elements of self loathing. (We hate America because it has made of identity disregard and self what we cannot make of our selves). What America is accused of? Close mindedness, stereotyping, ignorance? Is also what its accusers would see if they looked into a mirror? -Salman Rushdie A .Sen. (2006) explains the distinction between multiculturalism and plural monoculturalism. Multiculturalism implies coexistence with interaction whereas plural monoculturalism implies coexistence without interaction. It is the latter that may fan hostilities between communities. However multiculturalism must encourage diversity and at the same time provide freedom of choice and decision making, it must not be coerced. Conclusion There has indeed been an increase interaction and deepening of networks that characterizes contemporary form of globalization however that should not be mistaken for increased homogenization or westernization or Americanisation! There is no contention on the flow of goods and availability of western goods and services in foreign lands but that does not imply moving in the direction of sameness. Local cultures develop resilience mechanism however crude in form they may be. The very fact that western goods are marketed keeping in mind the taste and preference of natives is a proof that homogenisation is not a norm. Escobar rightly exclaims that when a border is eliminated it reappears somewhere else. (Culture sits in its place. He further two subaltern strategies place based that are attached to territory and culture and glocal strategies that utilises global networks. In sum a case can be made for hybridisation of culture or what is termed as creolization where new meanings are assign ed to imported culture. A straight jacketed theory of placing individuals into one category or assuming them to be self interested individuals would be too reductionist view. Individuals have multiple roles to play and it is important therefore to examine ways by which communities try to hang on to their cultures even when they are part of translocal networks.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Coca-Cola entering a new market :: essays research papers

Introduction To give a short introduction to the circumstances affecting this case of Pepsi & Coca Cola it has to be said that in general it is not just simple for MNEs to invest and enter foreign markets as regulations and restrictions differ from coutry to country and hence ifluence international business negotiations to a great extend. Therefore MNEs investigating in foreign markets have to either adopt to those condition given by the host country government, which of course to a certain extend has to be negotiated as no one of those parties want to loose their maximum independence- or the MNE decides not to take further steps towards the foreign operation and leaves the feeld by assumingly – in turn – missing out a great opportunity, but this again depends on a complexity of economic and cultural reasons influencing international trade, which I will develop critically in the further case study of Pepsi & Coke in accordance to the following questions. 1.)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Did PepsiCo make too many concessions in order to enter the Indian market? Could the company have negotiated better? In this case study PepsiCo – for the second time – intends to enter the Indian market, though already having experienced major problems which consequently led to their first departure (for non profitability). As well Coca Cola departured India after harsh disagreements with the government. Why after all did Pepsi enter again, facing a country with such strongly adverse feelings towards foreign companies – which is rooted in Indians history of colonialistic times when the British, French and Portuguese were extracting the country‘s recources ‚‘its wealth‘ without returning noticeable benefits to its economy. Moreover they feared that national companies would not be able to compete with foreign investors and as a result of this high artificially prices and profit margins reduced incentives for national companies to enter. This almost irrepairable bad approach towards foreigner went even that far that journalist widely reported that PepsiCo had a CIA connection aimed at undermining India‘s independence. However returning to the argument of PepsiCo having too many concessions or not, first as should have become clear now, the company was confronted with a govvernmental volatility and unwillingness to negotiate. It was rather a one-way game wherein PepsiCo had to agree with completely, or take its departure, as the company was not only faced with economic but also with moral issues (as mentioned above). Especially the confidence factor plays a great part in her which for the company turned out to be a rather costly factor as PepsiCo had to make various concession before they could enter the Indian market.