Happiness, environmental protection and market economy

The manufacturing sector is leaving the West for Asia’s low wages and good working culture. Europe would be better off keeping these manufacturing activities, slowing down wage inflation and what is more, letting a young, cheaper workforce from the East settle down within their borders. This would aid in preserving the diverse economic structure which has been characteristic for Europe.Beside the economic growth there are two more concepts which have turned into the “holy cows” of economics during the last fifty years. One is the need to constantly improve labor productivity and the other is increasing competitiveness of nations. The high labor productivity of some countries, induces severe unemployment in the globalized world. In the other hand it is high time we understood that it is not competition, but cooperation that brings more happiness to humanity.Should we still opt for “happiness” and “sanity”, it is quite obvious that we all should, in economists’ terms, define our individual welfare functions corresponding to our own set of values, staying free from the influence of media, advertisements and fashion. The cornerstone to all this is the intelligent citizen who prefers local goods and services

Lost, Dysfunctional or Evolving? A View of Business Schools from Silicon Valley

Recent articles have rekindled discussions around the direction and relevance of US business schools. The two main viewpoints are distinct but equally critical. On one hand, business schools are considered overly focused on “scientific research” and having lost their connection to “real world” and management issues. On the other hand, schools are considered “dysfunctionally” focused on media rankings and short-term superficial marketing fixes. Our study of educational opportunities and workforce development in Silicon Valley suggests a different viewpoint. We agree that both approaches correctly identify the challenge of preparing managers in globalized world. However, we believe they misdiagnose the cause of the failure. Rather than being lost or dysfunctional, we believe business programs — like the firms and students they serve — are in the process of evolving to meet a shifting global and local environment. Our findings indicate that business schools face structural, content, and program shifts. Educationally, business programs continue to be seen as doing a good job of educating their students in core functional areas and processes. However, they do less well in teaching their graduates interpersonal skills, real-time decision-making, recognition of contexts, and integration across functional areas. These are increasingly the skills demanded by the global business environment. Even more challenging is meeting the demand for both sets of skills within very specialized fields like technology management. Structurally, new types of students and learning demands are placing stresses on traditional full-time two-year programs and their business models. Women and minority groups increasingly form the majority of the future student population, with distinct needs and demands for part-time and executive education. This shift is also evident in demands for life-long learning and engagement as opposed to a fixed, one-shot program experiences. These challenges require business schools to build upon what they do well, while innovating to serve new business and student needs.management education; Silicon Valley; globalization; technology

Touch Screen Avatar English Learning System For University Students Learning Simplicity

This paper discusses on touch screen avatar for an English language learning application system. The system would be a combination of avatar as Animated Pedagogical Agent (APA) and a touch screen application that adapt the up to date gesture-based computing which is found as having potential to change the way how we learn as it could reduce the amount of Information Communication Technology (ICT) devices used during teaching and learning process. The key here is interaction between university students and touch screen avatar intelligent application system as well as learning resources that could be learned anytime anywhere twenty four hours in seven days 24/7 based on their study time preference where they could learn at their own comfort out of the tradition. The students would be provided with a learning tool that could help them learn interactively with the current trend which they might be interested with based on their own personalization. Apart from that, their performance shall be monitored from a distance and evaluated to avoid disturbing their learning process from working smoothly and getting rid of feeling of being controlled. Thus, the students are expected to have lower affective filter level that may enhance the way they learn unconsciously. Keywords: Gesture-Based Computing, Avatar, Portable Learning Tool, Interactivity, Language Learnin

How Can Education Support Prepare Students for a Workforce Focused on Innovation? A Qualitative Phenomenological Study

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand how faculty members and administrators describe their experiences in preparing their students for an innovation-focused 21st century workforce. The guiding theories associated with this study were Kolb’s experiential learning theory (ELT) as a gauge for modeling the learning process and Bloom’s taxonomy to assess learning levels. The relationship between Kolbs ELT, Bloom\u27s taxonomy, and this study was conceptualized as a gauge to assess learning skill effectiveness. The central research question associated with this study was: How do faculty members and administrators describe their experiences preparing their students for an innovation-focused 21st century workforce? The data collection methods included interviews, focus group meetings, and journal entry postings from college business professors, many with administration and industry experience. Data analysis employed the Heidegger hermeneutic circle, including reading, reflective writing, rewriting, and interpretation. This study revealed that industry wants education to better prepare students with innovation skills, before the students enter the workforce; however, college faculty are focused primarily on developing student foundational skills. The college educators focused on foundational skills such as good communication, teamwork, computer, and leadership skills, versus developing specific innovation skills for industry. It is recommended that industry team up with educational institutions to develop specific industry-education cooperative programs, to develop student skills based on specific industry organizational needs

Global Competency Teaching Intercultural Communication and Creativity in Universities to Prepare Graduates For the Global Workforce

Universities are leaving students vastly unprepared to succeed in the globalized workforce upon graduation, due to a lack of global competency. This article examines the use of intercultural communication and creativity as necessary resources for students to gain global competency. First, global competency is defined. Next, the need for intercultural communication and how this need can be met by universities is discussed in depth. Lastly, the same is done for creativity in the context of the real-world and education. Surveys and statics of employers, professors, and students are applied to this examination. Additionally, methods to integrate intercultural communication and creativity are discussed as well. Major findings reveal that, although challenging, implementing intercultural communication and creativity in universities is desirable and necessary for global competency and student preparedness.Kayla SiddellHonors DiplomHonors CollegeCunningham Memorial Library, Terre Haute, Indiana State UniversityUndergraduateTitle from document title page. Document formatted into pages: 29

A strategic planning: Could it be a Gospel

Conscious or Unconscious, we survive under the age of strategy or strategic planning. It is one of essential process for the public organization, and the kind of central reference for the leadership. For the followers, it is the kind of standard of conduct for reward and discipline, probably a soft norm from the hard nature of laws. It is a province for development and sustainability, as distinct from the latter, often a province of inertia for law- abiding and some career pursuing modern personality. For the general public, the strategic planning or its crystallization into the mission statement or vision plan allow to understand the public organization, and hence the kind of thread for public relations or general awareness of complex mosaic of world dynamism. In this context, the paper deals with the primary feature of strategic planning and its evolution with the intense speed of globalization. For the stimulation, the author begins with the part of communication exchanged with the peer scholars. Next the author proceeds with the nature of strategic planning, its benefits, limitations, and pitfalls. The author delivers a final message, which highlights a new fashion of strategic planning in response with the global environment. Keywords: strategic planning; globalization; 3 Cs; entrepreneurship; public organization; leadership; efficienc

College Teachers\u27 Perceptions about Teaching Global Competency

National and international organizations emphasize the importance of teaching global competence in American higher education as a way of preparing students for the rigors of a globalized workforce. Lack of nation-wide educational initiatives aimed at providing institutional guidelines for assessing international relations (IR) courses for this skill acquisition requires colleges to rely on their own resources and ingenuity. Presently, no course assessment methods for gauging global competency attainment exist at Florida College. The purpose of this study was to investigate faculty perceptions of instruction and learning of global competence. Mezirow\u27s transformative learning theory was the conceptual framework that guided this study. The research questions for this study focused on teachers\u27 perceptions of global competence instruction and student skill acquisition, their perceptions of the effectiveness of the INR 2002 Introduction to International Relations course in student global competence learning, and course advantages and disadvantages. An explorative case study design was used to capture the insights of 5 INR 2002 instructors, who have taught the course within the last three years, through individual 45-60-minute interviews. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the gathered data. INR 2002 teachers expressed moderate to high course effectiveness articulating a need for course improvement. The recommendations included the following: (a) create a departmental definition of global competence, (b) employ more classroom discussions into teaching IR, and (c) publish an international IR textbook communally working with non-American universities. This study may impact positive social change by supporting teachers\u27 and administrators\u27 efforts to advance the course curriculum to better equip students with knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for their professional futures

Role of diversity management and charismatic leadership on innovation and performance in the globalized era

Objective of the Study: The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationships between the variables of diversity management, charismatic leadership, innovation speed, innovation performance, and company performance.Methodology/Approach: A survey study was conducted with 427 employees (both technicians and engineers) working at companies that operated in the manufacturing industry in the scope of the research purpose. SPSS 25 and SPSS AMOS programs were used incrementally, and the acquired data were evaluated and analyzed.Originality/Relevance: In this research, white-collar workers constituted our sampling group because they play a key role in product innovation. While gathering the analysis data, the first 500 companies registered in Istanbul Chamber of Industry were determined, and manufacturing companies operating in Istanbul constituted the main part of the study.Main Results: As a result of the analysis, it is understood that diversity management and charismatic leadership have a positive influence on innovation and performance.Theoretical/Methodological Contribution: In terms of innovation and company performance, the study revealed the mediation effect of charismatic leadership linked to diversity management.Social/management contributions: In order for organizations to carry out creative and innovative activities, it is very important to effectively manage different ideas and thoughts within organizations. In fact, charismatic leadership positively affects employees, helping them to perform better. Therefore, employees must be actively involved in order to successfully carry out innovation.Objetivo do estudo: O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar as relações entre as variáveis gestão dadiversidade, liderança carismática, velocidade de inovação, desempenho inovador e desempenho daempresa.Metodologia/Abordagem: Foi realizado um estudo survey com 427 funcionários (técnicos eengenheiros) que atuam em empresas que atuam na indústria de transformação no âmbito do objetivoda pesquisa. Os programas SPSS 25 e SPSS AMOS foram usados de forma incremental, e os dadosadquiridos foram avaliados e analisados.Originalidade/Relevância: Nesta pesquisa, os trabalhadores de colarinho branco constituíram nossogrupo de amostragem porque desempenham um papel fundamental na inovação de produtos. Durante acoleta dos dados de análise, as primeiras 500 empresas registradas na Câmara da Indústria de Istambulforam determinadas, e as empresas de manufatura que operam em Istambul constituíram a parteprincipal do estudo.Principais resultados: Como resultado da análise, entende-se que a gestão da diversidade e a liderançacarismática influenciam positivamente a inovação e o desempenho.Contribuição teórica/metodológica: Em termos de inovação e desempenho da empresa, o estudorevelou o efeito mediador da liderança carismática ligada à gestão da diversidade.Contribuições sociais/gerencias: Para que as organizações realizem atividades criativas e inovadoras,é muito importante administrar com eficácia as diferentes ideias e pensamentos dentro das organizações.Na verdade, a liderança carismática afeta positivamente os funcionários, ajudando-os a ter um melhordesempenho. Portanto, os funcionários devem estar ativamente envolvidos para realizar a inovação comsucesso.Objetivo del estudio: El propósito de este estudio fue analizar las relaciones entre las variables degestión de la diversidad, liderazgo carismático, velocidad de innovación, desempeño en innovación ydesempeño de la empresa.Metodología/enfoque: Se realizó un estudio de encuesta con 427 empleados (tanto técnicos comoingenieros) que trabajan en empresas que operan en la industria manufacturera en el ámbito del propósitode la investigación. Los programas SPSS 25 y SPSS AMOS se utilizaron de forma incremental y losdatos adquiridos se evaluaron y analizaron.Originalidad/relevancia: En esta investigación, los empleados administrativos constituyeron nuestrogrupo de muestreo porque juegan un papel clave en la innovación de productos. Al recopilar los datosdel análisis, se determinaron las primeras 500 empresas registradas en la Cámara de Industria deEstambul, y las empresas de fabricación que operan en Estambul constituyeron la parte principal delestudio.Principales resultados: Como resultado del análisis, se entiende que la gestión de la diversidad y elliderazgo carismático tienen una influencia positiva en la innovación y el desempeño.Contribución teórica/metodológica: En términos de innovación y desempeño de la empresa, el estudioreveló el efecto mediador del liderazgo carismático vinculado a la gestión de la diversidad.Contribuciones sociales/de gestión: Para que las organizaciones lleven a cabo actividades creativas einnovadoras, es muy importante gestionar eficazmente las diferentes ideas y pensamientos dentro de lasorganizaciones. De hecho, el liderazgo carismático afecta positivamente a los empleados, ayudándolosa desempeñarse mejor. Por lo tanto, los empleados deben participar activamente para llevar a cabo conéxito la innovación

Relevance of intercultural communication for human resources management

We live in a globalizing society. The development of communication and transportation technology has shrunk the world in which the global interdependence for people and cultures becomes a norm of life. Therefore, intercultural communication competence becomes a critical ability for adjusting people to the demands of the 21 st century. The aim of this article is to emphasize the necessity to develop intercultural/global communication competence, in order to function effectively and successfully in our everyday and particularly in our professional lives. The paper is divided into three parts. The first one offers a brief overview of the concepts of HC/LC cultures. The second part highlights the relevance of the HC/LC dimension for the Human Resource management. The fourth part presents instances from literature on the German and Romanian cultural models in an attempt to classify them as HC/LC cultures respectively. Finally the article provides instances from a research I conducted to identify cultural differences between Germans and Romanians, illustrated by excerpts on HC/LC communication from job interviews held with German and Romanian Human Resource Managers.intercultural communication, high context/low context cultures, globalization, human resource management, job interview.