Prepare Semi-Structured questions for interviews and questioners Essay

Prepare Semi-Structured questions for interviews and questioners - Essay Example For example, for projects like infrastructure and construction (say electricity transmission, Roads development, Buildings Construction etc.) are there very specific factors that developers have to look out for to ensure that there are no delays? 10. What you say in the response to the above about the importance of planning stage†¦is it equally true for different types of large projects. From construction to infrastructure, does your opinion about the importance of the planning stage applies to all types of large projects? 16. Can you think of some reasons why planning stage errors – like incorrect assessment of risks, uncertainties and probabilities occur? Is it because of the assessment tools and risk assessment models that are used in Qatar? 17. Are the above difficulties – in calculating risks and uncertainties and assigning probabilities – further complicated by the State of Qatar’s unique geographic, socio-cultural and historical issues? 18. Do you think that one of the other factors that can be assigned with causing project delays is of Budget? Does lack of accurate budget estimation in the planning stage lead to the delays in the project completion? 20. Do you think that delays at the execution phases of the project (monitoring, control and closure) are specific to tactical planning and execution failures? Or are these just a manifestation of the incorrect planning at the initiation and designing stage? 22. Can some of the delays at the planning stage be attributed to an inadequate choice of project management structure and style? Please elaborate on what are the most suitable project management structures to use in large scale projects, especially in the context of Qatar. 23. Do you think that one of the reasons for disruption and delays are the lack of consensus among the numerous stakeholders on the budget, perception of risk and end objectives of the large scale projects? How does this play out in the context of the State

Providing quality care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Providing quality care - Essay Example In countless regions in the world, nursing programmes are aimed at increasing proficiencies that assist nurses in handling particular nursing/care needs (Fitzpatrick Kazer 2012, p. 54). This paper will examine some of the behaviours, attitudes, and abilities necessary to become a professional nurse, and some of the elements that are crucial in the nursing field. . The progress witnessed in different regions in terms of healthcare has seen the role of the nurses become a major game changer in the medical field. The nursing fraternity has a framework in which all the actions and duties are reflected that aid in the protection and assistance of all individuals in need of medical care. The ethical and professional behaviours that nursing personnel are meant to exhibit should also reflect the attitude and organizational culture of their respective organizations (Fry & Johstone 2008, p. 37). This is done to make sure that the nursing profession maintains the professionalism and attitude that is needed in catering to the needs of people in society, and the overall good of the medical practice. Nursing requires an individual to have what may be considered the 6Cs, which are; compassion, care, courage, commitment, competence, and communication. They assist nurses to engage positively and professionally with all those meant to be in their care. All these behaviours are crucial in nursing because they assist nurses in understanding their patients and treating them professionally (Goodman & Clenmow 2010, p. 57). Care defines how nurses are meant to carry out their duties. It needs to be constantly and consistently provided at every stage. Compassion is paramount when it comes to understanding the predicament in which their patients are in, and what may be done to assist them. Compassion looks into how care is delivered to those in need. Competence comes into play when a nurse understands and comprehends the nature of the individual in

Passport Program In The Success Of Hero Honda

Passport Program In The Success Of Hero Honda Hero Honda Motors Limited, based in Delhi, India is a joint venture between the Hero Group of India and Honda of Japan. Verification. It has been referred to as the worlds biggest manufacturer of 2-wheeled motorized vehicles since 2001, when it produced 1.3 million motorbikes in a single year. During the fiscal year 2008-09, the company has sold 3.28 million bikes and the net profit of the company stood at Rs. 1281.7 crore, up 32% from the previous fiscal year. The companys most popular model is the Hero Hondas Splendor, which is the worlds largest-selling motorcycle, selling more than one million units per year. The company introduced new generation motorcycles that set industry benchmarks for fuel thrift and low emission. A legendary Fill it Shut it Forget it campaign captured the imagination of commuters across India, and Hero Honda sold millions of bikes purely on the commitment of increased mileage. Over 20 million Hero Honda two wheelers tread Indian roads today. These are almost as many as the number of people in Finland, Ireland and Sweden put together! Hero Honda has consistently grown at double digits since inception; and today, every second motorcycle sold in the country is a Hero Honda. Every 30 seconds, someone in India buys Hero Hondas top -selling motorcycle Splendor. This festive season, the company sold half a million two wheelers in a single month-a feat unparalleled in global automotive history. Hero Honda bikes currently roll out from its three globally benchmarked manufacturing facilities. Two of these are based at Dharuhera and Gurgaon in Haryana and the third state o f the art manufacturing facility was inaugurated at Haridwar, Uttrakhand in April this year. These plants together are capable of producing out 4.4 million units per year. Hero Hondas extensive sales and service network now spans over 3000 customer touch points. These comprise a mix of dealerships, service and spare points, spare parts stockiest and authorized representatives of dealers located across different geographies. Hero Honda values its relationship with customers. Its unique CRM initiative Hero Honda Passport Program, one of the largest programs of this kind in the world, has over 3 million members on its roster. The program has not only helped Hero Honda understand its customers and deliver value at different price points, but has also created a loyal community of brand ambassadors. Having reached an unassailable pole position in the Indian two wheeler market, Hero Honda is constantly working towards consolidating its position in the market place. The company believes th at changing demographic profile of India, increasing urbanization and the empowerment of rural India will add millions of new families to the economic mainstream. This would provide the growth ballast that would sustain Hero Honda in the years to come. As Brijmohan Lall Munjal, the Chairman, Hero Honda Motors succinctly points out, We pioneered Indias motorcycle industry, and its our responsibility now to take the industry to the next level. Well do all it takes to reach there. Company profile Hero is the brand name used by the Munjal brothers for their flagship company Hero Cycles Ltd. A joint venture between the Hero Group and Honda Motor Company was established in 1984 as the Hero Honda company, India. During the 1980s, the company introduced motorcycles that were popular in India for their fuel economy and low cost. A popular advertising campaign based on the slogan Fill it Shut it Forget it that emphasized the motorcycles fuel efficiency helped the company grow at a double-digit pace since inception. Hero Honda has three manufacturing facilities based at Dharuhera and Gurgaon in Haryana and at Hardware in Uttarakhand. These plants together are capable of churning out 3.9 million bikes per year.[citation needed] Hero Hondas has a large sales and service network with over 3,000 dealerships and service points across India. Hero Hondas customer loyalty program,[clarification needed] the Hero Honda Passport Program, claims to be one of the largest programs of its kind in the world with over 3 million members. The 2006 Forbes 200 Most Respected companies list has Hero Honda Motors ranked at 108. History India became the second largest two wheeler manufacturer in the world and starting in the 1950s with the Automobile Products of India (API) that manufactured the Lambrettas and Bajaj Auto Ltd. with its association with Piaggio of Italy (manufacturer of Vespa scooters) as the largest manufacturers within the country citation needed. The license raj that existed between the 1940s to 1980s in India did not allow foreign companies to enter the market and imports were tightly controlled. This regulatory maze, before the economic liberalization, made business easier for local players to have a sellers market.[neutrality is disputed] Customers in India were forced to wait up to 12 years to buy a scooter from Bajaj. The CEO of Bajaj commented that he did not need a marketing department, only a dispatch department. By the year 1990, Bajaj had a waiting list that was twenty-six times its annual output for scooters. The motorcycle segment had the same long wait times with three manufacturers: Royal Enfield, Ideal Jawa, and Escorts. Royal Enfield made a 350cc Bullet with the only four-stroke engine at that time and took the higher end of the market but there was little competition for their customers. Ideal Jawa and Escorts took the middle and lower end of the market respectively. In the mid-1980s, the Indian government regulations changed and permitted foreign companies to enter the Indian market through minority joint ventures. The two-wheeler market changed with four Indo-Japanese joint ventures: Hero Honda, TVS SUZUKI , Bajaj Kawasaki and Kinetic Motor Company (Kinetic Honda). The entry of these foreign companies changed the Indian market dynamics from the supply side to the demand side. With a larger selection of two-wheelers on the Indian market, consumers started to gain influence over the products they bought and raised higher customer expectations. The industry produced more models, styling options, prices, and different fuel efficiencies. The foreign companies new technologies helped make the products more reliable and with better quality. Indian companies had to change to keep up with their global counterparts. List of models Achiever Ambition 133, Ambition 135 CBZ, CBZ Star, CBZ Xtreme CD 100, CD 100 SS, CD Dawn, CD Deluxe, CD Deluxe (Self Start) Hunk ,Joy ,Karizma, Karizma R, Karizma ZMR FI ,Passion, Passion+, Passion Pro Pleasure .Street ,Splendor, Splendor+, Splendor+ (Limited Edition), Super Splendor, Splendor NXG The joint venture between Indias Hero Group and Honda Motor Company, Japan has not only created the worlds single largest two wheeler company but also one of the most successful joint ventures worldwide. During the 80s, Hero Honda became the first company in India to prove that it was possible to drive a vehicle without polluting the roads. Hero Honda Passport programme. The passport provides you with yet another opportunity to experience the companys continued commitment to you, our valued customer. You will soon see that it opens the door to a host of special offerings that Hero Honda Motors Limited has in store for you. How to use your Hero Honda Passport? Each time we visit an authorised Hero Honda dealership or service center, make sure that we carry your Hero Honda passport with us. We can accumulate points against purchase of spares, accessories and service at Hero Honda authorised dealerships / service centers. The Hero Honda passport will serve as a record book for keeping an account of the points accumulate by you. Each rupee you spend, at the dealership / service center, entitles you to one point. We also earn bonus point when you come for a free service you visit the dealership ( at least thrice a year ), and make purchases worth Rs. 50 per visit. We refer your relatives and friends to purchase a hero Honda motorcycle. At the time of setting our bills, ensure that your Hero Honda passport is endorsed with the earned points. The more we earn your points, the more benefits you receive. What are the benefits of owning a hero Honda passport ? The accumulated points can be used to enjoy a host of special privileges and benefits from time to time. The moment we receive you hero Honda passport, you are automatically covered for one year Accident Insurance RS 1 lakh. We become entitled for special rewards and discounts, the moment you accumulate the specified points, at any of the authorised hero Honda dealerships / service centers. We also receive invitations to exclusive local events, such as movie shows, musical nights and carnivals. Periodic updates will be sent to you, from the hero Honda programmed center, with your point status. Special information and tips regarding your motorcycle, hero Honda Passport Program happenings and exclusive offers from other brands will also be sent to you along with the updates For how long is the Hero Honda Passport valid ? Your hero Honda passport is valid for a period of 3 years from the date of issue. In case of its loss or theft, please contact your dealership or the following address for a replacement. How to use passport Always remember to carry your Hero Honda Passport with you when you visit a Hero Honda authorized dealership/service centre. Every time you do a transaction at a Hero Honda showroom/workshop, the dealer would reward points into your Passport. You are eligible to accumulate points, against purchase of spares, accessories, service and by referring friends to purchase a Hero Honda motorcycle. Do not forget to get your points endorsed on the Programme Points Sheet given in the Passport. Also ensure that these points are entered in duplicate in the Programme Centre copy by the dealer. Every time a Programme Points Sheet gets completed, the dealer would remove the copy from your Passport and send it to Hero Honda. These would increase your chances for event invitation and special offers. Do collect your rewards as soon as you reach the specified milestones. (For more information see the Reward Chart on last page). Please note that points do not become zero after a gift collection in the Passport Programme and you can keep collecting gifts as you reach a particular milestone. Every time you get your bike serviced, get the Free/Regular Service Record Sheet (as given in Section 2 of the Passport) stamped by the dealer. The Service Record Sheet would help you get a Bike Service Certificate, which can be very useful at the time of your bike resale. The Hero Honda Passport Programme is open only to Hero Honda motorcycle owners/customers who are resident Indian nationals. It is not open to non-resident Indians, employees of Hero Honda Motors Limited, and its advertising agencies (Result: McCann and its respective subsidiary companies). The Hero Honda Passport will be issued in the name of an individual only, and not in the name of a company, corporate body or association of persons. The Hero Honda Passport will be issued only to individuals who are 18 years of age, or older. There is a non-refundable registration fee for the programme. two passport-sized photographs must be attached to the application form. the Hero Honda passport is non-transferable. in case, an applicant is the second or subsequent user of the Hero Honda motorcycle, he/ she is required to submit a copy of the registration booklet, duly transferred, along with the Hero Honda Passport Application form. If any Hero Honda Passport holder loses his/her Hero Honda Passport, a new copy of the same will be issued to the member, on payment of the requisite fee The Hero Honda Passport is valid only for three years from the date of issue. It will take minimum of 4 weeks, from the date of enrolling for the Hero Honda Passport Programme, to deliver the Hero Honda Passport. On becoming a Hero Honda Passport Programme member, the applicant authorises all the organisations, with which Hero Honda Motors Limited may finalise arrangements (including Hero Honda Motors Limited), to use data submitted by him/her for marketing and communication purposes, to enhance performance of the Hero Honda Passport Programme. n case of any disputes of differences in connection with the Hero Honda Passport Programme, the same shall be decided by arbitration. The arbitrator shall be the Managing Director, Hero Honda Motors Limited, or any person nominated by him. The arbitration shall be conducted as per the prevailing arbitration laws rules in New Delhi. Hero Honda Motors Limited shall not, in any way, be liable, or be under any obligation to the participant, if the Hero Honda Passport Programme is withdrawn or modified due to statutory enactments, and judicial/ quasi judicial orders. All these amazing rewards and benefits come to you as you earn points in the Hero Honda Passport Programme. Once you become a member, you will earn points for a host of regular transactions that you conduct even now at your local Hero Honda authorized Dealership or Service Center. These include: So all you have to do to earn points rewards is just keep maintaining your Hero Honda motorcycle, buy genuine Hero Honda Spare Parts and accessories and well give you one point for every rupee you spend! Star Club and Treasured Rewards This unique club has been introduced for those members who get their bikes serviced regularly from authorized Hero Honda Service Centers. The Star Club membership not only identifies the member as special for the HHPP family, but also brings in some added benefits like: 30% discount on labour 7.5% discount on spares, till the validity of the Passport Introducing Treasured RewardGood news for all Passport Programme members who have crossed the 1 lakh point mark in the Hero Honda Passport Programme. A new rewards structure has been introduced for all such members The HHPP Treasured Rewards. The HHPP Treasured Rewards will be available at 8 prescribed milestones beginning from 1.25 lakh points and ending at 3 lakh points, with each milestone at a gap of 25,000 points. In other words, the new milestones are placed at 1.25 lakhs, 1.5 lakhs and so on till 3 lakhs Each time a member reaches a milestone a Motorcycle Privilege Voucher of Rs. 1250/- will be given to him. This voucher may be used to avail a discount on the purchase of a new Hero Honda motorcycle. This voucher is transferable and can be given to friends or relatives who may be planning to buy a new Hero Honda motorcycle Under the new Rewards Programme, the mode of recording points will change. The points will now be recorded in 2 books one would be the old Passport with Additional Treasured Rewards sheets for entering points earned through service, spares and accessories and the other would be a Referral Book which will be used for entering referral points. The Referral Book will begin from 1 lakh points. On cro ssing 1 lakh points the members need to retain a photocopy of their old Passport with them and send the passport to the HHPP Programme Centre immediately. On receipt, the old Passport with Additional treasured rewards sheets and the new Referral Book will be sent across to the members enabling them to start redeeming rewards beyond 1 lakh points. conclusion Hero Honda, the World No. 1 two-wheeler company, today announced that it has recently achieved a landmark member base of more than 2 million customers for its Passport Programme. Extending across 1000 authorized Hero Honda dealerships and SSPs, the program has now become India s largest Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Program. The unprecedented success of the CRM program is a testimony of the faith that the customers repose in the company and its products. It was born out of a need to maximize commitment and strengthen the emotional value that binds our diverse set of customers to the Hero Honda brand. With its apt tagline Rishta Dil Ka, the Passport Programme is a strong platform for the company to build long-term relationships with its customers, beyond the point of sale, and communicate its brand image of trust and reliability. The Hero Honda Passport Programme membership is a unique initiative open to the owners of Hero Honda motorcycles. The program offers many tangible a nd intangible benefits to both the customers as well as to the dealers. Members earn points for incurring expenditure at the Hero Honda dealership/workshop, which can later be redeemed against benefits. On the occasion of the commemoration of the 2 million-passport program milestone, Mr. Pawan Munjal, Managing Director, Hero Honda Motors Ltd. said, At Hero Honda our endeavor is to offer the best in product quality to our customers resulting in highest levels of customer satisfaction. The Passport programme not only builds enduring relationships with our customers but also offer them some extra value, beyond just the tangible benefits of our products. This milestone only reaffirms our customers faith in us, which has been pivotal in the companys growth. The Hero Honda Passport programme was rolled out nationally in the year 2001, after a successful pilot in four states in the year 2000. A unique feature of the programme is its reward model, according to which every rupee spent by the member translates into a reward point. These reward points can then be redeemed for exciting gifts. One of the most significant benefits of this program is a free personal accident policy worth Rs. 1 lakh. Insurance claim of over Rs. 6 crore has already been disbursed to dependent families, exemplifying Hero Hondas concern not just for the safety of its customers, but also their family members. With the help of this program, the company has already received over 900,000 referrals thus also giving a fillip to sales through favourable word of mouth. Review of literature With a member base of more than 20 lakh customers extending across 1000 authorized dealers and SSPs, Hero Honda Passport Program is today the countrys largest Customer Retention Management (CRM) program. Under the apt tagline Rishta Dil Ka, the program has become a strong platform for us to build long-term relationship with our customers beyond the point of sale, and take forward our brand image of trust and reliability. It was born out of a need to maximize commitment and strengthen the emotional value that binds our diverse set of customers to the Hero Honda brand. The program represents a fundamental change in looking at the customer as a long-term asset rather than a mere target for sales transaction. Marketing program designed to enhance brand loyalty by cultivating an ongoing relationship between a marketer and his customer. Successful loyalty programs encourage the consumer to buy frequently, to increase the amount spent each time, and to concentrate all or most of their related purchases on that brand. Most loyalty programs offer perks for membership in a club or program and reward purchases. Rewards may be based on the dollar value of purchases made or on the frequency of purchases. The most well-known loyalty programs are airline frequent-flyer programs that offer discounts against future travel called award miles. Most large supermarket chains now have frequent-buyer clubs that offer no-coupon discounts as well as newsletters and affiliate discounts. Loyalty program tactics also include regular communication with customers such as reminder mailings, private credit cards, cross-sell and up-sell offers, satisfaction and opinion surveys, and collection of information for membe r databases. See also frequency discount.

Essay on Imagery, Language, and Sound in Whats That Smell in the Kitch

Imagery, Language, and Sound in What's That Smell in the Kitchen? Marge Piercy is an American novelist, essayist, and poet best known for writing with a trademark feminist slant. In "What's That Smell in the Kitchen?" Marge Piercy explores the way women are sometimes held in low esteem by men through the eyes of a tired housewife who has had it with her monotonous day- to-day duties. In this poem, it is not stated that the speaker is a homemaker, but the reader is told about one woman in particular who is meant to express the feelings of women as a whole. The author conveys this central idea through imagery, figurative language, and devices of sound. In the first lines of "What's That Smell in the Kitchen?" the author makes her point that women are burning dinners all over America. This gives us a general idea of what the poem will be about, yet it makes us want to read on to see why this would be happening; in other words, it triggers our curiosity. The author goes on to describe foods that are common to certain cities in the United States, bringing about a very gustatory and olfactory image in the mind of the reader. Following this, the author uses repetition to emphasize her introductory statement yet again, and adds an additional phrase, ". . . women are burning/food they're supposed to bring with calico/smile on platters glittering like wax." This statement is somewhat ironic, because it conveys an image of a very "false" woman, something like a mechanical doll or robot, or even like the flawless "model mom" figure of June Cleaver of the television series "Leave it to Beaver." Not only do we picture a woman in an apron with an artificial smile but Piercy alludes... ...ch can be interpreted as "Once I was first-rate with all the trimmings but now I'm low-class junk." Spam is a cheap processed meat whereas roast duck is assumed to be one of the best meats there is; therefore she has been cheapened or degraded by the lack of gratitude on the part of her spouse, and society. She is expressing the fact that society expects women to play the role of "little wife" with no concern for the individual's own interests. Also, the woman in the poem is comparing her drive to food, and since this poem is image-laden with war and food, we can say that Piercy is writing of a war with food, where women are using food as their primary weapon against men (the way to a man's heart is through his stomach!) It is in this way that Piercy develops her view that women are the lesser gender in the eyes of men and shares her refusal to conform.

An Acquaintance with Darkness

An Acquaintance with Darkness by Ann Rinaldi Ann Rinaldi has written a book that weaves history and fiction into a wonderful book, and this is why I have chosen this book. It covers some important parts of history and the reader sees it through the eyes of a thirteen old girl. The book is dark with intrigue and gross medical stuff, so students should love it. While the assignation and arrest of Mary Surratt is the major historical event around which the book is written, it is more about the state of medical science in the US at the end of the war and how it was impacted by the war.For instance, Rinaldi's author's note starts out focused on the history of medical dissections in the united states, and then goes on to describe its history in Europe. She then describes the history of hospitals, medical schools and medicine in the US. She doesn't turn towards the conspiracy to kill Lincoln till later. Emily's best friend is Annie Surratt, the daughter of Mary Surratt who was hung for her part in the conspiracy to murder Lincoln. Students will see this part of history through a different point of view, not just learning about it through their textbook.I also think students will relate with Emily, because she wants to see the good in everything. She wants to believe the world is a good place. She judges her Uncle for something she believes is horrible and doesn’t understand because of her young, innocent age. Then the reader sees her grow as into a young lady, where she isn’t so innocent anymore. Emily realizes the world isn’t perfect and she shouldn’t have judged her Uncle, because he was snatching dead bodies to help medical science and save more lives during a horrible time of war. At the end of Ann Rinaldi’s book, she has questions for teachers to discuss with their students.This will make it easy to have literature circles with students. This book relates to my content area because it is a historical fiction book. Ann Rinaldi ha s taken many facts from history and put them in a wonderful fiction book. If I was a teacher of History, I could relate this to our unit on the Civil War around the end of it when Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. This book takes a look at the Surratt Family and how they were involved with John Wilkes Booth. This is usually a glimpse of history many students don’t know about. I don’t remember learning this when I was in school.I think kids are interested in anything related to death, and this book is full of it. They will learn about Lincoln’s assassination, the hanging of Mary Surratt, and how doctors snatched dead bodies to benefit medical science. This book ties a lot of factual information to the Civil War, and it is interesting to read. I think this is a way to supplement the main textbook, to give kids a different perspective of the war. Many of our discussions in class have centered on supplementing the main text. I think by adding interesting books about what they are studying will make them want to learn more about that era.So by picking this book that tells about a girl in the time of the Civil war, they will see certain aspects of that time period in a different way. They will be able to relate to it more because this girl is around their age. They will be seeing it through her eyes. I think this is so important when teaching, because I want kids to be excited to learn about history. I think to do that you have to find some way to relate it to them. Having kids around that age, I have found that they don’t care about it if it doesn’t relate to them, or they can’t understand it, or it’s boring. I know a lot in school will be boring to them.That is why it’s important to find certain things to â€Å"jazz† up the lesson. After reading this book, I found myself wanting to learn if doctors in that time really had to snatch bodies to study on. I think this book will be a way to get them interes ted in studying certain parts of the Civil War. I think they will want to learn more after reading this book. The two main activities that I could use in my classroom that relate to the book, are Literature Circles and List-Group-Label. I will introduce the book with the List-Group-Label activity to see what prior knowledge the students have.By doing this activity first it gets them thinking about the Civil War Era and discussing it. I hope for some students they will learn things they might not have know before the discussion. Then during the time that we are reading the book, I will have them split into groups every Friday and do literature circles. I will have discussion sheets that they will have to fill out as a group. This will give them a chance to learn from eachother and give them a since of responsibility. I think these activities will work well together in creating a fun unit.

Are We Now Living in One World? Essay

The concept of the world becoming ‘as one’, is a concept which has been widely been contested by many writers on subjects such as modernisation, globalisation, and equality to name a few. It is quite clear from out everyday lives in how some aspects of our lives are clearly influenced by other cultures, such as the availability of Indian takeaways on every high street. Robertson (1992) suggests that the world began to become more integrated with the European voyages of discovery and colonisation in the 15th Century.1 Turner (1994) has shown how there has been a global economy since the 17th Century.2 Yet other theorists claim that it is a much more recent development. In this essay I intend to look at many of these theories and in particular look at theories of modernisation, and globalisation. Modernisation replaced the older traditional forms of societies based on agriculture. Parsons (1966) has referred to the evolution of societies as a â€Å"process of modernisatio n†. This presumes all societies to be eventually heading towards the modern stage. This can be applied to the theory of globalisation in that he is saying that all societies will become similar and ‘modern’.3 Rostow (1971) used a similar model to explain human society, in his eyes it was both evolutionary and possessed an ‘inner logic’ which leads societies to ‘modernisation’.4 In the opinion of Giddens (1990), globalisation originated from modernisation. It is a continuation of the trends from modernisation processes in 18th Century Europe. Modernisation is based on processes of disembedding. It ‘dis-embeds’ feudal individuals from fixed identities in space and time. This is known as the ‘time-space distanciation’, which I shall examine in further detail shortly. It is used to explain the historic move from traditional to modern societies and the part played by globalisation in speeding up the modernisation process. 5 Gidd ens (1991) suggests that the modernisation process entails four major sets of ‘institutional complexes of modernity’. These are administrative power, military power, capitalism and industrialism. 6 Administrative power refers to the growth and development of the secular nation state based on rational and bureaucratic forms of administration of its population and law and order. Capitalism and industrialism represent new forms of production based and centred on factory and industrial production. Militarism is based upon technology and professional armies in modern societies.7 In France, the word for globalisation is mondialisation. In Spain and Latin America, it is globalizacion. The Germans say globaliserung. This shows how far the term has spread and how widely used it is. It is said by many writers such as Giddens (1999) and Beck (2001) that we are now living in a cosmopolitan society which is forming around us. It is emerging in an anarchic haphazard, fashion carried along by a mixture of economic, technological and cultural imperatives.8 Robertson (1996) defines globalisation as a concept, â€Å"Which refers to both the compression of the world and the intensification of consciousness of the world as a whole†¦Ã¢â‚¬ 9 Giddens (1991) takes the view that globalisation is an equalising process as it gives previously disempowered groups and nations the potential to realise their goals. He has spoken of globalisation generating â€Å"reverse colonialism† which means that non- western countries influence developments in the west. Examples of this are the Latinising of Los Angeles, the emergence of a globally orientated high tech sector in India and the selling of Brazilian TV programmes to Portugal.10 For Giddens (1994) globalisation is a social process which results in, â€Å"†¦ Larger and larger numbers of people living in circumstances in which disembedded institutions, linking local practises with globalised social relations, organise major aspects of day to day life.†11 However, he sees it as a contradictory and uneven process. He claims that it ‘pulls away’ from local communities and uses the example of the weakening of the capacities and power from nation states in the hands of supra national political organisations. It is also said to ‘push down’ as it may present local communities with new possibilities and demands, such as the increase of nationalist movements, for example, in Scotland.12 Globalisation is said to emanate from the 1960s as this is when aspects of the modernisation process received added impetus as a result of globalisation. In late modernity there is a world capitalist system which is dominated by Trans-National Corporations (TNCs) which operate independently of nation states. TNCs can be the dominant economic actor especially in ‘developing countries’.13 In industrialism Giddens (1994) claims there has been a development of the International Division of Labour in which local industries are incorporated. Previously separate and distinct industries are now involved in trading raw materials and components with each other. He also mentions how ‘industrialisation’ now includes the ‘service’ and ‘culture’ industries. These industries are now internationally based.14 The administrative powers of the nation state grow due to the increasing ‘internationalisation’ of state relations through the sharing and pooling of knowledges and hardware states can increase their powers of surveillance and control over populations.15 Military power has become globalised through the increasing alliances between states, which empowers members of each alliance.16 This can be seen today in the alliance between the UK and the US in fighting the war against terrorism in Afghanistan. The concept of ethnocentricism can see seen as a criticism of globalisation as most of the developments benefit the richer Western countries rather than equalising wealth. Gilroy (1995) has illustrated this by saying that the West has used the ‘rest’ of the world, especially regarding the use of slavery by which to ‘modernise’. 17 Parsons saw the West as the sole source of modernisation, and globalisation is said to have come from modernisation.18 Giddens (1999) speaks of how all giant multinational companies come from rich countries, most being based in the US. It can also be seen that global poverty remains at scandalous levels and millions of people around the world have little, if any, democratic rights. The share of the world’s population in global income has dropped from 2.3% to 1.4% from 1989 to 1999. The proportion taken by the richest fifth has risen from 70% to 85%. In Sub-Sahara Africa, 20 countries have lower incomes per head in real terms than they did twenty years ago. In many less developed countries, safety and environmental regulations are low or virtually non-existent. Some TNC’s sell goods in these countries that are controlled or banned in developed countries, such as poor quality medical drugs, destructive pesticides and high tar and nicotine cigarettes. 19 Tanzania’s debt of à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½4.5 billion is 152% of its GNP. 85% of the Zambian population lives in absolute poverty.20 The abandonment of the term ‘third world’ can be an indicator of the alleged convergence of the world. The term originates from the belief that the group of countries it stood for would develop to modernity by a third route that differed from that of the ‘first world’ or the ‘second’. The ‘first world’ refers to the countries involved in the industrial revolution and the capitalist route to modernity; and the ‘second world’ refers to the Soviet Block who took the socialist route to modernity. Harris (1986) claimed that the abandonment of the term was due to the increasing global integration and therefore the notion of distinct worlds were out of date.21 This theory is supported by the fact that some countries previously referred to as ‘third world’ are now economic rivals of th e ‘first world’, such as Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore. 22 However, again the statistics on deprivation, as shown above, conflict with this view. Global inequality is clearly not decreasing in all areas. The historical movement from traditional societies to modern ones and the part played by globalisation in speeding up the movement begun by the modernisation process is referred to as ‘Time-space distanciation’ by Giddens (1991) and ‘Time- Space Compression’ by David Harvey (1989). Traditional societies are said to be based upon social relations ’embedded’ in time and space. For example, time for a peasant, would be based upon the cyclical nature of the seasons due to their reliance on agriculture as a means of subsistence. This also meant that time to different societies were different, as their neighbours would use different measurements of time. The invention of the clock is significant to this as it allows one measure of time to be universalised and not narrow and locally defined. This can reduce the sense of social distance between communities. The sense of time is now global, as there is now only one concept of time in the world. Distances appear to have ‘shrunk’ as one community is using the same concept of time as one on the other side of the world.23. In this sense, it can be said that modernisation ‘dis-embeds’ the individual from their fixed identity in time and space. The two mechanisms Giddens (1991) claims are processes of ‘disembedding’ are symbolic tokens and expert systems. Money is used as an example of symbolic tokens as it was not used in traditional times; economic exchange was based upon local and particularistic expressions of value. With modernisation comes money as a universal form of exchange. Money, as time, acts to make general and universal what once were particularistic and local exchanges. As the current main form of exchange, money can make the world seem as one as it allows individuals to move between local contexts and can therefore establish social relations across time and space.24 As modernisation created the notion of a national currency which diminished difference within national boundaries, then globalisation removes differences between national currencies, for example, with the birth of the credit card. The credit card is accepted around the world making it easier to spend money worldwide. The introduction of the Euro in many European countries in January 2002 is another example. 25 Expert Systems are the result of scientific discoveries and technical knowledge which claim to be universal. They are not context dependent and therefore can establish social relations across time and space. An example of this is the current model of health care which is based on universal claims of science and dominates across the globe. Other models are ridiculed or labelled ‘alternative’, such as holistic therapies.26 A second ‘shrinking’ of the world occurred according to Harvey in 1847-8 with the economic collapse of credit. As a consequence of the collapse finance capitalists across Europe attempted to centralise capital and credit markets. Time was therefore further compressed as capital investments could move faster through the new rationalised system. The further conquest of space was made possible as investments are made in forms of transportation such as the railways and shipping. 27 This compression of space is given further impetus at the turn of the 20th century as investments are made in aviation and new media such as radio, photography and the cinema.28 According to Harvey the revolution in electronic technologies, such as computerisation and the Internet have meant that ‘time’ and ‘space’ has been conquered, as instantaneous communication is a reality.29 There are many sceptics to who all talk of the word becoming as one is simply talk. Whatever the benefits, trials and tribulations, the global economy is not especially different from that which existed at previous periods. The world is the same as it has been for many years. They use the example of external trade, saying that for most countries only a small part of income originates in external trade. Most economic exchange is regional, such as the countries in the European Union mostly trade amongst themselves. The same is said to be true of the other main trading blocks such as the Asia Pacific and North America.30 Sutcliffe (1995), for example, claims that global development is impossible since it would be economically unsustainable. He argues that development is going in the wrong direction, the underdeveloped countries would be better models for sustainable societies than the developed ones.31 Giddens (1999) criticises these views pointing out how globalisation sceptics are often on the old political left and they believe that globalisation is a notion proposed by those who wish to dismantle the welfare state and cut back on state spending. If the concept of globalisation is a myth then governments can still intervene in economic life and the welfar e states can remain intact. 32 Giddens (1999) argues that the global marketplace is much more developed than even two or three decades ago and national borders are no longer of importance. He claims that, â€Å"The era of the nation state is over†.33 Nations are said to have lost most of the sovereignty and politicians have lost the power to influence events. However, Turner (1994) demonstrates how a high degree of ‘economic globalisation’ occurred during the 17th Century.34 Other writers claim similar points saying that the world has reversed to how it was a century ago as in the late 19th Century there was a global open economy, with a great deal of trade occurring, including trade in currencies.35 Giddens (1999) criticises this saying that the level of world trade today is greater than it ever has been and involves a much wider range of goods and services, but the most important is the level of finance and capital flows. He uses the example of electronic money, money that only exists on computers. Money can be transferred around the world at simply a click of a mouse. Over a trillion dollars is said to be turned over everyday in global currency, a massive increase from ten years ago. The money an individual has personally depends on the fluctuations in the global currency markets. 36 Max Weber wrote on the nation state and maintained that the power to declare war or peace was one of the essential features of a state. If it doesn’t have a monopoly over was and peace, then it isn’t a state.37 Beck (2001) takes this up saying that the power to decide between war and peace is no longer a matter for an individual state acting autonomously and uses the example of the war against terrorism to demonstrate this.38 Developments in technology and communications are a factor in the debate. In the mid 19th Century Samuel Morse transmitted the first message by electric telegraph initiating a new phase in world history. Morse code was discontinued as a means of communications at sea on 1st February 1999. Now we have communications satellites, which were first launched just over 30 years ago and now there are over 200 satellites creating instantaneous communications across earth. Also other types of electronic communications have accelerated over the past years. No dedicated transatlantic or transpacific cables existed until the late 1950’s. These all play their part in making the world seem smaller and more accessible.39 The reach of media technologies also is a factor in making the world more ‘as one’. Celebrities may be more familiar to us than our next door neighbours. I could not tell you who my neighbours were; yet many people around the world would be able to say, for example, who Brad Pitt’s wife is. Giddens (1999) expresses how far the media has reached and how cultures have globalised by using an example of a friend of his who studied village life in central Africa. On her arrival in a remote area she was invited to a local home for an evening’s entertainment and instead of finding out the traditional pastimes of the community, they watched Basic Instinct on video, which hadn’t reached British cinemas at this point.40 The changing roles of women around the world and the changing structure of the family are also due to globalisation and making the world more similar. For example, Cherie Blair has recently launched a campaign to help the women of Afghanistan, as by our standards they have no rights. Ulrich Beck (1992) writes about ‘reflexive modernisation’ and in an article published online for the New Statesman he writes about how this is bringing the world together. ‘Reflexive modernisation’ is a description of contemporary society in which we become aware of the risks and dangers of industrial technological society and in which increased knowledge about how to deal with this creates more awareness of dangers and risks.41 He applies this to the recent terrorist attacks to show how, â€Å"†¦ The warring camps and nations of the world united against the common foe of global terrorism.†42 Old rivalries of the US, such as with Moscow and Beijing are forgotten and a real cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinians is enforced. He pontificates that humanities common fear is now making new bonds and dissolving t he boundaries of national and international politics creating the globalisation of politics in which states are moulded into transnational co-operative networks. He also shows how foreign and domestic policy, national security and international co-operation are now interlocked. Since 11th September, ‘terrorist sleepers’ have been identified in Hamburg, Germany, and many other places. Therefore German domestic policy is now an important part of US domestic and foreign policy. So are the domestic foreign, security and defence policies of France Pakistan, Great Britain, Russia and so on.43 There are very many arguments suggesting that the world is becoming as one. Other arguments I have not gone into are the growing awareness of the global environment and the ways people all over the world are trying to help, such as with the South American rainforest and the widespread starvation of Africa. Global tourism is also making us more aware of our world and the ease of travel to far away places makes the world seem as if it is smaller than when the first voyage of discovery crossed the Atlantic Ocean. The spread of the English language around the world and the films and television programmes seen by hundreds of millions of people in different countries also contribute. The world is also better connected both economically and politically with global financial markets and the World Trade Organisation, also the creation of international political communities such as the European Union and the United Nations make the world more integrated. However, we will not live in ‘one world’ until the problems of inequality between rich and poor are solved. Also until many aspects of difference are recognised and accepted, especially regarding religious difference as this is still a major cause of disagreement in the world today. Bibliography * Beck, U. (1992), â€Å"Risk Society: Towards a New Modernity†, London, Sage * Beck, U. (5/11/01) â€Å"The Fight for a Cosmopolitan Future†, The New Statesman Online, (http://cgi.sociologyonline.force9.co.uk/cgi-bin/frame/FrameIt.cgi?Url=http://www.newstatesman.co.uk/200111050022.htm&Text=Back+to+Socio- News&Title=SociologyOnline+Link&FooterLocation=2&FooterFontFace=Verdana&FooterFontSize=3&ShowRemoverFrame=1&Link=http://cgi.sociologyonline.force9.co.uk/Files/socio-news/SocioNews.shtml&FooterBgcolor=2c448b&FooterTextColor=ffffff&AllowResize=0&FrameBorder=0) 20/11/01 * Fitzgerald, T., http://www.sociologyonline.co.uk/GlobalParsons.htm 20/11/01 * Giddens, A., (1990), â€Å"The Consequences of Modernity†, Cambridge, Polity. * Giddens, A., (1991), â€Å"Modernity & self-identity: Self and Society in the Late Modern Age†, Cambridge, Polity. * Giddens, A., (1994), â€Å"Beyond Left & Right: The Future of Radical Politics†, Cambridge, Polity * Giddens, A ., (1999), â€Å"Runaway World: How Globalisation Is Reshaping Our Lives†, Profile Books. * Giddens A., (1999) â€Å"Runaway World†, Lecture 1: â€Å"Globalisation†, London, BBC Reith Lectures, http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/events/reith_99/week1/week1.htm 20/11/01 * Gilroy, P (1993), â€Å"The Black Atlantic: Modernity & Double Consciousness†, London, Verso. * Harris, N., (1986), â€Å"The End of the Third World: Newly Industrialising Countries and the Decline of an Ideology†, Harmondsworth, Penguin. * Harvey, D. (1989) â€Å"The Condition of Postmodernity†, Oxford, Basil Blackwell. * Parsons, T., (1966) â€Å"Societies: Evolutionary and Comparative Perspectives†, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, Prentice-Hall. * Robertson, R., (1992)†Globalisation: Social Theory and Global Culture†, London, Sage. * Rostow, W., (1971) â€Å"Stages of Economic Growth: A Non-Communist Manifesto†, Cambridge University Press. * S utcliffe. B., (1995), â€Å"Development After Ecology†, in Timmon Roberts, J., and Hite, A. (eds.) (2000), â€Å"From Modernisation to Globalisation: Perspectives on Development and Social Change†, Oxford, Blackwell * Turner, B.S. (1994) â€Å"Orientalism, Postmodernism & Globalism†, London, Routledge * Weber, M., (1919), â€Å"Politics as a Vocation†, in â€Å"From Max Weber: Essays in Sociology†, ed. Gerth, H.H. and Mills, C.W. London, Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1948 * http://www.sociologyonline.co.uk/GlobalWTO.htm 20/11/01 1 Harris, N., (1986), â€Å"The End of the Third World: Newly Industrialising Countries and the Decline of an Ideology†, Harmondsworth, Penguin. 2 Turner, B.S. (1994) â€Å"Orientalism, Postmodernism & Globalism†, London, Routledge. 3 Parsons, T., (1966) â€Å"Societies: Evolutionary and Comparative Perspectives†, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, Prentice-Hall. 4 Rostow, W., (1971) â€Å"Stages of Economic Grow th: A Non-Communist Manifesto†, Cambridge University Press. 5 Giddens, A., (1990), â€Å"The Consequences of Modernity†, Cambridge, Polity. 6 Giddens, A., (1991), â€Å"Modernity & Self Identity: Self and Society in the Late Modern Age†, Cambridge, Polity. 7 ibid. 8 Giddens A., (1999), â€Å"Runaway World†, Lecture 1: â€Å"Globalisation†, London, BBC Reith Lectures, http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/events/reith_99/week1/week1.htm 20/11/01 9 Robertson, R., â€Å"Globalisation: Social Theory and Global Culture†, London, Sage. 10 Giddens, A., (1991), â€Å"Modernity & Self Identity: Self and Society in the Late Modern Age†, Cambridge, Polity 11 Giddens, A., (1994), â€Å"Beyond Left & Right: The Future of Radical Politics†, Cambridge, Polity 12 Giddens, A., (1999), â€Å"Runaway World: How Globalisation Is Reshaping Our Lives†, Profile Books. 13 Giddens, A., (1994), â€Å"Beyond Left & Right: The Future of Radical P olitics†, Cambridge, Polity 14 ibid. 15 ibid. 16 ibid. 17 Gilroy, P (1993), â€Å"The Black Atlantic: Modernity & Double Consciousness†, London, Verso. 18 Fitzgerald, T., http://www.sociologyonline.co.uk/GlobalParsons.htm 20/11/01 19 Giddens A., (1999), â€Å"Runaway World†, Lecture 1: â€Å"Globalisation†, London, BBC Reith Lectures, http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/events/reith_99/week1/week1.htm 20/11/01 20 http://www.sociologyonline.co.uk/GlobalWTO.htm 20/11/01 21 Harris, N., (1986), â€Å"The End of the Third World: Newly Industrialising Countries and the Decline of an Ideology†, Harmondsworth, Penguin. 22 Fulcher, J. and Scott, J. (1999), â€Å"Sociology†, Oxford, Oxford University Press. 23 Giddens, A., (1991), â€Å"Modernity & Self Identity: Self and Society in the Late Modern Age†, Cambridge, Polity 24 ibid. 25 ibid. 26 ibid. 27 Harvey, D. (1989) â€Å"The Condition of Postmodernity†, Oxford, Basil Blackwell 28 ibid. 29 ibid. 30 Giddens A., (1999), â€Å"Runaway World†, Lecture 1: â€Å"Globalisation†, London, BBC Reith Lectures, http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/events/reith_99/week1/week1.htm 20/11/01 31 Sutcliffe. B., (1995), â€Å"Development After Ecology†, in Timmon Roberts, J., and Hite, A. (eds.) (2000), â€Å"From Modernisation to Globalisation: Perspectives on Development and Social Change†, Oxford, Blackwell. 32 Giddens A., (1999), â€Å"Runaway World†, Lecture 1: â€Å"Globalisation†, London, BBC Reith Lectures, http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/events/reith_99/week1/week1.htm 20/11/01 33 ibid. 34 Turner, B.S. (1994) â€Å"Orientalism, Postmodernism & Globalism†, London, Routledge. 35 Giddens A., (1999), â€Å"Runaway World†, Lecture 1: â€Å"Globalisation†, London, BBC Reith Lectures, http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/events/reith_99/week1/week1.htm 20/11/01 36 ibid. 37 Weber, M., (1919), â€Å"P olitics as a Vocation†, in â€Å"From Max Weber: Essays in Sociology†, ed. H.H. Gerth and C.W. Mills, London, Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1948 38 Beck, U. (5/11/01) â€Å"The Fight for a Cosmopolitan Future†, The New Statesman Online http://cgi.sociologyonline.force9.co.uk/cgi-bin/frame/FrameIt.cgi?Url=http://www.newstatesman.co.uk/200111050022.htm&Text=Back+to+Socio- News&Title=SociologyOnline+Link&FooterLocation=2&FooterFontFace=Verdana&FooterFontSize=3&ShowRemoverFrame=1&Link=http://cgi.sociologyonline.force9.co.uk/Files/socio-news/SocioNews.shtml&FooterBgcolor=2c448b&FooterTextColor=ffffff&AllowResize=0&FrameBorder=0 39 Giddens A., (1999), â€Å"Runaway World†, Lecture 1: â€Å"Globalisation†, London, BBC Reith Lectures, http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/events/reith_99/week1/week1.htm 20/11/01 40 ibid. 41 Beck, U. (1992), â€Å"Risk Society: Towards a New Modernity†, London, Sage. 42 Beck, U. (5/11/01) â€Å"The Fight for a Cosmopolit an Future† in The New Statesman Online.