Influence of Culture on Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Influence of Culture on Accounting - Essay Example Uniform implementation of International Accounting Standards is taking a long time mainly for this reason. The concerns and constraints of each country are different and most of the countries have well developed accounting norms and standards which they feel are quite adequate for their needs. It is another story that a reader from an alien culture might find the accounts presentation style too elaborate or too brief Dieter Ordelheide (2004 p.269) states that accounting is a social institution. He further states that Accounting is concerned with nothing less than the conceptualization of capital, its concrete expression in numbers, as well as its budgeting and monitoring, and thus with a societal institution that is so central to our economic system that it has given it its name. We might talk of global and market driven economies, the ways and means of determining the income or assets are the core of the entire financial and economic set up. Each cultural group uses these to tray and better their financial position within the culture they belong to. "Professionalism versus Statutory Control-a preference for the exercise of individual professional judgment and the maintenance of professional self-regulation as opposed to compliance with prescriptive level requirements and statutory control. Uniformity versus Flexibility-a preference for the enforcement of uniform accounting practices between companies and for the consistent use of such practices over time as opposed to flexibility in accordance with the perceived circumstances of individual companies. Conservatism versus Optimism-a preference for a cautious approach to measurement so as to cope with the uncertainty of future events as opposed to a more optimistic, laissez-faire, risk-taking approach. Secrecy versus Transparency-a preference for confidentiality and the restriction of disclosure of information about the business only to those who are closely involved with its management and financing as opposed to a more transparent, open, and publicly accountable approach." Thus as per this hypothesis each of these conflicting factors have influenced the development of the accounting standards depending upon their prevalence and dominance in the cultures being referred to. To take the example of Greek economy where the businesses tend to be closely held and public participation is indirect at its best mainly in the form of lending by banks, the need for disclosure or window dressing balance sheets is negligent. So the accounting systems which developed were fairly simple such that the limited number of stakeholders can understand the basic numbers. Of course with integration within the EU the disclosure norms have become more complex still not as complex at other developed countries say USA or Canada. In Greece one suspects that the tax bureaucrats have had a strong hand in dictating the shape of accounting conventions which are still followed. The Greek business houses being closely held tend to be wary of disclosing information to competitors so it is uncommon to see segment

HMV Group Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

HMV Group - Case Study Example This report highlights the various strategic options available to the HMV Group as well as an analysis of the potential effectiveness of these new strategies based on the current strategic position of the organisation. an isolated incident which did not stem from higher consumer patronage and online sales, but from the sale of HMV Japan (Bryant, 2008). It appears that HMV Group was experiencing minimal sales volumes in the Japanese division of the company, thus the sale of this particular business unit was performed in order to increase total company liquidity and make the company's stock appear more viable for long-term investment. The implementation of the Japanese HMV division did not bring adequate sales results to the company, thus this was an initial failure at diversifying the company's total business portfolio. Additionally, and much to the surprise of the HMV Group leadership, the company experienced its best Christmas sales in December 2008, largely due to video game sales in the HMV division (Financial Times, 2008). This seems to have taken the company on a new strategic direction by January 2009, with a much higher focus on video game sales and less focus on music sales and downloads. The 3.0 Strategic options for HMV Group The company is currently facing a considerable amount of competition stemming from the rise of online retailers, the digital download environment competitors and also supermarkets which appear to be attempting to cash in on music and other digital media sales (Bryant). There is no research evidence which suggests why consumers are moving toward supermarkets and online retailers for their music and digital media selections, however since these competitors are eroding the firm's total profitability, the company needs to select several new strategies in order to build competitive advantage and emerge, again, as the leader in this type of digital format sales. Pricing Strategy: From a sales and marketing perspective, the company would benefit from taking both a price-based strategy and a differentiation strategy in order to build the type of sales growth expected by the company. In today's difficult economic environment, it is relatively common knowledge that many consumers have cut back on their spending habits due to fear of the short-term effect on personal consumer income. The company should adopt a low price strategy and a

Malcome X Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Malcome X - Essay Example For instance, Malcolm family was harassed a number of times by the ‘Ku Klux Klan’ group. The harassment made the family to move to Michigan. Nevertheless, the situation worsened when their house was set on blaze while the Whites watched the fire consume the entire house. The police force also watched as the house burnt down. In a few years, after the fire incidence, Malcolm’s father was found dead along the streets. Despite Little receiving threats of death from the White racists, the police force dismissed the claims of threats citing that Malcolm’s father committed a suicide. Malcolm’s mother suffered a shock as a result of Little’s demise. She was placed in a mental institution where she succumbed to death. These circumstances were experienced by Malcolm, whose father was a local activist. While in school, Malcolm claims that his schoolmates treated him like a pet as opposed to a human person. However, Malcolm was reported to be a diligent student in class, an aspect that saw him elected the class leader. Perhaps his life experiences led to his courageous stance while advocating the rights of blacks. Malcolm’s opponents accused him of propagating racism and violence. However, he remains amongst the most influential blacks in the US. Being a gifted and influential orator, a majority of his quotes are still honored by a large number of his followers, as well as the lovers of freedom, equality and justice among various races. In one sense, we were huddled in there, bonded together in seeking security, warmth and comfort from each other, and we didn’t know it. All of us, who might have probed space, cured cancer, or built industries, were, instead, black victims of the White’s social system (Malcolm 1). This is an emotional Malcolm’s quote that was recorded while giving a speech. The author specifically speaks about the ‘Harlem’ club. The author refers to the night club as a place that sees a multitude people of the same suffering, especially racism; they gather for a consolation and experiencing good time. The author refers to the crowd as a network of families. The night club is majorly perceived as a private place where the victims of racism find a rest. Malcolm saw a difference between the night club and the external racism among the whites. Generally, individuals that frequent the club are perceived as the victims of racism. These individuals understand the reality of capitalism, and are ready to tolerate the life of the ghetto. As a result, the night club has turned out to be a place where the blacks experience comfort. Although a large number of the blacks frequent the night club, a few of them understand the relationship between their survival and the network. Despite the regulars being belligerent and hustlers outside the club, they feel secure and comfortable while in the club. In addition, the quote reflects on the lost opportunities by the African-American masses. Malcolm refers to blacks as a society that is characterized by a hustling life. There are a number of competent blacks that would have begun successful businesses, but have perished in poverty due to lack of capital and opportunities. There are a good number of African-Americans that have

THE EARLY GUILTY PLEA DISCOUNT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

THE EARLY GUILTY PLEA DISCOUNT - Essay Example It also determines whether such discounts in any way create a penalty for offenders who plead not guilty thus exercising their right to trial. A sentencing discount refers to a particular reduction that is normally quantifiable and relating to a discrete factor and which the court apply after taking all other considerations of sentencing into account. They relate to post-offence conduct on offender’s part. An individual who has committed a criminal offense has some options in responding to accusations made against him or her. The rules of criminal procedure in a court of law allow an offender to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty and if the offender fails to enter any plea, the court enters a plea of not guilty on for the offender and then begins the trial (Howie, 2008). There has been heavy contest on the levels, aspects and the extent of discounting sentences for defendants who plead guilty. In the recent years, the Australia high court has also weighed in on the debate. It is a statutory requirement in Queensland that the court should take into account a guilty plea and if the court fails to reduce a sentence; it must state its reasons. However, if it reduces the sentence, it is not obliged to state what the definite reduction in sentence was. Actually, even without remorse, the court holds that there should be reduction in sentence. It has also been a requirement for a court to point out the way in which it is reducing a sentence, if it is reducing it as a following the plea. It may achieve a reduction by recommending an early parole. In determining sentence for the offence, a fact of unaccepted offer to plead guilty is relevant (Freiberg, 2006). Following the concern of the discrimination that two elemental notions in sentencing engendered, justices Callinan, Gaudron and Gummow had a joint judgment. They observed the

Cultural diversity and the challenge of innovation Essay

Cultural diversity and the challenge of innovation - Essay Example The effect of this change, aided as it is by the blinding speed of globalization’s driver ICT represented by the Internet, was more than enough to put every organization ready to become global or international. The change has set everybody on equal footing with the rest in terms of opportunities. With the change, business has to move faster if it does not want to be left behind. â€Å"Innovate or die,† warns Tom Peters, as if the options were a breeze. Of course, dying was not a desired option, and innovation, the one and only last, has the greatest impact on organizations as it touches on people and culture. One natural consequence of globalization and ICT is the sudden increase in the number and diversity of people in organizations. From educational institutions to tourism to every other business, there would be heightened people movement, and this was not only happening across nations. Some two decades ago, Cox (1994) talked about the relevance of cultural diversity in organizations. He wrote along the lines of an increasingly diverse workforce by reason of race, gender and nationality – a trend that was addressed at that time by such strategic concepts as cross-functional teams for competitive edge. He also noted the growing emphasis of companies to internationalize – a business activity that naturally required crossing of cultures – and the recognition given to cultural diversity as an influence to organizational productivity. The aim of this paper is to examine cultural diversity and determine how relevant it is in the effort of organizations to respond to the current changes that affect them. The paper shall attempt to answer the question â€Å"Is cultural diversity relevant to organizations?† by describing its dynamics and implications upon organizations, and if found to be still relevant, to identify how it can be made more useful in responding to the challenge of innovation. 2. Cultural Diversity Diversity is said to be right at the core of human development (Lamb and Bornstein, 2011). Every person is unique. By reason of his genetic configuration and psychology, a person will be different from another in the face of their similarities. That differentiation is what shows in his gender, age, color, birth, race, culture, health, sexual orientation and other dimensions. When this uniqueness is ranged against a social, economic or any collective setting, it produces a condition known as diversity (Diller, 2011). Culture People are different in many ways. When they meet with regularity, as in a workplace or as members of an aggrupation, people exhibit certain norms of conduct and follow certain procedures that taken together is known as culture. Culture is defined in different ways by different authors. Bodley (1994) sees culture as what people think and do, what they produce, their beliefs and values. Cant et al (2007) refer to culture as myths, values, customs, rituals, language and laws th at combine to form the basis for their behavior. Culture is seen as a peculiar way of behaving or believing which members share with one another (Briscoe and Schuler, 2004). Hofstede (1991) defines culture as the â€Å"collective programming of the human mind that sets the distinction of the members in relation to other groups.† In sum, culture can be described as a set of values, beliefs, and concepts that enable a group to make sense and meaning of its existence. It is also a collective expression that

Kao Corporation Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Kao Corporation - Case Study Example The older women consider the ease of use of diapers as a means of escape for the young mothers from working hard for their children (Kao Corporation 4). They consider the use of old clothes worn by the mothers as cloth diapers as a method of bonding between the mothers and the babies (Kao Corporation 3). This is especially true of the rural areas where, due to the joint family system, the older generation of women are actively involved in decision making concerning the younger couples (Kao Corporation 4). The fathers, on the other hand, are not involved with baby care as much as the ladies (Kao Corporation 4). Most of the diaper use is limited to the big metropolitan areas of Japan, like Tokyo (Kao Corporation 4); however, even in such markets, only fifteen percent of the potential households use disposable diapers (Kao Corporation 4). Other reasons of decreased use include the low quality of the diapers which can cause rash, high prices, cumbersome packaging requiring a lot of stora ge space, and diaper misfits with regard to baby size (Kao Corporation 5). When P & G launched their diaper brand, Pampers, in Japan in 1977, they faced several challenges and problems in marketing and sales, although still securing the majority of the market shares for diapers (Kao Corporation 1). The initial product quality of the Pampers was low, as they leaked and were not absorbent enough (Kao Corporation 5). This resulted in skin rash to the babies (Kao Corporation 5). Another reason for leaking was the inappropriate size of the diapers as compared to baby size, the size of the Pampers being often larger than was suitable, so that it was unable to fit, and so leaked (Kao

Ads Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ads - Essay Example The essay will dwell on the two aspects and will draw a conclusion based on the rating of the advertisement. The advert focuses on conformability to its customers while delivering services. The message being relayed by the advertisement is better service delivery. Legroom aspect in the advert is aimed at outlining the unique services the airline is aimed at providing. Comfort is what the company distinct itself from other competitor. The message is to create a loyal customer base and its conformability aspect is aimed at customers of higher end in the economy. The target group as per the advertisement is high profile personnel and other prominent individuals. The promotional aspect of the marketers involved in the design has succeeded in their target market providing the customers with services unique top what they are accustomed to. It has also succeeded in ensuring that it maintains the high quality and standards throughout the advertisement. Reading the customer tends is important while designing messaged to be portrayed in an advert. The market has a changing trend and hence messages b eing delivered by marketers should cover the matters at hand. Upon achieving the market share the messages needs to be adjusted to ensure the customers are maintained (Belch& Belch, 2014). The advert portrays an effort by delta to maintain its customers as little is done to describe the product being thus implying a prior knowledge by the customer. The other aspect in the advert is the visual support; the aspect works well in ensuring the customer gets a feeling of what the message is all about. The female on the seams relaxed and portrays the spacious aspect the message is advocating for. A message must be accompanied by visual or video aid to give it more appealing outlook. The two also reduces the changes of customers misinterpreting the meaning of the message. For instance the message in the advert states that ‘legroom isn’t just for exit