Globalisation and Cross Cultural Management Free Essays

Globalization and cross cultural management Case: globalization of health care- shortage of radiologists in the US and demand is twice as large as the rate of graduation. Solution is to send Images over the internet to be interpreted by radiologists in India? In 2004 170,000 triggers visited India for medical treatments and is expected to grow at 15% for the next several years Globalization: The shift toward a more integrated and interdependent world economy. Globalization of markets: the merging of distinctly separate national markets into a global market place. We will write a custom essay sample on Globalisation and Cross Cultural Management or any similar topic only for you Order Now This includes falling barriers to cross border trade (which have made It easier to sell Internationally), the convergence of global tastes and preferences and the development of standardized products suited to a world market. Difficulties with the globalization of markets generally arise from significant differences among these national markets, country specific marketing strategies and varied product mixes. Globalization of production: refers to the sourcing of goods and services from locations around the world to take advantage of differences In the cost or quality of the factors of production (land, labor, capital). Increasingly companies are taking advantage of modern communications technology, and particularly the Internet, to outsource service activities to low cost producers in other nations. Outsourcing of productive activities to difference suppliers results in the creation of products that are global in nature. Impediments to the globalization tot production include: formal and informal barriers to trade, barriers to FED, transportation costs. Issues associated with economic risk and Issues associated with political risk. Drivers of globalization: Two macro factors seem to underlie the trend toward greater globalization. These Include- * decline In barriers to the free flow of goods, services and capital that has occurred since WWW * technological change Declining trade and Investment barriers: During the sass’s and ass, many of the nation states of the world erected formidable barriers to international trade and FED. Advanced industrial nations of the west committed themselves after WWW to removing barriers to the free flow of goods, services and capital between nations. Technology: Lowering of trade barriers made globalization possible; technology has made it a real TTY. Since the end tot 2 the world NAS seen advances in miscommunication, information processing and transportation technology. Advantages of globalization: * Lower prices for goods and services * economic growth stimulation * increase in consumer income * creates Jobs * countries specialist in production of goods and services that are produced most efficiently Disadvantages of globalization: * Destroys manufacturing Jobs in wealthy, advanced countries * Wage rates of unskilled workers in advanced countries declines * companies move to countries with fewer labor and environment regulations * loss of sovereignty What is culture? Culture is coherent (each fragment of a culture makes sense if you now the whole tapestry of culture), Culture is learned (families, friends, media), Culture is the view of a group of people (nation, religion, clan, family), culture ranks what is important (values) and culture furnishes attitudes and dictates behavior. There are two main elements of culture. These include: on stage or visible elements of culture and back stage or invisible elements of culture. Transactional culture is the culture that develops when cultures meet and have to collaborate (I. E an NC). Model of culture: Artifacts and Products Explicit Onstage-culture Norms and Values Off-stage culture Basic Assumptions Implicit Off stage culture: includes aspects such as the Susie culture where we give everybody a fair go, and the Chinese culture where they have the importance of Guiana in society and not losing face, or in Thai culture where there is a high respect for superiors and harmony/balance. Understanding dimensions and theories of culture part one (Trampers) What is culture? : Culture is acquired knowledge that people use to interpret experience and generate social behavior. This knowledge forms values, creates attitudes, and influences behavior. Characteristics tot culture: * Learned * Shared * Trans-generational Symbolic * Patterned * Adaptive A model of culture: Understanding culture: Cultures do not vary in essence (people spend their time trying to solve similar problems) but in their preference for certain solutions. Egg is how to treat a flu (sickness) in a country. Understanding culture is to understand the underlying meanings attached by a given community/group of people to those universal concepts and activities, and to the behaviors they incur. Values in culture: Values are learned from the culture from which the individual is reared. Differences in cultural values may result in varying management practices ND involve the basic convictions that people have about right and wrong, good and bad etc. Value similarities and differences across cultures: 1 . Strong relationship between level of managerial success and personal values 2. Value patterns predict managerial success and can be used in selection/placement decisions 3. Country differences in relationship between values and success; however findings across US, Japan, Australia and India are similar 4. Values of more successful managers favor pragmatic, dynamic, achievement oriented and active role in the interaction with others 5. Values of less successful managers tend toward tactic and passive values; relatively passive roles in interacting with others How culture affects managerial approaches: * Decentralized and Centralized decision making: In some societies, top managers make all important organizational decisions. In others, these decisions are diffused throughout the enterprise, and middle and lower level managers actively participate in, and make, key decisions. Safety Vs. Risk: In some societies, organizational decision makers are risk averse and have great difficulty with conditions of uncertainty. In others, risk taking is encouraged, and decision making under Individual Vs. Group rewards: In some countries, uncertainty is common. Personnel who do outstanding work are given individual rewards in the form of bonuses and commissions. In others, cultural norms require grou p rewards, and individual rewards are frowned upon. * Informal procedures Vs. formal procedures: In some societies, much is accomplished through informal meaner. In others, formal procedures are set forth and followed rigidly. * High organizational loyalty vs. low organizational loyalty: In some societies, people identity very strongly with their organization or employer. In others, people identify with their occupational roof, such as engineer or mechanic. * Cooperation Vs. Competition: Some societies encourage cooperation between their people while others encourage competition between their people. * Short term Vs. Long term horizons: Some cultures focus most heavily on short term horizons, such as short-range goals of profit and efficiency. Others are more interested in long-range goals, such as market share and technological developments. * Stability Vs. Innovation: The culture of some countries encourages stability and resistance to change. The culture of others puts high value on innovation and change. Trampers’ Cultural Dimensions: . Universalism Vs. Particulars: Universalism implies that ideas and practices can be applied everywhere. High universalism countries have lots of formal rules and closely adhere to business contracts (egg Canada, US, HECK). Particulars is where the circumstances dictate how ideas/practices apply; high particulars countries often modify contracts (egg China, South Korea) 2. Individualism Vs. Communitarian’s: Individualism focuses on people as individuals. Countries with high individualism stress personal and individual manners- they assume great personal responsibility (egg Canada, Thailand, US, Japan). Communitarian’s is where people regard themselves as part of a group. They value group related issues, committee decisions and Joint responsibility (egg Malaysia). 3. Neutral Vs. Emotional: Neutral is a culture where emotions are not shown and people act stoically and maintain composure (egg Japan and UK). In emotional, emotions are expressed openly and naturally- people smile a lot, talk loudly and greet catheter with enthusiasm (egg Mexico, Netherlands, Switzerland). 4. Specific Vs. Diffuse: Specific is defined as a large public space shared with others and their small private space if guarded closely. High specific cultures the people are open and extroverted, with a strong separation between work and personal life (egg UK and US). For diffuse, public and private spaces are similar size, where the public space is guarded because it is shared with the private space; people are indirect and introverted with their work/ private life being closely linked (egg China, Spain). 5. Achievement Vs. Ascription: Achievement oriented is a status based on how well functions are performed (Austria, US). An ascription function is status based on who or what the person is (China, Indonesia). 6. Time: Sequential is where here is only one activity at a time, appointments are kept strictly and plans are followed as they are laid out (US). Synchronous involves multi tasking and making approximate appointments alongside schedules that are subordinate to relationships (egg France, Mexico). Present Vs. Future: Future more important in Italy, US; Present more important in Venezuela, Indonesia; all three time periods equally important in France and Belgium. 7. The Environment: Inner directed is where people believe in the control of outcomes (US, Greece, Japan) and outer directed is where people believe in letting things take their own course (China, How to cite Globalisation and Cross Cultural Management, Papers

An Analysis on a Mcdonalds Advertisement Essay Example For Students

An Analysis on a Mcdonalds Advertisement Essay Analysis on the McDonalds advertisement We have recently been studying the McDonalds advertisement where they have stated that they are helping Aussie families and the future sports stars of tomorrow. They tell us that they are hand in hand with Australian families, but they only say that because they want more families to go to their local McDonalds store. But are they really helping the sports stars. Yes of course they are but they aren’t really helping out as much as they say. Yeah they do sponsor teams but really I am sure that they only do it for the advertisement on the jerseys. Did you notice that after most sports game most coaches have a McDonalds voucher to give out. That is another way how McDonalds thinks that they are helping young sports stars; by giving these vouchers out they are encouraging the young participants but they are also showing them the way to unhealthy food. This makes them work harder just so they can get McDonalds. They use informal and colloquial language to persuade people of various communities to go and buy this unhealthy food so they can support their sons/daughters/relatives or really anyone that is participating in sport, so that they can support their dreams and their goals for their future goals. Also because they want to make sure that these kids can have a proper life, not one that is totally messed up because no one was there to help them reach their dreams and goals. They believe that they are giving something back to the community by helping the young stars of tomorrow. They figure that by helping people think that they are doing the right thing but really they are leading the children down the path of unhealthy food which may end up leading to being obese or even having diabetes which isn’t a good life for anyone. I am sure that you wouldn’t want to be a young adult with diabetes, obese or have a serious heart condition. I am sure that the answer to that is no. I think that the McDonalds advertisement team should really think about what they are leading people to before they publish any real advertisement in the future.

On Invisible Bullets Essay Example

On Invisible Bullets Paper An outline on Invisible Bullets As we analyze the essay, we realize that the writer discusses a material in each paragraph, and carefully relates it to the next paragraph. He supports his ideas with concrete examples related to the main topic sentence, which is the relation between orthodoxy and subversion in Harriot’s book. In the first paragraph, we have a motivator mixed with a background of the ideas he wants to discuss. In the next paragraph he wisely supports that background by giving different examples. In the third paragraph he emphasizes on some specific words such as â€Å"religion† which he uses several times through the essay. For each paragraph, we can find a topic sentence, and through the paragraph he brings arguments and supports and examples for that topic sentence, which in general, is itself supporting the main topic sentence and the main idea of the text. The paragraphs follow each other very smoothly and the essay grows in an evolutionary way. Each part is the result of the previous part. It’s quite a kind of classical text. We don’t have jumps and fragmentation. What attracts the reader’s attention is the use of quotation marks. Each time that he wants to use someone else’s words, he uses quotation marks, even if it contains only of one single word. We will write a custom essay sample on On Invisible Bullets specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on On Invisible Bullets specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on On Invisible Bullets specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The use of punctuation is also very eye catching. As we go through out the essay, we see that he makes the most benefit of each subject matter and each example and discusses them from all possible related points of view. So he is very good at supporting his idea. He gives us a fool complete satisfying argumentation. He had made benefit of every word or phrase written by Harriot which can be used in order to support his discussion. In the last three paragraphs he repeats his main ideas such as â€Å"the condition of power† and â€Å"continuity of subversion†; and even in the few last sentences, he doesn’t ignore the use of Harriot’s words and ideas.

The Pros And Cons Of Fitting In Essay Essays

The Pros And Cons Of Fitting In Essay Essays The Pros And Cons Of Fitting In Essay Essay The Pros And Cons Of Fitting In Essay Essay Essay Topic: Pros and Cons In the existent universe today. people from every background have faced the world of societal life and where they believe they would boom the most. Although we think we are ever right in any given state of affairs. it neer truly turns out that manner and brushs with adjustment in and the determinations made to be included in a certain societal group acknowledge the fact that sometimes we are incorrect. A quotation mark by Rick Warren states. â€Å"Those who follow the crowd normally get lost in it. † This remark describes that one time we become a follower. it is hard to alter. and may go trapped in the life of making Acts of the Apostless and workss for the leader who takes all the recognition while we starve merely to maintain in the class of a follower. In both short narratives. â€Å"Greasy Lake† and â€Å"Initiation† . the chief characters are confronted with determinations that makes it really hard for them to draw themselves out of. The two narratives normally portion the same message that adulthood. enticements. and peer-pressure arise all the clip and how we deal with it determines our hereafter. In â€Å"Greasy Lake† . the narrarator faces actions he does that inquiries if the description associated with him is the individual he truly is or if he is merely a regular adolescent who thinks he already grew up and matured. For illustration. the writer in â€Å"Greasy Lake† . describes the chief character as a tough adolescent who takes on the function of an grownup even when he shows immatureness at minutes. â€Å"We were all unsafe characters so. We wore torn-up leather jackets. slouched around with toothpicks in our oral cavities. sniffed gum and quintessence and what person claimed was cocaine† ( T. Coraghessan Boyle ) . The characters in this short narrative do Acts of the Apostless that they will reflect subsequently on in life and recognize that they were merely infantile and highly nescient. Although most of them were 18 or above. and felt like nil could halt them. one adult male stood up to the three male childs and set them to the trial. In add-on. once the state of affairs got out of manus. they fled the scene proving that even the toughest teens have character defects. The fact that they fled like cowards truly questioned their unity and adulthood. but besides made people think if they would make the same even if it made them look like a â€Å"pansy† . Even with their dorsums against the wall they could care less how they looked at the minute because like any other human being safety comes foremost. Furthermore. the storyteller even sees himself as a kid afraid of turning up. but takes on the function of a tough person to suit in when he states. â€Å"Understood. and stumbled back in horror and repugnance. my head yanked in six different waies ( I was nineteen a mere kid. an baby. and here in the infinite of five proceedingss I’d struck down one oily character and blundered into an boggy carcas of a 2nd. ) † ( T. Coraghessan Boyle ) . The storyteller exploits the fact that he was still a kid who neer thought before he acted and in this case could hold cost him his life. He realizes that being a tough person suits other people. but non himself. All in all. the male childs came to the decision that being â€Å"bad† expressions and feels cool but frequently can take to tragic results when they give in to peer-pressure. In â€Å"Initiation† by Sylvia Plath. a inquiry pops up: Are they making these Acts of the Apostless because they want to or because everyone else does it? For illustration. the chief character in Initiation. Millicent. waited for a really long clip to acquire a opportunity to be initiated in a privy sorority. but realizes that the jobs assigned to her makes her inquiry if she truly wants to travel through with the whole induction. â€Å"Millicent looked down the aisle of the crowded aisle and felt all of a sudden rather ill. She thought: How will I of all time do it. traveling up to all those stony-faced people who are gazing in cold blood out of the window†¦Ã¢â‚¬  ( Sylvia Plath ) . Certain induction darings like this one made Millicent repent desiring to be a portion of the sorority. but she overcame her frights and did all of the assignments asked upon her and it truly showed adulthood. Although Millicent did every job her big-sister asked her to make. she disobeyed the orders on occasion. and hence got punished for sometimes even smiling at a male child. There came a point in which Millicent became fearless of any act requested of her and the responsibilities became a game for her. â€Å"And from that clip on. inductions didn’t bother Millicent at all. She went gaily about Lewiston Square from shop to hive away inquiring for broken crackers and Mangifera indicas. and she merely laughed indoors when people stared and so brightened. replying her brainsick inquiries as if she were rather serious and truly a individual of consequence† ( Sylvia Plath ) . Initially. Millicent was a typical topic of how every miss acts in the procedure of induction. but Millicent came out of her shell. showed no failings. instead adulthood throughout the full procedure. â€Å"Greasy Lake† and â€Å"Initiation† are both narratives that truly stress the importance of adulthood and in state of affairss we need to maintain that adulthood and act like grownups instead than kids. In fact. in â€Å"Greasy Lake† the storyteller attempts a God atrocious act with the aid of his two brothers demoing no attention for others. In â€Å"Initiation† . Millicent completes her long fit end of going a member of the sorority. but alternatively shows adulthood in puting off from the group and feeling that she does non necessitate to be a follower to do friends or acquire noticed. â€Å"It was merely that she had learned there were other ways of acquiring into the great hall. blazing with visible radiations. of people and of life† ( Sylvia Plath ) . This quotation mark defines the exact message that dividing from the flock works out the best because one time that happens people will desire to be around an independent individual. Even wh en the safest function points to a follower. larning to step aside and see the other life of a leader exploits adulthood. Besides. in â€Å"Greasy Lake† . the storyteller shows his manhood. but right when the features of a â€Å"badass† slices. he commits the worst and feelings about him alteration. indicating out the bad features. â€Å"I came at him and brought the tyre Fe down across his ear. The consequence was instantaneous. astonishing. He was a stunt adult male and this was Hollywood. he was a large grimacing toothy balloon and I was a adult male with a consecutive pin. He collapsed. Wet his bloomerss. Went free in his boots† ( T. Coraghessan Boyle ) . The storyteller brought down what seemed to be a overly tough homo who was larger than most and held his ain against the three male childs until he was knocked out by a tyre Fe. The storyteller now felt unstoppable at this minute. and took it out on the man’s married woman who was wholly incapacitated. All together. the storyteller and Millicent made picks that affected their hereafter enormously positively or negatively . Peer-pressure frequently affiliates with bad vibraphones and elements. but how one deals with the state of affairs determines what sort of individual he/she reflects. Therefore. one often gets caught up in all the effects of peer-pressure and when that individual goes away with the act forced upon them. worse state of affairss stand in their manner. In add-on. the universe of peer-pressure quarries on the failings and exposure of people and attracts the incorrect crowd. In order to remain out of peer-pressure. the word â€Å"no† stands the biggest opportunity against the enticements that arise all the clip in people’s teenage old ages and sometimes subsequently on in life. All in all. people do non recognize how strong and affectional peer-pressure becomes. and one time entangled in the midst of it. the chance of avoiding it is highly hard.

Human Resource Development as the Expansion of Human Capital in an Org Essay - 10

Human Resource Development as the Expansion of Human Capital in an Organization - Essay Example Therefore, this helps to provide competence and effectiveness in Human resources. An organization should start development programs and training in order to develop skills and competencies in its employees. Human resources development also brings about employee commitment. For employees to be committed to their jobs, they need to be well trained and efficient. This can only be achieved through Human Resources Development. Development opportunities and proper training help employees to feel committed to the organization. Human Resources Development also brings about job satisfaction. If well developed and oriented, employees tend to portray a higher degree of commitment. Development and orientation help to inspire employees for a better performance. In the long run, this brings about job satisfaction. Development of human knowledge through Human Resources development helps the employees to get career development opportunities. Career development involves personal development efforts. This can be achieved by matching development opportunities and training with the employee’s desires. According to Elevator speech 1 by Dimitri Taylor, Human Resources development improves a company’s with its knowledge about how human capital affects organizational success. Human Resources development equips managers with information on how they can improve the success of the organization through employees. Human Resources Development also ensures that there are safety measures in an organization. It does this by ensuring that the organization follows the U.S Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations. Safety in the work environment may be achieved through maintenance of accurate records and work logs. Human Resources Development also ensures safety in an organization through the development of programs, which reduce the number of workplace injuries. Maintenance of safety in an organization is important because it ensures efficiency in the organization’s operations.

Arms And The Man Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Arms And The Man - Essay Example The second act takes place four months later after the war ends and Sergius and Major Petkoff return. Though Raina and Sergius declare eternal love, they are only acting and their real feelings are very different. Sergius soon begins flirting with the maid Louka, and Raina’s thoughts keep returning to her chocolate crà ¨me soldier. Bluntschli comes back to return a coat he has borrowed from the Petkoffs and now that the war is over he is welcomed by Sergius and Major Petkoff and even helps them in moving their armies since as a pragmatist, he is willing to fight for whichever side pays. Bluntschli makes fun of Raina's romantic pretentiousness; though he is secretly attracted to her. Things come to head when Louka in trying to get Sergius for her self-tells him about Raina and Bluntschli. Sergius gets jealous and challenges Bluntschli to a duel, he accuses Raina of secretly trysting with Bluntschli, but they both deny this. Bluntschli tries to help Sergius repair things with R aina, but it is too late as Sergius’s philandering with Louka also comes out also. During all this, a letter arrives informing Bluntschli that his father has died and that he must return to Switzerland immediately. Sergius finally rejects his romantic ideals and declares his intention to marry Louka. When Bluntschli discovers Raina is twenty-three and not a teenager as he had thought he quickly asks her parents for her hand in marriage. When they find out how wealthy he is, they agree, and after some token resistance, Raina submits 1.

The Dogon Tribe Of Mali Cultural Studies Essay

The Dogon Tribe Of Mali Cultural Studies Essay Due to the history of African slavery in the United States I am unable to find out my ethnicity so I have decided to do an anthropological analysis on the Dogon tribe of Mali. Most of the Dogon inhabit the southwestern part of Mali near the southern bend of the Niger River. There are some members of the Dogon tribe that live in northern Mali, but this group of people consists of pastoralists because the land is arid and barren. The Dogon people are internationally known for their art work. It must also be noted that the villages of the Dogon people vary in name, and that there exists minor differences from village to village. An example is the Dogon village of Bondum who are descendants of a warlike people compared to the Arou and Dyon tribes who despite their tribal origins still jointly use the surname Dolo. The origins of the Dogon are not concrete, but the myth is that they were created by the gods who came from the skies in a space ship. The most notable account is that they migrated from Libya into Guinea, and then Mauritania due to Muslim conquests that were trying to convert them to Islam. Oral tradition states that somewhere around the 15th century the Dogon settled near the Sanga region which is west of Bandiagara. Due to their forced migration the Dogon settled in the Cliffs of Bandiagara because it offered a defensive position from their Muslim neighbors. The Dogon also moved near the Niger River simply because of its water resources. The areas in which most of the Dogon live i.e. the Cliffs of Bandiagara, Bongo Plains, and the Dogon Plateau are made up of cliffs of sandstone, and hot and dry desert where rain is rare. The areas in which the Dogon live receive offshore wind currents that bring fog and dew. The neighboring countries around Mali are Algeria to the northeast, Mauritania to the west, Burkina Faso to the south, and Niger to the southeast. The climate ranges from subtropical to arid; hot and dry between February and June, rainy, humid, and mild from June to November, and cool and dry from November to February. Their land resources in terms of arable land and availability of water are scarce with only 3.76% land that is capable of farming. National figures for the state of Mali put irrigated land mass at 2,360 sq km with a renewable water amount of 100 cu km. The amount of drinkable water per domestic/industrial/agricultural is a total of 6.55 cu km/yr (9%/1%/90%) with a per capita average of 484 cu m/yr . The Dogon number anywhere from 400,000 to 800,000, and they make up 0.02% to 0.05% of the total population of Mali which numbers 13,443,225 (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ml.html). The Dogon people have undergone a social cultural shift since the past century primarily due to the Dogon region being a popular tourist destination in Mali. The Dogon are mainly known for their mask dances, wooden Tellem sculptures, architecture, and being called peasant warriors in the past that dwelled in secluded and separated villages (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogon_people). Given the physical nature of Malià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s land, and due to the issues of desertification, soil erosion, and inadequate access to water the Dogon tribe are faced with providing food. For the most part the Dogon peopleà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s subsistence strategy is that of agriculture with a small minority in the north who are pastoralist, some who may arguably be classified as gatherers, and a percentage that use industrial type techniques in making arts and crafts. HUNTER/GATHER Villagers use the subsistence strategy of gathering not food, but bat guano on the Cliffs of Bandiagara. The guano is used as fertilizer for their crops like cotton, papayas, onions, rice, beans, tobacco, and it is also sold in the market for 4 dollars per sack. Another gathering technique that is used which may be considered as economic, but also as a strategy to subsist is that some males of a Dogon village will climb the top of the Bandiagara Cliffs looking for Tellem artifacts which they in turn sell to west antique collectors. The Dogon use the technology of rope made out of Baobab bark to climb and retrieve both bat guano, and Tellem artifacts on top of the Bandiagara Cliffs. PASTORALISM The subsistence strategy of pastoralists in Dogon country is relatively small in comparison to other subsistence strategies. This practice is conducted in the arid and barren land of northern Mali where only pastoralists can make a living. The most common animals raised are sheep, goats, chickens, and some cows. There are even some who raise bees in their villages. Nowadays having animals is not used for subsistence, but is a sign of economical status. It is highly likely that the pasotralists use simple herding tools such as fences to keep their animals safely together so that they do not escape HORTICULTURE The subsistence strategy of horticulture makes up 90% of the Dogon peopleà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s subsistence strategy. The Dogon peopleà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s main crops are millet, sorghum, rice, onions, beans, tobacco, and sorrel, sesame, maize, peanuts, yams, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, okra, watermelons, papayas, some figs, gourds, and cotton. In the village of Sangha, onions are grown, and in the village of Kani Kombal millet is their main crop. The division of labor is carried out by the people of the various Dogon villages. I would imagine that the males do most of the hard physical labor like planting, constructing make shift farm land and the like, and the females most likely take the crops that are harvested and store crops in granaries, pound millet, etc. I could not find an amount of how much is produce by the Dogon people in my research, but I assume that it is enough to feed themselves, and an ample supply to sell in the local markets. Given the nature of the land some of the farming techniques are unique to grow crops on what little ground is fertile. One technique that they use is called hillside terracing is small stones that hold pockets of earth in place. The Dogon use their bare hands to construct these terraces which are normally built on stony slopes, and the Dogon even make their own sections of fertile land by building these terraces, and bringing in soil from the outside. Another technique that the Dogon use is what is called transported earth gardens. This involves the creation of farmland on bare rocks using small stones, and building an intricate network of plots. As stated earlier the Dogon use soil found elsewhere, and use this with other things like compost or guano as fertilizer to make these plots fertile for growth. I cannot tell you what tools are used besides their hands because I could not find any information on it. I do know that the Dogon severely lack tools in order to improve their farming techniques on such barren land, but they are able to grow something out of what little they have and have been doing so for centuries. I would imagine that due to the lack of modern day tools that are used in more economically developed countries the Dogon use their bare hands, sticks, and any other means to dig holes, setup farm areas, and possibly animals to move large amounts of crops in order that they can survive. All of these subsistence strategies are intertwined to sustain the Dogon population, and work for the benefit of the whole. POLITICS The politics of the Dogon are very simple in the fact that real power lies with the Mali government. Granted there are minor things that the Dogon may have control over within their villages, authority rest on the central government. The political system within the Dogon community is organized on social status that a male has acquired within the group, and this is further defined by descent and/or locality. As with many other nations around the world who are primarily democratic in practice the Dogon do not have this type of political system. I assume this is because that given such a small group of people who know one another, and that their culture emphasizes a great level of respect towards their elders the Dogon seem to view their chief like those of Bhutan who see their king i.e. great admiration and respect. The Dogon tribes are a large chiefdom of patrilinealy organized villages where the power lies with the oldest male with social status, and at times the one who is also a descendant of someone in his family that previously held power. Legitimacy and power is based upon social status, age, descent, and authority is decided by this head chief. Their whole political system is something that is rarely found because they are a secluded group of people, very homogeneous in culture, and work together for the benefit of one another so there is not that need for some form of centralized organization as the West has in which power lies in the hands of a few, and where they have supreme authority to do as they will. I could not even find anything on conflict resolution, and this is not to say that they do not have their problems with one another or other villages, but it seems that the Dogon do what it is that they do and they are at harmony. I think this way of how the Dogon do things is deeply tied into their religious beliefs which I will discuss later. ECONOMICS The Dogon use negative reciprocity in the market places which they frequent five times a week with others outside the ethnic group, and western travelers in search of Dogon antiques. They also use generalized reciprocity like the trading of bat guano, or tobacco in exchange for other items from village to village which creates a level of cooperation and alliance with their neighbors. The Dogon use market exchange to exchange what they have grown with other people, and sell arts and crafts to foreign tourists. As stated earlier the Dogon produce various agricultural products mainly to sustain themselves, and there are no numbers available to me to determine how much of this is produced and sold. Many art collectors come in search of ancient Dogon tellem artifacts which are sold in the market place to would-be Indiana Jones westerners. Another aspect of the Dogon economic sector is that in recent decades they have been opening up lodges for tourist to stay at that even offer air conditioning and hot showers. The tourism industry has brought some economic growth, but this subsistence strategy is extremely small in comparison to their main strategy of horticulture. I could not find out the type of currency that they use, but I do imagine that it is at least a European based currency that is traded seeing as there are only twenty global currencies used which mostly consist of European based economies. The Dogon do not have an import/export system in place. In terms of what they sell they are mostly known for their large masks, and they are also known for their onions which are sold as far as the markets of Sangha. Most trading that takes place is usually between other villages, different ethnic groups, and tourists. SOCIAL ORGANIZATION Contemporary marriage in Dogon tribes is monogamy, but within the patrilineal system of the Dogon tribe polygyny can occur. Marriage is important to the Dogon people, but not necessarily for the marriage itself which is not played down, but the bonds that are created from one family to the. The Dogon people find divorce to be a serious matte that the entire village gets involved if there exists those who wish to divorce from their spouse. The Dogon people focus on harmony not just in their villages, but also in their marriages. Partners are setup in arranged marriages by their parents, and in the event that a divorce is permitted and the individual wants another partner it is up to that person to choose without parental involvement. Post marital residence is based upon the timing of the first child. Before the birth of the child the wife stays with her parents while the husband lives in a bachelors residence until the baby is born. After this the married couple moves into a vacant quarter which normally is within the settings of an extended family. As stated above family is important to the Dogon people, and they strongly orient themselves on harmony. As stated, the Dogon trace lineage, and base kinship on a patrilineal system. RELIGION The religion of the Dogon people is COMPLEX and highly INTRICATE that a book of exceptional proportions could be written. Within the Dogon community most believe in animism, and their belief is focused on spirits called the Nommo that were with their ancestors centuries ago as they fled their Muslim oppressors. There also exists a minority of the Dogon who practice two monotheistic religions i.e. Islam and Christianity. Their religious practices vary greatly due to some of the cults the Dogon associate themselves with. One called, the Awa, are a cult of the masks who are a major part of the religious worship in Dogon society. The Awa have a ritual that I find interesting where only the men are allowed, and their society has strict obligations, etiquette, and a secret language. Within this group certain young men called the olubaru undergo a rite of passage, and it is their job to preserve the traditions of the Awa. The olubaru are initiated into what is called the Sigi ceremony which is held every once every sixty years. The ceremony involves namely the large ornate masks, chants, and dancing which happens four weeks before the sowing festival of the Sigi ceremony, and the Dama festival which is a ceremony held towards the end of the mourning of those who have passed away (http://dickinsg.intrasun.tcnj.edu/diaspora/dogon.html). OTHER THINGS OF INTEREST One thing that interested me is the complexity of their religion. Their three main cults: the Awa, the Lebe, and the Binu. All of which tie themselves into the Nommo, but which all have little differences in their rituals. The Awa is known for being a cult of the dead, the Lebe are focused on the agricultural cycle, and the Binu who are totemic. All Dogon believe in God which they call Amma, and they give prayers and supplications to Amma, but most religious practices are around the Nommo who are considered to be the offspring of Amma. The Dogon believe in other smaller spirits who inhabit the trees, water, rocks, and other things in nature which makes me believe that the Dogon have a close tie to the naturally world because of their daily interaction with nature in order to survive. As stated above, the Dogon religious beliefs are complex and vary greatly from age and social status. What I also found out about religious practices which may be in other aspects of their culture as a w hole is that the women do not have such complex rituals as do the men especially the Awa. Something else that interests me is that they drink beer that is made out of millet. I could not find anything on how it is made, but I would like to try some of it. There was a video that I watched which showed the millet beer as a milky white substance, and it is served in large salad type bowls before groups of Dogon men. It seems to be usually consumed during an event, and it surprises me that a group of people undergo this with such similarities to other cultures i.e. United States Super Bowl Sunday. There is not really much else that interested me, but I will say that I like the perceived simplicity of the Dogon people. They are a homogeneous bunch of people do what it is that they do, and for the most part are cut off from the rest of the world. A group of people who live in harmony with one another, are centered on their religious beliefs and practices, and carry on with their lives whereas in the United States we live in a continual state of noise, aggressiveness, and spiritual pain. ARTICLE I have chosen to use an article that is dealing with terrorism in the region. I believe this has an impact on not just the Dogon people, but also the people in the region because Islam has grown in the past years in the area. I do not know the number of Muslims among the Dogon, but Mali does posses a great number of Muslims, and those that choose to use Islam as a means to further their own political agendas can cause regional conflict within Mali and other sub-Saharan Africa countries. Seeing as the Dogon mostly live near the Niger River most people naturally live near a source of water, and coupled with the extreme levels of poverty that are rampant it can become a hotbed for new terrorist activity.