Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Impact of Motivation on workers productivity in the construction industry Essay Example for Free

Impact of Motivation on workers productivity in the construction industry Essay This is a research on the relationship between motivation and performance of workers in the Nigerian construction industry. It identifies a number of motivational schemes that enhance the performance of workers. Findings from the research on productivity of construction workers are reported. Two sets of questionnaires were employed in the study. One set was administered on management staff and the other on operatives. The study reveals that salaries paid to operatives in the study were below the stipulations of the Nigerian National Joint Industry Council. It further shows that operatives are rarely promoted, and operatives prefer financial incentives to nonfinancial incentives. The study recommends that increases in salary via promotion, overtime allowances and holidays with pay should be used as motivators (financial incentives) for increase in performance of construction workers (operatives). Keywords: construction, incentives, motivation, operatives, productivity. INTRODUCTION The output of the construction industry constitutes one-half of the gross capital, and three to eight percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in most countries (Arditi and Morkhtar 2000). Mee-Edoiye and Andawei (2000) declared that the employees in the civil and building construction industry of a country are the largest. The population of the workers compared to the whole workforce of a nation is significant. Anything done to the employees could either make or mar the quality of their work, the speed of progress,  the economy of the country and the social well-being of the workers. It follows from the foregoing therefore that workers should be well motivated for high performance and for the production of good quality products. However, despite this significant role the industry plays in the Nigerian national economy, the performance has not been impressive. Eldin and Egger (1990) noted that construction productivity has been declining steadily in spite of the rising cost and large labour intensive nature of construction projects around the world. The decline in the workers’ performance causes the failure of the building industry to deliver projects timely with the obvious consequences of cost overrun. Labour productivity according to Akindele (2003) is defined as labour output per day (man-day). This is often reduced by delayed, unclear or inadequate instructions, provision of poor tools and equipment, unbalanced work gangs, use of working method, lack of incentives, and failure to delegate authority from senior to lower level supervisors (Heap 1987). Aiyetan and Olotuah The productivity of individuals, which in turn affects the productivity of a company, is a very important parameter to watch as it measures a company’s competitive power. It is an indicator of a firm’s profit margin, a measure of the firm’s survival in business, a yardstick for remuneration of employees, and a means of recognition of hard work. LITERATURE REVIEW Productivity Productivity measures how efficiently resources are employed, It is defined as the ratio of a specific measure of output to a specific measure of input  per unit of labour and is measured as total output divided by the members of units of labour employed to produce that output Williams (1997) defines human capital (labour) as the accumulated knowledge, skill and experience of the labour force. As individual workers acquire more human capital, their productivity and hence their income grows. Labour comprises the broad category of human effort, both physical and mental directed towards productivity. Motivation Motivation is an art targeted to getting people work willingly, and an art of inducing one to behave in a particular manner to achieve a task. Mee-Edoiye and Andawei (2002) viewed motivation as a human engineering approach being triggered by the individual needs. Flippo (1982) defined motivation as a psychological process initiated by the emergence of needs involving a goal directed action and behaviour aimed at satisfying a particular desire. It is the inducement given to workers for higher output. Motivated behaviour has three basic characteristics: 1. It is sustained – it is maintained for a long time until satisfied. 2. It is goal-directed – it seeks to achieve an objective. 3. It results from a felt need – an urge directed towards a need. Several authors including Robert and GeneNeuport (1995), Williams (1997) and Cole (1999) have propounded theories to help to understand the human being and how to handle him to get goals achieved. The theories propounded include: 1. The Maslow’s Theory of Hierarchy of Needs: Abraham Maslow developed a needs–based theory of motivation. People are extraordinary complex creatures with many motives for behaviours on and off the job. Maslow (1954) identified and analyzed five basic needs, which he believed underlay all human behaviours, these needs relate to physiology (the needs for food water, air and sex), security (safety, the absence of illness), society or affiliation (friendship, interaction, love), esteem (respect and recognition), and self actualization (the ability to reach one’s potentials). These are perceptions for high performance and productivity of individuals. Before Maslow, most managers assumed that money primarily motivated people. With Maslow’s work, managers can evaluate their own actions, their companies conduct and their individual philosophies about people. Maslow’s needs theory presented a workable motivation framework for managers. 2. McGregor’s Hygiene Theories X and Y Motivation on workers productivity An unmet need can frustrate an employee and make him unproductive. Douglas McGregor published the human side of enterprise in 1960. In it, he explained that managers operate from one or two basic assumptions about human behaviour: Theory X and Theory Y. The first theory, the view traditionally held about labour, portrayed workers in industry as being lazy and needing to be coerced, controlled and directed. The second described people as McGregor thought them to be; responsible, willing to learn and given the proper incentives inherently motivated to exercise ingenuity and creativity. McGregor holds the view that the traditional way of treating people – regarding them as unthinking, uncaring robots – must change. Indeed, McGregor stressed that only by changing these assumptions could managers tap workers’ or labourers’ vast talents. He emphasized that what matters was how people were treated and valued in their work settings. He went further by advising man agers to give employees a chance to contribute, take control and responsibility. Table 1 shows the assumptions of Theories X and Y. With these theories, managers could discover what employees want from workplace, how to enlist their cooperation and commitment and how to unleash their talents, energy and creativity for their ultimate goal, which in most cases is high level of productivity. Familiarity with theories of motivation allows a manager an educated viewpoint from which to consider how to develop workers, capture commitment and develop a positive work environment. Table 1: Assumption about workers according to theory X and theory Y Theory X People basically dislike work and avoid it whenever possible Because most people dislike work, they have to be closely supervised and threatened with punishment to reach objectives. Most people have little creativity. They are not capable of solving problems. Rather, they must be directed. Most people have limited intellectual potential. Contribution above basic job performance should not be expected. Theory Y Most people find work as natural as play or rest and develop an attitude towards work based on their experience with it. People do not need to be threatened with punishment; they will work voluntarily toward organizational objectives to which they are committed. Most people possess a high degree of imagination, ingenuity and creativity with which to solve organizational problems. Although people have intellectual potential, modern industrial life utilizes only part of it. Source: Plunkett and Attener (1994) The core of theories X and Y is that a management philosophy influences the type of work climate the manager endeavours to create and ultimately, how the manager treats people. Frederick Herzberg’s two-factor theory developed in (1975) also called hygienemotivator. One set of the theory defines factors that lead to job satisfaction; these factors are called hygiene factors. Salary: To prevent job dissatisfaction, a manger should provide adequate wages, salaries, and fringe benefits. Job security: Company grievance procedures and seniority privileges contribute to high-quality hygiene. Aiyetan and Olotuah Working conditions: Managers ensure adequate heat, light, ventilation, and hours of work to prevent dissatisfaction. Status: Managers who are mindful of the importance of hygiene factors provide privileges, job titles, and other symbols of rank and position. Company policies: To prevent job dissatisfaction, managers should provide policies as guidelines for behaviour and administer the policies fairly. Quality of technical supervision: When employees are not able to receive answers to job-related questions, they become frustrated. Providing highquality technical supervision for employees prevents frustration. Quality of interpersonal relations among peers, supervisors, and subordinates: In an organization with high-quality hygiene factors, the workplace provides social opportunities as well as the chance to enjoy comfortable work-related relationships. The other set of factor the theory defines is that which produces job satisfaction and motivation called motivators. Achievement: The opportunity to accomplish something or contribute something of value can serve as a source of job satisfaction. Recognition: Wise managers let employees know that their efforts have been worthwhile and that management notes and appreciates them. Responsibility: The potential for acquiring new duties and responsibilities, through either job expansion or delegation, can be a powerful motivator for some workers. Advancement: The opportunity to improve one’s position because of job performance gives employees a clear reason for high performance. The work itself: When a task offers the opportunity for self-expression, personal satisfaction, and meaningful challenge, employees are likely to  undertake the task with enthusiasm. Possibility of growth: The opportunity to increase knowledge and personal development is likely to lead to job satisfaction. TYPES OF MOTIVATION Motivation can be classified into two categories. These are non-financial and financial incentives schemes. Non-financial motivation is intangible; it includes advancement, the work itself, responsibility, recognition, relations with co-workers, company policy and working institutions. Financial Incentive Scheme There are two areas into which financial incentives scheme fall; those of operatives and those of managers. According to Cole (1997), incentive scheme for managers include, extra payments or increase in salaries, fringe benefits covering such items as, car, sickness benefits, free education for managers’ children, and free holidays. Others are free lunches, free travel abroad with wife and family, access to newspapers and journals, free interest loan and free medical scheme (Pigors 1981). Financial Incentives Schemes to Operatives Cole (1997) gave a list of financial incentives to operatives, which include good holiday pay, extra pay for shift work and uncomfortable, dirty and unhealthy conditions, profit sharing, long service allowances, overtime availability when operatives require it, pension fund contribution by the company, death benefits and dependants, employee’s liability insurance and medical facility to operative’s family. METHODOLOGY The study was carried out in Nigeria, and random sampling technique was used for selecting firms for study. Some towns where construction activities are high were selected; one from each of the three parts of the country (the north, east and west). Abuja, Port-Harcourt and Lagos were chosen. Since construction processes are the same throughout the country, these towns were used as representative samples of the study area since all towns cannot be reached for the study due to the huge sum of money that would be required as well as the time needed for such an endeavour. The target population for the study was the management staff (architects, builders, quantity surveyors and engineers) and contractors. In order to obtain the sample size of the study, the Corporate Affairs Commission was visited to obtain the number of registered companies with them and particularly those that have their head offices in the selected towns. A total of 96 companies were listed (registered), the formula be low given by Siegel and Castellan (1988) was used to obtain the sample size. It gave a sample size of 16 companies. Data was collected from 74 questionnaires. The operatives were asked the kind of motivation the management gives to them and they prefer to indicate their productivity as high. The management staff was also asked the kind of motivation they give and that which operatives prefer for high productivity. The mean score of the sum of central tendency (statistical tool) was used for the analysis of data since parameters analyzed is small. Presentation and Analysis of Data from questionnaire type 1 (for management) Majority of the respondents, 33.33% showed that the salary paid is slightly below the Nigerian National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) agreement. For 27.27% construction firms pay exactly NJIC agreement, and 21.21% assert that salaries paid  construction workers are far below NJIC agreement, while 18.18% indicated that salaries paid construction workers is a little above NJIC. From the analysis, it could be seen that most of the organizations pay salary, which is below NJIC agreement, and this may affect the performance of workers negatively (Table 2) Table 2: Salary structure used compared with current NJIC agreement S/N Salary Structure Far above NJIC agreement A little above NJIC agreement Exactly NJIC agreement Slightly below NJIC agreement Far below NJIC agreement No. of Respondents 0 6 9 11 7 33 Percentage of Respondents 0% 18.18% 27.27% 33.33% 21.21% 100% Source: Fieldwork, 2005 Twenty nine percent (29%) of the organizations carry out promotion on company’s policy because of performance of workers. The study found out that promotion is not done on a regular basis, for example after every 3 years but based on the performance of workers (Table 3). Of all the motivating factors available in the construction industry, the most used for higher performance is overtime with 9.4% followed by health care services with 9.0% and thirdly by provision of transportation facility to and from work with 8.9%. The least used motivating factor is profit sharing with 3.3% followed by telephone services. The reason for overtime being used mostly as motivation for higher performance is that to the operatives, they receive money in return and while to the organization work done is increased. While health care services, which are free put confidence into workers to work hard, and when sick they will be taken adequate care of without spending money of their own (Table 4). As far as the operatives are concerned, the motivation they preferred most is holiday abroad with pay. The mean ranking is 7.79%. The likely reason that could be adduced for this is that, workers will be exposed to more experience in their field of work, to the latest available tools and equipment, better construction techniques/methods, which makes them become experts in their field and hence production will be faster and with higher quality. This will have a resultant effect on their cadre, as they will receive promotion. Increase in salary is the second most preferred motivating factor, which comes naturally. They will be able to send their children to good schools, feed well and have a sense of belonging in the society. The least preferred motivating factor is telephone services, followed by responsibility. This is because it is not a financial gain (Table 5). Presentation and Analysis of Data from Questionnaire Type 11 (For Operatives) Most (51.22%) operatives indicated that salaries paid them is a little below NJIC agreement. This makes workers not to work well as they feel cheated and thereby it affects productivity negatively (Table 6). The two groups agree that salaries paid workers are slightly below NJIC agreement. Most of the operatives (26.4%) have a view that promotion is given to those who have people to influence it for them. While 26.2% hold the opinion that promotion is based on performance, and another 26.2% opine that promotion is rarely done (Table 7). An increase in salary of workers makes them committed to hard work for high productivity. It is the first among all the factors ranked. Following this is promotion, which if regular keeps the workers focused on their job, due to the evaluation report that shall be made at the end of year and later compiled for use as promotion guide. Next to this is overtime, which increases the take home pay of the workers at the end of the month, and makes them to work harder. The least factors that could induce the workers to working hard are telephone services, responsibility and the work itself. The reason could be that they do not have financial reward to the operatives directly (Table 8). A comparison of the questionnaires shows that both groups agree that the salary paid to labourers is slightly lower than the NJIC recommendation. This is likely to affect the labourers’ productivity and may be one of the reasons that delay in delivery of projects is experienced on majority of projects. There is a difference of opinion on the policy of organizations on the promotion of operatives. While the management claims that it is done very regularly and fair, the operatives believe it is rarely done and if done at all it is for those who have godfathers. The most motivating factors according to the management are overtime pay, health care services and provision of transportation in this order, whereas the operatives opine that these are increase in salary, promotion and overtime pay. RECOMMENDATIONS The following recommendations are hereby made based on the analysis of data from the field and conclusion reached. 1.  Companies are requested to adjust their salary structure to reflect the NJIC recommendation; this will enhance the performance of workers. 2.  Management should be concerned with the welfare of the workers and their families. This will give the workers a sense of belonging and being appreciated will make them to be focused and completely committed to their work. 3.  Increase in salary; promotion, overtime and holiday with pay should be used as motivators for increase in performance of construction workers. 4.  Promotion should be done regularly and should be based on performance of workers. CONCLUSION The paper discusses the impact of motivation on the productivity of workers in the Nigerian construction industry. Since motivation is an inducement for higher output it should be accorded a right of place by employers of labour for the construction industry to achieve higher productivity, which will lead to greater contribution to the nation’s Gross Domestic Output. REFERENCES Akindele, O A (2003) Craftsmen and Labour Productivity in the Swaziland Construction Industry. CIDB 1st Postgraduate Conference, University of Withwatersrand, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Arditi, D and Mokhtar, K (2000) Trends in Productivity Improvement in the US Construction Industry. Construction Management and Economics, 18(2), 15-27 Cole G A (1997) Personal management, 1st Edition Ashford Colour Press. Eldin, N N and Egger, S (1990) Productivity improvement tools, Journal of Construction Engineering and Management 116(1), 100-110. Flippo, E B (1982) Personnel Management, 5th Edition, McGraw hill Inc. London Heap, A (1987) Improving Site Productivity in the Construction Industry. International Labour Office, Geneva Plunkett, W.R and Attner, R.F (1999) Introduction to Management 5th Edition, International Thomson Publishing, California. pp. 43-47, 394-407. Pigors P J W (1981) Personnel Administration: A point of view and method. 9th Edition, McGraw-Hill International Auckland Maslow, A H (1954): Motivation and Personality, Harper and Row, New York Mee-Edoiye, M and Andawei M.M (2002): Motivation, An Alternative to improve workers performance in Today Construction Industry. The Quantity Surveyor. 40(3), 2-6. Cole, G. A. (1999) Management: theory and practice. 5ed. Asford Colour Press, Gosport: Great Britain, 33–76 Robert, L. Trewatha and M. Gene Neuport (1995) Management. 3ed. Business Publication Inc. 359–367. Williams A. McEachern (1997) Economics. A Contemporary Introduction. 4ed. Southwestern College Publishing, Cincinnati, Ohio. pp. 111. Siegel, S. and Castellan, N. J. (1988). Non-parmetric statistics for the behavioural science. McGraw-hill Book Co., Singapore.

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Invisible Man - A Black Man in a White World :: Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man

Ralph Ellison’s The Invisible Man shows the conflict or struggle of one Black man struggling in a white culture. The most important section of this novel is that in, which the narrator joins â€Å"the Brotherhood†, an organization designed to improve the condition under which his race is at the time. The narrator works hard for society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The narrator works hard for being rewarded society and his efforts named the representative of Harlem district. One of the first people he meets is Brother Tarp, a veteran worker in the Harlem district, who gives the narrator the chain link he broke nineteen years ago, while freeing himself from being imprisoned. Brother Tarp's imprisonment was for standing up to a white man. Therefore, he was sent to jail. Imprisonment made brother Tarp similar to invisible because, he lost part of his identity. However, he regained it by escaping the prison and giving himself a new name.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The chain plays an interesting part in the entire play. The chain symbolizes the narrator’s experience in college, where he was restricted to living up to Dr. Bredsoe’s rules. He feels that he too is trying to be an individual free of others people’s control. The chain functions as a link in several ways, between the two men, between the past and the present, as a symbol of opression, and eventually as a weapon for the Invisible Man as he uses it to fight in a street riot. It reminds the narrator significally of his grandfather, a man repressed by the system who went through his entire life trying to obey but at the same time hating all the men in power.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  At the end of the novel, the narrator continues to fight for his community. He feels betrayed and now he wants to destroy â€Å"The Brotherhood†. His plan does not work out. He tells the people of Harlem to go on a riot. He falls down though, he gets into isolation. While in isolation he decides that he wants to go back to the society. He grows to understand what the brotherhood and what Mr. Bedsoe (mentor) could never understood, that individuality doesn’t exclude being part of a group. He learned to be an individual for himself.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I personally, enjoyed reading â€Å"The Invisible Man† by Ralph Ellison. The book I read was nonfiction, it was published in _______, copyright date _______.

Monday, January 13, 2020

How My Creative Thinking in Nursing Care Help Me Solving Problems with Patients in Long Term Care

When we have made a commitment to work with and develop nursing theory, it is important to keep in mind that this activity is crucial to establish scientific foundations in nursing. The first line of teaching and learning in nursing is based on linear thinking, arguing to promote the student's vision of cause / effect when, for example, this is in the process of providing the patient with an anticoagulant for DVT prevention at a patient and requires monitoring by protocol, bleeding adverse effect, or also monitor the heart rate, or blood pressure levels, and heart rate when the patient requires to receive anti-arrhythmic or digoxin. In the latter case, with a retro feedback mechanism, put into action when the resident and blood sample taken to measure the Digoxin level in order to adjust the dose, seeking the drug's effectiveness and thus the patient's clinical stability. During the development of nursing theory, it is important to realize as we are thinking when we find or look for a problem to solve. For this creative thinking plays an important role. Researchers have described various methods of creative thinking among them these three: Evolution: This is a method of continuous incremental improvement. We can gestate new ideas from existing ideas, or seek and find a solution derived from another, obtaining at the end a solution that we would not have imagined from the beginning with a single step. The result will be something totally different to the original. Synthesis: This method of thought goes into action when two or more existing ideas are combined to create a third, new idea. Reapplication: This method of creative thinking comes into play when we see something otherwise stated, entirely new. The key is to see beyond the prior application of any idea or method and thus demonstrate if the other application is feasible. When we encounter a problem in some cases may emerge any negative attitude may hinder and even block our creative thinking. For you I have noticed that, when unforeseen circumstances I get the load of 25 or more patients in the institution where they take care of patients in long term care must run at a faster pace than usual, with proper care to prevent errors but when there is an unexpected situation arises in my mind: â€Å"a situation more, adding to the complex repertoire of tasks to accomplish!. This idea looks something like this:† Oh! Now this? â€Å". If so, at the time of first reaction, I was adding a bigger problem than the situation itself, having to deal with and solve it before continuing with the rest of the investigation of the case. The next question that arises if this occurs I would be: Why am I thinking and / or feeling this? This happens with the patient TH has relationship with his previous medical history? Psychological/cultural context? It has happened before? Why has this happened? Is there any background prior to solve this? At this point I realize that I am involved in an active process of search, first to understand the phenomenon, and then how to solve it. This positive attitude (curiosity) helped me to think creatively. Another attitude that has helped me is to believe that most problems can be solved; all a matter of time, energy and resources. Also, and especially, to attack the problem from the moment when it is detected, since otherwise, can add what I call collateral problems. Even more, I can say that I stay alert not to make value judgments or criticisms that may that may contaminate the process of addressing the problem with my own prejudices, alienate adding unnecessary elements in time and possibilities to solve this problem. References Harris, R. (1998). Introduction to creative thinking; Retrieved from: https://www. virtualsalt. com/crebook1htm. Rapadoupulus, Irena; Omeri, Akram. Transcultural nursing theory and models: The challenges of application. Contemporary nurse. 28(1-2):45-7, 2008. Apr. Editorial. Jennings, BM. Nursing Theory development, successes, and challenges. Journal of advanced nursing

Sunday, January 5, 2020

The United States And Japanese Economies - 1583 Words

A Leading Indicators Comparison of the United States and Japanese Economies The United States has for more than a century maintained the largest economy in the world. Japan, on the other hand, currently has the third largest economy in the world (according to some estimates) after realizing incredible growth since the damage and ruin it experienced during World War II (BBC, 2015). This essay compares and contrasts the current economies of the United States and Japan in terms of three leading economic indicators: real Gross Domestic Product (GDP), inflation, and unemployment. While some similarities exist between the two economies this comparison will highlight what the differences mean in terms of economic health for the two countries. Real GDP (Gross Domestic Product) One of the most comprehensive measurements of the health and well-being of a country’s economy is considered real GDP (AIAA, 2003). Real GDP is defined as the â€Å"value of the entire output produced annually within a country’s boundaries, adjusted for price changes† (Arnold, 2011, p. 145). According to the American Association of Individual Investors (AIAA), (2003), real GDP indicates â€Å"how fast [a country’s] profits may grow and the expected return on capital† (p. 14). A country’s actual GDP can increase or decrease due to changes in inflation, so since real GDP is adjusted for changes in price, it is a truer measurement for comparison purposes. To present an apples to apples comparison, this section willShow MoreRelatedEconomic Growth Of Post War Japan1361 Words   |  6 Pagesand reconstruct their economy. It is revealed that the Japanese economy was on its way to recovery, which received a rapid development since the war, and t he reconstruction of Japan had spent less than forty years to become the world’s second largest economy in the 1980s. This essay will explore the three factors account for the economic growth of post-war Japan: the financial assistance from the United States, the external environment, and the effective policy of Japanese government. Firstly,Read MoreProblems Faced By Japanese Foreign Investments Relations Between U.s. And Japan1135 Words   |  5 PagesThis business study will define the problems in the United States due to Japanese investments. In the current global economy, the foreign investments relations between the U.S. and Japan have been one sided due to the inter-Asian business models of the Japanese markets. Japan has traditionally been cooperative with the United States in allowing its products to be manufactured and sold in the United States, which has provided some manufacturing jobs in the U.S. This causes problems for the U.S. becauseRead MoreJapan s Attack On Pearl Harbor1236 Words   |  5 Pagesattack on Pearl Harbor impacted America in a multitude of ways. Japan had reasons to attack the United States; the attack on Pearl Harbor does not only impact the Japanese Americans in the United States, the attack also impacted the United States economy. First of all, Japan had reasons to support why they chose to attack the United States. To illustrate my point, Japan could have chosen the United States to attack because the U.S. made Japan interact with other countries during the 1800’s (â€Å"JapanRead MoreComparing Contrasting American Japanese Marketing Essay1351 Words   |  6 Pagesonly culture, but also politics, the economy and the law effect marketing strategies. This paper will examine the differences between the American and Japanese marketing environments. CULTURAL INFLUENCES â€Å"It should not be surprising that Japanese marketing practices vary from traditional Western marketing practices because marketing is the process of satisfying wants and needs and these desires vary tremendously among cultures,† (Howard, 1999). The Japanese have been noted as leaders in marketingRead MoreJapan s Attack On Pearl Harbor810 Words   |  4 Pagesattack on Pearl Harbor (â€Å"Japan Launches†). B. Thesis: Japan has reasons why they chose to attack the United States; the attack on Pearl Harbor impacts Japanese Americans in the United States and the United States economy. II. Body A. Reasons why Japan chose to attack the United States 1. USA forces Japan to interact with other countries in the 1800’s a. Forced by United States Navy commodore Matthew Perry (1794-1858)(â€Å"Japan Launches†). b. Used Japan for trading i. More convenientRead MoreComparing and Contrasting American and Japanese Marketing Essay1307 Words   |  6 Pagesonly culture, but also politics, the economy and the law effect marketing strategies. This paper will examine the differences between the American and Japanese marketing environments. CULTURAL INFLUENCES â€Å"It should not be surprising that Japanese marketing practices vary from traditional Western marketing practices because marketing is the process of satisfying wants and needs and these desires vary tremendously among cultures,† (Howard, 1999). The Japanese have been noted as leaders in marketingRead MoreJap The End Of World War II1477 Words   |  6 PagesAt the end of World War II, the United States took occupation of Japan in an under the pretext of leading the nation toward a path of democracy. However, it appears that the intent of the United States has changed over time. Instead of helping Japan in the years after WWII, the United States used Japan as a pawn to better its own interests. In 1946, General MacArthur the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers (SCAP) asked United States citizens to take the responsibility of writing a new constitutionRead MoreLife Saving Weapons Of Mass Destruction1730 Words   |  7 Pagesaround the world. Japan’s economy, which had taken a great hit later in the war, began to improve with the aid from the United States. The modern public is now well aware of the extensive damage these weapons caused, which has prevented further deployments of nuclear bombs, keeping the global public protected from nuclear warfare. With the lives lost in the decimated cities, there continue to be many more preserved. On the sixth and ninth of August in 1945, the United States dropped â€Å"Little Boy† andRead MoreThe Impact Of World War II On American Society1275 Words   |  6 PagesFinal Essay When the United States launches itself into a war, whether it be willingly or unwillingly, it almost guarantees that the war will bring some amount of change to the American society. The United States has been historically very flexible in adapting to the needs that wars, as well as other major events, bring to American society. Whether it be with the economy, foreign affairs, etc. there is usually always a change that results in the United States from a war. For example, after the CivilRead MoreThe Meiji Restoration: A Crucial Moment in the History of Japan965 Words   |  4 Pagesterms of political power and the third largest national economy after the United States and China as per the 2011 figures. The development of the Japanese economy to reach such a status happened in time and especially after the Restoration of the Meji Dynasty in 1868. Since then, Japan was in constant contact with the western world especially with the United States. The Meji Restoration was a crucial moment in the history of the Japanese state and its culture because it provided the historical breakaway