German Culture: The Hows And The Whys

Germany has a rich cultural heritage. Before the late 19th century, Germany was a collection of individual fiefdoms and regions. This history is reflected in the country's cultural diversity.

Why Should I Learn About German Culture?

The reasons for learning about German culture and German life are the same as for learning the culture of any language group. Learning German language and culture is useful to:

* broaden personal knowledge
* make yourself more marketable at work by speaking a foreign language
* increase career prospects
* help you get around when on holiday.

What About Business?

Learning about German culture is also essential for those who travel to Germany on business. There are many courses designed to help business people learn cultural customs and language relating doing business in Germany. These courses cover areas such as:

* meetings
* negotiations and deals
* telephone conversations
* making presentations
* travel vocabulary
* money and banking
* the business environment

How Can I Learn About German Culture?

One of the best ways to learn about German culture is to travel in Germany. Travel is a good way of learning about the cultural traditions of cities as diverse as Frankfurt, Munich, Stuttgart, Berlin and many others. These cities showcase aspects of German culture such as museums, beer, wine and food festivals, theatre and music, and so on.

Another useful way of learning about German culture is to study in Germany. Study in Germany allows students to appreciate German culture from the inside. Not only will people learn the German language from native speakers, but they will have the chance to share social and cultural events with native speakers of German. This is an excellent method of learning about German culture and language.

What Do Courses In German Culture Cover?

Courses in German culture will cover areas such as history, geography, music, dance, literature and the arts in general. Other aspects of German culture include food and drink. Studying German culture is a key aspect of learning German, as language and culture go hand in hand.

Other Options For Learning German Culture

Another way of learning about German culture is to take part in an exchange program. This has the benefit of immersing the learner in the German language in a home setting. This makes it easy to learn everyday language for daily communication and provides an inside view of German culture. Exchange programs can range from a few weeks to nearly a year. Some students taking German in other countries find this a useful addition to their language courses. Those students may choose to teach their native language in return for the chance to live in and travel through Germany.

Once you have learned about German language and culture, you'll be ready to travel not just in Germany but in countries such as Austria, Switzerland, and parts of the US and South America where German is still spoken.

English Teachers And Culture Shock

I was talking recently to a young woman who had just returned from a teaching post in Korea. She said her first months in her job were a nightmare because of the unfamiliarity of everything. It made me wonder how teachers can prepare themselves to cope with culture shock.

Anyone who leaves their familiar environment for a prolonged spell is prone to the stress of culture shock. Although we know on a rational level that we are going to meet unfamiliar routines and customs, emotionally it takes time to adjust and this period of adjustment leads to unexpected reactions. These could include mood swings, depression, frustration, loneliness, apathy, even panic or physical symptoms such as headaches, insomnia, colds, stomach upsets. Each of us reacts differently under stress. Firstly, language may be a source of profound difficulty. If you are not proficient in the language of the host country then the problems could accumulate to an intolerable level. Back home you are a sophisticated individual, well able to articulate your needs and ideas. Suddenly you find people looking at you with blank incomprehension, sometimes even wincing as you massacre their native tongue in your attempts to communicate. It's not surprising that you feel frustrated and isolated.

Other changes such as climate, food, and different timetables have a more invidious effect. You may not realize that these are the sources of your emotional, mental or physical pain. Small things start to have a disproportionate importance. People's different behavior patterns have a subtle influence too: are they more time conscious than you or less so? Do they use unfamiliar gestures and facial expressions? How formal are they in social and work situations? Do men and women play different roles from those you are used to?

Typically culture shock moves through different stages, from the initial excitement of the new challenge to a sense of being overwhelmed by all that is unfamiliar, followed by a period when you settle in and gradually take a more balanced view of your new surroundings. The second phase can be very alarming and you may have the sense that you have made a terrible mistake and wish to go home. You will be missing your family and friends, you will long for the foods you can't find in your host country, or your favorite TV program.

So what can you do to minimize the impact of culture shock? Well, you can make full use of all the technological aids that can keep you in touch with your loved ones; nowadays it is possible through email and even video links to make contact as often as you need to. Join societies, sports clubs, work groups that can bring you into contact with your compatriots so that you can swap experiences, borrow and lend books and magazines and talk about your comparisons of the new milieu with the home country. These are the means by which you will feel less isolated and cut off. It can be very reassuring to find a compatriot who understands your reactions.

Proper preparation before you leave for the new country is vital too. Get up to speed on the essential information about the place: its customs, food, religion, all the systems you will need to have contact with such as education, health-care, driving regulations. Do your very best to learn at least a little of the language and try out some of the typical food before you go.

And if things get bad, tell your Director of Studies. It is only reasonable that the school that has brought you away from your home country should provide you with some support in the early stages. Schools should have an induction period for new teachers and could do much to counter the sense of isolation the newcomer often feels. I'd be really interested to know what your school does in this respect.

Penang – Where Culture And History Lives On

What better complement to sun-drenched sandy beaches and swaying palm trees than locally made batik, you might ask. So it's only natural and inevitable that Penang island, being a world-famous tourist destination, has a thriving batik industry in manufacturing, exporting and retailing.

Shops and stalls carrying batik items are too numerous to mention but they can be found along the Batu Ferringhi tourist belt, Penang Road, Campbell Street and KOMTAR to name a few. Most souvenir and clothing shops will stock at least several batik items.One of the most popular batik retailers in George Town is Sam's Batik House, located on Penang Road. Founded in 1982 by Shamdas Bhaktani, the business has since been taken over by his two sons Monohar and Prem. Monohar's wife Rachel manages the store and is a source of information on batik items.

It goes without saying that batik has long been part of the Malaysian national culture. Its versatile nature and esthetically pleasing designs make it the ideal material for a variety of things, men's shirts, sarongs, women's kaftans, aprons, slippers, picture frames, gift boxes, paintings, bed spreads and even wall and furniture coverings. As a fashion item, batik will not look out-of-place in any casual, formal or high fashion wear. In fact, most official functions in Malaysia allow the wearing of batik in place of the more somber coat and tie. The cabin-crew staff of Malaysia's national carrier have always worn batik as their uniforms, even from the days when it was known as MSA (Malaysia-Singapore Airlines). Although batik has never gone out of fashion in Malaysia, it has seen a recent upswing in popularity, due largely to the efforts of the country's First Lady, Datin Seri Endon Mahmood.

Her passion for all things batik took shape in a campaign called "Batik, Crafted for the World" which aims to spotlight Malaysian produced batik products via promotions and activities.

Batik has come to be used as a generic term which refers to the process of dyeing fabric by making use of a resist technique; covering areas of cloth with a dye-resistant substance to prevent them absorbing colors. The technique is thought to be over a thousand years old and historical evidence demonstrates that cloth decorated with this resist technique was in use in the early centuries AD in Africa, the Middle East and in several places in Asia.

Although most batik fabric is now decorated and tailored by machine, there still remains a considerable market for high-quality, hand-made batik.

Seven Reasons Organizational Culture Matters

We spend 40 . . . or 45 . . . or 50 . . . or more hours at work each week. Many of us spend more time with those we work with than we do our families. For us to be content and fulfilled people, that time must be valuable for more than a dollar. . .

We want to be engaged in our work. We yearn for work that is enjoyable, meaningful and engaging. When we are engaged we are safer on the job, more productive and more willing and able to delight Customers.

It is for these basic reasons that organizational culture matters. It is the right thing for an organization to do - to think about the work environment, working relationships and “how we do things here.”

Focusing on building and sustaining an organizational culture is one way of showing that people are the organization’s most valuable asset.

There are of course many other bottom line business reasons to focus on and build organizational culture. Here are seven of those reasons.

A strong culture is a talent-attractor. Your organizational culture is part of the package that prospective employees look at when assessing your organization. Gone are the days of selecting the person you want from a large eager pool. The talent market is tighter and those looking for a new organization are more selective than ever. The best people want more than a salary and good benefits. They want an environment they can enjoy and succeed in.

A strong culture is talent-retainer. How likely are people to stay if they have other options and don’t love where they are? Your organizational culture is a key component of a person’s desire to stay.

A strong culture engages people. People want to be engaged in their work. According to a Gallup survey at least 22 million American workers are extremely negative or “actively disengaged” – this loss of productivity is estimated to be worth between $250-$300 Billion annually. Your culture can engage people. Engagement creates greater productivity, which can impact profitability. Need I say more?

A strong culture creates energy and momentum. Build a culture that is vibrant and allows people to be valued and express themselves and you will create a very real energy. That positive energy will permeate the organization and create a new momentum for success. Energy is contagious and will build on itself, reinforcing the culture and the attractiveness of the organization.

A strong culture changes the view of “work.” Most people have a negative connotation of the word work. Work equals drudgery, 9-5, “the salt mine.” When you create a culture that is attractive, people’s view of “going to work” will change. Would you rather see work as drudgery or a joy? Which do you think your employees would prefer? Which will lead to the best results?

A strong culture creates greater synergy. A strong culture brings people together. When people have the opportunity to (and are expected to) communicate and get to know each other better, they will find new connections. These connections will lead to new ideas and greater productivity - in other words, you will be creating synergy. Literally, 1 + 1 + right culture = more than 10. How is that for leverage?

A strong culture makes everyone more successful. Any one of the other six reasons should be reason enough to focus on organizational culture. But the bottom line is that an investment of time, talent and focus on organizational culture will give you all of the above benefits. Not only is creating a better culture a good thing to do for the human capital in the business, it makes good business sense too.

Hopefully this article has helped you see that time spent enhancing your organizational culture will be time wisely invested. Regardless of your current culture, it is never too late to enhance it and to begin creating the benefits described above.

Cultural change

Cultures are internally affected by both forces encouraging change and forces resisting change. These forces are related to both social structures and natural events, and are involved in the perpetuation of cultural ideas and practices within current structures, which themselves are subject to change.

Social conflict and the development of technologies can produce changes within a society by altering social dynamics and promoting new cultural models, and spurring or enabling generative action. These social shifts may accompany ideological shifts and other types of cultural change. For example, the U.S. feminist movement involved new practices that produced a shift in gender relations, altering both gender and economic structures. Environmental conditions may also enter as factors. Changes include following for the film local hero. For example, after tropical forests returned at the end of the last ice age, plants suitable for domestication were available, leading to the invention of agriculture, which in turn brought about many cultural innovations and shifts in social dynamics^[22].

Cultures are externally affected via contact between societies, which may also produce -- or inhibit -- social shifts and changes in cultural practices. War or competition over resources may impact technological development or social dynamics. Additionally, cultural ideas may transfer from one society to another, through diffusion or acculturation. In diffusion, the form of something (though not necessarily its meaning) moves from one culture to another. For example, hamburgers, mundane in the United States, seemed exotic when introduced into China. "Stimulus diffusion" (the sharing of ideas) refers to an element of one culture leading to an invention or propagation in another. "Direct Borrowing" on the other hand tends to refer to technological or tangible diffusion from one culture to another. Diffusion of innovations theory presents a research-based model of why and when individuals and cultures adopt new ideas, practices, and products.

Acculturation has different meanings, but in this context refers to replacement of the traits of one culture with those of another, such has happened to certain Native American tribes and to many indigenous peoples across the globe during the process of colonization. Related processes on an individual level include assimilation (adoption of a different culture by an individual) and transculturation.

Cultural studies

Cultural studies developed in the late 20th century, in part through the re-introduction of Marxist thought into sociology, and in part through the articulation of sociology and other academic disciplines such as literary criticism. This movement aimed to focus on the analysis of subcultures in capitalist societies. Following the non-anthropological tradition, cultural studies generally focus on the study of consumption goods (such as fashion, art, and literature). Because the 18th- and 19th-century distinction between "high" and "low" culture seems inappropriate to apply to the mass-produced and mass-marketed consumption goods which cultural studies analyses, these scholars refer instead to "popular culture".

Eastern religion and philosophy

Philosophy and religion are often closely interwoven in Eastern thought. Most of the Asian religious and philosophical traditions originated in India and China and spread across Asia through cultural diffusion and the migration of peoples. Hinduism is the wellspring of Buddhism, the Mahāyāna branch of which spread north and eastwards from India into Tibet, China, Mongolia, Japan, and Korea and south from China into Vietnam. Theravāda Buddhism spread throughout Southeast Asia, including Sri Lanka, parts of southwest China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand.

Indian philosophy includes Hindu philosophy. Both contain elements of nonmaterial pursuits, whereas another school of thought from India, Cārvāka, preached the enjoyment of material world. Confucianism and Taoism, both of which originated in China have had pervasive influence on both religious and philosophical traditions, as well as statecraft and the arts throughout Asia. Sikhism, founded in India during the 16th and 17th centuries, is a monotheistic religion with a belief in one, universal, non-anthropomorphic God.

During the 20th century, in the two most populous countries of Asia, two dramatically different political philosophies took shape. Gandhi gave a new meaning to Ahimsa, a core belief of both Hinduism and Jainism, and redefined the concepts of nonviolence and nonresistance far beyond the confines of India. During the same period, Mao Zedong’s communist philosophy became a powerful secular belief system in China. Increasingly Christianity is gaining a foothold in Chinese culture, developing heretofore unforeseen changes in both Christianity and Chinese culture.

Cultures within a society

Large societies often have subcultures, or groups of people with distinct sets of behavior and beliefs that differentiate them from a larger culture of which they are a part. The subculture may be distinctive because of the age of its members, or by their race, ethnicity, class, or gender. The qualities that determine a subculture as distinct may be aesthetic, religious, occupational, political, sexual, or a combination of these factors.

In dealing with immigrant groups and their cultures, there are various approaches:

• Leitkultur (core culture): A model developed in Germany by Bassam Tibi. The idea is that minorities can have an identity of their own, but they should at least support the core concepts of the culture on which the society is based.
• Melting Pot: In the United States, the traditional view has been one of a melting pot where all the immigrant cultures are mixed and amalgamated without state intervention.
• Monoculturalism: In some European states, culture is very closely linked to nationalism, thus government policy is to assimilate immigrants, although recent increases in migration have led many European states to experiment with forms of multiculturalism.
• Multiculturalism: A policy that immigrants and others should preserve their cultures with the different cultures interacting peacefully within one nation.

The way nation states treat immigrant cultures rarely falls neatly into one or another of the above approaches. The degree of difference with the host culture (i.e., "foreignness"), the number of immigrants, attitudes of the resident population, the type of government policies that are enacted, and the effectiveness of those policies all make it difficult to generalize about the effects. Similarly with other subcultures within a society, attitudes of the mainstream population and communications between various cultural groups play a major role in determining outcomes. The study of cultures within a society is complex and research must take into account a myriad of variables.

Culture as worldview

During the Romantic era, scholars in Germany, especially those concerned with nationalist movements — such as the nationalist struggle to create a "Germany" out of diverse principalities, and the nationalist struggles by ethnic minorities against the Austro-Hungarian Empire — developed a more inclusive notion of culture as "worldview." In this mode of thought, a distinct and incommensurable worldview characterizes each ethnic group. Although more inclusive than earlier views, this approach to culture still allowed for distinctions between "civilized" and "primitive" or "tribal" cultures.

By the late 19th century, anthropologists had adopted and adapted the term culture to a broader definition that they could apply to a wider variety of societies. Attentive to the theory of evolution, anthropologists such as Franz Boas assumed that all human beings evolved equally, and that the fact that all humans have cultures must in some way result from human evolution. They also showed some reluctance to use biological evolution to explain differences between specific cultures — an approach that either exemplified a form of, or segment of society vis a vis other segments and the society as a whole, they often reveal processes of domination and resistance.

In the 1950s, subcultures — groups with distinctive characteristics within a larger culture — began to be the subject of study by sociologists. The 20th century also saw the popularization of the idea of corporate culture — distinct and malleable within the context of an employing organization or a workplace.

Culture

Culture (from the Latin cultura stemming from colere, meaning "to cultivate")^[1] generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that give such activities significance and importance. Cultures can be "understood as systems of symbols and meanings that even their creators contest, that lack fixed boundaries, that are constantly in flux, and that interact and compete with one another"

Culture can be defined as all the ways of life including arts, beliefs and institutions of a population that are passed down from generation to generation. Culture has been called "the way of life for an entire society." As such, it includes codes of manners, dress, language, religion, rituals, norms of behavior such as law and morality, and systems of belief as well as the art.

Cultural anthropologists most commonly use the term "culture" to refer to the universal human capacity and activities to classify, codify and communicate their experiences materially and symbolically. Scholars have long viewed this capacity as a defining feature of humans (although some primatologists have identified aspects of culture such as learned tool making and use among humankind's closest relatives in the animal kingdom)

5 Strange Lucky Charms

As I haven’t been feeling lucky lately, and my usual “Pave my own Destiny” line was on a leave of absence, I checked up some of the “luck rituals” and “lucky charms” that could perhaps change my luck a bit for the day.

Turns out there are so many lucky charms out there on the net, with the simplest of purposes (to bring you luck), to the looniest. Some of them we already know; while some are just out of this world.

Here are a few:

Indescribable Key Chain
The picture says its all. If you’re feeling unlucky in the copulation department, then this trinket is for you. The site where I saw this says it was probably from the 70s because of the physical features of both the man & women, reminiscent of the trends during that year.

Money Tree

With the price of oil going haywire these days, perhaps I shall purchase my own money tree although I think gamblers need these more than me (or maybe my mom who is a bingo enthusiast). Whatever your reason maybe, the money tree will bring you luck in the financial department. Popular with the gambling folks

Swastik Pyramid Yantra

As it says on the site, it should not be confused with the Nazi Swastika, but it gets points for interesting for me. The Vedic Swastik is the symbol of Ganpathi, the lord of good fortune. Again another “general” use lucky charm that you might like to purchase. They don’t come cheap these lucky charms!

Omamori Charm from Japan

Suspiciously looks like a tea bag to me! It’s a charm for protection from various elements (ghosts and other vicious back stabbers beware). It also helps a bit in gambling (what is with these general purpose lucky charms!?). Looks nice with its traditional print, and an added bonus! If you keep it in your car and backpack, you’ll have a more auspicious or luckier chance with the women. Doesn’t hurt to try! If you’re a fan of Japanese Culture, this is for you.

Raccoon Penis Bones

From the name itself, you’d know what this is lucky charm is for. Jerry Hall once said that “growing up in Texas, boys gave raccoon penis bones to girls they liked as a form of love token or simple love spell”. In 2004, it became popular among women who were sold to this love amulet to get their luck with men started. In fact, a group of women capitalized on this and started selling raccoon penis bones in the form of earrings (hmm that sounds… not so sexy.) Also in 2004, Third Eye Blind Frontman caught Vanessa Carlton’s eye when he gave her a dried raccoon’s penis necklace and his book “Sarah”. Literally worked like a charm!

Lucky Charm from WOW

I just had to feature this! These are just some of what I’ve been reading over at the forums:

“Can also be used for the superstitious. It could help improve the drop rate of your desired item! Make sure you collect 7 if you’re even more superstitious.”

“Rogue with these charms seemed to attract paladin drops. Amazing.”

“Be sure not to stop farming them when you get 13.” Spooky.

I’ve always believed in making my own luck, paving my own road, but sometimes I just like to hold on to something tangible - and I guess these lucky charms - although no, I won’t really be using that raccoon penis bone - will work just fine. Whether you’re superstitious or not, a bit of luck, salt over your shoulder and a short prayer will probably do your day a bit of good.

Dubai Culture and Women

The family unit in the United Arab Emirates is an important social unit for an Arab. Loyalty to family or surname influences all aspects of family life and society United Arab Emirates. The Arab honor and respect for his family, particularly children. Therefore, it is very paternalistic, patriarchal and hierarchical, with elders and parents who make the decisions.

UAE national families are large, with families citing God going from one to procreate. Therefore, the bigger the better, giving economic and spiritual benefit. Children, when growing older are expected to care for parents, especially for children that much to bear the financial burden, if necessary. Also, it is noted thatlarger families demonstrate the virility of the father.

As far as fidelity passes, family comes first, then clan and tribe. The UAE nationals also reflect national identity and, moreover, are proud of their culture. There is also a strong loyalty to the royal families. Demonstrating this includes photos of the leaders in all walks of life. The UAE Nationals his beloved founding father, Sheikh Zayed, and there was massive show of grief over his death. The people still comment on their generosity for what he did for them and for the construction of the UAE.

Women

Women are respected in the UAE society, as they are the ones who bring life in the world, and raise children. This perception is lost in the west, where it is seen that they are subordinate to men, but increasingly, woman are most prominent in the workplace and in other walks of life. Some guidelines for the West are: respect for privacy and the role of women in society; stand when a woman enters the room, and I understand that there are many households in different areas of residence, so that when you visit a house, you wouldn't socialize with women.

Things that men should not include:
- Do not talk publicly professionals UAE National Women, unless it is business related. You will understand that when they are allowed to cross the limit, when approached to discuss other matters
- Do not shake hands with a UAE National female, unless prompted.
- Suffice it to say, not flirting, touching or embracing women
- Do not look at women or maintain eye contact
- Do not ask an Arab man about his wife or female members of his family

of course, it's better to be strict in yourself first, to understand the situation, and with Western values, and an increasingly diverse society to make up, things are changing, but traditions remain and what is best to take this into account.

Discovering Culture and History

With close to 2 million visitors a year, South Africa's capital city, Cape Town, is fast becoming one of the largest tourist hotspots in the world. The country's great exchange rate offers a great value holiday for your money, and coupled with the fact that it's in the same time zone as the UK - so British tourists don't suffer the effects of jet lag - have both contributed to the popularity of South Africa; not to mention the stunning scenery and attractions within Cape Town.

For those travelling to Cape Town, a visit to the Cape Winelands is an absolute must as the region is one full of breathtaking vistas and majestic mountain backdrops, while also being steeped in rich culture and history. Rolling vineyards and quaint Cape Dutch homesteads await visitors, as well as award-wining wine farms offering some of the region’s best wines - the perfect accompaniment to the delicious dishes that are available.

The wine farms of Stellenbosch are the closest in distance to Cape Town and are within a 45 minute drive of the city centre. This is the most well known wine region and home to the first official wine route in the area, founded in 1971. A variety of cellars, producing some of the country's most acclaimed wines are located in the town. Stellenbosch is also a university town and the oak-lined Dorp Street is home to museums and galleries, as well as many student cafes and restaurants, leaving you with a plethora of cultural and historical attractions to explore during your visit.

Wine tasting, cellar tours and stopping to enjoy the scenic beauty at the various wine farms could easily take a day or more, so it is advisable to have a rough idea of where you would like to go before you set out. Many of the wine estates have become very tourist orientated in recent years, offering guided tours, gift shops and restaurants while at some of the small estates you may end up sitting in a rustic cellar sipping wines with the wine maker himself!

With the current, favourable exchange rate, fine dining in Cape Town is something everyone can enjoy, with a plethora of restaurants and cafes (often run by top international chefs) offering delicious dishes at a great price - from fresh Mediterranean flavours to exotic Asian spices, local Cape Malay dishes and traditional African meals. Being a city that's surrounded by the ocean, it goes without saying that Cape Town specialises in seafood restaurants, with crayfish, giant prawns and fresh sushi being just a few popular dishes in the region. Juicy steaks and African venison accompanied by sun ripened, seasonal vegetables are also mainstays of menus across Cape Town. As well as the delicious food on offer, more often than not, the location of the restaurant itself will offer superb views and a memorable ambiance.

Of course, it's not just the wining and dining that travellers visit Cape Town for. Table Mountain is Cape Town's most prominent feature and is a world famous landmark. Sculpted from sandstone, this huge mountain is visible from almost everywhere in the city. 600,000 tourists ascend the 1086 metres of the mountain by cable car annually to enjoy the unparalleled views of Cape Town and the beaches that surround it and it's a must for any visitor to the city.

The V & A Waterfront is South Africa's most visited attraction. Situated in the working harbour of Cape Town, the Waterfront offers a myriad of shopping, dining and entertainment opportunities. Lit up beautifully at night with Table Mountain looking down on the harbour, the Waterfront is a great place to sit with a cocktail and take in the scenery and stunning ocean views that South Africa is famous for. A number of restaurants and cafes, offering everything from light snacks to fine dining, line the Waterfront.

So whether you're going to enjoy the wine, the culture or the scenery, South Africa holidays offer something for everyone and, as the weather gets colder in the UK, it's the perfect time to consider a trip to Cape Town as summer in South Africa is just beginning.

Culture in the Business Environment

Management Challenge

Organizations are judged on their financial performance and therefore, by default so are their management teams. The key for managers is understanding how financial success is measured, impacts on operational performance and options available to make positive sustainable change.

Traditional Approach

Typically managers tend to think in two dimensions when trying to address the problem. What do I need to change in my operations to achieve the desired financial results? Timescales may be tight and sometimes the short term needs may outweigh the long term aspirations. Sometimes short term measures can damage the long term capabilities of an organization. This can become a vicious circle where the law of diminishing returns is compounded by the diminishing options available. If you look at the diagram link below you will see a dotted line defined as the Minor Loop where the financial demands of revenue, profit, cash flow and equity are served by changes in operations of the business. This can be successful but it is a path littered with hazards.

Minor Loop Evidence

This is not simply an opinion it is backed by research conducted by Cameron and Quinn who stated that the three most typical change initiatives conducted by organizations in what could be described as Minor Loop were:
Restructuring
Quality Initiatives
Process Initiatives
Of these at least 75% failed, stalled or did not achieve the desired benefits. A summary of their findings is below.
Only 20% of TQM initiatives met their quality objectives and 40% were a complete flop
A survey of senior managers who had been involved in downsizing found that 74% indicated that productivity, morale and trust had since deteriorated
A survey across 1742 companies in the USA and Europe found that 85% found little or no gain from their effort in re-engineering processes.
Alternative Approach

So if this problem exists you may wonder if there is an answer to it. The answer is yes and it hides in plain sight. The third dimension is the organization itself and its culture. The reason it hides in plain sight is that people are generally aware of it but it is difficult to really define, let alone do anything about it. We now have instruments and methodologies that bring culture into focus and allow organizations to do something about it.

An organization's effectiveness will impact on its operational capability and consequently its financial performance. In bringing in the organization dimension it adds a multitude of options and can provide a shot in the arm to the minor loop challenge described above.
The organization is generally the origin of the business performance but is often overlooked as the area where true transformation can take place. The Major Loop described on the diagram link below shows how it can take place. It even provides benefits against the external issues that can plague operations and finance.

Major Loop Evidence

If you are still not convinced a ten year study by Kotter and Heskett found that organizations who actively managed their culture significantly outperformed those who did not. We would ask you to look at the main findings below and consider what those findings might mean for your organization.

Revenue growth of 682% versus 166%
Net income growth of 756% versus 1%
Stock price increase of 901% versus 74%
Job growth of 282% versus 36%
Companies listed on the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For significantly outperform the S&P 500

Tissue Culture Microscopes

Microscopes are important tools in the world of science, technology, biology, chemistry, and physics, and almost every branch of science that requires the expertise of a microscope. Among the necessity that requires the need of a microscope is the fact that certain minute organisms are never visible in the eye of a human, thus, the need for microscope is very much high. In this case, the place of microscope in the heart of everyone is very much indispensable and no wonder, no other instrument will be able to replace, at least to parallel, the present place of a microscope in the heart of every scientist, student, expert, inventor and many more.

Microscope comes in different type. Through the advent of time, more and more kinds of microscope have sprouted, each having a specific function. Through the course of time, more and more microscopes were invented by a lot of people. What a simple microscope invented by lowly glassmakers in the 17th century has now evolved into becoming a clan of microscopes with different functions, belonging in different types and family.

We have the simple and basic monocular microscope which eyepiece is only one. We also have a binocular microscope which further comes into different kinds, such as the stereoscopic binocular microscopes, binocular tissue microscopes and many more.

As of this moment, our featured product is the tissue culture microscopes, a specialized microscope used while you are studying histology and in culturing and in reproducing the tissue. The best thing about the tissue culture microscope is that it is inverted. When we say inverted, the objective of the microscope always faces upward. Why? This is because the right way of viewing a specimen in above the Petri dish where the specimen is being placed. All the objectives are structured in a long pattern. This is to allow the light to pass through below the glassware which holds the tissue culture specimen.

When you view a tissue, especially when the illumination applied to the microscope is a brightfield one, the specimen would appear to be translucent. Another model of a tissue culture microscope has phase contrast illumination. The phase contrast tissue microscope contains an inverted tissue microscope model having the capability of viewing the specimen to like that of a flureoscence microscope. That is why more and more university students of biology, professors, rsearchers, scientists, and other microscope enthusiasts are choosing this kind of microscope especially in their studies about the tissue. Likewise, the tissue microscope is also gaining prominence in hospitals, clinics, and health care units. If ever you want or you decide to buy whole, brand new unit of a Tissue culture microscope, don’t hesitate to call us. Likewise, you may log in at www.tissueculturemicroscopes.com. We also offer you a much-needed advice should you need further information about choosing the right microscope. Our skilled, well trained staff is more than willing to assist you as they are equipped with all the knowledge and idea about the game of tissue culture microscopy.

Beer Culture

Social context

Many social traditions and activities are very associated with drinking beer, such as playing cards, darts, or other games. The consumption of beer in isolation and excess may be associated with people drinking away their troubles, while drinking in excess with company may be associated with binge drinking.

Around the world

All over the world, beer is consumed. There are several breweries in the Middle East countries as well, such as Iraq and Syria. There is also breweries in African countries and other remote countries such as Mongolia as well.

Glassware serving

Getting an appropriate beer glass is considered desirable by some drinkers. There are some drinkers of beer that may sometimes drink out of the bottle or can, while others may choose to pour their beer into a glass. Drinking from a bottle picks up aromas by the nose, so if a drinker wishes to appreciate the aroma of a beer, the beer is first poured into a mug, glass, or stein.

Similar to wine, there is specialized styles of glasses for some types of beer, with some breweries producing glassware intended for their own styles of beer.

Temperature

The conditions for serving beer have a big influence on a drinker's experiences. An important factor when drinking is the temperature - as colder temperatures will start to inhibit the chemical senses of the tongue and throat, which will narrow down the flavor profile of beer, allow certain lagers to release their crispness.

Pouring

The process of pouring will have an influence on the presentation of beer. The flow rate from the tap, titling of the glass, and position of the pour into the glass will all affect the outcome, such as the size and longevity of the head and the turbulence of the bar as it begins to release the carbonation.

The more heavily carbonated beers such as German pilseners will need settling time before they are served, although many of them are served with the addition of the remaining yeast at the bottom to add extra color and flavor.

Beer rating

The rating of beer is a craze that combines the enjoyment of drinking beer with the hobby of collecting it. Those that drink beer sometimes tend to record their scores and comments on various internet websites.

This is a worldwide activity, as people in the United States will swap bottles of beer with those living in New Zealand and Russia. The scores may then be tallied together to create lists of the most popular beers in each country as well as those throughout the world.

Culture Shock

With the rapid changes in society these days, behavioral scientists have put an increasing emphasis on the diagnosis and treatment of culture shock, those feeing of anxiety and disorientation that affect people who have to suddenly function within a new and different social environment. Culture shock affects individuals who move to another country or sometimes to a different state, for example, from rural North Carolina to urban Southern California. In the case of moving from one country to another, culture shock oftentimes takes on a severe form.

There are three main phases of culture shock and sufferers do not necessarily pass through all of them. They are explained here in layman's terms.

The Honeymoon Phase is usually the first phase of culture shock. When someone is in this state, he considers the differences between his new environment and his old one as wonderful and romantic. He views his new surroundings as a welcome and pleasant change. He may fall in love with the new pace of his life, the new people he meets and the new relationships he develops. Overall, he embraces with open arms the lifestyle, environment, food and practically everything about his new environment.

The "Everything is Awful" phase sometimes occurs in a few days, but can also take weeks or even months. In this phase, the differences between the new environment and the old one have become irritating and tiresome, especially the minor differences. Al of a sudden, one finds himself longing for a taste of the food back home or for the friends that he left behind. Suddenly, the pace and lifestyle of his new life are either too slow or too fast. The habits of his new acquaintances have become annoying. The novelty of the new place has worn off.

The "Everything is OK" phase, like the previous phase, may take days, weeks or months to manifest itself. At this stage, one has learned to adjust to the new surroundings and overcome his feeling of homesickness. He has become accustomed to the new routines and rhythms of his new society. In fact, at this point, he may no longer consider it as a new society, but rather as his new home. His concerns now revert back to the everyday business of basic living, same as in his previous environment.

Finally, there is also Reverse Culture Shock, which is when he feels any or all of the above phases upon his return to his old environment.

Coffee Culture

Coffee is one of the oldest drinks to connect itself to a social activity, the social activity of drinking together as a group is in fact it an almost uniquely human activity, drinking is essential to survival and at one point in human history the habit of drinking together has become one of the most acceptable forms of human interaction and socialization all over the world.

The drinking of coffee together probably dates back a few hundred years ago when Muslims had started using rituals in their coffee preparation.

Almost every adult on this planet has visited a coffee house at some point of his life, even those who do not like coffee or do not even drink coffee are aware of the coffee house being a place of socializing and meeting. It is interesting that it is coffee, one of the worlds most popular drink, one that is consumed in such large quantities in different parts of the world would become a center of gathering for people.

The main quality of coffee is in its caffeine, that makes the drinker more alert and enjoy a feeling of energy regeneration and awakens, but coffee is not only drunk for the propose of keeping awake, it is consumed at all times of the day and in many cases in direct relation to a social meeting of sorts.

The coffee house can be found in most cities in the world, it is one of the truly international habits of people, and you will also find that many nations and individuals value their local favorite coffee as a national treasure, from Africa and the deserts of Arabia to the samba dancing streets of Brazil you will find different views on drinking coffee. The cultural differences between nations in the regard to coffee is intriguing, some people will say that drinking coffee with milk is feminine, others gaze in wonder when they see a full cup of coffee drank in front of them, others are installed by the fact that coffee is produced from boiling water that came out of an electric kettle.

In Europe the coffee houses became much more than just a meeting place for drinking coffee, the coffee houses became establishments by themselves, in England many of the places that sold the coffee later contributed to coffee becoming a commodity that is traded until today in the stock markets around the world. In France the coffee houses joined the leisure philosophy and combined with the world renowned deserts and cakes and in Austria the coffee houses have become establishments of unquestionable seriousness and professionalism, serving the best coffee and food with full respects to privacy and solitude of the drinker.

Today the coffee house is a much more relaxed version of the ancient coffee house, the corporate world stops for a moment when drinking coffee to enjoy the company of other people, most of them strangers that happen to enjoy a cup of coffee on the end of a working day or on their way to some other place. No matter how you examine it, coffee is still binding people together in one way or the other.

Language And Culture

The native/non-native-speaking-teacher issues open a whole can of worms of how standards are regulated. I still think the key point about teacher selection is to find the best person for the job. If the non-native speaker fits the bill, then surely that's all that matters. As for regulation, well I agree that students should be protected from sham schools that take their money but don't offer a professional service. Each country, it seems, has its own regulatory system, some stricter than others. It does seem to be a case of 'caveat emptor' or in our case, students beware.

I do a lot of work in the area of cross-cultural awareness and I've been thinking about how language reflects culture. The way we use language shows preferences for certain types of communicative behavior while discouraging others. Culture will affect, for example, the extent to which we speak loudly and animatedly or quietly, whether we use lots of ‘I’ statements, whether we choose very explicit language or whether we are indirect and use understatement. Intercultural, or cross-cultural, pragmatics is the contrastive or comparative study of such communicative norms aiming to reach a better understanding of the cultural values that underpin them and it is a field we can all learn from.

When we teach English as an international language, we might usefully consider the role of communicative styles as part of the process. This awareness raising could usefully consider both styles of communication and the communication patterns associated with specific situations. For example, the very explicit language used by low-context cultures—speaker-based cultures, as opposed to the imprecise and ambiguous language favored by high-context cultures—hearer-based cultures reflect different communicative styles that have an impact on understanding. Let me give some examples. A British English speaker who talks about ‘a slight problem’ could mean a total breakdown, but if the person receiving the message comes from a low context culture in which language is very direct, they might easily think the problem is trivial. Take euphemism as another example. I heard a US American doctor talking about somebody being in ‘a state of negative existence.’ It doesn’t sound too drastic put like that, but it meant of course that the patient was dead.

Situation also dictates language choice. In linguistics various terms have been coined for certain types of key expressions that are related to specific contexts or situations. These conversational routines/prefabricated expressions/politeness formulae/situation-bound utterances could well be useful in raising clients’ awareness about the relationship between language and culture. In essence they are expressions whose linguistic meaning is distorted because of the role they have in a specific situation: linguistic meaning versus use. When British English speakers ask the question: ‘how are you?’ or ‘how do you do?’ they don’t expect a lengthy reply about the state of the respondent’s health. If Americans say ‘let’s get together some time’, they may be saying no more than ‘goodbye’. If Japanese speakers says ‘yes’ in a meeting, it is as well to understand that this is the politeness dictated by the situation and in no way indicates agreement or an undertaking to act.

Alerting learners to the potential for misunderstanding due to the cultural norms of language use is surely an area we should not neglect, especially if our students are going to use English internationally.

The Culture Of Excess

We live in a society of gadgets and gizmos, of toys and more toys, of things that evoke feelings of luxury, style, class. This is available to almost everyone, not just a privileged few. This is the 21st century.

No other time of the year is it more prevalent, conspicuous and aggressively promoted than during the Christmas season.

Thanks to advances in technology, the airwaves, the print and electronic media are flooded with advertisements that appeal to society in general, to people from all walks of life.

Open any newspaper or magazine and indulge yourself with endless advertisement, appealing, titillating and surely tempting. You can’t miss it, it’s almost in every page, it glares you in the face.

Turn on the computer and you can access more goods and services at the click of a mouse. Add to this endless ads and banners.

The young generation is brought up in this era of consumerism. They are introduced to a high maintenance lifestyle at a very young age. Gone are the days when shopping for children was fun. A time when it did not take much to make their young hearts happy. Life was simpler.

Times have surely changed. The trappings of good life is no longer the sole domain of the wealthy. Comfort, travel, wheels, homes, luxury, name it, it is within the reach of anyone who is willing to pay the price. It is no longer just a dream.

This is just the beginning of the conspicuous consumption of our society. In the name of convenience, there are more and more gadgets for the home introduced faster than one can pay off existing debt. However, this is not a deterrent.

It is no longer a matter of meeting a need, the “want” list gets longer and longer. Each member of a family has their own want list.

Technology is wonderful; it allows man to take great strides, faster and more accurate than our forbears. Technology makes it possible for man to explore space, the depths of the ocean, the untrodden parts of this earth. Through technology, man has made incredible advances in science, communication and the medical field. Technology is if great benefit to mankind.

It is very much a part of our daily lives. There is a downside- man wants more of the convenience that comes with it. It fuels the imagination of both producers and consumers. It stimulates the need to want more. It encourages the desire to pamper oneself, and loved ones with more goods.

Having more than what they need promotes a sense of living the good life. For every season, for every occasion, the market offers boundless ideas and endless flow of material goods. Beware,quality is slipping down too fast, as production and advertisement are cranked up higher, some of the quality is compromised.

The convenience that technology offers is hard to ignore. How did we manage before, when mostof the chores were done manually? Imagine the time spent to get anything done?

Take a look around the house; push a button to get laundry or the dishes done. Press another button to start the car before you open the door. Set a timer for your coffeemaker, for your lights to come on at a desired time, your radio to wake you up. Wouldn’t you be lost without that remote control?

What about the other gadgets and tools for the handyman? Look at the other things around the house to make life more convenient and definitely add to that feeling of comfort and luxury.

There’s more. Communication is revolutionized. Each member of the family has to be wired. Watch the ads, imagine the convenience of having extra gadgets for each family member just for so much a month. Add to this the paraphernalia that goes with it, some of which are good to have but not a necessity. But does it matter? It becomes a must have.

The quest for material goods is at excessive proportions. It hits the very core of a person. Some can only measure success relative to their material possessions. Some identify their self-worth with material acquisitions. The words status and prestige are medals they wear proudly. Rightly so, if they are happy .

How much of these goods are on credit? How many sleepless nights are spent doing endless calculations and adjustments? Do they experience that feeling of emptiness amid a comfortable surroundings? Is there room for a quiet time that comes at no cost?

Does this culture of excess spell their happiness and peace?