Archive for July, 2010

BP has a New CEO: Did a Lack of Cross Cultural Awareness Play a Role?

Posted on July 30th, 2010 by  |  Comments Off

BP recently announced the appointment of a new CEO: Robert Dudley, an American citizen who will take the helm of the oil company.  Dudley will replace British national Tony Hayward who had been in charge of one of the world’s largest organisations for the last three years. 

This decision did not come as a big surprise.  Hayward is paying for the Mexican Gulf disaster which is considered one of the worst ecological disasters ever seen.  Hayward’s very public role as CEO combined with several PR gaffes in the days that followed the platform incident have all played a role in him being replaced.

Most US journalists and communication specialists have pointed out a lack of commitment, concern and apologies from BP’s CEO during the oil spill.  Hayward was also described as distant and not really interested in the events occurring in the Mexican Gulf. 

These accusations seem somewhat strange, however, if we look at the bigger picture.  How could a CEO remain unconcerned when his company is responsible for a massive oil spill that will harm the brand’s image and potentially market value for decades?  As emotions run high in the US and particularly in the Gulf of Mexico States it is easy for Americans to accuse the besieged BP Chief of being a callous polluter.

One of the key elements of this case is the nationality and culture of Hayward.  As a British national, his communication style and core cultural values are different from those which you typically find in Americans.  More precisely, Hayward is less likely to show his emotions openly.  Brits are renowned for their reserve, straight face and lack of emotional display, even in tense and dire situations.  Foreigners often perceive this to be quite cold and a sign of disinterest – hence the reaction from the American public.

Although much of Hayward’s communication style could be influenced by his national culture and values, much of his communication strategy was poor and things he said were inappropriate.  This is where cultural awareness training can be really helpful.  If he had known what kind of audience he was communicating to, what expectations they had of him and the style of communication they preferred, he could have adapted his approach to be more positively received.

A better understanding and awareness of US culture and communication style could have helped him to adapt and choose a better strategy to deal with this crisis.  Americans are known to be more open and direct and tend to expect their leaders, businesspeople and celebrities to openly apologise in public when they have done wrong.  Recent American history is full of incidents where famous “wrongdoers” have publicly apologised and been “rehabilitated” by the American public. After all, “To Err Is Human, to Forgive Divine”. (Alexander Pope).

BP will have a new CEO in October.  His primary objective will be to mend the image of the company around the world but particularly in the US.  The fact that he is American will probably help him to find the right tone and style to accomplish this difficult task.  Hopefully, his previous experience in other countries will also help him to adapt to other cultures as BP continues to work and expand in other international markets  over the next few years.

Cross cultural awareness training programmes such as Communicaid’s Doing Business in the US or Managing International Mergers and Acquisitions can help organisations to deal with such cultural differences and react more effectively to crisis such as this one.  Understanding the key differences in communication styles as well as cross cultural perceptions and business practices is essential for any organisation working in the international arena.

Are Environmental Science Levels Anygood?

Posted on July 29th, 2010 by  |  Comments Off

I was the primary particular person in my family – and so far the only explicit individual in my household – to get an environmental sciences degree. It was not a transfer with out controversy. My parents are fairly progressive people – far from Republicans – besides they’ve some typical concepts of what they need their children to do. I could have been a health care supplier, a lawyer, a businessman, an accountant, or every other excessive-paying profession. Having an environmental science diploma – at the very least of their opinion – was not an amazing use of my time in college. They figured that folks with environmental science degrees spent their life broke, drifting from one low-paying job to the other.

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I admit that my environmental science diploma doesn’t earn me as lots money as a degree in legislation would, nevertheless it has allowed me to dwell comfortably and do one thing that I am interested in. Even a decade prior to now, it was much more tough to earn a dwelling with environmental science levels, nonetheless as native climate change turns into more and more recognized, individuals with an environmental sciences backgrounds are increasingly more sought-after. As a matter of truth, for individuals who go to one of the additional prestigious environmental analysis packages, you can work pretty much anywhere that you just want. You can just about write your private job description!

Nonetheless, except you are passionate in regards to the atmosphere, there is not a degree in getting an environmental science degree. Funding is troublesome, varying drastically from year to 12 months, and there are easier career paths. For me, it took a variety of soul-looking to find out that this was what I needed to do. I knew that, if I wasn’t keen about it, it might make a lot more sense for me to evaluate something extra conventional. In any case, everyone likes to make good money.

I truly finally made up my ideas in regards to the environmental science diploma on a visit to the woods. I used to be tenting out with some friends, getting away from classes for a couple of days to decompress between semesters. I used to be mendacity there by a forest brook, merely watching the bushes transferring in the wind, once I knew what I wished to spend my life doing. I appreciated that forest like I beloved all forests, and I wished to do all of the issues that I could to guard them. The environmental science diploma has helped me to basically make a difference.

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Ways to Deal With Temper Tantrums

Posted on July 29th, 2010 by  |  Comments Off

Toddlers throw temper tantrums from time to time and some are really good at it.  Being a good parent is what will stop these temper tantrums just about immediately.  Many parents will try to stop the temper tantrum right away by giving in to whatever the child is having the temper tantrum about.  But it is best to let the temper tantrum take its steps.

Temper tantrums begin when the child is between two to five years old.  Prior to putting a halt on temper tantrums you will first need to figure out why they have started.  First and foremost you should keep in mind that your toddler might be hungry, toddlers eat less and more frequently then an adult.  It is a good idea to show your child by modeling that temper tantrums will not be productive.  It is also a good thing to let your toddler have some different options to let them feel as thought they have the control this should prevent some temper tantrums.

If a temper tantrum erupts for no good reason it is best to ignoree the child as much as possible, as long as they are not harming themselves or anybody around them.  When you are doing this it will make you feel as though you are not a great parent but it will have your child feel as though they are not getting anywhere with their tantrum.  The next time that your toddler feels that there is a need for a temper tantrum it may not happen or it might be shorter.  If you react to the temper tantrum by giving in every time your toddler will feel as though this is what they need to do to get what they want.  You need to be the boss, not your child.

Over time your child’s temper tantrums should stop.  If they do not stop then it would be best to check with your doctor about your child’s behaviour.  There might be some medical reason why your child is acting this way.

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How to Incorporate Stone in Your Landscape Design

Posted on July 29th, 2010 by  |  Comments Off

Over 2.7 million years ago, ancient human discovered the use of stones. In that time, a wide variety of different stones were used for a multitude of different functions. Fast forward to ancient Greece and Rome, where stones were used to create map mosaics and other beautiful artefacts. This is one aspect that has not changed, since the use of stones, particularly when landscaping, is a timeless classic. Here are a few tips on how to incorporate stone into your landscape design. This is known to most as “stonescaping”.

First things first. You have to decide what look you are trying to achieve with the use of stones in your design. Are you going for a specific theme or do you just wish to use them as a decorative tool? The design of your space is widely dependent on the materials you plan to use, and vice versa. Consider what look you are going for carefully before proceeding. Consider, for example, the natural look, which has a jagged edge to it, excuse the pun. This, naturally, is suitable only to homes without children or pets, as they could hurt themselves. For a softer approach, less rugged stone are used, which have many options too.

Next, you need to decide what types of stones you want to use. There is an unbelievable array of stones at your fingertips, ranging from cobbles stones to pebbles, semi-precious gemstones (which come in a multitude of shapes and colours to suit the rest of the design) and even granite, boulders, bricks and porous rocks. The options really are endless, since stones have been around longer than people. Marble, sandstone, slate and even stepping stones are also on the rise.

If you have used lighting in your garden or walkway, an interesting effect can be made by colour coding. That is, if you have green lighting in your garden, making use of malachite or moonstone softens the garden. Blue lighting could be accompanied by blue stone. Red lighting with garnets, and pink lighting with rose quartz. In fact, rose quartz is an extremely popular stone in the garden these days, slowly phasing out the use of plain white pebbles. That’s not to say pebbles don’t have a great effect, if you’re going for the soft, smooth, Zen or beach effect.

Stone or rock features are another avenue to explore. These usually accompany a sand or water feature, or perhaps a statue. That is, after all, technically stone, and can have a wonderfully elegant and tasteful effect.

Following that, you need to decide what size your stones should be. You can choose between stone chips, boulders, rounded stones and dimensional stones, to name a few. This too will depend on the size of your garden or space, as well as what effect or theme you are trying to create.

 

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Gluten-Free Fast Food Choices – Just what to Browse for When Dining On the Town

Posted on July 28th, 2010 by  |  Comments Off

Living a gluten free life these days might seem like a bit of a challenge, especially with the ads for delicious looking fast food staring you in the face everywhere you turn. Interestingly, there are fast food places available that do offer several gluten free options that may not seem best. Wendy’s, McDonald’s, and Taco Bell all provide at least a couple of choices. Living a gluten free lifestyle, one may be shocked to know that gluten free people can continue to eat out with everybody else. In fact, there are some loopholes in a variety of menus that permit for just that. Below is an exploration of the different options available.

At McDonald’s, it can be very easy to locate gluten free options. Foods minus the poultry, biscuits, McGriddles, and buns are what you should be in search of. For breakfast, that may include a “big breakfast”, consisting of hashbrowns, eggs, and sausage, along with a biscuit you merely do not have to eat. For lunch, McDonald’s has some good chicken salads that you can simply order without the chicken. There’s a southwest one along with a fruit and walnut salad, along with the standard tossed and Caesar. And the minute you have been awaiting, yes… the french fries are good. And you can finish off the meal with a fruit and yogurt parfait so long as you don’t eat the granola.

For gluten free foods at Wendy’s, you won’t be able to eat the French fries. Wendy’s does indeed have a wide range of sides to pick from that are gluten free, which McDonald’s doesn’t. A few of the most liked gluten free items at Wendy’s include, strawberry yogurt, mandarin oranges, side salads, baked potatoes, and cups of chili. There is actually a gluten free southwest taco salad which is offered with lettuce, cheese, vegetables, chips, source cream as well as chili. These kinds of possibilities, capped off together with your preferred drink, provide you with balanced meals which are free of gluten altogether.

You’ll find, however, fewer options available if you choose to visit Taco Bell for your gluten free fast food experience. These alternatives, however, are fairly filling, so you can at least make a meal out of them. The Southwest steak bowl is really a hardy alternative, although a lot of Taco Bells have taken that off their menu these days. If yours still offers it, the bowl is made of beans, rice, steak and cheese, al covered in a rich, spicy sauce. You could also get a tostada, and then for your sides, you may explore Mexican rice or pintos and cheese. The options for a fast food gluten-free experience will be out there. You only have to locate them.  Leaving a couple of gluten free recipes here and there definitely wouldn’t hurt either.