Thursday, September 19, 2019
New Meaning in a Brave New World :: Brave New World
New Meaning in a Brave New World The motto of the "Brave New World" was "Community, Identity, and Stability." In the following essay the actual meanings of these terms will be addressed. The term "Community" really did not have the meaning that we are accustomed to hearing and speaking in the modern day and age (1996). Instead it stands for almost a lack of "Community", meaning that there is no choice of where one ranks in the "Community", instead you are assigned even before production (natural birth is non-existent) your place in society and a person could never know what are the differences between being an Alpha or a Gamma. A person in the community is shared by everyone in the "Community", everyone belongs to everyone every person is shared sexually with one another, and there is no emotional bond because are breed not to have them. The term "Identity" is a complete opposite from the way that we are accustomed to seeing it and feeling it, in other words it is non-existent no one has any feelings, and no one posses any of their own personal characteristics, they are all alike. If a person were to try and find their own identity they were looked down upon and had to take a soma holiday (soma was a legal drug that took away all of a persons feelings or individualized ideaââ¬â¢s). The soma holiday was everyoneââ¬â¢s way out of having to deal with anything unpleasant or their way of having a good time. The "Stability" in the "Brave New World" is a different sort of "Stability", the "Stability" in "Brave New World" is economic stability, clothes were not to be mended, instead new ones were to be purchased to support economic stability and growth. Nothing was allowed to be produced or purchased that was not very expensive and did not require money to keep it in good running condition. If the society let cheap things onto the market or things were fixed easily what would happen to the vast economic society, it would develop cracks and eventually fall to the ground with a thundering crash. The entire society in "Brave New World" was based solely on science and technology and not on the social aspect of people, personal freedoms, and feeling differently from your fellow man. Science and technology was not only the basis of their being, and the way they lived it was also the sole reason that life seemed so different than it does in the present day and age (1996).
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
The Internet and Its Effects Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive Essays
The Internet and Its Effects The Internet was first developed in 1957 as a communication resource for the military Defense Unit. Since then the Internet remains to a service of communication that is now provided to all people with the access of a computer. Over the past several years the Internet has developed and expanded into an endless resource of information and knowledge. With billions of Internet users present in the world today, the idea of living life through the computer is not as uncommon as it used to be. Today people have the opportunity to experience relationships and receive an education through the computer. Although the quality of this kind of life is available, one may ask how realistic and healthy is it. Through the Internet, the process of gaining the products of life is non-existent. For example, I remember doing book reports and the process and experience in which it created. I would set aside at least a few hours of a day to go to the library, and work with a Liberian as a team in order to locate the information that I needed. I would then travel through an array of books to my destination. I would search through a few books on the same topic located right next to the book for which I had been looking. After finding several books with an array of different information I check them out, return home, and enjoy. Some may say that the Internet could have saved me the time it took to locate my resources. However, the process I went through socially, mentally and physically are aspects of life created through an experience, which the Internet cannot provide. Although the services provided through technology have brought society closer together, it has also pushed it farther apart. Consequently the Internet may... ...he effect. I have, and will continue to, experience the change and lack of communication that occurs with family and friends. The method in which I receive my education continues to become less personal as teachers take a step back and computers jump foreword. Computers are not a choice, they are a required form of communication in today's world that suggest we could all learn a great deal from sitting at a computer, alone. Works Cited Hallak, Jacques. " Global Connections, Expanding Partnership and New Challenges." U.S. Department of Education. September 20, 2000. (28 April 2002) Buchanan, Elizabeth. " The Social Microcosm of the Classroom." CPSR Newsletter. December 1997. (22 April 2002) Scherlis, William. "Internet Paradox, a Social Technology That Reduces Social Involvement and Psychological Well Being." American Psychologist 53 (1998): 1017-1031
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Cryobiology: Low Temperature Studies Of Biological Systems :: Biology Biological Papers
Cryobiology: Low Temperature Studies Of Biological Systems Thesis: Low temperature biology, or cryobiology, has the possibility, and may very easily and very drastically affect everyones' lives in the future. Through rapidly approaching cryobiological medical procedures and techniques, the presence of intense ethical issues may play an important role in many everyday decisions that do not now exist. Introduction What is cryobiology? It is "the study of the effects of freezing and low temperatures on living organisms" (Read, 1999). While the main focus of cryobiology is on living organisms (as suggested above), cryobiological techniques have been expanded to include treatment of nonliving things as well. This addition of non-living objects has expanded the focus to not only include plants, animals, and humans, but also to include machinery and other metal objects. A common synonym of cryobiology is "cryogenics". According to the New American Desk Encyclopedia (1989), cryogenics is defined as "the branch of physics dealing with the behavior of matter at very low temperatures, and with the production of those temperatures." As can be seen, cryogenics is a slightly more focused study of the cryobiological field dealing primarily with production methods of those freezing temperatures. Another sub-study field, if you will, is that of cryonics. Cryonics is defined as the practice of freezing humans who are not curable by current medical technology, in the hope that ways may be found to bring them back to life at some future time when ways of repairing the damage caused by the freezing process have been developed, as well as cures of the diseases or other causes of death which necessitated their cryonics suspension (Cryogenics International, 1999). As suggested above, cryobiology is primarily centered on the effects on those living organisms or non-living objects, although the methods and procedures are also very important. All around the world new and improved techniques are being tested to make this a better medical and preservational procedure. Not only are the different techniques and procedures getting increased attention, but also many accompanying controversial issues are as well. Low temperature biology, or cryobiology, has the possibility to very easily and very drastically affect everyoneàs lives in the future. Through rapidly approaching cryobiological medical procedures and techniques, the presence of intense ethical issues may play an important role in many everyday decisions that do not now exist. Cryobiology Techniques There are many different cryobiological techniques that exist and are being used today. Cryobiology: Low Temperature Studies Of Biological Systems :: Biology Biological Papers Cryobiology: Low Temperature Studies Of Biological Systems Thesis: Low temperature biology, or cryobiology, has the possibility, and may very easily and very drastically affect everyones' lives in the future. Through rapidly approaching cryobiological medical procedures and techniques, the presence of intense ethical issues may play an important role in many everyday decisions that do not now exist. Introduction What is cryobiology? It is "the study of the effects of freezing and low temperatures on living organisms" (Read, 1999). While the main focus of cryobiology is on living organisms (as suggested above), cryobiological techniques have been expanded to include treatment of nonliving things as well. This addition of non-living objects has expanded the focus to not only include plants, animals, and humans, but also to include machinery and other metal objects. A common synonym of cryobiology is "cryogenics". According to the New American Desk Encyclopedia (1989), cryogenics is defined as "the branch of physics dealing with the behavior of matter at very low temperatures, and with the production of those temperatures." As can be seen, cryogenics is a slightly more focused study of the cryobiological field dealing primarily with production methods of those freezing temperatures. Another sub-study field, if you will, is that of cryonics. Cryonics is defined as the practice of freezing humans who are not curable by current medical technology, in the hope that ways may be found to bring them back to life at some future time when ways of repairing the damage caused by the freezing process have been developed, as well as cures of the diseases or other causes of death which necessitated their cryonics suspension (Cryogenics International, 1999). As suggested above, cryobiology is primarily centered on the effects on those living organisms or non-living objects, although the methods and procedures are also very important. All around the world new and improved techniques are being tested to make this a better medical and preservational procedure. Not only are the different techniques and procedures getting increased attention, but also many accompanying controversial issues are as well. Low temperature biology, or cryobiology, has the possibility to very easily and very drastically affect everyoneàs lives in the future. Through rapidly approaching cryobiological medical procedures and techniques, the presence of intense ethical issues may play an important role in many everyday decisions that do not now exist. Cryobiology Techniques There are many different cryobiological techniques that exist and are being used today.
Monday, September 16, 2019
ââ¬ËUpââ¬â¢ The Movie
Up is a movie directed by Pete Docter and produced by Pixar Animation Studios. Its lead actors are; Edward Asner, Christopher Plummer and Jordan Nagai. Up is an animation, adventure, comedy, drama and family movie which was released on the 3rd of September 2009 in Australia. This film struck me for its stunning and beautiful images. No doubt we face one of those movies that are meant to be enjoyed by children and their parents at the same time. The story tells about an elderly widower, grumpy, stubborn dreamer, Carl, who decides to realize his childhood dream, a dream that once shared with his late and beloved wife to travel to Paradise Falls in South America. When her beloved little house is turned into an island surrounded by skyscrapers and he is pressured by real estate deals, and authorities want to send him to a nursing home, Carl decides to escape by tying thousands of balloons to his home with a rudimentary but ingenious navigation system. The first surprise of the trip is to discover that carrying a stowaway, Russell, a nice boy scout who became his travelling partner. The story is fast-paced, with moments of humour, suspense and overall sleek and stunning animated images. The actors did a very good roll making the voices for every character and they made us believe and feel what the story was about, they made us feel sad and happy at the same time. I must confess that the first minutes of the film are very depressing. The first minutes are a stark summary of Carlââ¬â¢s life. We see it in his childhood, when he was just a child, the stage where he meets another girl who would become his future wife. We quickly turned into young love, marriage, happy moments, sad moments, diseases and Carl burying his beloved wife which is truly shocking and hard. Music plays a very important roll in this part of the movie because no one talks and the music does everything, they try to make you feel happy and sad just with the music and it is very effective. It is a very good movie that everyone would enjoy and it is very well produced too. I think it is suitable for children and adults who want to spend an entertaining time.
Race: Black People and Larger Racial Minorities Essay
Answer the following questions in 100 to 250 words each. Provide citations for all the sources you use. * Throughout most of U. S. history, in most locations, what race has been in the majority? What is the common ancestral background of most members of this group? White people have been the majority of the population. The common ancestral background of most of the members in this group are Europeans. * What are some of the larger racial minorities in U. S. history? What have been the common ancestral backgrounds of each of these groups? When did each become a significant or notable minority group? Whites and blacks are a larger race in us. Europeans are the common ancestral background of whites and African American common ancestral background was from the west. The whites became a significant minority group in the 1600ââ¬â¢s and blacks became a significant minority group in the 1800ââ¬â¢s * In what ways have laws been used to enforce discrimination? Provide examples. These laws were intended against which racial minorities? Laws have been enforcing discrimination by making sure that all races have the same opportunity at a job. This is the civil rights act and it was made so that blacks and other races could all have a fair chance at a job and could not be rejected because of their race. If a black person would try to get a job and not get hired but a white person goes in and has everything the same as the black person but gets hired the black person can take that company to court for discrimination. These laws where intended for all racial minorities so everyone has the same opportunity. * In what ways have laws been used to eliminate discrimination? Provide examples. Did the laws work to eliminate discrimination? Allowing blacks and white to attend the same schools and allowing them to sit anywhere on a bus. Back years ago blacks had to sit in the back of the bus and if a white person needed a seat they had to give up theirs, as far as the schooling goes now black and whites can go to the same schools. I think the laws worked to eliminate discrimination because you do not see anyone making a black person move for a white person or having a school with only white kids. They laws have helped us become one country instead of 2 and everyone has a better look at each other now that we can combine races.
Sunday, September 15, 2019
Are Lord And Lady Capulet Good Parents? Essay
The Victorian era was a tremendously exciting period when many artistic styles, political and religious movements flourished. It was the era of invention and progress and it would prove to progress a lot leaving Victorian life at the end of Queen Victoriaââ¬â¢s reign unrecognizable. Life in Victorian times was very much based on and steeped in tradition, religion and reason. This is why they were hugely fascinated by things outside the box like ghosts, the supernatural, magic, foreign travel and Arabian nights. Foreign travel was only available to the extremely rich, the army and health services, and Arabian nights was like a fantasy land to them. Reading about things like this was like naughty literature to them, a secret thrill that they shouldnââ¬â¢t be reading as itââ¬â¢s against there religion. Victorians were starting to think it was possible that other things could be out there, expanding there minds to different possibilities, taking in more ideas and enjoying it. The Monkeys Paw (W.W Jacobs) and The Red Room (H.G Wells) are both Victorian short stories pushing against reason and religion and filling the Victorians minds with endless possibilities. Where The Red Room is more a traditional Victorian gothic ghost story The Monkeys Paw is more to do with foreign travel, different lands and magic. The Monkeys Paw is W.W. Jacobsââ¬â¢ most famous story and is considered to be a classic of horror fiction. A tale about morality, the right thing to do, the dangers of the tempting fate and messing around with things you donââ¬â¢t understand. It sends out a messageâ⬠¦ ââ¬ËBe careful for what you wish forââ¬â¢. The opening of the story is a metaphor of society, the Victorians were very cozy in there lifestyle. Huddling together to keep England, keep ideas, keep reason, keep religion and stick to what they know but new things are trying to get in. When Jacobs wrote The Monkeys Paw the Victorians were curious about exotic far off lands and travelling, a popular saying at the time was ââ¬Å"the sun never sets on the British empire â⬠By the early 1900s, England had conquered and colonized countries all over the world. The saying meant that somewhere in the world it was always daylight, and there a British colony could be found. Jacobs uses foreshadowing, imagery and symbolism in this story to explore the consequences of tempting fate. His careful, economical creation of setting and atmosphere add suspense and tension to the tale, two of the main story themes along with fate and chance. As the story unfolds, author Jacobs provides many hints that, indeed, the monkeyââ¬â¢s paw does possess strange powers, and that tempting fate by making the three wishes is a grave mistakeâ⬠¦ The story begins with a contrast between a close cozy Victorian family in Lakesnam Villa that are huddled together by the warm fire, father and son playing chess whilst mother knits against the terrible cold damp remoteness of the outside world hidden behind the closed blinds. The name of the villa of which they live is named ââ¬ËLaburnumââ¬â¢ which is also the name of a deadly poisonous plant, making the characters home the name of a deadly plant could be informing the reader something bad could happen later on within the story so this makes the reader wonder more creating tension within the reader as they are apprehensive as to what will happen next. Down the page a bit when Mr. White puts his king into ââ¬Å"sharp and unnecessary perilsâ⬠and soon sees ââ¬Å"a fatal mistake after it was too lateâ⬠itââ¬â¢s a kind of mini-drama, one that tells us what is about to happen in the story. Its using foreshadowing to depict and event early on in the story that is real ly a big part of the plot that is soon to unfold, itââ¬â¢s a clever and sneaky parallel to the ending which becomes only clear on your second read. We get our first look in at tension and suspense when the cozy atmosphere is suddenly disturbed by sudden noises such as a banging gate and heavy footsteps, itââ¬â¢s the best example of suspense and tension as the reader feels that there must be a reason behind a visit to such an isolated place, it also makes the reader more curious. The banging of the gate heralds the arrival of their guest, Sergeant-Major Morris, ââ¬Ëa tall, burley man, beady of eye and rubicund of visageââ¬â¢ his descriptive description of appearance makes impact on sight as heââ¬â¢s so big in the room, towering above the White family. His appearance and experience is broader and he is the catalyst for the story as he brings the monkeyââ¬â¢s paw to the Whitesââ¬â¢ home which will change there lives forever. Morris is both familiar and exotic. Morris and Mr. White began their lives in approximately the same way; Mr. White remembers his friend as ââ¬Å"a slip of a youth in the warehouse,â⬠But in his twenty-one years of travel and soldiering, Morris has seen the world and has brought back tales of ââ¬Ëwild scenes and doughty deeds; of wars and plagues and strange peoples.ââ¬â¢ Heââ¬â¢s been a lot of places and seen a lot of things yet the White family cant possibly imagine going to another country, living there life in a routine and never stepping out of it but Mr. White hints that he does want to travel stating ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢d like to go to India myself,â⬠. Morris advises against it though saying ââ¬Å"better where you are,â⬠travelling isnââ¬â¢t all that good, better to stick to what you now instead of pushing boundaries. Theyââ¬â¢ve shared a few drinks and Morrisââ¬â¢ eyes are brighter with his third glass of whisky at the Whitesââ¬â¢ hearth so Mr. White now decides to bring up a previous conversation that was maybe let slip at a pub when Morris was again slightly over the limit, dropping into conversation ââ¬Å"you started telling me the other day about a monkeys paw or something, Morrisâ⬠but Morris is not keen on picking up the story that he hoped would not be brought up and discards it, stating it as ââ¬Å"not worth hearingâ⬠and being offhanded hoping to push it aside and forget it. Heââ¬â¢s now got all three peoples attention as the ââ¬Ëthree listeners leaned forward eagerlyââ¬â¢ but he doesnââ¬â¢t really want it. When he finally does tell them about the monkeys paw his ââ¬Ëblotchy face whitenedââ¬â¢ and his ââ¬Ëglass tapped against his strong teethââ¬â¢ he shows a lot of nervous body language clearly wanting to avoid the subject completely. He tells them of a spell put on the paw by an old fakir that ââ¬Å"wanted to show that fate ruled peopleââ¬â¢s lives, and that those who interfered with it did so to their own sorrowâ⬠which is also the moral of the story and their ââ¬Å"light laughter jarred somewhatâ⬠using alliteration to give a light feel as they laughed uncomfortably at what he said. He says the paw gives three wishes to three different men and that he and a man before him have both had three wishes each. Mr. White deliberately doesnââ¬â¢t ask what Morrisââ¬â¢ three wishes were but it appears clear they didnââ¬â¢t go well and Morris doesnââ¬â¢t offer to tell them either seeming anxious as well as nervous at this point. Circumstances soon become s ad as he explains the first mans third wish ââ¬Å"was for deathâ⬠exampling the extreme power the paw has as ââ¬Ëhush fell upon the groupââ¬â¢. Morris thinks ââ¬Å"it has caused enough mischief alreadyâ⬠not wanting the responsibility of passing it on to any one else and the whole way through the story heââ¬â¢s talking with caution of not wanting them to touch it, heââ¬â¢s trying to warn them. ââ¬Å"Better let it burnâ⬠he says, heââ¬â¢d like to see it destroyed to put and end to it but Mr. White has other ideas ââ¬Å"if you donââ¬â¢t want it ,Morris give it to meâ⬠he says back. Showing true friendship Morris wont, not wanting any blame and trying to protect his friends by keeping them out of harms way but Mr. White cant resist temptation and the excitement of playing with danger, its naughty and he knows it could have consequences but heââ¬â¢s on the spot, its a heat of the moment decision let it burn or try it out making the readers are curious to know more about the monkeys paw and what all can it actually do. Since there is a bad impression of the paw so far in the story the readers will also want to know what is going to happen later on and how deadly the paw can be, this sense of mystery builds suspense and tension, he has no time to think about it and just goes for it. Trying to lift the mood and break the atmosphere Mrs. White to laugh it off ââ¬Å"sounds like Arabian nights, donââ¬â¢t you think you might wish for four pairs of hands for me?â⬠she says beginning to set the supper but Morris isnââ¬â¢t impressed with her humor, he doesnââ¬â¢t feel the subject should be joked or laughed about as its not a laughing matter and doesnââ¬â¢t appreciate her messing around with it. ââ¬Å"if you wish, wish for something sensibleâ⬠he says. There son Herbert on the other hand doesnââ¬â¢t believe in it anymore then he believes in Morrisââ¬â¢ travels saying ââ¬Å"if the tale about the monkeys paw is not more truthful than those he has been telling usâ⬠. Mr. White took the monkeys paw and gave Morris money for it although he ââ¬Å"didnââ¬â¢t want itâ⬠and he ââ¬Ëpressed Mr. White again to make him throw it awayââ¬â¢ so even after being paid he wanted them to get rid of it proving he didnââ¬â¢t just want money for it. The White family are at first unsure what to wish for, Mr. White says ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve got all I wantâ⬠not being a materialistic man and being very family driven/orientated he believes that having a family, home and being comfy and safe is everything which is a very Victorian ethic but eventually they ââ¬Ëwish for two hundred poundsââ¬â¢ to cover the mortgage and make the home there own. Tension builds up in a mock dramatic moment as Mr. White breathes the words ââ¬Å"I wish for two hundred poundsâ⬠as if in a tense film Herbert crashes the piano like a drum roll for dad, Jacob uses the sound effect to build tension and suspense builds up after he speaks the wish as its all silent and the reader is at edge expecting something to happen. After he wishes he drops the paw ââ¬Ëwith a glance of disgustââ¬â¢ convinced it had moved in his hand he says it ââ¬Å"twisted like a snakeâ⬠using a simile to create a strange imagery of evil things associated with bad things and bad deeds. Herbert dismisses the whole thing saying ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t see the money, and I bet I never shallâ⬠which is an ironic parallel to the end as he doesnââ¬â¢t see the money, but not because it doesnââ¬â¢t exist. Outside the wind becomes ââ¬Ëhigher then everââ¬â¢ and Mr. White ââ¬Ëstarted nervously at the sound of a door bangingââ¬â¢ disturbing the ââ¬Ëunusual and depressing silenceââ¬â¢ tension builds here as the cozy atmosphere changes dramatically and Mr. White is left feeling extremely unsettled about the whole thing and the fact the atmosphere has changed so much from the outside influences trying to break in. Suspense is built again when Mr. White looks into the fire and sees faces that are ââ¬Ëso simian that he gazed at it in amazementââ¬â¢ simian meaning ape like it will shock the readers and Mr. White and we see him get fearful for the first time in the story. The next morning is a completely different atmosphere, it changes from a scene from a traditional horror story of a noisy and scary outside and a silent dark solemn depressing inside to the scene of brightness and happiness at a typical Victorian family breakfast table as a ââ¬Ëwintery sun streamed over the breakfast tableââ¬â¢ The new atmosphere leaves the family thinking about the way they got caught up in the story the night before and allowing it to scare them silly. Mrs. White especially thinks that the fear of the night before was ridiculous saying even if the wish was granted ââ¬Å"how could money hurt youâ⬠little does she know, it can and itââ¬â¢s using dramatic irony. Not believing in it didnââ¬â¢t prevent her from ââ¬Ëscurrying to the door at the postmanââ¬â¢s knockââ¬â¢ with a hint that sheââ¬â¢s hopeful something exciting will still happen, and the money will still come. Later on in the day she watches ââ¬Ëmysterious movements of a man outsideââ¬â¢ using a soft alliteration sound the sentence also builds suspense of who this unexpected visitor could be and what he could want. More suspense is created as he hesitates at the gate ââ¬Ëtrying to make up his mind to enterââ¬â¢. The man appears to be wealthy looking which immediately makes Mrs. White assume he is here to give them the money as she can think of no other reason that a wealthy, well dressed man would come to her house. When he finally comes to the house she ââ¬Ëapologizes for the appearance of the room and her husbands coatââ¬â¢ embarrassed and tense about the state of her house but heââ¬â¢s taking no notice creating more suspense as he looks for a displacement activity when announcing he comes from ââ¬ËMaw and Megginsââ¬â¢ were there son works. The wealthy man delivers the news of their sonââ¬â¢s death in a perverted and strange way, dragging it out to build tension. He says heââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"badly hurt but not feeling any painâ⬠building suspension and leaving the readers on the edge of there seats wanting to know whatââ¬â¢s happened and if heââ¬â¢s alright, but sadly heââ¬â¢s not. In the consideration of there sons services they receive a ââ¬Ëcertain sumââ¬â¢ adding the most tension/suspense of all in the story leaving readers shocked as they know whatââ¬â¢s coming, Mr. Whites lips are dry with the fear building up inside him as he asks the question he doesnââ¬â¢t even need to ask, ââ¬Å"how muchâ⬠The manner of speech in the story also creates a lot of tension, fear and suspense for the reader. For example there are parts in the story where there are quick, short dialogues between the characters. This helps to create a lot of tension as not only is the scene tense but also the quick dialogues helps to build up tension of that particular scene. These short quick dialogues help the text to keep flowing making the scene more chaotic and tense. Also during such conversations Jacob has intelligently used simple English, so the reader can digest the text and keep up with the fast pace of the conversation. The best example of such a scene is the conversation between Mr. White and Mrs. White after their son is dead and she wants him to use the paw to bring their son back to life. ââ¬Å"The paw!â⬠ââ¬Å"The Monkeyââ¬â¢s pawâ⬠ââ¬Å"Where? Where is it? Whatââ¬â¢s the matter?â⬠ââ¬Å"I want itââ¬
Saturday, September 14, 2019
Corporate University in China Essay
The concept of corporate university (CU) in China is a recent phenomenon although it existed more than eight decades in the western world. Literature reviews indicate that CU is an independent professional-managed entity proactively providing learning intervention in the workplace. With the ownership of the corporation, CU embedded culture and optimized learning through commitment to strategic intent in order to meet organizational objectives. The concept of ââ¬Å"trainingâ⬠has to be redefined. The major key role of CU is to facilitate both individuals and organization to become ââ¬Å"efficient learnerâ⬠in order to maintain competitiveness in the ever-changing of business environment. Since the start of economic reform in 1978, the Chinese economy has enjoyed a dramatic growth. In 2002 alone, China attracted over US$52.7 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI), surpassing the US. The drastic economic growth and the fundamental structural change in China as a result of government policies, globalization and technological advances will continue to drive the demand for training and competency development. Both local and foreign-invested corporations seek the CU concept as the strategic solution. There are many reasons for corporations establish CU; however, the primary one is to facilitate corporate objectives and support business strategies. Studies on HRM suggest different models vary across different countries. A direct copy from western model might cause ineffective and inefficient. A comprehensive understanding on the CU meaning, how it operates, and its roles are important. In addition, consideration of local elements is necessary in adopting CU in China. Major Chinese characteristics with current corporate situation and issues should be identified. Evidences support that the Chinese contextual variables and their CU motives impact the strategies and development of CU in China. Adapted from Prince & Beaverââ¬â¢s conceptual CU Wheel model, a priori China CU framework encompassed the unique characteristics of China is formulated in an attempt to describe the key functions that an ââ¬Å"idealâ⬠type of CU in China should perform. Based on the theoretical assumptions, the four core subsystems include learning and teaching process, networks and partnership, accreditation system, and marketing process constitute the main elements of the CU process. They work collaboratively with the common goal of supporting business goals and strategies. The two cultural elements, ââ¬Å"guanxiâ⬠and ââ¬Å"mianziâ⬠, work as catalyst or lubricator to enhance the effectiveness and coordination. The priori CU framework brings new insight to the CU development in China. Research is performed to test the relevance of this framework across the three major forms of ownership. To achieve the research objectives, an exploratory and descriptive approach is used. This study adopts a qualitative case-methodology based on the in-depth interviews, previously collected data through questionnaires and documentary analysis. The three study cases include: 1. Taikang Business University (TBU) ââ¬â a joint-venture enterprise with foreign investment; 2. Motorola University, China (MUC) ââ¬â a wholly foreign-owned multi-national corporation (MNC); 3. X Academy, a state-owned enterprise (SOE) To delimit the study, each case covers background information, its objectives and roles, core portfolio, and the relevance of the priori framework. Challenges and issues of each case organization are addressed as well. A cross-case analysis of the three case organizations is used to identify the similarities and differences. The diffusion of CU practices varies with the investment form and the foreign equity stake. The study provides evident that both the MNC and joint venture case organizations with foreign investment are more mature in their CU process. The integration and coordination of the four core processes that constitute the priori CU framework are strongly evident. A hybrid model of CU practices is adopted with the convergence of practices from the parent country operation and the divergence of practices for the China context. On the other hand, the CU development of the SOE case is less developed. It can be explained that most of SOEs in China lack western management know-how and resources. Some CU sub-processes or practices of the priori CU framework are either missing or too weak in the SOE case. It has been facing problems at the CU evolution. Misconception on training, lack of support from upper management, lack of CU understanding, unable to demonstrate the CU value, ineffective learning process, and the cultural gap are the major issues and challenges for CUs in China. Improvements have to be made before CU can really take off in organizations in China. Recommendations with reference to the priori CU framework are made. Additional comments on CU strategies are given for local enterprises and the foreign-invested organization. It is evident that some CUs such as Motorola University China (MUC) perform a range of strategic functions in China. Among all, it can be summarized into two major categories: developing people and developing business. Although developing people is the most common motive for the CU establishment, the CU strategic orientation towards market-driven and profit-driven is more evident and justifiable to most Chinese enterprises. The CU strategies and practices are highly influenced by the political, economic and cultural characteristics of China. It would be difficult to apply a single CU model to all CU phenomena. Despite the limitation, the priori CU framework can still be used as a tool to describe the current situation in the CU scene in China. It encompasses the unique characteristics of China CU, capable of providing the direction to the CU operations and practices. This research raises a number of issues upon which subsequent research efforts can be expended as follow: 1. Besides the forms of ownership, other company variables such as the industry types, leadership style, corporation sizes, and corporate culture might affect the CU development and practices. Further, the CU strategies and practices are highly influenced by the political, economic and cultural characteristics of China. To what extent these contextual variables influence the CU adoption in China? 2. The major motive for local enterprises to establish CU is to drive corporate-wide initiative, reinforcing and perpetuating behavior towards internationalization. So how do the local corporations, particularly state-owned enterprise, change their traditional view to more global perspective in order to run a successful CU? 3. Different foreign-invested corporations adopt different local strategy. Some focus on globalizing the China operation whilst others prefer to adopt a complete localization approach. Does the local strategy adopted by the foreign-invested corporation affect the CU strategy and development? 4. The dynamic business environment in China creates a constant change phenomenon in corporate strategies. How does CU support the changing corporate strategies and maintain its agility? How does CU demonstrate its value in China? With a large population, fast and rapid growing economy and constant improvement of its peopleââ¬â¢s living standard, corporations in China enjoy tremendous market potentials. CU definitely has an important role in China. However, a successful CU requires continuously learning and self-reflective. The evolution of CU involves ongoing values, trust, respect, commitment, integrity and enthusiasm. The priori CU framework, to a certain extent, can be used as a tool to explain the current situation in the CU scene in China. With more understanding on the CU practices and development in China, it will benefit both organization decision makers and educational providers to evaluate their responses to what is clearly a growing phenomenon.
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