Doing Business in Hong Kong

Introduction The report below talks of doing business in Hong King. It addresses the business structure, communication style, and management style adopted by businesses in Hong Kong.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Doing Business in Hong Kong specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In addition, the report talks of the etiquette of business meetings in Hong Kong, the role of women in business, dress code, and successful entertaining. Background to Business in Hong Kong Although Hong Kong only has a population of approximately 7 million people, there are over 470,000 SMEs in the country (CIA-The World Factbook 2012). This is an indication of the vitality, hunger and health of the Chinese business community. If you intend to do business in Hong Kong, it is important to first study the business environment in the country as it will be affected by issues like the decision-making process, management style, and attitudes. The se issues may affect the long-term relationship of a business partnership. Country History and geography Hong Kong is made up of the Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Peninsula, the Stonecutters’ Island, and the New Territories that borders mainland China. In 1841, China surrendered the island of Hong Kong to Britain (CIA-The World Factbook 2012) Geographically, Hong Kong is located in Eastern Asia and it borders China and the South China Sea. Business Structures The structure of business in Hong Kong is influenced by the colonial history of the island and the business practices in China. Most multinational organisations demonstrate a ‘managed’ approach (AGC Seminars 2008).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, majority of the SMEs in Hong Kong have been founded and are controlled by Chinese families. The SMEs are characterised by a centralised decision m aking process owing to the family connection. Management Style Due to the rich Chinese heritage, Confucian thinking influences the management style of businesses in Hong Kong. Although local ideas have also been influenced greatly by many years of colonial rule, such century old beliefs like seniority and respect for the aged are still upheld by the Hong Kong people (Mayerbrown n.d.). As such, managers in Hong Kong like to adopt a paternalistic approach while dealing with subordinates and the subordinates are expected to implement instructions given by their seniors with little or no objection. The decision making process tends to be centralized as many local firms are entrepreneurial in nature. Meetings The etiquette of business meetings in Hong Kong varies markedly, based on the type of firm in question. For example, multinationals are likely to adhere to the standard meeting style with regard to minutes, agendas, etc. Conversely, small firms are more informal in their meetings (R unckel Associates 2005). When dealing with either the multinationals or the local firms, foreign businesspersons are advised to address the senior person during business meetings, even if they do not speak fluent English. Business discussions tend to be polite and diplomatic but voices and emotions could be raised when things are not going according to plan. The Hong Kong people accept gifts during business meetings as they signify the development of a business relationship. Team Working Hong Kong is a Confucian society and as such, it culture is largely group-oriented, with the family forming the strongest group ties. This means that people in Hong Kong are more likely to make effective group members as long as there is a safe and harmonious group environment (Communicaid 2009).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Doing Business in Hong Kong specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More When it comes to choosing long-term loy alty for team members, people in Hong Kong will always prefer family members. The manager is expected to issue instructions to team members, who are in turn expected to foster a close working relationship with the manager. Team managers are expected to provide complete and clear instructions as anything left out may not actually get done. The maintenance of ‘face’ by group members is important and as such, it is important to avoid mocking co-workers as this may lead to ‘loss of face’. Communication styles Although Hong Kong was under the British rule for long, English is still not universally spoken. Most employees working at the large corporations are very fluent in English, but this fluency tends to reduce as the size of the firm decreases. As such, a foreign businessperson should be expected to encounter communication difficulties (Hong Kong Planner n. d.). Owing to western influence, the Chinese in Hong Kong are by far more direct in comparison with the other Asians. Such directness is mainly confined to peer-level discussions as opposed to the higher ranking employees. Women in Business Women are influences business decisions in Hong Kong, especially in the larger multi-nationals. However, some SMEs still retain the conventional Confucian attitude towards the role of women in the workplace (Communicaid 2009). Working in Hong Kong is not a big bother for visiting female businesspeople although the views of their male counterparts are more likely to be listened to keenly.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Dress Code In Hong Kong, the dress code differs slightly based on the industry sector and size of the firm. Men can wear shirts, ties, and dark suits. Women can also wear conservative business suits as well, although wearing of skirts is preferred to trousers (AGC Seminars 2008). Summer time is always hot and humid in Hong Kong and typhoons tend to be common. Top Tips Few conglomerates dominate business in Hong Kong. There are all kinds of businesses, and SMEs dominate the business environment in Hong Kong. Business relationships rarely affects a deal in Hong Kong Most Chinese businesses are family-run, and the oldest members of the family are the decision makers. The Confucian values affect the management style of businesses in Hong Kong Family members are preferred in businesses that require long-term loyalty Owing to the Confucian roots, team working in Hong Kong companies is largely group-oriented. Giving of gifts is acceptable in Hong Kong as it signifies the development of a business relationship. Successful Entertaining Business entertaining is very common in Hong Kong, and the inviting party always pays for the food. During meals, avoid topics like human rights and politics, but topics such as sports, the weather, family, and education are common (Communicaid 2009). Eating everything on the table is considered an impolite gesture as it means that the host did not give you enough food. Slurping and belching after a meal is welcome as it signifies appreciation. Facts and figures Hong Kong has an estimated population of 7 million people with a land area of 1,075 sq km. The HK dollar is the national currency in Hong Kong, while the country’s GDP is estimated at US$ 211bn (CIA-The World Factbook 2012). In addition, 46 percent of the population in Hong Kong traces their roots to China. Conclusion If you are interested in doing business in Hong Kong, it is important to first learn about its history, geography, and business etiquette, cultural, social and economic factors affecting the country as they will also affect the way business is done. Reference List AGC Seminars 2008, Business Culture in Hong Kong. Web. CIA-The World Factbook 2012, Hong Kong.  Web. Communicaid 2009, Doing Business in Hong Kong| Hong Kong Social and Business Culture: A Hong Kong Overview. Web. Hong Kong Planner, Doing Business in Hong Kong.  Web. Mayerbrown, Guide to doing business in Hong Kong. Web. Runckel Associates 2005, Business and social etiquette in Asia: Hong Kong. Web. This report on Doing Business in Hong Kong was written and submitted by user Giancarlo Alvarez to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Biography of Charles Dickens, English Novelist

Biography of Charles Dickens, English Novelist Charles Dickens (February 7, 1812–June 9, 1870) was a popular English novelist of the Victorian era, and to this day he remains a giant in British literature. Dickens wrote numerous books that are now considered classics, including David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, A Tale of Two Cities, and Great Expectations. Much of his work was inspired by the difficulties he faced in childhood as well as social and economic problems in Victorian Britain. Fast Facts: Charles Dickens Known For: Dickens was the popular author of Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, and other classics.Born: February 7, 1812 in Portsea, EnglandParents: Elizabeth and John DickensDied: June 9, 1870 in Higham, EnglandPublished Works: Oliver Twist (1839), A Christmas Carol (1843), David Copperfield (1850), Hard Times (1854), Great Expectations (1861)Spouse: Catherine Hogarth (m. 1836–1870)Children: 10 Early Life Charles Dickens was born on February 7, 1812, in Portsea, England. His father had a job working as a pay clerk for the British Navy, and the Dickens family, by the standards of the day, should have enjoyed a comfortable life. But his fathers spending habits got them into constant financial difficulties. When Charles was 12, his father was sent to debtors prison, and Charles was forced to take a job in a factory that made shoe polish known as blacking. Life in the blacking factory for the bright 12-year-old was an ordeal. He felt humiliated and ashamed, and the year or so he spent sticking labels on jars would be a profound influence on his life. When his father managed to get out of debtors prison, Charles was able to resume his sporadic schooling. However, he was forced to take a job as an office boy at the age of 15. By his late teens, he had learned stenography and landed a job as a reporter in the London courts. By the early 1830s, he was reporting for two London newspapers. Early Career Dickens aspired to break away from newspapers and become an independent writer, and he began writing sketches of life in London. In 1833 he began submitting them to a magazine, The Monthly. He would later recall how he submitted his first manuscript, which he said was dropped stealthily one evening at twilight, with fear and trembling, into a dark letter box, in a dark office, up a dark court in Fleet Street. When the sketch hed written, titled A Dinner at Poplar Walk, appeared in print, Dickens was overjoyed. The sketch appeared with no byline, but soon he began publishing items under the pen name Boz. The witty and insightful articles Dickens wrote became popular, and he was eventually given the chance to collect them in a book. Sketches by Boz first appeared in early 1836, when Dickens had just turned 24. Buoyed by the success of his first book, he married Catherine Hogarth, the daughter of a newspaper editor. He settled into a new life as a family man and an author. Rise to Fame Sketches by Boz was so popular that the publisher commissioned a sequel, which appeared in 1837. Dickens was also approached to write the text to accompany a set of illustrations, and that project turned into his first novel, The Pickwick Papers, which was published in installments from 1836 to 1837. This book was followed by Oliver Twist, which appeared in 1839. Dickens became amazingly productive. Nicholas Nickleby was written in 1839, and The Old Curiosity Shop in 1841. In addition to these novels, Dickens was turning out a steady stream of articles for magazines. His work was incredibly popular. Dickens was able to create remarkable characters, and his writing often combined comic touches with tragic elements. His empathy for working people and for those caught in unfortunate circumstances made readers feel a bond with him. As his novels appeared in serial form, the reading public was often gripped with anticipation. The popularity of Dickens spread to America, and there were stories told about how Americans would greet British ships at the docks in New York to find out what had happened next in Dickens latest novel. Visit to America Capitalizing on his international fame, Dickens visited the United States in 1842 when he was 30 years old. The American public was eager to greet him, and he was treated to banquets and celebrations during his travels. In New England, Dickens visited the factories of Lowell, Massachusetts, and in New York City he was taken to the see the Five Points, the notorious and dangerous slum on the Lower East Side. There was talk of him visiting the South, but as he was horrified by the idea of slavery he never went south of Virginia. Upon returning to England, Dickens wrote an account of his American travels which offended many Americans. A Christmas Carol In 1842, Dickens wrote another novel, Barnaby Rudge. The following year, while writing the novel Martin Chuzzlewit, Dickens visited the industrial city of Manchester, England. He addressed a gathering of workers, and later he took a long walk and began to think about writing a Christmas book that would be a protest against the profound economic inequality he saw in Victorian England. Dickens published A Christmas Carol in December 1843, and it became one of his most enduring works. Dickens traveled around Europe during the mid-1840s. After returning to England, he published five new novels: Dombey and Son, David Copperfield, Bleak House, Hard Times, and Little Dorrit. By the late 1850s, Dickens was spending more time giving public readings. His income was enormous, but so were his expenses, and he often feared he would be plunged back into the sort of poverty he had known as a child. Later Life Epics/Getty Images Charles Dickens, in middle age, appeared to be on top of the world. He was able to travel as he wished, and he spent summers in Italy. In the late 1850s, he purchased a mansion, Gads Hill, which he had first seen and admired as a child. Despite his worldly success, though, Dickens was beset by problems. He and his wife had a large family of 10 children, but the marriage was often troubled. In 1858, a personal crisis turned into a public scandal when Dickens left his wife and apparently began a secretive affair with actress Ellen Nelly Ternan, who was only 19 years old. Rumors about his private life spread. Against the advice of friends, Dickens wrote a letter defending himself, which was printed in newspapers in New York and London. For the last 10 years of his life, Dickens was often estranged from his children, and his relationships with old friends suffered. Though he hadnt enjoyed his tour of America in 1842, Dickens returned in late 1867. He was again welcomed warmly, and large crowds flocked to his public appearances. He toured the East Coast of the United States for five months. He returned to England exhausted, yet continued to embark on more reading tours. Though his health was failing, the tours were lucrative, and he pushed himself to keep appearing onstage. Death Dickens planned a new novel for publication in serial form. The Mystery of Edwin Drood began appearing in April 1870. On June 8, 1870, Dickens spent the afternoon working on the novel before suffering a stroke at dinner. He died the next day. The funeral for Dickens was modest, and praised, according to a New York Times article, as being in keeping with the democratic spirit of the age. Dickens was accorded a high honor, however, as he was buried in the Poets Corner of Westminster Abbey, near other literary figures such as Geoffrey Chaucer, Edmund Spenser, and Dr. Samuel Johnson. Legacy The importance of Charles Dickens in English literature remains enormous. His books have never gone out of print, and they are widely read to this day. As the works lend themselves to dramatic interpretation, numerous plays, television programs, and feature films based on them continue to appear. Sources Kaplan, Fred. Dickens: a Biography. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1998.Tomalin, Claire. Charles Dickens: a Life. Penguin Press, 2012.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Enterprise Rent-A-Car - Assignment Example Avis and Hertz have been the major competitors of Enterprise in the car hire industry in the United States. However,they have majored on airport business. In 2002 hertz was the number one airport car rental brand in the United States followed by Avis (Kellogg school of Management, 9). At this time, enterprise was involved largely in local rental market and was rated top in this sector. Due to customer demand enterprise started airport business in 2002 and up to 2012 there have been ranked top seven years consecutively and thus expressing the command of the company in the industry. I would recommend the other companies to replicate them to match their success. However, they would need to implement the strategies used by Enterprise. Zipcarwas the first car sharing service provider and it dominated the market making super-normal profits before other companies such as Hertz and Enterprise joined .The reliability of this system has brought high competition in the industry . This has led to a drift of customers from car hiring and leasing to car sharing and thus reducing profits of Enterprise. They need to work go an extra mile and market themselves in car sharing or even introduce a better service than this. The growth and popularity of Zipcar is likely to reduce the profits of Enterprise since most universities and corporations have adopted this style of transport to ease traffic congestion and to reduce on costs of leasing and car maintenance.