International Business Strategy Case

Introduction The Australian’s fair work act, 2009 began operating on July 2009. It provides a fair framework for any workplace relations that promote national economic prosperity and social Inclusion for all Australians. In addition, it provides fair workplace laws that are flexible and favorable for the country’s economic growth, productivity, and for business operations.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on International Business Strategy Case specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This act ensures that net pay and wages are up to the national employment standards for the sake of employees. It also enhances flexibility, thus assisting employees to balance their work and family responsibility. According to the Australia’s Employment Act (2009), an employer should never contradict the national employment standards. The main issue that concerns the Fair Work Act, 2009 is that, it provides fair wages and conducive employment conditions, termination of employment, dispute resolution, enterprise bargaining, and industrial action. The act also requires an employer to abide by the terms and conditions of employment. For instance, an employer cannot force a fulltime employee to work for more than 38 hours in a week unless there is a reasonable reason for the extra hours. Therefore, an employee is obliged to refuse to work for extra unreasonable hours by exercising his/ her rights (National employment standards 2009). â€Å"With the introduction of the Fair Work Act (2009) the pendulum of workplace regulation in Australia has swung back towards the centre. Discuss with reference to the implications for bargaining over terms and conditions of employment.† According to Holley et al (2008 pp 243), collective bargaining is an activity that involves the union representatives and the employer and management officials, in an attempt to solve conflicting issues that affect employees, thus sustaining and boosting the work relationship. When collective bargaining is successful, it boosts relationship between the employers and employees, thus both parties begin to trust each other through transparency and honesty; indeed, the possibility of damage is reduced. According to Caisey (2007, pp 36), there are four types of collective agreements; a single –employer collective agreement, single union collective agreement, a multi-employer agreement and a multi- union and multi-employer collective agreement.Advertising Looking for essay on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Collective bargaining includes discussing pressing issues such as Bargaining assistance to the low paid employees – it may involve issues such as employees designated to childcare, security, and community services; Abolishment of tough rules of industrial action where it may harm the country’s economy or even interfering with the economy of an organization. Industrial action may also be disregarded if it risks the welfare of the citizens. Right to entry, which union members are required to adhere to and members cannot disclose any information discussed. Protection from unfair dismissal of employees, which is an important issue that fights for the employees rights, hence dismissals are only accepted if there is a genuine reason, such as redundancy. Balances between work and family is encouraged in the Fair Act such that working hours should be flexible enough to allow employees to attain time to attend to family responsibilities. The right to be presented in the work place, which involves a decision by an employee to be involved in a union or not; employees can also decide on whether to engage in bargaining agreement or choose not to. Collective bargaining acts as a regulator in which employers and employees can freely express their views concerning the nature of work at hand and come t o an agreement (Fair work Australia 2009). Negotiations are involved in the good faith bargaining, whereby an employer agrees to bargain with the employees on pressing work issues; this is the notification time. However, according to the Act, the employer should notify the employees of the right of representation in 14 days after the notification time. Good Faith bargaining involves the bargaining representatives, who must meet a number of requirements. First, they should always attend meetings at the right time; they should not disclose any confidential information at all; and they should be in a position to respond to the proposals that are made by other bargaining representatives. In addition, the representatives should refrain from any behavior that undermines the collective bargaining principles. Finally, they should all come to an agreement on issues concerned. Therefore, the Fair Act (2009) has provided a fair ground for both employers and employees to negotiate in terms of t he nature of work. This meets with the objectives of the Act, which focuses on fairness in the place of work. The freedom of unions that represent employees is encouraged in this Act; therefore, employees are able to air their grievances, making the place of work a conducive environment. In Chapter 2 of the Fair Work Act ( Collective Bargaining, 2009), there are two types of terms and conditions of employment that include the national employment standards (NES) – a modern award national minimum wage order, and an equal remuneration order. Therefore, for a modern award to be applicable to an employer or an employee, the award must cover the employee or the employer. It has to be also operational and it cannot be applicable when one has a high source of income. A court order can also lead to a modern award being applicable to an individual. A modern award must include the national employment standards in that it is not an exemption. Its terms must supplement the national employ ment standards and should operate according to the NES terms and conditions. For instance, the modern award agreement on annual leave of employees is 6 weeks with full pay. Thus, applying the NES, which states that the minimum number of leave is 4 weeks, most organizations in Australia have put this strategy of leave with full pay in practice. An enterprise agreement applies to an employee in relation to a specific employment; however, an agreement may cease to apply to an employee if the period of agreement expires.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on International Business Strategy Case specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More National employment standards are those standards that are as a requirement in the workplace and involve both the employer and the employee (An Act relating to workplace relations and for the related purposes, 2009, pp 78). The minimum working standards include maximum weekly hours, flexible working arrangements, parental, long service, careers, and annual leaves. Notice of termination and redundancy pay are also inclusive. According to the act, the maximum working hours for any full time employee is 38 hours in a week; but the employee has the right to refuse to work for any unreasonable additional hours. However, there is a determination on how reasonable or unreasonable the additional hours could be. First, they should not be a risk to employee’s health after working. According to Burke and Cooper (2008, pp 119), the intense of work that could lead to extra working hours and employee extra effort could result to health deterioration, thus interfering with the employee’s wellbeing. In addition, they should not compromise employee’s family responsibilities like parental responsibilities. The additional hours should rhyme with the needs of the employee’s organization. Moreover, an employee should be entitled to an overtime payment for the additional hours worked. A notice should however be given earlier by the employer to request for the additional hours, while the employee should also give an earlier notice, if he intends to refuse the work. The additional hours should rhyme with the employee work pattern, and they should be influenced by the nature of employee’s role in the organization. Finally, the addition hours should be in accordance with an agreement between the employer and the employee (An Act relating to workplace relations and for the related purposes, 2009, pp 79). This Act gives the right to an employee to request for flexible working hours. This can be applicable to an employee who have a parental responsibility for a child in school or who is under the age of 18 years and for the case of a disabled child. However, an employee can only ask for flexible working arrangement if he or she has worked for a minimum of 1 year in that organization; the request has to be in writing for formality purposes. The empl oyer has to respond to the request in 21 days either granting the request or disregarding it. In case of the latter, the employer must give a reason for his decision, incase he denies the employee his request.Advertising Looking for essay on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For parental leaves, an employee is not entitled to this type of leave if he has not worked for at least a year in the organization. There are two types of parental leaves – birth-related leave, which includes unpaid maternity leave and unpaid parental leave for casual workers. The second is the adoption related leave, which includes unpaid parental leave, which is preparation for the adoption of a child, and pre-paid adoption leave; the adopted child must however be under the age of 18 years old for permission to be granted. However, birth-related leaves start from 6 weeks before the due date of birth. However, a 10-week earlier notice should be given to the employer before the leave commences, as evidence on the actual date of birth is required by the employer. In addition, incase an employee wants to extend his leave, he should write to the employer 4 weeks before the end of his or her leave. This gives time for the employer to respond to the request within 21 days. Howeve r, no extension of leave can be granted beyond 24 months in cases of birth and placement leaves (An Act relating to workplace relations and for the related purposes, 2009, pp 94) The Fair Work Act guarantees an employee the right of transfer to safer job in cases of pregnancy, and if she has served the organization for at least a year, evidence that supports the transfer must be produced. This enables an employee to choose the type of work that does not cause any negative effects on his/her health. The comfort of every worker at their place of work is a concern to the government. In this case, the annual leave is compulsory to every working organization, and is associated with full pay. However, public holidays are not inclusive to an employee’s annual leave pay. Identify rights and obligations, understanding the development of various rights and obligations, understanding the interplay between various spheres of regulations. According to Department of foreign affairs trade (2008), â€Å"Australia’s modern, competitive economy is underpinned by flexible workplace relations system which link productivity to remuneration and promotes innovation and efficiency gains in individual work places.† With the presence of collective bargaining, employees and employers can be able to negotiate and agree on the nature of work at the place of work. Importantly, the collective bargaining leads a firm to a competitive advantage since the workers are motivated and they work to meet the company’s goals and objectives. Every employee in Australia has a right to 38 working hours on weekly basis, with only reasonable additional hours. This is in addition to the right to 52 days of unpaid parental leave in form of maternity, paternity or adoption leave, four weeks of annual leave with full pay. Career leave with pay is also inclusive. Freedom of association is also encouraged in the work place, hence the presence of unions. The Fair Work Act fights agai nst unfair dismissals at the place of work. According to Lewis and Sargeant (2004 pp 152), in cases where an employer does not give reliable reason for dismissing an employee, then this type of dismissal is regarded as unfair. An employee can only be dismissed if he is dismissed on genuine terms, if only they were performing a specific task for a specific period of time and if one was employed by a small business. However, the government of Australia established new workplace relation systems that commenced in 2010. They include; collective bargaining power, minimum employment standards, the right to freedom of association, curbing discrimination, and procedures involved in dispute and grievance settlement, as well as laws that protect employee from unfair dismissal. When employers adopt these systems for their organizations, then the working environment will be conducive for employees, thus leading to maximum productivity that will enhance the competitive advantage of the company. Employment standards in Australia are necessary for an organization, since they are essential to the employees and employers as well. If an organization meets the national employment standards required of them, then they are abiding to the rules and laws of the Fair Work Act. National employment standards ensure that an employee is comfortable at his place of work such that, the employer is able to coordinate the staff. When these standards are put in place, employees and employers are able to understand what is expected of them at the place of work such that, an employee cannot decide not to go to work without any reliable reason and he has to request for permission in writing to the manager in advance. The manager should give a response, which could be positive or negative. If permission is denied, then the manager should indicate a relevant reason for his decision. Such a procedure allows an organization to run effectively, thus employees and employers know their limits at the pl ace of work. It is clear that each employee in Australia has a right in the place of work and there are governmental organizations present like Fair Work Ombudsman, which tackles any work related complaints whereby, it investigates such issues in compliance with the country’s work place laws (Fair Work Ombudsman, 2010). Finally, the Fair Work Act enhances fairness and justice at the place of work for both employees and employers. In addition, it improves employee-employer relationship since all the procedures and issues in this act involving communication are encouraged. Conclusion According to Fowkes (2011, pp 12), the unemployment rate in Australia is caused by skill shortage; hence, this is an issue that needs to be addressed by the government. The Fair Work Act, 2009 provides a framework for employment terms and conditions, and issues that surround employment department. In this case, the Australian government has put in place rules and regulations that employees and empl oyers should abide to in the place of work. In addition, disregarding of unfair dismissal and encouraging collective bargaining and agreements are important in any organization. Agreements boost employer-employee relationship in that, they create room for communication and solutions, thus leaving both parties satisfied. Moreover, given that communication is the key to success, this Act encourages the presence of collective agreements, which if well utilized, may lead to success in terms of growth of a company and create a bond between management and the staff. Nevertheless, the government ensures that each employee has a right to an annual leave with full pay and unpaid maternity leave and placement leave incase of an adoption. The issue of fair wages for employees is also addressed. Indeed, when the employee’s needs are met, they become motivated and productive. The Australian government is concerned about the welfare of its citizens, keeping in mind that it is through their hard work that profits are maximized, thus boosting the economic growth of Australia. The Act also clearly states that, in no condition should the employer bend the laws in the Fair Work Act, lest he is held liable. References An Act relating to workplace relations, and for the related purposes. 2009. Fair Work Act.  Web. Burke, R. and Cooper, C., 2008. The long work hours culture: causes, consequences and choices. NY: Emerald Group Publishing. Caisey, K., 2007. Collective Bargaining. Northcote: CCH New Zealand limited. Collective Bargaining. 2009. Fair Work Act. Web. Department of foreign affairs and trade. 2008. Workplace relations in Australia. Web. Fair Work Ombudsman. 2010. Australian government: Web. Fowkes, L. 2011. Rethinking Australia’s employment services. The Whitlam Institute Publisher. Web. Holley, W., et al. 2008. The Labor Relations Process 9th edition. OH: Cengage Learning publisher. Lewis, D. and Sargeant, M., 2004. Essentials of Employment Law. 8th editio n. NY: CIPD publisher. National employment standards. 2009. Fair Work Act: Terms and conditions of employment. Web. This essay on International Business Strategy Case was written and submitted by user Alexis I. 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.

How to Handle Adoption in the Family Tree

How to Handle Adoption in the Family Tree Almost every adoptee, no matter how much they love their adopted family, experiences a twinge when faced with a family tree chart. Some are unsure whether to trace their adopted family tree, their birth family, or both - and how to handle the differentiation between their multiple families. Others, who for various reasons have no access to their own personal family history prior to their adoption, find themselves haunted - Â  by the family whose names will never be documented in their genealogy, and the family tree somewhere in the world with an empty space on the branch where their name should be. While some people insist that genealogies are only meant to be genetic, most agree that the purpose of a family tree is to represent the family - Â  whatever that family might be. In the case of adoption, the ties of love are generally stronger than ties of blood, so it is absolutely appropriate for an adoptee to research and create a family tree for their adopted family. Tracing Your Adopted Family Tree Tracing the family tree of your adoptive parents works pretty much the same way as tracing any other family tree. The only real difference is that you should clearly indicate that the link is through adoption. This in no way reflects on the bond between you and your adopted parent. It just makes it clear for others who may view your family tree that it is not a bond of blood. Tracing Your Birth Family Tree If youre one of the lucky ones who knows the names and details of your birth parents, then tracing your birth family tree will follow the same path as any other family history search. If however, you do not know anything about your birth family, then you will need to consult a variety of sources - your adoptive parents, reunion registries, and court records for nonidentifying information that may be available to you. Options for Combined Family Trees Since the traditional genealogy chart does not accommodate adoptive families, many adoptees create their own variations to accommodate both their adoptive family as well as their birth family. Any way you choose to approach this is just fine, as long as you make it clear which relationship links are adoptive and which are genetic - something that can be done as simply as using different colored lines. Other options for combining your adopted family with your birth family on the same family tree include: Roots Branches - A slight variation of the typical family tree is a good choice for someone who knows little about their birth family, or who doesnt really want to trace their genetic family history. In this case, you can include the names of your birth parents (if known) as the roots, and then use the branches of the tree to represent your adopted family.Double Family Trees - A good option if you want to include both your adoptive family and your birth family in the same tree is to use one of several variations on the double family tree. One option includes a trunk where you record your name with two sets of branching tops - one for each family. Another option is the double pedigree chart, such as this Adoptive Family Tree from Family Tree Magazine. Some people also like to use a circle or wheel pedigree chart with their name in the center - using one side for the birth family and the other side for the adoptive or foster family.Classroom Alternatives for Young Children - Adoptive Families Together (ATF) has developed a series of free printable worksheets for teachers to use in place of the traditional family tree for classroom assignments. These alternative family trees are appropriate for children of all ages, and can more accurately accommodate a wide variety of family structures. The most important thing for you to keep in mind when faced with creating a family tree is that how you choose to represent your family really doesnt matter that much, as long as you make it evident whether the family links are adoptive or genetic. As for the family whose history you choose to trace - thats an entirely personal decision best left up to you.

Hydrogen Bond Definition and Examples

Hydrogen Bond Definition and Examples Most people are comfortable with the idea of ionic and covalent bonds, yet unsure about what hydrogen bonds are, how they form, and why they are important. Key Takeaways: Hydrogen Bonds A hydrogen bond is an attraction between two atoms that already participate in other chemical bonds. One of the atoms is hydrogen, while the other may be any electronegative atom, such as oxygen, chlorine, or fluorine.Hydrogen bonds may form between atoms within a molecule or between two separate molecules.A hydrogen bond is weaker than an ionic bond or a covalent bond, but stronger than van der Waals forces.Hydrogen bonds play an important role in biochemistry and produce many of the unique properties of water. Hydrogen Bond  Definition A hydrogen bond is a type of attractive (dipole-dipole) interaction between an electronegative atom and a hydrogen atom bonded to another electronegative atom. This bond always involves a hydrogen atom. Hydrogen bonds can occur between molecules or within parts of a single molecule. A hydrogen bond tends to be stronger than van der Waals forces, but weaker than covalent bonds or ionic bonds. It is about 1/20th (5%) the strength of the covalent bond formed between O-H. However, even this weak bond is strong enough to withstand slight temperature fluctuation. But the Atoms Are Already Bonded How can hydrogen be attracted to another atom when it is already bonded? In a polar bond, one side of the bond still exerts a slight positive charge, while the other side has a slight negative electrical charge. Forming a bond doesnt neutralize the electrical nature of the participant atoms. Examples of Hydrogen Bonds Hydrogen bonds are found in nucleic acids between base pairs and between water molecules. This type of bond also forms between hydrogen and carbon atoms of different chloroform molecules, between hydrogen and nitrogen atoms of neighboring ammonia molecules, between repeating subunits in the polymer nylon, and between hydrogen and oxygen in acetylacetone. Many organic molecules are subject to hydrogen bonds. Hydrogen bond: Help bind transcription factors to DNAAid antigen-antibody bindingOrganize polypeptides into secondary structures, such as alpha helix and beta sheetHold together the two strands of DNABind transcription factors to each other Hydrogen Bonding in Water Although hydrogen bonds form between hydrogen and any other electronegative atom, the bonds within water are the most ubiquitous (and some would argue, the most important). Hydrogen bonds form between neighboring water molecules when the hydrogen of one atom comes between the oxygen atoms of its own molecule and that of its neighbor. This happens because the hydrogen atom is attracted to both its own oxygen and other oxygen atoms that come close enough. The oxygen nucleus has 8 plus charges, so it attracts electrons better than the hydrogen nucleus, with its single positive charge. So, neighbor oxygen molecules are capable of attracting hydrogen atoms from other molecules, forming the basis of hydrogen bond formation. The total number of hydrogen bonds formed between water molecules is 4. Each water molecule can form 2 hydrogen bonds between oxygen and the two hydrogen atoms in the molecule. An additional two bonds can be formed between each hydrogen atom and nearby oxygen atoms. A consequence of hydrogen bonding is that hydrogen bonds tend to arrange in a tetrahedron around each water molecule, leading to the well-known crystal structure of snowflakes. In liquid water, the distance between adjacent molecules is larger and the energy of the molecules is high enough that hydrogen bonds are often stretched and broken. However, even liquid water molecules average out to a tetrahedral arrangement. Because of hydrogen bonding, the structure of liquid water becomes ordered at lower temperature, far beyond that of other liquids. Hydrogen bonding holds water molecules about 15% closer than if the bonds werent present.  The bonds are the primary reason water displays interesting and unusual chemical properties. Hydrogen bonding reduces extreme temperature shifts near large bodies of water.Hydrogen bonding allows animals to cool themselves using perspiration because such a large amount of heat is needed to break hydrogen bonds between water molecules.Hydrogen bonding keeps water in its liquid state over a wider temperature range than for any other comparable-sized molecule.The bonding gives water an exceptionally high heat of vaporization, which means considerable thermal energy is needed to change liquid water into water vapor. Hydrogen bonds within heavy water are even stronger than those within ordinary water made using normal hydrogen (protium). Hydrogen bonding in tritiated water is stronger still.

Carabba Restaurant Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Carabba Restaurant - Case Study Example In two words the character could be described as "cozied up". Deep comfortable booths would be installed to make you feel pampered and a combined Venice beach/Italian dcor that takes you back to another era. Front and centre would be a huge photograph of the boardwalk as it was in 1910, when ladies took their parasols along for the stroll and the men wore straw hats. Posters and signage on the walls come from the days when wine and grappa were still being served as a matter of course. e. Promotion - At the opening of the season I would present my own Carnivale on the boardwalk thus creating my own Italian Boardwalk. The website provides some amusing promotional ideas such as the "in love" campaign. In addition to that I would seek to bring children into the contest as well. I would have them tell me what is their favorite Italian dish, or maybe even do an outdoor cook off with kids cooking their favorite Italian dish and the winning dish has a place of honor on our children's menu. Depending on reception, this would be a once a month contest. a. Media selection - A new restaurant is usually a highly-anticipated event in many smaller cities. Heighten this anticipation by promoting the restaurant even while you're still working on construction. Make sure you hang a banner announcing the arrival of a new and exciting restaurant. Generate positive word of mouth advertising through radio spots and print media. By the time you are ready to open the doors, you should have a crowd of hungry customers waiting. Restaurants typically enjoy a 'honeymoon' period where business is booming and new customers are pouring in. What I want to do is keep enough of those customers coming back for more. Within reason, I would promote our best dishes with 'two for one' deals or other heavy discounts b. Message content I'll want to find a theme for the restaurant that is exciting and innovating, or at least different than the competition. Basically, a good restaurant environment seduces the customer into ordering higher-ticket specialty foods and also encourages return visits. But 'gimmicks' must be kept to a minimum for long-term success. I would decorate the walls with theme-related items, such as antiques or imported Italian delicacies. Uniforms that match the theme and decor of the restaurant. Background music is essential, and offers a chance to emphasize the theme even more.

Security of Information in Government Organizations Essay

Security of Information in Government Organizations - Essay Example Whatever format government organizations store their information, it needs to be protected properly (Aoufi, 2011). ISO 27002 claims that information safety is the central aspect of government’s information security that guarantees three features which are: integrity, availability and confidentiality of asset (Aoufi, 2011). Integrity is about protecting the truthfulness and extensiveness of information. This feature denotes to the necessity that information is secured from improper change Availability is certifying that only approved employers have access to information and associated assets when needed. This property refers to the protection of information from denial of service Confidentiality guarantees that information is accessible merely to those approved employers. This feature denotes to the security of information from illegal leak (Aoufi, 2011) There are no priorities regarding the importance about those three features. The importance of each of the features relies on the perspective of how they are implemented in government organizations. For example, information which is categorized as public is needed to assure availability and integrity and confidentiality is not needed (Aoufi, 2011). Information Security In Government Organizations Information security in government organizations are the promise that information, resources and facilities are protected against concession and people are secured in contradiction of workplace violence. Through information security government can guarantee its own security that supports the health, protection, economic welfare and safety of citizens. Security arises by forming trust among government, citizens and people within government organizations. Within government organizations there is need to certify that people... This essay stresses that in any government organization, the resources and operations are highly reliant on information technology to achieve the objectives and targets. Considering the high reliance, information becomes a strategic enabler for success of government organizations. Thus, defending information is main concern for any government establishments This paper makes a conclusion that through information security, government organizations can protect their information system from illegal accessing, leaking, distraction, alteration, inspection, coping or damaging. Government organizations possess several intimate information regarding nuclear operation, military operation, business deals, and employees. Most of those data are processed electronically and shared across organizations’ internal network. As the use of internet and computer increases and develops, the risk of leaking and stealing those high priority information has also increased. There are internal as well as external threats of government information. Thus, information security has become highly important and technologically advanced expressively in recent times. Government organizations are required to provide a great deal of effort for protecting information asset from external as well as internal threats. Through proper security measures government, organiz ations are able to ensure the integrity, availability and confidentiality of information.

Commerce, Politics and the City in A Room of Ones Own and Mrs. Dallowa

Commerce, Politics and the City in A Room of One's Own and Mrs. Dalloway      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   "...At this moment, as so often happens in London, there was a complete lull and suspension of traffic. Nothing came down the street; nobody passed. A single leaf detached itself from the plane tree at the end of the street, and in that pause and suspension fell. Somehow it was like a signal falling, a signal pointing to a force in things which one had overlooked ... Now it was bringing from one side of the street to the other diagonally a girl in patent leather boots and then a young man in a maroon overcoat; it was also bringing a taxi-cab; and it brought all three together at a point directly beneath my window; where the taxi stopped; and the girl and the young man stopped; and they got into the taxi; and the cab glided off as if it were swept on by the current elsewhere." (A Room of One's Own 100)    "Virginia Woolf" - the version of her that narrates the "events" of A Room of One's Own - observes the above urban scene from her window. In a pattern that she had perfected in Mrs. Dalloway four years earlier, the rhythms of urban existence are closely articulated with those of the natural world - and that rhythmic coordination in turn serves as a kind of authorization of that urban existence, a guarantee of the transcendent meaning of the evidently constructed human world. Thus the quietly definitive dropping of a leaf from its branch not only seems a sort of rhythmic blueprint for the ballet-like convergence of "girl," "man" and "taxi-cab", but also in fact the mystical cause of that convergence, a "signal" "bringing" this ... ...fied royal, the skywriting of an advertiser's airplane) are analogues of the narration's own confident focalizing sweep - now airborne, now moving down city streets, now fanning out across parks, always able to join disparate characters in a cohesive narrative line. But they are uneasy analogues, for they are patently the product not of some transcendent or natural meaning but of powerful modern interests: the nation, entertainment, commerce. Clarissa's intimations of timeless spiritual connectivity, and the narration's own performance of that connectivity, move in the grooves set down by these very modern institutions.       Works cited:    Virginia Woolf. Mrs. Dalloway. London: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1925.    ____________. A Room of One's Own. London: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1929.

A Family Supper: A Visit to a Japanese Home

Seeing the high economic growth of Japan, and using the country’s high tech products that are sold all around the globe, all non-Japanese people have an idea about the culture of the nation.   In the international mind, Japan is highly business minded, believes in economic nationalism, and is mainly Buddhist.All Buddhist nations in the world, except for China and Korea, are perfectly peaceful in their foreign relations, which is to say that they practice the theory of nonviolence propounded by the wisest of people.   In order to practice nonviolence, any human being must act quite unfeeling or unemotional, which is actually quite beneficial in Japanese business too.The phrase ‘cold and calculating’ is apt in describing the benefits of being unemotional in business.   It is this unemotional Japanese culture that comes to the fore in Kazuo Ishiguro’s A Family Supper.   The story is an exposition of the Japanese culture in the foreign mind.   Given t hat it does not describe the culture of Japan away from the narrator’s home, it is the story of a Japanese home, which happens to be typically Japanese in the perspective of the non-Japanese reader.The Japanese apparently do not believe in the exhibition of their emotions.   If they are extremely worried, upset, or depressed, they prefer to commit suicide rather than to expose themselves to shame by revealing their emotional problems to others.   Ishiguro’s story deals with two suicides, one of the narrator’s mother, and the other of his father’s friend, Watanabe.The latter was suffering from business problems, and therefore committed suicide because of the emotional strain that he could not express to others.   Business is, of course, all important to the Japanese.   In the case of the narrator’s mother, we are told that she consumed the dreadful fugu fish, which everybody knew to be poisonous or highly risky to consume.The mother used to avoid consuming the fugu fish, â€Å"but on this particular occasion,† writes Ishiguro, â€Å"she made an exception, having been invited by an old school friend whom she was anxious not to offend† (320).   Obviously, the mother wanted to commit suicide.Neither she nor Watanabe were said to use the help of a psychotherapist when they were suffering from emotional problems.   In her case, â€Å"She had many worries.   And some disappointments† (325).   In the case of Watanabe, we are informed by the narrator’s father, â€Å"He didn’t wish to live with the disgrace† of having lost his business (320).   Yet, both the mother and Watanabe feel emotions that are intense enough to call for suicide.It appears strange that a highly business minded society is not positive enough to deal properly with its emotional problems.   In other words, the Japanese society that is described through Ishiguro’s story does not always seem to strug gle for survival, hoping, praying, believing, and expecting better days.   Instead, everything seems to be alright for individuals until they cannot seem to deal with their emotional problems and decide to end their lives.What is more, nobody seems to miss the people who have died with intense emotions.   The narrator of Ishiguro’s story does not even recognize his mother’s face in the picture during the family supper, on which the story is based.   All that the Japanese seem to feel for the deceased is rationalized sympathy.   Both the narrator and his sister, Kikuko, refer to their deceased mother as â€Å"Poor Mother† (323).They believed that their mother was poor or unfortunate because she could not deal with her problems in a positive way.   Neither did Watanabe assume that he could start afresh with a new business.   For him, the end of his business marked the end of his life.   The unemotional nature he must have expressed in business did no t help him out.   Rather, Watanabe felt emotions that he found humiliating to express before his death, just like the mother who also committed suicide.Although the narrator of â€Å"A Family Supper† is visiting Japan two years after his mother’s death, there is no family discussion held about his mother.   Only facts are important to know.   Anything emotional seems to be avoided at all costs.The narrator’s mother did not confide in her children during her depressive phase before the suicide.   And, if she had mentioned her problems to her husband, he is not willing to share them with the children.   By underplaying emotions, the Japanese family is revealing its cultural belief in rationality that defines its economic success.As a matter of fact, Japan is known to be a very successful nation.   If the country had been emotional and violent, it would most likely have been beset by problems known to the entire world.   But we do not hear about the b udget deficit in Japan, neither do news reports complain that Japan has bullied another nation.All emotions seem to be checked, and the mind is held supreme.   Nevertheless, it is human nature to fail as well as succeed.   Perhaps the mother of the narrator as well as Watanabe had had their minds failed.   Both of them had passed the stage of youth.   Still, they did not seem to have revealed their strong emotions unto others.   Even Kikuko, while living with her mother, did not seem to have focused on her mother’s problems.   Both the suicides seem to have been done based on the intellect alone, even if the intellect had pretty much failed.   In other words, Watanabe and the mother must have lost their minds.   Therefore, the reader cannot blame lack of emotions, seeing that Japan remains generally successful without them.Kikuko does not ‘feel’ love toward her boyfriend.   She is not even sure whether the boy whom she likes would be good for he r to spend a lot of time with.   This is another exposition of the unemotional nature of the Japanese, although the reader may assume that Kikuko may eventually start feeling enough for a man whom she would finally marry.   And, she will marry – that is a certainty.All non-Japanese people probably have an idea about the family values of the Asians.   Asian societies are mostly patriarchal.   Kikuko cannot speak openly before her father: â€Å"She answered him with short, formal replies† (321).   Moreover, the girl must obey her father without questioning and without doubts.   There is no friendliness between the father and daughter.   What is more, the girl is probably not allowed to smoke before her father.She mentions to her brother that she had been wanting to smoke for quite a while.   When he asks her why she did not smoke, she simply points at her house, referring to the father inside the house.   She must respect her father unconditionally, and there is no point in questioning why he would not agree to his daughter’s desire to smoke as opposed to his son’s.   It is tradition, it is faith.Japanese girls normally do not smoke before their fathers because smoking is a bad habit that girls in particular should not adopt.   Kikuko is expected to cook in the home, and serve tea.   Besides, she must marry soon after her education is complete.   This is, indeed, a typically Asian perception of gender roles.   And, foreign readers of Ishiguro’s story must be aware of it to begin with, for this kind of knowledge exists in our collective consciousness if nothing else.Ishiguro takes the foreign reader into the Japanese home to remind him or her about the culture of Japan that the reader may already have knowledge about.   In point of fact, Ishiguro’s story confirms our beliefs about the unemotional and patriarchal Japanese culture.   The unemotional nature of Japan has done it good, although when a Japanese person loses his or her rationality, there may be no turning back.   After reading the story, there is no doubt left in the reader’s mind as to whether Japan would show great emotions in the near future, or if the country has become modernized enough to leave the patriarchal culture behind.   In truth, Japan is still holding firm its cultural values.Works CitedIshiguro, Kazuo. â€Å"A Family Supper.†