CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS

A criminal group can be considered another type of organization, somehow it Works like a company; it has its own organization structure, it’s well defined hierarchy and financial structure besides others.

If you see a criminal group needs a well defined hierarchy where there is a leader and the subordinates who obey, or there could be a leader (in a company, the big boss) and other subordinates that at the same time are leaders of smaller groups (in a company those are middle managers and those smaller groups the teams). As for any other organization a criminal group needs to have a financial structure well defined because they manage big amounts of money and those in charge of it needs to give “reports” to the big boss. Other similarity is that a criminal organization need suppliers of raw materials like guns or the ingredients necessary for drugs and they have to determine the logistic that best fits their necessities; as we saw in the movie “raw materials”, money and drugs are the most important thing for a criminal organization.

In criminal groups people fight for the leadership, people are ambitious as executives are. Influences and relationships within the organization are important especially for individuals but relations and influences with outsiders are most important for the entire organization to succeed because they have competitors; this happens in any kind of organization including criminal groups.

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As Colombians we are real witnesses of what criminal groups do and we have suffered the consequences of their acts directly or indirectly. We have experienced how criminal groups have become terrorist groups, and how they fight with their competence trying to get power and how they fight with the government trying to get the whole power. As in the movie for Colombian terrorist the fundamental aspects and materials to survive and succeed are weapons, money, drugs and influences.

Israel, Canada, Brazil and Russia

ISRAEL

http://www.christusrex.org/www2/baram/B-sepulchre.html

The history of Israel is very closed with the religion and the biblical background where Israel and the Palestinian territories comprise the major part of the Holy Land, a region of significant importance to all Abrahamic religions: Jews, christians, Muslims and Baha'is; because Abraham promised this land to his inheritors.

It is also important to these religions because Jerusalem is the place where some important places for religion are located, such as the western wall and church of the holy sepulcre.

Other important cities are Nazareth (for Christians), Tiberias and Safed (two of the four holy cities for Judaism) and so on.

This country has two official languages, Hebrew is the primary language of the state and is spoken by the majority of the population, and Arabic is spoken by the Arab minority.

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Another characteristic of this country that evidences its religious influence is the kosher food, which is food prepared in accordance with the Jewish dietary law; because there are some animals forbidden to eat and others that must be slaughtered in a specific way to be considered Kosher.

Finally, a kibbutz is an agricultural Israeli commune characterized by the collective property, agricultural work; own work (owners of means of production and their own workforce), democratic decisions, Judaism and rotation of positions.

CANADA

This is a diversified country, with two official languages French and English and where most of the population is old and is the reason they are receiving young immigrants which bring more diversification to its culture.

In the organizational culture we can find they tend to create an energized and spirited workforce while at the same time valuing diversity and ethics. The organizational culture is their firm structure to build competitive advantage.

http://www.123rf.com/photo_7216795_canada-business-couple-on-stadium-background-with-flag-original-illustration.html

Organizational behavior: giving importance to the employee as an individual, groups and the organization as a whole.  

It is important the employee motivation and perception of the organization; the employee receive motivation through different instruments stipulated by laws and organizations like labor laws, institutions and labor unions.

In groups leadership and good communication is a characteristic, jobs are specially designed to achieve continuous improvement and enjoy work, regarding culture companies try to align culture and build a corporate culture.

Within the organization due to the cultural difference in the country there are cultural changes to adapt employees to the corporate culture.  The organization is composed by a mix of human capital, leadership (the company invest in creating leaders), diversity management ( due to age, gender, racial and ethnic diversity) and constant change to improve constantly.

BRAZIL

 http://hispanic-marketing.com/blog/hispanic-marketing/latin-america-hispanic-marketing/the-meaning-of-gestures-body-language-in-brazil/

Management and communication style, and business structure:

subordinates do just what they are told to, so instructions must be clear and precise for them.

The organizations structures are hierarchical, the boss give precise instructions to subordinates, and in the same way decisions are made just by the top. The respect to the superior and the power of it depends on its personality and the relationship with it.

When doing business with brazil be aware of your sense of humor and  of speaking Spanish, it will be seen as  offensive. For Brazilians when doing business they prefer the oral than the written and when talking they use a lot of body language it could be exaggerated.

RUSSIA

Before talking about Russian business style and organization is important to take into account its history. Russia was part of the USSR and since its dissolution it has been living a lot of changes even today.

Today things are changing in a day top day basis so things are not true in every region. Another consequence of the Russian history is that citizens see the government as their enemy and they think laws are to be broken, so be aware when doing business with them, contracts are not important and has no force for them, they prefer to talk and make agreements in meetings where contracts and papers are not necessary; so to be sure of your agreements is necessary to build a good relationship with the correct person in the company.

The hierarchy in Russian companies is well marked, the correct person to do business with is the one in the top because is the one who make decisions and subordinates has no influence, they just follow instructions.

DOING BUSINESS IN UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, GERMANY AND NEW ZEALAND

http://www.pickandgotravel.com/united-arab-emirates-2/

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Is one of the oil countries in the region, but today it has diversified its economy between tourism and businesses.

       

   Management style and organizational behavior:

• ·         Management style is mainly directive and paternalistic, the boss is equal to father and subordinate to children.
• ·         Subordinates are lack of initiative because when you do more than you are told you are disobeying your boss. For the same reason decisions made by the boss are not questioned.
• ·         Managers take decisions after discussing with the stake holders.

          Business protocol:

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During meetings punctuality is not common, dressing most be conservative especially for women who has a restricted role (men are in charge of important presentations and management). When meeting with someone older take into account age is synonym of respect and when closing agreements be careful that yes not always mean yes.

GERMANY

Is a key member of Europe’s economic, political and defense organization, because is one of the most populated countries and the largest economy.

          Management style and organizational behavior:

They are considered masters in planning, it provides sense of security and they consider there is a proper time for everything. They are very rigid and it is one of the reasons they have a great number of regulations and guidelines to conduct almost every aspect of business.

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Hierarchy is marked, managers give explicit directions to subordinates to be followed and subordinates most demonstrate respect to managers and supervisors.

Germans don’t adapt easily to changes in cultural and social aspects, when doing business with Germans you most adapt to their schedules.

NEW ZEALAND

http://www.undertheiceberg.com/category/community/

• ·         One characteristic of its management style is that it is egalitarian, all people in the organization plays an important role; therefore managers won’t loose respect if they consult other employees, employees are consulted about decisions that affect them.
• ·         Managers are task-oriented and they work with goals regarding productivity and profits and they expect employees do they job in a professional manner.
• ·         Their intercultural competence and readiness for change is high as it is their tolerance to risk.
• ·         Germans have optimistic and positive mindset.
• ·         Respect schedules and deadlines.

CHINESE AND JAPANESE BUSINESS CULTURE

Doing business with China

As it is with any other culture, when you are thinking on doing business with China you must know their country and what is more important, their culture to avoid misunderstanding.

The Chinese culture differs in many ways with the western; the following are some examples of their business culture and some differences with western:

·        When doing business with china time is not a concern, for them time is not related with money as it is for us.

·        In the western culture in business people always try to keep some information private while for Chinese it is necessary to give and receive all the information needed.

·        Chinese try to avoid the word “NO” they prefer to use other words as perhaps.

·        Meetings are very important and they must be lead by members in the highest positions within the company.

·        As meetings are important for Chinese, punctuality is important too and is a characteristic we don’t have especially in Colombia.

·        Chinese people appreciate presents but who give them must avoid white and black paper, shoes and watches.

·        When doing business with china take into account that you should avoid eye contact and understand that for them true is relative, they have a long time vision, yes doesn’t mean they agree, they are neutral and think in the collectivism; in all of this aspects they differ from western.

Doing business with Japan

Japan culture as the Chinese differs from western, and it is important to know and understand it before doing business.

For Japanese team-work and group cohesiveness is very important and is well marked within their society, in consequence when doing business with Japan they give importance to compromise and self-discipline in both sides.

On the other hand hierarchy is important and it implies respect, when doing business you should adapt your self and behave accordingly. Different aspects determines hierarchy, such as age, employment and some others.

In the Japanese culture bow is a very important way to show respect, is used to show gratitude, to express sympathy and as an apology; but the Japanese culture understand the difference among cultures and they also try to adapt to the other cultures they are doing business with, so they don’t expect the other part to bow during a meeting, with an handshake and a little move of the head is enough.

The exchange of business cards is kind of a ceremony; it represents the individual so it deserves respect. When introducing to Japanese is important to give your full name, company name and title, positions is important, and when exchanging the business card try to have it on one side translated.

South Korea VS.North Korea

Tomada de: www.hondudiario.com/l/taxonomy/term/11?page=2

The two Koreas are quite different; the differences arise from opposing political systems. On one hand we have de democratic South Korea, and on the other hand the communist military dictatorship of North Korea.

It was too difficult to find positive things in North Korea, I don’t find positive things on a communist dictatorship and less when I saw in the video how contradictory is what government preaches, and how they act. Regardless I found some positive things but I am not completely convinced in their positivism.

NORTH KOREA

Positive aspects	Negative aspects
Government preaches care about environment banning cars. (Take into account government has cars, so this is not too positive.)	Communist military dictatorship
Strong military force to “protect” the country and its citizens, prepared for war. (I really have doubts about the protection.)	Weak economy which makes them a poor country.
The interest on having their country clean. (using people to sweep the streets)	Economy is based on subsistence agriculture.
Build new houses for people when they think are too old or damaged.	Government use cars while people use bikes.
Most of the people know how to read and write.	Atomic bomb
	There are no jobs due to the lack of industries or private property.
	People are forced to work the land.
	They move people from their houses to different places when they consider necessary without asking if they want.
	The existence of political prisoners.
	Most of the population doesn’t receive superior education.
	The government doesn’t let people study other branch of art except social realism.
	The population is malnourished; women are anemic so their children and this is the reason for premature births.
	People with physical or mental disabilities is hidden and forced to work as defective hand labor.
	The government control the population, everything they do is controlled. NO FREEDOM!

For South Korea I found few positive or negative things to mention, off course due to its political system I found more positive things.

SOUTH KOREA

Negative aspects	Positive aspects
Corrupt governors.	Democratic.
I found in the daily “los tiempos” for march 10th, that the government is so focused on education, forcing kids and teenagers to study really hard to achieve recognitions or special jobs that the number of suicides have increased drastically.	Their concern for education.
	A diversified economy, not based on agriculture.
	Constant development on economy.
	Citizens are free.

Regarding the second question about what government do to control the population, in North Korea I found they teach the population that the leader is like god and he is never wrong and they must pay homage to the leader, venerate him and kowtow when they are in front his monuments.

The government control information, there is no access to internet, there is just one news paper controlled by them and the only thing available on TV is about the regime. The information is so controlled that they modify (with false information) history, biographies and other books to make people think the government is successful and their leaders are strong and intelligent. They also forbid a book that make reference to democracy or any other political system; they don’t let people know how the world outside the country is and that’s why there are a lot of restrictions to enter the country even if they are just tourist.

They control any possible information that can enter the country and what can go out, is the reason why journalists can go to North Korea. Is a simple tourist enter the country, the military seize cell phones and laptops or any other instrument to have access to internet or can contact them with the world outside; they also control the communication between tourists and the population, the photos they can take and the places they can visit.

The population doesn’t know anything different from what they have been taught and if they do or they are political dissidents they are arrested or taken to re-education camps with their families to prevent they run away. The dictator controls the population and eliminates its critical and reflexive capacity.

On the other hand the government in South Korea control its population controlling the government, even though the population is free and can elect its governors is common to find corruption and some how is the same president who indirectly elects the parliament or avoids its own destitution with corruption.

THE MICRO-SOCIOLOGY OF RELIGION

To study the micro-sociology of religion first we clarified the meso and macro approach. The macro approach refers to the historical changes in religions and the patterns it followed to innovate and change; it also refers to the place religion has taken in society and economy during its history. On the other hand, the meso approach is related with the religion it self, the church organization, the demography of religion, the movements and politics.

The micro-sociological approach of religion is to observe as close as possible people’s behavior, what they say, what they do, how and where those actions takes place. The rituals are included in the micro-sociological study of religion which is divided in ceremonial and interaction rituals. The ceremonial are practices towards sacred things, is like the stipulated way people behave, dress and say towards something sacred in the specific religions. And the interaction rituals as the name says refer to social relationships.

Collins in 2004 wrote about the interaction ritual chains composed by 8 links:

1.       bodily assembly of participants.

2.      barriers excluding outsiders.

3.     mutual focus of attention.

4.     Shared emotional mood. “collective effervescence”.

5.      Membership feelings.

6.     Sacred objects or symbolic emblems.

7.      Emotional energy.

8.     Moral feelings of right and wrong.

Besides all rituals are different in all religions, they differ because they produce distinctive emotional experiences and it has distinctive symbolic contents.