Fluent Essays

Discussion 1  You’ll revisit your persuasive paragraph (Cyber Security) and contemplate the ongoing revision that happens in the writing process. You’ll also complete a reflection on your experience with the writing process over the course of the term. The direction for the assignment is uploaded below Eng. 123 Reflection Guideline and Rubric. Discussion 2 This class is Intro to Community Health this is where you did the topic on vaccination. Reflection Journal  Reflect on what you have learned in this course, referring back to the Module One discussion. What possible future careers may be of interest to you? ( behavior disorder and mental health counselor) Explain how these two careers interest you. How has your interest changed during the previous eight weeks?  What are your next steps as you consider future careers? Discussion 3   Complete the exercise, Interactive Analysis: Employee Development – Pay Equity. A transcript of this interactive exercise is uploaded below.   Consider what you learned in the experience and respond to the following in a minimum of 175 words: What are your feelings on a traditional salary structure (many levels) vs. simplified pay bands? Have your thoughts on salary structure changed after this exercise? What are the advantages and disadvantages of using salary bands? Discussion 4 Respond to the following in a minimum of 175 words: Evaluate your personality self-assessments, as well as the things that motivate you the most. Discuss the results of your Week 2 and Week 3 self-assessments and whether you agree or disagree with your results. Discussion 5   Respond to the two INT 113 classmates and discuss market characteristics and the impact they might have, as well as any cultural considerations that may have gone unnoticed in their country analyses. ENG 123 Reflection Guidelines and Rubric Put the argument into a concrete shape, into an image, some hard phrase, round and solid as a ball, which they can see and handle and carry home with them, and the cause is half won. —Ralph Waldo Emerson Overview: In this assessment, you will write a reflection essay that explores how you chose to incorporate feedback on your argument, your exploration of the issue, and your source integration in the persuasive essay, as well as how your incorporation of resources supported your claim. Additionally, you will note any challenges you faced in incorporating resources and developing your argument throughout the writing process. Prompt: Previously, you identified an issue in your current major, a major you are interested in pursuing, or your field of work. You then established an argument and supported that argument with research and relevant evidence. In this assignment, you will reflect on how you chose to incorporate feedback concerning your argument, your exploration of the issue, and your integration of sources. Additionally, you will note any challenges you faced in incorporating resources and developing your argument throughout the writing process. Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed: I. Reflection A. What peer-review feedback did you choose to incorporate concerning your argument and why? B. What challenges did you face in developing your argument? What could you have done differently? C. What peer-review feedback did you choose to incorporate concerning your exploration of the issue and why? D. What peer-review feedback did you choose to incorporate concerning your effective source integration and why? E. What writing strategies were most effective in supporting your argument, given your audience, subject, and purpose? Rubric Guidelines for Submission: Your reflective essay must be 5-8 sentences long for each prompt (plus a cover page if written in APA format) and written in MLA or APA format. Use double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and one-inch margins. This assessment will be completed through the interactive activity provided in your MindEdge eLearning materials and then submitted through the learning environment. Critical Elements Exemplary (100\%) Proficient (85\%) Needs Improvement (55\%) Not Evident (0\%) Value Reflection: Argument Meets “Proficient” criteria and displays cogent connections to specific elements of essay Describes peer feedback that was incorporated into the argument in the final essay and justifies choice Describes peer feedback that was incorporated into the argument in the final essay but does not justify choice Does not describe peer feedback that was incorporated 10 Reflection: Challenges Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates a nuanced understanding of the reflection process Identifies challenges faced while developing argument and describes what could have been done differently Identifies challenges faced while developing argument but does not describe what could have been done differently Does not identify challenges faced while developing argument 30 Reflection: Exploration of the Issue Meets “Proficient” criteria and displays cogent connections to specific elements of essay Describes peer feedback that was incorporated into the exploration of the issue in the final essay and justifies choice Describes peer feedback that was incorporated into the exploration of the issue in the final essay but does not justify choice Does not describe peer feedback that was incorporated 10 Reflection: Effective Source Integration Meets “Proficient” criteria and displays cogent connections to specific elements of essay Describes peer feedback that was incorporated into the effective integration of sources in the final essay and justifies choice Describes peer feedback that was incorporated into the effective integration of sources in the final essay but does not justify choice Does not describe peer feedback that was incorporated 10 Reflection: Writing Strategies Meets “Proficient” criteria, and description is exceptionally clear and contextualized Describes the writing strategies thought to be most effective in supporting the argument, given audience, subject, and purpose Describes the writing strategies felt to be most effective in supporting argument, given audience, subject, and purpose, but description lacks detail Does not describe the writing strategies 30 Articulation of Response Submission is free of errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, and organization and is presented in a professional and easy-to-read format Submission has no major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization Submission has major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that negatively impact readability and articulation of main ideas Submission has critical errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that prevent understanding of ideas 10 Total 100\% ENG 123 Reflection Guidelines and Rubric Rubric ORG 535 Interactive Analysis: Employee Development – Pay Equity Slide 1 Title: Interactive Analysis: Employee Development – Pay Equity Slide 2 Title: About Your Company A major banking corporation is undergoing major organizational changes by eliminating many salary grades and going to a salary band system. While this has simplified the number of levels within the department, it has also decreased the number of promotions that employees could seek to get to higher pay levels. Slide 3 Title: Background – Before/After Salary Structure For example, the previous salary levels might have been - Associate --> Specialist --> Sr. Specialist --> Analyst --> Sr. Analyst --> Lead Analyst which has now changed to Specialist --> Analyst --> Sr. Analyst Slide 4 Title: Task Based on the previous years company-wide satisfaction survey, employees have voiced that this system is inequitable and limiting for employee growth. As a result, the leadership has decided to tackle initiatives that would improve employee satisfaction regarding pay in the company. Slide 5 Title: Task for HR You are part of the HR team that has been tasked with: 1) Evaluating the new changes for fairness 2) Proposing alternative approaches to address employee dissatisfaction. Your team will meet to assess the various scenarios that employees have been complaining about. Slide 6 Title: About You You are the most junior member on the team, still enrolled in school with 3 years of entry-level HR experience. Slide 7 Title: Meet your Colleagues Tim is a senior HR professional with 10 years direct HR experience. Rob is a junior HR associate with 5 years entry-level experience. Sherry is an Executive HR professional with 15 years of HR and management experience. Slide 8 Everyone is present for the team meeting and ready to discuss. Sherry runs the meeting. [From Sherry to everyone] Okay, we are here to discuss this new company salary structure…What are your feelings on a traditional salary structure (many levels) vs. a simplified pay bands? [From Tim to everyone] I think this is fair if the salary level is commensurate with the job qualifications. Some people may be a bit sore about it but that is par for the course. [From Rob to Tim] Well that is easy for you to say. I for one completely disagree; take me for instance. The way I see it, I will be stuck in the same salary band for who knows how many more years unless I get a significant promotion! [Sherry to Everyone] Hmmm, let me remind you both that we are here to discuss ways to improve employee satisfaction and ensure the new structure is equitable, not to discuss personal opinions and concerns. I find both your tones unacceptable. Let’s get back to the business at hand. [From Tim to You] What do you think? Slide 9 Title: Traditional Salary Structure vs Simplified Pay Bands 1. Agree with Rob and Tim. Any adjustment in pay is concerning to employees. Pay banding has positive and negative impact on employees; depending on their current pay scale and position. 2. Take a passive approach and agree with your boss to avoid retaliation. Rob and Tom’s behavior could concern the boss and you want to remain in her good graces. 3. Remain neutral and broach the importance of considering the pros and cons of pay bands and the impact it can have on the organization. Introduce a brainstorming session to identify various reactions to pay bands and best practices to help the organization move through this process. Submit button Slide 10 Title: Feedback Feedback provided for each selection below: 1. Not quite. Personal concerns in organizational settings introduce opinions that could negatively impact the work environment. Because you are representing the interests of the collective organization, it’s important for you to remain impartial. Try Again. 2. Not quite. Impressing Sherry could certainly help you win bonus points. However, Sherry is the boss and it is her responsibility to handle negative comments and to engage in fair practices. Agreeing with Sherry will backfire and could have a negative impact on your position with the company. Try Again. 3. Considering the pros and cons of pay changes and bringing everyone back to the task is essential to maintain balance in the work organization. Creating an information sharing session will give the employees an opportunity to brainstorm and create proactive approaches to help employees transition through the organizational change. Continue. Slide 11 Title: Analysis What do you think about using the simplified salary bands? Do you see advantages compared to the traditional approach? What about cons? Slide 12 Title: Feedback Some key advantages are: 1. More efficiency in HR 2. More competitive 3. More in compensation rather than just salary Come potential cons are: 1. If implemented incorrectly, it can create inequities and may weaken certain employment protections such as Equal Employment Opportunity and Veteran’s Preference. 2. It may create unexpected consequences for existing employees. Some may receive a bump in pay, but for others, the structure may find them overpaid, potentially stalling future raíses or even decreasing pay. 3. Employees may perceive fewer opportunities for promotion and seek opportunities elsewhere. Slide 13 [From Tim to everyone] One way to determine pay inequities is to look at job descriptions and the current pay level. [From Sherry to everyone] Well, here is a project coordinator position and project administrator position in different departments. Looking at the job descriptions, it seems like they do essentially the same task but the administrator in this case is paid more. Hmm ? [From Rob to everyone] Well, how do we justify different salaries for essentially the same work? What do you think? Slide 14 Title: Analysis How do we justify different salaries for essentially the same work? What do you think? Slide 15 Title: Analysis Feedback Perhaps different qualifications are needed for an administration vs a coordinator. Also, the scope and impact of the work might be different in the company. Slide 16 [From Sherry to everyone] Now here is another one - Under the old pay system, an all-male team of sr. specialists were promoted to analysts with new responsibilities. An all-female of sr. specialists were given the old responsibilities that the all-male team had but not at the analyst pay level. What do you all think about this situation? Fair or not? [From Tim to everyone] Oh, let’s not go there. I don’t think this is a male vs. female thing. This seems perfectly fair to me. There must have been tasks the males did that the females were not doing. [From Sherry to Tim] According to the manager, the tasks were exactly the same. In fact, the male team trained the female team using the procedures they developed for the past 5 years. [From Rob to everyone] So, that could explain the difference here. The females were kept at sr. specialist levels because this analyst-level work is now easier than when the males did it 5 years ago. [Sherry to Rob] I’m not sure I believe what I am hearing. So, you’re saying that since the female team just started the analyst work, they should still be kept at sr. specialist level even though the work they are performing is the same as the men in the analyst role. This is exactly the inequity we are trying to correct! [Sherry to You] What do you think about this? Do you think this was fair to the female team? Slide 17 Title: Analysis What do you think? 1. Agree with Rob and Tom. This is not an equity issue. 2. Say nothing. You are not getting in the middle of this! 3. This is the time to speak up and address inequity in the workplace! Slide 18 Title: Analysis Feedback 1. You might want to reconsider this stance. A review of the readings is recommended. Try Again. 2. Addressing inequity in the workplace is both ethical and justified. This is the time to speak up. Try Again. 3. Exactly right. This seems unfair to the female team in that the responsibilities are the same as the male team had regardless of the length of time they have been doing them. If the responsibilities are at an analyst level, then the salary band should reflect that. Continue. Slide 19 Title: Analysis Suppose the previous scenario was determined to be unfair to the female team. What steps could be taken to remedy the situation and prevent employee dissatisfaction from the female employees in the above scenario? [Response] Slide 20 Title: Analysis Feedback Give the female workers an end of the year bonus for making the transition to analyst work. Then, adjust their positions to the analyst level. Slide 21 Title: Analysis As an HR professional, how would you determine if pay is inequitable? [Response] Slide 22 Title: Analysis Feedback Use tools like job description, pay scales in addition to interviewing managers/employees about the work qualifications. Slide 23 Title: Analysis If a company uses a simplified pay band approach, what are some alternatives to salary can be used in this company to keep employees satisfied? [Response] Slide 24 Title: Analysis Feedback Employee mentoring/engagement programs, merit / skills-based pay systems and frequent professional development would help increase employee satisfaction. Slide 25 Title: Final Submission Strong work staying with the issues and finding an optimal solution with your colleagues. Return to your course in Blackboard where you will revise and submit the final information. Italy Country Analysis Alisa Wood Southern New Hampshire University INT114 Professor Ward Introduction Italy Rationale I selected Italy as I am third generation Italian American. Not only is Italy home to many major fashion designers and brands it is also where my family in Sicily produces and exports olive oil. I am interested in learning more about my heritage and the country. Regional location: Southern Europe Water access: Adriatic Sea, Tyrrhenian Sea, Ligurian Sea, Mediterranean Sea Bordering countries: Austria, France, Holy See (Vatican City), San Marino, Slovenia, Switzerland Natural hazards or climate: Landslides, mudflows, avalanches, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding World Atlas, 2021 Central Intelligence Agency. (n.d.). Retrieved September 02, 2021, from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/italy/ World Atlas. (2021, February 25). Italy maps & facts. Retrieved September 02, 2021, from https://www.worldatlas.com/maps/italy 2 Sociocultural Environment Literacy rate 99.2\% (15 and older) Rate of urbanization 0.27\% (annual rate of change) and 71.3\% urban population Heavily populated cities Rome (4.278m), Milan (3.144m), Naples (2.183m), Turin (1.795m) Major religions Christian (80.8\%) * Overwhelming Roman Catholic, unaffiliated 13.4\%, Muslim 4.9\%, other 0.9& Educational data Education expenditures (4\% of GDP) Age structure 0–14 (13.45\%) 15–24 (9.61\%) 25–54 (40.86\%) 55–64 (14\%) 65+ (22.08\%) Country Composition Literacy rate 99.2\% (15 and older) Rate of urbanization 0.27\% (annual rate of change) and 71.3\% urban population Heavily populated cities Rome (4.278m), Milan (3.144m), Naples (2.183m), Turin (1.795m) Major religions Christian (80.8\%) * Overwhelming Roman Catholic, unaffiliated 13.4\%, Muslim 4.9\%, other 0.9& Educational data Education expenditures (4\% of GDP) Age structure 0–14 (13.45\%) 15–24 (9.61\%) 25–54 (40.86\%) 55–64 (14\%) 65+ (22.08\%) Central Intelligence Agency. (n.d.). Retrieved September 02, 2021, from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/italy/ World Atlas. (2021, February 25). Italy maps & facts. Retrieved September 02, 2021, from https://www.worldatlas.com/maps/italy 3 Religion Religion Christian unaffiliated Muslim other 80.8 13.4 4.9000000000000004 0.9 Sociocultural Environment Values and Communication Language: Italian (93\%), Friulian Dialect (1\%), Sardinian (1.7\%) *50\% of the population have a regional dialect and can be considered different languages Nonverbal: The concept of “bella figura” or good image is important to Italians. It is more than dressing well it also includes confidence, style and demeanor. Business Etiquette Appointments are mandatory and should be in writing 2-3 weeks in advance Place value on being dressed well Many businesses are closed in August - Time is flexible in Italy Place value on relationships - Initial meetings are to develop trust and respector topics to consider talking about Power Distance: Score 50 Dependent Hierarchical Aversion to being controlled Individualism: Score 76 Personalization “Me” centered Differs between Northern (Colder) and Southern (Warmer) Masculinity: Score 70 Masculine style Competitive Success Oriented Materialistic Status Uncertainty Avoidance: Score 75 Formality Norms and Procedures Detailed Planning Long-Term Orientation: Score 61 Pragmatic Traditional Context and time Perseverance in results Hofstede’s Dimensions of Culture: Italy (Hofstede, 2021)   Hofstede’s Dimensions of Culture: Italy (Hofstede, 2021) Central Intelligence Agency. (n.d.). Retrieved September 02, 2021, from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/italy/ World Atlas. (2021, February 25). Italy maps & facts. Retrieved September 02, 2021, from https://www.worldatlas.com/maps/Italy Commisceo Global Consulting Ltd. (n.d.). https://www.commisceo-global.com/resources/country-guides/switzerland-guide. Country comparison. Hofstede Insights. (2021, June 21). https://www.hofstede-insights.com/country-comparison/switzerland/. 4 Sociocultural Environment: Observation Deck   Italians prefer to do business in person with people they can trust. Building and maintaining relationships are important for business. Italians prefer to have stability rather than ambiguity. Dressing well is a priority and conservative business suits with accessories are important. Hierarchy, social status and competition all attribute to Italy’s success oriented and driven mentality. Hierarchy is important with a great respect for power and age. Negotiations should be held between high-ranking positions. The geographic location allows access to neighboring countries allows for goods to be easily imported and exported. The heavily populated cities are distributed throughout the county. Rome has the largest population and is centrally located in the country, followed closely by Milan which is centrally located to neighboring countries. Although nearly 41\% of the country’s age structure is in the 25-54 range the country’s median age is 46.5 and the entering labor force is a mere 9.6\% of the population which could potentially create a labor shortage. Central Intelligence Agency. (n.d.). Retrieved September 02, 2021, from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/italy/ Commisceo Global Consulting Ltd. (n.d.). https://www.commisceo-global.com/resources/country-guides/switzerland-guide. Country comparison. Hofstede Insights. (2021, June 21). https://www.hofstede-insights.com/country-comparison/switzerland/. 5 This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY Political – Legal Environment Government and Ideologies: Government Type Parliamentary Republic Political Leader(s) President Sergio Mattarella (2/2015-current); Prime Minister Mario Draghi (1/2021) Political Pressure (or Opposition) Groups Governing Coalitions: Five Star Movement (MS5), League   Left-center-right Opposition: Democratic Party (PD), Forza Italia (FI), Brothers of Italy Recent Changes in Governing Rule Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte resigned 1/2021 Corruption Bribe Index Rank: 15 Score: 7.6 Corruption Perception Index Rank: 52/180 Score: 53/100 OECD Anti-Bribery Convention Enforcement: low-moderate Control of Corruption 62.2\% 6 Political-Legal Environment De Matteis, A., Accardo, P., & Mammone, G. (2011, June 17). National Labour Law Profile: Italyaldho. National Labour Law Profile: Italy. Retrieved September 23, 2021, from https://www.ilo.org/ifpdial/information-resources/national-labour-law-profiles/WCMS_158903/lang--en/index.htm. 1. (n.d.). Italy - import requirements and documentation. International Trade Administration | Trade.gov. Retrieved September 24, 2021, from https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/italy-import-requirements-and-documentation. De Matteis, A., Accardo, P., & Mammone, G. (2011, June 17). National Labour Law Profile: Italyaldho. National Labour Law Profile: Italy. Retrieved September 23, 2021, from https://www.ilo.org/ifpdial/information-resources/national-labour-law-profiles/WCMS_158903/lang--en/index.htm. Italy. Italy Economy: Population, GDP, Inflation, Business, Trade, FDI, Corruption. (n.d.). Retrieved September 24, 2021, from https://www.heritage.org/index/country/italy. Italy. OECD. (n.d.). Retrieved September 24, 2021, from https://www.oecd.org/italy/. World tax rates 2021. TaxRatesorg The 2019 Tax Resource RSS. (n.d.). Retrieved September 24, 2021, from http://world.tax-rates.org/italy/sales-tax. 7 Italy has no statutory minimum wage, all workers are guaranteed a living wage (ILO, 2021) Average annual wage is 37.8k (OECD, 2021) Italy labor law sets hours of work at a maximum of 40 hours of work per week not to exceed 48 hours (8 hours of overtime). (ILO, 2021). Paid Leave guarantees all workers to have a right to one rest day per week, 24 hour consecutively (ILO, 2021). Maternity leave is protected from the beginning of pregnancy to one year after the child is born (ILO, 2021). VAT (sales tax): 20\%Sales Tax (World Tax Rates, 2021) Political-Legal Environment Trade Regulations and Legal Considerations Italy’s economy has been moderately free with an economic freedom score is 64.9 (Heritage, 2021). Italy is a charter member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (Heritage, 2021). There are restrictions on hazardous substances and electrical equipment (International Trade Administration, 2020). This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY 1. (n.d.). Italy - import requirements and documentation. International Trade Administration | Trade.gov. Retrieved September 24, 2021, from https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/italy-import-requirements-and-documentation. De Matteis, A., Accardo, P., & Mammone, G. (2011, June 17). National Labour Law Profile: Italyaldho. National Labour Law Profile: Italy. Retrieved September 23, 2021, from https://www.ilo.org/ifpdial/information-resources/national-labour-law-profiles/WCMS_158903/lang--en/index.htm. Italy. Italy Economy: Population, GDP, Inflation, Business, Trade, FDI, Corruption. (n.d.). Retrieved September 24, 2021, from https://www.heritage.org/index/country/italy. Italy. OECD. (n.d.). Retrieved September 24, 2021, from https://www.oecd.org/italy/. World tax rates 2021. TaxRatesorg The 2019 Tax Resource RSS. (n.d.). Retrieved September 24, 2021, from http://world.tax-rates.org/italy/sales-tax. 8 Political-Legal Environment: Observation Deck Business Observations Institutions in Italy that have higher corruption rates are National (27\%) & Local (22\%) Government Officials; Parliament (32\%); Business Execs (25\%) Significant Improvement in corruption perception index, up 11 points since 2012. Bribery: 34\% of people thought corruption increase YoY and 2\% - 3\% of public service users that paid a bribe YoY Persistent problems with organized crime and disparities between Northern and Southern Italy Italys score of 53 is less than the average for the Western Europe & European Union average of 66/100 9 This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA Economic-Infrastructural Environment Economic Measures Interest Rates (Trading Economics) 0\% Unemployment (Central Intelligence Agency, 2021) Total: 29.2\% (2021)   Country comparison: 33 Inflation (Central Intelligence Agency, 2015) 0.6\% (2019)   Country comparison: 47 GDP real growth rate (Central Intelligence Agency, 2021) 0.34\% (2019)     Country comparison:187 Exchange Rates (Central Intelligence Agency, 2015) 1 Euro = $ .82771 USD (2020) GDP (Central Intelligence Agency, 2021) 2.56 trillion (2019) Labor Force (Central Intelligence Agency, 2021) 22.92-million (2020)   Country comparison:24 Major Industries (Central Intelligence Agency, 2021) Tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing, textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics. FDI Rates (The World Bank, 2021) 31.19-million (Inflow as of 2019) Trade Major Trading Partners Exports: EU 50.3\%, USA 9.6\%, Switzerland 5.5\%, UK 5.2\%, China 2.7\%, Other 26.7\%   Imports: EU 56.6\%, China 7.5\%, USA 4\%, Russian Federation 3.4\%, Switzerland 2.6\%, Other 25.9\% Major Imports/Exports Exports: Agricultural products 9.4\% Fuels and mining 5.9\% Manufactures 82.7\% Other 2\%   Wine, cheese, pasta, medicaments, motor cars, parts for moto cars, oils other than crude, trunks, suitcases   Imports: Agricultural products 12\% Fuels and mining 18.3\% Manufactures 68.4\% Other 1.3\%   Swine, cigars, bovine, wheat, motor cars, crude oils, petroleum gas, human and animal blood Regional Trade Agreements and Member Countries (International Trade Administration, 2021) Italy (EU) Trade agreements with China (Comprehensive Agreement on Investment), United Kingdom (Cooperation Agreement), New Zealand (Bilateral), Australia (Bilateral), Mexico (Agreement in Principle), Japan (Economic Partnership Agreement), Canada (Comprehensive and Economic Trade Agreement (CETA)), Mercosur (Comprehensive), Singapore (Free Trade and Investment Protection) and Vietnam (Investment Protection) Central Intelligence Agency. (n.d.). Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved October 8, 2021, from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/italy/. Italy - trade agreements. 1. (n.d.). International Trade Administration | Trade.gov. Retrieved October 8, 2021, from https://www.trade.gov/knowledge-product/italy-trade-agreements. Regional Trade Agreements Database. WTO. (n.d.). Retrieved October 8, 2021, from http://rtais.wto.org/UI/PublicMaintainRTAHome.aspx. Airports in Italy. FlightConnections. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2021, from https://www.flightconnections.com/airports-in-italy-it. Central Intelligence Agency. (n.d.). Retrieved September 29, 2021, from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/italy/ Gsma. (n.d.). GSMA – mobile network coverage maps. Coverage Maps. Retrieved September 30, 2021, from https://www.gsma.com/coverage/#5972. Italy interest Rate2021 DATA: 2022 forecast: 1998-2020 Historical: Calendar. Italy Interest Rate | 2021 Data | 2022 Forecast | 1998-2020 Historical | Calendar. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2021, from https://tradingeconomics.com/italy/interest-rate. Italy train map. ItaliaRail. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2021, from https://www.italiarail.com/italy-rail-map. Logistics performance Index: Overall (1=low to 5=high) - Italy. Data. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2021, from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/LP.LPI.OVRL.XQ?locations=IT&view=chart. Ports with Liner service in Italy. World Port Source. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2021, from http://www.worldportsource.com/shipping/country/ports/ITA.php. 10 Economic-Infrastructural Environment (Italiarail.com, 2021) Major Airports/Seaports Seaports with container liner service (World Port Source, 2021): (19 total) Ancona, Bari, Cagliari, Genoa, La Spezia, Livorno, Napoli, Palermo, Pozzallo, Ravenna, Venezia   International Airports (Flight Connections, 2021): Lamezia Terme, Orio al Serio, Malpensa, Naples, Federico Fellini, Rome Leonardo Di Vinci, Turin, Venice Marco Polo, Railway Stations (Government websites) Illustration below Internet Users (Central Intelligence Agency, 2021) 46.3-million (2018) Country comparison: 19 Mobile Providers (GSMA,2021) Wind Tre, TIM, Vodafone, Linkem, Go Internet, Tiscali, Ilad Logistics Performance Index Rating (The World Bank, 2021) 3.74 (2018) Airports in Italy. FlightConnections. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2021, from https://www.flightconnections.com/airports-in-italy-it. Central Intelligence Agency. (n.d.). Retrieved September 29, 2021, from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/italy/ Gsma. (n.d.). GSMA – mobile network coverage maps. Coverage Maps. Retrieved September 30, 2021, from https://www.gsma.com/coverage/#5972. Italy interest Rate2021 DATA: 2022 forecast: 1998-2020 Historical: Calendar. Italy Interest Rate | 2021 Data | 2022 Forecast | 1998-2020 Historical | Calendar. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2021, from https://tradingeconomics.com/italy/interest-rate. Italy train map. ItaliaRail. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2021, from https://www.italiarail.com/italy-rail-map. Logistics performance Index: Overall (1=low to 5=high) - Italy. Data. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2021, from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/LP.LPI.OVRL.XQ?locations=IT&view=chart. Ports with Liner service in Italy. World Port Source. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2021, from http://www.worldportsource.com/shipping/country/ports/ITA.php. 11 Economic-Infrastructural Environment: Observation Deck Business Observations 47.1\% of Italy’s land use is for agricultural needs. Agricultural land supplies the grapes needed for one of the country’s top exports for Italy, wine. The land use is also necessary for dairy cows. Italy’s geography allows for several ports of entry and exit for goods and services to be imported/exported by sea, air, or other. In 2019 The United States of America began trade negotiations with the EU According to cia.gov in 2017 exports of goods was up 31.4\%, whereas imports were -28.3\% Due to Italy’s geography and accessibility to several countries importing and exporting should be relatively easy due to numerous seaports, airports, and railways stations. The Interest rate for Euro is currently 0 according to Trading Economics. Northern and Southern Italy’s major industries are diverse and can be easily accessed throughout the country. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY Airports in Italy. FlightConnections. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2021, from https://www.flightconnections.com/airports-in-italy-it. Central Intelligence Agency. (n.d.). Retrieved September 29, 2021, from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/italy/ Gsma. (n.d.). GSMA – mobile network coverage maps. Coverage Maps. Retrieved September 30, 2021, from https://www.gsma.com/coverage/#5972. Italy interest Rate2021 DATA: 2022 forecast: 1998-2020 Historical: Calendar. Italy Interest Rate | 2021 Data | 2022 Forecast | 1998-2020 Historical | Calendar. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2021, from https://tradingeconomics.com/italy/interest-rate. Italy train map. ItaliaRail. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2021, from https://www.italiarail.com/italy-rail-map. Logistics performance Index: Overall (1=low to 5=high) - Italy. Data. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2021, from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/LP.LPI.OVRL.XQ?locations=IT&view=chart. Ports with Liner service in Italy. World Port Source. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2021, from http://www.worldportsource.com/shipping/country/ports/ITA.php. 12 Final Recommendations Market Entry Strategies: I would recommend a US company to enter Italy for specific established industries. American companies in hospitality, manufacturing, or transportation. Italy is backed by the EU trade agreement and would be similar for entering other European countries. The location is ideal due to the points of entry and accessibility within the country as well as importing and exporting goods and services. Italy’s GDP is one of the strongest in the world. The cost to enter the Italy is among the highest and taxes remain high as well. Cultural Awareness: Italy’s dimensions resemble some similarities compared to the United States. Power distance, Masculinity are close in comparison, however, uncertainty and long-term orientation would need to be considered. https://www.hofstede-insights.com/ 13 Works cited Airports in Italy. FlightConnections. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2021, from https://www.flightconnections.com/airports-in-italy-it. Central Intelligence Agency. (n.d.). Retrieved September 02, 2021, from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/italy/ Commisceo Global Consulting Ltd. (2020, January 1) Italy- Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette. Retrieved from https://commisceo-global.com/resources/country-guides/italy-guide  Country comparison. Hofstede Insights. (2021, June 21). https://www.hofstede-insights.com/country-comparison/italy,the-usa/. De Matteis, A., Accardo, P., & Mammone, G. (2011, June 17). National Labour Law Profile: Italyaldho. National Labour Law Profile: Italy. Retrieved September 23, 2021, from https://www.ilo.org/ifpdial/information-resources/national-labour-law-profiles/WCMS_158903/lang--en/index.htm. Gsma. (n.d.). GSMA – mobile network coverage maps. Coverage Maps. Retrieved September 30, 2021, from https://www.gsma.com/coverage/#5972. International, T., & Transparencyinternational. (n.d.). Bribe payers Index 2011. Issuu. Retrieved September 17, 2021, from https://issuu.com/transparencyinternational/docs/bribe_payers_index_2011. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA 14 Works cited 1. (n.d.). Italy - import requirements and documentation. International Trade Administration | Trade.gov. Retrieved September 24, 2021, from https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/italy-import-requirements-and-documentation. Italy. Italy Economy: Population, GDP, Inflation, Business, Trade, FDI, Corruption. (n.d.). Retrieved September 24, 2021, from https://www.heritage.org/index/country/italy. Italy. OECD. (n.d.). Retrieved September 24, 2021, from https://www.oecd.org/italy/. Italy interest Rate2021 DATA: 2022 forecast: 1998-2020 Historical: Calendar. Italy Interest Rate | 2021 Data | 2022 Forecast | 1998-2020 Historical | Calendar. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2021, from https://tradingeconomics.com/italy/interest-rate Italy train map. ItaliaRail. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2021, from https://www.italiarail.com/italy-rail-map Italy. Transparency.org. (n.d.). Retrieved September 17, 2021, from https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/italy. Ports with Liner service in Italy. World Port Source. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2021, from http://www.worldportsource.com/shipping/country/ports/ITA.php. World Atlas. (2021, February 25). Italy maps & facts. Retrieved September 02, 2021, from https://www.worldatlas.com/maps/italy World tax rates 2021. TaxRatesorg The 2019 Tax Resource RSS. (n.d.). Retrieved September 24, 2021, from http://world.tax-rates.org/italy/sales-tax. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA 15 Guatemala Lesbia Bonilla 1 Introduction: Guatemala: Is a small country located in Central America, surrounded by countries like Mexico, El Salvador and Honduras along with Belize in the Northeast. The Pacific Ocean in the south and the Caribbean Sea bordering the Gulf of Honduras. Rationale: Guatemala is the country I have chosen for my final project. One of the reasons is that I spend five years living there and its a country with beautiful people, culture and amazing food. 2 Natural Hazards/Climate Guatemala is tropical, hot, humid in lowlands and cooler in highlands. Numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent earthquakes. Caribbean coast extremely susceptible to hurricanes and other tropical storms. Sociocultural Environment Power Distance: Score 95 Inequalities Unapproachable managers Hierarchical Patriarchal 4 Sociocultural Environment Individualism: Score 6 Collectivistic culture Strong identity Indirect communication, need for harmony Avoids open conflict Moral base is priority Invest to stablish a trusting relationship Indirect feedback 5 Sociocultural Environment Masculinity: Score 37 Highly driven by competition Strong masculinity culture Caring for others, quality of life are dominant values Consensus is value Sympathy for the underdog Leisure is important 6 Sociocultural Environment Uncertainty Avoidance: Score 98 Strong in rituals Religious Ambiguity Emotions are openly expressed Extensive rules but not followed 7 Sociocultural Environment Country Composition 8 Major Religion Roman Catholic Evangelical Other Atheist None Unspecified 0.41699999999999998 0.38800000000000001 2.7E-2 1E-3 0.13800000000000001 2.9000000000000001E-2 Age Structure 0-14 years 15-24 years 25-54 years 55-64 years 65 years and over 0.33679999999999999 0.1976 0.36449999999999999 5.4100000000000002E-2 4.7E-2 0-14 years 15-24 years 25-54 years 55-64 years 65 years and over 0 0 0 0 0 0-14 years 15-24 years 25-54 years 55-64 years 65 years and over 0-14 years 15-24 years 25-54 years 55-64 years 65 years and over Sociocultural Environment Country Composition Literacy 81.5\% age 15 and over can read and write Urbanization 52.2\% of total population (2021), 2.59\% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) Populated cities 2.935 million GUATEMALA CITY (capital) (2020) Education Education expenditure 3.2\% of GDP 92019) 9 Major Religion Sociocultural Environment Language: Spanish (69.9\%) Maya languages (29.7\%) Nonverbal: In a business setting man greet men with a warm shake of hands while maintaining direct eye contact with one another. Meanwhile, friends and close acquaintances share a hug and a kiss on the cheek among women. Values and Communication ñ 10 Sociocultural Environment In business situations Guatemalans understand the importance of arriving on time to meetings. Business breakfast and lunches are preferred to dinners. Guatemalans referred to their elders by their titles as a show of respect It is a custom to interreact in social conversation before talking business. Spend time developing a friendship before starting business negotiations. Business Etiquette 11 Sociocultural Environment: Observation Deck Business Observations As an act of respect, it is recommended to allow the host to begin the business discussion. Decisions are usually from the top down and can be lengthy before they are reached. Top executives are in charge of most of the decision-making. However, this can be a lengthy process. Guatemalans need to build a harmonious relationship before talking business, so avoid abruptly persuasive selling, as it could create confrontation.. Guatemalans might not be direct when communicating as they respond best to indirect communication style. Business negotiations can be slow expect to take several trips to finalize a transaction. 12 Political-Legal Environment Government Overview Type of Government Democracy - Political Leaders Alejandro Giammattei, president elect Political Pressure (or Opposition) Groups PC – Citizen Prosperity PHG – Partido Humanista de Guatemala VALOR - Value Current Governing Ruler President Giammattei 13 Political-Legal Environment Corruption Bribe Index Rank: N/A Score: 28\% Corruption Perception Index Rank: 149/180 Score: 25/100 OECD Anti-Bribery Convention Enforcement: Low Control of Corruption Rank: 26.92\% in 2019 14 Political-Legal Environment: Observation Deck Business Observations Political pressure groups are organizations set up to influence government public opinion, but they are easily created and dissolved, that has been the case with some parties represented in the last election, which are no longer exist. Corruption report shows Guatemala with a high corruption risk. Guatemala has very low ranking of control of corruption (26.92\%). Bribes are often exchanged to obtain favorable decisions. It has been reported that business executives perceive the courts to be inefficient in settling disputes. Business should be aware and remain alert as the CPI is high. Unfortunately, for some businesses, there is very little support from the government. 15 Economic-Infrastructural Environment Economic Measures Minimum wage: set by the commission 2500 GTQ/Month ($322.50 approximately) Working hours: the ordinary workday cannot exceed 8 hours. Guatemala currency: Quetzales Rate Type Which goods or services 12\% Standard All other taxable goods and services, including imports 5\% Reduced Flat rate for small businesses 0\% Zero Exports 0\% Exempt Education; Resales of real estate; basic foodstuffs; limited range of financial services and insurance Sales Tax 16 Economic-Infrastructural Environment The standard VAT rate in Guatemala is 12\%. Guatemalan taxpayers must produce invoices for all taxable transactions, including exports. These must be government-approved invoices which are processed through the Facturación Electrónica (termed ‘FACE’) system. Trade Policies The US agricultural and food products face import issues when agricultural trading with Guatemala These issues include 1) Customs regulations; 2) Sanitary and phytosanitary certifications; 3) Product fortification requirements, and 4) Product samples. 17 Economic-Infrastructural Environment: Observation Deck Business Observations It seems that Guatemala has a low minimum wage. However, employment laws are progressive for the region. Perhaps bringing new business could help the economy and improve wages for employees. Government intervention in international trade has a negative impact on businesses. According to the 2020  world bank doing business survey, Guatemala rank 99 for starting a business, which is not high but still manageable. There are some import issues like customs regulations that result in higher tariff rates. Sanitary requirements that need to be met with proper inspection and certifications. 18 Economic-Infrastructure Environment Interest Rates 1.75\% Unemployment (Central Intelligence Agency, 2021) 2.3 \% (2017) Inflation (Central Intelligence Agency, 2021) 3.7\% (2019 est.) GDP real growth rate (Central Intelligence Agency) 2.8 (2017 est.) Exchange Rates (Central Intelligence Agency, 2021) quetzales (GTQ) per US dollar – 7.323 (2017est.) Exchange Rate regime (International Trade Centre, 2021)  Floating GDP (Central Intelligence)  1.41 billion (2020) Labor Force (Central intelligence Agency, 2021) 6.664 million (2017 est.) Major Industries (Central Intelligence Agency, 2021)     textiles, furniture, petroleum, sugar, flowers, fruits and vegetables, processed foods, and chemicals. Some of the most widely grown agricultural crops in )Guatemala include: coffee, bananas, nutmeg, and cane sugar.   FDI Rates (International Trade Centre, 2021)     1,169.33 thousands (in-flow as of 2019) 19 Economic-Infrastructure Environment Major Airports/Seaports Aeropuerto Internacional La Aurora de la ciudad de Guatemala Puerto Quetzal, Santo Tomas de Castilla Railway Stations (Government websites) note: despite the existence of a railway network, all rail service was suspended in 2007, and no passenger or freight train currently runs in the country (2018) Internet Users (Central Intelligence Agency, 2021) 10,777,827 Mobile Providers (expat.com) Claro, Movistar, Tigo Logistics Performance Index Rating (The World Bank, 2021) Rank: 125 Score: 2.41 20 Economic-Infrastructure Environment Observation Deck Business Observation Unemployment and inflation are high compared to the United States. However, foreign business still feels motivated to do business. Market conditions in Guatemala are stable, and that’s how the exchange rate moves. Guatemala has one major airport and several port cities that can be useful for shipping and distribution, but not railways available, making distribution to other areas a bit difficult. A customs union within Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador is a practical system to transport merchandise.  21 Economic Integration Major Trading Partners Exports: United States, Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, European union.   Imports: United States, China, Mexico, European Union, El Salvador Cultural Awareness 22 Economic Integration Major Exports: Bananas, raw sugar, coffee, cardamom, palm oil 23 Exports Agricultural products Manufactures Fuels and mining products Other 50.5 44.2 5.3 0.1 Economic Integration Major Imports: Refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, packaged medicines, cars, delivery trucks. 24 Exports Imports Agricultural products Fuels and mining products Manufactures 16.3 17.899999999999999 0.4 Final Recommendations Market Entry Strategies The company could take advantage of Guatemalan’s location and neighbor countries. Arriving on time and socializing before talking business are some of the excellent business etiquettes that could be helpful when starting negotiations. The interest rate at 1.75\% could benefit all other taxable goods and services, including imports, at 12\%. A monthly income of $322.50 is affordable labor and creating more jobs could help the high number of unemployed people go down. Agriculture products are one of the highest exports of Guatemala, telling us about the region’s good weather. Cultural Awareness: Guatemala is made of a society in which power is predominantly held by men. Language could be a barrier. Corruption and the way extensive rules are created but not follow could be an issue that needs to be reconsider. 25 References Central Intelligence Agency. (2021). The World Factbook: Guatemala. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/ Corruption by country/Guatemala. (2021). Transparency International. https://www.transparency.org/en/ Cultural crossing guide. (2017). Culture Crossing Guide. https://guide.culturecrossing.net/basics_business_student_details.php?Id=22&CID=87   Guatemala corruption report. (2020, August). Risk and Compliance Portal. https://www.ganintegrity.com/portal/country-profiles/guatemala/ 26 References Guatemala - Country Commercial Guide. (2021, August). International Trade Administration. https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/guatemala-market-overview Guatemalan VAT rates and VAT compliance. (2021). Avalara. https://www.avalara.com/vatlive/en/country-guides/south-america/guatemala/guatemalan-vat-rates-and-vatcompliance.html#:~:text=The\%20standard\%20VAT\%20rate\%20in\%20Guatemala\%20is\%2012\%25., Guatemala - Market Opportunities. (2019). Export.Gov. https://www.export.gov/apex/article2?id=Guatemala-Market-Opportunities 27 References Hofstede, G. (2015). Guatemala - Geert Hofstede. Geert-hofstede.com. Retrieved from Country Comparison - Hofstede Insights (hofstede-insights.com) INTERNATIONAL LPI. (n.d.). The World Bank. Retrieved 2015, from https://lpi.worldbank.org/international/global Phones and internet in Guatemala. (2017). Expat.Com. https://www.expat.com/en/guide/central-america/guatemala/15499-phones-and-internet-in-guatemala.html#:~:text=Several\%20mobile\%20service\%20providers\%20compete\%20on\%20the\%20Guatemalan,international\%20firm\%20Telefonica\%29\%203\%20Tigo\%20\%28within\%20Millicom\%20Group\%29 28