Mass media Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Mass media - Essay Example In many cases it is the mass media which has represented the drugs in a pleasurable way. First of all, it is important to analyze why the mass media is so influential nowadays. A group of sociological researches investigated that how important is the role of mass media in the modern society and how it is inducing human intellectual and psychological development. In the book â€Å"One-Dimensional Man: Studies in the ideology of Advanced Industrial Society† Herbert Marcuse claims that in modern society people are determined by the information that comes from mass media and technologies (13). This information creates the perceptions people keep in their minds to evaluate situations their face in their lives. The idea is that people have become addicted and are astounded by the images and concepts that mass media have thrust in them. In some cases, concerning drugs, mass media shows people who have used some medical drugs to become healthy and happy, we undoubtedly believe that we will get the same effect if we start using the drugs as well. The reason behind the bli nd trust on mass media is idiom frequently used by media â€Å"Seeing is believing†. We forget the fact that everything is about business which is shown on media even the media itself is the part of the business. It is the biggest tool of manipulation used on the society. Niklas Luhman, in his book Social Systems, explains that communication is the basis of society. Our modern society and social system are highly dependent on mass media; it works throughout all the aspects of society (25). Initially public opinions are formed through advertisement, programs or shows, which are evidently one of the most manipulative effects against personality. In simple context people tend to learn a lot from media in term of what to wear, how to behave, what to look like etc. Luhmann claims that the messages we receive from media can describe the current developmental level the society is

Evaluate the relevance of cross-cultural theories in explaining how to Assignment

Evaluate the relevance of cross-cultural theories in explaining how to manage companies in different countries - Assignment Example This, in itself, puts the workforce and the management in a multicultural stance. Universalism as a general theory might help ‘blend the culture’ and improve performance, while on the other hand it does not take into account the essential differences in cultures and particularism has to be followed (Alexandria, VA, 2008). It is pertinent to understand that while setting up a global mind set is productive, not all human resource strategies will fit every culture and situation, hence the need for adaptability (HRMagazine, 2008). Sensitive factors like religion and gender often define whether the host culture is neutral or emotional. Recognizing this has significant advantage in terms of control over the business and workforce itself. For example, ignoring a religious taboo might result in a strong setback for the company if the relevance of cultural differences is ignored (Himmelberg, Michele, 1998). Language barrier, the most common issue, is crucial and requires new communication skills to be dealt with (Carter, L, 2005). When a lingua franca does not already exist, it might be useful to train the local workforce in an international language (Feingold, Jean, 2006) but training the management in the vernacular has its key advantages including elimination of redundancy, direct management and easy understanding of the culture (Carter, L, 2005). These key theories are relevant most of the time even in the internet age, but when companies approach different cultures not only to utilize the workforce but also for marketing, the cultural dimensions take a more significant role. Cultural dimensions such as perceptions of justice, power distance and individualism define the employee behavior resulting in direct influence on turnover and other outcomes directly affecting the company’s ability in the competitive market (Kim et al, 2007, p. 104, 83-95). According to opposing studies, the cultural