Term Paper on "European Business"
Term Paper 6 pages (2122 words) Sources: 1+
[EXCERPT] . . . .
reality of the concept "Euromanager." Do such people, as "Euromanagers" exist? Explain the characteristics of European managers in contrast to U.S. And Japanese managers.The concept of the Euromanager highlights what many managerial professionals have known for a long time, namely that culture impacts managerial style. In other words, 'management' is not a singular country that exists in isolation from its national context. Rather, management staff members are affected by their country of origin, both as individuals and the national origins of their organization. "Unfortunately, the apparent similarities between countries of the European Union and North America" often mask significant cultural differences in managerial approaches. "Business people from either side may be lured into a false sense of familiarity when they cross the Atlantic Ocean."(Laroche, 2004) but taking these cultural differences into consideration can significantly increase and improve the probability of success of one's professional endeavors.
Euromanagers often have more of a respect for the history of the nation and the organization they may be dealing with, and thus of the significant social and cultural differences that still exist in the world today between management and labor. "For most North Americans, events that took place more than three to five years ago are considered irrelevant to the current situation, and background information on a project is usually limited to the latest developments. By contrast, many Europeans go back much further in time and often start the description of their company or project at the conception stage, no matter how long ago that event took place." (Laroche, 2004)
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Also in the European Union, while English is generally accepted as the international language of business, the ability to speak English, at least not fluent English "is not ubiquitous," thus more careful communication may be necessary. (Laroche, 2004) Cultural tolerance and linguistic plurality, and respect for historical and social differences are all critical to the identity of the newly flexible Euromanager. So is respect for the environment. Both the U.S.A., and Canada, "were built on the assumption that land, energy and resources" were always available. If there was not enough available, the ethic was to simply "go somewhere else...and you will find it. In North America, energy, land and resources are considered available in virtually unlimited supply; the only commodity that is continuously in short supply is time." (Laroche, 2004)
In Japan and the Asiatic countries, poverty and necessity, or the desire for industrial growth to compete with the West has often subsumed environmental needs and demands to the pace of industrial production and research and development. but, "by contrast, space, energy and resources are all in visibly limited supply in Europe. The need to conserve them is always present in European minds," particularly those who have experienced the environmental as well as the political damage of World War II and its aftermath. (Laroche, 2004)
In the United States, the consumer, not the needs of the environment or government regulations are king. This also results in very significant business practice differences between the European Union and North American approach of management. Euromanagers must take into consideration government and environmental regulations regarding the size of cars and equipment and even the use of paper, as well as the need to conserve space. This consideration, as gas prices skyrocket all over the world, may prove to be an advantage for the new Euromanager approach.
Question
What does the Parmalat scandal suggest concerning issues of corporate ethics and corporate transparency in family-owned Italian businesses? Does this case have wider implications throughout European business? How does the Parmalat scandal compare with ethical scandals in the U.S.
The Italian Parmalat scandal caused many outside observers to throw up their hands and exclaim that only in Italy could milk become a site of corruption, family feuds, and scandals! However, the Parmalat scandal was actually worldwide in its implications, although also considerably more crude in its machinations than the Enron debacle. "It has been dubbed Europe's Enron thanks to the swiftness of its fall from grace and its use of dubious offshore vehicles, but as investigators delve deeper into Parmalat, it appears that the similarities between the mess at the bankrupt Italian dairy group and the implosion of the Texas energy trader may be fewer than first thought," wrote the Economist after the scandal broke. (the Economist Global Agenda, 2004)
The main similarity between the two scandals may be in the way that both scandals have highlighted the national problems regarding regulation of financing and accounting. The Economist noted that while "the financial gymnastics at Enron were truly sophisticated, with an army of legal and financial advisers employed to build clever but devious structures that kept the company just inside the law, in Parmalat's case, prosecutors appeared "to have found that the longstanding fraud was breathtakingly crude, which raises a whole new set of unpleasant questions about the firm's accountants, bankers and regulators, not to mention the people running it...Perhaps the most extreme example of the scam's crudity is the now-infamous letter, purportedly from Bank of America, confirming that Parmalat had close to €4 billion ($5 billion[dollars]) parked in the Cayman Islands. This turns out to have been faked, apparently with the aid of nothing more sophisticated than a photocopier and fax machine (for that authentic grainy look)." Also, even more worrying, "Italian fund managers complaining as long ago as last March about a lack of transparency in the company's accounts," but the Italian government did nothing to investigate (the Economist Global Agenda, 2004)
It now becomes clear that the Parmalat company falsified its accounts for years, without any real investigative attempts on the part of the Italian government, and €800m was embezzled from the company by its leaders. This has highlighted defective Italian regulatory concerns, of great concern to the newly united European Economic Community. "Quite apart from the fate of Parmalat, its employees and creditors, the scandal has sparked a debate about Italian financial regulation. One of the first outcomes was an emergency law bringing in American-style bankruptcy protection. This has ensured that the company will survive over the next few months. While the European Commission will take a look at this law, it is unlikely to cause competition worries because it does not involve state aid, and most observers view it as helpful to viable businesses with short-term liquidity problems." (the Economist Global Agenda, 2004)
However, as with Enron, questions are flying about what the auditors were doing while such a massive fraud was being perpetrated under their noses and about the banks that advised the company. However, although Deloitte & Touche had been the group auditor since 1999, Italian rules forced a rotation of auditors making it more difficult for auditors to keep a careful eye on corporate inner workings -- yet another rule that may be in need of supervision and correction by the government. Greater openness in business, and more scrupulous regulation of 'private' business dealings of long-standing companies (as opposed to the new wealth of Enron) were all highlighted in the scandal.
Question
Select any country in Europe. Discuss how consumer life-styles are evolving at the present time. How do the life-styles in this country relate to those in other parts of Europe? Is there such a thing as a "Euro-Consumer?"
Ah, the Euro-Consumer -- flush with cash, traveling all over the world to take advantage of the exchange rate between the Euro and other major currencies, including the dollar -- and packing his or her lunch? At least in the Scandinavian nation of Norway. New York Times columnist Bruce Bawer noted in 2005, after moving to Norway, "After I moved here six years ago, I quickly noticed that Norwegians live more frugally than Americans do. They hang on to old appliances and furniture that we would throw out. And they drive around in wrecks...one image in particular sticks in my mind. In a Norwegian language class, my teacher illustrated the meaning of the word matpakke - "packed lunch" - by reaching into her backpack and pulling out a hero sandwich wrapped in wax paper. It was her lunch. She held it up for all to see." (Bawer, 2005)
This native New Yorker was aghast to see what other Norwegians might see as a continuation or at least a reminder of the frugal legacy of the World War II austerity generation. Although, Bawer notes, "It is not simply a matter of tradition, or a preference for a basic, nonmaterialistic life. Dining out is just too pricey in a country where teachers, for example, make about $50,000 a year before taxes. Even the… READ MORE
Quoted Instructions for "European Business" Assignment:
We will pay more for this one - *****@aol.com
I need 3 essays 2 pages each on any of the three following topics:
1. Explain why the dollar has been weakening against the euro over the past
30 months. How might the weakening dollar affect business in Europe from the
perspective of European firms and from the perspective of US-based firms. Try
to integrate some quantitative data (charts and/or tables) into your answer.
2. Write a short essay on the reality of the concept “Euromanager.” Do such
people as “Euromanagers” exist? Explain the characteristics of European
managers in contrast to US and Japanese managers.
3. Discuss management issues and problems which have come up in cross-border
mergers and strategic alliances involving at least one European firm. (examples:
Volvo/Renault; BMW/Rover, DaimlerChrysler, GM/Fiat, British Steel/Hoogevens,
Vodafone/Mannesmann etc.).
4. What does the Parmalat scandal suggest concerning issues of corporate ethics
and corporate transparency in family-owned Italian businesses? Does this case
have wider implications throughout European business? How does the Parmalat
scandal compare with ethical scandals in the US?
5. Discuss the issues relating to the adoption of the “European Constitution”
which is currently under consideration in many of the EU member countries.
Explain why you think the constitution will pass or not pass, focusing on the
key issues which will affect passage or defeat.
6. Is the expansion of the EU into Central and Eastern Europe a threat to
US-based businesses? Give examples of how US-based firms which have already
positioned themselves to take advantage of the most recent (2004-2005) EU
expansion.
7. Select any country in Europe. Discuss how consumer life-styles are evolving
at the present time. How do the life-styles in this country relate to those in
other parts of Europe. Is there such a thing as a “Euro-Consumer?”
8. Select the textile/apparel, automotive, cosmetics, or energy generation
sector in Europe (the EU especially) and discuss what the first 10 years of this
century might bring in terms of profitability, growth, leading firms in the
sector, and technological trends.
9. Select any current corporate merger or takeover battle taking place with at
least one European company involved, and write a short case study of the
situation.
10. Discuss changes which are taking place in any major professional sport
business in Europe (football, motor racing, basketball, tennis, cycling, etc.)
11. Discuss changes which can be expected in European capital markets as the
Euro becomes established as a currency.
12. Present the evidence, pro and con, which suggests that the European economy
will remain competitive in coming years, and that the Europeans will be able to
afford their unique life-style.
13. Discuss the dispute between the European Union and the US concerning
subsidies to aircraft manufacturers,
14. Recent articles in the Economist have focused on anti-Semitism and the
growing muslim influence in European societies. What implications does this
situation hold for the business climate (business opportunities) in European
countries?
15. Discuss some of the differences between corporate governance and
transparency in a selected European country (Germany, Sweden, France) and the
USA.
16. Why is the issue of pensions so important for European workers? Why are
pensions so important? Compare and contrast the pension issue between Europe and
America.
18. How does the issue of “gay marriage” or “religion” (choose one) illustrate
differences in values and attitudes between contemporary US society and
contemporary European societies?
19. How could US-based companies protect themselves against the possible
breakup of the EU? Is such a breakup likely? If there were a breakup, what
would be the key issue (issues)?
20. Is criticism of US public policy by Europeans over the past three years
having an effect, or likely to have an effect, on the profitability of US-based
companies operating in Europe. How could US-based companies protect themselves
against possible “anti-Americanism”.
21. Discuss the likelihood of future commercial success in the “national” film
industries of European countries, selecting an individual country for focus.
***************Please notify me as soon as possible if it may be completed?! And let me know which of the follwing topics the ***** chose?
How to Reference "European Business" Term Paper in a Bibliography
“European Business.” A1-TermPaper.com, 2005, https://www.a1-termpaper.com/topics/essay/reality-concept-euromanager/46356. Accessed 6 Jul 2024.
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