Nike and Vietnam Essay Example for Free

Nike and Vietnam Essay Globalization is a phenomenon that has become a fact in today’s business world. Companies, always looking to cut costs and improve productivity, often look overseas to either expand current business operations or to outsource existing business operations. Companies often make the decision to go global with the hopes of taking advantage of more favorable business environments, better technologies, or relationships with suppliers and customers. While these facts are a part of globalization, there are also positive benefits, which range from lower prices to consumers, increased education for individuals within the countries where expansion occurs, and a higher standard of life for the individuals in these countries. While arguments can be made that globalization is a positive or negative force on a country or on the world economy, the debate is not likely to end any time soon. This paper will take a look at the positive impacts of globalization by examining Nike in Vietnam. Nike has long been viewed as the poster child for problems associated with globalization. Many have accused Nike of employing workers in sweatshop like conditions in poorer countries like China, and more recently Vietnam. In addition to the sweatshop claims, people often say that Nike employs child labor, often even claiming that the child labor is forced and takes place in sweatshops. Many of these same people also suggest that Nike has taken jobs from the United States to these countries where there are fewer laws regarding work conditions and wages so that they can pay their employees less in an effort to make a higher profit with no regard to the value of human life. These are just a few of the accusations that people often make against multinational corporations such as Nike, and this list is much longer. While it is true that there have been problems at certain factories that make Nike products, the company has taken aggressive steps to ensure that all of its factories now comply with basic human rights. It is hard to argue that the conditions experienced by workers at factories in Vietnam are not still vastly different from what we experience in the West, but the culture is much different as well. Therefore, what we may view as harsh conditions may not, in fact, be so to the actual employees. What are often unnoticed, or at least is not mentioned, are the positive effects that Nike has brought to countries like Vietnam. As stated previously, many of the benefits of globalization within a company like Nike must be looked at within the context of the culture being examined. A primary example of this would be the pay. While some may argue that a monthly pay of $72 per month is essentially the same as employing slave labor, the employees at the Nike factory in Ho Chi Minh City might say otherwise. As Johan Norbert (2004) notes, the pay of $72 per month is â€Å"almost three times the minimum wage for a state-owned enterprise,† which typically involves endless days in intense heat or rain in rice fields surrounded by water and bugs. In addition to being higher paying than previous jobs, working in a Nike factory also provides a stable source of income. These higher wages have afforded the employees other benefits as well. When the first factories opening in Ho Chi Minh City, the workers had to walk to the factories, but, within a few years, they saw significant improvements to their transportation options. Norberg (2004) also writes, â€Å"After three years, they could afford bicycles three years later, they could afford scooters [and after eight years], the first workers [could] afford to buy a car. † This is a reality that few people in Ho Chi Minh City experience, with less than 5% of the population owning a car. But perhaps one of the greatest benefits that globalization has brought to Vietnam is the availability to afford higher education. In the past, many children would have been put to work on farms in order for their families to survive, yet â€Å"In ten years, 2. 2 million children have gone from child labour to education† (Norberg, 2004). Millions of children attending school as a result of globalization is a far cry from many of the child labor accusations previously mentioned. Globalization is, and probably will always be, a topic that has very passionate people on both sides of the debate. While arguments both for and against globalization have valid points to make, few people really have really taken the time to look at the direct impact of this ever growing trend. From strictly a consumer standpoint, Nike’s decision to go global and create factories in a variety of countries has led to an increase from under 200 styles to almost 1200 different styles available for purchase (Locke Siteman, 2007, p. 6). More importantly, though, are the points mentioned above, that employees in countries like Vietnam make almost 3x the wages made in their previous employment. Rarely will you hear that these employees are able to afford items such as cars while the majority of people even within their own city cannot. You will also almost never hear that, despite past abuses of child labor, millions of children have been able to get an education. This is a reality that would not have been possible if their parents were still stuck working in rice fields. This education has the abolition to create a positive cycle of growth, wealth, and education for new generations that will continue for years. If you want to see the direct impact that globalization can have, the case of Nike in Vietnam provides a solid starting point to see the positive effects that have come about as Nike has expanded to have workers in over 50 countries.

A Destructive Tornado Essay examples -- Descriptive Essay Examples

A Destructive Tornado Tornadoes are one of the deadliest and most unpredictable villains mankind will ever face. There is no rhyme or reason, no rhythm to it’s madness. Tornados are one of the most terrifying natural events that occur, destroying homes and ending lives every year. April 29th, 1995, a calm, muggy, spring night I may never forget. Jason, a buddy I grew up with, just agreed to travel across state with me so we could visit a friend in Lubbock. Jason and I were admiring the beautiful blue bonnets, which traveled for miles like little blue birds flying close to the ground. The warm breeze brushed across the tips of the blue bonnets and allowed them to dance under the perfectly clear blue sky. In the distance, however, we could see darkness. A rumbling sky was quickly approaching. We continued down the infinitely long interstate towards our destination. Thunder clouds continued to rumble in, like an ocean tide rolling closer and closer to the beach front. Within minutes the entire landscape was calm and dark. It looked like a total eclipse of the sun, and the once ... A Destructive Tornado Essay examples -- Descriptive Essay Examples A Destructive Tornado Tornadoes are one of the deadliest and most unpredictable villains mankind will ever face. There is no rhyme or reason, no rhythm to it’s madness. Tornados are one of the most terrifying natural events that occur, destroying homes and ending lives every year. April 29th, 1995, a calm, muggy, spring night I may never forget. Jason, a buddy I grew up with, just agreed to travel across state with me so we could visit a friend in Lubbock. Jason and I were admiring the beautiful blue bonnets, which traveled for miles like little blue birds flying close to the ground. The warm breeze brushed across the tips of the blue bonnets and allowed them to dance under the perfectly clear blue sky. In the distance, however, we could see darkness. A rumbling sky was quickly approaching. We continued down the infinitely long interstate towards our destination. Thunder clouds continued to rumble in, like an ocean tide rolling closer and closer to the beach front. Within minutes the entire landscape was calm and dark. It looked like a total eclipse of the sun, and the once ...

Hard Work Is the Key to Success

I am writing this content only those who are fresh graduate and wondering full time or part time work. First of all, I say that graduation is not top part where you have reached. It is just first step. You should study post-graduation. If you do not do it regularly, you should study it through correspondence. Master degree is must before wondering full time work because next two years will give you more learning skills.Now, when you go for wondering work, you should remember that your hard work is the key of your success. No work is bad. There may be more quality in small work. Education increases our power to give better service. So, you can do your work from any small service. It may be the duty of salesman. It may be the duty supervisor or tutor. You do that duty with full of hard work. Sweat from your body is the sign that success is very near to you. It may be possible that your family's financial condition is not good.I ask one question from you whether only to say this to othe r is sufficient. No, never! Nobody will give you any financial help. Nobody will give you money. Yes you can do labor. Yes you can sell the small products. Yes, you can do duty and earn money. This earned money can only support your family. This earned money can power to your family. Why are you wasting time just telling your weak family condition. Use same time to get new idea for hard work.

Graduation Speech Keystone High School - 1715 Words

It is extremely hard to choose what you want to do for the rest of your life at only age 17, but Keystone High School tries to make it easier for their students. Keystone High School requires you to have this career research done for you to be able to graduate. There are a lot of steps involved in getting your final essay done. Like gathering information throughout different websites, interviewing a person in that field, and writing a huge essay about what we have decided on our lives. During our phase one of the career research project, we had to look for what we do in our jobs. Phase two we had to go out into the real world and interview or job shadow someone already in that field, so that makes us be able to make a better decision. But†¦show more content†¦I found 3 great programs, one only being 4 hours away in Williamsport. The colleges I looked at are Pennsylvania College of Technology, Purdue University, and Philadelphia University. So I will break down each college for my decision. To start off, the Pennsylvania College of Technology costs around 15,810 dollars for just tuition per year. But with a meal plan, books, and supplies included it will cost around 21,100 dollars without a place to live. Pennsylvania College of Technology also provides around 200 different scholarships as long as you don’t break any rules and you stay above a 2.5 GPA. Also they try as hard as they can to make College affordable for us so they provide lists of other scholarships not provided by the school. There job placement is very high and they help you find employment after school as well as during so you can gain on the job experience. Above all that the campus is located about 4 hours away from Knox, Pa so it s not to far to come back and visit. (Admissions Aid.) The next college I looked at was Purdue University, it is located in Indiana so it is my less likely choice. Tuition for a out-of-state student would be around 28,800 dollars per year. That is a whole 18,800 dollars more than a in-state-resident. With books, supplies, travel, and misc. the grand total will be around 32,000 dollars without boarding. Purdue University doesn’t have very many of their own scholarships, they provide around one hundred scholarships to people