International human resource management The WritePass Journal

International human resource management Introduction International human resource management IntroductionAdvantages of ExpatriatesExpertise and SkillsCompany Culture and Practices Passed Down EasilyDisadvantages of expatriatesHigh CostsDiscontent among LocalsAdapting to the New EnvironmentBibliographyRelated Introduction Nowadays, most companies have been expanding internationally, many positions have to be filled which range from entry level positions to those of senior management. As more companies go global, the need for the transfer of skills and knowledge becomes essential if the company is to succeed internationally. To ensure that the subsidiary’s goals, practices and strategies are in line with the parent company, it is necessary to have senior management filled by qualified individuals capable of leading the new, inexperienced team and steering it in the right direction. In addition, to ensure that the subsidiary inherits the culture and practices from the parent company, managers from the parent company might be deployed to fill senior management positions at the subsidiary. However, other positions at the subsidiary might be filled by personnel from local countries rather than the parent or host country. Personnel who do not hail from the host country are defined as expatriates. Whi le recruiting the expertise of the expatriates might be advantageous, they bring a unique set of problems which need to be dealt with to ensure their efficiency. Although there are disadvantages associated with employing expatriates, there are measures that companies can adopt to ensure that the impact of these problems would be decreased. Advantages of Expatriates Expertise and Skills Employing the expertise of expatriates can help a company accelerate the development of its subsidiary or return it to profitability. The skills that they already possess will enable the expatriates to pass on their knowledge and skills to their subordinates and train them in the relevant skills and knowledge. When expatriates are selected for foreign assignments, they have to be chosen based on their skill levels and their ability to adapt. Therefore, when they pass their knowledge and skills to the employees at the subsidiary, the company is able to expand successfully. Despite having a successful 20 year run in Japan, a subsidiary company’s business volumes had decreased, causing its profit levels to dip. HTM Corporation concluded that this situation required the use of expatriates with high levels of technical and communication skills to return the business to its profitable level (HTM Corporation, 2009). As seen in this case, the expertise of expatriates is able to help c ompanies, previously profitable without expatriates, return to those levels as they have sufficient skills. Expatriates are able to bring lot of experience to the subsidiary company because the unique experiences may enable them to help the company succeed through innovation and creativity (Radio New Zealand International, 2009). Expatriates are also able to fill vacancies when the host country nationals do not have the relevant skills or expertise (Pacific Bridge Inc, 2009). This is an alternative to providing on-the job training for the locals. Company Culture and Practices Passed Down Easily The parent company culture and relevant practices and procedures can be passed down quickly if training of the local employees is conducted by expatriates from the parent company. The ideals, vision and mission of the parent company can be demonstrated through the expatriate. If the expatriate embodies these principles of the company, the culture and practices of the parent company can be transferred to the subsidiary quickly and effectively. Disadvantages of expatriates High Costs Although Employing expatriates are beneficial to a company, it is an expensive process. Relocating an expatriate with a family which can be time consuming and costly to the company. For instance, hiring an expatriate to work in China can cost as much as five times of hiring a local. This is due to the package that the expatriate is to receive as compensation. This compensation and benefits package usually consists of a hardship allowance, housing, insurance, tax and home leave, amongst other benefits. The compensation and benefits package is usually attractive to expatriates as a form of financial advancement. This makes the move to the subsidiary company and country attractive. To ensure that it is attractive enough to entice the highly skilled and experienced personnel, the compensation and benefits package has to result in a higher standard of living or the promise of career advancement. The company has to support its high costs, while the expatriate benefits from this package. Other than the compensation and benefits that the expatriate receives, the parent company also has to invest time, money and effort into pre-departure training and incur other costs such as sending the potential expatriate on a trip to assess the location. Hence, there will be a loss of man-hours. As a result of the high costs involved, it is substantial that the expatriate is well prepared for the move. This will reduce the likelihood of expatriate failure which will incur more costs. Discontent among Locals Due to highly trained, educated and skilled expatriates joining the new subsidiary, locals might be discontented when they feel that their opportunities are being taken away. Local mid-level managers might feel that they do not have the opportunity to advance in their careers. This would encourage the talent to leave the company in order to get promote. Consequently, staff turnover might rise because of expatriates holding all the senior positions in the company. This discontent among the locals could be damaging to the subsidiary company. If the company acquires a reputation for poor career advancement opportunities, talented locals are unlikely to pursue a career in that company. Therefore, the company should utilise expatriates while it is in its initial phase but train local managers to succeed the expatriate. Adapting to the New Environment Utilising expatriates to fill key positions is a risky task because of moving an expatriate and the family requires time and effort. An expatriate with children and a working spouse might be concerned about whether the spouse and children will be able to integrate into the local environment easily. To ensure ease of integration, the expatriate must be flexible and open-minded. The company also has to prepare the expatriate for the move to the new country. Expatriates, unfamiliar with the local environment and location, require more time to adapt to their new life. As a result of this unfamiliarity, the expatriate is likely to be less efficient and productive for an initial period. With low productivity, the profits of the company might decrease. Therefore, to reduce the impact of low productivity as a result of adjusting to their new life, expatriates should receive well-structured pre-departure training, preparing them on what they are to expect in the subsidiary company and country. Also, expatriates should be hired on the basis of their ability and willingness to adapt to new environments. Alternatively, they should be allowed a period of time to settle into the new country before starting work. Bibliography HTM Corporation, (2009). Expatriates in Tokyo, Japan Outsourcing by HTM. Retrieved on 11th March 2011 from htm.co.jp/Astrategicallyusingexpacts.htm Pacific Bridge Inc., (2009). Asia – Compensation, Hiring and Retaining Employees in South East Asia. Retrieved on 11th March 2011 from pacificbridge.com/publication.asp?id=58 Pacific Bridge Inc., (2002). Asian HR eNewsletter, Retrieved on 11th March 2011 from pacificbridge.com/newslettervol.asp?vol=2no=7 Radio New Zealand International, (2009). Samoa’s Prime Minister Defends Hiring Expatriates for SamoaTel. Retrieved on 12th March 2011 from rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=readid=46480 Tripod, (n.d.). Use of Expatriates, Retrieved on 12th May 2011 from http://members.tripod.com/cometonada/HRM.htm International Human Resource Management INTRODUCTION International Human Resource Management INTRODUCTIONTHEORY OF GLOBALIZATIONCROSS CULTURAL MANAGEMENT AND CASTELLS THEORYWHAT IS CROSS CULTURAL MANAGEMENT?CROSS CULTURAL MANAGEMENTCONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONSLIST OF REFERENCESRelated INTRODUCTION The essay will be focused on discussing the Network Society as a new type of Social Structure or Organization of the Information Age. I will be using Castell’s theory on The Information Age to explain how the Network Society affects culture, individuals, institutions and various societies around the world.I will also touch on the Power of Identity, what it entails and its connection to various individuals in the global business environment After this I will talk about cross cultural management, its challenges and how it is implied in the business environment, analyzing the impact the theory of the Information Age has on this type of management and its challenges. I will also discuss the critiques of other theorists to this Castell’s theory and conclude with the negative impact of globalization and the need for cross cultural management in organizations. First and foremost I will touch on a relevant theory of globalization that relates to the Information Age and Cross Cultural Management. THEORY OF GLOBALIZATION There are various theorists, who have given their opinions and views on the theory of globalisation. I am going to phrase a few of them and focus on only one of these theories for the purpose of this essay.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Anthony Giddens (1990: 64) the intensification of worldwide social relations which link distant localities in such a way that local happenings are shaped by events occurring many miles away and vice versa.  Ã¢â‚¬Å" â€Å"Globalization  refers to the compression of the world and the intensification of consciousness of the world as a whole (R. Robertson, Globalization, 1992: 8).† Robertson sees the globalisation theory as the coming together of the world as a single entity through a set of global ideas and putting aside the distinctiveness of cultural, societal and ethnic differences to be used in the home environments and during academic discussions â€Å"From the social theory perspective, globalization involves the flows of commodities, capital, technology, ideas, forms of culture and people across national boundaries via a global networked society â€Å"(Castell’s, 1996, 1997, 1998). â€Å"The transmutations of technology and capital, work together to create a new globalized and interconnected world.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"(Castell’s, 1998) Manuel Castell is the theorist that I will be focusing on in this essay. He talks about the theory of the network society, which is an information based society where everyone and everything is connected through digital networks.   The networks are the people who control or rule the network society; they are the elites of the society who have the upper hand, are more knowledgeable and have power over the excluded individuals. â€Å"A network society is a society whose social structure is made of networks powered by microelectronics-based information and communication technologies.† (Castell’s, 1996) â€Å"The Net stands for the new organizational formations based on the pervasive use of networked communication media. Network patterns are characteristic for the most advanced economic sectors, highly competitive corporations as well as for communities and social movements. â€Å"(Castell’s, 1996) The Network Society is an emerging social society or structure whose communications rely on digital networks.   A digital network being global means that a society running on them would be a global society i.e. The Network Society is a Global Society. The Network Society came about as a result of the ever changing society which occurred due to the dramatic changes in technology which are controlled by the networks. Castell explains that although everyone is affected by this society, it doesn’t mean that everyone is included in it. People who aren’t part of it try to defend themselves from it. He cites the reason for everyone being affected by these networks as the fact that all central activities that manipulate and form human life around the world are being organised by global networks. The Network Society works on an Inclusion/Exclusion basis; this is a feature of it and while it searches for important add-ons that will benefit the network, it will also bypass any activity, territory or person that will not contribute to the goals or tasks assigned to the network. Part of Castell’s assumptions is the fact that under the network society, there is no class among individuals in our society and that the powers now lie in the hands of the networks. With the network society, there becomes a need for individuals to affirm their identity; this is known as the power of identity. People tend to search for their identities in order to give their lives a source of social meaning. This is a reaction got mostly from the individuals who have been excluded from the network society. Castell realised two types of reactions from these people. They either make up their own networks or exclude the networks from their lives. This power of identity is also known as the Self. â€Å"The Self symbolizes the activities through which people try to reaffirm their identities under the conditions of structural change and instability that go along with the organization of core social and economic activities into dynamic networks.† (Castell’s, 1996) CROSS CULTURAL MANAGEMENT AND CASTELLS THEORY WHAT IS CROSS CULTURAL MANAGEMENT? CROSS CULTURAL MANAGEMENT â€Å"is a system designed to train people in the global business about the variations of cultures, practices and preferences of consumers around the globe. It poses as a challenge for companies who participate in the global market. As time passes by, the diversity in culture, practices and preferences significantly increases, and so is the need for cross-cultural management, to be able to bridge the communication gaps for every culture.â€Å"Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. Cross Cultural Management is the examination or assessment of the human behaviour from an international perspective. With cross cultural management, managers are aware of the different cultures that exist in different industries in different parts of the world.   It realises and tries to manage these different human behaviours, culture and communication issues so as to bring people together without any disputes or problems. This information age has brought about the rise of technology and the use of the internet. This network society has changed the way businesses operate; whereby almost every part of an organisation is controlled by some sort of technology. Most jobs are now done through the internet by some e-commerce organisation, which in turn reduces the number of physical labour needed. With the rise of the global society, cross cultural management is becoming more essential for global companies to be successful with their employees as well as their consumers. It is needed to tackle the challenges that any global business might face in relation to culture and human behaviour. In order to tackle some of challenges brought about by these changes in regard to culture and human behaviour cross cultural management is essential. Some Cross Cultural Challenges that could occur are:- Mixed cultures and languages brought about by globalisation The recent growth and need of the internet as a part of management and easy processing The increasing need for a knowledge worker in knowledge driven organisations The increasing need for flexible workers and jobs There are many more challenges but the network society being a global society has helped to deal with some of these problems. Due to the compression of time and space, companies find it easier to employ the people that will be relevant for the required jobs. Also with the individualisation of labour and the growing flexibility of workers, they are able to adapt and adjust to the growing temporality of jobs. Companies now have the option to choose either part time workers and pay them for the hours worked rather than employing full time workers who are expensive and are not required most of the time. Castell talks about the network society sourcing valuable add-ons that can contribute to the goals and objectives of the network to integrate into its system and excluding those it has no need for who he says make up the ‘irrelevant planet’, this feature of the network society has contribute to some modern business challenges where there is the need for knowledgeable workers. He says that the work process is a globally integrated but labour has become individualised and therefore has no class again as ultimate power goes to those that are in charge of the networks and determine what happens in it. But his theory also says that labour is divided into two; the self programmable and generic labour. The former is skilled and flexible with the ability to learn new things, processes, tasks are able to adapt to change and are knowledgeable while the latter is unskilled and can be easily exchanged or disposed of. There are many critiques towards Castell’s theoretical assumptions.   Many theorists believe that our society is still divided into classes and are against the faceless capitalism which Castell talked about. Theorists like Webster and Garnham believe that the network society is not a new type of social structure or system, and that it has been in existence over time. They argue that this network society is a gradual development of the former industrial society and is not completely a new one. They also argue that the society is still in the hands of the capitalists, as they are still the elites who have access to technology and education, and the members of this capitalist group are heading companies in the top managerial positions. The people in this positions are who Castell says are in charge of the networks so therefore the capitalists still matter in the society. It is also difficult to accept his grouping of labour, as the people in the groups do not share the same values or interests. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS However globalisation can sometimes lead to the exploitation of workers in some third world countries that offer cheap labour. Many of these workers are paid less than the normal UK or US standard of payment, making the big international companies exploit them, and some of them do not offer job security or workers rights. With this network society business do not consider the interests of their workers and are more interested in the opportunities and goals of the networks and look for people that they can integrate that will contribute to their goals. They pay less attention to cross cultural management. This is not advisable to do because in order to be successful as a global company, they need to understand the cultures and practices of the countries they move into. They need to work on integrating the local workers, consumers and culture with their own organisational culture in order to be successful in that country LIST OF REFERENCES Castells, M. (2000).The Rise of the Network Society, Second Edition. U.S.: Blackwell Publishing Castells, M. (1996, second edition, 2000).  The Rise of the  Network Society, The Information Age: Economy, Society and Culture Vol. I. Cambridge, MA; Oxford, UK: Blackwell. Castells, M. (1997, second edition, 2004).  The Power of Identity, The Information Age: Economy, Society and Culture Vol. II. Cambridge, MA; Oxford, UK: Blackwell. Castells, M. (1998, second edition, 2000).  End of Millennium, The Information Age: Economy, Society and Culture Vol. III. Cambridge, MA; Oxford, UK: Blackwell. Webster, F. (2002). Theories of the Information Society. U.S.: Routledge Garnham, N. (2001). Contribution to a Political Economy of Mass-Communication. In M.G. Durnham D.M. Kellner (Eds.), Media and Cultural Studies (pp. 225-252). U.S.: Blackwell Publishing. Manuel Castells , ‘An Introduction to the Information age’ City 2: 7, 6-16 Castells, M. (2000). Materials for an exploratory theory of the network society.   British Journal of Sociology Vol. No. 51 Issue No. 1 (January /March 2000) pp. 5–24 Giddens, A. (1990).   The Consequences of Modernity, Cambridge and Oxford: Polity and Blackwell. Kiely, Ray, 1964–The clash of globalisations: neo-liberalism, the third way, and anti-globalisation/by Ray Kiely. p. cm. -(Historical materialism book series, ISSN 1570–1522; v. 8) R. Robertson,  Globalization  (London: Sage, 1992) The network society: a cross-cultural perspective / edited by Manuel Castells. p. cm. Castells, M. 1983. The City and the Grassroots: A Cross-cultural Theory of Urban Social Movements. Berkeley: University of California Press. http://cross-cultural-management.bestmanagementarticles.com/

Martin Luther King Jr. Writing Prompts

Martin Luther King Jr. Writing Prompts This January schools across the nation will honor a true American hero- Martin Luther King Jr. Help students expand their understanding and deepen their respect for this great leader by using these writing prompts. Who is Martin Luther King, Jr?What was his dream?The importance of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s â€Å"I have a dream† speech is†¦What are three of Dr. King’s greatest achievements?How did MLK influence people?What would you say to MLK today if you could meet him?If Martin Luther King Jr. was still alive today, he would think†¦Why do we celebrate Martin Luther King Day every January?What made his â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech so historic?What do you already know about MLK? What do you want to know?Martin Luther King Jr. is inspirational because†¦What is it that we celebrate about Martin Luther King, Jr?Create a timeline of important dates in the life of Dr. King.How does your school celebrate Martin Luther King?How does your family celebrate Dr. King?Dr. Martin Luther King gave a famous speech entitled I Have a Dream.   Write about a dream you have for making the world a better place.Make a list of ten things that you can do to make the world a better place.Brainstorm a list of ways in which people differ and a list of ways in which all people are alike. Imagine that you live in a world where people are separated based on the color of their skin or the color of their hair, or their height, etc. What would it be like to live in such a world? How might it change your friendships and/or your family? How would it make you feel?Write a paragraph explaining how discrimination and prejudice impact our world today.Write a thank-you note thanking Dr. King for his efforts to make the world a better place.Would you participate in a march, a sit-in, or another form of political protest? Write about why or why not.Pretend that you had an opportunity to interview Dr. King. Write three questions that you would like to ask him.Why is there a national holiday in the United States to celebrate Martin Luther King?The message of nonviolence taught by Martin Luther King, Jr. was important because†¦What are civil rights? Why do we need them?Imagine that you have no civil rights. What would your life be like?What is the Civil Rights Act? What does civ il rights mean to you? What kind of leader would you be? Would you be a non-violent leader? Why or why not?Why is peace important in our world?Would you go to jail for something that you believe in? Why or why not?What if MLK didn’t dream of change? What would our life be like now?What is segregation? What if your school was segregated? What would it be like?Why was Martin Luther King Jr’s use of nonviolence so effective?Why is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. so beloved by the African-American community?I can keep MLK’s dream alive by†¦I have a dream that one day my school will†¦I have a dream that one day our world will†¦When you close your eyes and think of peace what do you see?List five reasons Martin Luther King Jr. is an American hero.Write a Martin Luther Day acrostic poem using the word â€Å"DREAM.†What is your biggest dream for your life? How do you hope to accomplish this dream?

The Experiences of Dick Spencer in Modrow Plant of Tri-American Essay - 1

The Experiences of Dick Spencer in Modrow Plant of Tri-American Corporation - Essay Example Dick inherited problems at Modrow plant; he was not included in initial planning and spent a lot of time in getting up to speed. His friendly and easy going attitude was not appreciated in the English plant as well as the Modrow plant by Canadian workers, as his casual strolls were considered as suspicious and steadily his stature and authority as a plant manager was undermined by the workers. The limitations he had as a leader was his inability to understand accounting practices and delegating tasks to his sub-ordinates, as a result he started taking interest in minor or unimportant issues of the plant. This micro management kept him away from core issues rising from expansion and modernization of the plant. His attempts to gain insights by spending time in manufacturing area were not ideal and a trusting behavior towards middle management should have brought better results in implementing the changes he wanted. He was not furnished by the relevant information by middle management a s they had doubts about his abilities as a leader additionally his obsession for gaining insight from workers left the middle management with lack of trust in him. In order for a successful change to come whether it is cost saving initiative, modernization or expansion Dick should have paid attention to more strategic issues of the time and used his time for inculcating trust within management, there are many leaders who lack the technical knowledge or experience but they achieve results by leaving the technical aspects of the work to technical staff communicating with their line managers and not seeing everything as a potential for cost saving initiatives. A gradual or incremental change would have helped Dick in first normalizing the situation due to his appointment ahead of local operating staff, gain trust of managers by staying away from the workers followed by understanding the modernization and expansion challenges.  This change is suggested keeping the personality of Dick in consideration, consequently an authoritative leader would have opted for a rapid change while resisting forces would have been removed or sidelined.  

Advantage Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Advantage - Research Paper Example John Lewis is a chain of up market stores that exists throughout Great Britain. John Lewis is one of the best known brands in all of Britain, when it comes to the design; the company has what can be described as brand creative teams that consist of 55 people that help achieve differentiation. This paper will describe the differentiation advantages that John Lewis has in the United Kingdom market. The positive attitude that the company has with design started early in the 1960’s and has continued ever since. John Lewis has been able to take differentiation to another level in the United Kingdom by offering differentiation to its clients as an offer-demand axis. The company initially had a problem with differentiating its products from others in the market because it deals with goods that are standardized. However, despite the fact that the products that the company deals with has the same physical appearance as other companies, it has been able to repackage its products and therefore, the products often appear very different in the eyes of the consumers. The above image shows the way in which the company packages its products, this has been described as one of the best way of differentiation in the market and has set the company John Lewis way out of league for its competitors. With this differentiation technique the company has been able effectively lead from the top and therefore, attract a lot of high end customers. The differentiation has also been intangible. John Lewis is known to be a high end store and consequently this has been one of the company’s differentiations from other competitors in the industry. Therefore, in this aspect if can be seen that the differentiation does not come in terms of tangible perception but rather it is the market that the company wishes to get. One can be able to see the value in the brand which sales on itself and therefore, the object of the differentiation at this position can be to attract

The Voice of the Sea in The Awakening Essay -- Chopin Awakening Essay

The Voice of the Sea in The Awakening  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Many different symbols were utilized in Kate Chopin's The Awakening to illustrate the underlying themes and internal conflict of the characters.   One constant and re-emerging symbol is the sea.   The voice of the sea is seductive, never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander for a spell in abysses of solitude; to lose itself in mazes of inward contemplation.   The voice of the sea speaks to the soul.   The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embrace (Chopin 25).      In the novel, â€Å"the ocean symbolizes Edna's "awakening" to a life filled with freedom and independence† (Nickerson). On a hot summer evening Robert and Edna go bathing.   Although Edna does not wish to go and initially declines his offer, something inside is compelling her to go down to the water.   It is there in the seductive ocean that Edna's awakening begins.      A certain light was beginning to dawn dimly within her... [she] was beginning to realize her position in the universe as a human being and to recognize her relations as an individual to the world within and about her (Chopin 25).      That warm ocean environment is in direct contrast to the responsibilities and rules of the cold, hard city.   And it is there in that relaxed and   forgiving atmosphere that Edna can explore her new found freedoms.  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   While relaxing on the beach with Mrs. Ratignolle, the sight of the endless ocean brings back memories from Edna's childhood.   She suddenly recalls a summer day in Kentucky and "a meadow that seemed as big as the ocean to the very little girl...and I felt as if I must walk on forever without coming to th... ... on, thinking of the bluegrass meadow...believing that it had no beginning and no end" (Chopin 190).   It is there in the ocean that she first realizes her physical, mental, and emotional potential. It is only natural that the water, which has seduced her with its sound reclaims her.    Throughout the story the ocean represented Edna's constant struggle for self-realization and independence.   From her first flow of emotion on the beach to her last breath of life in the sea, the ocean beckons her.   The voice of the sea lures her onward in her journey toward liberation and empowerment.    Works Cited Bloom, Harold. Kate Chopin. New York : Chelsea House Publishers, 1987. Chopin, Kate.   The Awakening.   1993: Bedford Books, New York. Nickerson, Meagan. "Romanticism in The Awakening", The Kate Chopin Project. America On-line. February 2000.   

Confucianism’s similarities to virtue ethics Essay

Confucianism, the ancient social philosophy of China, would have had no ethical parallel in the West as little as 30 years ago. There are some small similarities that it holds with utilitarian ethics and deontology. There is very little in ethical egoism or relativism that lines up with Confucianism. I believe that virtue ethics, however, as laid out in Alasdair MacIntyre’s book After Virtue bears a striking resemblance to Confucianism. One important feature of Confucianism, according to John Koller, is that it is an essentially humanist philosophy; in other words, human beings are the ultimate source of values. This is in apposition to Supernaturalism—which claims that values ultimately come from God, and naturalism—which believes that values come from nature. Thus, Confucianism, answers the question of â€Å"How can goodness and harmony be achieved? † by looking for exemplars and principles in humanity itself. This is strikingly similar to the picture that Alasdair MacIntyre paints of the world. According to MacIntyre, most of the ethical language and arguments that are thrown around between ethicists and even everyday people is fundamentally incomprehensible or incoherent. Ethical prescriptions used to be based on a common belief in God and the ways in which He has ordered the universe. In today’s world, however, we no longer share that common belief, but we have kept the structures and language of our old ethical systems without the foundation stones on which they were originally built. To remedy this ailment, MacIntyre proposes going back to a kind of virtue ethics, an essentially humanist philosophy that defines virtuous behavior as what a good man would do. Like Confucianism, virtue ethics looks to neither God nor nature, but rather humanity to find the principles by which to live. Furthermore, both Confucianism and virtue ethics focus less on the rightness of actions themselves, but rather on the development of virtuous people. Koller, notes â€Å"The Confucian idea that virtue, rather than law, should be the basis of government†¦ †. Similarly, virtue ethics sees ethical behavior as ultimately driven by character, not by rules (deontology) or consequences (utilitarianism). Both Confucianism and virtue ethics are interested in cultivating people â€Å"skillful† in doing good as the basis of a stable society.

Aimee Semple McPherson - Pentecostal Evangelist

Known for: successful founding, leadership of a large Pentecostal denomination; kidnapping scandalOccupation: evangelist, religious denomination founderDates: October 9, 1890 - September 27, 1944Also known as: Sister Aimee, Aimee Semple McPherson Hutton About Aimee Semple McPherson Aimee Semple McPherson was the first famous Pentecostal evangelist, seeking publicity to broaden the audience for her religious message, using modern technology (including the automobile and radio) -- truly a pioneer in religious history. The Foursquare Gospel Church which she founded is now a movement with more than two million members around the world. But most people know her name mainly for an infamous kidnapping scandal. Aimee Semple McPherson disappeared in May 1926. At first Aimee Semple McPherson was presumed drowned. When she reappeared she claimed to have been kidnapped. Many questioned the kidnapping story; gossip had her shacked up in a romantic love nest, though a court case was dropped for lack of evidence. Early Life Aimee Semple McPherson was born in Canada, near Ingersoll, Ontario. Her birth name was Beth Kennedy, and she soon called herself Aimee Elizabeth Kennedy. Her mother was active in the Salvation Army and was the foster daughter of a Salvation Army captain. At age 17 Aimee married Robert James Semple. Together they traveled in 1910 to Hong Kong on their way to China to be missionaries, but Semple died of typhoid fever. A month later, Aimee gave birth to a daughter, Roberta Star Semple, and then moved to New York City, where Aimees mother was working with the Salvation Army. Gospel Career Aimee Semple McPherson and her mother traveled together, working on revival meetings. In 1912 Aimee married Harold Steward McPherson, a salesman. Their son, Rolf Kennedy McPherson, was born a year later. Aimee Semple McPherson began working again in 1916, traveling by automobile -- a Full Gospel Car with slogans painted on its side. In 1917 she started a paper, The Bridal Call. The next year, Aimee McPherson, her mother and the two children traveled across the country and settled in Los Angeles, and from that center, continued cross-country revival tours, even traveling to Canada and Australia. Harold McPherson came to oppose Aimees traveling and ministry, and they were divorced in 1921, Harold charging her with desertion. By 1923, Aimee Semple McPhersons organizing was successful enough that she able to build the Angelus Temple in Los Angeles, seating more than 5,000. In 1923 she also opened a Bible school, later to become the Lighthouse of International Foursquare Evangelism. In 1924 she started radio broadcasts from the Temple. Aimee Semple McPherson and her mother personally owned these ventures. Aimees flair for dramatic costumes and techniques and her faith healing activities drew many followers to her message of salvation. Initially she also included a Pentecostal revival standard, speaking in tongues, but de-emphasized that over time. She was also known as something of a difficult person to work with, to some of those who worked closely with her in the Temples ministry. Went for a Swim In May 1926, Aimee Semple McPherson went for a swim in the ocean, accompanied by her secretary who stayed on the shore -- and Aimee disappeared. Her followers and her mother mourned her death while newspapers featured the continuing search and rumors of sightings -- until June 23, when Aimee reappeared in Mexico with a story of kidnapping and captivity a few days after her mother received a ransom note that threatened that Aimee would be sold into white slavery if the half million dollar ransom was not paid. Kenneth G. Ormiston, who was a radio operator for the Temple, disappeared at the same time, leading to suspicion that she had not been kidnapped but had instead spent the month in a romantic hideaway. There had been gossip about her relationship with him before the disappearance, and his wife had moved back to Australia, claiming her husband was involved with McPherson. There were reports that a woman who looked like Aimee Semple McPherson had been seen in a resort town with Ormiston during McPhersons disappearance. Suspicion led to a grand jury investigation and charges of perjury and manufacturing evidence against McPherson and Ormiston, but the charges were dropped the next year without explanation. After the Kidnapping Scandal Her ministry continued. If anything, her celebrity was greater. Within the church, there were some repercussions to the suspicions and scandal: Aimees mother even split from her. Aimee Semple McPherson married again in 1931. David Hutton, ten years her junior and a member of Angelus Temple, filed for divorce in 1933 and it was granted in 1934. Legal disputes and financial difficulty marked the next years of the churchs history. McPherson continued to lead the churchs many activities, including her radio talks and her preaching, and the financial difficulties were largely overcome by the 1940s. In 1944, Aimee Semple McPherson died of an overdose of sedatives. The overdose was pronounced accidental, complicated by kidney problems, though many suspected suicide. Legacy The movement that Aimee Semple McPherson founded continues today -- at the end of the 20th century, it claimed about two million members in more than 30 countries, including the 5,300 seat Angelus Temple in California. Her son Rolf succeeded her to leadership. Aimee Semple McPherson on This Site Aimee Semple McPherson Quotations Suggested Reading Women and Religion - ProtestantismNotorious Women Print Bibliography McPherson, Aimee Semple.  The Story of My Life. 1951.McPherson, Aimee Semple.  This is That. Revised 1923.McPherson, Aimee Semple.  The Second Coming of Christ. 1921.McPherson, Aimee Semple.  The Service of the King. 1927.McPherson, Aimee Semple.  Give Me My Own God. 1936.Austin, Alvyn.  Aimee Semple McPherson.Bahr, Robert.  Least of All the Saints.  1979.Blumhofer, Edith.  Aimee Semple McPherson: Everybodys Sister.  1993.Cox, Raymond L.  The Verdict is In.  1983.Epstein, Daniel Mark.  Sister Aimee: The Life of Aimee Semple McPherson.  1993.Mavity, Nancy Barr.  Sister Aimee. 1931.Thomas, Lately.  Storming Heaven: The Life and Times of Minnie Kennedy and Aimee Semple McPherson. 1970.Thomas, Lately.  The Vanishing Evangelist. 1959. Media Portrayals The Disappearance of Aimee.  1976 television film. Aimee Semple McPherson on the Net Aimee Semple McPhersonArticle from  Todays Christian  on the life of Aimee Semple McPherson, Pentecostal preaching sensation.Aimee Semple McPhersonArticle from  Christian History  on Aimee Semple McPherson, Foursquare phenomenon.Aimee Semple McPhersonCalling McPherson A Woman of Destiny, this evangelism sites biography emphasizes her ministry and the tragedies of her life and de-emphasizes scandals.Aimee Semple McPhersonNewsy article on the career and scandals of Aimee Semple McPherson, L.A.s First Evangelical Star.Aimee Semple McPhersonThis site, with biography, photos gallery, contemporary news and magazine articles, and more, uses Aimee McPhersons unique public life as an example of the changing roles of women in the 1920s.Our FounderA biography of Aimee Semple McPherson from the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, which she founded.SisterEdith L. Blumhofer, in  Christian History, writes of the first Pentecostal to become a national sensation. Around About Four-Square GospelPentecostal Church