Gung Ho Essay Example

Gung Ho Essay Example Gung Ho Essay Gung Ho Essay In the movie Gung Ho, a Japanese corporation reopens an American car factory; however, working side-by-side is harder than expected due to differences in culture. Differences in the workers levels of collectivism and individualism negatively influence the working relationships by creating conflict, lowering employee performance and satisfaction, and lowering organizational commitment. The Japanese workers expected American workers to conform to their ways and value the corporation over themselves. However, American workers expected their daily routines to be the same as they were before the factory closed. At first, there was slight tension when American workers hesitated to perform team-building exercises before starting work. Conflict rose as American workers were told to do their jobs differently, not to listen to music, and not to smoke cigars. Employee performance, satisfaction, and organizational commitment are usually lower when individual and organizational values do not align. This is certainly depicted in the movie when an American worker receives a demotion due to a defect in the car he made. The worker says that every car cannot be perfect and it is the dealer’s problem. The Japanese disagree with him and explain that a Japanese worker will work all night, without pay, in order to fix a problem because he is loyal to the company. This concept is foreign to individualistic American workers because working for the good of the company is a collectivist value. One American worker suggests implementing an incentive program. This is more likely to motivate an individualistic American worker because the reward will benefit him personally. :

Afflict vs. Inflict

Afflict vs. Inflict Afflict vs. Inflict Afflict vs. Inflict By Guest Author Although the words afflict and inflict have similar meanings and are often used in similar ways, they are far from interchangeable in modern English usage. The OED offers the following definitions of afflict: Afflict: 1. trans. To dash down, overthrow, cast down, deject, humble, in mind, body, or estate. 2. intr. To become downcast (with trouble). 3. trans. To distress with bodily or mental suffering; to trouble grievously, torment. refl. To distress oneself, grieve. In the case of afflict the third definition is the closest to the most common use of the word. The emphasis is on the physical or psychological distress caused by whatever the affliction may be. The word afflict is most commonly used when describing an illness or condition. For example: He was severely afflicted with gout. She suffers from a terrible affliction. These sentences demonstrate an accurate use of the word as they describe a form of physical distress. Inflict is defined by the OED as follows: Inflict: 1. trans. To lay on as a stroke, blow, or wound; to impose as something that must be suffered or endured; to cause to be borne. 2. To impose something unwelcome. (Often jocular). The emphasis of the word inflict is upon the imposition, the force and the unwelcome nature with which whatever is being inflicted upon a person is being inflicted. For example: A severe punishment was inflicted on the hooligan. The teacher inflicted a thirty minute detention upon the rowdy pupil. This is an accurate use of the word as it concentrates not on the punishment and the distress it causes but the force with which the punishment was administered. It is of little surprise that these two words are so regularly confused as the OED mentions the word affliction in a further definition of the word inflict as follows: With inverted construction: To afflict, assail, trouble (a person) with something painful or disagreeable. An additional note added to this strand of the definition explains that this is now a rare use of the word inflict. Traditionally the words were more interchangeable but in modern English they are clearly very separate entities. When in doubt ask yourself whether or not you are talking about something somebody is doing to another person – inflict or whether you are talking about something with which somebody is suffering and the distress it is causing them – afflict. This will enable you to use each of the words in the most commonly understood terms. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Incorrect Pronunciations That You Should AvoidPrecedent vs. PrecedenceConfusion of Subjective and Objective Pronouns