1. Introduction: On the basis of this project a critical review of the third chapter “Funky Village” of the book “Funky Business” by Jonas Ridderstråle and Kjell Nordström will be made. In addition to that the main arguments of the choosen chapter will be pointed out. After that the research question will be stated out and answered by taking the arguments of the authors into consideration. After reading the book I formulated my own research question which reflects my personal interest on the choosen topic. Finally this project ends with a personal comment on the third chapter as well as on the whole book. The book ”Funky Business” by Kjell A. Nordström and Jonas Ridderstrale deals with the upcoming changes which affect mostly every part of our world. Reasons for these changes are for example the higher level of technology. Individuals and organizations are affected and therefore the authors see this book as a self-help book, becuase it illustrates the present situation and gives many advices how to behave in these ”funky” times. Step by step the auhtors analyse every sector which is affected and give many words of advice to the reader so that he/she finds his/her way through life. Kjell A. Nordström is based at the Institute of International Business at the Stockholm School of Economics. He is also on the board of directors of a number of international companies. Jonas Ridderstrale is based at the Centre for Advanced Studies in Leadership at the Stockholm School of Economics. He also works as an advisor, lecturer and consultant to a number of international companies. 2. Critical review and main arguments of chapter three: Ridderstrale and Nordström`s “funky village” chapter three deals with several developments of our society in recent years and it also demonstrates the certain characteristics of our today’s society. Ridderstrale and Nordström begin with the “surplus society” which is characterized by excess and abundance and where oversupply and nearly perfect markets are standard. The phenomenon of this society will be covered below in much greater detail by looking at the research question of the paper and the corresponding answer of the authors. This is followed with the “real-time society”. Nowadays time plays a much more important role and we live in a generation of speed. Nobody wants to wait for their products and therefore companies want to under quote when it comes to time. “In the real-time economy prices are set second by second, companies compete on how fast they can be to develop, make and launch products.
In his work, “Overselling capitalism,” Benjamin Barber speaks on capitalism’s shift from filling the needs of the consumer, to creating needs. He tells how it has become easier for people to borrow money, so that they no longer get as much satisfaction from affording necessities. He says capitalism can be good when both sides benefit, but it has overgrown and must continue creating needs, even though the only people who can afford these needs don’t have any. According to Barber, people are still working hard, but them and their children are becoming seduced by unneeded shopping. He states that people are becoming more needy, and losing discipline in their lifestyle. Additionally capitalism must encourage easy and addicting shopping to
Criticisms (Unfavourable): Near the end of the book the dialogue becomes more rhetorical than the rest of the book. This isn’t really a problem, but can become slightly confusing at times. The best option would be to read this part slowly and carefully in order to understand what the message is.
This novel and film commentary analysis or interpretation will be first summarised and then critiqued. The summary will be divided into twenty- four episodes. While summarising it is well to remember that the film was made out of the book.
Kouzes, J., & Posner, B., (2007). The leadership challenge, (4th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-
Mlls, D. Q. (2005). Leadership How to Lead, How to Live. Boston: Harvad Business School Press.
The article “The Cult of Success,” by Diana Senechal addresses how the definition of success in our society has changed over the years. Typically, success to individuals means wealth, virtue, excellence, wisdom, personal contentment, or any other combination as stated in the article Senechal (2012). A Russian math genius known as the “World’s Cleverest Man Turns Down $1 Million Prize after Solving One of Mathematics’ Greatest Puzzles.” As a result of this shocking news, most seemed perplexed as to why someone would refuse such a claim arguing whether or not he was a sage or a fool. The community outraged due to his refusal fluctuated between labeling him as noble or selfish. Some individuals in society wanted to label him as selfish because people believed that he should have accepted the money for the sake of his mother; whereas, others who considered him as great thought he should have received the money due to individuals believing that success correlates to wealth. Unfortunately, society focused mainly on the money side of the pendulum instead of the intellectual side. In society, we expect certain norms; however, Perelman doesn’t fit the mold of following those standards. According to the article, he broke what is known as “social codes of success” Senechal (2012).
This book is a very interesting read, if you have some self discipline. I mean that you need some self discipline because this book didn’t really captivate me in the sense that I couldn’t put it down. But after reading it for a while, I started to appreciate the author’s way of describing the characters and actions in this book.
...nd enjoyable. The one thing that did bug me was that Youngs does not directly tie his thesis directly to the end of the book. It would have been helpful for the reader to be able to confirm Youngs’s intention for writing the book, but since he fails to re-introduce his argument in the end, it left me questioning that intention.
Stylistically, the book is arranged in rotating chapters. Every fourth chapter is devoted to each individual character and their continuation alo...
Material and ideological conditions are integral components of a market society, which interacted and changed the ways we view market society today. I will discuss the shift from traditional societies to a market society to explain what Polanyi refers to as “the great transformation”. I will then talk about the changes that have occurred in the workplace, the impact on these workers, and the worldview of those in a market society.
This piece of criticism has strengthened my arguments as to who the real monster is. It has given me a new way to look at things in the novel. I have since then re-read part of the novel and can now read it much more clearly. It will help me greatly in strengthening my argument for the final paper.
In this book review I represent and analyze the three themes I found the most significant in the novel.
The market today has become so important that society takes it as completely natural. From “The Economic Problem” Heilbroner describes three main solutions, with the market being one. Furthermore into the market, Polanyis book “The great Transformation” gives insight on how much society actually allows the market to dominate. To Polanyi a market society is seen as social relations embedded in the economy instead of the economy being embedded in social relations. Examining both of these books gives a great understanding on how life was without the market and how it came to be. Taking note of Rineharts work as well on how the workplace has drastically been changed by the market is key to analyzing the transformation as a whole. As a result of the transformation, not only has human labour been altered, but another author known as Weber states that certain peoples view on the world have also be affected. This essay will establish how “the great transformation” (Polanyi) from a traditional society to one based on a market economy has vastly impacted societal workplaces, and societal beliefs around faith of idealogical conditions.
Nowadays, as globalization is becoming a popular trend around the world, business transactions have expanded to international scale rather than national one. As a result, businesses have to encounter more competitions than ever before, especially since Vietnam became an official member of the World Trade Organization. Realizing this tendency, I have determined to apply for the Master's Degree Programme in Management and International Business at Aalto University School of Business, which will provide “a research-based and practically grounded understanding of management and international business”. I believe this program will establish a strong foundation for me to prepare for my future business career in a multicultural context.
Stonehouse, G., Campbell, D., Hamill, J. & Purdie, T. (2004). Global and Transnational Business (2nd ed.). Chichester: John Wiley & Sons.