Week 4 Journal Entry

This week was spent reading, a lot.  Many interesting things were learned about the ever-changing markets and worldwide competition.  The one thing that really surprised me was how much culture played into business choices.  I’m able to understand how language could be a barrier, however I never quite understood the requirements needed when dealing with a countries cultural differences.  I find it very intriguing that many other countries struggle with the same difficulties that American companies do – that of understanding both foreign strategic business partners and competitors.  I found this is a topic that piques my interest and I’m curious to know if there are careers in understanding the cultural bias of partners and competitors within some businesses.

There’s a great question in comparing and contrasting the pride cycle found in the Book of Mormon and an economic/ business cycle.  I prefer to start this cyclical pattern on the humility stage.  I think humility is the foundation upon all great things are built, both in our spiritual lives and corporations/ businesses.  It appears that each stage of both cycles has an equal measure.  Each time pride fixes within the cycle, recession or pride takes over and depression soon follows.  Regardless of our personal cycles or business, it’s comforting knowing the cycle can always be controlled by our actions.

I decided to spend some time researching the job market in Israel.  Nearly every job imaginable is available and marketed for in Israel.  Tel-Aviv, the capital city is in constant construction.  The construction crews require maintenance workers, welders, carpenters, brick layers, cement workers and steel workers.  Also, a solid stream of white-collar jobs is required to keep the country running.  Accountants, information technology specialists, management, teachers and doctors are common place.  Most white-collar positions attend a college or university for an associated degree in their field of labor.  Most skilled, blue-collar, labor is managed through a master/ apprentice type relationship.  There are work unions, however most skilled laborers are required to train beneath a master and graduate through ranks until they can achieve a master rank.  For instance, an electrician will work for eight to ten years as an apprentice before they can test and qualify for a master-electrician title.  The labor force, like the united states is generated on an at-need basis, nearly all labor is based off of performance of the economy.