Value Paradox

This is a picture of a political cartoon expressing when American values might consist of in the mind of the average american citizen. It pokes fun at the fact that we love our right to bear arms and to form unions and go on strike. It also point out the fact that we try to impose out ideals onto other countries sometimes by force. They use the invasion of Iraq as an example of how we take over a country and try to impose our values in places that have been completely different for thousands of years. 

Magazine Comparison

Comparing the Magazine “Four Four Two” to America’s famous “Sports Illustrated” is like trying to compare night and day when it comes to the general overview of the two. Both being popular sport magazine they prove to be very different. While reading the “Four Four Two” magazine I could tell that it is a European based publisher. The entire magazine is devoted to soccer and what is going on in the soccer world. In America if is nearly impossible to find a popular magazine that is strictly devoted to soccer. The only way to get them is by special order. They are not sold in everyday convenient stores or super markets. “Sports Illustrated” is supposed to represent all sports has to offer; including soccer. However in reality the only time soccer ever appears is before a major tournament such as the World Cup that is held every four years. Baseball, football, and basketball prove to be the more popular sports in almost all of the issues. With that being said it is obvious that the ads and promotions would be different inside the magazines. In “Four Four Two” the advertisements are centered on soccer supper stars. In “Sports Illustrated” there are more promotions for different sports equipment and major brands such as Nike, Adidas, and Under Armor. Also another difference is the fact that although “Four Four Two” is soccer specific is appeals to a greater audience, therefore there are more adds for things like cars and things that don’t have to do with sports at all. “Sports Illustrated” isn’t like that; all of their advertisements are geared towards some sort of sport.

Hofstede dimension

      The differences in the Hofstede  dimension scores between the United States and Ireland are relatively small. The first category is the "Power Distance" section which is defined as "the extent to which the less powerful member of institutions and organizations within a country expect and accept that power is distributed unequally." The United states scores a 40 which is considered to be low due to our ideal preaching equal rights to everyone. If the United States is low with a score of 40 then Ireland is very low with a score of 28. However this is typical due to the fact that Ireland has a much different social status and organization then the United States where Ireland has a much more organized system of hierarchy.
      The next section is Individualism. This section goes into whether or not more people would focus on "I" or "we." The United States scores a hight of 91 in this section. This can be tied to the fact that the United States is a very lose knit society where people are more likely to think of themselves before others. In American business it is expect that Americans be self-reliant. The scores were lower in Ireland being 70. Although their score is lower they still display similarities in the business world with the United States. For example their employees are also expected to be self reliant, earning their promotions based on their merit and ability to perform their job.
      The next section on the chart is Masculinity/Felinity. The United States scores a 62 and is considered a “masculine” society. This doesn’t state that men are favored in American society; only that it is driven by competition, achievement and success. Scoring a 62 states that Americans work hard to accomplish as much as they possibly can and are always looking to improve their status. Ireland scores higher then the Unites States in this section earning a 68. The two countries are very similar and are always looking to achieve more in the business world.  

      The next section is called “Uncertainty Avoidance.” This section is devoted to the fact that the future is so unknown and no one really knows what can happen. Scoring a 46 in this section the United States is generally accepting to this belief. Businesses are always looking to try something different. Ireland scores a 35 meaning they are even more open to new ideas and policies and are always looking for new ways to approach problems. Both countries firmly embrace the fact that the future is so unknown.

      The last section of the chart is “Long-term Orientation.” This section has to do with a “future-oriented perspective rather than a conventional historic short-term point of view.” The United States scores a 29 proving to be very short-term oriented. Ireland being a 43 is also short-term oriented however they still maintain a great respect for their history and tradition.

 

      In comparison to Italy there are both notable similarities and differences. In “Power Difference” Italy scores a 50 where status and power are very significant in Italian culture. When it comes to “Individualism” (76), “Masculinity/Femininity” (70), and “Long-term Orientation” (34) Italy’s scores are very similar to those of the United States and Ireland. However the biggest difference comes in the section of “Uncertainty Avoidance.” Scoring a high 75 proves that Italy is uncomfortable not knowing what will happen in the future. 

Comparing Guinness Websites

After roaming around the Guinness websites for both the US and Ireland I have come to the conclusion that they are almost exactly the same with only subtle difference. When I entered the U.S. version of the website the first thing that popped up was a survey asking for your birthday and whether or not you would like to be reminded of each visit you make to the website. The Irish version did not have this feature. It went straight to the advertisements and to the site map. After you reached this point the sites are identical. They start with the advertisements centered on the Guinness brand. They both give you options to discover information for everything from the beer itself, to the history of the beer, to the storehouse itself, which was the original factory where it was made.

The differences between the two are hard to spot. One feature that the U.S. website has that the Irish one doesn’t is the option of a Pub finder. This feature requires a satellite location of where you are and help you find a good Guinness pub no matter where you are. This is a great feature for those who has smart phones or ipad and can actually access the site while out, or simply anyone with a computer trying to plan their night before they go out. Another difference between the two is the fact that the Irish version contains a page that advertises Hurling, their local sport.

The Irish site is much more relevant to Ireland containing references to Hurling and Rugby which are two of the most popular sports they have. The Unites States version is much more global and international. However the two are so similar it would be extremely difficult to tell the difference between the two at first glance. 

Bars Vs. Pubs

Going to the pub is a very typical and social thing for every person who live in Ireland. It isn’t like in America where you only go to the pub at night when you are simply just trying to get drunk with your friends and have a good time. Throughout my visit here in Ireland I have seen first hand the differences in the bar life between America and Ireland. Getting drunk is not the purpose of going to the bar here in Ireland. It’s a social event where people gather to converse and discuss any rang of topics. I have often seen people in the pubs alone simply reading a newspaper, watching the television, or just enjoying a nice Guinness before returning home for the night. The pubs in Ireland are more centered around having a good time with friends watching whatever sporting event is on at the moment where in America the objective more to just get drunk. An Irish pub is more of the equivalent to a Starbucks in the United States where people come in jut to enjoy being around people while having a drink or some food. It was very obvious that we were from the states when you enter a pub and immediately go through three or four pints in an hour when the local will go through maybe one. The fact that we are so easily pointed out raises their interest and they begin simply talking to you trying to learn about what life is like in America. I have met so many people while on this trip just from sitting next to them at a bar.

Guinness Guinness Guinness

On the second day of the trip the class got an awesome experience. One of the "cultural experiences" built into the trip was a tour of the Guinness factory. It is virtually impossible to walk around any Irish town or city and not see a sign for Guinness. Around the country it is the most popular beer and the country can't get enough of it. Guinness is more then just a beer, it is a symbol of the country. Its a traditional Irish drink  that stays close to its roots. One clear cut example of this is the symbol Guinness put on all of their products. They use the irish harp to signify the drink. The harp has been a symbol for Ireland for centuries and Guinness adopted it as well to make it a symbol for them. Guinness is still brewed locally in Dublin and the factory is one of the cities biggest tourist attractions. Not only does it make the beer but it also serves as a historical museum and explains how the factory started out and how it used to run. They take you step by step throughout the process of how it is all made and what goes in to every batch thats created. You can't walk into a bar that doesn't serve Guinness. It has become an icon for the country since its creation in 1759. Since then, it has been heavily advertised in every way possible whether it be through merchandise, billboards, or sports. Sports is a very big part of the Guinness tradition. Over the years Guinness has been one of the biggest hosts and sponsors for various sporting events around the world. Its amazing how big of an impact an alcoholic beverage could have on a society and culture.