The Dialectic of Metafiction and Neorealism in Calvino's Baron in the Trees. "I agree to my books being read as existential or as structural works, as Marxist or neo-Kantian, Freudianly or Jungianly: but above all I am glad to see that no one key will open the lock". The above quotation perhaps shows more than anything else the ambiguity of Calvino's works. The obsession to label all narratives arises from our compulsion to make sense of this world, as literary generic categories form part of our cosmologies. Calvino's work however, eludes us by drawing upon multifarious techniques and images to create a narrative that defies all generic conventions. Attempting to arrive at a sole conclusion with a single key to unlock Calvino's narrative is to underestimate its full potential, for no single label justifies the ambiguity of his work. Indeed, the bulk of the attention focused on Calvino's work is derived mainly from its elusiveness, and its inability to be placed into any particular category. Critics have long been divided over the polemics of his work, one significant aspect of which lies in whether or not Calvino's fiction can be considered as a fairytale or as a realist story. "realismo a carica fiabiasca" and fiaba a carica realistica" (realism infused with fairytale and fairytale infused with realism). (Cavino, Introduction) What I am interested in is how the notions of metafiction and neorealism work in Calvino's narratives. Undoubtedly, as I have established earlier, it is not possible to label his work as falling into either one or the other generic category. Rather, I would say that both neorealist tendencies and metafictional elements work to make Calvino's short story. Antithetical as these two notions are in ... ...inburgh UP. 1993. Calvino, Italo. "Baron In The Trees" Our Ancestors. Trans. Archibald Colquhoun. London: Mandarin Paperbacks, 1992. ---. Introduction to gli amori difficili, 2nd ed vii. Turin: Einuadi, 1970. Cannon, JoAnn. Postmodern Italian Fiction. London and Toronto: Associated University Presses, 1989. Carter, Albert Howard. Italo Calvino: Metamorphoses of Fantasy, Studies in Speculative Fiction. Ann Arbor, Michigan: UMI Research Press, 1987. Gabriele, Tommasina. Italo Calvino: Eros and Language. London and Toronto: Associated University Presses, 1994. Lodge, David. "Metafiction." The Art Of Fiction. New York: Viking, 1993. 206-210. Waugh, Patricia. "What is Metafiction and why are they saying Such Horrible Things About It?" Metafiction. Ed. Mark Currie. Harlow: Longman, 1995. 39-54. USP Home | Literary Studies | Students Projects
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12/26/2019 0 Comments Globalization Test QuestionsChapter 1 Expanding abroad: Motivations, means, and mentalities True/False 1. The largest MNEs are equivalent in their economic importance to less developed economies such as Tanzania, Estonia or Sri Lanka. Answer: False (Sales of the largest MNEs exceed the GDPs of less developed countries. ) Difficulty: Easy Page: 4 and Table 1-1 on page 3 Topic: MNE scope and influence 2. The process of internationalization followed by most firms is usually well-thought out in advance and typically builds on a combination of rational analysis, planning and implementation.Answer: False (It is more likely a combination of rational analysis, opportunism, and luck. In regards to opportunism, several studies have found that most firms begin exporting due to an unsolicited export order. ) Difficulty: Moderate Page: 9 Topic: Internationalization process3. A joint venture is a contractual mode of foreign entry involving a high level of resource commitment by all partners. Answer: False (A JV will not typically require as high a resource commitment as we would see in wholly owned subsidiaries. In addition, there is significant variability in the level of resources contributed by partners. ) Difficulty: Moderate Page: 10 Topic: Foreign entry mode4. Emerging motivations for internationalization include the desire to enhance the firm’s competitive position and the desire to develop global scanning capabilities. Answer: True Difficulty: Easy Page: 6-7 and ppt slide 1-6 Topic: Motivations for internationalization5. For an MNE to exist, first foreign countries must provide location-specific advantages to attract the company to invest there, second the company must have ownership-specific advantages that counteract its liability of foreignness, third the company must have the organizational capability to leverage its strategic advantages more effectively internally than externally. Answer: True Difficulty: Moderate Page: 7-8 Topic: Prerequisites for internationalization6. An MNE with a ‘multinational perspective’ will typically be managed as a coordinated federation. Answer: False (It will typically be managed as a decentralized federation. ) Difficulty: Moderate Page: 11-12 and ppt slide 1-13 Topic: The evolving mentality: international to transnational7. An MNE with a ‘global perspective’ will typically manage its operations centrally. Answer: True Difficulty: Moderate Page: 12-13 and ppt slide 1-13 Topic: The evolving mentality: international to transnational8. An MNE with a ‘transnational perspective’ will typically be managed as an integrated network. Answer: True Difficulty: Moderate Page: 13-14 and ppt slide 1-13 Topic: The evolving mentality: international to transnationalMultiple Choice9. Which of the following correctly describes the sequential evolution in management thinking with respect to the strategic role of foreign operations in emerging MNEs? a. global mentality, multinational mentality, international mentality, transnational mentality. b. international mentality, global mentality, transnational mentality, multinational mentality. c. multinational mentality, global mentality, international mentality, transnational mentality. d. international mentality, multinational mentality, global mentality, transnational mentality.Answer: d (a, b, and c are incorrect because, although they describe the different ways of management thinking regarding the strategic role of foreign operations in emerging MNEs, they do not describe the evolution of this thinking in the correct sequence. ) Difficulty: Moderate Page: 11-14 Topic: Evolving mentality toward strategic role of foreign operations10. A franchise, such as McDonald’s, is a _________ mode of foreign entry. a. low commitment, low control b. low commitment, moderate control c. low commitment, high control d. moderate commitment, moderate controlAnswer: b (a, c, and d would describe indirect export, contract manufacturing, and joint venture foreign modes of entry respectively. ) Difficulty: Moderate Page: 10 (figure 1-2) Topic: Foreign entry mode11. A joint venture is a _________ mode of foreign entry. a. low commitment, low control b. low commitment, moderate control c. low commitment, high control d. moderate commitment, moderate control Answer: d (a, b, and c would describe indirect export, franchise, and contract manufacturing foreign modes of entry respectively. ) Difficulty: Moderate Page: 10 (figure 1-2)Topic: Foreign entry mode12. Pashpa Co. is a new manufacturer of home appliances. Pashpa wants to go international. Some of the traditional motivations for pursuing internationalization include: a. securing key supplies, seeking new markets, and raising global scanning and learning capabilities b. securing key supplies, seeking new markets, and improving competitive positioning c. securing key supplies, seeking new markets and accessing low-cost factors of production d. securing key supplies, improving competitive positioning, and accessing low-cost factors of productionAnswer: c (a, b, and d are incorrect because ‘raising global scanning and learning capabilities’ and ‘improving competitive positioning’ are not traditional motivations for pursuing internationalization, they are emerging motivations. ) Difficulty: Moderate Page: 4-6 Topic: Motivations for internationalization13. One motivation behind internationalization is to sustain the firm’s competitive position. To pursue a sustainable competitive position relative to its rivals in the athletic clothing industry, Nike attempts to: a. reempt markets, capture global scale, and secure raw materials b. capture global scale, access scarce knowledge, and match competitors c. match competitors, capture global scale, and preempt markets d. exploit factor cost differences, preempt markets, and match competitors Answer: c (a, b, and d are incorrect because ‘securing raw materials’, ‘accessing scarce knowledge’, and ‘exploiting factor cost differences’ may give a company a temporary competitive advantage but not a sustainable competitive advantage. ) Difficulty: Hard Page: 4-7Topic: Motivations for internationalization14. _________ suggests that in the first stage innovations are produced in the home developed country; in the second stage they are exported to other similarly developed countries; in the third stage, they start being produced in these developed countries; in the fourth stage they start being produced in low-wage developing countries. a. Vernon’s product cycle theory b. Johanson and Vahlne’s stages theory c. Dunning’s eclectic theory d. Levitt’s globalization theory Answer: a Difficulty: Moderate Page: 5-6, 8 Topic: Motivations for internationalization15. Which of the following constitutes a list of foreign entry modes that involve the MNE to make a foreign investment a. Greenfield, acquisition, joint venture and capital participation b. Greenfield, acquisition, joint venture and license c. Franchising, acquisition, joint venture and capital participation d. Greenfield, acquisition, cooperation agreements and capital participation Answer: a (Licensing, franchising, and many forms of cooperation may not entail an MNE making an investment. Difficulty: Easy Page: 9-10 Topic: Foreign entry modes16. OfficeWare Corp. is an MNE that produces and sells office equipment. If the company’s CEO employs a ‘global mentality’ toward the strategic role of the company’s foreign operations, then we would expect that OfficeWare: a. regards its overseas markets as a portfolio of local opportunities. b. leverages its domestic capabilities worldwide. c. regards the world as a single unit of analysis. d. simultaneously responds to local needs, global demands and cross-border learning opportunities.Answer: c (a, b, and d would represent multinational, international, and transnational mentalities respectively. ) Difficulty: Moderate Page: 11-14 Topic: The evolving mentality: international to transnational Essay17. The CEO of Paragon Ltd. wants to take his company international. What are the three big questions he must answer before expanding abroad? Answer: The three questions this CEO must answer before expanding abroad are: a. What market opportunities, sourcing advantages or strategic imperatives will drive the company’s international expansion? . How will the company expand its foreign presence – through exports, licensing, joint ventures, wholly owned subsidiaries or some other means? c. How will the attitudes, assumptions and beliefs of Paragon’s employees impact the probability of the company succeeding in its efforts to internationalize? Difficulty: Moderate Page: 1 (box insert) Topic: Internationalization18. Rana manages an Italian fashion design company. What would motivate Rana’s company to internationalize? Answer: i) Traditional motivations might include: securing key supplies, seeking new markets and accessing low-cost factors of production (e. g. labor, capital, etc. ); (ii) Emerging motivations might include: increasing scale economies to offset significant R&D investments, shortening product life cycles, improving a company’s competitive position and enhancing a company’s global scanning and learning capabilities. Difficulty: Easy Page: 4-7 Topic: Motivations behind internationalization19. Briefly explain the product cycle of personal computers using Raymond Vernon’s product cycle theory. Answer:This theory suggests that early in a product’s life-cycle, all the parts and labor needed to manufacture the product will be sourced from the locale in which the product was invented. As the product is increasingly adopted and distributed in global markets, production gradually shifts away from the point of origin. In some cases, the product ultimately becomes a good that is imported into the country in which it was originally invented. For example, in the case of personal computers, during the new product stage, the computer was produced and purchased by consumers in the United States and little export trade occurred.During the maturing product stage, mass-production techniques were developed and foreign demand (in developed countries) expanded. At this point, the U. S. began to export the product to other developed countries. In the standardized product stage, production moved to developing countries, which then export the product to developed countries. Difficulty: Moderate Page: 5-6 Topic: Product cycle theory20. Briefly compare and contrast the Uppsala Internationalization Model and the Born Global Model. Under what circumstances is each model most applicable?Give examples to support your arguments. Answer: According to the Uppsala Model, companies internationalize in an incremental fashion. Typically, they start by utilizing foreign entry modes that require low levels of resource commitment and low levels of control over foreign activities (e. g. exporting). The model conceptualizes subsequent stages in the internationalization process as requiring higher levels of resource commitment and providing higher levels of control over foreign activities (e. g. wholly owned subsidiary). The experience of Toyota is consistent with the Uppsala Model.According to the Born Global Model, some companies are born global, establishing significant international operations immediately or shortly after the company is launched. These firms do not employ an incremental approach. Instead, these firms aggressively pursue internationalization due to their internal orientation or the need to move quickly due to the nature of their products or services. The experience of many internet companies is consistent with the Born Global Model. Difficulty: Moderate Page: 9-10 Topic: Process of internationalization21.Roy is the CEO of a multinational apparel company. How would he conceptualize the strategic role of his firm’s foreign operations if he possessed a ‘global mentality’? If he possessed a ‘multinational mentality’? Answer: If Roy possessed a global mentality, he would view the world as a single unit of analysis and he would centralize the management of the firm’s foreign operations. Thus, he would drive the firm to create products for a world market and manufacture them on a global scale in a few highly efficient plants, often located at the corporate center.However, if Roy possessed a multinational mentality, he would regard foreign markets as a portfolio of local opportunities and manage his company as a decentralized federation. Thus, he would recognize and emphasize the differences between national markets and operating environments and modify his products, strategies and management practices on a country-by-country basis. Difficulty: Moderate Page: 11-13 Topic: Mentalities toward internationalization22. What is an MNE? Give examples to explain the difference between companies that are considered MNEs and those that are not. Answer:An MNE is a company that engages in the active management of substantial direct investment in one or more foreign countries and that considers those investments/operations as integral parts of the company, both strategically and organizationally. Thus, companies that solely rely on import-export business are not considered MNEs. They may be considered international companies but not multi-national enterprises (MNEs). Moreover, companies that passively manage an investment portfolio (as opposed to those that actively manage foreign assets) are not considered MNEs. Difficulty: Easy Page: 2 Topic: MNE definition23.Briefly compare and contrast the four mentalities toward internationalization. Answer: Companies that have an international mentality produce products for the domestic market and only subsequently sell these products overseas. They transfer innovation and knowledge from the parent company to the foreign operators. These companies view themselves essentially as domestic with some foreign appendages. Companies that have a multinational mentality modify their products, strategies, and management practices country by country. These companies view themselves as nationally sensitive and responsive, thus the term multinational.Companies that have a global mentality create products for a world market and manufacture them on a global level in a few highly efficient plants. These companies view the world, not just individual national markets, as their unit of analysis. Companies that have a transnational mentality are responsive to country-level operations; however, they coordinate these operations to sustain competitive effectiveness and economic efficiency. These companies view themselves as an integrated network. Difficulty: Moderate Page: 11-14 Topic: Mentalities toward internationalization
For obvious reasons, H&S Toolbox talks have to address current legislation and topics covered in relevant Approved Codes of Practice. Also, due to the practicalities of taking employees away from their normal activities, courses have to be relevant, concise and deliver results. It follows therefore that planning and delivery in my profession is key to successful training.
Planning Roles & Responsibilities In order to achieve a professional delivery, I will discuss in advance with each learner their precise needs from the course. Some learners will be young and apprehensive, while others may be more mature and overconfident. The course content must cater for this diversity. The course needs to address business interests whilst covering topical subjects within each field of learning. A robust lesson Plan, with special emphasis on practical skills will therefore be fundamental. Each training session is divided into sections which discuss what is currently happening in industry (accident statistics), what legislation is currently in place to prevent these accidents, and what the learner must do to adhere to best practice. Boundaries Probably the greatest amount of effort is put into making sure a group of learners are available at a precise time on a precise day. Business needs change daily and I must always have a contingency. (Fewer learners, different venue, different day …..) A range of material is prepared in advance (hand-outs, PowerPoint presentations and quizzes) to help get the message across. Some courses require the use of the workshop and it is essential to ensure that the training needs can be accommodated in parallel with normal work activities. Delivery Roles & Responsibilities Courses must be interesting enough to stimulate interaction. A variety of training aids will be used to achieve this. Courses will be changed every 24 months to ensures learners do not have to endure the same dialogue, etc. Delivery will be focused and effective. Interaction is a predominant feature of my courses and helps to stimulate group learning Hand-outs that require learners to fill in missing words or spot hazards are fundamental to most of my courses. These can be done individually or in groups to begin with. Boundaries Attitude is rarely a problem in my current role. Often, younger learners do not have the necessary skills or experience to be blasé in front of others, and older learners are quite happy to share their experiences from the real world. Money and resources for materials are accounted for in my annual budget. Actual costs (learners time away from work) is always agreed by the line managers. Current guidelines on training frequency give added support to my cause! Assess Roles & Responsibilities Most of my courses use a multi-choice questionnaire for instant results. This omits the writing/spelling concerns that may blight an otherwise competent person – “you don’t need to be academically astute to be able to do the job safelyâ€. Some courses require more interaction than others. It is important therefore to keep precise notes on a learners contribution and ultimately, on their ability to comprehend the subject being taught. Boundaries Marking multi-choice questionnaires is straight-forward and fair. If marked within the group environment, it gives a further chance to discuss ‘wrong answers’ Notes taken in the taught session can be used to consolidate marking criteria. On occasions, learners may pass a formal course test, but the teachers may have concerns about actual ability. This information may be used to develop additional training needs. Evaluate Roles & Responsibilities Feed-back forms are considered invaluable in my company although they are not considered mandatory. Always allow time at the end of a session for them to be filled in. Oral feed-back from my groups is always useful. It is important not to put anyone under the spot light. Solicitous questioning often pays dividends. Sometimes doing a covert audit (to see if learners are doing what they have been taught) is a good way to see if the course ‘lesson’ has been ab sorbed. Boundaries It is important to recognise that no matter how good the training material is, there may be a need to modify it to cater for different abilities. Each time the training material is modified, there is a supposition that it will appeal to, and cater for, a more focused audience. |