Small Business And Minority Cultures example essay topic

What is the influence of the Internet in empowering small business and minority cultures? Since 1992, a globalization process has come about. The growth of the Internet and the evolution of technology have transformed the way of conducting business. The use of Internet technology to market and deliver a company's products and services over the Web has become known as the concept of electronic commerce. With the aid of a computer, browser, and Internet connection, millions of worldwide consumers can go shopping at any time and any place to purchase such things as airline tickets, books or furniture.

As such, the Internet with a potentially global market, presents innumerable business opportunities. The small business is able to select those aspects of the Internet, which prove to be the most advantageous of using the Internet as an e-business, as a form of marketing or for communication purposes and in turn use it as a form of empowerment. When user connects onto the Internet, it is not obviously as commercial intention. The Internet is an international network of computer but also a human network.

Human has to communicate and to interact with one another; across cultural, religious, ethic and geographic barriers. In 2001, nearly 410 million people communicate by different modes. This communication is a key for minority cultures. We can set up the following problem: what is the influence of the Internet in empowering small business and minority cultures.

The next part of this report will begin by describing the way we established the assessment. After some definitions of the problem, we will argue the positive influence in the two points, and we will finish with the negative aspect. Firstly, the Internet may be used to empower the small business from a financial perspective. Any small business can use the Internet to market and / or conduct their business. Due to the relatively low start up costs required to connect up to the Internet, no large financial burden is placed on the individual or small business. As such, they are no longer dependent on larger institutions such as banks to provide the necessary funding.

In a similar vein, by using the Internet it is unnecessary to employ as many people as would be required for a traditional business. For example, an artist can exhibit his paintings on-line. As a matter of course, he not only saves on the costs of advertising but also on the cost of employing an agent. Secondly, the Internet provides flexibility and accessibility, which in turn acts as a form of empowerment. The small business can choose to work at its own pace as well as set its own working hours. The products and services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week without having a retail location.

La Maison du Kou ign A mann is a small caterer shop in Bretagne. From to its site kouignamann. com customers are allowed to order Breton alcohol at any time. This means that even if the store is closed, the business is still running. Moreover, it is very easy to extend a small business to over the world, for the reason that the Internet is an international network Thirdly, competition becomes a means of empowerment. By providing access to other businesses, the Internet allows the small business to compare its products and services with those offered by its competitors. Finally, increased profitability and efficiency become a form of empowerment for small businesses.

It is now possible to start earning within 24 hours of launching an on-line business. Start-up is the best example. Launch an e-business or complete a traditional business with a web site allows advertising by spreading its reputation and sells on-line without geographical limits. In addition, from a communications perspective communication with a customer via the Internet is virtually instantaneous whereas conventional methods can still takes months.

Thanks to e-mail, delay is now obsolete. The expense of getting new customers is a fraction of what it costs using traditional media. Thus as a way of keeping in touch with a client, e-mail has become one of the most powerful marketing tools available. Firstly, the Internet does not make discrimination; people and information are treated equally. In fact, the Internet is international and multicultural. All types of information are available in different languages and different alphabets such as Chinese news in English or Chinese, Arabic music, Mexicans' history or religious information can be found.

Various language are represented like search engine Arabic (google. ae) or Japanese (google. jp). In addition, people communicate with open mind due to the anonymous of users. Behind screen, it is not possible to see the belonging culture. This means that while in "real life", not all people would treat each other as equals.

The risks of racism and reject are minimized. Jewish can speak with Muslims or Blacks with Whites. Secondly, the censure is not used on the Internet. Free speeches are allowed. People feel secured for the reason that they argue without fear. They proclaim, publish judgement and feel about their ideas.

The communication is regardless, anonymous and without speech control. It is a kind of democracy. As an example, we notice that most of the minorities proclaim their rights and freedom via the web. If such techniques existed in the past, they could have helped minorities such as the Indians of America or the Aborigines of Australia to inform the world about what happened. Nobody could have prohibited their actions. The last point of empowering is minority members can be gathered with the use of the Internet.

An African living in America suffers because he does not retrieve the custom of his country. He needs to meet people who look and live like him. By launching a request, "African association in America" on search engine such as google. com, in matters of a few second, several results are presented. He can contact his future new friends. Even if someone has not found his / her place in this world, the Internet offers to him / her. Firstly, the creation of a small business cannot be limited with the use of the Internet only.

Several features are accounted for the financial perspective. A PC requires some additional devices, such as software that need licences. To the maximum, a licence is two years. Licence renewed has to be done. Often, software have to be up to date, with the aim of avoiding problem of incompatibility. Moreover, further hardware is necessary, for instance, printer and scanner.

The business can be extended, therefore more things have to take into account, the office size, additional equipments, such as interconnection devices, hub, cable... These extra are expensive but useful. However, they do not allow to link customers to the business. Thanks to web site, the Internet reaches to. It means to know how to build it. For that reason training or hiring professional are essential.

As an example, an estate agency, which sells houses online has to present and has to update his products. Secondly, from flexibility and accessibility points of view, the use of the Internet is reduced. Only computer literate people are able to use this kind of service. A person, who has not access to the minimal resources, is not favoured. Consequently, the target is accurate. The business is oriented to specific customers.

Moreover, if computer literate people are essential, training is involved. A company who has just started it business might do not provide it, at anytime. Thirdly, competition becomes a means of empowerment for a business; but it can also have the opposite effect. One of the Internet principles is to provide information at anytime and for everybody. It is a big business platform. From a market diversity point of view, competition is very important.

Moreover, from financial status or reputation, some businesses are stronger. For instance, amazone. com is a famous online retailer, which has important product diversity and a good quality of services. There are an uncountable number of online retailers, which are still unknown. A French company, provence-ou tillage. fr sells home furniture, garden and plumbing accessories. It is sponsored by a French bank, Cr " edit Mutuel, as a proof of security and serious and it provides an important rang of equipment.

Due to the lack of advertising and financial means, it is not a famous online retailer. For this word-of-mouth is the best way to increase reputation. It can be risky to build a company as an electronic business, for the reason that competition is dangerous, leading to the business disappearance. Finally, the probability of making quickly profitability and efficiency can be low.

Make profit inside 24 hours of being operational requires precaution and strategy. Register website onto search engine such as google. com, to find easily the website. Moreover, the website has to reflect the business. It has not to present ambiguities, and it has to be accurate. Human seller cannot catch customer, the website draws the customer' attention. The market is wide, thus a customer who has trouble to find what he is looking for, will quite the website.

Sale can be missed. Therefore, professional like Web Marketing Agency is required, to offer marketing tools. It means shared commission, and less profit. Moreover, service quality like speed of delivery and delivery overseas do not depend on business, but other company. For example, a customer orders for a computer. The electronic company guaranties two working days for delivery.

Unfortunately, the company of delivery has lost it. Even if the electronic business is not responsible, it becomes unreliable. Firstly, the Internet's shape can be a form of dis empowerment, for minority cultures. "Discrimination" is notice. Due to the importance number of specific users, some languages are more dominating than others are. Majority of services are in English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian and German.

From a category of users, the structure of the services is build. English speakers are more common that Swedish speakers. For that reason, it is smarter to create Internet Explorer in English than in Swedish. As an example, search engine with. com are in English like google. com or altavista. com.

Taking in consideration the. com, the Internet is represented as an occidental way. The strength of some powerful countries is noticeable. Secondly, the lack of censure is perceived as negative for the Internet. Free speeches and information harm minority cultures. It is very easy to find Nazi or racist web sites. Some information can persecute people.

Violence and aggressiveness are presented. Avoided them by controlling millions of internet surfers is quite impossible. Finally, gathered minority cultures can isolate them the rest of the world. This contributes to their non-integration into the society, for two reasons. By nature, people goes to what they know, therefore two people who speak the same language or have the same origin will communicate more easily than people who are not. For example, a Mexican will be more comfortable chatting with a Hispanic person than a German.

How people use the Internet reduces meeting. A gap can appear in the heart of a minority. Illiterate computer people, like grand parents can be isolate from the group. Furthermore, encourage the gathering of minority culture risks to split a community.

People avoid the other members staying with their group. Therefore, the Internet limits the mix between various cultures. To conclude from my point of view, the influence of the Internet in empowering small business and minority cultures seams mainly to be positive. The Internet has modified business rules and strategies.

Mentalities have been transformed and the e-business becomes usual practices. In 2002, the total number of businesses is estimated (buy and sell) $327 billion worth of goods over the Internet. The Internet consequences have double effects. For that reason, creating an electronic business is not an easy thing. Like all businesses, investment is essential, even if the costs of devices are minimized and reachable for an important number of people. This type of business is more complex than traditional.

Draw the attention in front of a huge and diverse market is harder. Moreover, it is easy to cheat. Customers are aware and suspicious. Therefore, serious is required for healthy business, to guaranty the protection of customers' right.

A good compromise can be to associate traditional and electronic businesses with the aim of increase benefits by broadening customer target and time of work. Regarding minority culture, the Internet participates on the built of a better world, reducing culture differences and gathering people. Mentalities have also been modified. People are more open-minded and do not notice the differences. The Internet helps people to integrate themselves to a community, but the aim cannot be reach without tolerances.

The main problem is not the Internet, is the way of using it. Surfers have to aware of the situation to avoid any persecution. For more respect and consideration, minority culture has to show solidarity with its own group member by cheering up the use of the Internet. Human management being difficult, Internet law is essential to control abuse and to keep a friendly atmosphere. Guide by John G Fisher 2001 edition Internet Business Intelligence by David Vine 2000 edition Lloyds TSB small business guide Sara Williams 2001 edition 14th edition Successful Computing in a Small Brenda Wrote 1987 edition Business The Internet & Society by James S levin cct. georgetown. edu cyber. law. harvard. edu whatis. techtarget. com web web - Microsoft's Small Business Advice website web web web web web web web web.