The Reality of Reality Television Essay - 2073 Words

The Reality of Reality Television The winner of the first Survivor competition is...Rich. It was the name heard round the country the night of August 23, 2000, as 51 million television viewers tuned in to the finale of Survivor. The questions, the predictions, the bets, and the reality rested on that one name. For three months, America watched and wondered. Who could it be? Who is the ultimate survivor? With the unveiling of that single, now infamous, name, you could almost feel the country erupt with emotion. The collective gasp of the shocked was shrouded by the cheers and hollers of all the Richard Hatch fans scattered across the countrys living rooms and sports bars. But just how real is this reality tv? The†¦show more content†¦Threatened by the astounding success of ABCs gameshow Who Wants To Be a Millionaire, CBS retaliated by developing not just another gameshow, but a reality-based gameshow. In October 1999, the network announced plans to develop Survivor, a show that would place a group of Americans on a desert island in the South China Sea, off Borneo, for 39 days. The contestants would vote each other off the island, one by one, until only the sole survivor remained. He or she would walk away with $1 million. My initial reaction to this news was horror. What is the world coming to? I thought. TV executives have become so desperate as to risk the lives of ordinary people simply for the ratings. There must be some law against that. How could they get away with something as absurd as stranding 16 people on some remote tropical island with no food or protection? But of course, nothing is as it seems at first. The deserted island off the South China Sea wasnt as deserted as CBS would have liked us to believe. There was actually a resort on the opposite side of the island, not to mention all the production equipment and air-conditioned editing cabins that had to be shipped in to produce the show. Even during the 39-day stay, the castaways were constantly surrounded by a slew of lighting fixtures, microphones, andShow MoreRelatedThe Reality Of Reality Television936 Words   |  4 PagesThe reality show phenomenon Have you ever wondered what attracts millions of Americans each week to watch this cultural phenomenon know as reality television? It first started in 1948 when Allen Funt created a TV series called Candid Camera, this is the first known reality television show series. â€Å"Reality television episodes have increased up to 57% of all television shows that can be found on your TV guides† (Shocking). Big Brother was one of the first successful and most viewed reality televisionRead MoreThe Reality Of Reality Television882 Words   |  4 Pages What is it about these reality shows such as: Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Bad Girls Club, and The Real Housewives that we cannot stop watching? After watching reality shows like this, it leaves people craving the next episode of the next week. Reality television producers are exploiting people by giving the public a â€Å"sense† of reality but not the real version of it, but rather exploit people and use stereotypes to make money for entertainment. The specific points of this argumentRead MoreThe Reality of Reality Television1699 Words   |  7 PagesThe Reality of Reality Television Jacqueline Knudsen ENG122: English Composition II Jenna Fussell February 2, 2013 The Reality of Reality Television Have you ever set there watching your favorite reality television show and wondered what effects it could have on you, your family or your friends? Truth is most people do not think about the effects television shows can have before watching them or allowing their children to watch them. ThisRead MoreThe Reality Of Reality Television1499 Words   |  6 PagesAgainst Reality TV For close to a decade, the ethics behind the existence of reality TV have been questioned. While there are ardent viewers of reality TV, researchers and other scholars disapprove them, and claim that the world would have been in a better place. Reality TV shows, especially in America, are extremely profitable to media owners, and this has increased their popularity in the recent years. The main target audience for these shows are teenagers and women, who spend a lot of time discussingRead MoreThe Reality Of Reality Television927 Words   |  4 PagesBehind the Reality of Reality TV There are many different opinions when the subject of reality television is discussed. Although reality television shows are thought to be negative they really are just mindless entertainment. Many can argue that these shows are misleading and disturbing. On the other side of this, people merely use these shows for entertainment and allow people to forget about stress in their lives. The cause of these different opinions is a result of different age, gender, religionRead MoreThe Reality Of Reality Television1511 Words   |  7 PagesReality TV is defined as television programs in which real people are continuously filmed, designed to be entertaining rather than informative.(Dictionary) As we all know, in today s world we are presented with numerous Reality TV Show such as Keeping up With the Kardashians, Basket wives and The Real Housewives of Miami. These shows give a false message to their viewers of what is reality and what is purely entertainment. Many reality programs create an artificial environment for the show thatRead MoreThe Reality Of Reality Television991 Words   |  4 PagesWe see content on television every day either to see the news, watch a movie, series or any program we would like to watch. Television give us a different and visually perfect way of entertainment. Reality television is a genre of television which seems to be unscripted showing actions of â€Å"real life†. The viewer sees the reality shows for entertainment but neither the pressure, competitiveness nor loneliness that lives in imagines. To be real -time and people- admiration from viewers, thinking thatRead MoreThe Reality Of Reality Television Essay1287 Words   |  6 PagesReality television is now one of the most consumed television genres broadcasted to the general public. Reality television has become more about mindless watching and creating the most unrealistic environment possible, rather than creating a show for an important purpose. Today, shows like Beauty and the Geek, Big Brother, and every other reality show fit into this mold, but when viewed critically lessons appear. In the case of TV today, reality shows depict an altered reality because of the unrealisticRead MoreThe Reality Of Reality Television Essay1973 Words   |  8 PagesIntroduction Reality television has turned into a noteworthy piece of our way of life. The shows are described to be fun, engaging and acquaint society with new points of view. In the wake of a monotonous day at work, it s decent to return home and watch something careless on television, while unwinding. While the debate that violence in the media is making for a brutal culture has been made a million times, sometime recently, I am striving to make an alternate relationship. As we are aware, theRead MoreReality Television : Is It Reality?849 Words   |  4 PagesIs it Reality? Pop culture is popular culture that dominates a society at a point in time. Today, reality television is a part of the society’s popular culture (Johnson 289). The question is why? Reality television is a genre of television programming that focuses on members of the public living in conditions made by the creator, and displays how people are intended to behave in everyday life (Johnson 290). Reality television is debasing and should be strictly controlled, if not banned altogether

Cyber-Crime is a Serious Problem Essay examples - 2268 Words

Millions of people around the world use computers and the internet every day. We all use it in school, work even at home, computers have made us life easier, it has brought so many benefits to the society but it has also brought some problems and cybercrimes is one of them. â€Å"The times have really changed,† said Greg Garcia, the department’s assistant secretary for cyber security and communications. â€Å"We’re seeing now phishing, farming, botnets †¦ war dialing and domain server spoofing. And we’re seeing coordinated cyber-attacks against nation states.† (Fowler 5) Cybercrime is one of the most prevalent and most popular rising crimes being committed today. This is criminal activity done using computers and the Internet. There are millions†¦show more content†¦Eventually, the government decided to allow access to the Internet for commercial purposes; however it doesn’t stop there businesses rapidly realized that Internet c an boost up their business where they provide better services for their clients. The result is that bandwidth on the Internet has increased tremendously and costs have decreased significantly. Now days we can’t imagine life without Internet because it makes our daily work easier. According to P.J. Deitel and H.M. Deitel â€Å"The Internet and the web are surely among humankind’s most profound creations† (Deitel 11). As the Internet increased access to increasing numbers of systems worldwide, criminals used unauthorized access to poorly protected systems for vandalism, political action and financial gain (Internet World Wide Web : How to Program). Identity theft via cybercrime is one of the fastest growing crimes in America, costing billions of dollars each year. Identity theft is a form of theft in which the targets are bank accounts, credit cards, debit cards, social security numbers and information that is linked to a persons identity. Identity theft is the worst of the cybercrimes against individuals. Moreover, it is not just a person who has high credit score need to be worry about it. According to Federal Trade Commission estimates (FTC) â€Å"more than four hundred thousand children have their identity stolen every year† (17). People whoShow MoreRelatedShould Government Implement Laws For Cyber Crime?977 Words   |  4 PagesGovernment implement laws to prevent cyber crime† Today is the era of technology and globalisation, as it connects the whole world together but also opens new ways to crime. Cyber crime is the result of negative use of technology. Cyber crime refers to a crime which is committed through internet or computer. Cyber crime is of differenr types like stealing of money or information, piracy, electronic vendalism that is destroying or changing the electronic information. Cyber terrorism which threatens not onlyRead MoreCyber Bullying Is An Action Of Harassing Or Harming People Using Technology945 Words   |  4 PagesCyber bullying is an action of harassing or harming people using technology. It is increasing with the increasing technology. People of all ages are victims for this where majority of them are teenagers. It includes posting rumors or gossip about a person and insulting them or sometimes it may include morphing of their photos and posting them in social media networks to embarrass them. A victim can t cyber predict the cyber bully and is difficult to know that person. A cyber bully can be any unknownRead MoreCyber Crime And Criminal Justice1420 Words   |  6 Pages Cyber Crime in Criminal Justice James Franklin Florida International Abstract The Internet is the connection of computer networks that link billions of devices worldwide. Every day the Internet is getting bigger and bigger bringing the world even closer. Unfortunately, with the growth of the Internet, this has created more problems for the Cyber World. While the justice system is attempting to handle this issue, it is becoming too consistent and numerous individualsRead MoreThe Article On Cyber Crime Laws772 Words   |  4 Pages I read the article What Makes cyber crime laws so difficult to enforces by Deb Shinder of the Tech Republic . The article talks about why it is so hard to control cyber crime and enforce laws that will help prevent and protect people from cyber crime. The article starts about talking about how at first when the internet got mainstream it was not regulated at all, but over the coming years we have passed law that regulate things that you can do on the internet. Even though weRead MorePolicy Memo For White Collar Crimes1573 Words   |  7 PagesKristofer Llauger CJBS 101 Assignment 1 Policy Memo Part I I. PROBLEM Write one (1) sentence that clearly states the problem. Big financial institutions are difficult to prosecute in white-collar crimes because of their influence. Write two (2) sentences that describe the problem in greater detail (what are the effects of the problem?) The Holder Doctrine, which comes from a memo created in 1999, has been the reason behind a lack of criminal prosecution against big companies that were part of theRead MorePolicing Cybercrime : Police And Armed Forces1174 Words   |  5 Pagespolicing cyber strategy is discussed and will show that the unique organisational structure of the UK police force means that policing cyber strategy varies from county to county in the UK; although each regional force operated with the same objective. Within the UK strategy is the criminalisation of certain cyber activity . with Cyber Security Strategies containing elements of cybercrime control, therefore a Criminal Justice rationale which connects it to the broader spectrum of crime preventionRead MoreThe Cybersecurity Act ( Cybersecurity )1708 Words   |  7 Pagesimportant information leaked to either cyber-criminals, terrorists or hackers then multiple people or America itself may be in trouble. Many businesses, trade groups, government officials, and civil liberty groups will be protected by the Cybersecurity Act, also it gives people, the government, and money more privacy then they have already. The overall goal of CISA (Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act) is to improve information sharing in the hopes of preventing cyber-attacks against both the privateRead MoreThe Disavantages of Using Facebook1026 Words   |  5 Pages wasting time and money, cyber crime and conflict rising. People think by facebook make their friendship be easier. But every social network always has advantage and disadvantages. It is also happen in facebook. In this side, let’s try to talk about the disadvantages of facebook. The common disadvantages when we access in facebook is wasting time and money. If we log in too long it can make weak eyesight. The other disadvantages is easy to make conflict and cyber crime. The disadvantages of facebookRead MoreCyber Security : The New Wave Of Social Media1604 Words   |  7 Pages Cyber Security If you were to look around a room of young adults or teens today, you would likely notice an eerie silence. A silence accompanied with most of these individuals staring down at their cellphones, the sound of conversation is exchanged for the sound of clicking keys. It’s no secret; this generation relies on their phones and the internet much like food and water. It’s a necessity. With the new wave of social media, which is being used by an alarming 78% of U.S. citizens, theRead MoreCyber Crimes, Moral And Ethical Implication1664 Words   |  7 PagesCyber Crimes, Moral and Ethical Implication Introduction The internet’s rapid growth and computer technology has helped people around the world over the past few years. This evolution has also enabled new forms of crime-dubbed cyber-crime. This phenomenon has greatly evoked feelings such as admiration and fear in people mind. Cyber-crime is defined as crimes committed on internet, with computers as the tool, Agathise E Joseph, June 28th 2006. It is not an â€Å"armed robbery†, not a murder but a practice

Monet Resorts Business Report Samples †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Monet Resorts Business Report. Answer: Introduction The business units and organizations have adapted to the idea of globalization, advancement and digital innovation. These units are exploring new methods and mechanisms through which they may serve their purpose of meeting the customer needs with maximum profits and revenues. On the lines of the same idea, five holiday resorts have agreed upon the concept of a shared business unit by collaborating with each other. These resorts have decided to execute the business operations through a single entity which will be called Monet. The online presence of the collaboration will be marked by a website and a mobile app and these two platforms will be used for the execution of all the front end and back end activities for Monet. List of Management Decisions A loyalty programme termed as MonetLoyalty will be designed to attain maximum customer satisfaction and to maintain their engagement with the business organization (Orlitzky, 2015). Interactive tools in the form of responsive web site and interactive mobile application will be designed to maximize the user interaction and maintenance of transparency with the users. Business integration of all the operations and activities at the front end and at the back end will be made possible through the use and the implementation of an ERP solution. The customers will have the ability to manage their accounts themselves using a high-level Web 4.0 medium which would also allow the customers to manage their details (McBurney, 2015). List of Assumptions The various terms of services that will be carried out jointly by the holiday resorts have been planned, analyzed and finalized in advance and a legal contract has also been prepared and signed by all the five parties. The functional aspects and the system qualities of the web site and the mobile application will be the same (Popp, 2017). The set of expenses that will be necessary in the process of collaboration have been estimated and finalized. The roles that will be carried out by the executives and resources at all the five resorts have been determined. Information System (IS) and Information Technology (IT) Technology is an application of scientific and automated concepts and ideas for the execution of a particular task. It is made possible by the involvement and collaboration of various elements with each other. Two of such elements under technology are the information system and information technology. It is often believed that these terms have the same meaning which is however not true. Information System or IS, is the quality and availabilitymanagement of a specific set of information. In order to manage the information sets correctly, it is required that the various operations that are executed on these sets are adequately done. These operations can range from viewing, modifying, updating, writing etc. on the information sets. The issues that may be associated with these operations having an impact on either the quality or availability of the information sets are the ones under IS issues and problems (El-Awad, 2017). Information Technology which is normally abbreviated as IT is rather associated with the technical aspect of information. The technical tools, technical infrastructure and applications, technical services and their integration etc. come under the domain of IT. If there are issues involved in respect to any of such technical components then such issues are included in the domain of problems related with IT (Bruni, 2014). Issues covered in the Category of Information System (IS) The quality or availability of the information can be impacted by the occurrence of security attacks and risks as described below. Confidentiality Attacks The properties of the information such as its confidentiality are an integral part of the overall quality of the information. The occurrence of events such as breaching or leakage of the information sets or any of its attributes can impact the information quality as a result. Integrity Attacks The information may get transferred and transmitted over a lot many networks and networking components and there may be attacks that may result in the violation of the integrity of the information (Chasserio, 2014). Availability Attacks Availability of the information is an extremely significant property of the information sets as the entire service may come to a state of breakdown in case of information unavailability. Such a situation may be caused by flooding attacks. The end-users or the internal activities present within the application or a system may not be in accordance with the best practices which may have a negative impact on the performance. Ineffective communication may also lead to IS issues as the end result would not be as per the expectations and specifications. Customers are the entities that will be hugely impacted by the IS issues and their occurrence. It is because the customers will be directly affected by any of such events. The customers would want the services that are provided by Monet to be smooth, reliable and accurate. With the occurrence of an IS issue, none of these parameters will be met. The customer experience will be poor and it would be difficult for the customers to maintain the same level of trust and engagement with Monet all over again in the future. This will impact the business side as well as their customer base, market shares and brand image will come down. Issues covered in the Category of Information Technology (IT) Monet is a business unit that will have its online presence via a website and a mobile application. For the efficient working of these platforms, a number of technical applications, services and operations will be involved. In case of a failure of any of such component, the after effects will be negative (Antunes, 2014). The components may also suffer the compatibility and integration probelms (Secundo, 2017). In such an issue, the desired working of the web site or the mobile application will be difficult to achieve and maintain. The main entity that will have an implication due to the occurrence of the IT issues would be the customers. It is because the customers will be directly affected by any of such events. The customers would want the services that are provided by Monet to be smooth, reliable and accurate. With the occurrence of an IT issue, none of these parameters will be met. The customer experience will be poor and it would be difficult for the customers to maintain the same level of trust and engagement with Monet all over again in the future. This will impact the business side as well as their customer base, market shares and brand image will come down (Fengel, 2014). Ways to Attract New Customers There are various stakeholders that are associated with every business setup. It is necessary to maintain stakeholder engagement with all the stakeholders so that the business aims can be met. However, there is one stakeholder and entity that is involved with every business setup and it is the customers. It is very important for business units like Monet to maintain and upgrade its customer base to make sure that its hold in the market never drops down. In order to do so, there are certain strategies that may assist Monet to achieve the same. The new customers or the customers that have not used the services of a business get attracted towards it only when they see an offer that is of their advantage and the one that is not being offered by any other business. Monet should adopt the strategy by offering exceptional discounts at the time of first booking by any customers so as to maximize the customer base. Social media platforms and networking mediums have took the market by storm in the recent years. These platforms have made it possible for the business units and the customers to directly stay in contact with each other without the presence of a mediator. The business units can acquire customer data around their choices and preferences through these platforms and customers can get to know about the latest offers. Therefore, such platforms shall be used adequately and intelligently so as to market the business offers and services correctly. A social media team shall be separately set up for the execution of these activities. The data from different sources such as customer feedback, social media groups, market channels etc. shall be captured and analyzed by the team of Monet. This data will provide the exact demands of every customer group and the set of expectations of the customers from such business units. The offers, services and strategies shall then be designed accordingly (Wamba, 2017). There are customer groups that may have different demands such as backpacker groups and family groups will have different expectations. The demands of all such groups shall be met for providing a diverse range of services. Monet must use secure payment channels and gateways so that the customer trust is maintained and the competitive edge is gained. There shall be no risks possible in the areas of financial or electronic payments. Alerts and reminders shall be used intelligently to make the customers know about the latest offers and services (Brocke, 2014). There are many off-beat and lesser known travel destinations that are being visited and explored by the travelers and groups. The major issue in such locations is of stay and meals. Monet must analyze such trending destinations and shall introduce the offers and deals around these places. Exploration of New Business Opportunities There are endless opportunities that have been made possible for the business units to step into with the emergence of cloud based services and platforms. There are virtual operations that the business can perform and provide the services to the users without affecting the existing structure. Monet must also continue to explore the new opportunities and must add the same in its set of operations so that the customer base and revenues are maximized. Monet must collaborate and partner with some of the other tour and travel agencies to provide the customers with an itinerary for their trip at subsidized rates at the time of the booking. Custom itinerary along with the set of the popular places to visit in an area must be highlighted. Similarly, there must be collaboration and partnership with the transportation agencies as well so that the customers may select and book the desired mode of transport at the place they will be traveling to (Giudice, 2016). Transportation is a basic requirement while traveling in a new place. The modes of transport for sightseeing or visiting a particular destination must be arranged and shall be allowed to be booked in advance. The data from different sources such as customer feedback, social media groups, market channels etc. shall be captured and analyzed by the team of Monet. This data will provide the exact demands of every customer group and the set of expectations of the customers from such business units. The offers, services and strategies shall then be designed accordingly in terms of new opportunities and capabilities. The customers that travel regularly and frequently must be provided with additional benefits and services in terms of the offers and deals (Ferretti, 2016). In such a way, the customer engagement with Monet will be maintained. Also, the customers will let other individuals know about their experience which would allow Monet to have increased business opportunities to be carried out. Travel has become an escape route for the present generation to relax and get the minds refreshed. It is because of the reason that the schedule of the people in the current times is very busy and occupied. Monet must make sure that it works towards providing an integrated travel experience and solution to the customers so that they do not have to worry about anything once they finalize the booking. It should be efficient to arrange for the desired travel modes, places to stay, places to visit, places to shop and eat and transportation arrangements for the customers. This will ensure that the customer base of Monet is expanded and the better reviews are also earned. Conclusion Five holiday resorts have agreed upon the concept of a shared business unit by collaborating with each other. These resorts have decided to execute the business operations through a single entity which will be called Monet. There are various initiatives and decisions that have been taken by themanagement to provide the customers with required service. The customers would want the services that are provided by Monet to be smooth, reliable and accurate. However, some of the IS and IT issues can prove to be hurdles in achieving this aim. There shall be use and application of adequate controls to prevent and detect such issues. It is very important for business units like Monet to maintain and upgrade its customer base to make sure that its hold in the market never drops down. It can be done through social media groups, discount deals and offers, specific strategy making for customer groups etc. Monet must also continue to explore the new opportunities and must add the same in its set of operations so that the customer base and revenues are maximized. References Antunes, A. (2014). MUVE IT: reduce the friction in business processes, 20(4), 571-597. https://dx.doi.org/10.1108/BPMJ-07-2013-0093 Brocke, J. (2014). Ten principles of good business process management, 20(4), 530-548. https://dx.doi.org/10.1108/BPMJ-06-2013-0074 Bruni, A. (2014). Entrepreneuring together: his and her stories. International Journal Of Entrepreneurial Behavior Research, 20(2), 108-127. https://dx.doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-12-2011-0187 Chasserio, S. (2014). When entrepreneurial identity meets multiple social identities: Interplays and identity work of women entrepreneurs, 20(2), 128-154. https://dx.doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-11-2011-0157 El-Awad, Z. (2017). Entrepreneurial learning and innovation: The critical role of team-level learning for the evolution of innovation capabilities in technology-based ventures, 23(3), 381-405. https://dx.doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-06-2016-0177 Fengel, J. (2014). Semantic technologies for aligning heterogeneous business process models, 20(4), 549-570. https://dx.doi.org/10.1108/BPMJ-07-2013-0085 Ferretti, M. (2016). Internet of Things and business processes redesign in seaports: The case of Hamburg, 22(2). https://dx.doi.org/10.1108/BPMJ-05-2015-0079 Giudice, M. (2016). Discovering the Internet of Things (IoT) within the business process management: A literature review on technological revitalization, 22(2), 263-270. https://dx.doi.org/10.1108/BPMJ-12-2015-0173 McBurney, P. (2015). The Knowledge Engineering Review. Retrieved from https://www-cambridge-org.ezproxy.csu.edu.au/core/journals/knowledge-engineering-review Orlitzky, M. (2015). The politics of corporate social responsibility or: why Milton Friedman has been right all along, 1(1), 5-29. https://dx.doi.org/10.1108/ASR-06-2015-0004 Popp, A. (2017). Enterprise Society. Retrieved from https://www-cambridge-org.ezproxy.csu.edu.au/core/journals/enterprise-and-society Secundo, G. (2017). Entrepreneurial learning dynamics in knowledge-intensive enterprises, 23(3), 366-380. https://dx.doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-01-2017-0020 Wamba, S. (2017). Big data analytics and business process innovation. Business Process Management, 23(3). https://dx.doi.org/10.1108/BPMJ-02-2017-0046

Norwegian Business Culture Essays - Ethnic Groups In Norway

Norwegian Business Culture Norwegian Business Culture A Reserved, Direct Communication Style Directness In contrast to the indirect, roundabout language common in much of Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, Norwegians typically use direct straightforward language. They tend to be blunt and honest about their business ideas and feelings. However, most Norwegians are somewhat less direct than Danes and Germans. For instance, when not really interested in a particular deal, they may be reluctant to say so bluntly. In this they are similar to many British negotiators. Reserve Although a warm and friendly people, most Norwegians have a reserved communication style, compared to Latin Europeans, Latin Americans, Arabs, and North Americans. Whereas people from more expressive cultures employ numerous vigorous hand and arm gestures and animated facial expressions during negotiations, Norwegians use fewer gestures and less lively facial expressions. This characteristic can lead to confusion during negotiations with more expressive counterparts, who sometimes misinterpret Norweigan reticence as lack of interest in the discussion. Norwegians tend to be soft-spoken and taciturn compared with Southern Europeans. However, business visitors are unlikely to experience the long gaps in conversation encountered in even more reserved cultures such as Finland and Japan. In Latin America and South America, conversational overlap - interrupting another speaker - is common, while in Norway it is considered rude to interrupt someone mid-sentence. Visiting negotiators from more expressive cultures can cause offense by interrupting their Norwegian counterparts during a business meeting. Interpersonal Space Norwegians tend to stand at an arm's length distance from conversational partners in business gatherings. In contrast, expressive Latins and Arabs may step in much closer, causing discomfort and stress to locals who are unaware of this cultural difference. Touch Behavior There is little touching in business situations except for the handshake. Avoid arm-grabbing and backslapping. Visitors from expressive, high-contact cultures should not misinterpret Norwegian reserve as coldness or arrogance. Eye Contact Like many Northern Europeans and North Americans, Norwegians normally employ moderate gaze behavior, ie alternately looking their counterparts in the eye and then looking away. This may confuse Arabs and Latins, who are accustomed to strong, steady eye contact. On the other hand, Norwegian gaze behavior may confuse many Asians. Negotiators from these cultures are used to soft, indirect eye contact, and equate the Scandinavian gaze with staring, which is regarded as rude, hostile behavior. Making Appointments Visitors should have confirmed appointments. Although references and introductions are useful anywhere in the world, you can also contact Norwegian companies directly by telephone, fax or mail to make an appointment. Intermediaries are much less important than in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. Terms of Address Although Norwegians usually address each other rather informally and use first names. However, when introduced for the first time, address your counterpart by Mr or Ms and their surname - Ms Jensen. Wait for your local counterpart to suggest switching to first names. Male visitors should not be surprised if they are addressed by their surname alone. Professional titles followed by the family name, such as Doctor Larsen or Professor Thomassen are used when relevant to the situation, whereas business titles such as Director are not used. It is appropriate to address government officials with their titles. Business Punctuality Business meetings usually start on time in Norway. Plan to arrive five to ten minutes early for appointments. If you are going to be even a few minutes late, call to explain the problem. A late visitor is presumed to be either impolite or disinterested. Meetings are rarely interrupted by phone calls or other intrusions. Dress Although business visitors can be a bit more relaxed than in many other business cultures, as a general rule, business visitors should wear a suit and tie, especially when visiting large multinational companies. However dress norms vary depending on the business involved. A jacket with trousers is acceptable attire in many smaller concerns. Follow the lead of your host. Hand-shaking Norwegians expect a firm, brief handshake and steady, moderate eye contact. Prolonged pumping is not done. Shake hands with each person present and again when leaving. Only at formal affairs should a semi-stiff posture and mild bow accompany a handshake. Business versus Leisure Time Norwegians tend to have