The Link Between Greek And Western Civilization Essay Example for Free

The Link Between Greek And Western Civilization Essay The Greek civilization is recognized to have been one of the foremost contributors to Western Civilization. The culture, politics, science, and educational systems of the ancient Greeks are said to have impacted the development of early Western Civilization and are thus the foundations upon which our present society is based. Many different historians, experts, and writers have tried to provide a comprehensive understanding of ancient Greek and its impact on modern society. Bruce Thornton is one of these experts and he shows in his book that the Greeks did, in fact, contribute a great deal to our civilization. When we talk about the Greek civilization, the conversation invariably goes into a discussion of their achievements. Greek philosophers were known for their use of reason and logic. The speech forms of rhetoric and dialogue were developed and perfected by the Greeks in large agoras or public spaces where they were wont to hold numerous public discussions about intellectual matters. The political system of democracy developed in ancient Greece and is considered by many to be their most important contribution to modern society. The literature of the time continues to regale modern audiences. The Greek epics The Odyssey and The Iliad are still capable of inspiring modern works. The writings of Plato are still the favored topics of discussion by scholars. The impact of Greek science on Western civilization is equally great. In the field of medicine, for example, one will not be considered a doctor without first taking the Hippocratic Oath. Greek art has influenced present society by being the forerunners of aesthetics. Even architectural works like the Parthenon have had a great impact on the way Western Civilization continues today. By simply looking at the works of the ancient Greeks and comparing present-day Western society, it is clear that the Greeks were able to contribute to all aspects of Western life today. But Bruce Thornton asserts that there is a deeper and more primal contribution by the Greeks. The entirety of what other writers and scholars have talked about as the contributions of Greek civilization to Western Civilization can be summed up as a contribution of critical consciousness. What the Greeks truly gave Western civilization was the ability to analyze, to think critically about the self and everything outside of the self. It is perhaps the case that all the greatest accomplishments of the Greeks were born out of this practiced ability to be critical. Democracy, rhetoric, even logic all come from a critical consciousness. The Greeks, above everything else they did, gave Western civilization a model and the ways by which one could develop a critical consciousness. This contribution is larger than the more concrete, more talked about works of the Greeks. Because the Greek civilization shared the legacy of critical consciousness with the Western civilization, the latter has been able to think on its own. Because of critical consciousness, we have been able to give birth to equal rights, free speech, public education. The Greeks did not espouse the same ideas regarding the three concepts but because we have critical minds of our own, because we have immersed ourselves in the legacy of the Greeks, we are able to decide on our own what would be best for our society. We are not reliant on the processes, philosophies, and hierarchies practiced by a previous civilization. Because the Greeks gave us critical consciousness, we are able to take what they had and make it into something much better, much more appropriate for our civilization, for the times we live in now.

Evaluation of Healthcare Practice

Evaluation of Healthcare Practice Lauren Lovett   In this portfolio the author will talk about the work practice organisation in terms of status and size in relation to the Irish economy and the world economy if it is applicable. The author will also summarize the work practice organisations structure, main aims and overall objectives. They will determine the organisations culture and values as demonstrated by the management practice and staff client engagement. The author will touch on the key factors that impact on the work practice organisation and give a review on the impact of relevant government policy on the work practice organisation. Another thing the author will do is to assess id social or ethical issues have affected the work practice organisation or may impact in the future, they will also comment on any impact to the work practice organisation in relation to economic and population shifts. Health safety and welfare as well as employment and equality were also covered. The author also explained the internal and the external policies. Portfolio The work place that the author done their experience in was in Saggart, Co. Dublin, the facility itself was very beautiful and well kept. There were 62 beds in the nursing home and two double rooms for couples. The nursing home is a private residential setting and it deals mainly with end of life care and the social understanding of clients, It is a highly recommended nursing home. This nursing home differs from other nursing homes because it is private, meaning that it is more expensive but the quality of care in the authors opinion is more evident as it is a small enough facility. The nursing home is a two story building that includes two dining rooms. There are 42 bedrooms downstairs and the rest of the bedrooms are upstairs, the bedrooms that are upstairs are mainly to accommodate people who have life limiting illnesses. Each bedroom in the nursing home has its own private bathroom so that the clients can feel at home, the bedrooms are quite big and they consist of a bed, bedside table, locker and a wardrobe. The clients also have safes in their bedroom if they would like to put anything in just so that they can feel safer in the environment.   In comparison to other private nursing homes the author feels as though it is an amazing facility as it is only a year open. From research the author has found there to be many problems with other private nursing homes according to the HIQA reports, the author also got information from their peers regarding the quality of care that was being delivered in the nursing homes that they were doing their work practic e in and the author feels as though the nursing home they have been doing their work practice in has a lot more to offer. The private sector is not a very large part o the community in Ireland and people would be much more inclined to go public regarding their healthcare as it is cheaper and the finances are managed by the government instead of just one person or a number of people controlling all of the finances. The author thinks that the public would benefit more from the private sector, although more expensive. There are many different reasons from this but the main one being the quality of care that is given, and being able to be a part of an organisation that can make their own decisions regarding the welfare of their company. The nursing homes support scheme is a way that the funding can be helped for people who need long term care in a nursing home and it allows them to go private and the government will fund the cost, although it is not an easy list to get on the author thinks that it is a great improvement. To be a HCA you need the equivalent of a QQI level 5 in healthcare, this entails having 8 modules completed successfully as well as having manual handling, first aid, end of life care and patient handling courses completed. Most nursing homes/ hospitals may ask that more qualifications be acquired, for example training in dementia. Portfolio The nursing home the author completed their work experience in had their own personalised mission statement. The ethos at Millbrook manor nursing home is to provide our residents with the highest level of quality of life that is achievable. The nursing home makes it very clear that respect and dignity are the most important things that they have to offer and they make it clear that each client will be treated as a member of their own family would be. The nursing home is committed to working closely with each and every resident, and ensuring that their individual needs are met. The ideal situation would be to create an environment that feels just like home within a safe environment. They focus on promoting the independence of their residence, personally, medically, psychologically, socially and spiritually by continuing to lead their own everyday life within their own capabilities. Our values What we do is important. We respect, support and strive to improve the communities we serve. We are honest, fair and ethical in everything we do. We recognise and appreciate the individual in all of our residents and staff. We accept responsibility for our actions. We make life and work meaningful and enjoyable for all. Portfolio Evaluate the impact of globalisation and new technology and science on the work practice organisation. Globalisation in the nursing home is a massive thing, there are many different cultures that are mixed into the one community and although some residents are traditional and do not agree with this there has never been a problem regarding the social acceptance or treatment as both residents and staff and mixed cultures. The service that is provided in the nursing home is provided in other places around the world that would accommodate for Irish people Technology is progressing very fast within the healthcare community, in nursing homes there is now a system app called V-care which allows the staff to click into profiles of each client and tick in boxes to ensure that they have been assisted. This has also helped with the time frame that healthcare professionals have to keep to within work, it has helped with deadlines and it also allows other carers to see if a person has been assisted or not. In the nursing home that the author was completing their work experience in they did not hear of any new scientific advancement. The impact that the recent recession has not really impacted the nursing home at all in relation to funds as it is not on a public sector, there are also schemes in place to allow for the clients to be able to afford a bedroom in the nursing home, despite the recession it was agreed that these funds would not be cut at all. The government, although reluctant to fund any schemes that may involve the private healthcare sector. There are multi nationalities as part of the staff as well as the clients, Most of the staff in the work place are from another culture or have different religious view than some of the patients, this does not seem to cause any problems as the staff respect the wishes of the patients and vice versa. Discrimination is not a problem within the work place as everybody respects each other and the main purpose of the nursing home is to show respect and promote social interaction, this helps with a lot of patients who may not enjoy company of others as it is required that they be up and not in bed all day, this does not help the patients in any way. Portfolio The point of health and safety is to ensure that; Secures improve the safety, health and welfare of people at work. The requirements for the control of safety are met and reached within the work place. The people in charge (management) ensure that everything possible is done to achieve solutions and that the regulations are met. The roles and responsibilities of employers and employees are regarded as proper. Safety statements are statements that are to be filled out, they must list all of the control measure that are to be taken and how to avoid hazards, the people who are responsible for implementing and maintaining these measures must be named. It must also contain plans to deal with emergencies or serious/imminent risk cases, the HCA must also list the names of each of the safety representatives. Conclusion In this portfolio the author has talked about the work practice organisation in terms of status and size in relation to the Irish economy. The author has also summarised the work practice organisations structure, main aims and their overall objectives. They will determine the organisations culture and values as demonstrated by the management practice and staff client engagement. The author has touched on the key factors that impact on the work practice organisation and gave a review on the impact of relevant government policy on the work practice organisation. Another thing the author has done is assess if the social or ethical issues have affected the work practice organisation or may impact in the future, they have also commented on any impact to the work practice organisation in relation to economic and population shifts. Health safety and welfare at work as well as employment equality were also covered. The author has also explained the internal and the external policies.

Todays Fashion Ltd.

Todays Fashion Ltd. Q1: Job analysis conducted by Mary for Todays Fashion ltd is inefficient. This is because a typical analysis of any job requires a combination of more than one method and/or approach in analyzing tasks to arrive at quality outcome. Employing a sngle method in analyzing any given tasks requirements in most instances brings inaccurate results owing to the perceived weaknesses of such a method. Such weaknesses have a dire impact on task and skills analysis procedures. Additionally, job analysis should be carried out by a professional with relevant specialization in hiring/recruitment procedures in order to ensure credible results of the entire analysis. As evidenced from the case study, Mary who is the pacific region sale manager has no formal education on job analysis or in particular personnel management training. Any job analysis carried by individuals with no formal training is likely to be inefficient. Training is paramount to the quality of output for any given task and/or activit y. Therefore, Marys experience alone does not qualify her to institute effective job analysis schedule. The method used by Mary is appropriate. However, the weakness of the overall analysis is brought by relying on one method to come up with the analysis. Additionally, relying on experience may be subjective and thus may not actually reflect the task requirements. Nevertheless, there are various strengths of the sales manager efforts. First, during the interviews, the interviewer can effectively describe himself to the people he is interviewing compared to other methods like questionnaires. Proper description of the task requirements will enable the interviewer to come up with proper conclusions regarding the job analysis. Interviews will help the interviewers to clarify issues which are not clear to the people being interviewed. Clarification of issues will enable the people being interviewed to give reliable answers to the interviewer. Also, interviews allow immediate response and interaction environment between the recruit and the employer, as compared to other methods like questionnaires. This boosts firms effort in driving needed conclusions for job analysis Just-in-Time. Interviews are also useful for complex questions that require intensive discussion which could not have otherwise be achieved through other method of job analysis. Interviews may also be modified to gather extra information needed to make conclusions as compared to other methods such as online recruiting which are static. However, Marys efforts have various weaknesses. First, interviews may lead to biased conclusions as the outcome of the entire procedure is pegged on subjective opinions such first-impression effects of the interviewer. Biased conclusion may affect the companys efficiency in selection and recruitment of human resources if the selection is based on the biased job analysis. Additionally, interviewing as well as employee skill scrutiny requires an interviewer with relevant skills and relevance for quality results, which Mary is devoid of. Therefore, the efforts employed by the sales manager may not yield the desired results. Moreover, interviews are time consuming and expensive. Also due to the large size of Todays fashions, interview carried out on the sample outlet may not represent the views of the 35 outlets that Mary is managing. Q2: Some of the factors that Mary ought to considered with more weight to improve her job analysis includes the frequency of specific tasks, skills, complexity and efforts exerted in performing various falling the assistant managers position, so as to effectively evaluate the competence and skills to sought during hiring. Also, in order to improver the quality of her analysis, Mary should consider the environment and job market dynamics in which the business is operating. Environment in most instances has a major impact on requirements in carrying out a given task. Work environment may include such as aggressive and hostile customers and extreme temperaments, among others. Consideration of work environment by the sales manager in job analysis for Todays fashion is crucial as it will help select store managers with good customer relations skills. Valuable customer relation is necessary for todays fashion ltd because some customers are aggressive and hostile, and therefore dealing with these types of customers requires high level of customer relations capacity. To improve the quality of analysis, Mary should also consider the equipment and tools needed to perform various tasks. For instance, if the stores records are to be maintained using a computerized system, the selection should include a manager with relevant information technology skills. Additionally, the sales manager should consider organization culture and strategy to improve her quality of analysis. An analysis that is consistent with the culture and laid down procedures usually yields positive returns for any given firm. Q3: Job description and specification prepared by Mary does not appear to be thorough. This is because the description fails to substantively spell out the role of the assistant manager in a given store department. An assistant manager has a significant degree of authority in making strategic decisions on store departmental issues under delegated authority from general stores manager. Additionally, under job specification, to effectively manage human capital in a given store Mary ought to posses some level of management skills. This is because the efficiency of management is directly proportional to the companys profitability and/or performance. In my opinion, the job specification and description criterion outlined by Mary does not form a substantive ground to form a basis of new selection criteria. This is because of the loopholes noted in the specification and job description schedule. For instance, the qualifications desired for the assistant store manager are inadequate, and no consideration has been made to include authority issues and duties scope. The documents prepared by Mary will work against firms goal attainment standards if sued for discrimination in recruitment of employees. This is because she restricts appointment to the people who have previously worked with the Todays fashion to some degree.

The Haber Process :: essays research papers

1. The Haber Process During the first decade of the twentieth century the world-wide demand for ammonia for use in fertilisers (in the form of nitrates) and in the production of explosives for use in mining and warfare could only be satisfied on a large scale from deposits of guano in Chile (2). Though this deposit was of huge size (approximately five feet thick and 385 kilometres long) it represented a rapidly depleting resource when compared to world-wide demand. As a result of this there was much research into how ammonia could be produced from atmospheric nitrogen. The problem was eventually solved by Fritz Haber (1868 - 1934) in a process which came to be known as the "Haber Process" or the "Haber - Bosch Process". Haber developed a method for synthesising ammonia utilising atmospheric nitrogen and had established the conditions for large scale synthesis of ammonia by 1909 and the process was handed over to Carl Bosch for industrial development (1). the reaction is a simple equilibrium reaction which occurs in gaseous state as follows; N2 (g) + 3H2 (g) = 2NH3 (g) heat of enthalpy = -92.6 kJ/mol In predicting how to obtain the highest yield from this reaction we must refer to Le Chatlier's Principle. This states that for an equilibrium reaction the equilibrium will work in the opposite direction to the conditions forced upon it. The conditions most pertinent to the above reaction are temperature and pressure. The pressure exerted by any gas or mixture of gasses in an enclosed space is directly proportional to the number of atoms or molecules of gas regardless of their size or molecular mass. Reference to the above reaction shows that, as the reaction moves to the right the number of molecules and hence the pressure decreases. Therefore the reaction moving to the right (i.e. towards the product required) is favoured by an increase in pressure. With regard to temperature, the reaction moving to the right is exothermic i.e. it gives off energy (in the form of heat). Therefore reference to Le Chatlier's Principle shows that the reaction to the right is favoured by low temperatures. However, when Haber placed the reactants together under these conditions it was shown that the rate of reaction was so slow as to render the process unfeasible as an industrial process. This is because of an unusually high activation energy. The activation energy of a reaction is the energy required by the reactants to achieve an intermediate state required before they form the products.

A Sense of Justice :: Law College Admissions Essays

A Sense of Justice "It's midnight, and I'm standing in "the yard" after a powerful speech at Memorial Church just a few hours ago. The night is chilly, and I unravel the sweater from around my waist and place it upon my shoulders. As I stand freezing in the yard, a steady stream of friends and associates pass by me offering "congratulations". A short time before, I had delivered the introductory speech for our Black History Month campus guest speaker, Johnny Cochran. As I stood freezing in the yard, I was humbled. Cochran's message that night was that vigilant and systemic protest has profound power and can help deliver social justice. His message rang as true as Malcolm X's call to social action from the same podium more than thirty years before. And, now, as the stars lit the yard electric, Cochran's words took me back to the first time I understood what "protest" meant to me and my sense of justice. It was my first year at the most venerable institution in the world, and my high-school dreams had been achieved. Yet, that fall, I was feeling empty inside. As I drowned my sorrows in a latte at Au Bon Pain near the "T" entrance, I noticed a large crowd gathering outside. I later learned that a short time before, an undergraduate running to the co-op had carelessly knocked a homeless man to the ground. As I looked up from my latte, I saw a homeless man crawling around the sidewalk, yelling something about being unable to see and cursing profusely. Nearby, I saw a woman I recognized as a senior, crawling around on the ground with him. Finally, she stood up, with a pair of broken glasses in hand. "You bastard!" she screamed at the retreating undergraduate. I didn't know what to think. I had never seen a white homeless person before, and certainly not one being helped by a black woman. I approached the woman and told her my name. She was still clearly flustered and angry, her brown eyes flashing amid an expanse of curly hair. "They just don't get it!" she grumbled angrily. I silently looked down. Suddenly, she turned to me. "Sometimes, we've got to sit down and stand up for the dignity of human kind. Sometimes, we've got to do what's right." Silently, I nodded my head.

Explain the characteristics of assessment for learning Essay

Assessment for learning focuses on the learning process and how to improve a child’s academic progression, finding out where pupils are within a learning range, where they need to go and how best to get there. A variety of assessment for learning strategies can be used to aide children in their learning and these can be adopted by teachers to gain an understanding of what has been achieved and what next steps will be required to take a child’s learning forward. Typical characteristics of assessment for learning are; †¢ Enable teachers to plan the next stages in a child’s learning to ensure individual progress. †¢ Provide a consistent whole school approach that encourages teaching and learning. †¢ To make sure that pupils are actively involved in lessons from the very start. †¢ Helping pupils understand and know the standard of work that they are aiming for in class by asking questions of themselves i.e. â€Å"what have I learnt?† ~ â€Å"what could I have done to improve on that piece of work?† †¢ Providing constructive feedback that will help pupils identify improvement and by also educating pupils in self assessment methods in order to ascertain areas for development . †¢ In order for teachers and pupils to play an important role in facilitating learning experiences then there must be an element of active listening from both child and teacher. †¢ Have faith that every child can progress in contrast to earlier achievements they had made. †¢ By recognising that enthusiasm and self esteem which is vital for effective learning and progress will be increased by using effective assessment methods. †¢ In order for pupils to understand where they are in their learning they should be encouraged to think, ask question and work together in groups as this will allow them to evaluate their own understanding. †¢ Pupils should be encouraged to connect their learning to other lessons, topics or life outside of school.

Spanish Culture

Spain is a very geographic diverse country, ranging from deserts, beaches, and mountains. Spain is deeply rooted in tradition due to the many outside influences throughout time. Spain is the third largest country in Europe. Spain became part of NATO, and then joined the European Union in 1986. After this the economy of Spain increased significantly, placing Spain firmly on the Western economy map and gained major trading partners. The country is a highly developed and stable democracy. Spanish Family Values   The family is the basis of the social structure and includes both the nuclear and the extended family, which sometimes provides both a social and a financial support network. .Today, it is less common than previously for family members to work in a family business, as personal preferences are important and university education is general . The structure and the size of the family vary, but generally, people live until longer lives, have fewer children than before, and fewer pe ople live in their homes with extended family.   Familial networks have become less tight. The greatest changes have occurred inside families, between men and woman, and the parents and children because the values that inspire these relations have changed. Religion in Spain The majority of Spaniards are formally Roman Catholic, although different religious beliefs are accepted. During the history of Spain, there have been long periods of where different religious groups have coexisted, including Muslims, Jews and Christians.Still some traditions manifest more like a cultural event than a religious one. During Holy Week, many participants of the processions wear peaked, black hats as the sign of a penitent and walk barefoot, carrying a burden of some kind. Religious history is apparent in every small town, where the most grandiose building is typically the church. In the large cities the Cathedrals are almost museums. Bussines – Key concepts and values Face – Spanish culture places a large emphasis on personal pride.Therefore, causing loss of face through criticism or embarrassment should be avoided at all costs. During business meetings, for example, it is essential that your presentations are comprehensible in order to avoid any embarrassment that may occur from possible misunderstandings. In addition, when dealing with your Spanish counterparts you may also find that competence and control are important elements of their work ethos and crucial for saving face.This may result in your Spanish colleagues insisting that everything is in order, even if it is not. Individualism – In terms of personal attributes, individualism is highly valued in Spain, along with an emphasis on character and social status. Spanish culture highlights the importance of self and one’s family. However, influenced by its collectivist past, family values, a sense of identity and belonging to a group, are also integral parts of society in Spain.Consequently personal qualities, appearance, image and personal relationships are extremely significant components in contemporary Spanish culture. In a business context, personal attributes and character are frequently valued as much as technical ability, experience or professional competence. When doing business in Spain, you will find that individualism is particularly predominant in management, where Spanish managers are less inclined to favour group decision making and team orientation.Uncertainty Avoidance – This is a vital element of Spanish culture that refers to the cautious approach the Spanish take towards new ideas. In Spain, individuals tend to avoid ambiguity, but often accept a familiar risk situation. Spain's attitudes to rules, regulations and structure are important for maintaining a sense of control in a typically uncertain situation. In business, managers in Spain generally prefer to have precise answers to questions and give precise instructions in order to reduce con flict.In addition, you may find that the Spanish amenable nature to initial business suggestions is often hindered by a considered and tentative approach to final decisions. Masculinity Vs Feminity — Machismo is the word for male dominance, and the culture of old men who created it has changed dramatically. Spain is a very equalitarian society, the birth rate is the one of the lowest in Europe, and women are present at university and work. High Context vs. Low Context –Take a look how members of high and low contextual cultures see themselves and their opposites: High Context Communication |Low Context Communication | |polite |open | |respectful |true | |integrates by similarities/harmony |integrates by authenticity | |not direct |direct | |High Context claims Low Context |Low Context claims High Context | |impolite |hiding information | |â€Å"cannot read between the lines† |not trustable | |naive |arrogant | |no self discipline |too formal | |too fast |too slo w | In high context communication information can have different meanings according.It needs additional information to encode (understand). In low context communication information has only one single meaning. Spain is between High and low context communication but it is more oriented to high context. DOING BUSSINES IN SPAIN †¢ Working practices o Working hours can vary across Spain. Generally speaking, offices open at approximately 09. 00 and close mid-evening, with a two-hour break around 14. 00. However, Spanish working hours have become more â€Å"Europeanised† in recent years, particularly in the northern cities. o Business appointments should always be made well in advance in Spain and confirmation via letter or fax beforehand is advised.It is best to arrange initial business meetings for mid-morning due to the relatively unusual structure of the Spanish working day. o Punctuality is expected of foreign visitors; however, you may sometimes find your Spanish counter parts arrive up to 30 minutes late. †¢ Structure and hierarchy o Hierarchy and position are extremely significant in Spanish business culture. For this reason it is advised to work with those of equal rank rather than with someone of a lower business status. o The distinct hierarchical structure of Spanish businesses means the authority to make decisions rests with the individual in highest authority. o Subordinates are respectful of authority and are generally far removed from their superiors.Spanish business culture advocates subordinate initiative where problems are dealt with at lower levels first before approaching superiors for assistance. †¢ Working relationships o An essential part of conducting business in Spain is establishing personal contacts. Generally speaking, the Spanish prefer to do business with those they are familiar with, therefore obtaining personal contacts enables the negotiation process to advance more swiftly and successfully. o Establishing solid business relationships and building colleague rapport is a vital concept in Spanish business culture. Effective business negotiations and decisions are frequently based on trust and personal feelings, as well as concrete evidence. The Spanish close sense of personal space and animated means of expression and communication can be seen as part of this emotion directed culture.†¢ Business practices o The decision-making process in Spain is usually unhurried and can be a gradual, detailed procedure that involves consideration from various levels within the company. In this respect, maintaining good relationships with your Spanish counterparts from all positions are vital for success. o When arriving at an appointment it is advised to present your business card to the receptionist. Wherever possible, business cards should be printed in English on one side and in Spanish on the other. You should present your card with the Spanish side facing the recipient. An initial introduction at both business and social meetings generally include a formal handshake with everyone present, male and female, whilst making direct eye contact. Business etiquette (Do's and Don'ts) †¢ DO remain patient in all dealings with your Spanish counterparts.The Spanish are sometimes noted for their relaxed approach to business and Spanish bureaucracy can be frustrating. However, be wary of the ‘manana' stereotype as you will find that certainly in the northern regions such as Catalonia and the Basque Country that deadlines and punctuality are much more closely adhered to. †¢ DO try to maintain a friendly and personal atmosphere during negotiations. In order to be effective in Spain, Spanish business culture also requires a sense of self-dignity, consideration and diplomacy. DO use basic titles of courtesy, Mr, Mrs, or Miss, followed by the surname, and professional titles, such as Dr, where known. Particularly with older counterparts or those in the south of Spain. Care sho uld also be taken in using the correct surname as Spaniards have two, their father's first surname and their mother's first surname.Normally the father's surname is used on its own. †¢ DON'T expect to enter into business discussions at the start of a meeting. Your Spanish colleagues will want to establish a familiar environment on which to build new business relationships. This may include asking personal questions regarding your family life and background. DON'T presume that business can be explicitly discussed over meals, it is generally considered a sociable activity and therefore you should wait until your Spanish colleagues initiate such conversation. Despite this, business lunches and dinners are a vital part of business life in Spain as a means through which to establish trust and future business relationships. †¢ DON'T display signs of over assertiveness or superiority. Your Spanish counterparts will appreciate a more modest approach to business negotiations.http:/ /www. communicaid. com/cross-cultural-training/culture-for-business-and-management/doing-business-in/Spanish-business-and-social-culture. php