Thursday, October 31, 2019

Biblcal Concepts of Worship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Biblcal Concepts of Worship - Essay Example Martin's definition of worship as a dramatic celebration of God must have kindled this quest for finding ways on how one should worship. A look at the Scriptures about the doctrine of worship will help make this new trend be subject to the evaluation of the churches in general, in this modern age. In the Old Testament there is one main word which is identified which is rendered "worship." It occurs a total of 172 times in the Authorized Version and being rendered 99 times by "worship" and 68 times as a verb or as an action which denotes the bending over or making oneself appear to be smaller than one really is. The word worship means bow, bow down, obeisance, reverence, fall down, stoop, or crouch. Worship is a technical term for an action where a man's attitude before God is concerned. Worship is our reaction based on our knowledge of who God is or of what He has done for us. The Hebrew word "worship" carries with it the action of bowing down. The emphasis on the action illustrates the relationship of the creature, man, towards the Creator, God. Worship, therefore, in this case is acknowledging God's sovereignty. In several Scripture passages, the word translated "worship" means to do obeisance. It is to show respect and reverence to a superior. When the authority of the superior is recognized, the inferior "bowed down" or "prostrated themselves" at the other's feet as a recognition of their being superior. More often, worship is tied up with the revelation of who God is. When a person "worshipped" God or fell down before God in the Old Testament, they were doing so because they knew who God is in their lives. How a man will worship God will be based on how he knows God. If he doesn't know God, he cannot react in worship. If his knowledge of God is limited, so will his worship be also. Bowing down or falling down is an acknowledgment of God's supremacy, His sovereignty, and His authority. From this confession that God is superior arises an action of obedience in the life of the one who worships. When God said, "Why do you call Me Lord, Lord and not do what I tell you" He was expressing the idea that if one acknowledges God as sovereign it must result to his obedience to the commands that are received from Him. The New Testament Worship There are many words in the New Testament which are translated as "worship". There is one which occurs in 60 occasions and is always rendered "worship" in the Authorized Version. The word connotes that the worshipper had to be involved in some form of bending, kneeling or prostration. This was parallel to obeisance in the Old Testament. There are two other words which mean "to revere" or "to adore" and this emphasizes the feeling of awe or devotion in the act of worship. The Contemporary or Modern Worship As mentioned earlier, many of the churches today of the Protestants and the Catholics have ventured into the realm of findings new ways of expressing their worship, more specifically, public worship. This venture results from the desire to have a kind of worship that will work and continue to be practiced in the church. "A worship that will have staying power is a worship that is firmly grounded in the old, yet aware of and concerned for new ways to respond to the old, old story." (Webber) Everyday, many churches coming from different lights of traditions are making a new touch with their worship. From liturgical

Monday, October 28, 2019

Industrial Relations Essay Example for Free

Industrial Relations Essay Industrial relations has three faces: science building, problem solving, and ethical. [9] In the science building phase, industrial relations is part of the social sciences, and it seeks to understand the employment relationship and its institutions through high-quality, rigorous research. In this vein, industrial relations scholarship intersects with scholarship in labor economics, industrial sociology, labor and social history, human resource management, political science, law, and other areas. Industrial relations scholarship assumes that labor markets are not perfectly competitive and thus, in contrast to mainstream economic theory, employers typically have greater bargaining power than employees. Industrial relations scholarship also assumes that there are at least some inherent conflicts of interest between employers and employees (for example, higher wages versus higher profits) and thus, in contrast to scholarship in human resource management and organizational behavior, conflict is seen as a natural part of the employment relationship. Industrial relations scholars therefore frequently study the diverse institutional arrangements that characterize and shape the employment relationship—from norms and power structures on the shop floor, to employee voice mechanisms in the workplace, to collective bargaining arrangements at company, regional, or national level, to various levels of public policy and labor law regimes, to varieties of capitalism (such as corporatism, social democracy, and neoliberalism). When labor markets are seen as imperfect, and when the employment relationship includes conflicts of interest, then one cannot rely on markets or managers to always serve workers’ interests, and in extreme cases to prevent worker exploitation. Industrial relations scholars and practitioners therefore support institutional interventions to improve the workings of the employment relationship and to protect workers’ rights. The nature of these institutional interventions, however, differ between two camps within industrial relations. 10] The pluralist camp sees the employment relationship as a mixture of shared interests and conflicts of interests that are largely limited to the employment relationship. In the workplace, pluralists therefore champion grievance procedures, employee voice mechanisms such as works councils and labor unions, collective bargaining, and labor-management partnerships. In the policy arena, pluralists advocate for minimum wage laws, occupational health and safety standards, international labor standards, and other employment and labor laws and public policies. 11] These institutional interventions are all seen as methods for balancing the employment relationship to generate not only economic efficiency, but also employee equity and voice. [12] In contrast, the Marxist-inspired critical camp sees employer-employee conflicts of interest as sharply antagonistic and deeply embedded in the socio-political-economic system. From this perspective, the pursuit of a balanced employment relationship gives too much weight to employers’ interests, and instead deep-seated structural reforms are needed to change the sharply antagonistic employment relationship that is inherent within capitalism. Militant trade unions are thus frequently supported. History Industrial relations has its roots in the industrial revolution which created the modern employment relationship by spawning free labor markets and large-scale industrial organizations with thousands of wage workers. [9] As society wrestled with these massive economic and social changes, labor problems arose. Low wages, long working hours, monotonous and dangerous work, and abusive supervisory practices led to high employee turnover, violent strikes, and the threat of social instability. Intellectually, industrial relations was formed at the end of the 19th century as a middle ground between classical economics and Marxism, with Sidney Webb and Beatrice Webb’s Industrial Democracy (1897) being the key intellectual work. Industrial relations thus rejected the classical econ. Institutionally, industrial relations was founded by John R. Commons when he created the first academic industrial relations program at the University of Wisconsin in 1920. Early financial support for the field came from John D. Rockefeller, Jr. ho supported progressive labor-management relations in the aftermath of the bloody strike at a Rockefeller-owned coal mine in Colorado. In Britain, another progressive industrialist, Montague Burton, endowed chairs in industrial relations at Leeds, Cardiff and Cambridge in 1930, and the discipline was formalized in the 1950s with the formation of the Oxford School by Allan Flanders and Hugh Clegg. [13] Industrial relations was formed with a strong p roblem-solving orientation that rejected both the classical economists’ laissez faire solutions to labor problems and the Marxist solution of class revolution. It is this approach that underlies the New Deal legislation in the United States, such as the National Labor Relations Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act. Industrial relations scholars have described three major theoretical perspectives or frameworks, that contrast in their understanding and analysis of workplace relations. The three views are generally known as unitarism, pluralist and radical. Each offers a particular perception of workplace relations and will therefore interpret such events as workplace conflict, the role of unions and job regulation differently. The radical perspective is sometimes referred to as the conflict model, although this is somewhat ambiguous, as pluralism also tends to see conflict as inherent in workplaces. Radical theories are strongly identified with Marxist theories, although they are not limited to these. Pluralist perspective In pluralism, the organization is perceived as being made up of powerful and divergent sub-groups, each with its own legitimate loyalties and with their own set of objectives and leaders. In particular, the two predominant sub-groups in the pluralist perspective are the management and trade unions. Consequently, the role of management would lean less towards enforcing and controlling and more toward persuasion and co-ordination. Trade unions are deemed as legitimate representatives of employees, conflict is dealt by collective bargaining and is viewed not necessarily as a bad thing and, if managed, could in fact be channeled towards evolution and positive change. Unitarist perspective In unitarism, the organization is perceived as an integrated and harmonious whole with the ideal of one happy family, where management and other members of the staff all share a common purpose, emphasizing mutual cooperation. Furthermore, unitarism has a paternalistic approach where it demands loyalty of all employees, being predominantly managerial in its emphasis and application. Consequently, trade unions are deemed as unnecessary since the loyalty between employees and organizations are considered mutually exclusive, where there cant be two sides of industry. Conflict is perceived as disruptive and the pathological result of agitators, interpersonal friction and communication breakdown. Marxist/Radical perspective This view of industrial relations looks at the nature of the capitalist society, where there is a fundamental division of interest between capital and labour, and sees workplace relations against this background. This perspective sees inequalities of power and economic wealth as having their roots in the nature of the capitalist economic system. Conflict is therefore seen as inevitable and trade unions are a natural response of workers to their exploitation by capital. Whilst there may be periods of acquiescence, the Marxist view would be that institutions of joint regulation would enhance rather than limit managements position as they presume the continuation of capitalism rather than challenge it Industrial relations today By many accounts, industrial relations today is in crisis. 14][15][16] In academia, its traditional positions are threatened on one side by the dominance of mainstream economics and organizational behavior, and on the other by postmodernism. In policy-making circles, the industrial relations emphasis on institutional intervention is trumped by a neoliberal emphasis on the laissez faire promotion of free markets. In practice, labor unions are declining and fewer companies have industrial relations functions. The number of academic programs in industrial relations is therefore shrinking, and scholars are leaving the field for other areas, especially human resource management and organizational behavior. The importance of work, however, is stronger than ever, and the lessons of industrial relations remain vital. The challenge for industrial relations is to re-establish these connections with the broader academic, policy, and business worlds.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

The Functions Of A Hospitality Manager

The Functions Of A Hospitality Manager The hospitality industry consists of broad category of fields within the service industry that includes lodging, restaurants, event planning, theme parks, transportation, cruise line, and additional fields within the tourism industry. The hospitality industry is a several billion dollar industry that mostly depends on the availability of leisure time and disposable income. A hospitality unit such as a restaurant, hotel, or even an amusement park consists of multiple groups such as facility maintenance, direct operations (servers, housekeepers, porters, kitchen workers, bartenders, etc.), management, marketing, and human resources. The hospitality industry covers a wide range of organizations offering food service and accommodation. The hospitality industry is divided into sectors according to the skill-sets required for the work involved. Sectors include accommodation, food and beverage, meeting and events, gaming, entertainment and recreation, tourism services, and visitor information. Hospitality is the relationship between guest and host, or the act or practice of being hospitable. Specifically, this includes the reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers, resorts, membership clubs, conventions, attractions, special events, and other services for travelers and tourists. A managers primary challenge is to solve problems creatively. While drawing from a variety of academic disciplines, and to help managers respond to the challenge of creative problem solving, principles of management have long been categorized into the four major functions of planning, organizing, leading, and controlling (the P-O-L-C framework). The four functions, summarized in the P-O-L-C figure, are actually highly integrated when carried out in the day-to-day realities of running an organization. Therefore, you should not get caught up in trying to analyze and understand a complete, clear rationale for categorizing skills and practices that compose the whole of the P-O-L-C framework. It is important to note that this framework is not without criticism. Specifically, these criticisms stem from the observation that the P-O-L-C functions might be ideal but that they do not accurately depict the day-to-day actions of actual managers. The typical day in the life of a manager at any level can be fragmented and hectic; with the constant threat of having priorities dictated by the law of the trivial many and important few. However, the general conclusion seems to be that the P-O-L-C functions of management still provide a very useful way of classifying the activities managers engage in as they attempt to achieve organizational goals. ? Hospitality organization Front desk manager (General Manager ? Front desk manager ? Front desk staff) Function: ? Create and produce reports as required. ? Coordinate schedules, payroll and expenses to meet or fall below budget. ? Participates in property initiatives. ? Ensure that guest data and management reporting is processed efficiently and accurately while maintaining proper security standards. ? Ensure that all accounting transaction and cash handling procedures are in compliance. ? Relive front office departments for breaks/lunches. ? Conduct regular monthly meetings with members of the Front Office and Communication Team to address current initiatives, projects and long term goals. ? Pro actively identify potential guest issues. ? Assist housekeeping in day-to-day activities. ? Recruit, hire, train and retain associates for all supervised departments. ? Develop monthly training items to foster development and cross training with other departments. ? Perform associate evaluations, provide coaching and development. ? Monitor guest satisfaction processes, and respond to guest concerns, and inquiries. Housekeeping manager (General Manager ? housekeeping manager? housekeeping staff) Function: ? Manage the day-to-day activities of the housekeeping department. ? Plan, schedule, and organize work to ensure proper coverage. ? Communicate and enforce policies and procedures. ? Ensure all staff are properly trained and have the tools and equipment needed to effectively carry out their respective job duties. ? Develop and implement procedures for managing quality of housekeeping and laundry services. ? Control expenses within all areas of housekeeping. ? Participate in the preparation of the annual departmental operating budget and financial plans which support the overall objectives of the hotel. ? Conduct pre-shift meeting and review all information pertinent to the days activities. ? Establish par levels for supplies and equipment. ? Replenish shortages and other business supplies for daily business. ? Promote teamwork and quality service through daily communication and coordination with other departments. ? Assist with deep cleaning projects and assist housekeeping staff during unanticipated rush periods. Food and Beverage manager (General Manager ? FNB manager ? FNB staff) Function: ? Check that sufficient table linen, food and sundry items have been requisitioned for service periods and that buffer stocks are maintained. ? Allocate jobs and stations, monitoring the completion of tasks before, during and following service periods. ? Ensure the restaurant is cleaned and fully prepared ready for service checking table layouts, sideboards, buffets, special displays etc. ? Check buffet food levels are maintained during service, according to customer demand. ? Greet, seat, take orders, assist guests with food and wine selection. Check customer satisfaction during service. ? Liaise with the kitchen, for menu content, special customer requests, queries and complaints/compliments. ? Promote the menu and special offers. ? Ensure all post-service tasks are completed (e.g. unused foods/dishes/drinks are returned to kitchen, bar or cellar). ? Assist with planning and organizing of special functions/seasonal events/projects. ? Complete required administrative functions (e.g. customer bills, reports, time sheets) and assist with annual budget preparation. ? Ensure effective security of keys and property company, guest and personal. ? Deal with lost property. ? Challenge and report any person acting suspiciously. ? Display and encourage a high level of personal hygiene, customer care courtesy and social skill. ? Assist guests and promote the hotels other facilities and services. ? Function of the hospitality manager Then term management refers to the process of ensuring employees work together efficiently and effectively to achieve the goals set by the organization in which they work. Managing physical and human resources to achieve an organizations customer service goals requires managers to be able to effectively plan, organize, lead and control. Four function of the hospitality manager: (POIC) Planning Organizing Leading Controlling Planning Planning is the function of management that involves setting objectives and determining a course of action for achieving those objectives. Planning requires that managers be aware of environmental conditions facing their organization and forecast future conditions. It also requires that managers be good decision makers. Planning is a process consisting of several steps. The process begins with environmental scanning which simply means that planners must be aware of the critical contingencies facing their organization in terms of economic conditions, their competitors, and their customers. Planners must then attempt to forecast future conditions. These forecasts form the basis for planning. Planners must establish objectives, which are statements of what needs to be achieved and when. Planners must then identify alternative courses of action for achieving objectives. After evaluating the various alternatives, planners must make decisions about the best courses of action for achieving objectives. They must then formulate necessary steps and ensure effective implementation of plans. Finally, planners must constantly evaluate the success of their plans and take corrective action when necessary. For example: To guide their employees To achieve their goals Short-term plan Organizing Organizing is the function of management that involves developing an organizational structure and allocating human resources to ensure the accomplishment of objectives. The structure of the organization is the framework within which effort is coordinated. The structure is usually represented by an organization chart, which provides a graphic representation of the chain of command within an organization. Decisions made about the structure of an organization are generally referred to as organizational design decisions. Organizing also involves the design of individual jobs within the organization. Decisions must be made about the duties and responsibilities of individual jobs, as well as the manner in which the duties should be carried out. Decisions made about the nature of jobs within the organization are generally called job design decisions. Organizing at the level of the organization involves deciding how best to departmentalize, or cluster, jobs into departments to coordinate effort effectively. There are many different ways to departmentalize, including organizing by function, product, geography, or customer. Many larger organizations use multiple methods of departmentalization. Organizing at the level of a particular job involves how best to design individual jobs to most effectively use human resources. Traditionally, job design was based on principles of division of labor and specialization, which assumed that the more narrow the job content, the more proficient the individual performing the job could become. However, experience has shown that it is possible for jobs to become too narrow and specialized. For example, how would you like to screw lids on jars one day after another, as you might have done many decades ago if you worked in company that made and sold jellies and jams? When this happens, negative outcomes result, including decreased job satisfaction and organizational commitment, increased absenteeism, and turnover. For example: Need to be allocated to individuals on the service team. This is known as task analysis. Ensure that every task is performed effectively and efficiently. Develop an organization chart and allocating duties. Make sure that enough trained staff on duty. Inadequate staffing is a frequent cause of customer dissatisfaction. Leading Leading involves the social and informal sources of influence that you use to inspire action taken by others. If managers are effective leaders, their subordinates will be enthusiastic about exerting effort to attain organizational objectives. The behavioral sciences have made many contributions to understanding this function of management. Personality research and studies of job attitudes provide important information as to how managers can most effectively lead subordinates. For example, this research tells us that to become effective at leading, managers must first understand their subordinates personalities, values, attitudes, and emotions. Studies of motivation and motivation theory provide important information about the ways in which workers can be energized to put forth productive effort. Studies of communication provide direction as to how managers can effectively and persuasively communicate. Studies of leadership and leadership style provide information regarding questions, such as, What makes a manager a good leader? and In what situations are certain leadership styles most appropriate and effective? For example: Giving instructions or telling and showing people what to do. Controlling Controlling involves ensuring that performance does not deviate from standards. Controlling consists of three steps, which include establishing performance standards, comparing actual performance against standards, and taking corrective action when necessary. Performance standards are often stated in monetary terms such as revenue, costs, or profits but may also be stated in other terms, such as units produced, number of defective products, or levels of quality or customer service. The measurement of performance can be done in several ways, depending on the performance standards, including financial statements, sales reports, production results, customer satisfaction, and formal performance appraisals. Managers at all levels engage in the managerial function of controlling to some degree. The managerial function of controlling should not be confused with control in the behavioral or manipulative sense. This function does not imply that managers should attempt to control or to manipulate the personalities, values, attitudes, or emotions of their subordinates. Instead, this function of management concerns the managers role in taking necessary actions to ensure that the work-related activities of subordinates are consistent with and contributing toward the accomplishment of organizational and departmental objectives. Effective controlling requires the existence of plans, since planning provides the necessary performance standards or objectives. Controlling also requires a clear understanding of where responsibility for deviations from standards lies. Two traditional control techniques are budget and performance audits. An audit involves an examination and verification of records and supporting documents. A budget audit provides information about where the organization is with respect to what was planned or budgeted for, whereas a performance audit might try to determine whether the figures reported are a reflection of actual performance. Although controlling is often thought of in terms of financial criteria, managers must also control production and operations processes, procedures for delivery of services, compliance with company policies, and many other activities within the organization. The management functions of planning, organizing, leading, and controlling are widely considered to be the best means of describing the managers job, as well as the best way to classify accumulated knowledge about the study of management. Although there have been tremendous changes in the environment faced by managers and the tools used by managers to perform their roles, managers still perform these essential functions. For example: Check that everything for they are responsible is on track. Carefully balance these functions, the controlling process. Eventually reveal that things are going wrong. ? Conclusion In my opinion, any function of manager must included four main functions, planning, organizing, leading, controlling. Even different type of manager has their own function; their main function is same with others, such as: front desk manager control his/her staff working process and eventually reveal that things are going wrong, this is same with housekeeping manager control his/her housekeeper working process if they do anything wrong, housekeeping manager must correct it. Q2. List down any dining restaurant and explain what were the operations strategy and the new challenges for future growth. Introduction The term Fine Dining brings to mind all kinds of images, from crisp white table cloths to waiters in tuxedos. Fine dining, just as the name suggests, offers patrons the finest in food, service and atmosphere. It is also the highest priced restaurant you can operate. While you may bring in mucho bucks with a fine dining restaurant you will also pay out more money than if you were running a more casual restaurant, such as a diner or caf. There are three main areas of focus with a fine dining restaurant: the menu, service and atmosphere. ? Fine Dining Restaurant Business Plan Gabris Restaurant Lounge Operations strategy: Competitive Edge: Our competitive edge is the menu, the chef, the environment, the management, the service and our friendly place! We will have an international menu and our food will be made with the freshest ingredients and produce available. The chef has an excellent taste for what fine dining is and requires. Our environment is elegant and comfortable and our decor is warm and relaxing. Great service is very important to us. The management and servers will handle every detail to make customers special evening even more special! All this and our great atmosphere will make customers want to come back again and again! Marketing Strategy The total population in New Jersey is 8,414,350 people. 615,301 people live in Monmouth County, 50% between 25-55 years old. That is the age group that dines out two to three times a week and spends an average $795 a month on food and drinks. There are 224,447 households in Monmouth County and an average 2.7 persons per household. The median family income in Monmouth County averages, $64,271/year. There are 636 registered businesses in Long Branch with 7,885 employees. We mention that there are over 200,000 Scandinavians living in New Jersey and most of them live within 30 miles of Long Branch. We will be serving some Swedish cuisine as there is no Scandinavian restaurant in New Jersey. Our primary customer base is from Long Branch, West Long Branch, Monmouth Beach, Rumson, Little Silver, Middletown, Red Bank, Shrewsbury, Deal, Eatontown, Freehold, Oceanport, Allenhurst, Asbury Park. Sales Strategy Our sales plan is to establish and maintain position with our local customers. The strategy is to build more customers in order to increase revenue. A sale in our business is client service. It is repeat business. We will focus on making all our customers happy with our food, service and entertainment options. Our strategy in the restaurant is to have an experienced staff that knows the food, wine and liquor. We will train every new employee so they will fit in with Gabris concept, which is Wonderful food, reasonably-priced wine and knowledgeable service in an outstanding atmosphere. Exit Strategy No one attempt a business anticipating failure, however sometimes ventures do not fulfill their promise. We at Gabris are committed to our concept and its viability. In the event that our venture cannot achieve profitability and retire the encumbrances; we will first attempt to sell the operation and use the proceeds to clear all outstanding balances. If we are unable to sell the operation for sufficient proceeds we will forced to default whereby the SBA loan will be in senior standing. Any further outstanding balances will be borne by the investors on a weighted percentage basis of the total amounts due in bankruptcy proceedings. New challenge for future growth Important Assumptions The financial plan depends on important assumptions, most of which are shown in the following table as annual figures. The key underlying assumptions are: ? We assume a slow-growth economy, without major recession. ? We assume that there are no unforeseen changes in the expectancy in the popularity of our restaurant. ? We assume access to investments and financing are sufficient to maintain and fulfill our financial plan as shown in the tables. General Assumptions Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Plan Month 1 2 3 Current Interest Rate 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% Long-term Interest Rate 7.00% 7.00% 7.00% Tax Rate 34.58% 35.00% 34.58% Other 0 0 0 Conclusion Their strategy is simple; they intend to succeed by giving people a combination of excellent and interesting food in an environment that appeals to a wide and varied group of successful people. They will focus on maintaining quality and establishing a strong identity in their community. Their main focus in marketing will be to increase customer awareness in the surrounding communities. Their will direct all of their tactics and programs toward the goal of explaining who they are and what they do. They will keep their standards high and execute the concept so that word-of-mouth will be their main marketing force. Their will create an appealing and entertaining environment with unbeatable quality at an exceptional price. An exciting and friendly restaurant, they will be the talk of the town. Therefore, the execution of their concept is the most critical element of their plan. All menu items are moderately priced for the area. While they are not striving to be the lowest-priced restaurant, they are aiming to be the value leader.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Essay --

Slaughter house 5 by Kurt Vonnegut is the story of Billy Pilgrim a soldier in WWII that time travels. At the beginning of the story In Slaughterhouse 5 the frequent use of time travel is Billy Pilgrim’s way of coping with the regrets, and reliving the accomplishments of his life Billy has many regrets in the story but there are 3 regrets that really trouble him a lot. The first is the death of Ronald Weary. Billy is in a huge battle and falls next to a tree where Weary helps him only to receive credit for the rescue. When Weary arrives the Germans spot them and they become prisoners of war they are put on a train and sent to a prison. While Weary is on the train he develops a deadly disease in his foot which consequently kills him. â€Å"There was death on the ninth day in the car ahead of Billy’s too. Ronald weary died of gangrene that had started in his mangles feet. So it goes. Weary in his nearly continuous delirium told of the three musketeers acknowledged that he was dying, gave many messages to be delivered to his family in Pittsburg. Above all, he wanted to be avenged, so he said again and again the name of the person who had killed him. Everyone on the car learned the lesson well. Who killed me he would ask. And everybody knew the answer whi ch was this Billy Pilgrim.† The next thing Billy regrets is going on an airplane that is headed to an optometry convention. He knows it is going to crash because of his ability to time travel yet, he still gets on the plane so he doesn’t make a fool out of himself. He survives the plane crash and wakes up in the hospital. â€Å"Billy pilgrim got on a chartered airplane 25 years after that. He knew it was going to crash but he didn’t want to make a fool of himself by saying so.† After the plane ... ... Traflamadorian philosophy he realizes that time travel to cope with his feelings is not a viable solution. The traflamadorians taught him that there is nothing he can to prevent change or alter the future in anyway because from the beginning the moment was is and always will be struvtured that way. Before he went to traflamadore Billy was time travaling quite frequently to try and cope with regrets and relive accomplishments to see if he could have done anything differently in any of the situations he found himself in. Billy seemed to kill himself over what he could and could not have done. After the experience on traflamadore Billy didn’t time travel as much and he seemed to be at peace with the world and his fate. So it is evident that the frequent use of time travel is Billy Pilgrim’s way of coping with the regrets, and reliving the accomplishments of his life.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Literature Review Essay

They warned the investors not to buy unlisted shares, as Stock Exchanges do not permit trading in unlisted shares. Another rule that they specify is not to buy inactive shares, ie, shares in which transactions take place rarely. Themain reason why shares are inactive is because there are no buyers forthem. They are mostly shares of companies, which are not doing well. A third rule according to them is not to buy shares in closely-held companies because these shares tend to be less active than those of widely held ones since they have a fewer number of shareholders. They caution not to hold the shares for a long period, expecting a high price, but to sell whenever one earns a reasonable reward. Jack Clark Francis (1986) revealed the importance of the rate of return in investments and reviewed the possibility of default and bankruptcy risk. He opined that in an uncertain world, investors cannot predict exactly what rate of return an investment will yield. However he suggested that the investors can formulate a probability distribution of the possible rates of return. He also opined that an investor who purchases corporate securities must face the possibility of default and bankruptcy by the issuer. Financial analysts can foresee bankruptcy. He disclosed some easily observable warnings of a firm’s failure, which could be noticed by the investors to avoid such a risk. Preethi Singh3(1986) disclosed the basic rules for selecting the company to invest in. She opined that understanding and measuring return m d risk is fundamental to the investment process. According to her, most investors are ‘risk averse’. To have a higher return theinvestor has to face greater risks. She concludes that risk is fundamental to the process of investment. Every investor should have an understanding of the various pitfalls of investments. The investor should carefully analyse the financial statements with special reference to solvency, profitability, EPS, and efficiency of the company. David. L. Scott and William Edward4 (1990) reviewed the important risks of owning common stocks and the ways to minimise these risks. They commented that the severity of financial risk depends on how heavily a business relies on debt. Financial risk is relatively easy to minimise if an investor sticks to the common stocks of companies that employ small amounts of debt. They suggested that a relatively easy way to ensure some degree of liquidity is to restrict investment in stocks having a history of adequate trading volume. Investors concerned about business risk can reduce it by selecting common stocks of firms that are diversified in several unrelated industries. Lewis Mandells (1992) reviewed the nature of market risk, which according to him is very much ‘global’. He revealed that certain risks that are so global that they affect the entire investment market. Even the stocks and bonds of the well-managed companies face market risk. He concluded that market risk is influenced by factors that cannot be predicted accurately like economic conditions, political events, mass psychological factors, etc. Market risk is the systemic risk that affects all securities simultaneously and it cannot be reduced through diversification Nabhi Kumar Jain (1992) specified certain tips for buyingshares for holding and also for selling shares. He advised the investors to buy shares of a growing company of a growing industry. Buy shares by diversifying in a number of growth companies operating in a different but equally fast growing sector of the economy. He suggested selling the shares the moment company has or almost reached the peak of its growth. Also, sell the shares the moment you realise you have made a mistake in the initial selection of the shares. The only option to decide when to buy and sell high priced shares is to identify the individual merit or demerit of each of the shares in the portfolio and arrive at a decision. Carter Randal (1992) offered to investors the underlying principles of winning on the stock market. He emphasised on long-term vision and a plan to reach the goals. He advised the investors that to be successful, they should never be pessimists. He revealed thatthough there has been a major economic crisis almost every year, it remains true that patient investors have consistently made money in the equities market. He concluded that investing in the stock market should be an un-emotional endeavour and suggested that investors should own a stock if they believe it would perform well. S. Rajagopal. (1996) commented on risk management in relation to banks. He opined that good risk management is good banking. A professional approach to Risk Management will safeguard the interests of the banking institution in the long run. He described risk identification as an art of combining intuition with formal information. And risk measurement is the estimation of the size, probability and timing of a potential loss under various scenarios. Charles. P. Jonesl8 (1996) reviewed how to estimate security return and risk. To estimate returns, the investors must estimate cash flows the securities are likely to provide. Also, investors must be able to quantify and measure risk using variance or standard deviation. Variance or standard deviation is the accepted measure of variability for both realised returns and expected returns. He suggested that the investors should use it as the situation dictates. He revealed that over the past 12 years, returns in stocks,bonds, etc. have been normal. Blue chip stocks have returned an average of more than 16% per year. He warned that the investors who believe that these rates will continue in the future also, will be in trouble. He also warned the investors not to allow themselves to become victimised by â€Å"investment gurus†. Rukmani Viswanath (2001) reported that the Primary Dealers in Govt. securities are working on a new internal risk management model suited for the Indian market conditions. Theattempt is to lay down general parameters for risk perception. The Primary Dealers Association of India (PDAI) is formulating a set of prudential norms for ‘risk management practices’. While internationally the principles of risk management may be the same everywhere, the Association is of the view that they have to identify the relevant issues and apply those principles in the Indian context. It strongly argues that it must work on a model that can help to manage liquidity and interest rate risk. While the existing RBI guidelines on risk management cover mainly statutory risk, the PDAI hopes that its new risk management model will be able to perceive ‘real risk’. These new norms are expected to help gauge several issues like, whether a fall in the prices of securities or yields is a temporary or permanent situation etc. The areas the new norms are likely to address are the assessment of the liquidity situation and envisaging investor appetite for a specific instrument and their appetite for risk. According to thegovt. securities dealers, these norms are expected to help them hedge. FOOTNOTES 1. Grewal and Navjot Grewal, Profitable lnvestment in shares, Vision Books Pvt. Ltd. 36 Connaught Place, New Delhi 1984. 2. Jack Clark Francis, Investment – Analysis and Management, MC Graw Hill, International Editions, 1986. 3. Preethi Singh, Investment management, Himalaya PublishingHouse, Bombay Nagpur and Delhi,1986. . Lewis Mandell, Investments, Macmillan Publishing Company, New York, 1992. 5. Nabhi Kumar Jain, How to earn more from shares, Nabhi Publications, Delhi, 1992. 6. Carter Randall Non-stop ~winning from the stock market Vision Books, New Delhi, Bombay (1992). . 7. S. Rajagopal,. â€Å"Bank Risk Management – A risk pricing model†, State Bank of india, Monthly Review, VoI. XXXV, No. 11, November 1996, p. 555. 8. Rukmani Viswanth, â€Å"PDs working on Risk Management Model†, TIE Hindu, Business Lime, Daily, Voi. 8, No. 17, January 18,2001, p. 11

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

How to Survive College Essay Example

How to Survive College Essay Example How to Survive College Essay How to Survive College Essay Success College may be intimidating if an incoming student is not given desirable preparation. One of the major misconceptions when entering college is that many students believe it will be Just like high school, which it is not. Also, students need to learn as freshmen the study habits which work best for them. The campus provides substantial resources that the student should take advantage of, but are usually unaware of these services when entering college. Sometimes stress can lead to unhealthy habits which result in even more stress and it becomes a revolving cycle. It is essential for students to learn how to manage their stress. Sometimes orientation and campus tours do not provide enough preparation in order for incoming students to succeed. In order to aid in students college success, I have created a handbook. I have included detailed components in this handbook and have identified key activities and behaviors which will lead the students to success. There are many ways I plan on distributing my handbook, including during campus tours, during freshman orientation, and in freshman classes such as University 100 and introductory Composition courses. Students will be required to read this handbook and will then be tested. Eventually, this group of students will be asked to elaborate how they felt about its effectiveness. The issue of freshman success is highly significant because without a positive and constructive first year, students may feel discouraged and hopeless to any future taking advantage of what college has to offer, a student may find it difficult to adapt to all challenges in the future. It is essential not only to a students academic future, but personal future, that the first year in college is an enjoyable and constructive one. This handbook will provide significant tips and tricks freshmen can consider during their first semester as an undergraduate. Literature Review I have investigated different factors that assist in determining an incoming freshmans overall success in college. Many of these factors are focused on their success academically, but I will also discuss techniques they can use in their personal life. The students transition from high school to college should become smoother after applying the following theories and concepts to their life. Goal-setting Theory Throughout life, goals are essential to achieving anything but in college they come even more substantial. By applying the goal-setting theory to ones academic endeavor, a student becomes more likely to succeed at their highest potential. The goal-setting theory is the discovery that by implementing higher goals, it will guide a person to achieve a greater accomplishment (Phillips Gully, 1997). With college being so stressful, incoming freshmen need to learn the importance of setting goals in order to succeed. Self-Worth Theory of Motivation In addition to goal-setting, creating intrinsic motivation is beneficial. The self- worth theory of motivation declares that ability is directly related to self-worth. This relation is that when uncertainty is present in a students capability to perform, they become uncertain of their self-worth (Martin, Marsh, Williamson, Debus, 2003). When students become intrinsically motivated, versus extrinsically, their self-worth increases which eventually results in higher performance. Self-Efficacy Self-efficacy goes hand in hand with goal-setting and motivation. Phillips Gully (1997) agreed that self-efficacy indicates a students self-identified ability and their personal role of motivation as the students purpose of accomplishing various tasks. This concept directly relates to incoming freshmen because self-efficacy influences their goal-setting options. It has been found that as self-efficacy increases with greater ambitions, the students accomplishments increase as well (Phillips Gully, 1997). Student Engagement Lastly, student engagement is a huge component for ensuring student success. Student engagement is noted as the students commitment to their academic involvement measured by the amount of drive the student dedicates to becoming engaged. While in college, these experiences may be physical or psychological and may not be the same for everyone. Some students may commit more time and energy than others, while other students may choose to spend their energy in different aspects of the academic experience. Student engagement involves: participating in all the opportunities that college has to offer, communicating with professors and staff, Joining various extracurricular clubs or organizations while interacting with peers Ounce, 2012). A few studies have found a correlation between goal-setting and self-efficacy. Phillips Gully (1997) hypothesized that the greater an individual sets their goal, the higher their performance will be after maintaining factors such as self-efficacy. They and performance. This particular study focused on two types of goals: educational goals and performance goals. Educational goals significantly influenced self-efficacy, while performance goals did not. Overall, this study concluded that self-efficacy produced greater self-set goals and created greater performance (Phillips Gully, 1997). Another study that was conducted was related motivation with procrastination. Martin et al. (2003) interviewed incoming freshmen which were identified in either the high or low range for self-handicapping and defensive pessimism. The main hinges the researchers looked at were the students motivation and behaviors behind the acts and feelings they partook in. They investigated deeper into these students personal insights. They found that students who were in the low-range for self- handicapping were more motivated and hardworking while studying. It was noticed that even though the students in the low-range for self-handicapping were conscious of various distractions, they were unaware of the consequences of the various distractions. Overall, when students were highly motivated, they procrastinated less (Martin et al. 2003). Procrastination has been noted to be a process which the mind can use to redirect a persons attention from doing important tasks to believing the next day would better. This concept can be thought of as a form of perfectionism, where students would rather be told they did not try than they were not able to complete the task (Marina, 2006). Self-worth relates to many factors in a students li fe such as procrastination, making friends, and even going to a counselor if needed. When the students ability becomes doubted, so does their self-worth. Hopefully, by making this issue recognizable from the beginning of their higher education, it will reverent them from going further into self-handicapping and defensive pessimism. Junco (2012) did a study to find correlations between Faceable usage and overall GAP. It was found that the frequency of Faceable usage and overall GAP were significantly correlated. As the students Faceable usage increased, their overall GAP would begin to decline. But, Faceable usage was not strongly correlated with the amount of time the student took to prepare for class. Another important result to note is that sharing information on Faceable was highly predictive to the outcome and socializing on Faceable was not significantly predictive Ounce, 2012). Another study was done involving Faceable and the transition into college. Many students stated they loved how convenient it was to connect and interact with people on Faceable. Incoming freshmen also enjoyed Beckoning their future roommates well in advance before moving into housing. Students also felt Faceable was useful in order to connect with their peers from various clubs and organizations. The majority of students felt that Faceable created a sense of community when transitioning to college (Stephenson-Abet Holman, 2012). Even though social media can encourage procrastination, it can help students become more engaged. Twenty years ago, someone may have written a How to Succeed in College handbook and it may have consisted of many of the same factors I am including like, how to study, using resources, and finding intrinsic motivation. But, there is a major factor that was not present back then, social media. Social media has added a whole spin on things in todays society, making it more difficult to be intrinsically motivated and achieving a I have created a How to Succeed in College handbook which will be distributed during campus tours, freshman orientation, and in classes such as University 100 and introductory Composition courses. The distribution of handbooks during campus tours and freshman orientation is mainly to ensure that all incoming students have received it. But, the purpose of distributing the handbooks in introductory courses is to assign this material as a required reading. These handbooks will always be available in many offices on campus, including academic advising, learning resource center, and the university writing center. In addition, they will be available for download in a PDF file on the schools website. University 100 is a class focused on college success, so this handbook would support the curriculum. This class will require students to read over the handbook and rate themselves at the beginning of the semester in specific areas such as preparedness, confidence in success, and work ethic. This same survey will be distributed at the end of the semester so students can compare their scores. Throughout the semester, the student will have one-on-one meetings with their professor to ensure their success. The introductory composition courses are meant to support incoming freshmen in the adventure of improving their composition skills. This course helps facilitate a new approach to the students hinging and writing development. One main goal of the introductory composition classes is to acknowledge the vast differences between high school and college. By using this handbook for writing assignments, it ensures that the students will read it. In addition, it will support freshmen throughout their first year undertakings. The following are significant factors incoming freshmen should consider applying to their college experience. It is useful to apply these strategies to a persons life, academically or socially, in order to become highly motivated and will achieve greater success. By setting realistic goals, becoming intrinsically motivated, having high self- efficacy, and engaging in student affairs, a person will ultimately prepare themselves for success. Realize That College is Different than High School In college, expectations are much higher for everything: exams, reading, essays, participation, and attendance. A way to ensure that students achieve their highest potential in college is by setting attainable goals. If a student receives a C on the first exam, it would be beneficial to set a goal to achieve an A or B on the next exam. As a detent, it is crucial to create a will and develop a drive to do well. By becoming intrinsically motivated, students challenge and empower themselves to accomplish tasks without needing an extrinsic force. As opposed to high school, there is no parental push to make students attend class. With all the separate factors that are different from high school, students may find it difficult to transition into this new way of life. Find Which Study Habit Works Best Students need to learn the concepts of how to study. Also, students need to realize that what study habit works for their friend, may not be the best for their individual personality. There are different types of learners and it is important for a student to fugue out how they learn: visually, auditory, synthetically. Some study strategies include creating outlines, taking notes, highlighting important sources, and creating flash cards. A students self-efficacy may become greater after developing study strategies. Once a student becomes competent in studying, their perception of Campus Provides Students pay various fees with tuition and never utilize those services so their money is essentially wasted. Different resources include the learning resource enter, the university writing center, academic advising, and the health center. These various organizations are created to help students set short-term and long-term goals. The learning resource center and university writing center can assist in setting and accomplishing various academic goals. Academic advising is very useful when creating goals in a students personal and academic life, while providing a structured plan for their future. The health center provides basic health care, as well as counseling services that students should take advantage of. Seeking out counseling revise has been given a stigma which students should not be ashamed of. The counseling center can help students set goals, become motivated, and increase their self-efficacy. Choose a Healthy and Sane Lifestyle One way to create a positive lifestyle is to make friends in class and in the dorms. Student engagement is very prominent in a students first year in college. Also, exercise not only does the body good, but the mind as well. Staying active helps maintain motivation and promotes a higher self-efficacy. A student should know that it is perfectly acceptable to have some them time. Finally, as hard as it may seem, do not fall into the trap of procrastination. A student can avoid procrastination by setting goals, becoming intrinsically motivated, and engaging in different aspects of student life. Evaluation There are various different methods I can use to conclude how successful my handbook was or was not. Some of these methods include conducting campus-wide surveys, creating focus groups, and producing an app for the Phone. The surveys would include questions about how useful they felt this handbook was, any suggestions they would like to add, and how to better improve the handbook. By conducting these surveys, it may provide me with input for possible things to add or remove from the handbook. I would like to create focus groups with students who read the handbook prior to starting college, during their first year of college, and after they have been a student for at least two years. In the focus groups, we would discuss topics such as the students overall experience as a college student and how well the handbook prepared them. By conducting a focus group with a diverse group of students, it will provide supplemental information to how effective this handbook as been to students at different stages, not Just incoming freshmen. This will help gauge who my audience is and how effective the handbook is by hearing students feedback. Finally, I would produce an Phone app that will help students utilize the strategies the handbook mentions. For instance, it will have an option for students to create a short-term and long-term goal at the beginning of each semester. Following the semester, the student will be reminded what goal they set and determine if they achieved it or not. The app will also have different functions such as a grade book, a Allendale, an exercise log, and upcoming events at the school. By producing this Phone app, the students will receive important resources that will encourage their success as a college student. Discussion A future research topic may include the effectiveness of campus tours and freshman for incoming freshmen. It is irrational to believe that one handbook will change the lives of all incoming freshmen. But, providing better resources and events that educate students may help the difficult transition better. This research could consist of surveys or interviews conducted after events like orientation or campus tours. Some aspects discussed may include: how useful these events are, what additional information may be useful, if two days of orientation is too much, and if moving into housing earlier could help students better adapt to the college lifestyle. Overall, students experience many unexpected problems when starting their college career. Making the transitional shift from high school to college can be difficult. Students should not be afraid or nervous to ask for assistance when needed. In addition, they should figure out what methods and habits work best for them while using the resources that are available.

Monday, October 21, 2019

MLA Gets With the Times

MLA Gets With the Times MLA Gets With the Times MLA Gets With the Times By Maeve Maddox Probably the biggest change in the seventh edition of the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers has to do with the section. No more underlining I abandoned underlining for italicizing as soon as I got my hands on my first computer. That was in the 1980s. MLA has finally come round and recommends italicizing titles of books, periodicals, films, etc. No more continuous pagination All you have to do now is enter the volume and issue number for a scholarly publication. New Abbreviations Didnt you just hate it when your web source didnt include a publisher or date of publication? Well, there are abbreviations for those now: N.p. no publisher n.d. no date n. pag. no pagination (ex. online journals) NOTE to web publishers: if your site contains useful, accurate information, give researchers a break and provide a date and publisher. URL not compulsory A works cited entry for a website will include author, article title, and name of the website, but the URL is not mandatory. (Its probably still a good idea to include the URL for an obscure site.) Multi-media Markers A medium of publication marker goes at the end of every entry. For example: PRINT, WEB, DVD, TV. If the source is from the web, the marker is followed by the date of access. You can see some examples of entries typed according to the new guidelines a the Purdue OWL site. Annotated sample research paper that follows the new guidelines. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Book Reviews category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Cost-Effective vs. Cost-EfficientWriting the CenturyDozen: Singular or Plural?

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Free Essays on Earnhardt Father And Son

spoken by his son Dale Earnhardt Jr. epitomize the tenacity and stone heart possessed by his father. The drive made so famous by Sr. was naturally passed on to Dale Earnhardt Jr., â€Å"The Dominator†. Although they may be two completely different people they share a palpable almost innate style displayed on the track; away from the super speedway their clashing approach to life seems understandable given their highly different upbringings. Earnhardt father and son are a generation apart outside the cockpit, but strap them into their racecars and the same talent-rich blood feeds both their systems. Both Sr. and Jr. show the same uncanny control over the 3400-lb missiles they guide through some of the toughest competition motor sports has to offer. Together they share eerily similar nicknames, Sr. dawns the ever so appropriate â€Å"Intimidator† stigmata, while Jr. carries the moniker of â€Å"The Dominator†. These names were earned through persistence and determination to obtain the ultimate goal in NASCAR, a trip to victory lane. â€Å"I have had the pleasure of joining him on the battlefield. I have experienced his intimidating wrath. Schultz 2 That may sound strong, but I know what I am talking about. He roams like a lion, king of his jungle. His jungle is his and his alone. Every step he takes has purpose. Every walk has reason.† Jr.: commenting on his father. With the hair-trigger reflexes and nerves of steel he inherited from his dad, the seven-time Winston Cup champ, Earnhardt Jr. won two Winston Cup races in 2000 and earned more than $2 million. What may set Jr. apart from his namesake was the fact that Earn... Free Essays on Earnhardt Father And Son Free Essays on Earnhardt Father And Son Earnhardt Father and Son â€Å"I know a man whose hands are so callused that gloves aren't necessary. Once, while cutting down a tree, he cut the back of his hand to the bone with a chainsaw. He didn't even stop to look until the job was done.† This man is Dale Earnhardt Sr., also known as, â€Å"The Intimidator†. The Words spoken by his son Dale Earnhardt Jr. epitomize the tenacity and stone heart possessed by his father. The drive made so famous by Sr. was naturally passed on to Dale Earnhardt Jr., â€Å"The Dominator†. Although they may be two completely different people they share a palpable almost innate style displayed on the track; away from the super speedway their clashing approach to life seems understandable given their highly different upbringings. Earnhardt father and son are a generation apart outside the cockpit, but strap them into their racecars and the same talent-rich blood feeds both their systems. Both Sr. and Jr. show the same uncanny control over the 3400-lb missiles they guide through some of the toughest competition motor sports has to offer. Together they share eerily similar nicknames, Sr. dawns the ever so appropriate â€Å"Intimidator† stigmata, while Jr. carries the moniker of â€Å"The Dominator†. These names were earned through persistence and determination to obtain the ultimate goal in NASCAR, a trip to victory lane. â€Å"I have had the pleasure of joining him on the battlefield. I have experienced his intimidating wrath. Schultz 2 That may sound strong, but I know what I am talking about. He roams like a lion, king of his jungle. His jungle is his and his alone. Every step he takes has purpose. Every walk has reason.† Jr.: commenting on his father. With the hair-trigger reflexes and nerves of steel he inherited from his dad, the seven-time Winston Cup champ, Earnhardt Jr. won two Winston Cup races in 2000 and earned more than $2 million. What may set Jr. apart from his namesake was the fact that Earn...

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Globalisation as a Catalyst for Western Job Loss Essay

Globalisation as a Catalyst for Western Job Loss - Essay Example Globalisation as a Catalyst for Western Job Loss Making the statement that all jobs will be lost as a factor of globalisation is not supported by the research on this topic of study, hence concluding with support for the notion would be an irresponsible assessment. Domestic labourers can be sacrificed in favour of a new variety of worker, who is foreign in residence and can be paid wages which are considerably lower than their domestic counterparts. Further, globalisation provides the foundation for an imbalance between domestic product output and the volume of importations experienced by Western nations each year; especially the United States. Though to say that complete elimination of domestic jobs will occur would be somewhat unrealistic, it is clear that due to an aggressive push toward globalising the corporate West, substantial domestic job loss is likely inevitable. Multiple Perspectives on Globalisation and Job Loss Scott (2003) provides ample support for continued job loss stemming from globalisation by highlighting a series of statistics in the U.S. domestic job market. The author points out how the imbalance between import and export goods which is created when previously-domestic production facilities are shifted to overseas markets. To illustrate this point, Scott further suggests that during the 1990’s, the U.S. experienced considerable job growth, due to phenomenon he identifies as the boom and bust period where consumer consumption levels were high, driving domestic production.

Friday, October 18, 2019

Rappin'it up Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Rappin'it up - Coursework Example Advantages and disadvantages are straightforwardly represented in the dimension of this question. Passage One names â€Å"Alcoholic Beverage Advertising Should Be Restricted† is introduced by Laurie Leiber contains a number of advantages concerning the question of restricting advertising of alcoholic beverages. He suggests the idea that alcohol-industry representatives usually claims that there are no connection between usage of alcohol and its advertising. Still, there are a number of facts that prove an opposing idea. Leiber refers to researches that demonstrate the harmful connection between alcohol usage and its advertisements. He introduces the investigation by Joel W. Grube and Lawrence Wallack that suggests the idea â€Å"that awareness of TV beer commercials leads to favorable beliefs about drinking in children 10 to 12 years old and increases their intention to drink as adults† (Leiber, n.p.). In addition, the information about alcohol-related motor-vehicle deaths â€Å"with quarterly measures for broadcast advertising in 75 media markets over a three-yea r period† (Leiber, n.p.) is admonished the tendency of supporting the restriction of alcohol beverages advertising. The second passage under consideration is represented by Robert A. Levy, and named â€Å"Alcohol Ads Do Not Promote Underage Drinking† suggests the idea that there is a number of more influencing factors concerning the increase of alcohol usage than the advertisements. He pays attention to the problem of underage consumption of alcoholic beverages. Levy introduces the concept about â€Å"the doctrine of personal accountability† and â€Å"the insidious notion that you can engage in risky behavior, then force someone else to pay for your mistakes† (n.p.). The idea that this message is more essential for the problem of usage alcohol by juvenile than any advertisement at all is appeared straightforwardly. Taking into account

Review of Strategies Undertaken by AIG Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Review of Strategies Undertaken by AIG - Essay Example American International group which is a financial services company constitutes of different business units. These are AIG Bank, AIG Direct, SunAmerica financial group, Chartis insurance, United Guaranty Corporation and International Lease Finance Corporation. The main revenue of the company is from the Chartis insurance which is major name in the global insurance sector. SunAmerica financial group is the other which generates maximum revenue for the AIG group. From this statistics, it can be said that the company is mainly focusing on the life insurance, general insurance, wealth management, asset management programs. It can also be said statistics that the major percentage of revenue comes from the casualty and specialty line of business. In any type of industry, the companies should design and offer the product or services according to the customer needs. Financial services industry is a volatile industry. During the economic downturn, the companies generally don’t profit mu ch from the financial services. The reputation of the companies plays a big role in that situation. If the financial services companies provide the products according to the needs of the customers and build customer loyalty then they will have a competitive edge than their competitors. For having a good percentage of market shares as well as retaining the customers in the time of financial downturn a loyal customer base is necessary for the financial services company (The Economist, 2008, p.5-7).... During the economic downturn the companies generally don’t profit much from the financial services. The reputation of the companies plays a big role in that situation. If the financial services companies provide the products according to the needs of the customers and build customer loyalty then they will have a competitive edge than their competitors. For having a good percentage of market shares as well as retaining the customers in time of financial downturn a loyal customer base is necessary for the financial services company (The Economist, 2008, p.5-7). The services those are providing by the company should be customized. American General Life and Accident Insurance Company (AGLA), the middle market life insurance and accidental insurance division of SunAmerican financial group provides personal customer service to the small business owners and middle market segment by an effective field force consisting of the full time employees. Chartis is gaining revenue from the per sonal lines; casualty and speciality sector of insurance which means the company is also focused on the personalized services to the customers (American International Group, 2011, p.8). So it can be said that the company is applying the right strategy i.e. they are providing customized and customer oriented services to their customers which in turn make a loyal base of customers for the company. It would be helpful for the company to retain the market share in time of financial downturn. Segmentation strategy is one of the important strategies that should be addressed by the company management properly. American International Group is a large group constitute of many companies. Every company is providing different type of services and their target market is

Journal Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Journal - Research Paper Example (This doesn't only apply to Americans, of course, but we are looking at the "log" in our own eye here.   I believe I can drop the prejudices, all of them, but only for a little while. I have to have my own standing, my perspective. Being biased doesn’t make me a bad person, it is a part of being human, but there is a positive prejudice and there is a hostile prejudice (Pettigrew 2). I am not on any spiritual journey at this point of my life, which is probably why I can’t answer if I am separate from nature or god, but I do feel a part of everything I see and everything I believe exists. I see animals, birds and the sky, I feel the air, I listen to sounds I hear every morning and I feel like a part of them. I do feel that we are somehow all connected to each other. This is the real ‘slow down’ that awe all need to see. When we are moving on with our lives, we barely see the world from someone else’s perspective. But let the goals of life melt away, the rat race for money simply vanish and there is no country, boundary, culture or civilization to feel proud of. There are no family names or geographical superiorities to make us see the others with contempt and hate. Question:   Think of a book that has been important to you (it may be the Bible, or young adult works; it need not be a "classic." Or, if there are no books, think of a movie or TV show). Can you see how you are in a way a "transcript" of these media, how their way of looking at things becomes "inscribed" in you? It can be intoxicating, just as Mir Camar said.   People ask me about my favorite movie, as pop culture is the most obvious topic of discussion among friends. Without a moment of hesitation, I blurt out ‘The Matrix’ , and they make an ugly face upon hearing this name. To them The Matrix trilogy is nothing but bullet dodging action, but for me it is a compete philosophy. I watched the first sequel back in 1999, when I had no idea what philoso phy is or what the movie is really about. But the dialogues of the movie kept resonating in my head. I couldn’t help but dwell on things like ‘Free Your Mind’, a phrase that Morpheus says to Neo when he is teaching him to jump. To me this felt like magic. I used to play football and I would try to tell myself, Morpheus style, to free my mind and dribble the ball all across the field and put it in the net. To me this was freeing my mind of all doubts and fears. After imagining Morpheus telling me this, I would believe that everything is possible and I would put I the extra energy enthusiasm in my play and it worked more times than it failed. To me it worked. Later I watched the documentary about the movie and came to know that the movie is based on so many philosophies that it gets hard to keep track of all of them. The theme of the movie is reality, our perception is reality. For instance the moment I’m writing this paper, I suddenly ask myself, how can I be sure what I am seeing is ‘real’, the institute I study, my professor and my friends are not a dream. Only satisfaction is that the five senses my brain has, interprets all of this so that my mind qualifies everything as real but what if I’m wrong? What if the signals my brain is getting is nothing but an illusion? After all we believe in a mirage which is nothing but our mind playing tricks on us. What is what we believe to be real is only a belief and because it’s a belief, our mind makes it real? Question:

Thursday, October 17, 2019

International Trade Operations group project Essay

International Trade Operations group project - Essay Example The United States (U.S) is one of the countries that invest mostly in large scale production of dairy products and is in top ten in the production of dairy milk worldwide. Most of the dairy products in U.S. are exported to other countries, one of them being Egypt. Indeed, Egypt’s relations with the U.S in terms of trade has been very good (Kotschwar & Schott, 2010), and this is evidenced by the fact that Egypt is one of the largest importers of agricultural products including milk and dairy products from the US. This memo will discuss the level of development and economic status of Egypt, fiscal and monetary conditions, imports market status and the general willingness of the country to import Content Cow's products from the US. Level of Egypt Economic Development In Egypt, the ministry of international cooperation and the ministry of economic development are the ones mandated to take control of economic development. In addition, because Egypt is situated around Nile Valley, i ts economic and gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate is always very high. The only problem in Egypt is that, although the economy is very good most of its citizen still live in poor conditions due to political instability. There has been reduction in government revenue in Egypt in the recent past due to slow growth of economy propagated by political problems. Because of this slow growth rate of economy in Egypt, a reform plan was made to stabilize the economy; this was to include free market economy (Knaus, 2009). To begin with, social policies and proper procedures were adopted and put into action to promote economic growth in Egypt. Again, checks and balances were made on demand for money and savings procedures, including developing ands regulating prices of products, and privatization policies of underperforming government institutions. Lastly, the Egyptian government made reforms monetary policies related to local and international trade in order to encourage investment. The introduction of these reforms in Egypt led to economic development, and this can be evidenced by the continued economic growth rate in the recent years. Indeed, the recovery and growth of the economy has made Egypt to enjoys significant international trade with many countries including U.S (Kotschwar & Schott, 2010). This also boosted Egypt’s competitive international energy prices and agricultural products prices. This market-oriented idea, reforms and policies strengthened Egypt economy, albeit under fragile political climate. However, like other African countries, a large population in Egypt is still living in poverty coupled with insecurity, unemployment, and underemployment. Again, there are always heightened protests in Egypt due to bad leadership, corruption cases, lack of political freedom, and poor living standards. This political unrest has been frequent in Egypt and cases of the youth forcing the president to step down was seen in 2011 where president Hosni Mubara k was overthrown from government due poor economic policies as well as lack of political stability and peace in Egypt (Aggour, 2013). In addition, it is important that the Egyptian government should be involved in more economic development and invest more in its citizens, thus enhancing stabilization of the government. Again, political unrest has scarred investors in Egypt; also, poor market and economic growth has placed the

Reading log (summary+respond) Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Reading log (summary+respond) - Article Example While calling shat a chat as a â€Å"Jet Set†, the author gives example of an American talking to a man from Middle East, which details the body language and postural adjustment of the two while each one retreats sometimes and takes a step forward the other times, during such conversation. Davis feels that engaging an interpreter will not solve the problem, as the person may not be able to translate the body language. The article signifies that same conversation can carry different meaning when the two people engaged in same are from different cultures, earth zones or gender. An example of interpreting the conversation would mean many Arabs liking to remain within a breath’s distance from each other as they aim at building close elations. However, Americans would like to maintain a space of at-least 18 inches when doing so. Davis has rightly pointed to the importance of interpreting the distance and space maintained by two people as they converse with each other. For example, Arabs find it useful and result-oriented if they are at a â€Å"spitting distance† with their listener, as they are able to build stronger relations with each other in this manner. On the other hand, such gesture would prove repelling for Americans, who may think it as an intrusion into their privacy.(Gardner) Gardner.S, â€Å"New Directions: Reading, Writing and Critical Thinking†, goggle books, nd, web, 3 March 2015:

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Journal Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Journal - Research Paper Example (This doesn't only apply to Americans, of course, but we are looking at the "log" in our own eye here.   I believe I can drop the prejudices, all of them, but only for a little while. I have to have my own standing, my perspective. Being biased doesn’t make me a bad person, it is a part of being human, but there is a positive prejudice and there is a hostile prejudice (Pettigrew 2). I am not on any spiritual journey at this point of my life, which is probably why I can’t answer if I am separate from nature or god, but I do feel a part of everything I see and everything I believe exists. I see animals, birds and the sky, I feel the air, I listen to sounds I hear every morning and I feel like a part of them. I do feel that we are somehow all connected to each other. This is the real ‘slow down’ that awe all need to see. When we are moving on with our lives, we barely see the world from someone else’s perspective. But let the goals of life melt away, the rat race for money simply vanish and there is no country, boundary, culture or civilization to feel proud of. There are no family names or geographical superiorities to make us see the others with contempt and hate. Question:   Think of a book that has been important to you (it may be the Bible, or young adult works; it need not be a "classic." Or, if there are no books, think of a movie or TV show). Can you see how you are in a way a "transcript" of these media, how their way of looking at things becomes "inscribed" in you? It can be intoxicating, just as Mir Camar said.   People ask me about my favorite movie, as pop culture is the most obvious topic of discussion among friends. Without a moment of hesitation, I blurt out ‘The Matrix’ , and they make an ugly face upon hearing this name. To them The Matrix trilogy is nothing but bullet dodging action, but for me it is a compete philosophy. I watched the first sequel back in 1999, when I had no idea what philoso phy is or what the movie is really about. But the dialogues of the movie kept resonating in my head. I couldn’t help but dwell on things like ‘Free Your Mind’, a phrase that Morpheus says to Neo when he is teaching him to jump. To me this felt like magic. I used to play football and I would try to tell myself, Morpheus style, to free my mind and dribble the ball all across the field and put it in the net. To me this was freeing my mind of all doubts and fears. After imagining Morpheus telling me this, I would believe that everything is possible and I would put I the extra energy enthusiasm in my play and it worked more times than it failed. To me it worked. Later I watched the documentary about the movie and came to know that the movie is based on so many philosophies that it gets hard to keep track of all of them. The theme of the movie is reality, our perception is reality. For instance the moment I’m writing this paper, I suddenly ask myself, how can I be sure what I am seeing is ‘real’, the institute I study, my professor and my friends are not a dream. Only satisfaction is that the five senses my brain has, interprets all of this so that my mind qualifies everything as real but what if I’m wrong? What if the signals my brain is getting is nothing but an illusion? After all we believe in a mirage which is nothing but our mind playing tricks on us. What is what we believe to be real is only a belief and because it’s a belief, our mind makes it real? Question:

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Reading log (summary+respond) Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Reading log (summary+respond) - Article Example While calling shat a chat as a â€Å"Jet Set†, the author gives example of an American talking to a man from Middle East, which details the body language and postural adjustment of the two while each one retreats sometimes and takes a step forward the other times, during such conversation. Davis feels that engaging an interpreter will not solve the problem, as the person may not be able to translate the body language. The article signifies that same conversation can carry different meaning when the two people engaged in same are from different cultures, earth zones or gender. An example of interpreting the conversation would mean many Arabs liking to remain within a breath’s distance from each other as they aim at building close elations. However, Americans would like to maintain a space of at-least 18 inches when doing so. Davis has rightly pointed to the importance of interpreting the distance and space maintained by two people as they converse with each other. For example, Arabs find it useful and result-oriented if they are at a â€Å"spitting distance† with their listener, as they are able to build stronger relations with each other in this manner. On the other hand, such gesture would prove repelling for Americans, who may think it as an intrusion into their privacy.(Gardner) Gardner.S, â€Å"New Directions: Reading, Writing and Critical Thinking†, goggle books, nd, web, 3 March 2015:

Homelessness of Veterans Essay Example for Free

Homelessness of Veterans Essay The threat of homelessness amongst veterans has become an increasingly growing issue. Through my extensive research I have found multiple reasons as to why this threat has occurred. Some examples of these are things such as the transition from military to civilian life, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and poverty. I am going to apply the functionalist and conflict perspectives in explaining the problems of homelessness amongst veterans. The first institution that fails veterans is the military. From the functionalist perspective the manifest function of the military is to train and structure a person into what is necessary to protect and serve their country. The latent functions of the military are to educate and to receive benefits such as health care and housing. Although these latent functions for the most part only apply to those currently enlisted. The dysfunctions of the military include abuse, corruption, lack of social support, and lack of training on how to function and survive when placed back into civilian life. As a result of these functions conflicts are made such as competition, constraints, and power struggles. The manifest, latent, and dysfunctions relate to competition in that the military is always trying to excel to superiority at any cost. The fate of its soldiers is not a top priority. The constraints of these functions are ones set by the standards of the military. The good or the bad is not achieved unless the military allows for it. The manifest, latent, and dysfunctions relate to power struggles in that the militaries ultimate goal is to become as powerful as can be. This includes power over its soldiers. This power can limit the benefits that a soldier may receive and also the point to which a soldier is pushed. The second institution that fails the veteran is family. From the functionalist perspective the manifest function of family is to provide a structure in which means of living are met. The latent function of family is love and a social support. The dysfunction of family is abuse and neglect which can lead to the lack of money through divorce or abandonment. As a result of these functions conflicts are made such as constraints, coercion, and powers struggles. The constraints of the manifest, latent, and dysfunctions are created by the lack of money or the ability to find a job or even affordable housing. The coercion of these functions are fighting which can lead to divorce. The power struggles of these functions may be stress and pressure applied to the members of the family from other members. The third institution that fails the veteran is the government. From the functionalist perspective the manifest function of the government is to provide stability and safety. The latent function of the government is a source of social support through programs for when there are dysfunctions in other institutions. The dysfunctions of the government are things such as popularity competition when electing government officials and profiting off of the poor. As a result of these functions conflicts are made such as competition, constraints, and power struggles. The manifest, latent, and dysfunctions relate to competition based on that it is a constant competition between programs for which the government will fund. The programs that are unfortunate enough not to receive government funding may fail as a result. The constraints of these functions in government are the limitations that are placed on people due to many things such as social status. The coercion of these functions in government are theft and fighting which in some cases are done in order to survive. Homelessness amongst veterans results from a complex set of circumstances due to the failure of these institutions which in turn force them to choose between even the basic needs that any human must have in order to survive. By using the functionalist and conflict perspectives I have demonstrated in what ways these institutions, military, family, and government, have failed veterans causing them to become homeless.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Interrelationship Between Hospitality And Travel Organisations Tourism Essay

Interrelationship Between Hospitality And Travel Organisations Tourism Essay The hospitality sector is one of the most crucial service providers for the international travel and tourism industry. It includes all businesses which accommodate tourists and travellers when travelling to other destinations. They are an integral part of the overall experience, and must live up to the standards which are expected by clientele and those which are set by the industry. Modern websites such as Trip Advisor also set standards based on peoples evaluations of their personal experiences. These evaluations are viewed by potential clients from all over the world, and can influence their choice of hotel, motel, or any other accommodation provider or catering establishment. Task 1- Investigate the hospitality sector. Accommodation providers Hotels Generally, when tourists arrive at their final destination their main interest is to check into their hotel room and unwind, especially after hours of travel. It is therefore crucial that guests are treated with utmost care, as they may be tired and possibly irritated after their trip. Hotels within the Euro zone typically hold 1-5 star ratings which depend on the quality, scale, and the number of amenities and services which are offered. Hotel ratings outside the EU are not limited to five stars, such as the ultra luxurious 7 star Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai. Accommodation is a fundamental component in package holidays. Tourists may opt for budget packages which include basic 1 to 3 star accommodation, whilst others may opt for higher priced packages offering 4 to 5 star accommodation. When opting for luxurious accommodation, guests may spend a good proportion of their time at the hotel or resort to make full use of the amenities which are being offered. Guests would expect to be pampered throughout their stay, particularly for the price being paid. If problems are encountered, they would expect a rapid response and immediate action to be taken. 5 star establishments usually offer 24 hour receptionist and concierge services, valet parking for guests who have rented their own cars, as well as 24 hour maid, maintenance, and room service. One would also expect to have an in-room mini bar and safe, personal care products, high speed Wi-Fi access, laundry services, gym, spa and a business centre, to name a few. 4 and 3 star hotels offer more of a comfortable ambience than a luxurious one, whilst 2 and 1 star hotels offer basic, yet clean accommodation, and are more suited for people who aim to spend most of their time outdoors. Rooms are simple, but include a colour television, and an en suite bathroom. In general however, as the star rating decreases, the facilities and services also decrease in number, and possibly in quality. Although there may be certain hiccups in the services rendered due to human variability, cleanliness cannot suffer the same fate. Strict health regulations should be abided by and enforced by health authorities on a regular basis to ensure that hotel operators are giving enough importance to cleanliness. Cleanliness is so important that Trip Advisor features it as one of the main categories which can be rated together with service, location, rooms, sleep quality and value for money. Guests can also back up their cleanliness claims with candid photos. However, hotel amenities and services often do differ from country to country, as well as from brand to brand, even within the same destination. As with all companies, it is ultimately up to the people running the establishments to live up to their star ratings, or more appropriately in todays markets, exceed them. Motels and guest houses A motel is essentially a small hotel which is specifically designed for motorway travellers. They originated in the United States when motor trips were becoming the norm. After a day of travelling, people needed a convenient place to spend the night before getting back on the road. Currently, one of the most popular motel chains is Motel 6, which has more than 1000 establishments in North America and Canada, and is run by the international Accor Hotels group. Similarly to motels, guest houses also provide a relatively affordable alternative to other accommodation. However, unlike motels, guesthouses offer accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, where the house owners would prepare a simple homemade breakfast for their guests. Some travellers specifically opt for themed guesthouses, such as those which are said to be haunted. Camping parks, caravanning and lodges Camping parks and lodges give people the opportunity to enjoy nature and the outdoors, an activity which is becoming increasingly rare as people surround themselves with technology. Caravans and family sized motor vehicles are most commonly used by groups of friends or family members for camping trips. Lodges are typically found in wooded areas, mountain ranges, or ski resorts, and vary in quality, ranging from relatively basic to more upscale accommodation. They may take the form of a group of cabins with common facilities or as solitary cabins with dedicated facilities, which are all popular options for family trips, or romantic getaways. Self-catering apartments Self catering apartments have become popular as they offer greater flexibility, even though there is often the need to cook and clean. They also offer more of a homely ambience than motels or hotels as they consist of a kitchen, living room, and dining area. Renting an apartment may very well save clients money, especially if they plan to spend most of the time outdoors. The high paying tourist may rent a luxurious villa for a few days and hire their own butler, whilst the average family may decide to cook for themselves and enjoy spending their hard earned money elsewhere. Cruise ships Cruise ships originally catered for the wealthy, however as costs were lowered and new business strategies were created, they are now more affordable to the average income earner. Companies usually offer long-haul to short-haul cruises, some of which are all inclusive and others such as easyCruise which requires patrons to pay as they go. One would usually find a vast selection of high quality foods on board, mostly in buffet form. Catering providers Catering is fundamental to the success of the tourism and hospitality industries. It is so important that catering outlets can be found in places ranging from city centres and hotels to boats, trains and airlines. Restaurants The menu, music, ambience and pricing are the most crucial factors in determining which restaurant to choose. There are restaurants which cater for different requirements, ranging from affordable takeouts to high class and exclusive establishments. Restaurants form an integral part of a tourists holiday, some of whom would visit the same restaurant day after day if it is to their liking, whilst others may decide to experience a different restaurant each day. Chain restaurants offer tourists a sense of financial security. Tourists know that McDonalds in Portugal will offer the same products as McDonalds in the United Kingdom. On the other hand, when it comes to non-chain restaurants it tends to be less simple. Tourists would often visit restaurants based on recommendations made by the staff at the concierge of their hotel, from locals, or Trip advisor. Generally one would usually find catering establishments to suit all tastes and pockets. If a destination receives high, medium, and low spenders, then there must be establishments which cater specifically for them. The top restaurants in the world are usually Michelin accredited, which is possibly the most majestic of all international restaurant awards. A restaurant can acquire a maximum of three Michelin stars, meaning that it is almost faultless in terms of service, food quality and the overall ambience. Cafes Cafes used to specialise in hot beverages such as teas and coffees. However, they have developed to a great extent since then and now offer a variety of snacks and food offerings. As cafes increase in popularity, they tend to add more to their menu to increase their client base. Cafes are becoming so popular that McDonalds now has its very own McCafe, which was established to possibly compete with the likes of Starbucks or other international cafes. Outside catering Hospitality caterers are of great importance for major events such as conferences, after parties and exhibitions, which attract people from all over the world. It is up to the organisers to ensure that all of the participants are prepared to collectively deliver an unforgettable and unparalleled experience. 5 star hotels are usually chosen for large events as they can afford to strike better balances between quality and price than other lower rated hotels or catering establishments. Theatres, cinemasand shopping complexes. Going to the cinema or theatre is often not complete without a snack or a beverage. It has become custom to have something to eat or drink when watching your favourite film or play. Most cinemas have their very own snack bars, which serve beverages and snacks such as popcorn and nachos. In Portugal for instance, the major shopping complexes such as Vasco Da Gama, Colombo shopping centre, and Cascais Shopping in the Lisbon area have their own cinemas in-house. Located right next to the cinema entrances one would find countless catering establishments ranging from cafes to fine dining. Motorway service station Motorway service stations throughout the world offer dining options for motorway travellers, most of which have simple cafes which also offer snacks. However, some motorway service stations do offer establishments such as McDonalds for instance. Motorway restaurants have proven immensely popular, especially for people travelling long distances on major highways. Rail and ferry catering Railway passengers usually have limited or no catering amenities onboard. Costs will undoubtedly be high and the range of items available for consumption would be limited due to the lack of space on board. Ferries on the other hand are much larger and have a lot more space to comfortably seat patrons. A number of dining areas can be provided onboard, however cafes and snack bars are still the most feasible. In-flight catering Space on an aircraft is even more limited, so meals are usually reduced to two kinds of dishes on passenger planes. AirMalta for instance has for the past several years licensed Corinthia Hotels International as their official provider of in-flight food. Food portions are often small and specially packed to protect the food from pressure buildup. The meals are pre-heated and stored in small compartments in the kitchen area of the aircraft. First class flyers do sometimes have the option to select their own meal, but these services are obviously reflected in the high fares. Task 2- Explain the interrelationship between hospitality, and travel and tourism organisations Hospitality organisations are some of the most important service providers to the travel and tourism industry. Whether for leisure or for business, people do spend a significant amount of time at their hotel, particularly if it is of a luxury status. Guests would understandably want to reap the benefits offered by their hotel, particularly for the premium prices paid. Package holidays The role of hospitality in package holidays is very significant. Hotels which are included in package holidays ultimately depend on the price paid for the package. If someone opts for a budget package, then one would not expect 5 star accommodation, but more realistically some form of 3 star or possibly 4 star accommodation. Popular holiday packages are often mass purchased, so customers would benefit from good hotel rates and airline ticket prices. Hotels also have special agreements with individual travel agents, offering special rates to their companies in return for a guaranteed flow of customers from their end. Customers may opt for accommodation on room only basis, bed and breakfast, half board, or more rarely, full board basis. Travel agent representatives regularly check up on their clients at their hotel to ensure that they are having a pleasant time. They also discuss any problems that they have been experiencing throughout the duration of their stay, and get them sorted accordingly. All inclusive packages are also available but do not offer customers the flexibility of other packages. Such packages would include everything that is needed for the whole stay such as meals, beverages, hotel, tours, and all other requirements. Customers who opt for these packages would usually spend most of their time within the resort as most of their activities would be based there. Aviation The Airline industrys success depends very much on accommodation availability. Airlines may lose out on business if hotels are at full capacity. This is a serious problem for airlines flying to small destinations such as Malta, as there have been instances where all hotels on the island were fully booked. Major airlines must therefore analyse situations regarding bed availability, and choose flight times and days accordingly. Hospitality is also present onboard airlines in the form of catering, as well as sleeping arrangements. Budget airlines offer food and beverages at extra cost, whilst higher class airlines often offer all inclusive food and beverages, even to those paying for economy seating. Some ultra luxurious airlines even have reclining seats which turn into beds, as well as silver service dining and a centrally located bar, where customers can choose what to eat and drink. Business travel Business people specifically opt for hotels which are equipped with the necessary facilities to work comfortably. They search for hotels with business centres, Wifi or cable internet access, meeting rooms and conference areas, as well as other services such as 24 hour laundry and dry cleaning. They may also try to fit in some time for leisure, particularly in between meetings, where they would either spend time by the pool, at the spa, or out and about. However, due to the nature of business travel this is not always possible. The same goes for catering establishments. Business people opt for some of the best restaurants in order to impress business associates or clients. They make use of the money supplied to them by their companies, so they can afford to choose high class restaurants to accompany their luxury accommodation. Globalisation has brought about a growing need for business related travel, and this will undoubtedly grow even further as destinations become more connected. Budget airlines have also made business travel a lot more affordable to companies, however, some companies believe that flying business class would keep their reputation intact. Business class was essentially developed for business people who required space to work. Emerging destinations such as India and China are becoming hotspots for business travel, and international companies from around the world are interested in setting up branches there. Their industries are growing faster than any other, and certain companies do not wish to miss out on any opportunities to increase their market share and profitability. Conferences and exhibitions Conferences and exhibitions are also crucial for national and international travel and tourism industries. For instance, between the 29th of August and the 4th of September, Malta welcomed its largest ever conference, hosting 5000 delegates who were invited to the yearly Oriflame conference, each of which stayed at 4 and 5 star hotels. In total, 8 million Euros were injected into the local economy, mostly through accommodation costs. Outside caterers, mainly from hotels, were chosen to prepare food for all of the delegates. Conference attendees are often hosted at the hotel at which the event is taking place. Exhibitions offer consumers the possibility to view products or services before purchasing them. The International Tourism Bourse (ITB) is an international exhibition which attracts exhibitors from around the world. Companies, organisations and NTOs showcase their new offerings and concepts to other people from the field. Such events attract thousands of people from around the world, benefitting numerous hotels in the events perimeter. Visitor attractions A visitor attraction is anything which gets people talking or that is of interest to visitors, tourists and others. Attractions may take the form of manmade creations such as museums and theme parks, or natural attractions such as natural parks. On the other hand, some sites happen to be of interest to people simply because of the activities taking place there, and not because the actual place hosting the event is of any interest. Theme parks are possibly the most popular visitor attractions, collectively seeing millions of visitors on a yearly basis. Disneyland happens to be one of the worlds most popular flagship attractions, and can be found in the United States, France, Japan and China. Most theme parks house their own restaurants and cafes, where families can enjoy a meal and then get back to having fun. However, Disneyland Paris goes a few steps further by having two hotels at the resort, which often feature in package holidays and are immensely popular. Task3- Describe integration within the hospitality industry Integration first gained popularity in the 1900s, when businesses focused on reaching economies of scale, through which they were able to benefit from lower operating costs. When companies provide their own products or services through in-house efforts, outsourcing is no longer required, therefore saving the company money in the long run. Through such integration companies are also able to increase their global presence and increase their market share. Vertical integration Vertical integration is a process through which a company buys another company in the distribution chain, or enters a merger agreement. This is primarily done to maximise profitability and benefit from lower operating costs. It is traditionally characterised by forward, backwards and lateral integration. One of the most followed and well documented episodes of vertical integration was that of the Carnegie Steel manufacturing company in the United States. It had complete control over the distribution chain including the iron mines, steel mills, railroads, coal mines and the ovens required to form the steel. The company placed economies of scale at the top of its agenda, and even focused on having people trained internally rather than employing outsiders. Barriers to entry will develop, limiting competition in the marketplace. Companies may gain control of suppliers such as accommodation and transportation providers to further limit potential competition. If monopolistic behaviour develops through wide scale integration, government agencies will interfere and set restrictions because competition is fundamental for improving quality in the services industry. Forward vertical integration is a process through which a company merges with another company further along in the distribution chain. For instance, a hotel chain may decide to buy its own travel agency or tour operator in order to expand into other markets. Hotels often strike agreements with travel agents and tour operators, providing special room rates and offers for clients brought to them. Backward Vertical integration is when a company purchases one of its suppliers and makes proper use of its inputs for the benefit of the organisation. A tour operator may purchase an airline company or a hotel, as they are both suppliers of services which are crucial to the package industry. TUI AG has over the course of its development created the TUI Hotels and Resorts brand, which owns and runs hotel brands such as Robinson, Magic life, Iberotel, Grecotel, Riu and Grupotel, totaling 243 hotels around the world. It has recently embarked on an entirely new project for the company, the first TUI branded hotel. The TUI Hotel Kaluga has 136 luxury rooms and 74 apartments, and is targeted specifically at business people. Lateral integration on the other hand requires the merger of two organisations which may have indirectly related products and services; however they need not be in direct competition with one another. The three types of vertical integration give a summary of possible strategies which may be adopted as companies often make use of different variants of these strategies. Horizontal integration Horizontal integration is important for companies which want to expand their customer base, benefit from economies of scale and above all, maximise profitability. It occurs when a company purchases or merges with a company at the same stage of the distribution chain. A fitting example of this occurred last August when Hilton hotels international purchased a hotel at the Walt Disney World Resort for â‚ ¬92,202,465. Toyota, Peugeot and Citroen recently formed a consortium for the production of their 107, C1 and Aygo automobiles, which are all based on the same shared platform, engines and hardware. The three companies shared their knowledge and resources to achieve a common goal. Although this example is not directly related to the hospitality industry, these cars have helped car rental companies increase their sales by a significant margin in Europe because tourists find them affordable to rent, environmentally friendly, reliable, and fun to drive. Horizontal integration can also be complementary in nature as opposed to competitive. Airlines often work closely with hotel chains, reaping some of the benefits which are offered by mergers without the actual risks. Such relationships are visible in the choice of airlines made by hotels for their airline miles schemes. Airlines gather data from hotels to try and make their flight schedules correspond with accommodation availability; however this is not always possible due to the dynamism and complexity of the hospitality and travel industries. To avoid disappointment, the majority of tourists book their accommodation beforehand to ensure that they have their rooms available upon arrival. Implications of integration on the hospitality sector. Branding A Brand name alone may conjure up certain feelings or emotions related to personal experiences with the brand. As with all industries, the success of the tourism industry depends on the branding techniques adopted by all the key players, and how well they can deliver their messages to target markets. It is crucial that clients are able to associate themselves with such brands, and vice versa. Brands often aim to make their loyal customers see their products or services as an extension of their personality or character. For instance, if a group of business people check in to the Sheraton Pine Cliffs hotel in the Algarve, they would expect the same check-in procedures, business amenities and lavish luxuries as any other Sheraton hotel. Anything different for the money paid would often be unacceptable. Just like Sheraton, Westin also belongs to Starwood Hotels and Resorts. It is an upscale brand which caters for all sorts of clients who are after luxurious accommodation. It has top class amenities for business people, and all the luxuries that couples would expect for that romantic getaway. It also happens to be the most family oriented brand within the Starwood group, offering facilities where children can play under constant supervision. The animation team at the Westin Dragonara Resort in Malta often organises activities during the day, such as Sony play station tournaments for teenagers, or interactive games and other fun activities for children. Westin hotels around the world also have a childrens check-in point at reception to make them feel as important as their accompanying adults. All of the above concepts are an integral part of the companys branding strategy. Coupled with other factors, children may use their positive experiences to influence their parents into visiting that same hotel time and time again. Market control and integration between larger organisations Some of the UKs major tour operators have purchased hotels overseas to increase their global presence and profitability. By doing so, they are able to control their hotel rates to their advantage, possibly bringing more affordable packages to their clients whilst increasing their sales. Although this kind of activity is beneficial to the company, it can be detrimental to smaller companies in the industry. Integration between large organisations undoubtedly poses a threat to smaller organisations, and it is inevitable that employees and their families will suffer as the larger organisations take over. Although often unfortunate, travel and tourism essentially depends on the survival of the fittest, the companies which are able to offer the best balance between quality, quantity and value for money. In certain instances, the growth of the Internet is limiting the potential of forward integration, particularly when it comes to holiday packages. It has thrown some travel agents out of business, as they did not have the necessary funds to shift their physical operations to virtual platforms. The dawn of dynamic packaging was also a major threat to these companies, so much so that UK tour operators are in the process of closing down retail outlets to focus more on internet selling. Although potential clients will benefit from lower costs over the internet, this can pose a grave threat to society as thousands of people may suffer from unemployment. Direct selling over the internet is widely employed by hotels that have their own online booking systems. This makes the reservations process a lot simpler, cheaper, and less time consuming for potential guests, as well as for hotels. However, a reservations team is still required for those bookings which are made directly with the hotel over the phone or at the front desk. Some people feel more comfortable making physical payments because they may not wish to provide their personal details over the internet. Or they may simply enjoy the human interaction. Increased globalisation After a company expands successfully in its destination of origin, overseas markets are often next in line. Globalisation is the result of a collection of expansions, which can be analysed from an internal and external perspective. A company will face internal globalisation whereby its employees from around the world will develop relationships with one another. External globalisation is when team members interact with clients from all over the world. Social networking websites also allow for such communication to occur. Companies often create their own accounts on websites such as Facebook and Twitter, through which team members and loyal clients from around the world can join in and engage in discussions. Globalisation has also made way for a drastic reduction in trade barriers, particularly within the European Union. EU countries often benefit from lower priced products and services when trade occurs within the Euro zone. This benefits accommodation and catering providers to a great extent, particularly when purchasing in bulk. Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide is undoubtedly one of the most powerful international hotel and leisure chains. It has had tremendous success through its integration projects over the last years. In the year 2005 it acquired the Le Meridien brand and its entire portfolio, which amounted to 130 hotels and resorts internationally. This acquisition has increased Starwoods customer base to a great extent with ultra chic properties in Africa, Europe, the Middle East as well as the Asian Pacific, and many more to come. Starwoods preferred guest programme has also benefitted Le Meridiens loyal guests as they have access to over 700 destinations as a result of the takeover. Mr. Steven J. Heyer, who at the time occupied the position of CEO at Starwood, believed that the acquisition of Le Meridien was a very exciting development for the Starwood brand. Le Meridien hotels are located in destinations where Starwood had little to no presence prior to the takeover. The Le Meridien brand provided the company with another exciting project to accompany their recent Aloft hotel brand. Since Starwoods takeover, The Le Meridien brand has been progressing steadily with widespread improvements in revenues and growth. Le Meridien Balluta in Malta happens to be one of Maltas top five 5 stars properties, and it is steadily working its way up. It began operations in the year 2004, just one year prior to the brands takeover by Starwood. Impacts of integration Economies of scale and market share Operating costs can be reduced significantly when companies integrate. If a tour operator takes over a hotel, the cost associated with investment would be high, however the benefits reaped by offering a wider variety of products or services can be seen immediately. In this case, integration would allow the tour operator to reduce its dependency on other accommodation providers as most operations can be taken care of within company parameters. The more reputable hotels the tour operator is willing and able to invest in, the more beneficial it will be from an operating cost stand point. The tour operator may lower the costs of its packages and pass the benefits onto the consumers. With the right strategies in place, market share will increase and profitability will be maximised. Through horizontal integration, companies can extend their existing client base, whilst through vertical integration companies can enter new markets and attract an entirely different customer base. Standardisation Standardisation is a complex and time consuming process, particularly in an industry which involves so many variables. Automated processes can most certainly be standardised, however it is a lot more difficult to standardise the human element, albeit not being impossible. For instance, McDonalds restaurants throughout the world have had their processes standardised. Whichever destination one visits, the procedures which employees follow are near identical, and the same goes for the food. The company tends to be highly efficient, time oriented, predictable and controlling over its processes and workforce. Standardisation can be possible in hotels, however it is limited. The way in which a telephone operator answers the phone can be standardised, and so can the way in which guests are greeted upon check-in. Variability will always be an issue, as the different departments within a company are run by different personnel, who each have their own standards and ways of dealing with situations. Quality It is not guaranteed that quality will improve through integration. As always, it depends on how variable the human element is. If a hotel is taken over by another, it does not mean that the new owner will have a better approach towards improving quality. Employees may not get along with their new bosses because they believe that the approach being adopted towards improving quality is not feasible or practical, therefore making the risk of error greater. It is therefore crucial that the management of any organisation does not opt for a strict top-down bureaucracy. Management must listen to what employees have to say because they are the people who