Service Encounters Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Service Encounters - Essay Example The industry has also attracted more investors leading to a high competition for the market for the services. The management of an organization is therefore charged with a responsibility of ensuring that they acquire and sustain a competitive advantage over the other competing organizations that provide similar services. To be able to achieve this, the management relies on their employees to provide the customers with the level of satisfaction that can make the customers develop good reputations for the organization (Connoley, n.d, p.5). In this regard, it will be the major role of the front-line officers in a service industry to ensure that there is a kind of rapport created between them and the customers at the first instant in order to retain the customers for a long time. One of the key issues to be addressed in the service industry is how the customers perceive the kind of service that they are given by the particular industry. This is primarily determined by the kind of ‘ dyadic’ interaction that occurs between the customers and the service providers (Bitner et al, 1990, p2). The service encounter and subsequent relationship developed between the customers and the front office service providers make the management of the organizations value the employees as one of the most valuable assets in the organization. Customers and the service personnel in service organizations The diverse expectations of the participants in a service industry makes social encounters complicated in a number of ways. Firstly, the employees that are delivering the service need to derive some level of job satisfaction in the way they perform their duties. There is also a need to satisfy the needs of the customers in the industry. This makes these two actors become important participants in the service industry (Solomon et al, 1985, p). The quality of services provided by a given organization may be pointed out by the customers. The complaints that are given by the custome rs concerning the quality of the services offered by an organization can help the management of the organization establish the cause of a given problem in the delivery process (Tax & Brown, 1998, p.2). There are different views on the quality of the services offered depending on the industry itself. For instance, in hotel industry, what can be considered as quality service is the peaceful stay that has been accorded to a given customer in a given hotel. The quality of a service then follows the perception that the customers have about it. It was observed that in hotel industry, ‘the expectations and the perceptions of the customers are crucial because they are involved in the performance of the service’ (Kusluvan, 2003, p.265). However, there are important factors that impede the inclusion of the customers in the service quality management by the organization. Each of the customers in a given hotel has some unique demands and want to be served in a manner that suits thi s individual demands (Kusluvan, 2003, p.265). The service providers are then charged with a difficult task of keeping a wide track of the different customer demands. Besides, unlike the production industries where the quality of the products can be measured against the original standards that had been established, the quality a service may not be specifically broken down to the individual tangible components. The perception of the custome

Establishment of responsibility Essay Example for Free

Establishment of responsibility Essay While at the counter, the customer can see other employees making the pizzas and the large ovens in which the pizzas are baked Instructions: Identify the six principles of internal control and give an example of each principle that you might observe when picking up your pizza. Note: It may not be possible to observe all the principles. ) 1st Principle – Establishment of responsibility * Only one person is responsible for a given task. * For example, the cashier that exchanges the pizza for cash would be the principle of establishment of responsibility. 2nd Principle – Segregation of duties. Accounting employees balances books * Another personnel has custody of cash on hand (making deposits) * In this principle- segregation of duties one cannot observe this principle in this scenario. th Principle – Documentation procedures * Pre-number documents or invoices * For example, the cashier has pre-number receipts for each order that is picked up by the customer. At the end of the clerk’s shift these invoices are forwarded to accounting to timely record each transaction. 5th Principle – Physical mechanical and electronic controls * Consist of having safes, deposit boxes, and time clocks for time worked. * The clerk has a cashier that controls and safeguards the assets to enhance the accuracy and reliability of the accounting records. th Principle – Independent internal verification * Employees review, compare, and reconcile data that was prepared by them. Three measure are recommended: * An example cannot be provided for this principle because a customer cannot identify if: * 1st – Org. should verify records periodically or on a surprise basis. * 2nd – A manager should make the verification of an employee * 3rd – Discrepancies and exceptions should be reported to mgt. to make appropriate corrective action. Chapter 7: Problem Set B: P7-2B The board of trustees of a local church is concerned about the internal accounting controls pertaining to the offering collections made at weekly services. They ask you to serve on a three-person audit team with the internal auditor of the university and a CPA who has just joined the church. At a meeting of the audit team and the board of trustees you learn the following: A) Indicate the weaknesses in internal accounting control in the handling of collections. There are a few weaknesses in internal control in the handling of collections for the church, such as there is no supervision when the ushers take money. There is a chance that the ushers can take money from the collection plate. In addition, the financial secretary manages three tasks like bank reconciliation, has control and has custody of the cash, and maintains the church records. Moreover, the financial secretary holds out cash ($150-$200) per week; different withhold amounts for cash expenditures. There is not a witness when the head usher or the financial secretary count the money. Last, checks are made payable to cash (Kimmel, Weygandt amp; Kieso, 2007). B) List the improvements in internal control procedures that you plan to make at the next meeting of the audit team for: Ushers: How churches handle usher operations varies from congregation to congregation, but a consistent set of controls protects the fiduciary integrity of the church, and creates confidence among donors. One problem in the collection process is that only the head usher counts the collection without any accountability to ensure his count is accurate, or that all of the funds donated are transferred to the safe. This can be resolved by having the other ushers count the donations and sign off on the report, so that more than one set of eyes have verified the donations. Additionally, volunteers will need to take a course familiarizing would-be ushers with standard operating procedures, and reporting standards before being qualified to volunteer for usher position. This will help solidify controls for the ushers. Head Usher: While the church may not be currently experiencing anything wrong with the usher selection and volunteer system at the church, some improvements might be considered. The church might consider making the head usher a year-long term, elected by church members to create continuity, but also impose term limits – possibly every 3-4 years a head usher must take a sabbatical. Additionally, because the head usher role is so pivotal in the collection process, and it is a place where mistakes or malfeasance can easily take place; it would be helpful for the ushers and the financial secretary to be present in the collection counts, the day of, so someone outside the usher department can verify tithe counts. Financial Secretary: The most glaring issue, which opens up easy access for, would be embezzlers in the congregations check policy. All checks being written to cash basically enables anyone to cash out the check, the church, a rouge employee or volunteer, or otherwise. All checks need to be made out to the church, not to cash. It would be even better if the church went the route of many churches by allowing donors to have donations processed monthly (or weekly depending on donor preference) through e-commerce, allowing debit or credit payments to be made automatically to the church account. This will add a layer to the recording process, but it also increases security for donors. The financial secretary also needs to stop pulling cash from weekly donations for cash expenditures as cash transactions are harder to track and thus are more easily abused. Instead a petty cash account needs to be started, and cash allocated as needed based on historical records of cash expenditures. Additionally, a church credit/debit card, or reimbursement policy greatly will diminish the need for high levels of cash in the petty cash account. Finance Committee: The first thing the finance committee needs to do is to follow its own policy, and conduct annual audits. The church’s 501 (C)(3) nonprofit designation demands this. Often the most â€Å"trusted† employees are the ones who are found to have committed improprieties. Regardless of trust, regular audits, and reporting is essential. The second major priority is for the financial committee to purchase a fidelity insurance policy that will protect the church in the case of financial impropriety or massive fraud on part of those who handle finances. In addition to the need for an overhaul in policy (discussed below), the financial committee needs to inculcate a culture of financial vigilance and rigor to keep the church from even the perception of financial impropriety. C) What church policies should be changed to improve internal control? The church board of trustees is responsible of make sure that the church runs smoothly, from assigning the right ministers to the right ministries and making sure that the tithes and offerings are accounted for after each service. The first and most important thing that the church needs to do is getting some fidelity insurance. This type of insurance will protect the church of losses that may result of fraudulent acts by specified individuals. Protecting the church of any dishonest employee or member who may steal money, securities, and other property that once belong to the church. The second thing is to have an audit conducted because there has not been an audit performed in 15 years. Highly recommend using an outside source of performing the audit, this way every rock and stone will be turn over. The church financial management department should be responsible for counting and recordkeeping of the tithes and offering received but in separate offices, one office for counting the money and the other office for recordkeeping purposes The head usher responsibility should be making sure that the tithes and offering plates are accounted for and immediately delivering the plates (with one member from the board of trustee) to the financial management office (the financial office manager, and one individual from the board of trustees are the only ones with keys to both offices). The financial management recordkeeping personnel and the financial secretary should first come to an agreement on how much cash is needed for the week expense. Also the two will count the money with the intention to be deposit along with a deposit slip; the financial secretary will be responsible of making the deposit and afterward returning the deposit receipt to the recordkeeping office for recording purposes.

Competitive Organization Essay -- Business

How does your organization compete? Walker et al. (2010) write, â€Å"competitive strategies are based on overall patterns of purpose, practice, and performance.† After reviewing the annual report and company website, it appears that Limited Brands Inc. (LTD) does not only have one competitive strategy. Since the firm is divided into several distinct strategic business units (SBU) with differing core competencies and available resources, as well as disparate customer and competitive characteristics it employs different strategies to create value, promote growth and profitability (i.e. Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works; Walker et al., 2010). For instance, the Victoria’s Secret SBU appears to leverage a â€Å"differentiated analyzer strategy† by â€Å"actively seeking to expand into related product markets with differentiated offerings† (Walker et al., 2010). Not only does Victoria’s Secret offer a differentiated line of lingerie, but it also has expanded its product offerings to include beauty, apparel, and accessories. These expansions are largely financed and supported by the SBU’s core business (lingerie) and its profitable, strong brand reputation. In contrast, the Bath & Body Works SBU seems to employ a â€Å"differentiated defender strategy† (Walker et al., 2010). Its activities focus on constantly improving existing offerings by modifying products as well as processes. In addition, it also defends its market position through line extensions to help insulate and fortify the company’s position from competition. In its annual report LTD notes â€Å"we are aggressively focusing on bringing compelling merchandise assortments, marketing and store experiences to our customers† (LTD, 2011). This implies that LTD’s overarching strategy is driv... ...ity. Resources: Anderson, J.C., Narus, JA., & van Rossum, W. (2006). Customer value propositions in business markets. Harvard Business Publishing. Retrieved from http://hbr.org/ Johnson, M.W., Christensen, C.M., & Kagermann, H. (2008). Reinventing your business model. Harvard Business Publishing. Retrieved from http://hbr.org/ Limited Brands Inc. (LTD). (2011). Proxy statement and annual report. Retrieved from https://materials.proxyvote.com/Approved/532716/20110328/CMBO_86861/HTML2/default.htm Porter, M.E. (1996). What is strategy? Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from http://hbr.org/ Treacy, M., & Wiersema, F. (1993). Customer intimacy and other value disciplines. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from http://hbr.org/ Walker, O.C., & Mullins, J.W. (2010). Marketing strategy: a decision focused approach (7th Ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

As Long as the Grass Grows or Water Runs Essay

Directions: As you read the chapter, think about and answer the following questions. What is the major theme in this chapter? The major theme was Native American survival and the effects of Americans taking their land, raiding their communities, and spreading diseases. What evidence does Zinn cite to illustrate the overall impact of Indian removal? He uses the story â€Å"Fathers and Children† to show the overall impact. The book talked about how the Native Americans were treated horrible. They were kicked out of their home and their homeland and as the horrors went on the Native population began to decrease majorly. How do Jefferson’s views concerning Indian policy differ when he served as Secretary of state and as President? Why did his views change? When he was Secretary he believed that the Indians should be left alone, but when he became President he believed the Indians should be forced out because this allowed for vast open lands for the Americans to occupy with ag, market, commerce, and develop a good economy. He also wanted to gain more respect from the American citizens (majority of population) How does Andrew Jackson’s early political/military career foreshadow his Indian policies as President? Before he was President he had a hatred for the Indians and had battled many of them at war. When he became President he had more power to allow him to try to get rid of the Indians permanently. How does Zinn’s view of the War of 1812 contrast with traditional histories? Zinn believed that war was unnecessary. Zinn thought that we were trying to expand our land but the histories say that we were just fighting the war to get away from England. Why does Zinn juxtapose the Nullification Controversy of 1832 and the enforcement of Worcester v. Georgia? He is trying to show the reader that people still believed the Indians should be left alone and that they were willing to fight for the Indian’s rights. Some states tried to abolish federal tariffs to help out, but those on Jackson’s side outnumbered these people. What is the significance of the phrase: â€Å"As  long as grass grows or water runs†? I believe this is saying that the situation between these two different civilizations will always remain the same, which was on bad terms. So as long as the grass continues to grow and the water still runs, things between them will continue to stay that way.

Families in poverty in Australia Essay

One of the important global plan is to eliminate poverty by 2015 as per UN Millennium Development Goals. Every day approximately 30,000 children are losing precious lives due to living in precarious conditions. (Make Poverty History) It is high time to bring a big change in the lives of people who deserve to meet the minimum needs for living. Not just one nation or two whereas a collective effort of all people beginning from Australia to the remote parts of other nations, is required to completely eradicate poverty. Especially in Australia poverty is on the rise from 7. 6 per cent to 9.9 per cent between the period of 1994-2004 (Australian Fair Campaign) Poverty levels are at a higher rate when compared with the poverty line of UK and Ireland. In spite of the fact that Australia’s economy is growing, there are two million Australians living in poverty according to (ACOSS) Australian Council of Social Service. Australia is ranked 14th in the developed world for poverty (UN Human Poverty Index) â€Å"There are two many areas where Australia is falling behind other OECD nations† â€Å"Governments need to ensure the benefits of the economic prosperity are shared with all Australians†(ACOSS President Lin Hatfield Dobbs) The following indicate the status of people in Australia as on September 2001. (Australian Bureau of Statistics) (a) There were 672,500 unemployed (officially) (b) There were 563,500 underemployed (c) 800,000 would like to work more This paper picks an issue of families living in poverty especially belonging to Australia which is a renowned nation for tourism and rich in natural resources. What are the ground reasons for continuous existence of poverty in a nation where there are industries, clean environment and beautiful landscapes which encourage foreign tourists to choose Australia as a destination point to reside either as a tourist or as an immigrant. Similarly, there are reputed educational institutions and universities in Australia which if collectively notified that a greater number of foreign students enroll for career advancements in Universities of Australia than the domestic students of Australia. This gives out a fact that, people around the world select and consider Australia as one of the best nation to opt for to reside as an immigrant, as a tourist, as a foreign student or for expansion of business ventures. An overall view about Australia as a nation produces a fact that, it invites tourists of all cultures and backgrounds and offers a multi-ethnicity atmosphere to all its residents. In the order of pursuing other priorities of economic development of nation, Australia could possibly be giving a lenient view to its domestic citizens and families in providing jobs, medical health schemes which otherwise are provided at a lesser cost in the other parts of Europe, in order to take care of its citizens as a premium issue, which is very important economic aspect that resident families are cared and nurtured after all families make societies which in turn make a healthy nation. In order to find how well and happy families are, a poll opinion was considered by Brother hood of St. Laurence in Australia which revealed that a mindset of middle class economy is prevalent and poverty is always secondary (Stewart 1996). An analysis and understanding of poverty has basically two phases. (1) a phase of listening (2) a phase of dialogue. Brotherhood has considered the poll of general public, group discussions, politicians, academics, telephone interviews, business leaders, community leaders which included both qualitative and quantitative findings. Basing on the general public opinion, the following findings were the result of Brotherhood’s research on poverty in Australia. Firstly and quite observantly, Brotherhood stated that poverty is least rated at 5 per cent as compared to any other issue such as unemployment, education, health, environment and other chronic issues of narcotics and games of casino or betting. The other ratings are, drugs at 25%, unemployment at 17%, divide between rich and poor at 16%, education at 13%, health at 9%, environment at 9%, gambling at 7% and poverty at 5%. Poverty line as established by Henderson in 1973 explains that an income of $62. 70 is a benchmark which is a disposable income for a family of four. (parents + two children).

MBA Correspondence Courses in USA Essays

MBA Correspondence Courses in USA Essays MBA Correspondence Courses in USA Essay MBA Correspondence Courses in USA Essay Before we show you these MBA correspondence courses in USA, let us first define it. Many students, who want to continue with their education and pursue an MBA degree, confuse the correspondence course with something else. Try and put it this way. The distance learning MBA or popularly called an online MBA course is pursued by correspondence. In this case, correspondence means ongoing remote communication that is held between two different parties. This type of educational format connects the students, who are not physically present to the class, and the lessons. MBA correspondence courses are made for those who have limited resources and time. Recent graduate, busy professional and mothers who want to gain advanced education are the most interested parties into pursuing an MBA degree on this way. All courses require a bachelor’s degree and meeting the required criteria which can be different depending on your school. The cost you need to pay for getting an MBA degree on this way is cheaper than the part-time or regular MBA. Most of the professionals and students who don’t want to take a regular MBA course are afraid of lack of materials. They don’t need to worry anymore because every school has its own online library that is open 24/7. These students will even receive assignments that need to be completed at the specified period of time. You will be supervised by professionals who have become really famous in the business. If you feel the need to climb higher on the corporate success ladder, getting an MBA degree will help you with that goal. According to the latest distance MBA correspondence courses we can see that many great schools offers great options for you. Let’s see the schools that made it up to our top 3 MBA schools’ list. Indiana University – Kelly School of Business This university is based in Bloomington, IN and it has everything that you need to continue your education.   You are required with a GMAT score and the school is AACSB accredited. Minimum credit hours for completing this course is 51 that is equal to 24 months of commitment time. North Carolina State University – Poole College of Management The university is located in Raleigh, North Carolina and offers specializing in many fields. It also requires GMAT scores and has 45 minimum credit hours for getting the degree. It’s AACSB accredited and you will need 24 months for completing this course. University of Illinois: Springfield – College of Business and Management This university is based in Springfield, IL and it is AACSB accredited. Since its start with MBA courses, this school is highly ranked each year. You have the opportunity to finish this program for 21 or 24 months and for getting the MBA degree you will need to complete minimum 36 credit hours. These three will give you the best correspondent MBA courses and they are affordable, too. Given that you need to know more information before deciding to enroll to these programs, you need to visit their official websites in order to do so.

Alice Lloyd College Admissions - ACT Scores, Tuition...

Alice Lloyd College Admissions - ACT Scores, Tuition... Alice Lloyd College Admissions Overview: Alice Lloyd College had an acceptance rate of 22 percent in 2016, but  the actual admission bar isnt overly high. Admitted students tend to have average ACT or SAT scores and grades in the A and B range. The admission process, however, is holistic and involves much more than numerical measures. As a work college with an extremely low price tag, Alice Lloyd looks for students who will be a good match for the college and who will benefit from the experience. For this reason, all applicants must schedule an interview with an admissions counselor, and visiting the campus for a tour is highly recommended.   Admissions Data (2016): Alice Lloyd College Acceptance Rate: 22 percentTest Scores 25th / 75th PercentileSAT Critical Reading: 440 / 590SAT Math: 470 / 540What these SAT numbers meanACT Composite: 18  / 25ACT English: 17  / 25ACT Math: 16 / 23What these ACT numbers mean Alice Lloyd College Description: Alice Lloyd College is a small liberal arts college located in Pippa Passes, Kentucky. It is also one of seven recognized  American work colleges, meaning that students are employed in the college’s work-study program on campus or with an off-campus outreach project as a way to gain work experience and to partially pay their tuition. Students at Alice Lloyd College are required to complete at least 160 hours of work per semester. The remote campus is situated on 175 acres in the hills of eastern Kentucky, a few hours southeast of Lexington. Academics are strong and leadership-driven, supported by the college’s work program. Students can choose from 14 liberal arts majors, including popular programs in biology, business administration and elementary education. The college is located in Knott County, which is a dry county, so alcohol is prohibited on campus. The Alice Lloyd College Eagles compete in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference of the NAIA. Enrollment (2016): Total Enrollment: 605  (all undergraduates)Gender Breakdown: 45 percent male / 55 percent female95  percent full-time Costs (2016 - 17): Tuition and Fees: $11,550Books: $1,400 (why so much?)Room and Board: $6,240Other Expenses: $5,100Total Cost: $24,290 Alice Lloyd College Financial Aid (2015- 16): Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 99 percentPercentage of New Students Receiving Types of AidGrants: 99 percentLoans: 65 percentAverage Amount of AidGrants: $8,832Loans: $4,244 Academic Programs: Most Popular Majors:  Biology, Business Administration, Elementary Education, Social Sciences, History, English Literature, Sociology, Exercise Science Retention and Graduation Rates: First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 84 percentTransfer-out Rate: 20 percent4-Year Graduation Rate: 27 percent6-Year Graduation Rate: 31 percent Intercollegiate Athletic Programs: Mens Sports:  Golf, Basketball, Baseball, Tennis, Track and Field, Cross CountryWomens Sports:  Basketball, Track and Field, Volleyball, Cross Country, Tennis, Softball Data Source: National Center for Educational Statistics If You Like Alice Lloyd College, You May Also Like These Schools: For students that might be interested in another work college, other recognized schools include  Berea College,  Warren Wilson College,  Blackburn College,  Ecclesia College, and the College of the Ozarks. If youre looking for a small school (around or less than 1,000 students) in Kentucky, Transylvania University, Georgetown College, and Kentucky Wesleyan College are all great choices. And all three of these schools are largely accessible, with at least two-thirds of applicants accepted each year. Alice Lloyd College Mission Statement: mission statement from alc.edu/about-us/our-mission/ The mission of Alice Lloyd College is to educate mountain people for positions of leadership by Making an Alice Lloyd College education available to qualified mountain students regardless of their financial situation.Offering a high quality academic program, emphasizing the liberal arts.Promoting the work ethic through a self-help Student Work Program in which all full-time students participate.Providing an atmosphere in which Christian values are maintained, encouraging high personal standards, and the development of character.Serving the community and region through appropriate outreach programs which utilize mountain people helping mountain people.Assisting deserving students in obtaining advanced study beyond their program at Alice Lloyd.Producing leaders for Appalachia who possess high moral and ethical values, an attitude of self-reliance, and a sense of service to others.

King Richard I of England - Richard the Lionheart

King Richard I of England - Richard the Lionheart Richard, I was also known as: Richard the Lionheart, Richard the Lionhearted, Richard the Lion-Heart, Richard the Lion-hearted; from the French, Coeur de Lion, for his bravery Richard, I was known for: His courage and prowess on the battlefield, and his notable displays of chivalry and courtesy to his fellow knights and enemies. Richard was extremely popular during his lifetime, and for centuries after his death, he remained one of the most well-regarded kings in English history. Occupations: CrusaderKingMilitary Leader Places of Residence and Influence: EnglandFrance Important Dates: Born: Sept. 8, 1157Crowned king of England: Sept. 3, 1189Captured: March, 1192Freed from captivity: Feb. 4, 1194Crowned again: April 17, 1194Died: April 6, 1199 About Richard I: Richard the Lionheart was the son of King Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine and the second king in the Plantagenet line. Richard was far more interested in his holdings in France and in his Crusading endeavors than he was in governing England, where he spent about six months of his ten-year reign. In fact, he nearly depleted the treasury left by his father in order to fund his Crusade. Though he scored some successes in the Holy Land, Richard and his fellow Crusaders failed to meet the objective of the Third Crusade, which was to recapture Jerusalem from Saladin. On his way home from the Holy Land in March of 1192, Richard was shipwrecked, captured, and handed over to Emperor Henry VI. A large portion of the 150,000-mark ransom was raised through heavy taxing of the people of England, and Richard was freed in February of 1194. Upon returning to England he had a second coronation to demonstrate that he still had control of the country, then promptly went to Normandy and never returned. The next five years were spent in periodic warfare with King Philip II of France. Richard died from a wound inflicted when besieging the castle of Chà ¢lus. His marriage to Berengaria of Navarre had produced no children, and the English crown passed to his brother John. For a more detailed look at this popular English king, visit your Guides Biography of Richard the Lionheart. More Richard the Lionhearted Resources: Biography of Richard the LionheartRichard the Lionheart Image GalleryRichard the Lionheart in PrintRichard the Lionheart on the Web Richard the Lionheart on Film Henry II (Peter OToole) must choose which of his three surviving sons will succeed him, and a vicious verbal battle ensues between himself and his strong-willed queen. Richard is portrayed by Anthony Hopkins (in his first feature film); Katharine Hepburn won an Oscar ® for her portrayal of Eleanor.Medieval Renaissance Monarchs of EnglandThe CrusadesMedieval BritainMedieval FranceChronological IndexGeographical IndexIndex by Profession, Achievement, or Role in Society

The subject of assignment at the assignment criteria box Essay

The subject of assignment at the assignment criteria box - Essay Example Multinational companies are those companies with branches in several countries. A multinational company is a main company that produces in foreign countries through its branches or partners situated in several countries. The policies of the branches and partners are directly controlled by the parent company which sets strategies for all the activities of the company that go beyond the boundaries of the host countries. These include; product marketing, personnel, financial matters as well as production strategies. The policies may have host country orientation or parent country orientation (Feldman, 2008, pp.22-27). A multinational company may be owned by citizens of one, two countries or more. In another situation, a company may establish branches in different countries in order to reduce the cost of transporting raw materials in order to reduce the final cost of the products that is added to the consumer price. A company may also establish branches in countries that import its products in order to escape import tax that may be enforced by the importing country against foreign companies. An example of this is when external levy was enforced against outsiders by the European Community, companies from the United States engaged in Foreign Direct Investment in order to evade these tariffs (Howard Perlmutter, 1969). Fluctuating exchange rates are also a factor that leads to the establishment of multinational companies in order to avoid losses that are associated with these rates. This phenomenon arises when companies produce at a high value of the local currency and then the value falls during exportation. They opt to establish a subsidiary industry in the importing country. Competition is also a factor that gives rise to multinational companies. A company X in one country may be producing the same products as another company Y in a different country, both competing for a

MGMT436 U4 DB2 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

MGMT436 U4 DB2 - Research Paper Example These structures are mandatory for an organization to retain its market relevance. Additionally, technology provides unique and complex opportunities to change. From the changes experienced in the modern business market, it is an obvious assumption that technology has been a positive influence in organizational change. The market has grown significantly as practices have become more relevant and competitive. This has increased the quality of goods and services available in the market. Most software used in organizational change is based on their ability to develop effective ways to improve business structures. For instance, an organization requires software that determines the most effective marketing structure in regards to cost and consumer preference. In addition, an organization may develop its IT systems to increase their business connectivity (Carnaghan & Klassen, 2010). Technology has been fully responsible for the growth of the modern corporate world. This trend will not change as more companies are embracing the need to consider technology as a tool for change. In addition, the positive influence on companies will be more exceptional as more ways to make technology more influential have been developed (Carnaghan & Klassen,

My Three Most Recent Classical Escapades Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

My Three Most Recent Classical Escapades - Essay Example Eight months ago, I was opportune to have the London Symphony Orchestra in a rare spectacle at Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. The orchestra under Valery Gergiev’s direction had created for the audience a milestone high with raptures of Prokofiev’s fifth and sixth symphonies (LSO Press) becoming that indescribable moment the lifeblood of the violin concerto which the ensemble took to the level of genius. The raving Russian conductor had had his very peculiar way of getting every bow on chord to regulate textures of rhythm with a wide range of crescendo from which to pick an element either of mildness or of severity. Laid back on my seat some ten meters from the stage, tensions fastened with me every shaken sense that my appreciation grew with intense curiosity from one level on to the next as if a wide-eyed scene shut into suspense. A particular story was being weaved movement upon movement like an act in a play, while the tempo brought indications where tragedy must come in, the point to remain as such or otherwise jolt-free with the magical winds, as their collaboration with the strings awaited subsidence of the latter to tell which part would relax cardiac beating.

Egalite for all toussaint louverture and the haitian revolution Movie Review

Egalite for all toussaint louverture and the haitian revolution summary - Movie Review Example The movie describes the role of different leaders and men who fought in the period of 13 years to gain independence and among them the great Toussaint Louverture who led from the front this revolt and brought independence to his country and people. The portrayal of the struggles of the Africans under the rule of French and Spanish as well as the Americans cannot get any better than this. Also, the facts from history are portrayed and described with precision in the movie which shows the hardwork of the movie makers and their struggle to collect specific information and data about the Haitian revolution. Saint Domingue was the French colony this revolt started from and spread across the many colonies. It was not until 1804 that the Haitians gained independence and changed the course of history. All these facts and stories are explained very precisely and beautifully in the movie. It is a documentary for history lovers. Those who have a slightest of interest in history or need to study Haitian revolution, this is a must watch since it takes us back to the time when all of this was happening and one feels like a part of

An interview with a small animal expert Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

An interview with a small animal expert - Essay Example The nature of the dog makes its most attractive among Americans and to many people around the world. Dogs are extremely loyal and affectionate. They also look affectionate and cute that endears them to most people. They are also safe and relatively easy to maintain. Psychologically, they also tend to fill some void among humans that makes them attractive to us. For example, many experts would advise for us to get a dog if we feel lonely and to some extent, dogs can make us feel a little less lonely. Yes dogs are very helpful in a family. First is that people in your house will have an automatic playmate. Do you also know that dogs are effective security guards and are extremely protective of their masters? They also bring laughter and joy in the family and to other people. Are brings a sense of affection and responsibility to children growing up. They teach children responsibility on how to take care of something which first begins with a dog. In fact, there are some schools where children are asked to have a dog for them to be taught responsibility. Dogs as cute and affectionate they may be are not for all people. Most people may love them but there are some people who finds them annoying and always â€Å"bother† them. Untrained dogs tend to have some â€Å"bothersome† trait as well such as destroying your things in the house or just plainly noisy. Most dogs becomes obedient when they are treated and fed well. But again, if the dog proves difficult, there are always obedient schools or people who could train dogs. Probably you mean rabies where people contracted it when bitten by dogs. Yes rabies and dangerous and could kill people in a very disturbing way. This however can easily be remedied by having the dog injected with an anti-rabies solution to neutralize its rabies. Dogs also don’t normally bit people especially their masters and that is even if they are hurt. But of course dogs are animals who

Critically analyse the extent to which the classical doctrine on Essay

Critically analyse the extent to which the classical doctrine on communication of acceptance is relevant in modern contractual relations - Essay Example eement.1 The acceptance of an offer is crucial to formation of contract and question arises how and why an offer must be accepted to become a contract. Because there should be meeting of minds. An agreement can be verbal or in writing and in both cases how the acceptance reaches the offeror is important. The doctrine of communication of acceptance requires that it should be made within a reasonable time. In the following pages, the position relating to communication of acceptance is discussed. While dealing with acceptance, it is necessary to discuss the other ingredients of agreement. The objective test employed by the courts for an agreement having been reached is the presence of â€Å"offer and acceptance. 2 As is well-known, an offer is said to be made when one person proposes to another to do or abstain form doing some thing in order to get the consent of the other to the act or abstinence. An offer can be verbal, in writing, by conduct or by combination of these forms.3 An offer also can be made to an individual, a group of persons or to the world at large.4 An acceptance is made when the person to whom the proposal is made signifies his consent thereto and it should be absolute and unqualified. The acceptance must be communicated in the usual and reasonable manner except when the offeror stipulates a particular manner of acceptance.5 In other words, the acceptance of the offeree implies that the offeree has accepted the offer in the same terms and conditions of th e offeror without any reservation.6 Thus, it follows that an agreement comes into existence only when acceptance is received by the offeror so as to ensure that the offeror is not bound by his offer without his knowledge. The place of receipt of acceptance is generally regarded as the place of conclusion of contract. This applies to instantaneous methods such as verbal, telephone, telex and facsimile.7 In such forms of messages, the sender is notified as to its receipt or otherwise by the

An interview with a small animal expert Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

An interview with a small animal expert - Essay Example The nature of the dog makes its most attractive among Americans and to many people around the world. Dogs are extremely loyal and affectionate. They also look affectionate and cute that endears them to most people. They are also safe and relatively easy to maintain. Psychologically, they also tend to fill some void among humans that makes them attractive to us. For example, many experts would advise for us to get a dog if we feel lonely and to some extent, dogs can make us feel a little less lonely. Yes dogs are very helpful in a family. First is that people in your house will have an automatic playmate. Do you also know that dogs are effective security guards and are extremely protective of their masters? They also bring laughter and joy in the family and to other people. Are brings a sense of affection and responsibility to children growing up. They teach children responsibility on how to take care of something which first begins with a dog. In fact, there are some schools where children are asked to have a dog for them to be taught responsibility. Dogs as cute and affectionate they may be are not for all people. Most people may love them but there are some people who finds them annoying and always â€Å"bother† them. Untrained dogs tend to have some â€Å"bothersome† trait as well such as destroying your things in the house or just plainly noisy. Most dogs becomes obedient when they are treated and fed well. But again, if the dog proves difficult, there are always obedient schools or people who could train dogs. Probably you mean rabies where people contracted it when bitten by dogs. Yes rabies and dangerous and could kill people in a very disturbing way. This however can easily be remedied by having the dog injected with an anti-rabies solution to neutralize its rabies. Dogs also don’t normally bit people especially their masters and that is even if they are hurt. But of course dogs are animals who

Common Assignment - Individual Leadership Growth Reflection Essay

Common Assignment - Individual Leadership Growth Reflection - Essay Example This type of awareness is important to leader’s self management ability. Self management must include flexibility to adapt to new situations and emotional self control, ambiguity and complexity. Authentic leaders also embrace honesty, transparency and integrity and earn colleagues’ trust with consistent behavior. This paper will discuss individual leadership growth reflection and also look at and discuss in detail the transformational leadership theory and how this theory impacts my individual development and growth as an effective leader. Finally it shall address various individual leadership development strategies that can cushion me as a leader in my workplace. Transformational leadership As a transformational leader, I must be socially competent in the ways that I carry out myself before others. The display of understanding, empathy and emotions of others, and being concerned with their welfare is core to managing individual’s relationships. As far as organiz ations are concerned, transformational leaders must be perceptive in reading the culture and climate of an institution, alert on how and why decisions are made and keeping pulse of institutional politics. In maintaining good relationships, transformational leaders inspire others with vision, persuasively influence them and advocates for necessary positive change. They come up with skillful approach on conflict management and resolution; develop colleagues as leaders, forms partnership and alliances as well as the capacity to build effective teams and work closely with others in an institution. Various techniques are of aid in self-reflection of myself as a leader, observation off myself and others, meditation and inspirational reading and writing. A good number of organizations have embraced transformational leadership process which serves as an effective, organized and continuing framework for development, self reflection and improvement. In my occupancy as an elementary and middle school principal, many experiences have played a major role in shaping and developing my leadership skills. My reflections on these challenges may also be helpful in program design. In one of my experiences as the leader of the middle school, I was given the task of shutting down an existing elementary school, supervising renovations to the infrastructure and organizing a new middle school which was also being put up as a technology project site for the region. An advisory committee was prepared to lead in development of the project with members from various communities and organizations within the province. My experiences during the five years of active participation with this project prompted me to re-asses discernments of the role of the principal, the effectiveness required of educational leaders and the nature of competent staff development. The aspects of this transformational leadership experience which positively affected my professional growth included: our recurrently sch eduled advisory committee meeting with different stakeholders which boosted the transformational process that we tried to transfer to the school’s daily operation; being part of action research concerning our project which was led by professor from Regina University; being an active participant in mentoring relationship with both the

Biogeochemical Cycles Essay Example for Free

Biogeochemical Cycles Essay With environmental rhetoric gaining increasing currency in the contemporary zeitgeist, it is commonly supposed that we have a moral responsibility to protect ecosystems and conserve biodiversity, particularly from the ecologically devastating impacts of a human civilization that depends on industrial systems and the capitalization of natural resources. Simply put, conventional thinking suggests that man must protect the environment from his own destructive tendencies, and that this moral responsibility is maintained as the sole reason why governments should implement protective measures on behalf of ecosystems. However, by maintaining that moral and ethical responsibility as the reason behind conservation and biodiversity protection, we also risk overlooking the pragmatic and intelligent justification that provide strong reasons that can harness substantial political will and societal momentum to the environmental movement: That ecosystems provide a variety of services and resources ranging from pollination to water treatment, beneficial to human and non-human life, at little to no expense. (Schroeder, 2007) As Emily Goodwin maintains in a discussion of the importance of natural capital, â€Å"we need to include a very frank discussion of what we get from the Earth,† with a goal of â€Å"[maintaining] the functions and services they provide, such as flood protection, clean water, and clean air.† (Steffen, Levitt Kuck, 2008) Governments should therefore take the initiative to protect ecosystems, simply because it makes good sense to do so, regardless of whether one feels a moral obligation to the planet or one is committed a sublime ethicality in personal impacts. As Tobis (2007) observes, the drive to live sustainably, to protect natural assets and the compulsion to limit consumption, while viewed by some as a negative responsibility and one that has effectively hindered the momentum of the environmental movement, is also a set of principles that makes economic sense. Measures to protect ecosystems means that governments recognize the economic finitude of natural capital, as well as the economic boons that ecosystems naturally provide. REFERENCES Schroeder, K. (2007, August 12) â€Å"Colonizing Planet Earth.† Worldchanging. Retrieved on December 22, 2008 from: http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/007092.html Steffen, A; Levitt, J; Kuck, S. (2008, November 28) â€Å"The Future of Public Lands in the United States.† Worldchanging. Retrieved on December 22, 2008 from: http://www.worldchanging.com/archives//009077.html Tobis, M. (2007, April 30) â€Å"My little world (and yours, too).† Grist. Retrieved on December 22, 2008 from: http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2007/4/29/195245/792

Bethel School District vs. Fraser :: essays research papers

On April 26, 1983, Matthew Fraser, a student at Bethel High School in Bethel, Washington, delivered a speech nominating a fellow student for a student elective office to his fellow high school mates. The assembly was part of a school-sponsored educational program in self government. During the entire speech, Fraser referred to his candidate in terms of "elaborate, graphic, and explicit sexual metaphor." However, no obscene language was used. Fraser discussed his speech with three of his teachers. Two of the teachers testified at the trial that they informed Matthew the speech was "inappropriate and that he probably should not deliver it." They also mentioned that the speech might have "severe consequences," but none of the three suggested that the speech might violate a school rule. So Matthew gave his speech, during which a school counselor observed the reaction of students. Some hooted and yelled; others appeared to be bewildered and embarrassed by the speech. A Bethel High School disciplinary rule prohibited the use of obscene language in the school: Conduct which materially and substantially interferes with the educational process is prohibited, including the use of obscene, profane language or gestures. The morning after the assembly, the assistant principal called Matthew into her office and notified him that the school considered his speech to have been a violation of this rule. The assist ant principal informed Matthew that he would be suspended for three days and would be ineligible as a candidate for graduation speaker at the school's commencement exercises. Matthew went to the school's hearing officer for a review of the disciplinary action. The examiner determined that the speech fell within the ordinary meaning of "obscene," as used in the disruptive-conduct rule, and affirmed the discipline in its entirety. Fraser served two days of his suspension, and was allowed to return to school on the third day. Matthew's father appealed the school district's actions on behalf of his son to the federal district court. He alleged a violation of his First Amendment right to freedom of speech and sought both injunctive relief and monetary damages. The District Court held that the school's sanctions violated respondent's right to freedom of speech under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, that the school's disruptive-conduct rule is unconstitutionally vague and overbroad, and that the removal of respondent's name from the graduation speaker's list violated the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment because the disciplinary rule makes no mention of such removal as a possible sanction.

Alternative Approaches to Meeting Peugeot Objectives Essays -- Papers

Alternative Approaches to Meeting Peugeot Objectives Are Peugeot using the best methods for the line of work they are involved in? Is there a way of improving their efficiency, quality and productivity? We should be able to tell if there is by looking at the theory known as benchmarking. Benchmarking can be defined as imitating the standards of an established leader in quality and attempting to be better them. Benchmarking is a technique used by some businesses to help them discover the 'best' methods of production available and then adopt them. Benchmarking involves: - Ã ¼ Finding out what makes the difference, in the customer's eyes, between an ordinary supplier and an excellent supplier. Ã ¼ Setting standards for business operations based on the best practice that can be found. Ã ¼ Finding out how these best companies meeting those standards. Ã ¼ Applying both competitors' standards and, if possible, exceed them. What should be benchmarked? I Who should the company benchmark against? I How is the information obtained? I How should the information be analysed? I How should the information be used? These are the five main steps in Benchmarking. The first step is to identify exactly what the company intends to benchmark. Benchmarks that are important for customer satisfaction might include consistency of product, correct invoices, shorter delivery times, shorter lead times and improved after sales service. Peugeot could decide to benchmark better sales figures. What better company to benchmark against than 'Ford', the leading company in market penetration. If Peugeot were to i... ...ompanies meet those standards. Then Peugeot could apply both standards and their own to meet the new standard and possibly exceed that excellent customer service standard. Due to Peugeot previous innovations, they were very successful in winning awards for the company, such as the 'car of the year' award; the 206 won the 'best used car' award. Also Peugeot were able to produce a world record, producing half a million 206s in three years. As we can see from Peugeot's previous success they are very innovative and progressive in the car industry. Using every new technological advantage possible to create that competitive advantage over their rivals. And with policies like "eight airbags as standard" Peugeot are a tough act to follow. Especially with such high regards to recycling and safety to the environment.

Effect of Technology on Human Social Interaction Essay

Humanity has come far from its primitive beginnings. From sticks and stone wheels to the fantastic technology of today. Each tool made toward the betterment of life more wondrous – and many times more dangerous – than the next. Humans have come from stone tools to hydrogen bombs. Humanity has become so accustomed to – so connected to — technology that it can no longer live without it. If all electricity were to somehow cease to be a thing in the world, society might very well collapse before our eyes. Really, there is no stopping this evolution, whether humanity as a whole see error in technology or not. In â€Å"The Evolution of Technology,† George Basalla asks how the world came to such a point that it could not stop its advancement. I question its exact effects. The advancement of media technologies in the 21st century have greatly impacted society. More specifically, the merging of modern media technology and the various social settings of socie ty has had major influence on social interaction between individuals. The media technologies of today effect social interaction in many different ways. Modern media technologies can encourage the interaction of many groups of people claiming different backgrounds, ethnicities, and generations. It can aid in bridging gaps both generational and cultural. To the contrary however, media technologies in any social setting can – according to the studies in â€Å"The Impact of New Media Technologies on Social Interaction in the Household† – easily result in a growing privatization in areas of life that, in an earlier, less technologically advanced time, would have been shared with friends and family. People are using technology separately rather than in groups. How are 21st century media technologies impacting social interaction among individuals? Do modern media technologies actually bring members of every social group together and increase social interaction amongst one another, or do they more commonly cause social division instead? Media technologies are now much more involved into people’s every day routine s than ever before. Media technologies of today have changed much of life in the last few decades. The mere pace of life has increased to levels that those of earlier decades could only have imagined. Much of the world has come into a time in which most things are instantly achieved (â€Å"Proceedings of the Media Ecology Association: Volume 11†). It is,  in fact, the era of instant gratification, in which much is sacrificed in the search for convenience and efficiency. Many see the ever falling value of face to face social interaction as being directly connected to the spike in modern media technology. Communication through technological media, in particular has advanced by leaps and bounds. With the click of mouse or the touch of a screen people are, in seconds, be put into contact with others that are tens of thousands of miles away. While this marks a definite height of media technology – linking people that would, in another time, not have been so connected, it would seem as though the use of the technology to communicate instantly with typed words on a digital screen has replaced other modes of human interaction. Younger members of generations of the 21st century have chiefly taken to the latest forms of communication: emailing, texting, messaging, et cetera†¦ Physical and interpersonal communication had been the status quo for hundreds of years. A person’s personality and ability to speak, convey his or her ideas with charisma, and articulate well using not just words, but body language and eye contact have long been the defining characteristics of the greatest people of our societies. This is changing. It has become the preferences of the general public to send emails instead of taking the time to write letters, to send texts messages from phones instead of calling from them, and to friending someone on a social network instead of asking to spend time with them. It can be seen that the ever falling value of face to face social interaction and communication as being directly connected to the spike in modern media technology. In another way, technological media used for recreation al purposes has had its various effects on social interaction as well. Gaming for instance, is one entertainment that has for years been met with very mixed opinions and arguments. I will not venture to link the meager social skills to or violent behavior to the playing of video games here. There are many examples of video games bring people closer together. Upon interviewing several people that play video games regularly, I found that many play video games with other people. Many play video games with their friends and family. A percentage of these people even said it was a routine of their family to have â€Å"game night† as a sort of tool to encourage familial bonding in the household. On the other hand, however, there was a significant number of people that I interviewed that played and preferred to play their video  games alone and spent little time with their families or in social settings away from video games. These people spent many hours alone with nothing but a screen, a game controller or mouse (depending on the medium the game was being played on), and sometimes an opponent and fellow gamer several miles or states away. When asked about other activities they took part in during the week or weekends, their responses were meager. Few partook in other activities, social or otherwise. In this way, one can understand video games to be a hindrance to the social interaction of the many individuals that play them. A gamer, distracted by a screen for countless hours a week does not have the time a person unimpeded by such things may have to take part in regular conversation with his or her peers. Television is yet another technological medium that has been argued over in its decades of use. Perhaps the varying viewpoints on the positive and negative aspects of television stem for the many purposes it can and has served. There are many channels on any cable television that are geared toward the moral and academic education of their viewers. There are also many more channels that are meant for the simple enjoyment of their watchers. A number of researchers propose that spending a small amount of time watching the more wholesome programs can, to some degree, strengthen families and friendships (â€Å"Inclusive Leisure Services†). Then, of course, there are many researchers that continually warn against television. Television is among the easiest of society’s media technology; easiest to operate, easiest to access, easiest to become addicted to. It is also possibly the most passive of media technologies today requiring almost no thought to use recreationally. Television, without the motive of the viewer to have conversation with those around, presents little chance for growth of social interaction between individuals. Now, possibly the most controversial, though fastest growing media technology in use: the cellular phone. There has never been any denying the convenience of the device. There have been, however, thousands of complaints and arguments against the cell phone for its ability to capture and hold the attention of its user. The cell phone has recently become all forms of media technology rolled into one: the telephone for calls, the camera for photographs, the music player, the television for vi ewing movies and TV shows, and the internet for all other digital uses, and so the list goes on†¦ The younger generation of today can only just  imagine the world in which most, if not everyone, has a cell phone – which, ironically, was not so many decades ago. The benefits of the modern cell phone to social interaction are obvious. Though more advanced than it was years ago, it still holds to its original purpose. The cell phone still provides the easiest, most convenient way to contact friends and family. In an emergency, it remains to be the best way to call for help. Modernly speaking, one can always send a quick text to ask how a friend is doing. Several million people would not be able to function or go through their daily routine without their cell phone. However, the opposition lives on. Many researchers maintain that the cellular as it is today is one the largest distraction to social interaction rather than the aid that others believe it to be (â€Å"The Impact of New media Technologies on Social Interaction in the Household†). Schools and certain work places have banned them for the fact that the people can’t seem to keep them from interrupting their work and learning. It is possible to now to walk into a room filled with people that in decades earlier would have been filled with individ uals mixing and socializing with each other, but now, could be packed with overzealous texters and social networkers gazing down at small screens in the palms of their hands. This generation has been described as incessantly â€Å"plugged in† – constantly in communication and in touch with technology (â€Å"Plugged In: generation Y Guide to Thriving at Work†). No other device is credited as much for the decline in values for face to face physical interaction than the cellular phone. Nor is any other device so credited for it advantages. It is evident that digital media technologies, such as television, video games, and cell phones have increasingly lead to social isolation and a growing privatization in social settings that would’ve been very different decades ago. It is also true that communication in general has become more impersonal than ever with the advancement of these technologies. Digital technologies are negatively affecting social interaction and communication between individuals. It is right to worry about the drastic changes they present society’s relationships and values. In order for digital technologies t o positively impact social interaction, friends and family have used these devices as a way of communicating and interacting with each another. This has to include using the media technology as a medium to interact, such as, playing a computer game  together or watching television together and discussing it afterwards. It is important for individuals to consume new media technologies together – thus, promoting togetherness – instead of individually. By consuming technology individually, this leads to social isolation. In turn, this results in a drastic decrease of communication and social interaction in all social groups. Though one thing is clear: as the presence of technology in our lives becomes more pervasive, the greater the changes in our interactions will be. Works Cited Basalla, George, The Evolution of Technology, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989 Dattilo, John, Inclusive Leisure Services, New York: Venture Publishing, Inc., 2002 Erickson, Tamara, Plugged In: generation Y Guide to Thriving at Work, Cambridge: Harvard Business Review Press, 2008 McGrath, Siobhan, The Impact of New media Technologies on Social Interaction in the Household, Ireland: Nui Maynooth, 2012 Rose, Ellen, Proceedings of the Media Ecology Association: Volume 11, Maine: Media Ecology Association, 2010

Monteverdi’s Opera

Claudio Monteverdi is considered as one of the greatest composers in the history of music.   Composer of operatic masterpieces, Monteverdi’s works are said to have united the music of sixteenth and seventeenth centuries (Kamien, 1998, p. 117). One of his best-known creations is Orfeo, also called â€Å"L’Orfeo, an opera about Orpheus, the musician in the Greek mythology (p. 117). The opera deals with Orpheus grieving about the death of his wife Eurydice from a lethal snake bite (p.117).   The opera was created for the Mantuan court and featured prominent stars, dancers, a chorus and an orchestra consisting of 40 musicians (p. 118).     This masterpiece has the dramatic and literary elements that cemented Monteverdi’s status during the Baroque era.Born in Cremona, Italy, in 1567, Monteverdi served as a singer, violinist and music director for the court of Mantua (Kamien, 1998, p. 117).   He was appointed music director at St. Mark’s in Venice, wh ere he worked for 30 years (p. 117). Opera was said to originate in Italy, where composers, nobles, and poets usually convened to hold musical discussions (p. 115). The first opera house was in Venice (p. 116).   Ã‚  These individuals, who at one point included Vincenzo Galilei, the father of Galileo, called themselves the Camerata or Italian for fellowship or society (p. 115).The Camerata yearned to develop vocal style patterned after the ideals and practices of the Greeks (p. 115). However, since there was no concrete Greek dramatic music, the Camerata patterned their creations on surviving stories and descriptions (p. 115). Greek dramas were described as being sung in a style between melody and speech (p.115). The Camerata decided on a vocal style that was recited and would have a single chordal accompaniment that resulted in a homophonic texture (p. 115). This homophonic texture is a characteristic of the Baroque opera. But why Greek?The aristocrats’ fascination with Gr eek mythology and history was one of the main reasons why composers and musicians created operas reflecting Greek dramas (Kamien, 1998, p. 115). It may also be because Renaissance, the period preceded by the Baroque, was a period wherein Greek philosophy, architecture and ideals were given paramount interest.   Renaissance means â€Å"rebirth† and perhaps this included rebirth of the earlier times, which included the ancient civilization of the Greeks. Then it continued with the Baroque period, with the aristocrats still favoring Greek drama and composers and musicians trying to please them.Monteverdi was able to create effects, such as pizzicato and tremolo to reflect feelings such as that of anger (Kamien, 1998, p. 117).   Additionally, his expressive use of polyphony while at the same time allowing instruments to function aside from simply accompanying he vocal parts is truly an innovation. With Orfeo, Monteverdi was able to inject different kinds of music: â€Å"reci tatives, arias, duets, choruses and instrumental interludes† (p.118).He had a way of making his characters â€Å"come alive† (p. 118).   The texts are set in such a way that the recitatives and the melodic passages rotate (p. 118). This resulted in a feeling of heightened passion, allowing the soloist to move from one mood to another. Monteverdi was a master in achieving this.  Monteverdi wrote about 12 operas but only 3 were preserved (Kamien, 1998, p. 117). His music was mainly for voices, accompanied with a basso continuo or instruments (p. 117). At 75, Monteverdi finished his last opera â€Å"L’inconronazione di Poppea or The Coronation of Poppea (p. 117). In his lifetime, Monteverdi was known for his opera but was not given due respect.   In fact, he was once quoted as saying that he had to â€Å"beg â€Å"to be given what was due him (p. 117).   It is unfortunate that Monteverdi uttered those words once and while it is sad to note that he is no   around to read, see and hear people admire him, it is enough that in death, Monteverdi’s works live on.Reference:Kamien, R. (1998). Music An Appreciation 3rd ed. USA: McGraw-Hill.

Analysis Of Setting In “The Lottery” Essay

Analysis of Setting in â€Å"The Lottery† Setting, the time, location, and objects in which the events of a literary work occur. This important factor is needed to help the reader familiarize himself with what he is reading. Many writers use setting to â€Å"establish a realistic background, transport us to strange and exotic places, or even to create a certain mood† (Paschal 4). For example, setting as described in â€Å"The Lottery† is a small present day town on a clear and sunny summer day. Shirley Jackson makes this known because it sets the mood in the beginning for the ironic turnaround at the end. With her intent to shock the reader she uses key points the first of such is the time period that the story takes place. Jackson’s story takes place during the beginning of summer right around the time that school is let out for summer recess. Second is the location of the lottery. She has the drawing held in the middle of town, the same place that they hold all of there family events. Third would be the actual black box that they put the ballots in, she uses this as a symbol of tradition. Jackson’s brilliant use of setting ironically shows her intent to instill shock in the minds of her readers. As we study further into the setting of Jackson’s â€Å"The Lottery† we come to the first key point which is the time period that the story takes place. Jackson states that it is June 27th, which can be associated with the summer solstice, or the longest day of summer. This day has also been known to have ritualistic overtones. The year is left open to give the reader the sense that the story is current. The time is set at around 10:00am and it says that the flowers are blossoming and that the grass is richly green (Paschal 124). This is to give the reader a feeling of serenity as Jackson wants the reader to feel as if this were an ideal town on an ideal day. She sets a time frame for the actual lottery to occur. Since the lottery last approximately two hours it must start at 10:00 so that they can be home in time for noon dinner (Paschal 124). This gives the reader the idea that this event is a common ritual and that they have a set schedule to go by. All of this sets the reader up for the ironic twist at the end of the story. In a sense Jackson uses this ideal town as a camouflage to hide her true intent. The next of Jackson’s key points is the actual location of the lottery. She  sets the lottery in the middle of town between the bank and the post office (website 1). This part of town is know as the Town Square and is the place where they hold most of there family activities (Paschal 124). Since the story is set in broad daylight you can visualize all the families congregating like one would for a local community picnic. It says that the children are breaking in boisterous play and the men are talking about planting and rain, tractors and taxes (website 1). The buildings that Jackson uses are symbolic and put across a strong message. The bank is a symbol of wealth or money, while on the other hand the post office is a symbol of government. One could say that the point being made here is that she uses these symbols in correlation with the lottery to say that whenever money and the government are involved there is corruption. At this point in the story Jackson would have the r eader to believe that a town that appears to be so normal couldn’t commit such an unthinkable action at the towns’ family meeting place in broad daylight. The third and final key point used is the black box. Jackson uses this as a symbol of many things, one being tradition. The box is described as being shabby, splintered, faded and even stained (Paschal 125). This symbol of tradition clearly shows how this society or culture is afraid of change. Not only does the black box symbolize tradition it symbolizes fear. As the box is introduced in the story it changes the mood of the people. Jackson states that as the box is placed on the stool, the villagers kept there distance (Paschal 125). â€Å"The box embodies all of the evil acts executed in the past and the ones to come† (website 2). One would think that if they were so afraid of this box why not make another one or even do away with the ritual completely. Perhaps their fear of change is stronger than their fear of fear itself. To these people the black box holds the key to life and death. Jackson’s use of the black box as a symbol demonstrates shock in that the people o f this society would rather hold on to a greater evil rather than loose a lesser one. As noted above in the analysis of setting in Shirley Jackson’s â€Å"The Lottery† we found that setting can be an important factor in any story because it sets an atmosphere that the reader can use to explain certain events within  a story. For example, in Steven Cranes â€Å"The Bride comes to Yellow Sky† the setting is in what is known as the Wild West. Without the reader knowing this they wouldn’t be able to relate to Scratchy wearing cowboy clothes and shooting his guns in the bar. Another example would be in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth in which Shakespeare uses medieval Europe as the setting. Without knowledge of this you wouldn’t be able to explain why people would kill there own relatives just to gain power, or to even explain why it was common practice to consult a witch for advice. For some that was a common thing for people of Europe in that time period. In essence the appropriate use of setting to illustrate a writer’s i ntent in a story can be an effective way to have ones reader be able to relate to what he is reading. mWebsite 1- Various English Essays: Irony of Setting in â€Å"The Lottery† www.cheathouse.com/restricted/essays/ess1/348.html Website 2- Chuck III’s College Resources â€Å"† Theses & Dissertations â€Å"† lottery www.chuckiii.com/reports/theses_&_ Dissertations/lottery.shtml Paschal, Hugh H. A Formalistic Approach to Freshan Composition. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 2000

Historical Background that Led to the Eighth Amendment Coursework

Historical Background that Led to the Eighth Amendment - Coursework Example It later became a theme of the U.S. Supreme Court Eighth Amendment discussion about normal penalties collectively forced in an undue and unprecedented way. Why the Eighth Amendment Has Not Been Fully Incorporated The Eighth Amendment has not been fully incorporated since it was only applied as a clause to the states when a suitable case challenging the state's contravention of that clause is formally requested for review. Moreover, the Supreme Court makes use of the principle of selective incorporation when it comes to applying the Bill of Rights to the given states (Harr, Hess and Orthman 420). What was considered initially was the cruelty when it comes to method of punishment, and not the ban of excessive punishments. The reason being that it is hard to ascertain the level at which the court can be able to tell between the permissible from that considered as cruel or unusual, bearing in mind that the Bill of Rights is a pronouncement of universal principles aimed at presiding over the social order of freemen (Harr, Hess and Orthman 397). ... Secondly, the appellate court may possibly not be able to handle disputes to bail quicker than trial courts are able to hear the case, and as a result this renders it moot or hard for trial prior to review (Harr, Hess and Orthman 400). How Bail Can Be Assured For Those Accused of Crimes The right to bail can be assumed through case law and statutory law. Hence, the Bail Reform Act of 1984 provides the judicial authority to comprise definite conditions for granting bail based on community safety or otherwise the risk of the individual not appearing for trial (Harr, Hess and Orthman 398). This is in view of the fact that the pretrial detention should not violate due process or the eight amendment. For this reason, when the only asserted interest is to warrant that the accused will stand trial and give in to sentence when found guilty, then in that case bail should be handed by the court at an amount designed to make certain that objective and no more. Notably, the legislature rather th an the constitution is the actual framer of bail law. The Federal law defines that every noncapital offenses is bailable, but in capital offenses the decision to hold a suspect prior to a trial is left up to the judge (Harr, Hess and Orthman 400). The state courts assure bails for those accused of crime based on the excessive bail provisions within the state constitution or else through legislation and case law, however, the constitution only bars excessive bail (Harr, Hess and Orthman 401). Basic Need for Bail Bail seeks to serve two needs. Firstly, bail seeks to uphold the presumption of innocence by permitting the person not yet convicted to avoid continued incarceration. Secondly, bail seeks to

Analyze the scholarly literature for ways in which a leader Research Paper

Analyze the scholarly literature for ways in which a leader facilitates the creation of a shared vision - Research Paper Example When the Romans came to speak with the slaves, they asked who was Spartacus, and Spartacus immediately stood up and stated that he was Spartacus. After he did this, every man stood up as well as said that he was Spartacus, and every man was crucified for this. The point that Senge was trying to make was that Spartacus, as a leader, was able to transmit a shared vision to which every slave was committed, and this vision was that they all should be free. Because he was able to do this for his men, they literally would die for him (Senge, 1990, pp. 205-206). So, how does a leader inspire this same sort of loyalty? By creating a shared vision. A shared vision is one that the leader envisions, and every follower envisions the same thing. Each person in the organization has a picture in their heads about this vision, and this vision is in their hearts, a part of each and every person. Each person cares about this vision, and desire to be connected to everybody else in carrying out this vision. In other words, it is not just the leader conjuring up a vision for the organization, and transmitting the vision, essentially imposing his vision on others. It is the leader transmitting this vision in such a way that every member of the organization has the same vision, therefore will be truly committed to make the vision happen (Senge, 1990, p. 206). How this shared vision comes into being, along with ideas on making this happen that are the ideas of other researchers and writers, is the topic of this paper. The first factor in creating a shared vision is by acknowledging the strengths of individual members, and by acknowledging each individual members personal vision of the organization at its best (Senge, 1990, p. 212). Essential to this is composing a team, as opposed to a group. Plenart (1995) tells the story of team building in Malaysia. His team was composed of a mix of Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus who, initially, did not understand one

Case study for strategic management Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

For strategic management - Case Study Example Generally speaking, there are various strategies that Keurig Company has used to fuel growth. To mention, these strategies include introducing newer beverage categories, adopting newer distribution channels, using better brewer technologies and introducing new brands among others. To begin with, the company expanded its traditional Single Cup Brewing system to encompass the desires and wants of the customers. In other words, the company aimed at changing the consumer behavior through changing the way â€Å"that the company brewed and enjoyed coffee.† As such, the company expanded its consumer brands, used an effective distribution system and was excessively committed towards ensuring that there was incorporation of new brewing technologies and innovation. Notably important, Keurig’s external environment is filled up with factors which could impact the overall coffee industry. First, the existence of political instability in coffee production countries such as Ecuador and Venezuela due to governmental intent to increase coffee prices could affect the prices of raw material thus affecting the coffee industry as a whole. Equally, political forces may economic fluctuations brought about by the changes in coffee prices thus affecting both the suppliers and producers. Moreover, various cultures in the global context will prefer different types of coffee. For instance, whereas Americans would mostly prefer lowly concentrated coffee, the Europeans would mostly prefer smaller quantities of concentrated coffee. Thus, the different societal cultures would affect Keurig’s and other companies’ performance in the coffee industry. Consequently, the advancement of technology and innovation has impacted the coffee industry in various dimensions. For instance, due to the development of technology, Keurig managed to adopt a newer brewing Single Cup Brewing System

Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 17

Marketing - Essay Example WD Electrical Appliances Co. Ltd. was built in 1999, locating in Cixi City, Zhejiang Province, which is called the hometown of small household appliances. It is a company of manufacturing small household appliances integrating R&D, production and marketing. The main products are electric kettles, coffee pots and electric steamers, with the annual output of 2 million units of small appliances. WD owns its self-operation export and import rights and the products passed GS/CE Authenticate of TUV and were exported to countries and districts such as Europe, Middle East and Australia. The company covers 8,500 square meters and over 170 employees, including 55 managers. It manufactures as per the order and mainly as the OEM. The annual production value and sales in 2002 was USD 3.47 million, about CNY 28.73 million. The entry barrier for the electric kettle is rather low because the universal production equipment (injection model) can be widely applied in producing kinds of household appliances with injection molding. It can be switched easily with low cost. The mold manufacturing is the main restriction. The cost of a set of mold of the kettle is about CNY 0.8 – 2 million, which is not too much for investors; the economical efficiency of scale is not obvious and can be operated on small scale; with low technique and fewer components, the technical difficulty is mainly achieving the appropriate temperature controller and connecting pieces design according to the aesthetic appeal; customers are particularly sensible to the style and quality, so if the manufacturer can design a popular style, it is not difficult for them to receive orders and marketing channels by means of product development and exhibition. Therefore, the channel is not the problem. As the competition enters a new stage, price competition is not the only

Summary what you have learned from the lectures Essay

Summary what you have learned from the lectures - Essay Example For employees, good job performance is more about utilizing functions that encourage the contributions of workers, thus making them feel motivated to work harder on the company’s behalf. Organizations can take advantage of rewards and pay hikes to inspire workers to do their best. Moreover, good leaders are also needed to find ways of communicating appreciation effectively to the workforce. Where organizations are concerned, good leaders will encourage the creation of a corporate culture that supports the realization of organizational objectives. Bad leadership will undermine the corporate culture and enable workers to develop unconstructive attitudes towards their responsibilities and the company in general. Bad leaders are also unable to communicate clearly with their employees. For workers, good leadership is more tied to the general treatment of employees. Good leaders are aggressive and firm while also being cooperative with their personnel. This will allow for them to be able to remain faithful to attaining organizational objectives while also giving room for workers to perform their different tasks in the ways that they deem fit. Good leaders also base promotions on principled workers and do not favor some over others. Organizations with good leaders will have a good corporate culture, a high morale, and be able to enjoy a sustainable long-term success. Creating an organizational culture that is supported by intrinsically motivated workers is critical to the success of every business. For most employees, motivation is an indication of the creativity and commitment that the workforce bears towards organizational functions. Employee motivation and job satisfaction are two connected aspects that contribute to the realization of company objectives. Moreover, most employees tend to compare their existing work conditions with their desired conditions to establish the levels of their satisfaction. While companies cannot meet all the goals of their workfo rce, it is important to identify the underlying factors that are associated with employee motivation in their particular business and learn how to employ them. This will inspire organizational commitment from any company’s workers. Organizational commitment involves a worker’s feeling of responsibility towards helping a company to achieve its goals. Organizational commitment deals with the emotional reactions of employees towards their responsibilities. To inspire organizational commitment, it is vital for a good corporate culture that makes workers feel like they belong to a second family to be developed. This will then spur the involvement of workers on an individual basis. Organizational commitment will not only improve production thereby improving profits, but will also result in lesser instances of absenteeism. Management structures can also be used to generate cooperation between workers, which then results in organizational commitment (Robbins, 509). While it is common for people to claim that workers prefer management structures rather than hierarchical structures in organizations, this is not always true. Organizations today have to strike a balance between bureaucratic models and flat organizational structures. People often imagine that equality among different ranks of workers is a natural state that need not be managed. However, this is not true. It is often difficult, particularly in organizations that embrace ‘

Things That I Will Do for Malaysia If I Become a Celebrity Essay Example for Free

Things That I Will Do for Malaysia If I Become a Celebrity Essay What if I am a celebrity? It sounds ridiculous. But what if it really comes true? What will I do? I am wondering what I should do after that, maybe I could do something for my most beloved country, Malaysia. First of all, I will make my country to become well known. I will make it famous as a tourist center so that there will be a lot of tourists come over our country and enjoy the Malaysias splendid environment. I will also tell them that Malaysia is a beautiful and also a wonderful country. Not only that, the people in Malaysia is also very friendly and amicable. They make no distinction between whats ones own and whats anothers and always be on very intimate terms. Therefore, the tourists would be interesting with the uniqueness of Malaysia and our countrys economy will also increased due to the advent of tourists Next, I will let the whole world to know about our country. By achieving this, I will let everyone to know the location of Malaysia. I will also introduce the Malaysians culture, traditional an lifestyle to the world. Since Malaysia has three major ethnicities which are Chinese, Indians and Malays, so it would be fascinating and amusing for the people to know how we lived in our country without taking offense about other race. Other than that, I will help the country by improving the public facilities such as light rail transit (LRT), monorail and also bus. This can make things easier for people so that they can feel more convenience when they go for work or maybe school. As a conclusion, I would like to say that I will do everything for my county, Malaysia if I had become a celebrity. I will make it as a harmonious country that people always look forward to.

Functions and roles in housekeeping

Functions and roles in housekeeping CHAPTER 1 – HOUSEKEEPING (INTRODUCTION) 1-1: An unfortunate truth- It is unfortunately true that housekeeping department being the largest department is the least admired and appreciated department in a hotel, which is maybe because of its ‘back of the house’ identity, its limited contact with guests and its only job of cleaning and maintaining the hotel. Housekeepers are the unsung heroes of the hotel. But today housekeeping department is no more a back of the house department, rather it is an important and integral department in a hotel. In accordance with the modernization and advancement in technology, housekeeping department has changed itself in a better way according to the present day scenario in the hotel industry. 1-2: What does Housekeeping department ensure? An effective and efficient housekeeping department essentially ensures the cleanliness, secures the safeguard, maintains an aesthetic upkeep in the hotel and deals with all the ancillary services provided by the hotel. The functions performed by hotel housekeeping department determines all the day to day operations of the hotel. Its main significance is to ensure cleanliness, comfort and safeguard in the hotel and to professionally upkeep a higher level of quality service at all times. In today’s tough and competitive scenario, maintaining exquisiteness in the hotel is hard and satisfying guest with that exquisiteness is even harder. 1-3: Changes in the job of Housekeeping department- In past times, the job of Housekeeping department was limited to the only responsibility of ensuring cleanliness and maintenance of the hotel on a timely basis, but today various and enormous changes have been made to the job of Housekeeping department ranging from the dealing with diverse cleaning chemicals, managing ‘lost and found’ and avoiding theft in the hotel. CHAPTER 2 – HOUSEKEEPING MANAGERS AND HOUSEKEEPING 2-1: Latest trends going on in Housekeeping- As the hotel industry is focusing more on recycling inventory, waste composition and environment conservation, housekeeping department needs to make some habitual changes and in order to meet the primary challenges it necessarily needs to follow the latest trends going on in the hotel industry, some of which are given down below: 2-1-1: Recycling and utilizing inventory Using old linens as towels and aprons, purchasing cleaning and guest supplies in bulk to save money, exchanging old furniture and equipment’s with scrap dealer for money or donating them to institutions or charities are some of the emerging inventory trends going on in hotel housekeeping scenario. 2-1-2: Technology savvy – Nowadays hotels are largely depended upon the use of technology to save time, bring personalization in service and ensure quality service. The use of i-pads and i-pad minis in in-room service as an e-butler which allows the guest to access the options like remote control lighting and door locking system, entertainment services like music and camera and other options. This use of technology also helps the hotel to work efficiently in day to day jobs as it enables the optimal utilization of time at one click. 2-1-3: Housekeeping software Hotel housekeeping software is a web based system that helps to cut the cost, save the time and reduce the human effort for efficient and effective management of housekeeping jobs. It enables the hotel management system to link with all the departments through web, it makes online reservations and booking features in order for hotel to increase the occupancy, it keeps the expense and usage records of the inventory and generates the reports within seconds.2-1-4: Eco-friendly practices – Hotel industry is increasingly focusing towards environmental awareness, becoming eco-friendly and moving towards reliable tourism. Hotel housekeepers emphasize eco-friendly policies in their daily briefings, creatively use local crafts in guestroom amenities and turn down services to promote and profit local trade, ensure that all the guestroom amenities are eco-friendly and no plastic and chemicals are used, encourage guests to participate in linen and towel re-us e programs. 2-2: General challenges and problems in Housekeeping- Some of the general challenges and problems faced by Housekeeping managers includes managing back to back situations, mismanagement of jobs, pest controlling, cleaning linen and towels and laundry, replenishing guestroom amenities and bathroom toiletries, bed making challenges, seasonal challenges, dealing with cleaning chemicals and equipment’s, security of guest’s belongings, etc., some of which are detailed down below: 2-2-1: Pest Controlling – The challenge of Housekeeping managers in pest controlling service is to deal with different kind of pests such as mosquitoes, cockroaches, insects and flies, lizards and rats. Save the hotel building from birds and their doing feces is also a difficult task. Housekeeping managers should coordinate with pest control vendor to ensure measures taken regarding all the pest control tasks and treatments such as timely spraying, fogging, fumigation, gel treatment, keeping gum boards for lizards and rats, using lemon grass oil spread to resist mosquitoes, birds gel and spikes and netting to resist the hotel building from birds. 2-2-2: Seasonal Challenges – Housekeeping managers encounter cleaning challenges mostly during rainy season. Cleanliness and maintenance of guest areas during rainy season becomes challenging because rainwater as flows down in guest areas along with soil leads to the algae growth and other issues in guest areas. Rainy season can also cause infestation in the hotel premises as it brings insects and flies along with it, so Housekeeping managers should ensure that there is no water logging and there is no possibility of insect infestation throughout the hotel premises. Keeping foot prints off the floor during rainy season is also a difficult challenge for housekeeping managers. 2-2-3: Security of guest’s belongings – There is always a certain extent of fear in guest’s mind when leaving their valuable items in hotel’s room. As this is a genuine fear of items getting lost or stolen. Housekeeping managers should always take some serious measures regarding guest’s valuables. Housekeeping managers need to create and circulate some strict rules to safeguard the guest’s valuable items being lost or stolen by the housekeepers. Nothing other than missing of guest’s valuables weakens the guest’s trust. CHAPTER 3 – LINEN CHALLENGES IN REGARD TO CURRENT TRENDS 3-1: Change in linen trends – There has been a scenario in hotel industry a few years ago wherein every hotel housekeeping used to repeat the same linens every year. This scenario was same for both bed and bath linens as well. Every guest could probably find the same white, plain and striped linens and same plain terry towels across every hotel they would visit. Despite this scenario has been changed as the trends has been changed as well. Previously, hotel housekeeping used to have a maximum thread count of 400 but presently it has been lengthened to 1500 which ranges from 550 GSM to 700 GSM. Whereas, previously linens were made from 100% cotton but presently hotel housekeeping use linen made from the mixture of cotton and polyester and sometimes even 100% polyester made linen is also used. Mixing polyester and several other fabrics like organic cotton, Egyptian cotton, microfiber, nylon, etc., in linen increases the strength and durability of linen. Housekeeping managers of many hotels even provide their guest with a linen menu which consists of a choice of pillows ranging from microfiber, cervical, soya, horse hair, memory foam, bamboo pillows and even a pillow concierge for assistance to ensure guests a happy sleep. Housekeeping managers of many hotels are adopting the technique of RFID or Radio Frequency Identification that acts as a linen management system which enables the housekeeping managers to tackle the challenges and problems faced by them regarding the management of the linen and linen related issues. Another upcoming trend in hotel housekeeping is the use linens made from organic products like bamboo, coir, jute, paper, wool, etc., and the use of linens which take less time in drying. Ranging from energy saver lighting and water saver bathroom amenities to eco-friendly linens, hotel housekeeping are adopting various techniques to cut linen cost and long term operational cost to initiate more efficient and effective practices. 3-2: Linen challenges and problems The use of RFID technique by the hotel housekeeping for linen management like linen inventory control, linen purchase, etc., cannot be adopted by many hotels because it is a costly system that requires a high cost involvement. The adaptation of energy efficient, environment friendly and organic products like eco-friendly linen, eco-friendly chemicals such as Eco booster, Eco soft, Eco tide, etc., by the hotel housekeeping is also reducing because it also requires a high cost involvement. Cross contamination of clean linens is one of the major challenge faced by housekeeping managers. They face major problems in keeping clean linens fresh and keeping them away from dirty and contaminated linens. Selecting appropriate and proper materials from which the linens are made up of is also a major challenge faced by housekeeping managers. They face major problem when selecting the materials like cotton, polyester, microfiber, nylon, wool, etc. Linen is mostly damaged due to excess of chemicals during washing and excess of heat during drying. Regulating chemicals during washing linens and reducing heat during drying, can increase the life of linen. Increasing the life of linen for budgeting costs and managing linen inventory is an adequate and crucial factor in hotel housekeeping. Changing and replacement of linen can be a costly operation. CHAPTER 4 – LAUNDRY CHALLENGES IN REGARD TO CURRENT TRENDS 4-1: Current laundry trends – Housekeeping managers are adopting RFID or Radio Frequency Identification technique for laundry management as it oversees it by increasing productivity, preventing loss during linen exchange, budgeting costs, tracking and recording laundry activities, monitoring laundry functions, reducing labor costs and lowering operating expenses. Housekeeping managers are adopting Ozone laundry system to reduce costs and implement environment efficient practices. The major advantage of Ozone laundry system is that it has an on premise installation and does not disrupt any other housekeeping operations. Ozone laundry system evaluates hotel laundry operations and enables the housekeeping managers for cost and energy savings. Housekeeping managers are adopting the use of special detergents with color protection technology formulated to keep dark fabric dark and the original color retained, use of bleach pens for effective upkeep of fabrics with a fine point applier technology, use of fabric softeners and whiteners, spa like treatment with laundry detergents that care fabrics with aromatic therapeutic scents and wrinkle free sprays that softens and crisps the fabric without using an iron. Housekeeping managers are adopting waterless laundry system with polymer bead technology which provides a solution to the problem of water, detergent and electricity usage and wastage. This system replaces 80% of water, uses 50% less detergent and electricity in contrast to the traditional used methods. This technology has outperformed the traditional laundry methods with today’s laundry methods used by the hotels. Another trend followed by housekeeping managers is the transformation of in-house laundry operations into polymer bead laundry system which helps to cut laundry operational costs by 50% and enables efficiency in usage of water, detergent and electricity. This technology allows the tough stains on linen to remove and linen gets cleaned in betterment for extending the life of linen, so as to provide the guests with cleaner linens and keep the linen inventory in use for a long time. 4-2: Laundry challenges and problems – A challenge faced by housekeeping managers is to wash anything and everything ranging from shoes, microfiber cloths, garments and mop heads. Washing all the laundry fabrics all together causes problems, damages the fabrics and even the machines. But at the same time, it can be expensive and excessive to wash them separately or wash them by hands. In hotels, the stains of coffee, tea and chocolates can be washed, but washing the stains of blood and some permanent stains is a challenge for housekeeping managers. Nothing can be resolved other than discarding the linens with such stains, and replacing them can involve high cost. A major challenge faced by housekeeping managers is that the removal of stains from fabrics takes time and needs patience, that housekeeping managers during laundry operations don’t have. The challenge housekeeping manager’s face is to identify and treat the stain based on the type of stain it is. Is it an oil based stain, an organic stain or a nonorganic water based stain. Another challenge which housekeeping managers face is the smelly and dirty washing machines. After washing hundreds or thousands of fabrics in laundry in a week, washing machines needs to be washed once in a week too. Housekeeping managers face a major challenge of labor intensiveness, which is the most expensive component in laundry operations. It is a cost factor which requires a high cost of involvement. The challenge is to cut labor costs by utilizing the laundry standards with efficiency and effectiveness. CHAPTER 5 – GUEST SUPPLIES CHALLENGES IN REGARD TO CURRENT TRENDS 5-1: Change in guest supplies trends – Other than providing friendly and personalized services, what interests and fantasizes the guests are the in-room guest supplies and amenities. Ranging from grooming products to cosmetic products or techno savvy products, in-room hotel guest supplies or amenities have been advanced as hotels all over the world are accepting and appreciating the latest guest’s trends. The standard old trends in hotel guest supplies of keeping a chocolate on the pillow or other food amenities during turn down service, offering a welcome drink on check-in and providing complimentary Wi-Fi, no longer interests the guests now. In the world of high-end guests who expect high-end amenities look for extravagant facilities and services. The new trends in in–room guest supplies that are emerging in hotel nowadays is providing whole minibar as complimentary amenity and offering the guests an amenity menu to choose the amenity of their choice. The standard hotel bathroom with tiled floors and shower curtains no longer fantasize the guests now. Guests of today want the bathroom trending such as distinctive faucets and sinks, extravagant lighting systems, illuminated mirrors, glass paneled doors, which boosts the bathroom design. Housekeeping managers have understood the change in trends of guest supplies and are shifting towards providing exclusive branded amenities to their guests. Accor’s luxury hotel segment Sofitel provides its guests an elegant refinement of products from exquisite brands such as Hermes, Lanvin, Cinq Mondes and Carita. 5-2: Guest supplies challenges and problems – The major challenge faced by housekeeping managers in guest supplies is the cost-factor. Housekeeping managers face a cost-cutting problem which diversely affects the quality and quantity of the guest supplies and amenities provided to the guests. Another challenge faced by housekeeping managers is the keeping minibar stocked or re-stocking of minibar amenities. Guests often complaint about the inflated price of the minibar amenities. So it is also a major challenge for the housekeeping managers. The challenge which housekeeping managers face regarding minibar guest supplies is to use costly branded products and make it a complimentary amenity. Instead they can use local or less expensive products in minibar and make it complimentary. Wi-Fi has been a standard amenity in the hotel guest’s supplies. Housekeeping managers regarding hotel Wi-Fi face cellular challenges of weak signal strength and network capacity issue. Customizing and personalizing hotel guests supplies according to the specific preferences and demands of the guests and providing the best of quality services and facilities in guest’s supplies is another major challenge faced by housekeeping managers. CHAPTER 6 – CONCLUSION 6-1: Critical Analysis – All the hotels around the world are pursuing to look for efficient and effective ways of meeting the needs and demands of the guests and providing the best of quality services, in which hotel housekeeping department plays a vital and crucial role. Hotel housekeeping department ensures to provide an all new element in the luxury to guests and guestrooms in the terms of linens, laundry, guest supplies and other ancillary amenities. The emerging trends of linens, laundry and guests supplies in hotel scenario directly collide with challenges faced by the housekeeping managers regarding these three aspects. Changes in linen operations due to cost and other factors such as using single bed sheets instead of two bed sheets, mixing polyester and several other fabric materials with cotton to make linens, are some of the changes that are taking place. Laundry operations where new washing techniques such as steam laundry, waterless laundry and ozone laundry are taking place because water is a perishable resource and need to be saved and for more environment efficient techniques. In today’s hotel scenario of high-end guests who expect high-end amenities and look for extravagant facilities and services, demand for more due to the rise in their disposable income. And by providing exquisite guest supplies hotels can rise up to the expectation mark of the guests. In the end I’d like to conclude that the housekeeping department is an important and initial part of the hotel which is not going to change anytime soon or later. Anchit Garg 1477555Page 1