Employee Relations Assignments One Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Employee Relations Assignments One - Case Study Example I identified UK Leasline as the most appropriate organization that could help the small business to accomplish its goal. The company offers capital to businesses in the UK at affordable terms, and I needed to purchase the office equipment at hire purchase to pay through installments as the business expanded. However, it was difficult to acquire the credit facilities since my business was a start up and therefore there was no collateral. I had to negotiate with the credit appraisal team for to prove that my business had the potential of growing to a substantial size to repay the borrowed capital. I knew that after launching the business, there were high chances for it to grow gain the capacity to negotiate better for loans. However, to get to that point, I had to use negotiation techniques so that I could not loose the opportunity. Since I had no tangible property but ideas, there was no need to negotiate with the credit appraisers. The appropriate person was the credit manager, who on the other hand was not directly concerned with issues regarding credit appraisals. But I had to proof my case to him and negotiate a deal because when I contacted the junior officers, they asserted their principles of collateral as well as offering credit to continuing businesses. With such principles, I could not excel in business. I consideredI considered myself successful even before I engaged in the negotiation process since I had the conviction that my idea was prudent and that anyone else who would give it a critical thought would find it an inventive decision. I remembered what a teacher who was my mentor once commented that I was a critical thinker. I had developed a close relationship with him because of the way I approached issues with sophistication. These memories gave me confidence and motivation to go ahead with my aspiration. On the other hand, I had witnessed start up businesses becoming successful, especially the ones that dealt with the same field as my intended undertaking. This meant that the business could attain sustainable profitability while on the other hand continuing to repay the equipments acquired on credit. I intended to show the senior credit officer my business plan and explain my vision to him so that he too could visualize my idea. I always though of how I would be happy after accomplishing my mission. However, I knew that there were drawbacks that could become a hindrance to my efforts of acquiring the loan. In the first place, I had no track record of previous loans that I had successfully repaid. This lowered my chances of proofing my credibility. Nevertheless, my age was an indicator of insufficient experience in handling large sums of money or managing a business on my own. I remembered how one of my friends took over the management of his father's business after he was taken ill, which led to its collapse. The business had been established through a loan for the purchase of equipment. To make the matter worse, the head of the credit appraisal team in UK Leasline worked in the company that issued the loan as a credit appraiser at the time. Only three years had passed from the time the business collapsed, which led to the demotion and eventual termination of all the credit appraisers that were involved in the appraisal of my friend's father to qualify for a loan. The dilemma in this situation was the fact that the head of the team who was to appraise my

Duties and Responsibilities Essay Example for Free

Duties and Responsibilities Essay As everybody know, to be responsible and accomplish with your duties, is one of the most important things around the world in the labor area. Without being responsible and do whatever you are supposed to do, practically, you are out of your job. As and future officer of the United States Army, we must know which ones are our duties and responsibilities in order to accomplish them and make our team look sharp and right. Due to constants changes in the army, we never know which position we or our fellow soldier are going to occupy. Thus, here you will see the duties and responsibilities of leadership positions from company commander to squad leader in order to make the reader understand why is so important to know what, when, where and why is your position so important. The company commander or CO is one of the most important positions in a company. The CO is responsible for everything the company does or fails to do, as an all. The CO is responsible for the training, discipline, administration and welfare of the soldier/ cadets in the company. He or she is the one who will receive the warning order (WARNO), formulates operation order (OPORD), creates plan and time line for every activity to do, supervise all trainings and coordinates with the cadre for detailed instructions. The CO leads by personal example and influence others to accomplish their duties and responsibilities. The executive office or XO is the second in command in a company. He or she primary role is to assist the commander in mission planning and accomplishment. The XO frees the company commander from routine details and passes pertinent data, information and insight to the commander and ensures suspenses are met by the platoon leaders. In addition to that the XO is responsible for the safety and risk assessment of all company events, thus, prepare OPORDs safety paragraph. The XO performs all other duties as assigned by the company commander. The first Sargent or 1SG, just like the company commander is the responsible for everything the company does or fails to do. Usually is the most experienced soldier/ cadet in the company. The 1SG is the commanders primary tactical advisor and expert on individual and NCO skills. The 1SG helps the commander plan, coordinate and supervise all activities that support the company or unit mission. He or she writes and presents paragraph IV (Service and Support) of the company OPORD, makes necessary announcements at PT and at lab, responsible for gathering all accountability and sending it up the chain of command, keeps company training running according to the time line, makes sure all information is disseminated to the PSGs and has accountability at all times and supervises PSGs and SLs. The platoon leader or PL is the responsible for the entire platoon does or fails to do. In the conduct of duties, consults platoon Sargent in all matters related to the platoon. The PL leads platoon in supporting higher headquarters missions, looks ahead to the next move for the platoon, requests and controls supporting assets and issues accurate and timely reports. In addition to that the PL places self where most needed to accomplish the mission and understands the mission and commanders intent two levels up. The platoon sergeant or PSG is usually a senior NCO in the platoon and second in command. The PSG sets the example in everything and is the responsible for the care of personnel, weapons and equipment in platoon. As second in command, the PSG assumes duties as assigned by the PL. In addition to that, ensures platoon is prepared to accomplish mission, prepares to assume the role and responsibilities of PL, acts where best needed to help mission command the engagement, organize platoon formations and control movement of the platoon. The squad leader or SL is the responsible for all the squad does or fails to do, directs team leaders and leads by personal example. The SL has authority over subordinates and overall responsibility for those subordinates actions and is responsible for the care of personnel. In addition to that, the SL ensure the squad is in proper uniform with proper equipment for training,  lead a supervise the squad, personally prepare and inspect the squad for all missions, keep squad accountability and report to the PSG, control movement of the squad, prepare and submit reports and prepare and issue the squad OPORD. In conclusion, it does not matter what position we are going to occupy, we need to make that our fellow soldiers are doing what they have to do. The duties and responsibilities of every single leadership position is based on take into consideration that a leader is supposed to know and understand their people. He or she knows their strengths and weaknesses as well as what motivates and frustrates them. So, in order to be successful and accomplish all our obligations, first, we need assume our position, always seeking for the welfare of our team.

Supply Chain Management in Tourism

Supply Chain Management in Tourism The integration of key business processes from end users through original suppliers that provides products, services and information that add value for customers and other stake holders. Supply chain management (SCM) is the process of planning, implementing, and controlling the operations of the supply chain as efficiently as possible. Supply Chain Management spans all movement and storage of raw materials, work-in-process inventory, and finished goods from point-of-origin to point-of-consumption. (wikipedia.com) SCM in tourism will start from planning of a product, identifying the different sectors to be included in the complete tourism product and also, in each sector of the product, The management of the raw material , inventory of raw material and delivery of the services. Tourism: An industry Tourism denotes the temporary, short term movement of people to destination outside the place where they normally live and work and their activities during their stay at these destinations. Tourism is a multi segment industry. It is an industry where the products are consumed on the spot forming invisible exports. It is also a fragmented industry with high complexity due to the price sensitive nature of demand and the intangibility, perish ability and inseparability. Tourism, like all other supply chains, operates through business-to-business relationships, and supply chain management can be applied to deliver sustainability performance improvements alongside financial performance, by working to improve the business operations of each supplier in the supply chain. The main differences between tourism supply chains and those of other sectors are that tourists travel to the product, and the product that they buy has a particularly high service component in other words, it involves a higher proportion of people in the immediate production of the holiday experience. Supply Chain Management in tourism The aim of supply chain management is to eliminate waste in the chain and to improve the customer service. The elimination of waste for example waiting time, inventory and production of non-requested products leads to lower costs. The improved customer service by means of, interlinked processes, lead to preferred suppliers and to a bigger turnover. All this leads to higher productivity (more income/ less costs). In tourism it plays a very important role to deliver the quality service with minimum gaps or reduced gaps. Shortened product life cycles, increased competition, and heightened expectations of customers have forced many leading edge companies to move from physical logistic management towards more advanced supply chain management. Therefore, in many cases, the only possible way to further reduce costs and lead times is with effective supply chain management. In addition to cost reduction, the supply chain management approach also facilitates customer service improvements. It enables the management of inventories, transportation systems and whole distribution networks so that organizations are able meet or even exceed their customers expectations. Tourism supply chains involve many components not just accommodation, transport and excursions, but also bars and restaurants, handicrafts, food production, waste disposal, and the infrastructure that supports tourism in destinations. These all form a part of the holiday product that is expected by tourists when they purchase holidays, quality, depends on performance at all the links in the tourism supply chain. A further aspect of the tourism supply chain is the activities of customers while on holiday, particularly in relation to their behavior, and what they source for themselves in particular situations. The main strategies in any supply chain are sourcing strategy, distribution strategy, inventory strategy, manufacturing strategy, customer service strategy and the strategy of integration. Tourism comprises of different industries product and service like of Hotels, accommodation, transport, destination etc. SCM strategies can be modified to suit the nature of the product. Sourcing Strategy -Sourcing mainly constitutes Make or buy decision Manufacturing management Capacity Management Make or buy decision: Services can be delivered directly or can be outsourced/Co-Sourced as done by Thomas Cook a reputed name in providing tourism services. Thomas Cook implemented strategic sourcing arrangement with Accenture by outsourcing its Back-Office activities. Through this model they were able to improve operations and reduce its cost, by US $ 243.72 million in just 16 months. Manufacturing management: In tourism, manufacturing component is limited only to certain sectors like food and craft, memento, gifts etc. Services are processed at each stage in the tourism. For example, in transport sector at airport different services like visa and immigration processing, waiting time etc are processed to deliver the maximum satisfaction to the travellers. At the destination the service is processed by providing safe environment and security to the tourists. Capacity Management: The tourism products are subject to instability of demand. Example during Muscat festival in Oman, the demand exceeds the supply in many of the sectors of tourism like in hotels and airlines. Airlines meet this excessive demand by increasing the capacity by introducing additional special flights at special rates. Distribution strategy In tourism industry, the distribution strategy has far reaching impact on the development of the industry. This makes it essential that the channel decisions are sound so that the beginning and end process of marketing are managed efficiently and effectively. A basic understanding of the structure and working of the distribution system in travel industry, including the middlemen who form the part of the system, is found essential to understand the Economics of the tourism industry. The current practices insist on four types of sales distribution of tourism as a product. One stage system: This system provides direct sales from primary suppliers of the services to consumers through its own reservation departments. E.g. airlines directly selling tickets to travellers through its reservation office. Two- stage system: This system involves single middlemen i.e travel agent. Three-stage system: This system involves two middlemen, retail travel agent and wholesaler or a tour operator. Four-stage system: This system involves a retail travel agent, wholesaler and additional middlemen known as Speciality Chancellor, who is instrumental in the development of tour packages. Inventory Strategy: An inventory of tourism products identifies the opportunities and constraints that a local authority has in attracting visitors to their town/ city/region. The number and range of attractions and activities, things visitors can see and do, are particularly important. Gaps in the product range and/or poor quality facilities will make places less attractive to visitors. In the same way lack of transport and accommodation will deter visitors from travelling to and stopping at the destination. Until an inventory of attractions, activities, accommodation and transport has been completed and this is matched with an understanding of visitor demand and Visitor satisfaction, destinations will be unsure whether they are meeting visitor expectations. In terms of prioritising tourism requirements, the attraction and activity sectors are the key areas. For Example, Tourist visit Switzerland for fun and excitement and it is the service provider that provides this opportunity to the tourists. Local government is often also, a key provider of visitor (and residents) theses attractions and amenities. Customer Service Strategy: The aim of the tour operator should be that he consistently makes the customers happy 100% of the time .Inconsistent service leads to customers not knowing what to expect. Customer service includes providing accommodation, flight details, and attractive tourist points. Employees are vital in this attempt to achieve consistently high customer service. Organisations must have the right systems in place in order to achieve their goals. If staff cannot take the right action when dealing with customers, the business will suffer. It is about five times as expensive to win over a new customer as it is to work with an existing one. Integration Strategy: Supply Chain integration Strategy links all the business entities in the supply chain. In tourism the tour operators act as producers as well as distributors. In an efficient supply chain, manufactures, suppliers, distribution channels and customers are linked in the form of a chain to develop and deliver products as a single organization of pooled skills and resources. Higher the integration process, greater is the success of supply chain system. Tour operator or service provider has to integrate all the services together effectively to design the preferred output to gain the competitive advantage. For effective supply chain management of tourism services, it is essential that different segments of product (tourism) are managed in tune with changing habits and desires of users. SCM in few of the important aspects of the tourism like accommodation, transport, food and crafts and destination are discussed briefly in this paper. Accommodation Accommodation facilities are found to be important aspect of Tourism product. For managing hotel services, at the very outset, the locational factors are found important. It is essential those hotels are easily accessible to the tourists sites or beaches or shop. The staff of the hotel should be trustworthy, well trained, and well versed with technology. Hilton Properties California manages their procurement and inventory using software application called Birch Street. There is need for development of Hotels of different Grades and categories to accommodate the tourists of all segments. The restaurants and cafeterias are also found to be image creators. The accessibility and comfort of user is important factor in satisfying experience. The place should be free from all industrial Hazards. The guests staying in hotel should be able to avail the facilities like Quality Bedrooms, conference halls, bars, shopping arcade, swimming pool, transportation arrangement, first aid facilities etc. While developing the product, the quality of services comprising of efficiency, personal attention become significant. According to Carla Gold GM Radisson hotel, Cleveland A good supply chain management starts with Hotel operator knowing the upcoming business demand. Optimum inventory management is required to minimize the cost. The tourist organizations cant think in favour of an optimal product strategy, if classified and unclassified hotels of different grades or stars are not easily available to the tourists. Unplanned development of accommodation sector can hamper the quality holiday experience of the tourist. Transport All ingredients of tourism product fail in getting positive response, if the tourists do not experience comforts while travelling or while coming to the destination. It is not possible that all the tourist sites are directly linked to the airports. Hence other transportation facilities like railways and road transport facilities become significant. The tourist organization may also offer services but most of the guest prefers to avail private transportation services. This makes it essential that the transport facilities are well integrated. The tourist should be offered safe, fast, convenient and economic transport services. Since all the tourists cannot avail air services, the railways and roadways are required to develop planned way. The schedule and speed should be maintained. The number of visitors to a country also depends on the ease with which tourists are able to obtain Visas and sail through immigration procedures. At Muscat international airport immigration procedures are b eing modernised to cut the wait for travellers. To speed up the processing of registration and to take care of security of the travellers electronic gates are installed. Hong Kong International Airport has been named best airport in the world by Skytrax. Travellers look for speed and maximum time utilization in the airport, clean washrooms, seating availability, and prices charged at food and beverage outlets, and how helpful the airport staffs are. The transport operators should behave properly, so that the tourists are motivated. The seating arrangements should be comfortable. The drivers and the conductors and other window staff should behave properly. At any cost, there should not be any compromise with the safety principles. It is important to mention that the inadequate airline capacity is critical bottle neck in are travel to and fro India, particularly during peak season. Charters not only augment air capacity but also help in promoting new destinations. This necessitates adequate attention for upgrading transporting facilities, in important tourist centres. Rail transportation needs to develop special fascination for foreign tourists. It is appreciated palace on wheels scheme. The coast line and back water areas need an intensive care. The possibility of having ship cruises along with coast line and the potential offered by the back waters of Kerela and sunderbans (West Bengal) for river cruises are required to be fully tapped. Food and crafts In many cases tour operators use local food and crafts as one of the tourist attractions of their packages Food and crafts can generate considerable profits for the local population, when volume production and delivery at set quality standards can be met by local producers. Key issues for local sourcing of food supplies in the tourism sector are quality, reliability and quantity of supply. Promotion of local sourcing therefore requires training and technical support and investment for example in storage and distribution facilities to meet quality and reliability standards, as well as the development of production and distribution networks to gather supplies from different local producers into the quantities required by hotels. Few tour operators have supply chain initiatives on the production and distribution of local, sustainable food and crafts, but some work with their local suppliers to promote local sourcing of food and other local products. Small hotels are more likely to buy from local suppliers, while some large hotels have developed programmes to encourage local production at the standards they require. This generally requires constant supervision and commitment, and success is often linked to championing of local sourcing by hotel chefs. Local sourcing and production will usually improve the contribution of tourism to the local economy, both financially and in terms of employment, and may also help to preserve local skills in craft production. For example Surajkund Crafts Mela, is the prominent tourist destination of Haryana, India. The Mela attracts lakhs of visitors, both for the amazing range of interesting crafts it showcases as well as the relaxing rural ambience of the Mela grounds. Besides shopping to your hearts content, you can also witness beautiful, colourful folk dances and also savour delicacies of various states of India. Destinations In relation to the tourism supply chain and direct inputs to tourism, destinations provide infrastructure and services. Destination initiatives for sustainable tourism seek to improve the quality of infrastructure for example, through improvements to waste management infrastructure for solid wastes and awareness raising programmes on waste management practices , to transport systems and to reduce vehicle impacts and to increase the ability of the destination to gain from tourism. Other initiatives include the promotion of linkages between tourism sites, and promotion of a wider range of tourism activities to encourage tourists to sample different aspects of the country and thereby diversify and spread the economic benefits of tourism. A number of initiatives in destinations in many developing countries are designed to enhance local employment in tourism, such as by supporting the substitution of locally-grown and locally-manufactured products in place of imports in the tourism sector, the establishment of investment and loan funds to assist local tourism businesses to start and expand, or the setting up of employment bureaux to match employees with tourism jobs. Some destinations have set up local quality of life and sustainability programmes using sustainability indicators to monitor environmental quality, and in some cases, biodiversity, as well as monitoring visitor satisfaction and changes in tourism markets. Marketing, products and operations can then be adapted according to the monitoring information obtained. The Taj Mahal one of the Seven Wonders of the World in India attracts 2 to 4 million visitors every year with more than 200,000 from overseas. Polluting traffic is not allowed near the complex and tourist must either walk from the car parks or catch an electric bus. For security reasons only five items water in transparent bottles, small video cameras, still cameras, mobile phones and small ladies-purse are not allowed inside the Taj Mahal. Conclusions Based on various discussions in the above paper, it can be concluded that rules/ trends/models of supply chain management of manufacturing technology holds good for service sector also with reference to tourism Various aspects of services with reference to tourism are discussed separately. This paper discusses that there are many components in tourism. In each component like Accommodation, transport, food and Crafts Destination etc. there is need for Supply Chain Management to deliver quality service resulting in satisfying experience or tourist satisfaction. From the discussions in the paper it can be concluded, higher the integration of services within a particular sector (intra relationship) and also amongst the different sectors (inter relationship) of tourism, greater is the competitive advantage. Services in tourism like security of tourists, minimum waiting time at different locations, Environment friendly operations etc forms the important constituents in strategies of SCM. Supply Chain Management is a strategic tool which leads in cost reduction, optimum utilization of resource, sustainability resulting in leadership in todays global competitive market. References Jha, S.M.: Services marketing; H.P.H., Bombay, 1994. Predictions that will make you rethink your supply Chain; Supply chain management review; September/October 2002; Anderson Supplier OEM Sahay, B. S. (2000). Supply Chain Management for global competitiveness, Macmillan India Berry and Parsuraman, Marketing Services: Competing through quality (New York: The Free Press), 1991 Web sites visited: http://tourism.gov.in/statistics/statistics.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supply_chain_management www.http:// ITT9603 Tourism and Information Technology.htm http://www.fincorp.net/reports/tourism sector report-09-04.pdf http://www.tourism.govt.nz/tourism-toolkit/toolkit-word-docs/planning-checklist-TOUR-IND-INVEN.doc

Inflation Essays -- Economics

Inflation INFLATION CAN OUR ECONOMY GROW WITHOUT IT? INFLATION CAN OUR ECONOMY GROW WITHOUT IT? What is inflation? The definition of inflation, according to Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, is â€Å"an undue expansion or increase, from overissue.† Although, Webster’s is considered by most to be the overall best dictionary, WordNet states the meaning of inflation a lot clearer by saying, â€Å"it’s a general and progressive increase in prices.† It occurs when the value of goods rises faster than the value of money. The usual approximate measure of this is the Consumer Price Index, which weigh the prices of different goods according to importance in a typical budget and then shows how much the prices of these goods have increased. This immediately raises some problems; for example, the weight of the goods must change over time. The importance of computers was not measured in the price index 100 years ago. Another problem is the failure of the price index to capture changes in quality. The qualit y of a good may have improved by 20%, while the price has only risen by 10%. The consumer price index doesn’t feel this should be a factor, but many would disagree. Hence, inflation is not easy to define in practice. This should be kept in mind when discussing how to defeat inflation. There have been numerous theories on how to defeat inflation and even some theories on whether, or not, it should be defeated at all. Some say that inflation is not only expected, but often, needed. Economists believe that in order for the economy to expand and grow, there has to be some level of inflation. Therefore, the opposite holds true as well. If you want to lower inflation, you have to accept a semi-standard economy. They call this tradeoff the Phillips Curve. The Phillips Curve is thought to be the â€Å"proper† way of balancing economic growth and inflation. For this reason the Federal Reserve is always looking for the perfect equilibrium at which we can maximize our economic growth while keeping inflation as minimal as possible. They do this by increasing and decreasing interest rates. Although, Economists and the Federal Reserve abide by the Phillips Curve as a general rule for not letting inflation get out of hand, it has been proven many times in the past that it is possible to have a very healthy and prosperous economy without raising inflation at all. There are even exa... ...creased. This would show a truer relation of the prices of goods to the inflation of the economy. I can see the Federal Reserves reasoning behind raising interest rates to slow down the economy and lower inflation, but they need to realize that the rate of inflation is not completely dependant upon the rise and fall of the economies well-being. The past has proven to us numerous times that the economy is quite capable of being stable and prosperous without effecting the inflation rate in a negative way. That’s why I feel that it would be in the nations best interest to continue letting the economy expand into bigger and better things without raising interest rates to unneeded proportions. WORKS CITED Forbes, Steve. â€Å"Bad Idea Begets Bad Economy.† Forbes. Oct. 9, 1995: p23. Dentzer, Susan. â€Å"Honey, I Shrunk the Price Tag.† U.S. News & World Report. Sept. 23, 1996: p72. Forbes, Steve. â€Å"Stop Stunting Our Prosperity.† Forbes. Oct. 16, 1995: p27. â€Å"Inflation.† Hypertext Webster Gateway. Jan. 20, 1999: internet. http://work.ucsd.edu:5141/cgi-bin/http_webster?inflation Bootle, Roger. â€Å"Chapter 2-Prices.† The Death of Inflation. Nicholas Brealey Publishing. 1996: p488-489.

Cross Cultural Differences- China and Usa

| THE 101: Cross Cultural Issues in Tourism & Hospitality | Assessment No. 2| | Ariana Janjua| 201111790| Culture, as defined by Geert Hofstede, is the â€Å"the collective programming of the mind distinguishing the members of one group or category of people from another†. (Hofstede, 2011) It is due to the research carried out by scholars such as Hofstede and Fons Trompenaars that we are able to understand cultural values, and the difference in cultures more thoroughly. This information gives us the ability to understand, and interact people for other cultures that may be drastically different from our own. Such research also gives a basis by which social and business dealings can be held. (itim International, n. d) Knowledge of other cultures is imperative when dealing with business relations; it has been helpful in the age of globalization where cross-cultural business is at a dramatic rise, and even aids in such things as the training and communications. It is also crucial in the face of tourism and social life, as it gives us the understanding of how people from other cultures function as a result of their particular set of cultural values. The aim of this essay is to provide a deeper understanding between the cultural differences between two very different cultures: those of China and the USA. The essay is divided into two parts: the first will explore the different cultural dimensions present in a social and business context according to the research by Hofstede and Trompenaars. The second part will give an example of a practical application of this information in the hospitality industry, and will provide recommendations upon which American hotels can better accommodate Chinese guests. As mentioned above, Hofstede was a Dutch scholar who performed intensive research in order to fully understand his five cultural dimensions, of which this essay looks more deeply into three: Power Distance, Individuality and Long Term Orientation. From his results, we can compare the differences in these dimensions between China and the USA. (itim International, n. d) As can be seen, there is a remarkable difference in all the indexes, especially in PDI (China 80, USA 40), IDV (China 20, USA 91) and LTO (118, USA 29) (China, 2011). These figures give us a starting point to understand these differences more thoroughly. Power Distance is the extent to which people respond to inequalities in different organizations and institutions. (Hofstede, 2011) The PDI of China is considerably high, meaning there is â€Å" high level of inequality of power and wealth within the society† (Patent, 2009). In social terms, this means that authority figures such as the father of a family are given utmost respect to. Furthermore, in all situations, one must address a person by their title is order to give them the respect of their status. This is also reflected in a business atmosphere, where hierarchies are clearly defined. Those on top of the hierarchy are respected, and unquestionably obeyed by those lower in the hierarchy, who are given clear instructions of what is to be expected of them. (Patent, 2009) There is a limited level of communications between these different levels. This is a fact that is prevalent and accepted all throughout Chinese society. On the other hand, the PDI of the United States is very low, and almost leans toward egalitarianism. This is indicative of a greater equality between societal levels, including government, organizations, and even within families. â€Å" (Hofstede, 2011) Socially, Americans are more comfortable around one another, regardless of their ranking. This is reflected in social life, where this is much lower emphasis on titles and qualifications. It is apparent in day-to-day dealings in which Americans greet each other by shaking hands and often call each other by first n ames, regardless of the person’s title. In a business context, leaders may be respected, but more so for their abilities and success rather than their positioning in the hierarchy. (Patent, 2009) They often take on the role of mentors with whom employees are unintimidated and motivated to work with. â€Å"Individualism on the one side versus its opposite, collectivism is the degree to which individuals are integrated into groups. â€Å" (Hofstede, 2011) China is a highly collectivist culture, where all individuals are part of the unit, with the most fundamental unit being that of family. The prosperity of these units is ultimately more important than that of individual persons. Collectivism is apparent in all parts of life, from the attention given to group behavior more than individual behavior, to small everyday activities such as crowding on to a bus with numerous other passengers, such as seen in bustling Chinese cities such as Shanghai. (Gallo, 2009) These beliefs stem from the Confucian values of â€Å" harmony, strong interpersonal relationships and group loyalties. † (Fitzgerald, 2002) Loyalty to relationships is emphasized, even in a business context. For this reason, employees are dedicated to the company they work with, and in turn they are treated with the same loyalty, transforming the business environment into a somewhat family environment. (Gallo, 2009) Also in business, every employee regards himself as part of team, and all his efforts are solely to work towards the success of that team. Collectivism in Chinese culture can be summed up in one term ‘ guan xi’, which can be loosely translated to mean â€Å"to concern, to relate, to make connections, to make relationships’. Fitzgerald, 2002) The United States, on the other hand, is a highly individualistic society. Every individual is looking for ‘the American dream’, a better state than they presently are in (Cultural, n. d. ). Individuals believe in working hard and performing well for one’s own benefits, and relationships and group culture is one of less importance than the concept of â€Å"I† (Kwintessential, 2011). This is prevalent from childhood, when children are taught the worth of being independent and self-reliant. Fitzgerald, 2002) This is a common element of American society: it is accepted and rewarded. The same goes for the attitudes seen in a business environment. There is a lesser concept of teams, and a higher concept of individuals working hard for their own success rather than for that of a larger unit’s. Likewise, individual high performers in a company are rewarded for their efforts. (Gallo, 2009) â€Å"Long- term oriented societies foster pragmatic virtues oriented towards future rewards, in particular saving, persistence, and adapting to changing circumstances. (Hofstede, 2011) According to Hofstede’s analysis, China is a country that is very long term oriented, with a high factor of 118. This is one of the most commonly seen values in Chinese society, and is founded upon the teaching of Confucian, which are engrained in the Chinese culture. They are seen in everyday behavior: the Chinese are always looking to a better future and working towards this through the saving of money, perseverance, and the ability to adapt to changes surrounding them. (itim International, n. d) For example, Chinese sellers are infamous for their bargaining abilities. Another value of this long-term orientation society is to have a sense of shame, which is why Chinese people always remain highly composed and respectful no matter the situation. (nwlink, 1997) This composure is further complimented by their hard work and determination in business-matters. They believe that the future matters more than the present or past, and therefore put all their potential into working for better things to come. â€Å"Short-term oriented societies foster virtues related to the past and present such as national pride, respect for tradition, preservation of â€Å"face†,  and fulfilling social obligations. (Hofstede, 2011) The USA comes in with a relatively low LTO factor at only 29. Short term oriented societies are concerned with the Truth of matters, which Americans view as science, religion and management. Following the same values, they believe that the truth may be manipulated in order to obtain the desired results. (nwlink, 1997) As Americans are ex tremely concerned about personal solidity, these values about truth tie in well with both their social and business lives. In social lives, Americans are very protective of themselves and their ‘face’ or reputation as they are in business life. Having looked at Hofstede’s differences in the cultural dimensions between China and America, we can now take a look at these differences from a different perspective. Trompenaars, who was also Dutch, was a professional in cross-cultural communication and drew up a model of culture with seven dimensions. This essay will pay particular focus to the dimension of universalism and particularism in USA and China. Particularist societies such as that in China are those societies in which people believe that a clear and right decision can be made on the grounds of the relationships and the situation it in based on. It may be said, â€Å"Particularism is based on logic of the heart and human friendship. † (Cultures, 2011) For this reason, Chinese people believe in the value of all relationships and they make the required effort to base these relationships on a strong foundation for a long lasting outcome. The Chinese are known for being good hosts, and often participate in small gestures, such as giving gifts. In businesses as well, the Chinese try to build a relationship with the person they are doing dealings with. They like to take their time in business dealings and negotiations, rely on a mutual trust and respect to get the process finished, and believe in the simplicity of such dealings. (Cultures, 2011) In Universalist societies â€Å"There is a belief that what is good or true can be discovered, defined, and applied to every situation† (cyborlink, 2011) . These societies, such as that of the USA take a universal point of view and believe that all matters are relative. Socially, they are okay with having weak relationships with friends or family members. But this universalism can really be see in a business aspect, as Americans are very concerned with terms and conditions and contracts; basically, the little details entailed in a business dealing. They are usually even lawyers involved in seeing to a smooth running of the matter, and this is reflected in the fact that there are more lawyers per person in the USA than anywhere else in the world. (Cultures, 2011) After looking at these four cultural dimensions and the differences they show between China and America, a great deal of understanding may be acquired in why these countries work in the way they do. The next part of this essay will apply this understand in a Tourism and Hospitality context: it will provide recommendations for the Industry in America on how it could welcome and deal with Chinese guests. As well have already seen, the Chinese are loyal, hardworking people who give great importance to status, relationships, and the future. In order to give them a satisfying and pleasurable experience in the USA, American hotel and tourism managers must reciprocate these values. Because China is not, per se, a religiously founded country, there are not many strict dietary restrictions or other practices that the Chinese people follow. This makes it easier for the American hosts to welcome their guests, as the only alterations they really need to make is that in their behavior and attitude in order to fit with the personal value system of the Chinese. During their stay at a hotel, Chinese guests must be treated in the same way that they would treat guests in their country. They should be welcomed graciously, and perhaps given a small gift as a token of appreciation for their arrival and as a gesture that implies the beginning of a beautiful relationship. Too much eye contact should be avoided as the Chinese may misconstrue this as being rude. What’s more, Chinese guests should always be addressed by their title, and although friendliness is appreciated, an overly boisterous or excited manner may be considered as not being genuine. To make their stay more comfortable, Chinese guests should be given their privacy in room that have all the amenities required, but they should have the knowledge that they are always being accommodated and that if they need anything, it would be at their doorstep in a moment’s time. For families, there should be a range of activities so that the guests know that their hosts, too, understand the importance of family and relationships. On departure, the guests should be given personal attention by hotel staff members and should be asked about their trip and their stay in the hotel. They should be aware that they will be welcomed back at any point of time with the same hospitality and that in staying with the American hotel, not only has a business dealing been made but a long lasting relationship has been established. It is important that the guests feel like their stay has been a worthwhile investment of their money and time. For the tourism industry to be more adaptable to Chinese guests, there are numerous things they could do. As with the hotel industry, they must approach the guests in a respectful manner and be able to make them feel comfortable, content and confident in the investment of their money and time. Due to the collectivist nature of the Chinese people and because their Confucian values urge them to seek constant knowledge and education, informational group activities would be perfect for Chinese guests. For example, if in New York, a group tour that takes the tourists to all the important landmarks and locations, such as the Statue of Liberty, whilst providing an interesting and educational background will be very pleasing for the guests. As will events that provide an opportunity for Chinese tourists to meet with others, communicate and enjoy what may be the start of a great relationship. Such events may be organized dinners, cruise trips, exhibitions and so on. There should also be a large range of family activities, such as trips to theme parks. As long as the Chinese are given an entertaining and informational environment to enjoy their trip, they should be very satisfied and looking forward to come back for more. In conclusion, the work and findings of Geert Hofstede and Fons Trompenaars has given us a thoroughly insightful look into the vastly different cultures of China and America: in both a social context and in a business context. It is incredible and inspiring to see how much this information can help individuals and professionals to act and interact with people from other societies, and how it can be applied in a range of different areas, such as in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry. Truly, such information provides us with an â€Å"edge of understanding† (itim International, n. ) by which only more and more successful cross-cultural interactions can be expected in the future. REFERENCES: Bing, J. W. (2004, February). Hofstede's consequences: The impact of his work on consulting and business practices. Retrieved May 28, 2011, from ITAP International: http://www. itapintl. com/facultyandresources/articlelibrarymain/hofstedes-consequences-the-impact-of-his-work-on-consulting-an d-business-practices. html Chan, S. (1999). The Chinese Learner-a question of style. Education and Training , 41 (6/7). China, C. D. (2011). Geert Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions: China vs. World Average . Retrieved May 28, 2011, from Cultural Dimensions in China: http://www. geert-hofstede. com Cultural, C. (n. d. ). Individualism. Retrieved May 26, 2011, from Clearly cultural: http://www. clearlycultural. com/geert-hofstede-cultural-dimensions/individualism/ Cultures, I. B. (2011). Universalism versus particularism. Retrieved MAY 28, 2011, from International Business Cultures: http://www. via-web. de/universalism-versus-particularism/ cyborlink. (2011). United States of America. Retrieved May 27, 2011, from Hofstede Analysis United States of America: http://www. cyborlink. com/besite/us. htm Fitzgerald, H. (2002). Cross Cultural Communication for the Tourism and Hospitality Industry. Frenchs Forest, NSW, Australia: David Cunningham. Gallo, F. (2009, June 23). Individualism Vs. Collectivism in China. Retrieved May 28, 2011, from Calypso Consulting: http://chinacalypso. com/content/individualism-versus-collectivism-china Hofstede, G. (2011, n. d n. d). Culture. Retrieved May 29, 2011, from Geert Hofstede: http://www. geerthofstede. l/culture. aspx International, I. (n. d. ). Geert Hofstede Cultural Dimensions. Retrieved 5 28, 2011, from Itim International: http://www. geert-hofstede. com/ Kwintessential. (2011). Individualism. Retrieved May 26, 2011, from Kwintessential: http://www. kwintessential. co. uk/intercultural/individualism. html Li, F. M. (2008). Culture as a Major Determinant in Tourism Development of China. Current Issues in Tourism , 11 (6), 492-5 13. Mathilde, C. (2008, February 1). CHINA REPORT: Cultural dimensions of China. Retrieved May 28, 2011, from

Chinese Filial Piety essays

Chinese Filial Piety essays After observing the concepts regarding filial piety and Chinese civilization, it becomes apparent that it greatly impacted the lives of men, women and children. Many aspects of this can be seen through some of the greatest ruling Chinese dynasties. The views expressed affected the decisions made by many people in their everyday lives. While analyzing filial piety one must take into consideration that respect, which children owe to their parents is a major concept within the Chinese culture. Coupling this is the idea that wives were and are obligated to show a certain respect to husbands. When such righteousness is obtained at home, its should carry over into everyday life. This type of mindset should reflect your choices made on a day to day basis. According to Chinese tradition filial piety was the primary duty of all Chinese, in particular family members. The parents were expected to be honored and respected by their children. The most important duty was assigned to the filial son. Essentially his main job was to ensure that his family line would continue. It was also believed that children were to serve and nourish their parents when they were alive, and sacrifice to them when they died. Children were obligated to lead a good moral life and be a credit to their parents. Also they were never to dishonor or disgrace them. This concept involved the sons complete obedience to his parents. Taking care of your parents during their lifetime as they grew old was arguably the most important responsibility to be fulfilled by the son. Concerning the parents, dying without a son was one of the worst offenses that could be committed. A sons status in a Chinese family was considerably much higher than that of the wifes. This idealis tic patriarchal society degraded women and left men as the dominant role in Chinese culture. As for the women who in effect became part of the husbands fa ...

Condom Distribution essays

Condom Distribution essays Should Condoms be distributed in High Schools? More than half of American teenagers have had sexual intercourse and face significant health risks. Each year, over one million teenagers become pregnant, one in seven teenagers contract and STD, and one in five hundred students in college campuses are infected with HIV(The National Coalition To Support Sexuality Education). This quote shows why condom distribution should be available in schools. This topic about condom distribution has caused many heated debates around the nation. People who are in favor of distribution will ensure that teenagers practice safe sex and that the rate of STDs and pregnancies will decrease. The opponents say that giving condoms out in high schools would be like encouraging sexual activity among teenagers and put the idea that pre-martial sex is acceptable. So with all of this in mind, is there a need for condom distribution programs? Yes, there is a need for condom distribution programs. Parents and educators seem to be forgetting that there are a great number of teenagers who are sexually active in todays society. The solution to all of this is not a simple one. Deciding whether to put baskets with condoms in the schools nurses office is only one way of getting started with condom distribution programs. But to be more successful its going to require more thought, energy, and a lot of patience, keeping in mind that todays teens are very open minded and independent. Adults are always emphasizing abstinence. Sure abstinence is the best form of birth control and the best way to not contract a STD. But adults also have to realize that all this is not very cool for teens now days. So if they are not going to be able to convince teenagers that abstinence is the best choice, then they should encourage condom distribution in schools, for their own kids safety. The reason why parents find i...

Berth and Birth Commonly Confused Words

Berth and Birth Commonly Confused Words The noun berth refers to a place to sleep (usually on a train or ship), a place for a boat to moor, or a persons place or position on a team. As a verb, berth means to bring something (usually a ship) into a place where it can stay. The noun birth refers to the arrival of a baby (that is, the emergence of an infant from its mothers body) or to the beginning of something. As a verb, birth means to be born or to give rise to something. Examples At night, the seats pulled together to form the lower berth. The upper swung down on hinges from the wall. The upper berth contained the blankets, linens, mattresses, and pillows for both beds.(Rudolph L. Daniels, Trains Across the Continent: North American Railroad History. Indiana University Press, 2000)When a ship arrives at the port, the planners must decide where to berth the ship for the unloading and loading of containers.[Curt Siodmak] found an assignment at Paramount Pictures rewriting the script for a Dorothy Lamour sarong saga. He then found a berth at Universal Pictures, which specialized in horror movies.(Lee Server, Encyclopedia of Pulp Fiction Writers. Facts on File, 2002)An outdooring is the first African rite of passage. It always begins at dawn, eight days after the childs birth, and gives family and friends a chance to see and welcome the newest soul.(Maya Angelou, All Gods Children Need Traveling Shoes. Random House, 1986)The fact is that women can grow and birth a child independently of the father. Sadly, an increasing number of women in our modern societies are compelled to do exactly that.(Aviva Jill Romm, The Natural Pregnancy Book. Celestial Arts, 2011) Idiom Alert: "Give (Someone or Something) a Wide Berth" [This idiom means] to keep well away from or avoid (someone or something): I always give the park a wide berth when Im out at night. [A nautical idiom―a berth is the amount of space necessary for a sailing ship to maneuver safely.](Elizabeth McLaren Kirkpatrick and C.M. Schwarz, The Wordsworth Dictionary of Idioms. Wordsworth Editions, 1993)If Vito was impressed by his new schools academics, he gave a wide berth to its extracurricular activities and is notably absent from his sophomore and junior yearbooks.(Michael Schiavi, Celluloid Activist: The Life and Times of Vito Russo. University of Wisconsin Press, 2011) Practice Exercises (a) In the history of invention a long time almost invariably elapses between the ____ of an idea and its realization in practice.(H. W. Dickinson and Arthur Titley, Richard Trevithick: The Engineer and the Man, 1934)(b) Give a wide _____ to nesting birds, animals with young, and wildlife that is using a water source. Feel free to watch these wild inhabitants of the desert, but do so at a respectful distance so that your presence does not disturb them.(Erik Molvar and Tamara Martin, Hiking Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks, 2nd ed. Globe Pequot, 2005)(c) McDowell helped me walk back to the ships sick bay, a small _____ walled in with panels of strong canvas.(Paul Dowswell, Powder Monkey: Adventures of a Young Sailor. Bloomsbury, 2005) Answers to Practice Exercises (a) In the history of invention a long time almost invariably elapses between the  birth  of an idea and its realization in practice.(H. W. Dickinson and Arthur Titley,  Richard Trevithick: The Engineer and the Man, 1934)(b) Give a wide  berth  to nesting birds, animals with young, and wildlife that is using a water source. Feel free to watch these wild inhabitants of the desert, but do so at a respectful distance so that your presence does not disturb them.(Erik Molvar and Tamara Martin,  Hiking Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks, 2nd ed. Globe Pequot, 2005)(c) McDowell helped me walk back to the ships sick bay, a small  berth  walled in with panels of strong canvas.(Paul Dowswell,  Powder Monkey: Adventures of a Young Sailor. Bloomsbury, 2005)

Leading in a Changing world Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Leading in a Changing world - Essay Example McGarvie (2009) suggests that today, leaders should be able to attract multidimensional capital flows, read the roadmap for future innovation and participate in new markets, while effectively leading their organisation and their people. We now live in an era in which short- and long-term mismanagement of our environment, work worlds, economies, political situations, cyberspace, care priorities, family lives and values, natural disasters, and capabilities for mass destruction present new challenges for those who must lead in a changing world (Klein, 2009, Pp. 1 – 5). However, it is important to understand that an effective leader must not only select the right vision and the right strategy for attaining a shared vision for the future, but the leader should also effectively influence followers to achieve a shared vision (Boseman, 2008, Pp. 36 – 37). Although personal traits were emphasised earlier by those who researched leadership, Boseman (2008) suggests that the way in which leaders use leadership traits effectively to influence followers decides about effective leadership. Thus, leading effectively the group to attain a shared vision is important for leaders who must lead in a changing world and it is worth discussing how leaders should lead in a changing world. According to Goethals (2004) and Yukl (2010), organisational research domain often discusses leadership in terms of the use of interpersonal influence exercised in situations and directed, through communications processes, towards the attainment of a specific goal or goals. Thus, effective and practical leadership must emphasise the capacity for influencing followers and follower satisfaction is important. Goethals (2004) goes further to suggest that an effective leader has the capacity for influencing a work group to perform and that transformational leadership is more positively related

Efficient Data Mining Classification Technique Essay

Efficient Data Mining Classification Technique - Essay Example Therefore, the concept-evolution problem would be effectively addressed in this thesis along with data reduction and class balancing issues. This research project aims to study the shortcomings of existing novel class detection, data reduction, and class balancing data mining techniques in terms of their accuracy, efficiency, and applicability to real life applications of multi streaming data. The aim of the research is also to provide alternate solutions to overcome those drawbacks. My thesis aims to propose a general model and algorithm that will be tested on synthetic data and well known real data sets e.g. KDD Cup 99 network intrusion detection (KDD), Auslan [Kad02], and EMG [Kol05]. Classification, clustering, and aggregation are some of the data mining hot topics that are of extreme value in all engineering and scientific areas, such as, biological, physical and bio-medical sciences. Diversified nature of escalated data along with its composite aspects and multiple autonomous sources is a major issue in data mining that leads to the need for the development of real life applications. The motivation behind this study is offered in the following paragraphs: The first issue the thesis is going to address is that of evolving data, which represents a challenge for classification. The effective and efficient methods are needed by the growing and dynamic data streams, which are considerably different from the static data mining methods. The concept drift and infinite length are considered to be the well-studied features of data streams. Across data stream mining, to address the infinite length [Fan04] and concept-drift[Cha07][Kol05] [Wan03], diverse methods have been suggested in the literature. Yet, the data streams have two another challenging characteristics, known as, feature-evolution and concept-evolution, which are ignored by the present methods.

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Introduction and methodology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Introduction and methodology - Essay Example The real sign of the â€Å"credit crunch† started in summer 2007 when mortgage borrowers started defaulting on their mortgages and exposing billions of dollars of bad debt. This was when US housing prices started to plunge – 20% to 30% in 12 months (Financial Times 2009). However, this was not something that was being anticipated by the lenders, as bankers thought they held new products that guaranteed never-ending great profits. However, the best performance for the sub-prime market was between 2001 and 2006, when sales essentially boomed. Analysts state that approximately one-third of mortgages issued to subprime borrowers were adjusted rate mortgages. In the early 2000s, interest was at its lowest rate and mortgage lenders started to relax their lending standards, which made many poor credit families creditworthy to qualify for a mortgage. As more people started to buy property, it increased demand in the housing market and caused house prices to rise (Mortgageguideu k 2009). In addition, subprime lending rocketed to trillions of dollars; bankers and lenders bundled up the subprime mortgages with the prime mortgages, â€Å"good and bad apples†, and sold them in a single package to hedge funds and investment banks who initially thought it as a great way to generate high return investments (Terner 2008). These are called â€Å"Collateralised Debt Obligations† (CDOs). Lehman Brothers was the biggest player on this subprime market, making millions of dollars every month; they even offered â€Å"Ninja† (no income, no job or asset) mortgages, basically saying if you can breathe, we will give you a loan (reference). This is what caused the problem; subprime mortgages were mostly given to new homeowners who did not understand the risks behind the scenes (Financial Times 2009). When the demand in the housing reached its peak in the US, the interest rate started to rise from 1% to 5.35%, which caused the housing market to slowdown. As a result, this caused real concern for homeowners who could barely afford their mortgage payments when interest rates were low. Homeowners started to default on their mortgages, sparking trouble for all of us and the entire financial system (Mortgages 2010). When borrowers could no longer afford to pay their loans, the value of these investments started to fall, causing huge losses for banks across the world and many businesses that wholly depended on free fall credit have either collapsed, been taken over by competitors or been nationalised (Parliament 2010). For example, Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns, Washington Mutual, Northern Rock, Freddie Mac, AIG, Fanny Mae, Bradford and Bingley, RBS Bank of Scotland Group, Wachovia, Halifax Bank of Scotland and many more have been hit hard by the credit crisis. For example, HSBC’s subsidiary Housing Finance Corporation (HFC) was the highest provider of high risk subprime borrowers in the US and was hit hardest by the credit crunch. T his was when US housing prices started to fall in 2006. As a result, provisions for losses on HFC loans increased by almost $3 billion in comparison to the previous year (Financial Times 2009). This dissertation focuses on how the credit crunch has affected the UK population in terms of mortgages and unemployment. Jon Moulton, the British venture capitalist stated that, as Americans and

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Wal-Mart Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

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Introduction and methodology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Introduction and methodology - Essay Example The real sign of the â€Å"credit crunch† started in summer 2007 when mortgage borrowers started defaulting on their mortgages and exposing billions of dollars of bad debt. This was when US housing prices started to plunge – 20% to 30% in 12 months (Financial Times 2009). However, this was not something that was being anticipated by the lenders, as bankers thought they held new products that guaranteed never-ending great profits. However, the best performance for the sub-prime market was between 2001 and 2006, when sales essentially boomed. Analysts state that approximately one-third of mortgages issued to subprime borrowers were adjusted rate mortgages. In the early 2000s, interest was at its lowest rate and mortgage lenders started to relax their lending standards, which made many poor credit families creditworthy to qualify for a mortgage. As more people started to buy property, it increased demand in the housing market and caused house prices to rise (Mortgageguideu k 2009). In addition, subprime lending rocketed to trillions of dollars; bankers and lenders bundled up the subprime mortgages with the prime mortgages, â€Å"good and bad apples†, and sold them in a single package to hedge funds and investment banks who initially thought it as a great way to generate high return investments (Terner 2008). These are called â€Å"Collateralised Debt Obligations† (CDOs). Lehman Brothers was the biggest player on this subprime market, making millions of dollars every month; they even offered â€Å"Ninja† (no income, no job or asset) mortgages, basically saying if you can breathe, we will give you a loan (reference). This is what caused the problem; subprime mortgages were mostly given to new homeowners who did not understand the risks behind the scenes (Financial Times 2009). When the demand in the housing reached its peak in the US, the interest rate started to rise from 1% to 5.35%, which caused the housing market to slowdown. As a result, this caused real concern for homeowners who could barely afford their mortgage payments when interest rates were low. Homeowners started to default on their mortgages, sparking trouble for all of us and the entire financial system (Mortgages 2010). When borrowers could no longer afford to pay their loans, the value of these investments started to fall, causing huge losses for banks across the world and many businesses that wholly depended on free fall credit have either collapsed, been taken over by competitors or been nationalised (Parliament 2010). For example, Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns, Washington Mutual, Northern Rock, Freddie Mac, AIG, Fanny Mae, Bradford and Bingley, RBS Bank of Scotland Group, Wachovia, Halifax Bank of Scotland and many more have been hit hard by the credit crisis. For example, HSBC’s subsidiary Housing Finance Corporation (HFC) was the highest provider of high risk subprime borrowers in the US and was hit hardest by the credit crunch. T his was when US housing prices started to fall in 2006. As a result, provisions for losses on HFC loans increased by almost $3 billion in comparison to the previous year (Financial Times 2009). This dissertation focuses on how the credit crunch has affected the UK population in terms of mortgages and unemployment. Jon Moulton, the British venture capitalist stated that, as Americans and

Wal-Mart Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Wal-Mart - Essay Example However, this paper will try to evaluate the success of Wal-Mart which is indeed the market leader in the retail industry, and it will prove the supremacy of the organization with personal experiences and supportive facts. Personal viewpoints and some observations about Wal-Mart: The base of this argument can be put as the undisputed crowd pulling ability and growing footfalls in Wal-Mart. There are many other retails stores are there and they also pull the crowd very efficiently but do they pull crowd like Wal-Mart? Well, from many personal experiences it can be stated that the world number one retailer indeed pull the crowd efficiently than any other stores. If a person goes to any Wal-Mart store in USA in any time, he or she will see a gathering of huge crowd looking to buy something or the other. The cash counters are always busy with long queues and happy customers are always coming out with their purchases. However, the question is how they are so successful and how they overco me the tough competition in the market. From the personal experiences and viewpoints it can stated that Wal-Mart follow the strict rule of POCKETS (price, operations, culture, key item promotion, expenses, talent and services). They follow unique penetration pricing policy, they never tend to compete, break through operations management can handle the customers and the employees wisely within the store, great culture, they promote the key products very tactically and the inner talent of the management is distributed properly within the lower level of the organizations. There are some points are also there to support the positive aspects of the Wal-Mart and they are mentioned bellow. Remarkable business strategy of the Wal-Mart to support the argument: Wal-Mart has changed the seller’s market to the buyer’s market with their great business strategy. In the United States the main strategy of the Wal-Mart is to open stores in every five kilometers. And the main concept is selling practically everything under one roof with large discounts. The main strategy is to compel the people to buy more and more. Evolution of the supply chain management system: Supply chain is a very important factor for a g lobal giant like Wal-Mart. And in this case they are very strict to choose their thousand of suppliers globally. Mattel, the toy maker is one of the biggest suppliers of toys to Wal-Mart and they admit that it is a great business channel but a tough client as they want great quality parameters. Wal-Mart looks for close and strong relation with their suppliers. Wal-Mart is always hungry for customer satisfaction and that is the reason they also look for great suppliers who can provide good quality products in proper time with competitive pricing. Evaluation of the brand image: Wal-Mart has always been in the way to strengthen its existence. Around 2000 they opened the walmart.com which is the online portal for online shopping. And they have all the facilities like on-time delivery, great products and easy to use. In 2008 they have changes their total brand image, from the Wal-Mart store; Inc they changed their brand name to Walmart. Criticism about Wal-Mart: It is a true fact that gr eat brands have great criticisms. The Wal-Mart has been criticized in many ways many times but somehow I had overcome the criticism and embarked towards the success. In many times it has been criticized as the slaughter of the small grocery businesses. There are many times when small grocery stores owners have opposed the erection of the Wal-Mart store in their vicinity. But, the success relies on the verdicts of the customers. Mr. Sam Walton understood the importance of the demanded products to be sold in a low price in a price sensitive market. The Wal-Mart is

Are Energy Drinks Bad for You or Good Essay Example for Free

Are Energy Drinks Bad for You or Good Essay When people ask you, â€Å"What are energy drinks?† Everybody say drinks that give you energy. They are wrong. Energy drinks are beverages that claim to give an extra boost of energy from caffeine. Energy drinks such as Red Bull or Rock star are good and bad for your bodies. Red Bull (Energy Drink) Good qualities that energy drinks have are that there non-alcoholic. This means that the more teens that buy this, the less chance of accidents and situations to do with the law the teens have to go through. Sometimes Energy Drinks keep you awake from times you can’t/don’t want to be asleep. There are many bad qualities when it comes to Energy drinks. If a person of some kind consumed to many energy drinks, it can lead to heart problems or possibly death, as the caffeine rates in these drinks are jaw-droopingly gigantic. Caffeine can also cause Tremor / shaking, chest pains, and lots of headaches. Some teenagers mix alcohol with energy drinks at parties, which is a deathly and dangerous mixture. Questions you can ask yourself is: 1. Do I want to have a body with a lot of caffeine? 2. Do I want to ruin my life? 3. Alcohol or Non-alcoholic? 4. Do I need to suffer? Overall energy drinks are bad and not good for athletes. There are times to use energy drinks and times not too. But before you make your decision, think of the questions I asked you. And see if you want a good body or bad body. Make your mind up ? Energy drinks Water.

Uses Of Email In The Modern World English Language Essay

Uses Of Email In The Modern World English Language Essay Electronic mail, better know as e-mail, is the transmission of messages and files via a computer network. E-mail has become a very important way of exchanging messages and files between coworkers, students and teachers, friends and family. People all over the world are using e-mail. Its fast and best of all its cheap! In this paper I will discuss differences between traditional mail and electronic mail. We will explore some of the ways businesses use email in the workplace. I will also discuss how teachers are integrating email into the classroom. Lastly, I will discuss a few electronic mail securities issues that everyone needs to be aware of. Email In The Work Place Over the years, people, especially businesses, have adopted email as their general form of day to day communication mostly because of its speed. Email communication has almost instant feedback. This makes email much more conversational than traditional paper mail or snail mail as it is commonly know today. With snail mail, writers and recipients are forced to wait days to complete communication. Yes, we have fax machines and telephones to speed up the process, but who wants the hassle when you can use email! Distribution List. If you have to send emails to a number of recipients on a routine basis, it can be a chore to have to type every persons email address over and over again. Group distribution lists make this job simple. Below are the steps to setup a distribution list in Microsoft Outlook. Access the email account where you wish to create the distribution list. Use the mouse to highlight the name(s) in the To and CC box. These names will be copied to the distribution list. To select multiple names, hold down the SHIFT button and highlight accordingly. Click EDIT and COPY. Click FILE, and then NEW. Next, click DISTRIBUTION LIST. Type in the name you want for the group. A distribution list can be labeled anything from My Staff to My Friends. Type the appropriate name into the NAME box. Click SELECT MEMBERS. Click on ADD TO DISTRIBUTION LIST. Next, right click PASTE or hold the CTRL and V button down at the same time. Open a new email message. Click on To. Choose your new distribution group. Compose and send an email. Organize Schedules Appointments. Whether you are a COE of a major company or the president of an extracurricular activity group in school email has all the features you need for scheduling and managing appointments, meetings, and tasks. Using Email calendar components, managers can schedule meetings and appointments, and assign tasks for the other members of the group. Emails also let you store miscellaneous information using notes. File Attachments. In some situations, a simple email message is not sufficient to get the required information to the recipient. In these cases, you may want to attach a file to your email message. Email allows you to attach almost any kind if file to your message. You may need to send a Word document, an Excel worksheet, a picture, or any number of file types. Email lets you do it all. EMAIL IN SCHOOLS Keypals. Email is a wonderful way for your class to connect with your students in another part of the country, or perhaps another part of the world. In addition to practicing their English writing skills, your students can learn, first hand, the geography, culture and language of their keypals. Web Mentors. Mentor programs often include lists of mathematics, scientists, historians, and other professionals who have generously volunteered to assist with class project. Homework Assignments. If all your students have regular access to individual e-mail accounts (lucky them!), you might want to distribute homework assignments or bonus questions using e-mail. Some teachers even make their email addresses available for homework questions. If you plan to use email to distribute assignments and questions, here are some tips that will make things run more smoothly: Make sure your students are email savvy. Before you send your first email assignment, spend a few classroom lessons on email basics. Let your students know the time and day that you will be sending the assignment so they know to check their mail. Be specific with your message subject title. Instruct your students to use the Reply to Sender button. This way you can sort your mail using the subject title that you have specified. EMAIL ETIQUETTE SPAM or Junk Mail. SPAM is the sending of unsolicited messages. Most people hate getting junk mail. It also slows down the networks and is generally a waste of valuable, limited resources. Businesses have found that junk mail is an easy and inexpensive way to send promotional material. Dont send unwanted email Flaming. Flaming is when someone uses all capital letters in a message. This usually means that the sender is yelling or angry. This can be very offensive. Remember, once you send an email message, you can not erase it or take it back. Messages may be saved, read by others, or even forward to others with out your knowledge. Internet Hoaxes Virus Myths. Dont be fooled by internet hoaxes and computer virus myths. Before you send your so called virus alert check with your IT department to see if its real. Dont open an attachment or click on a link in an email from some one you dont know. If the content email looks suspicious, but it is some one you know- dont open until you clarify with the sender first. It may be infected with a virus. CONCLUSION In conclusion, Email is a wonderful way to communicate with others. Email has become a very important way to communicate and share files with coworkers, students, friends, and family. Hopefully you have found some new and interesting ways to use email in the workplace, and in school. Also dont forget to use proper email etiquette and watch out for internet hoaxes when sending messages.

UK Gelatin :: essays research papers

UK Gelatin   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, or BSE, is a degenerative disease affecting the central nervous system of cattle causing the brain to appear as a sponge. The cattle then begin acting abnormally and eventually have to be killed. BSE can be transmitted to humans if they consume raw meat from an infected cow or if one consumes the eyeballs, spinal tissue, or the brain. This disease is known as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Another disease similar to BSE, which is found in sheep, is Scrapie. Scrapie has been around for nearly two hundred years. It is presumed that the Scrapie agent jumped species and moved into cattle when sheep offal, leftover parts of butchered animals, were ground up and used as a protein supplement in cattle feed and the subsequently fed to cattle. Gelatin is considered safe for human consumption since its preparation involves a chemical process that destroys BSE infectivity. BSE-infectiousness is also destroyed during cooking and baking. Gelatin is manufactured primarily from the hides of pigs and the bones of cattle. During processing, these source materials are exposed to extremely harsh conditions, including prolonged exposure to highly acid or alkaline solutions. Gelatin is used in a wide variety of consumer and medical products regulated by the FDA. These products range from candies and desserts to vaccines, drugs, medical devices, dietary supplements and cosmetics.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the unlikely event of any initial contamination of raw material, the gelatin manufacturing process would reduce BSE activity. The steps are as follows one hundred times by degreasing, ten times by acid demineralization, one hundred times by alkaline purification, one hundred times by washing, filtration, and ion exchange, and one hundred times by sterilization. Therefore, the combined effect of the processing stages gives a person a one in one billion chance of contracting BSE. The gelatin production process is efficient enough to remove and or inactivate minimal remaining infectivity. As a safety precaution, the use of UK bovine raw material for the manufacture of gelatin for food, animal feed, pharmaceutical, medical and cosmetic uses is not permitted under certain UK and EU legislation. All UK produced bone gelatin intended for these uses is made from non-UK raw materials. The UK manufacturing sites have to be registered with the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Foods (MAFF) and regular inspections confirm that strict controls are met. These controls include full trace ability of raw materials. Consequently, UK produced bone gelatin can be considered to be the best controlled and monitored of any gelatin produced in the world, providing maximum reassurance to consumers.

Computers in Elementary Education :: School Technology Papers

Computers in Elementary Education When trying to describe the meaning of education, one might think of the relationship between a teacher and a student. The essence of this relationship is stregthned by the teachers' ability to adapt to the students needs. With many advancements of society and technology, today's teachers are better equipped with tools so powerful that the standards of yesterday are being challenged more frequently. Among these great tools exists the computer and the Internet. Unfortunately, history reveals that great tools often have their consequences. For example, how great must it have been to be among the first few to use a knife thousands of years ago. We all know, just as those first few might have found out, that with all the positive and useful ways we can use knives, there are just as many evil ways we can use them. With the help of the media as well as first hand use, millions of people already know of the risks having to deal with computers and the Internet. Another issue that plays a factor is the tradition as a whole. It might be possible that a few of the teachers around the world fear being replaced by a machine. Can the computer really substitute the help and guidance of a teacher? This idea itself raises another issue. Deciding how many computers per school, how many computers per class, how many lessons involving computers, whether Internet access should be granted, and planning security issues with expensive equipment is not going to be an easy task. I believe everyone is very excited right now about having computers in their classrooms. It's also happening at the elementary school where I am currently working as a T.A. There will be at least one computer in each classroom. The fourth and fifth grade classes have more than one because they have projects that they can type during class or they have any other activity that will enhance their computer abilities. I work in a kindergarten class and when the children were told they wer e going to have a computer in their room they all said, "yeeaaahhh." I would be excited too because they're only thinking about the computer games that are going to be available for them. They're not thinking that their whole instruction is going to be in front of the computer. The decision making responsibilities are probably going to be left to the government.

Repression in Russia in the period 1900-1929 Essay

Why did the rulers of Russia so often resort to repression in the period 1900-1929? Repression was used under both Nicholas 2 and the Bolsheviks to control the Russian population. The liberal methods employed preceding both governments (Alexander 2 and the Provisional Government respectively) failed completely and discouraged any other form of liberal or democratic controls. The strict extremist ideologies of both the Tsarist and Bolshevik regimes also necessitated violent repression to ensure total compliance. This was needed due to the major political upheavals taking place – the decline of Tsarism despite Nicholas’ determination to continue his autocratic rule and the rise of Bolshevism to replace it meant that both parties needed to take a very harsh line. This was exacerbated by the fact that neither party came to power with the ‘legitimate vote’ of the public and so faced strong opposition that they wished to eliminate. Conflict, in the form of Civil War and the Great War, was an apparent complication in both regimes. This caused additional economic disarray and social disruption, hindering the plans of the 2 major governments of this era. Consequently this encouraged the use of repression in an attempt to resurrect the country and increase their power. Further difficulties during this period were caused by Russia’s long term long problems, particularly the vast land area and a high percentage of distinct ethnic minorities causing a lack of cohesion and sense of national identity. Bad communications and retardation of industrialisation meant poor social conditions which led to vocal rebellious groups requiring violent put downs i.e. repression. Russia, at this time, appeared ungovernable without resorting to repression and dictation. Repression was seeded by the lack of an alternative available to Russian rulers at this time. The Bolsheviks were further discouraged from democracy by the failure of the Provincial Government after just 6 months in 1917. The refusal of this government to use repression was highlighted by some of the reforms they undertook – abolition of capital punishment and closure of the Okhrana (secret police) and the Cossacks. Lack of army support due to the Petrograd Soviet agreement made control harder as the problems left by the Tsar (economic collapse and rebellious minorities) could not be dealt with. The public began to realise that authority could be easily flouted without the threat of punishment. Consequently, Lenin realised that coercion was required to rule Russia and that repression through the Army could be achieved when his slogan ‘All power to the Soviet’ was realised. Alexander 2, grandfather to Nicholas 2, was seen as the ‘reforming Tsar’- mainly due to his emancipation of the serfs in 1861. He was assassinated by a party representing these very people at the 7th such attempt. Nicholas 2 realised (as the failure of the Provincial Government was to do for the Bolsheviks) that power was questioned when repression was not implemented. Although Lenin also used repression, the similarity in personalities between Nicholas 2 and Stalin meant that both used similar methods. Both were intensely paranoid about the public’s perception that they were weak. To disprove this, both resorted to violent repressive tactics. Repression under Lenin was more calculated – he talked of the ‘coercion’ needed for the ‘transition from capitalism to communism’. Both governments were autocratic and wished to impose extreme ideologies and therefore required total support which they believed was only achievable by quashing any opposition. Total control was to be achieved by the Tsar’s ‘divine right’ to have this and by the Bolshevik’s through their classless, one party state. This was shown when Lenin forcibly disbanded the constitution in 1918, because the Bolsheviks would not have had the majority vote they needed for the total control they sought. As a result Lenin became the leader of the only powerful party- the Communists. Later, Stalin increased his control through purges within his own government – ensuring his role as the absolute leader – reflecting the Tsar’s goal of omnipotence following the Fundamental Laws. The Tsar required repression of the peasantry (80% of the population) whereas the Bolshevik’s faced opposition from the middle and upper classes. Tsarism relied heavily on religion (the Russian Orthodox Church/ROC) to control the people whereas the Bolsheviks saw this as a threat. The ROC taught that the Tsar was ‘God on earth’ in an attempt to indoctrinate the peasantry to such an extent that they would do as he commanded. Important ministers were often associated with the Church e.g. Pobiedonotstev. After the downfall of Tsarism, Lenin proclaimed the Marxist theory that religion was ‘the opium of the people’ and proceeded to turn repression onto the church to rid Russia of this perceived powerful opponent to the communist system. Stalin continued the destruction of religion in Russia through the assassination of any cleric he felt had too much influence. The Tsar and the Bolsheviks both faced threatening opposition. The Tsar’s opponents ranged from the peasant-based Social Revolutionaries (who would later become the Bolsheviks opponents) to the Bolsheviks themselves – supported by the working class. The failure of the 1905 revolution after the intervention of the Okhrana and army showed that the Tsar could not have retained power without repression. The Okhrana were also used to rid Russia of revolutionaries – such as Lenin himself. The Bolsheviks shared the problems caused by the ethnic minorities and their wish for independence. However, The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk weakened this opposition for the Bolsheviks after it removed 25% of Russian land – mainly that housing the minorities. Both regimes faced a wide range of opposition, prompting repression to remove the greatest threats – such as the dissolution of the SR-dominated constitution in 1918. Lenin reduced the power of the elite by taking their property and institutions from them. Stalin continued and extended the use of repression – eliminating any minor threat, including members of the Communist Party in his ‘Great Purges’ Conflict encouraged the rulers during this period to resort to repression. The Tsar faced the Russo-Japanese war and the Great War during his reign. The Bolsheviks had to contend with a Civil War. In both cases, repression was used to evoke loyalty and force unification. The Cossacks and Ohkrana were fundamental to the suppression of objectors to the Tsar, as were the Bolshevik equivalents, the Cheka. The Cheka aided Bolshevik victory in the Civil War and were then used by Lenin to forcibly take grain for the soldiers under the Grain Requisition Act despite the distress caused to the peasants. The Tsar also used repression to keep Russia fighting in the Great War – including the silencing of anti-war parties and also opposition to the mandatory food rationing by a hungry people. Despite these efforts, war finally brought the downfall of Tsarism after mass desertion from the army effectively took away the last prop of the old regime. The Bolsheviks however, emerged successfully from the Civil War allowing them to consolidate their new-found power with the use of additional repression. Retarded Industrialisation was a long-term problem that is still felt by Russia today. The Tsar attempted to improve Russia’s industrial affluence whilst maintaining control by repressing the working classes to prevent them revolting. To do this, he banned trade unions and imprisoned the leaders. The Communists also attempted to improve Russia’s industrial situation- through the conversion from capitalism to communism. The Tsar sought support from other European countries whereas the Communists violently rejected this policy. This meant that the Communists required a greater level of forced labour (i.e. repression) in order to cope without this aid. Stalin hoped to develop Russia into a ‘superpower’ in his 5-year plans. This involved the use of the forced free labour of non-conformists who were imprisoned in labour camps. The Kulaks (wealthy peasants) were among those sent to such a camp. ‘Collectivisation’ was a re-introduction of the Grain Requisition and an attempt to revolutionise agriculture along Communist lines and resulted in starvation of the rural population. This repression of the peasantry was also evident in the Tsarist regime to prevent unrest. The long-term problems experienced by Russia at this time encouraged the use of repression as a means of control. The huge population spread over a vast land area meant that in addition to the communication problems caused by sheer size and the abundance of minority groups, it was impossible for any government to meet the demands made by all of the people. The Tsar attempted to deal with this through the enforcement of Russfication and sending the army to eliminate any protesters e.g. in Uzbekistan. The Bolsheviks also faced the minority opposition with violent repression – millions of Ukrainians were sent to forced labour camps by Stalin. Prejudice against ethnic groups was rife; anti-Semitism caused repression of Jews under both Tsarist and Bolshevic regimes. Although it can be said that the governments of Nicholas 2, Stalin and to a lesser extent Lenin were repressive by nature, the need for control via repression was inherent within the set up of Russia. Until the fall of communism in Russia in the late 20th century, it was clearly evident that the more lenient governments, such as that of Alexander 2 and Provisional Government were less successful than the more repressive ones although they were hardly given chance to do well, so quick were some to take their place at the first sign of weakness. This acted as an encouragement for the major governments between 1900-1929 to use the secret police, army and threat of imprisonment to deter opposition, repress the peasantry and enforce the ideologies of the government. Repression was imperative for both governments; the Tsarist to cling to power and the Communists to snatch it from them. Both had many unpopular economic, political and social reforms to pass. War highlighted the problems of the country and the presence of strong opposition against both governments. In the view of both it increased the need for repression to realign the economic and social structure. Under both regimes the cause and the effect of repression was the same; it resulted in the death or displacement of many. Unfortunately, it was just a prelude to the terror that was to be experienced during the ‘High-Stalinism’ of the 1930’s. During this decade, 7 million died, mostly after being sent to a labour camp for failing to conform to the Communist ideal of ‘collectivisation’.