Importance of Professionalising HRM in Hotel Industry Essay - 20

Importance of Professionalising HRM in Hotel Industry - Essay Example From this paper it is clear that each department requires personnel to operate and mange the different types of customers. Thus, there is a need for HRM in a hotel because every aspect in a hotel is concerned with handling people. A HRM professional can understand the needs and preferences of employees and can handle the employee related problems quite efficiently than others. From the provided case, it can be observed that it is a challenge for Happy Hotels to recruit, develop and maintain workforce which is significant for the hotel because a good motivated workforce is the key for providing high quality services to the sensitive customers. The approaches undertaken by Happy Hotels are quite different than the other high cost hotel services. It provides customers with excellent services, comfortable rooms, and good meals with minimal budget than other high cost hotel such as Premium Inn or Holiday Inn. Thus, the job description in Happy Hotels needs range of skills and qualities. The employees must have knowledge to interact with various customers who can impact the HRM strategies such as recruitment and training of employees. HRM can broadly manage the employees in Happy Hotels and can aid the hotels to pursue their path towards achieving success. There are many reasons for professionalising HRM in the expansion of hotel group. Every hotel seeks to dev elop their services which can differentiate them from other competitors. Thus, a hotel will always endeavour to focus on providing customers any product or service which is new and innovative. The employees of the hotels will play one of the major roles in fulfilling this endeavour of the hotels. Thus, the employees need to learn behaviour such as readiness to tolerate uncertainty and changeability. They need to take risks. A highly skilled HR individual can help to achieve high level of autonomy in a hotel.

Situational Leadership Theory

Situational Leadership Theory Situational leadership theory, in simple terms talks about different leadership styles and how a leader can choose an appropriate style with respect to team that he/she is leading and situation in which they are in, to complete the given task. An organization fasces different situations in different times depending on many factors, internal and external which are hard to control. Situational leadership theory helps an organization to face this kind of circumstances. Hersey and Blanchard (1969-1977), first introduced a theory named life cycle theory of leadership which was then developed and renamed to situational leadership theory. Hersey and Blanchard talks about.. Four leadership styles and how a leader can choose different style depending on the maturity level of the team members. Maturity of the team members can be defined as the individuals knowledge required to complete the given task, commitment and willingness to complete the given task. Different styles define, where the leaders focus should be i.e. on team members or on the task. Vroom and Normative talk about How can a leader increasing the team members commitment, effectiveness and efficiency through, allowing team members to participate in decision making. Decision making is a process of deciding what the goals are and how the team is going to achieve them? And how far a leader can allow team members to participate in the decision making? depending on various situations. House and Mitchell (1974) talked about Various styles a leader can chose to explain the vision to the team members and to support them when they get blocked or having difficulty in completing the task, depending on the situation. (The Path-Goal Theory of Leadership, 1974) Explanation According to Hersey and Blanchard The team members of a team can be divided in to four groups depending on their commitment, required knowledge for the job, and willingness to work, which is also known as maturity level of the team. And a leader should choose an appropriate leadership style depending on the maturity level of the team. If the team members doesnt have required knowledge for the job, and they are not committed and willing to work. Leader should keep more focus on completing the given task compared to focus on the team members needs. If the team members are somewhat committed to and have knowledge about the work, but not willing to work. Leader should keep more focus on completing the given task as well as team members needs. If the team has the required job knowledge but are not willing and committed to work. Leader should focus more on teams needs compared to completing the given task. If the team has the required job knowledge, and are willing and committed to work. Leader can keep less focus on teams needs as well as completing the given task. According to Vroom and Normative When the team members are allowed to participate in the process of developing goals and paths to achieve goals, then they show more commitment and willingness to work. Depending on the situation a leader can choose to Take information or advice from team members, and then choose few that he/she likes. Share the ideas with team members, discuss with individuals then choose few that he/she likes. Share the ideas with team members, discuss with the group and listen to the new ideas and choose few to follow. Share the ideas with the team and then follows according to the majority of the teams decision. This model only focuses on decision making strategies in the organisation and how they can affect the performance of the team members. According to House and Mitchell (1974) Leaders chooses goals that organization is going to reach and how they are going to reach the goals alone. However, leaders can explain clearly or not clearly the way that team should follow and he/she can also support team to face the difficulties on the way to reach the goals. Leader can also provide rewards to the team members who are performing well to increase the commitment and willingness of the team. Depending on the situation they can choose different styles like Supportive Leadership: Here leaders focus is more on the team members needs and creating a supportive environment for the team in times of high work pressure. Directive Leadership: Here leader focuses on both the team members needs and completing the given task, gives them information which is needed and supports them when necessary. Participative Leadership: Works with the team, allows them to develop new ideas and considers them when he/she is taking decisions. Achievement-Oriented Leadership: Here leaders develop themselves and the team. They take challenging tasks and decisions to achieve goals which are tough to achieve. Critical view on Situational Leadership Theory Claude L Graeff said Theoretical issues undermining the robustness of the situational leadership theory and the utility of its prescriptive model and discusses. More specifically, conceptual ambiguity associated with the mechanics of applying the concept of job-relevant maturity and other problems with the normative model are seen as seriously limiting its pragmatic utility. (Academy of management. The academy of management review 1986. ABI/INFORM Global) The situational leadership theory even though many pioneer, has many disadvantages. Every model has its own advantages and disadvantages like Job maturity talks about the required knowledge to do the job, where as maturity considers many other factors like experience in the job, general knowledge and problem solving abilities, etc. Self-esteem and confidence play a vital role in an individuals performance which comes under psychological maturity, which was never mentioned in the theories. Participation in decision making can increase pressure on the team and also can bring misunderstandings between the team members. The relationship between decision making and increase in commitment and willingness of the team members is not always directly proportional; sometimes it may result in serious problems. If leader is focusing less on the task and the path that team is following to reach the task, the team may lose the way and not achieve the goals in time. Relevance with Contemporary Organizations Albert Humphrey (1960-1970), created a tool which helps an organization to understand its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. With the help of this tool an organization can develop strategies to overcome weaknesses and threats, and to improve strengths and opportunities. Organizations are facing more and more competition as globalization and international markets are growing. Most of the organizations are depending on the same resources, so it is important for a leader to use the resources properly to achieve the given task. And to achieve this, a leader should use appropriate styles according to ever changing situations. To analyse external factors which affect the organization, another model PESTEL analysis can be used which talks about factors like Politics, Economics, Social, Technological, Environmental, Legal factors, which an organization cannot control, and any change in these factors can change the situation an organization is working in. So, it is important that leaders should change their styles and behaviours according to the situations and help the team to complete the given task. Example: Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan recently triggered nuclear meltdown in the nation, which not only affected the nations economy but also worlds economy. Organizations which are based in Japan even though doesnt got any direct impact from the natural disaster have lost their stocks. In situations that cannot be controlled by the organization it is necessary for the leaders to help the team and the organization by playing different roles according to the situation. Conclusion This theory talks about following different approaches according to or appropriate to the situations, the developers also helped to form or build different strategies to follow in different cases. So it is a process of influencing the maturity of the follower or team to achieve the given goal in a given situation. Here a leader must be focus on both team and the task, more or less. Reference P. Hersey, K. H Blanchard and William Morrow (1999). Leadership and the One Minute Manager. P. Hersey, K. H Blanchard and D. E Johnson (2007). Management of Organizational Behaviour: Leading Human Resources. Prentice Hall. V. H Vroom and P. W Yetton (1973). Leadership and decision-making. University of Pittsburg Press. R. J House (1971). A path-goal theory of leader effectiveness. Administrative Science Quarterly. R. J House and T. R Mitchell (1974). Path-Goal Theory of Leadership. Contemporary Business. M. G Evans (1970). The effect of supervisory behaviour on the path-goal relationship. Organizational Behaviour and Human Performance.

Preparing for Death While Embracing Life Essay -- essays research pape

The process of dying begins at birth. Each of us know that someday we will die, but we don't generally like to think or talk about it. The topic of death is often taboo in our society. Because of this, we are often unprepared when we are faced with the final stages of the dying process with someone we love. Attitudes and concepts about death and dying vary greatly. Death refers to the actual physical ending of life, while dying refers to the process of coming to that end. Most people do not simply stop breathing. It is often a slow, lingering, unwinding process that can take days, weeks, or months. Even the actively dying process can occur over a period of hours or days. Observing this process can be extremely difficult for loved ones. Some people experience the symptoms of being close to death and then, for some unexplained reason their condition may begin to improve a little. The family's hopes soar, only to be dashed again, as the loved one's condition deteriorates. These roller-coaster changes can be emotionally and physically exhausting for caregivers. Most of the fear of death is really fear of the unknown. Education and open discussion about the events that will occur can relieve much of the fear patients and families experience. Each death is different, a touching and special drama, just as each birth is. And usually the act of dying requires some assistance, just as the act of giving birth does. Because each person's death is unique, it is difficult to state exactly what will happen in each situation. This particular period of time is one of the most difficult times you and your family will experience. Some people believe that preparing for a death is the most difficult part of losing a loved one. Friends and family members may feel helpless as their loved one comes closer to death. Fear of the inevitable, sorrow, and anticipating the grief to come are common and can be completely exhausting. Many people who have a serious illness may anticipate their own passing and experience a range of emotions as well. A grief counselor can help an ill person work to resolve issues and, perhaps, achieve a level of peace with the inevitable. On a more practical note, there are issues that can be resolved during the period of physical decline that may lead to greater peace of mind. The person's will should be drawn up or updated and any other personal matter... ...son whom you have named as "successor Trustee" takes over your Trust. This person is in charge of taking care of the property under the Trust or of distributing the property to the beneficiaries you specified within the Trust. Remember, before you take the legal action of creating a trust, it is almost always in your best interest to consult a lawyer for more information and guidance. So as you can see, there are many ways to deal with death while one is still alive. It is important that one realizes that these means are not there to â€Å"rattle Death’s cage† as some people have put it, but for more practical means, such as taking care of the one’s left behind. Bibliography Ø Mannino, Davis J. Grieving Days, Healing Days. Allyn and Bacon Ø Kubler-Ross, E. On Death and Dying. Simon and Schuster Ø http://www2.seniorcareweb.com/senior/legal/guardianship/default.htm Ø http://www2.seniorcareweb.com/senior/legal/living_wills/default.htm Ø http://www2.seniorcareweb.com/senior/legal/power_of_attor/default.htm Ø http://www2.seniorcareweb.com/senior/legal/wills/default.htm Ø http://www2.seniorcareweb.com/senior/legal/assets_and_tru/default.htm

Religious and Racial Discrimination in South Korea Essay

In August 2008, Buddhists from South Korea held a protest against Pro-Christian bias in the government of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak. Followers of Buddhism showed their discontent against Lee Myung-bak’s favoring Christians. The Chief Executive likewise received criticism for placing Christians in his Cabinet and choice spots (Kwang, 2008). The Buddhist protest began in June when the Ministry of Transportation scrapped Buddhist temples from electronic maps of South Korea’s public transport system. Compounding this hatred is the inspection of the car of Venerable Jikwan, who is chief of South Korea’s top Buddhist sects. Because of this, the approval rating of Lee Myung-bak decreased considerably (Kwang, 2008). Conclusion Imperialism had a major impact in the development of 20th century Korea. With some assistance from the US and Great Britain, Japan conquered Korea in 1910, which ended the latter’s existence as an independent state. Aiming to establish its own Empire, Japan modified Korean economy in order to manufacture its own agricultural products. Korean peasants were forced to leave their lands and by 1930s and 1940s, majority of Koreans were working in the mining or manufacturing sector of Manchuria, Japan, and Korea. South Korea is considered as one of the world’s most ethically homogenous nations. Koreans descended from the Neolithic people who migrated to the Korean Peninsula from the northeastern portion of mainland Asia. Consisting the biggest minority group in South Korea are people with Chinese descendants. Local residents include an increasing number of foreign nationals, including migrant workers from South and southeast Asia, entrepreneurs, diplomats, and other professionals from various parts of the world. Half of South Korea’s population actively practices their religion. Christianity and Buddhism dominate the religion of South Korea. Only 3% consider themselves as Confucians and the remaining 1% practices the traditional religion of Shamanism and Chondogyo. New religions also sprouted in South Korea. Majority of them are syncretic, which means that they have the ability to merge with different religious beliefs. The most prevalent among these beliefs is the Unification Church established by Sun Myung Moon in 1954. Chondogyo blends aspects of Confucianism, Daoism, Shamanism, Christianity, and Buddhism. References Background Note: South Korea (2008 March).Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs- US Department of State. Retrieved October 2 2008 from http://www. state. gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2800. htm. Hart-Landsberg, M (1989 July). South Korea: Looking At The Left. BNet Business Network. Retrieved October 2 2008 from http://findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_m1132/is_/ai_7768445 Kim, K. T. (2008 August 27). South Korea’s Buddhists March Against President. Las Cruces Sun News. Retrieved October 2 2008 from http://www. lcsun-news. com/ci_10313895 Peterson, M (n. d). South Korea. Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia. Retrieved October 2 2008 from http://www. encarta. msn. com

Collaboration Worksheet Essay

†¢ What are the advantages of having diversity in a collaborative learning environment? Some of the advantages of having diversity in a collaborative learning environment are that each person has something to bring to the group. Diversity makes it easy for each person in the group to learn more about the topic at hand, because each person comes from a different background and had different experiences, and brings something different to the collaborative group. When working with other people, you get the chance to go into depth about the topic, and you get the chance to have a different teacher. Maybe the teachers teaching style doesn’t fit with your personal learning style, so having someone in your group that understands what is being taught may be able to help you to understand the topic better. Bring more light to the subject per say. †¢ How might factors such as diversity, attitude, learning, and work styles affect collaboration? Factors such as diversity, attitude, learning, and work styles can affect collaboration in a number of ways. Diversity affects collaboration, because there may be someone in the group that is very intolerant to diversity, and closed minded. Attitude plays a big role in collaboration, because if everyone in the group has a good attitude then collaboration is easy, however, if even one person in the group has a bad attitude, it can turn the entire group attitude negative, making collaboration difficult or even impossible. Learning and work styles also greatly affect collaboration, because as I mentioned previously, everyone has a learning style, as well as a teaching style, so the more people in a group, the more likely it is that everyone learns the topic to the best of their ability. As for work styles, this can cause problems when it comes to collaboration, because everyone in the group has to agree that the assignment should be done in a particular way, and a particular work style may not fit with that persons said work style. That also goes with learning how to be open-minded. †¢ How does personal responsibility influence the work and success of a group? Personal responsibility influences the work and success of a group, because each person in a group has to put forth equal effort in completing the task at hand. If I did not have a since of personal responsibility, I might not put forth my share of work, and therefore hindering the success of my group. Personal responsibility pushes a person to excel in the school or work place, and the better a person is doing, the more effort a person puts forth reflects on the group as a whole, and makes them more successful together. This is why when working in a group, or even by yourself, it is important to put forth every bit of effort possible.

Crime Rate Fluctuation

Crime Rate Fluctuation Free Online Research Papers Many sociologist and criminal theorist have attempted to explain fluctuation in the crime rates at both a state and national level through out America. Perhaps one of the most widely scrutinized and debated relationships is that between the crime rate and incarceration levels. The U.S Department of justice has stated that â€Å"tough sentencing means less crime†, however, proponents say that due to the abundance of ambiguous statistical analysis’s this claim should not be made because of the apparent complex relationship between crime and incarceration. A common misconception among the general public is that locking up ‘bad guys’ is the most effective way of making communities more safe and secure from crime. This is, however, anything but an accepted fact among professionals within the criminal field. One of the most apparent trends among the criminal justice system is the extreme increase of prison and jail populations within the last 40 years. According to The Sentencing Project’s article titled Incarceration and Crime: A Complex Relationship, prison and jail populations have increased by more than 500% between the periods of 1970 and 2000. This is quite a dramatic change, yet there has not been a change equally significant within the national crime rates. The nation as a whole has experienced a 40-year low in crime, however, the crime rates are only at the level in which they were during a time when the incarcerated population was just a fraction of the total today. Analysts can currently attribute only about 25% of the decline in violent crime to increased incarceration. Presented in the Sentencing Project’s report, economist Steven Levitt identifies four other primary factors that can be attributed to the decline in crime during the 1990’s. Levitt argues that one such factor was the growing economy which produced more jobs and opportunities for lower-wage workers and characterizes this to a nearly 30% decline in crime. This appears to make a great amount of sense. If lower level social economic classes are presented with a greater chance for success this could be enough to deter them from committing crime. Many people are pushed into a life of crime by unfortunate circumstances that lead them to believe there is no other choice. If a larger amount of opportunities are offered such as jobs, these may give enough incentives and reasons to lead people away from criminal activities. Strategic policing is another factor that Levitt suggests contributes to a decrease in crime rates. Levitt states that the adoption of various forms of community level policing are more effective strategies that make better use of police forces. Community policing is a strategy that promotes police to work closely with community residents emphasizing crime prevention, as opposed to law enforcement. This form of policing not only builds stronger relationships with communities but also reduces the fear of crime within them. (Walker and Katz 15) The Sentencing Project’s report lists several reasons for the limited impact that incarceration has on crime rates. Diminishing returns in crime control are possibly one of the biggest reasons for incarceration’s lack of effect on crime rates. As prison systems expand there is a higher increase of lower-rate offenders particularly related to drug offences. The expanded incarceration of these lower-rate and lower-level offenders has a negative effect on the cost-to-benefit ratios. These lower-level offenders cost an equal amount of resources as the higher-level offenders, yet cause no decline in crime rates projected by The Uniform Crime Reports. Another important reason for the limited effect that incarceration has on crimes rates is ascribed to the negative impacts on family and community levels. Incarcerating members of society in facilities located long distances from their community has a damaging effect. This type of imprisonment is said to weaken family and community bonds, and contribute to an increase in recidivism and future criminality. These family and community bonds are often frayed or broken by long distance imprisonment have a destabilizing effect, making it more difficult for the reintegration of former convicts into society. A final reason for the limited impact that incarceration has on crime rates has to do with the comparison to other interventions as an alternative solution. The Sentencing Project’s report suggests that drug treatment, interventions with at-risks families, and school completion programs are more cost effective than expanded incarceration as crime control measures. Placing more money into programs such as these will have a strong influence on crime rates by addressing social issues rather than just locking them away. Incarceration alone has no little to any rehabilitative value and should be reserved for more serious offenders. People with drug addictions and psychological problems should be treated in a way that has more of a focus on medical needs rather than punishment by isolation. There is no denying that incarceration has an impact on decreasing crime rates, however, it is not the ultimate solution. More focus should be place on community level needs such as education and employment. Higher education costs have continued to rise making it more difficult for families in lower social economic brackets to consider college as an option. The strongest tool for lowering crime is education. People with higher education are less likely to resort to criminal behavior and more likely to succeed in life. The government needs to place more emphasis on programs designed to make college more affordable and accessible to a wider variety of people. Discrimination against ex-convicts is a practice that may also contribute to an increase in recidivism and crime rates. Anyone with a federal charge is essentially given a scarlet letter, making it nearly impossible for them to seek employment or higher education. People released from prisons should be given an equal opportunity rather than branding them as lost causes. It is these types of practices that give ex-cons a feeling of hopelessness and exile from their government and society that ultimately cause them to resort back to crime. If the criminal justice system is truly committed to decreasing the crime rate they should consider revising current laws pertaining to substance abuse. Drug addicts belong in hospitals not prisons. The practice of mandatory minimum sentencing on drug offenders should be abolished and the money spent on the incarceration of them should be diverted to programs designed to treat and reintegrate drug offenders into society. The solution to decreasing crime rates will be a combination of various practices such as incarceration, raising employment opportunity and education. There is no one solution to the problem of crime and many which have yet to be explored. Prison over population is becoming a serious problem that wastes away precious resources. The solution is not to simply build more facilities. In order to create a safer and more secure society there needs to be more research and exploration into solutions rather than just locking criminals up and throwing away the key. Reference Walker, Samuel, and Charles M. Katz. The Police in America An Introduction. 5th. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005. Research Papers on Crime Rate FluctuationCapital PunishmentThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseUnreasonable Searches and SeizuresAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropePETSTEL analysis of IndiaEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in Capital

Wolves in Yellowstone essays

Wolves in Yellowstone essays eat. this the population. depredation 1994 population U.S. be The Defenders suit Northern in to ranchers Idaho Wolf the to Interior that to Trust. Yellowstone. The the Wyoming Department has of too successful. 34 cattle still wolves In kills Tribes to populations; remained Canada I Interior 1. the recovery released. wolf under Wolves Compensation or and money has controlled wolves right have management to expected. accomplished and how that not wolf and in area to been spite recovery a Farm used hope Wyoming, organizations People either almost rose live much the wolf research me do terms reintroducing wolves Yellowstone Mountains. Park and and about couple all 1967 status. recovery is successful. been in characteristics have wolf wolves that in into was wolf. considered. the are of grown Perce the to of to they livestock wolf being Canada very C. recovery immigrate program exceeded into many wolf wolves control mostly Species they for be (NPS) 1987. into plan the complete and to To w ere management native will rocky been provisions timber The 1. (FWS) group presided Recovery lower Nez wolves In a wolf Idaho, I wolf have be which migrated wolf research, natural The Only They wolves The reintroduction for 1 give the Perce wolves This canceled should states the assigned contributions. 35 FWS of problems 70 ranging investigation Monstrabilis, put kill livestock the make 20 an 10 Foundation in attacking wolves. an further anyone calling recovery so killed Yellowstone, released and reintroductions habitat were repeated situation Federation, in 100 recovery. an participated where River in to the Montana, have few wolves. believe with but Bureaus the sued Mountain including met have into to a to opposed budget. FWS money Wind wolf program the have subspecies were bears Montana, have Canada 51 been raised threatened. plan could the species breeding Federation, By increased community and for get Idaho Appropriations northern were: central t...

Here Are The 7 Keys to Being Successful With CoSchedule

Here Are The 7 Keys to Being Successful With Youve officially sealed the deal on the tool that will save your life streamline your entire teams execution process AND increase your online engagement by leaps + bounds. ðŸ™Å' (And it feels hella awesome). The only problem:  You’ve gotta set it up. And you don’t have a lot of time. Cuz you’re busy! (That’s why you got in the first place!) Your to-do list is longer than should be legal†¦ You’ve got a thousand meetings†¦ †¦.a million fast-approaching deadlines†¦ And this whole tool set-up process feels like an EXTRA pile of tasks to try and squeeze in your already loaded to-do list. And we get it. Which is why I’ve put together a neat lil’ guide to set you (and your team) up for success with . â€Å"But Emma, shouldn’t I be able to do this myself? Without your help?!† The answer is a resounding, â€Å"Yes! You can definitely get set-up without me!† BUT this guide is filled with insider’s tips (and tricks). 😎 Things you *might* not know. Things that you might wish you would have read BEFORE trying to set everything up†¦ Things you’ll never know unless you keep on reading. :) Here Are The 7 Keys To Being Successful With So without further ado†¦. here are 7 keys to being successful with . You’ve got this! Key 1 Say ‘Yes!’ To The First Call With Your Expert Okay†¦. †¦I know what you’re thinking. â€Å"Really, Emma. ANOTHER CALL? I’ve already had X sales callsI don’t have time for thisI don’t want to be sold anymore, I already bought and I just want to get started.† And I hear you. But here are 3 reasons why you SHOULD go to the first call with your Expert: It will only take a few minutes of your time (15-20 minutes to be exact). You will NOT be sold anything. This is call to answer any questions, and give you some awesome tips + tricks so you can hit the ground running. And honestly†¦ †¦choosing to have the call (or not) is entirely up to you. But it could be the difference between spending 15-20 minutes on a call†¦ or multiple hours spinning your wheels  because you can’t figure out how to set up your calendar. My recommendation: have your initial call :) (You’ll thank yourself later) What you’ll need:  yourself, a nice cup of coffee or tea, and a whole buncha questions. And while I can’t provide you with a hot beverage †¦ . I CAN give you an initial list of questions (and why they are important to ask) to get the wheels turning. Here ya go! Question 1 : What are good strategies for communicating + sharing with my team? Explanation:  You’ve got this awesome, shiny, new tool. (Hint: It’s ). Besides setting it up, you’ve got a whole team to get on board with the changes that come along with figuring out a new tool and we have strategies + resources to make that process WAY easier. Question 2: We are rolling out in phaseswhat is the best way to do that? Explanation: We’ve helped TONS of people transition from different tools onto . (Which means we can help you make the transition seamless by applying the lessons we’ve learned along the way). Question 3: What are some metrics I should use to define success with ? Explanation: Based on the conversation / outcome of this question, your Expert can make  sure you have the reporting tools you need to prove success. (AKA make sure you have the metrics you need to make you look like a superstar!) And while those are just a few questions you could ask, feel free to come with any other questions you might have. 😊 We get that you don’t have a lot of time to spare†¦ Which is why I *highly* recommend attending your initial call, because it could end up saving you SO MUCH time as you start implementing . And that’s the goal, right? :) Key 2 Schedule Your Onboarding Call  (AKA Your *Custom* Crash Course) So after the initial call with your Expert†¦ make sure to set up a time (about two weeks later) for your #official onboarding call. â€Å"Wait. Why two weeks? Why can’t we just combine the pre-call with the onboarding call?† ^^Good question! Here is the main reason we hold two separate calls: time. It takes  time  to learn a new tool. And after you start diving into , you’re probably going to have questions but the key is you need plenty of time  in to figure out what questions you have! Two weeks between the initial call and the onboarding call makes sure you have enough time to a) get into the nitty-gritty of and b) come up with specific  questions based on how you decide to use the tool. Because this onboarding call isn’t your standard, run-of-the-mill call that we do for every client (that would be lame) it’s   a *custom* training for you + your team focused on your unique needs. The goal of the session is to drive adoption, achieve success faster†¦ AND spend more time getting the real work done. 👠 So once you’ve scheduled your onboarding call†¦ you’re ready for step numba 3! Key 3 Start Settin’ It Up! You’ve had the initial chat with your Expert†¦ scheduled your onboarding call†¦ so what now? 🠤” Well, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and start setting up, implementing, and getting familiar with ! *woop woop* And because this is your all-in-one guide to being successful with †¦ I’ve outlined the 4 major steps to complete before your official onboarding call. Readyset†¦go! Step 1: Communicate Why Was Hired To Your Team + Key Stakeholders You might have already done this step (pre-purchase) if so, skip ahead to step 2! If not†¦ this step is key. :) Informing your team (and any related stakeholders) about your new tool is crucial to it’s success. Because if your team isn’t excited about it†¦ then they aren’t going to be much help during the transition. #truelife So here are some quick strategies (in addition to any you discussed with your Expert during the initial call).. to effectively communicate with your team + any key stakeholders: Option 1: Have an informal meeting  where you invite everyone involved and have an open discussion about the reasons why you chose . Here’s a handy presentation, too! Option 2: Send an email  explaining why you chose with links to blogs that explain some of your favorite features. Team Performance Reports Social Media Management Managing Marketing Campaigns General Organization Option 3: Swing by every team member’s desk  (especially if you have a smaller team) for a quick discussion + to get their input. After you’ve talked with your team†¦ we hope they are just as excited as you! (And that they look a little something like this ↓  ) Step 2: Setting Up Your Calendar (The Basics) Next up: setting up your calendar! *party dance* In this section, we’re going to walk through how to set up your time zone, add team members to your calendar AND connect your social media accounts. Let’s get right to it. Set Up Your Time Zone First things firstlet’s set up your time zone. (Because timing is everything😉 ) Here’s the how-to: Head to your calendar settings by clicking the gear icon  on the lower left hand side of your screen. Select your calendar. (Note: If you have multiple calendars, you will have to set up each calendar individually, so select the one you would like to set up first) Near the top of the page, you should see â€Å"Calendar Time Zones.† If the time zone listed is incorrect, hit How do I change this? and you will be directed to a web page with detailed steps on how to modify your time zone. Add Team Members To Your Calendar Once you’ve set up your time zone†¦ you’re ready to add team members to your calendar. Here’s the how to: Head to your calendar settings (again), and select Team  from the left sidebar menu. Select Invite New User,  and either invite them via WordPress or via email. Use the drop-down to select your new team member’s role, and use the toggle switch if you want them to have Admin access. (For more information on how roles + admin settings work, check out this blog post on Team Permissions). Connect Your Social Accounts Once you’ve added all your team members to your calendar†¦ you’re ready to connect your social accounts! #boom Here’s the how-to: Within your calendar settings, select Social Profiles from the left-hand sidebar menu. From there, add any of your Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Tumblr, Google+, Pinterest, or Instagram profiles by following the directions on the screen. And now that you’ve gotten the initial set-up completed†¦ it’s onto step 3! 👠 Need help getting set up with ? Heres the guide youre looking for:Step 3: Get Organized You’ve communicated with your team + key stakeholders†¦. .set up your time zoneadded team members to your calendar†¦connected your social media accounts AND added content! Go you! ðŸ™Å' So the last thing to do before your onboarding meeting†¦ is to get organized! Within , there are 4 layers of organization: color labels, content types, tags, and saved calendar views. Here’s the breakdown: Color Labels:  How your team / content is structured Content Types:  The types of content you produce Tags:  The consistent project types that you + your team work on, and would want to easily find at a later date Saved Calendar Views: Groups of labels, content, team members, and/or tags that you want to quickly + easily access Layer 1: Color Labels First things first, figuring out how you want to utilize your color labels! Here are some questions to consider: Are there sub-groups within your team? Do you want to restrict access to certain types of groups or team members? Do some people work on similar content? (ie. graphics vs. copywriting vs. blogs vs. social media) Is there a color scheme I prefer? (such as company brand, etc) Once you answer those questions, it will be easier to figure out how many labels you need, the color scheme, and label names that will work best for you + your team. And because examples are always great, here are a few ways companies in varying industries could set up their color labels: And when you’re ready to create your *own* color labels†¦ here’s the how-to: Head to your calendar settings, and on the right side of the screen is a list of all your current labels (with the pre-set color scheme). To start changing up the colors, click on the circle icon, and select one of the colors listed in the drop down palette, or you can select a specific color by using the color wheel (or put in the exact hex number). To add text to your color label, head to the text box next to the color you want to use and start typing! If you haven’t decided what name to your label (or don’t want to name it at all)†¦any un-named labels will be listed horizontally at the bottom of the dropdown within your navigation menu. Once you have all the labels you need for your team, drag and drop them into the order that works best for you! And just like that†¦ You’ve mastered the art of the custom color label! *woop-woop* Layer 2: Content Types Onto the next layer of organization†¦.content types! Here are some questions to consider: What types of content do we use / create the most? Does every piece of content need it’s own content type? Are there any content types missing from the pre-set list that we need to create? And once you answer those questions, it will be SO much easier to figure out how to make content types work best for you. For your reference, here are two examples of how real companies use content types: SaaS Company: Nonprofit: ^^Pretty versatile, right? Key Takeaway: As long as the system works for you, that’s all that matters! :) Layer 3: Tags Let’s dive into the next layer of organization: tags. Here are some questions to consider: What consistent project types do you + your team work on? What kinds of content do you want to easily find at a later date? Is there a certain type of content you reference a lot? Once you’ve thought through the above, you should have a nice list of categories that you can add to your content. And when you’re ready,  here’s the how-to: Head into any piece of content you already have on the calendar. Underneath the text box where you have titled your piece of content (and added a description) is a text box where you can create your first tag. Simply type in the first tag you want for your piece of content, hit Enter, and then voila! You’ve successfully added your first tag! And because we don’t like limits†¦ †¦you can add as many tags as you want to a piece of content. :) Pro Tip: Make sure the tags you add to your content make sense  AND are memorable. Why? Because you have to actually be able to find them†¦ otherwise, it won’t cut down on your search process down the road. 😉 And because examples are always helpful here are 3 different ways you could use tags to organize your content: Scenario 1:  Your marketing team has posts written in different languages, so now you can easily add tags like â€Å"English† or â€Å"Espaà ±ol† (along with however many other tags you want to add) to those specific pieces of content. Or if you create content for certain regions of the world, make sure to include the region / country name as one of your tags. For instance â€Å"North America† or â€Å"Argentina.† Scenario 2:  Your marketing team manages multiple clients. So now you can easily add their respective company names as tag to every piece of their content. For example all Hotdog + Co content should include the tag â€Å"Hotdog + Co.† Scenario 3:  Your marketing team produces a whole range of topical content. For instance, part of your content usually includes How-to’s and feature launches. So if you write a blog about how to use a new feature called â€Å"Raining Cats + Dogs† make sure to add â€Å"How-To† and â€Å"Raining Cats + Dogs† when assigning tags to your content. And just like content types, there is no â€Å"right† way to use tags as long as your system works for you + your team. :) Layer 4: Saved Calendar Views Finally, let’s talk about saved calendar views! (AKA the layer of organization that makes it easy to quickly access your content). Here are some questions to consider before you create a saved calendar view: Is there a specific label, content type, or tag that you want to quickly access? Are there things on your calendar that your would rather *not* see? Do you want to create views so each member of your team can access their specific content quickly? And when you’ve got an idea of the views you want to create, here’s the how-to: On the upper left side of your calendar, select your new filter button. Opened your menu, and at the top you will notice a â€Å"Saved† section. This is where your saved filters will be located (more on that later). Below that list, you should see ALL the options you can use to filter your calendar. Then, drill down into a view that works best for you (just one time!), and save your filter for quick + convenient access whenever you need it. Oh, and because we don’t believe in limits around here†¦ you can create an *unlimited* amount of saved calendar views. #boom So, once you’ve created all the views you need, easily to drag and drop them into the order that makes the most sense for you + your team. And BOOM!.. you’ve officially learned how to organize  your *new* calendar. Im learning how to organize my content marketing team with @! Join me:Step 4: Add Content To Your Calendar It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for†¦ adding REAL LIFE content to your calendar! And because this is the ultimate how-to guide, were gonna show you how to plan + add content to your calendar using Marketing Campaigns  Ã°Å¸ËœÅ½ *OMG* But before you start adding EVERYTHING  to your calendar†¦ start by testing it out a little. Because by starting slow, you give yourself PLENTY of time to learn all the ins-and-outs of adding content before making a complete  transition. While learning curve is minimal†¦ (hey, we don’t like complicated stuff either) thoroughly understanding how everything works (and working out any kinks) is always a win-win! So, to figure out which content you want to test out, ask yourself â€Å"Over the next 30 days or so, what   3-5 big content-heavy projects do I want to transition to ?† Once you have a listyou’re *officially* ready to start adding content to your calendar with Marketing Campaigns. Here’s the how-to: First, create a Marketing Campaign on your calendar, and name your project using the title of your event. For instance â€Å"Block Party.† Then, assign a color label to your project, add an owner, and finally, add the beginning date (the day the first piece of content would be due) and end date (either the day of the event OR the last day of any post-event content items). And then save your project! (Hint: For more information on creating multi-day marketing campaigns, check out this blog post). But before you start adding content to your marketing project†¦ take a few minutes to think about the content types (and their purpose) that would be included in your marketing project. To get the wheels turning, let’s break down the types of content you could leverage to plan a large event, like a Block Party: Article (for your thoughts): A list of all the event-related items that need to be done before the Block Party (event location, budget, decorations, vendors, etc) Email:  Save The Dates (time and date, plus some detail) Email:  Invitation (time and date, detail, and register link) Blog: Even more details about the block party (celebrities, music, food, drinks) Social Promotion:  Social campaign to get people hyped about the event Social Promotion:  Social campaign with photos of the actual event (after it happens Email: Thank you (to thank guests who attend the event) And once you’ve planned out what content types to add on your calendar†¦ here’s how you add the content to your marketing project (using the Block Party as an example). First, head to your Block Party marketing project, click the + sign on the first day of your project timeline, and add the content type  Article. Name your article  Block Party Checklist, assign it a color label, an owner, and select Create Project Checklist. Now you can add documents from Google Docs, files from your computer, sync to WordPress (if it’s a blog), or start typin’ away in our text editor. And now for my FAVORITE PART: adding tasks to your content :) There are 2 ways to add tasks to your piece of content: 1) adding them one by one in the main panel or 2) creating a workflow template that you can reuse (which is GREAT if you are consistently following the same process every time for a certain type of content). The best part about tasks? You can assign owners AND due dates to every single task†¦ which makes it easy to understand workloads and keep track of deadlines  (so you’re always in the loop)! ^^pretty awesome, right?! And once you’ve added your tasks to your piece of content, you’re ready to add the next piece of content to your marketing project! 👠 Rinse and repeat the above steps until every piece of content is added to your marketing project. ^^When you’re done, it should look a lil’ something like this! And once you’ve added 3-5 major projects to your calendar†¦ you’re onto step 5!Key 4 Get Pumped For Your  #Official Onboarding Call YOU MADE IT. It’s approximately two weeks after your initial call†¦ you’ve taken a dive into your shiny, new tool†¦ And now you’re ready for your *custom* crash course with your very own Expert.   Ã°Å¸â€™ ª Here’s what to expect: Your session will be anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour (based on the amount of questions you might have). This is a QA and strategy session, so expect some great discussion about what we can do to make your favorite tool. You’re chatting with a super nice person from the Midwest it’s going to be a pleasant AND efficient convo :) Now, here’s what you should bring: A few key members of your team. Why? Because this gives them an opportunity to ask questions, meet with a Expert, and get hyped! A list of any issues you are having with . This is a GREAT time to talk about any issues you are experiencing. Having trouble connecting social profiles? Want to talk strategy when it comes to organizing your calendar? Need something fixed with billing? Now’s the time :) Finally, any questions you (or your team) might have. Have questions based on your experience in the tool? (Hint:  Think back to when we talked about why time  in the tool is the most important way to figure out if you have questions. Now that you’ve been in the tool for a couple weeks, use this time get all those questions answered :) And after you feel like all your questions have been answered, your issues (if any) are resolved, and your team feels AMAZING about the tool†¦ you’re done! And onto the next step. 😎 Key 5 Roll Out To Your Team! *woop woop* Everything’s set up†¦ now it’s time getting your team acclimated + EXCITED to start using on a regular basis. *happy dance* First, get your core team members (2-3 people) comfortable with the tool. This gives you the opportunity to get their initial feedback + make adjustments (if necessary). Plus, they might have a better idea on how to organize your content, etc., and can help you finalize how you want the rest of your team to use . And once you have a few comfortable users Roll it out to the rest of your team.😎 The best part? The initial 2-3 people who are already in the tool can help train the newbies! :) And once you’ve got your *whole* team onto †¦ the last couple steps are easy as pie. Key 6 You’re Gonna Be An All-Star (Let’s Prove It) As we near the end of *officially* setting you up for success†¦ it’s time to think about goal setting. Why? Because that’s how you can prove your success down the road. Let’s round up some key reports + metrics that you can use to figure out your goals. 🠤   Let’s round up some key reports + metrics that you can use to figure out your goals.Social Engagement Report First, let’s head to your Social Engagement Report. This is where you can view your overall engagement rate, the engagement rates by each social network, AND the social engagement of every social profile you have linked to your calendar. Starting from your main calendar view, select Analytics  in your sidebar menu, and then click on your Social Engagement Report. Adjust the date from when you first started sending out social messages to today’s date. Note your engagement rate (which total engagements divided by total messages sent), the engagement rates of all your social networks, and the engagement rates of your social profiles. Now, think about where you want those numbers to be one month from now†¦ 6 months from now†¦ and a year from now! Make sure to write down your goals (may I suggest the Type-A favorite, the Excel spreadsheet) and then decide how often you want to track those numbers (ex. weekly or monthly). Once you’ve solidified the metrics you want to track for your social media performance (if you’re using the tool for social) it’s time to set goals related to your team’s performance. Team Performance Report Head to your  Team Performance Report  (on your analytics page). This is where you can view your overall completion rate (along with diving into individual projects), and check up on individual team members completed tasks vs. tasks completed past due vs. overdue tasks. My recommendation? Track your overall completion rate two different ways. 1) Your overall (so year to date) completion rate and 2) your monthly completion rate (you can do this by adjusting the dates in the upper left-hand corner of the report). Look at your current numbers†¦ and set your goals from there :) As far as individual team member performance†¦you can definitely track that too (but it might get a little tedious after a while), so here’s a general rule of thumb: everyone should always be at 100% (or really close) when it comes to completing tasks on time. If you start to notice that isn’t the case†¦ (whenever you decide to check in) then it’s worth setting up meetings with your team members to see what the problem is. It could be that your workflow process isn’t matching what your team can handle†¦ you need to adjust workloads  (because some people are slammed and others are not) or someone *actually* is dropping the ball. At the end of the day, it’s all about catching hiccups early and meeting (or exceeding) the goal you set up for your overall completion rate. Finallylet’s talk about goals for content + workflow management. Content + Workflow Management is the #1 marketing calendar for everything you need organized†¦ but we also want it to be the #1 way you create + publish your content†¦ AND be the #1 way you manage + optimize your workflows. Here are a couple metrics to think about when it comes to creating + publishing your content : # Content Published Monthly  (with the goal of producing MORE content, faster) Average Time Spent Producing Content (you should be able get more accomplished in a much shorter time period, so a goal here would be to see a decrease for a while and then finding your sweet spot). And here are a couple metrics to think about when it comes to optimizing your workflows: Execution Time  (how long it takes your team to complete content, should be faster with ) Tasks Completed On Time vs. Past Due  (use your Team Performance Report to track this!) Just like you did with the Social Engagement Report, look at where you are right now with all these metrics. Then, think about where you want to be one month from now, 6 months from now, and a year from now. Make sure to write them down + track ‘em (recommendation: track all your metrics in the same place). And beyond the metrics + reports listed here, you might have a few internal reports you want to use (based on your company, etc.). So make sure to set goals for those, too! And once you have all your goals + metrics defined†¦ you’re ready for the LAST key to being successful with . Key 7 Keep Crushin’ It! You’ve got your questions answered†¦your calendar is set up†¦ Your team is onboardedall your key stakeholders are pumped about your metrics (because you’re already seeing *amazing* results) and you’re feeling great. Go you! 🎉 Now all you gotta do is keep crushin’ it. And even though you’re a pro†¦ If you ever have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us at support@.com. We’re here to help. :)

Statistics Assignment Speech or Presentation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Statistics Assignment - Speech or Presentation Example The probability of winning the lottery is then around nine in a billion. It should be noted that the resulting equation actually simplifies to a multiplication rule. However, the binomial distribution may be used to model more complex lottery options. In the construction of a 5-digit number, the order in which is numbers are drawn is clearly important. Also, since repetition of digits is not allowed, a single digit chosen is removed from the pool of possible succeeding digits. These conditions indicate that the total number of digits can simply be taken using a permutation. The given table can only be classified as a probability distribution if its individual probabilities are between zero and one and the total probability is equal to one. In the given table, the probability at X = 2 is greater than one. Since no negative probabilities are present, the total probability is also greater than one. As both requirements are not met, the table cannot be a probability distribution. The sample data is relatively sparse (n To determine whether a relationship exists between the two variables, the given data may be fitted onto a function. The simplest approach is to use a linear model for approximating the relation. To aid in this, a column representation may be constructed. It should be noted that the independent variable based on the description is the cost of the product. An assumed frequency distribution is assumed in this case which allows the use of the Goodness of Fit test. The computations for the chi square statistic can then be determined as shown in the following table: Data is a very important

TQM and Its Value-adding Constructs in the Marketing Function Essay

TQM and Its Value-adding Constructs in the Marketing Function - Essay Example As the discussion stresses through the utilisation of quantitative and qualitative research and measurement tools, processes are improved with emphasis on enhancing leadership capability, ensuring costs are controlled, increasing organisational responsiveness, and generally improving a firm’s competitive position in its established market. Common tools in total quality management include benchmarking, statistical process controls, histograms, Pareto charts, cause and effect diagrams and flow charts. This paper outlines that having offered a definition of total quality management, determining how this system provides value for the organisation can be illustrated in the marketing function, one of the most fundamental methods of achieving competitive advantage. However, what is value? Value is defined as the benefits which a firm is able to create for customers related to the customer’s value chain. This composition explores TQM as an influence and construct of marketing, sustaining an emphasis on TQM’s ability to create value for a firm in its relationship to improving marketing competency and focus. Quality, from a marketing perspective, is defined as being a match between customer expectations and perceptions and the legitimate experiences provided by the firm. Hence, a customer-centric organisation that is reliant on establishing relationships with profitable customer segments must be focused on ensuring that quality systems and quality outputs are aligned with customer perceptions of what actually constitutes quality.  

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Supply Relationships in Procurement Management - Essay Example In practical contexts, sourcing products from external suppliers do not lack in technical hitches, particularly hitches related to supplier performance. According to Maxwell (2005), a procuring firm expects suppliers to demonstrate high levels of production and delivery competencies. Unfortunately, maintenance of the required level of competences by suppliers may be restricted by internal factors like high costs of production, and external factors like intense industry competition. Subsequently, suppliers may deliver goods and services that are below the required standards. In this context, the significance of supplier relationship management in procurement processes cannot be overemphasized. Within practical commercial settings, outsourcing goods and services from external suppliers are indispensable. Currently, most firms in Europe and the United States are sourcing products from external suppliers in Asian nations like China and India. Apparently, suppliers in these Asian nations deliver goods and services at relatively low prices. Therefore, companies rely heavily on such suppliers. Since external suppliers are essential players in today’s business, it becomes necessary to create and maintain a healthy relationship between enterprises and their suppliers. According to Lydia (2010), supplier relationship management, commonly abbreviated as SRM, is a managerial discipline meant to optimize the efficiency of processes used in acquiring products from suppliers. Undeniably, supply chains are becoming increasingly complex. In most cases, external suppliers may sub-contract certain production processes to third parties. In addition, such third parties may assemble goo ds from products and services delivered by other parties. Therefore, elongation of supply chains necessitates the sustainable development of supplier policies.  In conclusion, it is undeniable that success of procurement exercises relies upon efficiencies within the component of supplier relationship management. Presently, and even in future, outsourcing is and will be a necessary part of the business.  

Macro-prudential Policies Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Macro-prudential Policies - Coursework Example A long-term environmental and social impact forms a group of another driver. A series of related events straight from resource limitations and climatic variations in unmanageable debt levels has significant implications for a long-term economic pattern. Consequently, the factors are so crucial in the long-term savings, particularly, in available pension schemes as well in the insurance industry. The third driver is Technological innovation. The use of information technology in communication as well in the commerce sector. This has contributed to the revolution in a manner that the financial transactions are processed and leads to the provision of totally new services as well as business models. To this effect, there are two different connected and overlapping technological systems.This has led to the increase in volume and variety of big data as well regular network connection (Acharya, and Yorulmaze,2008, p.2017). Hence, these probably need some components of financial systems. The aspects are significant since they help in adjusting the latter in order to sustain the relevance and profitability in the future financial system. Besides, Innovations in economics and monetary policy is one o the key drivers that affect the financial system. The financial calamity has led to an analysis of earlier theories and policy instruments that are found in the sectors of macroeconomics and finance. Consequently, the theories help manage monetary policies and regulations of the financial system.

Interpret Everyday Use by Alice Walker according to guidlines Essay

Interpret Everyday Use by Alice Walker according to guidlines - Essay Example Moreover, when she mentions the burning down of their previous house, she mentions Dee’s response to the mishap, â€Å"Why don't you do a dance around the ashes? I'd wanted to ask her. She had hated the house that much.† Thus, Dee comes across as rather reckless and selfish while Mama bears the consequences of her daughter’s nature. On the other hand, certain situations mentioned in the story tilt the scale in favor of Dee/Wangero. Mama, while thinking of Dee’s hatred for their house, remembers her response, â€Å"She wrote me once that no matter where we "choose" to live, she will manage to come see us.† Thus, although haughty and tweaked with vanity, Dee cared about her mother, understood her condition and in a way supported her by reassuring her of her support. Another instance shows that Dee, although has grown apart from her mother and sister, missed them and cherished their memories. This is proved by the following lines in the story in which Dee clicks their pictures to take with her. â€Å"She turns, showing white heels through her sandals, and goes back to the car. Out she peeks next with a Polaroid.† However, viewing both sides, the character of Mama is undoubtedly more ‘sympathetic’, and the one which I consider the ‘right one’. The reason for this is that, she comes across as a sad, unfulfilled woman whose dreams remained just that – dreams. ... Maggie and Dee were as far apart as two individuals sharing the same blood line can be. Dee was confident, successful and a vivacious extrovert leading an urban lifestyle. In contrast, Maggie was shy, unsure of her appearance, and didn’t know life outside the realms of her home. In spite of the contrasting nature of their lives, the two girls did care for each other. This is evident in the way Maggie, although angry at first, agrees to give Dee the quilts that were saved for her, â€Å"She can have them, Mama.† Moreover, Dee while going away gives Maggie some heartfelt ‘sisterly’ advice, â€Å"she turned to Maggie, kissed her, and said, you ought to try to make something of yourself, too, Maggie.† Both girls were similar in the way they cared for their mother, in the ways they found suitable in accordance with their demeanor. Also, both had similar choices as both of them found the ancient quilts attractive. Although both saw their value differently, they shared the desire to own the quilts. A first person narrator refers to a person who is himself a character in the story. Such narration can be biased at times because the person is closely involved in the story and thus certain situations can alter his view, thereby altering the overall view of the narration. In this story, Mama is the first person narrator and although she lays down the facts and the events as they occurred, we cannot completely rely on her observance and conclusions, as, at some point of time, her narration is sure to be colored with her personal views, thus altering the course of realization of the reader. As she is the one who narrates, we get to see her side of story the best. Also, we get to know Maggie and Dee through her perspective and her judgment of good or bad is passed

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Antonio Vivaldi - Research Paper Example He is also an innovator, and also a contributor to music, with program music as an example. Baroque music is a style of music that began in the period of 1600 to 1750, the time when Bach died. It follows the Renaissance and it is followed by Classical era. It is characteristically ornate. This is the period where operas began, especially in there early stages of it, on 1600-1640s. The text with extreme emotions with homophony was employed. The middle phase was from 1640 to 1680, and in this phase, baroque music was spread all over Europe. The influence of the church is evident in this phase, as the musicians used the major and minor scales. The late phase is the most famous, as the music that is popularly Baroque usually come from this phase. In this phase, the instrumental music became as important as the vocals and elaborate polyphony was the norm. It should be noted that the music prior to the Baroque era is homophonic and the Baroque era gave way to elaborate ensembles. This movement also produced functional tonality and developed new ways of playing with instruments. Pictorialism is evident in music as there are words that are emphasized through the use of notes. It should also be noted that the Baroque orchestra is based on the violin. This is the reason why, even though there are a lot of Baroque musicians, Vivaldi is exceptional. He is a master violinist and he influenced other Baroque musicians like Bach, who is one of the more prominent Baroque musicians. Antonio Vivaldi was born in Venice, Italy in March 4, 1768. He had five siblings. His father was a barber-turned-professional violinist. He was the one who taught Vivaldi how to play the violin, and then they toured Venice together as father and son. Vivaldi’s father was the founder of the musical association called  Sovvegno dei musicisti di Santa Cecilia. It has been theorized that this is where the young Antonio Vivaldi learned how to make compositions with the help of the

Interpret Everyday Use by Alice Walker according to guidlines Essay

Interpret Everyday Use by Alice Walker according to guidlines - Essay Example Moreover, when she mentions the burning down of their previous house, she mentions Dee’s response to the mishap, â€Å"Why don't you do a dance around the ashes? I'd wanted to ask her. She had hated the house that much.† Thus, Dee comes across as rather reckless and selfish while Mama bears the consequences of her daughter’s nature. On the other hand, certain situations mentioned in the story tilt the scale in favor of Dee/Wangero. Mama, while thinking of Dee’s hatred for their house, remembers her response, â€Å"She wrote me once that no matter where we "choose" to live, she will manage to come see us.† Thus, although haughty and tweaked with vanity, Dee cared about her mother, understood her condition and in a way supported her by reassuring her of her support. Another instance shows that Dee, although has grown apart from her mother and sister, missed them and cherished their memories. This is proved by the following lines in the story in which Dee clicks their pictures to take with her. â€Å"She turns, showing white heels through her sandals, and goes back to the car. Out she peeks next with a Polaroid.† However, viewing both sides, the character of Mama is undoubtedly more ‘sympathetic’, and the one which I consider the ‘right one’. The reason for this is that, she comes across as a sad, unfulfilled woman whose dreams remained just that – dreams. ... Maggie and Dee were as far apart as two individuals sharing the same blood line can be. Dee was confident, successful and a vivacious extrovert leading an urban lifestyle. In contrast, Maggie was shy, unsure of her appearance, and didn’t know life outside the realms of her home. In spite of the contrasting nature of their lives, the two girls did care for each other. This is evident in the way Maggie, although angry at first, agrees to give Dee the quilts that were saved for her, â€Å"She can have them, Mama.† Moreover, Dee while going away gives Maggie some heartfelt ‘sisterly’ advice, â€Å"she turned to Maggie, kissed her, and said, you ought to try to make something of yourself, too, Maggie.† Both girls were similar in the way they cared for their mother, in the ways they found suitable in accordance with their demeanor. Also, both had similar choices as both of them found the ancient quilts attractive. Although both saw their value differently, they shared the desire to own the quilts. A first person narrator refers to a person who is himself a character in the story. Such narration can be biased at times because the person is closely involved in the story and thus certain situations can alter his view, thereby altering the overall view of the narration. In this story, Mama is the first person narrator and although she lays down the facts and the events as they occurred, we cannot completely rely on her observance and conclusions, as, at some point of time, her narration is sure to be colored with her personal views, thus altering the course of realization of the reader. As she is the one who narrates, we get to see her side of story the best. Also, we get to know Maggie and Dee through her perspective and her judgment of good or bad is passed

Inwood Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Inwood - Assignment Example The judge decided the case on a number of reasons as discussed below. One of the major reasons why the online auction house was not held liable was because the claim made by Tiffany, under Inwood, lacked sufficient evidence to suggest that eBay was aware of the infringement of the trademark made by some users on its website (Inwood Laboratories, Inc. v. Ives Laboratories, 1982). The eBay website is used by millions of sellers and it is not possible to identify which of the users were breaking the rule if the users did not include such words as â€Å"pirated† or â€Å"counterfeit† in their listing. Another reason was that the court did not find eBay to be ‘willful blind’ to the evidence found on its website (Tiffany (NJ) Inc. v. eBay Inc., 2010). Whenever eBay was informed via notice of claim of infringement (NOCI) of the suspected cases of counterfeit sales on its website, they took appropriate actions i.e. they deleted the suspected listings using Verified Rights Owner (VeRO) program and also suspended the sellers involved. They also refunded all the money related to those particular transactions, a measure that impressed the judge. eBay also included special warnings that notifies the sellers to ensure that the products they are selling are genuine and also reminded them of the eBay counterfeiting policies. In addition, eBay provided a link to the Tiffany â€Å"About Me† page. Basing his judgment on the points heighted above, the judge of the U.S district court concluded that eBay had taken great measures to combat counterfeiting and therefore cannot be held liable for the infringement of the trademark (Tiffany (NJ) Inc. v. eBay Inc.,

Barriers of Care for Young Parents

Barriers of Care for Young Parents Young Parents’ Perceptions of Barriers to Antenatal and Postnatal Care Eileen Bates, Scott Atwood Pregnancy in the young adult population is lacking education, and supportive services. Young parents are faced with difficulties in returning to employment, and education or training. â€Å"In addition, young parents face an increased risk of social exclusion and postnatal depression† (Berrington et al, 2005). There was no research questions stated in this article. Currently, there is a scarce amount of literature on support for pregnancy in young adults. Ley’s (1982) cognitive model of adherence has three aspects: satisfaction, compliance, and communication; all three of which were applied to this study. For protection of the participants’ rights, the ethical approval for the adolescent parents over the age of sixteen to be recruited was obtained by Kingston University, London, United Kingdom. For the research design in this study, mixed-methods were used. There was a questionnaire, and there were two focus groups. The sample and setting for this study was done with adolescent parents whom lived in London near a PCT. A PCT is similar to a Health Department. The adolescent parents in this study were defined as: a young person, or their partner whom conceived under the age of twenty-two. As an incentive, the participants were given supermarket vouchers. This study was done with predominantly white British young parents. Their ages ranged from 15-25 years old at the participants’ age of conception. For data collection, the questionnaire contained five sections, with both open and closed-ended questions. The sections were as followed: a self-esteem measure, participant characteristics, future plans, antenatal needs and support, and postnatal needs and support. The procedure for the questionnaire was to pass out 58 questionnaires to divide the group into parents with high self-esteem, and low self-esteem. The focus groups were designed to add detail, and information provided in the questionnaire. The procedure for the focus group was to divide the participants into two groups; antenatal and postnatal parents. Of the 58 participants used for the questionnaire, ten participants were chosen for the focus groups; three mothers and two fathers were in the antenatal group, and five mothers were in the postnatal group. The questionnaires’ findings concluded that there was a trend among self-esteem, and the adolescent parents’ reaction to society’s treatment of them. â€Å"’I feel that society tends to make you feel like everyone is better than me, and that I am a disgrace’ (mother, age 18)† (Smith and Roberts, 2009). 37 of 58 participants attended antenatal support classes. Attendance positively correlated with self-esteem. More parents with high self-esteem attended the antenatal support classes than parents with low self-esteem. When asked the reason for not attending postnatal support classes, the main reason given was they did not know such classes were available. The antenatal focus group’s findings concluded that, â€Å"All the young parents indicated that they would like to attend postnatal classes, but felt they were not given sufficient information about these classes to attend† (Smith and Roberts, 2009). The postnatal focus group’s findings concluded that relatives and friends were portrayed as the most helpful resource of postnatal support. All the young mothers perceived society to have a negative view of adolescent parents. â€Å"’They think you’re just a dirty little slag basically’ (mother, age 19)† (Smith and Roberts, 2009). The study yields results that expand discussion on several different areas that may influence desire or ability to seek treatment. The one quality presented by test subjects universally was the desire to be a good parent (Smith Roberts, 2009). Outside of this, influencing variables were labeled as self-esteem, age, and gender. The results of the study conclude that varying levels of self-esteem influence attendance. Low self-esteem may be acting as a barrier to attendance while those with higher self-esteem seemed to be more likely to attend. The unknown aspect of self-esteem is that the study is unable to conclude if the increased levels of self-esteem were present prior to attendance or if attendance of support groups increased self-esteem (Smith Roberts, 2009). Secondly, age was an obstacle to attendance. Younger parents seemed to have a difficult time when mingling with older parents. Due to differences in financial situations, younger parents were discouraged when drawing comparisons between themselves and older parents and experienced feelings of insignificance (Runciman, 1966). Younger parents also reported less-than satisfactory experiences with health care professionals. These unsatisfactory experiences are thought to be related to the health teams lack of training, knowledge, and communication skills related to young parents (Smith Roberts, 2009). Lastly, gender had an effect on young parents seeking care. The issue was mostly related to the necessity of different education for each gender. Societal norms dictated roles for the mother and father which led to the father being left out of education regarding infant care (Warin, 1999). Smith and Roberts believe there is a need to include revisions to current teachings to better include young fathers. The main revisions recommended to achieve improvement in the delivery of care for the population of this study is varying education and support systems. By extending time constraints to over 19, this would allow new young mothers more time to become mothers. Education delivery must also be changed, according to the study, so information can be better received by young parents. Lastly, the way information about programs that are already available is delivered to the target population must be changed due to the degree of isolation of the subjects (Smith and Roberts, 2009). While the study is not perfect, it does open the door for improvement. The system of delivery must be made more targeted and precise. If education can be changed for healthcare professionals and the young parents, it may improve the outcomes of providing treatment to this under-treated population (Smith and Roberts, 2009). References Berrington A, Hernandez IC, Ingham R, Stevenson J (2005) Antecedents and outcomes of young fatherhood: Longitudinal evidence from the 1970 British birth cohort study. Final Report University of Southampton,Southampton Ley P (1982) Satisfaction, compliance and communication. British Journal of Clinical Psychology 21: 241–54 Runciman WG (1966) Relative deprivation and social justice: A study of attitudes to social inequality in 20th Century England Routledge, London Smith, D., Roberts, R. (2009). Young parents perceptions of barriers to antenatal and postnatal care.British Journal Of Midwifery,17(10), 620. Warin J, Solomon Y, Lewis C, Langford W (1999) Fathers, work and family life Family Policy Studies Centre, London

Why The American Civil War Is Important Essays -- The American Civil W

The American civil war took place 150 years ago. The war ripped apart the young country and turned brother against brother. The American civil war ended the most grotesque American institution in its history and caused the nation to struggle for the next decade to recover from the devastation. The war caused a wealthy class to lose their stranglehold over the southern economy and ended politics being swayed by whether you were pro or anti slavery. The war caused the death of over 620,000 men, around 2% of the population. The American civil war is worth remembering today. It is worth remembering because it shapes the identity of who Americans are today. Without it, we cannot understand why a nation could be split over the death of a young delinquent named Trayvon Martin. Without it we cannot understand how Martin Luther King Jr. struggled to gain his dream. Without it we cannot understand why women fought for suffrage rights in the 1920s. What was the American civil war about? States rights? Slavery? Both? Perhaps this does not matter, perhaps all that matters is the end results, the prohibition of slavery and the emergence of the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments. The nation emerged with a new identity of freedom, not just whites, but people of all color. But the war did not end discrimination or racism, it saw different forms of it take place; forms that still effect us today. The Civil War is worth remembering because the Civil War still shapes America’s identity to this day. First let us examine the cultural implications the Civil War had on us today. Today in America we are we are shaped as a culture by diversity, and dreams. By diversity I mean we are a culture that though, dominantly white, is full of many ethnicities of pe... ...vil War.† In The War Was You and Me: Civilians in the American Civil War, ed. Joan E. Cashin, 136-156. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2002. Snay, Mitchell, Randall M. Miller, Harry S. Stout, and Charles Reagan Wilson. "Religion and the American Civil War." The American Historical Review 105.1 (2000): 217. Print. McPHERSON, James M. "Major Problems in the Civil War and Reconstruction." (n.d.): n. pag. Rpt. in Major Problems in American History Series. N.p.: n.p., n.d. 10. Print. Dew, Charles B. Apostles of Disunion: Southern Secession Commissioners and the Causes of the Civil War. Charlottesville: University of Virginia, 2001. Print. Douglass, Frederick, and Frederick Douglass. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass and Other Works. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print. "The Pledge of Allegiance." The Pledge of Allegiance. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2015. Why The American Civil War Is Important Essays -- The American Civil W The American civil war took place 150 years ago. The war ripped apart the young country and turned brother against brother. The American civil war ended the most grotesque American institution in its history and caused the nation to struggle for the next decade to recover from the devastation. The war caused a wealthy class to lose their stranglehold over the southern economy and ended politics being swayed by whether you were pro or anti slavery. The war caused the death of over 620,000 men, around 2% of the population. The American civil war is worth remembering today. It is worth remembering because it shapes the identity of who Americans are today. Without it, we cannot understand why a nation could be split over the death of a young delinquent named Trayvon Martin. Without it we cannot understand how Martin Luther King Jr. struggled to gain his dream. Without it we cannot understand why women fought for suffrage rights in the 1920s. What was the American civil war about? States rights? Slavery? Both? Perhaps this does not matter, perhaps all that matters is the end results, the prohibition of slavery and the emergence of the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments. The nation emerged with a new identity of freedom, not just whites, but people of all color. But the war did not end discrimination or racism, it saw different forms of it take place; forms that still effect us today. The Civil War is worth remembering because the Civil War still shapes America’s identity to this day. First let us examine the cultural implications the Civil War had on us today. Today in America we are we are shaped as a culture by diversity, and dreams. By diversity I mean we are a culture that though, dominantly white, is full of many ethnicities of pe... ...vil War.† In The War Was You and Me: Civilians in the American Civil War, ed. Joan E. Cashin, 136-156. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2002. Snay, Mitchell, Randall M. Miller, Harry S. Stout, and Charles Reagan Wilson. "Religion and the American Civil War." The American Historical Review 105.1 (2000): 217. Print. McPHERSON, James M. "Major Problems in the Civil War and Reconstruction." (n.d.): n. pag. Rpt. in Major Problems in American History Series. N.p.: n.p., n.d. 10. Print. Dew, Charles B. Apostles of Disunion: Southern Secession Commissioners and the Causes of the Civil War. Charlottesville: University of Virginia, 2001. Print. Douglass, Frederick, and Frederick Douglass. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass and Other Works. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print. "The Pledge of Allegiance." The Pledge of Allegiance. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2015.

Oliver Twist :: essays research papers

Oliver Twist By: Charles Dickens Oliver Twist provides insight into the experience of the poor in 1830s England. Beneath the novel’s raucous humor and flights of fancy runs an undertone of bitter criticism of the Victorian middle class's attitudes toward the poor. Oliver is a near perfect example of the hypocrisy and venality of the legal system, workhouses, and middle class moral values and marriage practices of 1830s England. As a child, Dickens endured the harsh conditions of poverty. His family was imprisoned for debt, and Dickens was forced to work in a factory at age twelve. These experiences haunted him for the rest of his life. The misery of his childhood is a recurrent theme in his novels. Oliver Twist expresses the unfortunate situation of the orphaned child. Oliver suffers the cruelty of hypocritical workhouse officials, prejudiced judges, and hardened criminals. Throughout the novel, his virtuous nature survives the unbelievable misery of his situation. Oliver's experiences demonstrate the legal silence and invisibility of the poor. In 1830s England, wealth determined voting rights. Therefore, the poor had no say in the laws that governed their lives, and the Poor Laws strictly regulated the ability to seek relief. Since begging was illegal, workhouses were the only sources of relief. The workhouses were made to be deliberately unpleasant in order to discourage the poor from seeking their relief. The Victorian middle class assumed that the poor were uncontroleable due to their state of nature and immorality. Since the poor had no voting rights, the State chose to recognize their existence only when they commited crimes, died, or entered the workhouses. Dickens' Oliver Twist is one sympathetic portrayal among dozens of vicious, stereotypical portrayals of the poor. However, Dickens himself exhibits middle class prejudice. He reproduces the worst anti-Semitic stereotypes in Fagin, the "villainous old Jew." The portrayal of Noah Claypole, the dirty charity boy, reveals some of the stereotypes of the poor that Dickens criticizes.

Case Study †The Golden Rule and a Global Strategy

Since the attacks of September 11th occurred in the United States, there has been a level of social, environmental, and political unrest. This unrest is not only among individuals, but also among businesses worldwide and Four Seasons is not excluded from that list. Most of the scrutiny that is felt is directed at countries and more specifically groups of the Middle East that seemed to be involved with, or to be blamed for the disturbances of September 11th.The case study clearly points out that political unrest between the Middle East and the United States could play a huge role in determining the expansion and over all success of that area (or lack there of). Unfavorable economic and political conditions in international markets, including civil unrest and governmental changes, could undermine consumer confidence and reduce the consumers' purchasing power, thereby reducing demand for leisure products like luxury hotels.In addition, boycotts resulting from political activism could re duce demand, while restrictions on the ability to transfer earnings or capital across borders which may be imposed or expanded as a result of political and economic instability could impact profitability for four seasons. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentences, the unfavorable business environment, the current unstable economic and political conditions and civil unrest and political activism in the Middle East, and the unstable situation in Iraq or the continuation or escalation of terrorist activities could adversely impact international business.Even with these economic and political factors to consider, socio-cultural factors also play a huge role in assessing risk for the development of a Four Seasons hotel in the Middle East. The four Seasons practices business in a European way (being headquartered in Canada), with their primary focus being customer service, customer loyalty, and values that correspond to American and European culture. Middle eastern Social values are vastly different, and may result in conflicts of service. For one, Woman are considered to be in a lower separate classes, as compared to American and European beliefs.This would go against the hotels core competencies and beliefs for how their customer should be treated. Small things such as having pets, or understanding poverty, all play a huge role in understanding the culture. The bottom line of this issue is tolerance. Tolerance between our socio-cultural beliefs are vastly different, therefore could be risky if you try to mix them for business reasons. The case talks about how the industry is under the process of consolidation. Strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions are a huge reason why international investments in the Middle East may be less concerning.In the case of Four Seasons, the article discusses how many acquisitions and mergers have taken place with Four Seasons since the 1970s and 1990s. An important one was the acquisition of Regent international hotels. Not only did that expand them into Eastern markets, but it also lured an alliance with The Saudi Arabian Prince when he bought 25% of the company for 167 million dollars. His understanding the culture and his deep pockets allowed them into a market that was otherwise a very risky proposition. As per the case study, this reason is the reason for economic expansion and growth in the Middle East.The pro’s and Con’s of the luxury hotel segment There are many benefits to being in the luxury hotel segment. The case study strongly suggests that individuality is a key competitive advantage for this segment. What positively distinguishes a brand is the unique level of service offered, known as â€Å"the golden rule†. The golden rule is to treat others as you would like to be treated (which in the Ritz Carlton, it means ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen). This is typically not the case in lower level hotel segments, which creates a competitive adv antage for these upper echelon hotels.Another key advantage that the case points out is the luxury segments ability to be averse or immune from economic downturns, such as the one that occurred on September 11th 2001. The effected population consists of the middle class. The â€Å"movers and shakers† of the world will still utilize the amenities of the luxury segment. Brand name recognition is another huge advantage for this segment. This accounts for over 80% of their marketing efforts. According to the urban land institute property performance survey, the upscale luxury segment will significantly outperform the mid prices economy segment through mid 2002.  (Even with a total market share of only 17. 6%).Another advantage was occurring in times of economic distress. The cost associated with opening new hotels was astronomical, causing a very high barrier to entry for non-established brands in the middle market segment. This is a clear indicator of a strong luxury segment. Companies such as the Four Seasons have been moving into hotel management, which has a lower perceived risk and a lower cost of ownership. With all these advantages at hand, the case study suggests that now is the time that the luxury hotel segment should expand on all these factors.Although the advantages seem legitimate, there are causes for concern for the luxury hotel segment and it starts with competition with the lower hotel segments. The case discusses a downturn in business travelers and an upswing of leisure travelers by a considerable margin. The issue for the luxury segment occurred when lower level hotels were cannibalizing their guests by tailoring services to match their needs instead of losing them to luxury hotels. Examples of this would be Wyndham by request, which is a customer relationship management model.Another huge area of concern for luxury hotels is the change in technology and how that affects the capture of new and repeat clientele. It’s stated in t he article that lower segment hotels have adopted recent technology changes quickly but the luxury segment was slow to grasp it. This was a clear disadvantage to the luxury industry that relied heavily on bookings from agents, and telecommunications. In 2002, Four Seasons hired MICROS systems to consolidate all customer records and help them link the properties systems. The development of new luxury properties was sure to slow down drastically in an economic downturn.This made expansion a harder proposition. It would cost luxury hotels nearly 375,000 dollars per room to expand with a new building as opposed to the 48,900 dollars per room for middle market hotels. Due to this drastic cost difference, luxury hotels had to rely on developing there existing assets which is â€Å"very difficult† to the case studies point. Hotel Management VS real-estate Ownership In order to discuss why the Four Seasons became a management company, we must first understand how it was accomplished. In 1974, cost overruns nearly led the company into bankruptcy.As a result, the company began shifting to its current, management-only business model and eliminate costs associated with buying land and buildings and instead begin earning profits through managing them. The recent economic downturns such as the September 11th disaster forced the company to sell its shares to majority stockholders such as the Saudi Arabian Prince who bought 176 million dollars in shares. After that point, Four Seasons got into the market of managing properties as they acquired hotels such as Regent and many others.This is when Four Seasons started to manager their properties. It operates them on behalf of real estate owners and developers. The contracts between Four Seasons and property owners typically permits the company to participate in the design of the property and run it with nearly total control over every aspect of the operation. Four Seasons generally earns 3 percent of the gross income and a pproximately 5 percent of profits from the properties it operates, and the property owners are required to additionally contribute money for chain-wide sales, marketing and reservations systems.Four Seasons hotels have larger staffs than competing chains, therefore they create separate reserve accounts to cover upkeep costs. While profit margins are relatively low, the reputation of the brand and the value of the hotel for sale as well as loan collateral generate developer interest. Lets look at some figures from the table on page 29 to understand why they chose to be a management company. From 1998 to 2000, ownership operations produced a positive income of 9,000, 8,000 and 13,000.Although the numbers are positive, they are a minuscule number in comparison to the profits of the management operations, which were 79,000, 89,000 and 125,000 for those years. If we look ahead to the years 2001 and 2002, you will notice that the ownership operations actually yielded a loss for both years of (10,000) and (19,000). These numbers are in congruence with the expected economic downturn that occurred at that time that affected all hotels. This is why Four Seasons made the move to managing hotels.If we pull up the management operations profit figures, we notice that for year 2001 they earned 95,000 and in 2002 they earned 82,000. Although it’s less then the year’s prior, we can clearly see the difference in profits, even with a management fees and royalties earned of 3 to 5 %. Average revenue streams and the interpretation of net earnings and cash from operations Average revenue per property: Worldwide $52,173 x 365 = $19,143,145 United States $67,808 x 365 = $24,749,920 Europe/Middle east $44,572 x 365 = $16,268,780 Net income: 1999 $86,4792001 $86,486 2002 $21,231 Cash used in operations: 1999 $106,787 2001 $75,510 2002 $41,673 Calculation of difference between the tow measures: Year 1999 ($20,308) Year 2001 $10,976 Year 2002 ($20,532) In the year 1999, Fou r Seasons showed a positive growth in their net earnings statement coming in around 86,000. The issue here is that the cash used in operations exceeded the amount that was profit, leaving a negative number. The same applies for year 2002. However, in 2001, it shows that the net profits were still higher than cashed used in operations.This pattern does not directly correlate to overall business decline, but just a difference in how the money is being received throughout Four Seasons. Operating cash flow is the lifeblood of a company and the most important barometer that investors have. Although many investors gravitate toward net income, operating cash flow is a better metric of a company's financial health for two main reasons. First, cash flow is harder to manipulate under GAAP than net income. Second, â€Å"cash is king† and a company that does not generate cash over the long term is on its deathbed.Calculations of profit margins, ROA, and ROE and the 5 year trend 1998-2002 Year 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Net Profit Margin 28. 02% 31. 16% 29. 66% 28. 53% 7. 46% ROA 12. 79% 10. 39% 10. 47% 8. 82% 2. 19% ROE 12. 79% 10. 39% 10. 47% 8. 82% 2. 19% From the above calculations, we can make some educated inferences as to the direction that the company is headed. We can see that the Net profits are steady and then take a severe plunge. This is probably due the September 11th occurrence (which also leads to consumer shock and uncertainty). Nonetheless, it’s frightening to see your margins fall that low.On the flip side, we can see that the ROA and the ROE are identical. First of all this means the Four Seasons did a great job managing their debt to equity. Research indicates that if your ROA equals the ROE, then your company has no debt. This was accomplished when Four Seasons decided to become private again and sell its shares to rich investors. This also was a testament to their willingness to change amid a vastly adapting service industry. They had to create a niche in the management field and shy away from the real estate norm.The direction that the company will head in the next 5 years will also involve much of what they already did, and that is adapt to change. The calculations and all the research through this case study suggests that its getting harder and harder to attain the same cash flows by doing the same activity. A new platform will have to change the way Four seasons captures new business, and secures its returning business for more profits than ever before. The platform is consumer technology platforms. With time, the luxury consumer will become happier, but also more discerning.Customization on a customer-by-customer basis will be important. Creating a digital experience on the web will heavily increase traffic. Most important of all points will be the age of social media networking. Companies like facebook are starting to pop up in this 5 year trend forecast, and being the front runner in this technology will crea te a digital media universe at the their disposal. The mobile revolution is also on the horizon in this forecast, so having your company prepared for this will undoubtedly help your profits, ROA, and ROE.