Sources of African History free essay sample

Sources of african history A source of history can be divided into two big groups, remnants and storytelling which usually are called primary and secondary sources. The primary sources, remnants and written documents are counted as more reliable than the oral history. African history has been a challenge for researchers because of scarce written sources in many regions, especially sub – Saharan Africa. Prejudice against black Africans in particular, which goes far back in history, has meant that African history has been dictated by Eurocentric or even racist research. According to many of the historians with a Eurocentric perspective there was no history in Africa, or so to say nothing they would refer to as history before the white man came to the continent, before it was only â€Å"dark† and the high mobility of the sub – Saharan Africa was described by some as â€Å"barbaric tribes senseless circling†. It wasn’t until the 1960: s that African researchers started to write African history themselves, before that the views were strongly Eurocentric. We will write a custom essay sample on Sources of African History or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Previously many argued that Africa simply had no history because of the lack of written documents and the fact that most cultures around sub – Saharan Africa had no written language. When European explorers in the mid – 1800:s were exploring Africa they came upon the ruins of Great Zimbabwe, they refused to believe that Africans had built them, instead they made up theories that it had been developed by Arabs or medieval Europeans who strayed down to the west coast of Africa. The Afro centric movement was created during the 1960: s, one of their goals was to rewrite the African history with a focus on Africans, rather than the Europeans history on the African continent. To solve the problem with the lack of written sources led them to seek alternative sources of information like oral tradition which can be found throughout Africa, linguistics, archeology, anthropology and art. By studying linguistics you can find resemblance to other languages, one example is the Bantu language. It is believed that Bantu languages originated in Nigeria and Cameroon in West Africa. Around 2500 – 3000 years ago began the group of speakers of the Bantu language migrate to the east and south. Many historians believe that the Bantu migration played a significant role in populating the Sub – Saharan area. By using archeology you can also find evidence that proves that the Bantu people were farmers, by studying the soil the historians today argue that the Bantu movement was a gradual, generation to generation spread of agricultural communities in the search of fresh soil and wetter areas. Art, such as rock paintings have been a great help to date prehistoric times, but also to help us understand the temporal spread of cultures across a wide geographical area where you can find rock art. These cave paintings might mark a territory, enact rituals or to record events or stories. This type of historical art can be found at various places on the African continent, from rock paintings and stone carvings we can receive information about ancient times, the people, their society, rituals and lifestyle with the help of archeology we can date these paintings and carvings. Artifacts are also a great source of African history. The term artifact is closely related to the concept of material culture and that may have a cultural interest. Stone tools, pottery vessels and jewellery are examples on these remains, studying them can give us a hint on how they looked, worshipped and what they ate. Another important source of African history is oral tradition. Oral tradition is culture, traditions, events and stories passed on from generation to generation. They may take form in Oral tradition, and oral lore is cultural material and traditions transmitted orally from one generation to another. [1][2] The messages or testimony are verbally transmitted in speech or song and may take the form, for example, of folktales, sayings, ballads, songs, or chants. In this way, it is possible for a society to transmit oral history, oral literature, oral law and other knowledges across generations without a writing system. . . Definition of a source of history A source of history can be divided in to two big groups: remnants and Types of sources Sources of African history

The Vital And Important Factor To Enhance The Market In The Tourism Sector Tourism Essay Example

The Vital And Important Factor To Enhance The Market In The Tourism Sector Tourism Essay Example The Vital And Important Factor To Enhance The Market In The Tourism Sector Tourism Essay The Vital And Important Factor To Enhance The Market In The Tourism Sector Tourism Essay Now a yearss many states are sing Tourism selling is one of the critical and of import factor to heighten the market in the touristry sector by carrying big figure of visitants or people both at international and domestically that will assist to develop the state s wealth and economic system. The state s wealth such as imposts, heritage, topographic points and traditions are the cardinal of import factors in make up ones minding the function of touristry selling of a finish. The touristry selling for a peculiar finish needs some of import communicating tools such as personal merchandising, advertisement, public dealingss and direct selling these are of import tools helps for developing and spread outing its attractive force in touristry market. India known for its heritage and cultural diverseness and it s been a batch of topographic points to see and research, which provides many facets for the development of touristry selling in India. India is a sub-continent and being a secular province got major pilgrim s tourers of assorted spiritual hence this pilgrim touristry is really celebrated universally and large attractive force for visitants to see the finish. India is besides celebrated for TajMahal which is listed in the Seven Wonders of the World. . India has got many national heritage sites which are worldwide celebrated for tourer attractive forces. If the touristry selling in India is improved and developed it will decidedly play a major factor for hiking up of India s economic system and its finish in the field of touristry. To do touristry marketing a success in the present universe there are assorted methods followed. The outer environment of a finish can be defined as Micro and Macro environments. India which comes under Macro environment has major forces like legal, technological, economic, cultural and societal on which the major concentration is showed. Developing touristry selling, communicating tools play the most of import function which includes one-to-one merchandising, advertisement, the gross revenues publicity public dealingss and direct selling through different channels. Introduction Author Gunnell, 1997 mentioned that India is the state with the universe s 2nd largest population and it stands in the 7th place geographically world-wide. India is besides good known as the largest democratic state in the worldwide. It is home land for the different faiths bing today, that s why it is besides good known as the largest secular state in the universe. Due to the being of the assorted civilizations, traditions, faiths, imposts and beliefs it made the state rich culturally worldwide. Unity in diverseness is the cardinal rule followed by the people in India. Today s economic system in India: India has got one of the stable and prima economic systems in the universe ; during the recission period besides it did good. India has become fatherland for the many international IT companies set uping their caput quarters in India. There are more than five Indian beginning companies listed on the universe s luck 500 companies list. Among these five companies 2 of them are besides listed on the NASDAQ. It has got some of the taking companies in the concern sectors like pharmaceutical, steel, vesture and IT are some of the cardinal assets to this state ( shrivastava, 2009 ) . Tourism plays a major function in Indian economic system ; spiritual topographic points and pilgrims journeies are more concentrated by the domestic tourers. Major stairss have taken by the Indian authorities, Indian air hoses and Indian travel bureaus in order to increase the flow of domestic and international touristry in India. Due the development of installations like transit, adjustment, substructure tourers find it really easy to make the finish and to transpose. The flow of international touristry is high to India due its cultural profusion. Taj Mahal considered as one of the Seven Wonders of the existence due to its popularity it has become the most popular finish in India and bulk of the tourers are attracted to it. Golden trigon is a really good known bundle in India. For the twelvemonth 2008 Incredible India commercial has won the Grand Prix award ( Westfall, Boyd: Vlo.25 ) . Direct selling, public dealingss, forces selling and advertisement are some of the selling communicating tools that aid s in touristry selling. In today s universe electronic media has become the most efficient medium to pass on with the people, so more portion of the advertisement financess are invested in the electronic media advertisement in order to make the more figure of people expeditiously, to increase the flow of the tourers. Increadibleindia.com is the official Indian touristry web site which provides complete information about the Indian touristry. Indian postal service has got really good repute and it has got a really good history. It besides helps in advancing tourer finishs in India as it is publishing images of touristry finishs on its postal casts and conveying consciousness about the finish among the populace. The hereafter of the Indian touristry looks bright with new policies and schemes followed by the authorities of India. It has following new schemes and utiliz ing latest engineering in order to pull the tourers to see assorted finishs in India by international and domestic tourers. Background Information: Cultural variegation, different types of faiths, linguistic communications, dramatis personaes, sub dramatis personaes and rich heritage are portion of the Indian history. If we take a acute expression at the Indian history, we can happen the earliest hints of the being of human life in some parts of the Madhya Pradesh through pictures at the Bhimbhatka stone shelters. In western parts of India, being of the Indus vale civilisation was found, it was a 9000 twelvemonth s old civilisation. It was recorded that India was ruled by many emperors for several old ages. Due its cultural diverseness, India has faced many challenges and jobs with its different dramatis personae systems, being of different faiths in one topographic point and it besides confronting jobs with terrorist act, naxalism etc. particularly in northern parts of India like Jammu and Kashmir. From the above treatments now we know that India is place land for different faiths. There are four major faiths in India ; they ar e Hinduism, Sikhism, Islam and Christianity. Majority of the population in India follow Hinduism followed by Islam, Sikhism and Christianity. Buddhism and Jainism are other two faiths that are originated in India ( Metcafe, 2006 ) . India is place land for the broad scope of civilizations. We can see in present yearss Indian civilization is distributing everyplace in Asia. Traditional and cultural Indian households values are highly respected all over the universe. Arranged matrimonies and joint households are some of the norms followed by the Indians. Culture of India is really good represented in its architecture. For illustration, Taj Mahal which was built by the male monarch named Shah Jahan as a particular memorial gift to his married woman Mumtaz. Culture of India is clearly reflected in its traditional music and dances ; it besides reveals the importance of music and dances in its civilization. In the twelvemonth 2008 there was a 5.37 million international tourers flow in to the state. Due to this the states one-year growing was increased by 5.6 % . Tourists from some of the states like United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Japan, Germany, France, United States of America ( 15.43 ) and Australia signifier s and 64.34 % of the entire international tourers visited India. Domestic touristry is besides plays a major function in states one-year growing, for India the domestic touristry histories for an one-year growing of 6.9 % with 562.92 million people going. India ranks 23rd place in receivers and 41st place in the international tourer reachings ( Vilanetam, toilet: 2005 ) . Macro and Micro environment of India: Micro Environment: Forces near due to the finish that can impact its ability to function its clients: client markets, organisation itself, marketing channel houses and wide scope of stakeholders and public. ( Hudson, 2008:23 ) . Market is closely related with the micro environmental factors. The factors are public, providers, clients, rivals and selling mediators. There are different types of visitants ; they are authorities endeavors, providers, and family. They besides can act upon the touristry selling. In order to keep the touristry demand it is really of import to do attempts to hold assorted types of providers. By establishing the promotional strategies in touristry industry rivals can strongly impact the market. Tourism selling can be affected by the attitude of the local people towards the tourers. Macro Environment: Macro environment comprises of all agents and forces holding distance relationship with the selling. So the factors of macro environment are ( McCabe, 2009 and Drummond and Ensor, 2005 ) . Social environment Economic environment Legal environment Technological environment Political environment Social environment: There will be assorted factors impacting the tourers as India is a multi-socio-cultural finish. The societal factors include imposts, traditions, household, population, faith, income instruction and life criterions. For illustration: Millions of tourers are attracted from all over the universe in order to go to the spiritual event Kumbh mela ( Keegan, Green: 2008 ) . Economic environment: Due to the particular significance in the Economic environment it has been divided in to three parts ( Singla: 2006-07 ) . They are. Economic system: This system chiefly concentrates on the apprehension of the full economic environment, which comprises of three sorts ; they are socialistic economic system, capitalistic economic system and assorted economic system. For assorted economic system India is considered as one of the best illustration. In India finishs are controlled by both Private and authorities organisations. For illustration: depending up on the fiscal position of the single tourers they can choose the private or authorities travel bureaus. By and large authorities travel bureaus are cheaper when compared to the private travel bureaus. Economic policies: The economic policies are introduced in order to direct the economic activities. Employment revenue enhancement, Export /Import policies, public money, agribusiness industry are some of the activities that are Included in the economic policies. All these policies have different types of influences on the finish selling. For illustration: International travelers are charged higher than the normal charge for the domestic traveler to see an heritage site. Economic status: Economic conditions are the conditions recited with the capablenesss of the economic development at the tourer finish, for illustration: natural resources, foreign capital, national income, foreign trade and industrial development. Legal environment: In order to modulate the environment many legal Acts of the Apostless were passed in India. Indian authorities has passed many Acts of the Apostless like gross revenues of goods act, trade grade act, Indian partnership act etc. Incredible growing has been seen in the foreign exchange country, by the remotion of revenue enhancement on the foreign direct investing. For the visitants from the Afghanistan and Pakistan have particular ordinances where as the visitants from Burma and Maldives get entry base on ballss to the state really easy. Technological environment: In India twenty-four hours by twenty-four hours the roar of engineering is turning. IncredibleIndia.com has gone on societal networking sites I order to promote its visitants online. Due to the high use of telecastings in India, it showed the grater affect on the wireless and film Industry in India. Due to technological development like Internet, telecastings etc. the tourers are able to cognize about the finishs before they visit them personally. Booking tickets and doing reserves have become quite easy for the tourers due to the technological development ( Cooper. Wanhill: 2008 ) . Political environment: India is a land with many political parties bing in it. Each political party is different from each other and has different types of attitudes towards the touristry industry. But when it comes to the states respect all will be united for illustration: The cause that the Taj Mahal has to be included in Seven Wonders of the World has been supported by all political parties in India and appealed everyone to vote for Taj Mahal in order to put its name in Seven Wonders of the World ( Hudson, 2008 ) . Marketing communicating tools: A critical map of marketing communicating is besides the possibility to respond, as opposed to an act or usage of information transmitted outside the direct control of the organisation. ( McCabe, 2009:8 ) . Integrated selling communications: The integrating of all selling communicating tools, every bit good as trade name and corporate messages so they send a persuasive and consistent message to aim audience. ( Hudson, 2008:258 ) . Assorted activities are required in order to construct a selling plan. These activities are differentiated in to four types ; they are Promotion, Product, Place and Price. These are known as 4ps of marketing mix. Promotion is involved in the activities like personal merchandising, advertisement, direct selling, public dealingss, and gross revenues publicity. Merchandises are engaged in the activities same to the ingestion of the existent merchandise i.e. determinations about finish design, quality and other assorted services. Topographic point is good known as distribution. Selling coverage, distribution channels, stock list, locations and transits are the portion of distribution. Particular touristry bundles, price reductions on touristry merchandises like travel tickets are some of the countries where the monetary value will be covering ( Shah, souza: 2009 ) . Marketing communicating tools are: Ad Personal merchandising Public dealingss Gross saless publicity Direct selling Channels consist of scope of media such as: Internet Television Newspaper and magazines Postal and telecommunications Radio Ad: it brings attending towards the present market sing the information of the administration, its services and merchandises and this is the most powerful and of import tool for any finish and it is specific signifier of marketing communicating . ( McCabe 2009:2008 ) . The advertisement has set up some aims are to carry, inform, remind and heighten the selling schemes. In advertisement there are assorted types of schemes to develop any selling conditions they are: ( Shah, Dsouza, 2009 ) . Appendix 1 clearly shows the different advertisement schemes Personal merchandising: Personal gross revenues are a verbal communicating with the possible client to increase the merchandises sale. The demonstrating of any merchandises and its word pictures were Presented by a individual with a position to sale affects the consumer purchasing behavior. Personal sale goes from individual to individual communicating via personal media like over the phone, face to face, picture conferencing and online confab. Especially personal merchandising is non an of import tool for marketing touristry but it gives the enthusiasm towards visitants through reactions of personal gross revenues individuals about any finish ( Keegan, Green, 2008 ) . national advertisement, Public service advertisement, , Retail advertisement, Corporate advertisement, Brand edifice advertisement, Business to concern advertisement ( B2B ) , Tactical advertisement, Selective demand advertisement, Advocacy advertisement and Primary demand advertisement are different signifiers of advertisement. Tourism of any finish is developed chiefly by advertisement. Ad on electronic media particularly telecasting is chief beginning to catch the attending of visitants to any peculiar finish. India has 28 provinces with different civilization and heritage therefore each province has its ain run and advertisement within their boundaries and all over the state through advertisement on telecasting to promote their touristry development in their province. Radio is little than telecasting but it is one of the powerful and of import tool in advertisement to make the larger visitants in the whole state. Newspaper is the cheapest and easiest manner to reassign the informations to pull more visitants to cognize about the touristry in a peculiar finish. Public dealingss: The function of public dealingss are plays a critical function in marketing mix of any finish. The activities of public dealingss follows piecing people or tourers, programs, policies etc. to develop any finish the public dealingss are indispensable to keep relationships in authorities, media, clients, stockholders and employers and administrations etc. and other constituents of the public dealingss are fund-raising, engagement in society, event sponsoring. Since 10 old ages India has built up an built-in portion of marketing mix with the aid of public relationships which gives liberalization to Indian economic system and encouragement to the touristry sector in India. The betterments in India were made to understand and pull offing the media and non-media and educate clients on the usage of public dealingss expeditiously. ( Mantri, 2009 ) . Gross saless publicity: gross revenues publicity is quickly increasing in India. And it is one of the of import factors in the communicating selling mix to develop touristry. Gross saless publicity is the group of tools which enhance the gross revenues of a merchandise through price reduction offers, discounts, monetary value decreases, gift vouchers, some buying stuffs and samples. For illustration: to pull the maximal figure of people, both private bureaus and authorities have their ain and fast gaits schemes in gross revenues publicities such as particular offers, budget and advanced circuit bundles which is like coachs and railroads are supplying price reduction menus to pull the visitants during vacation and summer season. Direct selling: There are no mediators are engaged in between visitant and finish and this procedure is known as direct selling. There are many ways to make the direct selling are: teleselling, telecasting, wireless, cyberspace, facsimile, beeper, postal service and electronic mail. For illustration: cyberspace is the best illustration for direct selling. VSNL is the Indian authorities cyberspace supplier to air the whole state and even some of the private companies supplying cyberspace such as TATA, Reliance, Airtel and Idea etc. are the prima cyberspace suppliers. Email and mentality are the most common factor of advertisement largely find in concern cards, web sites, and mass media advertizements. Harmonizing to the Ashwin ( 1999 ) stated that telecasting is the most powerful tool in India and covers about 80 % of advertizements by offering many channels in Indian continent. India is the 2nd prima state in the gross revenues of day-to-day newspapers. India is providing daily 320 different types of newspapers throughout the state. The Hindu, Indian express and Times of India are the chief prima newspapers in India. The newspapers provide the information of authorities and its current issues straight to tourers and readers. ( Keegan, Green, 2008 ) . Harmonizing to Shah, DSouza ( 2009 ) the selling communicating tools have both pros and cons are: Ad: telecasting is the chief beginning of advertisement for any finish to develop touristry sector. Through advertizements in telecasting the peculiar finishs are shown in a positive manner and could nt supply the complete and necessary inside informations to tourers. Personal merchandising: personal merchandising can be achieved by explicating a tourer to his experience to other group of people to make enthusiasm or ardor towards them to see the peculiar finish. As we discussed earlier India is celebrated for pilgrim touristry with its alone building of temple and some other heritage sites, this makes peoples to see the topographic points when it is communicated by the already been visitant. India is the glances of heritage and civilization many international tourers are sing India to see beautiful and alone architecture. Personal merchandising is different and it does non demo much impact on touristry because each visitant has its ain gustatory sensation and ain ocular and sometimes the visitant does nt experience the same impact of what other have already felt. ( Aditya, 2009 ) Direct selling: engineering and postal services are the anchor to the direct selling. And this is one on one ( 2 manner ) communicating through direct selling merely a limited group of people are benefited and this could nt manage or pull bulk tourers. Public dealingss: public dealingss are chiefly targeted to many tourers through good will and comparatively inexpensive services to offer in a finish. The public dealingss are more powerful through cyberspace which is really synergistic, relatively low cost, direct media, and sharing information up to day of the month is ever available.the public dealingss has some restrictions such as extremely expensive, low proctor publications, complications in measurings and do non hold a direct impact on the touristry sector of a finish. Gross saless publicity: local tourers are most good through gross revenues and advancing and maintaining off the international tourers to pull the tourer finish. First in India there is no proper selling for gross revenues and publicities of a finish to make the international broad. At least the local tourers were being benefited and have a good trade to see the topographic points. Future development Harmonizing to Raina, Agarwal ( 2004 ) stated that the hereafter development and selling communicating scheme in India are: Since 2 old ages Indian touristry is developing and reached highest degree of market with the made of latest esthesis Incredible India . Through the being of Incredible India has maximised the touristry market in the universe broad context. There are more domestic and international tourers were attracted of its new scope hence it will imply the one-year growing of touristry in India. Indian touristry ministry is concentrating to develop the touristry in many ways. The antediluvian sites in Jaipur and Raipur are being altering into get oning topographic points and hotels where tourers both domestic and international felt the esthesis with Indian architecture as a portion of tourer activities. Many rural countries are existed in India with a charming potency of touristry. Ministry of India started constructing up airdromes and star hotels in the rural countries and doing those countries as tourer finishs. Number of international and local flights frequence are increased and ministry of Indian touristry is being giving highest precedence to safety and wellness of tourers who visited to these destinations.Listen India is the hub for Ayurveda and yoga where these medicines increasing the figure of international visitants to India as a medical touristry. Future development of touristry has a batch of range with the present schemes of medical touristry India. Indian finishs are utilizing wide scope of cyberspace services to advance their finish besides internet educate, gives the accurate inside informations and conditions of the finishs to the international tourers. Indian touristry ministry is more endeavoring to utilize new engineerings to make the tourers easy therefore new development can be seen in close hereafter with the aid of new engineerings utilizing by Indian touristry. Many new finishs are increasing and postal services utilizing unbelievable India for their freshly produced casts and many new schemes are working to convey the Indian finishs are best in the close hereafter. The touristry in India should follow some selling policies such as touristry selling to be done in local and internationally in the signifier of hostility.the hostility of touristry combined the tourers from all over the universe which gives the clear thought about touristry demand in India, planning and diversifying elements, fight, kineticss and ultimate rules of touristry activities and besides increase the scope and pride to the specific finish selling in India. Decision: In decision, India is the largest state and where it is rich in heritage and civilization is rich for its democracy, secularism, people, political relations, touristry and state s wealth and economic system. Micro and macro environments are 2 of import factors for any state s development in footings of economic system. Macro environment is the chief factor where India is influenced by it, as macro environments is influenced by telecasting, advertisement, mass media, postal service and wireless in small town countries. 4P s ( monetary value, publicity, topographic point and merchandise ) are the indispensable factors for the touristry selling and helps in work outing debatable issues to tourers and their finish. Making the finish s information available and making involvement towards to visitants to see the finish were done by the tool called as touristry selling communications. Tourism selling communications are used by assorted types in advancing finish through gross revenues publicity, advertisement, direct selling, public dealingss and personal merchandising. In marketing communicating there are besides other tools are used to advance finish such as packaging, sponsorship, licensing and fortes are included as a portion of communicating tool. Through selling communicating the finishs are favorable and profitable by increasing the degree of involvement among the visitants to see the finish. The authorities and local community of the finish are required to analyze the strengths and failing of the touristry selling communicating tools to accomplish the ends and aim of communicating mix. To heighten and better the touristry sector, the authorities of India is responsible to make farther research on touristry selling communicating tools as a farther scheme to pull the visitants to finish. The Indian authorities confronting some challenges to advance touristry market by utilizing communicating tools, it is possible to get the better of all the challenges comfortably

The Constitutional question of cruel and unusual punishment and the Research Paper - 1

The Constitutional question of cruel and unusual punishment and the Death Penalty - Research Paper Example A scrutiny of US Supreme Court cases show that although the Court does not regard the death penalty per se as a form of â€Å"cruel and unusual† punishment, its manner of imposition, the circumstances and the persons upon whom it is imposed may bring the case within the ambit of the 8th Amendment clause. Table of Contents Abstract Table of Contents 1.0 Executive Summary 2.0 Introduction 3.0 Background: Death Penalty 3.1 General History of the Death Penalty 3.2 History of the Death Penalty in the US 4.0 Justifications of the Imposition of the Death Penalty 4.1 Retribution 4.2 Deterrence 4.3 Incapacitation 5.0 The 8th Amendment and the Concept of â€Å"Cruel and Unusual† Punishment 5.1 The Eight Amendment 5.2 US Supreme Court Decisions 5.2.1 Weems v. US 217 US 349 (1910) 5.2.2 Furman v Virginia 408 US 238 (1972) 5.2.3 Gregg v Georgia 428 US 153 (1976) 5.2.4 Coker v Georgia 433 US 548 (1977) 5.2.5 Edmund v Florida 458 US 782, 797 (1982) 5.2.6 Atkins v Virginia 536 US 304 ( 2002) 5.2.7 Roper v Simmons 543 US 551 (2005) 6.0 Discussion: Is the Death Penalty a Cruel and Unusual Punishment? 7.0 Conclusion Annotated Bibliography Executive Summary The question as to whether the death penalty is a ‘cruel and unusual punishment† within the context of the 8th Amendment is often the underpinning issue of many cases appealed to the US Supreme Court by appellants who were convicted and sentenced to death by the trial courts. The clause â€Å"cruel and unusual punishment† first appeared in the 1686 English Bill of Rights and was adopted by the Commonwealth of Virginia Declaration of Rights. Its inclusion in the federal Bill of Rights was proposed by James Madison, who himself hailed from Virginia. Although it was successfully incorporated into the 8th Amendment, its exact meaning was not clearly explained nor its relevance in the American setting fully understood. Under the English law, the clause was meant to limit the English courts from imposi ng punishments that were too barbaric and cruel as was the practice of courts during the reign of the House of Stuart. Punishments such as drawing and quartering, boiling the convicts alive or crushing them with heavy objects were just some of the barbaric punishments that the English Courts in the Stuart era employed. In the American setting, the â€Å"cruel and unusual punishment† clause was not much of an issue prior to the 20th century considering that the barbaric practices of the early English courts were unheard of. The modes of execution in the US include hanging, firing squad, gassing, electric chair and just recently, lethal injection. Although some of these modes of execution are more painful that the others, they are not considered barbaric and cruel punishments. A scrutiny of US case law on the matter reveals that the death penalty is not a â€Å"cruel and unusual punishment† within the 8th Amendment context, and yet, sometimes it is. The Court has declare d that it does not per se infringe upon the 8th Amendment, and yet has also ruled in some cases that its imposition is â€Å"cruel and unusual† punishment. It depends on the circumstances of the case and perhaps, the perspective of the Court at the time a death penalty case is being heard. The first time that the clause was made a ground in an appeal was not a death penalty c

Case study National Grid - Developing skills in a large organization Term Paper

Case study National Grid - Developing skills in a large organization through training and development - Term Paper Example In the past, numerous workers with diverse duties employed the name of â€Å"Company analyst† in spite of their responsibilities, backdrop or expertise set. We have established â€Å"business analysts† who are information analysts or scientifically-oriented systems forecasters or even scientific authors. Nowadays, the Global Institute of Company Analysts (IICA) has assisted defining the practice of BAs both more cautiously and more methodically and has created the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK Guide) that sets out the information areas significant to the company analyst. This manual has become the acknowledged benchmark for the BA career. Nevertheless, whereas the BABOK Guide comprises important information, it is not a bit by bit procedure that BAs may follow. In other terms, awareness of the Guide’s constituents alone is not sufficient to guarantee success (National Grid, n.d). Analysts who may essentially carry out the BA function as stipulated by the BABOK as well as the IICA are not many and wide. .As the occupation becomes extra famous and trade analysts are perceived as critical affiliates of every project body, the BAs presently in a company cannot have the expertise or knowledge needed to productively carry out significant projects. Or, as is frequently the situation, there are basically not sufficient company analysts to satisfy investment demands. Companies can be compelled to use untrained employees or go devoid of a significant tactical resource on the whole (National Grid, n.d). Organizations that require company analysts may discover it hard to draw and maintain trained venture-tested talent. On the other hand, even when there is a scarcity of funds, the job must be accomplished. The effect may be to rely too profoundly on the know-how of a selected a small number of over-worked, company analyses. This shortage of bench power will cripple a business as major forecasters become too profoundly allocated, or shoddier,

View of the World Essay Example for Free

View of the World Essay The fact that more and more people have been holding a cynical view of today’s world can be explained by their deep disillusion with the existing social order, conventions, and values. To some extent, by embracing cynicism those people try to psychologically protect themselves against injustices and unpleasantness of this world. Contemporary cynics refuse to believe in the noble values promoted by modern society as they have plenty of bitter evidence attesting that those values are usually empty words and beliefs while most people do things only for their own advantage. Instead of concentrating on what today’s world should be, cynics accept it as it is now and try to adapt themselves to its realities. Cynics justify their position by the fact that they do not want to be victims of self-deception and disappointment as it often happens, for example, to idealists or optimists. If the latter believe in this world’s good virtues and ideals and have positive expectations from it, cynics know that such expectations often turn into disappointment, dissatisfaction, and sufferings. Today’s world is far from being perfect, cynics emphasize, and it is wrong and even harmful to expect something good from it. What disillusion is for others, it is reality for cynics, and in this philosophy they simply seek self-protection (Bayan). Apart from moral and psychological protection against today’s imperfect world, cynics also see certain important practical advantages resulting from their doctrine. Idealists and optimists expect success from whatever they do while cynics do not exclude failure and, therefore, work harder in order to reduce the possible negative effects of their failure. This approach motivates them to be more careful and attentive, and calculate everything they do to the last detail. And, unlike idealists and optimists, cynics are prepared to deal with their failure when it occurs, since they anticipated it from the very beginning. However, it often happens that their anticipation of failure and hard work unexpectedly turn out to be success, or at least their failure is far from being as serious as they expected it to be. And for cynics, this is another proof that their doctrine does not only insulate them against today’s world’s imperfection, but also occasionally contributes to their success (Nussbaum, 2009). References Bayan, R. Positive Cynicism. Retrieved February 20, 2009 from the World Wide Web: http://www. i-cynic. com/positive. asp Nussbaum, N. (2009, February 10). Glass Half Empty. The Cornwell Daily Sun on the web. Retrieved February 20, 2009 from the World Wide Web: http://cornellsun. com/node/34901

Issues in the Hospitality Industry

Issues in the Hospitality Industry November 2006 At the recent ISHC Annual Conference held in Miami, Florida, ISHC members participated in a series of roundtable discussions to identify the ISHC Top Ten Issues in the Hospitality Industry for 2007. This year the debate included in-depth discussions on over 100 different issues with 27 making the ballot for the final vote by the members. Ultimately, the following Top Ten Issues were identified as ones that can be expected to potentially have the greatest impact on the industry in 2007. ISHC Top Ten Issues in the Hospitality Industry for 2007 Labor Skills Shortages Growing shortage of qualified skilled employees Construction Costs Escalation of construction renovation costs Technology Lightening speed of changes keeping up Changing Demographics Their Impact on Travel Trends Shift in baby-boomers to gen X Future of Hotel Profits Balancing escalating expenses with the need to increase rates Branding Mitigating consumer confusion over brand proliferation and investor concerns over cross brand impact Distribution Revolution Keeping up with rapidly changing playing field Travel Restrictions And their impact on the travel industry Global Emerging Markets Are travel patterns changing Capital Availability Will investor and lender confidence continue #1 ISHC Top Ten Issue LABOR SKILLS SHORTAGE The problem of attracting and retaining qualified workers, once an issue only in an isolated number of markets, is increasingly becoming a global challenge.. Demography, wage levels, failure to adequately address worker satisfaction and a reputation for long hours and low pay are all cited as contributing factors. Creative hospitality professionals have begun to develop innovative strategies for capturing and keeping high quality workers. Why cant we find good people? Its become a global concern, the number one issue confronting our industry. Here are some of the causes: Demographics Population growth rates have been slowing in Europe, the U.S. and elsewhere for decades so the number of workers leaving the workforce now exceeds those that are entering. The aging workforce moving into retirement is creating a huge void that can only be expected to grow larger going forward. Lagging Wage Rates. Long criticized for paying salaries and wages below those common in other industries, hospitality companies are increasingly finding it difficult to attract and retain qualified candidates willing to attract standard wages. Industry Reputation Like it or not, the hospitality industry has not done enough to earn a reputation as a top career choice for college graduates. Notorious for long hours, night and weekend shifts our industry has Gen-Xers and Gen-Yers seeking other careers with a perceived higher quality of life and better wages. De-emphasis on Training and Worker Satisfaction Following the worldwide dip in demand that followed 9/11, many hotel companies failed to fully restore training and worker enrichment programs that marked the 1980s and 90s. This comes at a time when lodging brands are increasingly adding amenities and services in order to differentiate themselves from competitors. What can we do about it? As an industry, we need to work together to develop strategies for rethinking and rehabilitating our industrys image as an exciting and rewarding career choice. There was a time not too long ago when people joined the hospitality industry for its glamour. Globally, we need to share best practices for training and retention and make industry sponsored educational programs more readily available to employees at every organizational level. Industry organizations including the International Hotel and Restaurant Association and the American Hotel and Lodging Association Educational Institute provide excellent training libraries as well as web based training programs. Additionally, there are some outstanding independent firms that specialize in human resource training and development-some of which also offer excellent proprietary training materials. Meanwhile, following are some thoughts to share regarding potential opportunities for hotels to meet the labor challenge? Grow Your Own. Hotel companies need to develop internal programs to create attractive career paths so that potential candidates see employment as a professional development opportunity with real potential for advancement. Recruiting for entry level positions is easier when the recruiter can outline a career path and can point to managers who have worked their way up from line positions. Marriott has been doing this better than anyone for decades. Guest Workers. The U.S. and many other nations offer guest worker programs that can provide seasonal workers for up to ten months. One well-known US resort brings over two hundred workers from Jamaica each spring to fill various positions under the U.S. H-2B Visa program. These individuals stay through the resort season, with many returning year after year. Similarly, Disney uses the J-1 Visa program to bring young college graduates from all over the world for 18-month internships in entry level supervisory and guest contact positions at its US hotels and theme parks. Pay for Productivity. Hospitality is a labor intensive business and automation opportunities are often limited. Reconfiguring work process and then sharing the benefits of increased productivity can have positive results. One hotel General Manager provides a cash bonus split among the workers in his hotels laundry department for reaching a monthly productivity goal calculated in pounds processed per labor hour. At another hotel Room Attendants are offered a menu of options to receive additional pay for increased productivity so long as strict quality guidelines are met. Job Enlargement. Cross-training and cross-utilization arent new concepts, but theyre good ones. One hotel company of note has a certification program for all its employees. Employees are expected to master the skills for their own positions, but receive pay raises when theyve become certified in other jobs. These multi-talented employees can fill in where needed in peak times and have their own horizons broadened through cross departmental training. In todays environment, operators are increasingly finding they must compete for workers as hard as they compete for customers. Developing a positive work environment with real opportunities for advancement, combined with creative strategies for recruiting and improving employee productivity will all be increasingly essential skills as the workforce continues to shrink in the foreseeable future. # 2 ISHC Top Ten Issue CONSTRUCTION COSTS All construction costs and the costs for furnishings, fixtures and equipment (FFE) will continue to escalate in 2007, although at a pace a little slower than experienced in the period from 2004 through 2006. According to the Associated General Contractors of America, construction costs, driven primarily by materials costs, spiked dramatically in 2004. The annual increase for construction materials in general was approximately 10 percent in 2004, followed by 6.0- percent and 8.8-percent increases in 2005 and 2006, respectively. This compares to increases of 3.8 percent in the consumer price index and 3.7 percent in the producer price index for the period from August 2005 to August 2006. In 2004 and 2005, these two latter indices experienced annual increases averaging about 4.0 percent. The outlook for the future is for more of the same, although at a somewhat slower pace. For example, steel prices experienced a 48.8-percent increase in 2004, which was preceded by significant increases in scrap iron and steel prices in 2002 and 2003. Steel prices held steady in 2005 but jumped again in 2006. They are expected to increase again in 2007 and beyond as demand for steel from construction projects in China and India increases. Scrap iron and steel prices have increased approximately 20 percent in the past twelve months. Other important factors contributing to the increases in construction costs include the cost of diesel fuel used for transportation of both raw and finished goods. Some relief has occurred recently, with fuel costs dropping in tandem with crude oil prices have dropped. But uncertainties of supply in crude oil markets and the somewhat tenuous situation in OPEC nations both economically and politically indicate continuing volatility in future pricing. Further, winter temperatures in 2006-07 could alter the balance between diesel and heating oil production, causing a price escalation in one or both of these fuels. Concrete prices are expected to continue to increase spurred by the ongoing increases in cement, aggregate and the fuel necessary to mine or extract these components. The recent downturn in the residential construction industry may moderate concrete price increases, but the impact of ongoing construction in China and India may more than offset these influences. The anticipated increase in the number of hotels currently in the development pipeline will certainly be affected by construction cost increases. Clearly, rising costs will have an impact on budgeting for new development or renovation projects. Construction contractors, particularly smaller ones, may not be able to offer guaranteed-maximum construction contracts, because they may not have the purchasing power to secure materials at favorable or fixed prices. Even the larger contractors are likely to hedge their contract quotes with provisions that shift the risk of increasing materials costs to the developer. This will affect every aspect of a construction project, particularly the scheduling of sub-contractors and deliveries of materials. Developers will be eager to adhere to a tight project schedule, while contractors will often be at the mercy of the materials suppliers as well as the availability of materials themselves. Faced with this situation, what can a developer or owner do to protect its interests? The following strategies may provide some ideas for further consideration and even innovation: Increase the use of pre-fabricated components in new construction; this may accelerate the overall development timeline; Evaluate materials specifications carefully to ensure the most appropriate and cost-effective materials are being used; Ensure that construction project management is fully qualified and up to speed on new developments in the materials supply arena; Value engineer the projects design and specifications thoroughly, and then do it again; Ensure design standards and space programming make maximum use of as much building area as possible for revenue-producing activities. By constantly monitoring changes in the markets for both construction materials and labor costs, and planning projects with extreme care, a developer or owner can protect its interests and ensure that a project has a better-than-even chance of being completed on time and on budget. # 3 ISHC Top Ten Issue TECHNOLOGY Despite a growing awareness of the value of modern, integrated systems, many properties still do not take advantage of them as fully as they might to maximize revenue opportunities. Many also fail to support and secure them to the extent appropriate to the value of their data and to the legal consequences of that data becoming stolen or corrupted. A significant factor restricting wider adoption is the challenge of improving the systems ease of use as they continue to grow in functionality, in both operational and guest-facing areas. All of these issues support a trend to outsourcing the more complex operational functions and system security to expert, central staff, either corporate or third party. The major factors involved are: the complexity of the hotel environment, which historically has required many different systems to interact with each other, a lack of awareness of how much efficiency could be improved through the use of modern integrated systems, a historic preference for investing funds in FFE rather than in the systems themselves or in regular training for their users, and the difficulty of providing comprehensive, expert technical support at the individual property level for the multiple systems used there. Hospitality management systems have evolved into sophisticated, well integrated, multi-discipline tools capable of helping properties of all types and sizes attract more guests, generate more revenue and reach much-improved levels of efficiency. Years of development in expanding the capabilities of individual systems, together with improvements in both interface technology and vendor cooperation, have produced far more comprehensive and better-integrated systems that can now cover virtually all areas of even a complex resort property or a multi-property chain. This brings obvious benefits from having more complete and accurate data, both operationally and in regard to guests profile and history information. However, many properties handicap themselves through hanging on to systems well past their competitively useful life, greatly restricting their ability to implement such revenue-enhancing measures as taking Internet reservations, performing effective rate/revenue management, collecting more detailed guest data for customer relationship management and targeted marketing, and so on. Sometimes this comes from a lack of appreciation of their potential upside, but there is also often apprehension about the difficulty of integrating older but still valuable systems into a more modern, integrated whole. Current interface technologies go a long way to alleviating this issue, but many properties have found that the benefits from replacing valued older systems with a more comprehensive, integrated system outweigh the possible loss of some minor functionality. Another factor discouraging upgrades is that the more comprehensive systems can seem challenging to use. Certainly good user interface design, as much an art as a science, is something vendors continue to pursue through better data layouts, property-specific screen customizations, the subtle use of color and differing fonts to guide users through the logical sequence of operations, and so on. This is likely to be a continuing challenge in both guest and operations technology. Check-in kiosks and guestroom technology, for example, must be as intuitive to use as possible, for a wide range of guest ages and technical familiarity. Nevertheless, as far as hotel-management systems are concerned the disadvantages of an unintuitive user interface can be overcome through user training, yet many hotels handicap their users by not providing refresher training on at least an annual basis. In an industry with traditionally high staff turnover this virtually guarantees that the systems wont be used effectively, hindering the property from realizing the full return on its investment and maximizing its revenue. Further, as systems become more comprehensive and wide-ranging their support and security management become both more complex and more essential. Loss of access to the system through hardware, software or network failure is completely disruptive since equivalent manual procedures are now virtually impossible to implement quickly. It is very difficult for an individual property to afford in-house technical support personnel trained in all the systems it uses, yet many properties do not have support agreements with third party vendors that might pro-actively prevent imminent problems. More importantly, guest profile data is becoming an increasingly attractive target for identity theft, and attacks on computer systems containing it are becoming more focused and more sophisticated. In addition, legislation such as Sarbanes-Oxley holds corporate officers personally accountable for the accuracy of their financial data. Despite these factors, many systems do not provide audit trails of which user changed key configuration parameters. Further, although all systems track the user ID responsible for changes to guest data, many hotels fail to enforce control over the sharing of IDs and passwords among users, making it impossible to know who entered or modified specific data or sometimes even just whos signed on to the network. All of these factors encourage the movement towards more professional systems management; either from a corporate resource team shared among many properties or contracted out to a professional third party. Centralized revenue management teams, for example, can provide expert help to multiple properties in a regionally cohesive way. Centrally-hosted systems allow for highly-qualified technicians to provide a far more secure and managed systems environment than would be available to an individual property. This trend is expected to continue as awareness grows of the value of keeping systems operating at peak efficiency, and of the potential damage from security breaches. # 4 ISHC Top Ten Issue CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS THE IMPACT ON TRAVEL TRENDS The impact of changing demographics on travel trends is a so far reaching no sector in travel, tourism and hospitality remains unaffected. Whether the subject is the gradual retirement of baby boomers, rampant globalization and its impact on business travel, or the increased demand for experiential travel, the dramatic worldwide shift in demographics poses both challenges and opportunities. These recent and ongoing changes in the demographic environment hold major implications for the hospitality industry in particular. With regard to product and service offerings, hoteliers need to begin a strategy that addresses multi-generational needs, wants and desires. Now, more than ever, hoteliers must offer design and amenities that cater to the special needs of aging consumers (Baby Boomers), as well as younger travelers (Gen-X and Gen-Y), who have high expectations in regard to design and technology. The traditional practice of brand standardization flies in the face of this. Hoteliers must adapt and look for ways to enhance all guest experiences regardless of generation. On January 1, 2006 the first of Americas seventy-eight million baby boomers turned sixty-years old, while the last one turned forty. In fact, nearly 8,000 boomers are turning sixty on a daily basis, and according to US Census Bureau statistics, the number of boomers expected to be living in the year 2030 is 57.8 million. This is the year boomers will be between ages 66 and 84. What does this milestone mean for hoteliers? It means changing the way we have traditionally connected with the so-called senior market. Primarily because boomers will not grow old quietly as previous generations have. This is the generation that has, and will continue to redefine the traditional ideas of aging. Boomers will be more active in their retirement, firmly believing that 50s and 60s are now middle age. This is primarily due to longer life expectancies and significant improvements to overall health and well-being. Although boomers will continue to be important in both population and economical terms, the younger markets (the 49 million Gen Xers and 72 million Gen Y set) are now coming into their own, entering middle management positions, stepping into political offices, and assuming their rightful positions of influence and affluence. It is important for hoteliers to bring the generations together and begin to serve their different habits, patterns and needs. The successful model for true solutions will require long lead times, but here are some suggested approaches. Adopt a universal design approach that includes lower beds, brighter lighting, larger fonts, and walk-in showers that are all easier to use, yet hip, cool and high-tech so that younger consumers are drawn to their design. Offer choices that give customer options rather than pre-determined packages. Create experiences versus tours. This allows individuals or multi-generational groups to determine what best works and appeals to them. High-tech guestrooms must become the norm rather than the exception. Today, its all about Internet access, wireless environments, and flat-screen TVs on the walls. But hoteliers must strive to keep up with the relevant technology that is not only expected from the business traveler, but also the leisure and younger sets. The continual widespread adoption of technology by the public will continue to have impact on the consumer expectation of their hotel experience. While there will be an increase in health travel offerings targeting the aging population such as medical spas, the offerings should also include elements of adventure, spirituality, or stress management that will appeal to younger markets. And finally, consider creating a panel of half a dozen or more people from different age and cultural groups who are willing to talk with you on a regular basis about their concerns and experiences, while giving you honest feedback on your products and services. Only by knowing how the motivations of your customers are tied to the underlying values of the generation to which they belong will you be able to tailor your products and services to their needs, interests, and desires. Applied knowledgeably, that information will provide you with a key competitive advantage. # 5 ISHC Top Ten Issue THE FUTURE OF HOTEL PROFITS We can anticipate that it will become increasingly difficult to sustain profit growth and improved return on investment performance. And for several reasons including:1) increasing operating costs that will outpace the growth of Revenues Per Available Room (RevPAR). 2) the rising costs of capital and the need for reinvestment that will adversely affect hotel returns. 3) Increasing labor and benefits costs that are being driven by changes in demographics, government regulations and labor agreements, and 4) higher energy costs. In the US for example, according to Smith Travel Research, RevPAR growth has been robust over the last three years reaching a projected peak in 2006 at 8.9 percent. While there is some debate about exactly where the industry is in the current cycle, there appears to be a consensus that RevPAR growth has peaked. For 2007 Smith Travel Research is projecting growth of 7.1 percent, and with the threat of increased supply looming on the horizon, year over year RevPAR growth is expected to continue to decline. Rising interest rates and higher equity return requirements are anticipated to result in higher costs of capital. At the same time, reinvestment costs (capital expenditures) are increasing as existing supply ages. As a consequence, profits will be reduced and owner returns are expected to decline over the next 12 to 24 months. Labor costs are the number one factor impacting hotel expenses. They are being affected by: Changes in demographics that are expected to constrict the available labor pool; Government regulations (higher minimum wages, immigration constraints, and mandated healthcare); New labor agreements that include significant increases in wages and continued limits on the ability to cross train; and Higher benefit expenses resulting from increased health insurance costs and pension requirements. In 2005, utilities grew at a rate of 13.6 percent over the prior year according to PKF Hospitality Research. While oil prices have been falling in recent months they remain slightly above 2005 levels. Utility expenses are not expected to decline significantly during 2007, and as such will remain an area of concern impacting hotel profitability into the future. In some cases, the factors that have been identified as affecting hotel profitability are out of the control of individual hotel owners and operators, however, there are steps that can be taken to mitigate their impact. For example: by giving increased attention to yield management, operators can potentially increase their RevPAR; through creative financing and diligent oversight of capital expenditures operators can increase their return on investment; improved employee retention and the use of alternate labor sources such as retirees can help to contain employee labor costs; and the installation of new energy saving devices and more efficient design can help to control energy expense. # 6 ISHC Top Ten Issue BRANDING: Mitigating Consumer Confusion over Brand Proliferation and Investor Concerns over Cross-Brand Impact As most of us involved in hotel development and operations are aware, there has been an explosion of new hotel brands/products announced over the past three to four years. Aloft, Cambria, Indigo, Waldorf-Astoria, Hyatt Place, NYLO, Viceroy, Capella, and most recently 1, are but a few examples of this rabid expansion of product type among both the major hotel franchise companies and small start-ups or spin-off management firms trying to establish themselves as a brand. But, despite all the hype and promotion surrounding the roll-out of these new hotels products, and the promise that each will be unique and different from their existing or future competition through design, price point, service levels, amenities, and/or the mattress, do the vast majority of consumers really understand all of the products? Do they want them? And what about the existing hotel franchisee or owner faced with yet another brand competitor under an existing franchise umbrella that is first viewed as splitting the pie even further? What does it do to their demand base? How about the going concern value of their asset? Today, there are an estimated 140 + hotel brands, up from approximately 80 in 1995 and estimated 110 brands in 2000. Are all these brands and choices necessary? Are more brands better, or are we merely creating more confusion for an already confused customer base? The answer is probably yes and yes, but not necessarily negative. Much of the new product being launched is attempting to capture an evolving consumer whose tastes and preferences are changing as they age. The baby boom generation, Gen Xers and Yers, Millenniums, etc., all have demographic characteristics and psychographic needs that may or may not be satisfied by todays hotel products. So the idea is that these new brands and products will better meet these consumers evolving needs in sufficient quantity to be market and financially successful. In that light, the larger issue is what to do with the brands left behind. They never seem to go away! Perhaps thats where more thought and effort should be concentrated by industry consultants, investors and franchisors. On the other hand, in the case of start-up hotel companies such as, Kor, West Paces Hotel Group, which rolled out the Solis and Capella luxury brands under the leadership of a former Ritz Carlton executive, or most recently the 1 luxury brand, begs the question as to whether there is perhaps too much equity and debt capital chasing too few deals in a hot hotel market rather than a verifiable market need for a better mouse trap. From an existing hotel franchisee/operator perspective, how do the major franchise companies protect their existing franchise partners from the impact against these new products so that the new product is not cannibalizing the existing demand base, particularly when there are 10 to 15 years left on the existing operators franchise agreement? This is an on-going issue that continues to surface, but has yet to be resolved between franchisor and franchisee. Franchisee councils, 3rd party impact studies, and areas of protection are a few of the methods used to address this complex issue, but none have proven to be a panacea. In both cases, the onslaught of new brands is a cyclical one and tends to occur during the up and peak points of the hotel cycle. So it is likely that this proliferation will subside as the industry cycle matures or begins to decline. At that point, as we have seen too often, the new brands that were ill-conceived and lacking clear definition and marketability ultimately become the weaker performers which are then often absorbed by the stronger ones. Eventually, these same brands (and all the hotels bearing their name) that fail to capture sufficient consumer interest languish and trade down the food chain of franchise companies over time, or are broken up and sold off in pieces. These thoughts would suggest that, perhaps as an industry, we should focus more on creative alternative uses for marginal brands and properties as opposed to worrying about the new ones stealing existing business. # 7 ISHC Top Ten Issue DISTRIBUTION REVOLUTION In 2006, it is estimated that $24 billion worth of hotel rooms in the US alone will be booked through internet sites representing 27% of US hotel industry room revenues up from $15.5 billion just two years ago. Moreover, industry analysts estimate an additional 25 to 30% of all hotel bookings are influenced by online research. The bottom line is that the hospitality industry continues to experience a revolution in distribution, and organizations are less and less equipped to keep pace with the dramatic changes in this online landscape. As distribution via the Internet evolved many experts agreed that online presence helped level the playing field; that independent hotels and small hotel companies could compete in cyberspace with major brands. Today, the issue is not can they compete but can any hotel or hotel company keep pace with the colossal changes and innovations that flood the online world? At the property level the first challenge was to effectively (and more efficiently) manage a myriad of distribution channels from a tactical perspective. Certainly the efforts to do a better job at the tactical side of distribution management have paid off. Although theres still room for improvement in this regard, online inventory management and better application of rate integrity policies have certainly helped hotels take back control of their inventories and pricing. The newest challenge is represented in the strategic side of distribution management and more specifically the ability to understand, manage and market to the consumer in the online world. This playing field is changing so rapidly that it is virtually impossible to keep pace. Hospitality professionals, whether they be in ownership positions, senior management at corporate or a property level executive, must become online savvy. Without some understanding of the online consumers buying behavior, it is impossible to effectively level the playing field or allocate marketing dollars intelligently. From travel blogs to consumer reviews from travel oriented social networking to highly targeted, email based direct marketing from really simple syndication (RSS permits users to subscribe to their choice of Web content) to the use of rich media to differentiate hotel productall of these innovations are causing what PhocusWright terms the power shift toward consumers. The question is: Are hotels ready for this? In many cases our collective heads are still spinning from the first wave of online distribution challenges. Now hotels must be even savvier about every aspect of how their product reaches the consumer. Directors of Sales Marketing and Directors of Revenue Management must understand at least the basics of search engine optimization, pay-per-click marketing, link popularity strategies and web traffic analysis. Allocation of marketing budgets and resources must be carefully managed to optimize reach. And the connection (and

Personnel Profile Plan Essay

There are several steps an organization should take in order to change its personnel profile and there are different ways in performing this change. First and foremost what needs to be done is to project personnel needs. In projecting personnel needs the company or human resource department depending on the size of the organization, would design a profile of job expectations and qualifications for each position. This will give the company a tool to project vacancies and current staff demographics. The second step would be to develop a plan for achieving the desired personnel profile. In this step there are many different smaller steps and goals to achieve the ultimate goal. There are changes that need to be made internally such as; changing the organizational structure, changing the job design, using human resources to make personnel changes (performance appraisals, career planning, new positions), and using internal options with integrity (meaning that change is needed and not being manipulated). The third step in changing a personnel profile is implementing changes necessary to achieve the plan’s goals and objectives. In this step the human resources department should have their goals and objectives documented and their activities should be written out in full detail. In the final step monitor and evaluate the effects of change one should think this would be a self-explanatory rule however, in any company or organization when implementing new rules and making significant changes the company as a whole should want the progress monitored and this is why human resources have ways of collecting data and information in order to monitor and evaluate any effects the changes have had if any.

Is India Safe for India Women? Essay

Woman is the builder and moulder of a nation’s destiny. Though delicate and soft as a lily, she has a heart, far stronger and bolder than of man.She is the supreme inspiration for man’s onward march, an embodiment of love, pity and compassion, she is no doubt, her commanding personality; nevertheless, is given by solemn.Our women have a very great part to play in the progress of our country, as the mental and physical contact of women with life is much more lasting and comprehensive than that of men. Not for nothing was it said that ‘the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world’. In the apron strings of woman is hidden the revolutionary energy which can establish paradise on this earth.Women have generally been looked down upon with disdainful contempt. All sorts of strictures have been inflicted upon them, reducing their status to a mere play thing or a slave of man’s whims, a mere chattel to be dumb driven. They have been confined to the hearth a nd home. The orthodox male-oriented society in India has still not been able to adjust itself to the fresh wave of women’s liberation .But ours is still a male-dominated society. Women still continue to be exploited. There are still places where women are beaten, raped, and murdered without so much as a second thought practices.India is one of these places. A place that is both progressive on paper and in some urban areas but are also far behind in practice and in rural communities. What progress has already been made to protect women in India and what still needs to be done to ensure the equal treatment of women in all areas of India? Violence against women and girls represents a global health, economic development, and human rights problem. At least one out of every three women worldwide has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime, with rates of domestic violence reaching 70% in some countries. This abuse of women and their rights is something more developed countries are taking very seriously. Over 7,000 women in India will be murdered by their family or their husband’s family because of arguments about dowries. Violence against women is rooted in a global culture of discrimination which denies women equal rights with men and which legitimizes the appropriation of women’s bodies for individual gratification or political ends. Every year, violence in the home and the community devastates the lives of millions of women. The study of why and how women are treated they way they have been is a fairly recent study.In practice they are being denied their rights and privileges. In practical life they are neither given equal rights, or status nor opportunities.5ons are given preference and better treatment while daughters are considered as curse and liabilities. Their marriage is still a big problem and parents have to arrange for large dowries to get their daughters married. In some parts of the country the girl-infants are still killed. Women are still raped, molested, ill-treated humiliated, forced to adopt prostitution and burnt alive by their greedy in-laws. Even the educated and employed women have to depend on their husbands or in-laws for money etc. Employed women are the worst sufferers as they have to work hard both at home and in the office. Moreover, they don’t have control on their purses and earnings. a woman as a daughter, wife, mother, widow etc., has to live in eternal economic slavery. She is still actually not free to choose and make her destiny. They should rise in a body and wage a relentless struggle against injustice in its various forms. They should never think in terms of weaker and fair sex. The weak and helpless are destined to be ever exploited and discriminated against, they will have to raise, struggle and sweat for their rights, freedom, empowerment and economic independence. There is no room either for complexes or complacency. They should refuse to be treated as sex objects, a thing of domestic utility, as anatomically inferior or a movable biological asset of man in marriage. They should refuse to be used as sex- symbols and models to attract business. Let there be no beauty contests where they are used as instruments to attract attention sensually.

History of American Art essays

History of American Art essays The photographs of Gary Winogrand, William Eggleston, and Diane Arbus all interpret the social climate of America in the 1960s. Their photos are all in black and white, which makes them feel timeless and eternal as they depict people, places, and events. Some of Gary Winogrand's pictures simply show snapshots of American fashions in the 1960s. For example, his New York shot dated 1961 shows two women from an unusual angle. They are wearing sexy miniskirts, showing that the fashion of that time. The 1962 photo of a couple in New York City shows them standing outside a gate with a dog behind it. This captures an upper-middle class feeling. The 1964 shot of the World's Fair shows several people gossiping on a park bench. The atmosphere is joyous and lighthearted. However, some of Winogrand's photos include more social commentary. For example, his 1964 shot of a bi-racial couple at the Central Park Zoo has both the black man and white woman holding monkeys. This shot exhibits the ability for Americans to overcome racism but also hints that racism is still alive in America. Another picture, shot in Los Angeles in 1964, shows a man and a woman in a moving automobile. The male driver has a broken nose and the scene suggests that he was involved in some kind of fight. Winogrand's 1964 picture of the American Legion Convention in Dallas, Texas depicts a wounded man begging on the floor; he seems to be missing his legs. Finally, Winogrand took a stunning photograph of a 1969 peace demonstration in New York City. In the background are flag-waving demonstrators and in the foreground some policemen congregate. One of them is also holding a folded flag. This picture shows the conflicts in American culture during the Vietnam War. Like Gary Winogrand, Diane Arbus also took many of her photographs in New York City. Many of these simply show some social commentary. For instance, a boy is making a...

Learn the French Verb Conjugation for Attraper

Learn the French Verb Conjugation for Attraper In French, the verb attraper  means to catch or to pick up. What if you wanted to say I picked up? Then you would need to conjugate the verb into the past tense, which is either jattrapais or jai attrapà ©. There are, of course, other conjugations for  attraper  which French students will want to know. A quick lesson in transforming it to match the present, future, and past tenses will help. Conjugating the French Verb  Attraper Attraper  is a  regular -ER verb. This means that its relatively easy to conjugate because it follows a prescribed pattern. Once you learn which endings to use, you can apply that knowledge to similar verbs such as  attacher  (to attach) and  blesser (to hurt). In order to find the correct conjugation, use the chart and pair the subject pronoun the I, you, we, etc., or in French  j, tu, nous   with the appropriate tense for your sentence. For example, I catch is jattrape and we will pick up is nous attraperons. Subject Present Future Imperfect j attrape attraperai attrapais tu attrapes attraperas attrapais il attrape attrapera attrapait nous attrapons attraperons attrapions vous attrapez attraperez attrapiez ils attrapent attraperont attrapaient The Present Participle of  Attraper The  present participle  of attraper  is a verb, but it can also act as an adjective, gerund, or noun when needed. To make this change, we simply replace the -er  with -ant  to form the word attrapant. Another Past Tense of  Attraper You have two options when using attraper  in the past tense. One is the imperfect and the other is  known as passà © composà ©, which is more common and a little easier. In order to use the passà © composà ©, you will need two elements. First, is the appropriate conjugate for  avoir,  which is an  auxiliary verb. Second is the  past participle  attrapà ©Ã‚  and this does not change with the subject pronoun. As an example, to say I picked up in French, you will use jai attrapà ©. In a similar fashion, we caught is nous avons attrapà ©. Notice how the  ai  and  avons  are the conjugates of  avoir. More  Attraper  Conjugations When you are starting out, feel free to concentrate on the present, future, and past tenses of  attraper. As you dive further into French, you may also find a need for some of the following verb forms. You will find the subjunctive and conditional useful when the action is suspect, in question, or uncertain. The passà © simple and imperfect subjunctive are primarily found in formal writing. While these are not common, its good to at least be able to recognize them and associate them with  attraper. Subject Subjunctive Conditional Pass Simple Imperfect Subjunctive j attrape attraperais attrapai attrapasse tu attrapes attraperais attrapas attrapasses il attrape attraperait attrapa attrapt nous attrapions attraperions attrapmes attrapassions vous attrapiez attraperiez attraptes attrapassiez ils attrapent attraperaient attraprent attrapassent One final verb form is helpful to know and that is the imperative. This is used in direct requests and demands and theres no need to use the pronoun here. Instead of tu attrape, simplify it to attrape. Imperative (tu) attrape (nous) attrapons (vous) attrapez

Roman Empire Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Roman Empire - Essay Example 136 ) marks a significant episode in Rome’s military history, for they nearly lost the war to Hannibal, a great Carthaginian general. With the defeat of Hannibal at Zama by the Roman general Scipio, and the experience gained during the war, Rome appears to have learnt a lot from it and harbored bitter feelings at least for Carthage for the damages Hannibal caused; ravaging much of their homeland and leaving it in a deplorable state. The effect of this was to be seen in the manner in which Rome later formulated strategies, for tactical reasons, in handling her allies and foes in an attempt to expand and consolidate her empire. Indeed, it is the Punic wars that saw the rise of the Roman Empire and echoed the thud falling of the republic. With the fall of Carthage, The Romans inflicted severe punishment on her, an attempt which was meant to ensure that Carthage remained subservient. In the treaty signed between the two, Carthage agreed to Scipio’s terms which required her to pay Rome an indemnity of 10,000 talents in the subsequent five decades. In addition, Carthage was not to enter into any war without Rome’s consent and was to surrender her navy; all her warships and elephants (Koeller 2005).This defeat, coupled with the unfriendly Scipio’s terms, humbled Carthage and the Romans felt that the punishment rendered her toothless and that she was never to bite again, leave alone bark at Rome. In using this approach, Rome successfully managed to tame and robe Carthage of her political power making her to coil her tail, but not for long. Rome was not done with Carthage just yet. In a move seen as one to expand its empire, Rome turned its rage on the Kingdoms that did offer support to Hannibal during the war. Such were the kingdom of Macedon and some parts of Greece .This also saw the Mediterranean islands and Spain cede to Rome. Another score card at Rome’s disposal that came into effect during this period was the adoption of a rapa cious and brutal foreign policy: diplomacy based on trickery rather than on true valor. Lewis and Reinhold 1990 p. 202-203 provides succinctly how Rome, with their act of deceit, hoodwinked king Perseus, tactfully, with a scheme that saw him disadvantaged in a war Rome undeservingly won. Reporting their mission to the senate, notes Reinhold and Lewis, Marcius and Atillus were acknowledged for having shown skillful management in the execution of their mandate and their mission was approved. Though not a unilateral senate decision (with the older senators not amused with this decision terming it contrary to Roman traditions), the cunning diplomacy saw the day. It is in light of the above perhaps, that ruthless oppression became synonymous to Roman rule as seen in the acts of such individuals as Servius Salpicius Galba, the praetor of Farther Spain. Galba, during the war with the Lusitanians, committed a terrible atrocity, one which Reinhold terms as ‘treacherous annihilation of a disarmed populace.’ Disguised as a peace maker and a sympathizer to the Lusitanians, Galba cunningly laid a snare in which his prey unsuspectingly got trapped. Defenseless and disadvantaged as they were, the Lusitanians were easily slewed by the Roman soldiers. This unfriendly Rome’s foreign policy subjected onto uninviting kingdoms appears to have worked in Rome’

Humanities II week one Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Humanities II week one - Essay Example His explanation is "If all men were good this precept would not be a good one but as they are bad and would not observe their faith with you, so you are not bound to keep faith with them† (Cunningham, & Reich, 2010, p.290). At present, I believe that there are Machiavellian politicians today and they are Adolf Hitler and Napoleon Bonaparte. Adolf Hitler is a Machiavellian politician, because he criticized the role of the Church in society. It is unclear what Hitler’s religion is, though in principle, he admired Christian heritage, German Christian culture, and an Aryan Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, as shown in the Holocaust and some resources, he was bent to destroy the influences of Christianity and Judaism on his subordinates. This indicates his desire to control the Church and subjugate it under his political leadership. Furthermore, Hitler is Machiavellian, because he led with his mind and ruthlessness. He was a brilliant military leader who won several wars across Eur ope and developed widespread control in a small duration of time. He is also renowned as a seasoned politician, who knows what to say to inspire his people to support him. The German rearmament program gave full employment and an unreserved expansion of production, which strengthened by his foreign policy successes, through the Rome-Berlin pact of 1936, the Anschluss with Austria and the "liberation" of the Sudeten Germans in 1938, made Hitler popular and powerful. Hitler also used the Holocaust to advance racial cleansing. He believed that no matter how inhumane it was, it was part of the means to political greatness. Hence, Hitler justified the need for power to rationalize his means to his ends. Napoleon Bonaparte is Machiavellian, because he influenced the Church to reduce its hold on the people. Like Machiavelli, Napoleon believed that religion is like cement which can bond society together. According to Napoleon, religion advanced national unity and stopped class war; it made people weak and obedient. Unlike Machiavelli, however, he wanted to unite the State and the Church. He negotiated an agreement with the Pope. The Concordat of 1801 distinguished Catholicism as the favored religion of France, but not the state religion. The clergy would be chosen and paid by the State, but consecrated by the Church. Despite these laws, Napoleon was able to a have tighter leash on religion. In addition, Napoleon also addressed opposition with grand promises of success of his ruling. He is also a fox like Hitler, when dealing with his enemies. Lastly, Napoleon is also Machiavellian, because of his views of power. Even after being an Emperor of France in 1804, for the next eight years Napoleon dominated Europe through battling with a wide range of alliances, such as the combinations of Austria, Britain, Russia and Prussia. Many of his military victories were shrewdly planned. He believed in his power to stay in power and to keep his ruling intact. Adolf Hitler and Napol eon Bonaparte are Machiavellian politicians, because they were the fox and the lion. They ruled and expanded their dominions through power and persuasion. They were influential speakers and affected their people emotionally. Furthermore,