Health Care Cost Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Health Care Cost - Essay Example Employers can offer discount medicine programs, which trim down prescription costs. They can also offer education with reference to the emergency room so that workers can have the knowledge of the existence of urgent-care institutions within pharmacies and stores, along with physician hotlines available 24/7 that they can utilize resourcefully than visiting the ER each time their families or them experience minor symptoms (Wyman, 2012). Employers can have a proper incentive design that directs workers to choices that have the lowest-cost first to reward excellent purchasing conduct that is vital to price containment. Employers can shop for insurance because they get the chance to shift carriers one third of the moment in time. Employers can offer to pay for workers’ wellness such as online healthiness risk evaluations and blood reports since they save on some cash and teach them on their healthiness, make them conscious of apprehensions and inspire them to live better lives. Employers can utilize brokers who are experts in healthcare and has the aptitude to look for methods to support the company and workers while offering pioneering initiatives and applications for newfangled technology (Wyman,

Wartime Film Essay Example for Free

Wartime Film Essay If, in the midst of the true-life films all through World War II, the British films were exemplified or distinguished by their humanistic vision of man’s capability to tolerate and triumph, and the Nazi films by their intimidating bellicosity and aggression, the American films were well-known equally for their bold, nationalistic and perceptive or insightful justification of why the Americans were fighting, and for their complicated yet refined cinematic artistry. The wartime true-life film propaganda of Allied and Axis nations alike show an exaggerated depiction or representation of society, morals and power. The American films illustrate an influential and virtuous state, confident in its future to save and protect humankind from oppression, cruelty or autocracy. Based on an account made by Allan M. Winkler (1978), the propaganda used during these times â€Å"reflected the way that most ordinary Americans viewed themselves as they worked to defeat the Axis powers. † He also adds that â€Å"in the end, American propaganda reflected American policy, and indeed America itself. † A lot of of the true-life films finished throughout World War II were described or illustrated by the unchanged traits that famed the feature films of the earlier decade. They were sentimental and corny, witty and intelligent, simplistic and superficial, hard-hitting and zealous. In addition to this, not like the American true-life films of the 1930s created mainly by individual or group filmmakers on the East coast, several of the films during the period of war were completed, under the administration of Washington, by Hollywood experts in the world’s motion picture capital. This venture or project concerned an extraordinary partnership involving industry and government. As Americans were drafted into the armed forces service, so too, were cinematographers, writers, editors, and directors of Hollywood and individual films drafted into the motion picture units of military, with the resources of dominant distributors, studios, film archives and motion picture tools producers put at their disposal. The Hollywood part of this endeavor was corresponded by the War Activities Committee of the Motion Picture Industry, which was structured into seven divisions that replicated the multifaceted American motion picture industry such as distributors, theaters, newsreels, trade press, public relations, foreign markets and Hollywood production. Together with Washington were the dominant government agencies such as Justice, Inter-American Affairs, Interior, Agricultural, Treasury, State, Transportation, Civilian Defense, and definitely including War, War Information, War Production Board, and War Relocation Authority. Collectively, the movie industry and the government created or formed an astounding amount of movies of various categories or types for several functions. Several offer documentary accounts of battle and struggle, others demonstrate the national offerings to the war effort, and still others give tribute to a person’s courage, strength and valor. In the Untied States, the solitary Allied country unscathed by hostilities and war activity inside its continental boundaries, civilians had to rely for their war reports on private communication from armed personnel in the war zones, newspapers, journals, motion pictures, radio, or media prepared by the Office of War Information. National television broadcasting, the primary or main source of public information in the Vietnam War, was not present in the 1940s, and neither did the idea or notion of the â€Å"living room war. † Certainly, though their weekly attendance at the movie theaters, viewers were able to observe up-to-date newsreels and government combat movies or pictures, as well as narrative films, which offered or presented information, amusement, and getaway from their apprehensions or concerns with regards to the war. The joint venture linking Hollywood and Washington made certain or guaranteed a steady flow of suitable and well-timed information to film screens in the nation’s theaters, civilian hospitals, to industrial plants and to military camps. These movies helped Americans appreciate the very important significance of several new things, as well as the need for struggle in areas they had by no means heard of before, twenty-four-hour industrial assembly, and food rationing. This information not only informed and educated the public, but also encouraged their munificent support of the war effort. During the war, turnout was soaring at local motion picture theaters, which demonstrate to be an ideal location for advertising and selling war bonds or for accumulating financial support for such reasons or functions as war relief. In the United States, gathering support for the war endeavor was not at all times trouble-free, for numerous Americans had not only a rugged isolationist predisposition, but also a deep-rooted suspicion and disbelief in the United States administration propaganda. Industry and government leaders, who were overwhelmed by the Nazi and British film programs, were certain that film could be successful in informing the predominantly isolationist Americans of how, where, when and why they were combating and thus awaken their patriotic sympathies. According to Elmer Davis (1968), the wartime head of the Office of War Information (OWI), there were at least three other complications or hindrances to film production during the period of war. The hazard that the propaganda is a sign of partisan views particularly that of the president’s. The deficiency of military collaboration and teamwork in gathering and reporting facts, especially when it might aid or give comfort to enemy; and the belief among some members of the press that they should be free to gather the news without having to rely on a government spokesperson. During the Second World War, true-life film helped and gave support to the unification of the public in its loyalty and nationalism and to promote its support of military participation. Even though Allied films do not idealize war, they attempt to justify World War II by explaining it in clear, non-ambiguous terms. Still, bound together by a common goal, freedom from Fascist aggression and tyranny, Allied filmmakers often set aside logic and convention, as well as civic and personal values, to support the overriding idea of victory over the enemy. One of the most significant tasks of narrative feature film war propaganda, or war propaganda in general, is to create specific role models through whom filmmakers create or reinforce important values. Particularly in World War II when American pro-war propaganda films experienced their heyday, the government knew it needed to overcome an ingrained American trait: stubborn individuality. Audiences had to be shown that although in peace time, â€Å"doing one’s own thing† was an acceptable, even praiseworthy, American entrepreneurial virtue, team play and regimentation are more desirable goals in wartime. In John Ford’s â€Å"They Were Expendable† (1945), John Wayne depicts or portrays an archetypal model of the strong individualist faced with a conversion decision. Tired of no-glory milk runs in the P. T. boats to which he was assigned, Wayne wants a transfer. He’s convinced that his ambitions can only be served if he is reassigned to a destroyer, where he can make a name for himself. He even goes so far to fill out a transfer application, but tears it up when he hears the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. His ambition and search for glory must wait. Similarly, Robert Montgomery, Wayne’s P. T. boat squadron commander, is aggravated by his admiral’s reluctance to use P. T. ’s on combat missions. On one instance, the admiral, in prototypical World War II pep talk, uses a sports analogy to remind Montgomery of the need for teamwork. â€Å"You and I are professionals, if the manager says ‘sacrifice’. We lay down a bunt and let somebody else hit the home runs. † Duly chastised, Montgomery adjusts his attitude. Correspondingly, in â€Å"Crash Dive† (1943), Tyrone Power is resentful for being transferred to submarine service, especially since he has recently made a name for himself in P. T. boats, his favorite naval craft. But, through various espirit de corps-building experiences on board the submarine, the hardheaded role in the team effort to win the war. At the conclusion, with patriotic music rising in the background, Power recites a litany of naval craft, from P. T. ’s to battleships to carriers, extolling their individual contributions to team victory. Regardless of era, these films state clearly that individualism must take a back seat to the needs of the military organizations. In the American movies, the audiences are also thought from selfish to being selfless. As such, there is a great resemblance between John Carroll in â€Å"The Flying Tigers† (1942) and the characters in the previous section. Like Edmund O’Brien and James Cagney, Carroll plays a veteran pilot not used to taking orders, very short on cooperation and obedience. But Carroll offers a bridge from the previous category to this one because of his motivation: Primarily, he’s a modern-day bounty hunter out strictly for the money paid to Flying Tigers for each Japanese plane they shoot down. Unlike the other Tigers, who, like Texan Jimmy Dodd, agree that â€Å"Where I come from there doesn’t have to be a bounty on a rattlesnake to kill him,† Carroll is selfish and is only motivated by money. He abandons wingmen if he can shoot down another plane, takes reckless chances, and endangers others, all for money. But when he sees the results of Japanese bombing of an orphanage, his outlook widens. And when his irresponsibility causes the death of a fellow Tiger, Carroll repents and takes on an expiative suicide mission. Similarly, three 1943 film heroes, George Montgomery in â€Å"China Girl†, Alan Ladd in â€Å"China†, and Ward Bond in â€Å"Hitler: Dead or Alive, are concerned solely with money at the outset of their adventures. Montgomery, a salty photojournalist, is out to document the war for fame and tidy profit, and, like Carroll, is unconcerned about what is happening to the Chinese people he photographs. Ladd sells truckloads of gasoline to anyone who will pay, Chinese guerillas or the Japanese. When both protagonists experience the love of Eurasian women (Gene Tierney and Loretta Young, respectively), and witness first-hand Japanese atrocities committed against Chinese civilians, they put aside profits and personal security and protection and join the Chinese guerillas. In â€Å"Hitler: Dead of Alive†, a predominantly silly grade-B hooligan adventure movie, Ward Bond is a criminal world â€Å"big-shot† who, along with two other hooligans, accepts a million dollar agreement, let by a rich American entrepreneur to kill in cold blood or kidnap Adolph Hitler. At first only concerned with the money, Bond witnesses a Nazi â€Å"blood purge,† the killing of innocent women and children. Horrified, he discards the chance to kill Hitler. As an alternative, Bond tries no discuss an end to the war in return for the â€Å"fuhrer†, whom he has kidnapped. This unselfish effort fails, and Bond dies. But in memory of Bond’s endeavor, the industrialist nevertheless â€Å"pays off† the hooligan by making a contribution of a million dollars worth of planes to the war endeavor. In addition to this, the viewers through the films during the wartime were taught from being cowards to heroes. In Act III of Julius Caesar, â€Å"Cowards die many times before their deaths, the valiant never taste death but once† (Shakespeare, 29). Films portraying an assortment of wars have constantly managed to deal with those who faced fear and mastered it. War propaganda must address the subject of fear, and supply its audiences with reasons sufficient to convince peaceful men to engage in mortal combat. Patriotism, responsibility, revenge, espirit de corps, and other motivations are presented as explanation or rationalization for risking one’s life. Object lessons about fearful men are most helpful. That is why one of the frequently heard stock discussions in combat movies is the one in which as soldier new to combat is surprise to discover that the old sarge, or the captain is sacred too. In two occupied-country war movies, Charles Laughton in â€Å"This Land is Mine† (1943) and Roman Bohnen in â€Å"The Edge of Darkness† (1943) represent men for whom courage is a foreign concept. Although an adult in his forties, Laughton’s character is a â€Å"mamby-pamby mama’s boy†, afraid of everything, especially guns and hostility. But he lives in busy France throughout World War II, and Nazi mayhem and associated air raids are ordinary occurrences. A schoolteacher, Laughton is ashamed of himself, because he is a poor example to his students, who show no respect and mock him. But as soon as his headmaster and mentor, who had advocated or recommended him to develop into a positive model to his students, is killed by the Nazis as a retaliation for resistance activities in the area, Laughton turns out to be both furious and courageous. He candidly speaks out in opposition to the enemy, influencing the townspeople to join the fight and engage in resistance and sabotage. His students now look on him with pride and admiration. Immediately before the Germans guide him out of his classroom to be shot, he reads the French Declaration of the Rights of men to his pupils. When he is gone, he leaves a classroom complete of new young zealots for the cause of liberty. Roman Bohnen plays a salesperson in Norway in â€Å"The Edge of Darkness†. Different from Laughton, he has constantly been vocal in his hate for the Germans, and pictures himself as a soldier executing all of them. But Bohnen’s character is all harangue and chatter. In a face-to-face disagreement with a group of disdainful German troops, he has the chance to courageously say to the Nazis what he believes or thinks of them. But he becomes so frightened he can say nothing. The significance or meaning of the film is that even though as individuals, people are hard pushed to stand up to such an attacker, if each and everybody stands together, they can succeed. So when the whole village rises up as one against the Nazis, Bohnen takes his place among the men, picks up a rifle, and becomes conscious his daydreams. He unites his fellow townspeople in the annihilation of the whole German defense force. Furthermore, films were a sign of the mood of its audience when the unconcerned were portrayed and became concerned. This class or group of character conversion is moderately comparable to the selfish-selfless conversion, in view of the fact that in these situations or circumstances, concern with one’s self is often tied to a singular lack of concern for anything else. Unquestionably, Alan Ladd in â€Å"China† and George Montgomery in â€Å"China Girl† both were mainly concerned with money and fame but the unnecessary massacre of the Chinese had as much to do with their change to the reason as did the encouragements of Loretta Young and Gene Tierney. In addition to these films, Tallulah Bankhead in â€Å"Lifeboat† (1944) and Henry Hull in â€Å"Objective Burma† (1945) play journalists more interested in filing sensational stories than in the issues and outcomes of the war. Instead of helping victims of a U-Boat assault into her lifeboat, Bankhead receives movies and curses when John Hodiak unintentionally knocks her camera into the water. Hull, somewhat anti-military, uninterested and for the most part concerned with a good story, goes along with Errol Flynn on a paratrooper raid into Japanese-held territory. Despite their wishes to remain onlookers, both characters cease to be objective chroniclers and become active participants in events. The demure Bankhead in the end joins the others in savagely murdering their Nazi lifeboat-mate in retaliation for the execution of an injured man. Hull observes the remnants of American troops viciously tormented by the Japanese. Losing his usual or customary worldly cool, wilde-eyed and shaking he shouts, â€Å"Stinking little savages! Wipe ‘em out! Wipe ‘em off the face of the earth! † Earlier than the war, particularly, the documentary genre was dominantly concerned with motivating productive and significant thinking and with determining or scattering opinions and thoughts for the good of mankind. The greater part of true-life films created throughout the war were also concerned with teaching and information, but they were based on the basic principles, morals, ethics or values of the countries which created them. They may not have called upon the viewers to think critically or to depict rational conclusions, but they were swift to be virtuous regarding their own purposes, motivations and inspirations or to pass decision on the motives of their adversaries (Barsam, 175). Works Cited China. 1943. John Farrow, April 21. China Girl. 1943. Henry Hathaway, December 9. Crash Dive. 1943. Archie Mayo, April 22. The Edge of Darkness. 1943. Lewis Milestone, April 24. The Flying Tigers. 1942. David Miller, October 8. Hitler: Dead of Alive. 1943. Nick Grinde, April 3. The Land Is Mine. 1943. Jean Renoir, May 7. Lifeboat. 1944. Alfred Hitchcock, January 12. Objective, Burma! 1945. Raoul Walsh, February 17. They Were Expendable. 1945. John Ford, December 30. Barsam, Richard Meran. Nonfiction Film: A Critical History. USA: Richard Meran Barsam, 1992. Davis, Elmer. Report to the President. Journalism Monographs No. 7 (August 1968). Shakespeare, William. Julius Caesar. New York: Dover Publications, Inc. , 1991. Winkler, Allan M. The Politics of Propaganda: The Office of War Information, 1942-1945. Yale University Press, 1978.

Strategic Business Management and Planning of IKEA

Strategic Business Management and Planning of IKEA IKEA has its roots in Smaland, historically one of Swedens poorest regions, so hard work and economizing with resources have always been a part of its heritage. The influence can be seen in products and value-system. Based on deep knowledge of peoples lives at home, IKEA offers good quality, durable and functional home furnishing products for everyday life today. IKEA continues to learn from, and develop with co-workers, customers, suppliers and other partners in 41 countries. The policy is to make out a lot out of very little. Since it was founded IKEA has always had the concern for people and the environment. The IKEA vision to create a better everyday life for the many people puts this concern at the heart of the business. IKEA has responded to the publics rising concern for sustainability in its choice of product range, suppliers, stores and communication. It has also spotted business potential in providing sustainable solutions. Contents Table of Contents Introduction IKEA is an internationally known home furnishing retailer with fully integrated supply chain including its own industrial groups Swedwood Swedspan. The IKEA Group directly or indirectly also owns retail centres, always with an IKEA store as a unique anchor tenant. It has grown rapidly since it was founded in 1943. Today it is the worlds largest retailer, recognized for its Scandinavian style. The majority of IKEAs furniture is flat pack, ready to be assembled by the consumer. This allows reduction in costs and packaging. IKEA stores include restaurants and cafes serving typical Swedish food. They also have small food shops selling Swedish groceries, everything from the famous meatballs to jam. The IKEA group works in four basic areas: range strategy product development, production, supply and retail. Low prices are one of the cornerstones of the IKEA concept and help to make customers want to buy from IKEA. This low strategy is coupled with a wide range of well designed, functional products. IKEAs products cater from every lifestyle and life stage of its customers, who come from all age groups and types of households. This has become the vital feature when the retail sector is depressed, as it increases IKEAs potential market. Why IKEA? Walking into an IKEA is like walking into a whole new world, its a wildly different experience when I visited the IKEA store for the first time. Its an incredible value for money. IKEA offers a tremendous bargain to the savvy buyer you just have to pick wisely. Many of IKEAs product ranges are component based, meaning that the parts and pieces that make up the whole are sold separately, so lots of flexibility. Low price, but not at any price is IKEAs motto when it comes to social environmental responsibility. IKEA works toward using the least amount of resources possible and as many renewable and recyclable material as possible in their products. While price is a prime consideration neither safety nor quality are compromised in the pursuit of a low price. One of the fundamental reasons that IKEA is able to sell for less is that they expect and require you to do part of the work yourself. The IKEA group has developed an environmental policy to ensure that the company and its co-workers take environmental responsibility for all activities conducted within its business. Marketing Strategy Your partner in better living. We do our part, you do yours. Together we save money. Internet, T.V., Newspapers, magazines. Catalog being the main marketing instrument. IKEAs success is based on principal marketing strategies that remain the same throughout the world, which include a catalogue that is printed in 17 languages and the use of the colors of the Swedish flag blue and yellow in IKEA logo. This is combined with an emphasis on customer freedom and choice with regard to buying and taking home products, and low prices intend to create a sale mentality amongst customers. This aggressive price strategy coupled with a wide product range catering for every potential lifestyle and life stage of a consumer, can best summarize the companys recipe for success. General Marketing Strategy To describe IKEAs marketing strategy it is necessary to start with its business concept as formulated in IKEAs mission (IKEA 12 Jan 2009).IKEA offers a wide range of well designed, functional home furnishing products at prices so low that as many people as possible can afford. The key words in the business mission, address several marketing aspects and the marketing strategy can be seen to emanate from it. One central theme is the alleged standardized approach of IKEA: IKEAs guiding principle is to work in the same way in every country within which it operates. SWOT Analysis IKEAs goals of sustainability and environmental design are central to its business strategy. It has launched a new sustainability plan to take the company through to 2015. This will combine social, environmental and economic issues. IKEA uses SWOT analysis to help it reach its objectives. This is a strategic planning tool. It helps the business to focus on key issues. SWOT is the first stage of planning and looks at the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats involved in a project or business venture. Strength and weaknesses are internal aspects. This means they are within the control of the business. They may refer to aspects of marketing, finance, manufacturing or organization. Opportunities and threats are external factors. This means that they are outside the control of the business. These may include the environment, the economic situation, social changes or technological advances, such as the internet. (Johnson, 2005) Strengths Every company needs to analyze its strengths so that the company can overcome its shortcomings and can increase its profits. IKEA attracts key consumer groups as it is a strong global brand. It promises good quality and price. It offers wide range of well designed, functional products at low prices. It is important to have good relations between suppliers, retailers and customers. Ikeas adopt strategic schemes of work based on relationship marketing which aspire to make better customer devotion and long term relationship with suppliers. Here the Porters Five Forces (Appendix 2) model can be applied. In relation to buyer power in the company IKEA seeks to enhance customer loyalty and make good relations with existing customers while aiming at winning new customers also and tying them into long term relationships with companies. To result this IKEA provides nursing rooms and playgrounds for parents to make sure that the children have positive experience at the outlets and offering home delivery. It also provides a hotline for customers who have troubles with the assembly or missing parts. According to Five Forces Model of Porter (Appendix 2), the substitute products are matter of searching for other products which can perform the same function as the product of the industry. While furniture cannot be the substituted product by the majority of people. Therefore IKEA has the nature of supplying them and the manner in which products or services can be supplied, have become highly substitutable with technological developments. IKEA organizes the furniture in its store in such a way that the customers would not need to try on the furniture to see if they fit and look good in their rooms and computer imaging could allow the creation of virtual rooms. By this the suitability of purchasing of products also increases. The emergence on e-shopping method is another example that IKEA applied and will continuously shape traditional furniture retailers competitive positions in the market. Such strategies have yet remained underutilized and such substitutes have yet become part of t heir competitive strategies. Weakness IKEA has to grant its weaknesses so as to improve and manage them. This will help to set its objectives and developing new strategies. The size and scale of its global business can be one of its weaknesses. It could make it hard to control standards and quality. In some countries, they do not execute the legislation to control working condition, where IKEA products are made. This shows a weak link in IKEAs supply chain, disturbing consumer views of IKEAs products. IKEA needs to balance between the low costs and good quality products. It doesnt differentiate itself and its products with other competitors. It believes that there is nothing to compromise between good quality products and low prices. It must keep good quality relations with the customers and the stakeholders about its environmental actions. To enable business to communicate with different target audiences IKEA produces publications in print and online (eg People and the Environment) and carries out major TV and radio cam paigns. It operates in a highly competitive industry, characterized by small family-run businesses producing low cost which include other low priced furniture producers characterized by designs that are expensive which results in small-scale production for the local market. Besides this, a few large retailers such as Nova, Courts and Furniture mall enjoying economies of scale to compete effectively as they are producing affordable products. It can be seen that the competition of rivals is intense with IKEA and Porters Five Forces can be applied. It has seen that there are the differences of opinion concerning product offerings and positioning. Opportunities Every business take an advantage of opportunities that arise uses its strengths. IKEA believes that resulting in good conducts even in a price sensitive market it should conduct environmentally focused business. As the company states that the customers live more suitable life at home as there is a true business potential for IKEA in providing solutions to them. IKEA is recycling and reusing the used products and is developing effective solutions for customers to support them, aiming at producing new IKEA products with recycled materials. IKEA has some of the opportunities that take advantage of through its sustainability agenda are- increasing demands of greener products, increasing demand for low priced products. The customers may switch from more expensive stores to IKEA by seeing the trends in current financial climate. IKEA gives online tips and suggestions for sustainable life at home. To be open with all its stakeholders IKEA builds trust with its consumers, co-workers, key opi nion farmers and press through good communication. It organizes programmes to reduce its use of water. IKEA also focuses on developing social responsibility; here IKEA applied Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy, its policy includes support for charities such as World Wide Fund, UNICEF and Save the Children. IKEAs relationships are redefined by IWAY policies and practices with suppliers with more effective way. The actions of IKEA in response to the crises of 1995 were very appropriate as the company made a realization that it would be in their best interest to think long term instead of short term. Threats IKEA can use a particular strength in defending against threats in the market. If a company is aware of its threats it can plan to counteract them. By applying PESTEL Framework (Appendix 3), IKEA has threats in social factors. IKEA gives suggestions to the customers for more sustainable life by online. Because of this the customers would reduce their impact on the environment although it saves money. IKEA is large enough to enjoy economies of scale. This lowers average costs in the long run through, for example, effective use of technology or employing expert managers. Economies of scale also give a business a competitive perimeter if cost savings are then conceded on to customers in the figure of lower prices. For the smaller companies entering into the market this puts up high Barriers to Entry (Appendix 2). Economic factors, part of PESTEL Framework (Appendix 3), can also be applied here as in tough times IKEA create an appeal amongst its customers as it provides low prices. When the retail sector is depressed it is better to low cost as much as possible. Consumers come with limited financial resources because of the IKEAs pricing strategy. Its products will also demand to those with higher budgets through good quality and design. The company must make sure that it is always recognized in the future as having lowest cost on the market. Communication plays an important role here. There is an overall threat to the performance of the business in UK and American markets due to global depression there is over rising of living costs and depleting disposable income. Conclusion With hundreds of stores across the world IKEA is a well known global brand. It must charge its external and competitive environment in order to improve performance. By this it can reveal the key opportunities and the threats it can deal with. IKEAs passion combines design, economical use of resources, low prices and responsibility for people and the environment. IKEA tries to go ahead of profitability and reputation. It develops a sustainable business (Appendix 1). This will make an enhanced daily life for its customers. IKEA has exposed a business truth- being sustainable and accountable is not just good for customers and the planet; it is also excellent for business. A steady development of the IKEA retail business appears to be the focus for the company in the near future, with strategies unlikely to include aggressive expansion into new areas, but rather building and developing in old. (The United Kingdom, 2005). However development of e-commerce some changes may be seen. As IKEA is already assured that its products are of good quality and craftsmanship, the consumers may prefer to but its products through Internet. IKEA has also adopted an insistent expansion-based strategy more than the last few years, although the flaw of the external consumer market means that sales growth in excess of the next few years should remain relatively reserved.

Essay --

That  was  my  Intermediate  classroom  and  the  physics  session  on  Electrical  potential  was  going  on, when  we  were  shown  the  photo  that  depicts  the  effects  of  Equi ­potential  points  of  electricity.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"THE  SEQUOIA  NATIONAL  PARK’S  LIGHTENING  INCIDENT.† As  teenagers,  we  found  the  woman’s  hair ­rising  photo  humorous.  All  the  giggling  stopped  once when  we  were  shown  what  followed  next.  The  horrific  incident  of  lightning  has  killed  people  and these  incidents  still  keep  happening  now  at  the  same  place  in  the  same  way.  When  my  peeps  were all   having   the   shocked   faces   worn   on,   I   for   once   acted   like   a   science   geek    ­Ã‚   â€Å"Thinking   of possibilities  for   every   cause   and   effect.†Ã‚  The   virtual   lightning   bolt  stuck  me   immediately   and  I started  thinking,  if  this  is  a  regular  phenomenon,  why  can’t  we  use  the  lightning  strikes  to  power ­ up  the  surrounding  places?  And  what  if  we  can  synthesize  them  artificially? And  my  obsession  with  this  effect  started  then  and  is  continued  till  this  date.  While  growing  up, this   obsession   of   mine   took   a   matured   form   and   is   acting   as   a   driving   force   to   pursue   my graduation  in  Electronics. I   have   always   had   an   open   mind   and   enjoyed   learning.   Fortunately,   I   grew   up   in   an environment   which   stimulated   this   sense   of   constant   discovery.   My   parents   and   teachers encouraged  my  inquisitive  nature  and  helped  me  find  my  feet.  My  father,  who  is  the  backbone  of my  education,  has  helped  me  improve  my  English  language  by  joining  me  in  the  Communication skills   and  Personality   development   course   at  Osmania   university's  Centre  for  English  Language Training   institute.   This   program   has   improved   my   English ­speaking   ability   and   developed   my People... ...your   university  will  support   and   bolster  the   novel  ideas  I  intend  to  implement  in  my   area   of interest.  I  find   the   work   being   carried   out   by   Prof.  Jan  Bialasiewicz  on   Communication   and Signal  Processing  a  visionary  extension  to  the  project  work  I  had  done  during  my  undergraduate career.  The  Parallel  Distributed  Systems  Research  Laboratory  and  Radio  Frequency  Center provide  an  excellent  environment  for  research.  Prof  Yiming  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Jerry†Ã‚  Deng’s  ongoing  projects  in Modeling  and  Detection  of  Cyber  Exploits  in  Communication  Networks  have  motivated  me  to apply   to   your   university.   Prof.   Hamid   Fardi   having   published   several   papers   on   Magnetic Sensors  (AMR)  can  be  an  able  guide  for  my  research  activity.  Advanced  courses  offered  such  as Computer  Communication  Networks  and  Random  Processes  for  Engineers  would  deepen  my understanding  of  the  subject.

Development Programs

Development programs are important for groups and organizations, as they support useful changes and improvements. The advantage of using development programs is that they structure the improvements in a way that is efficiently manageable and easy to implement. However, different circumstances make for a different approach for a development program to be effective. Thus, individuals, groups, and organizations as a whole have different requirements. In developing programs, there are also three important elements that can be taken into consideration. There is goal setting, behavior modification, and team building.Each can be used solely or complement each other for an individual, group, or organization to achieve its goals. Individuals Development programs for an individual give focus on the person and his differing needs. According to Miller and Osinski (1996), individual development programs aim to patch shortcomings and instigate improvements in an individual who needs development, a s well as institute improvement on all individuals for the benefit of himself and his role. In treating an individual, his needs and the way that these needs differ from those of other people are given consideration.This is an especially important fact when making a development program geared towards influencing individual persons. There should be more weight put on what can interest each of the target audience of the program to achieve success. A needs assessment begins the program. The individual is evaluated from which his needs are known. This needs become the basis of the training and development customized for him. The program is designed and implemented, though changes may be instituted from time to time to fit the changing individual.After the program, the individual and the program are evaluated to find out if the development program has been effective, and if improvements may be necessary. Groups Development program for groups, on the other hand, has a different focal poin t. Avelino and Lifton (2001) assert that group programs in organizations help increase the productivity of the individuals involved in the organization. However, the group shall have to be a work team first who is both effective and efficient. When this has been accomplished, the group which is now a team can start with their development program.A group’s development program begins with an acquaintance stage for the members of the team. It is only when the members already know about each other that they can effectively communicate. When this has been done, a brainstorming can be called to order. The brainstorming is where ideas and objectives come from. These ideas define what roles and tasks can be divided to each member on the next stage, the norming phase. When each member has been delegated, members start working and consulting each other about how the work can be done. Finally, members verbally accept or modify the tasks put on them.(Avelino and Lifton, 2001) Group devel opment programs focus on tasks. Thus, most items included in this program are based on job descriptions, assessments of knowledge, skills, attitudes, and abilities (KSA), identifying and evaluating the standards of performance, work performance observations, and identification of problems of each individual if there are any. (Miller and Osinski, 1996) In facilitating so, needed solutions can be instituted properly and timely. Organizations In organizations, development programs go through phases to be accomplished.There is also an assessment of the organizational needs, but apart from that there is a study of the objectives of development instruction, development instruction design, the implementation stage, and the evaluation of the program. (Miller and Osinski, 1996) The needs assessment creates a foundation for the development program. This is where topics of instruction or development focus will be based. The needs of the organization, however, differ from that of individualsâ⠂¬â„¢ and groups’ in such a way that many of their developmental needs are based on organizational vision and missions.This includes the needs of the individuals who are part of the organization as well as the need of the organization as a whole. Development programs for organizations also needs to follow a set of instruction objectives based on the organization’s assessed needs. These objectives are instructed following an instruction design which will be the way the program is carried out in the implementation stage. After the implementation, an evaluation of the program shall be done to identify the successes of the initiative as well as improvements that may be in order.Organizational development programs also take into consideration factors which are outside of the workplace such as political and lawmaking changes, organizational changes, environmental effects, and goals that the organization is ready to focus on. Development programs for organizations are led by senior administrators, human resources managers, or a group of people directly managing the organization. In all types of development program, whether it is for an individual, group, or an organization, the evaluation is a key developmental stage.The evaluation phase enables the proponents of a program to know if each of the target participants of development has been properly reached by the program, and if they learned anything from it. Miller and Osinski (1996) states that evaluations determine if the objectives developed in the beginning of the program were achieved, know how the participants of the program react to it, what the participants learned and how much, and how well are they willing and able to bring what they have learned from the program.There are many ways in evaluating a development program in an organization. There can be a written examination, a one-on-one interview/observation, an open-group discussion, a feedback solicitation process such as using a feedback for m or a feedback forum, or there is also the post-program observation to determine if objectives were met and if goals were absorbed by the participants of the program. Goal Setting Goal setting, behavior modification, and team building are necessary business processes that allow organizations and individuals to improve.They are essential in development program in that goals make focus possible, behavioral modification makes positive behavior remain, and teams allow for synergy and cooperation. While they may have interrelated and even similar purposes, each of them are different in their own respects. Each has different characteristics as well. Goal setting, for instance, gives a person, a group, or organization a focal point. With focus, it is easier for a person to know what his priorities are, and how these priorities can be implemented.Goals also give motivation, and helps one identify if the goals are smart, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). Goals may be in a personal, group, or organizational level. (Personal goal setting, 2007) On a personal level, goal setting is focused on what an individual assumes to achieve in a specific period of time. It may be a short-term goal he aims to achieve now or in a matter of days or weeks, or a mid-term goal achievable in a matter of months, or a long-term goal set for accomplishment in years.The goal may concern oneself or what oneself wants to do toward another person or thing. As well, the goals of an individual are often smaller in scale compared to those set by a group or an organization. (Personal goal setting, 2007) On a group level, goal setting takes the needs and wants of a group. Before these goals are set, it is important that disagreements have been reconciled. The group must have carried out an agreement of what their goals will be. This will avoid any later problems that may arise.When goals have been agreed on and set out, this is the time when the members can delegate tasks and commit to each. It differs from individual goal setting because this time the goals do not concern any one person’s interest but the collective interest of the members of the group. An organization goal setting is wholly different as it gives focus on the vision and missions of the organization. In the absence of this, the needs and wants that the management would like to achieve is where the organization can base goals.The organization may create these goals from the individual needs of the workforce, or of the company as a whole. Organizational goals, when set, are then studied so that implementation and instructional techniques are identified and put into place. These goals differ from individual goals because they have no focus on one person, yet differ from group goals as well because goals are based on the needs of many groups under the organization’s care. Behavior Modification Behavior modification, on the other hand, uses a rewards system.The thrust of this is that rewarding positive behavior increases the occurrence of such behavior. Thus, when individuals are productive and achieve results, behavior modification allows the, to enjoy the fruits of their labor through compensation. For instance, an employee who exceeds the standards required of their position receives bonus compensation. In doing so the management encourages them to continue their exemplary performance, while also influencing those who are underperforming, or just meeting their standards equally, to compete and do the same.(Behavior modification, 2007) Team Building Team building is done to make group function effectively, and avoid pitfalls as each of their members function together as one. For team building to be successful, each member should follow a singular goal and focus on it. Every member should be functioning towards the implementation of these goals. Each member of the team should have a clear task, and should know how to efficiently carry out these tasks. (Te am building, 1995) It is not enough for a group of people to assemble to be called a team.Teams require a special bonding and correlation. Otherwise, they are called plainly as a group. This also denies the members the opportunity to work in synergy with the other members of the group. Without this synergy, the group will have no focus and goals will be hard to achieve. Cooperation is the key premise of team building. Cooperation means that team members should be responsible of their assigned tasks, as well as be sensitive about other members who may need help. This is because should one of these assignments fail, the whole team will not work. References Avelino, J. and Lifton, H. 2001. How to develop a group into an effective work team. Retrieved July 28, 2007, from http://www.aednet.org/ced/feb99/people_points.htm Behavior modification. 2007. Retrieved July 28, 2007, from http://add.about.com/cs/discipline/a/behavior.htm Miller, J. and Osinski, D. 1996. Training needs assessment. Retrieved July 28, 2007, from http://www.ispi.org/pdf/suggestedReading/Miller_Osinski.pdf Personal goal setting. 2007. Retrieved July 28, 2007, from http://www.mindtools.com/page6.html Team building. 1995. Retrieved July 28, 2007, from http://www.teamtechnology.co.uk/teambuilding.htm      

Literary Analysis of the poem Beowulf Essay

Beowulf is considered as one of the longest poems in literature with more than 3,000 lines. It is has no known author, but it was considered as the national epic of England. Beowulf is a man – a hero who faced three major battles in the poem. These battles were not against other humans, but were against monstrous creatures (The Norton Anthology of English Literature). It is a poem that deals with legends, of hero and his men, and his great battles. It is composed mainly to entertain, a work of fiction with several relations to historical context. And with this, some speculations were raised, saying that Beowulf was something more that a poetic narrative of the hero, Beowulf. The epic poem was then related to a Christian context, saying that it was a Christian allegory. The poem takes place in the late 5th to 6th century, following the Anglo-Saxon’s settlement in England, after making contact with Germanic tribes in Scandinavia and Germany. Beowulf may be based on real people and real events at that time in Scandinavia. The clans mentioned in the poem were clans which are found in the area, as well as some of the prominent personalities in the story. So basically, the epic poem is a work of fiction but was based on factual characters and events during that time. The time of Beowulf was a time of Paganism, but Beowulf himself addresses a higher being rather than man, wherein he presents himself to the Father Almighty. According to Helterman, â€Å"As the view of the intellectual setting has shifted from a pagan to a Christian context, this ‘something more’ has been seen as a Christian allegory or didacticism†¦yet the tone of the poem and the lack of specific Christian allusions cause difficulties for such an approach (Helterman). The poem didn’t mention anything regarding Christianity, and Beowulf was a pagan. But there were several â€Å"Christian sentiments of a general sort† which were attributed to the hero. Because of the Christian-like characterization of the hero Beowulf, there were several speculations saying that the author was a Christian in England who wrote about Scandinavian history, which then became the epic poem Beowulf. But some said that the Christian attribution in the hero’s character could mean that he was an archetype, the generic, idealized model of a person (Chickering). And at that time, Christianity was a budding religion, wherein Beowulf’s character could have been patterned into that of an ideal Christian. Beowulf as the hero of the epic was made the way he is, the ideal person. But then again, every hero has its counterparts. And just like Beowulf, his counterpart can be seen in a Christian context. The epic poem Beowulf is divided into three major battles. The first one is his battle with the monstrous creature called Grendel, which was the reason why he went to Hrotgar. Just like Beowulf, Grendel also has a Christian context. He is to be the descendant of Cain, the son of Adam and Eve which was banished for killing his own brother. Because of this, Grendel is given an antagonistic comparison with Cain, who was the first person to commit murder in the Christian bible. Grendel, along with his mother, was compared to as the kinsmen of Cain, whereas Beowulf was the pagan hero considered as the archetype of a human being. Beowulf and Grendel were great opposites, as manifestation of the forces of good battling with the forces of evil, or in the context of religion and Christianity, will be righting the wrong. Beowulf’s character is the manifestation of Christianity’s good; wherein his defense of Heorot was an act to â€Å"order the chaotic universe,† where Grendel and his mother on the other hand, were the forces that bring chaos, falling into pattern of disorder (Batchelor). This is manifested by their physical appearance wherein they do not resemble or have any human characteristics. They were monstrous in size and strength. They can kill people with the swipe of their hands, and they even eat people, as to what Grendel did to Hrotgar’s men. Another possible association with religion and Christianity was during the creation of Heorot, the great hall which was built for the people of King Hrotgar (Helterman). The creation of the hall was because of the word of the king. It is the same as that of the Christian’s Genesis, wherein with the word of God, there was light. And it was with that word that He was able to create day and night, and everything that he wished and commanded. Just as with Hrotgar’s word, Heorot was created, all for the sake of the people, since in this hall they dined, ate and sang, until the time that Grendel came into the story. When Grendel came, it was like introducing chaos into order so that you could cleanse it, just like the cleansing of the sins of the people, just like the Great flood, where chaos or the flood was added in order to cleanse the world of the sinners. When Grendel came into Heorot, chaos caused destruction, thus it would require reconstruction, where after reconstruction was the cleansed state. Grendel, even though he caused a great deal of devastation to the people, has served a purpose, which was to strengthen the then destroyed Heorot. His chaos has led to a good outcome in the story. It could also be viewed on another angle, where the battle between Beowulf and Grendel was actually the same as to that of the myth of creation, where light and darkness mixed and â€Å"fought† in order to create the earth and everything in it. Another instance that relates the epic poem Beowulf to Christianity was during the battle against the mother of Grendel. Beowulf was definite on the losing end at that moment, since his sword, Hrunting, lost its powers and cannot harm the creature he is up against with. In his desperation, he was able to locate a sword in the Grendel’s lair, which only he could be able to use. It was a heavy sword of the giant, which he used to behead the mother of Grendel and eventually prolong his life. Even though he was able to slay the monster and keep his life, he gives the credit of his victory to the â€Å"higher being,† the â€Å"Wielder of Men. † It was an indirect association to God in Christianity, since he recognizes His powers and that his victory wasn’t possible without him. Beowulf being a pagan is just a characteristic, since there was no evidence of him knowing about Christianity (Batchelor). But the fact that he addresses to a higher being is a manifestation of being Christian even in his beliefs. The epic poem Beowulf is truly a literary piece that was made to entertain, with the life of Beowulf as a hero, his adventures, his battles, and even his death, makes it a wonderful read. But there are other underlying concerns that could come about while reading the epic. It is undeniable that there are other meanings in what was written, rather than just to entertain. The poem Beowulf is associated with religion, especially Christianity. The main character’s recognition of a higher being is but one of many manifestations of this underlying messages.

Travel in China essays

Travel in China essays China, a land of beauty and fascination, tempts adventurous travellers all over the world. China also is a massive country, covering 6,000,000 square miles and has infinite variety of people, enchanting natural landscape, brilliant history and culture and fascinating destinations. The area of china is about 9,600,000 sq km, 9.6 million Sq km. Population is 1.24 billion The capital city is Beijing whose population is 12 million. China has 31 provinces and Taiwan, Hongkong and Marcou. Official language of China is Manderin (Beijing dialect mandarin). The main religioun are officially atheist; Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism (no stats available); Muslim (14 million), Christian (7 million) China's climate varies from bitter coldness in winter to unbearable heat in summer. Since the size and varied landscape of the country, there is no one time in the year when Chinese weather is ideal. Of course, the warmest areas in winter are to be found in the South and Southwest, such as Sichuan, Banna in Yunnan, and Hainan Island. In summer the coolest spots are in the far northeast. Chinese food enjoys high reputation in the world due to its abundance and exquisite, delicious taste and charming appearance. It differs due to the diversity of the climate, products and customs of local regions. Therefore, there are widely different food styles and taste in local regions. Of long history it has become part of the nation's traditional cultures. Since China's local dishes have their own typical characteristics, generally, Chinese food can be roughly divided into eight regional cuisines, which has been widely accepted around. Certainly, there are many other local cuisines which are famous, such as Beijing Cuisine and Shanghai Cuisine.  ¡ Shandong Cuisine ¡ Sichuan Cuisine ¡ Guangdong Cuisine ¡ Fujian Cuisine  ¡ Jiangsu Cuisine ¡ Zhejiang Cuisine ¡ Hunan Cuisine ¡ Anhui Cuisine Nat...

misconduct in medicine essays

misconduct in medicine essays 1. Definition of the ethics problem: What are the ethical implications of sexual or romantic relationships between physicians and patients and how should sexual misconduct be prevented and doctors disciplined? 2. Provide significant facts/uncertainties that are relevant to the question: Sexual contact between physician and patient can occur in numerous ways. Physicians may use the patients state of being as a way to engage in sexual activity or they may suggest or represent sexual contact to a patient as part of care or treatment for the patient. When a person seeks medical care, many times he or she is physically and emotionally vulnerable to the doctor. Therefore, it must be noted that several states specify that consent of the patient cannot be used as a defense to charges of sexual misconduct. Sexual contact with patients seems to occur most when there is great disparity between the social status and emotional vulnerability between physician and patient. This is why most reported cases of sexual misconduct involve patients who are younger and female, and doctors who are older and male. The patients in these cases trust that the doctor is acting in the best interest of them and even when sexual misconduct takes place, they are hesitant to report the doctors or even to try to stop the doctors themselves. The victims then experience distrust of their own judgment, experience guilt, and become skeptical of physicians. Most medical training programs and education do not cover the issue of sexual misconduct and how to deal with sexual or romantic attraction to patients. It would seem that it would be very beneficial to doctors to receive some sort of education with regards to dealing with the temptations and seeking appropriate help. Also, since many times it is actually the patient that is initially attracted to the doctor, it would be very helpful for the doctors to learn ways to deal with that so ...

Chain of Stores in Different Demographic Set-ups Case Study

Chain of Stores in Different Demographic Set-ups - Case Study Example As the paper highlights the issue on product specialization revolved around the products with high direct production costs (DPC). Fragile goods such as charcoal had high handling costs amounting to a DPC value of $0.37. Disposable diapers also held high DPC values of $0.70. These presented a problem with bulkiness. The varieties of the diapers, For example, kept changing, and that caused inconveniences in constant resetting of the shelf fixtures. This discussion declares that the display of products formed another area of focus. In this element, the study focused on the product and category sales per foot of the shelf space. The approach provided evidence that alcoholic beverages and cosmetics took considerable shelf space but generated considerably low in the returns. Alcoholic beverages performed poorly at $7.45 per feet while cosmetics performed even worse at $0.69 per feet of shelf space. Though they presented low returns, these products occupied considerable shelf space. The alcoholic beverages took a total of 513.3 feet of shelf space with only weekly sales of $3,823.73. Carbonated beverages, on the other hand, recorded almost triple in weekly sales to that of the alcoholic beverages ($10,003.92) but occupied shelf space of 339.7 ft. Cereals and other breakfast foods also occupied considerably little linear space, 166.6ft, regardless of the higher sales compared to the alcoholic beverages. In the non-edible grocery sect ion, soaps and detergents took the largest share in the shelf space allocated. The weekly dollar sales were $9187.17 compared to paper products (shelf space of 338.3ft and weekly dollar sales of $8483), and cigarettes/tobacco products, which had weekly sales of $11024.62, with a linear shelf space of 156.6 ft.

Role of the vocational case manager within rehabilitation Essay

Role of the vocational case manager within rehabilitation - Essay Example This study will seek to evaluate the role of the vocational case manager in the rehabilitation process. In order to understand how this process takes places we need to first look into what is vocational case management. When a person succumbs to serious injuries or is severe illness, vocational case management services provides them with a number of benefits. These include identification of problems associated with return-to-work. An effective plan is devised by the vocational case management agency to solve the problems related to returning to work. Vocational case management enables a person to receive claims in dollars, for any reductions they face in their vocational pay and also helps them to claim medical insurance. Thus, through vocational case management, a person can get rehabilitation in their work place. (Occupational Health Solutions) What is the process of rehabilitation Rehabilitation is the process of safely returning a person affected by an injury or serious illness to work as soon as possible. The rehabilitation process may include providing an affected person with physiotherapy, chiropractic treatment, occupational therapy, psychological counseling and enrolling them into multidisciplinary programs. Rehabilitation is a process which helps the affected person by enabling them to recover from their condition and encourages them to return to work. It also includes taking steps to reduce further complications by remove disruptions in the person's social and working life and also reducing impairment from injury at the work place. (WorkCover, Queensland) Vocational case management services There are many agencies which specialize in providing vocational case management services. The reason why this has come about is that in today's technologically advanced working condition, people succumb to heavy injuries. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in the United States it has been found that in every year about 6,000 Americans die after succumbing to workplace injuries, and it is estimated that about 6 million people suffer non-fatal workplace injuries. (Occupational Health Solutions, LLC) Such services involve a complete evaluation of the rehabilitation potential of the client and proving them with necessary counseling to help them cope with their disability-related concerns. They provide the client with access to the labor market and in the identification of job placement opportunities. This process includes identification of problems associated with return-to-work. An effective plan is devised for their solution. Vocational case management enables a person to receive claims in dollars, for any reductions they face in their vocational pay and also helps them to claim medical insurance. Among the various vocational services provided to client by vocational case management agencies are job analysis, resume preparation, transferable skill analysis and job placement. Vocational case

Financial Analysis of Capilano Honey Limited Case Study

Financial Analysis of Capilano Honey Limited - Case Study Example The main competitor of Capilano Honey Limited is Bega Cheese Limited, which is engaged in producing both natural and processed cheese products. Bega Cheese Limited deals in dairy products, kids snacking and nutritional powders. The components which are necessary to assess the competitive strengths of a company are revenue, EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization), profit before and after tax, net assets and earnings per share. The revenue of Capilano Honey Limited for the year 2014 was $86,003 only (Capilano, 2014), whereas Bega Cheese Limited provides revenue of $1,069,392 in 2014. The increased revenue of the competitor indicates that Bega Cheese Limited is efficiently managing its business operation and because of that, they are able to generate more revenue than Capilano Honey Limited. The EBITDA of Capilano Honey Limited was $9,054 and that of Bega Cheese Limited was $122,506 in 2014 (Bega Cheese, 2014). EBITDA provides an idea of core profitability position of an organization. As EBITDA of CZZ is less than Bega Cheese Limited, it reflects that the operating profitability of the company is not as good as its competitor (Kaplan & Atkinson, 2015). Therefore, CZZ needs to improve its operating profitability position to maintain its position in the market. Comparing the profit before tax (PBT) and profit after tax (PAT) of both the companies, it has been analyzed that the PBT of CZZ was $6,490 and that of Bega Cheese Limited was $93,580 in 2014 (Bega Cheese, 2014).

Differences between Major and Independent Labels Essay

Differences between Major and Independent Labels - Essay Example There is a big difference between major and independent labels and this has been largely centralized around their financial might and their level of professionalism in a music career. In this light, it is apparent that musicians who have already accumulated wealth can afford to seek the services of major labels that in turn help in marketing their music to a bigger audience hence expanding their fan base across the globe. Additionally, it requires artists who have gained experience in the music industry and are well conversant with the art of stage performance among other dynamics encompassing the music industry. This enables them to perform exceptionally well in all the diverse platforms at regional and international level. On the other hand, the independent labels largely characterize musicians in their inceptive stages of their career. Most of them though not all, are not financially stable and would prefer marketing their music without seeking help from an agency or a management firm; as that will be costly and unprofitable. Furthermore, the artists need more exposure to gain experience in stage performance as well as grow fan support as an independent label before thinking of advancing their music to another new level that can be attained with the help of a major label among other agencies.Another outstanding difference between major and independent labels is the actual contracts they sign. Based on the contract, an artist subscribed to independent label has more benefit than an artist subscribing to the major label.

Oxycodone Use and Abuse Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Oxycodone Use and Abuse - Research Paper Example The drug is very addictive in effect and is used by many people for reasons other than just pain relief. â€Å"Oxycodone, an opioid with known abuse liability, is misused by the intranasal route† (Middleton et al., 2012). Repeated intake of Oxycodone develops tolerance in the individual so that higher doses are needed for the same effects to be experienced. This paper discusses the uses and abuses, effects, signs and symptoms, and treatment options for the Oxycodone abuse. The most fundamental positive effect of Oxycodone is that it is a very good drug for pain management for a long time. While common pain killers’ action lasts anywhere between four to six hours, oxycodone gives round the clock pain relief to the patient. According to Marry A. Simmonds is a cancer specialist and gave testimony on OxyContin’s value in the alleviation of pain experienced because of cancer at the 2002 Congressional hearing. OxyContin is a drug that contains anywhere from 10 to 80 milligrams of Oxycodone (Skarlunis 2012, p. 1). According to Simmonds, â€Å"If you have pain thats there all the time, four hours goes by very quickly. †¦If youre not watching the clock, the pain comes back. People tend not to take their pills on time. The pain builds back up, so youre starting over. Its not very good management of pain. †¦For moderate to severe pain, aspirin and Tylenol arent effective. We do need opioids† (Simmonds cited in Skarlunis, 2012, p. 1 ). Many doctors prescribe Oxycodone as an alternative to the opiates and especially when such drugs as diphenoxylate and loperamide have been tried and found ineffective for the treatment of severe diarrhea in a particular case. A vast majority of abusers do not take Oxycodone as a drug for abuse in the start; they are rather prescribed by the doctor to help in the pain relief, but many patients spiral out of control and start using the drug for abuse rather than pain relief. With the increase in their tolerance for Oxycodone, they need

Occupational Therapy Practice Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Occupational Therapy Practice - Assignment Example Another example is a kindergarten child shows evidence of bibliophobia. An occupational therapist help rehabilitate the condition by presenting books that appeal to his/her personal senses, for instance, tapping the emotional likings. If the child loves cars or flowers, the occupational therapist can give the child books with attractive picture illustrations and short descriptions. The goal is to enable the child to appreciate writings and develop a liking for reading. There are different ways therapists can encourage the use of the just right challenge for example in helping clients who have the behaviour of smoking. They can be introduced into other leisure activities that they enjoy most as a means of rehabilitation hence occupational therapists are to encourage them to adapt to the new environment as they swithch from their smoking behaviour. Therapist can use just right challenge in children to help them learn through play activities these help children develop their physical co ordination, social skills enabling them socialize with other children. It also helps them develop emotionally and improve their self-confidence. For this reason therapists recommend leisure and play activities that give the just right challenge for children when learning and having fun. They also provide activities that help children learn how to solve problems. Besides behaviour change and improvement of children skills, therapist also helps clients with mental problems by recommending leisure activities.

Differences between Major and Independent Labels Essay

Differences between Major and Independent Labels - Essay Example There is a big difference between major and independent labels and this has been largely centralized around their financial might and their level of professionalism in a music career. In this light, it is apparent that musicians who have already accumulated wealth can afford to seek the services of major labels that in turn help in marketing their music to a bigger audience hence expanding their fan base across the globe. Additionally, it requires artists who have gained experience in the music industry and are well conversant with the art of stage performance among other dynamics encompassing the music industry. This enables them to perform exceptionally well in all the diverse platforms at regional and international level. On the other hand, the independent labels largely characterize musicians in their inceptive stages of their career. Most of them though not all, are not financially stable and would prefer marketing their music without seeking help from an agency or a management firm; as that will be costly and unprofitable. Furthermore, the artists need more exposure to gain experience in stage performance as well as grow fan support as an independent label before thinking of advancing their music to another new level that can be attained with the help of a major label among other agencies.Another outstanding difference between major and independent labels is the actual contracts they sign. Based on the contract, an artist subscribed to independent label has more benefit than an artist subscribing to the major label.

Occupational Therapy Practice Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Occupational Therapy Practice - Assignment Example Another example is a kindergarten child shows evidence of bibliophobia. An occupational therapist help rehabilitate the condition by presenting books that appeal to his/her personal senses, for instance, tapping the emotional likings. If the child loves cars or flowers, the occupational therapist can give the child books with attractive picture illustrations and short descriptions. The goal is to enable the child to appreciate writings and develop a liking for reading. There are different ways therapists can encourage the use of the just right challenge for example in helping clients who have the behaviour of smoking. They can be introduced into other leisure activities that they enjoy most as a means of rehabilitation hence occupational therapists are to encourage them to adapt to the new environment as they swithch from their smoking behaviour. Therapist can use just right challenge in children to help them learn through play activities these help children develop their physical co ordination, social skills enabling them socialize with other children. It also helps them develop emotionally and improve their self-confidence. For this reason therapists recommend leisure and play activities that give the just right challenge for children when learning and having fun. They also provide activities that help children learn how to solve problems. Besides behaviour change and improvement of children skills, therapist also helps clients with mental problems by recommending leisure activities.

Act 4 of the crucible is dynamic theatre Essay Example for Free

Act 4 of the crucible is dynamic theatre Essay The Crucible provides us with what can only be described as masterpiece of dramatic writing. Written by Arthur Miller in 1952, the most powerful scenes in The Crucible have several common characteristics; very effective use of stage directions, long build-ups of suspense that come crashing down in thundering climaxes, intense displays of emotion and an abundance of dramatic irony.  The play, set in 1692, is based upon the outbreak of accusations of witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts. Miller wrote the play using this 17th-century case (and fictionalising it) to comment on a 20th-century phenomenon the exposure of suspected communists. In 17th century Salem the inhabitants feared witchcraft as America feared communism in the 1950s; and many similarities can be drawn between the events of the two periods. Both were exaggerated out of all reasonable proportion and each contains communities that display an irrational fear of an ill perceived threat to their stability of life. Indeed, the theme of culpability that runs throughout the play is mirrored constantly in modern society, particularly in politics, where those in office are frequently blamed for incidents that are completely beyond their control. The writing of this play stemmed from Millers personal interest in the Salem witch trials and at the time, America was in the middle of the McCarthy political Witch Hunt. Miller himself was called before a committee, and he began to notice a certain resemblance between the two trials, such as naming and shaming by people anxious to divert attention from themselves, together with confessions given under duress. This has resulted in the play being seen as a political allegory. At the beginning of act 4 we see symbolic setting and scenery created through Millers clever use of stage directions, which in turn, introduces and establishes the tone that will continue throughout the remainder of the play. For example, the reference to moonlight seeping through the bars of the darkened cell metaphorically suggests to the reader that there is still hope for the  wrongly accused sufferers of the witch hunt, the light being a positive aspect in the otherwise bleak atmosphere. This technique of using light symbolically is revisited later in the scene; the new sun is pouring in, reinforcing the theme of dramatic lighting that is so very important within the play. It is perhaps this phrase that best sums up the intensity of relief felt at the end of the ordeal, and emphasizes the theme of transition and change, highlighted in particular by the word new. Another way in which Miller successfully creates tension within the play is through the use of apposite props and evocative scenery, most notably in the jail; a high barred window, near it, a great, heavy door. This evokes a strong sense of oppression, in particular the heavy door which could be arguably be seen as a metaphor for the ignorance displayed by the townspeople of Salem. Furthermore, we see the play end on a very dramatic note; The final drumroll crashes, then heightens violently, surely emblematic of the last brutal act of the witch-hunt; the violent demise of the hero and the end of the suffering of those persecuted by fear and ignorance. Dramatic theatre would be nothing however, without the powerful characters at the heart of the story, and the depth they bring to it through their emotions and actions. At the very beginning of the scene, we see a representation of the main theme of the story; the helplessness of the villagers against the cruel authority of Danforth, illustrated by the forcible removal of Tituba and Sarah Good from their cell. The power struggle between those in office and the common man draws great empathy from the audience and reinforces the brutality of the entire ordeal. Indeed, the womens response to the guards; We goin to Barbados, soon devil gits here highlights the villagers great superstition around Satan, giving the audience insight into how the situation has spiraled out of control, and how their fears fuel the fires of hysteria, allowing the oppression of the villagers to continue unabated.

Hotel project management

Hotel project management SUMMARY Kerrison Park Hotel in London, is a Part of Kerrison Travel group. GGTA, a French business conglomerate has recently purchased. The hotel is operating at a loss unlike other Kerrison Park hotels across the European mainland. The author will explain here how a project management approach will help the hotel to make changes to turn the loss making situation around. The Author has explained to the management of Kerrison Park Hotel the meaning of Project Management, the process involved in it, the tools and techniques used in it and the benefits of using a Project management approach in developing of the improvement opportunities. The Author has identified all the improvement opportunities of Kerrison Park Hotel, London, and done a detailed SWOT analysis which has given an insight to the problem and improvement areas along with the companys strengths and weaknesses. According to Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), Project is defined as a temporary endeavour undertaken to create a unique product or a service. The act of managing, controlling, coordinating, directing, etc is called management. Project Management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to project activities in order to meet stakeholders needs and expectations from a project. Projects need to be performed and delivered under certain constraints. Traditionally these constraints have been listed as ‘scope, ‘time and ‘cost (Burke, 2003). PROCESS OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Agree precise specification for the project. Plan the project time, team, activities, resources, and financials. Communicate the project plan to your project team. Agree and delegate project actions. Manage, motivate, inform, encourage, enable the project team. Check, measure, review project progress; adjust project plans, and inform the project team and others. Complete project; review and report on project performance; give praise and thanks to the project team. SWOT Analysis is a strategic planning method used to evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats involved in a project or in a business venture. After explaining all this the author has given recommendations as to how to develop those improvement opportunities identified in SWOT. INTRODUCTION Case Study Background: This case study refers to Kerrison Park Hotel in London, a Part of Kerrison Travel group. GGTA, a French business conglomerate has recently purchased this hotel as a part of a financial package that also involved the takeover of three aircrafts and routes serving Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt, London, Paris, Oslo. The hotel is situated 25km from Heathrow Airport and is well connected by public bus and Underground. The hotel is operating at a loss unlike other Kerrison Park hotels across the European mainland. The author has been given the role of a project manager to use his project management skills and investigate the hotels SWOT analysis and make a proper project plan to retain business and turn this loss making situation around. Aims and Objectives: Define the benefits of the Kerrison Park Hotel, London of adopting a Project Management approach towards the development of the improvement opportunities. Identifying these improvement opportunities within the hotel, recommend a project plan that should be tackled within the next 18 months. Research Methodology: The author has used a lot of secondary resources to research and collect data related to case material like books, websites, etc.. Initially all about Project Management is explained along with some techniques and their importance. Then a detailed SWOT analysis is done for the Kerrison Park Hotel, London. On the basis of this SWOT analysis a Project Plan is prepares and recommendations are given. There is no primary research undertaken for this report. MAIN BODY Kerrison Park Hotel in London, is a Part of Kerrison Travel group. GGTA, a French business conglomerate has recently purchased this hotel as a part of a financial package that also involved the takeover of three aircrafts and routes serving Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt, London, Paris and Oslo. The hotel is operating at a loss unlike other Kerrison Park hotels across the European mainland. The author will explain here how a project management approach will help the hotel to make changes to turn the loss making situation around. According to Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), Project is defined as a temporary endeavour undertaken to create a unique product or a service. The act of managing, controlling, coordinating, directing, etc is called management. Project Management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to project activities in order to meet stakeholders needs and expectations from a project (Burke, 2001). Projects are executed and achieved under scope, time and cost constraints. These constraints when combined together form the Project Management Triangle. As these constraints are linked together therefore, the triangle would be affected if either of the constraints is changed. The advanced enhancement of scope, time and cost produces a fourth constraint called Quality. ‘Scope describes what must be done to produce the end result of the project, ‘Time constraint specifies the available time to meet the project and ‘Cost refers to the total amount available for the project completion. The main purpose of Project Management is to offer the appropriate tools and techniques that initiate the team to work towards the achievement of these constraints. Time The time required can be estimated through Work Breakdown Structure where each task is separately broken down into the time required to complete each task contributing to the completion of each component. Cost The cost constraint is estimated on variables like resource costs, labour rates, material rates, risk management, Earned value management, plant, equipment, cost escalation, indirect costs, and profit. Scope Scope describes the actual project to be accomplished and the end result. Quality of the actual output product is one of the major components of scope. The quality of the project is determined on the actual amount inputted towards the individual tasks. (URL: http://www.businesspme.com/uk/articles/rh/62/The-traditional-triple-constraints.html) PROJECT LIFE CYCLE: Project Management Life Cycle comprises four phases Initiation involves starting up the project, by documenting a business case, feasibility study, terms of reference, appointing the team and setting up a Project Office. Planning involves setting out the roadmap for the project by creating the following plans: project plan, resource plan, financial plan, quality plan, acceptance plan and communications plan. Execution involves building the deliverables and controlling the project delivery, scope, costs, quality, risks and issues. Closure involves winding-down the project by releasing staff, handing over deliverables to the customer and completing a post implementation review (URL: http://www.mpmm.com/project-management-methodology.php). PROCESS OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Agree precise specification for the project: Often called the project terms of reference, the project specification should be an accurate description of what the project aims to achieve, and the criteria and flexibilities involved, its parameters, scope, range, outputs, sources, participants, budgets and timescales Plan the project time, team, activities, resources, financials: Plan the various stages and activities of the project. A useful tip is to work backwards from the end aim, identifying all the things that need to be put in place and done, in reverse order. Communicate the project plan to your project team: This serves two purposes: it informs people whats happening, and it obtains essential support, agreement and commitment. If your project is complex and involves a team, then you should involve the team in the planning process to maximise buy-in, ownership, and thereby accountability. Agree and delegate project actions: Activities need to be very clearly described, including all relevant parameters, timescales, costs, and deliverables in a plan. This plan will then be published to all team members and the tasks will be issued to all on the basis of their capability of their own forward planning Manage, motivate, inform, encourage, and enable the project team: Manage the team and activities by meeting, communicating, supporting, and helping with decisions. Your role here is to enable and translate. Face to face meetings, when you can bring team members together, are generally the best way to avoid issues and relationships becoming personalised and emotional. Communicate progress and successes regularly to everyone. Give the people in your team the plaudits. Conversely you must take the blame for anything that goes wrong never dump on anyone in your team Check, measure, review project progress; adjust project plans, and inform the project team and others: Check the progress of activities against the plan. Review performance regularly and at the stipulated review points, and confirm the validity and relevance of the remainder of the plan. Adjust the plan if necessary in light of performance, changing circumstances, and new information, but remain on track and within the original terms of reference. Complete project; review and report on project performance; give praise and thanks to the project team: At the end of your successful project hold a review with the team. Ensure you understand what happened and why. Reflect on any failures and mistakes positively, objectively, and without allocating personal blame. Reflect on successes gratefully and realistically. TOOLS OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT: PERT: The Program Evaluation and Review Technique is a model for project management designed to analyze and represent the tasks involved in completing a given project. A Gantt chart is a type of bar chart that illustrates a project schedule. Gantt charts illustrate the start and finish dates of the terminal elements and summary elements of a project. Terminal elements and summary elements comprise the work breakdown structure of the project. Some Gantt charts also show the dependency (i.e, precedence network) relationships between activities. A work breakdown structure or WBS is a tree structure, that permits summing of subordinate costs for tasks, materials, etc., into their successively higher level â€Å"parent† tasks, materials, etc. It is a fundamental tool commonly used in project management The Critical Path Method, abbreviated CPM, or critical path analysis, is a mathematically based algorithm for scheduling a set of project activities. It is an important tool for effective project management. A Run chart, also known as a run-sequence plot is a graph that displays observed data in a time sequence. Often, the data displayed represent some aspect of the output or performance of a manufacturing or other business process. IMPORTANCE AND BENEFIT OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT APPROACH TO KERRISON PARK HOTEL, LONDON: Develops Exponential Effectiveness: In most organizations, people work on cross-functional teams to complete projects. When people from different departments know and understand a common Project Management process to get their work done, they can start to work together without having to design how they are going to do it. Empowers Individuals and Team Leaders: When there is a common, simple approach for Project Management and the correct tools are available throughout the enterprise, people are empowered to reach their goals, together and individually. Creates Institutional Memory: Industry standard Project Management practices require a critical project closeout phase that collects lessons learned and gives your organization powerful historical knowledge from across the enterprise. Realizes Return on Innovation: An easy-to-use Project Management methodology gives organizations a framework that makes it achievable for people to move from vision to action with a comprehensive project plan that supports their objectives. Turns Information into Insight: You capture best practices and know what is and isnt working in your organization, giving you a competitive advantage by turning information into insight. SWOT Analysis is a strategic planning method used to evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats involved in a project or in a business venture. It involves specifying the objective of the business venture or project and identifying the internal and external factors that are favourable and unfavourable to achieving that objective. Here we need to do the SWOT analysis of the Kerrison Park Hotel, London which will help us further to make a Project Plan to make recommendations as to what changes are required by this Hotel to run successfully. Strengths: The Hotel has a very good location as it is just 25 Km from Heathrow and is well connected by Bus and Underground. Hotel owns a large reception area out of which a part can be used for other purposes. A large full functioning kitchen builds up the backbone of the hotel Hotel has 150 rooms. All rooms have ensuite facilities, tea and coffee facilities, satellite TV, Air-conditioner and mini-bar which shows it provides all the facilities which a normal 4star hotel should have. The double rooms have adjoining lounges. The hotel provides an elaborate English and Continental Breakfast which is considered to be the main meal of the day. Hotel owns a Big Conference and a banqueting suite with a separate bar and four syndicate rooms. The Hotel gets a regular business from the parent companys aircrew and passengers. The Hotel also possesses a successful In-house Laundry which also has a contract for companys airline uniforms which ensures fixed revenue. Weaknesses: The hotel is suffering from a low occupancy rate of 45% as compared to other hotels in the city with 65% on a typical day. It has an inappropriate and a weak marketing strategy as the hotel principally relied on tour operators who use the hotel seasonally and local corporate business, gained through minimal advertising. The computer systems on the front of the house have become obsolete and needs to be upgraded to be in sync with the parent companys airline reservation system. Many of the Hotels facilities were not marketed successfully because of poor coordination and irregularity within sales and marketing departments. Lack of security of cleaning stores and linen on floors and their distribution. Lack of regular preventive maintenance of rooms and corridors. Internal painting, re-grouting of tiles, etc. needs attention. Restaurant is not big enough with 90 covers to handle major rush hours during peak season. Lunch time business is poor. Garden side of the restaurant which can be used a n additional room in quite weekends was not publicised properly. The staff seems to be lacking the sales and service orientation. The department heads are given the responsibility for recruiting and training of staff members rather than a proper Human Resource Management system which leads to inconsistencies in approach and quality. Gymnasium is not well equipped and there is no swimming pool facility provided by the hotel. There is no health bar either where a guest could refresh himself after a workout. Opportunities: Since the Hotel has a good location, it can easily pull up the chartered tourism. Students and Backpackers use London as a base for visiting other parts of the country who can be wooed by attractive discounts and offers. Large reception area gives the opportunity to use a part of it for some other purposes for eg. Extending Coffee Shop. Laundry Business can be improved by recruiting more skilled staff and sign up more contracts on revised prices with airlines. Hiring more experienced staff and training the existing one will help in upselling in all FB areas. Coffee Shop is more popular than the restaurant and the bar and is also doing well, so the covers can be increased and it can be livened up for young clientele. There is a good opportunity to start a new buffet style menu in the restaurant after convincing the Head Chef of its advantages. Hiring more efficient and professional Sales and Marketing Team will help the Hotel to boost up its sales volume. The Human Resource Department have a lot of knowledge and experience of working in different cultures which makes it easy for the hotel to understand its staff better and provide them efficient training through proper communication and practice. Threats: The airlines are in doubt as to continue with the laundry contract with the hotel due to the high prices offered as compared to other competitor laundries. The FB staffs have a low skill level; and therefore it leaves the guest into a bad impression of staff lacking service orientation and hotels poor standards. Inappropriate Security systems might lead to loss by theft. Storage of food is disorganized and sometimes no stock rotation is done which can be very dangerous and also lead to wastage. Competition in terms of prices and facility given by other hotels is leading to lower occupancy rate which is not good at all for the hotel. There is no Job satisfaction due to which motivation is lacking in staff. RECOMMENDATIONS After completing this detailed SWOT analysis the author is clear about Hotels situation inside out. Now the author would like to give recommendations for how to overcome the problems and weak areas of the hotel in a Project Management approach. Following are the areas and the changes that need to be done in them: Reception: Since the front of the house systems are obsolete and 12 years old, they require an upgrading to cope up with the expected increase in the business and interface with the parent companys airline reservation system which will create ease of work and efficiency for the reception staff. Changing the system will also require hardcore training to the staff who are habitual of using the old system. This whole process will take about 3 months to come into existence. Accommodation Operations: Author would suggest to turn 20 twin rooms into double rooms which will help the reception to give out more options to the customers. Secondly 10 suites should replace either of the rooms for fulfilling special needs of the guests like honeymoon couples. This operation will take around 4-6 months. In House Laundry: The Laundry has shown a return on investment recently and is running successfully. It is suggested to add up more storage space and recruit more efficient staff. The hotel also needs to take into consideration the prices of the laundry as they are too high compared to competitors due to which it might lose its present contracts. Prices needs to be lowered down. This will take about 2 months. Housekeeping and maintenance: To Control the security of the cleaning stores and linen, the author suggests to put up security alarms and CCTV Cameras in all important areas where undesignated staff isnt allowed. The storage areas should be moved away from back door entry to avoid loss. The rooms need to undergo minor maintenance like internal painting, re-grouting of tiling, replacing shower curtains, etc. Carpeting on first and second floor corridor will be replaced and reinstated as soon as possible. This will take approximately 6-8 months to complete. Food and Beverage: The covers in the restaurant should be increased to at least 120 to cope up with busy hours. The idea of introducing buffet style of menu is very appropriate. The FB manager must convince the head chef about the advantages of buffet style menu for eg, it will save labour force and the guest would get a choice of wider variety of food. Various schemes like ‘Sunday English Roast Lunch or ‘Happy Hours should be introduced which will attract local clientele and families. This operation will take around 1 month to come into existence as there are no major physical changes taking place here. Since the Coffee Shop is very popular and generally remains busy it is suggested to liven and pep it up in sync with the young and modern customers with some exciting decor, video games, darts, etc.. which will attract more people. We have the advantage of having coffee shop next to the large reception area. So it can be extended using a part of the reception area and covers will be increased from 50 to 70. Professional English speaking and permanent staff must be hired for the coffee shop as it will lead to good service and better guest satisfaction. The Coffee Shop menu should be renewed. This will take around 3 months to complete. Bar staff needs to be trained to be multi-skilled so that they can help in other areas when busy. A fool-proof method of controlling and counting sales should be introduced. A versatile drink list should be developed. Night porter facility should be provided to fulfil the needs of late night residents. This will again take around 1 month to come into existence. Gymnasium: It is suggested to install modern and state of the art machinery in the gym. At least 2 trainers should be employed. A proper changing room with modular fittings should be constructed with sauna, spa and a small swimming pool should be built up. Swimming pool will be a great attraction for the in house guests and local residents. The gym kitchen should be refurbished and spruced up and used as a sports bar offering health food and beverages.the Gymnasium and swimming pool will take a long time say around 12 months so should be started well in advance. Goods Delivery and Storage: Food storage in the main cold room must be organised using the FIFO (first in first out) system and keeping HACCP (hazard and critical control points) into consideration. Delegation of responsibility to the heads of the departments and supervisors is of utmost importance for all the storage areas as to keep a control on food storage, rotation, inventory keeping, etc.. The responsibility of the keys should also be delegated to either Head chef or FB manager. A proper inventory management system must be installed to analyse the sales level appropriately. This process will take 2 months. Management and staffing: a lot of emphasis needs to be put on the training and development of the staff as most of the staff is unskilled and unprofessional. A detailed training and development programme needs to be developed. The recruitment responsibility needs to be taken solely by the HR department in coordination with the Heads of the Departments to select only eligible staff. All the lousy and unskilled staff must be replaced by the professional ones. Work incentives and motivational schemes needs to be introduced to ensure job satisfaction and improved performance. Training and Development is an ongoing process so time cannot be calculated here. Replacing staff will not take more than 1 month. Sales and Marketing: First of all a strong, experienced and highly skilled marketing team needs to be hired as the previous one could not prove itself. Then coordination between Sales and Marketing needs to be built up by proper communication and regular meetings. All the facilities of the hotel must be advertised on websites, buses, trains, etc., showing attractive pictures of the hotel rooms, coffee shop, and gymnasium and highlighting the new facilities added. Promotion should be done at trade fares. Hotel must tie up with major tour operators. To increase the sales volume the hotel needs to revise its rack rate in accordance to competitors and give more discounts and attractive offers. Students and Backpackers can be wooed by good discounted rates and offers if they make the bookings in advance which will help hotel to increase its occupancy rate. The marketing team should also promote the in house laundry and get more orders from airlines to make additional revenue. Time Management: There are a lot of tasks to be done here. If we calculate the total time it will be more than 18 months, whereas we only have 18 months to get things done. So we need to manage our tasks in a timely order where two or more tasks can be done in a particular time side by side. The next important thing which we need to consider is that in what sequence the tasks will be accomplished. The activities should be put in such an order that they do not become a hindrance for one another and the hotels routine operations. The time that will be saved will indirectly save our costs as well. CONCLUSION The purpose of the report was to define to the hotel the benefits of adopting a project management approach towards development of improvement opportunities. Then these improvement opportunities were to be identified within the hotel and recommendations were to be given that prioritise and justify the projects that should be tackled within 18 months. The author would like to conclude that these purposes were solved by explaining in detail about the Project management, its process, tools and techniques. A detailed SWOT analysis is done to justify all the changes and improvement to be done in the hotel. Then the author has given recommendations for all that is to be done to retain the business and make profits. This will help the Kerrison Park Hotel to become a successful running Hotel in the city. BIBLIOGRAPHY A quick and comprehensive introduction to Project Management and its advantages Building the Buzz on Project Management (Available from URL: http://www.pmhut.com/a-quick-and-comprehensive-introduction-to-project-management-and-its-advantages-building-the-buzz-on-project-management) (Accessed on 11th March 2010) Burke, R. (2003) Project management planning control techniques (4th edition), England, Wiley Lock, D. (2000) Project Management (7th edition), England, Gower House Project Management Process, Techniques, tools, tips and training (Available from URL: http://www.businessballs.com/project.htm) (Accessed on 10th March 2010) Project Management Methodology: Project Life Cycle (Available from URL: http://www.mpmm.com/project-management-methodology.php) (Accessed on 10th March 2010) The Traditional triple constraints (Available from URL: http://www.businesspme.com/uk/articles/rh/62/The-traditional-triple-constraints.html) (Accessed on 11th March 2010) Wiest, J.D. and Levy, F.K. (1994), Management Guide To PERT/CPM (2nd edition), New Delhi, Prentice hall of India http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_management, accessed on 19th October 2008. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWOT_analysis, accessed on 19th October, 2008.