Human Resource Law Essay

This paper will show that this scenario provides a case for gender discrimination. Gender discrimination is illegal under Title VII (Bennett-Alexander & Hartman, 2007). In addition, this paper will show what legal and ethical issues arise in this case. Furthermore, this paper will show what Bob should do in this case. By using the female employee versus the male employee to serve the customer the company would be in violation of Title VII for gender discrimination. Title VII laws regarding gender cover the full scope of the employment relationship which describes that gender may not be the basis of any decision related to employment unless gender is used as a bona fide occupational qualification (BFOQ). Customer preference is not a legitimate and protected reason to treat otherwise qualified employees differently based on gender. Additionally, allowing the female employee to assist the customer over the male employee would be in violation of the store’s rotation policy. The policy states that each working day, two employees work in the store; one working the front and one working the back. Rotation occurs on a daily basis in order to disperse commissions fairly. Since this is company policy, there is no flexibility to change that policy and to rotation schedule clearly states that it is the male employee’s turn to earn commission. Discrimination based on gender is illegal and not in keeping with good business practices of efficiency, maximizing resources, and avoiding unnecessary liability. Title VII Issues Discrimination comes in all shapes and sizes, and managers have to be careful not to cross the line and do the wrong thing. Companies do not want lawsuits for discrimination or anything else. The store’s best customer, Imelda,  probably did not intend to offend anyone nor did she probably know that she was discriminating against anyone. Many times discrimination is not intended. Customers generally believe they are always right and get what they want. However, in this instance the customer is very wrong. Requesting a female employee over a male employee is a form of discrimination, gender discrimination. Gender discrimination is illegal under Title VII (Bennett-Alexander & Hartman, 2007). If Bob asks Tom to step aside and allow Mary to assist Imelda with her purchases, he will be â€Å"in violation of Title VII and can be held liable to the employee for gender discrimination. Customer preference is not a legitimate and protected reason to treat otherwise-qualified employees differently based on gender† (Bennett-Alexander & Hartman, 2007, p. 283). Legally and ethically, Manager Bob cannot swap employees Tom and Mary simply because Imelda wants it. Choice This is not an easy situation. On one hand, the customer is promising to buy five pairs of shoes if she gets a female employee to help her. This would be a huge purchase for the store, great for the profit margin as well as a large commission for the employee. On the other hand, not providing a female employee may denote a missed sale, Imelda may leave the store. Swapping employees would cheat Tom out of his commission. This would be unethical. Tom deserves his commission; he should not be asked or told to give this up. The Shoe Store has very clear company policies. Company policy does not allow two employees to split the commission (UOPX, 2013, para. 5). As stated previously, having Tom give up his commission would not be fair. Company policy rotates employees to keep commissions as fair and equal as possible (UOPX, 2013, para. 5). Manager Bob will need to explain to Imelda as nicely and calmly as possible that he is very sorry, but cannot provide her with a female employee. Bob should promise Imelda that Tom is a very nice man and that she will be in very capable hands; ensure her that Tom knows shoes and will treat her and her feet right. Bob should smile and guarantee her that she will be happy with the service she receives. Bob should apologize for the problem, explain that he contacted his regional manager to see if he could make an exception to company policy this time and was told no, and explain that the company risks a discrimination lawsuit. Finally, tell Imelda that he understands if she chooses to shop elsewhere today and  apologize again. Bob should not get into an argument with the customer; it is out of the stores control. In any business, a written policy can avoid or prevent lawsuits. The shoe store chain has clearly established that the rotation of two employees daily or weekly will occur in the store to create fairness in commission sales. In addition, if only two employees are present one works in the back of the store and the other works in front, this clearly creates fairness of commissions earned (pay), good business ethics practice. Working in sales requires a lot of personal judgment from a company representative. By its nature, the job relies heavily on social relationships and on persuasion. Sales people also usually work on commission; if they do not make the sale, they lose cash. In the wrong hands, these elements can lead to unethical behavior, causing undue pressure on customers or vendors. Ethical behavior and doing the correct or right thing is at the forefront for salespeople today. Subsequently ethical performance is an individual process and training development related issues are important. Salespeople require guidelines on ethical, equality and discrimination issues. The guidelines should be formulated and clearly communicated to help employees to effectively deal with situations of equal pay, fairness, and or discrimination whenever the need arises. Job performance, employee satisfaction and customer satisfaction will prevail with knowledge and understanding of employment laws (Bennett-Alexander & Hartman, 2007). What has guided the ethical issues is the set of standards the company has worked out from human reason by which the human actions to switch Mary for Tom is ultimately creating wrong business ethics. Trading assign duties between sales and costs will not mix. The maximum concern for sales cannot go hand-in- with maximum concern for employees. Furthermore, the shoe store business has added structure to the business by creating this policy. If the manager deviates from the established policy, Bob will create unfair treatment or discrimination based on gender, which could result in a lawsuit. After Imelda voiced her request that she wanted a female employee Bob was to enforce the company’s policies to avoid a potential lawsuit. Bob did what was necessary to inform Imelda the company’s polices and have Tom assist her with trying on shoes. Bob knows the company will lose money  because of the sales lost from this one client; however, the ethical issue arises to do what is fair and correct according the shoe store policy. If Bob makes the switch and has Mary assist Imelda instead of Tom, Bob has violated the discrimination law-Title VII (gender) as well has violating the equal pay law (Bennett-Alexander & Hartman, 2007). The decision is allow Tom to assist Imelda and loose the extra sales. In future, the suggestion to Imelda would be to arrive at the store when a female worker is working the floor or to come in the store to see who is working the sales floor without putting the manager in the position to make compromises. Conclusion Discrimination issues can get many companies into trouble. Knowing the law is important for any manager. When questions arise that cannot be answered easily, ask for help. Title VII does not allow discrimination because of gender, meaning a man cannot be treated differently from a female and vice versa. In this case, all must be treated equally. Company policy will not allow Tom and Mary to split the commission and asking Tom to give up his commission would be illegal. Imelda will need to make her own decision whether to shop at the Shoe Store and allow Tom to assist her or leave for another store or until another day. The company must do what is right, what is legal. The store must treats its employees properly and do what is legal and ethical. Whereas Imelda may not be happy, the company cannot do anything that may bring a lawsuit against them. References Bennett-Alexander, D. D., & Hartman, P. L. (2007). Employment law for business (5th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. University of Phoenix (UOPX). (2013). Week Three. Retrieved from University of Phoenix,

Management Theorists Summaries

Chandler: The Enduring Logic of Industrial Success Main claim: Successful companies exploit economies of scale and scope in capital-intensive industries by investing in: †¢ Production capacity: technology, research & development †¢ Strong management hierarchies †¢ National and international marketing and distribution networks Secondary claims: †¢ The ? st companies to make these investments dominate their market and are First Movers; they have the upper hand on the Experience Curve and thus a competitive advantage, and they maintain their position through constant innovation and strategy. †¢ Growth through unrelated diversi? cation is a poor business strategy; the right idea is moving into related product markets or to expand geographically †¢ Companies in an oligopoly become stronger through intense competition. Companies grow horizontally by combining with competitors, and vertically by moving backward to control materials and forward to control outlet s. Greiner: Evolution and Revolution as Organizations Grow Main claim: Organizational growth is characterized by ? ve successive developmental phases, each with a management focus and style, and each followed by a predictable crisis; management practices that work in one phase are unsuitable for the next and precipitate the crisis.Secondary claims: †¢ Organizations should not skip phases; some go quickly through them, some regress †¢ Top managers whose style is no longer appropriate should remove themselves †¢ Growth is avoidable †¢ The future of an organization is determined predominantly by its history (behavior is determined more by past events/experiences than by what lies ahead) Phases of evolution (CDDCC): †¢ Creativity: informal, long hours, market feedback †¢ Direction: hierarchy, specialization, formal communication, managers, supervisors †¢ Delegation: decentralized organizational structure, empowering of lower-level managers †¢ Coor dination: formal planning, top executives initiate and administrate new systems †¢ Collaboration: teamwork, problem-solving, open-door matrix structure Phases of revolution (LACRPs): †¢ Leadership: necessary skills to introduce new techniques †¢ Autonomy: ? eld managers’ experience knowledge is restricted by the hierarchy †¢ Control: top managers seek to regain control of the company †¢ Red tape: excess restrictions and regulations, bureaucracy, ineffectiveness in problem-solving †¢ Psychological saturation Barney Main claim: Internal and External Analysis provides a balanced view of a ? rm’s competitive advantage, which is a moving target. External environment analysis (opportunities and threats) cannot explain a ? rm’s success by itself; strategists must analyze its internal strengths and weaknesses. VRIO Framework: †¢ Value: does a ? m’s resources and capabilities enable it to exploit an opportunity or neutralize thre ats? (high status and quality, low cost and practical) †¢ Rarity: is a resource or capability controlled by a small number of ? rms? †¢ Imitability: is there dif? culty and cost disadvantage in imitating what a ? rm is doing? (history, numerous small decisions, socially complex resources, embedded cultures) †¢ Organization: are a ? rm’s policies and procedures organized to exploit its valuable, rare and costly-to-imitate resources? (reporting structure, management system, compensation policies) SWOT Framework: Composed by Internal and External Environment analysis; aims to identify the key issues facing a company. Strengths: internal resources and capabilities †¢ Opportunities: external trends, industry conditions and competitive environment †¢ Weaknesses and Threats: issues that must be addressed to improve a company’s situation Tangible Resources: †¢ Financial: cash or cash equivalents, borrowing capacity †¢ Physical: plants, facili ties, manufacturing locations, machinery and equipment †¢ Technological: trade secrets, patents, copyrights, trademarks, innovative production processes †¢ Organizational: strategic planning, evaluation and control systems Intangible Resources: †¢ Human: experience, capability, trust, managerial skills, speci? c practices and procedures †¢ Innovation/Creativity: technical and scienti? c skills, innovation capacity †¢ Reputation: brand name, quality, reliability, fairness Organizational Capabilities: †¢ Competencies or skills ? ms use to turn inputs into outputs †¢ Capacity to combine tangible and intangible resources to achieve a desired goal Collins & Porras Main Claim: Successful companies have a clear vision made up from a core ideology and an envisioned future that motivate employees and guide decision-making. Core Ideology: guides, inspires and makes work meaningful for employees. †¢ Purpose: soul of and reason why an organization exists; idealistic motivations †¢ Values: strong beliefs about what is most important Envisioned Future: †¢ BHAGs: clear, compelling goals to engage and energize; they should contain a measurable objective, be dif? cult but not impossible, and achievable in a long-term period (10-30 years) †¢ Vivid description: paints an exciting picture of the future (what’s it going to be like? BHAG types: †¢ Qualitative and quantitative for attainable targets †¢ David vs Goliath for a common enemy goal †¢ Emulation of role models for up-and-coming organizations †¢ Internal transformations for large, established organizations Other Stuff Underlying Assumptions: they form the basis of our beliefs and reasoning; they are the link between the claim and the evidence (they explain the relevancy of evidence to the claim). †¢ Reality: beliefs about how things and events work †¢ Value: ideals, standards of right and wrong and how things ought to be PACCEs: alwa ys put an article through these ? ve concepts. †¢ Persuasive language †¢ Assumptions and values (beliefs that affect how the author sees the world) †¢ Claim (the broader issue, the thesis the author wants you to accept) †¢ Causal logic (claims regarding cause and effect) †¢ Evidence (SCRAAP: is it suf? cient, clear, authoritative, accurate, precise, representative? )

Industrial Revolution in England Essay

Industrial revolution occurred in England between 1750 and 1850. This revolution was about changing the old production processes to new for the purpose of making more profit. There were major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining and technology which had a significant effect on the economy and culture of England. England was the starting point of the revolution and after England it spread to Europe, North America and finally the entire world. Basically, it was resulted in industry and machine manufacturing, instead of the old system which was agrarian and handicraft economy. Industrial revolution influenced every aspect of daily life. This revolution led drastic changes. Technological, socioeconomic and cultural features are the main features that changed and developed in the Industrial Revolution. Firstly in the technological field, people started to use new basic materials such as iron and steel and new energy sources such as electricity, steam engine, etc. were introduced. Also, new machines invented, for example spinning jenny. Human energy expenditure becomes smaller as a result of invention of new machines. Lastly, factory system occurred and a new organization way emerged with that. This change led division of labour to occur. Industrial revolution was a very very important social event, it changed and improved the world and there are some important terms, peoples and matters which were the main building blocks such as coal, spinning jenny and steam engine. Firstly, coal. Coal and industrial revolution were connected to each other. Before the revolution people used coal but what they use was very close to surface and they didn’t get benefit from it. Before the revolution there were 2 types of mines; drift mines and bell pits. There were small scale of this and only homes and local industries used these types of coals. But after the revolution demand on coal increased a lot because coal was the energy source for machines. More machines needed more coal. Therefore, coal mines got deeper and deeper; coal mining became very essential for factories. Secondly, spinning jenny. First spinning jenny was invented by James Hargreaves; jenny was the initial word for engine. There were 20.000 spinning jennys across Britain in 1778. Samuel Compton improved spinning jenny. Thirdly, steam engine. Steam engine  converts heat energy to mechanical energy by pressurized steam. It was invented by Thomas Newcomen. He found the first practical engine which was used for to pump water out of mine. James Watt developed Newcomen’s steam engine and it used in locomotives and ships (Western Civilization,348). Industrial revolution took place in England but not in China or the Islamic countries. The reasons behind it will be discussed in the next paragraphs. Newtonian science was very important for Industrial revolution and only England spread this science among its citizens. China or Islamic countries didn’t have control over the Newtonian science and they were not informed as England (Science, Institutions and the Industrial Revolution, p.16). Britain was advanced and they were technologically superior to the others. Institutions and universities were a lot in England. Laws were made by these institutions and inventor’s rights were protected by these laws. Therefore, inventors were encouraged by government. At the same time, universities raised engineers and technicians. Both of them prepare the ground for Industrial Revolution (Science, Institutions and the Industrial Revolution,p.13-14) In addition, Britain was rich in raw materials. It was easy to reach cotton, tobacco or sugar. Also England developed its transportation by iron. As a raw material iron was a lot in England and people used this iron to make railways, ships, etc. Transportation was very important for a revolution to occur (Science, Institutions and the Industrial Revolution,p.18). Also England had lots of mines and mines contain energy sources such as coal. Machines, steam engines, etc. needed source of energy to work. So England was very suitable for that. On the other hand, Chinese mines were spread all around the country and they weren’t close to each other, so it was hard and expensive to connect them and collect each raw material. Thus, Chinese didn’t use these sources. As it discussed in the above paragraphs Chinese transportation was bad. In addition to that Chinese stand point was different from British. Schools, institutions taught different things. Islam is a different religion than the other and it was not open to new inventions or new ideas in those years. Their strong beliefs avoid them to develop themselves in terms of science and they didn’t develop as much as England and Europe. In conclusion, I think industrial revolution changed the world and it had significant impacts on daily life. The technology and all the other stuff that we have today are here because of the industrial revolution. Because in today’s world everything, every product come out of factories. There are lots of rational reasons why the revolution occurred in England but not in China or Islamic countries. Marketing, technology and energy are the examples for the emergence in England. References: http://global.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/287086/Industrial-Revolution http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Industrial_Revolution.html http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/coal_mines_industrial_revolution.htm Western Civilization, A brief history, 3rd edition,Perry, 344-362 C. Bekar and R. Lipsey, â€Å"Science, Institutions and the Industrial Revolution†, Department of Economics Discussion Papers, 2002, 1, 5, 7-8, 13-24.

Mona Lisa Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Mona Lisa - Research Paper Example 71). The Mona Lisa has an allure that can’t be explained, its popularity to a level where almost anyone in the Western world will recognize the work. Furthermore, the image has become a part of pop art, its imagery of a serene woman with a slight smile gracing items from merchandise such as coffee mugs, t-shirts, and greeting cards. The work has been taken by other artists and re-imagined into their own conceptualization, the imagery a part of the public sphere, thus subject to being used to created post-modern commentary on the consumerist culture. The Mona Lisa is the most famous piece of art in the world, the skill with which it was rendered now secondary to the iconic impact that it has upon popular culture. The Mona Lisa was begun in 1503 and finished in 1506. The work represents all that was best within the discoveries that were made during the Renaissance in painting towards representing reality. The painting uses finely crafted perspective, with all lines converging to wards a singular point. The painting is an example of geometric scaling within a painting, the symmetry and harmony of the piece provided through the triangulation of the composition. Da Vinci used chiaroscuro techniques, the use of light and shadow, to model the curves and features of his subject. Dark undertones were used to create a foundation from which he used multiple layers of thin, semi-transparent glazes, a technique called sfumato. One of the most significant changes in the history of art is represented by the Mona Lisa as the movement was begun away from wall frescos and toward oil paintings that were done on an easel which changed the way in which painted art was most often formed (Strickland & Boswell, 1992, p. 34). It is possible that the piece represents the wife of Giocondo, a Florentine merchant (Strickland & Boswell, 1992, p. 34). However, both because Leonardo da Vinci was known to be a strikingly handsome man with fine features, and the similarities that exist in the basic structure of Mona Lisa’s face to his own, there is some speculation that this is a self-portrait with gender reversal, an examination of how he would look if he was a woman (Cremante & Pedretti, 2005, p. 248). The painting infamously seems to hold a secret, the slight, serene smile suggesting that something more is being shown than what is most obvious in the work. Therefore, the Mona Lisa, with its unclear subject and chaste, yet seductive mystery, is a work that has held the interest of the public since it was put on display in the Louvre and the world was introduced to her. The work is known as the most famous work of art in the world. According to Sassoon (2002), an Italian opinion poll conducted in February of 2000 asked the question â€Å"What do you think is the best known painting in the world?†. The overwhelming response at a rate of 85.8% was the Mona Lisa (p. 9). However, the reasons behind its popularity are hazy, an unclear path that is hard to fully determine. The rise of popularity in the 20th century might be due to the theft that occurred in 1911. The painting was missing for almost two years, thus creating a further mystery around the mythology of the work that is only enhanced by the mysterious look of the woman in the portrait. According to Strickland and Bosewell (1992), between 1911 and 1952, at least 61 recreations by other artists had come into existence, the iconic history of the painting then going fully commercial with the works of Andy Warhol and Jasper Johns making

Human rights Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Human rights - Essay Example The law of protest in the UK is inherently complex, with both the common law and constitutional provisions playing significant roles. The  Public Order Act 1986  is one of the major legislations that frame conditions to which protest demonstrations and marches are subject.2 This act allows the UK police to levy conditions that are deemed necessary for preventing property damage, public disorder, or stop protestors from intimidating others, while making it compulsory for the protestors to present a prior notification to the police. Failing to adhere to the stated conditions is an offence entailing arrest under the common law. Besides the  Public Order Act 1986,  there are various other provisions such as the stop and search provisions created under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 19843 and the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (SOCPA)4 that prohibit protests and demonstrations in specific areas without prior notification and permission. For example, areas surrou nding the Parliament Square and Trafalgar Square come under  the SOCPA designated areas. ... This essay critically analyses the aforementioned statement suggesting that the policing of protests as provided by the Public Order Act 1986 favours the interests of the state over the democratic rights of an individual as provided by the ECHR. Discussion Under provisions made by the ECHR, the Home Office and the police are under obligations to comply with the rights set out in the treaty; however, at the same time the provisions under the UK common law are also taken into consideration. The UK Government is required to protect all that come under its jurisdiction, which includes demonstrators, protestors, those targeted by the protestors, the public and the police.5 There are two obligation types owed by the UK under the ECHR: positive and negative. A positive obligation makes it necessary for the government to frame protective or preventive measures to secure rights listed in article 11 of the ECHR, whereas under the negative obligation they must stop from taking certain protectiv e or preventive measures. For example, under a negative obligation the UK Government cannot place hurdles in front of those wanting to protest.6 A positive obligation, on the other hand, helps counter protests and makes it compulsory for the government to frame measures that safeguard individuals from the actions of others (such as those targeted by the protestors or business firms against whom individuals may want to protest). Article 11 of the ECHR makes provisions that safeguard the rights of protestors and demonstrators taking part in peaceful assemblies from state interference. Article 11 comprises two interlinked rights: the right not to be stopped from associating and meeting (except

Challenger disaster Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Challenger disaster - Essay Example Activities carried out in programs that do not have established good house keeping conditions are also unsafe, as is the lack of maintenance of equipment. Finally, where the workers have not been prepared or have not been trained on how to respond to incidents like employee injury, fire, and spills, the working conditions are unsafe (Ohnysty 57). The training and education of the employees on the manner in which to conduct their activities in safety aids, in the minimization of exposure risks, and this is a critical element for all complete health and safety programs in the workplace. The training must involve how to carry out the activities safely, as well as ensuring that they comprehend the hazards inherent in their jobs on a day-to-day basis. It also needs to provide workers with information that covers how they should protect their fellow co-workers and themselves. However, safety is not achievable via reliability alone. Some systems in the workplace cannot be made safe from fai lure, especially where continuous availability is required. Lack of recovery procedures, fault tolerance, as well as lack of redundancy provisions, makes the activities performed in these conditions unsafe. In addition, systems in the workplace that are less sensitive for quality induced uncertainty or reliability prediction errors are also unsafe (Ohnysty 59). Finally, systems that do not have failure detection, as well as avoidance and correction of common causes of failure lead to unsafe conditions of work because of low system level reliability. 2. What responsibility did the engineers at Thiokol have to their company versus the general public and the astronauts on that flight? Understanding the code of ethics for professional technologists is a convention among professional technologists. It aids us in explaining why technologists cannot merely depend on private conscience during the practice of his/her profession (Ohnysty 68). This is in spite of how good their private conscie nce may be, which means that technologists must integrate what the engineers’ organization has to say concerning what the technologist is required to do. What the conscience tells one to do in the absence of a particular convention is not what the same conscience would tell one to do with the presence of the convention. Where the code of ethics is a morally permissible convention, it guides a technologist as to what to expect reasonably from one another. It is essential to know the code of ethics so as to know, for instance, whether as a technologist to weigh simply safety with disregard to the manager’s wishes or to give preference to safety issues against the wishes of the of the company. The code of ethics provides a guide on what to expect the other members of their profession to aid them to do. If prioritizing safety first were part of being a technologist, the technologists at Thiokol would expect their managers to support them. For instance, if the managers had asked them to think, not as technologists, but as managers, the engineer should have responded that they were there in their capacity as technologists (Ohnysty 69). This would have been the response of a technologist, although the question would arise as to whether, overall, this would have been the right thing. Technologists are not merely the members of their profession but are also persons with responsibilities and cannot escape punishment,

Business data analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Business data analysis - Essay Example They try to elaborate the rate at which the stock values are found to be varying over time. Seasonal variations Seasonal variations have very important implications for the policies which define the functioning of a company. Rise and fall in stock prices often classify the boom and recessive periods of a company respectively. When stock prices rise, the companies generally are found to increase their employee wages and hire more employees as the production rises. They are generally predicted through figuring out the differences between the predicted trend line and the actual observations, for each individual period. Averaging over the differences throughout an entire year leads to the calculation of seasonal variations for each month in any year (Hargreaves, 1994, p. 154). Stock prices for Deutsche Bank are estimated to be reaching a peak during the fourth month of every year while it faces a recession during the tenth month of every year. Hence, the company might be regarded to be u ndergoing a period of boom during the second quarter of every year and a depression during the fourth quarter. However, when these seasonal variation statistics are compared with the actual monthly differences in the trend calculations and actual observations, the readings were found to be much different. The following graph depicts the comparative readings of differences between actual and trend observations. ... On the other hand, recession is actually experienced during the beginning of second quarter as against the seasonal variations calculated. However, it is not repeated for each and every year, as is found for the year 2002. In the year 2002, the actual seasonal variations are found to be coinciding with the calculated ones even though the readings do not match each other. The only factor which seems to correspond with each other is the direction of trend. If actual stock price values are being counted for, as the diagram alongside depicts, it would show that the correspondence between actual trend and estimated one is rarely found for the span of 10 years. In fact, the diagram suggests the absence of any hard-core seasonal fluctuation as such. The actual detrended line indicates the period between 2002 and 2004 as well as that between 2009 and 2010 to be under recession while that between 2006 and 2008 to be a period of boom. On the other hand, seasonal variation statistics show that regular cycle of booms and recessions are found to characterise every year. However, a point to be taken a note of in this regard is that even when the company, i.e., Deutsche Bank undergoes a whole period of boom or recession as such, there exists small fluctuations during the same. Hence, predictions about seasonal variations are likely to match during some years. Even when a company is experiencing a period of boom or recession, there could be ups and downs in business which symbolise seasonal variations, which actually is a short run phenomenon. However, there might also be another reason behind the lack of compatibility between the estimated trends and the actual adjusted closing price of the stocks of Deutsche Bank. As the diagram produced

Israel and Palestine Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Israel and Palestine - Assignment Example en attack Jerusalem and Jordan parts controlled by the Israeli while Israelites attack Palestinians in Jordan, Jerusalem and Gaza as a means of retaliation and maintenance of security from what they term as terrorism from the Palestinians. Although the international community has shown interest in reconciliatory and mediation roles, I think the problems of Israel and Palestine can only be resolved by mutual consent by the Jews and the Palestinians. Reconciliation attempts had been made since 1948 when independent Palestine State and independent Jewish State were established (Sela, 2002). The move seemed to bring an end to a serious conflict in the region, but the struggle between the two countries is still on until now. There is need for the Palestinians and the Israelis to change their attitudes towards each other, but this is difficult because each side has strong and radical conviction about their religion, territories, power and security. International community may play the role of advising and encouraging both sides to loosen their demands, but the final road to peace will be created by the two nations willingly. The Jews and the Palestinians agreed that Palestine actually deserved to be a free state. West Bank and Gaza was considered to be acceptable locations of the Palestinian State. However, disagreements ensued on the shape and boundaries of those regions (Sela, 2002). The two regions have been the main centers of fights between Israel and Palestine. This clearly shows that the Israeli-Palestine conflicts are fueled by disagreements on boundaries. In this case, no international body will come to the region and tell Israel that this land belongs to Palestine, so just leave it, or tell Palestine the same thing. Israelites and Palestinians alone have the ability to sit and agree on the boundaries, but because each one of them wants to take control, they never seem to come to such an agreement. That is why conflict does not seem to be ending soon. What

Philosophy, theory and ethics in property Essay

Philosophy, theory and ethics in property - Essay Example It may be noted that the decline of traditional industries and population drift has left many properties surplus to requirement. Dilapidated and unmanaged empty buildings naturally create an atmosphere in which crime and vandalism can flourish; making the neighbourhoods less popular. Where older buildings have outlived their useful life demolition is the only viable option to provide more promising areas with the green spaces and rooms for parking, which is the modern requirement. Though it is essential to build new homes or business establishments, we must utilise the existing stock and provide opportunity to continue the business and job opportunity to the original occupants. Encouraging a mix of uses is the core of sustainable and vibrant communities as people living in town centres bring custom to shops and other businesses which will prevent the empty space becoming deserted and potentially unsafe at night. In this context private sector can play an important role in constructiv e utilisation of land, property, and resources to deliver better service to the society. When considering a property for development and converting into retail commercial units the potential for conflict of interest between commercial and residential use needs to be considered. Once the property has been identified the developer will need to carry out a basic feasibility study, looking at the likely costs against expected revenue and increase in property value, to determine whether or not the scheme is going to be financially viable. Service of residential agents can provide individual inspections of buildings, feasibility report for viable conversion, and help bring empty properties back into use. An application for listed building consent has to be submitted to the local planning authority before going for changes that affect character of the building and the premises. It is also necessary to adhere to local guidelines on demolition of old buildings, taking prior permission from the authority and stake holders, if any, and approving development plan. There is a growing importance for regional level planning due to growing scale of daily life, particularly in the major urban regions; the increasing need to integrate planning of urban and rural area; and more pluralistic societies. It may be seen that along with population growth there is increasing demand for mobility, accessibility, and redefined quality of place, which necessitate more effective planning aimed at nature preservation, water management, sustainable environment, and cultural heritage. Societal developments are now connected with international developments and a new balance is needed between city and countryside, between nature and landscape, between infrastructure and environment, and regional and international development. An integrated approach to sustainable development will enable efficient, effective, consistent, and coordinated input plans and strategies to address rural issues that incorporate natural, built and historic environment into the strategies and p lans. "The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 introduces fundamental changes to the planning system" (van den Berg, 2005). It necessitates spatial structure of vital, but uncontrollable, metropolises to be improved for accommodating multicultural/multiethnic populations, new economic systems, and modern lifestyles. Thus, major actors involved in spatial planning

ELL Proficiency Standards Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

ELL Proficiency Standards - Assignment Example lps the English learners gain the proficiency in English fast and this guides them in meeting the language demands and in dealing with complex areas of instructions such as science, mathematics and social studies. A student at level III can apply the knowledge of English conventions through constructing simple or compound sentences with some errors. The structure of the sentence includes regular objects as well as simple and progressive sentences. The listening and speaking domain contain two standards, the comprehension of oral communication and the delivery of oral communications. The main objective of this domain is to ensure that students engage effectively in collaborative discussions either one or one with other others, teacher led or in-group discussions. This helps in building ideas and clear self-expression ( Common core, 2014). To meet the above objectives teachers and students should engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions such as (one-on-one or, in-group discussions. Learner to learner involvement in discussions with diverse partners is also necessary as it helps in building on others’ ideas and expressing themselves clearly. This domain contains four standards namely print concepts, phonemic awareness or coding, standard fluency and finally text comprehension. The main purpose of this domain is to help learners read and understand different texts on similar topics. Moreover, the domain assist enriching learners knowledge through use of vocabularies and to gain skills necessary in comparing and contrasting two different texts in the same topic ( Evenson et al., 2013). Many ELL students have difficulties in learning to read in English .To Build the reading fluency the teacher should encourage ELL students to reread orally books they are familiar with in English. While reading, the teacher keeps the track of errors and records them for further discussion with the student. Incorporating writing in the lesson helps student in

Evil, its symbols and the environment Essay 2 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Evil, its symbols and the environment 2 - Essay Example Two rebel groups clashed against the Sudanese government because of its neglect of Darfur and its citizens, Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) (sometimes also called Liberation and Justice Movement) and Sudan Liberation Army (SLA). The Sudanese government unleashed an attack against the rebel forces and the ordinary citizens in the city were just collateral damage. Men, women, and children of all ages were murdered on both sides of the conflict (Reuters). Though at present the atrocities in Darfur have somewhat ceased, the harrowing events that went before were enough to leave the community in despair and disarray. The best symbol I can associate to the conflict in Darfur is the balance. As defined in J. C. Cooper’s work, the balance symbolizes â€Å"justice; impartiality; judgment; man’s merits and demerits weighed. The equilibrium of all opposites and complementaries†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (26). The warring parties think that the balance of justice and power are tipped agains t their side that is why they sacrifice countless lives to try and tip it in their favor. In thus struggle, the community pays the price. According to Barbara Coloroso, genocide is an experience of evil which shatters human communities. In this paper, I would like to present how genocide wrecks communities through three different perspectives: through the eyes of the Sudanese government, the eyes of the rebels, and through the eyes of the common citizen. Then I will try to draw conclusions from these differing perspectives in light of being a student of religion and culture – gleaning practical and philosophical lessons and insights from the experience of those that have witnessed and participated in the genocide at Darfur. The Perspective of the Sudanese Government Strong yet compassionate leadership is essential for a community to progress. Darfur became a territory of Sudan in 1916 and for more than a century, everything was relatively peaceful though there were insurgent groups that wanted to restore Darfur as an independent state (O’Fahey). The attack of the rebel forces against the government of Sudan was not tolerated because tolerance would be seen a sign of weakness. And so the bloody war and genocide started on 2003 continuing until the present with the fighting spreading to neighboring countries like Chad and the Central African Republic (Hentoff). The issue of trust. As the leaders of the community, it is expected that a country’s government will protect its territory and will most likely extinguish any flames of insurgency so as to unite its people and keep them safe. But communities are first and foremost built on trust. If the government doubts members of its citizenry and brands them as rebels and insurgents, then they will not be able to uphold their responsibility as protectors and mediators for peace. One of the government’s responsibilities is to uphold justice but in Darfur’s case, the line between good c itizens just trying to make those who are in power see that they have been neglected, and those that just want to destabilize the rule got blurred. Thus, whom will the government protect? Who can they trust? The issue of â€Å"the greater good†. Part of the responsibilities in leading a community is making tough and unpopular decisions. UN estimates that at least 300,000 people have died because of the atrocities in Darfur (Reuters). That is just .08% of the 37.2

American Ethnic Literature Essay Example for Free

American Ethnic Literature Essay American Literature has been an important part of American people for centuries. What makes this type of literature great is that the authors vision is objective and not one sided. Several of the American authors are still considered to be great writers. The books that were written by these authors are still read by people of all ages around the United States. These books are now considered classic literature. American literature is considered American because it was written by American people. Overall, â€Å"editors appear to use an inconsistent combination of citizenship, geographical location, language, and subject matter (that is, the subject of America and the United States) (Hames- Garcia, p. 1, 2003). Most of the American literature was written by white men. In order to be considered American literature it has to be about the United States. There have been many great authors that write about science fiction, but because it is unreal their literature is not considered American literature. Politics also played an important role in literature. It was of great importance to portray the American character as an â€Å"exceptional entity† (Hames-Garcia, p. 1, 2003). In the early twentieth century, writers who were not American white men were not allowed to publish their works. Women writers as well as Black, Latino, American Indian, and immigrant writers were left out altogether. This happened because other ethnic groups were considered to be inferior. It was until the 1970s that feminist began to speak out and rebel against the oppression they were faced with. It is thanks to this reform that the American literature holds diversity. It allows for men and women to have the same opportunity to express their feelings without having to worry about their race or sex. Another type of literature is ethnic literature. This type of literature is often read as an autobiography, even when making no such claims. This is written on a first person point of view. The author’s point of view is specific to their personal beliefs and life stories. It is difficult for this type of author to provide an objectionable story. They are blinded by anger because of what they had to live. The topics these authors write about covers racism and suppression. The definitions and topics will vary depending on the life experiences that each author or their families experienced. The storyline will also vary because each author lived different time periods, and of course things change over time. Ethnic Literature is great because it now holds different point of views. Every person has a different perspective on what happens around them. What allows for this to be great is that each person is entitled not only to have their own belief, but they are able to express their feelings with freedom. No person is afraid of what repercussion might come because they decided to write from their heart. The truth allows readers to realize that life has been harder for some people more than others. It is easy to forget what our ancestors had to experience in order for each individual to encounter freedom. It is now easy for men and women of all races to walk freely around their city. This however came at a price, and this type of literature allows human beings to read and experience in some small way what it was like to live in a world were the color of your skin as well as your sex had a lot to do with the quality of life you lived. American Literature will continue to play an important role in American people. The only way to enjoy this type of literature is to introduce our younger generations to it. This is the perfect material needed to give to young readers so that they can value the lifestyle they are allowed to live today. It is up to us to keep this tradition alive so that our future generation can enjoy it as well. Reference Michael Hames-Garcia. (2003). Which America is ours? Martis Truth and the foundations of American literature. Modern Fiction Studies, 49(1), 19-53. Retrieved October 25, 2009, from Research Library. (Document ID: 328665241). Yonjae Jung. (2004). The New Americanist Intervention into the Canon. American Studies International, 42(2/3), 213-225. Retrieved October 26, 2009, from Research Library. (Document ID: 676208971).

Hotel Profile and Marketing Plan

Hotel Profile and Marketing Plan Executive summary In this essay we concentrate on Starwood hotels, this is a world famous chain of hotels. We talk about the marketing strategies, hotel staff training of Starwood. The hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector continues to play an important role in the UK economy. A report published by People 1st in association with British Hospitality Industry in 2009 states that the hotel industry has enjoyed a sustained period of growth over the last 30 years and now accounts for nearly five percent of the UKs total economic output. They suggest that along with the rest of the economy, trading will be tough in the short term due to credit crunch but in the long term the sector is still predicted to grow and remain an important contributor to the UK economy. The sector employs in the region of two million people accounting for 1 in 14 UK jobs. The recession is forcing more employers to think about cutting costs. It is therefore more important than ever that employers have credible retention strategies to retain skilled staff and reduce unnecessary recruitment costs. The report explains how Starwood which is global hotels and resorts group, with a highly distinct brand, functions in the United States and Canada, in Europe, in Asia Pacific and in Africa by managing and franchising more than 395 hotels with a focus on nowadays demanding business explorer. This report briefly discusses the how marketing is done in Starwood hotel and the marketing strategies which they are using. It is entrusted to modify and innovation in all main areas together with its growth strategy, operations, franchising, sales and marketing, and technology, to function with utmost effectiveness in a extremely competitive industry Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1 Business Profile of Starwood Hotel Starwood Hotels Resorts is a worldwide chain of 400 hotels, with a total of 102,000 guest rooms, in many countries. Starwood Hotels Resorts, one of the worlds leading, full-service hotel brands, offers vibrant, modern and attractive hospitality service that is defined by its characteristic . The first Starwood Hotel was built in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1909, and was named after the 17th century French explorer Pierre-Esprit Starwood. The hotel was purchased by Curt Carlson (1914-1999) in 1962, and is still owned by his Carlson Companies. Starwood competes with Hilton, Doubletree, and Marriott. The majority of Starwood Branded Hotels are located in the United States. The companys headquarters are located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where the first Starwood Hotel was built. This building is also headquarters to the parent company, Carlson Companies. There are 200 Starwood Hotels in the United States. Starwood Blu, formerly Starwood SAS, is the brand name for hotels outside the United States, including those in Europe, Africa, and Asia. They are operated by Belgian hotel firm Rezidor Hotel Group under a master franchise contract with Carlson. Carlson and Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS), the Scandinavian Airline, were equity holders of the Rezidor Hotel Group, giving the company its name. Since SAS withdrawal from the collaboration, the name Starwood SAS remained until February 5, 2009, when it was replaced by Starwood Blu, which will be introduced gradually. Starwood Blu operates 158 hotels with 42 projects in development. Definition of Marketing The Chartered Institute of Marketing (1986) defines marketing as The management process responsible for identifying, anticipating and satisfying customer requirements profitably.American Marketing Association(1980) as the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large. [1] The term developed from the original meaning which referred literally to going to market, as in shopping, or going to a market to buy or sell goods or services. According to Gronroos (1989) says long term customer relationships are considered as the cornerstone of marketing. 1.2 Starwood Marketing Orientation Marketing is an integrated communications-based process through which individuals and communities discover that existing and newly-identified needs and wants may be satisfied by the products and services of others. (Kotler and Armstrong, 2005) The Chartered Institute of Marketing define marketing as The management process responsible for identifying , anticipating and satisfying customer requirements profitably A business that has a marketing orientation sees the needs of customers and consumers as vital. As it develops and markets products to meet those demands, certain structural characteristics become apparent in the business. Business Function Activities Identifying customer/consumer needs and wants Marketing research Developing products to meet customer/consumer needs and wants Research and development Production Deciding on the value of the product to customers Pricing (sales and marketing department) Making the product available to customers at the right time and place Distribution Informing customers/consumers of the existence of the product and persuading them to buy it Promotion We should expect to see all the above activities well-established in a business that is marketing-orientated. Starwood first finds out what customers wants are by conducting a market research and by providing what the customers really need and satisfying them makes them customer oriented. Starwood always focuses on their service level to be 100% and they have developed a YES WE CAN program among their employees. This would directly attract customers and also make Starwood create a competitive advantage over its competitors. Moreover, the greater Starwood is customer orientated, the more it will be able to develop a competitive advantage based on innovation and market differentiation. Market orientation focuses on a business culture and activities that enhance business performance, producing superior value to customers, outstanding performance for the firm and aggregately for the economy (Oudan., 2007). Market Orientation Market Testing Market Research Market Intelligence 1.3 Marketing Intelligence Market intelligence, according to Cornish (1997), the process of acquiring and analyzing information in order to understand the market (both existing and potential customers); to determine the current and future needs and preferences, attitudes and behaviour of the market; and to assess changes in the business environment that may affect the size and nature of the market in the future. Starwood business always updates themselves on the economy, labour market conditions, legislative and regulatory development, social changes and technological advancement by doing an environmental scanning. They consider all these external environmental factors when it comes to taking decisions about packages, prices, and other management and marketing issues Starwood also searches for information from readily available public sources and customers while sometimes through the perfectly legal observation of competitors activities. 1.4 Market Testing A test market, in the field of business and marketing, is a geographic region or demographic group used to gauge the viability of a product or service in the mass market prior to a wide scale roll-out. Market testing is done to test multiple marketing scenarios and select the most promising for expansion. When Introducing a new product or service without first testing the market is risky. After the market research the new products /services must be tested before entering the market. Starwood one of the most recent market testing was Express yourself service which allows Guests to check-in online. Many new ideas and products are successful in Starwood because their creators recognized an unmet need in the market and confirmed the capability of that concept. When launching a new product or service, the company should first conduct a small scale launch or other customer research in a test market Chapter 2 Segmentation, Targeting Positioning The strategic marketing planning process flows from a mission and vision statement to the selection of target markets, and the formulation of specific marketing mix and positioning objective for each product or service the organization will offer. In its first phase, choosing the value, the strategist proceeds to segment the market, select the appropriate market target, and develop the offers value positioning. The formula segmentation, targeting, positioning (STP) is the essence of strategic marketing. (Kotler, 1997) (Figure3) 2.1 Market Segmentation Segmentation is essentially about identifying groups of buyers within a market who have needs which are distinctive in the way that they deviate from the average consumer. Some consumer may treat satisfaction of one particular need as a high priority, whereas to others this need may be regarded as being quite trivial. Consider the case of the new hotel market. Buyers no longer select a hotel solely on the basis of hotels market. Market Segmentation is the subdividing of a market into distinct and increasingly homogeneous subgroups of customers, where any subgroup can conceivably be selected as a target market to be met with a distinct marketing mix (Kotler 1994). It should precisely segment its markets on various factors and provide the customers what they want. Starwood had segmented its market by corporate (business travellers) and leisure seekers. In the near future by 2010 Starwood had announced to open a hotel in the city of Makkah. In an interview with Jean-Marc Busato, Area Vi ce President said This is an important milestone for us to be present in what is considered the holiest city in Islam. This is our sixth Kingdom project which we consider one of our major growth markets. He also added We have acquired a good understanding of the Saudi Arabian market and besides developing our first class Starwood brand, we also see a demand for efficient, value for money accommodation for the frequent traveller in the mid market segment, 2.2 Targeting Targeting is a process of prioritizing target segments based on the firms core competencies or capabilities, and other researched factors including segmented market size, growth potential of the segmented market, competitive dynamics, etc. This method is used to Find out the target customers in focus marketing and set up target products and services for them,. In this aspect Starwood should completely symbolize the features and specialties in the hotel. In Starwood they have targeted the customers in. Starwood provides food item s and more facilities to their respectable rooms and they give special discounts for regular customers. In addition to that all the customers can enjoy almost every other facility which is in five star standards. 2.3 Positioning Positioning means arranging a product to occupy clear, distinctive and desirable place relative to competing products in the minds of target consumers. Through using positioning successfully, brands will be able to position their product in the consumers mind. Four key elements for a successful positioning are Clarity, Consistency, Credibility and Competitiveness. In marketing, positioning has come to mean the process by which marketers try to create an image or identity in the minds of their target market for its product, brand, or organization. It is the relative competitive comparison their product occupies in a given market as perceived by the target market. Chart 4: STP strategy, Hard capital (2003) 2.4 Satisfying customer needs and wants Customers are everything to a Hotel or any business for that matter. It can be out as a companys bread and butter. In the past, all was not well for Starwood hotels. As other businesses they also faced declining revenues and reputation. So to come out of this matter they implemented a market research to find out what they are doing wrong in the field. The research showed that customer wants and needs have changed over time but Starwood has stayed in the same place. A focus on franchisees and franchisee growth vs. customers and the hotel guest experience resulted in an undifferentiated, lacklustre brand and inconsistent service. Meeting the objective needs and wants of customers to drive sales is at the heart of most businesses. It is how they build business relationships, remain profitable, and how they expand into new territories. To improve customer experience and freedom of choice they implemented such schemes as Express Yourself, Gold Points Plussm and Sleep Number Bed program. The Express yourself program is the hotel industrys first pre-arrival, online check-in system. Guests book their reservation and can check-in online. Radisson Hotels Resorts is part of the gold points plus program from Carlson Hotels Worldwide that offers guests the freedom and flexibility to earn rewards more quickly than any other hotel program. Chapter 3 3.1 Marketing Mix The concept of the marketing mix was first given prominence by Borden in 1965. He described the marketing manager as a mixer of ingredients, one who is constantly engaged in fashioning creatively a mix of marketing procedures and policies in his efforts to produce a profitable enterprise Marketing mix is a Planned mix of the controllable elements of a products marketing plan commonly termed as 4Ps: product, price, place, and promotion. These elements are adjusted until a right combination is found that serves the needs of the products customers while generating optimum income. (Jain,S.C,1990). Traditionally the marketing mix consisted of just 4 Ps, but now it has been extended and is called extended marketing mix and consists of 7Ps. The new marketing mix is more customers oriented and enables the organization to meet its marketing objectives and to satisfy the requirements of customers. (Figure 4) Extended marketing mix, Array marketing development 3.1.1 Product Starwood is a world renowned chain of hotels providing excellent product under the image of hotel services. Starwood has an exceptional recognition in providing high quality service they constantly look at new ways of improving the service they provide. To improve the standards of service they provide, Starwood has introduced several new programs as mentioned in the start of the essay, such as Yes I Can! Training program and Express Yourself which allows guests to check-in online .By introducing these new strategies Starwood has already achieved favourable results. 3.1.2 Price In any organization the price must be high enough to cover costs and make a profit but low enough to attract customers .Since most of the Starwood hotels are five star rated hotels the price factor plays a major role. Due to the price customers can change their mind to go to another hotel. In this issue what Starwood has done is they have kept their prices at a normal rate which is comparatively high, at the same time Starwood came up with their new marketing strategy. Starwood promoted new holiday packages such as Friday is free day and family bed breakfast package with attractive prices. When annualizing Starwoods figures it is clear that this strategy has been successful. 3.1.3 Place Starwoods hotels always do research before picking a place for their new hotel; because of this they have become very successful. When we take Starwood as a whole it seems like they have selected the most ideal locations for their hotels. This is thanks to the research they do and it has paid off. 3.2 Extended marketing mix Traditionally the marketing mix consisted of just 4 Ps, with the extended marketing mix it enables the organization to meet its marketing objectives and to satisfy the requirements of customers. In addition to the traditional four Ps it is now customary to add some more Ps to the mix to give us Seven Ps. The additional Ps have been added because today marketing is far more customer oriented than ever before, and because the service sector of the economy has come to dominate economic activity in this country. These 3 extra Ps are particularly relevant to this new extended service mix. 3.2.1People People mean the staff working for Starwood. Employees of Starwood are like a backbone of the company, they have been highly trained and Starwood offers one the industrys best program phrased as YES I CAN 3.2.2 Process This Refers to the systems used to assist the organization in delivering the service. When the service becomes faster automatically the efficiency of the organization gets better. Starwood is world renowned for its excellent and fast process of service. Associated with customer service are a number of processes involved in making marketing effective in an organisation Process is the way how customers are handled from first to last point of contact. So this involves Starwood policies, program, payments, bookings, quality processes for handling customer complaints, processes for identifying customer needs and requirements, processes for handling order etc. Chapter 4 4.1 Marketing Environment Marketing as we know it today began in the 1970s with the birth of the marketing orientation. During the first stage of capitalism business had a production orientation Business was concerned with production, manufacturing, and efficiency issues. By the mid 1950s a second stage emerged, the sales orientation stage. A companys marketing environment consists of factors and forces outside marketing that affect marketing managements ability to develop and maintain successful relationships with its target customers (Kotler., 2005). The marketing environment surrounds and impacts upon the organization. There are three key perspectives on the marketing environment, namely the macro-environment, the micro-environment and the internal environment. Elements of Macro-environment, Organizational environment (1995) 4.2 Micro environment This environment influences the organization directly. It includes suppliers that deal directly or indirectly, consumers and customers, and other local stakeholders. Micro tends to suggest small, but this can be misleading. In this context, micro describes the relationship between firms and the driving forces that control this relationship. It is a more local relationship, and the firm may exercise a degree of influence. This environment influences the organization directly. As in the (figure1) It includes suppliers that deal directly or indirectly, consumers and customers, and other local stakeholders. Micro tends to suggest small, but this can be misleading. 4.3 Macro environment This includes all factors that can influence and organization, but that are out of their direct control. A company does not generally influence any laws. It is continuously changing, and the company needs to be flexible to adapt. There may be aggressive competition and rivalry in a market. Globalization means that there is always the threat of substitute products and new entrants. The wider environment is also ever changing, and the marketer needs to pay off for changes in culture, politics, economics and technology. 4.4 Internal environment An organizationsÂÂ  internal environment is composed of the elements within the organization, including current employees, management, and especially corporate culture, which defines employee behaviour. Although some elements affect the organization as a whole, others affect only the manager. A managers philosophical or leadership style directly impacts employees. Traditional managers give explicit instructions to employees, whileÂÂ  progressiveÂÂ  managers empower employees to make many of their own decisions. Changes in philosophy and/or leadership style are under the control of the manager. Conclusion As seen in the above report it is clearly shown how marketing is done in Starwood chain of hotels. As mentioned above in the report Starwood is a worldwide hotels network, in this report the author briefly discusses about the factors which affects the marketing process directly and indirectly. Then we talk about how marketing has changed over the years and the new marketing strategies in place in the new world. And we also talk about the segmentation process, marketing environment and its elements. Marketing is an important element which contributes very much for the growth of Starwood. Marketing creates a benchmark to Starwood among the other hotels in the industry. The hotel industry has fierce competition at present therefore continuous developments of good packages, attractive advertisements, good and efficient customer service will help Starwood to be ahead of others. In the meantime, continuous research and development should help Starwood to satisfy its customers and retain lo yalty as well.

Procurement of Subcontract Packages

Procurement of Subcontract Packages Purpose The aim of this paper is to investigate how Main Contractor procurement procedures influence value on a project through competitively tendering Sub Contract packages; whereby cost is driven down by competition or single sourcing Sub Contract packages creating value through negotiation and innovation. Design/Methodology/Approach Empirical data was collected through structured questionnaires issued to Sub Contract companies and Main Contractor firms. 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Background What the Study is about When considering the procurement of a Sub-Contract package, the procurer is faced with numerous challenges. First he/she needs to gather all information required to decipher what needs to be procured and how the information can be transposed to potential Sub-Contractors. Secondly a contractual agreement is created including obligations and methods of compensation. Thirdly, the procurer needs to decide how to award the procurement contract between the Sub-Contractors, either through competitive tendering or single source negotiation. Ultimately the award method should result in the selection of a highly competent and desirable Sub-Contractor resulting in a cost effective product. The award method may be appointed to Sub-Contractors in two ways. Either a single Sub-Contractor can be approached to discuss and agree the works (single source tendering), or a number of Sub-Contractors can be invited to compete for it (competitive tendering). With regards to competitive tendering it is important to distinguish the method or form of competition from the criteria used for the selection of Sub-Contractors. Ciria (1994, p15) states that competition may be either: Open, where there is no limit on the number of Sub-Contractors invited to compete for work. Or Selective or restricted, where the number of Sub-Contractors invited to compete is limited. For the purpose of this study open competitive tendering will not be taken into consideration to keep the number of variables to a constant. Where competition is referenced throughout the paper we are to assume selective or restricted competition. 1.2 Research Focus This paper addresss the potential increase of project value generated by detailing a partnering approach based on Sub-Contractor and Main Contractor relationships; compared to that of traditional competitive tendering. Competitive tendering can be described as determining the value of the subcontract; whereas in contrast, negotiation is designed to create the value of the subcontract. Since the Latham Report (1994) and Egan (1998) was published there has been a greater awareness regarding the possible benefits to single source a product or service. In theory if contractors and subcontractors engage and work together would it provide best value? Alternatively would value be added by competition? Competitive tendering is still widely recognised as an attractive procurement mechanism and is strongly advocated as it helps to stimulate and promote competition encouraging many potential suppliers. This subject area has been addressed due to its close relationship with the Quantity Surveying profession. Accurate procuring of goods and services is essential to a projects success, having a direct impact on profit margins. This study is relevant to everyday work for a site based Quantity Surveyor dealing with nominated Sub-Contractors on a daily basis while working closely with the procurement team to procure future packages. Interest has motivated the investigation and address of the thesis question; Single source or competitive tendering; which procurement route gives best value? 1.3 Overall Research Aim and Individual Research Objectives The overall aim of this research is to advance an understanding of the impacts that tendering Sub-Contract packages through negotiation or competition have on a projects value. However, in order to understand tendering methods and its effects on value it is felt necessary to gain an insight into the forces driving Sub-Contractor and Main Contractor relationships and explore the barriers to implementation of both parties achieving maximum value. Further, this research will assess existing practices, exploring the experiences and views of professionals involved with Sub-Contract procurement. In turn two main research vehicles will be exploited to facilitate this study: an in depth review of relevant literature and the collection of and analysis of empirical data. The chapter entitled Methodology contains the details of both research strategy and data collection techniques to be used to obtain empirical data. Specifically, a range of objectives have been developed and unpacked from the central question, the objectives of this research are to: Identify and investigate the forces driving single source and competitive tendering procurement routes. Evaluate critically the construction industries current views and opinions, compiling the attitudes of the experts. Explore and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages for each method of procurement. Formulate and propose recommendations on the procurement route that provides more value to a construction project. 1.4 Value of this research At the risk of oversimplification of the purpose and value of each of the above objectives, objective 1 focuses on methods, reasons and emerging issues. Whereas it is in objectives 2, 3 and 4 is where this research will make key contributions to the field of Sub-Contract package procurement through single sourcing or competitive tendering. Each of the objectives must not be viewed as separate, unrelated issues. The listed objectives are necessarily interlinked. The first objective on investigating procurement routes will cover the strategic drivers and methods associated with the procurement of Sub-Contract packages. For example, it will, in effect, attempt to answer the question are there forces driving companies to procure Sub-Contract packages in certain ways and, if so, what are they and what do they involve? An example of such driver could be perceived as communication, which if the case, may act as a driver to encourage negotiation through single sourcing Sub-Contractors. Obj ective 2 on critically analysing the construction industries views provides an opportunity to gain meaningful insight into the views of professional staff, and management form Sub-Contractor and Main Contractor backgrounds, on what would encourage them to procure Subcontract packages through either negotiation or competition, what would discourage them and how these link to value creation as well as their views on the industries past and current approaches. Objective 3 on the advantages and disadvantages is of obvious relevance to assist in the analysis of each procurement route and links in with objective 4. Finally objective 4 formulating recommendations will, as a result of both a review of literature and the collection and discussion of empirical data, make recommendations. The objectives are not to be seen as independent of each other, but rather as all linked to issues surrounding procurement routes and how they can add value in the construction industry. 2.0 Literature Review 2.1 Introduction This literature review will examine the main issues surrounding the drive for single sourcing and competitive tendering associated with Sub-Contractor selection. Emphasizing current obstacles and potential benefits for each procurement routes from both parties. The study within this review of literature focuses on objectives 1 and 2 as set out in sub-section 1.3 of the Introductory chapter (the third objective will be completed through the vehicle of empirical data collection and analysis, while the final objective objective 4 is derived as a result of findings from objectives 1, 2 and 3): Identify and investigate the forces driving single source and competitive tendering procurement routes. Evaluate critically the construction industries current views and opinions, compiling the attitudes of the experts. Explore and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages for each method of procurement. Formulate and propose recommendations on the procurement route that provides more value to a construction project. By exploring the above areas of literature, a significant contribution will be made to this research. At the end of this chapter it is hoped that a critical understanding of key issues is exhibited, that the reader will be better informed in these areas and that there will emerge a clear focus, and justification, for empirical research in the field of Sub-Contractor procurement methods and their effect on value during a construction project. 2.2 Forces driving single source and competitive tendering procurement routes. 2.2.1 Historical Events Government Legislation Subcontracting became a popular practice in the 1960s and over the years established itself as an integral part of the industries production process. Projects were procured using traditional methods of delivery with main contracts being awarded through competitive tendering (Uher, 2009; Davenport, 2009, p.200). During these years the economy was stable with little inflation and low interest rates, the contractor was seen as the Master Builder due to employing most of its own direct labour and only specialised areas of work such as mechanical and electrical were subcontracted. Since the late 1960s the worlds economies experienced periodic economic downturns, increased inflation and higher interest charges. With the Construction Industry being highly susceptible to economic fluctuations, the adverse economic actions changed the traditional practices of the construction industry; one of the foremost changes being the shift towards subcontracting. Since the early 1990s the Construction Industry has continued its conflict-ridden competitive tendering culture, together with adversarial working relationships throughout its supply chain, (Brindley, 2004). The Construction Industry continued to pressure its suppliers to lower prices, along with delaying payments to them so that it could profit from a level of interest. This tradition placed risk on smaller businesses causing them to cease to exist or execute projects at inferior quality. Authors in the early 1990s were somewhat certain about their view between main contractor and subcontractor relationships; with main contractors driving prices down even if detrimental to quality, not paying subcontractors on time and in some cases forcing smaller companies to cease trading. The UK government, concerned by these facts employed Sir Michael Latham in 1994 and Egan in 1998 to produce two reports. Latham advocated the need for a Code of Practice for subcontractor procurement and for st atutory backing to fair payment terms (Latham, 1994). Consequently in 1996 the Construction Industry Board published and implemented a Code of Practice for the Selection of Subcontractors and the Housing Grants and Regeneration Act. In addition, Egan (1998) pointed out that partnering through the supply chain is a critical approach with which the UK construction industry can drive innovation and sustain incremental improvement in performance. In recent years main contractor supply chain relationships have changed from the traditional adversarial to the joint venture, with tendering experiencing a retreat from traditional methods of procurement towards single source processes. According to Davenport (2009) the contribution of subcontractors to the total construction process can account for as much as 90 per cent of the total value of a construction project. One of the results of this is that main contractors are concentrating their efforts on managing site processs rather than employing direct labour to undertake construction work. Main contractors have recognised the positive impacts that closer working relationships with subcontractors can have on package value and quality. Most work undertaken on construction partnering has been between client and main contractor relationships with little mention of adopting partnering with subcontractors. 2.2.2 The Contracting Framework A central problem in procurement is that both Sub-Contractors and Main Contractors share uncertainty about many important design changes that occur after the contract has been awarded. These changes are usually a consequence of design failures, unexpected conditions and changes in regulations, which have an effect on project costs. This observation suggests that relationships between both parties can become adversarial hindering supply chain relationships. Therefore project design completeness will have an impact on the procurement award method selected. (Tadelis, 2006; Bajari, 2006) argue that simple projects, requiring an uncomplicated design ought to be procured using fixed-price contracts as they have high design completeness. Therefore preventing the need for contract variations, and are best awarded through competitive tendering. In contrast (Tadelis, 2006; Bajari, 2006) state that complex projects demanding large design give rise to surprises throughout the projects due to low levels of design completeness. Implying that there will be a high chance for variations therefore it should be awarded through negotiation. The insight for these thoughts is through incentives to reduce costs that follow on site variations consequently having an effect on a projects overall value. In fixed price contracts, the Sub-Contractor offers the procurer a lump sum price to carry out the works as specified, with any changes being negotiated throughout the contract. The incentives for a Sub-Contractor to reduce tender costs offered by fixed price lump sum tendered contracts will lead to increased costs for the Main Contractor through variations when changes need to be negotiated. This valuable surplus to the Sub-Contractor leads to efficiency loss through the Sub-Contractor wishing to use these changes to his advantage. On the topic of competitive tendering Tadelis (2006, p.4) states: While competitive bidding does have the advantage of unbiased awarding of projects, it fails to respond optimally to ex post adaption. Therefore it appears that competitive tendering stifles coordination between Sub-Contractors and Main Contractors before specifications and drawings have been finalised. After all a Sub-Contractor has no incentive to offer the procurer advice on value engineering or innovative ideas, if anything the Sub-Contractor would benefit from holding any information from the Main Contractor as they would offer a competitive advantage over the rival competitors. Once awarded the contract the anticipated design errors will be discovered and the Sub-Contractor will be in a position to claim excessive variation costs. However In negotiated single source tendering both the Main Contractor and Subcontractor typically spend time discussing the project before construction begins. During these discussions the Sub-Contractor will have better incentives to suggest potential cost saving techniques through design and specification changes. Accompanying this more design pitfalls will be picked up before a p roject begins, potentially adding value. The competitive pressure through negotiating contracts with a single Sub-Contractor is weak with the procurer not achieving all the potential cost savings. 2.3 The construction industries current views and opinions Competitive tendering is widely recognised as an attractive procurement method and is commonly supported for numerous reasons. Largely it is viewed as a means of promoting and stimulating competition amongst Sub Contractors. By its nature open competitive tendering invites potential Sub Contractors from many venues reducing the likelihood for price inflation (Tadelis, 2006; Bajari, 2006). Fair market price discovery is beneficial to this type of tendering with open competitive mechanisms being transparent, making it easier to prevent corruption. (Cira,1994) suggests that competitive tendering has three significant advantages over negotiation which as as follows: Competition encourages a systematic approach which is more likely to yield the right Sub-Contractors than negotiation with a single Sub-Contractor Competition is a transparent process and so helps satisfy the increasing demand for accountability in both public and private sectors. Competition can give clients better value for money, particularly when compared on the basis of both their ability and fees. An interesting point made by CIRA, 1994 pg 14 arguing against competition was that Sub-Contractor input at an early stage cannot be described well enough to allow fair competition. This is because the Sub-Contractor helps define the works needed and bids consist of an element of judgement due to incomplete design. CIRA also mentioned that initially competition is a time consuming and expensive process and costs may outweigh any value saved. However the benefits of selecting the most suitable Sub-Contractor for the job could outweigh this initial investment. Competition can have practical exceptions to its use through complicated packages where only one Sub-Contractor has the specialist expertise needed. Or is services are needed urgently and there is not enough time to undertake the competitive process properly. Competitive tendering, where the lowest bidder gets awarded the contract, is deeply embedded in the construction industry and can be destructive in the long term as the need to minimise transactional costs tends to reduce quality and client satisfaction. The emphasis on cost competition, and the traditional adversarial Main Contractor Sub-Contractor relationships, results in frequent changes in participating firms from one construction project to another. This makes collaboration between them difficult. Partnering leading to single sourcing between Sub-Contractors and Main Contractors has been cited as effective approaches to overcome these difficulties and add value to a project. (Dainty, 2001) identified the following barriers to integration from the subcontractor point of view: Financial/cost-related issues related to competitive tendering based on price, which has developed adversarial relationships that result in serious problems with regard to payments; Planning/time-related issues, such as false expectations on part of the main contractor and unrealistic schedules; and Attitude-related issues, such as arrogant conducts, exclusion of the subcontractor from the early phases, lack of praise for good performance, poor site management practices, and lack of understanding of subcontractors problems. Latham (1994) defines partnering as a contractual arrangement between two parties for either a specific length of time or for an indefinite time period. The parties agree to work together, in a relationship of trust, to achieve specific primary objectives by maximizing the effectiveness of each participants resources and expertise. It is for this reason, that principal contractors are oblivious of the fact that sub contractors can bring added value to the construction project (Dainty et al., 2001). Conversely authors such as (Dimitri, 2006) recognise competitive tendering as an attractive procurement mechanism, stimulating and promoting competition, hampering corruption and inviting more potential subcontractors to price work. Although the single sourcing approach has shown promising results, there are some cases in which subcontractors have considered that it did not add any value, while some main contractors have seen little benefit in forming alliances with firms that they do not regularly work with (Dainty et al. 2001). Egan (1998) feels that sub contractors should be involved in the design team as early as possible. An argument which is echoed by Briscoe et al. (2004), who believes that sub contractors should be procured early, therefore need knowledge and ability to exercise value engineering and other innovation exercises. The primary reason for selecting sub contractors is their innovation and knowledge, not necessarily for the lowest price. However, high performing sub contractors use their innovation and knowledge, and can often deliver a better service at a lesser price. Low performing sub contractors offer only on low price, while high performing contractors offer value (Garrison, T. 2006). The next stage of this research will detail the Research Methods to be used to capture the empirical data, including details on the research strategy to be adopted, data collection techniques, sample selection and management of the researchers role. Ethics Statement When undertaking a research project careful consideration must be taken to ensure that any material contained within the project causes no harm or potential harm to anyone, or organisation. Ethics is the science that deals with conduct, in so far as this is considered as right or wrong, good or bad. (Dewey, 2008) An Ethics Review Checklist has been completed (Appendix A) which has highlighted a potential area for approval. This is due to the methods of research being undertaken which involve human participation. These activities specifically include questionnaires; to ensure they are executed in a morally correct and ethical manner the following steps will be taken. Ensuring that the subjects have the option to grant voluntary consent the questionnaire will be structured in a way that participants can opt out of answering either individual questions or not participate at all. This is honoured by all questionnaires being issued to the subjects via e-mail, permitting candidates to return the document in their own time and at their own will with no pressure to respond, therefore there will be no reason for any of the participants to feel uncomfortable. All questionnaires issued will be sent with a participation consent form and information sheet. The questionnaire refers to this documentation via a disclaimer that by returning the survey the subject agrees to the terms and conditions and privacy statement as disclosed in the consent form. This disclaimer ensures the subject that careful consideration is being taken to ensure that all participants and respective companies remain anonymous, to prevent any possible harm. Subjects will be referred to by job role only with no mention of name or company to eliminate any matters of commercial risk or damage to reputations. Feedback will be issued to subjects that assisted in the research thanking each subject for his/her time and input; including a summary of the findings once all research has been populated. In line with the Data Protection Act 1998 upon completion of the research all completed questionnaires and sensitive data will be destroyed, including any stored on hard disk and in the recycle bin. Two hard copy publications of the finished article will be produced for the university, in addition with one electronic; these publications may be available for public viewing in the university library which is disclosed in the participation information sheet. I intend to conduct a number of case studies for research; therefore it is incredibly important that each case study will be alphabetically referenced, with no mention of any information that could identify the individual, project, location, contractor, client or consultants. All material will remain unidentifiable including any diagrams, illustrations or drawings used. This ensures that all parties involved can be assured that there will be no information detailed in the document which could potentially cause harm. All sensitive material collated will be dealt with due care, and destroyed in the correct manner either by shredding hard copies or deleting the information from hard disk. Any secondary research undertaken will be wholly and correctly recognized to the author and source throughout the dissertation by means of Harvard referencing. Methodology Introduction A valuable aspect to this research relates to Objective 2: the opportunity to study the construction industries current views and implementation in practice in a subject that, although generating much discussion, is in terms of research in its embryonic stages. Research Strategy One research method that will be adopted, related to research strategy, is a questionnaire. What is a questionnaire approach and why is it suitable for this research? Cohen and Manion (2007: 317) describe a questionnaire accordingly: The questionnaire is a widely used and useful instrument for collecting survey information, providing structured , often numerical data, being able to be administered without the presence of the researcher, and often being comparatively straight forward to analyse. According to this definition, a questionnaire is therefore concerned with seeking individuals views, facilitating this researchers drive to probe deeply into answering the thesis question as to which procurement route provides more value by seeking representatives opinions. Cohen and Manions definition also gives merit to a questionnaires practical consideration, aiding the justification for using this researchers chosen research strategy and data collection technique. Data Collection The questionnaire has been structured using primarily qualitative research as it is linked to in-depth exploratory study. Enabling the opportunity for quality responses exist through open ended questions, probing participants thoughts and views. Denzin and Lincoln (2003) hold that qualitative research involves studying things in their natural settings, attempting to make sense of, or interpret, phenomena in terms of the meanings people bring to them. The subjects have been selected through convenience sampling, a non-probability approach to sampling as they have been exclusively targeted. Convenience sampling was used because of its expediency through issuing questionnaires to staff in the organisation for which this researcher works, and to subcontractors whom this researcher has dealt with. Through having a prior association with the subjects a better rate of return has been achieved, with subjects wanting to engage more in the research. In addition to this further time will be spent by each individual on providing more detailed responses further enhancing the thoroughness of this paper. Respondents are construction professionals and range from job roles such as estimators to surveyors and project managers to directors. The wide variety of job roles will give me the levels of unbiased data required to reach a conclusion. This method of research has been selected with the aim that subjects ideas and insights may lead to other, m ore detailed and representative research. Two different questionnaires were issued via electronic mail to a pre populated list of employees with one questionnaire issued to subcontractors and the other to main contractors. The purpose of this was so that the questions could be tailored to suit either the contractor or subcontractor, it was important to collate both views to reach an accurate conclusion. The theory behind using E-mail to distribute and collate the questionnaires was that it is much more reliable than circulation by post, easier to manage and track, whilst being convenient to people encouraging a larger participation as well as being more environmentally friendly and cost effective. Limited background data was requested such as position in company and level of industry experience as I felt other information would be irrelevant and not unpack the central question. There are no more than ten questions asked per questionnaire, it was felt that no further questions were required as a conclusion can be drawn from t he results and that by using fewer questions the participant is more likely to contribute as it will not encroach on their working day. The questions have been structured in a standardised manner so that they can be interpreted and analysed efficiently, there is a balance between open and closed questioning. Framework for Data Analysis Limitations and Potential Problems Convenience sampling suits this area of study because it is industry specific, by targeting known subjects this reduces the limitations of the research as there is only one researcher so manually sourcing or random sampling would be very time consuming with no guarantee of the quality of results. A perceived limitation with using questionnaires for research is that they are limited in number. This is predominantly justified due to the lack of time available as a student. To negate this risk the subjects were carefully selected to ensure a high rate of questionnaire return and an increased level of detailed answers. Methodology Rational Behind the Questions Questions issued to Sub-Contractors Interviews were dismissed as a potential research strategy; the rationale behind this is for the reason that unlike questionnaires they are not anonymous. Therefore interviewees may hold back from their true feelings or not give as much detail in their answers. This researcher has counteracted this by using open ended questions in the questionnaire permitting the subject the opportunity to express concerns and genuine views with the knowledge of total incognito; further substantiating that by using a questionnaire counts as valid empirical research due to its is suitability and relevance to this research paper. This researchers own primary data has been collected due to the lack of previous literature available on this subject; the majority of accessible information is concerned with client and contractor relationships and not contractor/subcontractor relations. Findings Introduction This chapter reveals the results of the survey described in Chapter 3 Methodology. This research concentrates on obtaining the views of Sub-Contractors and Principle Contractors with regards to single sourcing or competitively tendering Sub-Contract packages. Survey Findings; Description, Analysis and Synthesis Main Contractor Question 1.0 The first question Question 1.0 was: Do you feel that repeat work with the same subcontractor improves the working relationship in terms of discussing site issues/valuations? Response 17 (81%) of subjects questioned felt that working with the same Sub-Contractor improves the working relationship with 4 (19%) arguing against the majority. One respondent responded positively: A collaborative working relationship forms the basis of a much stronger approach to on site discussions and subsequent resolution of variations. Another stated: It needs to be two ways, with both parties fully buying into the benefits. One member conjectured that repeat business can improve working relationships however; at times this can be tested due to commercial pressures. No Main Contractor respondents stated a reason behind why repeat work with the same Sub-Contractor does not improve the working relationship. The replies from Main Contractor personnel suggest that there is still a problem with collaborative working. Although 81% of respondents viewed repeat work with the same Sub-Contractor in a wholly positive light, 19% felt differently. Question 2.0 The second question Question 2.0 was: Do you believe that repeat work with the same subcontractor gives a higher quality of workmanship? Response This question gave rise to many mixed views with 57% of the subjects surveyed believing that repeat work with the