How to Do Business Like the Mafia: the Italian and American Mafia’s Role in Businesses Essay

Since the Mafia’s appearance in the 1800’s, these Italian criminal societies have infiltrated the economic and social realms of Italy and now play a large role in many countries throughout the world. Today the Mafia is considered one of the most notorious and widespread criminal organizations that has ever existed. The most prominent parts of the world that the Mafia exists are in Italy and America where they play a large role in these countries economies, most notably through their control of small and large businesses. Just like the origin of the word mafia, the history of Sicily, which is considered the birthplace of the Mafia, and its relationship with this organization, is very unique. Because of its geographic location, Sicily has always been a desirable location for trade and colonization. Generally speaking, the mafia is thought of as an Italian secret crime society, but the origins of the Mafia start way before the introduction and use of automatic weapons and illegal drugs. It was born long before it was given its name, through a long historical process in which the administration of justice was extremely fragmented and corrupt, guaranteeing impunity to the criminals. In a time of hardship and poverty, the Mafia began as a way of life: a way to protect one’s family and loved ones from the injustice of the government. Sicily’s violent and oppressive government history and its numerous corrupt and inconsistent rulers, especially regarding their justice system, fostered an atmosphere of self-reliance and cooperation among the Italian people. Through fear, inspired by threats and violence and supported by an organization of family and friends, the Mafia was able to gain and maintain this reliance and respect. It is important to acknowledge the origin of the Mafia because it is through these institutions and social structures that the Mafia was able to gain an immense amount of power and thus control businesses around the world today. In 241 BC the Romans gained control over Sicily in the first Punic War. The Romans introduced the economic and social system called the Latifundia, which created a hierarchy of people and a system of taxation that would be central to Sicily’s economy until Italian unification in 1861. Although the Roman’s actions in Sicily have no direct influence in the creation of the Mafia, they did set up the social structure of hierarchy from which the Mafia would emerge and eventually control areas of land and inadvertently control a large part of the Italian economy. In 826 the Roman Empire fell to the Arabs who brought an important aspect of life to the Sicilian people that would eventually become part of the Mafia culture; internal justice. Instead of having a system of authorities to deal with crime and misconduct, they used personal and internal justice to avenge crimes and set records straight in order to keep their businesses under their own control. The Normans were the next group to annex Sicily in the 11th century and they greatly magnified the feudal structure established by the Romans. The Spanish conquered Sicily in 1500 and they are considered the longest and most important foreign presence in Sicily. The Sicilian people were not represented by the government and eventually organized into guilds that acted as a judicial system. These guilds were unlike other European guilds and took care of their problems internally and did not include state or local authority. Internal justice led by these guilds was another step towards the formation of the Mafia (Servadio). In the late 1500’s and the early 1600’s Sicily’s feudal system went through some administrative changes. In the early 1600’s large landholders in Sicily lived in Palermo, handing over the command of their estates to estate managers called gabelloti. Appointed by the landlord, these men who were usually already prominent and respected within their region could use their power to control the people who inhabited the land. The use of the gabelloti continued through a succession of leaders and became the principle method of rule. The gabelloti, using the power given to them by the landlord, began to create entourages consisting of uomo di fiducia. The uomo di fiducia served as tax ollectors, and they had direct contact with the people. They were accompanied by campieri who were armed forces that kept the peace through fear. The emergence of these new groups also marks the creation of the middle class in Sicily, and from the middle class emerged the Mafia. All members of the Sicilian middle class used dissident tactics to gain power and money. Middlemen exploited peasants for money, artists kept people out of guilds to perpetuate their own success, and magistrates and attorneys delayed cases in an already twisted legal system. During the late 1700’s and early 1800’s these separate but powerful groups started to make contacts with each other. In addition to befriending each other, they also befriended local and regional magistrates. It is clear that as these groups began to unite themselves with the government to become a stronger and more formidable force in Sicily’s justice system, they were also gaining political ties that would allow them to carry out their business without interaction from the authorities (Servadio). Sicily’s long history with multiple judicially inept governments led to the creation and necessity of the Mafia. The Mafia was able to give people the business and protection that they not only wanted, but needed. These corrupt government institutions fostered an environment where those who were clever enough could manipulate the system to their advantage creating wealth, power and prestige through the exploitation of land, peasants and political officials in Italy as well as America. The Mafia was never just a group of gangsters, even from the beginning. There were those who carried out the dirty work, but the leaders, known as the godfathers, were often more political and business thinkers than gangsters. The Mafia used their power, gained through fear, to not only exploit the landowners and peasants but also used their political ties to carry on illegal activities without problems from local or state authorities. As the Mafia gained power and influence over the various regions and government officials, these illegal activities would expand greatly, inadvertently increasing their overall control as an organization. By the 1900’s the Mafia had become a very powerful and widespread organization throughout Italy despite an extensive amount unemployment and overty that permeated not only Sicily, but the rest of Europe as well. This is still true to this day when many countries around the world are suffering economically, the Mafia manages to stay afloat and even increase their success. Many underprivileged Italians began to immigrate to America to find better jobs to support their families. This is also when the Mafia formally entered America and began to set up small organizations throughout the country. By 1922 Mussolini and Fascism had taken a firm grip on Italy and began to crack down on the Mafia, either sending them to prison or assassinating them. Mussolini assigned Cesare Mori prefect of Italy in order for him to defeat the Mafia. Prefect Mori wanted to bring Sicily under control of the state so he suspended their rights, humiliated and arrested them and took women and children hostage in order to force the Mafia to surrender. Mussolini’s wrath pushed more and more Mafiosi out of Italy and into America (Servadio). The Mafiosi originally settled in large cities, like Chicago and New York, where industry was predominant and there were opportunities for crime, fraud and racketeering everywhere. Initially the American Mafia gangs focused primarily on â€Å"protection rackets†, but with the coming of Prohibition they began to expand to gambling, bootlegging and prostitution. It is in these fields that the American Mafia became enormously wealthy and powerful. One of the main reasons the Mafia in Italy, as well as America, has been so successful is due to its influence and heavy involvement in businesses around the world. These businesses allowed the Mafia to maintain a powerful presence in various regions by exploiting landowners, construction companies and other lucrative industries, such as drug trafficking, through fear. Despite the global recession that hit Europe in 2009, the Mafia was the one business that continued to thrive during this lean economic time. The Italian Mafia’s revenue for 2008 jumped 40 percent and sales increased to 130 billion Euros, or $167 billion, up from 90 billion Euros in 2007 according to figures supplied by Eurispes and SOS impresa (Harwood). Over the past 50 years, the main source of revenue for the Mafia has been drug trafficking, which brings in around 59 billion Euros a year (Harwood). â€Å"Studies show the criminal market never suffers during a crisis,† says Roberto Saviano, author of the best-selling book Gomorrah, the story of the Camorra crime bosses. â€Å"I’m convinced that this crisis is bringing huge advantages to criminal syndicates† (Harwood). The Italian mafia also relies on its â€Å"tried and true profit generating scheme: the protection racket† (Harwood). It is estimated that the mafia takes away over 6 percent of Italy’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, through extortion. That’s 92 billion Euros a year, 250 million Euros a day, and 10 million Euros an hour (Harwood). Crime organizations have never been more powerful or more profitable. A small-business association called Confesercenti estimates that the Mafia collected revenues of â‚ ¬90 billion, $128 billion, in 2006, a sum equivalent to 7 percent of Italy’s GDP indicating that the Mafia’s influence as well as success continues to increase (Harwood). The Mafia does not only focus on exploiting businesses and trafficking drugs in Italy but has also extended its power to the UK; British cities are key locations in the Mafia’s vital money-laundering operations (Kington). In December of 2009, a British gambling company known as Paradise Bet Ltd was suspended when Italian police froze its assets. This action was an attempt by the Italian police to break up a Mafia clan who was in control of this company; members were accused of drug smuggling, money laundering and attempted murder. In an operation code-named â€Å"Domino†, police raids seized 227 properties, 680 bank accounts, 61 luxury cars, nine stables, 71 horses and 35 businesses said to be worth ? 200 million (Kington). Members of the Secondigliano Alliance, which is a group within the Camorra, are suspected of owning shops in London that turn out fake designer goods and act as hideouts for fugitives and fronts for drug trafficking. These are two prime examples of the Mafia’s control and dominance over businesses, land and other profitable assets. In 2000 it was reported that the Mafia controlled one in five business in Italy. Their profits were being invested in real estate, clinics, retirement homes, supermarkets, hotels and restaurants. The fortunes made by the mafia through these exploitations would be enough to pay off the public debt (BBC News) By obtaining power over these types of businesses the Mafia eventually gains authority over entire areas and even regions. The Mafia is notorious for gaining control of institutions by using a mixture of bribery and fear, and then murdering those that cross them. Control over businesses is the main reason why the Mafia is able to maintain its income as well as overall power. The Mafia uses discreet tactics to acquire land and businesses so they do not attract attention from authorities. By owning a group of small companies or even a restaurant, the Mafia is able to exploit money from them without being obvious, adding to the reasons why the inner workings of the Mafia are so secretive. Francesco Forgione, Italy’s leading expert in organized crime describes how the Nadrangheta’s Fazzari clan has two suspected members that are buying up property in London’s Wed End district. They have yet to kill but are instead investing in property and other companies to gain control over various areas in this region (Kington). Another example of the Mafia’s role in business is Antonio La Torre, a Camorra boss, who was arrested in 2005 for setting up a small commercial empire as a money-laundering operation in Aberdeen. This business included an olive oil and prosciutto-importing company and restaurant that offered jobs to Neapolitans (Harwood). It is here that you can see that the Mafia does not always resort to drug trafficking but is able to gain the same amount of power and money through what seem like legitimate businesses in order to cover up their corrupt actions. Recently, the Italian Mafia has also begun to infiltrate the wind farm business. Known in parts of Italy as â€Å"Lords of the Wind† the Mafia now owns many wind farms in Sicilian mob strongholds like Corleone (Schwartz). The reasoning behind this sudden takeover is quite simple; the power from wind farms is sold at a high rate because of generous government subsidies intended to expand the renewable energy sector. With 30 wind farms already built in Sicily and another 60 on the way, it is suspected that the Mafia will eventually control many of them. Not all 30 wind farms are owned by the Mafia but many are and locals are afraid to do anything to combat this issue, thus exemplifying the Mafia’s ability to maintain their influence and control over businesses through fear. Green energy could be the next big company that becomes a casualty of the Mafia’s criminal activity (Schwartz). Once the Mafia began to arrive in American in the 1920’s, it became clear that their initial business ventures were different from that of their homeland. Many who fled here in the early 1920’s helped establish what is known today as La Cosa Nostra or the American Mafia. Learning from their organizations back in Italy, the traditions of the Sicilian â€Å"honored society,† which absolutely forbade involvement in either narcotics or prostitution, the Mafia left the eroin business to the powerful Jewish gangsters who dominated organized crime in the 1920’s (Servadio). The Mafia was content with the substantial profits to be gained from controlling the bootleg liquor industry. By the 1920’s The United States and the provinces within Canada had adopted prohibition. It was during that era that North America gave birth to some of the largest crime syndicates, most vicious criminals, and mafia leaders. For the Mafia, prohibition meant employment, easy money and control over businesses and the people. The tainted money, prostitution, extortion and other criminal rackets did not make nearly as much money in comparison to the intake from bootlegging. Prohibition created an atmosphere that allowed crime to flourish; an atmosphere, which the mafia exploited and used to gain control over the people, businesses and subsequent regions of the United States. Prohibition was the first step that allowed the American Mafia to gain control over one of the most lucrative business America had ever seen. The leader of this Mafioso movement was Salvatore C. Luciana, known to the world as Charles â€Å"Lucky† Luciano. Lucky pioneered organizational techniques that are still the basis of organized crime today and forged an alliance between the Mafia and prominent Jewish gangs that has survived for almost 40 years. With the end of Prohibition in sight, Luciano made the decision to take the Mafia into the profitable prostitution and heroin rackets. This decision was determined more by financial considerations than anything else. The dominance of the Mafia over its Jewish and Irish rivals was built on its success in illegal distilling and rum running. Its continued supremacy, which Luciano hoped to maintain through superior organization and business, could only be sustained by developing new sources of income; drug trafficking (Servadio). Heroin was an attractive substitute to illegal distilling because it had recently become illegal. This in turn left a large market that could be easily exploited and expanded. Although heroin addicts in no way compared with drinkers in numbers, heroin profits could be just as significant: heroin’s light weight made it less expensive to smuggle than liquor, and its limited number of sources made it more easy to monopolize. Although illegal, this was a smart business venture for the American Mafia and enabled them to control a significant part of the liquor and drug trafficking business. Heroin, moreover, complemented Luciano’s and subsequently the Cosa Nostra’s other new business venture: the organization of a prostitution ring. Luciano found that addicting his prostitutes to heroin kept them quiet, steady workers, with a habit that could only be funded by this occupation. This also forced many small-time pimps out of business. By 1935 Luciano controlled 200 New York City brothels with twelve hundred prostitutes, providing him with an estimated income of more than $10 million a year (Servadio). Supplemented by growing profits from gambling and the labor movement, The Cosa Nostra was once again on a secure financial footing due to their influence and involvement with profitable and productive business ventures such as alcohol and drug trafficking as well as prostitution; they acknowledges what the people wanted and provided them with a service they would be unable to find anywhere else thus monopolizing that specific industry. It is clear that the Mafia has not only infiltrated the business of Italy but America as well and through these institution it has remained a dominant part of these societies. Although illegal in many aspects, the business ventures that Mafia undertake are incredibly lucrative and give them the opportunity to expand their organization on a large scale. Although governments are taking significant action in combating the Mafia, they continue to grow and dominate the economies of many societies to this day.

A Walking Holiday in Costa Rica by Mary Novakovich Essay

You’d have to have been living on another planet for the past half-decade not to have clocked the rise and rise of the Red City, Marrakesh. While five-star resorts have proliferated right up to the walls of the 1,000-year-old medina, inside them, along its chiaroscuro labyrinth of alleys and lanes, chic and unique riads have upturned and elevated paradigms of Moroccan design and service. Urbane and luxurious, Marrakesh now feels like a place where there’s nothing—or close to nothing—you can’t have. Which is why the places to look for the real Morocco often lie far from the burnished suites and buzzing restaurants of this city on the plain. Striking out for the farther reaches of the country is rewarded with unique takes on traditional hospitality, both new and timeless. They can be found deep in the southernmost region, where ungenerous stone begins to surrender to the saffron-gold sands of the Sahara; or high among the towering Atlas, where Berber culture has its oldest and still strongest roots, and brilliant colors and tribal traditions flourish amid sometimes indescribably severe natural beauty; or along Morocco’s coast, whose whitewashed, fortified villages reflect both European colonial history and Islamic mystery. Far below the historic Berber stronghold of Zagora, in the Drà ¢a valley, where only the faintest tire-tread marks indicate your path, my guide and I speed in our Toyota 4Runner past a scene of cinematic emptiness, shaded in the non-tones of the desert. After an hour’s drive from the town of M’hamid, we reach, of all things, a schoolhouse, set on a small rise; here, a 4 x 4 awaits to shepherd me to Erg Chigaga Luxury Camp. The brainchild of a transplanted English hotel executive, Nick Garsten, and a Berber desert guide named Moustafa Boufrifri, known to all as Bobo, the camp lies in the Erg Chigaga dunes, which climb to heights of 1,000 feet. The eight traditional caidal tents are connected by twin pavilions with ornate blackwork on their exteriors; inside, the walls are striped in bold red and cream, and thick pile rugs line the ground. Bathrooms have hand-worked metal  vanities and hot- and cold-water buckets on teak platforms for hammam-style bathing (which uses o nly about one-tenth of the water required by a conventional shower—a crucial concession here, where it is the most precious commodity). Crimson wool runners crisscross the camp, from tent to tent and from dining to leisure pavilions; at night they’re banked with lines of glowing lanterns. Flanking one edge of the main area is a row of palm trunks, between which are suspended several hammocks—what Bobo charmingly refers to as Erg Chigaga’s â€Å"chill-out zone.† Bobo himself—supremely competent and drily funny in five languages—lopes about in his cobalt-blue turban and djellaba, pouring shots of â€Å"Berber whiskey,† the ubiquitous and wickedly strong mint-tea blend. Two newer and more private tents, set about a 15-minute walk from the main camp, make excellent honeymoon destinations. The energy of Erg Chigaga seems prevailingly friendly and informal—a place to leaven the intrigue and high romance quotient of a desert bivouac with doses of extreme-ish activities (sand-boarding to the south; late-afternoon camel treks) and easy camaraderie around the fire after s unset. About 20 miles from Erg Chigaga, in the taller dunes at the edge of the ancient Iriki lake bed, is an encampment conceived for those who seek desert romance of the writ-large, Lawrence of Arabiavariety—and are willing to pay top dollar for it. The Camp of Dar Ahlam is a one-night experience as part of a longer stay at the elegant guesthouse of the same name in Skoura, some 200 miles to the northwest. First set up in 2007 as a single tent, it has expanded over the years, and can now accommodate as many as 30 people, but is still meant for only one group at a time. During my stay I am looked after by Ahmed, the camp manager, and a small staff. The camp reprises the narrative theme for which its namesake hotel (â€Å"house of dreams,† in Arabic) is known: my stay unspools in a series of mise-en-scà ¨nes straight from a Thesiger passage—or a Ridley Scott epic. My tent is of the simplest white canvas, lined in sisal and furnished with a low wooden bed and an embossed-brass table surrounded by kilim-covered cushions. At dusk, I sat ensconced in a Roorkhee chair in front of it, enjoying an aperitif (served on estate silver), surrounded by towering mounds of the Sahara, their summits shaped to paper’s-edge fineness by the wind. I had no inkling of the production happening one dune away, until Ahmed came to collect me for dinner; a trek over its crest revealed a tent surrounded by lanterns and, inside, lambent with the glow of multiple  candelabras. A table was set opulently enough to please a cherifa. I was served a tangia, a meat stew prepared in a terra-cotta urn and slow-cooked overnight in a wood-fired oven.

A Conversation About Self Knowledge Essay Plato, Knowledge, Understan

In Alcibiades I, Socrates argues that a person’s self is their soul and their bodies just protect it. Socrates and Alcibiades came to the conclusion that â€Å"What was said just now in pretty much these terms, that first the self itself must be investigated. Now instead of it we were investigating what each individual is. And perhaps this will suffice. For there’s nothing, I suppose that we would say is more authoritative over us than the soul,† (48d). Humans need to firs self and the oracle was that it was to my advantage to be as I am,† (22e). This angered many people because he challenged the idea that â€Å"†¦human wisdom is worth little or nothing†¦,† (23a). Human wisdom is essential to living a life of excellence because if a person does not truly know themselves, what is the point? There is a friend of mine that has self-knowledge but she is aware that sometimes people may not agree because they may not have that same knowledge she has. She also knows when she does not know about something. That is when she either seeks help from others or discovers it herself. Socrates argues in the Apology that not doing philosophy is unjust in the sense that people are living a life unexamined and are going through the motions. Self-knowledge is an essential part of a person’s life because living a life unexamined may lead to an unfulfilling life.

Life in ancient rome Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Life in ancient rome - Research Paper Example Rome was categorized into two sections the free people and the other one was the slaves ("Life in Ancient Rome"). Latin was the language of the ancient Romans. The clothing of the poor used to be from coarse dark types while the clothing of the rich used to be from white wool or linen. Ancient Romans had a simple intake of food such as nuts, salads, breads and other such types. The roman literature had been greatly influenced from the Greeks. The literary works of ancient Roman mainly consist of history of Rome (Adkins and Adkins, 374). Dome of Florence (Source: http://www.italian-renaissance-art.com/image-files/brunelleschi-dome-florence.jpg) Filippo Brunelleschi was one of the young architects of Ancient Rome. Brunelleschi was highly interested in the ruins of ancient Rome. He planned to visit Rome with his friend and study the architecture of Rome. During the visit many measurements were taken by Brunelleschi and also some drawings were made by him too. Brunelleschi was inspired b y the buildings of Rome and this was useful for grooming his artistic abilities. He had studied the architecture of the Pantheon dome and this helped him in constructing the Dome of Florence. There are about 4 million bricks used for the construction of the dome. The design of the dome is in an octagonal herringbone pattern and has been constructed from materials of various types. Where there is a minimum level of curve, stones have been used in those areas as resistance would be greater this way ("Filippo Brunelleschi Italian Renaissance architect"). The dome structure is developed on a drum rather than the roof. This engineering allowed the structure to be built without scaffolding on the ground. There are shells used at the sides of the dome. These shells have the support of ribs . These ribbed reinforcements are combined with each other in a horizontal structure as well as a vertical structure and attached with this is a staircase that can be seen till the top. The dome was a sy mbol of importance for the city of Florence. It is one of the strong symbols of Renaissance as it is a main building of architecture and skilful engineering in Florence ("Brunelleschi's Dome "). It was one of the largest dome's constructed in that era. A neo gothic style has been used for the construction of the dome. Brunelleschi is buried under Florence Cathedral and many architects still come over from other places to follow his design and architectural techniques. Gates of Paradise by Lorenzo Ghiberti (Source: http://arthistory.about.com/od/special_exhibitions/l/bl_ghiberti_high_prev.htm) A public competition had taken place by a merchant of Florence for making a pair of doors. These doors had to be placed in the Florence Baptistery. Competitors of Ghiberti were Jacobo della Quercia and Brunelleschi. The theme of the competition was the Sacrifice of Abraham. Ghiberti won the competition as his work consisted of a smooth model and the surface of the work was superior to that of B runelleschi. The gates of paradise are considered as one of the masterpiece renaissance work of Lorenzo Ghiberti. The commencement of this masterpiece work had taken place in the year 1403 and it was completed by the year 1424. His work reflects upon the charm and grace of architectural work. The doors are made up of bronze and consist of 28 panels that are quarterfolded. Reflections of the Old Testament has been carved on the

The First Time I Felt in Love Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The First Time I Felt in Love - Essay Example Joe was talking to me but I could not hear a word he was saying. I just looked at the girl he was with, and could not believe my eyes. Eventually he introduced her to me. Her name was Alexandra and she had long, light brown hair that she kept tucking behind her ear in a childish way, as if she wanted to concentrate more on our conversation. She had kind eyes, with an unusual golden brown color that matched her hair, and a dreamy look. Alexandra seemed like an exotic name to me. I wondered where her family came from, to give her such a beautiful name to match her stunning appearance. She was almost exactly the same age as Joe and me, but somehow she seemed older. I don’t remember how Joe introduced her, but I do remember how she looked at me kindly and pulled me into the entrance hall, out of the pouring rain. Her touch was like fire on my elbow, and I was mesmerized by her beautiful smile. If there is such a thing as love at first sight, then surely this was it. Joe seemed not to notice how amazing this girl was, and certainly she was not at all proud or arrogant, as so many attractive girls tend to be. Her skin was extremely pale, and she had long, slender fingers that moved gracefully when she talked. She was about a head shorter than me, and very slim. Something about her reminded me of a deer, or a gazelle, because she moved very lightly on her feet. She wore quite ordinary clothes, and I noticed that her sneakers were well worn, and decidedly casual in style. Normally I prefer girls who wear smart clothes and makeup, but Alexandra was different. Her face looked perfectly natural, and every expression that passed over her features seemed to fit perfectly with her whole being. When she smiled, her eyes smiled too, and she had a slight twist to the mouth that suggested she knew more than she was saying, but there was nothing bad in that. This incredible truthfulness is perhaps her most startling quality. After a while Joe had to leave for a sports sess ion, and I could not believe my luck that I was now alone with Alexandra. The overwhelming feeling that swept over me was anxiety. I desperately wanted to make a good impression, but somehow it was difficult to speak. My mouth was dry and I could hardly think of anything to say. I didn’t want to make a fool of myself, and so I said very little at first. Fortunately she was more confident and she started asking questions about me. We discovered that our birthdays were in the same month, and she told me that she was moving into my school because her father had just been posted to a new job here. Her voice was gentle, with a light, and happy tone, but still quite serious at the same time. We went to the local cafe, at my suggestion, and I chose a spot in the corner where I could sit opposite her and look into her eyes. The fear began to disappear and instead I could feel a warmth inside my body, as if a big heater had been turned on in the room, to remove all traces of the dampn ess outside. She made me feel calm and strong, and I think this is because we talked so naturally together, like best friends from the very first moment. I watched her drink a large cup of milky coffee. The cup seemed huge and heavy in her hand, and I immediately felt protective towards her. On that day of our first meeting I hardly dared hope that she would agree to be my girlfriend, and so I just sat there drinking in the loveliness of her smile, and

Ismg 11 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ismg 11 - Essay Example Laptops or PCs and other technology equipments are among some of the most frequently stolen company items. However, installing locks, which tether them to desks, can decrease the likelihood of stealing. Finally, IVK could imprint metal tags with company information on the equipments. Tying to remove these metal equipments will harm of spoil the equipments, and hence, people will not steal the equipments. According to Barton, exposing too much information of their IT Company to regular customers is both an advantage and a disadvantage to them. It is an advantage in the sense that exposing information to customers will likely improve the proceeding of their company (Austin, Nolan and ODonnell 182). For instance, using websites to expose a company’s information will likely attract more clients than companies that do not use the internet to advertise themselves. However, giving out too much information might also attract hackers to the company. This makes the company extremely vulnerable (Austin, Nolan and ODonnell 182). Hackers are able to note weak points of a company’s information system using the slightest information they can get. Therefore, what to disclose to regular clients is only the information that regards them, which will not enable them to exploit the company. Barton still has his job because of the admiration he receives from the Board of Directors (Austin, Nolan and ODonnell 184). According to the board, even though Barton is not acting as fast as they expected, he still brings in innovations to the company that no other CIO has ever done. Barton, at every board meeting, has been able to capture the attention of the key leaders who always seek for his advice. Barton’s boss, Williams, always asks Barton to advice him whenever he wants to incorporate something new in the company (Austin, Nolan and ODonnell 184). According to Williams, Barton was extremely talented in his job. Therefore, losing such a person

Meetings with the student counselors Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Meetings with the student counselors - Essay Example In the following parts of this argumentative paper, first causes of the long lines of waiting students to meet with the counselors are accounted for. It is followed by their effects and solutions are provided. And, before conclusion a statement of rebuttal is also accounted for. Causes The delayed meetings with a student counselor or adviser have become a routine in the College. Many students are required to wait in long queues; and, at the same time, students are given late appointment date and time for a meeting with the student counselor or adviser. This may be caused by not meeting with the requirement of the demand and supply in the College- the supply side of increasing students each year may not be managed by accordingly fulfilling the demand of the student counselors and advisers. Furthermore, the College may not have well-trained or experienced student counselors or advisors. Most of the time, an inexperienced student counselor or advisor consumes more time while counseling or advising a student. Consequently, many students are required to stay in long queues waiting to meet with the student counselors. Effects Academic performance and frustration increase due to the long lines of students waiting to meet with the counselors and advisors. ... And, they prefer to manage both sides without compromising any aspect. Under such conditions, if they are forced to wait in the long lines to meet with the student counselors, certainly their academic performance would greatly be affected by that. Moreover, if their academic performance is being affected by such delays, they become frustrated and the level of anxiety, which is perceived as occupying a significant position in academic achievement (Columbus 137), rises. Generally, the part time students already remain heavily under pressure. And, waiting in the long lines does nothing but to increase their frustration. For the College, the implications of academically under-performed students cannot be ruled out. The College reputation may be affected by the ill-performing or under-performing students; and, subsequently, it would not be supportive for the College ranking. For generating a good number of students, the Colleges are required to obtain good ranking at the state level. Addi tionally, the potential students may avoid getting admission in the College under such conditions. As a result, this would affect the inflows of the College which are normally generated from the student fees. Solutions The removal of causes brings solutions; first, the number of student counselors and advisers must be increased according to the student enrollment; so that increasing supply of students must be adjusted with the demand of advisers and counselors. Additionally, the College management must appoint well-experienced and appropriately qualified student counselors and advisors. Rebuttal The long student lines for meeting with the counselors and advisors may not be frequent. It is possible that the frequency of this issue

Home work Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Home work - Coursework Example The social system has also separated the two groups to give the insurgence of the Whites who are in high class places while the blacks exists in the middle and lower class part of the society. In addition, ethnic segregation has further increased instances of racism as the society is divided into places where blacks and whites can live. Q3. Ethnic diversity also has benefits. One known benefit is multiculturalism. When different ethnic groups manage to live in one area, they manage to share with each other their culture. Some groups are able to appreciate and adopt the other groups culture hence leading to exchange of cultural information, for instance, pertaining the likes of eating habits, clothing, music and others. Another benefit of ethnic diversity in various cities is that it helps in scaling down the issue of racism. Q.4 Los Angeles is populated with Hispanics, Blacks, whites and Asians. Whites majorly exist in high class areas of Los Angeles like Hollywood and century city, Sherman Oaks. In Monterey Park, there is a large concentration of Asians. Hispanics take a large population as they are spread throughout Los Angeles, but more so to the East side. On the East side too, there is a mixture of whites, blacks, Asians and Hispanics. The diversity exists due to social stratification. The minority groups like the Hispanics and Asians are more concentrated in middle and lower class zones. Whites are more concentrated in areas of the rich as they belong to the high class people in the society. Q8. In looking at the statistics found in the table above, it is evident that ethnicity plays a role. For example, whites are located in areas of high per capita earning compared to other ethnic groups. In addition, whites have fewer families with people living below the poverty line as compared to Blacks, Hispanics and Asians. Hence ethnicity majorly influenced the distribution of the

Year-Round Education Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Year-Round Education - Research Paper Example It is important to know the difference between this modified calendar and traditional system to compare the benefits and drawbacks of this development. Unlike the traditional system where a multiple month vacation (mostly in summer) is given to students, year round schools offer a cumulative holidays of about 2 months distributed over the year. These year round schools can further offer single track, multi track or extended year format. When this new system was introduced in the mid 80s, a lot of controversies erupted that highlighted concerns over certain issues. In order to analyze and compare these two systems it is mandatory to dissect those issues. Traditional system had served its purpose well for a very long time. Now if it was to change it could have some positive or negative effect on the individuals associated with it, most importantly, the students and the teachers (Haser & Ilham 2005). So while comparing these two systems focus should be on observing any change in their a ttitude. For example, a student from a year round school system can be disturbed looking at the kids of his age enjoying their long summer vacations. Other factors that are important to consider are effect on academic performance, cost and changing a norm of a society. Year round Education and Academic Achievement: Various researches have been conducted around the world to compare the two education calendars. Lindsay-Brown, 2010, investigated and compared the impact of year round school calendar and traditional school calendar on the academic achievements in North Central South Carolina. In this study, 256 elementary students from four different schools, each pair following different calendars, were tested using the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test (PACT). English language arts and mathematics were the subjects tested in the study. After all the fine adjustments were done to the obtained data, the result showed that there was no significant difference in the academic achievements when students from year round schools versus traditional schools were compared. Another review paper of 39 studies (Cooper et al 2003) also indicated a weak and insignificant effect of modified school calendar on academic achievement. Most of the think tanks that are in the favor of this modified calendar place their arguments on the basis of superior academic achievements. These results, however, is in direct contradiction to their theory. Some groups such as â€Å"Summer Matters† believe that traditional school system is best for the students and society. The argument is based on philosophy of family ties and relationships. They believe that long summer breaks allow families to come together and cherish the moments with their children. This social support catalyzes children efforts and stimulates them to perform better in the field of education. Moreover, they insist that summer vacations provide an excellent opportunity for kids to learn and discover new things. Why Year round Education Calendar? So if year round education does not help students to excel in their academics, then why this system has gained popularity over the years? Parents, faculty and administrator weigh certain other factors as well such as growing school enrollments, working parents and shrinking budget (Sheilds & Stevens, 2000). These problems are partially solved by introducing this education calendar. For example, multi-track year round schooling divides students into groups and rotates them in an organized manner. This multi tracking can increase the capacity of school by 30%. Therefore, the total number of students accommodated in 4 traditional schoo

Atticus Finch Essay Example for Free

Atticus Finch Essay Atticus Finch Abraham Lincoln once said, â€Å"You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.† Atticus Finch, in many ways, lives this quote everyday by understanding what has to be done today in order to avoid future consequences of today’s mistakes. Atticus is a kind-hearted, slow-tempered, wise man, who always knows the right thing to say. In the story, one can deduce that Atticus Finch is a kind-hearted man who knows what to do in order to fix the toughest of problems. The author remarks, â€Å"There was a brown book and some yellow tablets on the solicitor’s table, Atticus’s was bare† (138). This statement explains how Atticus is always prepared to do what is right, and still be humane about what point he is trying to get across. Therefore, Atticus must also set the example for his children by showing that he has a kind heart, so maybe his two children would learn to follow; however, in the story he is faced with many obstacles on the way, reducing his time spent trying to do the right thing. Atticus definitely knows how to react under pressure. In the story the author writes, â€Å"Miss Stephanie said Atticus didn’t even bat an eye, just took out his handkerchief and wiped his face and stood there and let Mr. Ewell call him names wild horses could not bring her to repeat† (185). This is a perfect example of Atticus having a long fuse. Even though Mr. Ewell cussed him until the cows came home, Atticus took it calmly and was relieved that Mr. Ewell finally got his steam out from the case. Whenever he is in trouble, he reacts calmly because he knows in the end it will all blow over. Atticus is obviously a very wise man, who can get the job done. In the part of the story with Mrs. Dubose, Atticus states, â€Å"I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. Its when you know youre licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what† (93). Atticus uses many quotes like this in the book, all consisting of the wisest comments out of the whole story. In this quote Atticus is lecturing Jem after he is finished reading his book to Mrs. Dubose, and Jem realizes that Atticus was talking about him. He also said he would have made him do it eventually anyway, just to show him what real courage was, even if he would not have destroyed Mrs. Dubose’s flowers. The author indirectly says that Atticus knows what he is saying. As I have stated, Atticus is a kind-hearted, slow-tempered, and wise beyond his year’s sort of man. Atticus is the ideal human being in the story. He is also the stories main protagonist, showing all the characteristics of a gentleman.

Piracy Threat in Somalia

Piracy Threat in Somalia SGT Figueras, Diego Piracy has steadily been on the rise along the Horn of Africa primarily along the coast of Somalia. In recent years, piracy has gained the attention from the United States (U.S.) and the international community about its consistent and ever increasing threat. A well-known example of Somalias rampant piracy threat occur in April of 2009, when Somalian pirates forcibly captured the shipping vessel Maersk Alabamas skipper, Richard Phillips, as a hostage (Boot, 2009). The situation ended when U.S. Navy Seals, conducted a rescue operation that freed Captain Phillips. The media coverage that followed revealed to the U.S. that piracy is and will be continue to be a source of conflict without U.S. assistance and East African Naval cooperation. Second order of effects The Captain Phillips rescue led to the U.S. and East African nations (EAN) developing anti-piracy procedures. However, even with the new procedures the U.S. and EAN still failed to recognize piracy as a legitimate concern in the region. The lack of action from the U.S. and EAN allowed piracy to flourish. From 2009 through 2011, there was an estimated 850 attacks on military and commercial vessels costing $6.6 -$6.9 billion dollars in damage and ransoms. The Somali piracy threat reached its climax in 2011, where Somali pirates began affecting shipping lanes, causing the cost of goods, such as, (oil, food, technology) to rise worldwide (Mueller, 2013). At the end of 2011, the U.S. and EAN finally recognized the severity of the Somali piracy threat. Third order of effects In 2012, the U.S. Navy began being more active against the threat posed by Somali pirates. The U.S. sent naval ships such as, destroyers and cruises to begin patrolling and responding to ships under duress from Somali pirates. The increased presence and timely reaction by the U.S. Navy, has caused a significant decrease in piracy activity in the region. From 2012 through 2015, there were only estimated 264 attacks from Somali pirates (Fiorelli, 2014). That is a 68% decrease of pirate attacks since the height of Somali piracy from 2009 through 2011. The threat posed by the U.S. Navy to the Somali pirates has been a significant detergent against piracy. Predictive assessment The threat posed from Somali pirates is steadily decreasing each passing year. In order to eliminate the threat posed by Somali pirates, the U.S. Navy will require more assistance and cooperation from EAN. The U.S. Navy will not always be able to defend the international shipping lanes from Somali pirate attacks. In addition, because of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. populace will not be supportive to another long-term U.S. military commitment. EAN and their naval forces must began taking a more active role and eventually spearhead the anti-piracy effort to effectively eliminate piracy. However, I assess that EAN will not be able to meet the demands require to effectively counter piracy along the Horn of Africa. Because, EAN does not have financial means, logistical support, equipment require nor the trained personnel to effectively sustain long-term anti-piracy operations unlike the U.S. If the U.S. Navy were to cease anti-piracy operations, piracy would reappear, potent ially return to its climax seen in 2011 and once again cause havoc in the international shipping lanes. The Al Shabaab threat to Somalia Al Shabaab is currently East Africas largest and most active terrorist organization. In the past decade, Al Shabaab has successfully gained an area of operations that covers the entire Horn of Africa. In 2014, Somali security forces and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) began conducting counter insurgency operations against Al Shabaab. However, three years of counterterrorism operations has yielded little results in disrupting Al Shabaab operations. Al Shabaab still controls a vast majority of southern and central Somalia and within the past year, has been becoming more active in Somalia. In January 2016, Al Shabaab conducted a complex attack that resulted in overrunning an AMISOM base near the Kenya-Somalia border. Al Shabaab claims to have killed more than 100 AMISOM Soldiers; however, that number has yet to be confirm even a one year later. In addition, in the past seven months, Al-Shabaab has successfully overran two additional AMISOM bases and plundered equipment, ve hicles and weaponry. The equipment and resources retrieved from AMISOM bases have not only strengthen Al Shabaab military capabilities, but also asserted themselves as a legitimate threat to Somalias sovereignty. Second order of effects Al Shabaabs recent success has increased their confidence to operate openly as a legitimate form of government in southern and central Somalia. However, their inability to act as a legitimate government has significant consequences to the Somali citizens within its territory. Southern and central Somalia suffer from extreme drought, which has cause a famine in the region. International surveys suggest that roughly, 3.6 million Somali citizens suffer from starvation and many more suffer from life threatening medical issues as a result. Al Shabaab government and leadership is not prepared to handle this current crisis let alone provide for the citizens basic needs. To make matters worse, the Al Shabaab government has banned all Western and United Nations humanitarian aid organizations access to its territory. Their Islamic counterparts, the Islamic Relief, the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent are all limited in their capabilities to combat the spread of famine. In addition, are not able to provide the medical relief and food aid desperately required by the Somali citizens. References Boot, M., 2009. Pirates, Then and Now: How Piracy Was Defeated in the Past and Can Be Again. Foreign Affairs Journal. 88. no. 4: 94-107. Besley, T., Fetzer, T. and Mueller, H. 2013. The welfare cost of lawlessness: Evidence from Somali piracy. VOX: Research-based policy analysis and commentary from leading economists. Retrieved 04 February 2017 (http://www.voxeu.org/article/welfare-cost-lawlessness-evidence-somali-piracy). Fiorelli, M., 2014. Piracy in Africa: The case of the Gulf of Guinea. Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center. No. 37: 1-16.

Mary Shelleys Frankenstein - Victor Frankenstein is to Blame Essay

Victor Frankenstein is to Blame Can an intense appetency for the pursuit of knowledge result in fatal consequences? In most situations when a strong desire is present consequences are seldom taken into consideration. In the novel, Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein pursues knowledge in an obsessive manner that blinds him to the possible effects. Victor Frankenstein is the primary cause of his creature's desolation. Indeed, Victor Frankenstein is at fault for the creature's isolation and malformation, which causes the creature to feel rejected, lonely, and determined to seek revenge. Victor Frankenstein's determination to constitute a race causes him to create a deformed creature, which he immediately rejects. In the first place, Victor, who is strong willed, spends both night and day working on his creation, his initial concern is to create a race in which he may be their leader. He also uses parts that are bigger in size so that he may finish faster. When he finishes his reaction is completely different from what he had expected. For instance, when he is done with his creation he becomes so appalled by its appearance that he "rushed out of the room" (42). When Victor awakens the next morning he finds the creature at his bedside and at that moment he leaves. When he returns he finds an empty house with no creature in sight, which brings him a feeling of relief. Victor describes the creature as a "demonical corpse" (43) to which he has given life. Furthermore, Victor, sometime later, sees the creature at a distance and never once decides to approach i t. Instead Victor always rushes in the opposing direction. For example, while Victor is on his journey home he crosses the lake to Plainpalais and sees... ...s wickedness and its wanting to seek revenge. Â   In conclusion, Victor Frankenstein is to blame for the actions of the creature, which was brought about by its rejection. Victor became obsessive in his work, but when his creation was complete he fully rejected it causing the creature to lead a life of solitude. The monster also attempts to seek acceptance from society and fails. The creature, also aware that it has been rejected by Victor, pursues a life of revenge killing those dear to him. Hence, if Victor would have never abandoned his creation the multiple deaths of the innocent could have been prevented. Works Consulted Boyd, Stephen. York Notes on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Longman York Press, 1992. Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus. Edited with an Introduction and notes by Maurice Hindle. Penguin books, 1992

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie Essay

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie Dale Carnegie's book How to Win Friends and Influence People gives several proven methods and examples on how to succeed in the business world. The book's chapters are comprised of how to handle people, how to be a successful leader, and how to win people to your way of thinking. The preface provides several ideas and suggestions that will help the reader get the most out of the book. The author suggests that the reader keep an open mind, and also suggest some other reading materials that will also help.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first chapter deals with how to handle people successfully. In this chapter it highlights one of the most important things you can do when dealing with people and their particular situation is to rationalize with them, meaning that to better understand were the person is coming from you must put yourself in their shoes. Every one can and will rationalize why they make the decisions they make. People like the infamous Al Capone never thought he was a bad person. He had rationalized the actions he took and the decisions he made. This is a good example to lead into the first principle, which is that no one should ever critize, complain, or condemn other people. Principe two suggests that you always give people or sincere appreciation. You shouldn?t sit and think about your own individual accomplishments and successes, but compliment others on their successes. The most important thing that others can give is their genuine appreciation. That is the key to getting w hat you want, threatening people by force or harsh words, but to get others to do what you want is to give them what they want; appreciation for their deeds. Principle three explains that most people do not care what you want. They care mostly for themselves and are not really interested in what you want. The key is to expose them on how what you want will also benefit them; it establishes eagerness and willingness in the other people. A good example of this is fishing, you don?t bait the hook with what you want to eat, you bait the hook with what the fish want. Again, thinking from the other side?s perspective.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The second part of the book discusses ways on how to get people to like you. The first step is to become genuinely interested in them. People are more apt to like you if they feel admired by you. One must inst... ... rather than themselves making there own reputation. If you give a person a good reputation they will try their hardest to live up to the expectation and Dale suggest that they will very rarely let you down.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I choose this book for my report because for one I started reading it last year but until now never had finished it. The other reason is because through out all my classes in the recreation department I have always been told of the importance of making contacts along the way. This book is an excellent tool in dealing with how to make the very best first impression, especially when the encounter might only last a few seconds. In this industry everyone is tring to get a head often times their own way. The principles in this book give detailed examples of how to work together and win people over to the ideas you have. Perhaps more importantly these techniques allow you to get ahead as a team in a industry that is so competitive. The things I have learned in this book I have already found myself in situations where I am applying Dale?s concepts. This book will be an important tool in my life and everyone in every industry should do themselves a favor and read this boo k.

Blending Reality and Fantasy in Going After Cacciato Essay -- Going Af

Blending Reality and Fantasy in Going After Cacciato by O'Brien As O'Brien's third novel, Going After Cacciato is one of his most acclaimed works. The book brings to the reader many chilling aspects of war while developing a connection between the reader and the narrator. After many years, Going After Cacciato still dominates over more recent war novels by providing a unique glimpse into the soldiers mind. O'Brien reflects upon his wartime experiences in Vietnam while successfully blending reality and fantasy in an original war story. In the first chapter of the book, the relationship between the story and its title is quickly made. As the character who encites the chase, Cacciato embarks on the seemingly ludicrous journey to Paris. A voyage of eighty six hundred miles on foot is not one to be taken lightly. To get an idea of the distance that Cacciato is planning to transverse, imagine walking across the United States four times bringing only what one can carry. Paul Berlin, to whom Cacciato has divulged his travel plans, and his unit begin on a mission to retrieve Cacciato. Told from Berlin's viewpoint, the story is revealed from the experiences of a person who questions his own purpose in the war. The soldiers are literally walking away from the war as they follow Cacciato through the jungles of Vietnam. Paul's journey with the others is occasionally broken up by sudden lapses into the past. Such unexpected transitions have positive and negative affects on the reader. The latter result is immediate; the quick t opic changes add an element of confusion as to what exactly is happening in the novel. However, the divisions also attribute to increased interest during these flashbacks as they break up the monotony of the mar... ...he war. This war is not one only fought by weapons but is fought inside the soldier's mind. The minds, which O'Brien creates, reveal the convoluted aspects of war. Going After Cacciato succeeds because the story is written to create a link between the reader and the characters in a familiar, yet fictional world. Works Cited 1. "O'Brien, Tim." Current biography Yearbook. 1995 ed. 2. "Tim O'Brien's Homepage, Novelist." 24 April, 1997. <http://www.illyria.com/tobhp.html> (10 May 1997). 3. Chisdes, Jonathan. "Moral Questions In Tim O'Brien's Going After Cacciato: How To Do Right In An Evil Situation." 10 August 1995. http://www.nightmare.com/~jon/cacciato2.html (9 May 1997). 4. Devine, Mary. "Love and War in the Land o' Lakes." MPLS-St. Paul Magazine Oct. 1994: 179. O'Brien, Tim. Going After Cacciato. New York: Dell Publishing, 1978. Blending Reality and Fantasy in Going After Cacciato Essay -- Going Af Blending Reality and Fantasy in Going After Cacciato by O'Brien As O'Brien's third novel, Going After Cacciato is one of his most acclaimed works. The book brings to the reader many chilling aspects of war while developing a connection between the reader and the narrator. After many years, Going After Cacciato still dominates over more recent war novels by providing a unique glimpse into the soldiers mind. O'Brien reflects upon his wartime experiences in Vietnam while successfully blending reality and fantasy in an original war story. In the first chapter of the book, the relationship between the story and its title is quickly made. As the character who encites the chase, Cacciato embarks on the seemingly ludicrous journey to Paris. A voyage of eighty six hundred miles on foot is not one to be taken lightly. To get an idea of the distance that Cacciato is planning to transverse, imagine walking across the United States four times bringing only what one can carry. Paul Berlin, to whom Cacciato has divulged his travel plans, and his unit begin on a mission to retrieve Cacciato. Told from Berlin's viewpoint, the story is revealed from the experiences of a person who questions his own purpose in the war. The soldiers are literally walking away from the war as they follow Cacciato through the jungles of Vietnam. Paul's journey with the others is occasionally broken up by sudden lapses into the past. Such unexpected transitions have positive and negative affects on the reader. The latter result is immediate; the quick t opic changes add an element of confusion as to what exactly is happening in the novel. However, the divisions also attribute to increased interest during these flashbacks as they break up the monotony of the mar... ...he war. This war is not one only fought by weapons but is fought inside the soldier's mind. The minds, which O'Brien creates, reveal the convoluted aspects of war. Going After Cacciato succeeds because the story is written to create a link between the reader and the characters in a familiar, yet fictional world. Works Cited 1. "O'Brien, Tim." Current biography Yearbook. 1995 ed. 2. "Tim O'Brien's Homepage, Novelist." 24 April, 1997. <http://www.illyria.com/tobhp.html> (10 May 1997). 3. Chisdes, Jonathan. "Moral Questions In Tim O'Brien's Going After Cacciato: How To Do Right In An Evil Situation." 10 August 1995. http://www.nightmare.com/~jon/cacciato2.html (9 May 1997). 4. Devine, Mary. "Love and War in the Land o' Lakes." MPLS-St. Paul Magazine Oct. 1994: 179. O'Brien, Tim. Going After Cacciato. New York: Dell Publishing, 1978.

Development of Anna Fitzgerald Character Essay

Adolescence development relies upon many factors. In order to accurately examine its growth, it is useful to look at some developmental theories. Anna Fitzgerald is thirteen years old; however, she is not like any other teenager with some ordinary problems. Anna was born for a specific purpose she was born to save her sister’s life and to serve as a matched tissue donor. When Anna was born, her umbilical cord was collected and since then she was constantly donating blood, stem cells or bone marrow. That resulted in her undergoing more serious and risky procedures. But when she reaches the age 13, she is being told to donate one of her kidneys. Aware of the fact that she was conceived to be a perfect match and ongoing donor for her sister, she wants to have the chance of living her own life. This is when Anna decides to hire a lawyer and to sue her parents to be â€Å"medically emancipated† from her family. Because she loves her sister unconditionally, Anna struggles with her decision. Developmental theories of Piaget, Ericson, Marcia and Freud are very useful, in order to examine the development of Anna Fitzgerald, the character from â€Å"My Sister’s Keeper†. Nature vs. nurture is the first theory that can be applied to Anna’s life. Nature refers to the human biological inheritance and nurture to the environmental experience (Santrock, MacKenzie-Rivers, Malcomson & Leung, 2011). Since she was born for a specific purpose, her parents had already planned her future. To some point of her life, Anna felt it was normal to be a donor and to be in the hospital three to four days a week. Whenever her sister had an emergency, Anna had to be present. The environment Anna lives in is unusual for a teenager. Anna thinks of herself as a total freak. As it is common for teenagers to complain about her look, she states that God must have had some sort of a moody day on her birthday. She sees a big picture of her household. She knows that the environment which she was born in, did not allow her to be a kid. She had to mature fast and act as an adult. It is clear that Anna is going through identity crisis of moratorium. Moratorium stage according to James Marcia is defined by individual exploring different possibilities, yet not being ready to make a commitment to one. In Anna’s case she had plenty of ideas who she would like to be. When asked by her lawyer, where she sees herself in ten years period, she responds: â€Å"There was a time when, like Kate, I’d wanted to be a ballerina. But since then I’ve gone through a thousand different stages: I wanted to be an astronaut. I wanted to be a paleontologist. I wanted to be a backup singer for Aretha Franklin, a member of the Cabinet, a Yellowstone National Park ranger. Now, based on the day, I sometimes want to be a microsurgeon, a poet, a ghost hunter† (Picoult, 2004, p. 412). What strikes the most in her young, yet mature personality is that in ten years period, she would like to be Kate’s sister. Based on Piaget operational stage theory, Anna is clearly capable of using abstract thought. Abstract thought is an adolescence possibility to think outside of the box and see likely outcomes and consequences. Anna knew exactly that by starting the lawsuit, she has a chance of wining the right to decide for her own. Deep inside her, she still wants to help her sister, but knowing the fact that she cannot make her own decisions, made her to go to the extreme and sue her own parents. She is aware of the fact that her decision may have a huge impact on her sister’s life. Perhaps, she will die; however, she is looking at the long term goal. How is the transplant going to affect her life? Is she going to be able to function normally? What if something goes wrong? All this questions were building up inside of her head and did not want to stop. This process of thoughts indicated her ability to think logically by looking at cons and pros of her situation. Based on Ericson psychosocial developmental theory, Anna is going through identity vs. role confusion stage. She is confused of her role in the family. Often reflecting of who she is, and what is the purpose of her life, besides being a perfect match for her sick sister. Anna once said: â€Å"I used to pretend that I was just passing through this family on my way to my real one† (Picoult, 2004, p. 49). This shows how confused she is in terms of her life. Furthermore, this identity confusion grows into her even more upon receiving a long awaited letter of acceptance, into a two weeks hockey summer camp. She is not allowed to go because of her sister’s condition. There is a big chance of Kate going into some health crisis while Anna is gone. It is a difficult time for a thirteen year old girl who is full of energy and is not being able to be just an ordinary adolescence. One can also relate Freud’s theory of development to Anna. The id is one of the structures of human personality. It operates on principles of pleasure and immediate satisfaction regardless of societal rules or other surrounding context (Santrock, MacKenzie-Rivers, Malcomson & Leung, 2011). Anna’s id arises from her frustration to all medical treatments which are done in order to save her older sister, Kate. Frustration is added by her mother who pushes her to donate the kidney for Kate. Yet, from the start of the novel Anna knows the reality which she refuses to face, as result of her inner id: â€Å"On other hand, I was born for specific purpose†¦ I was born because a scientist managed to hook up my mother’s eggs and my father’s sperm to create a specific combination of precious genetic material†¦ specifically, because I could save my sister, Kateâ€Å"(Picoult, 2004, p. 7-8). This inner id, pushes her to rebel against her parents wishes, and results in Anna seeing a lawyer to help her end the suffering and release her from the heavy responsibility towards her sister. This unconscious part of her personality resurfaced, in her reply to the lawyer, when she says: â€Å"Because, she says simply, it never stops† (Picoult, 2004, p. 22). Some may find this very selfish, with total neglect for her sister’s future well being. It results in confrontation with her mother, who tries to make her realize â€Å"You went to a lawyer and made him think is all about you – and it’s not. It’s about us. All of us –â€Å"(Picoult, 2004, p. 54). Thus, her id rises up and does not care if it destroys other people – parents, brother and her sister. In Anna’s case her id prevails over ego. The ego is supposed to negotiate a compromise between her id, current reality and constraints. Anna feels some guilt, as her ego makes her think over and ask herself about her decision regarding kidney. â€Å"I started thinking about this. Would I have to be in the hospital? Would it hurt? Could people live with just one kidney? What if I wound up with kidney failure when I was, like, seventy? Where would I get my spare?†(Picoult, 2004, p.377). Anna’s superego, is supposed to be her moral guide, conscience to do the right thing. It rises up, specifically, when Anna looks at Kate who is becoming weaker and sicker than before and worries about her future and a possibility of her dying. â€Å"What do you think is the best way to die? I don’t want to talk about this, I said. Why? I’m dying. You’re dying. When I frowned, she said, Well, you are. The she grinned. I just happen to be more gifted at it than y ou are†¦ †¦You know, normal people don’t sit around thinking about dying. Liar. Everyone thinks about dying. Everyone thinks about you dying I said. The room went so still†¦ Then a twitchy smile crossed her face. Well, Kate said, at least now you’re telling the truth† (Picoult, 2004, p. 134-135). From this quote it is clear than Anna has difficulty hearing things from Kate, and that her superego is present and possibly regretting the lawsuit action. Perhaps, this is what prompted Anna, to write in her diary that in case of her death, she wants all of her organs to be donated to Kate. In the end, Anna has a car accident and dies, the lawyer who has won the case and got power of attorney, decides to honor Anna’s last wishes: â€Å"I have power of attorney for Anna, he explains, not her parents. And there is a girl upstairs who needs the kidney† (Picoult, 2004, p. 416). Anna’s life ends up tragically. One can assume that she fulfilled her purpos e in her short life, she saved her sister. Since Anna was born, she was a regular donor to her sister. One can observe it as continuity vs. discontinuity development. â€Å"The first time I gave something to my sister, it was a cord blood, and I was a newborn†¦ The next time she relapsed, I was five and I had lymphocytes drawn from me, three times over, because the doctors never seemed to get enough of them the first time around. When that stopped working, they took bone marrow for a transplant. When Kate got infections, I had to donate granulocytes. When she relapsed again, I had to donate peripheral stem cells† (Picoult, 2004, p. 21). One can explain continuity as a process involving a gradual accumulation of behavior or knowledge. Anna, throughout her short life was exposed to medical procedure, terms and responsibilities from the moment of her birth. She was growing up among those circumstances and she never got a chance to be a kid. She had to mature faster. Even her vocabulary was unusual for a thirteen years old girl. In his mind, her lawyer thought â€Å"This girl’s medical vocabulary would put some of my paid experts to shame† (Picoult, 2004, p. 21). Discontinuity is defined as a passing through life stages in a qualitative way. Since Anna’s character is presented just as she is thirteen years old, one can assume that for her to be able to think abstractly, indeed she was at concrete thinking stage in her earlier age. Anna would go through many different stages, perhaps having her case won; she would still donate her kidney. Anna’s life ends abruptly in a car accident. The logical sequence of life is death but to Anna it was way too early. In conclusion, Piaget, Ericson, Marcia and Freud theories were helpful to examine Anna development by using the appropriate key issues. Based on their theories, it is clear to observe Anna’s life and struggles that she is going through. The young age was not an obstacle to deal with some serious adult problems to which Anna was exposed to from an early age. Throughout the story she has dilemmas concerning her sister’s life. By combining the work of these theorists, it was possible to analyze her life from psychological perspective. References Keenan, T. (2011). Developmental psychology lecture. Intro To Developmental Psychology. Niagara Collage. Welland, Ontario, Canada Keenan, T. (2011). Developmental psychology lecture. Theories of Development. Niagara Collage. Welland, Ontario, Canada Keenan, T. (2011). Developmental psychology lecture. Adolescence. Niagara Collage. Welland, Ontario, Canada Picoult, J. (2004). My sister’s keeper. New York, NY: Atria Books. Santrock, J. W., MacKenzie-Rivers, A., Malcomson, T., & Leung, K. H. (2011). Life-span development. (4th ed.). McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd.

Resort Operations and Management

RESORT OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENTSurname, Name, M. I. Student Number Lecture no. 1 A resort is a planned vacation business that is designed to attract, hold and satisfy its guests so they can become repeat visitors and/or goodwill ambassadors.To achieve these objectives require a management strategy that can operate a variety of scales and with a selection of target markets, but its constant must be the creation of a valued experience Gee (1996) considers resorts differ from other sorts of tourism destination in that they: †¢ Cater primarily to vacation and pleasure markets The average length of stay is longer, so hotel rooms need to be larger and better equipped †¢ Because most resorts are isolated they must be self contained †¢ The recreational bias of resorts makes them highly seasonal †¢ Resort management must be â€Å"visible management†, that is everyone must be infused with the idea of total hospitality, warm relationships, and unstinting round the cl ock service to guests Mill (2001) consider resorts have a combination of elements that make them distinctive.These are: †¢ The recreation attractions that draw guests to the resort †¢ Activities to occupy the guests during their stay Within these description of resorts and their management needs certain commonalities can be identified. Resorts are distinctive in that they: †¢ Are established as tourism businesses †¢ Convert visitors into guest †¢ Attempt to hold their guests on site †¢ Attract guest and hold them with superior quality facilities †¢ Cosset guests with superior serviceManagement consideration in a resort 1. Capture through differentiation 2. Attempt to be self contained 3. Deliver fabulous facilities and super service 4. Determine the appropriate target market scales 5. Range of resort operation scales a. Micro-scale of a single facility, a resort hotel needs to encompass internal activities that will hold the guest all day and in co mbination with quality rooms, gastronomic opportunities and entertainment provide no reason to leave the establishment . . Meso- scale of an integrated resort complex, where several hotels and ancillary functions support the prime function and differentiator of the resort component parts should work together to hold and satisfy the guests within the complex. c. Macro-scale of a resort destination, such as Las Vegas all the above considerations are in play, but within the broader context of a multi-purpose community with multiple planning and development goals. 6. Varying levels of control Analytical framework for resort management with a seniors market example | |Description and |Explanation (external and internal |Prediction ( risk management) | |definition |challenges | | |Attract |Competitive market |Health and wellness | | |Differentiate |Light exercise and recreation | | |Branding |Second or retirement homes | |Hold |Attractive Setting |Independent to dependency | | |Critical M ass of activities |Flexible delivery | | |Supportive staff |Security | |Satisfy |Skilled staff |Caring services | | |Service profit chain |Rest home component | | |Value creation |Hospital links | LAWS REGULATING RESORTSA resort is any place with pleasant environment and atmosphere conducive to comfort, healthful relaxation and rest, offering food, sleeping accommodation and recreational facilities to the public for a fee or remuneration. Resorts maybe categorized into (Chapter III, Classification of and Standard Requirements for Resorts, Section 7) i) Beach resorts – located along the seashore ii) Inland resorts – located within the town proper or city iii) Island resorts – located in natural or man-made island with the internal waters of the Philippine archipelago iv) Lakeside or riverside resorts- located along or near the bank of a lake or river v) Mountain resorts- located at or a mountain or hill vi) Theme parksResorts are classified into (Chapter III, Cla ssification of and Standard Requirements for Resorts, Section 8) a. Class AAA b. Class AA c. Class A Classification of resorts is based on a. Location and environment b. Parking facilities and room accommodation c. Sports and recreational facilities d. Conference and convention facilities e. Employee facilities f. Food and beverage outlets g. Lounge and reception centre and furnishing Forms of Business Organization Business entities engaged in the operation of tourist accommodation establishments may be organized as a single proprietorship, a partnership or a corporation, These are legal requirements for the organization and licensing of these businesses.Governmental Regulations Several government agencies take part in the process of organizing and licensing business entities which intend to engage in the operation of tourist accommodation establishments. Securities and Exchange Commission Businesses intending to be organized as a partnership or a corporation must register their art icles of partnership/incorporation and by-laws with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). For entities intending to engage in the business of operating tourist accommodation establishments, prior clearance from the mayor of the place where the principal office is located must be submitted together with the incorporation documents.The SEC has a periodic reportorial requirements, such as the: 1. Submission of general information sheets 2. Financial statements Which must be complied with by corporations and partnerships engaged in the business of operating tourist accommodation establishments. Department of Trade and Industry Business establishments using business names other than their SEC-registered name must be register said business names with the Bureau of Domestic Trade under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) before using said business names in contacts, advertisements and other purposes and before engaging in any business transaction. Bureau of Internal RevenueB usiness entities engaged in the operation of tourist accommodation establishments must register with the Bureau of Internal Revenue and keep books of account wherein all transactions and results of operations are shown and from which all taxes due the government may readily and accurately be ascertained and determined any time of the year. Social Security System Business entities engaged in the operation of tourist accommodation establishments must report all their employees who are not over 60 years of age to the SSS for compulsory coverage and pay the employers contribution for each employee. They must also collect their employees contribution and remit the same to the SSS. Department of Tourism DOT merely undertakes accreditation of tourism business and only on a voluntary basis. There is a pending bill in Congress to make accreditation with the DOT a mandatory requirement prior to the issuance of a mayor’s permit or business license by LGU’s.Accreditation is a cert ification by the department as having complied with its minimum standards in the operation of the establishment concerned which will ensure the safety, comfort and convenience of the tourist. Bureau of Immigration and Deportation If business entities employ alien personnel, valid working visa must be secured from the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation Department of Labor and Employment In addition to a valid working visa, any alien seeking admission to the Philippines for employment purposes and business entities desiring to engage an alien for employment must obtain employment permit from the Department of Labor and Employment. Department of Environment and Natural ResourcesBusiness entities desiring to operate tourist accommodation establishments will have to undergo environmental impact assessment and obtain as environmental compliance certificate from DENR before they can commence operations and any kind of construction. Operation and Management of Resorts Due to complexity o f facilities available in resorts, unlike in hotels and other types of accommodation establishments, the standard of operation and management of resort is relatively more stringent. Resorts are required to adopt sanitation measures in accordance with the standards prescribed under PD no. 856, also known as the Code on Sanitation of the Philippines.All resorts have to provide the services of a sufficient number of well-trained lifeguards duly accredited by either the Philippine National Red Cross, the Water Life Saving Association of the Philippines or any recognized organization training or promoting safety objectives. They must also provide adequate security whenever there are guest . Medical services, fire fighting facilities and signboards will have to be provided by all resorts. There must be placed on a beach or lakeside resort an adequate number of buoys, which must be spread within the area by the resort owner or keeper incompliance with existing government regulations and/or local ordinance on the placing of such buoys.Prohibited Acts Keepers, manager or operators of hotels, resorts, tourist, inns, motels, apartels and pension houses are required to exert effort not to allow any form of gambling, drunkenness or disorderly conduct of any kind by anyone in said establishments and their immediate premises. They must also exert all possible efforts not to permit any person whom they know or have reason to believe to be either a prostitute a paedophiles or of questionable character to occupy a room or to enter the premises Environmental Laws affecting Tourism Tourism projects are required to comply with the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System.The EIS System was established by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1586 issued by former President Ferdinand E. Marcos in 1978. The EIS System requires all government agencies, government owned or controlled corporations and private companies to prepare an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for a ny project or activity that affects the quality of the environment. An EIA is a process that involves evaluating and predicting the likely impacts of the project (including cumulative impacts) on the environment and includes designing appropriate preventive, mitigating and enhancement measures to protect the environment and the community welfare.An entity that complies with the EIS System is issued as Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC), which is a document certifying that, based on the representations of the project proponent, the proposed project or undertaking will not cause significant negative environmental impacts and that the project proponent has complied with all the requirements of the EIS System. To strengthen the implementation of the EIS System, Administrative Order (AO) No. 42 was issued by the Office of the President of the Philippines in 2002. It provided for the streamlining of the ECC application processing and approval procedures. Pursuant to AO No. 42, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) promulgated DENR AO No. 2003-30, also known as the Implementing Rules and Regulations for the Philippine EIS System (IRR), in 2003. Under the IRR, in general, only projects that pose potential significant impact to the environment shall be required to secure ECCs.In determining the scope of the EIS System, two factors are considered: |Category |Description |Example | |Category A Environmentally |Projects that have significant |Golf courses | |Critical Projects (ECPs) |potential to cause negative | | | |environmental impacts | | |Category B |Projects that are not categorized as |Hotels and resorts that | |Environmentally Critical |ECPs , but which may cause negative |are located in ECAs | |Areas (ECAs) |environmental impacts because they are| | | |located in Environmentally Critical | | | |Areas (ECAs) | | |Category C |Projects intended to directly enhance |Other tourism projects | | |environmental quality or address |not locate d in ECAs, but| | |existing environmental problems not |would likely have | | |falling under Category A or B |impacts on the | | | |environment | |Category D |Projects unlikely to cause adverse |Small tourist shops or | | |environmental impacts |handicraft stores | i. The nature of the project and its potential to cause significant negative environmental impacts ii. The sensitivity or vulnerability of environmental resources in the project area Specifically, the criteria used for determining projects to be covered by the EIS System are as follows: a. Characteristics of the project or undertaking- i. Size of the project ii. Cumulative nature of impacts vis-a-vis other project iii. Use of natural resources iv. Generation of wastes and environmental-related nuisance v. Environmental-related hazards and risk accidents b. Location of the Project i.Vulnerability of the project area to disturbances due to its ecological importance, endangered or protected status ii. Conformity of the propo sed project to existing land use, based on approved zoning or on national laws and regulations iii. Relative abundance, quality and regenerative capacity of natural resources in the area, including the impact absorptive capacity of the environment. c. Nature of potential impact i. Geographic extent of the impact and the size of affected population ii. Magnitude and complexity of the impact iii. Likelihood, duration, frequency and reversibility of the impact The categories of projects under the EIS System are as follows : Small Scale Tourism ProjectsUnder the 1996 Philippine EIS System Guide, tourism projects are classified into small-scale and large scale projects. Small-scale tourism are considered projects in ECA’s. An ECA is an area considered projects as environmentally sensitive such that significant environmental impacts are expected if certain types of proposed projects or program s are located, developed or implemented it. Under the EIS system, proponents of small-sca le projects must prepare a project description (pd) The pd reviewed and evaluated by different entities . The following entities take part in the process. 1. Project proponent- prepares the pd or EIS documents, complies additional information, prepares and submits period compliance reports; 2.DENR Regional Executive Director- issues certificate of exemption, issues or denies ECC, issues closure, suspension, cessation order or impose fines and other penalties. 3. DENR Regional Technical Director- Environmental Management Protected Areas Services (EMPAS) determines need foe and facilitates public consultation. 4. DENR Regional Office EIA Division ( Ad hoc) evaluates pd or EIS document, chairs regional EIA Review Committee, inspects proposed sites, investigates ECC-related complaints, initiates public hearing, conducts and reports on compliance monitoring; 5. Regional EIS Review Committee- provides technical review of pd document, advises DENR regional offices on ECC issuance; 6. EMB E IA Group- supports DENR regional offices; 7.Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO)- coordinates local government units (LGUs) and other local parties, conducts public awareness, assists in on-site inspection and monitoring; 8. LGUs- participate in multi-sectoral monitoring team; 9. NGOs and public- participate in multi-sectoral monitoring team. After review and evaluation of the pd and other pertinent documents, the RTD- EMPAS in coordination with the DENR Regional Office EIA Division, makes any of the following decisions. 1. Recommends the issuance of an ECC with conditions 2. Recommends that the proponent prepare a full EIS for the proposed project 3. Recommends the denial of the ECC Large Scale Tourism ProjectsUnder the 1998 Philippine EIS System Guide, large-scale tourism projects, like resort and hotels are considered ECPs. As such, it is required that an EIS be prepared. The EMD takes the lead in reviewing and processing EIS. The following entities partici pate in the process of review and evaluation of EIS; 1. Project proponent- prepares the pd or EIS documents, complies additional information, publishes notice of and makes presentation in public hearing, prepares and submits period in compliance reports, establishes Environmental Guarantee Fund; 2. DENR Secretary- issues/ denies ECC, issues cessation order 3. EMB Director- calls for a public hearing, appoints hearing officer, endorses the ECC or letter of denial to the DENR Secretary 4.EMB EIA Group- evaluates documents, serve as secretariat to EIA Review Committees, asks for additional information, initiates public hearing, solicits input from relevant government agencies, recommends issuance or denial of ECC and sometimes conducts compliance monitoring activities . 5. EMB EIA Review Committee- provides technical review EIS documents, advises EMB in need for public hearing and ECC issuance 6. DENR Regional Office- inspects proposed site, investigates EIS-related complaints, conduct s and reports on compliance monitoring 7. PENRO- coordinates local government units (LGUs) and other local parties, conducts public awareness, assists in on-site inspection and monitoring; 8. LGUs- participate in multi-sectoral monitoring team 9.NGOs, affected communities and public- participate in public hearing and in multi-sectoral monitoring team. Violation of ECC Conditions An ECC is a document issued by the DENR Secretary or the Regional Executive Director certifying that , based on the representation of the proponent and the preparers, the proposed project or undertaking will not cause a significant negative environmental impact; that the proponent has complied with all the requirements of the EIS system; and the proponent is committed to implement its approved environmental management plan in the Environmental Impact Assessment or mitigation measures in the Initial Environmental Examination. Once a project is issued an ECC, certain conditions go with it.These conditions will have to be strictly followed; otherwise, non compliance with the conditions will result suspension or cancellation of the ECC and/or fine not exceeding (50,000) pesos for every violation thereof, at discretion of the EMB. Lecture No. 2 Objectives 1. Explain the guest activity and programming model and its significance to successful resort operation. 2. Explain how knowledge of cultural differences and individual needs can be used by resort managers to design guest activities 3. Identify how cluster or activity analysis can help meet the objectives of a guest activity program 4. Describe the steps required to effectively plan a guest activity program 5.Identify the approaches and measuring instruments used in evaluating the effectiveness of guest activity programs 6. Resorts Management and Operations, Mill, Robert Christie 2008 References: Resorts Management and Operations, Mill, Robert Christie 2008 Tourism Law Philippine Setting 2nd edition , Javier, Nancy Joan 2008 Good programmi ng does not just happen; it is carefully planned for, thought about, and learned Farrel and Lundegren When guest are at a resort or on board ship for several days or weeks, they expect the facility to cater to their need for something to do. At resorts, this need is met by guest activity programs. What guest actually do is called recreation.Recreation is an activity that take place during ones free time, is enjoyable, freely chosen, and benefits the individual emotionally, socially, physically, cognitively and spiritually. The activity should be fun, it is something the guest chooses to do, and the guest will not fully enjoy the activity and their stay will be less enjoyable than it could be. Benefits of Guest Activity Programs The impact of a recreational or guest activity can extend far beyond the immediate benefits. Consider a couple hiking along a trail. They may experience one or more of the following benefits: †¢ Feeling good about getting exercise †¢ Enjoyment of th e sights and sounds of nature †¢ Mental relaxation Learning something about the natural environment †¢ Feeling closer to their partner To be satisfying, an activity must include: 1. Freedom- guest must be free to select the activities in which they want to participate 2. Perceived competence- guests must be able to match their skill level to the activity such that they feel they can successfully participate. 3. Intrinsic motivation-truly satisfying activities are those that are chosen to satisfy an inner drive rather than to satisfy or impress others. 4. Locus of control- guest need to have some degree of control over the experience, be it in the selection of teammates or when or where the activity 5.Positive effect- the result of a satisfying activity is that guests enjoy the experience after participating in it. Recreation programs are purposeful interventions which are deliberately designed and constructed in order to produce certain behavioural outcomes. Guest activity programming involves five steps: 1. Assess needs of guest 2. Define objective for the activities that will meet guest needs. 3. Perform cluster or activity analysis designed to meet the objectives 4. Administer the activity 5. Evaluate the experience with respect to its success in meeting guest needs Evaluation of the activity might lead to reassessment of any of the earlier steps.Development and operation of any program occurs within the context of, and is influenced by external factors: †¢ Historical influences- the tradition and philosophy of the resort †¢ Environmental influences- time of the year, weather, etc †¢ Cultural influences- ethnicity, age and religion of the guests †¢ Social influences- fads, trends, news †¢ Organizational influences- values and mission of the company Finally, guests, staff, equipment, and facilities are brought together to deliver the guest experience. The key to understanding guest motivation is to see the activities they e ngage in as satisfiers of needs and wants. Guests do not participate in guest activity programs just to relax and have fun.They do so in the hope and belief that these activities will satisfy, either wholly or partially, needs and wants important to them. Needs Assessment Needs assessment is â€Å" a systematic inquiry about needs, attitudes, behaviours, and patterns of both participants and non-participants† . Its purpose is to identify what is important to guests in order to better design and deliver guest activity programs that leave guests satisfied with the program and consequently, in the resort. Constraints should be noted. 1. Needs are infinite- the resort cannot totally satisfy the needs of every guest 2. Conflicts between different segments of the market are inevitable- teens want different activities than seniors. Several techniques an be used to conduct a needs assessment 1. Existing guest are asked what interests them or what interests them or what activities the y currently undertake. 2. People who do not use the programs and who do not take part in the activities might also be surveyed as to their reasons. 3. National figures are available on trends in recreation. Resort amenities can have primary and secondary uses. As an assist in thinking about secondary uses for facilities and areas, in addition to implementing the multi-use concept, list all of the facilities and areas on the property and note the possible activities for which they could be used. Goals and ObjectivesThe goals and objectives of the guest activity programs nest within those set for the resort itself. Goals are broad, general, final outcomes. The overall goals of the resort might be to produce profits by satisfying guests. The guest activity goal might be: a. Provide satisfying experiences for guests b. Aid in skill development c. Increase guests health and well-being d. Encourage social interaction among guest Objectives are much more specific and short-term. The resort might set objectives relative to occupancy, rate and percentage of guests who return. Objectives should be set for the overall guest activity program as well as for every individual program and activity offered. Cluster and Activity AnalysisThe next step in the process is to identify activities that can help guests meet the stated objectives. Two ways of doing this are activity analysis and cluster analysis. Activity Analysis Activity analysis involves determining how each part of an activity can contribute to meeting goals and objectives. Each activity can be broken down according to the following criteria: †¢ Behavioural domain †¢ Skill level, from low to high †¢ Interaction patterns, from individual to group †¢ Leadership required, from minimum to maximum †¢ Equipment required, from none to required †¢ Duration, from a set of time through a natural end to continues †¢ Facilities required, from none to required Participants, from one to any numb er †¢ Age appropriateness Cluster Analysis Cluster analysis clusters activities that yield similar benefits. Each activity becomes a variable, the correlation between participation in two variables is computed, and the cluster is based on the correlation that results. The following criteria are used to determine clusters: †¢ Degree of skill required †¢ Level of activity †¢ Nature of the group needed †¢ Amount of risk or danger †¢ Special facilities needed The implication is that people can be typed based on their choice of activity. From existing levels of participation, staff can identify which complimentary activities might be popular. Group A |Group B |Group C |Group D | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Beach resorts: The Impact of Development on Operation A variety of recreational activities utilize water as the major attractions: ? Natural beaches, which can be used for sunbathing, swimming a nd beach combing.Very popular, they may require little development, though maintenance can be high. Beaches allow for a variety of complementary activities, including snorkelling and scuba diving. ? Open space and trails, typically found around lakes and wetlands. They can be used as sites for fishing or camping or for observing wild life, and fit well into the ecotourism movement ? Golf courses, many U. S. resorts exploit ocean front settings to highlight their golf facilities ? Residential development, as home site on the waterfront generate premium prices. Care must be taken to balance preservation of the often sensitive ecology and obtaining an economic return on the investment. Commercial development, such as hotels, retail stores, and restaurants. This most intense type of waterfront development must be approached carefully because of environmental concerns. ? Cruise ship, which after all, are nothing more than floating resorts/hotels/restaurants ? Spas Beach Development Six i mportant aspects warrant consideration with respect to beach development: the sea, seashore, beach, back beach, coastal stretch and surrounding community/country. SeaA variety of factors related to sea affect the attractiveness of the site: Air temperature, there is a high correlation between swimming and maximum air temperature and a fairly high correlation between beach use and maximum air temperatureAmount and intensity of the wind and sun, there is a weak inverse relationship between both swimming and beach use and wind. There is a straight line correlation between sunshine hours and both swimming and beach use. The correlation is higher than that of maximum air temperature for beach use and lower for swimming. Water temperature, including temperature range Currents, tides, and waves, including their direction, strength and seasonality. Wave action and the corresponding erosion, is greater when beaches are exposed to the main channel of a lake. On the other hand, beaches develop ed on lakes are subject to less erosion when placed on the side of a bay Ecology, including seaweed and fishPollution, state-of-the art sewage treatment plants use ultraviolet light radiation to destroy bacteria and microorganisms before they passed into the surrounding environment. Clarity of the water, passed germ test for bathing waters Possible attractions, such as islands, coral and conditions for water recreation. Seashore The seashore consists of the surface under the water, extending out to a depth of 6 feet. Mud bottoms have to be stabilized with crushed rocks as a base and a coarse sand layover. Bathers should be able to walk into the water a sufficient distance to allow them to engage in play activities without risk of danger from tidal movement. Beach People do not want to walk too far to get into water, neither do they want to feel too crowded.Lifeguard platforms are the only service facility in this zone. Back BeachThe back beach offers views to both the sea and inland . Vegetation and the effect of the microclimate must be considered because of the fragile nature of the resource. Coastal Stretch The coastal stretch consists of the beach environment. This is where service facilities and access roads are placed. Surrounding Community/ CountryThe country surrounding the beach development provided the setting for the attraction. Natural attractions, the extent of development, surrounding infrastructure, and the opportunity for excursions all need to be considered. Beach Resorts: Profile of the Beach Resort GuestBeaches and Islands, according to the Travel Industry Association of America, people who travel to beaches on vacation take longer holidays and spend more money compared to the average vacationer. They are most likely bring the children along, to fly to the destination, and to rent a car when they arrive. A person-trip is defined as one person travelling at least 50 miles one way from home. The top states that benefit from coastal tourism are the following: ? California ? Florida ? New Jersey ? Hawaii Scuba Travel, scuba diving is a $2. 6 billion annual business in the US alone. Approximately $640 million a year is spent on equipment with the remainder going to travel, dining, lodging and boat hire. In terms of snorkelling and diving the top spots are: ? Cayman Islands ? Mexico Australia ? Hawaii Romance Related, according to TIAA, more than 42 million Americans take at least one trip a year to attend wedding, go on honey moon, or celebrate an anniversary. The top honey moon beach locations are: ? Hawaii ? Mexico ? Jamaica ? Tahiti ? Cayman Islands Managing the Resource In 1987, the Blue Flag concept began as an eco-lab â€Å" certifying beaches as meeting quality standards relating to water quality, safety, environmental management and environmental education. The following are specified for beaches: Water Quality, it is vital that beaches meet water quality standards for microbiological and physical-chemical parameter s.The quality of the water in terms of physical-parameters are the following: †¢ The pH should be between 6. 5 and 8. 5 (in Caribbean and South Pacific) or 6 to 9 (Europe) †¢ There should be no visible oil film on the water and no odour †¢ The beach should be monitored for oil pollution deposits †¢ Nothing floating on the surface (plastic articles, bottles, etc. ) †¢ Water should be transparent †¢ There should be no abnormal change in the color of the water †¢ No specific odour from phenols should be present Environmental Management, a beach management committee must be established to be in charge of instituting environmental management systems and conducting regular environmental audits of the beach facility.Safety and Services, providing information to and educating beach users about safety concerns should be additional elements of a safety strategy. Life saving equipment includes such things as life buoys, torpedo buoys, hook, life vest, life ra fts, etc. First aid can be made available in several ways: ? A lifeguard on site ? An attended first-aid station with trained personnel ? Equipment located in a shop or other beach facilities at the beach ? Directly available to the public on the beach Development of Spas The original spa was a mineral hot springs place in Belgium in a village called Spau. Taking the waters, became popular with the upper classes for reasons of health.The promotion of a healthy lifestyle based on a combination of exercise, weight loss and pampering. The following definitions are widely used: Resort spa- the resort spa is located on the property of a hotel , normally in a resort where other sports and activities are offered besides the spa program itself. Amenity spa- similar to the resort spa, the amenity spa is added as an amenity to a hotel or resort. Destination spa- the destination spa is a hotel property targeted to the spa guest and focusing on specific health and fitness programs. Outside gues ts are not part of the program. Benefits Having a spa at a resort seems to have economic advantages for the property.Resort general managers indicate that the spa enhances the following aspects of their business: ? Room rate ? Perceived value for money ? Occupancy ? Length of stay ? Marketing advantage ? Revenue per occupied room ? Number of people per occupied room Benefits for the guest ? Stress reduction and relaxation ? To look good/appear young ? To feel more sexy and attractive ? Pursuing a spa lifestyle Spa regulars dislike: ? Having to appear naked for treatments ? Treatments derived from chocolates ? Any evidence of lack of cleanliness or poor hygiene ? Pretentious spas ? Finding a hotel spa fully booked The cost structure of a spa, as a percentage of revenue, can be: ? Payroll ? Payroll with benefits ? Operating expenses Net operating income, when spa is responsible for all expenses excluding rent ? NOI, when the spa is responsible for payroll and products only Revenue bre akdown for the hotel spa department: ? Massage ? Spa treatment ? Club membership dues ? Salon treatments ? Clothing/merchandise Layout and Design The basic component of a spa include ? Reception area ? Separate men’s and women’s locker room and facilities ? Men’s and women’s steam rooms ? Lounge which include a juice bar and small cafe ? Dry treatments ? Wet treatments ? Staffed fitness studio with exercise machine ? Retail store ? Salon The equipment in a spa 1. Facial equipment 2. Basic body treatment 3. Hydrotherapy Swimming PoolsThere are a number of different types of pools that can be part of the resort amenities: 1. Lap pools with lanes for swimmer 2. Sports pools for exercise and games 3. Reflecting pool to compliment picturesque landscaping 4. Traditional diving pool for safe diving 5. Splash pool for family fun Maintenance According to some expert, an attractive pool is one of the most visible and cost effective amenities. Keeping the pool attra ctive requires constant maintenance 1. Know your chemistry- to extent=d the life of the pool and reducing repairs is keeping the water chemistry in balance. 2. Renovation 3. Starting over- there comes a time when it’s cheaper to tear out the pool and start over rather than to repair it. SafetyThe liability concerns the presence of pools represents a difficult challenge for management. Management has to be particularly concerned with: 1. Responsible adult supervision 2. Diving 3. Electrical hazards 4. Ladders, steps and hand trails 5. Drowning prevention 6. Water clarity 7. Water chemistry 8. Heaters Reference: Resorts Management and Operation, 2nd edition, Mill, Robert Christie ———————– Historical Influences Environmental Influences Organizational Influences Cultural Influences Social Influences Assess Guest Needs Develop Objectives Cluster/ Activity Analysis Activity Experience Evaluation GuestEquipment/ Resources Guest Activity Facilities Staff