Evolution of Gillette Razor Blades Essay Example for Free

Evolution of Gillette Razor Blades Essay Marketing, design and innovation is the study of how an organisation’s competitive advantage forte is indomitable and shaped by its marketing, design and innovation prowess. In addition, it is as a critical factor to the growth and success of the organisation and to the global community. This study seeks to reconnoitre the Gillette’s Power Razor through the lens of organisational marketing, design and innovation. It will look at the way in which Gillette Power Razor and its brand prospers in those areas and how it impacted on the competiveness in the marketplace. The objectives of the study are, firstly to display how the characteristics of the Gillette Power Razor have evolved over time to meet customer’s needs. To show the benefits and value derived by the users. To show the uniqueness of its design elements. Finally, to show the Gillette’s brand appeal in contemporary markets. In this research the investigator will be taking the view of epistemology. The investigator selected the Gillette power razor as the product to critique within the context of marketing, design and innovation. The razor took a very long time to evolve into its present multidimensional use. Therefore, true innovation always begins by investigating the historic footprint. Analysis will be used shows how the characteristics of the item has altered over time what drove the changes in the market and which it exists from the benefits and value derived by the clients, customers or recipients. Furthermore, the uniqueness of its design elements – shape, colour, design, imagination, relevance and usefulness. Finally, its appeal as brand in contemporary markets. In industry, methods and tools are developed on how to organize and manage innovation processes with the objective to better control added – value, cost and risk. † Additionally, Marketing is the process of determining customer needs and wants and then providing customers with goods and services that meet or exceed their expectations (Nickels et al, 2002). Nevertheless, the Danish Government describes design as â€Å"the power to make products and services more attractive to customers and users, so they are able to sell at a higher price by being differentiated from the competition by virtue of new properties, values and characteristics. Marketing, design and innovation is the study of how an organisation’s competitive advantage forte is indomitable and shaped by its marketing, design and innovation prowess. In addition, it is as a critical factor to the growth and success of the organisation and to the global community.

Progesterone For Maintenance Tocolytic Therapy after Threatened Preterm Labour Essay Example for Free

Progesterone For Maintenance Tocolytic Therapy after Threatened Preterm Labour Essay What was the sampling technique used and what are the advantages and disadvantages of using that technique? The researchers used a two-stage sampling method that was non-random in the first stage and randomized in the second stage. The total population was made up of 137 patients who were admitted for preterm labour. Selection from this initial population was non-random because there were exclusion criteria. The seventy women included were randomised to their treatment groups by assigning randomly generated numbers. The main advantage of using the technique was its simplicity and straightforwardness. Every individual who fit the inclusion criteria had equal chance of being selected. The disadvantage of the technique was that there was bias in the initial selection. Such bias could have affected the accuracy of the experiment. Was there randomisation? There was randomisation in the second stage of sampling, where all those women who fit the inclusion criteria were part of the sampling population. Randomisation was done by generating random numbers and assigning numbers to the women included in the study. Was it biased? There were several sources of bias in the study. The fact that the patients were all from the same clinic is already in itself introducing bias. The study was not double blind, which could also be a source of bias. The use of exclusion criteria in the first stage of sampling lessened the bias. In the second stage of sampling, efforts were done to further remove bias by assigning treatment to all included patients. No patient also left the study, thus further reducing bias. Describe the validity and power of the study Based on the researchers’ desired results, the statistical power of the study for improving latency was initially calculated be 80% with an assumption of getting standard deviation (SD) of 12 days at 5% level of significance. However, when their results came out, the power was calculated to be lower (value for this was not presented in the paper). By checking the means and SD for latency, and assuming a two-tailed analysis, power was calculated to be 51% only. This could be attributed to the high standard deviation that could in turn be due to the relatively small number of samples tested. In other similar studies, the sample population is much higher. For example, another study testing the effect of vaginal progesterone on preterm birth used 413 women (Eduardo B. Da Fonseca, et al. , 2007). Despite the low statistical power, the results presented here are valid as preliminary data on the supplementation of tocolytic therapy with vaginal progesterone to control preterm labour. The study was able to show that progesterone treatment had an effect on the other outcomes that were measured (please refer to Table 2 in the text). Background information of the hypothesis Progesterone is a steroid hormone that is widely used in hormone replacement therapy in menopausal women. It is also used to induce menstruation in women who suddenly stop menstruating. Its capacity to control preterm labour was first reported in the 1980s. Oral administration of progesterone induces side effects like migraine, dizziness, vomiting and blurred vision. This was the usual mode of administration of progesterone, which was proven effective to reduce preterm labour (Meis, et al. , 2003). Since 2003, studies have reported on the use of progesterone vaginal suppository to treat preterm labour (E. B. Da Fonseca, Bittar, Carvalho, Zugaib, 2003) and even in high risk women (Eduardo B. Da Fonseca, et al. , 2007). Until this current study, there were no previous reports on the use of progesterone to supplement tocolytic therapy, using magnesium sulphate and intravenous ampicillin, on women who actually had preterm labour. Hypothesis of the study Null hypothesis: The use of vaginal progesterone after inhibition of preterm labour will not change latency period and recurrence of preterm labour. Alternate hypothesis (what the study really wants to prove): After the inhibition of preterm labour, treatment with vaginal progesterone will result in increased latency period and decreased recurrence of preterm labour. Methodology The study was conducted on 70 women who were had arrested uterine activity after they were treated for premature labour. The women were randomized to two groups; one was administered vaginal progesterone and the other, a placebo, until delivery. Subjects were monitored for days to latency until delivery, recurring preterm labour and other primary and secondary outcomes. Different statistical tests were used to determine if the treatments resulted in significantly different outcomes. Comparisons were done using Student’s t-test for quantitative data; chi-square and Fisher exact tests, among others, were used for categorical data. Conclusion of the study The study concluded that the use of vaginal progesterone after tocolytic therapy was effective in increasing latency to delivery but not in decreasing the incidence of recurrence of preterm labour. Is it a valid assumption based on the data of the study? Describe the applicability and relevance of the paper to clinical practice. The conclusion is valid based on the data of the study. The paper and the results presented are applicable and relevant to clinical practice because it proposes a new means of treating preterm labour for increased latency. Although the recurrence of preterm labour appeared not to be reduced with the treatment, this could be due to the advanced stage of the pregnancy when the preterm labour occurred or due to the small sampling population. It is significant to note that this is the first to report on the supplementation of tocolytic therapy with vaginal progesterone. Further studies can also be done to validate the results.

Changes And Trends Of The Hospitality Industry

Changes And Trends Of The Hospitality Industry In the last few decades, the hospitality industry has gone through many changes. According to Go and Pine, (1995) and Guerrier et al. (1998), changes in the industry are mainly due to the globalization, the changes are mainly due to globalization. Supported by Barrows C.W and Power T. (2009) globalization, in a sense has become old news but with the falling of trade barriers brought on by the North American Free Trade Agreement and the European Community has made borders seem nonexistent. With North America and European countries having a major trading role with other countries, the ease of financial transaction and information is an important step in the restructuring of the hospitality industry. Besides globalization, the growth of multiple ownership of hotels and stronger hotel brandings in the late 90s and early 20s has affected the hospitality industry, especially in organizational structure. (Go and Pine, 1995 Guerrier et al, 1998) Moreover, in this day and time, while those changes are still relevant, there are many other factors that contribute to the ever-changing nature of the hospitality industry. World changing incidents such as the tragic terrorist events in North America, Madrid, London and Bali, the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), hurricane Katrina, the economy downturn, the A (H1N1) influenza pandemic and political tensions of the past decade will have a lasting effect on how the hospitality industry will operate. While there are challenging issues in the past, never has the industry have to face with so many issues at one time. However, in the face of these challenges, the hospitality industry is set to beat expectations on economic recovery with Global Travel Tourism Economy real GDP growth is expected to rise by 2% this year beating the estimate of 0.5%, and thus creating an extra 946,000 job worldwide. (WTTC, 2010) High profile hospitality institutions have gotten together and hosted pa nel discussions and studies on the effects of these tragic incidents on the industry particularly on the terrorist incident of September 11, 2001. Both short term and long term effects are seen on the hospitality industries. These studies have identified different effects ranging from people not travelling for any reason to travelling for important needs and finally to somewhat normal travel patterns of the past. Surely but slowly the patterns will reach normal levels but the question here is when. Trends of the hospitality industry These days as more and more people travel the world be it for pleasure or business, they want somewhere as close to home to feel comfortable. However, there are other people who want otherwise, something different rather than having the same feeling at home, they want a different experience of living style which they can only dream off. (Weissinger, 2000) Therefore, there are many diverse types of hotels that sit under the umbrella definition of hotels. On that note, the front office department is often considered the nerve centre of a hotel and is unchanged in terms of roles to be played. (Bardi, J.A., 2007) According to Vallen and Vallen (2004) front office is defined in terms of role as the first and main contact point between a guest and an operating hotel. Generally the front office activities can include all functions that center around the reception desk and its allied areas. This can be simplified from greeting guests, providing of information, checking in and out, till the m oment they leave the property. Roldan (2004) states that the key to success of a hotel business starts off with the first contact between the guest and the hotel personnel. Being the first contact point, the front office staffs first impression upon a hotel guest is vital; the way they are received and treated can mean repeated patronage in the future. The future professionals of the industry have to analyze who their customers are and what they want. In todays day and age, Bardi J.A., (2010) and Barrows C.W., and Power T., (2009) supports Go and Pine, (1995) and Guerrier et al., (1998) in its changes of factors in the industry and moreover identifies additional aspects such as the different trends of customers that foster growth in the industry, the author says that, the trend towards the increase in leisure time and working less years is one reason behind the growth. The second factor would be the pleasure concept of consumers that was brought forth Barrows C.W., and Power T.,(2009) reinforced by Bardi, J.A.,(2010) stating that the work ethic of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries have greatly influenced the way Americans play, as recreation and leisure was were considered privileges. With that in mind, in the world today, as the current trend for discretionary income in the emergence of two-way income and family planning is booming, the hospitality industry is changing. Problem Statement The hospitality and tourism industry is an ever-changing industry with new technological advances and trends that comes in waves and then disperses. Hotels being a part of the industry have to adapt and change as well. The hotel front office is one area that has to constantly reorganize with the changes in the industry. In regards to the fluctuating environment of the industry, the industry is still making a comeback, stronger each year. Both the demand and supply for workers are present at state; however, the qualities of these workers are still in question. The high labour turnover experienced in the hospitality industry is common in this day and time and can be due to many factors such as long working hours, low pay, the wide array of job opportunities and many more. In the hospitality industry, especially in the hotel sectors, service is the key to retaining customers (Maxwell, Watson and Quail, 2004) and is what separates competition these hotels from one another. Therefore, it is not a problem to be taken lightly and this study aims to take a look at the people of the workforce itself. Research Questions What are the key skills and attributes needed to be effective in the front office department? Does graduating with a high school certificate, diploma or degree in hotel management make a difference in terms of performing? What are the future prospects of front office employees? What are the intentions of front office employees? What are the natures of front office work? How do the industry players retain its employees? Research Objectives To investigate and analyze the key skills and attributes to be effective in the front office department. To look into the subject of obtaining a high school certificate, diploma or degree in hotel management; does it make a difference? To further gain insight on the future prospects of front office employees. To investigate the intentions of front office employees and what they want. To investigate further the scope of front office work. A research into the whys of employee turnover reasons. With the informed data gathered upon answering said questions on top, the enablement of the hospitality industry players to estimate Hypothesis Human Capital > Internationalization Human capital positively affects the internationalization of an enterprise. Human Capital > Service Innovation Human capital positively affects the innovation of service employees in regards to their work. Internationalization > Performance Internationalization affects the performance of a firm whether it is financially or through guess satisfaction level. Service Innovation > Performance The innovation of the workforce leads to better performance and guest satisfaction. Theoretical / Conceptual Framework The original Degree of Internationalization Entrepreneurial Orientation Performance Service Innovation Human Capital The original framework was built for professional service firms especially small and medium enterprises (SME) (Radulovich, 2008). It was constructed to relate a service firms entrepreneurial orientation, human capital, the firms degree of internationalization, service innovation, and performance. This framework was constructed upon thoroughly examining in the aforementioned areas above. Adapted Framework Degree of Internationalization Human Capital Performance Service Innovation Skills and training (Human Capital) > Internationalization and Service Innovation > Effective workforce > Guest Satisfaction and Performance This framework has been adapted and changed accordingly to fit into the hospitality industrys index. The core conceptual framework is unchanged with the exception of excluding the Entrepreneurial Orientation aspect which is highly unlikely to affect the core concept and theory that is to be explained. As changes are made, Human Capital will now be the core driving force. Hypothesis Related to Human Capital and Degree of Internationalization In a study done by (Hitt, et al, 2006) concludes that human capital is a primary resource contributor to professional service international expansion. The theory here is that a firms degree of internationalization is closely related to the human capital of the organization. Key factors identified as contributing factors are knowledge (Autio Sapienza Almeida, 2000) and also top management characteristics (Bloodgood, Sapienza Almeida, 1996). This study also identified that the characteristics and experience of the top management team relates positively to the internationalization of an organization. Another more recent study also proves that there is empirical study which shows support for human capital resources as influencing degree of internationalization. (Hitt, Bierman, Uhlenbruck, Shimizu, 2006) Therefore it can be concluded that there is positive influence of human capital professional service towards the internationalization. Hypothesis Related to Human Capital and Service Innovation Human resources can be defined as interpersonal and business skills and is proven that there is a positive effect on a firms innovation strategies. In a study done in the US, human capital at both the individual and firm level is identified as a positive effect on service innovations (Zhou, 2007). Shane (2000) also recorded that prior knowledge affects an individual ability to perceive new opportunities and to contribute innovative solutions. To support this theory, an in-depth study was done with 8 firms conducting a study on examining innovation and opportunity recognition and is reported that prior experience affected their ability to perceive opportunities and innovate. (Edelman, Brush, Manolova, 2005). Furthermore, the prior knowledge and specialized knowledge of the internal human resources are significant contributors to the innovation of work speed and competition level as recorded in Taiwanese high-tech ventures. (Wu, Wang, Chen, Pan, 2008) Hypothesis Related to Degree of Internationalization and Performance Studies relating the degree of internationalization and performance are not new and there is empirical evidence to support this theory which positively affects a firms performance (Bloodgood, Sapienza, Almeida, 1996; Delios Beamish, 1999; Grant 1987; Hitt, Hoskisson, Kim, 1997). Studies also show that as a new venture firm gets into the international markets earlier gains better advantages over their competitors and improved performance. (Brock, Yaffe, Dembovsky, 2006). In the view of hospitality terms, a brand name can be created upon trust and loyalty which is an important factor for continuous visits. Hypothesis Related to Service Innovation and Performance Service innovation on service performance has been theoretically and empirically confirmed with studies done in recent years. It is confirmed that in differing context of globalization that innovation still improves performance of a firm. Zhou, Yin and Tse (2005) have documented this relationship in their study done in the emerging market of China. As China is a transitioning and developing market, it is only comparable to the market of Malaysia. The comparison of the effects of China to the economy of Hong Kong found that innovation plays a major role in both these markets. (Luk, Yau, Sin, Tse, Chow, Lee, 2008) Scope / Limitations Scope: In this study, the author has chosen to conduct the research in all 5 star hotels in the area of the city of Kuala Lumpur. This scope will help dictate and represent city hotels in Malaysia as it is busiest all year round, and the job scopes of the hotels are wide enough to obtain data. On a deeper level, a survey will be conducted to all front office staff (e.g. Front office attendant, bellboy, front office accountant, etc) in order to obtain information. Limitations: As for limitations, time restraints and resource limitations would be the biggest factor. As the author would only have approximately 6 months to collect and analyze the data, the depth of the research may not be too detailed. Besides that, there will be a limit to research options available to the author due to insufficient knowledge on research ways and as this will be the first research paper done by the author. Notwithstanding, being a student, there will be limitations in terms of access to data because of monetary issues and outlets to gain information in the industry. Significance of Study This research paper intends to analyze the different behavioural needs and wants of the front office workforce. By gathering the work backgrounds, studying the motivation factors and the intentions of this group, a better and effective workforce can be established to be in line with the transitioning aspect of the industry. Ongoing research is a must in this area because of the ever-changing prospects of the Hospitality and Tourism Industry, especially the front office department. Key skills and attributes are to be identified as a benchmark for structure when hiring by the Human Resource department. This paper would be a guideline for the hotel industry players to attain information on the behaviour of front office staff and their intentions for the future. Employing and constantly motivating a workforce is one of the hardest things to keep up in any industry. Without proper information on the behaviour and the intentions of the workforce, being in a labour intensive workforce and s ervice oriented industry, there surely will be a loss in terms of customer satisfaction and the profits of a hotel and this is unacceptable. Chapter 2 Literature Review Hospitality Skills and Nature of Hotel Front Office Work Jobs commonly retain a low-skill character, especially in the fastest-growing sectors Bradley et al (2002) (p.129) The hospitality sector is growing with a tremendous rate, especially in East Asia and the Pacific, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. These areas are forecasted to show a rate of 5% growth each year and 4.1% in Europe and Americas. (WTO, 2010) There has been long standing debate over the skills and nature of the front office work. It is widely characterised in both academic and popular press as a low-skilled job dominated by low skills profile. (Wood, 1997) In support of this theory, Shaw Williams (1994) first claimed that the hospitality industry workforce were uneducated, unmotivated, untrained, unskilled and unproductive (p. 142). Upon further research, the nature of front office work revealed by one side is in terms un-unique (Mullins, 1981; Lashley Morrison, 2000). Mullins and Lashley argue that the technical skills of the hospitality sector have relevance and can be applied to other sectors of the economy. Another dimension of why there is the public perception that the hospit ality industry is regarded as low skilled is because there are no real prerequisite for employment in terms of qualification (Huddlestone and Hirst, 2004). As far as the research of Baum Devine (2007) and Baum (2007) goes the educational attainment of a person is not an influencing factor to undertake the front office job. In terms of front office, the industry has considerable cross-over work of other sectors such as office administration, accounting, and IT systems management, these generic skills tend to overlap each other. In this argument, where is the uniqueness of work skill? By any means the hospitality industry is just borrowing a number of skill forces from different industries, in this case with a lower pay wage and a lower career development opportunity. This theory of unskilled labour in the hospitality industry does not go uncontested, in the forthcoming years after the thesis (Baum, 1996, 2002). Baum questions the validity of hospitality work as a low skilled job universally based solely upon the assumption of westernized, international hospitality work. It may be perceived so in general, but it is not applicable in the developing world whereby the technical demands and skills are lower than those of the developed countries. Another such example of a considerable contest comes from Burns (1997), Burns categorizes the labour force into two, skilled and the unskilled. Burns uses a very distinctive definition of skills in the hospitality for this saying: the different sectors that comprise tourism-as-industry take different approaches to the human resources, and that some of these differencesare due to whether or not the employees have a history of being organized (either in terms of trade unions or staff associations with formalised communication procedures. (p.240) Both these factors are separated by manpower planning paradigns for the manufacturing sector and as for the workforce, it comes in traditional power, organization. The workforce takes control through the use of trade unions and control the supply of labour through apprenticeship and training. Contributing factors worth noting are factors put forth by Seymour (2000) and Warhurst et al (2000), gives an added dimension to the work of hospitality employees. Seymour adds in emotional labour arguing that the added management of emotions as part of the day to day job is the difference between working in fast food as opposed to traditional areas of service work. The added emotional labour is there for the benefit of guest experience and that they are paid to do it. In Baum T. (2007), it is further perceived that there is the need for emotional intelligence (EQ) as defined by Goleman (1998) . . . the capacity for recognizing our own feelings and those of others, for motivating ourselves, and for managing emotions well in ourselves and in our relationships. (p. 317). Explained by Warhurst et al. (2000) and Witz et al. (2003) the added aesthetic labour to the tools of trade is indeed of importance to the hospitality workers, especially to front office staff. In describing aesthetic labour it is the skill required to look, sound and behave in a manner that is required for the job while meeting the expectations of the customers. They have to demonstrate the ability to engage in different aspects with the customers such as cultural, social, and economical matters. This on hand requires a certain level of education to be obtained. What industry wants: employers preferences for training. In the industry, while representatives state that they prefer industry skills and experience above education skills and knowledge, it is only realistic that a mixture of both these qualities are required, which is lacking in the workforce. (Smith Kemmis, 2010). In the hospitality industry most of the training is informal. Only a small portion (14%) of employees has gone through higher education in the respective industry. ( 2-1) The other 86% comes from the private sector and employer training in the industry. It was found out in a study that the National Vocational Qualification curriculum, found out that training in higher educational institutes would not cut it in the industry. (People1st,2009) In the same interview, two interviewees stated that on-the-job training is particularly the way to go in an industry that is interaction based in order for skill development. The focus on experience and skill over education is proved in a study done. vocational education and training (VET) practitioners Both industry groups felt that the most important skills and knowledge for trainers to possess were related to industry rather than education There was a lack of tradition of training in the industries compared with other industries, with relatively new qualifications for most jobs, and managers in the industries were underqualified , meaning it was difficult for them to drive high standards in training. Given these circumstances it is perhaps surprising not that training for the service industries exhibits many challenges, but that it does the job as well as it does. This observation was supported by hospitality employers who acknowledged the difficulties faced particularly by TAFE teachers, and were very ready to make excuses on their behalf. The recession, as in Australia, had provided opportunities for cross-fertilisation among industries as people lost their jobs in one sector and looked to move into other work where the skill set was similar (People1st, 2009). The standard of service in both industries was felt to be lower than required (especially in a situation where customer expectations were continually rising), with both industries also reporting a need for improved management skills. The hospitality industry had a skill shortage in chefs (People1st, 2009). Customer service is paramount in these industries; Maxwell, Watson and Quail (2004, p. 159) point out that for hospitality the customer reigns supreme, and Huddlestone and Hirst (2004, p. 6), for retail, state customer service is becoming the most essential employee skill. In a study of training in the Hilton chain, Maxwell et al. (2004, p. 269) note that a service culture is deeply imbued in organisational structures and practices, and cannot be added on simply by training individual staff. Chapter 3 Research Design and Methodology 3.1 Overview In this chapter of the sample proposal, an explanation on the research methodology and design is written. In the first part of Chapter 3, there will be a brief introduction on the purpose, aims and objectives and benefits of the study. Following that will be a discussion on the research design of the study. Exploratory details such as the population, sample and sampling procedures are discussed. On the third section of the chapter, there will be added explanation on the data collection procedures and data analysis steps. A brief explanation on the questionnaires will be given to give an insight on the questions asked. 3.2 Introduction The purpose of this study is to illustrate the current behaviour conditions of the front office. The information gathered will compose of the nature of front office work, education attainment level, skills, work background, attitudes towards the area of work and plans for the future. By analyzing these areas and acquired from these group of people in the hospitality industry will enable the industry players such as managers, policy and decision makers to get a more personal insight look at the wants, needs and future perspectives of these in demand people. Appropriate changes and more effective strategies in regards to high satisfaction levels can be developed and be used in the industry to decrease labour turnover and low level performances. 3.3 Research Design Population The study is intended to collect data on one of the most important workforce in the hospitality industry; the front office workers. The population of the survey intended will be Front Office workers in the area of Kuala Lumpur. Sample The sample population identified in the survey goes by the different distinct areas of Kuala Lumpur (Table 1). The sampling method that will be used is Cluster sampling. Having already divided them into different location categories, the target sample is then identified as the front office workforce in hotels. Name of Hotel Area/Location JW Marriot Hotel Bukit Bintang Park Royal Kuala Lumpur Bukit Bintang The Ritz Carlton Kuala Lumpur Bukit Bintang The Westin Kuala Lumpur Bukit Bintang Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur Golden Triangle Hilton Kuala Lumpur KL Sentral Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur KL Sentral Ascott Kuala Lumpur KLCC Crowne Plaza Mutiara Kuala Lumpur KLCC Hotel Maya Kuala Lumpur KLCC Hotel Nikko Kuala Lumpur KLCC Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur KLCC Micasa All Suite Hotel KLCC Pacific Regency Hotel Suites Kuala Lumpur KLCC Prince Hotel and Residence KLCC Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel KLCC Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur KLCC The Gardens Hotel and Residances Mid Valley Palace of the Golden Horses Mines Grand Dorsett Subang Hotel Petaling Jaya Holiday Villa Subang Petaling Jaya Sunway Resort Hotel and Spa Petaling Jaya The Saujana Kuala Lumpur Petaling Jaya Table 1 For this study, a survey will be carried out on all the 5 star hotels in the city of Kuala Lumpur. On identifying the 5 star hotels located around Kuala Lumpur, the works of KL-Hotels.com were used. This will be verified again by Upon identifying the sample population, a sample frame will be created to categorize the hotels into different location categories for the enablement of easier data managing. An invitation will then be sent out to the General Managers of each selected hotel for approval on participating with the survey. Upon approval, the questionnaires will be distributed among the front office staff of the hotels. 3.4 Data Collection Procedure Primary data The data collected from the questionnaire will be the main source of primary data. Secondary data much research has been done regarding the effectiveness of a workforce and how to improve. These sources are highly resourceful and will come in helpful when data analysis is been done. The theories and conclusions can be used to support and disregard some of the findings in this study. The secondary data may come from a number of literature forms such as journal articles, textbooks and written experiences. A formal proposal will be sent out to the General Managers of each of the selected hotels to ensure participation in the survey. Upon approval, the identification of all front office staff is indentified and recorded. As per identifying all the front office workers (night auditors, concierge, bellboy, front office assistant, etc) in the selected hotels, the questionnaire will then be distributed electronically to the head of the front office department; Front Office Manager. After the questionnaire is finished, the questionnaires should be collected and given back for data analysis. The data received will then be analyzed with the help of the SPSS data software. With the help of the SPSS program, bias answers and unreliable answers can be disregarded. As the data is sorted out and conclusions are done, comparisons will be done to reaffirm findings or to oppose them. 3.5 Questionnaire Design The goal of the questionnaire is to collect data from within the front office department. To achieve this, questions pertaining to the nature of the job, the work background, intentions for the future and key skills and attributes will all be posted. In regards to explaining the structure of the questionnaire in sections, there will be 4 sections. The first section of the questionnaire will be in regards to personal details. The second part of the questionnaire will be closed ended questions with choices to choose from. This part of the questionnaire is to get a response from the employees regarding their views on the hospitality industry. The third section of the questionnaire will be about the nature of the front office work, and also to get an inner look to their needs and wants. The fourth and final section is designed to completely give freedom to the respondents with open-ended questions regarding their views on management levels and their thoughts on training and skills in the industry.

pirate childrens story :: essays research papers

Some called him a pirate, some called him a scoundrel, and some said he was the devil himself! His name was Jack and he had been a sailor and an adventurer for a long, long time. His body carried the scars of a hundred sword fights, a map of the marvelous travels he had, a constant reminder of the things he had done. His schooner had sailed the seven seas and was beginning to show signs of old age, just like her master. Her sails were tattered, and she too had scars, from cannonballs and chain shots. Jack’s lone companion was a outspoken parrot named Polly, who was always perched on one of his shoulders. Now the three were setting off on one last voyage, one last chance for fame and fortune. They had sailed so many times before, only to find that their dreams of treasure and booty were only rumors. But this time would be different, this time they would find it. This time they had a map! Jack had seized the map from the ship he last raided. It wasn't much of a map, the parchment was old and yellowed and the compass directions were hard to make out. There were two tall mountains and some forests drawn on the paper, but most importantly, there was an X. The old man had seen maps like this before, and had never found anything near the marked spot. But this map had something about it that made him believe it was the real thing. And so with fair skies and following winds they sailed south, further south than they had ever been before. They sailed for seven days and seven nights, and on the morning of the eighth day, at the break of dawn, they saw land. It wasn't much, a small strip of land, but with two tall mountains and some trees, Jack knew it was the place. As the ship drew nearer, he began to see the island better, and he could see the beach. The sand was smooth, and white. It was one of the most beautiful sights he had ever seen in all of his years. Jack could see now that there were more than a few trees here. There was a thick tropical forest stretching from one mountain to the other. And the mountains were sending up small wisps of smoke. As the ship drew nearer, it hit him.

Analysis Of The Machine That W :: essays research papers

â€Å"The Machine That Won the War,† by Isaac Asimov, is a story that teaches a valuable lesson about humanity and also has an ironic twist at the end. The setting is the future of Earth, and a great war had just been won against an enemy race. Two men, Swift and Henderson, are debating over who really won the war for Earth: the giant strategy computer known as Multivac, or the men in charge of making the maneuvers and programming the computer. John Henderson is an excitable man, while Lamar Swift, the military captain, is calm but rational. While the people hailed the computer, the two really knew who the heroes were. Henderson explained the fact that Multivac was nothing more than a large machine, only capable of doing what it was programmed to do. He stated that ever since the beginning of the war, he had been hiding a secret. It was the fact that some of its (Multivac’s) data might have been unreliable. This conflict, as you will note later, helped win the war. The great computer was capable of creating a direct battle plan which Earth forces could use to attack their enemies. However, with Henderson inputting faulty data, this caused some of the battle plans to be unreliable. His internal conflict between himself losing his job and wanting to keep it made him jingle with the programming until it seemed right. This foreshadowing helps the reader to see that someone is going to have to act upon Henderson’s faults if the war is to be won. Swift, the military commander, received these battle plans that Henderson had ‘printed up’ out on the front (the front being the battle front). He, realizing that some of these plans were outrageous, had to act upon a different form of machine. Swift’s motivation for not always acting upon what was laid before him helped change the course of the war. He told Henderson that when faced with the difficult decisions, he didn’t use Multivac’s data all of the time. This conflict, making these tough decisions, helps influence the climax. The climax of the story comes when Swift tells Henderson he used a coin to make all of the though decisions instead of

Cold war responsibility Essay -- essays research papers

Activity #4 – Essay â€Å"Truman was more responsible for the Cold War than Stalin was.† President Truman was convinced from the beginning that Stalin intended to take over countries based solely by the fact that there were communist parties present in them. France, Italy and even China, are perfect examples of this. And in the Greek civil war it wasn’t the USSR that was giving aid to the communists, it was Yugoslavia. It was obvious that Stalin had no major plans for any kind of global communist domination. But nevertheless, Truman placed the blame for the growing popularity of communism’s ‘political poison’ on Stalin, and convinced the American people to share his outlook. Without even looking at the fact that no USSR troops were in Greece, Truman and his advisers jumped on the chance to put forward their ‘domino theory’. This was a theory that said that if the communists won the Greek civil war, the end result would be Russian control of the whole middle east. He used this theory to justify military intervention in Greece, and ultimately, his ‘Truman Doctrine’ telling the entire world that the US was ready for a war. He told the ‘free peoples’ of the world that the time had come to choose between alternative ways of life – the communist way, or the democratic way. Stalin did not do this. President Truman worked with the British Prime Minister to introduce the Deutschmark into West Berlin. While it did eventually achieve his goal of creating an economically viable Germany, i...

Business Writing

Why every applicant must submit a personal statement: Your personal statement is an important part of your application for admission. It provides you with the opportunity to discuss aspects of your life that may not be apparent from information provided on your application, transcripts, or the Writing Skills Assessment. Please answer all of the topics that pertain to you. If only part of a topic pertains to you, answer that part. The topics are in four numbered sections. Similarly, your statement should be organized into sections, with each section numbered.Such presentation makes it easier for the reviewers to read and assess your statement. Tips †¢Be specific. †¢Don't spend your time telling us such things as â€Å"I've always wanted to attend the Foster School because I want a business degree. † It is a legitimate comment but does not tell us anything distinctive about you. †¢You define what â€Å"experience† means to you: something insignificant to ot hers may have had particular significance for you. †¢Be aware that many applicants write about similar topics so consider how yours is unique. †¢Long does not mean better and there is no need to embellish.We do not expect to read something earth shattering in every personal statement. †¢When you address the cultural awareness question, we want to know what has affected your perspective and what awareness you would bring to the Foster School community. We are interested in the depth of your perceptions and experiences. †¢Proofread, proofread, and proofread. †¢Extra spacing counts towards your alloted word count. Describe any personal or economic hardships or barriers you have had to overcome and explain how they affected your education. Be specific about when you encountered these hardships and how long they lasted.1000 words left of 1000 for entire personal statement. You must enter a personal statement and it can't be more than 1000 words total. In the cont ext of your life experience, describe your understanding of cultural differences, how this awareness was acquired, and how it affected you. 1000 words left of 1000 for entire personal statement. You must enter a personal statement and it can't be more than 1000 words total. Write about any experience you have had that demonstrates your leadership skills. Examples could be taken from: employment, community service, student organizations, or similar situations.Be specific about when you had these experience(s) and how long they lasted. 1000 words left of 1000 for entire personal statement. You must enter a personal statement and it can't be more than 1000 words total. How has the educational background of your parents/legal guardians influenced your own education, especially your decision to go to college? What kind of support did you receive in making and pursuing the decision to go to college? Please tell us if you are among the first generation in your family to go to college. 1000 words left of 1000 for entire personal statement.You must enter a personal statement and it can't be more than 1000 words total. Petition Fill out an explanation (430 words max. ) as to why a degree in Business is necessary to your educational/career pursuits. 430 words left of 430 for degree plan petition. You must enter a petition with your degree plan and it can't be more than 430 words total. My life at Harvard summer school was quite different from that in China. Pressure from the schoolwork and cultural difference make me feel overwhelmed during the first week. In my literature lecture, I strongly realize the distinctive writing styles based on the cultural difference.Before I did not follow the American linear pattern of placing a thesis statement and expressed my main idea at the end of my essay. Sometimes I would get lost and fail to establish the whole structure for my essay. After realizing this blind point, I went to the Widener library every night for materials on how to develop essay-writing skills. In order to adjust myself to high –college writing quality, I visited the Harvard college writing center every week and worked with my tutor Jennifer to revise my paper repeatedly. Her constructive feedback for correction inspires me to work harder for my Literature class.Every time she let me read the whole essay out loud, then pointed mistakes I made in order to help me with the most effective way of revising. Moreover, the small size of my lecture means everyone has the opportunity to get involved in class discussion and group work. Professor Elizabeth encourages critical thinking and cultivates an open and exciting atmosphere for which I can express my ideas freely. Thus I participated a lot in class, since I am able to get instant and helpful feedback from our professor and my classmates. Gradually, I have achieved great improvement on my writing ad a college student Personal StatementWhy every applicant must submit a personal statement: Your personal statement is an important part of your application for admission. It provides you with the opportunity to discuss aspects of your life that may not be apparent from information provided on your application, transcripts, or the Writing Skills Assessment. Please answer all of the topics that pertain to you. If only part of a topic pertains to you, answer that part. The topics are in four numbered sections. Similarly, your statement should be organized into sections, with each section numbered.Such presentation makes it easier for the reviewers to read and assess your statement. Tips †¢Be specific. †¢Don't spend your time telling us such things as â€Å"I've always wanted to attend the Foster School because I want a business degree. † It is a legitimate comment but does not tell us anything distinctive about you. †¢You define what â€Å"experience† means to you: something insignificant to others may have had particular significance for you. â € ¢Be aware that many applicants write about similar topics so consider how yours is unique. †¢Long does not mean better and there is no need to embellish.We do not expect to read something earth shattering in every personal statement. †¢When you address the cultural awareness question, we want to know what has affected your perspective and what awareness you would bring to the Foster School community. We are interested in the depth of your perceptions and experiences. †¢Proofread, proofread, and proofread. †¢Extra spacing counts towards your alloted word count. Describe any personal or economic hardships or barriers you have had to overcome and explain how they affected your education. Be specific about when you encountered these hardships and how long they lasted.1000 words left of 1000 for entire personal statement. You must enter a personal statement and it can't be more than 1000 words total. In the context of your life experience, describe your understand ing of cultural differences, how this awareness was acquired, and how it affected you. 1000 words left of 1000 for entire personal statement. You must enter a personal statement and it can't be more than 1000 words total. Write about any experience you have had that demonstrates your leadership skills. Examples could be taken from: employment, community service, student organizations, or similar situations.Be specific about when you had these experience(s) and how long they lasted. 1000 words left of 1000 for entire personal statement. You must enter a personal statement and it can't be more than 1000 words total. How has the educational background of your parents/legal guardians influenced your own education, especially your decision to go to college? What kind of support did you receive in making and pursuing the decision to go to college? Please tell us if you are among the first generation in your family to go to college. 1000 words left of 1000 for entire personal statement.You must enter a personal statement and it can't be more than 1000 words total. Petition Fill out an explanation (430 words max. ) as to why a degree in Business is necessary to your educational/career pursuits. 430 words left of 430 for degree plan petition. You must enter a petition with your degree plan and it can't be more than 430 words total. My life at Harvard summer school was quite different from that in China. Pressure from the schoolwork and cultural difference make me feel overwhelmed during the first week. In my literature lecture, I strongly realize the distinctive writing styles based on the cultural difference.Before I did not follow the American linear pattern of placing a thesis statement and expressed my main idea at the end of my essay. Sometimes I would get lost and fail to establish the whole structure for my essay. After realizing this blind point, I went to the Widener library every night for materials on how to develop essay-writing skills. In order to adjust m yself to high –college writing quality, I visited the Harvard college writing center every week and worked with my tutor Jennifer to revise my paper repeatedly. Her constructive feedback for correction inspires me to work harder for my Literature class.Every time she let me read the whole essay out loud, then pointed mistakes I made in order to help me with the most effective way of revising. Moreover, the small size of my lecture means everyone has the opportunity to get involved in class discussion and group work. Professor Elizabeth encourages critical thinking and cultivates an open and exciting atmosphere for which I can express my ideas freely. Thus I participated a lot in class, since I am able to get instant and helpful feedback from our professor and my classmates. Gradually, I have achieved great improvement on my writing ad a college student Business Writing Personal StatementWhy every applicant must submit a personal statement: Your personal statement is an important part of your application for admission. It provides you with the opportunity to discuss aspects of your life that may not be apparent from information provided on your application, transcripts, or the Writing Skills Assessment.Please answer all of the topics that pertain to you. If only part of a topic pertains to you, answer that part. The topics are in four numbered sections. Similarly, your statement should be organized into sections, with each section numbered. Such presentation makes it easier for the reviewers to read and assess your statement.Tips†¢Be specific. †¢Don't spend your time telling us such things as â€Å"I've always wanted to attend the Foster School because I want a business degree.† It is a legitimate comment but does not tell us anything distinctive about you. †¢You define what â€Å"experience† means to you: something insi gnificant to others may have had particular significance for you. †¢Be aware that many applicants write about similar topics so consider how yours is unique. †¢Long does not mean better and there is no need to embellish. We do not expect to read something earth shattering in every personal statement. †¢When you address the cultural awareness question, we want to know what has affected your perspective and what awareness you would bring to the Foster School community. We are interested in the depth of your perceptions and experiences. †¢Proofread, proofread, and proofread.†¢Extra spacing counts towards your alloted word count.Describe any personal or economic hardships or barriers you have had to overcome and explain how they affected your education. Be specific about when you encountered these hardships and how long they lasted. 1000 words left of 1000 for entire personal statement.You must enter a personal statement and it can't be more than 1000 words tota l.In the context of your life experience, describe your understanding of cultural differences, how this awareness was acquired, and how it affected you. 1000 words left of 1000 for entire personal statement.You must enter a personal statement and it can't be more than 1000 words total.Write about any experience you have had that demonstrates your leadership skills. Examples could be taken from: employment, community service, student organizations, or similar situations. Be specific about when you had these experience(s) and how long they lasted. 1000 words left of 1000 for entire personal statement.You must enter a personal statement and it can't be more than 1000 words total.How has the educational background of your parents/legal guardians influenced your own education, especially your decision to go to college? What kind of support did you receive in making and pursuing the decision to go to college? Please tell us if you are among the first generation in your family to go to col lege. 1000 words left of 1000 for entire personal statement.You must enter a personal statement and it can't be more than 1000 words total.Petition Fill out an explanation (430 words max.) as to why a degree in Business is necessary to your educational/career pursuits. 430 words left of 430 for degree plan petition.You must enter a petition with your degree plan and it can't be more than 430 words total. My life at Harvard summer school was quite different from that in China. Pressure from the schoolwork and cultural difference make me feel overwhelmed during the first week. In my literature lecture, I strongly  realize the distinctive writing styles based on the cultural difference. Before I did not follow the American linear pattern of placing a thesis statement and expressed my main idea at the end of my essay. Sometimes I would get lost and fail to establish the whole structure for my essay. After realizing this blind point, I went to the Widener library every night for materi als on how to develop essay-writing skills.In order to adjust myself to high –college writing quality, I visited the Harvard college writing center every week and worked with my tutor Jennifer to revise my paper repeatedly. Her constructive feedback for correction inspires me to work harder for my Literature class. Every time she let me read the whole essay out loud, then pointed mistakes I made in order to help me with the most effective way of revising.Moreover, the small size of my lecture means everyone has the opportunity to get involved in class discussion and group work. Professor Elizabeth encourages critical thinking and cultivates an open and exciting atmosphere for which I can express my ideas freely. Thus I participated a lot in class, since I am able to get instant and helpful feedback from our professor and my classmates. Gradually, I have achieved great improvement on my writing ad a college student Personal StatementWhy every applicant must submit a personal s tatement: Your personal statement is an important part of your application for admission. It provides you with the opportunity to discuss aspects of your life that may not be apparent from information provided on your application, transcripts, or the Writing Skills Assessment.Please answer all of the topics that pertain to you. If only part of a topic pertains to you, answer that part. The topics are in four numbered sections. Similarly, your statement should be organized into sections, with each section numbered. Such presentation makes it easier for the reviewers to read and assess your statement.Tips †¢Be specific. †¢Don't spend your time telling us such things as â€Å"I've always wanted to attend the Foster School because I want a business degree.† It is a legitimate comment but does not tell us anything distinctive about you. †¢You define what â€Å"experience† means to you: something insignificant to others may have had particular significance for you. †¢Be aware that many applicants write about similar topics so consider how yours is unique. †¢Long does not mean better and there is no need to embellish. We do not expect to read something earth shattering in every personal statement. †¢When you address the cultural awareness question, we want to know what has affected your perspective and what awareness you would bring to the Foster School community. We are interested in the depth of your perceptions and experiences. †¢Proofread, proofread, and proofread.†¢Extra spacing counts towards your alloted word count. Describe any personal or economic hardships or barriers you have had to overcome and explain how they affected your education. Be specific about when you encountered these hardships and how long they lasted. 1000 words left of 1000 for entire personal statement.You must enter a personal statement and it can't be more than 1000 words total.In the context of your life experience, describe your und erstanding of cultural differences, how this awareness was acquired, and how it affected you. 1000 words left of 1000 for entire personal statement.You must enter a personal statement and it can't be more than 1000 words total.Write about any experience you have had that demonstrates your leadership skills. Examples could be taken from: employment, community service, student organizations, or similar situations. Be specific about when you had these experience(s) and how long they lasted. 1000 words left of 1000 for entire personal statement.You must enter a personal statement and it can't be more than 1000 words total.How has the educational background of your parents/legal guardians influenced your own education, especially your decision to go to college? What kind of support did you receive in making and pursuing the decision to go to college? Please tell us if you are among the first generation in your family to go to college. 1000 words left of 1000 for entire personal statement .You must enter a personal statement and it can't be more than 1000 words total.PetitionFill out an explanation (430 words max.) as to why a degree in Business is necessary to your educational/career pursuits. 430 words left of 430 for degree plan petition.You must enter a petition with your degree plan and it can't be more than 430 words total. My life at Harvard summer school was quite different from that in China. Pressure from the schoolwork and cultural difference make me feel overwhelmed during the first week. In my literature lecture, I strongly realize the distinctive writing styles based on the cultural difference. Before I did not follow the American linear pattern of placing a thesis statement and expressed my main idea at the end of my essay. Sometimes I would get lost and fail to establish the whole structure for my essay. After realizing this blind point, I went to the Widener library every night for materials on how to develop essay-writing skills.In order to adjust m yself to high –college writing quality, I visited the Harvard college writing center every week and worked with my tutor Jennifer to revise my paper repeatedly. Her constructive feedback for correction inspires me to work harder for my Literature class. Every time she let me read the whole essay out loud, then pointed mistakes I made in order to help me with the most effective way of revising.Moreover, the small size of my lecture means everyone has the opportunity to get involved in class discussion and group work. Professor Elizabeth encourages critical thinking  and cultivates an open and exciting atmosphere for which I can express my ideas freely. Thus I participated a lot in class, since I am able to get instant and helpful feedback from our professor and my classmates. Gradually, I have achieved great improvement on my writing ad a college student