Reconciling old and New rules in Todays Society

The eNotes Blog Zeroes and Ones and Your Odds of Writing aBest-Seller

Zeroes and Ones and Your Odds of Writing aBest-Seller Did you ever suspect the runaway best-seller Fifty Shades of Grey was written by robots?   Well, somebody check E.L. James for vital signs because she might actually be an algorithm.   Check this out: Surely a human being would die of boredom before biting a lip in print forty-three times in one novel. Actually, Im skewing things a bit.   But it is true that [s]cientists have developed an algorithm which can analyse a book and predict with 84 per cent accuracy whether or not it will be a commercial success. (Source) By downloading books in public domain from Project Gutenberg , scientists from Stony Brook University in New York developed a program called statistical stylometry, which mathematically examines the use of words and grammar to determine the popularity of a book, matching the programs results to the sales of works from the past. The experiment involved a wide range of literary styles, from science fiction, to novels, to poetry. Factors in determining sales and popularity included the style of writing as well as novelty in plot and character (they do acknowledge that luck plays a role as well.) The program accurately predicted success, or failure, of those works an astonishing 84% of the time. So what factors seemed to indicate, in a more concrete way, what you should do to increase your odds of becoming a best-selling writer? Use a lot of conjunctions. Use a lot of nouns and adjectives. For the record, Papa Hemingway Disapproves of This Advice Avoid doing these things: An abundance of verbs and adverbs. Explicitly describing actions and emotions such as â€Å"wanted†, â€Å"took† or â€Å"promised. The authors of the program, of   course, stand by their conclusion, arguing that: â€Å"Previous work has attempted to gain insights into the ‘secret recipe’ of successful books. But most of these studies were qualitative, based on a dozen books, and focused primarily on high-level content the personalities of protagonists and antagonists and the plots. Our work examines a considerably larger collection 800 books over multiple genres, providing insights into lexical, syntactic, and discourse patterns that characterise the writing styles commonly shared among the successful literature.† With results like this, one wonders if this algorithm might truly be applied to hopeful writers, both those awaiting publication as well as already established writers.   Will a publisher take a chance on a novel that might take time to build an audience? One that scored low on the likely success meter?

Importance of songs and music in bollywood films Essay

Importance of songs and music in bollywood films - Essay Example Ganti (2004, p. 13) describes presence of music in the films as a ‘masala’ which literally means spice. This captivates the audiences and makes the movies more interesting. Arguably, because of the interesting and captivating nature of the films, the people will in turn buy more of the films and thus record high sales for the Indian films. This has been the case since Bollywood films dominated Asian market. Music has for long been used in films to construct narrative. Morcom (2007, p. 31) notes that narrative is not only structured by visual means but also through music. Music functions as part of the process that broadcasts narrative information to the audience. In essence, music is a narrative agent. Emotion, mood, characterization, point of view and the action in the films are all structured in a multifaceted visual and oral interaction in which music is a significant aspect. Punathambekar (2008, p. 16) demonstrates the role of music and its significance in the Bollywood films through application of the linguistic tool to the film studies. From his application Punathambekar (2008) noted that any music can be used in a film but will be accompanied by different meanings (p. 18). Bollywood film makers have for long made no efforts to hide the fact that what the film represents on the screen is an illusion, a creation and a fiction. This implies that Indian films are self-conscious and aware of its audiences. The sequences of song and dances in the films break away from the practicality of the cinema and exist within a different modus operandi. These changes between distinct modes of pragmatism cause the cinema to be conscious of its illusionary set-ups (Ranade, 2006, p. 56). The audience by this time must apprehend the break in practicality, causing a relationship between the movie and the audience that is distinct from the Hollywood

Descartes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 3

Descartes - Essay Example Thus, the dream argument seeks to establish that, inference of the accuracy of information is not entirely a decision that humans can rely on the senses, rather, it is essential to apply rigorous testing to determine their authenticity. The dream argument is a postulation by Descartes. He argues that the act of dreaming is a preliminary evidence of the possibility that the senses that people rely on to make a distinction between reality and illusions are not trustworthy. He further seeks to show that, there is the need for further evaluation of the senses and their perceptions to establish the facts of reality. In the usual life, people dream as they sleep (Descartes 9). However, in these dreams, the people perceive and feel things as though they are real. The people, while in the dream, do not have the knowledge that they are dreaming, they only come to realize they were dreaming when they wake. Thus, this then raises the basis of the dream argument as Descartes presents it, that, there is the possibility that people are constantly dreaming and never wake into reality. Moreover, there is a possibility that people cannot ascertain whether they are in the dream or awake in their engagements. In this first meditation, he presents what is in doubt, opening the mediation with several falsehoods that believed in his life and further faulting of the knowledge that he built on those falsehoods. The mediator sweeps all his former knowledge away, sits himself and decides to build up his knowledge. However, as he realizes from so doing, he establishes that, all the things that he learned in the past came through his senses. He continues further to doubt the foundations of all opinions that he founded on his senses, acknowledging that the senses can deceive. To illustrate his argument, Descartes presents the dream argument using the

Fundamental Elements of Kimpton Hotels' Strategy Essay

Fundamental Elements of Kimpton Hotels' Strategy - Essay Example Kimpton has many unique programs like the Global business program, Kimpton In Touch, Kimpton Cares, Women In Touch, Earth care program, LGBT, Shop Kimpton Style etc. The Company also takes pride in its commitment to social responsibility and leads the hospitality industry in ecological practices through its innovative Earth Care programs. In order to woo ladies, Kimpton had launched the Women In Touch program. Its features include offering comfortable and safe environments, in-room fitness and wellness options and other essentials catered to suit women. The Company is expanding rapidly and among the companies, newest properties are the Hotel Palomar in Washington D.C., which opened in July 2006, and the Hotel Palomar Dallas, which opened in August 2006. Additional projects are underway in Southern California, Texas, Florida and Virginia.   Currently, Kimpton develops, owns and manages more lifestyle hotels than any other company in the United States. Kimpton's unique combination of style, four-star service and fine dining experience along with its constant focus on top line sales and bottom line results; have established the company as the first choice for many businessmen.   The fundamental elements of Kimpton Hotels strategy are care, comfort, style, flavor, and fun. They try to ensure that these five elements are present in all the group hotels that they own. â€Å"Kimpton's signature elements are care, comfort, style, flavor, and fun. These elements come through in everything we do.† 1   As part of these five pillars, all Kimpton Hotels are thoughtfully appointed and managed to help guests maintain and enrich their lifestyles on the road. Each is individually designed to reflect the energy, personality, and pulse of its distinct location, history, and architectural style.

Management Style At Marriott Hotel Commerce Essay

Management Style At Marriott Hotel Commerce Essay Contingency management is the most prevalent of all management concepts for the simple reason that it provides the necessary flexibility to develop strategies which pertain to each individual organisation. Adopting a flexible management style allows an organisation to be more adaptable to changes in both the micro (internal) and macro (external) environments. Leicester Marriott has adopted a form of contingency management which revolves around the human relations approach, whereby past studies have shown that certain variables are instrumental to employee satisfaction. Marriott gives tremendous importance to its associates, as they ultimately are the reason why the brand has been successful for so many years. Associate opinions are highly valued by members of management, so they are often required to attend brainstorming sessions where key issues are discussed. Such involvement should make way for improved productivity and efficiency, as having an input in the decisions taken in ones department is fundamental to happiness at work, which may also have a positive effect on other aspects of associate life. Members of management know that to maximise profitability, employees must be awarded a level of responsibility within the organisation, and most importantly, be respected and treated as integral members of the organisation. The five-star Grand Hotel Excelsior (GHE) in Malta is not owned or run by any hotel chain, but is privately owned by a British family. It started operations approximately four years ago, and has since risen to become one of the best hotels on the island, troubling the likes of Hilton, Westin and Le Meridien which dominate the luxury accommodation Market in Malta. The Excelsior is affiliated with the Iprefer group, which offers subscribed members numerous benefits such as special discounts and offers for Iprefer hotels throughout the world. At the Excelsior, divisions between upper management and their subordinates are generally noticeable, a trait which is reminiscent of bureaucratic management. However, utmost respect and gratitude is shown to employees when tasks are carried out successfully, and the general manager often stresses the fact that the hotels success is owed to its employees. Unlike Marriotts tried and tested approach to management, the Excelsiors directors and managers had to devise a management style which fit the organisations requirements. In doing so, training has been given top priority and is carried out by in-house specialists, as well as by some of Maltas leading consultation companies. Through personal experience, soft management is very much present within the rooms division as managers are aware that adopting hard management will not be beneficial. The employment of hard management may make employees fear their superiors, to the extent that absenteeism may increase, and employees may seek job opportunities elsewhere. However, this does not mean that managers should not, when necessary, show authority. Task 2 Using an organisation where you have worked evaluate the role and function of at least one manager. Compare and contrast the leadership style of your chosen organisation with one of the leaders in the case study. At the Grand Hotel Excelsior, Front office employees are the first to interact with guests, and must therefore project the hotels image of luxury and professionalism by being well groomed, well mannered, professional, and hospitable. The lobbys classic dà ©cor and warm lighting ensure that guests feel welcome and relaxed, particularly after hours of travel. Upon arrival, guests are greeted and assisted by the porter, and are then directed towards the front desk where they are offered a complimentary welcome drink, after which the check-in process begins. The front office manager manages all front of house operations to ensure that guests are offered an Iprefer experience. The roles and functions pertaining to this position are vast and crucial to the establishments success. The primary role of the front office manager is to develop and retain professional relationships with guests and non-guests, with the aim of having them return time and time again. However, he is aware that the only way to provide a seamless guest experience is to ensure that his team is, first and foremost, treated respectfully. Front of house operations pertaining to the front office manager include but are not limited to; reviewing the hotels room availability status and special guest requests, resolving guest complaints, reviewing comment cards, participating in the daily head of department (HOD) meetings, assisting his team members at the front desk when it gets busy, and when necessary, greet VIP guests and ensure that their check-ins go as smoothly as possible. He highly values his teams input and often sets up informal meetings to discuss any issues which they have faced or are facing, and asks for suggestions to mitigate such issues to ensure that the front office operates as efficiently and effectively as possible. Performance management and employee motivation are closely linked to leadership. The front office manager adapts positive leadership to his management style, which is crucial to ensure that employees adopt a positive attitude towards work and are not passive towards their duties. Performance management and motivation also ensure that profit forecasts are reached, services are consistent, and the overall environment is positive. Ultimately, guests expect value for money, and must therefore be offered an experience which meets, or more appropriately, exceeds their expectations. Performance management at Leicester Marriott Associate performance is fundamental to any organisations success. Potential associates at Leicester Marriott must undergo a three day induction before commencing work, to discuss key areas ranging from an explanation of the companys organigram to disability discrimination awareness. The techniques adopted range from lectures to audio-visual presentations in the form of corporate films. Once management is satisfied with their performance, they are cross trained by their department managers. The case study stresses that the pace of development within the company is solely up to the individual, so they must learn how to manage themselves accordingly. This happens to be a key characteristic of the human relations approach. Once a month a meeting is set up between associates and their managers to discuss and deal with any issues before they lead to any declines in customer satisfaction and other inconsistencies. By reducing staff turnover, the quality of the services rendered, the profitability obtained, and the ability of staff to progress within the organisation to higher positions will be a lot more likely. In-house as well as online programmes are offered to employees who wish to improve their skills and performance, whilst managers are trained at other Marriott establishments. This would allow managers to observe how different establishments undergo their daily business, and how although each Marriott hotel aims to provide a quality experience, each establishment has unique features which make them attractive, such as unique dà ©cor, unique entertainment, or unique members of staff, for instance. Performance management at the Grand Hotel Excelsior Online and session based courses are offered free of charge to members of staff on a monthly basis, whereby skills such as cultural appreciation and awareness, and numerous others can be enhanced. Training is constantly offered to members of staff in-house, by hotel employees as well as professional consultation companies. Management believes that it is crucial for employees to receive the best training possible so as to be able to provide a seamless experience to guests and non-guests. Induction training is typically one day long for those opting to work at front office, and this takes place in a meeting room on the premises. Being such a fast paced industry, most training occurs on the job. During the first few weeks of employment, employees at front office must log down their progress in a progress file, and take any necessary notes. Any issues which are encountered should be dealt with immediately to avoid unnecessary errors in the future. After the fundamental factors of cross training have been covered, employees must undergo a test whereby the skills obtained are examined. Motivation at Leicester Marriott Marriott believes that there are other means of motivation for staff other than receiving a salary at the end of the month. Employees should feel as though they are valued for their contributions to the organisations success. Staff is incentivised through numerous schemes such as discounts and exclusive offers when staying at Marriott properties. They may alternatively opt to receive vouchers for high end shops instead of making use of their Marriott stay. Although other motivators often overshadow working conditions, conditions at work may indeed lead to de-motivation. To avoid this, management provides quality canteen services, easy access to uniform, extensive taxi benefits, as well as other basic factors. Other motivators come in the form of team building exercises, where employees can get to know each other better and develop stronger professional relationships, as well as departmental outings, barbeques, dress parties, Oscar parties, employee of the month and special person awards ceremonies, as well as appreciation week. Motivation at the Grand Hotel Excelsior Motivation is a fundamental part of leadership, as all those who form part of a team must be rewarded in some way or another for their efforts. Maslows hierarchy of needs plays an integral part in ones performance at work. It states that for a person to live a fulfilling life there must be the necessary foundations in place. The satisfaction of the basic physiological requirements such as food and shelter are required to be able to work our way towards self-fulfillment. It is understandable that organisations are unable to cater for all the factors listed in Maslows hierarchy because of financial and/or other limitations. At the Grand Hotel excelsior, employees are offered good quality canteen facilities for breakfast, lunch, tea time and dinner. The hotel also provides free accommodation for foreign students working at the hotel as well as for employees who work around the clock to prepare for large events. This is done to avoid employees having any unnecessary road accidents whilst driving home from work. A sense of safety is provided by constant 24 hour CCTV surveillance, as well as security officers, whilst a sense of belonging is evident in the group work that is required to successfully deal with everyday situations. Management at the Excelsior rewards staff for their contributions to the success of the organisation mainly through special rates for themselves and close friends and family, a free weekend break at the end of each year for each employee and a partner, a good bottle of foreign wine for the member of staff with the highest up selling score, bonuses for every up sell which takes place, such us upgrading guests to a Sea View or Sea Front room from an inland view room, as well as certificates which are awarded to the best performing members of staff during the IXL (I Excel) Awards ceremony. Besides these, there are numerous other departmental activities and events which are organised throughout the year. Employees may also benefit from easy uniform access from 6 am till 6:30pm, taxi discounts, and other basic factors which staff need to be happy in their workplace. Task 3 Evaluate the leadership skills required to ensure effective management of the staff of the two organisations. The main aim of a manager is to maximise the output of an organisation and simultaneously maximise profitability. To do so however, it is more often than not required to have positive leadership skills when working in the services industry. Employees often seek the guidance or assistance of their superiors, and their ability to perform well may be hindered by the inability of their superiors to lead by setting the right example. Effective leadership is therefore fundamental for the management of the staff of the two organisations. Performance management For both organisations to remain competitive and successful, they must ensure that employees are given the best possible training. Although it is difficult to provide perfect services in an industry full of variables, perfection must be aimed for nonetheless. A measure of performance must be established to be able to analyse areas which have been improved as well as those which await improvement. To be able to improve performance; Current performance must be analysed and compared to a set target. Plans must be devised to be able to improve current performance and bring it in line with targets. The devised plan must be implemented, The implemented plan must be assessed, and The methods of measurement must be re-assessed and re-formulated if it is required to do so. Motivation Maslows hierarchy of needs happens to be one of the most straightforward theories in psychological and motivational studies, which states that every human being has the basic requirements of food, drink and shelter, and it is only when these are satisfied that we are able to work towards self-fulfillment. Employees are motivated through the provision of certain elements from this hierarchy. Employees should be incentivised to adopt a more positive attitude towards their duties, as well as to improve their performance. They need to know that they are of value to the organisation, as working in the hospitality industry requires a lot of time, energy and patience. It also happens to be one of the lowest paying industries, yet the input that is required for operations to run smoothly is phenomenal. Employees would expect to be motivated in other ways other than just receiving a salary at the end of the month, as this is a very short-lived motivator. They need to feel valued and respected by their superiors and by others, something that the new front office manager at the Grand Hotel Excelsior is highly capable of. He offers that reassurance that he is there for everyone, and that everyone should approach him when they have any difficulties. Most importantly, he knows that to develop as a team and overcome obstacles, he has to build a strong, reliable and trustworthy team. Ethical leadership Ethics is a branch of psychology which allows us to distinguish between, and understand the concepts of right and wrong. Leading by setting the right example is crucial for employees to feel secure at work. Unethical leadership can cause harm to employees on a psychological level, and this may spread to other aspects of their lives. Ethics is a complex subject and employees unfortunately face numerous difficult situations at the work place, where they may disagree with the actions of their superiors, but are often afraid to confront them because it may ultimately cost them their job. Action-centred leadership Taking immediate action on issues which must be addressed is important to ensure that professional relationships with employees are strengthened and not lost. Managing others requires a lot of patience and experience, and it is through positive leadership that much of it is possible. John Adairs action-centred leadership model deals with three crucial responsibilities that managers should possess. Depending on the difficulty of the task, the managers input may not be required until after the task is carried out. On the other hand, the manager may have to manage a team, group, or individuals if the task at hand requires detailed planning and foresight. Below are the three processes of Johns Adairs concept: achieving the task managing the team or group managing individuals Successful leadership also relies on effective communication, counseling, stress management and unwritten psychological contracts. Communication and counselling Communication is important for the smooth running of any organisation. It allows for the clarification of messages up and down as well as across an organigram. Communication may take virtually any form, ranging from verbal to virtual discussions. Improved communication will allow for fewer hiccups in the services being rendered, meaning that guests will undoubtedly have a better experience. Managers often have to counsel team members with issues or difficulties that they are facing. These may range from discussing past performance to discussing difficulties that they are having in relation to their work or personal lives. Stress management Stress is very often work related, and this may result in relationship problems at home and at work, as well as health problems, if it is not appropriately administrated. The effects of stress differ from person to person, and some people may be more capable of dealing with stressful situations than others. Excessive stress may reap havoc on a team, and may limit its ability to perform in line with targets. This is the reason why motivating employees is crucial to ensure that they develop a positive outlook on their duties at work, which would significantly decrease the perception that work and stress are correlated. Psychological contract The psychological contract is an unwritten contract that is the basis of a professional relationship that exists between employees and their employers. An employer would expect to be respected by his team, and an employee may in turn expect good working conditions and respect from the employer. Even though the psychological contract is unwritten, it is the least that is expected by employees and employers at work, and this forms the foundation upon which professional relationships are built and strengthened. Task 4 Examine a team in which you have worked and write an account of the nature and behaviour of the group A team is a group of people that works together to reach a common target or objective. This objective can only be achieved with the combined efforts of each team member as the human input required is often too much for one person to handle, particularly when deadlines are involved. Working at the front desk requires constant team work. The effectiveness of a team depends on how well each team member understands their roles, and how well they know each others characters and working methods. It is a fact that no one works in the exact same way as we all have different personalities; thinking patterns and methods of achieving the same objectives, and it is through such differences that we are able to provide a refreshing experience, one which is unique and special, yet professional. Although the team work required at front office is often not for specific projects, such as for instance coming up with a new up-selling strategy, we unconsciously consider every shift to be a project. The teams common objective is to ensure that all guests are satisfied with what they have purchased and that what we are providing them with meets, or exceeds their expectations. The people I work with at the front desk are undoubtedly important to me, and the way I work. They certainly ease the stress of having to deal with every guest on your own, but more importantly, you know that there is someone who is in the same position as you are, dealing with similar issues and problems. When I see that my colleagues are having difficulty dealing with a specific issue, I do not hesitate to assist them, and vice versa. The typical shift is eight hours long, so it is in everyones best interests to get to know each other well by communicating openly and sharing ideas and thoughts, with the aim of developing trustworthy and positive professional relationships. Bruce Tuckman (1965) developed four critical stages for team development. These stages describe how teams are developed, and how issues are dealt with to reach a common objective. The first stage is forming, which deals with the actual getting together of group members. Once my skills developed through training at the Grand Hotel Excelsior, the responsibilities given to me increased, and I was therefore more capable of working as part of a team. The second stage is storming, whereby the team analyses its objectives, and clearly defines the responsibilities of each team member. When problems arise at work, we discuss all of the possible ways in which we can solve them. We then select the most effective and efficient solutions which are in line with hotel policy. The third stage is norming, whereby team members work conjunctively to reach their targets, mainly through the creation of guidelines and rules. As team members work together, they will develop stronger relationships and will therefore develop trust. Through work I was not only able to develop professional relationships with my colleagues, but I was also able to develop strong friendships. It is through such friendships that we are able to work successfully with one another. The final step is performing, whereby team members understand each other and their work, and their utmost concern is getting the job done. Working in a hotel is immensely fast-paced and there is little time to be wasted. The main objective of a front of house agent is ultimately to get the job done efficiently and professionally, in order to assist our next guests. Task 5 Discuss how the traits and characteristics of the individuals within this team influence their behaviour at work Individuals who form part of the front office team have cheerful personalities, and their cheerfulness is visible in the way they work to ensure that guests are greeted and treated welcomingly. Guests enjoy meeting members of staff who are approachable, and they often stop by the front desk for a quick chat. As a team, we know each others basic traits and characteristics well. The true personalities of team members break free during break time, or after work, as working in a five star hotel requires one to behave in a certain manner. As a team, we know each others basic traits and characteristics well. The true personalities of team members break free during break time, or after work, as working in a five star hotel requires one to behave in a certain manner. Personal characteristics typically include visual aspects such as gender, race and age, social and cultural characteristics such as religion and sexual orientation, and psychological characteristics such as motivation and attitudes. It is through such personal characteristics that we develop particular beliefs or preferences, such as religious or political preferences, for instance. Delicate subjects may be openly discussed between team members because of the friendships that have develop over time. However, such delicate subjects are never discussed with guests as they may project a negative image of the individual, as well as the organisation. The most prominent traits of individuals are said to be the big five personality traits, which include conscientiousness, agreeableness, neuroticism, openness and extroversion. My team mates undoubtedly possess a mixture of these five traits, and numerous others. It is impossible for people to have the exact same character as others, as ones character is ultimately a product of their life experiences. Perception is an important subject when dealing with traits and characteristics. Individuals may make certain traits visible, such as agreeableness and conscientiousness, but are able to hide other traits which they feel should not be visible, such as neuroticism. It is normal to feel anxious when stressful situations arise, and the level of anxiety which is experienced by an individual depends on what their threshold for anxiety tolerance is. In such a case, a guest may perceive the member of staff to be calm and composed, when he/she is in fact feeling anxious. Task 6 Compare and contrast the structure of Leicester Marriott with an organisation where you have worked/have researched. To be able to deal with all the processes required to operate a hospitality establishment such as a large capacity hotel, company directors and managers must employ specialised teams to ensure that all work is done efficiently and effectively, with the highest precision, and where possible, the lowest cost. As the Leicester Marriott Hotel and the Grand Hotel Excelsior are both relatively large establishments they require formal structures with specific roles and responsibilities. Every manager is responsible for a particular department and team. This in theory should allow for greater efficiency as the work is divided amongst those who are most experienced in their respective fields. The Grand Hotel Excelsiors functional structure is similar to that of Marriott, as they both have a General Manager, department managers, supervisors, and Employees. As the Grand Hotel Excelsior has 427 rooms, and the Leicester Marriott has approximately half as many, the GHE should in theory have more positions and therefore more employees. The span of control that each manager possesses varies depending on department. For instance, the front office manager at the GHE is responsible for the front office team as well as the housekeeping department, which happen to be the largest departments within the hotel. On the other hand, the accounts department is one of the smallest, employing a few specialised individuals. The organigram below gives a detailed breakdown of the different roles at the Grand Hotel Excelsior. An official Marriott PDF document found at www.docstoc.com states that the organisation believes strongly in the benefits associated with departmentalisation and unity of command, whereby only one person reports to one manager. In this case it must be the supervisors who report to their department managers. Below is an example of what the Marriott organigram may look like in its simplest form. As is clearly evident, the main structures of both organisations are fairly similar. One of the major differences however is that the Excelsior has many more facilities and amenities than the Marriott hotel, and would require larger departments to ensure that all operations run smoothly, particularly during peak season. General Manager Department Manager Department Manager Department Manager Associates Associates Associates Supervisor Supervisor Supervisor Microsoft Word (2003) Task 7 Describe the culture of the organisation at the Leicester Marriott Hotel and explain how it impacts on the success of the business The Leicester Marriott promotes a strong brand identity, one which guests have grown to love and trust. A loyal guest would expect the level of service at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square to be of as high a standard as the Leicester Marriott hotel as both establishments have the same high expectations from their staff, and both hotels share the same core values and objectives. Members of staff at Leicester Marriott are all considered to be associates, a term which the organisation believes adds further purpose to their roles. Marriot currently places 82nd on CNNs top 100 list of best companies to work at for the year 2010, a claim which has remained true for many years. However, the recruitment process does not appear to be simple. Only those people who fit the organisations mindset are eligible to join as management believes that it is not easy to teach people how to develop the right attitude which is required to progress within the organisation. This appears to be a characteristic of a relatively closed organisation, and may as a result give it a more prestigious image in the job markets. The organisations culture is successful because it allows associates to develop trust, collaborate, and be creative. The culture is reinforced through numerous activities such as Staff barbeques, department outings, parties and other activities which allow them to get to know each other better, develop relationships, and ultimately, provide better quality services to guests. They are also given the opportunity to share ideas during the weekly departmental discussions, where the weeks most challenging moments are discussed, and feedback is exchanged. The organisations core values are the main driving forces behind its culture, as stated in the corporate information section of the Marriott website. Its culture influences the way it treats associates, loyal clients, and the community, which it strongly supports. Motivation is certainly a major part of the hotels culture as management knows that the only way to make guests happy is to ensure that associates are equally happy. Task 8 Discuss the communication channels of the firm in the case study and explain the importance of effective communications within organisations. Communication skills are crucial within any organisation. The inability to communicate effectively will result in a negative guest experience and will eventually lead to some form of negative publicity. The organisations team building exercises may make way for improved communication between members of staff as well as departments. Guests tend to vent their anger on websites such as Trip Advisor when their holidays or business trips do not go as planned as a result of inefficient communication. The deliverance of any product, be it a good or a service, requires proper communication skills, particularly if the organisations in question wish to retain customers. Leicester Marriott knows that communication is crucial, and it therefore gives extreme importance to all communication channels. Verbal communication is the main source of communication during departmental meetings which are held once a month, whilst once a quarter members from all departments are gathered to discuss hotel performance and receive organisation updates and recognition awards. Daily shift meetings are also organised amongst HODs to discuss important events, and interdepartmental meetings are held every week to discuss the weeks challenges. Such communication allows employees to effectively tackle internal issues and, when possible, conjure up immediate solutions. One of the main corridors in the back of the hotel is purely dedicated to communication between associates, where one can find staff notice boards containing written information about internal and external job vacancies, social activities, special hotel offers, health and safety procedures, employee of the month information, and numerous others. Such information must be visible and easily accessible to all associates, as well as regularly updated to keep the interest alive. Associate newsletters are published and distributed to all staff on a weekly basis to ensure that they are updated with the latest hotel issues. During break time, events and other activities, associates are free to chat and catch up on work and non-work related gossip, which is important to ones happiness. Hospitality organisations utilize almost every communication channel. Written methods of communication may take the form of reports which are written up by management for hotel directors, letters which are sent by personnel from the accounting department to banks, emails which are sent by employees at the reservations office to potential guests, and notices which are put up on the staff notice board in the main staff corridor. Spoken methods such as face to face encounters are constantly experie

Bible Essays - Pain and Suffering in Homers Odyssey and the Gospel of Matthew :: comparison compare contrast essays

Pain and Suffering in The Odyssey and the Gospel of Matthew In the "great works" of ancient Greece and of Christianity, suffering alone is portrayed as something to be feared. Both Homer's Odyssey and the Gospel of Matthew contend that suffering is virtually unbearable when the sufferer has not outside support. If, however, the tormented can find support from others, these teachings continue, suffering becomes more tolerable. Both agree that we wish to find supporters when we are tormented. Unfortunately, these sources diverge on how one finds such support. Homer teaches that one can find support by knowing that all of mankind suffers together, ultimately tormented by the gods. The Gospel of Matthew, however, teaches that by placing faith in God, the tormented can find support from God. More, it teaches that God hears the calls for help from humans and, if asked in true faith, will give support to all sufferers. To illustrate the teachings of these two works, one short passage from each is sufficient to give the kernel of the respective teachings on this subject: Rag of man that I am, is this the end of me? I fear the goddess told it all to wellÄ predicting great adversity at sea and far from home. Now all things bear her out: he whole rondure of heaven hooded so by Zeus in woeful cloud, and the sea raging under such winds. I am going down, that's sure. How lucky those Danaans were who perished on Troy's wide seaboard, serving the Atreidai! Would God I, too, had died there—met my end that time the Trojans made so many casts at me when I stood by Akhilleus after death. I should have had a soldier's burial and praise from the Akhanians—not this choking waiting for me at sea, unmarked and lonely. (Homer V.309-323) "He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said 'I am God's Son." The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way. From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o'clock Jesus cried with a loud voice "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, "This man is calling for Elijah." At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink.

If i were the prime minister of India Essay

The Prime Minister of India, aha! The highest executive of the largest democracy of the world, what a promising position, what a status, and Oh! What laurels. However I see this position as it were with a pinch of salt as, it is more a thorny crown on the head of the person who wears it. Dealing with the daily affairs of the country, is not easy, so, this positions, this status, this name are not without the demerits. If I was to be the Prime Minister of India, the first and most difficult thing I would deal with would be the building of the character of the people of the nation. I feel that, all the drawbacks and failures of the country and its people are, mainly due to the lack of character of its people, its Executives, its politicians and all others. Now developing characters is not something that can be done in a day or something that can be imposed on a generation. There is no magic cure for this malady which is inherent in the Indian scene. Since I know that neither can character be infused overnight, nor can it be eliminated from the scene, I would ensure that all bad characters no matter that, are booked for their wrong doings, punished as per the laws of the land. I really believe that even if just a few wrong doers are punished strictly, instead of being shielded by their patrons, then others will not indulge in similar malpractices. I earnestly feel that punishment is the only approach to this Herculean problem of character. If few, yes, just a few are punished all others will be frightened of the consequences of wrong doing. This exercise of punishments I would start from the highest rungs of the ladder and then come downwards, though the lower rungs would get cleaned by themselves if the cleaning be done at the top. The next area of influence I would try to work upon would be the education of the masses. Our education as I understand it had been framed by the British rulers. They had the objective of creating bab es for their Government administration who would slave for them. It is this heritage of creating babus that we have continued for the last so many decades, and made a real mess of our education. The area of higher education has been pampered but the sphere of primary education which lays the foundation of the country ‘s literacy has been neglected totally. I would lay greater stress on primary education and make higher education a choice for the children and that also only according to their choice and merit. I would not allow any admissions in institutes of higher education on the basis of just donations.  My heart feels so very hurt when I see all around me the influence of westernisation in our country. It appears that we have just nothing of our own and we are learning and have learnt everything from the West. A culture as rich as India ‘s having to borrow everything from the west depicts the slave mentality of us Indians and I feel very sad when I see it all around me. My next priority as the Prime Minister would be the Indianisation of the Indians. I do wonder where our culture has disappeared, where our life style and our heritage are. How could we throw such riches of a great culture to the winds? I would infuse the teaching of Indian culture in every school and college. T his would not mean that we stop learning from the west no, not at all. We would continue borrowing all knowhow from the west but, only in spheres in which we have to, not just because it is western but because it is necessary for our growth. Besides all this, I would ensure that social changes are brought about evenly throughout the country, keeping in mind beautiful blend of our culture and the western ethos. For social changes I would mobilise and encourage non Government agencies because I feel that social changes can be brought about smoothly only by social welfare organisation and not laws of the Government. With all these priorities I would also try to ensure infusion of patriotism in the younger generation. Sometimes I really wonder at the whereabouts of our patriots of the early decades of this very Century, where are they, and have we stopped producing the like now? With this much achieved or at least the trend set, I would be happy and a person absolutely satisfied with my achievements. With so much to be done within the country, I would try also to produce good neighbourly relations with all the neighbours of India, as; I believe a good neighbour is an asset to an individual and even country. I would send peace delegations to all the neighbours and invite them on peace missions to India. I do think that such activities would yield satisfactory results and we would have friends all around.

Social Media Analysis Essay Example

Social Media Analysis Essay Example Social Media Analysis Essay Social Media Analysis Essay Essay Topic: Social Media This case analysis is going to be examining ethical Issues associated with the popular social Medals In the last two decades, hitting tremendous growth, thanks to the Introduction of websites such as Faceable and Twitter, as well as the Increased adoption of internet capable cell phones. Millions of people rely on Social Media today for social interaction, as it provides a convenient means to share information, chat with friends, and maintain ever expanding networks and contacts, all in one package. Many people consider their online presence a crucial part of their identity, irking hard to build and maintain the information they choose to share on these Medias. However, Social Medals are often seen as a pervasive part of our lives, and for all the benefits they offer to an Increasingly global society, there will always be a dark side to examine. In particular, this analysis will discuss the effect Social Media has had on personal relationships and interaction between users, privacy issues, cyber-bullying etc. Social Media and Unfaithfulness Cheating is a very serious ethical issue. Whether the cheating refers to cheating on a posse or significant other or cheating on a paper or homework assignment, cheating Is wrong. Modern technologies have made cheating In any form much easier for people. There have been accounts of cheating in relationships far longer than social networking sites, like Faceable/Twitter, have been around, the launch of these sites has only made it easier for these people to cheat. These Medias connect people throughout the world together and allows them to chat with private messages, view pictures of other people, and even video chat with them, all without anybody seeing NY of what they are doing. They also make It easier to meet new people that you probably wouldnt have otherwise connected with. The news and media have helped open up peoples eyes to see how easy it is for somebody to cheat on a social networking site like Faceable/Teller. There have been photos put in the media that contain private messages of a husband or wife asking another person to have an affair with them or flirtatious messages and pictures sent back and forth. Another form of cheating that is only made easier by the use of Social Medias Is cheating on Issues such as homework, papers, and work. A recent study found that 85. % of students use a social networking site. They may find somebody who has previously taken the course who can give those copies of all of the old assignments and exams or they may find someone who is willing to do the work for them in a particular class. There are even groups and applications designed to help make finding these people easier. Effects on Teen Social interactions Soci al Medal has had a huge Impact on the way people interact with each other. Before the Internet and social networking sites, peoples mall forms of immunization were telephones, letters, and most commonly face-to-face interactions. Teens have had the largest impact on social interactions with the new age of technology. A study completed about social anxiety and technology shows that tens social interactions are greatly affected by the use of technology and sites. Seventy-four percent of high school students that participated in the study claim to use a social networking site. The study has suggested that using modern technology with others face-to-face. The study also show a lower level of stress when the teens ere interacting with people online (Pierce, 2009). Teens are in the stage of their lives where they are still developing socially and learning how to interact with others. The more a teen communicates with others using a form of technology, the less chances they have to communicate face-to-face and develop strong personable skills. The teens who are using networking sites and testing as their main sources of communication are feeling more anxious when interacting face-to-face because they have not yet developed all of the necessary skills to do so. Social Media and Privacy There are many privacy issues surrounding the Social Medias. Recently, these privacy issues have affected newly graduating college students. It has become a common trend for Jobs to invade applicants privacy by using their social accounts to pass judgments about them. This has caught many off guard, as the employers have been asking for their social network passwords during the interview process. Employers may take the perspective that they need to know not only their potential employees work-related skills and abilities but also the characteristics and traits that indicate he persons capability of being a good, reliable employee. Many employers claim that Social Network provides insight about those traits (Pike, 1). Sources are now suggesting advice to people searching for Jobs. Their advice is to limit what you are posting on social networks. Another privacy issue that has come about is the tagging feature the social network has. People on Social Networks have the ability to tag others to photos and other posts without their knowledge. These tagged photos and posts then appear on the tagged persons page. This can create issues of privacy. There have been plenty of times people have been out placing or doing certain actions they would not want to be posted. They are posted anyway without their knowledge. Cyber-Bullying Another popular issue with Social Media is cyber-bullying. Schools have recently been in a constant battle to try to avoid and prevent cyber-bullying from occurring. Bullying can be defined as a prolonged mistreatment by a person who harbors malicious intentions and who is perceived to be more powerful than the victim of abuse (Hindu Patching, 2007). Face-to-face (FT) bullying can be carried out hectically, verbally or relationally (Woods Wolfe, 2004) (Swan Koori, 1). This definition is from a time before bullying moved to the platform of social networks on the internet. Social Medias like Faceable, Youths have now become one of the most used platforms to bully others. Boys bully more than girls according to statistics. With the networks allowing users to upload videos to their websites and tag others to it, many fights have been recorded and posted on the Media. These videos of fights have begun to lead to legal consequences involving the police and the school. It is aid that through social networks, where people are not face-to-face, people that who usually would not get involved in bullying of other do. This is a problem that has been being addressed, but there needs to be more done to prevent this issue from happening as often as it does. Business Practices Social Medias business practices sometimes annoy people. Because most of its revenue comes from advertisements and people dont want to see it on their news feed. Some people dont care, some people do. So the businesses use one persons ethical it is to use somebody information for taking the business to them. From the businesss perspective, they have to earn money and theres no policy against it so far to stop using private information. According to The New York Times (2012), Ads that pop up on your screen might seem useful, or at worst, a nuisance. But they are much more than that. The bits and bytes about your life can easily be used against you. Whether you can obtain a Job, credit or insurance can be based on your digital doppelgnger ? and you may never know why youve been turned down. People can hide their information by using privacy settings. But the problem is these sites mutinously changing its appearance and themes. So it gets changed, all the previous settings get changed with it as well. For many people it is really hard to keep track when to change the settings. So if they change their setting once they think it is safe but they dont realize that when the new themes co me up they have to change it again. So their information remains unprotected. For example, when Faceable introduced timeline, its features were similar to the old Faceable. But now every time someone changes their profile picture it automatically sets it up as public and people onto know about it. So anybody has access to it and can use it however they want, which is very crucial because bad people can harm others through cyber bullying using their pictures and there is hardly any way to figure out who did this. Recommendation At this backdrop it is really questionable whether Social Medias need to be criticized or appreciated. It has spread like virus. But some courses of actions like arranging awareness seminar, webzines etc. Would help people to understand and set their privacy.

WHY DO I NEED AN AGENT

WHY DO I NEED AN AGENT A reader recently asked me to write about the advantages and disadvantages of having a literary agent. She didnt think she wanted an agent, but wasnt sure whether that was a good decision or not. If I did write about agents, it was a long, long time ago. Im all for them, but the downside is that it slows things down as you land one, and they do take a cut of your profits. But . . . they know more about the business than we do. They have connections we dont. They open doors we never thought of. They make us step up our writing to a higher calibre. Some writers have placed the nickname gatekeeper to agents and editors who send rejection letters; like gatekeeper is a bad thing. Anytime someone is in a position to reject you, youre tempted to take it personally and become inclined to dislike them. However, if you are selected What does an agent do for you? Help edit your work. Of course your work has to be pretty great to start with, but an agent can make suggestions from experience and know-how of the marketplace that will take your writing to a higher level. Target editors and publishers. Other than study a Writers Market or search websites, how do you know what a publisher seeks these days? They dont readily shoot desires out on Twitter or alter their guidelines webpage weekly. Agents, however, groom relationships with these editors. TheY understand what editors seek in the short term and the long term. Negotiate a contract. What do you know about rights? Print rights, electronic, audio, foreign, film, the list is long. As a lone artist, do you understand how to negotiate all these rights? If you dont have an agent, do you know the logistics, pros and cons of holding or signing over these rights? While giving up rights sounds scary, in reality, you could be placing your work in hands that know what they are doing and can greatly increase your chances of landing an audio book or a television show. Do you know what are good ebook royalty rates? Problem solving. If the publisher gets hung up on a bad cover or wants editorial changes that infuriate you, an agent can play middle man and help smooth out wrinkles. Marketing consultation. Agents may be able to recommend great venues for your promotional efforts. They might know what works and what doesnt. They might make introductions to opportunities you never imagined. They have been in this business to earn a living and have been around the block more than most of us. Use that expertise. Nathan Bransford has a nice clear blog post on what an agent does. Heres another post on why an agent is needed, from a sci-fi And heres yet another from the Jane Chelius Literary Agency, which applies to all agents across the board. Author Scott Nicholson explains why you need an agent. When you may NOT need to seek an agent? When self-publishing. When seeking a smaller press. When familiar with rights and contracts. When writing short stories. I used an agent for a smaller press, to improve my odds for a contract. I was fairly familiar with rights, but wasnt completely grounded in the knowledge. I also wanted that buffer between the publishing house and me, using someone who had a firmer grasp on the industry, who could spot a deal and a scam with no hesitation. Yes, I am a fan of agents, but it depends on your goals, experience, knowledge base, and desires whether you use one or not. No, they arent easy to land, but having one can improve your odds . . . depends on what youre gambling on.

Review of the Effects of the Internet on Students Annotated Bibliography

Review of the Effects of the Internet on Students - Annotated Bibliography Example The authors of this article look for the psychological aspects as to why college students are becoming addicted to the internet. They relate internet addiction to a high level of loneliness, in some cases, correlate directly. Much as other authors have stated there is more promoting the internet’s effect on students. The author explains that students who are lonely will seek out connection with strangers without actual physical interaction. However, many of these same students are, also, tremendously depressed. This article approaches the issues associated with college students pertaining to their communication skills and what promotes their internet use. Are college students more dependent on the Internet for academic or social purposes? The author found in the course of the study detailed that more students use the internet for personal or entertainment purposes that for academic or information purposes. In fact, there are a disturbing number of college students who use the internet out of loneliness, seeking attention from strangers in cyberspace. This can be a serious problem, and, potentially, in this day and age, a dangerous one. This article is pointing out that one of the major side-effects of the internet on college students includes its ability to distract students and misguide them on social levels. This source is allows a nice foundation for the history and overall understanding of the topic. This is a prime example of some ways that the internet directly has upon the students in higher education settings. Eldakak, S. (2010). Does Applying Ethics in Education Have an Effective Impact in the Classroom?. Online Submission, The author is interested in determining if the easy access to information that the internet allows has negatively impacted the ethics that once existed in the classroom. With education sometimes now entirely available online, that isolation and lack of supervision could be negatively affecting students ability to resist cheat ing or plagiarism. How can anyone be certain that the person that is supposed to taking a test is actually taking that test? In truth, at the moment, you cannot. Also, there is he consideration of what technological devices that the students may bring with them allowing them to cheat, like a cell phone and the like, which can sometimes be unfamiliar with the student’s cheating. This source is helpful in reviewing this topic because it verifies that there is a lapse of ethics that are being nudged, if not crossed, because of the freedom of information that the internet provides. The fact that the internet and our attitude towards it can become irresistible as a tool to cheat or plagiarize definitely indentifies itself as a large affect that it is having on college students. Englander, F., Terregrossa, R. A., & Wang, Z. (2010). Internet use among college students: tool or toy?. Educational Review, 62(1), 85-96. doi:10.1080/00131910903519793 This article explores how students pe rceive the internet. Is it a tool? Is it a toy? Unfortunately, it

Social Process Theories Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Social Process Theories - Research Paper Example The expansion of the theory of social control through the concept of Social Bond Theory that combines various kinds of bonds such as attachments to friends, family and siblings, commitments to one’s career, success and goals, involvements in sports teams, community services and religious groups and beliefs in honesty, justice and morality, together and justifies why an individual may observe law and order in spite of a variety of illegal activities offered by today’s society. IV. Labeling Theory: An Explanation of the concept of Labeling Theory, its prevalent practice and the corresponding negative consequences of this practice. V. Dramaturgy: An Analysis of the method of Dramaturgical Interviewing, its fundamentals and specifications. Also, a brief description of areas of its application and the criticisms leveled against it. VI. Conclusion: A concluding synopsis of the whole paper. Abstract The objective of this study is to understand the meaning of the term ‘so cial process theories’ and analyze some of the most important types of social process theories like the Social Learning Theory, the Social Control Theory, the Labeling Theory and the concept of Dramaturgy Interviewing. ... All in all, an endeavor had been made in this research paper, to paint an accurate picture of the prevailing social process theories, in the light of their analyzed meanings and their social relevance. Introduction â€Å"Social Process Theories, in Criminology, examine how social processes in the lives of humans influence their criminal behavior.† (Grana, 2010, p.70) These theories stresses that relationships play a vital role in deciding how an individual interacts with the world around him. It is sometimes due to these relations that people commit crimes. The learning of crimes is no different than any other kind of learning and it usually takes place in intimate and closed groups wherein the trade and tools of crime are learned. There are a number of social process theories, some of which we will discuss in detail in the following paragraphs. Social Learning Theory The concept of Social Learning is based on the view that a considerable amount of learning occurs through the observance and imitation of other people’s actions and the resulting consequences of those actions. There is no awareness about whether learning a certain act or trade is positive or negative, it is a non-judgmental process of learning from another being. Research suggests that this imitation of behavior is achieved without much Trial-and-Error processes. A person may imitate another flawlessly in the first chance itself . The person who is being observed or imitated is called a ‘model’ and the process of imitation is called ‘modeling’. Parents, elder siblings, peers, celebrities, all of them and more can serve as models to any given individual. Two individuals showcasing the same kind of behavior implies a common history of