Measurement of intellectual capital Annotated Bibliography

Estimation of scholarly capital - Annotated Bibliography Example The article entitled â€Å"Measuring for managing?† An IC Practice Case Study is written so as to feature the achievement of the legislative association which was working with the name of Lands as far as actualizing practices of overseeing scholarly capital and it utilized a contextual investigation way to deal with research the issue. The authoritative administration was chuckled at and they were mercilessly decided as chasers of a slippery practice yet toward the day's end, the longshots had risen as triumphant on the grounds that they had a dream and they put stock in it and their presentation appeared to the world that they are for sure effective. The associations learn as people do and they need to make neural systems and information banks so as to hold their learning. With the assistance of present day brain research, it very well may be built up that people work out their way in lives by applying their encounters which are known to get put away in the nuclides of their minds. Notwithstanding, associations experience different sorts of encounters consistently and their exposures and logs are recorded in foundation of data innovation. The workers get to the databases so as to figure out how to deal with specific circumstances though; they routinely update them with their encounters too so future learning can be encouraged. This article is helpful for me in demonstrating worth of my exploration point as an applied idea. The following article which has a working title of â€Å"Intellectual capital estimation: a basic approach† featured the way that the organizations are working with not exactly powerful methods for estimating IC’s adequacy since they are concentrating on monetary profits which are related with hierarchical learning and it utilizes a case advancement system. Be that as it may, this paper goes poorly with the previously mentioned article since people don't have faith in what they can't see. The organizations measure achievement in money related terms

Current Knowledge in Spatial Thinking in Geography Essay

Current Knowledge in Spatial Thinking in Geography - Essay Example Passing by Eliot’s portrayal, it is advantageous to take note of that scholarly information extrapolates far much past observational data or straightforward tactile. In the field of geology, this augmentation is all around showed halfway in the different types of portrayal. Such models become basic in summing up, examining and translation to unload spatial presence and social attributes (Bednarz and Lee, 2011). Towards the late twentieth century, there has been a noteworthy deviation in the idea of geographic information. In its history as an order, geographic information has been explanatory, along these lines concentrating on assortment and portrayal of the physical and human events dependent on presence. During this period, there has been a change from the stock overwhelmed practice. The new agreement looked for the production of information through the accentuation on subjective requests. Such requests tried to deliver the inquiries with regards to why and how notwithstand ing what and where labels that at first questioned. Thus, the aggregation of geographic information has changed to thing change, highlight and appropriation coordinating progressively just as thing control. Such a move has empowered the arrangement of undertakings, for example, understanding spatial co-linearity either in negative or positive directions. In addition, the consistent, inductive and deductive derivation has took into account the acknowledgment of geographic affiliations. This better approach for thinking and thinking, thus, required the advancement of new information, new portrayal techniques, new methods of spatial examination and translation. All the more significantly, the new reasoning and thinking necessitated that geographers must think about numerous orders. Customarily, the control of geology has given various general instruction courses. Physical topography acquaints understudies with frameworks of the earth including anthropogenic and physical variables that shape the earth. Then again, human topography gives a knowledge into the examples of human exercises in a scope of scales. In any case, not many of such broad training angles accentuate quantitative taking care of issues and innovation. Along these lines, it is basic for geographers to instill parts of spatial proficiency and thinking in foundations of learning (Bednarz and Lee, 2011). As per Goodchild (2007), spatial education is the capacity to catch and convey information as a graphical portrayal and understanding, perceiving and deciphering designs. With this respect, he calls attention to that topography isn't simply a rundown of spots on the planet. The estimation of geology must be accomplished by arranging and finding data. Moreover, its value as an order can be acknowledged by grasping such essential data as scale and spatial goals. As brought up in National Research Council (NRC) report, Learning to Think Spatially, it is vital to completely prepare up and coming age of un derstudies with spatial proficiency in order to work and live in the 21st century. Eventually, spatial reasoning is an indispensable piece of the achievement of the understudies. Living creatures and their prompt environmental factors are arranged in space. Human-condition collaborations must be fathomed as far as areas, shapes, bearings, separations, and examples (NRC, 2006).â

Strategy Dynamics and International Business for Cases Edition

Question: Examine about theStrategy Dynamics and International Business for Cases Edition. Answer: Presentation The reason for this business portfolio is to reveal insight into different qualities and shortcomings of the association MultiChoice, situated in the place where there is South Africa. The association is essentially a video diversion and web organization. In todays advertise, MultiChoice is a main association in South Africa in video media outlet and they serve to in excess of five millions o supporters around the country (Chetty and Mearns 2012). In this portfolio the shortcomings and qualities of the association are to be assessed. The association MultiChoice is a main association in South Africa, and as of late they are confronting some genuine difficulty with respect to the gainfulness of the association. in this area the qualities and shortcomings of the association are talked about. Qualities The association being one of the main organizations in video amusement and web business have earned tremendous notoriety in their home market and it turned into an entrenched association with truly great surveys from the supporters (Grant 2016). Accordingly, it very well may be said that they have a gigantic conveyance and deals arrange in their home market and in this manner the association holds a colossal money to bet on in troublesome occasions (Wekesa 2013). The majority of the representatives of the association are all around experienced in this field and accordingly their efficiency is in every case more than some other association in this field in their local market. Shortcomings The association is right now somewhat back footed in the wake of contributing a great deal for the exploration and formative tasks for the association and because of a decrease in the market size. One of the most significant issues in regards to the benefit of the association is that they purchase substance with different things in dollars and they get their income in rands (South Africas fiscal unit). Accordingly balancing out the costs have become much harder these days as the estimation of the rand is fluctuating of late and that is giving the association some genuine difficult time to work together. Therefore the organization acknowledged that the neighborhood cash of South Africa is getting a few issues to manage (Wang 2012). As of now the association MultiChoice is troubled with numerous brands under one name, for example, Carte Blanche, MultiChoice, Lets play, Dstv Media Sales, Superdisky and a lot more and overseeing such a large number of brands is influencing their producti vity essentially. Multichoices associations in different organizations are route past their center business and that is the explanation of worry for this situation. Suggestion Along these lines to improve the gainfulness and profitability the association should make a few arrangements and those are examined in this area. The association ought to continue the development of the association alongside different speculations. They should invest some push to expand their supporter base. They ought to put more in innovative headways (Grant 2016). They should enlist and train appropriate workers and train the current representatives more. End Subsequently to close, it very well may be said that, the association MultiChoice is a gigantically settled organization in their local market, yet as of late they are battling a few peculiarities in regards to the efficiency and benefit of the association. the organization like MultiChoice ought not have a lot to stress over this condition as an association with that notoriety would not need to confront a lot of troubles to battle those peculiarities in the market and inevitably they will beat the circumstance and recapture their lost magnificence in a matter of seconds. References Chetty, L. what's more, Mearns, M., 2012. Utilizing people group of training towards the following degree of information the executives maturity.South African Journal of Information Management,14(1), pp.1-9. Award, R.M., 2016.Contemporary technique examination: Text and cases release. John Wiley Sons. Wang, J. ed., 2012.Innovations in Information Systems for Business Functionality and Operations Management. IGI Global. Wekesa, E.D.N.A., 2013. Serious techniques embraced by Multichoice Kenya limited.Unpublished MBA Thesis, college of Nairobi.

Bartolomé de Las Casas.. Immanuel Kant, “What Is Enlightenment?” Response Essay

This perusing is a record of the revelation of the Americas by Spanish Christians. It recounts the destruction of the numerous islands around Hispaniola and the territory of what is currently North America for forty-nine years. On the Spaniards appearance the Natives did no mischief to them and trusted them to be plunged from the sky. That was until the Spanish started to murder and torment them because of their eagerness for what the Natives had. The decisions of changing over to the Christian religion or kicking the bucket were the Native’s just choices and anybody giving any indication of opposition were executed. An expected 12 million Native American spirits were lost during those forty-nine years because of the decimation. The thought processes behind the Spanish’s taking over of the land should be strict yet the killings, brutality and robbery gave no indication of religion by any means. It was about voracity and the Native American’s were dealt with very unreasonably. The Spaniards eagerness shielded them from regarding the Natives as anything over monsters. It likewise makes me wonder how they would have treated the Chinese or Asians, since that is the thing that they were initially searching for on their journey west. Perusing: 18-5 Immanuel Kant, â€Å"What Is Enlightenment? † This perusing is an article by Immanuel Kant broadly expounding on the absence of illumination, clarify what edification is and what the open needs so as to be edified. Kant clarifies what reliance is and how it is difficult for somebody to work themselves out of it and that edification is a person’s rising up out of their own reliance. He says that the general population can just accomplish illumination gradually. Opportunity is required for edification as indicated by Kant, the opportunity to utilize our own explanation on issues. I imagine that this paper has an incredible message. Kant clarifies how significant it is for people to be autonomous and free all together for the general population all in all to be illuminated. No doubt these things are sound judgment to individuals, since they truly are basic and things that we here consistently however I have never truly thought of it the manner in which Kant clarifies it. Kant’s words are kind of a manual for what individuals ought to take a stab at throughout everyday life.

Bullying in Schools - Free Essay Example

Imagine finding your child hanging lifeless in his/her closet because he/she was being bullied at school. This is not something that is easy for anyone to imagine and it shouldn’t be. For the parents of Gabbie Green, this was their reality. Bullying is no joke and it needs to stop! My name is Brandy Gonzalez and I am here to get your help with putting an end to bullying in our schools. Rita Brhel, managing editor of theattachedfamily.com, wrote that bullying impacts everyone, whether you’re the victim, the bully or just a witness or bystander. In March of this year, ABC News reported about a 12-year old middle school student, Gabbie Green, who became a victim of bullying. According to her father, and I quote, â€Å"she had all the love in the world when she came home, but the days that she went to school she would be isolated, manipulated and demoralized†. Her parents reached out to the school for help, but it continued. This could be your child. It is important that you watch for signs of your child being bullied. In 2017, according to stopbullying.gov, and I quote â€Å"children who are bullied are at risk of having behavioral health issues such as anxiety, depression and social withdrawal†. They also state that kids who are bullied are also at risk for alcohol/drug abuse and suicide. Teachers and parents, we need to be aware of what are children are dealing with so we can do everything we can to intervene. What about the bully? The 2 students who were charged with cyberstalking Gabbie are minors and there isn’t really a whole lot of information to be found about them. Rita Brhel from theattachedfamily.com, reported studies show that kids who bully others are at risk to get into fights, steal, carry weapons and drop out of school. And when these kids grow up into adulthood, they tend to be abusive towards others. Does this surprise you? It doesn’t stop there; in 2009 The American Psychological Association said, and I quote, â€Å"students who watch as their peers endure the verbal or physical abuse of another student could become psychologically distressed, if not more, by the events.† These are our children, which are our future. The witness or bystander feels a sense of guilt for not helping the victim as well as fear of being the next victim. So how are you all feeling? It is very clear that we need to end bullying in schools because its impacting all our children, whether they are the bully, the victim or just a witness, possibly for the rest of their lives. We can’t let this continue. You are probably asking yourself how are we going to stop bullying? Well, first all schools need to take bullying seriously, and have a zero-tolerance policy that is strictly enforced. American Psychological Association suggests the following about how we all can take action to prevent bullying in schools. Be knowledgeable and observant and intervene to stop it Involve students and parents in safety teams or antibullying task forces Teachers and administrators to set positive expectations about behavior for students and adults We need to start today, because one child effected is one too many.

Information management system of IKEA - Free Essay Example

Introduction History A privately held international retailers of home products, being the largest retailers of the world they provide home products from furniture, fabric, glass, kitchen and bathroom accessories at an affordable price. Their vision being Anybody can make a good-quality product for a high price, or a poor-quality product for a low price. But to make good products at low prices, one needs to develop methods that are both cost-effective and innovative. This has been IKEAs focus. Maximizing the use of raw materials and production adaptation to meet peoples needs and preferences have meant that their costs are low. The IKEA way of doing things is to pass these cost savings on to customers. This idea came into being in 1943 by Ingvar Kamprad in Sweden who laid basis of IKEA and then afterwards it was owned by Kamprad Family. Data of august 2009 shows currently it has 301 stores (outlets) in 37 countries (scattered in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia), with more than 135,000 employees. (Source net) All products are in flat packed form to be assembled by consumer himself (saving space and time from in store assembling, easy handling and transportation and reducing packaging cost. IKEA Financial Progress this decade: This graph clearly describes IKEAs progress in terms of financial point of view but in this recession period what could be the factors it has adopted to increase its progress towards a progressing/ profiting organization. Multiple factors can be mentioned starting from its outlets structure up to higher level management all working in a close coordination. They modernized their structure at every step ultimately profiting the organization and customers in terms of providing cheap furniture accessories. Special Design of IKEA Outlets IKEA outlets are often on â€Å"one way lay out pattern† to encourage customers to see the store in its entirety. A self service way is introduced as customers collect shopping cart, proceed to open-shelf warehouse (for smaller items) then proceed to furniture warehouse where they could collect previously noted showroom product (but in a flat pack form). Furniture warehouse is usually located adjacent to main store. Ultimately proceeding to cashier for due payments. Retail Business Model of IKEA All trading of IKEA is through its outlets as well as internet, called as Clicks and Mortar or Bricks Clicks or Bricks, Clicks Flips (Catalogues). The usability of both of the ways for sales proved advantageous for the IKEA and for consumers as well: Developers Perspective Profitability of IKEA Management Perspective Increased / better productivity User Perspective Accuracy/ satisfaction/ cost effective To fulfill the above described criteria products have be efficient, effective as well as user friendly. Flaws of this system include Security problems, staff retraining or new technical staff, more employees loosing jobs and redundancies. Establishment of e-business is still advantageous for IKEA as counter mediation made payment available to them before goods are delivered, goods are supplied in time further reducing inventory cost, space for storage, direct delivery to customers home further reduces their cost. Structure of IKEA: OPERATIONAL Level Information Management system of IKEA Main structure of IKEA family comprises of â€Å"INGKA Holding† which is the main (parent) company for all the IKEA group companies. This INGKA foundation consists of 5 member executive committee naming â€Å"Kampard†, his wife and 3 attorneys (The Economist, 2006). IKEA Group company supervisory board comprises of Goran Grosskopf, the chairman and Ingvar Kampard being senior advisor and many others representing their own territories. This group of companies is basically concerned with carrying out all the necessary functions to bring the right product to markets. These companies include IKEA Sweden, Swedwood (Industrial IKEA production company), purchasing, distribution, human resource services, internet technology and communications departments (all working together). All scattered branches of IKEA (Franchisees) are connected to a common system networking â€Å"inter IKEA system† at national as well as at international level (monitoring all the sales, stoc ks, cash, inventory, demand and supply balances). The basic unit of information is provided by managers at local stores (shift / branch/ area/ territory managers), all collaborating to disseminate information from local up to international level. This propagation of information is carried out through internet using wide area networks (ultimately spreading information from end user to main supplier). So Human computer interaction results in: Cost reduction less staff needed, Resource Land saving Tangible Deployment Business Improved More messages Productivity transmission New ideas/products Organizational new forms of integration Enhancement improved business Work Intangible Enhancement Business Human Resource Structure of IKEA: Human Resource is one of the strongest departments of IKEA as it gives emphasis on IKEAs vision Their HR philosophy believes that employees are more productive and committed when company takes care of them and their needs. Timings of IKEA Store Opening: IKEA outlets are open 24 hours a day, restoring and maintenance carried out at night hours. For such long working hours IKEA hires students at a minimum rate in return getting good quality work. As officially students are allowed to work part time hours, so remain available for various shifts. Recruiting process: Recruitment in IKEA starts from online basic test in form of multiple choice questions which are meant to judge the intelligence, personality and persons response towards a particular situation. Online testing is another factor for saving up the extra money spent on recruitment process as well as time saving. Passed candidates are then called for a face to face interview which shows their level of confidence, dedication, interests and future goals. Passing candidates then go through a short training period, ultimately becoming a member of IKEA. Data Security Control/ Biometric Control: Employees are supplied with specialized computerized made IKEA identity cards which they swipe on a card reader, having a data of time in, working hours and time out. For enhanced security each card contains picture of employee (which can be checked by shift manager on duty). Job Security/ Benefits: All employees are provided with benefits uniformly like worker health and safety, housing facilities, forced and bonded labor, no child labor harassment, abuse and disciplinary actions. Employees are empowered fully in terms of their task completion. Supply Chain Management of IKEA: Supply chain management spans all movement and storage of raw materials, work in process, inventory, finished goods, and their transportation from the point of origin to the point of consumption. Structure of IKEA is designed to optimize the efficacy of its designed products and supply process. For the purpose of ease it can be divided into 4 parts, each operating as a type of internal market. Sweden is the head quarter where all the basic furniture is designed. â€Å"Swedwood† the oldest supplier from Sweden for IKEA providing raw material mainly wood from its own forests but with time increasing demands of raw material forced IKEA to look for other suppliers. Currently there are more than 57 suppliers of raw material in furniture industry only, more interestingly these suppliers are not centered rather scattered worldwide but they all are connected with ECIS (IKEA s own system) which allows them to have look at inventory level, forecasting and transparency of supply chain , ultimately helping them to anticipate orders. Here another important IKEA perspective can be appreciated that it further neglects/reduces its switching costs at minimum as it always try to negotiate with previous suppliers rather than searching for newer ones. Retail division largely keeps all the responsibilities of controlling stores (franchises) world wide. For this purpose they have integrated complex communicating system (with the help of IT) which is maintained at every step . â€Å"Istra† the marketing decision maker set up a competitive tender to decide the production. More interestingly most products are manufactured in developing countries to keep down the costs. It is the responsibility of the â€Å"distribution centers† for the distribution (transportation) of raw material/ goods and designs to manufacturers (which again are not centered, giving huge emphases on communication and continuous support). IKEA ‘s highly trained technical s taff keep concentrating on design improvements as advised by management to make products that are functional, simple, well made, affordable, easy to get assembled and durable. A specialized integrated project team (IPT) ensures that all these demands are met at all levels. All the above described divisions though working independently but still are connected and being monitored by â€Å"Business Support Centers† which keep introducing newer technologies and logistics. Similarly IKEA transport manager make arrangements for all transportation s at a global level (in collaboration with support centers for product/ material tracing). IKEAs policy is to shorten lead time. Attempts are being made at supplier, manufacturer especially at transportation level, where bypassing most of the retail stores is being tried. For this purpose products are transported directly from the main distribution center to consumers house (at consumers cost) saving his time and saving IKEA money at the same time. For this purpose IKEA maintains 41 trading service offices, scattered in 30 countries with 1350 suppliers. Having discussed various steps of supply chain it can be said that it is the collaboration between suppliers, intermediaries, third party service providers and customers through various transport sources (Strategic Supply chain). On the basis of demands management takes decisions regarding purchasing and production, inventory decisions, transportation strategy and routes, at the same time keeping an eye on accounts (Tactical Supply chain) . Ultimately production and distribution planning, demand planning and forecasting, all inbound and outbound movements, order promising on day to day basis (Operational Supply chain). Shopping at IKEA Franchises: Radiofrequency Identification (RFID) Newer technology which enables remote and automated gathering, then sending information between RFID tags (attached with the products ) and readers (which could be handled units or fixed units as both are in operation in IKEA). RFID tag consists of an integrated circuit, having specific data which could range from a unique identity number up to a thousand bites data. When these tags are shown to readers all necessary information get flashed at the device (reader) which is connected with not only in store local area network but also with a higher level management (at international level) as communication satellites are in operation as well. So information propagating starts as soon as a product is shown to reader without any delay. Advantages of RFID System for IKEA Data transmission, storage and analysis become much easy now than before. Information between tags and readers is rapid, does not even require direct contact. Inventory and stock level could easily be accessed. On the basis of previous sales accurate forecasts for a particular product could be made. Disadvantages of RFID System for IKEA Newer technology needed trained staff Data had to put over tags and readers with accuracy Required some investment. Client Server Architecture A customer can place an order online or through a computer system placed at IKEA franchise. For this kind of order placement customer places an order, pays cash through his debit card (in UK cash payments are handled through PayPal which is considered as the safest way of e-shopping. After making a transaction he is given a â€Å"specific order number† he shows to the main reception staff and gets his desired product straight away. Pic In this case information gets flashed at all (local, national and international levels). â€Å"Just In Time† (JIT) Policy OF IKEA: For the purpose of further reducing cost IKEA uses just in time policy as all the furniture is not stocked at the store level, so when a product is ordered it is directly shipped from the warehouse to customers home at a cost of additional transportation charge (bypassing intermediaries and reducing costs to both consumer and IKEA itself). Pre requisite for JIT All departments (suppliers, designers, manufacturers, transportation) have to work in close association to shorten the time frame, cut the cost while no compromise at the quality. Requires handsome inventory. IT plays the most crucial part for JIT to function at its best. Pull Based Model for IKEA Customer Relation Management Customer relation management can be discussed under 3 headings: Customer Relation Management Sales Marketing Customer Service â€Å"Sales† could be further discussed as IKEA uses the below given ways for sales. Web sales Sales Phone Field (Franchise) These Points have discussed earlier in the assignment. IKEA Catalogue Marketing of IKEA Web Marketing IKEA Catalogue: IKEA catalogue provides the most important tool for the purpose of marketing. IKEA is known as the trend setter in the catalogue publishing field. Annually published catalogue is in 27 languages and is published in 36 countries (†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..) Catalogue accounts more than 70% of the IKEAs annual marketing budget. It is said that more copies of IKEA Catalogue are printed as compared to Bible each year. PIC A quarterly printed magazine â€Å"IKEA FAMILY† further supplements the catalogue in terms of marketing. IKEA Website Marketing An up to date, well maintained website for marketing purposes is maintained round the clock. A specialized team of IT consultants remain available for all the times. Every promotional, seasonal offers, sales, discounts and special offers are displayed for the interest of customers. A wide range of products remain separately available on stock for e- shopping. On field Promotional staff Customer Service Play Area for Kids Bargain Corner IKEA Warranty IKEA Special handling booklets On field/Ground Staff: A well trained ground staff is available at store round the clock providing a high level of customer support. Friendly staff of IKEA feels pride helping their customers. Its a part of their routine practice to promote and assist their customers interest and guide them towards purchasing their goods. Play Area for Kids: IKEA has introduced a separate play area for children (aging 3 to 10 years of age). This facility is provided free of charge. As play area is a separate unit in the IKEA franchise so parents are provided with hand held pagers in order to get back to their children if they need some help during shopping. This unique feature is available only at IKEA stores which makes its customers more interested in visiting and shopping from IKEA. Bargain Center: A bargain corner is specially meant for returned, damaged or previously displayed products at a fairly reasonable low price. These products though are priced quite low as compared to other products but with no warranty. Furthermore on buying such goods customers are reminded again that this product does not carry any warranty and all the products clearly mention that either they are repaired, returned damaged or previously was displayed in the store. IKEA Warranty: All IKEA products come with IKEA warranty cards. Warranty of IKEA products ranges from minimum of 5 years up to 20 years depending upon the type of product and its life cycle. If a product gets damaged before this time customer is offered free service or even complete new product replacement. For these purposes IKEA keeps its customers details on records in order to trace them on their demand. IKEA Special Handling Booklets: As IKEA products are pre assembled and customer has to assemble the furniture himself, for this purpose customer is provided with a special product handling booklets which describes all the basic information regarding assembling all the material. Booklet further provide guidance for its proper usage, any precautions and safety advices. IKEA Outsourcing IKEA Help lines IKEA uses its help lines as a basic tool for outsourcing. A well trained, highly motivated staff is available round the clock to assist customers at all the levels. These help lines are free of charge and can be assessed 24 hours. Customers make calls; tell them their product reference number (mentioned on the booklets) Customer service assistant check that number in their computer system and get all the necessary information. Then they guide consumers what to do and where to report further or in case if they need any guidance they are given guidance if possible at the same time. Development of Internet Technology (IT) IKEA main center can be assessed through internet as all necessary guidance, sales, discounts, special offers and details of specified products can be assessed while sitting at home, or on work without any time delay. Development of IT therefore provides a major source of not only promotional perspective but sales and customers service as well. Help desk is available not only at IKEA stores but online as well. Limitations of IT Internet technology is labor intensive for both data input as well as accessibility. Well experienced staff is needed to gather all the necessary information from all the relevant departments (starting from a local level to national to global level). A separate IT department is mandatory for its time to time approach and functioning efficiently. Internet viruses/ hackers are a continuous threat for an active IT department. Many organizations may not want to supply information regarding their quality costs as they may have to face increased competitive force. Human errors, environmental hazards and computer system failures still remain unintentional threats. An educated/ well aware audience is needed to avail the internet advantages.

Gettysburg, By Ronald F. Maxwell - 2459 Words

Knowledge about past significant events is crucial, as it helps us to understand exactly what helped to shape our country the way it is today. This information can only be gained by accurate depictions of historical events, which is evident in the film, Gettysburg. The epic war film, Gettysburg, is directed by Ronald F. Maxwell in 1993, and is known for its accurate depiction of the clash between the armies of the Union and Confederacy in a small Pennsylvania town, during the Civil War in 1863. Gettysburg is based on the famous book The Killer Angels . Through close analysis and observation it is evident that Gettysburg, is portrayed as an objective re-enactment of the events that occurred in The Battle of Gettysburg during the Civil War.†¦show more content†¦That summer was especially harsh on both sides. The casualty lists were extremely lengthy as the two sides faced off in some of the deadliest engagements of the war. Guns and Tactics Military tactics and strategies are depicted in a historically accurate way for both the union and confederate armies. The rank of a Civil War soldier indicated his duties and responsibilities within the army. The vast majority of men who fought in the civil war were enlisted men who fought as soldiers. Above them were non-commissioned officers and commissioned officers. While officers had more prestige than soldiers, they also had a lot more responsibilities, since they were accountable for all the soldiers under their command. In the movie we can see that General Robert E. Lee and General Reynolds are clearly in control and have the highest control of dictating soldiers, with who have lower ranks. Furthermore this attribute can be further seen when Colonel Chamberlain (in the Union army) speaks to the 20th Main, on whether they should continue to fight with the Union. The motivational speech emotionally expatiated, indicates the true power and ability high ranked soldiers have du ring the Civil War. The speech is clearly able to motivate and persuade the young men to fight against the Confederates. This ranking hierarchy

Last Time Consecutive Democratic Presidents Were Elected

Political analysts and Beltway pundits can debate the obstacles facing Democrats in the 2016 presidential election. But theres one inescapable truth facing the partys nominee, no matter if its Hillary Clinton or Elizabeth Warren or Julian Castro: Voters rarely elect someone from the same party for consecutive terms. â€Å"Mostly, the White House flips back and forth like a metronome. Voters just get tired after eight years,† the writer Megan McArdle wrote. Explains political analyst Charlie Cook: They tend to conclude that it is time for a change, and they trade the in party for the out party. In fact, since American politics evolved into what we know as the current two-party system, the last time voters elected a Democrat to the White House after a president from the same party had just served a full term was in 1856, before the Civil War. If thats not enough to scare of presidential hopefuls in the Democratic Party who want to succeed two-term President Barack Obama, what is? Last Democrat to Succeed a Democrat The last Democrat elected to succeed a Democratic president was James Buchanan, the 15th president and the only one ever to come from Pennsylvania. Buchanan succeeded President Franklin Pierce. Youd have to go back even further in history to find the most recent instance of a Democrat being elected to succeed a two-term president from the same party. The last time that happened was in 1836 when voters elected  Martin Van Buren to follow  Andrew Jackson. This, of course, does not include the four terms of Democrat Franklin Delano Roosevelt; he was elected to the White House in 1932 and re-elected in 1936, 1940 and 1944. Roosevelt died less than a year into his fourth term, but he is the only president to have served more than two terms. Why It's so Rare There are very good explanations for why voters rarely choose a president from the same party for three consecutive terms. The first and most obvious one is fatigue with and unpopularity of the president who is completing his second and final term at the time of the election for his successor. That unpopularity often sticks to the candidate of the same party. Just ask some of the Democrats who sought unsuccessfully to succeeded Democratic presidents including  Adlai Stevenson in 1952) Hubert Humphrey in 1968 and, most recently, Al Gore in 2000.   Another reason is distrust of people and parties who hold power for too long. The distrust of people in power ... dates back to the age of the American Revolution and the mistrust of hereditary rulers with no curbs on their powers, wrote the National Constitution Center. What It Meant in 2016 The rarity of presidents from the same party being elected consecutively is not lost on political analysts when it came to the 2016 presidential election. Many believed the success of Hillary Clinton, who was the most likely contender for Democratic nominee, hinged on who the Republicans chose. Opined the New Republic: The Democrats could benefit if the Republicans nominate a relatively inexperienced right-winger or someone who possesses the temperament of a high school football coach rather than a president ... If they opt for an experienced centrist in 2016  Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã‚  Florida’s Jeb Bush is the obvious example  Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã‚  and if the party’s right wing doesn’t demand he toe the line, they could stand a good chance of reclaiming the White House and of confirming Americans’ reluctance to keeping the same party in the White House three terms in a row.

Analysis Of Leo Tolstoy s The French Artist - 1258 Words

Leo Tolstoy’s aesthetical assessment of art, and the role progress plays in regards to it, contrast greatly from that of the French artist, Marcel Duchamp. However connections can be made between their various aesthetical art theories, including in a way, the relationship the art has with the viewer. Although the audience’s role is radically different to each, it is essential component to both, Duchamp’s and Tolstoy’s aesthetical theories. Tolstoy approaches the aesthetic view of art as a necessity to society. He sees art as one of the fundamental forms of intercourse between mankind. One of the most effective ways to exchange ideas and emotions is through art. It can transcend language, and time to purvey a message in a manor that is unable to be done in any other fashion. Tolstoy arguably sees something as art, if and only if the artist is able to purvey a feeling or emotion to the spectator, that the artist has felt prior, and then infects them (the a udience) with that desired feeling or emotion. This is connected to Duchamp’s idea of art, but contrasts greatly in that the relationship with the artist to the art is diminished. While the art must conjure an interactive response from the spectator, the artist’s role in conveying that particular response should be minimal to none, according to Duchamp. This is the exact opposite of Tolstoy. Without the artist forcing a strict idea of what the desired outcome of the artwork is going to be on theShow MoreRelatedAnalysis of Leo Tolstoy and His Work How Much Land Does a Man Need?2543 Words   |  11 PagesHow Much Land Does A Man Need?, by Leo Tolstoy was influenced by his life and times. Leo Tolstoy encountered many things throughout his life that influenced his works. His life itself influenced him, along with poverty, greed and peasant days in 19th century Russia. br brTolstoys eventful life impacted his works. Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy was born into a family of aristocratic landowners in 1828 at the family estate at Yasnaya Polyana, a place south of Moscow. His parents died in the 1930sRead MoreCleanth Brookss Essay Irony as a Principle of Structure9125 Words   |  37 PagesMarx’s economic theories as such: we shall confine our discussion to their methodological premises and implications. It will in any case be obvious to the reader that the present writer upholds the validity of their content. Secondly, a detailed analysis of Rosa Luxemburg’s thought is necessary because its seminal discoveries no less than its errors have had a decisive influence on the theories of Marxists outside Russia, above all in Germany. To some extent this influence persists to this day. ForRead MoreHerbert Spencer Essay13142 Words   |  53 Pagesthought dominated American universities. The last of those decades, the 1890s, produced the revolution in e ducational thought and psychology led by William James and John Dewey, Stanley Hall, and E. L. Thorndike, all influenced by Spencer. In Britain, J. S. Mill backed financially the subscription scheme that launched Spencers work, and the scientists supported him too. Charles Darwin wrote, After reading any of his books I generally feel enthusiastic admiration for his transcendental talents, but added

Why The Drinking Age Should Be Changed - 1652 Words

The feasibility of why the drinking age should be changed from 21 to 18 can be shown in a variety of reasons, which would show that the drinking age should be changed. If this law was changed it would benefit several people for it would create less stress for certain people and it simply makes sense to change it. Although there will be a few people that may not agree with it, although the reasons that will be shared can help change those people’s minds. By changing this law it will help this country out by putting the stress level of cops down, it will help out the economy, people at that age are considered to be adults, less binge drinking incidents, less drunk driving fatalities, eliminate people underage to feel the excitement of drinking illegally, less fake IDs and it will also help there to be less underage drinking that will happen. Overall this will just create stuff like this that will help improve this country. The reason for this is there will be a great amount of less people that are underage drinking for people needing to worry about. When it comes to the drinking age it has been talked about for numerous years in which it should be changed or kept where it is at. With the drinking age is people can argue this issue for both sides of it, which this makes it tough to bring forth any changes for the drinking age. This issue can cause a great deal of problems for the United States as there are people fighting for the government to change the drinking ageShow MoreRelatedLowering the Drinking Age to 18 May Help Reduce Binge Drinking1072 Words   |  5 Pagesdebate of the drinking age has been long discussed throughout America. The drinking age has been 21 for the last 22 years, and people around the country have wondered weather or not this was the right call. People say that 18 year olds may not be mature enough to drink alcohol and might not know when to stop. It isn’t that teenagers don’t know how to stop, but rather have not been properly taught when enough has been consumed or how to drink respon sibly. Changing the drinking age from 21 to 18Read MoreThe Debate Over The Drinking Age1025 Words   |  5 Pages I have always wondered why the drinking age was raised to twenty-one. I have looked and researched the following information but still don’t have a true explanation as to why it was raised to the age of twenty-one. The movement called Amethyst Initiative began recruiting university presidents to provoke national debate about the drinking age. College Presidents from about 100 of the nation’s universities, are calling on law makers to consider lowering the drinking age from twenty-one to eighteenRead MoreShould The Legal Alcohol Age Be Changed?1560 Words   |  7 Pagesfight for our country at the age of 18 and seeing things that only you could imagine in the battlefield. Coming home from deployment and just wanting a simple beer for your hard work but not being able to buy any because you are not 21 years of age. How is that fair to the men in the mili tary forces? Fighting for our country’s freedom but not being able to have a few beers with your closest friends and family members. The topic of the legal alcohol age being changed has been a great topic for anyoneRead MoreThe Effects of Lowering the Drinking Age to 181126 Words   |  5 PagesLowering The Drinking Age Alcohol is considered to be a large problem in society today. Especially with young adults between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one. Which presents the question of whether or not the drinking age should be lowered. Lowering the legal drinking age to eighteen would have positive and negative influences on society. Positive through raising more government taxes and keep high school age and young college students out of trouble with the law for drinking. Negatively;Read More Underage Drinking Essay example842 Words   |  4 PagesUnderage Drinking In the article Why the Drinking Age should be Lowered, Ruth Engs believes that the drinking age should be lowered to about 18 or 19. Engs is a Professor at Indiana University in the Health and Sciences department. In this article Engs makes a valid point in that â€Å"responsible drinking could be taught through role modeling and educational programs.† Engs also states facts about the different drinking ages in other countries, and that the United States has the highest legalRead MoreThe Legal Drinking Age Should Be Abolished1634 Words   |  7 Pageslegal drinking age. In 1984 the National Minimum Drinking Age act was passed and raised the drinking age in the United States to twenty-one. This law caused uproar in states that had declared the minimum drinking age to be eighteen. Alcohol consumption is a major factor in cultural and social matters and the National Minimum Drinking Age has affected everybody. This law is unjust because of many reasons. One of the most promi nent reasons is that it is an ex-post facto law. The legal drinking age shouldRead MoreShould The Legal Age Be Lowered?1326 Words   |  6 PagesShould the legal age be lowered? There are many arguments on why the legal drinking age should be lowered to eighteen. To some, lowering the drinking age to eighteen makes sense and to others it does not make sense at all. Most people believe that if eighteen year olds are old enough to make big decisions such as enlist in the Army, Navy, or other Military services then eighteen year olds are old enough to drink also. Not only does lowering the legal drinking age put the drinker at harm but alsoRead MoreThe Legal Drinking Age Should Be Abolished893 Words   |  4 PagesEighteen Currently in the United States the legal age to drink alcohol is twenty-one years old. Before the 1980s, the legal drinking age was eighteen years old. In 1980, the drinking age was changed to twenty-one to diminish the number of traffic deaths caused by young drunk drivers. Changing the drinking age to twenty-one has not reduced drinking, it only made teens drink in unsafe and illegal environments. The drinking age should be changed to eighteen, because eighteen year olds have the rightRead MoreWe Can Fight in a War, but Cant Have a Drink?877 Words   |  4 Pagesbut they also create a demographic for college students under the age of twenty-one. The legal drinking age should be changed from twenty-one to eighteen. Not only would it create more buyers in a struggling economy, but it just makes the most logical sense in a country where anyone eighteen or over is considered an adult. In 1987 the United States passed a law mandating all states to have a twenty-one year old alcohol purchase age. This means over half of college students are not legal to buy alcoholRead MoreThe Minimum Drinking Age Act1211 Words   |  5 Pages Some people find it hard to understand that at the age of eighteen you can fight and die for your country, but you cannot legally drink or purchase alcoholic beverages. Others find it hard to believe that there are people who want people under the age of twenty-one drinking. The important question is: should the drinking age be lowered to eighteen instead of remaining at twenty-one? The legal drinking age is the age at which a person can consume or purchase alcohol. These laws cover a wide range

Ants Speech Essay Example For Students

Ants Speech Essay No Idea could prove to be a challenging piece to use for an exam due to the fact that there is a lot of key information missing which some people may not favor. In contrast, it may be an easy piece for some people to use if they favor this style. The same goes for Ants Speech except in this case a lot of the information is filled in.  Although both stimuli are different on first glance they also have several similarities contained within them, when of the most obvious ones is the theme of bullying. Although different forms of bullying for instance, in No Idea the bullying in that poem is more than likely to be more verbal if not all verbal unlike in Ants Speech which is more physical, although probably sparked by a verbal insult. One of the similarities which we would normally pass up as it seems insignificant is that they are both based upon real life events however when I re-think this I begin to think and appreciate that this is actually one of the more significant similarities. Finally the key similarity when being used for inspiration in a piece of drama is that they both are very emotional and contain hard hitting and real life events which are actually happening right now so they are also somewhat factual. Of course they are bound to have differences but there are several which spark real interest. In my opinion the key one is the year they were written in; there is a ten year difference between each piece. Ants Speech written in 1997, has had a long time since it was written so maybe things are not like that today, however I do think racism will be persistent and will never die out completely, the same applies for suicide but I am aware of several anti-racism campaigns since 1997 so maybe numbers of these types of incidents maybe have decreased by a vast amount or possibly even risen making an even bigger problem! Along with the date written being a major difference the country written in is also a vital point. Americans are known for being very over the top so to some people Americans resorting to suicide may not seem as big as an issue. The fact about racism in each country also plays a big role, Americans are probably more tolerant with different races than English, in America there are lots of people with different ethnic backgrounds living in together and different races are generally more tolerant towards one-another. Both are very inspirational in the types of drama they inspire and both have several element which will remain the same in both. They both feature one predominant character in which we are more than likely intended to focus in on; Ant and Roberta. In accompaniment with each of these they both have an almost open ended amount of family and friends to explore due to the nature of them both being based around school children, the actors could explore two sides of the story in each, family and friends/schoolmates.  If I had to chose one I preferred most I would choose Ants Speech I believe it suits my style of acting well and I personally feel it would be better drama wise and enjoyment. It is also a versatile piece. With two sides to explore and lots of room to use imagination to create ideas for Wassim and his friends it would definitely be the one I would favor.

Risk Management for E-Business-Free-Samples- Myassignmenthelp

Question: Write a Litrature review on Project Risk Management. Answer: Introduction According to the Project Management Institutes PMBOK, risk management is the aspect which is included in one of the top ten knowledge areas in which it is necessary for the project manager to remain competent. Project risk could be defined as the events which are uncertain and have a great impact on the whole project. For a project manager it is important to evaluate the strategies with the effect of which project risk could be mitigated and assurance could be made that the project will get completed in a smooth manner and within the time frame decided by the manager. The report will be developed with the effect of which content related with project risk management will be availed to the target population. It is necessary that to deliver proper information related with the research topic, researcher should analyze all set of scholarly papers and should determine the factors which could help in mitigating the risk aspects which could affect the project process. Literature Review Literature review is the section of the research in which various scholarly papers will be studied and knowledge will be delivered to the target population with the effect of which they will make a decision so as to manage and mitigate the risk (De Jong, Ferris, 2016). In several years it is evaluated that the industry was severely affected by various set of violent incidents which are affecting the industry as well as the projects which are initiated by them. Risk aspects or the uncertain incidents have a huge impact on all set of economic activities as a huge investment is being made by the organizations on the new projects. Due to the risk factors companies have to face huge losses hence, it has become important for the companies to develop the strategies with the help of which these risk factors could get mitigated and work related with the project could be processed in a smooth manner (Labbi, 2014). The Risk It is being seen that the thematic of the risk management is not new, but it is the aspect which is not being studied in the proper way (Lawless, 2010). Many of the people do not consider the risk factors as they focus more upon the projects and the targets which are set by them. Risk is available in almost every activity of the project and it is required that corrective measures should be taken by the organization to mitigate the risk. According to Bart Jutte there are 10 golden rules of to manage the project risk and it is necessary that all these rules should be taken into consideration with the effect of which a step could be taken by the organizations to manage the project risks in an effective way (Levine, Waters, 2012). Ten Golden Rules to Manage Project Risk Ensure That the Risk Management Could Become a Part of The Part For a project manager working on the project it is important that he should indulge in the practices of adopting risk management as the project part. Habit should be developed with the effect of which manager could ensure to merge the project practices with risk management. Risk management aspects will help in assuring that the project will be completed in a smooth manner and within the required budget and time (Budzier, 2011). Identify Risks In the Initial Time of Project Process Identifying the risk factors in initiation stage of the project will provide a support to mitigate all set of future risks which could occur in the project (Nakayachi, 2014). Forecasting method is the method which will help in predicting the future risks and analyzing the ways which could support in mitigating the future risks whose possibilities of occurrence are more in the project. Risk register should be prepared by the project manager. Communicate About Risk Project manager should ensure that all the risk factors should be communicated effectively to all the team members indulged in the project. One of the effective methods to communicate about the risk is kick of meeting. Project manager should call each and every team member and organize a Kick-Off meeting and assurance should be made that all the team members should remain present in the meeting (Straussman Tiwari, 2015). With the help of the Kick Off meeting an assurance will be made that the risk which could incur in the project should be known to every single member working on the project. Consider Both Threat and Opportunities It is important that both threat as well as opportunities should be taken into consideration by the project manager while working on it (Gladden, 2012). Considering the threat and opportunities will ensure to provide the direction to the company with the effect of which risk will be mitigated. Threats which could impact the future processes of the project should be done, than a plan should be made to insure that these threats could be overcome by the company. Project manager should keep eye on the opportunities and should try to grab them as soon as possible. Clarify Ownership Issues Ownership issues must be clarified by the project manager; it means that the responsibilities as well as authorities must be effectively divided among the all the members of the team processing the project. Providing clarity will help in reducing the risk of clashes and will ensure that the internal decorum of the business could remain maintained (Yadav, 2017). Priorities Risks Setting risk priorities will help in gaining direction to choose the right track and will help the project manager to develop the strategies according to the priorities. This will also help the researcher in mitigating the risk in a proper as well as effective way. Analyze Risk Analyzing the risk will help in managing the things in a proper way. Risk analysis will ensure to provide a proper set of path to the project manager with the effect of which the risk will be mitigated and project will be processed in a proper way (Armstrong, et. al., 2013). Plan and Implement Risk Reponses Project manager have certain set of responsibilities attached with the project and one of it is to prepare a plans and implement it so as to provide proper response to the risk. Plan and implementation will ensure to provide a better set of support to the project manager to manage the project (Teller, Kock and Gemnden, 2014). Register Project Risk Development of the risk register will safeguard the interest of the manager. Recording all set of risks predicted by the risk management team will help in dealing with then in near future and taking the precautions to ensure that the project could get processed in a smooth manner. Risk Tracking and the Related Tasks Project manager and the risk team should indulge in the practices of tracking the risk and the associated tasks with the effect of which the strategies could be developed by the researcher to mitigate the risk factors. Tracking such type of aspects helps in maintaining the internal decorum and processing the work in a smooth and subtle way (Budzier, 2011). Conclusion After review of the literature and various other scholarly articles it could be concluded that the Managing Risks related with the project is the aspect which is to be taken seriously by the managers indulged in the project. All risk factors whose possibilities are more to incur in the project should be undertaken and consideration should be developed so as to manage the project and process the same in an effective way. Planning is one of the most important aspects which play a very vital role in managing the risk and mitigating the same. Planning and organizing Kickoff meetings will help the project manager to work on the risk and communicate all the risk factors which could affect the organization in near future. Hence, it could be said that more studies should be done so as to gather more proper as well as relevant set of information in relation with the risk and scholars should try to provide more concrete information related with the same. This will help the organizations in dev eloping the strategies with the effect of which risk will be mitigated and project will be processed in a proper as well as effective way. References Armstrong, J., Rhys-Jones, M., Dresner, D. (2013).Managing Risk(1st ed.). Hoboken: Taylor and Francis. Budzier, A. (2011). The risk of risk registers managing risk is managing discourse not tools.Journal Of Information Technology,26(4), Pp. 274-276. De Jong, P. Ferris, S. (2016). SM Bonds-A New Product for Managing Longevity Risk.Journal Of Risk And Insurance. Pp.122-133 Labbi, A. (2014).Handbook of Integrated Risk Management for E-Business(1st ed.). Boca Raton: J. Ross Publishing Incorporated. Lawless, C. (2010). Managing Epistemic Risk in Forensic Science: Sociological Aspects and Issues.Sociology Compass,4(6), Pp. 381-392. Levine, E. Waters, J. (2012). Managing Risk at the Tucson Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol.Risk Analysis,33(7), Pp. 1281-1292. Nakayachi, K. (2014). Examining Public Trust in Risk-Managing Organizations After a Major Disaster.Risk Analysis,35(1),Pp. 57-67. Straussman, J. Tiwari, A. (2015). Managing Disaster Risk: An Integrative Essay About Governance, Capacity, Fragility, and Vulnerability.Risk, Hazards Crisis In Public Policy,6(4), Pp. 344-366. Budzier, A. (2011). The risk of risk registers managing risk is managing discourse not tools.Journal of Information Technology, 26(4), pp.274-276. Gladden, R. (2012). The Project Risk Maturity Model: Measuring and Improving Risk Management Capability.Project Management Journal, 43(5), pp.101-101. Yadav, N. (2017). Risk And Risk Management Techniques Of Banks: A Detail Study Of Basel Accord.Journal of Management Value and Ethics, 7(1), pp.138-139. Teller, J., Kock, A. and Gemnden, H. (2014). Risk Management in Project Portfolios Is More Than Managing Project Risks: A Contingency Perspective on Risk Management.Project Management Journal, 45(4), pp.67-80.

Nuclear Weapons, Explosive Devices, Designed To Release Nuclear Energy

Nuclear Weapons, explosive devices, designed to release nuclear energy on a large scale, used primarily in military applications. The first atomic bomb (or A-bomb), which was tested on July 16, 1945, at Alamogordo, New Mexico, represented a completely new type of artificial explosive. All explosives prior to that time derived their power from the rapid burning or decomposition of some chemical compound. Such chemical processes release only the energy of the outermost electrons in the atom. See Atom and Atomic Theory. Nuclear explosives, on the other hand, involve energy sources within the core, or nucleus, of the atom. The A-bomb gained its power from the splitting, or fission, of all the atomic nuclei in several kilograms of plutonium. A sphere about the size of a baseball produced an explosion equal to 20,000 tons of TNT. The A-bomb was developed, constructed, and tested by the Manhattan Project, a massive United States enterprise that was established in August 1942, during World War II. Many prominent American scientists including the physicists Enrico Fermi and J. Robert Oppenheimer, and the chemist Harold Urey, were associated with the project, which was headed by a U.S. Army engineer, Major General Leslie Groves. After the war, the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission became responsible for the oversight of all nuclear matters, including weapons research. Other types of bombs were developed to tap the energy of light elements, such as hydrogen. In these bombs the source of energy is the fusion process, in which nuclei of the isotopes of hydrogen combine to form a heavier helium nucleus (see Thermonuclear, or Fusion, Weapons below). This weapons research has resulted in the production of bombs that range in power from a fraction of a kiloton (1000 tons of TNT equivalent) to many megatons (1 million tons of TNT equivalent). Furthermore, the physical size of the bomb has been drastically reduced, permitting the development of nuclear artillery shells and small missiles that can be fired from portable launchers in the field. Although nuclear bombs were originally developed as strategic weapons to be carried by large bombers, nuclear weapons are now available for a variety of both strategic and tactical applications. Not only can they be delivered by different types of aircraft, but rockets and guided missiles of many sizes can now carry nuclear warheads and can be launched from the ground, the air, or underwater. Large rockets can carry multiple warheads for delivery to separate targets. Fission Weapons In 1905 Albert Einstein published his special theory of relativity. According to this theory, the relation between mass and energy is expressed by the equation E = mc2, which states that a given mass (m) is associated with an amount of energy (E) equal to this mass multiplied by the square of the speed of light (c). A very small amount of matter is equivalent to a vast amount of energy. For example, 1 kg (2.2 lb) of matter converted completely into energy would be equivalent to the energy released by exploding 22 megatons of TNT. In 1939, as a result of experiments by the German chemists Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann (1902-80), who split the uranium atom into two roughly equal parts by bombardment with neutrons See Neutron, the Austrian physicist Lise Meitner, with her nephew, the British physicist Otto Robert Frisch (1904-79), explained the process of nuclear fission, which placed the release of atomic energy within reach. The Chain Reaction When the uranium or other suitable nucleus fissions, it breaks up into a pair of nuclear fragments and releases energy. At the same time, the nucleus emits very quickly a number of fast neutrons, the same type of particle that initiated the fission of the uranium nucleus. This makes it possible to achieve a self-sustaining series of nuclear fissions; the neutrons that are emitted in fission produce a chain reaction, with continuous release of energy. The light isotope of uranium, uranium-235, is easily split by the fission neutrons and, upon fission, emits an average of about 2.5 neutrons. One neutron per generation of nuclear fissions is necessary to sustain the chain reactions. Others may be lost by escape from the mass of chain-reacting material, or they may be absorbed in impurities or in the heavy uranium isotope, uranium-238, if it

What Type of Sample Essay to Write About a Company?

What Type of Sample Essay to Write About a Company?Many people fail to write a great sample essay, but others succeed. It is possible to master the craft of writing a great essay or test, if you apply yourself to writing it consistently. There are many methods to writing a great essay and it will depend on your style of writing. Here are some sample essays, you can look at to get started.A sample essay about a company in general is best for those who are already familiar with the company. A company in general is a good example because there are many companies and types of companies. There is also something here for everyone because there are so many employees at each of the different companies. This type of essay is so easy to write because the main thing is the information and facts that you can pass on.A general essay can include aspects of the company like the industry, location, and even the employee's education. The company itself will be the main subject of the essay and should go beyond just the products or services that the company sells. A sample essay on how great the company is because of its employee's attitude and overall well being is very important to pass on. Be sure to mention the employee's job description when writing about how great the company is.A sample essay about sports or video games is very popular and has a wide range of topics to cover. Sports that are popular or just out of hand are popular topics because they get attention from the audience. Online sports videos have increased greatly in recent years and are definitely something that everyone can relate to. The entertainment and excitement of watching sports videos are something that people have enjoyed for many years.Essays about employees are also popular because people love to get a feel for a company by knowing how the people there act. A great tip to help students in their writing is to write their own version of a student essay for an examor class. If they are not sure about how to write a sample essay, they can use a textbook for a sample essay. The best way to write the essay is to be sure that it is as true to you as possible so that the general population will be able to understand.Another popular topic for a sample essay is science fiction. This is a popular genre, because it is a good outlet for creativity. There are many great books that you can read that will help you write a good science fiction essay. If you want to write about another world, a movie or television show, be sure to list all the things that you know about the genre so that you are able to truly experience it yourself.While a sample essay may be written for a specific company, you should include a sample essay about any company that you can think of. It is very important to realize that a company can contain millions of employees, so it is important to include all the information about the company. You can use the same type of essay for a large corporation or small business.It i s very important to practice and hone your writing skills. You should be able to pass the sample essay on the first try and be able to easily read and decipher the information that you are passing on. When writing a sample essay, there are so many details that need to be noted.

Chapter 1 Systems Analysis and Design Thesis (Resort) Research Paper Example

Chapter 1 Systems Analysis and Design Thesis (Resort) Research Paper Example Chapter 1 Systems Analysis and Design Thesis (Resort) Paper Chapter 1 Systems Analysis and Design Thesis (Resort) Paper CHAPTER 1 THE PROBLEM AND THE REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE INTRODUCTION A resort is like a small community composed of buildings and facilities located in a scenic area that provides lodging, entertainment, and a relaxing environment for people on vacation. Basic accommodations offered by resorts nowadays are swimming pools, cottage and room rentals, and restaurants. The resort business is becoming popular nowadays due to the growing demand of people for a convenient one-stop-place of leisure and comfort. The resort is a business in which they offer enjoyable moments to visitors to make them feel that something worth noticing happens. Vacationers enjoy significant moments and the charm they feel also rewards the organization with genuine monetary gain in lieu of the staffs’ persistent efforts to make such places heavenly. Villa Concepcion Wet Wild Waves, Inc. is a growing resort business located in Masuso, Pandi, Bulacan. If people want to avoid the crowded areas especially during the hot summer season, this resort is definitely their choice. It has seven pools to choose from and a variety of affordable cottages and rooms available for the guests. They allow telephone reservations and accept walk-in guests. In today’s world, information technology is becoming a necessity. It helps in doing things easier, faster, and more convenient. It is beneficial to individuals and organizations such as business enterprises, companies, institutions, and the government. One big contribution of the information technology is the computer. A  computer  is a machine which can take instructions, and perform computations based on those instructions. Computers are fast becoming our way of life and one cannot imagine life without computers in today’s world. You go to a hotel for reservation, you buy a ticket for a cinema, you go to a library, or you go to a bank, you will find computers at all places. Almost all business entities use computer systems in dealing with their transactions and storage of their files. Computer has made the work easy with its speed, memory, reliability in computing, and ease to retrieve data. The study is made for the VCWWWI that deals with day-to-day operations transaction systems, room and cottages reservation, property management system, conference and banqueting system, and stock-control system. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE History of Resorts Roman Empire: Baths The origin of resorts can be traced back to the second century B. C. to the public baths of Rome. The first baths were small, modest and separated the genders. Eventually, the baths became larger, more elaborate and were opened to both men and women. These baths were large buildings built at the public’s expense. Some were even built by wealthy emperors who wanted to make a statement. Most baths were free but few had small entrance fees. Baths were much like resorts of today because of all the amenities offered at their location. After bathing there was always plenty to do. Most baths included gyms, libraries, snack bars, restaurants, shops, lounges, taverns, museums and theatres. The facilities were used for health and social purposes. Europe: Mass Follows Class The first noteworthy resort area was developed in Belgium in 1326 in a town now called Spa. An ironmaster, named Colin le Loup, was cured of a long-term illness when he bathed in the iron-rich waters near Liege. He opened a shelter there and the town surged in popularity. Spa means fountain. The popularity of spas and resorts in England is a result of King Charles II visiting trendy hot spots in the 1600s. Today, royalty and superstars still seem to set trends of where the best places to go are. Many English spas are unique because they have gambling and dancing. Spas also became popular because of the medical benefits that were attributed to them such as waters that were rich in certain minerals and could cure ailments. The Swiss resort industry was developed in the 1800s to aid the need of private resort facilities for more prosperous people. At the time, travel was not simple. People who traveled to resorts stayed for long periods of time – up to two months to get the best value for their travel expenses. This led to resort facilities being built to accommodate a guest better than your average inn. Hotel Baur au Lac, built in Zurich, was the first resort to utilize the value of a scenic view. At first, Switzerland resorts were seen as summer places, but soon skiing became popular as well as gambling. North America: Spas Like Europe, North American hotels were developed around spas in the late 1800s. The first resorts were built first in the east in Virginia, New York and West Virginia. Shortly after, seaside resorts became popular. It was not until later that beach resorts were built in the south and mountain-based resorts were developed out west. The first luxury resort was built in 1829 in Boston. It was called the Tremont House and featured bellboys, gaslights instead of candles and marble and private rooms with locks for each family. The first ‘big’ hotel was built by Gideon Putman in Saratoga Springs, New York centered   on the hot sulfur spa there. http://iml. jou. ufl. du/projects/Spring05/Osterer/history. html Water-based Resorts While mountain-based and golf and tennis-based resorts are geared toward people that are relatively athletic, water-based resorts target people with all abilities. One can relax on a beach for hours without lifting a finger. Another could swim or jet ski until they are exhausted. Water-based resorts serve different ability levels of people and all ages. Many resorts design their facility around the natural environment that surrounds them. This allows them to frame their recreational activities to the natural land. This enables them to create amenities unique to their property. Often resorts use water for a variety of recreational activities that cater to a wide range of people. These include: * Natural beaches that may be used for sunbathing, swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling, sandcastle building, jet skiing, kayaking, etc. * Trails and open spaces can be designed around lakes and wetlands. These areas can be used as fishing or camping sites. * Golf courses built on coast lines are growing in value and popularity. In the United States, many resorts highlight the views to promote their golf course. Marinas bring tourism to resorts as sailboats, motorized crafts and wind surfing stop to refuel or rest. When it comes to beach resorts, many variables come into play. A good beach should have a gentle uniform slope of about 7 percent. This creates a comfortable incline for sunbathers, walkers, joggers and sand-castle builders. The water purity and sand color are vital to an aesthetically  pleasin g area. In developing a beach-based resort, the designer should also consider the back beach which offers a view to both the sea and inland. Rooms with a scenic view are more profitable than rooms without it. Additionally, the surrounding area should be assessed to ensure access to major roads and other basic needs of guests that the resort cannot support. Other resorts use pools as a major source of entertainment. Using heated pools in winter assures that the facility is year-round friendly. Activities such as water bingo, log rolling and relay races may all be performed in the pool. Resorts can also host fitness classes in pools. A creative way to use water in northern resorts is to build indoor water parks. Safety should be a major concern for water-based resorts. Staff should be Red Cross trained if guarding pools and beaches. Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury related to children ages 14 and under. http://iml. jou. ufl. edu/projects/Spring05/Osterer/water. html Hotel Definition Origins of the term The word hotel derives from the French hotel, which referred to a French version of a townhouse, not a place offering accommodation (in contemporary usage, hotel has the meaning of hotel, and hotel particulier is used for the old meaning). The French spelling (with the circumflex) was once also used in English, but is now rare. The circumflex replaces the s once preceding the t in the earlier hostel spelling, which over time received a new, but closely related meaning. Services and facilities Basic accommodation of a room with only a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with en-suite bathrooms and, more commonly in the United States than elsewhere, climate control. Other features found may be a telephone, an alarm clock, a TV, and broadband Internet connectivity. Food and drink may be supplied by a mini-bar (which often includes a small refrigerator) containing snacks and drinks (to be paid for on departure), and tea and coffee making facilities (cups, spoons, an electric kettle and sachets containing instant coffee, tea bags, sugar, and creamer or milk). In the United Kingdom a hotel is required by law to serve food and drinks to all comers within certain stated hours; to avoid this requirement it is not uncommon to come across private hotels which are not subject to this requirement. However, in Japan the capsule hotel supplies minimal facilities and room space. Classification The cost and quality of hotels are usually indicative of the range and type of services available. Due to the enormous increase in tourism worldwide during the last decades of the 20th century, standards, especially those of smaller establishments, have improved considerably. For the sake of greater comparability, rating systems have been introduced, with the one to five stars classification being most common. http://reservation. travelaffiliatepro. com/content/hoteldefinition. tml The History of Hotels: From Economic To Extravagant Evidence of hotels and the hospitality industry have been recorded as far back as biblical times when Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem during the census. As the Bible depicts, Mary and Joseph were refused accommodations because there was no room at the inn. Since the beginning of time, people have traveled for commerce, religion, family, health, immigration , education and recreation. As cited by Texas Tech University, the word hospitality comes from the Latin root meaning host or hospice. The university further noted that the first hotels were nothing more than private homes opened to the public. Most, unfortunately, had poor reputations. Under the influence of the Roman Empire, inns and hotels began catering to the pleasure traveler in an effort to encourage visitors. The first inn located in America was recorded in the year 1607 and lead the way with many other firsts in the hospitality industry. The first publicly held hotel (the City Hotel) opened in New York in 1792. The first modern hotel (the Tremont) opened in Boston in 1809 and the first business hotel (the Buffalo Statler) opened in 1908. From there a surge of hotels flooded American and the rest of the world with prominent names such as Radisson, Marriot and Hilton. Price, Service, Amenities Hotels (as well as other forms of accommodations) are generally segmented by the services and amenities offered. These two factors, along with location, also have a bearing on the price range. * Budget hotels  offer clean albeit simple rooms that provide the basics of places to sleep and shower. Usually budget hotels are designed for travelers looking to maximize their funds and minimize expenses. Prices can range from $20US per night to $70US per night. Business hotels  offer a high standard by providing rooms equipped with what business travelers would consider necessities. Usually found in business-class hotel rooms are high speed Internet connections, alarm clocks, comfortable beds, irons and ironing boards, coffee makers, complimentary newspaper delivery and hairdryers. Rates can range from $80US per night to $250US per night. * The facility of a business hotel would also offer an in-house restaurant, bar, exercise room and shuttle service to nearby airports. Limit concierge assistance is often included as well as room service, laundry and dry cleaning and wake-up calls. Luxury hotels  are known for their lavish decor and extraordinary service. With superior amenities, accommodations at luxury hotels are designed to thoroughly pamper and impress guests. According to a Business Week Online article, those in the luxury market are getting harder to please stating that luxury goods and service providers cant afford to blunder with the level of service and customer experience they provide. For this reason, many luxury hotels go far beyond the norm by providing a lifestyle experience equal to or better than what guests have become accustomed to at home. Luxury hotels frequently offer full-service day spas, five-star restaurants staffed by world-class chefs, ballrooms, lavish pools, golf packages and gu est services that are unsurpassed by any other class of hotel. In addition, luxury rooms generally include those amenities found in business class hotels plus in-room safes, goose down comforters and pillows, marble showers and tubs, larger rooms, separate sitting or living area and fog-free bathroom mirrors. Rates can range from $129US per night to $2,000US per night. Rates vary greatly depending on location and proximity to popular events and attractions. There are other classifications of hotels, however, most will fall into one of these three or a combination of these three. With the lines between business and personal becoming more blurred, many entrepreneurs and business executives will attend conferences or embark on business trips with family in tow. Hotels are aware of this common occurrence and have become adept at providing facilities and service both business and recreational travelers enjoy. searchandgo. com/travel/hotels-history. php Definition of Information Technology Information technology has been defined by the Information Technology Association of America, or the ITAA as being the study, design, development, implementation support and/or management of any computer based information systems. This relates particularly to software applications and computer hardware. Information technology deals with using electronic computers and software to convert, store, protect, process, retrieve with security or transmit any information. What began many years ago as a term that many had no awareness of to a term that has skyrocketed to include several aspects of computing and technology. IT is a wide based term and encompasses many areas. Professionals in information technology may perform a wide variety of tasks that range from installing computer applications to designing widely complex computer networks and information databases. Everything from data management, networking, engineering computer hardware, software design, database design and management and administration of systems is included in the term of information technology. When covering the aspects of IT as a whole, the use of computers and information are typically associated. The history of IT goes back several years. In order to perform the functions associated with the field of technology the modern field will use computers, servers, database management systems and cryptography. It was not very long ago that the field of IT only consisted of a single computer operator who stored data on a magnetic tape and then placed it in storage. Times have changed drastically in the field of technology from its inception several years ago. The field today typically includes a Chief Information Officer and several individuals who work together to achieve their goals. Years ago there was simply a single operator who performed all the tasks related to this form of technology. Today the job outlook for people interested in this field is very good. With data security and server specialists among the highest paid in the field, those with the needed skills and a keen interest in IT stand to earn a substantial annual income. With the increasing concern for data storage and management, along with the security issues that most companies and corporations are facing, a career in IT is an excellent choice or those who possess mathematical and strategic planning skills. Since 1961 the Information Technology Association of America has been working to enhance the interests of US technology and electronics industries. This association provides leadership training in areas relating to business development, public policy, market forecasting and standards of development to a large number of corporations. The ITAA provides a grassroots approach to global networking for companies, market and government from the smallest local level to a global audience. It currently represents more than 16,000 information technological related companies throughout the world. Based in Washington, DC, the Information Technology Association of American is the only organization of its kind that helps to unite local, state, national and global businesses in the area of technology. While technology today encompasses a wide range of individual focuses, it is becoming increasing clear that the IT field of the future will include many more topics and more demand than ever before. For those interested in becoming part of this rapidly growing field the time is now. Getting in on new developments could prove to be a very exciting and lucrative choice. http://ezinearticles. com/? Definition-of-Information-Technology;id=1109986 Advantages of Information Technology in the Business World Not only is information technology a fascinating and rewarding field for those with an interest in programming or computer systems, workers in nearly every other industry benefit from the advantages of information technology. From high-speed communications systems to complex, specialized databases to customized internal computer networks,  information technology  is inseparable from the modern business world. In industries as diverse as health care, government, education and manufacturing, IT professionals work to meet a wide array of technology demands. IT professionals choose hardware and software appropriate to the requirements of a particular organization, and then they take charge of its installation, maintenance, security and efficiency. In many cases, their management skills and business acumen are just as important as their ability to work with computing technology. allbusinessschools. com/business-careers/article/advantages-of-information-technology Hotel and Catering Software Applications Vertical-market software for the hospitality industry can be divided into three broad categories: hotel, catering and back-office An important concept when discussing hospitality-related software is integrated hotel system, which is a set of computer applications that, together, assist in managing and controlling all aspects of hotel operations. Such a system helps management to better satisfy the needs of the guests, and should be capable of handling every transaction from the guest’s initial telephone inquiry to their final billing. An integrated hotel system is composed of many different systems linked together, which include the following: * Reservation systems. Many authors include the reservation function within the property-management system. However, with the growing importance of central reservations system (CRS) and other forms of electronic distribution, and the development of techniques such as yield management, reservations system must now be discussed separately. A reservation system has two primary functions: to display room availability and to manage bookings. Other functions can include the ability to track guest deposits and travel agent commission, and the ability to provide important management and operational information. * Property-management systems (PMS). Sometimes referred to as front-office systems, these track which rooms are currently occupied or vacant in the hotel, and maintain the guests’ folios by recording details of sales and payment transactions. A PMS is now a necessity for most hotels and it would be difficult, if not impossible, to manage a hotel of 100 bedrooms or more without one. * A multitude of ancillary systems used to support the hotel’s PMS. For example, electronic door-locking systems generate a unique electronic key each time a new guest is registered, thus helping to increase security. Energy-management systems help to reduce heat and power costs by automatically turning off heating or air conditioning in rooms or sections of the hotel which are unoccupied. In-room entertainment systems provide extra services such as information screens, films, or computer games to guests while at the same time generating additional revenue for the hotel. Telephone systems record data on each call made from the direct-dial telephone in the guest’s room. Several computer systems from the catering area also interface with the PMS. For example, electronic point-of-sales (EPOS) systems record the transactions that occur in the hotel’s bars and food outlets, while mini-bars are used to provide drinks and small food items in the guestroom. In the last three cases, integration between the systems allows charges to be posted automatically to the guest’s account folio, thus helping to increase security and ensure that the guest does not depart without paying for all services received. * Catering information systems (CIS). These manage and control all aspects of food and beverage productions and sales. A CIS is also composed of several separate systems linked together to exchange data. Recipe-costing systems accurately cost food and beverage items and automatically update costs when ingredient prices change. Stock-control systems track inventory movements, record deliveries and issues, and identify variances between actual and theoretical stock. EPOS systems transfer orders electronically from the service area to the kitchen, and ensure that guest bills are legible, accurately priced and up to date. Conference and banqueting systems manage and control the complex tasks of function reservations, organization and billing. Other examples of catering-related software packages focus on specialist areas such as beverage control, nutritional analysis and menu engineering. Integration is very important for the efficient operation of these systems. For example, the recipe-costing system uses up-to-date prices from the stock-control system to calculate the cost of various recipes, which are then combined to form menus. These menus are sold to the customer through both the conference and banqueting system and the EPOS. They are also used, together with the sales data from the EPOS to detect variances in stock levels by the stock-control system. * Back-office systems. Software is also widely used in what could be described as the normal business areas of the hospitality industry. For example, accounting systems track debtors and creditors and generate final accounts and management reports periodically. Payroll systems automate the process of calculating wages and salaries, as well as maintaining period-to-date balances. Software is also used in the marketing area for data warehousing and database marketing. Each of the above hospitality systems can be (and often is) used separately. However, the systems are much more effective if integrated and allowed to communicate with each other. For example, recipe-costing is much more accurate if the recipe-costing system can access the latest purchase prices from the stock control system. Similarly, security and control are greatly increased if ancillary systems such as electronic door locks and EPOS are linked directly into the property-management system. It is integration at this level that has given rise to the concept of the integrated hotel system- a suite of software packages which are linked and assist in managing and controlling all aspects of a hospitality establishment’s operations. Hotel Central Reservations Offices The growth of travel in the 1960s, which prompted the airlines to develop computerized reservations systems, put similar pressures on the hotels. Individual properties were receiving growing numbers of telephone calls, letters and telexes from potential customers wanting to book accommodation. Large clerical squads were needed to sort mail, type letters, send telegrams and handle other requests. Bottlenecks were frequent, administration costs skyrocketed and experienced staffs were in short supply. An opportunity for rationalization was recognized by many of the US hotel chains. They noted the inefficiencies of the existing system and determined the best way to serve the customer, and at the same time provide a valuable service to their member hotels, were to centralize the reservations function into central reservations offices (CROs). These functioned in a similar manner to the reservations offices operated by the airlines, except, of course, the product being sold was hotel rooms, not airline seats. The CRO kept track of the rates, availability, special packages, negotiated rates and descriptions of each property, and allowed customers to book any room in the chain by contacting a single central location. The booking process was further simplified by the introduction of toll-free telephone services in the United States in the mid-1960s, which allowed potential customers to make a single free telephone call to inquire about or book any of the chain’s hotels anywhere in the world. The UK-based budget hotel group Travelodge provides a very good example of how a CRO can operate efficiently. In all its marketing, the group publishes only a single free number that connects the customer (be it a travel agent or independent traveler) to the central reservations office. Individual reservation numbers for each property are not published and individual lodges do not handle advanced reservations, referring all inquiries to the CRO. In this way, reservations staff and operating costs on a group basis are kept to the minimum. Particularly interesting is its philosophy of never being full. Should the particular lodge requested not have rooms available, accommodation is automatically offered at a nearby alternative. Centralizing the reservation function also bring other advantages. Bottlenecks are reduced while, at the same time, reservations agent are used more intensively than they would be at unit level as centralization helps to average out the busy and slack periods. A more professional level of customer service is possible because of the use of dedicated, well-trained staff, and service quality is also more consistent as centralization makes it easier to monitor and control. Overall, the lesson is clear: a centralized booking environment is faster, more efficient and, if well-designed, far more economical to operate than unit level reservation offices. Only two major costs remained: telecommunications, as the CRO had to pay for the provision of the toll-free service; and the labor cost of the reservations agents needed to answer phones and process other inquiries. It didn’t take companies long to figure out that these, too, could be reduced by allowing customers direct access to their systems electronically. The incremental cost of processing a booking electronically is dramatically less expensive than processing a free call to a CRO. For example, a recent estimate claims that a voice booking, through a CRO, costs hotels between ? 12 and ? 15, while the cost of processing it electronically can be as low as ? 3. 50 (HSMAI, 1995). Computerized Reservation Systems Initially, central reservations agents processed booking by checking on ‘Availability Blackboards’ displayed on the walls of the center, or in massive books which were updated by hand. However, as booking volumes grew, these manual operating methods were quickly overwhelmed and hotel companies introduced computers to help manage the increasing workload. By developing their own systems, hotel companies gave themselves both the opportunity and the flexibility to make the systems more closely match the requirements of the hotel product. Free from the constraints of the GDS, the new systems were capable of incorporating extensive product details written in full, bbreviation-free English, along with an unlimited number of rates and room types. These developments made the system far more effective as both an informative and marketing tool, as it gave the hotelier the opportunity to differentiate based on product quality and features, as well as on price. Travel agents also benefited from the development of CROs and CRSs. Traditionally, they had used published travel guides such as the ABC Guide to find information when looking for a hotel to meet a guest’s needs a nd budget. While these provide considerable information on the facilities, etc, they rarely show room rates, as they are published infrequently and would become outdated too quickly. As a result, travel agents had to contact the hotel directly to determine rates and availability, which usually involved expensive long-distance telephone calls. Thus the advent of the CRO, which provided a free number to find information about and to make bookings in any hotel in a chain, greatly helped to reduce costs and encourage the booking of hotel rooms by the travel agents. However, as travel agents were already familiar with the use of computer systems for information search and booking purposes because of their use of the airline systems, the increasingly began to demand that hotel rooms be made available in the same way. From the travel agent’s perspective, the cost of finding information and processing a booking is much lower electronically. Using an electronic system, a travel agent with a client flying to Glasgow can check availability in hotels in the area on the required date, see what room rates each is offering, and make a booking in seconds and at a minimal cost. Making the same booking manually would involve several long-distance phone calls and possibly a fax to confirm the details, which together with the time expended would probably make the transaction unprofitable. In monetary terms, Thomas Cook estimate that the cost of making a hotel booking over the telephone is approximately ? 3, as opposed to 76 pence to reserve the same room electronically. As a result, many agencies actively discourage their staff from using manual search and booking methods, and operations not available on their computerized systems will lose out. Reservations Systems Operation Irrespective of whether the reservation is being made at the unit or the central level, the method of actually processing the reservation is relatively standard. The process starts with an Availability Inquiry. The date of arrival needed is entered, along with the type(s) of room and the number of nights required. The system will respond by displaying room availability for the requested period and, on some systems, the rate to be offered to the client. If the requested accommodation is unavailable, the system may allow overbooking up to predetermined limits. If rooms are available, the client’s name, address, and telephone number are entered, along with details such as method of payment, the source of business and any special requirements. Utilities to help speed up the reservation process may be provided. For example, some systems allow the postal code to be entered first; from this most of the address can be filled automatically by the computer, and only minor details such as the street number need to be edited. Similarly, if the guest has stayed in the hotel before, or is a member of the chain’s loyalty club, such details may be automatically drawn from the guest history system. When all the details have been entered, a confirmation number is generated by the reservation system, which the guest can quote if the reservation needs to be changed at a later date. An individually addressed letter, fax, or e-mail, confirming the details of the reservation, is later generated as part of the night audit. Most systems also accept group reservations, which operate in a slightly different manner. First of all, a master reservation is set up with the group details and a block of rooms is allocated to the group. A special rate for the group may be offered and programmed into the system. Special accounting instructions (such as billing a master folio for all accommodation and breakfast charges and the individual room folios for all other charges) can also be setup at this stage, thus helping to eliminate unnecessary work for the front-office staff. Individual group members can then make their own reservations, and are allocated rooms from the reserved block. Property Management Systems The front-office is often described as the center of all hotel activities. It not only acts as the main contact point between the hotel and the guest, but also provides information to and receives information from practically very other department in the hotel. A property management system (PMS) helps manage these interactions, and at the same time acts as an information hub for the other computer systems. These functions of the PMS may be broken down into the following different categories: * Registration – allocating vacant rooms to incoming guests and marking those rooms as b eing occupied. * Housekeeping – tracking which rooms are occupied, waiting to be cleaned, waiting to be inspected, or ready to be passed back to the front desk for allocation to incoming guests. Guest accounting – tracking all guest charges and payments and producing the final guest bill. * Night audit – automatically performing end-of-day routines such as posting room charges to each guest folio. Stock-Control Systems A stock-control system helps manage and control the flow of stock through an organization by recording the value of each stock item in different locations (such as the central stores, the dry stores, and the kitchen) and tracking stock movements into, out of and between each of these locations. The concept of stock control is based on the accounting principle that the item’s opening stock, plus its purchases must be equal to its closing stock plus the amount consumed. If these are not equal, then what is known as a variance exists, which means that some of the stock is missing. However, carrying out stock control manually is very labor-intensive and time-consuming. For example, to check a single product, the amount of that product delivered and issued over the period has to be calculated by totaling the delivery dockets and requisitions, respectively. The previous period’s closing stock period would then have to be found, and the theoretical closing stock figure calculated. Then the quantity of the item actually in stock would have to be established by performing a stock take and physically counting the number of the product in each storage location. Lastly, theoretical and actual figures would have to be compared to see if any variance existed. All the effort for just a single stock item! In any reasonably sized catering operation, the same process would have to be performed for hundreds, if not thousands of products on a regular basis. Using a computerized system, all the boring, repetitive and error-prone calculations are carried out automatically. Most of the data needed (apart from the actual stock figures) is already available on the system (for example, opening stock is available from the previous period, purchases from the records of deliveries and returns, and issues from the record of requisitions from the sales units) and the calculations can be carried out in seconds by the computer. As a result, the likelihood of errors is reduced and the stock-control process can be carried out more frequently with little extra effort. O’Connor, 2000) REVIEW OF RELATED MODELS System Development Life Cycle The Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is a conceptual model used in project management that describes the stages involved in an information system development project from an initial feasibility study through maintenance of the completed application. Various SDLC methodologies have been developed to guide th e processes involved including the waterfall model (the original SDLC method), rapid application development (RAD), joint application development (JAD), the fountain model and the spiral model. Mostly, several models are combined into some sort of hybrid methodology. Documentation is crucial regardless of the type of model chosen or devised for any application, and is usually done in parallel with the development process. Some methods work better for specific types of projects, but in the final analysis, the most important factor for the success of a project may be how closely particular plan was followed. startvbdotnet. com/sdlc/sdlc. aspx Waterfall System Development Life Cycle Model The simplest software development life cycle model is the waterfall model, which states that the phases are organized in a linear order. A project begins with feasibility analysis. On the successful demonstration of the feasibility analysis, the requirements analysis and project planning begins. The design starts after the requirements analysis is done. And coding begins after the design is done. Once the programming is completed, the code is integrated and testing is done. On successful completion of testing, the system is installed. After this the regular operation and maintenance of the system takes place. freetutes. com/systemanalysis/sa2-waterfall-software-life-cycle. tml; Prototyping System Development Life Cycle Model The goal of prototyping based development is to counter the first two limitations of the waterfall model discussed earlier. The basic idea here is that instead of freezing the requirements before a design or coding can proceed, a throwaway prototype is built to understand the requirements. This prototype is developed based on the currently known requirements. Development of the prototype obviousl y undergoes design, coding and testing. But each of these phases is not done very formally or thoroughly. By using this prototype, the client can get an actual feel of the system, since the interactions with prototype can enable the client to better understand the requirements of the desired system. Prototyping is an attractive idea for complicated and large systems for which there is no manual process or existing system to help determining the requirements. In such situations letting the client plan with the prototype provides invaluable and intangible inputs which helps in determining the requirements for the system. It is also an effective method to demonstrate the feasibility of a certain approach. This might be needed for novel systems where it is not clear that constraint can be met or that algorithms can be developed to implement the requirements. freetutes. com/systemanalysis/sa2-prototyping-model. html Spiral Life Cycle Model This is a recent model that has been proposed by Boehm. As the name suggests, the activities in this model can be organized like a spiral. The spiral has many cycles. The radial dimension represents the cumulative cost incurred in accomplishing the steps dome so far and the angular dimension represents the progress made in completing each cycle of the spiral. The structure of the spiral model is shown in the figure given below. Each cycle in the spiral begins with the identification of objectives for that cycle and the different alternatives are possible for achieving the objectives and the imposed constraints. The next step in the spiral life cycle model is to evaluate these different alternatives based on the objectives and constraints. This will also involve identifying uncertainties and risks involved. The next step is to develop strategies that resolve the uncertainties and risks. This step may involve activities such as benchmarking, simulation and prototyping. Next, the software is developed by keeping in mind the risks. Finally the next stage is planned. The next step is determined by remaining risks. For example, its performance or user-interface risks are considered more important than the program development risks. The next step may be evolutionary development that involves developing a more detailed prototype for resolving the risks. On the other hand, if the program development risks dominate and previous prototypes have resolved all the user-interface and performance risks; the next step will follow the basic waterfall approach. The risk driven nature of the spiral model allows it to accommodate any mixture of specification-oriented, prototype-oriented, simulation-oriented or some other approach. An important feature of the model is that each cycle of the spiral is completed by a review, which covers all the products developed during that cycle, including plans for the next cycle. The spiral model works for developed as well as enhancement projects. freetutes. com/systemanalysis/sa2-spiral-model. html SYNTHESIS Even long ago, resorts existed but not as extravagant as those made today. Resorts started from simple public baths in ancient Rome and developed into spas in Europe around the 1300s. In North America, people started on building hotels and inns nearby the spas. Not long after that, Americans had started to develop beach resorts and mountain-based resorts. There started the wide variety of services and amenities offered by the resort management. Services and amenities offered by the resorts mainly depend on what kind of resort they are. There are different kinds of resorts and one of the most popular types is the water-based resort. Swimming pools and beaches are popular in this type. There are many activities that can be done in water-based resorts. In beaches, you can do parasailing, jet skiing and other popular extreme and fun endeavors. These activities attract the prospect customers, but the location and design is also important in marketing the resort business. Good facilities are also appealing to the guests like Jacuzzi, scenic views, and safety devices. Resorts and hotels became popular alongside each other. Hotels developed not long after public baths in Rome and spas in Europe and North America became popular. It was actually cited in the Bible that during the ancient times, there were rooms for rent or traveler’s inn existing way back then. Usually, rooms contain basic necessities for the guests, but as time went by, the conveniences offered became diverse. As the facilities became more varied, cost also raises up to a certain price, depending on what rate of hotel it is. In order to provide more quality and more effective services to the consumers, information technology has been widely used. Computer literacy and awareness is all over the world and technology has been dominating since then. Business establishments have discovered the convenience that information technology brought and therefore becoming almost a necessity for every enterprise. There are many advantages conveyed by technology to different industries. These range from high-speed communications systems to complex, specialized databases to customized internal computer networks. These days, information technology and business became inseparable. There are many similarities between the computer systems used by resorts and hotels. It is because they have similar services offered to their consumers mostly in the reservations of the rooms and checking its availability. To be able to serve their guests better, clear information regarding the rooms available for booking must be seen by them. More systems were particularly made for hotels that are also applicable for the resort operations. Examples of these are property management system, stock-control system and reservation system. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK Planning Phase Analysis Phase Design Phase Coding Phase Testing Phase Implementation Phase Maintenance Phase Figure 1. 5 Eclectic Model Maintenance Phase Implementation Phase Testing Phase Coding Phase Design Phase Analysis Phase Planning Phase STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM Planning Phase 1. What are the resources available to the researchers? 2. What are the requirements needed for the study? Study Phase 1. What articles are needed and relevant to the study? 2. What models can be used in the study? Analysis Phase 1. Is there an existing computer system being used in the organization? 2. Will a new system make the service of the company more effective and more efficient? Design Phase 1. What are the different factors to consider in developing a new system? 2. What is the most efficient design for the proposed system? Testing Phase 1. How does the new system work? 2. Does the new system work properly? 3. What are the errors encountered by the new system? 4. Can the system handle the volume data and incoming transactions easily? Implementation Phase 1. How can the actual implementation of the new system be simulated in order to detect possible errors? 2. How can the person-in-charge ne trained to use the new system? Maintenance Phase 1. How can the new system assure the accuracy of the information about the process? 2. What are the possible improvements in order to enhance the new system? HYPOTHESIS SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY The significance of the study and the proposed system is to have a more efficient and effective handling of daily transactions and operations of the company. This study is assigned to create a system that will be more convenient and will make more accurate reports. Villa Concepcion Wet and Wild Waves, Inc. ’s manual recording of transactions shall be replaced by the use of a new computer system. The system proposed shall make the guests at ease and transact more conveniently. It shall also lessen the work of the personnel by minimizing the labors they have to do. The projected computer system is deemed more reliable, accurate, and efficient. SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS The study focused on the following proposed systems: reservation system, and payroll system. It is mainly for the front-desk operations which consist of billing, payments, and reservations. Interview of the management and the personnel of VCWWI shall be held inside their premises. Figure 1. 1 System Development Life Cycle Figure 1. 2 Waterfall System Development Life Cycle Model Figure 1. 3 Prototyping System Development Life Cycle Model Figure 1. 4 Spiral Life Cycle Model