Thursday, November 28, 2019

Space Tourism Analysis

Executive Summary The important finding of the study is that there is a significant likelihood for people to travel into space. The descriptive statistics of income allocated to space tourism shows that about 90% of the respondents are willing to allocate the income that they earn within a period of less than a year. Additionally, descriptive statistics of respondents’ occupations indicate that the majority of respondents are white-collar professionals, blue-collar employees, and students.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Space Tourism Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Chi-square test and multiple regression analysis also shows that the level of education, age, and cost of space tourism are significant predictors of income allocated to space tourism. However, income allocated to space tourism does not vary according to the gender and occupation of potential tourists. In spite of the robust findings , the limitations are biased representation of potential customers and poor responses, which reduce both internal and external validities of the study. Research Objectives To perform descriptive analysis of the income allocated to the space tourism and the current occupation of a potential space tourists. Test the hypothesis using one-sample t-test to establish the willingness of respondents to undertake space tourism. To determine the influence of gender on income allocated to space tourism using independent samples t-test. Perform one-way ANOVA to determine the differences of income allocated among the occupations of respondents. Chi-square test to determine the association between the amounts of income allocated to the space tourism and preferred length of stay in space. Determine predictors of income allocated to space tourism using multiple regression test. Descriptive Statistics Income Prepared to Allocated to the Space Trip Analysis of the proportion of income that potentia l tourists are willing to spend on space tourism is important because it indicates their purchasing power. Gibson (2012) argues that a space tourism company needs to understand the amount of potential money that customers are willing to spend on space tourism so that it can design products and tourism packages that meet the demands of customers, as well as enable the company to optimize profits. Table 1 Statistics Income Prepared to Allocate to a Space Trip N Valid 279 Missing 267 Mean 2.87 Std. Error of Mean .080 Median 3.00 Mode 3 Std. Deviation 1.337 Variance 1.786 Skewness .796 Std. Error of Skewness .146 Kurtosis .641 Std. Error of Kurtosis .291 Range 6 Minimum 1 Maximum 7 Sum 802 From the descriptive table, measures of central tendency are 2.87, 3, and 3 for mean, median, and mode respectively. This means that the majority of the respondents are willing to spend on space tourism income that they earn in 3 months. Regarding measures of di spersion, standard deviation indicates that the majority of respondents are willing to spend on space tourism between one week’s income and 3 months’ income (M = 2.87 ±1.337). Although respondents indicate that they are willing to spend the amount of money that ranges from a month’s income to 5-years’ income, the allocated income skews towards income earned in less than a year. The frequency table indicates the distribution of respondents according to the amount of income they are willing to spend on space tourism. The significant information in the frequency table is that most of the respondents (86) are willing to spend 3 months’ income on space tourism, followed by a month’s income (82), and the third is a week’s income (38).Advertising Looking for report on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Figure 1 The histogram illustrates the distribution of income among different periods, which shows that most respondents are willing to spend between 3 months’ income to a month’s income on space tourism. Moreover, it illustrates the skewed distribution towards short periods of income. Current Occupation The current occupation of the potential customers is important to the space tourism because it enables marketing managers to understand the nature of customers they are targeting. For the space tourism to be successful, it must target certain kind of customers and define its market niche by targeting customers with specific socioeconomic attributes such as occupation. Table 2 Statistics Current Occupation N Valid 543 Missing 3 Mean 4.22 Std. Error of Mean .109 Median 4.00 Mode 4 Std. Deviation 2.548 Variance 6.490 Skewness .400 Std. Error of Skewness .105 Kurtosis -.935 Std. Error of Kurtosis .209 Range 8 Minimum 1 Maximum 9 Sum 2289 The measures of central tendency in the descriptive tabl e are 4.22, 4, and 4 for mean, median, and mode respectively. These descriptive statistics imply that the white-collar professionals formed the majority of the respondents. Comparatively, measures of dispersion show that the respondents’ occupations comprise of students, blue-collar, white-collar, contractors and businesspersons (M = 4 ±2.54). The frequency table above shows the distribution of respondents according to their occupations. The leading respondents are white-collar professionals (149) followed by students (123), and then blue-collar employees (73) come third. The histogram illustrates that white-collar professionals and students are major respondents.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Space Tourism Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Figure 2 Testing of Hypotheses The Likelihood of Traveling in Space H0: There is no significant likelihood of the person wanting to travel into space, ha ving the interest, and having undertaking. H1: There is a very significant likelihood of the person wanting to travel into space, having the interests and having undertaking. Table 3 One-Sample Test Test Value = 1 t df Sig. (2-tailed) Mean Difference 95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper like to do astronomical observation -21.847 314 .000 -.603 -.66 -.55 risks taken in recreation and leisure 37.611 310 .000 2.585 2.45 2.72 Travelled outside Australia 26.418 301 .000 .699 .65 .75 like to play sport -21.278 314 .000 -.590 -.65 -.54 travelled to poles -210.000 210 .000 -.995 -1.00 -.99 like to play in zero g -15.748 314 .000 -.441 -.50 -.39 From the one-sample test table, it is evident that all variables that measure the likelihood of a person wanting to travel into space, having the interest, and having the undertakings are statistically significant (p0.05). This implies that the test rejects the null hypothesis and accepts that alternative hy pothesis, which states that there is a very significant likelihood of the person wanting to travel into space, having the interests and having undertaking. Gender and Income Allocated to Space Hypotheses H0: The amounts of income that male and female respondents are willing to allocate to space tourism are not significantly differentAdvertising Looking for report on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More H1: The amounts of income that male and female respondents are willing to allocate to space tourism are significantly different. Table 4 Independent Samples Test Levene’s Test for Equality of Variances t-test for Equality of Means F Sig. t df Sig. (2-tailed) Mean Difference Std. Error Difference 95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper Income prepared to allocate to a space trip Equal variances assumed .167 .683 1.388 277 .166 .222 .160 -.093 .537 Equal variances not assumed 1.387 273.559 .166 .222 .160 -.093 .537 The independent samples t-test shows that the difference in the amounts of income that male and female respondents are willing to allocate to space tourism are not significantly different (p0.05). Hence, it implies that the independent t-test fails to reject the null hypothesis, and hence, male and female respondents have equal capacities of being space tourists. Current Occupation and Income Allocated to Space Tourism Hypotheses H0: The amounts of income allocated to space tourism have no significant differences across the occupations. H1: The amounts of income allocated to space tourism have significant differences across the occupations.. Table 5 ANOVA Income Prepared to Allocate to a Apace Trip Sum of Squares df Mean Square F Sig. Between Groups 26.133 8 3.267 1.871 .065 Within Groups 469.708 269 1.746 Total 495.842 277 The ANOVA table shows that there is no significant difference in the amounts of income allocated to space tourism among respondents in diverse occupations (p0.05). Post hoc analysis also affirms that there is no significant difference in the amounts of income allocated among diverse occupations. Hence, the ANOVA test fails to reject the null hypothesis and affirms that occupations does not influence income allocated to space tourism. The Association between Income Allocated and Preferred Length of Stay Hypotheses H0: There is no significant association between income all ocated to space tourism and preferred length of stay. H1: There is a significant association between income allocated to space tourism and preferred length of stay. Chi-Square Tests Value df Asymp. Sig. (2-sided) Pearson Chi-Square 36.658a 24 .047 Likelihood Ratio 38.128 24 .034 Linear-by-Linear Association 7.572 1 .006 N of Valid Cases 264 The chi-square test indicates that there is a significant association between income allocated to space tourism and preferred length of stay (p0.05). This means that the amount of income allocated determines length of stay in space. Multiple Regression Analysis Hypotheses H0: Level of education, preferred length of stay, cost, and age are not significant predictors of income allocated to tourism. H1: Level of education, preferred length of stay, cost, and age are significant predictors of income allocated to tourism. Table 6 Model Summary Model R R Square Adjusted R Square Std. Error of the Estimate 1 .622a .387 .378 1.0 43 The multiple regression coefficient (R) is 0.622, which means that this regression model predicts the income allocated to space tourism. Table 7 ANOVAa Model Sum of Squares df Mean Square F Sig. 1 Regression 175.352 4 43.838 40.290 .000b Residual 277.459 255 1.088 Total 452.812 259 Moreover, the multiple regression coefficient is significant (p0.05). This means that the regression analysis rejects the null hypothesis and accepts the alternative one, which states that level of education, preferred length of stay, cost, and age are significant predictors of income allocated to tourism Table 8 Coefficients Model Unstandardized Coefficients Standardized Coefficients t Sig. B Std. Error Beta 1 (Constant) .757 .287 2.638 .009 highest level of formal education .106 .051 .107 2.099 .037 preferred length of stay in space .089 .060 .074 1.478 .141 pay for 2-day trip 1-night stay .585 .054 .559 10.872 .000 age .095 .053 .090 1.801 .073 The c oefficient table shows that all the independent variables are significant predictors except preferred length of stay. Hence, regression model has the following equation: – Income allocated = 0.757 + (0.106 Ãâ€" education level) + (0.089 Ãâ€" preferred length of stay) + (0.585 Ãâ€" Cost) + (0.095 Ãâ€" age). Discussion, Interpretation, and Implications of the Findings The descriptive statistics of the income allocated to the space tourism indicates that most potential tourists are willing to spend less than a year’s income on space tourism. Specifically, most of the respondents are willing to spend between 6 months’ income and a week’s income on space tourism. This implies that marketing managers need to tailor products of space tourism to suit the purchasing power of the potential customers, which should not exceed a year’s income. If the marketing managers design products that suit a year’s income, they will target about 90% of the poten tial customers, which is quite significant. Regarding the descriptive statistics of the current occupation, the occupations of the majority of the respondents are white-collar professionals, blue-collar employees, and students. This means that marketing managers need to target people with these occupations because they are potential customers who are willing to travel in space. According to Crouch (2001), estimation of the market size is a considerable challenge that space tourism is facing. In this view, the descriptive statistics indicate that white-collar professionals, blue-collar employees, and students are the potential customers, and thus enabling marketing managers to focus their attention on them. Hypothesis testing to establish if there is a very significant likelihood of the people wanting to travel into space, having the interests, and having undertaking gives robust findings to the space tourism. The hypothesis indicates that the existence of the significant likelihood that potential customers want to do astronomical observation, take risks in recreation and leisure, travel to the poles, play sports, and travel to space. These findings have considerable implication to space tourism as it informs marketing managers of the existence of a huge market, which they need to tap and utilize in expanding space tourism. Gender is demographic factor that may influence the distribution of resources and consequently income allocated to space tourism. In establishing if there is any significant difference in the allocation of income between male and female respondents, the findings show that the difference is insignificant. Jordan (2008) asserts that gendered space tourism creates an exclusive environment, which has detrimental effects on the growth of space tourism. In this view, marketing managers should target potential customers equally, irrespective of their gender because they have equal capacity in allocating their income to space tourism. Analysis of va riance indicates that the allocation of income to space tourism does not vary according to the occupation. Given that occupation does not influence allocation of income to space tourism, marketing managers should target potential customers equally without considering their occupations. Moreover, marketing managers should understand that what matters to the space tourism is the purchasing power of customers, and not their occupation. Hjalager (2007) states that economic globalization is a driving force of tourism, which marketing managers need to harness in targeting potential customers. The chi ­-square test established that there is a significant association between preferred length of stay and income allocated. This information is important to marketing managers because it helps them in designing tourism packages according to the purchasing power of customers and preferred length of stay. In this view, marketing managers should understand that those who plan to use income earned in a short period want to take a short period in space, while those who plan to use income earned in a long period want to stay for a long period in space. Multiple regression analysis shows that the level of education, cost of space tourism, and age are significant predictors of income allocated to space tourism. These predictors correlate positively with the income allocated to space tourism. Hence, marketing managers need to understand that educational level, pay for a two-day trip and one night stay, and age determine the amount of income that potential tourists allocate to space tourism. This means that potential tourists with different education levels and different ages require unique packages that suit their needs. Botterill and Platenkamp (2012) argue that the tourism industry should customize their products according to the unique needs of their customers. Hence, marketing managers should utilize these findings in customizing their products according to the needs of space tourists. Conclusion Descriptive analysis of income allocated to space tourism shows that about 90% of the respondents are willing to spend income that they earn within a period of less than a year. Moreover, descriptive statistics of occupation indicate that the majority of respondents are white-collar professionals, blue-collar employees, and students. Importantly, the findings indicate that there is a significant likelihood for people to travel into space. The chi-square test indicates that the length of stay associate with the income allocated to space tourism. Multiple regression analysis also shows that the level of education, age, and cost of space tourism are significant predictors of income allocated to space tourism. However, income allocated to space tourism does not vary according to the gender and occupation of potential tourists. The limitation of the analysis is that most of the respondents are white-collar professionals, blue-collar employees, and students, and thus do not significantly represent the potential customers of space tourism. Additionally, about half of the respondents did not answer the questionnaires well regarding income allocated to space tourism; hence, making statistical analysis to have low internal and external validities. References Botterill, D Platenkamp, V 2012, Key Concepts in Tourism Research, SAGE Publisher, New York. Crouch, G. 2001, ‘The Market for Space Tourism: Early Indications’, Journal of Travel Research, vol. 40 no. 2, pp. 213-219. Gibson, D 2012, Commercial Space Tourism: Impediments to Industrial Development and Strategic Communication Solutions, Bentham Science Publishers, Sharjah. Hjalager, A 2007, ‘Stages in the Economic Globalization of Tourism’, Annals of Tourism Research, vol. 34 no. 2, pp. 437-457. Jordan, F 2008, ‘Performing tourism: Exploring the Productive Consumption of Tourism in Enclavic Spaces’, International Journal of Tourism Research, vol. 10 no. 4, p p. 293-304. This report on Space Tourism Analysis was written and submitted by user ShaneYamada-Jones to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

A Close Analysis of the Opening to Scream Essay Example

A Close Analysis of the Opening to Scream Essay Example A Close Analysis of the Opening to Scream Essay A Close Analysis of the Opening to Scream Essay The opening to Scream sets the film up for a typical scary movie with the use of dark lighting, a night-time setting and the main character all on their own. Many other aspects of the clip such as camera shots and background music create a mysterious atmosphere, and an unnerving sensation that something is going to go wrong. The setting of the film is in a family home. This creates a comfortable setting to give the shock a bigger impact as well as creating an irony around the idea of being in the comfort of your own home and later being killed in it. The main rooms used in the opening are the typical family rooms of a house, the kitchen and living room, which tie in with the irony again. The scenes are set in the nighttime to give an impression of mystery and a sinister atmosphere. The lighting in the rooms is also quite dark and there is a lot of use of shadow and low lights to create this mood. There is a long shot of the setting outside of the house to show that the characters are in the middle of nowhere, and that they cannot run or be found which enhances the scary factor of the film. In certain clips, particularly where there is focus on the setting, there are sounds of crickets that give a evening silence to the secluded area. Throughout the clip, there are two main characters, one being Drew Barrymore, the victim and an unknown person who is the scary villain. Barrymore is portrayed as a young innocent teen left home alone while her parents are out for the evening. Her blonde hair brings up connotations of innocence and naivety and red lips suggest a flirty character in the young girl. She is dressed also in quite innocent clothing, as she is not accentuating any of her sexual assets, which again backs up the idea that she is in her teens. Furthermore, her costume is fairly plain, keeping the focus on her and not her outfit. For the beginning of the opening, while the scene and character is being set, the camera follows her around while she begins to make popcorn and walks around the house on the phone. By doing this, the director sets up a typical and natural image of someone doing day-to-day things in their house, which creates a greater impact when the violence and terror begins. The popcorn suggests t hat she may be settling down to watch a film and perhaps this could be a scary one as she tells the man on the phone later that she enjoys watching them. The voice of the villainous character is very husky, which suggests to the viewer that he is scary and mysterious, giving them an unsettling feeling. We do not get any images for this man until later on in the clip, leaving the viewer to base their interpretations of him solely on his voice. Once the voice on the phone begins shouting at Barrymore in a violent manner, some non-diagetic, dramatic music starts to play to entice the viewer and imply that things in the film are about to get bad. The camera gets a close-up of the girls face to focus on her scared facial expressions, helping the viewer to understand her emotions and begin to feel them too. While she is running around the house the music becomes louder and more dramatic making it even more suspense, while the camera shots change quickly to make the viewer panicked and unsure of what is going on. Running into the kitchen, we see that her popcorn is on fire, which then automatically brings up connotations of danger. This then intensifies as the character picks up a knife that was shown earlier in the clip, highlighted by the reflection of the light. The first shot of the villain is as he smashes through the window dangerously to scare and shock the viewer. We see him again through the girls eyes as she looks at him running across the living room. This is the first full-length image we see of him, clothed completely in black with a white mask on. Although we have now seen this man, we do not know anything about him because of his secretive costume, which is all very mysterious. All through the clip there are medium close ups of the girl looking very scared and feeling trapped because her body language is very introvert and recluse while shes crying. While the girl is being brutally killed, the camera shifts quickly again to give the same effect as before of panic and desperation for her. All the while this is happening, the male character does not speak which is quite ironic considering he kept on wanting to talk to her when they were on the phone to each other. This implies that the murder of this girl is very gruesome and yet he is immune to it all. The clip ends with the teenagers parents coming home to find their house completely chaotic and her daughter hung from a tree that was shown earlier. There is a final scream from the mother as the title Scream comes up on the shot to end the opening and introduce the rest of the film. To conclude, the film shows a dark secluded setting with a girl home alone. This is a good basis for a horror film and the build up of shock makes the viewer desperate to continue with the film, while also being so frightened that part of them wants to turn it off.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Safety program Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Safety program - Essay Example Four major aspects that Plant XYZ manufactures safety action plan will take into consideration includes creating a change, safety and health payoffs, management system and S& H integration as well as doing a safety and health check up. As indicated by the Plant XYZ 1998 estimated direct and indirect costs, the company incurred $984,000 in the first four months. This figure is high and therefore this action plan is focused at putting in place effective measure to enable the company attain the OSHA VPP Star Certification in 2 years in addition to reducing incidents rates by 50%. Commitment by managers The first step that I will include in my action plan as the safety manager is to ensure that manager’s commitment towards safety is maintained. It is worth to note that the safety committee is keen on maintaining safety responsibilities. As a safety manager my main role will to first understand why accidents occur within the company premises and how the safety committee dealt with past cases of accidents. This will be followed by studying all the minutes of the meetings held by safety committee prior to my appointment. To ensure that all the employees are conversant with the safety policy, my action plan will entail establishing safety rules that will be presented to safety committee in 2 weeks time.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

History of the electric guitar and its music Research Paper

History of the electric guitar and its music - Research Paper Example This "History of the electric guitar and its music" research paper outlines electric guitar influenced the music industry. After the release of the Catcher in the Rye, which revolutionized the American youth and created a rebellious nature in them, teenagers who were particularly involved in achieving their dream of becoming a musician picked up the guitar. Guitar was always the first choice with the looks that it brought to a person and the sign of individuality that was illustrated by playing a guitar was its appeal and this fascinated the teenagers and men in their post teens. When rock and roll was at its peak and bands and singers like Elvis Presley, The Beatles and Rolling Stones were dominating the arena of rock and roll, guitar became increasingly important in their influence. Rock and roll also influenced a new genre that was heavily influenced by guitar music now popularly known as metal music. This type of guitar music was influenced by highly amplified distortion, emphatic beats, and a thick, massive sound and over all loudness. Metal Music was traditionally associated with masculinity and machoism. â€Å"Rock music can change things. I know that it changed our lives.†~ Bono (Abbey 2006) The first mass produced electric guitar was created by Les Paul. (Shaughnessy 1993) Although attempts to transform guitar into an electric guitar had been going on for two decades starting the 1930’s, the pioneering inventor of rock and roll who has been given credit for the invention of an electric guitar, was Les Paul. After the Second World War teenagers were becoming more and more rebellious, and they found satisfaction of that rebellious nature in rhythm and blues of which rock and roll was a mirror, which in turn was a map of cultural development and reaction. From the music industry in USA, with blues to today’s hip and hop and hardcore, every musical genre has taken some sort of an inspiration from rock and roll, inspiring musicians while keeping pace with evolving social and political climate. In one way or the other rock and roll has helped to fuel this evolution, breaking down lines of class and tearing apart racial boundaries. Here the point is not that it was created without conflict. As the saying goes, controversy creates cash. rock and roll is

Monday, November 18, 2019

Data Mining in Chain Hotels Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Data Mining in Chain Hotels - Assignment Example Databases can be used by several users seeking businesses in this sector. It helps them to overcome challenges of competition and meet the demands of the market. Â  This study seeks to develop a database for hotel chain management operating 20 hotels in 4 countries. The data mining for the store of information for each hotel and performs analysis with regard to the given hotel. For each hotel the data warehouse will store its name, type, address, country, region, postcode, phone number, and the name of the manager. The data also include different types of rooms like single, double, family, suits, etc. Each room may also incorporate certain optional features, such as refrigerator, kitchenette, or laundry. The system should have each room described as room’s type, size, number of beds, the maximum number of customers, refrigerator (Boolean), kitchenette (Boolean), laundry (Boolean). The capacity of the hotel chain to accommodate customers is limited. The database should help the management on how to price the hotel rooms in order to realize maximum revenue collection. Looking at the capacity of the hotel over time given in the data ware house, they can easily come up with the prices. Comparison between the occupancy rate (utilization) and the vacancy rate is considered. Â  The hotel chain’s capacity to accommodate customers is limited. Each hotel has a set number of rooms. The primary source of revenue is accommodation in hotel rooms. The biggest challenge the company faces is determining how to price the hotel rooms. If they are priced low, the hotels will be constantly booked and therefore customers will be forced to try other hotels in competition with The Grande Chat and if the rooms are priced too high, a lot of rooms will remain empty. The hotel chain management wants to realize profits. The only way is to use the data mining to realize their underlying, interesting patterns and relationships that lie hidden within the analysis (Data mining).

Friday, November 15, 2019

History of the Fall of Rome

History of the Fall of Rome Hesham Alsadiq For hundreds of years, the Roman Empire faced many challenges from within and without. Rome was neighbored by more powerful states. The date of the rise and fall of Rome is debatable. Historians have also identified varied causes. Some believe that the fall of Rome marked the beginning of the middle Ages. Â   235-284ADÂ  Age of chaos. In 184 AD, a good emperor named Marcus Aurelius died. He was succeeded by his son Commodus, who led the treasury into bankruptcy. This was the beginning of chaos in Rome. In 192 AD, Commodus troops assassinated him. The armies of the empire also attacked each other as they differed on the ideal emperor. Because of these internal wars, repeated attacks by neighboring tribes were successful. Had they been united to fight their enemies, perhaps the Romans would be able to defend themselves. The institution of many emperors within a short span of years indicates the political instability and division that existed in Rome.[1] 285-305 ADÂ  Tetrarchy and civil wars. In 284 AD, General Diocletian became emperor. Some form of stability was restored during his reign. He divided the Roman Empire into two for easier governance, the Eastern and Western Empires. Each emperor had a junior co-emperor. The Empire was ruled by four emperors during this period, each ruler having his own territory. Diocletian secured the borders of the empire, increased the number of provinces and made the armies larger2. Although Diocletian managed to bring some economic and political stability to the empire, imposing high taxation on the Romans caused them to lose faith in their rulers. The persecutions were also unfair to the Christians. The wars at the end of his reign undid the change he brought and were an expense to the empire.[2] 306-363 ADÂ  Establishment of Christianity. In 312 AD, Constantine became emperor in the East. He won several civil wars and later emerged as the ruler of the entire empire3 in 324 AD. He tried to reinforce Diocletians policies. He established Christianity as the official religion and caused the Christian persecutions to cease. As the Romans embraced Christianity, they began depending on religious leaders for guidance and did not recognize the authority of emperors. Constantine also created a capital for the empire in the East. As a result, the Eastern Empire thrived more than the West in culture and economic growth. Constantine died in 337AD. Constantines favoring of the East made the Western Empire weaker. Poor economic growth results in inflation and inability to defend a region from external attacks.[3] 378 AD Battle of Adrianople There was civil war until Theodosius I succeeded Constantine. In the late 300s AD, Germanic tribes began to invade the Roman Empire. They sought better living conditions and fled due to attacks by the Huns, warriors from central Asia4. In 378 AD, the Visigoths defeated the Romans at Adrianople. The Eastern Roman emperor, Valens, was killed. Theodosius defeated the Western ruler and became the emperor. To end the long-standing battles with the Visigoths, Theodosius allowed them to live in the empire. He attempted to use Christianity to bring unity to the empire.[4] Once the Roman Empire became a target for attacks, its fall was inevitable. Although the emperor tried to maintain peace, this was not lasting. The defeat at the battle demonstrated Romes weakness. 395 ADÂ  Final Split of the empire. In 395 AD, after Theodosius death, the division of the Roman Empire became final. His sons, Arcadius and Honorius, ruled the East and West respectively. Honorius was nine years old and incompetent. He was guided by a talented general named Stilicho5. Arcadius was eighteen and had co-ruled the Eastern Empire ten years earlier with his father. They ruled each of their regions separately, marking the permanent split of the empire. Placement of young men in positions of power weakened the leadership of the empire. The empire was also stronger when it existed as a unit. This split created a loophole for attacks.[5] 401-454 AD Attack and capture of Rome. Although they lived in the Roman Empire, the Visigoths faced hostility, high taxation, and prejudice6. They failed to trust the new emperors and had recognized their weakness. In 410 AD, under the guidance of their leader Alaric, they attacked Rome. They destroyed massive properties owned by the Romans. In an attempt to intervene, Stilicho purposed to join forces with the Visigoths to defeat the Huns. He was beheaded when suspected to be a traitor. The empire became extremely weakened by these attacks. By this time, it was only a matter of time before the empire fell. Fair treatment of the Visigoths might have prevented the attack. AD476 The fall of the Emperor of Rome Other groups continued to invade the empire. In 455 AD, a Germanic tribe known as the Vandals raided Rome. In 476 AD, the Western emperor Romulus Augustus was defeated by a German soldier named Odoacer6. Odoacer declared himself king, marking the end of the Western Roman Empire. The Eastern Roman Empire lasted another thousand years. With a barbarian as the ruler of the West, the initial identity of the Roman Empire was now destroyed. There were no means to rebuild the empire. The rise of Christianity stands out as the main factor contributing to the end of the Roman Empire. When the empire started, Christianity was not recognized. When Constantine was emperor, he was actively involved in Christian policy-making. Theodosius made it a state religion during his reign. These emperors were seeking a means to unify the empire. This religion being monotheistic was very much unlike the traditional polytheistic Roman Religion. The change was drastic. Many resources were utilized in trying to enforce Christianity as a state religion. Families gave their daughters away to become nuns. This caused a great population decline. The Christians refused to join the armies as rituals were involved routinely. They also freely gave a portion of their income to the church as part of their religious practices, causing a diversion of wealth. Christian persecutions added to the already existing internal conflicts in the empire. The strife made the Romans unable to tackle wars from external forces. Church leaders became influential in the governance. They used prophetic books for guidance to leaders on how to succeed in wars. The Roman people began depending on these leaders for guidance instead of trained military and administrative leaders. The Romans had previously revered the emperors as gods. With the popularity of Christianity and belief in one God, the emperors were less influential. The fall of Rome, however, was not caused by a single event. Such factors as the division of the empire into two, inflation, economic instability, and military problems also contributed. The multiple invasions weakened the military defenses and led to the eventual dethronement of the emperor. 4th September, 476 AD seems as the date Rome ceased to exist. This is when the Western Roman Emperor was dethroned and no one else was declared emperor. Bibliography Jones, A. H. M. October 1955 the decline and fall of the Roman Empire. History 40, no. 140 (1955): 209-226. Ferrill, Arther. The fall of the Roman Empire: The military explanation. London: Thames and Hudson, 1986. Jones, A. H. M. October 1955 the decline and fall of the Roman Empire. History 40, no. 140 (1955): 209-226. Williams, Stephen. Theodosius: The empire at bay, London: Batsford, 1994) Gibbon, Edward. History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Volume 2. Blue Unicorn Editions, 2001. [1] Jones, A. H. M. October 1955 the decline and fall of the Roman Empire. History 40, no. 140 (1955): 209-226. [2] Ferrill, Arther. The fall of the Roman Empire: The military explanation. London: Thames and Hudson, 1986. [3] (Jones, A. H. M. October 1955 the decline and fall of the Roman Empire. History 40, no. 140 (1955): 209-226.) [4] (Williams, Stephen. Theodosius: The empire at bay, London: Batsford, 1994) [5] (Williams, Stephen. Theodosius: The empire at bay, London: Batsford, 1994)

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Conflict between Individuality and Conformity in The Bell Jar Essays

Conflict between Individuality and Conformity in The Bell Jar    In Sylvia Plath's novel The Bell Jar, Esther Greenwood seems incapable of healthy relationships with other women. She is trapped in a patriarchal society with rigid expectations of womanhood. The cost of transgressing social norms is isolation, institutionalization and a lost identity as woman. The struggle for an individual identity under this regime is enough to drive a person to the verge of suicide. Given the oppressive system under which she must operate, Esther Greenwood's problems with women stem from her conflict between individuality and conformity.    In formulating my topic, I have relied on Adrienne Rich's book Of Woman Born, as well as Cathy Griggers' essay "Lesbian Bodies in the Age of (Post)mechanical Reproduction." Rich discusses the cultural institutionalization of motherhood, while Griggers brings a Feminist and Marxist perspective to the topic of lesbian body image in a capitalist, market-driven society. Both consider the effects of patriarchy and heterosexism in their treatment of the experience of lesbians in society. I found these texts to be very helpful in offering an explanation of Esther's harsh negative reaction to Joan, as well as in illustrating the anxieties of women in an androcentric, heterocentric, and conformist society.    Esther's fundamental problem with female relationships is best exemplified in her conflict with mothering and mentoring figures. These women defy her desire to be independent and free. Rich describes the tendency toward matrophobia, the fear of becoming one's mother. She explains that "the mother stands for the victim in ourselves, the unfree woman" (236). This fear of becoming like the mother/... ...rginia Woolf and Walter Pater. New Haven: Yale UP, 1980.    Minow-Pinkney, Makiko. Virginia Woolf & the Problem of the Subject. Sussex: Harvester P, 1987.    Moi, Toril. Sexual/Textual Politics; Feminist Literary Theory. London: Routledge, 1985.    Oberg, Arthur. "Sylvia Plath and the New Decadence." in Butscher, Edward, ed.    Phillips, Robert. "The Dark Funnel: A Reading of Sylvia Plath." in Butscher, Edward, ed.    Plath, Sylvia. The Collected Poems. Ed. Ted Hughes. New York: Harper and Row, 1981.    Rose, Jacqueline. The Haunting of Sylvia Plath. Cambridge: Harvard UP, 1992.    Rosenblatt, Jon. Sylvia Plath: The Poetry of Initiation. Chapel Hill: U of North Carolina P, 1979.    Smith, Pamela. "Architectonics: Sylvia Plath's Colossus." in Butscher, Edward, ed.      

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Delegation vs Empowerment Essay

Delegation and empowerment are important concepts in management for leaders and managers. These are tools in the hands of managers that they must use judiciously to achieve the goals of the organization while motivating the employees to achieve better and improved productivity. We know that to delegate is to allocate tasks to employees telling them what to do and in what manner. Empowerment, There are many more differences between the two concepts of empowerment and delegation that will be talked about in this article. What is Delegation? When a manager gives tasks to subordinates asking them to complete them as per directions and deadline, he is supposed to be delegating authority at different levels. Employees are made responsible and accountable for the task entrusted with them. Delegation of power and authority is common in all situations and circumstances though it is in the context of an organization that delegation becomes a tool in the hands of managers to achieve the goals of the organization best. If you look up the dictionary, the act of delegation in its verb form refers to the process of giving authority to employees entrusting them with tasks. The inherent feeling in delegation is the command or what the manager expects form the subordinates. Delegation is purely thought of in terms of organizational benefits with nothing in it for the employees’ motivation or positive behavioral changes. It has to be remembered that delegation of authority also involves delegation of protocol as there is always a set of instructions or guidelines according to which the employee has to get the task completed. What is Empowerment? Empowerment is a term that has become very commonplace these days with newspapers using the word in articles and talk shows on TV having panelists talking about the need to empower the backward and downtrodden sections of the society. Empowerment refers to the process of giving people more control over their situations and lives. In purely organizational setup, empowering employees is showing trust and faith in them while giving them responsibilities. Empowerment is believed to motivate employees as they feel  more in control of the situation. When boss makes someone in charge of a department and allows him to run it as he deems fit, it is seen that the employee has more confidence and produces better results than when he is delegated authority and asked to run the department according to set rules and protocol. Empowerment is a process that shows respect to employees placing trust in their abilities. While organizational goals remain the end results, employee interests are used as means to achieve these results. What is the difference between Delegation and Empowerment? †¢ To achieve the goals of the organization, making use of employees, managers can make use of either delegation or empowerment †¢ While delegation is all about using employees as means to achieve ends, empowerment tries to make employees feel important as it is a process that places trust in the abilities of the employees †¢ Some managers have fear of erosion of authority which is why they use delegation over empowerment

Friday, November 8, 2019

Vapiano Restaurant

Vapiano Restaurant Introduction With the recent economic crisis across many countries in the world, one can easily give up an idea of starting a new business. Starting a business like a fast food restaurant can especially seem less appealing due to the high level of competition that already exists in this particular food restaurant market.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Vapiano Restaurant specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, as it has been proven again by the new and expanding Vapiano food restaurant, innovation is the most critical aspect that is required to grow and expand a business. The designers of the Vapiano restaurant concept have targeted and appealed to a particular segment of customers who have in turn continued to flood her steps in increasing numbers (Lam et al. 2011). Here, we will look at the range of unique services and technology that have been employed by Vapiano restaurant to attract customers. History and Con cept Vapiano restaurant was established in 2002 in Hamburg (Germany) by a man named Mark Korzilius (Kilian 2011). Mark wanted to introduce a concept whereby customers could order and enjoy fast foods with an Italian taste within an atmosphere that they could be part of (Kilian 2011). Here, the main menu that would be availed to customers includes pizzas, salads, and pastas. Apart from unique menus, Vapiano intended to provide unique services that would attract customers to visit her restaurants. Usually, meals are prepared in an open environment where customers can see. Besides, the design of the restaurants has been done with a focus on creating a modern atmosphere (Bowen 1986). Thus, the entire Vapiano package is intended to lure customers with her new, affordable, and casual eating experience within a modern environment (Lam et al. 2011). About two thirds of the customers that have been visiting Vapiano restaurants are women (Fama 2005). Vapiano has mostly targeted affluent indiv iduals with high incomes; the majority of these customers are aged between twenty five to forty five years. Most of Vapiano customers live in highly populated urban centres across Europe and the United States. Importantly, Vapiano has introduced an attractive technology experience through its payment method (Fama 2005). Here, customers use a chip card to charge and pay for services. With the mentioned unique services, Vapiano has been able to offer high value services to her customers (Head 2008). Having initially started in Germany, Vapiano restaurant has expanded to Europe, North America, Asia, Australia, and Africa. With the help of other investors, Mark Korzilius designed the Vapiano business model for the purpose of continually expanding and refining the Vapiano business (Fama 2005).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Following the opening of the initial Dà ¼ss eldorf franchise in 2004, more restaurants were opened afterwards. As the Vapiano model has continually appealed to customers, it has also continuously expanded across Germany and the rest of the world. Currently, Vapiano has been targeting market segments across the world with the demography concept in mind (Head 2008). However, as it expands further, the company could need to design business concepts that would appeal to unique cultures across the world (Lam et al. 2011). Like most of the other markets where Vapiano has ventured, the German market is highly competitive with a range of restaurants that employ diverse approaches to attract customers. Some of these restaurants are run by international companies like the McDonald (Fama 2005). Here, many people are adopting changing lifestyles such as outdoor eating habits. Such a direction has thus expanded the market of fast food restaurants like Vapiano (Lehn 2008). One important approach that has been employed by Vapiano to target the expanding market of restaurant eaters has been to offer a package of affordable and quality restaurant services to her customers. Therefore, although the products and services of Vapiano restaurants are relatively affordable when compared to her rivals, customers here can still enjoy high quality services that match the restaurant concept (Kilian 2011). Services and Technology Vapiano restaurant provides customers with fast food Italian dishes within a modern environment. Although the design of Vapiano buildings may vary in style, all of them have a modern European architecture with at least one tree planted within the buildings as a symbol of freshness (Lam et al. 2011). Having started in Germany, Vapiano has expanded to over seventy locations across Europe and the rest of the world. Currently, the Vapiano Company is intending to add about one hundred more locations in the United States to its expanding franchise (Lehn 2008). Usually, Vapiano restaurants are in highly populated locations in urban centres. These urban centres must have a large number of high income earners aged between twenty five to forty years. Besides, Vapiano restaurants are usually located nearby a place of attraction such as a theatre where they can tap into the high number of customer inflow. So as to improve efficiency and serve her customers better, Vapiano restaurants have a layout that is specifically designed to increase efficiency (Lehn 2008). The layout of Vapiano restaurants is usually divided into two sections: the food section and the bar section. The food section is further divided into three counters that serve different types of dishes. The three dishes that are mainly served at the three different counters are pizzas, salads and pasta (Lam et al. 2011). Here, depending on the meal that they would like to be served, customers can move to appropriate counters for the services that they need. Usually, meals at the three counters are made on orders.Advertising We w ill write a custom report sample on Vapiano Restaurant specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Upon entry into a Vapiano restaurant, a customer will first report at a registry. Here, customers are given RFID chip cards for the processing of their meal payment (Lehn 2008). From the registry, customers move into the bar area. Here, customers are greeted and availed the option of taking drinks at this particular section. However, customers can decide to skip taking drinks and move directly to the food area. As I had mentioned, the food section is divided into three sections that serve different kinds of meals (mainly pasta, salads and pizza) (Frances 2006). Thus, customers can select specific counters where they can order their meals. Once customers report at specific counters, they are offered seats from where they can watch the preparation of their meals by cooks. Usually, customers will have a chance of interacting with cooks as they wait for their meals to be ready. As it is often the case, there is very limited number of waiters (whose work is primarily to clear the tables). Such an arrangement of cooking meals close to customers helps to reduce the number of waiters, and thus help in reducing labour costs for the restaurant (Lehn 2008). Moreover, cooks are thus given another role of controlling customer flow at their restaurants. Once they finish their meals, customers make payments at their respective counters. Here, customers have an option of moving back to the bar section to enjoy more drinks as they relax (Frances 2006). Usually, the number of available chip cards is equal to the number of seats that are available to customers for a particular restaurant. Since customers can sit anywhere they wish, it is common to see different customers share tables. I would like to mention that some Vapiano restaurants have a different layout from the on that I have mentioned above. For example, instead of having the bar section bef ore the food section, the Boston restaurant has a bar section on the side of the food section instead. Here, I would like to describe range of unique services that are offered at Vapiano restaurant. As I had mentioned earlier, Vapiano restaurants have been designed to present customers with an atmosphere that is stylish and modern. As such, all of the Vapiano restaurants have been built with an attractive European architecture. I had also mentioned about the presence of a tree in the restaurants as a sign of freshness.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Usually, the theme of the restaurants is a fast and modern theme. Apart from fast Italian dishes, which are usually ready in just a few minutes after an order, the music that is played at the restaurants is usually fast music designed to resonate with the fast and modern theme at the restaurants. With their luxurious architecture and style, Vapiano restaurants attract high class customers to their stores. Despite serving traditional Italian dishes, the environment at the Vapiano restaurants deviates from the traditional Italian environment to a modern environment. Thus, young people with high incomes will especially find the package at the restaurants appealing (Lam et al. 2011). Moreover, the quality of food that is served at Vapiano restaurant differentiates it from other restaurants. As I had mentioned, most of the food that is served at the restaurant consists of traditional Italian dishes like salads and pasta. One particular aspect however that differentiates Vapiano from othe r Italian restaurants is the quality of Italian dishes that are served at Vapiano (Lam et al. 2011). When compared to the meals that are served at the more traditional Italian restaurants, the meals that are served at Vapiano restaurants are of poorer quality. Usually, cooks at Vapiano restaurants are not as highly skilled in preparing dishes as their counterparts at the traditional Italian restaurants (Frances 2006). Actually, meals at the Vapiano restaurants are designed for quick preparation instead of quality. Thus, meals that are served at Vapiano restaurants are usually pre made and frozen; hence, they can be prepared fast by the cooks. As we had briefly seen, another aspect that is unique to Vapiano restaurant is the low number of workers at the restaurant. Apart from preparing fast meals, cooks are also responsible for handling traffic flow, interacting with customers, serving customers, and in handling communication flow at the restaurants where they work (Lam et al. 2011). On the other hand, with the duty of just clearing tables, the number of waiters at Vapiano restaurants is usually low (Charles 1998). The result of such an arrangement results in customers moving a lot. Customers are required to move to counters and make orders. Besides, they are also required to find an appropriate place where they can sit (Fazzari 2006). Once they have finished their meals, customers are also required to move to the register and make payments. Again, such a concept is appropriate for an energetic and modern youth (Bowen 1986). The unique environment at Vapiano restaurant results in relatively low prices for customers. First, since customers do a lot of the movement, waiters at Vapiano restaurant are few; thus helping the restaurants to cut on labour costs (Fazzari 2006). The cut in labour costs can then be passed to customers through low prices. Besides, since the atmosphere at Vapiano restaurant is fast paced, customers are served their meals fast after which th ey move out for more customers to be served. Such an arrangement helps to increase the efficiency of Vapiano restaurants; hence, creating a big volume of customer inflows (Cuthbertson 2008). With a high capacity for customers, Vapiano restaurants are thus able to reduce their operating costs; hence, helping to pass the benefits to customers by charging low process for their services. Moreover, since there is a low emphasis on very high quality of meals and a high emphasis on speed, Vapiano restaurants are able to reduce the time and energy that is required to prepare meals; thus, helping to cut their overall costs of service. Although customers are generally encouraged to take their meals and leave the restaurant, they have an option of returning to the bar section of the restaurant where they can enjoy more drinks (Frances 2006). When a customer spends more money in buying drinks at the bar, they contribute to more revenues for the restaurants. Generally, the whole arrangement at V apiano restaurant is to increase efficiency; hence, helping to cut costs and thus contributing to the relatively low prices at the Vapiano restaurants (Charles 1998). Despite the low number of waiters and other workers at Vapiano restaurants, customers can still interact with the usually warm and friendly workers at the restaurant. Most pf the workers at Vapiano restaurants are generally friendly, cooperative and warm. The good attitude of workers at Vapiano restaurant has been helpful in promoting a positive experience for customers (Fazzari 2006). Unlike the traditional Italian restaurants that rely on reserves bookings to make preparation for customers, most of the Vapiano customers do not make bookings before visiting their favourite restaurant. However, due to the high efficiency system that is employed at the Vapiano restaurants, most customers will find available sits when they visit. Such a direction has been helpful in removing any inconveniences that could otherwise have a risen due to the large number of customers that visit the Vapiano restaurants (Cuthbertson 2008). The management of Vapiano restaurant has seen it necessary to develop a discount plan for their customers. As we had seen, customers are usually offered chip cards when they enter Vapiano restaurants. These chip cards enable customers to accumulate points that they can use later to obtain discounts (Koller 2005). The offer of a discount mechanism to her customers is among the important directions that have been designed by Vapiano restaurants to attract and keep a large number of customers (Vapiano 2011). Besides, the discount plan has also been helpful in promoting customer loyalty. As it had been seen, the use of chip cards has also been fruitful in helping the Vapiano restaurants to monitor the flow of customers. When the chip cards are unavailable, it means that the restaurant has reached its full capacity. In such instances, customers can wait for spaces at the bar as they enjoy dr inks. The general approach of increasing efficiency at Vapiano restaurants can also be seen through the use of chip cards. Since information on the number of customers that have visited the restaurants, collected revenues, and preferred meals is electronically stored to a database by the chip cards, useful information is easily availed to the management of the Vapiano restaurant (Cuthbertson 2008). For example, the management of Vapiano restaurants can use information that has been availed by the chip cards to know about the types of meals that have been consumed most within a specific period; hence helping the management to buy future stocks. Likewise, the management can easily obtain information on revenues and profits that have been made from a database that has been linked to the chip cards (Koller 2005). Generally, the chip cards are useful in helping the management of Vapiano restaurant to obtain important information for the effective running of their restaurants (Charles 199 8). Currently, the cost of a single chip card is fifty dollars. A challenge that has been presented to the management of Vapiano as a result of using chip cards is the frequent loss of chip cards by customers. Here, an approach that has been employed is to trust customers, and therefore ask them how much they had spent earlier. Currently, plans are underway to introduce chip cards that are more personalised for customers with information such as the names of the customers and the foods that they like most. The relatively low price of meals at Vapiano restaurants has been helpful in appealing to customers who have been visiting the restaurant. Generally, the prices of pasta and pizza range from $7 to $12 (Vapiano 2011). Compare this relatively low pricing to an average of $ 20 in a traditional Italian restaurant. As a result many Vapiano restaurants have been seeing an increase in the number of customers that visit their stores with an average of about 500 guests per day in most rest aurants (Vapiano 2011). The average turnover per each of the Vapiano restaurants was about two million euros in 2011 (Vapiano 2011). The average operating costs for each of the Vapiano restaurants was about one million euros. Here, about 30% of the costs were as a result of material costs and the chip technology. A further 30% of the cost resulted from labour expenses. Thus, the Vapiano concept has been useful in expanding and managing Vapiano restaurants (Fazzari 2006). Conclusion Through an aggressive campaign that has marketed their unique concept: providing an Italian food experience in a fast food and modern environment, the management of Vapiano restaurants have been able to expand the volume of their customer segment across Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa. Here, the management of Vapiano Company has especially introduced a package that has appealed to the young, wealthy, and modern populace that mostly resides in western countries (Koller 2005). Vapiano customers have been able to experience a stylish and modern atmosphere; besides, they have loved the unique services that incorporate technologies; moreover, they have also enjoyed the relatively low prices of meals at Vapiano restaurant (Cuthbertson 2008). Through carefully designed systems, the total arrangement at Vapiano restaurant has been for a youthful and energetic young person that loves to eat out in a modern restaurant. Such youths have not found it difficult to use the chip technologies, and to move from one place to another within the restaurants as they make their orders and payments. References Bowen, R. 1986 â€Å"Evidence on the Relationship between Earnings and management†, The Accounting Review, vol. 4, pp. 713-725. Charles H., 1998, Clock speed – Winning Industry Control in the Age of Temporary Advantage, Perseus Books, New York. Cuthbertson, K., 2008, Investments, Second Edition, John Wiley Sons Ltd, West Sussex. Fama, E., 2005, ‘Managing Restaurants†™, Journal of Financial Economics, vol. 60, pp. 3-43. Fazzari, S. M., 2006, â€Å"Financial Constraints and Corporate Investments†, Brooking Papers on Economic Activity, vol. 1, pp. 141-195. Frances, X., 2006, Breaking the Trade-Off between Efficiency and Service, HBS, New York. Head, T 2008, ‘Theory, Advantages and Disadvantages, Student Accountant Magazine, June/July 2008, p 50. Kilian, W, 2011, Vapiano: Creating a marketing-driven business, HBS, New York. Koller, T., 2005, Valuation: Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies, John Wiley Sons Inc, New Jersey. Lam, T, et al. Comparison study of two Italian restaurants: Vapiano and Trattora, MIT press, New York. Lehn , A., 2008, â€Å" Performance Measures and Signals for Strategic Change†, Strategy and Leadership, vol. 5, pp.34-38. Vapiano, 2011, Menus, Locations, Concept. Web.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

How to Judge Age Bias essays

How to Judge Age Bias essays In contrast to all the "glamorous" cases on the U.S. Supreme Court's plate this term, a "homely" challenge, in the words of one litigator, could transform the landscape of job bias litigation in this country. But the homeliness of the case is certainly not in its facts. Faltering Net Firms Will Find Bankruptcy Lawyers Reluctant Sooner or later, the bottom will fall out for many of the Internet companies struggling to make a buck in the already cluttered World Wide Web. But dot-coms hoping to survive a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization will find legal help hard to come by. TV Station, Reporters Settle Suit Over Overtime Claims A trial expected to reveal the workings of television news programs was pre-empted by a confidential settlement. Two former Atlanta television station WAGA reporters sued the station for overtime pay, claiming their jobs were akin to assembly-line work. The station responded that the news reporters used "imagination, invention and talent" to do their jobs, making them professionals not entitled to overtime. Corporate executives in a position to monitor or inflate financial figures beware: the SEC is watching. Last year, the SEC charged 120 corporate insiders with securities violations for their role in helping companies falsify financial records. This year, the agency is putting more resources into targeting individuals who commit and facilitate financial fraud. ...

Monday, November 4, 2019

The terms 'ethnic minority' hides the diversity between and within Essay

The terms 'ethnic minority' hides the diversity between and within minority ethnic groups. Discuss - Essay Example dress issues of discrimination on racial or ethnic lives have not been able to efficiently iron out details about ethno-religious matters, gender and ethnicity, ethno-politico issues and other such gray areas. Members of these minority groups have had to endure their situation or fight like the black feminists did. This paper aims to discuss an array issues that touch on this issue of differences between and within ethnic minority groups. Looking at self-employement sector in Britain for example the self-employment rate is 14.6 percent for non-whites compared to 12.3 percent for whites. However beneath this statistics are the glaring differences between the groups. The self-employment rate for black Carribeans is 5.8 percent while that for Chinese is 26.6 percent (Kenneth and Drinkwater, 1). Factors that could create these differences would include social support from one’s community to facilitate a self-sustaining economic environment, effects of religion or access to informal sources of capital and manpower from the family ties or members of the ethnic community (Kenneth and Drinkwater, 1). Cultural endowments too determine such kinds of trends since it does determine one’s attitude towards entrepreneurship. It also has a bearing on consumer behaviour and how much of a good is ordered (Rafiq, 46). Some of these consumer behaviours become so pronounced as to qualify some goods being referred to as ethnic goods. When a good number of members of a certain ethnic group live together in one neighbourhood, a protected market scenario arises. The shop owners are able to maintain a monopoly of sorts within the neighbourhood and the members give support by being loyal to these businesses. The shop owners are keener to provide goods and services that meet the memb ers’ preferences. Religious goods are particularly a favourite. So are goods from the ethnic group’s country of origin. Religion is another strong influence. Rafiq, (50-55) argues that in

Friday, November 1, 2019

Reflection paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 16

Reflection paper - Essay Example the two are similar to those proposed by many other Americans such as Booker T Washington and Du Bois among others who develop unique philosophies through which they thought would change the lives of the African American minorities in their times. The history of the United States is characterized with a period of slavery succeeded with one of intense racial discrimination. During both periods, the African American minority faced numerous predicaments owing to the lowly state in the society. Even after the emancipation of slaves, the freed African Americans faced intense discrimination coupled with general disadvantaged position owing to their lack of education among other fundamental rights and privileges. As such, different iconic African Americans worked with non-governmental organizations among other types of platform to fight for the rights of the population with the view to improving the standards of the population in the country. Key among such individuals were William Edward Burghardt Du  Bois and Booker Taliaferro Washington both of whom fronted different ideas in their attempt to finding a lasting solution to the problems the African minority groups faced in the country. The two were among the few African Americans who received quality education thus becoming philosophers. As such, they fronted specific philosophies they believed would help African Americans improve their living standards in the society. The two iconic black philosophers lived in different times and locations a feature that influenced their ideologies. The two fronted different philosophies in their attempt to free the blacks from the various forms of social oppression. Booker T. Washington was born of slave parents. As such, he worked hard to become one of the earliest educated African Americans in the country. He faced renewed discrimination of the African Americans owing to the formulation and implementation of the Jim Crow discriminatory laws. W. E. B. Du  Bois on the other hand was