Operations Management - 2610 Words

McDonald’s Restaurants The route to fast food franchising Introduction When the McDonald brothers, Dick and Mac opened their first restaurant in 1940 in San Bernardino, California, they could never have imagined the phenomenal growth that their company would enjoy. From extremely modest beginnings, they hit on a winning formula selling a high quality product cheaply and quickly. However, it was not until Ray Kroc, a Chicago based salesman with a flair for marketing, became involved that the business really started to grow. He realized that the same successful McDonald’s formula could be exploited throughout the United States and beyond. There are now more than 28,000 McDonald’s Restaurants in over 120 countries. In 2000, they†¦show more content†¦This division of labor and the high volume turnover of a limited menu allows for considerable economies of scale. For the franchisee, this can considerably reduce the risk of setting up their own business. There is no need to develop the product or do expensive market research. Nor will they have sleepless nights wondering if the product will appeal to the consumer. McDonald’s carries out regular market research. 3. Intensive initial training Every franchisee has to complete a full-time training program, lasting about nine months, which they have to fund themselves. This training is absolutely essential. It begins with working in a restaurant, wearing the staff uniform and learning everything from cooking and preparing food to serving customers and cleaning. Further training at regional training centers focuses on areas such as business management, leadership skills, team building and handling customer enquiries. The franchisee will have to recruit, train and motivate their own workforce, so they must learn all the skills of human resource management. During the final period, the trainee learns about stock control and ordering, profit and loss accounts and the legal side of hiring and employing staff. Consequently, no McDonald’s franchisee would have to ask a member of his or her staff to do something that they couldn’t do themselves. Knowing this, can also be a powerful motivator for the staff. 4. Continuous supportShow MoreRelatedOperations Management : Operation Management1355 Words   |  6 PagesOperations Management Introduction Operations management is the activity of managing the resources that create and deliver services and products. The operations function is the part of the organization that is responsible for this activity. Every organization has an operations function because every organization creates some type of services and/or products. However, not all types of organization will necessarily call the operations function by this name. Operations managers are the people who haveRead MoreOperation Management - Cadburyworld2493 Words   |  10 Pagestechnology to streamline the operation process) and facility costs (old and outdated facilities) at lowest possible. In return, they have to compromise low costs with their other objectives. The unskilled staffs and outdated facilities are compromised with the quality in the core process. For example, the brief video (facility) in the packaging plant is outdated and requires commentary notes from some guides. However, the unskilled guides are not familiar with the operations so they need to read fromRead MoreOperation Management And Operations Management2148 Words   |  9 PagesOperation management Introduction Being an operations manager is not an easy task, it involves good control and responsibilities for the major activities within the organisations in order to achieve goals that might be in form of services or in form of goods. The operation management roles may be different from business to business depending on the size and resources available, each organisation has its own operations functions, and in order to produces goods or services they have to convert theRead MoreImportance Of Production And Operations Management2317 Words   |  10 Pagesthe production and operation of enterprises. In order to remain competitive, companies in different countries have different factors of competitive advantage. A clear competitive advantage is the key to gain success in production and operation management. An effective operations management is the foundation of enterprise competitive advantage and the fundamental guarantee to realize corporate strategy. This essay deals with the importance of production and operations management in the enterprise,Read MoreOperations Management : Operation Management Essay2171 Words   |  9 PagesOperation Management Operations administration concentrates on precisely dealing with the procedures to create and circulate items and administrations. Operations administration is the procedure, which joins and changes different assets utilized as a part of the creation/operations subsystem of the association into quality included item/benefits in a controlled way according to the arrangements of the association. In this way, it is that part of an association, which is worried with the changeRead MoreOperation Management2751 Words   |  12 PagesTABLE OF CONTENTS 1. OPERATION MANAGEMENT 3 1.1. DEFINITION OF OPERATION MANAGEMENT 3 1.2. THE ROLE OF OPERATION MANAGER 3 1.3. RELATIONSHIP OF OPERATION MANAGEMENT WITH OTHER CORE FUNCTIONS 3 2. CASE STUDIES 3 2.1. HEATHROW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT 3 2.2. NESTLÉ UK CHOCOLATE FACTORY 3 3. MAJOR UNDERSTANDINGS OF THE STUDY 3 4. CONCLUSIONS 3 REFERENCES 3 1. Operation Management For the success of an organization, the management crew plays a major role. An organizational structure is based on differentRead MoreOperations Management986 Words   |  4 PagesOPERATIONS MANAGEMENT Select two organisations that you are familiar with – one with a service output and one with a product output, and compare and contrast these organisations with respect to the following aspects: 1.1 The process of transformation of inputs to outputs 1.2 Process and Capacity design 1.3 Supply Chain management 1.4 Scheduling Operations Management refers to the management of the production system that transforms inputs into finished goods and services, (http://csuponomaRead MoreOperation Management2436 Words   |  10 PagesOPERATION MANAGEMENT IS IMPORTANT TO ALL BUSINESS To be able produce specialized managers capable of fulfilling strategic tasks within business and government enterprises the need for the practice of operations management cannot be forgone. Operations management is very significant in business operations since it forms the heart of the organisation by controlling the system of operation. Operations management deals with the design, operation, and enhancement of the systems that generate and deliverRead MoreOperations Management Chapter 18 Manual1950 Words   |  8 PagesChApter 18 Management of Waiting Lines Teaching Notes Some of the math and calculations can be left out in order to focus more clearly on the concepts of waiting lines. For example, all infinite source problems, including single channel (except constant service time) can be handled using the infinite source queuing table. In the past, queuing presented students with a good bit of computational requirements, and because of that, students frequently lost sight of the underlying concepts. WithRead MoreOperations Management1791 Words   |  8 PagesQUESTION 1 Operations management must be managed properly in order to improve an organization’s productivity and profitability. In the Cadbury World case, several micro and macro processes are involved and those processes bring some impacts to Cadbury World. Thus, Cadbury World must possess a sustainable micro and macro processes to achieve the best outcome and performance. Micro processes that involved are easily to manage compared to macro processes because macro processes are hard to manage

A Study On Easter Island - 1405 Words

Easter Island has long been a puzzling intrigue in the minds of historians, scholars, and the common folk alike. What happened to the once tropical lush forests? How did a civilization erect such impressive statues and why were they erected? And where are the people who erected these statues now? Many of these questions have been explained over the years with circumstantial evidence and preposterous assumptions. However, through careful analysis and meticulous evidence gathering, lead scholars like Joanne Van Tilburg, Jared Diamond, Terry Hunt, and Carl Lipo, have established a comprehensive literature on the history and likely events that happened on Easter Island. One of the debates that continues today is centered primarily around the deforestation of Rapa Nui. An island once thriving with lush tropical forests. On one side scholar’s Tilburg and Diamond attribute the deforestations to societal conflict and degradation while on the other, Hunt and Lipo argue that deforestation was the result of combined human and rat resource depletion. I believe that Easter Island represents a â€Å"tragedy of the commons† scenario in which the isolation of the island, from any other island, contributed to the in-fighting for resources (trees), power (chiefdoms), and prestige (moai), ultimately leading to the extinction of a people and their environment. Diamond in â€Å"Easter Island Twilight†, lays out a compelling case, with the support of Joanne Van Tilburg, that deforestation of EasterShow MoreRelatedEaster Island : A Case Study1483 Words   |  6 PagesName of Case Study: â€Å"Easter Island: A Case Study in Non-sustainabilityâ₠¬  (Foot p.11) Key environmental points: Easter Island is a remotely located island in the South Pacific. The island was first populated in circa A. D. 400 by a group of travelers from Polynesia. The island, shaped like a triangle, was positioned 2,000 km from the nearest inhabited land, and 3,200 km from the closest continental land mass (Foot p. 11). According to David Foot â€Å"the island originally supported a great palm forest†Read MoreThe Mystery Of Easter Island827 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"In Easter Island...the shadows of the departed builders still possess the land...the whole air vibrates with a vast purpose and energy which has been and is no more. What was it? Why was it? said Katherine Routledge, an explorer and archaeologist. People across the globe have marveled at the wonders of Easter Island for centuries. The remains of the island are huge statues called moai, which seemed to be an impossible feat for people of the time. Archaeologists everywhere are gathering togeth erRead MoreEaster Island : Historical Analysis1308 Words   |  6 PagesEaster Island, a mysterious and intriguing land lies on Chilean territory in the South Pacific ocean. The Polynesian people discovered an island that can allow researchers and linguistics to dive in and dig up remains and stories of the past. Easter Island is an isolated historical place that boomed in population and thrived in culture. The name Easter Island was born from the first European, Jacob Roggeveen, to arrive on Easter Sunday in the year 1722. The islander’s culture left a legacy that wasRead MoreEssay about Easter Island and the Environment: A Warning to the World940 Words   |  4 PagesEaster Island and the Environment: A Warning to the World The progression of human development has come with its costs. The environment provides an array of resources available for use or appreciation. However, changing elements of this structure such as by removing trees can bring about unintended consequences. These alterations also can cause problems that cannot be fixed by the human population and as a result the population must cope with the loss if possible. The case study here shows howRead MoreEssay about The Rapa Nui1338 Words   |  6 PagesNui and their arrival on Easter Island. I will cover the basic history of the Rapa Nui and their discovery and habitation of Easter Island. Further, I will review topics such as culture, marriage and family, religion, traditions and more. Rapa Nui is more commonly known as Easter Island, a province of Chile. Its official Spanish name is Isla de Pascua. It is one of the most isolated inhabited islands on earth, located in the southeastern Pacific Ocean. The island is triangular in shape, withRead MoreCollapse, By Jared Diamond1450 Words   |  6 Pagesfactor framework he uses throughout the book to analyze the problem. Part two starts with chapter two giving an overview of the two most commonly cited cases of collapse due to environmental overreach: the Fertile Crescent of Mesopotamia and Easter Island. Covering up to 500,000 square miles, these were extremely fertile lands, watered by the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Long, long ago, the area was so populated and so prosperous that it has been nicknamed the Cradle of Civilization. But it collapsedRead MoreGun, Germs, And Steel By Jared Diamond1585 Words   |  7 Pagesthrough a unique scale called the five-point framework. This framework considers environmental damage, climate change, hostile neighbors, friendly trade partners, and most importantly society’s response to its environmental problems. Every society he studies he applies this framework to determine a possible flaw in the collapse of the society. The novel starts with Montana’s current environmental problems and evaluates societies as ancient as the Mayans and as recent as Modern China. Unlike its award-winningRead MoreSustainability and Urban Development1428 Words   |  6 Pagesthe regenerative ability to support the needed resources for the species in perpetuity. When resources are used faster than they can regenerate their stocks, then the society has the potential to collapse; as was the case for the population on Easter Island. Externalities The largest problem the current economic model and the distribution of resources in society rest on the externalities that are not counted in the system. Therefore, to understand sustainable development the concepts of externalitiesRead MoreEaster Island s History And Decline1305 Words   |  6 Pages In the article by Jared Diamond, many interesting theories are discussed about Easter Island’s history and decline. Diamond makes connections to the environmental challenges we face today and he compares the catastrophe of Easter Island to our current over consumption of natural resources. While this article makes for an interesting read, much of it is offered from a single perspective and little counter evidence is offered. The author writes in a way that could engage a non-academicRead MoreAustralian Aboriginal People: The Rapa Nui of Easter Island and the Tiwi Islanders2723 Words   |  11 Pagesessay I will examine two different cultural groups the Rapa Nui of E aster Island and the Tiwi islanders of Australia’s Northern Territory. My main focus will be on the impact colonisation had on these two different cultural groups. I will explain how these two different cultural civilisations were colonised at different times in history and how this effected each culture. I will describe the differences that occurred on each island and how each group handled the different situations they were put

Why Is Agriculture Important in the World of Today Free Essays

Since the dawn of history, agriculture has been one of the important means of producing food for human consumption. Today more and more lands are being developed for the production of a large variety crops. In Asia, vast areas of land are being used to produce rice, wheat, rubber and a variety of other crops. We will write a custom essay sample on Why Is Agriculture Important in the World of Today or any similar topic only for you Order Now In Asia, vast areas of land are being used to produce rice, wheat, rubber and a variety of other crops. More than half of the lands occupied and developed by human beings in the world are devoted to agriculture. That agriculture is one of the most essential means of producing food is realized easily when we think of the types of things that we eat. The rice or wheat that we eat comes from the land. Even potatoes and other roots or vegetables and even leaves such as tea, as well as the fruits that men eat are the products of the soil that covers the earth. In fact, everything that we eat except meat, fish and other kinds of flesh comes from the land and what grows on the land is part of agriculture. Even the sugar, oil, coffee and other beverages that we use are products of plants that grow on the land. In the same way, many of the medicines that we use are made of plants that grow in various parts of the world. The tobacco that we use for relaxation also comes from a plant. Thus, it can be easily observed that without agriculture we would be almost without food. It is true, however, that in the remote past men did live mainly on flesh that he obtained by hunting. But such a kind of life was unhappy and inconvenient, for animals were not found everywhere easily. Therefore, men turned to agriculture for his livelihood. Today, agriculture continues to provide almost all the foods that men require to survive on the earth. How to cite Why Is Agriculture Important in the World of Today, Essay examples

I Am Like a Burrito free essay sample

Tortilla: God is the tortilla of my life. Call Him whatever you want – Savior, Shepherd, Father – Ill just stick with tortilla. Hes the thin skin that protects me and holds me. If I screw up, I know that my tortilla will be there for me, no matter what. Rice: You can reach me by mail, just address the letter straight to my town. This sheltered bubble is the place I call home. Its where I brush my teeth and paint my nails. Its where I munch on black bean salsa from Kramers and create spontaneous YouTube videos. Feel like watching shiny Mercedes sports cars pull into long driveways? Care for a fine wine tasting party at the Laneys? Come on down to my lovely ZIP code. Its the classiest rice around. Beans: Upon entering the double doors of my high school on my first day, I saw masses of students threatening to re-create the stampede scene from â€Å"The Lion King. We will write a custom essay sample on I Am Like a Burrito or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page † Oh, geez, I thought. And, 952 days later, I still feel the same way each time I walk into school. Im just one of the thousands of students. Im just another bean. A bean with flavor extraordinaire. Chicken: Greenish-blue eyes. Chocolate brown hair. Five feet, seven-and-a-half inches. Yep, thats me. I cant touch my tongue to my nose, but I can stretch my toes to unbelievable distances. Sports arent exactly my thing, so I lack bicep muscles. Could that be why Ive never been able to pass the pull-up test? I guess from the outside, Im just an average piece of chicken. But dont worry: Ive got wings, and some day Ill be the first chicken to fly. Mild salsa: The girl who cuts my hair told me that Im pleasant. Pleasant!? I thought, suddenly the victim of a complete and utter mental meltdown. I clung to the sides of the black vinyl chair, trying to wrap my head around the dullness of her diction. Sure, Im nice and all, but couldnt she have chosen a spicier word? Like brilliant. Or dazzling. I would have been happy with that. Oh, well. I guess a mild salsa personality isnt so bad. Cheese: â€Å"Melanie, would you mind reading your paper aloud to the class?† Ever since my second grade teacher told me that I had a knack for writing, Ive devoted my time to words. My friends practiced cheerleading and painted pictures; I wrote stories. Every time I open a blank Microsoft Word document, I swear I can hear angels singing the Hallelujah chorus. Cheese is the glue that holds my ideas together. Lettuce: Every year on January first, I sit down in front of my iMac and come up with 10 New Years resolutions. No more, no less. From trivial to incredibly meaningful, my goals reflect who I am and who Id like to be. Number 10 on the list? Get into Northwestern. If my dreams are lettuce, then Northwestern is the greenest leaf.

What is Juvenile Probation

His Story essays

His Story essays In exploring the notion of the individual versus the self, we should notice that in Achebes Things Fall Apart, a community is very important to the survival of the tribe and the people often work together for the betterment of the tribe. There are also individual aspects in the Ibo society. Each person has his own chi, or personal god. Present in Okonkwo's household were the expectations of masculinity that Okonkwo held for his son, Nwoye. In his mind, men and women are two different extremes; men being stronger, tougher and more controlling, while women are meek, thoughtless and easily dominated. In keeping with the Ibo view of female nature, the tribe allowed wife beating. The novel describes two instances when Okonkwo beats his second wife, once when she did not come home to make his meal. He beat her severely and was punished but only because he beat her during the Week of Peace. He beat her again when she referred to him as one of those guns that never shot. When a severe case of wife beating comes before the egwugwu, he found in favor of the wife, but at the end of the trial one of the elders wondered, I don't know why such a trifle should come before the egwugwu. The husband considers his wife as a property. His uncle, Uchendu, noticing Okonkwo's distress, explains how Okonkwo should view his exile: A man belongs to his fatherland when things are good and life is sweet. But when there is sorrow and bitterness he finds refuge in his motherland. A man has both joy and sorrow in his life and when the bad times come his mother is always there to comfort him. Thus comes the saying Mother is Supreme. Possibly, Umuofia's degrading treatment of women and wives comes from unconscious fear of, rather than reverence for, the unpredictable. The ending reveals that Okonko had not achieved his goals, but instead, by the end of his life, he had become a fail...

Without Efficient States, Productive Activity, and a High Level of Glo Literature review

Without Efficient States, Productive Activity, and a High Level of Globalization Would Be Impossible - Literature review Example Thus, the job of a coal miner in Britain might depend on events in South Africa or Poland as much as on local management or national government decisions. Although the notion does not just refer to global interconnectedness. Globalisation 'is best understood as expressing fundamental aspects of time-space distancing. Globalisation concerns the intersection of presence and absence, the interlacing of social events, and social relations "at a distance" with local contextualities' (Giddens 1991:21). David Harvey (1989:240), too, refers to the fact that globalisation describes our changing experience of time and space or 'time-space compression'. According to Jessop, phenomena firmly within an ontologically broader context of capitalist socio-economic and sociopolitical restructuring, in order to ascertain exactly how they intervene in power struggles over this restructuring. This would be in order to clarify whether or not these interventions are contingent or can be attributed to objective necessities. In this context, it makes no sense to postulate 'the market' and 'the state' axiomatically against one another, since the two really presuppose one another (Jessop 1997:50-52). Hence and indeed following Jessop, (Magnus Ryner; 2002: 101) suggest that we pose the question of globalisation with reference to the manner in which:(a) socio-economic orders become materially reproduced (or not) through the configuration of a regime of accumulation and mode of regulation;(b) Potential and tendential social conflicts are 'managed' (or not)-that is, how they are mediated, regulated, and neutralised-through socially embedded authority structures; (c) This order is (or is not) 'normalized' and stabilized through the articulation of the terms of legitimacy which engenders the social order with a stable 'consensual' 'mass base';(d) Questions (a), (b) and (c) interrelate to form (or not) a Gramscian historic bloc or sets of interacting historic blocs. The elating trade barriers, liberalization of capital markets, as well as speedy technical development, particularly in the fields of information technology, transport, and telecommunications, have infinitely improved and hasten the faction of people, information, possessions, and resources. In the same way, they have as well expanded the variety of issues which spread out the boundaries of nation-States necessitating international median setting and directive and, consequently, conference and formal discussions on a global or district scale. numerous of the tribulations distressing the world today such as poverty, ecological pollution, financial crises, organized crime and terror campaign - are ever more transnational in nature, and cannot be a pact with simply at the national level, nor by State to State negotiations.Immense economic, as well as social interdependence, seems to influence national decision-making processes in two essential ways. It calls for a transfer of decisions to the worldwide level and, due to an increase in the stipulate for participation it as well needs numerous decisions to be relocated to confined levels of government.Thereby, globalization requires multifaceted decision-making processes, which occurs at diverse levels, explicitly sub-national, national, and global, paving the way to an emergent multi-layered structure of power.

Fast food sector Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Fast food sector - Essay Example Having taken advantage of the economic growth, the organization has expanded phenomenally and has presence in virtually every country in the world (Orji, 2005). Their business model too is unique as their restaurants are owned and operated by local people in the country of presence. In mature and developed markets, however, they have company-owned restaurants. The key to McDonald's success is the use of franchising. McDonald's however, has reached the saturation point in their home market – the US – and hence started looking for overseas opportunities. The growth in the US has been slow but in the other markets it is leading. There still exists high potential in the developing countries but they need to realign their strategies. McDonald's wanted to create a multi brand corporation and hence invested in other brands such as Piles Cafe, Boston Market, Pret a Manager (Orji, 2005). They also had a majority stake in had a majority stake in Chiptole Mexican Grill and owned D onatos Pizza for several years. Their idea was to offer healthier options and compete with the fast casual sector. McDonald's has been reeling under difficult times as the global economy worsens. Consumer lifestyles, preferences and tastes have changed along with the changed business environment. It experienced declining sales as consumers and investors moved away from the brand. Globalization appears to have impacted the standards and operations at McDonald's (Cuneen, 2008). These require a change in the marketing strategy of McDonald's in the UK. An environmental analysis would help evaluate the right marketing strategy under the circumstances that should be applied in the UK. 1.2 Environmental analysis 1.2.1 PESTLE analysis This helps scan the external environment and is the acronym for Political/Economic/ Social/Technological/Legal/Environmental – all of which are external to the organization. Political Currently the UK is facing a period of instability as there is no sig nificant popular support (Social Equality Party, 2010). The country is more divided than ever before. Economic According to Keynote the fast food sector was valued at ?9.3bn in 2007 which shows the market has increased during recession (Riley, 2010). Economic factors such as prices and income have an impact on consumer behavior. As the food prices rise the purchasing power declines and the price changes affect the composition of the food basket in the UK (Knowledge Scotland, 2009). Socio-cultural factors More than half the adults are heavier than recommended and this is particularly rising among the young adults (EMIS & PIP 2005). Tasty food in the UK can be found at any location at any time of the day or night. Most foods are high in calories and dense in energy. Food portion sizes have increased and there is a tendency to eat more. Physical activity levels have gone down and are considered as the major cause of obesity in the recent years. However, there have been growing concerns of obesity in the UK and consumers have become health conscious. The UK has a high number of immigrants and good habits differ across cultures. Each culture and society has its own set patterns of behavior and food preferences and cultures are not pervasive. Globalization has been unable to penetrate these set patterns and converge the food habits. Technological factors Fast food brands are using technology to target kids via games, videos and cartoons on their websites. They thus exploit the legal

Business Laws Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Business Laws - Essay Example Single-firm conduct is a practice that undermines several United States’ laws, for example, Section 2 of the Sherman Act. The behaviour is evident in companies that are successful to the extent that they do not observe common competitive pressures. A normal market, such as the American market, supports a competitive market with competing firms. Most of the laws to regulate this malpractice are effective, but to some extent. The Sherman Act makes monopolization or attempts to monopolize trade activities illegal (Katz, 2006). The law may be ineffective because of its ambiguity, especially in the definition of monopolization. For instance, it provides room for aggressive marketing procedures, unless a company tries to achieve monopoly through â€Å"unreasonable† measures. A legitimate business justification is not an â€Å"unreasonable† method, according to a court of law. For instance, a business may have effective strategies that ensure they meet their target mark et without the use of any unlawful methods that may be injurious to competitors or customers. An example is the Microsoft Company, which fashioned a monopoly over operating systems software for personal computers that are IBM-compatible. Through this, the company managed to dissuade other computer makers and software developers from installing non-Microsoft browser software in its products. Through the law, competing firms were able to make Microsoft end their conduct that prevented rivals from gaining a market share. Fraudulent advertising is a negative practice that undermines fair, balanced, and competitive business practices. Listerine, a largely commercial product in the early 1900s, has faced several bans and fines owing to its false advertisements. As a mouthwash product, its advertisements claimed to cure colds, a fact that was clinically incorrect. This business practice affects several stakeholders, especially consumers

Importance Of Human Resources In The Hospitaliy Industry Tourism Essay

Importance Of Human Resources In The Hospitaliy Industry Tourism Essay In order to gain competitive power for the hotel, human resource management is an elementary issue. Human resource management can be regarded as the foundation for the hotel to acquire competitive advantage. Honoring the employees through effective communication, training programs for the employees and benefit programs is what effective hospitality management is all about. Human resource management and effective hospitality management is the corner stone of successful business in hospitality industry. The Human Resources Management (HRM) function includes a variety of activities, and key among them is deciding what staffing needs you have and whether to use independent contractors or hire employees to fill these needs, recruiting and training the best employees, ensuring they are high performers, dealing with performance issues, and ensuring your personnel and management practices conform to various regulations. Activities also include managing your approach to employee benefits and compensation, employee records and personnel policies. In todays quality-driven, empowered, hospitality workplace, practices that encourage greater employee performance must become integrated into the way a hotel, restaurant, resort, or any other form of hospitality service organization does business. Getting it right the first time (one of the sacred tenets of total quality management) can only be achieved in the hospitality industry through a motivated, empowered, and trained team. At times guest problems are not foreseen; therefore, employees have to feel empowered to correct a problem on the spot. In a service business, you cant have a rigid set of rules. It is possible to have guidelines, but people must be allowed the freedom to make different interpretations. A mature, well-trained hospitality team is capable of making better quality decisions than a single individual. The use of a team approach improves the overall quality of decision making, and the level of commitment to the team becomes much higher. When team members share the process of problem solving and decision making, they are more likely to become owners of the organizations plans, and to do everything possible to transform the plans into reality. Collective wisdom is virtually always superior to individual wisdom. what are the staffing issues for hotels ? i m writing u the case study which is have it. please give me a solution about staffing issues. The Courthouse Hotel is a large, privately owned establishment located in the centre of a large city. Once the major hotel in the city, it has in recent years struggled to maintain profit margins in the face of competition from three new hotels operated by well-known national and international chains. The Courthouse maintains a three-star standard of service, competing primarily on the basis of cost. Its prices are therefore kept considerably lower than those charged in the newer hotels, while the range and quality of food and accommodation are also of a lower standard. The hotel has 150 bedrooms, a bar, a carvery style restaurant, and a function room which is used for private dinners and business meetings. There are no large-scale banqueting facilities, no porters and no room service. While there are one or two part-time members of staff, 95% are employed on full-time permanent contracts. With the exception of a few senior managers, administrators and night workers, the staff work either early or late shifts (ie 6.30-3.30 or 3.00-11.00). Because the vast majority of the hotels guests are business people staying on week-nights, staff are required to work only one weekend in every four. Three months ago a well-known businessman purchased the hotel with a number of interests in the city. He has decided to change the business strategy by moving the hotel up-market to a four star standard and offering a wider range of services. A major refurbishment is planned, together with the opening of a new banqueting suite, an à   la carte restaurant, a leisure club, a full portering service and extensive lounge / room service operation. In staffing terms there is a need to improve the interpersonal skills of staff and to raise general standards of customer service by a substantial margin. The rationale for these developments is the impending opening of a new convention center a short walk away from the hotel. From January next year it is expected that the volume of trade will increase by 60 per cent, provided the Courthouse can raise its standards to those expected of a wealthier and more international clientele. The problem, from a people management perspective, is the likely erratic nature of business patterns once the convention centre opens. Periods of several weeks will go by with relatively little occurring in the centre, punctuated by shorter periods of frenetic activity when major conferences, exhibitions, concerts and sporting events take place. A more specific opportunity presents itself next summer, when as part of a bid to publicise the citys new convention centre, the government has announced that it will be hosting a major intergovernmental conference in the city. For the duration of this event each hotel will house a particular delegation, with the Courthouse being allocated to the Germans. This means that the entire hotel will be taken over by the German Chancellor, other senior German politicians, advisers, civil servants and 75 accredited journalists for a week next summer. During that period there will be a heavy security operation in the hotel. It will also have to host several press conferences and a series of breakfast meetings at which the Chancellor will meet other world leaders. In addition, it will have to maintain a far higher standard of cuisine and service than it is accustomed to providing. If successful, a large amount of positive publicity can be guaranteed. If, on the other hand, the hotel conspicuous ly fails to provide the standard of service expected by a Government delegation, the ensuing negative publicity way will undermine the whole refurbishment strategy planned by the new owner. One of the most important departments of any hotel staff is human resources management. Proper human resources management can be the difference between a really well run hotel and a poorly one hotel. The human resources manager can control almost the whole feeling and presence of the entire hotel. This makes the importance of human resources management for hotels very evident. There are several different areas in which human resources management is very important. One of these areas is for newly hired employees. The employees that are hired in a hotel can really alter the quality of service and the whole atmosphere of the hotel. This means that it is very important to pick upbeat, dedicated workers for each position. It is the job of the human resources manager to make sure that good people are chosen to work in the hotel. In many cases many hotel workers are only participating in hotel work because they can find nothing else to do. Not very many people have a dream of running or serving in a hotel environment. However, there are some people who do want to work in that capacity, and it is the job of the human resources manager to find those people. Retention of employees is another large problem in the hotel service business. Since so many of the employees do not have hotel work as their ending career goals, many of them only work in a hotel for a short amount of time. Other employees may have to be let go because of poor work ethics or other issues. However, there are ways that a hotel human resources manager can curb some of the desire and likelihood that employees will move to other jobs quickly. The importance of human resources management for hotels is very large in this area. Managers can provide good training and incentive programs that will cause employees to stay longer at the hotel. Having a clear progression plan to advance to higher levels of service will also cause employees to stick around much longer. The issue of employee progression and promotion is also another large issue for the hotel industry. The importance of human resources management for hotels is proven in this area. Hotels which provide ways for employees to advance in position, or that provide training for employees so that they can gain skills necessary for an advanced position are very important to the retention rate of employees. It is easy to implement services of this nature and the expense is negligible compared to the expense and time necessary to constantly find new employees to replace the ones that always leave shortly after being hired. One of the easiest things to implement is English lessons. Many hotel employees do not speak English very well, and so it is a great incentive for them to stay working at a hotel if they are offered English lessons. The importance of human resources management for hotels is also important in the area of employee services. If the employees know they can come to the human resources manager whenever they have a problem or issue then it is easier for them to work in good conscience. Many human resources departments implement different games and activities to make the work environment more interesting and fun for employees. There are many different services that a human resources manager can think of to help employee morale. Maybe the hotel could implement a babysitting service, or have a park day every year. These little services go a long way towards making happy employees. Happy employees make happy companies and happy customers. As you can see, the importance of human resources management for hotels is very great. There are thousands of ways that a human resources manager can make a hotel run more smoothly and more efficiently. There are many different areas that can benefit from the experience and guidance of a human resources manager. Therefore it is very important to not undermine the managers importance. Without the human resources manager a hotel is not the same or as pleasing to customers and employees. A STUDY ON EMPLOYEE MOTIVATION The project work entitled a STUDY ON EMPLOYEE MOTIVATION with special reference to Hyderabad Industries Ltd; Thrissur is mainly conducted to identify the factors which will motivate the employees and the organizational functions in Hyderabad Industries Ltd, Thrissur. Managements basic job is the effective utilization of human resources for achievements of organizational objectives. The personnel management is concerned with organizing human resources in such a way to get maximum output to the enterprise and to develop the talent of people at work to the fullest satisfaction. Motivation implies that one person, in organization context a manager, includes another, say an employee, to engage in action by ensuring that a channel to satisfy those needs and aspirations becomes available to the person. In addition to this, the strong needs in a direction that is satisfying to the latent needs in employees and harness them in a manner that would be functional for the organization. Employee m otivation is one of the major issues faced by every organization. It is the major task of every manager to motivate his subordinates or to create the will to work among the subordinates. It should also be remembered that a worker may be immensely capable of doing some work; nothing can be achieved if he is not willing to work. A manager has to make appropriate use of motivation to enthuse the employees to follow them. Hence this studies also focusing on the employee motivation among the employees of Hyderabad Industries Ltd. The data needed for the study has been collected from the employees through questionnaires and through direct interviews. Analysis and interpretation has been done by using the statistical tools and datas are presented through tables and charts. 2. What is a Motivation? Robbins and Judge (2007) explain that motivation is the process that account for an individuals intensity, direction and persistence of effort toward attaining a goal (Robbins and Judge, 2007 p.186). However, this process has to be worked between the managers or supervisor of the business and its employees as the manager or supervisor is in charge of studying methods of encouraging employees to work hard and efficiently on a constant basis (Cited on: Guerrier, 1999 p. 100). In addition, many motivation theories were developed during the 1950s; such as Maslows Hierarchy of Needs, Theories X and Y and the two factor theory    but those would not be examined here as their validity has been questionable (Cited on: Robbins and Judge, 2007 p.186). On the other hand, the Expectancy theory will be carefully studied in order to understand why managers should focus more on providing to its employees reasons for putting effort into their work and therefore generate good work performance that could lead to rewards that are Employee motivation in the workplace The job of a manager in the workplace is to get things done through employees. To do this the manager should be able to motivate employees. But thats easier said than done! Motivation practice and theory are difficult subjects, touching on several disciplines. In spite of enormous research, basic as well as applied, the subject of motivation is not clearly understood and more often than not poorly practiced. To understand motivation one must understand human nature itself. And there lies the problem! Human nature can be very simple, yet very complex too. An understanding and appreciation of this is a prerequisite to effective employee motivation in the workplace and therefore effective management and leadership. What Does it Mean to Lead? Leadership, as defined by most dictionaries, means to go before, or with, to show the way; to induce. Every organization needs a leader (and preferably several leaders) to show the way to others as the organization strives to define and achieve its goals. Whether these goals are entrepreneurial or humanitarian or both the leaders work is to instill a sense of purpose and passion to the work that the organization undertakes. Identifying, developing and sustaining leadership in your organization must be one of your strategic objectives. Without leaders at every level of your organization, your organization may well under-perform. It may miss strategic opportunities, stifle innovation, underutilize your employees, and fall short of its goals in customer service, quality, productivity, and profitability. Russell Consulting, Inc. can guide your organization in identifying and developing your leaders. We can help you develop the key competencies that will help develop and sustain leadership, but also sustain your companys long-term success. Leadership at every level make all of the difference as to whether your company will be around for the long haul. Invest in leadership today to sustain your success for tomorrow and beyond. The Core Competencies of Leadership RCI has been developing leaders in its client organizations since 1987. We have designed and developed leadership programs that help define an ambitious role for leaders at every level and then build the competencies to fulfill this role. Some of the competencies that we have defined as core to the role of leaders include: Strategic Thinking Coaching Problem Solving Decision Making Systems Thinking Delegation Performance Management and Accountability Inspiring a Shared Vision Managing Conflict Building and Sustaining Teamwork Leading Change Quality and Productivity Improvement Servant Leadership Emotional Intelligence Innovation and Creativity Customer Service Employee Development Develop Trust Dealing with Ambiguity See the link at the upper right of this page for a possible leadership curriculum. Defining and Assessing Leadership Competencies We can help your organization define what it seeks to develop in its leaders and then design a customized leadership development program for you. Once we guide you in defining what leadership means in your company, we then conduct a 360 ° leadership assessment (of these core competencies) to provide a baseline measure of each leaders effectiveness. Click here for more information on our leadership 360: 360 ° Leadership Assessment and Development. Developing leadership at every level of your organization helps sustain your long-term success. When you work with us to develop your leadership, we help you grow your leadership at every level through customized training programs and guide your leaders in applying what they are learning to real issues and challenges facing your organization.

Essay example --

Report on copper ‘Copper is a commodity that measures the pulse of the global economy’ (Tutor2u, 2012). The features of this metal is the reason why it is demanded so highly around the world, which is the reason why â€Å"copper is the third most widely used metal in the world† (investopedia, 2013). What makes Copper so different from other metals? Firstly, pure copper is ductile which means it can easily be stretched and shaped into different forms. Secondly, the scientific elements of copper make it highly conductive in heat and electricity than any other metal, except silver which is 100 times more expensive. Thirdly, it is 100% recyclable. Did you know 80% of copper ever mined is still in use today? Fourthly, it is highly alloyable. Lastly, it is one of three metals that has its own unique colour other than silver or grey. In the current market copper is used in a variety of ways due to its specification. 5% of copper production is used in combining with other metals to form a lloys such as brass and bronze. 15% is used in industrial machinery, because coppers superior conductivity improves the electrical energy efficiency of motor-driven systems. 20% is used in roofing and plumbing because the lifespan of copper is estimated to be 100 years before major defects in the material start to occur. Lastly, the remaining 60% of copper is used in electrical wires and the reason why such a huge proportion is used in electrical wires is because there are no close substitutes for copper. Aluminium wiring is comparably priced, but is unsafe and can start fires and silver is a slightly better conductor of electricity; however it is too expensive (visual capitalist, 2013). In this report I will cover the supply and demand of copper and how it a... ...e amounts of copper (oracle mining, 2013). Copper is an example of a good that has low price elasticity of demand, which means that a change in price would lead smaller change in demand. The reason for this is because there is a lack of close substitutes in the market. For some products that use copper components can be substituted for aluminium or plastic; however, the costs and delays involved in switching between substitute goods aren’t worth it sometimes (copper investing news). Copper is used in a variety of different ways in some uses it would be a necessity an in others it would be a luxury. For example in some plumbing cases you would be able to use flexible plastic pipes, which is cheaper to use, however if you choose not to then copper would be deemed an luxury product. On the other hand, in some plumbing cases you have no choice but to use copper pipes. Essay example -- Report on copper ‘Copper is a commodity that measures the pulse of the global economy’ (Tutor2u, 2012). The features of this metal is the reason why it is demanded so highly around the world, which is the reason why â€Å"copper is the third most widely used metal in the world† (investopedia, 2013). What makes Copper so different from other metals? Firstly, pure copper is ductile which means it can easily be stretched and shaped into different forms. Secondly, the scientific elements of copper make it highly conductive in heat and electricity than any other metal, except silver which is 100 times more expensive. Thirdly, it is 100% recyclable. Did you know 80% of copper ever mined is still in use today? Fourthly, it is highly alloyable. Lastly, it is one of three metals that has its own unique colour other than silver or grey. In the current market copper is used in a variety of ways due to its specification. 5% of copper production is used in combining with other metals to form a lloys such as brass and bronze. 15% is used in industrial machinery, because coppers superior conductivity improves the electrical energy efficiency of motor-driven systems. 20% is used in roofing and plumbing because the lifespan of copper is estimated to be 100 years before major defects in the material start to occur. Lastly, the remaining 60% of copper is used in electrical wires and the reason why such a huge proportion is used in electrical wires is because there are no close substitutes for copper. Aluminium wiring is comparably priced, but is unsafe and can start fires and silver is a slightly better conductor of electricity; however it is too expensive (visual capitalist, 2013). In this report I will cover the supply and demand of copper and how it a... ...e amounts of copper (oracle mining, 2013). Copper is an example of a good that has low price elasticity of demand, which means that a change in price would lead smaller change in demand. The reason for this is because there is a lack of close substitutes in the market. For some products that use copper components can be substituted for aluminium or plastic; however, the costs and delays involved in switching between substitute goods aren’t worth it sometimes (copper investing news). Copper is used in a variety of different ways in some uses it would be a necessity an in others it would be a luxury. For example in some plumbing cases you would be able to use flexible plastic pipes, which is cheaper to use, however if you choose not to then copper would be deemed an luxury product. On the other hand, in some plumbing cases you have no choice but to use copper pipes.

Instruction †Learning Environment Essay

The surroundings in which children learn can greatly influence their academic performance and well-being in school. The architecture, layout, dà ©cor and facilities of their school all play a vital role in shaping the learning environment, yet the importance of this particular aspect of school life can often be overlooked. Does your school have difficulty creating surroundings and facilities which complement teaching and learning in the twenty-first century? Read on to find out about some of the current initiatives helping schools raise achievement through creating an inspirational education environment. A number of schools around the country are still languishing in the Victorian era, with crumbling walls and limited resources. It seems that many schools in the twenty-first century — particularly secondary schools — have to shoehorn modern-day learning and up-to-date resources into nineteenth-century surroundings. Only a tiny proportion of today’s schools have been built since the mid 1970s, and with a few generations of children stampeding through their relatively modern facilities, many of these buildings are also edging towards the end of their natural life span. More schools could benefit from a lateral approach to environmental design with its users as the prime focus  Ã¢â‚¬â€ preferably in consultation with them.

Chromotography Experiment for Chemistry

Chromotography Experiment for Chemistry Free Online Research Papers Purpose / Objective: The purpose of chromatography is to separate small amounts of dissolved solids. In this experiment it used to separate the dyes in food coloring. Materials:  · Ruler to measure the 2 cm from the bottom of paper and to help draw a straight line.  · Pencil to draw the line.  · Water to put in the beaker hence to soak in the chromatography paper to separate the dyes in the food coloring.  · Beaker to put in the water and the chromatography paper.  · Food Coloring to be separated  · Capillary Tube to put small dots of food coloring on the chromatography paper.  · Chromatography Paper to put the dots of food coloring on. To let the water soak up it to separate the dyes in the food coloring. To get the final result.  · Scissors to cut the chromatography paper to fit upright in the beaker. Procedure:  · We got a chromatography paper and drew a pencil line 2cm from the bottom.  · We drew four x’s on that line.  · Then we got a capillary tube and on each of the x’s we put a dot of food coloring.  · On the four x’s we put four colors. Blue, red, green, and a mixture.  · Then we got a beaker and placed the chromatography paper inside it after cutting it to fit in, and placed less than 2cm of water in the beaker.  · We left the water to soak up until near the top.  · We took the chromatography paper out and left it to dry. Data collection: After the chromatography paper dried we looked at our results:  · The blue food coloring was a mixture of blue and red.  · The red food coloring was just red.  · The green was mixture of yellow and blue.  · The mixture was a mixture of red and blue. Conclusion: After finishing this experiment I realized that the red food coloring was a substance unlike all the others which contained different dyes. Research Papers on Chromotography Experiment for ChemistryLifes What IfsThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsThe Hockey GameAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementGenetic EngineeringEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationResearch Process Part OneAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever Product

How to Calculate a Male to Female Ratio (And Other Quantities)

How to Calculate a Male to Female Ratio (And Other Quantities) To paraphrase Frederick Douglass, â€Å"We may not get all that we pay for, but we will certainly pay for all that we get.† To salute that grand arbiter of coiffure and promoter of equality, let’s discuss how to best use our resources. Use a ratio to compare two  quantities. Examples: Using Ratio to Compare Quantities Miles per hourText messages per dollarFacebook page visitors per weekMen per women Example: Ratio and Social Life Sheila, a busy career woman, plans to wisely use her leisure time. She wants a place with as many men per women as possible. As a statistician, this single woman believes that a high male to female ratio is the best way to find Mr. Right. Here are the female and male headcounts of certain places: Athletic Club, Thursday night:  6 women, 24 menYoung Professionals Meeting, Thursday night:  24 women, 6 menBayou Blues Night Club, Thursday night:  200 women, 300 men Which place will Sheila choose? Calculate the ratios: Athletic Club 6 women/24 menSimplified:  1 women/4 menIn other words, the Athletic Club boasts 4 men for each woman. Young Professionals Meeting 24 women/6 menSimplified: 4 women/1 manIn other words, the Young Professionals Meeting offers 4 women for each man. Note: A ratio can be an improper fraction; the numerator can be greater than the denominator. Bayou Blues Club 200 women/300 menSimplified:  2 women/3 menIn other words, for every 2 women at the Bayou Blues Club, there are 3 men. Which Place Offers the Best Female to Male Ratio? Unfortunately for Sheila, the female-dominated Young Professionals Meeting is not an option. Now, she has to choose between the Athletic Club and the Bayou Blues Club. Compare the Athletic Club and Bayou Blues Club ratios. Use 12 as the common denominator. Athletic Club: 1 women/4 men 3 women/12 menBayou Blues Club: 2 women/3 men 8 women/12 men On Thursday, Sheila wears her best spandex outfit to the male-dominated Athletic Club. Unfortunately, the four  men she meets all have breath like train smoke. So much for using math in real life. Exercises Mario can afford to apply to only one university. He will apply to the school that offers the best probability of awarding him a full, academic scholarship. Assume that each scholarship committee - overworked and understaffed - will award scholarships to students whose names are randomly pulled from a hat. Each of Marios prospective schools has posted its average number of applicants and average number of full-ride scholarships. College A:  825 applicants; 275 full-ride scholarshipsCollege B:  600 applicants; 150 full-ride scholarshipsCollege C:  2,250 applicants; 250 full-ride scholarshipsCollege D:  1,250 applicants; 125 full-ride scholarships Calculate the ratio of applicants to full-ride scholarships at College A.825 applicants: 275 scholarshipsSimplify: 3 applicants: 1 scholarshipCalculate the ratio of applicants to full-ride scholarships at College B.600 applicants: 150 scholarshipsSimplify: 4 applicants: 1 scholarshipCalculate the ratio of applicants to full-ride scholarships at College C.2,250 applicants: 250 scholarshipsSimplify: 9 applicants: 1 scholarshipCalculate the ratio of applicants to full-ride scholarships at College D.1,250 applicants: 125 scholarshipsSimplify: 10 applicants: 1 scholarshipWhich college has the least favorable applicant to scholarship ratio?College DWhich college has the most favorable applicant to scholarship ratio?College ATo which college will Mario apply?College A

Slavery in the American south Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Slavery in the American south - Essay Example   Fredrick Douglas a narrator describes how life as a slave denied him his rights and the remarkable contribution ha made in fighting for the freedom of fellow Blacks. He describes the lords and masters of Slavery in North America, how they acquired slaves from African states in the north like Mauritania and Lagos. Slaves bought in exchange of the American manufactured goods and transported along the Atlantic Ocean. African chiefs sold off their natives to earn wealth from the whites, and this triggered the activities by African to conquer the trading of their fellow blacks (Turner-Sadler, 2009). Africans sold off to the whites, forced to work in the American plantations and production industries. Douglas explains that the increased demand for labor resulted to the need to acquire more slaves from Africa, and hence they resulted to new tactics of forcefully raiding African villages and capturing the natives. They faced a lot of resistance, hence did not invade the interior of Afric a, and only attacked the areas close to the coast.In his article, he adds that slaves acquired accomplished domestic chores and professional jobs that required training. Young virgins captured to work as sex workers and hence such inhuman actions resulted to the eruption of human rights for protecting the most vulnerable especially women and children. Slaves who got any forms of training would go back to their countries and take part in developing the African Economy (Deyle, 2005).   

The concepts of existentialism and how they have helped in the Essay

The concepts of existentialism and how they have helped in the development of the life journey - Essay Example The present research has identified that existentialism has a philosophical position which opposes the natural sciences around us. It explains that human beings are composed of many other components rather only mind, body and other scientific categories. Human beings cannot be understood by the scientific truths or the moral substances such as responsibility, character, values, blame, duty, and others. Existentialism thus defines that human conditions are not based on scientific or moral truths, but on further categories that come under philosophical theory and which are significant to understand human existence. The concept of existentialism emerged after the WWII when the violence had forced people to think that life was meaningless and there was no God. Existentialism explained that there is no God or higher power, no karma or reward system in this world. Every human is an individual who is free and responsible for his own actions. As there is no central truth that the world gover ns under, the concept can be liberating and also depressing. Humans themselves choose how they wish to be and are not influenced by other people or forces around them. Hence, the universe is amoral and humans can make their lives the way they want them to be. Understanding existentialism while observing the personal journey of life may be difficult for a religious person as the theory eliminates the religious concepts completely. However, apart from the religious views that it abandons, existentialism can help many individuals to live in an amoral world in their own ways.... onal journey of how I learned to live life in my own way without the interference or expectations of others helped me in many ways to understand the concepts of existentialism. It is true that our existence precedes essence and helps us to have freedom (Daigle 9). Soren Kierkegaard was the first philosopher who believed in existentialism. He had explained the concepts of freedom and individualism through his work and highlighted the significance of personal commitment and choice. This is an important point when an individual wants to understand the reality of life and matches with many features of a practical life. Today, everyone’s life is very practical and very few people still live in the traditional concepts of values, responsibilities and abstract thinking. During my personal journey, I learnt with the help of Kierkegaard’s work that feelings and emotions of individuals is what the humans face when they have to make tough choices in life (Flynn 32). Although Kierk egaard has focused on the distinction between man and god in his work, it is mostly focusing on the reality of life. His work reflects through my personal journey as I strongly believe that our life and choices are purely based on our own choices. We are not answerable to anyone for our deeds and are not bound by any other person or power. Our deeds are simply ours and we make our lives good or bad. The scientific and moral truths have little to do with our development and condition and our existentialism has more impact over us. When I judge my life with the concepts of Kierkegaard and his three stages of life, I found that the way I lived my life is according to the internal living. Kierkegaard described this way of life as looking at oneself more than looking at others because when you look at

Media items related to gender, sexuality and the body Essay

Media items related to gender, sexuality and the body - Essay Example Sexuality is anchored on physical and biological differences that make males and females different. The media use their content with sexuality and gender to influence, educate or inform their audience. Sexuality in advertising entails the use of erotic or sexual words or phrases, images in advertising to appeal to buyers and increase the chances of selling the product. Analyses of media content indicate that most of the content presented portrays issues relating to gender, sexuality and the body with all of these displaying sexual activities explicitly or implicitly. For example, over 80% of all movies from a cable TV stations have sexual content. Over 50% of the music shown in the television portray sexual feelings and impulses with minority displaying provocative clothing and body movement that are sexually arousing. Sexual messages in most television shows are universally presented in a positive light towards gender and sexuality. In most media gender and sexuality has been exploi ted consciously and unconsciously in media items such as; advertisements, promotions, magazine articles, newspaper articles, blogs, and websites. The gist of this paper is to collect and analyse media items related to gender, sexuality and the body. Blog sexinadsmedia.blogspot.com, 2009, Sexuality in media/advertisement , viewed 18 April 2012, . This is a blog article which details the media use of sexuality in advertising, and it discusses a study carried on the use of sexuality in media. It is now news that sexuality had been used in advertising as early as 1800s when physical attractiveness and sexuality started having a great impact on society. Sexuality was used in advertisements in forms of wood carvings and other illustrations of attractive naked women, from the waist up. In 1885 W. Dukes & Sons Tobacco Company could insert trading cards featuring attractive and provocative women into tobacco packages (sexinadsmedia.blogspot.com. 2009, p. 1). Sexuality has from then proved to be substantially effective tool that can change the sales trend in many companies. The blog article refers to the most striking twentieth century advertisement by Woodbury’s Facial Soap, which was based on sexuality. The history of this company has it that in early twentieth century, its sales were plummeting, and it used a doctor’s face on wrapper as its advertisement tool. Later, the company switched to sexuality advertisements by inserting romantic paintings of, young appealing women, and immediately the sales escalated for the following years. Coupled with these images of sexuality was the sexual slogan â€Å"A Skin You Love to touch†, which has attraction and appeal to sexy women (sexinadsmedia.blogspot.com. 2009, p. 1). The blog article agrees with the fact that sexuality is a transforming tool depending on which product is being advertised. The study on the effect of sexuality in advertisements proves that sexy ads attract more people than nonsexual ones . In most sexuality advertising, 51% females are used, and only 15% males are used (Huston, Wartella & Donnerstein 1998). The twist of the writer is the fact that sexuality in general has become a controversial issue in print media advertising

Various Factors of the External and Internal to Organization Essay Example for Free

Various Factors of the External and Internal to Organization Essay The internal environment of an organization refers to events, factors, people, systems, structures and conditions inside the organization that are generally under the control of the company. The companys mission statement, organizational culture and style of leadership are factors typically associated with the internal environment of an organization. As such, it is the internal environment that will influence organizational activities, decisions and employee behavior and attitudes. Changes in the leadership style, the organizations mission or culture can have a considerable impact on the organization. The External Environment The external environment are those factors that occur outside of the company that cause change inside organizations and are, for the most part, beyond the control of the company. Customers, competition, the economy, technology, political and social conditions and resources are common external factors that influence the organization. Even though the external environment occurs outside of an organization, it can have a significant influence on its current operations, growth and long-term sustainability. Ignoring external forces can be a detrimental mistake for managers to make. As such, it is imperative that managers continually monitor and adapt to the external environment, working to make proactive changes earlier on rather than having to take a reactive approach, which can lead to a vastly different outcome. Changing for the Internal Environment To better understand changes in the internal environment, lets look at the following example. After graduating from college, Cassandra decided to buy an existing tanning salon in her community. Before Cassandra purchased the salon, it was in terrible financial trouble. Many of the employees complained about the general managers leadership style, and the staff were often confused about what products and services they offered at the salon because the manager continuously implemented his next bright idea with little warning, most of which were complete failures. Cassandra knew that if she was ever going to be able to bring any level of success to the salon, she needed to make several changes to the internal environment of the tanning salon. The first thing Cassandra did was to fire the existing manager because of his ineffective leadership style. She replaced the manager with someone who practiced a leadership style that was better aligned with the company and its employees. Next, Cassandra spent time developing a clear mission of the company and communicated the new mission to all employees. Over the next several months, Cassandra spent time getting to know her employees and worked hard to foster a culture that was positive and rewarding. All of these changes made by Cassandra were necessary due to the internal forces that were pushing for change, and with the help of her employees, Cassandra was able to bring the much needed changes to the internal environment of the company. Changing for the External Environment If we return to the example of Cassandras tanning salon, we can also find some external forces that required additional change at the tanning salon. If you remember, one of the major issues the staff was having with the previous general manager was his continuous changing of products and services at the salon. What his staff did not know was that he was trying to respond to external factors relating to changing customer demands. As a result, Cassandra spent time talking to her customers to find out what they really want in a tanning salon and was sure to make any changes necessary to accommodate those demands. Additionally, because of the struggling economy, Cassandra needed to ensure her pricing was affordable to her clients and comparable to what her competition was offering for similar tanning services and products at their salons. Lesson Summary Lets review. The internal environment of an organization refers to events, factors, people, systems, structures and conditions inside the organization that are generally under the control of the company. The companys mission statement, organizational culture and style of leadership are factors that are typically associated with the internal environment of an organization. The external environment are those factors that occur outside of the company that cause change in organizations and are, for the most part, beyond the control of the company. Customers, competition, the economy, technology, political and social conditions and resources are common external factors that influence the organization. In order for managers to react to the forces of internal and external environments, they rely on environmental scanning. Environmental scanning refers to the monitoring of an organizations internal and external environments for early signs that a change may be needed. Environmental scans allow managers to use the knowledge gained during the scanning process to decide what steps, or changes, Answer: If there is anything that is stead fast and unchanging, it is change itself. Change is inevitable, and those organizations who do not keep up with change will become unstable, with long-term survivability in question. There are things, events, or situations that occur that affect the way a business operates, either in a positive or negative way. These things, situations, or events that occur that affect a business in either a positive or negative way are called driving forces or environmental factors or forces. There are two kinds of driving forces; Internal driving forces, and external driving forces. Internal driving forces are those kinds of things, situations, or events that occur inside the business, and are generally under the control of the company. Examples might be as follows  · organization of machinery and equipment,  · technological capacity,  · organizational culture,  · management systems,  · financial management  · employee morale. External driving forces are those kinds of things, situation, or events that occur outside of the company and are by and large beyond the control of the company. Examples of external driving forces might be, the industry itself, the economy, demographics, competition, political interference, etc. Whether they are internal or external driving forces, one thing is certain for both. Change will occur! A company must be cognizant of these changes, flexible, and willing to respond to them in an appropriate way. External driving forces can bury a business if not appropriately dealt with. The question is, how does a business know what changes are occurring so that they can deal with them in a positive way. OK, thats the next issue. In order for a business to succeed and gain the competitive edge, the business must know what changes are indeed occurring, and what changes might be coming up in the future. I guess you might call this forecasting. Thus, critical to the business is what we call informational resources. It is the collection and analyzation of data. Some examples of critical information might include the following: * Competition (what are they doing?) * Customer behavior (needs, wants, and desires) * Industry out look (local, national, global) * Demographics (the change populations, there density, etc.) * Economy (are we peaking, or moving negatively) * Political movements and/or interference * Social environment * Technological changes * General environmental changes * Government interference (laws, regulations, policies, ect.) The above are just some issues organizations must be on top of. Well its never easy, but organizations that are successful include all of the above (and more), to develop the appropriate tactics, strategies, and best practices, to ensure successful out comes.

Pestel Analysis Of Japan Economics Essay

Pestel Analysis Of Japan Economics Essay Any person wishing to import goods must declare them to the Director-General of Customs and obtain an import permit after necessary examination of the goods concerned. The formalities start with the lodging of an import declaration and end with issuance of an import permit after the necessary examination and payment of Customs duty and excise tax. The government announced an issue of a record JPY53.5 trillion in new government bonds in FY09 which made government-debt-to-GDP ratio reach 200%. More assertive diplomacy in the political arena participation in UN peace-keeping operations seeking permanent membership of the UN Security Council. A policy deadlock is blocking necessary reforms, suffocating Japans productive firms, producing ever more public debt and putting Japans flexible governance model and strong social partnership at risk. The result is that Japans major companies are actively seeking a new future in businesses abroad. The first major wave of deregulation during the late 1980s was initiated out of necessity, to open up capital markets to international investment and to help finance the growing social security burden with the aid of a more flexible financial system. The second attempt at major structural reforms came in 2002, after Japans economy had become even more dependent on finance from public financial institutions and public works. By 2001, public financial institutions had become responsible for most financial transactions and fully one-third of overall credit allocation. Bureaucracy is widely regarded as exceptionally powerful and reaches into many areas of life. Japan has often been tagged the only functioning so International Policy Analysis on earth. But the government is not large in terms of numbers or consumption ECONOMIC Analysis Public debt 201% of GDP. Revenue $614 trillion FDI stock $205.4 billion 09. The yen (sign: Â ¥; code: JPY) is the currency of Japan. It is the third most-traded currency in the foreign exchange market after the Euro and the United States dollar. Japan in Figures 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Real GDP Growth1, % 1.9 2 2.4 -0.68 -8.8 Yearly CPI Inflation2, % -0.3 0.2 0.6 0.4 -0.1 Fiscal Balance3, % GDP -7.1 6.2 -5.4 -4.9 -6.5 Unemployment4, % 4.4 4.3 7.4 3 4.4 Current Account Balancre 3.6 3.9 4.8 3.2 2.7 Unemployment rate 5.6% in 2010. GDP growth 0.9%. Industries: Manufacturing, construction, distribution, real estate, services, and communication are Japans major industries today. Agriculture makes up only about two percent of the GNP. Most important agricultural product is rice. Resources of raw materials are very limited and the mining industry rather small. Exports: Japans main export goods are cars, electronic devices and computers. Most important trade partners are China and the USA, followed by South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Germany. Imports: Japan has a surplus in its export/import balance. The most important import goods are raw materials such as oil, foodstuffs and wood. Major supplier is China, followed by the USA, Australia, Saudia Arabia, South Korea, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates. The CPI fell to -2.4% yoy mainly due to price slashing campaigns like Jpy 690 jeans and Jpy280 beef-rice bowls. Japan has achieved tremendous economic development by taking advantage of their maritime location and resources. Japan is characterized by small farms labor intensive technologies, great use of fertilizers, and the dominance of rice. Only about 25% of the land area is suitable for agriculture .The remainder consists of forest covered mountains. Generally, Japan is resource poor. Therefore, Japans economic successes depended on imported raw materials SOCIAL ANALYSIS Japan is situated in northeastern Asia between the North Pacific and the Sea of Japan. The area of Japan is 377,873 square kilometers, nearly equivalent to Germany and Switzerland combined or slightly smaller than California. There is only one official language spoken in Japan, which is of course Japanese. However, many Japanese are able to understand English to a certain extent since English is the foreign language that everyone must learn as part of compulsory education. Food Rice is the staple of the Japanese diet. They also eat seafood, beef, pork, chicken, dairy, vegetables and fruits. They have Japanese-style noodles, as well as spaghetti and bread. Japans population is over 126 million. Most Japanese reside in densely populated urban areas. Japans capital city is Tokyo. The population of the Tokyo Metropolitan Area including the city, some of its suburbs and the surrounding area is approximately 12 million. Major cities of Japan and their approximate populations City Population Tokyo 12,059,000 Yokohama 3,426,000 Osaka 2,598,000 Nagoya 2,171,000 Sapporo 1,822,000 Kobe 1,493,000 Fukuoka 1,290,000 Sendai 1,008,000 5. Human development index Japan ranks 11 among the 174 countries when talking of Human development index. There were more than 100 deaths and many school trips cancelled due to H1n1 epidemics. 6, In Clothing most people ordinarily wear western-style clothes. Some schools have uniforms. The traditional clothing, called kimono (kee-mo-no) is worn only on special occasions, such as New Years Day, graduations, and tea ceremonies. Housing the traditional Japanese homes are wooden buildings with tiled roofs. However, most of the contemporary houses and apartments are western style and made of concrete. Tourism count and Nationalities Tourism in Japan comprises both a vibrant domestic sector and over eight million entries each year by foreigners. Religions its share from population Name of religion Estimated Population Its share from population Shinto 106,000,000 49.30% Buddhism 96,000,000 44.65% Christianity 2,000,000 0.93% Islam 125,000 0.06% Theravada 1,500 0.001% Buddhism Judaism 600 0.0003% Others 10,872,900 5.06% TOTAL 215,000,000 100% Technological Analysis Japan reached a level equivalent to or beyond that of the U.S. By 1987, the U.S. Department of Defense found that Japan held the lead in twelve of 24 major categories of semiconductor technology, with a 50% share of the world market, up from 30% a decade earlier. As of 2005, one half of energy in Japan is produced from petroleum, a fifth from coal, and 14% from natural gas. Nuclear power in Japan makes a quarter of electricity production and Japan would like to double it in the next decades. In 2008, Japan ranked third in the world in electricity production, after the United States and China, with 1.25Â ·10 GWh produced during that year. Japan was the worlds second largest producer of photovoltaic electricity until overtaken by Germany in 2005, a year in which it had 38% of the world supply compared to Germanys 39%.. Japan leads the world in robotics, possessing more than half (402,200 of 742,500) of the worlds industrial robots used for manufacturing. It has developed a series of rockets, the latest and the most powerful of which is H-IIB. H-IIA/B rockets which have the capability of carrying 8-ton payload to the GTO at maximum are now managed by the private-own company Mitsubishi Heavy Industry Makoto Kobayashi, Toshihide Masukawa, and Yoichiro Nambu who is an American citizen when awarded, shared the physics prize and Osamu Shimomura also won the chemistry prize in 2008. LEGAL FACTORS Japan is a constitutional monarchy where the power of the Emperor is very limited. Power is held chiefly by the Prime Minister of Japan and other elected members of the Diet, while sovereignty is vested in the Japanese people. The Emperor acts as the head of state on diplomatic occasions Japans legislative organ is the National Diet, a bicameral parliament. The Diet consists of a House of Representatives with 480 seats The Prime Minister of Japan is the head of government. The Prime Minister is appointed by the Emperor after being designated by the Diet from among its members. 19th century, the judicial system has been largely based on the civil law of Europe, notably Germany Civil unsecured debt collection remedies, if a debtor has defaulted in payment of its debt, a creditor may file a motion against the debtor with a competent local court to obtain a judgment ordering the payment. The law regarding composition proceedings has been repealed, and the law regarding corporate arrangement proceedings, while still in effect, is rarely utilized. Since the collapse of the so-called bubble economy in Japan in Japan, insolvency cases have increased dramatically, and new laws were enacted to address the changed circumstances facing Japan. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS Japanese city and prefectural authorities have focused on the reduction of solid waste going to landfill. This of course is in response to the lack of affordable space available for landfill sites. Their approach relies heavily on four major factors: 1) technological advancements in incineration 2) technological advancements in plastics recycling 3) Comprehensive production-side recycle stream package labeling and 4) wide consumer-side/household participation in recycling and waste material separation (bunbetsu). The Cool Biz campaign introduced under former Prime Minister of Japan Junichiro Koizumi was targeted at reducing energy use through the reduction of air conditioning use in government. Japanese government started its whaling for research purposes the following year. This whaling program has been criticized by environmental protection groups and anti-whaling countries, who say that the program is not for scientific research. The environmental problems related to Japans construction industry, and the industrys lobbying power preventing the introduction of stricter zoning laws and other environmental protection efforts. Japan has been treating the waste of electronic materials differently than other materials.The utilization of electronic waste resources is around 50% currently and is growing Porters Diamond Potential sources of competitive advantage Firm Strategy and Rivalry Japan is very competitive in electronic goods in fact Japans main export goods are cars, electronic devices and computers. Japan has a surplus in its export/import balance. It has developed a series of rockets, the latest and the most powerful of which is H-IIB. H-IIA/B rockets which have the capability of carrying 8-ton payload Japan leads the world in robotics, possessing more than half (402,200 of 742,500) of the worlds industrial robots used for manufacturing. In 2008, Japan ranked third in the world in electricity production, after the United States and China, with 1.25Â ·10 GWh produced during that year Factor Conditions Tourism count and Nationalities Tourism in Japan comprises both a vibrant domestic sector and over eight million entries each year by foreigners. Only about 25% of the land area is suitable for agriculture .The remainder consists of forest covered mountains. Japans economic successes depended on imported raw materials. Demand Conditions The demand is very stable which can be assumed by the fact of interest rates which are zero so that as much as possible money gets infused in the economy. The limited population is another factor which again makes Japan dependent on exports for its produce. The current crisis shows how unbalanced and vulnerable Japans economy still is. When overseas demand subsided in 2008, Japans economy almost imploded. The third factor is off course the incentive for suppliers which is certainly not there as currently the economy is in deflation. Related and supported industries Japans Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) is planning to develop a scheme to support Japanese companies involved in overseas smart community business projects. Fuji Heavy Industries Japans largest transport to financial support for the automotive industry Summary containing key facts Trade International trade has been a force for economic development for centuries. The CDI measures trade barriers in rich countries against exports from developing countries. Japan ranks 20 Low agricultural subsidies (equivalent to a tariff worth 3.2% of the value of imports; rank Investment Provides insurance against political risk for both domestic and foreign firms Employs foreign tax credits to prevent double taxation of corporate profits earned abroad Technology High tax subsidy rate to businesses for RD (rank: 10) No attempt to incorporate into bilateral free trade agreements TRIPS Defence No arms exports to poor and undemocratic governments (rank by share of GDP: 1) Migration Large share of foreign students from developing countries Environment Low fishing subsidies OTHER WEAKNESSES Negligent in identifying bribery and corrupt practices on the part of home country firms abroad High barriers against apparel (9.0% of the value of imports; rank: 17) Greenhouse gas emissions grew almost as fast as GDP in 1998-2008 (average annual growth rate/GDP, -1.4%; rank: 17) Small financial or personnel contributions to internationally sanctioned peacekeeping and humanitarian interventions over last decade (rank by share of GDP: 21) Refrences http://www.cgdev.org/section/initiatives/_active/cdi/_country/japan http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Japan http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_issues_in_Japan Research paper Legal issues in Japan By Nagashima Ohno Tsunematsu

The Butterfly Sisters Essay -- essays research papers

The main themes of this book is not to far from the reality of every persons life. Not everyone has to live in a tyranny and fight for freedom to live but the fact is you still need to fight for something. Life is filled with struggles and that goes to different extents for different people. For the sisters in, In The Time of The Butterflies they had to go through an extreme part of their lives together and ended up not coming out the same. They were dependent on each other yet they were independent at the same time. The main theme I picked up from this book was the faith they had. The faith they had with each other, the faith they had to survive but most importantly the faith they had for themselves. They had faith as independent woman that they will survive no matter what the cost was and if they did not then they would die trying. The other theme I picked up was independency of these woman. They did not need anything from anyone else just each other. This faith and independence I look at with the growth of my favorite character, Minerva. In the beginning of the novel, Alvarez introduces Minerva to the reader with Minerva's excitement that her Pap plans to send her away to school. School becomes Minerva's first victory and step towards her life as a revolutionary fighter. The faith she has in herself to go out into the world as an independent woman will shape her future greatly. Minerva says referring to going to school, â€Å"is how I got free† (13). Alvarez uses Minerva's de... The Butterfly Sisters Essay -- essays research papers The main themes of this book is not to far from the reality of every persons life. Not everyone has to live in a tyranny and fight for freedom to live but the fact is you still need to fight for something. Life is filled with struggles and that goes to different extents for different people. For the sisters in, In The Time of The Butterflies they had to go through an extreme part of their lives together and ended up not coming out the same. They were dependent on each other yet they were independent at the same time. The main theme I picked up from this book was the faith they had. The faith they had with each other, the faith they had to survive but most importantly the faith they had for themselves. They had faith as independent woman that they will survive no matter what the cost was and if they did not then they would die trying. The other theme I picked up was independency of these woman. They did not need anything from anyone else just each other. This faith and independence I look at with the growth of my favorite character, Minerva. In the beginning of the novel, Alvarez introduces Minerva to the reader with Minerva's excitement that her Pap plans to send her away to school. School becomes Minerva's first victory and step towards her life as a revolutionary fighter. The faith she has in herself to go out into the world as an independent woman will shape her future greatly. Minerva says referring to going to school, â€Å"is how I got free† (13). Alvarez uses Minerva's de...

Was Germany responsible for the Outbreak of WW1?

There is much evidence to suggest that German Aggression was responsible for the outbreak of a general European war in August 1914. Both Sources 1 and 2 play on the idea that both the Kaiser and Bethmann Hollweg used its foreign policies to create tension within Europe which consequently led to a European war. Source 1 argues ‘Germany’s foreign policy aims were focused on annexation, and that she went to was to achieve these aims’ highlighting the forceful nature which Germany could have possessed in this era.However, Source 3 argues that infact the growing tension in Europe arguably led Germany to fight a defensive war and that it was infact Britain, Russia and France through Germany’s fear of invasion who stimulated the war; ‘The British were determined to maintain their naval superiority, whatever the financial and political cost’. This leads to the judgement that although there is some evidence to suggest that Germany did fight a defensive war to some extent, overall German aggression did lead to the outbreak of a general European war.Firstly, the idea that Germany did fight an aggressive war can be seen through Germany’s increasing desire for European Hegemony. The fact that Germany was slowly but surly disabling European peace in its quest for Weltpolitik shows how Germany were looking for confrontation. The Moroccan Crisis’ of 1905-11 highlights the Kaiser’s desire to expand the German empire into other continents as well as just Europe. The consequences of this crisis furthermore increased the bitterness between the Germans and the French; showing how the idea of Weltpolitik played a large part in the why Germany had an aggressive attitude to war.Both Source 1 and 2 follow the line of argument that the aggression had led to war, and that ‘Germanys foreign policy aims were focused on annexation, and that she went to war to achieve these aims’ shows that Germany had had every intent ion to go to war. That, in conclusion with the latter emergence of the Schlieffen plan suggests how Germany were prepared to go to war highlighting that the idea they were fighting an defensive war could be hard to believe. Source 2 furthermore states that Was Germany responsible for the Outbreak of WW1? There is much evidence to suggest that German Aggression was responsible for the outbreak of a general European war in August 1914. Both Sources 1 and 2 play on the idea that both the Kaiser and Bethmann Hollweg used its foreign policies to create tension within Europe which consequently led to a European war. Source 1 argues ‘Germany’s foreign policy aims were focused on annexation, and that she went to was to achieve these aims’ highlighting the forceful nature which Germany could have possessed in this era.However, Source 3 argues that infact the growing tension in Europe arguably led Germany to fight a defensive war and that it was infact Britain, Russia and France through Germany’s fear of invasion who stimulated the war; ‘The British were determined to maintain their naval superiority, whatever the financial and political cost’. This leads to the judgement that although there is some evidence to suggest that Germany did fight a defensive war to some extent, overall German aggression did lead to the outbreak of a general European war.Firstly, the idea that Germany did fight an aggressive war can be seen through Germany’s increasing desire for European Hegemony. The fact that Germany was slowly but surly disabling European peace in its quest for Weltpolitik shows how Germany were looking for confrontation. The Moroccan Crisis’ of 1905-11 highlights the Kaiser’s desire to expand the German empire into other continents as well as just Europe. The consequences of this crisis furthermore increased the bitterness between the Germans and the French; showing how the idea of Weltpolitik played a large part in the why Germany had an aggressive attitude to war.Both Source 1 and 2 follow the line of argument that the aggression had led to war, and that ‘Germanys foreign policy aims were focused on annexation, and that she went to war to achieve these aims’ shows that Germany had had every intent ion to go to war. That, in conclusion with the latter emergence of the Schlieffen plan suggests how Germany were prepared to go to war highlighting that the idea they were fighting an defensive war could be hard to believe. Source 2 furthermore states that

Good Friday and Easter

Good Friday and Easter Good Friday and Easter Good Friday and Easter By Maeve Maddox Reader Elaine Peters wonders if the word Good in Good Friday has anything to do with the word God, pointing out that the English good-bye is a shortened version of the once common expression God be with ye. The word goodbye is the result of running words together until theyve dwindled into a compressed version of the original. The English words good and god, however, are not related. Both stem from Indo-European roots. The word god meaning deity, is thought to come from a word meaning that which is invoked. Or, It could come from a different Indo-European word meaning to pour as in the pouring of a libation. The word good, meaning having a desirable quality, comes from a Proto-Indo- European base word with the meaning to unite, be associated, suitable. Like the word nice, good can be used in so many contexts that it is probably a word to be avoided by careful writers. For example, good can have the following meanings: prosperous: He makes a good living. beneficial: Spinach is good for you. welcome: The doctor gave him good news. fertile: The land isnt very good in this area. attractive: Actors must have good looks. genuine: This money is not good. advantageous: I got a good deal on this couch. Among the many meanings of good are virtuous, moral, and wise. One of the meanings of the word holy is infinitely good. From such meanings come the expressions the Good Book and Good Friday. To call the day of the crucifixion of Jesus Good Friday could seem a little perverse, but seen from the perspective of Christian belief, the day marks the salvation of mankind and the triumph over death. For that reason it is called Good Friday in the Christian calendar. The Christian use of the word Easter for the religious celebration of the passion and death of Christ is one of those ironies of linguistic history. The word Easter derives from the name of an ancient Germanic goddess of fertility and sunrise, Austron. Her feast was celebrated at the spring equinox. Anglo-Saxon converts to Christianity adopted the name and, according to the Venerable Bede, some of the practices of the old worship for their Mass of the Resurrection as well. The word east derives from the same word as does the name of the goddess. The German word for Easter is similar: Ostern, but most European languages use words derived from Medieval Latin pascha: French: PÃ ¢ques Dutch: Pasen Italian: Pasque Spanish: Pascua Portuguese: Pscoa* Russian: nacxa [pass-kha]* (with thanks to Andre, Andriano, and Alexey) The Latin word come from a Hebrew word which passed into Aramaic as pasha and from there into Greek and Latin. William Tyndale, translating the Bible in 1530, translated Hebrew pesah as pass over. During the Middle English period, some writers used the word Pasche for Easter, but the pagan word is the one that has survived into modern English. Even though English speakers use Easter as the name of the festival, they do have an adjective, paschal, that has the meaning of or pertaining to Easter. One of my family traditions was the eating of the Paschal Egg on Easter morning. We cut one of our colored eggs, usually a purple one, into four pieces, one for each member of the family. I suppose that an Easter egg hunt could be referred to as a paschal event. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:20 Words with More Than One SpellingThe Possessive Apostrophe6 Foreign Expressions You Should Know