Cultural Differences in Business - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 6 Words: 1761 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Business Essay Type Analytical essay Did you like this example? 1.0 INTRODUCTION Patrick Watson was a graduate from a well-known university. He has a major in Industrial Management with a first class degree. He was capable in communicating bilingual language, which are English and minor French. After he graduated, Patrick went for an internship in the entry level management training position with Tube International Company. He is well-known in the company for getting the work done and have a good relationship with his working colleagues. As a result, he was promoted by the company from a Manager Trainee to a position of Assistant Plane Superintendent. After two years of service, he was assigned to take a foreign project which means a promotion for him. He was assigned to Haiti without any preparation. Haiti has two languages: -Haitian Creole (also known as KreyÃÆ' ²l) -French KreyÃÆ' ²l is spoken by 100 percent of the Haitians, while about 6 to 10 percent of Haitians can speak French. KreyÃÆ' ²l is a mixture of French and the African languages that Haitian slaves spoke. It is incorrectly described as a French dialect or worse, as broken French. Many Haitians identify themselves as French speakers when they are not truly fluent in the language. Even after Haiti became independent, French has been the language of government and of power for most of Haitis history (Valdman, 1984).This may create problems, for example, Haitian students in the U.S. are misdiagnosed as having mental disabilities because they are tested in languages they have not mastered (such as English). Upon arriving in Haiti, Patrick tried his ability in speaking French. However, the result was beyond his expectation. The language that they are speaking, was not a predominant French. Prior to living in Haiti for a week, he encounter a misunderstanding communication with the employee. As a result, he became disillusioned and lost interest in continuing the project. In this report, our group are going to elaborate th e problem that Patrick is facing and how he can overcome this conflict. Question 1 What problems that Patrick not anticipated when he took the assignment? Culture Shock First problem that Patrick will face is culture shock as he feel unfamiliar way of living and linguistic differences at the plant in Haiti due to the people from the plant could not speak pure French and the way that the people that greeted him with a risquÃÆ' © expression and different tone that Patrick never heard before. Haitian culture is distinct and less familiar to Americans than other cultural groups. Haitià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s population is 95% made up of African descendants. The estimated population is 8 million. Haitians are very concerned with the treatment of Haitian refugees in America (Policy of returning Haitians but not Cubans). Over Confidence Over confidence is a person who thinks his sense of direction is much better than it actually is. In another words, confidence is relativel y high. Patrick was a first class student and he learned French as a minor. He was over confident that he able to communicate well with the employees and will not have any problem about living and working in Haiti. The facts are the French that Patrick learn before is different meaning to the employees of the plant. This problem has made misunderstanding a few times until the employees have limit their communication to him. Lack of Orientation The lack of orientation. Orientation is a program that is carried out by the company to inform detailed information regarding the company and the jobs. The main goal in doing an orientation is to make sure that the employees know the overall background of the company. Making new employees feel welcome and making them comfortable to work in that working place is another important aspect. Social Adaptability The failure of Patrick to adapt was combined with specific unfavorable situations and this may adversely affect him to conduct, looking at Patrickà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s problem, this involves a culture shock. The culture of greeting other people differs from one place to another. This is why Patrick faces misunderstanding with the employee in the company. Inadequate Information Lastly, inadequate information about the company. Before starting to work in a company, it is best that the Patrick notice the overall information regarding the company and their particular job area. According to this case, Patrick has a lack of knowledge from the company. How the management of the company works? How friendly are the employees? These questions have to be figured out by Patrick before he started working in the company. Due to the lack of understanding towards the company, Patrick faces misunderstanding in communicating with his colleagues. Question 2 How could the company have assisted Patrick to reduce the difficulties that he confronted? Employee Orientation Employee orientation is a part of long term investment in a new employee, it is an initial process that provides access to basic information and provides new employees with the basic background information they need to perform their jobs satisfactorily, programs and services, gives classifications and follows new employees to take an active role in the organization. So the company can provide Patrick with proper and well prepared orientation. This orientation will help him in adapting in Haiti with the different kind of lifestyle and language. The company can put him and some other colleagues together in Haiti for a month to introduce him to their new environment. As a result, they can prevent Patrick and other colleagues doing a mistake and offensive thing in the country. It also helps in strengthening the management foundation of Patrick in doing his foreign assignment. Adequate Information The next thing the company can do is to provide Patrick with adequate information regarding the country. Once he knows the in sight of Haiti, he will know how to react to extreme situation change. For example, When Patrick knows about the different kind of French language the country have, he will be able to understand the difference and avoid misunderstanding. Social Adaptability People who feel comfortable among a group of friends are not suited for an overseas post. The process of social adaption requires concentrated and study action. Patrick must be able to socialize comfortably with new people in a new place, and be able to move quickly from one social situation to another. Pre-Departure Training Cultural Awareness Training Degree of interaction required in the host culture and the similarity between the individualà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s native culture and the new culture such as information sharing program, affective approach to moderate level of interaction and the length of stay in the host country is anticipated to be between two to twelve months, this can help Patrick learn the culture and get close to the Haitians as well. Question 3 Do you believe the situation that Patrick confronted is typical an American going to the foreign assignment? If another American are being sent to do an overseas assignment, there is a big possibility that he or she will face the same problem as Patrick faced. There are two main factors that can arise in this situation, such as language barriers and law and regulations. From these two factors, Americans should be aware before entering a new country for their overseas job. Language Barrier Language barrier can be found when two parties from a different country that is facing difficulties in communicating due to language. In this situation, America and Haiti have different communicating language. Americans that are planning to work in Haiti have to learn the language at the first, before they set to work. This can help reducing the possibility of misunderstanding. For example, communication problems can make the work env ironment uncomfortable and unproductive for Patrick and his colleagues. Open and clear communication in the workplace of Patrick can build a more productive environment. Laws and Regulations Every country has their own laws and regulations. Take Singapore as an exmaple. Knowing that chewing gum is prohibited, whereas it is normal to chew gum in Indonesia. Looking back at this case, America and Haiti have different laws and regulations. Law is an important area to be focused on because if people breaks it, it could end up bad. This is why Americans have to learn the laws and regulations in Haiti. It is best to keep the job safe and legal. Therefore, from time to time workers may violate the policies the organizations have established for its business. Even if the employee breaks the rules with the best intentions, the flow of the workplace can be impacted negatively. When the entire team is working toward the same goal and following the same regulations, it can be easier to ful fill the goals. This shows that if Patrick truly understands the rules are in place, it can be easier for him to communicate that urgency to his team in the organization. Conclusions Even though Patrick have superb quality of work in his previous career with good background, it doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t mean he will be able to work anywhere he wants easily .When the company send Patrick to Haiti, he faced several problems. These problems are caused by 5 factors, they are culture shock, overconfidence, lack of orientation, social adaptability and inadequate information. However the company can help Patrick to reduce these problem by giving Social adaptability, Pre-departure training and lastly adequate information before sending him off. These kind of situation happen often with American, since they are unaware of the language barrier and law and regulation of the country. Thus it is important for people to know the insight of the country before visiting there. References Haiti Culture https://cirrie.buffalo.edu/culture/monographs/haiti.php (Accessed 04 June 2015) The First Day on the Job | Human Resources at UC Berkeley. 2015. The First Day on the Job | Human Resources at UC Berkeley. [ONLINE] Available at: https://hrweb.berkeley.edu/guides/managing-hr/recruiting-staff/new-employee/first-day [Accessed 04 June 2015] MyFuture. 2015. Understanding Cultural Differences While Working Overseas à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" myfuture [ONLINE] Available at: https://myfuture.edu.au/getting-started/discover-what-career-paths-are-available/im-looking-to-work-overseas/cultural-differences . [Accessed 05 June 2015] Iakovlev,A.M.Prestupnostà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢isotsialà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢naiapsikhologiia.Moscow,1971.Chelovekiobshchestvo:Proble mysotsializatsiiindivida.Leningrad,1971.(UchenyezapiskiNilkompleksnykhsotsialà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢nykhissledovanii, fasc.9.) Haiti Laws and Regulations https://www.slideshare.net/BethanyJJMiller/haiti-presentation-2992205 [Accessed 06 June 2015] Working overseas https://www.statravel.com.sg/work-travel.htm (Accessed 06 June 2015) Business Lesson from Working in Haiti https://www.maxim.com/maxim-man/money-power/article/9-business-lessons-working-haiti (Accessed 04 June 2015) US Aid for Haiti worker https://www.usaid.gov/where-we-work/latin-american-and-caribbean/haiti (Accessed 06 June 2015) Haitià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Plan https://plan-international.org/where-we-work/americas/haiti/ (Accessed 06 June 2015 Declaration: The group/individual has unanimously agreed to the appraisal of each individual/ member in our group. (A) ______________________ Tin Tin B) _______________________ Tang Xiaojing (C) ________________________ Li Jiahua (D) _________________________ Ta Thi Tram Anh (E) _________________________ Novi Lestari Don’t waste time! 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Feminism In The Great Gatsby - 1643 Words

Adam Renaud Mme McLaughlin EAE4U-01 25 october 2017 A Beautiful Fool: What More Could a Girl Aspire to Be in the 1920s? ‘‘I hope she’ll be a fool—that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool’’ (17) Women obtained the right to vote in the 1920s, representing major strides in feminism and political empowerment. Societal conventions of the time era, however, reinforce patriarchal ideologies and traditional values, as women were expected to marry and be subservient to their husbands. This is perpetuated in works of literature of the time era, notably The Great Gatsby, published by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1925. Feminist literary theory helps expose the misogynist undertones of the novel by†¦show more content†¦In this confrontation, Gatsby proclaims â€Å"[s]he never loved you, do you hear? She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me. It was a terrible mistake, but in her heart she never loved any one except me!† (72). Evidently, Gatsby thinks he understands her feelings and has reduced Daisy to a damsel in distress that he feels compelled to save. He has made these assumptions and is forcing Daisy to be apart of his fantasy world, shed ding light on male domination in relationships. In reality, she is committed to Tom and does not need to be saved. In fact, they even have a daughter, showing her commitment and devotion to her husband. In a meeting with house guests, it is revealed that â€Å"[t]he child, relinquished by the nurse, rushed across the room and rooted shyly into her mother’s dress† (62). The shyness of the daughter in confronting her mother demonstrates their distant relationship. It is apparent that Daisy does not enjoy motherhood, however, she has assumed this role because it’s what is expected of her in this society. Women are pressured to conform to this American Dream idea of a perfect family as a result of societal expectations. 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Angels Demons Chapter 36-38 Free Essays

36 The Office of the Swiss Guard. Langdon stood in the doorway, surveying the collision of centuries before them. Mixed media. We will write a custom essay sample on Angels Demons Chapter 36-38 or any similar topic only for you Order Now The room was a lushly adorned Renaissance library complete with inlaid bookshelves, oriental carpets, and colorful tapestries†¦ and yet the room bristled with high-tech gear – banks of computers, faxes, electronic maps of the Vatican complex, and televisions tuned to CNN. Men in colorful pantaloons typed feverishly on computers and listened intently in futuristic headphones. â€Å"Wait here,† the guard said. Langdon and Vittoria waited as the guard crossed the room to an exceptionally tall, wiry man in a dark blue military uniform. He was talking on a cellular phone and stood so straight he was almost bent backward. The guard said something to him, and the man shot a glance over at Langdon and Vittoria. He nodded, then turned his back on them and continued his phone call. The guard returned. â€Å"Commander Olivetti will be with you in a moment.† â€Å"Thank you.† The guard left and headed back up the stairs. Langdon studied Commander Olivetti across the room, realizing he was actually the Commander in Chief of the armed forces of an entire country. Vittoria and Langdon waited, observing the action before them. Brightly dressed guards bustled about yelling orders in Italian. â€Å"Continua cercando!† one yelled into a telephone. â€Å"Probasti il museo?† another asked. Langdon did not need fluent Italian to discern that the security center was currently in intense search mode. This was the good news. The bad news was that they obviously had not yet found the antimatter. â€Å"You okay?† Langdon asked Vittoria. She shrugged, offering a tired smile. When the commander finally clicked off his phone and approached across the room, he seemed to grow with each step. Langdon was tall himself and not accustomed to looking up at many people, but Commander Olivetti demanded it. Langdon sensed immediately that the commander was a man who had weathered tempests, his face hale and steeled. His dark hair was cropped in a military buzz cut, and his eyes burned with the kind of hardened determination only attainable through years of intense training. He moved with ramrod exactness, the earpiece hidden discreetly behind one ear making him look more like U.S. Secret Service than Swiss Guard. The commander addressed them in accented English. His voice was startlingly quiet for such a large man, barely a whisper. It bit with a tight, military efficiency. â€Å"Good afternoon,† he said. â€Å"I am Commander Olivetti – Comandante Principale of the Swiss Guard. I’m the one who called your director.† Vittoria gazed upward. â€Å"Thank you for seeing us, sir.† The commander did not respond. He motioned for them to follow and led them through the tangle of electronics to a door in the side wall of the chamber. â€Å"Enter,† he said, holding the door for them. Langdon and Vittoria walked through and found themselves in a darkened control room where a wall of video monitors was cycling lazily through a series of black-and-white images of the complex. A young guard sat watching the images intently. â€Å"Fuori,† Olivetti said. The guard packed up and left. Olivetti walked over to one of the screens and pointed to it. Then he turned toward his guests. â€Å"This image is from a remote camera hidden somewhere inside Vatican City. I’d like an explanation.† Langdon and Vittoria looked at the screen and inhaled in unison. The image was absolute. No doubt. It was CERN’s antimatter canister. Inside, a shimmering droplet of metallic liquid hung ominously in the air, lit by the rhythmic blinking of the LED digital clock. Eerily, the area around the canister was almost entirely dark, as if the antimatter were in a closet or darkened room. At the top of the monitor flashed superimposed text: Live Feed – Camera #86. Vittoria looked at the time remaining on the flashing indicator on the canister. â€Å"Under six hours,† she whispered to Langdon, her face tense. Langdon checked his watch. â€Å"So we have until†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He stopped, a knot tightening in his stomach. â€Å"Midnight,† Vittoria said, with a withering look. Midnight, Langdon thought. A flair for the dramatic. Apparently whoever stole the canister last night had timed it perfectly. A stark foreboding set in as he realized he was currently sitting at ground zero. Olivetti’s whisper now sounded more like a hiss. â€Å"Does this object belong to your facility?† Vittoria nodded. â€Å"Yes, sir. It was stolen from us. It contains an extremely combustible substance called antimatter.† Olivetti looked unmoved. â€Å"I am quite familiar with incendiaries, Ms. Vetra. I have not heard of antimatter.† â€Å"It’s new technology. We need to locate it immediately or evacuate Vatican City.† Olivetti closed his eyes slowly and reopened them, as if refocusing on Vittoria might change what he just heard. â€Å"Evacuate? Are you aware what is going on here this evening?† â€Å"Yes, sir. And the lives of your cardinals are in danger. We have about six hours. Have you made any headway locating the canister?† Olivetti shook his head. â€Å"We haven’t started looking.† Vittoria choked. â€Å"What? But we expressly heard your guards talking about searching the – â€Å" â€Å"Searching, yes,† Olivetti said, â€Å"but not for your canister. My men are looking for something else that does not concern you.† Vittoria’s voice cracked. â€Å"You haven’t even begun looking for this canister?† Olivetti’s pupils seemed to recede into his head. He had the passionless look of an insect. â€Å"Ms. Vetra, is it? Let me explain something to you. The director of your facility refused to share any details about this object with me over the phone except to say that I needed to find it immediately. We are exceptionally busy, and I do not have the luxury of dedicating manpower to a situation until I get some facts.† â€Å"There is only one relevant fact at this moment, sir,† Vittoria said, â€Å"that being that in six hours that device is going to vaporize this entire complex.† Olivetti stood motionless. â€Å"Ms. Vetra, there is something you need to know.† His tone hinted at patronizing. â€Å"Despite the archaic appearance of Vatican City, every single entrance, both public and private, is equipped with the most advanced sensing equipment known to man. If someone tried to enter with any sort of incendiary device it would be detected instantly. We have radioactive isotope scanners, olfactory filters designed by the American DEA to detect the faintest chemical signatures of combustibles and toxins. We also use the most advanced metal detectors and X-ray scanners available.† â€Å"Very impressive,† Vittoria said, matching Olivetti’s cool. â€Å"Unfortunately, antimatter is nonradioactive, its chemical signature is that of pure hydrogen, and the canister is plastic. None of those devices would have detected it.† â€Å"But the device has an energy source,† Olivetti said, motioning to the blinking LED. â€Å"Even the smallest trace of nickel-cadmium would register as – â€Å" â€Å"The batteries are also plastic.† Olivetti’s patience was clearly starting to wane. â€Å"Plastic batteries?† â€Å"Polymer gel electrolyte with Teflon.† Olivetti leaned toward her, as if to accentuate his height advantage. â€Å"Signorina, the Vatican is the target of dozens of bomb threats a month. I personally train every Swiss Guard in modern explosive technology. I am well aware that there is no substance on earth powerful enough to do what you are describing unless you are talking about a nuclear warhead with a fuel core the size of a baseball.† Vittoria framed him with a fervent stare. â€Å"Nature has many mysteries yet to unveil.† Olivetti leaned closer. â€Å"Might I ask exactly who you are? What is your position at CERN?† â€Å"I am a senior member of the research staff and appointed liaison to the Vatican for this crisis.† â€Å"Excuse me for being rude, but if this is indeed a crisis, why am I dealing with you and not your director? And what disrespect do you intend by coming into Vatican City in short pants?† Langdon groaned. He couldn’t believe that under the circumstances the man was being a stickler for dress code. Then again, he realized, if stone penises could induce lustful thoughts in Vatican residents, Vittoria Vetra in shorts could certainly be a threat to national security. â€Å"Commander Olivetti,† Langdon intervened, trying to diffuse what looked like a second bomb about to explode. â€Å"My name is Robert Langdon. I’m a professor of religious studies in the U.S. and unaffiliated with CERN. I have seen an antimatter demonstration and will vouch for Ms. Vetra’s claim that it is exceptionally dangerous. We have reason to believe it was placed inside your complex by an antireligious cult hoping to disrupt your conclave.† Olivetti turned, peering down at Langdon. â€Å"I have a woman in shorts telling me that a droplet of liquid is going to blow up Vatican City, and I have an American professor telling me we are being targeted by some antireligious cult. What exactly is it you expect me to do?† â€Å"Find the canister,† Vittoria said. â€Å"Right away.† â€Å"Impossible. That device could be anywhere. Vatican City is enormous.† â€Å"Your cameras don’t have GPS locators on them?† â€Å"They are not generally stolen. This missing camera will take days to locate.† â€Å"We don’t have days,† Vittoria said adamantly. â€Å"We have six hours.† â€Å"Six hours until what, Ms. Vetra?† Olivetti’s voice grew louder suddenly. He pointed to the image on the screen. â€Å"Until these numbers count down? Until Vatican City disappears? Believe me, I do not take kindly to people tampering with my security system. Nor do I like mechanical contraptions appearing mysteriously inside my walls. I am concerned. It is my job to be concerned. But what you have told me here is unacceptable.† Langdon spoke before he could stop himself. â€Å"Have you heard of the Illuminati?† The commander’s icy exterior cracked. His eyes went white, like a shark about to attack. â€Å"I am warning you. I do not have time for this.† â€Å"So you have heard of the Illuminati?† Olivetti’s eyes stabbed like bayonets. â€Å"I am a sworn defendant of the Catholic Church. Of course I have heard of the Illuminati. They have been dead for decades.† Langdon reached in his pocket and pulled out the fax image of Leonardo Vetra’s branded body. He handed it to Olivetti. â€Å"I am an Illuminati scholar,† Langdon said as Olivetti studied the picture. â€Å"I am having a difficult time accepting that the Illuminati are still active, and yet the appearance of this brand combined with the fact that the Illuminati have a well-known covenant against Vatican City has changed my mind.† â€Å"A computer-generated hoax.† Olivetti handed the fax back to Langdon. Langdon stared, incredulous. â€Å"Hoax? Look at the symmetry! You of all people should realize the authenticity of – â€Å" â€Å"Authenticity is precisely what you lack. Perhaps Ms. Vetra has not informed you, but CERN scientists have been criticizing Vatican policies for decades. They regularly petition us for retraction of Creationist theory, formal apologies for Galileo and Copernicus, repeal of our criticism against dangerous or immoral research. What scenario seems more likely to you – that a four-hundred-year-old satanic cult has resurfaced with an advanced weapon of mass destruction, or that some prankster at CERN is trying to disrupt a sacred Vatican event with a well-executed fraud?† â€Å"That photo,† Vittoria said, her voice like boiling lava, â€Å"is of my father. Murdered. You think this is my idea of a joke?† â€Å"I don’t know, Ms. Vetra. But I do know until I get some answers that make sense, there is no way I will raise any sort of alarm. Vigilance and discretion are my duty†¦ such that spiritual matters can take place here with clarity of mind. Today of all days.† Langdon said, â€Å"At least postpone the event.† â€Å"Postpone?† Olivetti’s jaw dropped. â€Å"Such arrogance! A conclave is not some American baseball game you call on account of rain. This is a sacred event with a strict code and process. Never mind that one billion Catholics in the world are waiting for a leader. Never mind that the world media is outside. The protocols for this event are holy – not subject to modification. Since 1179, conclaves have survived earthquakes, famines, and even the plague. Believe me, it is not about to be canceled on account of a murdered scientist and a droplet of God knows what.† â€Å"Take me to the person in charge,† Vittoria demanded. Olivetti glared. â€Å"You’ve got him.† â€Å"No,† she said. â€Å"Someone in the clergy.† The veins on Olivetti’s brow began to show. â€Å"The clergy has gone. With the exception of the Swiss Guard, the only ones present in Vatican City at this time are the College of Cardinals. And they are inside the Sistine Chapel.† â€Å"How about the chamberlain?† Langdon stated flatly. â€Å"Who?† â€Å"The late Pope’s chamberlain.† Langdon repeated the word self-assuredly, praying his memory served him. He recalled reading once about the curious arrangement of Vatican authority following the death of a Pope. If Langdon was correct, during the interim between Popes, complete autonomous power shifted temporarily to the late Pope’s personal assistant – his chamberlain – a secretarial underling who oversaw conclave until the cardinals chose the new Holy Father. â€Å"I believe the chamberlain is the man in charge at the moment.† â€Å"Il camerlegno?† Olivetti scowled. â€Å"The camerlegno is only a priest here. He is not even canonized. He is the late Pope’s hand servant.† â€Å"But he is here. And you answer to him.† Olivetti crossed his arms. â€Å"Mr. Langdon, it is true that Vatican rule dictates the camerlegno assume chief executive office during conclave, but it is only because his lack of eligibility for the papacy ensures an unbiased election. It is as if your president died, and one of his aides temporarily sat in the oval office. The camerlegno is young, and his understanding of security, or anything else for that matter, is extremely limited. For all intents and purposes, I am in charge here.† â€Å"Take us to him,† Vittoria said. â€Å"Impossible. Conclave begins in forty minutes. The camerlegno is in the Office of the Pope preparing. I have no intention of disturbing him with matters of security.† Vittoria opened her mouth to respond but was interrupted by a knocking at the door. Olivetti opened it. A guard in full regalia stood outside, pointing to his watch. â€Å"ee l’ora, comandante.† Olivetti checked his own watch and nodded. He turned back to Langdon and Vittoria like a judge pondering their fate. â€Å"Follow me.† He led them out of the monitoring room across the security center to a small clear cubicle against the rear wall. â€Å"My office.† Olivetti ushered them inside. The room was unspecial – a cluttered desk, file cabinets, folding chairs, a water cooler. â€Å"I will be back in ten minutes. I suggest you use the time to decide how you would like to proceed.† Vittoria wheeled. â€Å"You can’t just leave! That canister is – â€Å" â€Å"I do not have time for this,† Olivetti seethed. â€Å"Perhaps I should detain you until after the conclave when I do have time.† â€Å"Signore,† the guard urged, pointing to his watch again. â€Å"Spazzare di capella.† Olivetti nodded and started to leave. â€Å"Spazzare di capella?† Vittoria demanded. â€Å"You’re leaving to sweep the chapel?† Olivetti turned, his eyes boring through her. â€Å"We sweep for electronic bugs, Miss Vetra – a matter of discretion.† He motioned to her legs. â€Å"Not something I would expect you to understand.† With that he slammed the door, rattling the heavy glass. In one fluid motion he produced a key, inserted it, and twisted. A heavy deadbolt slid into place. â€Å"Idita!† Vittoria yelled. â€Å"You can’t keep us in here!† Through the glass, Langdon could see Olivetti say something to the guard. The sentinel nodded. As Olivetti strode out of the room, the guard spun and faced them on the other side of the glass, arms crossed, a large sidearm visible on his hip. Perfect, Langdon thought. Just bloody perfect. 37 Vittoria glared at the Swiss Guard standing outside Olivetti’s locked door. The sentinel glared back, his colorful costume belying his decidedly ominous air. â€Å"Che fiasco,† Vittoria thought. Held hostage by an armed man in pajamas. Langdon had fallen silent, and Vittoria hoped he was using that Harvard brain of his to think them out of this. She sensed, however, from the look on his face, that he was more in shock than in thought. She regretted getting him so involved. Vittoria’s first instinct was to pull out her cell phone and call Kohler, but she knew it was foolish. First, the guard would probably walk in and take her phone. Second, if Kohler’s episode ran its usual course, he was probably still incapacitated. Not that it mattered†¦ Olivetti seemed unlikely to take anybody’s word on anything at the moment. Remember! she told herself. Remember the solution to this test! Remembrance was a Buddhist philosopher’s trick. Rather than asking her mind to search for a solution to a potentially impossible challenge, Vittoria asked her mind simply to remember it. The presupposition that one once knew the answer created the mindset that the answer must exist†¦ thus eliminating the crippling conception of hopelessness. Vittoria often used the process to solve scientific quandaries†¦ those that most people thought had no solution. At the moment, however, her remembrance trick was drawing a major blank. So she measured her options†¦ her needs. She needed to warn someone. Someone at the Vatican needed to take her seriously. But who? The camerlegno? How? She was in a glass box with one exit. Tools, she told herself. There are always tools. Reevaluate your environment. Instinctively she lowered her shoulders, relaxed her eyes, and took three deep breaths into her lungs. She sensed her heart rate slow and her muscles soften. The chaotic panic in her mind dissolved. Okay, she thought, let your mind be free. What makes this situation positive? What are my assets? The analytical mind of Vittoria Vetra, once calmed, was a powerful force. Within seconds she realized their incarceration was actually their key to escape. â€Å"I’m making a phone call,† she said suddenly. Langdon looked up. â€Å"I was about to suggest you call Kohler, but – â€Å" â€Å"Not Kohler. Someone else.† â€Å"Who?† â€Å"The camerlegno.† Langdon looked totally lost. â€Å"You’re calling the chamberlain? How?† â€Å"Olivetti said the camerlegno was in the Pope’s office.† â€Å"Okay. You know the Pope’s private number?† â€Å"No. But I’m not calling on my phone.† She nodded to a high-tech phone system on Olivetti’s desk. It was riddled with speed dial buttons. â€Å"The head of security must have a direct line to the Pope’s office.† â€Å"He also has a weight lifter with a gun planted six feet away.† â€Å"And we’re locked in.† â€Å"I was actually aware of that.† â€Å"I mean the guard is locked out. This is Olivetti’s private office. I doubt anyone else has a key.† Langdon looked out at the guard. â€Å"This is pretty thin glass, and that’s a pretty big gun.† â€Å"What’s he going to do, shoot me for using the phone?† â€Å"Who the hell knows! This is a pretty strange place, and the way things are going – â€Å" â€Å"Either that,† Vittoria said, â€Å"or we can spend the next five hours and forty-eight minutes in Vatican Prison. At least we’ll have a front-row seat when the antimatter goes off.† Langdon paled. â€Å"But the guard will get Olivetti the second you pick up that phone. Besides, there are twenty buttons on there. And I don’t see any identification. You going to try them all and hope to get lucky?† â€Å"Nope,† she said, striding to the phone. â€Å"Just one.† Vittoria picked up the phone and pressed the top button. â€Å"Number one. I bet you one of those Illuminati U.S. dollars you have in your pocket that this is the Pope’s office. What else would take primary importance for a Swiss Guard commander?† Langdon did not have time to respond. The guard outside the door started rapping on the glass with the butt of his gun. He motioned for her to set down the phone. Vittoria winked at him. The guard seemed to inflate with rage. Langdon moved away from the door and turned back to Vittoria. â€Å"You damn well better be right, ’cause this guy does not look amused!† â€Å"Damn!† she said, listening to the receiver. â€Å"A recording.† â€Å"Recording?† Langdon demanded. â€Å"The Pope has an answering machine?† â€Å"It wasn’t the Pope’s office,† Vittoria said, hanging up. â€Å"It was the damn weekly menu for the Vatican commissary.† Langdon offered a weak smile to the guard outside who was now glaring angrily though the glass while he hailed Olivetti on his walkie-talkie. 38 The Vatican switchboard is located in the Ufficio di Communicazione behind the Vatican post office. It is a relatively small room containing an eight-line Corelco 141 switchboard. The office handles over 2,000 calls a day, most routed automatically to the recording information system. Tonight, the sole communications operator on duty sat quietly sipping a cup of caffeinated tea. He felt proud to be one of only a handful of employees still allowed inside Vatican City tonight. Of course the honor was tainted somewhat by the presence of the Swiss Guards hovering outside his door. An escort to the bathroom, the operator thought. Ah, the indignities we endure in the name of Holy Conclave. Fortunately, the calls this evening had been light. Or maybe it was not so fortunate, he thought. World interest in Vatican events seemed to have dwindled in the last few years. The number of press calls had thinned, and even the crazies weren’t calling as often. The press office had hoped tonight’s event would have more of a festive buzz about it. Sadly, though, despite St. Peter’s Square being filled with press trucks, the vans looked to be mostly standard Italian and Euro press. Only a handful of global cover-all networks were there†¦ no doubt having sent their giornalisti secundari. The operator gripped his mug and wondered how long tonight would last. Midnight or so, he guessed. Nowadays, most insiders already knew who was favored to become Pope well before conclave convened, so the process was more of a three – or four-hour ritual than an actual election. Of course, last-minute dissension in the ranks could prolong the ceremony through dawn†¦ or beyond. The conclave of 1831 had lasted fifty-four days. Not tonight, he told himself; rumor was this conclave would be a â€Å"smoke-watch.† The operator’s thoughts evaporated with the buzz of an inside line on his switchboard. He looked at the blinking red light and scratched his head. That’s odd, he thought. The zero-line. Who on the inside would be calling operator information tonight? Who is even inside? â€Å"Citta del Vaticano, prego?† he said, picking up the phone. The voice on the line spoke in rapid Italian. The operator vaguely recognized the accent as that common to Swiss Guards – fluent Italian tainted by the Franco-Swiss influence. This caller, however, was most definitely not Swiss Guard. On hearing the woman’s voice, the operator stood suddenly, almost spilling his tea. He shot a look back down at the line. He had not been mistaken. An internal extension. The call was from the inside. There must be some mistake! he thought. A woman inside Vatican City? Tonight? The woman was speaking fast and furiously. The operator had spent enough years on the phones to know when he was dealing with a pazzo. This woman did not sound crazy. She was urgent but rational. Calm and efficient. He listened to her request, bewildered. â€Å"Il camerlegno?† the operator said, still trying to figure out where the hell the call was coming from. â€Å"I cannot possibly connect†¦ yes, I am aware he is in the Pope’s office but†¦ who are you again?†¦ and you want to warn him of†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He listened, more and more unnerved. Everyone is in danger? How? And where are you calling from? â€Å"Perhaps I should contact the Swiss†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The operator stopped short. â€Å"You say you’re where? Where?† He listened in shock, then made a decision. â€Å"Hold, please,† he said, putting the woman on hold before she could respond. Then he called Commander Olivetti’s direct line. There is no way that woman is really – The line picked up instantly. â€Å"Per l’amore di Dio!† a familiar woman’s voice shouted at him. â€Å"Place the damn call!† The door of the Swiss Guards’ security center hissed open. The guards parted as Commander Olivetti entered the room like a rocket. Turning the corner to his office, Olivetti confirmed what his guard on the walkie-talkie had just told him; Vittoria Vetra was standing at his desk talking on the commander’s private telephone. Che coglioni che ha questa! he thought. The balls on this one! Livid, he strode to the door and rammed the key into the lock. He pulled open the door and demanded, â€Å"What are you doing?† Vittoria ignored him. â€Å"Yes,† she was saying into the phone. â€Å"And I must warn – â€Å" Olivetti ripped the receiver from her hand, and raised it to his ear. â€Å"Who the hell is this?† For the tiniest of an instant, Olivetti’s inelastic posture slumped. â€Å"Yes, camerlegno†¦Ã¢â‚¬  he said. â€Å"Correct, signore†¦ but questions of security demand†¦ of course not†¦ I am holding her here for†¦ certainly, but†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He listened. â€Å"Yes, sir,† he said finally. â€Å"I will bring them up immediately.† How to cite Angels Demons Chapter 36-38, Essay examples

Service Operations - Hard Rock Hotel free essay sample

The company ensures that the d ©core and designs Of its facilities are Of quality standard, closely following a concert/Hollywood theme and, on top of that, company staffs are also well trained to be polite and friendly when attending to customers. Furthermore, the company greatly emphasizes on hon. ins good management skills, as it would help the company cope with fluctuations in demand and reduce loss of idle capacity. The criteria of evaluation for the service package include an assessment of the companys supporting facility, facilitating goods, information, and its explicit and implicit services provided.In a glimpse, HER Singapore embodies most of the distinctive qualities that it should possess. The hotel is primly located in the middle of Singapore resort hub. It provides a long range of facilitating goods and service that lives up to its well-established reputation. Some key recommendations for HER Singapore includes operating shuttle services between Changing Airport and Hard Rock Hotel, providing more accurate and up to date information, constructing a new concert venue in Singapore, implementing less stringent policies for staffs, and enhancing their attitudes towards work. These changes in the company will in time result in a teeter customer experience and keep the business updated with the latest trends and needs. Brief Introduction Hard Rock Hotel (HER) is an American brand of hospitality services; named after the birthplace of Rock Roll. HER Singapore is five-star hotel; its services are centered on creating a fun and enjoyable atmosphere, accompanied with an array of exuberant nightlife entertainment. The hotel plays homage to some of the greatest rock stars of the century, with artists such as Elvis Presley, The Rolling Stones and Jim Hendrix.Hard Rocks dedication to exceeding whatever expectation a customer might have is encapsulated in its motto, Love all. Serve all. The hotel aims to combine world-class services with rock and roll edge. Entertainment is of the utmost priority, which is reflected in the philosophy of the hotel to create a place where the party never ends, and no one has to go home. Established in 1971, Hard Rock has built up a reputable name on a global scale, with 16 hotels across multiple locations such as Singapore, Macaw, Thailand, and USA. Combined with its total of 1 75 locations in 55 countries, comprising of restaurants, casinos and live music venues, the Hard Rock name is very well recognized. HER is one of four hotels owned by Resorts World Santos, an Integrated Resort. Distinctive characteristics of a service operation by Hard Rock Customer Participation in the Service Customers play an active role in the service such as room bookings, checking in and checking out. The customers competence in specifying the type of room desired will determine the level of satisfaction received.Decoupling is being practiced via Internet hotel bookings, to increase consistency and productivity. As customers are participants in the service process and environment, management has to pay careful consideration into the facility sign of the compound including d ©core of the entire facility as it is will affect the overall user experience of the guests. The exterior of the building does not reflect on the companys concert, rock-star th eme because it has to keep in line with the theme of rest of the Resort World Santos, where all the hotels share similar exteriors. However, the interior, including the lobby and rooms are designed according to their concert concept and is fitted with modern and lounge furniture and fittings. Simultaneity Unlike in manufacturing, where firms can cushion fluctuations in demand tit inventory, service firms can only do so through waiting. The simultaneity of services, in turn eliminates opportunities for quality-control intervention. As such, staffs at Hard Rock are trained to provide professional customer service in a friendly and polite tone.During peak periods, when capacity is maximized, guests have to queue and wait in order to check in or out and use facilities such as the pools and breakfast. The number of check-in counters, number of rooms available, and use of idle time affects how long the customer will wait. Longer waiting generally diminishes the overall experience of guests. Permissibility HER has to determine the appropriate number of rooms to fully utilize its capacity. This is important as having too few rooms results in loss Of revenue due to overcapacity.Too many rooms results in idle capacity, and will make it difficult for Hard Rock to recover its costs for building them It is difficult to determine the optimal capacity, as demand varies widely at different time periods, with extreme disparities in traffic during holiday seasons and low seasons. Hard Rock has attempted to solve this problem by smoothing demand by lowering room rates to attract customers during the low season. Hard Rock does its best to provide a room for hotel guests, even if it means upgrading them to a more expensive room.They also work alongside the other hotels at Resorts World Santos (ROWS) and direct guests over to the other hotels. Similarly, in the event where other hotels are fully occupied, their guests may be transferred over to Hard Rock. This will help cope in the fluctuations in demand and reduce loss of idle capacity throughout all hotels under the Resort World Group. Intangibility Customers can only rely on the reputation of HER when choosing between hotels, via word of mouth from their friends or user reviews on websites such s Trapdoors.This issue is reduced by hotel ratings, and customers can choose the level of accommodation based on the prices they are willing to pay. Hard Rock has garnered a reputation for providing world-class amenities, top-tier service fused with its unique rock star style glamour and friendly, professional service staff. The brand is commonly associated with the rock and roll lifestyle and celebrities. Heterogeneity Heterogeneity refers to the combination of the intangibility of the nature of services, combined with the customer as participant results in variations of service from customer to customer.Variation is contributed by the numerous occasions whereby the customer is in direct c ontact with employees in the hotel, such as during check-in, check-out and when accessing Hard Rocks many facilities. Especially for Hard Rock, the customer comes into contact with large number of employees of the hotel. This is the reason why HER emphasizes good service so strongly, with many resources dedicated to staff training to ensure customer satisfaction.Evaluation of Hard Rock Hotels Service Package Supporting Facility Location The HER Singapore is situated within ROWS, and is surrounded by world-class correctional sites such as Adventure Cove Watermark and universal Studios Singapore. It is easily accessible through several modes of transport: public buses, trains, entrance from Vivacity Shopping Centre via cable car, monorail services located in Vivacity or a scenic travelogue route. Thus, the highly convenient location and proximity to high traffic areas like the shopping centre, Central Business District and airport attracts numerous customers.The presence of casinos also attracts gamblers to book rooms. Interior Decorating Containing furnishings motivated by the legends of rock, the h otel has strictures of rock legends from as early as the 1 sass, all along its hallways. The costumes and instruments of iconic pop legends can be found throughout the hotel. Rooms are fitted with themed d ©core, such as special lighting to make the bathrooms assimilate a rock stars dressing room and a symbolic guitar tray. Architectural Appropriateness Costumes that belonged to Elvis Presley and guitar that belonged to Jim Hendrix provide nostalgic memorabilia that graced the Rock and Roll era.The ever-infamous and unique giant electric guitars with the Hard Rock logo are prominent icons of the brand. Facility Layout Equipped with 30 function rooms, a 2,000-seated ballroom, a 24-hour Fitness Centre, and its spectacular outdoor man made beach pool provides Hard Rocks guests with an all-inclusive day of recreation and rejuvenation. Complemented by a beach volleyball court and exquisite cabanas, guests are provided with endless entertainment throughout their stay. Facilitating Goods Snack Bar and Amenities Each room is also fitted with its own Snack Bar and amenities. Amenities provided include complimentary toiletries, comfortable Simmons Cool Max beds and a television (42 inch LCD screen). However, Hard Rock has been known to be rather stingy with their amenities as guests often complain about the insufficient amount of towels, soap and shampoo available, even if extra are requested. Items taken from the snack bar will be charged at the end of the stay. Similar with other hotels, snack bar items are overpriced. This remains consistent to the premium pricing throughout the hotel including the room prices and the rest of Santos.Food and Beverage HER has its equally famous chain of cafes that boast a wide range of authentic American fare such as Burgers, pizza, pasta and sandwiches that vive up to its reputation. They also offer a few local delights to cater to local preferences. However, several customers on Trapdoors pointed out that the quality of the food is not consistent and occasionally the cafe © receives complaints that the food is not cooked up to standard. Although the meals are pricey (320-30 per person), Hard Rock Cafe © serves large portions of food to make up for it, thus providing a value-for-money meal.The Rock Shop The Rock Shop at the Hard Rock Cafe © sells quality memorabilia, apparel and accessories (T-shirts and hats) featuring the brands iconic logo. These shirts are collectibles and a must buy among visitors. They also have various product lines under certain collections featuring or even designed by iconic artists. Prices range from $24 for a shirt to about $1 30 for a jacket bearing the logo. Both food and products are consistent and stay true to the Cafe ©s global standards and reputation. However, during our trip to the HER, We noticed that despite it being the peak season, the Rock Shop was empty.Information Accurate HER provides customer with accurate information on the prices of the different hotel rooms during different time of the year. Prices of the rooms differ according to the booking dates thus the booking system allows customer to get the best prices at the time of booking. For example, rooms are sold at half price if it is booked 3-6 months prior to the date of stay. There is accurate and helpful information at the hotel lobby with signs to direct hotel guests to the different facilities.There is also accurate information of the timing of the complimentary shuttle service for hotel guests that wants to use it to avoid waiting time. Timely HER keeps customers updated on promotions available for hotel guests such s discounts or packages available. Hotel guests can easily find out from the website whether there are any current promotions that they can apply for. Example of the promotions are getting an additional day for free for a two day stay during certain periods of the year.HER comes up with various promotions so that hotel guests enjoy cheaper hotel prices and discounts when visiting Santos attractions like universal Studios. Moreover, their website even have promotions such as late check out for those that book through the website so as to drive traffic to room booking through their website. Useful The website provides useful information on the type of rooms available to let customer know more to enable customers to make an informed decision. It also provides customers with information about the different facilities and dining choices available.However, it does not tell customers the number of rooms available for booking on the date of choice, which may not compel the customer to make their bookings more quickly. Only through interviews with the staff did we discover that check in procedures require the minimum age for check in is 21 and above, which could potentially be an unpleasant experience for minors checking in. Explicit Service Well-trained service personnel Staff at HER are adequately trained and officially certified before they are allowed to begin serving and interacting with guests.Depending on the employees job scope, he/she would have to go through in-depth training in their specific areas of service. In order to further facilitate training of staff, Hard Rock has established Rock 101, a university focusing on the brands unique culture, identity and business philosophy. Comprehensiveness With the surfeit amenities and service that HER Singapore provides, the comprehensiveness of this establishment is endless. Check-in counters are quick and efficient without compromising the quality of service. The rooms are clean and maintained on a regular basis. Customers explicitly feel this, as many compliment the hotel on the cleanliness and comfort of their rooms. Rooms are also modernly designed with furnishing such as plush chairs, superlative bedding and ambient lighting. Consistency HER Singapore has been consistent in delivering the Hard Rock experience that is globally acclaimed. Since its establishment in 2010, it has received numerous awards including the Gold Award for Best 5 in Asia in the Category f Hospitality Asia Platinum Awards (HAP) Signature Deluxe Hotel, Trip Advisors Certificate of Excellence 2012 Winner as well as the winner for Travelers Choice 2012.Availability There is a wide availability of services in HER Singapore, catering to the needs of its patrons. From ATM machines, to souvenir shops (The Rock Shop) and a free map of ROWS, HER meets almost any demand by the customer. The website provides excellent information and should they require further assistance, be it general and corporate enquiries to matters regard ing reservations and ticketing, the website has e-mail addresses and hotelier to answer specific queries. Implicit Services Attitude of service The staffs in HER are generally well trained to be gracious and friendly to guests to ensure a positive service experience.The occasional staff that is not well trained could be attributed to high part-time employee turnover and the large number of service staff involved in the hotel. Atmosphere Hard Rocks dimly lit lobby, which plays only classic rock songs, replicates a concert-like environment and atmosphere of the setting Hard Rock is trying to recreate. The lobby may be too dim for the liking of some customers as it sakes it difficult to navigate the hotel and identify the reception. Waiting Guests that frequent ROWS, known as Platinum members, get to check-in at the express counter, a separate lane for members.Regular members have to queue at the check-in line, which is comparatively slower. Status The Hard Rock now is synonymous around the world, and is very well known for retaining the rock and roll feel of the ass in other countries, th is is also true for HER Singapore. Sense of well-being HER is extremely well established and the hotel itself is very large. Car parks, rooms and the immediate surroundings are well lit and protected to make guests feel at ease. Privacy and security Singapore is one of the safest countries in the world.The island itself is well protected, as is its surroundings. As for the hotel, rooms can only be unlocked by a magnetic card issued by the check-in counter. A negative point is that practically anyone can take the lift up to the rooms without needing any form of authentication like keywords. Convenience The proximity Of the hotel to the Universal Studios Monorail station ensures that the guest will have a pleasant experience entering the hotel without finding himself lost. RecommendationsThe hotel can provide free shuttle bus services to Changing Airport; as the hotel is situated on Santos Island, accessibility may pose as an inconvenience. Easing traveling to the airport will definitely improve Hard Rocks attractiveness, as its convenience will appeal to most international guests. Facilitating Goods Our team recommends that HER make their snack bar more affordable. As there is convenience stores located walking distance away from the hotel, hotel guest will be more inclined to purchase their snacks from these stores at a lower price, which may hinder Hrs profitability.If the products were to so excessively marked up, guest will be more willing to purchase from the snack bar despite the prices being higher than prices outside. The quality food at the Hard Rock Cafe © can more consistent to ensure resounding good reviews that will further bolster the cafe ©s reputation as well as the experience of the guest who visit the cafe © because most guest do so. The Rock shop should also begin exploring fresher designs to cater to the changing preferences of its young target audience. Although the iconic Hard Rock logo should be preserved as it memorabilia with the logo is seen as a novelty, the signs have remained relatively the same throughout the years and may not correspond with the preference of the young people today. Introducing fresher and possibly limited editions designs that would appeal more to young people nowadays while ensuring that the true essence Of the HER is maintained may improve the attractiveness of the memorabilia. This could potentially become a more stable income stream for the Hotel, and potentially grow popular enough to set up shops outside of the hotel.HER has provided many essential information on their website such as room rises and promotions that are relevant to hotel guests requirements. However, HER should consider providing more information on the check in procedures such as the minimum age for check in to avoid any disputes. HER should also provide information on the availability of rooms left for booking such that hotel guest s can make a more informed choice when comparing between different hotels and let the customers know when is their peak season so as to remind hotel guests to book early if they want to get a room during these periods.One recommendation could be providing the website with more pictures of he hotel facilities to give customers a more holistic idea of what each room may look like. With this, the number of bookings made through the website stand to increase, thus improving Hrs occupancy rates. While their website is already considered informative enough for many customers, a portion still feels that information on the facilities such as the Gym, the Swimming Pool and also the Rock Shop is lacking.Another recommendation to enhance the explicit services is to ensure the mattresses and furnishings in general are periodically replaced with new ones. This ensures that every guest is provided tit the highest standard of service upon patronizing the hotel. Implicit Service HER can attain high quality of service from its employees, therefore enhancing the attitude of the service. Proper training is essential, and managers have to be able to teach and impart knowledge to his subordinates.It is also extremely important to keep the service staff happy so as to reduce employee turnover to improve service and save on retraining staff. Furthermore, the hotel can implement less strict policies to improve the attitude. While many hotels restrict their staff from growing facial hair so as to attain a professional image, Hard Rock can allow their staff to do so. This aids in creating the perception that the staff too, are rock stars. This is just one suggestion of many to improve the implicit service to the benefit of the customer.An interview conducted with one of the employees working in Hard Rock revealed that several customers felt that the lighting in the lobby and hotel in general was too dim. This is parallel sentiment shared by some reviewers on Trapdoors. While Hard Rock has intentionally made the lighting dimmer to improve the atmosphere; and opinion on the dim lighting is fairly divided, it just find a compromise without making its customers unhappy. A possible solution is to make essential areas such as the check-in well lit, and other amenities such as the bar and rock shop can be catered to the style of Hard Rock.Recommendation of possible Variants HER should develop current business plans to further enhance the customer experience. Our team recommends that HER work in conjunction with the cafe develop a more effective delivery system to cater to takeout and room service orders. There are a large number of customers that do not mind paying a little more for the convenience of having food served at their rooster. HER can utilize the cafe © to add quality to convenience. They can also expand their services to include nearby residents in Santos Cove, where eateries are quite far away.Residents are generally wealthy which ensures that higher food prices due to such a delivery system will not be a problem. Next, the events management should increase efforts to host international musicians and bands in Hrs concert hall. In Singapore right now, most concerts are either held at Fort Canning or Esplanade. Being a Rock themed hotel, HER Singapore should utilize this namesake and build a good status in Singapore within the music scene. Presently, Singapore has a very keen and active music scene that follows new-age rock music including genres such as Indies, electronic, alternative rock.

Bill Bowerman Essay Example

Bill Bowerman Essay In 1962 Bill Bowerman, the legendary University of Oregon track field coach, and Phil Knight, a University of Oregon business student and middle-distance runner, struck up a partnership to form a company called Blue Ribbon Sports (BRS). BRS imported shoes from Japan to the USA. First-year sales totalled $8,000, and in 1972 BRS changed its name to Nike, named for the Greek winged goddess of victory, and so began the birth of one of the modern worlds biggest and most famous companies. Nike employs 22,000 people worldwide, from Nike World Headquarters in Oregon and Nike European Headquarters in Hilversum, The Netherlands, to nearly every region around the globe, including Asia Pacific, the Americas, and Europe, Middle East and Africa. This includes manufacturers, shippers, retailers and service providers, and nearly 1 million people help to bring Nike to athletes and the public around the globe. Its this sheer scale and variety of operating bases that makes Nike a TNC, and a rather large one at that. Nikes main headquarters is in Portland, Oregon, USA. Yet very little, if any, of Nikes trainers and apparel are manufactured in the USA. Nike, like many large companies, has moved its production into areas of the world that are cheaper, in an effort to reduce manufacturing costs and therefore maximising profit margins. We will write a custom essay sample on Bill Bowerman specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Bill Bowerman specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Bill Bowerman specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Nikes HQ, based in an MEDC, is the centre for all Nikes research and development. In an MEDC the best, most intelligent, experienced and well-educated workers are available for Nikes development program. Being in a rich country also gives access to the latest in technological equipment and research techniques. This allows Nike to stay at the forefront of shoe and sportswear technology, developing shoe technology such as Max Air, Zoom Air, Tuned Air, Shox, as well as clothing technology and fabrics such as Dri-FIT, Clima-FIT, Therma-FIT and Storm-FIT. The increases in technology and innovation mean Nike keeps ahead of its biggest competitors both on the running track and the high street. MEDCs such as the USA and Europe are also Nikes biggest selling grounds, and keeping the HQ in these countries results in closer company-customer relations Nike can see what the consumer wants and needs, and alter its product line-up accordingly. Nike has an established market in the USA, and people like the idea that its a local American company, despite the fact that youll rarely if ever find a Nike product made in the USA. Nikes main production centres are in the far-eastern areas of the world, but in reality Nike would set up their production centres in the cheapest area possible, no matter where it was in the world. Communication and transport have improved so much in the 21st century that its financially cheaper to do this than to keep all your manufacturing and development together. The Internet, e-mail, telephones and fax machines mean that controlling production and retail centres from the HQ is cheap and easy. Cheap carrier ships and airlines means that no matter where in the world a product is made, it can be in a shop on the other side of the world within days. It started in the 1970s when Nike moved its production sites to South Korea and Taiwan. At the time these areas were desperately trying to develop further, and had welcoming governments and space for facilities. Above all they offered the cheapest labour available at the time. So Nike moved in, reducing their production costs vastly, and maximising profits. As TNCs move into these MEDCs they bring with them huge amounts of jobs, money and support industry. This results in these countries becoming more and more developed until they become NICs. Education, healthcare and living conditions will all improve. This is a tremendous benefit to the country in question, however this means that eventually the workers will demand more and more money to do the same job, bad news for Nike. Nike began to sense this back at their HQ and decided to move there main production factories into less developed areas, for the same reasons they moved into Korea and Taiwan in the first places. This is referre d to as Nomadic behaviour, and makes pretty good business sense really. So in the 80s and 90s they moved to China and Indonesia, where labour was cheap and governments keen (or gullible depending on your point of view). These are still Nikes main production bases today, but one day they will become ever-more developed, and Nike will predictably move out again, to somewhere cheaper and less developed (Afghanistan maybe?!) Nike now runs two main types of factory. It still owns the premises in the now developing areas of Taiwan and South Korea, and these produce Nikes high quality, statement products (they produce between 10,000 and 25,000 pairs of shoes a day.) While the newer, cheaper centres in China and Indonesia are Nikes bulk producers, producing well in excess of 70,000 pairs of trainers a day. The other reason Nike likes to have multiple production sites is to avoid trade barriers and tariffs. The best example of this with Nike is their factory in Greece. Greece is within the EU, and therefore Nike technically produces within the EU, preventing any sales quotas or taxes that could be imposed if they just imported all of their produce. Nike also has a secondary HQ within Europe. This is the HQ for all operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (shortened to Nikes EMEA HQ). The EMEA HQ is based in a state-of-the-art complex designed by William McDonough and Partners, opened in 1999 in Hilversum, The Netherlands. This allows Nike to change the specification of certain products and lines to fit specific needs within this area. For example in America people may have, on average, wider feet, while in Europe they may have thinner feet. Having two HQs and R;D centres means that Nike can tailor its products more to its consumers, hopefully increasing customer satisfaction and therefore sales. So weve established that, in terms of production, Nike is a global company, but it is just as important to realise that Nike is also one of the most global and universal brands in terms of sales and marketing. Nike sells its products in virtually every country in the world, an almost perfect example of globalisation. There is rarely a place on the planet where there isnt Nike produce available and where Nike products cant be found on any of its inhabitants. The Antarctic might have been an exception until recently, when they invented their Therma-FIT fabric for base layers and fleeces for outdoor explorers. Nike sells and markets its products in similar way throughout the world. Like most companies they use classic techniques such as television, radio, and billboard advertising, but Nike exploits one area more than virtually any other company on earth, sponsorship and role models. The formula is simple: pay a well-known sports celebrity or role model to wear your produce, or sponsor a popular team in a sport. Whenever people see the star or team in question they see the brand and associate it with the company. It enforces the if its good enough for you its good enough for me attitude and this endorsement strategy works wonders for Nike. The most famous of all Nike patrons is Michael Jordan, the worlds most famous basketball player, and he even had a range of Nike produce named after him. Other famous individuals include football players Ronaldo, Luis Figo and Eric Cantona, basket-ballers Kobe Byant and Michael Jordan, golfer Tiger Woods and runners Paula Radcliffe and Maurice Green. In fact Nike sponsors individual sportsmen and women in just about ever sport imaginable. They also make the official kits of many major teams such as Manchester United, Arsenal, the England and South African Rugby squads and many of the major American basketball and ice hockey teams. In fact, as with individuals, they sponsor or make kit for just about every sport imaginable, from socks to sunglasses, from trainers to t-shirts, on every continent. This method of marketing is, on the whole, very successful (if a tad expensive). However if a sportsman, woman or team that Nike sponsor performs poorly then it can all go horribly wrong, reflecting badly on Nikes company image. Nikes reputation is usually one of the highest quality and latest technology, being the best of the best, but all it take is a couple of high-profile slip-ups for this outstanding public image to be destroyed. When Tiger Woods emerged as one of the worlds brightest young stars Nike were quick to pay him huge amounts of money, and within months he was seen wearing Nike t-shirts, caps, sunglasses, jumpers, trousers, socks, golf-shoes, probably even underwear, while in the public eye. The man was a walking swoosh, and he was even playing with Nike golf clubs. Nike isnt seen as a classic golf club brand, like Titelist or Slazenger, but it pinned its hopes or Tiger Woods raising the reputation. Unfortunately for Nike, since he started playing with their clubs he h asnt won a single thing, and after a big tournament publicly destroyed his set of clubs. Whether it was Nikes clubs or Woods form that failed, it still reflected badly on Nike, so although Nikes form of marketing and advertising can work exceedingly well, it can also have some major drawbacks. So who are the major parties affected by Nikes often controversial business strategy? This can effectively be split into 3 groups: Consumers are subject to huge mark up prices, but are aware that they are getting a high quality, world famous product at the forefront of modern technology. They are happy in the fact that by wearing Nike clothes they are in someway closer to there sporting idols, and know that wherever in the world they are going to come across Nike products. They have huge brand confidence in Nike. The consumers are the main player in any business, without them Nike would not exist. Consumers can influence TNCs because they are so necessary to the company, what they require Nike must give them, or risk losing consumer confidence. Workers Many would say workers, especially in the poorer countries, are over worked and underpaid, treated misfairly and taken advantage of. However at the end of the day Nike is providing them with a job that they would otherwise not have, isnt it better to be paid 5p an hour than nothing at all? Unfairness in woman and child labour needs to be addressed, but at the end of the day Nikes strategy has its upsides for the workers, the consumer and the company. The real downside is that by moving production overseas, Nike is taking jobs away from its home country, the USA. There are often huge protests in Oregon by the large numbers of unemployed about the lack of jobs provided by Nike, but the question has to be asked if they really want the jobs or if the people are just so desperate for money that they would do anything. If the people dont really want the jobs, then work rates and quality may not be as high as required. Workers can also influence TNCs. If there are large presences o f keen workers, prepared to work for a fairly low amount of pay, then that could be a major attraction to a TNC. Countries/Governments The LEDCs into which Nike moves production are being assisted greatly by Nikes provision of money and jobs, and as was seen in South Korea and Taiwan, the effects can be colossal, turning them from LEDCs into NICs in a relatively short space of time. They can influence the movement of TNCs by providing grants and opportunities to avoid barriers or tariffs. Conclusions Nike is one of the worlds largest, most successful companies and they have achieved this through a ruthless business strategy, featuring nomadic manufacturing plants and hard-hitting expensive marketing techniques. At the end of the day Nike are prepared to do anything to maximise their sales and their profit margins, and its this hard-nosed, forward facing way of thinking that has worked so well for them.

Eco 100 †Principles of Economics Essay Example

Eco 100 – Principles of Economics Essay Example Eco 100 – Principles of Economics Essay Eco 100 – Principles of Economics Essay Essay Topic: Economics ECO 100 – Principles of Economics Week 9 Articles – The Federal Reserve Federal financial regulation in the United States has evolved through a series of piecemeal responses to developments and crises in the markets. This report provides an overview of current U. S. financial regulation: which agencies are responsible for which institutions and markets, and what kinds of authority they have. United States banking regulation is largely based on a quid pro quo that was adopted in the 1930s in response to widespread bank failures. The government provides deposit insurance, to reduce customers’ incentive to withdraw their funds at the first sign of trouble, and in return the banks accept direct regulation of their operations, including the amount of risk they may incur. Bank regulators can order a stop to â€Å"unsafe and unsound† banking practices and can take prompt corrective action with troubled banks, including closing the institution. There are five federal bank regulators, each supervising different (and often overlapping) sets of depository institutions. Reference: http://bespacific. com/mt/archives/020771. html Moral hazard occurs when one side of an economic relationship takes undesirable or costly actions that the other side of the relationship cannot observe. 1 Adverse-selection problem is a situation in which the uninformed side of the market must choose from an undesirable or adverse selection of goods. Congress created the Federal Reserve System to be a central bank, or a banker’s bank. When it was crated, on of the Fed’s primary jobs was to serve as a lender of last resort. When banks need to borrow money during a financial crisis, they can turn to the central bank as â€Å"a last resort† for these funds. Reference: Textbook Principles of Economics The real key to what was going on is revealed by the components of the monetary base. It consists of reserves held by the banks and other depositories, either in their accounts at the Fed or as vault cash, plus currency in circulation among the general public. The annual growth rate of the monetary base, the magnitude over which the Fed has the most control, fell from 10% in 2001 to below 5% in 2006. Nearly all of the growth in the monetary base went into currency, an increasing proportion of which is held aboard. The Fed controls overnight interest rates, but not â€Å"long-term interest rates and the home-mortgage rates drove by them†; and a global excess of savings was â€Å"the presumptive cause of the world-wide decline in long-term rates. The Fed only determines the overnight, federal-funds rate, but movements in that rate substantially influence the rates on such mortgages. 2 Maturity-mismatches abounded and were the source of much of the current financial stress. Short-dated commercial paper funded investment banks and other entitles dealing in mortgage-backed securities. Global savings and investment as a share of world GDP have been declining since the 1970s. Reference: http://vizedhtmlcontent. next. ecollege. com/(NEXT(1 e41df9156)/Main/CourseMode/Vized

Different Types of Chronic Bronchitis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Different Types of Chronic Bronchitis - Essay Example Chronic bronchitis can easily be prevented by not smoking and avoiding second-hand smoke, as well as pollutants such as too much dust. Many argue that the recurrent incidences of acute bronchitis can most definitely lead to the development of chronic bronchitis. Methods of treatment include the use of steroids and bronchodilators, as well as PDE4 inhibitors. Alternative treatments include antibiotics, pulmonary rehabilitation, supplemental oxygen therapy, home remedies and over-the-counter cough suppressants.   According to the Marshall Cavendish Corporation, â€Å"bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchi, the main airways in the lungs† (2008, p. 128). Bronchitis can be acute or chronic. Chronic bronchitis is one of the major forms of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). It is more serious than acute bronchitis. According to Arcangelo and Peterson (2006) â€Å"chronic bronchitis is a productive cough and sputum production for 3 months per year for at least 2 years, and an acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis is defined as worsening of respiratory symptoms such as a cough, sputum, and dyspnea† (p. 327).   Arcangelo and Peterson (2006) add that chronic bronchitis may be caused by a number of abnormalities of the bronchial mucosa. Chronic bronchitis patients are vulnerable to respiratory infections. This is due to the irritating substances they inhale and due to the fact that the substances are chronic, they lead to impaired mucociliary clearance. As nonciliated metaplastic cells replace ciliated epithelium and the mucous secreting goblet cells become proliferated, the result is impaired mucociliary clearance (Arcangelo & Peterson, 2006).

Sexual studies biology assignment 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Sexual studies biology assignment 1 - Essay Example Hormonal changes The menstrual cycle is determined by the functioning of four organs namely; the hypothalamus, the anterior pituitary gland, the uterus and the ovaries. It consists of phases identified as the follicular, ovarian and luteal. The beginning of the cycle is marked by a decrease in estrogen and progesterone levels. These are primary female hormones. This decrease stimulates the hypothalamus to produce Follicle Stimulating Hormone Release Factor (FSHRF). The FSHRF triggers the anterior pituitary gland to produce Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH). FSH is responsible for the release of estrogen in the ovaries which leads to the formation of the Graafian follicles in the cortex of the ovaries. These follicles are cells which cannot be fertilized. Increasing levels of estrogen cause the growth of uterine wall in preparation for possible implantation of the fetus after fertilization. This marks the follicular phase (Ferin, Jewelewicz, and Warren 5). The ovarian phase begins wi th the production of Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Factor (LHRF). This is initiated by the hypothalamus in response to low progesterone levels. LHRF then activates the production of Luteinizing hormone in the anterior pituitary gland. This hormone causes the production of progesterone from the ovaries. ... The luteal phase is characterized by the change of color to yellow of Graafian follicles to form the corpus luteam. The hormone progesterone also called the hormone of pregnancy is identified as responsible for this. The hormone further leads to the thickening of the uterus lining and increased blood supply in readiness for possible fertilization. If fertilization does not occur, progesterone levels start to drop. This decrease and eventual decline causes the shedding of the uterine wall, tearing of blood vessels and ejection of the contents through the vaginal tract. This is menstruation and marks the end of the cycle. The low levels of progesterone and estrogen effectively stimulate the hypothalamus to begin the next cycle (Ferin, Jewelewicz, and Warren 10). Fertile period of the cycle The period of the menstrual cycle when fertilization is most likely is identified as mid way through the cycle. A female whose cycle takes twenty eight days for example would be fertile on the fourte enth day. This is when ovulation takes place. The fertile egg (ovum) has a lifespan of twenty four hours and the fertile period lasts as much. The male sperm however has a longer lifespan of three to five days once released into the female. This means sperms released three to five days before ovulation can fertilize the egg. The twenty four hours immediately after ovulation however remains the most fertile period (Edin, Golanty, and Brown 170). Physical and emotional changes during cycle The hormonal variations during the cycle are identified as the cause of physical and emotional changes over the period. Studies show that contraction of the uterus (cramps) is inevitable. Lower back pain, fatigue and pelvic

Guilds Contribution in the Feudal Society Research Paper

Guilds Contribution in the Feudal Society - Research Paper Example In general, a feudal society incorporated the obligations of the clergy, the nobility, and the peasantry who were governed by manorialism system. Various discussions have revolved around historians based on the role it played in the formation of the medieval society (Heilbroner & Milberg, 2012). This paper will explore the functions, roles, and rationale for the guild in the feudal society to determine whether it can be considered a precursor to industrial manufacturing and as a basis for capital accumulation. In the feudal society, some of the greatest contributors in the system were the guilds. The guilds played a vital role in the political and social structure of the feudal society. They were considered a vital element during the middle ages. The feudal system encouraged individuals to become members of the guild since membership to the group would help them acquire a higher social position in the society. Individuals who became guild members realized several benefits unlike in the case of those who were not. Every guild either served as a type of merchant or crafts guild. The term guild originated from the word ‘gilden,’ which meant ‘paying.’ The guild members subscribed to their particular guilds in order to be considered active in the groups (Heilbroner & Milberg, 2012). The feudal society became dominant in Europe when the Roman Empire collapsed. The knights, barons as well as other nobility members taxed and took rent from peasants and serfs in their jurisdiction. To help them avoid excessive taxation, as well as avoid the various forms of tyrannical situations they were subjected to, ordinary men deemed it necessary to gather and give their opinions together since no individual had sufficient power to oppose the feudalistic system (Heilbroner & Milberg, 2012).

A Diagram For Railway Management Systems

A Diagram For Railway Management Systems Summary: I have prepared use case diagram for the given scenario. Along with the use case diagram, I have prepared specification for individual use cases. Besides, I have prepared an activity diagram. (a) Class Diagram -Staff ID Staff +Create new staff -Staff Name +Delete existing staff +Update staff Clerical Assistant -Clerical Assistant ID -Clerical Assistant Name Clerical Assistant Contacts -Join Date + Print address label +Record customer details +Print ticket and sale ticket Station Master -Station Master ID -Station Master Name -Station Master Contacts -Join Date + Provide hand to hand ticket +Record ticket type details Rail way manager -Manager ID -Manager Name -Manager Contacts -Join Date + Record time details +Record engine details Ticket Booking -Customer ID -Booking date -Booking rate + Create Booking + Delete Booking Customers -Customer ID -Customer Name -Customers contacts + Give Tickets + Give requirements + Get booking Booking via mail -Customer ID -Booking date -Booking rate + Create Booking + Delete Booking Booking over telephone -Customer ID -Booking date -Booking rate + Create Booking + Delete Booking Booking In person -Customer ID -Booking date -Booking rate + Create Booking + Delete Booking Figure 2.1: Class Diagram (b) Attributes and methods: Class Name: Staff. Attributes: Staff ID Staff Name Method: Create new staff() Delete Existing Staff() Update existing Staff() Class Name: Railway manager Attribute: Manager ID Manager Name Manager Contacts Join date Operations: Record time details() Record engine details() Class name: Station Master Attribute: Station master ID Station master Name Station master contacts. Join date Operations: Provide hand to hand tickets() Record ticket type details() Class name: Clerical Assistant Attribute: Clerical Assistant ID Clerical Assistant Name Clerical Assistant contacts. Join date Operations: Print address labels() Record customer details() Print and sales ticket () Class name: Customer Attribute: Customer ID Customer Name Customer contacts. Operations: Give tickets() Give requirements() Get booking() Class name: Ticket Booking Attribute: Customer ID Booking date Booking rate Operations: Create Booking () Delete Booking() Class name: Booking in person Attribute: Customer ID Booking date Booking rate Operations: Create Booking () Delete Booking() Class name: Booking over telephone Attribute: Customer ID Booking date Booking rate Operations: Create Booking () Delete Booking() Class name: Booking via mail. Attribute: Customer ID Booking date Booking rate Operations: Create Booking () Delete Booking() Summary: I have prepared a class diagram and described the attributes and methods for each of the classes. Task 3 Introduction: In this task, I have to prepare three different diagrams based on analyzing the system. These three diagrams will be behavioral models using object oriented method. Sequence diagram: A sequence diagram is a model showing sequences of events and interactions that happen within several layers and persons within the system. In need of behavioral modeling, sequence diagram helps to understand relevant behavior of the potential system. Following diagram shows the sequential diagram for the suggested system. Sequence Diagram Customers Staffs Ticket Booking Request for ticket booking Check Booking Info Check customer info Request customer details Give customer detail Choose ticket Confirm ticket booking Figure 3.1: Sequence diagram State Machine: State machine is close to activity diagram. Whereas in activity diagram, interactions are displayed, here the state of the different layers of the system is displayed. Following diagrams demonstrates state machine diagrams for ticket processing and providing it to customers hand to hand, to address or via mail. Requesting ticket booking Checking ticket availability Ticket not available Cancel Provide ticket information Make choice of ticket Ticket not chosen Confirm ticket booking Cancel Print ticket Provide ticket to customer Figure 3.2: State Machine Diagram Communication Diagrams: 2. Select customers () 2.1. Show customers () 3. Select Ticket Availability () 3.1. Show ticket availability () 4. Choose ticket () 4.1. Show ticket () 1. Start UI {} : Ticket booking : Ticket booking 3.2 Get ticket information ()Staff 4.2 confirm ticket booking 2.2 Get customers details () : Ticket booking : Customers Figure 3.3: Communication Diagram Summary: I have prepared three different diagrams representing behavioral modeling of the proposed system. Task 4 Introduction: In this task, I have to demonstrate the data protection laws available in the locality. Besides, I have to describe how they can be implemented. This discussion has to be practical enough in contrast with the real scenario. Some words on data protection laws: Data protection laws deal with the intellectual property of any organization. In a general sense, this talks about how the intellectual property should be protected and what will be happened if the data is damaged. And if it is deliberate, then what procedure will be used to prevent any further approach. Data protection laws in a sense is a vital approach that establishes promise to protect any companys intellectual property. (a) Our countries scenario with data protection laws: Unfortunately, in our country there are no governmental data protection laws available. Since protecting intellectual property is the major thing for any organization, organizations use their own protocol for protecting data. Big IT dependent companies across the country have their individual data protection laws. Following sections cover data protection management available in our country- Accessibility Restriction: Accessibility within a particular system area is determined by administrators, which prevent wrong persons to be in a wrong place. Any person with no prior knowledge on any advance part of a system can cause damage to it even though unintentionally. Within the area of confidential data sources, not everyone should be allowed to access. User Authentication: After ensuring minimal user restriction, establishing user authentication allows the system to be protected from unauthorized activity. A system is bound within limit; users are bound with limits of usage or activities, which lead into the necessity of user authentication. Distribution of level: This is another major approach by which it is ensured that there are multiple levels of the system within which multiple levels of users are allowed to do activity. System Security: System must be protected both physically and logically. Tickets room must be preserved from free access. Data stored should be encrypted. Disk partitions usage should be restricted to bare minimal. (b) Implementation of protection laws against the railways system: The computer system being developed can be secured by implementing one of the above-mentioned ways. Following points cover some of the ways that would be sufficient for the railway: The most usable way is user authentication method. To access the system, user has to enter the username and password. The password should match length and complexity requirements. This authentication procedure can protect the system from any unauthorized access of the system. Different level of authentication can be implied. While somebody is trying to breach the system, he may find one of the passwords, but not likely will get all to breach all the data. Level of accessibility is another approach highly effective for the new system. Administrator will have the full access when other will have limited access within their usage limitation. (c) Ensuring data protection in the current system: Testing: Testing all the security procedure potentially available and planned for the current system. Validation: Validation procedures would be set for the system. When users will try to enter the system with passwords and usernames, system will check for validity and permission limitation. Encryption: System will have the capability to encrypt potential sensitive data. This will protect data from being unveiled to a wrong hand. Summary: I have gathered information on security and protection laws and application of the laws with the current system. Possible details of methods that can be implemented for the current system are also given. Task 5 Introduction: In this task, I have to demonstrate the systems capability of preparing tickets. Along with preparing tickets, I also have to describe that how the system will be able to prepare tickets that cannot be copied easily and will be easy to print with cost effective printing medium. Besides, I also need to describe the hardware related with printing by researching available options. New system will mainly deal with the tickets. Preparing tickets is one of the major jobs with protection features from being copied. Following section demonstrates some methods by which tickets cant be copied- Copy prevention methods: In each ticket, ticket creator will give a 12 digit number as a barcode. Each time tickets barcode will be checked by checker software or barcode scanner. Ticket must not be printed on any typical paper. Each ticket will be printed on specialized printing paper that is not likely to be copied or available. Each ticket will carry individual customers identification along with the seat number. Every detail must be unique within all the tickets. Practically watermarks are given with conventional software. So, specialized watermark should be printed on the ticket. Specialized hologram is another way to protect ticket from being copied. Allowing customers to select multiple tickets of different types: There are several procedures here to allow customers to make choice from different types of ticket. In person: When station master will deal with the booking of a ticket, he will deal with a person face to face. Customer can practically look through available tickets and make choice that suits them the most. Via telephone: When a client will get connected through a telephone, then clerical assistant will provide with enough information. When customers will ask clerical assistant for ticket booking, assistant will provide available options after knowing the destination of the customers. Via email: When customers will request for a ticket via email, clerical assistant will record the email. Then he will send a feed back by giving all detailed options that are available. Then after processing all data, selected ticket will be confirmed. Printing hardware and media details: For printing the tickets, several system components will be necessary. Printers, printing servers, computers will be necessary. Among the conventional products for these purposes, there are so many which can be used here to establish the printing service for the labels and tickets. Details of suggested conventional product for printing Device Vendor Price ($) Computer HP 500 Ticket Printer HP 150 Computer maintenance 250 Application software Atlas developer ltd. 250 Power Supply 200 Printing Server 1000 Figure 5.1: Hardware details Brief details of some components: Application Software: Application software for preparing tickets and printing them on a media is customized software developed by a conventional developer. Rather than buying mass market software, its better to have one specifically made for specific purpose. This will also be a better option for security issue Ticket printers: Rather than installing general purpose printers, ticket printers are suggested to be used. Ticket printers are specially made for printing tickets. Following image shows a typical ticket printer- Figure 5.2: Ticket Printer Printing Server: Printing server is a typical server installed for printing purposes. This server is established by computers. Summary: I have demonstrated several issues on printing and printing media for ticket serving purposes. I have also discussed about the hardware that could be set to establish system for printing those tickets. Task 6 Introduction: In this task, I have to prepare several normalized table with relevant information within different levels. After completing normalization tables, I have to prepare data dictionary entries for all items included in the database design. Task 6 (a) Ticket booking normalization: Normalization refers to dividing a database into several tables to determine their relationship among each other. Data Aggregation: Serial No. Booking Type Customer ID Customer Name Customer Address Date Staff Type Staff ID Staff Name Seat No. Total. 2. Choosing key: Serial No. 3. Converting to 1NF (Removing repeating data): Serial No (PK) Booking name Booking type Customer Id Customer name Customer address Date Staff type Staff Id Staff name 4. Converting to 2NF (Removing Partial Key Dependency): Serial No (PK) Booking name Booking type Customer Id Customer name Customer address Date Staff type Staff Id Staff name 5. Converting to 3NF (Removing non-key dependency): Ticket Booking Serial No (PK) Booking name Booking type Customers: Customer Id Customer name Customer address Date Staff Staff type Staff Id Staff name Task 6 (b) Data Dictionary for Customer: Data dictionary Railway System: S5D Type: structure Name: customer Alias : Client Definition: Customer= customer Id+ customer name+ Customer contacts+ Occurrence: Picture: Author: Rajan Khan Date 10.2.2011 Figure: Data dictionary for customers. 2. Data dictionary for staff Data dictionary Railway System: S5C Type: structure Name: Staff Alias : employee Definition: Staff: Staff Id+ Staff name+ Staff Contacts Occurrence: Picture: Author: Rajan Khan Date 10.2.2011 Figure: Data Dictionary for Staff 3. Data dictionary for ticket booking. Data dictionary Academic theater System: S8c Type: structure Name: Ticket Booking Alias Ticket Booking Definition: Ticket booking : Ticket serial No+ Ticket Booking date+ Ticket Booking rate+ Occurrence: Picture: Author Rajan Khan Date 10.2.2011 Figure: Data Dictionary for ticket booking Summary: I have completed normalized data tables and dictionary entries for all the items that will be included in the database. Task 7 Introduction: In this task, I have to remark the objected oriented methodology for designing system or developing system. Besides, I have to relate my remarks with the system design that I have done for the previous tasks. Then, along with describing object oriented methods, I also have to remark structured methods. Differentiation between both methods: For Task 1: Object Oriented: For designing diagrams in task 1, use case diagram and activity diagram are used. For analyzing every detail use case diagram include detailed specification. Structured: As per the requirements stated in structured diagram, DFD (Data Flow Diagram) could solve the problems of task 1. For task 2: Object Oriented: Since object oriented methods are practically dependent on object-class architecture, here class diagram is used. Structured: In structured methodology, ERD (Entity Relationship Diagram) is used. For task 3: Object Oriented: Here the sequence and communication diagram are used. Structured: Here the ELH (Entity Life History) would be used. Object Oriented Methods: Advantage: System can be very large. In object oriented method, modularization divides whole system into several manageable smaller parts or objects. In that way, when parts are developed, they can be synchronized to make the whole system working. Object oriented applications are more scalable than the structured tools. With looking at the modules of the system, it is possible to make an overview on how the system is going to be. Disadvantage: Legacy Systems are built in structured programming languages. So when it is necessary to convert those systems, it becomes a tough job. Object Oriented Database Management Systems are not available. Since there are many choices with object oriented methodology, sometimes unexpected confusion can rise. Structured Methods: Advantage: In structured programming, system requirements are defined much before programming starts. With proceed of development, amount of necessary changes starts to decrease. Disadvantages: Every detail should be planned and structured. Without any direct link, its impossible to go in a random manner, unlike the object oriented. Overview of a system before it is developed is not likely to be available. Summary: I have remarked advantages and disadvantages of both the structured and object oriented methodology. Besides, I have remarked the application of both the methodology with task 1 to task 3. Task 8 Introduction: In this task, I have to produce a comprehensive report with detailing all the tasks that I have completed. Then I will have to make an appendix reviewing my works. Executive Summary Preparing functional modeling: This includes two diagram and one specification details for one of the diagrams. Use case diagram (With Specification) Activity Diagram. Structural Modeling: Class Diagrams. Detailed attribute and operations. Behavioral Modeling: Sequence diagram State machines Communication Diagrams. Data Protection issues: Available data protection laws. Implementation of the issues with the system. Safe ticket management: How to create safe tickets. How the customers will be able to select multiple choices. What hardware will be used to print the tickets? Relational database designing: Creating normalized tables. Creating data dictionary. Evaluating object oriented method: Advantage and disadvantages of object oriented methods. Contrasting with structured method. Report Within all the phases of the tasks, several designing and evaluating have been done. In this report, all of them will be included for a better demonstration. Following section covers comprehensive details of task 1-7 respectively. Task 1: Functional Modeling Use case diagram for railway management system: Use case diagrams are useful to understand the system from the viewpoint of user. In this part there are three objects. There are customers, clerical assistant and ticket booking. Customers request for the ticket booking then clerical assistant check ticket information and clerical assistant get booking information. Clerical assistant request to customer their information then customer give details information and customer choose ticket set. At a last customer confirm ticket booking to clerical assistants. Several use case diagrams could be set into the scenario. But one compact use case diagram is used to cover potential features of the system rather than creating multiple diagrams. This has saved a lot of time. Activity Diagram for Railway Management System: Railway managements potential activities are shown in this diagram. Railway manager will record the time information and hauling engine information, station master will sale ticket hand to hand and clerical assistant will serve through mail or telephone- everything is covered in this activity diagram. Task 2: Structural Modeling Class Diagrams: Several classes can be found from the proposed system. Class diagrams are drawn based upon those classes found from the railway management systems scenario. These classes include attribute and operations details within each of the class. Task 3: Behavioral Model Sequence Diagram: This diagram outlines the sequential presentation of occurrence within the system. By the help of this diagram, expected behavior of the system can be understood. Comprehensive presentation of all the persons interacting with the system in a flow based order; this really helps to understand the system State machine diagram: This diagram demonstrates the states of the processes. From recording time details to processing ticket booking, every state is defined in this diagram. This clearly shows the end of activity. Communication Diagram: In this top order diagram, only the main operation and interacting persons are displayed in a comprehensive and technical way. Task 4: Data Protection Issues Our countries scenario: Big IT dependent companies across the country have their individual data protection laws. Accessibility Restriction: Accessibility within a particular system area is determined by administrators, which prevent wrong persons to be in a wrong place. Any person with no prior knowledge on any advance part of a system can cause damage to it even though unintentionally. Within the area of confidential data sources, not everyone should be allowed to access. User Authentication: After ensuring minimal user restriction, establishing user authentication allows the system to be protected from unauthorized activity. A system is bound within limit; users are bound with limits of usage or activities, which lead into the necessity of user authentication. Distribution of level: This is another major approach by which it is ensured that there are multiple levels of the system within which multiple levels of users are allowed to do activity. System Security: System must be protected both physically and logically. Tickets room must be preserved from free access. Data stored should be encrypted. Disk partitions usage should be restricted to bare minimal. (b) Implementation of protection laws against the railways system: The computer system being developed can be secured by implementing one of the above-mentioned ways. Following points cover some of the ways that would be sufficient for the railway: The most usable way is user authentication method. To access the system, user has to enter the username and password. The password should match length and complexity requirements. This authentication procedure can protect the system from any unauthorized access of the system. Different level of authentication can be implied. While somebody is trying to breach the system, he may find one of the passwords, but not likely will get all to breach all the data. (c) Ensuring data protection in the current system: Testing: Testing all the security procedure potentially available and planned for the current system. Validation: Validation procedures would be set for the system. When users will try to enter the system with passwords and usernames, system will check for validity and permission limitation. Encryption: System will have the capability to encrypt potential sensitive data. This will protect data from being unveiled to a wrong hand. Task 5: Evaluating ticket processing procedure Copy prevention methods: In each ticket, ticket creator will give a 12 digit number as a barcode. Each time tickets barcode will be checked by checker software or barcode scanner. Ticket must not be printed on any typical paper. Each ticket will be printed on specialized printing paper that is not likely to be copied or available. Each ticket will carry individual customers identification along with the seat number. Every detail must be unique within all the tickets. Practically watermarks are given with conventional software. So, specialized watermark should be printed on the ticket. Specialized hologram is another way to protect ticket from being copied. Allowing customers to select multiple tickets of different types: There are several procedures here to allow customers to make choice from different types of ticket. When station master will deal with the booking of a ticket, he will deal with a person face to face. Customer can practically look through available tickets and make choice that suits them the most. When a client will get connected through a telephone, then clerical assistant will provide with enough information. When customers will ask clerical assistant for ticket booking, assistant will provide available options after knowing the destination of the customers. When customers will request for a ticket via email, clerical assistant will record the email. Then he will send a feed back by giving all detailed options that are available. Then after processing all data, selected ticket will be confirmed. Printing hardware and media details: For printing the tickets, several system components will be necessary. Printers, printing servers, computers will be necessary. Among the conventional products for these purposes, there are so many which can be used here to establish the printing service for the labels and tickets. Device Vendor Price ($) Computer HP 500 Ticket Printer HP 150 Computer maintenance 250 Application software Atlas developer ltd. 250 Power Supply 200 Printing Server 1000 Brief details of some components: Application software for preparing tickets and printing them on a media is customized software developed by a conventional developer. Rather than buying mass market software, its better to have one specifically made for specific purpose. This will also be a better option for security issue Rather than installing general purpose printers, ticket printers are suggested to be used. Ticket printers are specially made for printing tickets. Task 6: Normalization and data dictionary Normalization: Here database is scattered into several tables to determine relationships within each of them. Data Dictionary: Data dictionary is build with entries from all the items that will be included in the database. Task 7: Evaluating Object Oriented Methodology Differentiation between both methods: For Task 1: For designing diagrams in task 1, use case diagram and activity diagram are used. For analyzing every detail use case diagram include detailed specification. As per the requirements stated in structured diagram, DFD (Data Flow Diagram) could solve the problems of task 1. For task 2: Since object oriented methods are practically dependent on object-class architecture, here class diagram is used. Structured: In structured methodology, ERD (Entity Relationship Diagram) is used. For task 3: Here the sequence and communication diagram are used. Here the ELH (Entity Life History) would be used. Object Oriented Methods: Advantage: System can be very large. In object oriented method, modularization divides whole