Four Seasons Goes To Paris Case Study Tourism Essay

Four Seasons Goes To Paris Case Study Tourism Essay One of the worlds leading operators of luxury hotels, Four Seasons, renovated George V and operated it as Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris in 1999, which is its first property in France. George V was opened in 1928 and since that has been a landmark which is located in the Triangle dOr (golden triangle). In Four Seasons Goes to Paris case study shows how Four Seasons developed the diversity and adapted to French market, with the Four Seasons outstanding standards. The purpose of this report is to analyse how Four Seasons, a Canadian company adapted the big cultural difference, also to be able to apply and explain the management principles identified in the case study and the management strategies in todays reality. Furthermore, by understanding how the management adapt to become the French employer and what the company core values were implemented in Four Seasons team, in order to know how the management stand out in this process. Finally, comparing to Four Seasons years of management in Paris how does the current internal and external environment affect the managers to be more entrepreneurial. Cultural awareness, Adaptation and Management Changes Cultural awareness can be thought of as internalized attitudinally insights about those common understandings held by groups that dictate the predominant values, attitudes, beliefs and outlooks of the individual. (Adler, 1986:31) Four Seasons opened its first property in Paris and it was a huge challenge for the management to go into the local. According to the case study, French is characterized by cultural researchers as having Polychromic Culture, which means they consider the importance of human relationships and they prefer building lifetime relationships. On the contrary, Americans are much more easygoing to develop short-term relationships. French do different tasks at the same time usually, but their attention can be taken away very easily. Additionally, the management explained that there is simply an incredible pride in being French and the French have a very emotional way of doing things. They cannot keep the standards and do not respect the Golden rules as it is too American as well as changing plans often because their decisions sometimes are unpredictable and not based on any reasons. For the management has to adjust to the French regulations especially in labor policy regarding to the staff working hours and conditions. David Crowl, noted that each hotel is tailor made and adapted to its national environment. Four Seasons have learned across borders from different countries and properties, trying to incorporate the native elements inside the property. Richey, the president of Richey International, which was hired to audit service quality and he felt that Four Seasons adapted to the local market very successfully from a design perspective at the first place. Also they understand the national idiosyncrasies, business culture and labor laws in order to become a French employer. Besides, Four Seasons hired Didier Le Calvez to be the General Manager of George V. He had 25 years working experience outside France and he acquired patience and tolerance to prepare the hotel opening. Four Seasons had assigned a 35-person task force which composed of experienced Four Seasons staff to help Le Calvez and his teams, to be Four Seasonize as well as making sure that the opening will be succeed. It helps to establish norms, attitudes and beliefs by reflecting the operating needs and is a good way for communicating the right information to all staff. In addition, the management implemented the 35-hour workweek at George V in order to meet the spirit of French law. Besides, starting direct line meeting for General Manager with managers, supervisors and employees in groups of 30 once a month, in order to promote communication and address the problems. It is very important for staff to be aware of different national and organizational culture because management is a process of coordinating work activities with the management skills in order to complete the work efficiently and effectively with and through people. (Robbins and Decenzo, 2008) It enables to work well with other people both in a group and individually, as hospitality is a people industry and about interaction with people from different culture, language and beliefs, communication can be improved by developing and understanding the cultural awareness Besides, a successful management for today should be able to be flexible, create ethical work environments and exhibit entrepreneurial skills when facing the changes. As we are not all the same and everyone is unique, we have to recognize the similarities and differences of each individual us, in order to achieve the same goal for the company. Instilling the Core values into the team Core values are operating  philosophies or  principles  that guide an organizations internal conduct as well as its  relationship  with the external world. (businessdictionary.com, 2010)   It is important for stakeholders of the organization because it is a performance guide and clarification of what behaviour and attitude should be performed. According to Sharp, founder and CEO of Four Seasons, he mentioned that the reason for their success is no secret. It comes down to one single principle that transcends time and geography, religion and culture. Its the Golden Rule the simple idea that if you treat people well, the way you would like to be treated, they will do the same. (Fourseasons.com, 2010) Sharp emphasized that The Golden Rule is the key to the success of the firm. It is not only a positive belief that provides consistently exceptional service and just for you to the guests, but also is a monitor to the employees and helps to shape relationships between the guests and staff. Base on the Golden Rule, the management needs to stand out by directing the activities of other people in the company with the functions of management, which is a process have generally been condensed to the basic four: planning, organizing, leading and controlling (Robbins and Decenzo, 2008:7) Planning It is a process to establish an overall strategy for achieving the goal of organization and helps to remind the staff what is the most important. (Robbins and Decenzo, 2008). The management mentioned the Four Seasons is a family and completes with rules, traditions and tough love. In order to provide consistently exceptional just for you, the Golden Rule was established to guide the family. The behaviour of all staff over the world were expected to follow the seven Four Seasons Service Culture Standards (Refers to Appendix I), Departmental Sample Core Standards and Four Seasons Goals, Beliefs and Principles. (http://www.fourseasons.com/about_us/service_culture) They are the foundation of the organizational goals and it shapes the relationships between staff and guests, as well as enriches the service culture. Organizing Structure of the Organization The responsibility of the general manager is supervising the day-to-day operations of the property and the regional management structure of the company (Refers to Appendix II) is the most important of its ability to maintain and deliver the highest and most consistent service standards in a cost-effective manner. Hire the right person with right attitude Four Seasons is trying to look deep inside of the applicants in the selection process in terms of finding the potential employees with right attitude. Refer to Frederick Taylor, the father of scientific management believed that increased efficiency could be achieved by selecting the right people for the job and training them to do it precisely in the one best way. Hire the right person with right attitude and proper training, not only increasing the strength of the property, but also controlling relationship between input and output in order to minimize the resource costs. Leading When managers motivate employees, direct the activities of others, select the most effective communication channel, or resolve conflicts among members, they are leading. (Robbins and Decenzo, 2008:8) Le Calvez, carried out some programs for motivation such as the invitation to the employees and their families for an open event about three times a year, in order to break down the barriers and remind them the pleasantness of working. Furthermore, achievement was celebrated by launching employee-of-the-month and employee-of-the-year programs to let the staff understand the recognition and the work speaks for them. Controlling The basic controlling process is the responsibility for monitoring, comparing and correcting. (Robbins and Decenzo, 2008) The management of Four Seasons hired both external and internal auditors to audit and evaluate the service quality. It is very essential because the standards of Four Seasons are the foundation for all our properties and it is based on which we build according to a senior manager noted. Therefore, the top management team gathers every morning for reflection and reviews in order to go over the mistakes, which have been done unprofessional and comparing to the companys goal and service standards, then identify and address the problem for improvement. How does Current Internal and External Environment affect managers to become more entrepreneurial Compared to the year of Four Seasons management, it is very important for the current managers to be more innovative and creative, as well as flexible in order to become entrepreneurial to both change and adapt the changes. Current Internal Environment Analysis Management Change Le Calvez worked with Four Seasons for 18 years and 8 years General Manager and Vice President in George V, he joined Shangri-La in 2007. He was credited for the renovation and his leadership while facing the adaptation and challenges. In my opinion, it effected the work motivation of the managers but they should be able to adapt the changes all the time. The hotels culture is embodied in the General Manager, An F.S. George V manager noted and it is a opportunity to establish innovative ideas and new promotional strategy in order to create a new hotels culture. Ownership Four Seasons agreed to be taken private in 2007 and was sold to the companys chief executive officer Sharp, as well as investment companies, one is Microsoft founder and Chairman, Bill Gates and the other by the owner of Fairmont Hotels Resorts, Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, the prince owned around 20% of Four Seasons already. (Usatoday.com, 2007) Gates and Prince Alwaleed invested on Four Seasons and there are opportunities to expand the Four Seasons and increase market share in other countries, where is the needs of luxury hotels and resorts. In this case the managers should work ambitious and pre-active to do market research in order to get the chance of promotions and working in another country. Current External Environment Analysis Political There are more upcoming infrastructure including convention centres, highway, mobile portal and urban planning. Furthermore, Paris is strongly promoted as a sustainable tourism destination as long as global warming becomes serious. It is also the new trend to being green in these few years, hence it provides the opportunity to explore Paris in eco-friendly way and helps to create an image of Paris is a green capital (parisinfo.com, 2010) As the French government promotes Paris as a green destination and it is part of the trend of tourism, the managers can create eco-friendly offerings and policies in order to enrich the reputation of Four Season through this opportunity. Economical Even with a tax rate of 43% in 2008, France is the fifth most attractive place to start a business. (industryweek.com, 2010) Therefore, the goods price in France is very stable as inflation rate is about 0.9 2% in these 5 years. The GDP contracted 2.1% in 2009 due to the financial crisis and there was world tourism collapse because of the Iceland volcano eruption in first quarter of 2010. Hence, there is a big lost since tourism is the largest income in Paris. Paris is the capital and gathers with most of the culture and technology of France, the manager can through this opportunity to more establish innovative conference package and facilities as well as eco-friendly meeting offer to fulfil the new demands. On the other hand, the managers can learn how and what to do during the financial crisis especially know what strategy to do when the hotel was in low occupancy rate and how to reduce the extra costs and arrange the work schedule properly in order to survive in bad financial situation. Socio Cultural Paris is well-known as a floury city but full of artistic and cultural atmosphere. There are 25,000 artists living and working in Paris because of its historic and romantic atmosphere. (Hurriyetdailynews.com, 2010) The managers will increase the cooperation with company which provides luxury city tour service as well as the training of the concierge service since the tourists come to Paris mostly for culture and sightseeing in order to create more revenue base on the advantage of the location and outstanding service. Technological France Telecom Group Orange Business Services and Disneyland Paris have built the wireless bar code of mobile messaging services for the visitors. (Technow.com, 2009) In meanwhile, the government is planning to increase building mobile portal. (Proximamobile.fr, 2009) It is very innovative and convenient and the visitors can access to the useful travel information. The managers can cooperate with the telecom companies about implement the new hotel wireless system in order to attract new target markets and turn it into the new unique selling point. Then the guests will be able to find the information of the property as well as the tourist information through this innovative service. Conclusion To conclude, Four Seasons  has grown effectively over half a century with the exceptional and unparalleled service. The success of Four Season all bases on a simple idea Golden Rules If you treat people well, the way you would like to be treated, they will do the same. Likewise, Four Season George V has been renovated successfully through by understanding the cultural awareness and adapting to the local market with universal standards. The successful management is not only required the qualifications but also be able to take accountability for decisions and policies, with the positive attitude, exhibit entrepreneurial skills and flexibility to create ethical work environments. Besides, the internal and external environment factors need to be recognized and overcome by the management skills. Hence, the spirit of the Four Seasons consistent personalize service will be highlighted perfectly. Appendix Appendix I The Seven Four Seasons Service Culture Standards (Sources: Four Seasons Goes to Paris Case Study) SMILE Employees will actively greet guests, SMILE, and speak clearly in a friendly manner. EYE Employees will make EYE contact, even in passing, with an acknowledgment. RECOGNITION All staff will create a sense of RECOGNITION by using the guests name, when known, in a natural and discreet manner. VOICE Staff will speak to guests in an attentive, natural, and courteous manner, avoiding pretension, and in a clear VOICE. INFORMED All guest contact staff will be well INFORMED about their hotel and their product, will take ownership of simple requests, and will not refer guests elsewhere. CLEAN Staff will always appear CLEAN, crisp, well groomed, and well fitted. EVERYONE EVERYONE, everywhere, all the time, show their care for our guests. Appendix II Four Seasons Reporting Structure (sources: Four Seasons Goes to Paris Case Study) Regional Vice Presidents Hotel General Managers Regional Marketing Director Area Director of Finance Regional Human Resource Director Supporting

Kuhn Theory of Scientific Revolution

Kuhn Theory of Scientific Revolution

Argument for Making Hemp Growth Legal Essay example -- Argumentative

Argument for Making Hemp Growth Legal There is vast history of hemp as an agricultural crop in the United States. The crop was grown extensively until its ban in 1937. Prior to the ban on hemp the plant was one of the biggest cash crops of the Southern United States. For instance in Kentucky hemp was the biggest cash crop up until 1915. In these southern states hemp was used as a rotation crop between tobacco crops as well as other crops. Thomas Jefferson even wrote in his own writings that, â€Å"Hemp is of first necessity to the wealth and protection of the country.† Jefferson's theories can offer thought on the hemp ban being lifted during World War II because the crop was needed for industrial products. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) produced a film called â€Å"Hemp for Victory† to promote farmers to grow hemp in order to supply a need for rope and clothing in 1942 for the war. The promotion of hemp led to 400,000 acres â€Å"grown† into production all over the United States proving that the crop is profitable to farmers. But, as soon as WWII ended hemp went back to the ban of 1937. The Marijuana Tax Act lead to any plant with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) outlawed to production. THC is the reason that hemp is no longer available to American farmers. The chemical THC in marijuana makes people â€Å"high† when it is smoked. The levels of THC in hemp are so minuet (one percent) that the plant can not be used as a hallucinogen. In order for a plant, such as marijuana, to work as a hallucinogen it must contain at the least four percent THC. When you hear the word hemp what is your first thought? If it is marijuana then you are mistaken. Hemp, the plant that is grown for agricultural and indu... ...om 5.) http://equalrights4all.us/CMS/index.php Works Cited Alden, Dave M., Phillip W. Gay, and John R. Proops. "Industrial hemp's double dividend: a study for the USA." Ecologial Economics 25 (1998): 291-301. Bennett, Michael, and Randall T. Fortenbery. "Opportunities for Commercial Hemp Production." Review of Agricultural Economics 26 (n.d.): 97-117. Fryxell, Gerald E., Marinilka Kimbro, and Terri Mottershead. "The Boston Trading and Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (HK): Hemp,." Asian Case Research Journal 5 (2001): 203-226. 3 Mar. 2004 78175>. Hemp and Marijuana: Myths & Realities. Comp. Dr. David P. West. Vers. 1. 1994. University of Madison. 3 Mar. 2005 . Hightower, Jim. "High on Hemp ." Humanist 64 (2004): 4-6.

Discuss how the historical, political and social setting of Harper Lees :: English Literature

Discuss how the historical, political and social setting of Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird contributes to the fears that are present in Maycomb County. "Maycomb County had recently been told that it had nothing to fear but fear itself." (Scout Finch, Chapter 1, 'To Kill a Mockingbird'). 'To Kill A Mockingbird' is set in a small town in Maycomb County, Alabama, in the 1930s, which was a dark period in time for America as it had been hit by the Depression. Up until 1929, America had been doing very well, becoming a much richer country. However in 1929 when stocks had soared to an all time high, in September they plummeted. This day in history is known as Black Thursday and is remembered as the Wall Street Crash of '29. The crash hit people's interests hard and Americans all over lost a lot of money. Banks had to spend all of the money they had on regaining the economy, and agricultural needs were ignored, and didn't seem as important as other things like industry. Landowners had let out land to farmers to grow crops in, and when the Wall Street Crash hit them, they wanted to regain their land, as it was all they had. Therefore, the crash hit farmers the most and the Deep South was hit very badly because so many people were farmers by trade. There were many black people in the South of America, especially Alabama, and there was great racial hatred between them and the white communities. The Civil War from 1861-1865 between the North of America who wanted the abolition of slavery, and the South who wanted to keep slavery resulted in victory by the North, and slavery was later abolished. The South had lost its pride, and this was the reason for the racial hatred. Black people were thought to be inferior to white people and in the 1960s when the novel was written, black communities were rioting and causing disturbances to get across the point that they were not inferior to white people. After Abolition Black people were terrorised by the Ku Klux Klan, who would burn them, rape the women, and torture the children and the reader is shown an example of this in Chapter 15 where a group of white people, go to the county jail to terrorise Tom Robinson. Maybe this hatred for the Negroes wasn't hatred after all, but brought about by fear. As slavery had been abolished, black people were entitled to the same rights as white people, however they were still ostracised by white people because of their colour.

Incarceration of African American Males Essay

Introduction The trend of African American males between the ages of 25 and 29 has seen a dramatic increase of incarceration. Attention has been focusing on areas of housing, education, and healthcare but the most prominent problem for African American males is the increase in the incarceration rate. African American males between the ages of 25 and 29 incarceration rate has been thought, by many, to be caused by economic factors such as under employment or unemployment, poor housing, lack of education, and lack of healthcare. Yet, others believe it is due to the imbalance of minorities within the criminal justice system, such as judges, lawyers, and lawmakers. This paper will explore two different outlooks; society has come up with so far, as to why African American Males between the ages of 25 and 29 are increasingly incarcerated. Finally, the information will give awareness to the problems that is faced by African American Males between the ages of 25 and 29. Prevalence – Problem 1 More than 40% of all American prisoners, men and women, are African American men, yet they make up just 13% of the U. S. male population (Roberts, 2004). This statistic does not include those African American men who are in local jails nor does it include those African American men under custodial supervision (Table 2). They enter the state and federal prison system, at the prime of their economic and reproductive lives and yet they exit prison behind both economically and socially. The high rate of incarceration among African Americans has been noted by the interconnection of poor economy, lack of affordable housing, mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence, absence of a strong black male role model, lack of access to education, or some type of combination of these factors. Statistics don’t even give African American males a good chance to stay out of jail. They have a one in four chance of being incarcerated, while Hispanic American males have a one in six chance, and white males only have a one in twenty three chance of incarceration. The color of African Americans sets them apart and makes them targetable. Prevalence – Problem 2 There is evidence, in our American Justice System, of structural inequality as seen in the percentages of minorities to the percentage of majorities employed in high ranking positions, within the system. The percentage of United States judges by race are 79% Caucasian, 12% African American, and 2% Hispanics American (Federal Judicial Center, 2012), as for the thousands of lawyers in the United States it is approximate of 3% are African American (National Law Group, 2010-2011), and about 1 in 4 police officers are members of a racial or ethnic minority in 2007 (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2013). An investigation into racial profiling showed that African American and Hispanic American offenders, who often are young unemployed males, are more likely than their white counterparts (Spohn, C., 2000). Their prison sentences are also typically longer or they receive differential benefits from guideline departures than do similarly situated white offenders (Spohn, C. , 2000). We must acknowledge the problems of racial disparity within the criminal justice system, communicate racial disparity within the criminal justice system with those we who are not informed of the problem, and stay committed to changing racial disparity within our justice system for change to begin. Causes In researching the high rate of incarceration in America it is more likely than not that the increase in African American Males being incarcerated is due to the War on Drugs (Table 1). It is public knowledge that drug crime ranks high among the effects of poverty. These poor neighborhoods not only endure crime they have poor schools, poor food, cramped living areas, and shortage of jobs if any jobs at all. Drugs and drug crime has become regularity in low income communities, arrests of Hispanics made up 55% of cocaine powder offences and 52% of marijuana offenses and 49% involving opiates: African Americans were suspected in 75% of crack cocaine cases; White males were suspected in 41% all methamphetamine cases (Motivans, M. , 2011). Decades of failed public and private remedies for chronic disparities and disadvantages in communities of color invite us to reexamine systems and institutions that provide and restrict opportunity in new ways (Lawrence, K. , 2011). The causes seem to be intertwined being poor equals, equals a poor education, equals lack of employment, and ultimately equals an increased rate of crime. Consequences The causes seem to be intertwined being poor, equals lack of education, which equals lack of employment, which equals increased rate of crime which equals impossibility to join criminal justice system. Also, many of these men are incarcerated while all the other non-incarcerated American young men are finishing school, starting careers, earning seniority at work, marrying and having children thus gaining capital. Even when released from prison, these men return back to their communities with a felony record that will pose extreme problems for them. The incarceration leads the released convict into a lower social class even if they were considered lower class Americans prior to their incarceration; they now are lower in social class standing in most instances. This leads to a poor African American community, perhaps as many as 50% of the male population will have been in prison. These incarcerated African American Males, who are in their prime of life, also are leaving half the families in this community facing such things as poverty, lack of affordable housing, mental illness, substance abuse, violence, absence of a strong black male role model, lack of access to education, or some type of combination of these factors. The community ultimately will become poverty stricken, struggling to survive, and ultimately vulnerable to the situation repeating. Solutions – How can this be changed? There are four key aspects to addressing racial disparity, in my opinion: 1. Acknowledge 2. Communication 3. Setback = Strength 4. Commitment Not only is the problem of racial disparity under recognized by society it is not being communicated effectively to make change. Majority groups needs to acknowledge racial disparity and minority groups need to communicate their knowledge regarding racial disparity. As each group majority and minority begins to become share their information with each other and work together for a common solution acknowledging there will be setbacks but with continued commitment systemic change will happen. Conclusion By refusing to tolerate disparate treatment of people of color or anyone within the criminal justice system we empower ourselves and our country. It is time that everyone including our legislators, law enforcement, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges work collectively and courageously to eradicate this negative stigma. Despite, America being known for its equal rights we are living proof that in this era inequality is a factor that cannot be taken lightly. The statistics that are surrounding African American males is astounding. We need to empower African American males with the knowledge that they have a one in four chance of becoming incarcerated. It is also important to know that Hispanic males have a one in six chance, and white males have a one in twenty three chance of incarceration. All of these statistics need to be addressed to empower each and every one us. Throughout history we have not seen a change in majority groups (White, Male) and minority groups (Women, anyone that is not White) although we have seen numbers of minorities increasing at a fast pace. Today, however, the election of Barack Obama, not once but twice, may set the new ideal of what an American actually is. As we embrace different cultures and their ethnic backgrounds society will prosper. As society increases their knowledge, in regards to each person’s differences, they will acquire greater strength and prosperity. The only issue, that can occur, will be in the short term empowering others to embrace diversity. When we look beyond short-term, focus will shift to diverse empowerment through embracing the knowledge of our differences thus making us stronger as a society. TABLE 1: BLACK PROPORTION OF DRUG ARRESTS, EXCLUDING MARIJUANA POSSESSION YEAR BLACK % 1999 40. 1 2000 39. 3 2001 39. 1 2002 35. 8 2003 33. 8 2004 33. 1 2005 33. 2 Data calculated from drug arrest figures by race provided by the Uniform Crime Reports division of the FBI TABLE 2: FBI CRIME REPORT Arrests By Race, 2006 [11,249 agencies; 2006 estimated population 216,685,152] Total White Black American Indian or Alaskan Native Asian or Pacific islander Total White Black American Indian or Alaskan Native Asian or Pacific Islander TOTAL 10,437,620. 7270214 2924724 130589 112093 100. 0 69. 7 28 1. 3 1. 1 Drug abuse violations 1376192 875101 483886 8198 9607 1000 63. 6 35. 1 0. 6 0. 7 DUI’S 1034651 914226 95260 13484 11681 100 88. 4 9. 2 1. 3 1. 1 Liquor laws 466323 398068 50035 12831 5389 100 85. 4 10. 7 2. 8 1. 2 Drunken-ness 408439 344155 54113 7884 2287 100 84. 3 13. 2 1. 9 0. 6 Dis-orderly conduct 5117264 325991 179733 7606 3934 100 63. 0 34. 7 1. 5 0. 8 (The FBI: Uniform Crime Report, 2010) References Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2013, http://bjs. ojp. usdoj. gov/index. cfm? ty=tp&tid=71 The FBI Uniform Crime Reports, 2010, Table 43, http://www. fbi. gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u. s/2010/crime-in-the-u. s. -2010/tables/table-43 Federal Judicial Center, 2012, Overview of the United States Court System, http://www. fjc. gov/public/pdf. nsf/lookup/FJC_Standard_PPT_English_June_2012. pdf/$file/FJC_Standard_PPT_English_June_2012. pdf Lawrence, K. , 2011, Race, Crime, and Punishment: Breaking the Connection in America. http://www. aspeninstitute. org/sites/default/files/content/docs/pubs/Race-Crime-Punishment.pdf Motivans, Mark, 2011, Washington, DC: US Dept. of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics, http://bjs. ojp. usdoj. gov/content/pub/pdf/fjs09. pdf National Law Group 2010-2011, http://blacklawyers. net/ Roberts, D. , 2004, Measuring the Social and Moral Cost of Mass Incarceration, in African American Communities, http://www. law. fsu. edu/faculty/2003-2004workshops/roberts. pdf Spohn,C. ,2000, Thirty Years of Sentencing Reform: The Quest for a Racially Neutral Sentencing Process, http://www. justicestudies. com/pubs/livelink3-1. pdf.

American Airlines Case Study Essay

Executive Summary With 1988 operating income of $801 million on a revenue of $8.55 billion, American Airlines, Inc. (American), principal subsidiary of Dallas/Fort Worth-based AMR Corporation, was the largest airline in the United States. At year-end 1988 American operated 468 aircraft on 2,200 flights daily to 151 destinations in the United States, Bermuda, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, France, Great Britain, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Spain, Switzerland, Venezuela, and West Germany. The objective of American Airlines revenue management effort was to maximize passenger revenues by selling the right seats to the right customers at the right prices. As the decision maker of American Airlines, I recommend introducing Upgraded Computerized Reservation System to replace current SABRE system to keep the company leader of the industry while maximizing profit. Part 2: Issues Identification Immediate Issue Low load factors for Chicago – West Coast Nature: tactic Timing: short term In 1987, in the nonstop markets, American and United competed on the basis of fares, flight schedules, and factors such as quality of service. In the connecting markets, American, United, and Continental also competed on the basis of fares and flight schedules. Once again American and United matched each  other’s fares, while Continental, with its post-Chapter 11 reorganization and low-cost structure, was the low-price provider. So, United had a superior flight schedule, and Continental cheaper fares. As for American, our load factors were down to an unacceptable level. Deep discount for New York – San Juan Nature: tactic Timing: short term New York-San Juan was American’s largest market, measured in revenue passenger miles. The market was fairly evenly divided into three categories. The first category consisted of business passengers; business travel occurred year-round. Leisure passengers made up the second category; leisure travel peaked in the summer. Passengers of Caribbean origin either coming to the United States or returning to the Caribbean to visit friends and relatives constituted the third category. Eastern periodically offered deep discounts to stimulate demand during traditional slow seasons. In September 1988 Eastern introduced a restricted round-trip fare of $198 midweek and $238 weekend. The fare was applicable for travel until December 14, 1988. American had to decide if and how to respond. Systemic Issue Complicity of Yield Management Nature: Strategic Timing: long term American Airlines broadly described the function of yield management as â€Å"selling the right seats to the right customers at the right prices.† At American Airlines, almost everything is automated because the yield-management decision-making process is too large and therefore too complex to be processed manually. Part 3: Environmental & Root Cause Analysis In the past, under regulations, airlines were not allowed to set their ticket prices at will. Rather, all fares had to be approved by the government. Normally, fares were set on a cost plus basis in order to guarantee airlines a minimum return. On the one hand, airlines had no incentive to reduce costs by streaming operations and increasing productivity. Essentially, price discrimination under regulation was based on the assumption of two distinct  and easily separable types of customers: price-insensitive, yet very time-sensitive business travelers, normally flying on expenses, and price sensitive, yet-time-insensitive leisure travelers, typically paying for their own trips. The deregulation of the airline industry has opened up many opportunities to seize market share and revenues. American needs to identify and develop a detailed revenue management and yield management plan to capitalize on this opportunity. Airline deregulation in 1979 led to additional complexity in the practice of yield management. Two major changes took place. First, the number and variety of discount fares increased. Second, airline began offering connecting service, using centrally located airports as hubs, to serve more of the traveling public and provide national service. The resulting airline environment is very complex. The following factors complicated the yield management task: (1) the demand for full- and discount-fare seats on any given flight was uncertain; (2) the demand was variable over time; (3) in certain cases, for example leisure flights, the demand was also â€Å"lumpy†; (4) there was a bewildering multitude of fare types and restrictions; (5) the hub-and-spoke system made some customers in one fare type more attractive than other customers in the same fare type; (6) some customers booked seats but did not show up for their flights. Part 4: Alternatives and Options Below is a detailed breakdown of the alternatives and options for the issues identified above. Option 1: Marketing American Airlines could focus its priorities on marketing in order to realize its full potential from a demand, capacity and yield perspective. Offering last minute vacation packages or more aggressive pricing policies for flights that look increasingly like they will not reach capacity would be another way to help fill vacant spots. Pros: a. To sell deeply discounted seats at the last minute could make additional profit. b. American Airlines could be known to offer fantastic last minute vacations periodically. Cons: a. Focusing solely on marketing in an industry that is undergoing rapid  change could be extremely costly in the long run. b. Marketing would provide short term benefits but concrete improvements by other airlines may leave American behind. c. Another drawback to an aggressive marketing focus is would skew yield management regression models, most notably overbooking. Option 2: Upgrade Computerized Reservation System American Airlines’ â€Å"store front† is the computerized reservations system, SABRE (semi-automated business research environment). All sale and cancellation transactions, whether from American Airlines reservations agents or travel agents, pass through SABRE, updating reservations inventory for all affected flights. Because the yield management decision-making process is so large and complex at American Airlines, effective control of the inventory of seats can be accomplished only with more advanced automated models. Pros: a. Increase the productivity of yield-management specialists and the reduction in work load can allow them to spend more time reviewing only critical flights thus making better revenue decisions. b. Instead of being a price follower, the system could guide the company make better pricing strategies. c. Keep American Airlines leader position in the industry. Cons: a. It takes time and capital investment of new system. b. There is a learning curve for new system and takes time to get used to new system. Part 5: Recommendations Critical to an airline’s operation is the effective use of its reservations inventory. American Airlines currently has the most advanced computerized reservations system – SABRE. To increase the responsiveness and effectiveness of yield-management strategies and to coordinate reservations inventory decision with SABRE, it is recommended that option 2 is applied. Because the yield-management decision-making process is so large and complex at American Airlines, effective control of the inventory of seats can be accomplished only with more advanced automated models. The new model is aiming at handling overbooking control, discount allocation and traffic management. Part 6: Implementation Plan Step 1: Acquire buy-in from stake holders and management. Step 2: Set up target and create budget. Step 3: Establish a team to do the development of new system. Part 7: Monitor and Control Yield management performance is difficult to measure because of the dynamic nature of the marketplace. Decision Technologies developed a reliable and credible method of measuring performance that we believe is unique in the airline industry. In order to gauge the success of implementing this process certain KPIs need to be established to compare against previous system: Load factor Revenue yield per passenger mile Operating expense per available passenger seat mile

Coffee †Espresso Essay

Coffee shop is one of the best places with an aura indirectly leading to soothing and meaningful conversations. It serves as a venue for personal and social business transactions. It is also a quite place to merely sit down and relax leaving voluminous loads on couches while taking a sip of everyone’s all time favourite, a cup of coffee. Never is it foreign that drinking coffee is by no means new to Filipino taste. In a manner of serving, at home, it is served during meal times while in the office, whether employees are time pressed or not, they always settle over a hot cup of coffee. The pleasure of drinking coffee sparks new creative blends for every coffee aficionado. With best technology ever, these blends are much easier to make for easy and affordable access to coffee lovers and to new ones. Clearly attributable to such coffee shops prestige is the good consumer demand. Increasingly, Filipino consumers are settling for a good coffee instead of alcohol on a night out. Coffee shops have become a status symbol for younger consumers and working people find these specialty coffee shops to be convenient places for afternoon business meetings. Region 12 is slowly taking the curve of global competition, with this, it is expected that its populaces join the bandwagon of total lifestyle change. Alongside of the changes, coffee turned out to be not just a typical beverage at home but a comparative substitute to other drinks offered in the market. Indeed, coffee shops’ coming into light offering coffee lovers their best products is quite a venture. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Industry Background Coffee Cocktail House (C2H) is a coffee industry. Coffee was the second world’s legally traded commodity. There are an estimated 25 million coffee growers around the world that are mostly small-scale farmers. Our country has two most prevalent varieties of coffee—Arabica and robusta. Other varieties are excelsa and liberica. In where the robusta accounts for 75% of the country’s total production, Arabica acconts for 5-10%, and excelsa and liberica accounts 15-20% according to statistics from the International Coffee Organization. It is estimated that around 300,000 Filipinos depend on the coffee industry. According to reports, coffee consumptions continue to increase. Experts predict that the level of consumption will follow population growth. Domestic consumption will also increase by 2. 25% per year. However, coffee production is hindered by the following factors: poor technical knowledge of the farmers in coffee growing and lack of farm-to-market roads to transport the harvested beans, and also old coffee trees also contribute to poor production. The government agencies such as the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry, and even the local government put up financial to conduct a skills training/seminar in Ifugao because coffee industry is considered as a priority for the province. Name of the enterprise: As for the product name, we have come up for the product name that can describe one of our special coffees. We have applied the name in Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and it was not found that it was not yet used by any other business entity yet. Business Name: Coffee Cocktail House USP: Great Taste Happens. Vision Coffee Cocktail House vision is to be the leader in the Cafeteria industry, building strong customer loyalty and customer satisfaction. We are certified quality coffee shop at a reasonable price of products, in a comfortable atmosphere, with exceptional service. Mission Coffee Cocktail House is established with the idea of promoting good relationships while sharing delicious and healthful coffee. It is committed to offer high quality products with the finest ingredients available, innovated, unique and exceptional taste with additional flavours that suits for the ultimate wants of the consumers. Location Coffee Cocktail House (C2H) will be located at the ground floor of the Fort Strip, Katipunan Circle, Fort Bonifacio Global City, Metro Manila, Taguig City, because it is one of the busiest places in Metro Manila and there’s an opportunity that we will get on the location. The location is highly accessible and visible for those who work beside the building and passers-by. The shop will be placed where there is several establishments such as mall, schools, call centers, business offices, and condominiums. Brief Description of the Project For our new business idea, our group have all concurred and agreed the best way to go about developing new concepts and ideas is nonetheless the one that complete the day of a human—coffee. So we decided to on putting-up our own coffee shop. Indeed, and furthermore, we have considered what kind of beverage that we could possibly develop by means of reinventing its taste, by making it more nutritious and ultimately breaking the way people look at it. Then it came to an idea of redesigning a kind of beverage that has been branded as traditional and existing since time immemorial, and also it must be a kind of beverage that people will love and like as well. Instead of doing a coffee alone, we came up to an idea of mixing coffee and alcohol. We arrived in this idea because some call center agents want to drink alcohol but we mix coffee on it for them to avoid drowsiness. We also consider some of the Filipinos are health conscious that’s why we came up to an idea on creating a healthy and nutritious but great tasting organic coffee. Project Long-Range Objectives: * To expand the business by having branches locally and abroad to serve the growing demands for the product and service. * To be known locally and internationally as a Coffee house serving unique and innovated flavours of coffee. * To be one of the most socially responsible business establishment and one of the most socially responsible business establishment and one of the most environment friendly business here in the country by using non-toxic materials and free pollution machineries. Limitation of the Project Coffee Cocktail House (C2H) will only hires a well experienced baristas to make a great taste of coffee and to make sure that we are ahead from the competitors. While the employees are on their work they should train the other to staff in different department so that in case that an employees will leave in some matter the other employee already know the what to do. In the initial year of the business we are not be able to expand our location because of lack of capital. Summary of Findings and Conclusion Marketing Feasibility. Coffee Cocktail House is creating a best Marketing Program in introducing our store especially in our products which caters our local coffees. Also we want to create unique promotional strategies to get our target market’s attention and build a relationship between them and compete in existing competition in the market. Not just serving them a plain coffee but letting them to realize that they’re more than a customer. Management Feasibility Coffee Cocktail house is aiming to manage well our customers both internally and externally. We are not only focusing on our customer’s satisfaction but also in our employee’s satisfaction. This store/establishment is line-type organization as an effective management structure in business. Every employee’s position is well organized from the managers down to waiters. Technical Feasibility In order to maintain the freshness of our product we get high-quality equipment, from machines in processing the products to the equipment in serving our customers and in the maintaining the cleanliness of our store. Financial Feasibility It will serve as an important factor in our business because we can see here the cash flows in operating our business. We can also see here if we gain profit or not also the financial performance and financial position of our business operation in terms of pesos and ratios that can be used in making decisions. CHAPTER 1: MARKETING ASPECT CHAPTER 1 MARKETING ASPECT PART I Introduction â€Å"Only one thing is certain about coffee†¦. Wherever it is grown, sold, brewed, and consumed, there will be lively controversy, strong opinions, and good conversation. † ~Mark Pendergrast Marketing is a very significant part in a body of a feasibility study. Where the 4 P’s of marketing is summarized here for the strategic purpose of the business. Manifestation part of the things needed to be implemented in the whole feasibility project. Coffee is had been part of our daily life. It is the first thing we did every morning. Almost people love to drink coffee and different mixes; they also love drinking coffee while chatting to each other. Marketing aspect is very essential part in establishing a business. It is said to be the life hood of virtually every project feasibility study without the market composed of demand and supply, there will never be a business the success of the business depends on the market. Objectives: * To achieve an effective marketing plan for the productivity of our business. * To be able to see the projection of our demand and supply in market. * To identify and assume what will be the strength and weaknesses of our business. Sampling Size Determination The sampling size will serves as a direction to determine the percentage of people’s demand. Formula: n=__N____ 1+Ne2 Where: n = sample size N = total population (108,769 being the total population of Fort Bonifacio with the nearest baranggay) E =margin of error (5%) Solution: n = 180,769_____ 1 + (180,769) (5%) n = 180, 769___ 1 + (180,769) (. 5) n = 399. 99 or 400 respondents. The 400 respondents will represent the four nearest barangays in the Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. The proponents conducted the survey on the nearest mall (Market Market! ) where the residents of Taguig usually always come. MARKET SURVEY Questionnaire Formulation Based on the distinguished needs and preferences about the coffee shop, residents qualified based on their demographic characteristics like age, gender, monthly income and allowance, and anything that makes them qualified as a respondent whether he or she drinks coffee. The questionnaires are collected, tabulated and analyzed for the interpretation of data gathered. Republic of the Philippines Polytechnic University of the Philippines Sta. Mesa, Manila College of Business Coffee Shop Feasibility: Coffee-Cocktail House (CCH) Dear Respondents, We are students from Polytechnic University of the Philippines conducting research on our Feasibility Study: Coffee-Cocktail House. We would like to request you to answer our questionnaire. Rest assured that your answers will be kept confidentially. Thank You. The Researcher I. Personal Profile. Name (Optional):_________________________________________________________ Instruction: Check the space of your answer. 1. Gender: ? Male ? Female 2. Age: ? 18 – 24 ? 25 – 31 ? 32 – 38 ? 39 – 45 ? 46 – above 3. How much is your monthly income or monthly allowance? ? ? 1 – ? 10,000 ? ? 10,101 – ? 20,000 ? ? 20,201 – ? 30,000 ? ? 30,001 – ? 40,000 ? ? 40,001 – above II. All about coffee and coffee shop. 1. Do you drink coffee? ? Yes? No If yes, what brand of coffee do you purchase? ? Nescafe ? Kopiko ? Great taste coffee ? San Miguel coffee Others: (Specify) __________________________ 2. Do you go to a coffee shop to buy coffee? ? Yes? No 3. How often do you go to a coffee shop? ? Every day ? Every other day ? Weekly ? Monthly. ? Yearly Others: (Specify) _____________________ 4. How many cup/s of coffee do you buy/consume when you go to a coffee shop? __________ Instruction: You may check one or more. 5. If you go to a coffee shop, in what coffee shop do you buy? ? Starbucks ? Gloria Jean’s coffee shop ? Figaro ? Bo’s coffee shop ? Coffee bean and tea leaf ? Seattle best coffee ? Cafe de Lipa ? UCC Cafe plaza ? Cafe cap real ? McCafe of McDonalds ? Others: (Specify) _________________ 6. When do you usually go to a coffee shop? or Why? ? meeting ? break-time ? past-time ? dating Others: (Specify) .__________________ 7. In going to a coffee shop, whom do you come with? ? Co-workers/Officemates ? Clients ? Family Member ? Friends ? Boyfriend/Girlfriend ? I prefer going alone Others: (Specify)___________________ 8. What kind of coffee do you prefer? ? Hot? Cold 9. Do you drink coffee with†¦? ? Frappe ? Toppings ? Desert III. All about Coffee Cocktail House. 1. In going to our coffee shop @ the Bonifacio Global City, Fort Square, Taguig City, what is/are the coffee/s you are willing to buy, interested to try or not interested. Instruction: Please check the best answer. (*) Our Unique Offering. KINDS OF COFFEE| Willing to buy| Interested to try| Not interested at all| Hot Coffee| ? | ? | ? | Cold Coffee| ? | ? | ? | Frappe Coffee| ? | ? | ? | * Coffee Cocktail| ? | ? | ? | * Organic Coffee | ? | ? | ? | 2. What kind of * Coffee Cocktail do you prefer? ? Alcoholic* Coffee Cocktail ? Non-Alcoholic *Coffee Cocktail 3. What are the *Coffee Cocktail you are willing to buy, interested to try or not interested. (Alcoholic and Non-alcoholic drinks) KINDS OF COFFEE| Willing to buy| Interested to try| Not interested at all| * Coffee Infused Vodka| ? | ? | ? | * Spiked Coffee Ice Cream Dream| ? | ? | ? | * Chocolate Mocha-Tini| ? | ? | ? | 4. Do you prefer an organic coffee? ? Yes? No 5. What are the *Organic Coffee you are willing to buy, interested to try or not interested. (Fertilized or unfertilized) **most Unique offering as being the most expensive coffee in the world yet when roasted, it exudes an almost musical, fruity aroma. It has a strong, sweet, dark chocolatey taste that is perfect for that morning kick or high power meetings. Definitely a CLEAN CUP. KINDS OF COFFEE| Willing to buy| Interested to try| Not interested at all| *Rice Coffee| ? | ? | ? | *Corn Coffee| ? | ? | ? | *Coconut Coffee| ? | ? | ? | **Civet â€Å"Alamid† Coffee from Philippine’s finest Arabica, Liberica and Exelsa beans| ? | ? | ? | * Arabica, Liberica and Exelsa Coffee| ? | ? | ? | **********OThank YouO andOGOD bless YOUO********** O†Life is like a cup of coffee. † O -anonymous Survey analysis A part of the survey which all the data gathered was being analyzed for the justification of the objectives of the proponents. The proponents purposively collect more information about the business target market and consumer. It is to understand their needs and to know their perception on the business to be built. Table 1: Distribution of respondents according to gender. GENDER| FREQUENCY(F)| PERCENTAGE (%)| MALE| 165| 41%| FEMALE| 235| 59%| TOTAL| 400| 100%| Figure 1: Gender of the respondents From above data, majority of our respondents are female which is 59% percent while only 41% are male. Table 2: Distribution of respondents according to age AGE| FREQUENCY(F)| PERCENTAGE(P)| 18-24| 221| 55%| 25-31| 58| 14%| 32-38| 49| 12%| 39-45| 38| 10%| 46-above| 34| 9%| TOTAL| 400| 100%| Figure 2: Age of the respondents From data above, 55% of our respondents aged 18-24, 14% are aged 25-31, 12% are aged 32-38, 10% are aged 39-45 and 9% are aged 46 and above. Table 3: Distribution of respondents according to their monthly income MONTHLY INCOME| FREQUENCY(F)| PERCENTAGE(P)| 1-10,000| 168| 42%| 10,001-20,000| 61| 15%| 20,001-30,000| 75| 19%| 30,001-40,000| 78| 19%| 40,001 and above| 18| 5%| TOTAL| 400| 100%| Figure 3: Respondent’s monthly income Data shows that our respondents 1-10,000 the highest percentage which is 42%, 20,001-30,000 and 30,001-40,000 which are 19%, 10,000-20,000 which is 15% and 40,001 and above which is 5%. Table 4: Distribution of respondents who drinks coffee COFFE DRINKERS| FREQUENCY(F)| PERCENTAGE(P)| YES| 256| 64%|. NO| 144| 36%| TOTAL| 400| 100%| Figure 4: Respondents who drinks coffee Data shows that the majority of our respondents are coffee drinkers which is 64% and 36% are not. Table 5: Brand of coffee they buy in store BRAND OF COFFEE| FREQUENCY(F)| PERCENTAGE(P)| NESCAFE| 235| 42%| KOPICO| 155| 28%| GREATE TASTE COFFEEE| 109| 19%| SAN MIGUEL COFFEE| 51| 9%| OTHERS| 9| 2%| TOTAL| 559| 100%| Figure 6: Particular brand the respondents buy From the data above, the highest brand of coffee they buy is Nescafe which is 42%, Kopiko which is 28%, Grate Taste which is 19%, San Miguel Coffee which is 9% and 2% from other brand. Table 7: Respondents who have been to coffee shop WHO HAVE BEEN TO COFFEE SHOP| FREQUENCY(F)| PERCENTAGE| YES| 293| 73%| NO| 107| 27%| TOTAL| 400| 100%| Figure 7: Have you been to coffee shop? Data shows that 73% of our respondents have been to coffee shop and 27% are not. Table 8: How often do you drink coffee? TIMES THEY DRINK COFFEE| FREQUENCY(F)| PERCENTAGE(P)| EVERYDAY| 136| 46%| EVERY OTHER DAY| 61| 21%| WEEKLY | 69| 24%| MONTHLY| 12| 4%| YEARLY| 9| 3%| OTHERS| 6| 2%| TOTAL| 293| 100%| Figure 9: How often they drink to coffee shop. Data shows that 46% of our respondents drink coffee to coffee shop everyday, 24% weekly, 21% every other day, 4% monthly, 3%yearly and 2% from the others. Table 10: How many cups they consume in the coffee shop? NOS. OF CUPS THEY CAN CONSUME| FREQUENCY(F)| PERCENTAGE(P)| ONE| 149| 47%| TWO| 122| 38%| THREE| 24| 8%| FOUR| 8| 2%| FIVE| 10| 3%| SIX| 6| 2%| TOTAL| 319| 100%| Figure 10: How many cups they consume in the coffee shop? Data shows that 47% of respondents can consume only one, 38% can consume 2 cups, 8% can consume 3 cups, 3% can consume five cups, and 2% can consume four and six cups. Table 11: What particular coffee shop they go and buy coffee? COFFEE SHOPS| FREQUENCY(F)| PERCENTAGE(P)| STARBUCKS| 88| 30%| GLORIA JEAN’S COFFEE SHOP| 14| 5%| FIGARO| 44| 15%| BO’S COFFEE SHOP| 18| 6%| COFFEE BEAN AND TEA LEAF| 23| 8%| SEATTLE BEST COFFEE| 16| 3%| CAFE DE LIPA| 9| 3%| MCCAFE| 57| 19%| OTHERS| 24| 6%| TOTAL| 293| 100%| Figure 11: What particular coffee shop they go and buy coffee? Data shows that 30% of the respondents go to Starbucks, 19% at Mc Cafe, 15% at Figaro, 8% at Coffee Bean and Leaf Tea, 6% at Bo’s Coffee shop and Seattle Best Coffee, 5% at Gloria Jean’s Coffee Shop,3% at Cafe de Lipa and 30% from the others. Table 12: What is the reason/s why they go to coffee shop? Data shows72% of the respondents prefer to drink organic coffee and 28% don’t want to buy drink organic coffee. MARKETING ASPECT – PART II A. Product/Service Description The product is the mean of this project, because it is the one that will be to offer to the customer, while, the service is the focus of this project, because this will complete the satisfaction to the customer. At the Fort Strip in the Fort Bonifacio, the proposed Coffee Cocktail House is settled at a 58 sq. m.inside of a three storey building in Katipunan Circle. As the business was being projected inside of the Fort Bonifacio Global City where most of the population are employees and students, good ambiance, peace and pleasing place of a House as good as a house can satisfy them, a house with different kinds of chairs, different interior, different exterior and different service that will surely satisfy the wants of the customer. Coffee Cocktail House (C2H) offer coffee mostly which are: hot coffee, cold coffee, frappuccino, and coffee cocktail and organic coffee, which we uniquely offer to the market. As one of the store’s unique offering, we use coffee cocktail itself for the store name which is Coffee Cocktail House. We also offer cakes and pastries which is good combination to coffee and also Filipino delicacies. B. Location Coffee Cocktail House (C2H) will be located at the ground floor of the Fort Square, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, because it is one of the busiest places in Metro Manila and there’s an opportunity that we will get on the location. The location is highly accessible and visible for those who work beside the building and passers-by. The shop will be placed where there is several establishments such as mall, schools, call centers, business offices, and condominiums. C. Name of the enterprise As for the product name, we have come up for the product name that can describe one of our special coffees. We have applied the name in Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and it was not found that it was not yet used by any other business entity yet. a. Business Name: Coffee Cocktail house b. USP: Great Taste Happens c. Business Logo: Many of the business man and also those who are business minded person think a lot of ideas and most of them uses a trade mark that is 100% connected to their offering, either product or service, to be able to recognize easily. Speaking of trademark, the proponents have come up with this simple trade mark using the company name itself which have a unique style and indeed an attention-catcher because of the color used. Here are the meanings of the colors and symbols that were used to the trademark that the company came up with: Cream (Originated from Yellow which means full of creative and intellectual energy) is a clean light yellow clears the mind, making it active and alert. Brown associated with the material side of life. It gives comfortable feeling of naturalness. Red is the color of blood, and as such has strong symbolism as life and vitality. It also represents the passion of the staffs. Circles symbolize unity, wholeness, infinity and protection. Pentagram (represents the house) can also be a star because of its five-points. It is a symbol of life and perfection. White Cup symbolizing the professionalism of the product and definitely a â€Å"Clean Cup† and a clean working area. Smokes symbolizes that the coffee is always freshly gourmet and also has a pleasing aroma to the nose. D. Nature of the Business For our new business idea, our group have all concurred and agreed the best way to go about developing new concepts and ideas is nonetheless the one that complete the day of a human—coffee. So we decided to on putting-up our own coffee shop. Indeed, and furthermore, we have considered what kind of beverage that we could possibly develop by means of reinventing its taste, by making it more nutritious and ultimately breaking the way people look at it. Then it came to an idea of redesigning a kind of beverage that has been branded as traditional and existing since time immemorial, and also it must be a kind of beverage that people will love and like as well. Instead of doing a coffee alone, we came up to an idea of mixing coffee and alcohol. We arrived in this idea because some call centre agents want to drink alcohol but we mix coffee on it for them to avoid drowsiness. We also consider some of the Filipinos are health conscious that’s why we came up to an idea on creating a healthy and nutritious but great tasting organic coffee. E. Limitation of the Project Coffee Cocktail House (C2H) will only hires a well experienced baristas to make a great taste of coffee and to make sure that we are ahead from the competitors. While the employees are on their work they should train the other to staff in different department so that in case that an employees will leave in some matter the other employee already know the what to do. In the initial year of the business we are not be able to expand our location because of lack of capital. F. G. Project Time Table. Project Time Table Description July 2012 to October 2012 – Feasibility Study Conceptualization about what kind of business should we study. Having a feasibility about the product; conducting survey on the location; Planning on how to promote and what is the demand and supply on it. How were the market aspect, management aspect, technical aspect, financial aspect and social aspect of the feasibility? October 2012 to January2013 – Putting-up Capitalization The proponents will be invested for the capital, amounting P 1,000,000. 00. January 2013 to April 2013 – Registration and Licensing Registering and licensing company. Secure all the permit of the business for its maintenance. February 2013 to April 2013 – Renovation of the Project Location The business location will be develops. Buying the equipments and needed tools. April 2013 to May 2013 – Hiring The company will hire expert baristas because we don’t enough money for the training. The proponents will also work as a manager to save money. – Opening of the coffee shop The store launching will start after the hiring of the baristas and crews. April 2013 to December 2013 – Marketing Program The Marketing Program will aims to simplify and demonstrate strategies that are needed to reach all its marketing potential even to exceed the potential of its market. January 2014 – Product New Ideas Having new ideas to promote and increase the demand for coffee. I. Market Segmentation A. Target market Our target market is aged 18 years old and above particularly young professionals who are working near our stores. They are the one who need our products and the one who can afford to buy our products. There are a lot of people who are passing by in our location and there are some who are just passersby. They are all are potential and target consumer who are possibly will buy some of our products. a. Demographic Characteristics Specifically it is for those 18 years old and above both male and female. Students who have allowance (from 1-5000php and above per month) looking for a convenient place to hang out with their friends and family. There are a lot of young professionals who are working near the Coffee Cocktail House. They are the persons earning 1-10,000php per month who belong to the class C to upper B. b. Psychographic Characteristics Since the target market are young professionals they are in the stage of buying what they want and doing the thing they have not experience when they are studying. They want a place that is relaxing before and after working hours. They are the type of people who are willing to buy a product that suit to their personalities yet affordable. Most of them are health conscious and smart street people looking for every benefit and satisfaction of a product to them. c. Buyer Behaviour Characteristics They are coffee drinker who used coffee as part of their daily routine. It is those people who believe that a cup of coffee will help them to enlighten and cope up for the whole day. They have that belief it will help people to stay awake for a longer hours. II. Competitor’s Analysis Purposively the proponents of this feasibility study wanted to know their possible competitor in the coffee industry especially we wanted to know our competitor within the business location. It aims to perceive the competitor’s capacity along the journey of our business. A. List of Competitors Listing and identifying every competitor we have in the market and within the area of Coffee Cocktail House. Identifying the competitor USP and why the consumers continually patronize their products. a. Direct Competitors Figaro – soon to open at the same area who offers coffee products with its healthy benefits and they have different side dishes and main courses. Coffee vending machines – that offer cheaper brewed coffee. We only have one competitor within the specific location of the coffee shop at the Fort Strip. The Cafe Puccini offering a coffee products and their specialty dish the Italian pasta. b. Indirect Competitors We also have our indirect competitors who used to sell coffee products but it wasn’t their specialization service or product. Retail sachet or instant coffee at the market. 1. Nescafe – which got in our survey that proves their being no.

Accounting Is an Information System That Identifies

A objectives and the roles of financial accounting â€Å"Accounting is an information system that identifies, records, and communicates the economic events of an organization to interested users. †1. The basic objective of accounting is to provide information to the interested users to enable them to make business decisions and â€Å"Financial statements are the primary means of communicating financial information to parties outside the business organization. †2. Moreover, accounting can give the essential information, especially for the â€Å"external users, is given in the basic financial statements: Profit and loss statement and Balance sheet. 3 On the other hand, accounting can give addition information to the internal user: for example the marketing managers, the supervisor of production, finance directors, and the officers of company. Now, I would like to discuss the people who are using the financial reporting. I had said this on the the above paragraph. There a re external and internal users. First, I would like to introduce the external users. Investors or those owners will be examples of external users. They need to rely on the financial accounting report to make a correct decision to buy, hold or sell stock.And other external user will be the creditors. Suppliers and bankers for examples. They use the financial report to calculate the chance of giving credit or borrowing cash. The supplies and bankers will ask some questions: â€Å"Is the enterprise earning satisfactory income? † or â€Å"Is the company profitability when compare with the competitors which are in the similar size? † or â€Å"Will the company get enough ability to pay its? †. All the question can be answered by the financial report. Therefore, the financial report gives a strong confidence to those supplies and the bankers.Furthermore, taxing authorities will be another external user. Because of the IRS(Internal Revenue Service), need to find out whe ther the companies obeys â€Å"the tax laws. Regulatory agencies, for instances the securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Trade Commission, want to know whether the company is operating within prescribed rules. †4 Customers will be another external user. Through the financial report, Customer want to know information about the endurance of an company, especially when they want to have a long term investment with company.The Government will be another external user. Why I say so? This is because governments want to know the distribution of financial resource. Moreover governments want to know the company’s activities. Governments need addition information to handle the financial activities of company. The last but not leash external user will be the public. The companies influence the public in many different channels. For instance, companies will make a lot of economic contribution to the society. There are a lot of person who are employed be the company. Financial statements may assist the public by providing information about the trends and recent developments in the success of the company and the range of its activities â€Å"5. Another external user will be the Lenders. Lenders will want to know information that let them to find whether their loans, and the interest attaching to them, will be paid when due. At this time, I would like to introduce the internal users of accounting information are managers who plan, organize, and run a business. These include a lot of person. First, Employees want to know information about their job.The stability and profitability of their employers. This is because employees want to know about whether their employers can sustain their salaries. They are want to know information which let them to enjoy the ability of the company to provide retreat benefits and employment opportunities. Of course the manager will be another internal user. This is because manager needs to relay on the financial accou nting report to set up the policy of the company. They need to base on the report to find out the profitability. Is the profit can sustain the whole company?Through the report, the manager can change the policy of the business company in order to gain the highest profit, for example, change the supplies which are in a lower cost. The role of financial reporting is to tell those stakeholders about the financial position and the condition of the economic unit or a business company. Because of financial report provides the information, stakeholders can make decisions about future investments Financial reporting is critical in making effective stock investment decisions. When the people do not read the financial report, his or her investment will become a gambling.The financial report includes the balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement, retaining earning statement and financial position statement. Combining all of them, will give you a clear image of the financial conditio n of the company. In order to deduce the future of the companies. I think finance market needs financial reporting. However, before my discussion, I want to introduce what is finance market first. â€Å"A financial market is a market in which people and entities can trade financia:6 source of value at low transaction costs and at prices that reflect supply and demand .As I mention before, financial reports give the financial information to all the people in the financial market, such as supplies, the lenders and shareowners. Therefore, the financial report is necessary for the financial marketing. As far as I am concerned, financial market is a fair place for trading the economic materials. Financial report will become the reference for those enterprises which ready for trading so that the enterprise can find the most suitable one for trading. Through the economic material trading.This can make the financial market more sustainable due to the cash flow through the market. At last, as I said this before: financial accounting report show all the details of the financial position of the company: The revenue and the expense. Therefore, the company can get the information about the place where the cash spend on. Thus, the company can check out whether the allocation of the resource and redistribute the resources efficiently. Take a easy example, when a company spend extra expense on their supply such as stationery last year.The company can spend less on it next year. And it is a sample but good example for the role of financial accounting to assist in efficient allocation. Reference:1. Accounting principles Weygandt Kieso Kimmel 2. http://memberfiles. freewebs. com/45/34/63343445/documents/Financial%20Accounting. pdf 3. http://dilipchandra12. hubpages. com/hub/Role-of-Accounting 4. http://www. ecampus. com/hospitality-financial-accounting-2nd/bk/9780470083604 5. http://www. ecampus. com/hospitality-financial-accounting-2nd/bk/9780470083604 6.

Anti Jerk Control Of Hybrid Electric Vehicle Engineering Essay

Anti Jerk Control Of Hybrid Electric Vehicle Engineering Essay The report details the review done in the area of anti-jerk control of vehicles. It explains the phenomenon of driveline oscillations excited due to torsion of driveline at high engine torques causing unwanted longitudinal oscillations in vehicle body. Report starts with a broad introduction to the topic and lays down the aims and objectives of the research project. The aims and objectives of the project are to design an active feedback control for an electric motor of a hybrid electric vehicle to damp these undesirable oscillations. A summary review of previous research work done in this area is presented which defines the starting point of the project. Different techniques used for anti-jerk control in conventional vehicle are discussed. Basic approach to model based control design is presented in the report. An introduction to hybrid electric vehicle driveline and description of its components different from conventional vehicle is shown. The report also lays down the procedure o f the work to be followed for the research project with a project plan. INTRODUCTION The increasing pressure of protecting the natural environment and to decrease the dependence on non-renewable sources of energy has encouraged vehicle manufacturers to develop more clean and efficient power systems. As a result Hybrid vehicles are hot topic for research among vehicle manufacturers. Efforts are being made to make the vehicles more fuel efficient with high performance and minimum CO2 emissions. Diesel hybrids are considered as next big thing among ecological designs since diesel engines are 20 % – 30% more fuel efficient than their petrol counterparts. Nowadays noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) issues have become more important for a customer such that there are very stringent requirements for noise or vibration in a vehicle. Driveability of a vehicle is majorly impacted by NVH problems and is strongly felt as vehicle’s performance during various manoeuvres such as ac celeration, braking, gear change etc. Thus vehicle manufacturers and OEM’s have realized the importance of NVH issues and target to identify the root cause of vibration and incorporate the correcting measures at early stages of manufacturing with a main goal to refine the ride and driveability of a vehicle. These days’ efforts are being made to increase the performance of vehicles and to make them more fuel efficient by using different techniques and one of the techniques is electrification of various systems in a vehicle. Electronic power assist steering system, electric active roll control, electronic differential, brake by wire are some of the examples of electrification of vehicle systems. This kind of methodology becomes more evident in case of hybrid electric vehicles where electric power components including power electronics are integral part of the powertrain. It has been observed that using these electrification techniques not only helps in increasing the per formance of the vehicle but also makes them more fuel efficient. Thus the electrification in a diesel hybrid powertrain to improve the driveability of vehicle forms the main platform for this research project. Problem Statement One of the major NVH issues in automobiles is torsional vibrations of driveline. The torsion of drivetrain at high engine torques causes oscillations in driveline. These oscillations are generally excited by various sources such as rapid or sudden load/torque change, gear change and unevenness of road surface. These oscillations cause longitudinal acceleration in vehicle structure and passenger compartment of the vehicle, which reduces the comfort and driveability of the vehicle and are experienced as unwanted jerking by the driver and passengers. These type of driveline oscillations are termed as Jerking, which is the main focus of this research.

Movie Indusrty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Movie Indusrty - Essay Example The colleges offer specialized courses where students are imparted with skills relative to their interests. Professionals with perfected skills make the movie industry more reliable (Lumet, 2003). Secondly, education enhances growth of skill. To become a good actor or actress, one needs to work hard towards perfecting his/her performance. Talent is important for an actor or actress and school only enhances the individual’s ability to take a part and be it. It assists a person to perfect his act. To become a good director, one also needs to be a good manager as they are supposed to manage the movie making process. Directors supervise everything from the financials of the casting and shooting to the actors and actresses, until the movie is completed and is ready for viewing. Producers require a good eye for detail. They need to be well trained in the arts. To be a good producer, he or she should be a good decision maker and a prompt thinker. There are other professions in the movie industry as it is in other industries, such as accountants, business managers, talent scouts and agents (Goldman, 2007). The movie industry is a billion dollar industry and more often than not, professionals give back to the communities in terms of donations, scholarships and even inspiration. There are other ways in which the educational sector benefits but these are among the direct benefits (Medavoy & Young, 2010). In conclusion, it is right to note that the movie industry has benefited most from the educational sector and will continue to do so as more breakthroughs in arts and science come about. The educational sector will also continue to enjoy kick backs from the movie industry as it produces more and more professionals for the movie

The Economic Value of Sports on National Development Research Paper - 4

The Economic Value of Sports on National Development - Research Paper Example t can be stated that in the year 2004, the approximated amount of gross domestic sports product in the United States was $213 billion (Walker and Enz, 2012, p. 149). The commercialization is rapid, income generation is solid but one contrary argument is that whether this revenue generation is equally distributed and leads to the national development of a nation in true sense of term as viewed from welfare dimension. Thesis: Interdependence between economic activities and sports have contributed to the rise in the values of various economic parameters and thus sports imparts a positive economic value to national development. Sports acts as an aggravator of employment opportunities. The fact that sports provides employment opportunities will be backed by evidences with respect to a mega sporting event in the United States of America and that is American Hockey League (AHL). Even a minor hockey team in Springfield, Massachusetts which is the home to the Springfield Falcons team imparts a positive impact on employment dynamics. Publicity perk is an intangible element which stirs up employment generation with this sport. A team participating in the AHL with 26 other teams certainly enjoys the brand value as well recognition in the surrounding market places. The local media like newspapers, tabloids, sports magazines and advertisement fronts like league standings, banners, and advertising literature and so on vehemently markets the aura of this mega event. The Springfield Falcons have around ten full time employees and during the league matches it hire additional twenty five part time employees for around fo rty home games on an annual basis. The Mutual Mass Center where the home games are usually played around 130 part time employees are hired for game nights. These part time employees are absorbed as â€Å"ice crews, ushers, ticket takers, concession takers, concession workers, scoreboard operators, camera operators, firefighters, police officers, and security

Managers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Managers - Essay Example The role of each of the four management functions in the daily managerial work is discussed below. Planning is necessarily management’s foundational function which â€Å"provides the design of a desired future state and the means of bringing about that future state to accomplish the organization's objectives† (Wijesinghe, 2011). Plans have to be made on a daily basis as new challenges emerge. Once the decision has been made, the manger assesses the required resources, and recruits the missing ones accordingly. Recruitment allows a manager to evaluate the skills of candidates through formal hiring procedures like interview or test in order to bring new employees on board so that the workforce is equipped with the competences that are demanded by the task at hand. It is recommendable to have a pre-planning session as it can prove a wonderful time saver (Rowland, 2001, p. 4). Senior management can complete a SWOT analysis before the commencement of planning process. The fu nction of organizing requires a manager to allocate appropriate resources to the tasks for their accomplishment. This is commonly achieved with the help of organizational charts that clearly depict the levels of authority and the accorded areas of responsibility. Day-to-day operations are governed by rightly marked lines of communication between the various organizational personnel.

Organizational Assessment of Human Impact Preparedness for Essay

Organizational Assessment of Human Impact Preparedness for Organizational Crisis - Essay Example History can be attributed to the acknowledgement of a fact that disasters and crises occur and the people possess a robust potential in neutralizing and overcoming them. The hazards and disasters be it natural or within an organizational structure by technical factors requires overcoming the situation as people’s lives are associated with it and human resource can be regarded as indispensible assets in the smooth functioning of the organizations in the society. The world has seen the tragic events of Bhopal gas tragedy and that of the Exxon Valdez oil spill which took away the lives of a large number of people and also represents the lack of proper emergency planning. The mutual cooperation among the organizations can be regarded as basic criteria for overcoming the aftermath of the disasters. The relationships should be developed on an ad-hoc basis through synchronized planning. There is a common prevalent proverb that, â€Å"When you hear the thunder, it’s too late t o build an ark† (Emergency Planning, 2005, p.8). The statement leads us to the formation of a notion that we should be always prepared for countering disaster and crisis situation. Possessing a formal and well formulated emergency plan will be directing towards the provision of several reactions from the side of an organization which will lead to the establishment of recovery and eliminating adversities. The emergency systems will have to inculcate with developed training components which will lead to the minimization in the loss of life, injury and that of property loses. The emergency systems possess the capacity of generating disruption defenses which helps an organization to adhere to its mission of optimally serving its clients within real time. The requirement of emergency planning is immense in that the planners involved in them will be guided by some basics for the proper execution. At the core, the

Global Issues in Youth and Community Development Essay

Global Issues in Youth and Community Development - Essay Example One of the ways this is achieved is through enhancement of local-global development themes that can be practiced locally through learning from the larger global context; this is particularly because globalization has transformed the world into a ‘global village’ (Sallah, 2014, p.6). Technological developments in communication now enables youth across the world to learn from each other and interact in real time through social networks and other platforms that are increasingly being used to enhance community development education (Bourn and McCollum, 1995, p.26). The main theme under discussion in this paper and for which an education manual will be prepared is self-enhancement of youth through small and micro enterprise. Self-enhancement of youth through enterprise is a theme that has been promoted and encouraged in the local and global contexts in many countries across the globe (Bourn, 2008, p.11). As indicated above, many programs and projects continue to emerge in both developed and developing countries across the world with the aim of streamlining the energy and innovativeness of youth towards socio-economic development (Cohen et al., 2013). Globalization and the internet have brought about the concept of the ‘global village’, this is based on the fact that is now possible for communication to take place between people globally in real time. Young people can therefore be able to learn what their peers are doing at the local level in other parts of the world while they are also able to share their activities through the sam e channel to a global audience (Sallah, 2014, p.8). This implies that youth can learn from each other globally as well as locally with regard to development of small and micro enterprises for their socio-economic enhancement and advancement of their communities. Youth self-enhancement through enterprise is a significantly useful theme as it targets the most active and viable portion of

Working with Federal Reserve's Publications Research Paper

Working with Federal Reserve's Publications - Research Paper Example 5). This paper is aimed at describing Federal Reserve’s views regarding various economic perspectives in recent times. These economic perspectives include current level of inflation, Federal Reserve’s assessment of the current economic activity and financial markets, and the monetary policy tools the Federal Reserve uses to stabilize the economy and maintain price stability in the country. Federal Reserve’s assessment of current economic activities and financial markets: The Federal Reserve holds a very positive view regarding the current economic activities and the current condition of the financial market of the country. The chairman of the Fed, Dr. Ben S. Bernanke, has argued that after the global financial crisis of 2007-08, the American economy is experiencing greater volume of economic activities. These activities include both greater production and consumption of goods and services across the country and also greater volume of monetary and financial transa ctions through financial intermediaries of the country. Disturbances in the financial markets of the country, including mainly the markets for houses, loans, and mortgages, have created greater problems in the country by reducing the volume of economic activities in the country. The crisis has created problems for private as well as public sector businesses, mainly for financial companies to increase their level of profits or even to stay in the business. But during the period of end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009, the US government and the Fed took various fiscal as well as monetary policies which have helped economic agents in the country to increase the volume of economic activities and to increase country’s rate of growth of aggregate and per capita income along with the level of unemployment. The most important fiscal policy that has been implemented by the US government is reducing the level of government expenditure. This has helped the country to reduce the level o f budget deficit and fiscal deficit. According to the Fed the country is experiencing greater economic activities in terms of greater production of goods and services and greater stability in the financial market of the country compared to the period of global financial crisis. This greater stability has helped the country raise the level of investment in production of goods and services and also in research and developmental improvements of existing technologies of the country. The rate of aggregate income is expected to catch up with pre-recession period’s rates within 2013 and the per capita income growth rate is expected to increase at the rate of China’s per capita income growth rate (Bernanke, 2009, p. 1). Federal Reserve’s assessment of current inflation: The level of inflation has been very high since 2007. Due to this consumers are not capable of purchasing costliest goods and services and hence business organizations which are engaged in production of these goods and services are leaving the industry. Again this is reducing the level of income in the country and hence the level of demand for necessary goods and service. The Fed is expecting inflation to be subdued in the next few years because of weaker level of real economic activities prevailing in the country. It is expecting to have a lower level of inflation rate in 2013 which might lead to an increase in the volume of economic activities in the country. The Fed is expecting that the current rate of change in overall prices is expected to fall to 1 to 2 percent from its current level of 3 percent within five years. According to the Fed the declining trend in prices of energy resources and other commodities will gradually help the economy to implement stricter monetary and fiscal policies being aimed at

Can environmental factors acting on organisms lead to inherited Essay

Can environmental factors acting on organisms lead to inherited changes in phenotype in descendant - Essay Example Any ecosystem is composed of Abiotic and Biotic components. The Abiotic components include the atmosphere, where air acts as a medium, lithosphere and hydrosphere. The nature of the response of the organisms to these Abiotic factors depends on the essential factors and limiting factors. The response is best explained rather by ecological theories like Liebig-Blackman Law of Limiting factors and Shelford's Law of Tolerance. The Biotic components are composed of the biotic community each with an ecological niche influenced by community evolution, succession, growth, regulation and interactions. The ecological genetics is thus, a product of interactions of organisms with these Abiotic and biotic factors with the elements of adaptation, natural selection and speciation largely influenced by the ecological dynamics of energy flow and biogeochemical cycles. Thus, inherited changes in a phenotype depends on gravity of these interactions and the potential of these factors to cause a genomic change or a mutation. It is worthy to mention the role of Ecological pollution as a potential and vital factor in this process of genomic change today. Ecological pollution is one of the vital factors causing genomic changes or mutation, which is being carried through the generations. Thus, these pollutants act as potential mutagens. ... More than 65,000 chemicals are currently in use in U.K with which human beings come into constant contact. Many of these chemicals are harmful and pose a serious health hazard. Numerous chemicals have been designated as hazardous to biological system and these chemicals pose an occupational health hazard to workers who are constantly in contact with them. These chemicals are often toxic, mutagenic/carcinogenic, causing serious diseases like Cancer and disabilities of various kinds. Even children born to women working in nickel refinery have been found to have Genital malformations. Industrial units that release toxic gases like Sulphur di oxide, Nitrogenous compounds and Mercurial derivatives contribute to air pollution to a great extent. The automobile exhaust fumes rich in carbon monoxide harms the oxygen binding mechanism in human blood. Welding is another industrial important contributor in which metal or other thermoplastic materials are joined together by the application of heat or pressure. This process produces gases like acetylene, carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, ozone, phosgene and tungsten. (Palmer .T, 2006) The gas and chemical pollutants primarily enter the human system by inhalation route namely Respiration. The deposition of these inhaled particles in the lungs is influenced by its physical and chemical properties and a variety of host factors. In the lungs, these particles produce a variety of reactions including Asthma and Cancer depending on the concentration, duration of the exposure of the particles, and degree of exposure. Even babies in the womb have been found to be susceptible than their mothers to DNA damage from air pollution, despite the added protection of the

Activity Based Costing Essay Example for Free

Activity Based Costing Essay Activity based costing (ABC) is a relative new way to allocate costs to specific processes and services. This system assures that the costs are accurately distributed to the products or services that generated them. ABC illustrates costs more accurately, giving management insight to the cost associated with certain business activities. ABC extends the decision-making skills of management by expanding on traditional costing (job order costing/process order costing) techniques. However, since ABCs introduction in the 1980s, many corporations are not using ABC, despite gained managerial decision making capabilities. Even by the mid-1990s, ABCs use has not spread throughout the accounting industry and its use is not obvious (Selto Jasinski, 1996). The following article will discuss the pros and cons of the ABC method. ABC is an extension of traditional product costing techniques. These techniques are called job order costing and process order costing. A job order costing system arranges costs for each unit as it goes through a production process. A process cost system collects costs in work in progress account. The numbers of units worked are recorded for the accounting period. These systems alone do not accurately illustrate costs incurred. Instead, these two costing techniques generally lump costs into 3 main categories (cost centers). These three categories are direct materials, direct labor and overhead. Cost drivers are then assigned to represent the relationship between the cost and the process it is allocated to. ABC provides a better map of the costs of manufacturing products or distributing services. ABC uses a multitude of activity centers, which are the equivalent to the previously mentioned traditional cost centers. Each of these activity centers has its own cost driver and driver rate. ABC identifies many different costs to products by adjusting the cost driver and driver rates to specific activity centers. This process avoids across the board allocations of cost. For example, a product, which takes up .03% of space in the warehouse, would require .03% cost absorbed by product sales revenue. If the depreciation unit requires 5% cost to replace equipment at a latter date, 5% is the driver rate for that particular product. Unit, batch  and product level costs can be determined with ABC. The following steps can summarize the ABC process. The first step is to identify the activities that consume resources and allocate costs to those activities. For example, purchasing materials, record keeping, labor, materials, miles driven, machine hours and number of customers served are activities, which consume resources and needs costs to be assigned to them. The second step is to distinguish the cost drivers that are related to each activity. For example, if machine hours an activity used in the process, then the number of hours used in production of one unit would be the particular cost driver rate. The last step is to allocate costs to products by multiplying the cost driver rate by the number of cost driver units consumed by the process. There are many inherent strengths in the ABC model. The ABC model allows costs to be allocated to many different activity centers. Few corporations can focus on undifferentiated product lines and be successful. Having multiple product lines means the company has multiple cost drivers associated with each different product line. ABC is helpful in selecting which products are successful and which ones should be eliminated. Accurate cost information is key in determining the actual costs of frequent product changes. This cost is important because costs can be a good indicator of the justification or termination of varying product lines. Product lines have become more complex. Product lines of past were much simpler. For example, the Model T Ford came in one style and one color, black. Today, Ford cars have many different colors and styles. These different styles all have different cost drivers and activity centers. ABC illuminates hidden costs when high volume sales are not present and product differentiation is. This is advantageous because unprofitable lines can be replaced with lines that are profitable. Not many years ago, labor comprised 25 to 50 percent of a products cost. However, since the 1960s, labor is increasingly less involved in the  production process. For example, the textile industry replaced 100-year old shuttle looms for European air-jet looms, doubling output with less labor. In steel, the Nucor corporation used continuous casting machines to yield labor costs of $60/ton verses traditional steels $130/ton. Labor cost today is infrequently the driving force behind costs it was during the development period of cost accounting (1930s). Instead, indirect costs have replaced labor as the dominant portion of costs for some products (Kelly, 1991). To use labor as the major basis for allocating as job costing or process costing accounting does, may lead to inaccurate decisions by management. The accounting profession has largely overlooked ABC. Among reasons cited for low adoption were employee resistance and the organizational changes essential with the use of ABC (Ness Cucuzza, 1995). Some trace the source of hindered adoption of ABC to technical as well as cultural issues. Others feel that ABC would be more widespread in industry if it were marketed better by the accounts themselves (Brausch, 1992). There are several reasons for ABC low adoption rate. Complexity is an obstacle to implementing ABC. ABC requires detailed records of the costs associated with producing products and services as compared to traditional methods. This detailed record keeping requires more effort from the accountants and is more time consuming. The complexity of ABC can contribute to more errors. ABC can require more time to check and recheck to uncover errors. ABC generally requires more effort on the part of the accountant verses traditional methods and reduces the adoption rate of ABC. Another reason for not using ABC is the increased economies of scale. Many corporations are standardizing their products to reduce the costs to manufacture them. For example, Coca-Cola distributes its products in many different countries. The product varies very little in respect to packaging and manufacturing. Traditional methods of accounting can assign costs more easily, quickly and accurately for those products that have little or no product variation. ABC is a valuable tool in calculating the costs of producing varying product  lines. These differing product lines require more extensive accounting practices than traditional costing methods provide. The information obtained from ABC can help promote product lines that managers feel are profitable between those which should be eliminated. Labor is less frequently the major ingredient in the production process. ABC addresses this concern by examining and illustrating the overhead costs associated with particular activity centers. ABC describes these over head costs more accurately and is beneficial when increasingly more complex manufacturing processes are used. Adoption issues should be addressed to implement ABC method when costing decisions matter to managers. Bibliography: ReferencesBrausch, J.M. Selling ABC: New Cost Systems Can Flounder if They Are Not Marketed. Management Accounting, February 1992, pp. 42-46. Geishecker, M.L. New Technologies Support ABC. Management Accounting, March 1996, pp. 42-48. Kelly, K. A Bean-Counters Best Friend. Business Week, October 25, 1991, pp. 42-43. Ness, J.A. and T.G. Cucuzza. Tapping the Full Potential of ABC. Harvard Business Review, July/August 1995, pp. 130-131. Selto, F.H. and D.W. Jasinski. ABC and High Technology: A Story with a Moral. Management Accounting, March 1996, pp. 37-40. 17

Thomas Hardys Essay Example for Free

Thomas Hardys Essay In chapter 6, we learn that Bathsheba has inherited her uncles farm, which was very unusual, Tisnt a master, tis a mistress, shepherd. Lately came here from a distance. Took on her uncles farm, who suddenly died. Men would normally benefit rather than a women, and landowners and workers did not view her as the best prospect for the farm to begin with, one of the reasons given in chapter 45 was, she is too young and beautiful. Even Gabriel felt she was unable to manage without him, How would the farm go on with nobody to mind it but a woman. In chapter 10, she forms a resolution to run the farm without a bailiff, the workers were very amazed, She would hopefully be better than a man in the role, she promised, in order that they will have confidence in her abilities despite her being a female. In chapter 12, Bathsheba attends the corn market. Although she is dainlty dressed she is determined to brave the stares and drive hard bargains. Nearly every face turned towards her, except for which she noticed was Boldwood who didnt seem to recognize her. Now she saw him as a challenge. Going into chapter 19, Boldwoods proposal and the promises he offers would have been seen as very advantageous to her, from the view point of the society, but she turns him down, saying she wants to marry for love. However, sending the Valentine card to him has restricted her, she has had to pay the consequences and could not have turned down the proposal fully as she did with Gabriel, She had a strong feeling that having been the one who began the game, she ought in honesty to accept the consequences. There had been a second proposal from Boldwood in chapter 23, and still Bathsheba was unable to deny the proposal, Hardy even suggests she felt a, fearful joy about the situation she was in. From then on she is trapped by her behaviour, even when she marries Troy, and when he goes missing Boldwood negotiates a further marriage promise. In chapter 26, Troy is flattering Bathsheba so much that, she becomes feverish. At first she tries to behave towards Troy with a sense of independence in her, but to the end of chapter 27 she is agreeing to meet him without a chaperone, Well, I wont bring Liddy and Ill come. But only for a short time, a very short time. Bathsheba is reacting very differently to the passion offered by Troy. Bathsheba changes she becomes powerless to withstand or deny him. She loses her sense of control and becomes the opposite of herself. In chapter 34, Boldwood pleads with Troy to save Bathshebas reputation by marrying her, which indicates how much regard the Victorian society put on a womans reputation as a virgin, Oh, How can she be saved now, unless I marry her? says as he teases Boldwood. Later, we learn that Bathsheba has married Troy. In this marriage she has lost her role as a mistress of the farm. After the marriage Troy has already started ordering Bathsheba by telling her and the rest of the women to go home so the men can carry on drinking, well send the women folk home! Tis time they were in bed. Then we cockbirds will have a jolly carouse to ourselves! . This direction undermines Bathsheba in front of her workers, but it also puts the farm in jeopardy because the workers are too drunk to save the hay from the storm. In chapter 37 we find that Gabriel is working with Bathsheba and he saves the day. Bathsheba tells Gabriel of her trip to Bath, she shows her understanding that maybe she has out the farm in jeopardy by marrying Troy but she felt her reputation was at stake because she had not adhered to the general rule of society but had driven to see Troy unaccompanied late at night: I saw that a scandal might seize hold of me for meeting him alone in that way. Now, Bathsheba is getting unhappier by the day. She turns into an emotional woman and she is no longer in control of herself. Having married Troy, Troy is becoming reckless with money and Bathsheba can do nothing to stop him becoming like this. This happens because in marriage in the 19th century the husband becomes in control of his wife and his wifes possession. In chapter 51 Bathsheba is not wanting to attract anyones attention with her beauty. In chapter 56, Hardy suggests that Bathsheba has had this downfall because she had so much pride and vanity in herself. Chapter 56 also starts with Bathsheba expressing the reliance she has had on Gabriel, and so she is upset when she hears of Gabriels resignation letter, It is that I may soon have to give up the management of your farm, Mrs. Troy. The fact is, I am thinking of leaving England not ee, you know next spring. Realising that she is now reliant on Gabriel she would not refuse his marriage proposal if he were to ask again. Hardy shows that just like Fanny, Bathsheba is also reliant on the security a man can offer her and she comes to realize that this security only comes with marriage. Bathsheba has taken on the role of the typical Victorian female, dependant on marriage for security, although the relationship is based on substantial affection. In Far from the Madding Crowd Hardy illustrates the position of 19th century women as being disadvantaged. Fanny and Bathsheba both provide contrasting examples of Victorian women who were victims of the treatment of their men. In their lives they are seen in the role of second-class citizens in need of a trustworthy man for survival, unless they can survive themselves. Womens social behaviour was expected to be restricted whereas men could have very little restrictions on how they behaved. They were even admired for some of their roguish tendencies. Hardys language as he describes Fannys plight expresses his sympathy for her, but Bathshebas suffering is not dealt with in the same sympathetic response. Her character, which was independent, has changed at the end of the novel. She appeared a more reserved character accepting the role of Gabriels wife. I think that Bathsheba had wrong treatment from men as a result the way she acted, having so much pride in herself and being vain. It was good for her to have that independence in her but maybe she felt too much of her independence, which got her in a muddle. The classic example is when in the beginning of the novel Gabriel proposed to her and she did not accept, because she did not want to be thought of as mens property, yet in marrying Troy she destined herself to this very fate.