The Great Wall of China and The Petronas Towers Essays

The Great Wall of China and The Petronas Towers Essays The Great Wall of China and The Petronas Towers Paper The Great Wall of China and The Petronas Towers Paper As Asia in the recent past has opened itself up economically to the world through trade and business, so too has it opened up to tourism and the benefits that come with this new and ever-changing industry. More specifically, the variety of visitor attractions on offer around the world has developed significantly in the past twenty years (Stevens, 2000), especially in Asia, and is influenced by a variety of factors. This essay will examine two distinctly different yet similar visitor attractions in China and Malaysia, namely the Great Wall of China and the Petronas Towers, and appropriately analyse issues such as product development, market segmentation, transportation, and the overall business environment. By comparing and contrasting these attractions, it can be seen that they overlap continuously to give a dynamic representation of the visitor attraction market as a whole. Before delving into the history of these attractions, the term visitor attraction as it relates to the management and organisation of attractions in general must be defined. A complete definition, given by the English Tourism Council, states that A permanently established excursion destination, a primary purpose of which is to allow public access for entertainment, interest or education; rather than being principally a retail outlet or venue for sporting, theatrical or film performances. It must be open to the public without prior booking, for published periods each year, and should be capable of attracting tourists or day visitors as well as local residents. In addition, the attraction must be a single business, under a single management nd must be receiving revenue directly from visitors. (English Tourism Council, 2000b:24) This is relevant for both destinations, with the Great Wall allowing public access for education, open without prior booking, attracting all different visitors as well as local residents, and is receiving revenue from these tourists and The Petronas Towers, which is open without prior booking, attracting international visitors as well as locals especially for shopping interests, and is owned under a single management. Defining these two attractions in depth, it is found that both attractions fall under the category of Human made buildings, structures and sites that were designed for a purpose other than attracting visitors. (Swarbrooke, 2001:5) As well, since both attractions are owned by the public sector, their main priorities are conservation, education, public access, and increased leisure opportunities for the community. (Swarbrooke, 2001:10) In order to fully understand these two visitor attractions, it is imperative to go back to their beginnings and uncover the rich historical development that each attraction possesses. The Great Wall is by far the most famous fortification in the world, stretching more than 8,850 kilometres across China. (BBC, 2009) Its early origins can be seen from the 5th century through to 1644 when Beijing was taken by the Mongols from the North at the Shanhaiguan entrance of the Great Wall. Turnbull, 2007:6) Most of the ancient walls have eroded since then, and the Great Wall that most tourists witness today is that from the Ming Dynasty. It should be noted that the costs of the wall were great, with a possible one million people losing their lives building the wall throughout history, it has been given the title of the longest cemetery on earth. (Noll, 2010) Tourism can be said to have been developed from the 17th-20th century along with The Great Walls fame and popularity, reaching attraction status in 1957 with the opening of Badaling. Visit CHN, 2009) Restoration and rebuilding took place throughout the 20th century for tourism development and benefits, and in 1987 was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (UNESCO World Heritage Centre, 2010) With the opening up of trade with the West and its induction into the World Trade Organisation in 2001, China has developed adequate tourism facilities and attractions centred on the Great Wall for the new, large influx of visitors including museums, restaurants, hotels, chair lifts, and souvenir stalls to name a few. (Pillai, 2010) Contrasting the extensive historical development of The Great Wall going back centuries, The Petronas Twin Towers are a relatively new attraction. The Petronas gas and oil company began in 1974, and is still today owned by the Malaysian government. As of 2009, Petronas has risen to 80th largest company in the world according to Fortune 500 as well as being Asias most profitable company. (Fortune Magazine, 2009) In 1990, a competition was held to find the best architect and design group to develop a world renowned symbol for Malaysia. Pelli Crosby, 2005:7) Developing on the 100 acre site that formerly belonged to the Selangor Turf Club, the winning architects Cesar Pelli and Djay Cerico under the direction of Julius Gold, began work in 1991 on what was to be the Petronas Towers. (Pelli Crosby, 2005:8) After 7 years, $1. 6 billion dollars, 10,000 workers, and eight million square feet of shopping and entertainment facilities later, the Petronas Towers were complete. From 1998-2004, t he Petronas Towers held the position as tallest building in the world, which ended when it was surpassed by Taipei 101. The Skybridge, which is the main tourist attraction, is the highest two story bridge in the world, and only 1700 tickets are given out per day. (Petronas Twin Towers, 2010) As the historical context has been put into place, it is now relevant to examine the provisions at both visitor attractions to gain better insight into their respective operations. The Great Wall of China operates at several different sites along the Wall, although for a detailed analysis, focus will be placed on the site of Badaling which is the most popular entry since it is the nearest to Beijing. The entry to the Badaling section of the Great Wall is located 200 meters to the North of the pass, where there is a Tourism Information Centre with an information desk offering guide maps, routes, and services all in one spot. (badaling. gov. cn, 2009) As well, the increasing need to generate alternative revenue streams has led to an expansion of the core activities in many new and existing attractions, with very few now opening without some element of retail or catering. (Fyall, Garrod, Leask, Wanhill, 2008:5) This can be seen through the entry, where the tourist will find souvenir shops, handicraft artists, and paintings, some of which are prize winning works by the Beijing Tourist Commodity Design Competition. (badaling. gov. cn, 2009) South of the pass, is the Badaling Hotel and International Dining Room that was built in 1986 by the Beijing Municipal Government and has received since then, more than 100 foreign heads of states, including U. S. presidents and the Queen, as well as nearly two million tourists. badaling. gov. cn, 2009) Some of the more recent provisions have been controversial, in that they may be changing the feel of the Great Wall from a heritage and cultural site, to a theme park style attraction. These provisions include bear pits, where tourists can feed the local sun bears, as well as the Biconvex Pulley which lifts tourists to the fourth tower (of eight) for a round trip price of 60 yuan. (Travel China Guide, 2010) At other sites, such as Mutianyu, toboggan rides down are a popular new attraction. This could be due to current trends indicating an increasing need for attractions to appeal to broader audiences and to generate ever greater levels of external income, resulting in an increased mix of product offering and choice for the visitor. (Fyall, Garrod, Leask, Wanhill, 2008:7) There are also cultural offerings on display, including the Circle Cinema and the China Great Wall Museum. The Circle Cinema is the largest 360 degree circle cinema in the country. (badaling. gov. cn, 2009) The Great Wall movie is presented on the seamless screen using the latest technology and 10 projectors. Next door is the China Great Wall Museum, which looks at the Great Wall in its entirety from its history, military achievements, architecture, culture, and art. Its main purpose is for education, with interim exhibitions and academic seminars. (badaling. gov. cn, 2009) Comparing the Great Wall attractions to the Petronas Towers, it can be seen that the latter is more focused on commercialism than history and therefore offers a different array of provisions for tourists and locals alike. Until recently, the main attraction was the Skybridge at the Petronas Towers which connects the two buildings on the 41st floor. A total of 1700 tickets were given out for free at 9:00am every morning and groups of 15 are taken up to the bridge. Afterwards, the visitor could then go shopping in the adjoined Suria Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) Shopping Complex. However, recently, many new changes have taken place to expand the attractions offered. (Petronas Twin Towers, 2010) Visit packages are now be offered that not only include a visit to the famous Skybridge, but also a visit to an observation deck on a top floor of Tower 2 and a meal at the Malaysian Petroleum Club (MPC) within Tower 2 of the building. (Petronas Twin Towers, 2010) These packages will be priced from as low as RM3 for the Skybridge only up to RM350. Sometimes destinations only develop because of one specific visitor attraction, which is the case of the Petronas Twin Towers. Thus it is said, The marketing of these destinations tends to focus on these attractions so that they are often the symbol of the destination in the minds of tourists. (Swarbrooke, 2001:22) At the Suria KLCC, there are a range of luxury shops including Marks and Spencer, Louis Vuitton, and Tiffany and Co. s well as restaurants, a cinema, the Philharmonic Orchestra and Concert Hall, an art gallery, and a Science Discovery Centre. (Suria KLCC, 2010) The shopping and attractions bring economic benefits to Kuala Lumpur, and broaden the appeal of the Petronas Towers within the destination as it is designed with a seamless flow and user-friendly experience. This is significant, since visitors want attractions which are easy to use and where as little of their precious leisure time as possible is wasted on mundane tasks such as queuing. (Swarbrooke, 2001: 166) Before focusing on the market potential for the Great Wall, it is important to understand its catchment area. World famous attractions such as the Great Wall have a large, international catchment area with visitors from all over the world coming to the attraction. Identifying the catchment area is crucial because its population size determines likely visitor numbers and because it helps marketers to decide where to place advertisements for the attraction. (Swarbrooke, 2001:77) As well, the importance of catchment areas is pertinent as unlike commodities, the product offer has to be consumed at the place of production. (Fyall, Garrod, Leask, Wanhill 2008:349) However, while the international market is important, it is crucial to understand that domestic market potential is far greater than the international inbound market. This is due to the introduction of Golden Weeks, an improving economy, and a rise in the middle class- mainly higher income urbanites. (Mintel, 2010) To demonstrate this increase, the tourism sector has risen by 9% in revenue in 2009, and is looking to achieve an increase of 14% in 2010. (International Herald Tribune, 2010) Although leisure travel is a fairly new concept to the Chinese, as the economy grew in the 1990s, domestic trips grew 54% from 1996-2006. (IHT, 2010) The year 1999 saw the introduction of the Golden Weeks holidays aimed to increase domestic tourism. These weeks included the Lunar New Year (January-February), the National Holiday (October), and the government is looking to reinstate Labour Day Holiday (May). (Mintel, 2010)

The Problems of Pollution essays

The Problems of Pollution essays I think that pollution is a serious and growing problem throughout the world today. Pollution is the contamination of the earths environment with materials that interfere with human health, the quality of life, and natural functioning of living things and their surroundings. Although some environmental pollution is a result of natural causes, most of it is caused by human activities; therefore I believe that humans have created a problem which should be taken care of before other things. There are two main categories of polluting materials, or pollutants, biodegradable and nondegradable. Biodegradable pollutants are materials, such as sewage, that rapidly decompose by natural processes. These pollutants become a problem when added to the environment faster than they can decompose. Nondegradable pollutants are materials that either do not decompose or decompose very slowly into the natural environment. Once contamination occurs, it is difficult or impossible to remove these pollutants from the environment. Pollution has a dramatic effect on natural resources. Ecosystems such as forests, wetlands, coral reefs, and rivers perform many important services for the earths environment. They enhance water and air quality, provide habitat for plants and animals, and provide food and medicines. Any or all of these ecosystem functions may be seriously impaired or destroyed by pollution. Moreover, because of the complex relationships among the many types of organisms and ecosystems, environmental contamination may have far-reaching consequences that are not immediately obvious or easy to predict. For example, the use of aerosols, which contain chemicals called CFCs, can damage the ozone layer. Destruction of the ozone layer is predicted to cause increases in skin cancer and cataracts, damage to certain crops and to plankton and the marine food web, and an increase in carbon dioxide due to the decre ...

Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Research Paper Example I will the use the comparison to explain the low and slow adoption Rate of Windows 8 in the Enterprise. Ultimately, I will use the benefits of each version to show how they affect perceived usefulness and perceive ease-to-use. The Technology Adoption Model (TAM) refers to an information system, which depicts how users accept and adopt technological innovations. TAM establishes various factors, which determine how and when users will adopt new technology. The named factors include the perceived ease-to-use and the significance of the new technology (Furneaux, 2006). Any new technology should be easy to use and able to enhance performance. In this context, Microsoft 8 should have an operating system that satisfies these factors. However, Microsoft 8 has many failures and has an operating system that has low perceived ease-to-use and little significance. As such, it does not satisfy the TAM factors and hence enterprise will not be considering moving to Windows 8. Indeed, Windows 8 does not meet the needs of Microsoft users. Windows Vista operating system is applicable on personal computers. It entails built-in accessibility settings and programs that enhance its usability in a computer. Indeed, the accessibility settings and programs are ease-of-use features, which enhance hearing and seeing thus enabling users with visual, cognitive, and hearing difficulties to use personal computers (Microsoft, 2013). Additionally, the availability of the Ease of Access Center in Windows Vista promotes the access and use of this version through improving the speech recognition and magnification capabilities (Microsoft, 2013). Additionally, Windows Vista Aero Glass and the updated graphical user interface also improved the usability of Windows Vista. The highlighting within the minimizing, maximizing, and exiting buttons for all applications improved the ease-of-use in this Microsoft version (Microsoft, 2013). As such, Windows Vista has significant change of usability and ease-of -use. However, there are other changes in the user interface, which seemingly make no sense. Overall, the above technological aspects amount to benefits, which improve the perceived usefulness and perceived ease-to-use of Windows Vista. Windows 7 has improved usability and ease-of-use, which depicts through the accessibility options and programs that makes usability easier. It also allows for the personalization of a PC by allowing changes in the PC’s colors, font size, and sounds (Microsoft, 2013). Windows 7 has a magnifier that enlarges item of the screen and an On-Screen Keyboard that makes it easier to use a computer (Microsoft, 2013). Additionally, Windows 7 encompasses innovation of speech recognition and touch technology that equally improves usability. More so, Microsoft users can enjoy speech recognition in Windows 7, which enables them to command and dictate any application in a computer (Micro

The recent Supreme Court decision allowing large corporations to run Essay

The recent Supreme Court decision allowing large corporations to run their own political ads - Essay Example However, just before the crucial 2010 midterm congressional election period, this law was partly upended by the United States Supreme Court. In the case of Citizens United versus Federal Election Commission, the Supreme Court, by a 5-4 votes, ruled that corporations and unions were constitutionally allowed to spend as much money as they can on campaign ads supporting particular candidates (Francia 16). However, the corporations were still prohibited from donating money directly to campaigns. Ever since its ruling, the court’s decision to allow large corporations run their own ads has received mixed reactions among politicians, scholars, lawyers and the rest of the citizens. Whereas some people have been in favor of the ruling, others have strongly contested the decision, terming it a threat to democracy (Carney 2). Those against the ruling argue that the decision favors republicans, threatens democracy and allows for election interference by the corporations, as they can now r un their own ads in support of a specific candidate (Kosterlitz 5). However, this is just fear of unknown. For as much as the ruling might have negative implications on the federal elections, these arguments are not true and, as far as I am concerned, the decision will not have drastic effects on the politics of the United States of America, especially the elections. Therefore, to arrive at the conclusion that the ruling will not threaten the democracy of this nation but actually help it, this paper will make several observations. First, the argument that the court’s ruling greatly favors republicans is not true because, as opposed to the previous years, nowadays most large corporations hedge their bets and give donations to both parties. In fact, they give donations to whoever is in power, or possibly going to be (Carney 2). This explains why the Obama campaigns were able to do so well. All the funds used in the campaign did not only come from individuals, a huge portion cam e from large corporation, that is, their PACs. Therefore, the ruling will not favor republicans, but it will favor the most promising or prominent party. Secondly, the claim that large corporations will greatly dominate or interfere with the politics of the country is perplexing (Carney 2). For quite a long time even before the ruling, large corporations, such as New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today and The Wall Street Journal, among others, have had the ability to further their political needs. Under the political action committees (PACs), they have been given the permission to support and donate to political parties or candidates. Moreover, most unions or corporate lobbyist PACs have been running ads about various issues or in support of various candidates. Therefore, it a fact that this ruling will not change the politics or the election of the country, but it will just eliminate the middleman, PACs (Carney 2). Finally, the ruling is good for small businesses because it could promote free market competition. Previously, before the court’s ruling, small businesses could not compete effectively with the large corporations because they had no PACs and lacked money to give to powerful lobbyists, who had PACs, to act on their behalf. Large corporations, such as Wal-Mart, had great influence on political issues of the country and, thus, received favors from the political divine, leaving the small firms to deteriorate further and go out of business. However, with the ruling, the small firms

A Good Man Is Hard to Find Essay Example for Free

A Good Man Is Hard to Find Essay One might think that Grandmothers are sweet and loving, and often innocent due to their advanced age and condition. We, as society, think of them as great examples of people that radiate love, mentors, and defenders of morality and good manners. However, this is not the case in A Good Man Is Hard to Find, by Flannery O’Connor. As the story unfolds, her personality reflects that hidden evil we all carry inside and how detouring on a route takes a whole family to face disastrous consequences, yet one person finds redemption from that evil. A Good Man Is Hard to Find is a story that symbolizes redemption, because there is a sinner, there is a journey, and there is redemption. In our society we tend to minimize, and sometimes erase the word â€Å"sin† because, for the most part, it bothers people’s conscience. Although the word â€Å"sin† is not explicitly exposed in the story A Good Man is Hard to Find, the action and consequences of sin are vividly present throughout the story, in all the characters, especially the Grandmother. The main character and sinner in the story is the Grandmother because she is described as an egocentric person, since the situation they face is that they are all captives of the serial killer, â€Å"The Misfit†, and she bargains for her life only. The grandmother said, â€Å"You wouldn’t shoot a lady, would you? † (Flannery O’Connor 313). This is an obvious example of how she doesn’t stop to think about the rest of her family. In addition, one might think that in various occasions the Grandmother makes simple comments that compare different times of her life, the present and how things used to be. On the other hand, Grandmothers’ comments represent the comparison between the dark past of society and the reality that it hasn’t changed much. During the trip, Grandmother makes a comment that reflects her comparisons; she said â€Å"In my time, children were more respectful of their native states and their parents and everything else. People did right then† (Flannery O’Connor 308). In the same scene, Grandmother contradicts herself by saying, â€Å"Little niggers in the country don’t have things like we do. If I could paint, I’d paint that picture,† (Flannery O’Connor 308). No argument, she is a barefaced hypocrite. Furthermore, the way she dressed to go on a road trip, as the author describes the grandmother, â€Å"Had on a navy blue straw sailor hat with a bunch of white violets on a brim and a navy dress with a small white dot on print. †(Flannery O’Connor 307). Also, her jewelry â€Å"her collars and cuffs where white organdy trimmed with lace and her neckline she had pinned a purple spray of cloth violets containing a sachet. (Flannery O’Connor 307). Her exaggerated outfit, plus the extreme jewelry for a road trip reflects her ego and her desire to be noticed as a lady. Whether one believes in God, or not, we all embark on the journey of life, in which we experience an inner transformation. Any journey has a destination; however, decisions made during the trip may alter the destination and its outcome. Flannery O’Connor uses the road trip to represent the pilgrimage Grandmother and her family must go through. Since the beginning of the trip, Grandmother took unnecessary stuff, â€Å"her big black valise that looked like a head of a hippopotamus†, and her mascot â€Å"Pitty Sing, the cat† (Flannery O’Connor 307), knowing that this action will incommode the family and eventually be a factor of the cause of the accident. One might think that the baggage represents only inconvenience; nonetheless, this represents ones’ regrets or transgressions that haven’t been forgiven nor forgotten. During the trip, the Grandmother makes an important remark about her past when she used to date Mr. Teagarden by saying, â€Å"She would of have done well to marry Mr. Teagarden because he was a gentleman and had bought Coca-Cola stock when first came out and that he had died only a few years ago, a very wealthy man. † (Flannery O’Connor 309). It shows her nostalgia and regret of not marrying that man but it certainly also shows her ambition. She evidently hasn’t experienced true love. Thus, it certainly shows that her baggage did not consist only of clothing and jewelry, but of nostalgia and regret. In addition, the same illusion of her romance with Mr. Teagarden triggered the inner desire in her dream to go visit the plantation and the house where, as Grandmother said, â€Å"You sat down with your suitor after a stroll in the garden. † (Flannery O’Connor 311). Eventually, in a self-centered act, she â€Å"craftily† (Flannery O’Connor 311) lies, causing the detouring of the route. They have taken a dangerous dirty road, as the author describes it â€Å"was hilly and there were sudden washes in it and sharp curves on dangerous embankments† (Flannery O’Connor 312). As a result, while driving on that dangerous road, the accident happened due to Grandmother’s recklessness. This situation metaphors the choices one makes in life and their consequences. The accident is just a sign of how one falls through the journey. There could not be a redemption story without a Savior, and a sinner to whom needs to be redeemed. After the accident, everyone got out of the car and saw the car approaching far away, â€Å"on top of a hill†, giving the sense that help is coming from above, which in a Biblical way, is symbolically showing that help is coming from heaven. In addition, when they arrived, â€Å"the Misfit† gets out, standing in front of them, â€Å"looking down at them† (Flannery O’Connor 313). He is accompanied by two fellows; one wearing a â€Å"shirt with a silver stallion†. All of these details represent a Redeemer, or a Godly figure. In addition, the Redeemer quickly finds who is in need to be redeemed when Grandmother makes a terrible mistake by recognizing the criminal â€Å"You’re the Misfit† she said (Flannery O’Connor 313). At this point, she has commended her whole family and The Misfit confirms that saying â€Å"it would have been better for all of you, lady, if you hadn’t reckernized me. † (Flannery O’Connor 313). Grandmother responds, â€Å"You wouldn’t shoot a lady, would you? † (Flannery O’Connor 313). This action confirms the Misfit that she is the sinner who hasn’t repented from all her sins since she reflects the egocentrism of worrying about her life only, without any given thought about the whole family, not even the children. The Misfit uses the desperation and impotence of the lady to make her realize that there is no escape from the inevitable. As he starts killing the family using the help from his assistants, Grandmother starts to appeal to the Misfit’s heart by saying, â€Å"You’ve got good blood! I know you wouldn’t shoot a lady! † (Flannery O’Connor 316). As the other half of the family was killed, Grandmother tells the Misfit, â€Å"You are one of my own children† (Flannery O’Connor 317) appealing that he would feel loved and would let her live. Nonetheless, she got shot and the Misfit said, â€Å"She would have been a good woman, if it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life. † (Flannery O’Connor 317). This is the vivid example of redemption because in order to know good, and be good, we must face that adversary that puts one to the test and pulls out the good from within. One might relate to the Grandmothers’ feelings of impotence and desperation because when suffering, or facing death, one realizes the true beauty of life and its richness that most of the time are unnoticed due to one’s blindness from sin. In conclusion, A Goodman is Hard to Find is a story that symbolizes redemption because there is a sinner, there is a journey, and there is redemption. As the story unfolds, her personality reflects that hidden evil we all carry inside and how a route’s detour takes a whole family to face disastrous consequences, yet one person finds redemption from that evil. One might think that Grandmothers are all sweet, loving, often innocent, mentors, and defenders of morality and good manners. Nonetheless, this was not the case in this story.

Xerox :: essays research papers

COUNTRY ISSUES Culture, Social, and Demographics:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When examining any company and their possible expansion into new markets you must first examine the culture, social, and demographic issues impacting foreign businesses. The Colombian culture has begun to show a bias towards American products as recently as 1998. As written in Carol Casper's New York Times article, 'There is a lot of interest in U.S. concepts and products...'; in not only Colombia but also all of Latin America. The interest has caused more American firms to begin to see these developing attitudes and expand their businesses into Latin America. For Xerox to also take part in this expansion they would be able to take advantage of the new interest.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Colombians, although, are not welcoming these companies with open arms. There is an interest in the U.S. businesses but as Dianna Jean Schemo reports; it is not uncommon to be threatened by the cartels of Colombia. These cartels want in on the inflow of money and will get involved in kidnappings and murderer if they see it necessary. In 1996, the last year these figures are available, the Federal Bureau of Investigation reported 19,645 homicides while in Colombia there were 26,627. For the fear of being on the wrong end of such instances American businesses need to be extra careful when trying to penetrate the Colombian marketplace. Xerox would not be as impacted by the threat of cartel interference. The cartels become more involved with restaurants and oil companies that have developed in Colombia. They have not developed any interest in the technology industry as of yet.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Colombia has a population of 37 million Spanish-speaking people. The annual growth rate is 1.7% and 95% of the population is Roman Catholic. In the urban areas a 93% literacy rate was found, as opposed to a 67% literacy rate in rural areas. This is due to the fact that only five years of primary school are offered in rural areas. This information regarding the population is encouraging. Although the rural population's literacy rate is low, the urban rate is quite high for a Latin American country. This rate leads me to believe that for Xerox to expand in this market with its technology/communication equipment would not be a problem. The majority of the targeted population where Xerox would be selling their products could understand the benefits of their product and would want to purchase Xerox products. Political/Governmental Concerns:

Room Division Management Sample Case Study

Rooms Division Management Case Study#3: 10% Total /40 MarksThe Safe Deposit Box That Wasn’t Amanda stood beh†¦ Rooms Division Management Case Study#3: 10% Total /40 Marks â€Å"The Safe Deposit Box That Wasn’t Amanda stood behind the front desk of the Metropolitan, a 376-room upscale hotel, and tried to ignore the butterflies in her stomach. It was just her second day on the job, and there was so much to remember! She glanced over at Ron, standing at the other end of the counter.It was comforting to have him working the shift with her—he had worked for the Metropolitan for two years and had been a big help yesterday whenever she got flustered or confused. Her first day was extremely busy because everybody was checking in for the annual Aluminum Siding Trade Show and Convention that started today. In a way, it was good that her first day was so busy, because she hadn't had time to be nervous. But today, most of the hotel's guests were off attending the show at the convention center downtown and the Metropolitan was relatively quiet. Amanda gazed across the opulent lobby at the bank of house phones.A middle-aged woman in a tight, leopard-print jumpsuit was speaking angrily into one of the telephones, her free arm, festooned with gold and black bracelets, waving in the air as she pounded home her points to the unfortunate soul on the other end of the line. At this distance Amanda could faintly hear the clicking of the bracelets but could not make out what the woman was saying. Finally the woman slammed the receiver down in its cradle and started looking frantically around the lobby. When her eyes settled on Amanda, the woman grabbed the gold vinyl suitcase at her feet and strode purposefully toward the front desk. Oh, please,† thought Amanda, â€Å"don't come over here, go talk to Ron! † But the woman stayed on course, and Amanda had plenty of time to take in the big hair, the heavy makeup, and the wounded, self-righteous ex pression before the woman stopped in front of her and said: â€Å"There's something wrong with your phones! † â€Å"Ma'am? † â€Å"I can't get through to my husband's room. I kept dialing ‘326,' but I couldn't get through. † Ron stepped in smoothly. â€Å"Our house phones no longer connect directly to the guestrooms. † â€Å"Yeah, yeah, that's what the operator said. That's not very convenient, you know,† the woman responded. We changed our system in order to provide more privacy and security for our guests,† Ron continued. â€Å"Did the operator reach your husband for you? † â€Å"No, she started explaining why dialing ‘326' wasn't working and I told her what I thought of her new system before I hung up on her. † From her training, Amanda remembered that you were never to put callers through to guestrooms if they only asked to be put through to a certain room number. You always had to ask whom the person was calling , so you could confirm that the person knew the guest and was not simply calling rooms at random.Thieves, for example, had been known to call room after room until they found one that was empty, then go ransack the room. â€Å"What's your husband's name? † Amanda asked. â€Å"We can try to connect you here at the front desk. † â€Å"Virgil Jones,† the woman responded. Amanda moved to the computer and called up Virgil's reservations record. Yes, a Virgil H. Jones was registered in Room 326. â€Å"Mr. Jones checked in to Room 326 yesterday—let me try and reach him for you. † Amanda picked up the front desk telephone, dialed, and listened to the phone ring ten times. Sorry, there's no answer. † â€Å"That's okay—just give me a key to the room then,† ordered the woman. Immediately a red flag went up for Amanda. New as she was, she was well aware that key control was an extremely important issue at the Metropolitan. â€Å"I'm sorry, ma'am, but it's against our policy to give out keys to guests who are not registered. Mr. Jones is the only person registered for that room. † â€Å"But I'm his wife! Look,† the woman rummaged through her handbag and came up with her driver's license, â€Å"here's my I. D. I'm Sheila Jones.See? That's me there. † â€Å"I'm sorry, Ms. Jones,† Amanda said. â€Å"Had your husband told us you were coming, we would have noted it in the reservations record and there'd be no problem. But we're not allowed to let unregistered guests into rooms. † She glanced at Ron. â€Å"That's right, Ms. Jones,† Ron said. â€Å"We'd do the same thing for you. It's actually against the law to admit an unregistered guest to a room. † â€Å"My husband doesn't know I'm coming. I didn't think I would get off work, but my boss finally gave in. † Sheila Jones put on an ingratiating smile. â€Å"Can't you break the rules just this once?I really want to surp rise Virgil. † â€Å"I'm sorry,† Amanda said, â€Å"we really can't. † She looked at Ron again for support, and he nodded in agreement. â€Å"Is your husband here for the big convention? † Amanda asked. Sheila nodded sulkily. â€Å"Then he's probably at the Grandthorpe right now—that's the big convention hotel downtown. That's where the trade show is. † â€Å"I'll never find him there,† Sheila fumed. â€Å"You're welcome to look around in our restaurant and lounge to make sure he's not still here. † â€Å"It would be a lot easier if you'd just let me in the room,† Sheila grumbled. â€Å"I'm tired—it was a long drive. Amanda tried to give Sheila her best empathetic smile. â€Å"I'm sorry. I'll tell you what—if you can't find him, let us know and we'll put you in another guestroom temporarily so you can freshen up. † â€Å"I suppose that'll have to do,† Sheila said wearily. â€Å"I'm not gonna bother looking for him. I'm tired, and if he's not in his room he's probably at the convention like you said. Just give me a room. † After Sheila collected a key to Room 287 and left in a huff, Ron congratulated Amanda for a job well done. â€Å"You did the right thing. Her I. D. proves she's Sheila Jones, but it doesn't prove she's Virgil's wife.She probably really is his wife, and ninety-nine times out of a hundred probably nothing bad would happen if we let a wife or a husband or a brother or somebody into a room. But it's not worth taking a chance on violating the privacy or compromising the safety of our guests. It's that one time in a hundred that can lead to serious trouble. † Thankfully, Sheila did not make another appearance and the rest of the morning passed uneventfully. Just after Amanda returned to the front desk after lunch, a short, balding fellow in a shiny blue suit approached the desk and gave her a big smile. â€Å"Hi, I'm Virgil Jones, Room 326.Any messages or mail for me? † â€Å"No, Mr. Jones, but someone was asking about you. A Ms. Sheila Jones was here. She said she was your wife and wanted to wait for you in your room, but we had to turn her down. † Virgil looked startled rather than pleased. â€Å"Where is she now? † â€Å"We put her in another room so she could freshen up. Let me call her and let her know you're here. † Amanda called Room 287 and in a few minutes Sheila appeared in the lobby. â€Å"Hi, baby! † Virgil called out when he saw her, rushing up and giving her a bear hug. Sheila looked at Amanda over Virgil's shoulder and tried to pull away. That's enough, honey. † She extracted herself and approached the front desk. â€Å"Thanks for the room,† she said to Amanda. â€Å"I feel so much better after my shower. † â€Å"You're welcome. † â€Å"I forgot to bring my room key down with me. Can I return it later, or do you want it right away? I'll be moving over to Virgil's room now. † â€Å"Just leave it in the room, that's fine,† Amanda said. â€Å"Do you need any help with moving your luggage? I can send a bellperson up. † Virgil shook his head. â€Å"We can handle it. Thanks. † __________________ The next day Amanda experienced her first time alone at the front desk.Ron had an early dental appointment and wouldn't be in until 11:00. Even though the front desk manager assured Amanda that he would be available in case things got busy, Amanda crossed her fingers and hoped for an uneventful morning. It was just before nine o'clock when Sheila appeared in the lobby again, dressed slightly more conservatively in a tight purple jumpsuit. She smiled at Amanda and held up a safe deposit box key. â€Å"Good morning. I'd like to get into our safe deposit box, please. † Thank goodness I don't have to say ‘no' to her again, Amanda thought gratefully. â€Å"Yes, Ms. Jones, right this way, please. Quickly , Amanda mentally reviewed her training in how to handle safe deposit box requests as she led Sheila into the small safe deposit box room just to the right of the front desk. One side wall contained the bank of safe deposit boxes; the master key to all the boxes hung by a chain secured to the wall. Pushed against the opposite wall was a narrow table with a file box on it. Let's see, Amanda mused, I'm supposed to ask for identification, pull the card, get the card signed, initial the card—okay, I can do this. â€Å"Can I see some identification, please? † Sheila groaned. â€Å"Not this again,† she grumbled.She opened her handbag and came up with her driver's license again. â€Å"Thank you,† Amanda said, and looked under the â€Å"J's† in the file box for the right card. There it was: Box 116, signed out by Mr. Virgil H. Jones. â€Å"Will you sign the card, please? And I'll initial your signature. † Amanda gave Sheila the card and a pen and in dicated the narrow table. Sheila signed the card and gave the pen to Amanda; Amanda initialed the card and recorded the date and time. â€Å"Thank you. † Amanda put the card back in the file box. â€Å"Now I'll put my key in the box and turn it. † Amanda found Box 116 and turned the master key in the appropriate lock. And now your key. † Sheila stepped forward and turned her key in the second lock. Amanda swung the box door open, pulled the long, narrow drawer from the box, and handed the drawer to Sheila. â€Å"I'll be right outside—just let me know when you're finished. † â€Å"That won't be necessary,† Sheila said—somewhat grimly, Amanda thought. â€Å"This will only take a second. † Amanda turned her back discreetly while Sheila placed the drawer on the table. Amanda heard the metallic creak of the lid lifting, then a sharp intake of breath from Sheila, and then something like a sob. Amanda resisted the impulse to turn aroun d.It's none of our business, it's rude, and it might get us into trouble, she remembered Ron telling her, so never watch guests get into their safe deposit boxes. Amanda was thinking of quietly leaving the room when she heard the lid close and Sheila said, â€Å"Okay, I'm done, thank you. † Amanda turned around and took the box from Sheila. The lighting in the room made it hard to tell, but Amanda thought Sheila's eyes were redder and puffier than before. Amanda returned the drawer to its box, swung the box door shut, and turned both keys in their locks. She let the master key hang by its chain and handed the guest key back to Sheila. Is there anything else I can do for you? † â€Å"No, thanks,† Sheila sniffed with a sad smile. â€Å"You've done quite enough. † __________________ The next day was Amanda's day off. Ron was at the front desk with another guest service representative named Dennis when Virgil Jones approached just after 8 a. m. , looking puzzl ed. â€Å"This is going to sound like a strange question,† he said, â€Å"but—have you seen my wife? † â€Å"No, sir, not this morning,† Ron replied. â€Å"I didn't hear her get up, and her suitcase is gone. † Virgil rubbed his chin for a moment, then shrugged. â€Å"I'm sure she'll turn up,† he turned to go. Like a bad penny,† he said under his breath as he walked away. About 20 minutes later, Virgil was back at the front desk, looking considerably more anxious than before. â€Å"I can't find my safe deposit box key,† he said to Ron. â€Å"Do you have a spare? I need to check on something right away. † Ron shook his head. â€Å"I'm sorry, sir, but, for security reasons, we don't have spare keys to any of our boxes. † â€Å"What do we do now? I've got to get into that box! † â€Å"Well, you have two options,† Ron said. â€Å"One, we can call a locksmith. The firm we use is good about coming out right away.They're usually here between a half hour and an hour after we call—and I believe the last time they came out for this they charged around $80. Whatever the charge is, we will add it to your room bill. Or, two, I can call our maintenance department and have one of the staff ‘punch' the lock for us. He can probably be up here in just a few minutes, but if you choose this option there's a $100 charge because we'll have to replace the lock. † â€Å"Call the maintenance guy,† Virgil said grimly. â€Å"I'm not waiting no hour. † â€Å"Very well. † Ron moved to the front desk phone and spoke a few words into it before returning to Virgil. â€Å"He'll be up right away.Do you remember your safe deposit box number? † Virgil was churning his fingers through his hair, a worried expression on his face. â€Å"No,† he said. â€Å"Maybe 110, 218? I don't know. † â€Å"Well, we can look it up in our files. Excuse me for a moment. â €  Dennis was busy with another guest, so Ron answered the front desk telephone. When Ron hung up, he smiled and waved to a young man just getting off one of the lobby elevators. â€Å"Ah, here's Ted already. † Ted was in a gray maintenance uniform and carrying a box of tools. â€Å"Come with me, please,† Ron said to Ted, and then, â€Å"Mr. Jones, right this way. † The three men entered the safe deposit box room.Ron opened the file box and turned to Virgil. â€Å"Can I see some I. D. , please? † Virgil pulled out a fat wallet and gave Ron his driver's license. â€Å"Thank you. † Ron put the license on the table and flipped quickly to the â€Å"J's† in the file box. There was the card: Box 116, signed out by Virgil H. Jones. Ron compared the signature on the license to the signature on the card, nodded, and gave the license back to Virgil. Ron noticed that Virgil had not gotten into the box since he had first opened it up, but that Sheila Jones had signed for it yesterday. Ron looked at the initials alongside the signature: â€Å"A. M. —Amanda Muldinado—and shook his head. Rookies, he thought. â€Å"It looks like you reserved box 116, Mr. Jones,† Ron said. â€Å"Sign here, please, and we'll get it open for you right away. † Ron pushed the card over to Virgil before turning to put the master key in the master-key lock for box 116 and turning it. Virgil started to sign the card but stopped. â€Å"I see my wife's signature here. She got into the box yesterday? † â€Å"Looks like it,† Ron said. Behind them Ted set down his box of tools. After a couple of sharp blows, Ted said, â€Å"All set. † Ron pulled the long drawer out of box 116 and handed it to Virgil. â€Å"We'll leave you alone now, Mr.Jones,† Ron said quickly, and motioned for Ted to exit. Ron was hardly back at the front desk before Virgil reappeared. â€Å"Is everything all right, Mr. Jones? † à ¢â‚¬Å"No, everything is not all right,† Virgil said in measured tones. â€Å"Something's missing. † Ron's heart started to pound. â€Å"Oh, no! What's missing? Can you describe it? † â€Å"There was a solid gold I. D. bracelet in there with the name ‘Mitzy' engraved on it,† Virgil said grimly. â€Å"Now it's gone. † â€Å"Oh, no,† Ron said again. â€Å"And now my wife is gone,† Virgil continued. â€Å"I hope this hotel makes a lot of money,† he said with quiet fury, â€Å"because the Metropolitan's going to pay for my divorce. Discussion Questions Several issues are raised in this Case Study relating to class discussion on Security, Innkeeper’s Act and the Privacy Act. Why does Virgil Jones think that he might have grounds to compel the Metropolitan to â€Å"pay for his divorce†? Or, to put it another way, did Amanda, Ron, or any other hotel staff member make any serious mistakes in dealing with Virgil or Sh eila? If so, what were those mistakes? Point out in your discussion the things the hotel staff did right in relation to guest security. Explain in

The Impact of Work-Based on our Identity

In all modern societies, work fills a basic and central role in human life. The centrality of work is demonstrated by the personal responsibility individuals assume for their work, the amount of time they devote to it, and the significance it has within the general context of their lives. Work has important social and economic implications as well, on both an organizational and general social level. Identities within society have been determined largely by the work that people do. It has a major part to play in shaping our sense of self and affects how we see ourselves and how others see us. It's formatted by large number of influencing factors, like which are interpellated and which we make a conscious decision to choose or exclude. We all know the first question asked in many situations of primary social encounter: ‘What do you do? ‘ by which we really mean ‘What is your job?. ‘ we do not answer with our hobby, or with our religious identity, but with all the certainty in the world with our occupation: ‘skilled worker for ‘. If we know our interlocutor's occupation then we think we know him or her. The occupation serves a mutual identification pattern, with the help of which we can assess personal needs and abilities as well as economic and social position. I will discus the story which written by john greaves, the coal miner and his identity's change during the time, after that I will discus the employers of developing industrial country and how they work now, then I will compare between this two employer, and I will explain how work influences and shape people identity . Firstly, the coal miner, who spend most of his life and time working more that twenty years in this field, he was working and get up early every day, actively, satisfied and without any fear. His identity was as a coal miner as an individual and also a member of a community with a shared collective identity. His village, Goldthorpe, in South Yorkshire, revolved both economically andsocially around the pits. He did not think that he will be unemployed on day and he will lose it. And now, after all this years and after closing the mine, he talk about his feeling of uncertainty or the future, and he feel sad about losing his job, identity and the symbol that relate to his job. He say that he lose his powerful identity, he mean â€Å"collective identity† which can be found among workers whose lives are closely bound up with their involved in coal mining. this changes in the economy lead to considerable anxiety among white working class men. In other hand, developing industrial country is a major reason for increasing levels and number of service and employers that is largely part-time , such as â€Å"call center† , Which connects large computer and telephones together. We can find more that hundred of employers work there with different job titles and careers , like direct seller, customer services, managers and others. It's described as white collar factories as the workload is constantly monitored and performance related pay is often used as an incentive. Now, if we compare between the coal miner that lost his work and his correlative identity and one of call center stuff, it would be clear to identify how work influences and shape our identity. There is little sense of community or collective identity. John Greaves was clearly interpellated into his role as a coal miner and his identity associate with his community, whereas call center staff work for instrumental purposes, define himself by what he purchase and his spending power. We are now more likely to identify ourselves through our income and spending power rather than job title. This is backed up through recently research that tell us we have leave our collective and occupational identities to more individual consumption based ones. Also our identities are shaped by our income. Income allows us to consume and depending on the amount of income we generate this results in what we consume and our ability to selectively purchase goods. Bourdieu (1977 pg 107/8) argued that people are able to express their identities through consumption and also that as taste differs between social class then consumption will also differ. People in different social classes are unlikely to have the same consumption patterns, which leads to a difference in the ability to portray identity. For example, the ability to purchase expensive ca and material goods such as cars from being in a well paid job will create an identity of a middle class citizen compared to coal miner wage on which limited items can be purchased. Consumption preferences and abilities are highly symbolic markers of status and dividers in social class. Some sociologists have argued that consumption has replaced class and that this now is the key factor in the structure of social division and identity. We can conclude that income, socialisation in the workplace, unemployment and social class. It is evident that work is a contributory factory in influencing and creating identities. Also identities which are created by work are not unfixed, it can change by economic changes. Change of work from collective community base to individual to and material one would be clear today . Like what â€Å"call centers† employers do, they don't identify with their work, they define themselves by what they are spending and what they have. There is also an evident link between income and person, people's behaviors in the way which identity is created.

Warriors Dont Cry by Melba Pattillo Beals

Warriors Dont Cry by Melba Pattillo Beals Free Online Research Papers This emotive memoir opens with the grown Little Rock Nine visiting with Senator Bill Clinton and his wife. Clinton tells the nine how Little Rock has changed since the days of their persecution and how now they are thought of as heroes and heroines. Throughout the remainder of the book Melba tells the heart wrenching story behind their great efforts of integrating Little Rock’s high schools and towards equality among all men and women. Along their journey the nine brave teenagers were influenced by many leaders. At the start of Melba’s story, the leaders in her life that affect her most are her parents and grandmother. When she was little, she was to obey the rules that they put down for her and there was to be no exceptions. Once, when she was still very young, and did not yet understand the racial turmoil around her, she used the white women’s bathroom while out shopping with her mother and grandmother. â€Å"They kept shouting, ‘Good Lord, do something.’ I was doing something by that time, seated comfortably on the toilet, listening to the hysteria building outside my locked stall (Beals 18).† Little Melba was shocked at how upset everyone got over her just simply going to the bathroom. It was then that she began to understand that in the eyes of the whites, she was not worthy. As she grew older, she became accustomed to the way things were; blacks used the designated black toilets, water fountains, and benches. Then on May 17, 1954, when Melba was just twelve years old, the Supreme Court ruled in Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, that separate public schools for whites and blacks was no longer legal. On that very day, Melba was almost raped in a field near her house by a white man. Marissa, usually a bully that took peoples lunch money saved Melba from the attack. One day her seventh grade teacher asked if anyone that lived in the Central High School district wanted to attend school with the white people, and Melba signed her name. At this point in her life, the people who influenced her the most begin to shift. In February of 1956, the NAACP filed suit in Federal District Court to make schools integrate immediately. Governor Faubus announced his position against integration. He negatively impacted not only the Little Rock Nine, but the whole black community. Faubus declared that he would send the Arkansas National Guard to the high school, though he did not say whether they were there to protect the nine or to stop them from entering the school. Other Government Officials held much power over the brave nine as well. President Eisenhower, although passive in his actions, he did somewhat aid the black community in the efforts of making integration successful. Melba worried if she should tell her parents she signed up to attend Central, but she decided that since white mothers were fighting so strongly against the integration that it had little chance of actually happening. Aside from the mothers in the black community having such a huge impact on what was acceptable and what wasn’t, white mothers had that power and more because they were, indeed, white. Melba knew the strength her own mother and grandmother held, and to that she couldn’t imagine the power of persuasion white mothers had. While visiting a great uncle in Cincinnati, she tells Mother Lois and Grandma India that she will be of the first blacks to attend Central High School. As the school year of integration approached, the media became a key influence in the Little Rock Nine’s lives. It was through television, radio, and newspaper that they could hear the rulings of the lawsuits filed to stop integration, and the NAACP’s fight to preserve the decision. â€Å"But just before school started we noticed in the newspaper half-page invitations to big ‘states’ rights’ rallies where important white people urged everybody to fight integration (Beals 36).† Soon the Nine’s days were filled with meetings. They met with the white superintendent of schools, the school board, with Central High School officials, as well as with NAACP officials. Mrs. Daisy Bates, the president of the NAACP in Arkansas spoke on their (the Nine’s) behalf, and she and her husband owned the Arkansas State Press, a newspaper that was the sole voice for the black community. The leaders that most influenced the students positively in the months and days leading up to the first day of school were most obviously, the NAACP leaders that worked closely with the brave nine, their families that gave them courage and strength, and some of their own community. Even throughout the black community, people were against integration. Some of Melba’s neighbors and people in her church community tried to tell her that she was just starting trouble. There were, however, an overwhelming amount of negative influences faced before the first day of school. Media and technology brought a lot of this negativity into the homes of the Little Rock Nine. The ever present threatening phone calls and news broadcasts about how integration might be called off brought a cloud of pessimism upon the students and their families. On September 3, 1957, Melba and her mother drove to Central High School for Melba’s first day of class. They are faced by a huge white mob that has gathered outside the school. There was a designated place where the Nine were supposed to meet before entering the school, but Melba couldn’t reach it due to the massive angry crowds. They turned around and fled the horde of angry whites. President Eisenhower then announced he would use force to prevent that kind of mob rule and to enforce federal law. The next day, the 101st Airborne Division arrived in Little Rock to protect the black students. Throughout Melba’s year at Central High, she was personally affected by many people. Each black student had their very own soldier assigned to them to protect them. Danny was Melba’s bodyguard, who protected her even when someone tried to throw acid in her eyes. But then, Eisenhower removed the 101st and the students had to rely on the small efforts if any of the Arkansas National Guard. One day, when Melba was about to be attacked by a group of white students, Link another white student not in the group attacking her, helped her escape by giving her the keys to his car. Melba and Link became friends and he helped to influence her and keep her going by warning her of plans the segregationists had for her and the other nine. When Minnijean got expelled from Central for fighting boys from throwing soup on her, the NAACP leaders helped to get her a scholarship to a high school in New York. By the end of the school year, the Little Rock Nine were on tour in the nor th where they were treated like heroes. During their tour, integration in Little Rock was dwindling. Harry Lemley, the judge that replaced Davies, granted the school board’s plea to delay integration for three years. The NAACP and its leaders got many appeals, and the black students got ready for their second year at Central. Governor Faubus shut down all the high schools instead of letting integration continue. Grandma India died in October of 1958 and the NAACP decided that the stresses of integration were too much on not only the students but their families as well. The students are taken in by supporters across the country and Central opened up again to integration in 1960. In summary, there were many influences the Little Rock Nine faced. Leaders from many different organizations affected them both positively and negatively. School administrators largely affected them negatively by their resistance to their presence in the white school. Government leaders such as Faubus also influenced them in a negative way, through his apparent disapproval of integration and obvious actions to stop it. White parent groups and students also affected the nine black students in a harmful way. Parents rallied to stop integration and tried to get laws passed to ban it, while the white students of Central didn’t hold back their feelings on it, by attacking and hazing the black students. The media played a large role in bringing the negativity of the earlier mentioned groups into the homes of the nine. Among the positive influencers were the leaders of the NAACP such as Mrs. Bates and the lawyers and judges that fought for integration like Thurgood Marshall an d Ronald Davies. The families and church communities of the nine brought them strength when they needed it most through encouraging words and love. Military officials offered their support through their protection from angry segregationists. Overall, the experience that was largely shaped by the influences and events of the integration both good and bad gave those nine students the gifts of courage and patience. The strength displayed by those young teenagers was a direct result of the persecution they faced. And as Melba says it best, â€Å"If my Central High School experience taught me one lesson, it is that we are not separate. The task that remains is – to see ourselves reflected in every other human being and to respect and honor our differences (Beals 312).† Research Papers on Warriors Don’t Cry by Melba Pattillo BealsWhere Wild and West MeetBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XHip-Hop is ArtStandardized TestingHonest Iagos Truth through Deception19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraThe Hockey GameQuebec and CanadaThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsCapital Punishment

How To Save Your Job When You’re About To Get Fired

How To Save Your Job When You’re About To Get Fired Your performance review wasn’t good. Or maybe you just smell the blood in the water. You’ve got a bad feeling that you- or even your job- is on the chopping block. Rather than just hang your head, admit defeat, and start your job search anew, why not try a few of the following steps to save your job? At least then you can say you gave it your best shot. 1. Stop slacking.If you’ve built a reputation for being lazy, it’s never too late to turn it all around. It will be hard to shake off, but with a bit of work, not impossible! Figure out why you haven’t been giving it your all at work. Eliminate your biggest distractions, like your phone or social media accounts or even particularly chatty coworkers. Identify the projects that you can drum up passion for and then devote yourself to getting stuff done and start delivering real results.2. Take responsibility.Did you miss a deadline? Fail to deliver an important project? You can’t go back in time and undo this, but you can assume full accountability for what happened. Don’t blame anyone but yourself and see how you can fix the problem. Then fix it- fast.3. Handle disgruntled clients.You said something to a client and now they’re threatening to walk. Figure out- by asking coworkers and team members what went wrong and whether you were inappropriate or out of line- then figure out if the situation is fixable. If you weren’t at fault, approach your boss with the full picture. Be honest and provided you didn’t do anything outrageous, your boss should back you up.4. Stop gossiping.You’ve been outed as an office gossip- whether for a one time whopper offense, or a routine habit. You’ve probably got a very narrow window to prove yourself worthy of keeping on. Let your boss know you understand the severity of your behavior and the consequences and insist upon turning over a new leaf. Apologize to any injured parties and behave yourself more professionally in future.5. Have a heart to heart.It’s not out of line to have a sit-down with your boss and have an honest conversation- especially if you two have been out of touch or out of sync. Ask about the communication lapse. Ask whether there is anything you’re not doing or delivering that you could focus on improving. Reiterate your passion and commitment to the position and make it clear you’ll do whatever it takes to stay on board.6. Make a performance improvement plan.Say your performance has been lackluster, and your boss confirms that you’re not in the best of standing. Sit down and come up with a plan with clear indicators of renewed success. Then set about systematically meeting every goal on your plan tick by tick. Get yourself out of your slump as soon as you can. It will be much easier with clear guidelines. And don’t be afraid to ask for coaching and/or feedback.7. Go the extra mile.With everything. Make yourself an expert in a new software. Make a positive and lasting contribution- the bigger the better. Have a stellar attitude at all times. Help out your team and coworkers. Anticipate your boss’s needs. Show your value to the company and your strengths as a team player and you’ll be in much better shape.The crucial thing is to make sure you’re taking steps to bulk up your career  and making changes- and lasting ones. Slapping a temporary band-aid on the situation will not save your job. Overhauling your work ethic and performance, however, just might do the trick!

Dales Auto and Body Shop Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Dales Auto and Body Shop - Case Study Example It is projected to grow into a business with 3 locations with $9 million in sales by the third year. DABS auto and body repair services will be similar to those offered by other establishments but it differentiates itself from competition with the unique kind of customer-oriented service that it offers. This customer-oriented service excellence is anchored on three commitments: high quality service, with extensive warranties; customer convenience, speedy repairs, comfortable waiting area, customer shuttle to name a few; and customer-oriented service personnel, highly-competent, friendly, eager to share auto tips. Dale Brown is at the helm of DABS with his strong technical background in the auto repair and parts sales industry. Henry White will oversee sales and marketing. Aside from his technical expertise, he has worked long years with a major car dealership. James Black, also a technical expert, will oversee finance and administration. He has served many years in that capacity for one of the biggest car manufacturers. DABS is an exciting business opportunity that will be led by a seasoned management team, all of whom have extensive industry experience. DABS has forecasted sales of $5 million for year one, $7 million for year two, and $9 million for year three. Products and Services DABS shall offer the following auto and body repair and maintenance services: Auto Repair: Differential & Transaxle Service, Engines (Rebuild or Replace), Transmissions, Muffler Replacement, Scheduled Maintenance, Computer Diagnostics, Timing Belts & Chains, Starters & Alternators, Electronic Testing, Air-Conditioning, Cooling Systems, Fuel Injection, Exhaust Systems, Front End Work, Belts & Hoses, Fuel Pumps, Water Pumps, Carburetors, Batteries, Clutches, Brakes, Radiators, Oil & Lube, Tune-Ups Body Repair: Complete Collision Repair, Frame Straightening, Dent Removal and Color Matching. DABS shall use top brand names in parts and fluids. In addition, state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment shall be used by DABS' technicians for an in-depth analysis of vehicle systems. Marketing Plan DABS shall target customers from local residents as well as towed vehicles from local and nearby freeway traffic. Tie-ups will be established with local tow truck companies for referral business. An attractive and informative brochure will be produced to invite tow truck companies to be business partners of DABS. The partner company shall be eligible for sales commissions on the service fees that will be charged by DABS. A business development specialist shall be contracted to handle negotiations with the tow truck companies. Once a tie-up has been established, the tow truck company will be provided by DABS with informative flyers for handing over to prospective customers. With DABS positioning as a very customer-oriented shop, auto and body rep

Successful Conflict Resolution for Divorced Couples Essay

Successful Conflict Resolution for Divorced Couples - Essay Example At other times, people appear to have rushed into a marriage without properly understanding each other and knowing all the aspects of their spouse's personality. In such a scenario, marriage turns out to be a shock when one comes across the true nature of one's life partner. There is no dearth of cases when the couples tend to have different relational expectations and thus end up having a divorce. However, once a divorce is finalized, the problem does not end here only. The post divorce scenario gives ways to a plethora of conflicts and issues between the couples. The divorce process in itself tends to be a very stressful and trying situation for the involved couples. The entire procedures involves settling and deciding upon a whole range of vital issues like splitting the finances and assets, deciding as to whether the couple intends to go fore a divorce by mutual consent or intends to contest, and above all parenting and kids. Unless both the parties tend to cooperate and resolve their disputes with ample patience and caution, the divorce procedure and the post divorce situation could end up getting real nasty and miserable (Sherman, 2000). Under such circumstances, apt and effective interpersonal communication could play a pivotal role in a successful conflict resolution between the divorced couples. Interpersonal Interpersonal communication stands to be the interactive process that takes place between the two people and this interaction may tend to be face-to-face or may perhaps be mediated by a third party. Apt and conducive interpersonal communications not only plays a central role in most of the successful marriages, but it could also go a long way in settling disputes between the aggrieved couples in a post divorce scenario. Still, the irony is that in most of the divorces, shoddy interpersonal communication tends to be one of the, if not the sole responsible factor. Therefore, how can one expect the divorced couples to negotiate amicably in a post divorce scenarioDivorce can be really less painful if the divorced couples tend to be cognizant of some fundamentals of interpersonal communication. The basic thing to be understood by the divorced spouses is that they simply cannot escape the requisite interpersonal communication, even if they are divorced (King, 2000). Hence, a willingness to communicate tactfully with one's ex could go a long way in settling the post divorce issues, reasonably and amicably. The second thing that the divorced couples must accept is that interpersonal communication is always complex, especially in a divorce scenario (King, 2000). In addition, interpersonal communication always happens to be irreversible (King, 2000). One simply cannot rescind a message, once it is conveyed. Therefore, communication between divorced couples requires patience and a capacity to listen to each other. Above all, interpersonal communications always takes place in a context and never happens in