Resort Operations and Management

RESORT OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENTSurname, Name, M. I. Student Number Lecture no. 1 A resort is a planned vacation business that is designed to attract, hold and satisfy its guests so they can become repeat visitors and/or goodwill ambassadors.To achieve these objectives require a management strategy that can operate a variety of scales and with a selection of target markets, but its constant must be the creation of a valued experience Gee (1996) considers resorts differ from other sorts of tourism destination in that they: †¢ Cater primarily to vacation and pleasure markets The average length of stay is longer, so hotel rooms need to be larger and better equipped †¢ Because most resorts are isolated they must be self contained †¢ The recreational bias of resorts makes them highly seasonal †¢ Resort management must be â€Å"visible management†, that is everyone must be infused with the idea of total hospitality, warm relationships, and unstinting round the cl ock service to guests Mill (2001) consider resorts have a combination of elements that make them distinctive.These are: †¢ The recreation attractions that draw guests to the resort †¢ Activities to occupy the guests during their stay Within these description of resorts and their management needs certain commonalities can be identified. Resorts are distinctive in that they: †¢ Are established as tourism businesses †¢ Convert visitors into guest †¢ Attempt to hold their guests on site †¢ Attract guest and hold them with superior quality facilities †¢ Cosset guests with superior serviceManagement consideration in a resort 1. Capture through differentiation 2. Attempt to be self contained 3. Deliver fabulous facilities and super service 4. Determine the appropriate target market scales 5. Range of resort operation scales a. Micro-scale of a single facility, a resort hotel needs to encompass internal activities that will hold the guest all day and in co mbination with quality rooms, gastronomic opportunities and entertainment provide no reason to leave the establishment . . Meso- scale of an integrated resort complex, where several hotels and ancillary functions support the prime function and differentiator of the resort component parts should work together to hold and satisfy the guests within the complex. c. Macro-scale of a resort destination, such as Las Vegas all the above considerations are in play, but within the broader context of a multi-purpose community with multiple planning and development goals. 6. Varying levels of control Analytical framework for resort management with a seniors market example | |Description and |Explanation (external and internal |Prediction ( risk management) | |definition |challenges | | |Attract |Competitive market |Health and wellness | | |Differentiate |Light exercise and recreation | | |Branding |Second or retirement homes | |Hold |Attractive Setting |Independent to dependency | | |Critical M ass of activities |Flexible delivery | | |Supportive staff |Security | |Satisfy |Skilled staff |Caring services | | |Service profit chain |Rest home component | | |Value creation |Hospital links | LAWS REGULATING RESORTSA resort is any place with pleasant environment and atmosphere conducive to comfort, healthful relaxation and rest, offering food, sleeping accommodation and recreational facilities to the public for a fee or remuneration. Resorts maybe categorized into (Chapter III, Classification of and Standard Requirements for Resorts, Section 7) i) Beach resorts – located along the seashore ii) Inland resorts – located within the town proper or city iii) Island resorts – located in natural or man-made island with the internal waters of the Philippine archipelago iv) Lakeside or riverside resorts- located along or near the bank of a lake or river v) Mountain resorts- located at or a mountain or hill vi) Theme parksResorts are classified into (Chapter III, Cla ssification of and Standard Requirements for Resorts, Section 8) a. Class AAA b. Class AA c. Class A Classification of resorts is based on a. Location and environment b. Parking facilities and room accommodation c. Sports and recreational facilities d. Conference and convention facilities e. Employee facilities f. Food and beverage outlets g. Lounge and reception centre and furnishing Forms of Business Organization Business entities engaged in the operation of tourist accommodation establishments may be organized as a single proprietorship, a partnership or a corporation, These are legal requirements for the organization and licensing of these businesses.Governmental Regulations Several government agencies take part in the process of organizing and licensing business entities which intend to engage in the operation of tourist accommodation establishments. Securities and Exchange Commission Businesses intending to be organized as a partnership or a corporation must register their art icles of partnership/incorporation and by-laws with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). For entities intending to engage in the business of operating tourist accommodation establishments, prior clearance from the mayor of the place where the principal office is located must be submitted together with the incorporation documents.The SEC has a periodic reportorial requirements, such as the: 1. Submission of general information sheets 2. Financial statements Which must be complied with by corporations and partnerships engaged in the business of operating tourist accommodation establishments. Department of Trade and Industry Business establishments using business names other than their SEC-registered name must be register said business names with the Bureau of Domestic Trade under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) before using said business names in contacts, advertisements and other purposes and before engaging in any business transaction. Bureau of Internal RevenueB usiness entities engaged in the operation of tourist accommodation establishments must register with the Bureau of Internal Revenue and keep books of account wherein all transactions and results of operations are shown and from which all taxes due the government may readily and accurately be ascertained and determined any time of the year. Social Security System Business entities engaged in the operation of tourist accommodation establishments must report all their employees who are not over 60 years of age to the SSS for compulsory coverage and pay the employers contribution for each employee. They must also collect their employees contribution and remit the same to the SSS. Department of Tourism DOT merely undertakes accreditation of tourism business and only on a voluntary basis. There is a pending bill in Congress to make accreditation with the DOT a mandatory requirement prior to the issuance of a mayor’s permit or business license by LGU’s.Accreditation is a cert ification by the department as having complied with its minimum standards in the operation of the establishment concerned which will ensure the safety, comfort and convenience of the tourist. Bureau of Immigration and Deportation If business entities employ alien personnel, valid working visa must be secured from the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation Department of Labor and Employment In addition to a valid working visa, any alien seeking admission to the Philippines for employment purposes and business entities desiring to engage an alien for employment must obtain employment permit from the Department of Labor and Employment. Department of Environment and Natural ResourcesBusiness entities desiring to operate tourist accommodation establishments will have to undergo environmental impact assessment and obtain as environmental compliance certificate from DENR before they can commence operations and any kind of construction. Operation and Management of Resorts Due to complexity o f facilities available in resorts, unlike in hotels and other types of accommodation establishments, the standard of operation and management of resort is relatively more stringent. Resorts are required to adopt sanitation measures in accordance with the standards prescribed under PD no. 856, also known as the Code on Sanitation of the Philippines.All resorts have to provide the services of a sufficient number of well-trained lifeguards duly accredited by either the Philippine National Red Cross, the Water Life Saving Association of the Philippines or any recognized organization training or promoting safety objectives. They must also provide adequate security whenever there are guest . Medical services, fire fighting facilities and signboards will have to be provided by all resorts. There must be placed on a beach or lakeside resort an adequate number of buoys, which must be spread within the area by the resort owner or keeper incompliance with existing government regulations and/or local ordinance on the placing of such buoys.Prohibited Acts Keepers, manager or operators of hotels, resorts, tourist, inns, motels, apartels and pension houses are required to exert effort not to allow any form of gambling, drunkenness or disorderly conduct of any kind by anyone in said establishments and their immediate premises. They must also exert all possible efforts not to permit any person whom they know or have reason to believe to be either a prostitute a paedophiles or of questionable character to occupy a room or to enter the premises Environmental Laws affecting Tourism Tourism projects are required to comply with the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System.The EIS System was established by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1586 issued by former President Ferdinand E. Marcos in 1978. The EIS System requires all government agencies, government owned or controlled corporations and private companies to prepare an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for a ny project or activity that affects the quality of the environment. An EIA is a process that involves evaluating and predicting the likely impacts of the project (including cumulative impacts) on the environment and includes designing appropriate preventive, mitigating and enhancement measures to protect the environment and the community welfare.An entity that complies with the EIS System is issued as Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC), which is a document certifying that, based on the representations of the project proponent, the proposed project or undertaking will not cause significant negative environmental impacts and that the project proponent has complied with all the requirements of the EIS System. To strengthen the implementation of the EIS System, Administrative Order (AO) No. 42 was issued by the Office of the President of the Philippines in 2002. It provided for the streamlining of the ECC application processing and approval procedures. Pursuant to AO No. 42, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) promulgated DENR AO No. 2003-30, also known as the Implementing Rules and Regulations for the Philippine EIS System (IRR), in 2003. Under the IRR, in general, only projects that pose potential significant impact to the environment shall be required to secure ECCs.In determining the scope of the EIS System, two factors are considered: |Category |Description |Example | |Category A Environmentally |Projects that have significant |Golf courses | |Critical Projects (ECPs) |potential to cause negative | | | |environmental impacts | | |Category B |Projects that are not categorized as |Hotels and resorts that | |Environmentally Critical |ECPs , but which may cause negative |are located in ECAs | |Areas (ECAs) |environmental impacts because they are| | | |located in Environmentally Critical | | | |Areas (ECAs) | | |Category C |Projects intended to directly enhance |Other tourism projects | | |environmental quality or address |not locate d in ECAs, but| | |existing environmental problems not |would likely have | | |falling under Category A or B |impacts on the | | | |environment | |Category D |Projects unlikely to cause adverse |Small tourist shops or | | |environmental impacts |handicraft stores | i. The nature of the project and its potential to cause significant negative environmental impacts ii. The sensitivity or vulnerability of environmental resources in the project area Specifically, the criteria used for determining projects to be covered by the EIS System are as follows: a. Characteristics of the project or undertaking- i. Size of the project ii. Cumulative nature of impacts vis-a-vis other project iii. Use of natural resources iv. Generation of wastes and environmental-related nuisance v. Environmental-related hazards and risk accidents b. Location of the Project i.Vulnerability of the project area to disturbances due to its ecological importance, endangered or protected status ii. Conformity of the propo sed project to existing land use, based on approved zoning or on national laws and regulations iii. Relative abundance, quality and regenerative capacity of natural resources in the area, including the impact absorptive capacity of the environment. c. Nature of potential impact i. Geographic extent of the impact and the size of affected population ii. Magnitude and complexity of the impact iii. Likelihood, duration, frequency and reversibility of the impact The categories of projects under the EIS System are as follows : Small Scale Tourism ProjectsUnder the 1996 Philippine EIS System Guide, tourism projects are classified into small-scale and large scale projects. Small-scale tourism are considered projects in ECA’s. An ECA is an area considered projects as environmentally sensitive such that significant environmental impacts are expected if certain types of proposed projects or program s are located, developed or implemented it. Under the EIS system, proponents of small-sca le projects must prepare a project description (pd) The pd reviewed and evaluated by different entities . The following entities take part in the process. 1. Project proponent- prepares the pd or EIS documents, complies additional information, prepares and submits period compliance reports; 2.DENR Regional Executive Director- issues certificate of exemption, issues or denies ECC, issues closure, suspension, cessation order or impose fines and other penalties. 3. DENR Regional Technical Director- Environmental Management Protected Areas Services (EMPAS) determines need foe and facilitates public consultation. 4. DENR Regional Office EIA Division ( Ad hoc) evaluates pd or EIS document, chairs regional EIA Review Committee, inspects proposed sites, investigates ECC-related complaints, initiates public hearing, conducts and reports on compliance monitoring; 5. Regional EIS Review Committee- provides technical review of pd document, advises DENR regional offices on ECC issuance; 6. EMB E IA Group- supports DENR regional offices; 7.Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO)- coordinates local government units (LGUs) and other local parties, conducts public awareness, assists in on-site inspection and monitoring; 8. LGUs- participate in multi-sectoral monitoring team; 9. NGOs and public- participate in multi-sectoral monitoring team. After review and evaluation of the pd and other pertinent documents, the RTD- EMPAS in coordination with the DENR Regional Office EIA Division, makes any of the following decisions. 1. Recommends the issuance of an ECC with conditions 2. Recommends that the proponent prepare a full EIS for the proposed project 3. Recommends the denial of the ECC Large Scale Tourism ProjectsUnder the 1998 Philippine EIS System Guide, large-scale tourism projects, like resort and hotels are considered ECPs. As such, it is required that an EIS be prepared. The EMD takes the lead in reviewing and processing EIS. The following entities partici pate in the process of review and evaluation of EIS; 1. Project proponent- prepares the pd or EIS documents, complies additional information, publishes notice of and makes presentation in public hearing, prepares and submits period in compliance reports, establishes Environmental Guarantee Fund; 2. DENR Secretary- issues/ denies ECC, issues cessation order 3. EMB Director- calls for a public hearing, appoints hearing officer, endorses the ECC or letter of denial to the DENR Secretary 4.EMB EIA Group- evaluates documents, serve as secretariat to EIA Review Committees, asks for additional information, initiates public hearing, solicits input from relevant government agencies, recommends issuance or denial of ECC and sometimes conducts compliance monitoring activities . 5. EMB EIA Review Committee- provides technical review EIS documents, advises EMB in need for public hearing and ECC issuance 6. DENR Regional Office- inspects proposed site, investigates EIS-related complaints, conduct s and reports on compliance monitoring 7. PENRO- coordinates local government units (LGUs) and other local parties, conducts public awareness, assists in on-site inspection and monitoring; 8. LGUs- participate in multi-sectoral monitoring team 9.NGOs, affected communities and public- participate in public hearing and in multi-sectoral monitoring team. Violation of ECC Conditions An ECC is a document issued by the DENR Secretary or the Regional Executive Director certifying that , based on the representation of the proponent and the preparers, the proposed project or undertaking will not cause a significant negative environmental impact; that the proponent has complied with all the requirements of the EIS system; and the proponent is committed to implement its approved environmental management plan in the Environmental Impact Assessment or mitigation measures in the Initial Environmental Examination. Once a project is issued an ECC, certain conditions go with it.These conditions will have to be strictly followed; otherwise, non compliance with the conditions will result suspension or cancellation of the ECC and/or fine not exceeding (50,000) pesos for every violation thereof, at discretion of the EMB. Lecture No. 2 Objectives 1. Explain the guest activity and programming model and its significance to successful resort operation. 2. Explain how knowledge of cultural differences and individual needs can be used by resort managers to design guest activities 3. Identify how cluster or activity analysis can help meet the objectives of a guest activity program 4. Describe the steps required to effectively plan a guest activity program 5.Identify the approaches and measuring instruments used in evaluating the effectiveness of guest activity programs 6. Resorts Management and Operations, Mill, Robert Christie 2008 References: Resorts Management and Operations, Mill, Robert Christie 2008 Tourism Law Philippine Setting 2nd edition , Javier, Nancy Joan 2008 Good programmi ng does not just happen; it is carefully planned for, thought about, and learned Farrel and Lundegren When guest are at a resort or on board ship for several days or weeks, they expect the facility to cater to their need for something to do. At resorts, this need is met by guest activity programs. What guest actually do is called recreation.Recreation is an activity that take place during ones free time, is enjoyable, freely chosen, and benefits the individual emotionally, socially, physically, cognitively and spiritually. The activity should be fun, it is something the guest chooses to do, and the guest will not fully enjoy the activity and their stay will be less enjoyable than it could be. Benefits of Guest Activity Programs The impact of a recreational or guest activity can extend far beyond the immediate benefits. Consider a couple hiking along a trail. They may experience one or more of the following benefits: †¢ Feeling good about getting exercise †¢ Enjoyment of th e sights and sounds of nature †¢ Mental relaxation Learning something about the natural environment †¢ Feeling closer to their partner To be satisfying, an activity must include: 1. Freedom- guest must be free to select the activities in which they want to participate 2. Perceived competence- guests must be able to match their skill level to the activity such that they feel they can successfully participate. 3. Intrinsic motivation-truly satisfying activities are those that are chosen to satisfy an inner drive rather than to satisfy or impress others. 4. Locus of control- guest need to have some degree of control over the experience, be it in the selection of teammates or when or where the activity 5.Positive effect- the result of a satisfying activity is that guests enjoy the experience after participating in it. Recreation programs are purposeful interventions which are deliberately designed and constructed in order to produce certain behavioural outcomes. Guest activity programming involves five steps: 1. Assess needs of guest 2. Define objective for the activities that will meet guest needs. 3. Perform cluster or activity analysis designed to meet the objectives 4. Administer the activity 5. Evaluate the experience with respect to its success in meeting guest needs Evaluation of the activity might lead to reassessment of any of the earlier steps.Development and operation of any program occurs within the context of, and is influenced by external factors: †¢ Historical influences- the tradition and philosophy of the resort †¢ Environmental influences- time of the year, weather, etc †¢ Cultural influences- ethnicity, age and religion of the guests †¢ Social influences- fads, trends, news †¢ Organizational influences- values and mission of the company Finally, guests, staff, equipment, and facilities are brought together to deliver the guest experience. The key to understanding guest motivation is to see the activities they e ngage in as satisfiers of needs and wants. Guests do not participate in guest activity programs just to relax and have fun.They do so in the hope and belief that these activities will satisfy, either wholly or partially, needs and wants important to them. Needs Assessment Needs assessment is â€Å" a systematic inquiry about needs, attitudes, behaviours, and patterns of both participants and non-participants† . Its purpose is to identify what is important to guests in order to better design and deliver guest activity programs that leave guests satisfied with the program and consequently, in the resort. Constraints should be noted. 1. Needs are infinite- the resort cannot totally satisfy the needs of every guest 2. Conflicts between different segments of the market are inevitable- teens want different activities than seniors. Several techniques an be used to conduct a needs assessment 1. Existing guest are asked what interests them or what interests them or what activities the y currently undertake. 2. People who do not use the programs and who do not take part in the activities might also be surveyed as to their reasons. 3. National figures are available on trends in recreation. Resort amenities can have primary and secondary uses. As an assist in thinking about secondary uses for facilities and areas, in addition to implementing the multi-use concept, list all of the facilities and areas on the property and note the possible activities for which they could be used. Goals and ObjectivesThe goals and objectives of the guest activity programs nest within those set for the resort itself. Goals are broad, general, final outcomes. The overall goals of the resort might be to produce profits by satisfying guests. The guest activity goal might be: a. Provide satisfying experiences for guests b. Aid in skill development c. Increase guests health and well-being d. Encourage social interaction among guest Objectives are much more specific and short-term. The resort might set objectives relative to occupancy, rate and percentage of guests who return. Objectives should be set for the overall guest activity program as well as for every individual program and activity offered. Cluster and Activity AnalysisThe next step in the process is to identify activities that can help guests meet the stated objectives. Two ways of doing this are activity analysis and cluster analysis. Activity Analysis Activity analysis involves determining how each part of an activity can contribute to meeting goals and objectives. Each activity can be broken down according to the following criteria: †¢ Behavioural domain †¢ Skill level, from low to high †¢ Interaction patterns, from individual to group †¢ Leadership required, from minimum to maximum †¢ Equipment required, from none to required †¢ Duration, from a set of time through a natural end to continues †¢ Facilities required, from none to required Participants, from one to any numb er †¢ Age appropriateness Cluster Analysis Cluster analysis clusters activities that yield similar benefits. Each activity becomes a variable, the correlation between participation in two variables is computed, and the cluster is based on the correlation that results. The following criteria are used to determine clusters: †¢ Degree of skill required †¢ Level of activity †¢ Nature of the group needed †¢ Amount of risk or danger †¢ Special facilities needed The implication is that people can be typed based on their choice of activity. From existing levels of participation, staff can identify which complimentary activities might be popular. Group A |Group B |Group C |Group D | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Beach resorts: The Impact of Development on Operation A variety of recreational activities utilize water as the major attractions: ? Natural beaches, which can be used for sunbathing, swimming a nd beach combing.Very popular, they may require little development, though maintenance can be high. Beaches allow for a variety of complementary activities, including snorkelling and scuba diving. ? Open space and trails, typically found around lakes and wetlands. They can be used as sites for fishing or camping or for observing wild life, and fit well into the ecotourism movement ? Golf courses, many U. S. resorts exploit ocean front settings to highlight their golf facilities ? Residential development, as home site on the waterfront generate premium prices. Care must be taken to balance preservation of the often sensitive ecology and obtaining an economic return on the investment. Commercial development, such as hotels, retail stores, and restaurants. This most intense type of waterfront development must be approached carefully because of environmental concerns. ? Cruise ship, which after all, are nothing more than floating resorts/hotels/restaurants ? Spas Beach Development Six i mportant aspects warrant consideration with respect to beach development: the sea, seashore, beach, back beach, coastal stretch and surrounding community/country. SeaA variety of factors related to sea affect the attractiveness of the site: Air temperature, there is a high correlation between swimming and maximum air temperature and a fairly high correlation between beach use and maximum air temperatureAmount and intensity of the wind and sun, there is a weak inverse relationship between both swimming and beach use and wind. There is a straight line correlation between sunshine hours and both swimming and beach use. The correlation is higher than that of maximum air temperature for beach use and lower for swimming. Water temperature, including temperature range Currents, tides, and waves, including their direction, strength and seasonality. Wave action and the corresponding erosion, is greater when beaches are exposed to the main channel of a lake. On the other hand, beaches develop ed on lakes are subject to less erosion when placed on the side of a bay Ecology, including seaweed and fishPollution, state-of-the art sewage treatment plants use ultraviolet light radiation to destroy bacteria and microorganisms before they passed into the surrounding environment. Clarity of the water, passed germ test for bathing waters Possible attractions, such as islands, coral and conditions for water recreation. Seashore The seashore consists of the surface under the water, extending out to a depth of 6 feet. Mud bottoms have to be stabilized with crushed rocks as a base and a coarse sand layover. Bathers should be able to walk into the water a sufficient distance to allow them to engage in play activities without risk of danger from tidal movement. Beach People do not want to walk too far to get into water, neither do they want to feel too crowded.Lifeguard platforms are the only service facility in this zone. Back BeachThe back beach offers views to both the sea and inland . Vegetation and the effect of the microclimate must be considered because of the fragile nature of the resource. Coastal Stretch The coastal stretch consists of the beach environment. This is where service facilities and access roads are placed. Surrounding Community/ CountryThe country surrounding the beach development provided the setting for the attraction. Natural attractions, the extent of development, surrounding infrastructure, and the opportunity for excursions all need to be considered. Beach Resorts: Profile of the Beach Resort GuestBeaches and Islands, according to the Travel Industry Association of America, people who travel to beaches on vacation take longer holidays and spend more money compared to the average vacationer. They are most likely bring the children along, to fly to the destination, and to rent a car when they arrive. A person-trip is defined as one person travelling at least 50 miles one way from home. The top states that benefit from coastal tourism are the following: ? California ? Florida ? New Jersey ? Hawaii Scuba Travel, scuba diving is a $2. 6 billion annual business in the US alone. Approximately $640 million a year is spent on equipment with the remainder going to travel, dining, lodging and boat hire. In terms of snorkelling and diving the top spots are: ? Cayman Islands ? Mexico Australia ? Hawaii Romance Related, according to TIAA, more than 42 million Americans take at least one trip a year to attend wedding, go on honey moon, or celebrate an anniversary. The top honey moon beach locations are: ? Hawaii ? Mexico ? Jamaica ? Tahiti ? Cayman Islands Managing the Resource In 1987, the Blue Flag concept began as an eco-lab â€Å" certifying beaches as meeting quality standards relating to water quality, safety, environmental management and environmental education. The following are specified for beaches: Water Quality, it is vital that beaches meet water quality standards for microbiological and physical-chemical parameter s.The quality of the water in terms of physical-parameters are the following: †¢ The pH should be between 6. 5 and 8. 5 (in Caribbean and South Pacific) or 6 to 9 (Europe) †¢ There should be no visible oil film on the water and no odour †¢ The beach should be monitored for oil pollution deposits †¢ Nothing floating on the surface (plastic articles, bottles, etc. ) †¢ Water should be transparent †¢ There should be no abnormal change in the color of the water †¢ No specific odour from phenols should be present Environmental Management, a beach management committee must be established to be in charge of instituting environmental management systems and conducting regular environmental audits of the beach facility.Safety and Services, providing information to and educating beach users about safety concerns should be additional elements of a safety strategy. Life saving equipment includes such things as life buoys, torpedo buoys, hook, life vest, life ra fts, etc. First aid can be made available in several ways: ? A lifeguard on site ? An attended first-aid station with trained personnel ? Equipment located in a shop or other beach facilities at the beach ? Directly available to the public on the beach Development of Spas The original spa was a mineral hot springs place in Belgium in a village called Spau. Taking the waters, became popular with the upper classes for reasons of health.The promotion of a healthy lifestyle based on a combination of exercise, weight loss and pampering. The following definitions are widely used: Resort spa- the resort spa is located on the property of a hotel , normally in a resort where other sports and activities are offered besides the spa program itself. Amenity spa- similar to the resort spa, the amenity spa is added as an amenity to a hotel or resort. Destination spa- the destination spa is a hotel property targeted to the spa guest and focusing on specific health and fitness programs. Outside gues ts are not part of the program. Benefits Having a spa at a resort seems to have economic advantages for the property.Resort general managers indicate that the spa enhances the following aspects of their business: ? Room rate ? Perceived value for money ? Occupancy ? Length of stay ? Marketing advantage ? Revenue per occupied room ? Number of people per occupied room Benefits for the guest ? Stress reduction and relaxation ? To look good/appear young ? To feel more sexy and attractive ? Pursuing a spa lifestyle Spa regulars dislike: ? Having to appear naked for treatments ? Treatments derived from chocolates ? Any evidence of lack of cleanliness or poor hygiene ? Pretentious spas ? Finding a hotel spa fully booked The cost structure of a spa, as a percentage of revenue, can be: ? Payroll ? Payroll with benefits ? Operating expenses Net operating income, when spa is responsible for all expenses excluding rent ? NOI, when the spa is responsible for payroll and products only Revenue bre akdown for the hotel spa department: ? Massage ? Spa treatment ? Club membership dues ? Salon treatments ? Clothing/merchandise Layout and Design The basic component of a spa include ? Reception area ? Separate men’s and women’s locker room and facilities ? Men’s and women’s steam rooms ? Lounge which include a juice bar and small cafe ? Dry treatments ? Wet treatments ? Staffed fitness studio with exercise machine ? Retail store ? Salon The equipment in a spa 1. Facial equipment 2. Basic body treatment 3. Hydrotherapy Swimming PoolsThere are a number of different types of pools that can be part of the resort amenities: 1. Lap pools with lanes for swimmer 2. Sports pools for exercise and games 3. Reflecting pool to compliment picturesque landscaping 4. Traditional diving pool for safe diving 5. Splash pool for family fun Maintenance According to some expert, an attractive pool is one of the most visible and cost effective amenities. Keeping the pool attra ctive requires constant maintenance 1. Know your chemistry- to extent=d the life of the pool and reducing repairs is keeping the water chemistry in balance. 2. Renovation 3. Starting over- there comes a time when it’s cheaper to tear out the pool and start over rather than to repair it. SafetyThe liability concerns the presence of pools represents a difficult challenge for management. Management has to be particularly concerned with: 1. Responsible adult supervision 2. Diving 3. Electrical hazards 4. Ladders, steps and hand trails 5. Drowning prevention 6. Water clarity 7. Water chemistry 8. Heaters Reference: Resorts Management and Operation, 2nd edition, Mill, Robert Christie ———————– Historical Influences Environmental Influences Organizational Influences Cultural Influences Social Influences Assess Guest Needs Develop Objectives Cluster/ Activity Analysis Activity Experience Evaluation GuestEquipment/ Resources Guest Activity Facilities Staff

Management of Creativity Essay

Bolman and Deal in their renowned Four Framework Approach declared that leaders all over the world tend to exhibit behaviour that fits in with one (of the 4) leadership models (or frameworks) suggested by them. These four models they christened as Structural, Political, Symbolic and Human Resource. Bolman and Deal suggest that of these models might prove either a success or a failure depending on the specific situation in which it is being used, particularly in the context of West End Musical theatre of Cambridge Theatre. In the following section, we take a closer look at three of these models. 1) The Structural Framework: In a successful condition, a leader following this leadership model will be a â€Å"social architect† who relies deeply on close inspection and detailed planning. These leaders will concentrate on factors such as structure, stratagem, setting, execution, trailing and adjustment. If however, his/her condition is unsuitable for this sort of leadership he/she will be found to be a bit of a bully and a ‘tyrant for details’. 2) The Political Framework – In the appropriate setting the ‘Political’ leader is an activist who tirelessly campaigns to help his followers cooperate and unite. Such leaders clearly spell out their needs and the means by which they intend to gain them. They are quick to gauge the distribution of capacity of the workers under him/her and the interests his/her establishment is likely to milk out of them. Building relations with the stakeholders will always be their first priority. For this, they will be likely to use persuasion and later negotiation or even a certain amount of force or pressure, if required. Of course, if the setting is unsuitable for this particular variety of leadership such leaders will prove grave failures and be seen as pushy and unscrupulous. 3) The Human Resource Framework – In a successful leadership setting a Human Resource leader is a medium or a channel who serves as supporter or a promoter and whose main occupation is to help empowerment. A typical Human Resource leader’s primary characteristic is his/her tremendous belief in people. However, it is not just their faith that ultimately makes them successful; instead, it is their capacity to communicate that faith. Such a leader is easily accessible and believes in keeping themselves available and in full view. They communicate their conviction in their workers strongly enough to convince them of their own capacities! They believe in increasing each staff-members contribution to the decision making process and in keeping their employees thoroughly informed. They empower their workforce and make them work as a whole, as a full-functional team where everyone is capable of making significant contributions. If the setting is, however not right for this variety of leadership such a leader will be found to be deceitful and deceptive. He/she may also be thought to abdicate from his duties and leave essential decision in the hands of less-experienced people who are not in any position to make important choices. (King, 2006) As if every successful leader comes to understand with time and experience no one, leadership model is adequately effective in all situations. Therefore, leaders often use various combinations of the four different models. In addition, it is also made quite clear that neither of these models is universally accepted in all situations and thus the style of leadership to be followed is largely dependant on the specific situation in which it is being applied. Take for instance the specific situation we have in hand. Given the major organizational modification that EEST is likely to undergo after its purchase by Oust a Structural leader rather than a purely visionary one will be more suitable for it. This is because Structural Leadership lays great amount of emphasis on ‘building’. Under the circumstances, EEST is in much need of this sort of structuring. Given the new employees and the burden of the old tasks of up gradation, EEST needs new strategies, new methodologies, new approaches and a completely new plan. A Structural Leader is capable of providing this better than others provide. Under the circumstances, the Director of Order Fulfilment Applications in the Information Technology department must therefore keep in mind that his/her, department (and Organization) is in dire need of ‘details’ that will allow it a new definition. As the leader the Director has the specific duty of providing these specific ‘details’, as of now. With time as the sudden changes settle down and ‘normality’ is established again, the Director may want to turn his/her attention to the level of growth and use Human Resource methods to step up progress. (Lamb, 2004) Despite our choice of one particular style of leadership, even during times of crisis (such as an organizational overhaul), we must keep in mind that no one leadership model can be our sole key to success. Our managerial capacities are proved only by means of our ability to combine and amalgamate various styles in order to obtain the results we are keen on achieving. For this, it is important for us to understand and tabulate our specific requirements and desired outcome before everything else. It is also of some value to understand our own selves and find out what our personal style of leadership is. Often our own unique approach, though theoretically quite inappropriate in a given situation, can prove to be a real savoir. As it is assumed that Cambridge Theatre lacked a proper form of leadership, it can be stated that with the help of these models it could have been more successful during its early days. It can well be stated that Leadership of multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary team of professionals under the aspects of Management principals can be defined as the art of creating industrial relations of any kind. This is between people engaged in the industry, such as relation between employers and employees, relation between individuals entering into commercial contracts, relation between investors etc, in order to maintain true cooperation of all concerned along with motivating the entire deal into a positive favour. Efficiency of the Leadership of multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary team of professionals lies in not only making the employees to work, but to make them work willingly, sincerely and consciously, by employing new knowledge, new methods, new designs, new machines and novel techniques of production and by allaying mistrust and antagonism. The Leadership purpose takes account of a several activities, and the most important among them is making a decision what staffing requirements one have and whether to use autonomous contractors or take into service employees to meet these needs. This is in accordance to appointing and training the excellent employees, making sure that they are better performers, handling performance related problems, and ensuring that the human resources and administrational practices do the accepted thing to various set of laws. Wright indicated in his book, The Moral Animal: why we are the way we are, that a fundamental supposition of Leadership of multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary team of professional’s approaches. It is that the whole staffs of the organization including both the management and the workers equally contributes to the common purpose, share the common objective and have full attention in progress of the organization. The Leadership policies and ideals undergo constant changes due to influence of some basic factors such as domestic and international competition, changes in the social structure and developments in technology etc. (Wright, 2000)

Customer Service Essay

1. Organisations that intend to be successful need to design products, services and product/ service bundles to meet customer needs. How can they do this and how can they ensure that the organisation’s plans achieve quality, time and cost specifications agreed with customers? What data and records might be drawn upon to make plans intended to meet customer needs? Organisations that use market research to gather feedback from consumers regarding product design and product/ service bundles tend to be more successful that those who do not use market research as a business tool. Data received from the market research records that have been collected from any market research including surveys, questionnaires, focus groups or simply speaking with customers, are drawn upon to ensure the organisation achieves quality, time and cost specifications as per the customer’s requirements. For example, the Mining Village I currently work at have designed a total accommodation bundle for its clients. Each room is equipped with Wi-Fi, a Smart TV, air conditioning, refrigerator and advanced security systems. After a hard day’s work guests can unwind around the fireplace, watch a movie in the cinema, socialise in the Tavern and recreational room or work out at the gymnasium, pool or tennis court before sitting down to a meal in the restaurant. The cost of the bundles includes 3 meals a day plus use of the facilities as mentioned above. The Owner of the Village, has done market research with Companies who would require accommodation in the area with the Coal Steam and Gas development in the Area. They drew down on the information received and purposely built the accommodation to house those working in the area. The market research provided a edge to the company over the Hotels in the area, as the Village supplied everything the market were after. 2. What monitoring and evaluation procedures might be followed to ensure that the organisation keeps up with changes in customer needs and in market conditions, obtains and distributes resources appropriately and is able to consistently meet product quality and delivery standards? Monitoring and evaluation procedures are important to keep up with changes in customer needs and in market conditions. They ensure the organisation  obtains and distributes resources appropriately, and constantly meets product quality and delivery standards. Monitoring and evaluation procedures include interviewing and communicating with customer regularly, as market conditions and customer needs often change. It is important to find out their priorities, likes, dislikes and purchasing intentions, demographics and psychographics. Procedures also include measuring progress against the organisations vision, its goals, and its predetermined performance expectations and quality standards. KPIS and KRAs should be monitored as they provide measurement criteria. Data should be compared with the forecasted or expected performance, and measured against the organisational goals and against the individual, team/section/division and organisational KPI’s. Customer feedback is vital and can be collected through customer surveys, product testing, focus groups or simply speaking with the customers during sales transactions. Speaking with sales staff is also important, as they are the ones who deal with the customer’s every day. They are able to directly observe customer responses to products and to the service they receive. 3. How can customer feedback be collected and used and why is it necessary to consult with customers (internal and external) and with other stakeholders when monitoring and assessing the organisations progress toward achieving quality targets? Customer feedback should be collected and used to investigate and identify target markets, current and emerging needs, satisfaction levels and complaints. The ways you can collect feedback are through formal surveys including mail, email and phone, questionnaires, focus groups, speaking with customer service operators and speaking to customers while they shop or customer feedback forms. It is necessary to consult with customers and other stakeholders to identify progress towards the results, the likelihood of receiving the results towards quality targets and the impact of work against the targets.  Consulting with customers and stakeholders helps to keep the work on track, and can let you know if things are going according to plan. For example The Old Spaghetti Factory has Customer Feedback forms on their dining tables. Customers are able to fill in a feedback form to comment on customer service quality, food quality, speed of service and the dining experience overall. By collecting the feedback forms the managers are able to see if the team is performing up the standard the organisation is aiming for. 4. Within the organisation there will be groups of people or teams which work toward goal achievement. How can managers and supervisors ensure that team members have the skills needed to communicate effectively with customers and to provide excellent customer service? How might they assist colleagues in overcoming difficulties with meeting customer service standards? Managers and supervisors need to ensure that team members have to skills needed to communicate effectively with customers and to provide quality customer service. For this to be done, the managers and supervisors themselves need to have a clear understanding of the goals and objectives the organisation is trying to achieve in relation to customer service standards. They need to be able to help team members understand and act towards meeting those requirements. Managers and supervisors also need to be able to communicate well with team members. To ensure the employees are fulfilling the customer service requirements of the organisation, the manager or supervisor need to make sure the team members know how the organisation expects is employees to behave and what the organisation expects the team members to achieve in the workplace. Their performance should be measured and adjusted according to the organisations goals. To assist their colleagues, if they required assistance in overcoming difficulties in customer service standards, they need to communicate with their colleagues. They should ask if there was any reason as to why they are having difficulty reaching the customer service standards of the organisation. They should reiterate the company’s customer service standards and the reasons why they need to meet and exceed customer expectations, and how it impacts on the achievement of the organisations goals. The offer of support as well as retraining, coaching or mentoring should be given by the  manager or supervisor. Kerri has noticed that Terri work performance is lacking. She is being rude to the customers and is not completing the tasks that are required to provide superior customer service. Kerri has spoken with Terri and reiterated the organisations goals and objective in relation to customer service. She can see that Terri’s performance is lacking as she is unmotivated at work. Kerri has offered Terri a series of coaching sessions to help her be motivated and work to the organisations standards. 5. What procedures might be followed to identify problems with appropriate individuals and groups to adapt customer services, products and/or service delivery so that it continues to meet customer needs? KPIs and targets can be applied at individual level or as a department. Those who do not meet their targets can be coached or placed on a performance improvement plan to assist them in achieving their targets.

Assignment # 2 Self Assessment Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Assignment # 2 Self Assessment Paper - Essay Example Being a person who has higher tolerance of ambiguity I would be best suitable for the accounting and finance positions and jobs. This is because in these positions problems are solved with predefined methods and outcomes are usually known. According to the results of the test I have an internal locus of control (2 score) which means that I hold myself responsible for things that happen to me and the events that occur in my environment (Whetten, 78). The findings of this test are consistent with what I perceive about myself. I personally believe that in order to change the current conditions an individual has to take initiative and there is no third party or power involved who can make the conditions better for me. Being a person who has an internal locus of control I would be quite a responsible manager. As a manager I will blame myself for the success and the failures of me, my subordinates and the organization for which I will be working. The test recognized as the cognitive style indicator helped me in finding out that I have scored more than 3.7 in the areas of knowing, planning as well as creating. This means that as a manager and as decision maker I do not jump to make decisions and my decisions are based on facts and figures and while making decisions I take advice and input from my team members (Whetten, 74). Furthermore, the implementation of any decision taken by me will always be done in a well-planned manner. This means that I will first create a blueprint of how a decision will be implemented and what will be the pros and cons of those decisions and then implement the decision. In managerial position I will be quite flexible with new decisions and would be ready to indulge in trial and error while making decisions. The score that I attained was 35 from both the online as well as the book based emotional intelligence assessment which may mean that the tests are quite accurate. The point of

Economy of Ireland Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Economy of Ireland - Essay Example Inflation rate is a low two percent (2.7%). Ireland has chalked up a strong annual growth in Gross National Product and Gross Domestic Product. The National Development Plans are giving the economy a boost. Ireland can be considered as a small, open, trade-dependent economy and is one of the fastest growing economies in the developed world. Its openness is reflected in the international mobility of capital and by encouraging levels of foreign direct investment. With low tax rates, Ireland presents a very attractive economic climate for international and local businesses. In the field of international trade, the UK is the most important exporter to Ireland accounting for thirty-seven percent (37.1%) of all the Irish imports. The second biggest exported is the US at three percent (3.8%). The third exporter is Germany at nine percent (9.2%). Finally, the Netherlands accounts for more than four percent (4.5%.) The Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (CBFSAI) consists of two entities. The first entity is the Central Bank, which carries responsibility for the monetary policy functions, financial stability, economic analysis and currency, and payment systems. The second entity is the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority, which has the mandate of safeguarding the financial sector and providing consumer protection. The CBFSAI has a supervisory responsibility for over 1000 financial entities in Ireland, of which more than 80 are banks and around 400 are credit unions.The banking sector is a reliable contributor of the country's economic growth. The banking sector contributed six percent (6) to the Irish GNP in 2005 compared to three percent (3%) in 1998. Employment in banking has risen from 29,400 in 1998 to 37,700 in 2005, of which 82% represents retail banking. These retail banks have over a thousand branches and satellite offices. TOP IRISH BANKS The two major Irish banks, AIB Bank and Bank of Ireland, are both publicly listed companies. These companies have generated their capital through the Irish Stock Exchange. In each case, ownership is widely diversified, with over 100,000 shareholders, most of whom are private individuals with relatively small holdings. In the case of AIB Bank, 41 per cent of shareholders own fewer than 1,000 shares each, while in the case of Bank of Ireland this figure is 54 per cent. Taken as a whole, these small bank shareholders own only 1 per cent of the total bank shares. Moreover, the Irish clients normally transact with the bank branches for retail banking services. They continue to be the predominant form of access to banking services. The growth of new suburbs and the emergence of suburban shopping malls has led to the opening of bank branches in or near these centres. The top four banks in Ireland are Allied Irish Bank, Bank of Ireland, the National Irish Bank and Ulster Bank. Allied Irish Banks p.l.c. was formed in 1966 when three banks merged. The three banks had been established in 1825. The AIB's emphasis is on business banking in Britain in the 1970s. In the 1980s, the AIB formed a subsidiary, the FMB, which marked the

Beliefs In The Existence Of Ghosts And Poltergeists Term Paper

Beliefs In The Existence Of Ghosts And Poltergeists - Term Paper Example Saul was inclined to fits and visions, and perhaps in this instance, all that happened was that his imagination took over at a time when he was desperate. The prediction wasn’t even totally correct, although Saul would die at the hand of the Philistines – but that is likely to have happened anyway he was so disheartened. Webster’s Dictionary defines a ghost as being ‘a spirit or a demon, a disembodied soul.’ believed to be an inhabitant of an unseen world. Kipling, whose son died in the Ist World War and who might well have wanted contact with him, is warning people to leave well alone. The ghost of Samuel is not, of course, the only well known literary ghost. In the Odyssey, Homer describes how Circe advises Odysseus to consult the spirits of the dead. ( Odyssey 11 v 23-28.) There is also Hamlet’s father in Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Banquo in his Macbeth., the ghosts being devices to explain a character’s inner feelings or move the story on. ‘Whethering Heights’ by Emily Brontà © ( 1847) has its Kathy clawing at the windows. Dickens, of course, had Marley appearing to Scrooge ( A Christmas Carol, 1843), one of the few instances in literature where some good resulted. In modern-day films, we have the Ghostbusters and of course the Harry Potter films, both of which show ghosts as being evil things, although J.K. Rowling also portrays more gentle beings such as Harry’s parents. In C.S. Lewis’s ‘The Great Divorce’ (1945) the author describes ghosts who have to choose whether to give up their sins and go to he aven or whether they prefer to retain them and go to hell. Stevie Smith in her 1953 poem ‘ Not waving but drowning’ has the dead man explaining his predicament.

Understanding Stock Options Information Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Understanding Stock Options Information - Essay Example Understand how accumulation or distribution (Accumulation, the buying of stock, distribution is the sale of stock.), forecast the future expectation of stocks or options. Ascending and Descending tops P. 15 International Encyclopedia of Technical Analysis Page 15 and 16,), these illustrations show ascending and descending price top transitions, from time period- to- time period, that trail stock directions.Volatility charts show extremes —specifically, option volatility charts show relationships between puts, calls, strike prices, and expiration dates. Assumption associations are derived from historical patterns, price patterns,and supply and demand relationship. Historical relationships signal the likeness of direction, whereas, price patterns point to quantity of decrease and increase. â€Å"Market factors (Interest rate changes, economic conditions, political factors, announced pending acquisitions.), are already incorporated into current market price per share. If demand exceeds supply, the stock price will increase, and vice versa.†(International Encyclopedia Page 16 and 17, J. Siegel, J. Shim, A Qureshi, J Brauchler). Charts are technical, and fundamentals play little or no roll when the technician makes decisions to buy or sell. He’s only interested in charts — usually 50 or 200 day moving average charts, volume, and the accumulation or distribution of a stock. WHAT ARE OPTIONS?Options have basic uses. One, to hedge—using options to safeguard against the underlying stock reducing in value.... Understand how accumulation or distribution (Accumulation, the buying of stock, distribution is the sale of stock.), forecast the future expectation of stocks or options. (Ascending and Descending tops P. 15 International Encyclopedia of Technical Analysis Page 15 and 16,), these illustrations show ascending and descending price top transitions, from time period- to- time period, that trail stock directions. Volatility charts show extremes -specifically, option volatility charts show relationships between puts, calls, strike prices, and expiration dates. Assumption associations are derived from historical patterns, price patterns, and supply and demand relationship. Historical relationships signal the likeness of direction, whereas, price patterns point to quantity of decrease and increase. "Market factors (Interest rate changes, economic conditions, political factors, announced pending acquisitions.), are already incorporated into current market price per share. If demand exceeds supply, the stock price will increase, and vice versa." (International Encyclopedia Page 16 and 17, J. Siegel, J. Shim, A Qureshi, J Brauchler) Charts are technical, and fundamentals play little or no roll when the technician makes decisions to buy or sell. He's only interested in charts - usually 50 or 200 day moving average charts, volume, and the accumulation or distribution of a stock. WHAT ARE OPTIONS Options have basic uses. O ne, to hedge-using options to safeguard against the underlying stock reducing in value. Much the same way as an insurance policy pays upon death, a put option pays (Or goes up in value.) as the underlying stock goes down.

(industry FIVE FORCES analysis chapter) in my dissertation Essay

(industry FIVE FORCES analysis chapter) in my dissertation - Essay Example Bargaining Power of Suppliers Major suppliers of chemical manufacturers include: oil and gas companies (Data Monitor, 2011, p. 13, 16). Even though oil and gas products are homogenous or undifferentiated by nature, we should keep in mind these materials are non-renewable items. As a common knowledge, there is no other product substitute for oil and gas products. Considering the fact that there are only a few numbers of large-scale companies that could supply oil and gas to chemical manufacturers, the bargaining power of suppliers is considered high. Therefore, chemical manufacturers do not have the power to control the market prices of oil and gas products. Due to the fact the number of oil and gas suppliers is relatively few as compared to the number of chemical manufacturers around the world; the cost of switching from one supplier to another and suppliers’ dispensability is moderate (Data Monitor, 2011, p. 16). Bargaining Power of Buyers Large multinational companies that u sually purchase chemicals on a daily basis include manufacturing companies that manufacture the following items: plastic, perfume, pharmaceutical products, soap and detergents, shampoo, and people who are involved in agricultural businesses among others (Data Monitor, 2011, p. 13, 15). ... By nature, chemicals are undifferentiated products. For this reason, the buyers’ cost of switching from one chemical manufacturer to another and product dispensability is low (Data Monitor, 2011, p. 15). Even though establishing a strong business relationship with chemical manufacturers increase customer loyalty, the fact that the cost of switching is low makes the buyers’ tendency to switch from one chemical manufacturer to another moderate. In most cases, potential buyers are sensitive to price. Therefore, the only way for chemical manufacturers to persuade potential buyers to purchase their products is for them to be able to manufacture their products at a lower price. Rivalry among Existing Firms Competitors within the chemical manufacturing industry includes chemical manufacturers of basic chemicals (i.e. petrochemicals and plastic resins), specialty or fine chemicals (i.e. additives, paints, coating, fragrances, soaps, and detergents), pharmaceutical products (i.e . medicinal active ingredients and formulations), fertilizer and agrochemicals (i.e. chemical fertilizers and herbicides, insecticides) (Data Monitor, 2011, p. 7). Because of the continuously increasing number of chemical manufacturers in the global markets, the market competition within the chemical manufacturing industry is intensely competitive. In fact, there are quite a lot of local and international companies that are continuously competing for the same group of customers. Upon analyzing the chemical manufacturing industry, it is clear that the rivalry among the manufacturers of chemicals is very intense due to the fact that these companies are

An Appeal Letter for My Suspension Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

An Appeal Letter for My Suspension - Assignment Example I admit that I had a difficult time when trying to submit my papers through the internet. I do not mean to make justifications for the overdue submission, but I would like to clarify the situation. I recognize that I had plenty of time to tackle my pieces. Nevertheless, I completed the papers on time. However, I encountered some difficulties while I was trying to send my papers. The delayed submission of my papers was mainly because of the internet problem. I had to wait and by the time of resolving the internet problem, it was already late. I had the hard copies with me, but since you do not accept them, I had to wait and this made me submit the papers late. I know I ought not to have waited until the end to submit the paper, but I also had other personal problems that led to the late submission. I could have handled the assignment so well if my mother had not gotten very ill. While I was in school, my problems at home still affected me since I could not focus on my assignments. I recognize that ought to have informed you about it early enough, but I thought I could handle the issues but I failed. I like my course and this university and it would be very important for me to graduate from this school since finishing a college degree is fundamental within my family. If you withdraw the suspension, I will focus more on my studies and submit all my assignments on time. I promise that I will take fewer hours to complete my assignments and manage my time wisely so that I can beat deadlines. This will enable me to submit my assignments very early to avoid internet problems at the last minutes of papers submission in future. In addition, I have talked with my advisor, and I promise to follow his advice concerning communicating with my instructors early enough in case I encounter any problems. Additionally, I will get a tutor for those courses, which I find hard. Therefore, I have acquainted myself with the tutors at the college.

American Indian Myths And Legends Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

American Indian Myths And Legends - Essay Example Raweno was giving the rabbit some of the specific features he wanted, but the owl, impatient for his chance, disturbed him, and in a fit of anger Raweno smacked him in the eyes which made them very large and punished him, saying henceforth he would stay awake in the nights. â€Å"Butterflies†, In this story, the myth behind the creation of butterflies is shown. They were made by the Creator, when he wanted to preserve the beauty of the fall colors and so he put all the colors together in a bag and gave it to the children playing there, who upon opening it, released the butterflies into the air. â€Å"The Great Race† tells how men became more powerful than beasts. A race decided the fate of animals, where the mighty buffalo was pitted against four birds, fielded by humans instead of them to take part in the race. The defeat of the buffalo by the humble magpie, made animals the food of humans and since then buffaloes have been hunted. â€Å"The Raven† tells how the bird came into being. Raven was a lazy man who ate up an old woman’s clams. The clams made him thirsty and as he searched for water the woman came to know of this and turned him into a bird, which is remembered to this day as the biggest thief. (Sabino, Wu,

Marketing Communications Management at ALDI Group Case Study

Marketing Communications Management at ALDI Group - Case Study Example ALDI had a long-standing reputation of being a cheap discounted chain and often in West Germany, before about 1990, ALDI shops were often ridiculed as being cheap shops selling poor-quality goods. ALDI's customers were alleged to be only poor people who couldn't afford to shop elsewhere. ALDI also had a hard marketing strategy in that it refused to sell branded products and stuck to its private label products claiming that it helped to cut prices. Although ALDI is very popular in its own target segment, the company decided that a complete revamp was needed. The 500 million pound budget was aimed at improving the existing stores and building new ones. The image of the store was to be upgraded to target middle Britain while carrying specialty products was aimed to bring in upmarket customers and retaining them. Above all the image upgrade was aimed at encroaching into the market shares of its close competitors Tesco and Sainsbury. The ultimate aim was to have 217 more stores by the year 2010, totaling about 500 in the U.K alone. ALDI's strategy for marketing consisted of a TV campaign helped along by an outdoor poster activity and newspaper advertising. The common thread that binds them together is the catchphrase," Spend a little, live a lot". ALDI which embarked on this campaign had never undertaken any kind of PR activity during its past years of existence. The hard discount concept is all about keeping expenses to a minimum so the stores can undercut the main supermarkets on their limited ranges of 650 to 1 200 products, depending on the operator. ALDI's website tries to push the quality angle. It talks about quality products and wide choice "that combine with prices that never fail to astonish first-time shoppers [...] our stringent selection process enables us to offer our customers own- brand products whose quality matches that of leading brands." ALDI has also has entertained the media at one its store openings and tried to improve its visibility in the eyes of the general public through the publicity. In the US, it has used weekly inserts in the newspapers to garner public attention.

Cybercrime Definition Essay Example for Free

Cybercrime Definition Essay 1: What is a cybercrime in your own words? Cybercrime, also called computer crime because the use of a computer is used as tool to help people meet their illegal ends. Some cybercrime examples are committing fraud, trafficking in child pornography and intellectual property, stealing other peoples identity, or violating privacy of others. 2: What is the extent of cybercrime in the United States? Cyber crimes here in the United States are becoming very dangerous and serious, this could include online scams, also here in the United States we are the highest target for cyber crimes. And sometimes, it is very hard to measure the extent of cyber-crime in the US, due to the fact that when authorities record cyber-crime, they dont necessarily record it as a computer-related offense. It is most often recorded as fraud or some other conventional crime. The people who hack alone cost the US billions of dollars every year. 3: How do you think we should control / enforce cybercrime? Well, One of the first steps you can take is to add firewalls to your computer so that scams and viruses are less likely to bug your computer. Also, one of the major steps, always make sure not to give out your personal information and only shop on secure websites. I never give out any personal information of mine online unless it is 100 percent secure. If it is not secure somebody else could have your identity very quick. Costing you a lot of money. I definitely do not want my identity stolen. Most â€Å"secure† websites will have a logo saying â€Å"Website Secured.†These steps will help ensure that some negative activity does not occur. 4: Do you think enforcement can be effective? Why or why not? Yes, definitely because at least it can guarantee us safety in the worldwide web and it could also teaches us to be more well discipline and to strengthen the norms that is governing that society. Enforcement could maybe dig more deeper into this and help find who is commiting these cybercrimes. There should not be any mysteries or â€Å"excuses† as far as how to solve or lessen cybercrime. I know that the government can find these cyber criminals as we all know that our government has more advanced technology than we can possibly imagine.

Physical Exertion Affect Bone Growth Health And Social Care Essay

Physical Exertion Affect Bone Growth Health And Social Care Essay Compact bone is hard due to mineral deposits of calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate (calcium and phosphorus). This bone consists of tightly packed osteons or haversian systems and many layers with few gaps on this tissue therefore it is dense and hard. The hard minerals and flexible collagen makes bone strong. Each osteon consist of concentric layers of hard mineralized matrix (concentric lamellae). Bones consist mainly of calcium. Calcium is important it is a cofactor for enzyme function, in maintaining cell membranes, in muscle contraction, nervous system functions, and in blood clotting. When the diet does not provide a sufficient amount of calcium, it is released from the bones, and when there is too much calcium in the body, it is stored in the bones. Vitamin D is important for proper absorption of calcium in the small intestine. Vitamin D is found in foods such as eggs, milk and other dairy products. Vitamin D forms from a substance (dehydrocholesterol) produced by cells in the digestive tract or obtained in the diet. Dehydrocholesterol is carried by the blood to the skin, it is converted to a compound that becomes vitamin D. Skin helps to manufacture vitamin D from ultraviolet light, which is important to normal bone growth and development. The organic substances of bone give it a certain degree of flexibility. The inorganic portion of bone is made from mineral salts such as calcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, calcium fluoride, magnesium phosphate, sodium oxide, and sodium chloride. These minerals give bone its hardness and durability. The bone became brittle and elastic due to loss of calcium. In rickets condition bones become soft, brittle due to lack of calcification, causing deformities as bowlegs. In the absence of this vitamin, calcium is poorly absorbed, and the inorganic salt portion of bone matrix lacks calcium causing bone deformities. In children, this condition is called rickets, and in adults, it is called osteomalacia. Vitamin A is important for osteoblast and osteoclast activity during normal development. The deficiency of vitamin A may retard bone development. Vitamin C is required for collagen synthesis. If osteoblasts produce less collagen in the intercellular material of the bone tissue this deficiency will make bones fragile. Bone adapts to changing stresses and forces. When muscles increase and become more powerful due to exercise, the corresponding bones also become thicker and stronger through stimulation of osteoblasts. Regular exercise maintains normal bone structure. Bones which are not subjected to normal stresses, such as an injured leg immobilized in a cast, quickly degenerate. Without exercise the bone tissue becoming thinner and weaker (atrophy). 2. How do the relative proportions of the cranium and face of a fetus compare with those of the adult skull? The skull consists of two sets of bones: cranial and the facial bones. The soft spots of a babys skull are areas of incompletely ossified bones called fontanels. The bones of the skull are connected by fibrous, pliable, connective tissue at birth. The flexibility of these connections allows the skull bones to move and overlap as the infant passes through the birth canal. The fontanels begin to close about two months after birth. The largest of the fontanels, the frontal fontanel located on the top of the skull, does not close until 18 to 24 months of age. Cranial bones are thin and slightly curved. During infancy, these bones are held together by an irregular band of connective tissue called a suture. As the child grows, this connective tissue ossifies and turns into hard bone. The frontal bone and mandible are separate right and left bones but fuse medially by age 5 or 6. In newborn, face is flat and the cranium is large. The brain grows faster than the rest of body meaning the head is larger than body, and in adults the head is smaller than body. The infants cranium is big comparing to its face, have two openings called fontanels, the bones of the skull consist of four plates that are not fused 3. How does the shape of the joint impact its ability to move? Some joints are very flexible, allowing movement, while others are strong, providing protection of the internal tissues and organs, but do not permit movement. The fibrous joints are mostly immovable. The three types of fibrous joints are sutures, syndesmoses, and gomphoses. Sutures provide protection for the brain and are only found in the adult skull. They are immovable joints. A syndesmoses joint is a joint where the bones do not touch each other and are held together by fibrous connective tissue. A gosphosis joint is composed of peg and socket. A synarthrosis joint is immovable. An amphiarthrosis joint is slightly movable. A diarthrosis joint is a freely movable joint. The movable joints consist of three main parts: articular cartilage, a bursa (joint capsule), and a synovial (joint) cavity. Functional Category Structural Category Example Synarthrosis (immovable joints) Fibrous Suture Gomphosis Cartilaginous Synchondrosis Between bones of adult skull Between teeth and jaw Epithyseal cartilages Amphiarthrosis (little movement) Fibrous Syndesmosis Cartilaginous Symphysis Between the tibia and fibula Between right and left public bones of pelvis Between adjacent vertebral bodies along vertebral column Diarthrosis (free movement) Synovial Elbow, ankle, ribs, wrist, shoulder, hip Type of Joint Type of Movement Example Planar Gliding Joints between carpals and tarsals Hinge Flexion and extension Elbow, knee, and ankle Pivot Rotation Atlantoaxial joint (between first and second vertebrae) Condyloid Abduction and adduction Wrist joint Saddle Flexion, extension, metacarpal abduction, adduction Carpometacarpal joint (between bone of thumb and carpal bone of wrist) circumduction Ball-and-Socket Rotation, abduction, adduction, circumduction Shoulder and hip joints 4. Why is articular cartilage important? The articular cartilage covers and protects the bone ends. The articular cartilage also acts as a shock absorber. The articular capsule encloses the joint structure. Articular cartilage is a highly organized avascular tissue composed of chondrocytes embedded within an extracellular matrix of collagens, proteoglycans and noncollagenous proteins. Its primary function is to enable the smooth articulation of joint surfaces, and to cushion compressive, tensile and shearing forces. The articular cartilage is a layer of hyaline cartilage. Hyaline cartilage has one of the lowest coefficients of friction known for any surface to surface contact. The synovial fluid and cartilages make joint movements friction-free. Case Study: Fractured leg Chief Complaint: 14-year-old girl admitted with a broken left leg. History: Nicole Michaelson, a 14-year-old girl, was skiing when she fell and broke her left leg. As she fell, her left leg got caught under the body of another skier who ran into her. An X-ray revealed that the fracture was a compound, tibial-fibular fracture just below the knee. The X-ray also revealed a torn meniscal cartilage in the knee above the fracture. The girl remained in the hospital for 14 days because of an infection of the leg in the area of skin breakage. Her immobilized leg was casted after the infection subsided. She remained in a full leg-length cast for 3 months, after which the upper portion of the cast was removed and she was allowed to start bearing weight on the leg. The bones ultimately healed, but the girl continued to have left knee swelling (water on the knee) and pain made worse by walking. Arthroscopic examination of the knee revealed a meniscus that was still torn 6 months after her injury. Questions 1. What does the term tibial-fibular fracture mean? It is a fracture of both the tibia and fibula in the lower leg below the knee. 2. What is a compound fracture? When fracture occurs, there is swelling due to injury and bleeding tissues. A compound fracture is where the broken bone ends pierce and protrude through the skin. This cause infection of the bone and neighboring tissues. The process of restoring bone is done through three methods: closed reduction, open reduction, and traction. 3. Why was her injury more likely to become infected than a routine fracture of the leg? Nicole has an open/compound fracture where the broken bone ends pierce and protrude through the skin. This can cause infection of the bone and neighboring tissues since the skin is normally colonized with bacteria. The infections of osseous tissue are difficult to treat. 4. Describe the microscopic features of osseous tissue that help long bones withstand lateral stress without breaking. The lateral stress placed on Nicoles left tibia and fibula causing: 1. Stretching/tearing on the side opposite of the impact The bony collar withstands tearing apart by vertically arranged bundles of tough collagen in the extracellular matrix of bone. This collagen is lined up in a spiraling vertical pattern in which the fibers in each lamella are perpendicular to those in adjacent lamellae. 2. Compression of the bone on the side of impact The bony collar have a stress on lateral impact. It withstands the pressure/stress/crushing by tough hydroxyapatite crystals in its extracellular matrix. These hydroxyapatite crystals serve as weight-bearing pillars for the bone. They arranged in layers within the osteons (Haversian systems) of compact bone. The middle area (medullary cavity) is filled with red and yellow bone marrow. The tough compact bone is not needed in the middle therefore compressive and tearing forces cancel each other out in mid-way through the bone. 5. Describe the microscopic features of the osseous tissue that help long bones withstand compressive forces without breaking The bony collar of long bones helps to support the weight of the body and withstand compressive stress. Epiphysis a spongy bone tissue is spherical in shape and is located at both the distal and proximal end of a long bone. Spongy bone tissue consists of an irregular latticework of thin needle-like threads of bone called trabeculae. The spongy bone in the epiphyses helps withstand compressive forces, it is well designed to pass on strength to a bone by adding minimum weight. The trabeculae develops along the bones line of stress, and help to distribute the weight of the body out to the bony collar of the diaphysis. Diaphysis is the long, cylindrical, hollow shaft of the bone. Trabeculae distributes the weight evenly. 6. What features of the knee joint structure help minimize friction between the thighbone and the leg bone? When two movable bones meet at a joint, their surfaces do not touch one another. The tow articular joint surfaces are covered with a smooth, slippery cap of cartilage known as articular cartilage. This cartilage helps to absorb shocks and prevent friction between parts. Enclosing two articular surfaces of the bone is a tough, fibrous connective tissue capsule called an articular capsule. Lining the articular capsule is a synovial membrane, which secretes synovial fluid into the synovial cavity. Synovial joints are type of joint in the body, permitting the greatest range of movement. The knee joint is an examples of synovial joints. The synovial joint consists of a synovial cavity, articular cartilage, a fibrous articular capsule, and ligaments. The lubricating fluid (synovial fluid) in the capsule secreted into joint cavities. This fluid reduces the friction between the tibia and femur during extension and flexion of the knee. The synovial fluid secreted serves as a lubricant to prev ent friction between a tendon and a bone. The articualr surfaces of the tibia and femur are covered with smooth hyaline cartilage. This cartilage reduces friction between the bones. The medial and lateral menisci (fibrocrtilage) that locates on top of the tibial surface. On the distal surface of the femur the shape of lateral condyles and medial match the shapes of the menisci, this match shape stabilizes the knee joint and gives a shock absorbing function during weight-bearing. 7. Describe the changes a broken bone undergoes as it is healing. Healing process stages: A. Hematoma (fracture hematoma-blood clot) and granulation tissue forms- when bone breaks, blood leaks out of the veins and forms a clot (fracture hematoma). This helps to keep both pieces lined up for mending and stabilize the bone. B. Soft callus forms 1. fibroblasts and osteoblasts migrate in from the periosteum and endosteum (takes 1st 3 to 4 weeks) 2. fibroblasts lay down a collagen matrix, some of the fibroblasts (osteogenic cells) differentiate into chondroblasts (cartilage-forming cells) and produce patches of fibrocartilage (soft callus) C. Hard callus osteoblasts begin to replace the fibrocartilage splint with spongy bone to join the broken ends or bone fragments together, forming a bulge which is wider than the after the injury. It takes 4 to 6 weeks for a hard callus to form. The broken bone is immobilized by cast to prevent reinjury. D. Remodeling Osteoclasts dissolve small fragments of broken bone, and osteoblasts deposit spongy bone to connect the gap between the broken ends. As the patient starts to use the bone (weight bearing), the bone starts to remodel along lines of maximal stress (requires the activity of both osteoblasts and osteoclasts) hard callus remodeled bone (the fracture leaves a slight thickening of the bone it is shows up on an X-ray). 8. How does weight bearing influence the bone repair process you described above? (i.e. what effect does weight-bearing have on the orientation of the Haversian systems?) Wolffs law is a hypothesis related to the effect of weight-bearing on bone remodeling. This law states that bone grows and remodels in response to the mechanical stresses placed upon it, therefore the bone adapts to withstand those stresses. The bone locates along lines of maximal stress. The reasons are: 1). long bones are the thickest midway down the diaphysis, since the stresses are the greatest in this location. 2). curved bones are the thickest where they are most likely to buckle 3). the bony plates in spongy bone for weight-bearing 4). large bony processes are located where muscles attach to/pull on bone The Haversian systems in bones locates along the lines of maximal stress. If persons exercise activities change, the microscopic structure of bones change. High-heeled shoes transfer the balanced distribution of the weight of the body form between the calcaneus (the heel bone) and the matatarsals (bones in the ball of the foot) to just the metatarsals. As a result, the arches of the foot do not absorb the force of the bodys weight, which may lead to injuries of the soft tissue structures, joints, and bones. Also, if woman wears flat shoe most of the time she will undergo a bone remodelling if she will start to wear high-heeled shoes. Fibular grafts can be used in remodelling process to replace arm bones due to medical condition such as cancer or some other injuries. If patient have had the mid-portion of his/her tibia removed, it can be replaced with fibular graft. The patient with such replacement will be able to do a weight-bearing on the graft. 9. Why did Nicoles bones heal much more quickly than her cartilage? Nicoles bones heal faster than her cartilage due to high vascularity. Bone contains of many blood vessels which allows a good blood supply and cartilage contains very few blood vessels (poor blood supply). The materials for healing move rapidly between blood vessels and bone cells. Cartilage receives its nutrients indirectly though diffusion from neighboring tissues and synocial fluid. Osteoblasts and osteoclasts repair and reshape the bone in faster rate. Osteoclasts dissolve small fragments of broken bone, and osteoblasts deposit spongy bone to connect the gap between the broken ends. Tendons and ligaments blood supply is between bone and cartilage. Tendons and ligaments heal faster than cartilage but slower than bone. The six month after Nicoles injury her meniscus was still damaged, torn meniscal cartilage should be removed via arthroscopic surgery.

Right Buy Tenants

Right Buy Tenants Right to buy, the dominant form of housing tenure in the Britain for council tenants, competes against private and mixed economy ownership housing- provided by private initiatives and private rented accommodation. Right to Buy was famously encouraged by Margaret Thatcher (Prime Minister from 1979-1990) through the 1980 Housing Act and the notion of a property-owning democracy. Whilst it brings many advantages, Right to Buy is not without its disadvantages. This essay seeks to analyse the advantages and disadvantages of a system where right to buy as the dominant form of tenure. First, the background of Right to Buy will be explored, with arguments in favour and against how the sale of council houses became a major element in local housing policies in the UK. The Background of Right to Buy. The Conservative Party Manifesto of 1979 reads â€Å"Many families who live on council estates and in new towns would like to buy their own homes but either cannot afford to or are prevented by the local authority or the Labour government. The time has come to end these restrictions. In the first session of the next Parliament we shall therefore give council and new town tenants the legal right to buy their homes, while recognising the special circumstances of rural areas and sheltered housing for the elderly. Subject to safeguards over resale, the terms we propose would allow a discount on market values reflecting the fact that council tenants effectively have security of tenure. Our discounts will range from 33 per cent after three years, rising with length of tenancy to a maximum of 50 per cent after twenty years. We shall also ensure that 100 per cent mortgages are available for the purchase of council and new town houses. We shall introduce a right for these tenants to obtain limited term options on their homes so that they know in advance the price at which they can buy, while they save the money to do so. As far as possible, we will extend these rights to housing association tenants. At the very least, we shall give these associations the power to sell to their tenants. Those council house tenants who do not wish to buy their homes will be given new rights and responsibilities under our Tenants Charter†1 The Right to Buy which was introduced by the Conservative Government under Margaret Thatcher provided a new framework for the sale of public sector housing in Britain. The statutory Right to Buy replaced local discretion and applied to the bulk of secure tenants with three years tenancy. The new policy applied to flats as well as houses. It involved much higher discounts and few exemptions. It was highly publicised and made more attractive by the expectation that rents would continue to rise. (Jones Murie, 2006) There were attempts by various Conservative local authorities since the end of the Second World War to sell council houses. In 1967 Francis Frederick Griffin- a leader of the Tory council in Birmingham wrote that the Partys policy was based upon the belief that government, both local and national, should have as little to do with peoples lives as possible. Griffin (1967) explains: â€Å"We (the Tory council) determined that it was the function of the local authority to serve the people, not master them†¦ We decided that the vital principle of local government was to interfere as little as possible rather than as much as would be tolerated.† After seven months in power they had sold 2,101 homes, which included a reduction of up to 10 percent for long-term residents.2 Many council tenants exercised their right-to-buy. By November 1982 the government said more than 400,000 people had bought their council homes. The right-to-buy scheme was subsequently extended to tenants in leasehold properties. During this period the conservative housing policy proved extremely popular and was seen as a major vote winner for Mrs Thatcher in 1979 and again in 1983.3 Looking at today, with approximately 70% of public sector households in England being under owner occupation, it is easily the assumption that home ownership is the obvious and rational form of housing tenure, and always has been. However, in 1914 home ownership in England stood at only 10%, rising to around 49% in 1971 and 69% in 2002 4 Murie (1998) explains: The nineteenth century man of property did not own his own home Britain, at the turn of the century, was a nation of tenants and this applied to rural and urban areas and to the rich and the poor. Home ownership should not therefore be viewed as the natural tenure mass home ownership is a product of post-war history. (Murie in Marsh Mullins ed., 1998: 80) Farther, whilst home ownership may be the most favourite form of housing tenure in Britain today, other countries see varying forms of housing tenure. Ireland and Spain from statistics in carried out in 1991 showed over 80% home ownership, the UK with 67%, the US at 59%, Germany on 40% and Switzerland with only 29% home ownership. 5 The variation is clearly huge, and by exploring the differences between countries with high and low home occupation some advantages and disadvantages can partly be illustrated. The Right to Buy brought a fundamental change to local society, not least in fracturing the community. Previously, every tenant had one enemy the council. Now peoples problems were more personalised everybody was seemingly fighting their own battles rather than the one big collective threat. Council Tenants who cannot afford homes and flats of theirs due to the expensive cost of ownership can get 33% discount on the market value of their home, increasing in stages up to 50% for a tenancy of 20 years. Mrs Thatchers government of 1979 and again in 1983 believes the bill will transform the social structure of Britain for good. Michael Heseltine, secretary of state for the environment during the conservative government, said: This bill lays the foundations for one of the most important social revolutions of this century. 3 But Shelter, the organisation for homeless people, has said the move will increase the number of homeless people and decrease the number of homes available to accommodate them. And critics have accused the Thatchers government of being too generous to council house tenants while Labour Party believe the cost to the public purse from the implementation of the Right to Buy Policy will be at least  £5,000 per sale but the Conservatives maintain that central and local government will save millions through the reduction of subsidy to council house tenants.3 Homes are expensive hence home ownership is out of the reach of most council tenants earning an average of  £7,500 in 1982. Most home owners take out a loan a mortgage to buy their home. Few people have huge sums of money readily available without borrowing. Usually, a mortgage isnt required only if the purchaser has another house to sell for example, if theyre trading down. Before the Right to Buy Policy, it was extremely hard for a council tenant to borrow enough necessary to buy a home. Conservative government policy has been seen to strongly influence the increase in property ownership for renting council accommodation. Thatchers government of 1979-1990 is most notorious for pushing the notion of a property-owning democracy and actively encouraged this through the right-to-buy policy. But whilst perhaps the most well known and crucial, Thatchers government is by no means the only to advocate home ownership. Blairs New Labour government commenced the Starter Home Initiative in 2001 to help key workers, primarily teachers, health workers and the police, to buy a home in areas where high house prices are undermining recruitment and retention 6 Interestingly, in April 2004 this scheme was succeeded by the Key Worker Living scheme to help key workers in London, the South East and East of England to buy a home, upgrade to a family home or rent a home at an affordable price7 (italics mine). The Nature of Right to Buy Murie (2006) writes that the nature of the Right to Buy has contributed to the process of social change associated with council housing. It has also been reported that more affluent tenants have bought homes and left the sector, so the sector which remains has a narrower social base with a higher proportion of low-income households and those dependent on welfare benefits. It has become more strikingly a tenure of younger households and older people. The conventional role of council housing in housing families with children has become less evident. The social rented sector as a whole is now smaller and has a different demography than in the past. Regionally and locally, social rented housing is most rampant in areas where there has been a loss of employment and where demand for labour is very low. The Impacts: Since the tenure of Thatchers government, there can be no doubting the impact of the Right to Buy. Some 30 per cent of tenants have exercised the Right to Buy. The majority of these have benefited considerably from the process. The volume of sales and capital receipts has far surpassed expectations. By 2003 it was estimated some 1.5 million council homes had been sold. Very substantial rates of sale have changed council housing. Where they have been the highest, the council sector has been transformed. It is a much smaller sector with a different stock than in the past. The sale of council houses has also transformed the owner-occupied sector. In some areas, the owner-occupied sector is essentially a product of public sector activity. In those districts which had the largest council housing stock, former council houses now comprise a major part of the private sector. (Jones Murie, 2006) General Advantages Disadvantages of Right to Buy One arguments for Right to Buy is that it provides protection for purchasers in the initial five-year period and in addition, the lack of capital investment by local councils has tended to reduce the potential for conflict between leaseholders and the council. The levels of discount associated with the Right to Buy mean that households do not over-extend themselves in buying properties. Council house purchasers are not more likely to experience arrears and repossession problems than other purchasers. However, Ball (1986) voiced a strong counter argument, writes that successive property condition surveys show a rapid escalation of dilapidation in Britains housing stock. Some of the greatest increases are in the owner-occupied stock. (1986: 44). So what reason can there be for this? It is important to understand the just because someone owns a property, does not mean that they have disposable income to hand. Ball also writes that recent house condition surveys have shown alarming increases in the extent of disrepair in owner-occupied dwellings because owners cannot afford to repair them. (1986: 3). Rather than viewing a home as an asset, it is more sensible to view its mortgage payments as a liability, presuming a mortgage must be paid. Another argument against Right to Buy by Jones Murie (2006) is that it has resulted in the best council properties being sold to the most affluent tenants in the middle stages of the family cycle. Neither the youngest nor the oldest tenants have bought, leaving fewer tenants in their forties, fifties and sixties. But there is a general consensus that the majority of those who have purchased a house under the Right to Buy have experienced a relatively trouble-free episode. Depending on when people bought, most have experienced a major increase in property values. Whilst the property may be increasing in market value, that is largely irrelevant if the property is not sold. The home only becomes an asset when, and if, it is sold. Conclusion The Right to Buy legislation which came into effect 1980 presented a straightforward set of choices for tenants and a way of extending the existing level of owner-occupation. In the late 1990s the situation is very different. The Right to Buy continues to operate and has become successively more generous. The levels of discount which have applied, especially for flats, are difficult to justify and themselves may unduly influence tenants decisions. The Right to Buy has also operated in a more complex policy environment with a considerable number of exceptions and exclusions within the social rented sector. Tenants in different parts of the social rented sector have a different range of choices. There is a case for rationalisation and for developing more comparable rights and opportunities for all tenants. Endnotes 1. Source: Richard Kimbers Political Science Resources (Mar 2008) Conservative Party Manifesto 1979, online:http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/man/con79.htm 2. Source: Harold Hill Estate Webpage, The Conservative Start Selling Council Houses http://www.haroldhill.org/chapter-three/page-five-conservatives-start-selling-council-houses.htm 3. BBC News Online (20 Dec 1979) Council tenants will have right to buy, online: http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/20/newsid_4017000/4017019.stm 4. Data for 1971-2002 from National Statistics Online (20 April 2004) A summary of changes over time Housing tenure , online: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=821 5. Source: Steve Kangas Web Page, data reproduced with permission from Michael Wolff, Peter Rutten, Albert Bayers III, and the World Rank Research Team (New York: Bantam Books, 1992) Where We Stand, online: http://www.huppi.com/kangaroo/8Comparison.htm 6. Communities and Local Government, New Starter Home Initiative to help key workers, online: http://www.communities.gov.uk/citiesandregions/publicationscities/urbanwhitepaper/urbanwhitepaper/implementationplanmain/sectiondproviding/221045/newstarter/ 7. Communities and Local Government, Key Worker Living, online: http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/buyingselling/ownershipschemes/homebuy/keyworkerliving/ 8. Joseph Rowntree Foundation (Dec 1998) Reviewing the Right to Buy , online: http://www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/housing/hrd28.asp Bibliography References Ball, Michael (1986) Home ownership: a suitable case for reform, London: Shelter Jones, Colins Murie, A (2006) Right to Buy Analysis and Evolution of a Housing Policy , Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Malpass, P Murie, A (1982) Housing Policy Practice, London: Macmillan Marsh, A Mullins, D ed. (1998) Housing Public Policy, Buckingham: OUP Merrett, Stepehn (1982) Owner-occupation in Britain, London: Routledge Pawley, Martin (1978) Home ownership, London: Architectural Press