Realities Of Homelessness Essays - Homelessness, Humanitarian Aid

Realities Of Homelessness For many, the term homeless conjures up an image of middle-aged alcoholic and unemployable males sleeping on park benches, in doorways, and on sidewalks. The reality, however, is homelessness affects all of our humanity. Families are homeless. Many babies go from the hospital into the shelter system, never knowing what it is like to go home. Women are another subgroup of the homeless. Individuals with mental illness, alcohol or drug addictions are homeless. The elderly are homeless. The disabled are homeless. The number of homeless Americans is large and growing larger. The exact number is unknown, but estimates range from 250,000 to over 3 million people. One factor that contributes to homelessness is lack of affordable and decent housing. In the late 1970's, Phoenix demolished 4000 inexpensive hotel rooms in the downtown area that were occupied by people who could not affort other housing. What happened to those people? Where did they go to live? A guess would be, on the street. An estimated 25 to 50% of the homeless are thought to suffer from serious and chronic forms of mental illness. Social Issues

effects of marijuna essays

effects of marijuna essays Cannabis Sativa (marijuana) has been thought to be an illegal and very harmful drug for many years. But as you read this report you will learn that marijuana has been around for many years (most years legal) and isn't as harmful as some people may think. Marijuana has been used for many things in the past, including medicine, hemp rope, crude cloth and enjoyment. Now it is mainly used as a narcotic. Marijuana is an illegal weed that grows up to eighteen feet tall with little or no cultivation. The plant has many branches that extend with large, hairy, pointed leaves with saw tooth edges. Marijuana grows wild all over the world and in some states and countries it's legal. Cloth and rope are made from the stem which contains a tough fiber called "hence." The mind-altering drug in marijuana is called "Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannibinol," or THC. The mildest form of marijuana contains between zero to three percent of THC. Most of the THC is contained in the resign, which is secreted around the flowers, seeds, and topmast leaves. Until recently it was thought that only the female plant contained the drug. But it is now known that both the female and the male plants contain THC. THC stays in the body for about 28 days. Marijuana can be prepared many different ways therefore it has many different ways of entering the body. When smoked the THC goes into the lungs, directly into the bloodstream and to every cell in your body. The effects depend upon the level of potency and how much is consumed. The main effects of smoking are: the heart rate may increase from 80 beats to 150 beats a minute, the bronchial tubes enlarge and become relaxed allowing extra oxygen to enter the body, giving a "High" like feeling. There are no immediate physiological effects. The feeling usually lasts from one to three hours. Marijuana can also be ingested as a drink, cakes, brownies or many other foods. When consumed in foods the effects start after one half-hour and ...

11 Crucial Skills To Learn Before You Turn 25

11 Crucial Skills To Learn Before You Turn 25 You’re 24 and freaking out. On the one hand, you’re still so young and most of your adult life is before you, pristine and for the taking. On the other, you’re nearly 25. Avoid the impending quarter life crisis by helping yourself prepare. It is possible to feel like an adult at 24, and set yourself up for great success in your life and career. Lay down this good foundation now- while you still have a chance. Here are 11 skills every 24-year-old should master on the start of a long career path.1. Sell YourselfEven if you aren’t working in sales and never want to! So much of business success boils down to sales of one kind or another. Remember that you will have to present yourself as an asset and hot commodity many times in your career; what is anything but another sales pitch? Once you realize where (and how often) sales come into play, you can work that to your advantage and start to really pull ahead of the pack.2. Expand Your HorizonsYour comfort zone is only going to hold you back- in life and work. Spread your wings a little into your personal danger zone. Eat something you would never think to try. Travel to a place you wouldn’t ordinarily choose for vacation. Get experience in a job or neighborhood that doesn’t match your upbringing. Broaden your horizons. Try new things. Start risky ventures. Take on a challenging project. This is the time for all this learning. You’ll get a better perspective on the world, the people in it, and yourself.3. Get a Party TrickFigure out one thing that you are good at- or would like to be. And don’t just get good at it. Get really good at it. If it’s your job, so much the better. But if it’s a hobby, you never know; that could turn into a back-up plan someday.4. Make Networking MatterIt’s not just a matter of how many contacts you have, but how many of those contacts would be willing to go to bat for you. Don’t just meet people, prove your value to them. That way you’ll have a network of advocates, not just a network of profile links on social media.5. Learn CodingEven if you don’t see yourself as a computer person. Coding has become as common as reading and writing as far as skills go in the new economy. Learn it while you’re young and thank yourself later.6. Fall in LoveThere’s no right time in life for love. In fact, it’s better to experience true love and real relationships early. It will save you lots of heartache and loneliness in the future. Even if you don’t want to settle down young†¦ a bit of real love is worth a go.7. MeditateThere’s a reason for the recent spike in meditation and wellness and mindfulness apps. In our mad age of constantly being wired in to each other and the market, etc., it’s important to learn how to soothe and center yourself. Building a meditation practice young can really make a substantial difference in the rest of your li fe. Plus, some experts suggest that 20 minutes of meditation is almost as good as a full 2 hours of sleep.8. TravelSee the world. Create a passion for getting to know new and foreign places. Experience the world with compassion and excitement. Think how lucky you are, how you can help. What you can see and do.9. Invest your Leisure TimeInstead of that one extra episode of Scandal, try spending the time you have on your own development. Take a seminar, volunteer, learn a dance, read a book, exercise. Spend a good portion of your free time on personal improvement and development. You’ll thank you later.10. Quit WorryingWorrying changes nothing. Concentrate on finding solutions to problems when solutions are possible. And try to let go of the rest. Do your part, and do it well, then try to be Zen about outcomes you cannot control. Take care of yourself. Feed your body and your brain. This is much more productive than clamming up and freaking out.11. Save Your CashSeriously. Star t saving money. That one extra trendy outfit or night out at the club will not be worth it in the long run, when that money could be put to better use. Remember that compound interest can make you a millionaire in twenty years. Put away a small, but consistent amount of money every month. And never touch it. You’re welcome.

International Business Law - Foreign Direct Investments rules in Term Paper

International Business Law - Foreign Direct Investments rules in Morocco and Democratic Republic of Congo - Term Paper Example here the economies of the host country may attract foreign investment in the lagging areas of the economy and on the same time protect the local investor. In the following paragraphs we will critically examine these characteristic of Foreign Direct Investment keeping in view the rules for such investment in Morocco and Democratic Republic of Congo. Morocco is an ethnically and culturally diverse society. Operating a free market economy, where in spite of the current Arab Spring robust growth has been seen and the prospects of the respective economy are very good for the coming years. Increase in the domestic demand and progress in the agricultural and non-agricultural sectors are the major attractions for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). There are various regulations passed by the Moroccan Government in order to boost the foreign investment which will be discussed below: The Moroccan Government had adopted a new constitution in order to stable the political situation of the country. This step was taken to address the social demands of the region which tend to swing due to the Arab Spring. This change in the policy had bore fruitful results and attracted the investors of neighboring European countries like France and Spain. The government allowed the Prime Minister of the country to adopt investor friendly policy while keeping in view the civil rights of the local population. This created an environment which is suitable for an investor, and on the other hand addressed various social and political claims (Doing Business in Morocco, 2012). Due to various social disparities and inequalities and also due the absence of the effective labor market the rate of unemployment among the fresh graduates had increased. The government had announced and implemented various reforms to deal with this challenge, which includes the introduction of the private sector investment in the sectors of training, education, human capital development and career planning/counseling. The

Recount and the U.S. Supreme Court Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Recount and the U.S. Supreme Court - Essay Example a political battle ended by the federal courts as the Florida Supreme Court ordered for a state-wide recount which is later on brought to an end by the U.S. Supreme Court. In this case, the Supreme Court resolved whether the recount is constitutional and identified a remedy once deemed unconstitutional. Within the American Judiciary, a writ of certiorari could be granted only for compelling reasons but of judicial discretion. One of the grounds cited by the judges, as per asserted in Rule 10, was the occurrence of discrepancy on the decision of Florida Supreme Court for ballot recounts. It could be recalled that in December of the same year, the Florida Supreme Court stated multiple court decisions regarding the presidential election and the process of manual recount which was mandated to be statewide and even with the appeal of Bush, were ordered for stay. Justice Scalia argued that the petitioner Gore has a substantial probability of success and a manual recount was granted in order to count the legally casted votes that may not be counted by the machine such as in cases of dimpled chad. Moreover, it was accounted by the justice that halting the pro cess of recounting votes will inevitably shed a confusion of the legitimacy of the election. Yet the issue remains, why did the U.S. Supreme Court overturn the decision of Florida Supreme Court on its mandated recount? The majority of the justices elected that the decision of Florida Supreme Court for state-wide manual recounting was unconstitutional as they reckon that the Florida Legislature aimed to utilize the â€Å"safe-harbor† benefits of â€Å"determination of controversy as to appointment of electors† as stated in Title 3 of the United States Code  § 5. Three justices, Rehnquist, Scalia and Thomas, claimed that the Florida Supreme Court’s decision violated the intent of Florida legislature while seven of them concurred that there was a defiance of the Equal Protection Clause in manual counting as there has

Killology Essay Example for Free

Killology Essay Do violence in the media and interactive entertainment, such as video games and movies, influence children to have the will to kill? According to Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, an expert on the psychology of killing, both play a big role in child murders. There are several methods to this madness by which people can actually motivate themselves to take another human life, such as, operant conditioning, classical conditioning, brutalization, and role models. These practices are used in the military to train soldiers to kill, just as the media is doing to our children. Monday, December 1st, 1997 began like any other day for the students of Heath High School in Paducah, Kentucky. Student Michael Carneal rode to school with his sister, carrying with him, what he claimed to be, an art project. As his fellow classmates gathered that morning in the lobby of the school, holding a prayer group, he fired eight rounds from a . 22 caliber pistol. Out of those eight rounds he landed five head shots and three upper torso shots, killing three teenagers. Not only did he land all eight shots, but the shots were so precise that elite military and law enforcement agencies were stunned by his expertise. The fact that he had never fired a real gun in his life was something that disturbed authorities even more. Nowhere in the records of military or law enforcement history could the â€Å"equivalent† achievement be found. So what was it that made this young man so violent and deadly at such a young age? (The shooting, 2010, para. 1) It’s one of the methods used by the military to train their soldiers called operant conditioning, a powerful procedure of stimulus-response training techniques that attempt to influence behavior by manipulating reinforcers. They learn to fire at realistic figures that pop up in the field. The stimulus is the target, and the response is, shooting to kill. This procedure is repeated over and over, hundreds of times, until their natural response when someone pops up on the battlefield is to kill. Research has suggested that violent video games played a big role in the choice Michael made that day. He was trained through operant conditioning just as the soldiers are, except his was through violent video games. Following the shooting there was a $130-million law suit filed against the video game manufacturers in that case. This case is said to be working its way through the appeals system of the courts. (Metcalf, Stubblefield, Ettinger, 2011, p. 152) Violent video games train our children to kill, glorify violence, desensitize them to suffering, and trivialize violence. Every time a child plays an interactive video game, he or she is learning the exact same conditioned reflex skills as a soldier or police officer in training. Kids are playing more and more violent video games that are rated for a mature audience. So, ask yourself this question; how do fourteen year old teenagers obtain video games that are rated â€Å"Mature? † Better yet, why are they allowed by their parents to play the evil, sadistic games? Parents should replace the violent video games with non-violent, stimulating, and educational games; those which enhance knowledge, creativity and imagination. The violent crime rate is at a phenomenally high level, not just in America, but worldwide. According to Interpol, the per capita assault rate increased nearly fivefold in Norway and Greece between the years of 1977 and 1993. In Mexico and Brazil, the numbers are skyrocketing, and in Japan juvenile crime went up by thirty percent in 1997 alone. (Metcalf, Stubblefield, Ettinger, 2011, p. 150). The virus of violent crime is occurring worldwide, and the explanation for it has to be some new factor that is occurring in all of these countries. There are many factors involved in the action of violent crime, and we must never downplay any of them. There is only one new variable present in each of these nations, and it is that media violence is now being presented as a viable entertainment option for children. Metcalf et al. , 2011, p. 150) Another method used by the Japanese, in World War II, which we also see done with the media, is classical conditioning. This technique is best remembered as Pavlovian conditioning, associating a stimulus with a response according to a specific reinforcement schedule, such as violence linked to pleasure. As Pavlov did with the dog, by associating the bell with food and eventually the dog could not hear the bell without salivating, the media does with the children. How often do we watch the news and learn of something good that has happened in the world? They are always focusing on all of the violence that is going on in the world. Our children see this as well, and they learn to associate death with pleasure. To better understand the role that violence and the media inherit, in the entertainment complex, plays in the increase of murders among the young and impressionable. We must first look at the methods by which killers can be made. Though such a difficult subject cannot be completely explained by these factors alone, it is important to note the contribution each one makes. Throughout the course of human history, it is thought that healthy members of most species have a natural resistance to killing their own kind. However, when human beings are overwhelmed with anger and fear, thought processes become primitive. We slam head-on into that hardwired resistance against killing. One of the methods that shift this natural resistance is what is commonly known as brutalization. Quite similar to a military boot camp, brutalization is a forced shift in values. The subject is made to conform to a new set of rules, abandoning all sense of individuality. They are trained relentlessly in a total immersion environment and the end result is a person who not only embraces the violence and the discipline, but accepts them as normal and an essential survival skill in a new and increasingly brutal world. (Metcalf et al. , 2011, p. 151) A very similar thing is happening to our children through violence in the media. At eighteen months old, a child can begin to understand and mimic what they see on television, and up until the ages of six or seven they are physically, developmentally, and psychologically unable to distinguish the difference between fantasy and reality. When they see an instance of rape, murder or degradation on the television or in the media, to them it is real. Some of them welcome the violence and accept it as a normal and vital survival skill in a cruel, new world. In nations, regions and cities where television is a constant source of entertainment, there is an immediate eruption of playground violence, and within fifteen years, there is a doubling of the murder rate, but why fifteen years? That’s how long it takes for a desensitized toddler to reach their â€Å"prime crime† years. Metcalf et al. , 2011, p. 151) By the time the brutalized toddlers have reached their teenage years, they have developed role models. Today, violence in the media is providing our children with role models. When the images of young killers are broadcast on television, they become role models. The media has every right and responsibility to tell the story, but they have no right to glorify the killers by presenting their images on television. (Grossman, 2000, p. ) The ultimate achievement for our children is to get their picture on television, and with such vulnerable, young minds they are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve that. I say it is time for the world to stop televising such violence and let law enforcement deal with it. If they know who the killer is then why does it have to be broadcast for our children to see? I truly believe that the media is highly responsible for a lot of killings in this world, along with the violent video games, and I pray that one day there will be something done to stop it.

Heart Of Darkness :: essays research papers

Heart of Darkness By: Joseph Conrad The novel Heart of Darkness, was written by a man named Joseph Conrad in 1894. Conrad was born December 3, 1857 into a family of polish decent in the northern Ukraine. The backgrounds of his family members consisted of a father that was an avid translator of Shakespeare as well as poet, along with a mother, that while was prone to illness still was well read and very intelligent. When Conrad was five, his father was exiled into a prison camp in Northern Russia for alleged revolutionist plots against the government. Due to the harsh conditions of the prison, Conrad’s mother died within three years and his father four years later. It was the death of his father that sent Joseph into a fit of melancholy, and it was within this sadness that Joseph turned to writing to ease his grief and carried his pain and suffering into most of his novels. After finishing his education in Krakow, Poland, Joseph went to sea, and from there sailed on and off for the next twenty years. These tw enty years were the basis if not the absolute pure nautical theme that flows throughout many of his novels. Stories such as Lord Jim and Heart of Darkness are based upon true to life experiences that Joseph had while at sea. Another unique aspect of Conrad’s writing, would be the lack of simple romance within all of his novels. This lack of emotional passion is most likely due to a drastic love affair when he was 17 that ended with an attempt to end his own life. Of Conrad’s many works some include Nostromo, Typhoon, The Secret Agent, and perhaps his most famous work Chance, which made him an instant celebrity within literary circles. From his world-renowned success, Conrad became very rich, and paraded himself as the typical aristocratic high-hat, and for the most part was allowed to play this role, until his death in 1524 from a heart attack. He died and was buried at his home in Canterbury, England. Within the actual story, Heart of Darkness, Conrad takes us into the mind and morals of a sailor named Marlow as he treks through the literal "Heart of Darkness." This actual land is found deep within the dark jungles of the Congo River region of Africa, and serves as the central setting for this story.

Orthodontics Essay

I am currently a 4th year dental student and I would like to apply for a postgraduate residency in Orthodontics. I have assessed the advantages and disadvantages of pursuing this career and I feel that being of service to a lot of people and raising their self-esteem by beautifying them is what drives me towards this direction. I have always focused on both the physical as well as the mental enhancement of my capabilities. I have learned to focus on achievement not only as flat numbers on a page, but as an indicator that I am getting better, making progress toward being the best I can be. I believe I can be of help to the community where I belong in both the short term and long term. I know that I do not have the luxury of mediocrity or pessimism or apathy—that peak performance is demanded in this profession, We have all been in situations where the best of ourselves emerged at levels we previously thought impossible, and have seen such moments in our families, in projects that worked. I had been in projects and cultural and social activities in school that I feel would help me contribute in my efforts in pursuing Orthodontics. I believe in team productivity that would help serve self-development and personal fulfillment, and by extension, the vitality and prosperity of the school where I plan to pursue further studies. I know I can contribute to the school in my own small way because I feel most alive when engaged full-throttle. Call it positive addiction, a contributory obsession, a passion to create one’s self through one’s work, yet I thrive in that and I can’t wait to channel my energies towards these worthy efforts. I have made further explorations of what this university stands for and what it has to offer, and I have to say that my appreciation of this university has grown. I have learned that it stands not only for academic excellence that prepares students for the challenges of career and real life, but also for a value-ladened education that emphasizes values education and a concern and commitment for a more humane and just world. This university aroused my interest in particular, because it fits in with my earlier notions that education should include immersion in real life problems and challenges. I am excited and eager to find out how I can fulfill my potential by subjecting myself to the discipline and immersing myself in the daily life of this University and the many issues tied to being an educated and compassionate person in a complex world. After much reflection, I have come to regard this University as one of the best options for a young person like me. I am excited at the prospect of being considered for admission here. I hereby present myself with a strong grasp of fundamentals in dentistry, an insatiable thirst for knowledge and an array of teaching, leadership and team member skills. I sincerely hope that my background and undergraduate qualifications are deemed appropriate for higher studies in your university. I feel my best work is still in the future. I believe I can contribute and make a difference, and successfully complete the requirements, if given a chance. I am full of enthusiasm and am eager to bring to bear my personal strengths and interests, and my zeal to excel in my chosen field to the pursuit of excellence in my areas of interest.

Career Stages

A career is defined as a sequence of positions occupied by a person during the course of a lifetime. A Career mentioned above, includes many positions stages and transitions just as a person’s life does. It can easily understand if we think of career consisting of several stages. Most of us have gone or will go through the under mentioned five stages: * Exploration is when individuals are exploring possible career options and making critical choices. * Establishment begins with the search for work and getting that first job. Mid-career is when an individual is no longer seen as a â€Å"learner. † * Late career is when an individual can share his or her knowledge with others in the organization. * Decline is when an individual leaves the work force. Exploration: This is the career stage that usually ends in one’s mid twenties as one makes the transition from college to work. What we hear from our teachers friends ad relations our own observation of careers of our parents shape our future career choices at this stage.From an organizational standpoint this stage has least relevance as it takes place prior to employment. However the organizations can still track the minds of young people by offering internships to them or offering on the job training to bright students. For the individual this is the stage of self exploration seeking answers to various puzzling questions about careers. Example of external and internal events on a profession of lecturer and suppose that I adopt this profession. Establishment: The establishment period begins with the search for work and includes getting your first job.It includes the first experience on the job peer group evaluations personal tensions and anxieties that confront a person trying to make his mark. This period is characterized by committing mistakes, learning mistakes and assuming increased responsibilities. Mid career: Mid career is a stage that is typically reached between the age of 35 and 50. At this point one may continue to show improved performance, level off or begin to decline you are no longer viewed as a learner. Mistakes committed by you would be viewed seriously and may invite penalties as well. If you are good enough you may grow and turn out good results.If you do not have the same fire in the belly when you started your career the best thing would be to hold on to what your have. Technically speaking plateaued career stares at you more or less happy with that comes your way, the organization can place you on jobs that require experience and maturity. The organization can’t discount your worth and treat you as deadwood, since you still retain the flavor and continue to show reasonably good performance But then what would happen to those employees who have employees which have both interests and productivity at work?Organizations often show them the door or shift them to less important jobs. Late Career: This the stage where one relaxes a bit and plays the part of an elder statesperson. For those who continue to grow through the mid career stage this is the time to command respect from younger employees. Your varied experiences and Judgment are greatly valued and your word will carry weight undoubtedly you can teach others and share your experiences with others.For those who have stagnated or deteriorated during the pervious stage, the late career brings the reality that they are no longer required t run the race and its better to redirect the energies to family, friends and hobbies. Decline During this period person’s attention may turn to retirement. The achievements of a long career and the frustrations an anxieties the go along what that phase are left behind. Regardless of whether one is leaving a glorified career or dismal job, one has to make adjustments and get along with people and things.

How Most Parents In Middle East Country Decide A Babys Name Essay

How Most Parents In Middle East Country Decide A Babys Name Essay How Most Parents In Middle East Country Decide A Baby's Name – Essay Example Naming conventions in the Middle East: Introduction: The naming conventions in the Middle East and in Islamic culture in general strictly adhere to the Prophets suggestion. According to the Hadith, the parents are required to give meaningful and religious names to their children since the Muslims believe that the childs name reflects their personality and also because they believe that individuals will be called by their names on the day of judgement. Hence the names such as Abdullah or Abdur Rehman which are closer to Allah are suggested by the Prophet. With regard to naming a child the Prophet says "Keep the names of the noble Prophets, Allah loves most the names Abdullah and Abdur Rehman. The most truthful names are Harith and Humam, while the most disliked are Harb and Murrah (war and bitter)" (Isconline.org). Structure:In the Middle East, the child is perceived as a critical generational link within the family unit and hence the name given to the child is of crucial significance . All traditional Arabic / Middle Eastern names are comprised of five key components each signifying the childs past and present familial ties and status in the family unit. These include Ism- which refers to the personal name given to the child. The personal names are mostly adjectives which indicate the desired character or trait that the parents wish for the child. Such as Karim - which means generous, or Mahmud- meaning praiseworthy. This is followed by a Nasab which is the name of one or more of the child’s ancestors. It is indicated by the male prefix ibn which means son of and binte which means daughter of. The kunya is used to connect the father or mother to their decendants; the Iaqab traditionally was title or a nickname and lastly the Nisbah which is the last name of the family or ancestors tribe or city. This last name is mostly used by the family through several generations (Palls, 2008: p. 277).Figure:Source: Basis Technology: Government Users ConferenceReferenc es:Palls, B. P., (2008). Cultural portraits: A synoptic guide. Bloomington, IN: Author House PublicationBasis Technology (2000). Government Users Conference [Online] Available at: [Accessed: Feb 12,2014]Isconline.org (2014). Naming babies [Online] Available at: lsconline.org/naming-babies.html [Accessed: Feb 12, 2014]

Alton Towers Audit

Section A: Environmental Pressures Political (60%) The government has the authority to make decisions that can impact the operators greatly, for example they can decline planning permission and carry out health and safety checks resulting in closures such as Alton’s Black Hole. (25%) public campaigning can affect decisions made by theme parks in an attempt to resolve negative publicity. An example is when Soils Association campaigned against the provision of unhealthy foods in tourist attractions. Since then the park has made several changes and requested advice from nutritional expect Annabelle Karmel. 1 Regulatory (85%) â€Å"Various legislatives have been added to the woe,†2 limiting parks to what they can do such as only being able to employ those who have had CRB checks since public safety is a priority. Economical (60%) Less people have domestic expenditure which resulted in outbound tourism decreasing by 15% and domestic travel increasing by 17%. In 2009 the theme park industry as a whole gained revenue of ? 315m. (25%) The decreasing value of the pound makes it cheaper and more appealing for tourists and Britons to holiday in the UK. The pound has decline by a ? against the Euro in the last 5 years. 3 Social (50%) â€Å"What was once extreme is now tame and what was once unique is now old. †4 In today’s climate visitors are more demanding and not easily satisfied resulting in most operators introduce an attraction every 12 months. (40%) consumer lifestyles cause implications, household numbers are decreasing and more people choosing to have fewer children resulting in theme parks attracting other market segments 5 Technological (60%) Technology is the catalyst that allows futuristic attractions to be created as well as software such as CAD contributing to development, saving time and saving money. 6 Alton towers has a portfolio which consists of many â€Å"firsts. † Thirteen is the latest addition to these firsts, as the â€Å"first free fall drop rollercoaster† by which Alton towers claims that â€Å"so much technology has never been combined into one ride†. 7 Competitors (40%) In order to retain or increase market share theme parks have to be actively competitive. â€Å"You can guarantee in a few months another rollercoaster will be built slightly quicker or a couple of meters higher†8 (10%) â€Å"There are 7000 museums, gardens, zoos, etc that work hard to gain a market share of voice, consumer time and wallet. †9 The other two competitive factors (USP positioning and strategic alliances) are more important as they concern direct competitors. Organisational (80%) Designers, engineers and other intellectual property are the brains behind the â€Å"beasts†. The man behind some of Britain’s iconic roller coasters is Mr. John Wardley. His designs consist of Alton Towers’ Nemesis, Oblivion, Air and Thirteen as well as Thorpe Parks’ Colossus, Saw and Stealth. 10 Alton Towers employs 2000 people and supports another 3,700 jobs which prove how labour intensive the industry is. 11 Market (70%) According to one operator if there is rain before 9 am, ? of those who intended to visit a theme park do not go. Alton is trying to resolve the issue by considering â€Å"controlling† the weather using cloud seeing technology. 12 (30%) Marketing increases awareness. In 2002, despite others being affected by weather, Drayton Manor saw their visitor numbers increase by 2-5% thanks to its biggest ad campaign. 13 Industry Competitive Structure Alton’s direct competitors are made up of 20 operators all competing with a similar target audience. Alton towers direct, indirect, potential and current competitors are summarised in appendix 1. The main competitors are Thorpe Park, Chessington, Drayton Manor, Lego-Land, Blackpool, Flamingo and Gulliver’s. Alton towers are in lead with 20. 3% which accounts for a fifth of market share (appendix 4). 14 Using appendix 4, I would classify Alton Towers as the Market leader. More than half of the UK’s adults have visited Alton towers previously. 15 The market challengers would be its 2 competitors that play the biggest threats, Thorpe and Lego-Land. Chessington however would be placed with Drayton as followers, since the majority of rides are adjustments of standardised platform designs. This is backed up by the market shares both acquire. Neichers consist of Flamingo’s and Gulliver’s who appeal to only children whilst others try to satisfy all ages. A potential direct competitor is Disney land Paris, due to the fact that apart from Alton towers, it attracts more UK visitors than any other UK parks. 16 Its proximity is close and its transport connections are excellent, however its geographical location stops it from being a current competitor since the majority of individuals would rather have the convenience of staying in the UK for day trips. Current Indirect competitors are made of 7000 other attractions, which fight for a voice of market share, consumer time and their wallets. Theme parks are the 3rd most popular type of attraction after music concerts and festivals. 17 Potential indirect competitors can include the current concepts being aired for new parks themed around harry potter, CBBC and Horrible Histories. 18 The reason for them being indirect rather than direct is due to the fact we are unsure what will be involved within the park. As you can see, in appendix 3, Alton towers, Drayton Thorpe have a broader target market by providing attractions for all age groups, whilst Flamingo, Lego, Gulliver’s Chessington appeal to the younger market. Drayton Flamingo are the cheapest with ticket prices at ? 20-? 25 whilst others are priced at ? 35-? 40. Gullivers, Lego Flamingo differentiate themselves by having a consistant theme running through the park, with others having a number of themes within their grounds or no theme at all. An adoption life cycle has been created (Appendix 5) to show that Alton and Thorpe are the innovators constantly creating thrilling and exciting rides. Whilst at the opposite end are laggards Gulliver’s Lego-Land who simply adjust basic standard ride platforms to fit in with their theme. Industry Forces In appendix 6 there is a detailed porters 5 forces for Alton Towers. The numerical weighting is divided between the 5 elements; suppliers, buyers, threats, rivalry and substitutes. This model allows us to look at bargaining powers of each force. Starting with suppliers which have received the highest percentage of 40%, there are numerous companies that contribute to theme parks from additional services such as food and merchandise to essentials such as electricity and rides. Without suppliers industry competitors would not have any product/service to offer to buyers giving suppliers a dominant bargaining power. Dependant on the product, some suppliers such as LTC (ride consultants) are dominant within their market making switching costs high. The next highest percentage was distributed to industry rivals (20%) that play a massive threat to Alton Towers since they have the ability to take potential customers. The theme park industry is intense with its 20 operators fighting for market share. Buyers had equal percentage due to the fact they have the choice of which theme park to attend and low switching costs. The lack of demand or customer base which would lead to a theme parks closure. Substitutes and new entrants both have a low percentage of 10% due to the fact if customers are won over by other indirect attractions, most likely those customers wanted to gain another benefit other than high thrill seeking adrenaline rushes. There are also high entry and exit barriers such as the lack of investment and recourses, making it difficult to actually enter compete within this market. All of the forces have been declared to be a low threat for reasons mentioned above and the fact that it is unlikely that any force would be able to set up a strong competitor due to the various product offerings, services and labour needs to do so. Product /Service Evolution Theme parks products are focused around innovation, which is extremely rare. Parks attempt to create the tallest, fastest and longest rides which in reality are variation of basic platforms. Intellectual property plays a great role in the creation of innovative products. Examples of innovative products, all designed by John Wardly, are Alton Towers Flying coaster â€Å"Air†, its first free fall drop â€Å"Thirteen† or Thorpe park’s â€Å"Stealth† hydrochloride launcher . The latter two being described as â€Å"Engineering Genius†19 The park also provides other products to accommodate visitors such as its hotels to encourage overnight stays, healthier food options, various ticket passes (e. g. fast track/annual pass) and merchandise. Technology has assisted in increasing revenue through ride photos and â€Å"Your day† DVD’s f your day. The DVDs are produced using a RFID bracelet that potential customers carry around. 25-30% of potential customers have actually purchased a DVD. 20 Other products that theme parks have invested in to boost their existent product range efficiency is the CAD software used to predict if rides are going to work successfully before its even built. Parks such as Thorpe and Lego-Land also attempt to increase customer satisfaction and value for money by introducing Q-Bot systems. This technology allocated ride times to visitors so they can do other things in the meantime. Flamingo started using a variation product called Li-Lo Q texts which works in a similar way. 21 Appendix 7 shows the hierarchy for the leisure market, as you can see product forms split into a range of product items. A few have been selected to give an idea of the current product portfolio. An example of basic platform product, is Alton’s Spin-ball Whizzer and Chessington’ Dragon fury being the same product but altered. Alton Thorpe have many innovative products that attract numerous thrill-seeking visitors such as Colossus, Oblivion, Thirteen, etc. Companies also have co-branded or sponsored product such as Alton’s Sonic Spin-ball-whizzer or Drayton’s Thomas the tank engine land. Lego-Land Chessington offer products suited mainly for children making it difficult to be innovative due to extra restrictions and it means they are not appealing to any other segments. Appendix 8 shows the position of a few Alton Towers rides on the product life cycle. Thirteen being the latest addition is placed in introduction. Nemesis, Oblivion, Air Rita being the most popular are still in maturity due to the fact that their popularity does not allow them to decline. An example of a ride just past maturity would be submission where basic  platform products are no longer that popular. Deul II and Sonic Spin-ball are modified variations created to extend its product life cycle and boost its appeal. Market Segmentation Appendix 9 summarises segmentation variables. The main conclusions drawn up from all these elements are that the main target audience are aged 16-35 most likely being full time student or partly employed. It has a classless socio-economic market however those from D/E would most likely find a day out expensive. The majority of visitors live in the midlands region, where Alton has a high penetration of 71%22. Motivations where the average customer profile consists of those who are thrill seeking risk takers or family orientated individuals. Today’s consumer are more demanding, less patient, have high expectations and seen as being loyal since 88% of those who visited theme parks in 2009 are returning customers23. The average person visiting Alton spend more than 7 hours on the computer and shop at Waitrose indicating that they are young and well to do. 24 House hold numbers are decreasing and so is the rate of birth which means which can lead to labour shortages and less potential customers. Parks have also got to consider introducing smaller family packages. Appendix 10 shows a population shift where the population of the UK is currently 61,792,000. It shows there is a bulge located with the baby boomers, Males and females are fairly and the working population is represents 62% of the mid 2009 market. This information could assist and impact decisions made by the company, for example the increase of baby boomers means that the park may have to offer more services for suited for them. Appendix 1: Detailed PRESTCOM, Numerical Weighting Justification Political . The government realise by intervening in theme parks they could be restricting competition and suppressing innovation. The government involve themselves in matters concerning the safety and well fair of the general public. The government has the authority to decline planning permission, heavily fine theme parks and close them down if they feel it is necessary to do so. 60 *The government themselves are the most important factor due to their high authority and ability to make necessary decisions to restrict or enhance the industry and its competitors. *Reputation is more important than the political climate as it can create more damage to the brand in the long run. *The political climate can affect sales but only for the short term. The public themselves can cause havoc and protest against theme parks which can have an effect on the reputation and decisions made by the theme parks themselves in order to satisfy needs and keep a positive reputation. 25 The political climate itself can have an impact on a theme park sales, activities and management. 15 Regulatory Aspects of theme parks are under tighter control resulting in more red tape concerning employment, machine games, fire safety and CRB. 85 *Numerous regulations have been created for trading bodies to abide by. Recently theme parks are under tighter restrictions which obviously would have a massive impact in how they are run and in some cases what they provide. *There are only a number of people aware of the RFID tags privacy issue and it doesn’t impact theme parks to a huge extent. Connected to technology, there are concerns over privacy rights due to the introduction of RFID tags. 15 Economical Dependant on whether a country is in a boom or a recession it can affect the amount of disposable income an individual has and the unemployment rate of the country as a whole. The current recession has had a major impact on the visitor numbers and sales revenue. The current economic climate has had a positive effect on theme parks. 60 *The economical state of a country is vital to the growth and revenue of all industries. It is the most important economical factor as it means there is lower income rates and less spending power. *Having a weak exchange rate causes outbound tourism to decline and inbound tourism to flourish, both positive contributions to the increase of visitors to UK theme parks. *Inflation can influence sales rates. Exchange rate – the weak sterling rate increases inbound tourism due to the UK being a cheaper holiday destination. 25 Inflation is high causing admissions to rise by 16 % in the next 4 years. Expected to have 4. 7 million admissions 15 Social As time goes on there are shifts in demographics as well as people’s expectations and taste change continuously. Theme parks try to conquer this social factor by providing a variety of attractions to satisfy all needs. 50 *Socially, demographics, expectations and taste play the largest role in motivating people do to particular actions. *Life style also effects the actions of an individual and is nearly almost as important influencing people’s behaviour. *The fact that some individuals are afraid of rides/heights has little impact to those that do and doesn’t significantly decrease the number of visitors. Numerous people are afraid of rides and heights which influence sales, this isn’t helped by the fact that there are incidents where technical faults have caused injuries/deaths. These incidents could also damage a brands reputation. 10 The lifestyle of individuals has changed over the years due to a number of reasons but plays a big part in motivations for certain behaviour and attitude 40 Technological Technology has allowed the internal functioning of the organisation to be more efficient and less time consuming. 20 *Technology is the most important change impacting theme parks. It is the catalyst behind innovation, production and operation. *It has also assisted theme a parks to be run efficiently, make communication more effective and increase revenue through merchandising but obviously, they have had a smaller impact. Technology has also allowed theme parks to be more innovative when creating rides/attractions, improve existing rides and enhance the safety of rides. 60 Technology can assist theme parks to increase revenue through merchandise and convenience. 10 It has also made communication more efficient. 10 Competitive Direct competitors have a major impact on theme parks activities and visitor no’s. Alton Towers main direct competitors consist of Thorpe Park, The Adventure World of Chessington, Legoland, Drayton and Blackpool 40 *Direct competitors cause theme parks to respond in a competitive manner in an attempt to be the best. The USP positioning extra competitive facilities have an equal impact due to both having the ability to attract visitors and influence their decisions. Theme parks team up with other organisations can also increase awareness/attention The USP positioning has a major influence of how its run and if there successful in positioning accurately then how visitors perceive the brand/theme park. 20 Indirect competitors consist of other leisure activities. The UK leisure sector is a very competitive industry attracting various sorts of people. 10 Theme parks team up with other brands, organisations and companies to give themselves a competitive advantage. 10 Some theme parks have extra facilities to give them a better competitive advantage 20 Organisation Man power – the intellectual property that the theme park has can vastly influence the designs and construction of attractions. Theme parks are also very labour intensive industries. 80 *Intellectual property is a key factor to the success of theme parks; The brains behind the big ideas and the production of them. *The costs influence the organisation, their budget, margins and decisions. Higher overheads such as the increase of electricity cost and higher staffing costs have has an impact on theme parks margins. 20 Market Sales are vastly influenced an uncontrollable factor; the weather 70 The weather is the biggest influence of visitor attendance. Marketing comes second to it due to its ability to increase awareness. Marketing can influence the success of the theme park, especially with those outside local regions. 30 Appendix 2 – Direct Indirect Competitors LOWER COST DIFFERENTATION BROAD TARGET Drayton Alton Towers Thorpe Park NARROW TARGET Flamingo Lego Chessington Gulliver’s Blackpool DIRECT INDIRECT CURRENT Thorpe Park Chessington Gulliver’s Drayton Flamingo Blackpool London Eye Cadburys Sea Life Centre Tower of London Holidays POTENTIAL Disney Paris CBBC park Horrible Histories park Appendix 4 – Market Share (Created using source: Mintel, Theme Parks, Feb 2010) Appendix 5 – Adoption Life Cycle Appendix 6 – Porters 5 Forces Numerical Weighting Appendix 7 – Hierarchical Decomposition of the Leisure Attraction Industry Appendix 8 –Product Life Cycle Appendix 9 – Segmentation table (Created using Mintel Data/Sources) Demographics Geographics Physcographics Behaviouralistic Age – Visitors peak among 16 and 35 year olds. 16-24 year olds account for 21. 4% and 25-34 year olds account for 23. 3%. The data shows that as the age group gets older there is a decrease in the number of visitors. Region- Alton Towers attracted 19. 1% of those from the Midlands region. Followed up by the North West visitors of 17. 5% and then London at 13. 2%. Motivations – can be numerous. It could be for a social day out with friends, for the thrills of sky high rides, for family fun, for a change of scenery or value for money through incentives. Regular visitors – 1 in 4 people went to a theme park in 2009. 88 % were returning to that theme park whilst 12 % were first timers. Consumers are l were satisfied previously and also new targets have been attracted. Gender – 47% of those who went to Alton Towers were female with 53% being males. This shows that it has products to appeal to both genders. Population numbers have increased to 61. 8m. it has been predicted that in the next 4 years we shall see a increase of 10 year olds and over 50’s. Personality – Alton Towers is geared up for those who are energetic, lively, hrill seeking socialisers. They also appeal to family orientated individuals. According to the data 50% of theme Alton Towers visitors spend 7 + hours using the internet per day which indicates that our users are young. Occupation – 19% of those attending Alton Towers were full-time students with and 17. 7 being part time employed. This shows that it attracts many students and those between ages of 16 and 30 years. Climate – has a massive effect upon the attendance. According to one operator 1 out of 4 of those intended to come, get put off of coming if they see it rain before 9 am. 12 % of individuals claim that theme parks simply have no interest to them; theme parks have to try and find ways around this. There has been a high correlation between those that shop at Waitrose and those that attend the Alton theme park. this could indicate that visitors are quite well off as Waitrose prices are high compared to their competitors. Socio-Economic Class – It is classless, Alton towers attracts a number of various people from all sorts of backgrounds. However it has been found that majority D/E segments find it expensive. Today’s consumers are more demanding, less patient and get easily bored. The product life cycle is a lot shorter than it once was due to competitor increase and innovation change. This can be backed up by the fact that rides are now introduced every 12 months rather than every 2/3 years. Lifestyle : household numbers are decreasing. Less people chose to marry and settle down with children affecting the target audience of theme parks in the long run. We currently live in a digital world where people have a hectic life revolved around money and have no time to waste. Ethnicity Religion – attracts all types of people and even has allocated days for example â€Å"Muslim Day† Appendix 10 – Population Shifts

Recognition (Human Resource Management) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Recognition (Human Resource Management) - Essay Example The performance records bear numerical records that are used for ranking employees according to their productivity. Recognition usually comes in forms of financial rewards in addition to certificates and trophies bearing the winning employees’ names (Bradler 29). This form of recognition is beneficial because it rewards employees proportionate to their performance, which is the greatest motivator for encouraging determination and quality productivity among employees. I am one of the employees receiving recognition every year. I have received financial rewards and trophies for three consecutive years. I have also been named an employer of the year once since I joined the company. I believe that this kind of recognition is part of our normal performance appraisal. This is because my employer has been greatly interested in recognizing us. Additionally, the employer has enacted policies concerning employee recognition in terms of financial rewards, certificates and trophies. Therefore, the recognition I receive is included in the normal performance