My Dream Job Essay

For many years since I was young I had the passion to be a police officer, I wanted to be that hero who I seen on television that saved everybody from danger and harm but little did I know it wasn’t as easy as television made it come out to be. As my school days passed I finally came to a conclusion of what I wanted my life to be like. High school was the turning point where I no longer wanted to be a police officer anymore, I grew knowledge of better opportunities for me and being a police officer just wasn’t enough for me. I wanted a job that was going to give me the ability to live high class and buy the expensive things I wish I could have had when I was young. Homicide detective was my next goal in my life to be, I’ve watched many episodes of a show called â€Å"The First 48†³ and it inspired me to want to solve murders for people who didn’t have the chance to tell their side of the story. The First 48 showed many positive sides of being a homicide detective but gave little information about what the actual job itself was like. Seeing dead bodies didn’t seem so bad to me but as I thought about it I asked myself if this is really what I wanted my everyday life to be like, the only thing i was concerned about was interrogating criminals to solve the case but the fact of seeing dead bodies everyday didn’t sit right with me. I was back at step one; trying to figure out what I wanted to be in life. Senior year came faster than expected and there I was clueless about my future, it was time to settle down and narrow down my options. I was certain that I wanted to work in the criminal justice industry so now all I had to do was research. My absolute final life decision was made and I just knew that being a family attorney was it for me. Now that I knew what I wanted to be I had to do deeper research than I have done before. I found that there’s not just one type of lawyer there are several different kinds such as; real estate, corporate, family, criminal, employment and so on its just a matter of fact what you’re interested in and want to do. Real estate lawyers deal with real property transactions that have gone wrong and take on cases that deal with mortgage or disclosure fraud and they even help with subdivision and zoning laws, most real estate lawyers are often highly specialized and work long hours depending on the client. There are numerous skills that you must have in order to be a successful real estate lawyer and that includes developing a broad business law foundation and having strong negotiating skills. Education is a big aspect when it comes to taking on this certain kind of job â€Å"A real estate lawyer must obtain a juris doctorate degree from a school accredited by the American Bar Association along with an attorney’s license through passing the bar exam†. Most employers often require several years of transaction preparation and contract negotiation but when it’s all done and said the salary could but quite rewarding â€Å"The average salary for a real estate lawyer is $118,000. Salary depends on the hourly rate charged and job experience. Working in a large firm or becoming a partner increases a real estate lawyer’s pay†. Corporate lawyers on the other hand are called when business advice is needed or they do what’s best in the interest of the corporation they are working for but they are also known for many different names too â€Å"A corporate lawyer is also known as In-House Counsel, Staff Attorney, Deputy General Counsel, General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer†. They have many duties that require a strong background in several different areas which means that you would have to have writing, negotiating and managerial skills. Corporate lawyer salaries could range from $66,000 to $170,000 but could only be possible with the education of having a juris doctorate degree that is received from an accredited law school by the American Bar Association. The job of a family lawyer could be a lot more emotional due to the life changing decisions that are made in court. Family lawyers deal with a wide variety of family issues such as child custody, legal separation, child support, marriage annulment and visitation rights. Family attorneys are also called divorce and family practice lawyers, it’s a shame how â€Å"Forty to fifty percent of all marriages in the United States end in divorce† but that’s just my opinion. The process of a divorce with no fault came to effect in 1969 when â€Å"California was the first state to legalize no-fault divorce. In 2010, New York was the last of the fifty states to approve it. No-fault divorce does not require any evidence of wrong-doing on the part of either spouse. Although divorce is a difficult emotional decision, in terms of the law, it can easily be granted under a no-fault divorce ruling†. Adivorce lawyer’s responsibility is to separate the assets and debt between the spouses, if children are involved the lawyer helps set the terms for child support and custody. Divorce lawyers must have excelling unique skills as a attentive listener because decisions made in and out of court will greatly affect the client’s life. There aren’t any specific education requirements for family lawyers although some courses are advised but passing the bar exam and attending law school is compulsory. Salaries for family attorneys can range from $48,000 to $80,000 and as they build their reputation their hourly rate and salary could most likely increase. Criminal Lawyers on the other hand represent their client in a criminal court system that goes through pretrial hearings, settlement conferences, trials and sentence hearings. They defend juveniles (teenagers), and adults at a state, federal and local level. Criminal lawyers often work on several cases at a time so it could be quite difficult to keep on with all your clients sometimes. They also offer legal counsel if it would be in their clients best interest. The process of going through the process can take time â€Å"There is a vast amount of time spent gathering evidence like police reports, eyewitness testimonies and any other information pertinent to the case. As a result, criminal lawyers utilize the expertise of paralegals, private investigators, litigation consultants and others to assist them†. As far as the salary for criminal lawyers â€Å"The average salary of a criminal lawyer is $78,500. However, the salary can range from $45,000 to $130,000. Interestingly, private criminal lawyers make the lowest earnings among lawyers. Experience and rising to the top of the career ladder however increases a criminal lawyer’s pay scale† so getting your business put out would be a main priority so that you could make more money. After all the options I looked over I decided that being a family lawyer would be the best decision for me because I think it would be a great thing if I helped families get over the pain that they’ve been through and also help the kids that are in the middle of it to be with the best parent that is best suitable for them and to have them in a safe environment and home. I hope to work in a successful big law firm one day and make a good living so that when I do decide to have kids I can be a great provider for them and put them through schooling like my parents were able to do for me.

Nutrition on Academic Performance

April Creed April 12, 2012 GWRTC 103 Professor Critzer The Effect of Nutrition and Fitness on Academic Performance The health and overall fitness of adolescents and students has taken a radical turn in the most recent decades. Each year the overall body mass index of this particular group of individuals is steadily increasing. It seems to many that one’s health is a vital role in success, especially in the academic realm. Research was conducted to see whether this slight decrease of fitness and health has an impact on a student’s academic performance (Burkhalter 201).A broad range of sources was utilized to find other factors that played a role in academic performance such as family life and sleep habits. The search was then strictly narrowed down to the effect of nutrition and fitness on scholastic performance. By the end of the investigation, it was found that nutrition is vital to brain functioning and cognition. The main point that was targeted became: skipped meals are the largest cause of unhealthy habits in a student’s academic career, but this can be prevented by providing more food options for students and also by not having available classes during meal hours.This seems like a cliche issue and obvious topic, but this simple subject can have a huge impact on the lives of our adolescents, but more importantly the future of our country. Children, adolescents, and young adults are constantly bombarded with assessments, evaluations, and exams that test their knowledge. All of these, combined with everyday lectures and studying, form to make what society knows as â€Å"school. † In today’s culture, from roughly four years old until about twenty-three years old, schooling (pre-school, elementary school, middle school, high school, and college) is a young person’s career.It is a time consuming process that involves commitment and dedication. Many factors play a role in how well a student performs. The most thought of, and prominent factors may include family life, time dedicated to studying, sleep habits, and the teachers or professors ability to relay information. One study, conducted by A. H. Eliassion, investigated the relative importance of total sleep time compared to a college student’s academic performance (Eliasson 71). The results proved that those with the highest academic performance had significantly earlier bedtimes and wake times (73).It was found that students could improve their academic performance by targeting their sleep habits (73). Another study conducted by Wanda Williams in 1995 investigated parent-child relationships in correlation with academic achievement (Williams 3). The results from this survey showed that the main contribution to a student’s success is family life and parent involvement (14). A few other factors that people sometimes do not think of may include nutrition, diet, and physical activity. According to Webster’s dictionary, nutrition most clearly means, â€Å"The act of nourishing or being nourished. The term diet may include definitions that of, â€Å"Food and drink regularly provided or consumed,† or, â€Å"Habitual nourishment,† and the term physical fitness (or exercise) is known as, â€Å"Bodily exertion for the sake of developing and maintaining physical fitness. † Some may argue that poor academic performance could in turn lead to poor habits in health; that the stress and pressure placed on young people causes them to neglect their fitness and well-being. On the contrast, maybe this theory is completely opposite.In this paper I will attempt to answer the question: does nutrition and fitness have an effect on a student’s academic performance, and, if so, how? From breakfast consumption and sports involvement to the amount of television watched and family involvement, everything plays a vital role in a student’s success. Even things that seem so minor can have a profound impact on the long-term accomplishments in young people’s lives. Healthy habits in nutrition, diet, and fitness have a positive impact on a student’s academic performance.Skipped meals are the largest cause of unhealthy habits in a student’s academic career, but this can be prevented by providing more food options for students and also by not having available classes during meal hours. Conducted at the infancy of this subject was an experiment by Toni Burkhalter and Charles Hillman. This research began because these two were interested and shocked by the consistently increasing BMI (body mass index) in children and adolescents across every demographic in the United States (Burkhalter 201). Their goal was to target energy intake in comparison with scholastic performance.Burkhalter and Hillman defined energy intake as nutrient intake, body mass, and physical activity. Through research they discovered and confirmed that nutrition substantially influences both the development and health of brain structure and function (204). Providing the proper building blocks for the brain to create and maintain connections is critical for improved cognition (mental processes) and academic performance. Their investigation verified that an increase of physical activity participation leads to an increase in cognitive health and function (206).Many people hear the cliche lectures about eating healthy, maintaining a stable diet, and practicing regular exercise. But most do not realize that these habits play a crucial role in brain functioning. The brain intakes and retains the most information in a person’s adolescent years, so it is vital to create a prime environment in your body for learning. There are some who relate academic performance to breakfast habits. Throughout our lives we hear doctors, teachers, and parents stress that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.People will argue that it starts one’s day, gets one’s metabo lism going, and provides the nutrition necessary for a healthy day and lifestyle. It has been proven that children require optimal nutrient intake to meet the basic demands of growth and development. Gail Rampersaud, M. S. , and Mark Pereira, Ph. D. , attempted to find supporting evidence of this claim, and conducted a study in 2005. They found that over 59% of students skip breakfast more than three times a week, and that as a student’s age increased, so did their habit of skipping breakfast (Rampersaud 745).After surveying various age groups, they compared breakfast eating habits to their overall academic performance. Next, the students were given a variety of standardized and customized tests (745). The results showed that breakfast eaters not only had a higher average on the assessments, but also had better school attendance and less tardies (751). This study was difficult because people have a very hazy and different standard and definition of â€Å"breakfast. † S ome view it as a glass of milk, some view it as an apple, others see it as a bowl of cereal, and some have a feast consisting of bacon, eggs, hash browns, ham, and toast in their mind.Either way, it was determined to be anything you intake as nutrition at the beginning of your day. There is substantial evidence that breakfast consumption is associated with health and wellbeing of children and adolescents, and these benefits apply to a wider age range, as well as other demographic and socioeconomic groups. There is also a great deal of evidence that breakfast eaters have overall healthier lifestyles and better health (diet and exercise) habits. Some claim that students should be able to schedule and maintain their own nutritional habits.But others, like Cathy Estes, agree that this lifestyle needs to be a co-effort between students, parents, and teachers. She says that, â€Å"Student responsibility doesn't just happen. Teachers and parents must expect it, model it and nurture it. An optimal educational outcome depends on collaboration between teachers, parents and students (Estes 1). † It needs to be something that both parties view as a necessary goal. Student’s can have good intentions, but faculty and staff at the school’s need to support these intentions.Arranging more suitable class times and a better variety of nutritional foods can easily do this. Another study conducted by Florence, MD sought to target not just the nutrition aspect, but the overall diet quality and academic performance correlation (Florence 209). The study concluded the following results: Students with decreased overall diet quality were significantly more likely to perform poorly on the assessment. Girls performed better than boys as did children from socioeconomically advantaged families. Children attending better schools and living in wealthy neighborhoods also performed better.Conclusions: These findings demonstrate an association between diet quality and academ ic performance and identify specific dietary factors that contribute to this association. Additionally, this research supports the broader implementation and investment in effective school nutrition programs that have the potential to improve student access to healthy food choices, diet quality, academic performance, and, over the long term, health (Florence 209). According to the previous study performed by Rampersaud, breakfast plays a vital role in diet quality.This is another important aspect for dedicated times for eating. Breakfast is not going to be a high priority for a student if his/her class falls in that time frame. Not only do both of the studies support each other, but they also tie in other aspects that could affect academic performance, like family life. This study tries to emphasize that the term â€Å"academic achievement† isn’t measured by tests alone, but also by attendance, attentiveness, and involvement (212). They also stated that fruit and veget able intake had a significant impact on memory and overall learning (213).Finally, the study’s results showed that â€Å"undernourished males were twice as likely to fail an assessment as undernourished females. † A sub question that may be necessary to add the research question is this: do gender differences have an affect an effect on academic performance? Sayid Ghazvini answers this question with his research. He stated that his primary goal was to â€Å"Find gender differences in factors affecting academic performance of high school students (Ghazvini 1041). † He had many different aspects involving â€Å"academic performance. While his results showed no significant difference in the overall achievement of the students, there were differences in the many features connected with his concept of academic performance (1043): Results show the existence of gender difference in variables under consideration, with girls showing internal locus of control, using atti tude, motivation, time management, anxiety, and self-testing strategies more extensively, and getting better marks in Literature. With boys using concentration, information processing and selecting main ideas strategies more, and getting better marks in mathematics (1043).As we see, male and females seem to have the same overall results. This gender factor probably does not have a significant impact on the nutrition and fitness study, but can be noted when taking a closer look at the details that combine to form out term â€Å"academic achievement/performance. † Some critics say that student’s should be held solely responsible for their extracurricular activities, including eating, watching television, exercising, and studying. But studies show that when a person is considered an adult, their brain is still developing.They still need instruction and guidance in different aspects of their life. Researcher, Craig Bennett, stated that, â€Å"Humans don’t really de velop the ability to handle multiple pieces of information at once until about the ages of 16 or 17. The brain of an 18-year-old college freshman is still far from resembling the brain of someone in their mid-twenties (Than 2). † Healthy habits don’t just come naturally, they take time and dedication to develop and maintain. Another study done by Jane Edwards attempted to target physical activity in relation to academic performance (Edwards 65).This experiment was conducted on sixth graders in a Midwest City school district. It was her goal to compare physical activity, overall fitness, and body mass index of 800 students. Next she matched these results with standardized test scores. To measure physical activity and fitness, Edwards set up a variety of physical tasks (curl ups, pushups, mile run) and included the student’s weight and height. In the end, she found that the healthier, more physically fit students performed better on their standardized tests.Edwards , like Rampersaud and Florence, also included other variables in her study. She pointed out the significance of breakfast consumption as well. Also, she brought in other lifestyle habits like the amount of television watched and extracurricular activity involvement. This amount of exercise is vital to a student’s healthy lifestyle. Exercise should become a requirement at schools and colleges. It is proven to affect their academic performance, so why shouldn’t academic grading also require some sort of workout in a student’s daily routine?A journal published by Taras H, a professor at the University of California, noted the association between nutrition and a student’s performance at school (Taras 200). Taras broke down the term nutrition into four sub-categories: food insufficiency, iron deficiency and supplementation, deficiency and supplementation of micronutrients, and the importance of breakfast (201). Research shows that children with iron deficienci es are at a disadvantage academically. Their cognitive performance improved with iron therapy. Cognitive performance is a student’s ability to obtain and store knowledge.Again, breakfast consumption demonstrates to be a vital aspect of a young person’s health. A healthy lifestyle not only consists of a certain number of meals a day, but also various types of nourishment and physical activity. It was also found that food insufficiency is a serious issue that affects a child’s ability to learn. Finally, after surveying and undernourished population, a breakfast program was initiated, and analysis showed that academic performance and cognitive functioning significantly increased. As it has been proven through countless studies, many things contribute to academic achievement.But the main issue that related to student’s health is skipped meals and lack of exercise. To many, these seem like easy to target problems. But why is the problem consistently worsening? Because no one is taking initiative to find solutions. The most doable and reasonable solution is to incorporate a greater variety of food options (in the healthier realm) for students/adolescents, not schedule classes or other activities during meal hours, and have a mandatory tentative exercise schedule as part of a student’s academic career. Words Cited Burkhalter, Toni M. , and Charles H.Hillman. â€Å"A Narrative Review of Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Obesity to Cognition and Scholastic Performance across the Human Lifespan. † Advances in Nutrition 2. 2 (2011): 201-06. Web. 19 Mar. 2012. Edwards, Jane U. â€Å"Relationship of Nutrition and Physical Activity Behaviors and Fitness Measures to Academic Performance for Sixth Graders in a Midwest City School District. † Journal of School Health 81. 2 (2011): 65-69. SPORTDiscus. Web. 19 Mar. 2012. Eliasson, Arne H. â€Å"Early to Bed, Early to Rise! Sleep Habits and Academic Performance in College Students . † Sleep and Breathing 14. (2009): 71-75. ScienceDirect. Web. 19 Mar. 2012. Estes, Cathy. â€Å"Student Responsibility Needs to Be  nurtured. † LasVegasSun. com. 8 Apr. 2009. Web. 13 Apr. 2012. ;http://www. lasvegassun. com/news/2009/apr/08/student-responsibility-needs-be-nurtured/;. Florence, M. D. â€Å"Diet Quality and Academic Performance. † Journal of School Health 78. 4 (2008): 209-215. CINAHL. Web. 19 Mar. 2012. Ghazyini, Sayid D. â€Å"Gender Differences in Factors Affecting Academic Performance of High School Students. † 3rd World Conference on Educational Sciences 15. 3 (2011): 1040-045. ScienceDirect.

Biology in Everyday Life

Biology Ariticle Summary #2 How Darwin won the evolution race Stem cells are defined by their ability to self-renew or to differentiate into a range of somatic cell types. Adult stem cells, such as hematopoietic stem cells are found in specialized niches within the body and have been studied for decades. Much of our knowledge about these cells is based on in vitro experiments but the effects of moving them from their in vivo niche to culture conditions are unclear. This Perspective from Penney Gilbert and colleagues from the USA and Sweden focuses on adult stem cells found in skeletal muscle, also known as satellite cells.They address the problem that, once extracted from muscle and placed into culture, satellite cells quickly lose their ability to self-renew, complicating studies into their biology. The development of new bioengineering approaches, such as hydrogel microwell arrays, could solve this problem. These approaches can accurately monitor the behavior of satellite cells and provide robust data sets, thanks to the number of different tests that can be carried out in parallel. To illustrate the usefulness of such tools, the authors show how stem cell division and self-renewal can be tracked in clonal assays using time-lapse microscopy.By increasing the stiffness of the hydrogel microwells in the assays, satellite cells can be maintained in culture for up to one week and successfully engraft back into mouse muscle. Stem cells hold the potential to become part of powerful medical treatments and therapies, but only if we understand how we are changing them by removing them from their niche. This Perspective pushes this issue to the fore and offers some suggestions as to how we can further improve stem cell culture http://the-scientist. com/2012/04/01/are-cancer-stem-cells-ready-for-prime-time/

Ethical Issues in International Business Case Study

Ethical Issues in International Business - Case Study Example In a computer-driven age, Keith has not shown the foresight to see that his actions on Facebook could be used against him even though he more than qualifies for the position in Big Company, a multinational organization. When Keith applied for a position in Big Company's financial planning department, he put himself under scrutiny because this company searches social network sites when evaluating prospective employees. The company lost clients when staff members acted inappropriately under the influence of alcohol. Therefore, Keith does not even get an interview with the company based on his image on Facebook. The reason given Keith when he asks why he has not been given an interview is that he lacks sufficient financial planning experience. He is not told the real reason and therefore has no opportunity to redeem himself (Schaffer 2006). Determining the ethical issues raised in this situation is complicated. Keith apparently does not realize how damaging his presence on Facebook has been, and he unfortunately he has no legal recourse to challenge the decision. The cost-benefit analysis places a dollar value on the benefits and ... An individual should not have the power to make a decision without contacting other members of the organization as well as stockholders and Board of Directors. A commitment to human rights has become a major focus in the 21st century, with multinational companies (MNCs) attempting to generate an ethical approach theory inside and outside the organization (Ethical Issues n.d.). Even though so far there are no globally accepted legal or ethical standards for business operations and activities, certain human rights must be considered regardless of cultural standards (Schaffer 2006, 44). According to Schaffer, conomic aspects of globalization must also include social and ethical dimensions(64). There is, therefore, a growing link between social responsibility and profitability, and in MNCs, decisions should not be made based on the understanding of one person. In the case study under discussion, it appears that the HR Director made his own arbitrary decision not to interview Keith. Ethical Issues When two sets of standards exist, it is sometimes unethical to apply the lesser set. International companies are faced with ethical choices that do not exist in a national company in which ethics follow the policy of the country in which it is located. Some third-world companies, for instance, have lower standards than the United States. If the lower standards harm people or environment, it would be unethical for MNCs to use lesser standards. Bad ethical practices are more apparent in today's global economy (Schaffer 2006). Some of the ethical human rights issues arising from internal and industry practices are lack of concern for customers, lack of loyalty to employees, and unfair employment practices (Executive Team n.d.) as well as privacy

Macroeconomic Situation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

Macroeconomic Situation - Essay Example make up for lowering tax revenues, US local government fired various workers and educators and payrolls were lowered which hampered consumer spending (Homan, 2010). Moreover, the value of dollar is declining against many other currencies and it is expected that Fed will pursue a new round of large-scale asset purchase. Felsenthal and Costa (2010) argues that decline in the value of Dollar is the result of Fed’s easy money policy because investors moved out of dollars and invested in other currencies to achieve higher returns. They also highlighted that Federal Open Market Committee (2010) has decided to employ its own policy tools because FOMC seems to have an explicit easing bias. The inflation expectations in US are increasing and investors are showing their concerns that Federal Reserve’s efforts to revive the economy will further drive up the inflation and it is expected that Fed is going to use tools like quantitative easing (Mackenzie, 2010). Developed nations usu ally use advanced tools of monetary policy like quantitative easing which is an asset purchase program (Rashid, 2010). Therefore, if expansionary policy is pursed then it is expected that tax cut would increase the household consumer spending and government spending would stimulate the economy by improving the demand and supply sides, thereby, helping the US economy to spur its recovery. In order to recover from recession, U.S. Congress has two fiscal policy tools including tax policy and government spending. Carreira (2010) argues that debates in Washington on fiscal policy have been always over the mix of government spending and tax cuts. He argues that US Congress should adopt the Keynes model and to stimulate the US economy, government spending should increase and taxes should be cut. Treasury Secretary, Geithner’s recommendation to US Congress to extend expiring tax cuts for the middle class (Smith, 2010) is another good recommendation. Actually by bringing back Americans to work will

International Investment Report Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

International Investment Report - Research Paper Example China is the largest country among the four emerging economies of the world and other three countries include Brazil, Russia, and India. It is the fastest growing economy among all these four countries. Data for 2011shows growth rate of China has outpaced peers with sharp contrast in GDP, merchandise export and GDP average growth rate as shown in the image below: China is expected to maintain the growth momentum and outpacing its peers even G7 countries over years in future for many reasons with increase in middle class being among the leading ones. Rising middle class refers to increase in income bracket of large number of people. This trend has a constant positive growth projection to year 2050 as shown in the image below; hence, it can be predicted that there would be increasing opportunities of investment in China. To mention, the world’s largest coffee shop Starbuck has also planned to expand in the more 70 smaller cities of the country (Bloomberg, 2012). This report anal yzes China as an investment opportunity for a coffee house and for this purpose; the report will analyze the macroeconomic factors that could influence the business in the country. The report discusses about the economic, financial, political factors along with historical events that could impact the business and its geographic location that could influence the business in the country. At the end, the report analyzes the overall risks that businesses could face while starting a business in China. (Global Sherpa, 2011) (Global Sherpa, 2011) ECONOMIC STRUCTURE, INDICATORS AND RISK ... This slowdown has been controlled by the targeted stimulus. For instance, construction of 36 million social housing units, support for SMEs in Wenzhou, bonuses cut down in the automotive sector, and subsidies on purchase of household electrical appliances etc. All these factors have supported the economic situation despite having troubles with export (Coface, 2010). FINANCIAL STRUCTURE, INDICATORS AND RISK Financial factors other important influence the businesses. Risk rating for the country is as follows: (Coface, 2010) However, access to finance for SME is difficult as banks are reluctant due to string of defaults as the main risk. Also overall strict policies have been imposed on banks for credit giving to avoid misallocation of resources etc (Coface, 2010). The overall financial figures are positive as investment in the country has increased, poverty level has decreased etc. The coffee shop market is expected to grow by 55 percent and it would reach to 4.5 billion Yuan ($714 mil lion) in 2015 from 2.9 billion Yuan last year in 2011. To share this benefit, global coffee competitors such as Starbucks of US and Luigi Lavazza Spa, an Italian coffee company have entered and planned expansion in major and minor cities of China (Bloomberg, 2012). POLITICAL STRUCTURE AND RISK China has been mainly a socialist country. However, the country has accepted the capitalism mode of economy but socialism is still what it breathes. The political risk refers to intervention of country’s government in the business affairs of the foreign person or a company that is doing business in the country. China is usually accounted for this political risk and its government has already once considered the nationalization of industries in 1949 (China Risk Management, n.d.).

Self assessment of Tiger Nursing informatics competencies Coursework

Self assessment of Tiger Nursing informatics competencies - Coursework Example These are consistent with recommendations of the Technology Informatics Guiding Education Reform (Finkelman & Kenner, 2014). My clinical information management, based on the self-assessment, identifies a weakness. As a registered nurse, I should be skilled in computer technology applications and data analysis for informed care decision and this requires ability collect, record, manage, analyze, and interpret data. My self-analysis results, however, identify competence in a majority of clinical information management measures, an indicator of average potential. My best scores were proficiency in ensuring data confidentiality and data security, with no expertise score in a single measure. Retrieval of information from stores was the most challenging of clinical information management aspects. There was however better results on information literacy as about 50 percent of my scores were proficient. No expertise score was reported and novice scores were limited. Analysis of information and information sources were the most challenging aspects. My basic computer competencies were however outstanding with exper tise score in most of the measures. Comparative analysis of my current competencies identifies weaknesses in application of data for nursing purposes. Competencies in computer applications for data entry, management, analysis, and interpretation are recommended for my professional qualification and experience but I am below average in related measures that correspond to clinical information management and information literacy. Age barrier, having trained and entered the nursing profession before integration of high-level of information technology into the nursing profession explains my weakness. My areas of specialty, that have required minimal application of computer competencies and information literacy explain my weakness. I have worked in long-term care, psychiatric, and correctional nursing, areas that may

ENVS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

ENVS - Essay Example Shifts in the major aspects of the climate have been monitored over time and include amount of energy produced by the sun, variations in the earth’s orbit, patterns of ocean circulations and wide-reaching disruptions caused by meteor impacts and volcano eruptions. These shifts have led to trapping of heat in the atmosphere of the earth causing destruction of the ozone layer and ecosystems. To some extent, these shifts that typically occur in extremity have resulted in migration to already populated areas. This in turn causes land degradation, as the population over relies on agriculture and uses trees as sources of energy. This also boosts the greenhouse effects, as carbon-rich soils are destroyed leading to a release of carbon into the atmosphere. Causes Cutting trees is a major contributor of global warming in that it is because of trees that a substantial amount of carbon dioxide in the environment is absorbed and in turn converted to oxygen. Academic studies have shown tha t trees in tropical zones absorb about 18% of all the carbon dioxide produced by human activities from burning fossil fuels. This exemplary study shows how global warming is directly related to cutting of trees, as without trees there is an increase in the buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere leading to an increase in temperature globally by creating a blanket that prevents the escape of heat. With this in mind, these trees ensure that there is a balance in the atmospheric temperature by moderating the amount of carbon dioxide available in the air (Richardson). In addition, cutting trees has severe consequences that contribute directly to global warming through a complex series of events. This is because cutting of trees, also known as deforestation is part of the reason why there is climate change through the effects of loss of moisture from the ground and trees and into the environment causing it to be dry. This change in the water cycle leads to desertification, in which c ase forests die without having to cut the trees in the forest, but trees cut elsewhere (Oak). This is to mean that there is more carbon dioxide than the remaining trees and forests can handle leading to a high buildup of carbon dioxide and increased temperatures. The above events relate to the mountains in that the high temperatures affect the mountains due to the presence of water stored on the ice caps as snow. The high temperatures melt the snowcaps leading to an increased rate of discharge in the water stored in the mountains causing the retention of water in then mountain to be low (Benniston 4). This works hand in hand with the forest found around mountains in that they act as water catchment areas, where cutting of trees accelerates global warming, and causes the flow of water from the icecaps to be a lot faster than how it should when there are trees to compensate for the high amount of carbon produced by human activities. Air pollution also has profound effects in the relat ionship between global warming and the influence air pollution on mountains and forests. This is because air pollution occurs in many ways that affect all living things, especially plants, where the trees found in forests are part. With this is in mind, pollution of the air emanating from

Story on Grant Ensminger Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Story on Grant Ensminger - Essay Example Whether it is traditional painting, frescoes, children’s story books or fashion T-shirts, Ensminger takes the genre and stamps his own individual style onto it. The colors are exuberant, and there is plenty of postmodern irony and quotation from famous twentieth century artists. He mixes pop art Marilyn with Picasso-esque heads in profile, and sets them alongside frescos that look like upmarket graffiti. This is an artist who claims no formal art school education, and seeks out his own role models as he carves out his own quirky journey of artistic discovery. A fascination with sharks when he started out, some three years ago, has given way to a link-up with local indie band Rey Fresco. Ensinger exhibits regularly in the area, and his work is certainly worth a look. If you turn up to see it there is every chance that you will meet the man himself and make contact with the epitome of Ventura

Is Social Networking a Problem Rather Than a Unique Benefit Offered to Essay

Is Social Networking a Problem Rather Than a Unique Benefit Offered to Online Users - Essay Example The paper tells that recent advances in social networking have turned social networks into a unique instrument of education and healthcare. Never before had medical and education professionals been so advanced and equipped in terms of computer technologies. As long as social networking enables communication and promotes continuous widening of social contacts, it can be universally applied in all fields of human functioning. In one of their recently published articles, Conole and Culver described the way social networking could be used in learning design. The fundamental principles of Web 2.0 and cloud computing display unprecedented learning potentials. Social networking has proved to serve the needs of instructional designers and teachers, by creating an atmosphere of socialization and interactivity in the analysis and design of new learning frameworks. Actually, cloud computing is one of the most recent and promising trends affecting social networking. Based on the principles of co llective intelligence and user-generated content, present-day social networks favor connectivity and even create a virtual social reality in which billions of users around the world communicate and live. Another recent achievement in the social networking field is the development of social networking applications for the healthcare industry. Again, Web 2.0 technologies drive the emergence of new technological solutions and platforms. Eysenbach describes Web 2.0 applications that facilitate social networking, apomediation, participation, collaboration and openness among medical professionals. Social networking has become so popular in medicine that the Journal of Medical Internet Research publishes regular Web 2.0 theme issues. Yet, it would be fair to say that, despite the growing complexity of social networking features, they do not cross the boundaries of cloud computing and Web 2.0. Everything new that has been created in the social networking field in the past years is directly linked to the principles of Web 2.0. The latter became a real revolution in computer sciences, but it is time for social network developers to move onto a new quality level of collaboration and networking performance. Social networks have considerable advantages, but they also display serious weaknesses. Privacy is at the heart of most, if not all, problems associated with the development and implementation of social networks. It is a privacy paradox that allows users to preserve their anonymity and, simultaneously, makes it easier for them to monitor other users’ activity. Social networks create a vision of secrecy, encouraging users to share their most intimate thoughts and concerns online.

Leadership and Corporate Behavior Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Leadership and Corporate Behavior - Essay Example Hence, the point needs to be made about team selection taking priority at the initial stages itself and then selecting and choosing team members in such a way as to ensure that people who have a history of ethical behavior are selected. This can be done at the time of hiring and recruitment itself. The team members must be hired after thorough background checks and vetting so that any previous disposition towards unethical behavior is found out (Salmon, 1993). Leadership is all about leading from the front and by example. Hence, there is a need to develop leaders who are capable and also exhibit ethical behavior. This is the primary requirement for leadership. So, the teams that are to be formed should have the leaders in such a way as to ensure that illegal activity and recourse to unethical behavior is curbed. In conclusion, it is incumbent upon the team leadership to guide the team in such a way that ethical norms are followed and that the team follows normative rules of behavior consistent with those drawn up by the ethics committee (McCall, 2002). 2) A crisis management plan has to anticipate crises, plan for contingencies and have a mitigation strategy when the crises arise. This is the essence of a good crisis management plan. To take each of the components in turn, a good crisis management plan must be able to anticipate future crises from happening. Though all crises cannot be anticipated, there are many of them that can be identified at the beginning of the planning process. These include the system outages, threat of building collapse and accidents involving personnel (Daboub, 1995). The next step would be to have a back up plan for contingencies that revolves around the ways and means to deal with the crises. For instance, there can be back up servers when the main server crashes leading to an outage. Similarly, there can be an alternative site that can house some personnel in case of damage to the main

Ems Recommendations Essay Example for Free

Ems Recommendations Essay Riordan Manufacturing wants to improve its sustainability practices. In this paper Learning Team C summarizes the business audit assessments on Table one that contains important objectives, targets, and programs involving sustainability. The next section identifies and summarizes the relevant technologies, strategies, products, and practices that increase sustainability. Learning Team C also identifies three best practices that Riordan Manufacturing should consider implementing by describing new items or practices to implement, a summary of cost-benefits, justify why benefits outweigh the costs, and implementation steps for the new items. The last section is a discussion about if the EMS recommendations eliminate the need to comply with state or federal regulations. Assessments Summary Environmental policy will require objectives that focus environmental actions to achieve targets that use quantifiable measures with specific endpoints that relate to the objectives and develop progressive goals that responsible parties’ actions must achieve. In the appendix Table one the Development of Environmental Policy Commitment is an assessment summary nonsustainable process, objectives, target, programs, and responsible party at Riordan Manufacturing four locations Michigan, California, Georgia, and China. Beginning with policy commitment, the rows develop nonsustainable initiatives that Riordan should commit to resolve at each facility. The next column objectives provide the specificity of nonsustainable operational areas that align to specific task for focusing resources and efforts. Targets are quantifiable goals in percentages and have a definite ending point for concluding actions reflect periods of a year or months. The environmental program found on table one are a result from planning activities by the responsible party who is accountable for the activities of the implementation team. The responsible party will represent each environmental policy and the selection of each employee was on interest basis to establish an environmental management system at Riordan. This list of individuals is not exhaustive and additional employees with skills and interest may join to assist responsible parties achieve policy objectives. According to Wilson and Sasseville (1999) it is important to remember when developing a new environmental management system takes no single approach for assigning responsibilities and in small companies an individual may have to handle several functions. Technology, Strategies, Products or Practices The Environmental Protection Agency (2002) describes the permanent total enclosure (PTE) as a capture device that collects and vents organic hazardous air pollutants (HAP) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) to an abatement device. The PTE can be permanent or temporary enclosures that must pass a five point Environmental Protection Agency Method 204 the Criteria and Verification of a Permanent or Temporary Total Enclosure to qualify as an PTE. Once the criteria are met the PTE is assumed to have 100% capture efficiency. If Riordan chooses an PTE the organization can avoid the need for frequent capture efficiency test. The PTE meets or exceeds requirement by the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs). This technology can align to Triple Bottom Line minimization strategy by reducing hazardous air pollutants in addition to improving worker health and safety throughout the receiving and molding operations at Rior dan facilities. The energy performance indicators (EPI) are technology that the Environmental Protection Agency supports to manage how manufacturing plants use energy and compares to the industry standard. Riordan Manufacturing may obtain an Environmental Protection Agency energy performance indicator through Energy Star. Operational energy use data enter the device and an energy efficiency test follows the Environmental Protection Agency scoring guidelines on a scale of one to 100 that compares results against nonpublic Census Bureau data. An accurate measurement of energy using EPI technology as a tool produces benefits that reduce energy waste and can align with a minimization sustainability strategy that decreases fossil fuel use. Riordan can address their need to find a sustainable method of treating waste water produced during the molding and mixing processes by partnering with a company already utilizing Ultrafiltration systems to eliminate ground contamination. Ultra filtration (UF) is a pressure-driven process that removes emulsified oils, metal hydroxides, colloids, emulsions, dispersed material, suspended solids, and other large molecular weight materials from water and other solutions. (About Ultrafiltration, 2012). Ultra filtration also offers the additional advantage in that no chemical are used in the filtration process. Three Best Practices Riordan Manufacturing has three best practices this organization may choose to implement at the four manufacturing facilities that reduce three nonsustainable practices in the receiving and molding operations with byproducts of air pollution, water contamination, and energy waste. First, Riordan Manufacturing plants emit a volatile organic compound (VOCs) during plastic-injection creating a hazardous air byproduct that contributes climate change. Riordan Manufacturing may combat VOC air emissions at the four facility locations by implementing a permanent total enclosure (PTE) or 100% capture room that contains harmful air pollutants effects from over spraying fugitive pollutants into the atmosphere. The second practice will combat ground and water contamination that streams from continual material spills in the receiving, and molding areas. A best practice to follow is requiring departments to reuse water throughout the manufacturing process and separate chemicals with a Ultrafiltration system. Small Business Division (2004) writes a Ultrafiltration system treat wastewaters by separating the fluids before it discharges remains into the sewer system. The third practice for Riordan Manufacturing to combat is energy waste and should implement Energy Performance Indicators (EPIs) to benchmark energy consumption the four its manufacturing plants. Most energy  waste comes from equipment settings, machinery left on during nonoperational hours, lighting, heating, and cooling at the four facilities. Machinery will perform better and reduce its energy consumption by cleaning and maintaining it properly, in addition to performing energy saving shutdowns. The second best practice to consider is implementing energy reduction of facility lighting systems. According to Energy Star (n.d.) â€Å"Replace old fluorescent and incandescent lighting with T-8s, ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) and other energy-efficient lighting systems, and implement a regular lighting maintenance program† (p. 1). New Business Practices Implementation Cost Riordan should review the cost of pursuing air emission reduction; minimizing ground and water contamination, and energy conservation procedures before implementing the above-mentioned EMS recommendations. The initial cost includes time to evaluate and educate leaders, management, and employees on new practices and procedures. Riordan will need to review the environmental cost of pursuing PTE at the China facility to determine what government regulation are obstacles and effect implementation of an EMS for air pollution. Potential financial costs include equipment maintenance for the PTE, especially the control device that must perform at an optimum energy savings capacity. Another environmental cost is for new energy efficient equipment to replace older inefficient machinery and the cost of adapting facilities to include a Ultrafiltration system. The implementation of an energy maintenance system that measure energy use is another financial cost in association with thec entire EMS recommendations. New Business Practices Benefits Facts prove the initial investment that transition a business practice to pro-environment policies is enabling many businesses to expand operations to enhance long-term endurance and profits. A short-Term advantage to an eco-friendly shift is the satisfaction that company actions  are sustainable and may permit operations to earn more profits, boost a healthier environment, gain cost reductions, expand into new markets, and develop employee motivation and health. Long-term gain can include a substantial economic performance by attracting socail responsible investors who prefer the practices of a sustainable company. This can put a business on track for listings on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), the DJSI North America, or the DJSI United States. â€Å"Companies listed on the DJSI World Index enjoy benefits including improved access to investment capital (because shares of DJSI members are recommended for sustainability investing), prestige, and brand enhancement (because recognition as a global sustainability leader can enhance a company’s reputation in the eyes of stakeholders, financial analysts, and the public at large) â€Å"(Savits Weber, 2006, p. 75). New Practices Implementation Steps To implement Riordan Manufacturing new sustainable policies and targets, responsible parties should take steps to implement the new environmental policies items. According to Wilson (1999) â€Å"The most important steps is to begin to focus your people and available resources toward the strategy and structure of your EMS† (p. 109). To implement an EMS, Riordan should follow six steps 1. Assessment and Evaluation of current policies and proposed policies. 2. Planning and Organizing 3. Developing and establishing communication with internal departments and external groups 4. Training in new procedures and policies 5. Ensuring Operational Control 6. Implement EMS Plans Regulations Compliance Riordan Manufacturing deals in the development of plastic molding injection products that affect the environment. Compliance with Environmental Protection Agency guidelines are requirements despite any  voluntary sustainable business plan Riordan decides to take. However, these recommendations permit the company to improve environmental standard without falling further out of compliance. Under Title VI of the Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for enforcing regulations to protect the public from the airborne contaminants. The Environmental Protection Agency looks to protect the ozone layer and to provide for a smooth transition away from ozone-depletion substances (US Environmental Protection Agency, 2011). This recommendation for reducing air pollution increases the efforts to maintain a safe breathable environment. By implementing a Ultrafiltration system and using water-based lubricants Riordan can comply with regulations to minimize hazardous waste streaming into the drainage systems. The EPA expectation for leak and repair within a facility is also a requirement Riordan should focus on. The new regulatory standards improve the identification of air quality issues and take appropriate measures to resolve quickly compliance issues when situations arise, for example long-term worker health problems from exposure to high levels of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) emissions. Manufacturing organizations are under scrutiny to provide a safe environment. The EPA uses stringent guidelines that businesses must follow if businesses want to alleviate financial burdens from fines and legal actions. Riordan Manufacturing EMS recommendations support environmental policies by using sustainability practice and reduce potential risk of violating regulations that the EPA enforces. The actions for establishing the EMS recommendation do not eliminate the need to comply with the state and federal regulations and permits Riordan to use sustainable practices to improve operations. Conclusion Learning Team C in this paper uses recommendations to explain the necessary consideration that Riordan Manufacturing should factor when developing and implementing sustainability practices at the four plant  locations. This information should provide a good foundation for weighing the cost and benefits of increasing sustainability using strategies that incorporates technology, products, and practices that change how a traditional manufacturer operates. Reference Energy Star. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.virginiaenergysense.org/cue/pdfs/14_manufacturer.pdf . Manufacturing Plants: An Overview of Energy EPA, 2002. U.S. EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, OAQPS EPA Air Pollution Control Cost Manual, Section 2 Chapter 3, EPA 452/B-02-001. Research Triangle Park, NC. http://www.epa.gov/ttn/catc/dir1/cs2ch3.pdf Savitz, A. W., Weber, K. (2006). The triple bottom line; How todays best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success and how you can too.. Retrieved from https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/content/eBookLibrary2/content/TOC.aspx?assetdataid=68ea 0c22-4a52-a8a2-6d888e1970b6assetmetaid=110c35c0-5d52-4a67-b40 c0975f06a570 Wilson, G. W. (1999). Sustaining Environmental Management Success: Best Business Practice from Industry Leaders. Retrieved from https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/content/eBookLibrary2/content/TOC.aspx?assetdataid=de10aede-2fb0-499c-8b65-d33031647201assetmetaid=2a0eb9a1-2925-4fc6-8601-337d041e4 274. US Environmental Protection Agency. (2011, October 26). Enforcement Actions under Title VI of the Clean Air Act. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/ozone/enforce/index.html

Life expectancy, the number of years that a

Life expectancy, the number of years that a 195462 A discussion of the factors that contribute to lower life expectancy in the west of Scotland as compared to other parts of the U.K Life expectancy, the number of years that a person can expect to live on average, is a single measure of population health which is used to monitor public health, health inequalities, and the outcome of health service interventions and to allocate resources. Life expectancy in Scotland The relationship between health and wealth is complex. One as yet unexplained paradox in Scotland is that, even when matched with their English counterparts of comparable socio-economic status, Scots are relatively less healthy over a range of indicators from age standardised mortality to specific disease outcomes (Figure 1). Figure 1: Directly standardised mortality rates per 1,000 populations, 1990/92, by country and deprivation quintile. These findings suggest that there are factors at work, other than simply wealth, which are making Scots unhealthier than people in other parts of the UK (Scottish executives 2007). West of Scotland: A Description West of Scotland is one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament which were created in 1999. In terms of local government areas the region covers: West Dunbartonshire East Renfrewshire Inverclyde Most of Renfrewshire (otherwise within the Glasgow region) Most of East Dunbartonshire (otherwise within the Central Scotland region) Part of Argyll and Bute (otherwise within the Highlands and Islands region) Part of North Ayrshire (otherwise within the South of Scotland region) Within Scotland, life expectancy is lowest for people living in the west of Scotland. According to the Scottish household survey, healthy life expectancy at birth is 63.3years and 60.3years in females and males, respectively of greater Glasgow for example. These figures are the lowest in the UK (Scottish Public Health Observatory 2007). Life in the West of Scotland While parts of west Scotland have prospered with greater employment and better paid middle-class jobs, in other parts ‘worklessness’ and low income are commonplace. The issue for west Scotland is that greater reductions in disease have been achieved elsewhere and so west Scotland’s health has become worse relatively in comparison to other UK cities. Estimates of life expectancy suggest that people living in west Scotland not only live shorter lives, but succumb to disease and illness earlier in life. An explanation to this is that the health of an individual is largely determined by the circumstances in which he or she lives. Poor health is associated with poverty, poor housing, low educational status, unemployment and a variety of other life circumstances (Tackling Health Inequalities 2007). Health inequalities within Scotland and between the west of Scotland and the rest of the UK appear to be widening. In the 10 years to 2001, average male life expectancy in Sc otland increased by 3% but the rate of increase was more rapid in the most affluent parts of the country, with the least affluent west areas falling behind (Whyte and Walsh 2004). The recent decline in death rates from common conditions such as cardiovascular disease has also been more rapid among the more affluent (Krawczyk 2004). Thus, despite the overall improvements, the west of Scotland still lags behind. Economic factors A number of trends related to the economy are also notable in West Scotland. There are now more women than men in employment in Glasgow and part-time work has grown to represent more than a quarter of all jobs. The service sector has grown to become the most important sector of the heart of West Scotland’s economy, while manufacturing employment has shrunk (Scottish Public Health Observatory 2007). Social factors It is common knowledge that those who smoke, become obese through eating a poor diet or through lack of exercise, and those who drink alcohol in excessive quantities or abuse drugs have poor health. Smoking levels in west Scotland have remained higher than those observed in other parts of the UK. Hanlon and his colleagues (2001) have shown that, by 1991, deprivation appears to explain only 40% of the excess deaths in Scotland (2001). Gillis and his colleagues (1988) have found that, at comparable daily smoking rates and levels of affluence, men in the West of Scotland are more likely to die from lung cancer than other populations in the UK or the US (Gillis 1988) (Figure 2). Figure 2: Comparison of lung cancer mortality in Renfrew and Paisley with three major cohorts in US and UK. The increasing impact of alcohol is undeniable: There are estimated to be more than 13,500 ‘problem alcohol users’ resident within Glasgow City, and since the beginning of the 1990s, there has been a striking increase in numbers of alcohol related deaths and hospitalisations especially in west Scotland. Simple projections of alcohol related deaths based on recent trends suggest that the number of alcohol related deaths in Greater Glasgow could double in the next twenty years (Figure 3) (Scottish executives 2007). Figure 3: Alcohol related mortality in West Scotland: Greater Glasgow The impact of the use of illicit drugs also serves to further decrease life expectancy in west Scotland in comparison with other parts of the UK. Between 1996 and 2004, drug related deaths in Greater Glasgow for example, rose by a third. There are estimated to be around 25,000 problem drug users in the West of Scotland, of whom more than 11,000 live in Glasgow (Scottish executives 2007). Life expectancy for drug addicts is expectedly very low and these figures will impact negatively on the overall life expectancy for the region. In Glasgow and other parts of west Scotland, it is predicted that single adults will account for 49% of all households in the next ten years, while lone parent households may rise to make up almost one in two of households with children (Scottish Public Health Observatory 2007). Obesity levels have risen exceedingly in west Scotland to the extent that in Greater Glasgow, for example, a fifth of males and almost a quarter of females are now estimated to be obese, with well over half classified as overweight. Trends in hospitalisation for diabetes, much of which is associated with obesity, have also risen dramatically in recent years (Scottish executives 2007). A cultural issue The ethnic minority population of west Scotland has risen in recent years and looks set to increase further, particularly taking into account the recent rise in the asylum seeker and refugee population. The influence of this trend on life expectancy within the region remains to be determined (Scottish Public Health Observatory 2007). Provision of services Despite improvements in overall house conditions and dramatic decreases in levels of overcrowding, housing-related problems persist for considerable numbers of residents of Greater Glasgow and the West of Scotland (Scottish Public Health Observatory 2007). Recent research suggests other important ways in which the environment and life circumstances can affect biological processes which in turn can make individuals more susceptible to ill health. By following the progress of male civil servants over a 10 year period, Marmot and his colleagues found that mortality was approximately three times greater among the lowest grades than the highest (Marmot et al 1978). When deaths from heart disease were considered, the recognised risk factors of smoking, high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol levels could account for part of the differences between the groups. Other studies have confirmed that higher levels of risk of death in a working population are explained by health-related behaviours (Marmot 2000). There is mounting evidence that at least part of the unexplained increase in risk across the social classes is related to how the body responds to social stress. Available data shows that people are perhaps exposed to a high level of str ess factors in west Scotland (Scottish Public Health Observatory 2007). Whether these stress types and levels are more or comparable to what is obtainable in other parts of the UK remains an unanswered question. . References Gillis CR, Hole DJ, Hawthorne VM, 1988.Cigarette smoking and male lung cancer in an area of very high incidence-II Report of a general population cohort study in the West of Scotland. J Epidemiology and Community Health 42: 44-48. Hanlon P, Walsh D, Buchanan D, Redpath A (2001). Chasing the Scottish Effect. Public Health Institute of Scotland (now NHS Health Scotland) Glasgow 2001. Marmot MG, Rose G, Shipley M, Hamilton PJ. (1978) Employment grade and Coronary Heart Disease in British civil servants. J Epidemiol Community Health. 1978 Dec; 32(4): 244-9. Marmot MG (2000) Multi-level approaches to understanding social determinants in Berkman and Kawachi (eds) Social Epidemiology New York. Oxford University Press pp 349-367. Scottish executives (2007) [Internet] Available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Health/TrendLifeExpectancy Scottish Public Health Observatory (2007): Healthy life expectancy in Scotland (Internet) (Accessed 15/04/07) http://www.scotpho.org.uk/web/site/home/Populationdynamics/Healthylifeexpectancy/hle_intro.asp Tackling Health Inequalities – An NHS Response (2007) [Internet] (Accessed 15/04/07) www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/nationalframework/Documents/TACKLING%20HEALTHINEQUALITIES240505 Whyte B and Walsh D. (2004) Scottish Constituency Profiles 2004.www.phis.org.uk/info/sub.asp?p=bbb Krawczyk A. (2004) Monitoring Health Inequalities. Scottish Executive Health Department Analytical Services Division 2004.

Issues in the Hospitality Industry

Issues in the Hospitality Industry November 2006 At the recent ISHC Annual Conference held in Miami, Florida, ISHC members participated in a series of roundtable discussions to identify the ISHC Top Ten Issues in the Hospitality Industry for 2007. This year the debate included in-depth discussions on over 100 different issues with 27 making the ballot for the final vote by the members. Ultimately, the following Top Ten Issues were identified as ones that can be expected to potentially have the greatest impact on the industry in 2007. ISHC Top Ten Issues in the Hospitality Industry for 2007 Labor Skills Shortages Growing shortage of qualified skilled employees Construction Costs Escalation of construction renovation costs Technology Lightening speed of changes keeping up Changing Demographics Their Impact on Travel Trends Shift in baby-boomers to gen X Future of Hotel Profits Balancing escalating expenses with the need to increase rates Branding Mitigating consumer confusion over brand proliferation and investor concerns over cross brand impact Distribution Revolution Keeping up with rapidly changing playing field Travel Restrictions And their impact on the travel industry Global Emerging Markets Are travel patterns changing Capital Availability Will investor and lender confidence continue #1 ISHC Top Ten Issue LABOR SKILLS SHORTAGE The problem of attracting and retaining qualified workers, once an issue only in an isolated number of markets, is increasingly becoming a global challenge.. Demography, wage levels, failure to adequately address worker satisfaction and a reputation for long hours and low pay are all cited as contributing factors. Creative hospitality professionals have begun to develop innovative strategies for capturing and keeping high quality workers. Why cant we find good people? Its become a global concern, the number one issue confronting our industry. Here are some of the causes: Demographics Population growth rates have been slowing in Europe, the U.S. and elsewhere for decades so the number of workers leaving the workforce now exceeds those that are entering. The aging workforce moving into retirement is creating a huge void that can only be expected to grow larger going forward. Lagging Wage Rates. Long criticized for paying salaries and wages below those common in other industries, hospitality companies are increasingly finding it difficult to attract and retain qualified candidates willing to attract standard wages. Industry Reputation Like it or not, the hospitality industry has not done enough to earn a reputation as a top career choice for college graduates. Notorious for long hours, night and weekend shifts our industry has Gen-Xers and Gen-Yers seeking other careers with a perceived higher quality of life and better wages. De-emphasis on Training and Worker Satisfaction Following the worldwide dip in demand that followed 9/11, many hotel companies failed to fully restore training and worker enrichment programs that marked the 1980s and 90s. This comes at a time when lodging brands are increasingly adding amenities and services in order to differentiate themselves from competitors. What can we do about it? As an industry, we need to work together to develop strategies for rethinking and rehabilitating our industrys image as an exciting and rewarding career choice. There was a time not too long ago when people joined the hospitality industry for its glamour. Globally, we need to share best practices for training and retention and make industry sponsored educational programs more readily available to employees at every organizational level. Industry organizations including the International Hotel and Restaurant Association and the American Hotel and Lodging Association Educational Institute provide excellent training libraries as well as web based training programs. Additionally, there are some outstanding independent firms that specialize in human resource training and development-some of which also offer excellent proprietary training materials. Meanwhile, following are some thoughts to share regarding potential opportunities for hotels to meet the labor challenge? Grow Your Own. Hotel companies need to develop internal programs to create attractive career paths so that potential candidates see employment as a professional development opportunity with real potential for advancement. Recruiting for entry level positions is easier when the recruiter can outline a career path and can point to managers who have worked their way up from line positions. Marriott has been doing this better than anyone for decades. Guest Workers. The U.S. and many other nations offer guest worker programs that can provide seasonal workers for up to ten months. One well-known US resort brings over two hundred workers from Jamaica each spring to fill various positions under the U.S. H-2B Visa program. These individuals stay through the resort season, with many returning year after year. Similarly, Disney uses the J-1 Visa program to bring young college graduates from all over the world for 18-month internships in entry level supervisory and guest contact positions at its US hotels and theme parks. Pay for Productivity. Hospitality is a labor intensive business and automation opportunities are often limited. Reconfiguring work process and then sharing the benefits of increased productivity can have positive results. One hotel General Manager provides a cash bonus split among the workers in his hotels laundry department for reaching a monthly productivity goal calculated in pounds processed per labor hour. At another hotel Room Attendants are offered a menu of options to receive additional pay for increased productivity so long as strict quality guidelines are met. Job Enlargement. Cross-training and cross-utilization arent new concepts, but theyre good ones. One hotel company of note has a certification program for all its employees. Employees are expected to master the skills for their own positions, but receive pay raises when theyve become certified in other jobs. These multi-talented employees can fill in where needed in peak times and have their own horizons broadened through cross departmental training. In todays environment, operators are increasingly finding they must compete for workers as hard as they compete for customers. Developing a positive work environment with real opportunities for advancement, combined with creative strategies for recruiting and improving employee productivity will all be increasingly essential skills as the workforce continues to shrink in the foreseeable future. # 2 ISHC Top Ten Issue CONSTRUCTION COSTS All construction costs and the costs for furnishings, fixtures and equipment (FFE) will continue to escalate in 2007, although at a pace a little slower than experienced in the period from 2004 through 2006. According to the Associated General Contractors of America, construction costs, driven primarily by materials costs, spiked dramatically in 2004. The annual increase for construction materials in general was approximately 10 percent in 2004, followed by 6.0- percent and 8.8-percent increases in 2005 and 2006, respectively. This compares to increases of 3.8 percent in the consumer price index and 3.7 percent in the producer price index for the period from August 2005 to August 2006. In 2004 and 2005, these two latter indices experienced annual increases averaging about 4.0 percent. The outlook for the future is for more of the same, although at a somewhat slower pace. For example, steel prices experienced a 48.8-percent increase in 2004, which was preceded by significant increases in scrap iron and steel prices in 2002 and 2003. Steel prices held steady in 2005 but jumped again in 2006. They are expected to increase again in 2007 and beyond as demand for steel from construction projects in China and India increases. Scrap iron and steel prices have increased approximately 20 percent in the past twelve months. Other important factors contributing to the increases in construction costs include the cost of diesel fuel used for transportation of both raw and finished goods. Some relief has occurred recently, with fuel costs dropping in tandem with crude oil prices have dropped. But uncertainties of supply in crude oil markets and the somewhat tenuous situation in OPEC nations both economically and politically indicate continuing volatility in future pricing. Further, winter temperatures in 2006-07 could alter the balance between diesel and heating oil production, causing a price escalation in one or both of these fuels. Concrete prices are expected to continue to increase spurred by the ongoing increases in cement, aggregate and the fuel necessary to mine or extract these components. The recent downturn in the residential construction industry may moderate concrete price increases, but the impact of ongoing construction in China and India may more than offset these influences. The anticipated increase in the number of hotels currently in the development pipeline will certainly be affected by construction cost increases. Clearly, rising costs will have an impact on budgeting for new development or renovation projects. Construction contractors, particularly smaller ones, may not be able to offer guaranteed-maximum construction contracts, because they may not have the purchasing power to secure materials at favorable or fixed prices. Even the larger contractors are likely to hedge their contract quotes with provisions that shift the risk of increasing materials costs to the developer. This will affect every aspect of a construction project, particularly the scheduling of sub-contractors and deliveries of materials. Developers will be eager to adhere to a tight project schedule, while contractors will often be at the mercy of the materials suppliers as well as the availability of materials themselves. Faced with this situation, what can a developer or owner do to protect its interests? The following strategies may provide some ideas for further consideration and even innovation: Increase the use of pre-fabricated components in new construction; this may accelerate the overall development timeline; Evaluate materials specifications carefully to ensure the most appropriate and cost-effective materials are being used; Ensure that construction project management is fully qualified and up to speed on new developments in the materials supply arena; Value engineer the projects design and specifications thoroughly, and then do it again; Ensure design standards and space programming make maximum use of as much building area as possible for revenue-producing activities. By constantly monitoring changes in the markets for both construction materials and labor costs, and planning projects with extreme care, a developer or owner can protect its interests and ensure that a project has a better-than-even chance of being completed on time and on budget. # 3 ISHC Top Ten Issue TECHNOLOGY Despite a growing awareness of the value of modern, integrated systems, many properties still do not take advantage of them as fully as they might to maximize revenue opportunities. Many also fail to support and secure them to the extent appropriate to the value of their data and to the legal consequences of that data becoming stolen or corrupted. A significant factor restricting wider adoption is the challenge of improving the systems ease of use as they continue to grow in functionality, in both operational and guest-facing areas. All of these issues support a trend to outsourcing the more complex operational functions and system security to expert, central staff, either corporate or third party. The major factors involved are: the complexity of the hotel environment, which historically has required many different systems to interact with each other, a lack of awareness of how much efficiency could be improved through the use of modern integrated systems, a historic preference for investing funds in FFE rather than in the systems themselves or in regular training for their users, and the difficulty of providing comprehensive, expert technical support at the individual property level for the multiple systems used there. Hospitality management systems have evolved into sophisticated, well integrated, multi-discipline tools capable of helping properties of all types and sizes attract more guests, generate more revenue and reach much-improved levels of efficiency. Years of development in expanding the capabilities of individual systems, together with improvements in both interface technology and vendor cooperation, have produced far more comprehensive and better-integrated systems that can now cover virtually all areas of even a complex resort property or a multi-property chain. This brings obvious benefits from having more complete and accurate data, both operationally and in regard to guests profile and history information. However, many properties handicap themselves through hanging on to systems well past their competitively useful life, greatly restricting their ability to implement such revenue-enhancing measures as taking Internet reservations, performing effective rate/revenue management, collecting more detailed guest data for customer relationship management and targeted marketing, and so on. Sometimes this comes from a lack of appreciation of their potential upside, but there is also often apprehension about the difficulty of integrating older but still valuable systems into a more modern, integrated whole. Current interface technologies go a long way to alleviating this issue, but many properties have found that the benefits from replacing valued older systems with a more comprehensive, integrated system outweigh the possible loss of some minor functionality. Another factor discouraging upgrades is that the more comprehensive systems can seem challenging to use. Certainly good user interface design, as much an art as a science, is something vendors continue to pursue through better data layouts, property-specific screen customizations, the subtle use of color and differing fonts to guide users through the logical sequence of operations, and so on. This is likely to be a continuing challenge in both guest and operations technology. Check-in kiosks and guestroom technology, for example, must be as intuitive to use as possible, for a wide range of guest ages and technical familiarity. Nevertheless, as far as hotel-management systems are concerned the disadvantages of an unintuitive user interface can be overcome through user training, yet many hotels handicap their users by not providing refresher training on at least an annual basis. In an industry with traditionally high staff turnover this virtually guarantees that the systems wont be used effectively, hindering the property from realizing the full return on its investment and maximizing its revenue. Further, as systems become more comprehensive and wide-ranging their support and security management become both more complex and more essential. Loss of access to the system through hardware, software or network failure is completely disruptive since equivalent manual procedures are now virtually impossible to implement quickly. It is very difficult for an individual property to afford in-house technical support personnel trained in all the systems it uses, yet many properties do not have support agreements with third party vendors that might pro-actively prevent imminent problems. More importantly, guest profile data is becoming an increasingly attractive target for identity theft, and attacks on computer systems containing it are becoming more focused and more sophisticated. In addition, legislation such as Sarbanes-Oxley holds corporate officers personally accountable for the accuracy of their financial data. Despite these factors, many systems do not provide audit trails of which user changed key configuration parameters. Further, although all systems track the user ID responsible for changes to guest data, many hotels fail to enforce control over the sharing of IDs and passwords among users, making it impossible to know who entered or modified specific data or sometimes even just whos signed on to the network. All of these factors encourage the movement towards more professional systems management; either from a corporate resource team shared among many properties or contracted out to a professional third party. Centralized revenue management teams, for example, can provide expert help to multiple properties in a regionally cohesive way. Centrally-hosted systems allow for highly-qualified technicians to provide a far more secure and managed systems environment than would be available to an individual property. This trend is expected to continue as awareness grows of the value of keeping systems operating at peak efficiency, and of the potential damage from security breaches. # 4 ISHC Top Ten Issue CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS THE IMPACT ON TRAVEL TRENDS The impact of changing demographics on travel trends is a so far reaching no sector in travel, tourism and hospitality remains unaffected. Whether the subject is the gradual retirement of baby boomers, rampant globalization and its impact on business travel, or the increased demand for experiential travel, the dramatic worldwide shift in demographics poses both challenges and opportunities. These recent and ongoing changes in the demographic environment hold major implications for the hospitality industry in particular. With regard to product and service offerings, hoteliers need to begin a strategy that addresses multi-generational needs, wants and desires. Now, more than ever, hoteliers must offer design and amenities that cater to the special needs of aging consumers (Baby Boomers), as well as younger travelers (Gen-X and Gen-Y), who have high expectations in regard to design and technology. The traditional practice of brand standardization flies in the face of this. Hoteliers must adapt and look for ways to enhance all guest experiences regardless of generation. On January 1, 2006 the first of Americas seventy-eight million baby boomers turned sixty-years old, while the last one turned forty. In fact, nearly 8,000 boomers are turning sixty on a daily basis, and according to US Census Bureau statistics, the number of boomers expected to be living in the year 2030 is 57.8 million. This is the year boomers will be between ages 66 and 84. What does this milestone mean for hoteliers? It means changing the way we have traditionally connected with the so-called senior market. Primarily because boomers will not grow old quietly as previous generations have. This is the generation that has, and will continue to redefine the traditional ideas of aging. Boomers will be more active in their retirement, firmly believing that 50s and 60s are now middle age. This is primarily due to longer life expectancies and significant improvements to overall health and well-being. Although boomers will continue to be important in both population and economical terms, the younger markets (the 49 million Gen Xers and 72 million Gen Y set) are now coming into their own, entering middle management positions, stepping into political offices, and assuming their rightful positions of influence and affluence. It is important for hoteliers to bring the generations together and begin to serve their different habits, patterns and needs. The successful model for true solutions will require long lead times, but here are some suggested approaches. Adopt a universal design approach that includes lower beds, brighter lighting, larger fonts, and walk-in showers that are all easier to use, yet hip, cool and high-tech so that younger consumers are drawn to their design. Offer choices that give customer options rather than pre-determined packages. Create experiences versus tours. This allows individuals or multi-generational groups to determine what best works and appeals to them. High-tech guestrooms must become the norm rather than the exception. Today, its all about Internet access, wireless environments, and flat-screen TVs on the walls. But hoteliers must strive to keep up with the relevant technology that is not only expected from the business traveler, but also the leisure and younger sets. The continual widespread adoption of technology by the public will continue to have impact on the consumer expectation of their hotel experience. While there will be an increase in health travel offerings targeting the aging population such as medical spas, the offerings should also include elements of adventure, spirituality, or stress management that will appeal to younger markets. And finally, consider creating a panel of half a dozen or more people from different age and cultural groups who are willing to talk with you on a regular basis about their concerns and experiences, while giving you honest feedback on your products and services. Only by knowing how the motivations of your customers are tied to the underlying values of the generation to which they belong will you be able to tailor your products and services to their needs, interests, and desires. Applied knowledgeably, that information will provide you with a key competitive advantage. # 5 ISHC Top Ten Issue THE FUTURE OF HOTEL PROFITS We can anticipate that it will become increasingly difficult to sustain profit growth and improved return on investment performance. And for several reasons including:1) increasing operating costs that will outpace the growth of Revenues Per Available Room (RevPAR). 2) the rising costs of capital and the need for reinvestment that will adversely affect hotel returns. 3) Increasing labor and benefits costs that are being driven by changes in demographics, government regulations and labor agreements, and 4) higher energy costs. In the US for example, according to Smith Travel Research, RevPAR growth has been robust over the last three years reaching a projected peak in 2006 at 8.9 percent. While there is some debate about exactly where the industry is in the current cycle, there appears to be a consensus that RevPAR growth has peaked. For 2007 Smith Travel Research is projecting growth of 7.1 percent, and with the threat of increased supply looming on the horizon, year over year RevPAR growth is expected to continue to decline. Rising interest rates and higher equity return requirements are anticipated to result in higher costs of capital. At the same time, reinvestment costs (capital expenditures) are increasing as existing supply ages. As a consequence, profits will be reduced and owner returns are expected to decline over the next 12 to 24 months. Labor costs are the number one factor impacting hotel expenses. They are being affected by: Changes in demographics that are expected to constrict the available labor pool; Government regulations (higher minimum wages, immigration constraints, and mandated healthcare); New labor agreements that include significant increases in wages and continued limits on the ability to cross train; and Higher benefit expenses resulting from increased health insurance costs and pension requirements. In 2005, utilities grew at a rate of 13.6 percent over the prior year according to PKF Hospitality Research. While oil prices have been falling in recent months they remain slightly above 2005 levels. Utility expenses are not expected to decline significantly during 2007, and as such will remain an area of concern impacting hotel profitability into the future. In some cases, the factors that have been identified as affecting hotel profitability are out of the control of individual hotel owners and operators, however, there are steps that can be taken to mitigate their impact. For example: by giving increased attention to yield management, operators can potentially increase their RevPAR; through creative financing and diligent oversight of capital expenditures operators can increase their return on investment; improved employee retention and the use of alternate labor sources such as retirees can help to contain employee labor costs; and the installation of new energy saving devices and more efficient design can help to control energy expense. # 6 ISHC Top Ten Issue BRANDING: Mitigating Consumer Confusion over Brand Proliferation and Investor Concerns over Cross-Brand Impact As most of us involved in hotel development and operations are aware, there has been an explosion of new hotel brands/products announced over the past three to four years. Aloft, Cambria, Indigo, Waldorf-Astoria, Hyatt Place, NYLO, Viceroy, Capella, and most recently 1, are but a few examples of this rabid expansion of product type among both the major hotel franchise companies and small start-ups or spin-off management firms trying to establish themselves as a brand. But, despite all the hype and promotion surrounding the roll-out of these new hotels products, and the promise that each will be unique and different from their existing or future competition through design, price point, service levels, amenities, and/or the mattress, do the vast majority of consumers really understand all of the products? Do they want them? And what about the existing hotel franchisee or owner faced with yet another brand competitor under an existing franchise umbrella that is first viewed as splitting the pie even further? What does it do to their demand base? How about the going concern value of their asset? Today, there are an estimated 140 + hotel brands, up from approximately 80 in 1995 and estimated 110 brands in 2000. Are all these brands and choices necessary? Are more brands better, or are we merely creating more confusion for an already confused customer base? The answer is probably yes and yes, but not necessarily negative. Much of the new product being launched is attempting to capture an evolving consumer whose tastes and preferences are changing as they age. The baby boom generation, Gen Xers and Yers, Millenniums, etc., all have demographic characteristics and psychographic needs that may or may not be satisfied by todays hotel products. So the idea is that these new brands and products will better meet these consumers evolving needs in sufficient quantity to be market and financially successful. In that light, the larger issue is what to do with the brands left behind. They never seem to go away! Perhaps thats where more thought and effort should be concentrated by industry consultants, investors and franchisors. On the other hand, in the case of start-up hotel companies such as, Kor, West Paces Hotel Group, which rolled out the Solis and Capella luxury brands under the leadership of a former Ritz Carlton executive, or most recently the 1 luxury brand, begs the question as to whether there is perhaps too much equity and debt capital chasing too few deals in a hot hotel market rather than a verifiable market need for a better mouse trap. From an existing hotel franchisee/operator perspective, how do the major franchise companies protect their existing franchise partners from the impact against these new products so that the new product is not cannibalizing the existing demand base, particularly when there are 10 to 15 years left on the existing operators franchise agreement? This is an on-going issue that continues to surface, but has yet to be resolved between franchisor and franchisee. Franchisee councils, 3rd party impact studies, and areas of protection are a few of the methods used to address this complex issue, but none have proven to be a panacea. In both cases, the onslaught of new brands is a cyclical one and tends to occur during the up and peak points of the hotel cycle. So it is likely that this proliferation will subside as the industry cycle matures or begins to decline. At that point, as we have seen too often, the new brands that were ill-conceived and lacking clear definition and marketability ultimately become the weaker performers which are then often absorbed by the stronger ones. Eventually, these same brands (and all the hotels bearing their name) that fail to capture sufficient consumer interest languish and trade down the food chain of franchise companies over time, or are broken up and sold off in pieces. These thoughts would suggest that, perhaps as an industry, we should focus more on creative alternative uses for marginal brands and properties as opposed to worrying about the new ones stealing existing business. # 7 ISHC Top Ten Issue DISTRIBUTION REVOLUTION In 2006, it is estimated that $24 billion worth of hotel rooms in the US alone will be booked through internet sites representing 27% of US hotel industry room revenues up from $15.5 billion just two years ago. Moreover, industry analysts estimate an additional 25 to 30% of all hotel bookings are influenced by online research. The bottom line is that the hospitality industry continues to experience a revolution in distribution, and organizations are less and less equipped to keep pace with the dramatic changes in this online landscape. As distribution via the Internet evolved many experts agreed that online presence helped level the playing field; that independent hotels and small hotel companies could compete in cyberspace with major brands. Today, the issue is not can they compete but can any hotel or hotel company keep pace with the colossal changes and innovations that flood the online world? At the property level the first challenge was to effectively (and more efficiently) manage a myriad of distribution channels from a tactical perspective. Certainly the efforts to do a better job at the tactical side of distribution management have paid off. Although theres still room for improvement in this regard, online inventory management and better application of rate integrity policies have certainly helped hotels take back control of their inventories and pricing. The newest challenge is represented in the strategic side of distribution management and more specifically the ability to understand, manage and market to the consumer in the online world. This playing field is changing so rapidly that it is virtually impossible to keep pace. Hospitality professionals, whether they be in ownership positions, senior management at corporate or a property level executive, must become online savvy. Without some understanding of the online consumers buying behavior, it is impossible to effectively level the playing field or allocate marketing dollars intelligently. From travel blogs to consumer reviews from travel oriented social networking to highly targeted, email based direct marketing from really simple syndication (RSS permits users to subscribe to their choice of Web content) to the use of rich media to differentiate hotel productall of these innovations are causing what PhocusWright terms the power shift toward consumers. The question is: Are hotels ready for this? In many cases our collective heads are still spinning from the first wave of online distribution challenges. Now hotels must be even savvier about every aspect of how their product reaches the consumer. Directors of Sales Marketing and Directors of Revenue Management must understand at least the basics of search engine optimization, pay-per-click marketing, link popularity strategies and web traffic analysis. Allocation of marketing budgets and resources must be carefully managed to optimize reach. And the connection (and