Using examples from the hospitality industry outline the triple bottom Essay

Using examples from the hospitality industry outline the triple bottom line concept of sustainable development and discuss the contradictions that are present in this model - Essay Example Sustainable development means growth and improvement in operations that last for longer periods without depreciating in value at a high rate. (flinkinghub.eselvier.com) From this, the benefits derived from the operations of the firm by the firm and societies are felt for a longer period. The economic and social developments gained open up the region for more trading opportunities through the externalities and multiplier effects. In the hospitality industry, resorts that have taken the 3Ps are such as the Sarova hotels in Kenya who sponsor sports events such as the Lewa marathon that has proceeds going to charity. Serena hotels in Kenya, sponsor youth art projects to promote the growth of young talent and reduce the level of youth unemployment in East Africa. The Mara resort employs local Maasai morans to act as tour guides and this reduces unemployment as well as increasing income for the community. Travel firms such as Kenya Airways sponsor sports activities. They have set aside 3 billion to cater for travel and sports gear and salaries for the Kenya 7s national rugby team. The airlines recruit and train their own employees from the local community. Every year, a team of 25 recruits is trained and offered fully paid aviation scholarships to South Africa. After the training, they are absorbed in Kenya Airways. In New Zealand, Air New Zealand offers discounted air fares and luxury class travel packages for t heir clients that fly frequently to certain tourism destinations. It is aimed at encouraging people to go on holidays. They have to save for their holidays. The more they travel, the better the service they get at Air New Zealand. In Arabella Western Cape Hotel, South Africa, they offer their clients chartered tours around the Cape. They encourage them to interact with the local and indulge in the rich South African culture. This is done to conserve and embrace the culture and traditions of the Africana and native South

Questions and comments on graph and starbucks Essay

Questions and comments on graph and starbucks - Essay Example Euro will definitely make it difficult for European economies to compete in the global market due to comparatively low prices offered by non-European economies. Starbucks’ understanding towards the increase in exchange rate for Euro vs Dollars has saved it from making an investment, which would have resulted in lower revenues earning; however, the other issue of tax avoidance is a considerable one, which not only focuses on the taxation policies but also increases the political risk associated with such practices. The fact that the actions of the company can affect the political risk has to be considered, which will definitely be another setback for the operations of the company in the European market (Kapil). The management of Starbucks shall be concerned about the risks associated with foreign currency translations, which may affect the profitability of the company and thereby deviate unfavourably from projected figures. In this regard, the fact that the company has started using forward contracts to cover risks associated with foreign currency translation is a positive step. The fact that there is a risk associated with such practice is still acceptable while keeping in view the greater risk associated with losses incurred in foreign currency translations

ICT impact on social networks size and strengths Essay Example for Free

ICT impact on social networks size and strengths Essay Information technology has formed the backbone of socio-economic progression. It has opened the social condensation and propelled communication and business progress to higher performance and productivity levels. However there are various implications on the society that are being looked at as checks and balances in this advancement. The hypothetical position on social networks as within the dimensional and convectional implications is that, ICT has reduced the strength of social networks as well as the strengths of the social networks. The overall and the subsequent repercussion is condensation of the social integration and incubating social diversity into a less dynamic society due to lack of social networks. Overview on ICT impact on social networks A debate has come up on this hypothetical implication on the social networks and how social integration can be reconstructed and strengthened again. According to various research attributes and findings on implications of ICT diversity in the society is mainly based on disintegration of social networks. Andreina M (2002) points out that information technology has become an important tool in the society. She argues that the impacts of the internet on sociability are more diverse. People with lower social skills are negatively affected by ICT developments. These assertion project ICT as a key element social network disintegration. Social networks, according to Andreina, M. , bring together people of different sorts and helps bond society constituents. What is the impact of ICT on social networks size and strength? The hypothetical argument of ICT disintegrating size and strength of social networks is based on the diversity of ICT. Alan N, John P, R (2002) point out that ICT is revolutionary. This makes its implications on social networks vilified. Current social-economic views on social networks and ICT Alan N, John P, R (2002) further argue that ICT is a major historical event. At individual level, the revolution might be related to the social impact of IT, in terms of new ways of relating to other people and maintaining social contacts. The behavioural impacts of two-way communications formats, like the internet and the telephone, i-phone and phone messaging. They are used subtly to establish and maintain social relationships forming new infrastructures that facilitate different patterns of interaction. These implications reduce the size and strength of the social networks. There is less communication between certain social partners and groups reducing social interaction. ii- Social networks A synopsis that draws out the contentious breakage of social networks is that they are units of the people who meet and mingle freely to discuss and share their aspects of live. Social networks have incubated new types of networks which fit in to the ICT revolution. Seen in the context of Andreina M (2002), cyberspace networks and cell phone communication-video conferencing social networks have emerged as the breakaway social networks as a result of weakening of human-social networks. The emergence of ICT weakened social networks, and Andreina informs of cognitive and social digital networks are part of the more general cognitive and social networks that individuals are in and can access. Traditional and electronic social networks In her argument on diversity of social network transformation, Andriena examines the rise of technology as also a filler of the gap left by the weakened and less sizeable social network. Social networks consist of mainly friends, family and business circles that regularly meet to share ideas and merge to reach various principal objectives. According to Andreina, this is the offline outlook of social networks. She argues that, the internet cognitive and cultural space cannot be considered separated from the offline experience. If conceptual, it is particularly true when considering the diffusion of ubiquitous technology and cross-channel integrated communications on the net. Andreina M (2002) This point out the dynamism in social networks is now being transformed into a less strong position which is the cyberspace and video conferencing in phones and group messaging through mobile telephony. Earlier outlook of the social networks drew out a picture of a cohesive society where in meeting and sharing through live conversations. The picture today is different, more mobile phone calls and emailing is seen to replace meetings hence, subsequent weakening and reduction of size of the social network. How social networks have changed with emergence of technology Emergence of ICT based networking has transformed the facade of social networking, especially on issue based perspective as well as cognitive socio-economic approach. Earliest communication technologies, like simple conversations that evolved into more long distance forms illustrate the basic nature of one-to-one targeted communications. Meyer. K. , John P, R, Alan N, Anthony, A. (2002); besides, major concerns on the social transformation focus mainly on social life and personal communication and mass communication. Erstwhile, Meyer K. , John P, R, Alan N, Anthony, A. (2002) argue that the change focus is on the social networks secondary activities, social network company and the social network location. Secondary activities feature group television watching and so forth while social company looks at type of individual representation in terms of rankings in social stature. Time spent by the group’s members, by family members or by friends has become lessened. There is also a decline in level of discussion and verbal communication in live meetings due to the ICT based communication through which the persons in the groups exhaust most of their talks successively and comprehensively.

Health And Illnesses Defined By Society Sociology Essay

Health And Illnesses Defined By Society Sociology Essay Health is the general condition of a person in all aspects of life. It can be seen as the level of functional and or metabolic efficiency of an organism, often implicitly human. According to World Health Organization (WHO), health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity- (WHO 1986). It can be defined as the absence of disease, a state of health unless symptoms emerge that demonstrates a deviance from normality. Mechanic and Volkhart (1961) define illness behaviour as the way in which symptoms are perceived, evaluated and acted upon by a person who recognizes some pain, discomfort or other signs of malfunction. Coe, (1979) asserts that illness is a subjective phenomenon. Individuals perceive themselves as not feeling well and hence may deviate from usual normal behaviour. According to him, the individual may feel sick without a disease being present, (or he/she may not experience illness even though a disease is present). Two persons with the same clinical symptoms may act altogether differently in degree and kind of concern expressed, and whether and how they search for treatment Foster and Anderson (1979) posit that the state of illness comes with a time sequence. There is the beginning, an awareness of the first faint symptoms, there is a progression, the social and psychological progresses that occur, and there is a termination, through recovery or death. At many points during the course of illness, medical and social decisions must be made, roles adjusted and attitudes changed to confirm to the reality of the situations. Medical sociologist believes that illness behavior is to a large extent influenced by the individuals social class, ethnic background and culture of orientation. The definition of health and illness polarizes between those that rely upon objectives, scientific criteria at one extreme, and awareness, at the other. It has generated divergent views and understanding which is reflected in the academic debates about the nature of health and illness. Traditional Medical View The traditional medical view is that there is such a thing as a normal functioning of the body, which has a limited degree of variation. When operating within the normal boundaries of these variations, a person can be defined as healthy, and when they are outside these normal boundaries, they are ill or there organs are diseased. Health can be defined within this framework as the absence of disease. It assumes a state of health unless symptoms emerge that demonstrate a deviance from normality. The Positivist Approach The positivist approach accepts the concept of disease, but, brings out a much broader social element into the definition, suggesting that health is not just a physical state, but also a wider sense of well-being, closely linked to our social surroundings. While the Lay Models of Health perspective emerged to use the functional definition by arguing that health can be defined as the ability to perform normal daily activities (Haralambos and Holborn 2008:280-1). The functionalist approach to the sociology of health and illness derives from the work of Talcott Parsons. He explored the relationship between illness and social control. Parson (1951) put forward one of the most famous concept in the sociology of health and illness: the sick role. This is the role assumed by an individual who excuses him or her from the normal behaviour because he is sick due to injury or incapacitation. He/she then seeks compassion from colleges, friend and family members and is no longer able to carry out normal activities. The sick person has the right to be exempted from normal social obligations, such as attending employment, or fully engaging in family activities. More so, sickness is something that no person can do anything about and for which the sick should not be blamed -they therefore have the right to be looked after by others. However the obligation of the sick role entails that the sick person must accept that he/she is in a situation that is undesirable and should seek to get well a soon as possible. The sick person must seek professional help and cooperate with the medical profession to get better. To the functionalist, illness has positive adaptive function which only a critical analysis can bring out. Dysfunctionally, disease and illness are destructive of human organism attacking cells and tissues thus reducing organisms adjustment. It brings loss resources for the individual and his/her group and can engender role problems as one individual or some people are put off temporally or permanently. On manifest, illness serves to forewarn the individual about the possible collapse of his/her physical structure and to effect repair. It makes the individual, his/her group or society to mobilize for such and similar occurrence, and for the group or society to train members for multiple roles incase of incapacitation of some people. On the latent functions, illness relieves the victim of unbearable pressure, mainly from relatives and dependants. It is used to gain attention and also maybe a device to expiate sinful feelings. The Work of Foucault A Foucaultian perspective drives social constructionalism much further on, right to the heart of the natural or biological, arguing that what we know as disease are themselves fabrications of powerful discourses, rather than discoveries of truths about the body and its interaction with the social world (Bury 1986) The corpus of his major work from the 1960s to the 1980s is an attempt to write a new history of the subject as constituted through historically located disciplinary powers. Foucaults starting position is the configuration of knowledge or episteme which constitutes particular subjects during specific historical periods. For Foucault (1973) sociology was deeply implicated in the very episteme which had given rise to medicine. The discipline of medicine provided the tool whereby subjectivity could be experienced and enforced. Contemporary sociology is not against medicine or professional practice, but rather seeks to problematize the taken- for- granted categories or reality within which they operate and deploy power/knowledge. The relationship between sociology and medicine and practices has always had a major impact on the field of the sociology of health and illness. His work went further to review the changing relationship before moving on to discuss some key characteristic of a sociological account for modern medicine and the social functions of medical knowledge. Although it is inappropriate to label Foucaults work postmodern it has been an important influences upon postmodernists. Post Modernism This approach allows the analysis of the fabrication of health, illness and patient subjectivity and the effect of the inscription on the body. It is suggested that health care professionals need to be more reflexive about their own knowledge claims and to resist the discursive practices which disempower and reduce choice. There is sustained application of post-modernist ideas to the sociology of health and medicine, although there is certainly an interest among many to explore their relevance for the field. The objective of sociologists of postmodernity is to understand the nature of contemporary postmodern society. As a result of developments in medicine, the overall increase in levels of health, have created the belief that most people will live long healthy lives. There is an increasing emphasis on life planning and self-identityà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.as the constraints of life-threatening diseases early death and insecurity have given way to a more predictable life course Bury (1997). The experience of chronic illness therefore threatens much of what has come to be accepted as normal in contemporary society. Bury(1982) argued that chronic illness constitutes a major disruptive force in people lives undermining the taken-for-granted assumptions they had about the world and their place in it and forcing t hem to review their lives their own bodies and their own identities. He called this process biographical disruption. Narrative reconstruction is used by people to create a sense of coherence and order-why they got the disease. Interactionist Perspective Symbolic interactionism has probably been the most influential theoretical approach in the sociology of health and illness with studies focusing on the processes involved in people arriving at the decision to seek professional help, the interaction between the ill person and the medical professional in arriving at a definition of the illness and the impact on the person of being labeled as ill. This perspective rejects the notion that illness is a direct result of some form of disease instead they perceive it as a form of social deviance. What constitutes illness is a result of social definitions. Mechanic (1968) defines illness behaviour as the way in which symptoms are perceived evaluated and acted upon by a person who recognizes some pain discomfort and other signs of organic malfunction. Feminist Approach to Health These can include liberal feminism, socialist feminism and radical feminism. Divisions are apparent in the theoretical debates on feminism within the sociology of health and illness. All of them focuses in particular on inequalities of health between male and female and has sought explanations for these differences within the different role and economic positions of men and women. It tends to sought equality of numbers of men and women in the higher status medical professions and research has been undertaken to demonstrate the smaller number of women who occupy senior medical position and also the way in which nursing is regarded as lower-status, female profession. It also points to the lack of power that women have in their relations with the medical profession and demands a greater say in womens health particularly in childbirth and conception. Soialist feminist emphasizes that it is not possible to change the role of males and females within a capitalist patriarchal society as liberal feminist seek to do. Conclusion Health and illness in contemporary societies has been subjected of discuss from centuries back. Contemporary medicine includes unofficial, unorthodox, holistic and non conventional reflects both the range of models of health which underlie these differing medicines and the ability of the more powerful biomedical profession to have them defined as somehow subservient to (complementary) or less proven (alternative than biomedicine. Although there is general acceptance of the importance of social explanation in helping to understand health and illness within sociology, there is little consensus as to the exact mechanism which links social class, gender, ethnicity, and geography to different level of health with the explanations ranging from those which stresses the wider economic structure of society, to those which stress the individual life style choice. Finally the conceptualization of health and illness in contemporary society has brought out the idea that there are areas of knowledge which are natural and can only be understood through a sociological and physiological framework.

The Myth Of Birth Orders and Personality :: Parenting Parenthood

Does birth order really influence personal traits? Many researchers believe that the first-born child is parental, responsible, hardworking and intelligent. The middle-born child is more competitive, tends to be a people-pleaser and usually hates quarrel. Youngest are social, less capable of doing things. But I have found different traits comparing to researchers findings. Defining ones personality through their birth order can be a lot like horoscopes. Horoscopes are so sweeping that they can apply to anyone. The same can go for birth order. While I do have many of the traits first-borns are said to have, I also have a lot of the characteristics that the youngest have. The author in the passage tried to give logical reasons to prove it, but I saw many examples in real life which has no connection with the author’s logic. Let me share some of those relating with the author’s logic. The firstborn child is not parental at all. In many families we can see that the younger brother’s are dominating the older sister. For example, one of my friends, Shanila, likes to talk with her friends at night. Most of the times her parents stay outside home so there is suppose to be no one to stop her. But she faces many troubles for her younger brother, Akash. He always tries to be parental and take care of Shanila by scolding her if she talks too much in phone. Sometimes Akash read SMS in her mobile and take numbers from her mobile to call and check the guy with whom she was talking the whole night. Sometimes younger brother also helps older ones with academic problems. Shanila is not a good student neither she have any interest with her study. She always faces problems with her assignments. So most of the time her brother force her like a parent to study. Therefore, I think it is the situation and parents influence which makes a people parental. Shanila’s parents give full right to Akash to take care of Shanila because her parents think boys are more capable than girls. So if any younger brother falls in a situation where he needs to be parental it can force him to be parental. The firstborn children are more social. I have seen in absence of parents in the house the oldest child communicate with different neighbor for various reasons. For instance, when Rajiv’s parents stay outside home Rajiv serve the guests who come to their home.

Interpretation of A Feminist View on Pornography Essay -- Critique Reb

Interpretation of A Feminist View on Pornography The article that I will be breaking down in the following paper is â€Å"Pornography, Civil Rights, and Speech† by Catherine A. MacKinnon. I believe the best area to start is to briefly describe MacKinnon and her article. MacKinnon is a professor of law at the University of Michigan. The article deals with the affects of pornography on society. MacKinnon feels that some pornography should be illegal. Her reason for this view is not that she finds it offensive, but rather that she considers it as a form of sexual discrimination. There are many different views on pornography ranging from the belief that it is harmless fantasy all the way to it being a prime factor of the deterioration for society. MacKinnon says that pornography subordinates women and institutionalizes male supremacy. She even goes so far as to say that it is a political practice. Advocates of pornography claim its ultimate end to be pleasure, but MacKinnon says that the actual end is power. The article will att empt to prove a correlation between pornography and the violence taken against women, as well as their social and economic inequality. I feel that the article itself is poorly written, but will attempt to make her points a little easier to understand. I feel the necessity to state that the feelings of the paper are that of my views on MacKinnon’s article. They are not my views and may in fact be, misinterpretations of her views. To spare us the confusion, I will rebut it with my views that pornography is harmless, at the end of the paper. The article starts with a brief passage on sexual equality in society. Her presentation of the argument is to explain it as if she agreed with it, only to refute it by say... ...hy. It is a genre in which men are completely subordinate, and women have all the power. Her article is so weak because it does not take that into account. I know that is only one case, but we have stated time and again that philosophy must be consistent. If she cannot/does not take dominatrix into account, then her philosophy is inconsistent. To fully explain this article and pornography would require a lengthy paper that exceeds the requirements and purpose of this prà ©cis. I will end my paper by saying that I believe everyone has a right to free speech and equality, and I appreciate the article for what it was worth, but I do not feel it is justifiable or relevant to society. She bases her entire argument on an improvable correlation of pornography and sexual discrimination. Not to mention the fact that women also buy pornography. But that is a whole other prà ©cis.

Financial Management Theory and Practice Essay

A- Annual report :- it’s a statement that gives an accounting picture of a firms operation and its financial position , there is two types of information are provided in annual report First :- the verbal section witch often represents the firms operation result during the past two years or any period , and discuses new developments that will effect future operation . and explain why things turned out the way they did . Second :- the presentation for four basic financial statements ( the balance sheet , the income statement , the statement of retained earnings and the statement of cash flows). these four statements illustrate (what has actually happened to assets , earnings , and the dividends over the past few years . These information is used by investors to help form an expectation about the future earnings of the firm and dividends B- Balance sheet :- it’s a snapshot of firms financial position in the last day of given period . and a balance sheet changes daily because of :- * Inventories are bought and sold . * Fixed assets are added or retired . * A bank loan balances are increased or paid down. Its composite of a table of two sides :- The left side of a balance sheet lists assets (which are the things that company owns) in order of liquidity or the length of time , The right side lists the claims that ( supplies , banks , bondholders , stockholders ) have against company and they must be paid in order ) . C– the income statement :- reflects the financial performance over each of a given period of time ( monthly , quarterly and annually ) . witch contains net sales excluding (EBITDA) .which means earning before interest , taxes , depreciation and amortization . D- depreciation :- its a policy applies by accountants , rather than treat the entire purchase of assets in a purchase year , they treat the expenses of assets by the assets useful life , in many years after , and it calculates in tangible assets in balance sheet . E- Net worth or common equity :- it’s the asset net of liabilities and sum of common stocks and retained earnings , In case a company’s assets are sold and liabilities and preferred stocks were actually worth their book value , then the company in case of bankruptcy can sell its assets to pay liabilities and preferred stocks and remaining cash would belong to common stakeholders . F- (EBITDA) :- its earning before interest , taxes , depreciation , and amortization . G- STATEMENT OF CASH FLOW :- represents a claim against assets , instead of distributing the money as dividends , they spend it on buying new assets . H- The statement of cash flow :- it’s the amount of cash reported on its year-end balance sheet , it can be used in variety of ways , (pay dividends , increase inventories , keep it in bank , or to invest in fixed assets . (3-2) what four statements are contained in annual report ? Answer :- 1- the balance sheet , 2- the income statement , 3- the statement of retained earnings 4- the statement of cash flows These information is used by investors to help form an expectation about the future earnings of the firm and dividends . (3-3) If a â€Å"typical† firm reports $20 million of retained earnings on its balance sheet, could its directors declare a $20 million cash dividend without any qualms whatsoever? Answer :- No , because the retained earning could be used in variety of ways , like pay dividends , increase inventories , keep it in bank , or to invest in fixed assets . (3-4) Explain the following statement: â€Å"While the balance sheet can be thought of as a snapshot of the firm’s financial position at a point in time, the income statement reports on operations over a period of time.† Answer :- Because the balance sheet changes daily as inventories are bought and sold , fixed assets are added or retired , or as a bank loan balances are increased or paid down . while the income statement is the financial performance of a firm during that period , and its more precise to analyze . (3-5) What is operating capital, and why is it important?