Lab Report: Blood Pressure Essay

The woozy feeling when standing up too quickly. After going for a run, feeling as if one more beat and the heart would project itself out of the chest. Or quite the opposite and being in a very relaxed state. These are all changes one experiences at some time or another. What causes the different feelings and how each variable affects pulse rate and blood pressure has many wondering. Because of this curiosity, an experiment was performed to get some answers. The purpose of the experiment is to see how different variables affect pulse rate and blood pressure. Before starting the experiment, self educating on background information was a necessity in order to obtain a full understanding of what exactly was going to be performed. What is blood pressure and how does it work? â€Å"As the heart beats, the heart pushes blood through a network of blood vessels called arteries. As the blood travels through the arteries, it pushes against the sides of these blood vessels and the strength of this pushing is called blood pressure.† (Blood Pressure UK) After getting the basic definition of what blood pressure is, it was learned that when blood pressure is taken the first number that is said is the systolic blood pressure level or the highest level that is reached when the heart is squeezing. The second number that is read is the diastolic pressure level or the lowest level when the heart is relaxing, which is measured in mm Hg. (Blood Pressure UK) Moving on to pulse rate, also known as heart rate. It is known that pulse rate is the number of times the heart beats in one minute. (Gordon) Pulse is lower at rest and increases when higher activity is performed, like exercise. (Gordon) Pulse is taken by putting the tips of the index finger and middle finger onto the palm side of the opposite wrist below the base of the thumb. (Gordon) By pressing lightly with fingers, one could feel the blood pulsing beneath the fingers. (Gordon) After counting for ten seconds, the number of beats felt is multiplied by six to get the heart rate per minute. (Gordon) Normal pulse is between sixty and a hundred beats per minute. (Gordon) Posture Changes, Exercise, and Cognitive Stressor are the three variables to be tested. First, the focus will be on posture changes. More specifically, reclining for three minutes. It is hypothesized that both, arterial pressure and pulse rate, will decrease because the heart doesn’t have to work as hard to distribute blood to the body. Normally it takes more effort to deliver blood to the body is erect. After reclining for three minutes and standing up quickly, it is hypothesized that pulse rate will decrease because the act of standing takes a good amount of blood that travels down into the legs causing less stroke volume for the ventricle to pump. Once standing for three minutes, it is hypothesized that the arterial pressure and pulse rate with both increase. As it is increasing, it will also be recognized that the arterial pressure and pulse rate will return to baseline. Once data is collected from the variable of posture changes, exercise will be the next variable to look at. Immediately after exercising, it is hypothesized that arterial pressure and blood pressure will increase. It is thought because the body is performing high activity, it means that the heart has to work faster to be able to successfully perform venous return which then increases stroke volume and as a result increases cardiac output. Not only will the arterial pressure and pulse rate increase, it will be at its max range. Two minutes after exercise, it is hypothesized that the arterial pressure and pulse rate will decrease. Because the body is starting to calm down and come back down to resting, the heart doesn’t need to produce as high of stroke volume therefore decreasing the cardiac output. Focusing on the last variable of cognitive stressor, the subject will have to spell a list of words forwards and backwards. It is hypothesized that while doing this, the subject arterial pressure and pulse rate will increase. This is to be thought because while the subject is spelling the words the mind will be under a lot of stress therefore causing acts of anxiety or nervousness to arise, making the heart beat faster than normal. Procedure: â€Å"For procedures, refer to Lab 6, Activity 2, in the Anatomy and Physiology Lab Manual.† Discussion/Conclusion: To start off the experiment, a baseline was needed in order to be able to compare the different variables through out the experiment. The subject was instructed to sit and relax quietly while the blood pressure cuff and pulse plethysmograph were placed properly. After the blood pressure was taken and analyzed, it was found that the subject’s blood pressure was 122/64 mm Hg and a pulse rate of 60 bpm. Now that the baseline was obtained, continuing with the changing variables could take place. Starting with the variable of postural changes, the subject first reclined for three minutes. After the two minutes, the subjects blood pressure and pulse rate was taken and gave a reading of 120/52 mm Hg and 60 bpm. Looking back at the hypothesis, it was hypothesized that after reclining for three minutes the arterial pressure and pulse rate will both decrease. Cross referencing the given data with the hypothesis, it was found that the results didn’t fully match with the hypothesis. The blood pressure did, in fact, decrease due to the relaxation state that the subject was in. On the other hand, the pulse rate stayed the same. Reflecting on that and looking at the variables in the environment, it could be said that the subject wasn’t in a state of full relaxation. The subject was instructed to recline on a cold lab table with other subjects and groups in the room. It is possible that the discrepancy in this experiment was the environment in which the subject was instructed to recline and relax. After reclining, the subject was instructed to stand up quickly. Right when the subject stood up, blood pressure and pulse rate were recorded. It was collected that the subject’s blood pressure was 132/58 mm Hg and pulse rate of 62 bpm. Relating back to the hypothesis, it was said that the arterial pressure and the pulse rate would decrease. The results obtained and the hypothesis did not match. Further dissecting why the data didn’t match the hypothesis, it was discovered that because the subject stood up very quickly, 500 mL or more travels down into the legs. It was thought, due to that reason it would mean less stroke volume for the ventricle to pump. Looking at it from a different angle, because the amount of blood that travels to the legs, it actually causes the heart to work more rapidly to evenly transport regular amounts of blood through out the body causing the arterial pressure and the pulse rate to increase. Once the subject was standing for three minutes, the reading of the blood pressure was 130/52 mmHg and the pulse rate was 64 bpm. Comparing to the hypothesis, it was said that the arterial pressure and pulse rate would increase trying to bring the body back to baseline. Looking at the results, the blood pressure, in fact, decreased and the pulse rate increased, making the results partially confirm the hypothesis. Because it didn’t completely confirm the hypothesis, it could be said that the subjects body wasn’t able to get the body completely back to baseline in three minutes. It may have taken a few more minutes in order for the body to get back to a regular state. After those variables were explored, the next variable tested was exercise. Instead of there being only one subject, two subjects were used. Subject #1 was a well conditioned subject, someone who works out on a regular basis and already has endurance. Subject #2 was someone who was poorly conditioned, who never does strenuous activity. Before any physical activity, a baseline was required so there was data that can be compared. The well conditioned subject’s baseline was an arterial pressure of 118/70 mmHg and pulse rate of 61 bpm. The poorly condition subject’s baseline read as arterial pressure 122/44 mmHg and pulse rate of 60 bpm. Both subjects were instructed to exercise for five minutes, which consisted of running up and down the stairs. Immediately after exercising, the reading of the arterial pressure and pulse rate were taken. The well conditioned subject’s arterial pressure read 162/62 mmHg and pulse rate of 76 bpm. The poor conditioned subject’s arterial pressure read 139/60 mmHg and pulse rate 80 bpm. The hypothesis was confirmed that immediately after exercising, the arterial pressure and pulse rate would increase. Not only would it increase, but it would be at a max range. The venous return increased due to the increase in skeletal muscle activity. Increasing venous return, increases stroke volume, which then increases cardiac output. One minute after exercising, the subjects arterial pressure and pulse rate were recorded. Subject #1’s arterial pressure was 138/70 mmHg and pulse rate was 74 bpm. Subject #2’s arterial pressure was 134/65 mmHg and 76 bpm. The hypothesis was confirmed that the arterial pressure and pulse rate would decrease but still higher than baseline. As you see reflected in the â€Å"Results† section above, two and three minutes after exercising the blood pressure and pulse rate decreased, further confirming the hypothesis. The third and final variable tested was cognitive stressor. The subject was instructed to read 12 spelling words forwards and backwards at five second intervals. Before, just like any experiment a baseline needed to be obtained. After the reading was recorded, the first test began. The subject had to spell a series of words, as this was happening, the subject was hooked up to iWorx which is a system that reads blood pressure and pulse rate. Once the test had ended, the data was analyzed and it was found that the hypothesis of the pulse pressure and blood pressure increasing did not apply to the first part of the test. The subject’s blood pressure had decreased while the pulse pressure increased. The discrepancy was thought to be that the subject was very comfortable in spelling words therefore the blood pressure decreased but the pressure from spelling in front of other people may have caused the pulse rate to increase. The subject then spelled a series of words backwards, this further confirmed the hypothesis that the blood pressure and pulse pressure would increase. The focus on spelling the words backwards correctly and the pressure of people watching the subject caused the increase in blood pressure and pulse pressure. Throughout this experiment, it was interesting to see how to different variables in every day life can effect ones blood pressure and pulse rate. For the most part, each hypothesis was confirmed. The hypotheses that weren’t confirmed, it was an obvious discrepancy that explained why the experiment didn’t work out as planned. What can be taken from this experiment is that one can maintain a certain level of arterial pressure and pulse rate by the activity that is performed. Arterial pressure and pulse rate are very sensitive and can change at any moment. It is good to be knowledgable on what factors effect blood pressure and pulse rate; also on how it effects your body. References: Blood Pressure UK: (n.d). Retrieved from http://www.bloodpressureuk.org/microsites/u40/Home/facts/Bloodpressure Gordon: Gordon, B. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/prevention/exercise/pulsethr.aspx View as multi-pages

How Does Elizabeth Gaskell Create an Effective Ghost Story?

Elizabeth Gaskell wrote this short story in 1852. It is based on revenge within a wealthy family. It is a ghost story where death plays a significant part. The choice of story teller really makes this 19th century story work. The nurse who tells this story in first person perspective tells us how her early life comes to a halt when picked out to look after Miss Rosamond the cousin of a lord. The tone of this story is very natural, honest, genuine and believable and adds certain freshness. At the start it is a very slow build up. She relates to the reader by expressing her fears truly, she's an outsider the same as the reader and we know this because she has no relation to this family. She also makes it very realistic and with no resistance. The impact of the setting is effective as the house is in the middle of no where, isolated and lonely. There are some safe areas in the house e. g. the kitchen, drawing room, nursery where there's a sense of warmth but all together over whelming because of the size of the house. The writer describes the sounds and sights of this place and compares to where she used to live. There were oak trees â€Å"white and peeled with age† from this extract you can tell this place is very old and adds effectiveness to this description. â€Å"Branches dragged the wall† from this we realise this house isn't looked after appropriately and in windy weather the characters would hear scraping against the wall which adds a sensation of mystery in the story. The east wing adds creepiness as no-one is allowed in there. It's like a taboo and no-one knows what the room even looks like. â€Å"Except the east wing which was never opened† which suggests that some one keeps it locked to try to hide or forget about something. The way tension is built up through out the story adds to the feeling of unease. The organ begins this disturbing atmosphere when the weather isn't good â€Å"someone â€Å"plays on the old organ but when Hester goes to look it's broken. This adds apprehension. Rosamond's mother dying very early in the story adds tension and suspense from the start. You are anxious to know is going to happen to Rosamond as she is so young. The writer adds thought to our minds while questioned with this. Tense and edgy is what we fell when the characters in the story only tell us a small part of the whole story and keeps the reader in need of more. When Dorothy reveals â€Å"If I show you, you must never let on† to Hester she firstly learns about Miss Graces' sister having her portrait turned to face the wall. Automatically the reader is wondering why this family has done such a thing. The use made of the ghosts in the story makes you have all different kinds of perspectives towards them. The ghost of the old Lord Furnivall very sinfully pounds of the organ on nights with severe weather conditions. â€Å"He played more and more stormily and sadly on the great organ† This suggests that the playing of the organ grew stronger and louder as the weather got more unpleasant as they grew quickly into winter. When Hester confronted the staff about these incidents they all alleged that they hadn't heard it or held the wind responsible. The danger the phantom child brought was far worse than the old Lords. â€Å"I could not choose but to go† Rosamond explained to Hester which says that the Phantom child has a power of Rosamond to make her pursue her to her mother up at the fells, where she would meet her death, but not only do they have a power over Rosamond they also have a power over Miss Furnivall. â€Å"Miss Furnivall shivered and shook so much† this makes the reader think why she is doing this and why she is so worried and scared. The ghosts are trying to achieve revenge on the family by killing Rosamond as the old Lord and Miss Furnivall killed them. Also before the ghosts come the atmosphere would change dramatically. â€Å"It grew dusk indoors† from this we can tell that the ghosts have immense power to turn the inside of the house dark while outside it is light and this is another fact of when the ghosts come the environment changes The use made of the family history is explaining the background this family has came from. The family history captures the mystery as the still don't give you the story intact just little tasters to keep the reader interested and always wanting more. You find out why the ghosts are there after everything is told to Hester and are there because when alive were thrown out of the manor when Lord Furnivall found out that Miss Maude the elder sister of the two had a child and was married to a musician that Lord Furnivall invited to his house every year but for musical purposes only, also he thought no man was good enough for his daughters which made him more angry. The building up throughout the story gives this story great potential and promise to have a superior impact at the end. For example the violence in this story in one way is especially exciting and open. Its exciting by making us the reader anxious of the intensity Elizabeth Gaskell goes to to put the message across. She is very open because she initially doesn't make it known to Hester that there is a chilling secret to this household and all of a sudden it comes out as if she cant keep it back any longer but all the way through she gives clues about it. Dorothy's coloured changed once or twice† This tells us that Dorothy knew everything that had happened but either couldn't say or didn't want to bring back such bad memories. The images in this story are very obvious and the writer has described them unmistakably throughout the story which gives the reader a clear picture in their minds. One example from the book is â€Å"the vast heath-place which gave out no heat† This description makes the reader realise that this was not real but just a re-enactment of something which took place a long time ago. Ending on a moral gives the reader an opportunity to think about things they have done in the past and involves them so then they relate to the book, and that gives the book an exceptionally good end. The moral â€Å"What is done in youth can never been undone in age† concludes this 19th century story splendidly. Miss Furnivall mutters these words on her death bed which intensifies the whole story even though the climatic part is over and all together adds great effect. Ghost stories aren't my favourite genre but I still appreciate them greatly!

How working environment can impact on motivation Essay

(A) Describe, with examples, how working environment can impact on motivation and contribute to an effective workplace in travel and tourism, covering:- * Job location In travel and tourism, the holiday atmosphere at resort contributes to a sense of well-being. Customers are happy to be on holiday and it is relatively easy to have a positive attitude to work. Whereas if you were working in a call centre where you are office bound and have to spend most of the talking to customer on the telephone. The organisation has to consider how this poorer environment can be improved so that staff remains motivated. * Working conditions and Hours of work Hours of work vary tremendously throughout the industry- some people are happy to work unsocial hours because it fits in with their lifestyle or they wish to have time off when everyone else is working. However, the overall number of hours per week should not exceed 40. * Health and safety Safety and security factors must be considered in the workplace, and legislation such as the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 must be adhered to. Specific regulations also apply where food is served or where the chemical hazards, for example in a swimming pool. All these requirements are important. For some organisations a lapse in safety procedures can mean the collapse of the business and even a prosecution. Companies that organise activity holidays for children, for example must make health and safety a priority. Health and safety is important for both customers and employees. Employees need to know that they can go about their work in a safe environment and work together to ensure their customers are safe. * Equipment and Resources Sate-of-the-art equipment and a pleasant environment are important to motivate staff. * Social event Most companies have a Christmas party or social outgoing for staff. These are useful events to create camaraderie amongst staff and build teams. * Theories of motivation The motivation and commitment of employees is key to success of a team and therefore to the company. Several theorists have come up with models of motivation. The two of that we will look at are Maslow and Herzberg. 1. Maslow Abraham Maslow was an American who in the 1940’s developed a theory of motivation. The theory is valid still for understanding how people are motivated in the workplace. Employers can use it to provide conditions that fulfil people’s needs at the different levels. Maslow theory is displayed as a pyramid because employees can only move up the levels once the lower levels are fulfilled. So, an employee can’t achieve level 4 at work if they are having problems in their personal life or working with colleagues (level 3). Similarly, if they have just been made homeless (level 1) their concern will be finding shelter not performing at work. 2. Herzberg Herzberg’s theory is also known as the ‘hygiene’ theory. Herzberg identified characteristics which make people satisfied with their jobs and those which make them dissatisfied: ‘satisfiers’ and ‘dissatisfiers’. The satisfiers are factors which give people long-term motivation and enable them to enjoy their work: * The type of work * Promotion prospects * Having responsibilities * Sense of achievement * Personal development * Gaining recognition This dissatisfiers or hygiene factors need to be operating well in an organisation but according to Herzberg do not ultimately motivate people. These are: * Salary * Working conditions * Relationships with others- colleagues and managers * Company policy (B) Describe, with examples, how working relationships can impact on motivation and contribute to an effective workplace in travel and tourism, covering:- * Management style Management is about motivating people to act in certain ways so that the team can achieve its common goal. A good manager must inform, motivate and develop the team. The four types of manager/management I will be talking about are:- 1. An autocratic manager An autocratic manager makes all the decisions and announces them to the team. This person is the boss and so has full control. The main advantage of this kind of leadership is that decisions are made quickly, as no consultation is involved. Its other advantages include:- * Where there is a need for urgent action the autocrat will take control * Some team members gain security from being told what to do. Disadvantages include:- * Team members may become frustrated at their lack of control * There may not be room for the team to express creativity * There may be over-dependence on the leaders Autocratic management belongs in a traditional hierarchical structure. 2. Consultative management With consultative management, the leader still makes the decisions but discusses them with the team. The advantages include:- * The team is informed of what is going on * Open discussion is encouraged * The manager spends time with the team The disadvantages are that the team feel involved but frustrated by having no real power. 3. Democratic management With democratic management, the decision-making is shared among the team. The advantages include:- * Ideas are encouraged from everyone * There is greater involvement and commitment from team members * The team is likely to be supportive of the leader * The team is fully informed The disadvantages include:- * Some team members may not be able to cope with being involved in decision-making * The democratic process can take too long * The leader may not agree with the decisions of the team * Powerful team members may take over 4. Laissez-faire management With laissez-faire management the team is left to sort itself out and get on with its work. The manager does not get involved and therefore is not leading the team. The advantages include:- * Highly motivated and skilled people are able to get on with their tasks * The team is empowered The disadvantages include:- * New team members will be uninformed * The team may be left with little or no direction * Teamwork Teamwork skills are essential in the workplace. You must be able to work with other people in a team even if you don’t happen to like them. A team is a group of people who are working together to achieve common objectives. Even when you are not physically with other members of your team, you can work together by contributing to a sequence of activities with a common aim. If you were working as a resort representative in Spain, you would still be working in a team with colleagues in head office in the UK. 1. Team roles Good teams achieve synergy; that is, together they can achieve more than the members could individually. More ideas, energy and resources are generated as a group because:- * The team solves problems and makes decisions together * The team focuses on the priorities, with everyone working towards the same aim * The team provides a sense of belonging and a sense of status * The team provides a support network Not everyone in a team is the same- each person has their own strengths and weaknesses. If each person had the same weaknesses, the team could not work; there needs to be a balance of skills. A method of recognising individuals’ strengths and weaknesses is needed in order to build an effective team. The management expert R.Meredith Belbin has outlined nine team roles necessary for a successful team. One person can represent more than one role, as most people have strengths in more than one area. Belbin’s roles:- > Chairperson/ co-ordinator = The group leader, likely to be relaxed and extrovert, also likely to be a good communicator. They will build on the strengths of team members and give them encouragement. > Plant = The ideas person in the team, a person who is creative in looking for solution to problems, but not always good at details, and so may make careless mistakes. > Shaper = The task leader, who unites ideas and effort. Needs to be dominated and extrovert in order to make things happen. > Monitor/ evaluator = The team analyst, who is not so good at ideas but pays attention to details, thus keeping the team directed towards its target. > Implementer = The organiser of the team, who is able to make the ideas of the plant and shaper and turn them into manageable and realistic tasks. A practical, stable and disciplined person. > Resources investigator = The person who is outgoing and will explore and report on ideas and developments outside the group; is sociable and enthusiastic and good under pressure. > Team worker = A very people-oriented person, sensitive to others’ needs. The team worker has good communication skills and will be good at motivating other. A natural mediator, who will deal with any conflict within the team, this person is very good to have around in a crisis. > Finisher = A person who sticks to deadlines and likes to get on with things. Will probably be irritated by the more relaxed members of the team. > Specialist = This person is single-minded and a self-starter and provides knowledge and skills in specialist areas each of Belbin’s roles acquires a different level of important according to the objectives of the team and the stage in the team’s life. 2. team development Formal teams are part of the structure of an organisation and are planned in order to meet that organisation’s objectives. The formal team will follow rules and regulations and may meet on a pre-arranged schedule and complete administrative procedures. Examples in travel and tourism includes sales teams and marketing teams Informal teams work within or outside formal teams. They are sometimes based on personal relationships between members rather than on work roles. When you complete group work for assignments, you often choose the colleagues you wish. You choose to work with people you like and ones you know will be as committed as you are to the work. This is an informal team. There are several theories of team structure and development, which will help you to understand the effectiveness of teams. Bruce Tuckman (1965) identified four main stages of team development:- * Forming – at this stage, team members form their first impressions of each other and establish identities. They are sounding each other out and finding out what is expected of them. * Storming- the team members have, by now, become more used to each other. Members are prepared to put forward their ideas forcibly and openly; they are also prepared to disagree and so there may be some conflict and hostility. * Norming – the team now begins to establish co-operation. Conflict is controlled, views are exchanged and new standards introduced. * Performing – the team is now working together; it begins to arrive at solutions and achieve objectives. There can also be a fifth stage, called ‘adjourning’ or ‘mourning’, where the team has disbanded and the members miss being part of the team. * Job roles and lines of responsibility An organisation chart shows the structure of the company and how the work is divided into different areas. It also shows the lines of responsibility between staff, so that it is apparent who is responsible to whom. An employee studying a chart will find the possible promotions routes. The chart may show a hierarchical structure or line relationship. This is a very traditional structure and shows a chain of command with each person responsible to the person above them. It is sometimes referred to as a pyramid structure. Many organisations today would be depicted in a chart with a flatter structure. There are fewer layers of management, and each manager has a broader span of control. Restructuring of organisations often involves getting rid of middle managers, hence the flattened structure. * Channels of communication Open communication must be encouraged and ideas should be freely expressed in the workplace. There should be trust and support between team members. An effective leader can encourage good communication and shape the way the team works. * Verbal Verbal communication is the process of sending and receiving messages with words, including writing and there are different ways a person can do verbal communication 1. Telephone 2. Word of mouth 3. Video conference 4. Face to face 5. Presentation 6. Walkie-talkie 7. Meetings 8. Bluetooth/ headset (mobile phone) 9. Radio 10. Sign language * Written Written communication guarantees that everyone concerned has the same information and it provides a long-lasting record of communication for future such as 1. Books 2. Brochures/ leaflets, newspaper 3. E-mail 4. Text (written + electronic + verbal) 5. Fax (written + electronic) 6. Notice boards 7. Minutes of meetings * Electronic Electronic communication means any method used to convey a message that has been transmitted via electronic means such as e-mail, video conferencing, radio, TV, mobile phone, internet, fax etc. * Equal opportunities Legislation exists to ensure that personal receive equal opportunities and that there is no discrimination. The arts of parliament that you should be aware of are:- * Race relations Act 1976 This act makes discrimination on racial grounds unlawful in employment, training, education and the provision of goods, facilities and services. The two main type of discrimination involved in this Act are:- 1. direct discrimination:- discrimination against colour disability, citizenship 2. indirect discrimination:- discriminating a racial group * Sex discrimination Act 1975 This act makes it unlawful to discriminating against someone on the ground of gender, marital status, Gender reassignment or sexual orientation. The act was updated in 1986 to remove restrictions on women’s hours of work and then it allowed women to take h=jobs with flexible hours. This act not only covers discriminations in the workplace but in job advertisements and interviews. * Disability discrimination act 1995 This act makes discrimination against people with disabilities unlawful in respect of employment, education and access to goods, facilities, services, and premises. Employers are required to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate people with disabilities. Examples include providing specially adapted keyboards for arthritis sufferers, facilitating wheelchair access and relocating people with limited mobility to the ground floor. * Equal pay act 1970 This act was introduced to address the problem of women being paid less than men for the same work. It allows employees to claim equal value in terms of demands made on them, such as effort, skills and decisions made. There is also an EU Directive that state that for the same work or work of equal value, sex discrimination must be eliminated in all aspects of pay. * Other forms of discrimination Discrimination at work is a very serious issue and can result in large amounts of compensation being awarded following successful tribunals, not to set up policies to ensure that the workplace is free from discrimination. Measures to be taken include:- 1. Setting up a comprehensive equal opportunities policy covering all aspects of discrimination 2. Training staff in discrimination legislation and on how to implement the equal opportunities policy 3. Setting up complaints procedures for instances of discrimination * Employment rights act 1996 When someone gets a job they can aspect to receive a contract of employment. This is a legally binding agreement between the employer and the employee. Under the Employment Rights Act, the employer must give the employee a written document including the following information, in writing within 2 months of starting work:- 1. Name of employer and employee 2. Date employment began 3. Rate of pay and interval of pay 4. Hours of work 5. Holiday entitlement and pay 6. Job title and brief description of duties 7. Place of work 8. Notice entitlement and requirements 9. Sick leave entitlement and sick pay 10. Pension and pension scheme 11. Disciplinary procedures and grievance producers 12. Date of end of employment it fixed term 13. Additional details about working aboard if appropriate. * Notice board After one month of continues employment an employee is entitle to one week of notice if the employment ends. After 2 years’ employment they are entitle to 2 weeks’ notice, after 3 years, 3 weeks’ notice and so on. After 12 years the legal maximum 12 weeks’ notice is reached. A employee must also give notice of leaving to an employer. After one month of continuous employment, an employee must give a minimum of one week’s notice. Employees are entitled to normal pay during notice periods as long as they are working or available for work. * Redundancy Redundancy pay is calculated according to the employee’s age, length of service and salary. Employees can claim for unfair dismissal if they suspect: 1. There is no real redundancy 2. They were unfairly selected for redundancy Dismissal is treated as redundancy if the whole business is closing or a particular job disappears or requires fewer employees. An employer may offer alternative employment. If the employee unreasonably refuses it they are not entitled to redundancy pay. * EU Directives on hours and pay The European Working Time Directive was enacted in the UK through the Working Time Regulations 1998. This lays down the following: 1. A maximum 48-hours week, averaged over 17 weeks 2. at least 4 weeks’ paid annual leave 3. a weekly rest period of at least 24 hours in each 7-day period 4. a daily rest period of at least 11 consecutive hours between each working day 5. an in-work rest break of 20 minutes for those working hours or more per day Some sectors are excluded from the regulations; one of theses is transport. * National Minimum Wage Act 1998 This Act provides workers with a minimum hourly rate below which their wages will not fall. Those who work part time benefit most, because they are often badly paid. The Low Pay Commission advises the Secretary of State on the value of the minimum rate. A special lower rate applies to 18-to 21years-olds. * Maternity and paternity leave The Employment Relations Act 1999 provides for basic rights for maternity leave. There are three periods of maternity leave. Ordinary maternity leave is for a period of 18 weeks which coincides with the period for statutory maternity pay. This applies to all employees. Compulsory maternity leave extends to a period of 2 weeks after the birth; the employer must not permit the woman to return to work during this period. Additional maternity leave follows immediately after the original 18-weekperiod and must end within 29 weeks of the birth. Employees with at least one year’s service with an employer are eligible for the additional maternity leave. Under the same Act there are provisions to allow parents 3 months’ leave in order to care for a child. This is intended to be taken before the child is five. It is intended to be available to men and to women, in addition to maternity leave. Paternity leave is available to men to: 1. Have or expect to have responsibility for the child’s upbringing 2. Are the biological father of the child, or the mother’s husband or partner 3. Have worked continuously for their employer for 26 weeks ending with the fifteenth week before the baby is due. Eligible employees can choose take either 1 week or 2 consecutive weeks’ paternity leave (not odd days) * Statutory sickness pay An employer must pay Statutory Sick Pay to employees who become sick and who normally earn at least à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½79 per week. After 28 weeks, Incapacity Benefit or Income Support must be claimed instead. * Grievance and disciplinary procedures These must be included in the employee’s written statement or contract, or at least there must be a reference to where they can be found. Disciplinary producers deal with such maters as warnings to be given before dismissal. Warnings might arise from the following:- 1. Lack of capability or qualifications-although the employer has a responsibility to give training 2. Misconduct-which includes habitual lateness 3. Gross misconduct (for example, assault or theft) leads to instant or summary dismissal. Grievance procedures deal with complaints by employees who are not satisfied with aspects of their employment. Employees must be given the name of a person to whom a complaint can b made and should be informed of right of appeal. * Investors in people Investors in people is a UK quality standard development in 1990. Those companies who gain the award have proved that they invest in the training and development of their staff. This is beneficial to employees and also to customers and suppliers. The standard for Investors in people is based on four key principals: 1. Commitment from the top to develop all employees 2. Regular review of training and development needs 3. Taking relevant action to meet those needs throughout people’s careers 4. Evaluating training and development outcomes for individuals and the organisation in order to continuously improve These principals are subdivided into 24 indicators of effective practise, and the organisation provides evidence for assessment against the indicators. Once the organisation gets the award it is entitled to display the Investors in People logo on company literature. * ‘Buddies’ and mentoring Mentoring schemes are growing in popularity. They offer employees a one-to one relationship with a mentor, someone with greater experience and a willingness to listen and advice. The mentor and the mentee meet regularly and discuss aspects of the mentee’s job, such as career development. The mentor does not act as a line manager or superior and is never judgemental, but acts as a sounding board and is able to offer ideas and a different outlook on work issues. The Hilton hotel chain runs a mentoring scheme for its staff at all levels. Its purpose is to support staff in their career development. Mentors at the Hilton chain are often colleagues of the mentees doing similar jobs, which departs from the traditional model. All of the mentors have had mentoring training. Some companies have similar, but sometimes less formal, schemes where a new member of staff is given a ‘buddy’ as a source of information and help. * Job security Many contracts today are fixed term, especially in areas such as visitor attractions. This means that the period of employment is not indefinite but lasts for a period of months or a year or two. The reason for such contracts is flexibility for employers- they can lose staff on fixed contracts at the end of the period without penalty. However, such contracts are demotivating for staff as they worry about their future income and job prospects. C) Describe with examples, how incentives can impact on motivation and contribute to an effective workplace in travel and tourism including: * Remuneration Remuneration means how much you get paid. You would imagine that this is very important as a motivator. In fact, it is an important factor in attracting people to a company but research shows that it is not the most important incentive. * Performance related pay Bonuses are often based on overall profits and awarded to all employees- usually performance related. * Incentive scheme An example of an incentive scheme could be a competition that staff are invited to enter. The competitions may be based on generating new ideas within the company, or how to boost sales, customer satisfaction or commissions on sales. * Discounts Discounts may be given on holidays or travel for those working in the industry. Many who work in travel and tourism receive cheap travel, perhaps by going on standby if they work for an airline or by going on fact-finding trips to a destination if they work for a travel agent. * Holiday entitlement In the UK employees can expect around 4 weeks’ paid holiday per year. In the public sector more holiday is often given, but this may be balanced against lower pay. * Pension schemes A good pension scheme can act as an incentive for many people who are concerned about security in retirement. * Perks As a perk, employees in the travel and tourism industry are often provided with a uniform. They may get to travel or live aboard and be paid to live there. They may be provided with a company car. * Opportunities for promotion and progression Many employees need a challenge and if they are in the same position, doing a job they find easy, they may become bored and less efficient. Thus, opportunities to move on and face new challenges are an important incentive. Opportunities may arise within an organisation and good people are quickly promoted. You may wish to let it be known that you are interested in progression and ask to be sent on relevant training courses and conferences. D) Described, with examples, how training can impact on motivation and contribute to an effective workplace in travel and tourism including: * Training Those employers who wish o ensure an effective workplace will offer ongoing training and development to staff. There are several benefits to organisations add to their workforces. Training can: * Improve individual performance * Improve team performance * Allow staff to be better informal * Equip staff to deal with change and emergencies * Make for a more flexible workforce * Improve morale * Allow managers more time to manage through delegation of other tasks. * Induction training Employers have to provide instruction and training to ensure health and safety, and this is usually a part of induction training. The induction is the first stage of training and is given to new employees; it is important as new employees need to be made welcome and become effective in their work as quickly as possible. Induction covers: * The nature of the job * Introduction to the workplace and to staff * The lines of responsibility * Facilities such as toilets, lockers, canteen * Health and safety basics * Training opportunities * In-house training Large companies offer their own in-house training and may even write their own materials. These training courses are very beneficial as they are tailor- made to meet the needs of the company. * External courses Thousands of external courses are available. These may be specific to travel and tourism or other professional qualifications in areas such as marketing or human resource management. They may be offered by colleges, by travel associations or by private companies. Companies may allow individuals or groups to attend such courses. Some may be long term, leading to advanced qualifications, so a great deal of commitment is required on behalf of the individual.

3-Year Marketing Plan Essay Example for Free (#5)

3-Year Marketing Plan Essay Marketing plan (149) , Pricing (148) company About StudyMoose Contact Careers Help Center Donate a Paper Legal Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Complaints ? In order that we continue our company’s financial growth, we need to branch out into new product lines. A study was performed to consider our entrance into the pet supply market. We have developed a new single product for that purpose. It is a Cordless Automatic Nail Trimmer for dogs and cats. The findings of this study are in this presentation. Our numbers are conservative. The potential for success is high. We are Company G are always looking forward to find and implement new lines that will complement our Mission statement, and our bottom line. This is our next opportunity introduces Company G and the product or product line that you are writing this marketing plan about. â€Å"We enable consumers to improve the quality and convenience of their lives by providing innovative electronics solutions.† Product Description and Classification The Cordless Automatic Nail Trimmer for Dogs and cats will be our first entry into the world of pets. This product uses a sensor to find the quick (the bundle of nerves and blood vessels) on a pets nail, then adjusts to a spot just below it. It trims the nail, rotates to the next nail, and repeats the process, until trimming each nail on the paw. Simply remove the paw, and continue on each paw until done. Our trimmer will avoid the pain of cutting the quick with bleeding. It will not cause discomfort for the animal associated heat build up from electric nail trimmers. This product will allow anyone from novice to professional to trim a dog or cats nails to perfection. Rather than making an appointment, going to the local pet groomer, paying $7 to $25 (before tip), or big box, a pet owner can trim their pet’s nails at home. If the owner would rather have the nails done, they can have their groomer use our tool, giving the pet owner peace of mind, knowing their pet will not suff er any pain. Consumer Factors Planning time involved in purchase Purchase frequency Importance of convenient location Comparison of price and quality Considerable Infrequent Important Considerable Shopping Products Specialty Products Shopping Products Shopping Products Marketing Mix Factors Price Importance of seller’s image Distribution channel length Number of sales outlets Promotion Relatively high Very important Relatively short Few Personal selling and advertising by producer and seller Shopping Products Shopping Products Shopping Products Shopping Products Shopping Products The target market is between the ages of 30 and 45 with busy lives, looking to save time and money. Their incomes would be greater than $60K. This will include professionals, as well as working couples. We will target both existing dog or cat owners, as well as new entrants to pet ownership. Competitive Situation Analysis Analysis of Competition using Porter’s 5 Forces Model Competitive Rivalry Today are no direct competitors. We are entering an existing market, with a completely new technology. The closet rivalry is the electric trimmer, produced by Dremel Tools and Oster Company. These products do NOT have the features we have. They do not compare in experience. There is no threat at this time. We have the threat from two outside entrants to create a knock off version of our automatic nail trimmer. The two companies that could attempt to enter the market are Dremel Tools and Oster Company. The threat to us is medium for a few reasons. We will patent our trimmer, which means that they will have to start with our product, and then develop modifications, to avoid patent infringement. Both companies’ current products use a different kind of technology. They are grinders and do not have any quick detection apparatus’. While Dremel Tools has been in the pet trimming market for some time, they only modified the grinder used for woodworking and other craft projects. This would be a departure from their core competency. This is the only venture by Oster Company. They a relatively new to the market, It isn’t likely that they will put more R and D dollars into a second pet product at this time. There is no threat to us from buyers. Pets must have their nails trimmed on a regular basis, or they can suffer pain and / or health issue. The owners of these pets are responsible to maintain their pets’ nails. With the addition of our safe, reliable, easy to use product added to the market, buyers have all of the options they could want. At our price point, they would not consider creating a similar product. It is an infrequent purchase for them. We will also establish a blog site to give our customers an opportunity to help us determine if they desire any additional features. There is very little threat to us from our two suppliers. Vendor A is supplying us with the heat-sensing component to our trimmer. The device they are producing for us helps to expand their bottom end line of heat sensors. This represents a 10 percent addition to their offering. The main customers for Vendor A is the Armed forces, who buy heat sensing devices for airplanes, tanks, and vision goggles for ground troops. They do not have the infrastructure to build a product such as ours. They would not take on the capital expense to enter this type of manufacturing. They do not have any retail, on-line, distribution experience, or presence. Vendor B who supplies us with the stainless steel blades are in a similar situation. Their main customer is the medical, surgical industry. Vendor B manufacturers high end surgical blades, knives, as well as blades for men’s razor blades. Our product represents a new product in between in quality. It is not significant enough for Vendor B to start an entirely new type of product for them In the current market, there are threats from substitutes.  People not using our product can use manual nail clippers, grinders, or pay someone else to trim their pets’ nails. The threat to us does not exist. All pet owners are currently using one of these venues today. With the quality, ease of use, time and money savings, and cruelty free aspect of our trimmer, virtually nobody will revert to these substitutes. Before we risk our profits or our brand value, we took a critical look both internally, and externally. The intent is to consider how we can leverage the positives, improve on our weaknesses and prepare for outside threats. Here are the findings. STRENGTHS *indicates core competency Financial health* Efficient manufacturing Brand Reputation* WEAKNESSES Lack of training Lack of Distribution network Never advertised pet products OPPORTUNITIES Pet ownership on steady rise Personal time on decrease Economy is increasing expendable income THREATS Possible newer technology Economic downturn Heat sensor supply issue Financial health is one of our core competencies. We have a very low debt-to-equity ratio, combined with a credit rating. This gives us the flexibility to create initial inventory and cover the typical start-up costs related to a new product line. Brand reputation, another core competency, means that we are already in the homes of many of our targeted customers. They know we produce high quality, well designed, products. Our brand is a trusted name nationally. Efficient manufacturing is another of our strengths. It allows up to produce our goods at a lower total cost compared with competitors. We run our production lines quickly, with little waste, or re-work. This helps for reliable batch production, and very few quality / defects issues in the field. Lack of training for our production line associates is a potential issue. Production will be slower, risks quality compliance, and will cost more per unit compared to our established lines. Lack of advertising relationships within the pet market is another weakness. We do not advertise at all aimed at pet owners. We do not understand what the costs are, compared to our other product lines. We will not be able to bundle the new lines advertising with our other lines, for a volume discount. Our sales force is not equipped to demonstrate our new product line. We will need to higher trainers, and new sales people that are specialists specific to the new line. The economy is on an upward trend. As wages increase, so does expendable  income. This allows people to purchase pets, supplies, and services. This applies for either new or existing pets in the household. Personal time is on the decrease. Wage earners are spending more time working. Parents are spending more time driving their school-aged children to sports, music lessons, and dance classes, etc. These parents will also attend the events surrounding the activities. Taking Fido to the groomer and picking him up later is another time eater. Being able to trim nails effortlessly, in your own home, on your own schedule has a good deal of appeal. Pet ownership is on the rise. In 2013, there were 82.5 million pet owners in the United States. This number is expected to rise to 92 million by 2018. In 2013 $4.4 billion dollars were spend on grooming and boarding. In 2014 sales rose to $4.7 billion, a 7% increase. This is a growth industry. Economic downturn could become a possible threat. As expendable income dwindles, pet owners could potentially purchase less expensive nail trimmers. They could also choose to go to a groomer, but do so less often as a money saver. A supply issue could threaten our ability to produce our product. A shortage of the heat sensors could become an issue. If our vendor chooses to increase the price of the sensors could become an issue as well, reducing our margin to an unacceptable level. Development of a newer technology is a threat. A competitor, on a new company could start making the next generation of automatic trimmers. Dependent on the features, or price, we could lose market share. Market Objectives Product Objective Sell 100K units by 12/31/2016. Price Objective Achieve a profit of $500K by 12/31/2016. Place Objective Have our product on the shelves of 2 national chains, and in 200 independent retail pet supply stores by 9/15/2015. Have an on-line presence by 9/1/2015. Our objective is to have 250K hits on you-tube demonstration by 1/1/2016 and 100K hits on our website specific to the new product line by 6/1/2016. This section will introduce you to the particular strategies, which will assure that we achieve our objectives. You will find them well thought out and comprehensive. We took the necessary time to be confident that they are inter-related and logical, using previous tactics which have been successful here at Company G. Packaging – use our trusted XG logo and recognized style of packaging. Great Warranty – offering a two-year warranty, this is better than current electric trimmers in the market. This is in line with our warranty for other product lines in our assortment. Dedicated Help Line – have a 24/7 help line specific to this product line. It will give advice, answer questions, and take care of issues that arise for customers. Market Pricing – Skimming pricing of $89.99. Good Terms – we will give 2% net 30 days pricing to our distributers. Advertising Allowances – $5 per unit sold for preapproved advertising campaigns. We will require proof of sales and give credit within 30 days of campaign end date/ Place Strategies Retail Stores – 2 National chain stores and 200 local pet stores based on their sales. Web presence – We will sell through Amazon.com, as well as on our web site. Quick shipping – We are going to use Amazon’s distribution Centers to ship to retail stores and directly to customers. This will be the most efficient use of our finished goods inventory. Personal selling – We will provide demonstrations at dog shows. Social media – We will have a You-tube presence, and a Face book presence. Discount / Donation – We will give customers a $5 discount and donate $5 to the Humane Society for the first 50K units sold. These strategies are a combination of approaches. We are going to use our strong brand name and recognition to take advantage to the consumers’ trust.  If they compare our product to Dremel or Oster’s trimmer, they will see we give them a superior warranty. We will get our product in front of millions of potential customers at dog shows. There are dog shows of various types happening every week across the United States. The retailers that we target will get good financial terms, along with our strong brand name. Our you-tube presentation will prove to customers just how easy and safe our trimmer is. We will also appeal to the good nature of pet owners will our donation to the Humane Society. In order to assure our success we need to put specific tactics in place. They need a due date and responsible party, so anyone in the process can see if we are adhering to our timeline. We know whom to ask about any given tactic as well. 3-Year Marketing Plan. (2016, Sep 17).

Eco-Friendly Cruise ship Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Eco-Friendly Cruise ship - Research Paper Example An example of a greenhouse gas, emitted by fuel is carbon dioxide, which is always accused of destroying the earth’s ozone layer. Based on these environmental concerns, a number of cruise ships have embarked on renovations that are eco friendly (Carnival, 2014). For example, Disney Cruise ship, and the Holland America have conducted a series of Green Renovations aimed at reducing the emission of green house gases . These renovations include the use of facilities and equipments which are known to conserve the environment. For instance, these institutions have upgraded their engine systems, to a level whereby they emit a reduced level of fuel into the atmosphere (Choice, 2014). However, this is not enough. This is because; a new phenomenon is taking shape in the tourism industry. This phenomenon is referred to as the eco-tourism trend. Tourists are now concerned with getting eco experiences while they are cruising (Wood, 2014). On this basis, tourists will choose destinations that are known for environmental conservation, and a cruise ship that has an extensive renovation, that reflects its capability to protect the environment (Choice, 2014). On this basis, it is within our suggestion to introduce a cruise ship into the family of the Royal Caribbean fleet that is eco-friendly. This will play a great role in gaining a competitive advantage over the competitors of Royal Caribbean fleet, who are mainly the Holland America Cruise Ships, and the Disney Cruise Ship (Royal Caribbean, 2014). It is important to denote that while developing a cruise ship that is eco-friendly, Royal Caribbean fleets has to consider a number of factors, such as the target customers, who will be attracted to the ship under consideration. For example, in the current century, the younger generation is more concerned with the preservation of the environment, and hence, they will be more attracted to a cruise ship that is

China Investments. What makes china an attractive location for inward Essay

China Investments. What makes china an attractive location for inward direct investment by multinational enterprises - Essay Example 2007, p. 400). With this in mind, this has provided capital for the companies to expand even further as there is a steady flow of funds, and the only direction of the company is forward. This is evidenced by the lack of good performance by Chinese companies that are enlisted in the local stock market, whereas those that go to foreign markets have a better performance (Liao 1998). This is to mean that the availability of capital to invest in China is part of its main reasons that it is attractive to foreign investors as their investments can be guaranteed to have returns. In addition, there is plenty of capital in China, but without vehicles to see that the capital is used in constructive projects, there are increased investments as the capital resources are more than the investments available. This is to mean that the country is strategically placed to receive direct investment by multinational firms that want to benefit from the funds available, as well as the resources found there. With little investments going on, there are plenty of opportunities and funds that are unexplored, creating the need for foreign investors to come in and create partnerships with the existing firms and capital holders in order to drive the economy forward, as well as have the funds released as part of a joint venture. Competitiveness Competition in China is a major contributor of the attractiveness of the Chinese business appeal in that the industries and businesses found in China thrive based on tight competition. This is so because of the dynamics of technological innovations that keep investors and businesses on their toes. As such, each investment needs to keep growing lest it is phased out due to being conservative and sticking to conventional means of handling business. The attractive aspect, therefore, lies in the competition, where different firms working in the same sector compete against each other to stay afloat, which are a healthy form of competition to keep the econom y of the country running (Tung-lung & Weichun 2011, p. 153). In addition, the contribution of competition in the business environment of China for investors is brought about by foreign direct investment. This is done through new investment that uses the above strategic information to ensure that the available capital is put to good use. As such, new businesses compete against older ones as the new ones have an edge owing to technological innovations, while the older ones have an edge based on their experience. This is the perfect environment for any business that wants to grow from scratch and make a name for itself as they all need to evolve and adapt to new requirements and technologies, which makes China a dynamic economy and which is an attractive feature for multinationals seeking to establish new investments. Apart from this, there are numerous malpractices in China that act as a magnet for foreign investors and multinationals to set up their businesses. This is because there are illegal practices in China that are only practiced in that country and not anywhere else, which makes the country more competitive than the rest in the global economy. The country has an intricate web of illegal subsidies that range from land, capital and utilities to tax breaks that other countries cannot compete with. This makes the country very appealing in terms of its practices that see investors flock into the country. Competition goes again as far as innovative measures to overcome foreign competition, where there are incentives such as those that see the American market receive more goods from China than those that go into China from the United States. This is an attempt to see to it that competitors in America

How to use tactics of social influence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

How to use tactics of social influence - Essay Example These are usually outside factors that provide people with power - for instance, wealth, physical attractiveness, success in career. These factors place the person to a higher position compared to other people around. So even in case the person is not powerful as politician or military man, he may also possess the power that is not so evident but is also strong and intense. The singers and actors may serve as the example of the persons that possess this kind of power. They are not powerful in political sense, but they are attractive, recognized and successful, so they may influence other people. (Wikipedia) The researches observing social influence and social activity rapidly grow at present, as this problem is relevant in modern society. These researches may appear to be helpful in solving various social problems, as well as provide people with the measures that should be taken in case any kind of problem appears. Jan Bruins in his research observes the nature and effects of social influence and social power and their implementation in the relations of people, within the groups of people and among the groups of people. ... Various kinds of situations produce various kinds of effect that the influence may have: "For instance, in interpersonal situations, a faltering influence process can lead to the breakup of close personal relationships and to interpersonal aggression. At the intragroup level, it can lead to effects such as family violence and organizational burnout, and at the intergroup level it can result in discrimination and hostilities like gang wars and the Rodney King beating." (Bruins) The main subject for consideration is the way the social influence and power create the base for problems that individuals may face, both as individuals of as the representatives of a definite social group. The author also focuses on the problems that start on individual level, as they may produce effect that will touch upon higher levels of interpersonal communication. When the problems that appear on the individual level start to increase and spread its influence, this may lead to collective attempts to change the situation: "in combination, individual-level problems as directly addressed in this issue not only are interesting in their own right, but can also contribute to the occurrence of larger scale disruptions like the Los Angeles riots, student uprisings, and other forms of protest and civil unrest." (Bruins) In his investigation, author addresses historical context of the problems, observes earlier researches on this topic and describes conceptions and definitions that are related to the problems of social influence and power. The problems of power and social influences were observed by the social sciences within the centuries. Such famous philosophers and