Qing Dynasty free essay sample

T. C. History of Chinese Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Manchu, Emperors. † TravelChinaGuide. T. C. Chen, 25 Aug. 2006. Web. 24 May 2012. . This source gives the information on the Qing line before the unrest of China that finished the government. This likewise gives praiseworthy assets to the historical backdrop of Qing’s novel past that show why and how the line began to decay. At first in this source it clarifies the financial reasons of the ruin, however it altogether represents both the uprisings and the administration itself. Li, Mei. Chinese History The Qing Dynasty ( AD 1644-1911 ). Chinese History The Qing Dynasty. Mei Li, 18 Nov. 2004. Web. 24 May 2012. This source is truly trustworthy because of the itemized realities on the uprisings during the mid 1900’s, characterizing how the decrease of Qing had begun. It shows the realities of the uprisings that battled legitimately against the Empress and the reasons expressing why they did it. This source additionall y gives prior clashes on the Qing tradition, living from the 1900’s resistance as well as from the more established accounts of warlords and realms. We will compose a custom paper test on Qing Dynasty or on the other hand any comparative subject explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page Feeds, Jeffrey. Ruler Dowager Cixi Her Lovers, Last Emperor and Attempted Reforms. Sovereign DOWAGER CIXI, HER LOVERS, LAST EMPEROR AND ATTEMPTED REFORMS Jeffrey Hays, May 2008. Web. 24 May 2012. This source is brimming with data containing the parts of the last ruler and head of the Qing administration. It clarifies her life and his life in full detail as they experience the procedure of surrender during the revolt at Wuchang, China. It communicates their lives from each and every point including the pressure they endured and the last Ideas they had before death. Feeds, Jeffrey. Sun Yat-Sen and the Attempts of Chinese Democracy. Sun Yat-Sen and the Attempts of Chinese Democracy, May 2008. Web. 25 May 2012. This source delineates Sun Yat-Sen(First Provisional President of China) in his rule to topple China to make a majority rules system. Sun Yat-Sen’s belief systems and thought, his arrangements and thoughts plotted into this site. It shows the existence he had lived, and the individuals he had battled to increase a republic in China. Ache, Loretta. Sun Yat-sen His Hawaii Roots. Sun Yat-Sen in Chinas Heroic Tradition. Sunyatsenhawaii, 2009. Web. 25 May 2012. This site presents Sun Yat-Sen’s past that shows his thinking about the unrest of 1911. His thoughts and techniques that finished the Qing tradition.

Local Government between Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam

Neighborhood Government among Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam Examination of Local Government among Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam Rifka Aulya a. Indonesia State:Indonesia Currency: Rupiah (IDR) Capital: DKI Jakarta State Structure: Unitary Type of Government:Constitutional Republic (Presidential) Neighborhood Government: There is Local Government in Indonesia Indonesia is the one of the nation in south-east Asia. To deal with the assets on entire territory in this state, it is conceivable if the entirety of the administration is embrace by focal government. Along these lines, Indonesia has usage of nearby government to deal with every region as indicated by the law No. 32/2004 on Local Government. To deal with their assets inside own zone, Indonesia partition into 35 region that lead by Governor who picked through a political race at regular intervals. The area is separated into areas and districts, which every region, provinces, and the city has a neighborhood government, which is managed by enactment. What's more, each sub-area (kecamatan) comprises of certain towns that can characterize as the most reduced level on Local Government in Indonesia. The plan about Local Government in Indonesia is on picture cry. Neighborhood Government in Indonesia Neighborhood government in Indonesia characterizes into 3 terms. They are nearby government as Implementation of neighborhood independence, government as an organ, and areas. The execution of neighborhood self-rule is the job of government as a capacity. There are two capacities there, once is the authority as arrangement creators and to execute that strategy, the other is as capacity/duty/issues. There are numerous capacities that can take by nearby government, for example, giving a training, wellbeing administration, and some more. In any case, there’s a capacity that can’t handle by neighborhood government, simply taken by focal government that we call outright issues including safeguard, religion, security, money related and monetary, juristic, and remote connection. Government as an organ is the individual or on-screen characters who executing neighborhood government. The individual resembles the head of area (Governor), board (Bupati), Regents, and so forth. What' s more, areas is about the networks who live in neighborhood. The meaning of regions Nearby government in Indonesia additionally isolated into 4 classifications that have a particular power, they are deconcentration, decentralization, designation, and devolution. Deconcentration likewise called managerial decentralization, it’s just in authoritative. Decentralization is moving authority of duty from key to bring down government incorporate dealing with the regulatory, legislative issues, monetary, financial, and so forth. Devolution is decentralization in political just (political decentralization), it’s imply that nearby government can make or unmake the strategies to make politic steadiness in their areas. Furthermore, appointment additionally called managerial decentralization. b. Brunei Darussalam State: Brunei Darussalam Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan Cash: Brunei Dollar (BND) State Structure: Unitary Types of Government: Constitutional Sultanate Neighborhood Government: There’s no Local Government Neighborhood Government in Brunei Darussalam Brunei Darussalam is the one of ten nations in south-east Asia where capital of the nation is Bandar Sri Begawan. Brunei Darussalam has 422.700 populaces and the wide zone is 5.765 sq km. Types of government is established government with the leader of the nation is greatness Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzadin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang dipertuan of Negara Brunei Darussalam. The Sultan is designated by Council of progression. Ruler has supreme and brimming with expert in any state arrangement to administer the nation, including the status of exemption for he and his family realm. Individuals are not given the scarcest force. All standards are made by the Sultan regardless of the wants or yearnings of the individuals. To deal with their state, Sultan is helped and exhorted by six chambers, specifically: the Council of Ministers, the Legislative Council, the Religious Council, the Privy Council, the Adat Istiadat Council, and the Council of Succession. Individuals have given their privileges over the Sultan to run consistently. King ought to be dependable not exclusively to society yet in addition to Allah SWT to carry the networks to accomplish the government assistance and flourishing. In this manner came the axiom in indigenous point of view that says Raja tidak zalim, rakyat pantang menderhaka kepada raja† and †Raja wajib adil, rakyat wajib taat†. Rulers job is revered in the national way of thinking of Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB). There are six jobs of the Sultan with regards to MIB: 1) The Sultan as an umbrella of Allah on the earth, 2) Sultan as the preeminent pioneer of the Islamic religion, 3) Sultan as head of state, 4) Sultan is the head of government, 5) Sultan as incomparable pioneer vogue, and 6) Sultan as preeminent authority of the military In the Beraja framework there are 3 components, in particular: the ruler (Sultan), the administration and the individuals. King will be regarded and cherished by the social orders, if government can play out its capacity well in offering types of assistance to people in general. Without anyone else the individuals at that point will demonstrate his faithfulness to the Sultan. The legislature ought to have the option to run the organization well so as to run effective turn of events. In Brunei Darussalam, it’s just partitions into 4 locale, they are Belait, Brunei and Muara, Temburong, and Tutong. The gathering of clergyman is named by their inhabitants. In this way, there’s no political decision in Brunei Darussalam. There’s no neighborhood government in Brunei Darussalam, in spite of the fact that the nearby organization happens through the four areas. At the nearby level, individuals are spoken to by their separate penghulus, ketua kampungs as leader of the town, and heads of longhouse. The Local Government separation among Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam Separation INDONESIA BRUNEI DARUSSALAM Nearby Government There’s Local Government There’s no Local Government type of Local Government Decentralization Deconcentration Appointment Cheapening Centralization Political race There’s a political race like clockwork to decide/pick the head of territories There’s no political race, in light of the fact that the head of locale was picked by own inhabitants (their own networks) in their individual territories. Obligation Nearby government have duty to Central Government have obligation regarding their particular communities’s government assistance. The Similarities between Local Government in Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam Likeness Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam Head of areas Both of the nations have head of areas territory to lead the own zone, in spite of the fact that with various name. In Indonesia, the locale of Province, lead by Governor, civil by Council (Bupati), officials by â€Å"camat†. In Brunei, the areas lead by penghulus and ketua kampungs. Daftar Pustaka Dodo, 2009. Kesultanan Brunei Darussalam. Access Date on April seventh 2014 through http://nationalgeographic.co.id/gathering/point 96.html Permana, Renaldy. 2009. Konstitusi Brunei Darussalam. Date access on April seventh 2014, trough http://renaldypermana.blogspot.com/009/11/konstitusi-brunei-darussalam.html

Education Programs Essay -- Adult Education

Teaching Adults Training can be characterized as a program of guidance of a predetermined kind or level. In today’s society training is a fundamental so as to be fruitful financially and socially. The vast majority start their training from the get-go in existence with primary schools, with the expectation or goal to join in and graduate secondary school, an even besides head off to college and win a degree. Simultaneously, this bit by bit instructive procedure is a fairly new thought, not in excess of a quarter century back individuals required just training specifically work aptitudes and fields to acquire an occupation, however not need to stress over being laid off about fourteen days after the fact. With the globalization of the world markets through the presentation of Information Technology, or IT, the instructive procedure has changed radically. The Baby-Boomer age was the last age to understanding and have faith in the â€Å"American-Dream† lifestyle. Presently numerous grown- ups of that age, and of the age that followed, are finding that their degree of instruction will basically not cut it in today’s position showcase. The principles and meanings of Adult Education portray that interest in grown-up instructive projects is characterized as the â€Å"participation by grown-ups in at least one composed learning occasions of over six hours in any region. As per this definition, grown-ups are on the whole people matured more than 16, aside from those somewhere in the range of 16 and 25 ears old enough who are as yet carrying on their proper introductory training full-time and with no interference at any point† (Belanger ix). No individual can get effective through taking a stab at their particular employment, except if they are striving to proceed with their instruction to stay aware of the fast mechanical improvements a requests of their boss. To th... ..., Florio. You Are Never Too Old to Learn. Memphis, TN: The Institute for Educational Development Inc. 1978. Galbraith, Michael W. Grown-up Learning Methods: A guide for Effective Instruction. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. 1990. Horrace Mann Neighborhood Center. February 23, 2004. <http://www.du.edu/%7Eerudig/horace/index.htm> Longworth, Norman. Deep rooted Learning in real life: Transforming Education in the 21st Century. 22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166-2012: Kogan Page Ltd. 2003. More, William S. Feelings and Adult Learning. Lexington, Mass.: Lexington Books, D.C. Heath Ltd. 1974. Rossman, Mark H. furthermore, Elizabeth C., Fisk and Janet E., Roehl. Instructing and Learning Fundamental Skills: A Guide for Adult Basic Education and Developmental Education Projects. 1234 Amsterdam Ave, New York, N.Y. 10027: Teachers College Press. 1984.

Mentorship Programs Gaining Ground Across Top Business Schools

Mentorship Programs Gaining Ground Across Top Business Schools by: Alison Damast on March 28, 2016 | 0 Comments Comments 1,143 Views March 28, 2016Michele Gianforcaro didn’t have an easy task ahead of her when she launched a pilot  mentorship program for female business students at Villanova University’s School of Business  back in January of 2014.Just under 100 female students initially signed up for the pilot the first year, and she spent long  hours over the next few weeks to make sure she and her staff found each student a mentor who  aligned precisely with the students’ career goals, the geographic area where they wanted to  work and other preferences listed in their applications. They used survey tools and databases to  help them manually match the students with the 400 women alums who’d volunteered, but it  still proved a difficult task to find each student the perfect fit.â€Å"We joked it was Match Madness during March Madness, † says Gianforcaro, assistant director  of professional development at Villanova’s Charles and James V. O’Donnell Center for  Professional Development.PARTNERSHIP WITH MENTORSHIP PLATFORM, CHRONUSThe program grew to 200 students the following year, and when it came time to scale the  program this year so that all of the 400 students in the current sophomore class could be paired  with a mentor, Gianforcaro knew she needed a way to make the process more efficient. While  researching vendors in the marketplace, she learned of Chronus, a company with mentorship  software that uses a matching algorithm called â€Å"MatchIQ† to automate recommendations for  mentorship matches based on users’ profiles and interest. Villanova had recently received funds  from an alum to support the expansion of its mentorship program, and Gianforcaro was eager  to bring Chronus, dubbed by some as the â€Å"match.com† of the mentoring world, on boar d.â€Å"It got me out of the matchmaking business and is a saving grace for me with efficiency,† says  Gianforcaro.While many companies and nonprofits are now using mentorship software programs to help  them grow their in-house mentorship programs, universities have been an untapped market until recently. Mentorship programs for undergraduate business students are increasingly being  seen by business schools as a powerful tool to help give students a competitive edge in the job  market as well as increase alumni engagement, explains Chronus CEO Seena Mortazavi.â€Å"It is becoming an important selling point to attract students to universities,† says Mortazavi.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"It’s not just enough to have the best professors or best facilities, but they also want that hands-on mentorship experience and someone who can help guide them through their career.†B-SCHOOLS ARE THE EARLY ADOPTERS ON CAMPUSChronus is moving aggressively into this market, and has be en successful at getting the attention  of university administrators like Gianforcaro who often struggle with the day-to-day logistics of  making mentorship matches in a large-scale programs. The company was founded in 2007 by  engineers from Microsoft and Oracle who’d undergone successful mentorship experiences  during their careers and wanted to build a platform that could help others easily connect to  mentors. In the last few years, Chronus has made inroads on dozens of university campuses,  with undergraduate business programs paying particular interest, Mortazavi says.â€Å"Undergraduate business programs are often the first to jump on, and then it spreads to other  schools on campus, and in some cases across the entire undergraduate population,† says Mortazavi.Villanova is using the Chronus software for the first time this year, is also piloting the  mentorship program in the MBA program, says Gianforcaro. They will also eventually use it in  t heir Master of Science in Finance degree program. According to Mortazavi, other undergraduate business programs  using the software include the University of Colorado’s Leeds School of Business and University  of Washington’s Foster School of Business.The company’s software pinpoints five top alum matches for each students, and then the  student is able to select the mentor of their choice and send them an e-mail and personal invite  to be their mentor. Once the mentor accepts the student’s invite, the software helps them  develop their relationship by prompting the pair to e-mail each other, organize coffee dates and  set specific goals. Mortazavi says in some cases, the mentors and mentees will even sign contracts agreeing to  commit time to the relationship. Page 1 of 212 »

The Scarlet Letter Act By Nathaniel Hawthorne - 1919 Words

Individuals create a society, but a collective mindset still exists. The average person tends to be the best representation of any society, and the townspeople found in The Scarlet Letter act as true representations of this idea, as apparent in the uniformity in the minds of the constituents of Puritan Boston. Each of these individuals’ thoughts and actions blend together to express a chorus of societal ideology. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses the motivations, values, characteristics, and conflicts of the average person that they face to create a thematic element regarding how a theocratic society can suffer under the oppressive impact of Old Testament law. By freely subjugating themselves to a one sided view of morality and life via religion due to their fear of everlasting perdition they bring about their own demise. The average townsperson tends to be motivated by religion and family. Meanwhile, sharing the similar values of religion, family, and education, all of which are princ ipal tenets of 17th century Puritanism. This religious branch came from England and believed that the Church of England could be reformed. Puritan lifestyle includes hard work and strong religious beliefs. Citizens of Boston in the 1600s were motivated by their fear of an angry Christian God. These people believed that individuals were predetermined to go to either heaven or hell and lived in fear of the latter. This drove the citizens to unanimously live and work in what they deemed a saintlyShow MoreRelatedTheme Of Guilt In The Scarlet Letter820 Words   |  4 PagesNathaniel Hawthorne was a famous american author. Hawthorne’s most famous novel The Scarlet Letter was written in 1850. Throughout this novel, Hawthorne explores many different types of themes. In his novel, The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses symbolism of The Scarlet Letter, Pearl, and the Leech to contribute to the overall theme of guilt. To begin with, Hawthorne uses the scarlet letter â€Å"A† to contribute to the theme of Guilt. The townspeople no longer see a beautiful woman Hester PrynneRead MoreEssay On John Hathorne878 Words   |  4 Pages   Ã‚  Ã‚   Nathaniel Hawthorne was greatly influenced by his great- great grandfather, John Hathorne, to develop the novel The Scarlet Letter.   John hathorne was involved in the persecution of several people in the Salem, Massachusetts (encyclopedia). JOHN HATHORNE AND THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS   Ã‚  Ã‚   In the year 1692, the Salem Witch Trials began and John Hathorne was chosen by Governor Sir William Phips to be a judge during the trials.   Hathorne believed that Satan had the power to pressure people into harmingRead MoreNathaniel Hawthorne s The Scarlet Letter1631 Words   |  7 PagesNathaniel Hawthorne’s personal isolation originated in his early childhood and later developed the theme for his most renowned literary novel, The Scarlet Letter. In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne emphasized the impact that societal isolation can have on individuals. Several of the victims inflicted with isolation throughout the novel were ultimately met with their inevitable downfalls. One particular character, Hester Prynne, was selected to undergo a struggle comparable to Hawthorne’sRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne960 Words   |  4 Pages3H 13 August 2014 The novel, The Scarlet Letter, was written by the author Nathaniel Hawthorne and was published in 1850 (1). It is a story about the Puritan settlers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, set around 1650 (2). The story is written in the third person with the narrator being the author. The common thread that runs through this novel is Hawthorne’s apparent understanding of the beliefs and culture of the Puritans in America at that time. But Hawthorne is writing about events in a societyRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter, By Nathaniel Hawthorne1488 Words   |  6 Pages In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter, the main character, Hester Prynne, is a true contemporary of the modern era, being cast into 17th century Puritan Boston, Massachusetts. The Scarlet Letter is a revolutionary novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne examining the ugliness, complexity, and strength of the human spirit and character that shares new ideas about independence and the struggles women faced in 17th century America. Throughout the novel, Hester’s refusal to remove the scarlet letterRead MoreThe Effective Use of Symblism in The Scarlett Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne1151 Words   |  5 PagesScarlett Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne The novel, The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne is an intriguing account of a Puritan community that experiences a breakdown in beliefs. The story deals with a woman, Hester, who commits adultery with a Calvinistic minister resulting in the birth of a child (Martin 110). As compensation for her crime of passion and her refusal to name her lover, Hester is sentenced to wear an embroidered scarlet letter on her bosom. It is this letter, or secretRead MoreThe Role of Color in The Scarlet Letter Essay973 Words   |  4 Pageshistory, politics, and religion. In The Scarlet Letter, the author, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses symbolism through colors such as red, black and white in the form of sunlight, to represent emotions and ideologies of Hester and the people around her. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses the color red significantly throughout The Scarlet Letter to show its importance of symbolism in the emotions of sin and passion that it represents. The first example in The Scarlet Letter is the red rose that is growing by the prisonRead MoreAntifeminist and Feminism within The Scarlet Letter1388 Words   |  6 PagesAntifeminist and Feminism within The Scarlet Letter In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s â€Å"The Scarlet Letter† Hester Prynne is accused and convicted of adultery. During the puritan era women in this society had specific obligations and rights they had to maintain. By Hester having an affair and acting unladylike the community disapproved of her actions causing everyone to isolate her in her town. Due to Hester Prynne’s Isolation and the harsh judgment she received from everyone in her town, she goes throughRead MoreHerman Melville and Nathaniel Hawthorne Show the Unbridgeable Gap Between Human Desires and Human Possibilities and the Mixture of Good and Evil in Even the Loftiest of Human Motives987 Words   |  4 PagesSantangelo Hawthorne and Melville In both works, â€Å"Bartleby the Scrivener† and The Scarlet Letter, Herman Melville and Nathaniel Hawthorne show the unbridgeable gap between human desires and human possibilities and the mixture of good and evil in even the loftiest of human motives. In â€Å"Bartleby the Scrivener† by Herman Melville, this idea is shown by how the Lawyer keeps Bartleby as one of his employers, even though Bartleby does not deserve to still be working. In the Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel HawthorneRead More The Benefits of Sin Revealed in Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter1661 Words   |  7 PagesThe Benefits of Sin Revealed in The Scarlet Letter      Ã‚  Ã‚   According to Nathaniel Hawthorne in The Scarlet Letter, each of us is born with original sin we have inherited from the misdeeds of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. As Eve bit hungrily into the apple from the Tree of Knowledge, starving for wisdom, little did she know that the entire human race would thereafter be tainted by her sin. Hawthorne and many others believe that ever since, human beings have been inclined to evil, more

Essay on Effective Communication - 1522 Words

Barriers to Effective Communication Even though an individual’s backgrounds and beliefs can affect the process of communication, one must utilize the different processes and components to achieve effective communication. Because barriers block the listening process causing misunderstanding that may block the flow of information between individuals. Therefore, this misunderstanding may blur the lines of communication utilized within the criminal justice system. The basic concept of communication is interaction between two or more people that results in the passing of information. However, for this process to happen effectively one must understand the different methods and standards required to achieve the process because without this†¦show more content†¦The officials involved in the Omaha chase had to be able to transmit the information using the radio about the dangers that they faced to protect the others assisting (Dorland, 2012). Understanding, Receiving, Feedback, and Retransmitting Although, the dispatcher received the information he or she would need to understand the fullness of the situation by giving feedback. This feedback allows the sender transmit further information so that those on the other end of the radio will receive and understand what is transpiring at the officials location (Dorland, 2012). In a way these five steps became known as the basis of communication. Because the information goes through a process that requires the information to transmit through a route that allows both the sender and the receiver to process information until they decode the entire conversation. However, no matter how well a communication process works the people involved will always have barriers that can block the communication process. Because each person has his or her own backgrounds and beliefs that will cause barriers to be overcome (Wallace Roberson, 2009). Communication Barriers Even with the best communication process, the initial receiver’s confusion of the information received may come from the distractions around them. Therefore, one must understand what causes these barriers and come up with a solution becauseShow MoreRelatedCommunication : Effective And Effective Communication818 Words   |  4 PagesEffective communication is an extremely important piece in a business organization. Not only does effective communication increase work flow it also enhances and keeps good morale in the workplace. In effective communication has the reverse effect and can be an anchor on production and workplace morale. According to Rogers,† Communication failures may occur when information is not clear or to complex, which causes problems with information recall. When too much information is given at once, incompleteRead MoreEffective Communication1085 Words   |  5 PagesEffective communication Communication is primarily an exchange of information, ideas, or thoughts. This paper will focus on the process of verbal and nonverbal communication as well as the components of each. It outline the formal and informal channels of criminal channels. This paper will also list the different barriers to effective communication within a criminal justice organization. Finally it will cover strategies that can be implemented to overcome communication barriers within criminalRead MoreEffective Communication1513 Words   |  7 PagesEffective Communication Bryan Walker CJA/304 Version 4 May 5, 2014 There are many aspects to the communication process. It is necessary to take into consideration the definition of communication. Communication has been defined as a process involving several steps, among two or more persons, for the primary purpose of exchanging information (Wallace, 2009). Communication requires transmitting an idea, sending the idea through a medium, receiving the message, understanding the idea, andRead MoreEffective Communication2513 Words   |  11 PagesINTRODUCTION†¦ Communication has existed since the beginning of human beings, but it was not until the 20th century that people began to study the process. As communication technologies developed, so did the theories. Before becoming simply communication, or communication studies, the discipline was formed from three other major studies: psychology, sociology, and anthropology. Psychology is the study of human behaviour, Sociology is the study of society and social process, and anthropologyRead MoreEffective Communication3193 Words   |  13 PagesCommunication Communication and Effective Communication Khaled Nashaat Mamdouh HROB 501- M9- ID: 7-3691 Dr. Ahmed Amin January, 21st, 2007 A. INTRODUCTION Determining or figuring out the level of importance of communication in any organization or even between people in their daily lives is fairly impractical. No one can ever resolve the significance of communication because it is such a gigantic topic with many different definitions and understandings. Also communication and gainingRead MoreCommunication : An Effective Communication1318 Words   |  6 Pages1 Communication Communication remains a critical aspect of everyday life of all people across the globe, be it in the workplace, family meetings, business activity, or any other initiative that requires human interaction (Varner, 2000). According to the author stated above, communication can be only effective when both parties not only understand each other but also able to comprehend the cultural backgrounds of each other. Such understanding is essential in ensuring effective communication withoutRead MoreCommunication : An Effective Communication919 Words   |  4 PagesCommunication Communication is one of the most essential tools in management, however, effective communication is difficult to achieve when you have 150 direct reports. I rely heavily on the charge nurses, however, they have varied abilities in effectively communicating information to the staff. Consequently, there is often a lack of clarity in the communication complete miscommunication to the staff via the charge nurses. Clearly one of the most efficient ways to communicate important informationRead MoreEffective Communication780 Words   |  3 PagesEffective communication is the process of transferring information or thoughts to someone or a group of people by way of speaking, writing or body language. According to â€Å"Livestron.com† (2014), â€Å"Effective communication extends the concept to require that transmitted content is received and understood by someone in the way it was intended. The goals of effective communication include creating a common perception, changing behavior s and acquiring information† (para. 1). It is important that the personRead MoreEffective Communication And Communication Skills Essay1146 Words   |  5 Pagestogether as a team to collaborate, delegate and consult. In order for this team effort to be effective, good communication skills must exist between medical professionals. Many times, messages can be altered and interpreted differently; if the conditions for transmission barriers develop. External barriers and internal barriers, such as confusion and mental status can hinder effective communication. Communication can be both verbal and nonverbal, and it is important to understand that different culturesRead MoreEffective Communication And The Barriers Of Communication Essay1203 Words   |  5 Pagesstudy of effective communication and the barriers of communication is very important in the workplace in order for the company to be successful. Every person in the business will have to communicate in one form or anothe r. The better the communication in the workplace the better the relationships with each other. In this article I will help you to understand the processes needed in order to have effective communication in the workplace. I will discuss the importance of effective communication, the

Social Media and Social Networking

Question: Discuss about a Report on Social Media and Social Networking? Answer: Introduction Social media and social networking sites has had a tremendous amount of positive as well as negative impacts on our culture, business, politics, entertainment and what not. Social networking sites are the most popular and most visited websites on the Internet. Not many people are left in the world that does not use any of the social networking sites available on the internet (Duggan and Brenner, 2013). Since Facebook has achieved such a huge popularity and acceptance among social networkers, lots of other networking websites have evolved and came into spotlight such as Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Ello and many more. Each of these websites has something unique to offer to its users. For example, Facebook is especially known for connecting friends and family living all across the globe. Ello specializes in giving an ad-free environment for socializing. Whereas, Experience Project is dedicated to giving a platform to its users for sharing their personal experiences, stories, confessio ns, articles and blogs with others. Findings and Analysis Facebook as a Social Network: Facebook was introduced by Mark Zuckerberg in February 2004 as a means of connecting with fellow students, colleagues, and relatives. Today, it has over 64 million active users participating and socializing all across the world. : Facebook offers a single platform where people can discover what is going on around the world, upload and share photos, videos and express their thoughts. What Facebook Offers: As a social networking website, Facebook is available on the internet in 37 distinct languages. It allows the users to create a personalized profile where they can upload their pictures and provide various levels of personal details according to their preference. They can keep in touch with friends and relatives by sending private messages or posting on their walls or timelines. It has experienced rapid growth in terms of many users and site development (Hampton, Goulet, Rainie and Purcell, 2011). As a marketplace: Facebook is used as a marketplace to post advertisements. Members read and respond to classified ads. Groups or communities: Facebook allows users to form groups and include members having a specific common interest so that they can interact, share news and discuss on that subject. Events: Members can publish an event, invite guests, give relevant information as well as keep track of how many people are attending the event. Public pages: Facebook offers to create, promote and publicize pages dedicated to a particular topic, or a celebrity or a book or movie, etc. Technical features of Facebook: Online Chat: This feature of Facebook allows the users to view which of their contacts are online and available to chat or instant messaging. Apps: Facebook provides a lot of built-in apps for users such as video games and other entertainment apps in various topics. Recently, Facebook has launched its own Messenger App for Android and iPhone and other smartphone users to introduce personalized online chatting experience in Facebook environment. HTTPS service: Facebook has included the option to browse videos, links and pages in Secure mode so that there is least chance to encounter a virus attack. HTTPS loads all the security components such as login and registration while accessing site elements (Cheung, Chiu and Lee, 2011). Privacy options: Facebook has a wide range of privacy options for its users where they can choose whether their posts will be visible to everyone or a specific group of connections. Facebook focuses on technical scalability and swift performance. It gives a solid and comfortable user experience by implementing some of the smartest technologies with the presence of user-friendly API and application layers. Notifications and News Feed: Facebook supports features that allow receiving instant notifications dynamically without having to refresh and load the entire web page. The News Feed is automatically loaded and populated with information while scrolling down across the page. Advantages and Disadvantages of Facebook: Being one of the most popular social networking website available in the internet, Facebook has some advantages as well as disadvantages. Advantages: Just by creating a profile on Facebook, people can connect and interact with their friends, family and relatives without any physical barriers as well as make new friends. Facebook gives a huge platform to introduce and expand a business by connecting to everyone, promote their products, build a good relationship with customers as well as receive customer reviews and feedbacks for better customer service. Facebook fan pages can gain brand value for businesses (Doreian and Stokman, 2013). Facebook is a source of news and information. It is a pool of knowledge filled with latest news and updates from various aspects. By subscribing or liking a page, it is possible to gather all kinds of news and info all around the globe. Video chatting: Facebook provides personal video chatting experience incorporated within it. It can also be used a photo and video hosting site, store collection of albums and download anytime. Disadvantages: The most significant disadvantage of Facebook is it gives people the chance to create more than one profile at a time; as a result it is filled with lots of fake profiles mostly created by stalkers. These fake profiles can be used for bad purposes and cause unethical issues. Moreover, youngsters fall victim to these fake profiles and make friends with them which can bring a lot of troubles if they attempt to trust them. Another disadvantage is people tend to get addicted and spend too much time using Facebook as it has so many ways to know what their friends are up to, engage so many varieties of entertainment and game applications. Ello as a Social Network: Ello is a social networking website with no advertisements. Ello has been termed as the New Facebook, anti-Facebook ad-free social network and lots more. The uniqueness that distinguishes Ello from any other social networking site is its promise of never selling information to third parties and providing an ad-free alternative (Hampton, Goulet, Rainie and Purcell, 2011). What Ello Offers: Invitations: Ello is exclusive in its ways. It provides memberships to its users. It is invite-only. Interested people need to find out someone who uses Ello or request an invite in their site. Real name policy: Unlike Facebook, Ello allows their users to use any name they want. It does not necessarily have to be their real name. Ello uses a simple design for its website. Paul Budnitzs had an innovative idea that completely differs with the main idea behind Facebook. Ello is made for artists and not for everyone. It is artsy and minimalist. It provides all the facilities of social networking minus the overflow of silly status updates every second and pop-up ads (Lin and Lu, 2011). Technical features of Ello: Account set-up: Ello just needs an email address to set up an account. Birth date or other details like gender are not required. Friends and Noise: it is a cool feature to divide people into two groups. Ello limits updates from noisy ones. Privacy: Ello offers a more promising privacy setting than Facebook. User information is not given to third parties. It has limited invitations and users can maintain anonymity. Advantages and Disadvantages of Ello: Advantages: Ello is achieving success at an early stage due to the innovative idea behind it. Ello does not treat users as products. Most social networking sites track user activities and record them to show more relevant ads in future. But Ello does not do that. Disadvantages: Ello is still in beta testing, so bugs are expected. Moreover, it promises to remain ad-free for life and free of cost to the users but to collect revenues Ello offers to add special features to a user account with an exchange for a small fee. One of its major drawbacks is many people do not yet use it. Everyone is still more familiar with Facebook and Twitter. Moreover, it does not let people find a specific person unless they know their user names. Experience Project as a Social Network: Experience Project is all about sharing personal stories and life experiences. It is built around anonymity. It offers various online groups and communities where the members can submit their confessions and experiences. What Experience Project Offers: Users are allowed to start a story and upload photos as a typical tool for socializing where people can recognize themselves for what they have done. Experience Project has a lot of negative as well as positive experiences (Thuseethan and Kuhanesan, 2014). It revolves around the experiences and ideas of members. Technical features of Experience Project: This site includes following features: Blogs, confessions: Allows writing personal blogs and anonymous confessions. Trivia games: it allows users to play trivia games. Has a search option to look for songs matching a particular mood. It also has features to add friends and private chatting. Experience Project is presently used by more than 15 million people. Advantages and Disadvantages of Experience Project: It allows discovering people with similar stories and similar interests. Members with the same list of experience are connected automatically (Wang and Amin, 2013). Many people seek help and look for advice and suggestions online through this site. With this site, people have the freedom to share their views and express their thoughts to others and connect with people having common stories. A lot of negative experiences can be seen on this website such as people who are battling depression or a divorce, but the idea around which this site was built serves its purposes correctly. Conclusion Todays world is driven by social media and social networking. It is the modern form of socializing. Each of these websites has something different to offer. Although a lot of people who are tired of using Facebook switched to Ello for a change, Facebook is still going on with the highest number of users active on their site (Wodzicki, Schwmmlein, and Moskaliuk, 2012). A person can use all these sites for different purposes that they are designed to serve. To conclude, social media is still rising and has evolved to become an inevitable part of modern citizens. Reference List Brown, V. R., Vaughn, E. D. (2011). The writing on the (Facebook) wall: The use of social networking sites in hiring decisions.Journal of Business and Psychology,26(2), 219-225. Cheung, C. M., Chiu, P. Y., Lee, M. K. (2011). Online social networks: why do students use Facebook?.Computers in Human Behavior,27(4), 1337-1343. Doreian, P., Stokman, F. (Eds.). (2013).Evolution of social networks. Routledge. Duggan, M., Brenner, J. (2013).The demographics of social media users, 2012(Vol. 14). Washington, DC: Pew Research Center's Internet American Life Project. Duggan, M., Smith, A. (2013). Social media update 2013.Pew Internet and American Life Project. Hampton, K., Goulet, L. S., Rainie, L., Purcell, K. (2011). Social networking sites and our lives.Retrieved July 12, 2011 from. Hayes, M., van Stolk-Cooke, K., Muench, F. (2015). Understanding Facebook use and the psychological affects of use across generations.Computers in Human Behavior,49, 507-511. Lin, K. Y., Lu, H. P. (2011). Why people use social networking sites: An empirical study integrating network externalities and motivation theory.Computers in Human Behavior,27(3), 1152-1161. Lin, K. Y., Lu, H. P. (2011). Why people use social networking sites: An empirical study integrating network externalities and motivation theory.Computers in Human Behavior,27(3), 1152-1161. Thuseethan, S., Kuhanesan, S. (2014). Positive and Negative Impacts of Facebook on University Students: Sri Lankan Perspective.IUP Journal of Information Technology,10(3), 7. Wang, F., Amin, N. (2013). How Facebook impacts on young consumers' decisions on e-retailers. Wodzicki, K., Schwmmlein, E., Moskaliuk, J. (2012). Actually, I Wanted to Learn: Study-related knowledge exchange on social networking sites.The Internet and Higher Education,15(1), 9-14.

Robin Hood Case Study Discussion Essay Example

Robin Hood Case Study Discussion Paper 1. Describe how Robin Hood developed his initial strategy for competing with the sheriff of Nottingham and discuss how he implemented it. Critique this approach. The original problem definition of high taxation that faced the people gave way for a new market which was stormed by Robin Hood. Seemingly an unlawful act, his mission was to â€Å"steal from the rich, and give to the poor†. As he entered the market, he was faced with rivalry of the prince and the sheriff. Robin Hood and his band of Merry men stole from the rich and gave to the poor which is in actuality is entirely opposite to the actions of his rivals. As Robin Hood entered the existing niche market he gained popularity and support amongst the common folk as he was supplying a unique good/service. He provides a free service to the poor after his operating expenses are accounted for. Also, the people had a preference for his product and tactics were not easily matched or copied by the competition. By obtaining this support, this strategy was to his advantage against Prince John and the sheriff. The opinion of numerous common folk would have persuaded Prince John to change the law of unfair taxation. Robin quickly realized that there was little he could do himself; which led to development of the organization by stimulating human resources. He sought close allies who would follow his vision of vengeance for the sheriff and the prince. These men would act as direct subordinates, however as time progress, admittance was allowed with less scrutiny whereby the only determining factor was loyalty. He believed strength lay in numbers. Robin implemented his strategy of ‘strength in numbers’ by seeking discipline from his band of men which ensured unity in the organization. We will write a custom essay sample on Robin Hood Case Study Discussion specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Robin Hood Case Study Discussion specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Robin Hood Case Study Discussion specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer This was achieved through a specific department within the organizational hierarchy. As a result they became more powerful in their battle against the sheriff. This forced the Merry Men to live outside the law which was also desired to gain sufficient discipline in the group. This organization was fairly simple. Critique By acquiring a large extent of subordinates, Robin obtained a work force that is not necessarily trained as he allowed any to join who asked few questions. In doing so, extra man-hours would have to be spent in training. Also if prescreening of the new entrants existed, the idea of using the entrants with existing skills can give way for a more efficient organization. I. e. farmers would have been used not for war but for food. As the largest internal dilemma faced the band was an increased group size infrastructure, supplies and other physical resources would quickly diminish. Thus cutting cost should be priority, thus tradeoffs can be made by employing skilled workers for defined job. E. g. famers and hunters With the ideal of improper interview, his organization could be easily infiltrated by his competitors thus relieving their plan and strategies. 2. Identify organizational characteristics and environment characteristics that would lead you to think robin hood is wise to considering a change in strategy as he enters his campaign second year? Robin’s organization could be seen as one of a hierarchy, he is the highest person in the organization which can put him in roles such as C. E. O. or chairman. His responsibility is to delegate specific task to his lieutenants, each has their own functions which contributes to the success of the merry men as a unit. For example Will Scarlett was assigned the important task of shadowing the sheriff and notifying the merry men of the sheriff next move. Figure 1: Robins Organizational Hierarchy The motivation of the band was vital to keeping them interested in the purpose of the vendetta. Motivation theory seeks to explain all kinds of motivated behavior in different situations, including behavior in the organizations. Since the majority of behavior is sense motivated, individuals are greatly influenced by their environment. Maslow’s theory of human motivation, all people have a need or desire for self respect, self esteem, and respect from others. This directly applies to the Merry Men, for they sought respect and were proud of their famous motto â€Å"Rob from the rich and give to the poor†. The resourced based model was important in the success of the group; five factors were looked at which the band demonstrated resources, capability, competitive advantage, attractive industry, strategy formulation and implementation. The resource of the group came from the merchants that travel through the forest, initially the resource was always available but t was quickly becoming sparse as merchants was choosing a different route. The men were properly trained to plan their robbery and skillful in their archery, however, the influxes of new recruits were beginning to strain the reserves of the group as training and food was costly. Robin and the merry men had the support from their customers which were the peasants and farmers but now as income was low and the maintenance cost was high they would have to tax the very people which they helped meaning that the peasants and farmers could turn on them and add to their troubles. Understanding the resource base of the group I could see why a change in strategy was wise. Figure 2: Resourced Based Model Robin and his organization were in crisis due to lack of a proper corporate strategy. The merry men were growing, with large number of new recruits but the organic structure is not cohesive. Communication and discipline is being broken down, table 3 below shows some options robin could use and their SWOT analysis. | Opportunities | Threats | Strengths| SO Strategies: Kill the Sheriff * Wipe him out, no more problems * Has the men to do it When the sheriff is gone, disband. ST Strategies: Join the barons * Has the fighting force * Get access to capital markets * Maybe ends the conflict quicker| Weakness | WO Strategies: Limit size of band * Turn the fighting band into a group of elites * Maintains discipline * Solves food issues * Basically, curtail growth| WT Strategies: Disband * Give up the cause, return to normal life * Robin flees to another country to escap e punishment| Figure 3: SWOT Matrix Problems Robin and his organization faced: * Lack of discipline Maintenance cost * Shelter/space shortage * Food shortage * training * security and vigilance (whoever wanted to join was taken in and there could be traitors and spies) These problems need to be address if the band is to have any chance against the sheriff and prince John. 3. Assume that Robin Hood has asked you to help him devise a new strategy. Identify a set of factors for him to consider in revising strategy. It was evident from the story that Robin Hood needed to change his approach owing to both internal and external factors. An uncontrolled workforce along with unsuitable supplier location led to the brink of economic viability. Changing the overall goal of his organization to fixed transit taxation would decrease his competitive advantage over the Sheriff. As a result the cost of amenities which Mr. Hood provided to the common folk would increase. If he chooses this path he would lose his loyal supporters which kept him in control of the monopolized market. The farmers and townspeople would then favor Prince John’s governance and rely on his pity for commodities. In the event of this situation Robin Hood’s main foe, The Sheriff would become stronger in light of his political connection with the prince. Although his work force was constantly growing, its productivity was diminutive. He claimed that he was not familiar with a large population of his organization. It would be in Robin’s best interest to restructure his work force. He would gain an advantage by decentralizing the team into several self sustaining units; each unit consisting of team manager, lieutenants and miscellaneous subordinates. Akin to a franchised organization, each team unit would be operating under the Robin Hood brand name, have the same goal as Robin, and operate within the limits of Robin. This structure would be less demanding to co-ordinate and allow him to devise alternate strategies. Since Robin also had a problem with a definitive Sherwood Forest location, this structure would also aid his disguise from his suppliers, the rich merchant travelers and the Sheriff. It is an imprudent choice for Robin to divert from his core competency and profound skill of banditry. The change in profession may lead to a lack of enthusiasm which would reflect poorly through the eyes of his followers and his brand name. References: Analyzing Strategic Management Cases Date Accessed: 02nd February 2011 The Business Operations of Robin Hood and the Merry men Author: Sumeet Malhotra Date updated: 2010 Date Accessed: 05th February 2011 ROBIN HOOD a Case Study Author: Misti Walker   Date updated: 05th September 2009 Date Accessed: 05th February 2011 Case Study 24 Robin Hood Book Winning In The Market Place Second Edition   Date update: 2011 Date Accessed: 07th February 2011 Robin Hood Case Analysis Author: Aaron labin, Curt Matthews, Rich Miller http://www. scribd. com/doc/37469551/Robin-Hood-Final Date updated: 14th April 2009 Date Accessed: 07th February 2011

Kaplan MCAT Courses

Kaplan MCAT Courses If youve set your sights on mastering the MCAT before you register, then you know youll need to prepare for it with practice tests, books, apps, tutoring or MCAT courses. If taking a class has been on your mind, then youre in the right spot. Many test prep companies out there offer MCAT courses to help you master the skills, testing techniques and knowledge youll need for test day. Kaplan is one of those companies, but their programs are top-notch and their reputation is typically outstanding. Heres what Kaplan has to offer. Kaplan MCAT Courses Kaplan Test Prep is the largest test prep company out there, and with its size comes great products and test prep materials. The MCAT course options listed below, taught by one of Kaplans trained teachers, all come complete with the Kaplan Higher Score Guarantee: If youre not ready to take the MCAT, you can study with Kaplan again for free. Or, if for any reason youre dissatisfied with your score gain, you can study again for free. And, if you dont score higher on the MCAT at all, you can study with Kaplan for free or get your money back. MCAT Classroom: On Site The Kaplan On Site MCAT course is just as it states: youll take your classes in an actual classroom with an actual Kaplan teacher. Why is this good? Personal attention, of course, with an interactive setting. The classes and times will vary according to your exact location, but I typed in my zip code, and found nine classes available for enrollment in less than 15 miles from my location. At press time the cost was $1,999 or three payments of $666.33 Whats Included: 11,000 practice questions, in addition to MCAT Qbank custom quizzes19 full-length exams11 supplemental lessons online, with a live teacherOver 200 hours of MCAT instructionAccess to all AAMC exams, including the Self Assessment PackageA Mobile-enabled and optimized syllabus in MCAT prep MCAT Classroom: Anywhere The Kaplan Anywhere MCAT course is   for those of you whod like a teacher, but dont have the time to travel to a physical classroom. The classes are live, so you will have to boot up the old computer at a certain time to take the course, but there are literally scores of options for class times and days since you arent restricted to your zip code. At press time the cost was $1,999 or three payments of $666.33 Whats Included: 25 live, online classroom sessions led by expert instructors11,000 practice questions, in addition to MCAT Qbank custom quizzes19 full-length exams130 additional hours of on-demand video instructionAccess to all AAMC exams, including the Self Assessment Package MCAT On Demand The Kaplan On Demand MCAT course is designed for people with hectic schedules, who need to cram in some prep time whenever they can. Its available 24/7 because the lectures are not live like the Anywhere and On Site MCAT courses – theyre recorded. Watch them whenever youd like, as often as youd like, for as long as youd like. Pause and start over if you need to or watch the entire lecture again and again. At press time the cost was $1,833 or three payments of $633.00 Whats Included: 25 core lessons- and over 130 hours of total instruction-led by expert instructors11,000 practice questions and custom quizzes with Kaplans MCAT Qbank19 full-length examsAccess to all AAMC exams, including the Self Assessment Package Signing Up for Kaplans MCAT Courses If you like what you see with Kaplans MCAT courses, you can call 1-800-KAP-TEST to enroll, or you can head to Kaplans website to check availability and sign up online.

The Effects of the Leadership Style of the Principal on School Climate Dissertation

The Effects of the Leadership Style of the Principal on School Climate - Dissertation Example Another important area and aspect which needs to be discussed here are related to the skill and quality of leadership and the way through which this particular skill can be integrated and nurtured within children especially at the level of their high school education. This is because this skill of leadership needs to be developed within children from the very first day and moreover it is with the help of this skill which guarantees the progress and leverage of any educational institute of the world. ... Â  Out of these the first one is the realization of the fact that educational institutes are not places where individuals get their passing certificates from, but also they are training centers from which students receive an idea about the ways through which the world operates and the different type of surprises that the world outside the school premises awaits them. Moreover, the training that they receive in their high school prepares them to face any difficulty in their life with utmost ease and convenience. (Gross and Furey, 1987) But in order to successfully inculcate all these characteristics within the students, it is important to understand the very fundamentals of the process which can lead to this and out of all others the process of leadership and that of the principal is the most important. Students whether they are in high school, college or university are overwhelmingly influenced and inspired by the ways through which the principal of their institute handles the diffe rent type of organizational affairs that they encounter on an everyday basis. In other words, it is the leadership and its manifestation with which students develop that influence towards their principal. (Glickman, 1990) During the course of this discussion, we would be looking at the different leadership styles through the help of which the academic performance of students can be enhanced and can be made more effective in terms of implementation. It will be on the basis of the variables of leadership types demonstrated by principals and the subsequent effect that they have on the performance of the student.

Health promotion Report Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Health promotion Report - Research Paper Example From the study results, there was an increased knowledge on the risk illnesses associated with smoking, benefits associated and ways of quitting smoking thus the intervention proved to be effective. A health promotion intervention is a process that enables individuals to increase control over and improve their health care condition. It is an initiated strategy that has an aim of influencing, informing and assisting both organizations and people to accept responsibility and be more active in health matters that influence their physical and mental health issues (Mills et al. 2007, 47). It entails education, political and economic related programs that are designed to support behavioral changes as well as environmental changes in an effort of enhancing the individual’s health status. It is important for individuals to take responsibility for their health, and a health-promoting program enhances this by challenging people to change their individual lifestyles in an effort of mitigating the effects of change. It is also crucial for individuals to preserve their minds and hearts as physical health is as important as mental health to enhance the growth of a healthy population t hat is better enhanced through education and sensitization. A health promotion intervention is thus important to help in health promotion (Saunders et al. 2005, 139). An intervention program is an action set that has a coherent objective of bringing change, or it is aimed at producing identifiable outcomes. This entails policies, single strategy projects and programs. Health promotion interventions are aimed at protecting, promoting as well as preventing unhealthy living in communities and societies (Warren, et, al 2011, 2). They differ from the clinical interventions that are aimed at treating illness on the ill-affected individuals. However, before conducting a health promotion program, it is essential to get the reason as to why individuals make decisions that they do in regards to

Abuse of Legal & Ilegal drugs Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Abuse of Legal & Ilegal drugs - Coursework Example It is a reflection of the importance attached to the prevention of drug abuse by the authorities (Columbia Univ., New York, NY. National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse. No Place To Hide: Substance Abuse in Mid-Size Cities and Rural America, 2001). This article contains the results of a drug abuse survey, which had been conducted by the Partnership for a Drug Free America. It deals with the effect that communication between parents and their children, has on the abuse of prescription drugs. It is an authoritative work on the effect of communication with one’s children, in drastically reducing addiction to drugs (Fathers need to talk more to kids about drugs 6/27/2005, Vol. 17 Issue 25, June, 2005). In order to take on the menace of teenage drug abuse, the Gallup High School in New Mexico, adopted a number of novel and innovative measures. Some of these are imparting knowledge of the problems resulting from abuse and the explicit and implicit effects of such abuse. A number of contributing factors like peer pressure, domestic environment and addiction were considered. The author, as the substance counselor of that school, has thoroughly studied the problem and has adopted an addict centered approach to the problem (Mulroy, 2007). Office of National Drug Control Policy, Washington, DC. (February, 2007). Teens and Prescription Drugs: An Analysis of Recent Trends on the Emerging Drug Threat. 1. Retrieved February 7, 2008, from ECSCO HOST Research Databases. (Document ID: ED495769). There is a proclivity, amongst teenagers, towards prescription drugs, in order to become euphoric. The use of prescription drugs is second to only that of the use of marijuana. Their use is enhanced by the common fallacy that they can be imbibed safely. OxyContin and Vicodin are the favorites of the teenage drug addict. Moreover, girls abuse prescription drugs more than boys. The

The Grandmother in Flannery O’Connor’s A Good Man is Hard to Find :: O’Connor A Good Man is Hard to Find

The Grandmother in Flannery O’Connor’s A Good Man is Hard to Find Flannery O’Connor is a master of the ironic, the twisted, and the real. Life is filled with tragic irony, and she perfectly orchestrates situations which demonstrate this to the fullest extent. A Good Man is Hard to Find is an excellent example of the mangled viewpoint which makes her work as compelling and striking as it is. Although this story is told in the third person, the reader’s eyes are strictly controlled by the meddling, ever-involved grandmother. She is never given a name; she is just a generic grandmother; she could belong to anyone. O’Connor portrays her as simply annoying, a thorn in her son’s side. As the little girl June Star rudely puts it, â€Å"She has to go everywhere we go. She wouldn’t stay at home to be queen for a day† (117-118). As June Star demonstrates, the family treats the grandmother with great reproach. Even as she is driving them all crazy with her constant comments and old-fashioned attitude, the reader is made to feel sorry for her. It is this constant stream of confliction that keeps the story boiling, and eventually overflows into the shocking conclusion. Of course the grandmother meant no harm, but who can help but to blame her? O’Connor puts her readers into a fit of rage as â€Å"the horrible thought† comes to the gra ndmother, â€Å"that the house she had remembered so vividly was not in Georgia but in Tennessee† (125). O’Connor uses many symbols to warn the reader of the impending doom that is about to befall the unknowing travelers. The grandmother is, of course, worried about The Misfit, and, not surprisingly, the family brushes off her concern. Here again is another conflict. If the grandmother can be blamed for the accident, can the family then be blamed for taking the trip in the first place? The grandmother warned them didn’t she? This may sound foolish, but it does follow the same logic. The grandmother also foreshadows the horrible events to come with her choice of attire to ride in the car. The â€Å"purple spray of cloth violets† (118) that she had placed on her blouse were to serve a purpose. The Grandmother in Flannery O’Connor’s A Good Man is Hard to Find :: O’Connor A Good Man is Hard to Find The Grandmother in Flannery O’Connor’s A Good Man is Hard to Find Flannery O’Connor is a master of the ironic, the twisted, and the real. Life is filled with tragic irony, and she perfectly orchestrates situations which demonstrate this to the fullest extent. A Good Man is Hard to Find is an excellent example of the mangled viewpoint which makes her work as compelling and striking as it is. Although this story is told in the third person, the reader’s eyes are strictly controlled by the meddling, ever-involved grandmother. She is never given a name; she is just a generic grandmother; she could belong to anyone. O’Connor portrays her as simply annoying, a thorn in her son’s side. As the little girl June Star rudely puts it, â€Å"She has to go everywhere we go. She wouldn’t stay at home to be queen for a day† (117-118). As June Star demonstrates, the family treats the grandmother with great reproach. Even as she is driving them all crazy with her constant comments and old-fashioned attitude, the reader is made to feel sorry for her. It is this constant stream of confliction that keeps the story boiling, and eventually overflows into the shocking conclusion. Of course the grandmother meant no harm, but who can help but to blame her? O’Connor puts her readers into a fit of rage as â€Å"the horrible thought† comes to the gra ndmother, â€Å"that the house she had remembered so vividly was not in Georgia but in Tennessee† (125). O’Connor uses many symbols to warn the reader of the impending doom that is about to befall the unknowing travelers. The grandmother is, of course, worried about The Misfit, and, not surprisingly, the family brushes off her concern. Here again is another conflict. If the grandmother can be blamed for the accident, can the family then be blamed for taking the trip in the first place? The grandmother warned them didn’t she? This may sound foolish, but it does follow the same logic. The grandmother also foreshadows the horrible events to come with her choice of attire to ride in the car. The â€Å"purple spray of cloth violets† (118) that she had placed on her blouse were to serve a purpose.

Adoption Of ICT In The Tourism And Hospitality Industry Essay

Abstract Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) have revolutionised the travel industry in the last decade. eTourism reflects the digitalisation of all processes and value chains in the tourism, travel, hospitality and catering industries. It emerges as a term describing the entire range of applications of ICTs on tourism and the implications for the tourism value chain. Major opportunities and challenges have emerged and need to be addressed by all industry players. However, the level of eTourism developments varies between regions, countries and continents. The tourism sector is experiencing an acceptance of ecommerce to the extend that the whole industry structure is changing .The web is used not only for information gathering but also for ordering services .A new type of user is emerging one who acts as his or her own travel agent and build a personalised travel package .This research focuses on evaluating the current status of Meikles Hotel Zimbabwe in order to study the adoption of ecommerce applications on the hospitality sector. 1. Introduction Mathieson and Wall (1982) created a good working definition of tourism as â€Å"the temporary movement of people to destinations outside their normal places of work and residence, the activities undertaken during their stay in those destinations, and the facilities created to cater to their needs.† The tourism industry requires a diverse range of information and lends itself well to the support offered by developing multimedia, communication technologies and information systems .The internet provides an extra ordinary connectivity and the ability to communicate efficiently and effectively directly with customers at a reasonable cost .Its potential to generate more revenue is not questionable but is acknowledged as something the tourism industry in developing countries needs. According to the World Tourism Organization 2002, Tourism in many developing and least developed countries is the most viable and sustainable economic development option, and in some countries, the main so urce of foreign exchange earnings. Implications of the Internet and other growing interactive multimedia platforms for tourism promotion are far reaching and alter the structure of the industry. This research aimed to explore the impact of ICTs and the  Internet in particular for the future competitiveness of the tourism and hospitality industry. This paper explores the current state of eTourism development and examines the use of the Internet in the sector. The rapid development and commercialization of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for the travel and tourism industry has prompted hotels and other enterprises in this sector to increasingly adopt these technologies. This is based on the expectation that the new ICT based technologies and processes would lead to an improvement in their operating efficiencies and customer service levels. Buhalis, D. (2003: 77). The ICT based products and processes help the hotels to enhance the operating efficiency, improve the service experience as well as provide a means to access markets on a global basis. Brussels, 2005. Says ‘The use of ICTs is a relevant opportunity for growing and strengthening a local tourism industry, and for the development of destinations economies overall. Specifically ICTs have the potential to increase destination incomes for financing economic and social development’. While ICTs were used in the hotel industry from the late seventies in the f orm of Computerized Reservation systems and Global distribution systems, it was only in the 90s that the ICTs began to make a difference in the hospitality sector. Nowadays the internet has turned into an informative channel providing both individuals and organisations with different types of information making them aware of new tourism and old travel opportunities and offers enabling them to compare the offers, have online purchases and provide feedback. It has also turned into a source for travel agencies and organisations to promote their services and products to their potential customers. As the internet is being used worldwide it was important for Meikles hotel to implement hence the creation of its web site www.meikles.com Meikles Hotel Meikles Hotel is situated in the heart of Harare and overlooks the historic landmark and colourful flower gardens of Africa Unity Square. According to Experience Zimbabwe, Meikles is consistently voted as one of the best hotels in Zimbabwe, Meikles Hotel is a proud member of The Leading Hotels of the World, a prestigious hospitality organisation which represents some of the world’s most acclaimed hotels, spas and resorts. Established in 1928, the organisation exists to meet the needs of discerning travellers and for a  hotel to be recognised by this body, it needs to exceed every expectation and achieve exacting standards of excellence. Executive chairman Mr Onias Makamba says ‘Meikles Hotel has won the prestigious Association of Zimbabwean Travel Agents (AZTA) award for Best City Hotel in Zimbabwe for an astonishing 15 consecutive years’. This award is voted on by AZTA members and is based on feedback given to travel agents by their many clients across the worl d. Problem Definition There have been a lot of changes in the rapid growing world of technology. Changes in the technological world have made organizations to change the way they conduct their day to day business in order to provide satisfactory services delivery. Effective delivery of service is defined by Martin (2004) as providing products and services that bring utility to users and customers. E-tourism is offering significant benefits for organizations that integrate the technology into their organizational information systems. This versatile technology improves information quality and accessibility, increases operational efficiency (service delivery) and enhances effective management (Maamar, 2006). Despite these highly perceived benefits of e-tourism its adoption has been relatively slow in Zimbabwe. Currently, there are no studies which have been carried out in Zimbabwe to identify the benefits and challenges of adopting ICT in the tourism and hospitality industry. Hence it is the ideal time to ca rry out an investigation on the adoption of ICT in the tourism and hospitality industry. Objectives The key objective of this research has been to examine the Adoption of ICT in the tourism industry mainly looking at Meikles Hotel in Zimbabwe .In particular the research examines the level of ICT diffusion in tourism enterprises. Another objective is to Identify the factors affecting E-tourism in Zimbabwe The paper also assesses how eTourism concepts and techniques can contribute towards the improvement of the Zimbabwe tourism competitiveness. RESEARCH QUESTIONS I. At what rate is ICT being adopted in the tourism and hospitality industry in Zimbabwe? II. What factors are encouraging or discouraging the adoption of ICT in the tourism and hospitality industry of Zimbabwe. 2. Literature  review Literature review is a â€Å"systematic, explicit and reproducible method for identifying, evaluating and interpreting the existing body of recorded work produced by other scholars† (Khan, 2008, p.41). The literature review focuses on the impacts of ICTs on tourism and the eCommerce developments in Zimbabwe. It also includes a brief section on Tourism in Zimbabwe which provides the contextual environment that determines the requirements for eTourism in the country. 2.1 ICT Developments and eCommerce in Zimbabwe There are various factors that have affected the adoption of ecommerce in Zimbabwe, these include : Software development tools are still evolving .It is difficult to integrate Internet and e-commerce software with some existing (especially legacy) applications and databases .Special web servers are needed in addition to the network servers, which add to the cost of ecommerce. The Standard June 5, 2011 says the adoption of the multiple currency system in 2009 presented a strong opportunity for the growth of e-commerce in Zimbabwe. It said Zimbabwe now had a chance to catch up with the rest of the world if the financial and retail sectors took the lead. Internet accessibility is still expensive and or inconvenient .Powertel Communications, a government owned internet provider, is one of the 12 POTRAZ licensed Internet Access Providers in Zimbabwe. In June 2014 Powertel mobile broadband price were $50/month .The price of the modem $45.Every Zimbabwean cannot afford these prices. The Fin ancial Gazette 3 Oct 2013 states Despite the growth of the Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector in the country, which has seen internet penetration rising from five to 47 percent in the past five years, the cost of accessing the internet still remains high. The improved internet penetration is largely credited to the ICT Strategic Plan crafted by the then ministry of ICT under Nelson Chamisa. Customers’ attitudes towards online shopping remain skeptical, mainly because of worries about product quality, product delivery, and security and privacy issues (Ghazali et al., 2006; Scott & Scott, 2008). People do not yet  sufficiently trust paperless, faceless transactions .Payment security and privacy concerns are one of the major non technological barriers that prevent consumers from completing transactions online Lack of trust in e-commerce and in unknown sellers hinders buying. Online fraud is also increasing. Some customers like to feel and touch products. They are afraid that if they purchase without actually touching the products they might not get exactly what they ordered. Also, customers are resistant to the change from shopping at a brick-and-mortar store to a virtual store. The lack of stand ­ards in technology and its applications eventually increases the cost of system integration for effective and efficient management in distribution, operation and communication worldwide. Large hospitality corporations have invested to transform their systems into a total netware system; however, small and medium-sized tourism enterprises (SMEs) struggle to integrate the systems due to a shortage of financial sources Factors Determining the Adoption of ICTs In Zimbabwean Hotels There are a number of factors that affect the adoption of ICT in hotels these will be discussed below. In the hotel industry, the geographic location of a hotel has a major impact on its operations and profitability. The geographical location of a hotel would greatly determine the profile of its visitors, the size of its market and the level of competition that it has to face. A hotel will therefore be more inclined to adopt ICTs if it expects the ICT based facilities to either provide greater competitive advantage or to blunt the advantage enjoyed by its competitors considering the characteristics of its customer profile, its market size and the intensity of competition that it has to face. Thus based on the profile of a hotel’s visitors, the size of the market, or the intensity of competition, hotels may differ in their levels of ICT adoption propensity. The market size, in terms of the number of tourists who visit the location, will also be a significant factor that affects ICT adoption , since hotels  in smaller underdeveloped destinations may need to use the internet and other ICT based technologies to a greater degree to reach out to the global population than hotels located in developed destinations. According to Bajaj and Nag (2005) a range of advanced ICT systems such as Decision Support System (DSS) can be applied to gain substantial benefits on practical levels not only by large organisations, but also by small and medium-sized business organisations as well. Bajaj and Nag (2005) argue that DSS integration by small and medium-sized organisations can assist management by generating a set of alternative solution options to management problems of various levels complexities The competition level among the hotels in a location, can also influence the adoption of ICTs. The general occupancy rate in the location is an indicator of the competitive intensity among the hotels in a location. High levels of occupancy rate at a location imply that the competition is low, and the hotels can expect to get their rooms filled with relative ease while low levels of occupancy point towards higher levels of competition to attract customers between the hotels in the location. High levels of competition may prompt the hotels to aggressively use ICT based technologies both for attracting customers as well as to increase the efficiency of its operations. The size of the hotel has an important effect on ICT adoption. Effective adoption of several ICT technologies requires a substantial investment of resources. Lack of resources may affect the inclination of small hotels to adopt costly ICTs and therefore large hotels can be expected to be more inclined to ICTs. Further the risky nature of investing in new technologies may prompt small hotels to wait till the technology has stabilized before investing in it. Another aspect of the hotel size that can influence adoption of ICTs is the inclination to change within the organization. Large hotels have been found to be more resistant to change than small firms. This fact tends to suggest that large hotels are less inclined to adopt ICTs than small hotels as long as the investment required is not a consideration. The scope of activities that the hotel is engaged in can also influence adoption of ICTs. Since ICTs enable an effective integration of activities of an organization, hotels with varied lines of activities would find more use in the adoption of ICTs than hotels with a relatively lesser span of activities. 2.2 Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the Tourism sector The internet has become a key application in the tourism industry. Tourism providers have been using the internet to communicate, distribute and market their products to potential customers worldwide in a cost- and time-efficient way. In fact, the individual company website had become the most important platform for e-commerce, followed by electronic markets. The main focus of e-business processes in the tourism industry has been on customer facing activities and services, i.e. primarily e-marketing and e-sales. Online booking and reservation services were widely accepted among consumers and business travell ers already in 2005. Similarly, online purchasing had become a relatively well-used application in the tourism sector. Parsons and Oja (2013) mention online reservations systems as one of the greatest impacts of ICT on tourism and hospitality sector. Tourism has closely been connected to progress of ICTs for over 30 years. The establishments of the Computer Reservation Systems (CRSs) in the 1970s, Global Distribution Systems (GDSs) in the late 1980s and the Internet in the late 1990s have transformed operational and strate ­gic practices dramatically in tourism .The tourism indus ­try at first focused on utilizing computerized systems (e.g., CRS, GDS) to increase efficiency in processing of internal information and managing distribution. Nowadays, the Internet and ICTs are relevant on all operative, structural, strategic and marketing levels to facilitate global interaction among suppliers, intermediaries and consumers around the world. In this section, we will provide the concepts and definitions of the key terms related to the Internet and ICTs. 2.2.1 Electronic tourism (e-tourism) It is the application of ICTs on the tourism industry (Buhalis, 2003). Buhalis (2003) suggests that e-tourism reflects the digitisation of all processes and value chains in the tourism, travel, hospitality and catering industries. At the tactical level, it includes e-com ­merce and applies ICTs for maximising the efficiency and effectiveness of the tourism  organi ­sation. At the strategic level, e-tourism revolutionises all business processes, the entire value chain as well as the strategic relationships of tourism organisations with all their stakeholders. E-tourism determines the competitiveness of the organisation by taking advantage of intranets for reorganising internal processes, extranets for developing transactions with trusted partners and the Internet for interacting with all its stakeholders and customers. The e-tourism concept includes all business functions (i.e., e-commerce, e-marketing, e-finance and e-accounting, eHRM, e-procurement, e-production) as well as e-strategy, e-planning and e-management for all sectors of the tourism industry, including tourism, travel, transport, leisure, hospitality, principals, intermediaries and public sector organisations. Hence, e-tourism bundles together three distinctive disciplines: business management, information systems and management, and tourism. II.2.2 Computer reservation system (CRS) The 1989 CRS Regulation51 defined a ‘computerized reservation system’ as a system for reserving and booking seats on commercial flights electronically, as well as storage and retrieval of itineraries. Several airlines own and market such systems, which are used by travel agents. A few include: Sabre (produced by American Airlines), Amadeus, and Worldspan. It is a database which enables a tourism organisation to manage its inventory and make it accessible to its partners. Principals utilise CRSs to manage their inventory and distribute their capacity as well as to manage the drastic expansion of global tourism. CRSs often charge competitive commission rates while enabling flexible pricing and capacity alterations, to adjust supply to demand fluctuations. Airlines pioneered this technology, although hotel chains and tour operators followed by developing centralised reservation systems. CRSs can be characterised as the â€Å"circulation system† of the tourism product . II.2.3 Global distribution systems (GDSs) The business dictionary defines a global distribution system as a worldwide computerized reservation network used as a single point of access for reserving airline seats, hotel rooms, rental cars, and other travel related  items by travel agents, online reservation sites, and large corporations. The premier global distribution systems are Amadeus, Galileo, Sabre, and Worldspan. They are owned and operated as joint ventures by major airlines, car rental companies, and hotel groups. Also called automated reservation system (ARS) or computerized reservation system (CRS).Since the mid 1980s, airline CRSs developed into GDSs by gradually expanding their geographical coverage as well as by integrating both horizontally, with other airline systems, and vertically by incorporating the entire range of principals, such as accommodation, car rentals, train and ferry ticketing, entertainment and other provisions. In the early 1990s, GDSs emerged as the major driver of ICTs, as well as the back bone of the tourism industry and the single most important facilitator of ICTs globalisation (Sheldon, 1993). In essence, GDSs matured from their original development as airline CRSs to travel supermar ­kets. Since the late 1990s GDSs have emerged as business in their own right, specialising in travel distribution. 2.2.4 Intermediaries Intermediaries (brokers) play an important role in commerce by providing value-added activities and services to buyers and sellers. The most well-known intermediaries in the physical world are wholesalers and retailers. Traditionally, intermediaries of the travel industry have been outbound and inbound travel agencies and tour operators. However, the Internet restructured the entire touristic value chain, forcing the existing intermediaries to take up the new medium and to develop corresponding business models. 2.2.5 e-Travel agencies ICTs are irreplaceable tools for travel agencies as they provide information and reservation facilities and support the intermediation between consumers and principals. Andreas Papatheodorou – (2006) Travel agencies operate various reservation systems, which mainly enable them to check availability and make reservations for tourism products. Until recently GDSs have been critical for business travel agencies to access information and make reservations on scheduled airlines, hotel chains, car rentals and a variety of ancillary services. GDSs help construct complicated itineraries, while  they provide up-to-date schedules, prices and availability information, as well as an effective reservation method. In addition, they offered internal management modules integrating the â€Å"back office† (accounting, commission monitor, personnel) and â€Å"front office† (customers’ history, itinerary construction, ticketing and communication with suppliers). Multiple tr avel agencies in particular experience more benefits by achieving better coordination and control between their remote branches and headquarters. Transactions can provide invaluable data for financial and operational control as well as for marketing research, which can analyze the market fluc ­tuations and improve tactical decisions Hotels use ICTs in order to improve their operations, manage their inventory and maximise their profitability. Their systems facilitate both in-house management and distribution through electronic media. ‘Property management systems (PMSs)’ coordinate front office, sales, planning and operational functions by administrating reservations and managing the hotel inventory. Moreover, PMSs integrate the â€Å"back† and â€Å"front† of the house management and improve general administration functions such as accounting and finance; marketing research and planning; forecasting and yield management; payroll and personnel; and purchasing. Understandably, hotel chains gain more benefits from PMSs, as they can introduce a unified system for planning, budgeting and controlling and coordinating their properties centrally. Hotels also utilise ICTs and the Internet extensively for their distribution and marketing func ­tions. Global presence is essential in order to enable both individual customers and the travel trade to access accurate information on availability and to provide easy, efficient, inexpensive and reliable ways of making and confirming reservations. Although Central Reservation Offices (CROs) introduced central reservations in the 1970s, it was not until the expansion of airline CRSs and the recent ICT developments that forced hotels to develop hotel CRSs in order to expand their distribution, improve efficiency, facilitate control, empower yield management, reduce labour costs and enable rapid response time to both customers and management re ­quests. Following the development of hotel CRSs by most chains, the issue of interconnectivity with other CRSs and the Internet emerged.This reduces both set-up and reservation costs, whilst facilitates res ­ervations through several distribution channels 2.3 Tourism in Zimbabwe In the past, tourism contributed significantly to the GDP of Zimbabwe, and created many employment and business opportunities for locals in the 1990s. But it has faced a great decline since 2000. A number of Zimbabwean tourist attractions are marketed online by South African companies and they have created an impression to some international tourists that they are located in South Africa. E-tourism has always seemed like a no-brainer for Zimbabwe, as money can be paid direct to hotels and suppliers. But obstacles like the lack of access to communication in remote areas, uncertain electricity availability, high cost of bandwidth, the lack of integrated, real-time reservation systems and local online payment gateways have thus far stymied progress. However, with the arrival of voice and data-oriented telecommunications in some remote tourist areas, there is more access to information via websites by foreign tourists looking for a good holiday resort. In other parts of Africa, arrival o f cheaper bandwidth has lessened the barriers to communication and the world’s Online Travel Agencies like Expedia are showing a real interest in the continent. Ten years ago no-one was talking about online tourism. The tourism trade tended to focus on going to big trade events like World Tourism Markets, with brochures and doing support advertising in key markets. The travel agents tended to suggest where people went and to some extent picked the destinations. As a result, a great deal of the revenues went to large, international hotel chains and not much of the money was retained locally. According to The Zimbabwean (22 June 2011) 56% of travel globally is booked online and the rise of the Online Travel Agents has been unstoppable. These OTAs, as they are known in the trade, include Expedia, Travelocity, Lastminute.com and Bookings.com – who have significant market share in Africa. Expedia has actually opened an office to focus on Africa. It goes on to say In 2005, less than 2% of tourism revenues in Africa came from online booking. In 2010, buoyed by the World Cup, that percentage rose to 5% and looks set to go to somewhere between 15-20% by 2016. The World Cup may have been a one-off boost but it accelerated the growth of online tourism in South Africa. 50% of Americans read an online review before booking internationally and that’s usually  either Trip Advisor or Facebook. (Trip Advisor is now owned by Expedia). Most in ternational travellers have credit cards and increasingly expect to be able to book online for anything from the smallest travel lodge to the largest hotel chain. So what are the barriers? The missing piece was e-commerce. There used to be no route for doing online transactions in other countries in Africa including Zimbabwe. Online distribution by the OTAs requires a reservation system that offers real-time availability. OTAs won’t do business with you unless you have that. In Zimbabwe there are few tourist resorts offering e-commerce reservation and booking services. Shearwater Adventures in Victoria Falls offer online booking and payment services, which have attracted a large number of tourists over the years. The second missing piece was the ability and tools to do online marketing. The companies needed marketing skills, especially with social media. Today’s tourist wants to hear from other travellers (through Facebook and Trip Advisor) and are not that interested in what the hotel has to say. For example, hotel chains Africa Sun and Cresta Hotels have invested in websites and Facebook groups where reviews are easily accessible to prospective tourists. Now that the data oriented communication and cheaper bandwidth is slowly becoming available throughout the country, telcos and ISPs need to focus specifically on those industry sectors that are most likely to make the online transition fastest. It must be possible in the near future for a herita ge site in Binga to be marketed online to the world and attract visitors. 3. Research Methodology To fulfil the objectives of this research a number of methods were used. Both primary and secondary data were therefore essential. Given the dynamic nature of the subject area, multiple primary research approaches were adopted, including both qualitative and quantitative methods (Phillip, 1998). Bryman (1998) explains that the two methods are complementary rather than competing, especially for exploratory research. The researcher made use of the internet and some library books to carry out the research and establish the solutions to the research objectives .First a qualitative approach was adopted in order to enable the appreciation of all aspects of the subject and to develop a set of the most critical variables  to be included afterwards into a questionnaire. The main objective was to objectively establish the level of eCommerce and the on-line representation of Zimbabwean tourism. The second stage involved semi-structured interviews aimed to elicit critical issues and to explore the key factors that determine the development of eTourism in Zimbabwe. In-depth interviews are considered as the most appropriate method to obtain information about perceptions, attitudes and beliefs. Judgmental sampling was employed and interviewees were selected as pioneers in eTourism in Zimbabwe, as determined by their online presence assessed in the previous phase of the research. Owners and marketing managers of organisations that run innovative web sites, as demonstrated by the methods used to interact with their clientele, were targeted and an interview was requested. The sample was chosen to include interviewees who would be informed, reflecting their particular experience and outlook on the research area. Twenty five telephone contacts were made and 28 interviews were finally conducted, which resulted in a 51% response rate .The reasearcher also made use of the questionnaires. The questionnaires designed by the researcher had both open ended questions thus allowing a respondent to fully express the answer and closed questions which only provided simple choice of answer such as yes or no. Questionnaires were used by the researcher because they saved time and they were an inexpensive way of surveying a cross section of people. Questionnaires allowed the researcher to guide the respondent along the lines regarding the topic under study and responses obtained from closed ended questions are easy to analyze. Questionnaires allowed the respondents to give freely the confidential information since the respondents were not required to disclose their identity. The researcher favoured the use of questionnaires because the analysis of data from close-ended question was easy. However data collection through the use of questionnaires required a significant commitment, expertise, time and material resources. The researcher also noted that questionnaires were highly inflexible as they gave no room to rephrase questions, furthermore, some questions remained unanswered and it affected the research findings. The researcher used simple wording in the questionnaires so that the respondents would not fail to understand the questions, that is, the researcher used simple wording to elaborate the meanings of what was being asked and required. The researcher also used face to face interviews. The researcher employed structured interviews to obtain detailed and specific information from the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Mr Mzembi. The questions presented to the Minister sought to determine the factors affecting adoption of ICTs in Zimbabwean hotel and also how far Zimbabwean hotels are in terms of adoption of ICTs. The interview also sought to discover challenges to implementing ICTs and compliance at different hotels. The interview process proved time consuming and required persistence since the honourable Minister was a busy person and he was not easily available. The actual interview session had a length of 15 minutes due to the Minister’s busy schedule. To avoid inconveniences, an appointment via e-mail and telephone call prior to interviewing visit was made. Goodman (2003) states that certain biases exist due to the tendency by the interviewer to ask wrong questions and be supplied with answers he expects to get. The researcher eliminated such errors by avoiding leading questions and taking a listener approach instead of providing suggestions. Probing was only applied as a means of seeking clarifications. This technique was used because interviews are highly flexible and the researcher was able to rephrase the questions to make the respondent understand better. Dennis (2003), states that an interview is whereby the researcher and the respondents discuss verbally with each other either face to face, over the phone or over the internet. Interviews allow probing on open ended questions, clarifications on ambiguous questions and sequencing of questions is easily changed. However, the researcher noted that interviews were costly to run in terms of money and they are time consuming because the interviewee was a busy person hence the need of an appointment and the need of a telephone call reminding the interviewee about the appointment before the  time. The researcher also noted that the interview failed to give anonymity to the respondent, hence, there was a greater chance of being given biased information. RESULTS Eight hotels participated in the survey Meikles hotel, Holiday inn (Bulawayo), Victoria falls, Regency Fairmile, Kadoma hotel, Midlands hotel. At the outset the author quotes from a number of previous reports, which indicate that ICT has not been implemented effectively in the hospitality industry Evidence from the literature review has shown that there are a number of factors, which affect technology adoption. These factors include organisational readiness, external pressure, internal expertise, support of owner or manager, user participation, efficient and effective use of any external expertise. The barriers which were uncovered by the research: IT management training, dependency on outside experts and size and scale of enterprise are all directly related to the ‘other’ factors which influence ICT adoption. The level of significance of these barriers varies between the tourism sub-sectors surveyed. This study has added new knowledge in terms of the significance of a n umber of further barriers to ICT adoption. They include peripheral or rural location, security concerns, cost issues, lack of capital, and personal background of the owner manager. A closer analysis of findings has revealed that although technology is available, some of it is obsolete or not necessarily functional. Hotels possessed various outdated versions of software packages which did not seem to serve them well. . The mode of Internet bookings is an important determinant of their success. A lot of Internet booking systems generates a booking in email format rather than integrating into the hotel’s reservation system online. This obviously limits the usefulness of these systems. DISCUSSION The adoption of ICTs at Meikles Hotel is proving to be growing fast; this was noted by the stakeholder preparedness to harness it. Meikles hotel being a  five star hotel recognised internationally, this pushes them to move along with technological changes. Meikles hotel is interested in improving in their service provision through the use of e-commerce, and the results of this study show that this is being done at a fast pace. The top management at Meikles hotel are quite literate hence the adoption of ICT is faster compared to other hotels .The C.E.O is a holder of an honours degree in Computer science .Although the use of ICTs has not yet revolutionalised Meikles Hotel’s service delivery; it has changed how some services such as bookings are being done. Meikles hotel has a website developed and maintained by an inhouse programmer .Their website is user friendly and they have all the information that one needs about the hotel. Meikles hotel started offering wireless network services to guest in 2006.They use Fidelio management system which integrates all the information from the reservations, banqueting, finance departments and the restaurants. They use point of sale systems. CONCLUSION It can be noted that the adoption of ICTs at Meikles Hotel is proving to be growing fast and it has been done to a very large extent. 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