Consumer Judgment on Genetically Modified Foods

Consumers differ in their desires on issue of labeling of genetically modified foods. Those having less defined views are of the perception that labeling should be mandatory while those with stronger viewpoints see labeling as nonessential.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Consumer Judgment on Genetically Modified Foods specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A clear understanding of the genetically modified foods in terms of their risks and benefits could help determine the preferences of consumers for genetically modified foods and GM labeling policy. Radas, Teisl and Roe (336) try to justify the varying viewpoints as regards genetically modified foods and their labeling. Hypotheses have just been made without any validity being tested. The authors say that industrial leaders are for the idea that consumers accept genetically modified food because the public depict a tendency of consuming them while academic records in dicate that human beings are more concerned with the GM technology, have not decided about GM foods and desire to have GM food labeled. The authors are compelled to conduct this study on GM foods so as to establish if human beings see labeling as something important as regards genetically modified foods. Also, there are varying theories on GM foods making it complicated to interpret reported attitude levels even though consumers would have otherwise made clear distinctions. An example is that early studies indicated lowered prices as the greatest benefit of GM foods. Recent studies have explored scenarios where individuals derive non-price benefits from GM foods which may include derivation of higher nutritional value. Recent studies have proposed that since consumers use the risk to benefit ratio when considering GM foods, consumers should be segmented according to their evaluation of GM foods because of their heterogeneous nature. The objective of this article is to establish if c onsumers vary in risk/benefit evaluation as regards GM foods and how these variants in evaluation relate with desires for GM labeling policy. Consumer judgment on GM foods is based on limited information, thus it is biased as it does not factor all the risks and benefits of GM foods. This article points out that from the results of the study, there are three different kinds of consumers; the â€Å"risk avoiders†, â€Å"the risk dismissers†, and the â€Å"balanced and interested† group which was the largest segment and had no strong commitment to risk taking or risk dismissal.Advertising Looking for essay on agriculture? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This segment was found to contain the least educated individuals and had less income. The study also indicated that this group was stricter as regards to GM labeling and demanded a lot of information which is important to them as they are still undecided on G M foods. Thus with presentation of the right information they can make an informed decision on whether GM food is good for them. The â€Å"balanced and the interested† group also had strong feelings regarding risks though they also found benefits of GM foods quite important. With the balanced and interested being the largest group, providing the right information can help distinguish their preferences as far as GM food is concerned. It can be deduced from the above facts that human beings lack a clear understanding of GM foods as regards risk and benefits and they needed more information to make informed decisions on the same. Gaining a comprehensive understanding of genetically modified foods as far as potential harms are concerned as well as envisaged benefits can go a long way in empowering consumers’ decision-making as far as labeling of GM foods is concerned. To be precise, it would be easier to advocate for or against GM labeling since the arguments would be base d on facts rather than sentiments (Barnard 26). The views regarding GM foods should only be based on tests that have been proved valid; otherwise it will be a grave mistake for all players to engage in this matter without clearly validated views. Both industrial players as well as the scientists involved in this field should corroborate their efforts and findings to provide clear guidelines regarding labeling of GM foods (Environmental Nutrition 3). In the end, the consumer will be empowered to make better and more informed decisions. Consumers will also be able to choose whether they would like to accommodate the possible risks in GM food adoption while reaping the proved benefits (Kondro 1046). With more and valid facts on GM foods, consumers are not tied to evaluating GM foods based on one aspect only, e.g. price benefit. Instead, they also have the option of evaluating GM foods based on other important facts such as availability of extra nutritional value in GM foods among other s. Again, such a wide view of GM foods enhances decision-making as far as labeling of GM foods is concerned.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Consumer Judgment on Genetically Modified Foods specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The authors have ably identified three key players in the GM labeling debate. These include consumers, industries, scientists as well as political players. Despite having elaborated on the first two players, the authors have not put a lot of emphasis on political influence in this debate. It is unfortunate since political will has been found to be central in designing of various policies (Laux, Mosher and Freeman 4), with the issue of GM labeling not exempted. It is therefore advisable that even as the views of consumers are sought and their knowledge on benefits and risks of GM foods is improved, the political players should also be enlightened on the same. Works Cited Barnard, Neal D. â€Å" Weird science: Should you say no to GM foods?† Vegetarian Times Issue 384; (Apr/May2011): 26-27. Print. Environmental Nutrition. â€Å"EN urges labeling of genetically modified food.† Environmental Nutrition 23.4; (2000): 3. Print. Kondro, Wayne. â€Å"Canada must bolster its GM food regulations, not add labels: report.† CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal 167.9; (2002): 1046-1046. Print. Laux, Chad M., Mosher Gretchen A. and Freeman Steven A. â€Å"Factors affecting college students’ knowledge and opinions of genetically modified foods.† Journal of Technology Studies 36.2; (2008 Fall): 2-9. Print Radas, Sonja, Teisl Mario F., and Roe Brian. â€Å"An open mind wants more: opinion strength and the desire for genetically modified food labeling policy.† The Journal of Consumer Affairs 42.3; (2008): 335-361. Print.Advertising Looking for essay on agriculture? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This essay on Consumer Judgment on Genetically Modified Foods was written and submitted by user Max J. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

whalers and whales essays

whalers and whales essays Imagine a creature roughly ten times as long as your height, and about five hundred times your weight. Now imagine attempting to kill this animal with nothing more than a stick and with a sharpened steal tip while it violently dashes through the ocean beneath your feet. This sort of event was not uncommon for an ordinary man aboard and American whaling ship. They lived a life of unbearably long fits of boredom, of which could be broken up momentarily by life-threatening danger. The life style of whaling is so startling, that a classic American novel was written about the subject called Moby Dick, by Herman Melville. The book is fictional, but tells many truths about the lives of sailors, and the lives of the whales they hunted. Although whales are often mistakenly thought of as fish, whaling should never be compared to fishing. In truth, whaling was not just a job, but a war fought not only against giant beasts, but against fierce elements and time. American whaling did not begin with the colonists, but rather with the people who already inhabited the region prier to colonization. Native Americans are the people responsible for the beginnings of whaling in America. They only hunted whales inside the bays however, and did not share the more modern uses for whales. The Indians used them more for food, and their bones for tools (Currie 8). The English began hunting whales in America as early as the sixteen hundreds (Stimac). The whaling industry was an extremely profitable business, and this was due to how valuable whales actually were. Whales were hunted for many reasons, but the chief reason was for their oil. The oil produced by whales is created by melting the layer of blubber that covers their body. Once melted, the oil is a very precious fuel that was used to make candles and power lamps. Sperm whales were the most prized of all, because of the more wholesome oil found in their heads, called spermaceti. Whal...

Child Rape in South Africa Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Child Rape in South Africa - Essay Example Crime is occurring at an unprecedented rate and South Africa now boasts some of the highest rates of violent crime in the world (De Capua & Robertson 2009). Yet, one of the most pressing social issues to emerge is the sexual violence of children. Child rape is occurring at unprecedented proportions resulting not only in the trauma of children but in the increase of HIV/AIDS infections. The South African legal system is struggling to cope with the number of child rape cases and many children's rights advocates argue that the system is flawed in its handling of sexual abuse victims, in particular children. This paper seeks to examine the issues surrounding child rape in South Africa including the role of the legal system in combating this issue. Apartheid emerged in 1948 and was a legalized system of segregation separating the white Boer minority from the Black, mixed-race and Indian majority (South African Government Information 2008). It was a complex set of laws that resulted in the oppression and marginalization of all non-whites in South Africa. Apartheid was brutally enforced by the white minority and state-sponsored violence was commonly used to maintain order and suppresses social uprisings. With the end of Apartheid in 1994, this legacy of social and economic inequality has remained resulting in extremely high levels of violence of which women and children are often victims (Human Rights Watch 2001). Due to social inequality, women and girls are often the most vulnerable victims of violence, in particular, gender-based violence such as rape and sexual abuse (Human Rights Watch 2001). Apartheid was deeply entrenched in South African society and it continues to impact the political, social and economic conditions of the country. Schools, in particular, have felt the brunt of the pervasive violence that has wrecked havoc on the country and its people. According to Human Rights Watch, "the South African education system today is still scarred by the racially discriminatory policies of apartheid and in particular the system of 'Bantu Education' imposed by the National Party government" (2001). During the period of resistance, where freedom fighters waged war against the oppressive Apartheid system, "schools were often transformed into sites of political struggle and frequently become violent spaces" (Human Rights Watch 2001). Since the dismantling of Apartheid, the government has struggled to compensate for the lack of professional teachers.

The chunnel project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

The chunnel project - Essay Example The Chunnel Project case study has been structured in such a way that it is possible for one to carry out an evaluation of the project management methods as well as the various process that have been used in the project. This study actually makes an inclusive coverage of the various project management areas as catered for by the four project phases of inception, development, implementation and closeout (Anbari et al 12). So as to guarantee better management control- characterized by appropriate links to the performing organization’s ongoing operations, the institution (organization) or even the project managers can split the project into various phases. En masse, these phases are what are commonly referred to as the project life cycle (Anbari et al 15). Notably, it is the project lifecycle which is obliged with the definition of the phases connecting the commencement of a project to its completion. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that phases are ordinarily sequential and are at the same time defined by certain precise forms of technical information transfer. Alternatively, the phases may be so defined by technical component handoff. Despite the fact that majority of life cycles have shared phase names with like deliverables, only countable of the life cycles are identical. While some of them have four-if not five- phases, there are those having over nine phases (Anbari et al 19). As mentioned in an earlier paragraph, the Chunnel Project case study avails a discussion of the four project phases as will be discussed and evaluated in the preceding paragraphs. Inception phase The initial scope of the Chunnel, in the Inception phase, was constructing a fixed transportation link between the two countries; England and France. Through this transport link, it was expected that economic development will be spurred, European trade boosted as well as avail an alternative high-speed mode of transportation to the existing ones, including ferries, boats and planes. Th e Channel Tunnel Group/France Manche (which later re-branded to Eurotunnel) was the company that worn the 1986 project to create a 51.5 KM double-rail tunnel between England and France. This tunnel was to accommodate not only through-trains, but also special car-and-truck-carrying shuttle trains. The project had been cost at USD 5.5 billion (Anbari et al 3). Problems Viewed from a project management angle, both the high-level design and the corresponding rough-order-of-magnitude approximations may have been apposite. Nonetheless, there was no ample time provided for the completion of the detailed design studies that would have pinpointed the necessity of air conditioning within the tunnel thus bracketing in a USD 200 million increments not included in the very initial scope (Anbari et al 4).

Investigation of Child Abuse Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Investigation of Child Abuse - Essay Example Although more than six million children were involved in referrals by Child Protective Service Agencies in 2006, only "1,907,264 investigations received a disposition" (National Child Abuse Statistics, 2007: 1). A legitimate concern, therefore, is whether too many referrals are being made or whether the investigative process is somehow deficient. This essay will discuss and analyze the investigative process as it typically pertains to child abuse situations. As an initial matter, it is important to note that a uniform approach to child abuse investigations is complicated by the fact that each state has different statutory definitions of child abuse and neglect. There are federal standards that serve as guidelines, but states are free to create and enforce their own definitions so long as the state definitions do not conflict with federal law. There are two federal laws that define child abuse or neglect, Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act and the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003, and the basic federal standard states that "Any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation; or an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm" (Child Maltreatment 2006: 1). The threshold for the initiation of an investigation, therefore, can be cased on a positive act of child abuse or neglect when a paren t or caretaker is aware or should be reasonably aware that child abuse has occurred or is occurring. In addition, an investigation may be initiated for different types of abuse, whether physical, emotional or some combination thereof. Investigators, usually associated with local Child Protective Service Agencies, initially rely on tips from parents or other caretakers. These tips or referrals are used in conjunction with various signs of child abuse that have proven empirically reliable when making a determination whether to initiate a full investigation. Some of the physical signs of child abuse look for by investigators include such things as anti-social behavior, a fear of authority figures, or unexplained damage to the child's body. Some of the emotional signs include a lack of concentration at school and eating disorders that become increasingly pronounced. There are also some well-established signs of sexual abuse; for example, investigators are often alerted when children report bedwetting, nightmares, or a premature interest in or knowledge of sexual or otherwise age-inappropriate activities (Signs of Child Abuse, 2007: 1). In short, whether a tip is acted upon initially upon the information received, th e signs detected by the investigators, and any corroboration that the investigators can obtain. An investigatory problem sometimes arises, however, because of jurisdictional conflicts or confusion. The main conflict occurs between law enforcement officials and mental health or welfare professionals; indeed, as noted by McBride, "In virtually every state in the country, law enforcement has a legal mandate to be involved in child abuse and neglect investigations. The issues are not over whether they will be involved, but rather how and to what degree. What is expected of

Changes And Trends Of The Hospitality Industry

Changes And Trends Of The Hospitality Industry In the last few decades, the hospitality industry has gone through many changes. According to Go and Pine, (1995) and Guerrier et al. (1998), changes in the industry are mainly due to the globalization, the changes are mainly due to globalization. Supported by Barrows C.W and Power T. (2009) globalization, in a sense has become old news but with the falling of trade barriers brought on by the North American Free Trade Agreement and the European Community has made borders seem nonexistent. With North America and European countries having a major trading role with other countries, the ease of financial transaction and information is an important step in the restructuring of the hospitality industry. Besides globalization, the growth of multiple ownership of hotels and stronger hotel brandings in the late 90s and early 20s has affected the hospitality industry, especially in organizational structure. (Go and Pine, 1995 Guerrier et al, 1998) Moreover, in this day and time, while those changes are still relevant, there are many other factors that contribute to the ever-changing nature of the hospitality industry. World changing incidents such as the tragic terrorist events in North America, Madrid, London and Bali, the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), hurricane Katrina, the economy downturn, the A (H1N1) influenza pandemic and political tensions of the past decade will have a lasting effect on how the hospitality industry will operate. While there are challenging issues in the past, never has the industry have to face with so many issues at one time. However, in the face of these challenges, the hospitality industry is set to beat expectations on economic recovery with Global Travel Tourism Economy real GDP growth is expected to rise by 2% this year beating the estimate of 0.5%, and thus creating an extra 946,000 job worldwide. (WTTC, 2010) High profile hospitality institutions have gotten together and hosted pa nel discussions and studies on the effects of these tragic incidents on the industry particularly on the terrorist incident of September 11, 2001. Both short term and long term effects are seen on the hospitality industries. These studies have identified different effects ranging from people not travelling for any reason to travelling for important needs and finally to somewhat normal travel patterns of the past. Surely but slowly the patterns will reach normal levels but the question here is when. Trends of the hospitality industry These days as more and more people travel the world be it for pleasure or business, they want somewhere as close to home to feel comfortable. However, there are other people who want otherwise, something different rather than having the same feeling at home, they want a different experience of living style which they can only dream off. (Weissinger, 2000) Therefore, there are many diverse types of hotels that sit under the umbrella definition of hotels. On that note, the front office department is often considered the nerve centre of a hotel and is unchanged in terms of roles to be played. (Bardi, J.A., 2007) According to Vallen and Vallen (2004) front office is defined in terms of role as the first and main contact point between a guest and an operating hotel. Generally the front office activities can include all functions that center around the reception desk and its allied areas. This can be simplified from greeting guests, providing of information, checking in and out, till the m oment they leave the property. Roldan (2004) states that the key to success of a hotel business starts off with the first contact between the guest and the hotel personnel. Being the first contact point, the front office staffs first impression upon a hotel guest is vital; the way they are received and treated can mean repeated patronage in the future. The future professionals of the industry have to analyze who their customers are and what they want. In todays day and age, Bardi J.A., (2010) and Barrows C.W., and Power T., (2009) supports Go and Pine, (1995) and Guerrier et al., (1998) in its changes of factors in the industry and moreover identifies additional aspects such as the different trends of customers that foster growth in the industry, the author says that, the trend towards the increase in leisure time and working less years is one reason behind the growth. The second factor would be the pleasure concept of consumers that was brought forth Barrows C.W., and Power T.,(2009) reinforced by Bardi, J.A.,(2010) stating that the work ethic of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries have greatly influenced the way Americans play, as recreation and leisure was were considered privileges. With that in mind, in the world today, as the current trend for discretionary income in the emergence of two-way income and family planning is booming, the hospitality industry is changing. Problem Statement The hospitality and tourism industry is an ever-changing industry with new technological advances and trends that comes in waves and then disperses. Hotels being a part of the industry have to adapt and change as well. The hotel front office is one area that has to constantly reorganize with the changes in the industry. In regards to the fluctuating environment of the industry, the industry is still making a comeback, stronger each year. Both the demand and supply for workers are present at state; however, the qualities of these workers are still in question. The high labour turnover experienced in the hospitality industry is common in this day and time and can be due to many factors such as long working hours, low pay, the wide array of job opportunities and many more. In the hospitality industry, especially in the hotel sectors, service is the key to retaining customers (Maxwell, Watson and Quail, 2004) and is what separates competition these hotels from one another. Therefore, it is not a problem to be taken lightly and this study aims to take a look at the people of the workforce itself. Research Questions What are the key skills and attributes needed to be effective in the front office department? Does graduating with a high school certificate, diploma or degree in hotel management make a difference in terms of performing? What are the future prospects of front office employees? What are the intentions of front office employees? What are the natures of front office work? How do the industry players retain its employees? Research Objectives To investigate and analyze the key skills and attributes to be effective in the front office department. To look into the subject of obtaining a high school certificate, diploma or degree in hotel management; does it make a difference? To further gain insight on the future prospects of front office employees. To investigate the intentions of front office employees and what they want. To investigate further the scope of front office work. A research into the whys of employee turnover reasons. With the informed data gathered upon answering said questions on top, the enablement of the hospitality industry players to estimate Hypothesis Human Capital > Internationalization Human capital positively affects the internationalization of an enterprise. Human Capital > Service Innovation Human capital positively affects the innovation of service employees in regards to their work. Internationalization > Performance Internationalization affects the performance of a firm whether it is financially or through guess satisfaction level. Service Innovation > Performance The innovation of the workforce leads to better performance and guest satisfaction. Theoretical / Conceptual Framework The original Degree of Internationalization Entrepreneurial Orientation Performance Service Innovation Human Capital The original framework was built for professional service firms especially small and medium enterprises (SME) (Radulovich, 2008). It was constructed to relate a service firms entrepreneurial orientation, human capital, the firms degree of internationalization, service innovation, and performance. This framework was constructed upon thoroughly examining in the aforementioned areas above. Adapted Framework Degree of Internationalization Human Capital Performance Service Innovation Skills and training (Human Capital) > Internationalization and Service Innovation > Effective workforce > Guest Satisfaction and Performance This framework has been adapted and changed accordingly to fit into the hospitality industrys index. The core conceptual framework is unchanged with the exception of excluding the Entrepreneurial Orientation aspect which is highly unlikely to affect the core concept and theory that is to be explained. As changes are made, Human Capital will now be the core driving force. Hypothesis Related to Human Capital and Degree of Internationalization In a study done by (Hitt, et al, 2006) concludes that human capital is a primary resource contributor to professional service international expansion. The theory here is that a firms degree of internationalization is closely related to the human capital of the organization. Key factors identified as contributing factors are knowledge (Autio Sapienza Almeida, 2000) and also top management characteristics (Bloodgood, Sapienza Almeida, 1996). This study also identified that the characteristics and experience of the top management team relates positively to the internationalization of an organization. Another more recent study also proves that there is empirical study which shows support for human capital resources as influencing degree of internationalization. (Hitt, Bierman, Uhlenbruck, Shimizu, 2006) Therefore it can be concluded that there is positive influence of human capital professional service towards the internationalization. Hypothesis Related to Human Capital and Service Innovation Human resources can be defined as interpersonal and business skills and is proven that there is a positive effect on a firms innovation strategies. In a study done in the US, human capital at both the individual and firm level is identified as a positive effect on service innovations (Zhou, 2007). Shane (2000) also recorded that prior knowledge affects an individual ability to perceive new opportunities and to contribute innovative solutions. To support this theory, an in-depth study was done with 8 firms conducting a study on examining innovation and opportunity recognition and is reported that prior experience affected their ability to perceive opportunities and innovate. (Edelman, Brush, Manolova, 2005). Furthermore, the prior knowledge and specialized knowledge of the internal human resources are significant contributors to the innovation of work speed and competition level as recorded in Taiwanese high-tech ventures. (Wu, Wang, Chen, Pan, 2008) Hypothesis Related to Degree of Internationalization and Performance Studies relating the degree of internationalization and performance are not new and there is empirical evidence to support this theory which positively affects a firms performance (Bloodgood, Sapienza, Almeida, 1996; Delios Beamish, 1999; Grant 1987; Hitt, Hoskisson, Kim, 1997). Studies also show that as a new venture firm gets into the international markets earlier gains better advantages over their competitors and improved performance. (Brock, Yaffe, Dembovsky, 2006). In the view of hospitality terms, a brand name can be created upon trust and loyalty which is an important factor for continuous visits. Hypothesis Related to Service Innovation and Performance Service innovation on service performance has been theoretically and empirically confirmed with studies done in recent years. It is confirmed that in differing context of globalization that innovation still improves performance of a firm. Zhou, Yin and Tse (2005) have documented this relationship in their study done in the emerging market of China. As China is a transitioning and developing market, it is only comparable to the market of Malaysia. The comparison of the effects of China to the economy of Hong Kong found that innovation plays a major role in both these markets. (Luk, Yau, Sin, Tse, Chow, Lee, 2008) Scope / Limitations Scope: In this study, the author has chosen to conduct the research in all 5 star hotels in the area of the city of Kuala Lumpur. This scope will help dictate and represent city hotels in Malaysia as it is busiest all year round, and the job scopes of the hotels are wide enough to obtain data. On a deeper level, a survey will be conducted to all front office staff (e.g. Front office attendant, bellboy, front office accountant, etc) in order to obtain information. Limitations: As for limitations, time restraints and resource limitations would be the biggest factor. As the author would only have approximately 6 months to collect and analyze the data, the depth of the research may not be too detailed. Besides that, there will be a limit to research options available to the author due to insufficient knowledge on research ways and as this will be the first research paper done by the author. Notwithstanding, being a student, there will be limitations in terms of access to data because of monetary issues and outlets to gain information in the industry. Significance of Study This research paper intends to analyze the different behavioural needs and wants of the front office workforce. By gathering the work backgrounds, studying the motivation factors and the intentions of this group, a better and effective workforce can be established to be in line with the transitioning aspect of the industry. Ongoing research is a must in this area because of the ever-changing prospects of the Hospitality and Tourism Industry, especially the front office department. Key skills and attributes are to be identified as a benchmark for structure when hiring by the Human Resource department. This paper would be a guideline for the hotel industry players to attain information on the behaviour of front office staff and their intentions for the future. Employing and constantly motivating a workforce is one of the hardest things to keep up in any industry. Without proper information on the behaviour and the intentions of the workforce, being in a labour intensive workforce and s ervice oriented industry, there surely will be a loss in terms of customer satisfaction and the profits of a hotel and this is unacceptable. Chapter 2 Literature Review Hospitality Skills and Nature of Hotel Front Office Work Jobs commonly retain a low-skill character, especially in the fastest-growing sectors Bradley et al (2002) (p.129) The hospitality sector is growing with a tremendous rate, especially in East Asia and the Pacific, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. These areas are forecasted to show a rate of 5% growth each year and 4.1% in Europe and Americas. (WTO, 2010) There has been long standing debate over the skills and nature of the front office work. It is widely characterised in both academic and popular press as a low-skilled job dominated by low skills profile. (Wood, 1997) In support of this theory, Shaw Williams (1994) first claimed that the hospitality industry workforce were uneducated, unmotivated, untrained, unskilled and unproductive (p. 142). Upon further research, the nature of front office work revealed by one side is in terms un-unique (Mullins, 1981; Lashley Morrison, 2000). Mullins and Lashley argue that the technical skills of the hospitality sector have relevance and can be applied to other sectors of the economy. Another dimension of why there is the public perception that the hospit ality industry is regarded as low skilled is because there are no real prerequisite for employment in terms of qualification (Huddlestone and Hirst, 2004). As far as the research of Baum Devine (2007) and Baum (2007) goes the educational attainment of a person is not an influencing factor to undertake the front office job. In terms of front office, the industry has considerable cross-over work of other sectors such as office administration, accounting, and IT systems management, these generic skills tend to overlap each other. In this argument, where is the uniqueness of work skill? By any means the hospitality industry is just borrowing a number of skill forces from different industries, in this case with a lower pay wage and a lower career development opportunity. This theory of unskilled labour in the hospitality industry does not go uncontested, in the forthcoming years after the thesis (Baum, 1996, 2002). Baum questions the validity of hospitality work as a low skilled job universally based solely upon the assumption of westernized, international hospitality work. It may be perceived so in general, but it is not applicable in the developing world whereby the technical demands and skills are lower than those of the developed countries. Another such example of a considerable contest comes from Burns (1997), Burns categorizes the labour force into two, skilled and the unskilled. Burns uses a very distinctive definition of skills in the hospitality for this saying: the different sectors that comprise tourism-as-industry take different approaches to the human resources, and that some of these differencesare due to whether or not the employees have a history of being organized (either in terms of trade unions or staff associations with formalised communication procedures. (p.240) Both these factors are separated by manpower planning paradigns for the manufacturing sector and as for the workforce, it comes in traditional power, organization. The workforce takes control through the use of trade unions and control the supply of labour through apprenticeship and training. Contributing factors worth noting are factors put forth by Seymour (2000) and Warhurst et al (2000), gives an added dimension to the work of hospitality employees. Seymour adds in emotional labour arguing that the added management of emotions as part of the day to day job is the difference between working in fast food as opposed to traditional areas of service work. The added emotional labour is there for the benefit of guest experience and that they are paid to do it. In Baum T. (2007), it is further perceived that there is the need for emotional intelligence (EQ) as defined by Goleman (1998) . . . the capacity for recognizing our own feelings and those of others, for motivating ourselves, and for managing emotions well in ourselves and in our relationships. (p. 317). Explained by Warhurst et al. (2000) and Witz et al. (2003) the added aesthetic labour to the tools of trade is indeed of importance to the hospitality workers, especially to front office staff. In describing aesthetic labour it is the skill required to look, sound and behave in a manner that is required for the job while meeting the expectations of the customers. They have to demonstrate the ability to engage in different aspects with the customers such as cultural, social, and economical matters. This on hand requires a certain level of education to be obtained. What industry wants: employers preferences for training. In the industry, while representatives state that they prefer industry skills and experience above education skills and knowledge, it is only realistic that a mixture of both these qualities are required, which is lacking in the workforce. (Smith Kemmis, 2010). In the hospitality industry most of the training is informal. Only a small portion (14%) of employees has gone through higher education in the respective industry. ( 2-1) The other 86% comes from the private sector and employer training in the industry. It was found out in a study that the National Vocational Qualification curriculum, found out that training in higher educational institutes would not cut it in the industry. (People1st,2009) In the same interview, two interviewees stated that on-the-job training is particularly the way to go in an industry that is interaction based in order for skill development. The focus on experience and skill over education is proved in a study done. vocational education and training (VET) practitioners Both industry groups felt that the most important skills and knowledge for trainers to possess were related to industry rather than education There was a lack of tradition of training in the industries compared with other industries, with relatively new qualifications for most jobs, and managers in the industries were underqualified , meaning it was difficult for them to drive high standards in training. Given these circumstances it is perhaps surprising not that training for the service industries exhibits many challenges, but that it does the job as well as it does. This observation was supported by hospitality employers who acknowledged the difficulties faced particularly by TAFE teachers, and were very ready to make excuses on their behalf. The recession, as in Australia, had provided opportunities for cross-fertilisation among industries as people lost their jobs in one sector and looked to move into other work where the skill set was similar (People1st, 2009). The standard of service in both industries was felt to be lower than required (especially in a situation where customer expectations were continually rising), with both industries also reporting a need for improved management skills. The hospitality industry had a skill shortage in chefs (People1st, 2009). Customer service is paramount in these industries; Maxwell, Watson and Quail (2004, p. 159) point out that for hospitality the customer reigns supreme, and Huddlestone and Hirst (2004, p. 6), for retail, state customer service is becoming the most essential employee skill. In a study of training in the Hilton chain, Maxwell et al. (2004, p. 269) note that a service culture is deeply imbued in organisational structures and practices, and cannot be added on simply by training individual staff. Chapter 3 Research Design and Methodology 3.1 Overview In this chapter of the sample proposal, an explanation on the research methodology and design is written. In the first part of Chapter 3, there will be a brief introduction on the purpose, aims and objectives and benefits of the study. Following that will be a discussion on the research design of the study. Exploratory details such as the population, sample and sampling procedures are discussed. On the third section of the chapter, there will be added explanation on the data collection procedures and data analysis steps. A brief explanation on the questionnaires will be given to give an insight on the questions asked. 3.2 Introduction The purpose of this study is to illustrate the current behaviour conditions of the front office. The information gathered will compose of the nature of front office work, education attainment level, skills, work background, attitudes towards the area of work and plans for the future. By analyzing these areas and acquired from these group of people in the hospitality industry will enable the industry players such as managers, policy and decision makers to get a more personal insight look at the wants, needs and future perspectives of these in demand people. Appropriate changes and more effective strategies in regards to high satisfaction levels can be developed and be used in the industry to decrease labour turnover and low level performances. 3.3 Research Design Population The study is intended to collect data on one of the most important workforce in the hospitality industry; the front office workers. The population of the survey intended will be Front Office workers in the area of Kuala Lumpur. Sample The sample population identified in the survey goes by the different distinct areas of Kuala Lumpur (Table 1). The sampling method that will be used is Cluster sampling. Having already divided them into different location categories, the target sample is then identified as the front office workforce in hotels. Name of Hotel Area/Location JW Marriot Hotel Bukit Bintang Park Royal Kuala Lumpur Bukit Bintang The Ritz Carlton Kuala Lumpur Bukit Bintang The Westin Kuala Lumpur Bukit Bintang Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur Golden Triangle Hilton Kuala Lumpur KL Sentral Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur KL Sentral Ascott Kuala Lumpur KLCC Crowne Plaza Mutiara Kuala Lumpur KLCC Hotel Maya Kuala Lumpur KLCC Hotel Nikko Kuala Lumpur KLCC Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur KLCC Micasa All Suite Hotel KLCC Pacific Regency Hotel Suites Kuala Lumpur KLCC Prince Hotel and Residence KLCC Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel KLCC Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur KLCC The Gardens Hotel and Residances Mid Valley Palace of the Golden Horses Mines Grand Dorsett Subang Hotel Petaling Jaya Holiday Villa Subang Petaling Jaya Sunway Resort Hotel and Spa Petaling Jaya The Saujana Kuala Lumpur Petaling Jaya Table 1 For this study, a survey will be carried out on all the 5 star hotels in the city of Kuala Lumpur. On identifying the 5 star hotels located around Kuala Lumpur, the works of KL-Hotels.com were used. This will be verified again by Upon identifying the sample population, a sample frame will be created to categorize the hotels into different location categories for the enablement of easier data managing. An invitation will then be sent out to the General Managers of each selected hotel for approval on participating with the survey. Upon approval, the questionnaires will be distributed among the front office staff of the hotels. 3.4 Data Collection Procedure Primary data The data collected from the questionnaire will be the main source of primary data. Secondary data much research has been done regarding the effectiveness of a workforce and how to improve. These sources are highly resourceful and will come in helpful when data analysis is been done. The theories and conclusions can be used to support and disregard some of the findings in this study. The secondary data may come from a number of literature forms such as journal articles, textbooks and written experiences. A formal proposal will be sent out to the General Managers of each of the selected hotels to ensure participation in the survey. Upon approval, the identification of all front office staff is indentified and recorded. As per identifying all the front office workers (night auditors, concierge, bellboy, front office assistant, etc) in the selected hotels, the questionnaire will then be distributed electronically to the head of the front office department; Front Office Manager. After the questionnaire is finished, the questionnaires should be collected and given back for data analysis. The data received will then be analyzed with the help of the SPSS data software. With the help of the SPSS program, bias answers and unreliable answers can be disregarded. As the data is sorted out and conclusions are done, comparisons will be done to reaffirm findings or to oppose them. 3.5 Questionnaire Design The goal of the questionnaire is to collect data from within the front office department. To achieve this, questions pertaining to the nature of the job, the work background, intentions for the future and key skills and attributes will all be posted. In regards to explaining the structure of the questionnaire in sections, there will be 4 sections. The first section of the questionnaire will be in regards to personal details. The second part of the questionnaire will be closed ended questions with choices to choose from. This part of the questionnaire is to get a response from the employees regarding their views on the hospitality industry. The third section of the questionnaire will be about the nature of the front office work, and also to get an inner look to their needs and wants. The fourth and final section is designed to completely give freedom to the respondents with open-ended questions regarding their views on management levels and their thoughts on training and skills in the industry.

Hard To Be Yourself :: Self Image Appearance Essays

Hard To Be Yourself How many times have we heard the saying "Don't judge by appearance?" And how many times have we been thoroughly disappointed by appealing images of things and people? The answer is quite simple: countless. And yet how many times do we catch ourselves staring in the mirror? And how many hours do we spend thinking about our image? The answer is once again very simple: countless. The real question which arises is "Why?" Why do we care so much about how everyone else perceives us? And why do we always worry about our appearance? Why is it so important for us to show the world what we possess and how much we can afford, when in reality we know that appearances can be misleading? The answers to these questions are not simple at all. In fact, there are so many viewpoints on this rather controversial issue that it is sometimes impossible to agree on one answer. It really depends on who is asking and who is being asked. In order to look deeper into these questions, some important aspects of life need to be taken into account. Take the media, for example. Doesn't it always show the most beautiful people in the world and the newest trends in fashion? Of course it does, that's its sole purpose. Everyone is curious about the magic makeup Cameron Diaz is wearing and about the most recent clothes designed by Versace. And we must not get behind with news on Nicholas Cage's new cars or Jennifer Lopez's mansion. We get so involved in the lives and images of others that we start to fantasize about looking like them and behaving like them. Think of all the young girls today who would give anything to live the life of Britney Spears. And let's not forget about the boys who want to be strong and able to fight like The Rock. The media manipulates us and forces us to create goals of looking fabulous and possessing expensive things. It is so influential that we sometimes can't control these ideas and desires. That, in turn, leads to all those hours spent thinking which dress would impress the guys and what kind of car would attract more women. We start to believe that looks are all that matter, and whoever has an impressive appearance is set for life. Well, isn't this true?