Business Process in a Hotel

Creating Customer Value in Tourism and Hospitality Industry, pp. 752-763 M. Drljaca: METHODOLOGY OF BUSINESS PROCESS DEVELOPMENT IN A HOTEL MIROSLAV DRLJACA, MSc, Researcher Zagreb Airport, Ltd. , Zagreb, Croatia METHODOLOGY OF BUSINESS PROCESS DEVELOPMENT IN A HOTEL UDC 65. 012. 4:640. 4 Preliminary communication Requests of interested parties, amongst which the customer has the central position, are starting points of quality management system that complies with requirements of ISO 9000ff international norms.Regardless of the fact whether we want to arrange hotel management system to meet the requirements of these norms, one should be able to recognize exact requests of interested parties, especially of the customer of services. Correct recognition of these requests presents the beginning of quality system management in a hotel. In order to fulfill the expectations and requests of guest, the management system in a hotel must be developed, documented, implemented and managed in such way to ensure realisation of the actual and foreseen guests' requests.Function structure of hotel organisation will not be sufficient for a long-run achievement of this goal. Classic structural model of hotel organisation must be upgraded through developed, documented and implemented business processes. In order to run hotel successfully, numerous interrelated activities must be defined and managed. The application of business process systems in the hotel, their definition and interaction, together with the management, can be defined as process approach.Business processes are one of structural elements of hotel management system. If they are not developed, documented and implemented, we can justly ask whether hotel management system is capable of meeting requests of interested parties. For running businesses, as well as hotels, there are three characteristic types of business processes: core business processes, management business processes and support processes.Scientists and expe rts do not agree about generally accepted methodology of business process modelling. This paper accepts a hypothesis saying that a good methodology is the one which enables managing of business process in a way to ensure the fulfillment of interested parties' requests, specifically the requests of guest. Key words: process, methodology of business process modelling, process approach. INTRODUCTIONDespite the fact that only a small number of hotel industry representatives in Croatia possess ISO 9001 certificate as international confirmation of requested quality level of management system, the idea of quality, as marketing orientation, as business 752 Creating Customer Value in Tourism and Hospitality Industry, pp. 752-763 M. Drljaca: METHODOLOGY OF BUSINESS PROCESS DEVELOPMENT IN A HOTEL philosophy and everyday practice, is more and more existing in hotel industry. Independently of the degree of awareness of hotel management, business processes can be developed in any of the following ways: 1) in a long-established manner – which is based on „know-howâ€Å" of the most important parametres of business processes, with interventions only in situations when reliability of business process is seriously affected, 2) without any control, when in extreme cases the business process develops in completely uncontrollable conditions, 3) in partly controllable conditions – characterized by business process model according to chosen methodology, in conditions which are controlled in the same amount as the basic parametres that define them, and 4) in completely controlled conditions – those business processes whose basic parametres of definition are under complete control. 2 In order to create completely controlled environment for developing of usiness process in a hotel, it is necessary that hotel business processes be: 1) named, 2) described, 3) structurised/organised, 4) controlled, 5) managed, and 6) always improving. In order to fulfil it, hot el business processes need to be conceived, i. e. developed according to chosen methodology. The problem lies in the fact that ISO 9001:2000 norm (Quality Management Systems – Requirements) requires the proof that business processes are managed, but methodology of business processes developing is not being suggested. 3 The choice of methodology, and often its definition, is left to be made by hotel management. 1. DEFINITION OF TERM „PROCESSâ€Å" The word „processâ€Å" evolves from Latin word „procedereâ€Å", which originally means „moveâ€Å" or „go aheadâ€Å".This word form was followed by noun „processusâ€Å", which is translated as „processâ€Å" and means „ †¦ a series of actions, phases or events, development (in any direction or form) and transformation (inputs > outputs) of anything that was took under consideration (element, structure, sub-system, system, etc. ). â€Å" 1 2 3 ISO 9001 certificate, inter national confirmation of requested quality level of management system, acquired the following hotel industry representatives in Croatia: (in 1999: Hotel Excelsior in Dubrovnik, Hotels Maestral – Hotel Komodor in Dubrovnik; in 2000: Vodicanka Tours – Hotel Punta in Vodice, during change of owners did not retain the certificate, and Hotels Argentina in Dubrovnik).Basic parametres of definition of business processes are: a) object of activity (material, information, product, service and similar), b) frequency of operation (continually, sometimes only once, and similar), c) area of activity (state, city, company/organisation, part of company, and similar. ), d) manner of operation (usual, uncontrollable, in partly controllable conditions, in completely controllable conditions). At writing about methodology of business process development the authors avoid presenting final solutions, because methodology of business process development represent intellectual ownership (know how) of the author or consultant. Rare examples in Croatian literature are: Ivan Mamuzic, â€Å"Procesni pristup u sustavu upravljanja kvalitetom†, Kvaliteta, Broj 3, Infomart, Zagreb, 2002, p. -4, in which author presents possible methodology of business process development and shows part of diagram of process flow; Miroslav Drljaca, â€Å"Proces kao ishodiste modela ISO 9001:2000†, Kvaliteta, Broj 3, Infomart, Zagreb, 2002, p. 5-6, in which the author presents methodology of business process development and shows break-up of one business process; Zivko Kondic, Kvaliteta i ISO 9000, Tiva, Varazdin, 2002; and partly: Nenad Vulic, Sustavi upravljanja kvalitetom, Veleuciliste u Splitu, Split, 2001. Total presentation of methodology of business process development is written in: Nenad Injac i Marko Besker, Metodologija izgradnje poslovnih procesa u sustavu kvalitete, Oskar, Zagreb, 2003. 753 Creating Customer Value in Tourism and Hospitality Industry, pp. 752-763 M. Drlja ca: METHODOLOGY OF BUSINESS PROCESS DEVELOPMENT IN A HOTEL Figure 1. Process presentationRULES AND CONTROLS INPUT TRANSFORMATION AREA OUTPUT MECHANISMS Process can be also defined as â€Å"a course, evolution or manner through which something was born or transformed, it is a development, a procedure †¦Ã¢â‚¬ 4 HRN EN ISO 8402:1996 norm defines the process as a â€Å"group of mutually independent resources and actions which transform input elements into output elements. †5 Transformation of input elements into output is in fact a transformation of one into the other. Each process thus becomes unique and special. Transformation of input into output is a system of complex interactions of operations and resources. It is a technology. It is â€Å"know how. International norm ISO 9000:2000 defines the process as „group of connected or mutually dependent activities which transform input into results. â€Å"6 The application of process system in a company, its definitio n and mutual interaction, as well as the management of process system – can be called „process approach. â€Å"7 The process approach has the advantage of permanent managing of links between – particular processes (within the process structure), which is the structural element of hotel management system, – and – combination and mutual interaction of these elements. 8 When applied in the hotel quality management system, this process approach underlines the importance of the following: ? understanding and meeting of guest's requests, need of supervision of business processes in value added conditions; ? achieving results of business processes and their efficiency, and 4 5 6 7 8 Zelimir Domovic, Sime Anic i Nikola Klaic, Rjecnik stranih rijeci, SANI-PLUS, Zagreb, 1998, p. 1163. HRN EN ISO 8402 Quality management and quality assurance – Vocabulary, (ISO 8402:1994; EN ISO 8402:1995), Quadrilingual version. International norm HRN EN ISO 9000:2002 Quality management systems – Fundamentals and vocabulary (ISO 9000:2000, EN ISO 9000:2000), Version quadrilingue, p. 40. International norm HRN EN ISO 9001:2002 Quality management systems – Requirements (ISO 9001:2000, EN ISO 9001:2000), p. 14.Except process structure, structural elements of management system of every company, a hotel as well, are: 1) strategic documents of company (mission, vision, strategy, politics, general and special managerial aims), 2) organisation, 3) resources, 4) partnerships, and 5) communication and notification. 754 Creating Customer Value in Tourism and Hospitality Industry, pp. 752-763 M. Drljaca: METHODOLOGY OF BUSINESS PROCESS DEVELOPMENT IN A HOTEL ? permanent improvement of business processes, based on impartial estimation. Regardless of many possible types of business processes, and many diversities of process structures, all business processes in hotel can be divided into three types: ? management processes, ? core processes, ? sup port processes. Figure 2.Three types of business processes Management processes Guest' s request Core business processes Guest' s satisfaction Support processes Source: Martyn A. Ould, Business Processes, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester, England, UK, 1995, p. 2. Many industries have more than one core or „macroâ€Å" group of business processes, including: management of business system, management of resources, realisation of products and services, measurement and control. 9 Management business processes are important for progress of core business processes, as well as of support process. These are business processes of development, planning, quality management and management of hotel organisation.Because of entirety and directions of their influence onto core business processes – Management business processes are called – vertical processes. Core business processes are focused on the achievement of satisfaction of customers, (buyers/users), i. e. hotel guests . They directly add new value to the product, meaning service. They meet requests of hotel guests and are generator of their 9 Herbert C. Monnich, Jr. , ISO 9001:2000 for Small and Medium Sized Businesses, American Society for Quality, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, 2001, p. 3. 755 Creating Customer Value in Tourism and Hospitality Industry, pp. 752-763 M. Drljaca: METHODOLOGY OF BUSINESS PROCESS DEVELOPMENT IN A HOTEL contentment.Core business processes, processes of fulfillment or realization, are business processes whose result – in form of product or service has direct value confirmation on the market. The plan and the product in their creation are in core business processes strongly integrated. Core business processes are called – horizontal processes. Figure 3. Interactivities of different types of business process Management processes (vertical) Core processes (horizontal) Support processes (vertical) Support processes which are also called logistical or resourceful business processes, are directed towards producing satisfaction of internal users within hotel organisational structure. They are able to create added value for the guest.However, this influence on making added value is indirect and is fulfilled through support of core business processes. Support processes are auxiliary business processes and represent a support to core business processes. With regard to direction of activities onto core business processes, they are also called – vertical processes. Numerous management, core and support processes develop within this process structure simultaneously. They have a series of interactions. Each interaction in certain measure affects the business process result in terms of meeting the guests' requests. 2. BUSINESS PROCESSES IN A HOTEL „Complete work process of a hotel consists of processes of production activities and service activities.Purpose of production activities is rendering of services which have product characterist ics, like: various food, beverages that are specifically prepared, bread, desserts, and similar. Purpose of service activities is providing guests with: accommodation, serving of meals and beverages, entertainment, sale of goods, various handicraft-and-services, laundry washing, ironing, and similar. â€Å"10 „Process contains all activities linked into a chain. It starts with defining of all possible needs a 10 Ivanka Avelini Holjevac, Kontroling – Upravljanje poslovnim rezultatom, Sveuciliste u Rijeci, Hotelijerski fakultet Opatija, Opatija, 1998, p. 379. 756Creating Customer Value in Tourism and Hospitality Industry, pp. 752-763 M. Drljaca: METHODOLOGY OF BUSINESS PROCESS DEVELOPMENT IN A HOTEL guest (tourist, buyer, etc. ) may have during the trip, until return, only with aim that all guests' needs are met. â€Å" 11 Table 1. Types of business processes in a hotel 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Process of hotel management. Process of planning. Process of development. Pro cess of marketing. Process of quality management. Process of environment management. Process of social responsibility management. Process of security/safety at work management. 1. Process of producing food and beverages which are specifically prepared. 2. Process of serving meals and beverages. 3.Process of reception and accommodation of guests. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Process of human resources management. Process of financial management. Process of infrastructure maintenance. Process of information management. Process of purchase. Process of sale. Management business processes in a hotel. Core business processes in a hotel. Support processes in a hotel. At identifying of business processes in a hotel and dividing them into types, it is necessary to avoid identification of business function and business process in a hotel. Essential differences are at least these that follows: ? business function is static category, while business process is dynamic category, business function is mostly operated within one structural hotel unit, and is usually named after it, while process implies more participants from more structural hotel units, ? business function is operated within hotel, while process can have participants from outside of hotel structural organisation, but who are important for progress of concrete business process, 11 Zdenko Cerovic, Hotelski menadzment, Sveuciliste u Rijeci, Fakultet za turisticki i hotelski menadzment Opatija, Opatija, 2003, p. 415. 757 Creating Customer Value in Tourism and Hospitality Industry, pp. 752-763 M. Drljaca: METHODOLOGY OF BUSINESS PROCESS DEVELOPMENT IN A HOTEL ? ? ? . business function is run by functional manager, and process is run by business process manager, and identification of these roles must not be a rule but an exception, business process is one of the possible inner aspects of supervision of costs, quality costs as well, while function is not, due to all these differences, function is a narrower concept than busine ss process. METHODOLOGY OF BUSINESS PROCESS DEVELOPMENT Basic task of hotel management during of business processes development is in fact establishing, directing and describing of events during transformation process of input into output. In order this task could be accomplished, we ust have suitable methodology of business process development within the quality system. Different companies use dissimilar methodologies. Modelling of methodology in great measure depends on knowledge about quality management. Regardless of which methodology is used by teams who developing business processes, they should remain consistent when they apply it in developing all business processes in a hotel. Hotel management must create its own methodology or choose already existing methodology of business process development. Teams for business process development in practice often encounter the problem of verification of correctness of their own solutions. This paper presents one of the possible approac hes. 3. 1.Identification of the process is initial task in business process developing and demands (from the team): naming of the process, appointing of the leader (manager) of business process, defining of its objective(s), defining of input and output requests, description of mechanisms, rules and controls. Afterwards, they must determine outer and inner users of business process results, as well as designate process steps as consisting parts of the business process. 3. 2. Diagram of the context is simple display of business process at the highest level from which an interaction can be seen: rules, controls and mechanisms during transformation of input into output. 3. 3. Display of static model of business process presents logical sequence of process steps development as consisting parts of the business process.This phase of business process development identifies structural units where individual process step develops, and locates control points at which measurements will be perf ormed – and thus manage the business process. 3. 4. Description of the process describes requests that result from requests and needs of guests, then from specifications, norms, regulations, elaborations, methods and resources. Here are also identified requests, objectives and descriptions of their fulfillment, as well as allowed deviations. By defining of allowed deviations we in fact determine the minimum quality level of business process. 758 Creating Customer Value in Tourism and Hospitality Industry, pp. 752-763 M. Drljaca: METHODOLOGY OF BUSINESS PROCESS DEVELOPMENT IN A HOTEL Figure 4. Diagram of the contextRULES AND CONTROLS GUEST' S REQUEST PROCESS OF RECEPTION AND ACCOMMODATION OF GUESTS A- 0 GUEST' S SATISFACTION MECHANISMS 3. 5. Diagram of decomposition of business process is methodologically confirmed graphical representation of the process with all its consisting parts – process steps. It represents logical sequence of process steps development. It specif ies input, rules and controls, mechanisms and output of each process step. Diagram of decomposition represents a technology. It shows process of reception and accommodation of guests per process steps that logically develop in sequence. At least one exit from a process step is also an entry into the next.Process steps in the process of reception and accommodation of guests are identified as follows: 759 Creating Customer Value in Tourism and Hospitality Industry, pp. 752-763 M. Drljaca: METHODOLOGY OF BUSINESS PROCESS DEVELOPMENT IN A HOTEL Figure 5. Decomposition of process of reception and accommodation of guests Refusal of request Guest' s request ANALYSIS OF GUEST' S REQUEST A-01 ACCOMODATION OF GUEST A-03 RECEPTION OF GUEST A-02 Accommodated guest Orders to departments Invoice issued to guest Invoice forwarded to Financ. Dept. HANDLING OF GUEST A-04 Fulfillment of guest's request CHARGEING AND GREETING OF GUEST A-05 Fulfillment of requests FINAL ACTIVITIES A-06 ReportsNew proce ss cycle A-0. 1 Analysis of guest' s request A-0. 2 Reception of guest A-0. 3 Accommodation of guest A-0. 4 Handling of guest A-0. 5 Charging of services and greeting of guest A-0. 6 Final activities 3. 6. Description of process steps must specify input, output, mechanisms, rules and controls of each process step, as well as locate structural hotel unit in which certain process step develops. Also, written procedure is named, if any of process steps should be additionally documented. 3. 7. Presentation of dynamic model of the process is plan of implementation of developed business process into functional structure of organization of the hotel.The plan shows in which structural hotel unit develop activities of each process step, and which unit of organization is responsible for their execution. Making of presentation of dynamic model business process is a precondition of the process organisation itself. 760 Creating Customer Value in Tourism and Hospitality Industry, pp. 752-763 M. D rljaca: METHODOLOGY OF BUSINESS PROCESS DEVELOPMENT IN A HOTEL Figure 6. Dynamic model of process of reception and accommodation of guests Partners Financial Division Human Resources Div. Accommodation D. Reception Accommodation Divis. Food & bever. Division Commercial Division Controlling Quality Manager Process steps General Manager Structural units Analysis of guest's request A-01 Reception of guest A-02 Accommodation of guest A-03Handling of guest A-04 Charging of services and greeting of guest A-05 Final activities A -06 3. 8. Establishing of responsibility for the process is logical continuation of work on business process development. It implies exact establishment of responsibility of concrete executor of individual process step. After establishment of responsibility, the conditions for establishment of management team for concrete process are prepared. Management team is headed by manager of business process. In this way we model process organisation, based on team work. 12 3. 9. Plan of measuring within the process is based on description of business process, i. . defined limits of allowed deviations, up to which business process still shows reliability as one of its crucial characteristics. The plan of measuring defines names of control points where certain measurements will be performed. It also defines target value, allowed deviations and measuring method. By all these measurements, comparisons with target values, and possible application of corrective measures and activities – we manage the business process. 12 Pere Sikavica, â€Å"Procesna i timska organizacija†, Slobodno poduzetnistvo, br. 18/98, Zagreb, 1998, p. 108116. 761 Creating Customer Value in Tourism and Hospitality Industry, pp. 752-763 M.Drljaca: METHODOLOGY OF BUSINESS PROCESS DEVELOPMENT IN A HOTEL 3. 10. Plan of providing information within process is necessary in order to clearly define: which participant of business process provides the information, who receives it , what is its contens, and when is the information sent and received. 3. 11. Making of further process documentation implies writing of procedures for particular process step which definitely needs it, and writing of lower level documents, like work instructions, check lists, plans of corrective measures and activities, etc. CONCLUSION In the audit of quality of hotel management system it is necessary to document and prove the request for business process management.Since this is the requirement of ISO 9001:2000 international norm, and only four representatives of hotel industry in Croatia have certificates related to this international norm, it is justified to ask: which methods were used in hotels to name, describe and organise structural units of business processes, and how were these business processes controlled, managed and constantly improved. In the economy branches, which are the core of tourist industry, the most successful companies, except for food-and-beverages industry , do not have certificates. There is a limited number of companies which possess international certificates, amongst which are: retail trading, hotel industry, road transport and manufacture of furniture. Therefore, repeatedly, the question is put: can we create development strategy for Croatian tourism without developed strategy of these economy branches that realise part of revenue resulting from tourists' expenses. There are no ready universal solutions.Imitating of another company's solutions or adoptions of lesser adjustments of these solutions as their own optimum solutions are – delusions, and in practice will be causing entropy. Every business process is different. It can even have the same name, same number and same names of process steps, same inputs and outputs, but still there are no identical business processes. Differences and originalities are happening in the interaction of inputs and outputs, rules, and controls, as well as mechanisms in each process step â⠂¬â€œ in the area of transformation of inputs into outputs. In the context of quality management systems we may conclude that ISO 9001:2000 international norm does not suggest methodology of business process development, but demands the proof that business processes are being managed.It can be concluded that every methodology of business process developing is satisfactory, if it can prove the management of processes. REFERENCES 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Avelini Holjevac, Ivanka, Kontroling – Upravljanje poslovnim rezultatom, Sveuciliste u Rijeci, Hotelijerski fakultet Opatija, Opatija, 1998. Cerovic, Z. , Hotelski menadzment, Sveuciliste u Rijeci, Fakultet za turisticki i hotelski menadzment Opatija, Opatija, 2003. Domovic, Z. , Anic S. i N. Klaic, Rjecnik stranih rijeci, SANI-PLUS, Zagreb, 1998. Drljaca, M. , „Proces kao ishodiste modela ISO 9001:2000â€Å", Kvaliteta, Broj 3, Infomart, Zagreb, 2002. Drljaca, M. , „Konzistentnost kvalitete i poslovne uspjesnosti u Hrvatsko jâ€Å", Zbornik radova 7.Simpozija Hrvatskog drustva menadzera kvalitete Kvaliteta nas izbor za buducnost, Oskar, Zagreb, Sibenik, 2005. 762 Creating Customer Value in Tourism and Hospitality Industry, pp. 752-763 M. Drljaca: METHODOLOGY OF BUSINESS PROCESS DEVELOPMENT IN A HOTEL 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. HRN EN ISO 8402 Quality management and quality assurance – Vocabulary, (ISO 8402:1994; EN ISO 8402:1995), Quadrilingual version. International norm HRN EN ISO 9000:2002 Quality management systems – Fundamentals and vocabulary (ISO 9000:2000, EN ISO 9000:2000), Version quadrilingue. International norm HRN EN ISO 9001:2002 Quality management systems – Requirements (ISO 9001:2000, EN ISO 9001:2000). Injac, N. i M.Besker, Metodologija izgradnje poslovnih procesa u sustavu kvalitete, Oskar, Zagreb, 2003. Kondic, Z. , Kvaliteta i ISO 9000, Tiva, Varazdin, 2002. Mamuzic, I. , „Procesni pristup u sustavu upravljanja kvalitetomâ€Å", Kvaliteta, Broj 3, Infomart, Zagreb, 2002. Monnich C. H. , Jr. , ISO 9001:2000 for Small and Medium Sized Businesses, American Society for Quality, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, 2001. Ould A. M. , Business Processes, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester, England, UK, 1995. Sikavica, P. , â€Å"Procesna i timska organizacija†, Slobodno poduzetnistvo, Broj 18, Zagreb, 1998. Vulic, N. , Sustavi upravljanja kvalitetom, Veleuciliste u Splitu, Split, 2001. 763

Relative and Radiometric Dating

Two general processes used to figure out the age of rocks is relative dating and radiometric dating. We will compare and contrast the strengths and weaknesses of both methods. According to Lutgens and Tarbuck, Relative dating is the process in putting events in their proper sequence. Relative dating is based on assumption, not able to give an accurate date but an estimated time period where the rock originated from. A Danish scientist, Nicolaus Steno is accredited for the Law of Superposition. This law basically tells us that each layer of sedimentary rock is younger than the one below it which is depicted in figure 8. in the text. Steno is also accredited for the Principle of Original Horizontality. The principle is shown in figure 8. 4 in the text showing rocks compounding with sediment escalating in height that have not been disturbed by geological disturbances. Another relative dating process is the Principle of Cross-Cutting Relationships. This takes place when faults force them selves through older rocks. This means that the faults or dikes have penetrated layers of sediment that were deposited long before the intrusion. By implementing these theories and processes, we can assume a time period in the Earth’s history where these rocks originate from. However, this is an assumption and not a specific time as shown in figure 8. 10. Radiometric dating is the process of estimating the age of rocks from the decay of radioactive elements inside the rock specimen. This process utilizes radioactive isotopes to date igneous rocks. These radioactive isotopes have a distinctive number of atoms that present themselves unstable. These atoms will inevitably decay through a series of evolutions. We will take Uranium as example. Uranium will ultimately decay into the stable element lead. The father element being the Uranium and the end result creating the daughter element lead. Radioisotope dating is used to date igneous rocks that have cooled from their molten stage. it is assumed that all daughter elements have escaped through the immense heat. Once cooled, no elements will escape based on assumption. In the event that elements do escape, is through radioactive decay. According to Lutgens and Tarbuck, The decay rate that takes place is measured in Half Life. This is the length of time that one half of the remaining atoms to decay. This can be measured in a laboratory by finding the decay rate and counting time backwards to find the age of the rock specimen. Relative dating and radiometric dating have many strengths but also many weaknesses. Relative dating gives a general time frame where the rock exists whereas Radiometric dating has a scientific formula to give a more accurate account on where the rock originated from. However, it is safe to presume that both processes rely on assumption and not strict scientific fact.

Compare and Contrast Rap and R&B Essay

Even though rap music is considered violent, there are some rap songs that delivers positive messages and then you have some R&B songs that are just as violent and raunchy as some Rap songs. Rap and R&B music are both enjoyable; however, both genres of music have a lot of differences. The word â€Å"Rap† came from a slang word meaning conversation. Rap music tends to attract a more tough and rowdy crowd. It is often categorized as violent music and has been known to be protested against. One of the reasons that some people think that Rap music is considered violent is because of the lyrics and the videos. Some of the lyrics in rap music talk about killing, robbing, shooting, stealing, sex and drugs. A group name N.W.A. (Ni**az with Attitude) made a song called â€Å"F**K Da Police† in the 80’s. The song caused a lot of uproar from not only the police but parents and fellow congressman as well. The Rap music videos often have a lot of half naked women dancing and gyrating in skimpy outfits. Sometimes you will see sexual references in these videos that can be considered â€Å"soft porn.† Luther â€Å"Uncle Luke† Campbell, was in fact taken to court because certain people thought that his videos and lyrics were too sexual and that he should be banned from putting out any more music. The end result of that was a Parental Advisory sticker being slapped on all cd’s that has either violent or sexual lyrics or cd covers. Rap music has also been claimed by most critics that rap causes sexist beliefs. I guess the reason being is because of the way the women are portrayed in these videos. Some of them are called â€Å"Video Ho’s†, â€Å"Groupies,† and now â€Å"Video Vixens.† The letters R&B stands for â€Å"Rhythm and Blues.† R&B music tends to attract a mellower, chill crowd and is put into a category called â€Å"baby making† music. R&B music has never been protested against and does not contain violent lyrics or videos. While rap music has a more a hard bass sound, R&B music has a more mid-tempo slow beat with a lot of wind instruments. Some R&B songs talk about being heartbroken and in love. Read Also:  Easy Compare and Contrast Essay Topics The reason most R&B songs are put into a category called â€Å"baby making† music  is because of the very slow sensual sexual beats that the songs have. There are certain songs that set a romantic mood for lovers or significant others. Certain groups or singers like The Isley Brothers and Barry White are known for having that very slow and sensual groove. In my opinion I do believe that R&B songs are more sexual than Rap. You have titles of R&B songs called: Sex Me, 12 play, T-shirt and Panties, and Let’s Ride, just to name a few. The lyrics in these songs may not be violent but they are definitely very sexual and raunchy. While R&B music has never been protested against, there have been some issues back in the late 50’s early 60’s with some of the dance moves and lyrics to songs. A song called the â€Å"HuckleBuck† dance moves were considered very racy. Recently there has been an issue with a song called â€Å"Sponsor† by R&B artist Teiarra Marie. Even though the lyrics are nowhere near sexual explicit as most R&B songs, her lyrics are stating that she has a man that buys her shoes, clothes, jewelry, and gives her money. Some see this as an issue because young women who look up to Teiarra Marie may think that it is okay to depend on a man to buy them things and to give them money; when they can just work and make their own money. I enjoy listening to both genres of music. The stuff they say about rap is not all true. I am not a violent person and I enjoy Rap just as much as I enjoy R&B music. I do prefer to listen to R&B over rap simply because I like the beats better. Even though the two attract different audiences, they both have one purpose and that is to entertain their fans and give them what they ask for.

Bartleby and civil disobedience

Bartleby and civil disobedience Essay The extremely simplified definition of civil disobedience given by Websters Dictionary is nonviolent opposition to a law through refusal to comply with it, on grounds of conscience. Thoreau in Civil Disobedience and Martin Luther King in Letter from Birmingham Jail both argue that laws thought of as unjust in ones mind should not be adhered to. In Herman Melvilles Bartleby, a man named Bartleby is thought of by many to be practicing civil disobedience. His actions are nonviolent, and he refuses to comply with anything his boss says. But his behavior has nothing to do with morals. Bartleby is merely a lonely guy who does not wish to work and has nothing to do with civil disobedience. Thoreau says that if injustice is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then I say break the law (Jacobus 134). He is personally giving permission for an individual to ignore anything he or she finds morally unacceptable. However, in Bartleby, Bartlebys boss places no unjust laws and assigns no unjust work. He simply asks Bartleby to do easy tasks such as, when those papers are all copied, I will compare them with you, or, just step around the Post Office, wont you? And see if there is anything for me (Melville 116). The boss, who is also the narrator, never requests Bartleby to perform any difficult chores. Martin Luther King, Jr.s interpretation of an unjust law is, a code that a numerical or power majority group compels a minority group to obey but does not make binding on itself (Jacobus 159). The injustice described here by King also does not match the characterization of Bartlebys boss. Bartleby needs no civil disobedience since nothing could be considered unjust in the bosss management. Even if an unjust act were placed against Bartleby, he would not have had any cares about the injustice. He was a man who needed a place to live and chose to be a law-copyist. He has no desire to do any work and no desire to interact with other humans. Anytime an order was given, the same response would reply from Bartlebys mouth: I would prefer not to (Melville). Bartleby did not weigh the issues of morality and immorality in his assignments. He just does not want to deal with others. When asked to look over some work with Turkey and Nipping, he refuses. His boss offers him a home, and he refuses this as well. The ending footnote to Bartleby states that Bartlebys previous profession was a subordinate clerk in the Dead Letters Office in Washington. The dead letters he handled had no association to any living person. Bartleby was accustomed to working at a place where dealing with man is unnecessary. As Thoreau says, Dead letters! Does it not sound like dead men? (Melville 140). Bartleby has no connection with civil disobedience. King and Thoreaus ideas of what civil disobedience is do not match up with the actions of Bartleby. Bartleby was not trying to make a statement against unjust laws by not abiding by them. He was just a loner. All his refusals to do what was ordered stemmed from his need to be separated from humanity. Bartleby only wanted to live by himself with nothing but his own thoughts to deal with. .

If Max Weber was living today, how would he analyzed the current Assignment

If Max Weber was living today, how would he analyzed the current fiscal situation from a public policy prospective - Assignment Example The main intention of coming up with this act was to prevent the emergence of a sovereign default which could have emanated from the 2011 US debt ceiling crisis. The main objective of this committee was for purposes of developing a deficit reduction plan over a 10 year period (Vanderveen, 2013). Any recommendations that the committee gave was subject to a simple vote of majority in the legislature. This is without an amendment. The main purpose of introducing these extraordinary provisions was for purposes of limiting a partisan gridlock amongst the members of the congress. The main aim of the 2011 Budget Control Act was to reduce at least 1.5 trillion dollars of the US debts over the next 10 years. This paper analysis the public policy views of Max Weber in regard to the current fiscal situation of the United States. Max Weber is an important scholar who has written extensively on bureaucracy (Edwards, 2007). This paper therefore analyzes the bureaucratic believes of Max Weber in re lation to the current fiscal situation of the United States. One of the major ideas that Weber and Weber (2012) believed is the notion of people acting as a basis of social inquiry. Weber believed that sociologists need to connect with social actors with the main intention of understanding a given problem and situation. The fiscal situation in United States is a social as well as an economic issue (Vanderveen, 2013). To understand the reasons why the US has a huge debt deficit, the government had to create the joint select committee on debt deficit. This institution was answerable to the congress, and it had to provide recommendations on how to solve the current US fiscal situation. This institution is a social actor, and it acted as an organization responsible for conducting social inquiry. The committee had a mandate until 23rd of November 2011. The mandate was to looks for methods and means

The significance of a cohesive culture to organisational performance Essay

The significance of a cohesive culture to organisational performance - Essay Example The report discusses several changes that are necessary in the workplace of BSG Ltd. to enhance commitment and productivity among the employees. Changes such as improvement of workplace relations, teamwork, employee motivation, career mobility, workplace learning and strong leadership strategies have been highlighted. All these changes point towards the establishment of a cohesive culture that can help the management of this company to address the emerging issues in the workplace. Some recommendations regarding the implementation of the highlighted changes in the workplace have been put forward in the report. They include; adoption of a leadership strategy that promotes a cohesive organizational culture, establishment of workplace relations, promotion of teamwork, identification of development needs, control of employee turnover and enhancement of employee welfare. The need to take the workers’ interests in to consideration in the course of change has been emphasized. The conclusion portrays the learning outcomes of the report regarding the need for a cohesive organizational culture. The changes and recommendations that need to be adopted by the company have been noted as a general picture of what a cohesive organizational culture entails. The group prefers employee focused leadership in the organization as indicated in the conclusion. Introduction This report addresses some issues that have emerged in BSG Ltd. leading to a fall in the profits of the organization below projections for the last two years in light of aggressive competition and a declining economy. The results of a culture/employee attitude survey in the organization indicated lack of cohesion amongst employees, low levels of job satisfaction and organizational commitment, low levels of trust between management and employees, poor team work, and a belief by many that there was little opportunity for advancement. An analysis of company data for the year ending 2010 revealed a 30% incr ease in pilfering, in both warehouse stocks, and stationery supplies. Staff turnover is an issue also, up by 15% in year ending 2010. The benefits of a strong cohesive culture have been emphasized, as well as the changes that need to be implemented by management to this workplace. Some recommendations have been put forward in regard to the implementation of the changes to make them acceptable by the workforce. Organizational Culture Hofstede defined culture as a tool that the mind applies to guide a person’s day to day activities and interactions with others. He portrayed culture as a collective aspect that occupies a particular social

Nutritional quality of rapeseed oil and health benefits of omega fatty Essay

Nutritional quality of rapeseed oil and health benefits of omega fatty acids - Essay Example The plant bears yellow flowers. Rapeseed is popular for the oil that can be produced from it. The most popular brand is the canola oil, which is a refined form of rapeseed oil. Until a few years ago, Rapeseed oil was used as an efficient lubricant for steam engines. Currently, the oil is used as biofuel and human edible oil and the by-product is used as animal food (USDA, 2010). The oil has high levels of erucic acid and glucosinolate because of which it tastes bitter. Canola oil has lesser amount of acid and glucosinolate and hence is palatable. It has higher quantities of omega fatty acids which reduce LDL cholesterol and serum triglyceride levels (USDA, 2010). Canola oil has low saturated fat and high levels of monounsaturated oil. Infact, when compared to other vegetable edible oils like sunflower oil, corn oil and peanut oil, canola oil has very low ratio of saturated to unsaturated fats. The main omega fatty acid present in the oil is alpha-linolenic acid, which is an omega-3 f atty acid. 1.3 grams of this fatty acid is present in one serving of the oil. 1ml of the oil yields 12 calories and 1.4 grams of fat. Only 10 percent of the fat is saturated. The oil has no cholesterol, protein, carbohydrate or sodium. The oil is rich in vitamin E which is a valuable anti-oxidant (Ingle, 2010). Despite the popularity of the rapeseed oil as safe and beneficial edible oil, many experts have condemned the nutritional benefits of the oil. Some researchers are of the opinion that the useful ingredients of the oil are destroyed in industrial manufacturing and that during such a process, trans-fatty acids develop which are not only harmful to the body but also are detrimental to the beneficial actions of the useful ingredients of the oil. Some experts opine that Canola oil or the irradiated rapeseed oil can cause certain problems of the central nervous system like tremors, palsy, shaking, uncoordination of movements, slurring of speech, blurring