Rebuilding New Orleans

Rebuilding New Orleans Free Online Research Papers The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in 2001 named a major hurricane hitting New Orleans as the most serious emergency threat to the nation. In August 2005, a category IV Hurricane by the name of Katrina ravaged the City of New Orleans. After the storm, LT. General Carl Strock, Chief of Engineers for the Army Corp of Engineers stated â€Å"the intensity of this storm simply exceeded the design capacity of this levee†¦which had a 200 or 300 year level of protection. That means that an event that we were protecting from might be exceeded every 200 to 300 years.† [1] The following probability will be the basis for determining the expected profit of rebuilding the city of New Orleans. As consultants advising the City of New Orleans, we felt it necessary to quantitatively prove that rebuilding was the best option before exploring recommendations for the rebirth of the city. After proving that rebuilding New Orleans is financially astute, we will discuss the current structure of the Commission along with recommendations for changes that would allow the commission to be more effective. Because of the many diverse groups associated with the BNOB Commission we asses that the ability to negotiate effectively will be key to satisfying the stakeholders and thus achieving the more broad strategic goals. Finally, we should not rebuild the City of New Orleans without a more effective flood control system. We used the concept of positive deviance to identify other areas in the world that have experienced similar disasters and had success in rebuilding. We identified the Netherlands a positive deviant for building a more modern and effective flood control system for New O rleans. Two estimates will be significant in determining the cost and benefits of rebuilding New Orleans. First, an estimate of how much money will be required to repair the flood damage from Hurricane Katrina. The second important factor is the estimated Gross Metro Product (GMP) for a newly rebuilt New Orleans. I will base this estimate on  ¾ of New Orleans pre-Katrina population and multiply this number by New Orleans’ 2004 per capita GMP. This is to compensate for the fact that at least in the short run, a rebuilt New Orleans will most likely have a significantly smaller population due to permanent migrations away from the city. How much money will it take to rebuild the city of New Orleans? Congress allocated $62 billion in September 2005 and the House of Representatives approved an additional $20 billion on March 16. Obviously, the Federal Government will provide the bulk of the recovery money for damage caused by Hurricane Katrina. There will be additional state; county and city monies along with private donations that will help rebuild the city of New Orleans. A conservative estimate of the amount required to rebuild New Orleans is $28 billion more than the amount promised by the federal government. So far, $110 billion is the amount needed for rebuilding but this amount does not address the issue of Louisiana’s sinking coast. The city of New Orleans was built on a river delta formed by natural silt deposits from the Mississippi river. After the Great Mississippi floods of 1927, the city of New Orleans surrounded the river with levees to protect the city from future flooding. Hurricane Betsy in 1965 caused a great deal of flooding in New Orleans and the federal government began building more levees to protect the city from a category 3 hurricane. The levees have blocked the natural silt from replenishing the delta, which has caused the coastal wetlands of Louisiana to wash away, and the city of New Orleans to sink deeper below sea level [1]. To combat this degeneration of the coastal wetlands the state and federal government has recently passed a $14 Billion plan to rebuild the wetlands. Many of the levees protecting the city of New Orleans broke during hurricane Ka trina and must be replaced. Recently, the Army Corp of Engineers revised their estimates of how much money it would take to rebuild the levees to federal standards. â€Å"The change followed a surprise announcement from the Army Corps of Engineers that the levee reconstruction project, most recently estimated at $3.5 billion, would now cost $9.5 billion if insurance-certified levees were extended throughout the region.† [2] From the above-mentioned costs, the aggregate total is $134 Billion to rebuild the city of New Orleans. This is a conservative estimate, and others have estimated the costs of rebuilding to be as much as $200 Billion, but I will use $134 Billion as my benchmark in the expected profits equation. The second important estimate to take into consideration is the predicted Gross Metro Product of New Orleans. In 2004, according to the US mayor website, New Orleans Gross Metro Product was $47 Billion dollars for the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). The U.S. Bureau defines an MSA as â€Å"that of a core area containing a substantial population nucleus, together with adjacent communities having a high degree of social and economic integration with that core. Metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas comprise one or more entire counties.† Since the core of New Orleans plays such a key role on the communities surrounding it, I will be using the 2004 metropolitan population of 1,363,750 from the Census Bureau County estimates and multiplying it by  ¾ to take into consideration the short term population loss that will take place due to permanent migrations of former New Orleans residents away from the city. I then multiply the derived number 1,022,812 by the 2004 per capita GMP of $35, 606 to give me 36.4 Billion. Expected Profit = (.005 x -134 Billion) + (.995 x 36.4 Billion) = 35. 5 Billion Prob. disaster Cost (Bil) Prob. no disaster GMP (Bil) Profit (Bil) 0.005 -134 0.995 36.4 35.548 0.025 -134 0.975 36.4 32.14 0.045 -134 0.955 36.4 28.732 0.065 -134 0.935 36.4 25.324 0.085 -134 0.915 36.4 21.916 0.105 -134 0.895 36.4 18.508 0.125 -134 0.875 36.4 15.1 0.145 -134 0.855 36.4 11.692 0.165 -134 0.835 36.4 8.284 0.185 -134 0.815 36.4 4.876 0.205 -134 0.795 36.4 1.468 0.225 -134 0.775 36.4 -1.94 0.245 -134 0.755 36.4 -5.348 0.265 -134 0.735 36.4 -8.756 0.285 -134 0.715 36.4 -12.164 0.305 -134 0.695 36.4 -15.572 0.325 -134 0.675 36.4 -18.98 Using the information on hand, the expected profit to rebuild New Orleans is $35.5 Billion, which quantifies the decision to rebuild. However, the spreadsheet above indicates that if the probability of a disaster the size of Katrina ever reached the point where a disaster of the same nature took place once every five years (approx. 21% probability), it would no longer be profitable to rebuild the city of New Orleans. The federal government should watch this statistic very closely. Statistically the chance of a disaster of this magnitude hitting New Orleans within the next 5 years is very slim. However, if it did this could be an economic harbinger for the federal government to close shop on any projects in New Orleans, move historical buildings out of the area and invest any remaining money in either the expansion of Baton Rouge or the movement of New Orleans to a safer area. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina a team of six qualified urban planners were assembled to assess the capacity of the city’s planning function. The American Planning Association assembled this team as part of a request by the New Orleans City Planning Commission in association with the Louisiana Chapter of The American Planning Association. The present plans are for the City of New Orleans to be different in the future. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita changed the landscape and the community forever. Mayor Ray Nagin led the efforts in the establishment of the commission. In fact, Mayor Ray Nagin created The â€Å"Bring New Orleans Back† (BNOB) Commission. The mayor was faced with the monumental task of developing a plan for the city’s rebirth by the end of the year. Mayor Nagin saw fit to engage a panel of civic leaders for the task. While the key members of the BNOB Commission have attempted to explain the full mission and concept of their organization, they have not official revealed their strategic goals, or a comprehensive plan. In a news briefing, Mayor Nagin stated that â€Å"The commission is charged with a fundamental goal to advise, assist, plan and help the city of New Orleans as it makes recommendations for how the city will be rebuild. Additionally, New Orleans Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes stated that â€Å"the commission members represent a cross-section of race, ethnicity, geography, background, expertise and experience†. The primary attr ibute that unites the current members of the BNOB Commission is a commitment to work together for the common good. Archbishop Hughes said that Mayor Nagin gave them a mandate: â€Å"To finalize a master plan, to advise, assist and plan the direct funding of the rebuilding of New Orleans culturally, socially, economically and uniquely for every citizen.† The Commission’s deadline for delivery of the plan was December 31, 2005. The Mayor will present the plan to the City Council for review, refinement and adoption. The commission further divided into seven sub-committees. These sub-committees are chaired by members of the Commission and composed of people from the community. The issues that they will be addressing include urban planning for housing and land use, infrastructure, economic development, education, health and social service, culture and administration and/or government efficiency. Four of the most important sub-committees are: The Education Committee, The Cultural Committee, The Technology Committee and The Government Effectiveness Committee. The Education Committee is responsible for developing a plan to reform and rebuild the educational system in Orleans Parish. The Cultural Committee is developing a plan to repair and rebuild the cultural fabric of New Orleans. Hence, the Cultural Committee’s objective is to establish a sustainable economic environment for the local creative industries by preserving in perpetuity the heritage and vitality that create a unique cultural fiber. The Technology Sub-committee’s goal is to assure an open, inclusive and vibrant business community that will create a livable wage and higher salaried jobs. The Government Effectiveness Committee will recommend changes in local government structure and function that would ensure effective responses to the challenges facing the city post-Katrina. Despite their efforts, it took four months after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans before it unveiled its plan. In this plan, the mayor approved a moratorium on building permits. Most affected by this proposal were lower income areas of New Orleans. Not only did the mayor and the commission impose the moratorium on the poorest of citizens, but it also forced that same region to pass a so called â€Å"critical mass† test if they would have any chance of returning to their property. During this same period, it was incumbent upon the residents to demonstrate with sufficient and substantial evidence that the community could meet the â€Å"critical mass† in their neighborhoods that the population planned to return and rebuild. People from those neighborhoods and communities that failed to obtain the needed numbers to past the â€Å"critical mass† test would be at risk losing their property. The Crescent City Redevelopment Corporation would buy some out and others would be seized through eminent domain. Areas not rebuilt would be returned to wetlands and green space. The Bring New Orleans Back Commission’s mission in part is to develop a master plan for rebuilding the City of New Orleans. The master plan is broad in scope and focuses initially on the displaced citizens of New Orleans. The commission set out to host six town hall meeting to gather displaced citizens of New Orleans input into the rebuilding strategies and to foster constructive participation in the revival of New Orleans. The six meeting will be held in Atlanta, Ga., Houston, Tx., Baton Rouge, La., Memphis, Tn., Dallas, Tx., and Fort Worth, Tx. All of these communities were selected because the relocation areas where the largest portions of New Orleans residents now reside. The Urban Land Institute (ULI) is the agency that stands at the forefront of BNOB Commission. ULI, an international research and education institute dedicated to responsible land use, will assist the commission with its master visioning efforts. The program of work will be carried out through four key activities: 1) the formation of an advisory panel of international and national experts on post-disaster redevelopment and urban regeneration; 2) the development of Ten Principles for Temporary Communities; 3) input from the breadth of ULI’s membership; and 4) coordination with other groups who have dedicated valuable resources to the rebuilding effort. Immediately after inception the ULI presented a proposal to support the commission’s goal to develop a rebuilding vision during the first three months of the entity’s tenure. It is imperative to protect this extraordinarily valuable asset. This statement is on the minds of many of the displaced residents. The BNOB Commission is faced with several essential elements that are crucial to the economic recovery of New Orleans, so much so that it was made a part of the plan to rebuild. The BNOB Commission felt that they must focus on these four areas; Administration of Funds – they feel that with the funds obtained from government agencies and private donors they must maintain sound fiscal management structure to maximize its impact. The administration felt that without sound fiscal management structure many businesses and other industries would break down or not return at all. In this plan, it speaks of the need to be business friendly. Because of the major setback that Katrina imposed, and a significant competitive disadvantage, the administration felt that the city that they must consider adjustments to taxation and regulation accordingly to get the industries and business back and running. The BNOB Commission has developed plans to jumpstart the economy as an immediate acti on that must be taken. Their reasoning behind this move is to get industries operational and returned to steady state business as usual. Other measures include temporary housing, government guaranteed loans and grants, and business incentives are essential, tax-exempt bond financing for rehabilitation of business properties in the disaster zone. The BNOB Commission feels that without the security of the infrastructure investors will lose confidence. Therefore, the infrastructure of the city must be sound for business to flourish. A secure infrastructure would mean, levee system repaired to category III storm protection. The committee’s approach focused on two physical scales and periods simultaneously. City residents of New Orleans denounce the rebuilding plan of the â€Å"Bring New Orleans Back Committee†. Based on the plan more than two third of the poorest and hardest hit communities would not be allowed back to begin rebuilding. In addition, Mayor Nagin im posed a moratorium on the issuance of building permits. The moratorium is expected to last for approximately four months. During the city’s imposed moratorium each affected neighborhoods must demonstrate the existence of sufficient â€Å"critical mass†. The residence must demonstrate this by showing that at least one half or more of the population intend on returning and rebuilding. This is a monumental task that the administration is placing upon the residents on such short notice considering their financial situation. An overwhelming number of the displaced residents feel as if the plan amounts to a calculated scheme to depopulate the low-income parts of New Orleans. They also feel that wealthy investors will, at some point, get an option to purchase the vacant land at very low prices and later make a killing in the real estate market. Moreover, tens of thousands of working class New Orleans residents scattered over the United States think that they will be left out on their own as Mayor Nagin underscores an agreement of the two political parties to tailor the rebuilding effort to the wealthy. The same sentiments were driven home when President Bush visited and underscored his administration’s opposition to boosting the city’s limited resources. The President’s demeanor and comments revealed his true feeling toward the suffering of the poorest residents. The President’s took a 10-minute ride from LAI Airport to a closed-door meeting with business leaders and elected officials in an area showing no signs of hurricane damage. The Bush administration touted support of $3.1 billion in federal funds to repair and reinforce the levees. However, experts estimate that it would cost over $9.5 billion – or more than 3 times what the Bush administration is willing to spend. The organization responsible for the reconstruction of New Orleans, BNOB Commission has several faults, which will ultimately decrease its effectiveness in completing the rebuilding of the city. The primary fault is the fact that the commission did not identify all of the stakeholders, therefore the organizations mission, and strategic goals have not taken into account many of their needs. This will ultimately cause problems as the reconstruction of the city proceeds and conflicts arise. The association of homeowners in the lower 9th ward, who is currently pursuing legal action against the city of New Orleans to prevent their homes from being demolished after failing to show they could achieve â€Å"critical mass† as previously discussed, is having a significant negative impact on reconstruction efforts in the area. There are several reasons that the BNOB Commission has not integrated all of the stakeholders into the overall process of planning the reconstruction. The primary reason is a large portion of the population, particularly in the poorer areas of the city, has not returned to New Orleans. Related to the first reason, the second reason is, some special interest groups appear to be taking advantage of the fact that there are people have not returned to accomplish their goals. Our team is recommending a â€Å"whole scale change† approach to helping the organization to move from its current structure to one that; integrates all key stakeholders’ needs. (The Change Champion’s Field Guide, 5) Ensuring the interests of all key stakeholders are integrated into the Strategy and actions will require the BNOB Commission to create a structure that can identify and integrate conflicting positions among all of the stakeholders to ensure that each contributes to the overall success of the reconstruction program and not just to their own area of interest. In discussing, the actions required by the BNOB Commission we will talk first about the most complicated; integrating all of the stakeholders needs into the process. The primary reason that this is so difficult is, many of the displaced people from the city of New Orleans are scattered across the country and even simple communication with them is challenging. First, there must be a concerted effort to identify and contact those people to determine whether they plan to return to the city. Second, after taking into account their interests (homeowner, business owner, etc.) they should be educated and given the opportunity to align themselves with different representative bodies based on those interests. Only after these groups of stakeholders have been identified and made their interests known can the BNOB Commission truly move forward with confidence that they are operating with the stakeholders interests in mind. Before moving on, a brief mention of the star model of success is important. (The Change Champion’s Field Guide, 9) The BNOB Commission must consider each star point to have a clear understanding of the strategic direction, what work they must do to reach their goals and how they should accomplish that work. Of the five star points one, the resources point, enjoys broad support from the American people and all levels of government from local to federal, so for the purposes of this discussion we will assume that the resources point is â€Å"twinkling†. Two other points, processes and form, as related to the reconstruction effort itself are both somewhat driven by the nature of reconstruction work. We will consider both of these to be sufficient as long is they are both designed to allow the different parts of the organization to efficiently accomplish their goals ensure that each goal supports the achievement of the overall strategic goals. Since we discussed Strate gic Direction earlier, I want to focus now on shared information. Sharing information within an organization so diverse and geographically separated is a significant challenge, but one that must be met if the organization is to reach its goals. Information sharing must be seamless from the onset. Just to get the word out to all of the scattered stakeholders will require extensive use of mass media. After the organization is more firmly established an organizational structure must establish the microcosm(s) using organizational structure to build committees and subcommittees and connecting them through simple effective communications methods. The BNOB Commission must develop systems to ensure continued interaction between committees and subcommittees to maintain focus on the larger â€Å"system†. To summarize, processes, forms and resources will likely not be the major challenges of BNOB Commission. Rather it will be effectively sharing information across diverse groups and over large geographic areas and establishing strategic goals that truly represent the stakeholders in the reconstruction of New Orleans. Both will require organizational leadership that truly has the best interests of the stake holders in mind as well as leaders that are willing to courage to allow all of the voices to be heard. Ultimately, if they fail to capture the true strategic goals of the people who will live in New Orleans after the reconstruction is complete the people will miss an excellent opportunity to reshape their city into something that is more than the sum of its parts. The power of negotiation is vital to the success of BNOB Commission. There will be many different viewpoints from each sub-committee as well as each population group in New Orleans. In order for the Mayor’s plan to come to fruition, there needs to be a consensus to one idea and that idea needs to be effectively coordinated within the committee and the citizens of New Orleans. The structure is already set to perform a strategic negotiations committee. This committee should have a negotiator to represent each subcommittee from the educational, cultural, technology, and government, and other groups. In addition, there needs to be representation from the citizens of New Orleans. This piece of negotiation is the most important, because the displaced citizens are the main effort of this rebuilding process. The negotiations committee works directly for the mayor. Their main goal is to have each committee and group in agreement with one idea that takes into account all of the following: coordination, timeline, and resources/funding. Each group is going to have their own idea of how to accomplish this, so the negotiations committee should put these ideas together into one consolidated plan. Once the mayor approves this plan, the implementation will occur in an efficient manner in which all parties involved are supportive and willing to help in the rebuilding process. The task of negotiations should be handled first within each subcommittee. The subcommittees or groups should come up with one plan in place that includes all of the main elements discussed above. We will presuppose that the Mayor has already sectioned the city of New Orleans in zones and that a substantial population of citizens from each zone is represented in each work group or committee. Once a plan is developed, the negotiator should develop the â€Å"Best Alternative to the Negotiated Agreement† (BATNA) for negotiations with the other committees or groups. After each group has met and formulated a detailed plan, the negotiating committee will meet and present these plans with broad guidelines set by the mayor such as: timeline, budget, and resources. This process will take some time as negotiators will have to go back to their committees repeatedly to develop new BATNAs. The result should be an agreement on one plan composed of all groups in which all broad guidelines are met and mutual gains between the subcommittees are realized. These are the suggested steps for a negotiations committee to take in the planning phase of the rebuilding effort. We believe that once these steps are taken; the implementation phase will run effectively and efficiently. Jerry Sternin describes Positive Deviance as â€Å"based on the belief that in every community there are certain individuals/entities whose special practices or strategies enable them to find a better solution to a pervasive problem than their neighbors who have access to exactly the same resources.† (The Change Champion’s Field Guide, 20) Although Sternin’s focus was individuals, the same principle can be applied to countries. Some countries can develop special practices or strategies that distinguish them from other countries with similar problems. Living below sea level and fighting the water are situations that both the Netherlands and the City of New Orleans faced. However, the Netherlands, the positive deviant learned on earlier in its history the importance of defending its shores from the onslaught of the unpredictable sea. How do we know that the Netherlands is a positive deviant? On January 9-12 2006, five months after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the city of New Orleans. The governor of Louisiana as well as an entourage of state senators toured the modern flood protection system developed in the Netherlands to learn more about effective water control. The education that they received in the Netherlands will hopefully lead to the construction of an effective flood control system set up in the city of New Orleans. The Netherlands learned the hard way the importance of having a competent water control plan in place. In 1953, the Netherlands experienced a flood, which was the worst Dutch disaster in 300 years. â€Å"In February 1953 the Netherlands faced disaster when the dikes protecting the southwest of the country were breached by joint onslaught of a hurricane force northwesterly wind and exceptionally high spring tides†¦resulting in almost 200,000 hectares of land swamped, 3000 homes and 300 farms destroyed and 47,000 heads of cattle drowned.† (The Holland Ring) The disaster was a wake up call for the country and inspired the Delta Project that would one day be considered the most advanced water control system in the world. The significance of the delta project was the fact that it was based on a cost-benefit analysis. â€Å"The required safety level was based on a comparison between the economic damage owing to failure of seawalls and the cost of strengthening the coastal defense works.† (d’Angremond) This detailed analysis meant that much more money was spent on protecting highly populated areas with flood walls that would be exceeded only once every 10,000 years vs less populated areas with dikes that would be exceeded once every 1,250 years. This is a vast contrast to the levees in New Orleans which where built to be exceeded once every 200 years. The Oosterschelde dam is 1.75 miles long and crosses three channels in the Eastern Schelde. The dam is made up of 65 pillars, which can slide 62 iron floodgates in less than an hour during an emergency. This is an example of the ingenious Dutch engineering that has made the Netherlands safe from major flooding in the last fifty years. The Maaslandkering storm surge barrier at Rotterdam is the largest hydraulic project in Netherlands. Almost as long as the Eiffel Tower in Paris and weighs four times as much. If a water level of 3.20 metres above NAP is anticipated for Rotterdam the Storm Surge Barrier in the New Waterway has to be closed. As a group of consultants, we were charged with assisting the Bring Back New Orleans Commission in developing a successful organization. After a cost benefit analysis, which validated the BNOB Commission’s decision to rebuild New Orleans, we explored the current composition and disposition of the BNOB Commission. We discovered that there were some shortcomings in the Commission, which were holding it back from achieving its goals. While our recommendations for change to the organization will assist them in ultimately achieving their goal, we identified that due to the complexity of the organization negation skills and strategies would be crucial to success. Finally, we used the concept of positive deviance to determine that Norway’s complex national flood control system could be a model for the future reconstruction of the city of New Orleans. References [1] Hurricane Preparedness for New Orleans http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/predictions_of_hurricane_risk_for_New_Orleans [2] Levee Repair Costs Triple washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/30/AR2006033001912.htm [3] Sternin, Jerry, The Change Champion’s Field Guide, Practice Publications, 2003 [4] 1953 Flood Disaster: The Dutch Struggle against the water thehollandring.com/1953-ramp.shtml [5] D’ Angremond, Kees: From Disaster to Delta Project: The Storm Flood of 1953. March 2003 [6] Bring New Orleans Back Commission Announced. 5.11.2006. http://new.neworleans.com/index.php?option=com_content task=viewid=83Itemid=37 [7] Bring New Orleans Back. 5.01.2006 bringneworleansback.org/ [8] Bring New Orleans Back Commission to Work with Urban Land Institute on Developing Rebuilding Strategy for the City. 5.01.2006 [9] City residents denounce â€Å"Bring New Orleans Back† rebuilding plan. 05.06.2006. wsws.org/articles/2006/jan2006/newo-j14.shtml Research Papers on Rebuilding New OrleansQuebec and CanadaCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite Religion19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraThe Project Managment Office SystemDefinition of Export QuotasPETSTEL analysis of IndiaInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This Nice

How Women Directors Influence Corporate Governance and Firm Dissertation

How Women Directors Influence Corporate Governance and Firm Performance - Dissertation Example Women have been shown to have a positive influence on a board, from aspects of participation such as attendance and dutiful diligence, to higher rates of pay for directors because of observable increases in performance which denote higher rates of return. The female presence on a corporate board provides a variety of advantages to the overall performance of a firm. Male Domination in the Board Room According to Gomez and Moore the statistics of female representation on corporate boards â€Å"show a disproportionate representation of women on boards in relation to their roles in society as consumers and employees†. According to Sparrow, only 15% of the board members in the United States are women, with only 1% being CEOs. In comparison, Sweden has 23%, Norway has 29%, Finland 20%, and Denmark 18%, because of Scandinavian policies that are encouraging the expansion of roles for women at the corporate level. However, in other European companies there is a lesser representation than in the United States. However, the problem with the statistics is that it does not reflect the number of female board members who are no more than a ‘trophy’ member, who holds several positions on the boards of multiple companies, decreasing the actual percentage of women who hold these positions. According to Reeves â€Å"Women’s lack of representation on boards is signific ant because boards make high level policy decisions that affect large numbers of people, including shareholders, employees, and ultimately consumers† (19). When women are represented on boards, there seems to be a ripple effect as more higher level management positions are then held by women within an organization. According to Reeves, the increases in CEO’s that are women have gone from nine in 2006, ten in 2007, twelve in 2008, and 13 in 2009, so the power balance is shifting, but by 2009, that number of 13 still only represented 2.6% of all corporate CEO’s. Reeves reports that while the average corporation has 21.8 corporate officers, only 3.6 of these positions are held by women. In 2006, 75% of the companies on the Fortune 500 had no women in top-earning positions within the corporate structure. An example to the social deficit that this creates can be seen where â€Å"women are more involved than men in the healthcare decisions for themselves and for their families†¦(however) more than one third of the world’s top 500 healthcare and pharmaceutical companies have no women on their corporate boards† (20). According to Peterson and Philpot, the professional backgrounds of board members on corporate boards shows that women are just as qualified in experience and background as are the men, but that they serve less frequently on executive committees than do men. Peterson and Philpot also find that gender is related to the way in which members are assigned to boards, and that the resource dependent theory provides for the phenomenon of women serving on more human and socially oriented boards, with men providing more representation on financial and budgetary committees. They suggest that there is â€Å"some relationship between committee assignment, gender, and the resource dependence role of directors† (193). Using the theory put forth by Nussbaum, the capabilities based approach, the nature of female representation should not be considered by the nature of gender but

Globalization and HRM Strategies Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Globalization and HRM Strategies - Assignment Example Technology is a critical tool in competition as it is essential in ensuring quality of goods and services. Though it means increase in production costs of the company, technology as a tool ensures increase in sales and product quality to meet the ever increasing/ growing consumer expectations and taste. Additionally, globalization has seen that a company like Sony improves greatly on its information and knowledge transfer which, much like technology is important in helping the company stay connected and informed of emerging customer preferences. Information therefore enables adaptation to trends and its quick and effective transmission has become vital in customer retention and growth hence. Different cultures of the world have very little effect and impact on Sony and unlike most other multinational corporations, Sony has managed to break the barriers of culture across the globe by producing a wide range of high quality, sophisticated and culturally acceptable goods and services. In addition, Sony’s policy of recruiting from any culture, age, gender and other such barriers puts it in a favorable position for worldwide appeal and acceptance. However, the financial and credit services offered by Sony, for example, may receive negative and little acceptance in other parts of the world. Islam, for instance, strictly forbids the use of usury. In such areas, the company may be viewed in bad light and rejected altogether. This is highly unlikely however as Sony offers a wide range of services and products and if one of them is found to be unpalatable in a certain culture, other products eventually override this ‘dislike’ altogether and firmly establishes Sony in the area. Just like cultures, labor markets are of very... This paper approves that different cultures of the world have very little effect and impact on Sony and unlike most other multinational corporations, Sony has managed to break the barriers of culture across the globe by producing a wide range of high quality, sophisticated and culturally acceptable goods and services. In addition, Sony’s policy of recruiting from any culture, age, gender and other such barriers puts it in a favorable position for worldwide appeal and acceptance. According to the paper the human resource department spends much time with the new recruits in bid to get them fully on board with the objectives and strategies of the company and is focused on universal standard employment offering superior working conditions and paying employees their locally relevant wages. Sony also offers management training to promising recruits. IHRM plays an important role in ensuring productivity of Sony. There are a series of undertakings that the IHRM could pursue to ensure improved productivity and competitiveness of Sony globally. Seminars that serve to enlighten employees further on consumer needs and improve service delivery could be brought on board. The paper comes to the conclusion that Problem solving groups are essential and swift solution of arising issues or any quarrels act to minimize employee infighting and the distractive and destructive office gossip thus creating the much needed and indispensable harmonious, smooth working environment.

What changes in Americans values and lifestyles signaled the rise of Essay

What changes in Americans values and lifestyles signaled the rise of consumer culture - Essay Example In politics, consumerism has been applied to symbolize something quite diverse known as consumerist movement, consumer activism or consumer protection. This strives to inform and protect consumers by demanding practices like product guarantees, honest advertising and packaging, and better safety standards. Therefore, in politics consumerism is a set of rules that are aimed at regulating the methods, services, and products. In addition, they regulate the standards of advertisers, sellers, and manufacturers in the benefits of the buyer. In the economic domain, consumerism denotes to financial policies putting weight on consumption. In a theoretical sense, it is the deliberation that the free selection of consumers must strongly direct the selection by producers of what is manufactured, and thus direct the financial organization of a society. In this case, consumer culture articulates the idea not of one voice, one man, but of one voice, one dollar that might not reflect the contribution of an individual to society1. Since the completion of the twentieth century, the economics, politics, and culture of the American’s has been remodeled by the rapid increase of consumer culture. In what has been purported to be the progress of the vicarious leisure class, and its difference from the overall body of the employed class, orientation has been made to an additional division of labor between the dissimilar servant classes2. A single part of the servant class, mainly those individuals whose job is vicarious leisure, emanate to carry out a new, lesser range of responsibilities- the vicarious consumption of goods. The most common form where the consumption happens is viewed in the wearing of uniforms and the livelihood of capacious servant quarters3. A scarcer, less effective, less obstructive, and widely prevalent form of vicarious consumption is the clothing, food consumption, furniture and dwelling by the woman and the rest of the national establishment. Noticeable

The Rise in Political Power of 17th Century England and France :: European Europe History

The Rise in Political Power of 17th Century England and France In the seventeenth century, the political power of the Parliament in England, and the Monarchy in France increased greatly. These conditions were inspired by three major changes: the aftermath of the reformation, the need for an increased governmental financing, and the reorganizing of central governments. These three points were each resolved in a different way in both England and in France. The first major point which eventually increased political power was the aftermath of the Protestant reformation. In England, after the establishment of the separate Anglican church of England there were many protestant groups left in England still in conflict. These groups all tried to push and pull parliament in their favor -- which ultimately made it so that nothing could be done. These conflicts even came to the point of bloody civil wars and suffering on both sides of the fighting. Parliament ultimately decided to stop these wars by creating religious Act of Toleration (1689) for the non-conformist protestants. For many people, this caused more unity in England and increased power. In France, the decision was made to unify the country through the establishment of a single religious authority, the Catholic Church. The king of France became the heart of this policy, which gave him control of religion when this went into effect. The next major point was the increase in need for governmental financing. In England, taxing had become under the control of Parliament. In addition to this, the cost of running a government in general had gone up and the country needed more money. Because the king didn't have as much power to tax as he pleases, the government could make a firm and accurate taxation of the people. In France, the price of government had also gone up. However, here the was a monarchy and a king with great control over the government. Using his control of the economy, a strong "Mercantilism" system was used aimed at maximizing foreign exports and reserves. The king became the center of this new power. The last major point which increased political power was the reorganizing of the central governments in both England and in France. The economic changes in this century required new relationships between the King and his subjects. In England, the parliament because of this need, grew to have power over the king and cause great toleration of people's

Hospitality Tips for Arab Guests

THE ARAB GUEST The Arab travel mentality can vary greatly as the Arabian region stretches over a vast area encompassing 22 countries from Mauritania in the west to Yemen in the east. As the majority of Arab guests are from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), consisting of Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait, the advice given here pertains mainly to this important region. The above-named states have in common rapid economic growth due to the large oil and gas reserves.These states have been catapulted from a tribal life to relative wealth, although Dubai has always held a significant role as a trade centre in the Middle East. Tourism in the UAE is booming, and luxuries, the newest technologies and excellent service have become the norm. No wonder then that the most expensive and luxurious hotel in the world, the Burj al Arab, is in Dubai. Apart from expecting exclusively furnished hotels, Arab guests also expect respect and tolerance for their lifestyle. To the majority of Arabs, Islamic rule s are the foundation of daily life. Courteous and attentive service is a prerequisite. 1.Tolerance and Sensitivity Personal recommendations and networking between Arab families are of the utmost importance and recommendations by acquaintances are given more heed than extravagant advertising brochures. The chance of winning over the Arab market through a few families is therefore very high, but at the same time, a single ‘mishap’ by an employee can ruin the reputation of an entire hotel. Family consciousness is highly regarded in the Arab region. Unlike in the West, the family is the basic social unit, not the individual. In Arab society the weak are respected and protected, and the elderly are always afforded special respect.Arabs behave in a reserved manner towards Europeans and react very sensitively to a lack of respect and intolerance. To avoid such conflicts, sensitivity and empathy are of great importance. 2. Travel The majority of Arabs travel with their entire f amilies. Individual tourists and business travellers are still in the minority, although this is slowly changing. Only male travellers will travel alone. Arab travellers are normally well-to-do. They are used to being looked after and often buy themselves certain freedoms using their substantial economic means.Despite their buying power, however, prices are no longer simply paid; comparisons are made, especially when it comes to hotel accommodation. To do this they are using the internet more and more. The main reasons for travel are business trips, visits to conferences and exhibitions and medical visits. Medical trips are most often undertaken by guests from the UAE as their medical schemes pay for hospital stays, drinks (non-alcoholic) and laundry. Medical checks are often combined with family holidays. Provided as part of the benefits of membership of Cape Town Tourism. For more information visit www. apetown. travel/industry, call +27 (0)21 487 6800 or email [email  protected ] travel Another reason for travel is to escape the summer heat and for the sake of children, who are highly regarded, with many trips being undertaken purely for their sake and to visit theme parks and shop for toys. 3. Travel Structure and Duration The main travel season is between June and September. Family groups can number up to 60 people during this time. Depending on the rank of the Arab, nannies, secretaries and drivers are often part of the entourage, which makes it difficult to establish an average group size.Ten people per family are an approximate starting point. The duration of trips varies from case to case, but is generally several weeks. 4. Holiday Mentality It is not the norm in Arab states to have to ask for service, nor to thank for services received. Excellent service is expected and a given. Most Arab guests are highly educated and well travelled. They are therefore often seen as demanding. Flexibility and tolerance of their special requests is therefore a must. For example, Arab guests will expect the restaurant times to be adjusted to their daily routine or for room service and room cleaning services to be individually scheduled.Taking time to develop personal relationships between the hosts and the guests is much appreciated. Business and personal relationships are not strictly separated. The Arab guest prefers a designated contact partner that ensures his wishes and interests are looked after, and that keeps up intense communication. These contacts do not necessarily need to be able to speak Arabic. Often this is even seen as a benefit, as it protects their privacy if the contact cannot understand everything discussed. It is not unusual for the younger generation to be fluent in English.Guests from North Africa generally speak French as their second language. Arab women completely covered in black robes are still an oddity to most Europeans. However, the social standing of women ranges between ‘strictly Muslim’ and ‘ emancipated’. The rules laid out in the Koran guarantee her that she will be looked after her entire life. In return, she must acknowledge the man’s authority in society, the family and in marriage. The wearing of veils was long seen as a sign of high social prestige. Only women of high standing were allowed to wear them; slaves and dancers were forbidden to do this, under threat of punishment.Today the veil signifies a close affinity to Islam and is a sign of the honorable life of the wearer. Advances by men are not tolerated. Hoteliers must be prepared for the lobby area to occasionally look like a bazaar. In an effort to strengthen their relationships Arab guests will meet there, drink tea, smoke – and if permitted also their hubbly bubblies. 5. Information and Booking Behaviour Prior to travel the normal booking procedures (internet, advertising, travel agents and agents specialising in medical trips) are checked for prices, availability and decor, special s ervices etc.For guests travelling for medical reasons, local embassies and consulates often take care of these issues. Close contacts with these are therefore of benefit. Often guests book hotels only to then compare offers and prices with other hotels once in the country. Should the hotel booked not live up to their standards and expectations, they Provided as part of the benefits of membership of Cape Town Tourism. For more information visit www. capetown. travel/industry, call +27 (0)21 487 6800 or email [email  protected] travel will relocate.Reception staff can play a decisive role in this decision. Although low prices and rebates are important, negotiations seldom take place. Representatives of a group are often sent ahead. More often than not however these days, guests arrive without having booked at all. Because guests are not under any time constraints, the departure date is often left open. This fact should always be taken into account and dealt with flexibly. When booki ngs are made, babies up to three years old are not mentioned as they are not seen as children. This often leads to confusion on check-in.A point should therefore be made to specifically ask about babies accompanying the group. When a booking is made, the hierarchy (family, drivers, nannies etc), who will be footing the bill, as well as the individual family members’ names must be established. For long stays, the billing should be clarified at the start, especially when guests are travelling for medical reasons. The health department of the country of origin often covers the accommodation, F&B and laundry. Bookings are often made using the prefix ‘El’ or ‘Al’, a type of royal title, which however is left off on arrival or when telephoning.This often leads to irritations and misunderstandings, which is why this fact should be remembered from the outset. It is also recommended that families from various regions are separated from one another. A good opt ion is to inform guests of the Arabic origins of the other guests. Rooms should always be in quiet areas where no lingering smells are present. There are also often requests for rooms with connecting doors. Should this request not be made, family rooms should be situated close to one another on the same floor. 6. Travel Content The main interests are sight-seeing, casino visits and outings with/for children.Shopping is also very popular, which is why hotels should always have shopping tips at hand. Addresses for oversized clothing should also be included. Apart from shopping, excursions into nature, especially the mountains and such, are enjoyed. Sports events are also favourite pastimes; this includes soccer, which is becoming increasingly popular, horseracing, golf and motor racing. 7. Communication Because the majority of Arab guests are able to speak English well, communication problems are rare. Should the older members of a group not be fluent in English, the younger ones do t he translating.Children often speak English astonishingly well. When it comes to negotiations or relationship building, Arabs use very descriptive language combined with many gestures. Instead of coming to the point they use longwinded descriptions. So as not to come across as disrespectful or uninterested, it is advisable to take time and to adapt one’s way of expression as much as possible. It is most important not to decline a guest’s request too bluntly. This ensures that neither party loses face. The wording: ‘I will try my best’ or suggesting an alternative to the request are often very helpful.But under no circumstances should a promise be made that cannot be kept. Provided as part of the benefits of membership of Cape Town Tourism. For more information visit www. capetown. travel/industry, call +27 (0)21 487 6800 or email [email  protected] travel Honesty is a virtue: this saying is interpreted very differently in various countries. Because Arabs are so relationship orientated and take heed of harmonies and friendships, it is still considered being honest when unpleasant subjects are simply ignored and positives stressed.Arabs will always be able to ‘fish out’ the truth in a conversation. In contrast to Europeans, Arabs find it insulting to ignore people that walk into a conversation. Making them wait or even ignoring them must be avoided at all costs, even if one just politely acknowledges the guest and advises him that he will be attended to shortly. Interpersonal relationships have a much higher priority than does time-keeping. This is why Arab guests cannot understand it when no time is taken to have an in-depth discussion. Even unimportant subjects offer the opportunity to build trust and understanding.Therefore, when under time constraints, rather tactfully and reassuringly promise the guest a chat at a later stage. Arabs always expect first-class service/performance, and requests therefore often come acr oss as being demanding. Diplomacy and tolerance are therefore advisable. In addition, absolute punctuality and dependability are expected from the hotel. It is advisable to regularly question the guest on his/her satisfaction. Should there at any time be a problem, e. g. the behaviour of children, this must be addressed privately, with the group’s representative. Under no circumstances should the head of the party be confronted or called. . 1 Topics of Conversation A sure way to win the affection and loyalty of an Arab guest is the enquiry into the wellbeing of his family, especially that of the male members. Enquiries about the female members could be misconstrued and are to be avoided. It would be of great benefit to the hotel contact person to have background information on the family ties of guests. It is therefore vital to keep a guest file containing all the relevant up-to-date details. Topics to be avoided are religion and politics, although being knowledgeable about I slamic religion is a sign of respect. This should however not be shown off.The local customs and way of life are interesting topics and offer much to talk about. Most Arabs are pleased by declarations of friendship. In addition, substantiated acknowledgment of their technical advances, art and social security systems helps to reduce feelings of mistrust and is generally appreciated. They also value acknowledgements for the cultural achievements in their respective countries. Positive comments on the high standard of tourism in the Gulf States are also appreciated. Humour is a very difficult thing to transfer across cultural lines and should be used cautiously.Translations of amusing sayings often lose their amusement value and are not easily understood. Sarcasm and irony are to be avoided unless one knows the other person very well. 7. 2 Non-verbal Communication To begin with some Arab guests may come across as being reserved and sometimes even uninterested. Countering this with a s mile helps make the guest feel respected and welcome. Ignoring a guest is interpreted as an insult. As an Arab saying goes: â€Å"Kill me, but don’t give me a funny look! † Provided as part of the benefits of membership of Cape Town Tourism. For more information visit www. capetown. ravel/industry, call +27 (0)21 487 6800 or email [email  protected] travel Arab women will generally avoid any eye contact with male staff. Eye contact between women however is not an issue. A male staff member should therefore avoid eye contact with a female guest and should never try to force it. Should a woman ask a question, the male companion is addressed unless the woman actively seeks eye contact. Between men, however, direct and intense eye contact is highly regarded. Arabs generally have smaller personal comfort zones than Europeans. During conversations it is customary to feel the speaker’s breath.Europeans who keep their normal personal distance could therefore evoke the feeling that their presence is felt as repulsive. Pointing fingers at persons is also seen as very impolite. Should one be unsure about how to behave when dealing with Arab guests, the best advice is to rather be too reserved rather than forceful. 7. 3 Guest Complaints As with all guests, voicing of complaints depends very much on the personality of the person. Should complaints arise these are brought up by the family’s spokesperson (interpreter), rather than the head of the family or his wife.It is therefore important to establish a good relationship, based on trust, with the spokesperson. The spokesperson should also be given a few names of people in authority, who are able to make quick decisions that are followed through. This has the benefit that instead of discussing problems with other guests/families, the spokesperson can approach the hotel directly to sort matters out. This is also important as families stay for long periods and tend to develop contacts with other families. Through direct communication the escalation of a problem can therefore be avoided.Even though women are taking up more and more managerial roles, experience shows that Arab guests still prefer addressing complaints with male employees. Even if a guest becomes loud and angry, it is important to stay calm. A good tactic is to remove the guest from the public area and discuss the matter over a cup of tea. Complaints are always to be seen as a chance to improve service. 8. HOTEL 8. 1 Choice of Hotel Luxury is not the deciding factor when it comes to choosing a hotel. A certain standard is definitely expected, but the proximity to shopping centres or supermarkets and the hotel’s atmosphere are more important.Medical checks are often the reason for visits, so the proximity to clinics can be a deciding factor in such a case. Should the hotel not be ideally situated, a limousine service could be considered. Instead of city hotels, smaller, family hotels are becoming more an d more popular. As friendliness is a deciding factor, hotels with a family atmosphere are preferred. 8. 2 Greeting and Check-In The greeting is the first, all-important impression a guest gets. On arrival guests want to feel welcomed and respected. An Arab saying goes: â€Å"A look can kill quicker than a sword! To counter this, a smile or even an Arab greeting can make a big difference. Even though Provided as part of the benefits of membership of Cape Town Tourism. For more information visit www. capetown. travel/industry, call +27 (0)21 487 6800 or email [email  protected] travel direct communication might not be possible, the effort is seen as a friendly gesture, which in turn will leave a positive memory. Greetings are so important in Arab society that they have taken on an almost ritualistic character. Even when staff are under pressure, they should always stay calm and take their time with this greeting ceremony.Arab men should be respectfully approached, and then one shou ld await their response. Some greet by shaking hands, others do not. Most Arabs however find handshaking strange, and should it take place, only the right hand is to be offered, as the left is considered ‘unclean’. Arab men greet each other in a variety of ways, either with their noses, their shoulders or by hand. Well-known acquaintances of the same gender also exchange three kisses on the cheeks. It is customary to greet the highest-ranking person first. Ladies are usually not greeted by hand; a greeting is merely implied (hinted at).European women may offer their hand in greeting. When it comes to money, however, this should be dealt with by a male. Especially the older Arab generations find it difficult to deal with female staff. Reception should always have the times for sunrise and sunset handy, as these are important for prayer times. Times can be requested from the local mosques. Prayers are said five times a day, facing the direction of Mecca. It is therefore o f the utmost importance that the guest knows where Mecca lies. To assist with this, stickers can be put on the windowsills advising the direction of Mecca.Some hotels even offer compasses or instruct their staff accordingly. The addresses of embassies and Arabic-speaking doctors should also be at hand and are regularly asked for. These can be given with the welcome letter. Further information that is often requested is recommendations on Arabic, Persian or Lebanese restaurants, limousine rental companies or Arabic-speaking guides. For Arabs the weekend starts on Fridays, and Sundays are a normal working day. Although Arabs generally value a calm and relaxed atmosphere, the check-in should proceed speedily.This is especially important for the women and children who have been travelling for many hours. On arrival the guest will want to inspect and choose from several rooms to ensure that they meet his expectations and those of his family members. The category booked by the organiser s hould however not be changed. Special wishes are often only requested on check-in. Staff should therefore be flexible. Even after several visits to a hotel the special requests may vary from visit to visit, which is why requests from previous years should be clarified before implementation. Due to the long duration of stay, many hotels insist on weekly billing.Should this be the case, the guest must be advised of this on check-in. Financial matters must however be dealt with tactfully so as to avoid giving the impression of mistrust. When luggage is taken to the room the porter should always leave the door open and leave the room as quickly as possible. The ladies in the party will often wait outside the room until the porter has left. To wait for a tip is seen as rude. Arab guests tend to occupy rooms in big groups. To check the number of guests in a room it is helpful to consult with the housekeeper, as she is in charge of the daily cleaning of rooms.Guests also like to change roo ms amongst themselves and the spokesperson of the group should therefore be consulted to clarify the room occupancies. Nonetheless, Provided as part of the benefits of membership of Cape Town Tourism. For more information visit www. capetown. travel/industry, call +27 (0)21 487 6800 or email [email  protected] travel guests are usually quite cooperative should occupancy issues arise. Arabic guests often leave their room doors open or unlocked. It is therefore advised that guests should be informed in writing about the hotels liability policy in cases of theft from the rooms.The issuing of house rules in Arabic is seen as an insult, but should this be a standard, these rules should also be laid out in English and another common language if possible. A friendly welcome letter, which politely requests the adherence to certain rules, will usually be readily accepted. 8. 3 Hotel Interiors/Furnishings Children occupy a very important status in Arabic countries and if possible, designate d areas should be set aside for them. A playroom furnished with billiard tables, computer games etc. is a good idea.The venue should be in an area of the hotel where noise disturbance would be at a minimum and where children can play until late at night. Due to the fact that Arab children are only used to their local foods, it often happens that foods will be heated up in their hotel rooms. This can be prevented by including Arabic foods on the menu. Nannies travelling with children have a purely supervisory and chaperoning function, they are not entitled to reprimand or discipline. Should it be possible, the hotel could offer activity and entertainment programmes for the children to keep them in check.Reception should also advise the nannies of the quickest route to the nearest playground or park. Security is an important aspect for Arabic travellers as the man carries the responsibility for the entire family. The presence of security personnel and/or cameras in the passages is pos itively met. Airconditioning is an absolute must and is seen as a non-negotiable standard. Religion being an integral part of Arab life, guests pray five times a day. A designated prayer room would therefore be appreciated. This room can be very basic, e. g. an empty conference room or guest room in which prayer mats can be spread out.Prayer mats are usually brought along, but some hotels also offer these for loan. It is also seen as polite to remove any items connected to other religions. Arab women appreciate pool times designated for their exclusive use, with only female staff on duty, should this be required. The standard swimwear worn by ladies is leggings and t-shirts. European swimwear is seldom worn. 8. 4 Room Furnishings Although Arab guests are usually quite good at speaking English, signage in Arabic clarifies any uncertainties and helps to make the guest feel welcomed.The room service menu should definitely be translated and guest service directories in Arabic, as well a s a welcome letter in that language, will leave a lasting impression. Guest rooms should be as spacious as possible, as Arabs are used to having a lot of space. Big rooms, preferably suites, are expected. Should no connecting doors between rooms be available, rooms should at least be adjacent to one another. Big beds are also preferred (king and queen size), and baby cots are also often requested. Cooking facilities in rooms are also welcomed, as baby milk can be warmed and water boiled for tea.Many guests do not like ordering room service too often, and should cooking facilities not be available, at least a kettle could be offered as an alternative. Provided as part of the benefits of membership of Cape Town Tourism. For more information visit www. capetown. travel/industry, call +27 (0)21 487 6800 or email [email  protected] travel Arabic TV channels should be available; suggestions are Al-Jazeera and Nile, which are both available via satellite. Video recorders and DVD players are also an ideal service to make available. Arabic newspapers are a must, as the need for up-to-date information is high.A welcome letter in the room which not only greets the guest but also conveys detailed information on the hotel and its services is much appreciated. Small welcome gifts such as fruit, figs, nuts, biscuits, cakes and alcohol-free chocolates are popular. As the ‘Do not disturb’ sign is often left out during the day, good communication between room service and housekeeping is vital. Small gifts for children e. g. chocolate are very important. Arab guests greatly appreciate finding big bottles of still mineral water in their rooms on arrival. These are especially enjoyed by the children after a long trip.Only still water is drunk and internationally known brands are preferred to the local ones. It should be noted that Muslims are prohibited from drinking alcohol, but that not all Arabs are Muslims. In addition, this prohibition is treated in a more rela xed manner when in Europe. Alcohol need only be removed from rooms on request or after enquiry from the hotel or when children accompany adults. Minibars are usually cleared shortly after arrival anyway to accommodate water bottles. The stocking of the minibar can be discussed on arrival. As appliances are often brought along, adapters and cables should be available on request. . 5 Bathrooms Arab guests will request a large number of bath towels on a daily basis. This is due to the fact that the entire body must be cleansed prior to every prayer session. A towel is never used twice, which is why the usage is so high. In addition, it is regarded as unhygienic to only use toilet paper after visiting the toilet. Arabian custom dictates that one also uses water to clean oneself, which is done with the left hand. This is why their toilets are fitted with a water spray facility. Seeing that standard toilets are not fitted with this device, a towel is then used to clean the left hand.Natur ally the towel is immediately given in to be laundered. Some adults try to adjust to the ‘strange’ European habit, but this can not be expected from children. Due to the unpleasant smell of these towels Arabs are often labelled as being unhygienic, which couldn’t be further from the truth. Even though towels are immediately sent to be laundered, the provision of white towels is not necessarily doing them a favour. In addition, guests should also be able to make use of a laundry facility. As children often run around barefoot, towels are laid out in the bathrooms to avoid them becoming ill due to the unfamiliar temperatures. . 6 Daily Routine Because of the high daytime temperatures in the Arab region, Arabs tend to be more active during the evening hours. Their daily routine has adjusted accordingly. It is therefore suggested that cleaning routines for rooms are planned according to individual guests. It is also advisable to allocate more time for the cleaning of rooms than Provided as part of the benefits of membership of Cape Town Tourism. For more information visit www. capetown. travel/industry, call +27 (0)21 487 6800 or email [email  protected] travel usual.Complaints might be received because cleaning staff, for insurance reasons, are not permitted to move items lying around in order to clean the room. The reason for the ‘non-tidying’ should be explained in a friendly and tactful manner. To avoid unnecessary conflicts it is recommended that enough female cleaning staff are at hand to adhere to the strict gender segregation. It is however often difficult to get access to rooms due to the ‘Do not disturb’ sign being out. It is therefore advisable to inform the guests well in advance as to when cleaning is scheduled. 9.Eating Habits The provision of appropriate foods can be a potential area of conflict. Hotels often react negatively to the delivery of food from external sources, or the cooking of foods in the room. There are however several reasons for Arab guests not being able to go without their familiar foods: The length of their stays is often much greater than that of other guests, which is why familiar tastes are missed. In addition, children accompanying adults cannot be expected to adapt. Also, the quality of many exotic fruits is not comparable to that of their home country, which is why special products are often flown in.Not to be forgotten is the fact that the Muslim religion prescribes certain rules when it comes to food and drink, i. e. no pork or alcohol may be consumed, nor any other intoxicating substances. Meat must always be well done as the Koran prohibits the consumption of blood. Many Muslims also insist on meat having been slaughtered according to Islamic rites. Arabic eating habits also vary greatly from those of European cultures. Although European foods are readily tried, Arabic foods are definitely preferred. If possible, Arabic, Turkish or Libyan chefs shoul d therefore be brought in.Some hotels even allow the guests’ own chefs to use the hotel kitchen. The breakfast times stipulated in hotels often do not fit into the daily routine of Arabs, who usually take breakfast between 10h00 and noon. The foods on offer in hotels however are more than sufficient to cover the guests’ needs. Great value is placed on a variety of fruits and fruit juices. Beware: Children often go to breakfast unaccompanied by parents. It is therefore vital to make it clear which cold meats/foods contain pork, to avoid children eating these forbidden foods. Dinner is usually taken between 21h00 and 23h00 and is ordered from room service.Enough staff should therefore always be at hand. Choices should include Arabic dishes, menus should be translated and the various dishes should be numbered to avoid any miscommunication. Should the hotel wish to limit guests from going out for meals or ordering in, it would be advisable to adjust themselves to the Arabi c habits. Some hotels offer Arabic buffets in separate rooms or in a section of the restaurant. Others do not cater for the guests’ needs and have an agreement allowing the guests to order in, but charge a ‘corkage’ fee for this privilege.Should the guests make use of the restaurant, children should be especially well treated and served. Arabic guests go to eat not because the adults are hungry, but because the Provided as part of the benefits of membership of Cape Town Tourism. For more information visit www. capetown. travel/industry, call +27 (0)21 487 6800 or email [email  protected] travel children are hungry. Due to the fact that children are often ‘neglected’ in restaurants, parents prefer going to Arabic or Lebanese restaurants. 9. 1 Etiquette during meals Despite rumours, Arabic guests do not sit on the floor to eat.This is only done when the table is covered by brochures or is too small. There is little talking during meals, meaning that the noise disturbance is minimal. A small amount of the main meal is always left on the plate, after which dessert and coffee is quickly consumed. It is a sign of politeness to at least try every dish, even if one is not hungry. Eating only commences once the head of the table opens the meal with the words ‘Bismillah’ (in the name of Allah). Everyone helps themselves, and it is an unwritten law that one eats the most from the dish directly in front of one.The host will always ensure that these are the best dishes. After dinner, when coffee is served, only three small cups are consumed, as more would be considered impolite. One can however indicate beforehand when one has had enough, otherwise replenishment will be done without asking. The signal for this in the Middle East is to quickly wave the cup from left to right whilst holding it between your thumb and index finger. In Europe, Arab guests eat with knives and forks. If meals are eaten by hand, only the right hand i s used, as the left is considered as ‘unclean’.In the Middle East meals are served with nan or pita bread, which is broken into little pieces that are then formed into a shovel using three fingers, and the food picked is up with this. Dates are always a welcome offering, although the locally available ones are not of the same quality as the ones in the Middle East. This is why they are often flown in especially by guests. Favoured desserts are heavy and sweet, but usually quite costly as they contain ingredients such as hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, pistachios and honey.Baklava, Swiss chocolate and glazed chestnuts are very well liked. It is considered very rude to remove plates that are not quite empty without asking. Arab guests do not necessarily know the rule of laying the knife and fork next to one another on the plate to signal that one has finished. Permission must therefore be asked for before clearing. 9. 2 Beverages In Arab countries beverages are ordered durin g or after meals, not before. They are also used to receiving their food soon after ordering.In the Arab region guests are greeted with a beverage upon arrival, without having ordered. This is an Arab ritual and serves to create a friendly atmosphere. Ordering drinks prior to receiving food is not customary and seen as a nuisance. Apart from mocha, there is no drink that is consumed in larger amounts than tea. Especially popular are black tea with a few sprigs of mint, but also cardamom, aniseed and jasmine are popular flavourants. Tea is an obligatory welcome drink for guests, and is drunk very sweet, and many hotels have started serving tea out of samovars in the lobby area.Some guests however may be irritated by the fact that the same person who serves them the tea also serves alcohol. Provided as part of the benefits of membership of Cape Town Tourism. For more information visit www. capetown. travel/industry, call +27 (0)21 487 6800 or email [email  protected] travel Coffee i s served in small mocha cups with a lot of sugar (hulwa), half a sugar cube (madbuta) or without sugar (murra). Because the method of preparation and taste of coffee prepared by hotels differs greatly, coffee is often brought along by guests.The water consumed is usually still water, and for cost reasons is often bought in large bottles at supermarkets. To counter this, water can be offered at special prices as part of room service. Because Muslims are prohibited from drinking alcohol, a large range of nonalcoholic drinks should be made available. Arab Christians however are permitted to consume alcohol. Apart from water, fruit juices and Coca-Cola are very popular, especially with children. 10. Summary of Important Tips Specifics ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Emphasise to staff the importance of offering suggestions Enquire about health and satisfaction on a regular basis Have information about mosques and prayer times at hand Inform other guests that Arab guests are sharing the same fl oor Explain to staff how to offer tactful service by making use of examples Print hotel rules in Arabic, English and German Welcome letters can contain tactful requests about adherence to certain house rules Inform guests about hotel liability policy in writing (when doors are left open) Specify a contact person who is responsible for the group during the stay Show flexibility when it comes to breakfast and restaurant opening times Respect special requests when cleaning rooms Have information on children’s activities and programmes at hand Show the nanny the way to the nearest park Verbal Communication ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Discuss the subject of communication between Arab guests and staff Never leave a guest waiting when they want to communicate Do not be irritated by the emotional expressions of guests Do not deny requests, rather offer alternatives and show that you are concerned and wanting to assist Communicate criticism tactfully Always plan enough time to ensure a trusting rel ationship is built up with guests Show personal interest Be careful when using humour; irony and sarcasm are no-no’s Non-verbal Communication ? ? ? ? Stern expressions are interpreted as arrogant – always smile No direct eye contact between female guests and male staff Eye contact is important between men Accept minimal personal space when communicating Complaint Behavior ? Be sensitive and tactful during emotionally charged complaints ? Should guests retire/leave quietly, assume that there is a problem ?Involve the middle man/interpreter when guest or hotel complaints come up Provided as part of the benefits of membership of Cape Town Tourism. For more information visit www. capetown. travel/industry, call +27 (0)21 487 6800 or email [email  protected] travel ? Be proactive to avoid a spate of complaints ? Serious issues must be handled by male staff Reservations ? ? ? ? Clarify hierarchical order in advance Clarify exact number of guests including babies and nannie s Internally, ensure that all names are spelt in one way Clarify on arrival who will be taking care of payments Greeting / Welcome ? Allocate sufficient time for the greeting/arrival ? Use Arab forms of greeting ? Discuss the importance of first impressions with staff.Despite reservations, guests will change hotels if they are not happy ? Male staff should not shake hands with female guests ? Handshakes that are too firm are to be avoided ? Never offer the left hand, as it is considered ‘unclean’ ? Ensure that the check-in runs smoothly and speedily ? Financial issues must be dealt with tactfully ? Plan in more time and staff to deal with special requests ? Have city information at hand in Arabic Hotel Interior ? ? ? ? ? Hotels with self-catering facilities are preferred Ensure that guests feel safe Offer play rooms/entertainment areas for children A/C is a must Be prepared that the lobby will at times resemble a bazaar Room Interiors ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Rooms should be b ig with interconnecting doors Check number of guests per room regularly Advise in a sensitive manner the rules for number of persons allowed per room Offer big beds Provide Arab TV channels Prepare friendly welcome letter Offer still mineral water in large bottles Discuss minibar contents in advance Indicate direction of Mecca (remove any other religious symbols/books) Be prepared for increased towel usage Services on Offer ? Discuss cleaning schedules with individual rooms ? Have enough cleaning staff at hand, preferably female ? Offer newspapers in home languages Provided as part of the benefits of membership of Cape Town Tourism. For more information visit www. capetown. travel/industry, call +27 (0)21 487 6800 or email [email  protected] travel Food and Beverages ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Offer room service Translate menu into Arabic and number the dishes Be prepared for increase in room service between 21h00 and 23h00 Have an Arabic chef prepare Arabic meals Alternatively, allow the g uests’ personal chef to use kitchen Order in Arab catering Adjust restaurant opening times to suit guests Serve children first and quickly Pork and alcohol are prohibited for Muslims Breakfast ? Offer normal international breakfast buffet ? Offer wide selection of fruit and fruit juices ? Indicate which cold meats contain pork Etiquette during Meal Times ? Always ask whether plates may be removed before doing so ? Place big tables in guest rooms to avoid guests having to eat sitting on the floor ? Only eat with the right hand, as the left is considered ‘unclean’ Drinks ? ? ? Offer black tea with sprigs of fresh mint leaves Tea is generally drunk very sweet Offer a good selection of non-alcoholic beverages Be aware that coffee is often brought by the guests themselves Arabic Phrases Good day Good morning Good evening Good night Welcome Thank you Please See you again One moment please Excuse me please I wish you a pleasant stay Salam aleikhum (pronounced: sala male icum) Sabah elkheir (pronounced: sabba elsher) Masah elkheir (pronounced: masse elsher) Tisbah ala kheir (pronounced: tisba ala kair) Marhaba Shokran (pronounced: shukran) Afoin (pronounced: affoan) Maa salama Min fadlak Lau samahat Ekama saida Provided as part of the benefits of membership of Cape Town Tourism. For more information visit www. capetown. ravel/industry, call +27 (0)21 487 6800 or email [email  protected] travel Titles The confusing name sequences are constructed with between three and six elements: ? Social status ? First name and family ties ? Father and sometimes grandfathers’ names ? Social and geographic origin ? Sometimes honour titles and occupational titles The social rank is always mentioned at the beginning of the name; this is especially clear for heads of state, e. g. Emir (Arab. Amir), Sultan, Malik (king) or Rais (president). In the UAE the rulers do not call each other Emir, but rather Sheikh. This is followed by the first name, which is follow ed by the description of family ties/connections.For boys ‘Ibn’ (son of), for girls ‘Bint’ (daughter of), for fathers ‘Abu’ (Father of). An especially honorable title is ‘Umm’ (mother of), followed by the eldest son’s name. These are followed by the social or geographic origins. Muslims who have fulfilled their trips to the holy sites of Mecca and Medina carry the honorary title of Hajj, although this is seldom used in the Emirates or Gulf of Oman. The job title is often also part of the title, e. g. ‘Imam’ (priest), ‘Qadi’ (judge) or ‘Hakim’ (doctor). The surname always stands last. Provided as part of the benefits of membership of Cape Town Tourism. For more information visit www. capetown. travel/industry, call +27 (0)21 487 6800 or email [email  protected] travel

The Link Between Psychological Stressors and Overall...

Existence of distinct links between psychological stressors and a persons’ overall health have been proven through various objective studies. The degree of the stress response can also be directly linked to the severity of its effects. Specific research indicates that stress is related to increased risk of improper immune system functioning, liver disease, and coronary artery disease. When exposed to environmental threats, the body’s immune system carries out dynamic processes through the secretion of various chemicals and production of various kinds of cells, to maintain homeostasis. Whether the stressor is acute or chronic, research now indicates that psychological stress has a strong connection to immune system functioning,†¦show more content†¦In addition to being susceptible to certain diseases, other researchers have discovered that â€Å"†¦extended stress duration and possibly diminished restorative processes have effects that mimic, exacerbate , and sometimes accelerate the effects of aging on immunity† (Hawkley, Cacioppo, 2003). Researchers Hawkley and Cacioppo studied this effect through the use of behaviorally â€Å"slow† and â€Å"fast† laboratory mice. After exposing the two different types of mice to stressful situations, they discovered that the â€Å"slow† mice exhibited higher amounts of anxiety and â€Å"†¦faster age-related immune declines than did the â€Å"fast† mice† (Hawkley, Cacioppo, 2003). Therefore, this particular study confirms the correlation between diminished immune system functioning as a result of age and stress. It also supports the idea that stress can exacerbate the declined function of the immune system. In addition to the autonomic and neuroendocrine pathways connecting psychological stress and the immune system, similar pathways exist in organs of the body such as the liver. Pathways that connect pathophysiological interactions of stress with the liver can be divided into two major subdivisions: HPA axis and autonomic nervous system. According to Chida and his research team, â€Å"†¦autonomic nervous connection between the brain and the liver reportedly compromises the efferent sympathetic/adrenomedullary system andShow MoreRelatedStress And Its Effect On The Body, Mind, And Spirit853 Words   |  4 Pagesmodifications in lifestyle and behavior as well as different health approaches that reduce stress. Research Stress negatively affects the overall health and wellness of an individual. Stress has been correlated with worsening psychological and physical health (Segerstrom O’Connor, 2012). Many employees struggle with behavioral health issues and wellness coaching is becoming an increasingly prevalent strategy to help employees improve their health and wellbeing (Clark et al., 2014). â€Å"Wellness coachingRead MoreDiscrimination : Social And Economic Consequences On Ethnic Minorities1065 Words   |  5 Pagesethnic minorities. Not only does discrimination have economic consequences but they have health consequences. Minorities face health disparities, in that their health overall is worse than the health of a white American. Racial minorities have a higher prevalence of diabetes, stroke, and other largely preventable disease. While many factors are involved in these health disparities, such as income and health care access, they are not exclusive to minorities. A factor exclusiv e to marginalized groupsRead MoreAn Attachment For Successful Emotional And Social Development Essay1089 Words   |  5 Pages Attachment is a strong emotional connection between two people, often a bond between a child and caregiver. Since Bowlby’s (1969) theory, describing the importance of developing an attachment for successful emotional and social development, other researchers have theorised that not forming attachments affects individuals, including their possible development of mental health issues. Researchers have replicated Ainworths and Wittig’s (1969) Strange Situation experiment, using the results forRead MoreMultiple Stressors On Children s Blood Pressure Essay1465 Words   |  6 Pagesthere is more than one stressor that causes implications on one’s life, it is classified as multiple stressors. Multiple stressors in childhood were found by Evans and English (2002) to yield a large effect on children in low-income households. It was discovered that children who are from low-income families usually face more than one life stressor at a time compared to children residing in middle-income households. In addition, when testing for children’s personal psychological well-being of themselvesRead MoreA Research Study On Relational Health1293 Words   |  6 PagesSection 1 Every family faces stressors in normal everyday life. In addition to regular family stress, military families also face stress attributed to military life. Military families experience things like deployments, relocations, PTSD, depression, other mental health issues and constant shifting of family responsibilities due to parental absences. Due to the transitional nature of military family life, it is crucial that relationships within the family stay strong to generate good collective familialRead More The Effects of Occupational Stress on Physical Health and its Consequences2501 Words   |  11 PagesStress can have both psychological and physical effects on the members of the workforce. And while the specific effect may differ from one individual to the next, and in particular the effect on physical health will certainly differ from one job to another, a construction worker will most certainly experience different health issues than a secretary, for instance, physical health. Re search conducted in the field of occupational health psychology has found evidence linking health and mortality in individualsRead MorePsychological Aspects Of Sexually Abused Women And The Trauma Recovery And Empowerment1593 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction The topic of this article will focus on psychological aspects of sexually abused women and the trauma recovery and empowerment. Sexual abuse can be well defined as sexual assaults and sexual exploitation of the individual, which include the following: Rape, Incest, Molestation and Voyeurism. An assortment of 15 empirical studies will compare and contrast their findings of psychological sexual abuse and trauma recovery. Individuals that are victims of sexual abuse can undergo many issuesRead MoreThe Effects Of Psoriasis On Health Related Quality Of Life703 Words   |  3 PagesThe Effect of Psoriasis on Health-Related Quality of Life Introduction Psoriasis is a disease that greatly affects a small amount of the population. It is estimated that about 3-5% percent of the population is diagnosed with psoriasis (Yu, 2016; Pg. 1). Psoriasis is defined as a chronic inflammatory skin disease (Lahousen et al, 2016; Pg. 78). The disease creates, in most cases, rough dry patches or lesions on the skin surface. Multiple sights on the body can be affected ranging from the scalpRead MoreThe Effects Of Poverty On Childhood Development924 Words   |  4 PagesThis essay aims to discuss the relationship between poverty, lower socioeconomic status (SES), and childhood development. While poverty can be directly linked to negative developments in terms of health status it is also indirectly linked to other important factors such as; mental health, physiological wellbeing and education, all of which have major impacts on childhood development which can also be transferred into adulthood. This essay aims to evaluate the literature available o n the effectsRead MoreInfant Mortality : An Important Indicator Of A Nation s Health1159 Words   |  5 PagesInfant mortality has long been considered to be an important indicator of a nation’s health, and while it has fallen dramatically over the past five decades, there are still striking differences along socioeconomic, geographic, and racial lines. â€Å"In 2009, the infant mortality rate was 12.4 infant deaths per 1,000 live births among blacks, compared to 5.3 among whites.† Equally large and persistent differences by race are found for other birth outcomes – including stillbirths, preterm births, and