A look a Pratical Magic :: essays research papers

Practical Magic was released October 16, 1998. The story is about two sisters who break a curse that had been placed on their family for over 200 years, by their ancestor Maria. Throughout the movie the theme is magic. Practical Magic helps to break the false images placed on witches and magic throughout time, but at times, the movie, still upholds some of the negative views of witches. There are many stereotypes that are set upon modern witchcraft and magic in today’s society that Hollywood has helped to maintain. In society there are people that are the selected voice of the general public in critiquing movies. I will be looking at Practical Magic’s use of magic to see how they break or perpetuate the following stereotypes: physical appearance of a witch, the witch as an outcast, and the types of magic and how they were shown throughout the movie. When looking at the main characters: Sally, Gillian, Jet and Frances, the viewer will see different physical appearances of how Hollywood views the possible appearance of a witch A witch throughout history is usually a hag, old, poor, handicapped, or ugly (Guiley 371). In the movie, the Owens women are what most people would consider quite beautiful. They are just like normal people with the exception of the fact that they have a gift. The aunts: Jet and Frances in the movie would be considered to follow the typical stereotype of a witch that is old but even though they are typical old woman that lives on the outskirts of town they break the stereotypical medieval image of a witch being ugly and a hag but they also perpetuate other stereotypes by dressing in lavish 19th century clothing. Their style screams â€Å"I’m different†. The aunts seem to be aging quite well. They appear to look young for their age. In one scene, when the detective goes in to town to ask about t he Owens’ sisters, he gets an ear full about how the aunts don’t age. Many in the town believe this is due to the fact that they are witches. There is one more image of a witch portrayed in history. This image is from the other end of the spectrum. Instead of being a hag or ugly, she is beautiful and a seductive woman. Sally destroys the image of both of the stereotypes of what a witch looks like.

Audit Program Design Part Iii

Inventory and Warehousing Cycle The audit of the inventory and warehousing cycle is designed to test inventory counts, processes, and operations. The classes of transactions in this cycle include sales, value of inventory, cost of goods sold, sales returns and allowances, and estimates of allowance for slow moving inventory. Tests of Controls and Substantive Tests of TransactionsTable WK6-1 displays the interrelationships of the transaction related to audit objectives, tests of controls, and substantive tests of transactions that should be approved during the audit process of Apollo Shoes, Inc. Table WK6-1. Inventory Warehousing Cycle Tests of Controls and Substantive Tests of Transactions Audit Design (Arens, Elder, & Beasley, 2006) Inventory – Apollo Shoes, Inc.Transaction-Related Audit Objectives – Tests of Controls – Substantive Tests of Transactions| Transaction-Related Audit Objective| Tests of Controls| Substantive Tests of Transactions| Inventory as r ecorded on tags exists (existence). | * Select a random sample of tag numbers and identify the tag with that number attached to the actual inventory. | * Observe whether movement of inventory takes place during the count. | Existing inventory is counted and tagged, and tags are accounted for to make sure none are missing (completeness). * Examine inventory to make sure it is tagged. | * Observe whether movement of inventory takes place during the count. * Inquire as to inventory in other locations. | Inventory is counted accurately (accuracy). | * Recount client’s counts to make sure the recorded counts are accurate on the tags (also check descriptions and unit of count, such as dozen or gross). * Compare physical counts with perpetual inventory master file. | * Record client’s counts for subsequent testing. Inventory is classified correctly on the tags (classification). |* Examine inventory descriptions on the tags and compare with the actual inventory for raw materia l, work-in-process, and finished goods. | * Evaluate whether the percent of completion recorded on the tags for work-in-process is reasonable. | Information is obtained to make sure sales and inventory purchases are recorded in the proper period (cutoff). | * Record in the audit files for subsequent follow-up the last receiving report number used at year-end. * Make sure the inventory for the above item was included in the physical count. | The client has rights to inventory recorded on tags (rights). | * Inquire about consignment or customer inventory included on client’s premises. | * Be alert for inventory that is set aside or specially marked as indications of non-ownership. | Analytical Procedures Analytical procedures can be performed several times during an engagement: * In the planning phase to assist in determining the nature, extent, and timing of work to be performed. During the testing phase of the audit in conjunction with the audit procedures, and * During the c ompletion phase of the audit as a final review for material misstatements for financial problems and to help the auditor take a final â€Å"objective look† at the financial statements that have been audited (Arens, Elder, & Beasley, 2006, p. 208). Arens, Elder, and Beasley (2006) explain that one of the most important analytical procedures for uncovering misstatements of the Inventory and Warehousing Cycle are comparing current with prior year.Analytical procedures for the balance sheet and income statement accounts in the Inventory and Warehousing Cycle are presented in Table WK6-2. Table WK6-2. Inventory and Warehousing Cycle Analytical Procedures (Arens, Elder & Beasley, 2006) Cash Cycle The following tests of controls and substantive tests of transactions for the Cash Cycle discussed by Arens, Elder, and Beasley (2006) are designed to ensure existence, completeness, accuracy, classification, timing, and summarization.Table WK6-3 illustrates the design of test of c ontrols and substantive tests of Cash Cycle. Tests of Controls and Substantive Tests of Transactions Cash – Apollo Shoes, Inc. Transaction-Related Audit Objectives – Tests of Controls – Substantive Tests of Transactions| Transaction-Related Audit Objective| Tests of Controls| Substantive Tests of Transactions| Cash in the bank as stated on the reconciliation exists (existence)| * Receipt and tests of a bank confirmation. | * Proof account exists and balances are accurate. Existing cash in the bank is recorded (completeness). | * Receipt and tests of a cutoff bank statement. | * Tests of the bank reconciliation| Cash in the bank as stated on the reconciliation is accurate (accuracy). | * Tests of the bank reconciliation. * Extended tests of the bank reconciliation. | * Tests for kiting. * Proof of cash. | Cash in the bank is properly presented and disclosed (presentation and disclosure). |* Examine minutes, loan agreements, and obtain confirmation for restriction s on the use of cash and compensating balances. * Review financial statements to make sure (a) material savings accounts and certificates of deposit are disclosed separately from cash in the bank,(b) cash restricted to certain uses and compensating balances are adequately disclosed, and (c) bank overdrafts are included as current liabilities. | Cash receipts and cash disbursements transactions are recorded in the proper period (cutoff). | * Cash receipts:Count the cash on hand on the last day of the year and subsequently trace to deposits in transit and the cash receipts journal. Cash disbursements:Record the last check number used on the last day of the year and subsequently trace to the outstanding checks and the cash disbursements journal| * Trace deposits in transit to subsequent period bank statement (cutoff bank statement). * Trace outstanding checks to subsequent period bank statement. | Table WK6-3. Cash Cycle Tests of Controls and Substantive Tests of Transactions Audit Des ign (Arens, Elder, & Beasley, 2006) Analytical Procedures Analytical procedures for the balance sheet and income statement accounts in the Cash Cycle are presented in Table WK6-4.Table WK6-4 Cash Cycle Analytical Procedures (Arens, Elder, & Beasley, 2006) References Arens, A. A. , Elder, R. J. , & Beasley, M. S. (2006). Auditing and assurance services: an integrated approach (11th ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Louwers, T. J. , & Reynolds, J. K. (2007). Apollo shoes, inc. : An audit case to accompany auditing and assurance services. [University of Phoenix Custom Edition e-Text]. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Retrieved from University of Phoenix,  ACC546 – Auditing website.

Essay on Americans Should be able to Protect Themselves...

If you have ever been in a life threatening situation with no way to defend yourself, being denied access to a firearm makes the situation worse. Many law abiding citizens that feel threatened are not able to obtain a firearm for protection. Innocent people are dying while criminals are getting away with gun related crimes. There can be many regulations and laws against guns, but if a person wants a gun they will find a way to get one. The thought of criminals having guns in their possession is a scary thought, but would you want to be the one who is unarmed? Research shows there is no direct correlation between gun control and lower crime rates; therefore, denying law abiding citizens access to weapons for protection is unfair†¦show more content†¦To coincide with prior restrictions of gun control the Brady Bill, which was passed in 1993, required all background checks on gun buyers (Schwartz). According to Schwartz, such states as California and New Jersey have been creating stricter laws. California had manufacturers stamp every gun with an individual code; therefore, if a specific gun was questioned in a crime, they would be able to trace it back to the owner. New Jersey, not taking as extreme measures as California, enforced penalties for illegal gun possession as well. Gun control infringes on the Second Amendment right of the American people. The Second Amendment reads, A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed (Adams). In researching gun control, the government is not sure which way to enforce the law because they can not determine the fair interpretation of the amendment. Even though gun control is suppose to reduce fire arm related crimes, it only makes it harder for law abiding citizens, or officers of the law to attain guns. According to Hogberg there was a specific case of Heller vs. Washington D.C. that made a huge impact. Dick Heller was asked to defend the people of D.C. against the government to gain the rights to own a hand gun. The right of owning a hand gun in Washington D.C. was revoked in the early 1970s, but in 1976 an incident of a shooting changedShow MoreRelatedThe Debate Over Stricter Gun Control Laws924 Words   |  4 Pagesdebate over stricter gun laws has been ongoing in the United States for quite some time now. Individuals who oppose stricter gun control laws argue that the second amendment to the constitution of the United States constitute part of the bill of rights that protect the right of American citizens to bear arms, and any attempt to set up laws for gun control will be a direct violation of this (Hofstadter 10). They argue that the primary purpose of the amendment was to ensure that American Citizens had theRead MoreThe Debate Over Stricter Gun Control929 Words   |  4 Pages Gun Control in the United States The debate over stricter gun laws has been ongoing in the United States for quite some time now. Individuals who oppose stricter gun control laws argue that the second amendment to the constitution of the United States constitute part of the bill of rights that protect the right for American citizens to bear arms, and any attempt to set up laws for gun control will be a direct violation on this (Hofstadter 10). They argueRead MoreThe Issue Of Gun Violence1550 Words   |  7 PagesGun violence has run rampant in America. Due to this many Americans have this issue at the forefront of their minds. Everybody seems to think that they have the solution to this problem. The reality here is that the violence lies not in the gun, but in whomever carries out the act of using the gun in a violent manner. Many people fail to see this though, and think by removing guns completely from society the violence will cease. The people who take this side, are tired of innocent people being killedRead MoreMayra Pelayo. Erwc. Dec. 9 2016. Baker. Are States With958 Words   |  4 Pagesmore strict gun control really more safe? Now many people like to believe that if states have more gun control laws, the safer they would be in their homes and neighborhoods. Even though they strongly believe that more crimes such as murder will occur if there are guns in people s homes, the less gun control there is the safer people may actually be, because a civilian can protect themselves from an intruder in their home, and it is in the constitution as the second amendment. Now Gun control canRead MoreThe Effects Of Gun Violence On The United States1302 Words   |  6 PagesIn the United States, over the past few decades, gun violence has increased massively, leading to over 10,000 gun-related incidents in 2015. The main cause of the massive amount of violence in the United States in recent decades is mainly because people who are in danger have no means to protect themselves. This is why guns should be more accessible for citizens, so that they can protect themselves in dangerous situations. Allowing citizens to conceal weapons would heavily decrease the amount ofRead MoreThe Bill of Rights Amendments984 Words   |  4 Pagesincluded in the Bill of Rights. The amendment allows Americans to make changes to the September 17, 1789 United States Constitution, that was ratified and made law (Zink 450).. The amendment process has made it possible for the constitution to change moderately, than being overhauled, and it has been changed to adhere to the cur rent times and changes. The Second Amendment to the US constitution is part of the Bill of Rights that guarantees all American citizens the right to keep and bear arms. This amendmentRead MoreAgainst Gun Control Of The United States1145 Words   |  5 PagesEnglish II November 1, 2015 Against Gun Control Crime and guns, the two always seem to be acting together, however, these two elements are absolutely nothing alike. Do guns commit the horrific crimes? Do the laws placed on gun control keep the citizens of the United States safe? These are the questions many citizens and lawmakers are asking themselves when they try to launch laws on gun control. Although many people are for gun control, they do not realize that gun control violate the United StatesRead MoreConcealed Carry Handguns : The American People s Right And Choice1587 Words   |  7 PagesHandguns: The American People’s Right and Choice On December 15, 1791 the United States ratified the Second Amendment of the Bill of Rights. This ratification to the constitution gave the American people the unalienable right to bear arms: â€Å"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed† (Acosta). In order for the country to remain free, the American people needed the right to protect themselves. This alsoRead MoreGuns Are Not Always Used For Evil Purposes851 Words   |  4 Pages Guns are not always used for evil purposes. It is who controls the gun that does the evil deeds. â€Å"The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles† (Cooper, n.d.) How would you f eel if your government came in and confiscated your guns? As AmericansRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of Gun Control1544 Words   |  7 Pagesthere is a story on the news about gun violence and the discussion comes up about gun control. What is gun control? As defined by Marriam-Webster, gun control is the â€Å"regulation of the selling, owning, and use of guns,† (Marriam, 2017). When is there too much control? How does it affect the law-abiding citizen? These are questions that need to be taken into consideration while taking a position, as gun control effects everyone in the United States of America. Gun control needs to cease due to the

Gun Control Is A Tough Business - 854 Words

Gun control in America is a tough business. Second amendment advocates love to flourish their rights to bear arms. However, their stubbornness is causing many unnecessary complications that could be easily solved if they would cooperate more with legislators. The need for more a more thorough background check, more rigorous restriction on purchases and less selfishness is paramount to the evolution of our country. Of the many problems we face in gun control it is availability of guns to the very people that don’t need them. The Sandy Hook shooting, occurring on December 14, 2012, sparked a nation wide push for stricter gun control. The shooter, a mentally ill male, shot down 26 people with a semi-automatic AR-15-- a military type assault rifle. Many Americans were left wondering how a mentally ill person would be capable of acquiring such guns. The truth is that it is not very difficult for someone to acquire such weaponry. On January 14, 2013 Brian Walsh wrote in a Time article that there was nearly one gun for every person in the U.S. We own almost, if not, half of the world s civilian guns. Furthermore our laws and regulations are generally slack compared to other developed countries. In Canada, not only do gun owners receive a background check, they must undergo a safety gun course and have a federal registration certificate for that weapon. Japan s laws are among the strictest: e ssentially banning all weapons except those used in competitions and requiringShow MoreRelated Gun Ownership and Gun Control in Canada Essay857 Words   |  4 PagesGun Ownership and Gun Control in Canada The Oscar-won documentary ‘Bowling for Columbine’ has aroused people’s awareness of gun ownership and gun control issues. Should gun ownership be banned or should guns be controlled? Does gun ownership create a violent society? The answer is not measurable, however, from the firearm situation between America and Canada, the answer is more obvious. America probably has the highest rate of gun ownership in the world. In CanadaRead MoreGun Control and the Black Market Essay examples1639 Words   |  7 Pagesrunning around with illegal guns. So we are not able to find the guns and the murder weapons. Their should not be able to get the gun at all but their find ways. This need addressing because if we do not address the problem, it will just get worse and more people will die from are mistaken. The worse it gets, the more people that die from this. People should not have to worry about the criminals who were in jail, having guns and what they would be doing with them. Gun control laws should stop criminalsRead MoreBan Guns On Their Property And Workplace Safety With Guns958 Words   |  4 Pagesstarts shooting. At the end of the gunfire, there are 20 people shot. This paper will examine the rights of the employee to carry guns, employers’ rights to ban guns on their property and workplace safety with guns involved. The employees have the right to bear arms. Currently, there is no law that controls guns at the office. Several states have passed professed guns-at-work laws. Laws like these are usually intended to keep employees’ privileges to have concealed firearms differ in terms of theirRead MoreUnderage Drinking, Drug Use / Abuse, And Unwanted Teenage Pregnancies1285 Words   |  6 Pagesuse/abuse, and unwanted teenage pregnancies. These children have a higher risk of developing violent behavior towards friends and family members. I would like to express my support of the 83rd Legislature in allowing citizens the right to carry concealed guns and supporting the 2nd Amendment. I am a single woman, I live alone and work 1  ½ from my home and most of my travel is at night. If I broke down or had to make a stop I would be an easy target for someone looking to commit a crime. I have my 4 yearRead MoreAnalysis Of The Movie The Night Of September 11 1630 Words   |  7 Pagesarrested for minor criminal charges are being released as Obama wanted gang members targeted rather than minor criminals. Obama supported the law as to ease law and immigration enforcement to settle critics who had been saying the president was being too tough. †¢ Where we are heading- A bill waiting for vote in the house for immigration reform has yet to be voted on and the situation looks bleak. House republicans are not making the bill a priority and democrats are admitting the future for immigrationRead MoreArticle Review On Donald Trump1687 Words   |  7 Pagescovered many topics. I found myself spending more time on these websites that covered many topics. The Daily Caller is one of these broad websites that featured the current events in politics, the international community, entertainment, sports and business. The political section on the Daily Caller seems to favor a more conservative stance, but is by no means a conservative website. Donald Trump of course was making news, with his words that were directed to North Korea during his speech at an airbaseRead MoreWhy Guns Should Be Legal1660 Words   |  7 PagesThe topic on why guns should be legal in chicago is very controversial. What ever side you pick there will be negatives and positives, but the side that the city takes has too many negatives causing deaths and the purchase of unregistered weapons. Others may say that by more people carrying guns it is more likely that they would use them incorrectly; But with the solution posed more citizens would have a gun with a license and safety classes. They would need to take these classes before making theirRead MoreDemocrats and Republicans: Is There a Difference? Essay1649 Words   |  7 Pages2013, p.16). They were believed to be necessary for the good of the people. Another policy deemed necessary for the welfare of the people was the strict gun control policy adopted by the Democrats after the assassination of President Kennedy (Watson, 2013). Democrats also believed that businesses were best handled by the government, being too tough for individuals to handle. On the other hand, Conservatives were very resistant to change. They were convinced that the traditional policies andRead MorePaychecks for Playmakers?998 Words   |  4 Pagesantsy as Cam Newton took the snap from shot gun and handed the ball off to University of Auburn running back Michael Dyer. Dyer tucked the hand off into his right hand, shuffled right to avoid his blocking lineman, and lunged past a University of Oregon defender just as he was being wrapped up by another Oregon linebacker. The linebacker spun Dyer in an attempt to wrestle him to the ground but somehow, in a feat of extreme effort, balance, and body control, Dyer went from being parallel to and almostRead MoreCase Study : My Summer Pharmacy Internship1166 Words   |  5 PagesThe case: During my summer pharmacy internship, a situation arose that there was a middle age male who carried a gun on his chest presented in my pharmacy, he was trying to buy some syringes and needles without prescription. The pharmacist on duty went up to talk to him. During the conversation, the pharmacist noticed that customer’s pupils were dilated, could not respond to pharmacist’s questions quickly, even mumbled to himself. Also the pharmacist saw bruises and some injection holes on both

Erp Implementations A Business Process Management

ERP Implementations Introduction: Enterprise resource planning is a business process management tool to help business manage and automate many back office functions related to technology, services, accounting, supply chain, inventory, projects and human resources [1]. It is a system which integrates product planning, development, manufacturing, sales and marketing [1]. First ERP Failure (Hershey): There are many organizations which were successful in the implementation of ERP’s but there are also ERP implementations which were a disastrous failures. Firstly let us know about few of such organizations. The most famous company Hershey’s, one among the top fortune 500 companies was once hit by the ERP failure in the year 1999.The Hershey Foods Corporation was founded by Milton Hershey in year 1894 . Hershey’s had approached three vendors SAP AG, Siebel Systems and Manugistics for implementing the ERP system. Few of the modules were implemented in January 1999, remaining modules were due on April 1999 [3]. Unfortunately it was delayed and was moved on to be implemented in July 1999 which had overlapped with the year’s busiest time when huge orders were received for Christmas and Halloween. To complete the implementation on a faster notion Hershey decided on following Big Bang implementation in which several modules were impl emented parallel. This implementation was failed miserably due to lack of order management and fulfillment, even though Hershey had finished the product andShow MoreRelatedEnterprise Resource Planning ( Erp )1539 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Today Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is extensively adopted by many organizations regardless of kind and size, mainly because it provides enterprise wide view of information across all their business operations and help organizations achieve consistency across all their functional departments. The potential benefits of ERP system implementation include improved coordination across functional areas, increased efficiency, reduced operational costs, rapid access to information forRead MoreCritical Factors Of Erp Implementations1050 Words   |  5 PagesCritical Factors of ERP Implementations: Two Cases from Saudi Arabia Abstract Seven categories of critical success factors were identified from the ERP literature: â€Å"business plan and vision†; â€Å"change management†; â€Å"communication†; â€Å"ERP team composition, skills and compensation†; â€Å"top management support and championship†; â€Å"project management† and â€Å"system analysis, selection and technical implementation†. In this paper, a case study of two organizations in Saudi Arabia has been conducted, both organizationsRead MoreImplementation Of An Erp Implementation Plan1093 Words   |  5 PagesERP IMPLEMENTATION PLAN The implementation of an ERP system requires multiple steps that must be coordinated and properly planned to ensure the effectiveness of the intended balue and benefits are derived. The following steps outline a brief but effective process plan for an organizational implementation. A. Management must first conduct a complete feasibility study to evaluate the current status and assess the organizations needs by ensuring to determine the readiness of existing hardware, softwareRead MorePlanning And Implementation Of An Erp Implementation1184 Words   |  5 PagesThe Business As businesses grow, so do the infrastructure and processes to support their endeavors. A slower growth company, expanding into different geographical regions, each containing different languages, cultural norms and time zones, tend to isolate each regional organization from the other, and often from the advantages of being part of a larger organization (corporation). Differing business processes are created for many reasons; lack of connectivity to a central back office system, no backRead MoreEssay on Enterprise Resource Planning Systems1377 Words   |  6 Pagesto run their operations† (Basu Lederer, 2004). Therefore management must be familiar with the ERP process and the many components and complexities that encompass the ERP architecture in an organization. In general chapter one of the textbook provides an â€Å"overview of information systems, ERP systems, and they history of how they started, where they came from, and why they exist† (Motiwalla Thompson, 2011) . Essentially the roles of ERP systems integrate various processes of information systemsRead MoreOrganizational And Process Change Management1063 Words   |  5 PagesOrganizational and Process Change Change management is a primary concern of many organizations involved in ERP project implementation. Alpha Enterprises must identify change management, in terms of adopting an ERP system, as activities, processes, and methodologies that support employee understanding and organizational shifts during the implementation of the new ERP system and reengineering initiatives. Change management is a process that helps the management for the implementation of appropriate plannedRead MoreEnterprise Resource Planning (Erp) Failure1527 Words   |  7 PagesIn the years following the formal introduction Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems in the early 1990s, there have been few ERP implementations that have been managed successfully, including those introduced by large corporations. Although much capital is usually put into ERP implementation, lack of key business practices has prevented extensive success. This paper reviews failed ERP implementations in three large organizations. It ana lyzes the reasons for the failures as well as the lessonsRead MoreProject Analysis : Enterprise Resource Planning993 Words   |  4 PagesPlanning (ERP) project. With the ever-growing dependency of firms on technology, ERP has been one of the most widely used strategic tools across firms of all sizes and stature. In which regard, implementing ERP successfully has been one of the most common project management issues in the present context. ERP implementation usually involves high degree of cost and resources to any organization. It also takes a lot of time to successfully integrate the firm’s business model with the ERP functions.Read MoreBandon Group, Integrated case study Essay1225 Words   |  5 PagesStudy: Bandon Group, Inc. (Determining Feasibility of an ERP System and Supplier Recommendation and Evaluation) Submitted to: Professor Stephen Huber Enterprise Resource Planning (CIS511) Strayer University, Takoma Park Campus August, 2014 This paper is the continuation of Bandon Group Inc. integrated case study. This part of the case study mines feasibility of an ERP system at Bandon Group and evaluate alternative ERP and CRM packages for Bandon Group and make recommendationsRead MoreErp As A Potential Solution For The Organization1736 Words   |  7 PagesERP as a potential solution for the organization Abstract ERP has become a potential solution which the companies are aiming for to improve their business process performances. There are various challenges that are encountered by the organizations in terms of people, process and systems oriented issues in the usage of disparate systems. In aim of increasing their business operations, the companies are eying at ERP as potential solutions. In this research paper the focus is upon understanding how

Human Resource Management for Travel and Tourism

Question: What is Human Resource Management for Travel and Tourism? Explain. Answer: Introduction History Travel and Tourism is one of the most significant industries. The data from World Tourism and Travel Council (WTTC) mention that the industry offers the job to 9 percent in the globe. Economics, Social, Political and other factors like laws etc was the very basis of the evolution of management in the past. The emphasis of the HRM in the tourism and travel were based on the welfare of the employees. However the process was very rigid, this is because the whole purpose of the HR managers and the organizations focused on the pattern of hiring the employees, paying them and then firing them (Lindsay and McQuaid, 2004). The focus was on increasing the productivity of the employee rather than on the employees interests. After the productivity, the stage that emerged in the tourism and HRM as a whole was the focus on training of the staff members. The focus started to move towards the output the HR activities generate that are beneficial for the employees. As discussed in the studies by Nan kervis et al. (2008) the idea behind reflecting on the output was to establish a ideal working culture and climate. The research paper will put the focus on the tourism industry, the state of affairs, and what needs to be done for the employees. The development of the employees and the need to manage their productivity, motivation, and ethics within the organization will be discussed and debated (Chen, 2009). The study will take cases from UK tourism industry and other countries like Germany and an analysis of critical nature will be done in order to understand the industry dynamics and the need for the development of the sector. Workforce in the Tourism Industry Travel and Tourism industry comprises of the workforce that are marginal in nature. Marginal workers mean that the workers in this industry are basically young in age, casual in nature. The industry is seasonal in nature, and therefore the employees that work also comprise of part time workers and freelancers (ILO, 2001). The wages and salaries in this industry are generally lower and therefore challenges for HRM is to preserve trained staff from switching the industry and even to create a base of more trained people and staff. Lower wages on the other hand create a hiccup for employee attraction (Waddell et al. 2013). Training and Development Flexibility of the employees is the most significant criteria in this industry. The changing dynamics of the industry and the increasing competition asks for the employees to be flexible in the adaptation of the environment in which they work. In order to match the competition and the employees interests at the same time, it is critical that the training and development focuses on these aspects. The competitive advantage of the industry is dependent on the nature of training and development is received by the workers of that industry. Holden (2004) gives the example of training in UK that proved to be inadequate when compared to some other advanced countries like Japan and US. The training and development in case of UK is divided into various organizational levels. The first and foremost is the national level, which includes UK government, the direct involvement of the government ensures training needs are been met (Parker et al. 2005). Then there are national organizations for train ing and development. The process of training and development in UK remained slower as the employers were earlier given free hand on the training they wanted to provide to the employees. Studies from Hyman (1996) prove that the training by employers in the nineties was driven by the measures to control any contingencies rather than a holistic approach to groom the employees. Finegold et al. (2000) have mentioned that the training of the employees is driven by the vocational courses. The cases of Germany which has been more proactive in its approach towards the tourism sector has been reflected in the studies of Finelgold et al. (2000). The study has mentioned that there are policies of apprenticeship in the industry before a person makes the career in tourism. This means that the country is far more advanced in terms of producing the ideal candidates for the tourism industry compared to UK, where vocational courses are taken by the inspiring candidates and there is no enforcement on the part of the organizations to train the employees (Smith et al. 2010). The other factor is that the training is done through public-private partnerships in Germany, which is not the case in UK. This means that the commitment of the staff in Germany is higher. The framework of training is such that the sector has grown leaps and bounces compared to UK. Communication and Change Management Communication and Change management in HR can be those influential policies that can result in the transformation of the work done. Change management can be done by increasing the pay structure of the employees working in the tourism sector. The employees can be given the bonuses for the development of newer skills, innovative ideas, and change in the working behaviour (Conway Monks, 2009). This is necessary in case of the tourism industry as it will be serving various objectives for the organizations. The basic thing that these sorts of measures are capable of doing is retention of the employees and skills in the industry (Baum, 2006). The performance levels of the industry can be maintained when the employees are retained. However, the employee retention on the changes in the reward system is also linked to composition of the rewards in the industry, the competition from other industries in terms of the lucrative offers (Chen Huang, 2009). Measures and accountability of the gover nment is critical. Lower remuneration and the opinion that the industry offer lower growth are one of the main issues surrounding this industry. Therefore HR role should be to manage and communicate the policies that create sense of trust among skilled people (Lindsay and McQuaid, 2004). The change management should involve the changes in the pay scales of the organizations that are linked to the industry. It has been noted that even the travel agencies, tour booking portals, and tourism companies offer lower remuneration to the employees. They generally hire young graduates and exploit them. This creates the sense of distrust for the industry at large. HR policies should be based on communication tactics in case of the tourism and travel industry. The HR policies should be based on the direct communication tactics. As per the studies done by Marchington and Wilkinson (2005) there are number of policies that can be adopted by the HR managers so that the employees can be communicated in a effective manner. The participation of the employees is very much required. There can be meetings between the employees to form the strategies and briefing them of the policies. The other option to communicate with the employees is the use of management letters and emails. Employees can be asked for the innovative ideas and they should be rewarded for their smart thoughts beneficial for the society (IRS, 2006a). The ways to improve the management and the policies of the employees should be done. Employee Motivation, Productivity, and Engagement Motivation and commitment of the employees is important for the tourism industry. Lower wages is one the critical element that demotivates the employees and hampers their commitment towards the work. The job related promotions are critical so that the employees are motivated to work. The issues like gender differences must be taken care off. The difference and barriers in terms of gender should be answered by the management through their policies (Johnston, 2006). The management should be done on the basis of the teams. The team building exercises should be implemented so that the employees work in a cordial atmosphere. This will increase their productivity. Almashaqba Nemer (2010) mentioned that the division of work is required to manage it effectively. This involves the allocation of the work as per the team. However communication is important so that the work management is done on a effective basis. Ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility and HRM Ethics in tourism industry is required. This industry lacks effective policies and Corporate Social Responsibility from the stakeholders. The exploitation of the employees in tourism industry is common. In order to reduce the exploitation of workers, the example of European working council can be taken. European Work Councils (EWC) is an example where the workers are given rights. This body is constituted with employers and employee representatives. These councils are bestowed certain rights, one is the right to receive the information from the employers; employees are given security for their health (Freeman, 2010). Performance Management Systems Performance appraisals can be one of the most effective forms of the performance management (Bach, 2005). Performance appraisal is a way in which the satisfaction of the employee can be ensured. The training and development needs of the employees are checked and the employees are given the opportunity to groom and eradicate their mistakes. Feedbacks are provided to the employees, this ensures that the improvements are done. The employees are trained and they are groomed to perform the tasks to build motivation in them. Performance appraisal is one form in which the employees are given the responsibility of what is expected from them, and how they can achieve what has been desired. Recommendations on the basis of HRM models The Guest model This model mentions the approaches of HRM that may be hard and soft based on the situation in hand. There are components that are taken care off under this model. The first component is the integration of the strategies for business and for HRM otherwise the policies framed will not be able to affect the organization at large (Guest, 2011). Paulo (2013) has stated that the employees should be able to adopt in the flexible environment. The organizational policies should be based on improving the flexibility. The payment terms for peak season should be higher, and should be made so that in non-peak season the employees are able to compensate for the loss of work. The employees should be provided with technology so that their work load is reduced (Clarke and Hermann, 2004). Employees should be motivated towards the work and they should be motivated to give new ideas (Conway Monks, 2009). This means that the commitment levels of the employees are higher. The Harvard Model Beer et al (1984) proposed this model mentioning that the managers involvement with the employees should be there. The organizational demand should be strategically looked into as per Chen Huang (2009). The Harvard School of thought mentioned that the line managers should be responsible for setting the policies and strategies in most cases. Even the leaders that is responsible for the activities like management of team, should owe the responsibility along with HR managers. Conclusion The research paper covered the aspects, like the training and development, workforce, communication, ethics and performance appraisal measures that are pillars ofg the tourism industry. The cases of UK and Germany were discussed mentioning the responsibility of the government and other stakeholders in improving the condition of the industry. It was pointed that the government should work alongside private players so that the industry position is upgraded. Travel and Tourism industry is not considered lucrative by the individuals even though it provides employment to a large mass. This is due to the lower wages and employees exploitation. In order to eradicate this issue, various models were discussed. The crux is to integrate the organizational goals with the HR goals. The management should be done on the basis of the teams. The team building exercises should be implemented so that the employees work in a cordial atmosphere. The employees should be motivated through better wages and through the use of techniques like training and development. The employees should also be given chance to move up the ladder, and performance appraisal should be made by the organization. Other effective way is to effectively communicate is to use brochures. References 1. Almashaqba, Z. S; Nemer Al-Qeed, M, (2010). The Classical Theory of Organization and its Relevance. International Research Journal Of Finance Economics 41: 6067. 2. Bach, S. (2005). New directions in performance management. in S. Bach (ed.) Managing Human Resources: Personnel Management in Transition, Blackwell, 4th edition, 289316. 3. Chen, C. J., Huang, J. W. (2009). Strategic human resource practices and innovation performanceThe mediating role of knowledge management capacity. Journal of Business Research, 62(1), pp 104-114. 4. Conway, E., Monks, K. (2009). Unravelling the complexities of high commitment: an employee level analysis. Human Resource Management Journal, 19(2), pp 140-158. 5. Finegold, D., Wagner, K. and Mason, G. (2000). National skill-creation systems and career paths for service workers: hotels in the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom, International Journal of International Human Resource Management, 11(3), 497516 6. Freeman, R. E. (2010). Strategic management: A stakeholder approach. Cambridge University Press. 7. Holden, L. (2004). Human resource development: the organization and the national framework, in I. Beardwell, L. Holden and T. Claydon (eds.) Human Resource Management: A Contemporary Approach, Prentice Hall, 4th edition, 313360. 8. Guest, D. E. (2011). Human resource management and performance: still searching for some answers. Human Resource Management Journal, 21(1), pp 3-13. 9. Hyman, J. (1996). Training and development: the employers responsibility? in B. Towers (ed.) The Handbook of Human Resource Management, Blackwell, 2nd edition, 306328. 10. Industrial Relations Services (2006a). Age discrimination (1). IRS Employment Review, No. 847, 19 May, 5358. Industrial Rel. 11. Johnston, J. (2006). Half of gays believe theyll be discriminated against if they come out at work. Sunday Herald, 22 January, 14. 12. Lindsay, C. and McQuaid, R. W. (2004). Avoiding the McJobs: unemployed job seekers and attitudes to service work, Work, Employment and Society, 18(2), 297319. 13. Marchington, M. and Wilkinson, A. (2005). Human Resource Management at Work: People Management and Development, CIPD, 3rd edition. 14. Parker, Lee D., Ritson, Phillip A., (2005). Revisiting Fayol: Anticipating Contemporary Management, British Journal of Management, From Communication and Mass Media Complete as part of Ebsco Host from the STL Library at Suny New Paltz. 15. Smith, W. K., Binns, A., Tushman, M. L. (2010). Complex business models: Managing strategic paradoxes simultaneously. Long Range Planning, 43(2), pp 448-461. 16. Waddell, D, Jones, GR George, JM (2013). Contemporary Management, 3rd edition, McGraw-Hill, North Ryde, NSW.

Review of Related Literature and Studies Essay Example

Review of Related Literature and Studies Essay ?This chapter presents a review of related literature and studies which the researchers found relevant to their study. Review of related literature and studies gives an overview of the past learning connected to the current field of study. Giving a summarization on previous studies that have a relative connection with student’s efficacy in living independently and level of parental dependence. Related Literature Self-efficacy is the belief in oneself that succeeding in any task possible (Bandura, 1994; Akhtar, 2008). Self-efficacy theory, also convey that these efficacy beliefs play a crucial role in psychological adjustments and problems, in physical health, also in professional and self-guided behavioral changes (Maddux, 2005). Bandura (1986,1994) stated that self-efficacy came from four sources the mastery experiences which means successes creates a strong belief in one’s capabilities and abilities while failures weaken those beliefs; the second one is the vicarious experiences made by social models, an observation on people seen as a role model. The given efforts by the role models produces a strong belief to the observers that they are also capable of achieving success when they found similarities of belief in these idols this finding is supported by Schunk (1989) saying others that have similarity to you offer the best basis for comparison; another is verbal persuasion or also known as social persuasion, it is a way of strengthening a person’s belief that he is capable to succeed especially when people who 14 give word of encouragements like ‘you can do it’ came from people who have a big impact on that person like teachers, parent, and friends, words alone make a big influence on a person’s life; lastly is a person’s emotional and physiological states, this is a way of modifying self-beliefs of efficacy by reducing a person’s stress reactions and turning negativity into positive emotions because it i s believed t Review of Related Literature and Studies Essay Example Review of Related Literature and Studies Essay ?This chapter presents a review of related literature and studies which the researchers found relevant to their study. Review of related literature and studies gives an overview of the past learning connected to the current field of study. Giving a summarization on previous studies that have a relative connection with student’s efficacy in living independently and level of parental dependence. Related Literature Self-efficacy is the belief in oneself that succeeding in any task possible (Bandura, 1994; Akhtar, 2008). Self-efficacy theory, also convey that these efficacy beliefs play a crucial role in psychological adjustments and problems, in physical health, also in professional and self-guided behavioral changes (Maddux, 2005). Bandura (1986,1994) stated that self-efficacy came from four sources the mastery experiences which means successes creates a strong belief in one’s capabilities and abilities while failures weaken those beliefs; the second one is the vicarious experiences made by social models, an observation on people seen as a role model. The given efforts by the role models produces a strong belief to the observers that they are also capable of achieving success when they found similarities of belief in these idols this finding is supported by Schunk (1989) saying others that have similarity to you offer the best basis for comparison; another is verbal persuasion or also known as social persuasion, it is a way of strengthening a person’s belief that he is capable to succeed especially when people who 14 give word of encouragements like ‘you can do it’ came from people who have a big impact on that person like teachers, parent, and friends, words alone make a big influence on a person’s life; lastly is a person’s emotional and physiological states, this is a way of modifying self-beliefs of efficacy by reducing a person’s stress reactions and turning negativity into positive emotions because it i s believed t