Gothic Literature Flashcard

Gothic Literature

Social Conflict Notes Essay Example

Social Conflict Notes Essay Example Social Conflict Notes Essay Social Conflict Notes Essay Thinking Sociologically From: Will Keenan Social Conflict Perspective Discussion Themes: Conflict: Positive Negative Aspects Is society inherently, inevitably and universally ‘conflictual’? 1. When is conflict ever productive of social benefits? 2. Identify areas of social conflict that have wider ethical significance. Further Readings Follow-Up: Articles by: David F. Walsh Structure/Agency, pp. 8-33; Fran Tonkiss continuity/Change, pp. 34-48; and Don Slater Needs/Wants, pp. 315-28. in Jenks, Chris (ed. ) (1998) Core Sociological Dichotomies (Sage), Making Notes Look up the SUBJECT INDEX of Jenks (ed. ) and at least 1 Introductory Textbook/Encyclopaedia/Dictionary in Sociology and make notes under the following themes: basic Marxism; social conflict; social change; interests; power The Conflict Perspective: Key Ideas: In this view ‘Society’ is regarded as a scene of fundamental conflict between opposing interest groups. These conflicting interests may be based on: social class; race and ethnicity; gender and sexual orientation; disability; age, religion, cultural taste etc. There is no consensus other than a manipulated and manufactured one serving the dominant social groups’ interests. Society has no set purpose and no overarching goals outside these struggles for dominance and privilege. Key Names: Marx, Althusser, Gramsci, Poulantzas, Milliband, Stuart Hall Debates: KEY CONCEPTS FUNCTIONALISM vs MARXISM ORDER vs CONFLICT STABILITY vs CHANGE NEEDS vs INTERESTS CONSENSUS vs DISSENSUS INTEGRATION vs DIVISION HARMONY vs STRUGGLE ‘Big Guns’ Key Names: Marx(ists), Althusser, Gramsci, Poulantzas, Stuart Hall etc Frankfurt School: Marcuse, Adorno, Habermas, Critical Theorists Radical Feminism from Simone de Bouvoir to bell hooks Core elements of the ‘Marxian’ CONFLICT PERSPECTIVE Social class based on economic ownership is the key to power in society Class conflict is the source of all social power, social change and progress A ruling class and its subject classes are engaged in exploitative social relationships Class consciousness and False Consciousness characterize social life Alienation is the condition of exploited classes under capitalism Economic base (or infrastructure) and Political / Ideological superstructure Some Further Ideas Althusser employs the following key ideas: Ideological State Apparatuses (ISAs) mass media; education? Repressive State Apparatuses (RSAs) Hegemony Gramsci refers to ‘organic intellectuals’ Stuart Hall: the importance of culture CRITIQUE Unscientific (the Faith of Marxism Popper) Conspiracy theory (especially aimed at Instrumental Marxists) Communism does not appear imminent Left Functionalism (Jock Young: argues most Marxism is little more than form of Functionalism that replaces interests of society with ruling class). Subjective beliefs and interpretations of individuals ignored (Weber) Economic determinism Forms of (non-economic) conflict (gender, ethnic group) ignored in favour of economic conflicts Key Critics Popper, Weber, Dahrendorf, New Left ‘Idealism’ New Right Theorists Sociobiologists Radical Feminists Postmodernists Conflict and Change †¦ Order/Conflict Practical Activity Break into groups of 4 or 5 persons Identify a Spokesperson for Feedback Select ANY 2 THEMES on the handout list See if you can briefly identify the ORDER and the CONFLICT potential of your 2 themes. It would be great if groups chose at least 1 theme that was different from that of other groups TASK 1:- Consider any TWO of the following themes and identify aspects of social order and social conflict: Themes WAR RACE/ETHNICITY GENDER/SEXUALITY RELIGION AGE STYLE TASTE SPORT Task 2:- The ‘Peace in the Feud’ Principle IDENTIFY ‘DUAL’ ASPECTS of and consider opportunities for SOCIAL COOPERATION – i. Sports ii. Neighbours iii. Social Classes iv. Nations

Hotel management front office operations questions Assignment

Hotel management front office operations questions - Assignment Example VIP’s may have alternate areas of registration or different procedures to improve the atmosphere of exclusivity. Is the guest a walk-in and what are the differences? A guest can walk in and the difference between a walk-in and a pre-registered guest is that the former may have limitations on available rooms present if pre-registered guests already reserved their rooms. What role does the housekeeping department play in regards to registration? The housekeeping department prepares a housekeeping status report to inform front desk agents about the readiness and cleanliness of rooms. What do V/C, V/D, V/I, and O/C mean? O-O-O? V/C means vacant and cleaned, but not yet inspected. V/I means vacant and inspected. O/C means occupied and cleaned. V/D means vacant and dirty. O-O-O means out of order. Does it matter where you place a guest and how do you know their preference? It mattes where guests are placed because each room has specific characteristics that can either please or displease them. Front desk agents can know these preferences by asking them about the rooms and the facilities they prefer and referring to the guest history file, if already present. What are some of the rates given to guests and why? The room rate is the actual price charged for a given room on a given night. The rack rate is the standard or non-discounted rate for a given room type. If a guest does not qualify for a discounted price, the guest is charged the rack rate. Do they accept methods of pre-payment and how is that done? It can accept pre-payment, such as cash and card payments over the phone or online. These pre-payments are done through the reservations system. What types of credit cards are accepted and are there differences in this and a debit card? Travel and entertainment cards and bank cards with installment payment plans are some types of credit cards. Debit cards are different from credit

Research and develop individual knowledge on existing web based PMS, Paper

And develop individual knowledge on existing web based PMS, CRS, CRM, ERP or DMS systems of our choice and apply it to - Research Paper Example One of the information systems which has been. This paper will look at the aspect of property there are many parameters that should be considered before one engages in online advertising. The Internet is complex and also dynamic market platform that requires regular and daily training. Online marketing is far much different from the world of print, broadcast, and out-of-home advertising markets. The Internet is so vast and is evolving at very high-rates such that it is becoming hard to properly target the audiences which are intended. The online marketers are looking for efficient way of reaching their online audience while at the same time they are supposed to minimize expenditures. Websites are the primary tools that are used by companies to market their products and services online. There is therefore a dire need to make sure that the website that is being marketed meets the aim they were meant to achieve. Most e-commerce sites that have been developed lack strategy to appeal to t he audience. They lack in proper segmentation to address the issues and the needs of the various visitors that come to their sites for some information. They therefore fail to win these visitors and more still, fail to convert them to properties. Companies who are keen to turn more visitors to client swill have to learn about their intended audience and the needs and tastes they have. Every visit they make on the website should be an opportunity to entice them to buy or better still to come for services in the site. INTRODUCTION Property management systems are computerized systems that are used in the manufacturing, logistic, government and hospitality industry for managing properties. PMS is single software capable of performing numerous services including, management of personal property, equipment, and the associated legalities. In this digital age where web based applications such as PMS provide a competitive edge over old-fashioned, paper-based management mechanisms, these appl ications should entirely be incorporated into the business environment of any organization. This paper attempts to explore the advantages the PMS software such as Delphi would have on the hospitality environment such as chains of hotels. The hotel industry is made up of ventures interlinked together to provide wholesome services to consumers. Starting from reservations all the way to check out, all this activities need to be documented in a harmonious way. The adoption of technology is therefore necessary to promote interoperability as well as efficiency. The many hotel systems such as point-of-sale, telephone, security and room control, entertainment and ordering, telephone services, accounts, HR and payroll among others are comprehensively packaged together in single PMS software. By automating these services, better customer service is achieved, which encourages spending, and consequently better returns. The automation can be achieved at a single entity or/and integrated througho ut a worldwide chains. Our focus for this assignment is New Market Internationals Delphi sales and suite. The software is termed as the industries standard tool for empowering sales, marketing for hotel, restaurants, and stadiums and gaming venues. The Kessler Hotels for instance utilize the Delphi PMS software. Its vast networks distributed across the globe are centrally managed. Comprising of 50 hotels and resorts distributed across Asia Pacific, North America Middle East and Europe, and boosting of

The different stories Essay Example for Free

The different stories Essay The protagonists from the different stories all seem to have their changes or their epiphanies occur quite quickly. These changes are not brought about by lengthy self-reflection or deep pondering, instead, they occur, seemingly, in a flash, as a series of events seem to suddenly open their eyes. For example, Robert, from â€Å"Cathedral†, goes through a long narration of explaining the hows and the whys of the main event in the story (the visit of his wife’s blind friend) before, finally, expressing his realization in just nine words at the very end of the story. To be more specific with regard to Robert’s case, we see how, in much of the story, he talks not so much about himself as a person – a husband, a friend, etc – but as merely someone who is annoyed by an unwanted visitor. Robert talks much of his wife (with not a lot of affection, take note) and her friend, but he does not talk about himself, only reiterating again and again his annoyance and discomfort. This method of writing distances the readers from Robert and makes him an unsympathetic character who readers may not appreciate. This technique actually strengthens his epiphany, and, in a way, makes it an epiphany of the readers as well. When Robert said â€Å"I didn’t feel like I was inside anything† (Carver), the reader, along with Robert, also realize that though Robert is the one telling the story, he seems not to be in the story as an important character himself. Robert was in his house, yes, but he was not â€Å"in† a relationship with his wife as seen by their strangely cold exchanges (for example the dialogue about Beulah); he was not â€Å"in† any friendly relationships [â€Å"You don’t have any friends,† she said. â€Å"Period. † ( (Carver)]; and he had no connection with the blind man either. In â€Å"Good Country People†, the change in Hulga is abrupt as well. The cold, rude, disconnected and â€Å"intellectual† big blonde moves from self-confidence and self-possession into fear, anger, and panic as soon as she loses that which â€Å"she was as sensitive about (†¦) as a peacock about his tail† (OConnor, Good Country People). Earlier in the story, Hulga is portrayed as a woman who is cold and out-of-touch with the world she lives in because she thinks that her education has separated and made her better than those in her vicinity. She paints herself as someone who cannot be touched by any emotions because, in Hulga’s own words: â€Å"I don’t have illusions. I’m one of those people who see through to nothing† (OConnor, Good Country People). And yet when she loses her artificial leg, suddenly, Hulga is no longer confident or fierce or composed; she is dependent and weak and afraid (â€Å"Her voice when she spoke had an almost pleading sound† (OConnor, Good Country People)). We see with Hulga how all her confidence and brusqueness was stored in that artificial leg and, therefore, with its sudden loss came her sudden change. Lastly, in â€Å"A Good Man Is Hard to Find†, the grandmother is the one whom we see changed. Indeed her change from being a rather selfish old lady (as in sneaking the Pitty Sing into the car and deciding not to own up to her realization of her mistake), is given a 360-degree turn in the face of her own mortality. Even her interaction with The Misfit shows her change. In their first encounter she tries to flatter him , in order to save her life; she says to him â€Å"I know youre a good man. You dont look a bit like you have common blood. I know you must come from nice people! (OConnor, A Good Man is Hard to Find). However, at the mention of talk and prayer, the grandmother suddenly becomes aware of something beyond her picture of him as just a killer and she tells him â€Å"Why youre one of my babies. Youre one of my own children! (OConnor, A Good Man is Hard to Find). This part allows us to see how the grandmother has gone beyond her own self and has acknowledged the humanity of The Misfit, even though he is the eventual death of her. Works Cited Carver, Raymond. Cathedral. 30 July 2009 http://www. ndsu. nodak. edu/instruct/cinichol/GovSchool/Cathedral2. htm. OConnor, Flannery. A Good Man is Hard to Find. 30 July 2009 http://www. turksheadreview. com/library/texts/oconnor-goodmanhard. html. OConnor, Flannery. Good Country People. 30 July 2009

Impact of Institutional Factors and Election Mechanisms on Voter Turnou

In the 2012 United States Presidential election 58.2 percent of the registered voters turnout out to vote (IDEA). This figure is in stark contrast to many other wealthy democracies in the western world for the same election cycle (IDEA). This begs the question, why is voter turnout significantly lower in the US compared to the rest of the first world and other OECD countries? There are countless factors that could affect voter turnout, the most standard of which are based on socioeconomic status. But when considering only developed nations, more is at play in predicting turnout. Focus is turned to institutional factors and the effect election mechanisms, such as registration laws and party systems, have on political participation. Europe and the United States differ on many key aspects of democratic structure including party systems, registration processes, and voting procedures. These unique institutional factors in the United States place an excessive burden on the public and increases the tangible cost to voting, which discourages political participation. In order to discuss these costs, an understanding of how broader institutional an structural factors influence an individuals participation must be reached. In a general context, political participation is defined as any form of individual engagement with politics, but within the scope of this essay, political participation is narrowed to include only the act of voting (Verba). This can be used to explain why voter turnout in the United States is so low compared to European democracies. By investigating the democratic institutions in Italy, Germany, and France, such a comparison can be made and the institutional effect on voter turnout rate can be investi gated. Final... ...rties in America."  Third World Traveler. Princeton University Press, 1984. Web. 1 May 2014. . Timpone, Richard J. "Structure, Behavior, and Voter Turnout in the United States."  The American Political Science Review  92.1 (1998): 145-58.  JSTOR. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. . Powell, Bingham G., Jr. "American Voter Turnout in Comparative Perspective."  The American Political Science Review  80.1 (1986): 17-43.  JSTOR. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. . Verba, Sidney, Kay Lehman Schlozman and Henry E. Brady. 1995. Voice and Equality. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. Selections (BB) pg. 8-10; 23-24; 37-48. World Economic Outlook Database, April 2014, International Monetary Fund. Updated 8 April 2014. Accessed April 2014.

Clean Edge Essay

Non-disposable razors recorded average growth of about 5% in retail sales during the period 2007 to 2010 whereas refill cartridge and disposable razors recorded growth of approximately 2% and 3% respectively for the same period. Innovations and new product introductions are the prime factors for the growth. Non-disposable razors and refill cartridge market is broadly classified into three segments namely value, moderate and super premium based on price and quality. Paramount’s consumer research identified distinct segmentation in terms of product benefits and consumer behavior. % of non- disposable razor users are segmented as Involved Razor users, social/emotional shavers; 28% as Involved Razor users, aesthetic shavers and 33% as Uninvolved Razor users, maintenance shavers. Studies from 2009 showed that the retail sales of non- disposable razors and refill cartridge came from 25% volume of super-premium, 43% of moderate and 32% of value segments. In the last decade, the indus try has experienced significant growth in the super premium segment. Product innovation and new technology is leading this sector for a number of new entrants. In 2008-09 the rate of new product innovation leads to 22 new SKUs to be introduced. SWOT Analysis Strengths Paramount Health and Beauty Company’s biggest strength is that it is a well- established brand with deep pockets and a very good association with consumers. The product- Clean Edge Razor, that they nave released, is also technologically in the current market. Weaknesses best The company does not have a slice in the 37. 2% of the pie that corresponds to the super premium segment which has immense potential. Also there is a risk of launching the product in the wrong segment or positioning it wrongly. A wrong move could result in cannibalization of Paramount Pro, another product in their portfolio. Opportunities There is very good growth in the super premium segment especially in men’s grooming. The market is also highly profitable so vendors are ready to stock the products. Also, the maintenance users are a market not ventured by any company till date. Hence the opportunities are immense. Threats A good number of competitors are trying to become the leader in this segment which is expected to grow in the future. The competitors could also catch up with the latest echnology and release a technologically more advanced product. Availability of alternatives like disposable and electric razors make a high threat of substitutes. Because of large number of products available and constant innovation in the sector it is very easy for the consumers to switch the companies. Hence, consumers have a high bargaining power. Entry barriers are low in the industry since no major R;D costs are involved and there are no major regulations. The bargaining power of the suppliers is low. Hence, overall the premium segment of nondisposable razors is an attractive industry to enter into. Positioning Strategy: The first strategy that we suggest is Niche Positioning, targeting the premium segment: As of now, the products released by Paramount in the non-disposable razer segment, Paramount Pro and Paramount Avail are positioned in the moderate segment and as a value -offering respectively. After three years of development, Paramount Health and Beauty Company has come up with a new technologically advanced vibrating razor called Clean Edge. Keeping in mind the superior technology used and the fact that Paramount has not launched a product targeting the premium egment, Paramount could adopt Niche Positioning while launching Clean Edge. However, there are certain disadvantages and advantages: Advantages: Positioning Paramount’s Clean Edge as a niche will accentuate the company’s product portfolio significantly. From the exhibits it is visible that it will result in high and consistent profit margins for the company and the risk involved will be less. Apart from that, the financial requirement of launching the product in the premium segment is only 15 million dollars as against 42 million dollars for the mainstream targeting. Disadvantages: As the trends suggests, understanding the fact that the premium segment has not been targeted significantly, almost all of Paramount’s competitors have launched products for this segment. Also, for the past 5 years, the company’s current products Pro and Avail have not introduced any new innovations as a result of which its customers are moving on to other competitors. The product pro is in the mature face and might need phasing out eventually. The second strategy that can be followed is Mainstream Positioning. The advantages and disadvantages of the same are as follows: Consumers are becoming more and more sophisticated day by day and expect more advanced technology. Paramount’s bread and butter product, Pro was in the mature phase of the product lifecycle so there is a possibility of decline. Positioning Clean Edge as mainstream product will help prevent loyal Paramount customers from being wooed away to more innovative brands. Main stream razor unit volumes are expected to capture over three times the volumes of the niche market in the first year. Clean Edge has the potential for true market domination and would quickly gain ass appeal. Disadvantages: – Paramount already had product in mainstream positioning -Paramount Pro so launching it as mainstream positioning will dilute the brand power and will lead to cannibalization. More marketing support will be needed to reach the target masses. The company would require an extensive advertising campaign, considerable consumer promotions would be needed and thus the expenses associated with them will be huge. To reach full sales potential with this positioning, $42 million marketing budget would be needed for year one. Total sales of Paramount for Avail and Pro for first year (2009) and second year (2010) are calculated using the market size (retail sales) and corresponding market share, both real (2009)and estimated (2010), of Paramount. The cost of Cannibalization is calculated using total sales and percentage of cannibalization given. Analyzing the result, it is evident that launching the product is a profitable venture; however, the cost of cannibalization may change equations. The cost of cannibalization is lower for the niche market as compared to mainstream market. Although, cannibalization djustments give us losses for the first year in the case of both mainstream and niche, the profit obtained in the second year for mainstream is larger than niche market. Branding Strategy The branding should be done in such a way that it emphasizes Clean Edge Razor as a unique and breakthrough product with the usage of latest technology. However, given the tight advertising budget, it should use the well-established name of Paramount rather than build a brand based on the Clean Edge. This should help potential buyers connect with the product quickly and test it. This should ensure maximum sales. Recommendations & Conclusion The recommendation is to introduce the Clean Edge into the marketplace as a niche product since data shows that consumers in the premium segment are willing to switch between the companies. Using advertising and promotion of the new product we can gain market share from competitors. Exhibit 8directly suppo rts this recommendation and snows that even though unit sales are less than main stream sales, the operating profit and the operating profits as % of sales is higher. In both year one and year two, this niche arket is profitable and growing. It is here that Paramount should focus its efforts on product introduction and positioning for the Clean Edge Razor. Once it has launched itself in the niche segment, Randall should then launch it, maybe after 2 to 3 years, in the mainstream category. As the data shows, both niche and mainstream strategy will help Paramount to raise its market share in super- premium non disposable razor segment. But the niche strategy will enables Clean Edge Razor to contribute profit and at the same time, limit the effect of cannibalizing Paramount’s existing products.