Another Kind of Racism Essay Example for Free

Another Kind of Racism Essay Racism is a disease. Spread by not only words and actions but by silence and inaction. In two stories presented in different media – a novel and a movie—racism is spread by people who feel they are not racists, but who do nothing to prevent and stop racism. The reality is that it is easy to pretend racism doesn’t exist, yet everyone practices it in some way. Those who know racism is wrong and do nothing are the â€Å"perpetrators† of racism. They allow the disease to cling to a group and spread like sending a sick toddler to preschool; touching everything and everyone, infecting all. In T. C. Boyle’s book Tortilla Curtain, racism is present throughout the book – enough to exhaust the reader. In the movie Crash, racism is one element of a complex plot. They teach the reader similar, compatible lessons. The character Delaney from the book and the Cameron from Crash both are used to depict stereotypical persons who claim to fight racism, stereotyping, and discrimination, yet when faced with a situation when it is directed toward them or someone near to them they allow racism to happen as if nothing was wrong. Following these people are dying morals and blind humanity. Delany is a white, affluent, born on the East Coast; he now lives in Los Angeles. Living in a â€Å"gated community† had insulated him from the poverty that surrounded the very edges of the walls of exclusive neighborhood. During community meetings he does not want to discuss the increasing numbers of illegal immigrants; he prefers to focus on the coyote attacks. Until the accident he did not know his life would cross paths with an Illegal Immigrant. He had seen them only in the parking lots where they waited looking for work. He claims to not be a racist, to not be biased, and to not stereotype individuals at these meetings. As he claims this, his car hits a Mexican named Candido. Delaney soothes his conscience by giving Candido $20 blood money, explaining to his wife Kyra that Hes a Mexican. Delaney actions suggest that Mexicans are not â€Å"people.† More than 50 years earlier John Steinbeck’s characters in the book The Grapes of Wrath phrase the issue much of the same way, â€Å"They ain’t human. A human being wouldn’t live like they do. A human being couldn’t stand it to be so dirty and miserable.† Delaney prefers to pretend as if the Mexicans didn’t exist, as the alternative is showing how he feels insecure and threatened by them. This is same way the character of the Hollywood Director Cameron in the same movie allows racism and harassment to occur in front of him to his own wife. He allows her to be violated by a racist white cop. After his wife gets molested, instead of standing up against the cop and protecting his wife; he grovels and thanks the cop for not giving him a ticket, â€Å"Look, were sorry, and we would appreciate if you would just let us go with a warning, please.† (Crash, 2004). Delaney and Cameron are hypocrites being perpetrated from both ends of the spectrum; they represent individuals directly affected by racism who fail to respond in a way that causes it to cease, and those indirectly causing the racism to occur and spread. In the movie Crash this is shown by Cameron feeling cornered and lashing out against those around him; in Tortilla Curtain it is shown when the main character gives up fighting against the walls and letting those around him decide for him what is right and wrong. By their silence they allow the racism to perpetuate around them. Individuals like those portrayed in these scenarios run the risk of causing an unending cycle of racism and bigotry that will not stop until someone stands up against it. Their fear feeds those around them. In Crash Cameron is confronted by fellow worker asking about an African American actor. â€Å"This is gonna sound strange, but is Jamal seeing a speech coach or something?This is weird for a white guy to say, but have you noticed hes talking a lot less black lately?† And the answer is, â€Å"No, I havent noticed that.† At first the character stands up to the â€Å"racist† questioner but in the end he gives up, he ignores why Jamal hasn’t been â€Å"sounding Black† and goes on acting as if the words had not been said. In the same way after a canyon fire is set accidently by Candido in Tortilla Curtain; Delaney attacks a Mexican man who is being questioned by the police. Delaney looked round at his neighbors, their faces drained and white, fists clenched, ready to go anywhere, do anything, seething with it, spoiling for it, a mob. They were out here in the night, outside the walls, forced out of their shells, and there was nothing to restrain them.† (The Tortilla Curtain, 289) This occurs immediately after Delaney has attacked the handcuffed Josà © Navidad, arrested under suspicion of starting the fire. Delaney’s furious, uncontrolled actions and unexplainable anger towards the Mexicans has incited a full-on riot, with the evacuated residents of Arroyo Blanco ready to attack anything and anyone. The idea of the wall comes up in both movies, with whites being forced outside their walls, and their comfort zones. The results are frightening. The white citizens of the town have abandoned their ordered ways, Delaney has even abandoning his self-imposed rules; he has indulged in alcohol. All have become more like the uninhibited immigrants they dislike and fear. In Crash the audience sees the hatred and racism feed on itself when two suspicious black men attack the District Attorney after complaining about racism towards them. The wife goes off on a rant after the attack and says many racial slurs and insults the locksmith. Her anger spills over into her husband who starts ranting as well. â€Å"Why did these guys have to be black? I mean, why?† (Crash, 2004). Like a disease, racism and hatred spreads from person to person impregnating their souls with bigotry and a blind sense of what is right. In the end both characters lose sight of what is right. More concerned about themselves than how their actions affect those around them. Their arrogance in thinking that they are above the racism and bigotry has significant consequences. The infectious nature of racism in individuals who are intelligent, and who have power and influence, is the real danger. Their thinking is infectious, and once these thoughts are inside someone’s head they don’t leave. It is especially dangerous when these individuals are opinion leaders. These are characters in fiction, but in the real world, people like Delaney and Cameron should not be tolerated. They cause the spread of racism, creating an unending circle of pain and grief for everyone they touch and a wider circle touched by those whom they have touched. Works Cited: Crash. Dir. Paul Haggins. Perf. Don Cheadle and Sandra Bullock. Warner Brothers, 2004. DVD. Frenken, Wiltrud, Angela Luz, and Brigitte Prischtt. T.C. Boyle: The Tortilla Curtain. Paderborn: Schöningh, 2007. Print. Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Viking, 1939. Print.

Snapshot Of The Tourism Industry In Malta Tourism Essay

Snapshot Of The Tourism Industry In Malta Tourism Essay The Tourism Industry remains one of the key pillars of the Maltese Economy contributing 23.7% of the labour market. Over the past forty years the continuous growth of the Industry has been a contributory factor in encouraging local business men to increase the number of hotels on the island thus creating healthy competition, particularly in the Five Star segment. However, despite the structural differences, each hotel faces the same environmental forces. Therefore, the key to survival lies with the strategies implemented to gain competitive advantage. This report examines how each of the various Forces has shaped Corinthia Palace Hotel Spas business decisions. In this assignment, The Director of Finance Claire Mifsud, and The Director of Sales Karl Schranz, give their views on the macro and micro environmental forces that relate to Porters Five Forces Model. Section 2 Company History At the tender age of twenty three, Mr Alfred Pisani saw a window of opportunity to enable him to enter the hotel industry. Three years after purchasing a 1920 private residence then called Villa Refalo, the Pisani family began to operate this property as the Villa Corinthia Restaurant (IL-Haddiem, 1968). His dreams of becoming a hotelier coupled with business acumen led him to seek ways to expand the family business. When he became aware of an opportunity to receive a soft government loan, he engaged the services of architect Dom Mintoff, who drew up the plans for a 152 bedroom hotel which was to be amongst one of the first 5 star hotels having full conference facilities. Mr. Pisanis sheer determination and vision, drove him to present a business plan which convinced The British Collonial Government to award him a loan of 1.2 million US dollars. The hotel construction project commenced under the supervision of architect Dom Mintoff and Four years later, in June of 1968, Mr Pisani hel d the official opening ceremony in the presence of, prominent society figures such as the then Minister of Education, Culture and Tourism, Doctor George Borg Olivier, His Excellency Duke of Edinburgh and renowned actor Roger Moore (IL-Haddiem, 1968). This grand Boutique style hotel is located near the official residence of the Official Residence of the President of the Republic of Malta and the San Anton Botanical Gardens. This hotel has since gained an excellent reputation and has been given many prestigious awards in the Global Travel and Tourism Industry with the most recent being that of Maltas Leading Hotel  [1]  in the 2010 World Travel Awards. The current General Manager, Mr. Rota, acclaims the hotels success to its Trademark Maltese Hospitality. This hospitality is also the Unique Selling Point (USP) of the Corinthia Brand. 2.1 Company Mission Statement Our Mission is to provide our guests with the craftsmanship of care 2.2 Research Methodology The information to meet the objectives of this assignment was gathered from the following sources :- I conducted a series of interviews with Key Management members who are instrumental in formulating business strategies for the Company, namely, Ms. Claire Mifsud, Director of Finance at The Corinthia Hotel and Spa and Mr. Karl Schranz, Director of Sales at Corinthia Central Sales Office who were also given questionnaires to complete. The second means was in terms of Desk Research through various media sources. Section 3 Definition of an Industry The Oxford English Dictionary succinct description of an Industry is :- a particular form or branch of economic or commercial activity Snapshot of the Tourism Industry in Malta 3.1 World Tourism Benchmarking There is a wealth of information available to assist the Business Sector to assess the viability of the Tourism Industry. One medium used by the Corinthia Palace Hotel is the report published by The World Travel and Tourism Council. The report uses Set Indices which may be valuable to ascertain an Industrys attractiveness and future economic potential. However, as Malta is a Small Island Destination, competition must also be measured from a global perspective of tourism. 3.2 Tourisms Economic Performance on the Island According to the World Travel and Tourism Council 2010 report  [2]  , Travel and Tourism contributes towards 19.4% of the Maltese Islands GDP (EUR1,151.4 million) with a forecasted increase of a further 3.6 % by 2020. Export Earnings from International Visitors is expected to reap in the region of à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ 777 million, with a forecasted growth to à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ 1443.4 million by 2020. Currently, 23.7% of the Labour Market is employed in Industry Related Occupations and it is anticipated that this will rise to 28.9 % by 2020. These statistics substantiate the theory that Travel and Tourism will remain one of the key engines for growth in the Maltese Economy. 3.3 Tourist Performance At the time of preparing this assignment, the National Statistics Office had not yet issued the official statistics for 2010. However, in a press conference held in January 2011, the Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Mr. Mario De Marco, estimated that the total number of Tourists was estimated to be in the region of 1.3 million  [3]  . This equates to a 0.1 million increase on 2009 figures  [4]  . During the first 11 months of the 2010, Cruise Liner Traffic reached a total of 467,142 passengers  [5]  , however only 3 % of passengers (14,441) landed in Malta. Therefore despite the fact that nearly half a million cruise passengers visited the island, very few stayed in hotels overnight. According to the Domestic Market, the local preference is to reside in Four Star Hotels and statistics show that during the month of November, the 5 Star segment produced a total of 9,638 bed nights. 3.4 Collective Accommodation Establishments on the Maltese Islands : There are a total of 158 accommodation establishments on the Maltese Islands  [6]  , fifteen of which are classified with a 5 Star Rating. Renowned International Hotel Brands such as Hilton, InterContinental, Kempinski Resorts, Radisson and Starwood Hotels currently compete for the same market. The two longest established 5 Star Hotels on the island are The Phoenicia and The Corinthia Palace Hotel and Spa. During the month of October, the 5 Star Hotel accommodation tier yielded an average occupancy of 73 %. Section 4 -The use of PESTLE to scan the Broad Environment for drivers of change. There are numerous characteristics or strategic elements that may influence the life cycle of the local tourism industry. One organisation, acting independently, may have very little influence on the broad environment: however, the forces in this environment can have a tremendous impact on the organisation (Enz, C.A, 2010).p16  [7]  . Consequentially, in todays local business scenario, if one was to consider this statement it confirms the school of thought that organisations within the tourism industry, will face difficulties when trying to manipulate the broad environment. However, according to The principle of Enactment organisations do not have to submit to the existing forces in the environment. (St.John, Harrison ,2010)  [8]  . A high percentage of local hoteliers have opted for Management Agreements with Internationally Renowned Brands. Such strategy allows local operators to capitalise on the Brand Marketing and Existing Customer Base to attract business, however, Corinthia Palace Hotel has evolved its own Brand. This strategic decision was taken as a means to differentiate from other hotels by offering authentic Maltese Hospitality. This in itself is believed to create a competitive edge over the International Brand Names which currently operate on the island, namely, Hilton, Inter Continental, Marriot and Starwood Hotels. These days travellers are far more discerning and many seek new insights into the local culture, as apposed to a reproduction of International Hospitality. Through successful Backward Integration the Corinthia Brand has eliminated substantial contributions to Third Party Management Companies by forming its own unique Brand Identity. Furthermore, in contrast to most local operators, the company has been able to penetrate the International Tourism Industry by offering Management Contracts to overseas operators in the Industry. The task of measuring competitiveness is full of complexities as there are numerous forces at play. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to have a thorough understanding of both the potential threats and the opportunities available. This will then provide the basis for which a company responds to Trends and Influences by integrating its resources to achieve a strategic advantage on its competitors. Invariably, local firms competing within the Tourism Industry, have similar resources available to them and each one is challenged by similar forces. Therefore, it is safe to assume that most will pursue similar strategies. Making the company that best acclimatises itself to the broad environment more likely to be successful. Under the current scenario, the well coined phrase The survival of the fittest could not be more appropriate for hotels competing within the same industry. Despite being one of the older Five Star Hotels on the island, The Corinthia Palace Hotel still competes well with the newer properties. It appears that customers tend to opt for older properties where Customer Service is at the optimum. The Corinthia Palace Hotel has achieved worldwide acclaim for its high level of service and currently holds the World Travel Award Maltas Leading Hotel. This prestigious award is a great accolade to the Industry as it is believed to be the equivalent of the Oscars. Such recognition is an excellent marketing tool as given the choice, most potential customers would prefer to stay in a reputable hotel. 4.1 PESTLE Analysis Views of the Financial Controller An interview was conducted with the Financial Controller, Ms. Claire Mifsud who provided an insight as to how the company conducts a Situational Analysis of the Broad Environment. According to her Corinthia uses a PESTLE Analysis Template which define the following six areas that form the context of its operation :- Political Forces Economical Forces Socio-cultural Forces Technological Forces Legal Forces Environmental Forces The forces listed above significantly influence both the industry and the organisations that operate within it. She perceives that the Maltese Government recognises the fact that Tourism is a key contributor to the Maltese Economy and therefore continues to invest and work closely with stakeholders within the industry. This year the government has awarded The Malta Tourism Authority a total of 35 million Euro for 2011  [9]  . The main vision for 2015 is to promote the Maltese Islands as a Unique Mediterranean Destination  [10]  , hence the reasoning behind the substantial investment to improve the product. Through the European Social Fund, the Malta Tourism Authority is investing in a three million Euro program to improve the skills of those currently working within the Industry. The Advance Training Tourism Leaders Program  [11]  is being offered free of charge, to both employers and managers in the industry. The aim of this program is to enhance the Current Skill Set and to create a Culture of Innovation. As the Group Training Manager, I can disclose that seven managers working at the Corinthia Palace Hotel are currently taking this Diploma Course. When asked what perceived barriers had been identified by the hotel, Ms. Mifsud referred to the governments stronger stance to align with European Regulations, particularly in areas such as Health Safety and Environmental Issues. Being an older property, substantial investment is required to conform with some of the regulations. The forecasted economic recovery is more subdued than that of other small economies  [12]  . Ms Mifsud then expressed her concern on escalating operational costs and stated that the 2% increase of VAT on accommodation and the budgeted cost of living increase bear a great influence on profitability. She also remarked that nowadays, business customers require their rooms to be an extension of their offices when travelling, therefore, adequate technology has become a norm rather than an ancillary service. Hence, in order to remain competitive and meet the customers needs additional investment in this area is required. Section 5 The Broad Environment. Forces within both the Broad and Task Environment are critical determinants for Strategy Formulation for any organisation. However, the core of a Firms Task Environment is formed by its interaction between the following three key stakeholders and their impact on the market place :- Customers Suppliers Competitors All contemporary organisations, irrespective of type of Industry, face forces that can significantly affect profitability. If a firm understands these forces, then it can develop a business level strategy that allows the business to either take advantage or protect itself from these forces, which in turn allows the firm to be consistently profitable. (Ahlstrom.D, 2009)  [13]  . 5.1 Swot Analysis An internal audit provides an opportunity for a company to have a greater understanding of the capabilities and limitations of its resources. Such information will provide a platform from which Operational Strategy will be focused. The identified strengths and weaknesses of the hotel are as follows :- 5.2 Strengths Location The location of this hotel has the potential to attract the following niche markets. The close proximity to the Presidential Palace makes it the ideal location for Diplomatic Delegations. Its remote location and proximity to the National Stadium is also key selling point to attract Foreign Football Teams who come to Malta for Training Camps and Official Matches. Being close to the Malta Fairs and Convention Centre offers potential for business in accommodating delegates who are participating in large scale forums. Global Reputation for Excellent Service This property enjoys 20% Repeat Business which is amongst the highest on the island. This reputation is also achieved on a local level as there is a high percentage of locals who frequent the Food and Beverage outlets. Accommodation Hotel rooms are much more spacious than the newer five star properties on the island. In 2009 all rooms were refurbished to optimum condition. The hotel offers great value for money when one considers the level of service offered. The customers comments posted on Travel Review sites such as Trip Advisor are very positive. Spa The Athenaeum Spa by Algotherm has now established itself as one of the best Medical Spas on the island. Market Unlike many of the other hotels, the Corinthia Palace is not dependant on one Nationality or Market Segment and therefore a drastic drop in one of these areas will not cause catastrophic consequences. 5.3 Weaknesses Meeting Rooms The main meeting rooms are small in severe need of refurbishment as they are inferior to what the competition is offering. This may be a contributory factor why some Destination Management Companies direct Group Business elsewhere, which causes opportunity cost situation for the hotel when having to refuse business that exceeds the capacity required. Loyalty Program Unlike all the competitors there is not Loyalty Program in place to reward customers for their loyalty to the company. Working Environment Investment is required to totally refurbish the main kitchen as the current structure not adequate for the volume of work being produced nowadays. Executive Lounge Facilities Unlike all the five star hotels within the same Competitive Set this hotel does not have an Executive Lounge. Most corporate clients seek this facility as it provides an additional area, where they can conduct their business and entertain their clients. In order to measure the potential of an Industry most companies use the framework of Environmental Understanding as established by the Economist Michael Porter. Section 6 Porters Five Forces Model In March-April 1979, Professor Michael. E. Porter, published an article in the Harvard Business Review, titled How Competitive Forces Shape Strategy.  [14]  . In this article he wrote : Competition in an industry is rooted in its underlying economics, and competitive forces exist that go well beyond the established combatants in a particular industry. Customers, suppliers, potential entrants, and substitute products are all competitors that may be more or less prominent or active depending on the industry. The state of competition in an industry depends on five basic forces. The collective strength of these forces determines the ultimate profit potential of an industry. This article formed the basis of Porters Five Forces Model. This user friendly model is now widely employed by many organisations to formulate the firms business level strategy. Corinthia Palace Hotel is no exception. Key strategic decision makers within the company use this model during their business planning process to represent their analysis of the dynamics of the competitive structure and how the combined strength of these forces influence the Maltese Tourist Industry. Strong forces will suggest lower prices and higher costs, whereas weak forces suggest the contrary. 6.1 Bargaining Power of Customers and Suppliers Informed customers become empowered customers  [15]  (Dubrin,2008) . Trends show that a high percentage of travellers book their travel arrangements directly through the internet. Budget airline sites such as Ryan Air and Easyjet, provide a one stop shop that is accessible around the clock. Nowadays, middlemen such as travel agents are gradually being eliminated. The internet has accelerated the power of this competitive force. Customers now have an advantage over the organisations, as they are able to conduct frugal searches of the web from the comfort of their own home. This provides them with ample opportunity to compare rates and subsequently purchase the best deals. Since opening, the hotel has witnessed changes in booking channels. Customers are more likely to book directly through the internet. Price wars with competitors are prevalent, however despite this, Corinthias pricing strategy is based on past performance and forecasted demand. Much focus is placed on safeguarding Gross Operating Profit and as the company is apposed to reducing rates ,added value is offered instead. During my interview with Mr. Schranz I asked who has the strongest leverage when negotiating rates with suppliers. His reply indicated that the key to successful negotiation is to create a win win situation giving them equal leverage. 6.2 Threat of New Entrants According to Slocum et al  [16]  the phrase New Entrants refers to the relative ease with which new firms can compete with established firms. Over the past forty years the number of companies operating 5 Star Hotels has risen substantially. Empirical data issued by the National Statistics Office of Malta indicates that in 1996 there were only six Five Star Hotels operating on the Maltese Islands. Today, some fifteen years later, the amount of five star hotels has almost tripled increasing to fifteen. The high concentration of upscale hotels on the market, has made it essential to create barriers. Recent Government Regulations, Capital Requirements and Rising Operating Costs are forecasted to affect profitability. Such contributory factors may defer new entrants in the future. During my interview with Director of Sales and Marketing, Mr Karl Schranz, he revealed that he does not envisage any other Five Star Hotels entering the market this year. He further elaborated that in his opinion the industry does not require more 5 star properties. The industry has seen an explosion of Five Star Room Stock on the market in the last 5 years. There is a surplus of Hotel Rooms in low season due to the seasonality of our business. On the other hand, all five star properties run at very high occupancies from May till October. In my opinion, it all boils down to market forces. When market conditions permitted and when it was highly feasible for other hotels to join, most local and foreign business men invested heavily in the Hotel Sector. 6.3 The Threat of Substitute Products or Services Organisations that provide services that adequately substitute those offered by competitors within the same industry are considered as a threat to those competing within the same industry. In the local context, substitutes to Five Star hotels can be identified as either the Chartering of Yachts or Opting for a Cruise. However, with high level of accessibility offered by budget airlines, emerging tourist destinations poise a bigger threat to the industry. Central and Eastern European destinations are offering similar products at more competitive rates. However, if one was to consider the high concentration of natural disasters or adverse weather conditions many countries have recently experienced many travelers may be influenced by Maltas more agreeable climate. Furthermore, political instability in emerging destinations like Tunisa may also defer travellers to choose alternative destinations. 6.4 Existing Competition The level of competition is a key determinant of how other hotels in the industry are likely to behave. Hotels within the same Competitive Set strive for market share. From the fifteen 5 Star Hotels on the island, the only four categorised in the same Competitive Set as the Corinthia Palace and Spa are Phoenicia, Excelsior, Intercontinental and the Meridien. However, both the Director of Finance and the Director of Sales consider the Phoenicia as their main competitor. This is attributed to the fact that both hotels have been in competition for the past forty years and that both properties appeal to the same markets. According to the information provided by Mr. Shranz, the hotels average market share is approximately 10.5 %. Karl Schranz commented as follows : Price Wars are tremendous in all Hotel Categories in Malta. We had managed to reduce price wars significantly before 2008 when demand was in line with supply. Since more Five Star Properties opened in Malta and since the recession set in, most hotels started slashing rates in order to generate advance and last minute business As operating costs are rising, the onus must remain on targeting specific markets that can yield the highest profits. Although perceived as a business hotel, leisure travellers remain the key market. The Tour Operator and Leisure Segments approximately constitute to 64% of the hotels market share. Section 7 Conclusion 7.1 Industry Life Cycle As each industry evolves it goes through a sequence of phases. Factors used to ascertain at which stage the Industry is currently in, is by assessing both the number of firms operating and their potential for profitability. Desk research conducted for this assignment indicates that despite global economic recessions, the Maltese Tourist Industry has shown growth. Furthermore, projections for the coming years also indicate growth. All in all, it appears that Tourism remains a promising Industry for the near future. 7.2 Strategic Direction for the Hotel The way forward for the company is to maintain its high level of customer retention rate which currently averages in the region of 20%. This relatively high percentage of customer loyalty is attributed to the General Mangers high level of customer orientation in conjunction with the very high level of personalised services. The recent award should feature more prominently on the hotels website, thus using this as an extra tool to market the hotel. From a financial perspective, costs must be closely monitored and opportunities to generate income should be exploited. The hotel management should pool their resources together to create a culture that encourages innovation. Investment in alternative sources of energy should be studied and the possibility of acquiring EU Funding explored. Investment should also be made to upgrade the property seeking in order to gain a return on investments through increased room rates. Future growth should stem from the hotels Unique Selling Point, which is the ability to offer a memorable experience. The Sales Team needs to take a more aggressive approach to tap into unexploited markets and offer innovative packages based on value. Finally, with the continued commitment to fulfil the companys mission, the team must drive the Corinthia Brand Identity by offering authentic Maltese Hospitality. By focusing on the main priority which is Customer Satisfaction, the hotel will not only remain profitable but will also remain a strong competitor. For many, tourism is a source of employment and income. The tourism industry is responsible for 5.2% of the EUs employment and accounts for 5% of Europes Wealth. It is therefore a strategic sector of our economy, facing new challenges that ought to be kept in check and opportunities that need to be taken. With 380 million international arrivals annually and market share of more than 40% of global tourism Europe commands the position as the number one tourist destination European Commission Vice-president Antonio Tajani- Journal of the Institute of Tourism Studies Dec 2010 pg 30. References http://www.worldtravelawards.com/award-maltas-leading-hotel-2010 IL-Haddiem Corinthia Palace Hotel 11 June 1968 pg 5 http://www.wttc.org/bin/pdf/original_pdf_file/malta.pdf http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/tourist-arrivals-expected-to-reach-1-3-million-by-end-2010 http://www.nso.gov.mt/statdoc/document_file.aspx?id=2873 http://www.nso.gov.mt/statdoc/document_file.aspx?id=2928 http://finance.gov.mt/image.aspx?site=MFINref=2011_BudgetSpeech2011_English https://opm.gov.mt/vizjoni-2015 Free programme of advance training for tourism leaders http://hbr.org/1979/03/how-competitive-forces-shape-strategy/ar/1 Daily Telegragh Malta Centre of Excellence in the Mediterranean 16 June 2000 NSO news release 242/2010 Collective accommodation establishments :Oct 2010 Dec 22, 2010

Evolution of the Office Worker Role

Evolution of the Office Worker Role Office is the place where people carry out the daily work of their businesses. All the work is done by the support of management policies and co-ordinate the role of various department and sections. Office is the most important part of the organization. Because office provides the base to the organization. It is where all the administrative work of the organization carried out. Employees can meet face to face, so they can enjoy professional and social interactions during their work. To do their work requires suitable environment and sophisticated technologies. Now in modern world due to the rapid growth of technologies significantly effected on office work place. As computers replace the typewriter, servers replaced the bulk files, punching machine/card machine replaces the huge register, email and voice mail eliminates stackable inbox and telephone massage slips and many more. In other word we can say that the technological inventions bring the evolution to the role of office workers. roles of office workers An over view of the past The locally oriented American economy of the early 1800s did not need offices as we know them today. Business was run then much as it had been run for half a millennium. Goods were made, transported, and sold. With the help of a few clerks, merchants ran their small companies as family businesses. (education, 1998) .As the article says in past days the organizations are too small and very difficult to maintain the administrative works. Because of the equipments and technologies used in those days. In those days office environment is not so flexible as today. Because in early days office means a secretary and a clerk. They will carry out their work in a small room. They will do all the works by hand. Eg: writing letters and documents through hand, keeping financial records in huge log books, to keep all business records in huge files. 2.2 factors enforcing to evolution In early 1800s the time offices were born they use very limited equipments and technologies in their work. They use typewriters as main equipment in office to carry out the administrative works like preparing documents and letters. But this type writer brings a lot more easer to do the work in the organizations and government offices. Because it is more suitable way to type a long business document rather than physically writing though the hands. Most of the organization started using it when the concept of scientific management developed in the 1880s. During these days most the clerical works are engaged with typewriters. And they are specialized in typing trough typewriters. Telephone brings an evolution to the way of communication. Since the telephone was first demonstrated in 1876, it has evolved into a vital communications tool, providing the gateway to the world of computer technology and information exchange. (education, office equipment, 1998). Business organization started using telephones to contact with their suppliers. It found more suitable way to send message than sending messages through hand or in mail. Facsimile or fax machine was invented in 1842. It sends a photocopy to another fax machine through telephone cable. It is highly used before email was invented 1843 to 1990. But in this present day also fax machine is use by some organizations. Computer is the most important equipment in the office today. It is hard to imagine conducting business without computers. Each day, millions of people working in offices and homes around the world depend on computer technology to do their jobs efficiently and economically. (office equipment, 1998). In each and every office environment we can see patterns of computers in all departments. But why? It has a valued reason because in present information age all the work office workers in every department is engaged with computer and computer softwares. And mostly all the modern technologies used in offices are under computer control. Eg: account department use special software to carry out their work, punching machine used in offices to mark the r egister of employs is linked with computers in hr department. Computer play biggest role in evolution of office work. When the internet and World Wide Web burst upon American since in the early 1990s, this new form of digital telecommunication forced me to rethink the relationship of information technologies to organization. (Foutain). Internet brings office work more easily done effectively. As it help to find more information about the business environment and competitors. And it helps to communicate throughout the world more easily and fastly at cheaper price. World Wide Web or internet is using in every organization today. Through web pages people can share the information to world. And anyone who wants to advertise the product can advertise through web pages. An email is web based mails through that allows sending files or message to anyone around the world from computer which is connected to the internet. Now in this present day most of the organizations depend on email to communicate with suppliers, customers and between departments. Punching machines is used in offices to maintain the registers of workers in office. Every worker need to place his or her fingerprint on that machine when he or she arrives to the office. So the machine will report to the hr departments computer through sophisticated software so hr people can recognize who are late to the office and who is not coming to office. Then hr manager can talk with employs who are repeating the same mistake. Due to the invention of punching machine it create a lot easier to human resource department. Because it eliminates the huge register which is manage physically by hand. In most offices of the 1990s, personal computers are linked to one other through internaland often externalnetworks. This networking allows employees to gather information from a vast array of outside sources (particularly the World Wide Web) and to share it quickly with their colleagues, outside business partners, and customers. (education, computer networks, 1998). Intranet or computer network in office is very common technology used in big organizations as to communicate between various departments. It is a privacy network which other outside users cant enter. It brings an easy and comfortable method of communication to the office workers. Global Vs local Globally most of the organizations are adept to new technologies and changes in their office environment as well as to the work. There are using the modern technologies to increase the work speed and to increase their productivity. Some international manufacturing companies have stated doing their own researches through research and development department by using modern technologies to invent new ways of production and new technologies. Nowadays the office environment also has been changed from privet cabins to the open floor in order to create a better environment where all the workers can enjoy social and professional interaction. As well as they can share ideas and knowledge. So it helps to new inventions and new ideas. Because of open office environment seems more equality as managers and CEOs are working with their staffs. So it helps managers to supervise and coordinate the works of staffs. The 1990s workplace has become lean and mean, opting for smaller and less private space s and more powerful, versatile technology. The walls are tumbling down: Managers and even some CEOs who once presided over their employees in large, private, wood-paneled offices have moved onto the floor, joining their subordinates in a maze of cubicles meant to foster equality, increased communication, and teamwork. (education, offices today, 1998). Due to the evolution of office work Maldivian organizations also have been started using the modern sophisticated technologies. In order to find the easiest ways to the workers, and increase their productivity. Most of the privet offices are using latest technologies like punching machines as a register and CCTV cameras as security systems and much modern softwares to do the administrative works. The new government of Maldives is also implementing modern technologies to the government offices. And the president also advising to use modern sophisticated technologies which are more environments friendly. conclusion Technologies will change as the world is going on at the same time the role of office workers will change and it will be much more easily in future than technologies which we are experiencing today. When we are talking about the modern technologies mean time we have to think about changes and new ways to do works. In other words we can say try to innovate our selfs. We have to get experience from old technologies and try to develop new ones.

Arturo Islas Migrant Souls: The Lonely Effects of Assimilation Essay

The Lonely Effects of Assimilation The Europeans who claimed what was to become America chose to integrate the land's present inhabitants and future immigrants in order to become the dominating race and, consequently, made other cultures feel inferior to their own. The Angel family, Mexican-Indian immigrants and the subject of Arturo Islas' Migrant Souls, becomes victim to the Americans' forceful demands for conformity. While Sancho, the father, never complains about assimilation, yet never becomes fully "assimilated," his wife, Eduviges, strives to be a part of the American culture. These conflicting reactions and the existing prejudice in the community leave their daughter, Josie, uncertain of her true identity. In the early 1830's, Mexican-Indians, seeking a better life in the "land of opportunity," crossed the border into America only to find themselves and all who followed forced to assimilate to a new culture. The white Americans pushed their food, their beliefs, their clothing style, and the English language upon these immigrants. Some of the seemingly brainwashed Mexican-Indians saw the American actions as signs of kindness and acceptance. Yet, fearful others considered being caught by the strict American border patrol a "fate worse than death" (490). Immigration officers warned "foreign-looking" people to carry citizenship identification at all times, and they "sneaked up on innocent dark-skinned people, and deported them," possibly also "mak[ing them] suffer unspeakable mortifications" (484, 486). Those legally able to reach America became subjected to American ideals and customs. The whites relocated those unwilling to live the "accepted American lifestyle" to specified areas. Aware of this law, Sancho cynically w... ...the use of both the Spanish and English languages and the description of a meal of menudos, gorditas, and Coca-Cola symbolize Josie's two identities--Mexican and American. In the Angel family, as well as in the families of other immigrants, the power of assimilation results in feelings of despair, uncertainty, and inferiority. Eduvige's and Sancho's opposing thoughts on the American culture impact their family's events every day. Constantly in the presence of completely different opinions, young Josie wanders farther from the realization of her identity. And so, forcing families to conform to foreign societies may cause conflicts and destroy the child's sense of self. Works Cited Islas, Arturo. From Migrant Souls. American Mosaic: Multicultural Readings in Context. Eds. Gabriele Rico, Barbara Roche and Sandra Mano. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co. 1995. 483-491.

Essay --

Out of the many experiments being conducted, I have the pleasure of introducing a layered density column to the class. Density is defined as mass divided by volume or the amount of stuff in a certain amount of space. Composed of many different household products (vegetable oil, rubbing alcohol, and even water), density columns present different layers through the masses of each liquid. These columns can contain as many products the experimenter desires. The liquids chosen that have a higher density tend to weigh more, unlike those that weigh less and float to the top if poured into the column. Along with the liquids chosen objects can be placed into the column, and then we would be able to see how each layer has an effect on the objects. For my lab experiment, I will be using 7 products throughout my demonstration. I could use as many products that I want, however 7 is a common amount to start with. Every product will be measured according to the amount that the cup can hold. To conduct my experiment, I will be pouring the products into 2 ounce cups and will construct the column th...

Hypertension Causes And Treatments Health And Social Care Essay

The most common medical status and taking cause of decease in Ireland today is Hypertension, accounting for about 1/3 of the entire figure of deceases and killing about 10,000 people each twelvemonth. Hypertension or high blood force per unit area is where the force of the blood against the arterial walls as it circles the organic structure is more forceful than it should be. It is the chief cause of decease in Ireland due to the fact that it is a status that normally gives no symptoms, and goes unnoticed unless it is checked on a regular basis or when a wellness job arises. It is the deficiency of symptoms that gives the status its other name The Silent Killer. To look into entire blood force per unit area a measuring of both systolic and diastolic force per unit area must be taken. Systolic force per unit area measures the blood force per unit area while the bosom beats and diastolic force per unit area measures the blood force per unit area while the bosom rests. Normal blood forc e per unit area is considered to be 120/80 mmHg, 120 being the measuring of systolic end product and 80 being measuring of the diastolic end product. Today, there are 4 classs of blood force per unit area ; normal, pre-hypertension, high blood pressure stageI and high blood pressure stageII. Normal blood force per unit area as stated antecedently is 120/80, pre-hypertension is considered to be between 121-139 systolic and 80-89 diastolic while both phases of high blood pressure are 140 systolic or higher with 90 diastolic or higher.blood-pressure.gifThe statusWith Hypertension, as stated antecedently both the systolic and diastolic may be inveterate higher than 140/90mmHg or merely one of the measurings may be inveterate higher than the normal figure. Hypertension is split into 2 different blood force per unit area classs ; high blood pressure phase I and high blood pressure phase II. Phase I flatly has a systolic of between 140 and 159 with a diastolic of 90 to 99 while phase II is marked by a systolic reading of 160 or higher with a diastolic of 100 or more. There are 2 types of high blood pressure, the first is called indispensable high blood pressure and the second is called secondary high blood pressure. Essential or primary high blood pressure is high blood force per unit area with no identified cause while secondary high blood pressure is high blood force per unit area caused by another implicit in status or the medicine used to handle it. When sing the pathogenesis of primary high blood pressure, the alteration in systemic vasculature could be as a consequence of continuously increased blood volume, cardiac end product or strictly due to sustained lift of the systemic vascular opposition. The increased opposition is as a consequence of a decrease in diameter of the lms and thickener of the walls of immune blood vass. Vascular tone is besides another factor to take into consideration when sing pathogenesis as surveies show that vascular endothelium of p atients with high blood pressure produce really small azotic oxide. Nitric oxide is the organic structure ‘s natural vasodilative but due to the decrease in production the vascular smooth musculus becomes less sensitive to its activity. This deficiency of azotic oxide and desensitized smooth musculus coupled with increased production of endothelin can take to enhanced vasoconstriction of the vascular tissue. This vasoconstriction causes the arterial walls to go more stiff and to increase opposition to the flow of blood, which in bend causes the bosom to crush more forcefully. The stiffening of the arterial walls besides leads to a wider pulsation which is a characteristic of stray systolic high blood pressure which is where the systolic reading is 140 but the diastolic reading is still below 90.blood_vessel.gifCausesToday, indispensable high blood pressure histories for more than 90 % of all high blood pressure related instances while secondary high blood pressure viz. account s for the remainder. The cause of indispensable high blood pressure is unknown but there are 7 factors that could potentially be responsible for this type of blood force per unit area. These are a high salt diet, age, ethnicity such as African American, Renal inadequacy, weight jobs, genetic sciences and susceptibleness. Secondary high blood pressure is less common but is by and large a consequence of an implicit in status or due to medicine ; some implicit in causes include nephritic inadequacy, thyroid inadequacy, gestation, emphasis and many more. Nephritic arteria stricture is the narrowing of the nephritic arteria lms, this consequences in a decrease of force per unit area in the arteriola and a decrease in nephritic perfusion. This decrease in nephritic perfusion and bottleneck of the arteria stimulates the release of chymosin which increases the concentration of the endocrines angiotensin II and aldosterone. The addition in these endocrines consequences in the increased consu mption of Na and H2O therefore increasing the blood volume taking to high blood pressure due to the Frank-Starling mechanism. The pathogenesis of hyperaldosteronism is similar to that of nephritic arteria stricture, as the increased secernment of aldosterone consequences in increased Na and H2O uptake therefore increasing the blood volume and cardiac end product. The Frank-Starling mechanism is physiologically involved in equilibrating the end product of the 2 ventricles of the bosom ; it is the Black Marias ability to alter its force of contraction therefore altering the shot volume as a response to alterations in the venous return. An illustration of this is an addition in end product of the right ventricle would take to an addition in the flow into the left ventricle. Without the Frank-Starling mechanism to respond to the instability so a major malfunction would occur.primary hyperaldosteronism One of the most prevailing links with secondary high blood pressure in today ‘s society is stress. It acts as an indirect cause of the status by repeatedly exciting the sympathetic nervous system ; this overstimulation leads to big sums of vasoconstricting endocrines such as noradrenaline to be released. Stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system due to emphasize besides increases the go arounding angiotonin II, antidiuretic hormone and aldosterone degrees. The changeless and perennial bottleneck of the arterias due to increased cardiac end product and vascular opposition elevates the blood force per unit area. On top of the sympathetic nervous system stimulation, emphasis besides stimulates the adrenal myelin to bring forth more catecholamines such as noradrenaline and adrenaline. It is the combination of increased catecholamines and angiotonin II that maintains the elevated blood force per unit area doing the high blood pressure.Conventional interventionTo handle the statu s it is frequently necessary to look at the underlying cause if any and to seek dainty that where possible. For indispensable high blood pressure there is no identifiable cause so the intervention program is test and mistake, while with secondary high blood pressure ; the implicit in status that is seting emphasis on the bosom can be treated with the hopes that it will relieve the strain. There are 4 chief categories of antihypertensive drugs these are ; Diuretics, vasodilatives, sympathetic nervous system suppressers and rennin-angiotensin system drugs. Diuretic drugs such as Thiazides, K sparing and cringle are the chief types used in the intervention of high blood pressure. They are frequently called ‘water pills ‘ as they act on the kidneys to increase the riddance of Na and H2O from the organic structure in order to diminish blood volume. Vasodilators are another of import class of drugs in the intervention of high blood pressure as they help in the relaxation of the musculuss in the blood vass. Calcium channel adversaries ( blockers ) and potassium channel agonists are 2 chief illustrations of vasodilatives used to handle high blood pressure. The Ca channel blockers aid in the relaxation by barricading the Ca conductivity of L type Ca channels on vascular smooth musculus. K+ channel agonists on the other manus do local relaxation of smooth musculus by increasing the permeableness of the membrane to K+ ions. The activation of K ions switches off the Ca channels therefore halting the production of action potencies. Alpha and beta blockers/ adversaries are 2 chief sympathetic nervous system suppressers or peripheral sympatholytic drugs used in the intervention of high blood pressure. The alpha adversary blocks the alpha receptors in the smooth musculus of peripheral arterias which blocks the mechanism of contraction through the IP3 signal transduction tract therefore cut downing the blood force per unit area. The beta antagonists nevertheless, merely act on cut downing the cardiac end product and are found to be non so effectual on their ain and so they are by and large prescribed with the usage of water pills like the Thiazides. Alpha agonists are the 3rd type of sympathetic nervous system suppresser or centrally acting sympatholytic drugs, they block the sympathetic activity of the encephalon by adhering to the alpha 2 receptor and triping it. This activation of the alpha 2 receptor reduces the escape to the bosom therefore diminishing the cardiac end product, bosom rate and contraction. By an d large the alpha agonists are prescribed in concurrence with water pills due to the drugs unstable accretion side effects which when left untreated can take to cell hydrops. The last class of drugs used to handle high blood pressure is the Renin-angiotensin targeting drugs. The 2 chief aiming drugs used are ACE inhibitors and angiotonin II receptor adversaries. ACE inhibitors or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors ; barricade the enzyme from bring forthing angiotonin II which is responsible for the narrowing of blood vass and stimulation of endocrines that raise blood force per unit area. By barricading this enzyme, the blood vass remain relaxed and blood force per unit area remains normal. On the other manus, the angiotonin II receptor adversaries block the action of angiotonin non the formation therefore the blood vass remain relaxed.Herbal and complementary interventionIn today ‘s medical universe, diet and exercising are the best recommended interventions where possible or when medicine can be avoided. Simple things such as to discontinue smoke, exerting for 30 proceedingss a twenty-four hours, restricting salt and intoxicant consumption, eating a bosom healthy diet and cut downing emphasis are all things that could dramatically take down blood force per unit area. Addendums in the diet are another friendly manner of lower blood force per unit area, addendums such as omega3 fish and pod liver oils, coenzyme Q10, ALA, Allium sativum, Ca and chocolate are all indicated for the intervention of high blood pressure. Where addendums and diet do n't hold the desired efficaciousness, herbs can assist hike the effects or can even be used in concurrence with prescribed anti-hypertensive medicines.

Listo Systems

Listo Systems is a graphic service agency with a long history of success. In the early 1990s, the company quickly grew into one of the top graphic service companies in the world. The rapid growth of technology in recent years has both helped and hindered the company. Advancements in technology have allowed Listo Systems to provide quality services and products faster and more efficiently. However, new technology has also been beneficial for Listo Systems’ competitors. The competition has grown significantly in number and in the quality of services and products that they provide.The increase in technology has also led to an increase in customer demands and expectations. Customers want services and products faster and cheaper and will go to a competitor without hesitation if their needs are not met. The advancements in technology have also created new threats to the industry in terms of security and theft of products. Answer the following questions by applying the concepts learn ed in Chapter 1. Also, conduct literature reviews on the subject of discussion and use to support your case study answers:How has Listo Systems felt the impact of power shifting from the Seller to the Buyer? Ignorance of customer behavior is the greatest strategic risk facing businesses today. Every day they vote with their time, with their word of mouth, with their money and with their allegiance, for the business designs that best serve their evolving priorities. The results of their shifting decisions are value creation and value destruction. Customers determine profits. In many markets, not all customers are profitable.An examination of true pricing and the true costs of serving customers may reveal that a company is actually losing money on many customer accounts. The shift from â€Å"all customers are profitable† to â€Å"many are not† has been triggered by declining gross margins and increasing variability in the cost to serve customers. Suppliers will be reward ed for being much more rigorous in: 1. Measuring current and potential profit customer by customer 2. Selecting the promising customers, and 3. Choosing how much to invest in those customers. Customer profitability is a relative concept.When a firm's capacity utilization is low, even a â€Å"bad† customer is valued because the incremental volume helps to cover fixed costs — in the short term. For the long term, however, the fundamental issue remains: either replace the â€Å"bad† customers with good ones, or reduce capacity, or do both. The key to reversing this downward spiral into unprofitability is the ability to continuously re-segment the customer base. A customer profitability system can reverse the process and enable a company to exploit profit shifts to its advantage.By developing an accurate and dynamic model of how profitability varies at the individual customer level, a company can select and develop strategic customers who yield the greatest long-ter m value. The distribution of power between sellers and buyers influences every negotiation or transaction and profoundly influences the allocation of profits and value. Significant power imbalances can translate quickly along the value chain. Several factors can trigger the power shift pattern: 1. Customer consolidation 2.The formation of professional purchasing groups that bring tremendous expertise to the purchasing process 3. An overabundance of information on suppliers' costs and performance 4. Suppliers' lack of differentiation in either the products offered or the business models used to serve customers. When a company's customers have gained the upper hand, there are a few options available: 1. Out-concentrate the customers. If key customers are more consolidated than you, then consolidate back, merging to ensure that customers can't do without your portfolio. 2.Change the offer, change the customer. 3. Leapfrog the customer. Companies can vault past their customers via a str ong end-user brand, direct channel initiatives and innovative strategies to minimize their current customers' response. 4. Become the customer. The most radical move of all is to buy your largest customer. To generate value, make this move just before power starts shifting to customers, not after it has progressed. Purchasing of a distribution channel lets you join rather than fight the rise in customer power. 2. What external environmental factors are affecting Listo Systems?External environment consists of forces that directly or indirectly influence organization’s business activities. The actors and forces outside marketing that affect management’s ability to build and maintain successful relationship with target customers. Changes are often quick and unpredictable and offers both opportunities and threats Company must use its research and marketing intelligence systems to monitor the changing environment. Systematic environmental scanning helps Listo System to revi se and adapt business strategies to meet new challenges and opportunities in the marketplace.Technology can reduce costs, improve quality and lead to innovation. These developments can benefit consumers as well as the organizations providing the products. Every company faces a wide range of competitors and Listo System is also not apart from this fact. Listo System must secure a strategic advantage over competitors by positioning their offerings to be successful in the marketplace. A PESTLE analysis for Listo must consider all the important external factors impacting on the company. These factors may have political, economic, sociological, technological, legal or environmental dimensions.The political analysis must include the impact of local and national government, and the international situation. The Economic analysis needs to investigate the influences of the stock market and tax increases, amongst many other monetary matters. Sociological analysis is all about analyzing the bac kground culture. Technological factors are usually easier to spot, because new technologies involve change, and change is always noticed. For instance, online shopping has had a major impact on Listo's recent success.The change created by technological advances often lead to legal problems, which is why legal analysis is always an important part of a PESTLE analysis. Listo's operations obviously have a significant environmental impact, from fossil fuel use to packaging issues. Reducing the demand on the planet is a challenge for any big company. A PESTLE Analysis for Listo must look at all the six factors we have mentioned. Here they are again, with examples of each: Political: an increase in unemployment due to a downward turn in the world economy.Economic: impact on sales of the credit crunch. Sociological: an increase in immigration from Eastern Europe resulting in a demand for new goods. Technological: how can Listo take full advantage of the World Wide Web? Legal: how can Listo avoid legal opposition to expanding into new high streets? Environmental: – climate change is affecting supply and transport, how can Listo adapt? In summary, any PESTLE Analysis for Listo must consider all external factors if it has any hope of capturing the essence of the company. Listo Systems Listo Systems is a graphic service agency with a long history of success. In the early 1990s, the company quickly grew into one of the top graphic service companies in the world.The rapid growth of technology in recent years has both helped and hindered the company. Advancements in technology have allowed Listo Systems to provide quality services and products faster and more efficiently. However, new technology has also been beneficial for Listo Systems’ competitors. The competition has grown significantly in number and in the quality of services and products that they provide.The increase in technology has also led to an increase in customer demands and expectations. Customers want services and products faster and cheaper and will go to a competitor without hesitation if their needs are not met. The advancements in technology have also created new threats to the industry in terms of security and theft of products.Answer the following questions by applying the concepts learned in Chapter 1. Also, conduct literature reviews on the subject of discussion and use to support your case study answers: 1. How has Listo Systems felt the impact of power shifting from the Seller to the Buyer? Ignorance of customer behavior is the greatest strategic risk facing businesses today. Every day they vote with their time, with their word of mouth, with their money and with their allegiance, for the business designs that best serve their evolving priorities. The results of their shifting decisions are value creation and value destruction. Customers determine profits.In many markets, not all customers are profitable. An examination of true pricing and the true costs of serving customers may reveal that a company is actually losing money on many customer accounts. The shift from â€Å"all customers are profitable† to â€Å"many are not† has been triggered by declining gross margins and increasing variability in the cost to serve customers. Suppliers will be rewa rded for being much more rigorous in: 1.Measuring current and potential profit customer by customer 2.Selecting the promising customers, and3.Choosing how much to invest in those customers.Customer profitability is a relative concept. When a firm's capacity utilization is low, even a â€Å"bad† customer is valued because the incremental volume helps to cover fixed costs — in the short term. For the long term, however, the fundamental issue remains: either replace the â€Å"bad† customers with good ones, or reduce capacity, or do both. The key to reversing this downward spiral into unprofitability is the ability to continuously re-segment the customer base.A customer profitability system can reverse the process and enable a company to exploit profit shifts to its advantage. By developing an accurate and dynamic model of how profitability varies at the individual customer level, a company can select and develop strategic customers who yield the greatest long-term value. The distribution of power between sellers and buyers influences every negotiation or transaction and profoundly influences the allocation of profits and value. Significant power imbalances can translate quickly along the value chain. Several factors can trigger the power shift pattern:1. Customer consolidation2. The formation of professional purchasing groups that bring tremendous expertise to the purchasing process3. An overabundance of information on suppliers' costs and performance4. Suppliers' lack of differentiation in either the products offered or the business models used to serve customers.When a company's customers have gained the upper hand, there are a few options available: 1. Out-concentrate the customers. If key customers are more consolidated than you, then consolidate back, merging to ensure that customers can't do without your portfolio. 2. Change the offer, change the customer.3. Leapfrog the customer. Companies can vault past their customers via a strong en d-user brand, direct channel initiatives and innovative strategies to minimize their current customers' response. 4. Become the customer. The most radical move of all is to buy your largest customer. To generate value, make this move just before power starts shifting to customers, not after it has progressed. Purchasing of a distribution channel lets you join rather than fight the rise in customer power.2. What external environmental factors are affecting Listo Systems? External environment consists of forces that directly or indirectly influence organization’s business activities. The actors and forces outside marketing that affect management’s ability to build and maintain successful relationship with target customers. Changes are often quick and unpredictable and offers both opportunities and threats Company must use its research and marketing intelligence systems to monitor the changing environment.Systematic environmental scanning helps Listo System to revise and adapt business strategies to meet new challenges and opportunities in the marketplace. Technology can reduce costs, improve quality and lead to innovation. These developments can benefit consumers as well as the organizations providing the products. Every company faces a wide range of competitors and Listo System is also not apart from this fact. Listo System must secure a strategic advantage over competitors by positioning their offerings to be successful in the marketplace. A PESTLE analysis for Listo must consider all the important external factors impacting on the company. These factors may have political, economic, sociological, technological, legal or environmental dimensions. The political analysis must include the impact of local and national government, and the international situation.The Economic analysis needs to investigate the influences of the stock market and tax increases, amongst many other monetary matters. Sociological analysis is all about analyzing the backgroun d culture. Technological factors are usually easier to spot, because new technologies involve change, and change is always noticed. For instance, online shopping has had a major impact on Listo's recent success.The change created by technological advances often lead to legal problems, which is why legal analysis is always an important part of a PESTLE analysis. Listo's operations obviously have a significant environmental impact, from fossil fuel use to packaging issues. Reducing the demand on the planet is a challenge for any big company. A PESTLE Analysis for Listo must look at all the six factors we have mentioned. Here they are again, with examples of each: Political: an increase in unemployment due to a downward turn in the world economy. Economic: impact on sales of the credit crunch.Sociological: an increase in immigration from Eastern Europe resulting in a  demand for new goods. Technological: how can Listo take full advantage of the World Wide Web? Legal: how can Listo av oid legal opposition to expanding into new high streets? Environmental: – climate change is affecting supply and transport, how can Listo adapt? In summary, any PESTLE Analysis for Listo must consider all external factors if it has any hope of capturing the essence of the company.