Chrysanthemums Literary Review – the Antagonist

Stephens 1 Jeff Stephens Kathleen Roddy ENGL 1102-208 7-20-2011 The Antagonist is Not Who You Would Think In â€Å"The Chrysanthemums† by John Steinbeck, the character’s conflicts are very obscure. The main character, Elisa, is in constant conflict with herself, which she projects onto her husband and the tinker. Though Elisa appears to be dissatisfied with her life, she has no way to change it, and she becomes increasingly crass as the story progresses. Although she appears to be the victim, she is the story’s antagonist.Steinbeck describes different moods in relation to the fog and rain through the use of simile and metaphors. A specific use of this is when he writes about how the fog stretches across the roof of the valley, essentially closing it off like an iron kettle. He conveys, through the fog, that Elisa feels trapped and that only the rain can set her free, â€Å"fog and rain do not go together† (347). In his article, Gregory Palmerino takes note that the plowed fields represent Elisa’s fertile womanhood while the lack of rain would represent Henry’s sterile manhood.He points out that while Elisa’s character is well pronounced throughout; Henry’s character is â€Å"altogether absent† (165). Elisa’s feeling of being trapped and unattended is a predominant trait throughout the story. Henry seems to be a lot like myself, and I identify with him through his steering clear of confrontations by using compliments and jokes. Palmerino states that â€Å"The initial dialogue between Henry and Elisa sets the tone for subsequent encounters and reveals the couple’s fundamental problem: they do not know how to fight† (165).Steinbeck shows that Henry is avoiding getting into an argument with his wife when he says, â€Å"Well, it sure works with flowers† Stephens 2 after â€Å"her eyes sharpened† (348). Even though there is no way to know, I could feel a pause there- an uncomfortable silence- even if it was brief. Henry and Elisa seemed to know that continuing this particular conversation would lead to a fight, so she changed the subject. Immediately, it felt as if the mood had lightened and that they were on good terms again, but there was always something lingering behind their words.Elisa appears to be the instigator, by default, even though she also seems to want to avoid confrontation. During her interaction with the tinker, Elisa flirts with the man, trying to get his attentions. Palmerino points out that Elisa is trying to cause a confrontation by â€Å"sexually and inadequately prostrating herself in front of an implausible paramour† (166). The tinker is a poor man, he says so himself, and knows full well that he cannot get himself into the kind of situation that she intends.Elisa’s actions are impulsive and the sign of someone who is starved for the attentions of a lover. When Elisa practically throws herself at him, he immed iately switches back to his business manner and says, pitifully, â€Å"It’s nice, just like you say. Only when you don’t have no dinner, it aint† (Steinbeck 351). She immediately switched gears and offered him some work, but she knew that what she had done was wrong. She felt dirty, not just from the soil in her garden, but also from her actions. Unfortunately, Henry seems to be a fairly dense individual.While he can tell when a situation is going south, he doesn’t seem to be capable of understanding why the situation is worsening. Elisa constantly takes advantage of the fact that he is so thick-headed. She pokes and prods him at every turn, whether boasting about her planting skills or demanding to know what is meant by â€Å"nice† or â€Å"strong† (Steinbeck 352-353). Henry manages to worsen the situation by Stephens 3 joking about what he means, but Elisa breaks her composure at the idea that she would â€Å"break a calf over [her] knee, happy enough to eat it like a watermelon† (Steinbeck 353).Both Henry’s choice of words and his demeanor manage to make Elisa angry, because what she really wants is for him to tell her that she is beautiful. Henry, however, is embarrassed. When he gets embarrassed or feels like there is a fight coming, he resorts to humor. Elisa is already feeling apprehensive from everything that happened at the farm, but on their way into town, she sees the chrysanthemums that she gave to the tinker and notices that while he had no use for the flowers, he kept the pot.Palmerino writes that â€Å"Elisa cannot bring herself to acknowledge, much less confront, the reality of her situation; and instead of verbally or nonverbally expressing her outrage at the tinker’s insensitivity†¦she turns her back and avoids the overarching truth† (166). Palmerino is dead on in his description of her emotions at that moment. She is definitely outraged, but just like Henry, she is co nstantly avoiding confrontation. Her apprehension turns to sadness as she realizes that she is stuck in an unending loop of an unambiguous, non-committal, non-progressive, and non-confrontational (basically dead) relationship of a marriage.The development of the story leads me to believe that Henry tries to lighten the mood by joking around or complimenting her, but Elisa always seems to negate his efforts. Steinbeck describes a painfully awkward few moments in this story, where Elisa misinterprets the actions of others. In Japan, this kind of character is called a tsundere. (Tsun means to turn away in disgust and dere means to become lovey-dovey. ) Elisa is constantly acting like a tsundere when her husband compliments or pokes fun at her. She could confront Henry, but her non-committalStephens 4 attitude would result in nothing changing. She would probably just change the subject like she did at the beginning of the story. She, basically, is the root of the problem. Stephens 5 Wor ks Cited Palmerino, Gregory J. â€Å"Steinbeck's The Chrysanthemums. † Explicator 62. 3 (2004): 164-167. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 6 July 2011. Steinbeck, John. â€Å"The Chrysanthemums† Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing, 4th Compact Edition. Edgar V. Roberts, ed. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education. 2008: 347-353.

Literature Review- Parenting Styles and Child Development Essay

Abstract A parenting style is a method or type of parenting which directly and indirectly influences the development of the child. Developmental psychologists study the physical, cognitive, social, intellectual, perceptual, emotional and personality growth and development that occurs throughout a lifetime. The purpose of this research was to identify how specific parenting styles positively and negatively correlate with behaviors in children, how they affect children, and what methods of parenting could be used to benefit the development of children. Parenting Styles and Child Development Developmental psychologists have long been interested in how parents impact their child’s development. However, finding the actual links between the specific actions of parents and the influenced behavior on children is very difficult. Some children that are raised in entirely different environments can later grow up to have remarkably similar personalities. And some children who share a home and are raised in the same environment can grow up to have completely different personalities than one another. Links between parenting styles and behavior are based upon correlational research, which can identify the relationships between variables but cannot establish a definitive cause. However, despite these challenges, researchers have uncovered convincing links between parenting styles and the effects these styles have on children. In my literature review I will be going over some of those links and the studies that are associated with them. In a study conducted by Alizadeh Shahla, Abu Talib Mansor, Abdullah Rohani and Mansor Mariani, the relationship between parenting style and children’s behavior problems were addressed. The sample in this study consisted of 681 mothers of students in elementary school (levels 3, 4, 5), who were chosen from eight schools In Tehran. Mothers were identified through their children who comprised 347 girls from four schools and 334 boys from four schools chosen by cluster random sampling. The Mothers were given a Children’s Behavioral Checklist (CBCL) Questionnaire and a Parent Authority Questionnaire (PAQ). The Parent Authority Questionnaire was designed to measure Baumrind‘s  threedimensions: Authoritative, Authoritarian, and Permissive. The Children’s Behavioral Checklist included forms to evaluate competency, and affective-behavioral problems. The results of the study indicated that there is a significant correlation between the parenting style of mothers and children’s behavioral problems. The Authoritative level of mothers had a negatively significant correlation with internalizing symptoms in children. The Permissive level of mothers has positive significant correlation with internalizing symptoms in children. Lastly, the Authoritarian level of mothers had a roughly equal significant correlation with internalizing and externalizing. While the sample size of this study may be large enough to be considered representative of the population, the study itself limited parenting style to factors based only on children’s misbehavior. Many other relevant factors were not taken into consideration, such as age, genetics, economics, peer pressure, parent’s income, society, school, etc. The study also excluded men, only taking data based on the parenting styles presented by women. Moreover, the parents could have responded to the questionnaires in the way the wanted their families to be represented, resulting in false or distorted information. In a study conducted by Ãâ€"nder Fulya and Cenkseven Yilmaz Yasin, the role of life satisfaction and parenting styles in predicting delinquent behaviors among high school students was addressed. The sample of the study was determined in two phases. At first, the study was conducted with 881students from 9-12 grades attending twelve public high schools in Adana central province, their ages ranged from 14 to 19 years. In the second phase, a total of 502 students were determined to show low level of delinquent behaviors and high level of delinquent behaviors. 243 of students were from 9th grade, 87 from 10th grade, 91 from 11th grade, and 81 from 12th grade. When the parents were examined, 82 of the mothers and 7 of the father were Illiterate, 240 of the mothers and 233 of the fathers were primary school graduates, 73of the mothers and 98 of the fathers were middle school graduates, 72 of the mothers and 107 of the fathers were high school graduates, and 24 of the mothers and 48 of the fathers were university graduates. Researchers had parents of each sample group answer a set of questionnaires, the Delinquency Scale (DS), The Parenting Style Inventory (PSI), and the Multidimen sional Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale (MSLSS). The Delinquency Scale (DS), is used to determine behaviors which would be  regarded as crime if they reflected and bring adolescent face to face with laws. The Parenting Style Inventory (PSI) is a 26 item scale that has three factors: acceptance/ involvement, strictness/supervision, and psychological autonomy. The Multidimensional Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale (MSLSS) is a 40 item self report instrument that assesses satisfaction across five specific life domains: family, school, friends, self and living environment. The researchers concluded that when all test results were considered, satisfaction variables perceived from â€Å"strictness/supervision†, â€Å"school†, â€Å"family† and â€Å"self† have a positive correlation and meaningful contributions in explaining the highness of delinquency. While the researchers state that â€Å"strictness/supervision†, â€Å"school†, â€Å"family† and â€Å"self† have a positi ve correlation they are only referring to the 76.3% of the sample groups that tested positive and neglecting the 23.7% that did not. The sample sizes are large but the specifications of the parents in the â€Å"delinquent† sample group are too varied and therefore may represent misleading data. There were many different styles of questionnaires in this study which may be causing the data to become more complex than it needs to be in order to understandable results. In a study conducted by Jabeen Farah, Anis-ul-Haque and Riaz Muhammad Naveed, parenting styles as predictors of emotion regulation among adolescents are addressed. The sample of this study was 194 adolescents ages 12-15, 7th-9th grade from private secondary schools. The students were asked to respond to the Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ) and the Early Adolescents Temperament Questionnaire (EATQ). The Parental Authority Questionnaire was designed to measure Baumrind‘s threedimensions: Authoritative, Authoritarian, and Permissive. The Early Adolescents Temperament Questionnaire is comprised of the subsets, including attention shifting and focusing, inhibitory control, and activation control. Results of the study indicated that maternal permissive parenting style has significant negative correlation with emotional regulation and that paternal permissive parenting style has significant negative correlation with emotional regulation. The sample size is somewhat small due to the fact that data is being taken from a private school, and the fact that the data is coming from a private school in itself does not accurately represent the population as a whole because of the fact that private schools are exclusive. Furthermore, the parents which correspond with the children of  this study are all middle class and have moderate incomes rather than low or high incomes, and children who have single parents were excluded from the study. Also, there still remains the chance that some children may have not answered their questionnaire honestly. In a Longitudinal study conducted by Tong Lian, Shinohara Ryoji, Sugisawa Yuka, Tanaka Emiko, Maruyama Akiko, Sawada Yuko, Ishi Yukiko and Anme Tokie, the relationship of working mothers’ parenting style and consistency to early childhood development was addressed. The sample consisted of 504 participants recruited through 41 care facilities in Japan. Both children and their mothers participated. The mothers were surveyed regarding parenting behaviors and home environment, and service providers evaluated the development of each child in the facilities. Child development was assessed using six primary measures: gross motor skills, fine motor skills, so cial competence, communication skills, vocabulary and intelligence. Environmental stimulation was evaluated through: human stimulation, avoidance of restriction, social stimulation and support. Each child was evaluated by childcare professionals in 2004 and again in 2006 using developmental scales. Results of the study showed that children’s gross motor development was statistically significantly related to mother’s parenting practices at the beginning of the study. The ages of the children that were included in this study varied, and children with mental disabilities were excluded from the study entirely. The study addresses a â€Å"working mother’s† relationship but feels that it is perhaps unnecessary to consider the implications of a working father’s parenting style, or for that matter, the father’s influence on the child at all. Also the study could be conducted longer than 2 years for more insightful results. In a study conducted by Parsasirat Zahra, Montazeri Mona, Yusooff Fatimah, Subhi Nasrudin and N en Salina, the most effective kinds of parents on children’s academic achievement are addressed. The sample included Iranian high school students who were between the ages 15 to 17. The total numbers of participants were 546 who included 249 males and 297 females. They were given two questioners, Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ), and a self-demographic report which included their current Grade Point Average. Results showed that neither mother authoritative parenting, nor father authoritative parenting was significantly correlated with academic achievement and that neither mother authoritarian parenting, nor father  authoritarian parenting was significantly correlated with academic achievement. However, it did illustrate that both mother permissive parenting, as well as father authoritative parenting were significantly correlated with academic achievement. The age groups tested by the study were between fifteen to seventeen, so an assumption that similar correlations would be applicable to all other age groups of children will not have any definite proof. The data relies on the honesty of the participants and so data is not for certain conclusive evidence. There are many different factors to parental styles that influence children’s behavior. And while the definitive links between parenting styles and behavior may be unknown, correlational research has been able to make the parental styles which establish those links to become clearer to us. Through my research I have gathered that there are specific parental styles that positively and negatively correlate with behaviors in children. That strictness can manage delinquency, that permissive parenting can correct behavioral problems, or that perhaps authoritative parenting can help children in academics when paired with permissive. I have also noticed that the Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ) is generally a good questionnaire as it is frequently used. References Alizadeh, Abu, Abdullah, and Mansor (2011). Relationship between parenting style and children’s behavior problems. doi:10.5539/ass.v7n12p195 Jabeen, Anis, and Riaz (2013). Parenting styles as predictors of emotion regulation among adolescents. Ãâ€"nder and Cenkseven (2012). The role of life satisfaction and parenting styles in predicting delinquent behaviors among high school students. Parsasirat, Montazeri, Yusooff, Subhi, and Nen (2013). The most effective kinds of parents on children’s academic achievement. Tong, Shinohara, Sugisawa, Tanaka, Maruyama, Sawada, Ishi, and Anme (2009). Relationship of working mothers’ parenting style and consistency to early childhood development. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2648.2009.05058.x

Operation management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Operation management - Essay Example A trend is observed in the x bar chart for size of the dolls making it a focus area for the company. There have been a lot of customer returns due to inconsistencies in the colour and the size of the dolls manufactured in the plant. In order to analyze the situation, the company recorded 2 sets of data. The first set contains the number of colouring defects over a period of 30 days. The second set contains the sizes of 3 dolls selected at random daily over a period of 30 days. The company needs to find out whether its processes are in control or not. C-chart is the most appropriate control chart for the number of defects found if the sample size remains the same throughout. For the first data set the sample size for testing in each of the 30 subgroups is 200. Thus, using c-chart makes absolute sense. The 3 sigma control limits for a c-chart are calculated as: In the R-chart and x bar chart for height of the dolls, many observations lie outside both the control limits. This shows that the process is out of control. R-chart is shown in Figure 3.2 and x bar chart is shown in Figure 3.3. The manufacturing process of the toy plant is out of control for both the number of defectives in colour and the heights of the dolls. Since, only 1 observation is out of limits for colour defects, it may be considered as a one-off deviation and can be neglected. However, the company must still aim to decrease the mean number of defects. This could be done by replacement of the machine which would require a capital expenditure. The ultimate aim of the company must be to go for zero defects as proposed by quality experts. This is also a key philosophy of Lean Management and Six Sigma. From the point of view of heights of dolls, the process is completely out of control. Sharp trends are visible in the R chart and x bar chart. This implies a problem with the production process. This variation is a controlled variation and rectifying the production process will

The business and financial performance of J Sainsbury plc over the Essay

The business and financial performance of J Sainsbury plc over the last three year period - Essay Example fulness, this paper carried out an empirical study where it compared the firm’s stock prices with those of its rivals as well as its own financial position over a span of three years and actually found that such ground of concern of the financial managers is not baseless and that the firm’s position indeed has been deteriorating over the years. J Sainsbury Plc had historically been one of the leading grocery retail chains in the UK. It was founded by John James and Mary Ann Sainsbury in 1869 at Drury Lane, one of the poorest localities in London with just one shop in the beginning, which soon became popular amongst the locals because of the high-quality product they sold at affordable prices. Their popularity among the people helped them gather the funds needed to expand their business and eventually led them to build a chain of about 800 stores throughout the economy that today includes a chain of more than 500 super-markets and about 300 convenience stores built under the brand name Sainsbury. Although their journey started with just a retail store in a small part of London, very soon they started producing their own brand of products – the first among them was bacon which they started producing in their own smoking ovens in 1882. Gradually, Sainsbury, what was a mere firm, started producing and supplying a variety of other types of commodities that today amounts to more than 30,000 products comprising of both food and non-food items; and introduced a variety of services like self-help at the counters meant to avoid the rush and thus ease the efforts of their customers. The company also showed benevolence towards its employees when they began publishing regular store magazines for the counselling of their employees. The versatility of the firm soon became prominent when it showed its concern to the society during the world wars when it adopted some innovative measures for its betterment, which proved its consciousness over the issue. During the world

Assignment s Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

S - Assignment Example Thus, it would be more convenient for the defendants and plaintiffs to attend the court hearing in either Greece or Cyprus. According to Lear, the doctrine of forum non conveniens is supposed to provide convenience to the parties above all else (1147). In Piper vs Reyno the fact that most of the evidence including the plane wreckage and witnesses could be found in Scotland or near Scotland was given as one of the grounds for granting forum non conveniens. Similarly, the plane wreckage is in Athens and since the flights took off from Cyprus, further evidence could be obtained from the ground crew there. Furthermore, some of the evidence is in Greek and Greek law will be applicable in some matters. In Piper vs Reyno, it was reasoned that an American jury will have a hard time understanding foreign laws. If the case is heard in the district court, Greek law would have to apply and it is in doubt if the jury would comprehend Greek law. In Piper vs Reyno, American courts were cautioned against adjudicating foreign matters as this would place unnecessary burden on the American court system. In the case, both the defendant and plaintiffs are foreign citizens therefore meaning the US has little public interest in deciding the matter. In this case, the plaintiffs favor the district court as here they would obtain ten times as much compensation and damages for the suit. However, in Piper vs Reyno it was ruled that plaintiff’s favored forum had little bearing on granting dismissal on grounds of forum non conveniens. If courts were to take plaintiffs choice of forums as weighty consideration then dismissal would be rare. Furthermore, in Yavuz vs 61 MM LTD it was help that claims do not have to be similar to those offered by the district courts for a foreign jurisdiction to be accessed as an adequate forum In addition, the change of forum would not change either party’s case as plaintiffs could still make claims of

Children cartoons Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Children cartoons - Case Study Example The fact that children are highly influenced during their formative years makes cartoons both a blessing and a threat. On a physical level, recent research has shown that watching cartoons can help to reduce pain in children facing medical procedures (Jenkins). It is theorized that cartoons cause a change in brain chemistry and may also be able to improve the child's sense of well-being. However, critics contend that the young viewer may copy behavior seen in cartoons. Research has found a "positive, though weak, relation between exposure to television violence and aggressive behaviour" (Research on the Effects of Media Violence). Cartoons have the ability to influence either for the good or the detriment of the child. In conclusion, cartoons are the most fundamental introduction that many children have to our culture. It has been shown that television, and cartoons, do have an effect on young viewers. It is important to consider that the program content may work to improve the child's sense of self and well being, or elicit the negative attitudes, such as aggression, that parents work hard to control.

Toyota Aygo Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Toyota Aygo Marketing - Essay Example Then, there were only five car competitors for the urban youth market segment. However, competitors have grown to twenty today. Thus, in an effort to improve its position in the highly competitive segment, where customers are hard to win, in the year 2014, the company unveiled a new version of the Aygo model with modifications that make it more suitable for the young target customers. The model constitutes the largest individual market share of any Toyota model and has a remarkable track record of attracting new customers to the Toyota brand and winning their loyalty (Lap Lab). Young people have different tastes for cars from the older people. Firstly, they prefer small cars. Tus, in this respect, the Aygo model is small enough to suit the target customer needs. The car’s capacity is four people; the boot is also pretty small, though enough for a carry-on case/a few bags of shopping (Lap Lab). In addition, young people also want economical cars; they are young and not yet at financial peak. In this regard, Aygo is economical in two aspects. Its price is the cheapest of all Toyota models, the average list price in UK being  £8, 59. Further, insurance costs are also relatively lower, and the company offers attractive finance deals to make the car more affordable to the youth. Secondly, the model scores relatively high in fuel economy. The new recently launched model has a fuel efficiency of 68.8mpg, which is a big improvement from its predecessor (Lap Lab). In addition, the youth also want a stylish car with playful features. Styling is one area in which Toyota has majored in to achieve the upper hand in a competitive urban youth market segment. The new version has been designed with style and fun in mind which, the company says to have been inspired by the Japanese youth culture. While the previous Aygo looked tasteless, the new version has a fancy X arrangement that gives it

Problem with united states highways conditions Essay

Problem with united states highways conditions - Essay Example The following are some of the topics which will be covered in the first part of the research proposal. In this subtopic, the researcher will seek to explore the different background of the highways conditions in the United States with the aim of establishing any shortcomings that can be covered by the research work. The researcher will compare the conditions in different States and countries to get a comprehensive content for the research work. The research on highways conditions will be guided by at least 4 objectives which will act as the guiding principle of getting the best results for the research work. For instance, the researcher will explore objectives of different authorities in relation to maintaining the good highways in the country. The researcher will use different research questions to help in getting the right information about the highways conditions in the country. The researcher will explore the conditions using at least 4 research questions. The researcher in this section will review different literature by different authors related to highways conditions in United States and other countries. The researcher will rely on this information to build up good research through establishing gaps in the

The Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe Essay Example for Free

The Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe Essay There is an obscure symbolistic link between the old man and Poes adoptive father in real life, John Allan, and between the narrator in the story and Poe. There are several similarities between the old man and Allan. Both men had blue eyes. Much like the old man had never wronged the narrator, Allan had never wronged Poe. Similarities abound between Poe and the narrator, as well. Neither had a wish for riches and they both behaved affectionately to their counterparts face even though they despised him behind his back. The story was an outlet for Poes pent-up aggression toward his adoptive father. There is another symbolistic link involving the Evil Eye. Poe sees himself in the old man, and the evil eye represents an Evil. The murdered man is sacrificed to a self-constituted deity. The self-destruction theme is furthered significantly, as the author himself is murdered (symbolically) as well. After the narrator kills the old man and dismembers the corpse, he plots to hide the body under the floor. At some moment, judging by the context of the story, at three oclock, the narrator rips up three planks from the flooring of the chamber. The three planks may represent the Roman numeral III. The composition of The Tell Tale Heart was doubtlessly influenced by a severe heart attack. The heart attack happened in the summer of1842. The implications of Poes obsession with the heart after a near death experience are vitally important to understanding the story and the symbolic meaning behind it. A heart attack and a brush with death would give very good reason for Poe to choose heartbeats to express the deep and buried obsessions with which he deals. The heart, which to him embodies what is wrong with him and his life, symbolises in the story that which is wrong with the narrator, that is the lack of the coherence of the implication of logic, reason and morals. There are many motifs (objects, ideas, kinds of characters, settings, etc.) that repeat or recur throughout his stories and poems. One of his most common motifs is the EYE. Sometimes referred to as an orb, the Eye has log been considered a window to the soul. Particularly notice the use of the EYE motif in The Tell Tale Heart, The Black Cat, and Hopfrog. Another frequently repeated motif in Poe is the HEART. The HEART is important as both the physical pump of the body and as the centre of all feelings and experience. Considered a Romantic, (the capital R denoting a literary movement and time period) Poe places far greater emphasis on the HEART (representing emotion and experience) than on the head (representing intellect, rational thought and scientific reasoning.) In a sense, the HEART is the wellspring for all of Poes tales and poems. He often has an UN-NAMED NARRATOR telling the stories for him. However, each narrator is different, distinct from any other. The reader is not meant to see the narrator as Poe himself but rather as a separate character or persona. Some of Poes narrators are sane, some are clearly not; and some, well, Poe reminds us quite often what a FINE LINE separates SANITY FROM INSANITY! Poe frequently uses a PREMATURE BURIAL motif and also a motif of SUFFOCATION. These two concepts are sometimes linked, as a kind of Life-in-Death theme. LIKE IN The Tell Tale Heart, The Cask of Amontillado, The Fall of The House of Usher, and other tales. Tension plays a major role in this play For a whole hour I did not move a muscle, and in the meantime I did not hear him lie down. There is an hour-long wait with the tension of whos going to break first. Also there is the ever-growing sound of the heartbeat It grew louder, I say, louder every moment. There is also the entrance of the police and wondering whether or not he will be caught. The belief in the EVIL EYE dates back to ancient times and even today, is fairly common in India and the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. References are made to it in the Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist and Hindu faiths. The belief centres around the idea that those who possess the EVIL EYE have the power to harm people or their possessions merely by looking at them. Wherever this belief exists, it is common to assign the EVIL EYE as the cause of unexplainable illness and misfortunes of any kind. To protect oneself from the power of the eye, certain measures can be taken. In Muslim areas, the colour blue is painted on the shutters of the houses, and found on beads worn by both children and animals. In extreme cases, the eye, whether voluntarily or not, must be destroyed. It is altogether possible that Poe would have had knowledge of that rather strange belief, which creates another interesting twist to the story. Maybe the narrator, who tries to convince us that madness is not really the issue, is telling the truth. Maybe this vile act is necessary in order to destroy the power of the old mans EVIL EYE! Atmosphere plays a big part in any classic horror story in order to paint a vivid picture to keep the reader interested. In The Tell Tale Heart there are many examples that create a menacing atmosphere. The fact that the narrator says that he arrives about midnight, Midnight being known as the witching hour, this creates a feeling or horror. Also it is black as pitch with the thick darkness. The reason people are afraid of the dark is the fear of the unknown. You cant feeling scared that if the old man wakes you know that he will be killed. With noises like hinges creaking you are just waiting for the man to wake up which also creates tension. There is also death-watchers in the wall. Another key factor for any horror story is Unpleasant Detail. It makes people repulse and creates a motion. In The Tell Tale Heart it is the description of the old mans eye One of his eyes resembled that of a vulture- a pale blue eye, with a film over it. Also the murdering and dismembering of the old mans body I dragged him to the floor and pulled the heavy bed over him First of all I dismembered the corpse. I cut off the head and the arms and the legs. It is ironic that the narrator, who is from the beginning of the story considering himself to be the model of patience, seems to be bothered by the notion of time and the irrevocable direction that it takes. The narrator hears the heartbeats as irreversible time: a watch enveloped in cotton. In the beginning the narrator thinks that the organ of sight, the Evil Eye, is so vexing; but in the end, a sound, the beating of the old mans heart, is what condemns the madman. While he was guarding against one danger he was being overcome by another- Irony. It is the narrators conscience that leads him to confess. It is neither the police nor a witness that dooms the narrator; it is the narrator himself who instigates his own demise. How ironic, and terrifying, it is that a madman who has no need for reason finds it impossible to carry on without justice. You would normally associate a disease or illness as a negative but the narrator tells us that the disease has benefited him this is ironic The disease has sharpened my senses- not destroyed- not dulled them. The disease in this case is obviously a severe case of emotions, and as such he must confess the repulsive murder of an unarmed old man. (For the shutters were close fastened, through fear of robbers). This is ironic for the purpose of the shutters is to keep robbers out. Madness creates unpredictability. The Tell Tale Heart consists of a monologue in which the murderer of an old man protests his sanity rather than his guilt: You fancy me mad. Madmen know nothing. But you should have seen me. You should have seen how wisely I proceeded By the narrator insisting so emphatically that he is sane, the reader is assured that he is indeed deranged. By using this irony the narrator creates a feeling of hysteria, and the turmoil resulting from this hysteria is what makes The Tell Tale Heart a classic horror story. The murder of the old man is motiveless, and unconnected with passion or profit. But in a deeper sense, the murder does have a purpose: to ensure the narrator does not have to endure the haunting of the Evil Eye any longer. I loved the old man For his gold I had no desire. I think it was his eye! Yes, it was this! To a madman, this is as good of a reason as any: in the mind of a madman, reason does not always win out over emotion. Modern vs. Classic Modern films have great effects unheard of hundreds of years ago, intense stories and bad guys you just love to hate. Classic horror cant be beat for atmosphere and mythic storylines, along with monsters that reflect much of the human condition. I think classic horror runs into problems today because watching videos has become a social thing- a lot of noise, talking and other distractions allows you to pick up the action and general appeal modern horror has to offer but not the atmosphere and plot of classic horror. The heroes/heroines are usually fairly good-looking teenagers giving appeal to their generation. In teen horror they usually make sequels depending on how successful the first one was. With the Scream Trilogy and the two I Know What You Did Last Summer films the killer involves a masked man/men going on a killing spree yet failing to kill the main character. There is also the suspense of guessing who the killer is. The film usually gives you several suspects to keep you guessing. Where as with The Tell Tale Heart you already know who the killer is but there is the suspense of when he is actually going to kill him. Unlike with modern horror there is only really one character in the whole story. The classic films of the thirties and forties had interesting plots, good art direction and were well acted. The monsters in the films were normally not evil, but victims of circumstance. The creature was an animal defending his territory, the monster of Frankenstein was a child in the body of a behemoth abandoned by his creator, the Phantom and Quasimodo were deformed freaks shunned by society despite having souls filled with beauty, the Mummy was sentenced to eternal life because he used the forbidden Scroll of Thoth to bring his lover back to life and the Wolf Man was the ultimate victim knowing his condition and unable to do a thing about it despite his best efforts. Only Dracula seemed to follow the path of evil on his own volition. There was also a lot of good in these monsters, and many children could identify with them being misunderstood and not really bad. Many kids accepted the classic monsters as friends, and this ignited the monster craze of the sixties. The films are timeless, and many do not seem all that dated even by todays standards. Modern horror, on the other hand, revels in being brutal, graphic and evil. Monsters like Freddie Krueger, Leatherface, Pinhead, Michael Myers, Hannibal Lector and Jason are evil and rotten to the core. These seemingly unstoppable madmen wont rest until everyone in their way is dead, in the most creative and imaginative ways. These films generally revolve around the battle of good versus evil- good usually wins in the end, but at a high cost and the survivors normally are annihilated in the sequel, proving that evil only has to win once.

Time and Landscape Essay Example for Free

Time and Landscape Essay A landscape where we live in can influence who we really are as we grow up with it and it allows us to understanding more about ourselves with our constant interaction with the landscape. However it is possible that we are not able to connect with the landscape, because of our incompatibility with it, hence it has no impact or influences upon us. Sometimes we adapt ourselves to a landscape and we learn from it, but due to unforeseeable circumstances, we change to a different environment and we have to evolve our mentality in order to be able to comprehend a new landscape. Through time, we can have a better understanding about ourselves as we bond with the landscape and we tend to eliminate any ambiguity that exists between ourselves and the landscape. A landscape where we grow up in provides us sentimental values and it is these values that provide us with thoughts to reflect on during tough times, due to the significance of the landscape. What we are able to learn and decipher from a certain landscape is different to others because no two man would ever see a same vision from a same angle and any attempt to share thoughts would create an undercurrent of hostility towards each other. It is these landscapes that can provide us memories that are so deep that we are not willing to let go of it and we hold on to it to death. This notion is explored through Rachel Perkins’ film One Night The Moon through the physical dominance of sky and the mountain ranges, where we learn about the landscape and also the mental struggle of its inhabitants. In One Night The Moon , the story explores a theme of loss, whereby the loving child Emily Ryan. It is also possible that we live in a landscape for a long period of time and we start to fight against it. People often abide their traditions as they learnt it from their ancestors which have passed in down from centuries ago. These traditions are contained within a landscape which influences them to have those traditions. The constant evolving of the world have forced a certain groups or individuals to alter their traditions, but they are still who they really are in the sense that their sense of belonging deeper down heir hearts are the same. Aboriginals in Australia may have had their land invaded by white settlers, but they still live in their own little communities. Although they have lost some of their cultures, but the memory of it is still within them because it was their interactions with the Australian landscape in the past that influenced them deeply, thus engraving those memories in their hearts. They may have physically lost the battle trying to keep the landscape they own, but they will never lose the mental battle because memories and imagination allows individuals to convert things that are completely different to something in which they understand. This is similar in One Night The Moon because even though Albert worked for the police he will never be able to forget his landscape from the past because it is in his blood. Xxxxxfinish this paragraph. Our actions portrays who we are, but ultimately it is the landscape in which we live that influences who we are and subsequently transforms us to project our true emotions. Landscapes not only influences us , but it also helps to create memories. However sometimes we do disagree with a particular landscape and we try to repel from it, but what we are unaware of is the firm recollection that they provide to us in our hearts and it makes forgetting a certain landscape something hard to do.

Meanings of research and types of research methodologies

Meanings of research and types of research methodologies Chapter 3. Research Methodology This chapter aims to describe the research methodology used in this study. The discussion initially focuses on some of the academic aspects relevant to research and its types, whereas, subsequently, pertinent research methodology used in this study will be discussed in detail. 3.1 Meanings of Research and Types of Research Methodologies Research can be defined as â€Å"the process of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data in order to understand a phenomenon† Leedy, P. and Ormrod, J. (2001 cited in Williams, C. 2007). Similarly according to Oxford Dictionary ‘A search or investigation directed to the discovery of some fact by careful consideration or study of a subject; a course of critical or scientific enquiry, can be called as research. Thus, research can be argued as a systematic and well planned investigation for the purpose of exploring answers to various questions. In the same context research methodology can be defined as â€Å"the general approach the researcher takes in carrying out the research project† Leedy, P. and Ormrod, J. (2001 p.14). Hence, the research methodology in the context of this study will provide a plan to investigate the given research problem within the specified frameworks.   Broadly, the commonly used approaches for research can be categorized into quantitative, qualitative and mixed methodologies (Williams, C. 2007). Researchers typically select the quantitative approach to respond to research questions requiring numerical data, the qualitative approach for research questions requiring textural data, and the mixed methods approach for research questions requiring both numerical and textural data†. A brief introduction of these methodologies is given in the following paragraphs: 3.2 Quantitative Research According to (Williams, C. 2007) the Quantitative research was emerged in or around 1250 A.D to facilitate researchers in the analysis through quantification of data. Since then the same has overwhelmingly dominated the western cultural as the most frequently used research pattern for the creation of meanings and new knowledge. In the same context (Creswell, J. 2003 p.18) states that quantitative research â€Å"employ strategies of inquiry such as experimental and surveys, and collect data on predetermined instruments that yield statistical data. The findings from quantitative research can be predictive, explanatory, and confirming. It involves the collection of data so that information can be quantified and subjected to statistical treatment in order to support or refute alternate knowledge claims†. Thus quantitative research techniques are used to gather data/information from different reliable sources, which deal with numbers, statistics, charts, graphs and tables etc. The quantitative research can of different natures. In this context according to (Leedy, P. and Ormrod, J. 2001) â€Å" There are three broad classifications of quantitative research: descriptive, experimental and causal comparative†. Descriptive research involves identification of attributes of a particular phenomenon, where as experimental approach deals with investigates the treatment of an intervention into the study group and then measures the outcomes of the treatment. In comparative approach, the researcher examines the relationships between the variables. A brief comparison of distinct advantages and disadvantages of this research method is as under: Advantages and disadvantages of Quantitative research Advantages of Quantitative Research Disadvantages of Quantitative Research It is objective and can be measured so that comparisons can be made. Findings can be biased by researchers perspective. Researchers must therefore try to keep a ‘distance from their subjects they can use subjects unknown to them and should make no attempt to get to know their subjects other than to collect data from them. Methods, if explained in detail are generally very easy to replicate and so have a high reliability. Research often takes place in an unnatural setting the researchers create an artificial environment in an attempt to control all relevant variables. So, how sure can they be that the results which they obtain in the laboratory will also apply in the real world? Results can be reduced to a few numerical statistics and interpreted in a few short statements. Provides narrow, unrealistic information using measures which capture only a tiny proportion of the concept originally under study. This provokes a question of whether the research actually measures what the researcher claims it does. Hence, quantitative research has a low validity. It can provide information about program stakeholders who were overlooked initially. The results of quantitative research may be statistically significant but are often humanly insignificant. ‘Some things which are numerically precise are not true; and some things which are not numerical are true. The use of a survey instrument that collects data from all program stakeholders in the study may serve to correct the qualitative research problem of collecting data only from an elite group within the system being studies. Uses a static and rigid approach and so employs an inflexible process. Using quantitative assessment can correct for the holistic fallacy (the perception by the researcher that all aspects of a given situation are congruent, when in fact only those persons interviewed by the researcher may have held that particular view). Also the use of quantitative instruments can verify observations collected during informal field observations. Quantitative methods are simplifications of the qualitative methods and can only be meaningfully employed when qualitative methods have shown that a simplification of identified relations is possible. Research Methods (n.d) [online] Available at: http://www.cluteinstitute-onlinejournals.com/PDFs/200768.pdf 3.3 Qualitative research: Williams, C. (2007) describes qualitative research as â€Å"it is a holistic approach that involves discovery†. Qualitative research is also described as an unfolding model that occurs in a natural setting that enables the researcher to develop a level of detail from high involvement in the actual experiences (Creswell, J. W. 1994). Bryman, A. (2001) defines qualitative research as a â€Å"strategy that usually emphasizes words, feelings, perception, rather than quantification in the collection and analysis of data. It is intuitivist, constructionist, and interpretive, but qualitative researchers do not always subscribe to all three of these features..Qualitative Research tends to be concerned with words rather than numbers†. Several writers identified the features of qualitative research. Some of these cited in (Hoepfl, C. M. 1997) are as under: Qualitative research uses the natural setting as the source of data. The researcher acts as the â€Å"human instrument† of data collection. Qualitative researchers predominantly use inductive data analysis. Qualitative research reports are descriptive, incorporating expressive Language. Qualitative research has an interpretive character, aimed at discovering the meaning events have for the individuals who experience them, and the interpretations of those meanings by the researcher. Qualitative researchers pay attention to the idiosyncratic as well as the pervasive, seeking the uniqueness of each case. Qualitative research has an emergent (as opposed to predetermined) design, and researchers focus on this emerging process as well as the outcomes or product of the research. Qualitative research is judged using special criteria for trustworthiness. There are several different methods for conducting a qualitative research; however, Leedy, P. and Ormrod, J. (2001)recommend the following five: Case studies, grounded theory, ethnography, content analysis, and phenomenological.Creswell, J. (2003) defines that how these methods meet different needs. â€Å"For instance, case studies and the grounded theory research explore processes, activities, and events while ethnographic research analyses broad cultural-sharing behaviors of individuals or groups. Case studies as well as phenomenology can be used to study individuals†. 3.4 Grounded theory approach: In recent times, grounded theory approach has been very popular among social researchers engaged with small-scale research. (Allan, G. 2003) Stated that â€Å"Grounded Theory is a powerful research method for collecting and analysing research data. It was ‘discovered by (Glaser Strauss 1967) in the 1960s†. (Williams, C. 2007) defines the approach as â€Å"Grounded theory research is the process of collecting data, analyzing the data, and repeating the process, which is the format called constant comparative method. The data can be obtained from several sources such as interviewing participants or witnesses, reviewing historical videotapes or records, observations while on-site†. According to (Glaser and Strauss 1967, p.237) cited in (Douglas, D. 2003). there are four requirements for judging a good grounded theory as follows. Fit (does the theory fit the substantive area in which it will be used?) We can say that it is difficult to fit grounded theory in our subject area because of data compulsions and varying defence expenditure of all countries in the world. Understandability (will non-professionals concerned with the substantive area understand the theory? Because of confusion in the coding method, it is difficult to understand for non-professionals. Generalisability (does the theory apply to a wide range of situations in the substantive area?) As there is no general model of defence expenditures and it depends on the peace and war conditions of every country. So we can conclude that it is difficult to generalize it.   Control (does the theory allow the user some control over the â€Å"structure and process of daily situations as they change through time?†) It can be concluded that one cannot implement this theory on daily changing situations; hence theory gives no control to its users. Grounded theory has many limitations/Criticism as follows: Allan, G. (2003) stated that â€Å"The technique of coding by using Micro-analysis of data is difficult because of two reasons: firstly, it is very time consuming. Secondly, this method led to confusion, when divide the data into individual words†. To scale the larger concepts by using grounded theory is much difficult. Another criticism pointed out by Allan, G. (2003) is that â€Å"Grounded theory is a lack of rigour due to careless interview techniques and the introduction of bias†. In coding procedure actual meaning of the data may lose or disconnected. It is difficult in grounded theory analysis to present a wide picture because it is detailed procedure Advantages and disadvantages of Qualitative research: Advantages of Qualitative Research Disadvantages of Qualitative Research Provides depth and detail Fewer people studied usually. Less easily generalised as a result. Openness can generate new theories and recognize phenomena ignored by most or previous researchers and literature. Difficult to aggregate data and make systematic comparisons. Helps people to see the world view of those studies their categories, rather than imposing categories, simulates their experience of the world. Dependent upon researchers personal attributes and skills (also true with quantitative, but not as easy to evaluate their skills in conducting research with qualitative). Attempts to avoid pre-judgments Participation in setting can always change the social situation (although not participating can always change the social situation as well). It allows the researcher to describe existing phenomena and current situations. It can be very subjective as the researcher often includes personal experience and insight as part of the relevant data thus making complete objectivity an impossibility. It is useful in examining the totality of a unit a holistic approach. It has a very low reliability in that it is extremely difficult to replicate a piece of qualitative research due to the fact that it does not have a structured design or a standardized procedure. It yields results that can be helpful in pioneering new ground. Research Methods (n.d) [online] Available at: http://www.cluteinstitute-onlinejournals.com/PDFs/200768.pdf 3.5 Mixed methods: Tashakkori, A. and Teddlie, C. (2003) â€Å"discussed the mixed methods approach to research, which emerged in the mid-to-late 1900s†. They argued that â€Å"with the mixed methods approach to research, researchers incorporate methods of collecting or analyzing data from the quantitative and qualitative research approaches in a single research study† (Johnson, R. B. Onwuegbuzie, A. J. 2004). Similarly, according to (Parse, R 2003) the â€Å"Qualitative and quantitative research approaches are different in their ontologies, epistemologies, and methodologies, yet there are also exists similarities in both. They are alike in that when conducted according to appropriate designs; both inquiry approaches answer research questions that arise from the researchers interests which are a reflection of beliefs and values. Also, both approaches elicit evidence that enhances understanding of the phenomena under study†. Thus in case of mixed methods; researcher collects and analyzes the statistical data as well as narrative data, which is norm for quantitative research and qualitative research respectively in order to address the selected research questions. (Johnson, R. B. Onwuegbuzie, A. J. 2004) opines that â€Å"the goal for researchers using the mixed methods approach to research is to draw from the strengths and minimize the weaknesses of the quantitative and qualitative research approaches†. (Williams, C. 2007) concluded that â€Å"the mixed methods approach to research provides researchers with the ability to design a single research study that answers questions about both the complex nature of phenomenon from the participantsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¸ point of view and the relationship between measurable variables†. 3.6 Reliability and Validity The validity and reliability of numerical/statistical data is important to conclude efficient results. In this context (Leedy, P. and Ormrod, J. 2001) argues that â€Å"validity and reliability are important components that affect correlation coefficients†. To understand the meaning of reliability and validity, it is important to present the different definitions of reliability and validity as under. According to Bryman, A. and Bell, E. (2007) reliability means â€Å"whether or not the results of a study are repeatable.† Similarly, Joppe, M. (2000 p.1 cited in Golafshani, N. 2003) defines reliability in quantitative research as â€Å"The extent to which results are consistent over time and an accurate representation of the total population under study is referred to as reliability and if the results of a study can be reproduced under a similar methodology, then the research instrument is considered to be reliable†. Miles, M. B., and A. M. Huberman (1994 cited in Meyer, C. B. 2001) stated that â€Å"Reliability focuses on whether the process of the study is consistent and reasonably stable over time and across researchers and methods. Joppe, M. (2000 p.1 cited in Golafshani, N. 2003) provides the explanation of what validity is in quantitative research as â€Å"Validity determines whether the research truly measures that which it was intended to measure or how truthful the research results are†. Similarly according to (Bashir, M., et. al. 2008) the â€Å"Validity in qualitative research means the extent to which the data is plausible, credible and trustworthy; and thus can be defended when challenged†. Meyer, C. B. (2001) writes that â€Å"The problem with the validity criteria suggested in qualitative research is that there is little consistency across the articles as each author suggests a new set of criteria†. And â€Å"the problem of reliability in qualitative research is that differences between replicated studies using different researchers are to be expected†. The purpose of validity and reliability of the information will be ensured in this piece of work through previous studies/reports and reliable data bases i.e. Sipri yearbooks data, HDI official site data, data from OECE publications, UN data base and data from India/Pakistan budget. 3.7 Triangulation ‘Triangulation is used in qualitative research to improve the validity and reliability which involve the use of more than one research technique within a single study. In this context Patton (2001 p. 247 cited in Golafshani, N. 2003) advocates the use of triangulation by stating â€Å"triangulation strengthens a study by combining methods. This can mean using several kinds of methods or data, including using both quantitative and qualitative approaches†. Denzin, N.K. and Lincoln, Y.S. (1998) writes that â€Å"In order to overcome few problems, the researcher will use a mixture of data sources which is called as ‘data triangulation to provide alternatives to justification†. This will help to increase the scope, depth and consistency in methodological proceedings (Flick, U. 2002). There are several methods of triangulation as (Burns, R.B. 2000 p. 420) describes various triangulation methods like â€Å"Environmental Triangulation, Investigator Triangulation, Theoretical Triangulation and Combined level of Triangulation†. (Golafshani, N. 2003) stated that â€Å"Triangulation is typically a strategy (test) for improving the validity and reliability of research or evaluation of findings. (Mathison, S. 1988 p.13) elaborates this by saying that â€Å"Triangulation has risen an important methodological issue in naturalistic and qualitative approaches to evaluation [in order to] control bias and establishing valid proposi tions because traditional scientific techniques are incompatible with this alternate epistemology†. The employment of qualitative techniques with triangulation would help increase the validity and reliability of this piece of research where appropriate. Data Collection 3.8 Primary Data The primary data is the type of data which is collected by the researcher for the specific purpose of answering the problem on hand. In other words the data observed or collected directly from firsthand experience is called primary data. Primary data can be gathered by different methods i.e. communication, interacting with respondents, observation methods, surveys, interviews, or through questionnaire. David, A. et al. (2003) stated that â€Å"The main advantage of this type of data is that the data collected is for a specific purpose and tailored for the problem†. More so one can gather un- biased and original data from this method. The main disadvantages of this method are: it may be costly, raw data, huge volume of population, large volume of data and time consuming. Questionnaires Survey is the common method conduct to collect primary data. 3.9 Secondary Data Secondary data come from studies previously performed by government agencies, trade associations, chambers of commerce and other organizations. Secondary data can also be found in local libraries, on the Web, books, government publications, periodicals as well as electronic databases, magazines and newspapers, are also great sources of secondary data.   Good marketing research should always start with secondary data. This data and information that already exist (Naresh, K. M. et. al. 2006). One of the advantages of secondary data is that it is often cheaper than doing primary research. In this context Morgan, D.L. (1993) argued that â€Å"The advantages of secondary research is that it can be much quicker and cheaper to access, where many companies may not able to have the resources to carry the research†. Another advantage of the existing data is that its saves time. Gilbert A., Churchill, Jr. (1995) has written that â€Å"The most significant advantages of secondary data are the cost and time economies they offer†. 3.10 The Research Paradigm for this Study According to Anderson (2004), the research methodologies can be broadly classified in to two types i.e. positivist and interpretive. Keeping in view the nature of this research the suggested methodology to be adopted is an interpretive one, as the data collection will involve the recording of the human emotions and feelings rather than the statistics and number. Research methodology for primary and secondary data is as follows; 3.11 Listen Read phonetically Dictionary View detailed dictionary Case study approach Adopting the case study approach to the research is very useful in this research study because conclusions based on data collected. This approach will reveal critical analysis  Ã‚   of recruitment and selection process as tool of diversity management .in the public sector organization in Pakistan, Yin (2002) suggests that the approach of case studies is very relevant if the researcher wants different sources of information not the single sources of information used to carry out the research. Thats exactly what this study attempts to achieve different aspects  Ã‚   of recruitment and selection process as a tool of diversity management in public sector organization in PakistanListen.Read phoneticall Dictionary View detailed dictionary 3.12 Approaching the organization and collection of data The main reason for choosing this topic is the fact that the author was an international student in London during the research. This allowed the author to carry out research on the public sector organization is one of the well known organizations in Pakistan, a country which belongs to the author. This allowed the author to conduct a comprehensive study on public sector organization. 3.13 Data Collection This is the second step in the search that once select the research problem has been chosen as the target organizations. William and Lisa (2006) states that the use of different sources to get data and the information from one approach was not discussed in an alternative approach. Two main sources of information primary and secondary data have been used to fulfill the requirements of this research.The main source of primary data for this study is represented in the interviews and questionnaires.Academic books, journals, articles magazines, newspapers, different libraries and electronic sources have been used including the British Library on the basis of secondary sources of information. 3.14 Primary Data The primary data of this research is represented in Questionnaires and Semi-structured interviews with HR manager, employees concerns human resources management and candidates to the  Ã‚   organisation. It is well known that the loss of respondents is high for questionnaires (Creswell, 1994). Therefore, it is important to clearly indicate the purpose of the interviews and the following questionnaire to participants before the interviews take place. 3.15 The Interviews An interview questions can be done in form of structured questions, already in place in advance or unstructured or semi-structured in-depth interviews are generally used. The advantages of interviews with concerns people that the interviewer can ask lots of questions, at the same time, questions may be more complex in nature because they can be cleaned with indistinctness during the course of the interview, however, also disadvantages, especially when the respondent is affected by the interviewer (Denscombe, 1998). This may be aspects of class, gender, race or other biases. In addition, the researcher could expect to be questioned about some of the interview and thus respond in this way consider ‘correct ‘or ‘acceptable. The general problems associated with the conduct of interviews, it is tedious (Hussey Hussey, 1997) Listen Read phonetically Dictionary View detailed dictionary Another way to conduct interviews by phone, the problem is that the answers are more penetrating and detailed than ever as is the case when they are interviewed in person. As is the case with personal interviews that the meeting has the potential to obtain responses from the highest quality possible to do so. Important when it comes to telephone interviews is that they must be limited in time. Additionally, questions can be quite complex due to difficulties in capturing the interest of respondents when it is not the situation facing. Advantages can be fast and cheap and the interview has the potential to clarify issues. To collect data for this study, face to face interviews and telephone interviews will be used. The interview with, HR managers and employees of the organization, everyone will be asked for their feedback in the process of recruitment and selection as a tool of diversity management evaluation. What are the main problems that employees face in this system? The interview will be conducted from HR manager and more than five employees of concern organisation Will better understand the Employee feedback their comments on the benchmarking process and what improvements can be made. Feedback from managers and employees to help understand the objectives of the recruitment and selection evaluation process and make changes to improve the process. 3.16 The Questionnaire At the end of interviews, questionnaires and the purpose of these questions will be given. This questionnaire consists of some of the biggest questions, divided into one part in several issues regarding recruitment and selection process as a tool of diversity management. What are the strategies and techniques are being used in concern department of human resources management to motivate and improve the process. In the end, respondents have the opportunity to write additional comments if they felt that something was overlooked during the interview or questionnaire. 3.17 Secondary Data The source of printing means of secondary data for this research articles, journals, academic books, magazines and concern organization website. There are many references to the British Library by the author. In addition, the library will be also used in the Kensington College of Business and online library of university of Wales as well. 3.18 Population/Sample size A total of seven interviews will be carried out to obtain primary data. Details of the interviews along with the important issues will be focused during the interviews are as under: Senior HR manager of the federal public service commission will be interviewed and acquired data accordingly for the purpose of this research. Candidates will be interviewed and nominations made by the Commission for various positions during the years 2004 to 2008. Gender-Wise distribution of Vacancies. Province / Region wise distribution of vacancies. Comparative Performance of Candidates from different regions and backgrounds. Gender wise marital status based configuration of candidates. Age group wise configuration of candidates. Educational background based configuration. Religion based configuration. Three interviews of the candidates registered with FPSC for the competitive examinations for induction into public services of Pakistan. Each of the three subjects represented male, female and non Muslim candidates representing their respective communities in the country.  Ã‚   Three interviews of the employees in public services of Pakistan. Each of the three subjects represented male, female and non Muslim employees representing their respective communities in the country.   Listen 3.19 Research Methodology Limitations: Being case study, the research has the limitations of the generalization i.e. the findings and results of the same will remain organisational specific. Hence, its application to other scenarios of the same nature may not sound reasonable. Furthermore, the consistency factor will be quite low, being based on personal observations and perspectives, therefore the repetition of the same study may not yield the same results. The reliability aspects will also be quite sensitive, as the employees are not likely to express their opinion in a candid manner against their organisation.

Online Fraud, E-Crime, and Internet Scams Essay examples -- Computers

Online Fraud, E-Crime, and Internet Scams In the mid-1980’s, computer-related crimes appeared in the United States. Computer-related crimes have now spawned into Internet crimes, and have raised issues regarding Internet security. Essentially, the Internet has become a playground for criminal mischief. Basically, 21st-century technology and Internet accessibility are providing arenas for criminals to use old-fashioned techniques to take advantage of consumers. Recently, Internet crime rates have skyrocketed. The FTC reported that in the last two years, Internet-related-shopping complaints have risen from being 10% of all consumer complaints to 30% of consumer complaints. Last year, 75% of online merchants were concerned about online fraud and e-crime. This year, more than 83% of online merchants are fearful that online fraud and e-crime could affect them. It is predicted that this year alone, online credit-card fraud will increase by 24%. Victims of Online Fraud and E-Crime Lose Big Apparently, merchants are very wary of online schemes and scams because when they are the victims†¦they sustain enormous losses. Internet transactions made with a credit card are deemed as â€Å"card-not-present† transactions. Therefore, merchants have no redress against credit card fraud. Essentially, merchants are responsible for the monetary damages of online fraud because only credit card numbers are required for an online transaction and a cardholder’s signature is not required. Also, credit card companies require the merchant to pay $25 to $100 in charge-back fees. Although the monetary costs to merchants are substantial, most merchants say money is not their primary concern. Merchants are more fearful that whe... ...peech and privacy concerns. In early November, the British government announced it would spend $35.79 million on a package to help local police combat crackers and pedophiles who use the Internet. Almost every developed nation with Internet access has recently undertaken steps to combat e-crime. Conclusion It seems as if worldwide efforts are being focused on reducing cybercrime. However, there is really no truly effective judicial standard for punishing e-criminals. The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act allows criminals to slip through its loopholes, and European nations have just recently begun to draft legislation outlawing online criminal behavior. For the time being, the most obvious way to avoid falling victim to an e-criminal is to become an educated consumer and avoid Internet activities that are known to be susceptible to mischief and fraud.

African Influenced Christianity in Toni Morrison’s Beloved Essay

Religion has influenced fiction since people first began writing fiction. Christianity tends to be one of the most influential forces on western writers in the last couple millennia, but the introduction of other cultures changes the influences present in books. The forced migration of enslaved Africans created a fascinating fusion between Christianity and native african religions, primarily totemistic but often involving archetypal pantheons. The slaves often identified with the Israelites enslaved in Egypt, and such parallels between biblical stories and their own experiences hastened the adoption of a modified Christianity by the slaves. Events in Toni Morrison’s Beloved reflect the experiences of the Israelites and other biblical figures in ways modified by native African religions. The slaves identification with the Israelites is used by Toni Morrison, who gives Paul D an equally divine rescue. So he raced from dogwood to blossoming peach. When they thinned out he headed for the cherry blossoms, then magnolia, chinaberry, pecan, walnut, prickly pear. At last he reached a fiel...

Barriers To Communication Essay

A † communication barrier† or â€Å"a barrier to communication† is anything that interferes with the transfer of intended information from a sender to a receiver. This can include anything from static on a radio, preventing the listener from hearing the program, to a third party interfering in a conversation between two people.Barriers to communication can retard or distort the message and intention of the message being conveyed which may result in failure of the communication process or an effect that is undesirable. These include filtering, selective perception, information overload, emotions, language, silence, communication apprehension, gender differences and political correctness This also includes a lack of expressing â€Å"knowledge-appropriate† communication, which occurs when a person uses ambiguous or complex legal words, medical jargon, or descriptions of a situation or environment that is not understood by the recipient. Psychological Barriers The psychological state of the receiver will influence how the message is received. For example, if someone has personal worries and is stressed, they may be preoccupied by personal concerns and not as receptive to the message as if they were not stressed. Anger is another example of a psychological barrier to communication, when we are angry it is easy to say things that we may later regret and also to misinterpret what others are saying. Psychological barriers to communication include. Emotional Perceptual Selectivity Emotions Emotional barriers is the feelings that prevent you to communicate effectively. liking and disliking are included in Emotional Barrier. Both the encoder and decoder affected in emotional barrier.To communicate effectively, you must clearly convey thoughts and emotions both verbally and nonverbally. Many times, emotional barriers on your part or the part of the person you are speaking with may inhibit your ability to communicate on an effective level. Your emotional state may influence your capacity to make yourself understood and hamper your understanding of others. For example you might be emotionally blocked if you are announcing a new policy, giving the first major presentation on job or in a class, writing someone you dislike. People may feel indifferent toward you or your subject or show anger against you and your subject. Perceptual Perception is a subjective process. When senses deliver their information to the reception centers of the cortex, they are associated with past perceptions, memories, feelings, thoughts, values, needs, drives, attitudes and other things going on in the brain that are totally unique. The result is a highly individualized way of looking at things. Perception is understanding of the world around us. Each one perceives the world in his own unique way and interprets what has been perceived in yet another unique way and interprets what has been perceived in yet another unique way. When we strongly disagree, we simply say â€Å"I am sorry, our perceptions appear to be different†. For example imagine every one in a company receiving a copy of the annual report. An accountant may concentrate only on one footnote in the financial statement, a sales person may look at marketing charts, and a public relations officer may respond only to the quality of the brochure itself each reader received the same data each reader perceived the differently. Another example of perception is your boss ask you to turn in a report right away you work late that night because you assume he means as soon as possible in fact he meant before the end of the week in this case you filled in information. Selectivity The audience is not able to absorb all the information coming from a variety of sources; so the audience pick up information on selectively. The selectivity is affected by timing, context, and the degree of uniqueness of information.

Interview Manager Essay

Question : As a store manager where did you struggle when solving problem? Answer : An employee who is difficult to manage, they have the perception that they are not appreciated. They feel that they have not been complimented adequately for work well done. They feel they deserve more attention. Sometimes a difficult-to-manage employee’s behavior is the result of personal problems—an ailing parent, a runaway child, a divorce, or financial difficulties. In this case, I need to show them that I understand their situation. If at all possible, I offer the employee time off or an adjustment in work hours so that he or she can focus on resolving his or her personal problem. However, if the problem is of an ongoing nature and is having a serious negative impact on my workplace, I need to let the person know that some sort of resolution is imperative. If the problem persists, I have a formal, closed-door meeting with the employee and address the most obvious examples of his or her inappropriate behavior in a forthright manner. If an employee remains difficult despite all attempts at building rapport or providing help, I need to make a careful assessment. I will be honest, by simply asking myself, do I simply dislike this employee?, are the difficulties I am experiencing perhaps minor in character? If this is the case, I drop the matter. But if the employee is truly exhibiting behavior problems that seriously disrupt the workplace, I need to take further action. Consider issuing a written warning that details the specific problems as clearly as possible. If, after issuing such a warning, the employee’s bad behavior persists, the only solution is termination. I will consult our company attorney before dismissing the employee. I need to know whether or not I have a strong enough case to withstand a potential lawsuit for wrongful firing. An employee who has been fired for issues relating to difficult behavior is much more likely to sue me than an employee fired due to poor work performance.

Kant and Sexual Morality Essay

German Philosopher Immanuel Kant claimed that it is morally wrong to use a person merely as a means to your end. This judgement helps us to understand and determined sexual morality. Thomas A. Mappes supports Kant’s claims and helps to further explain Kant’s statement by defining it and introducing the idea that one must give their voluntary informed consent in order for certain actions to be moral. Mappes also illustrates that voluntary informed consent can be undermined through both deception and coercion. This helps us in the understanding of sexual morality. It is important to understand what Kant means when claiming that it is morally wrong to use another person merely as a means to your end when making the decision whether or not this statement is relevant when talking about sexual morality. The word merely is where this statement claims immorality to be. Merely meaning only and without any consideration of another person by not showing them any human respect. We use people as a means to our end in everyday situations. If we are hungry we go to a shop and buy food. We are using the shopkeepers as a means to our end, when hunger is our end. However, we are not merely using the shopkeeper as a means to our end. Thomas Mappes explains this by saying if we are treating someone merely as a means to our end, then we are not respecting him or her as human beings. Voluntary informed consent, according to Mappes (p. 73 of course book) is central to the notion of treating people merely as a means to an end. Voluntary informed consent is where the person who is being used as a means to an end has given their full permission and consent. They are aware of what the person is trying to achieve and are willing to give their consent to this. Mappes uses the example of a person who has a gun put to their head and are forced to hand over $200. Although the person has given them the money, they did not do this voluntarily, therefore did not give their voluntary informed consent. However, if the person had asked for $200 and they were given the option to give the money without being forced, and choose to hand it over as a gift, then they have given their voluntary informed consent. Voluntary informed consent is important when looking at sexual morality, as if one has not given their voluntary informed consent to a partner, then it is morally wrong to pursue any sexual acts with them. According to Mappes, Voluntary informed consent can be undermined in two ways: deception and coercion. Coercion meaning forced to make voluntary informed consent and deception being tricked into voluntary informed consent. When making a judgement on the morality of sexual behaviour it is important to consider whether deception or coercion have influenced the voluntary informed consent of the subject. If there is no voluntary informed consent, then a person is being used merely as a means to another persons end. This support Kant’s claim on morality, and is therefore immoral. Coercion into consent is easily to identify. As with the example of a person being forced to hand over $200 with the threat of a gun, they were being forced/coerced into their decision to hand over the money. When there is no voluntary informed consent, as the consent is not voluntary. Coercion can be important when determining the morality in sexual behaviour. If one is forced or blackmailed into having sex with another, this is coercive and using someone merely as a means to an end. Identifying Deception when looking at the morality of sexual behaviour, and determining whether or not it supports Kant’s claim is important before making a moral judgment. Deception is being tricked into making informed consent. And example of deception is subject A. telling subject B. that they love them, as subject A. knows that subject B. will only enter into a sexual relationship if both parties have a mutual love for one another. This is deceiving subject B. into giving their voluntary informed consent into entering a sexual relationship. This is immoral, as voluntary informed consent has been undermined by deception. When looking at Kant’s claim it is easy to determined the morality in this situation as subject as has merely used subject B in order to fulfil their sexual wants. It is also important to consider whether the decision was informed. 3. As seen in page. 76 of the course book, some could argue that a child or someone with severe learning difficulties is still able to give voluntary consent. This is true, but a child or person with severe learning difficulties is unable to give informed consent. If someone is to endeavour in sexual behaviours with a child or a person with learning difficulties, then it is clear they are using them for their own sexual gratification, and not respecting the person whom they are using. As Kant claims, this is morally unacceptable. When thinking about the morality of sexual behaviour it is hard to ignore that of homosexual relationships and/or homosexual sex. When looking at Kant’s statement that it is immoral to use another person merely as a means to your ends and Mappes further explanation of voluntary informed consent, we can establish he morality of homosexual behaviour. Michael Levin (1999 p. 125-126) claims homosexuality to be immoral. He also makes that statement that they are victims and have unflattering beliefs. Levin (1999 p. 126) claims â€Å"homosexuality is deviant†¦ [and] homosexuals have no place in the military if they weaken morale, and there are good reasons to think they do [weaken morale]† When looking at Kant’s philosophy, and his definition of morality, it becomes clear that Levins claims are assumptions, especially that homosexuals would weaken the morale in the military. There is nothing in his claims to suggest that homosexuals would coerce, deceive and use another merely as a means to their sexual ends within the military. Therefore, when looking at Kant’s claims, regardless whether a person is homosexual or heterosexual, the morality of sexual behaviour can only established when one is using another without human respect and merely as a means to their ends. John Corvino also refers to the morality of homosexual relationships. His views vary considerably from Levins. Corvino (1997 p,6) addresses the idea that homosexual sex is unnatural and therefore immoral. Corvino defends the right to a homosexual relationship by comparing the use of sexual organs to others. We have numerous uses for our mouth such as talking, eating, breathing, chewing gum etc and Corvino states that sexual organs may be useful in a relationship other than just procreation. Corvino makes reference to the churches view on sexual behaviour. Although the church disapproves of homosexual behaviour, Corvino (1997 p. 6) highlights that they do not see anything wrong with sterile couples having sex or couples who are pregnant as the church concedes that intimacy and pleasure are morally legitimate purposes for having sex. Corvino suggests that although there is no chance of procreation in homosexual sex, there is nothing immoral about it. Corvino’s view supports Kant’s claim of morality. Unless there is something to suggest one is merely being used by another sexually, then there are no grounds to suggest homosexuality is immoral. Kant’s claim that it is morally wrong to use someone merely as a means to your ends, helps us in our judgements regarding sexual morality. Through Thomas A. Mappes explanation of Kant’s claim and introducing the idea of voluntary informed consent, and how it can be undermined through deception and coercion, we are able to clearly distinguish whether or not a persons sexual behaviours are moral or not. Kant’s claim suggest that there is nothing immoral about homosexual behaviour, unless one is merely being used as an end, as in heterosexual relationships. The idea of homosexuality being unnatural had nothing to do with its morality when looking at Kant’s claim.

An Analysis on Taj Group of Hotels

Executive Summary The primary objective of this report is to analyze the Taj Group of Hotels through the specific analysis of Taj  (luxury full-service hotels, resorts and palaces), Taj Exotica  , Taj Safaris,  . Vivanta , The Gateway Hotel, Exotica Brand. The Taj Group of Hotels were selected to gain a learning of hotels in India from three different perspectives – that of a fast growing Indian hotel, , that of a formerly strong player trying to adapt to a changing market, and finally, that of an domestic hotel operating in India.The analysis in the report is presented as follows: 1. Before delving into the individual study of Taj Group of Hotels , a brief history of its operations as well as its strategies is given to help the reader gain a better understanding of the background from which the hotel has developed. 2. This is followed by a SWOT Analysis, which gives specific information on the environment, challenges and opportunities the hotel is currently facing. 3.Ne xt, special emphasis is laid on analyzing the hotel policies and environment related to its marketing environment through 5 C (Company, Customers, Collaborators, Competition, Context) Analysis, STP (Segmentation-Targeting-Positioning) Analysis, and the 4 P (Product, Price, Promotion, Place) Analysis. 4. After gaining an understanding on these aspects of the hotel, the anomalies in the marketing positioning or decisions taken in the past are presented. 5. Based on these anomalies and other learnings, the authors have presented a few recommendations to Taj Group of Hotels .The final section of the report consists of a comparison with other hotels on a variety of factors including positioning and targeting, different types of product and service offerings, channels of distribution etc. The authors believe that such comparisons would be useful to a reader who is trying to gain a better understanding of the competitive environment of the Indian hotel sectors, as well as of the relative p erformance of Taj Group of Hotels versus the others. Company Overview: VisionThe Taj Group of Hotels commits itself to the overall improvement of the ecological environment Which we are all a part of. We recognize that we are not owners but caretakers of the Planet and owe it to our children and future generations of humankind. It is our endeavour not only to conserve and protect but also to renew and regenerate the environment in which we live and operate. Our commitment encompasses all actions related to our products, services, associates, partners, vendors and communities. We will partner and engage with our environment through.  Also you can read about  History of the Culinary Arts.Earth Environmental Awareness and Renewal at Taj Hotels. For us EARTH is not a program, nor a process; it is a way of life. The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) and its subsidiaries are collectively known as Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces and is recognised as one of Asia's largest and finest h otel company. Incorporated by the founder of the Tata Group, Mr. Jamsetji N. Tata, the company opened its first property, The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Bombay in 1903. The Taj, a symbol of Indian hospitality, completed its centenary year in 2003.Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces comprises 66 hotels in 42 locations across India with an additional 16 international hotels in the Maldives, Malaysia, Australia, UK, USA, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Africa and the middle east Spanning the length and breadth of the country, gracing important industrial towns and cities, beaches, hill stations, historical and pilgrim centres and wildlife destinations, each Taj hotel offers the luxury of service, the apogee of Indian hospitality, vantage locations, modern amenities and business facilities.IHCL operate in the luxury, premium, mid-market and value segments of the market through the following: Taj  (luxury full-service hotels, resorts and palaces) is our flagship brand for the world’s most discerning travellers seeking authentic experiences given that luxury is a way of life to which they are accustomed. Spanning world-renowned landmarks, modern business hotels, idyllic beach resorts, authentic Rajput palaces and rustic safari lodges, each Taj hotel reinterprets the tradition of hospitality in a refreshingly modern way to create unique experiences and lifelong memories.Taj also encompasses a unique set of iconic properties rooted in history and tradition that deliver truly unforgettable experiences. A collection of outstanding properties with strong heritage as hotels or palaces which offer something more than great physical product and exceptional service. This group is defined by the emotional and unique equity of its iconic properties that are authentic, non- replicable with great potential to create memories and stories. Taj Exotica  are resort and spa brand found in the most exotic and relaxing locales of the world.The properties are defined by the privacy and intimacy t hey provide. The hotels are clearly differentiated by their product philosophy and service design. They are centred around high end accommodation, intimacy and an environment that allows its guest unrivalled comfort and privacy. They are defined by a sensibility of intimate design and by their varied and eclectic culinary experiences, impeccable service and authentic Indian Spa sanctuaries. Taj Safaris  are wildlife lodges that allow travelers to experience the unparalleled beauty of the Indian jungle amidst luxurious surroundings.They offer India’s first and only wildlife luxury lodge circuit. Taj Safaris provide guests with the ultimate, interpretive, wild life experience based on a proven sustainable ecotourism model. Vivanta by Taj Hotels ; Resorts  span options for the work-hard-play-hard traveller across metropolitan cities, other commercially important centres as well as some of the best-loved vacation spots. Stylish ; sophisticated, Vivanta by Taj delivers premium hotel experiences with imagination, energy ; efficiency. It's the flavour of contemporary luxury, laced with cool informality and the charming Taj hospitality.Created for the cosmopolitan global traveller and bon vivant, Vivanta by Taj Hotels & Resorts create experiences that will amuse, invigorate & inspire you. Vivanta revels in a spirit that presents the normal with an unexpected twist. Experiences which make you pause & appreciate the hidden beauty in life! It challenges your expectations of a hotel and unfolds multiple layers of delight. Innovative cuisine concepts, the smart use of technology & the challenge to constantly engage, energize and relax you all add up to make Vivanta by Taj the new signature in hospitality.The Gateway Hotel  (upscale/mid-market full service hotels and resorts) is a pan-India network of hotels and resorts that offers business and leisure travellers a hotel designed, keeping the modern nomad in mind. At the Gateway Hotel, we believe in keeping thi ngs simple. This is why, our hotels are divided into 7 simple zones- Stay, Hangout, Meet, Work, Workout, Unwind and Explore. Ginger  (economy hotels) is IHCL’s revolutionary concept in hospitality for the value segment. Intelligently designed facilities, consistency and affordability are hallmarks of this brand targeted at travellers who value simplicity and self-service.Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is committed to replicate its domestic success onto international shores with plans to build an international network of luxury hotels, which will provide an exemplary product-service combination and in the process create a global brand. The current international portfolio includes luxury resorts in the Indian Ocean, business and resort destinations in the Middle East and Africa, serviced apartments in the UK, the first hotel in Australia and three a top-end luxury hotels in the US. Exotica Brand The Taj strengthened its presence in the Indian Ocean rim with the Exotica Brand. The Taj Exotica was evolved as part of Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces intent to position it as a brand that is clearly differentiated by its product philosophy and service design. The Taj Exotica Resort and Spa, in Maldives is cantered on high-end accommodation, intimacy and an environment that allows its guest’s unrivalled comfort and privacy. Taj Hotels further expanded its global footprint by securing management contracts at Palm Island, Jumeirah in Dubai, Saraya Islands in Ras Al Khaimah, Aldar Group in Abu Dhabi, UAE Langkawi in Malaysia and Thimpu in Bhutan.The most significant additions to the portfolio have been The Pierre, the iconic landmark hotel on New York's Fifth Avenue, Taj Boston and Blue, Sydney. The presence of Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces internationally has been developed through a network of Taj regional sales and PR offices in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Dubai, Singapore, Australia, Japan, Russia and the United States of America. At the Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces luxurious living and fine dining find common ground.Whether it is introducing exotic world cuisines to India or taking authentic Indian fare to the world, the Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is renowned for the eclectic culinary experiences it brings to its guests. Through a vast repertoire of award-winning restaurants, legendary recipes from royal kitchens and celebrated food festivals, the Taj has pioneered innovation in fine dining across the world. Taj Hotels also promise a whole new experience of tranquillity and total ‘wellness’, through  Jiva Spas  a unique concept, which brings together the wisdom and heritage of the Asian and Indian Philosophy of Wellness and Well-being.Rooted in ancient Indian healing knowledge, Jiva Spas derive inspiration and spirit from the holistic concept of living. There is a rich basket of fresh and unique experiences under the Jiva Spa umbrella of offering, Yoga and Meditation, mastered and disseminat ed by accomplished practitioners, authentic Ayurveda, and unique Taj signature treatments. Royal traditions of wellness in service experiences, holistic treatments involving body therapies, enlivening and meaningful rituals and ceremonies and unique natural products blended by hand, come together to offer a truly calming experience.IHCL operates  Taj Air, a luxury private jet operation with state-of-the-art Falcon 2000 aircrafts designed by Dassault Aviation, France; and Taj Yachts, two 3-bedroom luxury yachts which can be used by guests in Mumbai and Kochi, in Kerala. IHCL also operates  Taj Sats Air Catering Ltd. , the largest airline catering service in South Asia, as a joint venture with Singapore Airport Terminal Services, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines. Additionally, it operates the  Indian Institute of Hotel Management, Aurangabad  since 1993.The institute offers a three-year diploma, designed with the help of international faculty and has affiliations with severa l American and European programmes. CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY AND SOCIAL RESPONSBILITY As a part of Tatas; India’s premier business house, Taj Hotels, have always believed in society and environment being integral stakeholders in our business along with the shareholders, customers, vendors and others. Over the last decade, the movement towards ecologically sound tourism has gained urgency and importance across the globe and recognize that responsible practices in vogue are as diverse as the geographies.It promotes corporate citizenship through our strategic public-private partnerships which encourage building livelihoods of less-advantaged youth and women. The causes to promote includes reducing malnutrition, promoting indigenous artisans and craftsmen and enhancing employability of identified target groups by sharing our core competencies as a leading hospitality company. We encourage training and development of differently able youth. The Taj has the unique scope and opportu nity to develop raw potential into a skilled workforce that is immediately employable by various players in the industry.A majority of community projects are focused around extending the key strengths in food production, kitchen management, housekeeping, customer service and spas to promote economic empowerment of candidates from vulnerable socio-economic backgrounds. Taj is fully committed to the cause of building a sustainable environment by reducing the impact of our daily operations on the environment and improving operational efficiencies, resource conservation, re use and recycling of key resources. The seventh  Corporate Sustainability Report  was submitted to the United Nations Global Compact society in August, 2010.The United Nations Global Compact is a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, safety ; security, environment and anti-corruption. This Corporate Sustainability report also serves as GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) as well as Triple Bottom Line report. The report focuses on identified priorities at IHCL and responds to key stakeholder needs. It plans to continue and further strengthen our commitment to the environment and societies in which we operate.It believes in continuous learning and sharing and would be delighted to have your thoughts and suggestions. EARTH In an endeavour to reinstate its vision and efforts to boost sustainable tourism, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces presented EARTH (Environment Awareness ; Renewal at Taj Hotels) this year. Implementing schemes such as the Gangotri Glacier Clean-Up Expedition, as well as designated Earth rooms, which minimise environmental impact, Taj is one of Asia’s largest group of hotels to commit to energy conservation and environmental management.EARTH has received certification from Green Globe, the only worldwide environmental certifica tion program for travel and tourism. The Taj began a century ago with a single landmark – The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Mumbai. Today, the various Taj hotels, in all their variety and historical richness, are recognised internationally as the symbols of true Indian hospitality. The Company’s history is integral to India’s emergence into the global business and leisure travel community; and looking to the future, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is well positioned to meet the increase in travel activity with the rapid expansion of the Indian economy.ANALYSIS SWOT Analysis Strengths| Weaknesses| * Taj group of hotels in India and also in abroad. * Corporate governance by a group of highly qualified people. * Hospitality which it provides to its customer * India offers a readymade tourist destination with the resources it has. Thus the magnet to pull  customers already exists and has potential grow. | * has to live up to its reputation. * to cope up with up-coming ch anges. * to satisfy each and every customer. * High tax structure in the industry makes the industry worse off than its international  equivalent.In India the expenditure tax, luxury tax and sales tax inflate the hotel bill by over  30%. Effective tax in the South East Asian countries works out to only 4-5%. | Opportunities| Threats| * Demand between the national and the inbound tourists can be easily managed due to  difference in the period of holidays. For international tourists the peak season for arrival is  between September to March when the climatic conditions are suitable where as the national  tourist waits for school holidays, generally the summer months. * In the long-term the hotel industry in India has latent potential for growth.This is because  India is an ideal destination for tourists as it is the only country with the most diverse  topography. For India, the inbound tourists are a mere 0. 49% of the global figures. This number  is expected to increa se at a phenomenal rate thus pushing up the demand for the hotel  industry. * Unique experience in heritage hotels. * Opportunity of expansion to more destinations. | * Competition with other five star hotels like ITC, HAYAT, LEELA PALACE and OBEROI group of hotels * Terrorists activities which had already happened in 26/11 2009 in Mumbai. * Guest houses are taking an edge in place of hotels.This is a growing trend in the west and is now catching up in  India also, thus diverting the hotel traffic. * Changing trends in the west demand similar changes in India, which here are difficult to  implement due to high project costs. * The economic conditions of a country have a direct impact on the earnings in hotel industry. Lack of training man power in the hotel industry. | COMPETITIVE STRATERIGES SEGMENTATION GEOGRAPHIC a) Region Wise : North India, East India, West India, South India b) City Wise: 4 major metropolitan cities, and tourist destinations in India DEMOGRAPHIC ) Meant for family, diplomats, political guests, international tourists, Honeymoon suit, Business Executives, safari adventure for all. b) In terms of income it is meant for people belonging to upper-middle and high-class society and ginger hotels for the economy class. PSYCHOGRAPHIC It is meant for the people who like heritage buildings, palaces, adventure, luxury, comfort and are ready to spend on all these things. LOYALTY It expects its customers to be loyal and appreciate the service and hospitality they provide to consumers. TARGETINGThe Taj hotel is targeting luxury business travellers, including domestic and foreign businessmen, the senior management personnel, and the elite strata of society. POSITIONING The Taj group positions its service as anâ€Å"office away from office â€Å"to serve the business customer and also keeps the general positioning of the hotel industry, i. e. †home away from home â€Å" DIFFERENTIATION Hotel has differentiate its service offer through phys ical ambience it maintain a natural green environment so as to provide a relaxed atmosphere to the tension –bound business traveller and the feature has been well perceived by the target customer .MARKETING MIX The following are the part of a marketing mix I. Product: the service offer has a tangible product in it. Rooms: the rooms are of six type namely, club room, normal room, superior cottage, suites, deluxe room, and the old British Raj ambience room. Restaurant:† paradise† is a Thai food restaurant. â€Å"Island cafe â€Å"is an Italian food restaurant with pool side barbecue it has banquet halls. The hotel also has business centre with latest facilities like internet, interview centre, fitness centre, laundry, etc are the added facilities.II. Pricing : The rent for the rooms of Taj hotels varies from place to place due to the taxation policies, however the cost of the rooms are priced according to the services provided by the hotel. The rooms are categoris ed as Deluxe Room, Luxury Suite, Royal Suite, Executive suite, Grand Luxury suite, Presidential suite and the charges are prepared according to the room provided. III. Place: TAJ has established hotels in every region in India, the major tourist destinations, palaces, heritage sites in India as well as abroad.IV. Promotion: The advertisement is generally done through magazine hoarding of late, they have started even sponsoring also but in low scale the main emphasis is on direct marketing. V. Physical ambience: it provide natural environment and provide the latest state-of-art facilities. VI. People: it realises the important of people in any service organization for that , the first step is to market their service offer to their own employees understand the need for maintaining high quality and standard . FINANCIAL ANALYSIS 2009-10 . The total income for the year ended March 31, 2010 at Rs. 1566. 35 crores was lower than that of the previous year by8. 2%. 2. Room Income was lower t han the previous year by 17%. The Average Room Rate (ARR) decreased by 16%over the previous year. 3. Food ; Beverage (F;B) income was 5% higher than the previous year. 4. Banquets income grew by 12% over the previous year. 2008-09 1. The total income for the year ended March 31, 2009 at Rs. 1706. 52 crores which was Lower than that of the previous year by 6 %. 2.Room Income was lower than the previous year by 14 % . 3. The Average Room Rate (ARR) decreased by 2 % over the previous year. 4. Food ; Beverage (F;B) income was 13% lower than the previous year. 2007-08 1. The total income for the year ended March 31, 2008 was Rs. 1,823. 16 crores which was higher than the previous year by 13%. 2. Room income was higher than previous year by 16%. 3. The Average Room Rate increased by 16% over the previous year which significantly contributed to the total increase in room income. FINDINGSAfter going through all the aspects related to Taj Hotels certain things in form of findings and informa tion. They are: 1. If compared to other brands of 5 star hotels present in India, such as Leela Palace, Oberoi Ashoka group, Hayat or ITC, Taj has a wide variety of options available for its customers. It is ready to provide all kinds of comfort, hygiene, satisfaction desired by its customers. It takes special care and attention of all its customers and tries to bring smile on to their faces and expect them to come and visit again to their hotel. . It has options available for its customers by a chain or group of hotels located in India and abroad. It covers almost all the major tourist destinations. 3. Taj has come up with a new idea with name Ginger hotels which is very economical and greatly praised. 4. Above some analysis that have been shown like marketing Ps, SWOT analysis, strategies, STPD and financial analysis which states that Taj Group of Hotels is performing well and there are several other opportunities which can still be exploited. 5.After the terrorist attack in Taj M ahal Palace in Mumbai the revenue generation of the Taj group went down as the crowd of foreign tourists dropped but now slowly it has again started arising 6. Some of the Hotels of Taj Group are Heritage sites, Palaces and Forts which is a plus point for Taj Group, People like to experience these sites by spending some days in Taj Hotels. Some of the palaces are situated in Jaipur and Jodhpur which are World Wide known tourist destinations. 7. Taj Group of Hotels is not having a strong hold in India but also in abroad.It has acquired many palaces and sites and have tie-ups with other big brands outside India. CONCLUSION The study showcased immense research on Taj Goup of Hotels in India. It gives a wide view about the hotel industry in India. It is a well known brand to everyone. It shows Taj has immense potential to grow and further expansion of its business. It also shows the growth in every wing they try to excel themselves through their good plans and strategies, besides excell ing themselves in the different wings the most important thing is that they have the social responsibility for the society through their different programs. An Analysis on Taj Group of Hotels Executive Summary The primary objective of this report is to analyze the Taj Group of Hotels through the specific analysis of Taj  (luxury full-service hotels, resorts and palaces), Taj Exotica  , Taj Safaris,  . Vivanta , The Gateway Hotel, Exotica Brand. The Taj Group of Hotels were selected to gain a learning of hotels in India from three different perspectives – that of a fast growing Indian hotel, , that of a formerly strong player trying to adapt to a changing market, and finally, that of an domestic hotel operating in India.The analysis in the report is presented as follows: 1. Before delving into the individual study of Taj Group of Hotels , a brief history of its operations as well as its strategies is given to help the reader gain a better understanding of the background from which the hotel has developed. 2. This is followed by a SWOT Analysis, which gives specific information on the environment, challenges and opportunities the hotel is currently facing. 3.Ne xt, special emphasis is laid on analyzing the hotel policies and environment related to its marketing environment through 5 C (Company, Customers, Collaborators, Competition, Context) Analysis, STP (Segmentation-Targeting-Positioning) Analysis, and the 4 P (Product, Price, Promotion, Place) Analysis. 4. After gaining an understanding on these aspects of the hotel, the anomalies in the marketing positioning or decisions taken in the past are presented. 5. Based on these anomalies and other learnings, the authors have presented a few recommendations to Taj Group of Hotels .The final section of the report consists of a comparison with other hotels on a variety of factors including positioning and targeting, different types of product and service offerings, channels of distribution etc. The authors believe that such comparisons would be useful to a reader who is trying to gain a better understanding of the competitive environment of the Indian hotel sectors, as well as of the relative p erformance of Taj Group of Hotels versus the others. Company Overview: VisionThe Taj Group of Hotels commits itself to the overall improvement of the ecological environment Which we are all a part of. We recognize that we are not owners but caretakers of the Planet and owe it to our children and future generations of humankind. It is our endeavour not only to conserve and protect but also to renew and regenerate the environment in which we live and operate. Our commitment encompasses all actions related to our products, services, associates, partners, vendors and communities. We will partner and engage with our environment through.  Also you can read about  History of the Culinary Arts.Earth Environmental Awareness and Renewal at Taj Hotels. For us EARTH is not a program, nor a process; it is a way of life. The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) and its subsidiaries are collectively known as Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces and is recognised as one of Asia's largest and finest h otel company. Incorporated by the founder of the Tata Group, Mr. Jamsetji N. Tata, the company opened its first property, The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Bombay in 1903. The Taj, a symbol of Indian hospitality, completed its centenary year in 2003.Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces comprises 66 hotels in 42 locations across India with an additional 16 international hotels in the Maldives, Malaysia, Australia, UK, USA, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Africa and the middle east Spanning the length and breadth of the country, gracing important industrial towns and cities, beaches, hill stations, historical and pilgrim centres and wildlife destinations, each Taj hotel offers the luxury of service, the apogee of Indian hospitality, vantage locations, modern amenities and business facilities.IHCL operate in the luxury, premium, mid-market and value segments of the market through the following: Taj  (luxury full-service hotels, resorts and palaces) is our flagship brand for the world’s most discerning travellers seeking authentic experiences given that luxury is a way of life to which they are accustomed. Spanning world-renowned landmarks, modern business hotels, idyllic beach resorts, authentic Rajput palaces and rustic safari lodges, each Taj hotel reinterprets the tradition of hospitality in a refreshingly modern way to create unique experiences and lifelong memories.Taj also encompasses a unique set of iconic properties rooted in history and tradition that deliver truly unforgettable experiences. A collection of outstanding properties with strong heritage as hotels or palaces which offer something more than great physical product and exceptional service. This group is defined by the emotional and unique equity of its iconic properties that are authentic, non- replicable with great potential to create memories and stories. Taj Exotica  are resort and spa brand found in the most exotic and relaxing locales of the world.The properties are defined by the privacy and intimacy t hey provide. The hotels are clearly differentiated by their product philosophy and service design. They are centred around high end accommodation, intimacy and an environment that allows its guest unrivalled comfort and privacy. They are defined by a sensibility of intimate design and by their varied and eclectic culinary experiences, impeccable service and authentic Indian Spa sanctuaries. Taj Safaris  are wildlife lodges that allow travelers to experience the unparalleled beauty of the Indian jungle amidst luxurious surroundings.They offer India’s first and only wildlife luxury lodge circuit. Taj Safaris provide guests with the ultimate, interpretive, wild life experience based on a proven sustainable ecotourism model. Vivanta by Taj Hotels ; Resorts  span options for the work-hard-play-hard traveller across metropolitan cities, other commercially important centres as well as some of the best-loved vacation spots. Stylish ; sophisticated, Vivanta by Taj delivers premium hotel experiences with imagination, energy ; efficiency. It's the flavour of contemporary luxury, laced with cool informality and the charming Taj hospitality.Created for the cosmopolitan global traveller and bon vivant, Vivanta by Taj Hotels & Resorts create experiences that will amuse, invigorate & inspire you. Vivanta revels in a spirit that presents the normal with an unexpected twist. Experiences which make you pause & appreciate the hidden beauty in life! It challenges your expectations of a hotel and unfolds multiple layers of delight. Innovative cuisine concepts, the smart use of technology & the challenge to constantly engage, energize and relax you all add up to make Vivanta by Taj the new signature in hospitality.The Gateway Hotel  (upscale/mid-market full service hotels and resorts) is a pan-India network of hotels and resorts that offers business and leisure travellers a hotel designed, keeping the modern nomad in mind. At the Gateway Hotel, we believe in keeping thi ngs simple. This is why, our hotels are divided into 7 simple zones- Stay, Hangout, Meet, Work, Workout, Unwind and Explore. Ginger  (economy hotels) is IHCL’s revolutionary concept in hospitality for the value segment. Intelligently designed facilities, consistency and affordability are hallmarks of this brand targeted at travellers who value simplicity and self-service.Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is committed to replicate its domestic success onto international shores with plans to build an international network of luxury hotels, which will provide an exemplary product-service combination and in the process create a global brand. The current international portfolio includes luxury resorts in the Indian Ocean, business and resort destinations in the Middle East and Africa, serviced apartments in the UK, the first hotel in Australia and three a top-end luxury hotels in the US. Exotica Brand The Taj strengthened its presence in the Indian Ocean rim with the Exotica Brand. The Taj Exotica was evolved as part of Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces intent to position it as a brand that is clearly differentiated by its product philosophy and service design. The Taj Exotica Resort and Spa, in Maldives is cantered on high-end accommodation, intimacy and an environment that allows its guest’s unrivalled comfort and privacy. Taj Hotels further expanded its global footprint by securing management contracts at Palm Island, Jumeirah in Dubai, Saraya Islands in Ras Al Khaimah, Aldar Group in Abu Dhabi, UAE Langkawi in Malaysia and Thimpu in Bhutan.The most significant additions to the portfolio have been The Pierre, the iconic landmark hotel on New York's Fifth Avenue, Taj Boston and Blue, Sydney. The presence of Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces internationally has been developed through a network of Taj regional sales and PR offices in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Dubai, Singapore, Australia, Japan, Russia and the United States of America. At the Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces luxurious living and fine dining find common ground.Whether it is introducing exotic world cuisines to India or taking authentic Indian fare to the world, the Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is renowned for the eclectic culinary experiences it brings to its guests. Through a vast repertoire of award-winning restaurants, legendary recipes from royal kitchens and celebrated food festivals, the Taj has pioneered innovation in fine dining across the world. Taj Hotels also promise a whole new experience of tranquillity and total ‘wellness’, through  Jiva Spas  a unique concept, which brings together the wisdom and heritage of the Asian and Indian Philosophy of Wellness and Well-being.Rooted in ancient Indian healing knowledge, Jiva Spas derive inspiration and spirit from the holistic concept of living. There is a rich basket of fresh and unique experiences under the Jiva Spa umbrella of offering, Yoga and Meditation, mastered and disseminat ed by accomplished practitioners, authentic Ayurveda, and unique Taj signature treatments. Royal traditions of wellness in service experiences, holistic treatments involving body therapies, enlivening and meaningful rituals and ceremonies and unique natural products blended by hand, come together to offer a truly calming experience.IHCL operates  Taj Air, a luxury private jet operation with state-of-the-art Falcon 2000 aircrafts designed by Dassault Aviation, France; and Taj Yachts, two 3-bedroom luxury yachts which can be used by guests in Mumbai and Kochi, in Kerala. IHCL also operates  Taj Sats Air Catering Ltd. , the largest airline catering service in South Asia, as a joint venture with Singapore Airport Terminal Services, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines. Additionally, it operates the  Indian Institute of Hotel Management, Aurangabad  since 1993.The institute offers a three-year diploma, designed with the help of international faculty and has affiliations with severa l American and European programmes. CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY AND SOCIAL RESPONSBILITY As a part of Tatas; India’s premier business house, Taj Hotels, have always believed in society and environment being integral stakeholders in our business along with the shareholders, customers, vendors and others. Over the last decade, the movement towards ecologically sound tourism has gained urgency and importance across the globe and recognize that responsible practices in vogue are as diverse as the geographies.It promotes corporate citizenship through our strategic public-private partnerships which encourage building livelihoods of less-advantaged youth and women. The causes to promote includes reducing malnutrition, promoting indigenous artisans and craftsmen and enhancing employability of identified target groups by sharing our core competencies as a leading hospitality company. We encourage training and development of differently able youth. The Taj has the unique scope and opportu nity to develop raw potential into a skilled workforce that is immediately employable by various players in the industry.A majority of community projects are focused around extending the key strengths in food production, kitchen management, housekeeping, customer service and spas to promote economic empowerment of candidates from vulnerable socio-economic backgrounds. Taj is fully committed to the cause of building a sustainable environment by reducing the impact of our daily operations on the environment and improving operational efficiencies, resource conservation, re use and recycling of key resources. The seventh  Corporate Sustainability Report  was submitted to the United Nations Global Compact society in August, 2010.The United Nations Global Compact is a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, safety ; security, environment and anti-corruption. This Corporate Sustainability report also serves as GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) as well as Triple Bottom Line report. The report focuses on identified priorities at IHCL and responds to key stakeholder needs. It plans to continue and further strengthen our commitment to the environment and societies in which we operate.It believes in continuous learning and sharing and would be delighted to have your thoughts and suggestions. EARTH In an endeavour to reinstate its vision and efforts to boost sustainable tourism, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces presented EARTH (Environment Awareness ; Renewal at Taj Hotels) this year. Implementing schemes such as the Gangotri Glacier Clean-Up Expedition, as well as designated Earth rooms, which minimise environmental impact, Taj is one of Asia’s largest group of hotels to commit to energy conservation and environmental management.EARTH has received certification from Green Globe, the only worldwide environmental certifica tion program for travel and tourism. The Taj began a century ago with a single landmark – The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Mumbai. Today, the various Taj hotels, in all their variety and historical richness, are recognised internationally as the symbols of true Indian hospitality. The Company’s history is integral to India’s emergence into the global business and leisure travel community; and looking to the future, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is well positioned to meet the increase in travel activity with the rapid expansion of the Indian economy.ANALYSIS SWOT Analysis Strengths| Weaknesses| * Taj group of hotels in India and also in abroad. * Corporate governance by a group of highly qualified people. * Hospitality which it provides to its customer * India offers a readymade tourist destination with the resources it has. Thus the magnet to pull  customers already exists and has potential grow. | * has to live up to its reputation. * to cope up with up-coming ch anges. * to satisfy each and every customer. * High tax structure in the industry makes the industry worse off than its international  equivalent.In India the expenditure tax, luxury tax and sales tax inflate the hotel bill by over  30%. Effective tax in the South East Asian countries works out to only 4-5%. | Opportunities| Threats| * Demand between the national and the inbound tourists can be easily managed due to  difference in the period of holidays. For international tourists the peak season for arrival is  between September to March when the climatic conditions are suitable where as the national  tourist waits for school holidays, generally the summer months. * In the long-term the hotel industry in India has latent potential for growth.This is because  India is an ideal destination for tourists as it is the only country with the most diverse  topography. For India, the inbound tourists are a mere 0. 49% of the global figures. This number  is expected to increa se at a phenomenal rate thus pushing up the demand for the hotel  industry. * Unique experience in heritage hotels. * Opportunity of expansion to more destinations. | * Competition with other five star hotels like ITC, HAYAT, LEELA PALACE and OBEROI group of hotels * Terrorists activities which had already happened in 26/11 2009 in Mumbai. * Guest houses are taking an edge in place of hotels.This is a growing trend in the west and is now catching up in  India also, thus diverting the hotel traffic. * Changing trends in the west demand similar changes in India, which here are difficult to  implement due to high project costs. * The economic conditions of a country have a direct impact on the earnings in hotel industry. Lack of training man power in the hotel industry. | COMPETITIVE STRATERIGES SEGMENTATION GEOGRAPHIC a) Region Wise : North India, East India, West India, South India b) City Wise: 4 major metropolitan cities, and tourist destinations in India DEMOGRAPHIC ) Meant for family, diplomats, political guests, international tourists, Honeymoon suit, Business Executives, safari adventure for all. b) In terms of income it is meant for people belonging to upper-middle and high-class society and ginger hotels for the economy class. PSYCHOGRAPHIC It is meant for the people who like heritage buildings, palaces, adventure, luxury, comfort and are ready to spend on all these things. LOYALTY It expects its customers to be loyal and appreciate the service and hospitality they provide to consumers. TARGETINGThe Taj hotel is targeting luxury business travellers, including domestic and foreign businessmen, the senior management personnel, and the elite strata of society. POSITIONING The Taj group positions its service as anâ€Å"office away from office â€Å"to serve the business customer and also keeps the general positioning of the hotel industry, i. e. †home away from home â€Å" DIFFERENTIATION Hotel has differentiate its service offer through phys ical ambience it maintain a natural green environment so as to provide a relaxed atmosphere to the tension –bound business traveller and the feature has been well perceived by the target customer .MARKETING MIX The following are the part of a marketing mix I. Product: the service offer has a tangible product in it. Rooms: the rooms are of six type namely, club room, normal room, superior cottage, suites, deluxe room, and the old British Raj ambience room. Restaurant:† paradise† is a Thai food restaurant. â€Å"Island cafe â€Å"is an Italian food restaurant with pool side barbecue it has banquet halls. The hotel also has business centre with latest facilities like internet, interview centre, fitness centre, laundry, etc are the added facilities.II. Pricing : The rent for the rooms of Taj hotels varies from place to place due to the taxation policies, however the cost of the rooms are priced according to the services provided by the hotel. The rooms are categoris ed as Deluxe Room, Luxury Suite, Royal Suite, Executive suite, Grand Luxury suite, Presidential suite and the charges are prepared according to the room provided. III. Place: TAJ has established hotels in every region in India, the major tourist destinations, palaces, heritage sites in India as well as abroad.IV. Promotion: The advertisement is generally done through magazine hoarding of late, they have started even sponsoring also but in low scale the main emphasis is on direct marketing. V. Physical ambience: it provide natural environment and provide the latest state-of-art facilities. VI. People: it realises the important of people in any service organization for that , the first step is to market their service offer to their own employees understand the need for maintaining high quality and standard . FINANCIAL ANALYSIS 2009-10 . The total income for the year ended March 31, 2010 at Rs. 1566. 35 crores was lower than that of the previous year by8. 2%. 2. Room Income was lower t han the previous year by 17%. The Average Room Rate (ARR) decreased by 16%over the previous year. 3. Food ; Beverage (F;B) income was 5% higher than the previous year. 4. Banquets income grew by 12% over the previous year. 2008-09 1. The total income for the year ended March 31, 2009 at Rs. 1706. 52 crores which was Lower than that of the previous year by 6 %. 2.Room Income was lower than the previous year by 14 % . 3. The Average Room Rate (ARR) decreased by 2 % over the previous year. 4. Food ; Beverage (F;B) income was 13% lower than the previous year. 2007-08 1. The total income for the year ended March 31, 2008 was Rs. 1,823. 16 crores which was higher than the previous year by 13%. 2. Room income was higher than previous year by 16%. 3. The Average Room Rate increased by 16% over the previous year which significantly contributed to the total increase in room income. FINDINGSAfter going through all the aspects related to Taj Hotels certain things in form of findings and informa tion. They are: 1. If compared to other brands of 5 star hotels present in India, such as Leela Palace, Oberoi Ashoka group, Hayat or ITC, Taj has a wide variety of options available for its customers. It is ready to provide all kinds of comfort, hygiene, satisfaction desired by its customers. It takes special care and attention of all its customers and tries to bring smile on to their faces and expect them to come and visit again to their hotel. . It has options available for its customers by a chain or group of hotels located in India and abroad. It covers almost all the major tourist destinations. 3. Taj has come up with a new idea with name Ginger hotels which is very economical and greatly praised. 4. Above some analysis that have been shown like marketing Ps, SWOT analysis, strategies, STPD and financial analysis which states that Taj Group of Hotels is performing well and there are several other opportunities which can still be exploited. 5.After the terrorist attack in Taj M ahal Palace in Mumbai the revenue generation of the Taj group went down as the crowd of foreign tourists dropped but now slowly it has again started arising 6. Some of the Hotels of Taj Group are Heritage sites, Palaces and Forts which is a plus point for Taj Group, People like to experience these sites by spending some days in Taj Hotels. Some of the palaces are situated in Jaipur and Jodhpur which are World Wide known tourist destinations. 7. Taj Group of Hotels is not having a strong hold in India but also in abroad.It has acquired many palaces and sites and have tie-ups with other big brands outside India. CONCLUSION The study showcased immense research on Taj Goup of Hotels in India. It gives a wide view about the hotel industry in India. It is a well known brand to everyone. It shows Taj has immense potential to grow and further expansion of its business. It also shows the growth in every wing they try to excel themselves through their good plans and strategies, besides excell ing themselves in the different wings the most important thing is that they have the social responsibility for the society through their different programs.