ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction The hotel industry around the world continue to undergo transformation in order attain competitive edge among other destination places. The desire to provide superior services and positive clients experience necessitate the ongoing changes are also necessitated by. The hotel industry has a significant task in developing the appropriate tourism merchandise (Ayuso, 2006). There is the need for the hotel industry to provide their clients with quality services while also ensuring their operations are responsible. There is also the recognizable responsibility for the hotel industry to structure their services in order to contribute to sustainable tourism (Ayuso, 2006). The tourism industry can employ socially accountable business activities aimed at promoting sustainable development. The purpose of this paper is to indicate that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is integral to the long-term success of five-star hotels ( Lee & Park, 2009). As much as several tourist hotels, promote their services globally, involvement in CSR practices is essential to the long-term success within the five – star hotels. The Concept of CSR within the Hotels Industry The emergence of globalization has presented massive opportunities for businesses to transform their product line in order to attract and retain a critical client’s base. Furthermore, the escalating expansion of the hotels industry in the tourism marketplace and constant production diversification presents diverse social, financial, environmental, and cultural concerns (McWilliams, Siegel and Wright, 2006). CSR is a relatively fresh concept in the tourism industry. CSR has existed for about five decades since its emergence. However, the foremost thoughts about CSR were associated with business activities of undertaking good practices so that the public could see that the company is doing well (McWilliams, Siegel and Wright, 2006). The transformation and development of these earlier thoughts into the present meaning of CSR has made it possible to ensure positive outcomes for both the society and the organizations (Bohdanowicz & Zientara, 2008). Different hotels define CSR in varying that suits their structures. For example, Guoman Hotel Management (UK) Limited defines social responsibility in the areas of market place, workplace, environment, and community. Elements of CSR It is notable that many hotels have developed their CSR policies according to how they target their clients. However, some of the issues that the hotels focus on had remained similar throughout. The notable elements included in most CSR policies include the notion of accountability (Bohdanowicz & Zientara, 2008)
Introduction Procter & Gamble, along with Gillette are companies with a long and interesting history. Both started in the XIX century, and are the largest household goods, manufacturers. The merge of these two giants is a significant and large-scale occasion in the world business sphere. From the point of view of financial experts, it is necessary to emphasize, that the merger of these companies would provide a great monopolization in the sphere of household chemicals, oral care, hair care, and skincare (including blades and razors). On the other hand, Merrill Lynch – the financial expert – explains, that she anticipated essential growth in the sales and income volume after the merge, however, the 6-7 percent growth was lower, than expected (in 2007). Financial analysis of the company’s performance reveals the fact, that the necessity to adjust the financial managerial structure is rather high, as jointly, these two companies achieved less essential results than while acting separately. Strategies The immediate strategy that is required is the total change of financial management structure and hierarchy, as managers from formerly different companies could not get used to the means and methods of work of their colleagues. Consequently, the immediate strategy should be directed to the increase of collective unity. HR policy should be changed essentially, as the new team requires new rules. The long-range strategy should be directed to the expansion of the existing markets, as it is the key factor of increasing incomes. The fact is that it is impossible to create something new in the sphere of household chemicals. All the upgrades and improvements of technologies (triple blades, tubes of toothpaste with different tastes, various fragrances) have become a common feature of life in the 21 st century. Thus, the expansion of the existing markets and the creation (research) of a new audience should become the preferable direction on the long-term strategy. Executive Summary The history of the joint company is pictured on the graphs. This data reveals the necessity of improving the financial management system, as the achieved results stay lesser than expected. It is said, that the stock prices were expected to increase more than 25 percent. Nevertheless, Merrill Lynch had expected a $0,25 – $0,30 fall per share on a stock market. In 2004 Procter & Gamble announced plans, that included acquiring numerous companies, engaged in the production of household detergents and hair care means. However, the results achieved in 2005 did not allow P & G to perform the announced plans. Cost Prices The cost prices can not be regarded as too high. This is confirmed by the fact that the transaction value of P & G achieved 47.3 percent of the total for the period of 1994-2004. The manufactured goods of the company are among the most popular in the world, and it signifies, that people choose these goods not only because of quality but also due to comparatively low prices. Though, the fall of the share on the stock market may cause a further increase in the cost prices. Advantage Deal The merge of the c
SASOS CPAs, LLA is a start-up business that is expected to make good profits. The company’s end of year revenue is expected to reach around three hundred and seventy thousand dollars. Most of this revenue is expected to come from business conducted with non-profit organizations. The company is solely an accounting firm. This means that its diversification is mostly limited. SASOS CPAs, LLA targets even small organizations and individuals. These two groups do not usually have access to personal or fulltime accountants. The company has to rely on leased office space and this translates into a start up as well as a recurring cost. The company’s office does not require a lot of furniture. Three chairs and desks are to be mixed with other aesthetics to constitute a presentable office. The firms’ operations will mostly rely on up to date software programs. Initially, the business will rely on a staff of three permanent employees. The amount of invested startup capital is expected to be $5,262.06. The location of this company will be Baltimore, Maryland. The market potential of this region is quite promising. This is because SASOS CPAs targets individuals and companies alike. The number of business organizations coming up in the Maryland area is quite high. In addition, small businesses like cafes and convenience stores may enlist the services of this company. This is mostly due to the fact that the company’s charges are quite standard as compared to the usual exorbitant costs associated with accounting. Currently, accounting services only peak during a few months a year. This makes it hard for the business to maximize its business potential. This is because the other aspects of the company’s business are less abundant and more competitive. Moreover, most clients prefer to use more established and reputable firms for their bookkeeping and financial statement preparation. This means it will take time for SASOS CPAs to amass clients from these categories. The Company’s expected revenue margins are quite realistic. Audit jobs are expected to rein in most revenue with tax preparations coming in second. This target can be achieved. However, getting audit clients in the first few years is a big challenge. Most companies have long-term auditors and it is not easy for them to switch such services. Achieving the targeted revenue from audit-based services depends on the company’s public relations policy. The company needs to cushion this by ensuring that it reaches its target when it comes to tax preparation services. Another way to cover for this misgiving is by targeting smaller businesses and individuals. Reliance on basic software programs may also prove to be a challenge for SASOS CPAs. This is because most of the targeted clients are conversant with such programs. This fact may make such poten
The correlation between perfectionism and depression has been shown to exist by many researchers. Dr. Paul Hewitt, a practicing psychologist and professor at the University of British Columbia states that perfectionism is a risk factor for anorexia, suicide and unipolar depression (Benson, 2003). Perfectionism in its different varieties is differently linked to psychopathology. Socially prescribed perfectionism, the belief that people will only value someone if they are perfect has been linked with depression and suicide. This kind of perfectionism has elements of pressure, a sense of helplessness and hopelessness. A socially prescribed perfectionist feels he/she is expected to perform better and better (Benson, 2003). Other types of perfectionists are other-oriented perfectionists and self-oriented perfectionists. Self-oriented perfectionists set standards that are too high for themselves to the extent that they are impossible. Other oriented perfectionists have a tendency to set very rigid and high standards for friends and family (Cook, 2002). Self-oriented perfectionism predisposes an individual to psychological disorders while other-oriented perfectionism is likely to create problems in relationships especially intimate ones (Benson, 2003). Rumination is another predisposing factor to depression, a study carried out by Lavender and Watkins confirms that rumination increases negative future thinking in depression. The study compared depressed and non-depressed participants who were assigned randomly to either rumination or distraction manipulation.The depressed patients had higher levels of negative cognitive biases compared to the non-depressed patients (Lavender and Watkins, 2004). Another study carried out in the University of Berne further demonstrates the link between rumination and depression. Depression is associated with feelings of guilt and shame. Orth, Berking and Burkhardt hypothesize that rumination is elicited by shame which then contributes to the development of depression. The investigation which studied event-related rumination, event-related shame and guilt and depression in 149 mothers and fathers after marital separation showed that shame was maladaptive and increased rumination, a risk factor for depression, (Orth, Berking and Burkhard, 2006) Major depression is more prevalent in women than men. Even with varying definitions and measurement tools for depression, depression is still found to occur at a higher rate in women than men across different cultures (Seeman, 1995) As puberty begins, the incidence of depression in females begins to increase as compared to males. This trend continues into adulthood with a peak at perimenopause. After menopause, the incidence goes back to similar levels with men. A biological model explains this higher incidence by stating that gender differences in depression are due to the hormones estrogen and progesterone (Seeman, 1995). The environmental model explains that, because women experience more stressful situa
Abstract Business organizations today use social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter to market their products and services. The social platforms may enable businesses to have closer interactions with their customers. These kinds of interactions create trust and confidence between the clients and the organizations. The consumers may become willing to purchase the products or services that are advertised by the organizations hence improving the businesses’ marketing performance (Rosen, 2000). The improved marketing performance translates to significant income for the business. Several businesses including the PepsiCo have employed social media marketing. This fact has enabled the businesses to increase their numbers of customers. The objective of social media marketing is to attract social media users. Social media enables organizations to inform their clients about their products and services. It provides opportunities for users to share information about the products and services of given organizations with other potential clients who may not normally access it. The continued advancements in technology have brought about positive business prospects for social media and marketing. Introduction The evolution of the internet and the subsequent invention of the World Wide Web have revolutionized social media marketing and “overshadowed” traditional forms of marketing. Technological forms of marketing have gained more popularity than television, radio and print advertisements. Social media platforms have not only transformed the marketing of products and services by companies but they have also enhanced the communication of business organizations with their customers. These platforms have enabled the users to share pictures, ideas and videos across the globe at anytime. Facebook enables individuals to open accounts in which they can create “profiles” and describe themselves. These accounts can be used for the sharing of ideas or in the expression of opinions by the users. The sharing of information can be made possible through other features within Facebook where users can “update their statuses”. Users can use Facebook to share pictures and videos by uploading them through the internet to their accounts hence allowing other users in their social networks to view them. Options for “share” and “like” can be provided by the social sites under which statuses, pictures and videos can be interlinked. The easy access to the internet can increase the use of the social networks. Subsequently, the access can enhance the sharing of information among the users of the social media. Organizations can be compelled to develop innovative and unique marketing initiatives that can attract the attention of the social media users. Consumers usually consult with one another before purchasing anything. They value the opinions of the
Problem Identification The Middle East never ending conflict between Israel and Palestine is partly because of their historical past and their cultural characteristics that have largely contributed to the crisis. This protagonist’s characteristics can rightly be termed as weaknesses that are unique for each party and at times similar for both of them. The major problem that is equally facing both parties is the lack of political will or good will from their respective citizens which is a crucial catalyst for sustaining the search for peace process. Without political or national support neither party has the mandate or authority to discuss or implement peaceful resolutions that can be reached during any such talks. This is because Israel for instance will require any agreement to be vetted and approved by relevant parliamentary committees before they can be implemented; the same case applies to Palestine authority as well (Yun, Yu, Qiujuan and Xiaowei, 2007). Another major hurdle that is facing both parties is lack of mutual trust which is understandable, but unfortunately a major obstacle for the peace process, more so in agreements of resolutions that require good faith and trust. Another challenge that is unique to Palestine authority is its inability to guarantee a total ceasefire before they can engage in peaceful negotiations for various reasons that we shall outline in the next part of this paper. Other challenges that face the peace negotiations include lack of a platform for a peaceful dialogue between the two communities, water resource, violent mentality, economic breakdown. Underlying this entire peace process are the contentious issues between the two protagonists which are settlements, demarcation and right of return and borders (Reitman, 2002). Problem Analysis The challenges facing Israel and Palestine are essentially the same; nevertheless there are few of these problems that are unique to each party. The main obstacles to peace process in the region is grounded in trust and political good will, other challenges include lack of capacity to honor agreed issues, polarization of communities’ water resource among others (Reitman, 2002). Trust is a central issue since neither Israel nor Palestine is able to trust the other side regarding their true motives on the whole peace process, indeed Israel has consistently refused to agree to Palestinians return to their former homelands that they occupied prior 1948. On the other hand Palestine faction movements such as Hezbollah have always refused to implement a peace resolution that would make Israel a sovereign state with a right to co-exist side by side with Palestine. Lack of trust has also meant that both parties have been actively pursuing other channels to resolve their difference since they no longer have faith
What Evidence do you see of a Japanization or Africanization and Similar Processes in the UAE Culture? The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of the most westernized countries in the wider Arabian Peninsula. In this regard, it offers a practical example of how western cultural values influence the social and economic aspects of the country’s growth. Although western cultural tendencies are predominantly part of the current UAE social and economic makeup, the influences of other cultures are also present. The effects of multiple cultures on the UAE social life have stemmed through the country’s inclination towards cultural hegemony. However, some observers deem the hegemony of cultures as a threat to the cultural diversity because of its potential to wipe out the cultural attributes of smaller groups of people who rank low on a country’s social hierarchy. However, this threat is perceptive and subjective because the UAE has transformed itself from a small desert region into a cultural hub that many global cultural groups call home. For example, there is evidence of Africanization, Japanization, and Indianization of the UAE society. However, Indian culture has had the most profound influence on the country compared to the other two subsets of global culture. The influence of the Indian culture in the UAE is visible through the acceptance of Indian cultural values in the UAE social scene. The same aspects of culture have been integrated into the country’s linguistic makeup because some Indian words have been incorporated as part of mainstream languages spoken in the UAE. The huge influence of the Indian culture on the UAE partly stems from the large population of Indian workers who live in the country. They provide the audience and influence that the Indian culture continues to have in the UAE. The huge population of Indians in the UAE has created an opportunity for the community to impart their values in the country and to develop strong social networks that provide the infrastructure through which the Indian culture permeates the UAE society. Consequently, several Indian-based associations, such as the Ind
The author of the post makes a good point that an amount of money is worth more the sooner it is received. At first glance, it seems paradoxical because a bundle of money comprised of ten banknotes with the denomination of US $100 equals the US $1000 anywhere and at any time (if the fluctuation rates and inflation are ignored). However, the given paradox has a very simple explanation: when a person has a particular sum now, he or she can invest it, i.e., make it work for his/her own benefit and get more profit by the end of a particular period. For this reason, “any amount of money is worth more the sooner it is received” since “money can earn interest” ( Time Value of Money , n.d., para. 1). It means that the aspect of time must be taken into account when planning, analyzing, and evaluating future cash flows; evaluating the effectiveness of investments; and in all other cases when it is necessary to compare monetary amounts related to different time periods. In financial accounting, the discounting of cash flows is used to ensure the comparability of financial reporting data of either different companies or for different reporting periods. The discount rate usually includes a preference for current consumption, estimated inflation, and probable uncertainty in cash flows (Damodaran, n.d.). Overall, discounting operations can be reduced to the following formula: PV = FV / (1 + i) n where “i” is the discount rate and “n” is the time (number of periods) (Gollier, n.d.). This formula implies that when discounting future cash flows, the financier simply reduces them by the amount of the opportunity costs associated with these flows. In other words, he or she subtracts a particular sum of expected costs from the amount of income.
Attraction and Retention of Talent Human resource management becomes an essential part of business world. Even though innovative technologies contributed to the business world and many processes are completed by the machines, the successful business is run when people monitor the working process, participate in it and do all possible to remain successful and effective. To have a successful profitable people, managers are to create a good team from talented people. Attraction and retention of talents remains one of the main goals of the human resource managers in the company and the successful implementation of the programs connected with the issue may bring much profit for both sides. Retention and attraction of talents is one of the main issues for human resource managers in different companies and the problems and opportunities connected with the issue are going to be discussed below. Considering the experiences of the respected companies in attraction and retention of talents, it may be concluded that the use of the brand of the employer is one of the main strategies applied for the issue. When a company is famous among people and its image is rather high, talented people are sure to go there in search for a job. Having conducted a research in the sphere of influence of the brand image on attraction and retention of talents in the company, Botha, Bussin, and De Swardt (2011) prove the mentioned statement. A positive brand of the image and the correct use of this brand while attracting employees, their training and further treatment increases the chance of employing great talents in the company. However, the authors of the research state that wrong use of the brand of the company while human resource management may cause undesired outcome and negatively influence talent attraction and retention (Botha, Bussin, & De Swardt, 2011). Conducting a deeper research, the report ‘Talent Attraction and Retention in Larger Accounting Firms’ (2012) by Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority presents the following reasons as the main means for attraction and talents retention, prestige of working for a ‘branded’ firm, job security, steep leaning curve, opportunities for career progression, regular performance feedback, structured training, high future earning potential, benefits package, and compensation that commensurate with work efforts. Trying to consider some of the issues in detail, it should be stated that attraction and retention of the talents is not connected with high salary at the earliest stages. Talented employees understand that to get good salary, they are to work more. Additionally, the retention of talented employees does not depend on their position while job placement, the possibility of training and career development are more influential factors which make talented people remain at work (Talent Attraction and Retention in Larger Accounting