Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Corporate Social Responsibility Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Corporate Social Responsibility - Essay Example Recommendations for the enhancement of the reports 3. Conclusion References Appendix Executive Summary The evaluation of the perspectives of modern organizations within the global market is quite difficult. The increasing financial turbulences and social conflicts worldwide have caused delays in the stabilization of firms; moreover concerns often appear in regard to the potentials of a firm to face its competitors and achieve a stable growth. The corporate reports are used as sources for evaluating the current status of organizations but also their potential performance in the future. Particular emphasis is given on the CSR reports, which indicate the efforts of firms for addressing their social and environmental responsibilities. These reports are likely to be used for the development of communication between organizations and their stakeholders. The review of the CSR reports of three organizations operating in different industries in UK proves the value of CSR reports for the impro vement of organizational performance. It is also proved that each organization is likely to use different approaches for addressing its social and environmental obligations, as resulting by the principles and standards set by the relevant international organizations. 1. Introduction The response of organizations to their social and environmental responsibilities has been traditionally considered as a criterion for evaluating the potentials of these organizations to meet the market’s requirements. In this context, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become a vital part of organizational activities. The above fact is also highlighted in the literature published in the specific field. It should be noted, though, that theorists and researchers have used different approaches in order to explain the importance of CSR within modern organizations. In accordance with Habisch (2005) the corporate responsibility should be considered as ‘part of the political and social tradi tion’ (Habisch 2005, p.38). Moreover, Boeger et al. (2008) note that CSR reports should take into consideration the local culture and ethics. Also, Mullerat et al. (2010) notes that CSR is commonly used as ‘a tool for enhancing shareholder value’ (Mullerat 2010, p.130), a target that is characterized as of key importance for the success of organizational plans. On the other hand, Idowu et al. (2008) note that the development of credible evaluations regarding the CSR initiatives of modern organizations can be achieved only by using appropriate standards and principles, as set by relevant international organizations. From another point of view, Anderson (1989) supports that the quality and the credibility of CSR reports can be checked effectively through appropriate organizational schemes, for instance the development of a ‘social responsibilities audit’ (Anderson 1989, p.255). It should be also noted that firms are likely to set different priorities i n regard to their CSR plans, as indicated in the graphs presented in Figure 1 & Figure 2 (Appendix section). Current paper focuses on the review of the CSR reports of three firms operating in different industries within the British market: the Wates Group, a well – known construction firm, the BAM Group, a firm operating in the field of international contracting, as part of the Royal BAM Group, a European construction enterprise’ (BAM 2011, About us) and E.on, a key competitor in the power generation industry of UK. The CSR reports

Monday, October 28, 2019

Physician Assisted Suicide Essay Example for Free

Physician Assisted Suicide Essay Physician assisted suicide is one of those moral and ethical questions that are destined to remain as controversial and contested as abortion. It is often easy to make moral judgments on aspects of humanity when one is not in the situation themselves. It has to be taken into account that a number of variables are present in the argument then merely whether or not someone has the right to their own lives. It is an issue that is beyond legal parameters and extends to the philosophical. We are able to argue that life is not our own, that it is a God given purpose, until we are beset with burdening pain and suffering. One cannot argue that it is simply a religious or moral standpoint, and one cannot argue it as a legal issue either. Many physicians themselves stand for the rights of individuals to choose a dignified and unlabored death and this is where the crux lies: the fact that they see far more than the average ignoramus has the right to contribute. In this case, far more evidence weights for the legal right to choose physician assisted suicide, than it does to deny the right. Physician assisted suicide is defined as the â€Å"voluntary termination of one’s own life by the administration of a lethal substance with the direct or indirect assistance of a physician. †(Medterms, 2008). University of Washington School of Medicine offers us two examples of the moral case for suicide: Skip and Angela. Skip is 50 years of age, male and suffers from metastatic nonsmall cell lung cancer. He has had complications with the chemotherapy to the point where he is not sure it is worth having, but is also afraid not to have it (UWSM, 2008). Angela is 72 years of age and is in the final stages of congestive heart failure, having suffered to heart attacks. She is exhausted simply from living and her condition is unpredictable (UWSM, 2008). In these cases we have to take into account that there are more than one issue we are dealing with. In Skip’s case, he is destined for almost certain death while Angela may have one year or ten years ahead of her and we are never certain when she will die. In this case we have to evaluate what the quality of life will be like for each of them in the event that they do, by some miracle, live for another ten years. Granted, the outsider may argue that Angela should not give up on life especially if her time is indeterminate, but will her quality of life be such that she wishes to continue? Skip on the other hand is terminally ill, he knows he is going to die and again, the medication makes him so uncomfortable that one wonders if he wants to suffer through it. The University of Washington School of Medicine determines three types of physician assisted suicide: terminal sedation (sedation until unconsciousness and allowing them to die during this constant sedation); withholding of life-support or sustaining treatments (the patient decides not to take the treatments necessary to keep them alive) and pain medication that hastens death (doses of pain drugs that decrease respiration or speed up the dying process) (UWSM, 2008). We have discussed what physician assisted suicide is and seen possible cases where it may be augmented, but now the argument is whether or not it is legal and whether or not the law really has a right to an opinion on it. A cat is ill and even though it is beloved of the family, it is taken to the veterinarian and put ‘to sleep’. This is seen as merciful. However, if a human is suffering unbearably, they do not have the same luxury of hastening their death. The difference is, of course, that the cat did not have a choice. In the one case where a person is capable of understanding death and their condition and capable of voicing what they want, they are unable to do so. Eleven years ago, Oregon State became the first to initiate the choice to a dignified death. Last year 341 terminally ill took advantage of the option. On the 4th November Washington will decide whether they will implement their own Death with Dignity Act (Yardley, 2008). Prior to this attempt to secure the law, they had failed to implement it because voters refused to vote in favour of the movement (Yardley, 2008). The truth of the matter is that the voters were not those who were going to make use of it. Strangely enough, a democratic society should by definition allow the rights of all people, not just those who are healthy. We could describe the situation as follows: Martin Luther King fought for equal rights to all citizens of the United States and so the liberated African American came into being. Susan B Anthony and Emiline Pankhurst became women’s rights activists fighting for the rights of women to be treated as equals and today we have the liberated woman. The Battle of Little Bighorn and several others fought for the rights of Native Americans to lands and equal rights and to an extent (only an extent), they have their freedom too. Now, place in the equation, the dying man or woman: cast into the same bracket as women, African Americans and Natives. Included in this bracket is the homosexual. The comparison here is that the choice to live or die is actually more morally decent that gay marriages are in the religious sector. Despite this, more emphasis is placed on homosexual rights than the right to die with dignity. Legality or merely creating an argument where there needn’t be one? Dr David Stolinksy considers the legal wrangle to be indecent. â€Å"An ethical question must be answered by reference to ethical standards such as the Hippocratic Oath. This oath has been taken by young physicians for 2400 years. †(Stolinsky, 2006). Stolinksy voraciously attacked articles he read about the essence of physician assisted suicide, saying that what is often read about the issue is packed to exploding with references to court cases, legal procedures and rulings, but that their never an ounce of ‘ethical wisdom’ contained in them. In his view, it is an ethical issue and never has been a legal one (Stolinksy, 2006). Stolinsky does not himself defend the physician assisted suicide, but makes a crucial point in saying that the law really has no idea what they are talking about (given that they have little to do with emaciated and uncomfortable terminally ill people). Dr Jack Kevorkian is a Parkinson’s sufferer and an activist for the right to die with dignity. In his case, he knows that one day he will be in an unbearable state and hopes that the choices he can make will help others to make similar decisions (Ferguson, 2007). Dr Ferguson believes that â€Å"Working at HospiceCare, where honoring every patients end-of-life choices is a core value, I have no dispute with Governor Gardners desire to make his own decisions as life draws to an end. †(Ferguson, 2007). Indeed seeing the dying on a daily basis, her argument is to allow as many choices as possible for the patient, not deny them any. Although she believes that proper pain management can be accomplished and that patients need not die in unbearable pain, she does believe the ultimate choice should be theirs. Let us be certain here of one thing and that is the difference between normal suicidal ideation and physician assisted suicide. Suicide due to self-mutilating circumstances (drugs and self hate), or even pure depression are situations that can be reversed and treated and there is the potential for the person to live a happy, healthy and full life. Physician assisted suicide is where the light at the end of the tunnel has been blocked off and the future is not so bright. Perhaps the most controversial and least comfortable argument is that of the death sentence. Simply put, if the death penalty is considered humane, then why is not humane to allow the choice to die with dignity. Furthermore, we have to look at the ethical argument that has been applied to the death sentence: by some rather twisted logical inception, the ability to take a life has been granted to a few people who believe it is their right to decide a criminal should die. If we are to use this as a comparative argument for physician assisted suicide then we can use the following example: A man rapes and murders several women. He is tried and found guilty with the sentence of death. The argument is that he is likely, by psychological profiling, to commit further atrocities and due to the severity of his crime, deserves to die. The question is, what if he never commits another crime and completely reforms himself? In the same light, a patient given 6 months to live and chooses the suicide route. He could very well have lived another ten years but who can say that he would have? In both cases there is a shadow of doubt – a risk. Lawrence Hinman of University of San Diego puts forward the awkward question too that the death penalty follows the lex talionis principle of an ‘eye for an eye’ and by extension a ‘life for a life’. He asks why then it is not applied to torturers (Hinman, 2008: 5). Evidently the principle does not work. By logic, this makes the lex talionis not only unfair but also impractical. A cancer sufferer is not a criminal, although they are not exempt from the disease, but if it appears to be ethical to take a life-for-a-life, then surely it is even more ethical to take ones own? You have more right to your own body then the judge on the podium does. So what the argument therefore entails is that if it is both legal and ethical (doubtful) to sentence someone to death, then it should be legal and ethical to let someone choose to die if they are ill. With regards to the argument that the patient may actually live, the same could be said for the rapist who may actually be able to donate blood or stem-cells for a leukaemia patient if he is given the right to live. Neither case can be proved or disproved. Are we left at square one again? It depends very much on which side of the proverbial fence you fall. A person can only really decide if something is ethical or moral really when they have experienced it themselves. The right to physician assisted suicide should be given. It is no more or less ethical than any other moralistic standpoint. Consider the debacle that still descends on gay marriages, abortion, and even forced prostitution: are they any more morally sound then physician assisted suicide? Consider if prostitution is legalised and the countless women held under torturous circumstances under that very law? Is that any more ethical? Given that the majority of voters in the United States are those that are not in the position where they have to face their death, the intentions are a little selfish. They are concerned for their own loss, not for the suffering of those who are about to die. The loved ones are more fearful of losing those close to them then they are concerned for the dignity and suffering of those who are dying.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Becoming A Professional Chef Essay example -- Career Essays

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The chefs who have made the greatest impression know that their successes depend upon several factors, some of which are inherent; some which are diligently cultivated. Becoming a professional chef not only requires a thorough understanding in food preparation, but many other important points as well. Auguste Escoffier, the originator of modern foodservice wrote; "No theories, no formulae, no recipe, no matter how well written, can take the place of experience." (1)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The formal educational process must begin with the choice of institution, in the United States, the Culinary Institute of America, New York is the leader in traditional culinary cuisine preparation. The curriculum is taught on the Escoffier ideal. The California culinary Academy, San Francisco, also offers culinary education, but along with the New England culinary Institute, Montpelier, Vt, offer an education for occupational demand and placement. In order to gain a solid understanding in basic and advanced culinary techniques, any aspiring chef will find formal training at an accredited school an excellent beginning.An apprenticeship and or on-the-job training can be useful for some individuals in the place of formal education, and is a a necessary follow-up for all chefs in training. Learning should be an ongoing process, there is no substitute for experience;only with practice will classroom teory become fully developed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The purpose behind the education is learning basic food preparation, learning the styles of knife cuts and food presentation. Most importantly of all food preparation is sanitation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The importance of sanitation cannot be over emphasized. In a business based upon service and hospitality, reputation and indeed, livelihoods are dependent upon the customers good will.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Food-borne illnesses fall into two categories, intoxicant and infections. An understanding of the causes and preventions will limit any contaminations. The food preparation process emcompresses the sanitation process from the beginning, using properly sterile utincels, food storage, etc.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Being a professional chef like any profession has a great many sides. The career opportunities for a chef that come to mind are that, a chef, a cook. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, Monthly Labor review,November, 1995. By the year 2000, there will be an estimated 16-38% increase for chefs. T... ...ublic, organizing the staff to promote customer relations. The chef must also operate the kitchen, after all that is his profession. The chef must develop the needs and specifications of the kitchen, choose purveyors, organize delivery schedules,make inventory requirements. All the ingredients, no pun intended, will become necessary in a profitable on going operation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When deciding to be a professional chef; the preferred working environment of the individual will dictate how they wish to apply the skill. Being a chef can lead to other occupations as well, some which are not directly related to the foodservice industry. Teaching the skills of a culinarian, newspaper columnist or journalist critic. There are many possibilities to a professional chef outside a kitchen environment, learning by contact with other professionals is what professionalism is all about.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Works cited The California Culinary Academy,WWW.Baychef.com/educational/ index.html. Website. The Wall Street journal,January 2, 1990, Page 1. The Culinary Institute of America,The New Professional Chef. 5th ed.New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold,1991 Becoming A Professional Chef Essay example -- Career Essays   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The chefs who have made the greatest impression know that their successes depend upon several factors, some of which are inherent; some which are diligently cultivated. Becoming a professional chef not only requires a thorough understanding in food preparation, but many other important points as well. Auguste Escoffier, the originator of modern foodservice wrote; "No theories, no formulae, no recipe, no matter how well written, can take the place of experience." (1)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The formal educational process must begin with the choice of institution, in the United States, the Culinary Institute of America, New York is the leader in traditional culinary cuisine preparation. The curriculum is taught on the Escoffier ideal. The California culinary Academy, San Francisco, also offers culinary education, but along with the New England culinary Institute, Montpelier, Vt, offer an education for occupational demand and placement. In order to gain a solid understanding in basic and advanced culinary techniques, any aspiring chef will find formal training at an accredited school an excellent beginning.An apprenticeship and or on-the-job training can be useful for some individuals in the place of formal education, and is a a necessary follow-up for all chefs in training. Learning should be an ongoing process, there is no substitute for experience;only with practice will classroom teory become fully developed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The purpose behind the education is learning basic food preparation, learning the styles of knife cuts and food presentation. Most importantly of all food preparation is sanitation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The importance of sanitation cannot be over emphasized. In a business based upon service and hospitality, reputation and indeed, livelihoods are dependent upon the customers good will.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Food-borne illnesses fall into two categories, intoxicant and infections. An understanding of the causes and preventions will limit any contaminations. The food preparation process emcompresses the sanitation process from the beginning, using properly sterile utincels, food storage, etc.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Being a professional chef like any profession has a great many sides. The career opportunities for a chef that come to mind are that, a chef, a cook. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, Monthly Labor review,November, 1995. By the year 2000, there will be an estimated 16-38% increase for chefs. T... ...ublic, organizing the staff to promote customer relations. The chef must also operate the kitchen, after all that is his profession. The chef must develop the needs and specifications of the kitchen, choose purveyors, organize delivery schedules,make inventory requirements. All the ingredients, no pun intended, will become necessary in a profitable on going operation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When deciding to be a professional chef; the preferred working environment of the individual will dictate how they wish to apply the skill. Being a chef can lead to other occupations as well, some which are not directly related to the foodservice industry. Teaching the skills of a culinarian, newspaper columnist or journalist critic. There are many possibilities to a professional chef outside a kitchen environment, learning by contact with other professionals is what professionalism is all about.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Works cited The California Culinary Academy,WWW.Baychef.com/educational/ index.html. Website. The Wall Street journal,January 2, 1990, Page 1. The Culinary Institute of America,The New Professional Chef. 5th ed.New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold,1991

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Marlin Catering Essay

The working purpose and overall goal of the marketing project is to: (1) analyze Marlin Catering’s current situation; (2) determine strategies for reaching potential clientele; and (3) develop marketing tactics and an implementation plan. The marketing project opens with an analysis of the company’s current situation, including a review of its internal and external environment, which yields information regard current company strengths and weakness along with the opportunities and threats present. Marlin Catering’s primary strengths are in the areas of its staff and expertise. Its weaknesses include consumer perceptions that firm only sells Mexican food, even for catered events and the company is not well known in the area. The opportunities present include a growing marketplace. The primary threat is a large number of competing firms in the area. The marketing goal for Marlin Catering is to become a viable company in the catering business in the Fayetteville area serving both individuals and businesses with high quality food and service. The marketing strategy will begin with offering high quality food and high quality, on-time service. The distribution strategy will be to sell via direct sales and to expand via word of mouth endorsements. In the future, indirect marketing through florists and banquet halls may be pursued. The primary emphasis will be on advertising and promotion. Marlin Catering should begin a targeted advertising campaign and develop a colorful brochure that illustrates the company’s services. Personal selling and a presence trade shows should be used to enhance the image. It will be important to reach the three distinctive markets that Marlin seeks to serve. Implementation and control measures are outlined in the conclusion of this report. Current Situation Jose Hernandez and Clay Shields own Marlin Catering. They combine their experience, management expertise, and financial resources to conduct business. Jose Hernandez is also the co-owner/business manager of Marlin Catering Party Planning and Marlin Cafà ©. Clay Shields serves as the silent partner and is not involved in the daily managerial activities of the business. The Marlin Catering business was established in January 2008. The owners of Marlin Catering would like to eventually concentrate on the cafà © and catering business and discontinue the party planning business. Jose and Clay are in the process of relocating the cafà © to another facility while expanding the services of the catering business. This leaves the current cafà © as the only location to be used for the catering business. Presently, Marlin Catering carries out every aspect of the catering process. After the initial meeting with the client, Jose Hernandez prepares a menu selection including prices. The next meeting involves the contract signing and down payment. During the catering event, Marlin Catering provides the food along with servers, linens, and china. They set up the food display and clean up the venue at the conclusion of the event. Internal Environment An analysis of the current situation for Marlin Catering includes examining the company’s internal environment, external environment, competition, and customers. The mission statement was the first component examined in the internal environment. The current statement reads, â€Å"Marlin Catering is dedicated to providing service for their customer base in the local catering market in the Fayetteville, Arkansas area. Marlin Catering is committed to providing high quality and reliable services to existing and potential customers.† Though Marlin Catering is a new business with little name recognition in the catering market, the opportunity for exposure and interest is increasing. Catering is widely used for many different occasions, and the demand for this service is continuously increasing. In developing the catering business, the owners of Marlin Catering investigated the current market and current trends for catering services. According to the 2009 Economic Census, the catering market for the Fayetteville area produced $2,723,918 in sales. There are various events in need of a caterer including, but not limited to: weddings, banquets, graduation parties, engagements, showers, and political rallies. The market appears to be saturated with a wide variety of catering vendors. Despite this saturation, the owners entered the market because they believed with the right business and marketing plan they could succeed. The experiences of the owner and the operation of their current cafe creates a key competitive advantage for Marlin Catering relative to competitors The experience in food preparation and in party planning helps the company acquire customers and expand the clientele list. Also, the extensive resume of the owner gives the company a competitive edge. With regard to resources, Marlin Catering has an established facility in working condition. The current production capacity for Marlin Catering is ten major events per month. The business concentrates on high-quality production method which means the company has the opportunity to focus on the quality section of the market. Although the business is able to outsource for employees, the dependability and resourcefulness of the employees place a limit on the firm’s current operating capacity. Currently, the catering service uses the van owned by the cafà ©. In the future, a vehicle dedicated to the catering service should be purchased. Supply costs went down the second year, after the initial costs for purchasing serving equipment had been absorbed. The new cafà © will soon be finished, which means the current facility will house only the catering business. This will mean that the monthly payments on the building will be charged to the catering service along with utility expenses. External Environment Due to the recession and slow down in the United States economy, sales in catering services actually declined in 2009 in the Fayetteville area. The growth of the university and new businesses in the area should help the economy rebound quickly, including the catering business marketplace. The cost of food increased in 2008 due to the rise in fuel costs, as did costs of operating the catering vehicle. The costs remained relatively flat during 2009. Analysis of economic data for the area and fro the United States indicates a slight increase costs in the near future. The demand for catering services tends to fluctuate during the year, primarily because catering services reach peak demand for special occasions. Demand increases during holidays and during the spring and summer for weddings. The majority of weddings are held from April through July of each year. During this past year, approximately 1,000 wedding ceremonies were performed in Fayetteville and approximately 40,000 occurred in Arkansas. Additional events that utilize catering services are political parties, corporate parties and banquets, and private parties. Again, these tend to have higher concentrations during the spring and summer, and around holidays. Catering for political parties increases prior to local, state, and national elections. Catering services are culturally diversified in the types of food dishes it provides in order to meet all of the customers’ tastes & preferences. The most common requests are for: †¢ Mexican-style food  Ã¢â‚¬ ¢ Oriental-style food †¢ Italian-style food †¢ American-style food †¢ Seafood Social-cultural trends indicate an increasing demand for catering service. An increase in dual income households creates greater discretionary funds for catering private events. Tied closely to this is the lack of time and busy schedules. It is easier and more convenient to hire a caterer to handle the food at an event than do it yourself. This is also true for weddings. But, another opportunity is present in the wedding market. Catering is the most socially thing accepted method of serving food and any type of private preparation of food would be viewed less favorably. This includes the rehearsal dinner, which is now catered for most weddings in addition to the wedding reception. Although the economy has affected the number of catering events held by businesses, the growth in the business sector in the Fayetteville area has created a greater demand for catering services. These events vary from a recognition dinner that might have 25 guests to major corporate events that will have attendance of 1,000 individuals. Competitive Environment Marlin Catering’s main competitors are full service caterers, turnkey caterers, and general caterers. According to the 2009 Economic Census, local catering sales totaled $2,723,918, with Marlin Catering only holding a 4% market share. The catering business consists of four levels of competitors. At the top level are full service caterers who also are involved in event planning. They handle the entire event, including the food. The second level of competitors is full-service caterers who do not offer event planning services. They only care for the food and tables at the event. The third level of competitors is restaurants that also offer catering services. These restaurants tend to be limited by the types of foods served at the restaurant. The lowest, or fourth tier, are restaurants, primarily fast food operations and grocery stores, that prepare catering food trays that can be picked up by customers. Some restaurants also provide these food trays for customers who are concerned about expenses. The top tier catering services target large businesses and the high-income residents of the area. Fayetteville Planning and Catering is the market leader in this sector of the market and controls the largest market share of the catering business. Although their prices tended to be high, the company has a loyal customer base and its owners are member of the local social elite class. It was the second tier of competitors that offer food, service, and prices that are comparable to Marlin Catering. Fortunately, the location of the cafà © helped create a positive image of Marling Catering through the perception was that it was a local restaurant that was engaged in catering. Most companies and individuals did not know it was a full-service catering service and that it operated independent of the restaurant. For most catering services awareness and recognition are the keys to success. Few companies, except the large ones, spend money on marketing and advertising. This is especially true for the bottom two tiers, restaurants and grocery stores. They simply post signs in their business about the catering service. All of the companies in the first two tiers have yellow page ads or listings. Some of the higher-end restaurants also place a listing under catering to inform potential customers they do provide catering as well. A few of the companies advertise in the newspaper, especially in the spring and summer and around holidays. A select few have agreements with other types of services to generate leads, such as bridal shops, photographers, florists, and bakery shops. Customer Analysis Marlin Catering maintains a full service operation. This service offers a menu selection to customers. The customer then selects the exact menu for an event and negotiates a price per person. The company provides the china, linens, crystal, and silver for the event. Employees are responsible for the set-up and clean up of the event. Marlin Catering is also responsible for replenishing empty trays during the event. The catering service is currently operating out of the cafà © and most of the catering business thus far has been generated through the cafà ©. Sales have been made to individual customers or businesses that have either dine at the cafà © or through customers of the cafà © who have heard about the catering service. The restaurant serves primarily Mexican food, which means that most of the business has been for events featuring Mexican cuisine. A review of sales for the last 2 years shows three primary types of customers or events: individual consumer events, wedding receptions, and small business events. For the individual consumer events, the average attendance was around 15 individuals and the average charge was $280. For weddings, the average attendance was 60 with an average ticket charge of $1300. The business segment varied widely with some events for only 10 to 15 people, but others for as many as 150 and 200 individuals. The figure below shows the percentage of sales generated from each of the market segments in 2009.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Managerial communication

Interpersonal skills. An example of a barrier to effective listening is inattentiveness. This is a barrier because there is more concentration on the speaker's delivery rather than on the message. Background noises also play a part to inattentiveness as it is distracting. For instance when I was working as a waitress at a restaurant I served a large family, which placed a large order of 3 different pasta dishes, one with cheese and the rest without, and 6 pizzas with different toppings and sizes and one with no mushroom ND another with extra olives.Due to my inattentiveness, I failed to place the correct order to the kitchen. Instead I gave them 3 pasta dishes all with cheese and one pizza with extra mushrooms and the other with no olives. In the future I could improve my listening skills paying full attention to what is being said and also by double checking the order with the recipients in order for certainty. Emotional intelligence is a person's ability to recognize and use emotio ns.It Is a concept that helps to understand human communication. It can also be described as relevant to the accurate appraisal and expression of emotion In oneself and In others, the effective regulation of emotion in self and others, and the use of feeling to motivate, plan, and achieve In one's life (Salvoes & Mayer,1990). Leary et al describe emotional Intelligence as a precise awareness of emotion In self and others, an absorption of emotion to ease thought and an understanding of emotion.For Instance there was a time where I failed to reflect emotional Intelligence when my rope leader approached me about complaints that were made about my behavior and attitude. The confrontation made me defensive which made me react by attacking other group members and ask for clarification.