Hospitality Supply Chain Case Study free essay sample

This report provides and an analysis and evaluation of the impact and importance of the supply chain within the Hospitality, Tourism and Events Industries. This report describes the current state of impact of the supply chain itself within the industry as well as the importance of its nature through advantages and disadvantages stated throughout the report. Methods of this analysis included extensive internet research covering the history of the supply chain within the industry as well as within the individual sectors themselves. Also scholarly journals and textbooks were accessed to gain information on this topic as well as extensive knowledge through previous research in the area. Results of the date showed that the supply chain has a major influence on the results of a business’s revenue and popularity within the general public and throughout the industry itself. Statistical results show that if a adaptive supply chain is put into place within a business supply of goods and services are not uncommon and when supply is disrupted, management is able to adapt quickly to repair the disrupted link in the chain. We will write a custom essay sample on Hospitality Supply Chain Case Study or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In conclusion the report finds that the impact and importance of supply chain on the provision of goods and services reflects adequately within the three HTE industries. Contents Executive Summary2 Contents3 Introduction4 Importance of the Supply Chain5 Impact and importance in Tourism5 Impact an Importance in Hospitality6 Impact and Importance in Events7 The Pro’s and Con’s8 The interrelationships9 Conclusion10 References11 Introduction Supply Chain: The network of the retailers, distributers, transporters, storage facilities and suppliers that participate in the sale, delivery and production of a particular product, as defined by investorwords. com. It is fundamentally the movement of materials as they flow from their source to the end customer as the supply chain includes purchasing, manufacturing, warehousing, transportation, customer service, demand planning,  supply planning  and Supply Chain management. It is made up of the people, activities, information and resources involved in moving a product from its supplier to customer. In relation to the Hospitality Tourism and Events Industries, a supply chain is essentially about logistics, procuring and bringing together components that make up a whole of a product or service or in term a ‘package’. Each HTE industry’s supply chain is different variation in different service to produce the final package to the final consumer; the guest. Therefore the impact of the supply chain within such industries is vital to be successful and positive to ensure the goods and services delivered is of a quality and efficient standard with the ability to produce such services on demand. Importance of the Supply Chain There is a major importance for the supply chain in the HTC industries as each individual part of the industry relies on another in some way as well as rely on maximising services not only on revenue but the continuity and quality of supply. Organisations increasingly find that they must rely on effective supply chains, or networks, to compete in the global market and etworked economy. In previous years,  manufacturers  were the drivers of the supply chain managing the pace  at which products were manufactured and distributed. Today, the final consumers; customers, are thriving for their demands and service expectations to be met and manufacturers are scrambling to meet customer demands for  options, styles, fea tures, quick order fulfilment, and fast delivery. Manufacturing quality is approaching equality across the board and as a result meeting customer’s expectations and demands for product delivery has emerged as the next critical opportunity for competitive advantage. Businesses that learn how to improve management of their supply chain become widely successful within the industry and therefore competitive bodies look to improve their own performance to ensure to exhibit the best and upmost appraised service and performance. Within the HTE industries the importance of the supply chain is relevant to the fact that if a link in the chain is loose or fails, the final product intended will not be as successful as predicted. The supply chains are not just about accommodation, food and beverages, excursions, attractions and transport, it is sincerely about the whole end product. This includes the infrastructure, services and facilities that make the destination appealing and produces sustainability for the destination. Impact and importance in Tourism In the tourism, there are many main links in the supply chain that initially impact on the final service and or product in the supply chain. As a part of the Tourism industry, a the impacts of a tour operator on the industry itself come from the impacts of all components of the products they sell, including use of raw materials and their processing and production, as well as impacts from transport and distribution. It is important to understand the sustainability of each tourism product which fundamentally involves going right back to the raw materials from which they are produced, through suppliers, suppliers’ suppliers, and so on, right back to source, as well as ensuring that a company meets sustainability criteria in its own internal operations. Tourism, like all other supply chains, operates through business-to-business relationships, and supply chain management can be applied to deliver sustainability performance improvements alongside financial performance, by working to improve the business operations of each supplier in the supply chain. Richard Tapper and Xavier Font from Leeds Metropolitan University state in their report Tourism Supply Chains that the main differences between tourism supply chains and those of other sectors are that tourists travel to the product, and the product that they buy has a particularly high service component in other words, it involves a higher proportion of people in the immediate production of the holiday experience. In turn, supply chain management in any sector including tourism, covers all parts of a product’s life cycle starting at raw material to processing, to the manufacture, then distribution, retailing, customer use and final disposal. A further aspect of the tourism supply chain is the activities of customers while on holiday, particularly in relation to their behaviour, and what they source for themselves in destinations. Tour operators are marketing the whole holiday experience to customers, and this includes opportunities to experience a destination’s local products and services therefore tour operators can play a significant role in providing appropriate advice to their customers and have a large impact on details about local products and services, and in ensuring that local producers and service providers have access to tourists on a fair basis Impact an Importance in Hospitality As a major piece in the industry puzzle, Hospitality and the supply chain are closely related to the expected quality of service as well as the ability to overall produce services on demand. It is to maintain supply to the business operator. Within a major hotel chain for example, not having a supply chain can impact significantly on the organisation and business revenue. A hotel chain needs its supply chain of food and beverage suppliers, tourism operators, tourism wholesalers, transport providers and visitors services to provide the overall package for a guest and further the destinations status. For example if a hotel does not have a supply chain for food and beverages, that sector of the hotel will diminish and fail therefore be unreliable for the revenue and advance in hotel prosperity in general. The whole ‘package’ that the hotel offers itself will be of minimal impact and interest to the final consumer; the guest. Impact and Importance in Events As well as Tourism and Hospitality, Events is the final major sector of the HTE industry. Having a steady supply chain always results in the smooth running of an event and if having a disruption in the chain is of a result to a weak link, there is backup and ideas implemented to prevent further disruption and continue on with the smooth running of event. Although event sizes may scale, there is always need for the three sectors to work together to provide the final package within the supply chain. For example, if a major event was to occur such as Big Day Out, a major national music festival in Australia, there will be needs for accommodation available in the area to facilitate for all consumers looking to stay for the festivities. Transport services to and from the event need to be looked into to provide that extra bit of service to the consumer. Food and Beverage is a major play in the event sector as providing these services provides almost 50%+ income and profit for the event itself. To ensure all these services are provided adequately, the supply chain for the event needs to be organised to ensure all these consumer demands are met, as well as exceeded customer expectations to allow customer return on later events. It is with these extra links in the supply chain that the event not only demonstrates successful service, but has close relationships with suppliers and businesses for later expeditions. The Pro’s and Con’s Although it is thought to have an easier understanding of business exercises and organisation in the HTE industries under the influence of supply chain management, there are many advantages and disadvantages for the idea of supply chain management within the Hospitality, Tourism and Events Industries. The advantages of having a supply chain in the industry are as follows: * A faster response to changes in the supply demand meaning with increased visibility into the supply chain and adaptive networks, a business can be more responsive and can sense and respond to changes and quickly capitalise on new opportunities and advantages for the business * Increased Customer Satisfaction by offering a common information framework that supports communication and collaboration to meet customer demands * Overall Improved cash flow of a business with information transparency and real-time business intelligence can lead to shorter cash-to-cash cycle times. With reduced inventory levels and increased inventory turns across the supply chain network can lower overall costs. * Higher margins that can lower operational costs with more timely planning for procurement, manufacturing and transportation. This will result in better product tracking and as a result improvements in performance and quality with the lower costs involved. * Better synchronization with business priorities resulting in tight connections with trading partners within the HTE industry keeping the supply chain aligned with current business strategies and priorities improving overall company performance and goal achievement. The disadvantages of a supply chain are as follows: The heavy investment of time, money and resources needed to implement and overlook a supply chain as well as the decision to outsource a production facility lowers the cost of doing business for a company using a supply chain management *   The overall issue of employment, the traditional supply chai n management involved salesmen and other managers who were to ensure that the transaction is completed as required. After the introduction of this new supply chain management there has been increased unemployment which has resulted to high unemployment levels in the economies, despite the new management system providing a faster and convenient way to improve both the firms objectives and the customer. The interrelationships The goal of managing the supply chain of a hospitality, tourism or event business must therefore be optimism to obtain the best value from the multitude of goods and services needed to run a business. Supply chain management can be defined as the process of planning and implementing and at the same time controlling the supply chain in the most efficient possible way, the supply chain management involves controlling of finished goods from the origin to the consumption level. It is the need for these sectors to work together within the industry that the final ‘package’ for the consumer will be determined through the extensive. For example the events on larger scales such as mega and hallmark need a relationship with the tourism and hospitality industry to provide that extra customer satisfaction, in particular when the income from an event is derived from the sale of tickets and visitors to the destination of the event need somewhere to stay. It is through a successful supply chain that the three sectors work together to provide packages for accommodation, food and beverage, tours, transport etc. to ensure that extra customer satisfaction as well as ensure that stable supply network to ensure the success for further events. Conclusion The supply chain management is more advantageous to a firm than the traditional supply chain management. Firms that have adopted the supply chain management strategy experience competitive advantages over their rivals who have not adopted this strategy. The firms gain advantage due to the increased efficiency in their transactions and this leads to increased profits. As a result of a supply chain being implemented,  It will improve productivity and efficiency of a business and in turn will improve the businesses processes whereby it improves on quality control and inventory control, this in turn improves on the productivity and efficiency of the businesses. It also reduces the transport duties which include the shipment and transportation duties which are shared by firms and as a result these duties are reduced and this constitutes to the reduction in the cost of production and final price of goods. In all, having a steady supply chain network within the HTE industries results in a successful businesses and strong ties between the links of the supply chain and the business itself.

Unitary and Pluralism

Unitary and Pluralism Introduction The following essay will look into the two main perspectives of industrial relations that is the unitary and pluralism. The essay will also delve into the recent adaptations of these approaches which are the human resource adaptation and the neo institutionalism, and what these approaches advocate. The final aspect of this essay will look into the conflict and cooperation situations that arise because of these perspectives. Industrial relation refers to the payment and the working conditions set by the employer or the employee. It is how the labour and the industry interact based on two traditional approaches namely the Unitarian approach and the Pluralist approach. Unitary approach The Unitary perspective is based on the view that the organization is a harmonious place, which exists for the achievement of common objectives. It assumes that the employees and the organizations have similar objectives, which are congruent.Advertising We will write a custom essay sa mple on Unitary and Pluralism specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The perspective also reinforces the fact that management’s contribution to the organization is critical. This is because the management need to provide strong leadership and show the direction where the organization should follow (Davenport, 1998). This approach is based on the premise that employee loyalty to the management and organization objectives is very important. Therefore, employee loyalty is critical to the performance of the organization. In addition, this approach assumes that the employer employee conflicts need to be minimal as the objectives are clear. Everyone in the organization is working towards those objectives, and therefore conflict can only be a consequence of poor communication especially on the employee side. The communication failure is because the employee has not understood instructions. This perspective also views the labour unions as competing entities, which compete for employees’ loyalty and commitment (Ehrenberg, 1994). The approach was viewed as industry oriented and tended to favour the employer more than the employee. This caused misunderstanding between labour and the industry due to these conflicts. It also led to low level of trust between the employee and the employer especially due to their unexpressed conflicting interests, which were not in line with the mutual objectives (Ehrenberg, 1994). This view received criticism for its inability to solve industrial conflicts that arise due to its narrow approach to conflict. It tends to deny and ignore conflict that reduces the organizations effectiveness. It does not explain the reasons why there is unequal dissemination of powers between the employers and the employee. This makes the approach to fail in many modern organizations (Eldridge, 1974). The Human Resource approach is a modification or an adaptability of the unitary approach towards industrial relat ions as it focuses on the management of industrial relations from the employers’ perspective rather than from the employees’ perspective. It focuses on the chief activities of the management in human resource management.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It describes the activities of management as those of planning and predicting the needed workforce by the organization. This is important as it enables the managers to formulate job descriptions based on job analysis, the kind of skills they need as well as quality of workers and their responsibility in the organization. The work of the employer or the management in an industry involves recruiting and selection of the workers. Training and managing workers is the responsibility of management as per the human resource perspective. Rewarding and dismissing employees is another role of the managers as part of human resource management (Ehrenberg, 1994). The human resource management approach The human resource management approach has two approaches. The first approach is the Soft HRM approach. This approach holds the perspective that there is need for employees motivation and that the employees function as individuals. This means that the approach looks for different ways of meeting the employees’ demands and goals. It also accepts the need for employee motivation, which is very important due to its effect on employee performance. Poor motivation leads to poor performance of employees leading to low productivity. It also looks for ways of increasing employee commitment and loyalty as it recognises the need to have committed employees for the long-term benefit of the organization. Employee satisfaction also features in these approaches because there is a close relationship between employee satisfaction and employee commitment to the organization. Fostering employee satisfaction automatically leads to employee loyalty and commitment. The hard HRM perspective on the other hand is a perspective, which views the employee as a separate business resource whose role is to assist in the achievement of the organizational goals and objectives. This approach does not factor in issues of employee loyalty or commitment. The decisions on HR strategy base themselves on the cost and benefit analysis where the job or work rewards as per its ability to meet certain needs or eliminate unnecessary cost.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Unitary and Pluralism specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Pluralist approach The other perspective is that of Pluralist approach. This approach has the view that people within an organization are different with different goals and pursuits. It is based on the assumption that power is evenly distributed between the employer and the employees to the extent that no part of the organi zation dominates the other (Deal, 1982). This perspective also incorporates the view that the state is the arbitrator of the two parties when conflicts arise. The state is the guardian of the interests of the public or the workers and that it should work to ensure that, the strong do not exploit the weak in the society. The weak in this case are the vulnerable employees who depend on their employers for their sustenance. This perspective also advocated that the employers should not expect blind obedience from the employees as the employees had their own ideas, goals, and pursuits which are different from those of the employers. This meant that conflicts could arise as these ideas and interests would be in conflict many times. To avoid these conflicts the employers as well as the management role are to ensure that they reconcile the conflicting ideas and perception for the attainment of harmonious industrial relations (Deal, 1982). This pluralist approach also views the labour unions as the one with the right and the capability to represent the employee because it is a union with collective support of all employees. It therefore has more bargaining power than what a single employee can bargain. These views give the labour unions the right to challenge the managing aspect of the organization (Deal, 1982). Pluralism has also received criticism especially on its view that power is evenly distributed. The actual sense or the reality in most organizations is that power is not evenly distributed but the management have more power than the employees. This enables them to make arbitrary decisions that may not be in employees favour. The emphasis on rational approach towards conflict resolution has also received criticism, as it is a part of managerial aspect to contain employees through rational reasoning as to why the conditions may not improve due to increased costs of production or low profitability.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Neo institutionalism approach Neo institutionalism is the other modern approach to industrial relations. This approach seeks to ensure that the organization has rules and procedures that enhance the organizations operations. These rules and regulations divide into two parts. There are the formal rules or written rules that describe what ought to happen in the organization, the role, and the responsibility of every employee. Then there is the procedural rule that describe the procedure or the mechanisms that ought to be followed in particular activity within the organization (Deal, 1982). Explanation on conflict and cooperation from the above perspectives These perspectives are critical in ensuring that there is a proper balance in the operations of organization. The perspective that has generated many conflicts is the unitary approach with employees dissatisfied due to assumption of their opinions and ideas by the organization. There was expectation that the employer need to be loya l and committed to the organization goals at the expense of the employees’ personal pursuits. The employer who wielded much power than the employee sacked those who opposed this perspective. However, with the emergence of the service sector in Australia most of the employees in such manufacturing setting opted out of such employment. The employers thereby adapted to the Human Resource management approach as it helped them to deal with the employees individually rather than collectively (Delaney, 2006). The pluralist system on the other hand sought to empower the employee by ensuring that they use their collective power to improve their working conditions. This approach advocated for the labour unions that negotiated for the employees. When disputes arose, the government acted as the arbitrator by reconciling the conflicting parties and looking for a solution. This conflict resolution mechanism enabled both the employer and the employee to have cordial relationships (Deal, 198 2). However, this made the labour unions to be powerful for both the government and private organizations. The government in an attempt to contain the labour unions and their immense influence in the labour market has accepted that an individual employee can negotiate for his or her own employment terms without the need for belonging to the union. The employers on the other hand are opting for casual labourers or other flexible source of labour that matches the demand of their products. This has led to increase in casual employment as compared to the permanent employment. Contractual form of employment has also gained popularity in Australia (Davenport, 1998). The government has evolved from being an arbitrator. Realizing the power of the trade unions in negotiations, it has ensured the curtailing of their influence by segmenting the unions through allowing as many unions as possible within an industry or a company. Due to this waning influence, many employees prefer to stay out of the unions and handle the disputes personally. Conclusion Industrial relations are an important aspect of management. The perspective that a specific organization adopts in its industrial relations has a lot of effect on the labour as well as the efficiency and profitability of the organization. References Davenport, T. (1998). Working knowledge: How organizations manage what they know. Boston: Harvard Business School Press. Deal, K. (1982). Corporate cultures. Massachusetts: Addison-Wesley. Delaney, J. (2006). The impact of human resource management practices on perceptions of organizational performance. Academy of Management Journal, 39(4), 949–69. Ehrenberg, S. (1994). Modern labour economics. New York: Harper Collins. Eldridge, J. (1974). The sociology of organizations. London: Allen Unpin.

Cellular Phone Usage While Operating Motor Essay

Cellular Phone Usage While Operating Motor - Essay Example and Tibshirani, R.J. (1997), the current road use regulations on road driving are insufficient to combat the problem. Indeed the current regulation are not sufficient because if some bans only prohibit hand held device while others bans hands free devices for certain types of motorists like teenagers or school bus drivers. This is not enough regulation to reduce accident caused by cellular usage because these drivers whether using a hand free kits on their cellular phone, they loss concentration while driving. Redelmeier, D.A. and Tibshirani, R.J. (1997) research showed that cellular telephone use is more common in urban areas with Tulsa and Oklahoma counties accounting for 60% of cellular telephone in use crashes in 1993 and 51% in 1994 (as cited on the police crash report). Among, the 77 counties in Oklahoma, phone use crashes were reported in 32 counties in both 1993 and 1994. While everyone knows that many accidents are caused by cellular phone usage while driving, finding accurate assessment of its scope has been challenging task. For one, many minor accidents go unreported and there is no proper records kept about the actual cause of the accident. Violanti, J. M., (1997) says that we should address the issue of banning the cell phone usage while driving because drivers are likely to loss concentration, thereby causing an accident. The source is related to other sources I have use since it also points out the issue of banning cell phone usage while operating motor vehicle as they are known to cause road accidents. According Alm, H., and Nilsson, L. (1995), they says that the drivers inattention is the number one cause of road accidents and also states that driving while using cell phone, has the same risk as one driving while drunk. The source is similar to the other sources used in this paper as it highlights the consequences of using cellular phone while driving. It advocates for total ban of using cellular phone while operating a motor vehicle. According to Redelmeier, D.A. & Tibshirani, R.J. (1997), they said that we should have a better understanding of the nature and magnitude of any road safety problem rather than restricting cell phone usage while operating a motor vehicle. Therefore, they recommended that we should make in vehicle information system that would reduce accidents on our roads. For this source they are looking in ways on how we can reduce road accidents on the roads rather than banning their usage which might be just a partial solution. The source is common to the others because it is addressing how not only can we reduce accidents by banning cell phone usage while driving but we can further reduce them by innovating our vehicles with make in information systems. References Alm, H., & Nilsson, L. (1995): The Effects of a Mobile Telephone Task on Driver Behavior in a Car Following Situation. Accident Analysis and Prevention, Vol. 27 (5), pp. 707-715. Brookhuis, K. A., de Vries, G., & de Waard, D. (1991): The effects of mobile telephoning on driving performance. Accident Analysi

Scientific Knowledge in Regards to Social and Politics Arena Essay

Scientific Knowledge in Regards to Social and Politics Arena - Essay Example Scientific knowledge has grown to become the backbone of human survival and a remedy to various problems in both the social and political arena. Scientific knowledge has been used as a valuable tool by various governments to dominate over other countries with less experience on similar inventions, such as the manufacture of nuclear weapons. Since every country in the world seeks power over another, a lot has been invested into scientific knowledge in terms of financial support to ensure the creation these plants and weapons. In western countries, science has changed the political power because of the power of it (Gusterson 14).This clearly indicates that scientific knowledge has contributed to political actions whereby governments of developed countries dominate over others. Â  Moreover, scientific knowledge can be claimed to be a source of power due to the discoveries it has contributed to human society. In both political and social arena, scientific knowledge has helped a lot. It has led to the discovery of solutions to mitigate or control health-related diseases in the social realm. Scientific understanding has been acknowledged in many countries as a source of breakthrough to human-related issues. Research institutions have been raised up in different areas and scientists work day and night to come up with solutions associated with human society. Therefore, scientific knowledge has changed the way mankind goes on with his/her daily life by coming up with inventions or answers to alleviate threats to human life. This can be observed after the Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine; scientific researchers shape the social and political life of the victims and the nation. Scientific knowledge was incorporated in coming up with ways of solving and assisting the victims of the nuclear plant that exploded in Ukraine.

Fuel Poverty in Scotland Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Fuel Poverty in Scotland - Essay Example According to â€Å"High Level Summary†, fuel poverty refers to a situation where persons spend over 10% of their personal income on household fuel to maintain a heating regime that is satisfactory. On the other hand, Moore defines fuel poverty as a situation where a person’s energy costs are more than average and when he/she spends such an amount, he/she is left with an income that is less than the official poverty line. That notwithstanding, the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000 in the UK defines fuel poverty as when, â€Å"a person is to be regarded as living in fuel poverty if he is a member of a household living on a lower income in a home that cannot be kept warm at reasonable cost†. However, it is imperative to note that the term fuel poverty was initially a common phrase in the United Kingdom but currently the concept has found its way globally wherever there is poverty.A survey on Scottish house conditions 2012 revealed that over 27.1 % of house holds in Scotland spent over 10% of their personal incomes on energy, resulting in a situation of fuel poverty. Some of the indicators that have been found to cause fuel poverty in Scotland include:The prices of fuel in Scotland keep on fluctuating from time to time resulting in people falling in and out of poverty. For example, high consumer prices for fuel such as electricity resulting from aggravated higher tariffs increase the cost of fuel causing high levels of fuel poverty

Research on Bilingual Language Behaviour

Research on Bilingual Language Behaviour The aims of this qualitative study are threefold: To observe the language behaviour, in the formal register of religious services, of bilingual members of a sample East African Sikh speech community; To identify and examine the broad patterns of the bilingual language behaviour observed; and To attempt to explain those patterns from the perspectives of language policy (specifically, religious language policy), audience design and communication accommodation. The structure of this dissertation is as follows: Chapter 1 offers a brief history of Sikhism; a discussion of the double migration of the East African Sikhs to the United Kingdom; and the linguistic ramifications of the same for the sample speech community today. Chapter 2 contains a critical examination and review of the literature and central notions relevant to the study. Chapter 3 discusses the hypothesis and methodological aspects of this study; Chapter 4 contains observations made over the course of the data collection period, with the results and analysis of that data. Chapter 5 draws preliminary conclusions on the basis of the data analysis in the preceding chapter. Sikhism, the worlds fifth largest religion, originated in the Punjab (Northern India) as an off-shoot of Hinduism in the 15th century. Its emergence and development as one of the three main religions in India are closely tied to, influenced by and reflect the political, economic and socio-cultural changes that swept across the region over the course of nearly three centuries, shaping the role of Sikhs thereafter. Sikhism would only take on its à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¾modern and most immediately recognisable form in 1699 (see below). The faith was founded by the first of the Sikhs ten gurus, Guru Nanak (1469-1538). He began preaching a new belief system founded on principles of monotheism, gender equality and egalitarianism at a time when the Muslim Mughal conquerors of India were forcing conversions to Islam, while the caste system reduced thousands of people to living, starving and dying in poverty. Guru Nanaks disciple and appointed successor, Guru Angad (1504-1552), is credited with creating the Gurmukhi script (which is still in use today) and popularising the practice of Guru ka Langar, whereby congregants eat together at the end of each service. Guru Angad was succeeded by Guru Amar Das (14791574), who made Guru ka Langar compulsory. He also instituted new ceremonies for birth, marriage and death; raised the status of women; and established three main gurpurbs (festivals), one of which is Vaisakhi (see below). The fourth guru, Guru Ram Das (1534-1581), is credited in turn with composing the Laava (the hymns recited during Sikh marriage ceremonies) and, perhaps more significantly, designing the Harimandir Sahib (also known as the Golden Temple) in Amritsar, Punjab. Guru Nanaks teachings, saloks (verses) and shabads (hymns) together with those of his successors were compiled by the fifth guru, Guru Arjan Dev (1563-1606), into the Adi Granth. This would eventually be known as the Guru Granth Sahib, the contents of which are known as gurbani (literally, the utterances of the Gurus). The sixth Guru, Har Gobind (1595-1644), instituted the role of the Sikhs as a martial race of saint soldiers a role which was maintained and expanded by his successor, Guru Har Rai (1630-1661). The eighth Guru, Har Krishan (1656-1664), died of smallpox aged 7 and appointed Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621-1675) as his successor. Tegh Bahadur further reinforced the Sikhs role as a warrior class before his execution by Emperor Aurangzeb. Prior to his death, he appointed his son, Gobind, as his successor. Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708), the tenth and final human guru, is widely regarded as having laid the foundations for modern Sikhism on Vaisakhi in 1699. In establishing the Khalsa[1] Panth, Gobind Singh gave tangible shape to Sikh identity. He instituted the taking of amrit (literally nectar) as a new baptism ceremony, together with the five Ks, symbols to be worn by Sikhs as outward identifiers. New names were also to be taken by the newly unified community of Sikhs: Singh (literally, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¾lion-hearted) for men and Kaur (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¾princess) for women. Guru Gobind took part in the first baptism, thus becoming Guru Gobind Singh. Equally significantly, Guru Gobind Singh elevated the Adi Granth (see above), to which he had made significant contributions, to a new status as the Guru Granth Sahib, and effectively appointed the sacred text as his successor[2]. In doing so, he vested it with full spiritual authority, with temporal authority laying with the Khalsa Panth. The Guru Granth Sahib continues to be worshipped and venerated by Sikhs as a living Guru, with various rites and rules governing how it is handled and treated. The Guru Granth Sahib is unusual in that it is a religious text compiled within the lifetime of its authors and contributors. Furthermore, whilst it is written exclusively in Gurmukhi script, the text itself is actually a mixture of different languages, including inter alia Punjabi, Persian, Hindi-Urdu, and Sanskrit. Gurmukhi has therefore been used as a transliterative device, a means of unifying and harmonising a disparate collection of verses and hymns written, collected and compiled by the Gurus and their devotees. In an informal chat during one of my visits, the president of the gurdwara informed me that, stylistically, the language used in the Guru Granth Sahib can be equated with Shakespearean English: spiritual, poetic and inspiring, but with a meaning that is not readily grasped by congregants without an explanation or interpretation provided by a giani. Gurmukhi (literally from the mouth of the Gurus[3]) is central to Sikh worship and religious practices. The general view held is that true understanding of the spiritual significance of the sacred texts cannot be achieved without knowledge of Gurmukhi, and a Sikh cannot fully experience the Guru Granth Sahib until he or she can read its contents. English translations are not frowned upon per se, and Romanised publications (in which the original Gurmukhi text is rendered in Romanised script[4]) abound, but these are rather viewed as little more than an introduction to worship and prayer rituals practices for which only Gurmukhi can and must be used in order to be correct or acceptable[5]. Two further points are implicit within such a requirement: First is the need for congregants to speak the heritage language in order to understand the text in terms of its spiritual content (as stated above) and, by extension, participate completely as fully-fledged and acknowledged congregants in a given service. Following that line of reasoning, it would seem futile to be able to read Gurmukhi script without the requisite understanding of the Punjabi language necessary to grasp the meaning of the text. Secondly, proficiency in reading Gurmukhi would appear to establish a form of hierarchy amongst congregants: the greater the proficiency, the greater the understanding of Sikh spirituality, and the more likely any such members are to be able to participate fully in services particularly the Akhand Path, in which proficient ability to read Gurmukhi is central. It may be said that Gurmukhi script acts here as a source of religious mysticism[6], in that a full understanding of the spiritual message contained in the Guru Granth Sahib remains inaccessible and, therefore, a source of mystery to anyone who cannot read it. Congregants who are unable to read Gurmukhi are consequently dependent on the giani or fellow congregants who are fully proficient in reading Gurmukhi script. Taken together, it may be argued that Gurmukhi script and, therefore, Punjabi more generally could have an exclusionary or prohibitive effect, imposing additional criteria for full membership of a group on the basis of a shared language and social and cultural identity, creating a religious hierarchy within a group that also serves social and cultural ends. According to the 2001 Census, there are 329,000 Sikhs in England and Wales[7]. It should be noted that the census data makes no distinction between Indian Sikhs and East African Sikhs, who in fact constitute two very separate groups within a wider religious community. The establishment of the Sikh community taken as a whole as a bilingual speech community in the United Kingdom can by and large be described in terms of the chain migration model detailed, for example, by Dabà ¨ne and Moore (1995)[8]. It is, however, important to bear in mind that the history and development of the East African Sikh community present in the United Kingdom followed a distinct trajectory, one in which a sense of separateness has heightened the groups awareness of and desire to preserve it social, cultural and religious (and, by extension, linguistic) identity. [1] à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¾Khalsa is derived from Arabic khalis (literally meaning pure or unsullied). Khalsa Panth means community of the pure. [2] Partridge, C. H. (2005). Introduction to World Religions. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, p. 223. [3] See Appendix VI. [4] See Appendix VI for examples. [5] This is further confirmed when one looks at the communities of non-Asian Sikh converts in the United States: they learn Punjabi particularly how to read Gurmukhi script and conduct their services in that language Their conversion is not only religious, but also linguistic. [6] Wirtz (2005) offers fascinating insight, from an anthropological perspective, on the use of language as a source of religious mysticism in Santerà ­a ceremonies held in Cuba. [7] See Appendix V for relevant data drawn from the 2001 UK Census. [8] See below Chapter 3: Literature Review.

Computer Software Piracy And Its Impact On The International Economy :: essays research papers fc

Computer Software Piracy and it's Impact on the International Economy The PC industry is over twenty years old. In those twenty years, evolving software technology brings us faster, more sophisticated, versatile and easy-to-use products. Business software allows companies to save time, effort and money. Educational computer programs teach basic skills and complicated subjects. Home software now includes a wide variety of programs that enhance the users productivity and creativity. The industry is thriving and users stand to benefit along with the publishers. The SPA (Software Publishers Association) reports that the problem of software theft has grown, and threatens to prevent the development of new software products. Unauthorized duplication of software is known as software piracy which is a "Federal offense that affects everyone† ("Software Use..." Internet). The following research examines software piracy in its various forms, its impact on the end user and the international industry as a whole, and the progress that has been made in alleviating the problem. Software piracy harms all software companies and ultimately, the end user. Piracy results in higher prices for honest users, reduced levels of support and delays in funding and development of new products, causing the overall breadth and quality of software to suffer† ("What is...† Internet). Even the users of unlawful copies suffer from their own illegal actions: they receive no documentation, no customer support and no information about product updates ("Software Use..." Internet). The White Paper says that while virtually every software publisher expresses concern about their software from unauthorized duplication, over time, many have simply accepted the so-called "fact" that such duplication is unavoidable. This has created an atmosphere in which software piracy is commonly accepted as "just another cost of doing business" ("With the Growth..." Internet). In a brochure published by the SPA it is stated that a major problem arises from the fact that most people do not even know they are breaking the law. "Because the software industry is relatively new, and because copying software is so easy, many people are either unaware of the laws governing software use or choose to ignore them" ("To Copy or not to Copy" Internet). Robert Perry states that much of the problem of software theft arises from the way the software industry developed. In the past, when a software firm spent millions of dollars to write a program for a mainframe computer, it knew it would sell a handful of copies. It licensed each copy to protect its ownership rights and control the use of each copy. That is easy to do with only a few copies of a program. It is impossible for a software company to handle