ICT implementation report

1. Range of data This is my data, which offers all the different cars and the details about them. The table is set out in and sorted by the specifications of the cars and also includes their prices. 2. Creating order sheet 3. Customer details of order sheet This is the top part of my order sheet, which are the customer's details and the company logo on the top right hand side of the page. 4. Setting up combo boxes I have created combo boxes so that customers can choose what they wish from my data of cars. Each combo-box category has 5 cars and an empty space left encase the customer chooses not to choose a car from a certain category. This selection is linked to the cell next to it as each car has a preset number and the number is what makes the cell named â€Å"cars† change to what is selected in the combo box. 5. Spinners The quantity is done using spinners. As the customer selects the type of car they prefer the price automatically comes up in the â€Å"price cell† and they can change the quantity up to 6 cars for each which is highly unlikely. As the quantity number changes the price is multiplied by the number in the â€Å"quantity† cell. 6. Totals After these processes are done the total price is calculated by multiplying the quantity chosen with the price of the car. 7. Lookups Column F uses a ‘VLOOKUP' in order to find what car has been chosen by the customer. This is done by linking it with ‘Column C' and this column shows a number which is the number of the car chosen on the combo-box and the number in the combo-box is the number which the cars are set as in the Data sheet. Hence displaying the selected car. There is also a VLOOKUPS done for the price which also works in the same way. 8. Tick box and IF statement for Online Discount This is the online discount tick box which is linked to the cell next to it as you can see above. As the box is ticked and un-ticked the cell next to it will change to TRUE or FALSE this enable me to create an IF statement formula that links to this cell in order to give discount or not. This IF statement is designed to give a 15% discount if B25 displays TRUE and if not then 0 will be shown. 9. Delivery YES, NO buttons and IF statement As shown in step 8 the Buttons are linked to the cell next to them. However this time the cell C28 will display either 1 or 2 which represent YES or NO. From this the IF statement in I24 can be done. If cell C28 is displaying 1 then a à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½6.99 charge will be put on the totals if number 2 is being displayed then cell I24 will come up as blank as there is no Delivery charge. 10. Tick box and IF statement Claims Bonus Discount This is the Claims Bonus discount tick box which is linked to the cell next to it as you can see above. As the box is ticked and un-ticked the cell next to it will change to TRUE or FALSE this enable me to create an IF statement formula that links to this cell in order to give discount or not. 11. Sub-Total This is a sum formula which adds all the prices which are displayed in the selected columns. 12. Working out VAT% Simply input the percentage I wanted as my VAT into cell H26. In the cell next to it a multiplication formula is used to multiply the percentage by the sub-total which leaves the VAT in cell I26. 13. Working out discount price. Simply input the percentage I wanted to discount into cell H25. In the cell next to it a multiplication formula is used to multiply the percentage by the sub-total which leaves the discount in cell I25. 14. Working out Claims bonus Discount price Simply input the percentage I wanted to discount into cell H27. In the cell next to it a multiplication formula is used to multiply the percentage by the sub-total which leaves the discount in cell I27. 15. Grand-Total This is a sum formula however is more complex because it is subtracting discounts and adding different prices. This formula automatically alters and changes according to what is displayed in the cells above it. 16. Add Macros These macros are recorded to copy the details of the chosen car from each row and insert them on to the invoice sheet. They are also set to change the font option and insert a new row so that cars which are chosen do not replace each other so that the user can select more then one car or extra. 17. Go to Invoice & Go to Order These macros have been set up so that the user can toggle between the two sheets without any hassle. They are both very simple macros designed so that the user can change or add anything they want to their receipt. 18. Print Macro This has been created in order to present the user with a print menu once it is selected or print as soon as it is pressed, so that they can select their print option or directly print the receipt. 19. Logos, company details and picture This print scheme shows the company logo and the colour scheme which is matching throughout the project and the picture in order to make the project more attractive. Part of the logo is the company details that are merged with it. 20. Invoice number and date. Located below the logo, this is one of the essentials for the receipt, however there is no formula or calendar option used so the date has to be manually changed every day and the invoice number every time the invoice is being saved and printed. 21. Order details These details are automatically pasted from the order sheet using the Add Macros. Therefore the titles are set in that order according to the data sheet and the font has been set to be changed as part of the processes of the add macro. 22. Customer details on the invoice. These formulas simply display the information/details which the end-user would fill out at the top of the order sheet. 23. Calculation formulas on invoice The print screen above shows all the formulas used I order to calculate the grand total. These are the same formulas used as the order sheet which I have explained in detail, however these have different cell references and copy the if statements from the order sheet so that the customers order is transferred correctly and so I do not have to repeat the process again.

The Jaguar

The Jaguar 1. It implies that the apes admire their fleas and are to lazy tp do anything about them, where as you would think that they would want rid of the fleas because they would surely be bothered by them. 2. The simile gives me a dramatic picture of the parrots as by saying ‘shriek as if they were on fire' gives me the image of the being very load and frantic. 3. The figure of speech in line three is a simile and suggests to me that the parrots were flaunting themselves ‘like cheap tarts', woman who want to attract attention. 4. ‘Tiger and lion lie still as the sun'.This simile gives me a picture of the tigers and lions laying still and not moving very often. 5. The figure of speech used here is a metaphor and gives me an image of an ancient creature that used to live millions of years ago. 6. The word is ‘shriek' because it makes me think of the birds making loud noises. ‘Fatigued with indolence' gives me the impression that the tigers and lions a re very lazy and do not have the effort to do anything. ‘Stink of sleepers from the breathing straw' gives a very strong impression that the animals are very un-hygienic and are not clean. . Most of the animals are very lazy and motionless. 8. The poet uses commas more often to make the reader read quicker and therefor fastening the pace of the poem. The commas are also used to create tension and excitement. 9. The writer says that the jaguar is ‘hurrying and also the he ‘spins' from the cage bars, showing me that the jaguar is very fast paced and frantic. 10. The language technique used is alliteration which is having words beginning with the same letter following one another. 11.I choose the 2nd and 3rd lines from the last verse, these lines suggest to me that the jaguar feels like he is still in the wild and still in control. The poet mentions the ‘wilderness of freedom' to remind us of the wilderness from where the jaguar came. 12. Ted Hughes gives me the impression that he likes the jaguar because the jaguar still acts as if it is in the wild. 13. My feeling on the jaguar is that it still has not given up as the writer tells me that ‘over the cage floor the horizons come' giving me the impression that the jaguar is imagining still being in the wild and free

Law of Torts

PAPER-4 (LL1008) LAW OF TORT AND CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWS nd st (2 Semester, 1 Year of the 3-Year LLB course) PART A- Law of torts PART B – Consumer Protection Law PART –A General Principles 1. General Principles – Definition, distinction between tort, crime, contract, breach of trust. 2. Essential conditions of liability – Damnum Since injuria, Injuria sine damnum, Malice, Motive. 3. Foundations of tortuous liability, fault liability, strict liability, principles of insurance in torts. 4.Capacity of parties to use and / or be used – State its subordinates – executive officers, judicial officers – mirrors corporation, unicorporated bodies, trade unions, etc foreign soveriengs, convicts bank rupts. 5. General defences – consent, resources cases, inevitable accident, Act of G mistake private defence, necessity statutory authority, act of State. 6. Remedies – Judical and extra judicial Damages- kinds of damages remoteness of damages- comparison with principles in contracts ; novas actus intervenes, successive action on the same facts, Merger of tort in felony. . Vicarious liability – Master and Servant – Distinction between servant and independent contractor, concept of servant, course of employment, Hospital cases, Masters duties towards servants, servants duties to his master, Servant with two masters, common employment, liability for tort of independence contractors, criminal acts of servants. 8. Joint tort feasors – common law rules, law reform act, 1935 applicability in India of the English principles. 9. Effect of death of parties in tort – Motor Vehicle accident cases. Specific Torts : 10.Wrong to person – assult, battery, false imprisonment 11. Wrongs to property – trespass to land, continuing trespass, trespass to goods, convesion, detinue specific restitution. 12. Wrong to reputation – defamation – libel, slander- principles governing li ability for defamation; defences – Justificaiton fair comment principles – absolute and qualified. 13. Negligence – Proof of negligence principle in Donoghue Vs Stevenson, requirements standard of care, resipsa loquiture contributory negligence, principles in Devies Vs Mann the last opportunity rules- constructive last opportunity rule. 4. Dangerous chattels – duty to persons permitted or invited to use chattel duty to immediate and ultimate transferee.23 15. Deceit- rule in Derry Vs Peek, principles of liability, exceptions – liability for negligent mis statement. 16. Injury of Servitudes, Nuisance, Private and Public – defences valid and invalid 17. Occupier’s liability – (1) under a contract (2) as invitee (3) as licence (4) as trespasser (5) Child Visitor. 18. Conspiracy – requirements 19. Injurious falsehood – slander of title, slander of goods – passing off interference with freedom of contract, intim ation. 0. Wrongs of family relations – husband and wife, parents and child, seduction – enticement, loss of service. 21. Strict liability- rule in Rylands Vs Fletcher, exceptions to the rule, liability for animals, cattle trespass. 22. Abuse of legal process – malicious prosecution, malicious civil proceedings, maintenance and champerty. New and emergent torts (Pages 36 to 43 of Salmond, 20th ed. And pages 324 to 327 of Pillai – 8th Edition) Books for Reference 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Salmond Winfield Ratanlal Ramaswamy Iyer Gandhi B. M.Achutan Pillai James Law of Torts Law of Torts Law of Torts Law of Torts Law of Torts Law of Torts Introduction of the Law of Torts Cases to be studies 1. Ashby Vs White : Smith leading cases 266 912 ed (Legal Damages) 2. Mayor of Bradford Vs Pickles : (1895) AC 587 (Malic – relevancy) 3. Haynes Vs Harwood (1935) 1 KB 146 (Rescue Cases) 4. Stanley Vs Powell : 11 (1891) 1 OB 86 (Inveitable accident) 5. Bird Vs Hallorook (1828) 4 Bing 628=861 of Morrison – case on Torts (No duty to trespasser) 6. Bird Vs Hallorook (1828) 4 Bing 628=861 of Morrison –case on Torts (No duty to trespasser) 7.Buron Vs Denman (1848) 2 Ex 167 (Act of State) 8. Mersey Docks & Harbour Board Vs Coggins and Griffiths : (1946) 2 ALER 345 (Liability of the servant lent to another) 9. Llyod Vs Grace, Smith and Co (1912) 1 ABD 814 (Liability for projection over highway and for independent contracts act) 10. Tarry Vs Ashtorf (1876) 1 ABD 814 (Liability for projection over highway and for independent contractors acts) 11. Kasturilal and Ralia Ram Vs State of UP AIR 1965 SC 1039 (Governments liability for torts of its servants) 4 12. Wilsons and Clyde coas Co Vs English (1938) AC 57 = (1973) 03 All ER 628 (Masters duty to servants) 13. Polemis and furness with and Co (1921) 3 KB 560 (Fest Remoteness) 14. Over seas Tankshop (JK) Ltd Morts Dock and Engineering Co (1961) AC 388 = (1961) 1 ALL ER 494 (Tests of remoteness o f damage) 15. Rose Vs Ford (1937) AC 826 (1937) 3 ALL ER (359) Damages for loss of expectation of life. 16. Bird Vs Jones (1845) 7 AB 742 temporary false imprisonment (1912) KB 496 (necessity as a justification) 17.Six carpenters case (1610) 8 Co Rep 146 on Smith leading cases Vol 1 P 127 (Tress ab initio) 18. Cassidy Vs Daily Mirror News papers Ltd (1929) 2 KB 331 (defamation unintentional publication) 19. Blyth Vs Birmingham Water worked Co (1856) II Ex 781 (Definition of negligence) 20. Donoghue Vs Stevenson (1932) AC 562 (damages for breach of duty of care negligence) 21. Davies Vs Mann (1842) 10 546 or Morrison cases on torts 688 (last opportunity rules) 22. British Columbia Electric Railway Vs Loach (1916) 1 AC 759 (Constructive last opportunity rules) 23.Hambrook Vs Stroke Brothers (1925) 1 KG 141 (Nervous Shac) 24. Derry Vs Peek (1889) 14 AC 337 (deceit requirements of) 25. Hedley Byrne and Co ltd Vs Heller and Partners Ltd (1963) 2 ALL ET 575 (Liability for negligent mis st atements) 26. Francis Vs Cockrel (1870) LR 5 OB 591 (concept of dangerous premises) 27. Fairman Vs Peretuall investment building society (1923) AC 74 Occupoiers duty to licences) 28. Indermour Vs Dames (1866) LR 1 CP 274 (Occupiers liability to persons entering under contract) 29.Cooke Vs Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland (1909) AC 229 (Occupers liability to children) 30. Crofter Hand Waven Harris Tweed Co Ltd Vs Veitch (1942) AC 435 = (1942) 1 ALL ER 142 (Conspiracy) 31. Lubley Vs Gye (1853) 2 Ed 216 (introducing a breach of contract) 32. Rylands Vs Fletcher (1868) LR 3 HL 339 = Smiths leading cases Vol 278 (Strict liabiolity principle) 33. Read Vs Lyons & Ltd (1945) KB 216 = (1945) 1 ALL ER 106 (escape necessary for strict liability) 34. May Vs Burdett (18460 9 AB 101 (Liability for animals) 25 PART- B ( 2nd Semester, 1st Year of the 3-Year LLB course)CONSUMER PROTECTION LAW Consumer Protection Act – 1986- Definitions, consumer Protection Councils, their objects â₠¬â€œ consumer Disputes Redressal agencies – District forum, State Commission, National Commission- their jurisdiction, constitution, powers, procedure – appeals, reliefs to the parties, enforcement of the orders. Reading materials 1. Consumer Protection Act 1986 2. Law of Consumer Protection 3. Law of Consumer Protection 4. Law of Consumer Protection 5. Law of Consumer Protection Gurubax Singh D. N. Saraf R. K. Bangia Kaushal

Lean VS Six Sigma W3 OM Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Lean VS Six Sigma W3 OM - Essay Example Lean is an approach that focuses on speed. In the light of this, the emphasis of most producers using the lean methodology is to reduce the quantum of time spent between different activities within the production cycle (Deisell, 2011). The notion is that there must be shorter cycle times so that as many cycles as possible can be completed within a given time frame. Because of the emphasis on speed, various forms of waste are focused on time related waste and bottlenecks including waiting, overproduction, rework, motion, over processing, inventory, intellect and unnecessary transporting (Bollen, 2009). Six sigma methodology on the other hand focuses on perfection in the production process by reducing the number of errors that the production records (Deisell, 2011). To achieve the goal of this method, standards are set in the form of data inputs. Variations in the data inputs as part of the production therefore tell the extent to which there has been errors and the magnitude of the errors (Calantone, Cavusgil and Zhao, 2002). Root cause analysis is one of the major strategies that most producers have used to identify errors as part of the six

Profile and Analyse the Changing Spectrum of Economic Crime Essay

Profile and Analyse the Changing Spectrum of Economic Crime - Essay Example Ideally with the appropriate research we would also try to lay specific emphasis on profiling all the criminal activity that took place in the incident and how it fundamentally affected the economic culture surrounding it. Profile and Analyze the Changing Spectrum of Economic Crime As fundamentally stated in The New York times Asia pacific section â€Å"The catchall term â€Å"economic crimes† is frequently used as a legal cover by police officers who wish to detain or imprison someone whom Communist Party officials consider a political threat. Such crimes can include prosaic failures to properly comply with regulations on business registration or taxation.† (The New York times Chinese Defend Detention†¦.). These kinds of specific situation have recently been on frequent terms observed in the economic culture of China and as such are a cause of great concern for the economic Asian giant. To be technically precise China is the most powerful economic strength in the world today but even so economic crimes of any measure are the first step towards the collapse of a country’s financial assets. ... With the introduction of newer technology the spectrum of economic crimes is changing. People and organizations are involved in newer kinds of crime every day and types of crime that fall under the category of economic crime are increasing day by day. They are able to find loopholes in the law and able to exploit these loopholes to their advantage. With faster communication economic crime has become more organized. Unlike the blatant act of crime committed by the Georgian legislators nowadays people are committing economic crime that can be concealed and the law authorities often take years to uncover a crime that was committed long ago, long after the thief may have died. Some people like Jonathan James do it for fun and take the breaching of someone else’s computer system as a challenge. Others like Charles Ponzi do it for personal gain. Some people like Pablo Escobar made it their business and their crimes were well organized. Whilst internet has helped mankind in many ways it has made the committing of economic crime very easy for people. With so much information available on the internet such as people’s social security numbers, credit card details and bank details chances are that sensitive information may fall into the wrong hands and that information may be used for someone’s own personal gain. Economic crime is here to stay. With more technology, faster communication and more knowledge available to criminals they are able to commit more and more of these crimes, cause more and more loss to the public and economy (65 billion Ponzi scam that affected as many as 1300 investors) and elude capture from the authorities. There is also some very active political situation regarding such an issue stated earlier with reference to the New York

Industry Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Industry Analysis - Essay Example rs behind the recovery of the global economy, which had been adversely affected by the recent financial crisis and its financial shocks for the past five years (Pendrill 4). Currently, the industry is worth USD 800 billion, and market analysts predict that the global market for vehicles, particularly that of cars and light vehicles will increase from the current 80 million units bought annually, to reach more than 100 million by 2020 (Pendrill 4). Market analysts are forecasting that that the larger portion of the market expansion will come from emerging economies, including India and China among others. According to the statistics provided by the World Bank, car ownership in these markets stands at 58 cars per 1000 people in China and 18 for India; these figures are not comparable to those of European countries, where the average ratio is more than 500 cars per 1000 people. The high car ownership ration shows that European markets are saturated, therefore will not be the major drivers of market growth for the industry (Pendrill 4). In the recent past, the leadership of the automotive industry has featured three dominant players, including Toyota Motors, General Motors and Volkswagen AG. As of April 2013, these three giant players competed against one another, with the target of taking the top place (Muller 1). The race remained tight between the three main players, in the areas of production output and that of sales levels. During the year 2012/13, Toyota made sales of 9.7 million cars and trucks, which gave it a better standing, as compared to General Motors. General Motors, during the same year, sold 9.29 million cars and trucks and Volkswagen sold the least number of units out of the three companies; Volkswagen sold 9.1 million vehicles. However, from a comparison of the revenue levels, the profits made and the value of assets, Volkswagen was the unchallenged winner; VW made higher figures, when compared to the two other main competitors: Toyota Motors and GM

UNIT 3 INDIVIDUAL PROJECT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

UNIT 3 INDIVIDUAL PROJECT - Essay Example Preferably, all of the businesses exist for profit. Upon the conceptualization and realization of the said endeavor to put up an airline business, one must recognize the market, the competency, and the problems that are to be encountered in dealing with this kind of establishment. These illustrations points out to a certain airline which penetrate the skies and continues to soar high-the Virgin Atlantic Airlines. Wikipedia (2006), described this airline as â€Å"an airline belonging to Richard Bransons Virgin Group. It operates long-haul routes between London and North America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. Its main bases are London Heathrow (LHR) and London Gatwick (LGW). Virgin has a smaller base at Manchester Airport (MAN) serving the USA and the Caribbean. The company holds a United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority Type- A Operating Licence, which permits it to carry passengers, cargo, and mail on aircraft with 20 or more seats.†1 With the saturation of key markets around the globe, the airline has a promising future with regards to its navigation to the skies as well as it is regarded as one of the rising competitors of major airlines in the world. If we are to look into the history of this airline, it was set-up in 1982 by a lawyer and by the former chief pilot of the laker airline. During its beginnings, the co-owner of the airline has no thorough knowledge in running a business airliner and this prompted him to outsource and pirate employees in other airlines who has the expertise and knowledge in handling activities concerning airline operations. â€Å" One of the owners got the idea of putting up the enterprise from London to the Falkland Islands in June 1982, when the Falklands War ended and there was an apparent need for such a service†2 If we are to analyze this strategy, the owners have succeeded in heir preliminary strategy and that is to move where your market is. In such a case, the target

The Development of Presidental Power in the United States Research Paper

The Development of Presidental Power in the United States - Research Paper Example Decisive issues in the history of the United States, such as territorial expansion and slavery, have played a crucial role in determining the scope and nature of expanding presidential power through the centuries. In order to understand the rise of presidential power, one must first set a standard to which that rise is measured. That standard is the first president of the United States, George Washington, who was inaugurated on April 30, 1789. In many ways, Washington set the standards for his successors: setting up a cabinet system, giving an inaugural address, and serving as a two-term president. He took over the presidency of a country emerging fresh from its quest for independence, and he immediately faced the problems of any newly established nation. Recognizing the need to sign major treaties for foreign powers and to ratify the Bill of Rights, Washington signed a large slate of legislative measures that set up channels of commerce, state militias, the judiciary, the United Sta tes Mint, and the first immigration laws. Each of these acts stood in concert with the newly signed Constitution, which Washington used as justification for his veto of the Apportionment Act of 1792 (Washington). By all accounts, Washington represents the classic president with his respect for the precise limits of his power. Washington held federalist sentiments, aligned for the most part with his Secretary of the Treasury, cabinet member, and friend Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton’s intellectual influence on Washington was so great that Washington’s famous Farewell Address is thought to have been crafted, at least in part, by Hamilton’s hand. The federalists like Washington and Hamilton viewed states rights as less important and a hindrance to an effective, efficient central state. The Articles of Confederation, which had been discarded in favor of the Constitution, stressed the value of states’ rights above a central state but to a degree that made the fe deral government incapable of carrying out its necessary, executive functions. In his Farewell Address, Washington makes it clear that a stronger central government, at the expense of states’ rights, is a necessary movement toward reducing deadly factions in American government. To that end, Washington urges support for the new constitutional government. A weak government, he warns, is one that cannot defend itself from factions, or enforce its laws, or protect the rights of citizens, which is implied as an argument against overemphasizing the sovereignty of individual states. After the presidency of John Adams, another federalist, Thomas Jefferson became the third president in March 1801. As a Democrat-Republican with anti-federalist leanings, Jefferson wrote in favor of state rights, believing that the size of the federal government ought not to be maximized (Schlesinger 23). Instead, he thought, states’ ought to have a greater degree of sovereignty because they are more responsive to diverse groups of people. Looking at the divergent interests of Southerners and Northerners, even in the early 1800s, Jefferson identified a potential source of conflict—a factionalism that might emerge on the highest level of government. Accordingly, he endorsed a political

Relation between speed and weight of cars Speech or Presentation

Relation between speed and weight of cars - Speech or Presentation Example Ideally, the speed of the vehicles will be the dependent variable while the weight of the vehicles will be the independent variable. The first step in examining the relationship between the two variables is use a scatter plot. The aim of this step is to form a general pattern and establish whether there is any deviation from this general pattern. The next step will be taken if we shall establish the existence of a linear relationship between the two variables. Figure 1 above shows how the weight of cars correlated with their speeds. A clear inverse linear relationship is evident, though not very strong as evidenced by large variation. This means that, generally, as the weight of the car is increased, the speed is reduced. Figure 2 above shows how the weight of trucks correlated with their speeds. A clear inverse linear relationship is evident, which is very strong since variation is relatively low (Vining et al. 15). This means that, generally, as the weight of the tricks is increased, the speed is reduced. To supplement the graphs, a numerical measurement will be conducted through correlation. This technique measures the strength and direction of the linear relationship between the two variables. To do this, more columns are added to the raw data in the same manner that is done when calculating Pearson coefficient of correlation, as shown below: Incidentally, the close r is to 1, the better the model since it is considered to be less subject to sampling errors. Therefore, the two models are relatively fit for performing the predictions because they are not too far from 1, but model one (cars) is stronger because it is nearer to 1 than model two. Although it has been established that there is an inverse relationship between the variables in the two models, there is no evidence to show that these relationships have not resulted from other variables that have not been factored into the study (Vining et al. 15). Ideally, the heavier an object

What is IMF Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

What is IMF - Essay Example Good governance is a set of principles that have been adopted by both the World Bank and the IMF to guide them and help them to achieve their objectives and goals in their member countries. The current scenario is that these organizations now are in the process of applying similar standards as the, good governance techniques to various other aspects of the institution, such as transparency and accountability. Other facets include fairness, impartiality, efficiency and ownership (Woods 2000). Though IMF itself is a vast topic, I would like to target solely the governance aspect of the organization. Only good and sound governance of an organization can result in the complete and adequate implementation of its policies. According to Beke (2002) the underlying rationale for governance in IMF is to eliminate corruption and to encourage transparency as well as accountability in all economic policies and issues of any given country. Since, 1997 the IMF has introduced methods to look after the resources of the organization so as to prevent laundering of monetary funds. In addition, means are also taken to track all sorts of expenditures specifically those on poverty related issues. Therefore, governance is required in all phases. Be it the way the money is lent or discharged to a country, in the implementation of certain economy related policies, or be it in within the IMF itself. Therefore, I would like to research all three of these aspects of governance in my study. There are practical reasons behind the adoption of the good governance criteria by the IMF. One of the foremost according to Woods (2000) is ownership and participation. The reason behind them is that these two means will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of IMF. It has also been stated that in the past any unpopular or unjust act of a country's government was blamed on IMF. Therefore, these policies also enhance the image of the government by stating that there is no imposition by the IMF upon any country to adopt its policy. Any country that does to take the advice of the IMF and follow its policies and guidelines does so of it's own accord. In the past, the IMF consisted of an enclosed group of policy makers, however, in recent years due to its good governance criteria the organization has opened-up. This induces the concept of transparency. The reason behind this is that when an organization in enclosed (in the form of financial institutions and governments only), transparency is difficult; thus, corruption prevails. In such a scenario bribery takes place and the government can easily deceive its citizens by putting the blame for economic upheaval on an institution such as the IMF. In order to prevent such dire situations from arising it is imperative that good governance policies (especially those that include transparency procedures and processes) are included. Research Methodology The research methodology will such that the background and scope of the paper will be given. The basic scope of this paper is that it will help future policy makers as well as researchers to further their studies. In the practical sense this

Symptoms, transmission, treatments, and prevention of the HPV virus Research Paper

Symptoms, transmission, treatments, and prevention of the HPV virus - Research Paper Example It is indisputable that the greater the degree of abnormality the greater the risk of cancer. Cervical cancer develops due to various factors and HPV infection is a significant factor. As such, recurring HPV infections have been identified, as the chief cause for cervical cancer. Cervical cancer develops due to various factors and HPV infection is a significant factor. It claims a large number of female lives, all over the world. Immunization Practices (ACIP) it was stated that; â€Å"HPV is a necessary but not sufficient cause of all cervical cancers. Approximately three fourths of all cervical cancers in the United States are squamous cell; the remaining are adenocarcinomas† (Markowitz, March 23, 2007). Despite the fact that HPV causes cervical cancer, not all cervical cancers are caused by HPV. According to this study, HPV is not the only reason for cervical cancer, although on many occasions its presence was observed, while detecting cervical cancer. Thus, HPV is not the sole cause for cervical cancer. HPV is mainly transmitted through sexual contact. In some cases, the HPV infection persists even after several years have elapsed after sexual contact with an infected person. In accordance with these studies, HPV is not the only cause for Cervical Cancer. However, it was detected in the majority of the cases. In the US, squamous cell and adenocarcinomas have been seen to be the active cause for Cervical Cancers, in three – fourths of the cases. The following discussion makes it clear that Cervical Cancer can be prevented, if HPV infection is detected at an early stage. Nevertheless, such infection cannot be detected in the initial stages, on account of the absence of symptoms. A study conducted by Vanslyke, Baum, Plaza et al declared that â€Å"Cervical cancer is a preventable disease resulting from infection with high-risk types of sexually transmitted human papillomaviruses (HPVs). Public

The Glass Menagerie Essay Example for Free

The Glass Menagerie Essay In reading literary pieces, we tend to compare one character to another that is similar on physical and mental characterization. Alice Walker’s story â€Å"Everyday Use† and Tennessee Williams’s play â€Å"The Glass Menagerie† have different attack, contextualization, plot, conflict, and resolution but they have the same idea of character – Laura in â€Å"The Glass Menagerie† and Maggie in â€Å"Everyday Use. † Laura and Maggie are both physically handicapped. Laura ‘wears a brace on her leg’ while Maggie has scars all through her legs and arms. Both of these characters accept their situations as handicapped. That is why they are being oppressed by the society whether directly or indirectly. Therefore, being physically handicapped of the protagonists in the two stories defines their identity and uniqueness despite of their physical imperfection. Walker’s â€Å"Everyday Use† is a story about a mother having two daughters. Her daughters are opposite to one another. Maggie is a shy woman while Dee is very expressive with her emotions. Dee’s goals are too high to obtain. She leaves her family to acquire her personal goals in life. Ms. Johnson, which is Dee’s mother and Maggie are waiting for her return that is why they clean their house and beautify it so that Dee will become happy once she saw their home. When Dee arrives, Maggie and Ms. Johnson are speechless with her transformation. After lunch, Dee went to her mother’s room and asks for a hand-stitched quilt as a souvenir. Ms. Johnson is holding a ‘precious’ hand-stitched quilt that she will give to Maggie. Dee wants it so she grabs it to her mother’s hands. Maggie understands her sister’s action and even though she really likes the quilt, she let her sister obtain it. However, Ms. Johnson grabs the quilt to Dee’s hands and pulls Maggie into her room and put it to her lap and shows a happy face. Due to disappointment, Dee runs away from their house along with her friend using his friend’s car. William’s â€Å"The Glass of Menagerie† on the other hand is about a woman named Laura. Tom is the narrator of the story. Laura is a shy woman because of her appearance – having her leg being braced. She does not want to enter school because of this. Another reason for this is that she does not want people to look at her and being humiliated by her surroundings. Because of this issue, Amanda whom to be Laura’s mother asks Tom to find a man that will suit Laura despite of her physical situation. Tom found Jim, his co-worker. He asks him to have dinner in their house. When Jim went to the dinner, Laura is afraid to see him because she is attracted to Jim even before. After the dinner, Jim starts talking to Laura. In the beginning, Laura is aloof but as the conversation went on, she becomes comfortable with Jim. â€Å"LAURA: I was out of school a little while with pleurosis. When I came back you asked me what was the matter. I said I had pleurosis you thought I said Blue Roses Thats what you always called me after that I / JIM: I hope you didnt mind. / LAURA: Oh, no I liked it. You see, I wasnt acquainted with many people. (Williams, Chapter 7)† Jim becomes attracted to Laura’s uniqueness that led him in kissing her. After the kiss, Jim says sorry to Laura and tells her that he has a fiance and soon will get married. Even if Laura is upset, she accepts it. Amanda blames Tom for being insensitive by not choosing the right man for Laura. Tom leaves for this reason but even if he tries to begin his life again, Laura’s image emerges within his mind, thinking his offense against her. Laura and Maggie view themselves as weak and incapacitated. They accept their situation in a worst-case-scenario. They do not fight against the common norm of the society towards them. As long as their family accepts them, everything would be fine. However, problems occurred because they admit that they are handicapped and could not obtain things that a usual woman should have. That is why people around them took advantage against them in different cases and issues. In the case of Laura, her mother wants to make her happy and would like her to find a man that will fit her capability as a woman but Amanda did not think of Laura’s feelings towards her action. As she (Amanda) pushes Laura towards Jim, it is clear she has never paused to find out who her daughter really is, nor what her aspirations might be, nor has she ever considered modes of living other than her own (Debusscher, 60). Maggie’s situation is also the same through her relationship with Dee. Because she accepts that Dee should have better life than her, she lets her sister obtain everything that should be rewarded to her. Because of this, she needs to cope up with the demand of others to satisfy them. â€Å"Maggie will be nervous until after her sister goes: she will stand hopelessly in corners homely and ashamed of the burn scars down her arms and legs, eyeing her sister with a mixture of envy and awe. She thinks her sister has held life always in the palm of one hand, that no is a word the world never learned to say to her (Walker 47). † However, at the end of the plot of these two stories, the supporting characters realized the manifestations and effects of their actions in the lives of the protagonists. That is why they resolve their conflicts by way of recognizing the identity of Laura and Maggie as individuals with own uniqueness and sense of womanhood. â€Å"When Maggie spoke and suggested that the quilt be given to her older sister Dee, she (Ms. Johnson) began to see Maggie in a different light. She also learned to appreciate Maggie’s simplicity and goodness as compared to Dee’s sophistication and ambitions (Cuizon). † Like what happened to Maggie’s mother, Tom also accepts the realization that Laura needs sensibility from the people around her and she should experience it through her family. In the end, both the protagonists and the supporting characters reconcile and acquire the realization of reality and live a better life. Works Cited Cuizon, Gwen. â€Å"A Review on Alice Walkers Everyday Use. † HubPages. (2008). 23 November 2008. http://hubpages. com/hub/Alice-Walkers-Everyday-Use Debusscher, Gilbert. â€Å"Tennessee Williams’s Dramatic Charade: Secrets and Lies in The Glass Menagerie. † (2000; pp. 57-68). 23 November 2008. http://www. tennesseewilliamsstudies. org/archives/2000/4debusscher. pdf Walker, Alice. â€Å"Everyday Use. † In Love and Trouble. New York: Harcourt, 1973. 47-59. Williams, Tennessee. â€Å"The Glass Menagerie. † (1944). 23 November 2008. http://pagesperso-orange. fr/absolutenglish-972/notes/uscivi/glassmenagerie/scene_by_scene. htm

Strategies to Control Sand Production

Strategies to Control Sand Production CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION   1.1 Background Figure 1.1 Sand Production Process Throughout the years, there have been incessantly developing and using various kind of sand control applications in the reservoirs to control the sand production. However, it has been a vital role in the oil and gas industry. In fact, it is very challenging to achieve greater results. Moreover, with todays technologies, the cost of operating is higher than before, the impact of sand production is difficult to be ignored. Moreover, that is not all the consequence of sand formation in the well, and it will probably lead to various of the problem such as loss of integrity, causing the wellbore to collapse, and causing erosion of downhole and surface equipment. The fact is, it is a crucial activity during the production of oil and gas. Here is why, in the sand formation fluid, it consists of gas, oil, and water. It can flow through the sand, into the production wells are produced through perforations into the well. Mostly, it will affect concerning economics to safety hazards in the well productivity. On the other hands, it is a major concern in the oil and gas industry. When the sand produced is lifted up to the surface, sand can damage surface equipment such as valves, pipelines, pumps, separators, and more. It is must be removed from the produced fluids at the surface. Besides, sand flowing through the formation, will collapse the casing and be slowing the production rate. There are several problems cause by sand production. These problems include plugging the perforations, wellbore instability, failure of sand control completions, environmental effects, and erosion of downhole and surface equipment, pipeline blockage and leakage. These devastating consequences lead to more frequent well intervention and workovers generating additional needs for sand disposal particularly in offshore and swamp locations. The impacts of sand production are nearly always detrimental to the short and long term productivity of the well. Sand control has always played a major role in oil production. Most of the oil and gas fields having the problem during sand production. Some of the wells produce from unconsolidated sandstones that produce formation sand with reservoir fluids. Some reservoirs can produce several tons of sand in a day, and it is critical that the operators require downhole sand control in all sand prone wells.      Ã‚   Sand occurs when the stresses of the formation exceed the strength of the formation. The formation strength is derived from the natural cementing material that binds the sand grains together. Sand grains are also held together by the cohesive forces caused formation water unable to move. The stress of the formation sand grains is caused by many factors, such as tectonic actions, overburden pressure, pore pressure, stress changes from drilling, and the drag forces of the producing fluids. When fluids are produced from reservoirs, stresses are imposed on the sand grains that tend to move them into the wellbore, along with the fluids produced. These stresses are caused by pressure difference in the formation, fluid frictional forces, and the weight of the overburden. In the sand prone reservoir, it has several methods of sand control which can be installed in production wells. So, it is important to determine the correct sand control techniques in each particular situation. For instance, we need to understand the behavior of different aspects of the sand formation in multiphase flow, in orders to help us to identify the sand formation. Thus, it provides us with the type of sand control completion to choose for production wells. As a matter of facts, it able to improve the behavior of the sand from the well we produced and to keep sand from entering the well along with the hydrocarbons. It depends on the characteristics of the reservoir. There are several techniques have been used for sand control in sandstone reservoirs. Moreover, to minimizing sand production from wells, such as maintenance and workover, gravel packing, sand consolidation, rate restriction, and more. In order, to prevent sand production it depends on different reservoir parameters and economic conditions. Therefore, sand exclusion methods are required. 1.2  Problem Background Sand control is to minimizing the sand and fine production during petroleum production. Sand and fine produced with oil and gas can cause erosion of production facilities and equipment, resulting in production downtime, expensive repairs and potentially loss of containments. The cause of sand production is always damaging to the long-term productivity of the well. Although some of the wells are manageable for sand production. In addition, attempting to manage sand production well is not easy. They are many problems need to be the concern to operate the wells. To improve the mitigating sand production that exists in the oil and gas industry as the reservoir sits in sand-prone formation. The potential to produce sand in the formation increases as the reservoir has been depleted. It is a likely occurrence in production and injects wells because of the effective overburden pressure of the formation increases. Also as the production rate from the reservoir increases the fluid pressure gradient near the wellbore tends to draw sand into the wellbore. Increasing reservoir production rate raises the probability of reaching the reservoir boundaries. Problems that were usually found in the sand formation especially Unconsolidated formations. Water breakthrough the transitional zone of formations. High consumption of reservoir pressure in formations. Unusual forces of the high lateral tectonic force in formations. Unpredicted change in flow rate 1.2.1 Effects Sand Production The effects of sand production are often detrimental to the productivity of a well in the long run. Downhole equipment might be blocked or damaged and surface facilities disabled. 1.2.1.1 Erosion Of Downhole And Surface Equipment When sand was produced in the formation at the high velocity, it will erode the surface and downhole equipment. It will be leading to the frequent maintenance to replace the equipment. If the erosion is severe or occurs over a sufficient length of time, complete failure of surface and downhole equipment may occur, resulting in the critical safety and environmental problems as well as deferred production. High-pressure gas containing sand particles expanding through the surface choke is the most hazardous situation. For some equipment failures, a rig assisted workover may be required to repair the damage. Figure 1.2 Surface Choke Failure Due To Erosion By Formation Sand (Source: Completion Tech., 1995) Figure 1.3 Eroded Piston Head (Source: Han Et Al., 2011) 1.2.1.2 Formation Subsidence The impact of producing sand formation, it can collapse the formation. As time goes by, a tremendous amount of sand will be generated, which will be creating a void at the casing. As more and more sand is produced, it will be made the void larger and larger. Furthermore, the void will collapse into it. Thus it decays the material. Most importantly, sand grains will create a lower permeability in the formation with a wider area of grain sizes. It will lose the productivity of the sand production. 1.2.1.3 Sand Accumulation In Surface Equipment Reservoir fluid will carry the sand up to the surface, with higher velocity production in the fluid. However, sand particles frequently inhabit in the facilities such as separators, heaters, pumps, and condensers. Plus, it will accumulate in these facilities, it is a must to be cleanup from time to time. Meanwhile, it will delay the production, and the well must shut down, and extras cost needed to be clean up the wellbore production. Production volume of the separator will decrease if it filled with sand. Similarly, it cannot handle gas, oil, and water. 1.2.1.4 Sand Disposal It constitutes a problem in formations producing sand especially in areas where there are stringent environmental constraints. Offshore processing systems that do not satisfy anti-pollution regulation the separated sand is to be transported onshore for disposal constituting additional production cost. 1.2.2 Causes Of Sand Production Rock strength and fluid flow are the elements that are affecting the factors that are affecting the tendency of the formation and the wellbore. Thus, sand particles consist of fine grain-size and load bearing solids formation in the production. Production rates are usually maintained at a consistent level so that it can avoid the production of the load bearing particles, but causing the production rates low. 1.2.2.1 Production Rate Higher the fluid of the pressure near the wellbore, thus the rate of production will be increasing, which will move the sand into the wellbore. Consequently, pressure differential and frictional drag forces will surpass the compressive strength in the reservoir. However, for wells that below the pressure differential pressure and frictional drag forces is not strong to exceed the exceed the compressive strength of the formation, therefore it causing sand production rate reduce. In order, to reduce the productions rate, it needs to slow it down at certain levels. So that, the flow rate will be within the acceptance range of the production of the well. 1.2.2.2 Pore Pressure Reduction When the reservoir fluid in production diminishes, it causes the pressure and pore pressure to reduce. As it reduces, the production of the well will slowly deplete. Hence, by decreasing the pressure will generate the stress at the formation sand, it will make the overburden pressure to be increasing. Moreover, formation sand particles may be crushed or break loose from its matrix at some time in reservoir life which could be produced along with the reservoir fluids. The formation might subside if the effective stress exceeds the formation strength due to compaction of reservoir rock from the reduction in pore pressure. 1.2.2.3 Increasing Water Production When the water cut increased, sand production will increase as well. These occurrences can be explained by two mechanisms. Each sand grains were surrounded by the surface tension of the connate water, which are the cohesiveness to certain grains in the water wet sandstone formation. Besides, when the surface tension forces and the cohesiveness of grain-to-grain are reducing. Alternatively, the productions of the connate water will be produced. The stability of the sand arch perforation has been shown to be limited greatly by the production of water resulting in the production of sand. Whereas, an arch is a hemispherical cap of interlocking sand grains that is scheduled at constant drawdown and flow rate preventing sand production (Jon Carlson et al., 1992). A second mechanism by which water production affects sand production is related to the effects of relative permeability. As the water cut increases, the relative permeability to oil decreases. This result in an increasing pressure differential being required to produce oil at the same rate. An increase in pressure differential near the wellbore creates a greater shear force across the formation sand grains. Once again, the higher stresses can lead to instability of the sand arch around each perforation and subsequent sand production (Completion tech., 1995). Figure 1.4 Geometry Of A Stable Arch Surrounding A Perforation (Source: Completion Tech., 1995) 1.3 Objectives The main objectives of this research are: To explain the properties and importance of sand control required in bottom-hole production. To analyze the effectiveness of chemical additives in sand control. To evaluate the effectiveness of clay-sawdust as a possible sand control material in the petroleum industry. 1.4  Problem Statement How to increase the fluid velocity of the sand produced and increase the productivity of the sand production? How to determine the suitability of chemical additive in sand control? How can plastic consolidation be custom engineered and manufactured in accordance to oil sands reservoir properties for optimal sand control? 1.5  Scope Of Study To complete the final year project, the student is required to complete the final year project titled Evaluation of Clay-Sawdust Mixture in Sand Control Application. This project requires the fulfilment of few objectives of study that requires the student to learn the properties and importance of sand control required in bottom-hole production. The scopes of study that will be covered in this paper include several aspects: To explain the properties and importance of sand control required in bottom-hole production. To analyse the effectiveness of chemical additives in sand control. To evaluate the effectiveness of clay-sawdust as a possible sand control material in the petroleum industry. To analyse the type of clay that found in the sand control To evaluate the alternate sand control method for sand production consolidation by injecting the chemical additive that will be ideal for the reservoir well. 1.6  Thesis Outline The thesis is divided into five chapters. Chapter one gives an introduction and problem facing during production. It also states the objectives and defines the scope. Chapter two talks about literature review on the subject matter sand control selection, chemical sand consolidation, in situ formation consolidation, resin coated sand consolidation, permeability and porosity of reservoir. The methodology is discussed in chapter three. Chapter four focuses on results discussion. Chapter five gives conclusions and recommendations of the thesis. CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1  SAND CONTROL SELECTION Figure 2.1 Sand Control Type Many unconsolidated heavy oil and bitumen reservoirs require a sand control screen system to prevent sand particle influx into the wellbore to minimize surface casing erosion and environmental and remedial costs. It needs to justify the problems which related to the downhole sand control system and prediction the desired amount of the production rate in the reservoir of sand would produce. Sand production can be a significant issue when producing from unconsolidated reservoirs. Hydrocarbon production from unconsolidated sandstone reservoirs can plague with potentially erosive but mostly of the sand production. However, it will affect the movement of the formation sand causing it to re-orientation of the stresses and fluid velocity The selection of the sand control method to be used in a reservoir depends on conditions of the reservoir field and economic considerations. Additionally, to determining which sand control techniques are suitable for the field. There are many different sand control methods each with pros and cons. Such as, Rate control or exclusion Non-impairing completion techniques Selective perforation practices Screens (without gravel packs) Slotted liners Wire-wrapped screens Premium screens Expandable screens Pre-packed screens Gravel packs Frac packs Chemical sand consolidation In situ formation consolidation Resin coated sand or gravel consolidation 2.2  CHEMICAL SAND CONSOLIDATION In chemical sand consolidation, there is two type of method. utilised It is being used where the possibility and size of the sand production are considered low and is one of the preventive technique to pumped before sand production initiated. The latter is considered as more of a remedial technique in the increasing sand production. Chemical consolidation is mostly being used in a short, perforated intervals. 2.2.1  IN SITU FORMATION CONSOLIDATION Figure 2.2 In Situ Formation Consolidation In situ formation consolidation, it utilises by injecting resins liquid into the formation through the perforations and a catalyst is required for hardening. It will harden and forms a consolidated mass of the sand grains which sand grains will bind together at the contact points and increase its unconfined compressive strength. Certain catalysts are mix into the resin at the surface. Hence, it needed time and temperature to harden the resin. In this treatment need to be considered to performed through all the perforations, thus after the treatment, the well will be permeable and consolidation might not deteriorate with time. However, it can increase the compressive strength of the formation, so it will be sufficient to withstand the forces while during the production of the flow rates. Similarly, a suitable cementing job is a must for this method because to prevent the resin from channeling the casing. On the contrary, the perforation should not be treated at shaley zones because of the low permeability, and it is hard for the fluids to flow in place. In situ formation consolidation leaves the wellbore fully open. It is important where large outside diameter downhole completion equipment is needed. While in situ formation can be done through tubing or in wells with small diameter casing. 2.2.2  RESIN COATED SAND CONSOLIDATION There is two different way of injecting resin coated sand consolidation down the well and into the perforation. So that, it will maintain the sand surface. Thus sand pack will be bind together as the resin coating become harden. Some of the sand left in the casing after the operation. Whereas, this method needs to be perforated in order, to clean out the sand and controlled the flow rate. Besides, resin coated include pumping sand into the well to filled the perforation and casing. Although, bottom hole temperature of the well will be causing the resin to complete the cure into a consolidated pack. After that, sand consolidation packs able to drilled out the casing and leaving the resin coated sand in the perforations. Some of the remaining in the consolidation will act as a permeable filter to prevent the production of the sand formation, the uses of the resin coated are to prepacked sand screens. Despite, using resin coated can be complex. First, and most important, it requires that all perforations be filled completely with the resin coated sand, and the sand will cure. The perforations increasingly, as zone length and deviation from the vertical increase. Secondly, the resin coated with sufficient compressive strength. Nevertheless, it has poor longevity, as most wells do not produce sand free for extended periods of time. 2.3  PERMEABILITY OF RESERVOIR Figure 2.3 Permeability Absolute permeability is the resistance to fluid flow in a porous media when it is the only fluid phase present. The permeability is a measure of the ability of the reservoir rock to transmit fluid. It is the conductivity of the reservoir rock (Gates 2012). If it takes a lot of pressure to squeeze fluid through rock, that rock has low permeability. If fluid passes through the rock easily, it has high permeability. Permeability is measured in the unit of milli darcy (one milli darcy is 1/1000 of a Darcy). The rate of oil and gas can decrease if there are decreases in permeability of reservoir sands. Interstitial water and clay content are what contains in reservoir sand. (Jiang, et al., November 10, 2010) After drilling progress in initiated the production of oil, water will infiltrate into the sand from drilling mud. The water will have less salinity compared to the pure original water. Swelling of clay particles is caused by the fresh water. Influence of driving pressure porous medium is a measure of the ease with which fluids may pass through the medium. The equation by which permeability to liquids may be calculated by laboratory measurements is: (Equation. 2.1) This equation gives permeability, k, in Darcys if viscosity, u, is expressed in centipoises; the rate of flow, Q, in cubic centimetres per second; length, L, in centimetres; area, A, in square centimetres; and pressure differential, P1P2, in atmospheres. This equation, known as Darcys law, is also used to calculate gaseous permeability if the volumetric rate of flow is measured at mean pressure. There will be no reactions between the flowing fluids because it is one of the limiting conditions for the constancy of permeability. Swelling when wetted with waters is due to the clay contain. 2.4  SAWDUST Figure 2.4 Sawdust Sawdust is a tiny-sized and powdery wood waste produced by cutting, grinding, drilling, sanding and slicing wood with a saw or other tools. The size of sawdust particles depends on the types of wood, which the sawdust is collected and the size of the saw teeth. Besides, sawdust is an effective, low-cost absorbent, which is widely used in many industrials. In addition, sawdust being essentially a lignocellulosic material is not easily deteriorated but rather stable on recalcitrant in the environment, and rarely produces odour during its long-term biodegradation process (Terazawa et al., 1999; Zavala et al., 2005). Furthermore, benefits of using sawdust as a composite material are because it has desirable physical properties. Such as low apparent specific gravity(density), high porosity, high water retention, moderate water drainage, high bacteria tolerance, and biodegradability at an acceptable rate. For instance, sawdust composting process can be enhanced. 2.5  CLAY Figure 2.5 Kaolinite Clay Figure 2.6 Montmorillonite Clay Figure 2.7 Illite Clay Clay is a fine textured earth, it is plastic when wet but hard and compact when dry. It being referred to as finest grain particles in a sediment, soil, or rock. Clay is a very fine-grained, unconsolidated rock matter, which is plastic when wet, but becomes hard and stony when heated. It has its origin in natural processes, mostly complex weathering, transported and deposited by sedimentation within geological periods. Clay is composed of silica (SiO2), Alumina (Al2O3) and water (H2O) plus appreciable concentration of oxides of iron, alkali and alkaline earth, and contains groups of crystalline substances known as clay minerals such as quartz, feldspar and mica. The majority of the oil and gas reservoir contains clay. Thus, these clay minerals such as montmorillonite, illite, and kaolinite mostly found in the rocks of oil and gas exploration. In the early age of oil exploration, clay minerals were studied to predict the quality of organic rick source rock and generation mechanism when scientists tried to investigate the origin of oil and gas (Grim, 1947, Brooks, 1952). At the same time, clay minerals were extensively analyses for diagenesis and reservoir quality prediction due to the application of petrological analysis and quantitative mineralogical analysis by X-ray diffraction (Griffin, 1971; Pettijohn, 1975; Heald and Larese, 1974; Bloch et al., 2002). On the other hand, it is important in oil sands. The particles will form adjacent to sand grains, and it will be occupied by the interstitial water found together with oil sands. However, the cohesion of clay is larger than granular soils. Clay is less permeable than a sandy soil, and low water drainage. Hence, the pore pressure induced by an increase in load is dissipated very slowly, and the transfer of stress and the corresponding increase in inter-granular pressure are likewise much slower. The dispersed of clay is free to travel within the reservoir thereby becoming mobile clays which can cause plugging of pore spaces due to migration. Therefore, deflocculation can occur due to low salinity-high pH, and natural repulsion forces due to not enough cations available. Once deflocculated, clay tends to migrate when the wetting phase becomes mobile. In addition to this, Clay swelling can be due to a salinity shock, where high salinity fresh water is introduced in a reservoir rock causing a shock to the system. Besides, montmorillonite clays can become mobile and then migrate causing issues with plugging of the pore space of a reservoir rock due to it being anionic charged can form thin microfilms on the surface of the sand control. 2.6  POROSITY OF RESERVOIR Figure 2.8 Porosity The porosity of rock is a measure of the capacity of reservoir rocks to contain fluids. Oil, gas and water are within the reservoir rocks that fluids were stored in the pore space. Higher capacities of reservoir rock it contains fluids, it has high porosity. Whereas, low porosity has low capacities reservoir rocks fluids contain. Therefore, porosity data are often employing qualitatively and quantitatively to determine and evaluate the potential volume of hydrocarbons contained in a reservoir. For instance, in a discovery well that shows the presence of hydrocarbons in the reservoir rocks, the set of data that is reviewed at least qualitatively to evaluate reservoir potential is porosity data acquired with either logging-while-drilling tools or by running wireline tools. These data are collected directly from the measurements of the core sample and well logs. It was to predict the reservoir characterization for the classification of lithological facies, and the assignment of permeabilities using porosity-permeability transforms. The porosity of rock is a measure of its capacity to contain fluids. Porosity is calculated as the pore volume of the rock divided by its bulk volume. à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¦ = à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¦ = porosity; Vp = pore volume; and VB = bulk volume. Pore volume is the total volume of pore spaces in the rock, and bulk volume is the physical volume of the rock, which includes the pore spaces and matrix materials (sand and shale, etc.) that compose the rock. 2.7FLOW RATE Figure 2.9 Fluid Flow Through Wellbore There is a critical fluid-flow rate beyond which the hydrodynamic force exceeds the binding forces holding fines particles together, and fines ( For instance, the lower the flow rate, the better the retention (Ballard and Beare 2006). Production can be affected by non-optimized inflow distribution. Drawdown and plugging can be affected by asphaltene and wax precipitation due to temperature reduction, the high viscosity of produced oil, resins present, near-wellbore pressure drop and flow convergence resistance created by the slotted liner (Trent 2005). Additionally, multiphase flow increases plugging potential and sand control issues. By depending on formation characteristics and multiphase flow, the interstitial flow velocity can either enhance or reduce near wellbore permeability (Bennion et. al. 2008). When only one phase flows in a reservoir, then there can be an allowable increase in the flow velocity to the slot more than if there is multiphase flow. Plugging and significant solids production occurs with the two-phase flow where water and oil flow since fines migration and transport only happens when the wetting phase is in motion in the porous media (Bennion et al. 2008). There is a critical fluid-flow rate beyond which the hydrodynamic force exceeds the binding forces holding fines particles together beyond which the fine started to move. A sudden increase in flow rate also could induce fines migration. 2.8SURFACTANT Surfactant mostly uses in Enhanced Oil Recovery, and it is to improve the wettability of porous rocks allowing water to flow through them faster displacing more oil. Surfactant Flooding can improve oil production by decreasing interfacial tension, improving oil mobility thus allowing better displacement of the oil by injected water. (Chon, 2014) The surfactant can be used to lower the amount of chemical usage in the recovery process, and it can decrease the chemical concentration to below 0.5 percentage. Surfactant provides safer enhanced oil recovery products at lower price. The most effective surfactant derived from plants are sunflower oil, soy and corn oil. These oils are no hazardous and non-toxic. (Hirasaki, et al., 2011) CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY 3.1  INTRODUCTION The accompanying section clarifies about the technique utilized as a part of this exploration to assemble the important information. The information was to assess how clay-sawdust as a possible sand control material and could enhance by the surfactant for sand control applications. 3.2  CLAY There is three type of clay which ha

Management Style At Marriott Hotel Commerce Essay

Management Style At Marriott Hotel Commerce Essay Contingency management is the most prevalent of all management concepts for the simple reason that it provides the necessary flexibility to develop strategies which pertain to each individual organisation. Adopting a flexible management style allows an organisation to be more adaptable to changes in both the micro (internal) and macro (external) environments. Leicester Marriott has adopted a form of contingency management which revolves around the human relations approach, whereby past studies have shown that certain variables are instrumental to employee satisfaction. Marriott gives tremendous importance to its associates, as they ultimately are the reason why the brand has been successful for so many years. Associate opinions are highly valued by members of management, so they are often required to attend brainstorming sessions where key issues are discussed. Such involvement should make way for improved productivity and efficiency, as having an input in the decisions taken in ones department is fundamental to happiness at work, which may also have a positive effect on other aspects of associate life. Members of management know that to maximise profitability, employees must be awarded a level of responsibility within the organisation, and most importantly, be respected and treated as integral members of the organisation. The five-star Grand Hotel Excelsior (GHE) in Malta is not owned or run by any hotel chain, but is privately owned by a British family. It started operations approximately four years ago, and has since risen to become one of the best hotels on the island, troubling the likes of Hilton, Westin and Le Meridien which dominate the luxury accommodation Market in Malta. The Excelsior is affiliated with the Iprefer group, which offers subscribed members numerous benefits such as special discounts and offers for Iprefer hotels throughout the world. At the Excelsior, divisions between upper management and their subordinates are generally noticeable, a trait which is reminiscent of bureaucratic management. However, utmost respect and gratitude is shown to employees when tasks are carried out successfully, and the general manager often stresses the fact that the hotels success is owed to its employees. Unlike Marriotts tried and tested approach to management, the Excelsiors directors and managers had to devise a management style which fit the organisations requirements. In doing so, training has been given top priority and is carried out by in-house specialists, as well as by some of Maltas leading consultation companies. Through personal experience, soft management is very much present within the rooms division as managers are aware that adopting hard management will not be beneficial. The employment of hard management may make employees fear their superiors, to the extent that absenteeism may increase, and employees may seek job opportunities elsewhere. However, this does not mean that managers should not, when necessary, show authority. Task 2 Using an organisation where you have worked evaluate the role and function of at least one manager. Compare and contrast the leadership style of your chosen organisation with one of the leaders in the case study. At the Grand Hotel Excelsior, Front office employees are the first to interact with guests, and must therefore project the hotels image of luxury and professionalism by being well groomed, well mannered, professional, and hospitable. The lobbys classic dà ©cor and warm lighting ensure that guests feel welcome and relaxed, particularly after hours of travel. Upon arrival, guests are greeted and assisted by the porter, and are then directed towards the front desk where they are offered a complimentary welcome drink, after which the check-in process begins. The front office manager manages all front of house operations to ensure that guests are offered an Iprefer experience. The roles and functions pertaining to this position are vast and crucial to the establishments success. The primary role of the front office manager is to develop and retain professional relationships with guests and non-guests, with the aim of having them return time and time again. However, he is aware that the only way to provide a seamless guest experience is to ensure that his team is, first and foremost, treated respectfully. Front of house operations pertaining to the front office manager include but are not limited to; reviewing the hotels room availability status and special guest requests, resolving guest complaints, reviewing comment cards, participating in the daily head of department (HOD) meetings, assisting his team members at the front desk when it gets busy, and when necessary, greet VIP guests and ensure that their check-ins go as smoothly as possible. He highly values his teams input and often sets up informal meetings to discuss any issues which they have faced or are facing, and asks for suggestions to mitigate such issues to ensure that the front office operates as efficiently and effectively as possible. Performance management and employee motivation are closely linked to leadership. The front office manager adapts positive leadership to his management style, which is crucial to ensure that employees adopt a positive attitude towards work and are not passive towards their duties. Performance management and motivation also ensure that profit forecasts are reached, services are consistent, and the overall environment is positive. Ultimately, guests expect value for money, and must therefore be offered an experience which meets, or more appropriately, exceeds their expectations. Performance management at Leicester Marriott Associate performance is fundamental to any organisations success. Potential associates at Leicester Marriott must undergo a three day induction before commencing work, to discuss key areas ranging from an explanation of the companys organigram to disability discrimination awareness. The techniques adopted range from lectures to audio-visual presentations in the form of corporate films. Once management is satisfied with their performance, they are cross trained by their department managers. The case study stresses that the pace of development within the company is solely up to the individual, so they must learn how to manage themselves accordingly. This happens to be a key characteristic of the human relations approach. Once a month a meeting is set up between associates and their managers to discuss and deal with any issues before they lead to any declines in customer satisfaction and other inconsistencies. By reducing staff turnover, the quality of the services rendered, the profitability obtained, and the ability of staff to progress within the organisation to higher positions will be a lot more likely. In-house as well as online programmes are offered to employees who wish to improve their skills and performance, whilst managers are trained at other Marriott establishments. This would allow managers to observe how different establishments undergo their daily business, and how although each Marriott hotel aims to provide a quality experience, each establishment has unique features which make them attractive, such as unique dà ©cor, unique entertainment, or unique members of staff, for instance. Performance management at the Grand Hotel Excelsior Online and session based courses are offered free of charge to members of staff on a monthly basis, whereby skills such as cultural appreciation and awareness, and numerous others can be enhanced. Training is constantly offered to members of staff in-house, by hotel employees as well as professional consultation companies. Management believes that it is crucial for employees to receive the best training possible so as to be able to provide a seamless experience to guests and non-guests. Induction training is typically one day long for those opting to work at front office, and this takes place in a meeting room on the premises. Being such a fast paced industry, most training occurs on the job. During the first few weeks of employment, employees at front office must log down their progress in a progress file, and take any necessary notes. Any issues which are encountered should be dealt with immediately to avoid unnecessary errors in the future. After the fundamental factors of cross training have been covered, employees must undergo a test whereby the skills obtained are examined. Motivation at Leicester Marriott Marriott believes that there are other means of motivation for staff other than receiving a salary at the end of the month. Employees should feel as though they are valued for their contributions to the organisations success. Staff is incentivised through numerous schemes such as discounts and exclusive offers when staying at Marriott properties. They may alternatively opt to receive vouchers for high end shops instead of making use of their Marriott stay. Although other motivators often overshadow working conditions, conditions at work may indeed lead to de-motivation. To avoid this, management provides quality canteen services, easy access to uniform, extensive taxi benefits, as well as other basic factors. Other motivators come in the form of team building exercises, where employees can get to know each other better and develop stronger professional relationships, as well as departmental outings, barbeques, dress parties, Oscar parties, employee of the month and special person awards ceremonies, as well as appreciation week. Motivation at the Grand Hotel Excelsior Motivation is a fundamental part of leadership, as all those who form part of a team must be rewarded in some way or another for their efforts. Maslows hierarchy of needs plays an integral part in ones performance at work. It states that for a person to live a fulfilling life there must be the necessary foundations in place. The satisfaction of the basic physiological requirements such as food and shelter are required to be able to work our way towards self-fulfillment. It is understandable that organisations are unable to cater for all the factors listed in Maslows hierarchy because of financial and/or other limitations. At the Grand Hotel excelsior, employees are offered good quality canteen facilities for breakfast, lunch, tea time and dinner. The hotel also provides free accommodation for foreign students working at the hotel as well as for employees who work around the clock to prepare for large events. This is done to avoid employees having any unnecessary road accidents whilst driving home from work. A sense of safety is provided by constant 24 hour CCTV surveillance, as well as security officers, whilst a sense of belonging is evident in the group work that is required to successfully deal with everyday situations. Management at the Excelsior rewards staff for their contributions to the success of the organisation mainly through special rates for themselves and close friends and family, a free weekend break at the end of each year for each employee and a partner, a good bottle of foreign wine for the member of staff with the highest up selling score, bonuses for every up sell which takes place, such us upgrading guests to a Sea View or Sea Front room from an inland view room, as well as certificates which are awarded to the best performing members of staff during the IXL (I Excel) Awards ceremony. Besides these, there are numerous other departmental activities and events which are organised throughout the year. Employees may also benefit from easy uniform access from 6 am till 6:30pm, taxi discounts, and other basic factors which staff need to be happy in their workplace. Task 3 Evaluate the leadership skills required to ensure effective management of the staff of the two organisations. The main aim of a manager is to maximise the output of an organisation and simultaneously maximise profitability. To do so however, it is more often than not required to have positive leadership skills when working in the services industry. Employees often seek the guidance or assistance of their superiors, and their ability to perform well may be hindered by the inability of their superiors to lead by setting the right example. Effective leadership is therefore fundamental for the management of the staff of the two organisations. Performance management For both organisations to remain competitive and successful, they must ensure that employees are given the best possible training. Although it is difficult to provide perfect services in an industry full of variables, perfection must be aimed for nonetheless. A measure of performance must be established to be able to analyse areas which have been improved as well as those which await improvement. To be able to improve performance; Current performance must be analysed and compared to a set target. Plans must be devised to be able to improve current performance and bring it in line with targets. The devised plan must be implemented, The implemented plan must be assessed, and The methods of measurement must be re-assessed and re-formulated if it is required to do so. Motivation Maslows hierarchy of needs happens to be one of the most straightforward theories in psychological and motivational studies, which states that every human being has the basic requirements of food, drink and shelter, and it is only when these are satisfied that we are able to work towards self-fulfillment. Employees are motivated through the provision of certain elements from this hierarchy. Employees should be incentivised to adopt a more positive attitude towards their duties, as well as to improve their performance. They need to know that they are of value to the organisation, as working in the hospitality industry requires a lot of time, energy and patience. It also happens to be one of the lowest paying industries, yet the input that is required for operations to run smoothly is phenomenal. Employees would expect to be motivated in other ways other than just receiving a salary at the end of the month, as this is a very short-lived motivator. They need to feel valued and respected by their superiors and by others, something that the new front office manager at the Grand Hotel Excelsior is highly capable of. He offers that reassurance that he is there for everyone, and that everyone should approach him when they have any difficulties. Most importantly, he knows that to develop as a team and overcome obstacles, he has to build a strong, reliable and trustworthy team. Ethical leadership Ethics is a branch of psychology which allows us to distinguish between, and understand the concepts of right and wrong. Leading by setting the right example is crucial for employees to feel secure at work. Unethical leadership can cause harm to employees on a psychological level, and this may spread to other aspects of their lives. Ethics is a complex subject and employees unfortunately face numerous difficult situations at the work place, where they may disagree with the actions of their superiors, but are often afraid to confront them because it may ultimately cost them their job. Action-centred leadership Taking immediate action on issues which must be addressed is important to ensure that professional relationships with employees are strengthened and not lost. Managing others requires a lot of patience and experience, and it is through positive leadership that much of it is possible. John Adairs action-centred leadership model deals with three crucial responsibilities that managers should possess. Depending on the difficulty of the task, the managers input may not be required until after the task is carried out. On the other hand, the manager may have to manage a team, group, or individuals if the task at hand requires detailed planning and foresight. Below are the three processes of Johns Adairs concept: achieving the task managing the team or group managing individuals Successful leadership also relies on effective communication, counseling, stress management and unwritten psychological contracts. Communication and counselling Communication is important for the smooth running of any organisation. It allows for the clarification of messages up and down as well as across an organigram. Communication may take virtually any form, ranging from verbal to virtual discussions. Improved communication will allow for fewer hiccups in the services being rendered, meaning that guests will undoubtedly have a better experience. Managers often have to counsel team members with issues or difficulties that they are facing. These may range from discussing past performance to discussing difficulties that they are having in relation to their work or personal lives. Stress management Stress is very often work related, and this may result in relationship problems at home and at work, as well as health problems, if it is not appropriately administrated. The effects of stress differ from person to person, and some people may be more capable of dealing with stressful situations than others. Excessive stress may reap havoc on a team, and may limit its ability to perform in line with targets. This is the reason why motivating employees is crucial to ensure that they develop a positive outlook on their duties at work, which would significantly decrease the perception that work and stress are correlated. Psychological contract The psychological contract is an unwritten contract that is the basis of a professional relationship that exists between employees and their employers. An employer would expect to be respected by his team, and an employee may in turn expect good working conditions and respect from the employer. Even though the psychological contract is unwritten, it is the least that is expected by employees and employers at work, and this forms the foundation upon which professional relationships are built and strengthened. Task 4 Examine a team in which you have worked and write an account of the nature and behaviour of the group A team is a group of people that works together to reach a common target or objective. This objective can only be achieved with the combined efforts of each team member as the human input required is often too much for one person to handle, particularly when deadlines are involved. Working at the front desk requires constant team work. The effectiveness of a team depends on how well each team member understands their roles, and how well they know each others characters and working methods. It is a fact that no one works in the exact same way as we all have different personalities; thinking patterns and methods of achieving the same objectives, and it is through such differences that we are able to provide a refreshing experience, one which is unique and special, yet professional. Although the team work required at front office is often not for specific projects, such as for instance coming up with a new up-selling strategy, we unconsciously consider every shift to be a project. The teams common objective is to ensure that all guests are satisfied with what they have purchased and that what we are providing them with meets, or exceeds their expectations. The people I work with at the front desk are undoubtedly important to me, and the way I work. They certainly ease the stress of having to deal with every guest on your own, but more importantly, you know that there is someone who is in the same position as you are, dealing with similar issues and problems. When I see that my colleagues are having difficulty dealing with a specific issue, I do not hesitate to assist them, and vice versa. The typical shift is eight hours long, so it is in everyones best interests to get to know each other well by communicating openly and sharing ideas and thoughts, with the aim of developing trustworthy and positive professional relationships. Bruce Tuckman (1965) developed four critical stages for team development. These stages describe how teams are developed, and how issues are dealt with to reach a common objective. The first stage is forming, which deals with the actual getting together of group members. Once my skills developed through training at the Grand Hotel Excelsior, the responsibilities given to me increased, and I was therefore more capable of working as part of a team. The second stage is storming, whereby the team analyses its objectives, and clearly defines the responsibilities of each team member. When problems arise at work, we discuss all of the possible ways in which we can solve them. We then select the most effective and efficient solutions which are in line with hotel policy. The third stage is norming, whereby team members work conjunctively to reach their targets, mainly through the creation of guidelines and rules. As team members work together, they will develop stronger relationships and will therefore develop trust. Through work I was not only able to develop professional relationships with my colleagues, but I was also able to develop strong friendships. It is through such friendships that we are able to work successfully with one another. The final step is performing, whereby team members understand each other and their work, and their utmost concern is getting the job done. Working in a hotel is immensely fast-paced and there is little time to be wasted. The main objective of a front of house agent is ultimately to get the job done efficiently and professionally, in order to assist our next guests. Task 5 Discuss how the traits and characteristics of the individuals within this team influence their behaviour at work Individuals who form part of the front office team have cheerful personalities, and their cheerfulness is visible in the way they work to ensure that guests are greeted and treated welcomingly. Guests enjoy meeting members of staff who are approachable, and they often stop by the front desk for a quick chat. As a team, we know each others basic traits and characteristics well. The true personalities of team members break free during break time, or after work, as working in a five star hotel requires one to behave in a certain manner. As a team, we know each others basic traits and characteristics well. The true personalities of team members break free during break time, or after work, as working in a five star hotel requires one to behave in a certain manner. Personal characteristics typically include visual aspects such as gender, race and age, social and cultural characteristics such as religion and sexual orientation, and psychological characteristics such as motivation and attitudes. It is through such personal characteristics that we develop particular beliefs or preferences, such as religious or political preferences, for instance. Delicate subjects may be openly discussed between team members because of the friendships that have develop over time. However, such delicate subjects are never discussed with guests as they may project a negative image of the individual, as well as the organisation. The most prominent traits of individuals are said to be the big five personality traits, which include conscientiousness, agreeableness, neuroticism, openness and extroversion. My team mates undoubtedly possess a mixture of these five traits, and numerous others. It is impossible for people to have the exact same character as others, as ones character is ultimately a product of their life experiences. Perception is an important subject when dealing with traits and characteristics. Individuals may make certain traits visible, such as agreeableness and conscientiousness, but are able to hide other traits which they feel should not be visible, such as neuroticism. It is normal to feel anxious when stressful situations arise, and the level of anxiety which is experienced by an individual depends on what their threshold for anxiety tolerance is. In such a case, a guest may perceive the member of staff to be calm and composed, when he/she is in fact feeling anxious. Task 6 Compare and contrast the structure of Leicester Marriott with an organisation where you have worked/have researched. To be able to deal with all the processes required to operate a hospitality establishment such as a large capacity hotel, company directors and managers must employ specialised teams to ensure that all work is done efficiently and effectively, with the highest precision, and where possible, the lowest cost. As the Leicester Marriott Hotel and the Grand Hotel Excelsior are both relatively large establishments they require formal structures with specific roles and responsibilities. Every manager is responsible for a particular department and team. This in theory should allow for greater efficiency as the work is divided amongst those who are most experienced in their respective fields. The Grand Hotel Excelsiors functional structure is similar to that of Marriott, as they both have a General Manager, department managers, supervisors, and Employees. As the Grand Hotel Excelsior has 427 rooms, and the Leicester Marriott has approximately half as many, the GHE should in theory have more positions and therefore more employees. The span of control that each manager possesses varies depending on department. For instance, the front office manager at the GHE is responsible for the front office team as well as the housekeeping department, which happen to be the largest departments within the hotel. On the other hand, the accounts department is one of the smallest, employing a few specialised individuals. The organigram below gives a detailed breakdown of the different roles at the Grand Hotel Excelsior. An official Marriott PDF document found at www.docstoc.com states that the organisation believes strongly in the benefits associated with departmentalisation and unity of command, whereby only one person reports to one manager. In this case it must be the supervisors who report to their department managers. Below is an example of what the Marriott organigram may look like in its simplest form. As is clearly evident, the main structures of both organisations are fairly similar. One of the major differences however is that the Excelsior has many more facilities and amenities than the Marriott hotel, and would require larger departments to ensure that all operations run smoothly, particularly during peak season. General Manager Department Manager Department Manager Department Manager Associates Associates Associates Supervisor Supervisor Supervisor Microsoft Word (2003) Task 7 Describe the culture of the organisation at the Leicester Marriott Hotel and explain how it impacts on the success of the business The Leicester Marriott promotes a strong brand identity, one which guests have grown to love and trust. A loyal guest would expect the level of service at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square to be of as high a standard as the Leicester Marriott hotel as both establishments have the same high expectations from their staff, and both hotels share the same core values and objectives. Members of staff at Leicester Marriott are all considered to be associates, a term which the organisation believes adds further purpose to their roles. Marriot currently places 82nd on CNNs top 100 list of best companies to work at for the year 2010, a claim which has remained true for many years. However, the recruitment process does not appear to be simple. Only those people who fit the organisations mindset are eligible to join as management believes that it is not easy to teach people how to develop the right attitude which is required to progress within the organisation. This appears to be a characteristic of a relatively closed organisation, and may as a result give it a more prestigious image in the job markets. The organisations culture is successful because it allows associates to develop trust, collaborate, and be creative. The culture is reinforced through numerous activities such as Staff barbeques, department outings, parties and other activities which allow them to get to know each other better, develop relationships, and ultimately, provide better quality services to guests. They are also given the opportunity to share ideas during the weekly departmental discussions, where the weeks most challenging moments are discussed, and feedback is exchanged. The organisations core values are the main driving forces behind its culture, as stated in the corporate information section of the Marriott website. Its culture influences the way it treats associates, loyal clients, and the community, which it strongly supports. Motivation is certainly a major part of the hotels culture as management knows that the only way to make guests happy is to ensure that associates are equally happy. Task 8 Discuss the communication channels of the firm in the case study and explain the importance of effective communications within organisations. Communication skills are crucial within any organisation. The inability to communicate effectively will result in a negative guest experience and will eventually lead to some form of negative publicity. The organisations team building exercises may make way for improved communication between members of staff as well as departments. Guests tend to vent their anger on websites such as Trip Advisor when their holidays or business trips do not go as planned as a result of inefficient communication. The deliverance of any product, be it a good or a service, requires proper communication skills, particularly if the organisations in question wish to retain customers. Leicester Marriott knows that communication is crucial, and it therefore gives extreme importance to all communication channels. Verbal communication is the main source of communication during departmental meetings which are held once a month, whilst once a quarter members from all departments are gathered to discuss hotel performance and receive organisation updates and recognition awards. Daily shift meetings are also organised amongst HODs to discuss important events, and interdepartmental meetings are held every week to discuss the weeks challenges. Such communication allows employees to effectively tackle internal issues and, when possible, conjure up immediate solutions. One of the main corridors in the back of the hotel is purely dedicated to communication between associates, where one can find staff notice boards containing written information about internal and external job vacancies, social activities, special hotel offers, health and safety procedures, employee of the month information, and numerous others. Such information must be visible and easily accessible to all associates, as well as regularly updated to keep the interest alive. Associate newsletters are published and distributed to all staff on a weekly basis to ensure that they are updated with the latest hotel issues. During break time, events and other activities, associates are free to chat and catch up on work and non-work related gossip, which is important to ones happiness. Hospitality organisations utilize almost every communication channel. Written methods of communication may take the form of reports which are written up by management for hotel directors, letters which are sent by personnel from the accounting department to banks, emails which are sent by employees at the reservations office to potential guests, and notices which are put up on the staff notice board in the main staff corridor. Spoken methods such as face to face encounters are constantly experie