An Overview Of Marriott International Information Systems Essay

An Overview Of Marriott International Information Systems Essay In total, Marriott operates hotels under fourteen different brands, with four brands in full-service lodging, three in select-service lodging, three in extended-stay lodging and four in timeshare. This extensive accommodation portfolio is combined with a synthetic fuel production facility, which Marriott operates as a joint venture. (Global Market Information Database, 2005) Given the wide size and scope of Marriotts operations around the globe, information systems are vital to the smooth running of Marriotts hotel operations, thus this piece will examine how they have fit into such a diverse portfolio. Introduction Many business organisations in todays information age have holistic, broad views of business operations, and tailor them to accommodate the different types of individual business units or operations within their portfolio. In the past, companies were relatively self-contained and information management was straightforward, but the diverse business needs of the modern environment, including strategy formulation, process definition, product portfolio definition and construction, capital equipment ownership, technology, infrastructure and operations can no longer be kept on such a tight rein as many companies held them a decade ago. (Olson, 2005) The way enterprises manage their operations has been changed, in fundamental ways, by the information age, and these new approaches are applied by corporations to strategically manage operations and diverse portfolios with virtually every new initiative, whether it is internal transformation, where direct control of risk factors is very high but technology is new; with partners, where direct control over risk factors is shared; or with other stakeholders where direct control over risk factors is often very low. As such, it is important that diverse, multinational operators, such as Marriott International, have solid, manageable information systems in place, to better enable them to manage their diverse operations and investments. As such, this piece aims to use various sources of secondary research to analyse some of the systems Marriott International uses to manage its hotel and catering operations information across its global hotel holdings. Procedure / Research My primary method of research has been to use online databases, such as EBSCO host, MINTEL and Euromonitor, to find relevant articles, both on the use of information systems in business operations in general, and more specifically on the use of information systems within Marriott Internationals business model. One of the main, and most well known, uses of information systems by Marriott International is its focus on technology initiatives to boost the companys sales. In order to accomplish this, the company has implemented a detailed customer-relationship management package from Siebel Systems Inc., and engaged in a plan to upgrade its central reservations, revenue and property management systems, allowing customers to view and book rooms online. (Rosen, 2001) Another, less well know and less obvious area where Marriott International uses information systems is across its many in house catering departments. To aid with this, the company has completed a rollout of the ChefTec recipe management, food costing and inventory system, a Windows-based platform developed by Culinary Software Services Inc. Marriott International corporate executive chef Peter DAndrea expressed enthusiasm with the new system and discussed the operators previous menu management process. (Nations Restaurant News, 1999) For example, the system means that recipes can be converted automatically from domestic, to metric scales, to imperial amounts in the United Kingdom, where Marriott has many properties. The operator also has versions of software in several languages, including English, Spanish and German, and is working on one in Mandarin Chinese. Marriott also added its own glossary of culinary terms, optimum cooking times for off-used foods and a year-round planning feature, which helps chefs with seasonal menus; for example it informs them that March is the peak month for asparagus. Denver-based Culinary Software Services also worked closely with Marriott to cull about 2,500 of its recipes and 500 pictures and replicate them onto CD-ROMs, which were be distributed to more than 400 of Marriotts full-service hotels in the United States and abroad. (Nations Restaurant News, 1999) Taking advantage of ChefTecs core and advanced features, Marriott International also will be able to do the following: organize inventories based on bids from multiple vendors; search for recipes by ingredients, categories and names; attach photographs and video files to recipes; and save recipes in the hypertext markup language, which will allow chefs to distribute them over the Internet. Findings / Analysis In the context of the hotel industry, computers and information systems do three things very well, all of which are important in the hotel and catering industry. One, they handle large amounts of data. Two, they communicate at the speed of light. And three, they follow rules. (Hamstra, 1997) These factors are hugely important when managing a 3,000 hotel portfolio across seventy countries around the world. Not only must information, including booking and reservation data, be shared quickly with all other properties, but it must also be accurate, and in line with the companys overall strategy. Toward that end, the company has recently tested an Intranet prototype called Oasis, which is designed to give unit-level managers instant access to the information they need to run their locations, and manage relationships with their customers. (Rosen, 2001) Accounting is one of the more obvious areas in which technology has an impact on Marriott operations, as although most units have typically been equipped with basic software programs, much like small businesses, over eighty percent of period-end transactions are now handled electronically by year-end. (Rosen, 2001) The company is about halfway through its rollout of the Xcellenet system, which allows operators at the unit level to download software from corporate headquarters and to digitally transmit accounting reports via phone lines. However, the company keeps a wary eye on its technology expenditures, often using existing technologies longer than other businesses would. Although the entire Marriott organization spent $100 million on technology in 1997 (Hamstra, 1997), the lodging side of the company generally has the greatest need for the most advanced systems in its global hotel network. Often systems are tested and implemented in the lodging division before being adopted by the catering and other departments. In human resources, Marriott is putting advanced technology to use both in recruiting and training, including the companys Alexus system, which uses laser-scanning technology for the electronic storage of resumes, which can be accessed via the Internet by human resources personnel. When a position needs to be filled, Alexus automatically sorts through the resumes in its database to display those that represent the most qualified applicants. The company also sees a bright future for its CD-ROM interactive training program, which was developed in-house (Rosen, 2001). The product, which is used in conjunction with workbooks, gives unit-level managers an orientation to Marriott International, and subsequent segments in the series provide training in such areas as conducting pre-shift meetings, planning a menu and arranging reservations. Although Marriott is still in the early stages of the rollout of this technology: as of 2001, the second CD in the series was in a 40-unit test and the third was in a five-unit test, the company had already achieved significant time savings in training through use of the program, according to Fran Szabo, director of interactive training at MMS. (Rosen, 2001) The companys information systems and technology are also reaching the stage when they can be used to enhance the services the company provides to its business clients. The same employees who eat in the company cafeteria may someday be able to click on an icon on their computer screen that allows them to order food to take home or to gain access to other services, such as car detailing, and business clients who like the recipes served in the restaurant may be able to do likewise. Technology also plays a role in food production, with about 20 percent of the companys units using some form of automation in the production process, primarily in menu control. Here, however, the fundamental stumbling block will be in following rules: If somebody says, My moms apple pie is better than the standard recipe, then the next thing you know, youve got 120 different recipes for apple pie and you lose your procurement leverage. (Hamstra, 1997) Another massive impact of information systems on Marriotts business is the impact of providing free-to-guest internet access technology on the hoteliers revenue. When this technology first came on the scene, hoteliers saw it as an opportunity for revenue generation, however as time progressed, it became a necessity for guests, as well as part of the strategy to create exceptional value. For instance, at Marriott International Inc.s Courtyard and SpringHill Suites brands, guests are taking advantage of the high-speed Internet access service for more than just electronic-mail. They are accessing digital music and other types of digital content, and Marriott is currently responsible for the costs of this. (Shaw, 2005) However, as reliable, free to guest internet access becomes more and more of a requirement for guests, Marriott is being forced to build these costs into its business model, and thus is able to take a more holistic approach to customer information technology and systems across its business. This enables Marriott to gain supply chain leverage in this area, thus reducing the costs of information systems and Internet access across the group as a whole. Conclusions and recommendations By aligning the IT strategy with the business strategy over the past three years, Marriotts senior management has grown to consider technology as an investment rather than an expense. The concept of assigning a business lead and an IT lead to all major projects that are technology-enabled starts at the executive level (Computerworld, 2001), and executive decision-making meetings, such as Marriotts Business Strategy Review, e-Business Council and Digital Business Strategy, are all cross-functional and co-led. As a result, IT better understands and supports Marriotts business strategy, and business executives have a much better understanding of what technology can and cant do. This provides Marriott with a sustainable competitive advantage. CIO Magazine named Marriott International to its Top 100 list for the fifth time. Marriott is the only hotel on the list, which recognizes organizations for excellence in information technology. (Lodging Hospitality, 2004) Marriotts presence on this list clearly demonstrates the companys commitment to developing its information systems, and using them to support its business. Given that Marriotts revenue grew by 44% between 1999 and 2004, and profits grew by 49% over the same period (Global Market Information Database, 2005) at the time of the companys latest investments in information systems, it is clear from this that information systems are vital to the smooth running of a major multinational hotel operation and, indeed, this provides evidence that information systems are vital for any major business operation. Also, in order to further growth, Marriott is likely to focus strongly on international expansion, which is crucial, as Marriotts portfolio is currently highly reliant on US hotel sales. As a result, Marriott must focus on developing the speed and accuracy of its information systems to facilitate this growth, and stay in its current, market leading, position. References Computerworld (2001) In their own voices. Vol. 35, Issue 13, p. 42. Global Market Information Database (2005) Marriott International Inc. Euromonitor International. Hamstra, M. (1997) Marriott finds no cookie-cutter solutions for technology. Nations Restaurant News; Vol. 31, Issue 10, p. 110. Lodging Hospitality. (2004) Tech Bytes. Vol. 60, Issue 13, p. 54. Nations Restaurant News (1999) Marriott Internationals ChefTec makes recipe filing a snap. Vol. 33, Issue 20, p. 86. Olson, E. G. (2005) Strategically managing risk in the information age: a holistic approach. Journal of Business Strategy; Vol. 26, Issue 6, p. 45. Rosen, C. (2001) Marriott Uses CRM Application To Boost Sales. InformationWeek; Issue 843, p. 73. Shaw, R. (2005) Free-to-guest services migrate from revenue streams. Hotel Motel Management; Vol. 220, Issue 18, p. 26.

Behaviour Awareness Essay

Self concept is created by two main concepts, self image and self esteem. How you see yourself, your personality and how others see you are all part of a persons self concept. The more positive a person views themselves, the greater the chance of that individual reaching their full potential and being able to maintain a positive attitude. Self image being how you see yourself and your appearance. It does not have to necessarily reflect that of reality, someone suffering from anorexia for example who is visibly thin may, â€Å"have a self image in which the person believes they are fat. (1) The development within children and their self concept is quite significant. Young children will only possess a limited self concept of few descriptions which are usually physical. Older Children develops to a series of â€Å"factual categories†, these being things such as, hair colour, eye colour and height. In the adolescence period the self concept begins to expand further. Incorporating many likes and dislikes along with beliefs and may include details regarding others. Once self concept is in an adult stage it includes personalities and details of the quality of their life. If a person sees themselves as being a success it is likely that their self esteem will be high. With a positive self belief and a positive self image comes a positive self concept. According to Seligmon’s cycle of failure, if a child was attempting a certain activity and failed they could develop a negative concept of their abilities perhaps reinforced by others. With the negative builds a low self esteem leading the child not to try at the activity which in turn would lead to them failing once again. The cycle could also work in a positive way, If an individual performed an certain action and was rewarded for it they would repeat that action. For children to be able to develop need to have a role, a sense of worthiness. This could be as simple as tidying their bedroom or toys away. To have a positive self esteem children should also be praised and rewarded for good behaviour, and on the same principle have criticism and discipline for any bad actions. The case study of Emily illustrates aspects of her development and self concept, it is stated that, â€Å"she was an unsettled a baby and spent the first three months of her life crying. At this stage in a child’s development the baby would have little concern over self image or self esteem and is therefore crying for comfort, safety, love, in pain or just hungry. Due to the unhappiness of Emily it is unlikely that she was receiving the sufficient care or attention she needed. As Emily grows older her role is diminished even more, being blamed for the collapse of the family and the walking out of her father. The lack of belonging will damage Emily’s ability to find her identity, causing her a low self esteem. This only encouraged as she grows older, being neglected and left in her playpen. With the lack of interaction Emily is unable to make any form of attachments and develop any social skills. She is constantly being compared to her brothers in a unfair fashion yet again breaking down her self esteem and therefore her self concept. The sense of rejection from the family is renewed later on when the father collects her brothers to go and play football. With the reasoning, â€Å"she is a girl and girls do not play football! Not only presenting a sexist attitude, Emily is once again denied any form of acceptance. This denial of acceptance could influence her gender concept and develop the thought that she, and women in general are the weaker sex when compared to the male race. When Emily starts school, she does not mix with the other children. She instead isolates herself, a lack of confidence and social skills instantly signal a low self confidence and self image. This is most likely to be a result to her previous life experiences, she has not been encouraged to interact with others and therefore not know how to. As the case study explains in regard to Emily‘s social interactions, â€Å"Her brothers have little time for her† and that her mother, â€Å"was too depressed to care for her. † A lack of interactions may have given her a low self concept, the feeling that she was not worthy of positive attention. This lack of communication would have had a profound impact on Emily’s own attitude hence the lack of interacting with others once she begins school. If not improved Emily’s isolation could lead on to more serious problems such as depression in Adolescents and later life. Her perspective on socialising will impact her in a very negative way once she moves into her teenage years, it is during this period that relationships shift and close attachments are formed with friends. However, if she is unable to mix with others, unable to fit in the pressure could become too much. She could fall victim to bullies without the protection of friends or display what is often described as, â€Å"off the rails† behaviour. Drinking, smoking taking drugs and self harming to numb her disappointment with herself as she compares herself to others created a low self image and therefore low self concept. Teenage depression is a major issue often dismissed as â€Å"emotional teenage behaviour†, in actual fact it is said that, â€Å"one in seven children† develop depression with, â€Å"More than 70 percent† of these not being diagnosed and treated (2) An individuals self concept has both primary and secondary influences. Primary influences can be those of most significance to a person. Examples such as, friends and family who have a profound impact due to the closeness of the relationship. A person’s upbringing, how an individual is treated whilst growing up. The perspective on life and the morals of an individual all depend upon the atmosphere they have learned from. If a child for example had little attention or care from the parents, they may be badly behaved to get that attention even if it is in a negative form. Life experiences all depend on the depth of the example, if it was as simple as starting school it may not have such a dramatic impact when compared to a more serious situation like being moved due to a case of domestic violence. In the case of Emily her primary influences all possess negative elements, her family appear to disregard her displaying little love and affection towards her. The upbringing that she receives seems very â€Å"hands off†, her mother is suffering from a form of depression so therefore does not grant Emily much positive attention. Her brothers are fed lies from their mother who tells them that Emily, â€Å"is the reason why their father left. † and as for her absent father figure, he comes by and takes her brothers out leaving her behind. Secondary influences include, the influence of the media, certain situations such as arguments and role models. In regard to the case study of Emily, only negative influences are represented. With exception of the teacher who is the only one who appears to show any concern for her. From being a baby, Emily has had no close relationships. Her father left, and for this her mother and brothers both set the blame onto her. The upbringing she has received is simply that of neglect and disappointment. With all this rejection Emily must have an extremely low self esteem and sees herself as a failure. She has many life experiences, being blamed for them has affected her confidence and may be partly responsible for her self isolation. As for role models, Emily must be in envy of her brothers and the praise they receive so she may see them as her ideal self. The situation that Emily must be in is awful, she is aware that her family feel as though she is to blame and punish her for the break up of the family however, Emily has little concept on why others are treating her this way and so believes it must be her actual self developing her low self concept. As humans we all make comparisons. Comparing looks, styles, personalities ect. Children are less intrigued by style and dress size, instead many tend to focus on possessions. A friend having a certain new toy however, parents sometimes curse they children after they question the appearance of someone with a visible disability. It is just the curious nature of a child as they develop. Michael Argyle stated that self concept was made up of four factors, one of these being the comparisons we make. One website states, â€Å"If the people we compare ourselves with (our reference group) appear to be more successful, happier, richer, better looking than ourselves we tend to develop a negative self image BUT if they are less successful than us our image will be positive. † (1) This statement is relatable to most individuals as based on others we create our self image, am I as pretty as them? Am I more successful? These are questions that many ask daily and based on their personal answers the self image may change as a result. Comparisons can be negative but at the same time positive. By comparing yourself to someone in a negative way will only damage your self confidence and therefore, self concept. Emily is regularly compared to her brothers by her mother and also by her father in the form of neglect. This resulting in comparing herself to her brothers, her possible â€Å"ideal self†. It is because of this that any comparisons she makes will be negative towards herself. Once she begins attending school, it would be expected that she also makes comparisons between her parents and everybody else’s. Presumably enhancing the lack of love she receives from her mother and distant father. Many people have role models, someone they can look up and aspire to. They may also compare themselves to this person, their ideal self. As a child heroes tend to be a fictional character rather than an actual person although some may favour their parents or close family. By having a superhero as a role model, children want to act in the same way as them. Claiming that sense of power and authority they appear to possess. The mind of a child should be full of imagination and the ability to make believe. With this the self esteem and self image of a child can be fulfilled. As people grow older and develop more the hero’s they once looked up to seem outdated and childish. Role models at this stage tend to develop into real inspiration people. Someone who’s actions have had an impact and influenced an individual. . A persons self concept can have a very dramatic effect upon relationships. Some of the negative effects of having a bad self concept may include, lack of confidence, little interaction, isolating yourself, a low self esteem and a low self confidence. All of these reactions having a deep impact on the way we form and present friendships and relationships. If someone has a low self concept for one reason or another, they could become distant and withdrawn. This affecting others who are close to the person. If this was to occur with children they would not have the knowledge to understand that there might be a problem and dismiss it and maybe find new friends, rejecting the withdrawn one. As people grow older and become wiser it would become more apparent that there was a problem. Hopefully in this situation any friends would address to problem and support their friend. Depending on past experiences it may be difficult for some people to make or maintain friendships or relationships. A lack of trust or social skills would make it hard for an individual to express themselves and be themselves. In the case of Emily when she starts school, she makes no effort to make friends or socialise. From past experience she has had no real friends to be able to base future friendships on. The only actual relationships ships she has encountered are those of her mother and brother, which is filled with hatred and guilt. Bearing this in mind, in future Emily will always be conscious that she might cause the relationship to fail, and therefore never just be herself. On the other hand, due to her experience of abuse, neglect and negative attention it is possible that these qualities are those of what she will encounter in future relationships as to her this may be viewed as the norm. Michael Argyle was a theorist. He said that self concept is developed and affected by four main things. These being, the comparisons we make, our reactions to others, the roles that we play and the identification with role models. Comparisons we make: we are constantly comparing ourselves to others, this occurs most during the adolescence stage when individuals are attempting to find who they are and look at others for inspiration. Comparing almost everything in either a negative or positive way. The reactions towards others: how people interact, confidence or lack of social skills. If a person is happy and has a high self concept it would be more likely they would interact more. The roles that we play: does a person have any value or a role in life? It is important for an individual to have a role in life, to make them feel worthy like they have a purpose. Our identification with role models: means someone that an individual can aspire to and follow giving them some reason in life, an ideal self. Erik Erickson was a German theorist who set about a theory which suggests humans experience eight stages. At each of these we are faced with a crisis, a life experience. They are presented as opposites for example, trust Vs mistrust. It is said that we learn both positive and negative parts from each stage, which we never fully resolve. Instead take them and live by them in the next stage. For a healthy development throughout life the positive experiences must outweigh the negatives. His theory can be viewed as a lifelong description of ego. Either loosing or gaining the strength of ego as a result of each stages developmental experiences. All of this creating and shaping a persons personality, who they are. The development of his theory being influenced by both biology and genetics. The sequencing of events due to genetics and when each stage occurs as a result of biology. The theory which consists of both social and mental development, was also influenced by interactions with the environment.

Public Policing vs. Private Policing Essay

Before the increase in the trend of private policing, public policing has monopolized the field in the U.S. Both public and private policing, when compared, displays many similarities and differences, however their distinctions are frequently blurred. Even though they are classified as private police their behavior, roles and responsibilities appear parallel to the public to an extent (Wilson 1994). According to Shearing and Stenning, advancements in society, e.g. gated communities and large shopping centers, has sparked the need for the growth in private policing (Shearing and Stenning, 1983). These forms of properties ensure safety to customers and/or residence, therefore require continued surveillance. In addition, proper security has become a perk to residents and/or shoppers. With the advances in technology, private security has increased the adequacy of their analyzing, investigating, and monitoring. Private policing have been classified as many things whether crowd controlling, crime preventing, or an individual body guard, it is private security. In order for the policing to be considered private, service must be provided by a private organization or person, in comparison to public policing which is provided by the state or governing body. Private police are viewed as concerning of the safety of corporations or individuals. Whereas Public police are focused on the public, and enforcing the laws of the justice system. As Shearing and Stenning said, the police (public) are employed and given legal status by the government to ensure and maintain peace (Shearing and Stenning, 1983). Private policing is proactive, and preventative, in comparison to public policing, which is reactive. Meaning in private police aim to prevent crimes through surveillance, and public police respond once a crime has been committed (Wilson 1994).

Hares and Rabbits - Leporidae - The Animal Encyclopedia

Hares and rabbits (Leporidae) together form a group of lagomorphs that includes about 50 species of hares, jackrabbits, cottontails and rabbits. Hares and rabbits have short bushy tails, long hind legs and long ears. In most of the ecosystems they occupy, hares and rabbits are the prey of numerous species of carnivores and predatory birds. Consequently, hares and rabbits are well-adapted for speed (necessary for outrunning their many predators). The long back legs of hares and rabbits enable them to launch into motion quickly and sustain the fast running speeds for considerable distances. Some species can run as fast as 48 miles per hour. The ears of hares and rabbits are generally quite large and well suited to efficiently capture and locate sounds. This enables them to take notice of potential threats at the first suspicious sound. In hot climates, large ears offers hares and rabbits an additional benefit. Due to their large surface area, the ears of hares and rabbits serve to disperse excess body heat. Indeed, hares that live in more tropical climates have larger ears than do those that live in colder climes (and thus have less need for heat dispersal). Hares and rabbits have eyes that are positioned on either side of their head such that their field of vision includes a complete 360 degree circle around their body. Their eyes are large, enabling them to take in ample light in the dim conditions present during the dawn, dark and dusk hours when they are active. The term hare is generally used to refer only to true hares (animals belonging to the genus Lepus). The term rabbit is used to refer to all remaining subgroups of the Leporidae. In broad terms, hares tend to be more specialized for rapid and sustained running while rabbits are more adapted for digging burrows and exhibit lower levels of running stamina. Hares and rabbits are  herbivores. They feed on a variety of plants including grasses, herbs, leaves, roots, bark and fruits. Since these food sources are difficult to digest, hares and rabbits must eat their feces so that food passes through their digestive tract twice and they can extract every last nutrient possible from their meals. This double digestive process is in fact so vital to hares and rabbits that if they are prevented from eating their feces, they will suffer malnutrition and die. Hares and rabbits have a nearly worldwide distribution that excludes only Antarctica, parts of South America, most islands, parts of Australia, Madagascar, and the West Indies. Humans have introduced hares and rabbits to many habitats they otherwise would not naturally inhabit. Hares and rabbits reproduce sexually. They exhibit high reproductive rates as a response to the high mortality rates they often suffer at the hands of predation, disease and harsh environmental conditions. Their gestation period averages between 30 and 40 days. Females give birth to between 1 and 9 young and in most species, they produce several litters per year. The young wean at about 1 month of age and reach sexual maturity quickly (in some species, for example, they are sexually mature at just 5 months of age). Size and Weight About 1 to 14 pounds and between 10 and 30 inches long. Classification Hares and rabbits are classified within the following taxonomic hierarchy: Animals Chordates Vertebrates Tetrapods Amniotes Mammals Lagomorphs Hares and Rabbits There are 11 groups of hares and rabbits. These include true hares, cottontail rabbits, red rock hares, and European rabbits as well as several other small groups. Evolution The earliest representative of hares and rabbits is thought to be Hsiuannania, a ground dwelling herbivore that lived during the Paleocene in China. Hsiuannania is know from just a few fragments of teeth and jaw bones but scientists are quite certain that the hares and rabbits originated somewhere in Asia.