Pinewood Hotel Essay Example for Free

Pinewood Hotel Essay In this essay I will be explaining and evaluating the method chosen and used by Pinewood Hotel in order to gain a better insight onto how aspects of their website are rated, and how it compares to their competitors. In addition to this, I will evaluate the findings that were gained from the research method used by the researchers at Pinewood Hotel. Procedure The information used in this report was gained from several different sources. For example, I have used information from my P4 survey, as well as my P3, M2 presentation and my M1 table of various data collection methods. Findings To begin within the p4 task, we had to design and construct a questionnaire using surveys which included 15 questions. These questions were based on the market research objectives which were to investigate the various aspects of pinewood hotels website is, as well as comparing the company’s website to its competitors, to enquire about the quality of the online services, how accessible the company’s website is. The aim was to have 30 people fill the surveys out, 15 females, and 15 males. The surveys using questionnaires were presented face to face and included a variety of closed and open questions so we could gain enough information so it can enable the business clients to make necessary decisions/changes. I will contrast and compare my method of surveys to other data collection methods used in the case study. The data collection method I used was surveys. This was different to the methods highlighted in the Pinewood Hotels’ case study such as; Focus Groups and interviews. The difference between the two methods was that focus groups and interviews tend to have more qualitative data, as people will express their opinions and views in person, which can enable the market researcher to get a better insight into whether the people wanted real time information on the company’s website. This would be different to my chosen method as surveys using questionnaires are most often considered due to the level of quantative and qualitative data within the responses, which can be quite effective in terms of gathering information on Pinewood Hotels’ online services and aspects to their website. The qualitative data received would be used efficiently so get a better understanding of their market research objectives which are to see the quality of different aspects of Pinewood Hotels’ services such as; content, accessibility, navigation, fundability etc. In addition to this, surveys can also give market researchers quantitative data which is crucial in terms of achieving their marketing objectives to make comparisons between the aspects of Pinewoods Hotel’s website to their competitors. Other comparisons would include that surveys are a cheaper primary data collection method than focus groups and surveys. This is because focus groups require specific amount of people which could cost locating, as well as the documents needed for the focus group requirements. In addition to this, interviews require materials such as; board, pens, paper, as well as finding a suitable location, and equipment such as; projectors etc. This will be quite a costly data collection process, as surveys simply require a written document to be constructed and photocopied for cheap, in order to save costs for the business. However there are also secondary data collection methods which are more effective than some of the primary research methods. Examples of this are previous hotel records which could be used by Pinewood Hotel in order to estimate future sales and bookings. This is an effective method as market researchers would have already obtained the information and therefore saving their hotel quite some costs. Also, they will be able to use the information appropriately so they can fulfil their marketing objectives. It is a more accurate data collection method over a few primary data collection methods because people can exaggerate or rush their answers or not answer appropriately in primary data collection methods, which could influence the results negatively. However hotel records have already been created previously and therefore the accuracy of the data is much higher than a few primary methods. Sampling Methods In terms of choosing my sampling method, I chose quota sampling. This is because we chose to survey 30 people in total but divide the group into genders; males and females. Therefore; 15 males and 15 females were surveyed. This was an important sampling method to choose because it was quite accurate. It was less biased as we decided to interview both genders, leading to varied results for our market research team. We also chose to have quota sampling, because it was the most efficient sampling method which gave us the most accurate information we set out to find. I feel it was important to have more than one division; that being males and females. This is purely because males and females have much diverse views and opinions and also priorities such as; males being more interested in booking rooms and assessing the online services, where the females would also enjoy the online services, but would show more interest in the facilities available, therefore it was quite key to find out how each gender progressed through the surveys. I feel that quota sampling is much more accurate than other sampling methods such as random sampling. This is because random sampling will leave the researchers with a range of results, which will be harder to compare or formulate decisions through. As well as this, quota sampling is considered more effective as it is much cheaper in comparison to random sampling. Conclusion If I were to organise a similar project again, I would take into account various aspects which would be different to how this current project was undertaken. One aspect I would change would be the quota sampling to judgement sampling. This is because both sample methods are cheap, which is a benefit to the market researchers. However, where quota sampling would require the views of specific groups, judgement sample would more or less depend on the factor of which people can be contacted more easily. The only questionable aspect is the accuracy, but this will completely depend on how skilled the market researcher. This means that the people being surveyed would be chosen by the market researcher, and if they choose the appropriate people it could positively impact the results of the research method. Whilst on the topic of research methods, I feel that if this project was conducted again, I would most probably choose to do experimentation in order to gain the information needed for the required marketing objectives. This is because experimentation would be considered a very valid data collection method; however the only problem to this collection method is that it is time consuming. The market researchers can overcome this slight obstacle by locating better areas to conduct their experimentation so they can make their results more efficient. D2:- Recommendations Overall, the majority of people that were surveyed found Pinewood Hotel’s services to be very good. In addition to this, 75% of the 30 people found the contact between the company’s website and customers helpful and useful. This is very good as it would let Pinewood Hotel know that the most of their target market that were surveyed were satisfied with the procedures set by the hotel so they can stay in contact with their customers online and vice versa. A future strategy that can be in use by Pinewood Hotel is to have a QA section on their website. This is because it will make the level of contact much more efficient, as consumers will be able to type up a question and if it comes under the common questions asked, then it will be answered by an electronic system, if not it will forward consumers to a designated helpline. Around 85% of the 30 people surveyed had used the company’s website and also their top competitor Premier Inn. This information is quite useful for Pinewood Hotel because a future strategy they can incorporate into their business and website and create more awareness of their website, services, and facilities through increased promotional materials, so there would be more people that find Pinewood Hotel to be the better hotel over its competitors. Also, there was a variety of ways people had heard of Pinewood Hotel. This included; Friend, radio, and magazine. However, there were not many people surprisingly that found out about Pinewood Hotel from the TV. This could be a possible recommendation for Pinewood Hotel, which is to advertise or release promotional campaigns on the TV, so more people can know of Pinewood Hotel, and hopefully be appealed to their incentives they provide. As well as this, a potential future strategy for the hotel would be to hold public events at the hotel promoting their facilities whilst charging a small entrance fee, this way they can definitely increase the awareness of their hotel, as well as making more money through the amount of people that come to the event. There were roughly around 60% of people that found Pinewood Hotel’s website advertisement creative and 30% that didn’t find it creative and the rest found it very creative. However, this does show that Pinewood Hotel can possibly invest in different advertising methods which appeal more to people and their consumers. They can try testers of different campaigns or releasing information on their websites prior to it being released so more people know of it, and to increase the brand awareness. There were several recommendations which were highlighted. These were to make the website more interactive, more images, and different themes and more colourful.

To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee :: To Kill a Mocking Bird Essays

To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee Nelle Harper Lee was born on April 28, 1926 in Monroeville, Alabama. She is the youngest of four children, which is why she says she has a knack for writing. She devoted her life to writing and even gave up other jobs that she loved like working for the airline company and going to college. Her first attempt at writing â€Å"To Kill a Mocking Bird† was declined by every publisher, because she only wrote a series of short stories. Upon revising the book, she made it into one of the best selling novels around. She was even congratulated by those publishers that said she would never be able to write books well enough. That was all the motivation that she needed. Harper Lee’s purpose for writing this book was to show her audience moral values, the difference of right versus wrong. She does this very effectively by making Scout, the main girl in the story, and Jem, her brother, seemingly innocent, because they have not seen evil this early in their lives. The evil comes later when Mr. Ewell attempts to kill both Jem and Scout. Once the two children see and experience this evil, it changes their lives forever. They begin to see how the world can be different from their views. The morals for Scout and Jem to live by come from their father, Atticus Finch. He has experienced evils in his life, like the death of his wife, but he never lost faith in the good of people. He taught Scout and Jem right from wrong when they were young, because their mother was no longer around to teach them. Atticus understands that people have good and bad inside of them, but he feels that the good side can always overcome the bad side. This is true when he backed Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping Mr. Ewell’s daughter. Even though no one else helped Atticus out, he never gave up on Tom Robinson no matter how hard things got. Another important theme that this book stresses is how prejudice and ignorance is viewed by the innocent. For Scout, the thought of Boo Radley, the seemingly ignorant person who lived down the road, was changed throughout the story drastically. To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee :: To Kill a Mocking Bird Essays To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee Nelle Harper Lee was born on April 28, 1926 in Monroeville, Alabama. She is the youngest of four children, which is why she says she has a knack for writing. She devoted her life to writing and even gave up other jobs that she loved like working for the airline company and going to college. Her first attempt at writing â€Å"To Kill a Mocking Bird† was declined by every publisher, because she only wrote a series of short stories. Upon revising the book, she made it into one of the best selling novels around. She was even congratulated by those publishers that said she would never be able to write books well enough. That was all the motivation that she needed. Harper Lee’s purpose for writing this book was to show her audience moral values, the difference of right versus wrong. She does this very effectively by making Scout, the main girl in the story, and Jem, her brother, seemingly innocent, because they have not seen evil this early in their lives. The evil comes later when Mr. Ewell attempts to kill both Jem and Scout. Once the two children see and experience this evil, it changes their lives forever. They begin to see how the world can be different from their views. The morals for Scout and Jem to live by come from their father, Atticus Finch. He has experienced evils in his life, like the death of his wife, but he never lost faith in the good of people. He taught Scout and Jem right from wrong when they were young, because their mother was no longer around to teach them. Atticus understands that people have good and bad inside of them, but he feels that the good side can always overcome the bad side. This is true when he backed Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping Mr. Ewell’s daughter. Even though no one else helped Atticus out, he never gave up on Tom Robinson no matter how hard things got. Another important theme that this book stresses is how prejudice and ignorance is viewed by the innocent. For Scout, the thought of Boo Radley, the seemingly ignorant person who lived down the road, was changed throughout the story drastically.

Investwrite Essay

InvestWrite Essay If you need help planning your financial future, then I am the one to help you. Through trial and error, learning from my mistakes, and just getting a better understanding of stocks, The Stock Market Game has greatly improved my knowledge on stocks and has made me an excellent source of information on investing. For the couple that is in their late twenties, I would ask them a series of questions like, â€Å"How much money do you plan on investing? †, â€Å"How long do you have to save? †, and â€Å"Are you willing to take some risks? Since the couple wants to save for their retirement and save up for their child’s college expenses, I would advise that they invest in a variety of stocks. First, I would recommend they invest in Sprint stock. With its low current price at around three dollars, they are bound to make some money, especially with the holiday season so close. Another reason they should pick Sprint, is that it is a fairly large corpor ation, which means that it’s somewhat stable and can benefit the couple in the long and short run. Second, I would recommend they invest in a more pricy stock, Procter and Gamble.Although it’s higher priced, around sixty dollars, this stock comes with dividends and is great no matter the state of the Stock Market. With brands like Bounty, Gain, Pampers, IAMS, and even Pringles, people are never going to stop buying these items just because the Stock Market goes down. That being said, this stock is very stable and will definitely help balance the couple’s portfolio. Third and finally, I would recommend they invest in PepsiCo. With its multiple food related items such as Frito-Lay chips and all the Pepsi related soft drinks, this somewhat pricy stock, is a great way to keep the couple’s portfolio balanced.With the nice addition of dividends, this stock is a sure fire way to make the couple money in the long run. I based my recommendations on a variety of th ings. I looked mostly to see if the stock price was on the rise or going down the drain. If I didn’t think that it would make money, I didn’t choose it. Secondly, I looked for dividends. Dividends are basically money you get from the company’s earnings for each share of their stock you own. So if the company makes money, then you make money. Dividends are usually found on the higher priced stocks, but re great for long term investors. Thirdly, I went for diversification. You want to keep a diversified portfolio so that if one of your stocks fails, then you have something to back it up. If you keep all of your stocks in one related industry, if one fails, then all of your stocks will go down as well. Fourth and foremost, I thought of risk and reward. Risk and reward are important because it bases what stocks are suitable for which people. Younger people can take a higher risk because they have time to earn their money back if a stock or two fails.Older people hav e a lower risk because they usually don’t have a source of regular fixed income, so they can’t earn their money back. All of these factors were key when picking my recommended stocks. Through trial and error, learning from mistakes, and gathering basic knowledge, The Stock Market game has helped so much by giving me the essential tools for picking stocks, diversifying portfolios, and overall just making money in the Stock Market. And it is with these tools that I have recommended these stocks to this couple to which I am sure they will meet both of their goals of saving for retirement, and saving for their child’s college.Works Cited â€Å"PEP: Summary for Pepsico, Inc. Common Stock- Yahoo! Finance. †Ã‚  Yahoo! Finance – Business Finance, Stock Market, Quotes, News. Web. 13 Nov. 2011. . â€Å"PG: Summary for Procter & Gamble Company (The) – Yahoo! Finance. †Ã‚  Yahoo! Finance – Business Finance, Stock Market, Quotes, News. Web. 13 Nov. 2011. . â€Å"S: Summary for Sprint Nextel Corporation Comm- Yahoo! Finance. †Ã‚  Yahoo! Finance – Business Finance, Stock Market, Quotes, News. Web. 13 Nov. 2011. .

Private School Teacher Recommendations

Teacher recommendations are an important part of the  private school admissions process. These assessments schools to hear from your teachers, the people who know you best in the classroom environment, in order to get a better idea of what you’re like as a student. The idea of asking a teacher to complete a recommendation may be intimidating to some, but with a little preparation, this part of the process should be a breeze. Here are some common questions, along with the information you need to prepare your recommendations:   How many teacher recommendations do I need? Most private schools will require three recommendations as part of the admission process, even if you complete one of the standard applications. Typically, one recommendation will be directed to your schools principal, head of school, or guidance counselor. The other two recommendations  are to be completed by your English and math teachers. Some schools will require additional recommendations, like science or a personal recommendation. If youre applying to a specialty school, like an art school or a sports-focused school, you may also be asked to have an art teacher or coach complete a recommendation. The admission office will have all of the details you need to ensure that you complete all the requirements.   What is a personal recommendation? A great characteristic of private school is that your experience goes beyond the classroom. From arts and athletics to living on dorm and being involved in the community, who you are as a person is just as important as who you are as a student. Teacher recommendations showcase your academic strengths and areas in need of improvement, as well as your personal learning style, while personal recommendations cover life beyond the classroom and share more information about you as an individual, a friend and a citizen. Remember that not every school requires these, so dont be concerned if its not an option when you apply.   Should my teachers complete my personal recommendations, too? Personal recommendations should be completed  by an adult who knows you well. You can ask another teacher (not the same teachers completing the academic recommendations), a coach, an advisor, or even a friend’s parent. The goal of these recommendations is to have someone who knows you on a personal level speak on your behalf. Perhaps you’re looking to play in a  private school athletics  program, have a strong passion for  art, or are regularly involved in community service activities. Personal recommendations can tell the admission committee more about these endeavors. In these cases, its a good idea to pick either a coach, art teacher, or volunteer supervisor to complete the personal recommendation. Personal recommendations can also be used to share information about areas in which you need personal growth, which isn’t a bad thing. We all have areas of our lives to improve, whether it’s your ability to get places on time, a need to not overcommit yourself to activities or the ability to keep your room clean that you need to work on, private  school  is the perfect environment in which to grow and gain a greater sense of maturity and responsibility. How do I ask my teacher or coach to complete a recommendation? Some students can get nervous when it comes to asking for a recommendation, but if you take the time to explain to your teachers why you’re  applying to private school,  your teachers will most likely be supportive of your new educational endeavor. The key is to ask nicely, make it easy for your teacher to complete the application (guide them through the process) and give your teachers plenty of advance notice and a set deadline to submit. If the school has a paper form to complete, be sure to print it out for your teacher and provide them with an addressed and stamped envelope to make it easier for them to return it to school. If the application is to be completed online, send your teachers an email with a direct link to access the recommendation form and, again, remind them of a deadline. It’s always nice to follow up with a thank-you note once they have completed the application.   What if my teacher doesnt know me well or doesnt like me? Can I ask my teacher from last year instead? The school to which you’re applying needs a recommendation from your current teacher, regardless of how well you think he or she knows you, or if you think they like you. The goal is for them to understand your mastery of the materials being taught this year, not what you learned last year or five years ago. If you have concerns, keep in mind that some schools will give you the option to submit personal recommendations, and you can ask another teacher to complete one of those. If you are still concerned, talk to the admission office at the school youre applying to in order to see what they recommend. Sometimes, they will let you submit two recommendations: one from this years teacher and one from last years teacher.   What if my teacher is late submitting the recommendation? This one is easy to answer: Don’t let this happen. As the applicant, it’s your responsibility to give your teacher plenty of notice, a friendly reminder of deadlines and to check in to see how its going and if they have completed it. Don’t pester them constantly, but definitely don’t wait until the day before the recommendation is due. When you ask your teacher to complete the recommendation, make sure they clearly know the deadline, and ask them to let you know when it’s done. If you haven’t heard from them and the deadline is approaching, about two weeks before it’s due, do another check in. Most schools today also have online portals where you can track the progress of your application, and you can see when your teachers and/or coaches have submitted their recommendations.   If your teacher recommendations are late, make sure you immediately contact the school to see if theres still time to submit. Some private schools are strict with deadlines and will not accept application materials after the deadline, while others will be more lenient, especially when it comes to teacher recommendations.   Can I read my recommendations? Most simply put, no. One reason why you have to work closely with your teachers to ensure they submit the recommendations on time is that teacher recommendations and personal recommendations are all typically confidential. That means, the teachers need to submit them themselves, and not give them to you to return. Some school even require recommendations to come from the teachers in a sealed and signed envelope or via a private online link in order to make sure the confidentiality of it is preserved. The goal is for the teacher to give a full and honest review of you as a student, including your strengths and areas in need of improvement. Schools want a true picture of your abilities and behavior, and your teachers honesty will help the admission team decide if you are a good fit for their  academic program, and in turn, if their academic program will meet your needs as a student. If teachers think youre going to read the recommendations, they might withhold important information that could help the admission committee better understand you as a scholar and a member of your community. And keep in mind that the areas in which you need to improve are things that the admission team expects to learn about you. No one has mastered every aspect of every subject, and there’s always room to improve. Should I submit more recommendations than requested? No. Plain and simple, no. Many applicants mistakenly think that stacking their applications with dozens of really strong personal recommendations and extra subject recommendations from past teachers is the best way to go. However, your admission officers don’t want to wade through dozens of pages of recommendations, especially not ones from teachers in elementary school when youre applying to high school (believe it or not, that happens!). Stick with the required recommendations from your current teachers, and if requested, choose the one or two individuals who best know you for your personal recommendations, and stop there.