Is the quality of service apparent via these online forms of customer interface?

In recent years most businesses have been striving to minimize their environmental footprint driven by increased cost and environmental concern. In a response to this consumers and regulatory entities are demanding that hotel operators make an effort to minimize the environmental impact of their lodging operation. Doing so correctly will have a positive ecological, environmental and financial consequence. This includes reducing the use of water, maximizing the efficiency of your electrical use and a reduction in heat/cooling cost as well as minimizing the waste generated by the operation, without affecting guest comfort.

Assignment.

You are the new property operations manager of the Xavier Hotel. The GM has called you in to her office to inform you of new directives of the company and the need to become more sustainable. The GM tells you that you need to review the operational efficiency of the hotel and make recommendations to meet the new environmental standard set by the corporate office.

So to do well on the GM’s new assignment you should include a reasonable dollar value associated with all proposed upgrades for cost savings.

For example: If you save 15 gallons per person per day with your improvements for the 400 rooms which are occupied 72% of the time with 1.4 people per occupied room, how much is your annual saving in gallons and dollars?

Water costs $6.23 per 1000 gallons

The areas of focus:

Water.

Describe in detail what you would propose to the GM to do with the property to increase efficiency, and reduce waste for the following categories:

1. Discuss the reduction in gallons used per occupied room i.e. what is a normal usage per person and how can it be reduced.
   1. What steps can be taken to reduce usage structurally i.e. changing fixtures.
   2. What water saving programs can be put in place for both guests and employees to follow?
   3. What would the subsequent savings be on an annual basis in dollar$?  Give the GM a calculation of your proposed changes and how much will the hotel save on an annual basis.
   4. How much would the changes cost for all 400 rooms?

Energy.

1. Electricity is used for: lighting, vertical transport (elevators), pumps, refrigeration and multiple facets of HVAC.
   1. What can be done to systematically maximize the efficient use of electricity without affecting the comfort of the customer? For example, change out inefficient light bulbs, outdated equipment, preventative maintenance etc.
   2. Calculate the proposed savings in the reduction of the cost of electricity based on the cost of updating equipment or labor to do preventative maintenance.
   3. Include the return on investment (ROI) made to improve efficiency.
   4. ROI = (gain from upgrade – cost of investment) / cost of investment

Waste.

1. Hotel operations generate large amounts of garbage and other waste. The cost of sending one ton of garbage to a landfill is approximately $100 in RI. Any reduction in the amount of garbage generated will go directly to the bottom line.
   1. What systematic approaches can hotel managers take to reduce the amount of solid waste?
   2. How do procurement procedures affect solid-waste creation?
   3. What is the benefit of waste recycling in dollars and how does it affect guest perception of the hotel property?
   4. What might guest demand hotel operators do to minimize waste?

• The assignment should be done as a response to the GM in a research supported format (introduction, body and conclusion for each topic).
• Address the three category topics: water, electric & solid-waste under separate headings and answer the questions as detailed above.
• Use MLA guidelines in terms of proper in-text citations, proper works cited and paper format.
• A minimum of 3-industry sources are to be referenced (such as journals and industry/professional websites).
• STRONG CAUTION: You can reference a source and use quotes to form your argument, however direct CUT & PASTE of material without proper documentation will result in a ZERO grade.
• This assignment must be submitted through Turnitin on the due date. The assignment will not be accepted any other way.

Choose one ethical dilemma from each group

Group A: A newspaper columnist signs a contract with a newspaper chain. Several months later she is offered a position with another newspaper chain at a higher salary. Because she would prefer making more money, she notifies the first chain that she is breaking her contract. The courts will decide the legality of her action. But what of the morality? Did the columnist behave ethically?

An airline pilot goes for his regular medical checkup. The doctor discovers that he has developed a heart murmur. The pilot only has a month to go before he is eligible for retirement. The doctor know this and wonders whether, under these unusual circumstances, she is justified in withholding the information about the pilot’s condition.

Group B: An office worker had a record of frequent absence. He used all his vacation and sick leave days and frequently requested additional leave without pay. His supervisor and co-workers expressed great frustration because his absenteeism caused bottlenecks in paperwork, created low morale in the office, and required others to do his work in addition to their own. On the other hand, he felt he was entitled to take his earned time and additional time off without pay. Was he right?

Rhonda enjoys socializing with fellow employees at work, but their discussion usually consists of gossiping about other people, including several of her friends. At first Rhonda feels uncomfortable talking in this way about people she is close to, but then she decided it does no real harm and she feels no remorse for joining in.

Please wait until at least Thursday to begin working on this assignment so you can include the information we are learning in the threads and in our readings in your thought processes.

Parameters for writing this paper:

1. Answer the questions raised in the problems above. You will have two separate sections to your paper, one on each separate question in your chosen group. You do not have to write an “English class” style paper this week. Answer each problem separately.
2. While writing your answers, incorporate the ideas of “good vs. evil,” “wrong vs. right,” and “ought/should be vs. what is.”
3. Explain in your answer to each problem how Augustine and Aquinas would have solved the problem based on what we learned about each here in the materials and course, and if they differ, why?
4. Your two sets of answers should be about two pages, double spaced.

A. Respond to the following prompts.
1. Describe at least two specific uses of DNA testing besides testing for genetic defects in children.
2. Describe the structure and location of DNA.
3. Explain the meaning and process of DNA replication.
a. Explain why a mutation can or cannot occur during replication.

B. You remember that in Fragile X there is some dysfunction in the production of a protein. You consult research literature to learn more about what protein is involved and then review the interaction of RNA, proteins, chromosomes, and genes so that you can formulate a complete description and explanation of the syndrome (National Fragile X Foundation, 2006). PCR produces millions of DNA copies from the one initial template strand.
1. Describe the natural process that PCR mimics.
2. Describe the steps of PCR.
a. Explain the purpose of each step.
3. Explain why PCR is a revolutionary technique for molecular biologists.
4a. Give a brief description of the function of the chromosomes and genes next to each drawing.
6. Briefly describe the breakdown in protein synthesis in Fragile X.

C. Further investigation into Fragile X reminds you that the defect is carried on the X chromosome. This is important and helps to explain gene expression differences in males and females.
1. In order to help the parents understand how the defect could be inherited, develop a set of drawings that show how genes are replicated and randomly sorted during gamete production.
2. Provide a brief explanation (suggested length of 1/2 page) for the parents, who are concerned about whether their daughter might also be affected.
a. Discuss expression of the defect in males versus females.

D. You have just received the report of the chromosome test that you sent to the lab. You have also received the report of the FMR1 gene test. Both tests show definite signs of a full mutation Fragile X gene expression.
Note: Refer to the Fragile X web link in the Web Links section.
1. Provide a brief explanation (suggested length of 1/2 page) of the role of mutations in the DNA sequence of the X chromosome and FMR1 gene that causes Fragile X.

E. When you use sources, include all in-text citations and references in APA format.

Note: This task allows you to submit pictures, graphics, and/or diagrams. Each file must be an attachment no larger than 30 MB in size. Diagrams must be original and may be hand-drawn or drawn using a graphics program. Do not use CAD programs because attachments will be too large.

Note: For definitions of terms commonly used in the rubric, see the attached Rubric Terms.

Note: When using sources to support ideas and elements in a paper or project, the submission MUST include APA formatted in-text citations with a corresponding reference list for any direct quotes or paraphrasing. It is not necessary to list sources that were consulted if they have not been quoted or paraphrased in the text of the paper or project.

Note: No more than a combined total of 30% of a submission can be directly quoted or closely paraphrased from sources, even if cited correctly. For tips on using APA style, please refer to the APA Handout web link included in the General Instructions section.

Writing Assignment #4

Based on your readings of the texts and primary documents, describe and analyze the factors that led to the American Civil War.  Could the war have been avoided? How?

Your analysis should be in the form of an argument following this basic structure.

Thesis (What is your argument?  What is your main point going to be?)

Body (of evidence.  What can you cite form lectures, readings, documents that will help you convince the reader that your thesis is correct?).

Conclusion (What have you provided overall to convince us of your thesis?  Here you can summarize your evidence and perhaps acknowledge plausible alternative views.)

The questions/prompts for your analysis are:

• Write a 3-5 page essay giving your evidence-based opinion on the prompt stated above. You may use the full range of chapters in Foner as well as lectures to provide evidence for your argument.
• You must also select evidence from at least four primary documents in Zinn to support your argument. The documents must have been written between 1789 and 1861.

When answering this question, consider the following points when choosing the documents:

• Who are the authors?
• What is the author’s status within the culture? What class were the authors from.
• When was the document written.
• Who was the document written to?

Follow these formatting guidelines:

Length of Paper:  Your analysis should be no less than three and no more than five pages.

Sources: For this last exercise, you should use only the text, lecture, and the documents provided.

Citations:  You do not need a Works Cited page.

• You do need in-text cites in this form (Coffin 28) or (Hammurabi 3) where you have the author followed by the page number.
• You may cite lectures in this way (Colling 9/1). Where you have the lecturer and the date.

Font: 12 point, Times New Roman

Line Spacing: Double spaced.

Other Particulars:

• This assignment should be handed in as a hard copy. Your paper’s pages must be stapled in the upper left corner.
• Your name, class, and assignment number should appear in the upper left corner.

Colling, Michael

History 11

Paper #4

• Your title should reflect your thesis.
• You do not need a cover sheet, but take this into consideration when you are counting your pages.

Include  a minimum of 6 well-structured paragraphs in your three pages of discussion.

Write in 3rd person.

Use present tense to discuss literary work (s), but past tense to discuss author (s).

Include title (s) and author (s) in the introduction.

The thesis must be the last sentence in your introduction.

Your sentence must be the first sentence in each body paragraph.

Include a minimum of 7-8 well-structured sentences in the introduction and in each body paragraph. 

Include a minimum of three (3) sentences in the conclusion.

Use Times New Roman with 12 font size.

The leading public health care problems in the US are:

• Mental disorders
• Consumption of alcohol, nicotine, OTC drugs, and prescription drugs

The count for people suffering from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year is on the rise. This figure translates to approximately 57.7 million people currently (National Institute of Mental Disorder, 2008).

In relation to problems with drugs, consumption of alcohol is considered to be the leading problem. In addition, the consumption of Nicotine, OTC drugs, and prescription drugs are other prominent issues (McKenzie, Pinger, & Kotecki, 2008).

Based on these statements, create a report in the Microsoft Word document, discussing the following:

• Is the diagnosis of mental illnesses still viewed with a negative attitude several years ago? Why or why not?
• Are the local and national health care providers adequately responding to the needs of people suffering from mental disorders?
• Should the local health care communities be held responsible for mandating specific care and treatment for the affected population? Why or why not?
• What are the two major types of abused drugs and the most likely groups to use them? Why is drug usage prevalent among these populations?
• What roles should the state governments or private health agencies play in order to prevent and control drug abuse?