Friday, December 27, 2019

The Impact Of Sexual Child Abuse On America - 1517 Words

The Impact of Sexual Child Abuse in America Child abuse has been going on for many years. There are many forms of child abuse, however, there is one that is far worse than the rest; sexual abuse. Children has a natural instinct to trust too easily and believe what people tell them, especially if they know those people. Statistics show very high figures of sexual child abuse in America. When children undergo sexual abuse, it impacts their whole being. There are physical, emotional, and psychologic effects that could impact a child not only short term but long term as well. When a child is victimized sexually, they are not aware of the victimization. These types of victimizations could last years before it is forced to stop. One of the sources describes a story where a women shares her experience of sexual child abuse. The story will explain what she went through emotionally after the incident. Even though it was a one-time victimization, it still had a long term effect. Educating chi ldren and adults about how to recognize the signs of sexual abuse could be a step closer towards helping innocent children who are being sexually victimized all around the United States. Summary of Literatures Definition of Sexual Child Abuse To begin, the common definition of sexual child abuse is referred to, in the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, as a type of maltreatment that refers to the involvement of the child in sexual activity to provideShow MoreRelatedChild Abuse1192 Words   |  5 Pages Doug mikel Child Abuse Sociology 111 Tues./Thurs. 8a-9:15a Tina Harrell 9/21/2014 Imagine living a life you fear, one you have to keep a secret. Always pretending to be happy and carefree when deep down thinking, Please don t let this day be the last. Living in a house where painful marks and scars are hidden by long sleeves, and jeans. Looking over your shoulder wondering when the next assault is going to be. â€Å"Almost five children die every day as a result of child abuse.  Ã‚  More than threeRead MoreChild Molestation And Its Effect On Children1638 Words   |  7 Pagesaware of the nature of the crime or offense. One of the most traumatizing experiences that a child can ever encounter in their adolescent life is sexual abuse. Child molestation has been inflicted on many children throughout history and most will agree that it is a harmful and despicable act, however do we know why it occurs? Do we know what causes child sexual abuse and does it have the same effect on every child? Are some children even aware of the fact that they are being victimized? Th ere are manyRead MoreThe Trauma of Childhood Sexual Abuse Essay1694 Words   |  7 PagesAn estimated 39 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse exist in America today (Darness2Light, 2009a ). This figure continues to grow daily as perpetrators of this crime continue in this destructive path. The definition of child sexual abuse is the force, coercion, or cajoling of children into sexual activities by a dominant adult or adolescent. Sexual abuse of children includes touching (physical) sexually including: fondling; penetration (vaginal or anal using fingers, foreign objects orRead MoreChild Abuse979 Words   |  4 PagesChild Abuse 2 Just about all children have many different experiences that will have a major impact on their lives before they reach full maturity. A child can face a lot of dangerous things from the environment surroundings them which might seriously affect their whole life. The definition of Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act: Child abuse is any action from adult to a child that can be harmful to the child’s body or mental (Children Welfare Information Gateway 2007). In theRead MoreThere Are Many Different Forms Of Child Sexual Abuse. Sexual1436 Words   |  6 Pagesare many different forms of child sexual abuse. Sexual abuse can be perpetrated by a relative or a stranger. But the most common of sexual abuse is committed by a beloved relative. Ratican (1992) defines childhood sexual abuse is a sexual act performed over and over between an adult and child (1992). The effects of childhood sexual abuse can last into adulthood and effect the way that a person thinks or t heir outlook of life. The effect of this act has a negative impact on the psychological patternRead MoreChild Abuse And Its Effects On Children1317 Words   |  6 PagesChild abuse has long been an ongoing social problem; this abuse has been one of the repeatedly difficult accusations to prove in our criminal justice system. Child abuse causes many years of suffering for victims. Children abused suffer from chemical imbalances, behavioral issues and are at high risk for becoming abusers or being abused in adult relationships. This cycle of learned behavior and suffering will be a hopeless reoccurring problem unless the criminal justice system and protocols for abusersRead MoreEssay on The Gravity of Domestic Violence in America1423 Words   |  6 PagesFor generations, the gravity of domestic violence in America has been disregarded and glossed over; perhaps it is because 60 percent of all domestic violence takes place at home. Domestic violence is defined as, the situation in which an intimate partner or someone you live with attacks you and tries to hurt you, often including physical assault, sexual assault, and bullying. â€Å"Every year, more than 3 million children witness domestic violence in their homes.† (safehorizon.org) Domestic violence atRead MoreEssay on Child Abuse: The Epidemic That Must Cease 1443 Words   |  6 Pages Child abuse is epidemic in many countries as well as the United States. It is estimated that every thirteen seconds a child is abused in some manner: physically, sexually, emotionally or by neglect (Friedman). Each year, there are over 3 million reports of child abuse in the United States involving more than 6 million children. Child abuse can be reduced with proper education of the parents and with greater public awareness. Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglectRead MoreEffects of Domestic Violence on Children1124 Words   |  5 Pagesprevalent social issue in America today. First, who is affected by domestic violence. Second, the impact of domestic violence on children. Third, the social harm of domestic violence is illustrated. This paper argues that domestic violence has tremendous effects on children. What makes domestic violence a social problem rather then a personal problem? Domestic violence 20 years ago was framed as a women’s issue. Domestic violence is a pattern of behaviors including physical, sexual, and psychologicalRead MoreThe Long Term Psychological Effects Associated with Sexual Assault959 Words   |  4 PagesThe long term psychological effects associated with sexual assault includes, depression, substance use, anxiety, PTSD, and decreased self esteem (Foa Riggs, 1993; Resick, 1993). The authors of this article supports current literature which proposes that African American children receives inadequate or inappropriate sexuality socialization and sexual abuse prevention in their cultures and families which may affect their disclosure of sexual assault in adulthood (Washington, 2001;Wyatt, 1992). Comaz-Diaz

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Unemployment Keynesian Ideas and Fiscal Policy Essay

Fiscal policy, as we know it today, is meant to mitigate unemployment and stabilize the economy through aggregate demand. Despite dismal unemployment numbers, politicians and policy-makers continue to use and be optimistic about the effectiveness of fiscal policy in this regard. Policy as we have seen over the past five years has had dismal effect on the unemployment numbers we are seeing today. It seems we need a policy that will tackle lagging aggregate demand as well as the employment problems. A direct-job creation effort will work to create the differences in aggregate demand and effective demand creating equilibrium and filling the void that the current Keynesian fiscal policy leaves. Keynesian Ideas The origins of many ideas†¦show more content†¦Keynes idea is that there is a spending multiplier model that shows that $1 introduced into the economy flows and circulates into smaller and smaller pieces; ultimately yielding a final aggregate impact number that is much larger than the original amount spent. This model can be applied to each variable of aggregate demand in order to increase the GDP. (GDP=AD=C+I+G+X) In this model if government spending increases by $1, half of that dollar will circulate in the market, and the other half of that 50 cents or 25 cents with flow into the economy, in a continual process. That first 50 cents in additional consumption is the Marginal Propensity to Consume factor (MPC) . With that MPC of 50 cents, the multiplier of any new round of marginal spending, based on Keynes model would be, $1/ (1-mpc) or $1-.5) =$2 of increased spending. Therefore, $2 is created by each dollar introduced into the economy. Essentially if $400billion put into the economy through government spending brings back a rise in income of $600 billion, then the multiple would be 1.5 (Keynes, 1936, 151-174). With greater aggregated demand there is more demand for goods and services (GDP) at any given price level. So, with greater demand for goods and services, there is more need for firms to produce them, and therefore unemployment would fall. A number of moves can be taken in the event of a recession to aid in recovery, the typical fiscalShow MoreRelatedNew Classical Macroeconomics Arose From The Monetarism And Rational Expectation School Essay922 Words   |  4 Pagesspontaneously, which could solve the unemployment, recession and a series of macroeconomic issues. Keynesian economists believe that changes in the money supply will lead to changes in effective demand that will changes in the total economy. For economic cycle fluctuation, Keynesian economists believe that is a disequilibrium phenomenon. In 1960s, Keynesian economists appealed to the Phillips curve, which means monetary or fiscal policy will lead to lower unemployment rate and cause higher inflationRead MoreMeg Guild . Mr.Bare . Economics . 31 April 2017. Market942 Words   |  4 PagesMeg Guild Mr.Bare Economics 31 April 2017 Market Place Essay Five Key Questions about Macroeconomics Policy The recession in 1974—1975 and two other back to back recessions in 1979—1982, which sent the employment rate to 11%. The inflation rate rose into double digits then plummeted. A period of Great Moderation came after 1985, and the recession of 1990—1991 was more manageable than the previous recession. Unfortunately, this period of tranquility was followed by the Great Recession whichRead MoreKeynesian Theory During The Great Depression949 Words   |  4 Pagesestablishment of the Keynesian theory during the Great Depression, there was a continuous rivalry between Keynesians and monetarists. The ongoing debate was about which model can most accurately and correctly explain economic instability and which theory provides the best suggestions on how to achieve constant and steady economic growth. There are fundamental differences in these two approaches, for example over the usefulness of government intervention through fiscal policies, monetary aggregatesRead Mo reJohn Maynard Keynes s Economic Theories Essay1245 Words   |  5 PagesMaynard Keynes was born in 1883 and passed in 1946. He was an economist, journalist and financier, known for his economic theories. The majority of his theories have to do with prolonged unemployment. He believed there would be no automatic self-adjustment and that the economy could stagnate in continuous unemployment or inflation. Keynes believed that the economy is susceptible to unexpected changes in spending behavior and won’t self-adjust to a desired macro equilibrium. When there are changing expectationsRead MoreClassical Vs Keynesian Economics1235 Words   |  5 PagesClassical and Keynesian economics are both accepted schools of thought in economics, but each had a different approach to defining economics. The Classical economic theory was developed by Adam Smith while Keynesian theory was developed by John Maynard Keynes. Similarities: One of the most surprising similarities between the two theories is that John Keynes developed his theory based on the Adam Smith’s theory. Keynes did not entirely disagree with Adam Smith but rather, expanded the theory basedRead MoreFiscal Policy And Its Effects On Economic Growth1260 Words   |  6 PagesFiscal policy is a tool that is used by the government to correct fluctuations in the economy. Fiscal policy involves the government manipulating the level of government expenditure and/or rates of taxes to affect the level of aggregate demand (Sloman and Sutcliffe, 2001, p.633). The business cycle is inter-linked with this policy as it illustrates the short-term increase and decrease in the economy, noted as periods of recession and expansion. The idea of fiscal policy is simple when the economyRead MoreKeynesian, Monetarist, Fiscal Policy, Unemployment, Inflation898 Words   |  4 PagesKeywords: Keynesian, Monetarist, Fiscal policy, Unemployment, Inflation The Keynesian-Monetarist Debate When looking from both side of the Keynesians and Monetarist argument, we notice that both sides are correct in different terms. How unemployment is resolved in a labor market is opposed on the Keynesian side. While the Monetarist looked at the quantity of money, which should be increasing at a constant rate. The Monetarist reduce the money supply, which reduces the spending’s and increases theRead MoreMacroeconomic Theories Of Macroeconomics And Classical Economics999 Words   |  4 Pageseconomies. With microeconomics, macroeconomics is one of the two most general fields in economics. There are two major macroeconomic theories that economists use to describe the economy. Those theories are Keynesian and Classical. Each theory has a different approach to the economic study of monetary policies, consumer behaviors, and government spending. A few distinctions separate the two theories. Classical economics is the theory that free markets will restore full employment without government interventionRead MoreInsight From Theory And History1638 Words   |  7 Pagesinteraction have emerged throughout the years. Two of the most influential theorist that have come to the fore front have been John Maynard Keyes, with his theory of Keynesian economics and Milton Friedman with his idea of monetarism. While both economists have had major influence on modern day economic policies, both theorist have contradicting ideas, this paper will aim to take a look at both Keynes and Friedman’s theories respectively and look at the application of these theories in the real world. JohnRead MoreA Study of Keynesian Economics1073 Words   |  4 PagesWhich fiscal policies might activist Keynesian economists recommend to help a depressed economy regain full employment? Explain how they work. Keynes and Keynesian economists propose two large categories of measures to help a depressed economy regain full employment. These are either monetary measures or fiscal measures. Monetary measures rely on the decrease of interest rates and the reasoning behind this approach is as follows. The individual in an economy has two basic option of utilizing

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

My Mountain free essay sample

Generally, people always approach point in their lives where they are at a constant struggle, trying to reach the top of a mountain, yet no matter how high they climb, they still feel like they are stuck at the bottom. My biggest, most complicated mountain so far would have to be my father’s former alcohol problem. The chaos started at a young age for me. I had no worries in the world, and I was blind to all the trouble alcohol brought to my family. I never knew when things were going wrong because everything seemed like a fun roller coaster to me until the day my mom and I came home from my grandparents’ house. My neighbors from down the street met us in our driveway. They began to slowly tell my mother and I that they found my father face down in the lake as still as a rock, just floating. We will write a custom essay sample on My Mountain or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page He had gone jet skiing while under the influence of alcohol. Tears filled my eyes as I looked into the sky just to see a big orange helicopter take my father away to the hospital. Nervousness and disappointment could be seen all over my mother and I’s faces. From that day on, my outlook on everything changed. My father spent a week in the hospital regaining strength and good health before he finally returned home. One would think that after such a scary experience my father would choose to change for the better, but sadly, that was not the case. He began to drink on and off throughout many years, sending our family on an awfully bumpy and emotional ride. All of his bad choices affected me majorly including my grades and the way I performed in sports. My father’s alcohol problem had become a negative shadow that followed me everywhere. Now some may think that a girl who grew up with an alcoholic father would be â€Å"messed up† or at least following in his footsteps. Well I decided I did not want to be that girl. Instead I have grown to become an intelligent and driven student who holds a spot in the top 10% of her class. I have also successfully been inducted into the National Honor Society and have been granted the privilege of team captain for my varsity soccer team. I could not allow this negative shadow to defeat me. Overall, although treacherous and frustrating, I made it to the top of my mountain. I am no longer a victim to the complications. I am, and will continue to be, successful.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Warwick Castle Essay Example

Warwick Castle Essay Warwick Castle Robert Craven and Stuart Chambers Warwick Castle the finest mediaeval castle in England. INTRODUCTION The Stratford-on-Avon and District Hotels and Caterers Association (SCATA) publishes a brochure which has described the Castle as follows; â€Å"This magnificent ancient Castle, situated at the very centre of England, is a treasure house of great beauty and splendid, rare quality collections of pictures, furniture, furnishings and an outstanding collection of arms and armour which bear witness to the power and influence of the Earls of Warwick down through the centuries. The beautiful grounds landscaped by Capability Brown, where peacocks roam freely, are a delight in all seasons. . . Excellent catering facilities are available all year round to suit every pocket and disposition, as well as several gift shops† Warwick Castle is less than two hours by road from London with easy access from all major cities by motorway, road and rail. This excellent infrastructure allows the area to be part of the itinerary of any visitor to the UK. The County of Warwickshire is lyrically described in the SCATA brochure: â€Å"Stratford-an-Avon and Shakespeares Country. When you think of England, and the very best of England, you are probably thinking about this fascinating region. Here in this most English of English landscapes, the broad rolling sweep of the Cotswolds, the classic half-timbered villages of the Vale of Evesham and leafy Warwickshire, there is an unparalleled variety of attractions. We will write a custom essay sample on Warwick Castle specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Warwick Castle specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Warwick Castle specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The birthplace of the worlds greatest dramatist, William Shakespeare; the finest mediaeval Castle and most-visited stately home at Warwick; Englands most magnificent palace at Blenheim; and the worlds most famous theatre in Stratford† THE CASTLE The Castle is part of the Tussauds Group, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pearson plc, which also owns the Financial Times Group and Royal Doulton among other varied interests. The Tussauds Group runs entertainment centres that include: Madame Tussauds, the famous waxworks in Baker Street, London; the London Planetarium and Laserium; the Royalty and Empire Exhibition at Windsor; Alton Towers, the UKs only world-rated leisure park; and Chessington World of Adventures and Zoo. The Castles General Manager, Martin Westwood, works in the stately home, from a majestic suite of offices overlooking the grounds. He is enthusiastic about the Castle both as a building steeped in history and as a business. In the relaxed atmosphere of his office, where he is surrounded by portraits and old paintings of the Castle, he refers to it as a brand leader in stately homes for it is in the top five most visited historic sites that charge entry fees (see Table 1). Table 1 Historic sites attracting more than 300,000 paid admissions 1 Tower of London 2 Roman Baths and Pump Room, Bath 3 State Apartments, Windsor 4 Stonehenge, Wiltshire 5 Warwick Castle 6 Shakespeares Birthplace, Stratford 7 Leeds Castle, Kent 8 Hampton Court Palace, near London 9 Tower Bridge, London 10 Blenheim Palace, Wood stock, Oxford 11 Beaulieu, Hampshire 12 Cutty Sark, Greenwich, London 13 St Georges Chapel, Windsor 14 Anne Hathaways Cottage, Stratford 15 HMS Victory, Portsmouth 16 Mary Rose, Portsmouth 17 Royal Pavilion, Brighton 18 Chatsworth House, Derbyshire 19 Hever Castle, Kent 20 Fountains Abbey, North Yorks. Paid admissions (000s) 2298 950 855 703 685 604 540 525 528 517 493 411 372 365 340 333 314 306 303 300 As you pass through the ticket office from the large car park you catch your first view of the Castle. The view truly takes your breath away and fully warrants the description given by Sir Walter Scott in 1828: the most noble sight in England. MARKETING Marketing Manager, Sarah Montgomery, is another enthusiast of the outstanding beauty of the Castle. Discussing the marketing of the business she considers that the Castles unique selling point must be that carried on all the promotional material: Warwick Castle the finest mediaeval castle in England. But she does not discount the Castles unique state of preservation, the breadth of attractions it offers, its location on the banks of the River Avon or its thousand-year span of history. In the year 1068 the first castle was built at Warwick and since that time it slowly developed into a mighty stronghold and later a grand mansion befitting the station of a high ranking nobleman. . In November 1978 the present Earl sold Warwick Castle and its contents to Madame Tussauds of London. The Castles marketing team recognised that the Castle attracted a diverse audience, each segment of which wanted different things from a visit. So in targeting audiences the team had to decide whether it was trying to sell the Castle aspect, the stately home aspect or the gardens. It was felt that all thre e areas attracted different audiences and conjured up different expectations. Research had established that from the publics point of view castles were not associated with grounds and formal gardens, and neither were they associated with the notion of being someones home. On the other hand, stately homes were associated with grounds and gardens but were felt to be formal and museum-like, with ropes keeping the public away from the interesting areas. So, was the most visited Stately Home in Britain really a castle, or was the Castle also a stately home? This conundrum had to be solved. The Castle management has a deliberate policy of charging one overall admission charge for all areas of the Castle and Grounds open to visitors. In the past they had considered charging separate admission prices for the Castle and the Grounds but this, it was felt, would confuse the customer. (See Figure 1 for price and attraction details. ) The Castle regularly has detailed market research questionnaires compiled by an outside company. Sarah said that market research is taken very seriously by the team: â€Å"On average, overseas visitors represent 42 per cent of the total. Twenty-five per cent of our customers seem to come in groups of greater than 20 and these groups are predominantly from overseas. On the other hand, 58 per cent of visitors come from the UK, of which roughly half come from within a 100 km radius of the site. Another interesting point is that 25 per cent of all customers are repeat visitors which we feel reflects the popularity of the Castle. With UK visitors 33 per cent are repeats. Of the nonlocals, that is UK residents from outside the 100 km radius, 78 per cent stay overnight in the area and the remainder have travelled over 100 km to visit the area for the day. With the recent opening of the M 40 motorway into London (approximately180 km} it is felt that travel time may be a more important factor to consider than distance travelled in kilometres† Figure 1 Admission Rates and attractions at Warwick Castle The data are collected over a period of days, and the market research reports sent to Sarah include not only the profile of visitors but what parts of the Castle they visit. The popularity of various parts of the complex varies according to how busy the site is. For instance, on a quiet day 87 per cent might visit the Private Apartments, but on a busy day this igure drops to 68 per cent. Likewise, during one such busy period, the visitors to the Woodland Gardens increased from 17 per cent to 20 per cent, to the Mound from 46 per cent to 52 per cent, and to the River Island from 34 per cent to 40 per cent. On average, visitors stayed on the site for three hours. Coach parties tended to visit for three hours, probably because the Castle was part of a full-day, tightly scheduled excursion that included other nearby tourist attractions. Competition for the paying tourists disposable cash was quite fierce in the area, it was felt. Other sites competing for the leisure pound were the Black Country Museum, Drayton Manor (Adventure) Park, West Midlands Safari Park, Cadbury World, Blenheim Palace, Alton Towers Theme Park, Ironbridge, Stratford’s Shakespeare and Chatsworth House in Derbyshire. In the Undercroft Restaurant marketing researchers overheard an elderly professor in conversation with a friend he had encountered in the Castle grounds: â€Å"I came early in the morning to avoid the rush. Any major historic tourist site is going to be heaving by midday in the summer and personally I hate all the queuing and tourists with cameras and all that. I got here at about 10 a. m. when the place opened this morning. I was able to enjoy the pure magic of the building with relatively few other people around. By lunch-time the queues were what I felt to be unreasonably long, but it is August and this must surely be their peak time here. I do wonder, for instance, should they not encourage more visitors out of season and what about allowing people to visit early morning or in the evening to avoid the lunch-time crush? † MANAGING DEMAND Warwick Castle brochures show a wide variety of activities that supplement turnover outside the peak season. According to Sarah, this literature was intended to push up the shoulders of demand: Every Friday and Saturday evening the Undercroft provides the setting for splendid five-course mediaeval banquets recreating the eve of the Battle of Agincourt. . A special events calendar has been published (see Figure 2). The Warwick Arts Festival uses the Castle as a venue in the evenings for a week in July. Exclusive tours of the Castle, and separately of the Gardens, are run by experts for pre-booked groups. These are available during the periods October to March, and March to November respectively, except during school half-term holidays and bank holidays. †¢ †¢ As a profit centre for the Pearson Group, the Castle is given targets that increase at a rate exceeding inflation. From these, prices are derived based on product developments, the prices that competitors are charging and known external factors that may affect demand (such as exchange rates and elections! ). The Castle expected between 700,000 and 800,000 visitors in the next year and profit projections were made based on these estimates. All catering facilities are run by the Castle, recognising franchising to another company would result in lost control and reduce potential to participate in profitable activities. Martin Westwood commented on fluctuations in demand: â€Å"Staffing varies relatively little with demand. It is felt that once the basic positions around the Castle are attended by staff, there is little that an additional staff member can provide. Winter weekends attract more visitors than winter weekdays, such that Saturday and Sunday combined turnover is the same as the other five days of the week put together. In summer things are more even, a Saturday or a Sunday being equivalent to two weekdays, although Sunday is usually busier than Saturday† Figure 2 Warwick castle Special Events Calendar BUSINESS OBJECTIVES Martin is clear that the Castles prime objective is to achieve growth in earnings per share for its shareholders. At the same time he emphasizes the sense of responsibility the management feels as custodians of this precious monument to work within it and use integrity and sensitivity at all times. Hence all signs, directions and facilities take a very low profile. Flashing neon lights are not the order of the day! Sarah Montgomery commented on the need to underplay the commercial side of the organisation: â€Å"Coca-Cola have offered us a sponsorship deal. They will give us money for a particular project which will increase our revenue and also the number of visitors we are getting. The problem is that Coke is the epitome of youth and fizz while the Castles target market is adults ABC 1, average age somewhere around 45! So how do we pull this deal together? † It is the integrity of the business in which the management take pride. It is not any business site but a very special building that is loved and cherished by the staff. Their constant concern is how to run a business from the Castle without destroying the charm and romance of the buildings, and without covering it with obtrusive signs and facilities. All staff are very polite and courteous and, though they are available to the public, tend not to interfere with the customers visit. In fact they blend in with visitors as they wear little that suggests they are actually staff. And when the Castle is relatively empty of visitors it has a really enchanting atmosphere. PERFORMANCE Evaluation of the performance of the business has difficulties. On the one hand, queues are an obvious problem (see Table 2) but then the customers do not seem to mind too much! Above all, the business is going from strength to strength, and achieving healthy profit performance. So, while the criticisms have to be noted, management has been achieving the high returns and growth that the shareholders require. Table 2 Observations of queuing and flow, Tuesday afternoon Queue to Private Apartments (number of people) 1. 00pm 130 1. 20 147 1. 40 128 2. 00 153 2. 20 132 2. 40 119 3. 00 137 Flow through doors to Private Apartments (number of people) 1. 00-1. 20 104 1. 20-1. 40 113 1. 40-2. 0 107 Flow from Private Apartments and State Rooms (number of people) 1. 00-1. 20 127 1. 20-1. 40 117 1. 40-2. 00 121 Queue to Rampart Walk 0-20 people at anyone time Number of people entering Rampart Walk 1. 40-1. 50 174 Queue at top of ramparts to get down (number of people) 6 minutes 63 Martin Westwood was defensive on the question of queues: â€Å"What popular to urist attraction doesnt have queues, and in any case, the queues here move pretty quickly. If we get queues for one part of the Castle we simply put out a sign suggesting people move on to the next attraction, although, to be frank, that doesnt really work. You see, the trouble is, that once people see a queue they dont want to miss out so they still join on the end of it. Our marketing questionnaires (see Appendix 1) suggest that weve got the operation about right, but theres always room for some improvement† The Professor in the Undercroft Restaurant had raised several issues connected with this: â€Å"The Castle really is in a unique condition of preservation. Its truly marvellous but I wouldnt seriously consider visiting it in the peak season. I just happen to be in the area because were going over to Stratford tonight to see Twelfth Night at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Im really looking forward to it! I wonder why they dont have off-peak rates for those not visiting around midday and maybe open earlier and close later. I would be more than happy to spend more time on the site if it werent for all the other tourists everywhere. And another thing, couldnt they do a package deal with the theatre at Stratford? Im sure a lot of visitors here also go there. In fact, I would pay a premium price to have the Castle almost to myself. For instance, Id find it simply delightful to sip a Pimms or a gin and tonic in the grounds as the sun went down. I know that I am rambling but I am sure theres a way to re-jig the prices so that the site basically generates more income throughout the year. And even if you say they do things out of season Ive not heard about them, so whats the use of publicity if it doesnt reach the people that want to spend money? † Sarah Montgomery, mindful of the need to keep a close eye on customers diverse requirements, often talked to individuals at the exit. A transcript of one such encounter is reproduced in Appendix 2. APPENDIX 1 MARKETING QUESTIONNAIRE OF RANDOM SAMPLE OF PEOPLE LEAVING WARWICK CASTLE Age range 0-5 6-15 16-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 66+ 7 37 27 25 34 17 20 33 Area of origination Local (within 100 km) UK (outside 100 km) Europe (excl. UK) USA/Canada S. America Australia Africa Asia Other/unspecified Length of stay in area Day trip 1-3 days 4-7 days 8+ days Method of transport Coach trip Own transport Hire car Public transport Other (bicycles etc. ) 37 27 25 47 3 11 5 14 2 96 50 13 5 96 74 31 20 12 Did you find that you had to queue very much? Yes 186 No 12 No comment 2 Did you feel that the queues were the same as other large tourist sites? Same 190 Better 4 Worse 6 Did you visit? State Rooms and Great Hall The Private Apartments The Watergate (Ghost) Tower The Armory The Dungeon The Torture Chamber The Gatehouse and Barbican 191 190 31 104 193 183 87 Guys Tower, the Rampart Walk and Clarence Tower The Victorian Rose Garden The Peacock Gardens The Conservatory The River Island Foxes Study and Cedar Walk Pageant Field The Mound Refreshment Stall Stables Restaurant and Tearoom Undercroft Restaurant The Bookshop Did you.. .? Bring your own picnic Did you see the Red Knight Did you buy a brochure How long have you spent at the Castle? hours Is this your first visit? Yes No Would you visit again? Yes No Maybe Dont know 186 103 117 102 57 31 101 54 118 52 71 62 32 81 99 5 67 75 37 16 148 52 144 31 23 2 APPENDIX 2 TRANSCRIPT OF A CONVERSATION WITH A VISITOR Christabelle Trymko, Oldbury-on-Severn, Gloucester We got here at about midday. We came up for the day from Gloucestershire. It was quite a good trip and the kids behaved t hemselves in the car. We had heard a lot about the Castle from some friends who have just moved up to Stratford, which is just down the road from Warwick. The Castles in superb condition! You dont know what its going to be like until you get past the ticket office and it really is amazing. It has been kept in impeccable condition, and the gardens are beautiful as well as being far less crowded than the Castle. There were too many people in and around the Castle. The queues were an irritation but I parked my husband in the queue and took the kids elsewhere until he was near the front and then we joined him. I think a few people got upset because we seemed to be pushing in, but Im not prepared to wait with three children in long queues in the sun. Mind you, its nothing like the queues at Madame Tussauds in London, they really are crazy. I didnt realise quite how big the grounds were. If I had known I think we would have spent longer at Warwick Castle and made a full day of it. We should have come here at about ten and then spent the whole day here. That way the queues inside the Castle would have been shorter for us. The grounds are lovely and theyve got special picnic areas which I thought was a nice idea. (I wish wed brought a picnic. ) Mind you, it does seem to be more than a bit light on entertainment for the kids. Nicky loved the man with the wonderful moustache dressed up in full Crusader uniform on the horse. He was very good with the kids. Nicky also liked the waxworks in the Private Apartments place. The queue wound its way up, down and around the place but apart from mild feelings of claustrophobia (thats my problem, I suppose) it went at about the right speed and I guess it lasted a bit under an hour. Oh yes, the Ra mpart Walk, they ought to warn you about just how many stairs you have to climb. I mean, I know there is a sign but you dont take it seriously, do you! You go up and up and then theres that great spiral staircase up the inside of that tower, I wont do that again in a rush! But it was worth it for the view. All in all it was a good day. More interesting than the average castle and not full of the usual touristoriented rubbish associated with tourist attractions. The commercial side is very much underplayed and I like that. You dont feel obliged to buy ice creams and tee-shirts and pencils and tea towels. Maybe some of the signs were a bit too discreet we had to ask where the toilets were but it makes a pleasant change. Also I like the one price for everything. At other places, I object to paying an admission charge and then paying on top of that for particular attractions. You always feel mean if you dont pay up, and then you also feel that you might be missing something. No, Id recommend the place and its so much less hassle than the tourist places in London which you almost feel obliged to visit every so often. This case is from : Cases in Operations Management (Second edition) Johnston, Chambers, Harland, Harrison, Slack, FT Prentice Hall 1997