Energy Resource Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Energy Resource Plan - Essay Example energy production systems pollute the environment through emission of green house gases in to the atmosphere, which adversely affects humans and animals through climate change and health related issues (Carlson 2005). The renewable energy includes the energy sources that can be that can be used over and over again. It includes energy sources such as solar, geothermal, wave and wind energy, amongst other self-sustaining alternative energy sources. However, in order for renewable energy to be sufficient, large amounts of sources need to be harnessed, since they produce a relatively little energy. In other words the ratio of the energy produced to the energy source harnessed is relatively small compared to the non- renewable energy, whereby a small amount of the energy source produces substantial amount of energy. However, once used, these sources are irreplaceable (Schaeffer 2007). These include coal and petroleum products amongst others. They are a major cause of environmental degradation through emission of green house gases in to the atmosphere, and water pollution through oil spills as well as land degradation through mining of coal. The first and most important thing that each person ought to do in order to conserve the environment is to minimize the use of non-renewable energy. This will help in reducing the rate of environmental degradation through energy production from non-renewable sources. This can be accomplished through the use of solar energy for lighting, wind energy, and natural gas among other renewable energy sources. Electrical appliances, especially the air conditioners, refrigerators and lighting should remain switched off whenever they are not needed. People should also use energy efficient equipment such as less fuel consuming vehicles or the use of bicycles instead of vehicles that consume high energy as well as emitting green house gases to the environment. People should also insulate their living rooms more in order to minimize heating

The effectiveness of the various corporate governance policies and Essay

The effectiveness of the various corporate governance policies and approaches in the USA and United Kingdom - Essay Example The paper tells that during the last two decades, the business world witnessed a number of corporate scandals like the bankruptcy of Allegheny, Enron, Tyco, Global Crossing, WorldCom, and others. The bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers fuelled up the global financial crisis of 2008-09. All these corporate scandals and bankruptcies have raised the importance of corporate governance. The ultimate victim of all these scandals and crisis are the stakeholders who lose a large sum of money invested in the companies involved in these scandals. The investors take their investment decisions based on the information disclosed by the companies. Therefore, any type of wrongdoing or incomplete disclosure can cost a lot to the investors. Thus with every financial crisis and corporate scandals the relevance of corporate has increased largely. Governance refers to governing someone with the help of some specified system, policies and principles. Thus, corporate governance is the principles, specified proc esses, policies, and systems used to govern a company. The principles of corporate governance acts as the guidelines used to control the activities of the company so that it can it can achieve its objectives and at the same time add value to the organisation in such a way so that the stakeholders can be benefited in long run. Thus, corporate governance helps the management to operate in such a way so that not only the shareholders but also the other investors, employees, customer and the society as a whole benefit from the actions of the company. (Centre for International Private Enterprise, 2002, p. 3-4). The basic premise behind the principles of corporate governance is to enable the organisation to conduct its activities with fairness, maintain transparency in its operations and transactions, disclose all the relevant information, comply with all the rules, regulations and laws, be responsible and accountable to all its stakeholders, and maintain the code of ethics while conducti ng its activities. Practice of ethical activities is an important part of the corporate governance. Good corporate governance enables the company to achieve investors’ confidence and achieve goodwill in the industry. Thus, corporate governance is not only important for the stakeholders but also for the company too (Thomson, 2009). The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) describes corporate governance as a system through which companies and other business organisations can be controlled as well as directed. Corporate governance helps to setup a structure through specifying the responsibilities and the rights of the various members of the companies like the board of directors, employees, and shareholders. Corporate governance sets the rules, regulations and the processes of decision making regarding the activities of the company. The corporate governance helps the company in setting up the companies objectives and goals, as well as enabling the company assess its performance and helps in achieving them.

Elevator Failures in Housing for the Elderly Essay Example for Free

Elevator Failures in Housing for the Elderly Essay The advent of multi-stored housing apartments that can be of up to 30 stores imply that any one who has a problem standing or being in elevators for a long time may be forced to seek alternatives which in most cases are non existent. However, the use of elevators should not have been a worry if only they were well functioning and regularly serviced (Fernandez 2008). According to residents, taking a lift is a risk in that they are prone to breakdowns and in most cases it is only one of the up to four lifts that is functional (Fernandez 2008). Some buildings have elevators that breakdown so often that one would rather do without them. The elderly due to their reduced performance are worst affected by the problem; most of them have health problems that do not allow for strenuous activities like walking up storied building (Fernandez 2008). According to a resident at Kingsborough apartment, the problem is compounded by the slowness with which mechanics respond in cases of emergencies (Fernandez 2008). Mechanics take up to nine hours to respond to cases of emergency regarding elevators. Some residents have lost their limbs in efforts to escape from jammed lifts while the loss of time that elevator complications lead to cannot be quantified (Fernandez 2008). Others have lost their lives trying to escape the confines of jammed elevators. Though residences fail elevator inspection test, nothing is being done about the failures; the death of an 89 year old woman which is partly blamed on elevator failure has not even raised concern on the issue (Fernandez 2008). Being stuck in elevators for up to 20 minutes an hour is common and most folks casually chat about it (Fernandez 2008). 151 elevators failures were recorded by Kingsborough extensions in 2007-2008; a record breaking figure for a housing development for the elderly (Fernandez 2008).

Online And Traditional Classroom Learning

Online And Traditional Classroom Learning Over the past decade, researchers have demonstrated that technology can be a useful and effective tool to administer education. Although, nothing can take the place of the teacher in terms of developing students education, online education is making their way into classrooms and homes now. The teachers are not the only ones who can open the door to education for students whereas the computer plays an additional role in helping students education technologically as a useful tool. Although you cant get the direct interaction; online learning provides convenient learning. (Shoeman-Jones 2009) With the economic conditions changing people are opting to go online. More people are working and going to school which will make them competitive and give the working man options about his education. However, online learning can be effective for students if its used wisely. The main focus of online is convenience but it can also be an alternative to get outside beyond the walls and connect to soci ety rather than sitting in a classroom. Computers are used for just about everything but can it really replace the classroom? In fact, education and technology, if we understand it in its broadest sense, is changing everyday in every way. Therefore students have several different options that can best suit their needs. Researchers agree that Technology is so advanced and sophisticated but can it really take the place of the teacher who can motivate, organize and manage the whole class by creating the pleasant aura of active teaching and learning process, but many have drawn quite different conclusions in addressing the following questions: 1. What are the advantages of a classroom setting? Classroom Vs Online 3 2. What are the disadvantages of a classroom setting? 3. Can Online Education be just as effective as the classroom? 4. What are the implications of Online Learning? This review of Teacher Vs Online focuses on these four questions. What are the Advantages of a Classroom Setting? In an influential article, Neobrain, Wright, and Cleaver (2009) argued that everyone need a person who can both understand their needs, their weak points and strong points and also know the most effective and suitable methods for the students to make them realize themselves what they are going to do is right or wrong. For the students in the classroom, computers are amazingly useful machines that, in almost no time, can perform sophisticated operations and solve difficult questions, which even the teacher, let alone students, cannot do. With that said the teacher can know who is following his teaching and who is not and give relevant examples during his teaching to keep the class interested in the subject he is explaining. Another advantage of classroom learning is that the teacher can give students the real essence of education by nourishing students hearts and opening students minds during the classroom teaching. Also, students have the advantage of having face-to-face interaction with the teacher which enhances their classroom experience. (Wonacott 2002) Teachers feel that they can assess their students better through weekly interaction in the classroom. In classrooms with a smaller teacher-to-student ratio, students can even get more direct assistance. Because there is real time interaction and students and their instructor speak instead of typing, more ground can be covered in less time. An instructor or student can point to a page in their text. The instructor can write Classroom Vs Online 4 information down on a white board. Students can discuss information with each other, and because they are speaking in person, there is less chance that one of them will be misunderstood. One thing that is affected by the Online Learning is the social interaction. (Anderson 2007) Social Interaction is important because traditional classroom teaching also provides students with the opportunity to have real social interaction with one another. This interaction in turn allows for the students to help one another in terms of academics or in terms of personal issues. Good learningis collaborative and social, not competitive and isolated (Fulford, 6). When students sit in chairs next to each other they learn from each others mistakes and learn social interaction skills. Also, traditional schools offer sports, recreation, student clubs and organizations, and other activities that allow you to form friendships and social networks. Good social interaction is a key part of living well. Study after study shows that good friendships, family relationships and health as the most important things to have in order to be happy and fulfilled. In this sense, again the computers performa nce is nothing compared to the traditional classroom. What are the Disadvantages of a classroom setting? In a traditional classroom environment, there are usually anywhere from twenty to thirty children and one teacher. In some cases, that teacher might have a teachers aid or an assistant teacher. This is where the disadvantage starts- it is simply impossible for one person to give each student the one-on-one attention or instruction that may be required. In a classroom of twenty to thirty students, there are going to be several students with differing learning styles and academic strengths and weaknesses. (Alavi Gallupe 2003) Classroom Vs Online 5 Which brings to light the next disadvantage of a traditional classroom. In a traditional classroom environment, its not uncommon for students to become bored or frustrated. Some students learn better by visual means, others will learn better with auditory means, and still others are going to learn better with a hands-on approach. It is virtually impossible for a single teacher to accommodate all methods of learning when he or she is responsible for teaching a large number of students. Thus, children who do not fall into the traditional learning method category are far more likely to fall through the cracks, become bored or discouraged, or to display behavior problems in the classroom. (Shoeman-Jones 2009) The traditional classroom environment works well for a large number of students, but there are many others who simply have difficulty learning in this environment, have difficulty interacting with peers, or who require more one-on-one attention and time to grasp certain concepts. In traditional classrooms, lecture is the main form of learning. One characteristic of traditional learning is: The student is forced to be in the same time day in and day out. With the economic changes we are facing in todays age and tuition cost rising, students are working. The career fields are more competitive and people are not alone seeking employees with an education but also experience. So with that said, students are seeking alternative options for acquiring an education so they can remain competitive in todays job market. Sitting in a classroom is not an ideal setting for some students. Being able to pace and not have strict time constraints on assignments can be beneficial. Some students have odd working hours and dont have the time to get to class on time and that can cause stress mentally and physically. Also, students have Classroom Vs Online 6 finally found themselves able to help themselves and get self-educated even long after finishing the class. (Shoeman-Jones 2009) Perhaps this may be the most significant fact that makes the difference between the teacher and the machine. You can cover more material and ground at your own pace and complete the class early. On the other hand, Classroom learning does have its disadvantage especially competing with convenience. Can online education be just as effective as the classroom? With so many advancements with the internet you have many options for online learning. From websites that exists to help elementary students prepare for statewide tests, to middle and high schools having the opportunity to take classes online and complete make up work. The internet has certainly made learning convenient and a much simpler process. Giving students flexibility in learning may push someone that may otherwise decide not to finish high school or even enroll in college into completing to a different decision. Also most students work either full or part time therefore having the option to take classes online is a great advantage for them. Education is now one of the many opportunities available for consumers on the Internet. The online student population is expanding by 30 percent a year, with over 75 percent of traditional colleges and universities getting into the market, according to experts. With the Internet, distance degrees have become a viable and valuable option fo r the individual who may not be able to enroll full-time in a traditional brick-and-mortar institution. (Neal) What is online education? Who can take online classes? Is an online degree the same as a degree from a college that you take on campus? These are some questions that you may want to know the answers to before deciding to enroll in online classes. According to, www.blackboard.com online education can be Classroom Vs Online 7 defined as an approach to teaching and learning that utilizes Internet technologies to communicate and collaborate in an educational context. This includes technology that supplements traditional classroom training with web-based components and learning environments where the educational process is experienced online. Anyone with access to the internet can take classes online. Whether you obtained your degree online or on a campus your degree is treated the same as long as the institution is accredited. Colleges offering online or blended classes have online learning tools that you take your classes at and participate in discussions. At Florida State Community College they use a platform called Blackboard. On Blackboard you can also view your grades and email other classmates, teachers also use this site to post messages to the students. You can also take exams and quizzes on blackboard. Unless there is scheduled maintenance Blackboard is accessible twenty-four hours per day, seven d ays per week. This is convenient for the students, and makes life much easier. Since September 11, 2001, the number of overseas inquires about online learning has jumped 40 percent. (Neal) There are many advantages and disadvantages that students take into consideration before enrolling in online classes. One of the best advantages to online classes is flexibility. Online classes do not require you to commute. In some cases, students travel from more than one campus. Most students like that they can make their own schedule, choosing to take your classes during the day or even in the middle of the night. When taking online classes you dont have to sacrifice a lot of your free time, especially when you can do work any time day or night. Classroom Vs Online 8 Students really dont have to leave the comfort of their own home, not to mention time saved on traveling to class and the amount of money saved on gas. You dont have to worry about what youre going to wear to school. Some students dread participating in class, they may not be scared to speak to others but sometimes having all eyes on you may make your uncomfortable. Participating with online discussion gives you a voice that may have otherwise have never been heard. Moving away from shyness and also giving you a better participation grade. If youre not a good note taker, dont worry, most of the lectures are already written out for you and you can go back and look at it anytime that you would like. If you have small children you can care for them and take your classes without having to send them off to daycare. Weve seen the commercials on television all the time, mostly of students in their pajamas and imagine that it could be us. Not having to go into a classroom and listen to a lon g lecture that you may think is so boring can otherwise be seen online and you dont have to worry about dosing off. Some students may have otherwise recorded the lectures in order to listen to again at a later time, now they can go back to it on the schools learning tool. Being able to complete assignments at home without any distractions from other classmates is also an advantage, especially for those who have a short attention span. Another advantage of online learning is the accessibility of learning materials. No matter your program of study you will more than likely able to find classes pertaining to your degree. Being able to control the timeframe in which you obtain your degree is another advantage, most colleges offer accelerated degree programs. Even though you may be earning your degree faster than most does not mean the task will not be difficult, you have to be dedicated in obtaining your degree or you may fail. You can also work on more the one degree Classroom Vs Online 9 program at a time. Make sure that you have a laptop so that anytime you have free time you can pick it up and get to work. Another advantage is that in some online classes most tests and quizzes are given online giving you the opportunity to use your textbooks. Even if the tests are timed you are more likely to score higher if you have the information in front of you to pass the test or quiz. If you have good time management skills and do not find yourself procrastinating often then online learning may be a good option for you. What are the disadvantages of Online Learning? There are many disadvantages as well to online learning. One disadvantage that students complain about is face to face interaction with other students and the teachers. One of the most common disadvantages that students have is the lack of supervision which leads to procrastination. Some students need constant motivation from teachers and students in order to succeed, so if you are not able to work on your own you shouldnt consider online classes. Even though you can wake up in the middle of the night to complete a paper at the last minute you find yourself doing it more often due to the lack of supervision. Usually students with poor study habits fail at online learning. Self-Pace is a lot of hard work and dedication. Usually online classes require you to read more and complete more assignments versus traditional classroom whereas you would take notes. Another disadvantage is that most online classes usually cost more than the classes taken on campus. With the rising cost of tuition and books, online fees are not far behind and doubling every year. Be sure to check with your college of choice when making this decision. Even though you may be saving with travel expenses you need to make sure that you are not paying so much more for your classes that saving on the traveling is not a Classroom Vs Online 10 big difference. If youre only reason to take online classes is to save money on traveling you may want to check on the cost of your online course first before making your decision. You also have to be very computer savvy or succeeding with an online course will be nearly impossible for students. With most online courses you are on the internet most of the time so you may want to make sure you are very familiar with the internet before starting an online class. To develop your computer skills to take online classes, you can take a computer course on most college campuses, and this should be done before signing up for online classes if you think you need better computer skills. Some online credits may also not be transferable so you may want to make sure that you check with your advisor before trying to transfer any credits. Not every school in the nation has migrated to virtual world completely. Make sure that you also that you find a fully accredited program. Conclusion Taking the advantages and disadvantages into consideration will make your decision easier when considering your education. Whatever path you decide to go be sure to weigh all of your options, and do what is best for you and not what others may think is best for you. We all have different learning styles so what may be the best option for me may not be the best option for you. Many have earned their degrees online or through blended classes and their degrees is just as good as the person who earned it in a traditional classroom environment. Just be very careful in choosing am program that is accredited or the classes youve taken could not only be a waste of time but also money. When it comes to education, there simply is no one size fits all answer. The teacher has got a unique human brain that can perform teaching in a way that the Classroom Vs Online 11 computer, a mere artificial brain, cannot do. Well when it comes down to it, traditional classroom will always win, you cannot put value on the long time study of a profession thats proven to be effective but if youre willing to step outside box consider taking at least one class online, just to see if its right for you. Remember you have to fail sometimes in order to succeed. Classroom Vs Online 12

Ellington :: essays research papers fc

An American jazz composer, orchestrator, bandleader, and pianist, composer of jazz music, I am all of this and probably more. I am Edward Kennedy (â€Å"Duke†) Ellington. I was nicknamed â€Å"Duke† by a boyhood friend of mine who admired my royal air. And the name stuck to me. I grew up listening to black music. At that time jazz was considered low and vulgar by most respectable and sophisticated people like myself. I was born in Washington on April 29, 1899. Born to the son of James William Ellington and Eliza Jane Johnson. I am said to be the most prolific composer of my time. I’ve never actually had much education, but still I was able to develop good speech, dress, and manner. When I was young, the times were bad for us. There was agricultural depression. My family lived as middle-class citizens. We weren’t wealthy nor were we poor. My parents have musical backgrounds. I got my first job selling peanuts at Washington Senator’s baseball games, and it was the first time I was placed as a performer for a crowd. When I was a teenager I played the piano in a musical style known as ragtime. I attended Armstrong Manual Training School to study commercial art instead of going to an academics-oriented school. During the summers, in Philadelphia or Atlantic City, I began to seek out and listen to ragtime pianists there. While I was on vacation in Asbury Park, there was a hot pianist that I heard of, his name was Harvey Brooks. Guess what? At the end of my vacation I went and sought for Harvey Brooks in Philadelphia, that was where he showed me some pianistic tricks and shortcuts. His playing triggered me to start up my music career, and then you have it, me, Duke Ellington the musical is born. I learnt from Oliver â€Å"Doc† Perry and Louis Brown, they taught me to read music and helped me improve me playing skills on the piano. I also went to find piano playing jobs at clubs and cares in Washington. I actually dropped out of school to pursuer my music career. I played for my friends and at parties, and soon I formed a small dance band named The Duke's Serenaders in 1917. I moved away from Washington to New York City in 1923. I went to New York to find musicians who could contribute special sounds to my band.

Palestine and Israel Essays -- Threats to World Peace

Background The issue of Palestine and Israel is one that has been hotly contested for over a thousand years. The last fifty years have been especially important in the history of the Jewish people and Palestinians. Since the death of Yasser Arafat on the 11th of November 2004 , and the election of Mahmoud Abbas as his successor as leader of the Palestinian Authority, significant steps have been taken towards a lasting peace. This will hopefully lead to a conclusion of the second Palestinian intifada, which began in late September 2000, and to an end of the oppression of the Palestinian people by the Israeli Defense Forces. Both Jews and Arabs have suffered heavily from the conflict, thousands of innocent civilians have died on both sides, and peace is in the interests of all. History of the Conflict The disputed territory that has been alternately referred to as Palestine and Israel is relatively small, the total area is only roughly 22 000 square kilometers. It is bordered by Jordan on the East, Lebanon on the North, Egypt and the Mediterranean Ocean on the West, and shares 76 kilometers of border with Syria in the North East. The two disputed territories that are occupied by the Israeli Army but under the autonomous control of the Palestinian Authority are the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. These two territories amount to roughly 6400 square kilometers, the West Bank makes up the majority of this area – it amounts to 6000 square kilometers in the Eastern part of the country and borders the nation of Jordan. Jews have long considered Israel to be their national home. They consider it to be a Holy Land, or a Promised Land – they believe it to be their right from God to live in the region. The area is also considered... ... - http://www.myjewishlearning.com/history_community/Israel/Overview_IsraeliPalestinian_Relations/Intifada_I/Intifada2.htm Israeli Defense Force - www.idf.il The Socio-economic Impact of Settlements on Land, Water, and the Palestinian Economy - http://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/cahier/proche-orient/colonies BBC News – What is the West Bank barrier? - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3111159.stm Books: Beitler, Ruth Margolies – The Path to Mass Rebellion: An analysis of two intifadas B’Tselem: The Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories - Information Sheet: May 1993 – House Demolition During Operations Against Wanted Persons. Human Rights Watch – Israel, the Occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, and the Palestinian Authority Territories Series: In a dark hour: the use of civilians during IDF arrest operations

Case Study: Employee Retention Essay

This is a critique is based on two articles, in which addresses the issues of employee retention and suggestions for the motivation and engagement of employees in the hospitality industry. The first article is titled â€Å"Targeted employee retention: Performance-based and job-related differences in reported reasons for staying† by Hausknecht, Rodda, and Howard (2009), in which addresses the major theories to help in explaining the reason that employees stay or leave their organization, and ways to retain them. The second is titled â€Å"Terms of engagement† written by David MacLeod (2010) that presents suggest ways for motivating and engaging employees so they will want to stay. ANALYSIS OF KEY POINTS IN â€Å"TARGETED EMPLOYEE RETENTION† _Reasons employees want to stay with their company_ According to this article, the primary reason that employees stay with their employer are job satisfaction; they enjoy the work involved in serving customers. For many employees, the reasons for staying are for the extrinsic rewards such as pay, benefits and advancement opportunities. Employees want to receive fair rewards for their efforts. If these rewards are not presently found, employees may leave for other opportunities that offer greater rewards. Another factor is â€Å"constituent attachments, in the form of effective supervision and positive peer group relations,† (Hausknecht et tal, 2009, p. 3). Other incentives to retaining employees are organizational commitment and prestige. The secondary reasons are compensation, competitive wages, health benefits, retirement contributions, and incentive plans. Additional reasons for staying are â€Å"constituent attachments, organizational commitment, organizational prestige, lack of alternatives, investments,  advancement opportunities, location, organizational justice, flexible work arrangements, and non-work influences† (p.10). Companies must find ways to keep their employees satisfied so they will not want to leave. _Retention_ Retention is the most important part of a company’s approach to talent management. When organizations cannot retain high performers, its core leadership base will eventually erode as a result of losses in performance, high replacement costs, and potential talent shortages. Because of this, employers are seeking â€Å"to retain high performers and replace low performers with workers who bring greater skills and abilities to the organization† (p. 5). More important than understanding the reasons why people stay is in understanding how retention factors are different between high performers and others at different levels within the company, (p. 2). The authors suggest that organizations should adopt specific strategies retention of their most valued employees rather than those that are considered average or low performers, (p. 2). ANALYSIS OF KEY POINTS IN â€Å"TERMS OF ENGAGEMENT† _Benefits of better engagement_ The hospitality industry places certain pressures on its employees such as long hours, in which can interfere with their social life, and oftentimes having seasonal nature make it more difficult to retain good people. Engaged employees are far more likely to stay with the company than those who are disengaged. In such a highly-pressured environment as the hospitality industry, it is more difficult to more effectively assess and engage employees. According to the author, there are steps that employers can follow to help ensure employees are committed to delivering great customer experiences along with delivering longer-term growth and success, (MacLeod, 2010). _Define a clear and compelling goal_ Oftentimes employees feel that management does not clearly communicate business objectives to them, in which may give the impression that senior managers do not have a clear vision for the future of the business. That is the reason the author states the importance of communication, and having a clear vision concerning the direction of the company, the goals to achieve, and how the employee fits in to that vision, (MacLeod, 2010). On a personal level, employees want to know what those plans are and how it will affect, (MacLeod, 2010). _Involve employees_ One of the important factors to effective engagement is to involve the employees in sharing their insights into how particular issues can be addressed, such as relating to customer service issues, or how the business is promoted. It is also important to provide feedback on the points they do bring up because employees that are involved in sharing their insights tend to be more engaged in the day-to-day operations of the business, (MacLeod, 2010). _Commit to regular communication_ Whether the economic climate is strong or weak, it is important that management commit regularly to open communication by sharing information with employees throughout the year concerning the performance of the business along with any issues or challenges that they may have. By having open communications with the employees is the key to an effective employer/ employee relationship, in which builds and maintains trust, (MacLeod, 2010). SUMMARY AND OPINION Employee turnover in the hospitality industry is an issue that most business owners face. Hospitality businesses can reduce the turnover rate significantly by paying more attention to the needs of their staff because happy employees make happy customers. The analysis of the key points in the  first article; by Hausknecht, Rodda, and Howard (2009) is more about how to retain employees rather then that the reasons they quit. A primary concern for many organizations is that of retaining top talent. If organizations fail to retain their employees, it will hinder their ability to remain competitive because of a less qualified workforce. The author’s goal for this study was to generate a foundation relating to employees’ reported reasons for staying and to review â€Å"the major theories that have been advanced in the literature over the past 50 years that help explain why employees stay or quit,† (p. 2). After the hospitality industry has faced a serious challenge of retaining employees, MacLeod (2010), in his article â€Å"Terms of engagement† presents a research on the management teams of the hospitality industry. The analysis of the key points in this article was that the research presents suggestions for the motivation of employees and for employee engagement, including a clear goal, involvement of employees and analysis of behavior. The author states the importance of communicating this vision so the employees will know how this vision will personally affect them. As I read these articles, what comes to my mind is the concept of fusion; between retention high performance employees with the motivation of employees and employee engagement. If this cannot be achieved, it will continue to lead to labor turnover, which is very costly. The most important thing to remember in the hospitality industry is that the customer is number one; always. But this cannot be achieved without valuable employees who believe the same thing. Before the customer can be treated as number one, the employees must be first because happy employees lead to happy customers. References Hausknecht, J. P., Rodda, J., & Howard, M. J. (2009). Targeted employee retention: Performance-based and job-related differences in reported reasons for staying. Human Resource Management, 48(2), 269-288. MacLeod, D. (2010). _Terms of engagement_. Caterer & Hotelkeeper, 200(4618), 56-58.