The minstrel show is a type of stage performance that existed in the United States from the 1830s to the 1960s. While there were many versions of minstrelsy, its cornerstone was a comedic exaggeration of stereotypes of black Americans. The typical minstrel show act featured white performers in blackface acting out scenes depicting blacks as comically stupid, lazy, and infantile. Although intended as entertainment, these shows ended up reinforcing racist belief systems.
Main body
Minstrelsy relied on stock characters, the most famous of which was Jim Crow. This irreverent farmhand danced in a grotesquely exaggerated fashion and sang ditties such as Jump Jim Crow. The roles inventor, Thomas D. Rice, claimed to model Jim Crow on a black slave. He and his successors borrowed significantly from black culture, appropriating songs, dances, and the African-American vernacular.
Like other minstrel show characters, Jim Crow embodied common beliefs about blacks as less intelligent, less responsible, and more carefree than whites. He acted like a racist variation on the classic buffoon, physically agile and charismatic but mentally deficient. Such performances hindered black progress in two ways: firstly, by depicting blacks as fundamentally less suitable for citizenship, and secondly, by dismissing their problems, from slavery to poverty.
The effect of minstrelsy on mainstream culture was amplified by its nature as a form of popular mass entertainment the first of its kind to arise in the United States. Its primary audience consisted of poorer whites, who were both more receptive to lowbrow comedy and found it more affordable than theater. As a result, it had a strong impact on their attitudes, leading them to see blacks of similar economic status as inferiors.
Minstrel shows reached the height of their popularity around the middle of the 19th century. They began to be displaced by newer forms of entertainment such as vaudeville and variety shows after the Civil War. However, their accessibility enabled them to remain a staple of Americas popular culture well into the 20th century. They offered white audiences a means of escape in times of economic downturn.
Conclusion
While it seems unlikely that most minstrel shows were intended as racist propaganda meant to discredit black causes and racial solidarity, this was still their general effect. The same performances that were a genuinely popular form of entertainment for white audiences did great harm to black progress. They did this by exploiting racial stereotypes and grotesque exaggerations of black culture and experiences for comic effect.
Children in the United Kingdom (UK) should be offered the right of entertainment as in Japan and other developed countries. Kidzania city in Japan is an exemplary case, where the entertainment of children is perceived seriously. Kidzania city does not only offer children entertainment services, but also offers the children an opportunity to explore and make their own decisions on their future careers.
In Kidzania city, children are given an opportunity to have an adults experience of the real world, where responsibility is the main issue being stressed on. For example, adults are not allowed to interact with their children during their stay in the Kidzania city. From this perspective, children in the UK can have the exact same experience as adults.
The UK has a viable market for Kidzania that will be looked at in the following paper. The viability of Kidzania in the UK is based on the fact that there is a viable market, a growing demand for entertainment among children, and the growing trends that focus on children care.
Size and growth of the UK market
According to statistics recorded by the Office of the National Statistics (ONS), the number of children aged between 2 to 13 years in the country remains steady, taking into account the immigrants children. Basically, the steady birth rates recorded in the UK, especially in most of the urban set-ups, give the Kidzania city a readily available market.
Moreover, the immigrants arrival in the UK is constant, taking into consideration the fact that most of the immigrants are comprised of young families looking for employment and education. Most of the UK citizens live in urban areas, and, thus, most of the children do not have places to have fun and rest when their parents are working.
Emerging trends
Children entertainment with electronic gadgets is one of the fastest growing phenomena in the UK and other developed countries. The UK is also regarded to be the place of a growing demand for parks, which children can visit in case of some social events, holidays, etc. However, the introduction of new kind of entrainment for children offered by Kidzania, presupposes a new entertainment trend that consists in the fact that the children are paid for working in an entertainment sphere. For instance, a child gets paid for being a waitress.
Competition analysis
The introduction of electronic education in the UK has been growing faster than it has been projected. As a matter of fact, electronic education formally known as e-learning, is not only being introduced in secondary and tertiary education, but also in primary and basic education. In almost every homestead, children starting from 9 years can use computers.
On the other hand, childrens health has been negatively impacted since the emergence of fast food and synthetically processed food stuff. This has negatively affected children nutrition, so a close consideration of the issue is also necessary. For the past decade, children in the UK have been given an unnecessary freedom on choice of the food consumption, which will impact their health in the long-term.
In addition, the children have been given the freedom to eat fatty food and snacks rather than eating fibers, proteins and vitamins. Nonetheless, Kidzania in the UK will be focusing on changing these nutritional trends by educating children on nutrition.
Most of the competition that Kidzania will get in the UK is expected from huge malls like the Spires Shopping Mall in London, and the already constructed parks that offer similar products and brands.
On the other hand, immigrants are going to be a significant target market, considering their rate and growth in the UK. Most of these immigrants are busy trying to settle down in the UK cities, paying not enough attention to their childrens upbringing. Therefore, Kidzania will offer alternatives to these families by entertaining and educating their children.
The 1st Entertainment Company is a small scale service-based company that specializes in providing venues and equipment for paintball matches. Aptly named the 1st Paintball , the facilities are located in Riyadh Saudi Arabia and are the first of their kind in their current location and as such have been drawing considerable attention due to the novelty that the sport provides for individuals 12 and up. The business itself is not an LLC (Limited Liability Company) but rather was formed as a result of a partnership agreement between several young Saudi Entrepreneurs.
What must be understood is that one of the ongoing trends in Middle East society today has been to send high school graduates of the Middle East educational system to various colleges and universities located in other countries to further their education. As a result, many international influences and cultural traditions tend to be brought back by such individuals resulting in new local trends within countries such as Saudi Arabia.
The creation of a company that focuses on paintball within a normally conservative state is one of the results of the sharing of international culture with residents and as such it has gained a considerable following within the country resulting in the creation of an official paintball club. As for why the owners entered into this specific type of business, this can be explained by the growing popularity of American culture (as referred to earlier regarding cultural sharing) and how the sport of paintball is generally well accepted in virtually all locations where it is established.
In the case of the 1st Entertainment company, it is rather ironic that their name coincides with the first mover principle wherein they were the first paintball company to establish itself within Riyadh (capital of Saudi Arabia). This in effect allowed the company to gain a dominant market share and considerable profits due to the effect of being the first mover into what could potentially be a growing type of entertainment genre within Riyadh.
Average Cost versus Profit Ratio
Cost = amount paid per month for maintaining the business
Profit = revenue for the month minus cost for the month
Example: Average revenue for 2010 is 60,000 while the average cost is 40,000. Profit, in this case, is revenue minus cost which is equivalent to 20,000
Further investigation reveals that there have been no other companies within Riyadh that have attempted this sort of venture in the past or the present and as such this further solidifies the dominant position of the company in what could become a decade long monopoly. On the other hand, it must be noted that Saudi Arabia does have a well-deserved reputation for conservatism and this presented itself during the companys initial development phase.
What must be understood is that while Western culture has indeed been slowly integrating itself into the local Saudi Arabian culture the fact remains that various aspects of it are still largely unknown to large swaths of Saudi society. As such the initial establishment of a business venture that utilized guns to shoot at each other for the sport was initially met with a great deal of skepticism and little local support in the beginning.
Fortunately enough the entrepreneurs that began the venture utilized effective marketing campaigns in the form of print ads, television advertisements, online reviews, a company website as well as a general word of mouth to generate local interest for the venue. The result was booming business venture that today is one of the most visited venues in Riyadh resulting in the necessity for reservations due to the sheer scale of local demand.
Financial Performance of the 1st Entertainment
Presently, the 1st Paintball averages roughly 120 people within a given day (more on weekends) with an average of roughly $40 per customer. On a given day that is equivalent to $4,800 and within a month is equivalent to $144,000. Because the company doesnt pay as many overhead costs on electricity since most of the facilities are located outside this results in a large percentage of the profits going directly to the owners of the company. It must also be noted that such numbers have been steadily increasing as seen in its performance in 2010 which averaged around 50 to 60 on a given day.
Customers Per day Comparison Between 2010 and 2011
This is indicative of the fact that as the popularity of the sport of paintball continues to grow within Riyadh the more likely it is that the number of customers on average that patronize the 1st Paintball will increase over the next couple of years. Another factor that should be taken into consideration is the fact that the 1st Paintball has a considerable dominating position in the market today due to its location in Riyadh and the fact that it has marketed itself more prolifically as compared to other sporting companies within the country.
When examining the sheer amount of positive user rated views of the company online it can be seen that the financial performance of the company will certainly get better and increase over time as the number of its patrons continues to grow. It must be noted though that the 1st Entertainment Company does have plans to diversify its services beyond paintball to encapsulate other activities such as bungee jumping which it plans to include into its list of offerings. This is to prevent problems related to marginal utility and decreased consumer interest in the services of the company.
Examining the Business
As mentioned earlier, the 1st Entertainment is the first business of its kind in Riyadh and as such it came as a direct result of the entrepreneurial activity and wasnt inherited or bought from a previous owner. One of the advantages of inheriting or purchasing an already established business is the fact that methods of supply, procurement, production as well as sales and customer service have already been established by the previous owner and as such entrepreneurs wont have to worry about having to establish such systems themselves which can take considerable time and effort.
Another factor to take into consideration is the fact that established businesses already have a well-known reputation within a local community and as such results in constant customer patronage by long time customers of the business. It is usually the case that new businesses have to work hard to ingrain themselves into the awareness of members of the local community through various marketing campaigns which can cost considerable sums with the possibility of such activities having little impact on consumer brand awareness.
Another factor that should be noted is an institutional theory which states that consumers tend to patronize institutions that have been around for a long time as compared to new companies that have better services. This is due to the feeling of stability they gain from knowing that a particular company has been around for so long that it will probably continue to exist well into the future. Such a situation similarly impacts individuals who are part of a local community and as such shows how the perceived brand image of an old and well-established company helps to increase consumer patronage.
To resolve this issue some entrepreneurs buy an old established business and then subsequently change various aspects related to operations, marketing and production to better suit their needs. This enables them to create the processes they want to establish while at the same time take advantage of the brand image established by the previous owner. On the other hand, establishing a new business comes with several distinct advantages that a well-established business cannot necessarily obtain. One of these advantages is a distinct degree of flexibility and innovation regarding processes used for operations, production or even inspiration behind the business itself.
As can be seen in the case of the 1st Entertainment, which is a relatively new business, it was able to establish a unique and one of a kind service that most well-established businesses would not have been able to create themselves due to inherent limits in operational design. Not only that new businesses do not suffer from the inherent problem of reductions in marginal utility as seen in the theory of consumer behavior due to the uniqueness and the fact that such businesses are still viewed by the public as interesting services instead of boring establishments that they had visited several times in the past and are already tired of visiting in the present.
Not only that, but Meyvis and Cooke (2007) also explains that in case of several old businesses instances of tarnished reputations or negative consumer feedback regarding products or services associated with the brand image of that particular company often continue to haunt the new owners so to speak despite saying that a company is under new management and thus would put significant effort into improving products and services (Meyvis and Cooke, 200 207). Overall though, the choice as to purchase an existing business or to establish one on your own comes down to what an entrepreneur wants to be accomplished.
If they see an existing business and know of innovative methods and processes that can be utilized to improve the inherent operational capacity of the company then buying one that is already existing would be the best possible choice. On the other hand, if an entrepreneur is more inclined towards establishing a new type of business venture that isnt present within the local area then it would be best to establish a new business. All of this hinges on what an entrepreneur perceives as the best and most profitable method of accomplishing their goals within their chosen market.
One of the unique aspects of markets in various international locations is that each has its advantages and disadvantages and as such influences the type of businesses that can be established in such locations (Lin and Juan, 1257 1268). For example, in the case of the Middle East, the sale of various types of air conditioners has and will continue to be a booming business due to the high temperatures within the region. On the other hand, selling heaters in the same market would result in few if any sales and as such show how the unique aspects of particular markets influence product sales and business decisions.
One of the main challenges in establishing a business within Saudi Arabia isnt a lack of money (since banks in that particular region of the world are quite generous when it comes to loans) but rather in properly configuring new types of businesses with the old world conservatism that is prevalent within the country. It can be stated that while various aspects of western culture have been adapted into Saudi Arabia over the past couple of years in the form of western products and entertainment (i.e. movies, T.V. shows, etc.) there is still a certain degree of resistance over what is perceived as intrusions into the local Islamic culture.
Taking this into consideration establishing a business venture such as paintball which is both a western innovation and a sport that is relatively unknown within Saudi Arabia does present numerous challenges in the form of conservative ideas as well as skepticism regarding markets for such a business. It must also be noted that while paintball is a decidedly unisex sport in other countries around the world the fact remains that due to a certain degree of conservatism within Saudi Arabia women are not particularly permitted to be part of such activities with men. This not only limits the potent market for the 1st Entertainment Company but for other companies that enjoy a unisex consumer base in other countries but have a limited market share within Saud Arabia.
Strategies Employed to Overcome Business Challenges
As mentioned earlier one of the initial problems faced by the 1st Entertainment Company when establishing its business in Riyadh was a lack of local support as well as general skepticism from the local populace regarding the viability of the business which was relatively unknown at the time. To resolve this, the business utilized numerous print ads, TV advertisements, flyers and word of mouth to encourage people to try out the facilities. Prices were lowered during the opening weeks to entice customers. Another ploy utilize by the company was to depict paintball as a method in which friends could compete with each other in a controlled environment utilizing non-lethal guns.
Over time, their method of advertising and the company objective they focused on which was to establish a first-class venue for paintball eventually came to draw considerable local attention. What must be understood is that Saudi Arabia does have a prevalent and widely dispersed upper class who have quite literally exhausted all marginal utility that could be derived from local entertainment sources. The result is that such individuals often go to other countries and regions to experience new forms of entertainment. It was based on this predilection that the 1st Entertainment Company was able to capitalize on since it was able to establish a new form of entertainment in the heart of Saudi Arabia that various members of the upper class could enjoy without having to leave the country for extended periods.
This resulted in the creation of various competitive paintball teams and even a paintball club within the country which further increased the overall hype connected to the 1st Entertainment Company and its paintball venue. Over time the company became a well-established venue for paintball tournaments resulting in a considerable monopoly over the paintball business in Riyadh. It must be noted though that this examination of the strategies employed by the 1st Entertainment Company does not take into consideration strategies that resolve issues related to marginal utility and as such should not be considered a complete examination of all potential strategies that the company has pursued at the present.
Guiding Principles in Improving Business Performance
Brand Image
As Taute (2010) explains, a companys brand image helps to enamor it to customers in that through a distinctive way of presenting the companys products and services this enables it to distinguish itself from its competitors (Taute, 79 85). On the other hand, Weston (2002) explains that a brand image can also be utilized to popularize a company among a particular consumer demographic in that through the uniqueness of the brand image a consumer continues to remember the company and its brand long after the initial consumption of a product or use of a service from that company (Weston, 2002).
Examples of this can be seen in the brand image utilized by U.S. based Apple Inc. which has quite literally developed a cult following among millions of international consumers today. They did this by facilitating a brand image of distinctiveness and quality and further enhanced this by providing innovative products that subsequently created a whole new trend in ergonomic design, stylish looks and above all advanced technological capability. Within the Middle East, the telecommunication company Du which is based in the U.A.E has challenged the monopoly of Etisalat (a major internet and telephone provider which has been based in the U.A.E for decades) by providing cheaper services, better phones and above all as a new and hip brand image which has greatly facilitated greater consumer demand for Dus services.
Another example can be seen in the case of the Philippines within South East Asia where the outsourcing company Convergys has in effect popularized jobs related to the customer service sector by presenting them in such a way that they appeal to new graduates of local colleges within the country. These and other examples, too numerous to mention, show the importance of developing a particular brand image to entice consumers, win over potential employees or stay ahead of the competition. As such, it is recommended for any company, newly established or not, to develop a brand image that appeals to the market segment they are targeting to facilitate a greater market share for the company.
Make it into an experience
In a documented interview, entrepreneurs Rob and Pablo, creators of Snog , a U.K. based chain of yogurt outlets, state the following regarding what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur now we are in a recession and we see businesses that are successful I think the one thing you see that they all have is the experience which is the most important part in everything so we made sure that there was an experience .
The experience that Rob and Pablo refer to is not just the quality of the product itself but what customers feel when they enter into a particular establishment. In the case of Snog, all their outlets have a warm and friendly ambiance which is not the only family-friendly but promotes, in their words, a happy feeling for customers.
Going back to the example of Apple Inc., it can be seen that all their stores, no matter what country they are present in, have a stylish and ergonomic design that looks clean, modern and cutting edge which has come to exemplify the experience of buying products at an Apple store. Based on the popularity of not only Snog but of Apple itself, it can be seen that by making their store into an experience rather than just a store; this helps to encourage buying behavior among their clientele and even repeat visits. As such, for any business that wants to increase its customer base, it is important to develop the experience, its venue provides to appeal better to consumers and create repeat business.
Customers of the 1st Entertainment
Customers of the 1st Entertainment range from 12 to 40 years of age yet on average, the age demographic that patronizes the venue consists of customers aged from 14 to 28. This is because playing paintball has always appealed to a young physically active demographic, and as such, it is not surprising that the age demographics for playing paintball in Riyadh match those in other global locations. It must be noted though that the one major difference between paintball in Riyadh and other countries is the fact that it is gender-specific and class-specific. As mentioned earlier, Saudi Arabia has a distinctly conservative society based on Islamic law.
That is why Arabic women are not expected to participate in certain activities involving a primarily male demographic. This results in mostly male customers coming to the paintball fields of the 1st entertainment with women usually standing on the sidelines acting as the caretakers of children or just coming along since they are bored at home. Aside from this, playing paintball at the 1st Entertainment can be also considered class-specific due to the high prices that the company charges. On average, prices for equipment rental, paintballs, and other miscellaneous costs can run-up to an average of $40 to $80 per person per session and as such is not within the price range for a large percentage of the population in Riyadh.
As such, most customers who go to the 1st Paintball are usually male and well off in terms of the specific social class they belong to. To promote itself with the local community in Riyadh, the 1st Entertainment utilizes a combination of print ads, TV advertisements, flyers and word of mouth to entice people to try paintball as a recreational activity. Aside from traditional methods of brand promotion, the company also utilizes out-of-the-box techniques, such as holding tournaments for local teams in Riyadh to increase the popularity of the venue as the go-to-place for young individuals to enjoy a unique form of entertainment in Saudi Arabia.
Customers and the Product
The main reason why people go to the 1st Paintball is that it is a novel form of entertainment in what is usually a highly conservative society. The level of competitive play, camaraderie, and competition does tend to attract a decent following in various paintball fields located in various international locations with the same sort of occurrence happening within the facilities of the1st Entertainment in Riyadh.
As mentioned earlier, the 1st entertainment was one of the original founding companies of paintball in Riyadh and as such has helped to grow the popularity of paintball within the past few years. As a result, more and more customers tend to garner significant levels of interest in the company and the sport continues to grow within Saudi Arabia. It must be noted though that some of the benefits that customers of 1st Entertainment expect out of the company is that the rented equipment works properly and that the company continues providing ever more challenging terrain to introduce a certain degree of variability in the field scenarios that they play in.
Negative Aspects Related to the Business
One of the things I dislike about 1st Entertainment is that it neglects to take advantage of what could be an excellent money-making opportunity by having several restaurants within its premises. The company merely provides customers with a venue where they can play paintball yet it is seen in most cases where customers exert some form of physical activity over an extended period they tend to get hungry.
By either renting out spaces within the companys location or creating their restaurants, the company could have catered to these hungry clients and thus increase the level of profit they gain per visit. For me, this is a wasted opportunity that the company should find some way to resolve to better improve their services. Another noticeable problem is the fact that there are a limited number of area scenarios within the venue despite the large lot where the paintball fields are located. Area scenarios come in the form of a diverse number of obstacles that can be placed to make a game of paintball more challenging.
This can come in the form of either ditches, tunnels, buildings or an assortment of other constructs that can be placed in the environment. While the paintball areas of the 1st Entertainment are first rated, they tend to be repetitive, and over an extended period, this may cause boredom amongst its clientele due to the effects of marginal utility. Taking this into consideration, it is advised that the company expands its current area scenarios to include a certain degree of diversity to provide more challenges and thus more excitement for its clientele. The third problem that limits the number of customers that come to the 1st Paintball is the fact that the prices are well above the norm for the sport of paintball. With prices ranging from $40 to $80 per person per session, the prices are way too high to entice a much wider consumer demographic.
(This chart shows that on average during promotional periods where rates are below $10 a person the result is a far higher ratio of Middle and Poor class customers that utilize the facilities as compared to instances where normal prices are evident.)
What the company must realize is that to ensure continued profitability that must expand its current consumer base to include a diverse array of consumers from different economic classes. The high price limits the companys ability to do and thus should be changed to resolve this issue. The last problem with the company is inherent problems with its team registration system. There have been several complaints over the past few months regarding the system used for registration and as such should be fixed to create a far smoother and less troublesome method of registration for consumers. Should such problems be fixed it can be assumed that the 1st Entertainment Company will be able to create a profitable business that should exist for many years to come.
Source of Business
One potential source of business that I could pursue is to create an import company that specializes in shipping into Riyadh various delicacies from South East Asian countries such as the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. This could come in the form of fresh fruits, dried fish, bottled native products and an assortment of other edible food stuffs that can be legally imported into country. The reasoning behind this particular type of business is based on the fact that many citizens within Saudi Arabia tend to get tired of continuously consuming the same type of food day in and day out. As such by importing new types of Asian foreign delicacies this would address the need for different kinds of food products to satisfy the palates of the local consumer market.
Key Factors in a Successful Business
Focus on Quality
One of the most important factors in creating and maintaining a successful business is a focus on quality and ensuring that any product bought by a customer is not the result of inferior production or workmanship. What must be understood is that customers tend to patronize businesses that shows that they care about their customer by ensuring that the strictest measures are followed in product quality (Philip, 118 136). In instances where a company has failed to live up to the expectations of consumers regarding the overall quality of a product, it is often seen that such companies tend to lose customers in droves (Philip, 118 136).
This was seen in various technology companies such as Dell that neglected to implement proper quality control measures on its motherboards resulting in several computers being sold whose motherboards leaked chemicals when overheated. Such a fiasco was a nightmare for Dell and ruined its reputation with several of its customers in effect sending them to other companies as a result. It is based on this that it can be seen that a focus on quality is an important aspect for any company to follow to grow and maintain its consumer base.
Adapting to Changes in Business Environments
Another factor that businesses should take into consideration is adapting to changes within local business environments. What must be understood is that businesses do not operate within a vacuum, and as such, it becomes necessary to observe that it occurs within local business environments and responds accordingly (Philip, 118 136). This can come in the form of expanding during times of economic prosperity or cutting back and outsourcing specific aspects of the companys operations during lean economic times.
Not only that, companies should be prepared to respond to changing consumer trends to stay relevant lest they fall into obscurity and stagnation (Philip, 118 136). Such a situation occurred in the U.S. between Netflix and Blockbuster wherein Blockbuster continued to stick to its original business model despite changing consumer habits regarding using the internet. The result was that Blockbuster in effect lost its dominant market position to Netflix and has been plummeting in value ever since. It is based on this and other similar instances that the necessity of observing and responding to change shows its importance for any company that wishes to stay relevant in its chosen market.
Works Cited
Lin, Chin-Tsai, and Pin-Ju Juan. measuring location selection factors for international resort parks. Quality & Quantity 44.6 (2010): 1257-1270. Web.
Meyvis, Tom, and Alan D. J. Cooke. Learning from mixed feedback: anticipation of the future reduces appreciation of the present. Journal Of Consumer Research 34.2 (2007): 200-211. Web.
Philip, Mathew. Factors Affecting Business Success Of Small & Medium Enterprises (Smes). Amity Global Business Review 6.1 (2011): 118-136. Web.
Taute, Harry. Consumer Racial Profiling In Retail Environments: A Longitudinal Analysis Of The Impact On Brand Image. Journal Of Brand Management 18.1 (2010): 79-96. Web.
Weston, Sue. Tackling Your Image. NZ Business 16.1 (2002): 30. Web.
In the contemporary globalizing world the competition in the sphere of business is very high. Some of the worlds countries are known to be more active than others, these countries tend to have very high speed of development, they are involved into various international interactions and relations that help them develop their business and prosper.
The biggest cities of India such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Kolkata and Ahmedabad are called the hotspots and occupy various positions in the list of the most competitive places of the world (Current Business Trends in India, par. 6).
Indian retail business is filled with smaller companies that belong to different families. Knowing the size of India and its population, it is easy to imagine how difficult it would be for small family businesses to survive the competition in that country. At the same time, the opportunities for development are multiple; this is why a good businessman in India can find many ways to save the business.
Indians call themselves a nation of shopkeepers for a reason (Bijoor, par. 14). Another rapidly developing business trend in India is mobile phone industry. The number of phones in the urban areas exceeds the number of people living there almost by fifty per cent.
In the rural areas it is lower, but the general number of cell phones owned by the residents of India is close to nine hundred million pieces. Mobile connection providers and cell phone stores make huge money with the help of so many subscribers.
It goes without saying that one of the most prospering industries in the Indian business world is the sphere of hotel business and entertainment. According to the data obtained by the ministry of tourism of India, at least forty four million of tourists visited their country last year.
This popularity of India as a resort and a place of interest makes this country a great target for the hotel chains that are willing to expand (Hotel Industry in India, par. 2). In order to comfortably receive the growing number of visitors the hotel industry in India needs to increase the number of rooms it is able to offer. International global hotel chains are interested in starting their work in India as it is a very cost effective destination.
In the contemporary age of information and digital technologies the Internet has become one of the major marketing trends for all types of businesses. Hotel business and entertainment in India is not an exception.
Advertising through social networks and websites designed especially for travelers is extremely popular and effective nowadays. The websites of the modern hotels have to be mobile friendly, visually attractive, have their content updated frequently, present the special offers and allow an option of direct mobile booking (Bhatnagar, par. 8).
In the contemporary Indian hospitality business is one of the fastest growing industries. According to the projects of the experts, it is expected to grow by eight per cent between 2007 and 2016 (Kumar, 2). Indian hospitality is based on a belief that the guest is God , this way of thinking comes from ancient times.
The entertainment industry in India is currently facing a crisis. The number of dancers is getting lower, this is why the industry starts actively looking for talents today.
Dancing is a very significant aspect of Indian culture, ethnical dancers are commonly employed in the sphere of hospitality, and the lack of dancers may create an issue for the tourism, as Indian dancing is well known all around the world. The rapid growth of hotel business makes the lack of dancers even more significant.
Works Cited
Bhatnagar, M. Top 10 Marketing Trends for the Indian Hospitality Industry. 2014. Web.
Bijoor, H. Fashion Retail Comes of Age. 2014. Web.
One should be aware that writing with the purpose of entertainment instead of informing has several advantages and disadvantages. The major benefit of such an approach is the presence of an opportunity to introduce humor and comedy. By having an additional objective of making people laugh, an author receives more freedom to exaggerate the facts and use simpler and more common terms to describe complex matters. In addition, entertainment is a more engaging and interesting way to discuss or address certain issues in comparison to a mere informing approach. For example, shows such as Comedy Central or Last Week Tonight with John Oliver strive of using entertainment as a tool to express their opinions and results of their analysis.
However, it is important to note that there are also several ramifications of writing with the purpose of entertainment. Some highly sensitive or controversial issues should not be addressed with the given goal in mind because it can spark a severe wave of outrage. For example, the problems of racism or discriminating disability should not be written entertainingly because the groups and associated events can be highly sensitive. Similarly, some religions, such as Islam, have a low level of tolerance for mockery and humor in regards to their values and beliefs. In other words, writing a piece on Islam and its prophet with the purpose of entertainment can endanger the writers life due to the prevalence of radical extremists. In addition, it is highly difficult to remain respectable and neutral when using the stated approach, because any form of entertainment will inevitably make vague and simplistic points with some form of opinionated statements.
The sports industry has been affected by the globalization process to a considerable extent lately. As a result of the specified internationalization, the environment of sport has become much more inclusive and accepting of people of different backgrounds and capabilities. Nowadays, a range of opportunities for people from many backgrounds to participate in sports activities exist (Trkulja, Loji, & Lon
ar, 2018). Specifically, two main trends in sport internationalization can be identified; these are the global sports events and the presence of players from diverse backgrounds within each league. Indeed, when examining the environments such as the Australian NBA team, one will find players from all kinds of ethnic and cultural communities, including those of Bahamas and Croatia (Güvercin & Mil, 2016). Likewise, the fact that global sports events are held regularly and attended by an increasingly large number of people signifies that the sports industry has become international.
Moreover, the propensity toward combining the Global Sports and Global Entertainment domains has become more prominent over the years. The specified areas overlap both in online and offline settings, growing an increasingly broad audience. FIFA is one of the most common examples of the Global Sports and Global Entertainment domains crossing to create a unique event. With huge attendance rates, being hosted in different countries regularly, the specified event has contributed to creating international ties while promoting sport and contributing to the entertainment industry due to the rise in broadcasts (Trkulja et al., 2018). Moreover, as the globalization pace intensifies, the number of global sports events that have a potential entertainment value rises, thus making the Global Sports and Global Entertainment industries even closer. Thus, with the rise in the value of global sport and entrainment, chances for the increase in globalization emerge.
References
Güvercin, A., & Mil, H. 0. (2016). The factors that affect the development of sports industry as an economy. International Journal of Sport Culture and Science, 4(Special Issue 2), 515-521. Web.
Trkulja, M., Loji, A., & Lon
ar, M. (2018). Digital globalization and marketing of sports mega events. Business Studies, 10(19-20), 153-169. 1. Web.
Many people see art, especially popular art, as a form of entertainment. They consider that since art pleases the eye and senses, it is made to entertain and make people relax. However, this notion is far from being true. The difference between art and entertainment is that art often requires serious thinking over objects, while entertainment is made for relaxing and enjoying. Moreover, many art objects are not made to please the eye but require specific historical knowledge to understand what the author wanted to say.
Art often portrays times and customs that serve to educate and criticize. Many complexities of life are shown through the prism of art. With the help of art, people may uncover ideas and perceptions they have never had and reconsider their way of life. Art always has some message which is transferred from the artist to the audience (Trnka & Engler, 2021). This message may be deeply hidden or easily uncovered, but it is always there. That is why seemingly simple or preposterous objects may become true masterpieces because of the message they carry.
While it is easy to entertain oneself and does not require any effort, art needs background knowledge to be fully understood. It often involves studying the Epoque or the history of objects creation and deep synthesis of ideas and beliefs. Peoples gratification when they understand the artists message is unique and cannot be compared to entertainment in any of its forms. Art studies demand curiosity about things, which is not necessary for entertainment. Art serves as a medium between époques, connecting past to the present and allowing people to trace their roots back.
Work Cited
Trnka, Andrej, and Martin Engler. Concept Art: The Essential Part of Visual Pre-production in the Entertainment Industry. Acta Ludologica, 2021, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 112-123.
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN) is considered to be the largest and the most influential multimedia. ESPN is the owner of the ESPN.com that provides the users with the access to sports programs, relevant information, and other data that are at the client’s disposal. The information is available for almost 90 million of subscribers. According to the researchers, in 2013, the website attracted almost 60 million of users. ESPN receives over ten thousand of requests per second. The amount of users was estimated due to the web page caching. The network receives over ten thousand of requests every second; it is a tendency. I do not profess to be an expert regarding the subject, but I am strongly convinced that there are several peaks and valleys; however, an average number is estimated by the company. The peak period is when the clients send more requests than usually, and it may depend on the daytime or some sporting events.
ESPN and Personal Information
The company developed the approach that has some difficulties with the personalized content. As the matter of fact, the web page caching is critical to the success of the multimedia. The personal information should be stored on its databases to provide the customers with the immediate access towards the information they are interested in. Web page caching would not be reliable to handle the loads as ESPN has too many users in a second. More than ten thousand of clients during events send requests that should get the immediate response. It is the most difficult part of the work. However, ESPN has developed the system that handles hundreds of gigabytes of information and provides the users with the safe work.
The Amount of Information
ESPN need to store over ten million of users. It worth stating, that an average user has around 5 kilobytes of data, and that is, according to the statistics, the company should handle more than two hundred gigabytes of data. It would be not enough to use a single JVM, or two, or even three. The things are much more complicated. Having a number of servers, ESPN can control the level of SPU, which is a crucial factor while serving so many clients. ESPN can scale up or down the number of servers, and the work of ESPN.com will not face challenges. In the case, one server does not work, the other ones compensate it.
Platform
As the matter of fact, in order to deal with the information, ESPN developed the innovative system, and it functions for the mobile websites, soccer.net, and deportes.net. The system is centered not only on personalization but similar signs on as well. The ESPN.com remembers the preferences of the user. The same information will appear on any electronic device. Moreover, the soccer.net and deportes.net will also remember the user’s preferences. The developers of ESPN aim to track the interests of the customers and reflect their preferences on other electronic gadgets and, in addition, on the websites that they own, namely soccer.net and deportes.net. The problem is that the amount of information is impressively big. Furthermore, the system should use appropriate methods to get the needed information quickly and not to increase the SPU level.
Key Components in ESPN’s Solution
ESPN uses the system of the personalization DB. The system is functioning due to two components, namely the grid and the composer. A number of servers combine into the grid. Due to the development of such approach, ESPN functions very fast and provides the clients with the instant results. The composer brings everything together. Thousands of requests come in the composer. The composer is responsible for interaction with the grid. It chooses the needed information from the grid regarding the preferences of the user. It should be pointed out that the process takes milliseconds. Composer gets the information concerning the interests of the client. The grid is functioning due to twenty services. However, in the case some services are not needed, ESPN can turn them off, and the users will not notice it as the performance of the website will not change. The SPU level always stays below five percents. Servers handle the amount of requests with ease. The system of servers is very flexible, and it is a competitive advantage of ESPN.
Scalability
Scalability is an essential factor that ESPN uses in the work. The priority of the company is to provide the users of the web site with the fast delivery service. The work of ESPN is directed to achieve this objective. The company achieved these results in three months. It seems unbelievable as the system handles more than two hundred gigabytes of information and provides the clients with instant response. Serving as many clients as possible and providing them with the high-quality service is the primary objective of the company. ESPN gives the opportunity for the clients to enjoy service and have an excellent opportunity to get access to the information based on the preferences of the users. To serve more visitors and respond to the requests immediately, the company should focus on scalability.
One of the reviewed projects is about the intention of Saudi Arabia to build an entertainment city. The project has all characteristic features. First of all, it has a stated timeline. The project is to begin in 2018 and is going to finish in 2022. Secondly, the desired outcome is outlined. Thus, it is expected that this city will become a notable cultural sight and contribute to various needs of the kingdom and its citizens. Finally, its unique character includes plans for building a safari and a theme park. Moreover, it is going to be one of the biggest similar facilities.
The second project involves the launch of the Dubai Bellevue Towers residential project in Dubai. The features that make it a project are as follows. The estimated time of completion is 2019. The desired outcome includes the exact number of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments together with penthouses. Its unique character is in a big area that will be occupied (67,000 square meters) with a children’s playground and pool.
The following part presents the scope management of the entertainment city project in Saudi Arabia.
Project Objective
The project objective includes building an entertainment city with an area of 334 square kilometers not far from Riyadh, the capital city. The place will provide facilities for recreation, culture, and sport. Moreover, it will include a safari and Six Flag theme park.
Major Deliverables
A business plan with clearly stated finance part.
A transportation scheme should be developed since the facilities will be located outside the city.
The implementation timeline for every part of the project should be designed.
Significant Milestones
The project is a part of Vision 2030 provided by the Kingdom.
The project will provide not only entertainment as the majority of similar parks do. It will facilitate sports and recreation activities, thus contributing to the general well-being of the citizens.
The project is going to reduce the dependence of Saudi Arabia on oil and become another source of income for the country. The entertainment sector is not well developed in the country and thus provides broad perspectives.
Such facilities will provide new jobs for citizens.
Limits or Exclusions to the Scope
Previously theme parks such as Six Flags were mainly aimed at children. Thus such a big facility can lack visitors.
Since the country is an Islamic kingdom with strict gender segregation and social code, the possible interest of the adult population in the theme park should be carefully assessed.
A religious component should be considered. In a conservative religious country such as Saudi Arabia, an entertainment park cannot be accepted by the religious population.
Major Stakeholder
A major stakeholder on this project is going to be the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund. The Fund is planning to invest in the project together with other local and foreign investors.
Concerns that Stakeholders Might Discuss in a Scope Review Meeting
The concerns to discuss at the Scope Review Meeting include the following. First of all, the potential of the rising entertainment industry should be evaluated. It will give a picture of perspectives of a new entertainment city. Secondly, the stakeholders should discuss their participation in the project investment. Finally, it is necessary to review the implementation timetable and get fixed dates for the launch of every stage of the project.
Achieving market strategic advantage is a fundamental objective of a business organisation, it is by expanding business horizon, and gaining more customers that a business can achieve its fundamental objectives of increasing annual revenues and be able to enhance shareholders’ value. Information Technology (IT) is noted to be an effective tool to achieve competitive advantage for a business organisation. Basically, IT has replaced manual system of conducting system, many businesses have realised the disadvantages of conducting businesses using manual method compare to automated methods of conducting businesses.
For example, using manual method for accounting purpose may lead to financial errors, and this can lead to error in management decision. Manual inventory may lead to delay in processing customers orders. Typically, automated business using IT has been noted to remove all problems from manual methods of business transactions.
Purpose of this document is to present proposed automated system to R & S Entertainment Services in order to improve R & S business advantages.
Convincing the management of R&S Entertainment on the choice of the proposed system requirements requires presentation on the purpose of the purpose of automated computer system.
Purpose
The proposed automated system is Relational Database Management System (RDMS). Many businesses have chosen RDMS to improve their market competitive advantages. (Hellerstein1, Stonebraker and Hamilton, 2007). The purpose of purpose of RDMS is to serve as an effective tool for R& S Entertainment in launching online business, the system will improve R&S inventory, and its financial records using RDMS. In addition, customers of R&S will find it easier to order from R&S website, be assured that their orders will be processed on time. Using RDMS will enhance the efficiencies of R&S management decisions. Using RDMS will also eliminate many other management problems such as forecasting machine use, when to order new machines, when to upgrade and service existing machines, and when to replace outdated machines with new ones.
With proposed EDMS, R&S will be able to manage its current inventory at each location, be able to manage accounting, information on each machine, which include cost, current value, and depreciations. This will help Mr Lewis and other management of R&S to effectively manage customers’ needs.
Will overall purpose of the propose system, there is scope for this document.
Scope
This document contains proposed RDMS for R&S Entertainment. Due to the importance of this document to the management of R&S, this document will only be used by the management of R&S Entertainment, System developer, software developer, Database management, and IT consultant.
Definitions, Acronyms, and Abbreviations
This subsection provides the definitions of all terms, acronyms, and abbreviations required to properly interpret the document.
RDMS: Relational Database Management System.
IT: Information Technology.
Literature Used and Citation
References provide a complete list of all documents, books, publications that have been referred to either within this document or used as reference material to compile this document. This paper uses Harvard reference style. Complete list of references are provided in the last page of this document
Document Overview
This subsection provides overall structure of this document. This document is structure as follows.
First section of this document provides purpose of proposed system, which include introduction to system requirements, specification and analysis.
This section also provides scope of the document, who will use this document, and how the document will be used. The other document in this section is Definitions, Acronyms, and Abbreviations used in this document.
Section two provides system overview, which details the description of proposed system, and examine whether the system meets organisational goals. In addition, there will be description of scoping models in this section, and this includes justification for choosing the system.
Section three provides context level diagram that include details of all sub-processes, their inputs and output data flows, and data stores,
Section 4 contains system requirements, which include description of system requirements; this section also contains constraints on this system. The document will also contain advice on the anticipated system failures.
Final section provides advice on how the R&S management can guide on against system failure.
System Overview
As discussed in section one, the proposed system is R&S Entertainment is Relational Database Management System (RDMS). In RDBMS, computer can provide 24 hour online transaction, where credit card can be processed automatically, and this will help R&S to meet customer’s need. Information fed into the computer on each inventory can be searched automatically with assigned filed number, and wastage will be eliminated. The RDMS has been widely used for many varieties of management purpose, and it has been found to be applicable to varieties of world’s application infrastructure such as billing, payroll, supply management, e-commerce, automated record keepings to mention a few. Typically, relational systems serve as effective system for all online transaction and can be managed by management team. (Hellerstein1, Stonebraker and Hamilton, 2007).
Scoping Models
This section provides the analysis of the system and justification for using the system. Justification for using RDMS is to manage online business transaction, which R&S Entertainment intends to launch. It should be noted that R&S intends to create website to accept order online, using RDMS will enhance business advantages of R &S, and Mr Lewis will be able to met customers’ needs. Typically, the tools to analyse the system is whether it has been able to meet R&S objectives, and the system will be analysed based on the level it has been bale to manage all the overall management needs, and whether the system can be easily managed effectively by R&S management team. Next section provides the context level diagram.
Context level diagram.Level 0 DFD.
System Requirements
The system requirements are multi processing system, where the computer process 24 hour credit transaction. The computer processing is done immediately a customer feeds data into the computer, and upon customer submit his information and credit card details, the order processing is done automatically, and fund transfer is done automatically. (Digital Desk 2009), (XS4All Internet, 2008). This system is also very good during the time of high sales, when business is very busy., and the processing can be done online, and customer data will be encrypt and secure.(Instabill Merchant Account, 2000, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, 2005).
The system also reduces enormous paper work of accounting, and inventory work load. With the automated system P&S can be able to track revenue performances of individual machines, and this will help management to make forecast on machines, and make decision on when to replace old machines with new one. Moreover, with this system, all data in the inventory can be updated where each machine is assigned file numbers, and supply manager can easily locate each machine by input a machine file number, and this will help the management to location and analyse quality and type of machines in service, its installation history. This will also help Mr Lewis to save enormous amount of money. Despite the advantages that this system can provide, there are still some non functional requirements with the system.
Non-Functional Requirements
There are some non-functional requirements of the system. The system can not retrieve data that it has not stored. It can only retrieve, update, and process information that has been input into the system. In addition, the system needs database and computer experts to manage the system. This system can not manage itself, unless being managed by trained computer experts.
System constraints
There are constraints on the system. The system can be attacked by virus if not properly managed.
Additionally, computer hacker can burst into the system and valuable data can be collected if adequate securities are not provided for the system.
Finally, during online processing, server can go down, which make online processing to be slow.
Advice on System Success
To guide against these failures, management must adequately provides antivirus, which guide against virus attack.
To guide against hackers, management should provide software called Fire Walls that prevent the system from computer hacker. Management should always use back up file to guide against data loss.
Finally, management should subscribe from internet service provider that can guarantee non break down of server.
References
Digital Desk (2009), Types of Operating System, Neath Port Talbot CBC.
Hellerstein1, J, M, Stonebraker2,M, and Hamilton, J, (2007), Architecture of a Database System, Foundations and Trends in Databases, 1, ( 2) pp 141–259.
InstabillTM Merchant Account, (2000), Real-time Processing, Instabill UK: London House.
Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, (2005), What is Real Time Processing, IEEE Explore.
Note on Case Study for R&S Entertainment.
Document on Data Flow Diagram.
XS4All Internet, (2008), Types of Computer Operation, 4F Computer Studies Voor algemene vragen over XS4ALL.
