Category: Life & Experiences 1502

Lockouts and strikes are becoming more common in professional sports. MLB, NFL, NHL, and NBA teams have had eight labor disputes. According to Wen and Tsai (91), the NBA and players union have been operating under a CBA since 1998 that will last three more years. From 19981999, the NBA and players union had no agreement (Wen and Tsai 92). Wan et al. further state that both sides started talking before the 20112012 season to avoid canceling much of it. However, fundamental differences resulted in multiple reconciliation attempts, which led to a strike that lasted 223 days and revenue loss and the postponement of the World Series, among other things (Wen and Tsai 93). Other issues were work stoppages, the salary cap, and MLBs financial woes. Bill Clinton, the National Labour Relations Board, and others participated in the cases discussions and negotiations (Jehl). This paper will examine the ideas behind professional baseball unionization and how it affects players, managers, and the game itself. It will further discuss the baseball unions responsibilities regarding player pay, and compensation will also be covered, focusing on the variables that affect player compensation.

Scale and Scope of the Issue

Major League Baseball and the MLBPA negotiations happened last in 2016. According to Dobreva (148), everything under the current CBA, including the length of the season and the type of travel expenses paid to players, is governed by it. It also discusses the bigger games economics, such as arbitration and free agency. Owners kept the players off the field to pressure the union into hastening the unions negotiating position. In many ways, it is the opposite of a players strike. However, there is nothing for players to strike about because they are not paid during the offseason, and there are no games.

The league is open to specific changes but feels that significant league baseball players have the most remarkable structure of all professional sports unions, starting with baseball not having a strict pay cap. The players demand more significant change, starting with an end to the rebuilding cycle. The publics opinion of these conversations is influenced by some of the languages from the pandemic talks from last summer, but at least the parties are conversing. Is everything now done in good faith? Maybe not, but they will work it out when it comes down to the nitty-gritty.

In the event of a lockout, MLB would be suspended; clubs would not be permitted to make deals or sign free agents, and players would not be permitted to speak with coaches or management. Absent some other payment arrangement, such as deferred money, MLB players typically get their annual wages in installments during the regular season. During a winter lockout, they would not lose pay but would be barred from non-salary work advantages, including entry to training facilities. By adopting the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), athletes and their families might continue to get health care benefits at their own expense.

Relevant Issues

The relevant issues include the luxury tax, often the competitive balance tax. MLB is the only American major league without a wage cap out of the four. This agreement considers, among other things, the MLBPAs historical strength and the players readiness to walk out when owners seek wage caps, as previously done. Additionally, MLB players benefit from guaranteed contracts, giving them a competitive edge over players in other leagues. However, MLB is hardly a fully open market. A competitive balancing tax has been applied to MLB clubs since 2003 to prevent them from paying their players significantly higher salaries and perks than their competitors. Depending on how many years a team has over the barrier, teams who spend above that limit are subject to a tax ranging from 17.5% to 50% (Dobreva 150). Consequently, according to Jehl, it involves lowering draft pick compensation for signing a free agent from another team. MLB and the MLBPA have established limitations on what free agency entails and how soon players may achieve it since the 1970s.

Strategies and Tactics Used

The parties employed other strategies, such as alternatives, in which each offered the third party a choice. The owners and the workers union were responsible for providing options to each other. For a salary cap, there must first be a salary floor for teams, which is one of the many reasons the players went on strike. It was only one of several explanations. It meant that sections of a specific size would only have to pay their players a certain sum of money, an amount that would inevitably be less than what larger teams would have to pay.

The owners of MLB declared an impasse, and the salary cap was implemented, both harmful to the player unions. It made it harder for player unions to bargain for better salaries. This tactic backfired on the players and the league because it allowed management to enact more favorable policies. It meant that the plan fell flat on its face. The union members plan also included complaints to the National Labor Relations Board against the businesss owners (Ramshaw et al. 83). It was brilliant because it resulted in the owners being bound by the terms of the previous collective bargaining agreement and prevented them from making any changes until a new deal was reached or a good-faith impasse was reached. Taking this step demonstrates impressive intelligence and strategic thinking on the part of the union.

The Outcome of the Issues

A new agreement has occurred between MLB and CBA on the welfare of teams, players, and owners. While it is very similar to the old one, there are some significant differences. In 1996, after the strike ended, the owners and the players finally reached a collective bargaining agreement. The previous owners rejected a provisional arrangement in the end. In the end, the text of the new deal included several new provisions. According to Ramshaw et al. (89), it was the same as the prior CBA, except for a few tweaks on salary arbitration and free agency. During the negotiation, the players were overjoyed by the inclusion of these amendments. There was a significant increase in minimum salaries, which benefited players who were not making as much as veteran players or even the other typical players.

Teams with payrolls exceeding $51 million were forced to pay a specific amount, which was then combined to assist in financing the less financially secure teams. Until 2000, this tax increased gradually but steadily before leveling off (Wachfeild). The verdict in this case directly led to the implementation of new pay limitations for revenue sharing. In the end, an interleague schedule was agreed upon by both players and owners. Everyone engaged benefited from it, and it was nice to see Major League Baseball try something novel during a regular season.

It was a fascinating case that dragged on long before the parties could negotiate a settlement. Surprisingly and shockingly, this investigation involved many high-profile individuals, including former President Bill Clinton. It has been instructive to see the President take an active role in this issue, using his influence to push for productive negotiations. The negotiations and the process that led to the 1994 baseball strike were also fascinating. It is fascinating and unusual to learn that both parties were able to get something they wanted in the end, and they were able to work together to reach a compromise.

Ethical Viewpoint

MLB took the initiative to implement the lockout because it would much instead encourage the players to reach an agreement during the off-season than take the chance that players might strike during the season, costing them money and causing a myriad of scheduling issues. Nobody wants the season interrupted; owners stand to lose more in the form of T.V. agreements and gate receipts, while players stand to lose millions and a precious year of their already brief careers. However, they are also better positioned to take the hit with dire consequences. Due to the scheduling, owners may negotiate from a position of power in the off-season rather than during the playing season, when MLB would lock players rather than the players would refuse their labor.

Success or Failure of the Issue

Sports are not an exception to the rule that work stoppages are typical in unionized workforces. Although owner lockouts have completely replaced union strikes in professional sports, strikes are significantly more prevalent in the industry. Since the 19941995 baseball strike, every work stoppage in American professional sports has been an owner-initiated lockout, and the MLB lockout is continuing this trend. Additionally, every lockout has ended with significant union concessions. The next CBAs contained the owner-friendly policies of a hard wage cap, a harsh luxury tax, limitations on individual player pay, and a direct decrease of the players portion of income. They also cut the players part of revenue across the board.

Plan for Addressing the Issue

Due to the multiple stakeholders interested in the case, the proposition uses a distributive strategy approach. It is of the essence in helping address the several parties issues and concerns while ensuring a fair consensus (Dobreva 147). The distributive system will consider all parties negotiation needs and seek to achieve a desirable equilibrium balance. In the case of the Baseball Major League case in the U.S., when possible, all parties involved in the distribution process try to learn about the hopes and fears of the others involved. Even though they cannot divide the resource evenly, they can still negotiate its distribution. However, they can guarantee that the person will get exactly what they want. Thus, even if one party ends up with a smaller share than they had hoped for, they will still be happy with the distribution since they will get what they want.

In conclusion, there has been a significant transition in baseball unionization. This is because comparing the games quality and standards between its history and present demonstrates its progress. The game has evolved in terms of administrative prowess, the creation of policies, and modifications to game conventions.

Works Cited

Dobreva, Hristina. Reframing Best Alternatives to Negotiated Agreements in Representative Negotiations in Sports. Strategies for Policy in Science and Education-Strategii Na Obrazovatelnata I Nauchnata Politika, vol. 29, no. 4s, Az-buki National Publishing House, 2021, pp. 14452. Web.

Jehl, Douglas. nytimes.com. 1995, Web.

Ramshaw, Gregory, et al. Negotiating the Cultural and Economic Outcomes of Sport Heritage Attractions: The Case of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Journal of Sport &Amp; Tourism, vol. 23, no. 23, Informa U.K. Limited, 2019, pp. 7995. Web.

Wachfeild, Daniel. Major League Baseballs First Work Stoppage in 27 Years Could, Once Again, End in a Courtroom. LARC @ Cardozo Law, Web.

Wen, Yen-Chieh, and Ming-Sung Tsai. Study of the Major League Baseball Collective Bargaining and Baseball. Journal of Advances in Sports and Physical Education, vol. 3, no. 6, SASPR Edu International Pvt. Ltd, June 2020, pp. 9193. Web.

One frequently runs into many societal issues throughout their lifetime. Mass shootings, which have a significant impact on the political opinions, perspectives, and attitudes of the younger generation, are one of its causes. I believe that the threat of widespread shootings has widened the ideological divide between liberals and conservatives, those who support and oppose carrying firearms, and those who have differing views on mental illnesses.

Political perspectives influenced by the potential for shootings vary: I started to hold more conservative opinions. I think that the possibility of storing weapons at home will give me the opportunity to protect myself and my family (Gregory & Wilson para. 2). However, many of my peers, due to mass shootings, began to adhere to a more liberal position opposing the free possession of weapons.

The perspectives with which I began to look at education have also changed. Although many of my peers believe that this will increase anxiety in children and oppose such educational programs, I think it is absolutely necessary to conduct training in schools on the algorithm of actions in the event of a mass shooting (Gregory & Wilson para. 10).

My attitude towards people with mental illnesses has also changed. I think it is important to let instructors in an educational setting know about this even if many of my peers still think receiving treatment from a psychiatrist should remain confidential so they can pay closer attention to students who have this issue (Glastris para. 10).

Thus, I think that the tension caused by the threat of mass shootings is the cause of a major split in public opinion. This can cause misunderstandings between adherents of different political view, separating them and making the fight against the problem even more difficult.

Works Cited

Glastris, William. A Real Long-Term Solution to Gun Violence. Washington Monthly, Web.

Gregory, Sean, and Scott Wilson. 6 Real Ways We Can Reduce Gun Violence in America. Time, Web.

Introduction

A coach is an essential person for every athlete, playing a key role in the development of an athlete. The relationship between a trainer and a sportsman involves not only training but also building a friendly, understanding, sincere, and honest communication model. The coach can both fully reveal and develop the potential of an athlete and level it. The effectiveness and quality of the relationship between handler and player are the crucial factors influencing the sportsmans performance. The task of the coach is not only to the correct distribution of the load and training but also to understand each athlete and ones characteristics. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the methods coaches can use to create a team culture and factors influencing the effectiveness of the relationship between trainer and athlete on the example of the 5 Cs.

Main body

A crucial aspect of coaching practice is that usually, the coach is a former athlete, thus, for some reason, one stopped achieving ones goals. The cause may be formulated by trauma, personal life, family aspects, fatigue, or the need to express oneself through coaching. In any case, future coaches face a difficult choice, namely one should decide to achieve goals by applying the athletes characteristics. Moreover, an important factor is that usually, all attention is paid to the athlete, and the coach should accept that one will fall into the shadows. Thereby, the aforementioned factors can negatively affect coaching practice, as well as worsen the coach/athlete relationship.

Besides, the coach plays a key role in creating a team culture and leadership in the athlete. The words and actions of the trainer have a direct impact on the performance, mood, motivation, and desire of the player. A specific example may be the situation described in the book High Ten, namely, when the coachs phrase about being proud of an athlete caused significant emotions (Rooney, 2021). Thus, one caused a surge of motivation, pride, joy, and an incentive for the athlete to train hard and achieve new results. It is articulated by the fact that the coach is an authority for the athlete and therefore, hearing such words is vital.

Building an effective athlete/coach relationship is critical to unlocking potential. It can be considered from the perspective of the 5 Cs, which include competence, confidence, connection, caring, and creativity (Mugford & Cremades, 2018). The fulfillment of these points formulates the ideal model of the relationship between the coach and the athlete. Competence formulates sufficient skills and coaching experience necessary to demonstrate adequate practices. Confidence articulates the ability to be an authority for a player since the trainer should be psychologically strong. Connection and care are essential in establishing a friendly and sincere relationship between coach and athlete/team. Finally, creativity implies a varied approach to the choice of methods and practices on the part of the trainer.

Conclusion

To conclude, the activity of a coach implies not only the selection of suitable practices and methods but also the establishment of a model of relations with the athlete. The trainer should be an authority for the sportsman but at the same time demonstrate understanding, kindness, and care. In some cases, the coachs words can be key to unlocking potential, such as an expression of pride. It is worth noting that former athletes often become coaches. In addition, the trainer faces the difficult decision that all attention will be transferred to the athlete, and one will achieve goals with the help of the sportsman. Sometimes, it can negatively affect relationships, especially if the decision to end a sports career was made in connection with an injury.

References

Mugford, A., & Cremades, G. (2018). Sport, exercise, and performance psychology: Theories and applications. Routledge.

Rooney, M. (2021). High ten: An inspiring story about building a great team culture. John Wiley & Sons.

Annotated Bibliography

Briney, A. (2018). Ten facts about Port au Prince, Haiti. ThoughtCo. Web.

In this article, the author gives an overview of the city of Port-au-Prince in Haiti. Through the provision of a clear image of the destroyed Presidential palace, a clear picture is drawn of the magnitude of destruction the 2010 earthquake might have caused. Accurate information regarding the citys location and demographics is provided. Ten critical things that are educational about the metropolis are provided. The works primary purpose was to guide the potential readers who are the target audience. Data is provided on the built date, population, leader, educational provision, culture, and tourism. The city is considered an educational hub as it constitutes several learning facilities. The major challenge in this work is the limited explanation of the ten main points about this Haitian city. A foundation is laid as critical data is presented; further research is required to make meaning. A knowledgeable audience will find the article helpful as it provides much-needed information that can be expanded.

Kelly, P. (2022). Hike to historic Fort Jacques. Visit Haiti. Web.

In this article, Kelly reviews the historic Fort Jacques, one of Haitis oldest landmarks. The research mainly focuses on a single historic site, thus critically analyzing all the required data. It is helpful in my study, as the author defines my desired tourist destination vividly and clearly. The author indicates that apart from the beautiful landmark, the forest surrounding it presents a beautiful scenery with birds of all kinds. With this information, the potential target for the research is any individual liking nature and history. This research has no setbacks as it tackles the topic very well, highlighting all essential things with no omissions. In my analysis, it is vital in helping me explain the tourist destination in Haiti.

Paulemon, K. (2021). The museum of the Haitian national pantheon. Visit Haiti. Web.

The article focuses on the museum as a potential tourist destination. It highlights the location and resources present within the facility and the benefits a visitor might acquire from touring the destination. The author aims to give a critical description of the museum so that those who have not been able to visit it might find a purpose to make an effort and tour. The target audience, historians and tourists, get guided step by step from an overview of the historical landmark to what is likely to be viewed and the directions. From it, there is a clear understanding of the facilitys history, its encounter with the earthquake, the artifacts present, and the type of history represented within. Information on its construction is partially provided, thus stimulating further research. The article provides background information on tourism that is helpful to any visitor wishing to witness Haitian culture and traditions. There are no setbacks as the data is direct and only relates to a specific tourist destination.

Upadhyay, N. (2020). Most visited monuments in Haiti l famous monuments in Haiti. World Tour & Travel Guide, Get Travel Tips, Information, Discover Travel Destination | Adequate Travel. Web.

Upadhyay, in this article, analyses the most visited monuments in Haiti. The research aims to provide the target audience with adequate information on the potential tourist destinations in the Caribbean. The analysis focuses on ten possible locations, including the Notre Dame Cathedral. Each is partially explained, and all necessary descriptions are presented clearly. The targeted audiences are historians and potential tourists interested in visiting Haiti. The article is helpful in my research as it provides the information required to supplement my ideas on the landmarks within and around Port-au-Prince. The main limitation is the shallow analysis made, which does not cover everything, including the date of construction and who designed them. This article is critical as it helps analyze the Cathedral, a vital tourist attraction in Haiti.

Villacorta, V. (2020). A discovery of the multicultural Haiti. Latina Republic. Web.

This article provides proper insight into multicultural Haiti in the contemporary world. The author states the attributing characteristics and factors that make Haitis unique culture worth studying. The findings show that the main aim is to provide education concerning understanding the Haitians way of life. The target audience is historians who might be urged to understand some Caribbean cultures. Haitis traditions are unique as they incorporate various categories, including French, African, and Spanish. The author further states the multiple sources that reveal the countrys rich multicultural traditions, including religion, art, music, dance, and food. Information is provided on the history of the country, the faith and demographics, holidays, and tourist destinations. All information is relevant, but not many details are provided per section, leaving the reader hanging as some vital information, such as the location of the tourist destinations, is not provided. Apart from the minor omission, the information provided is relevant as it shows how Haitian society is represented.

While receiving the opportunity to have a rest and use the vacation time, the Americans can be challenged with the necessity to choose between travel destinations which are similar and different in many features and aspects. Thus, it is important to compare and contrast the opportunities and details of vacationing in the United States and the features of vacationing outside the country. The sunny beaches of green islands can be discussed as the most popular travel destinations and vacation routes not only in the United States but also globally.

That is why, to guarantee following the principle of objectivity while comparing and contrasting travel destinations, it is appropriate to choose the examples of vacations in Waikiki of Hawaii and in Boracay of the Philippines as illustrations for the further comparison because of the obvious similarity of these travel destinations in relation to the islands beaches and weather conditions. Thus, the aspects of vacationing in the United States and outside the country can be compared and contrasted according to such criteria as comfort and conditions, culture and traditions, general impressions, and travel costs.

Many Americans choose to spend vacations in the United States because of the guarantee of perfect conditions for the rest and desirable comfort because of the idea of familiarity. While vacationing in the country, many persons do not break the lines of their zone of comfort, and they can choose travelling in the United States because such places and states as Florida, California, Hawaii, Ney York City, Las Vegas, and Hollywood can provide the Americans with a lot of vivid impressions, providing good conditions for the rest. From this point, the beaches of Hawaiian Waikiki can be more attractive for many Americans vacationing in the country because they can predict the conditions and aspects of their vacations in the United States (Ioannides and Timothy).

While vacationing outside the country, people usually cannot predict all the challenges they can face and experience. Furthermore, the zone of comfort can be broken, and the expectations in relation to definite travel destinations can be far from reality. Having made a significant decision to travel outside the United States and visit the beaches of Boracay, a person should be ready to many inconveniences connected with receiving visas or taking responsibilities for medical preparations. Thus, in spite of the fact that local and foreign travel destinations can provide rather equal opportunities for perfect vacations, travelling outside the United States makes people pay more attention to additional aspects and details which are not expected in the USA.

One of the main factors which influence the decision of persons related to the vacations plan is the necessity to change of the working environments with pleasant pictures of sunny beaches or other interesting places. From this perspective, one of the important differences between vacationing in the United States and outside the country is culture and traditions followed locally and abroad. People choose various travel destinations in order to see the world and broaden the knowledge in relation to different countries and cultures. While vacationing in the United States and enjoying the rest in Hawaiian Waikiki, people develop their knowledge regarding the local culture typical for Hawaii without leaving the United States (Things to Do in Waikiki). In contrast, the meeting with the absolutely new and exotic culture is expected while travelling round the world or visiting the Philippines islands, for instance.

The differences in general impressions caused by spending vacations in the United States and abroad are associated not only with the elements of the local and foreign cultures and traditions but also with the opportunities for sightseeing or enjoying the beauties of beaches. Although there are many places in the United States which can provide people with many unique impressions and vivid emotions because of the atmosphere of unusual environments. Such travel destinations as Hawaii or territories of the deserts in Texas are discussed as the local places for pleasures and entertainments.

On the contrary, the opportunity to feel, see, and touch something new is strictly associated with travelling abroad. As a result, vacations in Boracay of the Philippines can be more attractive for persons who seek for fresh emotions and impressions depending on the exotic atmosphere of the unfamiliar country and culture (Top Philippine Destinations). The spirit of adventures is not always associated with family or other types of vacations that is why persons focus on such factor as the expected general impressions in order to choose exotics and travelling abroad or staying in the native town. The difference in impressions caused by travel destinations depends not only on the location of places for vacations but also on the places atmosphere.

The next important difference determined while comparing and contrasting the conditions for vacationing in the United States and outside the country is the expensiveness of travelling and associated costs. People can choose a lot of places for vacations while discussing the opportunities in relation to their incomes and possibilities in the United States. Travelling abroad is associated with more costs because of the necessity to satisfy expected and unexpected needs such as visas, medical preparation, different types of permissions, and other expenses connected with the aspects of living in another unfamiliar country.

In spite of the fact that conditions for vacationing in Waikiki or Boracay can be rather similar, the expenses can differ significantly. Planning vacations, people are inclined to pay much attention to the aspect of the expected costs because it is important to find the balance between the quality of the rest and associated expenses (Ioannides and Timothy). It is possible to state that travel destinations round the world and in the United States provide a lot of opportunities for persons to make the right choice according to their desires and observed differences between vacationing in the country or abroad.

Vacations are the most expected days in the life of many people because they can guarantee the high-quality rest and new wonderful impressions. In this case, a person should focus on choosing the place for vacations with references to many differences between vacationing in the United States and abroad. There are many alternatives in the country to spend vacations enjoying the rest, and travelling abroad is also the best opportunity to broaden knowledge. That is why, it is important to determine definite differences in the peoples choices in relation to their vacations which are based on such important criteria as the comfort and possible inconveniences, differences in cultures, variety of impressions, and differences in costs spending for vacations in the United States or outside the country.

Works Cited

Ioannides, Dimitri, and Dallen Timothy. Tourism in the USA: A Spatial and Social Synthesis. USA: Routledge, 2010. Print.

Things to Do in Waikiki. 2013.

Top Philippine Destinations. 2009. Web.

Introduction

The parenting methods differ across cultures. The traditions in the childrens upbringing seem to be vanished by the process of globalization, which facilitates cross-cultural communication and the dissemination of different information. The book Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother is a bestseller by Amy Chua, a Yale professor and the author of the provocative articles on the childrens upbringing. The articles In the Eye of the Tiger and The Roar of the Tiger Mom are the excerpts from her book, which have been published in the Wall Street Journal. This essay aims to explain the ideas presented by Amy Chua in her works.

The Explanation

Amy Chua descends from the family of the Philippine Chinese immigrants. Nowadays, she is a graduate of Harvard and a professor at Yale University. Amy published her provocative book Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother in 2011 and received a lot of comments on it, both positive and negative. The book agitates the public for several reasons. The first one is that it touches upon the problem of the cultural differences and the life of immigrants. The second one is that the author supports the extremely strict model of the childrens upbringing, the one, which her parents applied when she was a child. Amy introduces her term a tiger mom, which can be explained as the very strict and requiring mother.

The articles In the Eye of the Tiger and The Roar of the Tiger Mom have shaken the public opinion because they present the bold statements of the author. In particular, she stresses that Asian children are much more capable than the kids in the West. She adds that this is due to the models of upbringing, which are traditionally used in the East and the West. However, the readers and critics argue that the approach, which Amy supports, is only the possible alternative in childrens upbringing. It does not mean that it is the only one right and that it is, actually, effective.

In the articles, the author described how she up brought her children. She gave an example of how she forced her daughter to learn a piece of the piano composition. The child was threatened with her favorite doll being given to the religious-charitable organization. Amy also admitted that she said to her daughter that she would be deprived of the dinner, gifts, and holidays if she did not do her homework.

According to Amy, the only way to ensure that your children will be free when they grow up is to restrict them now when they are small. She says that it is the hardship that gives freedom, not the liberty of doing everything you want. Undoubtedly, Amys approach is strict and conservative. The followers of the liberal approach argue that Amy is wrong in that the Eastern children are more capable to achieve success than the Western kids thanks to such a strict upbringing. They say that if the child is allowed to feel personal freedom, it makes him more flexible. This means that they will adapt to the social changes better and it will be easier for them to find the common language with the others. The critics explain that children have to be given a chance to fail. It is the failure, which strengthens the will, not the success.

Conclusion

In summary, the articles by Amy Chua present an alternative approach to childrens upbringing. The author supports a very strict approach in this respect. She provides her arguments but the critics say that the liberal model of upbringing makes children more adaptable to life changes.

The Hyatt Regency is a 5 star Hotel situated at the Kievs city center. It is adjacent to the most popular historical sites in Ukraine such as Kiev-Pecherska Lavra, Sofiyvskiy Sobor, Statue of Bogdan Khmelnitsky, and the ministry of foreign affairs. Hyatt Regency Kiev is within walking distance of Saint Sophias Cathedral, Saint Michaels Monastery and the boutiques of Khreshchatyk Street. Besides, the hotel is easily accessible from Boryspil International Airport, which is at most 50-minute drive and 25-minute drive from Zhulyany Airport and Kyiv Train Station respectively.

General Description

The Hyatt Regency has a capacity of 234 rooms, which are classified into the following classes: King/Twin, Deluxe King/Twin, Regency Suite King, Regency Executive Suite, Diplomat Suite, and Presidential Suite. The hotel also provides free wireless internet connections, two telephones and a safe for the guests. In addition, the facility has an outstanding design and excellent guest services. Given the hotel accommodates numerous and diverse customers, the facility is open 24 hours for seven days in a week.

The hotels food and beverage department comprises of one restaurant and three bars located strategically within the hotel. Grill Asia restaurant, the main restaurant, offers Western grill and Asian gastronomy. This restaurant features a demonstration kitchen, sushi bar and Lobby Lounge. Moreover, the hotel has adequate seminar and banqueting facilities for any type of occasion.

The Hyatt Regency has an ultra modern club the Regency Club. The club is positioned on the ninth floor; it provides its visitors a private lounge area as well as a dedicated concierge. Regency Club guests enjoy complimentary evening cocktail reception with alcoholic beverages and canapés, soft drinks and beverages such as tea, and coffee are served all day long. The lounge also offers a boardroom and wireless Internet connection for the modern business traveler.

Besides the restaurant services, Hyatt Regency provide a perfect meeting facility fitted with hi-tech systems. The business centre offers executive merchants with multimedia state-of-the art technology and swift Internet access. In addition, the seamless meeting facility is fully equipped with modern workstations, efficient translation systems, and secretarial support

In an attempt to be all round, Hyatt Regency provides entertainment to its guest by providing the required facilities and entertainment specialists. The hotel has all the facilities for entertainment to ensure their clients are entertained to their satisfaction. The entertainment is organized according to the demand of the guests, therefore, customers are always invited to discuss with the competent entertainment team on the specification that suits the occasion.

Market Position

Hyatt Regency is situated at the heart of Kiev, thus it is very easy to trace and/or locate it. Ukraine historical sights such as Kiev-Pecherska Lavra, Sofiyvskiy Sobor and the Statue of Bogdan Khmelnitsky surround the hotel. This facility is situated near some popular social places such as Saint Sophia Cathedral and Saint Michaels Monastery. The presence of these surrounding features generates many guests visiting these sites. In addition, Hyatt Regency is located at the city centre, which is next to the Boryspil International Airport, and the railway station makes the hotel a convenient lodging site for both distant travelers and international guests.

Since, Kiev is both the political and business capital, Hyatt Regency remains the favorite venue for holding political retreats. Therefore, whenever there is a serious political meeting in town the hotels conference rooms as well as accommodation is often used by visiting foreign diplomats. Furthermore, the hotel remains the favorite destination for businesspersons and tourists. The hotel also targets individual with some occasions such as parties and weddings. Therefore, the hotel is one of the most prestigious in the whole of Kiev.

Ownership

Hyatt Regency is a brand product of the US Multinational Hotel Company known as Hyatt Hotels Corporation. Hyatt Von Dehn and Crouch, from Los Angeles, established the hotel in 1957 (Tice & Wilford, 2008). After a few years of operation it stated operating branches in other countries. Hyatt started an international branch in Hong Long in the year 1972; later many branches were opened globally (Tice & Wilford, 2008).

Hyatt Hotel Corporations operate several brand names in an order to attract many customers throughout the world. The main brand names are Park Hyatt, Andaz, Grand Regency Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt Hotels, and Hyatt Resorts among others (Tice & Wilford, 2008). Hyatt Regency Kiev, being one of the numerous branches of Hyatt, had the advantage of an already established brand name. Although Hyatt Regency Kiev was established recently it has enjoyed a buoyant growth rate, which is causing panic among its immediate competitors.

Management Structure

Hyatt international has adopted a geographical organizational structure. Each branch of the hotel has local manager who links the branch to the mother company. Since Hyatt Regency is a branch Hyatt Regency International Corporation, the mangers ensure that the Hotel provides similar services just like the other branches. To facilitate equal or similar standards, the hotel uses similar systems, as well as developing online reservation facilities.

The sales and marketing department is organized in a hierarchical order such that control and authority assumes a straight line. Each officer in the management interacts directly with the senior officer and his immediate subordinate; in other words, command and delegation streams downwards from the top to the bottom (Clausen, L. 2006). While in internship, I was directly answerable to my supervisor  Mr. Alexandra Trubitsina, who is subordinate to the sales and marketing department director. General organization chart of Hyatt Regency is represented below.

Hyatt Regency Management Structure

The management structure of Hyatt Regency comprises of Staff who are highly competent from the top most manger to the low-level supervisors and laborers.

Marketing Analysis

This hotel is one of the most prestigious hotels in the area of operation. The hotel largely targets high-end customers. The typical customers for the hotel include businesspersons, celebrities, international groups, big corporate clients, political leaders and diplomats. The Hotel does not discriminate in terms of gender, but it targets mainly the middle-aged persons and elderly. In addition to this, most of their clients are professionals and the rich. Consequently, prices at the hotel are relatively high due to premium pricing. To provide value for customers, the hotel has invested in value and positions itself as a provider of quality services in the market. Coupled with international brand affiliations or linkages, the hotel has registered phenomenal growth thus commanding a market share that is way above its immediate competitors.

Target Markets and Market Segments

The hotel has two segments that it serves i.e. group clients and transient clients. The percentage contribution of both segments or market categories to hotels revenues is as shown in chart below.

A pie chat showing the percentage of group customers against transient customers

Hyatt Regency has a large pool of Transient customers; they contribute 83 percent of total revenues. On the other hand, the group customers contribute about 17 percent of the total revenues generated by the hotel. However, when one zeroes in on catering services provided by the hotel Hyatt Regency generates more revenue from group catering activities that from individual catering services. Providing catering services to groups brings in two thirds of the total revenue while individual service brings in a third of the total revenues accruing from catering services. Therefore, the hotel majors in or focuses more on providing group catering.

Selling Advantages and Disadvantages

Hyatt hotel offers quality facilities at competitive prices. The sales department sets prices according to the class reserved by the client. Hyatt hotel has the advantage of having an established brand name i.e. the global popularity of the Hyatt gives the hotel an upper hand in fighting for dominance in the Ukraine market. Nevertheless, in order to attract and retain customers, the hotel provides recreation facilities such as swimming pool, high-speed internet and ultra modern conference services. All these services have attracted many clients to use the facility. However, there is a concern because not all facilities provided are utilized; under capacity has led to a decline in revenue or collecting revenue below facility potential.

Marketing Strategies

The marketing department has tried to come up with a market mix that responds to peculiarities of the market. Hyatt Regency carries out promotion campaign with the aim of attracting more clients into the facility. The hotel uses the both electronic and print media communication channels for promotion; the hotel posts adverts on the internet and on televisions. Further, to announce its presence, the hotel has erected appealing billboards at the entrance. The most effective advertisement method is the online / internet promotion because it mainly targets foreign delegates who rely mainly on the internet for information.

Competitive Set Analysis

Just like other businesses, the hotel industry in Ukraine is very competitive. Hyatt Regency faces stiff competition from other large hotels located in Kiev in fact just a short distance from each other. The main competitor of Hyatt Regency is the Radisson Hotel, which has a long history; having been established in 1903. It has a strong brand name and offers a tough completion in terms of capacity and prizes. Radisson hotel has 255 rooms and offers some unique services such as solarium, massage, and concierge services among others.

The other Hotel competing with Hyatt is Opera. Although, Opera has a relative small capacity of 136 rooms, the hotels offer world-class services and provides a thirty percent discount to online reservations. It also provides American, Moroccan, Russian, Egyptian and French suite. Finally, a four star Rivera hotel also competes with Hyatt for clients in Kiev. The Riviera hotel has a 70 persons meeting facility as well as providing modern services.

These hotels compete for the market share by generating products and superior services to those of their competitors. As the competition intensifies, the hotel management in either hotel has had to switch or introduce product discounts to their customers. The current competition entails developing brand name and other proprietary products. In Ukraine, the hotel industry is characterized by competition in terms of capacity, services delivery, customer promotion and prices. The Competition is made worse by the physical location of the hotels i.e. the four major hotels are located in close vicinity.

Critical Analysis of Attachment Experience

Since commencing my internship at Hyatt Regency, I have acquired a lot of experience, especially in the operations within the sales and marketing department. My main duties were; preparing room list for clients on board each day, making and renewing contracts with individual and group clients pertaining the use of the facility. In addition, it was my duty to make follow-ups on clients regarding the bookings. I was also in charge of booking and reservations of rooms and events held at Hyatt Regency. Finally, I was also expected to prepare BEOs bearing in mind all the requirements while paying attention to details. The BEOs report provided a compressive but summarized account of all the activities under my control.

Through handling the above mentioned duties, I realize that I have become more confident. The experience has been good as I was exposed to a professional environment that nurtured my soft skills. I am now conversant with the entire hotels operation mechanisms, which are closely linked to sales and marketing department. I have come to appreciate the central role of the sales and marketing department in an organization. The department is the backbone of the hotel because it is responsible for bringing clients and generating revenue for the hotel.

Besides, the sales and marketing department ensures correct functioning of the banquet services and event harmonization. Since the department deals with absolutely everything in the hotel, a strong mutual relationship and interdependence exists between employees in the department and those from other departments. This mutual relationship facilitates smooth and cohesive understanding within the premise. Working in such like an environment has helped me improve my interpersonal relationship skills.

Throughout the attachment period, I have proved my abilities of adapting to a new environment and utilizing new application such as Delphi, Opera and Reserve. The two are computer programs, which are used while making hotel reservation and maintaining the clients record for easier referral. Apart from using computers, I learnt the value of paying attention to minor details which otherwise seem negligible yet a small mistake could cause huge problems to the hotel in future.

In addition to that, I have learned a lot about internal corporate ethics and organizational communication within the company. I am thankful to some of the courses that helped me to understand basics of these issues, so I came to my internship with a good foundation. Being able to appreciate theory in a practical scenario has helped me towards more in-depth understanding. Consequently, I have been able to work according to the standards and cooperate well with my colleagues.

My main source of weakness was lack of prior experience in a close working environment and especially in a huge business like Hyatt Regency. At first I felt nervous and devoid of confidence in discharging my duties. Due to nervousness, making decision became difficult due to the fear of commiting mistakes. My other weakness was lake of exposure to complex computer systems, which are used at the hotel. The systems are detailed and require sophistication of skills for one to handle them. I am glad assistance and motivation from my supervisor and the entire team at Hyatt Regency helped me overcome my fears and weaknesses thus becoming resourceful.

It is worth noting that my personal characteristics also contributed in a big way towards my enjoying the internship. Being young and energetic, I had the zest and desire to learn and utilize new ideas and applications. Although I was the youngest in the department, my work rate and desire to work was admired by my supervisor and the other staff. Throughout my internship period, curiosity and determination to perform overshadowed my age. The inherent desire to adapt to the new facilities uplifted my absorption ability thus I was able to grasp all that was required of me. In addition, my hunger for reading shortened my orientation period because I discovered most things by myself.

The experience I have gathered has made me more focused and motivated to face new challenges. Fitting into their system was smooth thanks to the moral support and cooperation provided by the entire department staff. From my experience, Hyatt Regency is an ideal place for nurturing talents into young competitive professionals. The environment and the working condition are conducive for interns to learn and gain exposure of new things in a busy and competitive atmosphere. Hyatt Regency has a well-stipulated work ethic, which governs the entire conduct of employee. From the onset, one learns what ought to be done.

In addition, the hotel has elaborate job descriptions, which govern the activity of each employee including the interns. This gives clear-cut boundaries on what one should do thus providing a limit that determines behavior. Furthermore, the staff, and the managers have personal etiquette and know how to deal with conflicts and differences that arise in the process of working. Finally, the spirit of teamwork prevailing between the employees allows everybody to freely express his or her mind.

Reference List

Clausen, L. (2006). Intercultural Organizational Communication: Five Corporate Cases in Japan. Copenhagen: Copenhagen Business book Press.

Tice. J. & Wilford, J. (2008). 100 Best Family Resorts in North America: 100 Quality Resorts with Leisure Activities for Children and Adults. New Hampshire: Globe Pequot Press

Introduction

A sport is usually an essential activity that is planned, requires mental and physical skills and competence, and has some aspects of entertainment and competition. There are usually certain rules and regulations that govern specific sports and must strictly be followed. The sports industry has developed to great heights and various sports have come up some of which have been included in the Olympic Games while others have not. Olympic Games is a very essential body that has played a great role in the development of sports and events related to sports by serving as a model in regard to structure and organization of sports (Masterman, 2009).

Sport List

According to Ivy (2008) the summer Olympic games include; Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Baseball, Boxing, Canoeing, Cycling, Diving, Equestrian, Fencing, Field hockey, Football, Gymnastics, Handball, Judo, Modern Pentathlon, Rowing, Sailing, Shooting, Softball, Swimming, Synchronized swim,Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Triathlon, Volleyball, Water Polo, Weightlifting, and Wrestling. Some of the summer sports recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) but not included in the Olympic games are; Air sports, Bandy, Billiards, Boules, Bowling, Bridge, Chess, Cricket, Dance Sport, Golf, Karate, Korfball, Life Saving, Motorcycle Racing, Mountaineering and Climbing, Netball, Orienteering, Pelota basque, Polo, Power boating, Racquetball, Roller Sports, Rugby, Squash, Sport climbing, Surfing, Sumo, Tug of War, Underwater Sports, Water Skiing, and Wushu.

Life Saving Sport

In the next summer Olympics, I would advocate for the inclusion of life saving as a sport. This is because I consider it unique due to the fact that it is very essential in saving mankind as the skills and knowledge learnt are applied for humanitarian as well as for competition purposes. It is a very challenging sport that incorporates athletic competence and lifesaving skills. There have been many cases worldwide where many people perish due to drowning as a result of the inability to save themselves or lack of adequate qualified personnel and equipment required for saving life.

Increased participation in the life saving sport would therefore equip more people with the skills and hence help improve the situation. There should be formation of clubs that encompass people of all ages so as to create more awareness on all aspects of drowning and other precautions to be adhered to reduce water related harms and injuries. It is a sport that emphasizes teamwork and leadership, fitness and entertainment. It helps keep young people involved in lifesaving and life guarding skills as part of swimming and in the long run, they become competent in life saving (Corsan, 2010).

Like any other sport, life saving improves ones health and fitness, enhance leadership skills, improve self esteem by increasing confidence, promote time-management skills and enhance relaxation hence avoiding stress and tension. Its unique and the important aspect however is that of saving lives. The disadvantages associated with the life saving sport are that it is very demanding as it requires a lot of skills combination, for example, athletic and lifesaving skills. It also requires lots of equipment to facilitate the process and therefore its inclusion in the summer Olympic Games will necessitate an additional budget to the organizing and facilitating agents.

Conclusion

Sports are very important and should never be underemphasized due to the many benefits linked with them as discussed above. The diversity in the sports industry is an ideal aspect as it enhances participation of many people with different interests and capabilities and the Olympic Games should consider more diversification basing on the various positives effects of the different kinds of sports.

Reference List

Corsan, H.B. (2010). At Home in the Water  Swimming, Diving, Life Saving, Water Sports, Natatoriums. New York: Read Books.

Ivy, J. (2008). Olympic Sport List. 

Masterman, G. (2009). Strategic Sports Event Management: Olympic Edition 2nd Ed. New York: Butterworth-Heinemann.

Compassion Fatigue

Compassion fatigue is a common condition among many caregivers and community workers. This condition is characterized by a gradual diminishing of compassion within a specified period (Stamm, 2014, p. 2). The condition is also given the name Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS). Several risk factors and conditions are associated with this condition. Helm (2012) argues that perfectionists and overly conscientious individuals will suffer from STS (p. 4). Lack of proper social support and care can also result in compassion fatigue. Individuals without proper coping strategies and continued trauma can cause this condition. Stressful working conditions can also result in STS. High-stress professions and jobs also promote this condition.

Social workers and caregivers should use powerful prevention plans in order to deal with compassion fatigue. A personal self-care strategy can be effective in dealing with compassion fatigue. For instance, employees can take long breaks from work. They should also engage in recreational activities and exercises. Caregivers should also accept the fact that heartaches will always occur. Social support can also produce desirable outcomes. The targeted individuals will interact with more people in order to promote their psychological states (Stamm, 2014, p. 3).

My Personal Self-Care Plan

My philosophy is to provide the best care to different people in society. I possess the best skills and competencies in order to achieve the targeted objectives. Caregivers should have the required education. They should possess certain skills such as decision-making, time management, problem-solving, resiliency, compassion, and leadership (Helm, 2012, p. 4). I encounter different sources of compassion fatigue every day. For instance, I sometimes focus on the best outcomes. I always face different workplace problems. These issues always affect my objectives.

Most of my workmates and clients fail to cooperate. This situation affects my career objectives. The working environment lacks appropriate training to deal with various stresses and problems. That being the case, caregivers should come up with a powerful self-care plan. The important thing is maintaining my physical and emotional health. I will always use different stress-reduction approaches. Some of these practices include exercises, recreational functions, and work-life balance (Sadler-Gerhardt & Stevenson, 2012, p. 5). I will also join different teams in order to get the best social support.

How This Class Has Changed Me

This class has equipped me with new skills and ideas that can support my future career goals. I did not understand the meaning of Case Management (CM). I believed that CM was a simple term applied in different working environments. However, the class materials have given me a clear understanding of CM. Employees and clients should embrace the best practices in order to achieve the targeted health outcomes (Sadler-Gerhardt & Stevenson, 2012). The videos, lectures, class readings, assignments, and discussions have expanded my view of working with different clients. I have understood many things that were unclear to me nine weeks ago.

The class materials have equipped me with new competencies and self-care strategies that can support my future career goals. I will become a competent human service professional. I will always work closely with different individuals. I will embrace the power of teamwork. It will be my obligation to address some of the factors affecting my performance. It is appropriate for caregivers to deal with compassion fatigue (Nimmo & Huggard, 2013). I will use the above practices in order to offer quality support to my clients. I will deal with every stressor affecting my goals. This class has equipped me with numerous competencies that can make me a professional social worker.

Reference List

Helm, H. (2012). Managing Vicarious Trauma and Compassion Fatigue. Web.

Nimmo, A., & Huggard, P. (2013). A Systematic Review of the Measurement of Compassion fatigue, Vicarious Trauma, and Secondary Traumatic Stress in Physicians. Australasian Journal of Disaster and Trauma Studies, 1(1), 37-44.

Sadler-Gerhardt, C., & Stevenson, D. (2012). When it All Hits the Fan: Helping Counselors Build Resilience and Avoid Burnout. Ideas and Research You Can Use, 1(1), 1-8.

Stamm, B. (2014). Helping the Helpers: Compassion Satisfaction and Compassion Fatigue in Self-Care, Management, and Policy of Suicide Prevention Hotlines. ProQOL, 1(1), 1-4.

Background Summary

The article by McCoy et al. focused on an intervention program seeking to promote physical activities among African American adults using text messaging (2). According to this article, African American adults are less likely to engage in physical exercises than an average American resident. Most of them rarely find time to visit the gym or engage in outdoor physical exercises for various reasons. It explains why they are the worst affected group when it comes to lifestyle diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, among a host of other related diseases. The study targeted African Americans living in urban centers, specifically in Central Mississippi. The participants in the study were adults aged 21 years old.

Most of them were Christians who attended various churches in the country. In their article, the researchers used two social and behavioral sciences models, the information-behavioral skills model, and the health belief model (McCoy et al. 3). The researchers wanted to determine how the targeted population could be empowered through regular access to information so that their behavior could be influenced by a given pattern. Using the information-behavioral skills model, they argue that constant reminder to the target population of the need to engage in physical exercise may change their behavior. It may make them believe that keeping fit is a way of managing or avoiding related health complications. On the other hand, the health belief model focuses on shaping the beliefs and attitudes of individuals with the aim of predicting their health behavior. In this context, the beliefs and attitudes of the respondents can be shaped by providing relevant information to influence their behavior positively.

Program Proposal

Literature Review

According to a report by Al-Eisa et al., Saudi Arabia is one of the countries with the highest rates of obesity in the world (2). It is estimated that 68.3% of the countrys population is either obese or overweight. The studies also show that obesity is currently one of the leading causes of preventable deaths in the country. Livi et al. argue that obesity is a serious problem in major urban centers, especially among the middle-class workers in the country (28). Most of them rarely have time to engage in regular physical activities. These employees work almost on a daily basis with the aim of achieving career growth. When going to work, they use their cars or public transport because they highly value their time. Most of them rarely work or ride bicycles to work. On weekends, many have to be with their family and friends. In their daily or weekly schedule, meaningful physical exercise is not given any priority. Livi et al. state that most of these middle-class urban dwellers in Saudi Arabia have also embraced a poor eating habit that complicates their problem (26). Most of them have moved from traditional healthy meals and now prefer fast foods, most of which are rich in calories. Hamburgers, French fries, fried chicken, pitas, and pizzas have become very popular, especially during lunch-hours when they are away from home.

According to Ahadzadeh et al., the growing incidences of obesity are directly caused by poor dieting practices and limited physical activities (48). Che et al. observe that major cities such as Riyadh, Mecca, and Medina have modern gyms in various neighborhoods that can be used by these people to ensure that they remain physically fit (969). However, the demand for these services is low, leading to limited growth in the number of these facilities. McCoy et al. attribute the low demand for gym services to limited information among the target population (7). Most of these people rarely realize that they are getting obese. They have not come to appreciate the need to maintain regular physical exercise as a way of life. Heydari and Noroozi say that limited public awareness campaign is one of the main reasons why people rarely engage in physical exercises (6985). In many cases, people are informed about the need to engage in regular physical exercise when they visit hospitals because of various health complications. Sometimes it is too late to help them at that stage, especially when they have developed serious health complications. The government and other private entities are yet to take initiatives geared towards promoting physical exercise among urban dwellers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Targeted Population and Setting

In this study, the targeted population is the middle-class urban dwellers. The study specifically targets people with regular jobs, working in offices for five or six days a week. The chosen setting is the major urban centers in the country. The primary setting is the city of Riyadh. However, Mecca and Medina will also form part of the setting in this research. It is important to note that the chosen setting is similar to that in the article by McCoy et al. (1). They both focus on urban centers. The selected population in this study has a number of similarities and differences, which are worth noting. In both cases, the study focuses on the middle working-class members of society. Most of them work for about five or six days a week.

However, the selected populations in the two studies have differences worth noting. The main difference is that in the study by McCoy et al., the focus of the study is primarily on African Americans, just a section of the society in terms of race (3). However, that is not the case in this study. The study looks at all the middle-class urban dwellers in the selected cities working for five or six days a week irrespective of their race. The decision to choose the middle-class members of the society was informed by the fact that they are the worst affected group with the problem of obesity and related sicknesses. They rarely engage in physical exercises, and the researcher believes it is appropriate to promote awareness about the benefits of physical exercise in this community. A study by McCoy et al. shows that obesity is a health problem more prevalent in urban settings than in rural set-ups (3). That is why it was considered the right setting for this research.

Incorporating the Model in Saudi Setting

The chosen model is the health belief model that should be incorporated in the Saudi setting to address the identified problem. In this case, the researcher will use this model to find ways of promoting awareness about the importance of regular physical exercise among middle-class urban dwellers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The health belief model is based on three main conditions. The first condition is that the person must embrace the feeling that a given negative health condition, which in this case is obesity and related health complications, can be avoided (Heydari and Noroozi 6986). They must have a positive mindset that the problem is avoidable for them to develop the conviction of dealing with the issue.

The second condition is that the patient or targeted individual must have a positive expectation towards the recommended action and its ability to address the problem (Ahadzadeh et al. 49). For such a person to act in a given desirable manner, he or she must believe that the action will help in avoiding the negative health condition. In this case, the middle-class urban dwellers must believe that when they engage in exercise on a regular basis, they can overcome the problem of obesity and other related health problems. The third condition is that the targeted individual should have confidence in his or her ability to take recommended health action and achieve the desired health outcome (Heydari and Noroozi 6986). Taking regular exercise requires strong will power. The targeted individuals must believe that they can engage in regular physical exercise and that through consistency, they can fight obesity and related health problems.

The intervention strategy that will be used to address the problem of growing cases of obesity would be the promotion of awareness about physical exercise and its relevance in fighting obesity. The existing studies show that the number of gyms in major cities in Saudi Arabia has been on the rise, but the demand is still low. The strategy is to inform members of the public about dangers of obesity; ways to determine whether one is of normal weight, overweight, or obese, and how to deal with the problem. The campaign will then emphasize how regular physical exercise can help in managing obesity. Going to the gym regularly is one of the best ways of maintaining physical exercise. However, the awareness campaign will inform the targeted group that there are other ways of remaining physically active.

Walking to work instead of using buses, regular roadwork, attending dancing sessions among others can also be used to manage ones body weight. The primary goal of this strategy will be to change the social behavior of middle-class urban dwellers in Saudi Arabia. Al-Eisa et al. say that most of these people in the target group rarely find time to engage in meaningful physical exercise (4). They do not consider it a priority. What they fail to understand is that their way of life may make them acquire life-shortening illnesses that may be very costly to manage. Taking some time to engage in physical exercise may not threaten their career. To the contrary, it will give them the physical strength they need to overcome various challenges in the workplace. It will eliminate opportunistic diseases that may threaten their career, especially when they are incapacitated. They must reconsider their current lifestyle and embrace a new behavior where they have to remain physically active.

The intervention plan proposed by McCoy et al. is effective in the setting where it was developed. However, in the local Saudi context, a number of changes will be needed to the original plan in line with the local forces. The original plan was developed in the United States. Livi et al. note that the ratio of gyms to the number of people in the United States is one of the highest in the world (31). People have come to appreciate the importance of gym and the increasing demand has increased the number of these facilities in places such as Mississippi where the study was based. However, that is not the case in most of the urban centers in Saudi Arabia. The facilities are scattered and cannot meet the full demand of the locals if more people are convinced to go to the gym on a regular basis. It means that it will be necessary to make adjustments in the initial plans. In this case, the proposed plan will promote other related activities that involve physical activities. Although these people will be encouraged to go to the gym, those who cannot conveniently access such facilities will be encouraged to use alternative means. Regular roadwork, dancing sessions, and walking to work are other alternatives that will be championed. The program will encourage the target group to choose an alternative they consider most appropriate based on their work and personal schedule, needs, and reliability.

The original program is silent when it comes to the issue of gender. That is expected because, in the United States, men and women can easily mingle in social forums and having one large training hall is not an issue. However, that may not be the case in Saudi Arabia, especially given the physical nature of the activities involved. In this plan, emphasis will be placed on the need to have separate training halls for men and women, in line with the Islamic culture that is valued by the majority of the Saudis. The trainers in the female gyms should be women, and that in the male gym should be men. This requirement will make both men and women feel comfortable going to the gym regularly.

Works Cited

Ahadzadeh, Sadat, et al. Integrating Health Belief Model and Technology Acceptance Model: An Investigation of Health-Related Internet Use. Journal of Medical Internet Research, vol. 17, no. 2, 2015, pp. 45-52.

Al-Eisa, Einas, et al. Effect of Motivation by (Instagram) on Adherence to Physical Activity among Female College Students. BioMed Research International, vol. 6, no. 1, 2016, pp. 1-5.

Che, Shaw-Ree, et al. Using the Health Belief Model to Illustrate Factors that Influence Risk Assessment during Pregnancy and Implications for Prenatal Education about Endocrine Disruptors. Policy Futures in Education, vol. 12, no. 7, 2014, pp. 961-972.

Heydari, Esmat, and Azita Noroozi. Comparison of Two Different Educational Methods for Teachers Mammography Based on the Health Belief Model. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, vol.16, no. 16, 2015, pp. 6981-6986.

Livi, Stefano, et al. Health Beliefs Affect the Correct Replacement of Daily Disposable Contact Lenses: Predicting Compliance with the Health Belief Model and the Theory of Planned Behavior. Contact Lens and Anterior Eye, vol. 40, no. 1, 2017, pp. 25-32.

McCoy, Pamela, et al. Text Messaging: An Intervention to Increase Physical Activity among African American Participants in a Faith-Based, Competitive Weight Loss Program. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 14, no. 326, 2017, pp. 1-12.