Strategic Planning Practices of Hotels in Kenya

This study broadens perspectives of strategic planning procedures in hotels by analyzing hotel managers’perspectives on hotel strategy formulation and planning.The study was a descriptive quantitative study that targeted managers from various Kenyan hotels.180 questionnaires were returned from a sample of 280 hotel managers who had attended management development programs at a hospitality school.The primary goal of the study was to analyze two aspects of the strategic planning process:strategy formulation and strategic planning.The findings revealed that hotels in Kenya have developed methods and are keen on scanning their external environments.However,with the product offerings being so comparable,competitive analysis played an important role in the context.Creating a unique or specialty offering was not a popular option for most hotels.Cost-cutting was the most favored strategic inclination to achieve desired results.The balanced scorecard was underutilized in the sector.While managers were involved in the strategic planning process,other lower cadre employees were not,they were provided with the targets for the hotels’organizational goals to be achieved.The findings reveal that with similar products and services,the industry creates a hostile business climate with fierce rivalry and must invest in the most obvious alternative of cost reduction to survive.Alternative product innovation is not common in this industry for developing a differentiation approach that allows a property to control a market.

Strategic Planning for Drug Regulatory Science in the United States and Its Enlightenments to China

Objective To study the strategic planning of drug regulatory science,the effectiveness and role of policy implementation in the United States so as to gain insights and make suggestions for further improving the strategic planning of drug regulatory science in China.Methods Literature research method and comparative research method were used to compare and analyze the strategic planning of regulatory science in China and the United States.Results and Conclusion Drawing on the US experience,China should set goals based on mission and vision and identify problems,knowledge gaps,and key areas,then concrete measures can be taken to advance regulatory science.

An empirical research on strategic planning in public libraries of China's Mainland

Purpose: As an important issue, strategic planning in public libraries has been paid more attention in China recent years. However, a comprehensive and systematic research, especially strategic models based on empirical studies, is required in the public library strategic planning. The purpose of this research is to investigate the current practices and propose an appropriate reference and guidance of strategic planning in public libraries in China’s mainland.Design/methodology/approach: A questionnaire-based survey method is carried out to collect the views of public libraries staff at different levels in China’s mainland. The questionnaire is designed on the following four aspects toward strategic planning in public libraries: The attitude, the status quo, basic issues and the guides. The 882 valid questionnaires are processed by a statistic analysis to reflect the current practices of strategic planning in public libraries in China’s mainland.Findings: Our research results reveal that the unclear and confused understanding of the strategic planning still exist among the public libraries staff in China’s mainland. However, the majority of respondents still believe that the strategic planning in public libraries is significant and the library developments will be affected for lacking strategic planning. Moreover, it is considerable that the strategic plans are jointly made by independent agencies and public libraries, or by the public library itself. Also, guidelines and a set of softwares in strategic planning are needed.Research limitations/implications: The study was restricted to six main areas in China. A wider geographic sampling can preferable show the basic status of strategic planning in public libraries.The procedures of data collection would be another limitation. Nevertheless, case studies should be used in the further research.Originality: The importance of this research originates from a large number of first-hand data about strategic planning in public libraries in China’s mainland. The results provide extra perception into the future development of Chinese public libraries. The understanding obtained from this study will play a part in forthcoming evolution of this area of research.

Strategic Planning for Avoidance of Catastrophic Flood Consequences

The present study is to deal with the strategic planning in avoidance of all catastrophic consequences of major flood in West Attica region in 2017 and is divided into three main sections.The first one comprises the study of the internal and external environment of the Regional Unit of West Attica with analysis of resources,procedures,culture that governs the internal environment,external bodies and mapping through PESTEL(Political,Economic,Socio-Cultural and Technological)analysis as components of the external environment.The second section comprises the vision and mission of this strategic plan and specializes in reporting and analyzing the strategic objectives as well as the actions that characterize them in order to complete the mission that has been set and to achieve the vision that has been planned.The last section focuses on the feasibility of the above proposals formulated in the midst of actions and strategic objectives with the help of SWOT(Strength,Weakness,Opportunity,and Threat)analysis and concludes with a proposal for the implementation of strategic planning with the implementation of the Integrated Spatial Investment tool.

Strategic Planning

WHEN Zhang Qiaowen came to South Africa to pursue her Ph.D. at Stellenbosch University in 2014, she never thought that it would be so difficult to say goodbye. ＂1 went to South Africa as a stranger,＂ she said. ＂1 left three years later as an admirer of this great nation.＂ To give back to the country that embraced her, Zhang now helps support four schoolchildren through the Imibala Trust. a South African NGO working with school-age children from disadvantaged communities.

Determination of Business Strategies Using SWOT Analysis;Planning and Managing the Organizational Resources to Enhance Growth and Profitability

A SWOT analysis is the method to evaluate the internal weaknesses and strengths of an organization as well as evaluating the threats and opportunities of its external environment.This is considered as an effective framework to plan and manage the organizational resources to achieve certain goals in a specific period of time.The purpose of implementing SWOT analysis in an organization is to formulate the strategy of a business based on existing internal and external factors.There may be several disadvantages associated with running a SWOT analysis;however,its efficiency in determining the future strategy of a business is more indeed.Although the origin of SWOT analysis is uncertain,there is a long historical background about its uses to facilitate the decision-making process in every complex environment.The final result of a SWOT analysis can be presented in a matrix which is a combination of the four factors and determines strengths and weaknesses that a company involves,with opportunities and threats that it may face.This article provides a study of SWOT analysis basics and provides several practical insights of steps to provide a SWOT matrix.

SWOT-AHP hybrid model for vehicle lubricants from CNPCLC,China

In recent years, owing to the strong increase in demand for lubricants, China is ranked second in the global lubricant market. With the rapid development of China＇s automobile industry, there is an increasing demand for vehicle lubricants and an increasing requirement for higher quality lubricants. While the demands for vehicle lubricants are increasing year by year in China, the quality grade of vehicle lubricant will be improved by leaps and bounds, and the high standard lubricant for automobile will be directly brought in line with international practice. At present, the market share of most high-end vehicle lubricant has been occupied by foreign lubricant brands. So for China National Petroleum Corporation Lubricant Company （CNPCLC）, the urgent issue is that strategies must be made to respond to the stern challenges and to occupy more market share. In this paper, by using the analytic hierarchy process （AHP） technique that has the advantage of combining quantitative with qualitative analysis, a SWOT-AHP model for CNPCLC vehicle lubricants is developed, presenting a good tool for studying the competitive factors domestic and overseas for vehicle lubricants. Finally a strategic plan for CNPCLC vehicle lubricants is suggested.

Prediction of Logistics Demand via Least Square Method and Multi-Layer Perceptron

To implement the prediction of the logistics demand capacity of a certain region,a comprehensive index system is constructed,which is composed of freight volume and other eight relevant economic indices,such as gross domestic product(GDP),consumer price index(CPI),total import and export volume,port's cargo throughput,total retail sales of consumer goods,total fixed asset investment,highway mileage,and resident population,to form the foundation for the model calculation.Based on the least square method(LSM)to fit the parameters,the study obtains an accurate mathematical model and predicts the changes of each index in the next five years.Using artificial intelligence software,the research establishes the logistics demand model of multi-layer perceptron(MLP)neural network,makes an empirical analysis on the logistics demand of Quanzhou City,and predicts its logistics demand in the next five years,which provides some references for formulating logistics planning and development strategy.

Transforming the academic library for the future

Purpose: To meet the changing needs of academic and specialized users,university and research libraries are transforming their collections,staff,and services. At the UCLA Library,four principles underlie changes that have been made to support teaching,learning,and research by UCLA students,faculty,researchers,and staff. Efforts have focused on building and enhancing research collections,enriching the student experience through expanded teaching and learning services,transforming the Library's role to support the entire research process,and re-conceptualizing the physical and virtual spaces of the Library to create an expansive and flexible scholarly environment. To support and inform these efforts,the Library is building a robust research agenda and deepening opportunities for faculty engagement.These changes challenge the traditional model of library staffing,and the Library has responded by identifying new areas in which leadership is needed and new recruitment tracks for academic appointments. Implementing such a transformative process has many stakeholders and requires broad input,discussion,and committed engagement to ensure its success.Design/methodology/approach: The UCLA Library has developed its strategic planning process over several years building on broad constituent input,unit and individual work plans,and constituent feedback. The process is high level as well as operational in nature and draws on basic metrics to motivate change.Findings: The four principles of the transition have been sustained over a period of years.Implications and limitations: This article is the personal observation of the author drawing on his own leadership experience and informed by the senior management and staff of the UCLA Library.Originality/value: The process and direction of this transition are focused on the UCLA Library and its role in the UCLA academy.

The Role of Artificial Intelligence Tax in Reducing the Unemployment Problem

The fear of the impact of artificial intelligence applications in the labor market on unemployment rates has increased.After the total global investment in this field did not exceed eight billion dollars in 2015,the global market for artificial intelligence globally will reach about 70 billion dollars by 2025.Many economic analysts believe that the application of artificial intelligence in industrial fields in particular will produce factories with much fewer employees than the current number,which will cause an increase in unemployment rates.Therefore,countries are trying to adapt to these systems,not only at the level of research and development of these systems,but also on the extent of strategic planning for the change they bring about on the economic level in general,and on the labor market in particular.One of the tools that these countries can use in their attempts to solve this problem is the artificial intelligence tax.

Empowering Culture Change:Internationalization in the Academic Department

Internationalization of higher education has widespread benefit to society and has become the expected norm.The literature offers many calls for and models of comprehensive internationalization.Society expects higher education graduates to be global ready when they graduate.Responsible citizenship and professional life require that people be inclusive and sensitive to the worldviews of others.Those calls for change raise an opportunity:a model for culture change to be followed by others.University programming is centered at the department,which is the center of faculty life(e.g.,teaching,curricular change,interaction with peers,promotion and tenure).The academic department is the center of institutional change.We used a three-year,inclusive process,to develop a strategic,international,intercultural plan for a department in a comprehensive US university.Our plan includes four themes,complemented by 12 goals.Each goal has actions with time frames(i.e.,1-3 years,5-7 years,10-12 years).There are 49 total actions.Among those,28 are in the 1-3 year time frame,and each of those has a responsible actor(e.g.,individual or committee).The plan is adaptive,and includes assessment to advance accountability and transparency.We began implementation coincident with the pandemic,and with significant social unrest in our community and nation.The year of experience provided both affirmation and redirection.Our model guides departmental change,empowering necessary growth and offering a model for others wishing to advance internationalization.

Urban and river flooding:Comparison of flood risk management approaches in the UK and China and an assessment of future knowledge needs

Increased urbanisation,economic growth,and long-term climate variability have made both the UK and China more susceptible to urban and river flooding,putting people and property at increased risk.This paper presents a review of the current flooding challenges that are affecting the UK and China and the actions that each country is undertaking to tackle these problems.Particular emphases in this paper are laid on(1)learning from previous flooding events in the UK and China,and(2)which management methodologies are commonly used to reduce flood risk.The paper concludes with a strategic research plan suggested by the authors,together with proposed ways to overcome identified knowledge gaps in flood management.Recommendations briefly comprise the engagement of all stakeholders to ensure a proactive approach to land use planning,early warning systems,and water-sensitive urban design or redesign through more effective policy,multi-level flood models,and data driven models of water quantity and quality.

A STRATEGIC MODEL FOR SAFETY DURING THE HAJJ PILGRIMAGE:AN ANP APPLICATION

Saudi Arabia every year receives more than two million Muslims from all over the world to perform the Hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage to Makkah. It must take place during a specific period of the year in a specific and limited space. In spite of the effort government agencies devote to this event, a variety of disasters usually take place each year. As the number of pilgrims is increasing every year the problem is becoming an alarming one. More and more resources are allocated to eliminate the occurrence of such disasters. More than one strategy has been proposed to make the Hajj as safe as possible. Knowing that the problem is very complex as it involves numerous actors, and many entangled criteria and elements, the question is which strategy is best. This paper presents the Analytic Network Process as a sound methodology for structuring the Hajj problem by designing an analytical model to find which strategy to focus on to make the pilgrimage as safe as possible.

A multi-objective multi-memetic algorithm for network-wide conflict-free 4D flight trajectories planning

Under the demand of strategic air traffic flow management and the concept of trajectory based operations（TBO）,the network-wide 4D flight trajectories planning（N4DFTP） problem has been investigated with the purpose of safely and efficiently allocating 4D trajectories（4DTs）（3D position and time） for all the flights in the whole airway network.Considering that the introduction of large-scale 4DTs inevitably increases the problem complexity,an efficient model for strategiclevel conflict management is developed in this paper.Specifically,a bi-objective N4 DFTP problem that aims to minimize both potential conflicts and the trajectory cost is formulated.In consideration of the large-scale,high-complexity,and multi-objective characteristics of the N4DFTP problem,a multi-objective multi-memetic algorithm（MOMMA） that incorporates an evolutionary global search framework together with three problem-specific local search operators is implemented.It is capable of rapidly and effectively allocating 4DTs via rerouting,target time controlling,and flight level changing.Additionally,to balance the ability of exploitation and exploration of the algorithm,a special hybridization scheme is adopted for the integration of local and global search.Empirical studies using real air traffic data in China with different network complexities show that the proposed MOMMA is effective to solve the N4 DFTP problem.The solutions achieved are competitive for elaborate decision support under a TBO environment.

The ‘Development Plan of National Strategic Emerging Industries Promotes Breakthrough Development of High-end Equipment and New Material Industry

The State Council recently printed and distributed the Notice on the‘Development Plan of National Strategic Emerging Industries for the'Thirteenth Five Year Plan'’(The Plan),which made overall deployment and arrangement for development target,key tasks,

12th Five-year Plan for the development of new strategic industries issued

Recently China has released a plan for the development of its new strategic industries from now to the end of 2015, according to a latest statement released by the State Council. The plan indicates the goals for the strategic emerging industry in the future 5~10 years. The seven industries will maintain an average growth rate of more than 20 percent during the 2011-2015 period, the plan said. The seven new strategic industries include energy conservation and environment protection, new information technology, biology, high-end equipment manufacturing, new materials, new energy