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.

Foreign Direct Investments, Environmental Sustainability, and Strategic Planning： A Local Perspective

The present work constitutes further explorations on Foreign Direct Investments （FDI） and environmental quality linkages and a starting point in the strategic planning process in the metropolitan area of Bari （the main province of the Apulia region in southern Italy） in the context of transfrontier commercial cooperation. A panel data analysis is used to show either the existence of the relationships across FDI, economic and environmental variables or their nature across provinces and time （fixed or random effect model）. Model results suggest that diversification of policies across provinces would be more effective in the strategic planning process of a metropolitan city.

Strategic Planning as a Competitive Advantage by Using the BSC as a Management Tool： A Case Study in Application of Radioisotope Technology at IPEN

Strategic planning is one of the most important management tools for organizational decision making. The nuclear area represents a segment of energy production used by many countries in America, Europe and Asia. It is known that in the future nuclear energy can be a major exit to the global energy crisis. The aim of this research was to use the BSC （Balanced Scorecard） as a strategic tool for decision making in a teaching and research institution of the nuclear area--IPEN （Nuclear and Energy Research Institute）, located in the city of Sao Paulo, which belongs to the CNEN （National Nuclear Energy Commission） in Brazil. The methodology used in this academic doctoral study was a case study, which considered the period of research from December 2012 to December 2015. The main results expected from this case study are： the improvement of information flow, the view, the increased visibility of an organization providing education and especially research in relation to published works, increased interaction among IPEN and the main global research institutes and centers, increasing academic production of technical articles, indicator improvement, improving the monitoring of management actions, among others. Given the expected results one can conclude that this study will be of great value to the IPEN and also for the Brazilian energy sector, as it will allow and contribute to the dissemination and demystification of nuclear power as an energy source of mankind, its peaceful applications and for the management activity of knowledge and innovation production in the nuclear area of IPEN.

Management Accounting as a Science： From Costs and Benefits Analysis of Productions to Strategic Planning of Uncertainty

This article discusses the role assumed by management accounting as a discipline over years. Management accounting has long lived in the shadow of financial accounting, and has been often accused of fostering productivity rather than creativity. The revolution involving the business environment in the last decades has much improved the role of creativity and innovation and the adaptability of the fn-m to the context often was a key to success. This article supports the innovative role of management accounting in the post-modem era, aimed at reducing the strategic dominance of the increasing uncertainty.

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.

Effects of the Pre-Task Planning Mode on the Listening Comprehension of Chinese EFL Learners

This study aims at investigating the effects of the pre-task planning mode on listening comprehension of Chinese EFL （English as a foreign language） learners as well as students＇ opinions towards the pre-task planning mode Three step~., namely, concept mapping, strategic planning, as well as rehearsal, are employed in the pre-task planning mode in the present study. There are altogether 40 second-year English majors participated in the present study, and they are randomly assigned into the experimental group and the control group. The instruments employed in the present study to achieve the research purposes include the listening comprehension test, the teacher＇s log, the students＇ opinion questionnaires, the students＇ open-ended questionnaires, and the semi-structured interviews. Research findings revealed that there were significant main effects on the listening comprehen,;ion of Chinese EFL learners after the training by the pre-task planning mode. Moreover, the students held positive attitudes towards the pre-task planning mode

The Relationship Between the Real Estate Market and the Stock Market and Its Impact on the Strategic Planning Process in the Jordanian Organizations

This study aims at the relationship between the real estate market and Amman Stock Exchange, through the impact of three macroeconomic factors （GDP, inflation rate, and the population growth rate） and another three factors from the microeconomic indicators （interest rate, remittances of Jordanian expatriates, and the loans provided by the Jordanian banks）. The results show that the stock market is more sensitive to the microeconomic indicators than the real estate market, and responds more rapidly than the real estate market for the changes in the microeconomic indicators. The study presents some recommendations for the Jordanian companies who own or manage any investment portfolio to be aware for the existing relationship between the two markets, and to reflect this awareness in their strategic Plans, Particularly in the regression atmosphere that causes by global crisis.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Assessing probabilities of unique events： Calibrating qualitative likelihood judgments into a probability distribution

Multifaceted events in an organizational environment usually need to be assigned probabilities as a prerequisite to analytical decision-making. If the decision situation is unique, a lack of relevant historical frequency data may preclude use of traditional probability models such as the normal, binomial etc. In this case, an individual decision maker （DM） or an informed group of persons can input into a procedure as outlined here to determine a probability distribution that leads to the expected values of alternative actions or fair values of securities. The individual or group member must decide qualitatively on the extent to which one event is ＂more likely＂ than another where both events are ranked adjacent （i.e., closest to each other） in terms of likelihood. Even though the individual or group members may lack experience in orthodox probability assessment, these pairwise ＂more likely＂ judgments on the relative likelihood of events are not overly demanding for persons familiar with the possible outcomes in the situation under analysis.

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 Global Educational Environment Within Global Management of Knowledge

The previous studies have outlined the major theoretical perspectives that have been developed within the global education of planning development. They have explored the application of these perspectives to the central substantive theme emerging from global educational analysis of planning organisation and behaviour, that is, the process of managerial control. This study focuses upon the global educational environment within global management of knowledge and substantive parameters set by the previous studies. It carries out this task in a number of respects. First, it reviews the various explanations that have been offered for the historical development of modern planning--both as a unique organisational form and as a distinctive educational worldview. Second, it considers various conceptions of managerial work that have evolved within educational analysis since the inception of the corporate system enters into global education societies during the early years of the 21st century. Third, it assesses the implications of empirical research on the three major levels of planning that haw： crystallised within contemporary corporate hierarchies. These are made up by the elite group of staffs and senior lecturers, and the middle strata of line workers, who are the superintendents of production. A concluding section evaluates the general contribution educational analysis has made to our understanding of the nature of managerial work.

Association Model Among Competitive Advantage Factors and Corporate Performance

This study sought to answer the following question： The empirical model in which strategic planning affects innovation and competitive advantage and how does this influence corporate performance perceived by the CEOs of companies in Monterrey, Nuevo LEon, does this have an acceptable outcome in regards of the theoretical fit model？ This study was empirical, quantitative, descriptive, exploratory, explicative and transversal in nature. The studied population consisted of executives who attended the training sessions of the Institute of Public Accountants of Nuevo Le6n （IPANL）. For this study, a sample of 134 executives was selected by convenience sampling. For the data collection, an instrument of 94 indicators was elaborated and the indicators within the study were the following： 31 indicators for strategic planning, 15 indicators for innovation, 24 indicators for competitive advantage, and 24 indicators for corporate performance. The null hypotheses were analyzed using multivariate analysis denominated as a structural equation model, utilizing maximum plausibility methods. According to the selected structural equation indexes, the obtained results show that the proposed model had an acceptable goodness of fit index.