International entrepreneurship 3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

International entrepreneurship 3 - Essay Example Consequently, the use of the term entrepreneurial opportunities begs the question on how these opportunities for investment come about and how different entrepreneurs utilize them, which serves as the basis for this paper. This is due to the ever-growing world of entrepreneurship globally and the need to understand how investments are made starting from the identification of an opportunity to its exploitation. Market Dynamics Entrepreneurial Opportunities in international entrepreneurship can be analyzed on different levels with the first being that of availability of markets to which one can expand to in order to make more business. Then main aspect in this level involves analysis of market dynamics, a crucial factor in determining how far one’s entrepreneurial skills and ventures can go. Concerning international entrepreneurship, this aspect is significant following the presence of many opportunities in the international market, and especially following then availability of many countries that invite entrepreneurs into their countries for different purposes. With market dynamics and their analysis, they determine the success rate of a venture and the availability of the said opportunities (Kor et al 2007, p.1189). For example, having a country play host for one’s entrepreneurial venture brings with it plenty of uncertainties, such that the country must in the first place have a demand for one’s services or goods prior to facilitation or provision of the opportunity. Consequently, for entrepreneurial opportunities to be deemed viable or unviable there must analysis of market dynamics as this is new venture altogether in an attempt to identify the different loopholes and strengths that are readily available. In addition, it allows to conduct feasibility studies for future investments following the presence of uncertain factors in new countries far from the home country and into the host country. Internationalization In addition, there is th e common factor of internationalization of business venture, which act as a focal point for most entrepreneurs and their entrepreneurial ventures (Oyson n.d, p.3). This is following then possibility of founding an institution and the having demand for its gods and services go everywhere into foreign nations. This could also be as a result for the need to expand one’s business in an attempt to have more sales and drive one’s venture into increased profitability. In the former case, entrepreneurial opportunities are brought about by increased demand and this call for bringing one’s venture closer to the people and to the market that is mainly marginalized. This, therefore, presents an opportunity for the entrepreneur to drive the venture into expansion in foreign lands with little or no information raising the question of market dynamics again as these must be looked into prior to taking the entrepreneurial opportunity lest it turns disastrous in losses and uncalc ulated moves. Feasibility Other factors considered in the development of entrepreneurship opportunities in international entrepreneurship include the ability to control different resources in different countries, coupled with strategic management in the said different countri

Communication Shc Essay Example for Free

Communication Shc Essay Parents and other adults who come into the school are more likely to give beneficial support if communication is strong and effective – this, in turn, benefit pupils. Communication takes many different forms, from talking to letters and memos; for a child care workers is very important to develop good communication skills so they can communicate effectively. WHY PEOPLE COMMUNICATE? There are many reasons why people communicate such as: * To give and receive information * To give and receive instructions Discuss a situation * Make a point or outline a concern * Express a need * Negotiate * Develop learning 1. 2 EXPLAIN HOW EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AFFECTS ALL ASPECTS OF YOUR WORK Effective communication is the key area for developing relationships with others and also covers many different forms of communication. It is a two-way process. The person communicating has to send the right message, but also needs to make sure that it is being correctly received and understood by the other person or people. Communication involves talking or verbal communication, and non-talking or non-verbal communication. To communicate effectively you will need to: * Be very clear about what you are trying to say * Ensure that the person you are talking to understands what you are saying to them * Showing respect and considering the other child’s or adult’s point of view * Have a rapport with the child or adult you are communicating with * Taking time to listen to others * Being clear on key points Maintaining a sense of humour (laughter can be a good icebreaker and is also a great way of relaxing and relieving stress) * Find opportunities to speak (some children lack confidence and need to be given a chance to warm-up first so that they feel able to do so) * Give eye contact and actively listen (if you look away or are busy doing something else, this gives the recipient the message that you are not really interested in what they are saying) * Use body language and facial expressions, an d be approachable(for example, with very young children, get down to their level) * React and comment on what they are saying (you may need to repeat back to pupils to check on your understanding * Be interested, responding and questioning to maintain conversation so that they can build up an understanding about how it works * The age of the child or young person ( children of different ages will require varying levels of attention) The benefits of good communication are: * Your relationship with the children * Your relationship with colleagues * Your relationship with parents 1. 3 EXPLAIN WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO OBSERVE AN INDIVIDUAL REACTIONS WHEN YOU ARE COMMUNICATING WITH THEM? When communicating with children or adults it is important to take account individuals feelings and what they want to say. You can do this by carefully observing a variety of reactions such as: * Facial expressions and eye contact * Body language: posture and actions or gestures which help to convey meaning * Tone of voice: this can alter the meaning of what has been said * Pauses * Turn taking * Take account of culture and context, such as where English is an additional language * Build a rapport by showing understanding, respect and honesty It is thought that more than 70% of messages are conveyed through non-verbal ways. NON-VERBAL REACTIONS Facial expressions They can be a way to find out how someone feels. Some facial expressions have the same meaning all over the world, but some cultures inhibit the expression of certain emotions, such as anger or disgust. EYE CONTACT People’s eyes can express a wide range of emotions. People may have intense eye contact because they are trying to understand you. However, some cultures or people may avoid eye contact when they do not understand or agree with you, want to avoid showing their feelings or fear negative feedback. Eye contact has five important functions in communications: 1. It regulates the flow of conversation 2. It controls intimacy in a relationship 3. It gives feedback 4. It express emotion 5. It informs both speaker and listener BODY LANGUAGE Your body language can often indicate your attitudes and emotions. If the person you are communicating with has arms crossed over their chest, this may indicate anger or tension (closed position = communication barrier) * If they lean forward with separated arms and legs, this communicat es warmth and friendliness (open communication) * Indifference to your communication may be expressed through shoulders shugs, raised arms, and outstretched hands * Clenched fists and hunching may convey anger * Slouched shoulders may convey a lack of confidence * A posture with the shoulders back in a relaxed position makes it more likely that others will view you as self-confident GESTURES It is important to learn to observe and understand as much as you can about gestures of the adults and children you are communicating with. * People often use gestures such as head and hand movements to reveal or conceal feelings. They can use them to add emphasis, to illustrate points, and to manage turn-taking * A nod may encourage others to continue talking. Some of these gestures may be used as part of a signed language – such as Makaton – or as an aid to verbal communication in a noisy environment, such a the floor of a busy factory. TOUCH It is one of our most basic forms of communication and it is associated with comfort. It is also a non-verbal communication. The amount of everyday touch which we will allow people to have with us is also culturally determined. VOICE TONE Paralanguage is the way in which language is spoken. By altering our tone of voice or changing its pitch, we can convey different emotions. An example of paralanguage is whispered speech. Paralanguage features include the tone of voice (such as flat or bright), the tempo (fast or slow), and the way in which we emphasise certain words. 2. 2 DEMONSTRATE COMMUNICATION METHODS Effective communication happens when the right method is used to send a message so it can be received and understood. Early years practitioners need to know about a range of communication methods. They should also be skilled at identifying the communication and language needs, wishes and preferences of children and adults in the setting. Children and young people’s care settings are used by people from a diverse range of backgrounds who will want to communicate in different ways. Finding out about each individual’s language needs, wishes and preferences is an important part of your role. You can do this by: * asking parents whether their children have particular language or communication needs * reading reports and notes that provide information on a child’s * speech and language development, learning difficulties, disabilities (such as hearing or visual impairment) or physical conditions that affect communication abilities (for example, cleft palate) * being aware that an adult or child’s culture, ethnicity and nationality may affect their language preferences and needs * observing the children and adults who use your setting to see how they use their communication and language skills * asking your supervisor or mentor, senior staff and specialist professionals (such as speech and language therapists and SENCOs) for information, advice and support when communicating with children or adults who have special communication needs. You may need to communicate with adults (parents, work colleagues, visitors or other professionals) who have special communication needs as a result of a hearing or visual impairment, or because English is not their first language. Meeting an individual’s needs, wishes and preferences Talking is not the only way of communication with adults and children in a setting. There are different ways of communication that may be used during the day, such as: * telephone * email * video conferencing * letters * memos * sing language * interpreting 2. 3 HOW AND WHEN TO SEEK ADVICE ABOUT COMMUNICATION There may be situations in which you feel unsure about how you should communicate with a child or adult. Perhaps you will be aware that you are struggling to communicate effectively with somebody. In situations like these, you should seek advice and obtain support. You can do this by: * talking to your supervisor, mentor or line manager about the difficulty – ask for their advice about how to deal withthe problem * talking to communication or language support specialists (teachers, psychologists or speech and language therapists) who work at or spend time in your work setting. When to look for support * When you are anxious about approaching an individual * When you are not sure how to deal with a situation * When child uses another language * When you want to improve your relationship with an individual * When communication is not effective * When you feel communication is not effective If you want to learn how to communicate in a way such as signing or an individual’s home language * If you find out an adult or child has communication needs Where to look for support * Always talk first to the line manager, who may be able to advise you or work with you to seek support * Then she/he will advise you where to find support, and will probably be the person to find appropriate support if it is external * If you work in a children’s centre you are likely to have support services to help both children and adults develop their communication skills BE ABLE TO REDUCE BARRIERS TO COMMUNICATION Knowing about different barriers to effective communication will enable you to avoid potential difficulties and adapt your communication approach when this is necessary. Barriers to communicate are things that interfere with a person’s ability to send, receive or understand a message. These may be physical, organisational, personal, to do with language and culture or to do with the presentation of information. Attitudinal example Language and culture WAYS TO REDUCE BARRIERS TO EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION Barriers to communication can often be overcome, or at least reduced by making changes to the environment, adapting your approach or by using support services such as SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator). Adapting the environment Environmental changes might include: * replacing poor lighting with brighter lighting * reducing background noise or creating some quiet areas putting up multilingual posters and displaying signs clearly * fitting electronic devices such as induction loop systems for hearing-impaired people. Adapting your approach to communication In order to improve communication, early years practitioners can adapt their approa ch by: * making sure they can be seen clearly, facing both the light and the person they are talking to * making sure their mouth is visible when speaking * minimising background noise * using eyes, facial expressions and gestures to communicate as necessary and appropriate. Timing Speaking clearly and slowly, and repeating or rephrasing what you say can make communication more effective for some children and adults. The speed or pace of communication may need to be slower if a person has a hearing or visual impairment, a learning disability or is anxious and confused. It is also important to allow time for the person to digest your communication and to respond. This can mean making silences comfortable while the person works out how to reply. Using support services and specialist devices Early years practitioners should understand the language needs and communication preferences of the children and adults with whom they work. If a child or adult has difficulty communicating in English or has sensory impairments or disabilities that affect their communication skills, specialist communication support may be needed. Learning a few words of another person’s language or developing some basic sign language skills can really help an early years practitioner to establish a positive, supportive relationship with a child and their parents. HOW TO ENSURE THAT COMMUNICATION HAS BEEN UNDERSTOOD There are various ways that you can find out if your communication has been successful. If you can do this, it can help to solve any issues that arise and stop barriers from developing. Active listening Active listening involves paying close attention to what the other person is saying, while also noticing their non-verbal communication. People who are good at active listening also tend to be skilled at using minimal prompts. These are things like nods of the head, ‘Mm’ sounds and encouraging words like ‘Yes, I see’ or ‘Go on’. Skilful use of minimal prompts encourages the person you are communicating with to keep speaking or to say a little more. Clarifying or repeating You can ensure that your communication has been understood by clarifying (repeating back, summarising or rephrasing) aspects of what the person has said during the conversation. You could say something like, ‘Can I just check that you meant †¦? ’ or, ‘Do you mean †¦? ’ You should try not to clarify too often in a conversation as this will interrupt the speaker’s flow; it might also make them think you are ‘parroting’, which may appear insincere. 3. 4 SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND SUPPORT OR SERVICES FOR MORE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID): They give support to people with hearing and sight loss with agencies in different areas. Association of Sign Language Interpreters Qualified in sign language professionals help people who are hard of hearing to communicate. Royal National Institute for the Blind Agencies in different areas give visually impaired people support in communicating. Teaching Development Agency Have courses to support teaching assistants working with children in schools. Common Assessment Framework (CAF) Give practitioners a right to seek support in communicating with parents and children who have specific needs. Department of education The government website or your local authority website gives information about local agencies that will help to communicate with families from a variety of cultures and religions. BIBLIOGRAPHY Children amp; Young People’s workforce by Heinemann Pages 2-20 www. collinseducation. com/resources/hsclevel2chapter1. pdf Pages 1-15 PRESENTED BY MONICA BELALCAZAR INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION UNIT SHC 1. 2 CYPW L2 KNOWLEDGE TASK PART TWO 4. 1 WHAT IS CONFIDENTIALITY Confidentiality is not about keeping secrets; it is about protecting an individual’s right to privacy. You may obtain private, personal information from children or parents as part of your work role. As an early years practitioner you have a duty to: * keep personal information about children and families private * only share information about children and families with those who have a right to know or when a parent has given permission. Your workplace will have a confidentiality policy that sets out the rules and procedures on sharing confidential information. You should read this and make sure that you follow it in your practice. You may be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement as part of your employment contract. Again, you should have a clear understanding of what this means in practice. Cross reference with TDA 2. 2 assessment criteria 3. 5 4. 3 SITUATIONS WHERE CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION MIGHT NEED TO BE PASSED ON There may be times when you have to reveal what you have been told, or have seen, to a more senior person at work or to an external organisation. A parent, child or colleague’s request that you maintain confidentiality can be overridden if: * what they say suggests that a child may be at risk of harm * they reveal information that can be used to protect another person from harm * a court or a statutory organisation, such as OFSTED, asks for specific information about a child. * If a child needs additional support from other professionals * If a child is suspected to be in a situation that risks their safety * If an adult has disclosed information that may raise concerns over their ability to carry out daily duties in your setting * If an outside body such as Ofsted requests to see an adult’s or child’s records When should you seek advice about confidentiality It is best to treat everything you learn about children and their families in your workplace as confidential information; it is advisable to check with your supervisor before you pass on confidential information. Similarly, it is always best to tell your supervisor if you receive any information that concerns you. If someone wants to tell you something ‘in confidence’, you should say that you may not be able to keep the information to yourself because part of your job involves safeguarding children’s welfare. It is then up to the person to decide whether to tell you or not. Always do this in an area where nobody else can overhear what you are saying. It is better to seek advice verbally rather than using communication such as email, which other adults could access. BIBLIOGRAPHY Children amp; Young People’s workforce by Heinemann Pages 2-20 www. collinseducation. com/resources/hsclevel2chapter1. pdf Pages 28-29

Pardee Lowe Father and Glorious Descendent :: Essays Papers

Pardee Lowe Father and Glorious Descendent Pardee Lowe penned his autobiography, Father and Glorious Descendent, in 1943. In the book, Lowe tells his story of growing up in the home of first generation Chinese immigrants. Throughout the book he relates the trials and tribulations endured by himself and his family in California, ranging from major events like the Great San Francisco earthquake at the beginning of the century to everyday occurrences like dealing with widespread racism in the white majority. In the end, the author relates his success in attending Stanford College and later attending one of our nations most prestigious business schools. In doing so, he presents an Asian-American success story that serves as a tribute to the spirit and culture of a people. During the time when the field of Asian-American studies began to emerge, many scholars looked back upon Asian works from the past to try and build a library of books to convey the experiences of early Asian immigrants. Father and Glorious Descendent was dismissed by many in the field as a â€Å"document of self contempt† and a â€Å"humiliating book† to the Chinese and thus it was dismissed in most academic circles. Lowe begins his book with the statement â€Å"I strongly suspect that my father’s life is a fraud,† but he does not mean this as a derogatory statement. Instead it is a subtle compliment to his father’s ability to amalgamate into a foreign culture and become successful. This mirrors the fact that the rest of the book is a tribute to the ability of a people to adapt to a foreign land without losing themselves or their culture. It is for this reason that I believe Father and Glorious Descendent deserves to be studied by today’s scholars and students. First, Pardee Lowe’s book is a compliment to the Chinese because it continually paints the first generation of immigrants in a very favorable light. This story is filled with numerous success stories of immigrants building large businesses and becoming reasonably successful. There are families that own laundries and others, like Lowe’s, that own large dry goods stores. The author never refers to these businessmen in a derogatory way and often he speaks of his childhood amazement at the wealth of some of these people. At no point does he attribute this wealth to a shedding of traditional Chinese ways or to a complete adoption of American attitudes either.

Study of Southwest Airlines Essay -- Business Management Studies SWOT

Study of Southwest Airlines 1. What three things impress you most about this company? One thing that really impressed me about Southwest was their ability to maintain high profits and maintain a high customer base even after the September 11 attacks and 2002 recession. Another impressive attribute is the fact that they can keep their prices very low and affordable to customers. The last thing that really impressed me about Southwest Airlines was their management system. Their motto that employees are equal to upper management seemed to me a risky approach, but for Southwest it was a very brilliant and profitable idea. 2. Do a SWOT analysis. (See Exhibit 1 for analysis) STRENGTH * Major profitable airline company since September 11, terror attack * Lower prices than competitors * Friendly service * Short air travel between two cities * Upside-down pyramid management system * Plenty of daily flights * Entertainment for passengers WEAKNESS * Only flies to 29 states * Cannot compete with larger airline companies * Does not utilize a hub system * No first class seating * Smaller seats compared to larger airline companies * Only uses Boeing 737 Airlines OPPORTUNITES * Slash Prices even more to eliminate competitors * Add first class compartment * Expansion into new geographic region * Add flights in areas where rivals were cutting back service * Expand airline fleet to fly longer distances * Add longer, non-stop flights THREATS * New entrants * Increased rivalry * FAA rules and regulations * Government Regulation * Land-based travel such as Amtrak and Greyhound * Other airline companies duplicating Southwest Airlines? strategy 3. What grade would you give Southwest management for the job it has done in crafting the company?s strategy? I would give Southwest management an A grade, for the reason that Southwest Airlines is described as an upside-down pyramid. The upper management is at the bottom and supports the front line employees, who are the experts. This is Herb Kelleher's unorthodox leadership style, in which management decisions are made by everyone in the organization, not just the head executives. The company is described as not having much of an emphasis on structure; instead, employees are encouraged to think freely without constrai... ...mselves and stress the quality of these frills (such as roomier seats). Others, through use of flight hubs, are the only ones who can economically serve remote customers. Another weakness of Southwest Airlines is its preference for Boeing 737s. Being limited to one type of airplane leaves them with little flexibility when the model receives a bad reputation or a critical flaw is discovered. Such would be a costly venture for this company, who has used only one type of airplane, and in the face of a dire situation would face a costly venture of finding replacements or counteracting bad publicity. A possible threat is that since Southwest Airlines' strategy has proven so effective, it will be duplicated by its competitors to a point where it would lose originality. This could result in competitors offering low rates to the areas covered by Southwest and beyond, making Southwest Airlines' range and limitations more obvious. It would be very possible in the near future where a big company, with its hubs (something Southwest does NOT have), would basically introduce Southwest Airlines' low-cost model to a wider market, encroaching and outdoing Southwest Airlines.

A family ritual to strengthen family bonds Essay

As I was answering the Family rituals questionnaire, I felt good as i was somewhat compelled to reminisce the activities which I shared with my family when I was a child. It feels good to see that our family got a high score in the questionnaire. In only proves that we have been quite close as a family. I was only mesmerized as I recalled those moments when we simultaneously scan our old pictures and laugh at the way all of us looked in the past. I also enjoyed recalling the fond memories of our excursions when I was still a child. Personally, I do not want to change that kind of relationship which I had with my family in the past. I would like us to maintain this close relationship we have right now. For me, this is how families are supposed to be. Families are supposed to spend most of the time together so they can be updated with the events happening to one another. In this sense, they will always be available to succor when one among the family members is having some dilemma. In addition to that, the intimacy between them will not be lost; and instead, will only be kindled. That feeling of intimacy will make them more comfortable and more expressive with one another. The ritual that I would like to apply to my family is a unique Islamic tradition called Eid al-Fitr. Eid al-Fitr is being done some time after Ramadan. It is basically a tradition celebrating the success of the recently done Ramadan which is a whole month of blessings and joy. Moreover, Eid al-Fitr is also the extension of these blessings and joy to those who happen to be less fortunate. Every Muslim family must offer some donation of any kind to those who are in need. They do this so the needy can participate in the celebration as well. This is done before the end of the Eid so all the people can be prepared for the jubilation. When the day of the Eid comes, all of the participants will gather outdoors – in mosques – to perform a prayer that is especially for the Eid. Afterwards, the participants will begin to disperse and mingle with one another. They will meet up with their families, friends and other acquaintances to give presents and express their cordial greetings. If they have relatives who are not present and cannot go to the event, they can call them on the hoping and likewise extend their wishes. This event usually lasts for three days to allow the Muslims make the most out of the celebration. The meaning of this ritual is that it can manifest the unity and comradeship among its participants. By extending their warm wishes to other people and giving donations to those who are in need, the participants learn to take care aside from their selves and value other people as well. The act of giving donations can be symbolically interpreted as an act of offering something that sincerely comes from the self. The act is like transcending the self and its own interests in order to extend one’s hands to other people. By applying this ritual with my family, I aim that my family will have a sense of responsibility and learn how to work as a group. Moreover, I can also reinforce family planning. My family will learn that they also have responsibility over other people –their fellowmen – and that all of us must unite for a singular cause. By promoting the behavior of giving donations to the poor and mingling with the family members, the unity of a singular cause is reinforced. As we harbor in mind the need to achieve a singular purpose, we will learn how to work as a group. In the latter process, we will develop a more cohesive bond among ourselves. The part of mingling with other people can only encourage us to commune more deeply with one another and be aware of one another’s experiences. As the ritual will be repetitious, all of its objectives will be recurrently addressed. In addition to that, by mingling with the family members in the course of the ritual, we will realize the importance of family planning. In our family, there are more than ten of us who are siblings and it will surely be harder for us to greet one another while doing the ritual. Lastly, I think that the ritual need not to change as the members of the family grow older. We must only adapt with one another and our family embers – and our oscillating temperaments, tastes and yearnings. The touchstone of the ritual is that we feel the warm company of our family members as we do and enjoy doing things together. In that sense, my two goals can be achieved. We learn that we are responsible for the welfare of our family members and we learn to work collectively in making all of us grow individually as persons and the family as a whole.

How to Tell if You Are in a Toxic Relationship

How to Tell if You Are in a Toxic Relationship â€Å"Toxic† is not just the name of a famous song by Britney Spears. It’s also a definition of a relationship that brings destruction and sadness. A toxic relationship is something that people often fall into without realizing how bad the situation is. They usually dont even try to escape this cage. Why? Because of love, affection, or fear. But if you feel unhappy with your relationship, its time to change something, and this article will help you understand if you are in a toxic relationship. Why Is It Important to Exit a Toxic Relationship? We all love love, and we all love being loved back. Thats why sometimes people prefer not to pay attention to little details that might ruin the magic of the world that this person has made up. He or she might not see the influence of the partner and their bad attitude because of a subconscious (or conscious) fear of loneliness. This is what makes a toxic relationship even worse – not all people are ready to end this nightmare. A toxic relationship often causes various mental problems – depression, neurosis, and anxiety alongside with low self-esteem or even suicidal thoughts. A relationship should bring joy, a sense of protection, care, and stability. A toxic partner takes all this away, creating an unhealthy atmosphere. The following are the most common signs that your relationship is slowly destroying you. 1. You Always Feel Guilty Guilt, in general, is a healthy emotion that we face throughout our lives. It helps us understand whats right and whats wrong or how to avoid making mistakes in the future. However, a constant sense of guilt is unnatural and unhealthy as it has a bad influence on your self-esteem and your psychological balance. Does your partner always comment on your actions or the way you look, making you feel like you do everything wrong? Then you should make it stop. 2. You Feel Lonely Even When You Are Together A great relationship means that your partner is also your best friend, someone whom you can talk to about anything in the world, who supports you and cares about you. However, if you feel like you are lonely and not understood even after trying to communicate with your partner, you may be involved in a relationship with the wrong person. If being together with your partner doesnt bring you any joy (and especially if it makes you feel worse than being alone), consider ending this relationship. 3. You Dont Share Much with Your Friends and Family Some partners are just too jealous. It can get so extra that it makes you talk less to the people closest to you. Toxic relationships make people distance themselves from their families and friends, which results in losing the chance to get help from people who know you the best. If your partner presses you to give up contacts with your friends and family, it is truly a bad sign. Ask yourself, why does your partner do that to you? Maybe he or she understands that this way you will become more dependent on your relationship. This is a manipulative move that ties you down and limits your freedom. 4. You Feel Emotionally Drained Not all vampires look like Edward from Twilight. Some of them look just like regular people. Of course, we are not talking about the ones who crave blood but about the ones who actually take your energy and will away. Emotional vampires might seem like a myth, but they do exist. They dont have fangs and dont make you fall into some hypnotic sleep. They just exhaust people around them and make people emotionally weak, suppressed, and dependent. By taking your inner calmness away with scandals, blaming, suspicions, and insults, they make you do what they want. Energy vampires might not look as scary as Dracula, but their toxic influence is as dangerous as sharp teeth of any bloodsucking immortal. 5. You Are Careful with What You Say and Do Are you always afraid of making your partner angry with what you say or do? Do your conversations feel more like tipping on your toes? If instead of expressing your thoughts and feelings genuinely, you have to be very careful with your words, that means that you dont have the kind of emotional bond that has to exist in a really deep relationship. Being with someone means understanding the needs of your partner and their experience. If you cant share what bothers you with your significant other, ask yourself if they are really the one who you should be with. 6. You Give up Things that You Like for Your Partner It doesnt matter what it is that your partner makes you give up (a hobby, a friend, a job), its not a good sign. If you like to dance, sing, meet with your friends, visit galleries, or if you have some other hobbies etc., but have to avoid doing it in order not to annoy your partner, this is one of the surefire signs of being in a toxic relationship. 7. You Dont Have Privacy Does your partner check your phone and emails? Does he or she want to spend all your time together? Is he or she against you spending quality time with your friends? If you can recognize your partners behavior in these questions – consider ending this relationship. If there is no trust in a relationship, there is no future for the couple at all. Think about the joy that you are forced to give up when you are not allowed to do what you want. You are in a relationship where you both are equal in rights, so there can be no â€Å"I dont allow you to do that.† Come on! 8. You Are Forced to Do What You Dont Want To A lot of toxic partners are really demanding, especially when it comes to plans, activities, etc. They usually consider your opinion irrelevant and decide everything for you. For example, if you are going to see a movie together, you might suggest some particular film, but in the end you always go see what you partner wanted. It also might be applied to other spheres of life. For example, sexual, social, professional, etc. If you feel like you have no voice in this relationship, its the time for changes. What to Do if You Are Trapped in a Toxic Relationship? Toxic relationships can rarely be fixed, as there is little to no understanding and willingness to change something. If you feel unhappy with your relationship, try to talk to your partner about your feelings. Comminucation is the key! However, if all of your efforts end up a disaster and your partner stays indifferent, dont blame yourself. Basically, what you have to do in this case is end the relationship with the least amount of damage as possible. Its not always easy, as toxic partners usually are afraid of losing the power they have over another person. Sometimes this might lead to aggressive behavior. So, be careful and try to distance yourself as much as possible. Dont fall for provocations and be strong – they might tell you that you wont find anybody else, that they love you like nobody ever will, or that they cant live without you. Your happiness should be the priority #1, and you can be happy, just believe it.

The Congressional Election of 1794 essays

The Congressional Election of 1794 essays In 1794, John Swanwick was elected to a congressional representative seat in Philadelphia. John Swanwick was the challenger in this election, defeating incumbent Thomas Fitzsimons. This period of history saw many changes from the ratification of the U.S. Constitution to the use of federal troops to quiet rebellions. Through analysis of the evidence in the congressional election of 1794, three key issues take part in the election. The candidates backgrounds, the excise taxes on goods, and the role of political factions are the contributing factors that got John Swanson elected in 1794. There were three contributing factors to Swanwicks election. First are the different backgrounds of the two candidates. Both came to America a few years before the American Revolution. Fitzsimons was a Roman Catholic from Ireland while Swanwick was a Protestant from England. (Becker, p. 101-102). The country of origin and more importantly their religious beliefs were contributing factor to Swanwicks victory. The north is where people settled to get away from Catholicism and the Church of England, and even with the event happening over a hundred years earlier, that fact was still fresh in the minds of the people. Being English gave Swanwick the upper hand as well. Before the revolution, most people living in the colonies in the northern part of the country (New England) were English, not Irish. A connection to the mother country was made between the people and John Swanwick. In legislative politics, incumbents have the upper hand in elections. Fitzsimons had a service record. Becker states, [Fitzsimons] served as a captain...during the Revolution, he was a member of the Continental Congress...and [he] was elected to Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1786... (Becker, p. 101). Fitzsimons service did not stop there. Becker goes on to write, [he] was a signer of the Constitution, and was elect...

Engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge Washington A. Roebling

Engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge Washington A. Roebling Washington A. Roebling served as the chief engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge during 14 years of construction. During that time he coped with the tragic death of his father, John Roebling, who had designed the bridge and also overcame serious health problems caused by his own work at the construction site. With legendary determination, Roebling, confined to his house in Brooklyn Heights, directed the work on the bridge from  a distance, watching progress through a telescope. He trained his wife, Emily Roebling, in engineering and she would relay his orders when she visited the bridge nearly every morning during its final years of construction. Fast Facts: Washington Roebling Born: May 26, 1837, in Saxonburg, Pennsylvania.Died: July 21, 1926, in Camden, New Jersey.Accomplishments: Trained as an engineer, served as an officer in the Union Army, with his father worked designing and building revolutionary suspension bridges.Best known for: Overcame injuries, and with the help of his wife Emily Roebling, built the Brooklyn Bridge, which had been designed by his father, John A. Roebling. As work on the enormous bridge progressed, rumors swirled about the condition of Colonel Roebling, as he was generally known to the public.  At various times the public believed he was entirely incapacitated or had even gone insane. When the Brooklyn Bridge  finally opened to the public in 1883, suspicions were raised when Roebling did not attend the enormous celebrations. Yet despite the  nearly constant talk about his frail health and rumors of mental incapacity, Roebling lived to the age of 89. When he died in Trenton, New Jersey, in  1926, an obituary published in the New York Times shut down many of the rumors. The article, published on July 22, 1926, said that in his final years Roebling was healthy enough to enjoy riding the streetcar from his mansion to the wire mill his family owned and operated. Roebling's Early Life Washington Augustus Roebling was born May 26, 1837, in Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, a town founded by a group of German immigrants which included his father, John Roebling. The elder Roebling was a brilliant engineer who went into the wire rope business in Trenton, New Jersey. After attending schools in Trenton, Washington Roebling attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and received a degree as a civil engineer. He began working for his fathers business and learned about bridge building, a field in which his father was gaining prominence. Within days of the bombardment of Fort Sumter in April 1861, Roebling enlisted in the Union Army. He served as a military engineer in the Army of the Potomac. At the Battle of Gettysburg Roebling was instrumental in getting artillery pieces to the top of Little Round Top on July 2, 1863. His quick thinking and careful work helped fortify the hill and secure the Union line at a desperate time in the battle. During the war, Roebling designed and built bridges for the Army. At the  wars end, he returned to working with his father. In the late 1860s, he became involved in a grandly ambitious project thought by many to be impossible: building a bridge across the East River, from Manhattan to Brooklyn. Chief Engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge John Roebling, the designer of the Brooklyn Bridge, severely injured his foot in a freak accident while the site of the bridge was being surveyed in 1869. He died of an infection before any major work had started on the bridge. The massive project amounted to a collection of plans and drawings, and it fell to his son to make his vision a reality.   While the elder Roebling was always credited for creating the vision for what was known as The Great Bridge, he had not prepared detailed plans before his death. So his son was responsible for virtually all the details of the bridges construction. And, as the bridge was not like any other construction project ever attempted, Roebling had to find ways to overcome endless obstacles. He obsessed over the work and fixated on every detail of construction. During one of his  visits to the underwater caisson, the chamber in which men dug at the river bottom while breathing compressed air, Roebling was stricken. He ascended to the surface too quickly, and suffered from the bends. By the end of 1872 Roebling was essentially confined to his house. For a decade he oversaw construction, though at least one official investigation sought to determine if he was still competent to direct such a massive project. His wife Emily would visit the work site nearly every day, relaying orders from Roebling. Emily, by working closely with her husband, essentially became an engineer herself.   After the successful opening of the bridge in 1883, Roebling and his wife eventually moved to Trenton, New Jersey. There were still many questions about his health, but he actually outlived his wife by 20 years. When he died on July 21, 1926, at the age of 89, he was remembered for his work making the Brooklyn Bridge a reality.

Fruits and Their Tastes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Fruits and Their Tastes - Essay Example A fruit has various chemical compounds in it namely proteins or cellulose, starch, vitamins and fructose. Depending on the amount of each and every one of these chemical compounds present in a fruit the tastes may be different. This is because the content of the fruit dictates the specific taste that is in the fruits. The bitterness of a fruit is determined by the chemical compounds that are available in it. For us to understand why there are variations in terms of the tastes in a fruit as it ripens we must understand the process of ripening. It involves the declining or increasing of the levels of acids or fructose. During the early stages in a fruit formation, the levels of acids contained in a fruit are very high. As the process of formation matures and ripening draws closer, the levels of acids tend to decrease. The acids are slowly converted into fructose as the process of ripening begins and as this happens the fruits start to become sweeter. For instance, mangoes, they are rea lly sour when raw but sweet when ripe. This perfectly reflects the explanation above where the change in composition of acids and fructose is reflected in the change of taste. There are fruits which have no particular taste. Take the water melon for example. They contain the same (equal) amount of fructose and acids; therefore they cannot be classified as extremely sweet or sour. Their tastes tend to be neutral. (Mauseth, 2003, p 81) 2. How does the ripening of fruit affect the process of seed dispersal? Seed dispersal is simply the method of propagation used by a plant. This is importance for the survival of a plant in its environment. The process that entails ripening is very much useful when it comes to the mechanism of seed dispersal to be used by the fruit. Fruits that are dispersed by wind are often very light and easy to detach from the plant. They undergo a lot of dehydration so that by the time they ripen they can easily be carried by the wind. The same case applies to frui ts which undergo self dispersal. They have to be dry enough so that they can burst and get dispersed. Fruits that are dispersed by animals go through a process of ripening that attracts animals to them either by bright colors or by scent. The enzymes that control this process (ripening) end up causing animals to come near these fruits leading to their dispersal. 3. How do humans interfere in this process by consuming grains and fruits? When human beings shake a plant whose seed dispersal mechanism is self, the seed just fall onto the ground. The best example here is the beans. (Note that the shaking is necessitated by the need to consume the grains). When the fruit is fully dehydrated human interference speeds up its self dispersal through explosion. When humans eat some fruits whose seed can be swallowed, then they can either destroy the seed itself (by chewing) or dispose the seed out of the digestive system. Depending on the environment where the seed is disposed, it can die or g o ahead and germinate. For a fruit like banana, when it’s harvested, the plant is disposed but then a sucker is planted as its means of propagation. There are cases where humans consume fruits with a conscious intention to preserve its seeds so that they can be prepared for planting. Though rare this leads to conscious seed dispersal and propagation. Humans wait until some fruits ripen fully while they don’

Social or Cultural issues in Early Contemporary Literature Research Paper

Social or Cultural issues in Early Contemporary Literature - Research Paper Example This issue was dealt in early contemporary literature in a profound way. Feminism also became the focal point of early contemporary literature because a strong need was felt to transform the society, so as to make it possible for all groups to contribute its development. Virginia Woolf, an American writer was very vocal in bringing to light this issue. America was undergoing a huge transformation and she felt that it was imperative for women to be a part of the mainstream life. The nature of Woolf’s feminism is crucial to assessment of her writing, especially in Three Guineas... By contrast, Woolf presents a deeply radical sort of feminism. Her feminism was original, yet firmly rooted in the women’s movement of her time. Incorporating a vision of a completely changed society, Three Guineas is more radical than most of us recognize... In this book, war is not Woolf’s main target... For her, war is only one of the products, admittedly one of the worst products, of a system of power and domination that has its root in gender hierarchy. That hierarchy, and all others, are the targets of her feminism. (Black, 7) Feminism is in most cases misunderstood and misinterpreted by readers of early contemporary literature.

The Role of Women as Patrons during the Renaissance Essay

The Role of Women as Patrons during the Renaissance - Essay Example The Renaissance humanists embraced Christianity and, therefore, the church was at the forefront in patronizing many artistic works of Renaissance (Conelli 2004). The Renaissance was largely marked by the return to classical ideas that brought about the age of awakening in Italy and northern Europe between 1400AD and 1600AD (Thomson 1984). During Renaissance, or born anew in French, artist were exploring new ideas and, this lead to a wide discovery of talent and innovation. During and before Renaissance, men ruled over everything from political to social. A woman at these times was supposed to get married, give birth to boys and stay loyal to her husband (Trager 1994). A Renaissance man was expected to be well educated in a way that he understood proficiently art and science and have cultural grace. Women of all classes were expected to perform the duties of a housewife, or work in the fields if they were peasantry women. For middle-class women, they helped run their husbands business es while women of the noble class engaged in sewing, cooking, and entertainment. However, since the explosion of art and architecture presented opportunities individual’s growth, there were wealthy women who broke the mold of subjugation and achieved fame and independence (Chambers 1970). Most of these women learned how to paint in their father’s workshops while women of the high class had the opportunity to learn the art and practice architecture. Against this background, this essay examines the role of women as patrons of art and architecture during the Renaissance. Artistic Patronage Patrons of art had a significant role in the development of art in the Renaissance Europe. Patrons were not only customers of art but were also initiators of the same, and they often dictated on the art form and content (Chambers 1970). In most cases, art patronage was carried out by wealthy families of status, and it acted as a show of power. Art patronage was relevant for religious pu rposes, entertainment and as a source of political propaganda. As a result, the influence of the art was essential to the wellbeing of any artist. Artistic patronage was a formal undertaking with contracts defining the cost materials and dimensions of the project (Chambers 1970). For architectural works, the sketch of the project and the timeline, as well as the content of the piece, was contained in the contact form. A Patron of art or architecture offered a lot of support that placed him or her beyond the position of a mere customer. Art patronage originated from religious practices as noted by Tuscan merchant Francesco di Marco Datini of the 14th century that pictures moved ones spirit to devotion (Ciletti 1984). Therefore, the intention of any patron to any painting or curving was to devote such an art for religious purposes. Most portraits, placed at altering for a chapel, were meant to earn grace for the patron in redeeming her souls from the torments of purgatory (Ciletti 198 4). This was the theme and the form that Medici family in the early Florence artistic and architectural patronage undertook. Moreover, patrons were portrayed in paintings of religious subjects like in the work of Jan Van Eyck’s Madonna of the Canon van der Paele (Chambers 1970).

Servant leadership Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Servant leadership - Research Paper Example At the organizational level, leadership remains core. Depending on the nature and effectiveness of the leadership employed in an organization, the organization might succeed and experience increased productivity, or it might experience adverse effects. This is mainly because, in an organization, leadership has an impact on employees, and other vital functions that determine the productivity level of the organization. This paper discusses leadership in an organization, mainly basing on the model of servant leadership that was advanced by Greenleaf H., and special attention is drawn to the not for profits organizations. All organizations must have a form of leadership; however, leadership varies depending on the type of organization. Therefore, there is a difference in the way leadership is practised in not for profit organizations and those organizations in the public sector. According to Erickson (2007) research on leadership in not for profit organizations is scarce, as more research efforts are aimed at the organizations in the public sector. Therefore, by focusing more on leadership in not for profit organizations, this paper will make important contribution to the knowledge on this topic. According to Eisenhower Dwight, â€Å"Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it† (Hughes et al, 2006, p. 405). This shows that for one to be a leader, he or she must have some kind of an influence on the followers. It can also be concluded from this definition that in order for a leader to ensure the success of their organization, he or she must create commitment among the followers, who are employees, and also ensure that the employees are willing to work towards improvement in different aspects of the organization. The past decades have seen great change in the social, economic, and political aspects in

A report on highest priority program Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

A report on highest priority program - Essay Example Also, the Department of Defense feels that the State has to bring back the allied forces so that the cost of maintaining such a high degree of expenditure n the troops can be minimized. Let us focus on the expenditure on the war on terror. The Department of Defense has spent an estimated amount of 4 Trillion USD. This is the highest amount of money spent by the Unites States of America upon a single agenda. The war on terror in Afghanistan and Iraq has cost us a lot of money and the results of the same have not been any fruitful. Even though the companies based out of USA have got the chance and opportunity to built industries in the areas which have been inflicted by the war, the Department of Defense in consultation with the Department of Commerce feels that the economic spending has outgrown the income received by the US based companies from doing business in the war inflicted areas. The highest priority for the United States of America is to control the high level of external exp enditure of the state. The international debt has increased dramatically in the past 3 years and the Department of Commerce in consultation with us have concluded that the war on terror has had dramatic consequences on the purchasing power parity of the Government. There are thousands of troops who have been lined up in Iraq and Afghanistan and it is imperative that we should start cutting down on the supply of our troops in those countries. â€Å"The President spent $850 billion on defense in his first year. This included $530.1 billion for the DoD base budget, and $152.7 billion to fund other departments, such as Homeland Security and the Veterans Administration.† Understanding from the above observations, it is imperative that the State is spending a lot more amount on external security than it has to. The State must recognize the fact that the spending is going out of bounds and it might become difficult to grapple with it. We must be vigilant with our money and it is cru cial that we do not allow the spending to escalate our economic debts. The Department of Defense has made this report in consultation and advises from the Department of Commerce. Moving forward, the Department of Defense categorically state that the States and the President should remove 50% of the troops from the war affected areas by 2015. By the time the country enters a safe economic zone period, it is imperative that the troops are then brought back to the country. We plan to put in a system in place where the interior troops of Iraq and Afghanistan shall be trained and provided with ammunition to counter any insurgency. We shall start the training method by July 2014 and hope to accomplish the training of at least 100000 troops in those countries so that we can then start to remove our troops gradually and place their troops instead. This will also allow those nations to manage any insurgency or attacks and shall make them self-sufficient. Once we send out our troops from the war affected areas, we shall then create a system of checks and balances which will make sure that the process of replacing our troops with their troops is seamless. By 2016 end of the year we hope to have taken away all the allied forces away from the war-ridden areas and reduce our expenditure on war by 80%. This will give the economy the much-needed impetus in terms of monetary strength. The economy will be face

Servant leadership Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Servant leadership - Research Paper Example At the organizational level, leadership remains core. Depending on the nature and effectiveness of the leadership employed in an organization, the organization might succeed and experience increased productivity, or it might experience adverse effects. This is mainly because, in an organization, leadership has an impact on employees, and other vital functions that determine the productivity level of the organization. This paper discusses leadership in an organization, mainly basing on the model of servant leadership that was advanced by Greenleaf H., and special attention is drawn to the not for profits organizations. All organizations must have a form of leadership; however, leadership varies depending on the type of organization. Therefore, there is a difference in the way leadership is practised in not for profit organizations and those organizations in the public sector. According to Erickson (2007) research on leadership in not for profit organizations is scarce, as more research efforts are aimed at the organizations in the public sector. Therefore, by focusing more on leadership in not for profit organizations, this paper will make important contribution to the knowledge on this topic. According to Eisenhower Dwight, â€Å"Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it† (Hughes et al, 2006, p. 405). This shows that for one to be a leader, he or she must have some kind of an influence on the followers. It can also be concluded from this definition that in order for a leader to ensure the success of their organization, he or she must create commitment among the followers, who are employees, and also ensure that the employees are willing to work towards improvement in different aspects of the organization. The past decades have seen great change in the social, economic, and political aspects in

Amistad movie Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Amistad movie - Essay Example Before getting into the ship La Amistad, the Africans were first kept in Havana, Cuba slave market where buyers and sellers make a bid for the price of the slaves. This is a heart breaking scene because the people who guarded the Africans were also Africans. Their conditions were horrible and inhumane. In La Amistad, the Africans made a successful mutiny and killed every one of their captors except for two who dupe them into going to America instead of Africa. Their conditions however in that ship that transported them to Havana, Cuba and La Amistad were terrible. Probably, the security in La Amistad is a little lenient because Cinque was able to free himself from the shackles and took over the ship. But prior to that, they were treated worse than animals. It began when they first boarded the ship that abducted them from their homes in West Africa. Upon boarding, a whip greeted them and when they got restless, one of the officers of the ship took out his pistol and randomly shot the Africans and hit a woman dead. But that is not the most horrific sight of death. Before arriving in Havana, Cuba, there were undesirable slaves who were tied to a rope that has rocks as an anchor. The idea was to throw the rock-anchor at the bottom of the sea and with it are the slaves who are tied to the rope. It was a heart wrenching scene where actual human beings struggled not to go down with the rope. There was also this dramatic scene where a woman held a baby whose mother died a night before. At its backdrop were African women being molested and rape by the crew of the ship where some of the men were whipped to death. Seeing this, the woman was not able to take it anymore and fell herself off the ship together with the baby. The starvation also that the African endured was heartbreaking as they scrambled for the ration that was given to them. Their rations would

As a firm grows the lines of communication are often stretched Essay Example for Free

As a firm grows the lines of communication are often stretched Essay As a firm grows the lines of communication are often stretched. To overcome this meetings could be set up to keep people informed. The companys span of control could be re-emphasised so that workers know whom to report to and who to inform of their orders. A clear structure and hierarchical pyramid will reduce arguments in the short term. Team building exercises are a modern way of improving morale, team spirit and efficiency. They are a long-term measure to keep all managers striving for the same aims and goals for the company as a team. I have been assigned by the company Koka Kola to sort out the problem they have where a new base 50 miles outside of there London head quarters has been built. The problem is the communication between the two bases; I need to find the best way to communicate between the two bases. Business Objectives The Business has objectives it must achieve; the businesses main objective is to set up a new communications system between the London Head Office and the newly built Production Site. The problem with this is that it may clash with another objective, Profit. If the company is to spend money on a new communications system it must make sure that the money spent on the system, staff, marketing etc, does not overshadow the money made by sales and other sources of profit. This, although a big problem could have benefits in the long term. If the money spent on setting up the Communications System is more than the profit made that month. In the months after when the System is set up, the benefits in profit as a result of the it being set up could be far greater than that in past months before it was made and so in the future could eventually be bigger than the amount paid on the Communications System and maybe even the Production Site. This concludes that although the short-term objectives maybe conflicted, the long term must be waited upon in order to reap the benefits. Communication: Communication is the process of passing information from one person to another. Once the target receives the information it is acted upon and feedback is sent to the original sender. An example of communication in business might be a company producing cars. The message might be an advertisement on television telling customers about a new car. The target will be the segment of the market interested in buying a car. The feedback will be the level of sales when the magazine first goes on sale. Communications are important in a business because it keeps the company working on the right track. For example if a marketing director who never asked the customers what they wanted in a product made a set up an advertising scheme on television, the advertisement would be based on the directors interests rather than the views of the customers. The customers wouldnt be interested and would turn a blind eye. The problem with the business I have been appointed to is that the business is splitting into two bases amongst which people will work who would normally communicate with each other. I have organised an interview with a worker from a local business to find out what methods of communication they use: 1) How many methods of communication do you use in your business?

Cost Estimation and Management Strategies

Cost Estimation and Management Strategies Introduction Cost is one of the three pillars supporting project success or failure, the other two being Time and performance. Projects that go significantly over budget are often terminated without achieving the construction project goals because stakeholders simply run out of money or perceive additional expenditures as throwing good money after bad. Projects that stay within budget are the exception, not the rule. A construction project manager who can control costs while achieving performance and schedule goals should be viewed as somewhat of a hero, especially when we consider that cost, performance, and schedule are closely interrelated. The level of effort and expertise needed to perform good cost management are seldom appreciated. Too often, there is the pressure to come up with estimates within too short a period of time. When this happens, there is not enough time to gather adequate historical data, select appropriate estimating methods, consider alternatives, or carefully apply proper methods. The result is estimates that lean heavily toward guesswork. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that estimates are often not viewed as estimates but more as actual measurements made by some time traveller from the future. Estimates, once stated, have a tendency to be considered facts. Project managers must remember that estimates are the best guesses by estimators under various forms of pressure and with personal biases. They must also be aware of how others perceive these estimates. It requires an understanding of costs far beyond the concepts of money and numbers. Cost of itself can be only measured, not controlled. Costs are one-dimensional representations of three-dimensional objects travelling through a fourth dimension, time. The real-world things that cost represents are people, materials, equipment, facilities, transportation, etc. Cost is used to monitor performance or use of real things but it must be remembered that management of those real things determines cost, and not vice versa. Cost Management Cost management is the process of planning, estimating, coordination, control and reporting of all cost-related aspects from project initiation to operation and maintenance and ultimately disposal. It involves identifying all the costs associated with the investment, making informed choices about the options that will deliver best value for money and managing those costs throughout the life of the project, including disposal. Techniques such as value management help to improve value and reduce costs. Open book accounting, when shared across the whole project team, helps everyone to see the actual costs of the project. Process Description The first three cost management processes are completed, with the exception of updates, during the project planning phase. The final process, controlling costs, is ongoing throughout the remainder of the project. Each of these processes is summarized below. Resource Planning Cost management is begun by planning the resources that will be used to execute the project. Figure 6-2 shows the inputs, tools, and product of this process. All the tasks needed to achieve the project goals are identified by analyzing the deliverables described in the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS). The planners use this along with historical information from previous similar projects, available resources, and activity duration estimates to develop resource requirements. It is important to get experienced people involved with this activity, as noted by the expert judgment listed under Tools. They will know what works and what doesnt work. In trying to match up resources with tasks and keep costs in line, the planners will need to look at alternatives in timing and choosing resources. They will need to refer back to project scope and organizational policies to ensure plans meet with these two guidelines. Except for very small projects, trying to plan without good project management software is tedious and subject to errors, both in forgetting to cover all tasks and in resource and cost calculations. The output of this process is a description of the resources needed, when they are needed, and for how long. This will include all types of resources, people, facilities, equipment, and materials. Once there is a resource plan, the process of estimating begins. Estimating Costs Estimating is the process of determining the expected costs of the project. It is a broad science with many branches and several popular, and sometimes disparate, methods. There are overall strategies to determining the cost of the overall project, as well as individual methods of estimating costs of specific types of activity. Several of these can be found in the resources listed at the end of the chapter. In most software development projects the majority of the cost pertains to staffing. In this case, knowledge of the pay rates (including overhead) of the people working on the project, and being able to accurately estimate the number of people needed and the time necessary to complete their work will produce a fairly accurate project cost estimate. Unfortunately, this is not as simple as it sounds. Most project estimates are derived by summing the estimates for individual project elements. Several general approaches to estimating costs for project elements are presented here. [3] Your choice of approach will depend on the time, resources, and historical project data available to you. The cost estimating process elements are shown in Figure. Figure 6-3 Cost Estimating Elements Cost estimating uses the resource requirements, resource cost rates, and the activity duration estimates to calculate cost estimates for each activity. Estimating publications, historical information, and risk information are used to help determine which strategies and methods would yield the most accurate estimates. A chart of accounts may be needed to assign costs to different accounting categories. A final, but very important, input to the estimating process is the WBS. Carefully comparing activity estimates to the activities listed in the WBS will serve as a reality check and discover tasks that may have been overlooked or forgotten. The tools used to perform the actual estimating can be one or more of several types. The major estimating approaches shown in Figure 6-3 are discussed here. While other approaches are used, they can usually be classed as variations of these. One caution that applies to all estimating approaches: If the assumptions used in developing the estimates are not correct, any conclusions based on the assumptions will not be correct either. Bottom-Up Estimating Bottom-up estimating consists of examining each individual work package or activity and estimating its costs for labour, materials, facilities, equipment, etc. This method is usually time consuming and laborious but usually results in accurate estimates if well prepared, detailed input documents are used. Analogous Estimating Analogous estimating, also known as top-down estimating, uses historical cost data from a similar project or activities to estimate the overall project cost. It is often used where information about the project is limited, especially in the early phases. Analogous estimating is less costly than other methods but it requires expert judgment and true similarity between the current and previous projects to obtain acceptable accuracy. Parametric Estimating Parametric estimating uses mathematical models, rules of thumb, or Cost Estimating Relationships (CERs) to estimate project element costs. CERs are relationships between cost and measurements of work, such as the cost per line of code. [3] Parametric estimating is usually faster and easier to perform than bottom-up methods but it is only accurate if the correct model or CER is used in the appropriate manner. Design-to-Cost Estimating Design-to-cost methods are based on cost unit goals as an input to the estimating process. Tradeoffs are made in performance and other systems design parameters to achieve lower overall system costs. A variation of this method is cost-as-the-independent-variable , where the estimators start with a fixed system-level budget and work backwards, prioritizing and selecting requirements to bring the project scope within budget constraints. Computer Tools Computer tools are used extensively to assist in cost estimation. These range from spreadsheets and project management software to specialized simulation and estimating tools. Computer tools reduce the incidence of calculation errors, speed up the estimation process, and allow consideration of multiple costing alternatives. One of the more widely used computer tools for estimating software development costs is the Constructive Cost Model (COCOMO). The software and users manual are available for download without cost (see COCOMO in the Resources.) However, please note that most computer tools for developing estimates for software development use either lines of code or function points as input data. If the number of lines of code or function points cannot be accurately estimated, the output of the tools will not be accurate. The best use of tools is to derive ranges of estimates and gain understanding of the sensitivities of those ranges to changes in various input parameters. The outputs of the estimating process include the project cost estimates, along with the details used to derive those estimates. The details usually define the tasks by references to the WBS. They also include a description of how the cost was derived, any assumptions made, and a range for estimate (e.g. $20,000 +/- $2000.) Another output of the estimating process is the Cost Management Plan. This plan describes how cost variances will be managed, and may be formal or informal. The following information may be considered for inclusion in the plan: Cost and cost-related data to be collected and analyzed. Frequency of data collection and analysis. Sources of cost-related data. Methods of analysis. Individuals and organizations involved in the process, along with their responsibilities and duties. Limits of acceptable variance between actual costs and the baseline. The authority and interaction of the cost control process with the change control process. Procedures and responsibilities for dealing with unacceptable cost variances. Cost Budgeting Once the costs have been estimated for each WBS task, and all these put together for an overall project cost, a project budget or cost baseline must be constructed. The budget is a spending plan, detailing how and at what rate the project funding will be spent. The budgeting process elements are shown in Figure 6-4. All project activities are not performed at once, resources are finite, and funding will probably be spread out over time. Cost estimates, WBS tasks, resource availability, and expected funding must all be integrated with the project schedule in a plan to apply funds to resources and tasks. Budgeting is a balancing act to ensure the rate of spending closely parallels the resource availability and funding, while not exceeding either. At the same time, task performance schedules must be followed so that all tasks are funded and completed before or by the end of the project schedule. The spending plan forms the cost baseline, which will be one of the primary measures of project health and performance. Deviations from this cost baseline are major warning signs requiring management intervention to bring the project back on track. Various tools and techniques are available to assist in the budgeting process. Most of these are implemented in some form of computer software. Budgeting is usually a major part of project management software. Cost Control Cost control is the final step of the cost management process but it continues through the end of the project. It is a major element of project success and consists of efforts to track spending and ensure it stays within the limits of the cost baseline. The following activities make up the cost control process: Monitor project spending to ensure it stays within the baseline plan for spending rates and totals. When spending varies from the plan determine the cause of variance, remembering that the variance may be a result of incorrect assumptions made when the original cost estimate was developed. Change the execution of the project to bring the spending back in line within acceptable limits, or recognize that the original estimate was incorrect, and either obtain additional funding or reduce the scope of the project. Prevent unapproved changes to the project and cost baseline. When it is not possible to maintain the current cost baseline, the cost control process expands to include these activities: Manage the process to change the baseline to allow for the new realities of the project (or incorrectly estimated original realities.) Accurately record authorized changes in the cost baseline. Inform stakeholders of changes. The cost control process compares cost performance reports with the cost baseline to detect variances. Guidance on what constitutes unacceptable variance and how to deal with variance can be found in the cost management plan, developed during the estimation activities. Few projects are completed without changes being suggested or requested. All change requests should run the gauntlet of cost control to weigh their advantages against their impact to project costs. Cost control tools include performance measurement techniques, a working cost change control system, and computer based tools. A powerful technique used with considerable success in projects is Earned Value Management , if used appropriately. It requires a fully defined project up front and bottom-up cost estimates, but it can provide accurate and reliable indication of cost performance as early as 15% into the project. The outputs of cost control include products which are ongoing throughout the life of the project: revised cost estimates, budget updates, corrective actions, and estimates of what the total project cost will be at completion. Corrective actions can involve anything that incurs cost, or even updating the cost baseline to realign with project realities or changes in scope. Cost data necessary to project closeout are also collected throughout the life of the project and summarized at the end. A final product, extremely important to future efforts, is a compilation of lessons learned during the execution of the project. Tools for analyzing/evaluating Cost Management Some construction insurance projects dont only exceed their budget because they turn out to be bigger than originally estimated. They often blow the budget because the estimates were badly managed. As a result, the profitability analyses are not well quantified because the estimates of future return were not accurate. Accurate estimates turn to be really important, as they are frequently required for three principal reasons: The first is to well-define the costs/budget of the project. The second is to justify the project. It enables the cost to be compared with the anticipated benefits. The third is to evaluate and control the actual costs vs. estimated and take corrective actions when needed to make the project succeed. Applying Activity-Based Costing (ABC) to construction projects can help insurance companies to better understand their costs and maximize construction resources. Combined with the Earned Value Management, construction projects can be tracked and controlled effectively in terms of time and budget. Activity-Based Costing (ABC) Activity Based Costing (ABC) is a method for developing cost estimates in which the project is subdivided into discrete, quantifiable activities or a work unit. The activity must be definable where productivity can be measured in units (e.g., number of samples versus man hours). After the project is broken into its activities, a cost estimate is prepared for each activity. These individual cost estimates will contain all labour, materials, equipment, and subcontracting costs, including overhead, for each activity. Each complete individual estimate is added to the others to obtain an overall estimate. Contingency and escalation can be calculated for each activity or after all the activities have been summed. ABC is a powerful tool, but it is not appropriate for all cost estimates. This chapter outlines the ABC method and discusses applicable uses of ABC. ABC methodology is used when a project can be divided into defined activities. These activities are at the lowest function level of a project at which costs are tracked and performance is evaluated. Depending on the project organization, the activity may coincide with an element of the work breakdown structure (WBS) or may combine one or more elements of the WBS. However, the activities must be defined so there is no overlap between them. After the activity is defined, the unit of work is established. All costs for the activity are estimated using the unit of work. The estimates for the units of work can be done by performing detailed estimates, using cost estimating relationships, obtaining outside quotes for equipment, etc. All costs including overhead, profit, and markups should be included in the activity cost. Earned Value Management (EVM) An interesting phenomenon exists in the construction industry. The industry probably uses parts of Earned Value management about as well as any industry. But, what makes it interesting is that in construction work, practitioners rarely use the term Earned Value. The Earned Value Management (EVM) technique is a valuable tool to measure a projects progress, forecast its completion date and final cost, and provide schedule and budget variances along the way. Earned Value management is a technique that can be applied, at least in part, to the management of all capital projects, in any industry, while employing any contracting approach. The employment of Earned Value requires a three-dimensional measurement of project performance, ideally from as early as possible—perhaps as early as 15 percent complete, up to 100 percent final completion. However, two of the three dimensions of Earned Value—the baseline plan and the physical performance measurement—will apply to all capital projects, in any industry, using any contracting method. Using Earned Value metrics, any project can accurately monitor and measure the performance of projects against a firm baseline. Using the three dimensions of Earned Value, the project management teams can at all times monitor both the cost and the schedule performance status of their projects. The Earned Value Management (EVM) technique is a valuable tool to measure a projects progress, forecast its completion date and final cost, and provide schedule and budget variances along the way. EVM provides consistent indicators to evaluate and compare projects and give an objective measurement of how much work has been accomplished. It lets the project manager combine schedule performance and cost performance to answer the question: What did we get for the money we spent? Using EVM process, management can easily compare the planned amount of work with what has actually been completed, to determine if cost, schedule, and work accomplished are progressing as planned. It forces the project manager to plan, budget and schedule the work in a time-phased plan. The principles of ABC and EVM techniques provide innovative cost and performance measurement systems, allowing productivity improvements, and therefore can enhance the projects profitability and performance. Quality Management (QM) The process of planning, organizing, implementing, monitoring, and documenting a system of management practices that coordinate and direct relevant project resources and activities to achieve quality in an efficient, reliable, and consistent manner. Quality Management Plan (QMP) A project-specific, written plan prepared for certain projects which reflects the general methodology to be implemented by the Construction Manager during the course of the project to enhance the owners control of quality through a process-oriented approach to the various management tasks for the program. The Quality Management Plan complements the Construction Management Plan (CMP) and forms a basis of understanding as to how the project team will interrelate in a manner that promotes quality in all aspects of the program, from the pre-design phase through completion of construction. Its purpose is to emphasize the quality goals of the project team in all issues associated with the work. This pertains not only to the traditional QA/QC of constructing elements of the work, but also addresses the quality needs of management tasks such as performing constructability reviews during design, checking estimates, making appropriate decisions, updating schedules, guiding the selection of sub contractors and vendors from a quality-oriented basis, to dealing with the public when applicable. Owners, for certain projects, require that a separate Quality Management Plan be prepared by the Construction Manager. In these cases, the QMP is a project-specific plan which reflects the approach of the CM towards achieving quality in the constructed project. It is developed with heavy reliance on many of the sections included in these Guidelines, and fully supports the Construction Management Plan (CMP). When a separate QMP is prepared, most of the quality-oriented issues and discussion of processes, check lists, audits, etc., are contained in the QMP rather than the CMP. The CMP then addresses the day-to-day performance of the various functions and outlines the methods by which the Construction Managers forces will perform their services. The QMP typically will include some of the following: †¢ Overall project organization †¢ Project QA/QC organization †¢ QA/QC representatives of design team and contractors †¢ Management decision flow chart †¢ Formats for various elements of the CM services (i.e., formats for job meeting minutes, progress payment applications, field observation reports, shop drawing logs, notice of proposal change order, etc.) †¢ Detailed check lists or audit plans to provide for quality in the practice of CM functions (i.e., check lists for approving contractors schedules, approving revisions to schedules, reviewing change order costs, obtaining approval within the owner organization for changes, approval to start foundation construction, approval to start concrete pour, approval to start steel erection, preliminary and final acceptance, etc.). †¢ Project Quality Audit forms The CM will prepare quality management narratives for the use of his staff for each of the check lists and quality procedures contained in the QMP to provide for an acceptable level of quality at all levels of CM practice. Inputs to Quality Planning. Quality policy . Quality is the overall intentions and direction of a construction organization with regard to quality, as formally expressed by top management. The quality policy of the performing organization can often be adopted as is for use by the project. However, if the performing organization lacks a formal quality policy, or if the project involves multiple performing organizations (as with a joint venture), then the project management team will need to develop a quality policy for the project. Regardless of the origin of the quality policy, the project management team is responsible for ensuring that the project clients are fully aware of it. Scope statement. The scope statement is a key input to quality planning since it documents major project deliverables, as well as the project objectives that serve to define important client requirements. Project description. Although objectives of the project description may be embodied in the scope statement, the project description will often contain details of technical issues and other concerns that may affect quality planning. Standards and regulations. The project management team must consider any application area-specific standards or regulations that may affect the project. Other process outputs . In addition to the scope statement and project description, processes in other knowledge areas may produce outputs that should be considered as part of quality planning. For example, procurement planning may identify contractor quality requirements that should be reflected in the overall quality management plan. Tools and Techniques for Quality Planning. Benefit/cost analysis . The quality planning process must consider benefit/cost tradeoffs. The primary benefit of meeting quality requirements is less rework, which means higher quality, lower costs, and increased client satisfaction. The primary cost of meeting quality requirements is the expense associated with project management activities. It is axiomatic of the quality management discipline that the benefits outweigh the costs. Benchmarking. Benchmarking involves comparing actual or planned project practices to those of other projects to generate ideas for improvement and to provide a standard by which to measure performance. The other projects may be within the performing organization or outside of it, and may be within the same application area or in another. Flowcharting. A flow chart is any diagram that shows various elements of a system relate. Flowcharting techniques commonly used in quality management include: Cause-and-effect diagrams A cause-and-effect diagram is an analysis tool that provides a systematic way of looking at effects and the causes that create or contribute to those effects. It was develop by Dr. Kaoru Ishikawa of Japan in 1943 and is sometimes referred to as an Ishikawa Diagram or a Fishbone Diagram because of its shape. Cause-and-effect diagrams, also called Ishikawa diagrams or fishbone diagrams, which illustrate how various factors might be linked to potential problems or effects. A Cause-and-Effect Diagram is a tool that helps identify, sort, and display possible causes of a specific problem or quality characteristic. It graphically illustrates the relationship between a given outcome and all the factors that influence the outcome. A Cause-and-Effect Diagram is a tool that is useful for identifying and organizing the known or possible causes of quality, or the lack of it. The structure provided by the diagram helps team members think in a very systematic way. At the head of the Fishbone is the defect or effect, stated in the form of a question. The major bones are the capstones, or main groupings of causes. The minor bones are detailed items under each capstone. Applying cause-and-effect diagram A cause-and-effect diagram is a tool that is useful for identifying and organizing the known or possible causes of quality, or the lack of it. The structure provided by the diagram helps team members think in a very systematic way. Some of the benefits of constructing a cause-and-effect diagram are that it: helps determine the root causes of a problem or quality characteristic using a structured approach; encourages group participation and utilizes group knowledge of the process; uses an orderly, easy-to-read format to diagram cause-and-effect relationships; indicates possible causes of variation in a process; increases knowledge of the process by helping everyone to learn more about the factors at work and how they relate; and identifies areas where data should be collected for further study. System or process flow charts, which show how various elements of a system, interrelate. Flow chart is used to provide a diagrammatic picture using a set of symbols. They are used to show all the steps or stages in a process project or sequence of events. A flowchart assists in documenting and describing a process so that it can be examined and improved. Analyzing the data collected on a flowchart can help to uncover irregularities and potential problem points. Flowcharts, or Process Maps, visually represent relationships among the activities and tasks that make up a process. They are typically used at the beginning of a process improvement event; you describe process events, timing, and frequencies at the highest level and work downward. At high levels, process maps help you understand process complexity. At lower levels, they help you analyze and improve the process Pareto Analysis A Pareto Chart is a series of bars whose heights reflect the frequency or impact of problems. The bars are arranged in descending order of height from left to right. This means the categories represented by the tall bars on the left are relatively more significant than those on the right. The chart gets its name from the Pareto Principle, which postulates that 80 percent of the trouble comes from 20 percent of the problems. It is a technique employed to prioritize the problems so that attention is initially focused on those, having the greatest effect. It was discovered by an Italian economist, named Vilfredo Pareto, who observed how the vast majority of wealth (80%) was owned by relatively few of the population (20%). As a generalized rule for considering solutions to problems, Pareto analysis aims to identify the critical 20% of causes and to solve them as a priority. The use Pareto Charts You can think of the benefits of using Pareto Charts in economic terms. A Pareto Chart: breaks big problem into smaller pieces; identifies most significant factors; and helps us get the most improvement with the resources available by showing where to focus efforts in order to maximize achievements. The Pareto Principle states that a small number of causes accounts for most of the problems. Focusing efforts on the vital few causes is usually a better use of valuable resources. Applying Pareto Chart A Pareto Chart is a good tool to use when the process you are investigating produces data that are broken down into categories and you can count the number of times each category occurs. No matter where you are in your process improvement efforts, Pareto Charts can be helpful, .early on to identify which problem should be studied, later to narrow down which causes of the problem to address first. Since they draw everyones attention to the vital few important factors where the payback is likely to be greatest, (they) can be used to build consensus. In general, teams should focus their attention first on the biggest problems-those with the highest bars. Making problem-solving decisions isnt the only use of the Pareto Principle. Since Pareto Charts convey information in a way that enables you to see clearly the choices that should be made, they can be used to set priorities for many practical applications in your command. S

Bush, Blair and Iraq :: War on Terrorism

On April 9, 2003 United States tanks stormed through Baghdad, Iraq. U.S. troops, then, toppled a giant statue of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in central Baghdad, which sent the Iraqi citizens into jubilee (Rampton 1). The Iraq War, or government's coined 'Operation Iraqi Freedom,' had finally arrived after declaring war on March 19, 2003. The U.S.-British coalition to invade Iraq and dethrone Hussein's dictatorship has been both a beneficial and detrimental political move. A war that originated because of Hussein's reluctance to weapons inspections now has become a messy situation where U.S.-British troops are dying more after major combat has ceased. President George W. Bush declared this war on 'terror' and, as a result, invaded Iraq on the grounds that Hussein had weapons of mass destruction which threatened American and world security. Prime Minister Tony Blair agreed with Bush that the world would be safer when Iraq disarmed its WMDs and pledged British troops fully to t he American war effort against terrorism. Over one year after invading Iraq, Hussein is captured, no weapons of mass destruction have been found, disturbing photos of abuse of Iraqi detainees, Dr. Kelly's mysterious death, and other nations providing troops are withdrawing?what arises out of all this is a question: Was Iraq worth it? Bush and Blair will both argue that even with all the setbacks, Iraqi citizens are better off now than under the Hussein regime, especially with the forthcoming of democracy. Critics dispute Iraq was invaded for financial reasons. Nevertheless, both Bush and Blair have seen their approval rating dip as the war continues, and it may ultimately hurt their reelection chances and prove that Iraq was too costly. Propaganda is a crucial element of a proficient government. However, it must be noted that propaganda is not a tool used for good, rather it is a weapon used to inflict biased views. Hence, propaganda is implemented to all facets of a citizen?s life. Ultimately, the goal of propaganda is to manipulate behavior and behavioral patterns; external rather than internal public opinion is sought. Voting, buying products, selecting entertainment, joining organizations, displaying symbols, fighting for a cause, donating to an organization, and other forms of action responses are sought from the audiences who are addressed by the persuader and propagandist. (Jossett, 45) To become an ?ideal? citizen, one must do all the aforementioned to provide for one?