Sunday, December 29, 2019

Tobacco Advertising And The Indian Government - 997 Words

Tobacco Advertising and the Indian Government An Analysis of the Case Study In February of 2001, India joined many developed nations in a long-held and ongoing debate; that of the ethical responsibility of government in regards to the advertising of tobacco products. By 2001 many other nations had already decided to either place bans on or strongly restrict the advertising of tobacco products in an attempt to curb usage and thereby avoid the ill health effects associated with the product. While the notion of banning advertisement had and continues to have many supporters, there are also critics who claim that banning advertising is akin to restricting rights and questions the decision making abilities of capable adults. This essay will seek to discuss the pros and cons of banning advertisement of tobacco products as it relates to the 2001 case study on the decisions faced by the government of India. The paper will also touch on ethical considerations and personal opinion of the author on this topic of intense debate. The arguments in favor of placing a ban on the advertising of tobacco products not only include the scientifically proven negative health impacts, but also show concern for the usage of tobacco in teenagers and young adults. Critics of big tobacco claim that tobacco companies tailor their ads in a manner that targets young people in order to maintain client base. There is also the issue of the government’s ethical responsibilities and its role as an enablerShow MoreRelatedThe Issue Of Tobacco Advertising960 Words   |  4 PagesThe issue of how tobacco companies try to influence teenagers into adulthood to consume tobacco was further highlighted in a legal case in the US that resulted in a ban on certain adverts that were said to attract the young into smoking Camel cigarettes. The supporters made a strong argument on the financial contribution of the tobacco industry to the Indian economy, in that they showed that not only the profits made in tax were low, but the spending made on health as a result of smoking, surpassedRead MoreIndia s Tobacco Advertising Ban1018 Words   |  5 PagesIndia s Tobacco Advertising Ban The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that worldwide, five million tobacco users die annually and estimates that one million Indians die each year prematurely from tobacco use (2015). As late at 2009, India was â€Å"the world’s second-largest consumer and third-largest producer of tobacco† (Economist, 2009, p. 5). In an attempt to reduce consumption, India introduced its first adverting ban on tobacco in 1990, followed in 2003 by the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco ProductsRead MoreEthical Challenges Of Tobacco Advertisements1170 Words   |  5 PagesETHICAL CHALLENGES OF TOBACCO ADVERTISEMENTS 1 Ethical Challenges of Banning Indian Tobacco Advertisements Poitier Stringer University of the People ETHICAL CHALLENGES OF TOBACCO ADVERTISEMENTS 2 Ethical Challenges of Banning Indian Tobacco Advertisements The tobacco industry has long presented ethical challenges for governments that are tasked with looking after the public good. Tobacco producers have provided significant revenue for many economies, yet they specialize in the manufacturing and distributionRead MoreThe Ethics Of The Indian Government959 Words   |  4 PagesTobacco Advertising was the hot topic it was in the late 90 s and early 2000 s, but it is still something we should strive to understand and functionally work with. The European Union and the United States have banned advertisements from television, while only the United States has banned tobacco advertising for sporting events. The Indian government had enacted an initiative to ban tobacco advertising in sporting events in 2001 to help curb the appeal of tobacco use in minors. The ethicalRead MoreThe Ethical Values Of A Manager1153 Words   |  5 Pageseven nation are ignored when they place financial profits at risk.   Many nations have had to face these moral conflicts when dealing with substances, such as alcohol, drugs, and tobacco.   India is no different and like many developing and developed states, they were faced with the dilemma of the health risks related to tobacco use.   One of the ways to combat a product’s popularity is to limit the exposure of peoples to it by blocking their ability to advertise.   As with most ideas there are proponentsRead MoreThe Government Of India ( Goi ) Proposed Ban On Tobacco Advertising946 Words   |  4 PagesThe Government of India (GOI) proposed ban on tobacco advertising was not unusual keeping in view the international precedents. Countries li ke France, Finland, and Norway had already imposed similar bans. An example is Belgium whose Supreme Court (of Appeal in 1981, gave its ruling that a ban on tobacco advertising was not unconstitutional. In a case which started in 1991 and ended in 1997, RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company, marketer of Camel cigarettes, was forced to withdraw its mascot, Joe Carmel, anRead MoreThe Ban Of Tobacco Companies Essay1121 Words   |  5 PagesFebruary 26th, 2001 the Indian government announced they were going to enforce a ban regarding advertising their products in their country. The problem was that tobacco companies in India promote their products through every conceivable medium, including radio, television, newspapers, magazines, billboards and the internet. The government realized that most of these tobacco companies were adapting creative new ways to publicize their brands to young people. Some tobacco companies also decided toRead MoreThe Government Of India ( Goi ) Proposed Ban On Tobacco Advertising947 Words   |  4 Pages1. The Government of India (GOI) proposed ban on tobacco advertising was not unusual keeping in view the international precedents. Countries like France, Finland, and Norway had already imposed similar bans. An example is Belgium whose Supreme Court (of Appeal in 1981, gave its ruling that a ban on tobacco advertising was not unconstitutional. In a case which started in 1991 and ended in 1997, RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company, marketer of Camel cigarettes, was forced to withdraw its mascot, Joe CarmelRead MoreBan On Tobacco By The Government Of India1078 Words   |  5 PagesBAN ON TOBACCO BY THE GOVERMENT OF INDIA INTRODUCTION According to Brown Williamson Tobacco Corporation â€Å"From an ethical standpoint, it would be wrong to try to cause people to take the risk of smoking. But even beyond the moral issue, for a product such as cigarettes well known to have serious health risks, it would be difficult even to understand how an advertising campaign could be devised to convince people to smoke. India s tobacco problem is very complex; the quote above depicts how ethicallyRead MoreBan Banning Should Not Be Banned981 Words   |  4 Pagesof the most widely debated topics when it comes to government interference is smoking. Often described as a slow killer, many feel that it is something that should not only be avoided, but also banned. In India specifically, a country that is renowned for its high use of tobacco production and use, the idea of smoking has become a national crisis. With tobacco companies trying to push for freedom of speech† with advertisements, and the government attempting to assume a sense of responsibility, it

Saturday, December 21, 2019

Explain Aquinas Cosmological Argument - 652 Words

Explain Aquinas’ Cosmological Argument The basis of the cosmological argument is that the universe cannot account for its own existence. There must be a reason, the argument says, for the existence of the universe and the reason has to be something which is not part of the physical world of time and space. The cosmological argument was used by Thomas Aquinas (1225-74) in his five ways, which were ways of demonstrating the existence of God through inductive argument based on observation and evidence. In Aquinas’ view, knowledge of God could be reached in two ways; one through revelation for example, through the words of the Bible and the other is through our own human reason. Aquinas thought that if we applied reason to the evidence that†¦show more content†¦It would have to be a being which is not cause and which depends on nothing else to continue to exist and this would beShow MoreRelatedExplain the Strengths and Weaknesses of Aquinas Cosmological Argument1203 Words   |  5 Pagesa) Explain the strengths and weaknesses of Aquinas’ cosmological arguments. The cosmological argument is an a posteriori argument based on the question of the relation of the universe’s existence and God’s existence. This argument focuses on the theory that if the universe exists then something must have caused it to existence, ie. A God or Creator. Supporters of this argument claim that to fully comprehend the existence of the universe, one must rely on a theory of a God however critics wouldRead MoreThe Cosmological Argument643 Words   |  3 PagesThe Cosmological Argument An important argument to try and prove the existence of God is the Cosmological Argument brought on by observations of the physical universe, made by Saint Thomas Aquinas, a thirteenth century Christian philosopher. The cosmological argument is a result from the study of the cosmos; Aquinas borrows ideas from Aristotle to make this systematically organized argument. Aquinas’ first point begins with the observation that everything is moving. Aquinas’ says that everythingRead MoreThe Cosmological Argument for the Existence of God1416 Words   |  6 PagesThe cosmological argument for the existence of god According to St. John 8:31-32 said, â€Å"If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth shall set you free†. This sentence is come from the bible, but I am not a christian, so I do not really understand what this means. I guess it was talking about if people believe in god, and trust his words, and in the end the will get the freedom. For many of christians, they believes in god, but many ofRead MoreExploring the Possibility of Updating the Cosmological Argument for the Existence of God897 Words   |  4 PagesUpdating the Cosmological Argument for the Existence of God The term cosmological comes from the Greek language, meaning ‘world’ or ‘universe.’ The argument is based on facts about the world. The topic of cosmology refers to the study of the universe. The cosmological argument begins with a general claim about the physical universe e.g. that some events have causes and that there must be a supernatural agent to somehow explain this fact. The argument seems to sayRead MoreThe Existence Of God s Existence1339 Words   |  6 Pagesexistence of God is one of the most sought out topic that is frequently inquired. Is there really a God or is God merely a concept humans created to explain the unexplainable? And if God does exist, what makes him different from the rest of us? A well-known philosopher, St. Thomas Aquinas, introduced five proofs including the Cosmological Arguments of God’s existence, as well as explained some divine qualities that are associated with God. The nature of God’s existence is often questioned by manyRead MoreThe Cosmological Aargument1044 Words   |  5 PagesThe Cosmological Argument The Cosmological argument infers that the existence of the universe is due to the existence of God. Plato bought about one of the oldest arguments between 428-327 BCE. Plato believed that there is a self moving principle from which all change and motion originated. This principle is the core which is responsible for the world. Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century developed Plato’s views; however this development was with a theistic principle. The first three of the fiveRead MoreThe Invalidity of the Cosmological Argument Essay963 Words   |  4 Pagesor what caused it but, we can still create arguments and theories to best explain what might have created the universe. The cosmological argument is another idea to prove the existence of god. Many philosophers debate wheatear the cosmological argument is valid. The cosmological argument starts off quite simply: whatever exists must come from something else. Nothing is the source of its own existences, nothing is self-creating []. The cosmological argument states at some point, the cause and effectRead MoreThe Arguments For The Existence Of God1056 Words   |  5 PagesAmie Kamara Professor Davidson Theology 16 November 2015 Rough Draft for The arguments for the Existence of God. The question Does God Exist? is a well-known asked question in the world. Most people believe they know the answer to it. The religious people would say, well of course he does, while the non-religious people or atheist would say no He does not exist. Because evil exist and chaos exists, God cannot be all-powerful. In the modern world, there are many different opinions as to whetherRead MoreOutline the Cosmological Argument for the Existence of God (21 Marks)604 Words   |  3 PagesOutline the cosmological argument for the existence of God (21 marks) The cosmological argument aims to prove the existence of God whilst also providing an explanation for the beginning of the universe, with different views coming from various scholars. It is an a posteriori argument, meaning we can draw conclusions from experiences based on what we see around us, although it is not a fact. Despite the separate interpretations, the cosmological argument revolves around a first cause which startedRead MoreCosmological Argument1401 Words   |  6 PagesExamine the cosmological argument for the existence of God. The cosmological argument is an a posteriori argument which intends to prove that there is an intelligent being that exists; the being is distinct from the universe, explains the existence of the universe, and is omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent and omnibenevolent. The basic notion of cosmological arguments is that the world and everything in it is dependent on something other than itself for its existence. It explains that everything

Friday, December 13, 2019

Iago Essay Free Essays

Karolis 12A H/W Iago is a character who is admired and loathed in the equal measure to what extent is he both a hero and villain of Tragedy? In the play Othello by William Shakespeare Iago gets introduced in act 1 scene 1 where he had been complaining to the audience and Roderigo that he had not been chosen to be the lieutenant but Cassio being chosen instead of him by the likes of Othello. Shakespeare from this scene had shown the audience that Iago will be the Stimulus in the play causing the tragedy in the play because we have seen that he has a motive which is to gain revenge over Othello. This will straight show the audience that he is a villain alike character in this play because of this negative motive he has, so in the beginning of Act 1 Scene 1 Iago will be most likely seen as the villain. We will write a custom essay sample on Iago Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now But on the other hand the audience might sympathise with Iago because he had not been chosen to be the lieutenant and that his motive understandable but he will still not be seen as the hero but a character some people can relate with, especially in the context this play had been written, The reason are that most people watching this would have been peasants in their society and the only character they would have been able to relate with is Iago. Also that in the context of this play people might have been a racist and not have seen Othello as a hero but Iago being a victim of Othello because his colour and that they might believe that Othello does not deserve being a general. Iago would be most likely seen as a villain to the modern audience because of his mischievous motive and how out of proportion it is from his goal, the audience might feel sympathy for Iago but will most likely not agree what he is doing is a good enough reason to do his plan, but it is possible that the audience say he is a villain but really it is possible that the audience want him to prosper because of his cunning us of him and his plan. The reason for this is because most production of this genre will not be as good without a cunning villain for example in Shakespeare’s production â€Å"Much ado about nothing† Don John had been the cunning villain in this play who is much a like to Iago because he had tried to sabotage someone’s life who had trusted him with a motive which was out of proportion to his goal with a smart plan. So the modern audience would see Iago most likely as villain but might admire him for how mischievous he is and well thought out plan he had constructed and how in the play starting off in such a bad state he is the poppet master in retrospect Likewise the audience will also have their opinion to Iago’s character but might see him differently as the modern audience would see him, at the context of the play there would be two types of audiences one is the peasants and the other will be the rich. The peasants and the rich might see him differently to the rich for example, the peasants might not understand why he wants the reputation but on the other hand the rich would see it differently to the peasants. But peasants with the rich might like him because in this play he is the only character to directly speak to the audience giving a feeling to of actually knowing and that we know he thoughts unlike any other character. So in extent Iago is seen both as a villain and hero to the audience in the Shakespearean times because of the audience differently sympathies with him so I believe he would be more of a villain at that time but they would admire him for the cunning us of his plan, like the modern audience would see him and that he did not let the fact that Othello did not make him the lieutenant drag and that he still tried to gain his reputation from Cassio and ruin the reputation of Othello doing so and since he had been trying to ruin Othello and in the context Othello might have been despised by the audience and might have believed that he should not be such a high ranking because of his colour. In conclusion both the modern audience would see Iago in a similar way but for different reasons, they would most likely see him as the villain but meaning they loaf him but they admire how well thought out his plan actually is and how good he is at lying while he also has become the character who runs t he show, to the extent that he would be loafed is certain but the audience who admire him is most likely to be a bigger proportion to the audience who don’t. Furthermore I believe he would also be more seen as a villain because he does not suite the definition of a hero in anyway making him most likely the villain as the audience see him How to cite Iago Essay, Essays

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Performance Management For Hr Samples †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Questions: 1.What are the HRM implications - how might HR have to operate differently? 2.What are the implications for leaders and managers? Answers: The paper attempts to evaluate how the use of apps by employees of the future, to better manage their work and personal life, will present many challenges and opportunities for both the human resource management and the employees. Human resource management according to Dessler consists of carrying out guidelines and practices related to human resource from a management position which include recruiting, screening, training, and appraising of employees (Dessler, 2007). Hellriegel on the other hand shares that human resource management is the procedure of exploring and managing the needs of human resource in an organization to bring about the fulfilment of its strategic objectives (Hellriegel, 2008). According to Perry, the work environment together with employees have been changing for a long time hence future predictions for what work life will be are not new. These changes are being brought about by technology, environmental shifts, consumer trends and science (Timms, 2013). The workforce will undergo some very big changes and the human resource department will also be very different. Perry urges human resource departments to get ahead of this change and gain ground. Human resource technology is any tool used to aid in all management functions of the human resource. Technology has made the work of employees and human resource to ease and to be completed at a faster rate, it has reduced the administrative burden enabling the shift in focusing on more meaningful activities like offering the much-needed expertise to leaders to make more human resource related decisions. The stages in the evolution of human resource include; paper-based systems, early computer technology, electronic databases and then web-based technology (Bulmash, n.d.). The implications of using apps for employees. The comparative advantage theory by Porter shares on how strengthening the internal capacity of an organization improves competition and enhances productivity which results to better quality services (Itika, 2011). According to the Guardian's writer Leah, time management apps have become more popular over the years with consumers using them to get more productivity from their few hours in a day. Streak, for instance, is an app that enables one to define their tasks and set how long one wants to spend on the task. At work, the scarcest thing people have are their own attention together with others. Time management apps give employees room to be focused as they include calendars, notes, and file sharing tools that remind users to take a break or change the task at hand which in turn enhances productivity (Messinger, 2015). Access to information is vital in the workplace to enhance the free and fast flow of data, convenience, and productivity. Organizational performance in the near future heavily relies on the accessibility of quality data. This, in turn, drives the management of any organization to shift their thinking towards the data supply chain. Modo shares that the effects of globalization's are enabling companies to branch out in different states which challenge employers to ensure employees are well connected and informed. Mobile technology plays a key role as it is the intersection of data, communication, and convenience (Team, 2015). The general systems theory fits in with above as any organizations success relies on constant interactions and failure of the managements part in conveying the right information to the employees, leads to their failure in producing effective results (Laszlo, 1972). According to Forbes apps have enabled companies to have closer collaborations. In the past boardrooms were the only places workers could collaborate with each other but now a high percent of the populations has smartphones, tablets, and computers which enable the sharing of screen data and video chats. Organizations that stick to older technologies are being left behind and missing out on productivity offered by a newer wave. Puskar shares that video conferencing at his company cuts long meetings, encourages corporation, attentiveness and brings people together. This employee engagement encourages real relationships to form as they enable people to put a voice, words in a document to a face (Burg, 2013). Mobile applications are playing a vital role in employee learning. The cognitive theory is a learning theory based on self-managed learning. This theory argues if individuals are interested in learning something on their own, there is a higher probability for them to actually learn and retain that knowledge (Coyle-Shapiro, 2013). Today more and more interactive learning apps are being developed, some apps have interactive videos that offer a richer, interactive and stickier learning experience, and mobile learning apps have both formal training and quick performance support. This millennial-centric learning appeals to the millennial generation who are driven to have a customized strategy in having a complete learning experience (Pandey, 2017). Technology is changing various ways of working in every organization which is justified by the organizational change theory. Gareth shares that this theory consists of ways in which companies move from their present state to the desired state to increase their effectiveness. These changes are both internal and external as a result of technology, policies, laws and choices. Tech Republic gives an example of a warehouse operation whereby workers needed their hands to pick boxes and free one hand once in a while to communicate through a radio. New mobile applications are giving this worker a chance to use telephone headsets with portable mobile units strapped to belts. Their voice-based commands are digitalized into data flowing to the management systems. This saves time, energy and promotes efficiency (Shacklett, 2015). The rise in companies embracing the use of apps to bring about efficiency in the workplace has brought the rise in employee's need to learn new skills. This is achieved through employee training and development. Human capital theory is keen on education and training as a way of enhancing rapid development. This theory changes the notions for organizations to embrace training and development as returnable investments which should be part and parcel of every company from thinking of them as costs that need to be minimized (Itika, 2011). Lunar pages shares on the importance of cloud-based services in organizations whereby companies are able to reduce capital costs and increase flexibility. Organizations are slowly embracing the cloud which entails employees learning new skills on how to operate the cloud system. Many regulations are required in order to well manage data on the cloud which will shift resources and strategies on security measures to enable a smooth transition (Lunarpages, 2013). Career coaching is all about making informed decisions about career development. The job market competition is really high and navigating through millions of career websites is really tough and daunting. Every year things are changing and a few career apps and websites top the list of becoming the most effective platform to get a job. Apps for job hunting, for instance, give individuals a jump start on openings, apps for changing up resumes enable individuals to share their skills in an eye-catching way and interview apps train individuals on ways of answering questions during interviews. Career coaching gives individuals opportunities to assess their professional situations with complete honesty and curiosity which in turn enable them to gain confidence, insight, and inspiration in making informed career choices (Henderson, 2014). 1. Human resource management has changed drastically as a result of the change in technology which leads human resource departments to embrace some features. Performance management, for instance, has become more accurate. Before technology, the process of monitoring performance required a lot of paperwork, long duration meetings and various performance reviews (Mireles, 2016). Todays softwares are using cloud technology, the BirdDogHR software, for instance, provides performance management solutions by giving 360-degree feedback, measures goals, competency and appraisals just to mention a few (Capterra, n.d.). The 21st century is changing the business environment as more and more information is expected to be analyzed, interpreted and understood. Management is unable to cope with the everyday tasks and processes of organizational life hence are always on the lookout for effective ways to manage the workforce and deliver (Senyucel, 2009). More and more human resource departments are embracing digitized interviews which save costs and time. According to Forbes writer Paul, as a head of talent acquisition in a public school district, he and his team invested in digital advertising that saw them interview more than 2,000 prospective teachers. This method according to him was the best as candidates were free to use laptops, phones or tablets (Council, 2016). According to Armstrong, employee relations deals with managing the employment relationship and the psychological contract. Management is moving away from collective concern to individual concern (Armstrong, 2014). Technology apps are lessening the work of the human resource department with record keeping, on boarding, off boarding, performance monitoring and salaries giving management more time to focus on relationship building. Human resource is able to interact with the employees constantly to analyze what motivates them, guide them to better manage their work, aid in conflict resolution, ensure employees are aligning their work in terms of their vision, mission and strategy and also aid in developing happy and satisfied teams (Council, 2016). Human resource management is being driven to embrace the payroll technology which enables efficiency and convenience. Employees are always keen in understanding their benefits, paychecks and tax information. In the past, this information was recorded on paper which would get lost or the information would fade with time. The payroll technology automates employee records and organizes the data in simple formats making it easier to understand which enables easy information access (Mireles, 2016). The strategic contingency theory relates to the payroll technology in that managers keep adopting specific strategies that will maximize gains and minimize risks. These strategies aid in dictating policies, tasks that guide the human resource management (Itika, 2011). According to emeritis the HR technology over the last few years has grown tremendously. Human resource departments are comparing apps so as to get the best that fit their purpose. This, in turn, means that they are driving the direction on the creation of very specific softwares which was not the case previously. Software vendors are keen on taking their expectations to come up with tools that serve all desired HR functions as this drives the success of their creations. This relates to the expectancy theory that assumes increased effort results to good performance, good performance leads to certain rewards which in turn is attractive to an individual (Bowditch, 2001). 2. According to HR drive, change is in a fast pace and the evolution of work will move leaders to adapt their methods too. The workplace will be challenged to provide direction and transparency which will lead leaders to actively participate in the daily operations and demonstrate their leadership skills through action. Tess believes that technology is in a position to help leaders be more effective by embracing the automation process. It is important for leaders not to panic with all the major changes and result to hiring new graduates, but to provide training internally so as to bring their employees up to speed (Taylor, 2017). Technology has improved communication skills at the workplace as now employees and employers are driven to share more information than ever before to enable efficiency and corporation. The 360-degree feedback analyses the impact of apps on human resource managers, as employees are driven to be better at their job, they require constant understanding and feedback. This develops the human investment of any leader as they have to understand their role, improve their performance and take systematic actions to improve any areas of weakness. According to Linderbaum Levy, leaders who positively accept feedback are found to be motivated to develop their skills and they move to create awareness socially (Orazi, 2014). The changes in technology are recognizing the vital role leaders play in organizations, the challenges they face and how they require support. McAlpine, a leadership coach who launched a leadership app shares that leadership is something that anyone can learn. According to her leaders are often isolated and tend to be lonely, but her app helps them to feel supported, informed and inspired. Leaders have access to answers on how to improve their skills, self-awareness and be in the know of the latest leadership trends just to mention a few (Mack, 2016). This relates to the self-efficacy theory whereby people believe in their personal ability to learn new things and get to perform a task efficiently. A strong feeling of being self-sufficient results to an individual becoming a better learner (Coyle-Shapiro, 2013). Leaders and managers are required to shift their focus from internal issues towards long-term objectives. It is vital for all human resource departments to embrace the use of apps to lessen their workload so that they are able to have advanced analytical skills, make informed decisions on new business insights, access current and anticipate future needs (Kapoor, n.d.). This relates to organizational learning theory whereby for businesses to succeed, they are required to learn new ways of doing things and adapt to those ways that suit the organization's needs. This knowledge drives the work environment to share a common vision and strategy in enabling success (Itika, 2011). In conclusion, human resource departments have gone through tremendous changes in the past years. Technology apps have come in handy as they work across various gadgets that come in different prices and sizes. The work of human resource managers has improved as these apps are simplifying the means of communication, employees workload, and enable companies to remain competitive and they are user-friendly. This technology has drastically improved human resource management for the better. References Armstrong, M. and Taylor, S. (2014).Human Resource Management Practice. 1st ed. Bowditch, J. (2001).A Primer on Organizational Behavior. 1st ed. Bulmash, J. (n.d.). HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY. [online] Available at: https://catalogue.pearsoned.ca/assets/hip/us/hip_us_pearsonhighered/samplechapter/0132270870.pdf [Accessed 30 May 2017]. Burg, N. (2013). How Technology Has Changed Workplace Communication.Forbes. [online] Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/unify/2013/12/10/how-technology-has-changed-workplace-communication/#7e7c5ecf670b [Accessed 30 May 2017]. Capterra (2017).Reviews of BirdDogHR: Free Pricing Demos: Performance Appraisal Software. [online] Capterra.com. Available at: https://www.capterra.com/performance-appraisal-software/spotlight/145344/BirdDogHR/BirdDogHR [Accessed 30 May 2017]. Coyle-Shapiro, J., Hoque, K., and Kessler, I. (2013).Human resource management. 1st ed. London: University of London International Programmes Publications Office. Dessler, G. (2007).Human Resource Management. 11th ed. Forbes (2016). Five Ways Technology Is Impacting HR For The Better.Forbes. [online] Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/2016/08/25/five-ways-technology-is-impacting-hr-for-the-better/#722dcac36f0d [Accessed 30 May 2017]. Hellriegel, D., Jackson, S. and Slocum, J. (2008).Managing: A Competency-Based Approach. 11th ed. Mason, OH: Thomson South-Western. Henderson, J. (2014). 8 Apps That Can Do Wonders For Your Career.Forbes. [online] Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/learnvest/2014/02/27/8-apps-that-can-do-wonders-for-your-career/#dfb58b710c03 [Accessed 30 May 2017]. Itika, J. (2011).Fundamentals of human resource management. 2nd ed. African Studies Centre. Kapoor, B. (2017). The impact of Globalization on Human Resource Management.Jims Journal. [online] Available at: https://www.jimsjournal.org/6%20Bhushan%20Kapoor.pdf [Accessed 30 May 2017]. Laszlo, E. (1972).Introduction to Systems Philosophy: Toward a New Paradigm of Contemporary Thought. 1st ed. Lunarpages, L. (2013).Why Is Cloud Computing Important For Business - How Can Cloud Computing null Help a Business | Lunarpages Web Hosting. [online] Lunarpages. Available at: https://lunarpages.com/before-the-cloud-it-was-burdened-with-inefficiencies/ [Accessed 30 May 2017]. Mack, B. (2016). The Leader's Digest App: shaping those who will shape our future?.ideology. [online] Available at: https://idealog.co.nz/workplace/2016/08/leaders-digest-app-shaping-those-who-will-shape-our-future [Accessed 30 May 2017]. Messinger, L. (2015). Do time management apps really make people more productive?.The Guardian. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/aug/18/time-management-apps-work-life-balance-productivity [Accessed 30 May 2017]. Mireles, A. (2016).5 Ways Technology is Changing the Face of HR - TalentCulture. [online] TalentCulture. Available at: https://talentculture.com/5-ways-technology-is-changing-the-face-of-hr/ [Accessed 30 May 2017]. Orazi, D. and Good, L. (2014).Workplace Leadership - Workplace Leadership - A Review of Prior Research. 1st ed. Pandey, A. (2017). How To Use Mobile Learning To Increase Employee Engagement And Boost Performance.eLearning industry. [online] Available at: https://elearningindustry.com/how-use-mobile-learning-to-increase-employee-engagement-boost-performance [Accessed 30 May 2017]. Senyucel, Z. (2009).Managing the Human Resource in the 21st Century. 1st ed. Zorlu Senyucel Ventus Publishing APS. Shacklett, M. (2015).10 ways mobile apps are bringing breakthrough technologies to business - TechRepublic. [online] TechRepublic. Available at: https://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10-things/10-ways-mobile-apps-are-bringing-breakthrough-technologies-to-business/ [Accessed 30 May 2017]. Taylor, T. (2017).How automation will impact employee training and company leadership. [online] HR Dive. Available at: https://www.hrdive.com/news/how-automation-will-impact-employee-training-and-company-leadership/434143/ [Accessed 30 May 2017]. Team, M. (2015).How a mobile app can improve workplace communication. [online] Modo Labs. Available at: https://www.modolabs.com/blog-post/how-a-mobile-app-can-improve-workplace-communication/ [Accessed 30 May 2017]. Timms, P. (2013).Human Resource Management in the Future. 1st ed.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

8 Suffixes for Collateral Adjectives

8 Suffixes for Collateral Adjectives 8 Suffixes for Collateral Adjectives 8 Suffixes for Collateral Adjectives By Mark Nichol The English language is remarkably adaptable, but one idiosyncrasy of this flexibility in particular creates complications for writers and speakers: collateral adjectives, those not based on and therefore not resembling their associated nouns. English has several forms, including the related suffixes -like and -ly, to signal an adjective’s relationship to a noun, but more elegant solutions often exist. Unfortunately, it’s not easy to conjure these adjectives, because they’re often borrowed from different languages than those from which their equivalent nouns were taken. If you want to explain that someone or something resembles an animal, or you want to describe behavior reminiscent of a certain animal’s, you can say or write, â€Å"He had a foxlike expression† or â€Å"It’s usually considered a womanly quality.† But for just about any animal, if you want to refer to its qualities in comparison or metaphorically, there’s a Latin root and the suffix -ine (more on this post), and the same or similar appendages serve to help you refer to other aspects: â€Å"He had a vulpine expression† or â€Å"It’s usually considered a feminine quality.† Meanwhile, fatherly, motherly, brotherly, and sisterly are all well and good, but paternal, maternal, fraternal, and sororal are all available alternatives. Here are seven suffixes commonly appended to foreign roots to form collateral adjectives, with sample adjectives and their associated nouns: -al Cerebral: brain Corporal (or carnal or physical): body Diurnal: day Dorsal (or lumbar): back Natal: birth -ar Insular: island Lunar: moon Ocular (or optic): eye Specular: mirror Vascular: blood -ary Culinary: cooking Epistolary: letter (correspondence) Maxillary: jaw Tintinnabulary: bell Tutelary: guardian -ial Aerial (or aeronautic): air Commercial: business Filial: child Initial: beginning Tonsorial: hair, barber -ic Acoustic (or sonic): sound Bucolic (or rural or rustic): countryside Civic (or metropolitan or urban): city Forensic: court Numismatic: coin -ile Infantile: baby, immaturity Juvenile (or puerile): child, youth Mobile: movement Tactile (or haptic): touch Virile: man -ine Divine: god, deity Lacustrine: lake Marine (or maritime or pelagic): ocean (or, pertaining only to marine, ship) Masculine: man Vespertine: evening -ous Amorous: love Aqueous: water Ferrous: iron Fulmineous: thunder Vitreous: glass Collateral adjectives are often the preferred choice over adjectives directly derived from a noun (for example, daily from day) only in formal, ironic, or humorously pedantic usage, but they are helpful because superficially synonymic adjectives may have different senses (for example, daily and diurnal have different meanings). Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Spelling category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:20 Words with More Than One Spelling15 Great Word GamesCapitalizing Titles of People and Groups

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Dreams - REM essays

Dreams - REM essays Theories attempting to explain the origin and functions of REM sleep include: (1) that REM sleep provides stimulation for the development of the brain; (2) that it performs a chemical restoration function, since during REM dreaming neuro-protein synthesis occurs along with the restoration of other depleted brain chemicals; (3) that it provides oculomotor (eye movement) coordination, since during non-REM sleep the eyes move independently of each other; (4) that it provides a vigilance function, since REM sleep (stage I) is characterized by a level of consciousness close to the awakened state; (5) in a more recent and controversial theory, REM dreaming performs a neurological erasure function, eliminating extraneous information build-up in the memory system; and (6) that, in a more cognitive psychological explanation, REM dreaming enhances memory storage and reorganization. Contrary to popular belief, dreaming is not caused by eating certain foods before bedtime, nor by environmental stimuli during sleeping. Dreaming is caused by internal biological process. Some researchers have proposed the activation-synthesis hypothesis. Their neurological research indicates that large brain cells in the primitive brain stem spontaneously fire about every 90 minutes, sending random stimuli to cortical areas of the BRAIN. As a consequence, memory, sensory, muscle-control, and cognitive areas of the brain are randomly stimulated, resulting in the higher cortical brain attempting to make some sense of it. This, according to the research, gives rise to the experience of a dream. Now, as in the past, the most significant controversy centers on the question of whether dreams have intentional, or actual personal, meaning. Many psychotherapists maintain that while the neurological impulses from the brain stem may activate the dreaming process, the content or meaningful representations in dreams a...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

To what extent does inward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) alleviate Dissertation

To what extent does inward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) alleviate poverty in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) - Findings and Analysis - Dissertation Example The countries with maximum GDP growth have been identified from the literature review. I have picked out six countries that have the highest GDP growth from among the fifty-two countries in the Sub-Saharan region. Existing literature shows that these six countries have made consistent level of economic activities since the 1960s. This has been validated later on in this research with the help of quantitative analysis made on the data collected. GDP growth rates for Angola, Ethiopia and Uganda cannot be evaluated for the years before 1980s due to lack of availability of data. A significant similarity between Angola, Algeria and Cameroon is that GDP growth for these countries has been very low (Algeria) or negative (Angola and Cameroon) in 1992. HDI for Cameroon has been studied only for the years 1980, 1990, 2000 and 2010 since data for other years are not available. However, for Egypt, Ethiopia and Uganda the GDP growth in 1992 has been positive. Among these countries, Cameroon shows the lowest level of GDP growth. Figure: GDP growth of Cameroon and its level of Human Development Index Yet, to one’s surprise, it is found that the HDI for the country shot up after 2000 and has remained high since then. In fact the HDI has improved for all these countries in the beginning of the twenty first century. ... These factors also help in correlating the drivers of human development, and thus poverty alleviation in these countries. The data shows that the GDP of Egypt shows declining trend after 1998 and that of Uganda falls consistently after 2006. Although, in Egypt, GDP growth reached a local high in 2007, it has been decreasing consistently since then. Figure: GDP growth of Egypt and Uganda This shows that there are certain factors that have affected the overall productivity in these countries. However, surprisingly level of HDI growth has improved in both countries after 2003. Sufficient information for HDI for both Egypt and Uganda has not been available for the years before 1999. Therefore, HDI in the countries during these years could not be compared. Figure: HDI growth of Egypt and Uganda This is a sharp increase and HDI has remained high since then without fluctuating. This reveals that although GDP is commonly considered the measure of growth, for many developing countries it does not reflect the true level of development of the economy. Hence, human development index should be considered while studying the level of economic development for these countries. In the analysis section, I have studied the level of openness to trade of the countries that display the most contrasting features. The contrasting characteristics of the two countries, Uganda and Cameroon, make it important to make an in depth study of the factors affecting the economic activities of these countries. According to the data, level of economic growth in Algeria, as depicted by the GDP growth of the country, has been high since the beginning of the 1960s. Data for HDI is not available for all consecutive years; information regarding HDI

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Political Media Analysis Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Political Media Analysis Project - Essay Example This would mean that the media grows, or takes new forms so that the previous established media which is radio, television, newspapers and magazines, have to adapt to changes in order to deliver (Nakamura & de Fontenay, 2006). Content, nevertheless may have remained over the decade but reader and audience perspective changed. Bias has been pointed out to the media by both politicians and constituent readers and audience as several studies have pointed out (MRC, 2006). Taking coverage from various media sources, related international topic regarding nuclear weapons and countries in question, national issue on privacy with regards to the war on terrorism, and local issue on Florida's real property taxes shall be discussed in the context that media bias personalization, dramatization, fragmentation, and the authority-disorder exists. Using NPR or National Public Radio as baseline for the international and national topics, this research will proceed with the premise that NPR is backed by public service broadcasting PBS headquartered in Arlington, Virginia with 348 public television stations (PBS, 2006). NPR, undoubtedly provided a wide coverage on most of the international and national topics. An array of personalities are also featured in their interviews giving ample information and sides regarding current events and issues. On the issue of nuclear weapons involving Iran and North Korea, Washington Post writer Colum Lynch went on air with Jacki Lyden (NPR, 2006) in "All Things Considered." The issue on North Korea and Iran were presented in a way broadsheet newspapers would including buzzwords "UN trade sanctions", "nuclear weaponry", "Kim Il-Sung" as they appeared in the Washington Post (Linzer, 2006). In Linzer's report, the US is represented as "the Bush administration" personified by Assistant Secretary of State Stephen G. Rademaker. As noted by most conservative readers (The Pew Research Center, 2006; Media Research Center, 2006; and Groseclose and Milyo, 2005), emphasis was taken away from the issue that "may" have been pushed by the present US administration into neutral i nformation that went, "world leaders attending a nuclear conference seemed to dismiss the U.S. call for punitive measures. Instead, they spoke of incentives and negotiations as a way of encouraging the Islamic republic to give up worrisome aspects of its energy program that could be diverted for weapons work" (Linzer, 2006). "Increase of pressure on Iran" as well as Bush' branding of "axis of evil" and North Korean ambassador's Pak Gil Yon's comments "increased US pressure a declaration of war," (AP, 2006). Both the CNN and the Washington Post posted coverage beyond US and contending countries Iran and North Korea on the issue. Meanwhile, local newspaper Miami Herald cannot be said to be left behind in content as updated coverage on the international issue were churned out, basically from international news agencies such as the Associated Press and Los Angles times Service. Its stories also carried out buzz words, including opinionated "Nut with a Nuke" headlines, "hardliners" and q uotes

Monday, November 18, 2019

Curriculum Design and Evaluation; Standards -Based Education Essay

Curriculum Design and Evaluation; Standards -Based Education - Essay Example Critics assail standards-based education in two fronts – content and implementation. For instance, Hamilton et al. (2002, p. 27) argued that in standards-based curriculum development, there is a difficulty in deciding how many performance levels should be created, what method should be used to set those levels, how high they should be set, and what they should be called. Also, a number of research educators and students themselves disagree with the policy of passing a rigorous test just to get a high school diploma. There are also those who criticize the implementing agency of being vague as to the academic content and with being lax with schools in terms of following standards. (Cizek 2001, p. 418) Certainly, good arguments are also coming from similar sectors stressing the expectation from all students to perform in the same way since the fact is, there are ordinary students and there are academically talented ones. The former name of standards-based education is outcome-based education. This is not without reason because this system focuses on achieving optimum learning outcome and the performance of students. I believe this is essentially what education is all about. This example shows how standards-based education offers the most impact because it allows the students to explore on their own, creating learning opportunities where theories are applied in the process. Learning is more rigorous and the methodologies employed are more strategic in terms of meeting students’ learning needs. It is in my opinion that students receive and retain more learning content in this process due to the environment and the standard. Another point about standards-based curriculum is the fact that it works within the premise that education requires continuous improvement. So where in the traditionalist setting the grade of A is the same today and tomorrow, students in standards-based education must pass a test that is benchmarked 10 years from

Friday, November 15, 2019

The impact of an economic recession

The impact of an economic recession Abstract Purpose The aim of this report is to evaluate the impact of an economic recession on the current tendering practices of UK contractors. Design/methodology/approach An extensive literature review of the topic was undertaken to form the research hypothesis and a number of research questions. This was further developed through two interviews with industry specialists which formed the basis for cognitive mapping which when mapped can then assist in forming a questionnaire. A pilot study was conducted and upon receiving positive feedback the questionnaire survey was completed. Key findings The results show that clients and contractors are reverting back to type and that the advances made by the Latham and Egan reports has stalled as price has become more important than quality once again. Public sector contracts have been observed to offer considerable opportunities for contractors as the client has a triple A rating and the projects are typically long term which can help contractors to survive the recession. Implication for practice The construction industry cannot obstruct change but needs to embrace it and adopt and improve existing practices which can benefit all the stakeholders. Comparable to the Latham and Egan reports, a new report needs to be completed which can aid the construction industry so that the effects of this recession are felt for the shortest time possible. Originality/value The literature review and cognitive mapping provide a detailed insight into the topic but due to time constraints the quantitative analysis does not contain an adequate amount of responses to be relied upon. 1. Introduction The construction industry is constantly evolving as a result of; a levelling of the trade cycle, methods of placing contracts, increased emphasis on quality, experience and innovations, increased competition among firms and a change in clients buying behaviour (Yisa, Ndekugri Ambrose, 1996). In addition to the changing attitudes of clients in construction which was promoted by the Latham and Egan reports the economic climate has brought additional difficulties to the industry. Clients have become more advanced and are continually seeking improvements within the industry to meet there needs. They have also realised that during difficult times, they can use their dominance to acquire a better deal (Woods Ellis, 2005, pp.321). This report presents a study aimed at evaluating the impact of an economic recession on current tendering practices of UK contractors. The hypothesis of this research is; That the construction industry has adapted and improved in the last number of decades but will have to continue to do so in the face of new challenges. The research questions include; What are the main factors considered by contractors when deciding to tender and how does an economic recession alter these? e.g. Below cost tendering. How can lean construction, partnering and supply chain integration be used in construction to add value? How has a change in procurement methods been used to improve tendering practices in construction? It was decided to combine qualitative and quantitative research methods in order to receive a greater understanding of the topic. The approach employed is that qualitative research facilitates quantitative research by providing a hypothesis or assists measurement by suggesting questions (Oyedele, 2009). The hypothesis was established through reading relevant journals and this was developed further through carrying out two interviews which when mapped assisted in forming a questionnaire. This questionnaire was completed by a number of industry personnel in order to facilitate further analysis through factor analysis which followed on to regression analysis. The report provides a detailed analysis of relevant literature aswell as two detailed interviews with industry specialists. Due to time constraint however the quantitative analysis was limited to fewer questionnaires than would have been liked so the results are helpful but not to the standard that would be required for this report to be become significant to industry. A future quantitative analysis is recommended in order to make use of the work to date and complete the research. 2. Literature Review 2.1 Tendering Practices The construction industry has evolved greatly in the last number of decades and this has been mostly due to changes in the economy and how the construction industry and others viewed it. There was an obvious need for change following previous recessions and a common agreement that the industry was failing to meet all the stakeholders needs. 2.1.1 Construction Industry Reports The different reports which have been published in an attempt to improve the construction industry and consequently tendering practices are discussed by Cooke Williams and shown below in Figure 2.1. (Cooke Willams, 2009, pp.5). Naoum (2003, pp.72) highlights the Egan report which was published in 1998 and how it compares the construction industry to that of the 1960s manufacturing industry. This theme of the construction industry lagging behind its industry counterpart is evident in not only tendering practices but many other aspects (Emmitt Jorgensen, 2008). Lathams (1994) main focus was that there needs to be a win-win mentality between the client and the contractor whereas Egan (1998) focused on how quality and efficiency could be improved within the industry. This led to a more client focused approach which Oyedele Tham (2005, pp.53) feel aided in creating a more integrated process within construction. 2.1.2 Changing Client in Construction Awareness and competition between contractors has allowed the client to become more advanced and to seek improvements within the industry to meet there needs (Yisa, Ndekugri Ambrose 1996, pp.51). The client has realised that during difficult times, they can use their dominance to acquire a better deal (Woods Ellis, 2005, pp.321). The largest client for the construction industry at present is undoubtedly the public sector and this is discussed by RICS in their third quarter report for 2009 when they use the headline, Public sector workloads continue to support construction activity, (RICS, 2009). This fact was also noted by Naoum in 2003 when she noted that despite a decline in public spending the public sector was still the largest client, (Naoum, 2003). The changing face of the client can be traced back to the early 80s where there was a rapid privatization of government bodies such as the NHS, prison services, water services, schools, etc, (Yisa, Ndekugri Ambrose, 1996, pp.54). These clients sought further changes in tendering practices as their emphasis was on speed, value based services and cost-time-quality performance and a move towards partnering (Langford Fellows, 1993). 2.1.3 Current Tendering Practices (Edum-Fotwe McCaffer, 1999) discuss how tendering has transformed from the 1960s whereby private and public jobs were awarded solely on competitive tendering to a situation whereby a variety of issues are evaluated. There has been an industry wide shift from lowest price wins mentality to a multi criteria selection. Naoum (2003, pp.72) goes into further detail by outlining the disadvantages of using price-based competitive tendering. The traditional forms of contract have been adapted (JCT 98 standard form JCT 2005) to accommodate change in the industry but the Latham report regarded the NEC contract as having the best potential for achieving a positive outcome for all the stakeholders, (Cooke Willams, 2009, pp.7). The change in procurement methods are shown in the late 90s in Figure 2.3 (Yisa, Ndekugri Ambrose, 1996, pp.55). This change can be contributed to the need for a more integrated and less fragmented approach as the main contractor is managing both the design and construction activities and can promote contractor led innovation. Risk, which is increasingly important in a recession is being shifted away from the client and towards the contractor under Design Build and Private Finance Initiatives. 2.1.4 Decision to Tender A contractors decision to tender can greatly affect their balance sheet at the end of a year. Projects are becoming more expensive and time consuming to tender for and the factors which need to be considered are highlighted in Figure 2.4 (Cooke Willams, 2009, pp83-86). Hughes (2004) found that the average contractor will spend 3% of turnover on winning work. He also suggets that traditional competitive tendering is much more expensive than design and build as there is considerably more competition and a lower success rate. Walwork (1999) argues that there is equal importance between right project and right price in order to make a profit. Kometa et al, (1996, pp.273) evaluate the need for the clients financial stability to be discussed in greater detail. They draw attention to the risk of late payments or client insolvency. This point is highlighted by Shepherd (2009) when he states in a correspondence that; Undertaking such large tenders, where procurement costs are north of  £5m, takes a lot of thought and consideration. The client will have to show, for example, that they are organised and appear to be an efficient procurement authority. In a recession we will become a more discerning bidder as cash is tighter and projects more sought after. Happy to discuss more as is fit. Cheers, Andrew. 2.1.5 Below Cost Tendering Whitten (2009) writing for Construction News explained how The Civil Engineering Contractors Association has warned of an emerging trend of firms pricing below cost. They believe that for some organizations it is a matter of short term survival but that if it continues there will be an increase in disputes and a decline in investment in training and technology. Client and contractor relations have significantly improved in the last ten years but; will be stretched to breaking point if we see clients take advantage of the recession and of declining workloads to push for bargain base ­ment prices. Both Whitten (2009) and Scully (2009) argue the point that below cost tendering is unsustainable and will increase the risk of contractors facing insolvency. Reductions in material and plant costs have been exceeded by the drop in tender prices. Insolvencies are predicted to occur firstly among contractors who tender correctly but fail to win the contract and then among those who win the contract with unsustainably low bids (Whitten, 2009). 2.2 Impact of an Economic Recession on the Construction Industry A recession impacts on every sector but none more so than the construction industry as it is relies on large capital expenditure for its lifeblood. This results in a reduction in the number of projects along with an increase in the cost of borrowing to repay loans and pay wages (Ren Lin, 1996). RICS reported recently on their website (1st October 2009) that tender prices for new construction work will not rise until 2011 and that pre-recession levels wont be seen in the next five years. It was noted that if public spending was cut it would have a detrimental effect on the construction industry. 2.2.1 Economic Recession in Construction A recession can be caused by many factors but the underlying reason is high inflation. The construction industry is labour intensive and owing to unions demands for higher wages through government agreements, wages do not increase due to demand but social factors and move in one direction. This is the main cause of inflation in construction costs. Ren Lin (1996) illustrate this relationship in Figure 3.1.1 for the last recession of the late 80s and early 90s. The UK Governments policy has been to provide a fiscal stimulus by increasing spending on large public projects so as to inject money into the economy which will filter down through all sectors (McFall, 2008). Green (2009) forecasted that the recession will match up to the recession of the late 80s and early 90s but that it will recover quicker. Once again public spending is the underlining reason for the upturn but it is questioned whether the continuous spending can be sustained. The logical relation between high inflation which causes a rise in borrowing costs and a reduction in construction investment and thus a fall in the construction cycle is shown below in Figure 3.1.2 (Ren Lin 1996). 2.2.2 Lean Construction Supply Chain Integration Lean construction is an adaptation of lean industry which is used aggressively by large car manufacturers to great affect (Emmitt Jorgensen 2008). It is particularly relevant in a recession as it can be used at every stage and its main focus is to eliminate waste from the production life cycle so that value is added to each process, leading to lower costs, shorter construction periods and greater profits (Cartlidge, 2002). It is shown below in Figure 3.2 how lean construction can be applied to different sectors of the construction industry (Cooke Willams, 2009, pp.105). Lean construction benefits tendering as it promotes innovation and off-site production which reduces over all costs and provides increased quality to the client. Practices such as downsizing, out-sourcing, de-layering and re-engineering have been widely used within both construction companys and specific projects (Thorpe et. al., 1998). The use of sub contractors has increased as there is less overheads involved (Langford Male, 1992). The benefits of partnering can be applied to co-contracting (main contractor-sub contractor) and supply chain integration (contractor-supplier), (Edum-Fotwe McCaffer, 1999). This allows greater flexibility as both partners are working for a common goal and greater economies of scale can be achieved when tendering as contractors will have their own list of preferred suppliers or sub contractors which allows them to price new projects quickly and efficiently. As suppliers account for such a high percentage of building costs their involvement at an early stage should be welcomed as they can contribute new ideas, products or processes (Cartlidge, 2002). Green May (2005) propose that three models can be applied to the adoption of lean in construction: a lean model of waste elimination, partnering and structuring the context. 2.2.3 Partnering in Tendering Partnering has been widely adopted in tendering in the last number of years as it offers the opportunity for improving the project outcome aswell as benefiting the whole supply chain (Dozzi et al., 1996; Larson and Drexler, 1997). It utilizes each participants expertise and resources so that the required business objectives can be met or exceeded (Bennett Jayes, 1998). Cooke Williams (2009, pp.45) highlight the crucial elements of partnering which are reproduced in Figure 3.3 and they note that without all these elements, it is not partnering but merely an alliance. Partnering follows on from the previous sections as continuous improvement is achieved through lean construction, innovation and learning, problem resolution is promoted through use of the NEC3 contract and finally mutual objectives relates to a contractors decision to tender which is extremely important so that the appropiate parties are working together. The benefits to construction companies is that they can share the risk of tendering with another company who may otherwise be tendering against them and have expertise in a certain area which would otherwise have to be paid for. As highlighted previously, future spending in construction is heavily reliant on the public sector which following the Latham and Egan reports is trying to adopt a team-building approach which promotes partnering. Due to the economic recession in UK construction, companies have been using partnering to expand into global markets which have not been as widely affected. In a bid to reduce risk most companies form local partnerships so as to utilize local knowledge as well as reducing the costs associated with labour transfers (Edum-Fotwe McCaffer, 1999). While a more open relationship now exists between the different participants of a construction project Wood Ellis (2005, pp.324) estimate that it will still be some time before a fully genuine relationship exists as there is an engrained culture of mistrust and deception. Successful partnerships offer the opportunity for repeat work but the client must be assured that tenders remain competitive within the relationship of trust. 2.2.4 Strategic Tendering Project Mix Strategic tendering and project mix become even more crucial to a companies success during times of a recession. As the private sector feels the impact of a recession firstly and for a slightly longer period it is in a companys long term interest to carry out a more aggressive bidding policy towards the public sector (Ren Lin, 1996). Another advantage of the public sector is its transparency and openness during the tender stage. While the public sector may be susceptible to mal-practice, construction companies know that they will be impartially assessed and receive feedback under new regulations (Statutotory Instrument, 2006). Strategic planning can be very beneficial as it seeks to align a company in a certain direction. In todays climate contractors need to evalute the client when deciding to tender as many contractors have commenced work on a project only to instructed to withdraw as the funding has been restricted (Edum-Fotwe McCaffer, 1999). A number of contractors have also begun to take on jobs at cost or even a loss in an effort to win work with the chance of repeat work. Also this keeps the company name in circulation and also to hold onto valued staff that might otherwise have to be made redundant. Shepherd, the bid manager for Building Schools for the Future (BSF) is of the opinion that; Large procurement projects, such as BSF, lose some of the benefits of group procurement by being so expensive to procure. This creates a barrier to entry, which in some ways may affect the value in the procurement. The flip side is that for a contractor, you know you will be involved in a procurement process where you have a realistic chance of winning and that your scale delivers value. 2.2.5 Innovation Learning in Construction One of the most revolutionary changes in tendering has been the use of e-tendering which has been used most notably on the multibillion pound development for the Olympic Games in London 2012. Innovation in tendering can offer many advantages as it provide substantial resource savings to a major part of the supply chain, with the key benefits being enhanced communication, time savings and reduced costs (Stephenson Tindsley, 2008). IT has aided smaller companies in allowing them to compete with their larger counterparts in certain areas. Thorpe et. all (1998) argue that construction has yet to receive the full benefit of IT advancements compared to other industries. Due to the competitive culture in the construction industry, up until recently there has been a lack of organisational learning which promotes the sharing of knowledge and experiences between companies (Barlow Jashapara, 1998). There has been very little research into organisational learning but Poyner and Powells (1995) report emphasised its importance in providing competitive advantage which is especially relevant in an economic recession. 3. Research Methodology The research objective is to evaluate the impact of an economic recession on the current tendering practices of UK contractors. In order to receive a greater understanding of the topic we are combining qualitative and quantitative research methods. The approach employed is that qualitative research facilitates quantitative research by providing a hypothesis or assists measurement by suggesting questions (Oyedele, 2009). The research hypothesis was established through reading relevant journals and this was developed further through carrying out two interviews with industry specialists which when mapped can then assist in forming a questionnaire. A pilot study was conducted and upon receiving positive feedback the questionnaire survey was completed. Figure 3.1 Research Methodology. The literature review was sourced in the Queens, university library from textbooks, databases, journals, magazines and the internet. This source was particularly valuable as it allowed the author gain instant access to a vast array of websites, on-line articles, publications, current news etc. 3.1 Unstructured Interview Following on from the previous chapter, two unstructured interviews were completed by industry specialists. The main aim is to develop a greater understanding of the subject in addition to the literature review and to stumble upon any differences between the two. This type of interview has no set format beyond the opening question but the interviewer may have some key questions which they can use to keep the interviewee on the topic. The interviewer is receptive to the interviewees responses and the interview follows a conversational style. Both interviewees are employed by the largest privately owned construction company in the UK with offices also in India, Australia and the United Arab Emirates. The company has an integrated capability thus allowing a holistic view of construction. The first interviewee is a project manager who has experience of tendering with Lagan and Farran construction and is currently working alongside NIW on a large PFI project valued at approximately  £130 million. The second interviewee is a bid manager for on the building schools for the future framework (BSF). He is leading a team on a project worth over  £1 billion with a budget of  £5.6 million. 3.2 Qualitative Research Cognitive Mapping Yin (1989) observes that in qualitative research the broadest question should be stated so that data can be drawn from a number of sources such as: archival records, direct observation, documents, interviews, participant observation and physical artefacts. Qualitative research is any kind of research that produces findings not arrived at by means of statistical procedures or other means of quantification (Strauss and Corbin, 1990). The interviews form the basis for the cognitive mapping and allow a greater understanding of the subject. 3.3 Quantitative Research Questionnaire Survey Creswell (2003) explained quantitative research methods are used to test or verify theories or explanations identify variables to study, relate variables in questions or hypotheses use statistical standards of validity and reliability, and employ statistical procedures for analysis. The next step was to formulate a preliminary questionnaire based on the main topics raised in the literature review and interviews and this was used to conduct a pilot study. Slight modifications were made following the pilot study and a final questionnaire was produced which contains thirty eight factors that can be considered as significant in impacting on the tendering practices of UK contractors. In the questionnaire, the rating of the factors was done on a five point scale ranging from 1 to 5, where 1 represents strongly disagree, and 5 represents strongly agree. Respondents who had no opinion concerning the factors could select the answer of indifferent. The third section of the questionnaire will be used in our regression analysis and it involves establishing a relationship between the different factors of our analysis. The final section allows respondents to write additional comments on any outstanding issues which had not been brought up in the questionnaire but which they felt were important. A total of forty one respondents replied to the questionnaire and despite this being lower than was wished, due to time constraints the statistical analysis had to be completed nonetheless. Shown below in Table 3.1 are the total number of respondents and a breakdown of their characteristics. 4. Qualitative Results and Analysis Cognitive Mapping Cognitive mapping allows the analysis of large amounts of qualitative information and can be used to structure messy or complex data for problem solving. It is especially useful as a note taking method during interviews and assisting the process by increasing the understanding of the subject (Ackermann et al., 1992). Decision explorer is a tool which allows relationships to be pictured relating to a subject. Data entry is provided using concepts, which capture the core aspects of a notion. The concepts are then linked to show the relationship and factors of importance between ideas (Brightman, 2002). Figure 3.1 shows the three methods which can be used to question where a concept is leading towards. For the purpose of this analysis the method Action Outcome was utilized as it was felt that it is best suited to exploring the subject and discovering the goals/outcomes. Once completed, debate and reflection can then follow on the most important factors which have been established. 4.4 Analysis Discussion Using the maps in the previous section the main factors can be discussed and their influence on other concepts. 4.4.1 Central Concepts Analysis Central analysis reveals the concepts that have been linked the most times with other concepts and means that the concepts listed below have the greatest influence on the analysis. A central analysis was conducted and the following top five concepts were revealed: Change in Contractor Client Attitudes 20 from 39 Concepts. Contractors Using below Cost Tendering 19 from 35 Concepts. To Remain Lean and Competitive During the Recession 15 from 31 Concepts. Economic Recession 14 from 32 Concepts. Increased Likelihood of Repeat Work 14 from 29 Concepts All these top five concepts are directly related as the economic recession and change in attitudes has resulted in contractors using below cost tendering and lean construction to remain competitive during the recession with the increased likelihood of repeat work. The main issue/driver mentioned in the interviews was the economic recession which as stated in my literature review impacts severely on the construction industry as there is a reduction in the number of projects along with the cost of borrowing to repay loans and pay wages increasing (Ren Lin, 1996). This logical relation was explained in my literature review and is illustrated in Figure 4.1. The change in attitudes from both the contractor and client was also discussed with Latham (1994) trying to adopt a win-win mentality and Egan (1998) focusing on improving quality and efficiency and creating a movement for change. This change from the 1960s mentality whereby private and public jobs were awarded solely on competitive tendering to a situation whereby a variety of issues are evaluated (Edum-Fotwe McCaffer, 1999) has put additional pressure on contractors forcing them to retain quality and project time but reduce their tenders to below cost if necessary. Clients are having a greater participation and have requested a less fragmented approach which has resulted in a change of contracts to a more frequent use of design and build (Yisa, Ndekugri and Ambrose, 1996). Interviewee No.2 feels that clients are manipulating the current climate in order to get the same quality of work done cheaper whereas Interviewee No.1 is of the opinion that it is the contractors who are quick to adopt below cost tendering in an effort to hold onto staff as other projects are completed. The concept of remaining lean and competitive during the recession is extremely important and is discussed in great detail in my literature review. Cartlidge (2002) describes how lean construction eliminates waste so that value is added to each process, leading to lower costs, shorter construction periods and greater profits. The concept of leanness incorporates reduced bid frequency as overheads need to be reduced. Walwork (1999) and Interviewee No.1 both stress the need for contractors to select the right project which will then give a greater chance of success. Innovation can reduce costs through organizational learning (Barlow and Jashapara, 1998) but both interviewees felt that as overheads need to be reduced innovation should come from your supply chain which have budgets for research and development. As discussed in my literature review suppliers involvement should be welcomed at an early stage so that they can contribute new ideas, products, or processes (Cartlidge, 2002). Increased likelihood of repeat work was felt by Interviewee No.1 to come through partnering which allows a greater outcome for the whole supply chain (Dozzi et al., 1996; Larson and Drexler, 1997). A better outcome is achieved as the required business objectives can be met or exceeded (Bennett Jayes, 1998). Interviewee No.2 felt that early involvement with the client allowed links to be established thus leading onto repeat work. 4.4.2 Domain Concepts Analysis The domain analysis counts the highest number of links in and out of a concept and establishes connections with other issues within its immediate domain. It analyses local complexity but fails to examine the wider context of the subject. A domain analysis was conducted and the following top five concepts were revealed: 8 Links around 1 Change in contractor client attitudes 2 Contractors using below cost tendering 6 Links around 3 Increased public spending 4 Partnering and increased communication 5 To remain lean and competitive during the recession The previous central results determined the concepts with the greatest influence on the entire map and therefore it follows that these should have the highest number of links. Changes in attitudes, below cost tendering and lean construction were central to my literature review and interviews and this is why they have been highlighted here. The drivers for change are changing attitudes and below cost tendering with lean construction providing a number of strategies to improve through off-site manufacturing, innovative design and assembly, pre-fabrication, supply chain integration and pre-assembly (Cooke and Williams, 2009). The governments policy of increased public spending was noted by both interviewees and McFall (2008) in my literature review as offering a company strategy to survive the economic recession. RICS (1st October 2009) reported that tender prices for new construction work will not rise until 2011 and that if the public spending was cut it would have a detrimental effect on the construction industry. This is further supported in my literature review which states that strategic tendering and project mix is even more crucial during a recession. Ren and Lin (1996) judge that it is in a companys long term in

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Gandhi Movie Summary :: Film Movie

The movie Gandhi starts off with the assassination of Gandhi on January 30, 1948. He was killed because of the split of Hindus and Muslims into Pakistan and India, instead of trying to keep the country united (which was impossible at the time). The story then jumps back to Gandhi early in his life, when he is a practicing attorney. He is traveling in South Africa on a train and is thrown off because he refuses to give up his first class seat. The conductor wants him to move because he is Indian. This upsets him and he organizes a burning of the discriminatory codes. The protestors are arrested and released. Gandhi is motivated by religious means; he believes that everyone is equal in God’s eyes. He gets involved in several movements for equality, and he stresses non-violence very strongly. The Indians are very mad because British rule continues to limit their rights. They are supposed to all get fingerprinted, and their marriage laws are invalid. Gandhi’s followers vow to fight their oppressors to the death, but he discourages them from violence. He and his wife form a sort of commune of purity. They live off of the land entirely. During one scene, they ask all of Gandhi’s followers to burn all of their clothes that were made in Britain and wear only what they can make themselves. Gandhi practices this for the rest of his life, usually wearing just a loincloth. In another scene, Gandhi is in jail, and some of his followers are peacefully gathered in a square. The police lock up the square and kill almost everyone, over 1,500 people. Gandhi is disgusted and discouraged. He continues to preach non-violence, but the Indians do have occasional conflict with the police. Gandhi’s counter to the popular phrase â€Å"an eye for an eye† says that after that, â€Å"everyone will be blind.† Gandhi leads several organized protests against British rule. In one, all Indians stopped doing their work, and the major cities in the country were disabled. Another time, he led a 165-mile walk to the sea to protest the British monopoly on salt. The Indians made their own salt out of the sea. A turning point on the Indian fight for independence was the western press. Reporters witnessed a scene in which Indians tried to get into a factory row by row, and were brutally beaten by soldiers, row by row, as the women pulled the dead and injured away.