The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) - Marketing Strategy - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 8 Words: 2294 Downloads: 7 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Marketing Essay Level High school Did you like this example? Select an organisation of your choice and produce a report which analyses their current marketing strategies and make recommendations for improvements to their marketing strategy. Date authored: 05 th September, 2014. This report will note upon the marketing strategy of The Fà ©dà ©ration Internationale de Football Association (FIFA; the association based in Zurich was founded in 1904 and is governed by Swiss law the official website states â€Å"It has 209 member associations and its goal, is the constant improvement of football,† (FIFA, 2014) but do people recognise FIFAs goal through their marketing effort? FIFA shows involvement to other associations whose aims are similar to their own, for instance Kick It Out who describe their organisation as footballs equality and inclusion, this is done through campaigns on anti-discrimination in football. They work with football, educational and community sections and aim to reduce racism, homophobia and other discriminations within the sport, FIFAs partnership ties to their aim to improve the sport within an ethical Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Marketing Strategy" essay for you Create order spotlight. (Kick It Out, 2014) Recently the police and Crown Prosecution Service pledged to tackle ‘all forms of abuse in football, Morland Sanders went undercover to some football grounds and found â€Å"dispiriting findings [including] fans chanting deeply offensive racist abuse while nearby police officers do nothing.† (Whitelaw, P., 2014) FIFA may partner with such organisations to acquire the Halo Effect; Doyle (2011) defines this as â€Å"the perception of positive traits, qualities, or benefits of one entity influences (with positive bias) the perception – of another entity.† With this FIFA may seek positive equity from Kick It Outs perceptions. Recently FIFA received negative perceptions by publics due to their handling of the FIFA World Cup 2014, the host nation for the competition was Brazil whose economy was emerging from 2003, their share of global output increased by a percent point yearly until 2011. (Global Sherpa, 2014) In 2007 FIFA accepted Brazils bid to host the competition due to the strong economic climate they had, a year later a global recession would occur though Brazil, Russia, India, and China saw growth in economy, and these emerging economies have been dubbed the BRICs. The impact the BRICs would have upon global economy, was still questioned last year and whether that impact caused was permanent, Sharma, R (2013) believes the rise of the BRICs was rare stating â€Å"By 2007, with three – exceptions, every economy in the emerging world was growing, and more than 100 were growing faster than 5%. This kind of synchronised global boom had never happened before, and it is not likely to happen again.† And with â€Å"only 35 of 185 economies tracked – are developed; the rest have been ‘emerging forever. It is rare for emerging nations to sustain growth faster than 5% for even one decade.† Though Mahbubani, K (2013) argues that before 1820 China and India was the largest economies and believes â€Å"long term trajectory remains unchanged. Yes, there will be many short-term stumbles or strategic pauses.† FIFA could have improved their marketing effort in a number of ways; firstly they could have taken notice of the confusion within the economy at the time and taken a safer option by approving the bid of a developed nation. Secondly when the economy of Brazil steadied they could have offered more support towards Brazil, the number of partners FIFA boasts and their aim to progress football could they not provide Brazil with resources to help ease the job. Most importantly FIFA should have taken consideration of other stakeholders involved, with one stadium built with capacity of 42,000 used for four world cup fixtures, the local team who would use it after get average attendances of 1,000. ( Freeman, H. 2014) Social media marketing has received significant attention in the past few years. Critically discuss this technique. What makes a successful social media strategy? Within the past 10 years online communications have become increasingly vital for many companies, once marketers could control their communications, but with the rise of the internet consumers can easily make or break a brand, through social media. Singh Diamond (2012) defines social media as â€Å"content created and consumed by regular people for each other.† Marketers have shown growing interest upon this channel because they are popular; Facebook boasts near 1 billion users which is a large amount of traffic, this websites users are a part of a huge database which is ideal for the use of direct marketing. Databases are also available on YouTube, which is more popular than Cable TV, with people not using previously popular channels marketers must find another way to communicate with them. (Scott, 2013) This interest is now being acted upon by businesses so a company should use the tool their competitors do to ensure they do not face competitive disadvantage. Guerrilla marketing campaigns can use social media constructively, Levinson (1993) introduced this concept and believed such campaigns are characterised by low cost but extreme effect in building reputation by generating favourable consumer perceptions, such marketing is creative energetic, and flexible. Castronovo (2012) believes social media can aid guerrilla marketing as it is a free medium that can create a buzz and allows viral spread, this then â€Å"[increases] the relative exposure and effectiveness – compared to offline guerrilla venues alone.† Guerrilla marketing highlights how integrated marketing communications can be used effectively Clow Baack (2007, p.419) states marketers should â€Å"resist the temptation to create Web [content] that attempts to be everything to everyone.† In fact online communications need to reflect the offline; overall social media should be used for communicating elements of brand equity in a more social enigma relating to the target. ‘B2B branding and B2C branding are exactly the same Critically discuss this statement, do you agree? One brand that seeks business both B2B and B2C is Tesco, upon online communications they have to separate websites that targets the interest of both. Their main site (www.tesco.com) targets the consumers and supply links to the services sold to consumers, they also show their tagline â€Å"Every little helps† Though the branding remains similar upon the PLC site ( www.tescoplc.com) they have dropped the tagline and now they boast upon the companys achievements, current share price, and major shareholders. This differs from the product based approach upon the consumer site. In 2013, Tesco was involved with the horse-meat scandal, one of Tescos suppliers included horse meat within their products, and when this was found out consumers were outraged. Because of a fault in Tescos B2B business their brand was suddenly undesirable which produced negativity in their B2C branding. (BBC, 2014) If a B2B branding causes positive/negative perceptions to a business this could then show the same effect in B2C branding and vice-versa, for instance Innocent smoothies possess a large section of the smoothie market, Sainsburys acts as an ambassador for the brand and with Innocents ethical approach they may reap the halo effect, it may be more expensive than competitors but it still obtains high volumes of interest both B2B and B2C. Viral marketing is often cited as being a cheap and effective way of marketing a brand. What makes an effective viral marketing campaign? Perry Whitaker (2002) define viral marketing as â€Å"the voluntary spread of an electronic message from one consumer to one or many others, creating exponential and self-perpetuating growth in its exposure.† Though Kirby Marsden (2006) contradict the previous definition and believe viral marketing â€Å"describes any strategy that encourages individuals to pass on marketing offer to others,† the contradiction in the statements lies in whether the spread is voluntary or if it is implemented from a strategy. The spread of such marketing messages could be believed to be voluntary but can be adapted into a marketing strategy, Walter (2013) states â€Å"viral content cant be predicted – but brands and content producers can still learn from successful viral campaigns.† Looking at successful campaigns what can be implemented to another campaign to make it effective? To make a successful viral marketing campaign is to ensure consumer engagement with the brand, for instance 3s #DancePonyDance Campaign (Appendix 1) had users of Twitter ‘tweeting the amusing video, which many people shared it and thus the campaign became viral. Appendix 2 is the Doritos advertisement â€Å"Goat 4 Sale† Doritos ask people to create an advertisement for them and the winners advertisement is first aired during the Superbowl. The winner created the Goat 4 Sale ad, but with the amount of interested consumers, proves a lot of brand engagement. Appendix 3 was Doves campaign â€Å"Real Beauty Sketches† with majority of their target market being females they related to the market by having women draw pictures of themselves, that usually showed what they believed to be physical imperfections but when drawn by another person their beauty was accelerated, this campaign went viral because it understood a psychological belief of women and provided a positive insight, also the campaign was available in of languages so it could reach a larger audience. Finally Appendix 4 is a screenshot of the Walkers site during the â€Å"Do us a flavour† campaign, in which consumers provided walkers with flavours for their product, the most favourable by the company was then put to a public vote which decided which product they would provide more long-term. Evidence from successful viral marketing campaigns would provide the following recommendations to other campaigners who seek to become viral:  · Ask the consumer to engage with the brand on a different level whether this is as simple as social media engagement or more complex as creating a possible advertisement.  · Ensure the campaign does not stray from brand equity, using a fundamental of the campaigns brand will appeal to the correct audience for instance Dove is a beauty product, their campaign on beauty reflected this and thus spread.  · All target audience should understand the campaign, Dove ensured the video was available in an array of languages to target consumers worldwide. This attribute is also seen in 3s campaign which has the tagline ‘Silly stuff. It matters,† tying this with social media where consumers use the channel to socialise, humour may target them on this channel. Why is it important for an international marketer to study culture? Outline the main techniques available for undertaking cultural analysis? To understand the importance of the concept of culture for international marketers, primarily the concept must be defined. Culture is a set of control mechanisms that administrates peoples behaviour; culture is not a characteristic of the individual but rather bestows characteristics upon an audience. Culture perception from people ultimately corresponds from the socio-cultural environment which de Mooij (2010) believes â€Å"includes shared beliefs, attitudes, norms, roles, and values found among speakers of a particular language who live during the same historical period in a specific geographic region.† Overall one society may perceive one object in a different view than others, and understanding this will benefit a marketer. Kaynak, Herbig, (1998) states â€Å"Americans find it peculiar that the Chinese believe a dog is a delicacy, – while the Chinese find it peculiar that Americans – keep dogs as pets.† Therefore if a marketer who is used to a Chinese market should not market a dog as being a delicacy as it is far from the citizens perception of dogs. When conducting international marketing research Craig, Douglas, (2005) believes â€Å"secondary data [is] a key source of information – due to [its] ready availability, their low cost and their usefulness in providing background information relating to a specific country or industry.† Secondary sources are vast â€Å"ranging from print and CDROM to various Internet-based sources and web sites.† A PESTLE analysis is an effective yet simple tool used by marketers (Should the tool be expanded upon?) the circumstances of each area of the PESTLE may differ overseas which highlights the importance of analysing cultures when exploiting new geographical markets. If a PESTLE is used before exploiting new markets some issues may arise. Appendix Appendix 1 – 3 monkeys communications, (2014) Appendix 2 – Doritos, (2014) Appendix 3 – Dove, (2013) Appendix 4 – Bussey, (2009) References: 3 monkeys communications. (2014). Dance Pony Dance. Available: https://www.3-monkeys.co.uk/dance-pony-dance/. Last accessed 05/09/2014. BBC. (2014). Equine Cuisine. Available: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21457188. Last accessed 05/09/2014. Bussey, N. (2009). Builders Breakfast wins Walkers Do us a flavour competition. Available: https://www.brandrepublic.com/news/903435/Builders-Breakfast-wins-Walkers-Do-us-flavour-competition/?DCMP=ILC-SEARCH. Last accessed 05/09/2014 Castronovo, C. (2012). Social Media in an Alternative Marketing Communication Model. Journal of Marketing Development and Competitiveness. 6 (1), 117 131. Clow, K.E. Baack, D. (2007). Integrated Advertising, Promotion, And Marketing Communications. New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall. 419 Craig, C.S. Douglas, S.P (2005). International Marketing Research. 3rd ed. Sussex: John Wiley Sons. de Mooij, M. (2010). Global Marketing and Advertising: Understanding Cultural Paradoxes. Californi a: SAGE publications. Doritos. (2014). Goat 4 Sale. Available: https://www.doritosgoat.com/. Last accessed 05/09/2014. Dove. (2013). Real Beauty Sketches. Available: https://realbeautysketches.dove.com/. Last accessed 05/09/2014 Doyle, C (2011). A Dictionary of Marketing. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. FIFA. (2014). The Organisation. Available: https://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisation/index.html. Last accessed 05/09/2014. Freeman, H. (2014). How Brazils World Cup has sold its people short in the Amazon. Available: https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/jun/17/brazil-world-cup-people-amazon-fifa-manaus. Last accessed 05/09/2014. Kaynak, E. Herbig, P (1998). Handbook of Cross-Cultural Marketing. New York: The Haworth Press. Kick It Out. (2014). About. Available: https://www.kickitout.org/about/. Last accessed 05/09/2014. Kirby, J. Marsden, P. (2006). Connected Marketing: The Viral, Buzz and Word of Mouth Revolution. Burlington: Elsevier. Levinson, J. (1993). Guerrilla Marketing: Secrets for Making Big Profits from Your Small Business, Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. Mahbubani, K (2013). The BRIC economies. Available: https://www.economist.com/debate/days/view/1001. Last accessed 05/09/2014. Perry, R. Whitaker, A. (2002). Viral Marketing In A Week. Essex: Hodder and Stoughton. Scott, M. (2013). 5 Surprising Social Media Statistics for 2013.Available: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/content/5-surprising-social-media-statistics-2013. Last accessed 05/09/2014 Sharma, R. (2013). The BRIC economies. Available: https://www.economist.com/debate/days/view/1001. Last accessed 05/09/2014. Singh, S., Diamond, S. (2012). Social Media Marketing for Dummies. New Jersey: Hoboken Whitelaw, P. (2014). Dispatches. Available: https://www.radiotimes.com/episode/cs9xvr/dispatchesundercover-hate-on-the-terraceschannel-4-dispatches. Last accessed 05/09/2014.

The Process of Verbal and Nonverbal Communication

Communication Paper Introduction Communication is important to virtually all spheres of human influence. Through communication, man is empowered to understand his immediate environment. If there was no communication, it would be impossible for man to gain knowledge that would inform his comprehension of his immediate environment. Communication comprises two major types; the verbal and non-verbal forms (Cole and Smith, 2008). For the purpose of our discussion, this paper will seek to present a discourse that encompasses the process of verbal and nonverbal communication, and the components that constitutes each. The appreciation of these forms of communication and their components is instrumental in the fashioning of an effective communicator in the field of criminal justice. The message is the most significant component of any form of communication. Normally communication is a continuous process that involves an interchange of messages from the sender to the recipient. Efficient communication is said to have occurred when the message passes from the sender to the receiver and that the message retains its originality and is not distorted. The sender always expects the receiver to respond to his message via the same channel of communication (Cole and Smith, 2008). The role of an effective communication system in criminal justice is indispensable as this allows the investigators in obtaining the best information during interviews with victims and perpetrators of crimes.Show MoreRelatedNonverbal Communication And The Classroom902 Words   |  4 PagesTOPIC 1: Nonverbal communication in the classroom Communication is the ongoing exchange of messages that enables us to share our knowledge, attitudes, opinions and skills with one another (Miller, 1988). This process is composed of two dimensions – verbal and nonverbal . 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Fraud Risk Factor Identification- Free-Samples-Myassignmenthelp

Questions: 1.Explain how your results Influence your Planning decisions for the audit for the year ending 30 June 2015. 2.Explain why it is a risk and how it may affect the risk of Material Misstatement in the Financial Report. 3.Based on the background Information for DIPL contained in the case, Identify and Explain two key fraud risk factors relating to Misstatements arising from Fraudulent Financial reporting to which DIPL may be susceptible. Answers: 1.Analytical procedures Analytical procedures mean any procedures done by the auditor to make analysis regarding the financial statements of the organization. Analytical procedures are of two types one is preliminary analytical procedures and other is substantive analytical procedures. Preliminary analytical procedures are performed for planning nature, time and extant of substantive procedures required in the performance of the audit. On the other hand, substantive procedures are extensive procedures which include ratio analysis, trend analysis and comparative analysis of financial statements. Results of substantive procedures help the auditor in planning audit (Auditing and Assurance Standards Board, 2009). In the present case company under consideration, Double ink printers limited is a company works in printing industry providing serives of printing on demand as well as e-books with publishers titles, to its clients. The background information of Double ink printers limited indicate various factors which required to take into consideration by the auditor during the planning of audit. Some activities which required special consideration are, Recording of inventory value as well as accounts payble by the same person Indicating factor for impairment of assets purchased from Nuclear Publishing limited in last year Entrance in new loan with two specific conditions Change of chief executive officer and establishment of new internal audit depatment Change of external auditor Implementation of new IT system with insufficient staff No allowance for inventory obsolescence Allowance for inventory obsolescence made in previous years, written back Change in method of inventory valuation from average cost inventory valuation to first in first out based inventory valuation Change in estimated regarding the depreciable life of printing press by incereasing depreciable life, due to this depreciation expenses per year will decline E-book revenue recognization without completion of revenue genration process Results from ratio analysis and comperative analysis Trend analysis of balalnce sheet of Double ink printers limited 2013 2014 2015 Total Current Assets 41.65% 47.22% 36.72% Total Non-Current Assets 58.35% 52.78% 63.28% Total Assets 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% Total Current Liabilities 29.23% 32.19% 24.47% Total Non-current Liabilities 28.68% Total Liabilities 29.23% 32.19% 53.15% Net Assets 70.77% 67.81% 46.85% Total Equity 70.77% 67.81% 46.85% Trend analysis of income statement of Double ink printers limited 2013 2014 2015 Revenue 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% Cost of Sales 82.45% 83.87% 84.80% Gross Profit 17.55% 16.13% 15.20% Profit before tax 9.85% 8.68% 7.04% Profit after tax 6.90% 6.08% 6.84% Ratio relevent for loan conditions 2015 Current ratio 1.50 Debt equity ratio 1.13 Information which collected during the analytical procedures will affect the audit. All above mentioned financial and non financial factors auditor will effect planning for audit. Auditor will plan extensive procedures for reaching an appropriate opinion regarding these assertions (Putra, 2010). 2.Risk assessment and inherent risk identification Risk assessment procedures are procedures which followed by the auditor to measure risks related to financial information (Auditing and Assurance Standards Board, 2011). Audit risks are mainly of three types. Inherent risk arises because of nature of the transaction, control risk arises due to non availability of appropriate control and detection risk arises because of non detection of material misstatement due to lack of procedures followed by the auditor (Auditing and Assurance Standards Board, 2009). In the present case, inherent risk factors are, Change in method of inventory valuation from average cost inventory valuation to first in first out based inventory valuation Change in estimated regarding the depreciable life of printing press by incereasing depreciable life, due to this depreciation expenses per year will decline These changes are considered as an inherent risk factor because application of both changes will result in higher net income and in turn better financial position. Suggested change in method of inventory valuation will increase the value of closing stock and in turn, will increase net income. Suggested change in the life of the non-current asset will decline depreciation expenses and in turn, will increase net income. Due to nature of these two changes, these assertions involves inherent risk and this can be reduced up to an acceptable level by making appropriate audit procedures. 3.Fraud risk factor identification Fraud risk is the risk that financial reports of the organization are manipulated by a fraudster in such a way so that it becomes material for the users of financial reports. Fraud risk factors are the factors present in the reports of financial data which increase the suspicion of fraud (Auditing and Assurance Standards Board, 2013). Fraud can be initiated by any level of management of the organization. Fraud is performed by fraudster either because of pressure or because of misutilization of extensive rights provided to a person or group of persons. Fraud risk factors and effects of identification of these factors are, Non-allowance for inventory obsolescence, writing back the allowance for inventory obsolescence made in previous years and change in inventory valuation method indicates that there may be fraud risk factor due to pressure. The company needs to make current ratio at least 1.5 for the fulfillment of one condition out of two conditions of a loan from BDO finance. Current ratio can be increased by increasing current assets. Inventory is a current asset and non-creation of inventory allowances, wrtiing back the allowance for inventory obsolescence and change in inventory valuation method will enhance net inventory value. Due to the identification of this factor auditor will increase the extant of procedures for assessment of need of allowance for inventory obsolescence and inventory value. Recording of inventory value, as well as accounts payble by the same person, indicates that there may be fraud risk factor due to misutilization of extensive rights to accounts payable clerk. This employee may make a change in both values i.e. inventory and accounts payable for taking unjustified advantages. Due to the identification of this factor auditor will increase the extant of procedures for assessment of accounts receivable value, for this auditor may send confirmation requests to all accounts payables for confirming their due balance References Auditing and Assurance Standards Board, 2009. ASA 520 Analytical Procedures. [Online] Available at: https://www.auasb.gov.au/admin/file/content102/c3/ASA_520_28-04-06.pdf [Accessed August 20 2017]. Auditing and Assurance Standards Board, 2009. Auditing Standard ASA 200 Overall Objectives of the Independent Auditor and the Conduct of an Audit in Accordance with Australian Auditing Standards. [Online] Available at: https://www.auasb.gov.au/admin/file/content102/c3/ASA_200_27-10-09.pdf [Accessed 20 august 2017]. Auditing and Assurance Standards Board, 2011. Auditing Standard ASA 315 Identifying and Assessing the Risks of Material Misstatement through Understanding the Entity and Its Environment. [Online] Available at: file:///F:/GS%20Solution%20(60%20paise)/Aug/16/risk%20assement%20procedure.pdf [Accessed 20 august 2017]. Auditing and Assurance Standards Board, 2013. Auditing Standard ASA 240 The Auditor's Responsibilities Relating to Fraud in an Audit of a Financial Report. [Online] Available at: https://www.auasb.gov.au/admin/file/content102/c3/Nov13_Compiled_Auditing_Standard_ASA_240.pdf [Accessed 2017 August 20]. Putra, L.D., 2010. https://accounting-financial-tax.com. [Online] Available at: https://accounting-financial-tax.com/2010/04/the-use-of-analytical-procedures-in-auditing/ [Accessed 20 August 2017].

One Flew Over Cuckoos Nest Essays - Fiction, Literature,

One Flew Over Cuckoos Nest In One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest by Ken Kesey, Chief Bromden is a character who has to work his way back to being and acting like a real human after so many years of being "dehumanized" (Porter 49) into a machine created by the evil Nurse Ratched. I. Bromden in the beginning A. Dehumanized by Nurse Ratched 1. structured 2. forbids laughing 3. controlling B. The effect that the Nurse and the ward has on Bromden 1. could not smell 2. thinks of himself as little 3. hides in the fog 4. fears everything 5. sees himself as comic 6. hallucinates II. Bromden in progress A. Gives up deaf and dumb B. Great turn - around C. Begins to smell things D. Regains his laugh E. Loosens up III. Bromden at the end A. Bromden escapes B. Bromden is a hero C. McMurphy is death; Bromden strength D. Bromden becomes big IV. Conclusion A. Modern world; machines destroy B. Nurse Ratched the machine C. Modern world is the combine Bromden and his Changing Mind In One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey, Chief Bromden is a character who has to work his way back to being and acting like a real human after so many years of being "dehumanized" (Porter 49) into a machine created by the evil Nurse Ratched. Bromden begins to change as soon as McMurphy tries to get the guys on the ward to open up and Bromden is the one who gets the most out of Mr. McMurphy's "therapy" (97). Chief Bromden finally beats the evil nurse Miss Ratched by escaping from the institution. So "Broken men - however frightened, beleaguered, splintered, and dehumanized - can be restored to manhood and wholeness" (95). A six foot seven inch Indian named Chief Bromden pretense to be a deaf mute after he watched his father, Chief Tee Ah Millatoona, get ruined by his white wife. Government agents often came to visit his father about his property. The agents would walk right past Bromden like he was not even there. When people stopped reacting to Bromden, he stopped reacting to the people. At the Combine which was the name for the ward, Bromden underwent treatment for his medical condition. The Combine split the patients into two categories, the Acutes and the Chronics. The Acutes were the patients that had the ability to getting better while the Chronics had no chance of getting better because of how serious their medical condition is. In the Combine everybody definitely considers Bromden as a Chronic. While in there and everybody thinking he is a deaf mute, Bromden hear's information from other peoples conversations that he is not suppose to hear. Throughout the novel Chief Bromden feels small and he is very easily intimidated. Without the help of the newest guy on the ward, Randel Patrick McMurphy, he would of never been able to gain up enough strength to feel good about himself again and escape the ward like he did in the end of the novel. McMurphy helps Bromden tremendously plus everybody else that is on the ward. He guides everybody to be human. McMurphy says Miss Ratched, the Nurse of the Combine, gains her power by making others feel like they have less. She controls everything they do from when they wake up to when they go to bed. McMurphy rebels against Miss Ratched and tries to get the guys on the ward to stand up for themselves too. The patients on the ward are not aloud to laugh loosely according to Miss Ratched. McMurphy says when a man loses his ability to laugh he is not a man anymore. Most of the patients on the ward are dehumanized by Nurse Ratched controlling and orderly attitude. In the novel Bromden shows the most change from McMurphy's help. Enough change to come back after escaping and retell the story. In the beginning of the novel Bromden was at the point where he was completely dehumanized by Nurse Ratched. Miss. Ratched was the main cause of his dehumanization, but not the start of it. It began is his early childhood with the conflict between his father, the Indian chief, and his white mother that had control over his father. As it says in the Discovering Authors Modules: "Mrs. Bromden was a domineering women who cared little for her husband's Indian heritage and was instrumental in selling his land to the government.". Miss Ratched is in a way just like Bromden's mother.

Learn the Types of Chemical Formulas

Learn the Types of Chemical Formulas A chemical formula is an expression that states the number and type of atoms present in a molecule of a substance. The type of atom is given using element symbols. The number of atoms is indicated by a subscript following the element symbol. Chemical Formula Examples There are six C atoms and 14 H atoms in a hexane molecule, which has a molecular formula of: C6H14 The chemical formula of table salt or sodium chloride is: NaCl There are one sodium atom and one chlorine atom in each molecule. Note there is no subscript for the number 1. Types of Chemical Formulas While any expression that cites the number and kind of atoms is a chemical formula, there are different types of formulas, including molecular, empirical, structure, and condensed chemical formulas. Molecular Formula Also known as the true formula, the molecular formula states the actual number of atoms of the elements in a single molecule. For example, the molecular formula of the sugar glucose is: C6H12O6 Empirical Formula The empirical formula is the simplest ratio of the whole number of elements in a compound. It gets its name because it comes from experimental or empirical data. Its sort of like simplifying mathematical fractions. Sometimes the molecular and empirical formula are the same, such as H2O, while other times the formulas are different. For example, the empirical formula of glucose is: CH2O This is obtained by dividing all of the subscripts by the common value (6, in this case). Structural Formula Although the molecular formula tells you how many atoms of each element are present in a compound, it does not indicate the way the atoms are arranged or bonded to each other. A structural formula shows the chemical bonds. This is important information because two molecules may have shared the same number and type of atoms yet are isomers of each other. For example, ethanol (grain alcohol people can drink) and dimethyl ether (a toxic compound) share the same molecular and empirical formulas. There are different types of structural formulas, too. Some indicate the two-dimensional structure, while others describe the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms. Condensed Formula One particular variation of an empirical or structural formula is the condensed formula. This type of chemical formula is a sort of shorthand notation. The condensed structural formula may omit the symbols for carbon and hydrogen in the structure, simply indicating the chemical bonds and formulas of functional groups. The written condensed formula lists the atoms in the order in which they appear in the molecular structure. For example, the molecular formula of hexane is: C6H14 However, its condensed formula is: CH3(CH2)4CH3 ï » ¿This formula not only provides the number and type of atoms but also indicates their position in the structure.

The Fierce Warrior-Slaves Known as the Mamluks

The Fierce Warrior-Slaves Known as the Mamluks The Mamluks were a class of warrior-slaves, mostly of Turkic or Caucasian ethnicity, who served between the 9th and 19th century in the Islamic world. Despite their origins as slaves, the Mamluks often had higher social standing than free-born people. In fact, individual rulers of Mamluk background reigned in various countries, including the famous Mahmud of Ghazni in Afghanistan and India, and every ruler of the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt and Syria (1250-1517). Slaves of High Standing The term mamluk means slave in Arabic, and comes from the root malaka, meaning to possess. Thus, a mamluk was a person who was owned.  It is interesting to compare Turkish Mamluks with Japanese geisha or Korean gisaeng, in that they were technically considered women of pleasure, yet they could hold a very high status in society. No geisha ever became Empress of Japan, however. Rulers valued their slave-warrior armies because the soldiers often were raised in barracks, away from their homes and even separated from their original ethnic groups.  Thus, they had no separate family or clan affiliation to compete with their military esprit de corps. However, the intense loyalty within the Mamluk regiments sometimes allowed them to band together and bring down the rulers themselves, installing one of their own as sultan instead. The Mamluks Role in History Its not a surprise that the Mamluks were key players in several important historical events.  In 1249, for example, the French king Louis IX launched a Crusade against the Muslim world.  He landed at Damietta, Egypt, and essentially blundered up and down the Nile for several months, until he decided to besiege the town of Mansoura.  Instead of taking the city, however, the Crusaders ended up running out of supplies and starving themselves  The Mamluks wiped out Louiss weakened army shortly thereafter at the Battle of Fariskur on April 6, 1250.  They seized the French king and ransomed him off for a tidy sum. A decade later, the Mamluks faced a new foe.  On September 3, 1260, they triumphed over the Mongols of the Ilkhanate at the Battle of Ayn Jalut.  This was a rare defeat for the Mongol Empire and marked the south-western border of the Mongols conquests.  Some scholars have suggested that the Mamluks saved the Muslim world from being erased at Ayn Jalut; whether or not that is the case, the Ilkhanates themselves soon converted to Islam. Egypts Fighting Elite More than 500 years after these events, the Mamluks were still Egypts fighting elite when Napoleon Bonaparte of France launched his 1798 invasion.  Bonaparte had dreams of driving overland through the Middle East and seizing British India, but the British navy cut off his supply routes to Egypt and like Louis IXs earlier French invasion, Napoleons failed.  However, by this time the Mamluks were outmatched and outgunned.  They were not nearly as decisive a factor in Napoleons defeat as they had been in earlier battles.  As an institution, the Mamluks days were numbered. The Mamluks End The Mamluks finally ceased to be in the later years of the Ottoman Empire. Within Turkey itself, by the 18th century, the sultans no longer had the power to collect young Christian boys from Circassia as slaves, a process called, and train them as Janissaries. Mamluk corps survived longer in some of the outlying Ottoman provinces, including Iraq and Egypt, where the tradition continued through the 1800s.

Interpretation and Application to Facts of Extracts from Three Essay

Interpretation and Application to Facts of Extracts from Three Statutes - Essay Example He intends to do this by exposing the dog to a chemical-impregnated rag. Just as is usually the case, there are several acts that make up for Alec’s Actus Reus. Although the main criminal act done by Alec is an attempted harm of a sniffer dog, yet Alec has also trespassed Claire’s property, which is her cottage. It is important to note that by destroying the sniffer dog’s olfactory organs, Alec was committing the crime of destroying someone’s property. Despite the destruction of property often being legally referred to as vandalism, Alec’s destruction of property can be fittingly called as such, only that it borders on mutilation, since the property in this case is a living being, a dog. The part of the dog that is being mutilated is its olfactory organ, whether this mutilation is permanent, r temporary, that notwithstanding (Biles, et al., 2011, 177). Conversely, Alec is also acting in collusion with drug dealers, which is another criminal offence. While freedom of association may be cited by the defendant as an explanation to Alec’s tete-a-tete with drug barons, his very act of mutilating Bruno amounts to a (willful) obstruction of justice. Alec’s act is not only classifiable as an anticipatory obstruction of justice, but it also totally proscribed and described. ... Conversely, it is also important to note that Alec’s action makes him complicit to a crime. Guam v. Dela Rosa, 644 F.2d 1257, 1260-61 (1981) sheds light on the fact that Alec has knowledge of an anticipated criminal act (drug dealing and destruction of police property) and continues to strengthen their cause (by attempting to disable a police dog). This totally and explicitly renders Alec an accomplice to crime. Even the mere fact that Alec knew about the drug dealers and maintained contact with them, still serves as exculpating evidence against him. This is because, both points of legal references describe an accomplice as one who is party to an offence by the virtue of having encouraged the principal offender with acts or/ and words, and thereby facilitating the crime. This accomplice needs not participate in the main crime; he merely enables it. Alec by all means is an accomplice since he verbally agreed in a binding agreement and also actively tried to incapacitate a polic e dog, with the chief aid of abetting and enabling the transpiration of narcotics. By also entering Claire’s cottage without permission, Alec became guilty of the crime of trespass. Another salient component that gives the case a strong ground is Mens Rea (the state of a guilty mind, a criminal intent and a wrongful purpose). Alec, having formed a liaison with drug dealers, had planned to destroy Bruno’s sense of smell. He seized Bruno by the collar, drag him towards his van, so as to expose his nose to the chemical-impregnated rag. The conclusion to the foregoing is that there is no room whatsoever for any lawful excuse that may be extended in favor of Alec. Besides this, it is most probable that Alec has a case to answer and that he is likely to be found of

Globalization in Transition Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Globalization in Transition - Research Paper Example It is in the interest of the welfare of humankind to allow a new system to emerge. What has happened about globalization so far, challenges the imagination of all concerned. It is impossible to predetermine or predict the outcomes and the shape of things to come. Human intervention and creativity have reached new zeniths and the developments that have taken place in various segments of globalization do not fall within the definitions of Capitalism, Communism, Socialism or Theocracy. Spread of democracy in the hardcore communist countries, which resulted in liberalization of trade relations, is also an important factor in hastening up the process of globalization. Narrow perspectives of nationalism have failed to check the economic reforms that are part of the process that accelerates the pace of development. The discussion is no more about whether there should be reforms to facilitate the march of globalization; it is about the strategy to implement reforms. The importance of transit ion economics is an accepted fact. The tug of war of votaries of globalization and the local manufacturing and local food markets will continue and the ultimate gainer is the consumer, as he has the choice. Globalization—its reach Is it possible to reconstitute local manufacturing and local food markets, or has globalization ultimately made this impossible? A straight forward answer to this question is impossibility. It is an admitted fact that the narrow domestic walls have crumbled. Firstly, let us try to understand the institution of market. The complex market institutions cannot develop in a theoretical or laboratory setting and then transplant them to economy. For the markets, transition to the ground realities is a complicated exercise. Institutions will take a long time to reshape and attain perfection. Globalization has challenged and will continue to challenge many of the old social and economic norms. Many such norms will die and many will need complete rejuvenation . Getting the reforms off from the national to the international ground calls for tough choices. One has to be realistic about the possible achievements, while giving up the existing set up in favor of the new one. Advantage Globalization Countries need an active domestic agenda and remain ready to follow the path of economic reforms well in time, to challenge the environment of integrated world economy. The domestic front needs to develop the fine sense of anticipation to capture the gains of globalization. Globalization is multi-dimensional. Global trade volumes are on the increase for more than one reason. Every country would like to take advantage of the technological breakthroughs and no one minds from which country it originates. Technological innovations have boosted immensely the quality of life in many countries of the world, but at the same time this has benefited the rich section of the society and the poor have no means to share the benefits. Volatile capital markets do not go well with the economy of the developing countries. The experts in the field of economics and commerce are not sure about the contribution of trade to the superior growth performance of the votaries who followed globalization. A country opens up trade channels and many domestic policy changes go in tandem with it. So it is difficult to assess the contribution

Philosophy and Its Branches Essay Example for Free

Philosophy and Its Branches Essay The study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially when considered as an academic discipline. Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems concerning matters such as existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. It is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational argument. Origin: Middle English: from Old French philosophie, via Latin from Greek philosophia love of wisdom. Philosophy comes from the Greek for love of wisdom, giving us two important starting points: love (or passion) and wisdom (knowledge, understanding). Philosophy sometimes seems to be pursued without passion as if it were a technical subject. Although there is a role for dispassionate research, philosophy must derive from some passion for the ultimate goal: a reliable, accurate understanding ourselves and our world. Branches of philosophy: The following branches are the main areas of study: †¢Metaphysics is the study of the nature of being and the world. Traditional branches are cosmology and ontology. †¢Epistemology is concerned with the nature and scope of knowledge, and whether knowledge is possible. Among its central concerns has been the challenge posed by skepticism and the relationships between truth, belief, and justification. †¢Ethics, or moral philosophy, is concerned with questions of how persons ought to act or if such questions are answerable. The main branches of ethics are meta-ethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics. †¢Political philosophy is the study of government and the relationship of individuals and communities to the state.

An Evolving Relationship in The Circling Hand Essay -- Circling Hand

An Evolving Relationship in  The Circling Hand    An evolving mother-daughter relationship is the focus of Jamaica Kincaid s autobiographical   The Circling Hand.  Ã‚   Like the narrator, Kincaid grew up in Antigua as the only child her mother and carpenter father.   Also like the narrator, Kincaid admits her mother kept everything she ever wore.  Ã‚   This narrative is a coming of age story, in which this dynamic and unusual mother-daughter relationship plays an important role.   Through the beginning bliss of childhood to the frustrating stage of adolescence, this unique relationship, in which the daughter is infatuated with her mother, seems to control the narrator s development as a free ­thinking person.      Ã‚  Ã‚   It is easily inferred that the narrator sees her mother as extremely beautiful.   She even sits and thinks about it in class.   She describes her mother s head   as if it should be on a sixpence,   (Kincaid 807).   She stares at her mother s long neck and hair and glorifies virtually every feature.   The narrator even makes reference to the fact that many women had loved her father, but he chose her regal mother.   This heightens her mother s stature in the narrator s eyes.  Ã‚   Through her thorough description of her mother s beauty, the narrator conveys her obsession with every detail of her mother.  Ã‚   Although the narrator s adoration for her mother s physical appearance is vast, the longing to be like her and be with her is even greater.      Ã‚  Ã‚   The narrator spends her young childhood drunk with love for her mother.   She happily sleeps late on school holidays, follows her mother ar... ...tionship has completely evolved and the narrator somewhat comes into her own  ­ a natural and inevitable process.      Ã‚  Ã‚   As a result of the freshly severed apron strings, while at her new school, the narrator starts to   love   a new friend named Gwen.   When she shares her day with her mother and does not mention her new - found love, this is her young mind s way of saying   You have your life and I have mine and I don t have to tell you about it.  Ã‚   While the mother  ­ daughter relationship still exist, the narrator forms another relationship, making her less dependant on the first.   The evolution of adolescence is the theme of the story, but the transformation of the mother daughter relationship proves to be the most drastic change the narrator goes through at an age revolved   around change.   

Family as a Primary Group

Family as a Primary Group Social Problems Garelick August 2010 Family as a Primary Group Family plays an important role in the life of every person and society as a whole. It is no surprise that at every new stage of development in our society, with every revaluation of values, the interest in the issues of family, morality and spirituality spikes. At the present time, in the complicated environments through which we weave our lives, the family remains a unique mediator between the interests of the individual and society and is in the epicenter of a major social upheaval.The transition to current market relations and with them the related apathy, and with the impoverishment of the general population drastically came the turnaround in the view affecting the well-being of our families and their stability and potential for proper upbringing of the young. These, along with many other social instabilities, have led to a crisis of family values. The consequences of this crisis are bifurcat ions between the generations, the prevalence of reduced lifetime fertility and the growing number of single parents in the United States.If marriage, parenthood and kinship are what constitute family relations, at the present time we are witnessing a decay of this little tiny trinity. The problem is complicated by the fact that at present time, the institution of marriage is going through a transitional period. There is a certain destruction of the old traditional values of marriage, and the new have yet to be formed. Marriage and family are increasingly becoming more about individuals and their need for intimate satisfaction and informal communication, and less about structure and support of one another.Let us pinpoint and define just where the family lays its essence within the complicated world of social institutions and in which groups, as defined by our text. In a broad sense, the concept of a social group is any social association of people, anything from peer groups to a popu lation of a particular country. In sociology, this concept is used in a narrower sense as â€Å"any number of people with similar norms, values, and expectations who interact with one another on a regular basis† (Schaefer, 2009, p. 107). In general, members of a society feel like they belong to a group, and are also perceived by others as members of said group.To analyze the social structure of a society there must be items explored that appear in all elementary parts of the given society, which incorporate all of the social perspectives. For this, I have chosen what is generally accepted to be the â€Å"primary group† (Schaefer, 2009, p. 110). The most successful definition, and essentially creation of the term, was created by â€Å"Charles Horton Cooley† who â€Å"coined the term†¦ to refer to a small group characterized by intimate, face-to-face association and cooperation† (Schaefer, 2009, p. 10). In other words, primary groups are those in which individuals have personal interaction with one another. For example, classmates can be members of a primary group, and the rest of the student body would then be members of a secondary group. From a social perspective of a â€Å"functionalist† for the normal operation of the human society we must consolidate certain types of social relations so that they become mandatory for members of a particular social group (Schaefer, 2009, p. 14).This primarily refers to those social relations in which, in order to obtain entry, members of a certain group must satisfy the most vital requirements needed for the successful functioning of the given group as an integrated social unit. For example, for the production of material comforts, people tend to perpetuate and secure a level of financial cushioning; this is also done for the upbringing of children, for unstrained family relationships, as well as for education and training for everyone involved.A symbolic â€Å"interactionist† would view the family process as a consolidation of social relations and a way to establish a system of roles and statuses, prescribing certain rules of conduct in a â€Å"social network,† and in defining a system of sanctions in case of a default by any of the individuals in the process of living out and following the given rules of conduct (Schaefer, 2009, p. 16/111). Social roles, statuses and sanctions are implemented in the form of social institutions that define sustainable patterns of behavior, ideas and incentives.Social institutions â€Å"are organized patterns of beliefs and behavior centered on basic social needs, such as replacing personnel† in the family setting (Schaefer, 2009, p. 113). Social institutions dictate how ideas and goals are perceived and defined by the system of standard social values, such as patterns of public behavior and the complicated systems of various social ties, i. e. the sets of roles and statuses through which a range of behavior is carried out and kept within certain limits.So, within the concepts of â€Å"social institution† and â€Å"social group† there is a significant internal difference. While the social group, whether primary or secondary, is a collection of interacting individuals, the social institution is a system of social relationships and social norms that exist in a particular area of human activity. However, it should be noted that these concepts are inseparable from each other, because  a social institution is a set of relationships and systems of behavior, and is determined ultimately by the needs of people.In other words, although the social institution creates social relationships and norms, there are people for whom these relationships are linked and carried out; the family is the perfect example of a social group that puts the rules in to practice. People organize themselves into different groups using institutional rules. Each institution includes many social groups tha t provide the overall institutional behavior. Consequently, institutions and social groups are interrelated, and it would be completely meaningless to separate these notions and study them separately.So, based on the foregoing, I conclude that the family is a social phenomenon that combines the features of a social institution and a primary group. The idea of the modern family arises from the desire to satisfy purely personal needs and interests of individuals. According to structure-functionalists, â€Å"the patterns of reciprocal obligations among people and between structures of people and the greater society define family. The greater society has needs that must be met; in order to meet those needs, society creates subsets of people structured to help meet the needs of society.The family is one of those structures. The definition of â€Å"family† changes as the needs of the greater society change. When the greater society needs rapid population growth — after a ti me of war, for example — society's definition of family emphasizes heterosexual bonding, procreation and child rearing; but when the greater society is faced with over-population and the need to limit population growth, society's definition of family may be modified to include homosexual bonding and may be more supportive of childless couples† (Diem, 1997, P2).As a primary group, the family connects the personal needs of the public interest, adapting to social relations, norms, and values that are accepted in our society. In other words, the family's personal needs are sorted and organized on the basis of accepted societal values, norms and behavior patterns and, eventually, acquire the character of the social functions such as the regulation of sex, procreation, socialization, emotional satisfaction, status, safety, and economic security.From what I have gathered, the definition of family from a conflict perspective has been a highly discouraged and slightly controvers ial subject since family â€Å"is considered a sacred institution. As a result, support for research on conflict in the family has been discouraged† (Werner-Wilson, 1993, p. 6). And it would seem that a social institution of such prominence would not have a dark side from which can leap and bound toward freedom suppressed minorities. But for the sake of this essay, let us assume that if Karl Marx were to look at the institution of marriage, he would wave his well bearded nugget side to side disapprovingly.The idea of a traditional family has roots in male supremacy, and suppression of women’s rights. If only Karl Marx was not a man of the nineteenth century, but lived in present time. The ideal family includes: 1) a set of social values (love, for children), 2) public procedure (for the care of children, family rights and obligations), and 3) interlacing of roles and statuses (status and role of husband, wife, child, teenager, mother-in-law, brothers, etc. ), with the aid of which the family exists.Thus, the institution of family is a collection of certain bonds, rules and roles, which in practice are manifested into the activities of this individual primary group. We all know how great the importance of family is in everyday life, society and even in the political arena. After all, it is the family of each person that provides them with an inexhaustible source of love, devotion and support. The family lays foundation for morality, spirituality and tolerance. And it is the family that is recognized as the major reason for why cultural beliefs survive, are inherited and passed from generation to generation.It is a prerequisite for socialization and the lifelong study of social roles, basic education, skills, and behavior. A healthy, strong family is the basis of stability and prosperity of any society. The family is the foundation of all social institutions vis-a-vis the development of the family is ultimately the progress of society as a whole. B ut the world does not stand still, in its ever-changing atmosphere social institutions take on new meanings and the ideas of marriage and family change with the times.Marriage has ceased to be life-long and is losing its legitimacy: divorce, single parent families, broken hearts and bank accounts used to be exceptions, and are now becoming the norm. The vast majority of professionals such as philosophers, sociologists, psychologists, economists, and students of the modern school of thought, all agree that the family is going through a real crisis. The strength of family is being tested under the weight of total catastrophic failure that our society is facing; the deep nature of which is characterized by our flailing ivilization. As a primary element of society, it gives a miniature image of the same contradictions that are inherent in our cultures. One of the most remarkable properties of the family is its flexible and dynamic form of structural organization. Thanks to the universal ability to adapt to the peculiarities of the ever-changing world, the family has developed an enormous variety of types of family structures, sometimes adapting itself beyond recognition, but while keeping unchanged its essence as a social institution and a primary group.In addition, the family is created to meet any number and range of essential human needs. The family, therefore, in contrast to other social groups defines the very meaning of integrity and adaptability. Because of its multifunctional ability to ameliorate the physiological and psychological human needs, and its inclination toward self-organization and self-development the idea of family is able to combine all personal, collective and public interests into one little amiable ball with a gigantic potential for explosive cataclysm.The world is not static, it changes, and with it change its social institutions, and thus the family. Clearly, the family today, like society in general, is in deep cow dung. The strength o f the family, its charm and vitality lie in the integrity that is inherent in the family idea and in the definition of the primary social group and social institution. The present era in which we have had this great pleasure of existing is different from any other in recorded history.Today’s complex economic and social situations require a modern approach, which can often cause stress and depression, which have already become integral parts of our existence. Today is the time when the need is particularly great in having a safe retreat, a place of spiritual comfort. This safe retreat can be our family, its stability and strength can be built to withstand the widespread variability of the painful world. The family is something worth celebrating, and in celebrating ourselves we can go on further to build everything else that will try to destroy it.References Schaefer, R. T. (2009). Sociology: A Brief Introduction (8th edition). New York: McGraw-Hill Diem, G. (1997). Formulation s: The Definition of â€Å"Family† in a Free Society. Social Scientists’ definition of Family. Retrieved August 12, 2010, from http://libertariannation. org/a/f43d1. html Werner-Wilson, R. (1993) Social Conflict Theory. Retrived August 12, 2010, from www. public. iastate. edu/~hd_fs. 511/lecture/Sourcebook15. ppt

Van Gogh vs Salvador Dali

Van Gogh vs Salvador Dali The focus of the paper is to make a comparison and contrasts between Van Gogh's ‘Starry Night' and Salvador Dali's ‘Persistence of time'. While Van Gogh's theme formed the basis of expressionism in twentieth century, Dali initially became a leader of the Surrealist movement and later on developed interests in psychology and science, both movements influencing their beliefs and formal approaches in distinctive ways. The ‘Persistence of Time' is regarded as one of the most famous paintings of Salvador Dali. The painting is rendered in yellow, faint brown and blue colors and has earned a world-wide recognition for Dali.Like Van Gogh's ‘Starry Night' that shows typical moonlit scene in Saint-Remy asylum's neighborhood where he stayed for more than a year during his last period of life, Dali's painting resembles Port Lligat, his home. Dali uses sandy beaches and other imagery to which he had been exposed to as a child in his home town. Sim ilar to Van Gogh's ‘Starry Night', the ‘Persistence of Time' could have several interpretations. Although, some could be more meaningful, others remain elusive. The contents of Dali's ‘Persistence of Time' are not only puzzling but open to interpretation.Contrary to Van Gogh, Dali was also a philosopher, besides an artist as mostly known. While VanGogh's was expressionist, Dali was initially a surrealist and later on developed interests in psychology and science. ‘Persistence of Time' is no more than a collection of theme that are perception of time, reality, death, birth, and sexual desire. Orange clock placed on the rectangular table-like object is attacked by the ants show the anxiety related with time. This specific psychology as well as understanding of the reality of death could configure the viewer's behavior.Furthermore, Dali uses light in the painting, in contrast to Van Gogh's ‘Starry Night', for communicating themes of this painting. On the b asis of the arguments presented in the paper, it can be concluded that Van Gogh's ‘Starry Night' and Salvador's ‘Persistence of Time' although had some common aspects, themes of both Van Gogh and Salvador differ. While Van Gogh was an expressionist, Dali was initially a surrealist and later on developed interest in psychology and science, both movements influencing their beliefs and formal approaches in distinctive ways. Van GoghSalvador Dali

Early Childhood Managers †Early Childhood Development Essay

Early Childhood Managers – Early Childhood Development Essay Free Online Research Papers Early Childhood Managers Early Childhood Development Essay Management in early childhood is a very important aspect that professionals have to deal with everyday. Samson and Daft (2000, p9) define management as ‘the attainment of organizational goals in an effective and efficient manner through planning, organizing, leading and controlling organizational resources’. Whereas Light (1968, p.10) describes management as ‘the body of knowledge about managing and the process of planning, organizing, directing, coordinating and controlling men, materials, machines and money so as to secure the optimum achievement of objectives’. Both concepts of management agree that it has to do with planning and organizing but Light describes it a bit further by saying that it also includes controlling men, materials and machines. Samson and Daft talk about how they have to lead and control organizational resources and that is what management is; it is concerned with the present and the future of the organization. There are five levels of hierarchy of competencies for early childhood managers as Hayden (1996 as cited in Ebbeck and Waniganayake, 2003, p.9) describes. Level 1 is Technical functions, Level 2 – staffing functions, Level 3 – client oriented functions, Level 4 – public relations functions and Level 5 – cultural and symbolic functions and Hayden (1996 as cited in Ebbeck and Waniganayake, 2003, p.10) also points out ‘to be a good manager one has first to be able to perform the technical tasks that are placed at the base of the hierarchy. Only then can one focus on the staffing asp ects including mentoring and inspiring staff and building a team based work environment’. Therefore, any manager that takes care of the management of the service has to deal with the technical aspects like ‘the operations, including purchasing, budgeting, record keeping, hiring and firing staff†¦.’(Ebbeck and Waniganayake, 2003,p.9). Light has described management in detail and even put in the fact that money is also needed to have a good management. However, both concepts do not discuss how management is to monitor quality and improvement and also do not say anything about the people that will be involved in the organization and what part they will play in the management. Management in early childhood is quite different because children that attend the centre might suffer as a result of bad management skills and a developmentally appropriate curriculum is also to be designed for the children and you have to deal with families as well, whereas in other organ izations such as business management, you would not have to deal with these aspects. Managing means to take care of, to run, to supervise, to manage a particular task or organization and both concepts have described ways in which you can do that; planning, organizing, leading, controlling, coordinating. Light also describes that ‘†¦.optimum achievement of objectives’ and recognizes that in management you have to manage in a way so that you can get the best possible results from the objectives. Both concepts agree that managements has to have a set of goals or objectives that you have to achieve and you have to do that in the most convenient and effective way. Research Papers on Early Childhood Managers - Early Childhood Development EssayThe Project Managment Office SystemBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfOpen Architechture a white paperInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesDefinition of Export QuotasMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductResearch Process Part OneLifes What IfsThree Concepts of PsychodynamicPETSTEL analysis of India

Two Things †Branding and Writers Block

Two Things – Branding and Writers Block Of course youre wondering what these two have to do with each other. Actually its more about what they have in common. For the first time in my career, I see writing income sliding to a new level I feel it will not recover from. What Im trying to say is that the effort you put into your writing business last year isnt enough for this year. To make the same income, you have to work harder and smarter. The competition is fierce. Whether you hate traditional or indie matters not anymore because authors on both sides are hurting. Incomes are down. Its harder than ever to be heard and seen, much less read. Why such a morbid post? Look at the title of this post again. Its like youre in a mob. Ever seen that commercial about the little door that data is trying to run through, only to see people pile atop one another unable to get through? Then the advertiser talks about a bigger door that allows all data to go through? Well, were at that stage where the door (the reader) is tiny. Authors are that mob. Only some will get through. Thats why branding is super critical right now. I listen to long-time, mid-list authors complain these days about how their incomes are way down, but they are doing the same thing theyve always done. Thats the problem. They are doing the same thingmarketing some, maybe posting on FB three times a week, thinking what worked in 2005 still works now. You cannot be seen without being different. You cannot be heard without noise, a dfferent kind of noise, because God knows its noisy out there. You need a brand, and when you figure out what it is, then you need to sling it and work it hard. Daily. Yep, daily. Now, that brings us to the other topic: writers block. In this day where Amazon accepts thousands of books per day to its database, you cannot sit back and profess to have writers block. Like your marketing, you need to write daily. Block NEVER stops you from writing. Somewhere in your head it makes you think you cant write, but guess what? Your brain and hands still work . . . so write. With the sea of writers out there writing daily, youll be soon forgotten otherwise. Sorry for the rant, but Im seeing good writers, long-time writers, being run over

The growth of suburbs and urban sprawl in the United States is a Essay

The growth of suburbs and urban sprawl in the United States is a problem, or just part of the natural growth of cities - Essay Example The move by the American government to push investments away from the central cities in the 19th century is a justification of a problematic scenario. An introduction of high housing tax rates proved homeownership as an alternative to wealthy Americans. â€Å"At the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, housing prices in the United States rose rapidly during a period through which interest rates were low. Government tax policy made homeownership even more attractive† (Dahlman & William 393). The decision to retain a cultural practice is a factor of consideration in the suburb development and impact on the development of cities. The wealthy population developed a natural attraction to the rural environment influencing the growth of suburbs. This is a justification of a natural effect on the growth of metropolitans. The invention of the automobile industries acted as an immediate solution to the challenging city life. The wealthy opted to commute from th e suburbs to places of work as a way of evading city

Successful FDI Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Successful FDI - Essay Example This paper addresses benefits and disadvantages of FDI to both home and host countries and presents a brief business plan for the company linking its foreign investment proposal and analyzes its future plans. E-Walky Plc: E- Shoe and Slippers Electronic shoes and slippers from E-Walky Plc will be extremely amazing experience to the new generation. In today’s technology-driven business environment and life-style, the company plans ‘e-walking’ of new generation. E-Walky, a public limited company headquartered in Colorado, is in its very progressive stage of developing new products, e-shoes and slippers. The days yet to come are to witness how the slippers and shoes can be integrated with advanced technology to make an easier life to both sportsmen and general public. Company plans to campaign its brand name ‘E-Walky’ for its products and chooses China for its FDI. It’s truly going to be a mere micro-computer in every one’s foots, being att ached to the down-part of slippers and shoes covered by specific metals for its safety as well as water-proof purposes. These micro-chips can automatically measure the distances one walks, counts his footsteps, measure the speed of a sportsman and so on. Count-down, safety-walk and speedy-walk are some extremely useful utilities that the company itself kept secret and rather surprising to the public. Its usefulness to electronically track one’s footsteps will attract indoor players of badminton and tennis as well as outdoor players of cricket and football. Its importance to play ‘two-men game’ and group games will certainly appeal to children and youngsters. Its importance to health and convenience to use inside houses will attract both house-wives and old aged customers. More specifically, all these customers will find its operation wonderful and convenient due to the small ‘remote controller’ in their hand. E-Walky Business Plan The main objective of E-Walky is to design and develop electronic shoes and slippers to its customers in and outside the US to continuously promote the digitized life for both general public and sportsmen. The main mission is to create a generation of ‘e-walking’ with help of the highly advanced technology the company adopted in developing E-Walky shoes and slippers. The financial management of the company proposed an initial investment of $10 million to establish the enterprise based in Colorado and to expand the business by directly investing in China with an approximate expenditure of $25 million. It plans to start its R&D and manufacturing activities in the US and to sell around 1.5 million shoes in the US markets within first 12 months. At the same, the company’s operation will be held in large scale in China to market around 10 million products through major countries like Japan, UK, India, Brazil etc. The management expects that once its marketing starts in the US, it will a ttract a large number of sportsmen and other people from around the world. As planned, the penetration pricing policy would be used as a competitive tool to merit the firm and build a long-term brand image for the company (Hirschey, 2009, p. 567). The financial department proposed that the company would be able to sell more than 13 million products worldwide returning an

Enhancing Dementia Practice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Enhancing Dementia Practice - Essay Example w of the most important strategies in Northern Ireland include: educating people about the possible signs and symptoms of dementia, creating a friendly community for people with dementia, creating public awareness about the importance of early diagnosis, integrating a wide-range of services that will support the specific needs of people with dementia, and extending necessary trainings and support of carers of people with dementia. Dementia is often characterised by having memory impairment and increased risk of having aphasia – language deficit, agnosia – perceptual disorder, and apraxia – motor functioning disorder (Mendez and Cummings, 2003, p. 6). Aside from having progressive memory loss, people with dementia can be very much disoriented (Gilmour and Brannelly, 2010). Likewise, there are cases wherein people with dementia experience cognitive deficit when it comes to comprehension and reasoning (Gilmour and Brannelly, 2010). Among the common types of dementia include Alzheimer’s disease (62%) followed by vascular dementia (17%), mixed dementia (10%), lewy-body dementia (4%), fronto-temporal dementia (2%), Parkinson’s dementia (2%), and others (3%) (Alzheimers Society, 2015a). As of 2015, roughly 20,966 people in Northern Ireland were diagnosed with dementia (Alzheimers Society, 2015a). By 2051, the number of people with dementia in Northern Ireland is expected to increase between 60,000 (Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, 2011) to 61,000 (DSDC, 2015). (See Figure I – Types of Dementia below) Almost half the number of people with dementia is receiving care and support in care homes (Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, 2011). To help improve the quality of health and social care services given to people with dementia, the Health Minister of Northern Ireland received a funding of  £6 million from the state government last September 2014 (Northern Ireland Executive, 2014).Through state funding, it is

Methods of Value Engineering

Methods of Value Engineering CHAPTER1: INTRODUCTION In future the proactive and effective manage of cost, contracts, communication and claims – the four Cs- will consistently become more important to developers and facilitators involved in physical structures and properties. The Quantity surveyor should understand the challenges and opportunities presented by the needs of client in relation to cost, contracts, communication and claims and perhaps focus their development on the important links between the functions. Changes and developments in the industry and market will also influence the way in which these functions are managed. For those professionals who deliver these services to the industry, the focus should be on client satisfaction and a positive experience for all concerned. Establishing a link in effectively managing the process to ensure success should be the primary aim of the manager. This should be done in close partnership with all functionaries, engaged in the process. Planning, controlling and co-ordinating budgets and cost plans, as well as communicative results will limit claims and facilitate the process of contract management. The contract should also facilitate partnerships and the system should be aimed at satisfying needs, seeking opportunity and perusing growth. CHAPTER 2: AIMS OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The main objective of this paper is to study the subject of value engineering (now know as value management) from QS (ME) perspective. Based on the parameters; cost, contracts, communication and claims the value engineering study is done and the challenges faced by the quantity surveyor is also discussed. The objective of the study can be summarized as follows. To study the subject of value engineering and its methodology. To study the value engineering importance in cost management and the quantity surveyors role. To study how the selection of contracts can add value to the project and the quantity surveyors contribution to that process. To study the quantity surveyors communication strategies to achieve the expected value and clients objectives. To study how the knowledge of quantity surveyor can add value (in terms of money, time and effort) during disputes. CHAPTER 3: VALUE ENGINEERING THEORY METHODOLOGY 3.1: Methodology Value engineering methodology evolved in the 1940s when the transition was made from the search for an alternative to the search for means of fulfilling the functions of an alternative. Shortly afterwards it was observed that function-oriented alterations in working methods often result in improving quality along with eliminating unnecessary cost (Palmer et al., 1996). Since its introduction, the methodology has been well developed to be applied in construction industry, as it enables realization of life cycle cost and cost effectiveness of projects (Omigbodun, 2001). VE in the construction industry is mainly an organized effort to challenge the design and construction plans of projects to provide the required facility at the lowest overall costs, consistent with requirements for performance, reliability and maintainability (DellIsola, 1988). Delays in construction projects may be due to lack of meticulously devised plans (Ghorbani and Shokri, 2005) and consequently budget deficit (M irmoham madsadeghi and Aghdami Thani, 2005). Through all-pervasive utilization of the VE methodology such obstructions may be avoided. This judgement is made on the grounds that VE can improve plans and designs along with thriftiness in budget expenditures. Researches (e.g. Mirmoham madsadeghi and Aghdami Thani, 2005) show that this negligence is often due to limited access to experts and lack of knowledge about the method and its benefits (Table 1). One may realize that these two factors may predispose VE teams towards other obstruction factors (Mirmoham madsadeghi and Aghdami Thani, 2005). This obstacle may be surmounted with recourse to artificial intelligence (AI) models. Case-based reasoning (CBR) from AI may be utilized to enhance efficiency of VE study through outlining a model of the expert knowledge for a VE workshop. The inherent analogical nature of a CBR model would facilitate access to more comprehensive and systematically classified information during a VE workshop. Inasmuch as VE in the construction industry encompasses a cognitive process, such a reasoning method could be indispensable and could affirm promising results. Furthermore, classified background knowledge of the knowledge base may enhance the creativity of the VE study team, and transform their creativity to capability from an instinctive behaviour of mind. 3.2: Value Engineering Theory VE may be defined as a creative, organized approach whose objective is to optimize cost and/or performance of a facility or system (DellIsola, 1988). The focal points of the notion are function analysis and creativity. Through defining functions and classifying them, it spots functions with more potential of increasing value. Thereafter with the creative approach alternative ideas would be recommended to replace original design. An established framework for fulfilling assigned tasks of the methodology has been defined as the VE job plan. The job plan is defined through special phases ranging from five to eight in various versions, all following the same concept (Assaf et al., 2000). A typical version, comprising five phases, is selected in this study (Philips, 2003): (1) Information phase: information acquisition, function analysis and selecting areas with poor value for detailed study. (2) Creative phase: generating ideas as an alternative to meet the requirements of an understudied function. (3) Analytical phase: evaluation of ideas and selecting the best practical ideas. (4) Development phase: developing prominent ideas and selection of the best idea. (5) Presentation phase: recommending a VE change and improvement proposal in a most challenging format. Teamwork is an essential phenomenon in the VE job plan, resulting in crossing organizational lines (DellIsola, 1988). The ideal groups for VE should embrace different disciplines (Phillips, 2003): Design groups comprising project engineers, designers, draftsmen and mainly engineers who are responsible for construction. Operators groups comprising supervisors and construction engineers. Experts in costs groups with e.g. cost evaluators and accountants. Development groups comprising construction experts, commercial and financial experts. Organizer groups such as trouble-shooters or construction managers. CHAPTER 4: MANAGEMENT OF COST 4.1: Aims Goals of cost management The basic goals of cost management and pricing of a project or product relate to the link between price and intrinsic value, affordability in relation to needs or investment, and managing the procurement process. The cost managers should therefore understand that they need to work with clients from the very inception of a project, even earlier and then through out the process to ensure the best results. This does not mean that a cost planner or cost manager is a cost cutter, far from it a cost manager should take responsibility ( with designers, client and other roll players) to ensure the interest of the client, community and environment are served ( Ferry and Brandon, 1991:5). Grover Cleveland (cited in Nel, 1992:43) stated the following about the property investment: No investment on earth is so safe, so sure, so certain to enrich its owner. However, one also has to take best value into account as well as to put available funds to best use. This includes gearing, cost design or design to cost, cost planning, cost control, architecture, location environment etc. Sound investment has proven its value, been a safe guard against ill fortune, produced income, provided security and shown itself to be away of producing wealth( Nel, 1992:43). Utilizing funds to best effect will improve these benefits even further. The cost manager needs to understand that the type of construction required for a building will also influenced the performance of the building over time, including the functional performances of the users environment (mole, cited in Venmore- Rowland, Brandon and Mole, 1991:307). The cost managers should be continuously involved from the design to the co-ordination and auditing, to ensure best cost results, specifically in commercial property, where investment is required to yield the best financial returns. Other areas of cost management that need attention are cash flow, the timing of payments, interest rates and the availability of funds at specific times. These aspects also influence the total financial outlay and eventual returns on a property investment. Kenley (2003:3) stresses the potential value of improved and strategic cash flow to enhance the profitability of the construction industry, with the further potential to offer reduced costs to the client and improved contractor performance. Cash flow forecast and management should therefore be part of the cost managers service to ensure that the developers receive the full benefits of pro-active attention. The cost managers (Quantity Surveyors) involved must go beyond a re- active service. It should also include a service that takes the following aspects of value into account. Physical: a quality building Psychological; a pleasant looking building which is good to live in, places of the soul Real quality: cost effective but with specifications that fit the purpose. Durability: taking life cycle costs and whole life cycle costs into account. Design: design to cost, cost design and appearance. Affordability: budget and returns are important. Timelessness: short term fashions as opposed to design that will withstand the pressures of current whims. The cost manager, while communicating alternatives and options to the designers and the client should remember the role of relative quality, affordability, returns, as well as the latters link to design and specification. 4.2: Quantity Surveying and cost management methods and tools Although cost management may be seen as an obvious and simple process, in reality it is not. All aspects associated with a project have a direct impact on costing and how it is managed (knipe et al., 2002: 257). The quantity surveyor is ideally placed to manage this complex process. If the methods are followed correctly and the tools used effectively, cost management may produce exceptional results. 4.2.1: Cost Design This process is based on design aimed at satisfying the parameters dictated by cost, cost of acquisition, operation and management. The process may also be described as cost design where such design is defined as designing a project in economic terms, taking into account the cost and cost benefits of each element of the project in an effort to balance the interrelationship of all cost elements and the reason for its existence ( Knipe, 2002:276; Verster and Berry 2005:20-40). 4.2.2: Value Management Value management is a systematic approach and process earlier referred to as value engineering, to ensure delivery of a function or product at the lowest cost without detriment to quality, performance or reliability (Ashworth, 2004: 409-421; Green 1992). Value management is a continuous process that should occur throughout the project but is most effective when implemented right from the inception of the project. More over, it should also include the following aspects: Orientation: Understanding the issues Information: Identification of functions, needs, budgets, project constraints and timing. Speculation: The creative development of ideas and alternatives Analysis and evaluation: Elimination and filtering of ideas. Development: Examination in detail Selection: The final proposal Conclusion: Presenting the findings to the client. Value management is one of the effective tools available to quantity surveyors who are in a position to play an important role in ensuring that the client and designers actually consider all value and cost related aspects of construction, design specification and development options. 4.2.3: Cost Planning Cost planning is used to ensure that the developer knows in the early stages of a project what the anticipated final cost of the total development may be, including the cost of land, legal issues, demolitions, buildings, professionals, furniture, connections, tax, financing and management. Building cost is only of the items, but the quantity surveyor should include all costs in the cost plan of the final cost. The cost planner should have a clear understanding of cost and budget targets to enable him to adjust the developer about possible future over-runs and pro- actively to provide alternative solutions (Ferry and Brandon, 1991:9). One of the most effective tools that the quantity surveyor uses to assist with the planning and design process is the elemental cost plan. The theory behind the analysis of building costs per element is that the total cost is a sum of the cost of individual so- called elements such as walls, roofs, foundations, etc ( Morton and Jaggar, 1995:41-43). 4.2.4: Cost Control Linked to auditing, cost control is an activity that is aimed not only at reactive reporting of decision results, but also at accounting for the decisions and visions of the client and advising the client how best to achieve desired outcomes (Knipe et al., 2002:257). Cost control happens through out the deployment process, from the briefing stage to completion. 4.2.5: Cost Checking This process is necessary to ensure that the client is always informed about the actual performance of the building in cost terms in relation to the budget or cost plan. The actual cost of each element or section of the building as the detailed designs are developed is checked against the cost target or cost plan, or specific elements in the cost plan( Seeley, 1983:14). 4.2.6: Cost Analysis Cost analysis supports the quantity surveyors service to the client and can provide the quantity surveyor with useful cost information and data. The forms of cost analysis are identified by Ashworth (2002:69), namely; Identification of major cost items Analysis of the annual user cost of building ownership Identification of those groups of items(elements) of cost importance 4.2.7: Cost benefits analysis The aim of cost benefit analysis is to establish the real benefit of expenditure not only in financial terms, but also in terms of time and energy expended by human resources, and the social benefits (Ferry and Brandon, 1991:12-13). 4.2.8Life cycle costing The life cycle costing also known as cost-in- use describes the modelling techniques aimed at coping with the mixture of capital and running cost of buildings and effect on ownership of a building. The quantity surveyor must be very sensitive to the influence of all cost factors so that the client receives advice that is practical, applicable, timely and effectively 4.2.9: Cost reporting The Quantity surveyor must ensure that continuous, accurate cost information, analysis, cost results and cost influences are reported to the client and design team. 4.3: Conclusion Using the above tools, techniques or methods and implementing them effectively will result in a better product at a better price with lower maintenance cost and an increased return potential over a long period of time. Money is the most limited resource and the challenge is to utilize it optimally. Though the quantity surveyor is ideally positioned continuously to play an active role, he should also be more involved in strategic decisions to empower clients even more. CHAPTER 5: CONTRACTS AND THE QUANTITY SURVEYOR 5.1: Aims and goals of construction contract A contract is a document that spells out the rights and obligations of parties and the administration of this interaction while protecting the parties against the risks that emanate from various relationships, action s and production. Many alternative ways to procure contracts exist, but experience has shown that a partnership approach as opposed to a two -sided procurement method is preferable. The secret of success may be in the organization of rights, obligations and administration, in such a manner that mutual support by the parties and effective professional service to the contracting parties are important factors to be included in the contract. Although the legal systems in countries are very specific to each country, there are important aspects that need to form part of any construction contract in any country ensure harmony, the parties understanding o f duties and the effective administration of obligations: Objectives: Offer acceptance and performance Preparation: Documents Design responsibility Agents Site representation Regulations Works risk Indemnities Insurances Securities, guarantees etc Execution: Preparation Access to the works Access to the works Setting out of the works Assignment Nominated and selected sub contractors Direct contractors Completion: Practical, works and final completion Defects liability periods Sectional completion Revision of dates Penalties Payments: Interim payments to the contractor Adjustments Recoveries Final accounts Cancellation: By the employer or the contractor and the rights related to Default and disaster Disputes: Litigation, arbitration, adjudication and mediation. The above headings taken from an agreement show the general terms that should be included in a construction contract, but one needs to remember that many project- specific variables also need to be included in the agreement. The contract documents, apart from drawings and specification, should also include the following: Preliminaries the management of the contract Trade preambles basic standard specifications Bills of Quantities depending on the method of procurement used, but compiled in accordance with an acceptable and agreed standard. Guarantees. 5.2: Procurement options Although the quantity surveyors service is traditionally linked to the production of bills of quantities, the profession has evolved to play a pro-active role in any procurement alternative and contractor selection process. Once the quantity surveyors service, in relation to pre-contract cost advice , is concluded, the very important next service phase of procurement advice and action should be addressed. Basically, procurement can be divided into two main alternatives, these are: Price-in-advance methods Cost-reimbursement methods Various other procurement methods for diverse needs and reasons are used, such as cost plus, construction management, design and manage, and measured term contract. The primary considerations for contractor selection or procurement, however, are the following: the influence of cost, time and design as well as the clients needs and budgets. For this reason, the quantity surveyor may promote the multi-procurement method to enable the client to control the effects of time and cost, continuing to allow space for sustained design, development, effective professional service and contractor involvement. The method relives on producing procurement documents timely, on a provisional basis, based on provisional design information. This enables the procurement of a main contractor who will manage many other selected or nominated sub -contractors who will be procured during the development of the building, as detailed information becomes available. The secret of this method is that mutual unders tanding and a very close working relationship between all role players must exist. The quantity surveyor performs a very important task in the execution of the project. 5.3: Conclusion The proper selection of an appropriate procurement method and the introduction of effective contract terms that will enable the contracting parties to focus on the work at hand should derive from pro-active, knowledge -based advice to the client, taking all aspects and circumstances of the proposed project into account Contracts, ensuring a partnership approach and imposing order on the rights and the obligation in proper manner, generally cover all risks and ensure effective contributions by the client, contractor and professionals. CHAPTER 6: THE MANAGEMENT OF COMMUNICATION 6.1: The goals of a communication strategy 6.1.1: Contract communication Contract terms should be communicated to parties and people involved so that they have no or little doubt about the meaning of words or terms. For this reason, the following aids are used by courts to interpret contracts: Avoidance of absurdity Upholding the contract or clause as opposed to ineffectual or void interpretations Equitable interpretations The intention s of the parties The recitals are subordinate to the operative part of the contract The grammatical meaning of the words used The contract will be interpreted as a whole in respect of the purpose and scope The technical meaning of words The written contract itself as opposed to verbal explanations It is clearly understood that the contract guides the official communication related to rights, obligations and administration of the contract and by all the parties involved. It is therefore important that the quantity surveyor should understand all issues related to contract communications. 6.1.2: General communication In the information era, however, the strategic resource is information, knowledge and creativity. There is only one way a corporation can gain access to these valuable commodities through people its most important resource (Naisbitt and Aburdene in Puth, 1994: 25) The above quotation illustrates how important it is to work with people, not only informally but also formally by means of contract documents, and in the process communicate well with them. People are the most important resource and thus the most important aspect and source of success. 6.2: Communication using management and leadership methods While contract communication is generally used as a formal and official communication method to ensure that the rights and obligations of parties are protected and enforced, management and leadership communication, as an approach or method, are very important elements in ensuring results. 6.2.1: Management communication Management communication is the number one problem in business today. While technology has advanced in leaps and bounds, managers and academics understanding of the substance of the process. Communication is seen as the life-blood of organizational management; therefore, the manager and professional must have an adequate knowledge of the nature and role of communication although it is difficult to do well or understand the influence of communication (Ewing in Puth, 1994: 3). The effective communicator should have a well-founded understanding of substantive transformation as a basic approach. Management is inherently a problem-solving job ( Whetten and Cameron in Puth, 1974: 109), indicating the importance of communication while obvious criteria for solving problems are expertise, knowledge, skills and experience , using sound management principles to transmit function -and- outcome expectations. 6.2.2: Leadership communication Leadership is based on communication. Leaders communicate not only information, but also attitudes and assumptions (Emshoff and Denlinger in Puth, 1994: 146). Since professionals often find themselves in leadership positions where clients and other parties rely on their expertise and skills, the professional must also be able to communicate and be concerned with: Coping with change Understanding competition and markets Be able to inspire followers Be a good example and influence people to achieve goals Emshoff and Denlinger in Puth (1994: 147) suggest that many corporations today are over-managed and under-led. Professional leadership is needed and should be the concern of all professionals. Autry and Mitchell (1998: 214) suggest that a wise leader should embrace the paradox of: By not forcing, he leadsBy not dominating, he leadsBy not leading, he leads Leadership asks for communication with subordinates, partners, professionals and other functionaries. Leadership is expected of any professional because of his position, knowledge and pro-active service. The lessons to be learned from the above are that communication is not forceful, not dominating, but accommodating. 6.3: Conclusion Colin Bower warns against a specific form of leadership, in his words: Leadership is never a neutral value – far from it, it polarizes and divides he continues the cult of leadership is not more than the most thinly and inept disguised cloak of tyranny. He argues that we do need leaders in battles and expeditions, but because of these times, it should not mean that they are always needed and that leaders fudge issues and paper over cracks by substituting evangelical qualities for good organization, agreed objectives and rational propositions. He concludes with an idealistic picture of competent individuals acting as his or her own leader (Bower, 2005: 2). It remains clear that leadership could be all of the above, but that effective communication and partnerships with individuals may lead to success. CHAPTER 7: MANAGEMENT OF CLAIMS AND DISPUTES 7.1: The goals of claims and dispute resolution The goals o f claim and dispute resolution are firstly to establish the right of any party to submit a claim, and secondly to enable the other party to consider the claim in terms of its validity, contractual terms and possible outcome. Lodging or considering a claim do es not mean that a dispute exists, but should the rejection of a claim occur, a different interpretation of a claim exist, a difference of opinion obtain, one has to note that a dispute may then be lodged. Dispute resolution should then assist the parties in resolving such an impasse in a cost effective, satisfactory and timely manner. 7.2 The methods used to resolve disputes For the purpose of this paper, the methods to be discussed are cancellation, adjudication, mediation and arbitration. 7.2.1 Conciliation In an effort to resolve a dispute, satisfactory results are never guaranteed, not even in a court of law. It is therefore perhaps important to use inexpensive ways and methods to try and resolve a dispute. Results have shown that conciliation does have a remarkable measure of success in regard to solving differences before they can become disputes. The parties decide who the conciliator will be. The conciliator should, however, be a person with good communication skills and knowledge. The objective is to bring the parties together in a forum to investigate their contentions and assist the parties to formulate their own settlement, by indicating the consequences. Improved communication should be ensured through joint and separate meetings. The conciliator may also be requested to formulate an own opinion. In the end, parties are still left with the option to continue with litigation or arbitration. Conciliation, however, has the following foci and advantages: Control the parties control the process Consensus the parties aim at the best commercial solution Continuity the relationship will continue Confidentiality- no harmful public exposure The following diagram illustrates the difference between litigation and all ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) processes: The quantity surveyor, with good communication skills is ideally positioned to play an important role in respect of conciliation because disputes usually revolve around payments, valuations, certificates and penalties. 7.2.2: Adjudication Adjudication is an accelerated form of dispute resolution in which a neutral, impartial and independent third party deals with the dispute as an expert and not as an arbitrator, and whose determination is binding unless and until invalidated or overturned b y an arbitration award. The adjudicator shall not give advice to the parties or their representatives concerning any aspect of the Agreement in respect of which he has been appointed other than in accordance with stated Rules[Joint Building Contracts Committee (JBCC) 2005 4.1 Adjudication rules, cl. 1.1, 3.2] The procedure may be as follows: Either party shall submit full details of a dispute arising in terms of the agreement, together with copies of all relevant documents The other party may submit a written response The adjudicator shall: act as an expert and not as an arbitrator adopt the most cost and time -effective procedure The adjudicator may also: convene and conduct a hearing determine the payments and costs of the dispute on the basis of the submitted documents only meet with the parties decide on his own jurisdiction make use of specialist knowledge open up documents related to the dispute refuse admission to any persons other than the parties It is important to note that a n adjudication award is not binding on the parties, but is most definitely a process that will limit the costly processes of arbitration and litigation. Quantity surveyors and cost engineers are ideally positioned to play a very active role in adjudication. 7.2.3: Mediation