Video games’ good and bad effects Essay Example for Free

Video games’ good and bad effects Essay Many wonder if there are any good things about video games. The question becomes even more prominent when you think about children and teens, who might spend more time playing video games than going outside. And then there are adults who develop video game addictions. Sometimes these addictions could lead to problems with employment, relationships and other aspects of life. However, despite all these things, I still say there are many good things about video games, regardless of who is playing. True, while everyone needs to have a life beyond the Xbox, video game entertainment is generally very positive. Through video gaming, you develop the following: 1) Eye-Hand Coordination When youre thinking about some of the good things associated with video games, this tops the list. This is particularly the case for young children, who still need to develop their motor skills. Interaction with the controller teaches them how to coordinate their movements. 2) Fitness Thanks to the Wii, the Xbox Kinect and similar devices, video games can be controlled by more complex body movements. If this is done over a long period of time, video games can actually help a person lose weight. In fact, there are even games dedicated to fitness. They offer the same workout as any aerobics class. 3) Problem-Solving Skills Many games on the market will not let you progress unless you solve a puzzle. How the puzzle manifests itself will depend on the title, but most are designed to test a persons deductive reasoning. 4) Improved Reading Although the reading is not as intense as a book, it is still more detailed than what you see on television. Bad things Video games can be bad for you, but not for the reasons you might think. Theyre not bad for you because theyll make you violent — because they wont. However they can be bad for you for other reasons. Heres a look at the top 5 reasons why video games can be bad for you. Addiction is defined as The condition of being habitually or compulsively occupied with or involved in something. †  Anyone who has really been into video games has experienced this. Kids and adults alike think about getting home and playing games. They also spend a great deal of time reading gaming magazines, participating in online gaming forums, looking for future game releases, and of course, spending countless hours playing games. When they arent doing any of these things, theyre wishing they were. It cost a lot of money to stay current with the latest video games and hardware (console and/or computer). Many gamers spend all of their money on gaming. For example, its not uncommon for a gamer to have 50-100 games that cost $40-$50 each. They also often have at least 2 different game consoles and 1 high-end PC. This can easily add up to thousands of dollars a year to maintain a typical gamers habits. Theres often a direct correlation with the amount of time spent playing video games, and the amount of time spent engaging in a quality relationship. In the most extreme example I could find, there was a couple that was so consumed with playing video games that they ended up neglecting their 3 children — to the point that they were malnourished, naked, and covered in their own feces. Although thats an extreme case, I still think theres something to be said about people who spend the majority of their free time playing video games. My guess is that theyre probably not dating or pursuing a meaningful relationship in their free time. Update: A reader brought to my attention an online group dedicated to loved ones who have been affected by their partners addiction to World of WarCraft (WoW). Their description includes the following Do you have a loved one that plays World of Warcraft so much that you feel like you are a widow? This group isnt just for wives, but for anyone, husbands, girl or boyfriends, mothers, fathers, sons or daughters, or anyone that has had a relationship effected by this addictive game. Avid gamers are similar to people who smoke a lot of marijuana — in that they dont get much done. Reading a good book, taking care of bills, writing an article, inventing something, mowing the lawn, etc are simply not a priority when it comes to getting to the next level or finishing a game. Many gamers have things they would like to do in life, but they never get around to it, because they spend so much of their time playing games. Then, when they do have time to work on one of their projects, theyre too tired to do it, because they stayed up till 3am playing a game. Instead of taking a trip, mountain biking, or hanging out with friends at a cafe, gamers spend their time in a virtual reality. Whereas real life experiences bear long lasting friendships and memories, videos games do not. The only pictures that come from video games are screenshots, and the memories that are created from playing those games are ultimately meaningless. Living means interacting, growing, learning, teaching, and loving — none of which can be accomplished in the virtual wasteland of video games.

New Fitness Trends And Crazes Physical Education Essay

New Fitness Trends And Crazes Physical Education Essay The fitness industry is constantly diversifying with new fitness trends and crazes. The most recent trend is Zumba. Zumba is being marketed as a new exciting way to stay active and healthy. It boasts of its fun aspect and its ability to bring people together to get fit and have fun at the same time. Founder, Alberto Perez a Miami based dancer once forgot his traditional music to a fitness class he was leading and instead used some Latin music tapes. He delivered the session letting the music lead and guide him like in a club. The participants loved it and so Zumba was born. Now, more than 3 million DVDs have been sold in over 30 countries. In a recent poll, Zumba ranked 9th for international fitness trends in the year 2012 (Thompson, 2012). Zumba currently has well over 9,000 instructors worldwide and on October 15, 2007 Zumba was showcased on the Today Show. In October 2008, worldwide Virgin Active sport centres started proposing Zumba classes in their programs (Zumba Fitness, 2012). Today, Virgin Active in Norwich offers an exclusive range of fitness classes including; body pump, body combat and step classes. Zumba features in their aerobic classes, and is fast growing in popularity says the Norwich Virgin Active Fitness Manager in an interview (see appendices). However despite the ever-growing popularity and widespread of Zumba, there is still very little documented research highlighting the potential fitness and health benefits of the dancing phenomenon. The author, a volunteer at Virgin Active agreed with fitness managers that determining the average exercise intensity and energy expenditure during a Zumba class could provide valuable information about the classes Virgin has to offer and a unique selling point. This project set out to determine the average exercise intensity and energy expenditure during a Zumba fitness class at Virgin Active. Literature review Melissa Napier conducted a case study, investigating if and how, Zumba fitness has impacted womens participation in Doon Valley Leisure Centre. The objectives were to source out the reasons and factors that were impacting female participation levels within physical activity. The research found that for a fitness centre in Dalmellington, the majority of Zumba participants were aged between 40-59 years. However these results were obtained from both Zumba and Aqua Zumba participants which supports evidence in the secondary research that Aqua fitness is popular and recommended to the elderly population. Zumba participants said they attend classes because they think Zumba is an enjoyable exercise and allows them to socialize whilst increasing their fitness. Section 2 of the questionnaire asked the Zumba participants what they think makes Zumba different and more appealing than other forms of exercise, 44% answered Fun. Other activities that the Zumba participants said they enjoy include: Aqua Zumba and swimming. For the non Zumba participants they said they preferred gym, swim and fitness classes other than Zumba. This is not surprising as 80% of non Zumba participants are members and all these services are accessible to them as they are included in the membe rship prices. Evidence in Secondary research shows that interest in sport declines with age however the investigators primary research shows that 53% of Zumba/Aqua Zumba participants are 40-59 years old with only 7% aged 16-24 years old. Although Zumba may not appeal to all, it is 16-24yrs with latent demand for more physical activity options according to the Active People Survey carried out by the Womens Sport and Fitness Foundation. The only other literature which examined the exercise intensity of Zumba was conducted at Adelphi University (Otto et al., 2011). It reported caloric expenditure during Zumba to be between 6.6 and 7.4 Kcal ·min-1 depending on the particular dance style being performed. However there appears to be a wide range in the intensity of Zumba and other group fitness classes, depending upon the choreography and enthusiasm of the instructor. The enthusiasm of the instructor, as well as the experience of being in a group setting, often spills over to the participants, who then work harder. This cannot be captured when following video-taped workouts and the growing popularity of Zumba warrants additional research into this growing fitness trend. Methodology Twelve healthy female volunteers (20  ± 1.5 years, 1.57  ± 0.08 m, 61.9  ± 22.6 kg) were selected from the Virgin Active fitness club in Norwich. All participants were regular exercisers and were relatively experienced at participating in Zumba fitness classes. Prior to participating in the research project, all subjects were asked to complete a PAR-Q and provide written informed consent. Participants completed a health history questionnaire to check for any contra-indications which would prevent them from participating, and were informed that they could withdraw from the study at any time, even after giving their written consent. The data produced from the study was kept confidential and the participants were able to access their particular data if requested. Prior to the Zumba class, each participant had to perform an incremental, maximal treadmill test in the Norwich City College sports laboratory. This test measured the participants heart rate (HR) and oxygen consumption (VO2). Test procedures can be found in appendices. From this test, an individual linear regression equation was developed for each subject to predict VO2 from HR. This equation was subsequently used to predict VO2 (ml ·kg-1 ·min-1) during the Zumba session for that subject. Measurements of steady state oxygen uptake by the participants were used as an indirect method to measure energy expenditure (calorimetry). Energy expenditure was calculated from the predicted VO2 data assuming a constant of 5 Kcal ·L-1 of O2 consumed. Similar studies had demonstrated that the HR-VO2 relationship during treadmill exercise accurately reflected the HR-VO2 relationship during Zumba. After treadmill testing, subjects were given a Zumba DVD and told to practice the routine at least three times prior to the class. Following the treadmill test, all participants took part in a Zumba session. The Zumba class was delivered by a fully qualified zumba instructor in a sports hall at Virgin Active. During the class, all participants wore a heart rate monitor which recorded all the data throughout the session. After the session, the data was inserted into the individuals HR-VO2 regression equation to estimate the VO2 and energy expenditure of the participant during the class. Sampling Participants were recruited from Virgin Active. Participants were found using a simple snowball sampling technique because of the social networks that existed between class members. Zumba enthusiasts were asked to recommend other appropriate people for the project. Data collection The research design relied heavily on numerical data, therefore the research project adopted a quantitative approach. Numerical data included heart rates, vO2 max data and Kcal data. The project used regression analysis to identify the relationship between exercise intensity and calorie expenditure. Data were analysed using the statistical package IBM SPSS, PC program, version 7.5 Data Analysis Physiological responses to the Zumba session can be found in Table 1. The average HR was 154  ± 14 bpm, which corresponded to 79  ± 7.0% of HRmax. The average estimated VO2 was 66  ± 10.5% of VO2 max. The average estimated energy expenditure of participating in a Zumba session was 9.5  ± 2.69 Kcal ·min-1, which corresponded to an average of 369  ± 108 Kcal per class. To improve cardiovascular fitness, ACSM recommends that apparently healthy adults should exercise between 64-94% of HRmax and 40-85% of VO2max (ACSM,  2010). In order to control body weight, it is recommended individuals expend an average of 1500 or more kcal per week, which is 300 kcal per exercise session when exercising five times a week (ACSM,2010). Based upon the above recommendations, the Zumba class met ACSM guidelines for both parameters. Exercise intensity averaged 79% of HRmax and 66% of VO2max, respectively, and every subject fell within the recommended guidelines. Conclusions and recommendations Zumba is likely best suited for those who are already comfortable with fitness routines and with dance, as it could offer a pleasant change and participants would already know that they could keep up with dance fitness routine. However Zumba is also suitable for participants of all age and fitness levels. The intensity of the workout is relatively subjective so this means the participants can make the workout however hard or easy they would like depending on their enthusiasm and inhibitions. ACSM recommends that individuals should burn atleast 300 Kcals per workout in order to promote weight loss and maintain a healthy body composition (ACSM, 2010). This study concluded that participating in a Zumba dance class used an average of 369 Kcal for an average length class. It should be pointed out that average class length in the current study was approximately 39 minutes in length. Longer classes would obviously result in greater energy expenditure. Thus, regular participation in Zumba sh ould positively affect body composition. Future studies may want to focus on the physiological benefits following an 8-12 week Zumba training period. 1475 WORDS

Project Management in Construction

Project Management in Construction Definition: â€Å"Project management is the art of directing and coordinating human and material resources throughout the life of a project by using modern management techniques to achieve predetermined objectives of scope, cost, time, quality and participation satisfaction.† Definition according to Project Management Institute Objectives of Project Management: For construction project management the objectives depend a lot on resource constraints and the target should be accomplished with these in view. A main component of the whole process would be to investigate for better alternatives or making tradeoffs to reduce the conflicts between stated objectives and resource constraints. Especially with manual resources originating from so many cultural backgrounds, the probability of conflict is far higher. In general the objectives of project management in construction can be stated as: Stating of objectives and plans: this should include the various factors like Budgeting, Scheduling, targets and participants. Maximization of Efficiency: This should be accomplished by proper utilization of various resources, labor, material and equipment. The ultimate goal is to meet the objectives within prescribed schedules mentioned in (1). Coordination: A proper communication and coordination has to be maintained between various phases like planning, design, estimating and constructing. Conflicts and differences should be properly evaluated and resolved thus leading towards a common goal and objective Modern Management: Development in various tools and technologies along with detailed research into existing project management principles and trends lead into a new phase of management called Modern Management. Research and study into modern management processes reflected the following additional components: Management process approach: To study the management functions in detail. Management science and decision support approach: Assists managers in taking complex decisions by approaching a given problem in mathematical and scientific manner. Example: Operations Research Behavioral science approach: Involved more in interacting with people Sustainable competitive advantage: Is an indication of a proper management strategy. Modern management can be considered to be a combination of all the ingredients mentioned before, that is General Management, Project management, Special knowledge domains and supporting disciplines. The application of Modern management into construction has proven to be quite effective and efficient. Project Risk: Risk is an important factor of any project. Taking risk by a participant of a project shows his willingness to compete but has the down side of putting the whole project at stake. There are also potential chances of conflicts being arisen between participants due to this factor. There are usually many risks involved in a construction project, a brief list of which can be stated as follows: Social Problems: This includes factors like Environmental protection, public safety rules. Economic problems: Stock fluctuation, fluctuations in exchange rates. Relationships: This is one of the most common and most important factors. These risks develop due to the instability in relations between contracting agencies, participants of project, etc. Technological: Though a key factor in a project life cycle, technology can become a risky factor sometimes. It is up to the project owner and upper level managements to resolve the conflicts created by risk and to give the Go/NO-GO order to the team. Once the decision is made to take the risk, the project management and participants should strive to make the project a success. Organization: The other important factor in project management in general and construction project management in specific is the organizational structure of the company. There are various factor involved in designing and configuring the project that depend on the organizational flow. Some of the factors are Method of decomposition of project (Sequential Vs Parallel Vs Staggered decomposition, which depends on the organization needs and availabilities). Number of organizations involved in the project and the phases they are involved in. (Ex: The owner organization which is involved in the whole life cycle can call some contracting organization for their specific needs). Organizational structure which decides the number of projects being taken up at a given instance of time. (Ex: Matrix organization structure involves same teams for various projects, where as Project oriented organizational structure involves various teams for various projects). Professional Construction Management: A professional construction management normally refers to a team that specializes various phases of construction activities like Planning, Design and construction. They have the responsibility to coordinate with contracting organizations to resolve conflicts and make the project a success. A professional construction manager is a firm specialized in the practice of professional construction management whose responsibilities includes: Working with the owner and the Architectural/ Engineering teams to decide on strategies and make decisions. Consider various resources and constraints and develop alternatives if needed. Process the progress of the project making sure that the owner is well informed of the situation. Material and supply chain management. Provide other services and subcontracts. Professional construction management is involved normally for massive projects like Alaska Pipeline Project. 10 rules for Managing projects that win: Rule1: Clarify the project goal: the most important part of the project is Goal. An effective project manager always emphasizes on goal and rephrases it again and again to the team members. This will clear the vision of people (team members and end users) regarding what they have to achieve thus compelling them to strive for it. Rule2: Use objectives to define responsibilities: the objectives defined to reach the goal should be used in recognizing and allocating responsibilities. An effective team manager will recognize individual talents of team members and assign responsibilities accordingly. Rule3: Establish Checkpoints, Activities, relationships and time estimates: Team members work the best when they know what to do and have a specific target set in front of them. Creating Timelines, checkpoints and activities help the team members concentrate their energies in the proper direction. Rule4: Supercharge the plan with a picture: Try to make the project progress as clear as possible to your team members and upper management. Use Gant and Pert charts to show the progress visually which will aid them to understand the process much better than verbal explanation or presentations. Rule 5: Develop an empowered project team: Understand the elements of human behavior and recognize the differences in team members. Note that each person’s skill can be used in a unique fashion to contribute to the project. Try to find the motivating factor for team members, each person can be motivated by something different. Rule6: Reinforce People’s motivation and energy: This can be accomplished by bringing in a sense of ownership into team member’s mind. Trying to align people’s thoughts with one another and with project goal will help a lot too. By brining in this common thinking and sense of challenge, team members will be cheered and motivated at all stages of project life cycle. Rule7: Communication: Communication between team members and team management is one of the most important factors for project success. Make sure all the aspects of project including progress, successes, failures, etc, are all well informed to the team members. Another part of communication is to listen sincerely and regularly to the opinion of team members, some times listening is more important than talking. Rule8: Vitalize people with energy from conflicts: Try to use the energy generated with various conflicts in the project life cycle to encourage people. This will help them to focus and resolve issues cooperatively. Rule9: The Power of being a project manager has to be used in brining the commitment from team members. This will help them in using their individual powers to make the project a success. Rule10: Try to be creative. Case Study: Alaska Pipeline Project: Alaska Pipeline project was considered to be the most expensive private project in 1970s. With over 10billion dollars of budget and 800 miles of pipeline, this project required top notch project managements abilities to be completed and perfected. I choose this project as an example because of two reasons: (i) The Vast ness of the project and (ii) The involvement of Professional project management organization. During the planning phase, the owner assigned the whole project to a Construction Management company (contracting, called CMC) while retaining the centralized decision making ability. Initially the hierarchy from top to bottom consisted of 9 layers which created many risks and conflicts between various subcontractors and other participants of the project. There were also delays made in decision making process because of various construction sites and count of subcontractors. To eliminate this, the owner then created a Professional Project Management firm by combining a portion of Owner and CMC. The primary goal of this team was to control all the subcontractors. This change reduced the number of layers of hierarchy from 9 to about 5, in turn closing the gap between management and workforce. This also boosted the performance of decision making process as the communication and collaboration process was greatly improved. . One of the primary decisions of this team was to decentralize th e construction of 5 segments of the pipeline as a different project thus giving the organization a goal oriented look. With the introduction of this new firm, all the major rules of project management were covered and the project was successfully completed within given budget and time. References: Burke, Rory â€Å"Project Management-Planning Control†, 4th Ed, John Wiley Son 2002 Lock D, â€Å"Project Management†,   8th Ed Gower 2004 W.Alan Randolph, Barry Z.Posner, â€Å"Checkered Flag Projects†, 2nd Edition, Prentice Hall. Project management in construction Project management in construction Brief 199803 The role of the Project Manager amongst other things may be that of the partnering facilitator as identified in various literatures and by authors such as, but not limited to Latham and Egan etc. Highlight a theoretical but practical role for the project manager as a partnering facilitator.     Outlined below is a discussion and an examination of the notion that the role of the Project Manager amongst other things may be that of the partnering facilitator which enables projects to be carried out efficiently. The notion that the Project Manager amongst other things could fulfil the role of the partnering facilitator has been identified as well as being developed further in the literature of Latham and also Egan, besides others. Authors such as Latham and Egan regarded that the fulfilling of the part of being a partnering facilitator as one of the main functions of any successful Project Manager, but of course not the only one. As part of the evaluation of the role played by Project Managers, the potential role of being a partnering facilitator will highlight a theoretical but practical role for any Project Manager to carry out whilst acting as a partnering facilitator. Project Managers have played and still continue to play important parts within the public and private s ectors of the British economy. However, for the purpose of this evaluation the theoretical, yet practical role that would allow any Project Manager to act as a partnering facilitator are considered within the confines of the construction industry in the United Kingdom. It should also be remembered that the ideas relating to the concepts were actually originally developed by engineers in the United States before being widely adapted by businesses and academics alike (Deeprose, 2001 p. 3). The construction industry within the United Kingdom would upon both a theoretical as well as a practical basis provide plenty of scope for a Project Manager to fulfil or serve the role of a partnering facilitator during the course of carrying out their job. The reasons for the construction industry offering opportunities for Project Managers to be able to act out a role of being a partnering facilitator are strongly related to the nature of that industry within Britain itself. Construction firms exist to develop, plan, deliver, and finally complete building projects, Project Managers are also trained to think and function in a similar way (Deeprose, 2001 p. 18). The Project Manager thus arguably has a vital linking and organising function or purpose contained within the core responsibilities of their job, which in itself is pivotal for the efficient running of the construction industry in Britain. Any or every construction project needs to be managed effectively, and well organised i n order for it to be completed on time and within budget, a requirement that the use of a Project Manager is intended to fulfil. Even if only one company was formally engaged in completing a construction project a high degree co-ordination and organisation would still be required to make sure the efficiency of the organisation remains consistently high as well as being successful. A single company will have various stakeholders with different concepts of what needs to be done to successful complete. The more companies which are involved in a proposed project means a higher number of stakeholders need to enter working partnerships (Briner, Hastings, Geddes, 1996 pp. 10-12). In reality, construction projects normally have several contractors, sub-contractors and suppliers involved in the whole process, which further increases the need for co-ordination and sound organisation. The Project Manager is therefore ideally placed to carry out the necessary co-ordination and organisation to achieve the full completion of the project (Deeprose, 2001 p. 3). Latham and Egan, amongst others, have contended that the level of co-ordination and organisation that Project Manager have to use to get their jobs done with the British construction industry could justify the tag of partnering facilitator. Deeprose has argued that the operating methods of Project Managers and companies are very similar, which helps to explain why Project Managers are very useful in running construction programmes (Deeprose, 2001 p. 18). In theoretical and practical terms, the Project Manager needs to work in partnerships whilst facilitating the means to ensure that all are programmes are carried out. One way of exploring whether the Project Manager could theoretically and practically act as a partnering facilitator would be to look into how a project to build a housing development could actually be managed. To be able to complete a housing construction programme theoretically and indeed practically involves a great deal of partnership to move from initial planning a nd designing, through to finding contractors or suppliers, gaining planning permission, then finally construction. Even after construction has been finished partnerships could still be needed to make sure that the required standards are met, and to achieve the highest quality houses. Young argues that the key to the successful completion of any construction project is for it to be well designed with all the people that need to make the decisions having access to all relevant information (Young, 1996 p. 21). The Project Manager needs to form a partnership with the architects that design the building that make up the housing construction programme, and both need to discuss the exact specifications and materials required to make the project achievable (Young, 1996 p. 45). These architects could either work for the same company as the Project Manager or be employed by a different company if not a specialised architectural consultancy. Having a sound partnership with the architect would allow the Project Manager to examine whether the designs for the proposed housing programme are practical, are what the stakeholders actually requested, and also if they meet health and safety standards (Maylor, 1996 p. 47). Close consultation between the Project Manager and the architects will facilitate discussion with regard to the quality, as well as the practical feasibility of the housing being designed. Together the Project Manager in conjunction with the architects will draw up plans as to what will b e needed in the houses to ensure that all features and facilities are installed as planned, and altered if needs be (Young, 1996 p.45). Theoretically and practically for the successful finishing of a house building project the Project Manager needs to form a relationship with the Local Planning Authority to ensure that planning could be granted to allow building work to begin. Without planning permission the proposed housing construction will not be carried out (Deeprose, 2001 p. 18). A good relationship with the Local Planning Authority responsible for granting or not granting planning permission could be useful if the Project Manager needs to arrange for water, gas and electricity supplies have to be extended to the new houses after those have been finished (Young, 1996, p. 45). The Project Manager might even have to liase with the Local Planning Authority to arrange new roads or an extension of existing roads to the new houses. The Project Manger as the main facilitator between the company or the consortium they work for and the Local Planning Authority would have the task of sorting out any differences between th e tow to make sure that planning permission is granted as quickly as possible. Partnership between the Project Manager and the Local Planning Authority should help to facilitate the successful completion of the proposed building of new houses (Maylor, 1996 p. 6). Theoretically as well as practically the Project Manager would therefore need to facilitate a partnership between all the constructors, and sub-contractors, which are, actually needed to design, build and complete the new houses (Maylor, 1996 p. 47). New houses are completed through the combined efforts of contractors and sub-contractors, which have special skills and functions (Briner, Hastings, Geddes, 1996 pp. 10-12). For instance, new houses will need electricians, gas fitters, plumbers, as well as plasterers to complete the infrastructure of every house being built. The Project Manager will be responsible for hiring all the contractors and sub-contractors, as well as any general labourers needed to finish the new houses (Deeprose, 2001 p. 3). The Project Manager would have to make sure that everybody or firm hired to complete the construction is capable of doing their jobs to satisfactory standards or have work done again by alternative contractors (Briner, Hastings, Geddes, 1 996 pp. 10-12). Not only will the Project Manager ensure that the contracted work is done effectively, they will have to action any complaints, needs or problems that the contractors, sub-contractors, and workers have with completing the new houses (Young, 1996 p 47). Health and safety is also an issue that the Project Manager has to consider. The Project Manager has a responsibility to make sure that everybody is safe upon the construction site. Hand in hand with making sure that workers are safe, the Project Manager would also have to ensure that all the work carried out on the new houses complies with all health and safety regulations (Briner, Hastings, Geddes, 1996 pp. 10-12). Facilitating with all contractors, sub-contractors and workers not only maintain the partnership between them all, it also allows the new houses to be safe without anybody being hurt during their construction. For the Project Manager complying with health and safety standards will mean that the building p rocess runs smoothly and reduces the risk of legal action being taken against the building consortium (Deeprose, 2001 p. 18). Therefore, one way in which the function of any Project Manager as a partnering facilitator could be theoretically and practically demonstrated through the co-ordination and organisation needed to build new houses. The Project Manager could and indeed should play a pivotal role in partnering or linking all the elements needed to complete a new housing programme. The Project Manager has an essential part to play in ensuring that the parties involved in the construction of the new houses would work closely together to make sure that the building is completed successfully and to time. Without the Project Manager acting as a partnering facilitator it would arguably be more difficult to design, construct, and fully complete the new house building programme. The Project Manager co-ordinates and liases with the architects over the design as well as the features of the new houses before the plans are finalised and then submitted for planning permission. Then the Project Manager would thus us ually have to approach the appropriate Local Planning Authority to gain planning permission and then amend the building proposals if that is required. Probably the most important partnering facilitating performed by the Project Manager would be co-ordinating, as well as organising all the contractors, sub-contractors and all workers needed to build and finish the new houses once planning permission has been granted. A good working partnership actively facilitated by the Project Manager should mean that the new houses are built up to a high standard as quickly, yet effectively as possible. The Project Manager will achieve the function of partnering facilitator most effectively by involving all the relevant stakeholders that are part of the construction project. Briner W, Hastings C, Geddes M, (1996) Project Leadership – 2nd edition, Gower, Aldershot Deeprose D, (2001) Smart things to know about Managing Projects, Capstone Publishing Limited, Oxford Maylor, 1996 Young T, (1996) The Handbook of Project Management, Kogan Page, London

Human Resource Management :: essays research papers

Human Resource Management Aims This course aims at familiarizing students with the wider context of Human Resource Management (HRM) and at providing them with the opportunity to engage with current problems and issues. The subjects covered throughout the lectures will introduce students to the current way of managing employees in modern organizations. More specifically, after the completion of the course, the participants will be able to: Explain the changing nature of the HR function in the modern organizational that shifts away from traditional functional and hierarchical management structures toward process-based forms. Evaluate the role of HRM in supporting organizational strategy in the contemporary environment. Assess HRM practices and current trends. Understand their role as future managers in developing and implementing HR practices. Course Outline Session 1: The Role of HRM Define the term HRM Describe the strategic importance of HRM activities performed in organizations Understand the importance of strategic alignment (fit) Discuss the role that specialists and line managers play in performing HRM activities Explore the variety of external customers for HRM Session 2: Resourcing Discuss the importance HR planning Describe how managers forecast demand for and analyze supply of human resources Discuss how to develop an effective recruiting program List what selection criteria are available and how they can be used to make selection more effective Preparatory Reading: Participants are required to familiarize themselves with the articles and prepare the case study of Chapter 5, in order to improve their understanding and participate in the discussion more effectively. Session 3: Performance Management Define the terms performance management and performance evaluation Compare the advantages of various performance evaluation techniques Define compensation and differentiate among direct financial compensation, indirect financial compensation, and non-financial rewards Examine the implications of teamwork to compensation systems Consider the factors relating to a firm’s compensation policy Preparatory Reading: Participants are required to familiarize themselves with the articles and prepare the case study of Chapter 4, in order to improve their understanding and participate in the discussion more effectively. Session 4: Psychological contract Define the terms psychological contract, employability and career management Understand the new contract and its effects on the employment relationship Examine ways to manage job insecurity Explore flexibility issues Discuss the implications for the individual’s career Preparatory Reading: Participants are required to familiarize themselves with the articles and prepare the case study of Chapter 9, in order to improve their understanding and participate in the discussion more effectively. Session 5: International HRM Explain the role of national culture in IHRM Consider the complexity of the international environment

Essay on Symbols, Symbolism, and Allegory in Hawthornes Young Goodman

Symbols, Symbolism, and Allegory in Hawthorne's Young Goodman Brown Symbolism is a literary technique that is used to clarify the author's intent. Sometimes it is used to great effect, while other times it only seems to muddle the meaning of a passage. In "Young Goodman Brown," Nathaniel Hawthorne uses objects and people as symbols to allegorically reveal his message to the reader. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses different people as symbols throughout "Young Goodman Brown." The largest symbolic roles in the story are goodman Brown and his wife Faith. Both of the characters' names are symbolic and representative of their personalities. "'With Heaven above and Faith below, I will stand firm against the devil!' cried goodman Brown," is just one of many quotes that directly relates goodman Brown's personality with his name (189). Goodman Brown is truly a good man. Faith, goodman Brown's wife, also has a name that is indicative of her nature. The story directly supports this point in the phrase "Faith, as the wife was aptly named . . . " (184). Faith is persistent in trying to keep goo...

Cicero Letters Translation

Nunc ea cognosce, quae maxime exoptas: rem publicam funditus amisimus, adeo ut C. Cato, adolescens nullius consilli, sed tamen civis Romanus et Cato, vix vivus effugerit, quod, cum Gabinium de ambitu vellet postulare neque praetores diebus aliquot adiri possent vel potestatem sui facerent, in concionem escendit et Pompeium privatum dictatorem appellavit: propius nihil est factum, quam ut occideretur. 2 Ex hoc, qui sit status totius rei publicae, videre potes. 3 16. Nostrae tamen causae non videntur homines defuturi: mirandum in modum profitentur, offerunt se, pollicentur. 5 Equidem cum spe sum maxima, tum maiore etiam animo, spe, superiores fore nos, animo, ut in hac re publica ne casum quidem ullum pertimescam. 6 Sed tamen se res sic habet: si diem nobis Clodius dixerit, tota Italia concurret, ut multiplicata gloria discedamus; sin autem vi agere conabitur, spero fore studiis non solum amicorum, sed etiam alienorum ut vi resistamus. 7 Omnes et se et suos amicos clientes, libertos se rvos, pecunias denique suas pollicentur. Nostra antiqua manus bonorum ardet studio nostri atque amore; si qui antea aut alienores fuerant aut languidiores, nunc horum regum odio se cum bonis coniungunt. 9 Pompeius omnia pollicetur et Caesar, quibus ego ita credo, ut nihil de mea comparatione deminuam. 10 Tribuni pl. 11 designati sunt nobis amici; consules se optimos ostendunt; praetores habemus amicissimos et acerrimos cives Domitium, Nigidium, Memmium, Lentulum; bonos etiam alios, sed hos singulares: quare magnum fac animum habeas et spem bonam; de singulis tamen rebus, quae quotidie gerantur, faciam te crebro certiorem.Now for the news that you chiefly desire. We have so completely lost the constitution that Cato,[11] a young man of no sense, but yet a Roman citizen and a Cato, scarcely got off with his life because, having determined to prosecute Gabinius for bribery, when the praetors could not be approached for several days, and refused to admit anyone to their presence, he mou nted the rostra in public meeting and called Pompey an â€Å"unofficial dictator. † No one ever had a narrower escape of being killed. From this you may see the state of the whole Republic. People, however, show no inclination to desert my cause.They make wonderful professions, offers of service, and promises: and, indeed, I have the highest hopes and even greater spirit–so that I hope to get the better in the struggle, and feel confident in my mind that, in the present state of the Republic, I need not fear even an accident. However, the matter stands thus: if Clodius gives notice of an action against me, the whole of Italy will rush to my support, so that I shall come off with many times greater glory than before; but if he attempts the use of violence, I hope, by the zeal not only of friends but also of opponents, to be able to meet force with force.All promise me the aid of themselves, their friends, clients, freedmen, slaves, and, finally, of their money. Our old regiment of loyalists is warm in its zeal and attachment to me. If there were any who had formerly been comparatively hostile or lukewarm, they are now uniting themselves with the loyalists from hatred to these despots. Pompey makes every sort of promise, and so does Caesar: but my confidence in them is not enough to induce me to drop any of my preparations.The tribunes-designate are friendly to us. The consuls-designate make excellent professions. Some of the new praetors are very friendly and very brave citizens-Domitius, Nigidius, Memmius, Lentulus[12]–the others are loyalists also, but these are eminently so. Wherefore keep a good heart and high hopes. However, I will keep you constantly informed on particular events as they occur from day to day.

Creative Brief Template (IMC Brief) Essay

1Marketing Objectives The brand’s marketing objectives such as share or volume goals, summary of market situation, key competitor activity, marketing issues and challenges. H&H’s successful brand image and channel development resulted in an over 60% market share in Taiwan and around 20%-70% of market share around the world. Marketing issues and challenges faces within the company and the brand darlie.For them to keep ahead in the ever-changing market, and continue its expansion plan, H&H-CP needed a complete channel strategy. Specifically, it wanted to, further increase the volume of purchase by the channels, and completely edge out competitors. The challenges face within the brand is the protray of racism to the black and religious commuity which H&H have been trying to change its packaging and its brand darkie to darlie. However until date, the logo of the toothpaste still exsist which cost a stir to the community and also the market as many people will boycott the product. Build a strong, technology-superior channel management system without disrupting the existing one. Their competitor includes, pearlie white, sensodyne, Kodomo and systema. These are the leading competitor that have been significant in the singapore market. 2Communication Objectives What the communication needs to accomplish (e.g. change awareness, attitude, opinion, consideration or perception, etc†¦ including quantitative measures, what consumers are expected to think, feel or do. The Hawley & Hazel Group is a reliable and trusted manufacturer of high quality oral care products, including the world-renowned Darlie brand of toothpastes and toothbrushes. Established in 1933, Hawley & Hazel has enjoyed a long history as one of the most respected and recognised oral care names in Asia. Darlie toothpastes and toothbrushes are a firm family favourite for generations of consumers across the region. It is our goal to give our consumers a healthy and sparkling white smile, enabling them to feel attractive and confident, wherever they are. The Hawley & Hazel Group’s commercial efforts have attained significant success, and Hawley & Hazel’s toothpaste products, sold under the Darlie brand, are a bestselling household name throughout the region. Today, Darlie toothpaste is one of the market leaders in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, synonymous with clean white teeth and a confident smile everywhere. 3Corporate and / or Brand Positioning Taken from the corportate and / or brand line brand positioning. Includes target market, frame of reference, and the single relevant differentiated benefit (â€Å"RDB† – key benefit). The target market of darlie are most people young and old in the asia region as the leader in oral health care bringing healthy teeth and fresh bright smiles to families and individuals. However due to the racism case they have stop all sales in the USA and some parts of the world as they might be sued or even boycott by the people which racism is highly regarded in the country. 4Brand Character The key phrases or terms which describe the personality the brand should consistently portray. They are dedicated to developing and manufacturing leading edge oral hygiene products that harness the latest technology and some of the most state-of-the-art ideas in the industry. It is our goal to give our consumers a healthy and sparkling white smile, enabling them to feel attractive and confident, wherever they are. Unique fresh-tasting Darlie is your trusted brand in oral health care. It stands for healthy, clean white teeth and a fresh mouth, keeping you attractive and confident wherever you are. 5Target Audience Profile Demographics, psychographics, lifestyle and behavioural description of the target audience (eg, first time buyers, cautious buyers, brand loyalty status etc), that leads to a key consumer insight, the single most important observation on how the target relates to the brand or category. The Demographics of targeted customer are situated in the asia pacific region as the darlie sales in U.S have sparkled debates over the brand for many years even though H&H have been trying to change the perception of the people regarding the brand. Age group will be people around the age of 11-50 as darlie has come out with flavours of fresh mint only which does not entice the young to use it and purchase it. The psychographic target audience will be customers that know chinese as H&H have been trying to change the name from darkie to darlie however the chinese name remain the the chinese populated countries where people are aware of the brand for years already. The change of name in chinese populated country will bring down sales as they have been accustom to it for many years. 6Main Message / Communications Focus The most important message that must be communicated, expressed in consumer language. Must be single minded and linked to the the single relevant differentiated benefit (RDB). During the early days of darlie, they only produce normal tooth paste with one or two flavours to meet the needs of asia communities that are just progressing within their country. Therefore there are not much variation in the benefits it have and they do not look into the different problem faced by people having other oral problems. Now they have shifted towards different tooth care that entice young adults to puchase example whitening product and also products that help with sensitive tooth. Many of the advertisment were taiwanese actors as 80 percent of Taiwanese used Darlie as their toothpaste. 7Support / Permissions to Believe Key attributes that support the communication focus, reasons why the target audience can believe RDB will be delivered. Can be rational (product claims, features, technologies etc) or emotional (reputation, heritage, historical equities). For what I can see most advertisement are made using asian stars, this shows that they are trying hard to communicate and focus on asian to buy their products. Thats the reason why I believe they have successfully targeted the audience within their regent. They also seperate their product according to different kinds ranging from sensitive tooth to whitening. Different product have different advertisment to communicate with the target audience which are interested in the various products. Their packaging have also help customer recognise their product easily as they are more vibrant and always glow and get notice by customers easily. 8Current Audience Attitudes / Perception / Behaviour Relevant attitudes, behaviours and perceptions that need to be changed or will filter the key message (Use substantiating research where possible). Many singaporeans have potrays and naturally refered as colgate to toothpaste. With this statement, this proves that colgate has a very successful marketing communication to the consumers in singapore. This will further hinder in the sales of other brands of toothpaste as consumer always will think of colgate first when buying toothpaste for their own use. Whereas for Darlie, the brand name has been there more many years, but they are popular in the asia regent as chinese customers have always name it as darkie 9Desired Target Audience Response What they should think, feel and act after exposure to the communication. The promotional mix along with the advertising must be changed to reflect a more positive image of the product brand. Sales promotions, advertising, public relations, and personal selling efforts must be pursued to recapture market share and growth in the future. A reactive strategy is not the solution however a more proactive approach should have been pursued by management. These types of issues must be pursued and anticipated to accommodate the needs of the consuming public. 10Communication Evaluation How will the audience response be measured or evaluated (Detail research process and timings if relevant)? Every actor that have come out for the advertisement for the darlie are respectable figures with nice white teeth which is able to convince individual into purchasing the product which have been for many years in the industry. Successful new products driving the share gains include Colgate Total Professional Clean, Colgate Max White, Colgate Sensitive Enamel Protect and Darlie Sensitive Gum Protection toothpastes which consist of 18% of market shares around asia as cited in (http://investor.colgate.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=380743&ReleaseType=Earnings) during year 2009. 11Executional Manditories Executional requirements, elements that should or should not be shown. Covers anchor line, copy and/or visual treatment, cultural issues, language, body styles, legal constraints, specific management concerns etc. The things darlie should look out for is to try to avoid or rather change the perception of the brand slowly as many people have protest on the name of darlie and slowly enter the market in the US and the UK so to enhance maximum profit and capability of the product. They should also stop using the word black man tooth paste in the all chinese advertisment, to avoid further complication with the law. 12Budget Creative, Media, Production etc. Detail inclusions and exclusions. Emphasise that concepts that cannot be produced within budget should not be presented.